Post by FN'R on Mar 17, 2023 20:55:05 GMT -6
WARNING: This live event contains strong coarse language (L), and intense violence (V) which may be unsuitable for younger viewers. None of the matches you are about to watch have been predetermined. Only some of the thematic story-lines have been discussed beforehand. Accordingly, EWC and it's producers must insist that no one attempt to recreate or re-enact any match or activity performed in this live event...
»»THE ROAD TO STRANGLEMANIA««
GO HOME SHOW!!!
GO HOME SHOW!!!
The Extreme Wrestling Corporation Presents
FRIDAY NIGHT RAMPAGE
FRIDAYS LIVE ON ESPN & HBO AT 10PM CST.
SPONSORED IN PART BY UNDER ARMOUR, SONY, DR. PEPPER AND GEARBOX STUDIOS.
SPONSORED IN PART BY UNDER ARMOUR, SONY, DR. PEPPER AND GEARBOX STUDIOS.
EPISODE #510
MARCH 17TH 2023
MARCH 17TH 2023
Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina
EWC RAMPAGE
3/17/2023
Live From Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina
General Manager - Grizzly Duggan
Commentators -
Play-By-Play: Koala Duggan
Color: Polar Duggan
Announcer: Emmanuelle Chriqui
Head Ref: Toyo Yasahiro
Assistant Refs: Mike Michaelson & Pierce Patterson
Backstage Help: Bryan Spade & Candice Duggan
3/17/2023
Live From Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina
General Manager - Grizzly Duggan
Commentators -
Play-By-Play: Koala Duggan
Color: Polar Duggan
Announcer: Emmanuelle Chriqui
Head Ref: Toyo Yasahiro
Assistant Refs: Mike Michaelson & Pierce Patterson
Backstage Help: Bryan Spade & Candice Duggan
---------------
Fog spreads throughout the arena, covering the screaming fans as "Asking For It" begins to sound off over the loudspeakers.
"MAYBE YOU TALKED TO MUCH AND YOU WERE ASKING FOR IT, ASKING FOR IT, ASKING!
YOU CAN BLAME BAD LUCK, BUT YOU WERE ASKING FOR IT, ASKING FOR IT, ASKING!!!"
The fans scream for delight as the X-Tron explodes to life. Pyro ignites on the stage.
The camera pans around the arena as fans scream for delight and begin their chants and raise their signs high into the air.
{I'D BET THE HOUSE ON KING}
{CUT HIS HEAD OFF QUEEN}
{K2 IS BETTER THAN YOU}
{MOXIE VS AMIS FOR WRESTLEFEST}
{THE GUY BEHIND ME CANNOT SEE}
{GIDEON GAGE HAS BEEN FINED $50}
{JORDAN SHARPE LIKES TOES}
{THE BATTLESHIP WILL NOT SINK}
{LETS GO LAVENDER}
FN'R!!!
FN'R!!!
FN'R!!!
FN'R!!!
The camera flashes back to the X-Tron which shows the current FN'R roster... "Abnormal" Emiko Okita, "The Love Child Jamie Love", Ace King, Andrea Hernandez, Autumn Raven, Chris Page, Darna Dare, Declan O'Connor, Dickie Watson, Jason Anderson, Kendrick Kross, Lavender, Luke Saito, Megumi, Mercenary, Morgan Payne, Moxie, Phoenix Winterborn, Queen Melody Malone, Ruthann Anderson, Samantha Hamilton, The Mechanical Animals and Vin Havoc. We cut back to Moxie who holds his HBO Broadcast Championship high, then Lavender holds up her United States Championship. she yells in pride as feed bleeds into Melody Malone raising the Undisputed Championship high in both hands. There's another round of pyro.
And then the camera cuts over to the commentary desk, where Koala Duggan stands with a smile. Polar Duggan stands, bows to the camera and then sits back down. Koala sits down, takes a drink from his water bottle and starts.
"MAYBE YOU TALKED TO MUCH AND YOU WERE ASKING FOR IT, ASKING FOR IT, ASKING!
YOU CAN BLAME BAD LUCK, BUT YOU WERE ASKING FOR IT, ASKING FOR IT, ASKING!!!"
The fans scream for delight as the X-Tron explodes to life. Pyro ignites on the stage.
The camera pans around the arena as fans scream for delight and begin their chants and raise their signs high into the air.
{I'D BET THE HOUSE ON KING}
{CUT HIS HEAD OFF QUEEN}
{K2 IS BETTER THAN YOU}
{MOXIE VS AMIS FOR WRESTLEFEST}
{THE GUY BEHIND ME CANNOT SEE}
{GIDEON GAGE HAS BEEN FINED $50}
{JORDAN SHARPE LIKES TOES}
{THE BATTLESHIP WILL NOT SINK}
{LETS GO LAVENDER}
FN'R!!!
FN'R!!!
FN'R!!!
FN'R!!!
The camera flashes back to the X-Tron which shows the current FN'R roster... "Abnormal" Emiko Okita, "The Love Child Jamie Love", Ace King, Andrea Hernandez, Autumn Raven, Chris Page, Darna Dare, Declan O'Connor, Dickie Watson, Jason Anderson, Kendrick Kross, Lavender, Luke Saito, Megumi, Mercenary, Morgan Payne, Moxie, Phoenix Winterborn, Queen Melody Malone, Ruthann Anderson, Samantha Hamilton, The Mechanical Animals and Vin Havoc. We cut back to Moxie who holds his HBO Broadcast Championship high, then Lavender holds up her United States Championship. she yells in pride as feed bleeds into Melody Malone raising the Undisputed Championship high in both hands. There's another round of pyro.
And then the camera cuts over to the commentary desk, where Koala Duggan stands with a smile. Polar Duggan stands, bows to the camera and then sits back down. Koala sits down, takes a drink from his water bottle and starts.
KD: Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another exiting episode of Friday Night Rampage. As always, I am your host Koala Duggan joined by my brother Polar.
P-DUG: Happy Saint Patrick's Day, and a very happy Flat Fuck Friday. We've got a pretty good card for you tonight.
KD: Indeed we do, in our main event spot we've got Ace King taking on Queen Melody Malone for the final spot in this years Legend of The Ring Finals. These two have had so many absolute wars, it's really hard to call this one.
P-DUG: Yea, I think either one could win this match, and I also think it's equally possibly they knock the hell out of each other and we go to a double KO finish and a fatal 5 way at the PPV!
KD: Don't put that evil on me Ricky Bobby! In our semi-final bout, it's Moxie defends his HBO Broadcast Championship against Kendrick Kross.
P-DUG: This is going to be one of Moxie's hardest defenses, Kendrick Kross is a former holder of what would become the AMC Broadcast Championship, so he knows how to win in these type of matches... But I might give the edge to Moxie here. He's on a roll that cannot be stopped.
KD: Before that, PARAMOUNT's SONYA takes on Lavender in Lavender's first singles match since winning back the United States Championship. PARAMOUNT could put a huge dent in RAMPAGE's pride here tonight. No pressure SONYA.
P-DUG: Pressure is good, makes a diamond. But in this match, I don't think any amount of pressure can help SONYA take down OUR champion. This is OUR house, and she's helped build it in the modern era.
KD: And then before that, it's our elimination match to crown a #1 contender for Lavender's championship. It's Andrea Hernandez Vs Autumn Raven Vs Luke “The Joker” Saito Vs Mercenary Vs “The Love Child” Jamie Love... Quite a line-up!
P-DUG: Some of the very best on the brand, and I think any of the five could stand a chance at winning here. But I have to give the edge to Andrea. She's hungry, she's maybe even a little hangry. She's coming for this victory.
KD: And before that, it's Draco Lazarus Vs King Flip and the worlds first Chris Cross Apple Sauce match.
P-DUG: King Flip and Draco Lazarus have a pretty big history going back several months, so it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top there but I think King Flip wants it more. He's got a giant ego and loves to win here on RAMPAGE where the win's matter most! And this apple sauce match, I don't even have any comment on this other than our brother is either the smartest or the dumbest sonofabitch I know.
KD: And then before that, we've got Darna Dare taking on two Rampage debuts in Vin Havoc and Emiko Okita.
P-DUG: I've gotta go with Emiko. I think betting on Darna is a fools game, but there's something about this Emiko. She's got it KD.
KD: Glad to know there are some new talent out there nowadays even you can get behind brother. And then in our opening match, it's a...
P-DUG: Clusterfuck of a tag team match that's going to be too wild to call!
KD: You can say that again. Don't go anywhere, Rampage will be right back!
P-DUG: Happy Saint Patrick's Day, and a very happy Flat Fuck Friday. We've got a pretty good card for you tonight.
KD: Indeed we do, in our main event spot we've got Ace King taking on Queen Melody Malone for the final spot in this years Legend of The Ring Finals. These two have had so many absolute wars, it's really hard to call this one.
P-DUG: Yea, I think either one could win this match, and I also think it's equally possibly they knock the hell out of each other and we go to a double KO finish and a fatal 5 way at the PPV!
KD: Don't put that evil on me Ricky Bobby! In our semi-final bout, it's Moxie defends his HBO Broadcast Championship against Kendrick Kross.
P-DUG: This is going to be one of Moxie's hardest defenses, Kendrick Kross is a former holder of what would become the AMC Broadcast Championship, so he knows how to win in these type of matches... But I might give the edge to Moxie here. He's on a roll that cannot be stopped.
KD: Before that, PARAMOUNT's SONYA takes on Lavender in Lavender's first singles match since winning back the United States Championship. PARAMOUNT could put a huge dent in RAMPAGE's pride here tonight. No pressure SONYA.
P-DUG: Pressure is good, makes a diamond. But in this match, I don't think any amount of pressure can help SONYA take down OUR champion. This is OUR house, and she's helped build it in the modern era.
KD: And then before that, it's our elimination match to crown a #1 contender for Lavender's championship. It's Andrea Hernandez Vs Autumn Raven Vs Luke “The Joker” Saito Vs Mercenary Vs “The Love Child” Jamie Love... Quite a line-up!
P-DUG: Some of the very best on the brand, and I think any of the five could stand a chance at winning here. But I have to give the edge to Andrea. She's hungry, she's maybe even a little hangry. She's coming for this victory.
KD: And before that, it's Draco Lazarus Vs King Flip and the worlds first Chris Cross Apple Sauce match.
P-DUG: King Flip and Draco Lazarus have a pretty big history going back several months, so it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top there but I think King Flip wants it more. He's got a giant ego and loves to win here on RAMPAGE where the win's matter most! And this apple sauce match, I don't even have any comment on this other than our brother is either the smartest or the dumbest sonofabitch I know.
KD: And then before that, we've got Darna Dare taking on two Rampage debuts in Vin Havoc and Emiko Okita.
P-DUG: I've gotta go with Emiko. I think betting on Darna is a fools game, but there's something about this Emiko. She's got it KD.
KD: Glad to know there are some new talent out there nowadays even you can get behind brother. And then in our opening match, it's a...
P-DUG: Clusterfuck of a tag team match that's going to be too wild to call!
KD: You can say that again. Don't go anywhere, Rampage will be right back!
We open up to the parking lot of the Colonial Life Arena. A car pulls up, stopping near the stadium. Narumi steps out of the vehicle first, followed by Aiya who has her phone in her hands. Aiya shakes her head as she snickers lightly, turning to look at Narumi as the two begin to walk towards the arena.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Man … did we call that shit or what? Tunnel vision all around from every team. And all focusing on the very wrong things about us.
Narumi nods and puts on a sly smirk.
Narumi: Tell me about it…3pAC even started to go on about how selfish I am. I know I’m an oni, but no matter what I do I seem to do wrong by the tag division. When I don’t compete to the arbitrary amount required, it means I don't respect the division because I focus on my singles career, but when I compete in too many tag matches all of a sudden I’m selfish because I’m trying to win multiple championships.
Aiya scoffs, rolling her eyes.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: I wonder if they’ve forgotten about their other Love Club members who have held multiple titles. But, if we wanna stick with the tag team titles specifically, umm .. hello? Ya’ll forget about Xavier Reid and Jamie Love? You know, The Bastards who were definitely singles wrestlers for a lot longer than before going into the tag team division? So … why are they immune to your scolding? Because they’re your new nakama … at least by association? Because The Bastards are probably gone and out of the equation?
Look here, gents. Lest there was a hidden notice they kept from the public eye, it wasn’t like The Southern Express ‘saved’ those titles for the next Love Club team. No, those are up for grabs and like it or not, we want them. It’s not even a secret … we staked our claim when we started tagging last year. Lots of memos they didn’t get, it seems.
Narumi snickers.
Narumi:Well apparently the Love Club has a lot of infighting based on what they’ve said. Perhaps that’s why they’re missing those memos, for example thinking this will be our third tag match as a team. It’s our fourth tag team match. And beyond that, Aiya and I have teamed in plenty of Parabellums, WarGames, and trios matches, even if you don’t want to count that as tags we’ve learned a lot working together..
”Headhuntress” Aiya: To be a bit fair to 3pAC, it does feel like we’ve been in more matches as an official unit. But still … when we have tapes that they can watch … yeah. That’s embarrassing for you two to get that statistic wrong. I wasn’t originally gonna address them … but they got my attention, so … Kruel Masters. Believe it or not, I didn’t question why you were in this match … not because of your capability, at least.
Your intelligence, however, is something else to be very much questioned. Clearly your dump stat too. But riddle me this …
Aiya crosses her arms over her chest.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: How were we the non-factor team at Paramount 28 … yet we got the win over you two?
She raises an eyebrow as Aiya looks over to Narumi, wondering if she has an answer. Narumi shakes her head.
Narumi: It’s hard to even dignify The Kruel Masters with a response. At least Moonshine Inc gave us proper respect, despite me thinking they probably have the most to learn in this match. I may not agree with everyone, but as competitors there should be a baseline of respect, especially in this tag division where everyone is always worried about Southern Express this, Southern Express that, who will and can’t replace them. I respect those guys, they once reigned with 10 defences in one of their tag reigns just like I did 10 times with the Indy Championship, but we’re the tag teams of the EWC today and we have to build this division together with respect over what we do between these ropes. When you lose, just accept you lost with dignity and try to better yourselves instead of trying to pretend the other team didn’t work for it.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Yeah, I …
She chuckles as she waves a hand dismissively through the air.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Probably for the best to leave things alone with Kruel Masters. Clearly they need another lesson, even if it may add on another untreated concussion. That said, I did hear Moonshine … and I agree, they definitely had the most earnest respect. That said … keep the luck for yourselves. You will - respectfully, of course - definitely need it way more than us. We’re coming in very much on a mission, and it’s gonna take a lot more than ‘luck’ to stop us from getting what we want.
Narumi and Aiya flashes the double deuce hand signs before resuming walking inside as the camera fades...
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The camera cuts backstage inside Colonial Life Arena where we find Deimos and ‘Little’ Danny looking at something on the wall…the camera zooms in at you can see in big bold letters STRANGLEMANIA...the two men look happy as they pat each other on the back. Deimos starts to run his finger down the lineup, past the Hellevator match, the Glass Table match…ignoring the Walk the Plank match and the Faithful Scramble match…he doesn’t look twice at who’s in the Triple Threat No DQ match or who’s challenging Marcu$ for the NA Championship…but pauses at the picture of the EWC Tag Team Championships and the words Flaming Tables Match…he looks over at ‘Little’ Danny and smiles…
Deimos: Here we go, Flaming Tables Match for the EWC Tag Team Championship!
‘Little’ Danny: Well you know I love FIRE!!!
Deimos nods and looks back at the card but the smile on his face drops…he looks at the card, even going as far as to wipe his hand across it thinking there might be marker on it or something…‘Little’ Danny’s head tilts to the side as he looks on in confusion at the card…because there, where it should read 3pAC it reads Bloody Sureiyazu…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: It has to be a mistake no…some fool or stupid intern messed it up…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: I mean it’s simple math right…math is the universal language…1+1=2, 2+2=4…4+4=8…you can’t argue with math…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: And in this case 2>1…hell, this will be our 3rd tag team match tonight…3>2 right…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: We had a match with the EWC Tag Team Champions and we walked out the winners…Bloody Sureiyazu beat two winless teams at Paramount #028…I mean doesn't the quality of wins matter around here…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: It’s prejudice to not consider us just because we are new…that’s like a civil lawsuit against the EWC, they can’t discriminate against us because we are new or because I’m on the shorter side…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: We were voted the MVP’s of Paramount #029…no other tag team has an MVP under their belts…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: We went to Brawl and beat a former Undisputed Champion in Ruth, our quality of opponents has been better and it’s not even close…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: In the 5 weeks the EWC has been back, WE have been the face of the Tag Team Division…the ones out there leading the charge…Narumi has been competing in the Legends of the Ring and Aiya has been losing singles matches…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: Are they not even considering what happens out there tonight…I mean they have made up their minds BEFORE this match…and went with THEM over us…
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: It’s like this match doesn’t even matter in their eyes…they just went with the NAMES and said ‘fuck the little guys’...
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: I guess Hobo Jim was right, ‘it doesn’t matter how hard you try…guys like us will always get screwed over in the end’...
Deimos: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: And here I was actually thinking about giving my two weeks to Burger King…better keep the job Danny, you might get cut here and tossed out on your ass because ‘you don’t look the part’...
‘Little’ Danny’s head drops down in disappointment, he can’t look at the card anymore but Deimos is still staring at the name Bloody Sureiyazu…after a moment he punches the wall where their name is and looks around with the gaze of a crazy man…
Deimos: BUNNY!!!! BUNNY FUCKING LOVE!!!! BUNNY!!!
A door down the hallway opens and Bunny pokes her head out…
Love: I am on the phone Deimos…
Deimos: I DON’T GIVE A FUCK…GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW AND LOOK AT THIS…
Love: I SAID…
Deimos: WE ARE GETTING FUCKED RAW AND HARD AND WITHOUT ANY FUCKING LUBE!!!!
Deimos points at the wall as Bunny shakes her head…
Love: I’ll call you back…this idiot is losing his ever-loving mind…
Bunny tucks her cellphone into her ring jacket pocket and walks towards her tag team…
Love: Ok, why the hell are you yelling like a maniac…
Deimos: THIS IS WHY!!!
Deimos slaps the card on the wall as ‘Little’ Danny looks up at her with sadness in his eyes…
‘Little’ Danny: Brace yourself Bunny…it’s heartbreaking…like when you found out there wasn’t really a Santa Claus or Easter Bunny…
Bunny looks at him and nods as she looks at the wall where Deimos is pointing and her mouth falls open…
Love: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
Deimos: THAT’S WHAT I SAID!!!
‘Little’ Danny: Over and over in fact…
Bunny takes a step closer to the wall and tries to rub the name off as well but no luck…
Love: WHAT THE FUCK!!!
‘Little’ Danny: And here we go again…
‘Little’ Danny shakes his head and lowers it once again as Bunny takes a step back…
Love: They just gave THEM the championship match…didn’t make them earn it…they have ONE win this season as a team…ONE win of the course of 8 shows…hell this is only their SECOND tag team match…this will be our THIRD…FOURTH if you count being forced to wrestle on Gambit…we have been…
‘Little’ Danny: The face of the tag team division…we have already covered this Bunny…
Deimos looks at Bunny…a bit impatient and thoroughly annoyed…
Deimos: You told us we needed to go to Brawl…to come here to Rampage…that we were doing the work that would earn us a championship match at StrangleMania…
‘Little’ Danny: Yeah, I called off work twice so we could go to Mexico City for Brawl and gave away my weekend shift so we could come here and fly right out to Peru…I could have made tomorrow morning’s shift Bunny…that’s money out of my pocket…
Love: Guys…I’m…I’m lost for words…I really am…for them to name Bloody Sureiyazu as the challengers that will face Damage Inc before this match even took place…after we hung a loss on Malice and Mayhem…I just…they fucked us…they did…they handed this match to Narumi and Ayia…it hasn’t been earned by them…they haven’t put in the work that we have…they could have waited…seen how tonight goes but they wanted Narumi and Aiya in that match…it’s fucking backstage politica…
Deimos: IT’S FUCKING BULLSHIT IS WHAT IT IS…
‘Little’ Danny: What’s the point of even going out there tonight…
Deimos: Yeah, we should just fucking walk…
But Bunny shakes her head and grabs both Deimso and ‘Little’ Danny by their shirts and bring them in closer to her…
Love: NO..we are not going to give them the pleasure…we are going to go out there and take the mother fucking fight to them…fuck our gameplan…there will be no hiding and waiting for the perfect moment…winning or losing out there…it doesn’t mean shit…CLEARLY!!!
Bunny lets both men’s shirts go but remains locked in on them…
Love: But we have a chance to go out there and give the ‘powers that be’ a giant middle finger by walking out with a win and having a W over both teams fighting for the championship…I want you both to go out there and look for blood…to do your worse to any and all of those assholes in the ring with you…get fucking DQ’ed if you want for using these…
She lifts up the two crowbars and hands one to Deimos and then to ‘Little’ Danny…
Love: NOTHING we do out there matters so FUCK IT…BURN THE MOTHER FUCKER DOWN IF YOU WANT…I’m taking the cuffs off you and asking you both to cause havoc…to try and HURT any or all of them…if the EWC wants to fuck us over and hand what we have earned over to Narumi and Aiya then we owe the EWC nothing…
Deimos: I’m going to piss all over everything…
‘Little’ Danny: I guess I could take a shit in the corner…
Deimos and Bunny look at ‘Little’ Danny, who starts to fiddle with his belt but Deimos smacks his hands…
Deimos: I didn’t mean I was literally going to piss in the ring…I meant I was going to fuck with everything they booked…I’m going to take this crowbar and put the BLOODY in Sureiyazu…I’ll bust out remaining teeth the Evans boys have left…I’ll bust Kolby and Daphne in the face so fucking hard they will have to go under their second re-branding as The Plastic Surgery Masters…
Love: We got NOTHING to fight for out there boys so fuck it…we got NOTHING TO LOSE…
Deimos nods his head as he balls up his fist and thrust it out towards Bunny and ‘Little’ Danny…
Deimos: BELIEVE there is going to be payback…
‘Little’ Danny nods in agreement and balls his fist up and thrusts it out to meet Deimos’s…
‘Little’ Danny: BELIEVE someone’s going to pay for this…
Deimos and ‘Little’ Danny look at Bunny who just shrugs…
Love: FUCK…let them sue the EWC…
Bunny balls her fist up and reaches it out to meet her teams…
Deimos: BELIEVE IN THE 3PAC!!!
The trio all stand there for a moment as a team before the feed is cut…
MATCH #1
3PAC Vs Bloody Sureiyāzu Vs Moonshine Inc Vs The Kruel Masters
Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: Lucha Libre Rules - Tags Optional
3PAC Vs Bloody Sureiyāzu Vs Moonshine Inc Vs The Kruel Masters
Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: Lucha Libre Rules - Tags Optional
We return to ringside following our commercial break, and all four teams are already ring-side.
KD: We heard from Bloody Sureiyāzu before the break, and just now a pre-taped segment from 3pAC from earlier today. A lot of emotions already in this match, this match is an important match for many reasons.
P-Dug: Including housing a preview of Bloody Vs Damage Inc at this upcoming StrangleMania!
Chriqui: The following match is a Lucha Libre Rules Tag Team Match! All Four Teams have entered during the commercial break, and we will now begin!
DING DING DING
With the sound of the bell, this Lucha Rules match is underway! Mike Michaelson gets everyone out of the ring except for Narumi Tsutsumi & Deimos, who begin this match as our legal competitors. Narumi and Deimos circle each other, and then engage in a shoulder/collar tie-up, Deimos pulls Narumi into a stiff headbutt, followed by a wrench of the wrist and an Irish-whip into his corner. Danny jumps over the top rope to catch Narumi with a clothesline, while Deimos rolls out of the ring. Danny pulls Narumi up by her hair, elbows her in the head and slings her into the ropes. Kolby Kreel pulls down on the rope and Narumi is sent flying to the outside! On the other side of the ring, Daphne Kreel comes flying in and catches Danny on the back of his head with a springboard dropkick! Danny pulls himself to his knees, and tries to get to his feet but Daphne punches him in the base of the skull to drop him back down! Daphne pulls Mayhem up to his knees, takes a few steps back and leaps for a shining wizard, outside the ring Deimos yells “DUCK”, and Danny does just that to avoid Daphne’s knee colliding against the back of his head. Danny rolls out the ring, Headhuntress Aiya jumps into the ring, our new legal competitor.
Aiya and Daphne come face to face, the crowd is cheering loudly. Aiya throws the first blow, an elbow right into Daphne’s mouth. Daphne fires back with a right hand jab. Aiya throws another elbow, Daphne throws a left jab! Aiya goes for another elbow, but Daphne ducks under, spins in a circle with her momentum and comes up into a big discus elbow right into Aiya’s mouth! Aiya stumbles back into the ropes, bounces off them into a flying enzuigiri and both women are down! On the outside of the ring, Narumi Tsutsumi has just laid Kolby Kreel out with a big Irish-whip into the steel steps! Jimmy of Moonshine Inc rolls into the ring, he drags Aiya up by her hair and flings her out. Jimmy drags Daphne up and plants her with a DDT… Cover!
ONE!
.
.
.
TW... Broken up by Deimos.
KD: Deimos saving the match right there, this could have been up just that quick!
P-Dug: These matches are so hard to work, you have to keep your head on a swivel the entire time.
Deimos sends Jimmy into the ropes with an Irish-whip, on the rebound Jimmy ducks a lariat and brings Deimos down with a neckbreaker. Matt comes flying in off the top turnbuckle and catches Deimos right on the jaw with an elbow drop. Narumi comes flying in off the opposite top turnbuckle with a diving double stomp into Matt! Kolby Kreel comes up from behind Narumi and rips her backwards into a German suplex. Narumi rolls through and grabs her own waist-lock, she hoists Kolby up, holds him there, and then flings him back. Kolby hits hard but rolls through into a sleeper suplex before dragging Narumi to the ropes and snap-dragon suplexing her to the padded floor! Aiya comes rushing in and lands a Players Boot that sends Kolby over the top rope to the floor! Daphne rushes Aiya and floors her with a right hook! Aiya falls against the ropes, Daphne dropkicks her over to the outside! Daphne turns around right into a knee strike from Danny that sends her too over the top rope. On the outside of the ring, Deimos grabs a table from under the ring, alongside a bottle of lighter fluid and a lighter. Deimos lights the table up. Narumi and Matt, the two legal competitors, start to get to their feet and both eat a superkick from Danny!
Deimos drags Aiya up by her hair and begins to pull her towards the table, but Aiya lunges into a waist-lock and brings Deimos backwards into a German suplex! Matt rolls out of the ring, so now it is Danny and Narumi the legals. Danny pulls Narumi up by her wrist into an atomic drop. Danny maintains wrist control and sends Narumi into the corner. Danny rushes in for a stinger splash, but Narumi moves! Danny’s sternum hits the corner hard and he backs out to catch his breath. Danny turns around and Narumi grab’s his throat! Narumi then grabs Danny’s waist and lifts him up into a military press! Narumi takes a few steps towards the ropes and then flings Danny out of the ring down at Daphne Kreel! An incredible display of strength and a shoutout to our champions!
Kolby Kreel rolls into the ring. Narumi hits Kolby with a knife edge chop, another chop, another chop, ano… Kolby floors her with a leg lariat! Aiya comes from behind and kicks Kolby's left leg out from under him, sending him down to his back. Kolby gets up to his knees, Bloody Sureiyāzu land a double superkick! They go for another, but Deimos comes up from behind and grabs both women by the back of their head and then he rushes forward to send them out of the ring into the pile with the Kreel’s and Danny. Deimos backs up to the ropes behind him and then he rushes out and TOP CON HILO INTO THE FIVE WRESTLERS! Mike Michaelson is focused on the carnage and doesn’t see Bunny Love hit him in the back of the head with a chair! Come on!
P-Dug: Bunny Love continues to be one of the best managers in the business by doing things like that! She knows how to protect her assets.
KD: And I'm sure you're only saying this, because of her assets! Horny dog.
Deimos rolls Kolby into the ring, alongside a trusty crowbar. He winds up and brings it down on Kolby's leg, and then the other leg, and then the back. Deimos is working over Kolby while the crowd rains down the boos. Deimos lifts the crowbar into the air with pride and brings it down on Kolby's head. Deimos is quickly spun around and lifted, and then dropped, with a big spinebuster from Jimmy! Matt comes off the top turnbuckle and jumps over Bunny Love to drop an elbow down on Deimos’ head!
On the outside of the ring, Daphne punches Aiya in the jaw, another punch, another punch, Narumi comes up and rolling clothesline!
Back inside the ring, Pierce Patterson has joined the shuffle and is counting a pin following Jimmy DDTing Deimos…
Aiya sends Jimmy over the top rope and mounts Deimos. She begins to strike down with punches and slaps. Danny tries to roll into the ring, but Narumi grabs his foot and pulls him backwards into a German suplex. Deimos shoves Aiya off of him and rolls to the safety of anywhere but here as he crashes to the outside. Daphne rolls into the ring… here we go again! Elbow from Aiya, punch from Daphne, elbow from Aiya, German suplex from Kolby Kreel! Aiya rolls up to her feet, standing Shining Wizard from Daphne! Narumi Tsutsumi rushing in and Rear Fear to Kolby! Narumi and Daphne rush each other and double lariat! Deimos slides into the ring and shoves everyone but Aiya out before going for a cover!
ONE!
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... KICKOUT
Deimos with another cover!
ONE!
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T... KICKOUT
And another!
ONE!
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TWO!
.
... KICKOUT
And another!
ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE... KICKOUT
Jimmy throws Deimos over the top rope. Danny comes up from behind and spins Jimmy around into a hip toss. Deimos rolls back into the ring. Deimos lifts Jimmy up into Danny who catches the cutter… The pAC Drop!!! Cover!
ONE!
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.
TWO!
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.
TH... BREAKUP BY MATT!
KD: I thought they had the win there!
P-Dugs: I think everyone did!
Deimos jumps up and clotheslines Matt. Danny and Deimos start punching, kicking, spitting down on Matt because they had that won! Daphne comes up from behind and hits a lariat to the back of both men’s heads! Danny and Deimos fall forward and both spike headfirst into the canvas. Daphne kicks them out of the ring alongside Jimmy. Daphne pulls Matt up onto her shoulders and Death Valley Driver! Bunny pulls Danny and Deimos up and goes to send them into the ring, but all three get spun around by Kolby Kreel. They start to brawl, Bloody Sureiyāzu comes up and PINK MIST TO ALL FOUR! They all scream out in pain.
Back in the ring, Daphne is pulling Jimmy up and down into a Beau to Laudna! Daphne goes for a cover, but Aiya stomps down on the back of her head. Aiya pulls Daphne up and Irish-whips him into Narumi, who drops her with Paymon! Aiya drags Jimmy up, and while he stands limp, MIDNIGHT KILL! Double buzzsaw kicks! Cover by Aiya!
ONE!
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TWO!!
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THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winners, via pinfall ... BLOODY SUREIYĀZU!!!!
Aiya and Narumi raise the others hands, and then they point down at the flaming table. On the outside Kruel Masters and 3pAC yells about how Bloody cheated and point at their faces. One old man in the crowd records Bunny's face as apparently her covered in a drippy liquid is going in the spankbank.
KD: Great win for Aiya and Narumi here tonight on the Road To StrangleMania.
P-Dug: Great effort from everyone involved, they all brought it here in the Rampage opener!
KD: Don't go anywhere, we'll be right back after this quick break.
Camera cuts to ...
Ealier in the Day
In the Parking Lot Jamie Love was arriving along with him was his bodyguard John Bishop who was walking in front of him. John came to a stop while Jamie was wondering what he was looking at in front of them. Standing in front of them was a well dressed asian man that looked around in his late 40s. He was wearing a white hat with a white suit and some rings on his fingers. He placed his hands inside of his pockets looking over at them. John gives him a bit of a nod walking towards him. The man not moving out of the way just stares over at them. John now stood in front of him towing over him. The Asian man didn’t look scared or anything, he just grinned, taking off his hat playing with in between his hands with a soft smile.
Asian Man: Oh I am sorry for being in the way. Let me move out of the way for the Boss...
He gently moved out of the way for them to go in. John smirks a bit while Jamie watches him closely as they walk towards the door. The Asian Man looked like he was going to leave but stopped on his heels turning around looking towards them placing his hat back on his head.
Asian Man: You are not going to ask who sent me...or who I am?
Jamie smirks as John was stepping forward but Jamie stop John in his tracks. He looked over at the dude placing his hands inside of his front pockets.
Jamie Love: I already know who sent you.
Asian Man just grins with a soft smile.
Asian Man: Well, let me tell you first of all who I am. I am Dave and then you would know what this mean then......
Asian Man goes inside of his right suit pocket as John was getting ready to protective Jamie but he just grins over at them holding up the Rook Chess Piece. Jaime looked over at it with as his face was full of rage. David hand over the Rook to John who took it for Jamie. David rub his hands together with a grin as a black long limo pull up behind him. Opening the door stepping out was Jason Hunter with smirks on his face. He fixes his black long coat he was wearing craking his neck placing his hand on the car door glaring over at Jamie. Jamie and Jason was filing the air at this moment with the tension between them. He reaches in the car and it was a plastic trash bag that he hands over to David. David took the bag throwing it at Jamie’s feet.
David: We are return your things you left at The Club because your services isn’t need there anymore but the door is alway open if you ever want to fight. Jason would be glad to put the fight together for you.
Jamie laughs shaking his head while John looked down over at the trash bag picking it up.
Jamie Love: No, that is ok I truly don’t believe I have room in my scheduled at this moment.
David playfully frown shaking his hand as he place a hand over his heart acting like he was hurt.
David: The Boss is sorry to hear that but He wants to wish you luck for your match tonight.
Jamie ran his hand into his curly hair looking right over at Jason speaking right towards him. Jason stood there not moving like a statue holding in everything not to take down Jamie at this moment. Jamie would just grins loving this right now because he know he has the upper hand a bit.
Jamie Love: Jason, what is wrong... why you have to wait till... Strangelmania to touch me.... Oh yea because of the little court order but do you think I am worry. I am not scare of Jason H...
Jamie was about to say a certain name but he stop as he could see how Jason eyes color change and knew he hit a bit of a nerve with a grin.
Jamie Love: oh I mean Jason Anderson... The Boss.. Jason don’t worry about me. You need to be worried about his cousin tonight don’t become another victim of The House. Oh maybe Luna... because didn’t she just go through something very dramatic...like didn’t they just buried their child...
Jason start to sneer a bit because everyone know how protective he could be about family. David looked over at Jason and then back at Jamie. Jamie just grin.
Jamie Love: Oh I am so sorry I say something I shouldn’t have but tonight it wouldn’t be the only thing that will be buried. I will walk out of that match towards Strangelmania for a shot for the United States Champion. I am telling you right now if your cousin cost me that shot tonight... or if you cost me the title at Stranglemania. You do not want to mess with The House. You think taking down Reid at Wrestlesfest was something or you haven’t see anything yet.
Jamie look over at the Rook Chess piece in his hand he throws it at Jason’s head but Jason caught it with his hand without blinking. Jamie tight up his fist growling as he stomp off with John standing there looking a bit conflicted but Jason give him a nod. John pick up the trash bag going after Jamie inside of the area with the camera zoom up Jason’s face.
Jason Anderson: I see you at Strangelmania.
Backstage, Andrea Hernandez is seen. She knows that the cameras are on her and she doesn't appear to be fazed whatsoever considering that she has always been the type of person that has enjoyed being in front of the camera. Still, she has some thoughts that she wants to share with EWC. Her confidence is coming through quite well as she begins to express her thoughts.
Andrea Hernandez: Hi, my name is Andrea Hernandez. Okay, glad I got THAT stupid 'name tag intro' out of the way. Of course, this is my first appearance of the new season and this is actually the first time I've been on Rampage in anything besides a match. I get that I've only had a handful of matches here, but believe me when I say that I am someone that SHOULDN'T be overlooked at all. I get that I'm still pretty new around here and I definitely understand that when I first got here, I had a pretty darn terrible attitude. Believe me, that's something that I look back on with regret...
Andrea takes a pause for a moment, remembering the person that she was when she first walked in and she is definitely looking glum for a split second as a way to express said regret.
Andrea Hernandez: I also admit that for a while, it seemed like maybe I wasn't going to be good enough for EWC. Then I faced Lavender in Mexico City and I went into THAT with a horrible attitude. What I am going to say about that, and this is a hill that I'm willing to die on because I know what I am capable of in that ring when I'm at my absolute best, is that had my attitude been any different, I WOULD'VE won. It definitely would've been a shocker to most of you, but knowing what I can do in that ring, I would've been able to silence that shock and prove that I am the real deal. Now, I DID end last season on a strong note and that is something that I am proud of especially when you consider who was in the four way match that I won in South Africa but from what I can see by some of the comments people have made to me, and about me, it seems as though people are treating me like I'm still the same person that I was when I first walked in here. If they're not doing that, they're trying to brush off my wins as a fluke because of who I pinned or because of who I DIDN'T pin. It doesn't matter if I pinned you or not. It's still going to go down in the record books that I own a win over Mercenary and Ruthann. Plus, it's not like anyone knew that Matthieson was going to be a flame out that didn't even make it to this season.
That's not my fault... or maybe it was. Shoot, maybe beating him twice broke his confidence and sent him running to the hills for all I know.
Now, I'm not going to waste your time by picking apart every little thing every person in this elimination match said to me, but having heard what I heard? They have a certain vision of me when they step into that ring with me and it's not a positive one. I get it. First impressions. I didn't make a good one with my attitude as far as that is concerned. However, if you're going to harp on that and act as I'm the same person that walked into EWC, then you're not helping yourselves. You're only helping me. If you refuse to see me as anything different than that first impression that I am responsible for, that I've owned, that I've worked on fixing, then that's a YOU problem.
Andrea pauses, a gleam of determination in her eyes starting to come out of her.
Andrea Hernandez: For three of you, I can at least SOMEWHAT get because you've never actually been in the ring with me before. For Mercenary, I thought he would be mature enough and man enough to know better but you know what? Paint whatever picture you want of me because at the end of the day, the only picture of me that matters is the one that is PAINTED by me and I know exactly who I am supposed to be int his business now. I'm taking nothing for granted. I'm no longer in a place that poisoned me and pushed me to be someone I never wanted to be or in an environment that did nothing but psychologically destroy me for years. I'm fighting back against the noise that once drove me into the gutter. Well, I've been coming out of that in recent months and when I win this match, against all the odds against me, against all the negative impressions of me, then the coming out party that began at Wrestlefest is only going to continue. And when I face Lavender again... I WILL beat her... I WILL win the United States Championship...
And then I'm going to make an omelet out of all the eggs that are about to be on your faces...
Andrea chuckles at her own joke before she makes her exit from the scene.
The din of the arena sounds only somewhat distant through the corridor leading to the Gorilla position, as we cut to the small, toned figure of Darna Dare wandering through the churning press of the backstage production crew.
She seems lost in her thoughts, hazel gaze brushing past everyone around her, as there's a commotion from down the way. Excited voices are raised in dissonant unison, and a veritable storm of press and their photographers burst into view surrounding a six foot, two-twenty pound figure alongside a harassed-looking dark-skinned woman. There's no mistaking the figures of King Flip and his valet, Chanel.
The Bronze Scorpion blinks placidly, coming out of her trance to stop and stare at the International Champion. She doesn't fixate on the man's bearded face - rather on the title he has over his shoulder. It's distinct from the one around his waist, and she opens her mouth in a grimace, starting to lunge at Flip before he beats her to any kind of punch; ripping the Apple TV+ Championship from his shoulder--
--and slamming it neatly into Dare's chest with a jovial wink. She brings her hands up, clutching the belt against her as the press team wash through and past, continuing on down the corridor. She turns on instinct, and before the entire gaggle disappears around the corner she meets Chanel's glare. The other woman's hand flies up, flicking two fingers between her eyes and Darna's.
In response, the Filipino flashes a Cheshire grin, not shifting her gaze until Chanel disappears from view, and then turning smartly on her heel to march off toward the stage - her prize in hand, and a renewed spring in her step.
KD: No love lost between those two following their encounter in Mexico City, but it seems Darna Dare got what she wanted after all.
P-Dug: Can you uh, break this down for those of us who don't have time to watch other brands?
KD: I'll tell you later. We've got a match to call!
MATCH #2
Darna Dare Vs Emiko Okita Vs Vin Havoc
Triple Threat
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: No DQs
Darna Dare Vs Emiko Okita Vs Vin Havoc
Triple Threat
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: No DQs
We return to ringside where referee Mike Michaelson is checking over the ropes.
KD: Alright! We're one step down the road to StrangleMania, and from the giddy world of lucha libre we're taking a swerve down Extreme Boulevard for this next match. Rampage's once-beloved Darna Dare is providing the highly questionable 'welcome wagon' for the second time this season, against newcomers Emiko Okita and Vin Havoc - neither of whom seem strangers to a no-holds barred matchup. This could be interesting. Thoughts, little bro?
P-Dug: A fangirl, a fossil, and a psychopathic midget walk into a bar. Ouch.
Chriqui: The following match is for one fall, with no disqualifications! Introducing first, from Sugbu, Philippines, weighing in at one hundred and thirteen pounds... DARNA DARE!!!
Coils of thick, gray smoke drift across the stage, carrying in their midst the ethereal, ghostlike form of Darna Dare. Dispensing with her usual theatrics, she stands with the stolen Apple TV+ Championship around her waist, looming through the smoke as she unbuckles and, with the dropping beat of "Chinchilla", thrusts it into the air. She's wearing a broad slash of a grin, bold steps carrying her forward into a skipping gait down the ramp. At its base, she flings the championship overhead, handsprings onto the apron and arches over the ropes, twisting her frame to snatch the belt from the air. She lands with her gaze now set hungrily upon the stage, the belt dangling from one hand.
Chriqui: From Tokyo, Japan, weighing in at one hundred and thirty four pounds... "ABNORMAL" EMIKO OKITA!!!
As ‘Abnormal’ hits, Emiko steps through the curtain purposefully and gazes down into the camera with a coy smirk on her face. With a baseball bat balanced across her shoulders Emiko strides down to the ring with a casual malice in her step. At ringside she stops by a female fan, gives them a high five or thumbs up, then rolls in under the bottom rope. She gets to her feet, points her bat at her opponent and then begins limbering up.
KD: Emiko's out to prove herself in the eyes of her Shinijoshi stablemates, and she looks ready to go.
P-Dug: Are we not even gonna acknowledge the belt Darna's carrying?
The barks of the intro of 'X Gon Give It To Ya' by DMX pierce the arena, as the crowd anticipates the arrival of Vin Havoc. As soon as DMX utters the chorus, Vin comes bursting out of the back, looking pissed off and reading for a fight. He storms down to the ring.
Chriqui: And, from Brooklyn, New York, weighing in at two hundred and forty pounds, "Wild Thing" VIN HAVOC!!!
Havoc steps to the corner of the ring and does a silent prayer while holding the cross around his neck, hoping for forgiveness on what he's about to do.
KD: He may be new to EWC, but Vin Havoc has been around. There's no 'wildcard' in this match when they're all equally wild, but he could be the dark horse pick to win this thing and surprise us all.
DING DING DING
If they're all the wildcard, nobody's told plucky Emiko, who still has her arms hooked around her baseball bat as she saunters into the middle of the ring and inverts both wrists. Sticking her tongue out, she sends a wild stare to both Dare and Havoc - flipping them off and then writhing her fingers cajolingly. Vin exudes a hard snort and starts striding forward, fixing to smash the cocky look right off this kid's face...
But Darna SHRIEKS and closes the distance in an unruly blur, swinging the Apple TV+ Championship into Okita's skull, then whirling to sling it at her other opponent's face. He tries to swat it aside, but she's launching into a Rider Kick behind it, her bare heel impacting the belt and driving it through Vin's guard into his jaw! He drops to a knee, and the Bronze Scorpion lands beside him, sneering as she bounds into a corkscrew headscissor DDT onto the title belt!
There's a spray of blood as Havoc's forehead busts open on impact, and Darna rolls to her feet - only to be immediately assaulted by Okita, who's swinging for the fences with her baseball bat, clocking the smaller woman across the shoulders, then reverse-jabbing it into her gut, before switching grip to knock her off her feet into the ropes. The crowd is already braying for the violence, rallying behind Emiko as she drops the bat, and catches the former United States champion with an emphatic powerslam, surging to her feet with a spirited roar, eyes ablaze!
WHAM! Havoc's own eyes are wide, blood spraying from his nostrils as he seizes her from behind, straight into a thudding backbreaker, then messily heaving her back into the air, catching her around the waist and hitting a monstrous release German that drives her into the corner post. The impact is sickening; she rebounds and collapses in a tangle of limbs, the big man going for the cover immediately, gaze wary and looking for Dare - who's nowhere to be seen.
ONE
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TWO
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.
KICKOUT!
Okita gets a shoulder up, arm extending toward the ropes in an early show of desperation that only brings the crowd further to her side. Shaking his head, 'hell no', Vin grabs her legs and hauls her into place beneath him, raining down forearms on the back of her skull, then scooping her up onto his shoulders. Her spine is arched horribly, but with a gasp she manages to somersault out, landing on her feet with a tumble. Havoc twists to face her, and she drops into a spear, failing to take him off his feet but driving him back several paces. Rebounding into a mad crawl across the canvas, Okita snatches up her baseball bat and is ready to intercept her opponent when he runs in, swinging the hard wood into his ribs, then striking over and over at his doubled-over back, screaming passionately!
The crowd are in love with the violent Joshi, erupting in loud boos as her shenanigans are cut short by the re-insertion of Darna Dare. Emiko's sent sprawling with a single-leg dropkick, then an eruptive crossbody that pitches both women against the ropes. Clinging on like a limpet, Darna sinks her teeth into Emiko's shoulder, growling savagely, ripping and tearing with her teeth before she slithers up and over, landing on the apron with a wicked, bloody-mouthed grin.
Okita's face displays pain - but not fear - as she ignores the gouge in her shoulder, twisting to aim a forearm over the top rope. Dare's equal to it, capturing the arm and then Emi's head, pulling her into a choke over the rope, springing up to lock in the body scissors for good measure! BITE OF THE MANDRAKE!
With no disqualification, there's nothing Mike Michaelson can do to save the girl from her predicament, her struggle starting to diminish in the wake of a few uncomfortable choking noises. She's fading, but the crowd shift from jeering to cheering as Vin Havoc slips out onto the apron, slaps himself in the face and roars - then charges right at the locked-in Darna Dare, launching into a virulent headbutt that stuns her; his eyes bugging at the crowd as he twists and drops off the apron, catching her around the chin and pulling her clean off Emiko into a modified neckbreaker!
The collision is gruesome, Darna's skull bouncing off the apron, followed by her body as she tumbles sidelong, before sliding onto the floor with a painful thump. Vin lands seated on the outside, giving himself a few more slaps in the face, then surging to his feet to bump fists with the crowd - one of whom passes him a drink. He takes a gulp, then inverts the remainder over his shaven head, before diving back into the ring, pulling the battle-damaged Emiko off the ropes to hit a frame-shuddering EMERALD FLOWSION!
KD: Two competitors are bleeding already, and Emiko Okita seems to be taking the brunt of the damage as she finds herself once again beneath the weight of the much larger Vin Havoc, who's bleeding profusely but seems to... like it?
P-Dug: Gotta hand it to him, he's a tough bastard.
ONE
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.
.
TW-- KICKOUT!
Rampage absolutely loves Emiko Okita, judging by the upsurge of enthusiasm as she kicks out on the cusp of two! Havoc looks frustrated, growling a few choice words to the girl before shoving her down with a palm to the face as he returns to his feet. He throws his arms up to the crowd - who seem to have rallied around the less experienced competitor. "COME ON!" Roars the big man, shaking the ropes, then flipping off the crowd at the lackluster reaction this garners. He turns around, ready to get back into action, only to find Okita on her feet, her own arms outflung, staring him down furiously. He starts to laugh, and she gets up in his face, unleashing a spirited peal of harsh Japanese.
Havoc doesn't seem impressed or perturbed, and gets a shove in the chest for his efforts. He smirks, swipes a thumb across his nose, and then steps forward into a MUCH BIGGER SHOVE, driving Okita off her feet!
He's celebrating prematurely, as she bounces right back up and is in his face once more, absolutely berating him this time in a run-on sentence that has him shaking his head in what's probably the closest she's going to get for a show of respect. She goes for another shove, getting a massive pop from the crowd, and Vin steps forward, simply and brutally scooping her into a Uranage! The ring quakes, Emiko seizing the back of her head, but starting to writhe to her feet regardless, when Darna comes flying off the top rope, legs outflung to catch Vin Havoc with a whirling headscissor takedown that slams him straight onto his spine! He rolls forward, reaching the corner, and she explodes in behind him, neatly placing a shotgun dropkick into his bruised vertebrae!
Emiko is back up, but Darna pops to her own feet right beside her, sparing the girl a menacing grin before arching her leg up and over into a beautiful scorpion kick that slams her onto the canvas again. Okita gasps, but rolls aside to avoid a follow-up axe kick, using the ropes to stand as Darna rushes in - and stumbling out of the way, forcing the Bronze Scorpio to stall her momentum against the ropes, turning toward Emiko-- and S L A P ! The rookie directs a scintillating chop into her chest, sending her staggering in pain into the center of the ring.
Seeing the two women locked up, Havoc rolls under the bottom rope to the outside, busying himself searching under the ring as Okita gives chase to Dare, lighting her up with a second chop, then seizing her by the arm and bundling her into a fireman's carry, staggering around with her tongue protruding and gaze lit up...
LAUNCHING Darna Dare off her shoulders, she goes for the SUDDEN DEATH, her knee driving upwards--
--but hell's own gymnast blocks it, and drops like a particularly graceful stone, winding her body around the offending limb, taking Okita down with an Imanari Roll and fighting to flatten her out with a leglock! Emiko grabs for the ropes, but Darna twists and aims a heel between her legs. Swearing in Japanese, the girl cringes in pain but returns fire with a kick to the jaw, sitting up to try and get her hands involved-- only to get flipped over onto her face, the leglock in place! Dare's focus is completely on the upstart rookie, and this is to her detriment, as Vin Havoc slides back into the ring armed with a steel chair, bringing it down on Darna's skull and then the locked-up legs of both women!!
Extricating herself, Okita tries to escape, and Vin more or less allows her the reprieve - hurling the chair toward her and missing narrowly, as he instead focuses on Dare. He yanks the diminutive nutcase to her feet, wiping the blood from his forehead and smearing it across her face before driving forward with another headbutt! The impact is crunching, and she staggers, but just comes back in with a yell, seizing underhooks on the much larger man and SCREAMING as she drives her own head repeatedly into his chest! He's sent staggering into the corner, where she fights for a headlock, pulling him down into a few brutal knee strikes before she's able to take control and run in a semi-circle, taking him along for a particularly violent Shiranui - her tiny body twisting through the air to DRIVE Vin into the mat!
Darna kips up, snarling, hazel eyes bloodshot as they roam across the crowd - and then come to settle on Emiko Okita--
--in the instant before she plows right through her with a STIFF lariat! The crowd erupt, as Dare goes down, and Emiko stumbles around to her legs, tongue stuck out once more as she pulls the smaller woman into a giant swing! Round and round they go, once, twice, thrice! Eight times! The crowd are counting now, but Okita's knee gives way and she releases before the culmination of the ninth swing, able to keep it going just long enough to sling Darna into the corner--
--where she impacts the steel chair brought in by Havoc!
P-Dug: The 'new blood' showing great control of her environment, able to set that up and execute despite the punishment she's been taking. Until a few moments ago, I'd have said Darna Dare was the freshest competitor in this match.
KD: She's still the only one not bleeding. This is an easy paycheck for her.
Emiko is tired, and keen to celebrate - somewhat overwhelmed by the response she's getting, staggering to the ropes and throwing up the Shinijoshi double V-signs. Some people love to see it - but Vin Havoc is not one of them. He's waiting when she turns around, sticking out his own tongue in a perverse mockery of the girl, beckoning her towards him with both middle fingers just as she did at the outset of the match. He doesn't stretch it out, though; nailing her briskly with a double chop to the chest, then launching her into and over the ropes with a crazed lariat! He puts so much spice on it he's forced to hold onto the ropes to stop from toppling over himself, laughing and swiping the blood from his eyes as he looks toward his other opponent with obvious relish.
Darna's perched on the opposite corner like a malevolent bird, staring down the big man with a white-hot sneer. He starts forward, and she leaps - going for what proves to be a flying nothing as he rears up like a bear and swats her from the air. She lands on her feet, driving right into a low kick that whips one of his ankles out, but he recovers into a drilling forearm, sending her stumbling and following up with a sliding lariat that turns the tiny woman inside out! She lands on her face, but pushes herself to all fours with a snarl, recovering absurdly fast only to be scooped up into a pumphandle half nelson driver! BORN IN BLOOD! He goes for the cover...
ONE
.
.
NOPE!
It's broken up by Okita, who yanks Vin's ankle and hauls him from on top of Darna. Havoc isn't having one lick of this, only looking annoyed by the interruption as he rounds on the girl. She snaps out a kick to the ribs that he blocks with a hard elbow, moving to grab her by the skull only to get evaded. Like a buzzing gnat, she steps to the other flank, launching a roughhouse European uppercut, then seizes the head, slinging her leg up and over, looking for a Triangle Lancer that has a rumble of enthusiasm running through the arena! Encouraged, Emiko rolls into the move--
--but is interrupted by the lurking Darna Dare, who springs over Vin Havoc's back, introducing her knee firmly to the girl's face with a KALABAW HUNTING HORN out of nowhere!! Emiko is sent sprawling against the bottom rope, limbs flopping as she takes every ounce of the blow, but Darna's eyes are nowhere near her; she's already on top of Vin Havoc, screaming and raining down headbutt after headbutt after headbutt, pinning him to the mat and chewing on the broad and bloody gash in his forehead. She pulls away, her own forehead also split open and blood pouring from her mouth, to reveal that the man underneath her is wearing the most shit-eating grin imaginable.
P-Dug: Is he... enjoying this? I feel queasy.
KD: Different strokes, bro! But yeah, Vin Havoc's a sick fuck.
Dare tries to pull Vin to his feet, but there's no earthly way - he's substantially more than twice her size, and she's faltering, staggering. With a resurgence of strength, Havoc drives up underneath her, heaving her right into position for a powerbomb with an urgency that finally gets him a giant pop from the crowd. Darna is wide-eyed and struggling, raining down punches in bunches that do little to stall Vin, who turns to the center of the ring and LAUNCHES her from his shoulders, looking to transition for the HAVOC DRIVER--
--but Dare has her opponents scouted, folding up and uncoiling like a steel spring, catching Havoc right between the eyes with another KALABAW HUNTING HORN in mid-air! The angle is nowhere near as perfect as the blow dealt to Emiko, but it sends Havoc sprawling onto his back, dazed, as Darna slithers away, giggling to herself as she scoops up the abandoned, dented steel chair and closes in on the man. Emiko's back up, albeit barely, trying to escape through the ropes only to be spotted by Dare, who BARKS at her, pointing insistently at Vin Havoc.
Emiko looks wary, but pulls the dazed man to his feet anyway, as Dare brings the chair down firmly across his shoulders, letting it fall as she dives into a Poisonrana, yanking Havoc backwards and turning him inside out! Emiko runs in impulsively, smelling blood as Vin flops right onto jelly knees, refusing to stay down in spite of everything.
He's already starting to collapse, but she keeps him in place with a deftly-placed knee, seizes his arm and steps through, dragging him into a beautiful ripcord lariat! LIGHTS OUT!!
The crowd start to surge, and then immediately shout a warning as Emiko flops instinctively into a lateral press.
ONE
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.
.
TWO
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.
.
NO!!
At the last second, Darna crashes down on top of BOTH of them with a ridiculously low-angle Monkey-Eating Eagle Splash, breaking up the cover! Vin's a bloody, barely-sensate mess, crimson burbling from his lips as he struggles out from under both women. Emiko looks angry at herself, but gets little time to think, because Darna's pulling her upright again, yanking her toward the ropes and then rolling into a Tomoe Nage that sends her over the top, crashing off the apron! Havoc is pulling himself up, staggering around into the middle of the ring, when she turns back with a delighted snarl, her own face soaked in both his blood and her own, licking the fluid from her lips with predatory delight.
En route to Vin, she snatches up Emiko's baseball bat, releasing it as she slams it into the back of his knee, then leaping atop him as he starts to topple - bringing him the rest of the way down with an explosive flying squirrel takedown, posturing up with a couple of wicked little elbows to the side of his face, then hooking an arm and twisting him into a Gargano Escape! It's all violent, but all sublime, the MINDORO DEATH ROLL executed and locked in!
Vin can't breathe well enough to scream in pain, just spitting out a wash of blood as he tries to resist, shaking all over. It's his passion and size that win out, Michaelson backing off with a concerned frown as the battered, bloody man gets slowly to his feet despite the weight of his opponent, his skin both flushed and pale. He's almost up, when Darna unleashes a mouthful of virulent Tagalog, and lifts her legs overhead, spinning from one hold to another - the TIKBALANG'S GRACE! His head's trapped between her legs now, one arm under threat as the other hand finds the top rope...
But there's no rope break, and he only finds himself in a worse position as Darna swings her body lithely, pulling him THROUGH the ropes, wrenching on the armbar with only greater leverage!
Vin tries to scream, but only gasps, his body failing, the referee about to call a stop when--
WHAM! Emiko Okita springs off the apron, into a bicycle knee that knocks Dare momentarily senseless! Vin falls back into the ring, clutching his wracked arm, blood staining the mat, but somehow starting to laugh as plucky Emi eggs on the crowd and dives under the bottom rope, seizing a headlock and floating up and over to pin Havoc's shoulders to the mat!
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via pinfall ... "ABNORMAL" EMIKO OKITA!!!!
Vin kicks out at three point zero one, his eyes wide and swimming, in the same instant that Darna flies under the bottom rope with a frustrated scream, about decapitating Okita with a sliding knee, trying to pull her upright only for the girl to overpower the attempt and escape to the outside - tumbling over the middle rope and falling onto her butt beside the barricade, edged up against it, staring up into the ring as the crowd celebrate for her; simply overwhelmed by the surprise of her own victory, as Darna slams the mat and throws herself at Vin Havoc in utter fury. He's on his knees, still asking for more, and security begin to rush the ring as the Wild Thing and the Bronze Scorpion just keep going at each other, trading punches and headbutts, bites and fish-hooks, refusing to let the match end!
KD: Uh, we're going to need to move on swiftly as we get some help out here, folks. Emiko Okita is our official victor, but it seems we've bitten off more than we can chew with this match up. No pun intended.
P-Dug: What!? This is just getting good! We can't give them five more minutes? Havoc just ate FOUR finishers and is still asking for more! A man could die and we're gonna CUT AWAY?
Camera cuts to ...
The scene cuts to backstage where we see Chris Page and Dominic Sanders walking through the hallway.
Page: Look, cuz. All I am saying is that my match against Darna Dare should be stricken from the record. She cheated! Plain and simple.
Sanders: Quit bitching. You sound like a weenie. You sound like Jordan Sharpe. You sound like…
Sanders stops as he raises his eyes from the ground and comes face to face with Phoenix Winterborn.
Sanders: You sound like Phoenix Winterborn.
Sanders smirks as Winterborn steps closer into his face.
Sanders: Hello, Winter-bore. I didn’t realize you were still around here. You haven’t quit on this career yet?!
Winterborn: Ah, speak my name and I shall appear…nice try, though. You wish I would just ride off into the sunset, though. I got a few things to finish up though.
He turns his attention to the man next to Dominic.
Winterborn: And you must be Christopher. Sounds like you're already taking after your "mentor" here, and I use that term loosely. Gloat when you win, blame everyone else when you lose. Let me put you on game real quick. Darna Dare is the real deal. Hold that L like a man, and move on.
Sanders pushes his way in between Phoenix and Page.
Sanders: And what exactly do you do when you win? Oh, that’s right. It’s been a hot minute. You probably don’t even remember the last time you won.
Winterborn: I could say the same about you.
Winterborn smirks as Sanders scowls at him. Page steps up into Winterborn’s face.
Page: You know what, idiot? You’re stepping over some damn lines! This is a Hall-of-Famer. He’s got more accolades than you could ever dream of. You’re nothing but a lint-sucking snatch!
Winterborn: Then what does that make you, Mr. Winless?
Page reacts by hauling off and decking Winterborn in the ear. Sanders backs off as Page and Winterborn begin throwing hard right and left hands at each other. Winterborn takes Page down to the ground and begins to wail on him. Page rolls over and starts dropping knees into Winterborn’s rib cage. Referees and EWC officials flood the scene as they attempt to break the two apart. They manage to pull Winterborn off of Page, but not before Phoenix smacks the heel of his boot into the side of Page’s face, lacerating his cheek ever so slightly. Page is pulled up to his feet and the two still try furiously to get after each other. Grizzly Duggan finally arrives to the scene and interjects.
Duggan: What in the hell is going on here?!
Page: This MOTHER FUCKER has no respect for legends!
Winterborn looks at Page and then over towards Sanders.
Winterborn: Boy… if he's a legend? It must be a low bar. Dom here isn't even legendary in his own home!
Page: Man, fuck you! That’s it. YOU… ME… STRANGLEMANIA!
Winterborn: You’re on!
Page: Let’s make it interesting, bitch! How about it’s a Kiss My Ass Match? Loser has to kiss the winner’s ass!
Winterborn: Fine by me! I'll bring your lipstick for you even…I want to make sure you get a good imprint on these cheeks, boy. And then I'll wash your mouth out for that foul mouth of yours like your mother SHOULD'VE done…
Page tries to go after Winterborn and the officials hold him back as Sanders gets in Winterborn’s face.
Sanders: You think you’ve seen anything out of “The Elite” yet? Boy, you ain’t seen nothin’.
Sanders walks over to Page and wraps his arm around his neck.
Sanders: Come on. You’ve got a match to win.
Sanders pulls Page with him towards gorilla as we go back to ringside.
MATCH #3
Chris Page Vs Chris Miller
Chris Cross Applesauce Match
Referee: Chris Brock
Additional Info: It's Chris Vs Chris! In This Specialty Match, You MUST Beat Your Opponent Unconscious, Handcuff Them And Then Cover Them In Apple Sauce!
Chris Page Vs Chris Miller
Chris Cross Applesauce Match
Referee: Chris Brock
Additional Info: It's Chris Vs Chris! In This Specialty Match, You MUST Beat Your Opponent Unconscious, Handcuff Them And Then Cover Them In Apple Sauce!
We return to ringside where we get set for the first-ever Chris Cross Applesauce Match!
KD: This is the first Chris Cross Apple Sauce Match in history!
P-Dug: Probably for a good reason.
Chriqui: The following match is a special Chris Cross Applesauce Match. The rules are as follows. In order to win, one man must render the other unconscious and then handcuff them to the ring and pour applesauce all over his opponent! Introducing first from Austria & weighing in at 227 pounds... "THE INTERNATIONAL LEGEND" CHRIS MILLER!!!
"Disintegration - Celldweller" begins to play through the arena speakers, signifying the entrance of Chris Miller who comes out and kneels down to the song. When the first Disintegration is heard, he stands up on his feet and begins making his way to the ring. When he gets into the ring, he climbs up to the second turnbuckle and poses by flexing his muscles, as a rookie would. He jumps down from the second turnbuckle and crouches in his corner so that he can start the match.
Chriqui: And his opponent being accompanied by EWC Hall-of-Famer Dominic Sanders, from Zyzzx, California & weighing in at 227 pounds... "THE ELITE" CHRIS PAGE!!!
"Stepped On" hits over the speakers and "The Elite" Chris Page makes his way out from the back with EWC Hall-of-Famer Dominic Sanders in tow. Page has a nice cut on his cheek from his brawl with Phoenix Winterborn in the back. He poses on the ramp before making his way down to the ring. Page gets into the ring while Sanders stays on the outside. Page waits in the corner for the bell to ring.
KD: I'm feeling good about Chris in this match, but Chris has a chance.
P-Dug: I am not going to play along with that.
DING DING DING
The two men slowly approach each other in the middle of the ring. Before he can blink, Page pokes Miller in the eye. Miller grabs his eye and Page laughs. He steps towards Miller, but Miller drives a hard right hand into Page's stomach. Page doubles over as Miller grabs Page and slams his head hard into the top turnbuckle. Miller spins Page around and drives a knee hard into Page's jaw. Page grabs his jaw and falls out of the corner and into the ropes. Miller walks across the ring and sprints at Page, looking to clothesline him over the top rope. Page ducks and back-body drops Miller over the top rope. Miller lands on his feet. Page turns around and Miller grabs him by the head and hangmans him on the top rope. Page snaps backwards and lands on his back in the middle of the ring. Miller jumps back up onto the ring apron and waits for Page to get up. Page finally gets back to his feet and Miller torpedoes himself through the ropes and into Page's gut with a spear. He goes for a cover, but quickly remembers that there are no pinfalls in this match. He gets up to his feet and walks over slowly to the turnbuckle and takes the protective padding off. He goes back over to Page and grabs him by the head. Pulling Page to the corner, Miller goes to slam his head into the exposed turnbuckle. Page stops himself by putting his foot on the middle turnbuckle. He grabs Miller and lifts him up with a bone-chilling spinebuster!
KD: Big time spinebuster, the entire ring shook!
P-Dug: That's going to be a trip to the chiropractor, or I know a guy who does the same stuff with a slightly lesser death rate.
Page grabs Miller and pulls him off of the mat. He pulls Miller up onto his shoulders, looking for a Death Valley Driver. Miller wiggles free off of Page's shoulders and spins Page around. Hard right to the face. Followed by a thunderous European Uppercut. He grabs Page and whips him into the corner. Page's back hits hard into the padding and Miller charges, drilling Page hard with a big boot to the face in the corner. Page stumbles out of the corner and Miller runs up behind Page, looking to shove him into the exposed turnbuckle. Page hits the breaks and puts his hands on the ropes. He lifts himself up into the air and Miller crashes hard sternum-first into the exposed turnbuckle. Miller clutches his chest as Page lifts Miller up and drills him with Dominic Sanders' patented t-bone suplex, the Funky Town. Page brings him down hard to the mat. On the outside, Dominic Sanders has cleared the timekeeper's table and grabbed a steel chair. He slides the chair into the ring for Page to use.
P-Dug: Page knows what to do, take that chair and slap this sap sucker back to momma.
KD: You don't need it Page, you've got this won without it you son of a bitch!
Page goes to grab the chair but is stuck hard by an elbow to the gut. Page leans over in anguish as Miller intercepts the chair and stands up to his feet with the chair in hand. He lifts it up high and cracks it across Page's back. Shaking his head, Sanders slides into the ring. As Miller lifts the chair up high, looking to drill Page in the head with it, Sanders rips the chair out of Miller's hands. Miller spins around and, just like Sanders did in September of 2020 in the same venue, he is cracked right in the skull by a thunderous chair shot from the Hall-of-Famer. Miller drops to the mat in a heap as Page gets up and grabs the chair from Sanders' hands. He walks over and delivers another sickening chair shot to the side of Miller's head. Special Guest Referee Chris Brock crouches down next to Chris Miller and checks for consciousness. He shakes his head and calls for the bell.
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via knockout ... "THE ELITE" CHRIS PAGE!!!!
The crowd has a mixed reaction as Sanders lifts Page's hand high into the air. Some are cheering the violence and some are booing the victor. Page frees himself from his cousin's grip and shoves the chair hard down onto the ground. He goes over and grabs a now-bloodied Chris Miller and picks his limp body up by the hair. Sanders and Page drag Miller over to the corner and brandish two pair of handcuffs. Sanders cuffs one hand to the top rope while Page cuffs the other to the other top rope. Miller is lifeless in the corner on his ass, both wrists cuffed to the top rope. Page begins to lay boots into Miller's chest and face as Sanders exits the ring. Sanders slides a bucket of applesauce under the bottom rope and follows it under the bottom rope into the ring. Sanders gets up to his feet and picks the bucket up off of the ground. He reaches over to his cousin and awards him with the bucket of applesauce. Page smirks and tilts the bucket, pouring applesauce all over Chris Miller. "Stepped On" begins to play again as Page and Sanders wipe some applesauce off of their boots and shoes, respectively. The two cousins exit the ring and begin to head up the ramp.
KD: Chris Page comes out on top of a match that should hopefully become a main stay!
P-Dug: I do love apple sauce, and I also love the effort we saw from Miller there. Maybe next time he'll get this.
KD: Don't turn that dile.
Camera cuts to ..
MATCH #4
Draco Lazarus Vs King Flip
Singles Match
Referee: Pierce Patterson
Additional Info: PRIME Vs BRAWL Hosted By Friday Night RAMPAGE!
Draco Lazarus Vs King Flip
Singles Match
Referee: Pierce Patterson
Additional Info: PRIME Vs BRAWL Hosted By Friday Night RAMPAGE!
We return to ringside.
KD: This match has a lot of history, although Draco hasn't said much in the lead up.. I am sure he's ready to go!
P-Dug: King Flip runs his mouth so much, being silent in his face is honestly a pretty effective strategy to get under his thin skin.
Chriqui: The following match is a match. Introducing first from San Diego, CA & weighing in at 216 pounds... DRACO LAZARUS!!!
The theme from the classic film, Jaws, begins to blare over the loudspeakers. Eventually a tall, thick man dressed as a Medieval Jester comes out with a trumpet in hand. This musically inclined Managor, dressed as a Jester stops at the top of the ramp and begins playing a melody that sounds like it could be a royal introduction as a man wearing a Golden Dispensaries T-shirt makes his way onto the stage. The unusually large Managor Jester continues down the stage, walking around the stage, continuing his tune until the man in the Golden Dispensaries T-shirt enters the ring. The noticeably tall Jester then joins the other man in the ring. The royal melody begins playing again, this time a ring of fire forms on the stage. With his arms spread, the former EWC Champion walks into the ring of fire. Boos fill the arena one of the most annoying EWC competitors to ever compete makes his way to the ring.
Chriqui: And his opponent from The land of money and fame & weighing in at 220 pounds... KING FLIP!!!
K I N G F L I P zooms from right to left across the EXT and is followed swiftly by a small pyro. 'Machinegun' begins to play as the man in the hooded vest, head low, emerges from the curtain. He gets to the edge of the rampway when he lifts his hood to reveal that arrogant half smile. The lyrics chime in as he walks slowly down the ramp with his eyes locked in on the ring. He slides into the ring and leans against the turnbuckle with arms agape as his theme plays. He turns to the stage / his opponent ready for the action to start as his theme fades.
KD: Draco Lazarus is looking to upset the International Champion here and continue his roll.
P-Dug: And King Flip is probably International Champion for a reason, that won't be an easy task.
DING DING DING
Draco is eager to get to it, opening the bout with a kick to the torso. Flip catches the leg with a smirk but fails to duck the second leg. Enziguri. Draco springs to a knee and times a snap Flip right back down with a clothesline. And as the King is rolling up a second time Draco Lazarus sets up. A picture perfect missile dropkick sends King Flip back first into the turnbuckle. Draco keeps the pressure up and lays the boots down. Flip is brought to a seated position and Draco begins choking the King with a boot to the throat. The referee disrupts this immediately with a count that Lazarus disregards until he hears a four. DL throws his hands in the air and walks away, leaving the King clutching his throat as he struggles through choking to breathe. This doesn't last, however, as Draco turns right back around and slams his knee into the throat now. He's wrenching on the second rope and all you can see is Flip's legs flailing about as the referee doesn't even count this time. He yanks on Draco as hard as he can until the performer lets up and pulls back. The ref is pointing his finger in Draco's face, instructing about how he needs to listen, and even the audience is murmuring as Draco seems like he could turn this onto the referee at any second. Then Chanel hops onto the ring apron to intervene.
KD: Get her out of this match!
P-Dug: Get her over to commentary!
Draco immediately turns his attention to the kind woman on the ring apron. Just as it looks like he's about to hit her into next week, King Flip comes crawling from behind. Low blow. Chanel grabs the referee by the collar and pulls him in for a wet one. South Carolina explodes. Draco drops to his knees grabbing his jewels. King Flip slides out of the ring and stumbles back to the announce table for a breather as Chanel lets up and just saunters off to the steel steps. The referee, feeling like a million bucks, takes to a second turnbuckle and raises two thumbs up to a massive pop. Quickly he realizes his unprofessional demeanor and fixes himself, checking on Draco for a second. He's about to turn and find Flip as the King rolls into the ring. Draco is quick to a vertical base at this point but turns right into a signature King Flip kick. Crowning Moment! Stunned to one knee is all Flip needs. Gold Star! He hits Draco Lazarus with his own finisher! The King doesn't have it in him to follow up, unfortunately, as he grabs his jaw and shoulder while retracting back to a corner. Lazarus looks completely out for a moment, but after the referee starts checking on him he begins to stir up.
P-Dug: Draco was knocked loopy there, but one thing they teach us in the very beginning of a career is to look not loopy for the ref. It's theatrics to keep your match from being thrown out.
KD: Something that is used pretty often in hard hitting matches such as this!
Draco is getting to one knee by the time Flip looks ready to continue. They lunge into one another in an exchange of blows, hitting each other with quick clotheslines, snapmares, arm drags, and dropkicks before it even begins to slow down. Draco grapples Flip into the corner but the King switches positions with him and headbutts The Golden Boy in the nose. He grabs Draco by the back of the head and has his grasp thrown off. Flip open palm slaps Draco Lazarus across the face, following up with a STIFF chop to the chest. 'Whooo' goes the crowd as Draco writhers from the sting. Flip stands him straight for another. 'Whooo' from the crowd again. And a third before pulling Draco off the corner for a bulldog. Draco shoves Flip off and the King bounces off the canvas ass first. He stands up and rolls under a Draco clothesline, countering with one of his own and following it with a DDT when Draco gets right back up. Flip seizes his moment, running to the ropes to deliver his signature planca. The Dethronement! Fighting through the pain, the International champion uses the hype coming from the fans to fuel him into climbing the ropes and standing atop the turnbuckles. ROYAL BLOOD! King Flip takes to the sky for his spinning leg drop finisher, catching the throat of Draco Lazarus on the way down. Cover!
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via pinfall ... KING FLIP!!!!
King Flip is helped up by Chanel, who also has his International Championship. The two hold it high before Flip heads to the back. Draco rolls out of the ring and hits the apron in frustration.
KD: King Flip is normally one to boast and brag, but I take it he wants off Rampage as quick as possible!
P-Dug: Draco didn't win this one, but I think there's more to come!
The camera fires up backstage to show Brawl superstar and International champion King Flip making his way back into the locker room area after his hard fought battle with Draco with Chanel not far behind. The two walk through the entrance tunnel and Flip nearly slams face first into... Rampage superstar, Mercenary! South Carolina explodes in jubilation. Chanel looks as if she's going to step between them, but Flip holds up an arm and motions for her to move along. They have a nonverbal disagreement for a moment before she gives in and storms off. The King looks to Mercenary, who looks like he wants to take Flip's head off, and smiles as he places a taped and sweaty hand on the big man's shoulder.
King Flip: It's good to see you, Merc. You're actually just the guy I wanted to see.
Mercenary glares from Flip, to his hand, then back to Flip. A nervous chuckle escapes the champion as he pats the shoulder and removes his hand.
King Flip: Listen. I had a looksie over the last episode of Rampage and I have to tell you that my heart broke just a little bit. Y'see, in a fit of rage, as all I could see was red, it seems I've said a couple of things that were... unacceptable. Deplorable. Besmirchable. Disgusting. Mercenary, tonight I want to look you in the eye and apologize. I shouldn't have said what I said. So if we could let bygones be bygones, I'd really appreciate that as I've got a lot of eyes on the back of my head right now as it is.
Mercenary stood staring at Flip as he outstretches his hand. After a tense moment he reached out and accepted the gesture. The audience shows its appreciation, admiring and cheering for the show of respect between these two men. They shake for almost half a minute, Flip nervously chuckling again as it appears Mercenary is less reticent to let go of his grip. Instead he tightened his grip. Grabbing hold of Flip's wrist with his other hand he pulled him closer, leaning forward to stare daggers into the other man's eyes.
Mercenary: You must really think that I'm some kind of stupid?
King Flip: Well no, I--
Fans begin a "Mer-ce-na-ry!" chant. The pain brings Flip to one knee as he winces, Mercenary's grip getting tighter still.
Mercenary: You think a few smooth words is gonna make us square?
He held firm when Flip tried to pull his hand free.
Mercenary: You ran your mouth like a scumbag.
King Flip: True.
Flip looks this way and that to no avail for any aid.
Mercenary: You described in detail how you wanted to choke me to death.
King Flip: Well that's out of context.
The King groans in pain as the grip grows harsher.
Mercenary: But now I'm supposed to believe that you've had a change of heart?
King Flip: I mean... yes?
He sneered at The King, showing his teeth like an angry dog. Crowding in on him until they were almost nose to nose Mercenary spat his words right into Flip's face.
Mercenary: With all due respect your highness, you can go fuck yourself!
Like a pair of rams the two men butted heads and a furious Flip wrenched his hand free, landing a punch to the side of the larger man's head. Both of them were caught up in a wave of hatred and aggression. At first they threw stiff shots wildly until eventually they locked up and started slamming each other into anything that was close enough to do bodily harm. They put more than one hole in the hallway's drywall before a collection of referees, agents and other wrestlers arrived on the scene to try to prevent what very well might have ended in murder. It took a great deal of effort to break them both apart. At least twice each man broke free to resume the assault on the other. And even when they were restrained they bombarded each other with a barrage of threats and curses. It was the hulking arrival of a pissed off Grizzly Duggan that finally settled the situation.
Grizzly Duggan: Just what in the Hell do you two think you're doing? Mercenary, you've got a match to get to and you're holding up the show. You're damn lucky I don't disqualify you right now!
The GM signaled the group of officials surrounding the EWC Outlaw to escort him to the gorilla position. He went with them willingly without taking his eyes off of Flip, who had the final say when he flipped him off on his way out. Grizzly didn't appreciate the gesture.
Duggan: AND YOU! You cut that shit out right now or this is the last time you'll be allowed to show your smug face on Rampage. Leave it on brawl where shit belongs.
MATCH #5
Andrea Hernandez Vs Autumn Raven Vs Luke “The Joker” Saito Vs Mercenary Vs “The Love Child” Jamie Love
Elimination Match
Referee: Pierce Patterson
Additional Info: United States Championship #1 Contendership
Andrea Hernandez Vs Autumn Raven Vs Luke “The Joker” Saito Vs Mercenary Vs “The Love Child” Jamie Love
Elimination Match
Referee: Pierce Patterson
Additional Info: United States Championship #1 Contendership
We return to ringside where we find KD and P-Dug
KD: And now we've got ourselves our number one Contendership match!
P-Dug: We've seen Andrea and Mercenary both already in this show, but you've got to assume the other 3 are as laser focused.
Chriqui: The following match is an elimination match for the number one Contendership to the EWC United States Championship. Introducing first from Paradise Valley, Arizona & weighing in at 125 pounds... ANDRE HERNANDEZ!!!
"Ultranumb" by Blue Stahli hits the venue’s soundwaves. Andrea appears on the stage to some strong cheers from the crowd. Andrea acknowledges the crowd and completely focused on the task at hand. She gets up to the ring apron and uses the top rope to slingshot herself into it, acknowledging the crowd even further as she leans against the corner, confidently waiting for what comes next.
Chriqui: And her opponent from Los Angeles, California & weighing in at 125 pounds... AUTUMN RAVEN!!!
The tron plays a scene of the hollywood walk of fame going by slowly, the shadow of a raven seen over each and every star that’s there. As you hear the lyrics ‘Your stars burned out for good, somewhere in Hollywood’, the shadow flies into the one star without a name, writing out Autumn’s name on it, the star turning to a dingy, grungy picture with graffiti written all over it.
As the first part of the song starts up, Autumn appears from backstage, slowly walking out, coming to a stop at the top of the ramp as she surveys the crowd with a cold smirk on her face. She stands there for a minute before making her way down the ramp slowly, walking once around the ring before sliding under the bottom rope and hopping to her feet, making her way to the corner to climb to the top ringpost. She flings her arms out to the side, laughing at the crowd.
Chriqui: And their opponent from Brooklyn, NY & weighing in at 156 pounds... LUKE "THE JOKER" SAITO!!!
The lights in the arena are slowly going off and on as on the top of the ramp only to see Luke standing there with his shades on his face with his long black coat on and standing behind him is Luna wearing the same coat but she has a hood with her and wearing the hood over her head. He grabs her hand and has her standing in front of her as he slowly removes her hood off her head as they both grin.
They both started walking down to the ramp together when the words “Rise” came blasting over the speakers. Luna was playing with the crowd as Luke kept walking slowly down to the ramp. Luna gets to the bottom as she stands on the outside of the ring while Luke stands behind her on top of the apron as the lights flash like crazy on the words “Rise” they put up a fist together. Luna then climbs inside of the ring with him and helps him out of his jacket. She holds it as they bump their heads together like they were praying before the match. She gives him a small kiss before climbing out of the ring as he starts to test the ropes.
Chriqui: And their opponent from Hotel rooms across the world & weighing in at 365 pounds... THE MERCENARY!!!
Mercenary swaggers out onto the stage with his face hidden behind a hard tactical mask painted to look like The Punisher's iconic skull logo. His eyes inside the mask scan the crowd. He crosses both arms, gloved fists clenched, across his chest and under his chin. The pose resembles a skull and crossbones. To either side of him the stage explodes in motes of red and orange flame.
Removing the mask the big man salutes the crowd and stalks towards the ring at a steady pace filled with menace and a deadly purpose he climbs between the ropes and walks to the corner where he throws a few shadow punch combos at the turnbuckle before turning with his back to the corner, his arms crossed again across his chest to glower in his opponent's direction and wait for the bell to give him the sign to come out swinging.
Chriqui: And their opponent from Takayama, Japan & weighing in at 120 pounds... "THE LOVE CHILD" JAMIE LOVE!!!
The arena plunges into darkness as a haunting piano melody can be heard over the sound system. As the beat starts at 11 seconds a spotlight shines on Sara Rische playing an expensive Grand Piano to the left of the stage. She plays for 10 seconds when a second spotlight shines on Jamie Love as he enters the arena to a chorus of boos as his body guard John Bishop stands behind him. He walks down the aisle with JB following closely behind him, glancing out at the live audience, smirking at the with disdain in the shadows of the House hoodie he has on. As he climbs into the ring Sara makes her way down to ringside. He hands Sara his hoodie and stretches in the corner as (he waits for his opponent/his opponent stares at him with an irritated look in their eyes.
KD: Here we go for this wild unpredictable match!
DING DING DING
At the sound of the bell, Jamie Love wastes no time and rushes at Autumn Raven! Jamie catches Autumn in her corner with a forearm smash, followed by a spinning back elbow, followed by an enzuigiri. Jamie pulls Autumn out by her hair and sends her into the ropes with an Irish-whip, on the rebound Autumn jumps into her own enzuigiri! On the other side of the ring, shoulder/collar tie-up with Andrea. Autumn falls limp as her adrenaline wears off, so Luke Saito pounces on Jamie. Luke pulls Jamie up and throws him down with a spinebuster. Luke mounts Jamie and starts to rain down the punches.
On the other side of the ring, Mercenary drops Andrea with his own spinebuster. Merc hits the ropes and comes in with a guillotine leg drop, dropping his meaty thigh right around Andrea’s throat. Andrea gasps for air and rolls out of the ring. Merc looks over at Luke, who kicks Jamie out of the way. The two smile, the crowd cheers.
KD: Time to flash back to WrestleFest!
P-Dug: Mercenary has that fire in his eyes, that fire in his belly... Andrea run!
Luke and Merc step to each other, Luke throws the first punch, Merc answers with his own punch. Luke punch, Merc punch, Luke, Merc. The crowd cheers HEY, HO! back and forth with every punch. Luke goes to spinebuster Merc, but Merc lifts Luke onto his shoulders and drops him down with an Alabama Slam! From out the corner of Merc’s eye he can see a blur, but by then it’s too late as Andrea jumps up, wrapping her legs around his head and swinging him down into a hurricanrana!
Andrea goes to pull Autumn Raven up, but Autumn grabs Andrea’s head and kicks off the ground into a shiranui sliced-bread out of nowhere! Jamie Love starts to get to his feet, Autumn rushes and dropkicks him in the back of his head to put the kibosh on that! Autumn climbs up the top turnbuckle of her own corner, and then quickly jumps down to drop a fist on Jamie Love, but Jamie Love mule kicks up and catches Autumn under her chin! Jamie Love grab’s Autumn’s ankle while she’s stunned, and drops her into an ankle-lock, he transitions that into a Love Lock!
P-Dug: That's one of the most dangerous moves in our sport, Jamie is a small fella but he'll break your back and make you humble.
KD: That's certainly a dangerous hold, and there are no rope breaks so Autumn needs to get to the ropes and then still fight out of it!
Autumn starts crawling towards the ropes, Jamie drops the hold and stomps the back of her head three times before dragging her into the center of the ring and locking it on tighter. Autumn Raven yells out in pain, she starts headbutting the canvas and then crawls to the ropes… Jamie drags her to the center again! Autumn yells out, then she bites her lip hard enough to draw blood, and then she passes out! She passes out! Autumn Raven has been eliminated! Jamie drops the hold, but LOOK OUT! Busaiku knee from Andrea! Andrea makes the cover!
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO... KICKOUT BY JAMIE LOVE!
Chriqui: Autumn Raven has been eliminated
P-Dug: And Jamie Love nearly joined her!
KD: The toll of this match is starting to show!
Andrea pulls Jamie up and sends him into the ropes, on the rebound she lands a hurricanrana that sends Jamie prone against the second rope. Andrea hits the ropes and goes flying at Jamie, Merc from out of nowhere catches her mid-stride with a giant lariat! Merc drags Andrea up by her wrist and sends her into the ropes, Andrea ducks another lariat and flies into Jamie Love with another Busaiku knee, finally hitting her original plan.
Mercenary spins around, and catches an uppercut punch from Luke Saito! Merc stumbles back, right hook from Saito drops Merc to his knees! Luke takes a few steps back and jumps into a high knee right between Merc’s eyes! Before Luke can turn around, Andrea floats over him and spikes him with a Destiny Drop DDT!
Jamie Love rolls to the outside, not wanting to waste any momentum Andrea goes after him and jumps over the top rope into a diving crossbody, Jamie Love flashes a smile before nailing her midair with a forearm smash! Jamie pulls Andrea up and spins into a back elbow! Jamie grabs an Irish-whip and sends Andrea up the ramp towards the stage, where she trips and falls. Jamie rolls into the ring and covers Luke.
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!
.
... KICKOUT BY LUKE SAITO!
KD: NO! Luke just manages to kickout
P-DUG: But this deep into the match, that kickout takes a lot of your energy.
Jamie grabs Luke’s legs and locks on another Love Lock, he’s looking to end this one.. But Luke is able to crawl to the ropes and pull himself out of the hold to the outside. Jamie Love climbs out onto the apron and Luke socks him in the jaw! Luke joins Jamie on the apron, spins him around and FRANKENSTEINER OFF THE APRON TO THE PADDED CONCRETE! Jamie Love is spiked right on his damn head!
Luke drags Jamie up and then punches him square in the mouth, Jamie drops like a sack of bricks. Luke keeps punching down on Jamie, punch after punch after punch after punch. Jamie Love stops defending himself and Luke looks down at his bloody knuckles, he points him at the camera and then rolls Jamie into the ring for a cover.
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!
Chriqui: Jamie Love has been eliminated.
KD: We knew Luke Saito hated Jamie Love, but I never expected this!
P-DUG: Brutal man.
Luke pulls himself up off Jamie and lets out a yell of victory, Merc comes up from behind him and lifts Luke into a pump-handle slam! Merc drags Jason up by his head and sends him into the ropes, Merc kicks Jason in his stomach on the rebound and then hoists him up and down into a Jackknife Powerbomb! Andrea floats over from behind Merc and spikes him down with a Destiny Drop DDT!!! Merc’s head spikes down on Luke's head! The two lay in a pile together. Andrea hits the corner, top turnbuckle, phoenix splash! Rise Of The Phoenix onto both men! Andrea pushes Merc off Luke and goes for the cover!
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!
Chriqui: Luke Saito has been eliminated.
Andrea then covers Merc
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THRE... KICKOUT BY MERCENARY!
Andrea hits the corner, top turnbuckle, she’s going for it again! Mercenary moves! Merc crawls over to the rope and pulls himself up the bottom, middle, top rope. Andrea pulls herself up the other side. The two stumble into the center of the ring and start exchanging punches while the crowd cheers wildly. Merc kicks Andrea in the stomach and then circles behind her into a sleeper hold! Merc pulls Andrea up and drops her down into a Decimator Atomic Bomb! Merc keeps on the sleeper as he drags Andrea up, Merc backs into the corner with a limp Andrea in a sleeper hold. Merc spins around and forces Andrea up the turnbuckles, and then he rips her down into an avalanche snap drag! Merc hits the ropes and comes in and drops another leg down across Andrea’s throat and then goes for a cover!
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via pinfall and facing Lavender at StrangleMania ... THE MERCENARY!!!!
Mercenary pulls himself up and gives the camera a salute. He nods his head in Andrea's direction, who seems angry but happy it was Merc who beat her. These two aren't done.
KD: A big win from Mercenary, and an immediate turn around for his title match as he faces Lavender at the upcoming StrangleMania PPV!
P-Dug: And I wouldn't be too surprised to see Andrea has her eyes on that one, she's a clear #2 contender.
An exhausted Mercenary steps through the ropes and drops to the floor at ringside. On his way up the ramp he notices a young boy wearing one of his t-shirts reaching over the rail for a high five. Removing his bandanna he goes over and puts it on the kid's head, tousling his hair and posing for a selfie. As he turns back towards the locker room his head snaps back from a stiff kick courtesy of King Flip.
KD: King Flip came through the crowd and kicked Mercenary's head clean off!
P-Dug: Mercenary must have bitten off more than he can chew!
Mercenary stumbles back against the rail as Flip uses his fists to continue the assault with Chanel cheering him on. She goes for a chair, handing it to Flip who breaks it over the big man's back and shoulders, driving him down to his hands and knees. Chanel drives the toe of her designer boot into his ribs as manager and champion commence to stomp him into the concrete and steel. On the ground Mercenary attempts to cover up to protect his head from injury.
Breaking off Chanel goes in search of another weapon, going all the way to the other side of the ring and coming back with a chair. Her return trip is interrupted when she gets body checked into the steps by Ruthless Aggression, who comes barreling at a full run from the back to even the odds. Seeing his manager go down Flip turns away from the Mercenary to go after Ruthann, giving him the momentary relief he needs to regain a shaky vertical base.
Ruthann and Chanel start to scuffle as Mercenary grabs Flip by the shoulder and spins him around to receive a receipt in the form of five knuckles to the bridge of his nose. Cursing, Flip cups his nose in pain as his eyes start to water. Mercenary hits him again and the two start to exchange punches as the ringside area is flooded by a sea of referees, officials and a few wrestlers. Luke Saito, still worn out from the match, reappears at ringside to help pull his angry aunt away from a furious Chanel. Just like before the match it takes a great deal of effort for the crowd of people to separate Flip from the Mercenary.
Eventually the four combatants stand separated on the ramp with a wall of referees between them. Mercenary and Ruthann stand side by side on the stage with Luke holding his aunt back while Flip and Chanel shout at them from the other side of the human barrier. Again the GM is forced to intervene as Grizzly Duggan appears on the stage with a microphone in hand shouting for calm and yelling for the show to take a commercial break.
KD: Looks like Mercenary may have found some friends to watch his back after all, whether he was looking for them or not.
P-Dug: And it's a good thing too because Flip was out to prove a point here tonight. And something tells me he's not finished proving it. I don't think this is the last that we'll be hearing about this situation between The King and The Outlaw.
KD: Stay tuned for more of this great night of action live from South Carolina right here on Rampage.
Salvation is speaking with a few of the stadium workers, hauling a bunch of gyro equipment. Lisa Goldrush spots him, then heads over with the cameraman. She waits for Salvation to walk away, then approaches. He makes eye contact and greets her with a smile.
Lisa Goldrush: Salvation, may I have a few moments of your time before the match?
Salvation: Of course, Lisa. Happy to oblige.
Goldrush: How are you feeling heading into this season?
Salvation: I am excited to see what this season brings. I was only here a few months to end last season, and I think I got the attention of the Paramount competitors and fans. Last season was a decent start. Retaining the the CW Broadcast Championship heading into 2023 was the goal. I fell short. I feel I am improving every week.If I keep improving, I can accomplish other goals I set for myself..
Goldrush: Like the North American Title. You did win a contender’s match for the North American Title at Wrestlefest.
Salvation: I was glad to end the year with a victory. Marcus St. John is a hell of a competitor. I look forward to squaring off against him, for the title or not. With legendary competitors like Sour Candy, El Pablo, and Ibuki Ito, there is so much talent to compete against here at Paramount. The North American Title is the goal. I'm not done with the CW Broadcast Title either. For now, I’m focused on the task at hand. An X-Division match against a perennial champion, Xavier Reid.
Goldrush: Any words for Draco Lazarus?
Salvation’s body language shifts. Quickly hides the instant look of disgust.
Salvation: That snake has his hands full already. I’m not going to give him another thought.
Goldrush: So you and Sienna Wolf are good?
Salvation chuckles, with a Pfft.
Salvation: We are still very much a happy couple.
Goldrush: Last thoughts before your match with Xavier Reid?
Salvation: I have some Tylenol in the locker room waiting for me. We have done all the preparations we can. Now it’s time for me to try to give Paramount a home turf win. Time to see which of us will be the better man in that ring tonight.
Goldrush: Thank you Salvation. Good luck.
Salvation: Thank you.
Salvation smiles, then heads toward his next match.
MATCH #6
SONYA Vs Lavender
Singles Match
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: Lavender's First Match As United States Champion In Her Second Reign Comes Against An Invading BATTLESHIP From PARAMOUNT WRESTLING!
SONYA Vs Lavender
Singles Match
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: Lavender's First Match As United States Champion In Her Second Reign Comes Against An Invading BATTLESHIP From PARAMOUNT WRESTLING!
We return to ringside.
KD: That was an intersecting statement from Salvation ahead of his North American Championship match... but now we turn to the United States Championship, and the champion Lavender taking on SONYA.
P-Dug: Some big fight feels, the women both had a lot of shit to talk this week.
Chriqui: The following match is set for one fall. Introducing first residing in Honolulu, Hawaii and weighing in at 150 pounds... SONYA!!!
'As the first few notes of "Rusalka" play over the loudspeakers, Sonya stands just a few feet away from the entrance way, the cameras picking up her peaceful expression and smile. The song kicks into high gear and she makes her way to the ring with determined eyes and calm demeanor, stepping into the ring and performing her signature pose in the corner.
Chriqui: And the opponent, residing in Seattle, Washington and weighing in at 132 pounds... LAVENDER!!!
The lights go out as 'Challenge' by Cellar Darling begins to play. The lights flash in time to the intro until the first vocals hit. As the vocals hit smoke billows from behind the curtains and a spotlight shines down upon the center of the stage. The lights come back on shortly afterward and out walks Lavender. She looks out across the crowd as the crowd erupts into cheer. A smile creeps across her face as she embraces their warm welcome.
Lavender begins to make her way down to the ring with a calm and cheerful demeanour. As Lavender reaches the bottom of the ramp she walks over to the steel steps, walks up the steel stairs, and enters the ring. Lavender then climbs the nearest turnbuckle and holds her arms up high in the air to accept the warm adulation from the crowd. Lavender steps down from the turnbuckle and waits for the match to commence.
DING DING DING
Sonya runs at Lavender for a clothesline that Lavender ducks. Sonya turns and lifts a knee to Lavender’s gut that doubles her over. Sonya grabs Lavender’s hair and pulls her into a backbreaker. Lavender gets to her feet where Sonya whips her off the ropes. Lavender rebounds into Sonya who smacks her with a knife edge chop to the chest. The chop spins Lavender on her feet and allows Sonya to drive her to the mat with a German suplex. Sonya makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Lavender lifts a shoulder high into the air to break the count. Sonya lifts Lavender to her feet but Lavender grabs her and hits a quick DDT. Both make it to their feet where Lavender scoops up Sonya hitting a Michinoqu driver. Sonya staggers to her feet but Lavender takes her back to the mat with a suplex. Lavender grabs Sonya’s arm and rolls her for a Magistral Cradle. The referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Sonya rolls out of the move breaking the count. Sonya gets to her feet where Lavender runs at her and drives Sonya into the corner with a clothesline. Levender grabs Sonya and attempts a crash landing but Sonya counters with a backdrop before dropping to the mat herself.
KD: And both are down!
P-Dug: Well that’s no good. If you’re gonna win this, you need to be up not down.
Sonya is on her feet first and she whips Lavender into the corner. Lavender reverses sending Sonya into the corner. Lavender runs at Sonya and leaps at her crashing into Sonya with a Poetry In Motion. Sonya drop to the mat where Lavender rolls her up in another Magistral Cradle. Again the referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Sonya gets a shoulder off the mat breaking the count. Both get to their feet and Lavender lashes out at Sonya with a right hand. Sonya ducks and lifts Lavender for a Belly To Back Suplex. Laender counters with a headlock that takes Sonya to the mat. Sonya rolls through and back to her feet where she drives Lavender to the mat with an Everest German. The referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Somehow, Lavender rolls to her stomach to break the count.
P-Dug: So close to a victory there!
KD: Lavender with the presence of mind to kick out but has the damage been done?
Both women use the ropes to drag themselves to their feet. Sonya blasts Lavender with forearm smashes before whipping Lavender chest first into the corner. Lavender stumbles back and Sonya hoists Lavender onto her shoulders. Before Sonya can spin her for a Ruby Buster, Lavender rolls out of the hold and spins Sonya with an Amity Affliction. She rolls over Sonya hooking the leg as she does so. The count.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via pinfall ... LAVENDER!!!!
Lavender climbs the nearest turnbuckle and holds her arms up high in the air to accept the adulation from the crowd. Lavender steps down from the turnbuckle and heads through the ropes and up the ramp.
KD: A big win for Lavender here on Rampage. Rolling out of Sonya’s finish to safety but it also gave her room to hit her own finisher. Smart wrestling here.
P-Dug: Smart? Yes. However tonight Sonya showed how close she can hang with someone like Lavender. Sonya will look back on this later and know that the only difference here tonight was having a tighter grip on her opponent when applying a move.
Camera cuts to ...
The camera live feed returns to the backstage area of the Colonial Life Arena where Friday Night Rampage’s resident interviewer, Brian Spade, is standing at the ready with his microphone. With a professional grin, he raises the microphone to his lips.
Brian Spade: Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m delighted to welcome my next guest at this time, the HBO Broadcast Champion Moxie and his manager, Amis Shelton!
On cue, Moxie enters the scene already dressed in his ring attire for his title defense against Kendrick Kross later that evening. Faint sounds of boos from the live crowd reached his ears but he didn’t care as the HBO Broadcast Championship shines as the center of attention on his shoulder. He is indeed flanked by his manager Amis Shelton who enters the scene and forcefully places himself in the middle of interviewer and champion, adjusting and mainly shoving Brian further out of the scene before shrugging his shoulders.
Amis Shelton: The shot you’ve chosen only fits two people Brian, what is this?
Brian Spade: We can fix that in one second, hold on-
Brian is interrupted by a shaking finger.
Amis Shelton: There’s no time for that, so here’s what we’re going to do. I’ve got this, you go take a trip to catering or stand outside Melody Malone’s locker room or something.
Brian tries to protest the decision but is met once more with a shake from the ever powerful index finger belonging to Amis Shelton. Admitting his defeat, Brian begins to walk away.
Amis Shelton: Oh wait up Brian, you forgot something.
Brian turns back with a confused look on his face. Amis picks at the microphone in his grasp, taking it away from him.
Amis Shelton: Thank you!
Brian is ushered away and the camera then refocuses on ‘The Renegade’ and The HBO Broadcast Champion standing beside each other.
Amis Shelton: Another episode of Friday Night Rampage is upon us and you all know what that means. Scratch another one in the title defense column for my man Moxie here because not only is he fighting Kendrick Kross tonight, he’s soundly defeating Kendrick Kross tonight. You might not like it but I can guara-damn-tee it.
Amis Shelton: Kendrick can talk all he wants about the renovations he’s making to his little playhouse. Change it to a gym, a man-cave, a bat-cave, hell change it to a freaky night time dungeon it doesn’t change the fact that when the second bell rings at the end of their match it’s going to be Moxie standing tall.
Amis pauses as he points at the champ next to him, Moxie smirks in appreciation and agreement.
Amis Shelton: And when that happens, I don’t want Kendrick crying and complaining about it and challenging me to matches that I’m not going to accept. Instead I want him and the rest of this roster to accept the fact that this season and any other season, Moxie is on a different level and he’s not lying down for anybody.
Amis takes a momentary pause before addressing the camera again.
Amis Shelton: And we can’t finish without talking about the hot topic on everybody’s lips now can we? StrangleMania is just around the corner and the card’s finally been announced. Rebel Rhodes and Sally Talfourd, we know that you’re tuning in tonight, consider tonight to be a warning because you’ll be charged with the impossible task of trying to do what so many have failed to do since last year. Take Moxie down.
With that said, Moxie tosses the microphone to the ground and leads the HBO Broadcast Champion away from the scene which slowly fades to black.
MATCH #7
Kendrick Kross Vs Moxie
Singles Match
Referee: Toyo Yasahiro
Additional Info: Moxie Defends His HBO Broadcast Championship Against Former Television Champion Kendrick Kross After Kross' Dominating Victory On GAMBIT!
Kendrick Kross Vs Moxie
Singles Match
Referee: Toyo Yasahiro
Additional Info: Moxie Defends His HBO Broadcast Championship Against Former Television Champion Kendrick Kross After Kross' Dominating Victory On GAMBIT!
We return to ringside.
KD: Moxie has laid down the gauntlet, he's winning here and going to StrangleMania!
P-Dug: This kid is on fire, but if he gets too into his shit.. Kendrick is gonna flush him.
Chriqui: The following contest, set for one fall, is for the HBO Broadcast Championship! Introducing first residing in Los Angeles, California and weighing in at 215 pounds, the challenger, ... KENDRICK KROSS!!!
'As The Devil in I plays smoke slowly starts to raise as Kendrick walks out from the back with a barbed wire bat in his right hand. He walks down the ramp with a smirk on his face before dropping the bat by the ring and sliding in ready for the match.
Chriqui: And the opponents, from London, England and weighing in at 202 pounds, he is the HBO Broadcast Champion... MOXIE!!!
The Gracious Few's 'Honest Man' hits the speakers, prompting the lights to dance around the arena with an ominous red glow. Moxie emerges from behind the curtain, with Amis Shelton following closely behind. He marches to the end of the stage and glares at the capacity crowd surrounding him. Raising his fist to his jaw, Moxie lets out a roar and walks down the aisle, ignoring the paying spectators.
He slides underneath the bottom rope and rises to his feet in the middle of the ring. Moxie faces the crowd before snapping back to face the camera, emphatically raising both clenched fists high above his head before slowly descending them in stereo to both sides of his jaw.
DING DING DING
Kross hits Moxie with a left jab. Moxie hits Kross with a right hand. Kross ducks a second one and lifts Moxie for a German suplex. Moxie lashes out with back elbows until Kross is forced to release his grip. Kross shoves Moxie off the ropes and launches a rebounding Moxie across the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Kross applies an armbar but Moxie quickly slips out of the hold and out of the ring. Moxie slides back into the ring and Kross runs looking for a running enziguri. Moxie ducks it and Kross hits the mat. Moxie applies an ankle lock. Kross screams in pain and quickly grabs for the ropes. Moxie keeps Kross in the hold as Kross lulls himself to his feet. Kross spins for an enziguri that Moxie ducks before knocking Kross over the top rope and out of the ring with a superkick. Kross quickly slides back into the ring and gets smacked by a European uppercut and a snap German suplex that Moxie bridges. The referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Kross rolls his way free. Moxie gets to his feet and charges. Kross stops him with a dropkick. Moxie again gets to his feet and runs at Kross but Kross spins him with a snap powerslam. Moxie gets to his feet and lashes out with a superkick that Kross catches and counters into an exploder suplex. He makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Moxie just gets a shoulder off the mat to break the count.
KD: So close to a new champion there.
P-Dug: Still early in the contest but both getting early attempts in. You love to see it.
Kross pulls Moxie to his feet and locks in a front facelock. Kross lifts his knees into Moxie’s chest before heaving him over into a suplex. Kross leaps onto Moxie with a Three Step Flip. He hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Kross punches the mat in frustration. Kross drags Moxie to his feet and positions him for a suplex. Moxie blocks it and sends Kross to the outside of the ring with a Moxie’s Crash Landing onto the ring apron with a literal crash. Moxie quickly jumps to the outside and rolls Kross back into the ring and makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Kross rolls to his front to break the count.
P-Dug: So, so close. Any closer and the bell is ringing for a championship defence.
KD: He may not look it, but Kendrick Kross IS still in this one. Both men can still win this match.
Moxie lifts Kross to his feet. Kross grabs Moxie’s legs from under him and rolls into a pin attempt. The referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Moxie gets a shoulder off the mat breaking the count. Moxie gets to his feet where Kross smacks him in the skull with an elbow strike. Moxie drops to the mat. Kross runs for a Tramp Stamp. At the last second, Moxie rolls out of the way. As pain shocks it’s way through Kross’ system, Moxie spins him with a Moxie’s Endgame. He rolls Kross over and makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via pinfall and STILL HBO Broadcast Champion... MOXIE!!!!
Moxie throws the championship over a shoulder and placing clenched fists at both sides of his jaw. His right remains in place as he raises the championship with his left hand.
KD: What a big championship defense. That looked all Kendrick Kross for a moment there but one brief second was all Moxie needed for to hit Endgame and defend his championship.
P-Dug: A defense? Yes. However Kendrick Kross did not make it easy. This could easily have been a championship win for Kendrick Kross and Moxie knows it.
Camera cuts to ...
We come backstage to see Paramount GM, Chris Brock, in an office area of some sort. The audience begin a "Go Back Home!" chant, to which Brock just shakes his head as his attention turns from the paperwork in his hands to someone standing behind the camera.
Brock: Alright, I've had it. You've interrupted two of my shows, back to back, over almost nothing. I'm tired of it. My roster is tired of it. The FANS are tired of it. So right here, in my hands, I've got the contract for you to fight Tanja Devereaux at StrangleMania. And not only are you going to fight her, you're going to fight in an X-Division match. AND not just any X-Division match for you, oh no. I know how much you like watching your blood paint canvases worldwide. So it's going to be a Glass Table Match.
South Carolina murmurs at the announcement of the bout. Brock slams the paperwork down on the table and the boos go from a murmur to a roar as International champion King Flip reveals himself to be the man of Brock's ire. He sits down at the table, still wincing as he wrings his wrist, his eyes locked in on the papers before him. You can feel the irritation fuming from the showrunner as Flip seems to take his time with the paperwork.
Flip: I hear the match has already been announced. Paperwork just seems excessive at this point?
Brock: Sign the paperwork.
Brock tosses a pen onto the table. Flip fingers through a few pages as he slowly lifts the pen. He points at something written in.
Flip: What does it mean by-
Brock: Would you just sign the paperwork? I've got more important things to do.
Flip looks up at the showrunner.
Flip: Alright, alright.
And with that, the contract is signed and the Glass Tables Match is official. Brock picks the paperwork up and beams.
Brock: Now, my Apple TV+ Broadcast championship please
Flip: Well that wasn't in the contract.
Flip dusts himself off as he gets up. He tosses the pen up, Brock fumbling before he catches it. He stops Flip before the man can walk out, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. This serves only to humor the King as he stops.
Brock: We had a verbal agreement! That's why I'm here in the first place!?
Flip: Never heard of it.
Chris grips Flip's shoulder for a second before letting go, throwing his hands in the air.
Brock: Y'know what, Flip? Fine. Fine! I'll just--
Flip: I mean I'd love to give you your Apple TV+ Broadcast championship.
Chris Brock explodes in anger.
Brock: Then why don't you?!
Flip looks left to right with a smile as he tugs on the collar of his shirt. He looks to Chris with a smile.
Flip: Well, I... kinda don't have it anymore.
Chris Brock doesn't look like he believes King Flip.
Brock: You...WHAT?!
Flip: Yeah, I mean, I didn't need it anymore. I got you to come here and pretty much had the match I wanted locked in without this nonsense. So I gave it away.
Disbelief turns to depression as what Flip says hits Chris Brock like a truck.
Brock: You gave it away?
Flip: I gave it away.
Brock: ...GAVE it away?!
The Paramount showrunner looks like he's about to lose it on the International champion.
Flip: Yeah... I gave it to Darna Dare.
Brock: What in the hell would you do that for?!
Flip: She seemed most interested in it at the time.
Chris Brock sighs, head up, forefinger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment.
Brock: I... Flip, you're an asshole. Enjoy your match at StrangleMania. I hope Tanja beats your ass... again!
He crumples the paperwork in his hand as he slowly walks out of view. Flip waves goodbye with a smile.
Flip: Thanks, Chris! You're a real sweetheart.
The scene fades on the sarcastic grin of the International champion.
A Rampage advert for the grand main event of “The Vegas Volcano” Ace King vs Undisputed Champion “Queen” Melody Malone plays and ends with Narumi Tsutsumi standing in the Shinijoshi locker room watching the fading out of their big commercial on the tv monitor. It’s a rare, if not the only ever, silent appearance of a usually very talkative Onihime. She tightly grips the necklace at her neck.
The Prime Minister necklace, former property of the nemesis of the two legends about to fight once more. They probably wanted him here in her place. One even went as far as to join in a mob assault on the man after his loss, most likely having conspired with the House ahead of time under a desired fueled assumption of meeting him at Stranglemania to revenge times of old. Her growing smirk shows that part of her takes enjoyment in dashing that hope, not just out of pure mischievous pettiness that fits the oni, but as if to say it’s a sign that maybe just maybe Stranglemania isn’t for their story….but for hers.
As her hungry yokai eyes remain unchanging as they glide between looking at the main event pair of royalty, it becomes bluntly apparent that it doesn’t matter to the oni princess which throne she’ll compete for at the end of this tournament. The Legend of the Cage or the Undisputed Champion, she has yearned to conquer their positions for so long. Regardless of who wins, there is a poetic end she can achieve in redemption, if she has what it takes to achieve it.
As the show begins to transition away, she sits down in anticipation. Just as the rest of the world will, she shall see who makes it to the finals.
MAIN EVENT | MATCH #8
"The Gambler" Ace King Vs "Queen" Melody Malone
Singles Match
Referee: Toyo Yasahiro
Additional Info: LOTR Rampage Finals - Non Title - Winner Goes To StrangleMania For Fatal Four Way (OOC - 2000 Word Limit, NO RPO)
We return to ringside where the crowd is amped for the final match before StrangleMania!
KD: Here we are at the end of the road, folks, it doesn't get hotter or bigger than this. The culmination of the Legends of the Ring tournament and another chapter in an ongoing feud that has been the talk of Rampage, and EWC, for YEARS! It seems like make or break every time Ace King steps out to face Melody Malone, and tonight is no different. The Undisputed Champion, the Queen of EWC, versus the man, the myth, the LEGEND - the Gambler, Ace King.
P-Dug: The man, the myth, the PUKE! How many times do we need to see this? Ace King's a bump in the road, a dent in Malone's golden chair. The crowd are chanting his name in hope, and their dreams are gonna be shattered. Again.
Chriqui: The following contest is for one fall, and is a Legends of the Ring final four qualifying match!
"THE ACE OF SPADES! THE ACE OF SPADES!!!"
The signature Motorhead anthem rips through the Colonial Life Arena, and the crowd starts cheering. As the drums kick in, pyro goes off up and down the ramp. Once the guitars hit, a plume of fire goes up on either side of the ramp as Ace King rises to the stage from a platform, looking out at the crowd and nodding in appreciation.
Chriqui: Making his way to the ring, FROM Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing in at 229 pounds... THE GAMBLER... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGG!!!
A thin smile crosses Ace's face as his weathered eyes look out at the crowd, pausing for a few more seconds on the platform before casually making his way down the ramp toward the ring, his arms outstretched for fans on either side of the barricade. He stops a few steps short of the ring, then dives in under the bottom rope as red pyro explodes off each turnbuckle. Ace spins up to one knee, then takes another appreciative look out at the crowd before getting back to his feet and turning his attention to the entrance ramp, his game face firmly on.
KD: Whatever my little brother might think, the EWC faithful tell it like it is - Ace King is one of the greatest competitors of all time, the best of his generation, and he can never be counted out. Malone's in for a hell of a fight. Marcu$ $t. John, Narumi Tsutsumi, and Stitches, are watching in anticipation; can the Gambler mount another legendary comeback and spoil their opportunity at a title shot they're all desperately hungry for?
P-Dug: Can we bet on that? Cuz I did, actually. I put your entire inheritance on Malone to win. You're welcome.
The lights dim, but don’t go dark before the soft words of Billie Eilish begin to play over the P.A. system.
Bite my tongue bide my time
Wearing a warning sign
Wait till the world is mine
Visions I vandalize
Cold in my kingdom size
Fell for these ocean eyes
As the chorus hits, a bright flash of pyro explodes from the base of the EXT and Melody Malone stands on the stage, flanked by her personal retainer Rory Hyland. Melody stands with a crown atop her head as a spotlight follows them down to the ring.
Chriqui: Making her way to the ring, accompanied by Rory… she is YOUR QUEEN of EWC… the EWC Undisputed Champion... MELODY MALONE!!!
You should see me in a crown
I'm gonna run this nothing town
Watch me make 'em bow
One by one by one
One by one by
Rory climbs onto the apron first, holding the ropes open as Melody climbs the stairs and steps through with her chin held up to keep the crown atop her head. She gives the crowd a sarcastic smile as they boo, and she gingerly removes the crown from her head and hands it off to Rory as he exits.
You should see me in a crown
Your silence is my favorite sound
Watch me make 'em bow
One by one by one
One by one by one
The lights come back up to full brightness, and Melody has her gloves tugged into place as she rakes her hair back and prepares for her opponent.
KD: She needs no introduction, but she insists on one anyway. Malone's trail through this company has been blazed with fire and fury, and she's looking to go scorched earth on Ace King tonight.
P-Dug: Really, with the fire? If you ask me, she's a cold bitch, and that's part of her charm.
DING DING DING
There's an immediate response from the crowd as King crosses the ring, closing on the smirking Malone - who barely has time to arch a brow before he's on top of her, driving a flurry of kicks to the midsection, then snapping the Queen's chin up with a furious European uppercut. She stumbles, and he seizes an arm, whipping her to the ropes and storming in to meet her on the rebound with a Slingblade, spinning to his feet with an arm in the air and the entire arena unleashing a pop at his command! He's playing to the crowd, but sincerely not playing, ready to meet Malone as she rises, yanking her to her feet and in position for a vertical suplex--
--only for fingernails to find his eyes, raking hard, Melody twisting to land next to him, driving a kick to the calf, then seizing a headlock and taking the Gambler for a ride with a punishing tornado DDT! She gets all of it, screaming as she plants his skull into the mat, then stomps upright, brushing off a shoulder and glaring out at the crowd as they turn. She flicks her fingertips at them, and with a scathing glare begins to rain down stomps on King, pursuing him around the edge of the ring as he tries to crawl away, still stunned from the impact.
She pauses, running a hand through her hair, before aiming a roundhouse kick at Ace - who's pushing from all fours to his knees. He reacts smartly, taking most of the blow, but able to seize the leg, holding it against his ribs as he picks her other ankle, and then sweeps her over into a single-leg Boston Crab! Melody struggles, gritting her teeth and straining for the bottom rope as he eases off the hold to pull her away into the center of the ring!
She's too good to tap this early, but is forced to worsen the pain to get free, twisting INTO the hold and freeing up her other leg to slam a heel down into the base of Ace's spine. He stumbles, dropping her leg, and she struggles away, pulling herself up against the ropes. King rushes her, and she drops aside, using the top rope to swing into an Enziguri that sends him toppling face-first onto the apron! He starts to rise, but she steps right into a pumping knee, driving him off of the ring into the barricade!
KD: We knew this would be a fight. These two know each other so well that they're getting down and dirty, because it's the only way to play. There's so much at stake here, and so much built-up animosity--
P-Dug: Hold up, bro. Malone's got something in mind here.
Melody has slid out of the ring herself, at ninety degrees to King, striding over to the table where her Undisputed title has been laid out, seizing control of it and starting to march toward the Gambler. Toyo Yasahiro drops down to intervene, scolding the Queen as he snatches the title from her hands and moves to put it back in its place. She doesn't seem perturbed - far from it, she's actually smiling as she throws up her hands and continues around the ring, en route ducking down and pulling something from beneath the ring...
CLANG!! Ace King is stumbling to his feet when Malone lunges around the corner, her golden chair in both hands, bringing it down with damning authority on top of her opponent's skull. Yasahiro turns, just as Malone drops the chair and kicks it away into his blind spot, ignoring the referee's protestations as she hooks up Ace and bundles him under the bottom rope. Blood is matting his hair as she struggles to stand, and she slides in beside him, driving a back elbow into the throat and then tying him in the corner, wrapping him expertly in the Tree of Woe. The crowd are raining down boos, and yelling at Yasahiro to disqualify her - but she's disposed of the evidence, and busies herself working Ace over with a few deft kicks, before backing off to hit a baseball slide, slamming his dented skull off the corner post!
Ace slithers into a heap, rolling over with a gasp, and she's on her feet, hitting a split-legged moonsault off the top rope and making the cover - as Yasahiro slides into the ring a little late to start the count.
ONE
.
.
.
TWO
.
KICKOUT!
Ace kicks out with time to spare, but Malone looks furious anyway, getting in Yasahiro's face as the Gambler struggles to his feet. He blinks, shakes the cobwebs off, and looks to take the opportunity to attack from behind-- but she's wise to it, evading by flipping up and over the rope, leaving King to crash into the official and send him sprawling. Laughing, Malone directs a kick over the ropes - that an irate, astonished Ace manages to block. Wrapping her captured leg in the ropes, he takes advantage of the ref bump with veteran wisdom, hitting a modified Dragon Screw that sends Melody crashing onto the apron. Before she can fall to the floor, he drags her back in, and rallies the crowd with a wind of his arm, hooking her up for the first of four vertical suplexes. FOUR OF A KIND! The crowd count along!
"ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!"
Ace floats over after the final collision with the canvas, but Yasahiro isn't yet on his feet. The Gambler curses, and pushes Malone down with a forearm, looking to go and help the official upright - but his kindness seems in grave error, as a sneering Melody rolls to her feet and then surges forward, flipping clean over the Gambler's head, catching him with the--
--NO! The Royal Treatment is averted, as Ace swings in the opposite direction, converting it into a crunching neckbreaker! He goes for the cover as Melody collapses, and Yasahiro is close enough to begin counting.
ONE
.
.
.
TWO
.
.
KICKOUT!
Malone kicks out HARD, a look of stone cold fury on her pretty features as she shoves Ace from on top of her, and explodes into a grounded dropkick to the inner flank. This sends him rolling toward the ropes, as she surges to her feet and chases him down with another baseball slide that pitches him to the outside. Every impact is damning, her heels perhaps dislocating something as King lands in a stagger on the floor, gasping and clutching at his ribs. Malone's hair flies around her as she RUSHES the ropes, flying into a sprint that carries her like a freaking air-to-ground missile through the next set of ropes and into Ace with a CRUNCHING suicide dive! He's flung against the barricade, falling over Malone's back as she lands on all fours, braying a triumphant laugh as she pulls herself up in front of a crowd that's doing everything they can to let her know they hate every bit of offense she's getting.
The Queen soaks it up like praise, preening as she turns toward Ace, ready to meet him with a couple of stiff forearms, then a spinning roundhouse that sends him into the apron. His chin connects with it, and he slumps for a moment. Malone is unrelenting, jerking him by the arm and shoulder to his feet and around into a CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT!
The blood pouring from his skull meets a second river now, from the Gambler's busted face, as Malone positively crows with self-satisfaction, yanking him up again and bundling him beneath the ropes. She can sense the momentum shifting in her favor, and takes her time in gloating, sashaying around the outside with a predatory smile at Rory, who seems more concerned than she is - eyeing the fallen man inside the ring as he slowly starts to rise.
P-Dug: She's pulling every trick she can to stay on top of this match, but as dominant as Malone looks right now, she doesn't have this contest won. Taking the Gambler this lightly could truly backfire.
KD: Taking him lightly? He's pissing blood out there, she's just getting inside his head. Every time he senses a little hope, she snatches it away from him. This is mind games, bro.
P-Dug: Those mind games have cost her in the past, and Rory knows it. Malone's caught up in her own ego.
By the time Melody gets her ass back in the ring, Ace King is up, wiping the blood from his face and puffing out his cheeks as he looks to the crowd for encouragement. They're with him, stomping and chanting, and it's this that quickens Malone's pace, an ugly look on her face as she charges forward. King is ready for her, but she's ready in turn, going under an attempted FULL HOUSE kick, hitting the ropes behind him and this time shooting for a second ROYAL TREATMENT-- that she gets all of, driving him down with somersault cutter that's long been her calling card. Ace flips over onto his back, but keeps rolling, sprawling onto all fours and driving himself upright as Malone tries to press in.
He looks out on his feet, but he's able to mount a silky-smooth counter on instinct, hooking her for a spinal wipe and then converting into a brutal STO right into the turnbuckle! BIG SLICK!! Malone goes limp as she's driven down, slumping against the corner post, Ace King sucking in a breath then moving to answer her flurry of stomps earlier in the match with his own, stomping a mudhole through the Queen as she lies half-senseless from his devastating technique.
Staggering away, reddened and gasping for air, the Gambler rallies the crowd and then forces himself back into the fight, scooping Malone up across his shoulders and hauling her into the center of the ring. He WRENCHES down on her supine body, grinding her against his back and shoulders, the agony of the torture rack building the crowd to a furious head of steam as they know what's coming - they're ready for it. Ace King spins around, lifting Malone up and over...
She's ready for it, too.
He flips her into position for the BLACKJACK BOMB, and she turns into it, rearing her knees up, catching him with another CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT that sprawls him out, sends her down hard too, his gathered momentum following through to deprive her of the chance to cover. She slithers away, clutching at her impacted spine, as he lies there, wide-eyed and staring at the bright lights as another moment is stolen away by the Queen of EWC. She pulls herself up in the corner, as he sits up, now staring at her, shaking his head in tired disbelief - trying to work out what he needs to do. She doesn't even seem to be thinking, now, just drawing in sharp, irritated breaths, determined to end it by ANY means.
KD: They've been here so many times before. They could be here a half dozen more before the season is over, and each of them knows it. They need to not only win - but make a final, emphatic statement.
P-Dug: Bull. They just need to win, secure that place at StrangleMania, and move on like always. A fight's a fight.
Melody rushes in, shooting for a Meteora that Ace King essentially accepts - blasting onto his back, head bouncing off the canvas as Malone carries on into the corner, bounding to her feet, leaping onto the corner post. She glances behind her, and finds Ace already stirring. With a violent shake of her head, she finds her balance, smoothly stands--
--and the crowd explodes, because Ace King is on his feet and inches away from Melody Malone's statuesque form, his feet finding the bottom rope and his arms seizing her, dragging her down from her lofty perch and onto his shoulders. She's back in that perilous position, this time prone, and he's carrying her into an airplane spin toward the center of the ring. To a second eruption of cheers, he launches from the oldschool favorite into a crushing, head-splitting running Death Valley Driver, the culmination of the EYE OF THE SKY leaving Malone down and out! Hooking both legs, Ace rolls into position for the cover, Yasahiro ready to make the count.
ONE
.
.
.
TWO
.
.
.
KICKOUT!
It's by a whisker, but King shows no surprise, ready to roll to his feet and turn into the scowling face of Malone. She's darting toward him - still stunned - and he's able to snap his foot up into her gut, then send her sprawling with his signature roundhouse kick! FULL HOUSE! He moves to bundle her into another pin, but she twists and kicks out with both feet, sending him backwards and herself into the corner. She tries to struggle upright, missing the ropes and having to try a second time, barely getting up in time to meet the man striding in toward her. He hurls a forearm, and she blocks, only to eat a shovel hook to the ribs a beat later. Falling forward, she hisses and spits directly in King's eye - and he reacts instinctively, recoiling to wipe the saliva from the socket, giving her a disgusted look.
Malone shakes her head, snaps to her feet, and moves into a winding flurry of strikes, culminating with a feinted superkick that has Ace covering up - he's seen it a thousand times, after all. Smirking, she switches stance and drives a heel into his foot, then meets him with a Mongolian chop that he's certainly not expecting. In this moment of discombobulation, she hooks the head and falls backwards-- into a spike DDT! NIGHTMARE FUEL!!
The crowd is firmly against her, and Malone smiles ear-to-ear, glancing over her shoulder at the downed Ace King as she heads up top again, turning to face the man as she groggily, uncertainly stumbles upright.
She somersaults flawlessly, hitting a brutal exclamation mark of a shooting star DDT. ROYAL PROCLAMATION!!
King is slammed down so hard he bounces back up and forward, collapsing in a bloody heap, as Melody straightens up, dons her invisible crown, and then - with her ego overflowing, kicks Ace over with her toe and pins him with one foot.
ONE
.
.
.
TWO
.
.
.
THR-- KICKOUT!!!
P-Dug: WHAT! That's impossible! How could he kick out of that?!
KD: Because Melody Malone couldn't resist making an egotistical statement. She had this match won, she had the Gambler put away for good, but rather than seal the deal she chose to try and embarrass one of her few peers!
P-Dug: She doesn't HAVE any peers! Ace King has to be cheating. He's using PEDs, trust me.
Malone about blows her top, teeth gritting as she catches herself from a one-legged stumble, stomping her way back into a combative stance as Ace King pulls himself clear to the outside of the ring. He falls onto his knees, breathing hard, watched with a wary eye by Rory, who circles around to the bottom of the ramp as there's a commotion from the top, and a rangy figure bursts into view, barking something about, "--MY GOOD FRIEND!"
Nobody looks particularly to see Severn, least of all the crowd, who rain down their displeasure as he strides cockily down the ramp, coming chest-to-less-impressive-chest with the big Scot, who moves to block his way - informing the Prime Time Catalyst that his help isn't needed here. Ace King pulls himself up on the barricade, hearing Jack Severn's obnoxious laughter and the reassuring slap to Rory's shoulder, and coming alive as a result, diving toward the apron. Melody moves to intercept, and he diverts, pivoting around the corner, bounding onto the apron on the other side and crossing the ring to leap onto the turnbuckle. He lands a little shaky, but lands all the same, ready to kick Malone away as she tries to cut him off from this precarious position. She stumbles around, and he's ready to fire, hitting a diving European uppercut that launches Malone onto her back. She rolls aside as he tries to press the attack, and they come up opposing one another - only for King to follow up with a corkscrew neckbreaker!
Jack Severn has schmoozed his way past Rory, striding around the outside of the ring, making eye contact with Ace King; who warns him off with a growl, picking Malone up by a handful of hair, and whipping her into the corner. It's a bad situation, and the Gambler knows it, furtively keeping half an eye on this new distraction as he pulls Malone up onto the top rope, climbing up behind her. She struggles, and he rains down heavy forearms, hooking his legs around her frame. With one last look to Severn - who hasn't moved - he flips backwards, driving Malone brutally down--
--with the 7-7-7!! The Victory Star Drop is devastating, and as Ace rolls into the pin the arena holds its breath.
ONE
.
.
.
TWO
.
NO!!!
King's forced to break the pin, as Jack Severn lunges around the outside, threatening the Gambler with a grab beneath the ropes. He stumbles to his feet and back, Malone remaining down in a heap as the Catalyst CACKLES, openly pointing and laughing at the other man. Realizing he has to do something about this threat, King slides beneath the bottom rope, cautiously but rapidly proceeding around the outside. Severn darts this way and that, as if playing a game of tag, and baits King into charging the next corner-- speedily yanking Rory into his way! The big Scot collides with the Gambler, who falls to a knee but keeps charging after Severn, forced to hop and limp back into the pursuit. This buys Severn enough time to snatch up the Undisputed championship, and swing for the fences as Ace comes in!
"FUCK YOU, SEVERN!" clap-clap-clapclapclap "FUCK YOU, SEVERN!"
King hits the floor like a ton of bricks, and Jack throws up the championship like he's just won it, falling back against the apron for a moment. Nobody likes him. Everybody hates him. But instead of eating worms, he slings the belt over his shoulder, and moves to bundle Ace King under the bottom rope. Melody is clambering to her feet...
And immediately spies her target. She runs in, pulls him upright into a perfectly-placed pumping knee that sets his arms to pinwheeling. He's wavering, out on his feet, as she lunges toward the turnbuckle.
She rises, throws out her arms, and dives, flipping into her cutter with a grim finality as King starts to fall forward.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!
King's down in a puddle of his own blood, unmoving as Melody floats over for the cover, taking no more chances.
ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Chriqui: And your winner, via pinfall ... MELODY MALONE!!!
Malone smells a rat as she straightens and comes face-to-face with Jack Severn, who's applauding on the apron, her title still over his shoulder. Rory slides into the ring from the other side, pulling Mel to her feet and checking on her as the Prime Time Catalyst approaches, pulling the Undisputed title from his shoulder and holding it out toward the Queen with a smugly 'gracious' faux-bow. She makes a face like she's chewing on a bee, but it slides into a smirk as she reaches out to take her belt-- and is beaten to the punch by Rory, who SNATCHES it from Jack with one hand, giving him a shove away with the other as he hands the championship to the Queen himself.
KD: Foul shenanigans by Jack Severn have led to an outcome that is both undesirable and unfair. The King lies beheaded, and the Queen stands tall, advancing - along with her Undisputed Championship - to the finals of the Legends of the Ring tournament at StrangleMania. But she does so with an asterisk beside her name.
P-Dug: A win's a win! Severn did what he had to do, and if Ace King wasn't expecting something like this then he was a damn fool. Love her or hate her, Melody Malone earned this victory.
Severn throws up his hands, looking between the irate Rory and the purely egotistical Malone, who seems to just appreciate being fought and fawned over. She allows Rory to strap on her title, and then barks at Toyo Yasahiro to raise her other arm - flanked by the pair of them as she stands in the center of the ring, absorbing the pure venom of the Rampage faithful. With this desired outcome achieved, Severn turns his attention to the downed Ace - pulling a microphone from his tights and starting to lay into the Gambler with heavy shots to the busted forehead.
The shriek of feedback is distinctly unpleasant, and curtails the celebration as Jack steps away and raises the battered and bloodied microphone to his lips.
Severn: HELLLLLOOOOO ACE!!! I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN! I warned you that you’d never be allowed another happy moment in this company until I retire you, and I intend on keeping that promise. You should’ve fucking retired last season, when you had the chance. Now? You suffer. You’re going to suffer and suffer and suffer until I decide you can finally be put out of your misery. I hope you savored this match… because it’s the closest you’ll ever get to the Undisputed Championship EVER AGAIN! And if you even think about showing up at StrangleMania and stinking up the joint with your washed up ass? Then consider tonight just a prelude to what would happen. And to my GOOD FRIEND, Miss Melody Malone? You’re welcome. And you’re welcome to Rampage, because you’ll be seeing a lot more of this handsome face. Say goodbye to the Gambler, everyone, because he doesn’t stand a chance betting against The House.
Jack throws up a "Too Sweet", getting a roll of the eyes from Rory and an enigmatically-arched brow from the Queen of EWC as he bounces the microphone off King's broken head and slips out of the ring, walking backwards up the ramp, milking the displeasure of the crowd every step of his way into the back.
KD: The Road To StrangleMania ended tonight, and so much happened! See you in a few weeks for the biggest Pay Per View Event of the year!
Camera cuts to ...
END SCREEN
..................................................................................................................
SEGMENT WRITERS
Salvation
Chris Page/Phoenix Winteborn
Aiya/Narumi
Narumi
Andrea Hernandez
Mercenary/Flip
Mercenary/Flip
Jason Anderson/Jamie Love
3pAC
Moxie
Darna Dare/Flip
Chris Brock/King Flip
..................................................................................................................
MATCH WRITERS
MATCH ONE
WRITER: FN'R
MATCH TWO
WRITER: Chunks of Darna Dare
MATCH THREE
WRITER: Dominic Sanders
MATCH FOUR
WRITER: The Mad King
MATCH FIVE
WRITER: FN'R
MATCH SIX
WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em
MATCH SEVEN
WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em
MATCH EIGHT | MAIN EVENT
WRITER: Chunks of Darna Dare
..................................................................................................................
RECAP OF WINNERS
MATCH #1
3PAC Vs Bloody Sureiyāzu Vs Moonshine Inc Vs The Kruel Masters
Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: Lucha Libre Rules - Tags Optional
WINNER(S): Bloody Sureiyāzu def Moonshine Inc
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MATCH #2
Darna Dare Vs Emiko Okita Vs Vin Havoc
Triple Threat
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: No DQs
WINNER(S): Emiko Okita def Vin Havoc
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MATCH #3
Chris Page Vs Chris Miller (NS)
Chris Cross Applesauce Match
Referee: Chris Brock
Additional Info: It's Chris Vs Chris! In This Specialty Match, You MUST Beat Your Opponent Unconscious, Handcuff Them And Then Cover Them In Apple Sauce!
WINNER(S): Chris Page
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MATCH #4
Draco Lazarus (NS) Vs King Flip
Singles Match
Referee: Pierce Patterson
Additional Info: PRIME Vs BRAWL Hosted By Friday Night RAMPAGE!
WINNER(S): King Flip
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MATCH #5
Andrea Hernandez Vs Autumn Raven Vs Luke “The Joker” Saito Vs Mercenary Vs “The Love Child” Jamie Love
Elimination Match
Referee: Pierce Patterson
Additional Info: United States Championship #1 Contendership
WINNER(S): Mercenary (new #1 Contender)
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MATCH #6
SONYA Vs Lavender
Singles Match
Referee: Mike Michaelson
Additional Info: Lavender's First Match As United States Champion In Her Second Reign Comes Against An Invading BATTLESHIP From PARAMOUNT WRESTLING!
WINNER(S): Lavender
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MATCH #7
Kendrick Kross Vs Moxie
Singles Match
Referee: Toyo Yasahiro
Additional Info: Moxie Defends His HBO Broadcast Championship Against Former Television Champion Kendrick Kross After Kross' Dominating Victory On GAMBIT!
WINNER(S): And STILL HBO Broadcast Champion, Moxie
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MAIN EVENT | MATCH #8
"The Gambler" Ace King Vs "Queen" Melody Malone
Singles Match
Referee: Toyo Yasahiro
Additional Info: LOTR Rampage Finals - Non Title - Winner Goes To StrangleMania For Fatal Four Way
WINNER(S): Melody Malone
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...............................................................................................................…
MVP OF THE NIGHT: Melody Malone, Ace King, Mercenary, Emiko Okita, Darna Dare
MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Ace King Vs Melody Malone
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