NFW Trauma #154 - 06/22/2024!

Saturday Night Trauma opens before the intro reel with LeeAnn Viskan standing in her office in front of her desk, dressed in one of her usual dark suits with an equally dark smirk across her lips.

LeeAnn Viskan: Good evening, Chicago, and welcome to Saturday Night Trauma. Before we begin tonight’s event, I wanted to take a moment to say it is my great pleasure to announce that we are in preparation for our next Trauma exclusive supershow, Sudden Death V: home of NFW’s staple, Guardians of the Pyramid match. Now, you’ve already seen social media, regarding our little teaser, but allow me to explain this match to those who may not be familiar. The Guardians of the Pyramid match is a gauntlet style bout in which the NFW Championship will be on the line. Under that rule, the current champion, Damon Cross automatically qualifies for participation.

She pauses as Chicago reacts in excitement, bringing a wider grin to her lips before she continues.

LeeAnn Viskan: In this match, the champion will be one of seven individuals competing in a series of different matches, all of which the stipulations will be determined by the particular individual entering the match at their stage. Starting tonight, now, over the next few weeks, we’ll be holding qualifying matches with a time based system in place. The winners of these matches will enter into the Guardians of the Pyramid match and, based on the length of their match, that will determine the round in which they enter. The first match to determine the participants will take place tonight, here in just a few moments as the winner of our opening contest - Jimmy Bones versus Ayu Megumi - will be the first to qualify for Sudden Death’s Main Event. On behalf of NFW, I wanna thank you all for attending here this evening, I wanna thank all who are watching at home…and welcome again…to Saturday Night Trauma.

LeeAnn smiles coldly as the shot fades into the intro reel to kick the show off.
The scene cuts backstage at the Vlad Blackheart Coliseum to a shot of ‘The Dragon’ Travis Levitt. He’s dressed in his usual leather jacket, Year of the Dragon shirt, and some sweatpants today, with a slightly large bulge around his left knee. It also is helping to explain his limp as he hobbles down the corridor.Travis sees some concerned look on some passers-by, but he ignores it and instead is looking around before he finally seems to spot what he is after. Heading across, the camera turns to see him arrive at a door with the name ‘DAMON CROSS’ prominently displayed. Looking at it for a moment, Travis takes a deep breath and then knocks and waits patiently.

There's other voices inside, some male, some female, with the latter being more prominent. The knock brings about a pause, though, and the door opens, allowing a towering fellow of uncertain descent to see what the interruption is about. At well over six feet, he's a tower of flesh, tattoos, and stony chill.

“Yeah?”

Travis Levitt: Jesus. What size Kinder did he pop you out of? Don’t tell me. It was the easter special, yeah?

The big fellow's expression doesn't change, but a familiar voice speaks behind him, elsewhere in the room.

Damon Cross: Who is it, D?

D?: Someone trying to cosplay as Eric.

There's a chuckle or two, but not from Damon. Travis tilts his head puzzled but then shakes it.

Damon Cross: I got this. Take your turn, big man.

“D” does just that, and soon the champ, dressed down in denim jeans, a white tank, and a black, unbuttoned work shirt with the “Cross Aeternum” logo, is standing before Travis.

Damon Cross: You’re on the clock, Levitt. What's this about?

Damon sounds a little cross (ha) about the interruption, but attempts to be cordial. Travis looks at him for a moment but then glances at his watch and back up smiling.

Travis Levitt: Well. Neither of us is wrestling tonight, so I figured we have the time so…..Look. I didn’t come here for a fight. I came here to apologise and admit you were right.

Travis pauses for just a moment before crossing his arms and shifting his stance to try and ease the pain from his leg.

Travis Levitt: When we fought at Manifest Destiny, I came in assuming because I'd studied your opponents that I had learned enough to beat you. But you knew even then, I was wrong. And you were right. I spent so long studying you, that I forgot the key rule. Focus on yourself. Next time, i’ll remember that.

Listening in cold silence, Damon reaches up to push a hand through his unbound black hair, keeping his eyes on Travis.

Damon Cross: You didn’t come here just to tell me that. What’s this about?

Travis Levitt: Well. Next time may not be as far away as it seems. Since LeeAnn already hinted at it, and you know i’ll be ready for it. How do you feel about Pyramid’s, Champ?

There’s just the faintest smug grin stretching his face as he watches Cross.

Damon Cross: Another avenue for domination. As if the past seven months hasn’t made this absolutely clear. But I’m not blind. I know what you’re trying to get at. I’m simply… not worried.

Travis Levitt: Oh I know you wouldn’t be worried. Unstoppable. Unbreakable. Damon Cross is the man who can’t be beat. Can’t be spooked. And yet… Pyramid. Wildcard. You’ve got a very busy month coming up Damon. And if I'm in that Pyramid match…then you should know, I'm as much coming to beat you as I am to win that gold.

Damon Cross: And therein lies the fault in your reasoning. One goal, Levitt. One focus. That title is everything to me, and every time I step into the ring, I show the world why. It’s not friendships, or family, or anything else. Between those bells? It’s all about the gold. Anything less is disrespectful… a disservice. Until you get that, you’ll forever hunt, but you’ll always be a step too slow.

More voices from elsewhere in the locker room; excited, exuberant. Then one of them calls Damon’s name. He glances over his shoulder, then turns back to Travis.

Damon Cross: Maybe we’ll meet in that ring again, maybe we won’t. If I were you, though, I’d think hard before making promises like these. You don’t want to know what happens when you break them.

With that, Damon moves back into the locker room and closes the door. Travis stares at the closed door for a moment, and then turns and smiles just slightly and then glances back at the door puzzled

Travis Levitt: Who the hell is Eric anyway?

Travis stares for a moment but then shakes his head and starts to limp down the hallway as the scene cuts to black.
The show returns to ringside with Yung Vertebrae and The Soz standing in their corner, psyching each other up for their upcoming tag match.

Seth Ernst: Well welcome back to ringside ladies and gentlemen. We’ve got some tag team action coming up here.

Lucas Knox: Are these two related?

Miranda Augustino: You would think but then I’d have to wonder how the hell Soz procreated.

Madoka Kawada: The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, in the ring at this time. The team of Yung Vertebrae…and…The Soz!

The crowd gives a mixed response. Some boos and cheers as Soz and Yung attempt to pose to garner some support.

Madoka Kawada: And…their opponents…

“Team Tomodachi (Tokai Remix)” by Yuki Chiba hits the sound system as the lights dim low with flashing strobes across the stage. The tron screen comes to life with a panning through the streets before text appears in an overlay.


Which expands into…


Sending the Chicago crowd into a wild pop as Jane Harper and Chiaki Sanada come out of the tunnel. Both women lead the crowd in an up and down hand wave as the music booms through the arena with Soz and Yung looking awestruck at their revealed opponents.

Madoka Kawada: Fighting out of San Clemente, California! They are…Jane “The Hammer” Harper” and…”The Roppongi Kitsune” Chiaki “Chi Chi” Sanada…TWO! BROKE! CHICKZ!

Lucas Knox: Are you kidding me?!

Miranda Augustino: YAAAAAAAAAASSS!!!

Seth Ernst: We’ve seen them at a few past shows but we never imagined we’d be seeing them in a ring so soon! Welcome to the New Frontier, 2BC!

Jane and Chi Chi come down the walkway with Jane slapping her chest and talking trash into the camera before turning her steely gaze up at the men in the ring. Bringing it up behind her, Chi Chi throws hand gestures up, lip syncing along with the music with a wild grin on her face. She pulls her goggles up onto her forehead and almost licks the camera before the camera man jumps back and 2BC hop up onto the apron and climb into the ring, posing to the crowd before fist bumping and moving to their corners. Jane stands at the ready while Chi Chi sits up on the turnbuckles behind her and leans over her partner’s shoulders, both women eyeing the team across the ring.
Crystal Hilton cracks a grin as she smirks and she is dressed to impress in something expensive looking. She is wearing the heels, the fancy dress, and of course has her US Championship across her shoulder. She cracks a grin as she begins to speak.

Crystal Hilton: Let me just say that from the bottom of my heart that I am still your champion and I don’t know if people heard or not but I have officially entered my name into the VBMT over the summer. It’s going to feel amazing to go into a tournament that I have basically been in since coming to NFW. More importantly than that I am still trying to chase the most magical number of them all, I need to beat number 7

Crystal nods her head with a grin as she keeps on speaking.

Crystal Hilton: Seven is the amount of the most defenses and I do believe I just got past another defense. People just keep lining up to face me and I keep sending them back. I know nobody expected me to be this good but here I am slaying it and I promise that it’s not going to stop. I know that when I won this title nobody expected me to do what I am doing with this title. They expected for me to just drop the ball and they thought I was going to be a transitional champion but that’s not the case. Three more defenses means I tied history but getting FOUR more means that I did something that nobody else has done. I hate to say it but guess what, I told you so. This is going to be the year of Crystal Hilton, and I am finally back on track

Crystal chuckles as she whips her hair back and speaks more.

Crystal Hilton: Right now I just want to continue with establishing the great legacy of this title and I also want to push hard in the VBMT as well. I know it’s not that far away and I already have a goal of my own. I want to push hard through the B Block. I want to dominate the Trauma side but more importantly than that I already know who I would like to face on the other side of that bracket. Hell a match with Trixie could be fun, a match with the wife could even be better but what I want for the sake of wanting it is a chance to step in the ring with the sister in-law Eavan Maloney. I do believe we do need an entire war zone to settle the differences we have, and trust me not even a wrestling ring is big enough for the amount of attitude that we have between us. A finale between the two of us though would be legendary, it would bring honor to the Zdunich household and it’s one that entices me. As a woman who actually respects the hell out of her I will be pushing to get there to the big dance.

Crystal looks at her championship and hits it passionately as she looks deeper into the camera.

Crystal Hilton: Nobody thought I could get this far but look at me. I definitely am here. It’s a difference from where I was when I first got to this company. I am no longer that woman that is losing all of her major feuds and not getting the job done. It’s time I go bigger and I keep on establishing one of the best runs of the entire year. It may have started late last year with that big win over Lana but it certainly is carrying on in this year. If people want to take aim at me but all means you all know where I am. I ain't hard to find, but keep the competition coming because I am going to knock everybody down until I hear the phrase AND STILL… See all of you soon and why don’t you all come at me!

She holds the title high into the air as we fade out on this image.
The camera finds Stephanie Kenyon sitting by herself in the dressing room, dressed and ready to go for the gusto.

Stephanie Kenyon: This place is kinda eerie when it's empty, ain’t it?

She glands around the room, taking in the sight of the whole scene.

Stephanie Kenyon: But it’s apropos for me, ain’t it?

She cocks her head at the camera.

Stephanie Kenyon: I came into wrestling to make something of myself and add to two legacies. I thought I was gonna start out in a team in Hybrid and then here in NFW just like a lot of my wives and my cousins have done.

She nods to herself.

Stephanie Kenyon: It was gonna be me and Lluvia as the Country Girl Tag Team for real and it was gonna be awesome.

Her head droops sadly, visibly ashamed.

Stephanie Kenyon: Then I got hurt and was out for a while and by the time I was ready to go, Lluv wasn’t anymore. Then Hybrid closed before I could really add to anything.

He shrugs, still looking down at the floor.

Stephanie Kenyon: Hey, that’s ok, I can just come here to NFW, right? My cousins are here and have been champions here multiple times. The Kingdom is here in force and practically runs the place. They’ve had three world champions. They’ve had tag team champions. They’ve had multiple Silver Mountain Champions. This’ll be a great way to start my career again, right?

Sighing heavily, Stephanie sits back in her seat, head still down.

Stephanie Kenyon: But it hasn’t ended up that way has it?

She shakes her head sadly.

Stephanie Kenyon: Me and Lluvia ended up on different shows so no workin’ that team. Morgy and Mary are workin’ a team over there while Lil’s a singles champion and Chrissy’s workin’ herself into a lather again.

Her gaze moves up slightly but doesn’t quite reach the camera yet.

Stephanie Kenyon: Javy retired before I ever got a chance to team up with him. Jassy’s not really interested in teamin’. River’s…

She snickers to herself at the thought of River.

Stephanie Kenyon: River marches to her own drum. Abi helped me a little until she ended up out of the company so now…

Her gaze finally finds its way to the camera’s lens.

Stephanie Kenyon: I’m sittin’ here for all intents and purposes… alone.

Her head droops again, her gaze falling right back to her feet.

Stephanie Kenyon: I’m 0-2 in singles matches here, 0-2 in title matches and it wasn’t like I set the world on fire that way in Hybrid.

Her right hand balls into a fist just over her thigh.

Stephanie Kenyon: I was 0 for title matches there too. Never managed to win on supercards there, never managed to be on one here yet.

She nods and looks up to the camera.

Stephanie Kenyon: So, yeah, I’m runnin’ this race alone now.

Standing up, Stephanie’s face and voice take on a defiant tone.

Stephanie Kenyon: So it starts now with Morganna Bilson. She’s a talented competitor and I need to show I can hang with people like her! I NEED to show that Kenyon name didn’t half-split this place when Bethany got pregnant.

She points to herself, nodding emphatically.

Stephanie Kenyon: I WILL become worthy of being able to say what everybody else in the Kingdom can say! I am here to show y’all that when the Wildcat hits the kickstarter, y’all better be ready to go balls to the wall and y’all better be watchin’ because if you ain’t, the first’s gonna kick up and you ain't never gonna see it comin’!

She grins almost playfully.

Stephanie Kenyon: Let’s kick this pig!
The cameras find the four members of Sedition Rising and their Manager Ashe Crovin, leaving their locker room. Ashe stops and the other members halt behind him. He looks into the camera with a smirk.

Ashe Corvin: It never ceases to amaze me how people refuse to learn their lessons. Tonight, the Phantom Troupe will get another lesson. Tonight, they would do well to pay attention and learn.

Ashe pauses for a moment.

Ashe Corvin: This is one of the oldest lessons. One I truly hope you take to heart after the night is over. Because once again, Sedition Rising will do with you what they did last time.

Ashe looks over his shoulder at Lana, Jamie, Rowena, and Cherry.

Ashe Corvin: The line up might be different. But the results will be the same. Let this be a warning to you and the rest of NFW Trauma. Sedition Rising is still that group. Still, the ones that will be on top. Just watch. And remember, all you do is…


All four others chime in with Ashe

Sedition Rising: Reach out and Touch Faith.

With that, Ashe pushes the camera back and the group makes their way towards the ring.