Post by Steven Brody, CEO on Apr 15, 2019 10:59:49 GMT -8
Ozzy Osbourne's "Let Me Hear You Scream" plays over the introduction reel of NFW superstars posing before the camera. Wrapping the vignette up, are the current champions.
- Chris Wolfe slaps the TV Championship in front of the camera, motioning for any and everyone who wants a piece to come get them some.
- Under a golden hued filter, Marissa Payne stands beside Morgan Payne, with an arm around her shoulders, squeezing supprtingly as she cracks a small smirk into the camera. Next to her, Morgan's sweaty face and dripping hair stares back firmly with defiant, determination, holding the Women's TV Championship up beside her for the camera to see. She nods, tapping the center plate with a finger.
- Among the Renegades, Tyler Grey holds the Jr. Heavyweight Championship proudly on his shoulder with a scowl at the camera. Serena Frost poses in a black, leather chair, sitting sideways with her legs over one of the arms. Julian Morrison sits to the side of Serena while Tyson Law stands beside Tyler in the back, flipping the middle finger but pointing it down as he sneers arrogantly at the camera.
- Next, we see Shelley Silver, standing with Sloane Cameron slightly behind her. Shelley Silver holds the Silver Mountain Championship up beside her face. Shelley looks from the title, into the camera lens and gives a seductive wink and a smile.
- Kicks and Stone are seen, displaying the Mixed Tag Team Championship belts. Vincent Stone wears his around his waist, motioning with his hands, 'presenting' the title to all challengers. Erin Mercer plays air guitar on hers.
- Sex & Violence as a whole is seen together with Nostalgia Ultra standing side by side, looking as mean as ever. Sitting in a lavish chair, like a modern day throne is Lara Blackheart with Penelope Cassidy sitting across her lap and the Women's Championship over Lara's shoulder. She winks, arrogantly and blows a smooch to the camera.
- Judas Lasher wears the Heavyweight Championship around his waist while posing on his knees with his arms out. A satisfied snarl on his face as Alessandra Augustino stands behind him. Around him stand Doomsday and Belphegor - Ultra-Violence - displaying their Tag Team Championship belts as they scowl through their masks. Sitting on the floor in the front, Darius Crowley sits calmly with his fingertips together, staring at the camera with a stoic expression. On either side of this gathering, Buzzsaw calmly flexes a fist and grips the wrist of that hand, scowling from under his mask. On the opposite side, looking ever so dark and enigmatic, Ethan Skinner smirks evilly at the camera with a hand out to the camera, beckoning viewers as....
The camera switches to the inside of the arena known by locals as The Pit, as the pyro goes off, illuminating the NFW banner over the stage. The camera sweeps across the energetic audience. The camera catches several fans jumping excitedly in anticipation for the show, holding up various signs.
WAIT'LL YA SEE MY RICK!
D.O.P DANCE PARTY!
BIG BAD CHRIS AWOOOOOOOOOO!
SHAKE HIS HAND!
YOU SCREWED ALEX!
HEY LARA HOW MUCH?
RENEGADES 4 LIFE
DUMP ACE AND MARRY ME, SHELLEY!!
DOMINION OF POO
DON'T MESS WITH CANADA
~SIGN FLIP~
IT'S NOT NICE TO PICK ON THE HANDICAP!
The camera sweeps across the crowd, holding these signs. Numerous fans wear t-shirts in the likeness of their favorite stables, and superstars. There's fans wearing Matt Klazzic and El Piso Mojado masks as they jump excitedly in front of the camera. The crowd’s deafening chant fills the arena.
NFW!
NFW!
NFW!
NFW!
The camera then settles on the commentary duo of James Reynolds and Nick Hanson. Nick Hanson looks as crisp as ever in a fine grey suit. James Reynolds sits, kicked back with his boots up on the announce table, scrolling through his phone with a grin on his face. He’s laughing at something.
HANSON
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another night of New Frontier Wrestling! We are here, LIVE in Albuquerque, New Mexico! The Pit, as it’s called and---”
Nick Hanson looks over at Jim Reynolds. He frowns and briefly looks at the camera before looking back at Jim.
HANSON
“Jim? What the hell are you looking at?”
REYNOLDS
“I’ve got so many people telling me I need to say ‘sorry’ to Ethan Skinner, it’s hilarious! What a fucking loser!”
Nick Hanson looks to the camera with a sincere, apologetic look on his face. He looks back at Jim Reynolds, then.
HANSON
“Are you still egging him on? I thought you were scared of the Dominion? Where’d this bravado come from?”
REYNOLDS
“Because, I realized something, Nicky. He’s all talk!”
Jim Reynolds spreads his arms, shaking his head at Nick Hanson as he takes his sunglasses off, looking calm and collected.
REYNOLDS
“He’s fucking bark and no bite! He can drink his Starbucks and drop spooky youtube links all he wants!”
HANSON
“You know, your favorite girl from SBS loves Starbucks.”
REYNOLDS
“Yeah, but Ethan Skinner probably drinks soy, so fuck him. You gonna run down tonight’s card or you wanna see some of this fine looking poon that’s on Twitter?”
HANSON
"Uhhh, all due respect, I'll just go ahead and do my job."
REYNOLDS
"Fucking prude."
HANSON
"Well, folks, so tonight we---"
REYNOLDS
"You gonna tell them about the new Women's Champion?"
HANSON
"They know about the new Women's Champion, Jim. I'm sure they tuned in last week!"
Jim Reynolds lunges over the table, throwing up the metal horns.
REYNOLDS
"Well, just in case you missed it!! WE GOT A NEW FUCKING WOMEN'S CHAMPION, BABY!!!! LARA--FUCKING--BLACKHEART!!!"
Jim Reynolds slides back into his seat and kicks his boots up again, tipping his sunglasses down at Nick Hanson with a serpentine smile.
HANSON
"Are you done?"
REYNOLDS
"Relax, Nicky."
HANSON
"Are you done?"
REYNOLDS
"Yes! I'm done! Do your fucking job, already."
He pulls out his flask, smirking as he opens the lid and sips from it. Nick Hanson looks at him in disbelief before putting a hand to the side of his head. We're all gonna get fired.
HANSON
"Well, yes, folks. Lara Blackheart is our new Women's Champion. She cashed in her Money In The Bank briefcase last week after a sneak attack on Alex Brody. Alex, the former champion, was joining us on commentary for the six-women tag match main event match. Folks, as they were brawling to the back, Lara Blackheart -- whom we thought wasn't even here -- attacked Alex from the crowd and cashed in her contract!"
REYNOLDS
"That was AWESOME!!"
HANSON
"That was sick!"
REYNOLDS
"Fuck you, Nicky! It was awesome! She's a champion just like her old man, now!"
Nick Hanson rolls his eyes and sips from his water before looking into the camera again.
HANSON
"Anyway, so that brings us to our main event. Alex Brody will be teaming with her tag team partner, Erin Mercer and taking on Lara Blackheart and Penelope Cassidy in a tag team match. Alex Brody has said she is tired of being looked at as a doormat to people like Lara Blackheart. She tweeted 'Viva La Resistance' on twitter last week, following the show."
REYNOLDS
"What is she, a fucking South Park fan?"
HANSON
"Jim, you like South Park."
REYNOLDS
"Touche. Moving on."
HANSON
"We've got our TV titles on the line, folks. Morgan Payne will defend against Candi Broduer. Chris Wolfe will defend against Ethan Skinner."
Jim Reynolds laughs so suddenly, he snorts, making himself laugh harder.
HANSON
"What's so funny?"
REYNOLDS
"Emo-boy thinks he's got a chance at winning a title!"
Nick Hanson rolls his eyes and shakes his head, before looking back to the camera.
HANSON
"We've got a few scores being settled before Gang Warfare in two weeks, folks. Tonight is our go-home show, so we're sending everyone home with a bang! We're gonna see six-man tag action between The Renegades and the team of Rick Dickulous, Matt Klazzic, and Vincent Stone."
REYNOLDS
"Matt has a match tonight?"
HANSON
"You didn't notice he wasn't here? Are you serious?"
REYNOLDS
"I thought it was a little less energetic around here. You suck my energy out like a fucking siphon just from sitting next to you."
HANSON
"Charming as always, Jim. Speaking of settling scores, folks, we're gonna see Nico Salvatore taking on Havok! One on one! Salvatore has been chomping at the bit for this match, and he's finally get it!!"
REYNOLDS
"Hey hey! Nico Suave!! Beat that ass boy!"
HANSON
And then to Jim's disdain, we've got two more matches involving the Dominion of Pain. We're gonna see Buzzsaw and Darius Crowley taking on "Switchblade" Jay White and Adam Cole from The Unwanted. We're also gonna see Ultra-Violence in action against the Guerrillas of Destiny. Ultra-Violence will also be in action at Gang Warfare on April 29th. They'll be defending their Tag Team Championship against Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr of Suzuki-gun. But! Our opening contest, folks, this one was requested for by the man himself. The one they call the Ragman. Jag'hatai D'habi will take on BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Now, BUSHI had a match last week against Darius Crowley but through some, you could say good sportsmanship, Crowley ended up winning due to Jag'hatai D'habi making the referee aware of BUSHI's feet on the ropes."
REYNOLDS
"That Ragman is such a goddamn spoil sport! People use their feet on the ropes all the time!"
HANSON
"Which is against the rules, hence why D'habi and Elizavetta Von Dutch brought it to the referee. After that folks, BUSHI attempted to spray mist into the face of Elizavetta Von Dutch. Jag'hatai D'habi sacrificed himself for his manager, folks! He pushed Elizavetta out of the way to take the mist himself! After the show, I'm told they went directly to Commissioner Steven Brody where Elizavetta Von Dutch asked for a match with BUSHI on Jag'hatai D'habi's behalf. We'll be getting to that shortly, here in a few minutes but first! Let's hear from Miss Von Dutch herself as she and Jag'hatai D'habi prepare!"
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Sitting down on Tingley Beach, with their umbrella chairs and their drinks, a mojito for Elizavetta and a whiskey sour for Jag’hatai, the sun is setting on the day and she notices the shadows standing over her at the same time as Jag’hatai touches her right arm, just to rouse her. She straightens her stars and stripes bikini and smiles at the camera, without a word she reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone. She begins playing the events at the last Darius Crowley match.
KLAZZIC
"Oh I hope they're pointing out to the referee what happened!"
After bringing up a replay of the match ending, the referee saw BUSHI's feet on the ropes and immediately began chiding BUSHI for his underhanded tactics. BUSHI argued with him but the referee called Roger Arden over, to which the man nodded and raised his microphone.
ARDEN
"Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has just informed me that due to the illegal handling of the ropes during the pinfall that he is re-starting this match!"
KLAZZIC
"YEEESSSSS!!!!"
REYNOLDS
"WHAT?!"
HANSON
"A GREAT CALL BY THE OFFICIAL!!!"
As the crowd cheered with approval for the referee's decision, BUSHI came over and got in Elizavetta's face, arguing with her. The woman seemed completely fearless and unphased by the man attempting to get in her face and intimidate her. So...BUSHI nodded as if to say 'alright, whatever' before suddenly turning back and spraying black mist at her face!!!! But Jag'hatai D'habi SHOVED Elizavetta off of the apron, putting himself in the path of the mist, getting blasted right in the eyes. D'habi fell off the apron, clutching at his eyes as BUSHI backed up towards the center of the ring while the referee called for the match to be restarted.
“Bushi, two important things you need to know about us. One, I am not afraid of you, I am afraid of no man, or woman in this company. That should be evidenced by me not flinching when you got in my face, even though we knew you liked to use mist. Two, when we saw you were going to employ an underhanded tactic of war, My Soldier, MY warrior MY FORCE, shoved me out of the way and took the full brunt of your attack. Now, here is my warning to you, bring everything you have, bring it all, even bring the mist sweetie, because nothing, and I do mean nothing, you have in your arsenal compares to any arm bars, any leg lock, and especially Clotho’s Whip in ours. “
Jag reaches over and touches her arm again to get her attention and whispers something to her, and she softly nods. Smiling at the camera again, she takes a sip of her drink as he takes a sip of his and puts back on his shades. The sun is setting here on beautiful Tingley Beach. The sun is also setting for your kind of behaviour here in the New Frontier Wrestling, we see the warrior code is spreading, and are gladdened. We witnessed Kayako Kazama extend her arm out for a handshake. Now we are not so naive to know that she had nothing but bad intentions in mind, but the intent was there, and sooner or later, we will have changed this business, for the better. See you soon Bushi, and we will continue our undefeated streak."
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*The scene abruptly shifts to the backstage area where here's a chaotic scene as agents and producers and arena security are trying to separate a brawl between Nico Salvatore and Takashi Sugiura, with Paul Heyman also trying to help separate them. The two separate for a moment before Nico breaks free and jumps on Sugiura again as the chaos continues. After several moments, the two are finally separated, with Heyman yelling to get Nico's attention.*
"Hey! HEY!!! SALVATORE!!!" Heyman yells as everyone struggles trying to keep Salvatore and Sugiura apart. "You wanted Havok and now you're getting him, tonight. But that wasn't enough for you, was it? You want Sugiura that bad? I tell you what. I'll make a deal with you, ok? Gang Warfare's coming up and both these men have an empty plate in their hands. You want them both? Fine. You can have them both, BUT...," Heyman sneers as security struggles to restrain Salvatore, "we'll use tonight's match to decide the stipulation You win tonight and you get both these men with a partner of your choosing. I don't care who you get. Get your father, your sister, whoever. But if you lose, you get these two in a handicap match, deal?" Heyman says to Salvatore as he leans in.
"Deal, you fat weasel," Salvatore yells to Heyman as never ceases staring down at the restrained Sugiura at the other end. "Your ass is mine, Sugiura! Both your asses are mine after tonight!!!" Salvatore continues to yell as order is somewhat restored and both parties are slowly separated, with the camera fading to black.
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[MATCH #1. SINGLES MATCH - "THE RAGMAN" JAG'HATAI D'HABI VS BUSHI]
The camera returns to ringside, immediately focusing on the announce table where Nick Hanson and Jim Reynolds look a little shocked.
REYNOLDS
"A HANDICAP MATCH, JIM? AGAINST SUGIURA AND HAVOK?!"
HANSON
"That's what it seems like! If Nico doesn't beat Havok tonight, he's got a two on one at Gang Warfare! The God of War better bring his A-game!"
REYNOLDS
"Nico always brings his A-game."
The lights dim and flash across the stage as BUSHI-DO kicks on over the sound system. The video wall lights up with the LOS INGOBERNABLES DE JAPON logo as LIJ's BUSHI emerges out onto the stage, wearing his usual gear. His eyes, however, look more colder and angrier than usual. Understandable, considering his disdain for his opponent, tonight.
ARDEN
"The following contest is your opening match and is scheduled for one fall!! Making his way to the ring first!! Weighing in at one hundred and eighty three pounds!! Representing New Japan's Los Ingobernables De Japon!! BUUUUUUUUSHIIIIIIIIIII!!!!"
REYNOLDS
"Ya think BUSHI's a little pissed off, Nicky?"
HANSON
"Not like he has a reason to be."
REYNOLDS
"The Ragman screwed him out of a recorded pinfall over Darius Crowley! BUSHI knows he can pin Crowley. He did pin Crowley. But it's not on his record!"
HANSON
"BUSHI evidently can't pin Crowley without using the ropes, Jim."
BUSHI reaches the ring and pulls off his outer mask, revealing his in-ring mask underneath, spraying mist from his mouth while posing up on the turnbuckle. He flips down into the ring and begins pacing, waiting for his opponent as....
The lights go dark throughout the arena and light in reds, greens, blues, yellows beam across the darkness. Fifteen seconds in, a spotlight randomly lights up a section of the stands where he is found walking among the fans.
ARDEN
"His opponent! Being accompanied to the ring by The Lady, Elizavetta Von Dutch! Weighing in at one hundred and eighty five pounds. From Hell, Michigan. HE IS THE RAGMAN!! JAG'HATAAAAAAAAAIIIIIII D'HAAAAAAAAAAABIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!"
He finally gets down to ring level, where Elizavetta Von Dutch waits for him, holding her signature umbrella and he slides off his jacket and slides in the ring, after a considerable amount of time, four minutes and nineteen seconds, the length of his whole entrance song.
HANSON
"Our opening contest, folks. Jag'hatai D'habi versus BU---HEY WAIT!!"
As The Ragman gets in the ring, following behind Elizavetta Von Dutch, Bushi runs across the ring and pushes her out of the way and starts hammering on the post apocalyptic warrior. Quickly turning his face to spray mist at The Lady Elizavetta Von Dutch, she puts her umbrella in the way blocking the mist from hitting her and then folding it up she smacks him in the mid section with her umbrella and Jag’hatai gets his wits about him and performs a double leg takedown on his opponent, as the bell rings and Elizavetta casually gets out of the ring, opens her umbrella and yawns to the crowd.
~DING DING DING~
Finally the bell rings and The Ragman doesn’t even let his opponent up, trapping both arms with his shins, he takes his opponents hand in his own and shakes his to the roar of the crowd and rolls forward letting Bushi up, who immediately complains to Referee Greer whose only response is to extend his arms and call for the fight to begin. Jag’hatai, looking like a man who wants to dish out a little more punishment than normal, reaches out his left hand and spins Bushi to face him, landing a stiff gaztrizien, or full frontal kick to the stomach, fully showcasing his pankration background, which doubles the masked wrestler over. Referee Greer backs Jag’hatai up and checks to see if Bushi is injured.
Jag’hatai goes to his corner and bends over and converses with his manager the lovely Elizavetta Von Dutch, receiving a running knee in the corner from Bushi who shoves the ref out of the way. Stomping away, Bushi seems not much the worse for wear after the stunning kick earlier. The referee gets in between the two fighters and Jag’hatai stands up and looks directly at his opponent, eyes burning with fire. Bushi bounces off the far ring ropes and Jag’hatai steps one step forward, and flips Bushi straight into the turnbuckle right behind him. Kipping back up but not letting his opponent get too much space to breath The Ragman begins to advance on Bushi. Bushi wisely rolls out of the ring and starts to stumble around the ring apron.
HANSON
"I don't think Bushi knew what he was getting himself into, when he asked for this match, Jim."
REYNOLDS
"No, kidding, Nicky. Bushi might wanna step back and restrategize."
Noticing Elizavetta, and likely seeking retribution from earlier he begins to stalk forward to her menacingly. The Lady, still not budging motions for the wrestler to come after her, and once he does, ducking she lets him run straight into the outside ring post. When she stands back up, her face actually smiling she calmly walks over to the ring announcers table and pics up a microphone “Bushi, sweetie, if you attack me again, I let my man loose, because up until now, he has been playing with you.”
4
5
6
Bushi rolls back in the ring and right back out again and he looks directly at Elizavetta again, this time running right at her. Seeing his intentions, she calmly raises the microphone back to her lips and says “Get Em” at which Jag’hatai slides out in front of her, in between the running man and where she once stood and hip tosses Bushi into the announcer table, causing it to fall.
HANSON
"WHOA!! AND THERE GOES OUR TABLE!!!"
REYNOLDS
"YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! WATCH WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE DOING, RAGBOY!!"
HANSON
"Ragman, Jim. Get it right."
REYNOLDS
"Fuck you, Nicky! He broke our table!"
The referee restarts his count and Jag’hatai rolls back in the ring as the lights go out for a second or two. As the lights come on EVIL from Los Ingobernables de Japon is standing in the ring and the crowd goes wild because Jag’hatai does not see the intruder. When both Jag’hatai and the referee turn to see who has entered the ring Jag’hatai looks prepared to fight this man too, if it comes down to it. The referee starts admonishing EVIL to get out of the ring as Bushi reenters the ring, and prepares his mist. Spinning Jag’hatai around and quickly spraying him in the face with the black mist, while the referee is finally getting EVIL out of the ring, Jag hatai is now blinded with pain. Extending his reach blindly with punches that are way off their mark, Jag’hatai is having to listen to calls from his manager from the outside.
HANSON
"Now what the hell is EVIL even out here for?! This had to be a setup!"
REYNOLDS
"EVIL and Ethan Skinner should swap where they get their eyeliner! They'd be good buddies!"
Sensing the end is near, Bushi climbs to the top rope and jumps off intending to lnd the MX to finish the fight. Suddenly, as if by reflex Jag’hatai grabs a leg and wrenches down on a ankle lock, cinching it in, and his face, which was in agony a few second ago, is now in a state of zen, wrenching down on Bushi in the middle of the ring, hoping for a victory. Twirling her umbrella and moving to their corner Elizavetta is pulling out a water bottle and takes a small sip. Looking aghast at Evil who is still at ring side, who steps away from the ring apron arms up when the referee approaches him, Elizavetta quickly drops her umbrella, rolls in the ring, clears her mans eyes of the black mist and rolls back out the other side, leaving Jag’hatai to maintain his ankle lock.
HANSON
"If BUSHI doesn't escape or tap, Jag'hatai might break his ankle!"
Just as Nick Hanson says this, BUSHI manages to reach the ropes and force Jag'hatai to break the hold. The Ragman does so immediately, letting go of his leg and rolls back onto his feet. As BUSHI pulls himself to his feet, however, Jag'hatai D'habi promptly grabs him around the waist and hits a release German Suplex, stunning the crowd. As BUSHI reels on the mat, Jag'hatai picks him up to his feet and Irish Whips him chest first into the corner, coming off the ropes and delivering Clotho's Whip!! BUSHI goes down hard and Jag'hatai, still blinking away some mist in his eyes, makes the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
~DING DING DING~
As "Wakanda" resumes, Elizavetta Von Dutch slides into the ring, pouring more water over Jag'hatai's face to finish clearing his eyes
ARDEN
"Here is your winner....."THE RAGMAN"....JAG'HATAAAAAAAIIIII D'HAAAAAAAAABIIIIIII!!!!!"
As BUSHI rolls out of the ring and retreats, Elizavetta Von Dutch and Jag'hatai D'habi remain in the ring with the Ragman watching the LIJ member carefully.
Match Winner: Jag'hatai D'habi by Pinfall
Match Time: 12:47
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Through the mist in a darkened room, barely with any light illuminating the inside, chains dangle from the ceiling. Two massive figures loom in the shadows. There's an ominous mood about the scene as one of the figures steps forward, glaring at the camera from under his signature mask, behind a shroud of messy, black hair. Doomsday, from the Dominion of Pain, growls low as he steps into what little light there is.
"It's been years...since I've had a challenge laid out such as the one at Gang Warfare." His voice, as always, is a deep growl. "Minoru Suzuki...I have not felt the thrill of an incoming fight like this since the last time NFW rose from the ashes. But your persistence...your...brutality...has awoken something dormant within me.... In two weeks from now...you seek to further solidify your name in the annals of this business by claiming another Tag Team Championship. I welcome you. We welcome you! Bring your young protege...for your trial to claim this...." Doomsday lifts up one half of the NFW Tag Team Championship. "...will put you again not one...but two...monsters!"
"Your crimes against this man's son... will not go unpunished." Belphegor growled, walking into the camera's view, Face painted like a skull, but mostly hidden behind his beard and the long, scraggly hair that hung in front of his eyes, the 6'10" giant flexed his hands into fists, lifting his own tag title belt and clanking it against Doomsday's. "It's time for the Hounds of Hell to be let off the leash, and show what we are truly capable of. Suzuki... you are about to learn a brand new meaning of the word 'pain'."
"And lo you will hear our voices say...come and see...." Doomsday set the championship over his shoulder and tossed his hair out of his face, giving a clearer view of his deranged eyes. "For tonight...you will see the pale riders strike...as the G.O.D...finally meet their destiny." Doomsday looked to Belphegor then, nodding before walking out of frame, leading the way from the camera as the shot faded out.
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[MATCH #2. TAG TEAM MATCH - ULTRA-VIOLENCE VS GUERRILLAS OF DESTINY]
G.O.D (Firing Squad) fills the arena as the lights dim and the video wall comes to life with the G.O.D logo. A mixture of boos and cheers fills the arena as the Guerrillas of Destiny appear out on the stage. Tanga Loa's wearing his simple gear of camo patterned shorts and boots. Tama Tonga's in his full gear, complete with his Red Hood helm as he struts arrogantly in front of the camera. Noticeably, the brothers are rocking the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Titles again.
ARDEN
"The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall!! Introducing first!! Representing Bullet Club! At a combined weight of four-hundred and twenty-nine pounds! The Silverback...Tanga Loa...the Bad Boy...Tama Tonga! The Guerrillaaaaaas of Destinyyyyyyy!!!"
HANSON
"Well, sorry, Jim."
REYNOLDS
"Sorry for what?"
HANSON
"This is the first of three Dominion of Pain matches, you have to call."
REYNOLDS
"Ah, Christ! Wait. They hate him."
Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa enter the ring, removing their gear and throwing each other a Too Sweet as their music fades out and they wait in their corner.
REYNOLDS
"Fuuuuuuuuuuck!"
As Calavera Conspiracy's "Ultra-Violent" shreds through the speakers, the tag team Ultra-Violence - collectively Belphegor and Doomsday - come storming through the curtain and out onto the stage. Together, they are NFW's Tag Team Champions. Belphegor carries his belt over his shoulder.
ARDEN
"Their opponents!! Representing the Dominion of Pain!! At a combined weight of six-hundred and seventy-eight pounds!! They are the NFW Tag Team Champions!! Belphegor and Doomsday....ULTRAAAAAAAA-VIOLEEEEENNNNCCCEEEE!!!!!!"
Doomsday lets his dangle by his side as he clutches the strap. The two march briskly, no nonsense, towards the ring. Doomsday tosses his belt into the ring and climbs up onto the apron. He steps over the top rope as Belphegor slides in under the bottom rope. In true Ultra-Violence fashion, Doomsday removes his jacket and throws it in the face of the G.O.D. As they throw it aside, Doomsday and Belphegor rush in and initiate a pre-bell attack. It's nothing personal. It's just how Ultra-Violence operates. No formalities. They came here to fight.
~DING DING DING~
The match began with Belphegor and Tama Tonga in the ring, jarring for position. Belphegor ended up winning this struggle due to his obvious strength advantage and began taking Tama on a swear-filled trip all around the ring, tossing him around with a variety of big power moves. This went on for a couple of minutes before Belphegor decided to tag his partner, Doomsday, in to let him take over. Doomsday was slower but just as dangerous as he continued to power out of anything Tama tried to get him locked up in and continued throwing him around like a child. Eventually, after a double chokehold throw, Tama ended up landing in a sitting position back in his own corner. His brother, Tanga Loa, leaned over the ropes and blind tagged his way in, assuring his brother he had this.
HANSON
"Tanga Loa, now, gonna tag in for his brother Tama Tonga who just spent the better part of two minutes getting manhandled like a child."
REYNOLDS
"I've seen pornos that looked like that, Nicky."
HANSON
"Oh, Jesus, c'mon!"
Once again, Doomsday attempted to continue his usual offense of using his strength against Tanga as he got his hands on him. Being the bigger out of the G.O.D, however, Tanga was able to escape Doomsday's grip, using his own impressive strength. While he wasn't able to toss Doomsday around, given the man's size per say, he was able to start wearing him down with low shots to the knees and midsection, backing the big man into the corner where he started laying into him until the referee called for the break and began the count.
1!
2!
3!
4!
Just before '5', Tanga Loa backed off of Pitt and bowed up on the referee. "I know what I'm doing! Fuck outta my face!" He snapped audibly on camera before turning around towards Doomsday again and right into a heavy clothesline from the grizzled veteran. Doomsday started mounting a comeback against Tanga, hitting him with a few big moves before he went for a pinfall out of a powerslam.
ONE!!
TWO!!
But Tanga Loa kicked out and Doomsday tagged Belphegor back in to take a rest. Belphegor continued to work Tanga over a little more, hitting him with another counter powerslam and went for his own pin attempt.
ONE!!
TWO!!
But this time, Tama Tonga broke up the count, running in and booting Belphegor in the back of the head. It did little more than piss Belphegor off as he got up and started moving towards Tama. The Tongan wrestler threw up his hands in submission as he backed up into his corner. "Hey, it's cool, bro! It's cool!" He could be heard saying with a smirk...as Tanga Loa recovered and hit Belphegor with a chop block from behind and both Guerrillas started laying the boots and strikes to him. Doomsday attempted to get in the ring to help but the referee turned his attention on him and started trying to keep him back. This gave the G.O.D the opening they needed, as Mannheim was positioned over the middle rope for Jado to step in with his kendo stick WHACKING it right over Belphegor head with a sickening crack and a reaction from the crowd.
HANSON
"AW, C'MON!!!"
REYNOLDS
"THAT WAS PERFECTLY SETUP!!"
HANSON
"THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR!"
Finally, the referee managed to get Doomsday to stay on the apron and turned his attention back to the match. Here, Tanga Loa tagged in Tama Tonga who slithered in, behind Belphegor, obviously looking to catch him with the Gun Stun. The crowd's boos turned to cheers then, all of a sudden, as movement came from the stage and down the ramp. Tama Tonga turned, at the sound of the commotion just in time to see Kenny Omega inside the ring, jumping on him and taking him down with a Lou Thesz Press and started raining shots.
~DING DING DING~
The referee called for the bell as Tanga Loa hurried inside the ring to try and help his brother but, seconds after Kenny Omega arrived, The Young Bucks hit the ring right behind him and jumped on Tanga, starting a two on one attack. All three members of the ELITE, wearing their appropriate team logos on their clothes as they took it to the Guerrillas of Destiny. The Pit in Albuquerque was on it's feet as they were seeing an obvious retaliation for two weeks ago. Finally, Kenny Omega was able to subdue Tama Tonga, who had started to fight back with a V-Trigger, knocking him dazed to the mat. Tanga Loa went down after a double superkick from the Young Bucks.
THE! ELITE! THE! THE! ELITE!
THE! ELITE! THE! THE! ELITE!
As this all began to unfold, Ultra-Violence, not really caring enough to scrap with The Elite, turned and left ringside, heading backstage. The crowd chanted as Kenny Omega surveyed the damage they had caused, but the look on his face said they weren't finished yet. His eyes finally settled on Tanga Loa, before briefly looking back at Tama Tonga. Looking back at Tanga Loa, Kenny pointed with a shaky hand to Nick Jackson. "Nick! Get a table out!" He gestured to outside of the ring. Nick and Matt Jackson exchanged brief looks before shrugging and Nick slid out of the ring, going under to get a table out. As he started setting it up, Kenny and Matt began putting the boots to Tanga Loa. Tama Tonga started to pull himself back to his feet but Matt Jackson put him down with another superkick. Outside of the ring, meanwhile, Nick had not only set the table up but revealed that this was part of the plan all along as he produced a can of white spray paint, holding it up to the crowd as they gave a pop.
REYNOLDS
"The hell is he doing now?! Some badasses they are, pulling the numbers game on two guys who were in the middle of a match!"
HANSON
"Really? We're gonna do this, right now? You're gonna condemn the numers game? Gimme a break."
As the commentators chattered and the crowd looked on, Nick Jackson shook up the can of paint and sprayed E L I T E across the table top with an underline beneath it. The crowd's pop got even louder as he shot a few bursts of spraypaint into the air. He did the Dumb & Dumber mouth freshener gig with the can before dropping it and walking over to pull Tanga Loa out onto the apron as Matt and Kenny pushed him under the bottom rope. Kenny got out onto the apron and started picking Tanga up with Nick's help. The crowd started going absolutely nuts as Kenny leaned down to lift Tanga up onto his shoulders, balancing carefully on the edge of the ring.
HANSON
"Ohhhhh my gooooodddd."
REYNOLDS
"Whaaaaaat the HELL is Omega doing?! He's gonna kill the man!!"
HANSON
"He might kill them both if he's not careful!"
Nick and Matt Jackson looked at the setup Kenny Omega had Tanga Loa in, wide eyed and jaw dropped in that mocking expression of shock. They turned that look towards eachother, then back to Kenny and Tanga as Kenny moved one of Tanga's legs back off of his shoulder. Nick and Matt turned towards the crowd, throwing up the One Sweet.
"ELITE BABAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!"
REYNOLDS
"He's not gonna really do this, is he Nick--- OH SHI----!!!!"
They yelled to the cheering crowd as Kenny Omega jumped down from the apron and delivered a devastating One Winged Angel to Tanga Loa, CRASHING through the table.
HANSON
"OHHHHH....MY......GOD!!!"
REYNOLDS
"HE MIGHT HAVE BROKEN TANGA LOA'S DAMN NECK!!!!"
HANSON
"I DON'T THINK HE GIVES A DAMN, JIM!!!"
HO-LY SHIT!
HO-LY SHIT!
HO-LY SHIT!
HO-LY SHIT!
Nick and Matt helped Kenny up to his feet as he shook off the bump he took himself from going through a table. Pushing his hair out of his face, he reached out towards Roger Arden, calling for the microphone. Taking the mic from the man, Kenny looked right into the camera with his narrowed eyed look, showing shades of his more cocky 'Cleaner' gimmick.
"Devitt?" Kenny paused, letting the crowd speak for their actions that The Elite just carried out before he continued. "Let the war...officially...begin. Goodbye..." He brought up the gun finger and pressed it to his lips. "Mmmmwah....and goodnight." Turning to point the finger down at the unconcious Tanga Loa, Kenny 'pulled the trigger.' "Bang!" He then tossed the microphone to the floor as Devil's Sky began to play throughout the arena and made his way, with the Young Bucks, over to and up the ramp as EMTs came running passed them to check on one half of the G.O.D while Tama Tonga finally regained conciousness and rolled out of the ring to check on his brother, as well with the shot fading out.
Match Winners: G.O.D by Disqualification
Match Time: 10:42
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The scene shifts to the back where we see Paul Heyman, looking more calm and reserved standing with Zack Sabre Jr. and Minoru Suzuki, who are calmly watching the tag match on the monitor in the back.*
"Well, gentlemen? Here we are, right before Gang Warfare and in these past weeks, have Doomsday and Balphegor shown you enough?" Heyman asks both Suzuki and Sabre. Suzuki gives a short snort, indicating he was unimpressed.
"Yeah, you said it right, Minoru my man," Sabre says. "What the hell was that? In these past several weeks, we've seen both these men in action in both singles and tag matches. Yeah, they're big and bad, but they're stupid for showing their hand and shooting their load all at once. If all this was the best that these two men can do, come Gang Warfare, those tag belts are as good as ours. I mean, look at Doomsday. He nearly gets his ass kicked by a fucking cruiserweight and both he and Balphegor got worked over by an idiot in a mask who doesn't know what year he's in. Ultraviolent? No, more like Overrated is a better way to describe those two," Sabre says as both Heyman and Suzuki chuckle as all three turn to the camera.
"Shinshi, koreha kojin-tekina kotode wa arimasen. Betsu no toki ni, anata futari wa watashi no guntai ni ie o mitsuketadeshou. Shikashi, anata wa watashitachi ni zokusuru mono o motte imasu. Watashitachi to issho ni ie ni kaeru no ni yori tekishite iru nani ka. Jikai au toki, karera wa watashitachi to issho ni ienikaerunode, anata ga sō suru koto ga dekiru ma anata ga sorera no chanpionshipputaitoru de motte iru jikan o tanoshinde kudasai. Soshite, anata wa hokanohito to onajiyōni, naze manabudeshou SUZUKI-GUN, ICHIBAN!!!" Suzuki sneers into the camera as he holds up his index finger while Sabre holds up both middle fingers flipping off the camera and Heyman smirking and nodding as the camera fades to black.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dude, I'm telling you right now." The camera jumped to inside The Unwanted's locker room after the voice was heard to show Adam Cole going through his locker and constantly looking back over his shoulder at someone off camera. "I'm telling you right now." He repeated, pulling out a roll of wrist tape and closing the door before he stepped over a bench. "I'm all for kicking the living shit out of someone with some new partners. But if Alex and Erin are gonna find us someone for Gang Warfare, I'd like an idea of who the hell we're working with!"
"Mia promised us they've got this taken care of." Jay White replied, looking.... remarkably nonplussed compared to how much of a panic Cole was in. "Until she gives me a reason to doubt her... I'm gonna trust that that's the case. Besides... I already pinned Lasher once." White said with a cocky sneer, looking almost overly confident. "I'll do it again even if it ends up four-on-two."
"If you say so, man." Cole said, reaching back and pulling the hair tie out of his hair and let his long hair fall freely, preparing for their match against Buzzsaw and Darius Crowley. "I trust Mia, too. But can we trust Merlex?"
"Hey!" Adrianna Salvatore stepped in from the side, getting their attention. "Don't even ask that, Adam. We may be family, but trust me. Alex and Erin are friends of this family. You can count on them. I trust them, Mia trusts them, Shelley trusts them," She thumbed back over her shoulder, off camera.
"What about Angel?" Adam asks with a smirk. "She trust them?"
Adrianna rolled her eyes, wanting to whack the man upside the head. "Bonkers is Bonkers and we love her. Just let her do her. We can count on Alex. Right Shels?" Adrianna turned, looking off camera.
Shelley looked up when she heard Adrianna call her by one of her nicknames and nodded, getting up and walking into the frame. "You don't have to worry about Merlex. And ask Angel whatever you want. She doesn't even need her app while I'm here." She then paused, "not that I take the Dominion as much of a threat anyway."
"Ladies. Gentlemen. .....Adam." Mia said with a snarky chuckle as she walked in, somehow shining bright as a diamond in spite of being easily the tiniest person in the room. "It's taken care of. Soon as the cameras are out of here, I'll fill you in. This is gonna work out just fine. How we all doing? Everyone focused and ready?"
"Abso-fucking-lutely!" Adam perked up. "Superswitch is ready for war, bay-bay!"
Adrianna made a face as she looked between Adam and Jay. "Superswitch?"
"Yeah?" Adam shrugs. "We used to do it in Bullet Club before they decided to be dumbasses and got rid of their coolest member." Silently mouthing 'me' he thumbs to himself and bounces his eyebrows up and down. "So...superkicks...." He motions to himself. "Switchblade." He motions over to Jay White. "Superswitch!"
Adrianna raises an eyebrow and looks at Jay White, as if to ask the man if Adam even talked this over with him. Before she can get a word out, Angel Kusanagi comes slowly walking into frame with her phone in her hand but she seems to be off in her own world still.
Jay just looked at Adrianna, shaking his head as he mouthed the words "...fucking moron..." He blinked in surprise then, at Angel. Somehow, she still managed to throw him off a little. Sometimes weirdness never fails to stun, one supposes. "The hell is nutzo looking at? She's been on that phone all day."
Just then, a smooth, suave Japanese man's voice came from the cell phone and Angel got a little grin on her face like a school girl seeing her crush. A small giggle even escaped her. Adrianna looked over and down at Angel's phone. Her face alone saying just how weird it was. "What...the...?"
Angel looked up at the rest of The Unwanted and showed them her phone like it was a normal thing. "Ikemen Sengoku...Romances...Across...Time!" She grinned big and nodded.
Shelley raised an eyebrow after listening to something coming out of Angel's phone in Japanese. "Well, that's hardly PG. I'm sure that game is somehow rated teen." She then looked up seeing the question on everyone's faces. "Uh... don't ask."
Mia snickered, looking at the others. "Suffice it to say that if my dad's watching this, he's freaking out, all 'MIA! WHAT KIND FRIENDS YOU HAVE???'... Adrianna knows I'm right, too. She just met him this past week. He's the most adorably sweet stereotype you'll ever meet."
Adrianna couldn't help but smirk as she put an arm over Mia's shoulders. "He really is. I'm glad he's cool with...you know...us." Granted Mia's dad looked a little shocked when Mia introduced her 5'8" completely tatted up girlfriend to the man. "Anyway. You two need to get out there and kick some ass." She pointed to Jay and Adam. "Trust me, trust us, you guys are covered at Gang Warfare."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Adam Cole handed out high fives and fist bumps to all the girls before slapping Jay White in the chest. "Time to go kick some spooky bitches' asses!!" Adam looked into the camera, gesturing towards the Dominion as he brought up two middle fingers and stepped out of frame, heading out of the locker room.
White just stood, slowly, again giving Cole an utterly annoyed look. Turning for a moment before following his partner, he gave a sick grin to the girls, before dragging his thumb slowly across his throat. "Tonight.... The Dominion... once again.... breathes.... with the Switchblade!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[MATCH #3. TAG TEAM MATCH - THE UNWANTED (WHITE/COLE) VS THE DOMINION OF PAIN (BUZZSAW/CROWLEY)]
REYNOLDS
"This music is so fucking creepy, Nicky...."
HANSON
"What, you're scared of this now, too?"
REYNOLDS
"I said the music, Nicky!"
As Yonosuke Kitamura's "Switchblade" fills the arena, the tag team of "Switchblade" Jay White and Adam Cole make their way out onto the stage. Adam Cole adjusts his jacket lapels while Jay White idly toys with an actual switchblade knife in his hand.
ARDEN
"The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first! At a combined weight of four hundred and thirty pounds! Representing the Unwanted!! From Panama City, Florida...ADAM COLE!! And his tag team partner, from Auckland, New Zealand! SWITCHBLADE...JAY WHIIIIIITE!!!"
Jay White and Adam Cole enter the ring, striking his signature cut throat pose. Right behind him, Adam Cole strikes his own, accidentally yelling in Jay's ear to some light humor to the crowd.
ADAM COLE BAY-BAY!!
Jay White rubs the inside of his ear with a finger as he and Adam Cole inaudibly debate over the mishap as they move to their corner.
HANSON
"This is what happens when two egos come together, Jim. Remember that."
REYNOLDS
"You say that, like you're gonna find one, Nicky. Sit down and shut up."
REYNOLDS
"Oh God, no...."
HANSON
"Uhh...oh Satan, yes?"
REYNOLDS
"Har-fucking-har, Nicky."
As Ghost's "Year Zero" plays in a darkened arena, lighters and cell phones appear, illuminating throughout the audience as devoted fans sing along to the entrance music. At the first chorus mark, the lights come on over the mist covered stage to reveal Buzzsaw, standing with his head down. He lifts his head slowly as, beside him, Darius Crowley rises right out of the smoke and the two begin approaching the ring.
ARDEN
"Their opponents! Representing the Dominion of Pain!! At a combined weight of four-hundred and forty pounds!! The team of DARIUS...CROWLEY...aaaaaand BUUUUUUZZSAAAAAAAAAW!!!!!!"
Buzzsaw and Darius Crowley reach the ring, each entering in their own patented manner. From his sitting position in the center of the ring, Darius slowly looks over and scowls at Jay White and Adam Cole. Buzzsaw watches the two coldly, removing his t-shirt and loosening up his legs for the impending match. It's a partial preview to Gang Warfare. Shit's about to get ugly.
~DING DING DING~
The match began with Adam Cole on The Unwanted side and Buzzsaw starting off for The Dominion. The two squared off with Cole trying to get a hold of Buzzsaw to take him down to the mat, but Buzzsaw's own MMA background helped him stay on his feet. He began to answer back with stiff kicks and hard elbows, really showing his genuine martial arts discipline. Still, Cole managed to swat off a few strikes until he caught Buzzsaw in the middle of an attempt at a spinning heel kick and hit him with a dragonscrew, torquing his leg and sending him across the mat. Meanwhile, Cole popped up to his feet, throwing his fingers in the air as the crowd joined him in a thunderous--
"ADAM COLE BAY-BAY!!!!"
HANSON
"Adam Cole playing to the crowd and trying to get under Buzzsaw's skin!"
REYNOLDS
"I'm not sure if he wants to really do that, Nicky!"
He grinned smugly at Buzzsaw as the two circled the ring again and engaged in another exchange of grappling and strikes. Eventually, Buzzsaw began to show dominance and mount an impressive offense against the usually slippery Cole, forcing Cole to tag in Jay White. White proved to be a slightly better matchup against Buzzsaw with his overall style and general way of how he handled things. He may have been a member of The Unwanted but none of them considered themselves Saints. White certainly didn't as he began using the ropes and poking the eyes whenever he could to get an advantage. Eventually, the two broke apart and Buzzsaw opted to tag in Darius Crowley. To mixed reactions, the Son of the Damned entered the ring and squared up with Jay White, taking to a technical contest with him. Jay White was more experienced but Darius Crowley, at this point, was fresher in the ring and began mixing in his technical wrestling with genuine Muay Thai kicks and elbows to start wearing Jay White down. Eventually, Darius landed a sharp spinning back elbow to White's head and followed up with a snap DDT, rolling him up for the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!
REYNOLDS
"Whew! That was a close one!"
HANSON
"White kicks out after a DDT and he keeps himself and his tag team partner alive to continue this match!"
From here, Darius Crowley and Buzzsaw continued to tag back and forth, gradually working on Jay White with hard strikes and grounded submission moves. White managed to make it to the ropes each time, especially when Buzzsaw had the DNR locked in on him and Cole stepped in to rush Buzzsaw to try and make the save. Darius Crowley intervened, stopping Cole's attempt with a Slingblade. This, however, distracted Buzzsaw just enough to allow Jay White to scoot himself towards the rope to get his foot on the bottom rope. Buzzsaw stood up, hovering and waiting for Adam Cole to get up to his knees as the referee ushered Darius Crowley out. Cole came up onto his knees, receiving a BUZZSAW KICK right to the head. As Cole hit the mat, knocked damn near unconcious, Jay White had gotten to his feet and stood poised and waiting for Buzzsaw. While the referee was still talking down Darius, Jay White dropped to his knees and LOW BLOWED Buzzsaw from behind!! He then turned him around, grabbed him and delivering the BLADERUNNER. The exhaustion, however, left Jay White down on the mat with his partner Adam Cole and Buzzsaw as the referee finally turned around with Darius on the mat. The referee took a minute to help Adam Cole come to and usher him back out onto the apron as Jay White dragged himself over to Buzzsaw and rolled him over onto his back, draping an arm over him.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR---KICKOUT BY BUZZSAW!!!!
HANSON
"OHHHHHHHH!!!! MAN!!!!! THAT WAS NEARLY IT!!!"
REYNOLDS
"Must have done some kinda ritual to get this sort of endurance tonight!!"
As things escalated in the match, Jay White initiated a brawl with Darius Crowley outside of the ring. As the legal men in the ring, Buzzsaw and Adam Cole continued going at one another, until Buzzsaw managed to lock in the DNR in on Adam Cole, wrenching the man's neck back. Outside of the ring, Jay White was unable to slide in and break up the hold as Darius Crowley had began gaining the upper hand over him with his brutal strikes. Inside the ring, Adam Cole finally tapped away at Buzzsaw's arm until the referee pulled him off. Buzzsaw's singles theme "Make Your Own Bones" by Nothingface filled the arena as he dropped Adam Cole's body to the mat and stepped back. The referee was finally able to break Crowley and White up, prompting to White to slide into the ring to wake Cole up. Crowley joined Buzzsaw on the main ramp as the two celebrated their victory.
Match Winners: Buzzsaw & Darius Crowley
Match Time: 18:53
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting down backstage in the arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ethan skinner is looking at his handguard, given to him by Doomsday to protect his hand when he obliterates fools with his TKP. Dripping in sweat, it is obvious he got in one last workout before what is likely the biggest match of his career so far. Setting the handguard aside, he looks up at the camera and moves his hair out f the way as he sits upright
“Have you heard the stories of the Kowhai Blossom. My ma used to tell me this story a lot when I was younger, likely after my dad came home drunk and slapped her around a little, to quiet me down. “ Pulling out a small book from his gym bag. “ Since the majority of you have likely never heard this tale, let me read it to you. This story is written by Isabel M. Peacocke.
The Bush Babies lie In cradles of gold; They haven’t a stitch, But they never take cold; For the golden flowers, And the golden sun, And the golden smiles Upon everyone—Keep the world warm and bright And flooded with light For the Bush Babies In their cradles of gold.
The Bush Babies come out of the kowhai flowers. They are the prettiest little things—fair as lilies with golden ringlets, and little golden peaked caps, bent over like a horn upon their heads. I don’t think they wear anything else much, just an odd little fluff of green here and there, like stray feathers that have stuck to them.
The Piccaninnies love to play with them; indeed, they’re favourites with everyone, and it’s the prettiest sight in the world at early morning, to see each Bush Baby crawling out of its cradle flower on its little tummy, yawning or smiling or stretching, or blinking at the light with round sleepy eyes.
But you would never get up early enough to see that.
They tell a story in the Bush about a Bush Baby and a Piccaninny—and laugh about it to this day. The Piccaninny told the Bush Baby that he would find some honey for her. Now the Bush Babies love honey better than anything else in the world, so she put her hand in his sweetly and off they set.
They came to the edge of the swamp where the tall branching flax flowers grow (the flax is not in flower when the kowhai is, but I can’t spoil my story for that), and every flax flower was alive with birds, dipping, and sipping the honey, so the two little creatures wandered off again.
The Piccaninny led the Bush Baby to several other flowers, but at every one some bird or insect would edge them away, crying out:
“We got here first!”
At last the Bush Baby began to cry. They are very young and tender things, these Babies, and this one had been caught and scratched by the Bush Lawyer, the most spiteful plant in the Bush, and had nearly fallen into a creek, and the peak of its cap was dangling into its eye, and it was a long way from home.
To comfort it the Piccaninny put his little brown arms right round it and loved it, and they both sat down on a fallen tree to rest while he wiped its eyes with a soft green leaf—they didn’t know about pocket handkerchiefs yet.
Oh! The next moment out of a hole in the tree flew a swarm of angry bees, with humming wings and large fierce eyes and tails curved down to strike.
The Bush Baby was so astonished that she fell off the log, and there she lay face down on the green moss, so still that the bees took her for a fallen kowhai blossom and droned away from her.
But the Piccaninny ran for his life, with all the bees after him, and when the noise of their angry buzzing had died away, the Bush Baby got up and had a rare feast of honey, and went back home very sticky and blissful and contented.
There is more to the story, but stopping here to prove my point.” He closes the book and puts it back in his bag. “ I keep that book with me and I used to to calm me when the urge to burn this place down gets too much. Father says I need to be more calm, more centred. So I shall be.
Now I am sure a lot of you are wondering how this ties back into my match in a few hours time. Chris Wolfe, the Big Bad Wolfe. You, just like your nickname, are living in a fairy world, and that belt you hold is my honey. I have finally gotten to a point where I will be taking what is mine, everything I am owed, starting with your belt. You see, Chris. You’re in an awful predicament now. I am not three little pigs you can just huff and puff and blow my house down. My house is stronger than all that, I am stronger than all that. You’re friend was right, more people should be scared of me, and what I can do. A lot of people around here, don’t fear me, and they should. I will show you in a few hours time, what kind of man I am, you’ll see. Don’t worry though, I respect you, I won’t be spitting lemons in your eye like I did NFW’s second favourite whipping boy, Ryan Steele. I respect you. Ish.
I am done for now, thanks for keeping my new belt warm. ‘Preciate it bro.
Ethan gets up and heads to an ice bath after his last mocking sentence, smugly smiling for the camera.
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[MATCH #4. SINGLES MATCH FOR THE NFW TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP - ETHAN SKINNER VS CHRIS WOLFE (C)]
Nagual's Ka Mate fills the arena through the speaker system as the lights immediately dim down, shrouding the audience in darkness. Suddenly, the camera cuts to the area behind the curtain, known as the gorilla position. We see a pair of boots slowly making their way towards the curtain as the camera pans upwards. Before a full look is shown of the individual, the camera cuts back to the arena as pyro erupts from the stage, obscuring the entryway. After a long moment, the storm of sparks die down as the camera pans up the ramp towards the revealed visage of Ethan Skinner. As the camera hones in on the man’s face, he lifts his gaze from the floor...and a cold smile forms across his face as he stares down at the ring, smoke spewing from his nose and from between his teeth, making his expression even more terrifying. Finally, he moves forward, briskly walking down the ramp as ring announcer, Roger Arden’s voice, thunders throughout the arena.
ARDEN
“The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the NFW Television Championship!! Introducing first, the challenger!! Making his way to the ring...from Burnham Camp, New Zealand!! Weighing in at two hundred and twenty six pounds! Representing the Dominion of Pain!! ETHAAAAAAAAAN SKIIIIIINNEEEEEEEEEEERR!!!”
REYNOLDS
"Can't wait to see Chris Wolfe whup this little bitch boy's ass, Nicky!"
HANSON
"If you're not afraid of him, why don't you say it to his face?"
REYNOLDS
"I will!"
Ethan Skinner reaches the ring, ascending the steps and promptly entering the ring, finding his corner as he silently stares down at the ramp with a cold, calculated look of a maniacal genius.
The crowd goes into a pop as Fort Minor's "Remember The Name" fills the arena. Without any real time wasted, as soon as the lyrics start, the NFW Televison Champion, Chris Wolfe comes out on stage, pumped up as always. He cups his hands over his mouth and shouts to the crowd. The crowd echoes back and he starts briskly down towards the ring.
ARDEN
"His opponent!! From Brooklyn, New York!! Weighing in at two hundred and twenty two pounds! He is the New Frontier Wrestling Television Champion...BIG...BAD...CHRIIIIIIS...WOOOOOOOOOOLFE!!!!!"
Chris Wolfe continues down towards the ring, entering quick and ready under the bottom rope and shouts to the crowd again before removing the TV Championship from around his waist and holding it up proudly for Pentagon Jr to see before handing it to the referee. The referee holds the title up again, officially, displaying it to the crowd and handing it to the timekeeper and calling for the bell.
~DING DING DING~
Coming out of both corners the two men collide in the centre of the ring in a collar and elbow tie up, jockeying for position. Taking a knee to the gut Wolfe loses his advantage first and is hip tossed into an arm bar, quickly followed up by a head scissors. Moving so his feet are outstretched, Wolfe manages to pop his head out by throwing his feet backwards and landing on them. Skinner quickly rolls backwards and stands up and silently nods at the champ and they both square off in another collar and elbow tie up, and this time Wolfe slams a knee into the challenger’s gut and doubles him over into a hip toss, arm bar and headscissor combination from Wolfe, taking a page out of Skinner’s book.
REYNOLDS
"Yeah, there you go, Wolfe!! You show that emo who's boss!"
HANSON
"I would ask if you're rooting for Chris Wolfe now, but I know exactly why you are, here."
REYNOLDS
"Do I need to say it?"
HANSON
"No, Jim."
REYNOLDS
"FUCK THE DOMINION!!"
HANSON
"I said 'no', Jim!"
Almost like this was a complete repeat from earlier, Skinner gets out the same way Wolfe escaped, and lets the man stand up. Skinner starts to walk around the ring, Wolfe in the opposite direction, both men pacing each other. Wolfe grabs Skinner and muscles him back into a neutral corner, and Skinner slips out and slides between the champs legs and kips up and turns around just in time for a superkick, that narrowly missed because Skinner did a cartwheel out of the way. Wolfe, being the professional he is, takes this in stride and propels himself into the far ropes and bounces off of them in an attempt of a forearm strike, which Skinner falls flat on his back to avoid.
HANSON
"Folks, this is what we call classic mind games, in this business. Like him or not, Ethan Skinner knows how to get into an opponent's head! The defending champion does look a little flustered."
REYNOLDS
"I call it flopping around like a dead fish. He can't block or even eat a forearm?"
HANSON
"You want a forearm from Chris Wolfe, Jim?"
REYNOLDS
"I took a Bitch Killa from Marissa Payne! You don't see me bitching and moaning. Skinner's dodging shots because he's afraid he might get a boo boo and go back to the hospital!"
Skinner rolls out of the ring, and starts talking smack to a fan or three, not noticing that Wolfe has rolled out the far side and is coming up behind him quietly, and gets his head bashed into the metal guard rail by the cham for his troubles. Wolfe rolls him back inside and and quickly delivers a thunderous kick to his opponents spine, cartwheeling through himself and delivering a dropkick to Skinner’s face, as the crowd chants.
“THIS IS AWESOME!”
“THIS IS AWESOME!”
“THIS IS AWESOME!”
Not one to have any wasted motion, Wolfe pulls Skinner to his feet and whips him across to the ropes and out of nowhere, Skinner lands a Black Arrow on the champ. Both men writhing in pain, it takes a few seconds for Skinner to roll into a cover
1
2
Kick out before three!!
Skinner rolls out of the ring again and starts to look under the ring apron, just like last week. Coming back up with two light tubes and and a sick smile on his face, walking around the ring, looking up at Wolfe’s body as he is slowly getting to his feet.
HANSON
"Hey now, what's Skinner doing? This is not a No Disqualification match, ladies and gentlemen!"
REYNOLDS
"Oh, don't you know, Nicky? Skinner's a rebel! He runs this company! Not the man who writes his goddamn paycheck! Skinner and the entire Dominion, man! They ain't nothing but a bunch of fuc---"
Stopping in front of the announce table, Skinner turns around quickly and slams both tubes in Reynolds head, mouthing the words ”Keep our name out of your mouth!"
HANSON
"WHOA!!!! MY GOD!!!! JIM!!!!! Jim? You okay?"
The camera briefly captures a shot of Jim Reynolds crumpled to the floor behind the announce table. White flourescent powder on his black jacket while pieces of glass stick to his scalp and blood soon becomes visible. He's out cold. The referee continues his count as this goes on.
11
12
13
Wolfe gets out the ring again and rolls Skinner back into the ring. Skinner rolls to a far corner and gets the same look on his face like he got last week and flies right at the champ with a TKP. His TKP didn’t connect though and Wolfe’s slams Skinners head into the mat with a snap DDT. Both men exhausted, Wolfe rolls the challenger over and attempts a pin.
1
2
Kick out before three.
Ethan Skinner gets back to his feet with the help of Chris Wolfe and starts fighting back, once again, against the TV Champion. In the climax of the match, Ethan Skinner began building up a head of steam against Chris Wolfe, wearing him down again. As momentum and pace started to pick up, Ethan Skinner managed to hit another Black Arrow off of the ropes on Chris Wolfe, taking him down to the mat. This time, Skinner popped up and stumbled back into the corner, flexing his fist with his handguard on it.
HANSON
"Ohhhh here it comes! Ladies and gentlemen, my partner Jim Reynolds is still here beside me. He's gonna need some attention, but that man right there! Ethan Skinner! He could become our new TV Champion, tonight!! He's setting up!!"
Chris Wolfe stumbled to his feet, turning around. Ethan Skinner came out of the corner, leaped into the air and---
~DING DING DING~
--NAILED Chris Wolfe with the Total Knockout Punch as the bell rang! As Wolfe went down, Skinner instinctively went for the pin until the referee was able to inform him that the match was over.
ARDEN
"Ladies and gentlemen, this match has reached the twenty-five minute time limit and is, therefore, a draw! Therefore, STILL NFW Television Champion....BIG...BAD...CHRIIIIIIS...WOOOOOOLFE!!"
HANSON
"WOW!!!! A draw for the Television Title! I don't believe it!"
Fort Minor's "Remember The Name" plays throughout the arena as Chris Wolfe celebrates keeping his title and EMTs come to ringside to check on Jim Reynolds. With them, Commissioner Steven Brody comes down, scowling and shaking his head at Ethan Skinner who just smirks at him. Steven Brody raises his eyebrows, mouthing, 'keep smiling Ethan. Keep smiling.' After he says this, he sits down in Jim Reynold's seat and puts on Jim's headset.
BRODY
"Hey, Nick."
HANSON
"Well hey boss man! You joining me on commentary?"
BRODY
"Well, someone's got to because that son of a bitch laid Jim Reynolds out on the floor."
"I'm good! I'm good! I'm....ohhh shit." Jim Reynolds says, barely over the mic as he sits up, woozy as an EMT holds a bandage to his head.
BRODY
"No, you're not Jim. Take the rest of the night off. And keep your damn mouth shut!"
Steven Brody scolds as the EMTs help Jim Reynolds away from the ring as the crowd chants.
"YOU FUCKED UP!"
"YOU FUCKED UP!"]/B]
"YOU FUCKED UP!"
"YOU FUCKED UP!"
HANSON
"Nice crowd, huh Steve?"
BRODY
"Oh, absolutely. I love Albuquerque!"
Match Winner: DRAW
Match Time: 25:00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following the Television Championship match, the camera immediately jumps backstage into a locker room where we see Nico Salvatore just finishing up in getting his gear on. He's in his trunks, boots, pads and fist tape. He just finishes pulling on one of his custom line God of War t-shirts. The back has the omega symbol from the video game logo on it with the words "GET ON YOUR KNEES AND BOW DOWN" beneath it. The front depicts Nico's scowling eyes above a wrestling ring, with Kratos' tattoo over one eye. Beneath the ring, read the words "GOD OF WRESTLING." There's a knock at the door and Nico abruptly turns to scowl at the door, off camera. "WHAT?!" He yells out, obviously still fired up from his encounter with Sugiura earlier in the show. We hear the door open and his scowl softens into a more apologetic look. "Oh...hey sis...."
Walking into frame, Nico's sister, Adrianna Salvatore appears, dressed in casual cut off jean shorts, fishnet stockings, high rise boots with buckles on them and her hooded vest over a sleeveless Danzig t-shirt. The hood is down and she's wearing an Unwanted beanie over her head. She casually lifts her hands as if to say 'don't shoot.' "Hey. You alright, in here?"
"Fine." Nico said, putting excess things back into his duffel bag as Adrianna watched him. "You need something or...?"
Adrianna straightened her head, her stance tensing up some. "Hey. What's your problem?" She frowned at Nico, folding her arms across her stomach, a little taken aback by his attitude. "I thought we were cool, now."
"We are cool, A! Will you just---" Nico looked up from his bag, raising his voice some. His sister didn't flinch but she shifted her arms to rest her hands on her hips at her brother's tone. Nico stopped himself when he realized how he was talking to her. He sighed and set his bag down on the bench. "Damn it. I'm sorry, alright? Just this whole thing with those two fucks and their fatass mouthpiece, always flappin' his shit. Then Pops and his tag partner are getting mixed up with Minoru and Sabre. Bunch of shit I don't need, right now."
"What? Hey." Adrianna reached out and pushed his shoulder to where he was facing her. "Okay, Dad and big man? They're mixed up with them because that old sadist and his bitch boy want their belts. They think Belphegor's a bumbling idiot and they think Dad's too old and broken to handle his shit. He's not thirty years old, anymore. He's not as nimble. But he's big. He's mean. He's dangerous. You worry about Hectic. Heretic. Whatever his name is."
"Havok?" Nico couldn't help a smirk as his sister waved her hand dismissively, not able to recall the name of Minoru Suzuki and Takashi Sugiura's muscle headed student who walked around in a mask.
Adrianna snapped her fingers and pointed to Nico. "Yeah. Worry about him. You have to beat him tonight, then you get a tag match right? Settle this whole thing?"
Nico nodded, reaching down to zip up his duffel bag and shoved it into his locker. "Yeah. I just gotta win. Then both of them are mine at Gang Warfare. I need a partner, though. I'm gonna see if AKI wants another crack at them. They put his boy in the hospital."
"That's the one that pissed off Dad and got manhandled the next week?" Adrianna asked for confirmation.
"Hey, lay off the guy, will ya?" Nico gave his sister a look that said to give the little Japanese man a break. "I mean, yeah. Pop wanted a one on one talk but what did he expect when he started talking shit? He thought AKI was just gonna back down? Nah. I love Pop, A. I do. But I don't blame AKI for getting a little pissed. But yeah. That's the one. He and I got unfinished business against Suzuki-gun. After that, I can start focusing on the title picture again. Maybe see if Shelley'll give me a crack at that Silver Mountain Title, huh?"
Adrianna smirked and rolled her eyes as she folded her arms under her bust again. "That isn't the only thing of Shelley's you want a crack at. Don't lie."
"Eyyyyyy!" Nico turned back from his locker, grinning and held out a fist for a fist bump. Adrianna made a grossed out face and shoved his hand away.
"Don't be gross! You shouldn't talk about that shit around me, anyway. I'm your sister. Last thing I wanna think of is you bumping uglies with any girl." Adrianna said, sitting down on the bench to relax more.
"Yeah, yeah." Nico said in a 'whatever' tone. "Put in a good word for me?" He said, sitting down with a sly grin on his face as he watched his fraternal twin. They were the same age but looked nothing alike.
Adrianna rolled her eyes. "I will but you know she isn't gonna give you a shot at the belt if all you want is the belt, right? You have to wanna beat her in a match."
"I ain't talking about the belt, A." Nico said, cracking his sly, boyish smirk again. Adrianna made a face again and slapped him in the shoulder.
"You are so-fucking-gross, Nico. I swear! You have a one track mind." She made the motion where she extended her arm, bringing her hand from her eyes and staring straight ahead. "That's you. Anyway, to answer your question, I just came to check in on my brother. He never calls or comes over, anymore." She shoved him in the shoulder, playfully. Looking a little sad.
Nico checked his wrist tape and his hand wrap on the fist he wore it on. He smirked at the shove before turning serious again. "Yeah, I know. We've both been a little on edge lately, huh? Opposite sides of...certain things?" He looked over at her. "How's Mia?"
"She's good." Adrianna nodded, affirmatively. "We're both in better moods, in spite of things." She said, leaving it at that. She knew she didn't need to remind Nico about what was going on between them and Sex & Violence. "But, anyway, I'll leave you alone for now. I know you've gotta get in your zone." Adrianna and Nico stood up, hugging each other tight. "Kick some ass out there, fratello. Like you always say...." She trailed off, waiting for him to finish.
Nico smirked, flexing his chest muscles. "I'm the gladiator. That ring's my arena." He lost his smirk and turned towards the camera, glaring through the lens at his opponent. "Havok? You're just the goddamn fodder put in there to get cut down. Suzuki-gun...." Nico paused, bringing up his index finger like he was about to use the stable's own tagline before flipping it into the middle finger, aimed at the lens, "...ain't fucking shit!" He turned and fist bumped Adrianna, before heading out of the locker room.
The final shot focused on Adrianna as she watched her brother go with an impressed smirk on her face before silently walking out of the locker room to return to her own as the shot faded out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyper Street Fighter II’s version of “Guile’s Theme” plays over a colorful background with the words “THE GAME ROOM with KAT AND SAMMI!”
Along with the bouncing images of Kat Cage and Sammi Belmont’s heads on the screen, soon a third appears. With it, the words “Guest Starring: MARY WILLIAMS!” appear. After several seconds of this screen, the image implodes into black before another screen sweeps in, bringing us to the inside of a fancy looking hotel room again. This one has a big Lay-Z Boy couch in it. Hashtag WINNING! As usual, Sammi and Katrina flank the guest of their show on either side. Katrina, as usual, is kicked back comfortably in sweat pants and an off the shoulder, cropped, Ugandan Knuckles t-shirt. Straps from her deep purple bra are visible. A 100 oz Polar Pop cup from the Circle K line of convenience stores is resting between her legs.
On the other end of the couch, there’s Sammi. Adorable...weird...goofy little Sammi. Why the weird and goofy part? Because she’s intently focused on their game while sitting cross legged on the couch, wearing a silky black bath robe that looks like it’s supposed to be stylized after a woman’s Japanese kimono. Oh and then there’s the hat -- no -- more like the WIG she’s wearing on her head. A goofy, Hot Topic quality wig made to look like Akuma from Street Fighter’s hair. Sammi has her own huge cup sitting between her and Mary.
On the game feed screen at the bottom, it looks like they’re playing WWE 2K19. To be specific, it’s a six-woman tornado tag team match. Right from the beginning, it’s painfully obvious what they’ve done. Each girl has gone and made themselves on the game in addition to throwing together quick, shoddy versions of the SBS girls. So now it’s an in-game match between the virtual Skillz Vendorz and Mary Williams versus SBS. Except SBS are just...standing there...taking a beating.
“OHHHHH!!!” Katrina yells out as her in-game self delivers a vicious superkick to the in-game Masami Nishikiyama.
“SUPERKIIIIIIIIIICK!!!!!” Sammi chimes in.
“TO THE FACE FROM KAT CAGE!!!!” Katrina fires back.
Are these three…? Yes...yes they are. They’re doing commentary on their game session….
Mary happily sat between her two new (best) friends in a pair of denim shorts that look like they were originally from a decade or two ago, but alas, she bought them looking that beat up. With it, she wore a Kirby t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. There was no way that these three young ladies could be for real… right?
If you actually think that, then you haven’t been paying attention to whenever these three hit the screen. Mary had slipped in between these girls like she had meant to be there the entire time. Truth be known, had she known them before any of them had signed, the duo would more than likely be a trio. But Mary was more than happy to primarily be a singles competitor with stepping in every once in a while to help out with teams like SBS.
“So we have this on super hard, right?” she stated sarcastically, yet with a serious tone. She had her in-game self back up in the corner with in-game Kayako Kazama running at her and performed a Swinging Hurricanrana. “Oh snap!” she laughed.
“Absolutely Mary Williams!” Sammi says loudly and energetically. She’s in full commentary mode. “Because it’s super hard for Sammi Belmont to resist beating Yuka Hirata’s bloody arse!” Lookit ‘er put them boots to her arse!”
In-game Sammi has in-game Yuka Hirata down in the corner as she basically stomps a mudhold into her. “Boots to arse! Boots to arse! Boots to aaaaaaarsseeeeeee!!!! And now, in honor of Mary’s shirt!” Sammi maneuvers her in-game self over back into the opposite corner and gets herself running to where she cannonballs right into in-game Yuka, or as Sammi would call it in an actual match, “KIRBY BAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! PUYO PUYO BIATCH!!!!
As the match continues, Kat sips out of her big gulp cup. “We’re pretty good at this. We should have just been commentators.”
“You could just join commentary for their matches,” Mary smirked. She wasn’t overly good at commentating her own work yet, but she was fully enjoying listening to the what the other girls had to say about everything they were doing. “I almost can’t tell who’s who on here. Why do they still give the girls the horrible face renders?” she laughed, knowing that they barely tried to make the in-game SBS look like any specific people.
Mary was right on that one. Kat and Sammi had literally taken the first Asian face base, added hair and the basis of each SBS member’s outfits and that was it. No time spent doing movesets or entrances. Meanwhile, for them, they had previously had themselves made almost perfectly. Before firing up the game, they’d had Mary stand in front of the wall and taken a picture to turn her actual face into a scan. In short. The in-game Skillz Vendorz and Mary Williams looked practically flawless, as if 2K had rendered them in themselves. As for the question Mary posed? Sammi and Kat looked at each other and just shrugged.
“I think everyone looks good!” Kat said, holding a straight face.
“Right!” Sammi remarked, nodding towards the TV screen. “See the big one there in SBS? She’s got that bloody smug smirk on her stupid face. The one with pigtails that you wrestled last week, Mare, she’s grinning like a bloody fool, looking for that ass whuppin’.” Yes, the Kayako that Sammi had made, she had jacked the corners of the mouth all the way up to put a perpetual, idiotic smile on her face.
“And look at Yuka Hirata!” Kat said, making a hilarious frowny face and pouting out her bottom lip. “Grrrrrr!!!! So angry!!!” Kat had worked on Yuka and made he the angriest, most iron-jawed looking girl she possibly good. “But yeah, we couldn’t do commentary as guests Mare. You kidding?” Kat looked over at Mary with a playful look of betrayal on her face. “Having to sit and listen to Jim Reynolds for the full length of a match? Why would you wish that on us?”
“Right, bloody traitor, you are.” Sammi said, never looking away from the screen, but cracked a smirk and playfully nudged Mary with an elbow.
“I think that I would have to go out of my way to sit as far away from that one as possible, I’ve watched my matches back. He does realize that he’s being broadcast… right?” Mary had her in-game self do a few more moves against in-game Kaya. “Now I want to learn some of these moves. Daddy and his friends never did the fun, high-flying stuff.”
“Talk to her.” Kat said, pointing over at Sammi before having her in-game self deliver a Wheelbarrow Neckbreaker to in-game Masami. “Unngggh!! 7th Heaven, biatch!” In-game Kat covered in-game Masami. 1-2-3. Eliminated. It was now a three on two.
Sammi perked up, wide eyed and looked at Mary. “Ooh! Do you wanna train together? Box jumps and trampoline work. High flyers need a lot of leg work!” She leaned back on the couch and kicked her legs in the air. “See, like this.” In-game Sammi set up in-game Yuka on the ropes and hit a 619 before doing a Springboard Splash. Sammi frowned. “Well, that’s not my bloody finisher. I swear, it NFW makes a new game, they better get mine right!”
“I do!” Mary perked up. “I think that I would excel in the high flying game. While keeping in what I know. I’m just surprised that I’ve already done as well as I have.” She shrugged as she continued to kick in-game Kaya’s micro-booty while formulating a game plan for their upcoming match in her mind.
“Oh, don’t doubt yaself, love.” Sammi said, shaking her head as she watched the screen. “You did something right for Ms. Hayes to offer you a spot on the roster. She knew you’d do great.” Sammi’s in-game self hit in-game Yuka with a schoolboy rollup and had her digital self popping up onto her feet and superkicking the digital Yuka while she was on her knees. She mashed the button on the controller. 1-2-3. Eliminated. “Oi, is our match with them even an elimination?” She looked over at Kat.
The older member of the Skillz Vendorz shook her head. “Nah. I just figured we do one on here because it’s kiiiinda like a preview of what’s to come? Only not? Like we can’t just broadcast a squash match because then people don’t tune in to the event. Like ‘oh, I know how this is gonna end! I saw it on the Game Room! OHHHHHHHHHH!!!” Kat yelled, looking right at the camera. Sammi joined in, making the noise come off even louder and more obnoxious.
“I say that we just do our own version of SBS in the end,” Mary suggested with a wicked grin. “If it’s not elimination, we’ll just wear them all down at the same time and we’ll just do a side-by-side finisher lineup and pin them all at the same time.” She knew there was a chance that it wasn’t possible, but the prospect was very appealing.
There came that wide eyed, jaw dropped look between Kat and Sammi, again. Like they had just heard the greatest idea, ever! “That could be a first!” Sammi said. “You see it in tag teams but I’ve never seen it done thrice, before!”
“Ohmigod, I wanna do it!” Kat said, enthusiastically. “There’s gotta be a way we can! We just gotta plan carefully! Like when you’re in a boss fight and you need to time something perfectly on cue to land it.”
“Ooh! Like a hidden trophy or achievement!” Sammi snapped her fingers, pointing back and forth between Kat and Mary before raising her hand up for Mary to high five. “Right genius, you are, Mare Bare! I say we do it!”
Mary beamed proudly, high-fiving Sammi. “I’ve always loved great match endings, and doing something like that would just take the cake. If anyone can do it, it’s us. We’ll have to coordinate our outfits and everything, as well!”
“Oi! We should get you a set of gear like us!” She looked passed Mary and over at Kat. “Do ya think we could?”
Kat shrugged with a smirk. “Hey, you’d still be wearing fishnets, Mare! It can be a one-off bit like they do at big events--” She snapped her fingers and pointed at Sammi and Mary. “Mary, I don’t know if you watched it, but Sam remember when Roddy Strong came out with the Authors of Pain dressed just like them for TakeOver?”
“Oooooh! Right! Because they all were havin’ a go at Undisputed Era!” Sammi was getting excited, then. “Although, it doesn’t have to be a one-off, Kat. We should ask her. Now’s the perfect time.”
Kat sipped from her giant cup before setting it down on the floor and hopped up to where she was sitting on her knees, facing Mary. “Alright! Here’s the spill! Mare Bare? Sammi and me; we’ve been a tag team on the indies for a few years. We’ve got our chemistry down and all that but you totally mesh right in with everything. We know you just got your pro start and you’ve trained as a singles star, but we gotta throw it on the table.” Kat reached out and booped Mary’s cheek, tilting her head. “Do you wanna make the Skillz Vendorz a trio with us?”
Sammi hopped up onto her knees on the other side of Mary, staring at her with the excited joy of a child in her eyes. “At least, think about it! Look how much fun the three of us have!”
Mary slowly tilted her head, she had spent her entire life studying the history of professional wrestling and everything else that being in the ring entailed. “I haven’t seen that, but I do know what you are talking about. Honestly? I think that it just makes sense. We gravitated together for a reason, ladies. I really just came up on my own because I didn’t have the connection with anyone that I met in the indies that I have with you. So yes, I absolutely want to join Skillz Vendorz.”
“WHOO-HOO!!” Kat and Sammi whooped in unison, both glomping Mary for a group hug from both sides. “Welcome to the Clan, Mare Bare!”
“Yup! We call ourselves a Clan, and not a stable. That word is sooooo overused!” Sammi said, rolling her eyes.
“Oh! But Clan with a C, not the other one. Ohhhhh no!” Kat made weary eyes and swiped her hand across her throat, shaking her head.
Sammi’s jaw dropped and she shook her head as well. “Oh, right! No noooooo. Definitely not!” She looked right into the camera. “We totally mean gaming clan!” Settling back, finally, Sammi and Kat watched the screen as Kat gave Mary a pat on the shoulder. “Alright, Mare! Official initiation into the Skillz Vendorz! Put this digitized nutjob away!” She pointed at the screen where in-game Kayako was the last one left.
Mary grinned, hitting a few more buttons, having her in-game self hit a Snap DDT on the smallest member of SBS and pinned her. As she bell ran, she set the controller on her lap and raised up her arms in a V for Victory. “I almost feel like using my real last name is out of place,” she giggled.
Kat and Sammi’s eyes went wide with realization. “Ooh! You could always pick a ring name!” Sammi turned towards her again. “Like we do! Kat Cage! Sammi Belmont! Mary - insert favorite game jab here! So, moment of truth! Mare Bare! What is your favorite video game?”
Sammi and Kat both turned to watch the girl, staring inquisitively as if she were hilariously being interrogated. Kat rested her chin on one hand while Sammi rested hers on both. Both girls just staring.
Without a second to think or hesitate, Mary’s face lit up. “Resident Evil. No contest.”
Kat and Sammi looked at one another. Then back to Mary. Then back to each other. They both grinned. “Mary Valentine!” They said together, in unison.
“Ooh! Or Redfield!” Sammi said, raising a finger.
“Or Kennedy!” Kat answered back, before rolling her eyes like a girl with a crush. “Mmh. Leon Kennedy is FIIIIIIIIIIINE!!”
“Bloody hell, you could even go with Wesker, Mare!” Sammi said, shrugging to Mary.
Kat snapped right out of her fangirl daydream and cringed. “Ew, no. Wesker’s a jerk, though! Mary’s totally not a Wesker!”
They both looked at her again. “We’ll leave it up to you, Mare Bare! Mary - insert favorite R.E character name! Aaaaaaand go!”
“Oh Leon, hands down,” Mary stated, laughing at her friends. “I recently replayed RE4 after the RE2 remakes and I’m currently obsessed.”
“Girl, I would have that man’s babies, NO hesitation! No second guessing!” Kat said, swooning again. She giggled, high fiving Mary. They were on the same page.
“Alright, so that’s it then, yeah?” Sammi clapped her hands together, turning to the camera. “Oi, oi, oi ladies and gents! I, Sammi Belmont and my best mate, Kat Cage, proudly bring to you! From Oak Park, Illinois! The NEW member of the Skillz Vendorz!” Sammi motioned her hands towards Mary like a big presentation. “MAAAARRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY……...KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!” Sammi announced, hilariously loud and obnoxious like, similar to a certain other big time wrestler with a similar name. Sammi high fived Mary then and hugged her. “Welcome, Mare! Now if you lot’ll excuse me. I need t’use the loo!” Sammi got up and stepped off screen.
Kat quietly sipped from her cup before looking up at the sign of movement coming towards the camera. Sammi stuck her head into the frame again, RIGHT in front of the lens, adding another loud, “....KENNEDY!!!!!” Before dipping out of frame again as the screen did a slam cut to an updated ‘Coming Soon’ screen featuring all three of them.
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[MATCH #5. SINGLES MATCH - NICO SALVATORE VS HAVOK]
The lights dim as the notes to I Prevail’s “Bow Down” fills the arena. The titan tron comes to life with the familiar image of the gladiator helmet from the vignettes seen previously over the week.
As the song reaches the 0:11 second mark, the words 'GET ON YOUR KNEES AND BOW DOWN' appear in sync with the song before the words 'GOD OF WAR' appear, trembling in red on the tron wall. Through the curtain, walks Nico Salvatore, shaking out his fists beside him as he scowls down at the ring. Coming to the center of the stage, he hops on the balls of his feet before throwing a punch to the air and giving a yell, walking briskly down the ramp.
ARDEN
“The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first: from Brooklyn, New York. Weighing in at two hundred and thirty pounds: he is the Urban Gladiator...NICO -- SALVA-TOREEEEEE!!”
As his name is announced, Nico Salvatore starts talking trash to the camera about his opponent in tonight's match. At the end of his rant, he can clearly be heard saying "--get ready to bow down, bitch!"
Nico reaches the ring, taking a knee at the steps like a gladiator praying to the gods before a fight in the coliseum. He then pounds his fist against his chest and raises it and his gaze to the air before running up the steps and jumping over the top rope. Immediately, he crosses the ring and hops up onto the middle turnbuckle to observe the audience again. He still doesn’t look too pleased with what he sees.
Stepping down to the mat, Nico pulls off his t-shirt and discards it to the outside floor as his music fades out and he turns towards the stage; the man awaiting his opponent as he hunches forward in a poised position, idly rocking side to side on his legs as he eyes the stage with hardened, focused intensity.
As the music plays on, Paul emerges through the curtain first. Standing on either side of the entry way, Paul Heyman turns to the audience and extends his hands in a way of saying 'behold' to the crowd as they wait to see what comes out. What does come walking out, is the massive and intimidating visage of Havok. Moisture runs down his skin as he comes out to stand between his manager and mentor before throwing his hands downward, his head back, and lets out a bellowing roar before storming down the ramp towards the ring. Heyman follows close behind, pleased with the man's demeanor as he lumbers towards the ring.
ARDEN
"His opponent! Being lead to the ring by Paul Heyman! Representing Suzuki-gun! Weighing in at two hundred and sixty-five pounds! HAAAAAAVOOOOOOOOOK!!!!"
Upon reaching the end of the ramp, Havok climbs up and slingshots over the top rope with surprising agility, immediately beginning to run the ropes back and forth as Heyman and Suzuki ascend the steps to join him in the ring. Finally, he stares ahead at the camera, shaking with pent up rage and aggression just waiting to be unleashed. As the camera focuses in on him, however, Nico Salvatore comes RUSHING across the ring. He jumps on Havok and starts throwing hands. Havok answers right back with his own.
BRODY
"HERE WE GO, NICK!! IT-IS-ON!!!!"
HANSON
"EVERYONE'S BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE, STEVE!"
~DING DING DING~
Shot for shot, Nico and Havok traded blows back and forth as the match officially got underway. They continued the exchange until the sheer power behind Havok's shots began wearing into Nico. Eventually, Havok got two...three...four straight hits in, uninterrupted. He grabbed a wobbly Nico by his arm and whipped him into the corner, following right up with a hard corner clothesline. Nico's body was rocked between Havok's and the turnbuckle as 265lbs came crashing into him. Barely missing a beat, Havok grabbed him with both hands by the throat and simply tossed him out of the corner and onto the mat. Refusing to go down this early, Nico scrambled up to his feet, only to have the masked madman come barreling out of the corner and flattening him with a lariat. Nico took a hard bump, snapping onto the mat. Havok raised his arms and flexed them down at his sides with his fists clenched. Even through his full mask, his enraged roar was audible on camera as his rage caused him to flex every muscle in his body; several veins bulging from his chest and arms. The crowd booed as he stood over Nico and began laying the boots to him.
HANSON
"This man is just full of rage, ladies and gentlemen."
BRODY
"Look at his eyes!"
The camera briefly caught a closeup of Havok's eyes before he turned to focus on Nico again as the self-proclaimed God of War started getting up. He got up to his feet, doubled over still, as Havok brought a double axe handle onto his back, knocking him down to one knee. Roaring under his mask, Havok brought another forearm down across Nico's shoulders. And another one. And another one. Nico fell to both knees again and Havok ran off of the ropes, coming back fast with another roar as he wound up an arm and laid Nico out with a sliding clothesline. Havok immediately twisted around with the speed of an athlete, almost unbecoming of his size and made the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
Nico kicked out and Havok rose to his knees, huffing angrily before grabbing Nico by the hair and began hammering into his face with forearms. Once he started to use closed fists, the referee stepped in and started trying to break the count, beginning to count to five. The ref got to 4 before Havok let go of Nico and shot up onto his feet, bowing up to the official who gestured to his shirt, warning Havok to obey the rules of the match. This was where Nico found a window of opportunity to start getting to his feet. As Havok turned around, Nico was up on his feet again as the big man approached him and cocked back for another forearm. But Nico, to the pop of the crowd, burst up from a keeled over position and started throwing forearms of his own, beginning to back Havok towards the ropes.
HANSON
"AND NICO'S FIGHTING BACK NOW!!! GETTING IN SOME COUNTER OFFENSE!!!"
BRODY
"HE'S GOT THE HEART OF A WARRIOR, NICK!! ABSOLUTELY!! YOU'RE NOT GONNA KEEP THIS MAN DOWN THAT EASY!"
HANSON
"NO, SIR!"
Nico ended his onslaught with a discus forearm that knocked Havok for a loop, leaving him unsteady on his feet. He grabbed his arm and went for an Irish Whip but Havok reversed it, sending Nico into the ropes. Nico came back and ducked under a double axe handle attempt, coming off the ropes on the other side. He leaped forward into Havok, going for a Crossbody. The immense power of Havok, however, allowed the man to catch Nico out of the air and hold him in that position as he turned in a half circle towards the audience. Havok wound Nico's body up in his arms and went for a swinging sidewalks slam but Nico caught his arm around Havok's head and turned it into a stunning DDT, drilling Havok's head right into the mat!!
HANSON
"DDT TO THE TANK OF SUZUKI-GUN!!!!"
BRODY
"He's got the tracks knocked out of alignment!! All he's gotta do now is slip a grenade down the barrel!"
Havok snapped up onto his knees as Nico got to his feet. Seeing his massive opponent out on his knees, Nico came off the ropes and delivered a loud, sharp, stiff Penalty Kick to Havok's chest. The kick POPPED loudly, echoing through the arena. Havok clutched his chest, reeling. Nico bounded off the ropes again, cocked back his foot and delivered a second Penalty Kick. Again, there came the POP of kickpad meeting muscle. Havok clenched his fists, looking up at Nico and roared out a muffled "COME ONNNNNNN!!!!!!!" from under his mask. Nico glared down at his rival of the passed two months and came off of the ropes again. This time he threw his entire body forward, coming into Havok with a superman forearm that drove him back into the mat. Nico threw himself on top of Havok.
ONE!!
TWO!!
And Havok threw Nico OFF of him, sending him a few feet above his head onto the mat as he sat up, holding a hand to his chest. He looked down at the already forming red mark on his flesh. Havok then lifted his head and growled under his mask, trembling with unbridled anger. As Havok and Nico both got up to their feet, the two approached each other and engaged in a lock up. This was where, not only Havok's strength, but also his more technical side began to show as he managed to wrestle Nico to the mat and started working him over with arm bars and scissor holds. Anytime Nico managed to slip out of one, Havok - the man built like an Olympian competitor - transitioned right into something else.
BRODY
"Havok's starting to go for those submissions, Nick!"
HANSON
"Nico's gotta watch out he doesn't get caught in the Straightjacket! Could be game over if he does!"
Nico managed to put his own training from LeeAnn Viskan to work, however, and slipped out of a scissor headlock. He pounced right down on Havok and locked in a Guillotine. Havok started to power out of it so Nico switched to a Kimura, bringing Havok to the mat. To the awe of the crowd, Havok managed to literally power out of the hold and yanked his arm free, falling down with an elbow to Nico's face. From there, the two continued garnering for dominance with both strikes and technical holds. Nico stayed on the submission attempts while Havok began digging out some of his King's Road offense. Finally, after a lengthy exchange of chain wrestling that had the crowd on their feet, Nico and Havok ended up standing again with Nico lashing out with a SUPERKICK to Havok's face. The big man wobbled back as Nico stumbled back into the corner. He pushed his hair out of his face and clenched his teeth, sneering at Havok as he looked to be readying his knee.
REYNOLDS
"Ohhhhhh we know what this is!!"
HANSON
"Nico's digging through! Looking for the Key to Orkas!!"
When Havok was in the right position, Nico dashed out of the corner and left the ground off of his feet, flying at Havok for his own variation of the V-Trigger. Havok, however, suddenly moved out of the way and Nico's knee connected right with the face of the referee, sending the official to the mat, out cold. Nico had about a second to react before he remembered Havok was still up and about. He turned just in time as Havok came charging in for a lariat and ducked underneath it. Havok stopped and turned around as Nico jumped up again, thrusting his knee forward right into Havok's jaw. POP!!!! The crowd 'OOOOHHHHHHHHH'ed at the sound of the impact. Nico shook his head and ran off the ropes again, coming back and up with a SECOND Key to Orkas!! Havok wobbled on his feet, dropping to one knee.
HANSON
"THERE IT IS!!!!! KEY TO ORKAS!!!!! HE'S GOT HIM!!! NICO'S GOT HIM!!!!"
BRODY
"AND WE KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT!"
Nico grabbed Havok, wasting no time in hoisting the 265lb man up across his shoulders. The crowd was on their feet, cheering for the Urban Gladiator. Cheering for their God of War. Their God of Wrestling. In part with this, they all loudly chanted out with Nico what the three letters of his finisher name stood for---
"GO!!"
"FUCK!!"
"YOURSELF!!"
Nico popped Havok up over his head and back down, DRILLING his knee right up into Havok's face and knocked him to the floor with the G.F.Y!! The crowd popped as Havok laid limp on the mat and Nico threw himself over the man, hooking the leg.
HANSON
"HE'S GOT IT!!!!! HE'S GOT THE COVER!!! 1!!!! 2!!!! 3!!!!!"
BRODY
"THERE'S NO REF!!!"
As Nico held the cover, the referee still remained unconcious across the ring, face down. Nico grimaced in disbelief as he crawled over to the ref and began shaking him awake. As he did, the crowd's cheers turned to loud boos as Nico looked up towards the ramp and saw members of Suzuki-gun running down the ramp, towards the ring. One by one, black and white track suits slid into the ring and Nico Salvatore began fighting them off to the best of his ability. A forearm to TAKA Michinoku. A Superkick to Taichi. Nico ducked under a clothesline from El Desperado and ran off the ropes, dishing out another Key To Orkas!! He then turned, as the crowd continued booing, right into a charge from T-Hawk where the two locked up and began throwing furious blows at one another simultaneously.
HANSON
"SUZUKI-GUN IS TRYING TO HELP THEIR MAN, HAVOK!! BUT THE URBAN GLADIATOR IS FIGHTING BACK!! NICO SALVATORE IS TAKING IT TO SUZUKI'S ARMY!!!"
BRODY
"THE MAN'S LIKE A ONE MAN ARMY!!"
Nico hit T-Hawk with a stiff elbow, stunning him. He gave the motion of turning the key then and ran off of the ropes, going for another Key To Orkas. T-Hawk wasn't completely stunned, however, as he saw Nico coming and dropped out of the way. Nico ran passed T-Hawk and right into a PUMPING BOMBER from Shingo Takagi who had come into the ring and off the ropes at the same time Nico did. The hulk of the Jr. Heavyweight division hit Nico - a 230lb heavyweight - so hard, he knocked him inside out.
HANSON
"OHHHHH AND THERE'S SHINGO!! It's been a few weeks since we've seen either of these men! One of the tag units for Suzuki-gun!"
BRODY
"Yeah, if Killer Elite Squad hits this ring, Nico might be in trouble!"
HANSON
"I don't see them, Steve. He might still be in trouble, because look who is coming!"
The crowd boos continued as the camera shifted to the ramp where Paul Heyman was waiting by the bottom. Approaching the ring, Zack Sabre Jr, Takashi Sugiura and Minoru Suzuki all in their track suits, honed in one the ring like stalking predators as T-Hawk and Shingo put the boots to Nico. Havok started recovering from the KTO and GFY combination as the rest of Suzuki-gun entered the ring. Meanwhile, Nico began fighting his way back to his feet, throwing shots into T-Hawk and Shingo's midsections as he got back to a vertical position only to have Minoru Suzuki move in behind him and lock in the Sleeper Hold. Takashi Sugiura stepped in and began throwing shots to Nico's ribs while Zack Sabre Jr stood by, smirking and taunting the man.
HANSON
"Nico put up a good fight, Jim, but one man - no matter how good he is - one man isn't gonna take on eight men!"
BRODY
"Give the man credit for trying Nicky but---"
HANSON
"Hold on, Steve! What's going on now?"
The crowd began cheering as, while Sugiura continued laying into Nico while Suzuki held him, the two towering forms of Belphegor and Doomsday - Ultra-Violence - emerged from the curtain and hit the ring running. Hearing Paul Heyman call out the warning, Suzuki shoved Nico away, letting him fall to the mat as he turned with the others towards the ramp. As Ultra-Violence slid into the ring, Suzuki-gun moved on Ultra-Violence, laying kicks to them while they were still getting up. These were two, almost seven footers, however, so getting up from under the boots wasn't a problem for either man - even Doomsday in his 50s. Belphegor went right to throwing wrecking balls at any Suzuki-gun member in his path. Doomsday went right for Minoru Suzuki, grabbing him by the throat and backing him into a corner. Suzuki kicked him in the knee to get him off and began throwing jabs at the big man, along with kicks to the same leg. Doomsday fired back with shots of his own that rocked Suzuki while the bigger, younger, and healthier Belphegor used his size and power to stand his ground against Takashi Sugiura, Zack Sabre Jr, Shingo and T-Hawk. It helped that Nico Salvatore pulled himself to his feet and went after Shingo and T-Hawk. Moments later, more referees hit the ring to help break up the brawl and try to restore order. The most they were able to do was get most of Suzuki-gun away, being Hawk, Shingo, TAKA and Taichi. Doomsday and Belphegor continued brawling with Suzuki and ZSJ on the outside.
HANSON
"The referees finally have control, it looks like! But they didn't get rid of all of Suzuki-gun! Sugiura's still in the ring!"
REYNOLDS
"Yeah but that's who Nico wants anyway!"
As they said this, Nico and Sugiura were brawling inside the ring while the official of the match came to just as Havok got back into the action and started a double team with his mentor against Nico Salvatore. Holding his head with one hand, the referee waved at the timekeeper, calling for the bell.
~DING DING DING~
HANSON
"The referee still saw Sugiura and this one's gonna end in a disqualification!"
As this was said, Takashi Sugiura pulled Nico out of the corner and delivered a devastating wrist clutch Olympic Slam, leaving him on the mat. Getting to his feet, he pointed at Havok and motioned for him to get Nico. Without hesitating, Havok nodded and got down to the mat, wrapping Nico right up into the Straight Jacket! As he held him there with Sugiura stomping on Nico's midsection, Paul Heyman got into the ring and down to Nico's level where he could be heard saying--
"Mr. Salvatore. WE---" He motioned between himself, Takashi Sugiura and Havok, "--look forward to seeing you at Gang Warfare! Have a Happy Easter!"
HANSON
"You heard him, Jim! Nico Salvatore and a tag team partner will meet both of those men at Gang Warfare due to the technicality of the outcome!"
BRODY
"We'll be seeing Nico Salvatore and a tag team partner of his choice versus those two men at Gang Warfare!"
The shot faded out as "ICHIBAN" began to play, once Havok released Nico from the Straight Jacket and Paul Heyman lead him and Takashi Sugiura up the ramp, leaving Nico in a broken heap.
HANSON
"If it's my guess, Nico's gotta go find AKI and they better start planning battle strategies!"
Match Winner: Nico Salvatore by DQ
Match Time: 15:28
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The camera shifts backstage and finds Vincent Stone walking through the hallway. He's already in his ring gear with the addition of a backwards black ballcap on his head and a sleeveless Hands of Stone t-shirt. Stopping in front of a locker room door with MATT KLAZZIC written across the plate, Stone knocks the bottom of his fist against the door. "Matt!" He knocks on the door again. "Yo, Matt! You in there? Rick?!"
The locker door opens and we see Matt Klazzic peek his head out.
"Vincent Stone!!! How are ya buddy?" Klazzic says as he first offers his hand then suddenly withdraws it before Stone can shake it as he quickly wipes it on shirt.
"Sorry, I was just having s little pre match energy bar that Rick made from home. Good stuff. Nice kick of basil in there," Matt says.
"Where are my manners? Come on in. Buddy. We were just hashing out some things before our match tonight," Matt says as he sidesteps Vincent and allows him in.
Vincent settles for a fist bump with Matt as he and the camera man step in. He briefly sneaks a look back at the camera and mouths 'energy bars?' with a comical 'uh-oh' face, before looking to the other member of their rag tag team for the night.
"Hey Rick! What's up, big guy?"
"Hey, Vin-guy! Matt and I were just goin' over a bit of strategy, eh? Well, that and some marketing strategy for these new bars..."
Rick hands one to Stone with a smile.
Stone takes the energy bar and looks at it, cautiously. "Now...is this a pre-game bar...or should I wait until after we deal with The Renegades before I eat this?"
"How about eat half? I mean, I don't want you to hulk out in the ring, guy..." Rick says.
"Oops...," Matt says as the camera pans over to him throwing an empty wrapper into the trash bin. "I forgot to recycle," Matt says as he reaches into the bin and places the wrapper into the blue recycle bin.
The audience can be heard laughing from the ringside area, watching this unfold on the video wall. Vincent Stone watches Matt Klazzic before slowly turning back towards Rick Dickulous with the bar in his hand. "Alright. I'll take your word for it." Stone rips into the wrapping and takes a cautious bite out of the bar. His eyebrows lift in surprise. "Hoooo-lee shit...these ain't bad, Rick! You and Matt made these?"
"He made them, I'm just helping with the ad campaign," Matt says.
Stone nods, thinking for a minute as he eats another bite. He realizes he's already consumed half of it in those two bites and wraps up the rest. "What's in these?" Stone holds the bar up, looking at Rick. Half curious...half suspicious.
"It's a secret ingredient. Here's a hint, it rhymes with 'otherhood,'" Matt says with a wink. "Oh, and basil and parsley. Rick says it's a secret Italian recipe from Canada."
"Italian recipe from....Canada?" Stone looked from Matt to Rick with a slow turn of his head, wondering how that even worked.
"I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you're not here to talk energy bars, are you?" Matt asks.
"Not really, no." Stone looks back to Matt. "Just wanted to come and make sure we were all on the same page for tonight, against The Renegades." Stone looks at the bar again. He shrugs, unwraps it and stuffs the rest of it into his mouth, temporarily cheeking the bite like a chipmunk as he chews.
"Jesus, you look like Tyson Law's mom last night, Vin-guy...you should really chew that shit up, eh?"
Rick taps the side of his head with a bit of a sly squint of the eyes
"They think they know, but what they don't know is that we know that they don't know what they think they know....y'know, guy?"
"Yes. Absolutely," Matt says bluntly.
"What they also don't know, bud, is the secret ingredient that holds our friendship together..."
Rick looks into the camera
"Hint, guy...it's not weed..."
Matt gives an emphatic thumbs up. "You got it, brother!!!"
Stone looks at the camera, clearly unsure of what he's even gotten himself into. By now, he's chewed the second half of the bar in his mouth down to where he can talk again. He looks back at Rick and Matt.
"Well, weed doesn't rhyme with 'otherhood' so you shouldn't have a problem, marketing these bars. Aside from that, do you guys have a strategy you wanna run down for tonight or do we just do as Rick likes to say and 'give'er'?"
"See, here's how I see it, guy. These cockstains are just walking ego - we all know it, bud...so do they,"
Rick gestures at the camera
"So, I say we give'r...but we gotta be smart about it, eh?"
Stone rolls his neck, loosening up some. "Man, I don't know. Tyson talks a lot of crap, but I wouldn't sleep on Tyler Grey. He's got that belt to prove doubters wrong, after all." The very belt that he was wrestling Grey for at Gang Warfare. "I agree. We need to be smart. If we're not, someone gets hurt."
"Exactly, Vin-guy! We need to set the pace, and we need to keep ourselves in control, eh?"
"We got each others' backs outside that ring, bud...they're tight like family. We gotta think like they do, eh? Not gonna be easy..."
"Well...we gotta get on that mindset and move fast." Vincent Stone said, punching his fist into his hand as he started bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I think I'm starting to feel that bar, already. We're gonna be good if Brody decides to piss test us, right?"
Rick shoots Stone a look that clearly screams "Come on, guy!"
"I haven't failed one yet, guy..."
"Neither have I, Vincent, my friend. Those Renegades won't know what hit them. Well, they will after tonight. Am I right, huh? Am I right?" Matt says emphatically.
Vincent Stone smirks and fist bumps Matt Klazzic. "Matt, my man. You are most definitely right! Besides. The Renegades may have their 'bad attitudes', they may have a title holder among them. Shit, they may even have a former student of Judas Lasher with them." He said, bringing up Julian's original training. "But we've got one thing they don't." He looked up at the damn near 7'0 tall Canadian and back to Matt, nodding towards the big man. "We've got a Rick!" Yes. Vincent Stone, ladies and gentlemen. Just referenced the Avengers.
"We're gonna lay The Renegades out like Kadri did DeBrusk in game 2 guy."
Cluing in a little late to the joke, Rick looks down at Stone
"Bud...you ate the Hulk bar...not me..."
"Is that why I can hear colors, right now?" Stone pointed to his ears, going wide eyed at Rick, and turning to Matt for confirmation.
The camera does a hard cut to black, with the audience laughing in the background.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Pen?” The women’s title belt slung proudly over her shoulder, Lara Blackheart walked into Sex & Violence’s dressing room, dressed to kill in a black miniskirt, white button-down shirt opened enough to show off a generous amount of cleavage, and her long blonde hair flowing freely at her shoulders. “You ready, babe? Mercer and Brody are gonna be out for blood tonight, so we have to make sure we’re ready for them.”
“Yes……………...yes I’m ready! What’s the gameplan babe?” Penelope asked her as she proceeded to tug at her own hair and decided to nibble on it a bit. She knew it wasn't right but she doesn’t care at this point.
Lara walked behind the brunette, wrapping her arms around the girl’s waist. “The gameplan? Is hurt them. Win if we can, lose if we must… but make sure one of them gets injured. If we can do that, it puts Sex & Violence at a big advantage next week at Gang Warfare.” She looked at her lover, a wry little grin on her face. “How’s my girl? You ok up there?” She asked, gently knocking against the side of Penelope’s head.
"HEY! There are little workers up there that don’t need those knocks on my head. Also when do I get some time alone with that title? I wanna rub against it." Penelope tries to lick the title but her lover pulls it away laughing at Penelope who gives her a playful hiss.
“Baby… I can do better than that.” Lara grinned, grabbing Penelope and yanking her over so they were flush against each other. “We’re gonna get you a title of your own. I see Morgan walking around with that TV Title… and goddamn would that thing look good around your waist.”
"Of course it would. Penelope says giving Lara the same knock to her head. You silly blonde piece of meat. Anything would look great on me." Penelope smirks before pinching her ass
“Especially me.” Lara laughed, leaning in to plant a big, passionate kiss on the other girl’s lips. “You and me, baby. Remember… with Ty and Futura, we’re gonna conquer the world. And nobody, NOBODY, is gonna stand in our way. Not Brody and Mercer, not The Dominion, not The Renegades… nobody.”
"I think we need to do a little more action then talk. I want to make someone bleed dammit." Penelope smirks feeling her own lips after the kiss.
“YES.” Lara laughed wickedly, clearly envisioning it. “Mercer. That’s who I want you to go for. I’m tired of her running her fucking mouth about us. Time to shut that trap for GOOD.”
"Enough talkin……………...Lets go kick some ass shall we?" Penelope giggles and jumps up and down whispering to herself, play play play.
“Yeah. Let’s go show those bitches who they’re fuckin’ with.” Lara replied, starting to walk out before turning to the camera one last time, and giving a slow, sexy wink. “The Doctor…. Is In.”
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[MATCH #6. SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH - THE RENEGADES (MORRISON/GREY/LAW) VS RICK DICKULOUS/MATT KLAZZIC/VINCENT STONE]
Hollywood Undead's "Renegade" blasted through the arena as Julian Morrison, Tyler Grey and Tyson Law all came walking out onto the stage. As usual, Tyson Law strutted up to the camera, mouthing the first set of lyrics to the song before moving down the ramp to follow Julian Morrison and Tyler Grey towards the ring. Around his waist, Tyler Grey wears the Jr. Heavyweight Championship as he scowls angrily at the camera, shoving the camera man out of their way as they approach the ring.
ARDEN
"The following contest is a six-man tag match and is scheduled for one fall!! Introducing first!! At a combined weight of six-hundred and twenty-eight pounds!! Tyson Law...the NFW Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Tyler Grey...and Julian Morrison!! THEEEEEE RENEGAAAAAAAAAADEEEEEEES!!!!!!"
One by one, the Renegades reach the ring and enter, meeting in the center where Julian Morrison 'pops the pin' while Tyson Law throws up an R with both of his hands put together. Tyler Grey pulls the Jr. Heavyweight Title off and holds it up above his head, scowling still before the three men move to their corner.
HANSON
"This should be a good one, huh, Steve?"
BRODY
"Oh, definitely, Jim. Like them or not, these guys have talent. I just wish they had a better way of going about getting what they want."
"Downfall" begins to play and the lighting dims, taking a white and hint of blue effect around the arena. At the point where the lyrics begin, Vincent Stone throws the curtain open and comes walking out onto the stage. At first, he walks to either end of the stage, acknowledging the fans and pointing out ones who are wearing his merchandise or holding a sign for him in appreciation. Finally, he walks to the center of the stage at the head of the ramp and beats on his chest with one fist, throwing his head back with a pumped up yell, timed with the point of the song where the singer screams. Stone then twists around once and throws a punch at the air, causing his pyro to explode on either side of him as he walks towards the ring.
ARDEN
"Introducing their opponents! First! From Orlando, Florida!! Weighing in at one hundred and ninety pounds!! VINCEEEEEEENT STOOOOOOOONE!!!!"
HANSON
"Here comes the number one contender to Tyler Grey's Jr. Heavyweight Championship! They'll face off at Gang Warfare, but tonight, they've gotta settle for tag team action!"
BRODY
"I seriously can't wait for that match. From a fan's perspective. God, I bet it's gonna rock."
Stone slaps a few hands on one side of the ramp with one hand, but his main focus is on the opponent in the ring. His face says it all: he's ready for a fight and he doesn't fear them. Stone stops by the steps, usually pausing to let a parent take a selfie with him and their kid. He puts one arm around the kid and raises his fist up under their chin with a playful smirk before turning serious again and waits at the foot of the ramp as....
~TURN IT UP~
The crowd popped as a new song played, signaling the introduction of a new official tag team unit. Their pop grew louder as Rick Dickulous and Matt Klazzic came walking out onto the stage, pumped up and playing to the crowd's cheers. The two men exchanged a double high five before both pointing down at the ring towards the Renegades and began walking down the ramp, full of positive energy. Matt Klazzic slaps hands while Rick Dickulous takes selfies and kisses babies.
ARDEN
"Aaaand his tag team partners!! The tag team of....MATT KLAZZIC...and...RICK DICKULOUS!!!! Ladies and gentlemen!!! THE TURN UP EXPREEEEEEEEEESS!!!!!!"
Matt Klazzic and Rick Dickulous reach the bottom of the ramp, meeting up with Vincent Stone who fist bumps and high fives the two, grinning in amusement at their new, entrance. A throwback to 80s tag teams! Together then, the three men enter the ring while "Turn Up The Radio" continues to play and all perform their ring poses before getting into their corner and huddling to quickly go over their strategy. Well, Rick and Matt do mostly but Rick pulls Stone right in with them.
~DING DING DING~
The match started off with Tyson Law and Matt Klazzic, circling around in the ring. Matt motioned for Tyson to come forward and lock up with him. Tyson started inching forward but juuuuust before they met, Tyson suddenly backed up to his corner, grinning. The crowd boo'ed his behavior as 'popped the pin' at Matt Klazzic before sticking out his hand and tagged in Julian Morrison. Tyson threw Matt Klazzic, Rick Dickulous and Vincent Stone all the finger as he got out of the ring. Julian Morrison entered the ring, slowly and methodically as he watched Matt Klazzic and approached to square up with him.
HANSON
"Tyson Law, always the one who likes to aggravate people during a match."
BRODY
"Well, he likes to get into people's heads, which to an extent I understand but I'll agree with you, the kid crosses the line sometimes. Then again, a lot of people seem to do that."
HANSON
"Well, you are the boss, Steve. You might need to put your foot down, more."
BRODY
"Oh the foot's coming, Nick. Trust me. I run a wrestling promotion, not a zoo."
The match started off at a fairly even pace between Klazzic and Morrison. Both men demonstrated their technical wrestling capabiltiies against one another, trading takedowns and tosses. Matt Klazzic clearly had the strength advantage, looking to have about twenty or so pounds over Julian Morrison. Morrison had the mind game in his corner, however, and proceeded to resort to toying with Matt Klazzic who always liked to stick to the book and wrestle clean. His dirty tactics eventually started getting to Klazzic and the man stood up, frustrated after an attempted pin where Morrison held onto the tights. Hearing Rick Dickulous call him over, Matt turned to see his big buddy motioning him over with a hand out.
"Matt! Tag me in, guy! He wants to play that? I'll give'er!"
Matt Klazzic looked back at Julian Morrison, nodding and pointed at him. The crowd popped as Matt slapped Rick Dickulous' hand, tagging him into the match. Rick stepped over the top rope and beckoned Julian Morrison over. Morrison continued his mindgames and technical mat work on the big man but Rick's size and apt for fighting a little dirty as well, quickly turned the tables around and the giant Canadian was laying into Morrison from inside a corner in no time. The tide remained in Rick's team's corner, even as Tyson Law blind tagged himself in and started going for shots to Rick's legs with stiff kicks. As soon as he came off of the ropes, however, Rick kept things on their side with a spinning back elbow to Tyson's midsection. He then stunned the crowd, hitting a gigantic enzugiri on the smaller man, snapping him to the mat with the sheer force of his kick. Rick rolled Tyson over and covered him.
HANSON
"A tremendous enzugiri from Rick Dickulous!"
BRODY
"You said it, Nick! Holy cow!!"
ONE!!
TWO!!
The pin was broken up when Tyler Grey ran into the ring and started laying stomps to Rick Dickulous, downright, attacking him with boots and forearms from above. As Rick and Tyler began to brawl, Matt Klazzic and Vincent Stone rushed into the ring. Julian Morrison, on the Renegades side, joined in and a three on three scrap started once Tyson got back to his feet. When the referee finally broke them up and got it back to Rick and Tyson in the ring, Tyson quickly went to his corner and tagged in Tyler Grey who was amped and ready to get into the match. Tyler stepped in, yelling and talking obscene trash to Rick the whole way. Rick Dickulous squared up to Tyler before an idea came across his face. Rick then turned, looking at the crowd and pointed at Vincent Stone. The crowd popped as Matt Klazzic also pointed at Stone, asking them if they wanted him in against Grey.
HANSON
"Listen to these fans, Steve!"
BRODY
"They want Stone, Nick! He and Grey meet one on one at Gang Warfare for the Jr. Heavyweight Championship but they want a little preview! I say give it to them!"
HANSON
"Tag him in, Rick!"
As Rick Dickulous turned and approached his corner, going to tag Vincent Stone in, Tyler Grey rushed forward and booted him in the back of the knee, keeping him from reaching his corner completely. He quickly put himself between Rick and his corner while the man was down and dished out stiff jabs and forearms to Rick, wearing him down. The crowd boo'ed at Grey's blatant evasion of letting Stone get in the ring, legally. Despite the size difference, Grey's ferocity put him at an advantage over Rick Dickulous, mixing his deadly combination of strikes, aerial and technical maneuvers to wear down the giant of the Great White North. Just as it looked like the onslaught would never cease, Rick Dickulous managed to snatch Tyler Grey out of the air as he went for a Springboard Forearm and drilled him into the mat with a Spinebuster, catching a breather as Tyler reeled on the mat.
BRODY
"Rick's gotta get a tag in, now!"
HANSON
"You said it, boss man! He might have size on Tyler Grey but that is a vicious man that Dickulous was just in the ring with!"
BRODY
"That's why he's called the Terminator, Nick! The Beast of the Jr. Heavyweight Division! Like him or not, he knows how to handle himsefl!"
As Tyler Grey pulled himself to his feet, Rick Dickulous managed to crawl over and FINALLY hot tagged in Vincent Stone!! The crowd went wild as Stone hopped the ropes and entered the ring, going right at Tyler. Tyler Grey was ready to meet him and the two began a heated exchange of stiff strikes. Grey evidently had power behind his forearms but Stone persevered and fired back with the kicks he was so well known for and began wearing Tyler Grey down. Tyler Grey persevered on his own end, though, and kept trading offense with Stone until he whipped his future challenger into the ropes. As Stone ran towards them, he dipped forward, coming off of them in a Handspring Pele Kick that landed right on the money. Tyler Grey hit the mat and rolled out of the ring on the ramp side. Vincent Stone kipped up, saw an opening and ran right off the ropes, going for a Suicide Dive but feinted and caught the top rope with his arms, he bounced backwards onto his feet and hit a backflip, looking right at Tyler Grey and taunted him with the title belt motion across his waist, smirking confidently.
BRODY
"I'm liking the confidence in Vincent Stone! This kid has come a long way since he first broke into the scene! He is ready for Gang Warfare!"
As the chaos ensued between the two teams, each man paired off and continued to brawl. Tyler Grey got back into the ring to continue with Vincent Stone, gaining the upperhand on him with his brutality and greater strength. The ferocious Jr. Heavyweight Champion finally ended up locking Stone into the Judgement Day, wrenching back his neck and arm as he yelled obscene taunts in his ear about his friend, Erin Mercer. "Just like this, bitch!!! Just like this!!!! This is how Red fucking likes it!!!"
HANSON
"Oh, he's taunting him now! He's taunting Vincent Stone with the time when he attacked Erin Mercer!"
BRODY
"Absolutely disgusting, Nick! Well win or lose, he's gonna have to face the man again at Gang Warfare. His title will be on the line, then!"
HANSON
"I guarantee, Steve, Tyler Grey's trying to injure his opponent before he even makes it to Gang Warfare! Come on, Vin!! Get to the ropes!!"
As Vincent Stone reached for the ropes, a break in the brawling allowed Matt Klazzic to slide into the ring and bring a double axe handle down on Tyler Grey. Tyler Grey got to his feet and started throwing shots at Matt Klazzic, exchanging blows with him as Vincent Stone climbed to his feet. During the exchange, Matt Klazzic hit Tyler Grey with a European Uppercut, and pointed at Stone with both index fingers. Whipping Grey around to face him, Vincent Stone kicked him in the midsection and wrapped an arm around his head, performing a throat cut taunt.
"FINISH HIM!!!!!!"
The crowd chanted and cheered as Vincent Stone lifted Tyler Grey up and drilled him onto his head with the FATALITY!!!!
HANSON
"FATALITY!!! FATALITY!!"
BRODY
"IS THAT IT?!"
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
~DING DING DING~
HANSON
"IT IS!!!!! VINCENT STONE HAS PINNED TYLER GREY!!!!! IF HE DOES THAT AT GANG WARFARE IN TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE A NEW JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, STEVEN BRODY!!"
BRODY
"DAMN RIGHT, NICK!!!!"
Trust Company's "Downfall" resumed as Vincent Stone sat up with an exhausted, pained look on his face as he rolled his shoulder. He clenched a fist, nodding to the audience as Rick Dickulous and Matt Klazzic broke away from their brawl with the Renegades to come help him up as the referee raised his arm.
ARDEN
"HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS!!!!! MATT KLAZZIC! RICK DICKULOUS!! AND VINCENT STOOOOONE!!!!"
Raging, the Renegades retreated up the ramp as Tyler Grey SNATCHED the Jr. Heavyweight Title from the referee and held it up for Vincent Stone to see, yelling obscenities at him while Julian Morrison and Tyson Law pointed, scowling and taunting the Turn Up Express.
Match Winners: Dickulous/Klazzic/Stone
Match Time: 24:32
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backstage, in the locker room area, the camera finds Morgan Payne as she sits in her full gear, with her Beats headphones over her ears. She bobs her head along to the faint sound of music as she sits, leaning forward with her forearms on her knees. She doesn't budge from her position until a shadow looms over her, causing her to look up and slide her headphones down around her neck.
"Hey, kiddo." A deep, male voice says as the camera pans out, revealing her father, Andrew Payne standing with her before he sits down next to her. He exchanges a fist bump with his daughter. "You good, tonight? Ready to rock and roll?"
Morgan nods, giving her dad a thumbs up. "Yup! Been trainin' extra hahd. Keepin' my head straight n'at." She says, as confidently as she can. It's obvious that she's a little on edge as she sits there, trying to psyche herself up. There's no response from her father and she looks over at him to find the man just watching her with that knowing look.
"Mor. C'mon." Andrew says as he sits there and puts a hand on her shoulder, giving her a little shake. "I know when my little girl's letting her head get to her. What's up? You're worried about your match, again, huh?"
Finally, Morgan gives in, sitting up and slumping her shoulders. "Fahkin Candi Broduer, dad!" She said, in a worried, defeated tone. "She...she's...I ain't gonna lie! She's a damn beast! I mean...her trainer? Everything! You knew him."
Andrew sighs and nods, brushing his nose with his thumb. "Yeah, I knew Chris. Good man. He knew his shit and I'll defend his name against anybody who talks bad about him. God rest his soul, it was horrible what happened, but...damn did that guy know his shit in the ring. Goddamn, did he ever."
"So ya see where I'm comin' from, heah." Morgan responds, bringing her hands up in a shrug. "I mean, I dun wanna lose dis---" Reached over on the other side of her and pulled the Women's TV Title into her lap, "-- but...I dun wanna get my ahm ripped off, either, janno?" Morgan looked at the belt in her hands. "Janno, I almost had dis belt for a month, dad....a month! I know it ain't much for most belts. I mean, Serena had it for a month. Chris Wolfe's had his TV title since Wrestle War. Before dat? Ishh...Buzzsaw. Man." She shook her head and touched the center plate.
Andrew Payne put a hand on his daughter's shoulder and squeezed when she looked at him. "You're a champion, Mor. You've established that. My daughter, a fighting champion. I'm proud of ya. You could go out there, tonight, and lose that belt and I'd still be proud of ya, because your practicing what I taught you. Fight for what's yours. Hey, that statement you made last week? About taking on any woman from any promotion? Not everybody does that. Not everybody has the guts to do that. That made me even more proud. Just stick to your guns and don't let anybody try and get in ya head."
"Thanks, daddy." Morgan said, with her tough girl persona diminishing as she smiled and leaned into her father for a hug. He kissed the size of her head and grabbed her Steelers flat bill cap from her bag behind her and set it on her head. Morgan adjusted her hat and gave a sly grin. "I ain't plannin' on losin' dis belt, though. Hell nah!" She held the belt up, grinning bigger.
"Thaaaaaaat's my girl!" Andrew Payne, rare as it was, smiled and laughed, encouragingly, slapping his daughter on the back before she stood up.
"Help me out here, dad?" Morgan said, clutching her title over her chest. Behind her, her father took both ends of the strap and fastened it in the back so she could wear it like a bandolier, as she usually does.
"There ya go, kiddo. Ya got yer ammo. Now get out there and raise hell like only you know how to." Andrew Payne said, giving his daughter a nudge out the door. The camera focused on the man's face. A small smile on his face. There wasn't much that made him smile. But his daughter was the easiest way to....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[MATCH #7. SINGLES MACH FOR THE NFW WOMEN'S TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP - CANDI BRODUER VS MORGAN PAYNE (C)]
ARDEN
"Ladies and gentlemen! The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the NFW Women's Television Championship!!!!"
Breaking Benjamin's "Blow Me Away" filled the arena as the lights took on a white and red, flashing effect. To the delight of long time fans of the company, the young, primed veteran of NFW, Candi Broduer stepped through the curtain in her red and white tights and t-shirt gear. She's focused and calculated but the ovation from the crowd is clearly appreciated as she smirks, walking down the ramp.
ARDEN
"Introducing first, the challenger!! From Toronto, Ontario Canada! The Crippler!! CANDIIIIIII BRODUUUUUEEEEEEEEEER!!!!!!!"
Candi Broduer enters the ring and climbs the turnbuckle, striking a pose identical to her mentor, Chris Benoit, running her thumb over her throat before climbing down to the mat and removing her entrance gear.
At the same instant, the lighting of the arena takes on a darker tone with a golden hue, focusing around on the crowd as Ill Nino's "Sangre" starts up. A yellow spotlight searches the audience until falling on a specific figure making it's way through the footpath designated for staff to go between ringside and backstage. It's Morgan Payne! She's fired up as she moves between rows of fans, calling for them to get louder and throwing high fives and fist bumps to whoever she can get one out to. The NFW Women's Championship is strapped around her chest, diagonally, over her jacket. Fans who know her character offer out their plastic cups of beer. Morgan randomly selects one, downing the entire cup, spare a small amount that runs down her chin and neck. Once the cup is drained, she tosses the cup over her shoulder and high fives the fan she got the beer from, bobbing her head along to the rhythm of her music as she continues her way to the ring.
ARDEN
"Her opponent!! Representing the Iron Maidens!! From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!! She is the NFW Women's Television Champion!!! MORGAAAAAAAAN PAAAAAAAAYNE!!!!"
Upon reaching the barricade, Morgan hoists herself over it, turning her attention to the ring as she focuses on her opponent. Now, her energy is directed at them as she points back and forth between them and herself, yelling inaudibly about how eager she is to get in there and throw hands. Morgan continues this as she circles the ring halfway. She then hops up onto the ring apron and enters under the top rope, hopping on the balls of her feet. Thankfully, the referee is there to back her into her corner as she continues jumping around, amped up to start the match before she even gets her gear off. It's obnoxious, yet adorable and this is why fans love her.
Finally, as her music dies down, Morgan quickly removes her hat and hands it to the timekeeper. She unstraps her belt and hands it to the referee before handing her jacket and tied off flannel to the timekeeper as welll. The referee raises the Women's TV Title overhead, displaying it to the crowd before handing it off to the timekeeper and calling for the bell.
~DING DING DING~
To say that Morgan Payne was cautious in the opening moments of this match was an understatement. This was her first title challenger that, even in her early 30s and prime, was considered a veteran of the sport. As Morgan Payne and Candi Broduer slowly circled each other, sizing one another up, Candi reached out, inviting Morgan to engage in a lockup. Morgan, tentatively, reached out for Candi's hands but drew them back, visibly on the nervous side. Candi, however, was the cold, calculated specialist she had shown herself to be ever since NFW's return, last year. Brown eyes staring sharply at Morgan as she inched closer and went for the collar and elbow tie up. Barely a second after it was initiated, Candi turned it into an armdrag, throwing Morgan to the mat with the defending champion rolling to her feet. Candi raised her eyebrows, watching Morgan expectantly with a small smirk growing on her face. Shaking out her arms, Morgan nodded out of respect for Candi before raising a hand and beckoning her over as she moved back to the middle of the ring and got into her stance again. Again, the two circled, one another and engaged in another tieup. This time, Candi maneuvered herself behind Morgan and caught her in a Small Package rollup.
HANSON
"HEY WAIT!!! CANDI CATCHES HER IN A ROLLUP!!!!"
ONE!!
TWO!!
Morgan Payne just BARELY powered out, thrusting her legs up to get her shoulders off of the mat and breakup the pinfall. She rolled back onto her knees, coming up with a stunned look on her face. Morgan looked immediately to the referee for confirmation, hoping. A look of relief appeared on her face when Referee Akiyama assured her it was only a two count. Candi stood back, waiting patiently as Morgan tentatively got back to her feet, watching her. As the match continued, Candi Broduer continued to maintain control due to her experience and technical prowess. Using holds and wrestling take downs, Candi maneuvered the more inexperienced Morgan Payne how she wanted, hitting armdrags, dragon screws and the like.
BRODY
"Morgan looks like she's in trouble, there, Nick! This doesn't look good for her!"
HANSON
"Now you and I both know better than to count her out just yet, Steve."
As Candi continued to wear Morgan down, she began pulling out her bigger moves, intent on ending the match soon. The tides suddenly turned, however, when she began climbing the ropes to go for a Moonsault. By the time she came off of the top turnbuckle, Morgan Payne was able to roll out of the way, causing her to land front down with a THUD onto the mat. Candi rolled up into a sitting position, clutching her midsection. Morgan, now back on her feet, quickly came off the ropes, almost in a move of desperation and threw her entire body at Candi, delivering a Crossbody, taking her down where she hooked the leg for the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
But Candi Broduer kicked out, causing Morgan to sit up, frustration on her face as she got back to her feet and advanced on her opponent, wasting no time. Taking control of the match, Morgan Payne began to dish out her own arsenal of brawl based strikes and power moves. Going for a variety of suplexes, bombs and driver, Pittsburgh's Princess of the Streets showed The Crippler just what sense of power she had behind her offense. Morgan still had a lot to work on in terms of technical wrestling but she could strike and manhandle with the best of them, as she continued to demonstrate throughout her early career, including his match. Building up a head of steam, she began to find her confidence and managed to start finding a way passed Candi Broduer's own counter attempts. Strike attempts from Candi lead to catch style slams and tosses. Takedowns, resulted in Morgan starting to actually try and power her way out of them before sending Candi up off of her feet in one slam or another. During one exchange, Candi managed to catch Morgan with a stiff, backhanded chop, stalling her in her momentum. She came off the ropes, running back at Morgan who threw an attempt for a counter lariat at her. Candi ducked under and ran for the other end of the ropes. Taking off, Morgan ran for the ropes adjacent to her opponent, bouncing right off. Candi stopped just long enough to turn towards Morgan again and ended up taking a hellacious running clothesline from Hell that sent her - even at a stagnant, standing position - flipping inside out and landing hard on the mat. The crowd popped as those who were old enough to remember her father's career during his prime, recognized this as one of his own signatures - The Faded Line!! Morgan, true to the move, ended up falling to the mat too in a roll forward until she was sitting up and panting from the adrenaline. A couple of seconds passed before she gathered her thoughts and scrambled over to Candi to go for the cover.
HANSON
"FADED LINE!!!!! FADED LINE!!!!! FADED LINE!!!!!!"
BRODY
"DID YOU SEE THAT IMPACT?!"
HANSON
"I DID, INDEED, STEVE!!! THERE'S THE COVER FROM MORGAN PAYNE!!"
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH---
BUT CANDI BRODUER KICKED OUT!!! Morgan snapped up, grabbing her head in frustration and looking wide eyed with genuine concern that she might not be able to defeat Candi. Getting up to her feet, Morgan quickly pulled Candi up to her feet and hoisted her up onto her shoulders, setting up for her finisher - 'Dahntahn After Dahk!' The crowd was going nuts as she got Candi all the way up onto her shoulders. As Morgan went to follow through with the move, however, Candi managed to twist herself sideways and landed on her feet with a hold on one of Morgan's arms. Candi immediately dragged Morgan to the mat and locked in THE CROSSFACE right in the center of the ring!! Morgan Payne cried out in instant pain as Candi wrenched her head back with her hands. The defending champion desperately alternated between reaching for the ropes and trying to pry Candi's hands loose so she could escape the move.
HANSON
"THERE IT IS!!! CROSSFACE!!!! CROSSFACE IS ON, JIM!!"
BRODY
"SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO GET TO A ROPE OR TAP OUT, NICK! SHE CAN GET A TORN SHOULDER IF SHE'S NOT CAREFUL!!!"
But Morgan Payne DID make it to the ropes and Candi Broduer immediately let her go, once again, showing the sportsmanship that she displayed prior to her time in The Renegades. She rolled back to her feet and came over to pick Morgan up to her feet. She set Morgan up for a powerbomb, nodding to the crowd through her own exhaustion. As she lifted Morgan up, however, Morgan Payne twisted around and caught Candi Broduer in an Inside Cradle!
HANSON
"INSIDE CRADLE!!"
BRODY
"LOOK OUT!"
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
~DING DING DING~
ARDEN
"HERE IS YOUR WINNER!!! AAAAAND STIIIILLLL, NFW WOMEN'S TELEVISION CHAMPION!!!! MORGAAAAAAAAAN PAAAAAAAAAAYNE!!!!!"
Ill Nino's "Sangre" tore through the arena again as Morgan Payne and Candi Broduer both sat up, stunned at the outcome. Candi sighed, shaking her head while Morgan Payne cupped her hands over her mouth. Did she seriously just catch Candi Broduer in a rollup?! Taking the Women's TV title from the referee, Morgan Payne clutched it to her chest, nodding as the referee seemed to need to assure her that she won. Afterward, she scrambled to her feet as Candi Broduer was leaving and ran over to get her attention. Candi Broduer turned to find Morgan Payne holding her hand out. Pausing only for a second, Candi shook Morgan's hand and nodded, giving the girl a hug before leaving her the ring to celebrate.
HANSON
"Morgan Payne set a goal, Steve, to hold that title for as long as she can! With tonight's victory, correct me if I'm wrong, she will go into her next defense with over a month under her belt!"
BRODY
"Absolutely, Nick. She does not defend her title next week. We don't have a show next week. She will not defend it at Gang Warfare as it is not a televised event. You've gotta get it on our Network! Morgan will go into her next defense on May 6th, with a month and a half reign! I have to say, I'm happy to see that we have a champion who values their title, no matter how small it may seem. The title doesn't make the wrestler, Nick. The wrestler makes the title! Morgan Payne is well on her way to---"
HANSON
"HEY, WAIT A MINUTE! LOOK OUT, STEVE!! IN THE RING!!"
The crowd suddenly began booing, deafeningly loud as, from the audience, Jaxton Crowe appeared for the fourth week in a row, garbed in street clothes and his Tai Pei glass fist. He slid into the ring, right behind Morgan Payne as the exhausted woman raised her title up over her head.
HANSON
"THAT'S JAXTON CROWE!!"
BRODY
"WHAT THE HELL IS HE--- OH!!!"
Behind Morgan Payne, Jaxton Crowe ran up and clobbered her in the back with a forearm, knocking her to the mat. The crowd looked about ready to go into a riot as the man flipped Morgan right over onto her back and began his vicious onslaught of fists on her forehead. Pieces of trash began to fly into the ring, immediately at Jaxton Crowe from the crowd.
HANSON
"WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING?!?!?!?!"
BRODY
"THAT SICK, SON OF A BITCH!!!"
Just as Jaxton Crowe really got into his storm of offense, the crowd's boos turned into deafening cheers as Morgan's father, ANDREW PAYNE came beelining towards the ring as fast as he could make it!!
HANSON
"AND HERE COMES THE PUNISHER!!!! MORGAN'S FATHER!! YOU KNOW HE'S NOT GONNA STAND FOR THIS!!!!"
BRODY
"I'M NOT EITHER!! THERE'S GONNA BE REPERCUSSIONS FOR THIS BULLSHIT!"
As the commentary team raged on, Andrew Payne slid into the ring and tackled Jaxton Crowe right off of Morgan Payne and started throwing his own shots down on the man. FURIOUS punches rained down on Jaxton Crowe from Andrew Payne as he unleashed an immediate rage for the attack on his daughter. Eventually, Jaxton Crowe managed to flip the man over, taking control and rained down punches on Andrew Payne with his glass wrapped fist. Andrew Payne got the guard up but a few punches still landed across his forehead before security and referees came rushing the ring, causing Jaxton Crowe to retreat and make it to the ramp as he raised his fist up with blood on the glass, grinning. His other hand came up, holding up two fingers as he grinned at the camera.
HANSON
"This man is absolutely sick! He says he's doing this for his master! What master?!"
BRODY
"I don't even know, Nick! I signed this man and told him I'd get him booked as soon as possible! If he's looking for a fight, I'm gonna give it to him! Jaxton Crowe! You're gonna get yours!"
HANSON
"My god, look at Andrew Payne's face!"
BRODY
"Look at his daughter's face!!! This is sick!!!"
Back inside the ring, referees moved to both Andrew and Morgan Payne. Andrew Payne, despite being a little cut up, quickly crawled over to Morgan and picked the girl up into his arms as he knelt beside her. Blood coated her forehead and ran down her face as she winced from the pain. Steven Brody joined the group of officials in the ring, tentatively kneeling beside Andrew and Morgan. Andrew immediately turned his hardened scowl towards Steven Brody and could be heard saying. "What are you gonna do about it? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, STEVE?! YOU FUCKING DO SOMETHING, OR I WILL!!" Steven Brody held up his hands, submissively. "Andy! Andy! I'm going to. Alright? Man to man. Father to father. I'm gonna do something." Andrew sneered at the Commissioner before turning to look up at the stage where Jaxton Crowe stood watching.
Match Winner: Morgan Payne by Pinfall (Still Champion)
Match Time: 19:01
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The camera shifted backstage to find Amy Connors, standing in front of a black interview backdrop. Dressed professionally as ever in a white blouse and a black skirt, Amy Connors held the microphone underneath her mouth as she spoke towards the camera lens, addressing the viewers. "Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I'm Amy Connors, here with my guests, collectively known as 'Merlex.'"
As Amy spoke, the camera shot widened a little to bring in Team Merlex as they step into frame. Dressed in one of her Merlex variation of outfits, Erin Mercer wears matching colors on her gear to make her fit right in with Alex Brody's gear colors. She adjusts the collar and lapels on her black, leather jacket. She looked way less than amused as she stood on one side of Amy, right beside Alex, making sure she was on the inside, closer to Amy.
"Ladies, hello. How are you this evening?" Amy Connors asks to which Erin Mercer simply shakes her head. Amy turns to Alex then, suddenly looking almost...sympathetic. "Alex, how about you? I understand you must not be the happiest person, right now. What's on your mind right now, as you and Erin prepare to take on the tag team of Penelope Cassidy and........NFW Women's Champion?"
"Let me cut you off right there, Amy." Alex said, for once an angry look on her face, Dressed in her black and light-blue tights and pads, with a Behemoth tee tied at the midriff. "Lara Blackheart may have that belt, but she is NOT a champion. A champion has honor. A champion elevates the title they hold, and makes it prestigious. She's garbage. She's a disgrace. And I promise you... one way or another, I will get MY title back, and I will do it with honor. That's it. C'mon, Erin. We have stuff to do."
Erin Mercer gave Amy a gentle pat on the side of her shoulder before looking at the camera with a rare, angry look in her eyes as she moved to follow Alex Brody to the Gorilla Position.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[MATCH #8. MAIN EVENT - TAG TEAM MATCH - MERLEX (BRODY/MERCER) VS SEX & VIOLENCE (BLACKHEART/CASSIDY)]
The crowd boo'ed as Otep's "Royals" cover came on over the speakers with Lara Blackheart and Penelope Cassidy making their way out onto the stage. Over her shoulder, Lara Blackheart held the NFW Women's Championship with a smug, cold little smirk.
ARDEN
"The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall and is your MAIN EVENT!! Making their way to the ring first!! Representing Sex & Violence!! PENELOPEEEEEE CASSIDYYYYY...and the NFW Women's Champion...."DR. FEELGOOD"...LARAAAAAAAAA BLACKHEEEEEEAAAAAAART!!!!!!"
HANSON
"I know I need to be objective, Steve, but I have to tell ya, I hate seeing Lara Blackheart with that title. The way she won it."
BRODY
"You know I can't say too much, Nick, but you're not alone. Trust me. You're not alone."
As they reached the ring, Lara Blackheart and Penelope Cassidy paced around the ring with Lara walking up to the side of the ring where she could look down at Steven Brody on commentary and smirked, raising the Women's Championship up. Steven Brody simply stared up at her with a stoic expression until she turned and went to stand with Penelope Cassidy right in the middle of the ring, watching the ramp.
"BLOOD FOR FREEDOM!"
Suddenly, Within Temptation's "Raise Your Banners" began to play, as Alex Brody walked out onto the stage, waving a black flag with the symbol of the Rebel Alliance on it. It would come as no surprise that Erin Mercer and Vincent Stone were with her... but along with them, Max LeBrun, Chris Wolfe, Teddy Morse, and Chase Evans!
"What you did to me last week..." Alex said into the microphone, glaring at Lara, "You will NEVER do again. Not to me, not my friends. You think you're above everyone because you have backup... because you're some kind of royalty or something around here. Well... it's time someone stood up to you. Because it's time to take NFW back from you... and The Resistance is here to do it!"
Stepping up with another microphone, Erin glared down at the ramp and up at Lara Blackheart and Penelope Cassidy. "Lara. I get it." Erin said, shrugging her shoulders. "You wanna be champion. You wanna follow in your father's footsteps. But the way you won that belt, was not the way to do it! And we know, you're gonna stand up there and not take us seriously." She shook her head. "We know that. That's why we needed to put The Resistance together. A collective group of people that were either scorned or are friends of people that you scorned with your bullshit!" She stepped aside and motioned to Teddy Morse and Chase Evans.
Both men, dressed identically in blue jeans, boots and black t-shirts with the Rebel Alliance symbol on it, stared silently at the ring before turning to look at Erin as she spoke. "These two guys have been so supportive of Alex since she won that title which you stole from her!" Erin pointed at Lara. "They've had to put up with shit from people like you who think things need to be handed what they want instead of earning it! But that ends, Lara. It ends tonight, and it ends, right now!" She turned to Chase and Teddy, offering the mic out if they wanted to speak.
Chase Evans reached across Teddy Morse and took the microphone, idly scratching behind his ear as he thought for a moment. "Look. Lara?" The bearded one of the tag team known as the Rebel Rousers looked up and held out a hand to stress his point. "Teddy and me? We had no problem with you. We had no issue even with your attitude. But then you started acting out like some little brat who didn't get the pony she asked for, for Christmas." He turned, pointing to Chris Wolfe. "You made life hell for one of this guy's friends." He turned and pointed to Alex. "You pissed on everything this little lady worked for and busted her ass to earn. You pissed on everything that meant in the snap of a finger!" Chase snapped his fingers over his head. "I'm not ever gonna lay my hands on a woman, but I'm sure as hell gonna sit here and cheer these two on---" He motioned to Alex and Erin, "---while they beat the shit out of you and your little gas station skank right there with you. And I know damn well that Chris here, is gonna be doing the same when the Unwanted whup all of your sorry asses, in two weeks at Gang Warfare!" The crowd cheered, popping loudly as they started to see some seriousness from the Rebel Rousers. Here, Chase turned to the camera. "And you know what? While I've got this mic, you, camera man. C'mere." He curled in his finger, bringing the camera man up. "You. Yeah, I know you, bud. What's your name? Six? That's what Ethan Skinner from the Dominion of Pain calls you? He doesn't give a shit about your real name, does he?" Chase and Teddy got in close, looking into the camera. "Hey, Ethan. Judas. D.O.P! Heads up, jackasses. Because if you think you're getting into that Cell in a four on two against Jay White and Adam Cole, think again. Because the Resistance is taking action, and the Rebel Forces--" He motioned between himself and Teddy Morse, "--are riding into battle to help kick some ass! Right partner?"
Teddy Morse leaned into the microphone with a serious scowl as he looked around at the crowd. They quieted down some, almost waiting for it. Was he still gonna....?" "HEEEEEEEELLLLL YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAH!!!!" The crowd popped as Teddy still kept his signature phrase, looking into the camera again and winking. Teddy and Chase stepped back, offering the microphone out again.
Chris Wolfe stepped forward, giving Alex and Erin a friendly hug. "I'm sick and tired of you upsetting my best friend. You guys have made her life hell for the last month. Meanwhile, The Renegades and The Dominion are running around acting like they own this shit... and me and Max are tired of it. The Resistance is all about one thing... making sure nobody else gets screwed over the way you bitches did my homegirl Alex last week. I'm the greatest... and now I got people havin' my back as well. Ain't NONE of y'all gonna stop me now."
Max took the microphone from Chris, giving the man a fist bump before watching the ring with a dismayed look on his face. "Lara? I'm not gonna lie. This sucks having to do this. You were my first real fan when I broke into this business. But you are nothing like that little girl, right now. I don't know who you are anymore. Judas Lasher and I never saw face to face on a lot of things, but I'll agree with him on one thing: you need help, Lara. And until you get the help you need, we're gonna make sure you don't do to anybody else what you've been doing. I'm gonna be straight up honest. That right there?" He pointed at Penelope. "That isn't your friend. That isn't someone who loves you. I bet she'd stab you in the back for that belt you've got, the first instance someone offered her up the opportunity. Those other two you roll with? Yeah, they'd probably do it, too. It just sucks that you've gotten so into your own head that you can't realize you're becoming what you fought against just a year ago." Max lowered the mic before handing it to Alex and stepped back.
"The short version? Every person on this stage is tired of your shit, Lara." Alex said, running her hand through her hair in frustration. "And we all know that we need to watch each other's back to make sure you don't screw any of us over. So enjoy that title while you can. Because I'll get a rematch. Somehow, I will. But right now? It's time for me and Erin to beat both of your asses and enjoy every.... damn... minute. Viva La Resistance."
~DING DING DING~
At the bell, Erin Mercer and Penelope Cassidy start the match off, circling the mat. As Penelope lunges in for a collar and elbow tieup, however, Erin slips around behind her and catches her around the waist. As Penelope struggles to get Erin’s arms off of her, Erin slips an arm underneath Penelope’s legs and rolls her up into a small package.
ONE!!
TWO!!
Penelope kicks out, as expected but pops up onto her knees, staring wide eyed, crazed and surprised at Mercer. Erin stares back at her, resting on one knee with a seriousness in her green eyes as she stares back at her opponent. From Sex & Violence’s corner, Lara Blackheart yells re-encouraging words to Penelope.
“Fuck that bitch! Don’t let her do you like that, babe!”
Across the ring, in Merlex’s corner, Alex Brody claps her hands overhead to get the crowd behind Erin Mercer. “Yeeeeeaaaahhh!!! C’mon, Erin!”
“LET’S GO ERIN!”
“LET’S GO ERIN!”
“LET’S GO ERIN!”
“LET’S GO ERIN!”
Erin and Penelope get back to their feet with Erin waving her fingers in towards her, telling Penelope to bring it and offers another chance at a tieup. This time, Erin obliges and engages in the lockup. However, again, she goes for Penelope’s back, grabbing her around the waist again. Penelope manages to spin around, this time, getting free and grabs Erin around the head for a DDT. Erin acts fast, however and grabs Penelope around the waist and jacks her up and back for a Northern Lights Suplex with a bridge! Erin holds the position and arches her back up for the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
Again, Penelope kicks out. This time, Erin immediately pops up onto her feet with a kip-up. As Penelope sits up and rolls around onto her knees, Erin runs off of the ropes, flying in with a Basement Dropkick that sends Penelope rolling across the mat until she slides out of the ring, SHRIEKING with rage and flailing her hands down at her sides. Crazed. Inside the ring, Erin pumps the horns to the crowd as they cheer her on. Seeing Penelope still regaining her composure, outside of the ring, she looks to the crowd and shrugs. Running off the ropes, Erin goes for a Suicide Dive but Lara Blackheart is there, ready and waiting on the apron. She times it perfectly and runs in, catching Erin in the head with a stiff knee just as she starts to come through the ropes. Erin’s body slumps onto the ropes, sliding back into the ring and hanging on the middle rope by her arms and neck. Seizing the opportunity, Penelope hurries up and grabs Erin by the beck of the head, running her face back and forth along the ropes with a deranged smile.
1!!
2!!
3!!
4!!
Penelope let’s go of Erin, causing her to all completely back into the ring. She looks up at Lara with her crazed eyes, almost as if seeking approval from the one person it matters coming from. Grinning, Lara hops down from the apron, walks up and passionately kisses Penelope right on the mouth. When the kiss breaks, she nods her head towards Erin trying to recover in the ring.
“Get that bitch.”
She’s just barely heard from the camera mic before Penelope slides like a lady serpent into the ring, watching Erin with a predatory gaze. Standing over the downed Mercer, Penelope looks at her foe like a stalking lion, and lifts her to her feet and spins her around into a stiff forearm, in fact a series of stiff forearms, driving her back into a neutral corner. Driving her knee into Penelope’s mid section, and throwing her into the corner Erin takes charge of the situation, slamming repeated chops into Penelope’s chest. With a rake to the eyes, and a diving tag Penelope tags in Lara Blackheart. Rushing the ring, and kicking Mercer in the stomach with one leg and nailing a DDT quickly, Dr Feelgood, sure seemed to have the prescription, and it wasn’t more cowbell.
Walking over to Alex Brody’s corner and just slapping her across the face and turning around with arms outstretched, taunting the crowd and Alex alike, as the crowd Boo’s enthusiastically. Lara walks back over to the downed body of Mercer and begins stomping away, first the ankle, then the knee then the hip, and stomping all the way around the body, with the look of hate on her face, and she backs up and takes a running punt into Mercer’s head as she struggles to stand. Finally having enough Alex rushes into the ring, nailing a superkick that sends Lara reeling backwards and as she bounces off a corner Alex lands another superkick. After Lara hits the mat, the referee finally starts backing Alex up towards her corner. As she does so, Alex calls out to Erin to come tag her in. With the ref’s back to the action, Penelope Cassidy enters the ring and rushes Erin Mercer while the Red Queen is getting up to her knees and grabs her by the hair, delivering a mat slam before pouncing on her with repeated forearms while Lara Blackheart recovers. This causes Alex to try and get back into the ring once more but the referee keeps her on the apron as Lara gets back to her feet and comes over to help Penelope in a double team on Erin.
Finally, the referee turns around and sees the double team, breaking Lara and Penelope off of Erin before yelling in Penelope’s face to get her out of the ring. Lara takes this time to strut around the ring, raising her hands over head in a ‘gaze upon me’ taunt, shaking her hips at the audience. As she does, Erin Mercer finds her feet and rushes passed Referee Akiyama, catching Lara off guard with a reverse Hurricanrana, dropping her right on her head. She quickly throws herself over Lara and hooks her leg.
ONE!
TWO!!
Kickout by Lara Blackheart! Erin Mercer rolls back off of her, getting to her feet to regain her composure before picking Lara up onto her feet. Lara immediately fires back with a stiff forearm, right after being picked up. Erin reels, fuming as the audience cheers for a strike off. Erin, plain and simple, just SLAPS Lara across the face and can be seen mouthing ‘spoiled little bitch’ at her. Lara cocks back and nails Erin with another forearm, Erin fires back with a chop across Lara’s chest. Right on the bare skin under the heart shape hold in her gear top. Painful. Lara clutches her chest, reeling and musters up energy for another shot. Erin blocks it and feeds her a forearm of her own, then another and another and another. Erin turns, and finishes with a discus forearm. Lara stumbles and falls to one knee. Erin comes running off of the ropes for a maneuver but Lara catches her in a Drop Toe Hold and immediately locks her up into an STF. Lara wrenches Erin’s neck back. The redhead screams audibly as she reaches for the bottom rope. It takes a moment but she just barely brushes it with her fingers. Enough for the referee to call for the break. Lara lets up and goes back to tag Penelope in.
Grabbing her own hair, Penelope closes in on Erin with a rabid look in her eyes. It looks like...yes, she’s laughing. Penelope grabs Erin and headbutts her, sending her back into a neutral corner. Penelope instantly follows up, coming in to deliver a mixture of kicks and forearms to Erin Mercer. Holding onto Erin, Penelope climbs onto the middle turnbuckle and rains punches down on her. Erin slumps down into the corner and Penelope drops right down with her. Grinning wickedly, Penelope sits in Erin’s lap and begins her signature gyration against the woman. Tauntingly and seductively grinding against Erin who barely even seems to know what’s going on. She laughs at the audience before getting up and pressing her foot against Erin’s throat. Referee Akiyama doesn’t hesitate to start the count.
1!
2!
3!
4!
Penelope brings her foot back and throws her hands up, grinning at the referee before picking Erin up. As soon as Erin gets up to her feet, she bursts into a second wind and starts throwing forearms into Penelope’s face. Penelope staggers back, giving Erin room to start delivering kicks to the body and legs. She runs off of the ropes, coming at Penelope full force but Penelope rushes forward, as well. Both women collide, clotheslining each other and hit the mat. Alex and Lara both start reaching over the ropes, screaming for their partners. Penelope comes to first, seeing Lara and begins trying to get up. Erin rolls over onto her stomach and starts dragging herself towards her corner. It’s close but Penelope is closer and gets the tag in to Lara before rolling out of the ring. Lara gets into the ring and rushes for Erin. At the last possible second, Erin throws herself forward and HOT TAGS Alex Brody into the match.
The crowd goes wild as Lara freezes in place and just smiles, tilting her head, urging Alex on. Staring daggers into NFW’s new Women’s Champion, Alex Brody gets into the ring and the two women lunge forward at one another. Both women rush at each other with wild abandon, firing punches at each other in the centre of the ring. Lara starts to get the better of the exchange and Alex is pushed back against the ropes, suddenly Alex hits a Lionsault out of nowhere. Landing into a pinning combination, Alex raises a hand as the referee counts.
1!
2!
Thre --- kick out before the referee can bring his hand down.
Alex falls away and grunts in pain, the exhaustion on her face is really starting to show. Lara and Alex both stumble to their feet, slowly. Alex gets to her feet first and starts to chop and kick away at the champ. Lara falls and rolls out of the ring to get space, and Alex Brody runs off the opposite ropes and lands a suicide dive on Lara. Both women stagger to their feet again and begin to throw blows outside the ring. Penelope drops down to the ringside and runs over to help Lara and is met with a big boot by Mercer and she lands on her back. The referee begins his count as Mercer climbs the far ropes and moonsaults on the two women outside the ring, seeing to do damage to Lara to make up for earlier. Mercer rolls Brody in the ring and stands back in her corner, as the referee continues his count. Cassidy does the same for Blackheart, rolling her into the ring as well. The crowd began to boo, then as Nostalgia Ultra appeared, making their way down to the ring. Boos quickly turned to cheers, however, as the rest of Alex and Erin's collective new group, The Resistance, moved from ringside and formed a barrier between Nostalgia Ultra and the ring. Chris Wolfe shook his head, scowling at the women while Max LeBrun pointed up the ramp, telling them to get lost. Nostalgia Ultra attempted to bow up to The Resistance but, in the center especially, Teddy Morse and Chase Evans refused to move. Futura Soli looked back at the crowd, making a face that said 'alright, you wanna play that way' before suddenly lashing out and going to throw a forearm at Chase Evans but Evans caught it in his hand and pushed Soli back, shaking his head.
HANSON
"I don't believe what I'm seeing!! The Resistance is preventing Nostalgia Ultra from interfering in this matchup!"
BRODY
"You know what? Good! Call me biased, but it'll be nice to see a clean victory for once! Even if it is from Sex & Violence!"
Alex Brody and Lara Blackheart both get to their feet with Lara immediately going for the advantage and attacking Alex Brody with vicious shots from her forearms and feet. As the match continued, Lara Blackheart set Alex Brody up for the Coma White, grinning wickedly and smugly at the crowd as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. On the apron, facing Lara, Penelope jumped up and down, cheering for her girl. All of a sudden, the crowd popped again as, while Nostalgia Ultra and The Resistance were still facing off at the foot of the ramp, part of THE UNWANTED appeared!! Shelley Silver and Angel Kusanagi came running down the ramp and instantly jumped on Nostalgia Ultra, laying into them and starting a two on two brawl.
HANSON
"HEY WHOA, LOOKOUT!!!!! SILVER AND KUSANAGI FROM THE UNWANTED!!! THEY'RE COMING AFTER NOSTALGIA ULTRA!!!"
BRODY
"FIGHT'S ON, NICK!! I'M GONNA LET IT GO UNTIL SECURITY DECIDES TO STEP IN!!"
From inside the ring, this distracted Lara Blackheart during her attempt at the Coma White, long enough for Alex Brody to pull free and started laying into her with elbows and forearms before kicking her in the midsection and delivering a Superkick, knocking Lara to the mat. Alex pointed to the turnbuckle, nodding to the crowd before climbing to the top. As Penelope Cassidy started running along the apron to intercept, Erin Mercer hurried into the ring and charged forward, delivering a Suicide Spear, taking her and Penelope both to the floor!! From the top turnbuckle, Alex Brody came off, delivering the Call of Cthulhu to Lara Blackheart before hooking the leg!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
ARDEN
"HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS!!!!! MEEEERLEEEEEEEEX!!!!!!"
Match Winners: Merlex by Pinfall
Match Time: 16:22
OverKill's "Electric Rattlesnake" played over the speakers as Alex Brody popped up onto her knees, raising her fists into the air. Outside the ring, Vincent Stone and Chris Wolfe came to help Erin Mercer up to her feet so she could get back into the ring. As the referee brought the NFW Women's Championship over to hand it back to Lara Blackheart, Alex Brody SNATCHED it before Lara could take it and held it up beside her head, pointing to it, mouthing "This is mine! Do you understand?! I'm getting this back!" She dropped the title next to Lara Blackheart as Erin Mercer gently ushered her back and got her to calm down.
HANSON
"Call it the beginning of retribution, Steven Brody! I think Sex & Violence just got a taste of their own medicine!"
BRODY
"Maybe! Maybe not! I don't know if The Unwanted getting involved was part of the plan but it sure worked out in The Resistance's favor!"
Meanwhile, as the rest of The Resistance joined Alex and Erin in the ring, Within Temptation's "Raise Your Banners" took over the music as the camera cut briefly to show security finally breaking up Nostalgia Ultra and the two members of The Unwanted, before cutting back to the ring to show The Resistance forming up and celebrating.
HANSON
"Well that's our show for the night, folks! Would you like to do the honors, Steve?"
BRODY
"Don't mind if I do, Nick! Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for watching, as always! Be sure to not miss our big event coming up after this! April 29th! Gang Warfare! Teams versus teams! Everyone's gonna be settling their differences! We've got a Monster's Ball Deathmatch between The Unwanted and Sex & Violence! We've got two Hell In A Cell matches! The Dominion of Pain versus Jay White and Adam Cole of The Unwanted and Chase Evans and Teddy Morse of The Resistance! We're gonna re-crown our Women's Tag Team Champions in a Battle Royale! The Skillz Vendorz will make their debut as they team with Mary Williams - or should I say, Mary Kennedy - as they take on SBS."
HANSON
"SO many great matches!"
BRODY
"Definitely! The Jr. Heavyweight title is on the line. Shelley Silver defends her Silver Mountain Championship against Clarence Townsend in another Hell In A Cell match. If he loses...well...he's got some cleaning duty. Another cage match will be the Great White North taking on the Renegades. Intergender six-person tag match!"
HANSON
"We've got a lot of cage matches coming up at the show, huh, Steve?"
BRODY
"That we do, Nick and that reminds me. I need to announce one more. Excuse me, Nick. It was great calling matches with you."
HANSON
"Wait, what? One more?"
As The Resistance leaves the ring, Steven Brody calls for a microphone and gets into the ring, standing in the center as he raises a hand and calls for the music to stop.
"Excuse me! Ladies and gentlemen, excuse me!" Brody turns to the Resistance on the ramp. "Sorry, all, I don't mean to cut off your celebration. Congratulations on your victory, tonight. Time's running out, so I just wanted to make one more announcement for Gang Warfare." The crowd buzzed with excitement, waiting to see what he had to say. "You folks ready for Gang Warfare in two weeks?" The crowd popped. Brody smiled and nodded. "I am too, trust me. In fact, it seems like everyone is. The wrestlers definitely are. So much so that it seems everyone just can't keep their hands to themselves and they need to get at each other. Truly feels like a war, doesn't it?" He smirks, lightly taunting the crowd as they look on, anticipating. "So Savannah Hayes and I, we've got most of the matches set in stone. All except for one." He raises an index finger and looks at the camera. "See, it seems as though things between Bullet Club and The Elite just keep escalating, getting worse and worse. So bad that, it looks like we need to put them in yet another cage match."
The crowd buzzes more, looking on as Steven Brody continues. "But you see...we can't just throw those eight men in a cage and call it a day. No, see...I've been looking at how everything's playing out between Kenny Omega's guys and Prince Devitt's guys...I just decided...maybe we need to let them settle things in a...special type of cage...." With that, Steven Brody dropped the microphone and abruptly waved to the crowd, exiting the ring and taking his leave. As the crowd sat there in confusion...the lights went out and the video wall came to life. The crowd watched as an air raid siren sounded throughout the arena and flashes of chain link steel began to show on the tron. Next came flashes of a wrestling ring...and then...two rings! The crowd suddenly popped, already knowing what was coming as sound effects of war could be heard. Gunfire. Helicopters. Bombs. Finally, in a final flash, the screen depicted the historical War Games cage setup with one huge cage over two rings....
HANSON
"OHHHHHH MY GOD, FOLKS!!! Do my eyes deceive me?! That...that...THAT'S WAR GAMES!!!! WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WAR GAMES MATCH AT GANG WARFARE!!! BULLET CLUB VERSUS THE ELITE!!!! You won't wanna miss this one!!!! For Jim Reynolds who would normally be here and for our guest commentator, Commissioner Steven Brody, I'm Nick Hanson! So long everyone! See you in two weeks!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATCH WINNERS
Jag'hatai D'habi def. BUSHI by Pinfall
G.O.D def. Ultra-Violence by Disqualification
D.O.P (Buzzsaw/Crowley) def. The Unwanted (White/Cole) by Pinfall
Ethan Skinner drew with Chris Wolfe (C)
Nico Salvatore def. HAVOK by Disqualification
Dickulous/Klazzic/Stone def. The Renegades by Pinfall
Morgan Payne (C) def. Candi Broduer by Pinfall
Merlex def. Sex & Violence by Pinfall
MATCH WRITERS
Jag'hatai D'habi vs BUSHI written by steinn
G.O.D vs Ultra-Violence written by NFW General Manager
D.O.P vs The Unwanted written by NFW General Manager
Ethan Skinner vs Chris Wolfe written by steinn
Nico Salvatore vs HAVOK written by NFW General Manager
Dickulous/Klazzic/Stone vs The Renegades written by NFW General Manager
Morgan Payne vs Candi Broduer written by NFW General Manager
Merlex vs Sex & Violence written by NFW General Manager & steinn
COMMENTARY
Written by NFW General Manager
