Post by PARAMOUNT on Mar 8, 2023 19:43:00 GMT -6
The Extreme Wrestling Corporation Presents
“Superstar” by For Squirrels begins to blast over the arena speakers as our feed comes to life...
The fans packing the Estadio Nacional Doroteo tonight all come to their feet. Further explosions rock the very foundation of the arena as a large video screen is lowered from the rafters, stopping 15 feet above the ring! Everyone in Guatemala knows that the self-proclaimed greatest show on Wednesday night is about to begin and they cheer accordingly! The heavy riffs from 'Superstar' continue to blare over the arena, setting the tone for what is to come later on this evening.
** On The Road To StrangleMania **
EPISODE #29
EPISODE #29
MARCH 8TH, 2023
LIVE! from the Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores - Guatemala City, GuatemalaWARNING: 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.
“Superstar” by For Squirrels begins to blast over the arena speakers as our feed comes to life...
The scene immediately cuts to a pyro show erupting on the outside of the Estadio Nacional!
Then a cut to another, equally explosive show on the inside!
Then a cut to another, equally explosive show on the inside!
The fans packing the Estadio Nacional Doroteo tonight all come to their feet. Further explosions rock the very foundation of the arena as a large video screen is lowered from the rafters, stopping 15 feet above the ring! Everyone in Guatemala knows that the self-proclaimed greatest show on Wednesday night is about to begin and they cheer accordingly! The heavy riffs from 'Superstar' continue to blare over the arena, setting the tone for what is to come later on this evening.
IT'S ALL I WANT, IT'S ALL I NEED
IT'S ALL I SEE, IT'S ALL I BREATHE
IT'S WHAT I AM, IT'S WHAT'S I KNOW
IT'S WHAT I FEEL, IT'S WHAT I BLEED!
IT'S ALL I SEE, IT'S ALL I BREATHE
IT'S WHAT I AM, IT'S WHAT'S I KNOW
IT'S WHAT I FEEL, IT'S WHAT I BLEED!
On the X-Tron, this episode of Paramount Wrestling begins with its opening video montage detailing many of the historic events that have taken place in the five-year history of Future Stars of Wrestling, setting the tone for the history of the Orange brand. From past champions like Jason Hunter, Dixie Dubois, Amis Shelton, Magdalena Lockheart, and Otaki all standing underneath an old FSW logo to the more current Future Stars Champions like Xavier Reid, Cletus Franklin, Robina Hood, Robbie Rayder, Stitches, Candy, and Wes Walker tearing down that mold, showing the Paramount Wrestling Logo...
As more pyro goes off the Paramount Wrestling logo appears and flashes of the roster appear on the screen such as Ibuki Ito, "La Belicista" Isabelle, "The Wicked" James Keaton, "The Beautiful Battleship" Sonya, Jadyn Keem, "Salvation" Salvador Serenity, Tanja Devereaux, The Kernel Masters, Shaker Jones, "The Last Magician" Sally Talfourd, Emma Louise, Nika Kosov, and Suene el Molde. The final images shown are a montage of Tanja Devereaux and the Apple TV+ Broadcast championship floating around her waist, Marcu$ $t. John and the EWC North American championship high over his shoulder, and then El-Pablo swimming in a pool of Skittles, the EWC X-Division championship diagonal across his chest.
The camera pans around the loud and out of control audience. As the fireworks continue to explode, the fans chant and cheer! Cameras pan around the arena to catch some of the signage that many fans have brought to Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch with them here tonight. The Paramount Wrestling fan-base is as adamant about having their voices heard now as ever:
"¡Guatemala es primordial!"
"Ito V M$J= Luchar por siempre"
"¡Sally y Tanja harán esta noche MAGIAL"
"Finally the Rainbowlution has come to Guatemala!"
"Paramount: The Pinnacle of Tag Team Wrestling"
"PAR-A-MOUNT!!!"
"PARA-A-MOUNT!!!"
"PARA-A-MOUNT!!!"
"PAR-A-MOUNT!!!"
"PARA-A-MOUNT!!!"
"PARA-A-MOUNT!!!"
"PAR-A-MOUNT!!!"
The lights come back to full and the fans offer one last rousing cheer at the opening festivities. Tonight's announcers are on standby and ready for the show to begin.
Watson: Buenas Noches everyone from the mld temperatures of lovely Guatemala! We are coming to you live! from Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City! I am Tim Watson, This is Cid Sydney, and what a show we have for you all tonight on the road to StrangleMania!
Sydney: You're damn right Tim! We have 2, count 'em TWO X-division tilts tonight, one featuring JoJo Rush of the House against Adriana Aquilla, the other has The X-Division champion El Pablo facing off against Salvation in what promises to be an instant classic.
Watson: We also have a triple threat tag team bout featuring the EWC World Tag Team champions Damage who are making their season debut against The Kruel Masters and Bunny Love's newly acquired tag team, 3Pac!
Sydney: We also have a newcomers scrum when Nika Kosov and Sueñe El Molde face off, fresh from their debuts on Gambit!
Watson: And then in our main event, its the next chapter in what is shaping up to be the biggest feud that Paramount Wrestling has ever seen. Former Undisputed Champion Ibuki Ito takes on the only two time EWC North American champion in history, Marcu$ $t. John in an elite 8 match as part of the Legends of the Ring tournament. The winner of this one goes on to StrangleMania where they very well could be fighting for the EWC Undisputed championship!
Sydney: We have all this and SO MUCH MORE! Our first match of the night will be coming up right after this quick message from EWCTV. Don't go anywhere .. Paramount Wrestling action will be back in exactly 1 minute
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The camera cuts backstage where we see Xavier Reid lowering his hood as he walks into the Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores. Following Xavier is his manager, ‘The Memphis Mouthpiece’ Tommy Love, who looks annoyed as he looks around backstage.
T. Love: I’m telling you Xavier, this is a fucking waste of time…we SHOULD be in Mexico City getting ready for Brawl and not down here in Guatemala City, Guatemala taking in Paramount #029 live when we could be back at our hotel watching on Apple TV +...
Xavier ignores his manager as he looks around to get his bearings before seeing a sign that reads: VESTUARIO and walks in that direction as Tommy continues.
T. Love: I know you want to be ‘supportive’ and all to your buddy Deimos and his odd little friend Danny…and of course Bunny but come on…they are facing Damage Inc…the team that…
Xavier spins around and looks at Tommy…
Reid: Pinned YOUR son and took our championships…
Tommy takes a step back to clear some space between him and Xavier…
T. Love: I’m just saying it’s a tall task for them…at best…at BEST they can hope they aren’t the team that isn’t pinned but it’s a lot to ask of them and I’m not sure us being here is best, it’s going to put unneeded pressure on them to walk out the winner and it could really bum them out…
Tommy shrugs as Xavier turns away from him.
Reid: Or we could give them added motivation to go out there and shock the world Tommy…with Bobby and Jimmy riding off into the sunset and with The Bastards rematch clause being tossed aside by your no good bastard to join Section 8 housing there is an opening to become that next great tag team here in The Love Club and in the EWC…and…
Xavier once again stops and looks back at Tommy Love…
Reid: IF they can walk out of there tonight with their hands raised..how does the EWC not give them a championship match at StrangleMania…so for the betterment of The Love Club WE are here to be supportive and be as helpful as we can be…
Tommy smirks at Xavier…
T. Love: Can we suggest an early retirement for them both?
Xavier points a finger at his manager.
Reid: I want nothing but positivity in there Tommy, I want you to blow smoke up their asses and make them believe they are walking out of this place with their hands raised…make them believe they are the greatest tag team in the business, I want you to give them the famous Tommy Love Sell Job!!!
Tommy looks at Xavier and exhales…
T. Love: Deimos knows I think he sucks ass, there is no way they are going to believe me if I go in there and give them the hard sell Xavier…
Xavier smirks and pats Tommy on the shoulder.
Reid: I’ve seen you talk ladies into forgetting that ring on their finger was a wedding ring, that they had a husband and kids at home to…I mean sure they were the best looking ladies but you’ve done it…I’ve seen talk your way out of tickets and angry husbands who wanted to punch your face in for sleeping with their wives…you can convince Demios and ‘Little’ Danny that you believe in them…now run along and get in there…
Xavier points at the door that reads: The Love Club as Tommy looks at the door and then to Xavier.
T. Love: And where the hell are you going?
Xavier smiles at his manager.
Reid: I have something I need to do real quick, I won’t be long and I’ll catch up with you…
Xavier pats him on the back and walks away from his manager who exhales as he looks at the door.
T. Love: God Damn It…
He exhales loudly as he reached out and opens the door as the camera fades out….
T. Love: I’m telling you Xavier, this is a fucking waste of time…we SHOULD be in Mexico City getting ready for Brawl and not down here in Guatemala City, Guatemala taking in Paramount #029 live when we could be back at our hotel watching on Apple TV +...
Xavier ignores his manager as he looks around to get his bearings before seeing a sign that reads: VESTUARIO and walks in that direction as Tommy continues.
T. Love: I know you want to be ‘supportive’ and all to your buddy Deimos and his odd little friend Danny…and of course Bunny but come on…they are facing Damage Inc…the team that…
Xavier spins around and looks at Tommy…
Reid: Pinned YOUR son and took our championships…
Tommy takes a step back to clear some space between him and Xavier…
T. Love: I’m just saying it’s a tall task for them…at best…at BEST they can hope they aren’t the team that isn’t pinned but it’s a lot to ask of them and I’m not sure us being here is best, it’s going to put unneeded pressure on them to walk out the winner and it could really bum them out…
Tommy shrugs as Xavier turns away from him.
Reid: Or we could give them added motivation to go out there and shock the world Tommy…with Bobby and Jimmy riding off into the sunset and with The Bastards rematch clause being tossed aside by your no good bastard to join Section 8 housing there is an opening to become that next great tag team here in The Love Club and in the EWC…and…
Xavier once again stops and looks back at Tommy Love…
Reid: IF they can walk out of there tonight with their hands raised..how does the EWC not give them a championship match at StrangleMania…so for the betterment of The Love Club WE are here to be supportive and be as helpful as we can be…
Tommy smirks at Xavier…
T. Love: Can we suggest an early retirement for them both?
Xavier points a finger at his manager.
Reid: I want nothing but positivity in there Tommy, I want you to blow smoke up their asses and make them believe they are walking out of this place with their hands raised…make them believe they are the greatest tag team in the business, I want you to give them the famous Tommy Love Sell Job!!!
Tommy looks at Xavier and exhales…
T. Love: Deimos knows I think he sucks ass, there is no way they are going to believe me if I go in there and give them the hard sell Xavier…
Xavier smirks and pats Tommy on the shoulder.
Reid: I’ve seen you talk ladies into forgetting that ring on their finger was a wedding ring, that they had a husband and kids at home to…I mean sure they were the best looking ladies but you’ve done it…I’ve seen talk your way out of tickets and angry husbands who wanted to punch your face in for sleeping with their wives…you can convince Demios and ‘Little’ Danny that you believe in them…now run along and get in there…
Xavier points at the door that reads: The Love Club as Tommy looks at the door and then to Xavier.
T. Love: And where the hell are you going?
Xavier smiles at his manager.
Reid: I have something I need to do real quick, I won’t be long and I’ll catch up with you…
Xavier pats him on the back and walks away from his manager who exhales as he looks at the door.
T. Love: God Damn It…
He exhales loudly as he reached out and opens the door as the camera fades out….
SINGLES MATCH
Welcome to Paramount
Nika Kosov
VS Sueñe El Molde
We return to ringside where the crowd in Guatemala City is ravenous for the action to commence tonight!
Watson: It's time to kick things off here tonight in Guatemala, and what better way than to welcome our two newest roster members and let them beat the hell out of each other! Take it away Isabella Starr!
Starr: The following match is set for one fall. Joining us first, residing in Los Angeles, California and weighing in at 220 pounds ... SUEÑE EL MOLDE!
The lights go down as “Sweet Dreams” by Marilyn Manson begins to play. Blue and purple strobe lights begins to flash through the arena as the song picks up. After awhile the lights shine on the entranceway as Sueñe el Molde steps out onto the stage. He looks around momentarily before slowly making his way down the walkway to the ring, paying no attention to the fans. He slides in under the bottom rope and stalks around the ring.
Starr: And the opponent, residing in the USA and weighing in at 145 pounds ... NIKA KOSOV!
As the lights dim and the cheers of the crowd fill the air, as Nika's music fills the ears of everyone in attendance. The curtains part, and out steps the stunning Nika Kosov, her piercing blue eyes scanning the audience. She strides purposefully towards the ring, her movements graceful and fluid, as the crowd cheers her every step. With a flick of her wrist, she tosses her black and red jacket to the side, revealing the curves and toned muscles beneath her wrestling gear. As she climbs the steps and enters the ring, she flashes a confident smile, ready to unleash her years of military training and MMA expertise.
DING DING DING
Kosov lashes out with a right roundhouse kick that el Molde bats away. It’s the same result for a left roundhouse kick. Kosov runs at el Molde but el Molde sidesteps and pushes Kosov off the ropes. Kosov comes back with a spear that takes el Molde to the mat. Kosov unleashes with forearms to the jaw and head of el Molde until el Molde gets his arms up to protect himself. Kosov grabs an arm in a cross armbreaker. Kosov tries to wrench on the arm but el Molde rolls Kosov into a roll up but Kosov releases the hold before the referee can make a count. Both get to their feet and Kosov lashes out with a right hook that el Molde ducks before pushing Kosov off the ropes. Kosov grabs the ropes sending el Molde rolling back. He runs at Kosov but ducks a clothesline. Kosov turns and eats a superkick. Kosov is dazed but on her feet so el Molde pulls her toward him where he drops Kosov to the mat with a reverse DDT. He hooks the legs.
ONE…
TWO…
THR... NO! KICK OUT!
Kosov gets a shoulder up off the mat to break the count. Both get to their feet where el Molde grabs Kosov but Kosov counters with a backdrop before dropping down on el Molde with a standing moonsault. She hooks his legs as she makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR... NO! KICK OUT!
El Molde just manages to roll a shoulder off the mat to break the count.
Watson: A close one there. It shows how dangerous Nika Kosov’s speed can be.
Sydney: Both are fast but both need to hit harder if they’re going to win here.
Kosov lifts el Molde to his feet. He lashes out at Kosov with right hands to the gut. He fires at Kosov with a clothesline. Kosov flips backward to counter and lands on the mat. Kosov lashes out Dropkicking el Molde in the knee. el Monde falls to the mat and his jaw drops onto Kosov’s knee. He drops to the mat as Kosov makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR... NO! KICK OUT!
El Molde gets a shoulder off the mat to break the count. Kosov pulls el Molde to his feet but el Molde boots Kosov in the gut and drives her to the mat with a Black Haze. Kosov slumps onto her back as el Molde makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR... NO! KICK OUT!
Kosov just manages to raise an arm off the mat to break the count.
Watson: So close there!
Sydney: Close is the key word. I thought Nika Kosov was out cold
El Molde lifts Kosov to her feet and hits her with a right hand but Kosov blocks a second. Kosove hits a right hand of her own and a suplex. Kosov pulls el Molde to his feet and whips him off the ropes. Kosov bends a touch too far allowing el Molde to scoop her up and hit a Dustcloud Explosion. He rolls Kosov over and makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Starr: And your winner, via pinfall SUEÑE EL MOLDE!
el Molde stalks around the ring before rolling under the bottom rope. Sueñe el Molde then heads up the ramp paying no attention to the fans.
Watson: A big win for Sueñe el Molde here on Paramount. Nika Kosov gave him one opening and he took full advantage of it.
Sydney: I’d say it was pretty even all the way until then. Yes Sueñe el Molde won this but Nika Kosov had enough opportunities in this match that it could have been her win just as easily.
Watson: Either way, I think we have a lot to expect from both of these new comers.... We have our fist X-DIVISION match of the night next, do NOT miss it!
Camera cuts to ...
We open up backstage with Lisa Goldrush wandering through the halls of the Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores. She damn well nearly does a double take as both “Headhuntress” Aiya and Narumi Tsutsumi start to walk past her.
Lisa Goldrush: Umm … not to be rude or anything, but you’re not booked this time around.
Aiya smirks and giggles as Narumi puts her hands up in jest as if caught. Aiya nods in understanding as she turns to face Lisa, choosing to humor her curiosity.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Oh, I know. Trust us, we haven’t forgotten we’re not booked this time. That said, we’re taking a page from Damage Inc’s book. We’re here to see if they can handle the pressure, and also to check the other teams out since we’ll be facing two of them at the next Rampage. Personally, I’m mainly curious about 3pAC, as they’re easily the wild card team in this fight.
Narumi puts her right hand under her chin in thought over that.
Narumi Tsutsumi: Yet we can’t go looking past the champions either. Damage Inc’s journey towards those titles was long and I doubt they plan on being taken over easily. The Kruel Masters are definitely the underdogs, but upsets can happen. What interests me most about 3pAC is they’re Love Club members, managed by Bunny to be exact. I was a manager of a team of tag champions in Japan before coming to the EWC, though no where near as decorated as the managers within the Love Club. I have to wonder, do they pick good talent to manage or does their management make the talent? Perhaps it’s a bit of both, but regardless there is one last Love Club member we’re looking out for tonight. Our countryman, Ito.
Narumi pulls out the Prime Minister necklace, symbolizing her movement into the Legends of the Ring finals.
Narumi Tsutsumi: I’ll be meeting him or Marcu$ at Stranglemania. It’ll be an interesting bout to see. As for Marcu$, he spoke of a “seismic shift” and wondered if I’d break through to Stranglemania. I have, and I was always looking out for him in the same vein as others like Moxie, Bradford, Buzzard, Darna and even my own partner Aiya to see who can get ahead in the race of crowning the Undisputed Champion to start the next generation.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Obviously, I’m not moving on in the tournament. But … I certainly wouldn’t object to having another fight with Ito, El Pablo, or anyone in Paramount’s roster. I’ll definitely see about dropping by here again, likely in the near future.
Lisa Goldrush steps in for an added ending comment.
Lisa Goldrush: That’s two promising stars, members of Shinijoshi The Bloody Sureiyāzu making their claims for more success! “Headhuntress” Aiya and The Onihime or…do you go by Prime Minister now?
Narumi giggles.
Narumi Tsutsumi: No, I think I already have enough nicknames and don’t want copy the legends before me. Though I’ll keep this symbolic necklace tight by my side. However, everyone ought to watch out for the building legends of the Grade One Yokai and that of the Bloody Sureiyāzu!
Both Aiya and Narumi flash smiles and their signature poses to the camera as it fades.
Lisa Goldrush: Umm … not to be rude or anything, but you’re not booked this time around.
Aiya smirks and giggles as Narumi puts her hands up in jest as if caught. Aiya nods in understanding as she turns to face Lisa, choosing to humor her curiosity.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Oh, I know. Trust us, we haven’t forgotten we’re not booked this time. That said, we’re taking a page from Damage Inc’s book. We’re here to see if they can handle the pressure, and also to check the other teams out since we’ll be facing two of them at the next Rampage. Personally, I’m mainly curious about 3pAC, as they’re easily the wild card team in this fight.
Narumi puts her right hand under her chin in thought over that.
Narumi Tsutsumi: Yet we can’t go looking past the champions either. Damage Inc’s journey towards those titles was long and I doubt they plan on being taken over easily. The Kruel Masters are definitely the underdogs, but upsets can happen. What interests me most about 3pAC is they’re Love Club members, managed by Bunny to be exact. I was a manager of a team of tag champions in Japan before coming to the EWC, though no where near as decorated as the managers within the Love Club. I have to wonder, do they pick good talent to manage or does their management make the talent? Perhaps it’s a bit of both, but regardless there is one last Love Club member we’re looking out for tonight. Our countryman, Ito.
Narumi pulls out the Prime Minister necklace, symbolizing her movement into the Legends of the Ring finals.
Narumi Tsutsumi: I’ll be meeting him or Marcu$ at Stranglemania. It’ll be an interesting bout to see. As for Marcu$, he spoke of a “seismic shift” and wondered if I’d break through to Stranglemania. I have, and I was always looking out for him in the same vein as others like Moxie, Bradford, Buzzard, Darna and even my own partner Aiya to see who can get ahead in the race of crowning the Undisputed Champion to start the next generation.
”Headhuntress” Aiya: Obviously, I’m not moving on in the tournament. But … I certainly wouldn’t object to having another fight with Ito, El Pablo, or anyone in Paramount’s roster. I’ll definitely see about dropping by here again, likely in the near future.
Lisa Goldrush steps in for an added ending comment.
Lisa Goldrush: That’s two promising stars, members of Shinijoshi The Bloody Sureiyāzu making their claims for more success! “Headhuntress” Aiya and The Onihime or…do you go by Prime Minister now?
Narumi giggles.
Narumi Tsutsumi: No, I think I already have enough nicknames and don’t want copy the legends before me. Though I’ll keep this symbolic necklace tight by my side. However, everyone ought to watch out for the building legends of the Grade One Yokai and that of the Bloody Sureiyāzu!
Both Aiya and Narumi flash smiles and their signature poses to the camera as it fades.
SINGLES MATCH
X-DIVISION RULES
JoJo Rush
VS Adriana Aquilla
We return to ringside where Paramount's Adriana Aquila is set to take on The House's enforcer, JoJo Rush in an X-Division match!
Watson: Shinjoshii Making their intentions known that they want Damage, Inc! Paramount Wrestling is proud to be home to the best Tag Team wrestling in EWC! Now though its time for some X-Division madness!
Starr: The following match is an X-Division match! Joining us first, representing the House, accompanied to the ring by Next Level, from The Badlands, weighing in at 270 pounds ... JOJO RUSH!
JoJo approaches the stage and points a "Too Sweet" hand gesture toward the ring similar to a finger gun. When JoJo "fires", pyro explodes behind him around the Extreme-Tron. JoJo approaches the ring keeping his attention focused on the task at hand, ignoring jeers and boos. Once in the ring, JoJo stares directly at the hard cam and points a finger gun, and fires it once more. Meanwhile, Next Level make their way to the commentary table where once there are given a couple of headsets to join in as guest-commentators.
Starr: And his opponent, from San Francisco, California, weighing in at 120 pounds ... ADDY AQUILLA!
Iron by Within Temptation hits the speakers and the crowd comes alive as Adriana Aquilla makes her way down to the ring, she slaps hands with a couple of fans before rolling into the ring ready for her match as she removes her jacket.
DING DING DING
JoJo and Addy standoff at the center of the ring. JoJo stands tall and looks unimpressed, even going as far as to yawn right in Addy's face. Not to take that disrespect lightly, she snaps off a quick superkick into JoJo's mush. The kick knocks JoJo backwards and bounces off the ropes to throw a big boot which Addy rolls out of the way and lands another dropkick to send JoJo crashing out of the ring towards the commentary booth. JoJo stands up and takes a moment to collect himself on the outside. Addy doesn't relent, she picks up speed and charges through the ropes to hit JoJo with a suicide dive, Air Addy! But JoJo catches Lo Divino right out of the air! Addy kicks and shakes in JoJo’s arms, but the Outlaw hoists Addy up over his head and tosses her from ringside right back into the ring! Addy clips the ropes on her way into the ring, causing her immense pain from the awkward landing. With control of this match, JoJo dusts his hands and barks orders at Mark Paulson, he loudly shouts “Get me a got-dang switch!” After barking his instructions, JoJo looks underneath the ring for weapons. .
Watson: The weapons have not even come out yet and Addy already looks to have possibly been injured!
Sydney: I do believe he instructed someone to get him a switch!
Paulson: You heard the man, I got an errand to run. Don’t let Chelsea Skye take my seat!
Knight: I got you! Addy’s gonna get ittttttt - you’ve never seen JoJo when he’s got a switch in his hand. Absolutely brutal. He once convinced the entire Mexican cartel to go back where they came from, which was wild because we were IN Mexico.
Mark leaves the commentary team and darts to the back of the arena in a sprint. While Addy crawls over to the other side of the ring to recover. JoJo pulls out a table and sets it up parallel to the ring. But when JoJo climbs onto the apron to get himself into the ring, he is met with a Divine Wizard! The running knee connects perfectly and stuns JoJo. On instinct alone, JoJo hangs onto the ropes for dear life. But Addy capitalizes, she raises her hands to the sky, and then leaps over the ropes, grabs JoJo, and throws him through the air in a Mexican Destroyer. The two crash into the table with JoJo going head first in the amazing acrobatic display from Addy!
Addy is the first to recover. She grabs a hold of JoJo’s slick black hair and uses it for grip to roll JoJo’s deadweight into the ring. JoJo is out cold, but instead of going for the pin, Addy slowly climbs up to the top turnbuckle nearby. She wants to hit JoJo with a Corkscrew Shooting Star Press, Divine Grace! But Addy lands in a heap on the canvas. Mark made it back just in the nick of time to pull JoJo out of harm’s way!
Knight: Sick save! That’s my boy!
Watson: The numbers game and the rules are coming into play here. Addy is simply out numbered!
Sydney: You have to expect this kind of stuff, Tim. When you have a member of a faction like The House going into the ring, AND it's an X-Division match? you have to anticipate that the numbers will never be in your favor.
Mark literally shakes JoJo to get the enforcer back onto his own feet. JoJo looks at the game device in his hands in confusion. JoJo and Mark bicker back and forth. Clearly JoJo wanted a different kind of “switch”. But JoJo takes Addy’s handheld console and rolls back into the ring with the game console in hand as Addy stirs to her feet. Seeing her switch in JoJo’s hand sparks a second wind and she charges at JoJo to hit another Shining Wizard, but JoJo charges at her as well and swings the Nintendo Switch down hard on Adriana’s head. The device breaks in an explosion of plastic and glass. Addy falls to a heap to which JoJo goes for the pin.
ONE...
TWO...
Thr– no!
Addy kicks out at the very last second! Much to the shock of the Guatemalan crowd! The crowd cheer for Addy’s show of defiance. But JoJo was not that easily amused. JoJo tosses Addy into the prone and snares her in an STF, a nasty Hogtie! Addy claws at the canvas then up at JoJo’s arms but she can’t break free. With no other option, Adriana taps against the canvas!
DING DING DING
Starr: And your winner, via Submission, JOJO RUSH!
JoJo doesn’t release the hold after his victory. The Blackhat stares directly into the hard-camera as he continues the hold. By the time the ref finally breaks JoJo’s grip, Adriana passes out from the pain. Mark grabs one arm of JoJo’s, raising it high in the air as Brian swoops in down onto the canvas, raising Addy’s arm and dropping it before he dramatically calls for the bell that’s clearly already rung. Mark reaches down, pulling Brian to his feet before both men flank JoJo and hit the griddy in celebration.
Watson: Addy really gave it her all here tonight, but just could not overcome the numbers game. Valiant effort, but The House wins tonight.
Sydney: It was X-Division rules Tim. Adriana needs to find some backup if she's going to take on these odds.
JoJo looks to the two with a bewildered look on his face, but allows the two to celebrate while they make their way back to the locker room. Officials meanwhile check on Addy and get the young girl back to her feet, much to the roaring applause of the local fans.
Watson: Great reaction for Lo Dovino here. We have to take a break folks, we will be right back!
Camera cuts to ...
The camera cuts backstage inside The Love Club locker room where we find the 3pAC, Deimos and ‘Little’ Danny along with their manager Bunny Love looking at Bunny’s father, ‘The Memphis Mouthpiece’ Tommy Love.
T. Love: Listen, I know I’ve given you shit Deimos for being lazy, ugly, a drain on society and the reason that Xavier’s place smells like cabbage BUT…
Tommy smiles at Deimos.
T. Love: I have to applaud you…and you ‘Little’ Danny…
Tommy looks at ‘Little’ Danny, who looks a bit shocked that Tommy even knows his name.
T. Love: It would have been easy for both of you to tell my daughter NO, hell it’s been years since the CEW gave you two your walking papers…you both were taking a hell of a chance in coming back to the business that rejected you, that kicked you to the curb…that said, ‘even though we employ freaks and losers you two are even beneath the shitty of shittyness’...
Tommy smiles as he looks at the two but Bunny stands up…
B.Love: Um, is there a compliment coming here dad…
T. Love: Yeah, kudos to you both for ignoring the haters and coming back to the business, for coming here to Paramount and signing a contract…for taking The Southern Express’s place here in Paramount…I mean damn guys, that takes balls…Bobby and Jimmy were the…what was is…
Tommy looks at his daughter and smiles…
B. Love: The Record Breaking…History Making…
T. Love: Sure to be 1st Ballot Hall of Fame inductees…the TWO-TIME EWC Tag Team Champions of the World…I mean hell boys, there were the 2021 EWC Champions of the Year and a TWO-TIME EWC Tag Team of the Year and you two just walked on in ready to fill their shoes…I don’t know a lot of tag team that would do that but you two said FUCK IT and signed that contract…
Tommy gives them a thumbs up…
T. Love: And tonight, on your Paramount debut you are placed in a match with the EWC Tag Team Champions Damage Inc and The Kreul Masters…talk about being tossed into the deep end…
Bunny looks at Deimos and ‘Little’ Danny, who are just looking at Tommy and jumps in…
B. Love: Hell yeah that are and that’s just how they like it, you two never have done things in the ‘traditional manner’, that’s what makes you two the wild cards you are…Deimos, you know this business inside and out because of that podcast…how many EWC shows have you covered…
Deimos: Everyone since Xavier signed with the company in 2015, minus the 18 months where he flaked out and sat at home growing his homeless man beard and wondered if it was all worth it…
B. Love: And you ‘Little’ Danny…you know what it’s like to lose it all and have to crawl back up from the bottom…hell you had to work at Burger King to make ends meet and yet you never gave up on your dream…
‘Little’ Danny mouth drops open…
‘Little’ Danny: I am still working at Burger King Bunny and that reminds me, I have to call Rick and tell him I can’t work this weekend…seeing as we will be in Mexico City…I hope he can find someone to cover my shift…
Tommy just shakes his head…
B. Love: My point is my dad is right, you could have given up and yet you didn’t…you signed here because you wanted to prove that you were champions…that it wasn’t a fluke when you guys won the CEW Tag Team Championship and that you can follow in Bobby and Jimmy’s footsteps and become the EWC Tag Team Champions and that quest starts here tonight…you have a chance of a lifetime and NOBODY things you can do it…besides me…all hell is going to break loose out there and if you listen to me…I’ll direct you to a win…Malice and Mayhem aren’t taking you seriously…neither is Kolby or Daphne…you are a joke to them but it will be us having the last laugh…there is no book on you two so they have no idea what they are up against here tonight, that gives us the edge…
The door to the locker room opens and in walks Xavier Reid…Tommy looks at him…
T. Love: And what the hell was that…
Reid: Just giving my brother some love, he’s been killing it and I just wanted him to know I’ve been watching…but this isn’t about me…it’s about these two…
Xavier points at the 3pAC…
B. Love: I was just telling them how them being the ‘unknown’ gives them the advantage out there…
Reid: Damage Inc have reached the top of the mountain and it’s not easy being the ones with the targets on your back…they fought like hell to get there but once you are there…that edge is tough to keep…it’s always been their dream to be the tag team champs and now that they are there what’s next for them…can they keep that edge…the toughest match for any champion is the first match AFTER you win the belts…that match is tonight…
B. Love: You have the chance to ruin their moment boys...to piss on their parade…to bring Damage Inc back to Earth and show the EWC that it should be the two of you that challenges them at StrangleMania…but don’t lose sight of The Kreul Masters…they are coming off a loss on the last Paramount, their backs are up against the wall and they can’t afford to start off the season 0-2…
Reid: They will be desperate out there…willing to try anything to get the win…if either of you get into trouble, roll out of the ring…collect yourselves but keep your eyes on the action…
B. Love: All that matters out there is that YOU TWO WIN, I don’t care if you pin Malice or Mayhem or Kolby or Daphne…all that matters is that your hands our raised…if that happens I can make the case for us at StrangleMania…so let’s go out there and ‘shock the world’...sort of speak…dad…
Bunny looks at Tommy, who is looking down at his phone…Xavier gives him a kick in the leg causing him to jump…
T. Love: OW, damn it…what…oh yeah, go out there and break a leg boys…just maybe not your legs…
Tommy gives them a thumbs up as he looks at Xavier and Bunny with a smiles as the camera fades out.
T. Love: Listen, I know I’ve given you shit Deimos for being lazy, ugly, a drain on society and the reason that Xavier’s place smells like cabbage BUT…
Tommy smiles at Deimos.
T. Love: I have to applaud you…and you ‘Little’ Danny…
Tommy looks at ‘Little’ Danny, who looks a bit shocked that Tommy even knows his name.
T. Love: It would have been easy for both of you to tell my daughter NO, hell it’s been years since the CEW gave you two your walking papers…you both were taking a hell of a chance in coming back to the business that rejected you, that kicked you to the curb…that said, ‘even though we employ freaks and losers you two are even beneath the shitty of shittyness’...
Tommy smiles as he looks at the two but Bunny stands up…
B.Love: Um, is there a compliment coming here dad…
T. Love: Yeah, kudos to you both for ignoring the haters and coming back to the business, for coming here to Paramount and signing a contract…for taking The Southern Express’s place here in Paramount…I mean damn guys, that takes balls…Bobby and Jimmy were the…what was is…
Tommy looks at his daughter and smiles…
B. Love: The Record Breaking…History Making…
T. Love: Sure to be 1st Ballot Hall of Fame inductees…the TWO-TIME EWC Tag Team Champions of the World…I mean hell boys, there were the 2021 EWC Champions of the Year and a TWO-TIME EWC Tag Team of the Year and you two just walked on in ready to fill their shoes…I don’t know a lot of tag team that would do that but you two said FUCK IT and signed that contract…
Tommy gives them a thumbs up…
T. Love: And tonight, on your Paramount debut you are placed in a match with the EWC Tag Team Champions Damage Inc and The Kreul Masters…talk about being tossed into the deep end…
Bunny looks at Deimos and ‘Little’ Danny, who are just looking at Tommy and jumps in…
B. Love: Hell yeah that are and that’s just how they like it, you two never have done things in the ‘traditional manner’, that’s what makes you two the wild cards you are…Deimos, you know this business inside and out because of that podcast…how many EWC shows have you covered…
Deimos: Everyone since Xavier signed with the company in 2015, minus the 18 months where he flaked out and sat at home growing his homeless man beard and wondered if it was all worth it…
B. Love: And you ‘Little’ Danny…you know what it’s like to lose it all and have to crawl back up from the bottom…hell you had to work at Burger King to make ends meet and yet you never gave up on your dream…
‘Little’ Danny mouth drops open…
‘Little’ Danny: I am still working at Burger King Bunny and that reminds me, I have to call Rick and tell him I can’t work this weekend…seeing as we will be in Mexico City…I hope he can find someone to cover my shift…
Tommy just shakes his head…
B. Love: My point is my dad is right, you could have given up and yet you didn’t…you signed here because you wanted to prove that you were champions…that it wasn’t a fluke when you guys won the CEW Tag Team Championship and that you can follow in Bobby and Jimmy’s footsteps and become the EWC Tag Team Champions and that quest starts here tonight…you have a chance of a lifetime and NOBODY things you can do it…besides me…all hell is going to break loose out there and if you listen to me…I’ll direct you to a win…Malice and Mayhem aren’t taking you seriously…neither is Kolby or Daphne…you are a joke to them but it will be us having the last laugh…there is no book on you two so they have no idea what they are up against here tonight, that gives us the edge…
The door to the locker room opens and in walks Xavier Reid…Tommy looks at him…
T. Love: And what the hell was that…
Reid: Just giving my brother some love, he’s been killing it and I just wanted him to know I’ve been watching…but this isn’t about me…it’s about these two…
Xavier points at the 3pAC…
B. Love: I was just telling them how them being the ‘unknown’ gives them the advantage out there…
Reid: Damage Inc have reached the top of the mountain and it’s not easy being the ones with the targets on your back…they fought like hell to get there but once you are there…that edge is tough to keep…it’s always been their dream to be the tag team champs and now that they are there what’s next for them…can they keep that edge…the toughest match for any champion is the first match AFTER you win the belts…that match is tonight…
B. Love: You have the chance to ruin their moment boys...to piss on their parade…to bring Damage Inc back to Earth and show the EWC that it should be the two of you that challenges them at StrangleMania…but don’t lose sight of The Kreul Masters…they are coming off a loss on the last Paramount, their backs are up against the wall and they can’t afford to start off the season 0-2…
Reid: They will be desperate out there…willing to try anything to get the win…if either of you get into trouble, roll out of the ring…collect yourselves but keep your eyes on the action…
B. Love: All that matters out there is that YOU TWO WIN, I don’t care if you pin Malice or Mayhem or Kolby or Daphne…all that matters is that your hands our raised…if that happens I can make the case for us at StrangleMania…so let’s go out there and ‘shock the world’...sort of speak…dad…
Bunny looks at Tommy, who is looking down at his phone…Xavier gives him a kick in the leg causing him to jump…
T. Love: OW, damn it…what…oh yeah, go out there and break a leg boys…just maybe not your legs…
Tommy gives them a thumbs up as he looks at Xavier and Bunny with a smiles as the camera fades out.
SINGLES MATCH
FOR THE APPLE TV+ BROADCAST CHAMPIONSHIP
Sally Talfourd
VS Tanja Devereaux
We return to ringside where the debris has been rapidly cleared, the ring sparkling in preparation for a title bout.
Watson: Bunny Love's new tag team will be in action later tonight, but right now we have a title match! The Apple TV+ Broadcast championship is on the line. Will Tanja get that all important defense number one under her belt? Or is the Magic too strong and will Sally Talfourd become the fist ever two time broadcast champion! Let's find out!
Starr: The following match is for one fall, and is for the Apple TV+ Broadcast Championship!
The lights turn blue and red. 'TroubleMaker' hits the speakers. The song bursts to life, out races Sally to the front of the stage. Raising her hands to the crowd, she kicks her leg and heads towards the ring, slapping hands with the crowd.
Starr: Making her way to the ring this evening, weighing in at a sublime one-hundred and forty pounds, standing in at five feet and eleven inches of perfection, this is 'THE LAST MAGICIAN' SALLY TALFOURD!
Sally stands at the base of the steps to the ring, waving to the crowd, then dashes up the steps, hoists herself over the top and strides to the center of the ring.
Pyros hit as Videos of bustling crowds in various locations of New Orleans appear on the tron as the dark and melodic tones of the intro "Voodoo" by Godsmack blasts on the P.A. system. Tanja comes out onto the top of the ramp in a style compared to Gail Kim during her early time in TNA before heading down the ramp with some of her black leather coat flows at her feet while the mix of boos and jeers and cheers from the crowd fills the arena. She hisses at those at ringside while coming down to the ring.
Starr: And her opponent, coming to the ring hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana; she is the Apple TV+ Broadcast Champion ... the Bayou Witch, TANJA DEVEREAUX!
Tanja walk up towards the ring and enters via under the bottom rope and jumps onto the middle turnbuckle. She poses as she does her usual taunt with a hand and arm in the air as "Voodoo" continues to play. Tanja steps off the turnbuckle as she removes her title belt and then the leather coat as "Voodoo" fades.
DING DING DING
Sally Talfourd wets her lips as the bell rings, but doesn't look away from her opponent, who throws out her arms and strides toward her - dark and menacing. For a moment it does seem as if the plucky magician is going to simply stand and take what's coming, but as Tanja closes the distance she moves, all fluid grace as she seizes a striking arm and wrenches it around, hopping up to limpet onto it and bring Devereaux crashing down to the canvas! She winds a leg up and over the arm, locking in a painful submission; but her opponent is no slouch, growling as she slaps at her own shoulder and then dislocates it with a stomach-churning snap, slithering from Sally's grip.
Tanja rolls to her feet, sweeps the rising Talfourd's leg from under her with her good arm, then pops the shoulder back into place. Sally rolls backwards, into a deft crouch that becomes a fierce lunge, raining forearms on Devereaux before she can find her footing. Both women end up in the corner, but Tanja bodily shoves her way out, tripping Sally a second time as she slides to her flank, then catching the falling woman in a nasty butterfly lock, jerking her away from the corner and easy reach of the ropes. The submission specialist struggles, but starts to fade...
The crowd are mixed, raining down boos and jeers for Devereaux as she sinks the hold in more deeply and hisses at them, and a mountain of support for Sally - who finds herself in danger of a serious upset! She keeps fading, and the official is turned half to the timekeeper's table, his hand hovering in place, when she snaps to - gaze fixated on a point within the crowd. There's a surge of motion, and Talfourd twists hard into the hold, risking further damage--
--but managing to reverse, bridging expertly as she drives Tanja all the way to the mat, keeping her shoulders down!
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT!
Watson: This was almost the shortest title match in Paramount history! Twice!
Sydney: Devereaux can't believe it, and neither can I - she had that!
The two women find their feet simultaneously, both of them with rubbery arms as they fall together and trade strikes, back and forth until Sally Talfourd shoots for a takedown, driving Devereaux into the ropes. They rebound together, the Last Magician slipping through to apply a stretch muffler! Devereaux's flailing arms catch the bottom rope for a half-second, but with a gasp of effort SalTal pulls her away. The effort unbalances her, and the Apple TV+ champion reverses, tripping Talfourd, then slithering through as she hunts to capture a leg and lock in the Bayou St. John! It's Sally's turn to flail for the ropes, and she manages to get both hands to safety.
Devereaux isn't letting go, waiting for the full count of four - it would seem - but Talfourd has other ideas, ripping her leg free and releasing the ropes, snapping her opposite knee up into Tanja's jaw! She falls backwards in the attempt, landing on her butt, scooching back as the Bayou Witch snarls and gives pursuit...
An upkick misses by inches, and Devereaux steps past it, seizing SalTal by the THROAT and yanking her viciously upright, shifting her grip-- foolishly, because the moment is seized by the wily veteran, who grabs her arm, shoves her once more off the ropes, and on the rebound leaps to hit a beautiful double knee armbreaker! Tanja rolls in agony, as Sally pops up and breathlessly encourages the crowd, getting them firmly behind her before hitting the ropes, meeting the re-risen Devereaux with a spinning wheel kick, then tying her up with a scissored armbar.
Tanja's in trouble, reaching out with the other arm as she snarls in pain, far short of the bottom rope now, and Sally's tenacious like a pitbull - wrenching on the hold, determination setting her delicate features ablaze.
Suddenly, they're skidding across the canvas, and Tanja is closing her hand on the MIDDLE rope, as a massive arm has inserted itself from ringside. Tanja's enforcer, Lucien, backs off with a chuckle, raising his hands in faux-innocence to the official's warning, as Devereaux forces the break. But in an eerie echo to her own stunt earlier, it's now Talfourd who won't let go; still aggressively attacking the arm, about to tip her hand into disqualification before the referee intervenes, pulling the two women apart and issuing a warning to Sally, who stares right through him, weaving about in a curious daze. She reaches out slowly, and he grabs her arm, snapping her into an immediate, stammered apology as she seems to awaken. Her cheeks flushed, and clearly discombobulated, she finds herself seized by a FURIOUS Tanja Devereaux, who drives her into the canvas with a butterfly suplex, then picks her up again by the arms, twisting her into a ferocious straightjacket neckbreaker! HOODOO! Tanja floats over, grinding a forearm into Sally's face as she covers!
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT!
Watson: Anything you can do, I can do better, says Tanja Devereaux. These two ladies are putting on a clinic, and both of them seem to have something to prove - does this mean more than just the title, Cid?
Sydney: Does it have to? For both of them, this title means what it means; redemption. Tanja Devereaux NEEDS to hold onto it, and defend it. Sally Talfourd NEEDS it back in her possession after she FAILED to defend it.
There's a commotion on the ramp, and a familiar figure is striding toward the ring past a couple of panicked stewards. He's about six feet tall, around two-twenty, and has a particularly smug beard. Tanja Devereaux is up and wary, espying the figure and emitting a low growl before directing her enforcer to intercept. Sally Talfourd is brushing off the cobwebs on the opposite side - it's unclear what exactly she sees from her position, but she DOES see her opponent take her eye from the ball. A moment is all she needs, dancing across the ring, snatching a leg, and hitting a brisk Dragon Screw that sends Devereaux's skull bouncing off the turnbuckle!
Maintaining her focus, SalTal springs up to catch the rebounding Tanja with a Japanese arm drag, twirling to her feet ready to snag the arm again and haul her into a snug clothesline! The crowd pop as Devereaux's turned inside out, and yoinked into a half-nelson that the plucky Magician uses to hit her signature corkscew neckbreaker; LIGHTS OUT! The champ crashes onto the canvas, and starts to flop over again, but Sally grabs her and winds her into an elaborate pinning combination, keeping her shoulders to the mat with an extended leg as she controls the lower body with her arms.
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT!
Tanja gets her shoulders up, and grabs the leg, flustered as she drives clean to her feet, gripping Sally's boot - but Talfourd is twisty, and hard to control, getting her hands to the mat and fluttering one leg over the other, scissoring herself free, then spinning to her feet in a graceful tumble. She's met immediately with violence, eating an axe kick to the shoulder that drops her to a knee. With a merciless laugh, Tanja seizes a headlock--
--and that's when the chair shot rings from outside the ring. KING FLIP, intercepted by Lucien, has swung for the fences once, and now does so a second and third time, sequentially dropping the big man to his knees and then into the unyielding surface of the ramp. He throws down the chair, dusts off his hand, and then finger-waves at Tanja Devereaux.
Sydney: They really let anyone in these days, don't they?
Watson: To be fair, I don't think anybody 'let' the International Champion in here.
In the midst of this renewed distraction, Sally Talfourd fights back, but is quietened by a couple of angry thrusts of Tanja Devereaux's knees, the hold cinched in anew before the Wicked Witch launches herself sharply at the corner, kicking off to hit a crushing Tornado DDT on the Last Magician! Rather than capitalize, she flows to her feet, marching to the rope and staring at King Flip - who comes over all pantomime, bellowing, "LOOK BEHIND YOU!"
Tanja spins, and finds Sally not on her feet, but rolling out of the ring. Feeling the momentum slip away from her, she attempts to grab for the technician, but comes up short, as SalTal staggers around the other side of the ring. Laughing, King Flip moves to set up his chair near the timekeeper's desk, casually plopping himself down as he engages the ringside staff in a bit of jovial banter. This does nothing to improve Tanja Devereaux's mood, and she's a little hasty in slipping out of the ring right in front of Sally Talfourd, who reacts with an instinctive basement dropkick to the knees.
Devereaux stumbles against the apron, and the Last Magician pounces, seizing a front facelock and dragging her toward the floor, snapping a knee up with devastating precision as she hits SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS!
Watson: 'Anything you can do', indeed.
In the wake of her facebreaker DDT, Sally attempts to bundle Devereaux back into the ring, but they're equal in determination - she's resisted every inch, until a bloody-nosed Tanja manages to rake her across the eyes, then fall back into a second DDT of her own, driving Talfourd's skull into the edge of the ring! Smirking coldly, and knowing she has the champion's advantage, she scoops Sally up with a fierce grunt, and drops her once more for good measure - this time with her sitdown Samoan Drop facebuster, LEGBA'S SPIRIT! The crowd are heated, equally sympathetic and raging against the champ as she slides back into the ring and mocks them openly, posturing and sneering.
The count is being applied, as Sally slowly recovers, watched with a damning eye by her opponent, who seems content to allow the count to be applied. Talfourd appears to have enough time to enter the ring, but her expression is unnaturally glazed - something the observant have become accustomed to, her focus completely drained, eyes rolling back in her head as she stumbles toward the crowd; her gaze finally focusing on a point somewhere beyond them, but her hand reaching out, brushing through the front row. A couple of errant hands seek contact with her, but at the end of her fingers...
Another set of fingers, the mirror opposite in many ways, entwine with them, jolting the Last Magician back to reality.
Sydney: Hey, that person look familiar to you?
Watson: That's... Rampage star Darna Dare? What's she doing here?
She's bundled in a white, hooded jacket, but it's indeed the hazel eyes of the Bronze Scorpion that meet Sally Talfourd's, an enigmatic, twisted little smile on her lips as she lets the other woman's fingers slip through her own. The count hits nine, and Sally gasps, turning away from Darna and the crowd, diving back into the ring - into the clutches of Tanja Devereaux, who seizes an arm, wrenches it, and strikes the Last Magician with a kick to the temple. The technician jerks off the ropes, refusing to go down, firing back with a spin kick that forces Tanja to back off a pace. A new opening prompts them both to shoot for the same thing; each seizing an arm, and hunting for the neck, to bend the other back into position for their own swinging reverse STO. The effort brings them eye to eye, Devereaux staring furiously, SalTal with her jaw set and determination that defies the fury of the Witch. They're locked like this, refusing to give an inch...
...when, outside the ring, King Flip seizes his chance to slip something from his jacket and hover over the timekeeper's table, where the Apple TV+ Championship has been residing. He hesitates, deliberating, and then makes a quick snatch for the title; leaving in its place a similar, but substantially tackier replica belt. Made from bright pink plastic.
Several things happen at once.
King Flip starts to sprint toward the back, Tanja Devereaux spots him over Sally Talfourd's shoulder and instinctively pulls the pair of them toward the International Champion - their expertly-placed lock-up falling into a messy tussle - and Darna Dare vaults the barricade, her hood flying off and revealing her face to the crowd as she lunges after Flip.
Watson: I have no idea what's happening right now.
Sydney: King Flip just stole the title, that's what's happening! Hahaha!
There's a mighty crash from the ring, as Sally Talfourd uses the confusion to wrestle her way into superiority, seizing an arm and jamming her hip in, whipping an astonished, impossibly irate Tanja Devereaux clean over her shoulder and into the position they were both hunting for mere seconds ago. The crowd, up until now a confused mass, explode with chants for the Last Magician as she smiles breathlessly, and wrenches the Wicked Witch of the Bayou into THE OUTRO!! The Apple TV+ Champion crashes down hard, to an increased pop--
--In the same moment that there's a crash from the backboard of the stage as the lightning speed of Darna Dare brings her to within half a foot of taking out King Flip, who gives a wild whoop as he makes his escape into the back. Darna recovers and takes one glance back, seeing Sally Talfourd nudge her opponent into the cover, before resuming her pursuit.
The official is a little late sliding into position, and the Last Magician looks desperate, mouthing the count.
ONE...
TWO...
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Starr: Your winner, via pinfall, and the NEW Apple TV+ Broadcast Champion ... 'THE LAST MAGICIAN' SALLY TALFOURD!
There's blood on the faces of both women, but only one of them is up and smiling as her music hits and the arena erupts in appreciation of her efforts. Sally Talfourd is on her feet from pure adrenaline, stumbling into place for the referee to raise her arm, unable to stop herself from laughing as she sees the confusion at ringside; the cheap plastic belt, the sheer ludicrous nature of the final moments striking her in all their absurdity. The referee says something to her, and she shakes her head, smile sparkling past the weariness, the pain, and the slowly spreading crimson mask. Extending her hand to ringside, she accepts the substitute title and hoists it up proudly.
What's the Estadio Nacional to do but cheer the display?
Watson: She called it herself, that chaos would reign, and reign it did - but Sally Talfourd slipped through it all, and now finds herself a TWO-TIME broadcast champion on Paramount! You've got to feel for Tanja Devereaux, whose entanglement with King Flip certainly cost her focus in those critical moments at the end...
Sydney: What are you smoking? FEEL for her? She was robbed! The Last Magician pulled one hell of an ugly, lowdown trick tonight. This was a conspiracy, Tim, plain and simple. How's Devereaux supposed to cleanse Paramount when the likes of King Flip and Darna Dare are invited in to track filth everywhere? I DEMAND an explanation.
One isn't forthcoming, as Sally soaks in the cheers, her gaze slowly roaming to the ramp. The slow burn of her elation leaves in its wake a gentle frown, her fingers thrumming thoughtfully on the tacky plastic strapped comically around her waist as she, herself, tries to puzzle out the events of the evening. Devereaux sits against the ropes, one hand pressed to stem her own bleeding as she stares balefully toward the back.
Watson: One thing is for certain, we absolutely have not seen the last time Tanja and Sally fight in this ring. Those two will lock horns again. We'll be right back, folks.
Camera cuts to ...
NON-TITLE SINGLES MATCH
X-DIVISION RULES
Salvation
VS El Pablo
We return to ringside where ringside has been cleared once more in anticipation for what is about to come.
Watson: So much has happened here tonight folks, but we have so much more to come. Up next is the second of two X-division matches. Salvation looks to get a win against a Voldando again. This time its El Pablo!
Starr: The following match, set for one fall, is to be contested under X-Division Rules. Joining us first, from the Mystic River and weighing in at 285 pounds, he is... SALVATION!
Falling Away from Me by Korn erupts throughout the speakers as Salvation walks onto the stage. Salvation smiles wide, waving to the crowd as he makes his way out. Stopping halfway onto the stage, and turning, pointing with his Walking stick to Sienna Wolf making her way onto the stage. Salvation turns back to the fans throwing "Spock Signs" to the crowd with one hand, raising his walking stick with the other, then starts to jog down the aisle, high-fiving fans. Sienna follows down the ramp, also exchanging high fives and fist bumps along the barricade then stops at the ring. Salvation makes a loop around the ring, exchanging fist bumps and high-fives before sliding under the ropes and into the ring. He bounces off the ropes and few times before heading to his corner, handing over his walking stick to Sienna Wolf, then starts stretching.
Starr: And the opponent, residing in Puebla City, Mexico and weighing in at 180 pounds, he is the current EWC X-Division Champion... EL PABLO!
A cry of “VIVA LA RAINBOWLUTION!!!” leads to ‘Party Hard’ by Andrew WK hitting the soundsystem, as the stage and ringside area becomes bathed in flashing, flickering, brightly-coloured lighting. As the main hook hits, El Pablo bursts through the curtain, playing to the fans and chugging Skittles like a Steveweiser while the X-Division Championship belt glistens around his waist. He charges down the ramp and slides under the ropes into the ring, then runs up the turnbuckle and holds the title belt high above his head to another pop from the adoring crowd. After offering a final salute, he hops back down to the canvas, handing his belt to the referee and performing a few final stretches as his music fades.
DING DING DING
Pablo runs at Salvation and slips behind him. Pablo pushes Salvation off the ropes for an O’Connor roll. Salvation grabs the top rope and only Pablo rolls back. Salvation turns as Pablo leaps at him with a cross body. It’s far to early in the match and both men are on their feet long before the ref can move. Pablo runs at Salvation and ducks a clothesline. He bounds off the ropes and this time he doesn’t duck it. A clothesline from Salvation drops Pablo to the mat. Salvation pulls Pablo to his feet and rams his head into the corner. Salvation lifts Pablo for a Suplex but Pablo is able to slide over Salvation’s shoulder and onto the ring apron. Salvation runs at Pablo and, with a shoulder block, knocks Pablo from the apron into the ringside barrier. Salvation follows him outside and grabs a chair. Salvation smacks Pablo across the back twice and throws Pablo into the ring post. Sienna hands Salvation his walking stick and he smacks Pablo in the ribs with it before handing it back. Salvation hits Pablo with a suplex on the ringside mat before sliding Pablo into the ring. He covers Pablo.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Pablo raises an arm into the air to break the count. Salvation lifts Pablo to his feet and lashes out with a right hand. Pablo blocks and counters with a crucifix driver. Salvation rolls through as Pablo runs off the ropes hitting a low dropkick to the side of the head of a crouching Salvation. Pablo rolls out of the ring and grabs a pipe from under the ring. Pablo rolls back into the ring and smacks Salvation in the ribs with the pipe. As Salvation drops to the mat clutching his ribs, Pablo slips to the middle turnbuckle and leaps hitting a legdrop. He grabs Salvation’s legs as the referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Salvation just manages to get a shoulder off the ma to break the count.
Watson: Salvation getting a shoulder up there. The pain he must be in.
Sydney: He says he likes and deserves the pain. There’s a fine like between liking the pain and suffering pain. So it said in a documentary I watched a couple of weeks ago.
Pablo rolls under the ropes and reaches under the ring. He pulls out a table with piñatas on it. Pablo tosses the piñatas into the ring before sliding the table in and then himself. Before Pablo can set up the table, Salvation drops him with a clothesline. Salvation turns to the table but Pablo spins him around. Salvation drops Pablo with a second clothesline before lifting him to his feet and dropping Pablo on a piñata with a side slam that sends shards of glass and Skittles everywhere. Salvation sets up the table as Pablo writhes around the ring with blood dripping from several cuts in his back. Pablo pulls himself to his feet but Hello Nurse drops him to the mat where Salvation makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Pablo rolls to his side stopping the count. Salvation gets to his feet. He repositions the table to the middle of the ring. As he takes his hand off the table, Pablo leaps and drives Salvation through the table with a leaping facebuster. Pablo rolls Salvation over and makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Salvation rolls to his front to break the count.
Watson: Driven through a table and still Salvation kicks out! What do you need to do to stop these two?
Sydney: I don’t know. I’m just glad I’m sat here with you and I don’t have to work it out.
Watson: Might be the first time you’ve said you were glad to be here with me.
Pablo gets to his feet and smacks Salvation with a bit of broken table. He lifts Salvation to his feet but Salvation back drops Pablo onto the table remains. Pablo pulls himself to his feet but Salvation smacks him with the last piñata. Pablo drops to the mat. Salvation drags him to his feet and lifts Pablo for a powerbomb. Pablo counters hitting Taste The Rainbow. Pablo rolls Salvation over and hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Starr: And your winner, via pinfall EL PABLO!
Pablo pulls himself to his feet. He holds one hand in the air in victory while digging in his pocket with the other. He tosses a handful of Skittles into the air and they fall like confetti before rattling on the ring and table fragments.
Watson: Non title or not, El Pablo finds a way to win.
Sydney: He took a bit of a pasting here. Salvation did not make this easy for El Pablo and nor should he have.
‘Papercuts’ plays out as El Pablo looks up towards the stage as the Paramount crowd starts to boo but it quickly turns to more of a mixed reaction as Xavier Reid walks out onto the stage.
Watson: It’s Xavier Reid!!!
Sydney: Yeah but what the hell is he doing here…
Xavier looks down towards his brother in the ring and nods as he claps his hand, applauding his brother
Watson: Xavier Reid has made no secret he wants a shot at El Pablo’s X-Division Championship…
Sydney: What is he thinking, if he comes out here and claps for his brother he will grant him that match, he should have snuck up behind him and dropped him…maybe that would have pissed off El Pablo and he would have demanded a match with this bastard…
Xavier nods again and solutes El Pablo as he turns around and walks back through the curtain…
‘Papercuts’ plays out as El Pablo looks up towards the stage as the Paramount crowd starts to boo but it quickly turns to more of a mixed reaction as Xavier Reid walks out onto the stage.
Watson: It’s Xavier Reid!!!
Sydney: Yeah but what the hell is he doing here…
Xavier looks down towards his brother in the ring and nods as he claps his hand, applauding his brother
Watson: Xavier Reid has made no secret he wants a shot at El Pablo’s X-Division Championship…
Sydney: What is he thinking, if he comes out here and claps for his brother he will grant him that match, he should have snuck up behind him and dropped him…maybe that would have pissed off El Pablo and he would have demanded a match with this bastard…
Xavier nods again and solutes El Pablo as he turns around and walks back through the curtain…
Watson: Was that... A show of respect?! I may have seen it all here now folks. Reid respecting a potential opponent? I guess anything really is possible on Paramount! We'll be right back folks.
Camera cuts to ...
The camera cuts backstage where Paramount’s Lisa Goldrush is standing by.
Goldrush: Ladies and gentleman, tonight in the Main Event of #029 Paramount will punch its ticket to the Main Event of StrangleMania with our representative in the Legends of the Ring Tournament as our North American Champion Marcu$ $t. John faces former EWC Undisputed Champion Ibuki Ito…
From off camera we hear a man clear his throat as Lisa looks off camera and smiles.
Goldrush: Ito, who will of course be joined by…
A hand enters the shot as Lisa is handed a note by the man that cleared his throat.
Goldrush: By a man that needs no introduction because his…
Lisa looks back off camera and pauses before continuing…
Goldrush: Because his awesomeness is legendary…in his short 3 year career he has already helped steer the wrestler formerly known as ‘Killjoy’ to becoming a 2-Time X-Division Champion, a Undisputed Champion and a Co-Winner of the Rumble…he helped refine what a wrestling manager is and stepped out of the shadows of his sister and legendary father as the BEST Love manager in the game…while he still considers himself ‘part’ of The Love Club here in his 4th year in the business is ushering in a NEW and EXCITING group of wrestlers known as Buddy’s Buddies…
Not being able to wait Buddy Love jumps into the shot and puts his arm around Lisa Goldrush.
Love: And tonight I help steer Ibuki Ito back into the Main Event of StrangleMania…where he was last season if you all remember and take home Paramount’s spot in the Finals of Legends of the Ring…
Goldrush: Last week we saw Ibuki defeat El Pablo in the Sweet 16…
Love: Which pained me to be honest with you Lisa, I love El Pablo, always have, he was my favorite wrestler growing up and it’s not because my father and El Pablo’s father were best friends and I thought we could also be best friends if given the chance but because I had a El Pablo mask that I would were all the time…in fact if still has the ketchup stain on the right side of the mouth…in fact, if you’re listening, EP this guy could use a updated mask if you were to be so kind…
Buddy smiles and puts his hands together in prayer…
Goldrush: But tonight you face a man hungry to take that next step into the upper echelon of the EWC elite and punch his ticket to the Main Event of StrangleMania…Marcu$ $t. John…
Buddy smiles and nods at Lisa.
Love: Marcu$ $t. John, the man we have been waiting for for quite some time now to take that step but just doesn’t seem able to do so…I’m taking nothing away from him, he is in fact as you said the North American Champion here in Paramount, the ‘top’ champion of this brand…in fact tonight is day number 274 as champion, we are only 9 days away from him passing Robbie Rayder as the longest North American Champion of all time…and sure, we could talk about him only having ONE defense during those 274 days but that’s not his fault…he is an amazing champion and you will hear nothing short of that from these lips…BUT…
Buddy holds up a finger…
Love: Just because you are the brand’s top champion doesn’t make you the best choice to represent the brand at StrangleMania…look at Brawl, King Flip is the International Champion and yet Stitches beat him and represent Brawl…over on Prime Scorpio is the Indy Champion and yet it will be Narumi Tsutsumi representing Prime having just beat it’s Prime Minister…Rampage’s top champion Lavender isn’t even in the tournament so just because Marcu$ is the North American Champion doesn’t give him a free path to the finals…in fact being the champion doesn’t seem to bold well for him given the past events…
Buddy raises his eyebrows at this point…
Love: Then there is the fact that Marcu$ has NEVER beaten Ito, NEVER, not once…3-0-1 against my man and I know Mya talked about how hard he worked in the offseason but so has everyone else…this isn’t something ONLY Marcu$ has done, there is no offseason when you are one of the elites here in the EWC and while he was given the more ‘easier’ opponent in the Sweet 16 matches Ibuki faced off with the current X-Division Champion, the guy that has re-written the X-Division record books and a man that tossed Marcu$ off the Insanity Cage last year to win at Night of Champions…Ibuki has already been battle tested this season like the Prize Fighter he is…
Buddy smiles as he looks off screen and holds out his hand as he presents Ibuki Ito as he steps into the shot.
Ito: You can say you’ve seen my best, list off my accomplishments, 3rd place in the Legends of the Cage Tournament, winner of the 1st Prime G1, X-Division Champion…
Love: TWICE, you forgot TWICE…
Ito: Undisputed Champion…
Love: You forgot the Indy Champion, TWO-TIME TV Champion, Co-Winner of the Rumble…
Ito: My resume does read like a ‘Certified Future Hall of Famer’, thank you for that but what you are failing to see is that it’s put me in high pressure matches and I’ve come out on top…I walked into WrestleFest in 2021 against Ace King, Melody Malone and Moxie and wasn’t given much of a chance and yet left WrestleFest as the EWC Undisputed Champion…I went to last years StrangleMania and put on a ONE HOUR MASTERPIECE against Ace King, I defended that championship for a second time against Asriel Buzzard…I was within moments of re-capturing that championship at WrestleFest…I have been in these moments before and proven that the stage is not too big for me…Marcu$ is an amazing wrestler, gifted beyond belief but how is it he’s never been in position to challenge for EWC’s top prize…how is he only now getting that chance…
Love: Because he falls short every time he gets close…
Ito: The lights get too bright, we have seen it happen to amazing wrestlers and if Paramount wants any chance of bringing the Undisputed Championship back here it will lay on my shoulders to do so…tonight I will go out there and punch my ticket to StrangleMania and either fight for the Undisputed Championship or for the opportunity to do so…getting back to that moment is all I’ve thought about and the only one standing in my way is Marcu$ $t. John so if it’s a knee to the head or choking the life out of him again I will walk out of here the winner tonight…I will headline StrangleMania once more…and I will allow Marcu$ to defends that North American Championship at StrangleMania alongside all the rest of the brand champions…
Buddy nods at Lisa as the pair walk off camera.
Goldrush: Ladies and gentleman, tonight in the Main Event of #029 Paramount will punch its ticket to the Main Event of StrangleMania with our representative in the Legends of the Ring Tournament as our North American Champion Marcu$ $t. John faces former EWC Undisputed Champion Ibuki Ito…
From off camera we hear a man clear his throat as Lisa looks off camera and smiles.
Goldrush: Ito, who will of course be joined by…
A hand enters the shot as Lisa is handed a note by the man that cleared his throat.
Goldrush: By a man that needs no introduction because his…
Lisa looks back off camera and pauses before continuing…
Goldrush: Because his awesomeness is legendary…in his short 3 year career he has already helped steer the wrestler formerly known as ‘Killjoy’ to becoming a 2-Time X-Division Champion, a Undisputed Champion and a Co-Winner of the Rumble…he helped refine what a wrestling manager is and stepped out of the shadows of his sister and legendary father as the BEST Love manager in the game…while he still considers himself ‘part’ of The Love Club here in his 4th year in the business is ushering in a NEW and EXCITING group of wrestlers known as Buddy’s Buddies…
Not being able to wait Buddy Love jumps into the shot and puts his arm around Lisa Goldrush.
Love: And tonight I help steer Ibuki Ito back into the Main Event of StrangleMania…where he was last season if you all remember and take home Paramount’s spot in the Finals of Legends of the Ring…
Goldrush: Last week we saw Ibuki defeat El Pablo in the Sweet 16…
Love: Which pained me to be honest with you Lisa, I love El Pablo, always have, he was my favorite wrestler growing up and it’s not because my father and El Pablo’s father were best friends and I thought we could also be best friends if given the chance but because I had a El Pablo mask that I would were all the time…in fact if still has the ketchup stain on the right side of the mouth…in fact, if you’re listening, EP this guy could use a updated mask if you were to be so kind…
Buddy smiles and puts his hands together in prayer…
Goldrush: But tonight you face a man hungry to take that next step into the upper echelon of the EWC elite and punch his ticket to the Main Event of StrangleMania…Marcu$ $t. John…
Buddy smiles and nods at Lisa.
Love: Marcu$ $t. John, the man we have been waiting for for quite some time now to take that step but just doesn’t seem able to do so…I’m taking nothing away from him, he is in fact as you said the North American Champion here in Paramount, the ‘top’ champion of this brand…in fact tonight is day number 274 as champion, we are only 9 days away from him passing Robbie Rayder as the longest North American Champion of all time…and sure, we could talk about him only having ONE defense during those 274 days but that’s not his fault…he is an amazing champion and you will hear nothing short of that from these lips…BUT…
Buddy holds up a finger…
Love: Just because you are the brand’s top champion doesn’t make you the best choice to represent the brand at StrangleMania…look at Brawl, King Flip is the International Champion and yet Stitches beat him and represent Brawl…over on Prime Scorpio is the Indy Champion and yet it will be Narumi Tsutsumi representing Prime having just beat it’s Prime Minister…Rampage’s top champion Lavender isn’t even in the tournament so just because Marcu$ is the North American Champion doesn’t give him a free path to the finals…in fact being the champion doesn’t seem to bold well for him given the past events…
Buddy raises his eyebrows at this point…
Love: Then there is the fact that Marcu$ has NEVER beaten Ito, NEVER, not once…3-0-1 against my man and I know Mya talked about how hard he worked in the offseason but so has everyone else…this isn’t something ONLY Marcu$ has done, there is no offseason when you are one of the elites here in the EWC and while he was given the more ‘easier’ opponent in the Sweet 16 matches Ibuki faced off with the current X-Division Champion, the guy that has re-written the X-Division record books and a man that tossed Marcu$ off the Insanity Cage last year to win at Night of Champions…Ibuki has already been battle tested this season like the Prize Fighter he is…
Buddy smiles as he looks off screen and holds out his hand as he presents Ibuki Ito as he steps into the shot.
Ito: You can say you’ve seen my best, list off my accomplishments, 3rd place in the Legends of the Cage Tournament, winner of the 1st Prime G1, X-Division Champion…
Love: TWICE, you forgot TWICE…
Ito: Undisputed Champion…
Love: You forgot the Indy Champion, TWO-TIME TV Champion, Co-Winner of the Rumble…
Ito: My resume does read like a ‘Certified Future Hall of Famer’, thank you for that but what you are failing to see is that it’s put me in high pressure matches and I’ve come out on top…I walked into WrestleFest in 2021 against Ace King, Melody Malone and Moxie and wasn’t given much of a chance and yet left WrestleFest as the EWC Undisputed Champion…I went to last years StrangleMania and put on a ONE HOUR MASTERPIECE against Ace King, I defended that championship for a second time against Asriel Buzzard…I was within moments of re-capturing that championship at WrestleFest…I have been in these moments before and proven that the stage is not too big for me…Marcu$ is an amazing wrestler, gifted beyond belief but how is it he’s never been in position to challenge for EWC’s top prize…how is he only now getting that chance…
Love: Because he falls short every time he gets close…
Ito: The lights get too bright, we have seen it happen to amazing wrestlers and if Paramount wants any chance of bringing the Undisputed Championship back here it will lay on my shoulders to do so…tonight I will go out there and punch my ticket to StrangleMania and either fight for the Undisputed Championship or for the opportunity to do so…getting back to that moment is all I’ve thought about and the only one standing in my way is Marcu$ $t. John so if it’s a knee to the head or choking the life out of him again I will walk out of here the winner tonight…I will headline StrangleMania once more…and I will allow Marcu$ to defends that North American Championship at StrangleMania alongside all the rest of the brand champions…
Buddy nods at Lisa as the pair walk off camera.
TRIPLE THREAT TAG TEAM SHOWCASE
NON-TITLE MATCH
The Kruel Masters
VS 3Pac
VS Damage, Inc
We return to ringside where Tim and Cid are standing by.
Watson: Strong words there from Ibuki Ito, who we will see later tonight. It's time now though for a Tag Team Showcase. The EWC World Tag Team champions are in the house and ready for a fight!
Starr: The following match, set for one fall, is a Triple Threat Match. Joining us first, weighing in at a combined weight of 398 pounds: Kolby and Daphne ... THE KRUEL MASTERS!
The lights in the arena goes black as the opening chords of "Rest In Peace" by Dorothy start echoing through the system. A video package begins to play as red smoke fills the stage. A single stage light shines through the smoke as Kolby and his wife Daphne step through the smoke. Daphne is holding a dice tray as Kolby rolls a D20. They both look at the dye before moving forward down the ramp. The both slide into the ring as Kolby posts himself up onto the nearest turnbuckle. Daphne stands next to him with a smile on her face as the song slowly starts to fade.
Starr: And the opponents, first weighing in at a combined weight of 400 pounds: Deimos and Danny ... 3 PAC!
'My Hero' plays out as Deimos and 'Little' Danny walk out onto the stage holding up crowbars to some cheers. Behind them Bunny Love walks out as the two men drop to a knee and whisper back and forth about their game plan. Bunny taps them on the shoulders and the two mean stand up and they walk towards the ring. When they reach ringside they hand Bunny the crowbars and roll into the ring under the bottom rope.
Starr: And finally, fighting out of the Fear Factory Dojo and weighing in at a combined 725 lbs… Malice… MAYHEM… Your EWC Tag Team Champions... DAMAGE INCORPORATED!
Pyro explodes across the stage. The light pulses like lightning and Lacey Savage appears wearing a skull bandanna that covers her lower face. When the lightning pulses again a thick smoke rolls in, and from the smoke come two huge figures dressed in matching leather jackets that reach all the way to their matching boots. The two men are wearing full face masks that look like skulls. Each skull face is partially covered by a bandanna, outlaw style. The two men flank Lacey and they all come to stand in the center of the stage.
Removing their masks the group marches in lock step down the ramp to the ring in the shadow of Bedlam Briggs, Lacey's personal security. Once between the ropes both Malice and Mayhem brandish their title belts before huddling up to go over their final game plan, each member sizing up their opponents and getting ready for a war. Briggs holds the ropes open for Lacey before the bell rings where she takes her place at ringside where she prepares to aid her team however she can while being shielded from harm at all times by the monstrous form of Bedlam.
DING DING DING
Kolby and Danny start. Danny grabs Kolby in a side headlock but Kolby pushes him away. Kolby one of his own. Kolby twists his hips and takes Danny to the mat. Danny rolls Kolby onto his back but Kolby rolls though before the referee can count. Both are on their feet and Kolby knocks Danny down with a clothesline. Danny gets to his feet but an uppercut from Kolby knocks him into the corner. Kolby charges but Danny gets a boot up to block. Kolby staggers and Danny suplexes him to the mat. Danny grabs Kolby in a chinlock but Kolby quickly counters hitting a jawbreaker. Danny falls to the mat but he tags Mayhem as he falls. Mayhem gets into the ring and runs at Kolby knocking him down with a clothesline. Kolby gets back to his feet but is dropped again with a bicycle knee strike. Mayhem pulls Kolby to his feet and drives him back to the mat with a butterfly suplex. Mayhem hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Kolby gets a shoulder off the mat. Mayhem grabs the arm and drags Kolby to his feet. He pulls Kolby into the corner with a Russian leg sweep before a backdrop crashes Kolby to the mat. Mayhem tags in Deimos. He kicks Kolby in the ribs before lifting him for a bodyslam. Kolby slides over his shoulders and hits Deimos with an inverted atomic drop before whipping Deimos into his corner. Kolby tags in Daphne. Kolby grabs Deimos and holds him for a waistlock. Daphne hits a calf kick that Kolby pulls back into a German Suplex. Daphne makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Malice reaches into the ring and pulls Daphne off Deimos breaking the count. He tags Daphne’s arm making himself legal. He gets into the ring and hits Deimos with right hands and a headbutt that spins Deimos and leaves him leaning on the top rope. Malice lashes out with forearm smashes to the small off the back before whipping Deimos off the ropes and raising him into the air. Malice walks around the ring holding Deimos above and drives him to the mat with a gorilla press slam. Malice lifts Deimos for a powerslam but Deimos slips off Malice’s shoulder and shoves him chest first into the corner. Deimos ducks over and Malice falls back over Deimos allowing him to tag his partner Danny. Malice is on his feet and he charges at Deimos who trips Malice with a drop toe hold before Danny runs at Malice and punt kicking him in the head. Danny drags him away from his corner and makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Malice raises an arm high into the air to break the count.
Watson: All teams having a good showing in the early goings of this match
Sydney: What they do from here may decide the match.
Danny elbows to the neck and shoulders of Malice before pulling him to his feet and tagging in Deimos. Danny whips Malice into the neutral corner and, with Deimos’ help hits a Poetry ‘n’ Motion. Deimos follows Danny into the corner hitting Malice with a clothesline. Deimos shoves Malice to the mat where he makes a cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Daphne dives into the ring breaking the count. Malice tags in Kolby as Daphne punches Deimos. Daphne whips Deimos off the ropes. Deimos rebounds back and Daphne spins him into Zoinks. Kolby places his feet on Deimos’ shoulders and a hand on his chest as the referee counts.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Malice dives into the ring breaking the count. Malice pounds Kolby with punches and boots as Mayhem drags Deimos to the corner and tags himself in. Malice grabs Kolby and together Malice and Mayhem unleash Shock and Awe upon Kolby. Mayhem makes the cover.
ONE…
TWO…
THR… NO! KICK OUT!
Danny dives into the ring breaking the pin.
Watson: Almost a win there for Damage Inc. If it wasn’t for Danny, that bell may have been ringing.
Sydney: That’s the problem you run into here. One person trying to help you, four trying to stop you.
Malice punches Danny and pretty quickly the ring fills up with all six bodies. A full on brawl erupts as fists and feet fly. When the smoke clears, Mayhem grabs Daphne and tosses her at Kolby and both fall over the top rope to the outside. He turns to face his opponents but gets caught by a pAC Drop. Daphne slides into the ring but Malice hits her with Malicious Intent. Deimos shoves Malice out of the ring as Danny covers Daphne!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
DING DING DING
Starr: And your winners, via pinfall 3PAC!
Danny and Deimos get to their feet as Bunny gets into the ring. She raises their arms in victory before they climb the turnbuckles to celebrate with the crowd.
Watson: That is a BIG win this early into the EWC careers of Deimos and Danny here tonight on Paramount! Bunny Love proving her mettle as a tag team specialist manager here tonight!
Sydney: My hat is off to them. Four others came so close though. If this was a horse race, I’d consider a photo finish, that’s how close this was. Run it anywhere else, we could easily see Damage Inc or Kruel Masters win this.
Watson: That very may well be, but 3Pac now has to be looked at as potentially the team to beat on route to the EWC World Tag Team Championships. We have to take a break folks, but do NOT go anywhere!
Camera cuts to ...
SINGLES MATCH
LEGENDS OF THE RING ELITE 8
Ibuki Ito
VS Marcu$ $t. John
We return to ringside where a restless crowd is fired up for the main event.
Watson: It's time folks. The Main Event is here. Its the last match on Paramount of the Legends of the Ring tournament. Who will be representing Paramount at StrangleMania? The former Undisputed champion? Or the current EWC North American Champion? We're going to find out... RIGHT NOW!!
Starr: The following contest is for one fall, and is a second round match in the LEGENDS OF THE RING tournament! Joining us first, from Daly City, California, weighing in at two hundred and thirty five pounds ... the ACE of PARAMOUNT ... IBUKI ITO!
‘The Prodigal Son’ Buddy Love walks out onto the stage and raises his arms into the air as the lights fade out. He jumps up and down as ‘Deeper Deeper’ begins to play. A strobe light circles around the stage as a single white spotlight hits the stage where Ibuki is standing, his back facing the ring, his arms stretched out and his head down. He swings around to face the ring as Buddy Love runs up and stands next to him. After a quick word the pair start to walk towards the ring, Buddy runs ahead and charges up the steps and holds open the ropes for Ito to step through. Ibuki walks to the center of the ring, extends his arms and tilts his head back to soak everything in.
Starr: And his opponent, coming to the ring at 6'1" and weighing two hundred and ten pounds ... he is the EWC North American Champion ... it's The Young Mogul ... MARCU$ $T. JOHN!
"Fast Lane" blasts through the arena by Bad Meets Evil. M$J slowly walks out onto the entrance ramp and soaks in the cheers. He pumps up the crowd more before posing on the center of the entrance ramp. He walks down to the ring slapping fans hands with a huge smile on his face.
He stops right before he gets to the ring and listens as he hears cheers that he is getting from the crowd. He walks around the ring and high fives anyone who has their hands out. He jumps up on the apron and wipes his feet before he enters the ring and poses in the middle of the squared circle as a light shines a hundred dollar bill in the center of the ring with his face on it.
Pyros hits as "Fast Lane" by Bad Meets Evil ends.
Watson: Just this season alone, we're looking at a fighting champion who out-played 'The Last Magician' Sally Talfourd in round one of this tournament, and the man who vanquished the record-breaking X-Division champion, El Pablo, to earn his own spot. The crowd are hot. Our hearts are on fire. It doesn't get much bigger than this, folks!
DING DING DING
Ito's guard is up, shifting in a modified kickboxer's stance as he darts in to close the distance, only for $t. John to scream past him like a missed bullet. The Ace of Paramount turns and attempts to intercept, but the Young Mogul is too fast; the crowd are already popping in anticipation as he springs onto the top rope, twists to face Ito and then comes careening off. This time, the bullet doesn't miss, and both feet collide with Ito as the North American Champion hits a beautiful MONEY STOMP! The Estadio erupts!
Marcu$ recovers in a roll, reaching the other side of the ring where he shakes the ropes and roars, wheeling around to find a dazed Ibuki Ito already stumbling to his feet. Charging in, the champ hits a single-leg dropkick, and Ito is jolted off the ropes, his opponent sliding smoothly upright and into a spinning heel kick-- that Ito blocks! He grabs the offending leg, drives an inside elbow to the knee, then spins $t. John around, hooking the arms and rolling into the momentum with deft footwork, bridging back to nail a beautiful Tiger Suplex for an early pinfall!
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT!
There's no surprise on the face of the Japanese star, perhaps even a little relief as the other man squirms free, pouncing to vertical base and turning back to the fight - straight into a brutal low kick that sends him staggering. Ito follows up with a rushing forearm, then strikes at the same leg again, getting an 'ooooh' of sympathy from the capacity crowd! Marcu$ is wincing, but as a fourth blow comes in, he steps into it, ROARING with passion and defiance as he seizes the larger man and launches him into a brisk powerslam, dead center of the ring - which quakes on impact!
He tries for the cover, but Ito grabs his numb leg and reverses it!
ONE...
KICKOUT!
The champ looks frustrated, scuttling backwards on his ass to escape, finding himself cornered with a very game Ito sprinting right at him. The Ace of Paramount looks to fire off a snug lariat, but strikes the turnbuckle as $t. John rolls backwards to flip clean over it, landing on the corner of the apron, wide-eyed as he fires off a scything head kick! Ito eats it, and stumbles away, $t. John springing onto the top rope and balancing himself momentarily before launching into a monstrous missile dropkick that sends Ibuki clean across the ring, bouncing into the opposite corner.
Supercharged, the Young Mogul kips up, throws an arm out to encourage the crowd - who raise an appreciative din - then charges into a baseball slide, bouncing his foe's skull off the corner post. He hauls him upright, keeps him dazed with a couple of well-placed kicks to the gut, then leans in and drapes Ito across his shoulders, shaking with the effort as he carries his load into the center of the ring and plants him with a Death Valley Driver!
Watson: The North American Champion truly has something to prove tonight, and he's holding nothing back - out-flying and attempting to overpower Ibuki Ito as he goes for his first cover of the contest...
Sydney: There's no way. He's working hard, but he needs to work harder.
ONE...
TWO...
KICKOUT!
At ringside, Buddy Love is wringing his hands with concern, calling out instructions to his client, who pulls himself upright using the ropes, shaking his head and assuring his most ardent supporter that he has this. $t. John is breathing hard, already staring at him from across the ring, crouched low as he stretches out his targeted leg. Despite their overwhelming approval of the champ, plenty in the crowd are rallying behind Ito, much to the chagrin of the Young Mogul, who throws them a lopsided grin and an arched brow as they chant:
"ITO'S GONNA KILL YOU! ITO'S GONNA KILL YOU!"
Bouncing to his feet, Marcu$ beckons the former Undisputed Champion to bring it, and Ito obliges, closing in with a jab that barely misses as the other man weaves aside. He's liked greased lightning with the follow-up low kick, forcing his opponent to check it, then dropping low and picking the other ankle, sweeping $t. John onto his back! He's nimble, though, able to twist and roll away, coming up in a three-point crouch as Ito shoots in to catch him with a knee to the skull; not quite the Kettei-Da, but a potent reminder of what's to come. His lither, faster foe is able to divert some of the impact, puffing out his cheeks as he whirls away, feints a superkick that has Ito covering up, then shoots!
Down goes Ibuki, roughly slammed to the canvas, as Marcu$ postures up, gets a knee onto his chest and rains down a flurry of hammer blows! Not expecting to be out-fought like this, Ito looks flustered, eating a couple of shots he really shouldn't before he bucks his hips and hurls the smaller man away, tumbling to his feet-- only to captured again, Marcu$ slithering behind him and fighting to slide in his MILLION DOLLAR DREAM! Ito grabs his arm with both hands and sits out, diverting the threat with an improvised chinbreaker, closing in as Marcu$ stumbles and falls, grapevining the targeted, left leg and falling into a nasty ankle lock that immediately garners a pained gasp!
$t. John lunges for the ropes, his hand falling a few inches short, before he gives up and rolls into the source of the pain, SCREAMING past clenched teeth as he turns the hold over and then reverses, beautifully, into a Boston Crab on the Ace of Paramount! The crowd go wild as Ito finds himself under threat, as far away from safety as he could possibly be! Tasting an opportunity, $t. John deepens the hold, sitting back hard, eyes bugging out as he does all he can...
...and gasses, forced to relinquish the hold and flop forward, pulling himself upright rapidly, his head clearly swimming. Ito is forced to hop as he stands, his legs momentarily giving way following the maneuver, but he staggers into a clothesline nonetheless - trapping his opponent against the ropes, forcing him--
--to counter! The North American Champion seizes the arm and drops down, whipping Ito's elbow off the ropes, then bouncing to his feet, still holding onto the ropes as he leaps and kicks Ito in the back of the skull! His opponent staggers, forced into the corner to remain standing, and an instant later there's a wild cry as Marcu$ $t. John rattles his everything with a savage clothesline of his own, driving the other man against the corner post!
Ito falls, and an assist from the Young Mogul ensures he flips onto his back, away from the turnbuckle. Rallying the crowd once more, $t John leaps up top, fires a prayer to the heavens, and then launches into a picture-perfect Frog Splash! He gets all of it, the vigorous slam causing him to bounce off Ito's chiseled chest and fall a second time, into the cover!
ONE...
TWO...
TH-- KICKOUT!
Watson: Fast and furious, these men are living up to their reputations, and the long history between them as they constantly adapt and evolve before our very eyes. But do mine betray me, or is the North American Champion winning this?
Sydney: He had some big words to that effect, Tim, but Ito's chipping him away, wearing him down. You can't put Buddy's best boy down in the first few minutes - he's in every match for the long haul, and there's always, always the threat of a Kill-Shot. This is still anybody's game, and I ain't changing that opinion until we're done.
Both men are clambering to their feet on opposing sides of the ring, their eyes locked and the Paramount faithful raging behind them. It's Ito who beckons on his opponent now, and $t. John obliges with a shrug and a crooked grin, darting forward... putting on the brakes just shy of the countering kick, and diving between the larger man's legs! He's halfway through when Ibuki drops down, seizing him around the waist, and deadlifting him into a crunching suplex! The impact is definitely felt, but the North American champ proves his mettle by bouncing right back up, beating his chest and asking for more before he blocks a forearm and leaps, firing back with one of his own right between the eyes!
Ibuki Ito slips on the canvas, but only goes to a knee. $t. John mutters, "Tough bastard," and spins around, launching into a second MONEY STOMP! Rolling forward into the corner, he turns, holding himself up on both arms before drawing a line to Ito, who's slowly sitting up. Marcu$ drives forward, nailing a crisp sliding DDT, then floating up and over, with a mighty roar finding his feet and ragging Ito up with him, into a stalling suplex.
The crowd see what's coming, and EXPLODE. But they're not the only ones; Ito feels it, and as Marcu$ $t. John spins him out, looking for the Bankrupt, he gives a twitch of his athletic form and comes down, instead, into a thudding leg drop across the throat! $t. John gasps, and Ito leans forward, hooking a leg and trying to keep the champ down for the count.
ONE...
NO!
It's denied with vigor, $t. John not only getting the shoulder up, but his unhooked leg, flexibly driving the tip of his boot into Ito's temple! The Japanese star is sent sprawling, and the Young Mogul pops to his feet, one leg trailing, grabbing at his throat as he shakes off the cobwebs. WHAM! He's hit from behind, Ibuki expertly chop blocking him to the mat. Without preamble, he goes right back to the leg, grapevining and wrenching upon it! Struggling desperately, Marcu$ huffs against the pain, spittle flecking his lips, fighting toward the bottom rope!
Watson: They're going tit for tat, but as you pointed out, Cid, Ibuki Ito is laser-focused on his game plan. He means to take Marcu$ apart, and put a stop to that rapid offense he's known for.
Sydney: It's a tried and tested strategy. $t. John may not tap out here, but you gotta think of the attrition.
The Young Mogul's hand closes on the bottom rope, and the crowd surge anew. The official calls Ito off, but he holds for the full count of four, gritting his teeth and running a hand through his hair as he backs off, stalking around the ring. $t. John recovers against the ropes, shaking his head and wiping the sweat from his brow before he moves in to meet the ongoing challenge of his foe. He darts in, teasing a lock-up, and attempts to dart back out - but his leg gives way, and Ito steps in with relish, AGAIN driving a thudding blow to the high, then locking up straight into an arm drag, thrashing $t. John against the canvas. Holding on, he rolls to his feet with the other man, drives their foreheads together with a brisk headbutt, lifts a knee to the midsection, then HAULS Marcu$ into the air!
Anticipation builds, as he hesitates, but everybody knows what's coming; B U R A K K U A T O! THE BLACKOUT!!
He gets every bit of the brainbuster, drilling the Young Mogul to the mat, rolling over to ensure he's seated, torso flopping forward over spread legs, and stalks to the opposite corner. Holding up his arms, he sights down the length of the left, pulling back an invisible bow string with the right, and then surges forward...
Watson: Oh my goodness!
There's not a relaxed throat in the house, as Marcu$ $t. John blocks the running knee! Thwarts the Killshot! Ito is driven to the mat, trapped in an ankle lock himself, the North American Champion struggling to grapevine the leg, hopping on his own injured limb then falling to the canvas - Ibuki wriggling free and pulling himself up in the corner, staring back at $t. John like he's seen a freaking ghost. Buddy Love is beside himself, slamming his hands on the apron, falling to his knees with an agonized look as Marcu$ leans onto his haunches, grinning defiantly.
Sydney: Well, it ain't over! But does the North American champ have anything left?
Ito slaps himself across the cheek, and thrusts a finger at his opponent before starting forward. He makes it halfway before $t. John rolls backwards, into a sprinter's position, and lunges past him, the larger man brought up short, attempting a last-second mule kick but failing to counter the explosive Young Mogul, who leaps into a flying neckbreaker - driving Ito into the mat. The ring shudders, but Marcu$ is already on his feet and hitting the ropes, streaking into a shotgun dropkick that catches the rising Ito in the chest, shoving him to his feet, then up and over the top rope! He tries to turn for a better landing, but only succeeds in striking the edge of the apron with a sickening thud, then landing in a tangle of long limbs on the outside.
The North American Champion tests his injured leg, then nods vigorously, pointing out to the crowd as he rounds into another sprint off the ropes, picking up alarming speed as he times his own exit from the ring perfectly, striking Ibuki center-mass like an air-to-ground missile. The former Undisputed Champion is WAFFLED against the barricade, an arm remaining strewn across it as he flops limply onto his knees, hanging there in questionable condition.
$t. John keeps his momentum, charging around the outside hitting outflung hands, doing a full victory lap past Buddy Love before he pulls Ibuki Ito upright and nails him with an explosive flurry - a chop to the chest, a sweep of the leg, then a spinning heel kick that almost decapitates his stricken opponent! It costs him, though, face creasing in obvious pain as he comes in for a landing. With the count being applied, he tries in vain to pull Ito back to standing, but can't muster the strength, settling for diving back into the ring as the count hits eight.
Buddy Love is present and correct in the clutch, helping his client and friend upright, sending him toward the ring in a daze. He makes it in at the last second, the count forestalled, only to walk right into a Lou Thesz Press! $t. John slides to his feet, catching himself on the ropes, looking at the downed Ito for a moment before psyching himself up, moving to the corner and somewhat cautiously jerking himself onto the top, turning into a smooth dive--
--that becomes a flying nothing, a deft roll carrying him past the evasive Ibuki Ito, the pair of them rolling to their feet simultaneously. Ito drives forward and drops low, sweeping the leg, but Marcu$ leaps clean over the attempt, pivoting to catch his opponent with a superkick that lands with a beautiful snap! Ibuki stumbles, and $t. John is upon him, seizing the arms and falling backwards, using the injured leg AGAIN to hit an Eat Defeat!
There's concern amidst the crowd as an audaciously-stunned Ito refuses to go down, $t. John hopping on one leg to close in, seizing a headlock, pulling his opponent - four times faced, never defeated - into position.
Watson: This is absolutely insane. The man can barely stand, and he's going for the Bankrupt?
Sydney: There's a thin line between genius and insane!
The crowd are losing their minds, and it seems for a moment that Marcu$ $t. John might be losing his. Twice he tries to heave Ito up, and twice his leg almost gives way. He goes it for a third time, roaring--
--and GETS IT! MARCU$ $T. JOHN HAS IBUKI ITO IN THE AIR!
With an Herculean effort, his head spinning, his body failing him, the Young Mogul spins Ibuki Ito out and around, driving all two hundred and thirty five pounds of the other man onto his own knees. Ito's expression is priceless, writ in utter shock in the instant before the pain is transmitted and his body falls momentarily limp, crashing onto the canvas - followed a moment later by that of $t. John, tears of pain in reddened eyes as he hooks the leg and makes the cover, pouring every last little ounce of his will and determination into the pinfall...
The crowd count along, daring to believe.
ONE...
TWO...
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Starr: And your winner, via pinfall ... MARCU$ $t. JOHN!
Nobody can believe it less than $t. John, and yet nobody can believe it more. He rolls from the Ace of Paramount with an unstifled sob, that becomes a bellow of pained laughter, the resurgence of adrenaline bringing him to his feet - looking out at the faces of an adoring crowd, whose own doubt and awe is rolling off of them in jubilant waves. The official's own poker face is suffering as he retrieves the North American championship, slides it around the exhausted, limping man's waist, and throws up his arm to a standing ovation!
Watson: The fans doubted him, he even doubted himself, but Marcu$ $t. John has risen up against every dissenting opinion - he's slain the bugbear of Ibuki Ito, and taken a massive step into a future that could be very bright indeed. The Young Mogul is Paramount's representative in the Legends of the Ring tournament, and he is going to StrangleMania to compete in a fatal fourway that may well bestow upon him the title of UNDISPUTED CHAMPION!
Sydney: Ito brought it like he always does, he executed a brilliant plan, but it all came down to sheer guts and determination. I can't even be salty. $t. John earned this. He had no other choice.
The celebration is electric, but when Marcu$ $t. John turns back to Ibuki Ito, he finds his vanquished opponent standing, hands on hips, head slanted downwards - but eyes meeting his own. He hesitates, sliding a hand to his belt perhaps to unclip it and resume fighting - fearing the worst as Ito steps forward... and extends one arm for a gesture of respect, patiently staring down the North American champ as conflict briefly rages.
"SHAKE HIS HAND! SHAKE HIS HAND!"
$t. John knows the debt he owes to the fans. They can only praise him anew as he reaches out, and tightly grips the other warrior's hand. There's a firm nod from Ibuki, the ghost of a smile, and then he's raising the other man's arm as the crowd threatens to drown out the closing comments from Tim Watson.
Watson: WHAT A SHOW OF RESPECT! This new side of both Ibuki Ito AND M$J has the fans winning everytime. Speaking of time, we are totally out of it! Next we will see you all for the big one.. STRANGLEMANIA!!!! For Cid Sydney, I am Tim Watson saying good night everyone!
The show closes on a shot of Ito and M$J staring at each other in respect. Just as the scene goes black, however, Ibuki Ito looks down at the EWC North American Championship that rests on the shoulder of Marcu$ $t. John.
