STRANGLEMANIA XIX

[EWC]

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 Extreme Wrestling Corporation presents

STRANGLEMANIA XIX
Brought to you by Under Armour, PS5 and Dr Pepper

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APRIL 23RD 2024
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LIVE! From Wembley Stadium in London, UK

STRANGLEMANIA XVIII

Commentators: Marcus Woo & Valentina Gomez
Backstage Reporter: Pepper Montana

Announcer: Nina Dobrev
Senior Referee: Toyo Yasahiro
Referees: John Dean & Niklaus Forbes

"Undefeated" by XG & VALORANT begins to blast throughout Wembley Stadium in London, UK.


"Ain't no rivals, ain't no rivals

They can try, but they're never ever slowing me down

On arrival, this is my show

Crossing my heart, they know we are

Undefeated, uh-huh

That's why they call me undisputed, uh-huh

I'm ranking up another season, uh-huh

I been about my stats

Now would you look at that, that, that, that-that"

Video footage detailing historic events over the EWC's history.

From March 1997 all the way down to the most recent episodes of Monday Night Brawl, Friday Night Rampage, Paramount Wrestling and EWC Prime!

Images of previous EWC Champions are shown, starting with the very first Champion Black Ninja, then moving onto Big Danny Mac and Steve "The Predator" Bennett. Sped up footage then shows a special montage of Memphis Reigns, Shadow Man, Hirsh Valentine, Jesse Nunez, Hurricane Jeff, Moses Lake, James Chambers, BDC, Jay Cee, Stray, Gladiator, The Rev, Drake, Xplode, Luke Wolfe, Natalie Young, Candy, Dominic Sanders, Cyrus Black, Melody Malone, Scorpio, Xavier Reid, Jordan Sharpe, Stitches, Ace King, Ibuki Ito, Melody Malone a second time, Lavender, Melody a third time, Narumi Tsutsumi, Lavender a second time, Xavier Reid a second time and Sally Talfourd  all with the EWC Undisputed Championship.

This is followed by highlights of showcasing current EWC Champions:


Sally Talfourd

JoJo Rush

The Heat Packers

Cosmo Goldworthy

Ibuki Ito

The Lad

Captain Morgan Darkwater

Vin Havoc

Amber Lisa

Callie Clark

Tori Taylor

The opening pyros hit and here we go.

The energy in Wembley Stadium is insane as the crowd is absolutely electrifying in their uproar of cheers. Spotlights circle around the Stadium as the sold out 105,000 fans in attendance are shown in a wide angle shot.

The camera then zooms around the arena showing the fans in a closer look.

EWC

EWC

EWC

EWC


EWC

Fireworks emit outside Wembley Stadium  and then all around the ring while a fog machine covers the venue in a red, green, orange and pink haze! Fans stand up, pumping their fists and raising signs as the camera feed pans to each one of them. One last round of fireworks blast out now, and we turn our attention to Marcus Woo and Valentina Gomez.

Woo: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WELCOME TO JOLLY GOOD LONDON!!!! After a slight technical difficulty, we have been given the all clear tonight to present to you the 19th edition of the most violent night in combat sports, StrangleMania! I am Marcus Woo! She is Valentina Gomez!

Gomez:  Good to finally be on the call again Marcus! And yes, to put the rumors to rest, we had to delay the show a day because the regulation authority absolutely blew their lids when they read over the stipulations for the contests on display here tonight! Starting with the Hellevator match for the first annual Iggy Swango memorial cup! Twelve of EWCs best will do battle in a nearby building all while trapped in an elevator! What waits at the top for the winner? A choice of three briefcases, all with different awards. what are those? The winner will find out after they choose! 

Woo:  Then we move on to the Fighting Spirit championship, which pits best friends and tag partners Mercenary and Vin Havoc against Cosmo Goldworthy in a triple threat No-DQ  15 minute Iron Man Match! After that we see the first defense of the newly reinstated EWC Hardcore Championship as JoJo Rush puts the title on the line against Jason Anderson, who has been on such a tear lately even drawing with Undisputed champion Sally Talfourd! 

Gomez:  Amis Shelton challenges Morgan Darkwater for the EWC Heritage championship in a steel chain match and then we take a short break from the violence as the EWC Dynasty championship will be on the line in Pure Rules match as Tanja Devereaux finally gets in the ring against Amber Lisa after months of taunting and mind games from the Cajun Queen! 

Woo:  Jack Severn and Callie Clark finally square off for the EWC Indy championship in a Steel cage match where the title CAN change hands if Callie escapes the cage! Then we take a short trip to the Tower of London for the first of its kind Tower of London match! Marcu$ $t. John and Ibuki Ito will have to battle their way to the top of the tower where the EWC North American championship will be waiting. But that's not all, they will then have to ring the bell to win the match! 

Gomez:  Then we will see the EWC World Tag Team Championships defended in a double dog collar match as The Eleos Affect get their first shot at EWC Gold against the current champions, The Heat Packers! The EWC International Championship will also be defended as JoJo Rush pulls doubly duty when he puts the title up against Stiches and El Pablo in a triple threat lumberjack match! Remember folks, The International, U.S. AND North American titles area ll quad brand now! 

Woo: Then Cosmo Goldworthy also pulls double duty as he puts the EWC United States title on the line in a ladder match!

Gomez: And finally, in our main event of the evening we see the EWC Undisputed championship defended in quite possibly the the most violent, the most destructive, the most sadistic one on one match in the history of Extreme Championship Wrestling.... Xavier Reid waiting until the right moment to cash in his rematch against Sally Talfourd for this very night... They will decide who is truly.... UNDISPUTED as they fight in RAGE...IN...THE...CAGE!!!
 
Woo: There is absolutely no love lost between these two... Reid wants to become a three time Undisputed champion.. Sally Talfourd wants to get her second successful defense as champion and reshape the EWC In her image and her image only. The fate of the entire company could be in the balance here tonight.

Gomez: The Bastard versus the Last Magician... I cannot wait Woo!  

Woo: We have so much action tonight, and the risk of injury is so high that five more insurance companies declared they are pulling out of the Florida insurance market for fear that the violence could cause a natural disaster all the way across the pond! Our first match of the even will be coming up right after this message from EWCTV! 

Both commentators look into the camera as it fades to commercial...

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The camera opens inside a London cab as it races from the hotel to The Tower of London, inside the cap is ‘The Prodigal Son’ Buddy Love and the North American Champion Ibuki Ito, who is dressed in his fighting gear. The camera zooms in on the pair in the back seat of the car.

Love: For 334 days you have held up that championship to a standard very few would ever hope to achieve. You have beaten champion after champion, from the Unidisputed Champion to the HBO Broadcast Champion…from the Indy Champion to the Apple TV+ Broadcast Champion…you have helped to elevate the North American Championship to a level even greater than the Undisputed Championship…

The cab driver looks back at Buddy in the rearview mirror…Buddy sees this and locks eyes with the driver…

Love: I speak the truth…my man has beat the current Undisputed Champion TWICE last season…we is the reason Sally Talfourd tucked her tail between her legs and ran off to Prime even after she won the ‘top prize’ in the EWC…because she knew she couldn’t hang with my man here…she wasn’t good enough to become the North American Champion so she settled for the Undisputed Championship…don’t you forget that…

Buddy waves a warning finger to the driver, who quickly turns his eyes and his attention back on the road…

Love: You picked up the pieces and this championship because ONE MAN dropped the ball…he talks about being a leader…about being the ‘face of Paramount’ but he allowed this championship to fall into the hands of Salvation…all because his eyes were too busy staring at the Undisputed Championship…he took the North American Championship for granted because he had lust for another…and he left last year’s StrangleMania without the North American Championship…without the Undisputed Championship…and without two working arms…he showed his true colors last year and they weren’t the Orange and White of Paramount but the colors of his own greed…

Buddy shakes his head in disgust…

Love: So we picked up the pieces Marcu$ left behind…not because we had to but because we wanted what was best for Paramount…we won that championship and for the last 334 days we have done right by it…helped to elevate it to THEE championship here in the EWC…we have helped lead Paramount to THEE brand here in EWC…and we have done so without the need to seek the Undisputed Championship…we have put this brand over our own needs because we care about Paramount…because you Ibuki Ito…are The Ace of Paramount…

Buddy looks over at Ibuki with the eyes of a proud father…or in this case a proud brother…

Love: Marcu$ talks about what he’s ‘done’ in the past but it’s NOTHING compared to what you have done for Paramount…to listen to him one might think he was a major player in the FSW but he wasn’t…he was here for the end and benefited off the blood, sweat and tears of men like you Ibuki…men who helped show the EWC that the FSW was no longer ‘developmental’ and in fact the strongest brand in the EWC…he will talk about all the success he had when he was champion but never once in those 306 days did he offer you a shot at the championship and you know why…because he knew that would be the end of his championship reign…you beat him on the eve of his 2nd championship and beat him while he was the champion and yet he will try and stand there and tell you he was ‘THE MAN’...he was only the man because we allowed it…because Mr. Brock had BIGGER plans for us…and now, the second he drops the TV Championship he comes running out, talking about both sides of his mouth…one second wanting to ‘earn the championship match’ and the next ‘tired of waiting’...that was like 14 days apart…and then mocks you when you tell him you’ll give him the match…something he never did for you…

Buddy nods his head, agreeing with what he’s saying…

Love: So tonight we fight…we fight not only for the North American Championship and the opportunity to see day number 335 as champion but we fight for our ‘spot’ here in Paramount…he fight for the role we took on because Marcu$ dropped the ball and wasn’t able to wrestle…we fight to continue our own legacy as champion and we fight because Paramount means that much to us…a Tower of London match…this is right up our alley Ibuki…you were the man that went toe to toe with Ace King in three straight StrangleMania’s in some of the most brutal matches this company has ever seen…what does Marcu$ now about brutality…he’s the same silver spoon, spoiled brat that walked into this company and tried to bribe me to stay in the hotel…he hasn’t changed but neither have you…you are a fighter…nothing in this life has been handed to you and tonight you will brawl all throughout this Tower using anything you can get your hands on as a weapon to end this claim to your throne…tonight we end Marcu$ $t. John’s claim to the North American Championship and his claim at the head of the table here in Paramount…

Buddy flashes a smile as the cab comes to a stop outside the Tower of London…the door opens as before Ibuki can exit the cab driver looks back and nods…

Cab Driver: You got this man…

Ibuki smiles as Buddy hands him a tip plus the fee for the ride…

Woo: We have a huge night ahead of us, folks, filled with spectacular action!

Gomez: Speaking of spectacles, let's take you back to how Brawl's heuristic Heritage Champion, none other than Captain Morgan Darkwater, arrived in London in style…!

We cut to black, which then fades in to the scene of the Captain’s quarters aboard his ship, the spacious room lit by various candles, illuminating the burly buccaneer himself, sat on his large armchair, with his wife on his lap, the Heritage title resting over his shoulder. He's arm in arm with Esmerelda, who's all smiles and sipping from a glass of wine. The air is filled with gentle yawning of wood and the softly rushing sounds of water as the Esmerelda’s Revenge sailed towards its destination.

Darkwater: Th’ momentous night is almost upon us, Wembley Stadium be loomin’ on th’ horizon! Th’ Captain has been keepin’ on his A-game, despite that interferin’, meddlesome cur Connors… ye know, I haven't quite got that man figured out - first he tries to soften th’ Captain up by keepin’ him out of the fight fer o'er a month, an’ now he seems to think makin’ th’ Captain's first title match a submission match, knowin’ th’ Captain's storied history in such arenas! Is he tryin’ to make an enemy or a friend? That remains t’be seen!

Esmerelda: Si, whatever Connors has planned for my Morgan, he will find a man ready and willing to rise to the occasion, to give all challengers the fight of their lives, to –

CRRRRRUNNNCH

Her words are abruptly cut off as the entire room shakes violently, throwing her off Morgan's lap and sending her sprawling to the floor with a alarmed cry. The Captain is quick to his feet, stooping down to help his wife up as he calls out.

Darkwater: What th’ blazes – BOSUN!!

The door to the Captain’s quarters opens, and a red-faced Bosun Pete enters, wringing his hands anxiously.

Pete: Uh, aye Cap'n?

Darkwater: Don't ye “Aye Cap'n” me, man… what th’ HELLS was that, did we run aground?

Pete: Er… not exactly, Cap'n…

Darkwater: What do ye mean, not exactly?

The Bosun gives him a pained expression, then slowly stepped back to let the Captain outside.

Pete: … it be best if ye see fer yourself, Cap'n.

Making sure his wife was safe and well, Morgan pulled his tricorn hat from the armchair, pulled it tightly over his head, and stormed out onto the main deck, covered in shadow, and looks around him him glaringly for any sign of a problem before he seems to realise something, and slowly looks up, closely followed by the camera to reveal…

The main mast of the ship had struck none other than London Bridge, and was splintered as it bent back at an angle. All along the bridge, tourists and sightseers were leaning over the railing, moths agape in awe, cameras and phones flashing as they took in the scene of the stuck ship and its flabbergasted Captain.

Darkwater: I… I… WHAT?!

Pete: Ye said… ye said to get ye to Wembley as quickly as possible, Cap'n…

Darkwater: NOT BY SAILIN’ DOWN TH’ BLOODY RIVER THAMES!! TH’ REVENGE WAS NE'ER GOIN’ TO FIT!!

Pete: Aye, well… we know that now…

Unknown Voice: OI!!

The Captain’s head whips back up, scanning the throng of faces, eyes squinting as he sought out the voice until his gaze came to rest on a policeman who was waving his arms wildly.

Darkwater: What? What do ye want, man?

Policeman: You can't park that there, mate! You're gonna have to move alone, alright?

The Captain’s jaw dropped slightly, eyes bugging in surprise, and then he scoffed.

Darkwater: Oh aye? An’ how are ye expectin’ me to do that exactly? Put the dammed thing in reverse?!

Policeman: You're blocking traffic!

Darkwater: Traffic? What bloody traffic? A few poxy tourist boats? Stuff ‘em! Get me a dammed towboat! I'll have to make th’ rest of th’ way on foot! I've got a championship to successfully defend! Bosun!

Pete: Aye, Cap'n?

Darkwater: Which way to Wembley Stadium?! I’ll have to get there on foot whilst ye sort this out!

Pete: Aye, Cap’n…

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Brawl - Caleb Scott, Melinda Rhodes
Rampage - ZERO
Paramount - The Lad, Rick Rampage, Apollo Polamalu
Prime - Justin Paige, Bruce Booth, Divewire, Narumi Tsutsumi, Pheonix Winterborn, Dalilah Ashe, 

MATCH WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Berto

Riding on a larger-than-normal double freight size elevator with doors on both sides, a small speaker in the ceiling pumps out an instrumental version of ‘Moonage Daydream’ by David Bowie. The melody slowly brought back memories of Iggy Swango. Such a wonderful soul… long gone, but forever missed.

*Ding*

The elevator stops. Both doors open and with a split screen, we see Melinda Rhodes standing there, a devilish look on her face, holding her favorite red aluminum baseball bat. On the other side, was Narumi Tsutsumi, semi crouched, a kanabo tightly gripped by both of her hands. Dressed in a muddy green chibi oni printed boiler suit, her eyes lock with Melinda’s. Without a second thought, Narumi charged forward and brought the kanabo down hard at Melinda, who had also charged into the elevator. With a dull clang, the sound echoed loudly as the doors to the elevator shut. Then, without warning, the lights in the elevator went off. The sounds of a bat and kanabo being swung wildly could be heard, but there were no sounds of impact. A metal on metal sliding noise broke through the darkness, then the sound of something hard and heavy hitting the floor. The lights kicked back on and suddenly, standing there with Rebel’s throat in one hand and Narumi’s in the other… was ZERO. ZERO squeezed tightly as both women punched and elbowed at his outstretched arms… their weapons of choice on the floor of the elevator. Their eyes beginning to bulge and their faces turning purple, both ladies make a last ditch effort and kick ZERO in the collarbone at the same time. With a pained grunt, the Walking Myth stumbles backwards… letting go of both Melinda and Narumi. Rhodes lands hard on the ground, but Narumi lands on her feet, crouched enough to grab her kanabo. In a flash, she darts to the side, jumps up and uses the wall of the elevator to launch herself towards ZERO. He reaches for her, but she ducks the outstretched arms of ZERO and catches him in the side of the head with her wooden club. ZERO crashes up against the side of the elevator, grabbing at his head, but his pause only lasts for a moment before he turns back to the women. But by that time, Narumi had positioned herself and launched off the wall again. This time, though, ZERO was ready. He grabbed the kanabo AND Narumi, tossing the former Undisputed Champion up against the elevator door with a loud bang.

*Ding*

The door Narumi had just slammed into slowly opened and there stood Dalilah Ashe, her beloved Ian (Razor wire wrapped aluminum baseball bat) propped up against her shoulder. She looked down at Narumi, then up to see Melinda using her own bat to hit a homerun straight into the gut of ZERO. Without so much as a flinch, ZERO grabbed Melinda’s bat and ripped it from her hands. With all intentions of intimidating the Rebel, ZERO held her bat up and caved in the top of it with one hand, squeezing to his little black heart’s content. But instead of being scared, Rhodes lunged up and caught ZERO under the chin with the top of her head. The giant of a man stumbled back first towards the elevator door, which Delilah took advantage of. She charged forward and dropped down to the ground. Sliding past ZERO on her knees, she swung Ian as hard as she could, dragging the razor wire along the back of his knees. With a howl that could have woken the Gods, ZERO collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from the shredded remains of the area of his coveralls that once covered the back of his knees. Dalilah stands back up, only for Rebel to grab her and whip her into the side of the elevator. Caught off guard, Ashe hits hard into the side, causing the elevator to slightly sway as the doors had closed and it was making its way slowly to the next floor and the next entrant. Dalilah turns towards Melinda and charges forward, gripping Ian tightly. Delilah swings for the fences, but Rhodes ducks, causing the mat to grate against the side of the elevator and leave a long scratch… a spark or two flying through the air.

*Ding*

The doors to the elevator slowly open and standing there is Divewire… not Drivewire, but DIVEwire, a baseball bat with something wrapped around the barrel in his left hand and pointed at the ground. Without warning, ZERO lurches up and spears into Divewire, causing him to drop his bat and being spiked into the ground. ZERO grabbed Divewire by the head and began to repeatedly slam into the soft padded carpet of the office space they were in. The doors slowly began to shut, but ZERO and Divewire were too busy tussling, that they didn’t notice. Inches from shutting the door stopped and we see Divewire’s bat was preventing the door from closing. Suddenly, the door opened and out came charging Narumi Tsutsumi, kanabo in her hands. With the kanabo raised high, Narumi jumped and brought it hard down onto the back of ZERO’s head, stopping the monster from his assault on Drive-I mean Divewire. ZERO rolls onto his back as Narumi repeatedly strikes him with the end of her kanabo…until the giant man grabs it and yanks it away from her. Quickly sitting up, a loud crack echoes through the office as Zero snaps the kanabo in half and tosses it to the floor. As if a fire had been lit in her eyes, The Grade One Yokai lurches forward… ONIGOKKO ON ZERO!!! EXAGGERATED PALM STRIKE ONTO THE FORMER NEXTGEN MONSTER AND NARUMI SLIDES SLIGHTLY ON HER KNEES BEHIND HIM AND AS HE COLLAPSES ONTO HIS BACK!!!

The door to the elevator opens again, still struggling with Divewire’s bat in the way. Melinda Rhodes comes FLYING out of the elevator and lands hard on the floor. Dalilah Ashe slowly follows, stalking the former Intercontinental Champion. Rhodes is quickly up to her feet as Dalilah charges at her. Dalilah slides past a clothesline attempt by Melinda. She pops up, turns and jumps onto Melinda’s shoulder… she flips over… ASHES-TO-ASHES!!! FRONT FLIP STUNNER ON MELINDA RHODES!!! Dalilah stands up… AND GETS ROCKED AS AN OFFICE DESK FLIES THROUGH THE AIR AND CRASHES INTO HER!!! Standing just feet away, is an enraged ZERO. You obviously can’t see it through his mask, but you can just tell. Do you understand what I’m saying? Like his aura is just BLOOD red right now. If you could see it, steam would be shooting out of his ears. Blood can be seen dripping out from underneath his mask.

As Narumi stands near the elevator trying to catch her breath, Divewire fights to push the door open and remove his bat. Tsutsumi just watches as ZERO steps over Melinda Rhodes and stomps over to Dalilah, who had miraculously not been pinned under the desk. ZERO grabs the desk and lifts it above his head and lets out a Kong-like roar, his intentions obvious. But before he could bring the desk down onto Ashe, a nearby stairwell exit door opens and Justin Paige comes flying onto the scene.

Woo: Justin must have been tired of waiting on the next floor.

Gomez: Probably was curious as to why the elevator wasn’t coming up to get him. But he may end up wishing he stayed up there.

Justin runs over to the unjolly-mean-giant and throws a shoulder into the back of ZERO’s knee, causing the big man to collapse down as his knee buckled. The desk fell hard onto the ground, inches away from Dalilah, who had rolled slightly out of the way. Justin ran over to her and helped her to her feet and both of them ran towards the elevator that Divewire had FINALLY removed his bat from. Narumi, Melinda, and Divewire all watched as the door slowly began to shut. Just inches away, Ashe managed to extend her arm and block the door. She slid in and reached out to Justin…only for the desk that almost crushed Dalilah to come CRASHING THROUGH THE ELEVATOR DOOR!!! Dalilah goes flying backwards and slams into the group in the elevator already, knocking them all to the ground. The elevator tries to go up, but the door is caved in and the desk is stopping it from getting halfway past the floor… so it just grunts and grinds as the gears are trying to pull the elevator up. Justin grabs the floor and tries to pull himself up, but ZERO grabs him and tosses him back down onto the office floor. Justin grabs Divewire’s bat, which had been knocked to the floor in the ruckus and rush to get the elevator open earlier. He quickly jumps to his feet and swings, catching ZERO in the jaw…

*BOOM*

The explosions on that side of the bat go off and ZERO is ROCKED! He stumbles to the side, slamming up against a wall, near a firehose. Justin charges towards the uneasy ZERO and swings the bat again, but this time ZERO is prepared and ducks underneath the swing. The end of the barrel smashes through the firehose case, but does not go off.

Meanwhile, everyone on the elevator is trying to kick the desk out from where it is wedged.

ZERO backhands Justin and sends him flying into the door to the stairwell. ZERO stomps over to Justin, his eyes burrowing into Paige’s forehead. The door to the stairwell suddenly opens… BRUCE BOOTH JUMPS UP AND GRABS THE DOOR FRAME… AND SWINGS INTO THE ROOM, DRIVING INTO ZERO WITH A DROPKICK!!! ZERO stumbles back a little as the screeching sounds of the desk SLOWLY being pushed out of the elevator can be heard. Box Office hops over Justin Paige and begins throwing punches into The Void Personified. A four punch combo sends ZERO stumbling backwards, towards the elevator. Bruce Booth charges at ZERO… jumps onto a nearby desk AND LAUNCHES HIMSELF… CROSSBOD OFF THE TOP RO-ER OFF THE DES- NO!!! DALILAH ASHE SLID OUT OF THE ELEVATOR AND CAUGHT BRUCE BOOTH IN A FIREMAN’S CARRY IN MID-AIR!!! Dalilah turns and looks at ZERO… DIE MONSTER DIE!!! FIREMAN’S CARRY SLAM ONTO A NEAR-BY OFFICE PRINTER AND BRUCE BOOTH HAS BEEN BROKEN IN HALF!!!

Woo: I’m sure she has had that payback in the back of her mind, for what Bruce did to her at Prime One-Twenty.

Gomez: Well she certainly got the upper hand, but at what cost? ZERO stands between her at the elevator.

Dalilah stares at ZERO, the Void Monster staring back at her. She moves left, he follows her. She moves right, he follows her. Dalilah bursts into a sprint and SLIDES through ZERO’s legs! ZERO tries to grab her, but is just a hair too slow. He turns and takes off after her, but is caught off guard when Justin Paige RAMS into him… knocking them both to the ground. Dalilah climbs up into the elevator and begins to help push the last bit of the desk out. Meanwhile ZERO is up to his feet first and we now see that Justin is holding a fire-ax that he must have grabbed from the firehose case. Justin grips it tightly, but wildly swings it at ZERO… ZERO moves and the ax gets embedded into a nearby desk! And with a HARD backhand, ZERO launches Justin towards the elevator.

The horrible screeching sound of the elevator trying its damndest to go up is only matched by the scraping noise of the desk AALLLLLMMMMOOOOSSSTTT finally being pushed out of the way. Justin gets up onto his knees, looking up at the others who have the desk teetering. He lifts his hands in the air, signaling them to wait…

*CHOP*

Chop is the best, least disgusting noise we could give you. The actual sound of the ax slicing through skin, bone, and tendon, was much worse. The sound of Justin’s dismembered hand hitting the floor was unsettling. The silence from Justin when he realized that ZERO had just used the ax to cut off his left hand, was horrifying. Justin finally let out a blood curdling scream as he pulled his arms down to see a stump where his left hand had been. Blood geysered out of the stump as ZERO lumbered past him, ax in hand. His focus now on the elevator and the people within.

Woo: Wh-...what just…

Gomez: I think I’m going to be sick.

*CRASH*

The desk FINALLY was kicked out and with a hard jerk, the elevator began to sllllooooowwwllly rise… but then was stopped as a large lumbering hand grabbed the elevator floor and shoved the ax in between it and the door-way, length-wise. Everyone watched in horror as a blood covered ZERO pulled himself up and into the elevator, breathing heavily as the ax snapped and the elevator finally continued its climb up.

Bruce Booth has been eliminated!

Justin Paige has been eliminated

Everyone tries to measure up how the hell to stop the monster. It is Narumi Tsutsumi who attacks first. She charges at ZERO, using the imploded door to climb up and around ZERO’s outstretched arms. She wraps her arms and legs around his neck, squeezing as tight as she can. And in a sign of unity, the rest of the elevator charges forward. Melinda Rhodes holds his right arm, Divewire holds his left arm, and Dalilah Ashe wraps her body tightly around his ankles.

*Ding*

The one side opens clean, but the side with the broken door groans as the door’s mechanics fight to pull it to the side. Obviously, there is no one here, with Justin Paige coming down from the floor. ZERO fights to move, slamming Melinda Rhode up against one side of the elevator, while slamming Divewire up against the other side. Each movement slows down just a hair as Narumi tightens her grip on his neck, cutting off the blood flow little by little. ZERO tries to step forward, but Dalilah tightens her hold around his legs and with a HARD crash, the big man falls to the ground.

*Ding*

Again, no one on this floor. Bruce Booth would have been the one coming in here… but he made the mistake of not waiting his turn. Meanwhile, the group of people already in the elevator, let go of ZERO and they all look down at the big man lying unconscious, face first on the floor. Without another word, Narumi, Dalilah, and Divewire all looked at each other and gave a slight nod. Prime supremacy, bitches! Melinda Rhodes was not expecting it, when all three of them lunged over ZERO’s body and began to pummel her. Divewire with repeated kick after kick to Rebel’s knees, Dalilah with elbow after elbow to Rebel’s ribs, and Narumi with fist after fist to the head of Brawl’s Melinda Rhodes. Melinda tried to fight them off, but it was a losing battle.

*Ding*

Melinda was giving it her everything, but with the caliber of talent she was trying to fight off… there was not much ANYONE could do. It was then that the creaking of the broken door echoed in the elevator. Then suddenly a hand grabbed Divewire and RIPPED him off of Melinda. Divewire turned around and INSTANTLY caught a barbed wire baseball bat to the gut. Then with an upward swinging motion, Rick Rampage caught Divewire under the chin and sent him flying out of the elevator. Rick stalked Divewire out of the elevator and looked down at the blood pouring out from a gash underneath Divewire’s chin. Rick Rampage lifted his bat above his head and came down hard with it, but caught nothing but the tile floor of the small lobby they stood in, as Divewire had rolled out of the way just in time. The Golden Boy was quick to react, bringing the bat up and swinging at Divewire as he used a reception desk to get to his feet. But the quick thinking of The Gravity Neutralizer saved him, as he hopped up onto the reception desk and kicked a small metal cup of pens at Rick. Rick swatted at them, distracting him enough for Divewire to grab the reception desk monitor.. lift it above his head… and DIVE! DIVEWIRE JUST DROVE THE CORNER OF THE MONITOR STRAIGHT INTO RICK’S TEMPLE! Rick Rampage drops to a knee, his bat rolling off to the side. Divewire grabs the monitor cord, ripping it off the monitor and then yanking it off of the computer it was attached to on the other side of the desk. With one fluid motion, he grabs it with both hands and WRAPS IT AROUND RICK’S NECK!!! Rick Rampage claws at the cord, but is unable to get a grip on it at all! His response slowly begins to slow down… DALILAH ASHE WITH A DROPKICK TO THE BACK OF DIVEWIRE’S HEAD AND THE GRAVITY NEUTRALIZER GOES CRASHING INTO THE RECEPTION DESK!!! Dalilah Ashe grabs the cord and rips it off from around Rick’s neck.

Woo: Rick owes Dalilah a beer after that save.

Gomez: Yeah, if she didn’t intervene… this could have been the end of the road for The Golden Boy.

Rick pushes on his knee, to get to his feet… but it was short lived as Dalilah pull the cord back and lashed it across Rick’s back, causing him to lurch forward in pain. Another lash at his back and he turned around in time to see Melinda and Narumi come flying out of the elevator with Melinda spearing Narumi to the tile floor. RHODES KILL!!! Both of them rolled onto the floor, but Melinda ended up on top, immediately raining punches onto Narumi’s face. On what would be her last punch, Melinda lifted her right fist into the air when the monitor cord suddenly wrapped around it. Rhodes looks up to see Dalilah holding the other end before she pulls hard onto it, pulling The Original Rebel off of Narumi. Melinda rolled off, but used her momentum to hop up to her feet… ONLY TO CATCH A GOLDEN BOOT FROM RICK RAMPAGE!!! RUNNING BIG BOOT BY RICK, MEANT FOR DALILAH, BUT SHE MOVED AND MELINDA CAUGHT IT AND WAS TURNED INSIDE OUT! Rick turns toward Dalilah, ANOTHER LASH FROM THE CORD… BUT RICK CAUGHT IT AND PULLED DALILAH TURNS HIMSELF! He grabs her by the throat… BUT ZERO IS UP AND SPINS HIM AROUND! RICK SWINGS AT ZERO, BUT ZERO DUCKS IT… but reaches up and grabs Rick Rampage in a full nelson… TEN SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT!!! SITOUT FULL NELSON BOMB ONTO RICK RAMPAGE AND HE IS LYING MOTIONLESS ON THE GROUND!!! ZERO back up to his feet, turns and steps OVER Narumi. He grabs the broken door of the elevator and begins to pull on it. Meanwhile Divewire and Dalilah both run into the elevator and begin to push the door… hoping that it collapses onto ZERO and stops him from getting into the elevator.

The door creaks and moans as Narumi makes her way into the elevator and begins pushing as well. Within a few seconds, a bloody faced Melinda makes her way into the elevator and starts to help too. After a few moments of the elevator lurching up a bit and everyone doing their part, a loud snap and a pop echo through the floor… and the door comes off. Everyone stops pushing on the door from inside the elevator , but this gives ZERO the moment to push the door INTO the elevator and causes everyone to get smashed up against the other side. ZERO finally lets go of the door and turns…AND CATCHES A RUNNING SPEAR FROM RICK RAMPAGE!!! THE RAMPAGE ONTO THE BROKEN ELEVATOR DOOR!!!

*Ding*

With the elevator door missing, it was easy to see the next competitor waiting for his ride, was Brawl’s Caleb Scott. Without a word even being uttered, Caleb charges in with his chain wrapped bat, held high. One quick swing and he cracks Rick Rampage in the head… splitting him open. Another quick swing and he cracks ZERO in the head… possibly splitting him open. Rick stumbles towards the open door as the elevator lurches slightly. He stops himself just short of the doorway as the elevator sllllllooooowwwwly begins to go up. Rick turns around… MELINDA RHODES WITH DIVEWIRE’S EXPLODING BAT! SHE CATCHES RICK RAMPAGE UNDER THE CHIN WITH A BEAUTIFUL GOLF SWING!!! The explosion sends Rick Rampage flying backwards… OUT OF THE ELEVATOR!!! Rick lands hard and within seconds, it is too late for him. The doorway to floor eight disappears.

Rick Rampage has been eliminated!

Melinda drops the bat, a gash on her cheek from the broken elevator door slowly trickles blood down her jaw line. Drip by drip the blood falls from her chin. Melinda takes a deep breath and turns around…

CRACK!

Caleb Scott with a HOMERUN hit against the jaw of Melinda Rhodes! Was that a tooth that went flying? Either way, Melinda crumbles to the ground, her face pressing against the wall of the building that is usually covered by the elevator door. Caleb quickly drops down and begins pressing Rebel’s face against the wall, causing her to flail in pain as the friction begins to tear layer by layer of skin off of her cheek. ZERO stood to his feet, looking down at Caleb skin Melinda. With those two busy, he turned his attention to Divewire, Dalilah, and Narumi who had just tossed the elevator door off of themselves. Narumi is the first to her feet and ducks under an outstretched arm of ZERO. She instead, crawls up his back and latches on with her arms and legs again…trying, once again, to make ZERO pass out.

*Ding*

Caleb looks up… QUIETUS!!! QUIETUS!!! SPINNING BACKFIST BY APOLLO POLAMALU AND CALEB ON HIS BACK STARING UP AT THE CEILING OF THE ELEVATOR!!! Rhodes’ head drops to the floor, a puddle of blood quickly forming around her face. Divewire comes flying OUT of the elevator… BUT APOLLO GRABS HIM AND JUST TOSSES HIM OUT ONTO THE CARPETED FLOOR OF THE OFFICE SPACE!!! Dalilah Ashe’s turn as she charges him… Apollo drops his shoulder and lifts Dalilah up with her own momentum… SAMOAN DROP!!! Meanwhile, ZERO reaches up and grabs Narumi by the hair and RIPS her off of him before spiking her into the side of the elevator! ZERO sees Apollo and charges him… HEADBUTT FROM ZERO TO APO-NO! IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO APOLLO AND INSTEAD ZERO IS GRABBING AT HIS OWN HEAD!!! Apollo grabs the beast and whips him out of the elevator. ZERO goes flying into the office space…Divewire grabs the top of a filing cabinet and launches himself over it at ZERO… OVER IT!!! SPRINGBOARD BLOCKBUSTER ON ZERO!!! AND FOR ADD MEASURE, DIVEWIRE GRABS THE FILING CABINET AND SLAMS IT DOWN ON ZERO!!!

Apollo reaches down and grabs Dalilah and throws her into the elevator, quickly following behind her…stepping over Melinda who had crawled out of the elevator in her delusional state…

Divewire runs and jumps in…

The elevator is going up…

Melinda Rhodes has been eliminated!

ZERO has been eliminated!

Woo: I didn’t think that creature was EVER going to get eliminated!

Gomez: You do NOT headbutt a Samoan!

*Ding*

Caleb Scott, still groggy from that Queitus from Apollo, goes charging out of the elevator… expecting to be greeted by a combatant. He looks around, baseball bat in hand. He turns back towards the elevator… AND THE LAD COMES UP BETWEEN HIM AND THE WINDOWS!!! The Lad grabs him around the waist… BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLE-

*SHATTER*

CALEB SCOTT SMASHED THROUGH THE WINDOW AND WENT FLYING OUT!!! The Lad, eyes wide open, watches as Caleb Scott starts his ten-story fall straight towards the ground below. Not wanting to see what will happen, The Lad turns his attention back towards the elevator. Everyone is fighting inside as it slowly starts going up! As fast he can, he runs towards it and jumps…barely sliding into the elevator as it passes the threshold of the door!

Caleb Scott has been eliminated!

The Lad is instantly met by Apollo’s boots. Not once, not twice, but THREE times before Apollo caught a spinning back elbow to the side of the head, knocking him to the side of the elevator. The Lad jumped to his feet and barely blinked before Dalilah Ashe whipped Narumi towards him. Narumi used the momentum, jumped and KICKED off The Lad’s chest, turning and land a foot against Dalilah’s chi-NO! DALILAH GRABBED NARUMI’S LEG! Narumi falls towards the ground, but puts her other foot up… PAYMON!!! PAYMON ON DALILAH ASHE!!! INVERTED STOMP FACEBREAKER AND DALILAH IS ON HER BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ELEVATOR!!!

*Ding*

Woo: That elevator is getting a little bit faster now.

Gomez: Only one more person to pick up, with five already fighting, we have been going for QUITE some time now!

The elevator pauses, this is where ZERO should have been getting on, if he had not climbed down the fuckin’ cable wire to the first floor. Some people just have no patience!

Narumi lays on her back for a moment, trying to catch her breath. She has been in this elevator since the beginning! She rolls over onto her side and her eyes light up as she sees the top half of her kanabo sitting up against the side of the elevator. She rolls over to the side and grabs it before kipping up to her feet. She turns around and swings the kanabo wildly, cracking The Lad in the side of the head AND Apollo. Divewire managed to duck just in time, otherwise she would have scored a turkey!

*Ding*

Dalilah Ashe, who managed to barely pull herself up to her feet after that Paymon… stumbled out of the elevator… BACK SPINNING HEEL KICK…

BACK SPINNING HEEL KICK…

BACK SPINNING HEEL KICK!!!

Reign of Fire by Phoenix Winterborn and Dalilah Ashe collapses to the ground!!! The final entrant to the Hellevator and he gets his licks in early! Phoenix rushes towards the elevator, but Apollo Polamalu steps into his way. With a gash on his forehead from the kanabo hit, Apollo shakes his head no at Phoenix. But instead of listening, Phoenix side-steps Apollo and takes off to the side of the elevator bank, near a wall and a couple potted plants. Apollo chases after Phoenix as Divewire stumbles out of the elevator. Phoenix reaches behind the potted plant as Apollo charges full steam at him…

CRACK!

BARBED WIRE BASEBALL BAT UPPERCUT!!! Apollo stumbles backwards, two large gashes on his cheek. Caleb Scott out of nowhere, grabs Apollo and turns him around… kick to the gut.. IMPALER DDT! Meanwhile, Narumi and Divewire send The Lad FLYING out of the elevator with a double whip! He puts on the breaks and turns around, DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE!!! EVERYONE IS OUT OF THE ELEVATOR!!!

Narumi grabs The Lad by the hair, lifting him up onto his knees, but grabs him around the neck… TSUTSUMI RAPPU!!! NARUMI IS TRYING TO CHOKE OUT THE LAD!!! On the other side, Phoenix and Divewire are going at it… trading punches… trading kicks… trading everything. Divewire steps back and Phoenix lunges at him, but ‘Wire steps to the side and grabs Phoenix… SPINNING BACK ELBOW TO THE BACK OF PHOENIX WINTERBORN’S HEAD!!! Primetime stumbles forward, dropping to his knees. Back to Narumi, we see The Lad’s eyes slowly fading… slowly… fading… but in a latch ditch effort, he grabs his cross necklace and tugs it off his neck. With a hard swing, he JAMS THE POINT OF THE CROSS RIGHT UNDER NARUMI’S RIB CAGE!!! Narumi yelps and lets go, quickly jumping to her feet. The Lad pulls the necklace back and groggily stands to his feet… thumping towards the empty elevator. Narumi turns and sees the others fighting, quickly runs towards the elevator as well.

While all this was going on… Apollo had pulled himself over and onto the elevator.

Phoenix and Divewire, seeing the elevator lurch to start moving, both go taking off towards the elevator doorway. Narumi and Apollo both appear in the doorway… Phoenix slides like he is heading into third… but Divewire is taking it straight on. DOUBLE SUPERKICK AND DIVEWIRE GOES FLYING BACKWARDS!!! With a loud thud, he lands onto the floor next to Dalilah as the elevator begins its climb to the rooftop.

Dalilah Ashe has been eliminated!

Divewire has been eliminated!

Everyone takes a moment to catch their breath as the elevator moves up towards the next floor. Just a couple more, before they hit the rooftop.

Narumi bleeding from her side after being stabbed by The Lad’s cross…

Apollo bleeding from multiple points on his face, both from Phoenix’s barbed wire bat and Narumi’s kabano…

The Lad bleeding from the side of his head from Narumi’s kabano…

And Phoenix Winterborn just eyeing up the total devastation of the bent and broken elevator car, wondering what he missed being the last one on.

*Ding*

Phoenix looks out the doorway at the empty floor in front of him. A few items left over from an office that was once there. A desk or two, a vacuum, a couple filing cabinets, a cup full of pens.. wait… a cup full of pens? Phoenix takes off running and grabs the pen cup from the desk, quickly turning and heading back towards the elevator. It lurches and begins to slowly go up to which Phoenix dives into the car, his hands out stretched. Narumi immediately reaches down and grabs two pens from cup and in a sadistic move JAMS THE PENS ONTO PHEONIX’S BACK!!! Primetime lets out a painful yell!

*Ding*

He gets to his feet and reaches for the pens still impeded into his skin. He turns, trying his best to reach them. Narumi grabs him by the back of the head… AND TOSSES HIM OUT OF THE CAR!!! It lurches and Phoenix turns to try to come back, but the movement causes him more pain and he drops to one knee!

Phoenix WInterborn has been eliminated!

The Lad charges forward, hoping to catch Narumi off balance, but Apollo grabs him, spins him around… AND SLAMS HIM HEAD FIRST INTO THE OTHER ELEVATOR DOOR!!! A huge gash opens up on The Lad’s forehead. Apollo grabs him and pulls him back up to his feet.

*Ding*

AND APOLLO SENDS THE LAD FLYING OUT OF THE ELEVATOR ONTO THE LAST FLOOR BEFORE THE ROOF! The Lad, still not feeling one-hundred percent since Narumi tried choking him out… stumbles and falls to the floor. There is a moment where it seems like he wants to will his body to get up to run back to the elevator… but by the time he manages to get back up to his hands and knees, the elevator has started its climb to the top!

The Lad has been eliminated!

Woo: Down to the last two! Narumi Tsutsumi, Apollo Polamalu.

Gomez: One of them will be joining Caleb Scott at the bottom of this building. The other will win the inaugural Izzy Swango Memorial Cup and have their choice of one of three briefcases.

*Ding*

Narumi is the first out of the elevator. Here eyes look around the rooftop, instantly spotting the three briefcases the winner will get to choose from. She walks over and places her hand on the briefcases. The first one had the name ‘Sondra Leffers’ written on it. The second one had the name ‘Iggy Swango’ written on it. The third had the name ‘Lady Stardust’ written on it. She traces each letter, when out of NOWHERE Apollo Polamalu SLAMS into her… sending her sliding across the rooftop. Narumi turns and looks at The Iconoclast and is slowly walking towards her, cracking his knuckles one by one. He reaches down to grab Narumi, but she quickly grabs his arm and pulls herself up to her feet. She throws her shoulder into him and tries to budge him, but the man is double her size and has his heels dug in. He grabs her around the waist and attempts to lift her up into the air, but Narumi grabs his leg. He tries again, but she grips tighter. Then, when he finally puts her down, she arches her leg up and back… CRACKING him in the forehead with her heel. Apollo lets go of her and stumbles back slightly. Narumi takes the moment to run over and jump onto a nearby vent on the roof. She jumps… SUPERMAN PU-NO! APOLLO GRABS HER IN MID-AIR… DAMNATIO MEMORIAE!!! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB AND NARUMI IS MOTIONLESS ON THE ROOFTOP!!! Apollo grabs her by the back of her top and lifts her off the ground. Slowly he walks over towards the edge of the rooftop, his gaze looking out over the city… the twinkling lights flashing in his dark eyes.

Woo: Oh boy, this is it for Narumi.

Gomez: Apollo Polamalu has pulled off the twenty-twenty-four Hellevator and will be the first ever name on the Iggy Swango Memorial Cup.

Apollo moves towards the edge of the rooftop, grabbing Narumi Tsutsumi with both arms and lifting her above his head. Apollo goes to throw Narumi… BUT NARUMI WIGGLES FREE AND APOLLO LOSES HIS BALANCE… he drops to a knee on the edge of the rooftop, his eyes widening as he looks at the distance to the ground. Apollo turns around slightly… NARUMI COMES CHARGING IN… DISCO HADES II!!! IGGY SWANGO’S OWN MOVE!!! SHINING WIZARD ONTO APOLLO POLAMALU AND THE ICONOCLAST GOES FLYING OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROOFTOP!!!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner of the Hellevator Match and INAUGURAL WINNER OF THE IGGY SWANGO MEMORIAL CUP… NARUMI TSUTSUMI!

Narumi stands to her feet and limps over to the briefcases once more. The camera focuses on her looking all three of them over, before we switch to a front shot and her placing her hand on one of the briefcases, though we are unable to see which one it is.

Woo: What an absolute MONSTROUS way to start tonight’s Stranglemania. People getting thrown out windows, people getting stabbed…

Gomez: People getting their hand chopped off.

Woo: Dear Lord, please don’t mention that again. I’m going to have nightmares all night about that one.

Gomez: Well like you said, what a way to start Stranglemania… but folks, we still have SO much more ahead of us! So keep watching!

We see Narumi with her face buried into the top of the briefcase she chose, her arms wrapped around it. Camera cuts to ...

Caleb slowly begins to move around while lying face down on the ground. Bloody, beaten and broken from the Hellevator match, he tries to push himself up off the ground. He groans as he makes it to his hands and knees, head hanging down, before a foot quickly swings into the frame and connects firmly with Caleb's ribs. The shock from the sudden impact drops Caleb back to the ground as he rolls around grabbing his midsection. He rolls to his back to see who it is and looking down at him is Luke.

Luke: I told you I'd be seeing you at Stranglemania. Your third Hellevator match and still getting thrown to the ground. Such a shame to see you like this with all your big, bad ‘I'm evil, I love causing pain’ talk. Looks like I'm the one causing you pain now. Don't think I forgot about WrestleFest when you damn near cracked my skull open.

Caleb continues to grip his ribs as Luke crouches down next to him. Luke grabs a handful of Caleb's hair and pulls his head towards him.

Luke: After you did that and I saw you burn down the shack in the woods, I had to decide how I wanted to move forward. Should I cut my losses and walk away from EWC? Put this all behind me like some bad memory? Well, as you can see, I couldn't do that so I decided to pick my spot. I even told you when I would do it. I have been waiting a long time to do this. You caused me a lot of pain and against my better judgment, I decided I had to cause you some pain of your own.

Luke then rains down a handful of punches connecting with Caleb's jaw. Luke lets go of Caleb's head and stands back to his feet.

Luke: I told you many times last season that I wanted to get in the ring myself. You never helped me with that yourself so I took it into my own hands. I watched you in the ring and since I've been away, I've been getting some training and I think the time has come.

Luke reaches behind him into his waistband and pulls out a sheet of paper. He kneels down beside a nearly unconscious Caleb and shoves the paper in his face, getting Caleb's blood on it.

Luke: You see this right here? This is a contract. A contract that I have signed with EWC. But I'm not going to be spending my time on Brawl with you. I want to stay far away from you. If you want to get at me again, you're going to have to venture outside of Brawl for the first time because I have officially signed to Prime!

Luke stands up while clutching his contract, staring down intensely at Caleb. He then begins to chuckle as Caleb lays there a bloody mess before turning and walking away from his one-time friend.

As cameras circle around Wembley Stadium, they come across Candy sitting amongst all her Sweet Treats in the crowd. The moment she appears on the Extreme Tron she smiles and waves as chants break out.

CANDY!

CANDY!

CANDY!

The seat beside her is taken up by all her candies and other goodies. She picks one up at random and pops it in her mouth before standing to her feet. Candy soaks in the cheers as she pulls out a microphone. She waits a moment for the crowd to settle slightly then raises it up to speak.

Candy: How’s everyone enjoying StrangleMania XIX so far?!

She questions with a laugh as the cheering starts back up.

Candy: Just because I don’t have a match you didn’t think I’d miss all this, did you?!

She shakes her head and continues.

Candy: Normally, I don’t agree with Sally. But this time she had a good idea. I mean, I was going to be here anyway. So why not get a ticket and enjoy the night with each and every one of my Sweet Treats?

The crowd doesn’t seem to have any problems with that.

Candy: Besides, now I got the best seat in the house for all tonight’s action. Can’t wait to see if she can survive the Rage in the Cage against Xavier Reid. Of course, that’s not the only match I’m interested in!

She’s back to shaking her head.

Candy: As the #2 contender for the Indy Championship, I can’t wait to see what goes down between Callie and Jack tonight. But no matter who comes out of the House drama on top, I’ll be waiting in the wings for my opportunity at the gold!

Candy gives the camera a momentary glare before sitting down and turning her attention back to her goodies as we go to a video package highlighting the return of the EWC Hardcore Championship, as well as everyting leading to tonight's title match between Jason Anderson and JoJo Rush...

HARCORE MATCH

For the EWC Hardcore Championship

Jason Anderson
VS JoJo Rush

MATCH WRTIER: JoJo Rush

We return to ringside where we’re set for a Hardcore match for the Hardcore Championship.

Woo: Ever since last year’s Rumble, where in the opening bout, JoJo Rush retired EWC Hall of Famer Ruthann Anderson, the Hardcore & International Champion, JoJo Rush and Ruthann’s son, the Boss, Jason Anderson have been at each other’s throats. While JoJo’s always found the upper hand against Jason Anderson, the former FSW champion is looking to pry away the Hardcore Title from the Light of Monday Nights, but you can’t help but worry for Jason who’s entering this match with a neck injury.

Gomez: Jason’s taking this fight because JoJo was the man that injured him in the first place, Woo! There’s nobody else this season with more hardcore matches under their belt than Jason, he might be a bit hurt, but he’s never been the kind of man to lay down without a fight! This is going to be a bloodbath!

Dobrev: The following match is a Hardcore Match for the EWC Hardcore Championship!



The lights in the arena goes pitch black as up on the Extreme Tron you see a black car as the plate reads “The Boss” as music is playing out of the car. It comes to a stop while the music is playing climbing out first is Diana. She start to dance to the music like a girl would in a rap music video a bit popping her blow pop. She then lean against the car while Dave come out next wearing all black with his shades on his face looking very serious leaning against the car with a bit of a smirk. That when Jason now come out next fixing his suit with a bit of smirks with his shades on his face walking into the arena as the smoke appear as Ne Excuse plays in the arena.

Jason with his hood over his head standing in the middle of Diana in a gangster pose down on a knee with Dave just standing on his right his hands folded in front of him as they appear from under the stage and then they walk out throught the smoke with Jason and Diana moving their head to the music and hyping the crowd up while Dave just walk ahead of them down to the ring.

Jason get down to the bottom of the ramp looking over at the person inside of the ring (if coming out first he looking around at the crowd) while Diana walk down the left side of the ring playing to the fans while Dave walk down the right slapping his hand down on the ring hyping the crowd up that way for a fight while Jason then jump up on to the apron turn his back to (the person if they in there) looking out to the crowd as he pop his hood off his head like AJ Styles he then climb inside of the ring taking off his jacket as he smirks (looking over at the person if they in there) looking out towards the crowd as he hand it over to Diana as he test the ropes to get ready to fight.



A lone woman sits on a stool with an acoustic guitar in hand that is absolutely adorned in stickers repping the House’s logos. A full band waits behind the woman who begins playing the guitar in the lone spotlight.

Aja Volkman: Stand tall for the beast of America
Lay down like a naked dead body
Keep it real for the people workin' overtime
They can't stay living off the governments dime!


The floodlights flashbang the audience revealing the full rock band behind the lone woman. An overwhelming horde of doves flood their way out from the stage and following behind the doves is the Hardcore & International Champion JoJo Rush. Around JoJo’s waist is the X-Division Championship that he retired, in his right hand is the Hardcore Belt and rope around his chest is his infamous bullrope, the gold cowbell attached to the middle of the bullrope sits atop of JoJo’s meaty chest. Alastor Gray follows JoJo Rush holding the International Championship and presenting it as the trophy that it is. Rush pauses at the start of the ramp to revel in the numerous spotlights shining an excessively bright light onto the man. JoJo throws his hands out wide, the spotlights go out, and the entire Wembley stadium erupts with an excessive display of pyro. Alastor also raises the International Title to the sky behind JoJo Rush.

JoJo confidently struts to the ring, smiling and rocking his head back basking in the light and in his greatness. Rush steps into the ring and passes just inches away from Jason to go pose on a turnbuckle to a Wembley crowd that could not stop booing the Light of Monday Nights in tune with the song. A fan in a Morgan Darkwater T-Shirt tries to charge the ring, but security stops him dead in his tracks.

Woo: This could not be a more hostile crowd to Brawl’s Double-Champion.

Dobrev: Introducing the challenger, representing the Club, he is a former FSW Champion & HBO Broadcast Champion, he is the son of hall of famer Ruthann “Ruthless Aggression” Anderson, from Brooklyn, New York, weighing in at 215 pounds he is... ”THE BOSS” JAAAAAASOOOOON AAAAANDERSON!

Jason keeps his attention focused on JoJo Rush, clearly set on not letting himself get caught up in the moment, before Dobrev can introduce the champion, the sold-out Wembley crowd begin to sing

Olé, Olé, Olé!, Olé, Olé, Olé!

The crowd eventually finish singing and cheer loudly for Jason, giving the man a standing ovation for just showing up to the dance. With the crowd dying down, Dobrev found the room to introduce the Champion.

Dobrev: And introducing the Champion, escorted to the ring by Alastor Gray, representing the House, from New York City, weighing in at 270 pounds, he is the HARDCORE & INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION ...THE LIGHT OF MONDAY NIGHTS!... JOJOOOOOO RUUUUUUSH!

JoJo raises holds out the Hardcore and International Titles out wide on a turnbuckle. Alastor stands beside JoJo raising the International Title. A spotlight shines on JoJo, well in spite of the English crowd throwing trash and cups filled with warm beer at JoJo. With introductions out of the way, JoJo hands the X-Division Title to Alastor and the Hardcore belt to the referee who holds up the bladed monstrosity to the crowd. Jason glares a hole through JoJo who only smiles and walks to his corner with a ton of swagger.

DING DING DING

JoJo and Jason circle each other in the ring. Rush keeping an open stance, Jason keeps a safe distance, but neither man went to close the distance. Instead, they both slide out of the ring to grab hold of a weapon. Except Jason feints and stays in the ring while JoJo slides out. Jason sprints and catches JoJo flush in the face with a baseball slide kick! The kick staggers JoJo away from the ring and onto the barricade near the ramp. Jason slides out of the ring and quickly nabs himself a kendo stick and wastes no time absolutely mollywhopping JoJo with the kendo stick. The stick sickingly cracks against the side of JoJo’s head, his ear, even holding up his arm to protect himself only left the man vulnerable to several kendo strikes to JoJo’s arm. Rush throws himself over the barricade to try and make distance between himself and Jason, but Jason catches’ JoJo’s neck with the kendo stick and wrenches back!

Woo: Jason is thinking fast on his feet, I think he knows that if he wants any shot at the upset, he needs to strike early and strike hard!

Gomez: Look at JoJo! His whole head is turning purple! Jason might end it right here!

Jason has the choke wrenched in tight, unfortunately he held it too tightly and the kendo stick snaps across JoJo’s neck. Launching Rush into the crowd and Jason flat on his ass. JoJo wheezes for air while on his hands and knees. Jason recovers and attempts to climb over the barricade, JoJo intercepts by frantically throwing himself in a jumping Lightbringer Lariat! JoJo’s left arm sickeningly cracks against Jason’s body as both men awkwardly tumble into a heap on the nearby ramp. Rush is still huffing for air and Jason is now holding the back of his neck and grimacing in pain. Both men quickly recover, but Jason is the aggressor and charges at JoJo with the jagged kendo stick handle to stab JoJo with it like a prison shiv, and actually sticks it into JoJo’s right flank. Rush hollers in pain and reacts the only way he knew how and that was taking hold of Jason’s neck in one hand and punching The Boss several times with his right hand. Jason holds onto the kendo stick, Jason breaks the grip on his neck by tackling JoJo’s mid-section in an attempt for a double-leg takedown, hoping the stick he stabbed JoJo with is enough leverage to bring the bigger man down. JoJo stops Jason dead in his tracks. And takes hold of Jason’s gut, and rips Jason off of him with a gutwrench powerbomb! A picture-perfect Bandera Bomb onto the ramp outright stuns Jason. Who is left rolling around gripping his neck in pain. Rush stands over Jason and smiles. At least he attempts to hold his smile while pulling out the Kendo stick Jason stuck two inches into JoJo’s side.

Woo: That Bandera bomb just stopped Jason dead in his tracks!

Gomez: If I’m the Boss, I’m gonna do whatever I can to keep attacking that big gushing wound on JoJo’s side!

Woo: For the sake of our sponsors, I’m glad you’re not The Boss, Gomez.

JoJo stands over a writhing Jason and poses to the booing crowd. JoJo unties the bull rope from around his chest and begins tying the rope into a noose! JoJo takes the knot and wraps it around Jason’s neck and begins dragging the man back to the ring. With one hand, Jason grips the knot to try and wrench his neck free enough to breathe. His other hand reaches out to the crowd where a fan hands Jason a bottle of beer! Wait! That’s not a fan, but Jason’s friend “Sloth!” JoJo doesn’t see the exchange! JoJo begins to climb the steel steps, but is quickly stopped in his tracks when Jason smashes the bottle against the back of JoJo’s leg! The strike staggers JoJo who stumbles face first into the turnbuckle! Stunning the champion! Jason pulls the noose off of his neck and lines up a wounded JoJo who is on his hands and knees on the apron. The Rampage superstar runs at JoJo and hits the man flush with a B.J.A! A rolling elbow lands flush against JoJo’s face knocking him out and in the ring. Jason slides in and goes for the first pin of the match.

One…

Two…

Th– No! Kickout!

JoJo’s busted open, blood freely pouring from his nose down his face and into his big bushy beard. Jason is on his back, exasperated that the BJA didn’t put JoJo away. Jason climbs out of the ring and starts cutting the ropes tying the canvas to the ring. While JoJo lays in a puddle of his own blood trying to get himself back together, Jason tears the ring apart to reveal the wooden boards underneath. Jason drags JoJo to his feet and toward the boards, then hooks each arm and attempts to go for Payment! JoJo counters with a big back body drop! Wait! Jason flips through it and lands on his feet. Jason hits the ropes to pick up speed, and with a head full of steam goes for another BJA but JoJo ducks and scoops Jason off his feet for a Deep-Six Shooter! JoJo adds an extra spin so that he can land Jason onto the wooden boards! The boards crack and split revealing the steel beams underneath the ring! Rush drags Jason by the chin over to a flat part of the ring to pin Jason.

One…

Two…

The– Jason kicks out!

Woo: Guys there’s at least eight more matches after this!

Gomez: This is StrangleMania Woo! This is what Hardcore wrestling is all about! Destruction!

With JoJo now in the driver’s seat. He climbs to his feet and stand over a wounded Jason. JoJo laughs at the man and stomps at him. Mocking and laughing at him. The Wembley crowd show their displeasure and JoJo taunts them by planting a foot firmly on Jason’s chest for a pin.

On– immediate kickout!

Like a vulture, JoJo skulks around Jason like a hyena toying with its prey. JoJo steps away and tears off the pad to reveal the stiff turnbuckle underneath it. JoJo further weakens Jason by stepping on his neck, Rush adds further salt in the wound by tossing the turnbuckle pad at Jason’s face. After enough torturing, JoJo lifts Jason back up to his feet and pulls him up for another Bandera Bomb! Wait! It’s a bucklebomb! JoJo tosses Jason neck first into the turnbuckle! Jason staggers out of the corner in immense pain, only to be blindsided by JoJo who picked up a considerable amount of speed and turns Jason inside out with another Lightbringer Lariat! The crowd gasp in shock from the impact Jason’s chest made with JoJo’s massive left arm. JoJo lands on his back against Jason and hooks the leg.

One…

Two…

Thre– No! Jason kicksout! Jason continues to fight!

The Wembley crowd are off their feet! JoJo smile breaks for a moment with a look of anger before he shakes it away with a laugh.

Woo: Anderson continues to dig deep and finds enough in the tank to kick out after a lethal combination of moves by JoJo! But at this point, I can’t help but feel concern for Jason’s long-term health.

Gomez: Well that at least makes two of us, ‘cause it doesn’t seem like either man cares what happens to Jason Anderson tonight!

Rush sits up on his knees to breathe beside a Jason Anderson who is currently seeing stars. “WHY ARE YOU MAKIN’ ME DO THIS!?” Shouts a frustrated JoJo. Blood freely pouring down his face and his side. JoJo gets to his feet and signals for the G90, a fireman’s carry into a cutter! JoJo picks up Anderson’s lifeless body with ease and places him in position, but before JoJo can execute the move, Jason grabs hold of a nearby set of ropes. JoJo and Jason struggle for control, but with a swift kick to JoJo’s head, Jason frees himself from the hold and lands on his feet. JoJo staggers back and sees Jason hanging onto the ropes to keep himself upright. Rush charges at Jason for a spear, but Jason pulls the top-rope down and sends JoJo tumbling out awkwardly to ring side. JoJo lands on his feet, but Rush banged his head on the apron his way down, this is Anderson’s moment to take control! He shakes the cobwebs off and uses the energy from an ecstatic Wembley crowd cheering Anderson on! Jason runs the ropes to pick up speed, then leaps over the ropes to land on the outside of the middle turnbuckle, then moonsaults into JoJo! Piper’s Pit! The moonsault wipes JoJo out while Jason lands on his feet and stumbles and slams into the barricade, it keeps him upright, but the damage takes the wind out of Jason’s sails!

Woo: Anderson digging deep into his bag of tricks! But he needs to find a way to keep this momentum going!

Gomez: I’ve heard of second and even third-winds Woo, but Anderson’s operating on a gear most people just don’t have!

Jason wobbles to the commentary tables and rips apart the Spannish commentary table to get it ready for later. After Jason loads Checkov’s gun, he goes to JoJo who is seein’ stars, but on his knees slouching against the ring to recover. Jason takes the chance to line up and absolutely starch JoJo in the face with a knee strike! Boss Trigger! Jason loses his balance, but gets himself back and drags JoJo to reset him back in place. Jason hits JoJo with a second Boss Trigger, the crowd count along and cheer on Jason who is getting the wind back in his sails. Anderson drags JoJo back into position and lines up for the third and final Boss Trigger, but wait! JoJo shoots to his feet and catches Jason in a powerbomb position! With Jason riding JoJo’s shoulders crotch first, JoJo runs to the Spanish Announce Table and frantically plants Jason through the table with a running power bomb! Jason is in a heap through the table while the Wembley crowd chant “HOLY SHIT!” JoJo’s flat out on his back too sucking in air and attempting to breathe through the blood pouring down his face. Jason is out like a light, his body completely limp and his eyes shut, he’s completely unconscious!

Rush is the first to his feet. He shambles over to the timekeeper’s table and grabs hold of his Hardcore belt and carelessly tosses it into the ring. JoJo limps over to Jason’s corpse and drags the man back to the ring. With a great deal of effort, JoJo gets Anderson back into the ring and joins him. Rush grabs his belt and drops a knee onto Jason’s chest to wake the man up. “THIS IS THE CLOSEST YOUR FAMILY EVER GONNA GET– LOOK AT ME!” JoJo shouts to Jason who’s in a haze, JoJo slaps Jason across the face, Jason looks at JoJo with a glassy eyed look. “THIS IS THE CLOSEST YOUR FAMILY WILL GET TO TAKING WHAT’S MINE!” JoJo takes the Hardcore Title and uses the saw blade to cut a deep long line across Jason’s forehead. Jason tries to fight back, but he can’t get JoJo’s weight off of himself. With Jason’s blood staining the Hardcore belt, JoJo throws the title away to ringside with total abandon before punishing Jason with sickening punches to Jason’s unprotected face.

Woo: STOP THIS JOJO! YOU’VE DONE ENOUGH LET HIM GO!

Gomez: Woo I think we’re the last people JoJo is going to listen to right now!

In an attempt to protect Jason, the referee goes for a pinfall.

One– JoJo lifts Jason by the back of his head to stop the count!

With a bloody hand, JoJo grips the referee’s shirt and shouts in his face “YOU COUNT WHEN AH SAY SO!” JoJo throws the ref and turns his attention back to Jason. He continues to unload punches, the torn up canvas around Jason pools uncomfortably with blood. JoJo continues to punch until he’s physically too exhausted to continue punching. JoJo lays himself across Jason and shouts for the ref to count the pin.

One….

Two….

Thre– NO! JASON KICKS OUT AT 2.99!!! WEMBLEY IS OFF THEIR FEET!

Woo: Wembley is beside themselves! Jason refuses to say die! Even now!

Gomez: This might be too little too late for Jason, but he isn’t going to let JoJo off that easily, you have to respect that heart!

Woo: That heart is going to get him killed, Gomez!

JoJo climbs up to his feet and pulls Jason onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry! JoJo hits a picture-perfect G90 into the canvas! Jason is out! JoJo scrambles and pins Jason.

One…

Two…

Three– NO! KICKOUT AGAIN! THE METAPHORICAL ROOF IS BLOWN OFF OF WEMBLEY!

Jason refuses to die! JoJo is melting down in the middle of the ring, but his hollering is interrupted by the feeling of Jason’s hands gripping onto JoJo’s white tights. Despite all sense and reason, and perhaps on total instinct, Jason gets to his knees. Jason’s left hand grips onto JoJo’s pants tightly, for if he let go, he might possibly keel over. Jason flails his other arm out and cracks JoJo across the face with a slap. Rush looks stunned at Jason, who at the current moment resembles how Ruthann appeared back in last year’s Rumble; defiant until the bitter end. JoJo pulls Jason up to his extremely wobbly legs. Rush gets into an opposite corner and signals for the spear. Rush quickly pulls the trigger and lays Jason out in the middle of the ring with a Spear! JoJo hooks both legs and lays all his weight ontop of Jason.

One…

Two…

Three!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall! AND STILL the Hardcore & International Champion… The LIGHT of Monday NIGHTS!... JOJOOOOOOOOOO RUUUUUUUUUUSH!!

Alastor enters the ring and helps JoJo to his feet before handing the man his International and X-Division championships. The referee finds the Hardcore Title and presents it to JoJo who holds up the title to a Wembley crowd that utterly despises the double-champion. With his celebration out of the way, Alastor helps JoJo out of the ring and to the back to get himself cleaned up for later. A medical team rushes past Rush to get to Jason to treat the man’s various injuries.

Woo: Jason brought the fight of a lifetime, but in this Hardcore fight it was about resolve, and Rush once again shows his resolve with a big title defense here.

Gomez: Holy hell, Jason beat the hell out of JoJo. Though the last time we were surprised!

Woo: What a brutal way to close things out here, as we gear up for a big EWC Fighting Spirit Championship bout up next!

Camera cuts to a video package highlighting the new Fighting Spirit Championship, and everything building up to tonight's match ...

15-Min. No DQ Iron Man Match

For the EWC Fighting Spirit Championship

Mercenary
VS Cosmo Goldworthy
VS Vin Havoc (c)

MATCH WRTIER: Cosmo Goldworthy

We return to ringside where the fans are buzzing in anticipation of the first championship match of many!

Woo: Here we go! This one has been brewing on Friday nights for months, Vin Havoc defends the newly inaugurated Fighting Spirit Championship against his close friend Mercenary and the EWC United States Champion, Cosmo Goldworthy!

Gomez: The big question tonight is if Vin will be able to prove the naysayers wrong by successfully defending his championship again? Or is this Mercenary’s chance to be champion in EWC again, or is Cosmo Goldworthy destined to hit double champ status?!

Dobrev: The following match is a fifteen minute iron man match contested under No-DQ rules and it is for the EWC Fighting Spirit Championship!

Black Label Society's Fire It Up blasts over the PA. A flashing red strobe lights the stage as the rest of the room goes dark.

Dobrev: And now hailing from West Oakland California He is the EWC Outlaw. He is:

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.

Revving the engine while holding the brake Mercenary burns out before rolling down the ramp in a cloud of smoke. Parking the bike at ringside he stomps up the steps, steps through the ropes and again salutes the audience before throwing some shadow punches and preparing for a fight.

Dobrev: And his opponent, from The Golden State, weighing in at 201 pounds, accompanied by Dimitri Graves ... HE IS THE EWC UNITED STATES CHAMPION ... COSMO GOLDWORTHY!

The arena plunges into darkness as the electric beat of "Money On My Mind" reverberates throughout the building. Gold and white lines then strobe throughout the building as the EWC United States Champion Cosmo Goldworthy swaggers out with his manager Dimitri Graves towing behind with a sinister smirk on his face. Cosmo opens up his Louis Vuitton jacket to show off the United States Championship around his waist, the gold glistening under the arena lights as he struts down the ramp. Cosmo slides in, climbing the top rope and raising the Too Sweets up high for everyone - as regardless of if you're with The House or against them, noise is being made from every corner of the building. Cosmo drops off the top rope, removing his jacket and championship; handing both to Dimitri outside.

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.

Dobrev: Lastly, from Brooklyn, New York, weighing in at 240 pounds, he is the EWC FIGHTING SPIRIT CHAMPION, "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.

Woo: Fifteen minutes on the clock but these three would go for sixty if they could! Vin defends the gold, but Cosmo defends last year’s honor as the best Rampage Superstar of the year! Mercenary is out to take that from the both of them!

DING DING DING

15:00

Mercenary - 0

Cosmo - 0

Havoc - 0

As soon as the bell rings, Cosmo eyes Mercenary and Vin to do something– but both men charge him and beat him down in the corner! Cosmo covers up to the best of his ability, but Mercenary and Vin are beating the hell out of him! They’re throwing clubbing blows to the top of his head and he’s trying to get away but he can’t! Vin kicks Cosmo down and Mercenary takes the ropes, stomping him! Vin grins and joins in, stomping on Cosmo’s arm and his shoulder as he tries to cover up! Cosmo rolls out to the floor, wheezing out in pain.

The fans cheer as Mercenary and Vin realize Cosmo is now out of the equation and start to circle the ring. Both men give one each other nod and charge in for a hockey fight in the center of the ring! Both start teeing off with heavy punches to the head, but neither budges! Vin shoves Mercenary and chops him! Mercenary elbows Vin! Vin chops him again! But Mercenary takes the back of his head and hits him with repeated elbows to the side of the head! Vin staggers, but he ROARS in Mercenary’s face! Mercenary shakes his head and hits off the ropes, but VIN CHARGES IN FOR A LARIAT- MERCENARY DUCKS UNDER AND TAKES THE HEAD! Vin slaps his arms off and elbows him in the ribs! Vin spins into a lariat this time! Mercenary staggers, struggling to stay up on his feet. Vin hits off the ropes, but Mercenary catches him by the neck and lifts him with a double handed choke lou thesz press! Mercenary mounts Vin and starts unleashing hammerfist strikes to the head!

Vin tries his hardest to cover up but his head is getting bounced off the canvas! He tries to squirm around, but to no avail. Vin rolls over and Mercenary follows behind him, trying to roll into a rear naked choke hold. Vin plants his hands onto his mat and starts to rise to his feet, taking Mercenary’s arm and flipping it over his shoulder! Mercenary quickly rises to his feet, but Vin is waiting for him.. ROLLING KESAGIRI CHOP! The chop lands flush on the side of Mercenary’s neck, and he’s stunned! Vin takes Mercenary’s arm and throws it over his shoulder, lifting him up for a high-angle uranage slam! Mercenary gets slammed right into the canvas, and Vin makes the first cover of the match.

ONE!

T–Mercenary kicks out!

That kick out doesn’t bode well for Vin. He realizes it’s going to have to take a lot to score a fall in this match and forces Mercenary up. He starts elbowing him, then throwing chops! The combination takes a lot out of Mercenary as he’s unable to avoid getting rocked, and his chest is getting lit up! Vin yells in Mercenary’s face, winding back one last chop! BUT MERCENARY BLOCKS HIS HAND! Vin holds his hand, and Mercenary takes that same hand! HE PULLS HIM INTO A SHORT-ARM LARIAT, ‘STRONG STYLE’ CONNECTS! Vin goes down, and Mercenary makes his own cover!

ONE!

TW–VIN KICKS OUT!

Mercenary slaps the mat! Vin rolls over, trying his hardest to get up. Mercenary calls him up and hits the ropes... VIN CATCHES HIM WITH A LARIAT! Mercenary staggers, but he’s still up! VIN HITS THE ROPES FOR ANOTHER BUT MERCENARY CATCHES HIM THIS TIME! He marches around the ring, and TOSSES HIM WITH A FALLAWAY SLAM– Vin floats behind him to his feet! He grabs him by the neck! REAR NAKED CHOKE HOLD! MERCENARY REACHES OUT AS VIN IS TRYING TO DROP BACK!

But Mercenary has it scouted out and grabs Vin by the legs, lifting him up! Vin backpacks onto Mercenary, trying to keep the choke locked in but Mercenary runs backwards and slams Vin into the turnbuckles! Mercenary staggers free as the hold is released, coughing out in pain. Vin slowly approaches Mercenary, and MERCENARY TAKES THE HEAD! EVEN FLOW DDT! VIN GETS PLANTED INTO THE CANVAS AND MERCENARY MAKES THE COVER!

ONE!


TWO!


VIN KICKS OUT!

Woo: I thought that Even Flow DDT would’ve earned Mercenary his first fall of the match! These two men are firing off at all cylinders and we HAVEN’T even seen any weapons in this one yet!

Gomez: Vin and Mercenary are working at an absurd pace just to score one fall, but you can’t forget Cosmo Goldworthy lying in wait at ringside!

12:30

Mercenary - 0

Cosmo - 0

Havoc - 0

Mercenary drags Vin up, ready to get some points on the board. He scoops Vin onto his shoulders and looks around! HE TRIES TO TOSS HIM INTO THE SATURN DRIV– READY TO DIE! COSMO GOLDWORTHY CATCHES MERCENARY WITH THE TORNADO KICK OUT OF NOWHERE! MERCENARY DROPS VIN AND CRASHES DOWN! COSMO MAKES THE COVER, COUNTING ALONG!

ONE!


TWO!


VIN YANKS COSMO OFF OF MERCENARY!

He throws Cosmo into the turnbuckles! Vin follows with a jab to Cosmo’s throat! He fires off another! And now he chops him! Vin takes Cosmo’s wrist and irish whips him across the ring! Cosmo bounces out of the corner, holding his back in pain, and Vin ducks underneath and tosses him with an exploder suplex! Cosmo winces, slowly rising up. Vin approaches him, but Cosmo rakes the eyes! Vin holds his eyes in pain, and Cosmo backs up for a scorpion kick– but Vin slaps his leg back as it’s in the air and Cosmo lands back onto his feet. As he does, Vin swings a wild lariat but Cosmo ducks under and takes the arms, pulling him down into a backslide! Vin shows some agility by rolling through to his feet! Cosmo is up, but he anticipated a reversal AND HE LEAPS INTO THE CASH COW! THE MUSHROOM STOMP FLOORS VIN! COSMO MAKES ANOTHER COVER!

ONE!


TWO!


MERCENARY YANKS COSMO OFF OF VIN!

Mercenary grabs Cosmo by the head and throws him over the top rope! But this time, he follows after him! Cosmo scrambles up to his feet, but Mercenary pursues him and big boots him, and Cosmo flies backwards into the steel steps! He hits the floor, groaning. Mercenary looks under the ring, and takes a steel chair! The first weapon in this match is introduced as Cosmo slowly rises up. Mercenary takes the chair and jabs the top of the chair into the side of Cosmo’s head! He falls against the barricade, and Mercenary adjusts it. He raises it up and smashes it into the side of his head again! Cosmo falls to a seated position, breathing heavily..

Mercenary: Is this what you wanted? You’re trapped here with us and it’s about time you get a taste of your own medicine!

He grabs the chair and points it for Cosmo’s knee, just like he did to him! MERCENARY RAISES IT UP AS COSMO LOOKS ON IN HORROR!

SMASH!

COSMO MOVES JUST IN TIME, AND MERCENARY SMASHES THE CHAIR INTO THE FLOOR! Mercenary drops the chair and pursues Cosmo! He follows around, and chases him! Cosmo slides in and Mercenary rolls in right behind him! LARIAT FROM VIN HAVOC– COSMO DUCKS AND HE CRACKS MERCENARY! Mercenary falls out the middle rope, and Cosmo snaps Vin around! But Vin blocks Cosmo this time, nailing him with a step-up enzuigiri!

Vin rises to his feet, and drags Cosmo up quickly. He slaps him twice! Vin ducks under Cosmo and spikes him onto the back of his head with a half-nelson suplex! Cosmo holds the back of his head in pain, and now Vin is feeling it! He yanks Cosmo right back up, and jams his head into his thighs. He lifts him up, for a SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cosmo is folded as Vin transitions to a cover!

ONE!



TWO!


COSMO KICKS OUT!

Vin slaps the mat. Cosmo rolls over, rubbing the back of his head. Vin follows behind him, grabbing the legs, but Cosmo rolls over and kicks him away! Cosmo crawls under the bottom rope, reaching his arms down to look under the ring... Vin rises to his feet to approach Cosmo and takes him by the legs, dragging him to the center of the ring – but Cosmo turns himself over and cracks Vin over the head with a kendo stick! Vin falls over, holding his head in pain. Cosmo rises up and raises the kendo, smashing Vin over the back with it! Cosmo raises the kendo stick it and smashes it over his back again! Cosmo yells in Vin’s face, and REPEATEDLY HITS HIM OVER AND OVER WITH THE KENDO STICK! But Vin plants his hands on the mat, beckoning Cosmo on for more!

Cosmo looks at Vin in shock and looks to smash it over his head– but Mercenary is back in and yanks it out of his hand! Cosmo turns around and Mercenary BREAKS THE KENDO STICK ACROSS HIS STOMACH! Cosmo rolls out, holding his ribs in agony. But Mercenary turns and Vin cracks him with a jab! Vin then throws a hook, which has Mercenary reeling! Vin takes Mercenary’s head, trying to lift him up– but Mercenary refuses to budge! Vin tries again, but Mercenary stalls the lift, bringing them back.. SUDDENLY THEY’RE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TURNBUCKLES!

PUNISHER SUPLEX!

THE ROPES AND TURNBUCKLES SHAKE, AND VIN REACHES FOR HIS BACK, CRYING OUT IN AGONY! Mercenary drags Vin back. He falls to his knees, breathing heavily. Regardless, Mercenary makes the cover.

ONE!


TWO!


...


WHAT THE HELL?! COSMO SLIDES BACK IN AND SMASHES A LIGHT TUBE OVER THE BACK OF MERCENARY!

Woo: HOLY SHIT! COSMO JUST INTRODUCED A LIGHT TUBE TO THE FRAY! THESE THREE WILL LITERALLY DO ANYTHING TO WIN!

Gomez: DON’T STOP NOW, COSMO! INTRODUCE ANOTHER! HURT HIM! THIS IS YOUR NIGHT TO SHINE!

Woo: What the hell is wrong with you!? Do you have no conscience?! What do you mean introduce another???

Gomez: Anything goes, Woo! You’re lucky he doesn’t introduce a gun to the fray!

9:35

Mercenary - 0

Cosmo - 0

Havoc - 0

Mercenary yells out in agony, rolling around in pain from the shards of glass going into his back. Vin rolls to the corner, having no idea what the hell just happened. Cosmo drags him away from Vin, dropping into the cover!


ONE!


TWO!


TH—MERCENARY KICKS OUT!


Cosmo slaps the mat, pissed! What will it take for any of these men to score a pinfall?! Cosmo looks at Vin starting to get up.. He approaches Vin and kicks him. Cosmo drags Vin up and leans him against the turnbuckles. Cosmo takes Vin by the legs and raises him to the top rope. Cosmo climbs the middle ropes and forearms Vin. But Vin fights back with a nasty headbutt! It staggers Cosmo, and Vin throws another one! Vin keeps headbutting Cosmo! Cosmo winces out in pain, refusing to relent. He starts to climb the top rope.. But Vin is fighting back! These two are literally brawling on the top rope! Cosmo takes Vin by the head and starts throwing punches to the side of the head! Vin covers up as he’s in bad positioning here.. Cosmo takes the head of Vin and starts to grin..

TOP ROPE HURRICANRANA, ONTO MERCENARY! VIN GOES CRASHING ONTO MERCENARY’S RIBS, WHEEZING OUT IN PAIN! Cosmo looks back and quickly rolls over to Pin Vin!

ONE!


TWO!


TH–VIN KICKS OUT!

And the crowd erupts with Vin gets his shoulder up! Cosmo is distressed! He looks at Toyo Yasahiro, trying to confirm that was a two count! Yasahiro doesn’t back down and insists it was! Mercenary rolls to the ropes, clutching at his ribs. Cosmo pulls Mercenary up, but Mercenary scoops Cosmo and throws him to the apron! Cosmo reaches for Mercenary, but Mercenary nails him with a nasty haymaker! Cosmo is only up because he’s leaning on the ropes.. Mercenary steps out of the ring and punches Cosmo in the body. He punches him again, and now Cosmo is in serious trouble. Cosmo backs away, trying to get from Mercenary.. BUT MERCENARY CHOKES HIM! HE TAKES COSMO’S TRUNKS AND LIFTS HIM UP HIGH! THE DEATH STROKE ON THE APRON!

SIT-OUT CHOKESLAM CONNECTS! COSMO’S BACK AND HIS HEAD CRASHES RIGHT INTO THE APRON, THE HARDEST PART OF THE RING! Cosmo isn’t moving, and Mercenary has to roll off of the apron, holding his spine in pain after falling on the apron.. He winces, looking around, but he turns–

AND VIN HAVOC FLIES OUT THE MIDDLE ROPE WITH A SUICIDE DIVE! MERCENARY GOES DOWN, AND VIN GETS UP AS QUICK AS HE POSSIBLY CAN! Vin nods his head profusely, looking under the ring! He grabs a chair, and throws it in the ring! Vin grabs another chair, and throws it in! Vin keeps grabbing chairs and throwing as many as he possibly can in the ring! It’s a stack of chairs in the ring, and Vin pulls Cosmo off of the apron! He pulls him backwards to the steel ramp setup, AND HE LIFTS HIM UP HIGH!

BRAINBUSTER ON THE RAMP! COSMO GETS DRILLED ONTO THE RAMP! HE’S HARDLY SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE AFTER THAT ONE!

Vin shakes his head profusely and approaches Mercenary! He throws him in the ring and follows after him! Mercenary is struggling up, so Vin grabs a steel chair and DOMES MERCENARY BY SMASHING IT OVER HIS HEAD! Vin grabs the chair and drops it back into the pile of chairs! Mercenary is stunned, Vin grabs his arm and throws it over his shoulder and then grabs Mercenary’s other hand, lifting him up.. MADE IN BROOKLYN ON THE PILE OF CHAIRS! VIN MAKES THE COVER!

ONE!


TWO!


THREE—



MERCENARY KICKS OUT! HOW?!?

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

Woo: VIN HAVOC HITS THE MADE IN BROOKLYN AND MERCENARY KICKS OUT! WE ARE STILL AT ZERO FALLS A PIECE!

Gomez: WEMBLEY STADIUM JUST ERUPTED AT THE SIGHT OF MERCENARY’S HEART! THIS IS WHAT ‘FIGHTING SPIRIT’ MEANS! THESE THREE MEN WON’T EVEN DROP A FALL, THEY’RE TREATING IT AS IF ONE FALL IS THE LAST ONE!

5:00

Mercenary - 0

Cosmo - 0

Havoc - 0

Vin gasps for air, Mercenary is hardly moving, and Cosmo is laid out on the ramp. Vin pulls Mercenary off the stack of chairs and throws them out of the way. He looks down at him, trying to figure out what it’ll take to just get a point. Vin walks to the ropes and rolls out, looking under the ring. Vin digs deep, and pulls out a barbed wire board! He grins and slides in, placing the board against the turnbuckles. Mercenary is starting to show signs of life and Vin slightly frowns, knowing it really is that hard to keep him down. Vin takes Mercenary by the head and slowly works his big frame up–

BUT MERCENARY SNAPS BACK UP TO HIS FEET! He clobbers Vin with a punch! But Vin remains upright, and throws a body shot, then a punch to the jaw! Mercenary almost goes down, but he fires back with a big boot from a long distance! Vin goes down, but he rises right back up! Mercenary takes note of this and quickly picks up a chair! HE CRACKS VIN OVER THE HEAD! AND THAT ONE BUSTS VIN OPEN! Vin struggles, trying to stay on his feet! MERCENARY RAISES THE CHAIR AND SMASHES IT OVER HIS HEAD AGAIN! VIN FALLS TO HIS KNEES, AND MERCENARY DROPS THE CHAIR!

Mercenary picks up the bloodied Vin and lifts him onto his shoulders, grinning. HE CHARGES FORWARD! SATURN DRIVER INTO THE BARBED WIRE BOARD! THE BOARD BREAKS IN HALF, AND VIN’S SKIN GETS TRAPPED INTO THE WIRES! HE YELPS OUT IN PAIN, KICKING AND FLAILING HIS LEGS ON THE MAT! Mercenary has to YANK him from the wires as he makes the cover! Vin is literally writhing as his shoulders get pinned to the mat!

ONE!


TWO!


THRE–

VIN THROWS HIS SHOULDER UP!

He may have gotten hurt from that, but he was still conscious! You’ve gotta put him out if you want him to stay out of this one! Mercenary looks down at Vin and nods. He slowly pulls him up. He jams his head into his thighs and double underhooks his arms, looking for Grave Break– A STEEL PIPE INTO THE BACK OF HIS KNEE! COSMO RETURNS INTO THE FRAY AND MERCENARY RELEASES VIN, GOING DOWN! He tries to get up to his feet– but this time Cosmo smashes the pipe into Mercenary’s knee! He falls over, crying out in pain! Mercenary reaches for that worked knee, but Cosmo kicks his hands away! Mercenary tries again, but this time Cosmo STOMPS on his hand and keeps it there!

Cosmo grins as Mercenary can’t move, his hand trapped to the mat.. Cosmo then raises the pipe up and backs away, SO HE CAN SMASH IT INTO HIS KNEE! Mercenary punches the mat with his other hand, trying to endure the pain; but he can’t! Cosmo throws the pipe aside and snaps his fingers, calling Dimitri over. Dimitri opens his suit jacket and pulls out a black bag, and everyone starts to rise to their feet because they know what that entails. He rolls the bag in the ring and Cosmo takes the bag, picking it up. He marches around the ring and unties the bag, POURING THUMBTACKS ALL OVER THE CANVAS!

Mercenary grits his teeth, crawling to the ropes. He still clutches at that bad knee, but he’s trying to will himself back into this one! Cosmo takes Mercenary by the wrist and kicks him in the calf. Mercenary groans. Cosmo takes the wrist and irish whips him off, but Mercenary COUNTERS it! Cosmo bounces off the ropes, TWISTING INTO THE CASH ROLLS EVERYTHING ELBOW– BUT MERCENARY CATCHES HIM AND THE ROTATION ONLY ADDS TO THE VELOCITY, AS THEY SPIN INTO THE DAMNDEST DEADPOOL DROP ON THE THUMBTACKS! THE SPINNING SIDEWALK SLAM CRASHES COSMO STRAIGHT INTO THE MAT AND THE TACKS, AND COSMO SCREAMS OUT IN AGONY AS HIS SKIN DIGS INTO THEM!

The crowd gasps as Cosmo rolls over, his back immediately cut up! He slaps the mat, yelling out in pain! Cosmo hyperventilates as Dimitri quickly rushes over, trying to coach him through this as the pain is nearly unbearable! He can’t think, he can hardly feel, and his body starts to twitch! Mercenary grins, ready to deal more damage, but Vin grabs Mercenary in an inverted facelock! WILD THING REVOLUTION, NO! MERCENARY SPINS OUT!

He kicks Vin in the ribs and takes the head! He places his head into his thighs, trying for the Grave Breaker again, but Mercenary feels the pain in his leg! He releases, wheezing out. Vin tries to lift Mercenary up in an alabama slam like position, but Mercenary brings him back down! He double underhooks the arms again, but Vin breaks free of the hold! SO MERCENARY IMPROVISES! HE REACHES DOWN AND CRADLES VIN, GOTCH STYLE! AND HE LIFTS HIM UPSIDE DOWN, BACKING TOWARDS THE TACKS.. MERCENARY CLOSES HIS EYES, BARING THE PAIN IN HIS KNEE!

SUZUKI SPIKE ON THE THUMBTACKS! VIN GETS THE TOP OF HIS HEAD SPIKED INTO THE THUMBTACKS! MERCENARY FALLS BACK AGAINST THE ROPES, GASPING FOR AIR! VIN ISN’T MOVING, AND MERCENARY SWEEPS THE TACKS OUT OF THE WAY AS HE CRAWLS OVER FOR THE COVER!

ONEEEEEEEEE!!




TTTWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOO!!




TTTHHHHHRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!






NOOOOOOOOOOO! COSMO BREAKS THE PINFALL AT THE VERY LAST SECOND! THE CROWD COME UNGLUED!

“FIGHT FOREVER!”

“FIGHT FOREVER!”

“FIGHT FOREVER!”

Woo: This is one of the damndest triple threat matches I’ve ever seen! Vin Havoc just got the top of his head driven into thumbtacks, and somehow we’re still at zero points!

Gomez: Cosmo, I need you to lock in and wrap this one up! DON’T YOU FORGET THAT YOU HAVE ANOTHER MATCH TONIGHT!

Woo: At this rate, Mercenary is going to deliver on his promises and send Cosmo to Lavender, a broken man! Vin Havoc holding tight to that Fighting Spirit Championship as we still have no idea who’s winning this one!

2:00

Mercenary - 0

Cosmo - 0

Havoc - 0

All three of these men lie in agony as none of them can pull it off here! Mercenary gasps for air, both pissed that Cosmo broke the pin and exhausted. Vin holds the top of his head, he’s literally trying his hardest to recover! And Cosmo leans on the ropes, knowing that he saved his chances of winning this match. Each man moves to an individual corner, staring at each other.. Vin and Merc share a nod, and Cosmo defiantly flips both men off!

They rise up and CHARGE TO THE CENTER OF THE RING FOR A THREE WAY BRAWL! Hands are being thrown every way! Mercenary and Vin start beating down on Cosmo – but Cosmo starts to fight back! Cosmo elbows Vin, elbows Merc! But Vin headbutts Cosmo! Cosmo falls to his knees! And Mercenary cracks Vin! Cosmo tries to rise up to his feet, BUT VIN AND MERCENARY ARE BRAWLING OVER HIM! Cosmo wraps his arms around their waist, driving them to the corner in front! Cosmo falls backwards, breathing heavily..

DOUBLE LARIAT FROM VIN AND MERCENARY! Cosmo goes down, and the two stare at each other! Vin chops Mercenary! Mercenary chops Vin! Now they’re having an exchange of chops! But Vin gets the upperhand! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! He PUNCHES Mercenary so damn hard he turns around! VIN TAKES THE HEAD, LOOKING AROUND! WILD THING REVO–COSMO RUSHES OVER AND TAKES VIN IN AN INVERTED FACELOCK! WILD THING REVOLUTION TO VIN, AND VIN DRAGS MERCENARY DOWN WITH AN INVERTED DDT! COSMO SCRAMBLES OVER TO VIN, TRYING TO PIN HIM WITH HIS OWN MOVE!


ONEEEE!!



TWOOOOO!!



THREEEE—-


VIN KICKS OUT!

Cosmo rolls Vin over and drags him up! He takes the waist and transitions to grabbing the arms, slowly twisting them around! Cosmo yells out, nodding his head! HE PLANTS VIN WITH THE GOLD MIN– NO! VIN SLIPS HIS HEAD OUT JUST IN TIME! AND HE GRABS COSMO BY THE NECK! REAR NAKED CHOKE HOLD! Cosmo yells out, reaching for Vin’s arms! He tries his hardest to get free, but he can’t! VIN PULLS HIM DOWN INTO THE CHOKE HO– COSMO BACKROLLS, PLANTING VIN’S SHOULDERS TO THE MAT!

ONE!



TWO!



THR– MERCENARY YANKS COSMO OFF OF HIM, FRANTICALLY TAKING THE WAIST! BACKDROP SUPLEX– BUT COSMO HOLDS ONTO THE ROPES! SO MERCENARY LIFTS COSMO UP AND THROWS HIM OUT OF THE RING! COSMO LANDS ONTO THE APRON, THOUGH!

Mercenary has no idea and he rushes over to Vin! Vin grabs at Mercenary’s bad leg though, connecting with a dragonscrew legwhip! Mercenary holds the leg, wheezing out in pain! Vin quickly drags Mercenary up and lifts him onto his shoulder! HE NODS! EMERALD FLOWSI– MERCENARY FLIPS THE HOLD, LIFTING VIN ONTO HIS SHOULDER! Mercenary elevates Vin up in the air, and tosses him to flip the hold! NOW HE HAS HIM IN A CRUCIFIX LIFT!

Woo: HE’S ABOUT TO HIT VIN WITH THE SAME MOVE THAT WON HIM SOLE POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP FROM HIM!

Gomez: TO HELL THE HARD WAY WITH YOU, VIN!!!

0:59

Mercenary - 0

Cosmo - 0

Havoc - 0

Vin wiggles! He’s trying his hardest to break free of the hold! He tries to bring himself down, but Mercenary holds those arms as tight as possible! Mercenary backs up for maximum momentum.. Cosmo starts to rise to his feet on the apron...

AND MERCENARY TOSSES VIN INTO COSMO WITH TO HELL THE HARD WAY!

COSMO FRONTFLIPS IN BEFORE HE CAN GET TO HIM IN TIME! GOLD RUSH LARIAT TO MERCENARY! MERCENARY GOES DOWN AND HE DROPS VIN!

MERCENARY IS KNOCKED OUT COLD, AND COSMO QUICKLY SCRAMBLES OVER TO GRAB VIN! HE TAKES THE ARMS, TWISTING HIM! GOLD MIINNEEEE! COSMO ROLLS HIM OVER AND HOOKS THE LEGS!


ONNEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!



TTTTWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!



TTTTHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!


THE CROWD ERUPTS! Mercenary is laid out, Vin is down, and Cosmo slaps the mat, ecstatic! HE KNOWS IT’S OVER! They continue to count along as the time elapses... AND THE BELL SOUNDS!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall by one fall to zero, AND NEEEEEWWWW EWC FIGHTING SPIRIT CHAMPION! COSSSMMOOOOOOO! GOOLLLLDDDWOOORRTHHHYYYYY!!

”Money On My Mind” blares throughout the building as Cosmo lies on his side, hardly able to move after the onslaught that all three men put themselves through. Dimitri enters the ring with the United States Championship and embraces Cosmo, helping him up! Cosmo needs Dimitri to stand as he takes his US Championship and raises it up high!

The referee approaches Cosmo with the Fighting Spirit Championship and he takes it, falling to a knee. Cosmo breathes heavily as he hugs the championship tight. Cosmo beats his chest and points up to the sky, looking up, emotional from dedicating this one to his deceased best friend, Carter Williams.

Cosmo doesn’t allow anyone to feel his pain, as he quickly marches to the corner and climbs the top rope, raising his championships up high! “BEST IN THE MOTHERFUCKIN’ WORLD!!!” He yells. Cosmo drops off the top rope, the adrenaline runs down as he falls to a knee in exhaustion. Dimitri helps him out of the ring.

Meanwhile, Vin Havoc and Mercenary both lay next to each other, bruised and battered. The referee and other medical personnel come down to tend to them.

Woo: We’ve got many more championship matches to go, and I’m in absolute awe that we just witnessed that one! All three left everything on the line, but it came to the VERY END as Cosmo Goldworthy swooped in and took the Fighting Spirit Championship from Vin Havoc!

Gomez: Mercenary was willing to give it all to win that! But it was down to the smarts, the endurance, the HEART of Cosmo Goldworthy! And now Cosmo has to show that he is indeed one of EWC’s toughest competitors by taking on a bonafide legend in Lavender later in the night! You smell that, Woo? I think it’s a #HouseSweep in the air tonight!

Woo: Big night of action so far here at StrangleMania XIX, and in just moments we'll see Amis Shelton and Morgan Darkwater face off in a steel chain submission match for the EWC Heritage Championship!

Camera cuts backstage in the meantime, where it seems we have someone arriving just in time...

Night of nights, show of shows! The camera comes in backstage at Wembley Stadium buzzed with a frenetic energy. Everywhere s a hive of activity that pulses with the anticipation of the unfolding Stranglemania. While some might walk through unnoticed, that is not the case for one of our champions. As if her presence alone was enough to silence crowds and part oceans, ‘The Last Magician’ and EWC Undisputed Champion Sally Talfourd enters the frame. She walks with an air of supreme confidence, shoulders back and head held high. She is dressed for her match, her black and red sequences catching the light and casting out a dazzling display. Over her shoulder is her monument and testament – the EWC Undisputed Championship belt. Making her way through the organized chaos, Sally was a beacon of calm amidst the whirlwind of preparations.

From behind the camera, a familiar voice to the EWC faithful rings out …

Ace Heart: Miss Talfourd! A word?

Sally stops in her tracks as Ace Heart, resident backstage mouth-breather, rushes up. For all his faults, he cuts a fine figure on EWC’s spotlight event, a suit and bow-tie, even a visit to the hairdressers. Sally gives him the up-and-down and a deadpan look.

Sally Talfourd: Just one?

Ace lets out a laugh, though is quick to adjust himself as Sally shoots daggers at him with her eyes. He stands up a little taller, adjusts his jacket.

Ace Heart: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here now with EWC’s very own Undisputed Champion: ‘The Last Magician’ Sally Talfourd.

Sally Talfourd: They know who I am, Ace.

Ace Heart: You know my name?

There’s a moment where Ace’s eyes reveal a pride, a real sense of achievement. He prays that his mother and father are watching for this very moment that not just one of the talents but the talent of the company recognises their dear old boy. There’s even a flutter in his heart, a lifetime playing out in the fraction of a second. Yes, Ace could love Sally. Yes, he could marry her. Yes, they could have children and a house with a white picket fence. That dream, however, is quickly shattered.

Sally Talfourd: Yeah, I saw your face on the side of a milk carton, and underneath it said ‘This is Ace Heart. He’s been missing for 23 years. If found, please keep missing for another 23.’

The rejection is palpable, the pain real. Ace tries to keep it together.

Ace Heart: So … OK … so Sally, I was wondering what … what your thoughts are going into the match?

Sally Talfourd: What match?

There’s a moment where poor Ace is as confused as when he read the first question of his SATs. He looks to the camera, to the cameraman, to the ring crew walking past for help.

Ace Heart: Your title match? Against Xavier Reid? Tonight’s main event?

Sally Talfourd: That’s not a match. That’s a foregone conclusion.

Ace Heart: Wha …

Sally Talfourd: For crying out loud!

Sally rips the microphone from Ace’s hand and gives him a violent shove to the chest. He goes stumbling backwards as Sally glares at the cameraman.

Sally Talfourd: You. Follow.

Charging off into the depths of Wembley Stadium, the cameraman jogging along behind, Sally searches for some – anyone – semi-decent at their job enough to interview her as we cut away.

Steel Chain Submission Match

For the EWC Heritage Championship

Amis Shelton
VS Captain Morgan Darkwater

MATCH WRTIER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em

We return to ringside where fans are ready for our next match!

Woo: Here we go folks, Amis Shelton and Morgan Darkwater face off next with the EWC Heritage Championship on the line!

Dobrev: The following match is a Steel Chain Submission Match and it is for the EWC Heritage Championship! Joining us first, the challenger. From Springfield, Illinois and weighing in at 195 pounds... AMIS SHELTON!

As the opening riffs to Nothing but Thieves' "Futureproof" hits the speakers, the crowd almost unanimously rise to their to a chorus of boos for the imminent arrival of Amis Shelton. As soon as the first verse kicks in, Amis appears from behind the curtain with arms already raised, ready to soak in the reaction from the fans with his trademark smirk. He walks down to the ramp and hops into the ring, climbing a turnbuckle with arms aloft.

Dobrev: And the opponent, haillin’ from the Grand Line and weighing in at 397 pounds, he is the EWC Heritage Champion... CAPTAIN MORGAN DARKWATER!

The lights in the arena cut out as first notes of Captain Morgan's entrance theme, "The Sunk'n Norwegian", kick in and the screens around the arena fade in to the image of a perpetually burning skull-n-crossbones flag rippling in the wind



Spotlights whip across the crowds, coming to rest on handfuls of Morgan's crew - each pirate dressed for trouble - as they make their way through the fans towards the ring, tankards in hands, yelling and drinking in time with the lyrics "One More Drink!", enjoying their grog with exuberant fans (who don't seem to mind getting splashed with the questionable alcohol), before finally climbing over the barriers to surround the ring, whipping the fans into a frenzy before the lights finally cut to the mainstage...

The spotlight rises on Morgan, sat on an elaborate throne, the back above his head an ornate skull-n-crossbones. He's sat there, stoic and calm, hands resting on the pommel of his cutlass "Black Betsy" as it rests, point first, on the toe of his thick black boots. As the cheers from both his crew and fans rise, he raises the cutlass along with it, holding it high above his head as fire erupts from the eye-sockets of the skull, and continue to burn fiercely as he slowly stands, sheathes his sword, cracks his knuckles and neck, smirks with a devilish glint in his eye... and pounds his open palm to the erruption of pyros!

The Brawlin' Buccaneer marches down the ramp, high and low fiving fans along the way, and snatches two tankards from the outstretched hands of his crew, raising them high for all to see, and pours them both into his open mouth at once, frothy brown liquid absolutely drenching the hulking man as his crew finish their drinks as well. Tossing the tankards into the crowds, Morgan jostles and roughhouses with his men, practically fighting his way through them as he climbs into the ring, truly pumped up and ready to fight like never before. Disrobing his coat and detaching his sword from his belt, he hands them to a crewman before gesturing for them all to leave, and they scurry back up the ramp, taking his throne with them, leaving the Captain alone in the ring, a devilish grin on his roguish features as he waits for his opponent/the starting bell.

DING DING DING

Morgan runs at Amis but he runs into a European upperutt. Amis hits punches that back Morgan to the corner. Amis whips Morgan to the opposite corner. Amis follows him in grabbing as much chain as he can and thwaks Morgan in the gut with the chain. Morgan drops to the mat. Amis brings the chain down across Morgan’s back again and again. Amis wraps the chain around his fist and punches Morgan in the side of the head. Morgan drops to the mat. Amis pulls Morgan to his feet and we see blood pour down his hair. Amis lifts Morgan into the air and drives him down with a brainbuster. Amis goes to lift Morgan again but Morgan yanks at the chain sending Amis crashing to the mat. Morgan lays into Amis with punches as he gets back to his feet. He wraps the chain around Amis’ neck and pulls on it. He wrenches back as far as he can but Amis manages to kick Morgan in the head causing him to release the chain. Color slowly returns to Amis’ face. Both slowly get to their feet but Amis walks into a uranage from Morgan that sends both crashing to the mat. Morgan gets to his feet and grabs Amis driving him down onto the chain with a DDT.

Woo: That might have gotten the pin had this not been a submission match!

Gomez: Shame for The Captain that this isn’t a normal match. Maybe good for Amis Shelton though. He’s still in with a chance.

Blood drips from Amis’ head as Morgan lifts him to his feet. Amis jabs him in the gut with an elbow. Amis grabs Morgan and runs toward the ropes. Amis leaps over the ropes to the floor pulling Morgan down over the rope. Amis grabs a chair and smacks Morgan again and again with the chair until he drops to the ringside mats. Amis pulls Morgan to his feet and runs at the corner. Amis leaps sliding into the ring and out but pulling Morgan into the corner post. He pulls a second time. Morgan looks dazed. Amis goes to pull a third time but Morgan pulls the chain pulling Amis into the ring. Morgan lays into his back and shoulders with rights and forearms. Morgan pulls Amis to the floor and leads him to the commentary table. Before he can do anything, Amis backdrops Morgan sending both crashing through the table.

Both slowly begin to move throwing bits of table at each other. Amis crawls to the side of the ring and pulls out a kendo stick. He smacks Morgan in the gut with it doubling him over. Amis falls backward dropping onto Morgan with a legdrop. As Amis gets to his feet, Morgan shoves him into the corner post. Amis spins and falls against the barrier. Morgan runs and drives his knee into Amis knocking the barrier down with the impact. Morgan grabs a chair from under a fan in the front row and smacks Amis across the spine. Amis gets to his feet but Morgan cracks him with the chair knocking Amis to the ground. Morgan tosses the chair to the side and drags Amis back to the ring.

Woo: Can you even submit if you are out cold?

Gomez: Referee may have to make a judgement call!

Morgan slides Amis into ring and slides in after him. Amis grabs the chain and pulls it Morgan yelps in pain and clutches his… plank. Amis drags him to his feet and drives Morgan to the mat with a tiger suplex. Amis drags Morgan back to his feet and whips him off the ropes. Amis pulls on the chain dragging Morgan into a dropkick that knocks him to the mat. Amis pulls Morgan to the corner and smacks him with the chain. Morgan drops to the mat. Amis continues his assault with the chain bringing it down on whatever joint of Morgan’s body that he can. Morgan lays on the mat in a pained heap. Amis grabs him applying an armbar. Amis wrenches on the arm while smacking him in the open wound with elbows. The referee looks to the timekeeper as he contemplates calling for the bell. Morgan begins to move. He manages to roll from the hold and grabs Amis by the angles bringing him to the mat. Morgan heaves himself to his feet and smacks Amis in the ribs with the chain. Morgan grabs Amis and smacks him with hard right punches again and again and again. Morgan falls back into the corner but drops to the mat unable to stand while Amis lies face down on the mat.

Woo: That may just be it!

Gomez: If both can’t get to their feet the referee HAS to call it!

Morgan drags himself to his feet and lifts Amis. He blasts Amis with a heart punch. Amis drops forward where Morgan lifts him into the air for a Hangman’s Noose. Instead of driving Amis down, Morgan launches Amis over the top rope to the outside. Morgan moves closer to the rope but Amis smacks him with a chair. Morgan drops to the mat. Amis reaches in and wraps the chain around Morgan before going through the ropes to the outside and pulling on the chain. Morgan writhes and wriggles as he desperately tries to free himself from the chain. Amis get into the ring and lifts Morgan up onto his shoulders. Amis runs driving Morgan to the corner with a Lawn Dart. Morgan slumps to the mat where Amis applies a half crab. As he starts to wrench the hold. Morgan is able to roll to his back. He hits Amis with punches to break the hold. Morgan gets to his feet and grabs Amis driving him down with a full nelson slam. Morgan grabs Amis and applies a dragon sleeper. He wrenches at the hold but Amis smacks him with the chain until Morgan breaks the hold. Both fall to the mat.

Woo: Everytime you think this is over, it isn’t this keeps going!

Gomez: I don’t even know how they are even moving though

Both slowly begin to move. Amis fires at Morgan with Dragoon’s Glory. Morgan manages to duck. He wraps the chain between Amis’ legs and lifts him driving Amis down with a pump handle slam. Morgan wraps the chain around Amis’ neck. Morgan locks on a Fate of the Wicked. Amis tries to punch his way free. Tries to wriggle his way free. His arms get slower and slower as the fight gets literally choked out of him. Just before he goes limp, Amis taps.

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner, and STILL EWC Heritage Champion CAPTAIN MORGAN DARKWATER!

Morgan drops to the mat as the referee lays the championship on his abs. He rolls from the ring clutching his championship. Morgan wipes his blood matted hair from his face and leans on the railing badly limping as he heads up the ramp.

Woo: The Captain retains here at Stranglemania! It was a hard fought battle and he can barely walk away from it but a win is a win is a win!

Gomez: There were times I thought that Amis Shelton had this one won! He almost did on a few occasions! Had it not been for luck and Captain Darkwater being so stubborn that he’s crawling straight to the medical wing, we WOULD be looking at a new champion right about now!

Woo: A close, close bout here sees the champ retain, as we gear up for the Pure Rules match between Amber Lisa and Tanja Devereaux with the EWC Dynasty Championship on the line!

Camera cuts backstage as we have some House affairs to attend to...

Meanwhile at the House’s private locker room, the International and Hardcore Champion, and the EWC Tag Team Champions, the Heat Packers are sitting together having a good laugh. Well in spite of the medical doctor trying to stitch up the massive gash on JoJo’s forehead that is still dribbling blood.

Dan Funk: Did you see JoJo powerbomb Jason through that table? It was insane!

Brodie Dawson: Yeah man, then his daughter Angel was all like “Waaaaaah” !

Dan Funk: You had a helleva match out there, JoJo, but how are you going to be in any shape for your match later in the night.

JoJo Rush: Don’t you worry about that brother Dan, that’s a problem for The Bea–

Jack Severn, the leader of the House enters the locker room in his street clothes and his bags. JoJo and The Heat Packers immediately quiet down.

Jack Severn: Hey, JoJo, congrats on the win.

Jack nods at The Heat Packers.

Jack Severn: Dan, Brodie. Good luck tonight.

Jack turns back to face JoJo.

Jack Severn: Hey, so I know you’ve been spending more and more time with Alastor lately, and I’m just wondering… Have you heard anything? About my match with Callie?

JoJo raises an eyebrow, and The Heat Packers quietly shuffle out of the room.

Jack Severn: Not that I have any reason to be suspicious, I just… I don’t want any funny business going on tonight.

JoJo stares blankly at Jack, but then suddenly grins, then laughs loudly.

JoJo Rush: Of course not, brother Jack! We would never.

Before Jack could point out the one time the House indeed do some funny business, the Double-Champion pulls Severn into a tight hug.

JoJo Rush: And don’t you worry, Tori didn’t ask me to come hurt you before the match for Callie’s sake.

Jack Severn: I wasn’t worried about that actually.

JoJo lets out a chuckle before leaning down to plant a kiss on Jack’s cheek before saying confidently.

JoJo Rush: No matter what happens tonight, the House always wins right? Ah’d love to sit and chat brother Jack, but Ah need to commune with the Beast before the Triple-Threat with El Pablo and Stitches.

The two men Too Sweet each other before JoJo walks off to a private locker room. The camera lingers on Jack before fading to black.

PURE RULES MATCH

For the EWC Dynasty Championship

Tanja Devereaux
VS Amber Lisa

MATCH WRTIER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em

We return to ringside where fans are anticipating a rare break from the brutality for our next match.

Woo: We've seen some hard-hitting action so far tonight, and up next we have Pure Rules as Tanja Deveraux challenges Amber Lisa for the EWC Dynasty Championship!

Dobrev: The following match, set for one fall, is a Pure Rules Match and it is for the EWC Dynasty Championship! Joining us first, the challenger…

I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snakebite enter my veins
Never did I wanna be here again
And I don't remember why I came

Pyros hit as Videos of bustling crowds of New Orleans appear on the tron as the dark and melodic tones of "Voodoo" by Godsmack blasts. Tanja comes out onto the top of the ramp in a style compared to Gail Kim during her early time in TNA before heading down the ramp with Celeste St. Laurent coming behind her to the ring as Tanja's black leather coat flows at her feet while the boos from the crowd fills the arena. She hisses at those at ringside while coming down to the ring.

Candles raise my desire
Why I'm so far away
No more meaning to my life
No more reason to stay

Dobrev: Coming to the ring hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana and being accompanied to the ring by Celeste St. Laurent; she is the Bayou Witch… TANJA DEVEREAUX

Voodoo, Voodoo
Voodoo, Voodoo
Voodoo, Voodoo
Voodoo, Voodoo
(Voodoo, voodoo) So far away

I'm not the one who's so far away (voodoo, voodoo)
I'm not the one who's so far away (voodoo, voodoo)
I'm not the one who's so far away

Tanja walk up towards the ring and enters via under the bottom rope and jumps onto the middle turnbuckle. She poses as she does her usual taunt with a hand and arm in the air as "Daughters of Darkness" continues to play. Tanja steps off the turnbuckle as she removes the leather coat and throws it into a random corner as "Voodoo" fades.

Dobrev: And the opponent, from Brooklyn, New York and weighing in at 136 pounds... AMBER LISA!

Run It came blasting over the speakers as Amber stood on the top of the ramp with her Paramount Ring gear. She have on her side a firing firing gun and she start blasting out Paramount Hats and Shirts out to the fans to catch. Silver will be standing next to her as he rolled his eyes as she start dance to the music.

She has in her hands some Paramount hats as she walks down to the ramp playing to them she throws it out to them as they catch it. While she is handing out the items he just would slap a kid hand as they would try to touch him with a bit of a growl that scares the kids. Amber try to get her Uncle to smile as it don't work as she just shurgs. When she ran out of hats high five some of the fans and took a selfie with a few on their phone. She climbs inside of the ring leaning over the ropes moving her head to the music mouthing the words of the song with a big grin on her face. She jumps down off the top rope taking off her jacket as Saul rubs her shoulder to get her ready as he takes her jacket off. She fist bumps his hands Saul as he hand her over the tape to place around her wrist as she shows off her strength teasing, testing the ropes jumping into place getting ready

DING DING DING

Both move to tie-up but Tanja slips a leg behind Amber’s tripping her up. Tanja drops an elbow but Amber rolls to the side. Both get to their feet where Tanja cracks Amber with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head. Tanja whips Amber off the ropes but Amber reverses it sending Tanja off the ropes. Tanja rolls through the ropes with a tiger feint kick and knocks Amber down with an axe kick. She rolls Amber over and hooks the leg.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Amber lifts a shoulder high off the mat to break the count. Both get to their feet. Tanja charges at Amber for something but Amber scoops her up with a bodyslam. Both get to their feet where Amber takes the wind out of Tanja with a backhand chop followed quickly with a second one. Amber whips Tanja off the ropes and hoists her up into the air with a gorilla press slam. Amber brings Tanja down across the top turnbuckle with what looks like a snake eyes. Tanja falls back where Amber smacks her with a clothesline. Amber hooks the leg.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Tanja lifts a shoulder from the mat to break the count.

Woo: I thought she was out!

Gomez: Tanja Devereaux didn’t as such, this match continues!

Amber lifts Tanja to her feet and smacks her with a standing headbutt that staggers her. Amber grabs Tanja and takes her over with a suplex. Amber rolls into a second then a third. Tanja crawls to the corner but Amber runs crashing into Tanja with a hip attack. Amber pulls Tanja to her feet and slips behind hitting a German suplex. She bridges into a pin.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Tanja lifts a shoulder off the mat to break the count. Tanja gets to her feet but Amber smacks her in the face with Smack In Your Face. Tanja drops to the mat where Amber makes a cover.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Tanja just manages to roll a shoulder off the mat breaking the count.

Woo: How is this match still going?

Gomez: I have no clue! Tanja just dropped to the mat after that backfist and I have no clue how she’s still moving. It has to be instinct!

Amber pulls Tanja to her feet and whips her off the rope. Tanja rebounds and leaps into a tornado DDT driving Amber to the mat. Amber gets to her feet but falls across Tanja’s shoulders. Tanja drives Amber into the corner with a Death Valley driver. Amber uses the ropes to drag herself to her feet but Tanja grabs her taking her to the mat with a tiger suplex. This time it’s Tanja that bridges into a pin.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Amber rolls to the side breaking the count. Both get to their feet where Tanja lifts Amber to her shoulders dropping her down with Legba’s Spirit. Tanja makes a cover.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Amber rolls to her side breaking the count.

Woo: Just and no more!

Gomez: A fraction of a second was all that is between Tanja Devereaux and a championship win!

Both slowly get to their feet. Tanja grabs Amber and heaves her up to her shoulders. Tanja drives Amber down with a City Of The Dead. Tanja makes a cover.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Amber just manages to get a hand onto the bottom rope to break the count

Dobrev: Amber Lisa has used her first rope break!

Tanja lifts Amber to her feet and positions Amber for a butterfly suplex. Amber counters with a backdrop. Tanja gets to her feet where Amber grabs her. Amber takes Tanja to the mat with a Fat Back. She hooks the leg.

ONE…



TWO…



THR… NO! KICK OUT!

Intentionally or not, Tanja’s foot on the rope breaks the count.

Dobrev: Tanja Devereaux has used her first rope break!

Woo: Not sure if that was intended but I do admire their timing of these rope breaks

Gomez: If you got ‘em, use ‘em!

Amber lifts Tanja to her feet and up for an Amber Bomb. Tanja manages to counter with a sunset flip. Amber rolls right through as both get to their feet. Amber runs for a clothesline but Tanja ducks and lifts Amber up. Tanja brings Amber crashing down with a Voodoo. The referee counts.

ONE…



TWO…



THREE!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall and NEW EWC Dynasty Champion… TANJA DEVEREAUX!

Tanja lays on the mat as the referee hands over her championship. Tanja cuddles the newly won championship to her chest before rolling from the ring.

Woo: A hell of a match here at Stranglemania ends with Tanja Devereaux winning the Dynasty Championship!

Gomez: The Amber Bomb would have won this for Amber Lisa and Tanja Devereaux knew it and she had to hit a big, big move to prevent it!

Woo: A big title change here and the landscape of PARAMOUNT may have just changed as we gear up for our next match, with The House colliding as Jack Severn challenges Callie Clark in a cage match for the Indy Championship!

Camera cuts to ...

We’re backstage again. The shot cuts immediately to a cameraman in full jog, trailing not far behind the EWC Undisputed Champion Sally Talfourd. She is still on her search for someone semi-decent to conduct an interview. Peering this way and that, it’s not long before she finds …

Sally Talfourd: Pepper Montana!

The camera wheels over to find EWC’s other pay-per-view correspondent sitting atop a moving box touching up her make-up with a pocket mirror. Shocked at first, she is quick to attention as Sally pushes the microphone into her chest.

Sally Talfourd: Interview me.

Pepper Montana: We’re not … I thought Ace was assigned to you?

Pepper quickly discards the makeup and mirror as she scrambles to take the mic.

Sally Talfourd: He’s about as talented as Candy’s two spawns. He fell over or something and in his dying breaths, he gave me this microphone and begged me to get you to do what he couldn’t do: Ask meaningful questions.

Adjusting her outfit, and striking the all-too-familiar interviewer’s pose, she haltingly asks Sally …

Pepper Montana: What is … are there any questions you want in particular?

With a roll of the eyes, Sally too takes up her position, ensuring every bow is in place her belt perfectly positioned.

Sally Talfourd: Just the ordinary.

Pepper gets the sign that all this is live. She quickly composes herself before diving in.

Pepper Montana: Ladies and gentlemen, joining me at this time in EWC’s Undisputed Champion Sally Talfourd. Sally, welcome and thank-you.

Sally beams a smile, but the eyes don’t deceive: There is a manic rage behind them.

Sally Talfourd: Pepper, it’s an honour and a privilege. But before we begin, I want to pay my respects to Ace Heart and his family. I truly hope he and they can pull through these troubling times.

Pepper solemnly nods her head, Sally shakes hers with a feigned sadness and disappointment.

Pepper Montana: Indeed, but the show must go on, right?

Sally Talfourd: As any good magician would say, Pepper.

Pepper Montana: Sally, you’re one-half of the headline of EWC’s biggest show of the year. Last year you were in a Broadcast Champion showdown. This year, you’re in the main event, defending your Undisputed Championship. We all watched the changes you went through, the highs and the lows. How has the year between then and now prepared you for what may end up being the biggest night of your career.

Stroking her chin and pursing her lips, Sally looks as though she’s deep in thought. While careful to not ruin her makeup, she taps her index finger on her lips for a bit before answering.

Sally Talfourd: You’re right, Pepper. Xavier Reid is an over-rated hack.

Pepper Montana: … what?

Sally Talfourd: Yes, well put. He is the living embodiment of a person who tried to work smarter not harder, and has come out neither smarter nor harder. And, as you were saying, it’s a shame that I am the only one to get to beat him tonight, when there’s plenty of perfectly good matches he could go and get pinned in as well. Share the love, I say. Let everyone pin EWC’s next addition to the Shady Acres Wrestling Retirement Home.

Pepper Montana: Are you suggesting you’ll retire him yourself?

Sally Talfourd: Me personally? I wish! No, he said it. That when he loses tonight – and lose he will – there’s nothing for him here in EWC. That he’ll ride off into the sunset and do us all a favour! There’s plenty of opportunities out there for brain-addled, beat-up, useless has-beens who associate with criminals. Criminals, I might add, advocating that he kiss me without consent! Heck, he could run for the Republican presidential nomination with that resume!

Pepper shifts awkwardly at the mere mention of politics in an EWC show. Sally, however, steps in closer to the microphone, just getting started.

Sally Talfourd: Anyway, I think we should stick to the match – don’t you?

Pepper Montana: Uh, sure? What did you …

Sally Talfourd: My 300th win.

Pepper Montana: Ah yes! For the months leading into Stranglemania, you’ve been touting this as your milestone achievement – your 300ths career win. In these hours before you step in the ring, what is going through you mind?

Sally Talfourd: To be honest, Pepper, I’ve tried to push that out of the picture tonight. The sheer weight of that monumental achievement would crush a lesser wrestler. It’s generated plenty of attention amongst the fans, amongst other “talent” here in EWC. And it’s about time people started to recognise what I’ve done in this industry. Some might say I have single-handily made this business what it is today. Now I’m not saying that, but I’ve heard others …

Pepper Montana: Who?

Sally Talfourd: … people. You wouldn’t know them – they go to another school.

Pepper Montana: So it’s business as usual, as far as you’re concerned tonight?

Sally Talfourd: My business is winning, so yes. My opponent’s business? Whinging, whining, complaining. He would medal at the Whinge-lympics is he could. Who wants to hear more of that? That is why, when I beat Xavier tonight, I will be the first to hold him to account for his words. I will personally pack his bags, fold his clothes and wipe a tear of joy from my eye as he sails off into the sunset. The threat of another Xavier Reid-era in EWC would well and truly be over. And more than bringing the Magic if EWC, that will be my crowning achievement to date.

Pepper Montana: And if that all comes to pass, that you retain tonight - what then? What can we expect to see?

Sally Talfourd: Change, my dear Pepper. More change. I have shook up this place. There is a life to EWC that hasn't been seen for years. Everyone is scrambling, clawing, actually trying to get better to see if they can be the person who measures up to the Last Magician. And that means survival. How can EWC survive if it's not allowed to change? When I first walked in, I conformed like just about everyone else. But then I saw how much better things could be with a little more Magic. But no one listened. When any one of your precious EWC groupies talks about change, it’s visionary. When I talk about it, it’s disrespect. So I learnt that if you want people to listen, you don't walk up to them and ask them to. You make them listen by hitting them over the head with something. Xavier will get that tonight, EWC will get that next week when I set the agenda as the two-time defending EWC Champion. 

Sally gives Pepper a pat on the back and a wink as if to say ‘good job’ before heading off. Montana watches after her as she goes before being interrupted by a stumbling and pained Ace Heart.

Ace Heart: Is she gone?

Pepper is stunned, turning to take in the hapless sight.

Pepper Montana: What happened to you?

Ace Heart: Sally Talfourd.

In another section of the backstage area, Jack Severn is lacing up his boots and getting ready for his upcoming match, when a figure approaches him. He stands up to see… none other than Narumi Tsutsumi. The two stare each other down, tension thick in the air.

Narumi: I’m just here to let you know one thing. The handshake? It doesn’t change anything. As far as I’m concerned, you’re still the same Jack Severn. And if you happen to be Indy Champion after tonight, and you get past Candy? I’m coming for you.

Jack nods and then smiles.

Jack: You know… I can’t help but think about how much it took for you to beat me last month. Every match, I’ve gotten closer to beating you. So I welcome that fourth match.

Narumi smirks back and walks off, letting Jack finish his preparations as we cut away.

STEEL CAGE MATCH

For the EWC Indy Championship
Title can change hands on escape from cage. 

Jack Severn
VS Callie Clark

MATCH WRTIER: Jack Severn

A brief video package plays on the Extreme Tron, recapping the history between Jack Severn and Callie Clark. From them first teaming together at StrangleMania 2021 on the Freeview, to teaming again at Parabellum 2022, to forming The House at Prime 100, to their draw at Prime 112 for the AMC+ Broadcast Championship and their strife ever since.

We cut back to the stadium, the fans at Wembley ravenous for action as the lights go out. Then… part of a familiar song plays over the speakers.

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

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

Black and white clips of Jack Severn’s start in EWC are shown, notably his debut against Melody Malone, his first StrangleMania appearance, and his fight against Bosa for the FX Broadcast Championship.

The song is quickly cut off by a sleazy saxophone playing over the speakers, the sound of ‘Save My Soul’ by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Let me know, let me know! Where I can go to save my soul?

Let me know, let me know! Where I can go to save my soul?

Where I can go to save my soul, yeah!

More black and white clips are shown, this time of Jack Severn’s partnership with King Flip.

This is also cut off, rather by some heavy rock used by a fellow EWC roster member.

If you like to gamble
I tell you, I'm your man
You win some, lose some
It's all the same to me

The pleasure is to play
Makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed

The only card I need

Is the Ace of Spades

The Ace of Spades

The black and white clips of Jack Severn’s Prime debut and subsequent actions leading to the formation of The House fade out, leaving the arena back in darkness…

Will there be anyone left to clean up the mess we've made

All this blood on our hands won't wash away (away)

My brothers and sisters are locked inside a cage

Will there be anyone left to clean up the mess

Clean up the mess we've made

A spotlight suddenly comes on the stage, as a golden throne rises up from the ground, and The House’s theme song hits. On the throne is Jack Severn, clad in his golden WrestleFest robe, albeit with the addition of his big-match Oni mask adorned on both shoulders. He wears a black Oni mask with gold detailing, and an elaborate crown on his head. As he steps off the throne and slowly unmasks, the rest of the lights come on, and we see a band surrounding him. Those signature piano notes hit, and the band - London’s own Shattered Skies - begins playing ‘15 Minutes’ live!

One more day until I pour this emptiness out

One more way you tear at my seams again

No one sees, no one can see the scar, it darkens

Soon they'll see, my 15 minutes of fame

Jack unmasks completely and begins his walk down the long ramp, smirking confidently, but his eyes are more focused than ever.

Nothing to lose

Oh how they're fascinated

Which one to choose?

They'll know me now

Jack takes a lap around the ring, actually taking time to acknowledge a few ringside fans in House shirts, offering up Too Sweets to them. He scowls at commentary when he passes them, and straight up flips a ringside Candy off, who is watching to scout out her next opponent. She smirks, respecting the move a bit.

I can turn this world inside out

Everything you love will be mine

They will watch it all unfold with

Voyeuristic eyes

Jack finally enters the steel cage, testing the steel by shaking it a bit. He then turns his back to the cameras, showing off the design on the back of his robe, displaying the Indy Championship and the text “STORY FINISHED.”

Back on the stage, a red carpet is rolled out going to the bottom of the ramp, and ‘Bad Reputation’ hits as the lights turn gold in the arena. Callie comes out with Tori walking out behind her, and strikes a pose showing off her Cobra Commander cosplay as pyro goes off behind her. Callie's paparazzi takes pictures of her as she takes off her helmet and walks down the ramp, taunting the fans as she goes. As she reaches ringside, Tori goes ahead of Callie, holding open the cage door so Callie can step through, and walk to the middle of the ring, where she strikes a pose again while winking directly at Candy. She then goes to her corner as the music cuts.

As both opponents stand across from each other in the cage, Nina Dobrev makes her announcements.

Dobrev: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is a steel cage match for the EWC Indy Championship! First, the challenger, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, weighing at 220 pounds, he is THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE… he is THE CATALYST… JACK SEVERN!!!

Jack holds up a Too Sweet as some boos pour down, but a surprising amount of cheers drown them out.

Dobrev: And the champion, from New York City, New York, weighing at 115 pounds, she is THE GOLDEN GODDESS… CALLIE CLARK!!!

Callie holds her championship up proud for all to see, especially shoving it in Jack’s face, as significantly more boos come down for her, and she hands the belt off to the ref to raise up as the bell rings.

DING DING DING

The crowd roars as Callie and Jack step towards each other, exchanging a few words that the camera can’t quite pick up. Callie raises a Too Sweet… and Jack hesitantly obliges, although Callie immediately locks Jack into a headlock. Jack manages to overpower Callie, shoving her away and taking her down with a clothesline. As he bends down to pick her back up… SHE GRABS HIS TIGHTS AND ROLLS HIM INTO A SMALL PACKAGE!

ONE…





TW- No! Jack kicks out!

Jack quickly kicks out and as Callie swings at him, he slides her down into a backslide pin!

ONE…





TW- No! Callie kicks out!

The two competitors smirk at each other as they slowly get to their feet, this time with Jack offering the Too Sweet.

Woo: These two just know each other so well! I feel like we’re in for a long night.

Gomez: Interesting to note that the competition is starting out a bit friendly… We’ll see how long that lasts!

Callie obliges, and reverses Jack’s headlock attempt by shoving him into the ropes and ducking a clothesline by dropping to the mat. Jack simply struts right over her, cackling as he does. As soon as he turns around, he ducks a high knee from Callie, running the ropes and trying to catch her with a knee of his own, but she swings around with a superkick attempt, which Jack just barely dodges by hanging onto the ropes. This time Callie is the one laughing, telling Jack that he’s gotten himself in too deep this time. She offers a hand to Jack to help him up, and after thinking about it for a bit, Jack takes her hand… and immediately pokes her in the eyes! This time Jack offers his hand to Callie, albeit sarcastically, and Callie responds by slapping Jack across the face and running out of the corner to hit him with a slingblade! As Jack gets up, she irish whips him into the corner, hits a step-up high knee, and then irish whips him again to hit him with a spinning backfist in the middle of the ring! She goes for the cover.

ONE…





TW- No! Jack kicks out!

Callie wastes no time and viciously stomps down on Jack’s arm and neck, before grabbing him by the hair and tossing him face-first into the cage! She then irish whips him into the corner, going for another step-up high knee, but Jack manages to move out of the way, sending Callie into the corner, whipping her head right into the turnbuckle. As Jack runs to hit a european uppercut into the corner, Callie grabs the referee, quickly pulling him in front of her. Jack stops just short of hitting the referee, who slowly moves out of the way, and as Jack bends down to lift Callie up, she grabs Jack by the legs and throws him right into the turnbuckle, which she had exposed while the referee was in front of her! Jack collapses down into the corner and Callie stomps away at him! She then turns to the crowd, raising her arms up and drinking in their condemnation.

Woo: This match is already getting pretty dirty, but in a steel cage match, it’s all legal!

Gomez: Callie may need to keep playing dirty to keep up with the weight advantage Jack has over her!

Callie puts Jack in a headlock, talking more trash to him, but as soon as Jack begins to overpower her, she grabs him by the hair and yanks him down to the mat, once again looking out to the crowd and laughing. Little does she know, Jack pops up from behind her and proceeds to yank her down by the hair too! Callie crawls over to as far away from Jack as she can go within the cage, and Jack follows her, hitting her with a running european uppercut against the cage wall! He then grabs her by the hair, dragging her back to the middle of the ring… BUT SHE GRABS ONTO HIS FINGERS AND SNAPS THEM DOWN! As Jack yelps out in pain, she grabs his whole arm and begins rapidly kicking and elbowing it, until Jack falls to his knees, trying to get away. Callie grabs Jack’s arm while he’s kneeling and viciously stomps on it! She then grabs both of his arms… AND HITS THOR’S HAMMER! She covers!

ONE…





TWO…





THR- No! Jack kicks out!

Callie slaps Jack in the face and stomps on him after the kickout, screaming “Don’t you understand?! I’m better than you! You’re no leader, never have been!” but as she does, Jack slowly begins to rise to his feet, a sour look on his face. She keeps trying to elbow him in the neck, but nothing seems to work… so she just gouges him in the eyes instead! She then sets up for another Thor’s Hammer… BUT JACK REVERSES INTO A SNAP SUPLEX! She pops right up and runs at Jack again, but he catches her into a saito suplex! She crawls to the corner… and Jack follows her there, barraging her with chops in the corner until eventually climbing on top of her and switching to fists, before finally settling on just biting her! He then irish whips her into the cage, grinding her bitten forehead right into the steel! Jack climbs to the top rope, raising his arms to hype the crowd up before pointing a finger gun at Callie’s head… AND HE DELIVERS A TOP ROPE CODEBREAKER! He covers!

ONE…





TW- No! Callie kicks out!

Woo: Jack is starting to make a comeback here, but what has he gotta do to whittle away at Callie?

Gomez: And it’s SO weird to see him play into the crowd and get cheered for it!

Jack grabs Callie by the leg as both competitors stand up and he delivers a brutal dragon screw leg whip! He then lifts Callie up… POWERBOMB RIGHT INTO THE EXPOSED TURNBUCKLE! Callie’s head bounces off of it and Jack begins to set up for the Catalyst Crusher… but CALLIE REVERSES INTO A SMALL PACKAGE!

ONE…





TW- No! Jack reverses into a small package of his own!

ONE…





TW- No! Callie reverses back into another small package!

ONE…





TW- No! Jack reverses!

ONE…





TW- No! Callie reverses!

ONE…





TW- No! Jack reverses!

ONE- No! Callie reverses!

ONE- No! Jack reverses!

ONE- No! Callie reverses!

ONE- No! Jack reverses!

ONE- No! Callie reverses into a jackknife pin this time!





TW- No! Jack kicks out, managing to stand up!

Jack expertly reverses the jackknife pin into a powerbomb as he stands up, powerbombing Callie first into the steel cage, and then onto his own knee in some sort of powerbomb backbreaker combo! He covers!

ONE…





TWO…





THR- No! Callie kicks out!

Woo: I’m exhausted just trying to keep up with all that!

Gomez: These two know each other so well!

Jack grabs Callie by the arms, looking for his own version of Thor’s Hammer, but Callie ducks and then quickly stands up, grabbing Jack and hitting him with Melody Malone’s Nightmare Fuel DDT! She covers!

ONE…





TWO…





THR- No! Jack kicks out!

Callie quickly rams Jack into the cage wall and the steel post, hitting him both shoulder and arm-first. She then hooks her fingers into a gap in the cage, trying to pry open a bigger gap in the steel. With enough space made, she loops Jack’s arm inside… AND STOMPS DOWN ON HIS ARM WHILE IT’S HOOKED INTO THE GAP IN THE CAGE! Jack screams out in agony and at this point, the referee has to keep Callie away in order to check on Jack’s arm. It’s a scary situation as the ringside doctor tries to take a look from outside the cage, all while Callie grins and yells about how she’s going to break Jack’s arm. She eventually gets fed up with waiting, and shoves the referee aside to get at Jack. She begins to grab him by the arm, looking to finish him off with Excelsior… BUT JACK DESPERATELY REVERSES BY GRABBING HER LEG WITH HIS FREE ARM AND SWEEPING HER FEET FROM UNDER HER! Both competitors fall onto the mat, rolling around in pain, and Jack begins to lift Callie up for the Catalyst Crusher… but this time his arm is too damaged! He can’t lift her up all the way! He yells out in pain, dropping her and grabbing his shoulder and arm. He starts to try again, but he wasted too much time and Callie able to reverse by kneeing him in the gut, and she hooks his leg and just barely lifts him for LIGHTS OUT! THE SMALL PACKAGE DRIVER! IT’S OVER! SHE COVERS!

ONE…





TWO…





THR- No! Jack somehow kicks out!

The London crowd goes absolutely bananas as Jack kicks out of Lights Out! The two begin trading punches on the mat, both slowly getting to their feet as the crowd does the whole “yay!” “boo!” thing. Callie eventually gets the advantage as they both stand, getting a few good forearms in a row, before going for a final spinning backfist… BUT JACK STOPS HER WITH AN EYEPOKE! Jack then bounces off the ropes, looking for an uppercut, but Callie catches him with a high knee strike… WHICH JUST SENDS JACK BOUNCING AGAINST THE ROPES AND THE CAGE AGAIN, AND HE COMES BACK WITH A SPINNING BACKFIST OF HIS OWN! Callie is absolutely rocked, hitting the ropes and the cage… AND SHE BOUNCES OFF, FLIPPING OVER JACK TO HIT HIM WITH A CANADIAN DESTROYER! BUT JACK BOUNCES RIGHT TO HIS FEET AND HITS CALLIE WITH A SUPERKICK BEFORE FINALLY COLLAPSING! THE CROWD RISE TO THEIR FEET AS BOTH HOUSEMATES ARE KNOCKED TO THE MAT!

Woo: They’re sure putting the “indy” in the Indy Championship right now!

Gomez: Jack is still managing to hold his own, but at some point, somethings gonna have to give, and I don’t think he’ll be able to go much longer with his injuries.

As both Jack and Callie rise to their feet across from each other, they talk trash. Callie spits at Jack, telling him to stay down… AND JACK ANSWERS BY GOING RIGHT FOR THE SILENCER! BUT CALLIE CATCHES HIS ARM AND DRIVES HIM DOWN INTO EXCELSIOR! WITH NOWHERE TO GO, JACK STRUGGLES AGAINST THE SUBMISSION… UNTIL HE ROLLS BACK, PINNING CALLIE’S SHOULDERS TO THE MAT! HOWEVER, JACK’S SHOULDERS ARE ALSO BEING PINNED IN THE PROCESS!

ONE…





TWO…





THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: Due to a double pin, this match has been determined to be a DRAW!!! So, STILL your EWC Indy Champion, CALLIE-

Dobrev is a little too close to the cage, as Jack is able to slip his hand through and take the microphone from her before she completes the announcement!

Jack: No no no no! That’s not how we’re doing this! Not again! Callie, if you’re truly a fighting champion, and truly the best in The House, then you’ll ask for them to restart this match right now!

Callie takes a moment to think, glancing over at Tori Taylor and the Indy Championship… and then she nods, yelling at the referee to ring the damn bell!

DING DING DING

Woo: Looks like we’ll stay with this match until there’s a clear winner!

Gomez: We’re going to finally find out who’s better between Jack Severn and Callie Clark!

As soon as the bell rings, Callie rolls Jack up!

ONE…





TW- No! Jack reverses into a roll up of his own!

ONE…





TW- No! Callie reverses into another roll up!

ONE…





TW-No! Jack kicks out!

Callie goes for a superkick, but Jack catches her foot! But Callie pokes him in the eyes! Callie goes for a spinning backfist, but Jack drops down to his back! Callie stops short of hitting the referee, but then Jack rolls her up!

ONE…





TW- No! Callie kicks out!

Jack immediately hits Callie with a dragon screw leg whip, and then follows up with a butterfly suplex that sends her right into the cage! He then grabs Callie, finally able to lift her up enough… TO HIT THE CATALYST CRUSHER! HE COVERS!

ONE…





TWO…





THR- No! Callie somehow kicks out!

Woo: Jack may have just given Callie his best shot, and she still kicked out!

Gomez: Not his best shot, Marcus…

Jack immediately gets ready for the Silencer, lining Callie up… BUT AS HE RUNS FORWARD, CALLIE CATCHES HIM WITH A LOW BLOW! Jack stumbles forward onto his knees, and that gives Callie enough time to recover and run the ropes… HITTING JACK WITH A CURB STOMP ONTO HIS ARM! She then slowly begins to climb the ropes… and then the cage itself…

Woo: Callie better not be trying to escape, she’ll lose the championship!

Gomez: I don’t think she’s trying to escape! Jack better watch out!

As Callie gets to the very top of the cage… SHE LEAPS BACKWARDS, HITTING PERHAPS THE GREATEST CALLIESAULT EVER!

OR SHE WOULD IF JACK HADN’T GOTTEN HIS KNEES UP!

Callie rolls around, clutching her ribs, while Jack also tries to recover and shake feeling back into his arm. As he goes to grab Callie by the hair, she immediately locks Jack into a rolling cross armbreaker! She snaps his fingers while it’s locked on, but despite Jack’s thrashing about, he grabs the referee with his free hand and refuses to tap out! Callie lets go, but only briefly as she transitions right into the Excelsior!

Woo: I don’t know how much more damage to the arm Jack can withstand! This might be it!

Gomez: But look! He’s got grit! He’s refusing to tap!

Callie wrenches Jack’s arm back and Jack genuinely has no way to counter… he starts to pass out… the referee begins to raise his arm up… but his arm stays raised! He clenches his fist as he screams out in pain… and then… COSMO GOLDWORTHY RUNS DOWN THE RAMP?!

Woo: What the hell is Cosmo doing here?!

Callie lets go of Jack’s arm and stares Cosmo down… but then she notices the object in his hand and grins. Cosmo raises his arm, with a white towel in his hand! He goes to throw it, but BRUCE BOOTH QUICKLY RUNS BEHIND HIM AND GRABS THE TOWEL FROM HIS HAND!

Bruce: What the hell are you doing?!

Cosmo: Jack can’t compete, I’m saving him from himself!

Cosmo shoves Bruce away and TEARS THE TOWEL AWAY FROM HIM, but as he turns back towards the cage, Callie has looked away for too long, and she turns right into a DESPERATE DEATH VALLEY DRIVER FROM JACK! Callie lands right on her head, and Jack collapses from the exhaustion. With both competitors down, Cosmo starts to throw the towel in again, but Bruce pushes past him once more! Cosmo shoves Bruce again and Bruce shoves back, the cousins arguing over what to do. Then they both see Jack and Callie, unmoving in the ring… And a devilish grin crosses Cosmo’s face. He points to Bruce’s Primetime Briefcase, and points to the ring.

Cosmo: Now’s your chance! Go make yourself famous! New Money on top!

Bruce hesitates slightly, looking down at his briefcase and remembering what Jack told him a few weeks back… but then he nods and marches down to the ring with Cosmo by his side.

Woo: Is Bruce about to do what I think he’s about to do?!

Bruce yells at the referee through the cage, getting him to unlock the door. Meanwhile, Cosmo grabs the Indy Championship from the timekeeper’s table.

Bruce: I’m cashing in!

Gomez: Oh my god, he’s actually doing it!

Cosmo is able to get inside the cage with the Indy Championship, but Bruce’s foot is grabbed by Tori Taylor as he tries to step inside! Tori scoops Bruce over her shoulder, and literally carries him out of the cage and up the ramp, yelling at him about how there’s no way she’s gonna let him cash in on Callie. Cosmo just watches but then quickly looks back to his surroundings in the ring to reassess his situation. He raises the Indy Championship up as both competitors start to rise to their feet… but as he aims it at Jack… CALLIE RIPS IT OUT OF HIS HANDS! Callie glares at Cosmo, and shouts at him.

Callie: Don’t you EVER touch this!

Cosmo tries to explain himself, but quickly gives up, simply raising his hands and nodding, before taking the 24K gold knuckles out of his trunks! He goes to hand them off to Callie, but as soon as he turns around… JACK SEVERN HITS HIM WITH A BRASS KNUCKLE SUPERMAN PUNCH OF HIS OWN! Cosmo grabs his jaw and slides out of the cage, and Callie immediately clocks Jack with the Indy Championship! Callie looks at her Indy Championship, grins, and then drops it, RUNNING THE ROPES AND ROLLING DOWN INTO KING FLIP’S DETHRONEMENT ON JACK SEVERN! SHE COVERS!

ONE…





TWO…





THR- No! Jack kicks out!

Frustrated and with nothing else to do, Callie goes over to where Cosmo left his knucks. She slowly puts them on and eyes Jack up… but something doesn’t sit right with her, and she instead rips the knuckles off and throws them back at the still ringside Cosmo, yelling about how she’s gonna do this on her own, and that she doesn’t need his help! Callie turns around AND IS IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT BY JACK IN HER OWN EXCELSIOR ARMBAR! JACK HAS WAITED THIS ENTIRE MATCH FOR CALLIE TO MAKE A LAPSE IN JUDGMENT, AND HE’S FINALLY GOT IT! Callie writhes in pain as Jack wrenches back as far as he can… BEFORE EVENTUALLY SNAPPING HER ARM ALL THE WAY BACK! A SICKENING CRUNCH IS HEARD AS CALLIE SHRIEKS OUT AND JACK LETS GO OF THE SUBMISSION! Callie doesn’t have much time to tend to her now broken arm, however, as Jack immediately eyes her up with his own brass knuckles, thinking about putting them back on…

As he looks at Callie, who is defiant and somehow trying to get to her feet with just one arm, she turns to face him.

Callie: You just don’t know when to quit, do you?

She smiles, laughing slightly at the irony.

Jack: Isn’t that why you teamed with me?

Jack drops the brass knuckles, giving Callie the same service she gave him, and then immediately hits her with the Silencer! But he doesn’t stop there! He uses all the strength he has left to lift Callie up… AND HIT THE GANSO BOMB, DROPPING HER RIGHT ONTO HER HEAD! HE COVERS!

ONE…





TWO…





THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: Here is your winner, and NEW EWC Indy Champion… JACK SEVERN!!!

The crowd goes absolutely nuts as Jack Severn’s eyes widen in shock… he’s finally won a championship!

Woo: THE BOYHOOD DREAM HAS COME TRUE!

Gomez: CONSIDER THE STORY FINISHED… JACK SEVERN IS FINALLY A CHAMPION, AND CALLIE CLARK, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, IS NO LONGER ONE!

With ‘15 Minutes’ playing, Jack Severn cries tears of joy as he holds the Indy Championship with his own two hands, three years of hard work finally having paid off! Cosmo Goldworthy storms down the ramp, a pissed off look on his face, and medical staff attend to Callie Clark’s broken arm and possible concussion. Jack raises the Indy Championship high above his head, but then notices Callie, and walks over to her. With her non-injured arm, she reaches out, touching the Indy Championship one last time, a distraught look on her face. Jack kneels down.

Jack: It could’ve gone either way. Callie, no matter what, I want you to know that I respect you. You made Prime great, and I plan to uphold the legacy that YOU built.

Jack reaches out his hand, and after a moment of hesitation, Callie RIPS THE INDY CHAMPIONSHIP AWAY FROM JACK! She holds onto it like Gollum, staring up at Jack, who just rolls his eyes.

Jack: Are you fucking serious right now? After all that? You were champion, nonstop, for 597 days! But you were also MY friend for that long! And you're just gonna sit here and act like this fucking championship is more important than nearly 600 days of friendship? The coup doesn't mean shit to me, I get it. But this? This?! You're my original Housemate! Isn't that supposed to mean something?! I've hurt and betrayed so many people close to me, just for this group! For you! Flip, he's fucking gone! Jamie, he's gone too! Becky... Nick! They're all gone, except for you guys! 

Jack chokes up a bit.

Jack: You want to keep the Indy Championship?! Then fine! FUCKING KEEP IT! And while we're at it?

Jack turns his back to Callie. 

Jack: Just fucking get it over with. You wanna be leader so bad? Then just fucking hit me! 

Callie thinks for a bit, barely being able to get to her feet. She holds up the Indy Championship... and then drops it, refusing to hit Jack! The crowd goes nuts as Jack slowly turns around, with Callie extending a Too Sweet! Jack Too Sweets back, and the two embrace, before Callie hands the Indy Championship to Jack and raises his arm. Jack raises Callie's arm too, and then, with the help of the referee and medical staff, helps walk Callie out of the cage and down the ramp to the stage, where they turn to the audience one last time. Jack raises Callie’s arm again, and then raises the Indy Championship up high! Callie turns to go to the back with the medics, allowing Jack to soak up his moment, alone on stage. He looks over at Candy in the audience, and shoots her a finger gun, letting her know he’s ready for her.

Woo: Well, we know Jack Severn’s first defense is going to be against Candy! What a match that’ll be! But we’ve still got a lot more to come on this show, so let’s keep things moving!

Gomez: StrangleMania fuckin’ rules, man.

Tower of London Match

For the EWC North American Championship

Marcu$ $t. John
VS Ibuki Ito

MATCH WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Anna

We return to ringside where extra screens are finishing being erected to view the next bout.

Woo: Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re heading to the Tower of London to witness another first in EWC history here at Stranglemania, the Tower of London match!

Gomez: Climb the Tower, ring the bell, win the championship. Woo - it sounds simple but nothing in EWC can ever be. Every level in that tower, either one of these competitors could lose everything.

Dobrev: The following match is the Tower of London match for the EWC North American Championship! Joining us first, from Silicon Valley California, weighing in at 220 pounds ...The Young Mogul, he is MARCU$ $T JOHN!

The Extremetron cuts to the exterior of the Tower of London, EWC fans gathered outside cheering. The cameras pan down, moving forward through the stone entry, turning the corner outside of Byward Tower only to pan up the legs of the challenger, Marcu$ $t John. The EWC staff nods to Marcu$, giving him a signal that they’re introducing him back at Wembley. He gives a nod, focus less on the cameras and more on the towering challenge in front of him.

Dobrev: And his opponent, from Daly City, California, weighing in at 235 pounds … he is the EWC North American Champion… The ACE of Paramount.. IBUKI ITO!

The cameras now pan over across the path, standing stoic without the championship over his shoulder is Ibuki Ito. He doesn’t look at Marcu$, or the EWC staff nearby. If not for the roaring crowd behind them, you wouldn’t even be sure he was even in the same place as Marcu$ beside him.

Woo: I’m not even there and I can feel the tension, someone grab a sword from the armory and cut through it. We’ve got a North American championship match to decide!

DONG DONG DONG

The bell in the tower clangs, signaling the beginning of the match. Both men take off, gunning for the tower trading shoves as they hit the stone entrance. Marcu$ shoves Ito’s shoulder into the stone, knocking him off balance as he takes off up the narrow stairwell. Ito glares, Buddy huffing and puffing as he gets to the base of the tower. He looks at Ibuki, doubled over as he chokes out between gasps.

Buddy: Is there a golf cart somewhere? It was a long run from the gift shop!

Buddy’s got a shopping bag hanging from his elbow as Ito shakes his head, taking off up the stairs in pursuit of Marcu$. The camera angle shifts, Marcu$ lying in wait behind a stone curve at the top of the tower. As Ito rounds the corner, he’s caught by a superkick from Marcu$ that stumbles him backward. Ito retaliates with a solid shot back at Marcu$ that stuns him for a moment. Ito takes a couple of steps, running up and catching Marcu$ with a leaping knee that knocks him backwards into the stone wall. Ito pulls him closer, but Marcu$ drives a knee into Ito’s gut that doubles over the Ace of Paramount and drops him to a knee. M$J takes his chance, giving himself space before running at Ito and leaping up to drop a Money Stomp! Ito drops his shoulder, rolling out of the way as Marcu$ stutters trying to avoid buckling his knee into the stone floor. The adjustment midair knocks Marcu$ off balance, sending him stumbling toward the open space in the tower wall - the window without any railing or bars. Ito is back to his feet, Marcu$ flailing for the window ledge to avoid the drop. Ibuki reaches out, grabbing his opposition and pulling him from danger. Marcu$’s eyes betray the relief, instead using Ito’s grasp to pull him closer in one deft movement he hoists up Ito into a Death Valley Driver! Both men hit the stone floor with a sickening thud. After a moment, panting and wincing, Marcu$ makes his way from the tower top and out toward the interior courtyard.

Marcu$: Where in the he-

Buddy Love: IBUKI! This way!

Marcu$’ head snaps to the left, Buddy Love frantically trying to get the attention of Ito who’s not yet made his way this far yet. Marcu$ catches Buddy’s gaze, and Buddy’s eyes widen in shock before looking about for Ito. Marcu$ approaches, looking around for an ambush as Buddy stammers, reaching into his gift shop bag before holding out a linen pouch.

Buddy Love: I know you’ve got money, but look! These are commemorative with Queen Elizabeth on them!

Marcu$ rolls his eyes, knocking the pouch from Buddy’s hands as Buddy side steps, trying to stay in front of Marcu$ and block off the passage into the building behind him. Love’s eyes keep darting around, trying to find Ito as the North American champion can finally be seen emerging from Byward Tower. Buddy waves wildly, trying to flag down Ito but Marcu$ shoves him aside, passing through the doorway. Buddy spins around on his heel, grabbing the heavy wooden door and pulling with all of his might as it creaks, slamming closed. He bars the door, beaming with pride as Marcu$ begins to shake and pound on the other side of the heavy door.

Buddy Love: Hah! The Tower of London was frequently used to jail people. Good luck getting up the Tower now!

Ibuki finally catches up to Buddy, a string of expletives coming from the jail cell as Buddy reaches into his shopping bag and unfurls a map of the grounds.

Buddy Love: This is why you never pass up the gift shop.

Ito takes a glance, looking around at his surroundings before taking off at a quick pace down a cobblestone path. Buddy hurries behind him, map folded up and stuffed into his back pocket. The camera cuts away to an empty courtyard, where Ito and Buddy come into view. Ibuki is looking around, trying to get his bearings as Buddy is turning the map in various directions, trying to figure out exactly where they are now. Ito grabs the door of one building, yanking it but it doesn’t open. With a quiet frustration, Ibuki heads away from the courtyard and toward a gap in the exterior walls. Buddy goes to speak up, but all that escapes is a squeak. Ibuki turns, looking to Buddy but gets taken off of his feet as Marcu$ reappears, dirt smeared on his face as he’s escaped the cell. Both men tumble to the ground, their momentum carrying them off of the cobblestones and down the stairs of Traitor’s Gate into the water. Ito pops up first, gasping for air before he clubs Marcu$ across the back of the head and drives him back down into the water face first.

Ito: First time drinking peasant’s water?

Marcu$ thrashes, getting his head above water as he throws a desperate headbutt at Ito and grabbing him by the shoulders, driving him down under the water himself.

Marcu$ $t John: Yea you better hydrate! Too bad you’re not Buddy…

Buddy Love: HEY!

Marcu$ loses his grip on the slippery Ito, who kicks out Marcu$’ knee under the water. Marcu$ stumbles, ducking under the water briefly before Ito drags him away from the staircase and toward the metal gate. Marcu$ attempts to shift his weight, grabbing at Ito to drive him skull first into the gate. Ito blocks, instead driving Marcu$ shoulder first into the unforgiving iron. Marcu$ grunts in pain and Ito drives him against it once more, a third time, a fourth, before finally taking Marcu$ arm and weaving it into the metal before he wrenches his shoulder against the gate. Marcu$ slumps against the metal, teeth gritting as Ito slogs towards the staircase. Ito climbs up the stairs, making his way past Buddy and toward the inner courtyard again. The clouds have darkened the sky, rain beginning to fall as the cameras take us back to Marcu$ $t John. He is unweaving his arm from the metal gate, making his way out of the water and up the stairs as the rain grows heavier. As he gets back to the courtyard, there’s nothing but the sound of rainfall. Ito and Buddy are nowhere to be seen. Marcu$ scans the layout, his eyes settling on the waving union jack outside of one of the interior building faces. He enters, the lighting dim as the walls are lined with suits of armor, art, and various arms. The room of crown jewels is blocked off, a pair of Kingsguards standing at attention. Flanking them are more mannequins, and Marcu$ looks from the Kingsguards to the mannequin with a Guy Fawkes mask on. Marcu$ turns his back, and the mannequin reaches out and grabs hold of Marcu$. $t John is locked into his grasp, and the masked man drops him with a Twisted DDT onto the wooden floor. The mannequin stands, removing the Guy Fawkes mask and revealing Ito. He pulls Marcu$ to his feet, readying a further assault as he picks up Marcu$ before dropping him back down with a falcon arrow. Ito looks from Marcu$ to the stairwell, choosing to drag Marcu$ along with him. Ibuki gets Marcu$ into position for a powerbomb, aiming him toward the stairwell but Marcu$ manages to drive closed fists into the forehead of Ito who staggers back a few paces. Marcu$ fights his way down, landing on his feet in front of Ito before he grabs hold of Ibuki’s arm and yanks him in for a short lariat. It’s enough to put the momentum back on Marcu$ side for a moment, and $t John pivots on one foot, mimicking whipping Ito into the ropes but instead of the familiar rebound of coated rope, Ito is sent crashing down the spiral staircase. Marcu$ looks down the stairs, seeing Ito conscious but in clear pain before he takes the opportunity to leave, storming out of the Queen’s House and into the rain. The skies open up, pouring down hard as lightning flashes through the clouds. The White Tower illuminates, limestone reflecting the crackling light from the sky as Marcu$ trudges toward the tower, the tower green muddying under his feet.

Marcu$: Of course..

The door to the White Tower opens, a grand opening sprawling out to a massive hall. To the left, a narrow stairway leads upward. Marcu$ ignores the hall ahead, knowing the championship and the bell are up the stairs another several stories. As Marcu$ climbs, the cameras cut back to the Queen’s House, Ito gripping the hand rail in the stairwell and pulling himself back to his feet with a grunt. Buddy is nowhere to be seen, but this doesn’t seem to phase Ibuki as he looks at the stoic guards before exiting the Queen’s House. The rain continues, but the sloppy footprints of Marcu$ $t John lead Ito toward the White Tower. Ibuki enters the tower, eyes scanning the room before he crosses the great hall, the wider stairwell on the southern side from his tour the other day giving him more room to make his way upward. A split screen shows both Ito and Marcu$ on their mutual ascents before the split fades and both men reach the top of the tower, locking eyes across the final precipice.

A lone raven ‘caws’ out, almost as though its christening the final clash as Ito and Marcu$ both look to cut off the other from the footman’s pike that the North American title dangles off of. It’s an all out slugfest, Ito and M$J trading blows repeatedly as Ito pushes some distance between the two men, hitting a knee strike that staggers Marcu$ back. Marcu$ comes firing back, leaping into Ito and taking him to the stone ground with a Lou Thez. Both men are on the ground, a flurry of fists and feet. As the men duke it out, the camera pans back up to the rows of suits of armor - partially on display, partially held in storage - before the visor of one lifts up to reveal the round face of Buddy Love with a wide grin. The grin evaporates, Buddy taken off of his feet as Ito sends Marcu$ crashing into the display of armor with a dropkick. Buddy is stuck on his back like a turtle, but manages to squeal out amongst the clanking metal.

Buddy Love: Ibuki!

Buddy tosses the gauntlet off of his hand, Ito catching it deftly before plunging his arm into the steel. He takes one look at Marcu$, who’s back to a knee, before winding up and getting 101% of Konbanwa! The sound scatters the ravens in the tower, sending them fleeing through the window arch as Marcu$ slumps against the fallen armor. The commotion knocks askew the weapons displays, the North American title on its perch toppling over as Ito lunges to keep the prized possession from landing on the stone. He dives, managing to ensnare the title, as he looks up from the floor to the tower bell. The rope dangles precariously in the center, cordoned off by a small wooden railing. Ibuki gets back to his feet, eyes on the prize as he steps between two of the railings to reach out for the rope. His fingertips graze the rope, determination etched across his face as he strains to reach out again. He’s met with resistance though, the North American title in his opposite hand now locked in a game of tug o war between he and Marcu$. M$J pulls, nearly taking Ito off of the railing as the Ace reaches for the rope once more. Marcu$ delivers a shot to Ito’s kidney, doubling him over before Marcu$ takes the opening to release the championship, instead grabbing hold of Ito and draping him off of the railing. Regicide connects, dropping Ito onto the stone with a crack as Marcu$ isn’t much better off, hitting the same unforgiving floor. Both men are down, breathing heavily against the stone as they slowly climb back to their feet. The North American championship lain between them, both men instinctively reach out and grab opposite ends of the adjoined leather. Up to knees, Marcu$ pie faces back Ito as he gets to his feet. Ito cuts down Marcu$ though, tripping him up and bringing him back down. Another melee ensues, Marcu$ and Ito throttling one another with one hand a piece, championship firmly lodged between them. Ito rips the championship away, turning his back and delivering a mule kick to Marcu$ as he sets his sights on the rope once more. He steps up onto the barricade, reaching out for the rope as Buddy lets out a near blood curdling scream. Ito hesitates for just a moment, long enough for a blur of skin to cross his periphery. Marcu$ takes a running leap, momentum ripping the North American championship from Ito’s hand as $t John’s other hand grips the tower bell rope for dear life, his body weight dangling and clanging the tower bell over the royal grounds.

DONG DONG DONG

Dobrev: And your winner, AND THE NEEEEEWWWW EWC NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION MARCU$ $T JOHN!

Nina announces the victor back at Wembley, but neither man hears a word of it. Marcu$ swings back uncontrolled, crashing into Ito as both men land in a heap on the other side of the barricade. M$J clutches the title to his chest, exhaustion coupled with the adrenaline crash nearly knocking him out cold. Beneath him, Ito stares skyward with a blank expression. Buddy, still trying to shed the armor from earlier, clanks over as medical staff are finally entering the tower at the conclusion of the bout.

Woo: Valentina.. That was something else.

Gomez: Ibuki Ito gave it all, but Marcu$ was the one willing to risk more in the end. I tell you something though, hats off to both of them. I don’t think I could’ve dared fight up there, risking my neck.

Woo: To hold gold in EWC means everything to these fighters, and Marcu$ $t. John can now call himself a three time North American champion!

Gomez: Marcus, wait a minute... I'm being told something is going on backstage here at Wembley Stadium!!!

Camera cuts to ...

Near gorilla position of Wembley Stadium, The Heat Packers, Dan Funk and Brodie Dawson, are watching the replay of the ending of the North American title match. A few seconds go by when out of nowhere, Antoni Malietoa and KU bum rush the EWC World Tag Team Champions! Toni attacks Dan, KU attacks Brodie as the various crew near the entrance way rush to get out of the way. Antoni begins raining down elbows into the ribs of Dan Funk as KU is putting the boots to Brodie Dawson. All four men are yelling out their hatred for the other side of this bitter feud. Brodie is able to finally grab a boot from KU and twist it HARD, causing KU to scream out in pain as he crumbles down to a knee, Brodie now slaps on an ankle lock on the hurt foot of KU as Antoni finally looks over to see what is going on. He goes to intervene and save his partner, but Dan Funk takes that split second to turn the tide and grab his EWC World Tag Team championship belt as a make shift shiv and he stabs The Samoan Warrior in the lower back reason, the main plate of the belt sticking into his flesh! 

Woo: JESUS CHRIST! Dan Funk just stabbed Antoni with a Tag Team title belt!!!!

Gomez: These teams HATE each other Marcus, that is very obvious right here.

Antoni isn't phased by the attack, the adrenaline in his veins carrying him over to his partner to break up the ankle lock, KU instantly grabs his ankle and rolls out of the way as Antoni locks the waist of Brodie Dawson and tries to throw him, but the pain of his stab wound becomes apparent to him now and he cannot pick the man up. He reaches behind himself feel the belt stuck into his back and without even thinking rips it out of his body then slams it into the skull of Brodie Dawson!! a cut immediately opens up on his skull, but no one can know who's blood they are seeing, Antoni's or Brodie's! Security and the officiating staff finally make it to the area to break them up, three men tackling Dan Funk, two medical staff members rush to check on KU, three more check on Brodie Dawson. Antoni turns to attack Dan Funk but five men surround him as he stands with his outstretched, the bloody EWC World Tag Team title belt in his left hand. He screams as he realizes the situation he is in and chooses not to injure the innocent. The camera cuts back to the commentary table... 

TRIPLE THREAT LUMBERJACK MATCH

For the EWC International Championship

El Pablo
VS Stitches
VS JoJo Rush

MATCH WRTIER: JoJo Rush

Woo: Ladies and gentlemen, I have been a broadcaster for a quite a while now, and in all that time I don't know that I have ever seen two teams that have nothing but hatred in their veins for one another quite like I have between Eleos Affect and the Heat Packers. What you just witnessed was pure, unfiltered anger that has crossed the line from competitive to personal. These two teams have had several potential encounters never even start and now we are being told that the injuries to Antoni Malietoa, Brodie Dawson, and KU are so severe that all three men are being sent to Northwick Park Hospital to be evaluated further. As a result, tonight's scheduled EWC World Tag Team Championship match is being postponed.

Gomez: We hope that nothing is serious or long term, but after what we just saw I can't say for certain that will be the case. 

The camera cuts to ringside, where much of the EWC locker room is prepared for a Triple-Threat Lumberjack match. There’s many notable lumberjacks in the crowd of lumberjacks, but they will remain not noted.

Woo: We have to keep moving right now, and after JoJo ran roughshod on the Brawl roster, including a vicious assault that put our collegue Steve Bennett on the shelf, Brawl General Manager Jim Connors punished the Hardcore & International Champion with a Gauntlet match to decide the next contender for the International Title.

Gomez: Which was won by both Stitches the Clown, and El Pablo. Both men have made Stranglemania history together once before, but tonight the crafty Technico and the nefarious circus clown are sharing a ring with JoJo Rush, a man who is also looking to make history as the first competitor to defend two singles titles at both WrestleFest and Stranglemania!

Dobrev: The following match is a triple-threat Lumberjack match set for one fall, and it is for the EWC International Championship! Joining us first, representing Shinijoshi, from Puebla City, Mexico, weighing in at 180 pounds, he is the "The Technicolor Tecnico!” ... EEEEEEEEEL PAAAAAAAABLOOOOOOOOOO!

A cry of "VIVA LA RAINBOWLUTION!!!" leads to 'Party Hard' by Andrew W.K. hitting the soundsystem and the stage and ringside area being bathed in flashing, flickering, brightly-coloured lighting. As the main hook hits, El Pablo bursts through the curtain, playing to the fans and chugging Skittles like a Steveweiser as his brother Vertigo follows slowly behind, stoic and silent.

The two pause at the top of the ramp, as Pablo throws a final helping of multicoloured candy pieces down his throat before flashing the Shinijoshi double deuces towards the camera and charging down the ramp towards the ring. He slides under bottom rope, then leaps in one smooth motion back to his feet before running up the turnbuckle and tossing a couple of fistfuls of Skittles out into the adoring crowd as Vertigo belatedly takes up his position on the outside. After offering up a final salute, Pablo throws the double deuces up again before hopping back down to the canvas, bumping fists with his brother and performing a few final stretches in the corner as his music fades.

Dobrev: And his opponent, from The Carnival Of Shattered Dreams, weighing in at 260 pounds ... STITCHES!

'One Missed Call (2008) Theme' plays as the lights go dark. As the beat drops at around the thirty seven second mark the curtains are brushed to the side, smoke spewing out from behind the curtains, and out walks Stitches. A wide, red-painted Chelsea-esque grin is across the face of Stitches as he stares out at the crowd of people before him.

Stitches methodically makes his way down the ramp, staring down the crowd members who dare lean too far over the crowd barricade. As he reaches the bottom of the ramp he stops and once again looks out at the crowd of people before him. Stitches approaches the nearby steel stairs, climbs up onto the apron and begins walking the edge of the apron like a tight rope before reaching the nearby ring post. Stitches climbs up onto the second rope and throws his arms out wide for the crowd to embrace him. As expected, the crowd does not embrace a sinister-looking clown.

Stitches hops down from the rope and enters into the ring before approaching the nearby corner of the ring. Stitches turns around, facing the center of the ring and sits down in the corner of the ring, waiting for the bell to ring.

Dobrev: And their opponent, representing the House, from New York City, weighing in at 270 pounds, he is the Hardcore & International Champion! ... THE BEAAAAAAST



YOU CANNOT KILL ME! I AM OMEGA! YOU CANNOT KILL ME! I AM SUBHUMAN!!!



The lights in Wembley Stadium turn blood red. The stadium pyro continues to thunder around and round the venue until it converges into a pillar of fire that bursts from the floor of the stage. Emerging from the pillar of fire is The Beast, complete in his red mask and black tights. The Hardcore and International Champion stands alone on the stage, X-Division Title around his waist, the Hardcore Title in his left hand, and the International Title in his right. The Beasts holds each title high and rocks his back to release a blast of flames before storming down to the ring and blowing past all the lumberjacks. Once ringside, The Beast quickly climbs the turnbuckles to roar out to the booing Wembley crowd. Now in the ring, The Beasts glares at both challengers, but both competitors are game with Stitches smirking and chuckling to himself. Pablo is less thrilled about this prospect, but shakes off the nerves and stares right back at The Beast without blinking.

DING DING DING

The three men stand in different corners, lumberjacks stand ringside banging on the apron in rhythm for the three to begin fighting. However, before any of them can begin circling, Pablo stands in the middle of the ring and raises both hands high above his head, Pablo is challenging both men to a test of strength!

Woo: What the hell is Tecnico trying to do here? Stitches and JoJo are the last two men I’d challenge in a test of strength.

Gomez: Pablo is letting Wembley know that he isn’t afraid of either man, but maybe he should do that with a weapon. It is Stranglemania after all!

Both clown and Beast raise a brow, but oblige El Pablo and the three men lock up in a three-way test of strength. However, as expected, Stitches and The Beast quickly overpower El Pablo! Both big men work together to pull El Pablo towards them, then lift the man up and over their heads and toss Pablo across the ring and toward the outside! The Lumberjacks band together and catch El Pablo. Which now began carrying Pablo out for a crowd surf to a Wembley crowd that could not get enough of the Tecnico!

Meanwhile back in the ring, The Beast quickly bullrushes Stitches, forcing the carnival clown of chaos into a corner. The Beast nails Stitches with several shoulder tackles to Stitches midsection! Stitches fights back with sickening hammer strikes with his elbows against the Beast’s back. Stitches gets a leg up and push kicks the Beast off of him, staggering the creature away. Both competitors slam into each other, budging in the middle. “MEAT” shouted the crowd. Stitches and the Beast bounce off of opposite ropes to hit each other again, neither man budge, but the crowd shouts “MEAT” once more! The Beast shoves Stitches away in order to crack a wicked overhand chop across Stitches’ chest. Despite the chop spilling blood, Stitches shrugs off the chop as if it was nothing. Stitches returns fire and lands an equally sickening chop across JoJo’s chest. “MEAT” shouted the crowd.

Gomez: This match is everything I ever wanted Woo! Big meaty men slapping meat!

Woo: I don’t think there’s an ounce of fear in Stitches, he’s ready to lock horns with a really scary looking JoJo Rush!

Stitches and the Beast fire chops back and forth until the crowd cheer in delight as the face lumberjacks get Pablo to the ring apron, where he springboards off the top rope to hit a Furry Ninja Strike! A spinning heel kick! Wait! The Beast plucks the spinning El Pablo out of the air and spins around the ring until tossing El Pablo out of the ring again with a Deep Six Shooter! The wind-up slam sends Pablo out to the group of heel lumberjacks. Among the group are a group we haven’t seen before, two masked luchadores in full gold suits. It’s the Los Conquistadors! The Lumberjacks on this side are not nearly as kind to Pablo as the first group. Instead of crowd surfing, they drop Pablo onto the floor and proceed to beat on him. The Los Conquistadors begin kicking Pablo in the face with stereo superkicks over and over again. An absolutely nauseating amount of superkicks. After one final superkick that flattens Pablo out, one of the Conquistadors begins raising their hand up in a Too Sweet, but the other stops him!

Woo: When did EWC sign the Los Conquistadors, Gomez?

Gomez: Look at the sideburns, you already know who those two really are, Woo!

Meanwhile in the ring, Stitches nabs the Beast in a schoolboy rollup and takes hold of the tights!

On– Kickout by the Beast!

The Beast rolls off their back and onto their feet. Stitches does the same and the two lock-up once again, the Beast quickly wins control and takes Stitches in a headlock, but this is exactly what Stitches wanted! Stitches jabs his fingers right into the freshly stitched wound in the Beast’s flank! The Beast hollers loudly in pain, which gives Stitches the window he needed to push the Beast off of him and into the ropes, where Stitches lines up the masked animal and plants him with an absolutely nasty bicycle kick! Beautiful Disasterpiece! The kick drops the Beast to the mat, Stitches pushes the Beast’s body back down onto the mat for a pin.

One..

Two…

T– Kickout!

Stitches gets up in frustration and bangs the mat! However when Stitches gets to a standing base, Pablo springboards into the ring once more, this time going for a modified Frankensteiner Facebuster! Wait! Stitches keeps himself upright and now has Pablo in an electric chair! Stitches wobbles before tossing himself towards the nearest set of ropes he can find, spilling Pablo out to the Lumberjacks once again! The Lumberjacks try to catch Pablo, but the Technico spills out awkwardly on his head on the ring apron! The crowd winces and groans at the sight.

Woo: El Pablo going high-risk just got him juiced!

Gomez: That modified Taste the Rainbow could’ve put the match away right then and there! But after this many matches together, Stitches has El Pablo well-scouted!

While the Lumberjacks check on the wounded El Pablo instead of beat on him, Stitches punts the Beast in the head! With the Beast prone, Stitches steps up and over and locks in the champion in a Camel Clutch Stitches calls the Cheshire Smile! Stitches hooks two fingers into the side of the Beast’s mouth and wrenches the hold back! However the Beast counters by clamping down and biting Stitches fingers hard enough to draw blood! Stitches has to shake his hands free from the maw of the Beast who gets up and spits the blood that pooled into his mouth up into the air! Before the crowd can chant “You sick fuck!” The Beast turns around and pulls the Clown in for a ride to Suplex City! “ONE” chant the crowd! The Beast quickly rises to their feet and throws Stitches again! “Two!” Stitches goes up and crashing back down into the mat for a second time! The Beast again quickly pops to their feet and executes a third German Suplex! This time JoJo bridges into a pin!

One…

Two…

Thre– NO! PABLO DIVES FROM THE TOP ROPE AND LANDS A LEG DROP ACROSS THE BEAST! PABLO SAVES THE MATCH!

The Beast climbs to their feet, and just glares down the much smaller masked-man. Pablo shows his mean business by stepping in and cracking the Beast across the chest with an overhand chop of his own! The chop breaks skin, causing the Beast to bleed from his chest. The Beast does not respond. In fact he pauses in his tracks, looks down at his chest, sees the bloody wound caused by Pablo and glares right back at the Technico. El Pablo looks up at the large, scary creature, sighs, throws himself into the mat and rolls himself back out to the mercy of the lumberjacks. While the sold-out crowd laughs at Pablo’s behaviour, Stitches watches the Beast huff and puff as blood begins to seep through the medical bandages wrapped around the champion’s waist.

Woo: Despite the utter hell Jason Anderson put JoJo Rush through earlier in the evening, the Beast is showing that he’s up for the challenge against two of EWC’s best.

Gomez: I’d keep my eye on Stitches! He’s like a shark right now and he can smell blood in the water!

The Beast staggers back to a prone Stitches and lifts his opponent’s knee up high before crashing it down on the Beast’s own knee for a kneebreaker the Beast calls The Snap! Stitches bounces off the mat, gripping his knee in pain, but then finds himself lifted up in the air once more, this time for a Standing Inverted Texas Cloverleaf! The House Special! The Beast locks the hold in tight! But Wait! Pablo breaks up the hold with a picture-perfect Furry Ninja Strike! The Beast drops the hold and slumps into the corner stunned! Pablo goes into second-gear and hits a standing shooting star press on Stitches to keep the man down! The Technico pops back to his feet to climb a nearby turnbuckle, then proceeds to walk the top rope before nailing a clean missile drop kick against the Beast’s chest! The Five Star Express! The strike staggered the Beast, but it was a feint in order to hit the ropes and pick up speed to hit a spear on Pablo! Wait! Pablo leaps off his feet and catches the Beast with a Spanish Fly that goes up and over the top rope and out into the lumberjacks! Except none of the lumberjacks even dare to try and catch either competitor and let them hit the floor with a thud!

While the spill to the outside stuns Pablo, it only pisses off the Beast who pounds the floor before crawling over to strangle El Pablo with their bare hands! Underneath the mask, Pablo is turning the same shade of a blue skittle! The lumberjacks try to pull the Beast off of Pablo, but the Los Conquistadors come to the Beast’s aide! The Wembley crowd boo loudly, but the boos turn to cheers as Chelsea Skye, Addy Aquila, Cassie Wolfe, and Harper Mason all begin circling and throwing hammer strikes down on the Beast. “This is for breaking my Nintendo Switch!” Shouts Lo Divino. The rest of the heel lumberjacks begin brawling with the good lumberjacks, it is complete and utter anarchy. All while Stitches slouches in the ring corner working out the pain in his injured knee.

Woo: The Lumberjacks were meant to make sure these three competitors kept the fight in the ring, but pandemonium is breaking out across the Lumberjacks!

Security and referees sprint down the ring to try and bring order to the match. The Beast fights with literally as many Lumberjacks as they can. They bite, claw, and even grab hold of Cassie Wolfe and Harper Mason’s heads and smash them together. The full-on riot ringside spills out into a nearby crowd of football hooligans spilling all of their extremely potent alcoholic beverages over several competitors, including the new Los Conquistadors and Yaya Banana! Before the Beast can turn his attention back to Pablo, the Technico catches the Beast with a low blow! It stops the Beast in place, but doesn’t seem to phase it. It takes several more kicks for them to finally stun the Beast. Who in a pain holler releases a great ball of fire! The fire engulfs Yaya Banana, setting the man on fire! He flails around for his life, the panic causing him to also set Chelsea Skye, Cassie Wolfe, Harper Mason, and Addy Aquila on fire! Not only them but the Los COnquistadors as well! In a panic they rip off and tear at their costumes and masks to reveal themselves as Brian Knight and Mark Paulson, Next Level of the House! At that point, every single lumberjack except for those getting chased down by backstage hands with fire extinguishers turn and zero in on the Beast’s stablemates and collectively begin beating on both men.

Then from the apron, Stitches makes good on his promise and cracks the Beast on the head with a cowbell! Then wraps a length of bull rope around the Beast’s neck to strangle the Beast and pull the large man into the ring. Pablo slumps against a barricade to recover from the chaos of the lumberjacks. The Wembley crowd nearby helped Pablo fuel back up by feeding a massive bag of skittles!

Woo: It looks like El Pablo is getting ready for a Sugar Rush of a lifetime!

Gomez: I’ve never seen a man eat that many skittles before in my entire life!

Back in the ring, Stitches continues to choke the Beast with a bull rope Stitches brought to the ring. The Beast tries its best to fight against Stitches, they get on their feet and even try swinging Stitches off, but the Clown hooks his legs around the Beast and only wrenches back on the rope harder and harder. The Beast begins to fade right in the middle of the ring! The referee begins lifting the Beast’s arm.

One…

Two…

Th– PABLO BREAKS UP THE CHOKE WITH A FLIP KICK!

Stitches staggers into the ropes while the Beast lays prone in the ring gasping for air. Stitches bounces off the ropes to run at Pablo, but the Tecnico catches the clown and connects with a Spanish Fly! Stitches lay out beside the Beast! Pablo springboards off the ropes for a moonsault landing on both Stitches and the Beast! Pablo rolls back to his feet and thrusts himself into the turnbuckle to bang on the turnbuckle. The Beast is the first to their feet, which Pablo rewards the feat of resiliency with a calf kick that staggers the Beast into the corner. Pablo sprints to a corner and fires himself out of the corner like a cannon to hit the Beast with the stiffest missile dropkick he could muster! Pablo, still buzzing from the sugar rush climbs the middle turnbuckle and keeps the Beast in place and shouts “SING A RAINBOW!!!” to the Wembley crowd before throwing down vicious elbows to the head of the Beast.

RED!

YELLOW!

PINK!

GREEN!

PURPLE!

ORANGE!

BLUE!

El Pablo isn’t done! He continues striking away before leaping up and planting the Beast with a Frankensteiner Facebuster! Taste the Rainbow! Pablo executes it perfectly and hooks both of the Beast’s legs for the pin!

One…

Two…

Th– STITCHES PUTS PABLO IN A FUTURESHOCK DDT AND HITS HIM! SOUND OF SILENCE! STITCHES QUICKLY ROLLS PABLO OVER AND PINS! WEMBLEY IS BESIDE THEMSELVES!

One…

Two…

Thre– THE BEAST THROWS ITSELF INTO THE PIN AT 2.99! THE MATCH GOES ON! ALL THREE WRESTLERS ARE LAID OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!

Woo: Everyone in this match is operating off of pure instinct!

Gomez: Someone has to give, but we are watching an instant classic from three of the most stubborn men in the sport right now!

With order restored within the lumberjacks, and free of Next Level, they begin to bang on the apron to stir the three men back to their feet. Which it does! Stitches is the first to his feet, followed by the Beast, then followed by El Pablo. All three competitors rest against each other to build up their strength. All while Stitches and Pablo jaw-jack back n’ forth. ““FIGHT FOREVER” chants erupt through Wembley. The Beast is the first to open fire with a vicious chop to Stitches. The strike this time staggers the Clown back, but he returns fire with a chop back, the strike also causing the Beast to take a step back in pain. Both men eye each other, then turn their attention to an extremely staggered El Pablo and they both chop El Pablo at the same time. The sound of the smack of meat meeting meat echoes through the stadium, and it obviously levels Pablo into the mat. Before the Beast could turn his attention to Stitches, the clown takes advantage and throws another hook into the stab wound in the Beast’s flank. Stitches busted open the stitches! The clown presses his advantage and hits a Crimson Arrow on the Beast! But before Stitches could hook the leg, Pablo plants Stitches on his back with a dropkick! Pablo rolls out of the ring and onto the apron to climb the turnbuckle! It takes a great amount of effort for Pablo to slowly climb to the top rope! Pablo signals for R.P.M a corkscrew Senton! Wait! Stitches throws himself against the top ropes! Pablo falls and lands crotch-first on the turnbuckle! Pablo wobbles at the top while Stitches frantically gets himself back to his feet and up the top rope to hit a picture-perfect superplex on El Pablo! Wait! Stitches rolls it into a Crimson Arrow! He even leaps off his feet to add extra oomph to the move! Crimson Fury! Pablo reaches over and hooks a leg!

One…

Two…

Thre– NO PABLO KICKS OUT AT 2.99! STITCHES CAN’T BELIEVE IT!

Woo: How many people has the Crimson Fury put away! Just when you think it’s over, Pablo digs deep and kicks out of the Crimson Fury!

Gomez: These guys aren’t going to stop until someone dies!

Woo: With the Hardcore & International Championship, that might actually be a possibility!

Stitches however does not get long to complain, for the Beast quickly grabs Stitches and hoists him onto his shoulders for the Fireman’s Carry Cutter, G90! Wait! Stitches grabs hold of the top rope to break himself free! With some kicks, Stitches lands on the apron. The Beast grabs at Stitches and attempts to pull him back into the ring with a suplex, but Stitches blocks the attempt! Stitches goes for another flank punch again to weaken the Beast! Stitches grabs the Beast and lifts him up and over the ropes with a suplex! Wait! The Beast breaks free and lands on their feet on the apron! The Beast and the Clown battle on the apron. In a desperate bid to throw the Beast into the lumberjacks, Stitches hooks his fingers into the Beast’s exposed gash and uses it as leverage to throw the Beast out to the Lumberjacks! Before Stitches can even turn around however, El Pablo executes a Poisonrana on the unsuspecting Stitches from up and over the ropes! The Beast lands among the Lumberjacks who all desperately swarm and mob the Champion from getting back into the ring! Pablo hooks Stitches leg!

One…

Two…

Three!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall EL PAAAAAAAAABLOOOOOOOOOO!

The Beast roars in protest, but succumbs to their injuries and fatigue. Leaving El Pablo to hop off of Stitches and throw himself against the ropes to celebrate with a Wembley crowd that could not be happier for the Tecnico!

Woo: What an absolute hell these three men put each other through, but El Pablo prevails despite the odds against him!

Gomez: Stitches and the Beast brought their A-Game, but Pablo is now the first Paramount star to hold the International Title!

Woo: A massive title change that has me wondering how The House is going to deal with these changes to their former Light of Monday Night...but Cosmo won't have time to worry about that, as he's set to defend his EWC United States Championship against Lavender up next!

Camera cuts to a video package highlighting the reign of Cosmo Goldworthy and the rise of Lavender as his number one contender ahead of tonight's ladder match for the EWC United States Championship...

[EWC]

LADDER MATCH

For the EWC United States Championship

Lavender
VS Cosmo Goldworthy

MATCH WRTIER: Cosmo Goldworthy

We return to ringside where ladders are being set up around the ring.

Woo: This is indeed a battle of legacy! One of Rampage’s best superstars faces the self-proclaimed superstar of this new era!

Gomez: Self proclaimed?! I think everyone knows how good he is now! What a night this has been for Cosmo, imagine if he can cap it off by defeating Lavender!

Dobrev: The following is a ladder match and it is for the EWC United States Championship! Joining us first, from Seattle, Washington, weighing in at 132 pounds ... LAVENDER!!

The lights go out as 'Better Without You' by Evanescence begins to play. The lights start to flash in time to the intro until the beat starts to kick up in the song. At around the thirty-six-second mark 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 spread across her face. As Lavender reaches the bottom of the ramp she walks over to the steel steps, walks up the steel stairs, and takes another glance across the crowd before wiping her feet and entering the ring. Once inside the ring Lavender 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.

Dobrev: And her opponent, from The Golden State, weighing in at 201 pounds, accompanied by Dimitri Graves ... THE EWC UNITED STATES & FIGHTING SPIRIT CHAMPION ... COSMO GOLDWORTHY!

YEAH

MONEY ON MY MIND, MONEY ON MY MIND (YEAH)

MONEY ON MY MIND, MONEY—MONEY ON MY MIND (YEAH)

MONEY ON MY MIND, MONEY ON MY MIND (THAT'S RIGHT)

MONEY—MONEY ON MY MIND

SO MONEY IS ALL I THINK OF

The arena plunges into darkness as the electric beat of "Money On My Mind" reverberates throughout the building.

Gold and white lines then strobe throughout the building as the EWC United States Champion and NEW Fighting Spirit Champion Cosmo Goldworthy swaggers out with his manager Dimitri Graves towing behind with a sinister smirk on his face. Cosmo makes his way to the ring in a bedazzling entrance jacket which all attention is on, much like his WrestleFest entrance gear. Cosmo holds his new championship up, pointing to the challenger in the ring. He grins, in a great mood despite the pain he went through earlier. Cosmo nods to Dimitri and walks under the ladder, breaking all superstitions ahead of this match.

STEPPING OUT THE MOTHERFUCKIN' CAR, THEY IN AWE (YEAH)

I'M LOOKING LIKE A STAR, BITCH, WHEN YOU SEE ME, MAKE A WISH

HOLLER AT YOUR MOTHERFUCKIN' BOY, JR (BRR)

BIRDMAN MY PA, BITCH, BALL BRED, BORN RICH (YEAH)

DEAR MR. TOILET, I'M THE SHIT

GOT THESE OTHER HATERS PISSED 'CAUSE MY TOILET PAPER THICK

I KNOW

Cosmo places his championship on the apron and slowly removes his entrance gear. You can see that his back is scarred from earlier, but he doesn’t care. Cosmo then picks his championship up and climbs back to the top rope, emphatically raising the Fighting Spirit Championship up! “I’M THE FUCKIN’ BEST!” Cosmo yells.

BUT TRIP AND THAT 40 MAKE A CHIP OUT A POTATO-HEAD WIMP

THEN LIKE RANCH, I DIP (GONE)

AND THE HUSTLE IS ALL MUSCLE, JUST STRENGTH

WHEN IT COMES TO THAT WEIGHT, I DON'T STRUGGLE, I JUST LIFT (ONE, TWO)

I GOT MY HAND ON THE GAME, YEAH, I MAKE A GRIP (YEAH)

HUNDRED GRAND IN MY FIST, SAME ON MY WRIST

GET KEY MONEY FROM A QUARTER, BLAME IT ON MY WRIST (HAHA)

I WHIP COKE LIKE HOES, N----, I'M A PIMP (YEAH)

He drops off the top rope and glances at Lavender, extremely certain that he’s going to get the job done here. He removes the rest of his entrance gear, including his mask so he can stare right at Lavender. Cosmo looks around the outside of the ring at the ladders and takes a deep breath, leaning against the corner. Cosmo hands the Fighting Spirit Championship to Dimitri and leans back, waiting for this one to start.

Woo: These two look like they want to tear each other apart all in the name of becoming United States Champion!

DING DING DING

Cosmo and Lavender look up to the United States Championship hanging in the balance. They roll out and grab ladders each, sliding in with them. Cosmo and Lavender stare at each other, and then ram the ladders into one another! They wince at their hands colliding with the ladder, but both slam the ladders into one another again! Cosmo yells out in pain, and he takes the ladder and THROWS it at Lavender! The weight is too much for Lavender to withstand and she falls over. She frees herself from the ladder she was holding and scrambles to the ropes. Cosmo lifts Lavender up and lights her up with leg kicks and chest kicks. Cosmo takes Lavender’s head and tries for a suplex on the ladder! But Lavender floats over, landing behind Cosmo. She takes his waist and lifts him up… BACK SUPLEX ON BOTH LADDERS! Cosmo’s body ragdolls off the ladders and he rolls away, winding in pain as he clutches the back of his neck and his thumbtack-free back. Cosmo rolls away, wheezing out in pain. He rolls to the apron and Lavender grabs at the ladder.. But Cosmo slingshots in and leaps into a leg drop, driving Lavender’s face into the ladder! Cosmo isn’t exempt from it as he makes contact as well. He rolls over, crying out in pain. He rubs his spine, while Lavender is nursing her face for any cuts. She crawls to the ropes, falling back on her face in pain. Cosmo slowly rises up, looking around.

He picks up the ladder and sets it in the center of the ring. He starts climbing up it, but Lavender rises to her feet and clubs him in the back! Lavender clubs Cosmo’s back again! She takes Cosmo’s legs, lifting him in an electric chair. But Cosmo starts throwing punches! He punches the top of Lavender’s head. Her grip weakens and he slips behind her. Cosmo grabs Lavender by the waist and tosses her in the ladder— but she’s able to control her landing and she lands on the middle of the ladder’s rungs! Lavender quickly climbs up but Cosmo follows! He elbows her in the back, and Lavender winces. Cosmo tries to grab her waist by she throws a nasty back kick. Lavender throws another. She winds back one more, but Cosmo catches her leg! He shakes his head, and swiftly leaps off the ladder, dragging Lavender off by her leg and slamming her face first into the mat! Cosmo staggers back by the impact, falling to a seated position against the ropes. Cosmo groans, still feeling the effects of esrlier’s matchup, while Lavender nurses her injuries. Cosmo rises to his feet and drags Lavender up, throwing her out of the ring.

He turns back to the ladder and approaches it, climbing up. “It’s over!” Cosmo emphatically yells. He gets his hands up to the title… and WHACK! Lavender rolls back in and smashes the ladder into his back! She drops it and grabs Cosmo by the legs! But Cosmo kicks her back, dropping down. He swings for a lariat but she ducks and nails him with a high kick to the head. Lavender takes the head of Cosmo, trying to lift him up- but Cosmo punches her in the ribs! He punches her in the ribs again! Cosmo takes Lavender by the ribs and rams him into the open ladder, and it topples over the top rope ! Lavender holds the back of her head, stumbling into Cosmo who throws her onto the closed ladder with an exploder suplex! Lavender yelps out in pain and she rolls out, holding her back. Cosmo looks over to the ladder no longer in the center of the ring, lying out of the ring. He rolls out to follow Lavender. Cosmo picks up Lavender and slams her head into the apron. He punches her in the ribs and takes her by the wrist, trying to irish whip her into a ladder standing near the corner, but Lavender reverses it! Cosmo’s back crashes against the ladder and he leans against the rungs, breathing heavily..

Cosmo tries to get away, but Lavender charges forward! AND SHE LEAPS INTO A SHOTGUN DROPKICK INTO THE LADDER! COSMO FALLS OVER, WHEEZING OUT IN PAIN! Lavender holds her back after hitting the floor, groaning. She looks to the ring and nods to the United States Championship. Lavender starts crawling over to the apron and slowly makes her way in the ring— while Cosmo is struggling to make any sense of the pain he’s in. Lavender takes the ladder dropped and slowly raises it up, setting it in the center of the ring. But outside of the ring, Cosmo is crawling under the ring to get a ladder of his own. Lavender is unaware and she continues to climb, but Lavender slides in and smacks her across the back with it! Lavender is stunned as Cosmo positions it between the ropes and the ladder, and climbs onto the ladder. He punches Lavender in the back of the head. Lavender leans against the ladder, dazed. Cosmo grabs her, trying to throw her off the top- but Lavender holds on! Lavender elbows Cosmo back. And she elbows him again! Cosmo stumbles on the ladder, struggling to stand in between the rungs. Lavender takes the head of Cosmo and grabs the trunks, trying to lift him up– but Cosmo punches her in the ribs! He punches her in the ribs again! Cosmo slowly frees himself, and throws a nasty roundhouse kick that stuns her!

Lavender is stunned, and Cosmo takes her head, looking around. He lifts her up– AND SLAMS HER WITH A SUPLEX ON THE BRIDGED LADDER! BOTH BOUNCE OFF THE LADDER, CRASHING OFF THE SIDE OF IT AND FALLING STRAIGHT TO THE MAT! Cosmo wheezes out in pain, grabbing at his side. He’s in pain despite hitting the move, and Lavender is rolling around in agony! She kicks her legs on the mat and punches the mat, frustrated by the amount of pain that she’s in right now. Cosmo stares up to the United States Championship in the air, his eyes narrowing as getting up there to get the win starts to feel bleak from him after his earlier pain...

Woo: What a SUPLEX from Cosmo Goldworthy! Both the champion and challenger are in pain, but it’s clear that Lavender is the healthier competitor!

Gomez: But at what cost?! Cosmo is pummeling Lavender, you can’t ignore that! Look at her! I think she wants to quit!

Cosmo rolls to the ropes, trying to use them to rise to his feet. It takes him some time, but after grabbing the bottom, then the middle, and finally the top– Cosmo Goldworthy is up to his feet. Meanwhile, Lavender grits her teeth, using the ladder to start to pull herself up. She tries to get up to the ladder, but Cosmo runs to the ladder, standing across from Lavender. She kicks him back, reaching her leg out between the ladder. Cosmo approaches her again, and she rises up and leaps through the middle with a dropkick to Cosmo! He gets knocked back and Lavender groans, looking up to the top after taking Cosmo down. He starts to crawl to the ladder and starts working her way up! Lavender reaches up to the top..

..She’s close, but Cosmo rises to his feet and pulls her off! He takes her wrist and irish whips her into the turnbuckle. Lavender winces out in pain as Cosmo follows up with a running back elbow, then leaps into an enzuigiri! Lavender falls into a seated position, dazed. Cosmo rises, rubbing his bad back. He walks over to the bridged ladder and takes it from being attached to the standing ladder. Cosmo takes the ladder and places it against the middle ropes and turnbuckles. He then takes Lavender’s legs and drops her to her back. Lavender looks up, her eyes staring directly at the ladder. She tries her hardest to wiggle her legs free and kick Cosmo off, but he firmly holds onto her legs.. AND HE SLINGSHOTS HER FACE INTO THE LADDER!

Lavender’s face crashes with the ladder! She is hardly moving, holding her mouth in pain. Cosmo looks at Lavender and grins at the pain she’s in. Cosmo breathes heavily, rolling over. He starts to crawl to the ladder. Cosmo makes it up each rung, a confident grin on his face. As he makes it to the top, he stares at the championship hanging in the air. He reaches up— but all of a sudden, the ladder starts shaking! Lavender shakes the ladder, then she PUSHES IT! AND COSMO GOES FLYING OFF THE TOP AND THROAT FIRST INTO THE TOP ROPE! Cosmo goes down, and he’s out of it! Cosmo falls out of the ring, and Lavender sees the window of opportunity! She quickly takes the ladder and pulls it back to the center!

The London crowd is cheering Lavender on as he makes the climb! She gets all the way up, and she reaches for the United States Championship! Lavender’s fingertips touch the championship! SHE REACHES FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AROUND THE HOOK!

AND SHE PULLS!

IT!


DOWWNNN—


WHACK!

Cosmo SMASHES a chair into Lavender’s back! The fans boo at the introduction of other weapons in this match, and Lavender is holding her back in agony! Cosmo raises the chair and smashes her over the back again! Lavender slowly drops off the ladder… Cosmo smirks, swinging for Lavender’s head! BUT SHE DUCKS! The vibration hurts Cosmo’s fingers and he drops the chair, shaking his hand out in pain. Lavender waits for him.. DROPKICK INTO THE BRIDGED LADDER IN THE CORNER! Cosmo wheezes out in pain, holding his back. Lavender ducks under him, taking the arms! DRAGON SUPLEX ONTO THE LADDER! The ladder topples down to the mat, and Cosmo falls with it! He clutches at the back of his neck, wailing out in agony!

Lavender is hurt herself, and she looks up to the championship. She looks over to Cosmo trying to work his way back up and she shakes her head. Lavender takes Cosmo by the hair and drags him up. She brings him to the chair he introduced. Lavender nods, trying for a DDT on the chair! But Cosmo punches her in the ribs! Again! Cosmo shoves her to the ropes, she bounces off and Cosmo pops her up in the air— ONLY FOR LAVENDER TO BRING HIM DOWN WITH A SPIKE DDT ON THE CHAIR! COSMO BOUNCES OFF THE IMPACT, GETTING SENT TO THE TURNBUCKLES!

Woo: WHAT A COUNTER FROM LAVENDER! Cosmo got too overzealous and he paid for it, getting his head driven into the chair!

Gomez: Could you be any more biased?! He didn’t pay for anything, but Lavender will if she steals this championship from Cosmo!

Lavender grits her teeth, holding her back. She rolls over and pushes the chair away. She takes the rungs, slowly climbing up. Lavender starts to move up the ladder. He holds her back though, the pain killing her as she has to move her body every time she climbs up. Lavender starts to get closer… But Cosmo re-emerges, taking her leg! She holds onto the ladder, though, kicking him back! But Cosmo bounces off the ropes and launches his entire body into the ladder— AND LAVENDER FALLS BACKWARDS AS THE LADDER FALLS TO THE SIDE AND SHE CRASHES RIGHT ON HER HEAD! IT’S AN AWKWARD LANDING, EVOKING A GASP FROM EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING! Cosmo stares at Lavender’s state and chuckles, the laughs paused due to Cosmo’s body in deep pain. Lavender is hardly moving, but neither is Cosmo!

Finally, the champion gets up and takes the ladder. He throws it out of the ring and takes by Lavender by the hair. He nods, wanting to make a statement by pummeling her with punches! Lavender tries her best to cover up but Cosmo is beating the absolute hell out of her! Each punch stings and Cosmo is raining each and every single one down! She tries to cover up but to no avail. Cosmo drags Lavender to her feet and throws her out of the ring. He follows out and looks under the ring to grab a ladder. Lavender slowly rises to his feet and Cosmo bolts around the ring, driving the ladder directly into her chest! She tries to cushion the impact with her hands but Lavender STILL gets steamrolled by the champion! He throws the ladder to the side, huffing and puffing. Lavender stares at the ceiling, her eyes glassy. Cosmo looks at the announce table cover and pulls it off! He takes Lavender by the hair and pulls the rest of the table off and throws her onto it!

Cosmo climbs up and starts punching the hell out of Lavender! Lavender is nearly defenseless as Cosmo pulls her up. She turns her around, taking the arms. Cosmo grins as he starts to twist into the Gold Mine.. Bur Lavender elbows his back! She elbows his back again! Lavender snaps Cosmo up into a full nelson, trying for the dragon suplex! But Cosmo digs his feet into the table, squatting to avoid the hold. Lavender struggles, trying to keep at it.. But Cosmo elbows her! He elbows her again! Lavender is dazed, forced to release the hold. He points at her and looks to charge in the Cash Rolls Everything elbow, but Lavender catches him with a sole kick to the gut! Lavender takes Cosmo’s head between her thighs and double underhooks the arms.. SHE FLIPS HIM OVERHEAD— BUTTERFLY EFFECT THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! BOTH GET DRAGGED DOWN TO THE FLOOR AS THE TABLE EXPLODES AND LAVENDER FALLS FACE FIRST! Cosmo’s back collides with the debris of the announce table and he wails out in agony!

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

Dimitri Graves rushes over, checking on Cosmo. Cosmo groans, and the two have a convo that can’t be heard. It seems like Cosmo is contemplating letting it go here, while Lavender is trying to regain her bearings after falling on her face despite hitting the move. She looks to the championship in the air, and starts to crawl to the ring. She takes the apron skirt and slides in— but Lavender wipes her eyes to fight against the blurry vision, her head spinning from pain.. And that’s when she realizes there is NO ladder to use in the ring! Cosmo’s plan may have backfired, but clearly the backup plan was set in place! Lavender slaps the mat, agitated and hurting. Dimitri continues to tend to Cosmo, and Cosmo sees a window of opportunity in the ring. Lavender rolls out of the ring as quick as she possibly can, and takes a ladder standing outside of the ring. She closes it and rolls it in the ring. Lavender slides in along with the ladder, and starts to set it up…

Cosmo rises to his feet, finally, and he takes the ladder outside the ring that he bashed Lavender with! He slides in with it and sets the ladder up next to hers! Lavender shakes her head, trying to get up to the ladder quicker, but Cosmo is also moving up as fast as his body can permit. Lavender gets her finger tips on the United States Championship but Cosmo throws a nasty straight punch to the ribs! Lavender winces, doubling over. Cosmo reaches up for the championship, but Lavender takes his wrist! Cosmo yells, trying to free himself of her grip.. But Lavender takes his wrist and SLAMS IT INTO THE LADDER! Cosmo wails out in agony, holding at his wrist! Now it’s Lavender reaching up for the championship, but Cosmo throws a high kick to the side of her head! LAVENDER SLIDES DOWN THE RUNGS! BUT SHE HOLDS ONTO THE LADDER FOR DEAR LIFE! Cosmo reaches over, trying to boot Lavender off!

But she reaches up and catches the ankle! She slams it into the ladder! Cosmo wails out in pain! She takes it and slams it into the ladder again! Cosmo yelps out! Lavender takes the leg for a deagonscrew leg whip, but Cosmo resists the grab! He pulls his other leg over the ladder, seated with one leg on both ladders. Lavender is trying to pull Cosmo off, but now Cosmo moves his other legs… AND HE SWIFTLY LEAPS OFF THE LADDER! CASH COW TO LAVENDER! HE MUSHROOM STOMPS HER STRAIGHT TO THE MAT! BOTH GO DOWN AND LAVENDER HOLDS HER CHEST, COUGHING OUT IN PAIN! Cosmo rolls around, holding his knees! He yells out, questioning if he seriously hurt his knees. The crowd are on their feet as this one continues on, in disbelief at how far these two are willing to go!

The ladder remains up there in the air, but Cosmo is literally struggling to move. He lies there, gasping for air. The pace these two have gone at is outstanding. Lavender still grabs at her chest in pain, struggling to breathe. Cosmo crawls to the ropes in an attempt to rise to his feet, but his legs crumble at the weight. Cosmo falls to a seated position in the corner while Lavender is still down. He realizes he’s fallen AWAY from the ladder and drags his body over, starting to crawl over. He slowly pulls himself up each rung, practically dragging his body up the ladder. Cosmo reaches for the championship! He gets his hands on the top!

BUT LAVENDER RISES AND TAKES THE LADDER! COSMO HOLDS ONTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! HE YELLS OUT, HIS LEGS DANGLING ABOVE THE GROUND! He tries to reach his legs around to the other ladder..

But Lavender pushes it out of the way! Cosmo struggles, trying to hold onto the title for dear life. His arms are burning and he grits his teeth, shaking his head. Lavender takes the ladder and raises it up, THROWING IT AT COSMO! THE LADDER COLLIDES WITH COSMO’S RIBS AND HE RELEASES THE TITLE, FALLING TO THE MAT!

“THIS IS AWESOME!”

“THIS IS AWESOME!”

“THIS IS AWESOME!”

Woo: WHAT A COLLISION! THE CHAMPION GOES CRASHING TO THE MAT AND THIS ONE MIGHT BE AS GOOD AS DONE!

Gomez: Holy SHIT! This match is utter chaos and I love it, but Cosmo needs to get back up! This isn’t your moment, Lavender!!!

Lavender falls over from the energy exerted to send that ladder into Cosmo. Cosmo is still working around the pain, holding his ribs. He flails around the air, unable to breathe. Lavender crawls over to the ladder. She uses it to help herself rise to her feet, she staggers backwards, leaning against the ropes. Cosmo is leaning against the ropes and Dimitri tries his hardest to wake Cosmo up. Cosmo is still nursing his ribs, meanwhile Lavender is up fully now! She stands the ladder in the center of the ring. Lavender starts climbing up, whilst Cosmo rises to his feet and runs up top! It’s an adrenaline boost as he starts throwing hands with Lavender!

It’s an all out hockey fight atop the ladder! But Lavender PUNCHES Cosmo in those hurt ribs and he drops off the ladder, wheezing out in pain. Cosmo gasps for air, and Lavender looks down at Cosmo, spent and hurt. She looks up to the championship and starts getting higher up.. Cosmo takes that ladder she pushed over earlier and pushes it in front of the corner. Cosmo starts to climb up with Lavender again, as she gets closer! She reaches for the belt and Cosmo swats her hand away! He takes her head and SLAMS it into the ladder! Lavender is dazed, and now Cosmo takes advantage to reach for the championship- but Lavender punches him square in the ribs! Cosmo wheezes, but he’s still holding onto his championship. Lavender punches her again! And again! She winds back one more time and punches Cosmo in the ribs, and he falls off the top again! Cosmo groans in pain.

Lavender is climbing back up the ladder after Cosmo’s onslaught made her slip down a rung. But Cosmo is crawling to the ladder that he set up in the corner and starts to climb it! He adjusts himself while Lavender has no idea what’s coming! Cosmo climbs to the very top of the ladder, catapulting off of it— and bringing it down— INTO A DIVING LARIAT TO LAVENDER! BOTH FLY OFF THE TOO AND GO CRASHING STRAIGHT TO THE MAT! COSMO WINCES OUT, AND THE BACK OF LAVENDER’S HEAD CRASHES INTO THE MAT!

They’re both down and out, and the fans are on their feet! Cosmo rolls over, groaning. He looks back to the debris laid behind the two. Both ladders are on the mat. Cosmo scoots backwards, and he and Lavender both roll out to the floor. Cosmo staggers towards Lavender. He grabs her by the head, but she takes his waist and rams her into the steel steps! Cosmo leans against the steps, holding his back. He groans. Lavender slowly rises and approaches him, but Cosmo scoops her up and drops a flapjack on the steps! Lavender stumbles backwards, holding his life. Cosmo points to Lavender! READY TO DIE! Lavender moves and Cosmo lands on his feet, but he drops to a knee! He holds his knee in pain, and Lavender slowly waits for him to rise up.. SHE SPINS! THE GIFTHORSE! BACK FOREARM TO THE NECK! Cosmo hits the floor, and Lavender falls to her ass!

Both are huffing and puffing. Cosmo holds at his throat, gasping for air. He coughs out, hardly moving. Lavender takes the apron skirt to pull herself up. She then slowly brings her leg over the apron and uses it to slide in the ring. Lavender crawls to the ladders, exhausted. She pushes one out so Cosmo can no longer use it to his advantage. She crawls over to the other. Lavender rises up with the ladder, and sets it in the center of the ring. She nods her head, starting to climb up. She etches her way up each rung, nodding her head. And the crowd are cheering her on all the way! She reaches for the United States Championship!

SHE PULLS IT!

SHE YANKS ON THE HOOK!

AND SHE..

GETS CLOBBERED FROM BEHIND BY COSMO! COSMO ELBOWS HER IN THE BACK! THEN ELBOWS HER IN THE HEAD! But Lavender elbows Cosmo furiously! Cosmo leans against her, struggling to stay up. Lavender starts climbing up as well, but Cosmo pushes her! She hangs onto the ladder, turning around. Cosmo continues to try and get her down, but she takes his arm and traps the leg! Lavender sits atop the ladder, starting to wrap her legs around Cosmo’s head and reach for the neck– SHE GETS HIM IN THE FRAGILE SERENE! LAVENDER LOCKS IN THAT PERUVIAN NECKTIE TIGHT! Cosmo gasps for air, reaching out! He struggles, trapped against the ladder!

Woo: FRAGILE SERENE IS IN! THAT’S A FIRST TIME! SHE’S GOT COSMO TRAPPED AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER! ALL SHE HAS TO DO IS GET HIM TO PASS OUT–

Gomez: I’ll make you pass out if you keep bringing that bad juju around! Come on! I don’t care what she thinks she’s doing, you can’t win a ladder match by submission!

Cosmo takes advantage of his heavier state, trying to force himself up the ladder. Lavender has the hold synched in as tight as possible. Cosmo coughs out, on the verge of getting choked out. However, the fact that he’s not flat on the mat allows Cosmo to keep climbing.. Lavender tries to keep his head down, but he’s able to start breathing–

Lavender pulls backwards, though! But Cosmo reaches up to the United States Championship above.. AND HE SWINGS IT INTO LAVENDER’S FACE! Lavender winces, but she’s still holding on! Cosmo takes the championship and SLAMS IT INTO HER FACE AGAIN! Lavender gasps for air, trying to stay conscious.. But Cosmo takes the championship and SMASHES IT INTO HER FACE ONE LAST TIME! Lavender dangles backwards, holding her face in pain as she releases the hold!

Cosmo keeps climbing, taking Lavender by the hair and repeatedly elbowing her. He pulls her down with him, and elbows the back of her head! Lavender is in no man’s land, completely dazed after those multiple shots to the face. Cosmo takes the arms and starts to turn them both, looking around.. He unleashes an emphatic roar!

AND HE LEAPS OFF THE TOP FOR THE GOLD MINE! LAVENDER’S FACE GETS SMASHED INTO THE CANVAS! LAVENDER IS OUT COLD, AND COSMO HOLDS HIS BACK IN PAIN! DIMITRI SLAPS THE MAT, CALLING FOR COSMO TO GET UP! He gasps for air, and Lavender isn’t moving at all!

Cosmo rolls over, reaching up to the top! He rolls over, crawling to the ladder. Cosmo takes the rung... He slowly gets himself up each one. He pulls his body along, nodding. Lavender is still down and out as Cosmo finally makes his way to the top. He reaches up to the top of the championship.. He pulls on the hook!

HE YANKS ON IT!

HE GETS HIS HANDS OVER THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE HOOK!

AND HE PULLS IT DOWN!

HE GETS THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP IN HIS POSSESSION!

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner of this match and STILL EWC UNITED STATES CHAMPION... COSMO GOLDWORTHY!

Cosmo takes the United States Championship and raises it up high, yelling out! Lavender is checked on by officials, for any potential signs of a concussion after getting dropped face first on the mat. Cosmo sits at the top of the ladder, staring at the championship. He breathes heavily, hugging it after picking up the win.

Cosmo climbs down the ladder and Dimitri enters the ring, taking Cosmo’s arm and raising it up high. He points to Cosmo, nodding. Cosmo looks around and embraces his manager. Cosmo holds the United States Championship tight and climbs the top rope, raising it up one last time.

Woo: What a match! Cosmo Goldworthy and Lavender just went out there and had a phenomenal showing! All for the United States Championship, that was one of the wildest ladder matches I’ve ever seen! And in the end, Cosmo Goldworthy ends up defeating Lavender and what a night this has been for him!

Gomez: I TOLD YOU! I knew this was happening, I manifested it! Cosmo Goldworthy is STILL your United States Champion, and this win marks him the first non-Lavender champion to make a successful defense of the United States Championship since Darna Dare in 2022!

Woo: Darna, Lavender, and Melody Malone are all notable names to break that curse in this decade... Elite company that the current champion is in– maybe we are looking at a new ace of Friday nights.

Gomez: Maybe?! HOW CAN YOU EVEN DISPUTE IT AT THIS RATE!

The smoke settles and the ladders are moved out of the ring, and referees and doctors start to tend to Lavender. Lavender shoves them aside, rolling to her knees. She holds her head, gasping for air. Lavender looks around, wanting to leave the ring on her own accord. She can barely think or feel anything, but she wills herself up.

As Lavender rises to her feet, the fans rise to their feet and begin to give Lavender a standing ovation. She staggers, looking around. She’d given it all to be a three-time United States Champion, and left with a tough defeat tonight... But no matter what, the fans were firmly behind her.

“LAVENDER!”

“LAVENDER!”

“LAVENDER!”

Lavender looks around at the reaction, taken aback. She nods her head, and “Better Without You” begins playing. Lavender nods to the crowd and slowly rolls out of the ring. She holds her head, tagging a couple of fans on her way out. A valiant effort, but this was surely not the last we’d seen of one of EWC’s very best to do it.

Woo: A moment of respect for Lavender after such a hard-fought battle for the title as we gear up for our main event! Sally Talfourd defends the biggest prize in the business on the most violent night in pro wrestling...but Xavier Reid looks for a bit of Rage in the Cage with the EWC Undisputed Championship on the line!

Camera cuts backstage, where the number one contender has a few words ahead of a massive main event ...

The camera cuts backstage and inside The Love Club locker room where we see Xavier Reid on a FaceTime chat with his former manager and current inmate in Penal Del Altiplano Tommy Love. Tommy, who is dressed in his orange jumpsuit and hair still in the braids we saw at Paramount #043, is flanked by Migel and Diego Rodiguez, the inmates that want Tommy to be their manager once the three of them get out. Tommy shakes his head, frustrated that his bail was denied and he’s not able to be in London tonight for StrangleMania…

Tommy Love: Listen…I know it’s not ideal, that rat bastard of a judge thinks I’m a ‘flight risk’ and once I left Mexico I would go on the lam and not come back for my trial…so I’m stuck here while you are there…in what is the most important match of your EWC career…stuck with my daughter…

Bunny Love, who is off camera but listening, takes offense…

Bunny Love: HEY!!!

Tommy Love: Don’t ‘hey’ me…you have never been in this position before…the Main Event of a major ppv…let alone StrangleMania…

Bunny Love: I’ll remind you father that I’m a perfect 2-0 at StrangleMania…15-5 at ppvs thank you very much…

But Tommy waves this impressive record off…

Tommy Love: That’s in tag team wrestling…you’ve never had the pressure of a Undisputed Championship match on your resume…you can’t fathom the stakes here tonight for Xavier…which is why I should be there but you can’t see that…I swear to God if I find out that it was YOU that set me up…

Bunny exhales loudly…

Bunny Love: For the last fucking time I DID NOT SET YOU UP…I was in the middle of the Pacific when your room got raided…I didn’t even know your were in Mexico…neither of us did…you were not on out minds father…

Tommy looks into the phone at her and rolls his eyes…

Tommy Love: Whatever…the point is I should be there tonight…hell I should have been there all season and Xavier wouldn’t be in the mess he’s in right now…jumping ship to Paramount…losing to Sally Talfourd to kick off the season…losing to this Apollo guy on the Go Home Show…I’d have him ready…

But Xavier has heard enough….

Xavier Reid: I am ready…I’m not taking this match lightly…I know what’s at stake Tommy…I’m not going out there tonight, stepping into the Rage in the Cage just for a match…I understand that this…this could be my LAST SHOT…my last Undisputed Championship match…I have eyes, I can see what The House has become…I know Lavender has a rematch and the EWC is foaming at the mouth to have JoJo, Cosmo or even Callie challenge for the top prize…I understand that the Love Club us yesterday’s news…that they want to see The House v. Shinijoshi…hell even Sally herself is looking past this match at what is next on her schedule…that win to kick off the season cemented in her mind that tonight’s match is a waste of time…she is looking past me and that’s dangerous for the champion…

Xavier rolls his neck as he looks at Tommy…

Xavier Reid: The Insanity Cage match is what put her on the map…but I remember that match…nobody was looking at her, she was an afterthought in everyone's mind…they were looking at JoJo Rush, Ibuki Ito, Mercenary…maybe even Vin Havoc or Callie Clark but NOBODY gave her a chance inside that cage and she was able to shock the world…she was the underdog and yet what…she has some success and forgets you can never count someone out…like her, nobody gave me a chance in that Power Struggle Match in 2020…they were looking at Scorpio or Ace King…maybe even Jordan Sharpe but I…WE outsmarted them all didn’t we…we shocked the world and won the Undisputed Championship…likewise at last years Rumble…nobody thought I could win a match I’d never won, it was going to be Ace, maybe El Pablo or even JoJo Rush but once again WE…

Tommy Love: Outsmarted all those sons-of-bitches…

Xavier Reid: Yes we did…I was counted out just like Sally was in the Insanity Cage match and it cost them…and now, she’s counting me out here tonight all because what, se beat me to kick off the season…go ask King Flip how that worked out for him…ask Stitches hell go ask JoJo Rush…I have this annoying habit of bouncing back when it matter the most…I’ve done it time and time again so why not tonight…but Sally, she was telling people not to waste their money…that this was a foregone conclusion…an easy defense and save their money for her NEXT Undisputed Championship defense…it’s that ignorance I’m going to pray on here tonight Tommy…

Xavier raises his eyes as he nods at his former manager…

Xavier Reid: If you taught me one thing it’s never show your hand…Sally thinks she has me all figured out because she beat me but this isn’t a match like last time…there is no pinfall or submission…we have to climb up a ladder and retrieve the Undisputed Championship…and before we can do that we have to eliminate our opponent inside a barb wire cage filled with weapons…remind me again which one of us has won the X-Division Championship for a record THREE times…

Bunny Love: That would be you sweetie…

Tommy looks as if he’s going to gag as he watches his daughter put her arms around Xavier…

Xavier Reid: I’ve went toe to toe with some of the most violent people in the EWC while Sally has never been in this kind of match…TWICE I faced Ace King in the Rage in the Cage match and sure…I lost twice but the education I got from him inside that cage…it was priceless…I remember what he did to me, what worked to keep me down and Sally…she won’t be able to hide amongst the other champions like she did at Night of Champions…I will have my eyes set on here and allowed to do my worst in order to keep her down…

Tommy smirks at the fire of Xavier…

Tommy Love: You got my little ‘gift’...

Bunny smiles as she takes the prison handcuffs out of her purse and holds them up…

Bunny Love: Right here…

Tommy Love: Good, be ready to slide them in or even cuff her yourself if the chance presents itself…I know we cuffed Darius to the cage once before but we learned from it…what aren’t we going to do…

Xavier Reid: Cuff her to the door…

Tommy Love: Exactly…cuff her to the side of the cage and beat the living shit out of her…bust her the fuck open and then make her watch as you climb that cage and take back the Undisputed Championship and cement your legacy as a THREE TIME UNDISPUTED CHAMPION…and then maybe get your ass down here to Mexico and sweet talk this judge…

Bunny Love: Well, we aren’t a one trick phony…we have ‘other’ ideas to take her down…while you have experience in Undisputed matches my former team knows a thing or two about winning championships…

Tommy Love: GREAT, what did Bobby and Jimmy say…fake a heart attack…

Bunny Love: Don’t you worry about it…

But Xavier stands up, cutting off the father/daughter banter…

Xavier Reid: I’m not going out there to try and take the low road to win…yes you all have had great ideas and if need be…I’ll use them but tonight is about take me chance…stepping into a cage and being allowed to unleash hell on Earth on Sally Talfourd…to bust her open and watch as ‘The Magic’ pours out of her body…I want to to end this nightmare once and for all and the only way I can do that is by beating her…beating her so badly with chairs, kendo sticks, barb ware bats and everything else the EWC puts in those trash cans…I need to tap into The Bastard inside me and become the man that right here last year ENDED El Pablo’s reign as X-Division Champion…

Xavier pauses for a moment as he looks at Bunny and then to Tommy…

Xavier Reid: I remember all too well the disappointment of losing in the Main Event of StrangleMania to Dominic Sanders and I told myself that night…if I ever got the chance to face the champion in the Main Event of StrangleMania I wouldn’t allow the moment to get the better of me…what does Sally know about it…she’s had ONE StrangleMania match and she got pinned…this is the Main Event of the EWC’s biggest ppv of the year…and she’s acting like it’s just another night on Prime…hell she cares more about winning her 300th match that the magnitude of this moment…how many superstars would have killed to main event this show that never got to…and yet it’s all about 300, hell she even dressed up a fan to beat just so she’s at 299…well I’m going to make sure she leaves Wembley Stadium with 299 wins…

Xavier looks at his bag, his wrestling boots sticking out of it…

Xavier Reid: I know it’s win or else tonight…that the EWC isn’t going to rush to book me in this championship match again…that this could very well be my last shot at the EWC’s biggest prize…that my back is against the wall and that my opponent thinks I’m a ‘scrub’...someone not worth or time or energy…so let her…let her doubt me and watch what happens…tonight I will leave it all inside that ring because it’s do or die time for Xavier Reid…my last shot…so…I’ll show Sally Talfourd the violent side of me that she’s only heard about…I’ll bring the Undisputed Championship back to The Love Club and back to Paramount…and send Sally back to Prime a broken investment…

Tommy smiles as a voice on his end informs him he has 60 seconds…

Tommy Love: Xavier…kick her ass…and remember, you can’t climb a ladder if your hands are broken…take a hammer to her hands. And…

But the FaceTime ends as Bunny walks over to her man…

Bunny Love: We got this…you and me…tonight we go out there and make history…

Xavier nods as he kisses Bunny and sits down on the bench and starts lacing up his boots….

RAGE IN THE CAGE MATCH

For the EWC Undisputed Championship

Xavier Reid
VS Sally Talfourd

MATCH WRTIER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em

We return to ringside where fans are chomping at the bit for our main event while the Rage in the Cage structure is being finalized.

Woo: It all comes down to this, folks! Sally Talfourd won the EWC Undisputed Championship at WrestleFest XXI, and has been lambasting the entire roster across multiple brands...but all the while, Xavier Reid has been gearing up for a crack at the championship he wasn't pinned for!

Gomez: Reid absolutely has a point to prove here tonight, but he's gotta take down The Magic in order to regain the title...and Sally Talfourd is by no means a pushover!

Dobrev: The following match is the Rage In The Cage Match! And it is for the EWC Undisputed Championship! Joining us first…

The spotlights inside the arena start to flash around the crowd as 'Papercut' starts to play out. Xavier Reid walks out onto the stage and pulls his t-shirt off and drops it on the stage. Bunny Love follows him out onto the stage to cheers. Xavier walks to the front of the stage and crosses his arms into an X in front of his chest and smirks as Bunny walks up from behind him and points to the ring. Xavier and Bunny walk towards the ring, climb up the steps and into the ring. Xavier goes to the far corner and jumps up to the second rope and looks out over the fans as Bunny walks to the center of the ring and points at Xavier.

Dobrev: Being accompanied to the ring by Bunny Love, the challenger, from Edmonton, Alberta Canada, weighing in at 220lbs... XAVIER REID!

Dobrev: And the opponent…

A the buzz of the crowd falls as the lights fade down and everyone finds themselves in darkness. After a moment of nothing, there's the crackling of an old recording, and then a voice, distorted, warped and deep:

If you’re going to try, go all the way.

There is no other feeling like that.

The Extreme-tron begin to flicker to life with old reel of film showing various clips from home videos, shots of children, mountains rising in the distance, bygone relics of a person's life. Underneath it all, the sound of a heart beating, a steady rhythm.

You will be alone with the gods

And the nights will flame with fire.

The Extreme-tron continues to flicker with the images of an era bygone. The final clip comes to focus on a figure - a woman - standing silhouetted by bright lights with her back to the audience, alone.

You will ride life straight to perfect laughter,

It’s the only good fight there is.

There's a pause, the only sound a beating heart, and then the beginning of 'Lacrimosa' by Mozart (remix by Krutikov Music) comes across the PA, the music swelling across the arena. The fan's reception is a mix of cheers and boos. The Extreme-tron still shows the silhouette of a lone person standing in the shadows.

Then, mirroring that shot, a sole spotlight fades in at the top of the ramp, and we find 'The Last Magician' Sally Talfourd with her back to the arena, a perfect replica of the silhouetted figure. The crowd gets louder as Sally turns to face the crowd as the first crescendo of the music hits, her arms outstretched and her head bowed. Around her waist, the Undisputed Championship belt.

Dobrev: Ladies and gentlemen, making her way to the ring ... she is the EWC Undisputed Champion... 'The Last Magician'... Sally Talfourd!

Sally lowers her arms, raises her head, and makes her way down the ramp. The spotlight follows her as she makes a direct line to the ring. She climbs the stairs and walks to the midpoint of the side, bowing her head, then pulling the EWC Undisputed Championship from her waist to hold it up to the fans in the shadows who are a combination of love and hatred. Stepping through the ropes, Sally takes turns on the posts posing with the belt, climbing them with a before stepping to the centre, and with a flurry and a twirl unwraps her hanbok, handing it over the ropes to the crew along with her belt and then takes up position in her corner of the ring, stretching her legs on the ropes and readying herself for the match.

DING DING DING

Both look up at the key as it sways above them. Reid boots Sally in the gut and unloads on her with punches and forearms that back her against the ropes. Reid whips Sally off the ropes. Reid slaps a rebounding Sally across the face knocking her to the mat. Reid stands over Sally and grabs her hair clubbing her in the face with forearms. Reid steps through the ropes. As he does, Sally dives at him knocking Reid into the cage wall and dropping to the ringside mat. Sally wipes some blood from the side of her mouth. She grabs a kendo stick as she heads out of the ring. We see blood on Reid’s back as Sally brings the kendo stick down across Reid’s back again and again. Reid tries to fight through and gets to his feet. Sally cracks him with it somewhere between the shoulder and side of the head and Reid drops to the ground. Sally slides the kendo stick into the ring and she walks around it. Sally reaches under the ring and pulls out the ladder. Before she has a chance to lift it, Reid grabs her and drops her onto the ladder with a spinebuster. He pulls Sally to her feet but she drives him to the ladder with a DDT. Both crash to the ladder. Reid gets to his feet but Sally grabs him bringing him crashing down to the ladder. Sally rolls him off the ladder and heaves the ladder into the ring. Before Sally can slide into the ring after it, Reid grabs her and shoves her, back first, into the cage.

Woo: The pain that both must be going through!

Gomez: My back hurt after that and I’m not even in the match!

Reid slides into the ring and sets up the ladder. He begins a climb as Sally crawls into the ring. Sally manages to push the ladder to the side and it, and Reid, topple to the mat. Reid slowly gets to his feet and pulls a chair from the trash can. Rid brings the chair down across Sally’s side and shoulder. Reid lays the chair across Sally’s neck and upper shoulder and drops down with a legdrop. Sally goes limp as Reid clutches at his coccyx. Reid slowly gets to his feet and sets up the ladder. He slowly starts a climb up the ladder. As he does so, a chair flies at him. The chair cracks Reid in the back knocking him off the ladder. Reid stumbles to his feet where Sally runs at him knocking Reid down with a spinning heel kick. Reid is on his feet and Sally smacks him with forearms to the jaw. She whips Reid off the ropes taking him down with a drop toe hold that knocks him crashing into the ladder he drops to the mat clutching at his face. Sally begins a climb. As she climbs, Reid climbs the other side of the ladder. At the top, Reid grabs Sally. He pulls her toward him and plants a kiss on her lips. He pulls away leaving a bemused look on Sally's face. Reid grabs Sally a second time and takes her down with a suplex. Reid crashes down onto the mat while Sally falls over the top rope crashing to the outside of the ring. Even Reid takes a moment to look over the bottom rope down at Sally as she lays on the ringside mat. Reid makes another climb. As he nears the top, something tugs at his ankle. Reid looks down to see Sally grab him and powerbomb Reid down to the mat. Sally falls against the ropes barely able to stand as Reid lays on the mat. Sally drags herself to the corner and reaches into the trash can. Sally pulls a PS5 from the can. She looks at it and raises an eyebrow. She turns and smacks Reid in the back with the PS5 as he gets back to his feet. He drops to the mat and rolls from the ring clutching at his back. Sally takes a moment to climb the ladder. As she nears closer and closer to the top, the ladder begins to sway. The ladder topples and Sally falls over the top rope and crashes through a table at ringside. In the ring, Reid lays on the upturned ladder.

Woo: Where? How? Where?!

Gomez: I saw him setting up the table out the corner of my eye. You and almost everyone else were busy watching Sally Talfourd!

Reid uses the ropes to drag himself to his feet. He rolls from the ring and pulls Sally from the table wreckage. Reid lifts Sally up for a bodyslam and drops her across the steps with a stun gun. Sally crumples to the ringside mat as Reid rolls back into the ring. He pulls himself to his feet and sets up the ladder. Before he can make a climb, Sally drags herself into the ring and grabs at Reid’s ankle. He pulls her to her feet and smacks her with a series of forearms. He whips Sally off the ropes but she rebounds grabbing Reid into a tornado Either Or. Reid springs back crashing to the mat while Sally lays equally flat on the canvas. Sally eventually pulls herself to her feet and staggers to Reid pulling him to his. Sally whips him off the ropes. Sally ducks to avoid what may be a Rainham Maker. However Reid grabs her driving Sally down with a Love Shot. Both lay on the mat. First to move is Reid who rolls to the ring apron. He pulls himself to his feet and reaches into the trashcan. A big smile appears on his face.

Woo: Oh that can’t be good.

Gomez: Maybe not for you. Certainly not for the champion but this is damn good television for everyone else!

Reid pulls a small cloth bag from the trashcan. He pours it’s contents into the ring. Thousands of thumbtacks fall to the mat. Reid gets into the ring and uses his foot to spread the tacks. He grabs Sally and leads her to the tacks. Before he can do anything, Sally hits a desperation Lights Out that drops him down onto the tacks. Reid’s mouth hangs open as pain and shock flow through him. Sally reaches into a can and pulls out a stapler that she tosses aside. She pulls out a slightly bigger bag which she empties onto the canvas. Glass shards. Sally climbs the ladder. Reid drags himself up the opposite side. At the top, Sally reaches for the chain. Reid grabs her. He lifts her for a suplex but drops her onto the top of the ladder with a CTE. The impact sends Sally crashing to the mat where she smashes down onto the glass. Sally rolls on the mat in pain and shock. Intentionally or not, Sally gets to her feet but a running boot from Reid knocks her back to the mat. Reid positions the ladder and makes a climb. He gets nearer and nearer and nearer. He reaches up and… Sally dropkicks the ladder sending herself, Reid and the ladder all crashing to the mat.

Woo: Somebody tell me how this match is still going!

Gomez: I could tell you that it’s still going because nobody has brought down the key and opened the door. How they are still moving to prevent the other I haven’t a God damn clue!

Both slowly get to their feet. Reid attempts to lift Sally into position for a Bastard Bomb. However, Sally manages to grab the top rope. She pulls herself out of Reid’s grasp and springs back at him for High Hopes. Reid avoids it and Sally crashes down onto the mat. She staggers to her feet where Reid grabs her and drives her down with a Bastard Bomb. Reid finds the stapler. He smacks Sally with it as she gets to her feet knocking her to the mat. He unloads on Sally smacking her again and again wherever on her person he can until he falls against the ropes. Reid then staggers over to Sally. He pulls a pair of handcuffs from... somewhere and he handcuffs Sally to the bottom rope. Reid climbs the ladder as fast as he can while Sally attempts to free herself. Reid pulls the chain down and leaps from the ladder. He falls to the mat and rolls from the ring as Sally, still cuffed to the rope, goes to grab Reid but he smacks her with a chunk of table. Sally drops to the mat. With nobody to stop him, Reid unlocks the cage door and makes his exit.

DING DING DING

Dobrev: And your winner, and NEW EWC Undisputed Champion... XAVIER REID!

Reid holds his championship into the air briefly before falling to his knees. He crawls up the ramp. He stops halfway and holds his championship in the air. Reid leans on the barriers and pulls himself to his feet before limping back up the ramp.

Woo: He can barely walk but Xavier Reid is the NEW Undisputed Championship here tonight at StrangleMania! This one was a war!

Gomez: We had staples! We had thumbtacks! We had broken shards of glass! We had damn near everything! Both gave it their all here! Sally Talfourd may be on the losing end of this one but she has absolutely nothing to lower her head over, she had an amazing championship reign and on another night we could easily have had a new champion!

Woo: This was an absolute barnburner of a bout, and in the end Xavier Reid has managed to pull off the victory to become the champion! Sally's tactics and taunting the past several weeks may have come back to haunt her in the end, and now Reid celebrates holding his head--and the EWC Undisputed Championship--up high!

Gomez: This has been an absolutely wild night, and this match capped off a series of major title changes coming out of the most violent night in pro wrestling. You gotta wonder what's gonna happen coming out of this pay-per-view event, Marcus!

Woo: I agree wholeheartedly! Thank you for joining us folks, and be sure to tune in for Monday Night BRAWL on May 6 as the fallout from tonight begins! Until we meet again...for Valentina Gomez, I'm Marcus Woo saying so long and thank you for joining us for StrangleMania XIX!

A round of celebratory pyro fires up, keeping the crowd on their feet for the new champion. Meanwhile, medics and officials check on Sally Talfourd as the structure is lifted up, and we notice that the now-former champ is finally stirring...and she looks none too pleased at the sight of Reid with what was once her title, as StrangleMania XIX comes to a close ...

[EWC]

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END SCREEN

WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED INTERCEPTION OR RECEIPT PROHIBITED!! 

THIS PAY PER VIEW EVENT IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE EXTREME WRESTLING CORPORATION. ONLY BY PAYING A FEE TO A CABLE OPERATOR OR OTHER ENTITY AUTHORIZED BY EWC INC IS THE VIEWER GRANTED A LIMITED LICENSE TO VIEW THIS PAY PER VIEW PROGRAM. THIS PAY PER VIEW MAY NOT BE RECORDED, REBROADCAST, RE-TRANSMITTED OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF EWC INC. FEDERAL LAW PROVES FOR CIVIL PENALTIES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES AGAINST ANY VIOLATORS


UNAUTHORIZED VIEWERS BEWARE AND BE FOREWARNED!

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SEGMENT WRITERS

Caleb Scott
Candy
Ibuki Ito
JoJo Rush / Heat Packers / Jack Severn
Morgan Darkwater
Sally Talfourd
Xavier Reid

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MATCH WRITERS

MATCH ONE
WRITER:  EWC Staff Assistant: Berto

MATCH TWO
WRITER: JoJo Rush

MATCH THREE
WRITER: Cosmo Goldworthy

MATCH FOUR
WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em

MATCH FIVE
WRITER:  EWC Staff Assistant: Em

MATCH SIX
WRITER: Jack Severn

MATCH SEVEN
WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Anna

MATCH NINE
WRITER: JoJo Rush

MATCH TEN
WRITER: Cosmo Goldworthy

MATCH ELEVEN / MAIN EVENT
WRITER: EWC Staff Assistant: Em

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RECAP OF WINNERS

HELLEVATOR MATCH FOR THE INAUGURAL IGGY SWANGO MEMORIAL CUP
Lad Vs Justin Paige (N/S) Vs Bruce Booth (N/S) Vs Divewire Vs Narumi Tsutsumi Vs ZERO Vs Rick Rampage Vs Caleb Scott Vs Melinda Rhodes Vs Phoenix Winterborn Vs Dalilah Ashe Vs Apollo Polamalu 
WINNER: Narumi Tsutsumi
...

HARDCORE MATCH FOR THE EWC HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP
Jason Anderson Vs JoJo Rush
WINNER: and STILL EWC Hardcore Champion: JoJo Rush 

...

15-MIN NO DQ IRON MAN MATCH FOR THE EWC FIGHTING SPIRIT CHAMPIONSHIP
Mercenary Vs Cosmo Goldworthy Vs Vin Havoc (PINNED)
WINNER: And NEW EWC Fighting Spirit Champion: Cosmo Goldworthy

...

STEEL CHAIN SUBMISSION MATCH FOR THE EWC HERITAGE CHAMPIONSHIP
Amis Shelton Vs Captain Morgan Darkwater 
WINNER: And STILL EWC Heritage Champion: Captain Morgan Darkwater


PURE RULES MATCH FOR THE EWC DYNASTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Tanja Devereaux Vs Amber Lisa
WINNER: And NEW EWC Dynasty Champion: Tanja Devereaux

...

STEEL CAGE MATCH FOR THE EWC INDY CHAMPIONSHIP
Jack Severn Vs Callie Clark
WINNER: And NEW EWC INDY CHAMPION: Jack Severn  

...

TOWER OF LONDON MATCH FOR THE EWC NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Marcu$ $t. John Vs Ibuki Ito
WINNER: And NEW EWC North American Champion: Marcu$ $t John

...

DOUBLE DOG COLLAR MATCH FOR THE EWC WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Eleos Affect Vs The Heat Packers  
WINNERS: No Contest Match never starts

...

TRIPLE THREAT LUMBERJACK MATCH FOR THE EWC INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
El Pablo Vs Stitches(PINNED) Vs JoJo Rush
WINNER: And NEW EWC International Champion: El Pablo

...

LADDER MATCH FOR THE EWC UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Lavender Vs Cosmo Goldworthy
WINNER: And STILL EWC United States Champion: Cosmo Goldworthy

...

RAGE IN THE CAGE MATCH FOR THE EWC UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP
Xavier Reid Vs Sally Talfourd
WINNER: And NEW EWC Undisputed Champion:  Xavier Reid

...

...............................................................................................................…

MVP OF THE NIGHT: Cosmo Goldworthy
MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Lavender Vs Cosmo Goldworthy

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