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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.
STRANGLEMANIA XV
Brought to you by Under Armour, PS4 and Dr Pepper
LIVE! from the LA Memorial Coliseum
::Ticket Information::
Tickets available at the venue box office, the official EWC website & toll free: 1-800-EXTREME
Ticket prices (in USD):
$120, $60, $45, $30, $25, $20, $15
Prices do not include service charges or facility fees
STRANGLEMANIA XV
Commentators: Marcus Woo, Valentina Gomez, Pepper Brooks
Announcer: Nina Dobrev Senior Referee: Toyo Yasahiro Referees: John Dean & Niklaus Forbes
"PARADISE CITY" by Gun's N Roses begins to blast throughout the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California!
Video footage detailing historic events over the EWC's Twenty Three year history.
From March 1997 all the way down to the most recent episodes of Monday Night Brawl, Friday Night Rampage, Future Stars of 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 and Melody Malone all with the EWC Championship.
This is followed by highlights of showcasing current EWC Champions:
Melody Malone Scorpio Xavier Reid Stitches Jordan Sharpe Wes Walker Lavender DSR Volume II (Melody Malone & Iggy Swango)
The opening pyros hit and here we go.
The energy in Los Angeles is breathtaking as the crowd is absolutely electrifying in their uproar of cheers.
Spotlights circle around the Coliseum as the thousands of fans in attendance are shown in a wide angle shot. The camera then pans back out showing a full-scale view of the jam-packed Coliseum and zooms in on some crazy fans. The crowd is rowdy, chanting the company's namesake at such a loud volume that it's a wonder that the music can be heard at all.
EWC
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Fireworks emit outside the Coliseum and then all around the ring while a fog machine covers the venue in a red 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, Valentina Gomez and Pepper Brooks.
Woo: Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to StrangleMania XV .. My name is Marcus Woo and its a pleasure to be calling my first pay-per-view event here in the EWC. Let me introduce you to my colleagues who are also debuting tonight .. Valentina Gomez and Pepper Brooks!!
Gomez: Thanks Marcus, I for one am excited to witness history unfold tonight. Lots of action ahead tonight in the first Pay-Per-View event of the year, and we're about to see what many of these men and women are really made of!
Brooks: Personally, I'm just excited to enjoy this sweet catering as we watch a night of the graps! Wooo!
Woo: That's right, an exciting night is ahead as we kick off the show with Scorpio defending his United States Championship, looking to solidify his reign after toppling Ace King at WrestleFest as the S-Factor takes on Nezumi Hazama who earned the right to challenge for the title after a grueling set of matches in the weeks leading up to StrangleMania. These two face off in a match of Nezumi's choosing, where two out of three falls will determine who walks out as champion!
Gomez: On any other night I'd say the Rat King's chances were really good, but this is the S-Factor we're talking about! Soon to be our forty-sixth President of the United States, the man who put the kibosh on 7-7-7!
Brooks: Maybe so Gomez, but all Nezumi needs is two out of three...falls that is.
Woo: Next up our Tag Team Championships are on the line as DSR Volume II, Iggy Swango and the Undisputed Champion Melody Malone, defend against Mike McGuire and Bishop Church, better known as NSFW, with a special guest referee in Ezio DeLuca and a special guest time keeper in Chuck Gacy!
Gomez: I'm outraged that either team has to deal with outside forces on this one, this match is too important to have to watch over your back!
Brooks: Yeah, but given the issues between Ezio and Gacy as of late, those factors practically cancel themselves out. It's basic trigonometry, Gomez!
Woo: After that, the Future Stars of Wrestling are represented as Aidan O'Sheahan takes on L.A. Meyers in a Pub Crawl Brawl!
Gomez: This could get ugly, and I'm not just talking about L.A.'s face. He and Aidan are gonna slug it out, and possibly slosh it out somehow, who knows.
Brooks: It's gonna be, as the kids would say, liiiiit!
Woo: After that FSW showcase comes one from Brawl, as four of the red brand's finest square off in a match that promises falls count anywhere in the city of Los Angeles! Kendrick Kross and William Manson have had issues as of late, and we recently saw a possible alliance forming between Mike Strong and Jeb Jackson...but what will happen when all four of them collide in the City of Angels?
Gomez: Chaos, Marcus, pure and utter chaos. Four heavy hitters are about to clash for dominance.
Brooks: Wait, did someone order Domino's?
Woo: Moving right along, we've got a unique matchup featuring two of Prime's best, as Lavender defends the Television Championship against Faith Rivers in a pinfall only match!
Gomez: All it takes is a single three count for a life to change drastically tonight, and frankly, it's just a matter of whether or not Rivers can get her Faithful Army to rally behind her to a victory over the champ!
Brooks: It's an interesting stipulation for sure!
Woo: Up next we have a rivalry that's been brewing for some time culminating in a Last Person Standing match as Brawl's Iggy Swango takes on Phoenix Winterborn from Rampage!
Gomez: These two have had their battles in the tag division, but now have a chance to see who will stand tall!
Brooks: You're my boy, Blue Phoenix! Woooo!
Woo: After that we kick off a series of title matches to round out the night as Wes Walker defends the North American Championship against Darlene! The GM of FSW has prepared a wheel with a set of possible outcomes, and will spin the wheel to make the deal...the stipulation the wheel lands on will be the method of combat for the challenger and the champion!
Gomez: Darlene's shown a lot of fire since debuting, and she looks primed and ready to take that title off Wes Walker!
Brooks: I have my doubts about that one, Gomez!
Woo: Another clash of heavy hitters is next on deck as Clay Byrd and Darius square off for the recently vacated International Championship! Circumstances have led to Cyrus Black vacating the belt due to injury, which complicates the issues he and Clay have had for some time.
Gomez: Yes, Clay won the shot at the title but was robbed of his chance at revenge! At least he'll have a chance to take his frustrations out on Darius, and win the International Championship in the process!
Brooks: That's right kids, trust the process and you too can achieve your dreams!
Woo: Things only look to get more violent from there, as we see Ace King and Xavier Reid face off once more inside Rage in a Cage, with Xavier's X-Division Championship on the line! Things have been made more complicated the past few weeks, with Chuck Gacy stealing and then destroying the title in defiance of what he feels is the usual pecking order! We've been told that a new interim belt has been shipped from the warehouse, until such time as the original can be replaced.
Gomez: And you've gotta believe that the issue with the belt itself and with Gacy is gonna throw Reid off his game tonight, Marcus. Ace is looking to bounce back after losing the United States Championship at WrestleFest, his long-standing title reign snapped by Scorpio. Will he be able to get over that tonight with a win over Reid?
Brooks: Only time will tell!
Woo: Kicking off a trifecta of our top championship bouts is what looks to be a brutal fight between Mercenary and the champion Stitches, in a Biker Chain Match for the Future Stars Championship!
Gomez: This is gonna be a sleeper match of the night I think, but don't you dare sleep on either of these men! It's gonna be vicious, and one man is gonna walk out of the Memorial Coliseum the top dog of FSW!
Brooks: I definitely wouldn't sleep with these men, either.
Woo: Representing the best of the indies from Prime, Jordan Sharpe defends the Indy Championship against Dominic Sanders in a Last Man Standing match!
Gomez: Much like Iggy and Phoenix, this has been a feud brewing for some time now, ever since Sanders arrived on the indy scene, and is worthy of this stipulation. One of these men will come out on top, and to be frank I'm rooting for Dominic Sanders to pull this one out!
Brooks: Wow, there are just so many jokes that could be made right now...
Woo: And in our main event of the evening, the Undisputed Championship is on the line! Melody Malone won the title at WrestleFest, getting the best of her lover Cyrus Black in a match that was for the history books! Now, in her first defense of the championship, she takes on a man who has been absolutely adamant about proving the naysayers wrong, and stopping whatever conspiracy he claims is out to keep him down...a man who has already proven himself more than deserving of accolades, defeating Ace King at WrestleFest to win the United States Championship and end the record-breaking title reign. With both competitors already competing earlier in the night, what will be the mindset as Melody Malone defends the Undisputed Championship against the S-Factor, Scorpio?
Gomez: It's like I said earlier Marcus, Scorpio's proven himself capable time and time again. If anyone can topple the Queen of EWC tonight, it's gonna be the Baddest Bitch on the Planet. Either way, this is one hell of a main event to round out the night!
Brooks: Oh my God, I can't feel my face from all this excitement! It's the most wonderful time of year, baybay...STRANGLEMANIA IS HERE!
Woo: And we kick things off in just a moment, we hope you're as ready as we are folks!
The fans continue to chant and cheer as we fade to a brief word from EWCTV...
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We return back to commentary, focused on Marcus Woo and Valentina Gomez.
Woo: Earlier this evening the fans here in Los Angeles were treated to four spectacular matches
Gomez: Lets bring up the card to see what those four matches were ..
DARK MATCH I INVITE ONLY | HOT SHOT DEBUT | QUAD BRAND BATTLE ROYAL FEATURING "The Fiery Target" Jake Raab Elijah Cross Aaron Bolduc Harlan Rogers Chris Snyder "La Belicista" Isabella David Scott Mag Hyperion Callie Clark Victor Dunwich Quinn Collins Colby Korver Karzan Locke Profeesor IVO Bobby Rose
DARK MATCH II CAGE MATCH Alexander Daemon Vs Stalker
DARK MATCH III FATAL FOURWAY Killjoy Ito Vs Samantha Hamilton Vs Ezio DeLuca Vs Gabrielle Visconty
DARK MATCH IV BRAWL V FSW Bosa Vs Joseph Hall
Woo: The first of our dark matches saw fifteen debuting superstars battle it out to make a statement on the first major event of the year! We saw Victor Dunwich and Elijah Cross eliminated early on by IVO, Isabella, and Aaron Bolduc, respectively! Unfortunately for IVO, Bolduc was not feeling so friendly that he didn't then eliminate him over the top rope, leading to a chain of eliminations that saw Mag Hyperion, Karzan Locke, and Callie Clark all taken out by a combined force of Bolduc, David Scott, and Bobby Rose. Jake Raab and Harlon Cross went after each other hard, but found themselves both getting eliminated in the process by a smug Colby Korver!
Gomez: Unfortunately for Korver, Chris Synder caught him off guard before sending the Prime superstar over. David Scott tried to get one over on Synder, but found himself on the wrong side of a back body drop that sent him over the ropes instead! Meanwhile, Quinn Collins and Isabella faced off with some hard offense before Collins sent Isabella packing! That left our final four of Collins, Rose, Bolduc, and Synder as the four paired off looking to get an extra advantage!
Brooks: Such an advantage never came to be for Rose, though, as Collins sent him over...only for Bolduc to send her over the ropes as well! Down to just two, we saw Snyder and Bolduc come to blows, until Snyder backed off looking for Welcome to the Land...only to get nailed by Bolduc with the Big Hit! That was enough for Bolduc to dump Snyder over the top rope, securing a big win in front of the crowd here at the LA Memorial Coliseum!
Woo: What a battle royal that was! Our second dark match saw a clash between two hosses, as Stalker faced Alexander Daemon in a cage match! In a match very different from what we'll likely see later tonight, these two traded heavy blows as they looked to punish each other far more than worry about escaping. You could feel just how tense the situation was, as Stalker looked to have the better of Daemon until the Priest of Punishment caught him by surprise with a neckbreaker!
Gomez: That turned out to be a turning point as Daemon took control of the situation, laying into Stalker until he dropped him with the Sinner is You...only for Stalker to just barely kick out at two and a half! Stalker started getting a second wind before going for the Tombstone Piledriver...but Daemon countered out of it, nailing Stalker with a Heaven Sent, Hell Bound! That was all she wrote as Daemon picked up the victory via pinfall!
Brooks: Man, what a hoss battle that was. I don't think I'm hungry anymore after all that beef!
Woo: Perhaps the next dark match helped cleanse that palate, Brooks. We saw a fatal four-way between some hungry competitors from FSW, Brawl, and Rampage! We saw Killjoy Ito and Gabrielle Visconty put up a small alliance based on their association with Tommy Love and his family, but Samantha Hamilton and Ezio DeLuca found themselves able to fend this off in a very close contest! Ito and DeLuca traded some heavy blows as the Titaness and Gabi Vee faced off in a classic Brawl versus Rampage encounter.
Gomez: Ezio and Killjoy ended up outside the ring brawling, as Visconty went for the Idjitbuster, only for Hamilton to reverse it into Wrath of the Titans, picking up the pinfall victory in the process!
Brooks: A big win for the Rampage superstar!
Woo: In our final dark match of the evening, Brawl and FSW faced off as Bosa took on Joseph Hall! These two had something to prove tonight as Bosa went in hard from the opening bell, laying into Hall with some heavy offense before hitting a Chin Check on Hall...but Hall kicked out at two, showing signs of life!
Gomez: Hall picked up a second wind after that, finally getting one over on Bosa before hitting the Shotgun spinebuster! Bosa realized just what he was in for after that, going for another Chin Check but Hall blocked it and nailed the Samoan Warrior with a Western Lariat! Shades of the late, great Stan Hansen as Hall picked up a pinfall victory tonight!
Brooks: What a hard-hitting contest, and a big win for Joseph Hall!
Woo: Great effort from Bosa on that one, but the FSW superstar had a point he wanted to make tonight. Folks, in just a moment we'll be kicking off the in-ring action as Scorpio defends the United States Championship against Nezumi Hazama in a Two Out Of Three Falls Match!
EWC UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS Nezumi Vs Scorpio
Wandering backstage with a hum on his breath, the Rat King, Nezumi appears to the audience. It is mere moments before his PPV debut against Scorpio. Obviously, he isn’t meandering about for no reason. In fact, he arrives at his location before too long. The eccentric man props himself up on a production crate, waiting for whatever he was supposed to. He cranes his neck with a sly grin on his face. Not too far off from him, there are members of the crew staring at the screen. They were watching the opening vignette for Stranglemania and it captures his attention for only a moment. When he speaks, it is as if he already knows who was there.
Nezumi Hazama: Ms. Leigh, I didn’t think you would show up.
Nevaeh: If I’m being honest, I didn’t think I would either.
Nev stands before him in her street clothes and has Heaven’s Helper hoisted over her shoulder.
Nevaeh: But here I am.
Nezumi looks her up and down, or particularly, he examines Heaven’s Helper with an intrigued expression.
Nezumi Hazama: Not making it on the card is a shame. Having to watch everyone else get a chance to shine like this? It must hurt.
He turns his attention back to the production crew watching the screen.
Nezumi Hazama: I would have thought that you would have at least been somewhere, trying to stand out.
The Rat King lets go of a sigh.
Nezumi Hazama: I would have rooted for you.
Nevaeh: That’s nice to know.
The tiniest of smiles flicker at the corners of her mouth.
Nevaeh: And I would’ve done just that...if I had been given a match. But unfortunately, I wasn’t. The Prime GM’s once again screwed me out of another could be moment. It’s getting to be a bit ridiculous.
She sounds completely annoyed.
Nevaeh: Guess I’m going to have to deal with them sooner rather than later. But for tonight, I’ll settle for getting Heaven’s Helper out there.
Nev looks at the sledgehammer and reluctantly removes it from its place.
Nevaeh: Even if I am not the one using it.
Nezumi Hazama: Don’t worry. It’s like I said, Heaven’s Helper is going to play a role in something extraordinary tonight.
A low giggle comes from the Rat King.
Nezumi Hazama: And as for Prime? If they continue to screw you over, then this is where you take the world by force. If you’re not satisfied with your career so far, then you reforge to how you want it to look. You’re more than capable enough, but--
He shrugs.
Nezumi Hazama: What do I know?
Nezumi then offers his hand to Nevaeh.
Nezumi Hazama: Now then, if you would please…
Nev is still a bit hesitant as she places the sledgehammer in his hand. Judging by the look on her face, you’d swear she was handing over her baby or something. Though in a sense, she was.
Nevaeh: Believe me, I’m definitely going to be doing something about it the first chance I get. In the meantime, just make sure you use it properly.
She is feeling a little bare as she puts her hands in her pockets.
Nevaeh: Then give it right back. I may have a use for it in Prime’s Main Event!
When Nezumi holds the sledgehammer, he does so naturally like it was a part of him already. He rests it against his shoulder as he offers Nevaeh another smile. Unlike those given to others, it’s warm. When his eyes fall back onto Heaven’s Helper, he takes on the more horrid parts of his personality.
Nezumi Hazama: Let me clean it first. I can’t possibly give it back to a helpful lady all tainted.
He looks over to the production crew again, noting that it was almost time for him to go.
Nezumi Hazama: I’ll be in your debt.
Nev gives him a nod.
Nevaeh: I’ll let you know when I need to collect. But good luck tonight. I’m hoping the next time I see you it will be as champion.
The Rat King smirks and begins to saunter off in the direction of the entrance gate.
Nezumi Hazama: Thanks for the vote of confidence, my dear.
We return to ringside where everyone is preparing for the first match of the main card
Woo: WELCOME! We have an amazing card set up for you tonight and what better way to kick it off than with our United States Champion defending his title?
Gomez: This is going to be a good match for sure, but Scorpio will walk out still holding the United States Championship.
Brooks: This is going to be a good match, one fall doesn’t win you this one though, they’re both chasing those two wins.
Dobrev: The following match is a two out of three falls match and is for the UNITED STATES CHAMPIOONSHIPP! Joining us first,
"Anjelier" by MUCC starts up, smashing the arena with the hypnotic percussion and flair. Cascading on beat with reds and whites, the ambience offers the perfect stage for NEZUMI to make his entrance. Stepping from behind the curtain, NEZUMI greets the audience with faux adoration. He blows a few kisses to the cameraman and those at home before settling on the stage. The Rat King rocks to his theme as it hits its stride, and while he does, he waits for the call. Nina Dobrev Making his way down to the ring, hailing from Shinsekai, Osaka, Japan, weighing in at a 201 pounds...he is the "Rat King"...NEZUMI! NEZUMI starts his trek down the ramp, letting his limbs fly free, captivated by the tune ushering him in. He stops on the ramp and beckons for the cameraman to get closer. Obliging his request, the camera operator is unsuspecting to NEZUMI's sudden lashing out. He grabs the camera delicately but drags it close to his face, giving it a kiss, leaving a lipstick stain. He cackles at the urgency to remove it before returning his focus to the ring. The bizarre hedonist looks at the ring steps, disregards them, and slides under the ropes. As the chorus of Anjelier flares again, NEZUMI arches his back into the ring mat. He sprawls out, massaging it before getting to his feet with a strangely seductive essence. After licking his lips, NEZUMI drags a thumb absently against them as he settles in his corner. Eyeing nothing but the ring, he waits for the eventual match-starting bell.
Dobrev: And his opponent, Please welcome, from London, England, weighing in at 205 lbs THE UNITED STATES CHAMPION... 'The S-Factor'... 'The People's Camp'... Scorpio!
'Iconic' - Madonna feat. Chance The Rapper hits the speakers as the house lights go down, switching to a spotlight focused on the curtain. It parts, revealing 'The S-Factor' Scorpio stood behind, a hand on his hip, the other raised above his head, cutting a beautiful silhouette. He sashays forward, a long coat dripping in jewels swaying with every step. Behind him steps Crème de la Crème, Scorpio's drag queen confidant and manager. The two look to one another and nod, before Scorpio opens his coat and drops it to the floor, revealing another stunning outfit. He steps down the ramp with a confident strut, emulating that of the catwalk models of Paris and Milan, before reaching the ring. Scorpio climbs up one set of steps as Crème climbs the other, parting the ropes to allow 'The People's Camp' in. Stepping into the middle of the ring Scorpio raises one arm, and blows a kiss with the other, a smile forming on his beautifully made-up face.
DING DING DING
Nezumi and Scorpio stand motionless as they look at one another neither one of them wanting to be the one that flinches first. After what seemed like an eternity both men head to the middle of the ring where they seem as if they are going to go for a lock up but Scorpio thinks better of it as he sends one of his heels to the stomach of Nezumi doubling him over which he follows with a suplex. Instead of going for a moonsault as he normally would he quickly transitions into a cover, hoping to get an early fall.
1! . . KICKOUT
Nezumi got out of that cover with no hesitation but Scorpio stayed on the attack as he sent a few punches to the head of Nezumi. Scorpio got up and brought Nezumi up with him which he then sent to the ropes. Nezumi rebounded and on that rebound as he came back to Scorpio the US Champion jumped and landed a picture perfect dropkick right to the nose knocking Nezumi down hard. Scorpio waited for Nezumi to get up and as he did he went for the AGR early but as Scorpio jumped going for it Nezumi was able to grab him in mid air and push him away causing Scorpio to land hard on his back! He quickly stays on the attack as he goes for Scorpios legs, he grabs them and he is able to cross them and step through and then flips Scorpio over as he locks in a kneeling Sharp Shooter! This sends shooting all along the lower back of Scorpio as Nezumi tightens it and keeps it locked on, trying to utilize this to possibly slow Scorpio down at least a little. The Peoples Camp struggles as he may but Nezumi keeps the hold locked tight. Just as it seemed Nezumi was going to get the first fall Scorpio was able to maneuver his body enough to break the hold which clearly causes frustration with Nezumi. He sees Scorpio still down and holding his back which Nezumi patiently waits for him to get up. As Scorpio does Nezumi grabs him and lifts him up then dropping him down connecting with an Olympic Slam! Nezumi quickly goes for a cover by hooking Scorpios outside leg.
1! . . 2! . KICKOUT!
Nezumi quickly gets up, seemingly surprised that he didn’t get the pinfall there. Nezumi shakes it off though and gets right back on the attack and walks over to a downed Scorpio. Nezumi reaches down to pick him up but Scorpio grabs his leg and goes for a schoolboy on Nezumi trying to get the first fall!
1! . . 2! . . KICKOUT!
Nezumi is just barely able to get out of the pin before rolling out of the ring and looking at Scorpio who knows how close he was to getting the most important first fall.
Woo: Awesome US Title match so far, great sequences by each person so far
Gomez: What do you know about anything? Scorpio is winning this, no ifs ands or buts about it
Brooks: The one thing that we do know, is whoever wins this will be the rightful United States Champion.
Scorpio quickly gets up and goes out to try to get Nezumi and bring him in but Nezumi slides into the ring as soon as Scorpio gets out. A smirk comes across Scorpios face as Nezumi starts to try to outsmart him. Scorpio slides into the ring telling the ref to keep Nezumi back, but Nezumi won’t be denied as he pushes the ref down hard and stomps on Scorpio before he can get to his feet. Nezumi picks Scorpio up and throws him out of the ring causing him to hit the floor with a loud thud. Nezumi looks at the ref who is still down and smiles as he bends down and lifts up the apron pulling out Neveahs sledgehammer, Heavens Helper. Nezumi slowly waits for Scorpio to get up and as he does he runs at Scorpio and hits him in the head with Heavens Helper! He immediately drops the hammer and rolls Scorpio into the irng who is laid unconscious at this point. Nezumi slides in after and shakes the ref to get him to wake up, Nezumi covers Scorpio hooking both legs.
1! . . 2! . . 3!
Dobrev: The Winner of the first fall via pinfall. Nezumi.
Nezumi picks up Scorpio who is still groggy. He sends shots to the head of Scorpio backing him up to the corner. He grabs his arm and whips him across the ring as Scorpios back hits the opposite turnbuckle hard. Nezumi runs at Scorpio and goes to attempt a flying forearm but Scorpio is able to move at the last minute causing Nezumi to hit the turnbuckle hard. Nezumi stumbles out of the corner and as he does so he turns around and is greeted by a big superkick from Scorpio which ends up putting them both down on the mat without moving. Scorpio is the first to move as he crawls over to the ropes and pulls himself up. He looks at Nezumi who is still down and walks over to him then pulls him to a vertical base where he punches him a few times before grabbing his head and hitting him with a snap suplex followed by a standing moonsault. Scorpio hooks his outside leg as he goes for the pin.
1! . . 2! . . KICKOUT!
Scorpio slams his fist on the mat as he is clearly pissed off. Scorpio gets up and brings Nezumi up as well then throws him out of the ring causing Nezumi to hit the floor hard. Scorpio picks Nezumi up and takes him over to the steel steps where he slams his head on them multiple times, catching the edge once which puts a big cut on Nezumis forehead as he starts to bleed. Scorpio slams his head on the steps once more before sliding him into the ring with Scorpio sliding in after him. Scorpio drags Nezumi to the middle of the ring and sets him up perfectly for his signature moonsault. Scorpio jumps up onto the ropes and springboards off of them hitting his Lipsync For Your Life moonsault! Scorpio doesn’t go for the pin here though as he is trying to make sure the next time he pins him he stays down. So Scorpio gets up and looks down at a motionless Nezumi with a smirk on his face.
Woo: That does not look like Scorpio has good intentions for Nezumi. One can only assume here that the Unofficial 46th president is getting ready to send deportation papers to Nezumi with the Heel Turn!
Gomez: That would knock Nezumi out for two pins. Scorpio is going to win right here!
Brooks: Definitely a very bold strategy on his part, let’s just hope it works out.
Scorpio watches as Nezumi slowly stands up but before he can do anything Scorpio grabs him, puts his boot on his face and falls back hitting him with The Heel Turn! Scorpio immediately crawls on top of the bloodied Nezumi and covers him.
1! . . 2! . . 3!
Dobrev Winner of the second fall via pinfall, Scorpio!
Woo: Scorpio just tied this up with that. Wonder if those heels transfer beauty.
Gomez: What? Whatever I told you though, Scorpio is going to win this thing.
Brooks: He’s gonna feel that tomorrow, got him right in the kisser.
Woo: Scorpio isn’t done yet! I just knew he was blow dried and finished but somehow he kicked out.
Gomez: I keep telling you, Scorpio is not going to lose this.
Brooks: I am shockingly shocked he kicked out there.
Nezumi, clearly frustrated beyond belief at this point gets up and waits for Scorpio. Scorpio slowly gets up and Nezumi smirks at him before hitting him with his own move the AGR! Nezumi immediately goes for the pin.
1! . . 2! . . KICKOUT!
Nezumi looks at the ref and is completely shocked that he didn’t count Scorpio for three there. Nezumi gets up and looks at the ref before picking Scorpio up. But before anything can happen Scorpio hits an AGR but is unable to immediately cover. After taking a few seconds Scorpio finally is able to throw an arm over Nezumi.
1! . . 2! . . KICKOUT!
Scorpio lets out a big sigh as he is unable to put Nezumi away. He slowly pushes himself up, as he is fully covered in blood just as Nezumi is. He slowly gets to a vertical base though a bit wobbly. Scorpio reaches down and lifts up Nezumi as he gets to a vertical base and they begin to trade blows neither man willing to back down from the other. After trading blows for a few moments Scorpio slowly begins to gain the advantage. He sends multiple shots to the head of Nezumi and backs him up to the ropes where he hits him with a lariat which knocks him over the top. Scorpio steps out and pushes the ref down once more as he tries to get in the way. Scorpio grabs a chair from under the ring and waits for Nezumi to get up, as he does he swings the chair and connects hard with the chair to Nezumi's face all while the ref was blinded.
Woo: Have a seat Nezumi. Scorpio definitely looks like he has this one in the bag
Gomez: I told you all along didn’t I? Keep on it Scorpio!
Brooks: That was a chair shot of all chair shots.
Scorpio picks Nezumi up and rolls him into the ring and Scorpio pushes himself up. Scorpio looks at Nezumi who is clearly out of it and picks hum up. Scorpio hits him with a picture perfect dropkick once more and follows it up with a Lipsync For Your Life. Instead of covering him though he gets up and slowly waits as Nezumi makes his way up to his feet. As he does so Scorpio once again grabs him and hits him with another The Heel Turn. After connecting with it Scorpio immediately goes for the cover.
1! . . 2! . . 3!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall AND STILL UNITED STATES CHAMPION...SCOOORRPPIOOOO!
Scorpio, covered in blood, takes the US Title and celebrates the win with it and Creme in the middle of the ring.
Woo: What a hell of a match
Gomez: An amazing match and Scorpio won!
Brooks: That was some match, something that should be remembered.
Woo: What a way to kick off StrangleMania! The tag team title match is up next and you better believe that Scorpio will be watching this one!
Fade to...
The scene opens backstage with Ezio sitting on a bench in the locker room. He’s now dressed in his best referee outfit. A friend of his made it custom for his body. He’s thumbing through his phone, but looks pretty focused overall. He wasn’t expecting to wrestle at Stranglemania, but the opportunity presented itself and he was happy to get into the ring. But now… now is the big kahuna. The match he’s been waiting for. The chance to show the world that, despite what he may feel personally about NSFW… he calls it fair. He calls it by the book. He puts his phone down and looks ahead towards a mirror. He gets up and walks a little closer as he begins to speak.
Ezio:I know what some folks are probably thinking. OH LOOK! EZIO GOT HIMSELF A REF GIG TO FUCK OVER THE DUO THAT FUCKED OVER HIS BFF! Those same folks probably think I asked the GMs to hand me this opportunity. And maybe I did… maybe I didn’t… but in any case… I’m not here to settle a score. I’m not here to be the center of attention. I’m here to do a job. A damn good job. I’ve lived in New England long enough to know that mantra… Do. Your. Job. No matter what. And now… now I have the opportunity to show NSFW… to show Chuck Gacy… to show Silvie… to show my family… to show anyone watching that I, Ezio DeLuca, can be impartial, competent, and focused in my role as guest ref. Sure… Chuckie boy will be playing with the time keeping machine and blah blah blah, but I won’t be focused on him. I’ll be focused on the match and the rules. And whatever hands I raise at the end of the night… I’ll do so honestly and with fucking integrity
Ezio blows a little kiss at himself in the mirror, winks at the camera, and walks out of the locker room.
The scene cuts to another section of the back where trusty old Ace Heart is standing outside of a locker room door.
Heart: Right now I am standing outside of…
The camera pans out slightly and see’s “America’s Most Hated” on the door. The crowd gives a mixed reaction.
Heart: …America’s Most Hated’s locker room. For the first time in what feels like forever, America’s Most Hated is in the same place at the same time. I am going to try and catch up to them right now and get their thoughts on the evening.
Heart knocks on the door. Within seconds, Dominic Sanders answers and we hear an eruption of boos as the crowd watches from the MacTron. Sanders stands there with the Dominic Sanders Championship on his shoulder and Cora Whittaker joins him at his side.
Heart: Dominic Sanders. Long time, no see.
Sanders: I wish that streak would have never ended, Ace.
Heart: That’s incredibly ru…
Sanders: Get on with it, Ace.
Heart: Okay. For starters, this is the first time that you, Iggy Swango, and Melody Malone have been in the same place at the same time since the Rumble in Texas. You guys were never even seen together at WrestleFest. That means it has been six months…
Sanders: You can count. Excellent.
Heart: Well, that brings forth my question. Is America’s Most Hated really even a thing anymore?
Sanders smirks and shakes his head. Cora scoffs and rolls her eyes as she disappears back into the locker room with the other ladies.
Sanders: Aww, see? You insulted Cora.
Heart: I didn’t mea…
Sanders: Are we a “thing”? Yes. We are very much a “thing”. Iggy and Melody have each other. Cora and I have each other. When we get together for times like this, they all have each other and I get time to shut the world off and relax. What I think you, and perhaps some other people, are forgetting about is that factions don’t have to be stuck like glue to each other twenty-four seven in order to thrive and survive. Factions don’t even have to agree on everything as long as the one common goal is the focus. You see, America’s Most Hated is a mindset. Let me remind you that we are hated mostly by jealousy. Iggy Swango doesn’t have to be a straight butthole like I can be. She doesn’t have to be the Queen Bitch like Melody can be. Iggy Swango just needs to be Iggy Swango. People hate her because they think she’s an airhead and then they turn out to be wrong. People hate her because they think she’s the weak link and then they turn out to be wrong. People hate Melody because she is the absolute best on the main roster of this company. People hate me because I am the absolute best in the Indy circuit… and because I am an asshole. By the end of this night, every member of America’s Most Hated will be cloaked in gold. PEOPLE HATE THAT. People hate us.
Heart: What about the fact that you’ve been a bit chummy with NSFW, recently? They’re trying like hell tonight to take the Tag Team Championships away from your friends in there.
Sanders: Ace, have you been paying any attention? Never once have I endorsed a word NSFW has said against America’s Most Hated. Sure, I love the direction they’re headed and their attitudes. But not at the expense of this group. Once this night is over, I would love to sit down with NSFW and talk about things with them. Maybe share some ideas as long as it doesn’t harm my people. But they are not going to split us apart. Not now, not ever.
Heart: Okay. Moving onto your match here tonight. Jordan Sharpe defends his Indy Championship against you in a Last Man Standing match.
Sanders: And I am going to win the Indy Championship, Ace. I’ve blown through every single person they’ve put in front of me on Prime this year. I’ve been named “Most Valuable” on Prime in every episode of the show all season. Not Jordan Sharpe. The man could barely lace my boots. And there are actually delusional people out there who believe that he can beat me!
Sanders starts to laugh in Ace’s face.
Sanders: That was the stupidest thing they could have done for Sharpe. The man can’t even keep me down for THREE seconds, let-alone TEN. He’s in for a long night, and I am about to have a lot of fun. And when I win the Indy Championship, I am about to become the LONGEST-REIGNING Indy Champion of all time. Longer than Candy’s 287 days. Longer than Jordan’s 182 days. Longer than Killjoy Ito’s 161 days. You can bet on that.
Malone: Did I hear someone talk about breaking reigns?
Melody peeks her head around the corner of the doorway, a cocky grin on her face.
Malone: There's going to be a lot of that coming up in short order. Dom is going to take that title off Sharpe, I'm going to silence Scorpio on my way to breaking Xplode's legendary title reign, and in just a few minutes? Iggy and I will stop NSFW just short, and by this time next week we'll have beaten their 182 day reign as tag team champions too.
Sanders smirks and steps aside to allow the Queen to have the floor. He disappears back into a privatized section of the locker room that separates him from the ladies.
Heart: Speaking of NSFW, is there any merit to their claim that you're looking past them tonight?
Malone: Ace. Buddy. Is anyone in this company more self centered? Let's be honest, I'm a talented woman right? Multiple championships, awards, and MVP nods, right? So why does the common rabble seem to all think that I'm incapable of focusing on more than one objective? Hell, why does there even need to be more than one objective? Every night I, or anyone from America's Most Hated goes out there, the focus is on winning. Whether that's against NSFW, Scorpio, Jordan Sharpe, Phoenix Winterborn, it doesn't make a difference.
Heart: So you and Iggy are focused on NSFW tonight?
Swango: No. We're focused on winning.
Swango appears behind Malone, handing Melody her half of the Tag Team Championships. Melody smirks, hoisting the title over her shoulder.
Malone:You heard her. And now, you're going to see it too.
With that, Melody and Iggy step out of the doorway, letting the door close behind them. They brush past Ace, arm in arm as they head toward the stage entrance for their title defense.
EWC TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP EQUALIZERS AT THE READY! NSFW Vs DSR Vol II WITH SPECIAL GUEST REF EZIO DELUCA & SPECIAL GUEST TIME KEEPER CHUCK GACY
We return to ringside where Chuck Gacy is shown shoving away the timekeeper, but not before snatching his tiny hammer from him. Cut to the Stranglemania announce team.
Woo: That’s a great way to start this whole ordeal. Yeah, there’s Chuck Gacy and he’s ready to signal the start for a humongous tag team championship bout tonight. Melody Malone and Iggy Swango have the momentous task in defending against NSFW.
Gomez: If this was the Malone of yesteryear, I’d say this would be a pretty even affair but well Queen Melody ain’t nobody now. NSFW is going to tear through these bitches like tissue paper.
Brooks: That’s about the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard. Malone and Swango are a proven commodity and let’s face it, NSFW beating on real nobodies doesn’t tell me anything. They may just get themselves a reality check tonight.
Woo: So as they come out, I’ll set the stage. Ezio’s about to be out here any moment to call it down the middle and well, Chuck, why he’s here, well, we all know why he’s here. He’s gonna get involved and if you don’t believe that, you don’t know NSFW.
Dobrev: The following match is for the EWC Tag Team Championships!!
The arena lights fade to black as a rhythmic beat sounds over the speakers, joined by accompanying guitar. A scattering of cell phone flashlights click on in the crowd, but soon two spotlights shine down on each side of the entryway, revealing Bishop Church on the left, and Mike McGuire on the right. Both are clad smartly in tuxedos, hair neatly slicked back, Bishop with an orange rose in his lapel. They each hold a hand out to each other, Church twirling Mike into his arms as Fleetwood Mac’s vocals begin.
Listen to the wind blow, watch the sunrise Runnin’ in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies
The two begin to dance, perhaps in a disturbingly familiar manner considering the last time they’d done it on camera. They seem completely absorbed in their own bubble, oblivious to the crowd throwing almost nuclear levels of heat their way.
And if you don’t love me now, you will never love me again I can still hear you sayin’ you would never break the chain...
The house lights as well as the MacTron blaze to life as the chorus kicks in, laced with chains that break apart, forming the letters NSFW, reforming into the words ‘We First, Always’, and back again. The stoic technician and the fiery brawler continue to dance to the ring, twirling outward before entering the ring proper.
Dobrev: Now entering the ring, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they are your Number One contenders to the EWC Tag Team Championships, Mike McGuire, Bishop Church, this is N… S… F… W!
The crowd continues to boo loudly as both Church and McGuire grab the fronts of their tuxedos and tear them away, revealing their ring gear underneath as they take their places in their corner, eyeing the entryway intensely for the arrival of the current champions as ‘The Chain’ fades out.
Woo: That was weird. But I almost expected as such from these two. NSFW has cut a path through the tag team division since last year’s Brawl finale. Melody Malone and Iggy Swango told them to go to the end of the line and McGuire and Bishop effectively destroyed that line.
Gomez: You ain’t lying, Woo. Lunch Time isn’t going to be the same after the beatdown they suffered.
Brooks: You must have missed NSFW running out of the ring like frightened cats when they were confronted. Anyway, enough of that, let’s see our champions!
"Rock Show" by Halestorm begins playing throughout the packed stadium.
Little girl You like it loud Come alive in the middle of a crowd You wanna scream You wanna shout Get excited when the lights go down
On cue, the lights in the LA Coliseum dim.
At the rock show You'll be right in the front row Heart and soul, they both know It’s where you gotta be
After these lyrics, Melody Malone and Iggy Swango make their way out from the back to a mixed reception. Many are jeering Melody Malone, but many are cheering Iggy Swango. Regardless, they both stand at the top of the stage with aviators on their faces and the Tag Team Championships around their waists as they nod their heads and high five at the top of the ramp. They begin to make their way to the ring.
Dobrev: And their opponents... they are the Extreme Wrestling Corporation Tag Team Champions... IGGY SWANGO AND MELODY MALONE... THE EVEN FOXIER LADIES OF DREAM SOUND REVOLUTION: PART DEUX!!!
They simultaneously jump up onto the ring apron and climb through the ropes. They part ways and head to the ropes on opposite sides of the ring. They each step one foot on the middle rope and put their arms in the air. They throw their aviators into the crowd and meet back in the center of the ring. They unsnap the Championships and raise them in the air as they stand back-to-back.
Woo: Iggy and Malone both have tough nights. Iggy has a last person standing with Phoenix Winterborn. And Malone must defend her Undisputed championship against the dangerous Scorpio in the demonic Hell in a Cell! Wait, where’s our special referee? Ezio? Where you at, man?
The crowd is just as confused as John Dean makes his way out to the ring. The MacTron suddenly cuts to a camera man running to a scene. He sees Clay Byrd slam a door labeled ‘Storage’ shut. He holds his jaw gingerly, chuckling to himself. And as he locks the door, he remarks out loud.
Byrd: You don’t look nothin’ like your profile…
The big Texan walks off. Cut back to ringside. The camera catches all reactions. Gacy licks his licks with anticipation, the bell quivering in his hand. Malone and Swango seem nonplussed while NSFW is too focused to care either.
Woo: Gotta assume that’s Ezio.
Gomez: Good. That little prick would have been an unfair advantage.
Brooks: And Gacy isn’t?
Gacy: Shut up, bitch or I’ll use your fucking skull as the bell!
Gacy then rings the bell!
DING DING DING
Melody goes to start, but Iggy stops her, perhaps tired of being accused of not pulling her weight and wanting to make an impact early. In NSFW’s corner, the two nod to each other, agreeing on something wordlessly before McGuire enters the ring to start. The redhead says something to Swango that the mics don’t pick up, but it’s obviously not friendly as the former rockstar responds with a slap to McGuire’s face that can be heard in the cheap seats! A mark stands out bright red on the Bronx Brawler’s cheek, and they laugh, pointing at Iggy in an obvious ‘attagirl’ gesture before hauling off and slugging her in return, which breaks down into the two of them trading vicious blows with absolutely no finesse, just intent to make the other combatant hurt.
The audience alternates from cheering to booing as the two battle. But despite Mike’s chops, Iggy has the energy of the crowd behind her and she manages to beat Mike into the ropes. She latches on to McGuire’s arm and whips them into the other side. As Mike bounces back, they’re rocked by Iggy rebounding off her side with a jumping forearm smash! Iggy then kips up and the crowd explodes with applause!
Woo: NSFW has spent months deriding Swango as a competitor and right now, you can tell that this rockstar has enough!
Gomez: Swango is a cheap shot artist. I bet she has a plate in that arm!
Brooks: You have real issues. That was as clean as a takedown as it comes.
As Mike climbs to their feet, Iggy cuts them off with a knee to the midsection and then pushes her into the DSR corner. She tags in the Undisputed Champ and while the reaction is mixed, it is thunderous! Malone beats and chops on the redhead with ferocity. As McGuire stumbles out of the corner, Malone drops them with a picture perfect standing dropkick! The double champ quickly floats over for a cover…
...1!
McGuire kicks out quickly!
But as they sit up, Malone grabs a hold. She wraps a bicep just under Mike’s chin and then reaches backward and tags back in the former Interntional Champion! Holding the smaller half of NSFW upright, she sets Mike up for a basement dropkick from Swango! She climbs up one of the neutral turnbuckles and plays to the crowd, telling them she’s ready to rock! She perches up top, setting her sights on McGuire …
She leaps off with a huge diving leg drop!!!
...And Mike McGuire rolls out of the way!
Iggy Swango grabs her lower back in agony as Mike crawls towards the ropes to get themselves up and ready to fight back. Before Iggy can get to her feet, she gets a running boot to the side of the head! The Bronx Brawler has a nasty scowl on their face as they put the boots to the back of Swango. The tag champ retreats to the same neutral corner, but the challenger is relentless. The crowd boos as McGuire rains down hammer fists on the slumped down Swango. John Dean warns Mike to get out of the corner and even begins to count up to five, threatening to disqualify NSFW. Mike smartly stops at four!
And then drags Swango out of the corner with handfuls of golden locks. Suddenly Swango shoves Mike away and then spins around and goes for a huge discus clothesline! McGuire ducks and jabs a thumb into Swango’s eye right out of the sight of Dean and drops her with a flowing DDT! Mike stumbles backwards and finally Church tags himself in!
Woo: The tag champions have done well to cut the ring in half but well, you can’t hold a team like NSFW for too long. The big man Bishop Church is in the ring for the first time in this bout.
Gomez: Here we go, now the tides will turn here!
Brooks: Looks like the challengers are on their heels and the tag champions are a real cohesive unit tonight!
Church levels Swango with a lariat but she is quickly up, Church whips her into the ropes and as he waits for the rebound, Swango holds onto the ropes. Church charges and the punk rockstar dodges and Church goes over the top rope. Only natural athletic ability allows him to land on the apron. However Swango tags back in her partner. Malone cuts Church from getting back into the ring with a knee lift. As he teeters on the second rope, the undisputed champ drops him with a swinging neckbreaker!
Right into a cover …
…1!
...2!
The ref waives off the count as he sees Church’s leg on the bottom rope! Malone pulls off his leg out of frustration and then grabs an arm and slowly but surely pulls him up to his feet. She swings Bishop into the ropes, he reverses, she comes back and catches him with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors …
Round and round she goes until…
Church stops the momentum, spins her around and drops her onto his knee with a pendulum backbreaker.
The crowd audibly screams in what could be construed in horror as Melody Malone gasps for air from the impact!
Church smirks at his partner and his partner only as he shoves Malone off his knee. She falls to the mat like a sack of potatoes.
Woo: That backbreaker could shave years off the Undisputed Champ’s career. And I’ve never seen Bishop Church smile like that before.
Gomez: Isn’t it romantic, it was just for Mike, can’t you see?
Brooks: And I thought Malone and Cyrus were vomit worthy.
And while it wasn’t for him, Chuck Gacy sure liked that, too.
With Malone down and out, Church tags back in Mike. Quickly the redhead is up top and they connect with a resounding Race Drive right to the back of Malone. The diving headbutt drives the air out of Malone again. McGuire shoots a half with a concerted effort and hooks the farthest leg!
...1!
...2!
The double champ shows some heart and kicks out milliseconds before Dean’s hand hits the mat for the third time! Instead of dwelling on it, Mike reaches over and tags in Bishop. As Melody crawls to the bottom rope, Church drops an elbow. He tags Mike back in, they then drop an elbow. And then as quickly as they were in, Mike tags back out. Church stalks Malone as she slowly crawls towards Swango now.
And through sheer arrogance, Church allows her to get close. But within inches, he grabs her leg. She spins and boots the big man in the jaw. He stumbles back. She takes that as an opening and runs at him with a crossbody but he catches her. In one swift clean motion, he pops her into the air and wraps his arms around her lower back into an excruciating bear hug!
Now the crowd that was excited for the high speed action from the sequel of Dream Sound Revolution is taken out of it. Church slows it way down and he puts a hurting on Malone as she struggles in his grasp.
But despite Swango’s urging to fight back, Malone is starting to succumb to the hold. Her arms begin to go limp. Dean checks in on her. He raises her arm up once…
And it falls.
Twice …
And it falls again.
Three times. And strangely enough there is a bit of hesitation from the official as he holds her arm up … it begins to drop … and this match is about to end very badly for the tag team champions.
But then Malone’s arm shoots up … and there is a huge spark in the crowd and whether it's because NSFW didn’t win or maybe Malone is winning over folks with her tenacity, they cheer her on!
With a second wind, she claps both arms around Church’s head and breaks free. Bishop drops to a knee and Malone steps off and rebounds off the ropes … but whatever she had in mind ends as Church swings the match back in NSFW’s favor with a belly to belly suplex!
Woo: There was a shimmer of hope there but NSFW is back in control!
Gomez: And all is good!
Brooks: Shut up, you kiss ass!
Gomez: No, you!
Church passes on the cover and he tags Mike back in. They both stalk the Undisputed champion and as she gets to her feet once more, Church catapults Mike into the air and they clobber Malone with a forearm to the face!
Woo: That’s Bishop takes Queen! No one gets up from this one!!
Mike hooks the leg!
…1!
...2!
...3?
NO!
MALONE KICKS OUT!!!
Woo: WHOA!
Gomez: She cheated it, I know it! Disgusting!
Brooks: Get your eyes checked, lady!
NSFW is distraught. They converse quietly as Malone starts to recover. They both nod and decide there is just one finishing touch. Church sizes her up for a running knee … and Malone dodges!
Mike swings her around and tries to Knock her for Six but Malone blocks and jacks her jaw with an European uppercut! Church tries to recover this with a clothesline but Malone ducks and Church turns around, he gets dropkicked out of the ring. Mike, like a vulture, hammers Malone over the back and tries for the Rubbernecker but Malone counters with a shot to the rib and then jams their face with the Crowning Achievement!!
The crowd is electric as Swango reaches in for the tag …
And she gets it!!
Swango is in and she crushes Mike with a spinning kick! She brings in Malone and DSR IS looking for the kill! Iggy drops Church off the apron with another dropkick as Malone whips Mike into the corner. She hits a step up enziguri that knocks McGuire in a seated position!
John Dean is out of position and as Malone looks to swing Iggy into McGuire to complete the Crazy Train, McGuire grabs Dean and he stumbles backwards into them!
Iggy slams into John Dean full force with that hip attack and sprawls out of the ring and seems completely out of it!
The crowd boos as the referee is out …
Gacy is up from his seat quickly and he grabs Malone by the leg and drags her out of the ring! He slams her back first into the steel steps as Church and Mike recovene in their corner before starting to double team Swango with blows and kicks in the middle of the ring!. Gacy is about to climb in the ring when there is a sudden fervor in the crowd!
Woo: What’s going on!?
Gomez: Oh damn it, not her!
Brooks: SILVER ANN GOLD JUST LEAPT OVER THE BARRICADE AND TRIPPED GACY!
Gacy takes a nasty fall but he’s up quickly and he’s pissed! He sees the returning Silver running up the ramp seemingly for her life! Gacy gives chase!
As the unrepenting beat down continues, the camera cuts to Silver running through the backstage area, looking for something, maybe someone! She stops in front of a door labeled storage, where someone is banging on it furiously! She tries the door knob but of course it’s locked! She looks panicked! She disappears around a corner and seconds later, she returns with a fire extinguisher!
She bashes and bashes and bashes the at the door knob … until it breaks off!
Ezio DeLuca, battered and bloody, bursts through the door. He’s surprised to see his best friend but he’s pissed, too. He squeezes her hand quickly and runs off camera with a purpose!
Chuck Gacy ignores Ezio running past him. He has eyes for only one person and that is Silver Ann Gold … but within feet of her, he gets blasted in the face with the extinguisher! The shot is obscured briefly and when it clears, Silver is long gone!
Woo: Gacy is gone! Thanks to Silver Ann Gold! She outsmarts the violent star but maybe that’s not too hard to do.
Gomez: I’m going to tell him you said that!
Brooks: Anyway, Ezio DeLuca doesn’t look too good but neither does John Dean, he hasn’t moved much!
Iggy gets swung into the ropes and instead of running into a clothesline, she ducks under and drops NSFW with a double reverse DDT! Malone is in the ring! She hits a sliding dropkick to knock Church out of the ring. Iggy brings up Mike and Iggy flapjacks them up into the air. Malone hits a second double knee facebreaker to hammer Mike with the DREAM SOUND REVOLUTION!
She covers!!
HERE COMES EZIO DELUCA WITH A HUGE SMILE ON HIS FACE. He slides right into the ring and …
...1!!!
...2!!!
Church can’t break it up in time!!
3!!!!
Ezio happily exits the squared circle to ring the bell!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via PINFALL and STILL EWC TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE EVEN FOXIER LADIES OF DREAM SOUND REVOLUTION: PART DEUX!!!!!!!
Swango quickly collects the tag titles and hands one to Malone, who seems to be greatly favoring her back. Still, the rockstar and the Queen are all smiles as they hold up their successfully defended prizes. Far less cheerful, though, are NSFW, who are glaring at the Champions with dark, furious eyes. Slowly picking themselves up, a seething Mike gingerly takes a step forward, obviously with designs of seriously ruining DSR II’s celebration. Church, however, looks around and sees the numbers are not in their favor and whispers something to their partner, the two of them leaving in disgust.
Woo: Neither team has a thing to be ashamed of. An astonishing outing was put on both by the Champions and the undefeated challengers, but in the end, the Foxy Ladies were able to withstand everything NSFW threw at them and then some.
Gomez: For all the good it’ll do ‘em later. Especially Malone- with that backbreaker, Bishop Church made damn sure that she ain’t walking out a double champion tonight. I hope NSFW can take a little comfort in that, they got screwed by that little goblina Silver.
Brooks: What are you talking about? All Silver did was make sure the rightful official got to do his job, nothing more. Either way, I’m afraid you might have a point for once- what kind of shape will Melody Malone be in later on for her Undisputed title defense vs. Scorpio?
Woo: We're going to find out later, but up next is a PUB CRAWL BRAWL between two of FSW's up and comers!
The cameras cut to backstage to show a familiar face arriving at the arena as the crowd goes nuts at this unexpected visitor.
CROWD POP
Woo: And the crowd here at the LA Memorial Coliseum are just as in as much shock as I am.
Brooks: I thought I smelt alcohol and regrets.
Woo: We all heard that Sebastian Conner had re-signed with EWC but we weren't expecting to see him at Stranglemania. The last time we seen him was last year when Dominic Sanders eliminated him within seconds of entering the ring at the Rumble. Sebastian Conner was considered at one point the top contender for Ace King during his United States title reign which was claimed by Scorpio. A series of unfortunate events led to his departure from the company.
Gomez: His antics are well known and I am excited and looking forward to seeing how he fits in with the faces that have come since he was last seen in a full EWC match. I may be geeking out a little.
Brooks: I'm unimpressed.
Woo: Interesting indeed to see how he fits into the new roster.
We open inside the office of Prime GM Marshall Evans, who is sitting at his desk, typing an email at his computer. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door,
Evans: Bit busy right now, you'll have to wait
The door then bursts open and Jonty Kelly steps inside. Marshall looks up from this computer
Evans: Mr Kelly...I thought I said to wait
Kelly: I'm not in the mood for waiting around, Marshall
Marshall sighs before gesturing for Jonty to sit at his desk. Jonty simply shakes his head, so Marshall gets up and stands across from Jonty.
Evans: Fine, what seems to be the problem?
Kelly: The problem, Marshall, is that I'm not even booked on this pay-per-view
Evans: And what do you want me to do about it? Scramble to find an opponent for you to face?
Kelly: No, I want you to put me into the TV Title match and make it a triple threat
Evans: Well, that's just not happening, I'm afraid. After all, in your last two matches, you've lost to both of the competitors of that match, that's hardly grounds for you to be put in the match. Perhaps if you had actually managed to hang on to your title and not lose it in your first defence, you would indeed have a match on this show...Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do
Marshall turns and goes to walk back to his desk but Jonty grabs his shoulder, stopping Marshall in his tracks. Marshall reluctantly turns around
Kelly: You're right Marshall, I can only blame myself for not getting the job done against Lavender as the reason for why I don't have a match...but as a former champion, I've got a clause entitling me to a rematch and I want to invoke that rematch clause tonight.
There is a silence as Marshall contemplates what Jonty has said.
Evans: Tell you what, I'll compromise with you and grant you your rematch...but that'll take place on the next Prime show against whoever walks out her tonight as champion. It simply wouldn't be fair on either Faith or Lavender to insert you into the match this late on. How does that sound?
Kelly: How does that sound? It sounds like a bag of shit, Marshall. That's not fair but when Aoen Khronos cashed in his Primetime Briefcase at the last second in an Indy title match that involved me, that was all good?
Evans: That was a completely different scenario -
Kelly: It's the same thing, Marshall. Khronos was owed an Indy Title shot, he cashed it in. I'm owed a TV Title rematch and I'm cashing it in for tonight. You know what this really sounds like, Marshall? Another attempt by you to screw me. You already did it once when you picked that Brooklyn bimbo over me, all because she got you all hot and bothered, resulting in my firing. I'm not going to let you screw me again
Another silence as the two men stare intently at each other
Evans: You do realise by cashing your rematch in tonight, you've got statistically worse odds of success than you would if you rematch happened on the next Prime?
Kelly: That's a risk I'm willing to take. Did you forget what happened the last time I was in a TV title match on a pay-per-view?
Evans: This is really what you want?
Kelly: Yes
The two man stare off one final time. Marshall takes a deep breath
Evans: Fine then, your rematch clause is being invoked and you're added to the match. Happy now?
Kelly: I'll be even happier once I walk out tonight once again TV Champion
Kelly turns and exits the office, Marshall watching him closely as he does so. He then moves back to his desk and sits down. Just as he is about to re-commence his work, his phone begins to ring. Marshall answers it.
Evans: Hello?.....yes, that's right....don't worry, I'll make sure it gets sorted...
The shot immediately switches to Ace Heart, microphone in hand as he stands by the back entrance to the Coliseum.
Ace Heart: Well, Marcus, I’ve just been informed that Ace King, who is set to compete for the X-Division Championship in a second Rage in the Cage match with Xavier Reid, has yet to be seen or heard from by anyone on the premises, going back hours. There’s a grave concern for his wellbeing, and-
As Heart speaks, the squealing of tires can be heard as a black BMW i8 roars into view, drifting into one of the Coliseum’s few remaining parking spaces. Heart rushes toward the vehicle as it parks; emerging from the driver’s side is John Martin, King’s Court head trainer. He makes his way around to the passenger’s side and opens the door, then helps Ace King himself out of the car. Heart, ever the intrepid reporter, affords the pair a bit of space before he ambushes them.
Ace Heart: Ace, a moment of your time, please? Just wondering about your state of mind as you step inside Rage in the Cage tonight-
John Martin: Right now? Really? Can you not…
Ace King: It’s OK, buddy. It’s something he has to do.
John looks a bit surprised as ‘The Gambler’ waves him off, then steps toward Heart and the microphone. He takes a heavy breath as he tries to formulate his words.
Ace King: It’s no secret that the last three months have been… Well… They’ve been trying, despite the attempts of some to trivialize how I’ve been feeling. Sometimes I’m good, other times… Not so much.
Ace Heart: And so, I suppose that leads me to my question: How are you feeling right now?
‘The Gambler’ pauses for a moment, then goes back to the car, retrieving a cupcake with a candle on it. He then pulls out a lighter, setting fire to the wick of the candle before turning his attention back to the interviewer.
Ace King: Did you know today’s my birthday, Heart?
Ace Heart: I did not… Best wishes.
Ace King: Appreciated. Anyway, these last couple weeks… If I’m being completely honest, I’ve felt about as burnt out as this candle will be soon enough.
King watches the candle burn for a few seconds before eventually blowing it out, then turning back to Heart with a thin smile on his face.
Ace King: And yet, I’ve still managed to get myself back here to StrangleMania… Back inside the confines of Rage in the Cage… and back into the crosshairs of Xavier Reid.
‘The Gambler’ runs a hand through his short, spiked hair before offering Heart an exasperated sigh.
Ace King: I know it probably sounds strange given what everybody sees on the outside, but I legitimately had my doubts, so in a way, just making it here is a victory. But the idea of leaving with whatever the X-Division Championship is now, the one level of championship I’ve never held in a career that got its start in the bloody and brutal confines of ultraviolence… Well?
‘The Gambler’ plucks the candle out of the cupcake, then takes a big bite into the pastry before looking over at Heart.
Ace King: ...That would just be icing on the cake.
The crowd cheers as King takes his leave, John following close behind as Heart lets his microphone go limp.
PUB CRAWL BRAWL Aidan O'Sheahan Vs L.A. Meyers
Woo: This is certainly an interesting set up we have around the ring. They have literally turned the ringside area into the world’s largest bar… it’s really impressive. There are bottles of whiskey, vodka, gin and hell, I even see some Old Granddad ready to go. That stuff would kill a horse.
Gomez: Did they check the IDs of every single fan in attendance tonight? Because I really think they should have with the amount of alcohol that is present right now.
Brooks: I think I’m going to head to ringside folks. Pepper needs a drink, man.
Woo: You can’t leave Pepper. Only thing for sure now is that the bar is now open. Anyway, before we head to ringside, I just wanted to check in on EWC FIGHTER TALK in case you all aren't glued to it like I am. David Scot sent out a message congratulating Aaron Bolduc on winning the battle royal. Classy move by the vet. Let's get to ringside!
Dobrev: The following match is the Pub Brawl Crawl! Joining us first, from Dublin, Ireland weighing in at 215 pounds ... AIDAN O’SHEAHAN!!!
The silence is quickly broken up with the loud noise of Flogging Molly filling the air, the Irish jig does little to make the fans happy as they make their hatred known to the man sauntering up onto the stage.
Aidan O’Sheahan takes his time, surveying the crowd that has come to watch him get beaten up, or perhaps in the hope that this would be the day that somebody would find a way to shut the loudmouth up. With a cocky grin he pulls up the collar of his vest before slowly making his way down the ramp jawing back and forth with whoever in the crowd he feels like saying shit to.
The crowd let out another raucous display of vitriol as Aidan rolls himself into the ring and runs himself to the top rope of the closest turnbuckle, making an effort to make his presence seen with plenty of uncouth gestures towards the people.
He takes himself around the ring, repeating the process on every turnbuckle as he makes sure that nobody in the arena knows for certain who they need to be booing.
With the music dying down, he takes a seat on top of the turnbuckle waiting for the match to start.
Dobrev: And his opponent, from a Trailer Park in Indiana weighing in at 225 pounds ... L.A MEYERS!!
That sweet sweet sound of a White Claw can being cracked open echoes out over the arena. This is followed by the heavy bass of the Monster Magnet classic “Space Lord” being played out loudly. From the back steps out the King of the Trailer Park himself, L.A Meyers. Meyers is wearing an extremely awesome looking black silk jacket that has not just one dragon across the front, but two dragons. As Meyers steps out onto the ramp he turns around to reveal a THIRD dragon that has been embroidered onto his jacket, but wait, what’s that? The third dragon on the back lights up! Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, that dragon is battery operated.
Gomez: Do we even know the rules of this match?
Brooks: It’s a Pub Crawl Brawl, so… there probably are none.
Woo: Could be a last man standing match, if you know what I mean! Here we go!!
DING DING DING
With the sound of the bell the two come firing out from their respective corners and start off this match with a blaze of glory just throwing haymakers into their opponent’s face! After the first four or five good shots neither man is seemingly going to back down until Aidan follows one of his rights with a finger poke right into L.A’s eyes. Meyers stumbles around covering his face and walks right into a flury of stiff kicks by O’Sheahan, the last catches Meyers on the inside of his knee causing him to fall to both of his knees. Aidan leaps to the ring ropes and nails a springboard dropkick to the side of Meyers’ skull!
Woo: Two Shots of Whiskey right to the side of Meyers’ head!! The echo from that shot caused these fans to wince in pain. Perhaps a little bit of a payback in that kick from the bottle that Meyers broke over Aidan’s head a few weeks ago.
Gomez: That’s just the start of the payback Aidan seems to have in mind here. He’s not going for the pin, rather… he’s headed to the world’s longest bar at ringside!
Brooks: It's a bold strategy, Valentina. Let's see if it pays off for him.
O’Sheahan makes his way for the whiskey bottles on the outside of the ring, he doesn’t even hesitate to crack it open and pour out a couple of shots. Aidan downs one of the shots and then slides the other shot towards a particularly attractive looking female fan at ringside! She downs it like a professional, but as Aidan goes to pour her another shot L.A Meyers pulls O’Sheahan away from doing so. Aidan counters by smashing the empty shot glass upside Meyers’ head!! L.A stumbles around in pain as Aidan picks up one of the barstools on the outside of the ring and charges in at him driving the wooden seat right into Meyers’ chest!!
Gomez: It’s probably a little more even now.
Woo: These two are starting to tear the ringside area apart! O’Sheahan now has himself one of L.A Meyers’ cans of White Claw!
Brooks: He just yelled out that Meyers doesn’t deserve a whiskey drink. What about a vodka drink?
Woo: Or a lager drink?
Gomez: Oh, just stop.
O’Sheahan cracks open the Claw, the sound alone gets the attention of Meyers, but as Meyers turns around he smacked over the head with a crunching can of White Claw! The drink goes spilling all over the front row, but luckily EWC security passed out rain ponchos to all the fans at ringside, it’s like a Gallager show! Meyers stumbles forward and onto the bar, Aidan charges in but Meyers moves out of the way and Aidan connects with a kick to the wooden top of the bar instead. Meyers, then ducks down and flips the Irishman up and onto the bar with a heavy thud! Meyers heads towards the ring, but as he gets up onto the ring apron Meyers instead leaps from the apron and crashes through the bar with a legdrop onto Aidan O’Sheahan!!
Brooks: I didn’t know this bar also served tea.
Woo: TEABAG JAM! And here’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear myself say, L.A Meyers just dropped his nuts across the face of Aidan O’Sheahan across the top of a bar at ringside here at Stranglemania!
Gomez: How the hell did we get to this moment? How is this happening right now?
Meyers is first to get back up to his feet on the outside and celebrates by tossing a couple of the barstools into the ring. He finishes by picking up an ice bucket filled with cans of White Claw with him, nope make that two buckets, and into the ring. Aidan, on the other hand, is able to slip back into the ring with a bottle of booze as Meyers is too distracted cracking open the first can of White Claw and chugging about half of it for the crowd. Meyers turns around with a Claw in his hand and stares down Aidan who has a drink in his hand as well. The two begin to exchange a series of chops, each one unloading across the chest of the other one causing the crowd to wince in pain with the echo of each backhand. Meyers and O’Sheahan instinctively cover the tops of their drink as they absorb each shot. Meyers hits a wickedly loud backhand which causes the drink in O’Sheahan’s hand to tip enough and cause some of his whiskey to spill onto the mat. They both stand there in shock.
Gomez: Why’d they stop killing each other?
Brooks: Because one of them just committed the ultimate party foul. You never spill the drink. Ever.
Woo: This is a critical situation we are having right now, Aidan O’Sheahan pointing and yelling at L.A Meyers about what just happened. I think Meyers is now asking the referee if the match is over now.
Gomez: Oh please let it be.
But it isn’t, the referee waves it off and denies the disqualification for the party foul and that gives Aidan the opening to unload with a series of right hands, because his drink is still in his left, backing Meyers up against the ropes. Aidan sends Meyers across the ring with an Irish whip but on the run Meyers chugs the rest of his Claw and on the rebound unloads the Claw right into the eyes of Aidan O’Sheahan!
Woo: Surprise, White Claw! And that stuff getting into your eyes is like a chemical burn! It really, really hurts.
Brooks: And I think that’s the brand new lemon flavor, which has extra acid in it. Aidan might be blinded permanently.
Gomez: Have we all gone mad? Oh, I get it, you two got a closer look at ringside before this match started.
Aidan stumbles around blinded which gives Meyers a wide open chance here and he charges forward at his opponent spinning the process and going for that lariat of his, but somehow Aidan is able to slide underneath him with a baseball slide and as Meyers catches himself Aidan is able to leap up and connect with a flying knee right to the back of Meyers’ head! The Cardiff Crash sends Meyers right to the mat with a heavy crash. Aidan wipes the Claw out of his eyes and picks up Meyers quickly from behind and connects with a bridging German suplex right there in the middle of the ring, the referee counts 1...2...but Meyers kicks out at two and a half. Aidan isn’t too happy about the speed of the count, but instead of getting too angry about it Aidan picks up his whiskey and downs it instead. Aidan pulls Meyers back up to his feet, but Meyers counters with a shot to the midsection of the Irishman. Out of nowhere, Meyers connects with a DDT driving O’Sheahan to the mat face first, Meyers hooks the leg and the referee counts 1...2...but Aidan gets his shoulder up at two and a half as well.
Gomez: Finally, some wrestling in this match.
Woo: These two have shown little interest in wrestling a match against each other, rather they just want to kick the other one’s ass. I think we’re seeing an overflow of that here tonight.
Brooks: Overflow? Did someone spill another drink?
Meyers pulls O’Sheahan up to his feet and unloads with a couple of backhand chops for good measure, he then sends Aidan across the ring with a slingshot and again spins looking for that lariat. However, Aidan is able to duck under the spinning lariat attempt and on the rebound springboards off the middle ropes and connects with a flying body block! O’Sheahan rolls through and gets quickly to his feet as Meyers gets to a knee, O’Sheahan charges in and connects with a shining wizard! Meyers collapses in a heap in the middle of the ring and Aidan goes for a quick cover. The referee dives in and starts the count, 1....2… but Meyers gets the shoulder up.
Woo: Aidan O’Sheahan treated L.A Meyers to a Belfast Breakfast, but Meyers was still able to get his shoulder up at the last possible second there. He’s still got some fight left in him here tonight.
Aidan goes for the attack again, but Meyers is smart and heads to the outside of the ring towards the bar. Aidan doesn’t seem to care and charges from the farside of the ring and dives through the middle of the ropes to where L.A Meyers is standing. Meyers, however, was ready and is able to catch Aidan in the air and uses the momentum to slam Aidan down onto the bar! The crowd is impressed with the move as Meyers climbs up onto the bar. With a whiskey bottle in hand, Meyers pours Aidan a drink and then drops an elbow. Meyers then pulls Aidan back up to his feet on top of the bar and sets him up for what appears to be a piledriver attempt, however, O’Sheahan is able to block and then counters with a backdrop driver as both men go CRASHING through the bar to the floor below! The crowd roars in approval as the two men lay there in a heap under the broken bar.
Woo: If EWC had any bouncers they would be escorting these two outside as we speak, but it appears as if all of this is perfectly legal!
Brooks: Good news is that there are still three more bars around the ringside, so there are still plenty of drinks to be had. Speaking of which, I got Valentina one of those half coconut drinks with an umbrella.
Gomez: You better not… oh, that is mighty tasty.
O’Sheahan pulls Meyers from the wreckage and rolls his opponent back into the ring, but before Aidan heads back into the ring he grabs himself another bottle of whiskey from the ringside area. Aidan gets back into the ring and goes on the offensive with a series of stomps to the back of L.A Meyers’ head, he follows this up by grabbing one of the White Claw cans brought into the ring earlier and cracking it open standing above his opponent. Returning the favor from before, Aidan pours the drink right down the throat of L.A Meyers laying on his back, however, this doesn’t have the waterboarding effect that Aidan was looking for, instead the arms of L.A Meyers begin to flap crazily. Aidan tries to go for a stomp, but Meyers blocks it and in one motion takes O’Sheahan down and rises to his feet. O’Sheahan gets back up to his feet and unloads with a couple of right hands, but Meyers has no reaction to them, instead he just gets madder and madder looking with each shot. Finally, Meyers, full of that sweet sweet Claw, unloads with a massive right hand which drops O’Sheahan to the mat. Aidan pops back up, but Meyers unloads with another right with the same result. This repeats a couple more times until Meyers tosses O’Sheahan into the corner turnbuckle and does a muscle pose right in front of him.
Woo: That White Claw had an almost Popeye like effect on L.A Meyers who has turned into the proverbial house of fire right now.
Meyers charges into the corner and connects with a running knee which causes Aidan to stumble out of the corner holding his face in serious pain. Meyers from behind hits a running bulldog, slamming Aidan face first into the ring canvas. Meyers hooks the leg as he goes for the pin in the middle of the ring. The referee dives in… 1… 2… THR… NO! KICKOUT!
Brooks: Pep’s gonna need some new shorts! That one was close.
Gomez: You just spoiled this drink for me, with that.
Woo: Meyers not too happy about the count, but he’s getting right back up to his feet. It looks like that running knee strike might have caught Aidan O’Sheahan right in the nose, Aidan’s got blood pouring from that nose.
Meyers pulls Aidan up to his feet and quickly hits a snap suplex. Meyers follows that up with a series of wild punches as he pulls O’Sheahan backup and backs him up against the ropes. Meyers sends Aidan across the ring with an Irish whip, Meyers goes for a clothesline but Aidan is able to duck that attempt on the rebound both Aidan O’Sheahan and L.A Meyers both go for another clothesline and they both connect!! Both men are down in the middle of the ring. Slowly, each man begins to crawl towards the ring ropes, L.A Meyers reaches for the ropes on one side as Aidan O’Sheahan does the same on the other side of the ring. The two pull themselves back up to their feet, pulling their opponents’ favorite drink into one of their hands. Meyers with a fifth of whiskey and O’Sheahan with a can of White Claw turn towards their opponent and just stop.
Woo: We’re having a standoff right here in the middle of the ring, wait… what are they doing?
Gomez: Oh, what the hell?
Meyers and O’Sheahan lift up their drinks in their hands and exchange it with the other guy. With a nod of the head the two men who have battled each other back and forth here for a bit in this crazy match share a drink. The two actually have a drink together right in the middle of the ring. The crowd is in shock, but they haven’t seen anything yet, because Meyers cracks open a second can of White Claw and hands it over to O’Sheahan. In return, Aidan hands over the bottle of whiskey in his hand and the two share another drink. Both men manage to choke down the other’s favorite drink as they grimace the taste at first but then tip the drink to the other.
Woo: I can’t believe what I just saw, these two have just shared a couple of drinks right here in the middle of the ring at Stranglemania in the middle of this insane match.
Brooks: I’ll drink to that!
Gomez: Oh, why the hell not?
But just as soon as the drink is done, the two of them begin to once again unload on each other with a series of rights and lefts. Neither man is willing to back down in the center of the ring, toe to toe and throwing haymakers. Meyers is able to duck under one of the big haymakers and sends himself charging into the ring ropes on the rebound he hits Aidan with a shoulder tackle and then looks around the ring for another White Claw, which there are plenty of, he cracks it open and waits for Aidan to recover once again. This time, however, Meyers connects with a can of the White Claw up the side of the Irishman’s head!! Claw goes flying everywhere and Meyers scoops up O’Sheahan and flings him over his shoulders with a fallaway slam! Meyers gets back up to his feet, but Aidan is able to get his own can of White Claw and as Meyers charges in Aidan crunches the can of Claw right across the bridge of Meyers’ nose!!
Woo: Meyers drops like a house of bricks dead center in the middle of the ring.
Gomez: This is where Aidan O’Sheahan needs to make this pin and finish this match off.
Brooks: Or maybe they should share another drink together.
Aidan does neither of those two options, rather he pulls L.A Meyers up to his feet one more time and charges into the ring ropes as Meyers stands there staggering. Aidan leaps up onto the middle turnbuckle and connects with a springboard wheel kick right to the face of Meyers!! Meyers lands on all fours facing away from O’Sheahan which sets him up perfectly as Aidan gets back up to his feet and charges in, he leaps going for Bloody Revolution but Meyers is able to roll out of the way causing O’Sheahan to give the opposite side ropes a nice buzzsaw kick instead! Aidan stumbles from the pain and L.A Meyers spins himself like a discus and connects with a booming lariat right across the throat of his opponent!!! He hooks the legs of O’Sheahan and the referee counts.. 1… 2… THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall L.A MEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYERS!!
Meyers pulls himself back up to his feet as his music plays out over the arena. With one arm tucked in pain the other is raised by the referee, Meyers rolls to the outside of the ring and begins to pull out cans White Claw that still remain there and he begins to pour some for the fans and for himself as he begins to walk out.
Woo: L.A Meyers pulling off the incredible win in this insane match, he hits Indiana Jones and the Lariat of Boom for the victory and is now celebrating with these fans.
The scene opens on Vivi sitting in a small apartment. It’s a little unclear at first where she is. The walls are just a basic neutral. The furniture doesn’t have a particular aesthetic that would give it away. But then she turns on the TV and you can hear the unmistakable sound of… the German language. Guttural. Kind of angry sounding. Not at all like Romance languages. It sounds… practical. The TV appears to be tuned to the news. Vivi watches intently for a bit… clearly she understands the language enough to react to the words in a genuine way. But then, someone says something and she looks a little disgusted. She turns off the TV, takes a deep breath, lets a shake roll through her body, and then the classic Vivi smile returns to her face as she begins to speak.
Vivi: O-M-Gosh you guys. I wish I could be there with you in L.A. right now. Unfortunately, I’m quarantined here in GERMANY of all places. But I’ll admit… it’s lovely here. I’ve always loved Deutschland. The beer… the food… the people… the geography… it’s all beautiful. But aren’t most places beautiful if you know where to look? I think so. I think there’s almost too much beauty in this world. I think a lot of times there is so much beauty that we have to shield our eyes for a while. We have to turn it off because it makes us jealous. It makes us feel inferior to the world around us because we sometimes view ourselves as so ugly. We don’t think we deserve this world. We take out our own insecurities on the world itself because we are ashamed of how we have treated it for so long. But here we are… trapped in our homes, our apartments, our workplaces… waiting for the world to heal. And it will. But not without devastating loss. Not without feeling the wound scab over and start to become hard again.[/font]
Vivi is still smiling, but her eyes look a little sad.
Vivi:I want to genuinely wish the best to all the competitors at Stranglemania in L.A. right now. I don’t know most of you… but I miss some of you very much. Be well, lovelies. I’ll see you soon.
Vivi waves furiously at the camera and laughs as it fades to black.
The cheers of the Pub Crawl were loud as Kendrick Kross stayed seated in the backstage viewing area for the EWC Superstars to see matches that were off site. Kendrick knew that he had a match that would, at least in his eyes, double or triple the pain and action that Aiden O’Sheahan and L.A Meyers just went through and it was a match that was coming up next.
Kendrick Kross: Oh this match is going to be hell. A four way, falls count anywhere in LA with three solid competitors, one that I have been in the ring with before. This is one match that will shorten my career.
Kendrick definitely wasn’t joking about that when he made that remark. Matches like this they shorten careers, hell some of them could even end it. Kendrick got up and walked out of the viewing area as he passed a few of the techs and staff that were busy trying to make sure the show went on without a hitch. Kendrick had made it about halfway to the steps where he knew he would be walking up soon when he heard his name called by Ace Heart. Kendrick stopped in his tracks and let out a big sigh, clearly not wanting to be interviewed at this time.
Ace quickly made his way up to Kendrick and looked at him as he reached out to shake Kendricks hand, Kendrick hesitantly shook Ace’s as well.
Ace Heart: Kendrick, tonight is a big match for you. This falls count anywhere in Los Angeles match could propel you to next in line for whoever wins this X-Division Championship match. Have you thought any about that?
Kendrick just looked at Ace and stared daggers into his eyes, clearly a question Kendrick didn’t want asked at this point.
Kendrick Kross: Have I thought about that? What do you think, Ace? Are you an idiot? I have thought about winning back that X-Division Championship since I lost it to Stephanie. I haven’t exactly have the best of luck since then, so of course I have thought about that.
Kendrick ran his hand over his face, clearly frustrated and at this point just wanting to get ready to go out for his match. This interview with Ace though wasn’t helping with that or his mood.
Ace Heart: About losing that way back then, just seems you haven’t recovered, do you believe that winning this match tonight will get you back on the right track, and even if you aren’t exactly next in line, do you think you will get there?
Kendrick Kross: Ace, you are an idiot. That question is a stupid question and you just ended this interview, now get out of my way so I can get to my match.
With that Kendrick pushed Ace hard out of the way causing him to stumble back and let Kendrick go on through without a fight.
FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE ... IN LOS ANGELES Kendrick Kross Vs William Manson Vs Mike Strong Vs Jeb Jackson
We return to ringside where (add content here)
Woo: Up next we have what looks to be an insane match up as four men compete with falls counting anywhere in Los Angeles!
Gomez: Anything can happen, Marcus! We've got the likes of Kross and Manson along with a possible alliance between Mike Strong and Jeb Jackson!
Brooks: It's gonna be crazy, folks!
Dobrev: The following is a Falls Count Anywhere match, with the fall counting anywhere in the city of Los Angeles! Joining us first, from Chelsea, London, UK, weighing in at 215 pounds ... KENDRICK KROSS!
The slow picking part of So Cold plays as the lights flash white site with each pick. As the first two words of the lyrics 'Crowded Streets' start the white spotlight shines down on Kendrick who is standing there with his black jeans and black and white Kross T-Shirt and leather jacket. Kendrick walks down, the spotlight gone with the arena lights red and others flashing silver.
Kendrick slowly continues his descent down the ramp ignoring any fans that try to touch him. He just shakes his head at signs that read 'Kendrick Sucks' and other various signs. He reaches the bottom of the ramp and stops as he lets a small smirk out and he takes a breath. He closes his eyes before opening them and walking forward taking a left towards the steps. He hops over the top rope and onto the second turnbuckle looking out into the crowd before jumping down and walking to his corner.
Dobrev: Introducing next, from London, England, weighing in at 238 pounds ... WILLIAM MANSON!
Pyros hit and Monster by Skillet begins to play, smoke begins to fill the stage and through the smoke a silhouette appears. Slowly Manson begins to walk through the smoke, his dead pan stare focused on the ring. He bears his teeth and claws his hands down his face. The then bursts down the entrance ramp, sliding into the ring teeth still beared and clenched this time towards the crowd. He stands as if nothing has happened and faces the curtain/his opponent.
Dobrev: Introducing next, from Cleveland, Ohio, weighing in at 265 pounds ... MIKE STRONG!
The lights dim and the crowd grows silent. The sound of rivets tightening and metal grinding echoes through the arena. Then a slow beat of a drum begins to hit. The crowd claps along with the beat as a guitar strums, "Ironman" by Black Sabbath begins to play. The very familiar guitar sound as the lights begin to flash and spin it around the building, gold and white strobes flash atop the stage, as the words "STRONG" emblazoned on the tron as Mike Strong makes his way onto the ramp.
The song continues to play as Mike Strong begins the long walk down the ramp, taking in all of the excitement of the crowd as he marches down toward the ring. As he round the corner he high fives a few fans in the front row and scales the steel steps. Walking along the apron he turns around to look at the crowd, letting it all to soak in once more. Wiping his feet off on the apron he kicks his foot over the middle rope and climbs into the ring. Making his way across the ring and scales the turnbuckle throwing his hand into the air to a roar from the crowd.
Dobrev: And last but not least, from Walker County, Texas, weighing in at 238 pounds ... JEB JACKSON!
The guitar hits the speakers and the lights flicker and dance to the strums and beat. The voice echos through the stadium and the electricity is felt in the room by every fan in attendance.
Jeb Jackson walks from out behind the curtain and stands at the top of the ramp. He looks out into the crowd before him. He looks left and then he looks right. He lifts his arm into the air and a flash and a bang explode behind him. He then walks down the ramp in a very slow and leisurely manner. He slaps the hands of the fans as he walks past, his faces remain emotionless as his eyes are focused only on the ring.
At the foot of the ring he breaks his gaze from the squared circle, gets down on one knee and looks up to the heavens, he mouths a few words and then stands back up and slides under the bottom rope.
He removes his leather jacket and the chain attached to his jeans and hands it to the referee.
DING DING DING
From the opening bell, the four men pair up as Kross and Jackson exchange lefts and rights at the same time as Manson and Strong. Jackson turns things around on Kross with a massive clothesline as Strong catches Manson across the jaw with a European uppercut. Jackson goes to work on the legs of Kross, looking to lock in a Texas Cloverleaf on the former X-Division Champion as Strong sends Manson into the corner with an exploder suplex.
Kross manages to escape the hold before Jackson can cinch it in, getting back to his feet before unloading a flurry of offense that culminates in a step-up enziguri. Meanwhile, Manson is fighting back with some hard strikes on Strong before connecting with a dropkick that sends Strong out of the ring! Kross and Manson have now turned their attention toward each other, exchanging lefts and rights until Jackson drops them both with a clothesline that props them up against the ropes...and connects with another one, sending all three men outside to join Strong on the floor!
Woo: Wow, what an impact! This match has quickly spilled outside the ring, easily setting the tone for what's to come by the looks of it.
Gomez: Jackson and Strong seem to have employed a strategy of divide and conquer, smart move if you ask me.
Brooks: Just a matter of seeing what happens when they face each other. It's every man for himself, after all!
All four men start brawling on the outside, with Jackson and Strong now more noticeably focusing on the other half of the match as Strong whips Kross into the barricade, while Jackson goes for a big boot on Manson...but Manson dodges it, and Jackson gets caught by the leg on the barricade! Manson uses the opening to grab Jackson by the head, driving him down to the padded floor with a reverse DDT. Meanwhile, Strong refuses to let Kross get back to his feet, stomping away at him before Kross catches the foot, tripping Strong up.
Woo: This match is just getting more and more out of hand! They're starting to brawl up the ramp now, folks!
Gomez: Looks like they're taking this anywhere in Los Angeles after all!
Brooks: I love LA!
Sure enough, the action can no longer be contained within the Coliseum as the four men continue brawling, eventually making their way up and out through the back with the ref and a cameraman giving chase!
Woo: Well folks, it looks like this one's spilling out onto the streets of LA! We're gonna get back to the action shortly, after a new ref comes out here to officiate the next match!
Camera cuts to ...
We open up backstage where we see Joseph Hall, fully dressed after his match earlier in the night, relaxing in front of a mounted television on the wall, with a beer in one hand, an ice pack pressed to his neck in the other, and his feet up on a table. The camera approaches him as Ace Heart appears from off screen.
Ace Heart: Hey Joseph! Could we get some thoughts about the show so far and about your match with Bosa earlier?
Joseph is clearly caught off guard and almost tips over his chair as he rushes to his feet and drops the ice pack on the table.
Joseph Hall: Uh, yeah, sure. No problem.
He takes a sip of his beer and places it down on the table as Ace speaks.
Ace Heart: Well, to begin with, I just wanted to ask how your first taste of Stranglemania has been so far; have you enjoyed your experience up to now?
Joseph Hall: It’s been incredible so far. The noise, the lights, the pyro, the matches... I mean, everything about it so far has left me in awe. I’m completely humbled by the spectacle and enamoured by the incredible effort the other superstars have put in so far. I feel very lucky to be here today, Ace, and that’s not the beer talking. Well, not that much anyway.
Ace Heart: I’m pleased to hear that, Joseph, but I’d like to take you back to earlier tonight when you won what was a hard-hitting contest against Bosa. Do you have words for the Samoan Warrior after meeting him in the ring?
Joseph Hall: I absolutely do. Bosa, I just want to thank you for what might have been the biggest match of my career so far and for pushing me to the limit. I know things were said in the build-up but I hope there’s no animosity on your end because there certainly isn’t on mine. Best of luck for the future and I look forward to the potential of our paths crossing again one day.
Ace Heart: And so, with this huge win, where do you see your future lying?
Joseph Hall: It continues with a quick trip to PRIME in Tampa where I’ll be facing Jordan Sharpe - a match I’m excited for and look forward to seeing how we’ll match up. After that? Back to FSW and wherever we’re headed next before Uprising. Specifically, though, I’m looking for matches with the likes of Killjoy Ito, Candy, another shot at Mercenary, and Stitches regardless of whatever happens in the FSW title match tonight. I want to continue testing myself against the very best in EWC, as I did here tonight and will later this week, and those guys are right there among them.
Ace Heart: Thank you very much for your time, Joseph, and I wish you the best.
They nod and part ways as Joseph turns to sit down but they both stop in their tracks as they hear clapping. The camera pulls out to show ‘The Prodigal Son’ Buddy Love clapping, Killjoy Ito standing next to him.
Buddy Love: Let me be the SECOND to congratulate you Joseph…
Buddy motions to Ace, who looks at him with some reservation.
Bubby Love: No Ace, I’m serious, congratulations Joseph on an outstanding win here tonight over a man who let’s face it, Brawl is trying to strap a rocket to, anytime one of us ‘future’ stars can knock off a main roster star, well it even gets praise from me.
Buddy smiles.
Buddy Love: Tonight WE are one brand, the FSW so any win is a win for ALL OF US so we were rooting for you Joseph...no it’s true, we were pulling for you as we will be at Prime #63 when you face off with our nemesis Jordan Sharpe and if there is anything you need, a scouting report you just give old Buddy a call and I’d be happy to help...however...
Buddy’s smile slowly disappears from his face.
Buddy Love: At FSW #95 we go back to looking out for our own interests and our main interest is that FSW Championship and it isn’t lost on us that you Joseph are right behind us as the #4 Contender so for your request to have matches against the likes of Killjoy, Candy, another shot at Mercenary and Stitches it’s only a matter of time for you...that your path crosses ours but that’s for another night...have a few more beers and celebrate tonight’s win over Bosa but understand Killjoy is another level above Bosa but like I said, that’s for another night. So congrats Joseph and best of luck against Jordan Sharpe.
Buddy smirks as Killjoy looks at Joseph and nods, extends his fist towards Joseph who looks at it. After a moment’s pause he reciprocates with a fist bump and a nod of his own.
Joseph Hall: Appreciate it.
Joseph watches the pair leave, then picks up his beer and takes another sip as we return to the action.
The Faithful Army can be seen standing outside of the LA Memorial Coliseum earlier in the day. Of course, they are all standing the appropriate distance apart and Faith Rivers is the central point as they all face the camera. After another moment, their leader begins to speak. Faith: It’s been a long three months. But tonight’s the night I finally bring back the Television Championship to my Faithful Army.
She is sounding pretty confident about that. Faith: Lavender might not want to believe that. However she’ll have no choice but to accept the truth after I end our match on a Faithful note and she’s left laying on her back as I’m awarded the belt back.
Faith nods. Faith: She can remain in denial all she wants...but the moment will be here before she knows it. Don’t say I didn’t warn her!
Faith gives the camera a small smirk before turning and walking for the entrance. At the door her second in command, AC Thunder, is there. He opens the door for her and together they enter holding hands.
EWC TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP PINFALL ONLY Faith Rivers Vs Lavender
We return to ringside where we see the commentary team
Woo: The EWC TV Title is on the line next as the current TV Champion, Lavender defends against a former TV Champion in Faith Rivers in a Pinfall Only Match.
Gomez: That it? A Pinfall only? Seems a bit weak.
Brooks: You're not looking close enough. Pinfall Only. This match has one rule. All the rest are out of the window. This is going to be a fight!
As the song begins to play throughout the arena, we hear the opening lyrics.
By now, Faith Rivers has made her way out from the back and is pumping up the crowd to her song as she makes her way down the aisle.
Dobrev: Making her way to the ring from Miami, Florida, weighing in at 135 pounds... give it up for the challenger ... FAAAITH RIIIVERSSS!
After sliding in under the bottom rope, Faith gets to her feet and continues to work the crowd as she walks to the center of the ring where she holds each of her arms out to the side and spins in a circle. As she does this, pyros go off in each corner. From there, Faith retreats to her side of the ring and waits for the match to begin.
Dobrev: And her opponent, from Parts Unknown, weighing in at 132 pounds she is the EWC Television Champion... LAVENDER!
The lights go out as 'Imaginary' by Evanescence begins to play. The lights flash in time to the guitar riff. The song kicks into its first verse as smoke billows from behind the curtains and a spotlight shined down upon the center of the stage. When the chorus kicks in the lights come back on 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. As Lavender reaches ringside she walks over to the steel steps, walks up them and enters the ring before climbing the nearest turnbuckle and holding her arms up high in the air. Lavender steps down from the turnbuckle and waits for the match to commence.
DING DING DING
No sooner has the bell rang but Faith charges at Lavender hitting a Spear. As Lavender picks herself to her feet, Faith charges at her for a Bulldog but Lavender is able to block it and pushes Faith off the ropes. Lavender tries for a tilt a whirl something but Faith slips out of it. Lavender charges at Faith as she leans on the ropes but Faith sees her coming and is able to toss Lavender over the top rope and to the outside. Faith then Moonsaults over the top rope crashing down on Lavender at ringside. Faith charges at Lavender looking for a DDT but Lavender is able to Back Drop Faith onto the floor Lavender lifts Faith looking for a Michinoku driver but Faith slips out over Lavender's shoulder before pushing her into the ringside barrier. Faith pulls a chair from under the ring. Before she's able to do any damage with it, Lavender boots it into Faith's face before Suplexing Faith spine first onto the chair. Lavender picks Faith up off the floor and rolls her back into the ring before pulling a table from under the ring and slides that then herself into the ring
Woo: The weapons being brought into this one early.
Gomez: I love it! This is a great match just as I told you all it would be.
Brooks: Only after it was pointed out to you!
Lavender leans the table in the corner just as Faith smashes forearms into her shoulder blades before grabbing her by the hair and throwing Lavender into the opposite corner. Faith thrusts her shoulder into Lavender's midsection before lifting Lavender onto the top turnbuckle. Faith climbs up and attempts a Superplex but Lavender counters with a Back Drop to the outside of the ring. Faith grabs at the ropes in a bid to slow her momentum but she still lands face first on the ringside floor. Lavender slips down off the turnbuckle and outside of the ring. As Lavender picks Faith up off the floor, we can see blood. It's unsure if it is coming from Faith's mouth or nose. Lavender is taken aback by the sight of the blood just enough to allow Faith to spin Lavender around before hitting a Bulldog. Faith drags Lavender to her feet before throwing her back first into the ring apron. Faith Chops at Lavender's chest before grabbing her and throwing her face first into the turnbuckle pole. At the last second, Lavender is able to counter and it's Faith that hits the pole before crumpling to the ground.
Woo: That looked like it hurt
Gomez: There's a reason for that, it did. It would have been painful enough before the blood started flowing out of her face. I wonder if she's lost a tooth.
Brooks: Don't let me stop you if you want to look for it.
Lavender goes to lift Faith to her feet but is met with a smack from a kendo stick. Lavender is dazed by it and rolls into the ring away from it. Faith slips into the ring and smacks Lavender in the ribs with the kendo stick followed by another several shots almost breaking the kendo stick. Faith grabs at Lavender and uses the kendo stick to pull Lavender to her feet before hitting a kendo stick assisted Russian Leg Sweep. Job done, Faith tosses the kendo stick to the outside and makes a cover.
1 . . . .
2 . . .
Kick Out!
Faith swears loudly in frustration before running her hand over her face and then through her hair giving it a slighly red hue. Faith exits the ring looking for the kendo stick. She finds it and picks it up before turning round to see Lavender right behind her. Lavender grabs a bottle of cola from a fan in the front row. She takes a mouthful of it and throws the rest into Faith's face. Temporary blinded, Faith doesn't see Lavender hit the Clothesline that sends her over the ringside barrier and to the concrete floor. Lavender follows and they brawl through the mass of fans where Lavender grabs the purse from a woman in the crowd and smacks Faith with it. The referee grabs the purse and returns it to the owner before yelling at Lavender to get back into the ring. This distraction allows Faith to grab the nachos from a fan and throw them, cheese and all, at Lavender before charging at Lavender with a spear. Faith gets to her feet and lets out some primal scream before scraping Lavender up, dragging her back to the barrier and tossing her over. Lavender uses the steel ringside steps to pull herself to her feet only to be smacked in the face by a program by Faith before she hands it to a fan at ringside. Faith throws Lavender into the ring before grabbing the chair from earlier and sliding in the ring herself.
Woo: What a match this has been! Faith Rivers has gone from bloody mess to the one in control.
Gomez: The trick is staying in control. Rivers of blood could still lose this match if she's not careful.
Brooks: What a defeatist attitude.
In the ring, Faith leans Lavender against the table in the corner upside down in a tree of woe style before placing the chair on Lavender's face before walking to the opposite corner. Faith runs looking for a Baseball Slide. At the last second, Lavender gabs the chair in one hand and the rope in the other and pulls herself out of danger. Faith hits nothing but the table which, instead of breaking, falls on top of Faith. Lavender takes the chair and smacks it against the fallen table and, by extension, Faith under it. Lavender then drags Faith from under it and makes the cover.
1 . . . .
2 . . .
KICK OUT!
Lavender runs her hands through her hair as she contemplates her next move. She rolls out of the ring and grabs the TV Title but just sits it in the corner under the turnbuckles. Back in the ring, Lavender watches Faith use the ropes to pull herself to her feet before going for a DDT that Faith counters with an Inverted Atomic Drop and a Clothesline. With Lavender down, Faith takes hold of her legs and hits Lavender with a Rivers End before rolling her over and making a cover.
1 . . . .
2 . . . .
KICK OUT!
Woo: Almost but not quite for Faith Rivers there. Momentum turning on a dime here!
Gomez: Any more cliches you want to use?
Brooks: Any more complaining you want to do?
Frustrated, Faith runs her hands through her hair almost pulling at it. She gets to her feet before dragging Lavender to her feet. Faith goes for a Suplex but it's blocked by a simple punch to the ribs that drops Faith to her knees. With Faith down, Lavender sets up the table. Lavender reaches into her attire and pulls out a nacho that she holds up in the air for the crowd's amusement. It's all the time that Faith needs to hit a Faithfull through the table. The referee counts.
1 . . . .
2 . . . .
3!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via pinfall and the NEW EWC Television Champion, FAITH RIVERS!
Tears of joy start to flow for Faith as the referee hands her the title that Faith holds in the air before walking over to a camera in the corner and yelling down it "I have literally given my blood, my sweat and now my tears for this!". Lavender simply rolls out of the ring and, aided by the referee, heads up the isle.
Woo: What a match that was! Both women gave it everything!
Gomez: Bet that's the last time Lavender eats nachos.
Brooks: Faith be like 'this is my title, nachos'
Woo: While everyone else groans at that one, this match was a war but there's a Last Person Standing Match up next, can Phoenix rise to this one?
Camera cuts to ...
In the backstage parking lot, we see an ambulance making its way inside. Suddenly, EMTs wheeling a stretcher enter the picture. On the stretcher lies Jonty Kelly, unconscious and looking heavily beaten. The EMTs wait as the ambulance backs up to where they are positioned.As they are waiting, Quinn Collins emerges from the backstage area as she walks to her car. She notices the EMTS with the stretcher and walks over. Once there, she sees it's Jonty that's the one on the stretcher.
Collins: What happened to him?
EMT: We're not exactly sure but someone found him unconscious in his locker room and we responded. Looks like he was attacked by someone and quite severely. Wouldn't be surprised if there is some internal bleeding and we think one of his knees was targeted in the attack.
Collins: Is that so? Well, how very....unfortunate
EMT: He's not in a great way but it could've been a lot worse...hey, what's with the smile?
Collins: Never you mind, you just focus on poor old Jonty. After all, it would be such a shame if this meant he'd be out of action...
Quinn continues to smile as she walks off, as the EMTs begin loading Jonty into the ambulance. The ambulance pulls away to take Jonty to the nearest medical facility, when suddenly... the four men from the Falls Count Anywhere match are now brawling there! Strong and Jackson continue their allied assault against Kross and Manson, slamming their opponents against cars in the lot! Kross is able to fend off Jackson, but Manson falls prey to the Iron Lung by Strong! The ref checks on Manson, who's out cold as the ref calls the match off!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via submission MIKE STRONG!
The ref raises Strong's arm in victory as we return to commentary.
Woo: A crazy match that heated up fast before spilling out to the parking lot, and it's Mike Strong who picks up the victory!
Gomez: And all after some wise teaming with Jeb Jackson, mind you! I can tell we're gonna see a new threat to the tag team division soon enough!
Brooks: Tag teams are back again!
Woo: In just a moment we're gonna come on back to ringside as Iggy Swango and Phoenix Winterborn face off in a Last Person Standing Match!
As the cameras go backstage, we arrive in the medical office, where we see a doctor busy at work putting the final touches on fixing the battered face of Aidan O'Sheahan. Every once in a while the Irishman winces as the doctor cleans the numerous small cuts he suffered during his hellacious pub crawl brawl against L.A. Meyers.
Heart: Aidan, after a tough loss you look worse for wear after that brutal match against L.A. Meyers, how are you feeling?
Giving the interviewer a sideways glance, Aidan gestures the doctor to leave for just a minute...
O'Sheahan: You know, I would've liked it better if it was Lisa Goldrush on the microphone, mate.
Getting to a standing base, Aidan was sure to grab a glass of whisky from the table and put it to his lips.
Heart: I'm afraid you'll have to settle for me, at least until you are back on FSW next month!
The remark from the interviewer fell on deaf ears, Aidan taking a sip and sighing, part exhaustion and part frustration.
O'Sheahan: How do you think I feel, Ace? I feel like someone smashed me on the head with a bottle, a can, and launched his knee into my face. I feel like shit, but you know what, I've taken harder beatings.
Heart: You mentioned earlier in the week that you had planned this all out, that there was never any real issues with L.A. Meyers. Surely after a match you two had earlier, you might have a different opinion of Meyers?
O'Sheahan: Not really mate, he was a knacker before the match, he's still a knacker now. If he wants to have another round, i'll happily treat him to one, but I got bigger plans.
Heart: But don't you have a little bit of regret for sparking the ire of Meyers, because well, like you said, the match did neither of you favours and you both are very much worse for wear...
Letting out a laugh, Aidan tipped the rest of the glass into his mouth.
O'Sheahan: Listen, mate. I know you like to stir some shit, but I don't regret my actions or my words. I might've lost the match, but high risks come with high rewards. I took Meyers' best shots, an' yeah, he managed to get me hard enough to keep me down long enough. But in the end I got what I wanted, I got what I walked in for, I just had a match on Strangle-bloody-mania, everyone's eyes were on me as I showed who Aidan O'Sheahan was for millions watching at home and the packed attendance.
Meyers was the better man tonight, I'm man enough to admit that. But don't think if we face off again that'll happen a second time.
Moving into Ace Heart's private space, he pulled the microphone towards him as he stared into the camera.
O'Sheahan: If you hadn't figured yet, I'm prepared to do anything to get noticed, win or lose, it don't bloody matter as long as people know my name. And all this, this was all but a start, a taste for what is to come. If you think getting my arse kicked will make me afraid of starting more shit, you don't bloody know me well enough. All I care for is people knowing my name, and tonight was a damn good start of putting myself in the spotlights...
This is just the start, Meyers was my first step, it might've not been the best result, but I know that I'm the best damn wrestler on FSW if not the entire EWC. I'll take what I want to take, and if they don't want to give me the chances, I'll go up and make sure they can't refuse me. They can break my nose, they can bash my skull in, they can hurt me all they want, but i'll keep getting back up and asking for seconds, because they can't keep me down, they can't stop Aidan O'Sheahan. They can't prevent me from becoming the best, even if it means being the most hated man in this company.
Patting Ace on the shoulder, Aidan smiled again, his face bruised and battered making him look all the more messed up, both physically and mentally.
O'Sheahan: Keep your eyes peeled lads, because the match with Meyers was only the dress rehearsal. And I'm coming for the main event...
Pushing the interviewer aside, Aidan grabbed a bottle of whisky that had been standing in the middle of medical equipment. And with that having said what he wanted to say, he walks out of frame.
LAST PERSON STANDING Iggy Swango Vs Phoenix Winterborn
The crowd cheers as the camera spans across the masses towards Dobrev....
Dobrev: The following match is a Last Person Standing match! Joining us first, from San Francisco, CA, weighing in at 145 pounds... Iggy Swango!
The lights dim low before strobing between red and the pitch blackness of the arena. Just as the loud guitar riffs echo throughout the arena the lights starts pulsing red and Iggy Swango emerges from behind the curtain as smog engulfs her. Slung across her shoulder is her tag team title. She stands at the top of the stage for a few moments as she nods her head to the rhythm of the music. Iggy starts bouncing on the stage and rocking out with an air bass playing along with the music before making her way down the ramp. She throws the devil horns with her hands as Red and Black confetti streamers come raining down from above on her way down to the ring. Iggy rolls under the bottom rope and pops up on her knees in the middle of the ring. She slowly stands her to her feet before raising her hands into the air once more.
Dobrev: And her opponent, from CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, weighing in at 228 pounds ... Phoenix Winterborn!
Pyros hit as the opening to "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk begins to play, as Phoenix steps out onto the stage, his head dipped down for the opening guitar riffs, and his hood pulled up on his head. Upon the high guitar, Phoenix stands straight up, throwing the hood back and revealing himself to the crowd to a round of cheers. Making his way down the ramp, his arms are outstretched as he walks backwards, taking in the moment before sliding face up into the ring to run of the opposite corner, and climb onto the second rope, slapping his chest to get the crowd fired up while his music slowly fades out.
Woo: Here we go guys, The Last Person Standing match should be a good one between the charismatic Iggy Swango and The American Tradition Phoenix Winterborn!
Gomez: The American Tradition? You'd think he would be Ultraviolent Phoenix for this match, would suit him better. Wait a second, why is the referee checking them for weapons? How stupid is he anyway? It's a Last Person Standing Match, they can do whatever they want to get their opponent to stay down for ten seconds! Dummy!
Brooks: Well I would guess he just needs this one to start off fairly from the bell, then they can pull out the whips, chains and handcuffs.
Gomez: Whoa, I guess one of us can't get his last weekend adventures out of his head!
Woo: Ha! Ha! Well, we're about to start off our less sticky adventure here as the referee is about to signal the start of the match!
DING DING DING
Iggy and Phoenix use caution as they circle each other in the center of the ring, they get into a collar and elbow tie up, Phoenix easily pushes her down then drops an elbow. He grabs her in a hard headlock on the canvas. Iggy fights and claws to get them to a standing position, she pulls them to the ropes and irish whips him to the far ropes, she jumps with a spinning kick that he ducks and hits the near ropes, Phoenix swings with a fast spinning back fist that Swango quickly ducks but hooks one of his arms, spins around for a crucifix pin, the ref doesn't count as Winterborn kicks out anyway. Iggy grabs him by the hair and smashes him with a hard headbutt then a snap suplex! Phoenix rolls out of the ring to recover as Iggy runs up to the second turnbuckle to rile up the crowds.
Woo: A quick start to this match, we even had an unintentional looking pin attempt, was pure instinct from my vantage point.
Gomez: Well, from MY vantage point it looked like Iggy Swango had a long brain fart and forgot that this was a Last Person Standing match, like the referee Whatshisface there earlier, checking them for illegal objects. Am I the only smart human in the building tonight?
Brooks: I think this is going to come down to who is more creative, who will be the one who outsmarts their opponent for that ten count? Looks like Iggy is following up on Phoenix for some action outside the ring now!
Iggy nails Phoenix with a leg hook german suplex right on the padded mats on the outside of the ring, the referee jumps through the ropes and watches the action nearby. Iggy picks up Phoenix then gives him a hard irish whip into the corner section where the barricade turns, he hits it hard then is dropkicked by her to his butt. Iggy jumps up, then runs away, turns and runs back for her trademark hip attack right to his face! The ref starts counting...
1... 2... 3... 4... 5...
Phoenix starts grabbing at the top of the barricade to get up...
6... 7...
He makes it to his feet but Iggy clotheslines him right over the barricade into the crowds! The crowds cheer as he falls into them, they move out of the way. Iggy balances herself on top of the barricade and jumps, CRACK she is nailed in the face with a folded steel chair by Phoenix! He staggers around with a slightly mad expression on his face, like he has nothing but evil intentions now,he uses the same chair to set it back up in a seated position, he pretends to throw a punch at her but she ducks, he quickly grabs her head and DDT's her right on the seated steel chair!
1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5.... 6.... Iggy scrambles and starts climbing over the chair... 7.... 8....
She makes it to her feet but Phoenix nails her with a feint superkick, sending her falling right over an old man, spilling his beer everywhere. Phoenix celebrates for a moment as the ref tries to look past the crowds, not knowing if he should start counting or not.
Woo: When the action spills into the crowds like this its a difficult job for him to find her in that mess of people.
Gomez: Well if he was any GOOD he'd be in a better position there to end this match. I'd be on number seven by now, how hard is it to count numbers?
Brooks: I think we're missing the bigger picture here, that old man just lost eight dollars worth of beer on the floor, can we get a replay of that?
Phoenix irish whips Iggy over the barricade and back to ringside. He runs and jumps, springboarding off of the barricade into a long distance leg drop! The crowds applause that move as he whips up the ring skirt and starts looking for objects, he hauls out a table that gets another reaction from the fans, he searches again, he hauls out a ladder, he searches again and finds a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire! He hauls up Iggy by her hair with his free hand then slams her off of the steel ring post, he then slams her head into it again, she hugs the post looking knocked out but still standing up. Phoenix finds a little squirt bottle nearby and squirts liquid over the barbed wire portion of his bat, then lights it! He holds the flaming bat high as the crowds reply in kind, he runs and swings....but Iggy drops at the last second and rolls away! The bat explodes off of the steel ring post sending sparks and fire everywhere. Iggy runs and dropkicks Phoenix but he catches her in mid air and powerbombs her right on the steel steps! She screams in pain, he sets up a table then picks her up and signals the end of the match to everyone, he slides her on the table then he grabs the ladder and climbs in the ring, he positions the ladder close to the ropes then climbs to the very top, facing away from her on the table way down at ringside...
Woo: No way....! He's not doing what I think he's doing!
Phoenix jumps high with a Flight of the Phoenix inverted 450 splash all the way over the ropes and down, right through Iggy and the table at ringside! The crowds explode at the carnage!
Woo:Flight of the Phoenix! Flight of the Phoenix twenty feet down through the table!! Unbelievable!
Phoenix staggers around holding his back, he points at the ref then Iggy, who is inside the destroyed pieces of table.
1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... Iggy still hasn't moved as Phoenix is holding both his fists in the air signalling victory.... 8... 9...
THE LIGHTS GO OUT!!
Gomez: What?! I knew it! They couldn't afford the electric bill for this huge place!
Brooks: Something is up here, stop grabbing my arm Gomez!
Gomez: You wish creep!
THE LIGHTS TURN BACK ON! The crowds erupt as Iggy and Phoenix are both up on their feet. They explode into each other and begin to brawl! Iggy ducks a punch from Phoenix... spinning roundhouse kick!
Woo: Can you believe this madness!? She's going to steal this one here!
The referee starts counting..
1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8... 9...
THE LIGHTS GO OUT!
Gomez: Can we get SOMEBODY, ANYBODY to stand by the light switch, like maybe a security guard or an attack dog!? I can't see two feet in front of my face!
Woo: That might be a blessing for everybody Gomez, but seriously, what is going on this time?!
THE LIGHTS TURN ON! Phoenix is back up and has Iggy in a headlock! Phoenix rips her backwards into a snapdragon suplex. Iggy no sells it and pops up to her feet. Iggy pulls Phoenix into a snap DDT! Phoenix pops up and he and Iggy are brawling again!!! Phoenix catches Iggy with a quick spinning backfist, but Iggy spins it into another roundhouse kick! Phoenix falls backwards but drops on the ropes. Phoenix rebounds off into another spinning backfist followed by a headlock driver! Iggy's head crashes into the canvas. It's The Light Of The Apocalypse!
1...
2...
3...
4...
5...
6...
7...
Iggy moves her arm....but that's it...
8...
9...
She half sits up, but sees that its too late...
10!!!!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: The Winner and the LAST PERSON STANDING... Phoenix Winterborn!
Phoenix celebrates on the second rope while nearby Iggy rolls out of the ring and is held up by medical staff as the crowds applaud both wrestlers.
Woo: Well we really had some possible wild shenanigans here in this match, I wasn't expecting the lights to go out once, let alone twice in the same match! Look at this replay of that inverted 450 off of the ladder, my god what a moment there!
Gomez: Would've been nice if grabby hands Brooks here kept his claws to himself when the lights were off but I have to hand it to both wrestlers, they kept it interesting throughout and congratulations are in order to.....ME! Wasn't I simply amazing on commentary?!
Brooks: What a match guys, and it really didn't need any whips, chains or handcuffs! Ha ha ha!
EWC / FSW NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP SPIN THE WHEEL, MAKE THE DEAL Darlene Vs Wes Walker
We cut backstage to see FSW GM Chris Brock standing next to a prize wheel, similar to what you would see on a game show. It's has various match stipulations on it. The camera pans out to show Wes Walker on the left of Brock and Darlene on the right. Brock lets a moment of silence go by before addressing the champ and challenger.
Brock: Wes, Darlene, you both know why we're here right now. This match is a spin the wheel, make the deal match. You both have submitted stipulations that you wanted for this match and I have put them all on the wheel here. I am going to spin the wheel and whatever it lands on, that's what type of match you are going to go out and have. Agreed?
Brock looks to Darlene, who has a death stare on her opponent as she nods her head in agreement. Brock looks to Wes, the North American title draped over his shoulder as he nods. Brock gives the wheel a spin. It spins hard and fast as the "click, click, click, click" of the marker is the only sound heard. After about five seconds though, the plastic marker breaks just as the wheel was starting to slow down. there is now a crack right up the middle of the marker as it comes to a stop. Half of the marker lands on "Hell in a Cell" and the other half lands on "Ladder Match"
Woo: Well now what are we going to do? The marker broke!
Gomez: Hell if I know!
Brock looks at the wheel a moment, then glances to both competitors.
Brock: Ok, here's what we are going to do. It's not fair for me to pick one and it's not fair to NOT give the people what they came for. The wheel spoke and here's the deal: The North American title will be defended in a Hell in a Cell Ladder Match!
Darlene cackles as a greasy smiles comes across her face. Wes has no emotion.
Brock: Get too it. This is going to be good!
We return to ringside where the crowd is watching the four sides of a cage structure being connected.
Woo: So an interesting turn of events as we spun the wheel to make the deal. A Hell in a Cell Ladder Match will decide the North American Championship. I’m not sure how the EWC techs are going to pull this off but stranger things have happened before.
Many techs scramble up the sides and roll out the fencing to complete half of the top of the cell
Gomez: The damn pointer thing broke and now we have something Completely Loco y Peligroso… Me Encanta, Woo, I love it!
The second half of the top is added and connected, but not before the North American Title is hung from the top, approximately 16 feet above the ring, 4 feet below the top of the cage.
Brooks: I’m crazy about it too, Woo.
Woo: Before we go to ringside let's check back in with EWC FIGHTER TALK... Lot's of talk about FSW tonight. Sebastian Connor talking about how impressive L.A. Meyers was, Joseph Hall giving the Orange brand props and apparently I started a drinking game during the last match! Let's head to the ring!
Dobrev: The following match is a Hell in a Cell Ladder Match for the North American Championship. Joining us first, from the Southside of Chicago, Illinois, weighing in at 125 pounds ... THIS IS DARLENE!
"Detox" by Strapping Young Lad plays as Darlene walks out. She looks around and stares down a fan. She smiles maniacally and kicks at the barricade then walks down the aisle way. Darlene looks towards the cell and laughs slightly, grabbing the fencing and shaking it. She steps through the inward-moving door then up into the ring. She screams out at the crowd who boo her loudly.
Dobrev: And her opponent, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, weighing in at 185 pounds … The EWC North American Champion WES WALKER!
Pyros hit and "Perfection Through Silence" by Finch begins to play, Wes Walker comes from behind the curtain. He raises one hand in the air and the crowd goes wild. He bows his head and takes in the cheers. Wes walks down the aisle into the ring. He looks up at the North American Title hanging from the cage then looks at Darlene. She motions towards him as he walks through the doorway. Senior Referee Toyo Yasahiro pulls the cage door closed then locks the door closed with a padlock and chain.
Woo: It’s a clash of styles between Darlene and Wes Walker. It’s a scramble of two gimmick matches made by the wheel as we go for the first time inside the Hell In a Cell with a Ladder Match
DING DING DING
Woo: And we’re underway!
Wes starts to slide into the ring and Darlene charges towards him. Wes backs out as Darlene motions towards him. Wes starts to circle around the ring as Darlene paces intently, keeping an eye on the Champion. Wes tries to slide in again but Darlene stomps towards him. He backs away again and circles toward the far side of the cage. Darlene slides out of the ring as Wes slides in. Darlene smacks the cage as Wes runs to the far ropes. She climbs up on the apron and Wes hits a running single leg drop kick, knocking Darlene off the apron and into the cage. The crowd pops as Darlene holds the back of her head. Wes pumps up the crowd and runs to the far ropes again. Darlene pulls herself up with the cage. Wes leaps over to the ropes and lands a splash, sending Darlene backwards, sandwiching her between Wes and the cage.
Woo: The Champion is on his game right now, keeping things Fast and Furious with two high impact moves.
Gomez:Papi Woo trying to drop an outdated Pop Culture Reference out here, Pep.
Brooks: I could go for a Grape Pop myself, Val.
Wes looks at the fallen Darlene then up at the North American Title. He reaches under the ring and pulls out a ten foot ladder. The crowd pops as he slides it into the ring. Darlene starts to stir as Wes slides in behind the ladder. He gets to his feet then sets up the ladder. He moves the ladder, setting it under the title, his back to Darlene. Darlene crawls into the ring then charges Wes, hitting him with a shoulder block to the back. Wes caroms into the standing ladder, staggering himself. The ladder falls, bounces off the top rope and hits Wes in the face on the rebound. The crowd groans as Wes falls backwards, the ladder falling on top of him. Darlene laughs out then stomps on the ladder, slamming it onto the chest of the Champion.
Gomez: The challenger is letting her wild side out, punishing the champ.
Brooks: Darlene can get some cash in West Hollywood for that Stomping.
Woo: I don’t even want to know how you know that, Pepper.
Darlene pulls the ladder off of Wes then slides out of the ring. She looks under the ring and pulls out a chair. She chucks the chair over the top rope, hitting Wes as he rolled to his chest. The crowd boos as Darlene celebrates her accuracy. She pulls out another ten foot ladder and leans it against the cage. She then slides into the ring, pulling up Wes to his feet. Darlene rakes the eyes then lands a kick to the gut. She drives her shoulder into Walker;s stomach then runs him into the turnbuckle. She drives three shoulder blocks into his gut then slides him against the ropes. She flips off Wes then runs to the far ropes. Running back at Wes, she hits a Cactus Clothesline, sending both of them over the top rope. Darlene lands on the apron as Wes lands awkwardly on the leaning ladder. The crowd boos as Darlene laughs loudly, slamming her hand repeatedly on the apron in excitement.
Brooks: Ouchtown Bro!
Woo: Pepper with the Trademark Commentary.
Gomez:La Chacal is in her element right now. Poor Wes is gonna be just Poor if this keeps up. Viva La Chacal!
Darlene scrambles up to the top rope. She looks backwards at Wes then leaps off, cackling like a Jackal. She lands on top of Wes with a Reverse Facing Diving Senton, driving him through the ladder. The crowd gasps then boos loudly as Darlene gets to her feet, mockingly wiping dust off herself.
Woo: All Tongues Toward by Darlene!!!
Gomez:Oh Dios Mio!!
Brooks: Effin’ A, Valentina! Effin’ A!
Woo: ... and Wes Walker is in a bad way!
Darlene slides into the ring and looks over at the mess of twisted metal and Wes Walker. She picks up the ladder in the ring and sets it up. She scrambles up the ladder and reaches towards the title, but the position of the ladder is too far away for her to reach the title.
Woo: The six inch height disadvantage is telling there. Darlene would be champion if she was the same size as Wes.
Darlene jumps down off the ladder and shifts it to the side about 8 inches. Wes starts to stir as Darlene scrambles back up the ladder. The crowd cheers on Wes as he crawls up onto the apron. Darlene reaches the top of the ladder and touches her fingers onto the North American Title. Wes grabs the ropes, springboards and hits Darlene in the back of the leg with a flying knee. Wes lands on the mat as Darlene slides halfway down the ladder, trying to keep her balance. Wes holds his back but gets up top his feet. Darlene looks down at Wes as she grabs the ladder rung. He hits a spinning front kick to the ladder, tipping the ladder away from him. Darlene jumps off the ladder before it lands leaning against the top rope. Darlene looks down and sees the chair. She smiles, picks up the chair and throws it like a discus at Wes. Wes leapfrogs over the spinning chair. The chair goes through the ropes and hits the door. The crowd pops as Wes lands on his feet. Darlene grabs the leaning ladder and charges at Wes. Walker’s eyes widen then he drops to the mat just before Darlene smashes him with the ladder. The force of the move sends Darlene and the ladder over the top rope, like a Cactus Clothesline, sending both Darlene and the ladder to the floor.
Gomez: That Pendejo moved!
Brooks: Saved his own ass there with that dodge
Woo: And Darlene is feeling the twisted effects of the miss.
Wes looks around, holding his back as a wave of pain washes over him. Darlene tries to kick the ladder off of her, but she is tangled in the metal. He rolls outside then picks up the chair. The crowd cheers him on as he looks down at Darlene. Her eyes widen then close shut tight as he swings the chair…… and hits the padlock on the chain. The padlock breaks and the chain falls to the outside. Wes forces open the door to the cell and tosses the chair outside. Darlene pushes the ladder off of her but Wes grabs her by the hair. She tries to break free but Wes throws her out of the Cell. The crowd pops as he closes the door then wedges the bent ladder between the door and the apron!
Brooks: It’s a Bold Strategy, sending Darlene to the outside!
Gomez: How is this legal!
Woo: An amazing turn of events for Wes Walker. Darlene is literally on the outside looking in.
Wes waves at Darlene as she screams out at him. He looks under the ring and pulls out a fifteen foot ladder. He places it on the apron as Darlene tries to open the door to the cell. She grabs the chair and slams it against the fencing but it won’t budge. Wes holds his back and rolls in behind the ladder. Darlene looks around and grabs the chain, placing it in her waistband. She grabs the chair and looks towards the top of the cell. Wes gets to a knee and then to his feet. He looks over at Darlene, who holds the chair in one hand and begins to scale the fencing.
Woo: She’s Not?
Gomez: She Is!
Brooks: She’s… What?
Wes places the taller ladder under the title, the top of the ladder touching the strap. Wes starts his climb but grimaces with each rung upward. Darlene quickly scales the cage and tosses the chair towards the center of the cell. She scrambles over, nearly falling through the thin fencing as she reaches the center of the cell top. Wes climbs up and gets to within a few feet of the title. He looks up and sees Darlene above him. She screams at him and starts slamming the top of the chair downward, trying to break through the cell fencing along a support beam. The fencing pulls apart and a gap forms just above the title. Walker’s eyes widen as he sees Darlene shoving the chair in, wedging the gap open. Darlene reaches down from the top of the cell through the gap, trying to grab the title. Wes climbs up with a quick spurt of energy and grabs her wrist, stopping her from grabbing the championship.. The gap pulls apart more as the weight of Darlene becomes centered over the edge of the fencing. Her hand grabs his as she falls through the fencing, pulling him off the ladder to the mat below. The two both fall to the center of the ring with a sickening thud.
Woo: Oh. My. Dear. Lord..
The crowd is stunned silent as both lie on the mat for nearly a minute. Slowly Wes starts to stir as does Darlene. The crowd cheers as Wes looks upward, grimacing as his back aches in pain. Darlene holds the back of her head and looks towards the title as well. The two slowly pull themselves up to their feet with help of the ladder. The two start climbing on opposite sides of the ladder towards the title. The crowd cheers and boos as both of them reach the top of the ladder and try to grab the title.
The two trade punches at the top of the ladder. Each of them trying not to fall off with the impact. Wes lands a right hand that staggers Darlene and she nearly loses her balance. He reaches upward as she reaches into her pocket. She pulls the chain out of her pocket and goes to clock Wes between the eyes. He ducks and slams her head onto the top of the ladder. Darlene loses her balance and slides through the rungs of the ladder. Wes looks down with a smile and then reaches up, grabbing the North American Title!!!.
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, AND STILL!!!! NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION... WES WALKER!!!!
Wes holds the title up above his head to a chorus of cheers from the crowd. He looks down at Darlene, who’s stuck in the rungs. She flips him off as he holds the title in front of her face.
Gomez: He Cheated! Darlene was robbed worse than when the Astros beat the trash can. That bastard!
Woo: And Wes Walker survived the shock and awe of Darlene to walk away the North American Champion once again
Brooks: I’m just Shocked and in Awe, Woo.
Woo: Let’s head backstage.
Camera cuts to ...
Ezio is seen watching the end of the North American Championship match backstage. He’s done yet ANOTHER costume change from his ref gear into sweats and a t-shirt. He watches the victor get their hand raised and take hold of the belt. He smirks and gives a little head shake at the scene. He is remembering the multi-competitor match against Darlene and the loss. It stings in this moment watching the match finish up. He closes his eyes… clenches his fists… and then opens his eyes once more.
Ezio: I could be wrong… but I think I’m next in line. See you soon, qt.
Ezio winks at the camera and blows a kiss as the scene fades to black.
EWC INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BULL ROPE MATCH Darius Vs Clay Byrd
Woo: What an incredible night it has been so far, but I think we’re about to see some bells get rung!
Gomez: Please don’t ever make that pun again … Up next, we see Darius going one on one with Clay Byrd in a Texas Bullrope match for the vacated International Championship!
Brooks: Both of these men earned this opportunity, but I’m sure Cyrus Black is watching closely, hoping to one day be medically able to return to action so that he may reclaim his vacated title!
Dobrev: The following match is a Texas Bull Rope match for the International Championship! The first man to touch all four top turnbuckles in succession wins and becomes the new International champion!
"Let's burn it fucking down!"
As soon as "Gasoline" by I Prevail begins to play, plumes of thick white smoke covers the stage, Darius and Elissa Bradley emerge from within, Darius holding Elissa with one hand, his bat in the other, and donning looks of absolute aggression and determination on both of their faces.
Dobrev: Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Elissa Bradley, he is from Albany, New York, weighing in at 265 lbs ... DARIUS!
Darius hypes himself up, slams the bat against the ramp a few times, then rushes down the ramp and slides into the ring. He leaps onto one of the turnbuckle and harasses the crowd for a moment, smacks the bat on the top of the ring post a few times, then holds the bat high into the air with one hand and throws devil horns up with his other hand as he waits for the match to begin.
Dobrev: And his opponent, from the outskirts of Plainview, Texas, weighing in at 295 pounds ... CLAY BYRD!
Guitar and harmonica begin to blare through the arena, the start of Gunning For You sends a silence across the crowd as Nick Nolan's lyrics echo through the arena. The state of Texas appears on the screen, and slowly fades into a highlight video.
My Gun is loaded it's getting time Two shots of whiskey i'm takin' what's mine Ain't what you're sayin it's what you do Your time has come boy i'm Gunnin for You When hell is rainin down you'll see my face won't heara sound You'll feel that bullet burnin through Take your last breath boy I'm Gunnin for You
Clayton Byrd steps from the back, clad in his fathers leather vest and with red tights. His right arm is raised in the air, his fist clenched at it's apex. Clay begins his slow walk down the ramp. His eyes are fixed on the ring, and he trudges on. Not paying any notice to any of the fans in attendance.
There's desperation deep in your eyes No turnin back now no compromise Cause only one of us walks out that door The other bleedin out on the floor
Clay walks up the steps, and climbs into the ring.
Woo: There is a whole lotta’ man in that ring!
Gomez: These two guys are very big, so dragging each other around with a rope won’t be an easy task!
Brooks: You’ve got that right, and let’s not forget the steel cowboy hanging from the middle of that rope! No disqualifications in this match, so they could easily smack each other around with it!
The referee holds the International Championship in front of Darius, then in front of Byrd, and then raises it high above their head. They then hand it off to a crew member on the outside of the ring in exchange for the bull rope, which they then tie to one of Darius’ hands, then onto one of Byrd’s hands. The referee makes sure the rope is secure, then calls for the bell!
DING DING DING
As soon as the bell sounds, Darius sprints for one of the corners and tags the top turnbuckle, but then Clay yanks back on the rope, pulling Darius away from the corner. Darius turns to face Clay and eats a stiff elbow shot to the jaw from Big Tex! Clay then grabs Darius by the throat and pushes him into the turnbuckle he had just tagged, thus resetting Darius’ momentum, then presses all of his body weight into Darius to apply more pressure to the choke!
Darius struggles to push the big man away, but then manages to take hold of the cowbell and uses it to strike Clay hard on the side of the head, forcing him to release the choke! Darius shoves Clay away from him a bit, then tightens his grip on the bell and swings hard once again, this time clocking Clay directly on the forehead with a sickening thud! Clay drops to the mat while holding his face, thus leading to Darius making the rounds;
Darius tags the turnbuckle he had first tagged again, starting his momentum! He then makes his way to the next corner and tags that one as well, but as soon as he starts to make his way for the third, he is stopped by the rope! He turns and looks to Clay, who is now sitting on his knees with a bloodied face, pulling the rope closer to him, thus cutting Darius off from the turnbuckle!
Woo: We’ve only just begun and Clay is already busted wide open!
Gomez: I don’t think that is going to stop him; Darius looks like he’s seen a ghost!
Brooks: Clay is making good use of that rope; Darius can’t win if he can’t reach the turnbuckles!
Once Clay gets to his feet, Darius rushes forward and attempts to spear him, but Clay catches Darius with a scoop up and slams him down to the mat with a powerslam! Clay then takes hold of the cowbell, looks down to Darius, and then starts to repeatedly smash the bell into Darius’ face over and over again!
Elissa then jumps up onto the apron and starts screaming at Clay, drawing his attention to her. He slams Darius’ head down to the mat, stands up, and gets face to face with Elissa. She throws a few choice words in Clay’s direction, and then throws a handful of dirt into his eyes before dropping back down to the floor!
Clay backs away from the ropes, trying to clear the dirt from his eyes, then decides to start tagging corners while blinded. He manages to reach three of the corners, but is stopped right before the fourth as Darius rolls himself out of the ring, thus making it nearly impossible for Clay to reach the final turnbuckle!
Woo: Elissa Bradley is always getting involved! Darius probably wouldn’t be here without her!
Gomez: Oh come on, there is no disqualification, so this is all legal and allowed!
Brooks: Woo has a point though; Elissa seems to always be lurking in the dark, ready to strike whenever Darius is in trouble!
Clay rolls to the outside of the ring and picks Darius up to his feet, then proceeds to smash his face into the ring steps multiple times! Clay then attempts to throw Darius into the barricade, but Darius sidesteps Clay, reversing it into an Irish whip into the ring post! Darius quickly rolls into the ring, grabs the rope, wraps it around Clay and the post, and then pulls back hard, strangling Clay between the rope and the ring post!
Darius pulls on the rope for a few moments, eventually letting go as Clay starts to turn blue. Darius then tags the first turnbuckle, but quickly realizes he is unable to go further with Clay on the outside. Darius rolls to the outside of the ring, picks Clay up from the floor, and then pushes him into the ring. Darius then looks to Elissa, who is now handing Darius his bat. Darius takes the bat, nods at Elissa, then rolls back into the ring, stalking Clay as he pulls himself back to his feet with the ropes.
Darius charges at Clay as he gets to his feet, swinging the bat low and striking him in the lower back! Clay drops to his knees, clutching at his back in pain, but then Darius swings the back again, this time down onto Clay’s shoulder! Clay falls down flat but Darius doesn’t stop the assault, swinging the bat violently down onto the prone Clay!
Woo: My god, this is a slaughter now!
Gomez: If he keeps the big man down, he can win this!
Brooks: I don’t think that will be too hard now that Darius has his arsenal available!
Darius tosses his bat to the side and kneels down in front of Clay, grabbing a handful of his hair and using it to hold Clay’s head up. Darius takes hold of the cowbell and goes to smack Clay with the bell, but Clay grabs Darius’ arm before he can connect with the shot! Clay spits into Darius’ face, then shoves him off from him before getting back to his feet.
Darius charges Clay once again, but Clay whips the rope at Darius, lashing it across his chest, then takes the rope, pulls it around Darius throat, then pulls Darius up onto his back like a backpack, leaning forward, causing Darius to hang in the air from Clay’s back, gasping for air as the rope chokes the life out of him! Clay then drops Darius onto his ass in the center of the ring, takes the cowbell into his hand, run for the ropes, rebounds off from them, and then sails down at Darius striking him with the Diving West Texas Lariat, using the cowbell to add extra damage!
Clay kips up quickly, looks down at the unconscious Darius in the center of the ring, then makes his way around the ring, tagging three of the turnbuckles. He looks back down at Darius, spits in his direction, and tags the final turnbuckle, claiming the victory!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner and the NEW International Champion ... CLAY BYRD! The referee hands Clay the championship, which he then takes and hoists high into the air as Elissa slides into the ring to check on Darius.
Woo: What a slobber knocker!
Gomez: These two nearly killed each other a couple of times!
Brooks: And in the end, Clay Byrd stands tall with his new International Championship! A well deserved victory! Congratulations, Clay!
Darius is walking up the ramp towards the back when the Mac-Tron lights up to show the crying face of Gabrielle Visconty. She shakes her head as she stares at something in her hands.
Gomez: Gabi Vee crying? Shocking, huh?
Woo: Cut the girl some slack, she lost her parents!
Brooks: Shut up you idiots, I want to hear what she has to say.
She thrusts the blood stained picture of her parents that Darius stapled to her in their match up into the camera. Gabi: Darius, you rotten son-of-a-bitch! How could you throw the deaths of my parents up in my face like that?!
Woo: Wow! It doesn't look like Darius is in the mood.
Darius looks up at Gabrielle, anger starting to build on his face.
Gabi: Did you think I would just 'let it go'? The time has come to go to war! Look down to the ring and see your fate!
The arena is suddenly plunged into darkness, expect for the image of Gabrielle pointing to the ring. Darius spins to face the ring as a single spot light shines on the ring to show... nothing?
Brooks: Aaaand I don't see a damn thing!
Woo: You have sunglasses on Brooks...
Brooks: Yeah, so?
Gomez: She's lost a few too many marbles if you ask me.
Woo: Darius looks slightly more confused than normal.
A loud CRACK and then another CRACK echos through the arena as Gabrielle bursts into hysterical laughter on the Mac-Tron.
Woo: What the hell?
Gomez: That was the sound of a chair shot, if I am not mistaken.
Brooks: Two, to be correct.
The lights in the arena come back up to show a furious Gabrielle Visconty standing over Darius laid out face down on the ramp, mangled steel chair gripped in her hands. The Gabrielle on the Mac-Tron stops laughing and says:
Gabi: Tooooo fucking easy...
The Mac-Tron image ends and Gabrielle pulls a mic out while she starts pacing around Darius.
Gomez: Gabi Vee straight up took Darius' game straight to him. I love it.
Gabi: Darius, you rotten piece of shit... I told you I was ready for a war. Shots were fired. You won the first battle... But the war has just begun! Consider this my application to the X-Division, bitch!!
Woo: Holy shit! Gabi just enter the X-Division?!
Brooks: That makes things... interesting.
Gabrielle spikes the mic off of the back of Darius and raises the chair over her head, slamming it back down on the back of Darius' head.
Gomez: I'm lovin' this new, violent Gabi Vee! Darius is going to pissed! We got a WAR!! I can't wait to see this one play out!!!
Woo: Here comes security!
Security burst out from the back and grab up Gabrielle before she can strike again. Gabrielle screams and kicks at Darius as security yank the chair from her hands as Tommy Love comes rushing out from the back.
Love: Get your damn hands off her right...
But before Tommy can finish one of Gabrielle's kicks comes his way and he jumps back. He looks at Gabrielle as she continues to scream and kick at Darius as the security try their best to remove her.
Love: HEY!!! Get her to the back, come on Gabi, settle dow...
Tommy barely avoids another kick as Gabrielle tries to kick Darius one last time before security pulls her off stage with Tommy following them.
Brooks: She might be a little mad.
Gomez: Fuck, I say let them go at it. Darius is a beast, he can take a few chair shots!
Woo: He just wrestled his ass off against Clay Byrd... How is that fair? Gomez: Yeah, because Darius is all about fair.
Brooks: She's got a point, Woo.
Woo: I am sure this isn't going to be the end of these two going at each other, not by a long shot.
Darius slowly gets to his feet while trying to shake the cobwebs out of his recently bashed skull. He wipes the blood that is now running down over his face with the back of his hands, crazy expression solidifying on his face before he dashes backstage in chase.
Gomez: This could be good if he catches her!
Woo: No time for that now, we got more matches coming.
The camera cuts backstage and inside Xavier Reid’s locker room. Xavier is sitting on a bench in front of his locker finishing lacing up his boot. As he ties them in a double knot he looks into his open locker and locks on a black bag that is sitting at the bottom of the locker, he reaches out for the bag when there is a knock at the door, he looks up and pulls his hand back, closing the locker door.
Reid: Come in…
The door opens and his cousin Tlatoani’s orange and black mask peaks into the room.
Tlatoani: Hey cuz, there is a guy out here to see you…
Reid: I don’t have time…
Tlatoani: He’s from Brawl, here on orders from your GM…
Xavier exhales and nods
Reid: Send him in…
Tlatoani opens the door and walks in with a man wearing a Brawl polo shirt, he’s carrying a silk bag in his hands.
Brawl Staffer: Hello Xavier, Mr. Connors wanted you to be the first to see this…
The staffer pulls the strings open and pulls out the new X-Division Championship and holds it out in front of Xavier.
Tlatoani: Nice, I’m glad to see Jimbo didn’t spare any expense replacing that.
Brawl Staffer: He wanted you to be the first to see this, before we take it out there and hang it above the ring, thought it was only right with you…
Reid: Being the champion and all…
Brawl Staffer: Yeah, well he wanted you to see it...here…
The staffer holds out the championship but Xavier barely looks at it
Reid: Thanks, it looks great, tell Jim I said nice work and thanks…
Xavier looks back down at his boot, pulls on the tongue and adjusts it a little as the Brawl Staffer looks confused, still holding the X-Division Championship in his hands.
Brawl Staffer: But don’t you want to…
But Tlatoani puts his hand on the staffers shoulder.
Tlatoani: Thank you, you can go give that to the ring crew guys…
The staffer looks confused until Tlatoani motions with his head towards the door and the staffer puts the X-Division Championship back in the silk case and walks towards the door but looks back at Xavier before he leaves.
Brawl Staffer: Best of luck out there Xavier, all of Brawl is counting on you...to keep this here with us…
The staffer pats the silk bag and exits the room and closed the door behind him
Tlatoani: It was a nice looking championship Xavier…
Reid: Yeah...as nice as this one…
Xavier swings his locker door open and grabs the black back and pulls it out, turns it over and pours out the remains of the X-Division Championship that Chuck Gacy destroyed.
Reid: THIS is my championship and I let that fuck destroy it Tlatoani, I sat by and allowed that piece of shit to have my championship because they said they would get it back, I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT BACK, me...this championship reign was suppose to be better than last years, I promised myself that when I won this back…
Xavier grabs pieces of the championship and lets them fall out of his hands back on the bench with the rest of the championship
Reid: I promised myself that I would take this championship and elevate it back to the top of the EWC, that when people thought of the X-Division Championship they would think of it in the same manner as the International or US Championship...if not higher. I wanted to restore this championship to the heights it once had in the EWC when Eddie Crank and even...Luke Wolfe held it but I haven’t done shit...and now look at it Tlatoani…
Xavier looks down at the remains of the X-Division Championship
Reid: Maybe it’s best if Ace walks out of here with that brand new championship, maybe he’s the man to do what I wanted, maybe it’s best I hand him the keys to…
Tlatoani: You have to be kidding me, this is what you are thinking on the eve of this match, you’ve given up…
Reid: No, I’m just realizing…
Tlatoani: Realizing what, that Ace is the better man? You are just now realizing that Xavier, Ace is the better man...he’s the better man compare to almost everyone here in the EWC but that doesn’t mean he’s the better man when it come to the X-Division, Ace will always be pinning for the US Championship, the Undisputed Championship...the X-Division Championship will never mean to him what it means to you. He will settle for being the X-Division Champion, you WANT to be the champion, the one that leads this division...damn it Xavier…
Xavier looks up at his cousin
Tlatoani: You want to make amends for that…
Tlatoani points down at the remains of the X-Division Championship
Tlatoani: Then it starts tonight, now, here at StrangleMania, you go out to that cage, you walks into Rage in the Cage II and you beat the living piss out of Ace King, you show all these people back here who think you are an easy target what it’s going to take to lift that championship from you, you set the bar so damn high that people will think twice before challenging you for that championship...you say you want to elevate the X-Division Championship, well go out there and beat Ace King, you will elevate the hell out of it…
Reid: You’re right…
Tlatoani: You’re goddamn right I’m...wait what…
Reid: You’re right, what better way to to usher in that new championship belt then going out there and beating Ace King at StrangleMania...people all week have been talking about tonight, how it’s the BIGGEST night in the EWC and they are right, StrangleMania is the be all end all, it’s the night we will be remembered for and what better way for me to be remembered than going out there and beating Ace King…
Tlatoani: Then go do it, leave it all in that cage tonight, do whatever it takes, there is no tomorrow, do what you have to do Xavier…
Xavier pushed the remains of the X-Division Championship back into the black bag and tosses it back into his locker
Reid: Tonight it’s either I kick off my championship reign or I hand the keys to Ace…
Tlatoani: Don’t let him be the one that decides that Xavier…
Reid: Win or go home...time to live up to the man I wanted to be…
Tlatoani: Go kill him Xavier…
Xavier stands up and pats his cousin on the shoulder.
EWC X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP RAGE IN THE CAGE II Ace King Vs Xavier Reid
We return to ringside where the finishing touches for the upcoming match are being made. The last bits of barbed wire are shown being wrapped around the entire, massive cage. Even though neither of the wrestlers have come out yet, the audience is on the edge of their seats, waiting with anticipation for the fight to start up soon.
Woo: Welcome back to Stranglemania, ladies and gentlemen! The atmosphere has been as amazing as it has been intense. And, somehow, the emotions have only gotten that much stronger - and the crew is not even done preparing the ring yet!
Round two of Rage In The Cage between Xavier Reid versus Ace King is about to start, and with the way everyone is reacting already? You can bet this will be a match no one will soon forget about.
Gomez: I can be a gambling woman when the time is right, and honestly? Ace is good and all. But my money's on Reid.
Brooks: Really? You're gonna go all in on Reid, eh? Mind if I watch whenever that actually happens?
Gomez turns her head and flashes Brooks a glare that threatens to stare a hole through him. Brooks merely smirks, holding his hands up beside his head. Gomez rolls her eyes in disgust, eliciting an audible scoff. Thankfully, Dobrev begins announcing the match before we witness an unscheduled brawl between the commentary team.
"THE ACE OF SPADES!!! THE ACE OF SPADES!!!"
The crowd hears Lemmy's growl, and they go nuts as the opening bass line to 'Ace of Spades' rips through LA Memorial Coliseum. As the drums kick in, pyro goes off up and down the ramp in time with the beat, while frenetic red and white spotlights pulse through the building before fixating on the ramp.
Dobrev: The following match is Rage In The Cage, and it is for the X-Division Championship! The only way to win is by obtaining the key hanging up in the air and using it to escape the cage! Joining us first, from Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing in at 221 pounds ... THE GAMBLER... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGG!!!
There's a huge explosion as the guitar kicks in, and the crowd roars as a slightly frail-looking Ace King emerges through the smoke of the pyro and into the spotlights, not registering the ovation the way he did before. 'The Gambler' stays for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and walking to the ring, his eyes locked on the ring as he's oblivious to the fans applauding him.
He stops for a couple seconds at the end of the ramp, then charges to the ring, with red pyro exploding from the turnbuckles as he dives in under the bottom rope. He spins up onto one knee and stares out into the crowd before getting to his feet and getting his game face on while awaiting his opponent.
Dobrev: And his opponent, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, weighing in at 220 pounds, he is the X-Division Champion ... XAVIER REEEEEEEEEEEEID!!!
The jumbo screen flickers and the picture of a sky appears on the eve of a storm, the clouds are dark and rolling across the sky quickly and with aggression. The lights inside the arena start to dim, the rumbling of a storm can be heard over the speakers as lighting appears in the clouds
The cracking of lighting grows louder and louder until two strikes hit the stage
First from the right and then from the left as ‘Papercut’ starts to play out…
Smoke rises up from where the lightning hit stage as Xavier Reid walks out onto the stage,the X-Division Championship around his waist, his arms crossed in a X over his chest as he stands at the top of the stage and looks out towards the ring.
The fans have a mix reaction as he starts to walk towards the ring, shadow boxing as he does eyes locked on the ring
Xavier bounces up and down while looking at the ground and then looks up and smirks as he heads towards the steps and slams his foot down on each step as he marches up the steps and unhooked the X-Division Championship and turns and faced the crowd and then jumps into the ring and walks to the center of the ring and lays the belt down and motions for his opponent to 'step up to the line'.
DING DING DING
Xavier and Ace stare briefly at one another. Then, at the exact same time, they both lift their head and stare up at the key dangling above. When they look back at one another, the electricity in the air only seems to almost literally grow in ferocity. The look that can be seen in both wrestler's eyes is one of experience and acknowledging just how much is at stake here.
It is exactly because of that very fact - that they've done this song and dance before - that they're careful with who makes the first move. No one rushes to charge at one another. They circle one another, staring intently at the other in hopes of finding an opening.
With no real warning, Xavier runs back towards the closest set of ropes. He uses them to lunge forward, leaping at Ace with a Springboard Superman Punch! His attack lands, causing them both to fall, but the two are just as swift to get up to their feet.
Xavier throws his leg forward, trying to connect with a Pele Kick, but Ace is ready this time and catches his foot! The X-Division Champion yanks his foot away and slaps The Gambler hard across the face, glaring furiously at his rival.
Ace nods, acknowledging what just happened ... before retaliating with an up close and very personal Clothesline, slamming Xavier down onto the canvas again!
Woo: Seems there's still no love lost between these two.
Gomez: You really expect anything less, Woo? There's far too much history between Reid and King for this to be an even remotely tame fight.
Brooks: You think tonight will be the evening they finally kiss and make up?
Woo: I highly doubt it, Brooks.
While the commentary was speaking, Ace took advantage of Xavier being down and knelt beside the ring. He flips the apron up and begins to rummage underneath, no doubt going for the ladder.
By now, unfortunately, Reid has recovered. He sees what The Gambler is doing - and also an opportunity! He does a few backflips! Ace looks up when he hears Xavier moving, but isn't able to dodge the X-Treme Air technique!
Both are now laying outside of the ring, the barbed wire mere inches from cutting either of the two wrestlers.
Realizing the danger he's in, Ace throws Xavier backwards against the wall of the cage! Reid refuses to be the only one taking damage, though, as he holds tightly onto The Gambler!
Both fighters have their backs meet some of the barbed wire! A "Fight Forever!" chant starts ringing out from the audience as Ace and Xavier hastily move away from the barbed cage. We can see they're both in visible pain, and each of their backs is bleeding a bit due to the impact!
Woo: Unfortunately, ladies and gents, they won't be able to fight forever. We still got some more matches scheduled this evening and, eventually, there has to be a winner.
Gomez: Doesn't look like it'll stop them from making this brutal assault against one another last as long as possible, though.
Ace resumes reaching for the ladder. This time, however, he keeps his eyes on Reid while going for the ladder. Xavier does, indeed, try to yank the ladder away, but King is able to slide it in before the X-Division Champion can get a firm hold on it.
Both men stand up, although now doing so a bit shakily. Xavier begins throwing kick after kick against The Gambler! Some connect with Ace's legs, some find his midsection, but it looks like the location doesn't matter. Reid is viciously assaulting Ace King, with intentions to slam him back against the barbed wire!
He gets a few close calls, but The Gambler manages to keep his back - and body - safe from the unforgiving steel.
Reid looks visibly frustrated at Ace's stubbornness. King takes advantage of this and throws Xavier against the nearest set of ropes! Reid bounces against them and stumbles backwards.
A chorus of "OOOOH" is heard as the X-Division Champion just barely takes his turn to avoid getting brutally cut by the barbed wire.
With Reid focusing on keeping and maintaining his balance, The Gambler hurries back inside the ring. Xavier bows his head, rushing inside after Ace a few moments later.
Woo: Those few seconds may very well have just costed Reid his reign.
Gomez: I don't think so. Xavier may not be The Gambler, but I have little doubts he's got his own ace up his sleeve.
Brooks: Man, all this talk of cards and gambling ... I think I may hit up a casino after the night's over.
Ace was about half-way up the ladder. Xavier is quick to catch up, however. Ace tries to throw Reid off the ladder with a simple but powerful shove. To his surprise, Xavier leans foward, grabbing Ace's arm to ensure his attack doesn't connect.
Something red shoots out of Reid's mouth!
The camera zooms up and we see ... it's mist! And it landed all over The Gambler's eyes! Ace is screaming and even cursing a bit. He manages to hold onto the ladder to avoid falling off, but the damage from the mist seems to have been done!
Woo: Wow, Gomez! Looks like you called it! Reid did indeed have an ace up his sleeve! This very well could be the mark of the end arriving soon.
Gomez: I wouldn't be amazed. Sorry, not really, but ... yeah. Ace had his time to shine last season. Out with the old, in with the new.
Ace is clumsily climbing up. He rubs frantically at his eyes, trying to get some of the mist out, but it does appear to be too late. Xavier smirks, looking rather satisfied with himself, and confidently saunters up the rest of the ladder. He seems to look even more smug as Ace is descending down the ladder.
With no interference from The Gambler, Reid is able to easily get the key.
However, when he lands on the floor, he's shoved against the turnbuckle! The abrupt force causes Xavier to drop the key! He turns and sees that, despite being blinded, Ace is not yet giving up! He's relying solely on his hearing!
Reid snarls and pivots, trying to hit Ace with X-Odus as he yanks The Gambler over into the corner, but that's exactly what King seems to have wanted! He holds tightly onto Reid, hoisting him on top of the turnbuckle!
Xavier tries to get off, beginning to realize what's about to happen! But Ace continues to maintain his hold on his rival! Ace climbs up behind Reid -- and lands it perfectly! 7-7-7 (Victory Star Drop)!
Ace then scurries out of the ring. It takes a bit of fumbling around, but he finds where the key dropped.
Xavier lets out a frustrated scream as The Gambler manages to run towards the locked door. He tries his damnedest to stop Ace, but is a few seconds too late! Ace escapes!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via escaping the cage and NEW X-DIVISION CHAMPION THE GAMBLER... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGG!!!
Ace is still attempting to get more mist out of his eyes, even while he has his hand raised. The X-Division Championship is draped over his shoulder. A ghost of a smile can be seen on King's face. He knows that despite all the agony and pain, his efforts have paid off, even if he didn't win the strap he was originally aiming for.
Reid, on the other hand, looks absolutely devastated. His head shakes in disbelief as he storms out of the cage and leaves, likely going backstage.
Woo: So, you went all in on Reid, huh? How much do you owe us?
Gomez: Not a goddamn thing. Neither of you bet against me.
Woo: Well, no matter how you feel about The Gambler, he's proven that he is definitely here to stay, and is very willing, able, and ready to conquer any and all obstacles thrown at him.
Ace puts the X-Division Championship over his shoulder as Xavier walks over towards him, the two look at each other, both men beaten and exhausted.
Woo: These two nearly killed themselves here tonight, another classic match in the Ace/Xavier rivalry.
Brooks: And by the looks of it Xavier seems ready to start round 128 Marcus.
Gomez: That’s not what he’s doing
Xavier looks at Ace and at the X-Division Championship but before Xavier can do anything Ace extends his hand towards Xavier, the fans start to cheer as Xavier looks at his hand, he looks unsure as he looks Ace in the eyes.
Woo: Shake the man’s hand, it’s time Xavier.
Gomez: Don’t do it, don’t shake that man’s hand.
Brooks: Maybe Ace wants to have a thumb war
Xavier drops his head for a moment, clearly battling himself on what to do but slowly he raises his hand to the same level as Ace’s hand and then reaches out and grabs his hand and shakes it as the crowd explodes into cheer.
Woo: HE DID IT, finally
Gomez: Great, he shook his hand, we have world peace now, it’s a fairytale ending for these two, I lost a lot of respect for Xavier here tonight.
Woo: I’m sure he cares, Xavier’s finally able to bury the hatchet with Ace tonight, he left it all in the ring and can finally move on.
Ace says something to Xavier who responds back and slaps the face of the X-Division Championship and then raises Ace’s arm in victory.
Woo: Xavier showing true sportsmanship here tonight.
Following the handshake, Reid cedes the ring to the new X-Division Champion. Ace looks down at his newly-won championship, then holds it aloft for the roaring fans of Los Angeles.
Woo: Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been to a lot of different places in my broadcasting career, and seen a lot of crazy things, but this is right up there. Nobody knew what kind of mindset Ace King would have coming into this match, not even Ace himself. But, somehow, some way, he pulled it together, and he finds himself a champion once again.
Gomez: You have to wonder how he did it, particularly after Xavier brought that mist into play.
Brooks: I’m sure he can’t see very well, Valentina.
‘The Gambler’ holds the new X-Division Championship high for another few seconds, then suddenly drops to his knees in the ring, burying his head and sobbing into the belt’s main plate. The crowd doesn’t know what to make of it, though they show their vocal support with feverish ‘YOU DESERVE IT!’ chants. However, Ace remains curled up tightly in the middle of the ring. As this happens, a rolling fog begins building up around him as the Coliseum gets darker.
Woo: What in the hell…
Gomez: I know he’s been in a fog, but I didn’t think Ace was being so literal, especially now that he’s the X-Division Champion.
Brooks: I’m having a hard time seeing him right now, guys.
The fog begins to rise, threatening to swallow Ace up whole. After about 10 seconds of silence,there is a crackle of thunder, and the crowd ERUPTS with a mixed reaction, and we hear the sound of rain, thunder, and flashes of lightning inside the arena. As the sounds and sights of the storm continues to rage a distorted voice begins to speak.
Distorted Voice:
"Behold, he comes with lightning and clouds..."
The lightning and clouds on the jumbo-tron burst into a flash of bright light as the final bolt touches the ground, "Invincible" by Skillet hits and the crowd jumps to its feet with a massive pop!!!
Woo: No way.
Gomez: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!
Brooks: PEPPER NEEDS NEW SHORTS!!!
A few seconds later, the lights come up a bit, and Luke Wolfe appears in the ring as the fog dissipates standing face to face with Ace King. ‘The Gambler’ slowly gets to his feet, slinging his championship over his shoulder as his expression is a mix between happy and utterly confused. “Invincible” slowly fades out, replaced by heavy chanting as Luke raises a microphone, waiting patiently for the crowd to quiet he applauds Ace on his newly won X-Division Championship.
Luke: Congratulations Ace King on becoming the new X-Division Champion, I don’t think I need to tell you what an honor it is to hold that belt. But, I’ve come to Stranglemania tonight, because you and I need to have a little talk. It’s no secret that you haven’t been yourself lately. You’ve been lost in a fog, and I am here to clear the air. You’re not the same guy that I foresaw as the true hero that was going to save the EWC from eternal darkness. About a year ago I had a second prophecy and I came back to see that it came to pass, and you did exactly what I said you would. You became the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion.
The crowd ERUPTS as Luke makes reference to Ace’s title reign. ‘The Gambler’ has a pained expression on his face, but before he can respond, Luke is there to continue on.
Luke: But in the time since, you let that same darkness consume you. Many times when a warrior of light attempts to extinguish the darkness, he can become consumed by it. Becoming the very thing he was trying to destroy. You lost the World Championship, and then at Wrestlefest… You lost your record breaking United States Championship. As I sat and watched, it was like seeing you lose your soul. You became a different man, the darkness that was engulfing the EWC began to poison your soul.
Pausing for a moment, he steps a little closer to Ace staring into his eyes, causing Ace to fidget nervously as he tries to look back at him.
Luke: Ace I want to do for you what you once did for me. A few years ago, you helped me and now I want to help you. Help you become the man you once were. Help you become the hero you used to be. By baptism by fire.
Woo: Baptism by fire?
Brooks: It’s a bold strategy, Marcus. Let’s see if it works out for him.
Gomez: But what could he mean by that?
Luke: Ace, for years you and I DEFINED Rampage, each of us held the green flag and waved it, and was the face of that brand. We headlined and main evented, for years! In two weeks, Rampage will be in my home town of Atlanta, Georgia. When I retired, I told the world I had… ONE… more match left in me.
The crowd ROARS as chants begin…
“ONE MORE MATCH!!!”
“ONE MORE MATCH!!!”
“ONE MORE MATCH!!!”
Pausing waiting for the crowd to calm, his gaze doesn’t leave Ace’s eyes.
Luke: One more match left… To go out the way I want to go out. So Ace, what do you say that in two weeks in Atlanta, you headline Rampage one more time… with Me! One last time.
The crowd buzzes in heavy anticipation as Ace finally brings himself to look Wolfe in the eyes. After a few seconds, his forlorn gaze starts to drift around the Coliseum as Wolfe stands patiently awaiting his answer.
Woo: What’s he going to say?
Gomez: Quite the gauntlet being thrown down here by the former Undisputed Champion and impending Hall of Famer.
Ace closes his eyes momentarily, nervously shuffling his feet on stage. After about 15 seconds, his eyes snap back open, his gaze trained directly on Wolfe… and the crowd roars as ‘The Gambler’ slowly nods his head in agreement!
The crowd goes INSANE!!! The camera getting shots of the crowd going wild for one last match between Luke Wolfe and Ace King.
“YES!!!”
“YES!!!”
“YES!!!”
“YES!!!”
Woo: HERE WE GO!!!
Gomez: The A-T-L could explode with that announcement!
Brooks: INJECT IT INTO MY VEINSSSSSS!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Woo: I’m not injecting you with anything.
With a sly grin, he raises the mic one last time.
Luke: In my career you have been, without a doubt, my greatest opponent. I’ve never beaten you one on one, That’s hard for me to live with. So thank you for doing me the honor, but Ace… Just so you know, I will leave every ounce of what I have left in the tank inside the ring. I will be at my absolute best, and this will be YOUR greatest challenge.
Pausing for a moment, he smiles at Ace.
Luke: ...Bet on it.
Wolfe drops the microphone as “Invincible” fires up again, the Los Angeles crowd cheering feverishly for both men as they stare each other down.
Woo: What an announcement! I don’t think anybody expected Luke Wolfe here tonight, and then to effectively make his farewell match happen… ANYTHING can happen in EWC!
Gomez: You can’t help but wonder where Ace’s mind will be in a couple weeks’ time, but this truly is a shocking development!
Brooks: I FEEL SHOCKED!
Ace straightens himself up a bit more, though it’s not malicious in any way. He and Wolfe don’t break eye contact as tens of thousands of fans cheer boisterously around them as the feed cuts to....
The lights in the arena suddenly go black as fans being to pull out their cell phones. "Iconic" by Jaxson Gamble plays over the loud speakers to the bewilderment of the crowd.
The lights remain off as several spotlights begin to emit through the audience as if searching for somebody. The beat grows more intense with the volume as these spotlights trace the stands thoroughly. The barely lit stands and the bright white search lights are only matched with the camera lights of thousands and thousands of fans. The spotlights all begin to focus on the entrance as the shadow of a man is seen in the middle of strobe lights. The flickerings being to find a rhythm and a few shots of fog engulf the figure. A few seconds pass and the figure walks out of the fog as the house lights turn up to expose the figure of the returning Sebastian Conner.
Woo: And there he is folks. Sebastian Conner is here at Stanglemania.
Brooks: Let's hope his time here is as quick as the last time he was here. He has a bad reputation and the EWC doesn't need that.
Woo: Just last week we found out that the once Rampage star who made his splash in the FSW two years ago, will be returning to the brand he began with.
Gomez: To be fair, the EWC should have never let him go in the first place. I don't think he is as bad as everybody claims.
Brooks: Are you kidding me? He's an asshole.
Gomez: A PROFESSIONAL!
Woo: Love him or hate him, he is here.
The crowd is at a loss of reaction as a good portion cheer and an equal amount boo, but there is no doubt he has gained the attention of the entire audience. He stands atop the stage taking in the atmosphere with a look of confidence. He pats his heart area as he puts his arms out to embrace the crowds energy. He makes his way, sauntering towards the ring with a keen eye for the fans along side the railing who are excited and in complete shock that he is at Stranglemania and walking towards the ring.
Once in the ring, Sebastian paces about a dozen times as if he is equally as shocked at the ovation he is receiving. He cocks his half crooked smile as he reaches to the announcer for a microphone.
Sebastian Conner: I...
WELCOME BACK
WELCOME BACK
Sebastian Conner: I...
WELCOME BACK
Sebastian Conner: Haha, well alright. I sincerely appreciate that. I really do.
Sebastian absorbs the fans reaction as he looks around at the packed house.
Sebastian Conner: Although I hear some boos in there.
There are a mixture of cheers and boos as he just shrugs off the boos. A few more seconds of this goes by as Conner looks at a group close to the front booing and gives thumbs down. He just laughs and mouths the words 'yeah okaaay'. He finally begins to talk again after the audience starts to quiet down. Sebastian Conner: I will be honest with all you and tell you that I never thought this day would come again. I never thought I would be back in an EWC ring, let alone an EWC ring AT Stranglemania.
CROWD POP
Sebastian Conner: Now isn't this something. Not bad for somebody they said was irrelevant.
Again the crowd reacts with an even amount of emotion as before.
Sebastian Conner: For those of you who haven't had the opportunity, please allow me to RE-introduce myself...
LADIES
AND
GENTLEMAN
I AM THE CONTROVERSY CAUSING,
LOUD MOUTHED
BIG BALLED
PROFESSIONAL
ASSHOLE
KNOWN
AS
SEBASTIAN CONNER!
Brooks: Well doesn't he have a bubbly personality.
Woo: He definitely brings a different feel than he used to, not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing.
Gomez: I am for one super excited he's back. The company has been lacking somebody with his talent.
Sebastian looks on as he continues.
Sebastian Conner: It really is no surprise to anyone who pays attention that my departure last year wasn't exactly a happy one, more of an ugly divorce where the children are traumatized for years but I agreed I wouldn't bring it up. However! I can't tell you something you already knew. And before we start, let me go ahead and clear the air on a subject that honestly doesn't deserve the time of day let alone thirty seconds of my time but for those who can't seem to let shit go allow me thirty seconds on the clock. For those following at home, set your timers. Annnnnnnd...
Sebastian looks down at his watch and pauses waiting for the right time.
Sebastian Conner: The fucking Rumble last year. Yes, I was there. Yes, I was eliminated as quick as I entered. No, I don't care. I'll be honest, yours truly was not in what you would call, being in the 'right' mind to be in the ring. It's really simple, I was asked to take part in the biggest Rumble in the history of the company for a publicity stunt and a hefty check. I wanted nothing to do with the Rumble and I wanted nothing to do with EWC, so I didn't. You're welcome Dom.
Sebastian Conner: Sure, go ahead and boo now. You weren't booing a little while ago when I came from behind the curtain. You weren't booing at the news breaking when I re-signed with EWC and FSW. So do yourself a favor and pick a side, and stick with it, because I really couldn't care less. Fair-weathered fans are the worst and you know who you are. And before any of you get your feelings hurt, I am thankful for those of you who continue to cheer me. I really am grateful to those of you who are still there and we aren't going to let the hypocrites fuck it up for us. And for those of you who don't, suck me!
SOME FANS BOO Sebastian Conner: It's nothing personal. It just is what it is.
Sebastian paces the ring as if he has never been in one before. He walks around pausing and bouncing his body a bit. He certainly doesn't seem to be in a hurry.
Sebastian Conner: Now that we got all the pleasantries out of the way, and as much as I just love walking down memory lane... I'm here to welcome myself back to EWC and where better to do it thank STRANGLEMANIA!
Sebastian Conner: What would Stranglemania be without Sebastian Conner? Just another photo op for Mac and his league of expendable has-beens? His cheap pop heroes of yesteryear? Nothing against Shadowman or Xplode, but I'm not here just to get my picture taken with some fans. I am here to focus on what comes next, and from the looks of it, some of you should too.
Sebastian looks around and points out fans wearing past EWC wrestlers shirts.
Sebastian Conner: Again, nothing against any of them. I keep getting asked why after proving I am more than worthy of headlining a brand like Rampage would I go back to Future Stars of Wrestling. I chose to go back to FSW to finish what I had promised I would. When I debuted in EWC, I ravaged through any thing they threw at me but never had the opportunity to win the title on the brand I helped establish. I set my sights on people like Otaki, sorry I mean Megan.
CHEAP POP
Sebastian Conner: People like Maggie Lockheart.
CHEAP POP
Sebastian Conner: Smokey Jones.
AND AGAIN
Sebastian Conner: Xavier Reid
YOU GUESSED IT, CHEAP POP
Sebastian Conner: Goes to show you'll cheer anybody if their name is said loud enough.
He laughs at himself going as far as slapping his own knee.
Sebastian Conner: I walked through the FSW roster and felt I needed more. Hence me moving to Rampage and making a hate-ship with a one Ace King, whom by the way I beat well before his 777th day. So Ace, you're welcome and Scorpio don't brag so much. And I know, I know... old news. Still relevant. But I am not here to start a fight with either of you two. No! I am here to take back MY brand. It is very hard for me to look at the state it is in now without thinking how much of a joke I find in the fact that a Circus Act and a Biker are the main representation of the brand at the show of shows.
He continues pacing the ring as he continues to address the crowd without missing a beat.
Sebastian Conner: My contract technically doesn't begin until March 31st at 12:01AM but I felt the FSW needed me and that is why I am here tonight to announce that I have all intentions of wrestling at FSW 95! So allow me to make it clear to anybody in the FSW, starting tonight, it doesn't matter if it's Stitches or Mercenary that walk away as FSW Champion. This is still MY brand, and under my reign, our brand will again be the brand of brands. You're with me or not, either way you're all on notice!
♪I'LL TAKE IT IF I WANT IT♪
♪MY NAME IS♪
♪ICONIC♪
"Iconic" begins blaring as Sebastian tosses the mic away and throws his hands out as he makes his exit from the ring to the mixture of fan appreciation and ugly stares. as we cut to commentary.
Woo: Sebastian Conner has come back, and he's putting FSW on notice! Folks, we're gearing up now for a brutal affair as Mercenary takes on Stitches for the Future Stars Championship in a Biker Chain Match!
FUTURE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP BIKER CHAIN MATCH Mercenary Vs Stitches
We return to ringside where the the cage from the fight between Ace King and Xavier Reid is being moved away. Any drops of blood that fell on the floor are being cleaned up as quickly as possible by the EWC crew, as they work on setting up for the Biker Chain Match.
Woo: Welcome back to Stranglemania, ladies and gentlemen! We just witnessed an amazing fight between Ace King and Xavier Reid, and we're about to see the first new type of match ever. A Biker Chain Match for the FSW Championship, with Stitches defending his title against the ruthless Mercenary!
Gomez: Is Mercenary out of his mind? Didn't he admit he hated clowns? And yet, that's exactly who he's about to face? I mean, duh, hello.
Brooks: Are we still doing that gambling game? Anyone wanna bet if the movie It was the source of his fear of clowns or not? Either of you?
Both Gomez and Woo look at Brooks with at least one eyebrow raised. Gomez shakes her head. Woo does the same, but at least appears far more cheerful than the sarcastic Latina beside him.
Aaron Carter's 'I Want Candy' blasts over the PA as the one and only Sweet Treat, Candy, appears at the top of the ramp. She already has a headset in her hands as she cheerfully hurries down to the commentator's table, wearing a grin on her face.
Woo: Well now, ladies and gentlemen! Looks like we're about to get quite the treat here!
Candy: Aww, thank you for the sweet greeting, Mister Woo. Yep, you guessed right! I thought I'd surprise you all by joining you.
Gomez has a very uncertain, hesitant look. Brooks, meanwhile, appears to be rather ecstatic at the mere thought of having another female to talk with.
Brooks: Hell yeah! So, you want in our gambling game, Candy?
Candy: Hmmm .. maybe later. Right now, I wanna watch this match. I am here for a reason, after all.
'Meet The Monster' by Five Finger Death Punch blasts throughout the building. A flashing red strobe lights the stage as the rest of the room goes dark.
Dobrev: The following match is a Biker Chain Match, and it is for the FSW Championship! Pins or submissions can not happen until the chain hanging above the upper right corner is retrieved! And now hailing from West Oakland California It is time to meet the monster who you all have helped create. He is the EWC Outlaw. He is ...MERCENARY!!!
Brooks: And now we have a special treat for the fans. Here to play one of the official theme songs for Stranglemania is the band In This Moment with: Half God. Half Devil.
The lights fade out and a spotlight hits the stage which swirls with mist around the band. Maria Brink stands in the center of the stage dressed in a hooded robe and a blank white mask. The guitars rise as In This Moment begins to play the song: Half God. Half Devil. Maria sheds the mask, casting it aside as she begins to sing.
As the song hits its momentum another spotlight hits the entrance to reveal the spectral form of Dalilah Ashe dancing to the music, her face painted up in black and white grease paint like a clown. She spins away from the pole and falls to her knees with her back arched, eyes to the sky. She freezes in this position as a dark figure looms out of the shadows beside her. He is wearing a long black leather coat and his face is obscured by a mask with button eyes. His walk is stiff and stunted and calls to mind the march of the walking dead. In his left hand he loosely drags a vicious looking axe behind him as he walks to stand over Dalilah, who now kneels with her head lowered in a pose of full supplication. He holds his pose as the music rises towards a fevered pitch before he suddenly raises the axe above his head and swings it in an arch right at the back of Dalilah's neck. The lights go out just before the moment of impact. A bloody spotlight lights the scene and shows the figure standing. He stares straight ahead. From the darkness Dalilah rises. The front of her shirt is not stained in stage blood. She stares reverentially up at him as she takes the mask in both hands, gently removing it from The Mercenary's face. She holds the mask aloft and steps out of his path to allow him to stalk down the ramp to the ring. Once between the ropes he sheds the leather coat to reveal a long length of steel chain hanging over his shoulders. He leans on the ropes and stares up the ramp in anticipation as he awaits the appearance of the champion.
Dobrev: And his opponent, from The Carnival Of Shattered Dreams, weighing in at 260 pounds, he is the FSW Champion ... 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.
DING DING DING
Interestingly, Stitches starts the match off by turning to face the commentator's table and flashes Candy a smug smirk. Candy merely returns the favor and gives him her own coy grin before nodding to the less-than-amused looking Mercenary glaring at Stitches.
Stitches shrugs, as if asking whether he did something wrong. Mercenary gets up in Stitches' face and proceeds to begin a massive kicking combo. The first one finds Stitches' gut with little problems. However, when he tries to move to the axe kick, Stitches catches Mercenary's leg.
He wags a finger at Mercenary before pulling him close and hoisting him up, slamming EWC's Outlaw with a ring-shaking Sit-Out Powerbomb. The crowd boos; they seem hopeful that Mercenary will end Stitches' reign as much as Mercenary is aiming for.
Stitches simply ignores the crowd and smirks cockily down at the prone Mercenary, who is wasting little time in getting back up to his feet.
Woo: So, Candy. Mind me asking what's going through your head right now?
Candy: Sure! So, surprise-slash-spoiler alert! I'm going to face the winner of this fight at Uprising. To answer your question, I'm taking a moment to observe my potential opponents.
Gomez: You've been against Stitches quite a few times though, have you not?
Candy: I have, yes. But he keeps finding ways to improve and get better. I'm not, however, going to discredit Mercenary. He earned this shot, after all. And he's had some other very impressive wins this season. So both of these men are incredibly dangerous in their own rights.
Brooks: Oh, I know! New question! Got a preference on who you'd rather fight?
Candy: No. Regardless of who secures the W tonight, I'll face them and make sure to give the winner a fight no one will soon forget.
By now, Mercenary was already back up on his feet. If he hadn't been impatient and livid enough yet, he definitely was now! He threw a fist at Stitches, trying to hit him with another combo. But the clown deftly dodged.
However, Mercenary was far from finished with Stitches.
He quickly closes the distance and manages to grab one of Stitches' arms, yanking him forward. He then hoists Stitches up ... and keeps him held up. Stitches fights back, trying to struggle out of the hold. But Mercenary's determination and strength both assist him out as he throws Stitches down hard onto the mat with a Delayed Fall Away Slam!
The crowd cheers at the display, taking it as a sign of hope. This only seems to fuel Mercenary's resolve and confidence on as he goes to the upper left turnbuckle and climbs on top of it. He makes certain Stitches is staying down ... before leaping off with a Top Turnbuckle Moonsault!
Stitches just barely manages to roll out of the way, causing Mercenary to land awkwardly on the mat! A chorus of "OOOHHH"s rings out from the crowd as they watch Mercenary start getting back up to his feet.
Before he can even get to a knee, Stitches grabs a fistful of Mercenary's hair. Without any remorse or mercy, he slams The Street Dog into a brutal backbreaker on his knees!
Stitches drops Mercenary unceremoniously, sauntering slowly towards the corner where the chain rests. He's clearly trying to bait, dare - probably both - Mercenary to come and stop him. Unfortunately, Mercenary isn't fast enough to recover, and Stitches is the first wrestler to retrieve the chain!
Woo: And with this, submissions and pinfalls are now legal!
Gomez: Hell yeah! Let's kick this match up a notch or two!
Candy is still very intently staring and watching the match. In fact, it can be seen that she scoots forward in an effort to get a closer look.
Stitches sees Candy move out of the corner of his eye and takes a bow.
Mercenary takes advantage of Stitches being distracted and dashes forward. He grips tightly onto Stitches' right arm, yanking it backward. He then tucks the FSW Champion's head underneath his other arm ... Hammerlock DDT!
Not wanting to risk giving Stitches too much time to recuperate, he follows through with his trademark move The Whiplash (Inverted Alabama Slam Into A Wheelbarrow Suplex)! He hooks the legs!
ONE!
TWO!!
NO! Stitches kicks out, refusing to stay down! Mercenary does not look happy about this!
Woo: We almost witnessed the end of the clown's reign right here and there.
Candy: Be that as it may, it's not yet over. I've seen and been against both of these guys before. They're both tough. And with the stakes here being as high as they are? Neither will make it easy for the other to get the win here this evening.
Through what can only be assumed to be sheer willpower, we see the chain is still held tightly in Stitches' hand! The moment he gets back up, he uses it as a makeshift whip and begins attacking Mercenary with the steel weapon!
With Mercenary's focus solely on his opponent, he didn't notice the chain was still in his possession. And by the time he realizes his mistake, it's a few seconds too late! Mercenary grunts, trying to move forward to get the chain away from Stitches, only to be met with another lashing.
The camera zooms up and ... yes! A bit of blood is slowly trickling down the side of Mercenary's temple!
Stitches smirks, looking very happy with himself, as he continues with the merciless assault! The FSW Champion then runs forward ... something that Mercenary didn't expect, according to the look on his face.
Beautiful Disasterpiece (Running Bicycle Kick) from Stitches! For extra measure, he lifts EWC's Outlaw up into a Samoan Drop before proceeding to go for the win!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR -- !! NO!!!
The crowd goes wild as Mercenary takes his turn to show he's not yet done with this fight. Stitches slowly nods at the display, taking a few steps backwards as he claps. Whether it's a sarcastic or genuine display is anyone's guess.
Stitches forces Mercenary up to his feet, setting him up for the Sound Of Silence (Future Shock DDT)! Before he can lift him up too high, though, The Street Dog counters by interrupting the technique and using every ounce of strength to perform his own finisher! The Gravestone Drop (Gutwrench Powerbomb, followed by a Sit-Down Powerbomb)!
Mercenary ignores the pain that is no doubt surging through his body as he hooks both of Stitches' legs!
ONE!
TWO!!
THRE --- NOOOO!!!
Mercenary looks both frustrated and shocked. Stitches uses the chain to whip the back of Mercenary's knee. He shakily stands up, forcing EWC's Outlaw down onto his back. And then ... he locks it in, using the chain to strengthen the move! The Carnival Pretzel (Death Star Choke)!
With him being trapped in the center of the ring and having suffered too much punishment already, Mercenary is left with no choice but to tap out!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, via submission and STILL FSW CHAMPION STITCHES!!!
Dalilah looks horrified. She hurries into the ring, attempting to help Mercenary leave. In a fit of rage, Mercenary shoves Dalilah away, limping towards the ramp. The referee gives Stitches the FSW Championship back.
Stitches looks right at Candy, giving her a very knowing and foreshadowing look.
Woo: That may not have gone the way Mercenary wanted, but what a fight we just witnessed. He got so close. There's a good chance we may see a round two between Stitches and Mercenary in the future. Dear lord, what a fight that was!
Gomez: Not half bad of a display from Mercenary. I'll agree with that. But I can't say I'm overly amazed, either. I fully expected Stitches to retain.
Candy gives the commentators one last smile before slowly placing the headset down and heading backstage. The camera follows Candy for a bit before it cuts to the big screen
The overhead light flickers, rocking back and forth ever so slightly. A faint light can be seen in the distance. The glow of candlelight appears, shines brighter and brighter, exposing the oversized, beefy hand holding the candle. As the overhead light flickers again, there is a glimpse of a black robe.
“It is almost time.”
The light flickers again to see the cold eyes of a man, scruff on his cheeks and above his mouth, a scar going from his right eye, down to his neck.
“I have been watching these Future Stars. Day after day droning on, painting themselves as the next generation of greats. These oily palettes, dripping with excess.”
The light sways so the man’s face is no longer in view. The flame moves in a circular motion as it jumps back and forth.
“A mindless mercenary fights an overdramatic, pedantic clown for the top spot. Fool’s gold personified. A jackal tries to unseat the Irish Ninja.”
The overhead light once again sways in the man’s direction. His hand quickly shoots up and grabs the light. The veins from his forehead are pulsing, his eyes glazed over.
“You call them champions and challengers. You sing praise for them when they win, and exclaim their hearts when they lose. These false heroes and villains, all feigning importance in the eyes of the meek. All shall fall at my hands.”
He moves his hand to the glass bulb, not even a grimace as he wraps his hand around it. Not even a hint of emotion as he breaks the bulb in his hand. Now, only the hopping candle light can be seen, once again being moved in a circular motion. After the third rotation, the light is lifted. Again, the cold piercing eyes take the focal point.
“I am ‘The Alchemist.’ You can call me Nikolai Holmes. Named after the greatest scientist to ever live and the greatest detective ever to grace a fictional page. My intellect and athleticism plus the blood of my victims will lead to the Golden Renaissance. I am a master of the Dark Arts. Your bodies will be my canvass, hues of black, blue, and red will cover your bodies. And when I take those gold belts from your unconscious hands after your brush with death. You will finally see a true masterpiece standing before you in its final form.”
Nikolai Holmes piercing eyes, protruding veins, and scowl are visible for a split second before the flame is blown out.
INDY CHAMPIONSHIP LAST MAN STANDING Dominic Sanders Vs Jordan Sharpe
We return to ringside where we get prepared for the Indy Championship Match between Dominic Sanders and Indy Champion Jordan Sharpe
Woo: This is going to be a great match and I have a feeling Dominic will get the upper hand in this one early.
Gomez: Damn right, Sanders is winning this match, no doubts about it.
Brooks: Comments
Dobrev: The following match is is a Last Man Standing Match for the Indy Championship!
The lights go out in the LA Memorial Coliseum. Purple pyrotechnics burst up on the stage and down the sides of the ramp heading towards the ring. "War Machine" by KISS begins playing. Dominic Sanders steps out from the back in a dark purple hoodie and black wrestling tights on, finished by white boots. The hood of his sweatshirt drapes over his eyes as he stares out at the fans. Suddenly, Cora Whittaker appears from behind the curtain with a purple dress and purple streaks in her hair. Sanders and Cora stand at the top of the ramp and listen to a moderately mixed reaction from the crowd.
Dobrev: Introducing first/Their Opponent... from Fort Worth, Texas. Weighing in at two hundred and seventy pounds and being accompanied by Cora Whittaker... DOMINIIIIC SAAAAANDEEERS!
Dominic beats his chest with both fists and raises his arms in the air with a roar. The crowd reacts even louder as he starts to make his way down to the ring. A cocky grin can be seen under the hood of his sweatshirt as he walks down the ramp hand-in-hand with Cora at his side.
Sanders rolls underneath the bottom rope and into the ring. He jumps up to his feet and stares out into the crowd underneath the hood of his sweatshirt. Cora joins him at his side. He grins and nods his head as he moves over to the corner and waits as "War Machine" fades out and Cora exits the ring.
Dobrev: And his opponent...
Jordan Sharpe comes out, wearing the newest JFS Officially Licensed T-Shirt. He heads down the ramp with gusto, with plenty of merch to pass out for the fans whether it be hats, shirts, tumblers, pop sockets. He hands them out to any kids, neckbeards or blonde girls that are almost always definitely over the age of 18. As he makes it to the ring, the fans chant 'NO!' after each 'You ain't ready' in his entrance music as he on the turnbuckle with the Indy Championship raised over his head
DING DING DING
Sanders and Sharpe waste no time as they go right for one another exchanging blows neither one being able to get the upper hand, after about thirty seconds though Dominic is able to get harder punches in and back Sharpe up to the ropes where he whips him across and follows and as goes to rebound off the ropes Sanders hits him with a clothesline that knocks them both over the ropes! Sharpe takes the brunt of it as Sanders lands on top of him Not letting up though Sanders picks up Sharpe and whips him towards the steel steps causing his shoulder to bounce hard off of them knocking the top step off of the bottom step. Sanders stalks Sharpe who is now holding his shoulder. He Reaches him and stomps on him a bit before backing up and running towards the Indy Champion but Jordan moves and Dominic hits his knee on the loose top step sending him over the stair and landing hard on the floor on the opposite side!
As they both lay on the floor now the ref starts the count on both of them.
1!
2!
3!
Gomez: Get up Dominic!
Brooks: It looks like whoever gets up first may get the upper hand here.
Sharpe is the first one to get up though Dominic shortly follows. Dominic is clearly limping a bit though at this point in the match from being sent over the steps. Sharpe gets up behind Dominic who is trying to walk away to get some time and he whips him towards the guard rail which Sanders leans up against and is followed by a clothesline line over the rail. Sharpe hops over the guard rail and sees a downed Sanders. He makes a guy get up and steals his cowboy hat and yells YEEHAWW BITCH! Before grabbing the chair the man was sitting in and slamming it onto Sanders twice! Sharpe drops the chair and backs up as he lets the ref count.
1!
2!
3!
Woo: Look at that, Sharpe has become a cowboy! Ride on that!
Gomez: Come on Dominic! Get up! Can’t let a fake cowboy win!
Brooks: Sanders better get up before the count of 10. If he doesn’t you know what that means. He loses this thing.
Sanders gets up at the count of 6 which Sharpe shakes his head at. Sanders just looks at Jordan and just shakes his head as if he’s saying he can’t be kept down. Jordan looks at Sanders and right as he goes for a knee Sanders even with being slow right now rolls to the side and Sharpe's knee is sent directly into the railing. Dominic falls down and holds his knee. Sanders slowly gets up and sees the chair that Sharpe has used and used the top edge of it and hit the Indy Champion in the back of the knee causing his knee to buckle. Sanders looks at Jordan and then the guard rail which is followed by him sending his head into the guard rail. Dominic not done though picks Sharpe up and takes him to the side of the stage where the electronics are at and throws him into the casing of one of the lights causing it to flicker.
As he leans up against the light Sanders finds a rolling cart which before sending it to the middle of Sharpe's body Sanders yells YEEHAW THIS BITCH! He then proceeds to throw the cart as hard as he can to the midsection of the Indy Champion.
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
6!
7!
At eight Sharpe is finally able to get to a knee which at this point frustrates the former Undisputed Champion.
Woo: I’d call that a lights out ride but watch Sharpe take Sanders for one next.
Gomez: Way to take control Dominic! Now make him stay down for 10!
Brooks: He got up and didn’t get burned. That’s a feat!
Sanders walks over to Sharpe who is barely moving at this point and puts him onto the ramp and then follows. Sanders picks Sharpe up after getting them both onto the ramp. He goes to whip him against one of the light boards but Sharpe is able to reverse it and sends Sanders hard into it! Sharpe falls onto the floor along with Sanders as the ref looks at both of them down and starts a double count.
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
6!
7!
Sharpe gets up at 8 and Sanders closely follows at 9. They both are tired and stumbling at this point and they meet one another in the middle of the stage and go after the other trading punches. Sharpe gets the big blow in which knocks Sanders down. He stumbles into the back as the ref starts counting.
1!
2!
Sharpe comes back out and has a slight smirk on his face as he holds a light tube in his hand.
3!
4!
5!
6!
7!
Sanders gets up at 8 but Sharpe sends a light tube to his head which busts his whole head wide open!
Woo: Look at that blood! I’m not sure Sanders is getting up from this one!
Gomez: Come on Dominic! Get up! You’ve been through a lot worse!
Brooks: That is definitely going to hurt in the morning and that light bulb is fried.
Sanders was able to get up at nine after falling to the ground after the shot from the light bulb tube which surprised Sharpe. Sharpe went over to the bloodied Sanders and got him up and proceeded to throw him down the ramp towards the ring. Sanders got up to a knee but Sharpe grabbed him again and brought him down towards the ring which Sanders hit the side of but was able to keep himself at least partially up onto all fours. Sharpe reaches under the ring and pulled out a barbed wire bat and then a black bag. He dropped the bat and opened the bag which were revealed to be handcuffs. Dropping of the bat though was a bad play by Sharpe as Sanders grabbed it and slammed it into The Indy Champions leg then pulled it out as it ripped into his flesh and caused him to drop to a knee.
Sanders took full advantage of this as he got on top of Sharpe and used the barbed wire on the bat to grate across the head of Jordan which caused him to severely bleed just as much as Sanders was at this point. Dominic slowly got up and saw where he placed the barbed wire bat. A small smirk came across his face as he weakly lifted Sharpe up and grabbed him to hit him with a Funky Town onto the bat!
Woo: Talk about taking a shot to the back..
Gomez: Just get up now Dom! You have won it here for sure!
Brooks: That barbed wire has played a good part in this match. I thought that was just for fencing.
Sanders got up as the ref started counting and had to lean against the guard rail to make sure he didn’t fall down.
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
6!
7!
8!
9!
Sharpe is up! Sanders looks at Sharpe and can’t believe that he had gotten up Sanders quickly tried to get to Jordan but Jordan ducked the clothesline he was going for and used the bat just like Dominic had used it. This time Sharpe hit The Sharpknife! Jordan got up but the same thing happened with Sanders, he got up to the surprise of Sharpe! Jordan ran at Sanders and connected with the BPT but Sanders was saved from going down as he landed against the guard rail.
Sharpe can’t believe it and he went for another BPT but Sanders grabbed him and hit the Riptide! Both of them are down now.
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
6!
7!
8!
9!
They both are up! Sanders and Sharpe once again started trading blows but Sanders gains the upper hand by Cora finally getting involved and distracting Jordan. Dominic grabs Sharpe and throws him into the side of the ring. Sanders then pulls out a table from under the ring and sets it up. He sets Sharpe onto the table and makes sure he’s in perfect position. Sanders slowly makes his way to the top rope and jumps off hitting Titletown through the table! Neither are moving!
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
6!
7!
8!
Sanders gets up! 9!
10!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: The Last Man Standing AND NEW EWC INDY CHAMPION DOMINIC SAAANDEERRRSSS!!!!
Sanders barely is able to stand up as he is brought the Indy Championship and holds it with Cora next to him.
Woo: Hell of a match.
Gomez: YES! I knew Sanders would win this whole time.
Brooks: What a match. That win means Sanders is the Last Man Standing.
Camera cuts to an undisclosed location...
As we watch Dominic Sanders hoisting his newly won Indy Championship high above his head, we cut to a feed of a large television in a dark room with the same frozen image of him holding the title up stuck on the screen. The camera pauses for a moment before moving to the left to reveal a black leather gloved hand resting on the arm of a dark chair.
Unknown: I always knew I would cross paths with you again.
The hand balls into a tight fist, shaking in resistance, before unfurling and slapping the arm of the chair.
Unknown: I suppose there is no time like the present.
The hand pushes up off the chair and suddenly the television screen is obscured by the figure of a slender, suited man. The camera rises to reveal his silhouette, the Indy Championship still frozen on the television behind him, sitting over his shoulder.
Unknown: It has been too long, EWC...
The television switches off and plunges the feed into darkness.
Unknown: But it is finally time.
Dim lights light up the room and reveal the figure before the camera...
Silas Isaac Naberius: For those who are short of memory: my name is Silas Isaac Naberius... and I will rule PRIME. Join me in my glorious quest to bring power to the masses... or be crushed beneath the boots of benevolence.
Silas tilts his head, narrows his eyes, stares through the camera.
Silas Isaac Naberius: Mr Sanders. Mr Sharpe. You have been fine pawns in this game but now, finally, the grandmaster has arrived. You will now face the same choices... and I expect answers from you both very, very soon.
He smiles, baring white, sharp teeth.
Silas Isaac Naberius: I shall see you on Sunday nights.
He laughs; a throaty cackle that turns into full-blown, maniacal laughter before the feed comes to an abrupt end.
EWC UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP HELL IN A CELL Scorpio Vs Melody Malone
We return to ringside where the cell structure has been erected and the crowd is buzzing for the final match of the night.
Woo: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome BACK to Stranglemania, I’m still Marcus Woo and we’re here for your MAIN EVENT!
Gomez: This match is MONTHS in the making Woo, and I cannot wait to see the kind of hell these two bitches are about to put each other through. Tonight is a frontrunner for match of the year, I guarantee it!
Brooks: I know everyone wants to cancel 2020, but let’s not jump the gun calling it match of the year already Val.
Dobrev: The following match is a Hell in a Cell match for the UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP Joining us first, from London, England, weighing in at 205 pounds .. 'The S-Factor'... 'The People's Camp'.... SCORPIO!
'Iconic' - Madonna feat. Chance The Rapper hits the speakers as the house lights go down, switching to a spotlight focused on the curtain. It parts, revealing 'The S-Factor' Scorpio stood behind, a hand on his hip, the other raised above his head, cutting a beautiful silhouette. He sashays forward, a long coat dripping in jewels swaying with every step. Behind him steps Crème de la Crème, Scorpio's drag queen confidant and manager. The two look to one another and nod, before Scorpio opens his coat and drops it to the floor, revealing another stunning outfit. He steps down the ramp with a confident strut, emulating that of the catwalk models of Paris and Milan, before reaching the ring. Scorpio pauses at the door of the hell in a cell structure before he squares his shoulders and steps through the door and between the ring ropes. Stepping into the middle of the ring Scorpio raises one arm, and blows a kiss with the other, a smile forming on his beautifully made-up face.
Dobrev: And his opponent, from San Diego California, weighing in at 148 pounds ... she is the Undisputed Champion and YOUR QUEEN of the EWC… MELODY MALONE!
The lights in the LA Memorial Coliseum go dark, and a lone spotlight shines on a stage set off to the left of the entrance ramp. Billie Eilish stands, microphone in hand as the crowd erupts, knowing what’s coming next as she begins to sing.
Bite my tongue bide my time Wearing a warning sign Wait till the world is mine
Another spotlight flips onto the entrance ramp, where Melody stands in a long flowing gown with her back to the ring. Two formal men in tuxedos are standing in front of her, the one to the left of her holds a scepter and the one to her right holding the golden orb. Both are decked out in green jewels, as they present the coronation pieces to the Queen.
Visions I vandalize Cold in my kingdom size Fell for these ocean eyes
Both men part, and a third comes forward with her crown as she takes a knee. They place the crown atop Melody’s head, and the Undisputed champion rises to her feet, turning toward the crowd as the chorus finally strikes.
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
Malone stands with her head held high, crown atop her head and the orb and scepter in her hands before she levels her gaze at Scorpio waiting in the ring. She holds her arms out, the tuxedoed men taking her regal accoutrements from her before the third man reaches out and grabs hold of her gown and yanks it back. Tearing away, it reveals Melody’s ring gear and the Undisputed championship fastened around her waist to the roar of the crowd.
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
Melody finishes the walk down the ramp, shooting a dirty look in Creme’s direction as she takes the opposite route around the outside of the hell in a cell. She stops in front of the announce table before she removes her trademark crown and sets it down in front of Marcus Woo with a wink. She unfastens the championship from her waist, handing it to senior referee Toyo Yasahiro who holds it up to the raucous Los Angeles audience. Malone steps past Creme, who rolls her eyes as she steps through the cell door and into the ring.
Woo: This match has been MONTHS coming, buckle up EWC Nation!
DING DING DING
Melody and Scorpio circle around the ring, sizing each other up before Malone finally runs at Scorpio. She wraps her arms around his waist, but Scorpio is quick to counter into a standing side headlock. Melody powers forward, shoving Scorpio off of her and into the ropes before she drops down to the mat. Scorpio rebounds off the ropes, leaping over Melody and hitting the opposite rope. He hooks his arms around the top rope, stopping his momentum as Melody has scrambled back to her feet, waiting for the incoming S-Factor. She runs forward, hitting a clothesline that takes him off his feet and to the outside of the ring, catching himself against the chain cell wall. Melody gauges Scorpio’s position before looking over her shoulder, running to the opposite ropes and throwing herself through the top two ropes in a suicide dive into Scorpio, sending both of them into the chain wall. Melody gets back to her feet, reaching down for Scorpio but he throws a forearm up into her face that causes her to stagger back. Scorpio gets to his feet, climbing into the ring as Melody shakes off the forearm and follows in pursuit. She pulls herself up into the ring, climbing up on the turnbuckle as Scorpio turns around. She leaps off, looking for Off With Their Head, but Malone hits the mat hard as Scorpio plants his feet and resists her cutter. Seeing the opportunity, the S-Factor runs the ropes, looking to drop the Queen with the Glitterazi. Melody ducks the lariat, spinning around Scorpio and kicking him in the gut before she hooks his head under her arm. Before she can drop down, Scorpio spins out of her grasp and grabs hold of her arm, positioning her for the Heel Turn! Melody grabs hold of his ankle with her free hand though, wedging herself underneath his leg in an attempt to lock the Queen’s Grace! Scorpio drops down and kicks her in the upper thigh with his free leg, causing Malone to release the hold as he rolls away from Malone, who’s down to a knee.
Woo: I.. I can’t keep up with these two! They’ve got each other telegraphed better than I ever could.
Gomez: Scorpio and Malone are NO strangers to each other, you can’t think you’re going to get either of them away this easily.
Brooks: You think? Can’t believe neither of these two didn’t get the win already.
Brooks’ sarcasm can barely be heard over the roar of the crowd as both Malone and Scorpio have gotten back to their feet. Malone offers up a hand in the air for a test of strength, but Scorpio balks and instead knocks her hand down and follows up with a hard slap that jerks her head to the side and echoes through the stadium with an ‘ooooh’ from the crowd. Malone rears back and responds with one of her own, stumbling Scorpio back a step before she spears him into the corner. She turns him around, looking to try and hoist him up onto the top turnbuckle, but she stops short with a grimace on her face. Instead, she drops him down onto her knee with an atomic drop. Scorpio crumples to the ground and Melody climbs up the corner instead, dropping down onto the top ropes and hitting a split-legged moonsault before she hooks his leg.
1!
Scorpio shoots his leg out, finding the bottom rope as the official stops the count. Malone shoves against Scorpio, knocking his foot off of the bottom rope but before she can try and get another pinfall attempt, Scorpio reaches up and pulls Melody down into an inside cradle.
1!
2!
Malone kicks out at two, and slides out of the ring to put some distance between herself and Scorpio. The S-Factor climbs out of the ring, flipping the ring apron up and pulling a kendo stick out from beneath the ring. He zeroes in on Malone, sizing her up from behind before cracking the bamboo across her lower back. Malone shrieks, her hands trying to block the blows as Scorpio again snaps the stick across her back before he throws the kendo stick aside. He grabs hold of the self-proclaimed Queen, rolling her into the ring and hooks her leg for another pin.
1!
2!
Malone kicks out again, rolling to her side to keep her shoulders up and keep her back off of the mat. Red welts are beginning to raise across her lower back, and Scorpio begins to lay boots to the fallen champion, sending her back onto her back before he runs up and leaps off of the ropes with Lipsync for your Life! He hooks her leg triumphantly again.
1!
2!
Woo: Malone will not stay down yet!
Gomez: That’s not what I’ve heard.
Brooks: Wrong pay per view, Woo.
Scorpio looks furiously at Yasahiro, who holds up two fingers as Melody rolls out of the ring again. Scorpio climbs out of the ring, grabbing hold of Malone and getting a running start before he heaves her into the chain wall. Malone lands hard, bouncing off of the metal and to the floor. The S-Factor grabs hold of her, yelling something indiscernible before he swings open the cell door. He grabs Malone and drags her into the doorway, holding onto the edge of the cell door before he slams it closed onto Melody’s prone body. Creme claps excitedly from outside the cell, and Scorpio points to her, telling her to get a table ready for her majesty. Creme steps into the cell as Scorpio drags Melody out to the outside of the structure with a handful of hair. Malone takes a wild swing at Scorpio, breaking his hold on her hair as she staggers back. Scorpio, on the other hand, continues to move toward the announce table. Melody’s crown can be seen now, seated in front of Woo as Scorpio gets a devious smile on his face. He picks up her crown, looking at Melody with a fiery expression on his face before he drops it down onto the ground in front of the announce table. Melody, finally realizing what’s going on looks from the table, to the crown, to Scorpio with a blank expression as Scorpio drives his heel down, crumpling the crown beneath it as he screams ‘YOU’RE NO QUEEN YOU WHORE’. Melody reaches to her side, sending water bottles and papers flying as she grabs hold of one of the monitors in the Spanish announce table and HURLS the equipment in Scorpio’s direction. He ducks, narrowly avoiding literally being the biggest thing on that screen before he backpedals, looking to Creme for a brief moment before he puts just enough distance between himself and Malone to begin to safely scale the outside of the cage. Melody picks up the crown from the floor in front of the announce table, staring at the broken gilded metal before her eyes narrow and she stares up as Scorpio ascends the cage wall.
Woo: She’s not..
Gomez: YES. This is what I wanted to see! I had twenty bucks on someone getting thrown off the cage tonight.
Woo: That doesn’t sound very ethical...
Brooks: That sounds like I’m gonna lose twenty bucks.
Much to Woo’s dismay, Malone does exactly what he fears and begins to climb the cell structure as well. Scorpio motions for her to come closer, pointing down at the table Creme has not only erected out in front of the entrance ramp… but has now lit ablaze. Melody takes one look at the table below before she cracks a smile of her own before she holds up three fingers in his direction. Scorpio’s face twists in anger and he charges Malone atop the cage and both of them fall back onto the chain link ceiling, Scorpio mounting Malone with a series of punches. Malone jabs a thumb into Scorpio’s eye, blinding him long enough for her to push him aside and get back to her feet. Scorpio gets to a knee and Melody takes one look at Scorpio before she pulls her kneepad down and takes a short run at Scorpio, looking to hit a variation on the Blackout. Scorpio feels the impending sense of Malone behind him, the crowd roaring for what they hope is coming, and he drops himself down against the structure. Melody misses the knee strike, landing hard on her back on the cage ceiling as the crowd gasps, a couple of ‘popping’ sounds are heard following the impact. Malone and Scorpio both freeze for a moment before getting back to their feet, Scorpio getting to his feet first. The S-Factor grabs Malone by the hair, pulling her back to her vertical base as he drags her toward the edge of the cage, the flaming table still going strong down below. He tries to throw her from the cage, but Melody bears down and resists. Another attempt by Scorpio is thwarted, this time Malone clubs him across the midsection with a closed fist, trying to get him to break the hold on her hair. Melody attempts to shift the weight distribution in her favor, and both competitors teeter on the edge of the cage, letting go of one another in an attempt to save themselves. Scorpio grabs hold of Melody first, not wanting to lose this chance and he toe kicks her in the midsection, doubling her over, looking for a suplex to drop her backward off the cage. Malone locks her leg in, blocking the suplex attempt before she counters with one of her own, sending Scorpio up and over her, back toward the relative safety of the middle of the cage ceiling. More ominous ‘pops’ are heard as the S-Factor crashes into the chain link and Creme can be heard audibly gasping at ringside.
Woo: I don’t like the sounds that cage is making, folks it’s dangerous enough up there. This cage wasn’t built with something like this in mind, this isn’t the Insanity cage!
Gomez: Ohhh but it is tonight Woo! Scorpio is owed redemption dammit, and what would be more perfect than winning by sending Melody through that table?!
Brooks: Insanity is a good word for it, and what’s happening right now!
Creme looks distraught on the floor, and looks from Scorpio to the cage wall before taking off her heels and beginning to ascend the cage herself. Malone doesn’t see Creme ascending the cage, and instead focuses on Scorpio as she picks the S-Factor up to his feet and hooks his head under her arm. The Queen looks for Nightmare Fuel, but Creme has made it up the cage and leaps up onto Melody’s back, arms around her neck as she tries to save Scorpio from the DDT into the chain. Melody lets go of Scorpio, her hands going up to her neck as she tries to detach Creme. Scorpio is back to his feet, a sinister smile crossing his face as he joins Creme in grabbing hold of Melody. He stops, the crowd erupting as Vanessa comes running down the ramp, climbing up the side of the cage as fast as she can, and Scorpio foregoes Melody to try and head off Vanessa on the edge of the cage. Vanessa gets to the top of the cage before Scorpio can get there to stop her, but she can’t make it past him to Melody’s side. The S-Factor stops her dead in her tracks, grabbing her by the hair and turning to gloat to Malone, but she’s managed to not only free herself from Creme’s chokehold, but now holds Creme in a wrist lock, holding her in place in front of her as the two stare each other down with this quasi-hostage situation. Scorpio pushes Vanessa closer toward the edge of the cage, telling Melody to let go of Creme or she’ll send Vanessa over the edge. Malone looks from Creme to Vanessa before she releases the hold on Creme and shakes her head. Mouthing ‘I’m sorry’ to Vanessa, Melody sidesteps and NAILS Creme with a superkick that sends the drag queen over the edge of the cage and crashing through the German announce table at ringside. Scorpio freezes, shocked before he looks from Melody to Vanessa and sends her over the edge and through the flaming table that was meant for Malone.
HOLY SHIT
HOLY SHIT
HOLY SHIT
Woo: OH MY GOD!
Gomez: These two don’t give a ---!
Brooks: I..
Brooks can’t even find anything to say, but the crowd fills in for him as Malone and Scorpio atop the cage come together in the center. Melody shoots a kick out to Scorpio’s midsection, she hooks the head yet again but Scorpio powers away from her. Scorpio spins her around, trying to hook his hands around the back of her neck to hit her with her own Crowning Achievement! Malone knocks his hands aside and instead leaps up, grabbing Scorpio and hitting him with the AGR! They hit the cage ceiling, and the final popping sounds are revealed to be the ceiling slowly giving way as the panel collapses and both Melody and Scorpio fall through the cage and hit the mat below.
THIS IS AWESOME
THIS IS AWESOME
Official Yasahiro takes stock of what’s happened, medical personnel are already ringside taking care of Creme and Vanessa as Malone and Scorpio lie motionless in the ring. Scorpio rolls over, Malone on her back from the impact and he throws his arm over her.
1!
2!
NO! Melody somehow gets her shoulder up. Scorpio rolls off of Malone and Melody crawls toward the corner turnbuckle, pulling herself to her feet. Scorpio rolls from the ring, flipping the apron up and bringing out his hairdryer, Vidal. Melody sees Scorpio ringside, and she takes a running start from her corner and launches herself with another suicide dive toward Scorpio, but he’s got her scouted and brings Vidal up into her trajectory. The bedazzled dryer cracks Malone in the skull and crumples her ringside, blood now visibly seeping from her forehead.
Woo: Malone is busted open, Scorpio has his hair dryer, it’s pandemonium everybody!
Gomez: They promised blood and fire and they have DELIVERED, and it’s not even over!
Brooks: It might as well be, Malone may not even know where she is!
Scorpio sets Vidal on the ring apron, grabbing hold of the felled Malone and hitting her with a snap suplex on the outside of the ring, following it up with a standing moonsault. Malone rolls onto her stomach, crawling toward the ring as Scorpio is on his feet, sneering at the boos raining in from the crowd. Scorpio turns, looking to get his hands on Malone again, but Melody hits a drop toe hold that sends Scorpio into the ring apron face first! The S-Factor is bleeding, the wound from his match against Nezumi earlier tonight reopened and Melody reaches under the ring, pulling out a shrouded weapon. She pulls the bag off of it, revealing a baseball bat with the name ‘Ruthann’ etched into the aluminum. The EWC crowd ROARS excitedly as Malone taps the bat in her hand. Blinded by the blood, Scorpio doesn’t see Malone has pulled out the weapon until it’s perched underneath his chin. His eyes widen as Malone swings, but Scorpio mercifully ducks out of the way and the metallic clang of the bat hitting the ring post is all that’s heard. He gets back into the ring, grabbing Vidal to protect him as Melody climbs up onto the ring apron. As she tries to enter the ring, Scorpio grabs the baseball bat and tries to wrestle it from her. The two struggle to get leverage on one another before Scorpio stomps down on Malone’s foot. She jerks back, swinging the bat at Scorpio but he ducks out of the way again and let’s loose Vidal’s cord. In one deft movement, Scorpio wraps the cord around Malone’s neck and begins to choke her out. Melody lets go of the baseball bat, scratching at her throat trying to relieve the pressure of the cord against her neck, but Scorpio intercepts her hand. He brings his foot up, pointed heel zeroed in on Malone’s trachea as he drops back with the HEEL TURN!
1!
2!
3!
DING DING DING
Dobrev: And your winner, and NEW UNDISPUTED CHAMPION SCORPIO!
Malone rolls over, clutching her throat in agony as Scorpio slaps the mat beside her repeatedly before he gets to his feet and yanks the Undisputed title from Yasahiro’s hands.
Woo: After eight long months, you can hate how he did it… but Scorpio went through everything Malone could throw at him and it wasn’t enough to keep the S-Factor down.
Gomez: It is ABOUT TIME that the S-Factor got what he deserved! And screw the LA crowd for not showing some damn respect after this man went through the entire cell!
Brooks: This Malone will change her theme music to King Nothing now by Metallica?
Woo: Jokes aside folks, this night has been one for the history books! I think we can call it a successful first broadcast for us! For Valentina Gomez and Pepper Brooks, I am Marcus Woo wishing you all a great night and happy StrangleMania!
StrangleMania goes off the air with Scorpio in the ring celebrating and posing with both the United States title and the Undisputed title.
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
DARK MATCH I | HOT SHOT DEBUT BATTLE ROYAL Top 10: 10. Callie Clark 8 (tie). Jake Raab & Harlon Rogers 7. Colby Korver 6. David Scott 5. Isabella Top 4: 4. Bobby Rose 3. Quinn Collins RUNNER UP: Chris Snyder WINNER: Aaron Bolduc ...
DARK MATCH II | CAGE MATCH Alexander Daemon Vs Stalker WINNER via pinfall: Alexander Daemon
...
DARK MATCH III | FATAL FOUR-WAY MATCH Killjoy Ito Vs Samantha Hamilton Vs Ezio DeLuca Vs Gabrielle Visconty (PINNED) WINNER via pinfall: Samantha Hamilton
...
DARK MATCH IV | BRAWL VS FSW Bosa Vs Joseph Hall WINNER via pinfall: Joseph Hall
...
TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS / UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP Nezumi Hazama Vs Scorpio WINNER OF FALL 1 VIA PINFALL: NEZUMI HAZAMA WINNER OF FALL 2 VIA PINFALL: SCORPIO WINNER OF FALL 3 VIA PINFALL: SCORPIO WINNER (2 FALLS TO 1) & STILL UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Scorpio
...
SPECIAL GUEST REF & TIME KEEPER / TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP NSFW Vs DSR Volume II WINNERS via pinfall & STILL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: DSR Volume II
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PUB CRAWL BRAWL Aidan O'Sheahan Vs L.A. Meyers WINNER via pinfall: L.A. Meyers
...
FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE...IN LOS ANGELES Kendrick Kross Vs William Manson (SUBMITTED) Vs Mike Strong Vs Jeb Jackson WINNER via submission: Mike Strong
...
PINFALL ONLY / TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Faith Rivers Vs Lavender WINNER via pinfall AND NEW TELEVISION CHAMPION: Faith Rivers
...
LAST PERSON STANDING Iggy Swango Vs Phoenix Winterborn WINNER: Phoenix Winterborn
...
HELL IN A CELL LADDER MATCH / NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP Darlene Vs Wes Walker WINNER via title retrieval AND STILL NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION: Wes Walker
...
BULL ROPE MATCH / INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Darius Vs Clay Byrd WINNER AND NEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION: Clay Byrd
...
RAGE IN THE CAGE II / X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Ace King Vs Xavier Reid WINNER via escape AND NEW X-DIVISION CHAMPION: Ace King
...
BIKER CHAIN MATCH / FUTURE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP Mercenary Vs Stitches WINNER via submission AND STILL FUTURE STARS CHAMPION: Stitches
...
LAST MAN STANDING / INDY CHAMPIONSHIP Dominic Sanders Vs Jordan Sharpe WINNER AND NEW INDY CHAMPION: Dominic Sanders
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HELL IN A CELL / UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP Scorpio Vs Melody Malone WINNER via pinfall AND NEW UNDISPUTED CHAMPION: Scorpio