Post by Steven Brody, CEO on Jun 16, 2020 11:25:51 GMT -8
PRE-SHOW MATCH #1
Layla Aishe v. Azurine Vebbins
Roger Arden: The following contest is a one on one match, scheduled for one fall!Layla Aishe v. Azurine Vebbins
The opening tunes of "The Mummers Dance (Remix)" by Lorena McKennet starts to play on the speakers. A few seconds into the song Layla steps out from behind the curtain in a long dress on which hangs several jeweled tassels alongside her many necklaces. Layla smiles to the cheers and adulation of the audience as she goes to several fans on the way down to give blessings to them. When she reaches ringside, she climbs the stairs and steps under the second rope to enter the ring where she poses for the audience once more. As her song fades out she removes, the necklaces and her dress to reveal her ring gear underneath. She hands her removed items to an attendant at ringside and prepares for her match.
Roger Arden: Introducing first, from an unknown location, Layla Aishe!
As "Radio Gaga" by Queen prominently plays throughout the arena, "The Adorkable Angel" Azurine Vebbins pirouettes onto the entrance ramp. A solitary spotlight provides an ethereal glow as she begins to descend down the ramp like an automaton practicing aerobics.
Roger Arden: And her opponent, from Halo Acres, Phloriphornia, Azurine Vebbins!
She performs various other dance steps while making her way to the eastern ring apron. Along the way, she waves, high-fives and hugs certain chanters she comes into contact with. When a chanter puckers up for a kiss, she points to her halo (neck collar). Upon entering the eastern ring apron, she glides between the bottom and middle ropes before awaiting referee instruction.
~DING DING DING~
As the bell rings, the ladies circle for a bit, then lock up. They jockey for position, with neither one really getting the better of the other. Layla is able to use her slight size advantage to power Azurine back a bit, then quickly grabs the arm and wrenches. Layla has full control of the arm now and transitions into a hammerlock. As Layla attempts to go for a waist lock, Azurine is able to grab her arm and now has Layla in the arm wrench. Azurine delivers a few arm wringer snaps, then goes into the hammerlock and then connects with a hammerlock leg sweep, driving the fortune teller down on to her arm. Azurine stays focused on the arm of Layla, delivering a standing dropkick to the shoulder, then follows with a hip toss, cartwheels through and hits another dropkick to the arm. Azurine looks for her signature Inverted Juji Gatame, but Layla is quick to spin out and grabs the ropes to pull herself up. Azurine charges in, but Layla sidesteps her and pushes her aside. Azurine uses the momentum to hop over the top rope, then springboards up and connects with the big double axe handle. Azurine makes the cover, but can only get a 2 count.
Azurine pulls Layla back to her feet, and looks for the Northern Lights suplex, but Layla delivers a clubbing blow to the back and quickly transitions into the snap suplex. Layla rolls her hips and brings Azurine up, then slips behind her and delivers a German suplex. Layla again rolls the hips and pulls Azurine up with her, then connects with a backstabber. Layla quickly makes the cover, but Azurine just manages to kick out. Layla brings Azurine back up, delivers a few clubbing blows to the back, then hooks her for the fisherman suplex. Azurine manages to shove Layla off and delivers a few hard forearm shivers. Azurine delivers two knees right into the sternum of Layla, then steps back and kicks, but Layla has the Sweetheart Sock Hop scouted, catches the superkick, spins Azurine around and delivers one of her own. Azurine crumples to the mat, and then rolls outside. Layla looks up, sighs slightly, then rolls outside.
Layla slowly brings Azurine back up to her feet on the outside, only to be caught with an open palm strike. Layla returns with a hard chop, but Azurine fires right back with the palm strike. Another chop from Layla and this time an elbow smash from Azurine. Layla then comes right back with an elbow of her own as the ladies trade stiff strikes on the outside. The ref continues his count, reaching 15 before both ladies realize it and slide inside. As soon as they get to their feet, the slug fest is back on, with each looking to wear the other down. Azurine gets the advantage with several quick palm strikes that rock Layla. Azurine slips behind and gets Layla set for the Pearly Gatekeeper, but Layla brings her arms down, breaking the dragon suplex attempt, and looks for In The Stars, but Layla shoves her off. Layla bounces off the ropes, and turns around right into two quick knees to the sternum, then a massive superkick and finally gets spiked with the DDT as Azurine hits the Sweetheart Sock Hop on the second go. Azurine quickly covers
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
~DING DING DING~
Roger Arden: The winner of the match as a result of a Pin fall… AZURINE VEBBINS!
Nick Hanson: Absolutely fantastic match to kick us off tonight. Real back and forth contest, great technical skill shown and what’s more, no cheap shots or dirty tricks.
Matt Salvatore: Well maybe some dirty tricks would have served Layla well. Yea she put up a good fight, but she lost. A good thumb to the eye or a bite to the hand could have had her out of the submission much earlier.
As "Radio Gaga" by Queen begins to play, Azurine Vebbins has her hand raised and is all smiles as the crowd cheers her on. Layla Aishe slowly gets to her feet, offers a quick handshake and then leaves to let Da Adorkable Angel enjoy her victory.
Winner: Azurine Vebbins
Result: Via Pin fall
Time: 10 minutes and 10 seconds
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PRE-SHOW MATCH #2
Amelia Abernathy v. Minoru Tanahashi
Roger Arden: The following contest is a one on one match, scheduled for one fall!Result: Via Pin fall
Time: 10 minutes and 10 seconds
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PRE-SHOW MATCH #2
Amelia Abernathy v. Minoru Tanahashi
“Shatter Me” by Lindsey Sterling plays and the crowd erupts into a loud chorus of jeers as Amelia Abernathy emerges from behind the curtain flanked by her bodyguard Red. As the duo make their way to the ring, Amelia makes Red grab signs that offend her and rip them up, which angers the fans even more. When they make it to ringside, they make a long stalling transit around the ringside area before finally she enters the ring. Moving to her corner, she paces nervously.
Roger Arden: Introducing first, from Greenwich, Connecticut, Amelia Abernathy!
The lights slowly dim as Heat Seeker begins to play. As the beat begins, red and blue lights start flashing along to the beat. The song continues playing along as a large black lion appears on the screen, charging forward. As it leaps, the lights go black
I've been searching all night
Light the fuse and let me take flight
I’m a
Green and pink lights flood the entrance ramp, shining off of Minoru Tanahashi’s mask.
Roger Arden: Her opponent, from Tokyo, Japan, Minoru Tanahashi!
Heat seeker I just wanna find the truth
Heat seeker and I'm shooting at the moon
Heat seeker yeah I'm looking for the way
I'd rather be lost than to stay the same
The lights flash along to the music as Minrou strolls down to the ring. As the second chorus begins he slides into the ring, going all the way to the other side, he hangs his head over the bottom rope and raises his mask. “Watch this, it’s going to be really cool.” He pushes back from the rope, rolls through, pops up to his feet, tosses his mask in the air. He spins as he lands, turning his back towards the camera as he catches his mask with the face towards the camera.
~DING DING DING~
Minoru walks right to the middle of the ring as Amelia shockingly does the same, smirking the whole time. She looks up at the Black Lion , then at the booing crowd. She just laughs before looking back to Minoru asking him “We have a deal, right?” Minoru looks back at her and gives a shrug. The smirk leaves her face as he spins around, going for Kabukicho Nights right at the start. She brings her arms up to block, cowering in fear when he suddenly stops, then pokes her in the shoulder with his finger. Amelia throws her arms back and lets out a very exaggerated scream as she falls to the ground. Minoru quickly makes the cover and the ref looks down at both of them. He rolls his eyes, shakes his head and then makes the count
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
~DING DING DING~
Roger Arden: The winner of the match as a result of a Pin fall… MINORU TANAHASHI!
Nick Hanson: You have got to be kidding me. I expect crap like that from Amelia Abernathy, but I thought Minoru Tanahaashi was better than that.
Matt Salvatore: It’s a disappointing outcome for sure, but Amelia did mention payment to Minoru on twitter.Maybe the offer was too good to pass up, plus he got the win.
Minoru helps Amelia up to her feet and they shake hands, with her even giving him a kiss on the cheek before Red hands him a check. Minoru exits the ring to a chorus of boos as the fans chant
THAT WAS BULLSHIT!
THAT WAS BULLSHIT!
THAT WAS BULLSHIT!
Amelia just laughs as Red holds open the ropes for her, while she calls the crowd scum and says they’re nothing but vultures calling for violence and broken bones.
Winner: Minoru Tanahashi
Result: Via Pin fall
Time: 29 seconds
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A camera catches up with Damon Cross outside the Collision Center, more specifically near the loading docks. A few semi-trailers are parked neatly between the lines in the distance, along with several rental vehicles, no doubt utilized by both wrestlers and crew. His Chicago Street Fight with Jansen Myrrh is mere hours away, yet to look upon the visage of the Black Ronin is to see a man utterly at peace. A white t-shirt upon which is emblazoned a tattered black banner and a black-armored warrior with a broken sword covers his torso, hands wrapped in black tape while below the belt are well-worn jeans and black boots. Clearly, Damon is old school, dressed for a street fight, prepared to treat it as such.Result: Via Pin fall
Time: 29 seconds
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Tightly-muscled arms are folded across his chest as, without prompting, he starts to chuckle quietly. Tilting his head back to look at the still-bright afternoon light, he starts to address the camera.
Damon Cross: If ignorance were a crime, Jansen Myrrh, they’d lock you up and throw away the key. As it is not a crime yet, it falls upon me to teach the lessons that incarceration with the worst dregs of society could not.
His tone is utterly lacking in amusement. It makes the smile he wears something less than endearing. It is given up on moments later, with Damon pushing off from the wall and walking further onto the asphalt, sliding his hands into his pockets.
Damon Cross: The problem you have, Jansen, is the same problem that Aiden Reynolds and Patti Rose had. That Morgan Malice would have had were our match allowed to go on. The same thing I accused you of moments ago, in fact. Ignorance. Worse than that? Willful ignorance. It’s one thing to be stupid because you know no better. It is another to choose to be stupid. To choose to be an inflammatory influence just to further your own career. Now, do not misunderstand: I am no paragon of virtue. But I admit to my many mistakes. My darkness is not ignored, but accepted so that it holds no power over me. You? You act like the world owes you something. And perhaps… it does.
Stopping when his back is to the camera, the Black Ronin looks over his shoulder. The back of his shirt, in Gothic-style text, are the words “Damon Cross” above and “Heaven Awaits Those Who Prey” below a stylized cross.
Damon Cross: It owes you pain. I will deliver this. But first… a history lesson. Full disclosure. Why? Because I want no doubts in your mind during or after this fight, Jansen. If you beat me, I want you to understand how impressive that accomplishment is. If you lose, I want you to put head to pillow knowing the exact reasons why. Because for all your accolades and notoriety in this business, the one thing you’re still lacking is respect.
And if you don’t have respect, you don’t have anything.
In a marvel of videography, the entirety of the area around Damon Cross goes black and white, then shifts to static, before showing a scene from nine months ago. ‘Moving aside’ as his past self walks out of an arena toward a rental car parked behind said arena, this Damon Cross had just lost his career due to a match outcome and some bad business decisions. It is clear that the current, in-color Damon is going to have a hard time with this moment…
Damon Cross: Do you want to know what pain is, Jansen?
...he mutters as, moments after black-and-white Damon enters the car, an SUV slams full-force into the side of the car. And just to show that it was no accident, the vehicle backs up and has another go before tearing out of the lot. Security, other wrestlers and even office employees flow out of the building toward the car, some yelling loudly for medical help. We are… fortunate not to see the state of Damon in these moments post-impact. Color Damon looks back at the camera again.
Damon Cross: That’s pain. Can you match that with your hands or whatever weaponry you can scrounge up? I don’t think so.
Colder and harder of tone, some of the scenery blurring, the scene becomes that of a hospital room, of a battered Damon unconscious in one of the beds, hooked up to more than his fair share of machines. Half his body looks wrecked if the stitches and bandages are any indicator. Thankfully, it is not a view we, or Damon himself, has to suffer long.
Damon Cross: Everything but my life, so it felt at the time. But this is no sob story, Jansen. If you’re still watching, fight the urge to tune out. It gets better.
The door opens for someone to walk in, but the scene cuts away before that can happen. As with previously, Damon moves appropriately so as not to get in the way of the history unfolding. This, however, is a moment that precious few know anything about; two people, aside from Damon himself, to be precise. A moment set beyond his hospital discharge, in a dingy little apartment, barely qualifying as an efficiency, standing before a streaky mirror in a tiny bathroom. Cross looks, for lack of a better term, emaciated. His hair is wilder than usual, his eyes are sunken. He stares at himself even as his current self stares at his past self. It is… difficult to watch.
And it quickly becomes more so.
Palms placed on the cracked porcelain of the sink’s edge. past-Damon moves right hand to pick up an object off the toilet tank. His fingers close around the polished handle of the secondhand .38, one finger upon the trigger. Eyes still on the mirror, on the shell of a man before it, Damon lifts the pistol and puts the muzzle to his temple. His arm tenses, his finger clenches slightly… and a knock on the door in equal measure almost causes him to finish that squeeze before making him lower the piece. The voice is muffled, yet familiar.
Damon Cross: One more second is all it would have took. Have you ever known that kind of rock-bottom suffering, Jansen? Has pure chance alone ever made you turn from the end when nothing else would? If so… you have my empathy. If not… well, let us say I would not wish it even upon you.
Cut to a time far more recent. Cut to San Francisco. To a well-dressed Damon Cross standing by an old van of white, battered and scratched. Watching as a black sedan pulls up and a Japanese man, tattooed up both arms to the neck and most likely over most of the rest of his torso, too.
?: Damon Cross…
Not speaking the game so much as spitting it like so much acid, the Japanese man cracks his neck as his hands tense, fingers curling, eager to do damage.
Past-Damon: Akio Tsuzuki.
Damon… laughs quietly behind a mask resembling the famous visage from V for Vendetta, making Akio even more tense.
Past-Damon: What are you waiting for?
Akio draws and fires his gun faster than Damon could reasonably react. He falls to the ground as the bullet rips into his shoulder. Somehow, present-Damon is not bothered this time; watching himself put a gun to his own head for the second time gave him the look of a person about to retch. But here? He looks almost… proud. A heated argument commences between the two, a fist knocking Damon’s head against the ground as the gun is brought to bear again. Another shot…
...this time, though, it misses.
Damon Cross: Get a man down, Jansen, you better finish him off. If you learn nothing else, learn that.
He speaks almost dispassionately. What goes on next is a brawl right there in the street, fists and weaponry through into the mix. Both men take their share of brutal hits, from Damon repeatedly headbutting Akio in an effort to smash his face in while Akio retorts by slashing at Damon and eventually impaling him in his other shoulder with one of the sai. Again, Damon stares down the barrel of that gun only for Akio’s past to catch up with him in the form of his former employer. Taking up the gun, Damon puts a hole in Akio’s leg as he tries to escape, leaving him to the mercies of those he betrayed.
And now, the surroundings turn black. There is only the Damon of the here and now.
Damon Cross: Now… are you thinking me a show-off yet, Jansen? Do you have the wrongheaded notion that all this that I’ve shown you through the marvels of technology is in an effort to scare you? Because it isn’t. Like I said: full disclosure. The most important moments are yet to come. The moments that will finally hammer home why it has come to battle between us. And why I am so determined to make you suffer. Jay, if you would be so kind?
Speaking to the cameraman, the person behind this visual novel of sorts, we are shown a few moments before the horrific vehicular assault. We are shown Damon, on his way out of the building, being stopped by Danni Anderson.
Danni Anderson: It’s never too late to make things right, Damon. Everyone deserves to be happy. Even you…
Clearly Damon isn’t sure how to take the contact when he isn’t initiating it. But perhaps it is telling that he does not draw away from her.
Past-Damon: Nothing I can say or do at this point will change anything. And even if it could, I’m not sure I would want to. It would be like admitting wrong and I still feel deep down that what I did was right and just. You cannot choose a path like mine and not be utterly devoted to. Sometimes that’s all that keeps a person sane.
Gently drawing his hand back, Damon exhales and turns toward the hallway. For a moment, all Danni can do is watch him go. She swallows, her throat rather dry, and then she parts her lips, calling out to him.
Danni Anderson: Damon!
To her surprise, he actually stops. She folds her hands in front of her and laces her fingers together.
Danni Anderson: I wish you well. No bullocks. I really, really mean that.
Past-Damon: ...thanks.
Present-Damon watches this calmly. From here, it’s back to the hospital, to several brief clips, one after the other, of Danni coming into check on him. Then, to that old, dingy apartment again… to Danni’s knock on the door literally saving Damon’s life. To mere hours before the brawl with Akio, with Damon and Danni dancing together at the wedding of their mutual friends Trenton Page and Hikaru Yamamoto and hours after the fight when Danni is there at his side once more as he’s stitched up.
Then, just like that, we’re back in the present. It’s slightly darker in Chicago now, but not by much; just enough to notice. Damon, still standing in the lot where the Street Fight is destined to begin, takes from his back pocket a mostly-empty pack of Marlboro Reds. Shaking one free of the pack, Damon takes a match from behind his ear, flicks the tip with his thumbnail, and lights the cancer stick, taking a long draw.
Damon Cross: Do you get it now?
Exhaling a plume of dangerous smoke, flicking some ashes from the tip, Damon fully faces the camera once more.
Damon Cross: I don’t give a fuck if you insult me. I don’t care if you like me or not. And I could give less of a damn whether or not you respect me.
Another draw. A lightning-fast series of clips of Jansen accusing Danni of attacking her, of bashing the young woman over the head with a chair… and the fury in Damon’s eyes when he comes to make the save.
Damon Cross: But the moment you hurt Danielle Anderson, that angel of mercy that pulled me from the darkness and gave me something to live for once again? The moment you refused to apologize for being a blatant slitch with no redeeming qualities to speak of by brutally attacking her and refusing her a proper apology? That was the moment I set my sights on you, Myrrh. And if you think for a second that I give a hot buttered fuck about a win tonight, then you’re even thicker than I would have guessed. No… tonight, my plan begins and ends with making you suffer. You have nothing I want, Jansen, except lungs full of air that I want to be expelled as screams and blood to spread over the pavement here, the floors in there and eventually the canvas into which I’m going to grind you. Having seen just what I’ve been through and having to accept that there’s nothing you can do to stop me, though? That’s icing on this delicious cake. But it’s only getting worse for you.
For one more night, I am going to be the monster. The Wolf of Justice. The Leader of the Crusade. The God of Ascension. The black-hearted monster that almost tore a company apart for his own amusement. This day… Reckoning Day… is where you come to the Crossroads, Jansen-
Damon’s former ring name when he wrestled beneath a mask. The meaning is clear.
Damon Cross: -but there will be no haggling, no deals. No demons waiting with contract, no smiling devils. Just the weight of your sins and a black hand to mete out punishment until the price is paid.
Turning fully, throwing the cig down and grinding it out with his boot, Damon spreads his arms wide and puts a malicious grin.
Damon Cross: SAY MY NAME!
Fade to black.
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PRE-SHOW MATCH #3
Christina Olson v. Kamila Rose
Roger Arden: The following contest is scheduled for one fall!PRE-SHOW MATCH #3
Christina Olson v. Kamila Rose
The arena goes black, as a music box is heard playing as the screen begins to flicker. A pair of heels are heard clicking along the ground, as the screen turns on and a music box is shown on the screen. The music box keeps playing as a woman approaches it, looking down at it tilting her head to the left, then to the right. She immediately grabs the lid and slams it, as it fades back into the arena, and a woman shouts over the PA System.
“Shatter Me!”
Just then "Lollipop" by Rage of Light kicks in and from behind the curtain emerges none other than Kamila Rose.
Roger Arden: "Entering the arena right now...from London Ontario Canada…
Before Roger could finish his introduction, Christina comes flying out from behind the curtain and blasts Kamila from behind with a clothesline. Kamila stumbles down the ramp as Christina follows behind her and delivers a forearm to the back of Kamila’s neck. She continues to chase after Kamila as she stumbles around ringside. Christina finally catches up to Kamila and goes to bounce the woman face first off of the announcer’s table, but Kamila is able to block it and send Christina face first into it instead. Christina stumbles back as Kamila turns around and takes Christina down with a Thesz Press. She starts to lay in rights and lefts, but Christina is able to throw her off and scramble to her feet. She looks at Kamila and grins, egging her on to come and get some.
Kamila comes charging in, but Christina is able to sidestep her and deliver a clothesline that sends the two of them into the fans. Christina gets up and the two of them continue their brawl, fighting through the fans and back towards the backstage area of the arena as the cameras lose sight of them through all the chaos.
Winner: N/A
Result: No Contest
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Result: No Contest
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