FN'R #482 - 2021 BORT DAY 1 - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

[FN'R]

WARNING: This live event contains strong coarse language (L), and intense violence (V) which may be unsuitable for younger viewers. None of the matches you are about to watch have been predetermined. Only some of the thematic story-lines have been discussed beforehand. Accordingly, EWC and it's producers must insist that no one attempt to recreate or re-enact any match or activity performed in this live event...

»»The BORT DAY 1««
THE BORT BEGINS

The Extreme Wrestling Corporation Presents

FRIDAY NIGHT RAMPAGE

FRIDAYS LIVE ON ESPN & HBO AT 10PM CST.
SPONSORED IN PART BY UNDER ARMOUR, SONY, DR. PEPPER AND GEARBOX STUDIOS.

EPISODE #482
APRIL 9TH 2021

LIVE FROM Sioux Falls Arena In Sioux Falls, South Dakota

EWC RAMPAGE
04.09.2021
Live From Sioux Falls Arena In Sioux Falls, South Dakota
General Manager - Grizzly Duggan
Commentators -
Play-By-Play: Javier Martinez
Color: Phillip Loydson
Announcer: Emmanuelle Chriqui
Head Ref: Toyo Yasahiro
Assistant Refs: Mike Michaelson & Pierce Patterson
Backstage Help: Bryan Spade & Candice Duggan

---------------

Fog spreads throughout the arena, covering the screaming fans as "Another Fight" begins to sound off over the loudspeakers.



"ALRIGHT, HOLD TIGHT
I'M NEVER GONNA LOSE ANOTHER FIGHT"

The fans scream for delight as the X-Tron explodes to life. Pyro ignites on the stage.



The camera pans around the arena as fans scream for delight and begin their chants and raise their signs high into the air.

{BORT}

{BORT}

{BORT}







FN'R!!!

FN'R!!!

FN'R!!!

FN'R!!!

The camera flashes back to the X-Tron which shows the current FN'R roster... There's Ace King, Alex "Bullet" Carbajal, Asriel Buzzard, Autumn Raven, Damage Inc, Ezra James, Iggy Swango, Jackson Knight Jr, Moxie
Phoenix Winterborn, Queen Melody Malone, S.T., Samantha "The Titaness" Hamilton, "The Animal Samuel McPherson, "The Harbinger of Destruction" Josh Gavin, "The Punk Rock Country Boy" Shaker Jones and Tommy Burton. The screen flashes back to show HBO Broadcast Champion Asriel Buzzard, United States Champion Melody Malone & Undisputed Champion Ace King.




And then the camera cuts over to the commentary desk, where Martinez stands with a smile. Phillip Loydson sits with a scowl on his face. Martinez sits down, and Loydson fakes a smile.

Martinez: Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Day 1 of The BORT. We have a big event planned for you tonight with twelve matches, eight of them being BORT matches.

Loydson: Big ol show.

Martinez: That it is Loydson. Tonight in our main event, it will be Melody Malone making the third defense of her United States Championship.

Loydson: And doing Crown Royal proud.

Martinez: And in our semi main event, Asriel Buzzard defends his HBO Broadcast Championship for a fourth time.

Loydson: And before that, our third marquee match of the night... Stephanie Matsuda takes on Ace King in a non-title X-Division bout.

Martinez: All that and more, coming to you tonight on Friday Night Rampage!

---

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The camera quickly cuts away to Emmanuelle Chriqui standing in the middle of the ring, microphone in hand.

Chriqui: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… the NEWWWWWWW Undisputed EWC Champion…

The Sioux Falls crowd immediately gets to its feet as Chriqui looks out to the crowd with a smile.

Chriqui: He is THE GAMBLER… ACE! KIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGGG!!!

The words are hardly out of her mouth before Lemmy’s signature growl fills the Sioux Falls Arena…

“THE ACE OF SPADES! THE ACE OF SPADES!!!”

The iconic Motörhead anthem shreds through the speakers, and the audience comes to life as Ace emerges in street clothes a few seconds later, the Undisputed EWC Championship gleaming under the lights while resting comfortably on his shoulder.

Martinez: He’s been nothing short of dominant to begin 2021, but even I have to admit I wasn’t sure we’d ever see Ace King become the Undisputed Champion again, particularly given what he endured at StrangleMania against Stitches, not to mention Killjoy Ito and Wes Walker, but here he is, set to embark on his second tour at the top.

Loydson: It’s nice to have the top championship back on Fridays, but I wish it was on literally anybody else’s shoulder.

Martinez: Come on, Ace threw everything he had into it, which isn’t easy after having thought about it for nearly 3 months after claiming Legends of the Cage. In the end, the victory puts him in rarefied air, as he joined Drake and Xplode as the only wrestlers with multiple Undisputed Championship reigns in this era, and he’s the first Friday Night Rampage competitor to do it, so on top of what’s to come, we’re seeing history unfold before our very eyes!

Ace takes a moment to soak in the Sioux Falls ovation, a slow smile crossing his face as he allows the championship to slip off his shoulder and into his hands, looking intently at the main plate for a long time before turning it around and hoisting it high, triggering a steady stream of pyro and fire behind him.

From there, Ace offers a heavy exhale before starting his walk down the ramp, taking it all in as he’s more engaged than usual with the fans lining the barricades. He calmly works his way around the ringside area before turning his attention back to the ring itself. Making sure he’s got his footing right, he pops up the ring steps, then launches himself over the top rope and into the ring, with golden fireworks going off from the ring posts when he lands, and a modest amount of confetti falling from the roof.

The ovation continues as Ace pats the main plate of the Undisputed EWC Championship, then roars triumphantly as he scales a turnbuckle, showing the championship off for the Sioux Falls audience. As the smoke from the fireworks dissipates, ‘Ace of Spades’ slowly fades out, and the Champion just stands there to soak it all in, subtly shaking his head in disbelief as the ‘ACE! ACE! ACE!’ chants continue, transitioning into…

YOU DESERVE IT!

*clap clap clap-clap-clap*

YOU DESERVE IT!

*clap clap clap-clap-clap*

YOU DESERVE IT!

*clap clap clap-clap-clap*

The chant continues as Ace is slightly overwhelmed by it, a thin smirk crossing his face as he slowly raises the microphone to his mouth.

Ace King: You guys have no idea how bad I wanted to be out here with a championship on each shoulder, just as it was in 2019.

The crowd still cheers him all the same, which he acknowledges with a subtle nod as he taps the main plate of his championship.

Ace King: It would have been poetic, continuing to push the X-Division forward while pairing it with the platform of the Undisputed Championship… Even though we all know how that turned out, I’d like to think I still won by shutting down the narratives that I wouldn’t give every last ounce of energy I had. If it wasn’t clear before, I know no other way than to not hold back, no matter the cost.

Ace still appears bothered as he stands in the middle of the ring, looking out at the crowd as they chant for him again.

Ace King: Now then, moving on… Second chances in this business can be fleeting, and when they come, you need to be ready to embrace them. Now, I know some will laugh at the idea of me talking about “second” chances, but having this in my possession again?

He takes the Undisputed EWC Championship off his shoulder and raises it high, prompting a prolonged applause from the Sioux Falls crowd. He eventually lowers it and puts it back on his shoulder, looking down at it fondly.

Ace King: ...Having this again is very much a second chance in my view, and while I certainly didn’t give it up without a fight the first time around, I’m also not the same person I was the first time I had it. I remember coming out in Monterrey, Mexico as the Undisputed Champion for the first time, and honestly? I was overwhelmed by it, because for everything I believed about the pressure before winning it in 2019, it took me to a place I didn’t recognize, and before I could find my way, it was already over.

‘The Gambler’ just shrugs his shoulders in the middle of the ring before continuing on.

Ace King: Of course, that just invites the doubters to chirp about how my previous run only lasted a short time, and that’s obviously their prerogative… But I'll just say this: Fuck what you've heard, because this is what you're hearing: This is the hardest championship to win in ANY wrestling company, much less hang on to for any significant period. Many other amazing competitors have held this once...

As if to make a point, Ace holds up a wristband with the letters JFS written crudely on it, drawing a cheer from the crowd.

Ace King: ...And an equal number have come so close before ultimately falling short of ever reaching the summit, so to be back here a second time… It really is mind-blowing, and I’ve always appreciated the support.

Ace thoughtfully rubs his chin for a moment as the applause ratchets back up throughout the Sioux Falls Center. The Undisputed Champion takes a breath before continuing on, holding the championship tightly in his other hand.

Ace King: Now, if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to go back in time for a moment… Specifically, I’m going back to October 24, 2016: Monday Night Brawl #467 in Brooklyn, New York. It was one of my very first appearances in EWC, and I knew I had to be there, because that night… Jaden Hunter and Ashton Drake squared off for the first time, God rest them both.

‘The Gambler’ looks up to the heavens with a solitary point as the crowd cheers heavily in recalling the memory.

Ace King: They went tooth and nail at each other for so long that, frankly, it made me unsure of whether or not I belonged in EWC… and yet, being there to see Xplode’s historic run with the Undisputed Championship meet its end showed me that anything is possible. Now, I stand before you as just the third person to be a multi-time Undisputed EWC Champion alongside those two names, and it’s an honour, it truly is.

Ace is doing his best to not get emotional as the crowd chants his name once more, shifting his weight from one foot to the other in the middle of the ring as the fans persist with varying chants. Eventually, they tail off once Ace raises the microphone to his mouth once more.

Ace King: Of course, on account of having been here before, I’m not blind to what’s coming. There’s a reason this championship bears four different gem colours: No matter where I go, I’m always going to be a target. It comes with the territory of being the Undisputed Champion, and I’d have it no other way. I’d like to think I’ve proven it through the X-Division expansion, not to mention Legends of the Cage. I’m more ready than I’ve ever been to make the mark I couldn’t the first time around, and it all starts with Stephanie Matsuda tonight.

Ace shakes his head, still disgusted by the notion as the crowd starts booing at the mention of the Psych Ward member.

Ace King: Yes, the same Stephanie Matsuda who actually suggested last year that I shouldn’t be in EWC anymore because I was apparently keeping her from certain opportunities. Let me ask you, Steph...

He allows the Undisputed Championship to slide into his hand once more before thrusting it into the air to another roar from the crowd.

Ace King: AM I STILL IN THE FUCKING WAY NOW?!?! I’m no fool, I’ll know it’s time to go when I’m good and ready, but I’m not there yet, not by a long shot, and I sure as fuck don’t need you, of all people, to dictate that to me… And yet, in a way, I still am doing the right thing by not occupying a spot in the Best of Rampage Tournament. All I’ve ever wanted is to be the best version of myself, so I’m here for the long haul, and I’m not stopping until I’m firmly entrenched in the conversation of being THE BEST EWC HAS EVER SEEN!

Ace’s defiance sends another wave of excitement through the building as the fans rise once more, with even ‘The Gambler’ feeling more amped up than usual. He briefly twirls the microphone in his hand before settling down again, slowly raising the microphone to his mouth.

Ace King: In that vein, I’ll leave with a parting message for those beginning this tournament over the next few months: I’ll be watching very closely. I poured my heart and soul into Rampage when it was on the cusp of dying, and I expect every last one of you to do the same from now until July, because being the Best of Rampage is one thing… Being the best in EWC is another thing entirely, and I know I’m going to fight like hell to make sure I’m the one the winner faces in the end. In the name of sending the message that Friday Night Rampage is THE place to be in EWC... Every last one of you better do the same.

With that, Ace flips the mic out of his hand, his expression fiery as ‘Ace of Spades’ reprises, raising the energy level of the crowd one more time.

Martinez: Wow, the Undisputed Champion laying down the gauntlet here tonight.

Loydson: What kind of so-called Champion doesn’t lead by example by going into the BORT himself?

Martinez: He made it very clear that, even though he’s a Rampage competitor, he realizes others need opportunities, too.

Loydson: How noble. He’s scared of losing the championship quickly again.

Martinez: Agree to disagree there, but what I think we can both agree on is that the Best of Rampage Tournament is sure to start with a BANG here in Sioux Falls, and we can’t wait for it!

‘The Gambler’ finally rolls out of the ring, casually greeting fans lining the ringside barrier as we cut to…

MATCH ONE
S.T. VS The Young Lions
Barbed Wire Ropes Tag Team Match
REF: Mike Michaelson

---

Chriqui: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a tag team barbed wire ropes match. The ropes are wrapped in barbed wire and anything goes. Introducing first, standing at a combined weight of 225 pounds... Psycho & Bandit... S.T.!!!

"Pledge Your Allegiance" by Suicidal Tendencies starts up. 12 seconds in, the "S! T!" chants start. Aoife "Banshee" Maguire takes this as her cue to walk through the curtain with bodyguard/girlfriend, Katrina "Hairicin" Knox, right behind her. A second later, the team known as S.T., Jackie "Bandit Layton and "Psycho" Saoirse Maguire, walk through the curtain as well. the four women make their way to the ring where banshee steps through the ropes first, the others following her in. She takes the center of the ring with Hairicin behind her and points to the two corners facing the camera. Bandit takes the left corner, Psycho takes the right and all four raise a fist in the air. The other two leave S.T. to the match.

Chriqui: And their opponents. Standing at a combined weight of 305 pounds... Jamie Love & Lorenzo... THE YOUNG LIONS!!!

"For The Glory" sounds out and The Young Lions come out screaming and making a lot of noise to hype up (troll) the crowd. They look at S.T. nod to themselves and then head down to the ring.

Martinez: S.T. and Young Lions have had a bit of a rivalry as of late, a mini-feud if you will. And it all comes down to this match.

Loydson: And what a dumb match this is. Who agrees to participate in a match as violent as this, just a week after StrangleMania. No one is 100%

DING DING DING

The beginning of the match saw Jamie Love & Bandit start the match. The evenly sized superstars engaged in a shoulder/collar tie-up that would see Bandit getting an advantage and transitioning into some stiff chops on Love's chest, followed by a big dropkick that sent him towards the ropes. Love was able to stop himself from hitting the barbed wire, but Bandit caught him with another chop and then dragged him to the corner where she tagged in Psycho. Psycho had a neck crank on Love for a minute or so, before she began kicking him in the back of his leg. Psycho then kneed the smaller man in the small of his back before Irish whipping him directly into the barbed wire ropes! The barbed wire tore into Love's back. As he pulled himself from the ropes, blood began to dribble down his back. Psycho dropkicked Love clean in the jaw, which sent him over the rope.. cutting his arm on the barbed wire too! Psycho began to advance but Lorenzo made his appearance known vi a big cross body.

Martinez: A big crossbody from Lorenzo to flatten Psycho and even things out!

Lorenzo dragged Psycho up by her hair and into a DDT! Bandit rushed into the ring at Lorenzo, but the bigger man snapped into her head with a enziguri. Jamie Love rolled back into the ring, and the tandem would hit Psycho with a double superkick before hitting Bandit with a double suplex. Bandit got back to her feet but was sent into the ropes! She was able to shift her weight, but still hit the ropes and cut open her cheek. She stumbled back into a double superkick that sent her over the ropes to the outside. Lorenzo hit the ropes, cutting his own back and ignoring the pain and then diving into a Suicide Dive! The barbed wire cut his chest on the exit but he no sold it and told Jamie to finish it!

Loydson: That idiot just hurt himself for the sake of a win!

Jamie sent Psycho into the ropes, cutting open her back. On the rebound he superkicked her, poked her in the eye and then slammed her head into the canvas with a DDT. Jamie wrapped his legs around Psycho's waist and locked on The Love Attachment! On the outside Lorenzo beat Bandit with a chair. After about a minute in the hold, Psycho had to tap.

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winners, via submission... THE YOUNG LIONS!!!

Martinez: A big win for The Young Lions as they get the final victory in this mini-feud.

Loydson: S.T. put up a hell of a fight, gotta hand it to them. But those rookie Young Lions are willing to do whatever it takes to get a victory, even hurt themselves like Lorenzo did. Just plain stupid.

Person: “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD FUCKIN EEEEEEEVENING GODDAMMIT!”

The wide-eyed, unfamiliar face of a character shouts into the lens of the camera recording him. It is now nighttime, and the L.E.D lamps from the front of the cockpit illuminate his face. He’s seated in what looks to be the black leather interior of a Maserati Gran Tourismo, as he’s dressed down in a black fitted hat. It’s slightly crooked on his head, and he’s also sporting a black XXL Carhartt jacket over his massive frame. He peers his vision back towards the road in front of him.

Person: “WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO….. Where are we off to babe?”

His voice is directed towards whomever is recording him.

Woman: “Jack in the Box…”

She quietly responds back to him.

Person: “WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO JACK IN THE BOX GODDAMMIT!”

He loudly responds back to her answer. At this point, you can hear the loud rumble of the V8 engine. From the drivers side, you can hear horns blairing, and the visual of multiple taillights from multiple vehicles through his driver side window as he weaves in and out of traffic.

Person: “SO TONIGHT… EWC, I have a special message for all of you that just want to know who the FUCK I am. I am SIL FRIGIDA. And tonight I promise to make my point VERY. FUCKING. CLEAR. Because apparently I haven’t yet! Everyone’s too busy talking about some fucking thing on MY SHOW that is called a "BORT”."

He sports a silly look on his face as he says the word "BORT".

Sil Frigida: “First and foremost, WHAT THE FUCK IS A BORT? WHAT ARE ANY OF YOU EVEN FIGHTING FOR?”

He shakes his head, as he directs his eyes back towards the traffic.

Sil Frigida: “Anyhow, I honestly don’t give a shit, because this is a callout to ANYBODY in the EWC! I’m talking about pencil neck wannabe country singers like “Heartless” (he says in a very sarcastic tone) Jack Severn! If you come walking past me with those cheap fugazi looking Oakleys on your featherbrained head I’ll punch you so hard that it will separate that manbun from your scalp! If you want some, COME GET SOME, GODDAMMIT!”

Sil then fails to use any turn signal as the car rocks violently after making a right turn. The person recording Sil then shows us the view from the front windshield. We see that there is a square building, ala Jack In The Box in front of where they are driving.

Sil Frigida: “WE ARE HERE AT JACK IN THE BOX!”

Sil loudly exclaims with a macho, triumphant roar. He zips into the drive-thru, which luckily isn’t too busy. Only one car is in front of him placing their order.

Sil Frigida: “So… in case you haven’t got the clue yet… ANYBODY, ANYWHERE, ALL CALL OUTS ARE MANDATORY GODDAMMIT! If I have go to BRAWL and leave your paper champion BOSA laying lifeless in the center of the ring, I WILL. If I have to go over to PARAMOUNT and show Robbie Raider what a real champion looks like, I WILL. If I even have to go over to PRIME, or what I like to call the BUSCH LEAGUE, and I beat EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. YOU. Into a comatose state in order to get my respect…. I FUCKING WILL, GODDAMMIT!”

At this point a raged up Sil Frigida is almost pounding on the steering wheel. Somehow, his wife… girlfriend… sidepiece or whatever she is still holds the camera completely still.

Sil Frigida: “Because I am the man, right babe?”

He calmly asks whoever is recording.

Sil's Lady: “Yup.”

She simply answers back in a foreign accent. At this point, the car in front of them has cleared the intercom. There is now a car behind them that begins to sit on their horn.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

Sil Frigida: “FUCK YOU!”

Sil shouts as he extends a meaty hand out the window to flip them off. They must’ve got the point, as they laid off their horn after receiving a tattoo-covered bird. Sil begins to pull up to the drive thru window.

Jack In The Box Employee: “Thank you for choosing Jack in the Box, how may I take your order!?”

A young feminine voice asks over the loudspeaker.

Sil Frigida: “Yes… I will get SIX DOUBLE JACKS with DOUBLE CHEESE! And… what do you want babe?”

Sil's Lady: “Just a lettuce wrapped Jack…”

She answers with her usual, subtle, Icelandish accent.

Sil Frigida: “ONE LETTUCE WRAPPED JACK, GODDAMMIT!”

There was a long pause between Sil’s voice, and the Jack in the Box employee. Apparently he scared her away from taking his order. Sil was growing somewhat frustrated with the delay, until the voice of another person broke the silence.

Jack In the Box Employee: “So, I have six double Jacks with double cheese, and one lettuce wrapped Jack? What would you like to drink with those.”

Sil Frigida: “TWO SUPER SIZED DIET COKES!”

Sil shouted at the intercom.

Jack In the Box Employee: “Thank you sir, I’ll have your total at the second window.”

Sil begins to pull around the side, before he pulls behind the car that was in front of him earlier. He then looks back at the camera filming him.

Sil Frigida: “So President Mac, don’t give me another BANANA to squash next week! I will fight ANY TIME! ANYWHERE! ANY PLACE! To all of my haters, which I know there are plenty in this company… STEP. THE FUCK. UP! I’ll take on Siegfried and Roy… or The Young Lions as they like to call themselves at THE SAME TIME. I will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to be at THE TOP of this COMPANY GODDAMMIT!”

Sil looks ahead of him before pulling up to the second window. The male at the window opens it and seems in awe at the size of the man in the car.

Jack in the Box Employee: “Sir… total comes out to…. Fifty-five ninety seven.”

He says, nervously.

Sil Frigida: “KEEP THE CHANGE.”

Sil says, tossing the kid a one hundred dollar bill.

Jack in the Box Employee: “But, sir… I.”

Sil Frigida: “JUST KEEP IT! WE’RE FUCKING HUNGRY, GODDAMMIT!”

The kid doesn’t hesitate to take the Ben Frank, and hands Sil two bags, along with two very large drinks. He then proceeds to pull off from the window.

Sil Frigida: “I want everyone of you to ask yourselves… what is your motivation? Are you doing WHATEVER IT TAKES? Are you eating up to seven times a day? Are you in the ring every day working on your skillset? I highly doubt it! So, go ahead… gossip if you want to, but when you come face to face with a monster like me, DONT SHIT YOURSELF! You want to be the best? You want to claim your throne at the top? ONE DAY YOU MAY!”

Sil lets out a menacing cackle before punching down the throttle and zooming off on a sidestreet, as the Maserati lets out a loud roar.

MATCH TWO
Davey Dunham VS Jack Severn VS Marcu$ $t. John
Triple Threat
REF: Mike Michaelson

---

Chriqui: The following match is a Triple Threat! Introducing first, from Silicon Valley, weighing in at 220-pounds ... He is The Young Mogul ... MARCU$ $T. JOHN!

"Fast Lane" blasts through the arena by Bad Meets Evil. A Maybach drives up through the entrance ramp. A chauffeur gets out of the vehicle and opens the back door. Marcu$ McGarrett gets out on the entrance stage and money starts falling down from the sky with his face on 100 dollar bills as green laser lights illuminate the arena. As the money shower stops, Marcus walks down the ramp with a smug look on his face. He stops right before he gets to the ring and basks in the boos that he is getting from the crowd and waves his hands around as to tell them to keep it going and get louder. He jumps up on the apron and wipes his feet before he enters the ring and poses in the middle of the ring as a light shines a hundred dollar bill in the center of the ring with his face on it.

Chriqui: And his opponent, from Columbia, South Carolina, weighing in at 225-pounds ... DAVEY DUNHAM!

"Crossroads" by I Prevail kicks up and Davey heads down to the ring with Owen and Alex in tow. His buddies take their places at ringside. Davey slides in, keeping an eye on Marcus St. John as he poses for the fans before settling into his corner to await the start of the match.

Chriqui: And their opponent, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, weighing in at 220-pounds ... HEARTLESS JACK SEVERN!

DING DING DING

All three men pace around the ring, carefully trying not to rush right into an ambush. One might expect Davey and Jack to already be beating the daylights out of each other, but that's not the case just yet. Marcus sees an opening on Dunham and charges in when he's not looking, but Davey spots him just in time and throws him into the corner of the ring. Davey spins back around as Severn comes running at him. He sidesteps out of the way and the Running European Uppercut hits Marcus instead of Davey. Now Davey and Jack are going at it, trading blows back and forth. Marcus runs right up behind Jack Severn, drops to a knee and low blows Jack right in the pills. DDT from Davey to follow up. Jack rolls out of the ring as Cain stands nearby to make sure neither Owen or Alex get involved. Inside the ring Marcus and Davey are going at it. Both men are relentless and the speed at which everything is happening is dizzying! Davey runs and rebounds off the ropes. He's looking for a shoulder tackle, but Marcus floors him with a Drop Toe Hold. Marcus does a kip up as Davey quickly pushes himself up off the mat. Jack's back in the ring, and he grabs Marcus and whips him into the turnbuckle. After a series of Knife Edge Chops on Davey, Jack goes to whip him into Marcus, but Davey reverses it, and as Marcus moves out of the way just in time, Jack collides with the turnbuckle. He stumbles out of the corner with his back turned as Davey rolls him up in a School Boy. Marcus is there to break up the pin almost immediately.

Martinez: Maruc$ shut that down!

Marcus uses an Eye Poke to discombobulate Davey, and it works. Marcus, fast as lightening, hops up on the top turnbuckle in one fluid motion, leaps off feet-first and connects with a Missile Dropkick! Davey rolls out of the ring to catch his bearings. Owen and Alex are there to stabilize him. In the ring, Jack and Marcus go back and forth reversing each others' attempts to get a move in, but Jack gets the upper-hand, ducking beneath a Spinning Heel Kick and bringing him down with an explosive Lariat! Marcus struggles a little to get back to his feet, but Jack puts him back down with a Snap Suplex. Davey's back inside the ring now and him and Jack start trading hands again. The fans are cheering loudly as Davey starts building up momentum, hitting Jack twice for every punch he returns. Dazed, Jack goes flying into the corner. Davey charges in with a Splash, but Jack moves out of the way and Davey connects with the turnbuckle chest-first. He spins around in time to get hit with a Spinning Backfist. Jack looks to Lariat Davey from behind, but Davey instinctually ducks and Jack goes into the corner. Davey looks for a Clothesline, but now he's the one in the corner once Jack steps out of the way. Another poke to the eye, this time from Jack, and Davey's half-blinded. Jack rolls him up in a pin attempt, but again Marcus is there to break it up.

Loydson: Marcu$ is again there to break up the pinfall. 

Davey's holding his left eye, and when he removes his hand we can see it's red and watering. He spots Marcus trying to pin Jack after a Super Kick--which staggers Jack, but he doesn't put him down--and a Power Slam. Now Davey's the one to break up the pin. Marcus and Davey go back at it. Davey ducks beneath a Spinning Heel Kick, front rolls forward, contorts his body and connects with a Pelé Kick out of nowhere! Marcus stumbles, but finds the ropes to keep him upright. Davey charges at him with a Clothesline, but Marcus is able to use Dunham's momentum to catapult him over the ropes. Owen and Alex catch Davey before he connects with the ring barricade! The fans are cheering so loud at the dumb luck of it all! His comrades let him get back on his feet and Davey slides back in the ring just as Jack has Marcus locked in to a Boston Crab. Jack releases Marcus' legs and charges Davey, but Davey pulls off The ReKon Wave Rider just in time. He hooks Jack's leg, using his entire body to keep him pinned down, but the unofficial pin-breaker-upper, Marcus, is there to make the safe just in time! All three men are breathing heavily now, and the pace of the match has slowed tremendously. It may just be a matter of moments before we finally have ourselves a winner, folks! Marcu$ rushes at Jack, but Jack sends Maruc$ over the top rope crashing outside. Davey Dunham rolls up Jack, but Jack turns it into a rollup on Davey! 

ONE!

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.

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TWO!!

.

.

.

THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner, via PINFALL... JACK SEVERN!!!

On the outside of the ring Marcu$ punches the barricade. A fan laughs at him so he grabs the dude's beer and throws it on him. Davey Dunham tries to plead his shoulder was up while Jack laughs in a corner.

Martinez: That match could have gone either way, but it was Jack Severn winning in the end via a rollup.

Loydson: Pretty predictable ending really. He got rid of John and didn't have to worry about him breaking up the pin. 

---

Cutting backstage, we see "Ultraviolence" Phoenix Winterborn deep in thought on his upcoming match later in the night against Alex "Bullet" Carbajal. He is rubbing his hands against each other, breathing deeply. The single solitary candle lit the room, casting a slow on the face of the Psych Ward member.

Phoenix Winterborn: A lot can change in a few short days, can't it Alex? You see, while I was angry in my promotional material, and I do not apologize for that...I know that channeling, and focusing that anger is much more beneficial to my winning this tournament. What that means for you is...well, there is nothing more dangerous than a man who is back against the wall. There is nothing more dangerous to anyone on this roster than Phoenix Winterborn when he has his sights set on something. You saw how I, along with the War Queen, almost ended the careers of Southern Express even in defeat. But the defeat was a learning experience, infuriating as it may be. I saw my future as I was flying through that table. I knew what I must do, and what I must do is continue to re-invent myself. Continue to be the nightmare of Rampage. Bullet, the monster under your bed comes to light tonight, and you are not going to like what stands before you. You will see...that Ultraviolence is not something you can handle as easily as you think. You say you're ready to dance in the pale moonlight, but I really doubt that you are. We may start the Best of Rampage tournament, but if you're not careful with me? You won't make it to the rest of the tournament.

An eerie calm came over Winterborn, as he set his hands on his legs, palms up while he lowered his head.

Phoenix Winterborn: This Best of Rampage tournament is mine for the taking. You and my next opponent in this tournament, Asriel Buzzard, should take note. I'm coming for your mortal bodies, and your eternal beings.

Raising a hand up, he quietly extinguished the flickering flame, engulfing the room in pitch black.

Phoenix Winterborn: Save thy souls, for the Deacon is upon you...

The camera cuts backstage inside the Sioux Falls Arena where we find the NEW International Champion Xavier Reid walking backstage, the championship over his shoulder. A few heads turn as the champion makes his way towards The Love Club locker room including Rampage’s Brian Spade, who walks right past Xavier and then does a double take.

Spade: Xavier?

Xavier stops and drops his head as if he was hoping Brian would just continue to walk on by. He turns and looks at the Rampage Backstage employee.

Spade: Sorry, it’s just...we weren’t really…

Reid: Expecting me?

Brian nods

Spade: Yeah…

Brian looks down at his notes, that includes people to interview and guest that will be here tonight, to make sure he didn’t miss something but before he can make it down to the X’s for Xavier or the R’s for Reid...who knows how Rampage lists their talent Xavier cuts in

Reid: I won’t be on that list Brian, I didn’t call Duggan or Ruiz to inform them I’d be here...for this exact reason…

Spade: Then how did you get into the arena?

Xavier looks at Brian as if he’s an idiot

Reid: Because I’m the International Champion...even your brain dead staff know this, they weren’t going to make me wait outside while they checked with the GM or some staff member...they opened the door and waved me on in…

Spade: Sure, yeah...but can I ask you…

Reid: What am I doing here?

Brian sort of nods

Reid: I’m here to support Samantha

Brian shrugs and nods, as if that does in fact make sense

Reid: See I get it, for my entire career I’ve heard the whispers, ‘Xavier Reid can’t be trusted’ people will say ‘you have to keep one eye on Xavier at all times’...that I’m ‘incapable of having a tag team partner’ and yes...in the past I lived up to those warnings. I don’t shy away from the fact that I have turned on every person that’s been close to me but that was the past Brian, I’ve grown up…

Xavier smiles, mocking those that think they know him

Reid: I’ve bought into The Love Club, bought into the idea of being one of many...part of the group and Brian…

Xavier looks at the championship that rests on his shoulder and then back at Brian

Reid: It’s paid off AMAZINGLY well for me, since hiring Tommy Love, since becoming a member of The Love Club I’m a TWO TIME International Champion, won the Power Struggle Match and became the Undisputed Champion...hell I’m the only member of the EWC that appears on the Elite 15 twice, number 8 and then again at number 15 with Samantha as apart of The Xtreme Ravagers…

Xavier smiles

Reid: And tonight I’m here to root her on and help her in any matter she might need because we are a team Brian and I celebrate her success. Tommy and I faced Samantha’s BORT opponent here tonight back at Hardcore Revolution when I won this for the first time…

Xavier slaps the International Championship

Reid: So I came along to Sioux Falls, South Dakota straight from London to show my support and I know...people don’t like the fact Samantha is with us...with me...I see them, I hear them giving her warnings, trying to talk her out of this partnership, as if it’s their place...as if it’s their business...but they don’t get it, I’M ALL IN with The Love Club and the Xtreme Ravagers...and I’ll help Samantha in any way she needs it to win Block B, to become the NEW HBO Broadcast Champion and to claim that shot at the Undisputed Championship…

Xavier smiles

Reid: Because like it or not Brian The Love Club is the dominant faction here in the EWC, look around, we have the International Championship, the X-Division Championship, the Tag Team Championships...and we are just getting started...so…

Xavier reaches out and pats Brian on the top of the head

Reid: I’ve wasted enough time with you, tonight Samantha goes out to that ring and beats Iggy Swango and collects her first 2 points of the BORT and starts her march to showing EVERYONE that she is in fact, the Best of Rampage!!!

Xavier smiles and pats Brian on the side of the face before turning and heading off in the direction of The Love Club locker room.

MATCH THREE
Gabrielle Visconty VS King Flip
Singles Match
REF: Peirce Patterson

---

Chriqui: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a singles match. Introducing first, from Honolulu, Hawaii. Weighing in at 126 pounds, she is a former EWC International Champion... GABRIELLE VISCONTY!!!

The lights in the arena dim and slowly pulse to the opening chords of "I Am The Fire" by Halestorm. Gabi Vee walks out to the entrance ramp and smiles out at the crowd as she stops at the top of the ramp. She grins as she looks over the crowd before heading down the ramp and towards the ring. Gabi interacts with the fans before she hops up on the side of the ring, smirking out to the crowd before she springboards herself gracefully into the ring. She paces the ring and works the crowd a bit before she heads to her corner.

Chriqui: And her opponent, from The land of money and fame. Weighing in at 220 pounds, and accompanied by Chanel. He is also a former EWC International Champion... KING FLIP!!!

An ominous boom hits the PA as the arena goes a dark hue of steel blue. A lovely violin solo begins to play as the tron depicts the image of a massive pile of money under several spotlights. After fifteen seconds, the solo peaks into a frightful tone dragged on as the money bursts into flame. 'Machinegun' begins to play as the man in the hooded vest, head low, emerges from the curtain with manager Chanel in tow. He gets to the edge of the rampway when he lifts his hood to reveal that arrogant half smile.

The lyrics chime in as he walks slowly down the ramp with his eyes locked in on the ring. He slides into the ring and leans against the turnbuckle with arms agape as his theme plays, yelling something inaudible to the referee and ring announcer. He turns to the stage / his opponent ready for the action to start.

Martinez: A battle between two former International Champions, they both had some strong words to say to the other and it all comes down to this.

Loydson: Gabi may have abandoned FNR to unabandon MNB... but she's still got a place in my heart.

DING DING DING

The beginning of the match saw a red hot Gabi Vee explode into Flip with a European uppercut that rocked him back into his corner. Vee grabbed his arm and sent him flying into her corner, and then rushed him with a running hand spring elbow. From this point Gabi Vee landed a fisherman buster, and a springboard superman punch. She would attempt a pinfall but Flip powered out at one. Flip got to his feet but springboard bulldog would put him back down. Gabi kept on the headlock and dragged Flip up before turning it into a Tiger Driver 91. Gabi went for a cover, but Flip was able to jab her eye and break out of it. That eye jab changed the flow of the match. Gabi was working with one eye, and couldn't stop Flip from baiting her in and landing a spinning heel kick followed by a reverse DDT. Gabi got to her feet, but a Flip lariat put her back down. Flip stomped Gabi's face, neck and chest until the ref shoved him off at threat of DQ.

Martinez: Flip is taking this match too far!

Flip pulled Gabi up by her hair, and he hit a stiff DDT. He did this same move three times in a row while mocking the crowd. Flip went for the move a fourth time, but this time he took a back and then ripped Gabi backwards into a German suplex. Her head bounced off the canvas and the momentum rolled her to her knees. Flip grabbed Gabi's hair and sent her into the ropes, but a desperation move by Gabi saw her leap onto the top rope, and then jump backwards into her own spinning heel kick that almost knocked Flip clean out! Gabi calls that one Wrath.

Loydson: YOU GO GABI!!!

Gabi covered Flip following the Wrath.

ONE!
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.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner, via pinfall... Gabrielle Visconty!!!

Gabi Vee has her arm raised high, and then she heads off to the locker room without even looking at Flip. Flip rubs his jaw and shakes his head.

Martinez: Big win for Gabi Vee as she tries to get her momentum back in order.

Loydson: Everything is coming up Visconty, but King Flip did have her on the ropes there.

MATCH FOUR
Moxie VS Ezra James
A BLOCK BORT MATCH
REF: Peirce Patterson

---

Chriqui: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a BORT A Block Match. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From London, England, weighing in at 202 pounds... MOXIE!!!

Bring Me The Horizon's 'Can You Feel My Heart' hits the speakers, prompting the lights to dance around the arena with an ominous red glow. As soon as the guitar riff kicks in, Moxie emerges from behind the curtain. He marches to the end of the stage and glares at the capacity crowd surrounding him. Raising his fist to his jaw, Moxie lets out a roar and walks down the aisle, ignoring the paying spectators.

He slides underneath the bottom rope and rises to his feet in the middle of the ring. Moxie faces the crowd before snapping back to face the camera, emphatically raising both clenched fists high above his head before slowly descending them in stereo to both sides of his jaw.

Chriqui: His opponent, currently at 0 points. From The Birthplace of Fear and Loathing, weighing in at 220 pounds... EZRA JAMES!!!

The arena turns dark, the screens begin to glow a dark red which bathe the entire arena in the color that’s when the opening notes of Xandria's metal opera 'Nightfall' storm out over the PA system. Just as the guitar gets going out from the back steps out Ezra James, Violent M.D wearing his normal ring attire, as he begins to walk towards the ring he takes out a pair of blue surgical gloves and begins to put them on his hands making sure they are snug and flexible. A couple of fans reach out looking for contact and Ezra side steps the unwashed rabble giving them a glare followed by a glove covered finger point and some harsh words.

Martinez: Our first BORT match of the tournament, I expect these two men to tear it down.

Loydson: Moxie is going to break Ezra's finger, and then he'll have some trouble getting those gloves on.

DING DING DING

The match began with a very mad Moxie rushing Ezra and slamming his forearm into Ezra's chin. Ezra fell like a sack of puppies into the corner. Moxie dragged him out by his face and put him back down with a lariat. Moxie repeated this action twice more, and then went for a cover. Ezra kicked out at 2. Moxie dragged Ezra up and gave him another stiff forearm, this one would send him backwards into the ropes. On a stumbling rebound Moxie felled Ezra with a big superkick to the jaw. The ref checked Ezra to see if he was conscious, but Ezra waved him off. The ref backed up Moxie and let Ezra stand, but Moxie was immediately back on it with another forearm. Moxie grabbed Ezra's hand and seemed to be looking for a finger snap, but Ezra kneed him in the gut. Moxie stumbled backwards and Ezra kneed him in the jaw, followed by a forearm shot to the back of the head. It was like Ezra was a different person.

Martinez: Ezra has changed? What is this side of him?

Moxie fell to his feet following another forearm from Ezra. Moxie got up and swung at Ezra but Ezra jumped back, and then into Moxie with a textbook enziguri. Ezra hit the ropes while Moxie stood up, and slammed into him with a chopblock to the back of his knee. Ezra did the same thing two more times... he tried for a third but Moxie jumped into a double stomp to the back of Ezra's head to stop that one. Moxie fell to the canvas grabbing at his leg, and Ezra got back to his feet.

Loydson: Ezra, he isn't normal. I don't know what this is?

Ezra dropkicked Moxie in the chest, and then hit three consecutive snap suplexes with a float over cover. Moxie powered out and got back to his feet. He yelled at Ezra and the two of them had a forearm competition. Moxie seemed to be getting the uppder hand about five shots in, but Ezra grabbed him and hit a snap brainbuster! Necessary Brain Surgery! Moxie landed hard, his head bouncing off the canvas. Ezra dragged Moxie up into a headlock to go for it against, but Moxie powered out and powered Ezra up into his own suplex! Moxie threw Ezra into the ropes, his head landing ugly on the bottom rope. Moxie's Crash Landing! Moxie fell backwards to a knee, Ezra lay slumped against the ropes. The ref almost called it, but Moxie stopped him. Moxie dragged Ezra to the center of the ring and threw on a pumphandle, but Ezra spun out of the hold as Moxie lifted him. Ezra kicked Moxie in the stomach to send him backwards into the ropes, and on the rebound he popped Moxie up into a jawbreaker. Moxie is gonna want Novocain! Ezra covered.

ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at two points... EZRA JAMES!!!

Ezra has his hand raised by the ref, he again seems to be different. This Ezra is selling his jaw and looks like he can barely stand. Puzzling stuff. Moxie rolls out of the ring and drops to a knee. He shoves away medical staff and kicks the barricade, pissed about losing his last two matches. He walks to the back.

Martinez: Ezra James seemed to change in that match, and that change got him the victory.

Loydson: But don't ignore what Moxie did in that one, he might be two and nothing in his last two matches, but Moxie is still one of the best we have. I damn sure wouldn't fight him.

MATCH FIVE
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal VS "UltraViolence" Phoenix Winterborn
B BLOCK BORT MATCH
REF: Mike Michaelson

---

Chriqui: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is our first BORT B Block Match of the night. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From New Orleans, Louisiana, weighing in at 135 pounds.... ALEX "BULLET" CARBAJAL!!!

The lights dim and the Shieldmaidens motto “Hell is empty and the Maidens are here!” comes over the Tron as guitar stabs ring out. Concrete Blonde’s “God Is A Bullet” starts up in earnest. Alex “Bullet” Carbajal makes her way out in a full length boxing robe, ready for war. Bullet makes her way to the ring and steps in, starting to shadowbox the second she steps in. She raises her hands into the air and then nods, ready to go.

Chriqui: And her opponent, currently at 0 points. From Chicago, Illinois, weighing in at 228 pounds... "ULTRAVIOLENCE" PHOENIX WINTERBORN!!!

"Defame Me" sounds off. Winterborn walks out, he wears an angry look on his face as he walks to the ring. He scoffs at Bullet and then readies himself in his corner.

Martinez: This isn't the first match these two have had, and I doubt it will be their last. The animosity between these two was on full display in their pre-match promos..

Loydson: There's no way Winterborn is 100% after that war at Mania. But I think he's too stupid to listen to his body and will crash.

DING DING DING

The bell sounded off and the match started slower than I think most expected. With neither competitor moving from their corner. After about thirsty seconds they advanced on each other into a shoulder/collar tie-up. Winterborn got the best of it pretty quickly and sent Bullet into the ropes. On the rebound Bullet punched Winterborn square in the mouth before hitting a three piece combo left-right-right. He followed up with a knee to Winterborn's gut. Winterborn stumbled back, but then went in for a spinning backfist. Bullet ducked the blow and came up into an uppercut. Bullet shadowboxed around a bit while Winterborn stumbled backwards. Beginning to get mad.

Martinez: Bullet is literally playing with Winterborn right now, I don't think we have ever seen her do this.

Winterborn came in and got another two piece right-left. Bullet went in for another knee but Winterborn grabbed her leg and spun her around. Off the twist Winterborn did his own spin and caught Bullet square with a backfist. Winterborn threw another punch, but it was a fake out to spike Bullet with a DDT. Winterborn dragged Bullet up and in one motion pulled her up and over into a falcon arrow. He quickly rushed to the ropes and crashed his leg across Bullet's throat with a leg drop off the top. Bullet gasped for air. But Winterborn didn't care and stomped down on her throat.

Loydson: Winterborn is insane.

Bullet got up to her feet, grabbing at her throat and gasping for air. Winterborn punched her in the throat to stumble her backwards. Winterborn then hit a two quick snap dragon suplexes before dragging Bullet up in a side-headlock and dropping down to slam her head into the canvas. Light of the Apocalypse! Winterborn hits the move TWO more times before finally covering Bullet. The crowd boos as the ref counts...

ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at 2 points"ULTRAVIOLENCE" PHOENIX WINTERBORN!!!

Winterborn got to his feet and spit in the direction of Bullet as she was helped by medical staff.

Martinez: Winterborn seems to be unhinged and is looking deadly heading into his match with Asriel Buzzard.

Loydson: Bullet put up a great fight, and she was toying with Winterborn for a minute there. Just one mistake cost her the match.

The cameras cut to the backstage area as Orion Wentworth is making her way towards the ring. Her wife Isabelle is right beside her as the two women are conversing quietly amongst themselves. Right as Orion turns the corner, Brian Spade is standing there with a microphone in his hand.

WENTWORTH: Not now Brian.

Brian holds his hand up while pressing his finger on his ear pack.

SPADE: I apologize for the disruption but I was asked by the producers to find out why you are in the BORT.

WENTWORTH: I am in the BORT because I wanted to do something that was for me. My father and I will be in the tag team division for a while but I wanted to be a singles star as well. 

SPADE: Do you agree with Jackson's assessment about why you are in this match? Is this about passion or pride?

Orion stops dead in her tracks and shoots a dark gaze toward Brian.

WENTWORTH: I showed Jackson a lot of respect during my promo. I don't know what the future holds for me but I do this much. Jackson's going to know first hand just how passionate I am when I'm beating the living shit out of him. My pride is why I am in this tournament. Rampage is my home and I'll be damned if some bitch is going to question my heart. Now if you don't mind, I got a skull to bash in.

Orion turns a one eighty degree and walks away from Brian Spade. Isabelle just shrugs her shoulders before running off after her wife as the cameras cut away.

MATCH SIX
Jackson Knight Jr VS Orion Wentworth
A BLOCK BORT MATCH
REF: Peirce Patterson

---

Chriqui: The following match is an A Block BORT match. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 200 pounds... JACKSON KNIGHT JR!!!

As the lights go out and the arena gets plunged into darkness, the spotlights focus on the center stage. The silence eventually gets broken when 'The Show' by the Roots starts playing, and after a short wait the fans start cheering as Jackson Knight Jr. steps onto the stage. Raising a finger to the sky, he takes a short pause before getting his game face on and stepping towards the ring. Sliding into the ring, he takes a dash towards the turnbuckle on the opposite side of the ring, launching himself to the top and posing for the fans for a few seconds before settling down into the corner.

Chriqui: And his opponent. Currently at 0 points. From Houston, Texas, weighing in at 139 pounds. Representing The Texas Angels ... ORION WENTWORTH!!!

"Remember Everything" by Savannah Dexter suddenly starts playing as Orion Samson steps out onto the stage with her wife Isabelle right by her side. They stand at thee top, look out at the audience before descending down the ramp. When Orion reaches the bottom, she gives Isabelle a kiss before slipping into the ring. She stands on the turnbuckle while posing for the fans.

Martinez: Orion's first singles match since 2019, and she's up against Jackson Knight Jr who won his last singles match.

Loydson: Both have bum knees, one is a high flier and the other more of a powerhouse... this will be interesting.

DING DING DING

With the sound of the bell, Orion exploded at Jackson.. but Jackson would jump over her?! Jackson landed and grabbed at his knee, unsure of if he tweaked it or if it was a mental thing. While he was distracted, Orion dropkicked him in the back of his head. Jackson fell to a knee, grabbing at his head. Orion lifted him up and spun him around into a belly-to-belly suplex. She covered but Jackson kicked out immediately and got to his feet. Orion headbutt Jackson and then lifted him up onto her shoulder, but he slipped off the back and jumped into a knee strike against the base of her skull. Orion fell to a knee and Jackson stepped beside her before jumping into a dropkick to the side of her head. Orion pulled herself back up to a knee just as Jackson slammed into her with a shining wizard. Jackson covered and this time it was Orion's turn to kick out.

Martinez: Very even fight currently. Neither wants to lose this ever so important first match.

Jackson pulled Orion up into a snap suplex, and then followed it up with a T-Bone suplex. Orion landed hard but got to her feet and hit another belly-to-belly on Jackson. Jackson got to his feet, but was taken down by a Lou Thesz Press. Orion punched Jackson about five times before dragging him up onto her shoulders and landing a Samoan drop. Orion covered but Jackson kicked out at two.

Loydson: Very even match indeed.

Orion dragged Jackson up and punched him again before sending him into the ropes. Off the rebound she jumped into a big boot but Jackson ducked and hit the opposite ropes. Orion would turn around as Jackson spring-boarded off the middle rope into an enziguri that landed flush on her jaw. Orion fell backwards into the ropes and stumbled out. Jackson threw his head under her arm, and used his other arm to wrap her torso and head and lifted her up and over into uranage right on her head! Knightmare in Philly! Cover!

ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at 2 points... JACKSON KNIGHT JR!!!

Jackson has his hand raised by the ref, but he drops his hand and helps Orion up. They shake hands after an even matchup and wave at the crowd together.

Martinez: Great match between two great athletes. Big win for Jackson Knight Jr.

Loydson: And nothing for Orion to feel ashamed about.

Before the show...

Blue Dragon Studios
Orlando, Florida

Josh Gavin was back in the studio following Stranglemania. Seated on the couch, all bandaged up, he certainly looked the part of a man who'd just been through the wringer. He looked upbeat enough, but... There was clearly something lurking under the surface.

Gavin: "Well, THAT sucked. I mean, the match was pretty fun. There were lots of... Elevators. Oh and a guy got yeeted off a building! I do love a good yeeting. But unfortunately, I still couldn't get the job done. That was my first Stranglemania, ladies and gents. But you know what? It's uh..."

Gavin shrugs his shoulders, scratching his head. The mood went pretty somber, pretty quickly. It had been a reoccurring theme as of late. One that Josh Gavin was very much aware of. His next words came softly.

Gavin: "It's gucci. So I'll be the first to admit this. I haven't exactly had the most success since coming to EWC. And it's been pretty frustrating, I'm not gonna lie to you. From the Mac Invitational where the way I lost was humiliating at best, to Legends of the Cage, to completely bombing the title match, to this. I cannot seem to catch a break for the life of me, let's just lay it all on the table here. And full disclosure? It's gotten to me. Every loss has placed more pressure on me to make it right in the next match, and to not only keep losing, but to watch the guy I beat to get in that title match in the first place -- now be fighting for the title as if my only real win never even happened? That's... Not a fun thing to think about. I've been kicking myself for awhile now, I've been second guessing myself at every turn. But..."

Gavin's posture straightened as he looked straight into the camera. He took a deep breath. What he had to say was not easy. But it had to be said. And there was something that he had to do. It was long overdue.

Gavin: "From the bottom of my heart, all I can say is... All of that doesn't excuse my having done something even worse than lose those matches. I lost something else in all of that, something arguably even more important. And that's myself. I've been so WRAPPED UP in these losses and my desperation to make this EWC run work... That I've lost sight of what brought me to the dance in the first place."

The passion slowly begins to fill his voice as his tone ramps up. But even as the intensity escalates ever so slowly, his voice remains somber.

Gavin: "I worked my ass off to be here, not just because it was good for my career... But because I live to do one thing, and THAT... Is entertain. To entertain THESE PEOPLE who come and watch a product that has taken some lost kid who shouldn't have made it, hell, someone who shouldn't even be ALIVE! And has given me purpose. Given me the chance to see so many wonderful places, meet so many people, meet the love of my life and reach a point in my life where I'm actually a FATHER! I have this industry and those who provide the LIFELINE for this business to thank for everything I have... And all I have ever wanted to do was put my best foot forward and entertain them to the best of my ability. And I forgot that. All I thought about was ME. Woe is me, all these losses, yadda yadda, and sure... Losing sucks. Losing a bunch in a row, or disappointing in the one chance you had to break ground, break bread and make your name? That really sucks. But to be completely lost in it, and lose sight of something that has given me life for so long... It's unforgivable."

He quiets down, staring down at the ground for a few moments. Before he looks to the camera again. This time the eyes are different. Intense, determined, and ready to start anew...

Two words come in narry a whisper.

Gavin: "No more."

Gavin straightens, his expression fiercens. The mood has changed. Slowly, he gets to his feet. And then...

The switch was flipped.

Gavin holds his arms out side to side, welcoming the EWC to the world that is about to descend upon them.

Gavin: "LADIES... AND GENTLEFOLKS! PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, GENDERS, AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT... The show... Is about to begin. NO MORE feeling sorry for myself! No more moping and complaining and wondering what I'm doing wrong. If I'm going to either succeed or fail in this... I'm going to do this as me. Nobody else. And if I crash and burn because I decided to be myself and stuck to my guns? So be it. I am one thing, and that is an ENTERTAINER, and I would rather DIE than disappoint in THAT department! Folks, you are looking at Josh Gavin in his PEAK form! A man who is willing to throw caution to the wind if he's gotta, a man who is willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to entertain YOU! And to be on the biggest stage possible to do it. So folks... Now and only now... Does the BORT truly start. We've had plenty of BORT in the past. BORT Simpson, for that matter. But you've never seen one like this before. Because you see, this BORT is going to push its participants to their LIMITS, and if Josh Gavin has ever liked anything more than anything else, it is a CHALLENGE! The question now is... Does my opponent, Gideon Gage, like a challenge? Now I'll admit, I don't know much about 'ol Gagey. He's kinda new, like me. Newbies are unpredictable, you never know what they've got up their sleeve. But I may not know everything you're going to do... BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING I'M GOING TO DO? STRANGE, ISN'T IT?"

Gavin can't help but laugh maniacally at the thought.

Gavin: "We're on even ground, you and I, Giddy. But I'm quite giddy for this, let me tell you. And he's gonna be mad at this, I know, I mean LOOK AT HIM! HE'S BIG, HE'S BAD! He likes making threats, he likes yeeting people around, and you KNOW that he's not gonna like me calling him Giddy, but you know what? It could be worse. I mean... I could have called him... Gibby."

A lightbulb seems to go on in his head, his eyes slowly begin to light up and a wicked grin begins to spread across his face. Oh no.

Gavin: "GIBBY! I LOVE IT! I'm calling him Gibby from now on. So you see, Gibby... You may be big, you may be HULKING... You may be a lean, mean, FIRE BREATHIN' MACHINE! But I'm a REAL fire breathing dragon, and this ink on my back tells that story plainly. And I'm not a guy who's intimidated by a big muscular man, brother. I mean, this is PRO WRESTLING! If I was intimidated by big guys in spandex who like to oil themselves, why in tarnation would I even BE HERE? That's like, rule number one of this job, you're going to get physical with big, muscular, hulking oily men-Okay that did NOT come out the way I-Well..."

Gavin scratches his head again, and starts laughing.

Gavin: "God, my wife is gonna kill me for that one. Or laugh, laughing works too. You can't see her behind the camera but she's losing her mind juuuust right over there. Right there. Losing her shit. Oop, now she's giving me the finger. Hey, do NOT pass that onto our kids, young lady! Anyway, AHEM... Thing is, Gibby. You can try to intimidate me all you like. You can put on a nice suit, look all flashy. But at the end of the day, I AM 245 POUNDS OF PURE JOSH GAVIN, BABY! And that's gonna be more than you can handle. The BORT is my opportunity, MY CHANCE... To make this right. To bring about the start... Of something new."

Gavin's expression grows serious for just a few moments. The room grows quiet. He stares dead into the camera.

Gavin: "And Gibby? Listen here and listen close. Look in my eyes, Gibby, LOOK IN MY EYES! This is my chance, and I don't care how big you are, how strong you are, how good you think you are... I'm done squandering my chances."

Gavin takes a deep breath and settles down. But that cheeky smile slowly returns as the segment comes to a close.

Gavin: "... Gibbeh."

MATCH SEVEN
Josh Gavin VS Gideon Gage
B BLOCK BORT MATCH
REF: Mike Michaelson

---

Chriqui: The following match is a BORT B Block match. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 245 pounds... JOSH GAVIN!!!

Josh Gavin makes his way out at the exact moment as Fuel’s chorus hits. Gavin raises his arms side to side and looses a war cry.

Gavin pumps up the crowd as he marches down the ramp. Gavin climbs up to the apron and points out to the crowd. He spins across the ropes as he slides toward the other end of the apron, and points to that side of the crowd. Gavin climbs into the ring, and climbs the top rope, holding his arms out once more

Chriqui: And his opponent, currently at 0 points. From Topeka, Kansas, weighing in at 273 pounds... GIDEON GAGE!!!

Gideon Gage comes out onto the stage. He barely even pays attention to the fans all booing him as he heads down the ramp. He enters the ring, and roars out at the crowd as pyro goes off from the ring posts.

Martinez: This match will be a hoss fight between two big bulls.

Loydson: I'd be shocked if it goes longer than a few minutes.

DING DING DING

Josh was immediately at Gideon's corner and catching him with a powerful spear! Josh backed up and waited for Gideon to stand before rushing into another spear. This one was blocked by Gage jumping into a shoulder block. Josh flipped backwards to his back and rolled up to his feet. Josh and Gideon began to trade blows back and forth. Gideon grabbed Joshes throat and shoved him into the ropes before ripping him off and bieling him into the center of the ring like it was nothing. Following the biel, GG hit Josh with two spinebusters.

Martinez: This one may already be over!

Gideon went for a third spinebuster, but Josh blocked it thanks to a headbutt. Josh would then take-a-back and land a series of German suplexes on Gideon. Gideon got to his feet, but a German suplex put him down. Josh began to stomp away on Gideon. Gideon grabbed Josh's leg and shoved him off before headbutting the canvas until his head began to bleed. He got to his feet and screamed.

Loydson: Oh my god, the finish is near.

Josh and Gideon explode into each other, punching each other with powerful haymakers. Josh throws in a headbutt, and Gideon answered with his own headbutt. Josh was throwing in European uppercuts and Gideon forearms. This went on for probably two minutes before both men stumbled back. Gideon was a second faster with what came next and exploded into Josh with a massive lariat! SGS! Josh began to stand, Gideon hit the ropes and came in with a second SGS lariat, this one to the back of Josh's head. Josh refused to stay down, so Gideon hit the ropes, bounced into the other ropes and then rebounded a third time into Josh hard enough to turn him into side. A third SGS. JOSH STRUGGLED, BUT MAKE IT TO HIS FEET! The crowd went insane, but Josh fell into the center of the ring, not moving and not protecting himself. The ref called it.

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via ref stoppage & currently sitting at 2 points... GIDEON GAGE!!!

Gideon Gage cusses at Mike Michaelson and grabs him by the throat. He says he wasn't done. Josh pulls himself up to his feet and punches Gideon in the back of his head. Gideon drops Mike and turns to face Josh, his face a crimson mask at this point. Gideon laughed at Josh and exited the ring. He could be heard cussing about how Grizzly Duggan would pay for that.

Martinez: That was one of the most brutal wars I have ever seen between two giant men.

Loydson: That was frankly, very scary.

The camera view focuses in on an intense looking Autumn Raven who's standing against the wall backstage, arms crossed over her chest, staring straight ahead of her. She sighs softly, before speaking.

Raven: I've had some time to think about this, ya know? What this whole...BORT...tourney would mean to me if I were to hypothetically win it. I know there's some people out there, I'm sure Ryo included, who think I have no freakin' chance of actually getting all the way to the top...past everyone else...and actually winning this thing. Someone who's had it rough here for...a while. But you can either get up, or get the hell out, and I'm choosing to get up and keep going because it's who I am. I don't give up. I will keep going until I get what I want. And what I want is to win this BORT tourney, and get a chance at the Universal Championship. That's it. Cause if I do, it would cram a cork in the mouths of everyone out there who has no faith whatsoever in someone like me. Winning this would do a lot for me, let's be honest here. Ryo may be the first, but he won't be the last. If I can't go through him, I'll go through every single soul in this place to be able to stand toe to toe with the champ, and say to everyone after look what this chica can do...what none of you thought I could do. This is a warning to the rest of the block, don't underestimate me. It'll be the last thing you do. Then it's lights...out.

Autumn smirks at the camera and peels herself away from the wall, turning and walking away from the camera.

MATCH EIGHT
Autumn Raven VS Ryo Hazama
A BLOCK BORT MATCH
REF: Peirce Patterson

---

Chriqui: The following match is an A Block BORT match. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From the City of Angels, weighing in at 125 pounds... AUTUMN RAVEN!!!

The tron plays a scene of the hollywood walk of fame going by slowly, the shadow of a raven seen over each and every star that’s there. As you hear the lyrics ‘Your stars burned out for good, somewhere in Hollywood’, the shadow flies into the one star without a name, writing out Autumn’s name on it, the star turning to a dingy, grungy picture with graffiti written all over it.

As the first part of the song starts up, Autumn appears from backstage, slowly walking out, coming to a stop at the top of the ramp as she surveys the crowd with a cold smirk on her face. She stands there for a minute before making her way down the ramp slowly, walking once around the ring before sliding under the bottom rope and hopping to her feet, making her way to the corner to climb to the top ringpost. She flings her arms out to the side, laughing at the crowd.

Chriqui: And her opponent, currently at 0 points. From Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan, weighing in at 235 pounds... RYO HAZAMA!!!

"My War" by SHINSEI KAMATTE CHAN goes off like an explosion, drawing the crowd into a hateful frenzy. The camera cannot find where Ryo Hazama is. When he appears, it's because he's hanging off one of the production rafters. The Avaricious One gazes down upon the audience, a clear act from his egocentric mind. Without no warning, he spreads his arms, where bursts of colorful smoke pops from several gebs scattered among the arena--scaring the audience members. With a long cackle, Hazama finds his way down to the stage and he makes his way down the ramp. As he does, he massages his jawline, taking up the camera's attention. He then rises onto the nearest turnbuckle and poses again, soaking into the atmosphere. He furthers this pleasure by laying across the turnbuckle and slinking down to the mat like a snake. He massages the mat before rising up creepily. From there, he eyes the nearest camera, not at all focused on the audience and their baleful noise.

Martinez: Ryo's return to action, but it's against Autumn Raven who I don't think we have ever seen this hungry.

Loydson: Hungry or not, I wouldn't want to stand against the former United States Champion.

DING DING DING

Raven slowly made her way into the center of the ring, looking for a tie-up. Hazama put his hand out to engage, but then switched into a right handed punch to Raven's jaw. Raven stumbled a bit which gave Hazama enough time to take a back and rip her into a Dragon suplex. Raven got to her feet, but was knocked back down by a quick enziguri. Hazama pulled Raven up into another snap dragon suplex. And then another. Hazama went for another, but Raven landed on her feet and dropkicked him in the back of his head.

Martinez: So far this match has been all Ryo, but Raven might be able to mount a comeback.

Another dropkick from Ryo into the ropes, and the rebound saw Autumn jump into a Dragonrana with a pin, but Ryo kicked out. Ryo got up to his feet, but Raven rolled him up instantly. Ryo kicked out, but before he could stand he was flatlined by Raven with a third dropkick. After the dropkick Raven took to the top rope and went for a diving leg drop, but Ryo moved last second.

Loydson: Ryo just has an answer for everything.

Ryo dragged Autumn up by her hair and spun into a heel kick. He tried a cover but Autumn kicked out. Hazama dragged Autumn up onto his shoulders, but she was able to slip the back and push him into the ropes. Autumn rushed Ryo and jumped into a running hurricanrana, her trademark bad luck! Ryo crawled to the ropes and got to his feet, Autumn hit the opposite ropes and rushed at Ryo. Perhaps looking for anther Bad Luck.. but it would be her own bad luck as Ryo caught her on his shoulders and dropped her head into a strong knee strike. LET. IT. DIE. He covers.

ONE!
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TWO!!
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.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at 2 points... RYO HAZAMA!!!

Ryo smirks and then exits the ring, holding up 2 fingers to symbolize his points. Autumn is helped to the back by medical staff.

Martinez: A big return for Ryo Hazama, as he defeated Autumn Raven to pick up his first two BORT points.

Loydson: Poor kid. Hope she's okay. If she needs someone to help her jaw, I can be persuaded.

MATCH NINE
Iggy Swango VS Samantha "The Titaness" Hamilton
B BLOCK BORT MATCH
REF: Mike Michaelson

---

Chriqui: The following match is a BORT B BLock match. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From The Pleasure Palace, weighing in at 148 pounds... LADY STARDUST... IGGY SWANGO!!!

The guitar strums of "Moonage Daydream" echo through the arena as the lights dim low. Strobe lights begin to flash on stage. Soon, Iggy Swango walks from behind the curtain as smog engulfs her. She pauses, adjusts her sun glasses, before making her way down the ramp

Its a slow deliberate walk, as she is clearly vibing to the music. After entering the ring, She looks up to the ceiling, and throws her hands up in a classic rock and roll pose.

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. 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.

Chriqui: And her opponent, currently at 0 points. From Ft. Lauderdale, FL, weighing in at 145 pounds... SAMANTHA "THE TITANESS" HAMILTON!!!

'Indestructible' by Disturbed blares over the PA system. As it does, we see the forms of The Titaness, her husband, Joseph "Orion" Hunter, and 'The Memphis Mouthpiece' Tommy Love all standing at the top of the ramp. The Titaness saunters down the ramp, flanked by Joseph on one side and Tommy on the other.

When she finally gets to the ropes, the Titaness will slip through the middle and top ropes, waiting patiently for the bell.

Martinez: It's Hamilton Vs Swango, a match we are familiar with. Two opponents who are familiar with each other. This will be a fun match.

Loydson: I don't care who wins, I am just looking forward to seeing this match God has put forth before us.

DING DING DING

Swango and Hamilton meet in the center of the ring, and almost immediately are slapping each other. Clearly motivated by getting that important first win. Hamilton dropped back to catch Swango with a big boot and a spear. Swango answered back with a Euro uppercut and a snap dragon suplex. Then they were back into the slaps. Hamilton went for a spinebuster but Iggy reversed it into a DDT. Iggy went for a ripcord roundhouse but Sam reversed it into a powerbomb. They know each other so well. While Iggy was down after the powerbomb, Sam began to stomp her bad leg. Stomps turned into kicks. Kicks into a series of leg DDTs. Sam dragged Iggy up to her knees, hit the ropes and came in with a big boot to the back of Iggy's head. This isn't personal, this is just business.

Martinez: Neither of these women want to lose the first BORT match. This first match can set the pace for the entire tournament.

Samantha pulled Iggy up, and proceeded to kick her in the leg a few times. On the final kick, Iggy caught Sam's leg, punched her in the jaw and spun into a dragon-screw leg whip. Sam's knee buckled and now shew as in the same predicament. Iggy limped over to Sam, grabbed on a waist lock and ripped her backwards into a German suplex that dumped Sam right on her head. Iggy maintained waist control and hit three more. Iggy then hit a snap DDT to a kneeled Hamilton. And attempted a cover. Hamilton kicked out. Hamilton got to her knees, and Iggy rushed in to knee her in the side of the head. Iggy tried another cover that Sam kicked out of.

Loydson: Iggy has taken control of this match, and gotten the feeling back in her leg.

Iggy had Sam in a sitting position and hit the ropes, looking for her running knee. But Sam got up and landed a spinebuster. Sam mounted Iggy and rained down stiff elbows. The ref got Sam off Iggy, but Sam pushed past the ref to drop a knee on the side of Iggy's head. Sam let Iggy stand, and then she kneed her between the eyes. Iggy stumbled backwards and Sam jumped into a superkick that caught Iggy flush. Iggy fell into the ropes, and then she fell off the ropes into Sam who hoisted her up into an electric chair. It's from there Sam dropped Iggy's leg behind her back and pulled Iggy's head into a piledriver. Zeus’ Wrath! Cover!

ONE!
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TWO!!
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.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at 2 points... SAMANTHA "THE TITANESS" HAMILTON!!!

Sam considered helping Iggy up, but she shrugged it off and looked directly into the hard cam. A look of determination on her face. Iggy was helped up by medical staff, but able to stand and walk to the back. She limped to the back, but she did not hang her head. She had a look of determination on her own face.

Martinez: Very good match between two similar women.

Loydson: Really could have gone either way, but now Hamilton is up to two BORT points.

MATCH TEN
Stephanie Matsuda VS Ace King
NON-TITLE X-DIVISON MATCH
REF: Toyo Yasahiro

---

Martinez: Welcome back to Rampage! What a show it has been so far this evening, Phillip.

Loydson: It's been almost all about the BORT tonight and I am loving it!

Martinez: But now it's time to take a break from the BORT as we have a non-title X-Division match coming up between two former X-Division Champions!

Loydson: I can't wait to see Matsuda grind Ace King's stupid face in the mat over and over. Kid has talent and even though she hasn't been around a ton in the past year, she is hungry for victory tonight!

Chriqui: The following non-title contest is an X-Division match and it is scheduled for one fall!

“Rainy Days” by Boogie plays as Stephanie "Cloud" Matsuda walks out dressed in her signature black fitted cap and a bandanna around her face. Trailed by manager Monica Vaughan, Matsuda walks on stage and crouches low, getting ready for her match.

Chriqui: Introducing first, from Brooklyn, New York... being accompanied by Monica Vaughan... weighing in at one hundred and thirty-two pounds... she is "The War Queen”... STEPHANIE MATSUDA! 

Stephanie and Monica walk down the ramp, their eyes fixated on the ring. At the bottom of the ramp, Matsuda runs and slides into the ring. She takes a moment to run the ropes and throws her hat into the crowd. She then climbs the nearest turnbuckle, pulls down her bandanna, and holds up her fist as she stares into the crowd. She then jumps down and prepares for Ace King to arrive.

Martinez: At StrangleMania, Matsuda and Phoenix Winterborn came very close to winning the Tag Team Championships.

Loydson: And damnit I wish they would have! Those two old farts should be dead by now. They have no business being in a wrestling ring at their age!

Martinez: I can imagine Stephanie is ready for a bounce back match here tonight. But Phillip, it will not be easy going against the Undisputed Champion.

"Ace of Spades" rips through the Sioux Falls Arena and the crowd cheers as pyro goes off in time with the opening drum beats. Ace King then calmly steps out onto the stage, his eyes narrowed and focused on the ring. The Undisputed Championship shines in the spotlights.

Chriqui: And her opponent... making his way to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada... weighing in at two hundred and thirty-five pounds... He is the EWC UNDISPUTED CHAMPION! The Gambler... ACE KING! 

Ace rolls his head around the back of his neck for a few seconds before focusing back in on the ring, then makes his way down the ramp, interacting with a few fans along the way. He stops a few steps short of the ring, then dives in under the bottom rope as red pyro explodes from each turnbuckle. Ace pauses on his knees in the middle of the ring for a moment before getting to his feet, his attention locked in on Matsuda.

Loydson: I don't know how this man managed to walk out of StrangleMania with an upgrade. Lucky S.O.B.

Martinez: Nothing lucky about being the best! He has been a main-stay in this company for YEARS. And he has never been anywhere else but at the top.

Loydson: Yeah, well Matsuda is about to tear him a new butthole. 

DING DING DING

King stares across the ring at Matsuda. Matsuda smirks and reaches her hand out to her side. Monica hands her a kendo stick and Matsuda pats the kendo stick in her free hand. King smirks a bit and moves in on Matsuda regardless. She swings the kendo stick high and King ducks. She brings it back low and he jumps over it. She swings at his ribs and he catches the kendo stick under his arm. She yanks, trying to pull it out, but King uses it like a short-arm and drops her with a clothesline. She kips up. She kicks him in the stomach. He swats her leg away with the kendo stick. He drops the stick and hooks her up for a fisherman’s buster. Matsuda blocks it and turns it into a bridging northern lights suplex. Before Toyo Yasahiro can even get down to count, King kicks out. King is up to his feet quickly. He kicks her in the side. She catches his leg and stands to her feet. King hops up and down on one foot. Matsuda drops him with a leg whip. King’s momentum takes him out of the ring. Matsuda picks up the kendo stick. She runs and bounces off of the ropes… SUICIDE DIVE WITH THE KENDO STICK TO HIS FOREHEAD!

Martinez: What ingenuity! Using that kendo stick to your advantage during the suicide dive! I’m not sure I’ve seen that before!

Loydson: I am impressed! And happy! Look at King, he’s got a little gash!

Sure enough, the stick gashed King’s head open a little. He’s not gushing blood, but it’s enough to show. Matsuda is on a knee hovering over King. The kendo stick snapped in half on impact. She drops one half and starts grinding the splinters into his open wound.

Martinez: Pure brutality. Grinding those shards into his cut. The blood is starting to pour, now!

Matsuda finally lets up. She smacks him in the cheekbone with that half of the stick and finally tosses it aside. Matsuda gets up off of King and grabs him by the wrist. She goes to Irish-whip him into the barricade, but King reverses it and Matsuda crashes hard and up and over the barricade into the crowd! King catches his breath for a moment. As he sees Matsuda reach her feet, King sprints at her and leaps over the barricade with a cross body, taking her to the floor. The crowd nearby cheers as they are so close to the action. King picks Matsuda up and dumps her back over the barricade and to the ringside floor. King hops up onto the barricade and turns around. He leaps off and connects with a moonsault! King rolls Matsuda back into the ring and slides in himself. He covers and Yasahiro counts.

ONE!
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.
.
TWO!!
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.
Kickout by Matsuda!

Loydson: Whew, that was close. Come on Matsuda! Get him! Get that overrated, worn out punk!

Martinez: I don’t understand your hatred for Ace King tonight, but he surely almost picked up the victory just now.

King gets up off of Matsuda and grabs her legs. He starts to lock her up in the House of Cards, but Matsuda wiggles out of it. She kicks him with the heel of her boot right under the jaw. She gets up to her feet. YAHTZEE! What a superkick right under King’s chin. He drops like a sack of bricks and Matsuda covers.

ONE!
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.
.
TWO!!
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.
Kickout!

Martinez: That was almost three!

Loydson: What are you talking about?! That WAS three!

Martinez: Not according to Yasahiro, Phillip.

Matsuda gets up to her feet and looks out of the ring at Monica Vaughn. They nod to each other and Monica reaches underneath the ring. She pulls out a large velvet bag. She hands it through the ropes to Matsuda.

Martinez: Any guesses on what is in that back, Phillip?

Loydson: I haven’t the foggiest, but it’s probably about to do some heavy, heavy damage!

Matsuda unties the velvet bag and looks inside. She smirks before she turns it over and dumps out crumbles and shards of broken glass! King is up to his feet. He runs at her and takes her down with a sling blade. Matsuda pops up. King lifts her up into a torture rack! Going for the Blackjack Bomb! Matsuda wiggles off of his shoulders. Ace spins around… BLASIAN MIST! She got Ace King right in the eyes with the Blasian Mist! Ace grabs at his face. He’s blinded! Matsuda kicks him in the stomach and grabs him by the hair. She drags him over to the glass. She hooks him up for the package piledriver… SPECIAL DELIVERY! Right on the glass! She pulls a shard out of her hamstring as she rolls over into a cover on the bloodied up Undisputed Champion!

ONE!
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TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Here is your winner… STEPHANIE MATSUDA!

Loydson: YES! I knew she could do it!

Martinez: Call that match what you will, but that was an upset! Stephanie Matsuda just BEAT the Undisputed Champion!

MATCH ELEVEN

Tommy Burton VS Asriel Buzzard
B BLOCK BORT MATCH FOR HBO BROADCAST CHAMPIONSHIP
REF: Toyo Yasahiro

---

Chriqui: The following match is a B Block BORT Match, and is for the EWC Broadcast Championship! Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From New Brunswick, Canada, weighing in at 209 pounds... The Challenger... TOMMY BURTON!!!

The drum beat. The screaming guitar… The unmistakable sound of Nirvana.

The lights dim slightly, the orange strobe of the lower stage lights strobe over the hooded man walking out. His hardened jaw. His mouthguard. His taped hands clenched hard as he makes his way down to the ring.

As the Scentless Apprentice plays, and the lights come up, we see Tommy Burton pull back his hood and remove his Club jacket. His eyes wide… crazy looking.

The music lowers, Tommy removes his hoodie, dropping it to the mat, he once again clenches his hands together… “Let’s do this”

Chriqui: And his opponent, currently at 0 points. From Hill City, Kansas, weighing in at 196 pounds... The HBO Broadcast Champion... ASRIEL BUZZARD!!!

“IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?”

As the first notes of Machine Head pound through the arena, images of the Great Plains appear on the tron, mixed with pictures of crosses and churches. Spotlights flash around the arena but focus on the stage as the drums and heavier riff starts and Asriel Buzzard appears through the curtain.

“COME ON!”

He stands at the top of the ramp, eyes closed and fists clenched in front of his chest for a few seconds. After opening his eyes, he starts to march to the ring, glaring at the fans putting their hands out over the barrier. He circles the ring twice after arriving at ringside.

“THE PARANOIA, DROPS ME TO MY KNEES”

Asriel walks up the ring steps, dashes along the apron and climbs to the top rope.

“CAUSE NO FLAG CAN MEAN BRAVERY WHEN BLOODIED BY SLAVERY, THE REBEL, A DEVIL, DISGUISED AS A SAVIOR”

On the top rope, Asriel holds his arms aloft then brings them to his chest where he holds them together briefly before leaping down into the ring and removing his jacket.

Martinez: Tommy Burton lost to Josh Gavin, lost to Iggy Swango... but now he gets to prove he could have done what they didn't. He can beat the unpinnable Buzzard.

Loydson: Every man has to fall, but I don't think tonight is the night for Buzzard.

DING DING DING

Buzzard instantly tries to end it with The Redeemer superkick, but Tommy ducked out of the way. Tommy starts to repeatedly headbutt Buzzard in the back of the neck. Buzzard spun around and caught Tommy with a European uppercut, hurting his own shoulder. Tommy wasted no time headbutting Buzzard directly into the shoulder and then grabbing that hurt arm and twisting Buzzard into an arm whip. Buzzard got to his feet holding his arm, and Tommy instantly grabbed it and yanked on it. Tommy would send Buzzard into the ropes off an Irish whip, and then knee him in the gut. Causing the champion to tumble over.

Martinez: Tommy is bringing the intensity!

Tommy stood over Buzzard and began to hit multiple palm strikes to his head and shoulder. Toyo gets Tommy off and threatens a DQ. Tommy shoved past Toyo and went back to Buzzard, but Buzzard kicked Tommy in the knee causing his knee to buckle. Buzzard set up, grabbed a side headlock and ripped Tommy into a snap suplex from a seated position! Buzzard got to his feet, and grabbed his shoulder. Buzzard started to kick and stomp at Tommy. Toyo pulled Buzzard off but Buzzard shoved past him too. While Toyo tried to find his balance, Tommy punched Buzzard below the belt.

Loydson: Tommy will win this by any means necessary at this point.

Tommy dragged to his knees, and kicked him in the chest. Once, twice.. thr.. no, Buzzard stopped the kick, and turned it into a backbreaker. Buzzard hit another snap suplex, and then a piledriver. Tommy got a second wind and hit a big headbutt followed by an exploder suplex, he calls that one Injection! Tommy dragged Buzzard up, and went for the spinning back elbow by Buzzard ducked it and grabbed on a pumphandle! Buzzard lifted Tommy up and dropped him into a STO facebuster... The Survival! Buzzard covered!

ONE!
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.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at 2 points... he is STILL EWC HBO Broadcast Champion... ASRIEL BUZZARD!!!

Buzzard gets his arm raised, but he shoves off and goes after Tommy who smartly rolls out of the ring. Buzzard is handed his title. He points the title at Tommy Burton and signals to him, buddy... this feud isn't over. Tommy laughs and shakes his head in agreement.

Martinez: We may have just seen the start of a blood feud... and that's a scary though.

Loydson: These two men cannot wait to hurt each other again.

MAIN EVENT | MATCH TWELVE

Shaker Jones VS Queen Melody Malone
A BLOCK BORT MATCH FOR UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
REF: Toyo Yasahiro

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Chriqui: The following match is an A Block BORT match and is for the EWC United States Championship. Introducing first, currently at 0 points. From Boston, Massachusetts, weighing in at 230 pounds... The Challenger... SHAKER JONES!!!

Shaker Jones comes out through the crowd as he makes his entrance. The crowd pops for the challenger and pat his back as he makes his way to the ring.

Chriqui: And his opponent, currently at 0 points. From The Pleasure Palace, weighing in at 145 pounds. She Is YOUR Queen & The EWC United States Champion... QUEEN MELODY MALONE!!!

The lights dim, but don’t go dark before the soft words of Billie Eilish begin to play over the P.A. system.

Bite my tongue bide my time
Wearing a warning sign
Wait till the world is mine
Visions I vandalize
Cold in my kingdom size
Fell for these ocean eyes

As the chorus hits, a bright flash of pyro explodes from the base of the Mac Tron and Melody Malone stands on the stage, flanked by her personal retainer Rory Hyland. Melody stands with a crown atop her head as a spotlight follows them down to the ring.

You should see me in a crown
I'm gonna run this nothing town
Watch me make 'em bow
One by one by one
One by one by

Rory climbs onto the apron first, holding the ropes open as Melody climbs the stairs and steps through with her chin held up to keep the crown atop her head. She gives the crowd a sarcastic smile as they boo, and she gingerly removes the crown from her head and hands it off to Rory as he exits.

You should see me in a crown
Your silence is my favorite sound
Watch me make 'em bow
One by one by one
One by one by one

The lights come back up to full brightness, and Melody has her gloves tugged into place as she rakes her hair back and prepares for her opponent.

Martinez: Melody is looking to make her third successful defense with the EWC United States Championship.

Loydson: And afterwards, I think we'll all drink a nice glass of Crown Royal.

DING DING DING

Shaker Jones didn't miss a beat as he charged Malone to land a flying forearm smash. While she's backed into the corner he begins to kick her in the midsection. Malone shoves him off and jumps into a standing double stomp to his midsection, wiping him out. Malone needs a second to catch her breath, but behind her Shaker had got back up and jumped into a flying forearm smash against the back of her head. He then lifted Malone into a gut-wrench powerbomb and dropped her on her head. He kept the powerbomb hold and then dropped Malone with a second powerbomb to her head.

Martinez: Shaker is putting up a fight!

Shaker dragged Malone up, but she got to her feet quicker and jumped into a dropkick. Shaker fell to a seated position and then Malone caught him with a jumping enziguri. She covered but Shaker kicked out. Malone then hit a tornado DDT, and a corkscrew senton from the corner. Shaker kicked out again when she tried a cover. Malone got Shaker up and dropped him on his head with a bulldog. After that, Malone threw Shaker over the top rope crashing to the outside.

Loydson: Malone again with the foreshadowing of what's to come for The Rumble.

Shaker got back into the ring, and got a few kicks in on Malone. But the champion was untouchable for the most part. Knocking him down at every turn. Malone accidentally knocked the ref down, and Shaker used that opportunity to spray orange mist into Malone's eyes. Shaker rolled up the champion but she kicked out at 2. Malone got the upper hand again and put Shaker down with a bulldog. She was pissed and yelled at Rory for her chair while the ref was still down. Malone smashed the chair into Shaker's face twice and then threw it out of the ring. She covered him just as the ref woke up.

ONE!
.
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
.
THREE!!!

DING DING DING

Chriqui: Your winner via pinfall & currently sitting at 2 points... MELODY MALONE!!!

Rory rolls into the ring with Malone's chair and title. She holds both up high, looks down at Shaker and says pathetic. Rory starts trying to help her clean the stuff out of her eyes while medical staff check on Shaker.

Martinez: Another defense for Malone, but Shaker sure had her worried at times.

Loydson: I hate to admit it, but it was closer than it needed to be.

Martinez: Well folks, thanks for joining us for another great episode of FN'R. Join us here next time for another night of BORT action!

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cameras go backstage to reveal the America’s Most Hated locker room door. Brian Spade comes into view, making an attempt to knock on the door to get Melody Malone’s reaction to the United States championship match that Rampage just witnessed, and the final match of the A Block in the BORT. Before he can knock, the door swings open and the hulking Scotsman Rory Hyland exits, closing the door behind him.

Rory: Can I help ye?

Spade: Brian Spade, Rampage backstage reporter, I’m trying to get a word from Melody about tonight?

Rory: No can do, the Queen’s not taking visitors. But you can walk with me, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Rory points off to the side, and the two walk a few feet away where Rory finds Malone’s throne, and a couple of props that were used for a photo op earlier in the day. Taking a seat, he turns over the crown in his hand before he cracks a grin.



Rory: So, Spade. What is it you want to know?

Spade: Well.. I wanted to get her thoughts on the match tonight, and how she feels going into the next round of the Best of Rampage Tournament against Autumn Raven.

Rory: Well you know what they say. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Her majesty is obviously overjoyed to walk out of Rampage tonight with the victory, but it’s hardly a surprise to her or anyone else in that locker room tonight. She’s not just sitting back there, sipping on a Dr Pepper and Crown Royal. No, Melody? Is preparing herself for the next show. The next step. The next defense. Everyone in this tournament is coming as hard as they can for Melody because they know this might be their ONLY chance they ever get at the Queen and the United States championship. She’s confident, but she’s not getting cocky. If anything, this tournament is going to show everyone in the EWC just why she wears this crown.

Spade: And what if the finale comes down to Iggy and Melody?

Rory stops absently twirling the scepter in his hands and looks at Spade with a frown.

Rory: Then the Dream Sound Revolution will put on a show for the ages at Scars and Stripes. But the girls aren’t looking past their next opponents. Melody is preparing for Autumn and Iggy is preparing for Alex Carbajal. There’s no sleep for the wicked, these girls know that no matter the outcome of the matches tonight, the next match is set in stone. They’re going to keep moving forward, because that’s what champions do. That’s what’s best for the brand, and honestly Spade? The longer this tournament continues, everyone is going to remember why they’re America’s Most Hated. Now… if you’re done? I have a pair of ladies to get out of this arena, and get out of this shit hole of a state. Cheers.

Rory rises from the throne and points the scepter in Brian’s direction before hoisting it over his shoulder and heading back towards the America’s Most Hated locker room.

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END SCREEN

..................................................................................................................

SEGMENT WRITERS

Sil Frigida
Phoenix Winterborn
Xavier Reid
Texas Angels
Ace King
Asriel Buzzard
Queen Melody Malone
Autumn Raven

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MATCH WRITERS
Match Two Written By @daviddunham , Match Ten Written by Dominic Sanders . Everything else written by FN'R

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RECAP OF WINNERS

MATCH ONE
S.T. VS The Young Lions
Barbed Wire Ropes Tag Team Match
WINNER(S): Young Lions
...

MATCH TWO
Davey Dunham VS Jack Severn VS Marcu$ $t. John
Triple Threat
WINNER(S): Jack Pinned Davey

...

MATCH THREE
Gabrielle Visconty VS King Flip
Singles Match
WINNER(S): Gabi Vee

...

MATCH FOUR
Moxie VS Ezra James
A BLOCK BORT MATCH
WINNER(S): Ezra James

...

MATCH FIVE
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal VS "UltraViolence" Phoenix Winterborn
B BLOCK BORT MATCH
WINNER(S): Winterborn

...

MATCH SIX
Jackson Knight Jr VS Orion Wentworth
A BLOCK BORT MATCH
WINNER(S): Jackson

...

MATCH SEVEN
Josh Gavin VS Gideon Gage
B BLOCK BORT MATCH
WINNER(S): Gideon Gage

...

MATCH EIGHT
Autumn Raven VS Ryo Hazama
A BLOCK BORT MATCH
WINNER(S): Ryo Hazama

...

MATCH NINE
Iggy Swango VS Samantha "The Titaness" Hamilton
B BLOCK BORT MATCH
WINNER(S): Hamilton

...

MATCH TEN
Stephanie Matsuda VS Ace King
NON-TITLE X-DIVISON MATCH
WINNER(S): Stephanie Matsuda

...

MATCH ELEVEN
Tommy Burton VS Asriel Buzzard
B BLOCK BORT MATCH FOR HBO BROADCAST CHAMPIONSHIP
WINNER(S): AND STILL BROADCAST CHAMPION, ASRIEL BUZZARD

...

MAIN EVENT | MATCH TWELVE
Shaker Jones VS Queen Melody Malone
A BLOCK BORT MATCH FOR UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
WINNER(S): AND STILL UNITED STATES CHAMPION, MELODY MALONE

...

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MVP OF THE NIGHT: Stephanie Matsuda. Queen Melody Malone ( A BLOCK). Samantha Hamilton (B BLOCK).

MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Stephanie Matsuda Vs Ace King. Shaker Jones Vs Queen Melody Malone (A BLOCK). Iggy Swango Vs Samantha Hamilton (B BLOCK).

© THE EXTREME WRESTLING CORPORATION 2021

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