NFW Aftershock #8! Chicago, Illinois! 08/22/2020!

The camera opens up inside the production room of NFW’s Collision Center where we are greeted by Aftershock host, Jason Hardwick. He stands in front of the large video screen.

Jason Hardwick: Hello and welcome everyone! I’m Jason Hardwick and this is NFW Aftershock. Our new weekend exclusive of bonus footage for our Collision and Trauma broadcasts. This is where you’ll find exclusive backstage activity from the men and women of the New Frontier. We’ve got some bonus footage from this week's Trauma and so much more. In tonight’s bonus matches, it’s Tahti Kuu taking on Carter Slade and newcomer Leo Cook will face FM Young.
Jason Hardwick: Alright folks before we get to the first match of the night, we have a little video from Carter Slade. I wanted to get some thoughts from him after Trauma regarding his first loss here in NFW, but he was very clear about no more ambush interviews and said no interviews period this week. He did, however, say he would address the loss and his path forward, and we have that video now.

We cut to the screen as the camera zooms in a bit. It lights up with the image of a simple wrestling gym. Some free weights along one wall, various machines and exercise benches along another, a few treadmills, ellipticals, and climbers spread out in one section of the gym with a large ring in the middle which is exactly where Carter Slade is, perched on the top rope with a training dummy. He keeps his balance as he raises the dummy up high, this one looking a bit larger and heavier. He pulls it up for a superplex, leaps back, and turns in mid-air, hitting a super falcon arrow. Carter pulls up on the leg and seems to count the three in his own head. He stands up, grabs a towel off the post wipes his face, and then sits down in the corner as he motions for whoever is recording to come inside.

Carter: I didn’t have you come here with the camera just to give people a view of my training center or so they could see me doing a cool move. No, I have two very important things to talk about.

He stops for a second, takes a few breaths, runs a hand through his hair, and looks back up.

Carter: The first one is difficult. It’s something I haven’t had to talk about for probably seven months. Most people know that NFW is not the only company I wrestle for. Over there, I have not lost a match yet, and even before signing there, I hadn’t lost a match in the three months before then. I had myself a couple of regional titles that I vacated before signing there. Losing isn’t something I am particularly used to. That’s not to say I have never lost anything at all. Wrestling matches, hockey games, karate, and jiu-jitsu tournaments. None of my Muay Thai fights, but I’ve only done four of those. Still, it’s not something that has happened very often for me. So, how do I respond to losing to Leo Cook? How do I respond to getting caught and dropped with that spinning elbow strike? The old cliche is, when you fall off the horse, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get right back on.

Carter stands up, brushes off his shirt, looks down at the dummy, and then rolls his eyes.

Carter: It’s a nice sentiment. It’s a good thing to tell kids when they’re young and ready to give up after facing a little adversity, but it’s advice I have never needed. When you thrive on competition, you don’t need to be told to get back up, you just do it and you go bust the next person right in the jaw. Which is the second thing I have to talk about. My match at Trauma tomorrow night. I have to say, seeing Leo Cook also on the card, I wouldn’t have minded a rematch. Get that win back, push the rubber match. That’s not to be though, because instead, I have Tahti Kuu. Tahti is a very different competitor then Leo. Size, style, and attitude. She has been nothing but friendly towards me and seems to be a genuinely good person. I don’t want to punch her in the mouth the same way I did with Leo Cook. She is the next challenge though, and she’s the challenge as I come off a loss. I have to go out and beat her. I have to bounce back and not allow one loss to become two or three or four. There are a few sayings I can’t seem to get out of my head after Tuesday. First, you’re only as good as your last match, and then, what have you done for me lately? I can sit here and talk about the seven months I spent racking up wins, but the last match was a loss, the last match was a disappointment. Saturday though, I can change that, I can get back to winning and then those questions become a lot easier to answer. So Tahti, just remember what I said on Twitter. This is not personal in any way. I simply need to get up, dust myself off, and get back to winning.

Carter picks the dummy up, goes back to the corner, places it on the top rope, and begins to climb again. He perches himself on the top rope, then hauls the dummy on to his shoulder. He looks back to sees the camera still recording, then waves him off before bringing the dummy into a tombstone position as everything goes black.

As soon as the bell rings, Carter Slade comes flying across the ring with a European uppercut, but Tahti was prepared for the aggression, side steps him, and catches Carter with a dropkick to the back that sends him into the corner. Tahiti follows with a reverse DDT and a cover, but Carter kicks out at 1. Tahti looks for a regular DDT, but Carter manages to block it drive Tahti forward into the corner and then transition into a Northern Lights suplex. Carter doesn’t bridge for the pin, instead bringing Tahti to her feet where he delivers a blistering chop to the chest. Carter fires off a few more stiff chops, then looks for the European uppercut again, but Tahti manages to catch the arm, spins Carter around, delivers a kick to the midsection as he comes back, followed by a tornado DDT off the ropes. Tahti again covers, but only manages a 2 count. Tahti hits a big jumping leg lariat that sends Carter to the outside to shake the cobwebs and try and slow things down a bit. Instead, Tahti stays on the attack, hitting a big suicide dive. Tahti quickly pulls Carter up, sends him into the ring, hops up on the apron, and hits a big springboard DDT as he gets up, spiking Carter’s head into the mat. Tahti looks for the cover, but Carter is just able to get his arm up. Tahti stays on the attack and looks ready to end it as she applies the Poisoned Starlight. Tahti locks it on tight and Carter is obviously in pain as she wrenches back, attacking the legs of her larger opponent. Carter works to twist and turn to either reverse the pressure or maybe get the ropes.

Carter manages to use his upper body strength to push himself upwards and launches forward with a forearm that stuns Tahti a bit and allows him to roll over, now putting the pressure on Tahti. Tahti manages to get the ropes quick though, and the hold is broken. Tahti is to her feet first and uses that advantage to catch Carter with an enziguri. With Carter, a bit rocked, Tahti hits the ropes, charges forward and hits a big corkscrew neckbreaker. Tahti doesn’t cover this time, she just looks down at Carter, then to the corner before she goes up top. Tahti leaps, flying off with the Star Bomb, right down on to the knees of Carter Slade. Carter gets up, takes a few deep breaths, then as soon as Tahti gets to her feet he delivers five hard forearm shots before leveling her with the discus forearm to complete the flurry. Still, he doesn’t cover, opting to keep attacking as he hits the Blood Moon Rising. The knee to the face looks like it has taken Tahti out, but he still doesn’t cover. Carter brings Tahti to her feet, powers her up into the tombstone position, and then spikes her with The Killing Blow. This time he does cover, scoring the pinfall victory.

A Warning, to the people, the good and the evil. THIS IS WAR.... Those words flash across the screen and can be heard over the speakers as the rest of the song This is War by 30 Seconds to Mars continues to play and out steps Leo Cook. He stops at the top of the ramp with a salute toward the camera then rubs his hands together giving a look of pure focus as he then runs down to the ring sliding in and holding his arms up in the air. As he does that though he gets very mixed reaction from the fans in Chicago and Leo then gets handed a mic through the middle ropes from the time keeper. Leo now walks to one side of the ring and actually steps through the ring ropes and out onto the ring apron near the steel steps before putting the mic near his mouth.

Leo Cook: This is the response an American Hero still gets despite being undefeated thus far in this company? I mean you all understand I defended this country right? Oh wow I mention this country and some of you boo even more? Well to the ones that are booing a man who served his country for five years right now in the crowd you make me sick! As for the people who are cheering me the salute at the top of the stage was for you and well others I care about. But, enough about the portion of morons out in the crowd tonight. I Leo Cook am out tonight to have a match and that match starts in just a few minutes. You see I defeated Carter Slade literally just like three days ago but who does NFW call when they need someone to face FM Young on short notice? This guy as in me that's who! Now rather you love me or hate me you have to see that this company knows what I am capable of or they wouldn't have called me to face FM Young in this spot that her and I have tonight.

A good portion of the fans boo very loudly after Leo made that last statement and Leo Cook takes notice of it giving a very serious look out to the fans in front of him. He now walks down the steel steps while shaking his head in disgust until he comes a direct stop turning his head to the right and noticing a very good looking blond headed woman in the front row clapping for him. Leo walks over to that portion of the guard rail actually leaning towards her and giving her a big kiss which gets a whoaaaa reaction from the fans. Leo then kisses the blond in the front row one more time before taking a few steps back as some of the fans went awww and others booed.

Leo Cook: Oh, so now we go boo and awww? Well don't think it's just some random woman that I just kissed in the front row you special ass people you. No, this woman right here in the front row that I kissed happens to be my girlfriend and the mother to my six month old daughter who I hope is back at her grandmothers sleeping well right now. OH listen to you all cheer regarding me giving you the news of this woman here being my girlfriend and the mother of my child. Anyways her name well in case you special special people do not follow social media is Ivy Foxx and recently as some of you who are not living under a rock might have seen on social media that she tracked me down to let me know the most wonderful news a man could ever ask for that is if you are a real man like me. I'm a father and it feels so great I just can't stop bringing it up even right here in Chicago.

The fans pop loudly at the mention of there city and the fact that Leo has a child plus a girlfriend. Now suddenly Leo....Leo....Leo chants break out. Leo Cook actually smiles for a moment but then his smile quickly turns to disgust as he walks over to the announce table and legit stand up on top of it.

Leo Cook: Seriously just stop your fake cheers do nothing for me! Yeah you fat boy in the front row right in front of me just stop clapping before I come out there! Most of you are very fake sheep who just five minutes ago where trying to boo this hero out of the damned building so just enough! You want something to cheer for? Well in a few minutes FM Young will make her ring entrance then you fake people can cheer but not for me because I don't want or need it. Most of you lack the proper respect and it makes me sick to my stomach. But, honestly enough about the majority of you and for the small few who I did notice cheering from the beginning of my entrance well thanks. Now moving onto my opponent tonight FM Young....

The fans pop loudly at the mention of her name as Leo now steps off the announce table. He passes by Ivy giving her a wink then rolls back into the ring and Leo walks to the center placing the mic once again near his mouth.

Leo Cook: See? Just like I said... The majority of you are sheep and it seems you are FM Young sheep. Well that's fine because tonight I will do what I always do and that's tell the truth. FM Young is one hell of a wrestler. Yep, I said it and I know of her reputation. I also know what she is capable of in this very ring but oh FM you have no idea and I mean no idea of what I am capable of. You and I come from different backgrounds and different upbringings. But, we do have one thing in common and that FM is the desire to win. So tonight in just a few short minutes you are going to step into this ring with me an Army Ranger who is very skilled in all forms of combat and I know you are skilled in combat as well but not like me FM nope not like me. So I hope you do not think tonight is just going to be another great win for your career because tonight FM Young I PLAY SPOILER!

With that said Leo tosses the mic over the top rope and down to the time keeper who does manage to catch it. He then takes off his leather jacket and leans against the opposite side ring ropes waiting looking ready for his match.

Once FM Young met Leo Cook in the ring, it was on. As the smaller of the two in the match, Young relied mostly on her quickness and agility. During the tie-up, Cook caught her with a wrist lock but Young reversed it into an arm wringer. Cook turned it into an arm wringer of his own and Young showcased her agility, rolling and flipping out of it. She knocked him back with a short-arm elbow smash. Cook absorbed the brunt of it and came back with heavy strikes that seemed to catch the Tiger off guard. She dished back her own precise strikes, throwing forearms and kicks but the 44 pound weight difference gave Cook the extra hitting power behind his own offense which seemed to be wearing Young down considerably. She started turning the tables around when Cook went for a Gutwrench Powerbomb but Young revervsed, rather magnificently into a sitout Cutter. Young started gaining a head of steam, laying into Cook with more knees and forearms. She showcased some of her power side as well, catching Cook off a rebound with a Spinebuster, followed by a springboard Leg Drop. Cook gained that momentum right back, however, when Young ran off the ropes and he mirrored her run, catching her with a Big Boot when she stopped to turn and try to catch him. Young came up swinging with more strikes, rocking the big man back with a devastating European Uppercut but he bounded off the ropes again, going for the Leo Special, BUT, Young just barely made it underneath his arm and jumped at the opportunity, catching Cook in a Crucifix Takedown, throwing all of her weight and power into it for a surprise rollup victory! As the bell rang, both competitors looked surprised as FM’s music played and she celebrated her victory. There was a brief exchange of glances between the two, however, that suggested perhaps neither was exactly satisfied with the outcome.