the.weej

Camera two pans across the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the incomparable, yet insane, Fugue before coming to rest in front of the dashing figure of Cyclone Comet and the dainty Bobby Riley. “What a match we just had!” Comet exclaims. “I still think it’s unfair that Tom Flesher was stripped of his title,” Riley grumbles. “How can you say that when you’ve been wanting to strip Flesher for years?” Comet inquires. “That’s different. I just wanted to take off his belt so his pants would fall down...and I’ve said too much,” Riley says. “Regardless of that, we’ve had an amazing beginning to Genesis Five! That three-way ladder match will go down as a great cruiserweight match, no doubt!” Comet shouts. “Yes, it was very good. And we’ve got more title matches on the line, but I notice upon going down the card that a certain Landon Maddix is not defending his Intercontinental Television championship. Why has Commissioner Zenon not stripped this shiftless layabout of his belt? It’s because of a bias against Tom Flesher! Zenon was not content to gain some fluke victories over the Superior One in the ring, but he’s got to go after him every chance he’s got! It makes me sick!” Riley yells. “Come on, Bobby! Landon has made several defenses since winning that belt, while Tom Flesher has weaseled his way out countless times!” Comet shouts. “I apologize for getting off track, fans. We’ve got a very interesting match right now, with very big rewards. Candace, Danny Dagda, Jamie Drazon, and Andrea Montgomery in a Battle Royale, with the winner earning the right to have a title shot for any title at all!” Comet exclaims. “Would this be a Battle Royale with cheese?” Riley asks, breaking up in laughter. “I will not dignify that question with an answer, and instead I will turn things over to Funyon for the introductions,” Comet states. “Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a Battle Royale! Each competitor can only be eliminated by exiting the ring over the top rope and have both feet touch the floor. The last person remaining in the ring shall be declared the winner. Introducing first, from Biloxi, Mississippi, she weighs one hundred, forty-three pounds and is a member of Team Flip Flop, AANDRREAA MONTGOMERRY!!” Funyon screams. No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” starts playing over the PA system as the lights drop down, plunging the Rose Bowl in darkness. An explosion of green pyro hits the entrance way, prompting the lights to come back on as well as Andrea Montgomery to step out! Drea walks slowly towards the ring, pausing momentarily at Divefire’s bust. Andrea looks around at the packed stands, then continues on, and slides into the ring. “That was kind of weird. She just stared at that bust of Divefire for a minute,” Comet points out. “Well, they are pretty shiny, so it’s understandable for a simple woman like her to get easily distracted. Perhaps she was contemplating what it would look like dangling from a necklace,” Riley suggests. Before Comet has a chance to defend Andrea Montgomery, the lights drop down once more. As the crowd begins to quiet down in anticipation of the next wrestler, “Dope Hat” by Marilyn Manson blasts to a cheer. Jamie Drazon steps out and stretches his arms out before heading to the ring. “And next, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, weighing two hundred, forty-three pounds, the Hardcore Maniac, JAAIMEE DRRAAAZON!!” Funyon shouts. JD slides under the bottom rope and pops to his feet. He takes a quick look at Drea, but then turns his attention to the entrance way. “I try not to show favoritism, citizens, but I think Jamie Drazon would be expected to win this match. He outweighs Andrea Montgomery by one hundred pounds, and even more than that with Candace, and Danny Dagda is a tad inexperienced,” Comet states. “You don’t show favoritism? That’s a laugh!” Riley shouts. “No, a laugh is the sound you make in the back of your throat when someone tells a joke,” Comet says with an air of frustration at having to explain such simple things to Bobby. Anti-Flag’s “Tearing Everybody Down” replaces “Dope Hat” as the current song and a blast of red pyrotechnics engulfs the entrance way. “Introducing next, from Newark, New Jersey, he weighs two hundred, seventy-five pounds, DAAANY DAAGDAA!!” Funyon roars over the song and the jeers from the fans. Dagda steps out, a smirk plastered on his face as he reaches in his pocket. Taking a cue from Terrell Owens, Dagda produces a sharpie! Danny removes the cap and walks to the closest bust, that of Divefire. In the ring, Andrea has a vague idea of his intentions, and quickly slides out of the ring, making a bee-line for Danny. Dagda, focused on defacing a legend, doesn’t happen to notice Andrea running towards him. And if he didn’t see that, chances are pretty high that he didn’t see the dropkick coming, either! Dagda hits the floor and the sharpie goes flying. Drea scrambles to her feet, picks up the marker and tosses it aside. Danny climbs back up and makes a grab for Montgomery, but she’s too quick for him and Drea rushes back to the ring. Angry at his plan being foiled, Dagda stomps his way to the ring, wishing for Candace to make a quick entrance. “What a noble act by Andrea Montgomery, preventing that uncouth Danny Dagda from defacing the bust of a man such as Divefire,” Comet says. “Dagda was doing no such thing! He simply noticed a fan asking for an autograph, and was attempting to fulfill those wishes when Andrea Montgomery interrupted him,” Riley says. “And their opponent, hailing from Okinawa, Japan, she weighs one hundred, thirty pounds, CAAANDAAACE!!” Funyon booms out. The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” comes on over the public address system, and out walks Candace, no emotion visible as her face is hidden by the black mask she now wears. Candace slides into the ring and turns to face Andrea Montgomery. As there’s no reason for him to be in the ring, referee Anthony Michael Hall slides out and calls for the bell. DING! DING! DING! Candace remains focused on Andrea, and completely misses the roundhouse from Drazon! CRACK! Candace drops down to one knee, obviously rattled from the kick. Drazon follows up with another kick to the mask, sending Candace flat on her stomach. Drazon attempts to pull Candace up, but Danny quickly wraps him up, and launches Drazon with a German suplex. Dagda pops to his feet and eats a dropkick from Drea. Danny stumbles backwards, right into an elbow from Jamie Drazon that lands directly on the spine. Danny turns around, throwing a punch in the same motion, but Drazon catches his arm and sends Danny to the mat with an armbar takedown! Drazon cranks back on Dagda’s arm for a moment, but releases because there’s no chance of victory down that path. “Drazon with a nice armbar, but he knows that there’s no point in making Danny tap, so he lets go,” Comet points out. “Yeah, but it’s good strategy. Weaken Danny’s arms, and you’ve taken out a large portion of his offense. Then again, Drazon isn’t too bright, so I doubt he’ll follow up any more,” Riley says. Andrea lashes out with a kick aimed for Drazon’s head, which Jamie ducks, but he doesn’t see the other leg soaring towards him! Drazon goes to one knee and eats another kick. Andrea attempts a trifecta, but JD manages to grab her by the ankle and yank her to the mat. JD rises to his feet, still holding Andrea’s foot. He scissorlocks her leg and falls to the mat, trapping Andrea in a cross kneebar! Andrea slams her palm against the mat furiously, which has no effect. Jamie pulls back more, not noticing Candace get back up and send a flurry of kicks to the side of Jamie’s head, forcing him to release the hold in order to protect his brain. “Jamie Drazon quickly locked Andrea in the hiza juji-gatame, and if could have kept it on longer, Andrea Montgomery’s chances of winning this match would have decreased severely,” Comet says. “Yeah, but Candace put a stop to that, for reasons that I’m not entirely sure of,” Riley notes. “But Drazon has a good strategy in this match. If he takes out the weapons his opponents have, it’ll be short work to toss them over the top rope,” Comet points out. “Or, he might set himself up for elimination. I mean, he’s also making things easy for everyone else,” Riley says. Drazon kicks Andrea away and pops to his feet as Candace lands another kick to his chest. Candace quickly locks on a front chancery and drops JD with a DDT. Candace pops to her feet, rolls Jamie over, and bounces off the ropes. Candace leaps in the air and comes crashing down, her shin landing across Drazon’s throat! “What a brutal move from Candace! That might have crushed Jamie Drazon’s windpipe!” Comet exclaims. “All is fair in love and war and number one contender matches,” Riley states sagely. Candace rises to her feet and walks towards Andrea, completely oblivious to Danny Dagda stalking towards her. Candace bends down to pull Andrea to her feet, but crumples as Dagda rains down a huge forearm across Candace’s back. Dagda slams a boot into Andrea’s face, keeping her on the mat before turning his attention to Jamie Drazon. Danny hauls Jamie up off the mat and slaps on a front facelock. Danny lifts Drazon off his feet, trying to choke the Hardcore Maniac while also sending punches into Jamie’s ribs with his free hand. Drazon flails his arms, trying to find some means of escape. Danny quickly releases JD, then sends him to the mat with a lariat. “Big lariat after that facelock by Danny Dagda, and Jamie Drazon is flat on his back. Danny Dagda can leisurely pick up whomever he wishes and toss them over the rope it would seem,” Comet notes. “Of course he can! He’s an amazing wrestler! I had him picked to win the match all along,” Riley says. “Really? I do not recall you revealing this information earlier,” Comet states. “That’s because I try to remain impartial in matches, something you should strive for, Comet,” Riley says. With his biggest competition down for the moment, Danny makes his way for the diminutive Candace. Danny lashes out, driving his boot into Candace’s ribs as she’s trying to push herself up off the mat. Candace falls down, the air gone from her lungs, and Dagda drops an elbow across her back. Danny wraps a hand around her neck, lifts her off the mat, and idly throws Candace towards the ropes. Dagda saunters over, pulls Candace up and drapes her throat-first across the middle rope. Dagda puts his knee on Candace’s back, grabs the top rope and pushes down, choking her. Danny climbs off and aims a pair of slaps to the back of Candace’s head. Dagda places his arms under the middle rope, then places his hands on Candace’s head and pushes down, strangulating her in the process! “What an innovative full nelson from Danny Dagda! He’s going to render Candace unconscious if he keeps it up. And one can only assume that once she’s out cold, he’ll do what he pleases,” Comet says. “Oh, you mean like all of your dates once you order them a ‘special’ drink?” Riley inquires. “At least I can get dates,” Comet retorts. “With women,” he adds before Riley can say anything in response. Candace flails her arms and legs, trying to free herself, but Danny simply pushes down harder. Candace thrashes about, but her movements are becoming slower as less and less oxygen-rich blood reaches her brain. She finally stops struggling, prompting Danny to release her. Grasping her firmly by the mask, Danny drags Candace back to the center of the ring. He grabs hold of her arm and threads it between her legs, getting Candace in the classic pumphandle position. Dagda stands directly behind Candace, one hand grabbing her wrist as the other waves to the crowd. A shit-eating grin on his face, Danny begins slapping Candace on either side of her posterior while vigorously thrusting his pelvis forward! “Disgusting! I cannot believe what citizen Dagda is doing to citizen Candace!” Comet exclaims. “Hey, take heart in this. At least he’s just pantomiming it and not performing the actual, uh, act,” Riley offers. “That won’t console me, Robert. It’s the principle of the matter! Even pantomime of a sex act should never find its place in the wrestling ring!” Comet shouts. “But, couldn’t a vast majority of wrestling moves be misconstrued as sexual? I mean, a casual observer and a die hard fan can see a rear waistlock and have two completely different ideas on what just happened,” Riley says. “True, but a rear waistlock is an actual maneuver, and this is just...just disgusting!” Comet yells. “Yeah, but this is entertaining!” Riley shouts gleefully. “Nothing like humiliating a woman to make a person feel good about himself.” “You are a horrible person, Bobby Riley. You have disgraced any and every person who has stepped foot in a wrestling ring and put on a headset for commentary,” Comet says. “I try, Comet, I try,” Riley says, pleased with his most current berating. Danny lets go of Candace and watches her collapse on the mat. Danny turns his attention towards Andrea Montgomery, not noticing Jamie Drazon slowly rising to his feet. Dagda lifts Andrea up, turns to whip her into the ropes, but eats a kick from Drazon! Danny stumbles backwards, letting go of Drea in the process. Jamie lashes out with a knee to Danny’s stomach, doubling him over. JD straightens Danny with an uppercut, then sends him to the mat with a spin kick to the temple. Danny isn’t down long, though. He pulls himself back up and fires off a jab, hitting Jamie on the bridge of his nose, rocking his head back. JD retaliates with a punch of his own, this one catching Danny on the chin. Danny feints a punch, and as Drazon tries to block it, Dagda drives his knee into JD’s gut. Danny quickly cinches him up and drops Jamie with a DDT. As Danny gets back on his feet, a huge cheer erupts from the crowd. Dagda turns around and eats a flying roundhouse from Andrea Montgomery! Dagda staggers and Andrea steps in close, landing a flurry of kicks and knees to Danny’s torso. Andrea lashes out with a heel kick, doubling Danny over and Drea quickly grabs his arm, twisting it around in an armwringer. In one fluid motion, Andrea kicks out his legs while driving the point of her elbow into the back of Danny’s neck! “Andrea Montgomery just took Danny Dagda down with that Magnolia Bloom! She had quite a flurry going, starting with that roundhouse Grind Sessions after Dagda took Jamie Drazon down with a knee lift and DDT combination,” Comet says breathlessly. “I notice you conveniently forgot that exchange between Drazon and Dagda, an exchange Dagda completely won!” Riley shouts. “That he did, but I like to talk about the very recent past, not the recent past you’re talking about, Bobby,” Comet says. “So you can talk about something that happened thirty seconds ago, but a minute is out of the question?” Riley inquires. “For the most part, yes,” Comet explains. Andrea pops to her feet and walks behind Dagda, who’s also getting back up. Danny gets to his feet and shakes his head in an effort to clear it. Andrea crouches and unleashes a heel kick, hitting Danny in the back of the knee, causing him to stumble forward. Danny turns around and catches another kick, this time to the side of his knee. His hand shoots to his patella, but like a surly grandmother keeping grandchildren away from candy, Andrea cracks Dagda on the wrist with another heel kick. His hand stinging, Danny lashes out with a kick of his own, but Andrea sees it coming, leaps in the air and scissors his leg, taking him down to the mat. Andrea gets back on her feet, still holding Danny’s leg. Andrea looks at the fans then drives the point of her boot into the back of Danny’s knee! Andrea unloads with another kick before succumbing to one herself, from Candace! “Candace is back in this match! I thought she’d be out for a long, long time after that choke by Danny Dagda, but she absolutely drilled Andrea Montgomery with a kick to the head!” Comet shouts. “What are you talking about? That choke took place a long time ago, according to you. Hell, it might as well be ancient history!” Riley yells. “No, Bobby. I used the phrase ‘for the most part’ in my response. That means I can change my opinion whenever it suits me, like in this case,” Comet says. Drea sinks to one knee due to the kick, but as Candace fires off another, Andrea rolls forward, escaping the blow! Andrea pops to her feet and spins to face Candace. Andrea makes to charge Candace, but her roll left her too close to Dagda, who simply reaches out and grabs Andrea’s ankle, tripping her. Danny sits up as Candace walks over, presumably to thank him, but Danny explodes forward, wrapping Candace up and slamming her to the mat with a double leg takedown! “Vicious spear by Danny Dagda! He folded Candace in half like, like...” Comet stumbles, at a loss for words. “Like the back cover of a copy of Mad magazine!” Riley offers. “Yes, only no amusing picture was formed,” Comet points out. “Maybe not for you, but I had a laugh,” Riley says. Danny leans over Candace and pins her arms down with his knees. He tightens his hand into a fist, rears back and...lightly slaps her open-palmed? Indeed, Dagda daintily smacks Candace on both cheeks before looking up at the crowd, his shit-eating grin back on his face. Danny pulls his arm back again and this time slams his fist into Candace’s face! Danny winds up for another punch, and lands this one across her nose, grinding his forearm over her face. Danny pulls back once more, but when he goes to punch, finds his arm held fast, by none other than Jamie Drazon! JD quickly locks in a half nelson and pulls Danny off Candace before falling backwards, capturing him in the kataha jime! Danny thrashes about, manages to roll onto his stomach, and place his free hand on the mat to steady himself. Thanks to his size and strength advantage, Danny has prevented Jamie from cinching in a body scissors, and gets to a kneeling position. Knowing how difficult it would be to stand up with an extra two hundred forty pounds on his back, Danny instead starts shuffling towards the ropes. Jamie Drazon digs his heels in, but Danny is too strong, reaches the ropes and with the help of them, pulls himself back to his feet! He reaches down and hooks Drazon’s near leg, lifting it off the mat. Danny turns around, placing JD against the ropes and Danny begins to lean backwards. “What is Danny Dagda doing?” Riley shouts, befuddled. “It looks like he’s threatening to send Jamie Drazon over the top rope!” Comet exclaims. “But that Hardcore Moron has got a hold of Danny! He’ll go over, too!” Riley squeals. “Maybe Danny is hoping that Jamie wants to win the match enough that Drazon will let go,” Comet wonders. Drazon does notice he’s getting closer and closer to taking a spill over the top rope, and quickly releases Dagda, who still has a grip on JD’s leg! Danny tries to push Jamie over the top, but the combination of Jamie’s iron grip on the top rope and Danny’s oxygen deprivation are too strong for Dagda to overcome. He lowers Drazon’s leg, but still has a hold of it, that is until JD fires off a kick with his free leg, catching Danny in the torso and driving what air left in his lungs out into the Rose Bowl. Danny stumbles backwards, gasping for air, completely overlooking Jamie Drazon speeding towards him, leg outstretched. SMACK! “Down goes Danny Dagda after that Yakuza kick from Jamie Drazon!” Comet shouts. “Damn Hardcore Moron! What’s he doing, putting submissions on people? If he hadn’t had Danny in the kataha jime, leaving him winded, Danny could have dumped Jamie Drazon over the top rope!” Riley shouts indignantly. “I think that’s the whole point, Bobby, trying to make your opponent too weak to throw you over the top so you can do that to him,” Comet says. “Yeah, but still, Drazon sucks,” Riley notes. Drazon bends down to pick Danny back up, but gets nailed with a dropkick to the side of his head from Andrea Montgomery! Jamie shakes it off, but gets hit with a kick to the chest. Drazon backs up a few paces then hops forward, looking to land a kick of his own, but Andrea manages to duck and Jamie’s foot goes flying over her head. Andrea rolls to the left as JD brings his foot down, barely missing her. Andrea rolls backwards, pops to her feet and dropkicks JD in the chest, sending him into the ring ropes. Drazon stumbles forward, Andrea leaps in the air, and sends the Hardcore Maniac crashing to the canvas with a hurricanrana. “What an exchange by Jamie Drazon and Andrea Montgomery!” Comet exclaims. “Exchange? What exchange? Jamie Drazon didn’t land a single blow!” Riley shouts. Andrea pops back to her feet to find Candace occupying her field of vision. Andrea darts forward, but it only causes Candace to take a step back. Candace throws a lackluster kick, trying to feel things out, but Andrea goes for it and takes Candace down with a legscissor takedown. Andrea torques on Candace’s leg momentarily, then releases and gets back to her feet. Candace gets back up and rushes Andrea, but ends up eating a heel kick for all her troubles! Candace staggers back, providing Andrea an opening to nail her with a dropkick! Candace tumbles to the mat, and so does Andrea a moment later as Danny Dagda landed a clubbing forearm to Drea’s back! Danny walks over to Candace, and bends down to pull her up, but decides to change his mind as her foot is firmly nestled in his nether regions! “Candace seems to have exacted a bit of revenge after that horrible display by Danny Dagda earlier in this match,” Comet says. “So in this case, since you brought it up, that is still relevant to the match?” Riley asks. “Of course. If you talk about it and I didn’t like it, then it has no place in our conversation about current proceedings,” Comet explains. “Okay. Well, what about that takedown by Andrea Montgomery? Pretty athletic, huh?” Riley inquires. “Indeed it was. But I’m shocked that you’re taking interest in what a female wrestler, Andrea Montgomery, did,” Comet replies. “I’m just wondering how athletic she can get while horizontal,” Riley explains. “And once again, you’ve disgraced former wrestlers, current commentators the world over,” Comet says, dejected. Candace pulls her foot back then shoots it forward, nailing Danny in the face. Candace gets to her feet and drills Dagda in the temple with a spin kick, dropping him to the mat. Candace heads towards Andrea Montgomery, but just happens to catch Jamie Drazon slowly getting back to his feet out of the corner of her eye and decides to go for him. Unaware of his surroundings, Drazon is wide open, and gets hit with a flurry of kicks from Candace. Candace moves in close, grabs Drazon, and sends him to the mat with an armbar takedown, but she positions herself to drive JD’s face into her knee on the way. Candace lets go of the Hardcore Maniac and heads for the ropes. She hops over the top rope and turns to land on the apron, looking into the ring. Though it’s hard to tell with her mask on, it appears that Candace is staring at Danny Dagda, waiting for him to get back to his feet. This doesn’t let her see Andrea Montgomery, however, who pops back up. Danny pushes himself up and turns around, dazed. Candace grabs hold of the top rope and leaps on before launching herself towards Danny. That flight is delayed as Andrea hits Candace in the chest with a dropkick, sending Candace backwards, past the top rope and ring apron, to the floor below! “CANDACE IS ELIMINATED! Andrea Montgomery nailed Candace with that dropkick, sending Candace back over the top rope and outside the ring!” Comet shouts. “NO! The wrong woman’s gone!” Riley laments. “I thought you didn’t care for either woman,” Comet states. “Yeah, but at least with Candace I can’t see her face and if I squint, she kind of looks like a guy,” Riley says. “And how do you explain her, erm, mammaries?” Comet asks. “Simple, he was on steroids for a while, but is clean now, and has developed man-boobs as a result,” Riley says smugly. Candace staggers to her feet after the spill she took, and a huge roar erupts from the stands. “It looks like someone’s coming down to the ring! Who is that?” Comet demands. “I’m not sure, but whoever they are, the fans are parting for them. And no wonder, that person has a kendo stick!” Riley shouts. “They’re getting closer, I think I can see...it’s...it’s...” Comet stutters. “IT’S ANNIE ECLECTIC!!” Riley screams. Annie reaches floor level, hops over the barricade and rushes straight for Candace. Surprised to see another Asian grappler, Candace steps towards Annie. CRACK! And gets dropped with a shot from the kendo stick. Eclectic raises the wooden sword above her head and slams it across Candace’s back! Annie raises it again, and brings it down on Candace’s head. Annie begins shouting at Candace as she beats her with the kendo stick. “Ann Onita is beating Candace like a...like a...” Comet sputters, once again at a loss for words. “Like a Latvian prostitute!” Riley offers. “No, that’s just...no. But what is Onita shouting? This damn spandex muffles everything,” Comet says. “Seeing as I don’t have a jockstrap on my head...” Riley begins. “Not right now you don’t, but I’ve seen pictures otherwise,” Comet states. “Anyway, it sounds like Annie is saying that Candace has disgraced all Asian women, especially female wrestlers,” Riley explains. “Not to mention masked wrestlers,” Comet grumbles. The Hardcore Queen pulls Candace up and drags her down the ramp and to the back to presumably beat her further, yelling at Candace the entire time. Danny Dagda looks first at Andrea Montgomery, then to Jamie Drazon who’s still on the mat but making an attempt at getting back up. Danny rushes towards Drea, hoping perhaps to eliminate her quickly so he can focus on Drazon. Andrea ducks Danny’s clothesline attempt, and as he hits the ropes, Andrea rushes forward, trying to push Dagda over the ropes. Danny hardly budges despite Andrea straining to tip him over. He lashes out with a back elbow, but Andrea ducks under it and drives a shoulder into his gut. Another shoulder doubles Dagda up, and Andrea quickly slaps on a side headlock. Drea charges for the turnbuckles, scales them and leaps off, draping Danny across the top rope throat-first. Andrea lets go of Danny, letting him bounce back and she reaches out, grabbing the rope and she manages to skin the cat, getting back on to the apron! Andrea springs onto the top rope, back flips off and just manages to snare Danny in a front facelock. Montgomery twists around and falls back, driving Dagda into the mat with a DDT. “Springboard shooting star tornado DDT from Andrea Montgomery after that bulldog hangman!” Comet shouts. “She’s just lucky! What was she thinking, trying to push Danny Dagda over the top rope?” Riley asks. “I guess it was a spur of the moment, rush of adrenaline type thing,” Comet explains. Andrea rises to her feet and drops back down just in time to avoid a roundhouse from Drazon! Andrea rolls under the bottom rope and pulls herself up as Jamie follows after her. Drea grabs the top rope and goes feet-first between the top and middle ropes, kicking Jamie in the stomach. Andrea pulls herself back through, leaps to the top and turns around. Checking to make sure he’s winded, Andrea leaps off, crashing into the Hardcore Maniac with a corkscrew moonsault. “Beautiful Sky Twister Press from Andrea Montgomery! She’s taken control of this match with her speed and athleticism,” Comet says. “But there’s no way she can send either Jamie Drazon or Danny Dagda over the top rope! She’s too weak to push them over,” Riley points out. “That is true, but leverage can go a long way, and if Andrea Montgomery can get some leverage, she might be able to send Danny Dagda and Jamie Drazon tumbling over the top rope” Comet states. Andrea gets to her feet and pulls JD up as well. Driving knees into his stomach, Andrea slowly works Drazon towards the ropes. Andrea pushes JD against the ropes and tries to shove him over, but Drazon digs his feet in and keeps a firm grip on the top rope. Andrea lashes out with a kick, hitting Jamie in the jaw, then follows with another kick to the chin. Andrea lands one more kick, takes a few steps back and nails Jamie Drazon with a front flip dropkick that nearly sends the Hardcore Maniac over the top rope! “With that dropsault, Andrea Montgomery might have rocked Jamie Drazon enough to send him over the top!” Comet shouts. “Over the top? This isn’t an arm wrestling contest, Comet,” Riley says. “You stupid, stupid man. I’m not talking about that atrocious Sylvester Stallone movie, I simply mean Andrea Montgomery can knock Jamie Drazon over the top rope, thus eliminating him from this match,” Comet explains. “Oh, good, because damn did that movie suck. I mean, you have to win an arm wrestling tournament to gain custody of a child? That’s about as common as a judge sentencing a man without insurance to become the butler for the person he rear-ended,” Riley says. “Actually Stallone is simply trying to earn the respect of his son through arm wrestling, but the point is still valid,” Comet corrects. Drazon wraps his arms around the top rope to steady himself, and as Andrea gets back to her feet, Drazon lashes out, kicking Drea in the head. JD lets go of the rope and darts towards Andrea, landing an elbow to her face. Andrea stumbles back, but Drazon closes the distance and cracks her with a lunging headbutt. With her eyes watering from the previous blow, Andrea doesn’t even see the open palm uppercut headed for her chin. “And Jamie Drazon retaliates with a series of well-placed blows that have knocked Andrea Montgomery off her feet,” Comet notes. “She’s bleeding, too!” Riley gleefully points out. “That she is, Bobby, a trickle between her eyes and some from her nose. Those were some rough shots from Drazon. As a super hero, I’m brave to no end, but I’m still glad that I’m not in that ring with Jamie Drazon, as he can easily go over the edge,” Comet says. Drazon kneels down, hand outstretched, grabs Montgomery and squeezes! “Drazon has that Iron Claw locked on, and tight! Andrea Montgomery needs to find some way out of this if she has any plans of winning this match,” Comet says. “Well, then she’s fine. Honestly Comet, how many wrestlers go into a match thinking of how they’ll lose the match?” Riley asks. Drazon notices Danny Dagda getting up with his peripheral vision and JD stands up, lifting Drea with him. Half-dragging her, Jamie makes his way towards Danny and he lashes out with a kick that hits Danny in the sternum. Danny tries to shake off the blow and lets loose a jab, but Drazon pulls Andrea in front of him, using her as a shield! JD lashes out with another kick, but only grazes Dagda as Andrea is in the way. Danny throws a hook, but Jamie manages to pull Andrea in the path of the blow. Jamie throws a punch over Andrea’s shoulder with his free hand and manages to hit Danny on the chin. Danny feints a punch with his left hand, and as Drazon moves Andrea to take the blow, Dagda lashes out with a right hand chop that connects with Jamie’s wrist, forcing him to release Andrea Montgomery from the Iron Claw. Andrea falls to the mat and Jamie headbutts Danny in the face. “I doubt she planned it that way, but Andrea Montgomery has managed to get free of Jamie Drazon’s Iron Claw,” Comet says. “Yeah, but that was great how Jamie Drazon was using her like a human shield! That chop to the wrist by Danny Dagda put a stop to that, though. That must have hurt, because Drazon’s got a strong grip,” Riley notes. “Indeed, Bobby. A blow to the wrist like that from a man as strong as Danny Dagda would make just about anyone drop what was in his or her hand,” Comet says. Dagda punches Drazon on the chin, but eats a kick to the ribs in the process. Danny responds with a knee lift that drives the air from Jamie’s lungs, then follows up with a European uppercut that straightens JD up. Danny poses for a moment, but only ends up catching an elbow across his chest. Danny swings wildly, but Jamie Drazon manages to grab him by the wrist and pulls Danny in. JD twists his body while still holding Dagda’s arm and sends Danny to the mat with a judo hiptoss. Jamie doesn’t let go of Danny and quickly scissors his arm. “Jamie Drazon and Danny Dagda exchange blows after Jamie lets go of his shield, and he ends up the victor in this scenario,” Comet points out. “Yes, he’s got Danny’s arm scissorlocked and doesn’t show any sign of letting go,” Riley states. “Drazon going back to his earlier strategy of wearing his opponents down with submission holds and focusing on their own personal strengths. By attacking Danny Dagda’s arm, it will be that much harder for Danny Dagda to eliminate Jamie Drazon,” Comet notes. Drazon keeps the scissorlock on Danny who’s thrashing in pain, trying to figure out how to escape the painful hold. Danny reaches towards Jamie with his free hand, trying to pull JD’s legs off of his arm, but to no avail. Danny tries to land a blow to Drazon’s crotch, but his own arm is shielding that area too well, not too mention Dagda’s arm just falling short of the target. Cringing in pain, Danny seems to have an idea and puts his free hand behind one of Jamie’s knees. Danny’s fingers wrap around JD’s knee cap, but his thumb is hidden from view. “I wonder what Danny Dagda is trying to do. He’s got his hand on Jamie Drazon’s knee, but I don’t think Danny can push Jaime’s legs off,” Comet says. “I think I know. Danny is putting pressure on the tendons and ligaments of the back of Drazon’s knee, and I can say from experience that that does not feel good,” Riley says. Danny yelps in pain, but keeps his hand on Drazon’s knee, pushing and squeezing. After nearly thirty seconds of pushing, which equals one minute of Danny trapped in the jujigatame, Jamie releases the hold, rolls away and grabs at his knee while Danny brings his arm into his body. “Danny Dagda manages to find a way to escape, and I believe that if he didn’t get free, Jamie Drazon would not have let go of his own volition,” Comet says. “Well of course not. There’s no point for him to let go, and there’s nothing to make him let go,” Riley says. Andrea Montgomery slowly rises to her feet and heads for the ring ropes to support her with Jamie Drazon up not far behind. Andrea leans heavily on the ring ropes and turns around only to see Jamie Drazon rumbling towards her. Drea slips down, still holding on to the top rope, just as JD extends his foot. Drazon’s leg straddles the top rope and Montgomery releases the rope and it snaps back, directly into JD’s reproductive organs, and by reproductive organs, we mean the thing between his knees, and by thing between his knees, well, that’s pretty self-explanatory. Andrea bends down and manages to lift Drazon’s other leg and put it over the top rope as well, placing JD in a dangerous predicament. Jamie turns around to dish something out to Andrea, but his eyes go wide, causing Drea to spin around as well. Charging towards them is Danny Dagda, arm outstretched. “Danny Dagda is looking to finish this match right now!” Comet exclaims. “Come on, Danny! Knock those bums over the rope and outside!” Riley cheers on. As Danny nears, Montgomery shuffles out of the way, leaving JD as the only target. Danny reaches the ropes, but hits nothing but air as Drazon falls to the apron and pulls down the top rope! Dagda leans over the ropes off-balance, and Andrea darts in, grabs Danny by his ankles and heaves up, sending the New Jerseyian tumbling to the outside, leaving it down to Andrea Montgomery and Jamie Drazon! “Danny Dagda has been eliminated! He tried to end it all, but that plan backfired, and now he’s out of this match completely!” Comet exclaims. “Andrea Montgomery and Jamie Drazon cheated! What kind of a professional wrestler won’t take a blow head-on, but instead runs out of the way?” Riley asks. “A smart wrestler?” Comet supplies. “No! A coward, someone who has no business being in this business!” Riley shouts. Andrea gets back to her feet and stands in wait for Drazon to get up as well. JD slowly pulls himself up with help from the ring ropes, and as soon as he’s back to a vertical base, Andrea wraps her arms around his head, cradling his jaw on her shoulder. Andrea drops, but not without first planting a knee in Jamie’s crotch! Dazed from the jawbreaker and hurting in ways unimaginable from the knee, Jamie stumbles around on the apron, but he has enough sense in him to wrap his arms around the top rope and hold on with dear life. Andrea shoves at Drazon, but he hardly budges, even as she begins sending kicks flying towards his head. Slowly, Drazon recovers from the genital assault and lashes out with a forearm to Andrea’s head. Andrea ceases her barrage, which allows Drazon to wrap her up and attempt to suplex her over the ropes, but Andrea blocks by wrapping her feet around the bottom rope. “Now Andrea Montgomery is hanging on with dear life! She had Jamie Drazon backed against the wall, but now the tables have turned!” Comet points out. “Well, she was pretty stupid in trying to force Jamie Drazon over the top rope. He’s too big and too strong for someone as small as Andrea Montgomery to send him over,” Riley says. Jamie tries again to lift Andrea up, but she’s locked on to the ropes. Drazon tries a third time, but Andrea manages to writhe free of JD’s grasp! Andrea backs up and springs forward, nailing Drazon in the stomach, doubling the Hardcore Maniac over. Drea grabs JD and pulls his upper body between the top and middle ropes. Andrea knees Drazon in the head twice for good measure before taking a step backwards. Montgomery leaps up onto the top rope and dives forward, grabbing Jamie Drazon around the waist. Andrea pulls forward while sliding down and she lands on the very edge of the apron. “Andrea Montgomery must be very desperate! She’s trying a sunset flip to eliminate Jamie Drazon!” Comet shouts. “And it looks like it’s working! Drazon’s nearly lost his balance!” Riley points out. The Hardcore Maniac windmills his arms wildly, trying to regain his balance as well as reach the ropes to steady himself, but he is just out of reach! Andrea pulls harder, trying to send Jamie to the floor. Drea tugs once more, and it’s enough as Drazon leans like the Pisan tower, and that’s enough for gravity to finish him off as Jamie tumbles backwards and lands on the cold floor. Hall checks to see Drazon’s feet touch the floor, then calls for the bell. DING! DING! DING! “The winner of this match, AAANDRRREAAA MONTGOMERRY!” Funyon roars out over the cheering crowd and “Just a Girl” playing on the public address system. “Andrea Montgomery has won! She sent Jamie Drazon to the floor with that risky sunset flip!” Comet shouts. “I’ve always said, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward,” Riley says. “No you don’t, I remember that from an episode of Boy Meets World,” Comet says. “But now Andrea Montgomery can challenge for any title she wants. I have to wonder which she’ll go after. Will she reform Team Flip Flop and go after the tag titles, or perhaps what she’s best suited and the cruiserweight title?” Comet inquires. “Oh, come on, Comet! If she’s smart, she’ll go after the World Heavyweight title! And that’s exactly why she won’t, because Andrea Montgomery is not smart,” Riley says. “Andrea Montgomery is a very intelligent young woman, and you know that, Bobby! She’s also fully capable of giving any title holder a very good challenge, and capable of defeating some of these champions. I believe that the talent level of the SWF is so great that any competitor could defeat any other competitor on a given night!” Comet shouts. “Prime example being anyone who has ever beaten Tom Flesher. Then again, I’ve got some very reliable sources that say Tom was severely drunk on each of his losses,” Riley says. “And would that source be you in the form of President of the Tom Flesher Fan Club?” Comet asks. “That’s a matter between myself and aforementioned President,” Riley says huffily. Andrea walks back up the ramp, gently touches Divefire’s bust, then heads past the entrance way and to the back as Fugue cues up “O Fortuna”.

“With the ring cleared after the ladder match,” shouts Comet over the hyped-up Rose Bowl crowd, “it looks like things are about to get back down to earth here in Pasadena!” Boy, is he mistaken. CRACK!! The crowd erupts as the telltale opening of “Born Bad” rips through the stadium! “Oh, come on,” moans Bobby Riley. “I thought I had another 2 hours before I had to deal with this wash-up…” The crowd’s roars get even louder as Mark Stevens appears beneath the shimmering entranceway, starting the long walk down the red carpet to the ring. Determination and a bit of a smile etched on his face, Mark moves with a rare intensity. “It looks like Mark’s going to give us the setup for the tag match tonight, Bobby,” comments Comet. “I hope he’s found someone, because as good as Landon Maddix is, three-on-two never turns out the way you planned.” The Heavy Hitter climbs into the ring and takes the microphone from Funyon, pausing to wave to the cheering throngs for just a moment before bringing it to his mouth. “Well, I’m more of a Candlestick Park guy than a Rose Bowl guy, but let me just say…it feels great to be here!” The usual Grand Slam congeniality revs the crowd up even more, but the old vet waves them quiet. “But we’ve got a long night ahead, and I need to get back to planning just how I’m going to pin King in the center of that ring tonight, so I’ll be brief. “King has done everything in his power to wreck my life for the past two years. In the past month, he’s forced me to wrestle against the best of the best in the SWF. He’s put me up against all the young guns, and I’ve lost. Again, and again – Ace Lezaire, Toxxic, Johnny Dangerous. I’ve lost, but I’ve never, ever given up.” More cheers for the Slammer… “So when King told Landon and I that he had a surprise for us, I wasn’t surprised. I knew he’d try to stack the odds against us. But I didn’t think he’d bring Chris into all of this. Not Chris Raynor” – the crowd’s mood changes – “a man who I called a friend, a man who I never hurt. A man who I respected, even in his darkest moments. No more, Chris. When you step into that ring next to the Suicide King and Tom Flesher, all bets are off. “King thought he’d played his ‘trump card,’ to use his own lingo. Who in their right mind would team up with a washed-up old man and a young buck against three SWF legends? Maybe Johnny Dangerous” – and there’s a BIG roar from the crowd – “but how could I ask him to step in next to me just minutes before he had to defend that title? Maybe Jay Dawg, but how could Landon and I expect him to show up sober? The chips were down, as King might say, but while he was busy counting his winnings, we just stole home plate.” The crowd roars, and Comet wonders. “It sounds like Mark’s got someone, Bobby!” “Some nutball, for sure…” “King forgot one thing,” says Mark, his voice booming, confident. “When you’ve got the other team down, with two outs in the ninth, don’t get cute. Finish the job. Don’t give them an inch, because the pinch hitter might just knock one out of the park and ruin your night. “I said I’d be brief, so I’m finished speaking, but…well, as for my second partner…he’s a bit of a talker…” And the Rose Bowl goes dark, the last drips of sun and starlight illuminating everything faintly, until… “I SAID HALLELUJAH!” BOOM! “TO THE SIXTEEN LOYAL FANS! B-B-B-B-BOOM! “SO GET ON YOUR MOTHERFUCKIN’ KNEES!” FWOOOSH! “CAUSE IT’S TIME FOR YOUR SICKNESS AGAIN!” And an explosion of fireworks and spiraling blue lights reveals, tearing down the red carpet at an astonishing clip, the one, the only… “My god, Bobby! It’s Edwin MacPhisto!” The crowd is instantly on its feet, roaring and shouting as the Mac Daddy, clad in jeans and a brown bomber jacket, dashes down the carpet in the Heisman pose, jukes, spins, and dives into the ring to embrace Mark! “It’s been a year since we last saw Edwin,” shouts Comet, “and he was in a bad way! Neck nearly broken at the hands of Nathaniel Kibagami, curled up in a hospital bed, giving advice to the Boston Strangler! But he’s back – the former world champion, the former leader of the Midnight Carnival, the crown prince of flash and panache - he’s back to make tonight’s fight a six-man tag match!” “Well,” sighs Bobby, “Mark was right when he said anyone he could dig up wouldn’t be in their right mind…” As Stevens backs away a bit, grinning, he hands the microphone off to Edwin. Underneath the eyes of the fans for the first time in a year, the Mac Daddy grins. “Well, I missed you too.” Another big roar from the crowd, and Edwin leisurely struts around the ring, taking in the scope of the Rose Bowl. “I suppose it’s fair to let you know all where I’ve been. Stateside, not so much. Back in the arms of the queen? Positively. Londontown is a jolly town, and truth be told, I was done with all this.” The crowd murmurs a bit, but Edwin cuts them off. “Oh, be fair now – how many of you have nearly had your neck broken by a never-relenting nincompoop? It really is one of the most unfortunate things that can happen to a man, and when you add in the hospital food and the visits from big ol’ galoots like Mark and Strangler and Thugg, it’s just about a nightmare!” “So what would it take to get me back, again, for another return, where I’m probably likely to get my neck broken for real this time? I’ll be honest with you all – I love Mark, but Mark’s business is Mark’s business…except when it’s our business. “Had Mark just called me up and said, ‘Edwin, I’m in a tight spot, I need you to help start my car, or wrestle against the tag champions, or teach me how to change a diaper which I’m really still having some trouble with but please don’t tell Lynn because she’ll laugh at me and take away my allowance,’ I’d have said right back, ‘I thought this was the pizza delivery man’ and hung up right then. I like my quiet life. I like living tucked away and Hampstead Heath, with black hair and without spandex tights and with people who probably don’t recognize me. And not getting punched daily has really been the best part of all this. “But that’s not what Mark said,” continues Edwin, pointing at his comrade and leaning against the ropes, Humphrey Bogart in a wrestling ring. “He said, ‘Edwin, King’s up to some old skullduggery, and he’s brought along a friend.’ And I thought, no way, no how. He wouldn’t, would he? But he did. And now, with Chris Raynor back in action, I almost felt like I had to be here. Like I owed it not only to Mark, but to Chris. You remember how, just a minute ago, I said that nearly getting your neck broken is one of the worst things you can imagine? The one thing that’s worse is being the breaker. “I’ve looked for Chris Raynor these past two years. I’ve tried to find him, but I’ve never had any luck. I flat-out missed him at Genesis last year, when we might have been on better terms. I would have just apologized, and bought some coffee, and laughed about something old and ancient, like happy meals, or how we once humiliated Chris Wilson…okay, twice…okay, probably a lot more frequently than twice. But now it’s different. I’m still not sure how it’s going to be facing you in that ring, Chris. These glass letters behind don’t exactly bring back fond memories. But whatever drove you to be how you’ve been, to be what you were, was me – not Mark. You are no one’s pawn, and it embarrasses your legacy – your four tag titles, your ICTV wins, all the greatness you achieved – to dirty your hands with King’s leavings. “If you’re here for Mark, well, watch out, because he’s got a little more back-up than you expected. But if you’re here for me…and I know you, Chris, and I know the way you think…then you’ve got me, Mr. Raynor. Step right up, old friend, and get your ticket.” Edwin hands the mic back to Grand Slam, the crowd nodding and cheering along with each word. “You heard him, Chris, King, Tom,” booms Stevens. “The odds are even. You’re out of loopholes. We do this the old way – six men. One ring. Landon Maddix, Mark Stevens, and Edwin MacPhisto. We’ll see you gentlemen in a few hours.” Stevens hands the mic back to Funyon, and the crowd roars as Mark and Edwin leave the ring, while the rest of the crew gathers themselves for the battle royal… Backstage, in King’s dressing room, Tom Flesher sits with his face in his palms. The Suicide King and Chris Raynor look up at the monitor. “Well, Chris, you got your wish. Happy now?” Raynor cracks his knuckles. “Very, very happy.”

"Birdman has it! Birdman has the title!" shouts Comet, as Birdy attempts to bring his other hand up to the belt. "If he can unstrap it this match, is over!!" On the mat, Ryan looks up in shock. How did he make that jump. To his right, Spike is shouting at Dustin to do something, anything, to stop Birdbrain from ending the match and his chance to get his belt! And after looking around, Ryan has a plan... The High-flying fowl reaches his hand up and still can't get it to the title. He's only a few inches away from ending this match, but Birdman, dangling from title, sudden cries out in pain as Ryan Dustin hits his opponent dead in the back with the fallen ladder on a powerful overhand swing... ...Making him fall face-first to the CANVAS! The crowd 'oohs' in sympathy, as Dustin drops the ladder and falls to the mat, clutching his ribs in pain. "Oh, my God! Birdman has just fallen from the title belt to the floor face-first..." says Comet, as if he can't believe it, while in the corner, Spike has been working the entire time on getting out of his tree of woe and Jenkins untangles his leg and falls on the back of his head, not even caring in the least because he finally has a chance to get back into this match! Thankfully, Birdman begins to bang his leg on the mat, a good sign because he could have been mistaken for dead before that.... "These men are pulling out all the big moves, Robert, but my question is what ELSE can they do to win this match?!" "A whole lot more, Comet." mentions Riley, in an unsure voice. "A WHOLE lot more..." Spike unwedges the ladder from the turnbuckle and hobles to his feet in pain. He knows he has to take out Ryan Dustin now. But Ryan spots the injured Jenkins and picks his ladder back up, hefting it onto his shoulder, as Spike preps his like a battering ram... and they charge-- Crack! --Coming together and hitting eachother in the head and ribs respectively. The announcers look on in horror, as blood begins to leak from the head of Spike Jenkins, but the crowd cheers. The masses alway cheer. Spike and Ryan prep there ladders like a battering rams... and they charge again-- Crack! --smacking together for a second time! This time Ryan wins out, causing Hollywood to drop the ladder and stumble in the ropes! Ryan opens up his ladder in the corner, realizing he can't win without taking out Jenkins, most likely with the StarDustin' Pressm but as he turns around Spike, bloody and batter, jumps off Dustin's ladder and kicks him in the back of the head with a Shinning apprentice!! "Dangerous Wizard! Now that's how it's supposed to be done. The cool people use ladders for their shinning wizards--not peoples' backs!" Spike climbs up the ladder and Birdman, who has reawakened, stumbles towards the ladder climbing up after him. The two battle, trading forearm shots, but Birdman escapes, sliding from the ladder to the ropes, balancing in a dangerous place. Spike takes a wild swing attempting to knock Birdy off the ropes and to the outside, so he can finally win this, but Birdman dodges and the high-flying fowl links his arms around Hollywood's neck in a front facelock, before leaping off and twirling in MID-AIR... HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! ...DRAGGING SPIKE TO THE CANVAS FROM THE LADDER IN A TORNADO DDT!! "Birdbrain just tried to kill Spike, Comet!" "Robert, if you think that was an attempt to kill that villian, then you haven't seen anything yet!" Birdy gets up, exit the ring and climb to the top turnbuckle. The crowd rises to its' feet, cameras ready once again, as the high-flying fowl prepares to do some high-flying, climbing to the top of the ladder, slowly but surely! "Comet... the last time he was up there he was stopped... what happens if he isn't stopped...?" Riley is right. It won't be good for Spike, as Birdy balances on the top rung, so as not to have a repeat of earlier, raising his hands to his mouth... "CA-CAW-CAW!" calls Birdman and the crowd responds. CA-CAW-CAW! And Birdman LEAPFROGS OVER THE LADDER FLYING DOWN AND CRASHING INTO THE CHEST CAVITY OF SPIKE JENKINS WITH THE BIRD-DROPPING!!!! ...! ...!! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! "Now that, Robert, was an attempt to kill citizen Jenkins..." Ryan, the freshest of the men in the ring, grabs the closest ladder to him and steps it up under the title. Then Birdman, fresh off of flying down off the top of a ladder, shuffles over and gets his ladder. After a minute Spike joins the fray, grabbing the twenty foot ladder and catching up to his two opponent. Each man climbs their respective ladder, clearly looking worse for wear, but they aren't giving up. They can't give. Because if they didn't give their all they wouldn't know if they could have won the World Cruiserweight Title. Hollywood and Dustin trade stiff right hands, neither man backing down or hitting any less hard! The crowd continues showing its approval of Dustin, and Birdman gets back into the contest, gaining their cheers again, which Comet acknowledges. "Well, it's very unclear who these Pasadena fans want to win out..." At that Dustin catches Spike with a clean punch to his left eye, stunning Jenkins. He wobbles, but grabs Ryan by his dyed blond tresses and rockets back with another punch! And another punch to Birdman! Dustin swings away wildly now, causing Spike and Birdman to do the same!! Comet can barely contain himself, as the ladder wobbles under both men. "But who will have the will to not faaaaaaaaaall--" And the ladders tips over... As they all fall... From the ladder...!!! Ryan and Birdman fall, straddling the ropes, crotching themselves on the top ropes!!!Hollywood cries out, a shocked look of horror across his face, as for the first time he doesn't fall on the ropes... instead falling ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR!!!! "It's a race again, Robert!" shouts Comet, as Birdman and Dustin attempt to get out of the ropes. "It's down to Dustin and Birdman!" But Dustin's leg is caught in the ropes. Birdy knows he has it won. Hollywood's on the outside. Ryan's tied up in the ropes and he slowly makes the climb up the ladder. He can see the title. His dream will finally be achieved. The crowd boos and he wonders why. They've been cheering all night... Birdman is almost there. With a jump he can almost TOUCH the title with his hand... but the ladder begins to wiggle and then it hits him... 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins climbs the ladder, blood in his blonde hair, right behind the high-flying fowl, Birdman. Birdy is in his grasp and Spike bangs his head into the ladder, stunning him for a second, so that he can climb even. Birdman tries to elbow Jenkins off the ladder, but Spike bangs his head one more time into the aluminum and turns him around... reaches up. Spins. And pulls Birdman. ALL THE WAY D O W N! WHAM! Hitting the Bad Beat off the middle of the Motherfucking ladder!!! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! The ring shakes as they impact the mat, BLASTING Birdman's chin off Spike's shoulder, compacting Birdy jaw and neck like a steam roller running over a grape! Even the crowd can't help but cheer, as the Spike lays on the mat staring up at the lights, not quite sure if he actually hit that move or not. His shoulder is burning and his knee feels like jello, but damnit once he's Cruiserweight Champ he won't feel shit. So Spike stands... and falls back down. Laughing at Dustin who tries to get out of the ropes, he realizes he has plenty of time. So he stand slowly and turns, shuffling towards the ladder... “I don’t believe it!” shouts Riley, as Ryan pries his foot from the ropes!!! Ryan stumbles behind Jenkins and turns, reaching back grabbing Spike's neck with both hands and takes two big steps forward, dragging him away from the ladder!!! Ryan's tired and it shows, as he preps for his finisher— “COUNTER!!!!” yells Riley. Hollywood pries at the right arm of the Real Deal and spins, turning his body face to back! His arm wraps around Dustin's neck and he snaps him down with the Clean living!!! Spike on the mat, sucks wind, but he's countered the last onslaught. This match is over! He'll be the new Cruiserweight Champ, as soon as he climbs the ladder! "It's OVER! Birdman has been taken OUT! Ryan Dustin has been taken OUT! He gave Birdman a final Bad Beat and Dustin has been sobered once and for all with the Clean Living!! All Spike needs to do is get the belt!!" Hollywood climbs the ladder one last time. This is the final time. It all ends here. His body burns, but damnit, he's beaten them all. Birdman. Dustin. Flesher. He climbs, reaching the middle of the ladder and takes a breath. He needs to recover from everything that has happened. He can dully hear a cheer from the crowd, but why would they cheer. They booed him all night. They booed him when he wen't after Birdman on the ladder. They booed him when he went after Dustin on the ladder. The only reason they would cheer is... And just like that Ryan Dustin has caught up. "Holy Shit, Comet..." mumbles Riley. "He wouldn't...not after what we just saw Spike do to Birdbrain..." Riley's 'Birdbrain' is a reflex reaction. He's gotten so used to saying it, that it can flow from his mouth, even in serious situations. This would be one of those situations. "I-I... don't know...would he...?" And he leaps. FROM THE LADDER ALL THE WAY F U C K I N' D O W N! WHAM! Hitting his Wanted in 48 States SUPER DVD~ off the middle of the GODDAMN ladder!!! The ring QUAKES with the impact! The crowd EXPLODES in cheers, but the announcers say nothing, clearly letting the moment speak for itself. Chants of 'Holy Shit!' can be hear in the background, as Dustin finally sits up, clutching his burning rib-cage and falling back to the mat! Spike has not even moved at all, staying spread eagle. The Real Deal stands, clearly hurting but he makes his way to the ladder and climbs. The climb is difficult, but there is nobody to stop him. His body aches. The final trek is hard. But as he reaches the top, one thing is certain. The win is academic. DING! DING! DING! "The winner of this match and your NEEEEEEEW Smarks Wrestling Federation World Cruiserweight champion, he is the Real Deal... RYAN DUSSSSS-TIN!" bellows Funyon, over the loud pop still blazing from the crowd. Ryan raises the title high, and then makes his way down the ladder, falling to the canvas. "Loyal citizen's, this was... this was something else--but these two wrestler put on a show for the Cruiserweight title. It was a bloody, brutal show, but in the end we have finally crowned a new champion. It appears, Bobby Riley, that the old man, Ryan Dustin, has not faded into the sunset, like the the golden orb in the air right now. Tonight, he is the Cruiserweight champion of the WORLD." Ryan Dustin lays on the mat, rolls his way out of the ring and up the walkway, hurting beyond belief. The Real Deal climbs the ladder in the ailse and stands atop it, looking up into the darkening sky, title in tow. Dustin, beaten and battered, feels twenty years old. He stares at the sky and sees a lone star shimmering in the dusk and realizes he's a champion once again. Tonight, Ryan Dustin has climbed the ladder to success!

The camera comes up on the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, seated in a semi-pit, wind, procussion, and string sections lying in wait, while the conductor stands at the ready, before slowly nodding his head to the crowd and raising his wand... "O Fortuna velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem." The camera stays on the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, while they continue to play Carl Orff's 'O Fortuna', cellos, bases and violins waft out the classic tune, backed up by the light tone's of flutes, obows and horns -- finally coming to a magnificent cresendo! "Welcome loyal citizens; I, CYCLOOOOOOONE Comet, along-side, Robert Riley, present to you, an event without parallel!" shouts Comet, as the camera comes up on the announce both. "A Smarks Wrestling Federation Pay-per-view Extravaganza, the likes of which, never seen before! The culmination of our year in professional wrestling, when everything starts anew! And after the opening you citizens just witnessed all I can say is... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: GENESIS FIVE!" The audience lets' loose a monsterous scream of excitement, mixed with anticipation for the biggest event of the year. Cyclone Comet's eyes go wide and he turns to his annouce partner, while bringing his right hand up to his headset, pushing it closer to his ear. The cheering continues -- not losing any steam -- while Comet's cohort in commentary bliss, Bobby Riley, tries to give him a look that says: 'yeah, this is Genesis, what the hell were you expecting?'. But, even Bobby can't hide the smile that slowly creeps across his face, even as the long ovation begins to die down. "We are, live, from the sold out Rose Garden in Pasadena, California and Robert," begins Comet, yelling over the reminates of that huge ovation, "did you hear the tremendous--no, what an unbelievable ovation from this filled to capacity, California crowd!" Riley just nods his head, as if trying to prove he expected this racous and wild response, but his eyes light up, none-the-less. "Come on, Comet, this is Genesis in a nutshell! Having called this event for the past two years, let me tell you, nothing and I mean nothing compares to the response that this event garners!" "We have a jam packed super-card, so lets' run it down for the home audience, once again, Robert. A four person, over the top rope BATTLE ROYALE between Candace, newcomer Danny Dagda, Andrea Montgomery and the King of Hardcore Jamie Drazon!" "The winner there gets a shot at the belt of their choosing! Even the World title! And Sean Davis defends the Hardcore championship against the number one contender Austin Sly! But that ain't all he's doing tonight, Comet. Revolution Zero's out for gold!" "True, Robert, but we'll get to that in a moment. Don't forget, Manson and Max King settle differences that have been simmering for months now. There will be no interference in this one, as a fifteen foot high steel cage seperates them from anyone else." "No disqualification, over the top or pin-falls to save someone here. Somebody's gonna tap! It's rage in the cage, Comet, in the aptly named Caged Fury match!" "In addition, John Duran faces a mystery opponent, in what is rumored to possibly be his last match. If the rumors are true, can the former World Champ finish on a high note and defeat his unknown opponent." "And as noted earlier by Robert, Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis of Revolution Zero, will attempt to do the unthinkable, battling twice in one night! Each have other affairs, but they battle here in tag team action, against Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez, Hollywood Boulevard!" "In one of the most unique stipulation matches ever created, number one contender David Cross challenges United Sta--" Bobby lets loose a not so subtle cough, interrupting Comet. "--excuse me, the cocky Canadian champion, Ace Lezaire in a Canadian Deathmatch!" "I still remember the debut of that stip. MacPhisto flipped his friggin' lid trying to win that one... that's when he officially started down the path that caused him to break Chris Raynor's neck." "A fact that leads us into this match, Robert. Chris Raynor, inbittered and fueled by dreams of his chance in the main event stolen from him, has made a deal with the devil. He seemingly reluctantly assists the Superior One and Gambling man, who have stacked the deck in their favor. Can Mark Steven and Landon Maddix overcome the odds and defeat the Suicide King, Tom Flesher and the returning Raynor in a handicap match? Is there anyone that Mark Stevens' could add to his team in a last ditch effort to swing momentum and make this match even? Or will he and Maddix step right up and brave the battle alone? Only time will tell..." "Please, with Tom Flesher in his corner, how can King not win? Stevens would have to bring the devil himself to town, to pull this one out. But, all he can do is say five hail Mary's, a Hallelujah and pray for better days!" "And finally, in tonights MAIN EVENT we will see Toxxic, the former World champion, challenge Johnny Dangerous in a straight up singles match to determine who will walk out of Genesis as the best this business has to offer! Will the straight-edge sensation be able to defeat Agent Dangerous or will the Las Vegas showman, under the brightest lights of them all, hoist the belt high into the sky, for one more night!" Riley snorts at that last comment, but Comet ignores him and continues. "Which brings us back to the opening match on tonights card! It's a matter of respect, for a belt and division that was disrespected by Tom Flesher. Now, three men look to climb the ladder of success and proudly proclaim themselves the Smarks Wrestling Federation Cruiserweight Champion! The title has been hoisted sixteen feet high and someone must retrieve it. It's Ryan Dustin versus Spike Jenkins versus the Birdman... in a LADDER MATCH!" "And it's happening, right now!" The camera zooms in on a twenty foot ladder, placed near the entrance in the middle of the aisle and pans away, slowly, giving a good view of the ladder, glass opening and crystalline busts. Funyon, the SWF master of cerimonies, clears his throat and then speaks. "The following contest is a LADDER match, for the Smarks Wrestling Federation WORLD Cruiserweight Championship!" The crowd pops at the stress placed on 'ladder' and turns to the glass entrance, wondering just who will enter first... A Pause. "LEEET'S GET RETARDED... IN HEEEEEEEEERE!" The Pasadena fathiful rise out of their seats in excitment as the Black Eyed Peas 'Let's Get Retarded' plays: "And the base keeps runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and..." With each 'runnin' stated, the crowds cheering gets louder and louder, as on all four sides of the canopy, the ginormous jumbotron televisions fire up, flashing highlite after highlite of the High-flying fowl soaring through the air; hitting hurricanrana's, body splashes, twisting presses, and the Bird dropping, all interspersed with his patented 'cawing'! "In this context, there's no disrespect -- so, when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks!" "We got five minutes for us to disconnect -- from all intellect collect the rhythm effect!" And the Birdman makes his way through the curtain, flapping his wings, in a multi-colored outfit of black, gray and white, eerily similar to the valley quail, native of California and state bird. The crowds cheering tops out as the Birdman plays to them, but he suddenly slows and stares up at the large ladder placed directly in front of him. Birdy, stoic for only a moment, continues his pre-match routine and plays to the crowd again, while moving under the ladder. "Introducing first, making his way to the ring--from parts unknown, weighing in tonight at two hundred and nine-teen pounds, he is "The High-flying Fowl" known as... THE BIIIIIIIRD-MAN!" Birdman gets to ringside and slaps 'wings' with a few fans at the barricade, taking off his plastic mask and putting it on a younger SWF fanatic in the front row. Then Birdy slides into the ring and pops up to his feet, dancing about with what some my see as nervous excitment! Suddenly, the techno beats of Darude’s “Sandstorm” begin playing over the announce system, and on all four sides of the canopy, the ginormous jumbotron televisions fire up, showing a slow-motion fly by of the famous HOLLYWOOD sign, in the motion picture captial of the world. Then it quickly cuts away to Spike hitting the Bad Beat, Last Dance, Clean Living and forcing people to tap out to the Sliver Lining, interspersed with: 'Revolution 0', until... BOOM! …White pyrotechnics goes off on each side of the entrance. “Hollywood” Spike Jenkins appears out from the backstage area, noticably not followed by his fellow stable mate, Jet. Spike stops at the entrance, the hood of his jacket hanging low, covering half of his face, while he stares at the ground. Spike flips the hood off his head, throwing his arms out in a cocky manner for the whole world to see, looking the ladder in front of him, up and down. Spike cockily flips his middle finger out, while he strides under and past the ladder making his way down to the ring. "And his opponent," announces Funyon, while the crowd boos mercilessly, "making his way to the ring--from Hollywood, California, weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty-five pounds. He is a follower of Toxxic and member of Revolution Zero! He is "Hollywood"... SPIKE JENK-IIIIIIINNS!" Spike mocks the fans in the front row (particularly the kid with Birdman's mask), as he climbs up the steel steps onto the ring apron. He walks across the ring apron, wiping his feet, then proclaiming his ignorance to the fans with his arms in the air. Spike steps through the ring ropes, and peels his jacket off, tossing it to a ring attendant with little care, as he stares down the Birdman and slides into a corner. "I'm an Ouuuuut-law!" The house lights have already dropped, making the clear sky above, all the more appealing, while the oranging sun shines brightly down upon the arena. And the vocals have already hit, causing the crowd to stand up and cheer, once again, while the low key, but upbeat "Lapdance" by N.E.R.D. blares throughout the Rose Garden. Brillant strobes of white, yellow, blue and red, flash about the arena, bathing the crowd in a mutli-colored hue, shading each section like a prism... "Quick on the draw -- Quick on the draw... Something you never seen before -- never seen..." On all four sides of the canopy, the ginormous jumbotron televisions fire up, showing a shadow of a figure, arms crossed, back partially to the screen, allowing all to see the interlinking R&D crosshair on his jacket. When suddenly, a bullet flies through the picture, causing the image to shatter like glass and a single spotlight flashes across crowd, making its' way to the entrance, waving back and forth in time with the hip-hop beat, then centering on a lone spot... And I dare a muthafucker to come in my face! And as N.E.R.D’S ‘Lap-dance’ continues, it draws Ryan Dustin through the curtain, facing the crowd – arms folded across his chest – while in a casual lean; his red cameo jacket fluttering from an unknown undercurrent. After a pause, Dustin gives the huge ladder in the middle of the walkway a look, before quickly interacting with various fans by placing them in his 'picture frame'... "And their opponent," continues Funyon, after a short pause. During the pause, Dustin walks to the uuber-ladder, his eyes wandering over it, before he continues underneath and down to ringside. "Making his way to the ring--from Carson City, Nevada, weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty-eight pounds, he is "The Real Deal"... RYAN DUSSSS-TIN!" announces Funyon, while Dustin slaps hands with a few fans. Ryan reaches the ring, climbing up the outside of the turnbuckle, he poses once again, sizing up a few members of the crowd on the opposite side of the ring, by placing his hands in the form of a 'picture frame' again. As if waiting for a cue, Ryan turns to the near side crowd, nodding his head to the beat... "It's so real! How I feel!" ...before backflipping into the ring, giving the fans a little flourish for their buck. The crowd responds to that with a sizable pop, as Ryan disgardes his jacket and glasses, then leans back into his corner, glancing at his opponents as his music fades into the background. DING! DING! DING! The three men stand in the ring, Jenkins and Dustin both in a corner, while Birdman stands near the middle of the ropes. They each take steps forward, tenitive at first, but more confident with each stride, until they form a loose triangle center ring, never taking their eyes of the prize. Up there, each man sees the prize they are after. The Cruiserweight title. Spike Jenkins looks down from the title and finally spots the other two competitors looking at his belt! So Spike, ever the asshole, yells at them both, informing them that it is infact, his belt! "That's MY belt--hey, I'm talking to you, motherf*cker! Yeah drunk, you, and you too freak... that's my belt!" Dustin breaks his gaze from the title, catching Spike's anger out of the corner of his eye and responds with: 'and I'm supposed to be belligerent'. But Birdman doesn't do anything, causing Jenkins to shout at him some more. "Hey, Birdshit! If you don't stop watching my belt--something you'll never have and start watching me, you're gonna' get knocked the f*ck out!" adds Spike, seemingly straight out of the movie 'Friday'. The Birdman finally acknowledges him and then goes right back to looking at the belt. Hollywood scowls, but turns to Dustin, as if to give him a piece of his mind -- only to round on Birdy and catch the unsuspecting fowl with a superkick! "You just got knocked the f*ck out!" says Spike, in true Smokey-esque fashion, adding insult to injury, while Birdman lays on the mat, in a prone position. Hollywood turns back to Ryan and points a finger in his face, reiterating his point. "You can get some of that too. It'll sober you up, real quick! "Look kid, how about you get your finger out of my face," states Dustin, his voice clear and his emerald eyes fixed on Jenkins, while he shoves the finger from his face, "and stop acting like a cocky little bitch, before I slap the everlovin' taste--" Slap! "Citizen Jenkins, not making any friends early, Robert." notes Comet, as Ryan Dustin rubs his jaw, head turned to the right from the blow. "Well, he did just give Birdman the Last dance and bitch-slap, Dustin, like he's a professional pimp! Not the easiest way to make friends, but it sure proves who the alpha male around here is." The Real Deal is easily able to move from holding his jaw, into a hard hitting punch that connects with the face of his opponent, in response! "But I don't believe citizen Dustin is going to take that assault lying down!" says Comet, indentifying correctly, that Ryan's going to hit Hollywood back. Quickly. Spike comes back with a punch to the face and Dustin takes it in stride, firing off a second one! Hollywood hits him back and the Real Deal stalls for only a second, noticing that Birdman's getting to his feet, while nailing Jenkins with a right-hand. Spike comes back again, but this time Ryan blocks Jenkins strike and blasts him with another right. And another. And another! Hollywood stumbles back into the ropes and Ryan grabs him, rapidly tossing him off in an Irish whip. Spike runs the ropes, bouncing back towards Dustin, who hits the mat, forcing Jenkins to jump over him. Hollywood tries to slow his momentum, as he spots Birdman, up and about, but Birdy bends and elevates Spike high into the air and over the top rope--no, Spike quick reflexes allow him to shoot his hands out and grasps the top cable, directing himself back towards the apron; holding on for dear life, while swinging one leg onto the small space! "Whew, Spike almost took a spill to the outside." notes Riley, as Jenkins looking like he's going to fall, regains his balance, while Dustin gets to his knees. Birdy turns, sensing that his opponent didn't take the hard fall to the outside and eats a punch from Spike that spins him around. From his knees, Dustin jumps into action, charging the Birdman and staring at his left knee, but all the planning in his head is for naught as the high-flying fowl leap-frogs the charge! Ryan continues running, thinking he'll get Birdy on the rebound... blissfully unaware of Spike Jenkins pulling down the top rope, while he's wrapped in it, sending Ryan to the outside in a heap, bouncing off the apron as he goes. "Heh!" chortles Riley, attempting and failing to cover up his glee. Comet, on the other hand is not too pleased, at Spike's antics, while Jenkins points and laughs at Dustin on the floor. "I don't think it is humorus at all, Robert." "Come on, Comet--lighten up!" requests Riley, still smiling broadly, as Jenkins taunts Dustin from the apron, who is crawling towards the barricade. "Spike didn't even do anything!" "He didn't do anything? He pulled down the top rope, didn't he?" ask Comet, eyebrow raised in the air. "Nah, I think Dustin's just relapsing to the last time he got wasted and tripped over his own two feet!" Ryan, at the barricade now, grabs the ladder directly in front of him for support and gets to his feet, slowly, still smarting from the fall to the outside, but looking to do some damage. Meanwhile, Hollywood leaps off the apron to take care of some business, not noticing Ryan's grip on the ladder. In other news, with Spike's back to him going after Dustin on the outside, the Birdman looks from one side of the audience to the other, taking one last look back at the two men on the outside... "CA-CAW-CAW!" calls Birdman, cupping his hands in front of his face. And the crowd is quick to respond! CA-CAW-CAW! "This can't be good, Comet!" says Riley, as Birdman takes off -- full sprint -- towards the far ropes. Dustin, hearing the noise, looks up, wide-eyed, remembering his number one contenders match with Birdy, forcing Spike to tear his attention away from Ryan and towards the ring. "Cawing can't be good..." he adds, as Spike's eyes go wide and Dustin raises his hands and the ladder, in an attempt to shield himself, while the high-flying fowl does a cartwheel flowing immediately into a back handspring near the ropes... ... "Definitely. Not. Good!" ... ...and finishing with A GODDAMN TWISTING BODY PRESS TO THE OUTSIDE INTO SPIKE, DUSTIN AND THE LADDER!!!!!! ...!!! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! "Did you SEE that, Comet?" says an incredulous Riley, not able to look away from the wrestlers and ladder intangeled in a heap, just in front of the barricade. "Has Birdbrain lost his everlovin' mind?!" "We've seen this before from citizen Man, Robert!" Bobby, still in shock, misses a chance to make fun of Comet's comment, proving he's still a little unbelieving of what just happened. "He is high-risk high-reward to a tee; throwing his body at anything and everything, in an attempt to inflict damage upon his opponents--consequences be darned!" The front row stays standing, some mugging for the camera and others looking down at the mass of bodies and ladder strewn together, and grimacing. Spike Jenkins sits on his back, rubbing his head with one hand, while the other is intangeled in the ladder. Birdman lies on top of him, head in between one of the ladder rungs and feet sprawled out onto the barricade, seemingly having taken the hardest fall. Even though the last member of the trio is underneath said ladder, upper body sitting up against the barrier! With a groan, Hollywood pulls his arm from the wreckage and gets to a knee, still somewhat shocked. Jenkins, looks around and sees his opponents in the state that they are, so, he gets up and shuffles over to the apron steadying himself. "Spike seems to be the only one that survived that collision!" And then he lifts up the apron and goes for the plunder! "With good reason, Comet." responds Riley, rapidly. "He's the only one who actually deserves to win this match and now he's got the tool necessary to do that." Dustin, seeing Spike going for a new ladder, after a few hard pushes, shoves the ladder and Birdman -- who just groans -- off him, trying to get up. Hollywood pulls a ladder from under the ring, to a sizable cheer for being the first one to 'reveal' a ladder, but it quickly turns to boos, as Spike tells them he doesn't need their help: 'Oh, he's got a ladder, let's cheer the sheep we are'! "Citizen Jenkins admonishing the crowd for actually cheering him..." "Yeah, they shouldn't be able to jump on the bandwagon now that he's going to win, should they?" Dustin rises, using the barricade to steady himself as he clutches his rib-cage briefly. Spike slides the ladder into the ring and follows it in, while the Real Deal stumbles over to the apron. Jenkins lifts the ladder and set's it up center ring, trying to find the proper spacing, but out of the corner of his eye, he spots Ryan slide into the ring. Hollywood shuts the ladder and quickly props it under his arm, grabbing a ladder rung and as Dustin rises to his feet, Spike rushes forward using the ladder as a battering ram to the Real Deal's gut!! Ryan hunches over and staggers back into the nearest corner, holding onto the ropes for support with one arm. "'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins using that aluminum ladder as a battering ram--like he's a police officer doing an illegal search and seizure!" says Cyclone, not too impressed with Jenkins manner during the match, so far. "But even the cops don't kick ass as well as Hollywood!" responds Riley. "And it doesn't look like he's finished either!" adds Bobby, as Jenkins smirks and backs up a few steps and charges forward once again leveling the ladder at waist height--nope, this time Ryan hits the mat, in a half side-step, half fall, making Spike crush the ladder into the steel ringpost, causing it to slingshot back, jarring his arm and shoulder! "Ryan escapes!" shouts Comet, as Spike drops the ladder in pain, and walks away from the corner, shaking out his right arm! "Citizen Dustin escape and now he's going on the offensive!" And the caped announcer is correct! The Real Deal gets up and follows Jenkins, clutching his ribs for only a second, before grabbing him by the shoulder, spinning him around and clocking him with a forearm to the face! Spike falls back trying to regain his bearings, but Ryan presses, hitting another stiff forearm to the jaw! Backing him into the ropes, Dustin sends Jenkins away in an Irish whip--no, Hollywood reverses and sends the Real Deal running. Ryan rebounds and ducks under a lariat attempt, lacing his arm with Spike's, while he turns into his body, wraping their legs together and shoving him down to the canvas in a Reverse Russian leg sweep! Taking a few seconds to get his wind back, Ryan sits up and pushes himself off the mat. The Real Deal checks around, noting that Birdman has finally begun to move on the outside and Spike is crawling to his hands and knees. Ryan gets to his feet, shuffling towards the ropes and stepping through them. Dustin breaths heavily, still trying to catch his wind and waits for Spike to get up to his full height. "What's going to happen here?" questions Comet, as Spike stands turned in the opposite direction. Ryan slingshots up to the top rope, balancing for a second, as Spike turns around and then he springboards forward, legs wide and outstretched for a hurricanrana... ... ...And floats directly and unequivically into two boots from 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins, straight to the crotch, in a beautiful standing dropkick!! "Vile!" screams Comet, as Dustin falls to the mat, eyes shut in extreme pain, while Spike gets up from the mat and to his knees. "That is unjust treatment of a mans testicles!" "Old man Dustin just isn't as spry as he used to be. He completely missed that springboard maneuver--whatever it was..." "Please, Robert! That was vile, cruel and down right villianous! If he didn't mean to do it, that'd be a different story, but as it stands..." Comet trails off, as Spike, from his knees claps his hands together three times to signify that he's finished with Dustin. Spike gets up from his knees and laughs, picking up the ladder and setting it up center ring. The crowd boos loudly, as Spike climbs, taking two rungs at first, but slowing down a taking it one step at a time, after he slips. "It looks like my prediction was--" Suddenly the crowds reaction shifts from boos to cheers, causing Spike to wonder what's up. Has the crowd jumped on his bandwagon again?! He cranes his neck to the left and spots the High-flying fowl, Birdman, leaping up onto the top rope and springing off into the air! Spike can only look on in confused horror, as Birdman soars nearly half-way across the ring and wraps his legs around Jenkins' neck, flinging him off the ladder!! Spike, in a last ditch effort, clutches at the ladder, but only succeeds in dragging the ladder done with him! "Citizen Man saves the day with a flying headscissors of the springboard presuasion!" "What did I tell you about about calling the idiot, 'Citizen Man'!" snaps Riley, upset his prediction did not come true, yet anyway. "Oh, I give up, Comet. Call him whatever you want..." resigns Riley, as Birdman stands and shakes out the cobwebs, rubbing his ailing neck. The Birdman checks around and notices Spike getting to his feet, while Dustin is still on the mat, clutch his genitals in pain. Birdy walks over to Hollywood and picks him up, smacking him with a 'feather-edge' chop! Smack! WHOOOOOOOO! And another! Smack! WHOOOOOOOO! The crowd really gets into the chops to Spike chest, while Birdman backs him up into the corner. Birdy sends Hollywood off in a cross corner whip and Jenkins hits the turnbuckle hard, staying proped in the corner. Birdman backs up into his own corner and runs forward, doing a round-off into a back handspring, and another handspring, getting closer with each flip. Birdman ends the gymnastic display lunging backwards for an elbow and hitting it! Spike stumbles out of the corner, to the middle of the ring and Birdy loops behind him and pops his hips, lifting Jenkins for a neck-drop suplex--nope, Hollywood rolls through at the top and lands in a crouch, rotating full-circle while Birdman turns and straight up plastering him with a roaring elbow, that sends him to the mat like a ton of bricks!! Spike shakes his head and towers over the downed Birdy, who begins to move on the mat. Jenkins, not done with his opponent just yet, grabs Birdy by the back of his neck and drags him to a kneeling position. Then Spike, drawing boos from the fans, pops Birdy in the head with a snap kick! The crowd lets out a startled sound at the thwack of foot meeting dome and Spike doesn't stop there; rearing back once more and connecting with a second snapping strike! Hollywood backs away, turning and playing to the crowd for second by motioning for them to boo once again. Satisfied, Spike turns around ready to level his opponent with the final knockout kick to the face -- but out of nowhere, the Real Deal sprinting semi-quickly from behind Birdy, hoping up onto the high-flying fowls back... and as Spike sees Ryan leaping off the back of his opponent... ...And he looks down at his knee… ...He sees Ryan kicking off it with his own right foot… Crack!! …And in the end, the Real Deal positively blasts Hollywood with a flush shinning wizard!! Dustin falls back to the mat, still gravitating towards his bruised nuts, while Spike lays spread eagle, blinking repeatedly and staring up at the sky, noticing that the orange sun, has slowly started to set, since this match first started. "With a hop, skip and a jump, citizen Dustin has just felled Spike Jenkins!" "Isn't it illegal to jump off someone back to hit another person?!" Ryan sits up on the mat, noticing Spike off to the side near the ropes, nearly knocked out! To his left, Birdman is struggling to get to his feet, already up to a knee. Dustin, finding this pretty alarming vaults to his feet, as quickly as he can -- which is not all too quickly -- and moves over towards Birdman. Dustin stumbles forward and blasts a near kneeling Birdman with a forearm strike -- but Birdman fires back, lighting Ryan's chest up with a feather-edge chop!! Smack! WHOOOOOOOO! The crowd 'whoos', but Dustin takes the blow in stride and belts Birdman with a second uuber-stiff forearm!! Birdman wobbles, but fights back with another chop!! Smack! WHOOOOOOOO! Dustin, taking the lesser of the two strikes rallies, hitting a third forearm!! Birdy moves to attack again, but Dustin hits a shotei to the chest for spacing and then rushes forward whalloping Birdman with a fourth and final forearm!!! "Dustin outstruct citizen Birdman in their last two matches and it seems like nothings changed. Birdman needs to hit and move and not get drawn into striking duels with the Real Deal--who sends Birdman away with a whip!" calls Comet, as Birdman rides the ropes, rebounding back towards Dustin and ducking under a stepping shotei! Birdy uses his momentum and bounces back again, springboarding off the second rope and as Ryan turns, he walks directly into a flying forearm! "Birdman hitting and moving to gain the advantage--" Birdy lays on the mat for a second and then brings his knees into his chest, kipping-up to his feet! "--kip-up! Kip-up by the Birdman and he is on the offensive!" Birdy spots the downed ladder to his right and realizing he needs to incapacitate Dustin before he can even attempt to go after the belt, so he picks it up and sets it in the corner. "I seem to have made the correct call--the hit and move working well for the high-flying fowl--who has now set-up a ladder!" "I disagree." starts Bobby, beginning his rebuttal, as Birdman pulls Dustin up and whips him into the ladder back first. "He just needs to avoid trying to win altogether because he. Ain't. Gonna'. Win!" Birdy explodes forward and once he gets to the corner, Birdman leaps up onto the chest of the Real Deal and kicks off in a backflip kick, knocking his head back into the ladder!! "No, I disagree." retorts Cyclone. "After that neat-o Hummingbird-kick from Birdman, hitting and moving seems to be exactly what keeping him in control." finishes Comet, while Birdy preps himself for his next attack -- but from behind Hollywood vaults forward into the picture, gathering momentum from god knows where to hit a Lariat!! "DAAAAAAMN!" says Riley, pointing to the ring, where Spike stands over the face down fowl, until he falls to his knees. "That's one hell of a lariat, Comet... even you have to agree!" "I'm not one to not give others their due, Robert." cuts Comet, as Spike shakes out his arm and shoulder, wincing slightly for effect. "I believe that's your department." Spike toes over Birdman, kicking him to the apron and out of the ring, while Riley give an indignant snort! Then Jenkins turns his attention back to Dustin and the ladder necessary to get the Cruiserweight title behind him. Spike grabs Ryan by the head and drags him out of the corner in a headlock swinging away with rabbit punches to the top of his head! Jenkins releases the headlock and steps back, getting a running start--nope, whatever he was planning isn't going down, as Dustin catches him coming in with a stepping shotei to the face! Spike's hand immediately goes up to his jaw and the Real Deal quickly takes his other hand, sending him away in a whip towards the ladder, proped in the corner! Spike may be hurting, but he rapidly reverses the whip, sending Ryan into the ladder face first and following him in. Dustin crashes into the ladder full-steam and with no control falls back into Jenkins in a head-to-head collision! Spike hits the mat, quick and sudden, holding his dome and Ryan staggers for a second on wobbly legs, until he turns, takes a step forward and falls head-first, dead center on Hollywood's balls!! Comet struggles to hold in a laugh, but the crowd does no such thing, while Spike rolls around on the ground, bouncing up and down like a madman! "Hey, you didn't think it was funny when Spike kicked Dustin low!" spits an upset Riley, as Hollywood continue to cry out and Dustin stays face down on the mat. "Well, that was clearly intentional, while this was definitely unintentional and funny! Look at him carrying on and flopping around like a fish out of water!" Spike finally begins to quite down and Ryan makes it up to his feet, saying: 'now you know how it feels, junior', before walking unsteadily over to the ladder in the corner. Dustin grabs the aluminum prop and drags it with him center ring, opening it up under the belt. The Real Deal readjusts the ladder once more and starts his trek. He takes the first two steps quickly, but his aching head forces him to slow down and concentrate."With both his opponents down, Ryan Dustin appears to be making the climb!" True to Comet's words, Ryan makes his way up the ladder, rung by painful rung, in a slow climb to the belt! The crowd comes alive cheering out for the Real Deal's quest to the top. "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! Dustin moves up another rung, garnering another chant! "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "This crowd getting behind Dustin's climb, Robert," notes Comet, "but Birdman is back in the ring and up to his feet!" "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! A loud cheer rises up from another section of the audience, causing Ryan to wonder what's up. They wouldn't cheer Spike... but they would cheer... "Bird-man! Bird-man!" "Ry-an! Ry-an!" The Real Deal looks up and see the title. It's only a few steps away! "Bird-man! Ry-an!" "Bird-man! Ry-an!" "Bird-man! Ry-an!" Ryan can't worry about that dueling chant now, as he takes another rung, not looking back. He has to get to the top. But if he were to look down, he'd see Birdman hot on his heels. Dustin makes it to the next rung and lunges up, grazing the title with his index finger. If he were only a little closer... "Citizen Dustin--almost there, but the Birdman has got his foot and isn't letting go!" Ryan shakes his foot, but Birdy holds stong, climbing another rung and grasping his other leg. The Real Deal holds the ladder tight, making sure he won't fall! BOOOOOOOOO! Hearing boos, if he were to glance down, instead of up at the title, he'd have seen Spike Jenkins, still shuddering from getting headbutted in the nuts and all of a sudden that tugging sensation wouldn't be surprising, since Hollywood looped under Birdman, yanking him down to the canvas on his HEAD in a powerbomb and in turn, yanking Ryan -- ladder and all -- down to the mat on his back... ...ho-ly shit...! ...ho-ly shit...! Vagely, Ryan can hear 'Holy shit' chants, but all he can do right now is lay on the mat, and check out the retreating sun. "Wow!" says a breathy, Comet. "By Zeus what a fall that was..." "What a fall--no, what a POWERBOMB, Comet!" All three men lay on the mat, the ladder toppled over on them, as the crowd quites down, after that display! Spike slides from under the ladder, crawling away to the nearest set of ropes to pull himself up. And Ryan pushes the ladder off his face, rolling to the side, letting it land with a 'clang' back on the Birdman's masked face! "Indeed, Robert. Ryan Dustin was this close to the belt, but Spike Jenkins displayed his will to get the title and fought through hurt testicles to Powerbomb the Birdman and send the Real Deal back to square one!" Ryan struggles to his feet, using the ropes and spots Hollywood off to the side, getting himself together. Dustin looks down and grabs the ladder off Birdy, slowly walking to the middle of the ring and setting up the ladder, climbing on one side of the aluminum prop, while Spike, who has finally worked out all the kinks down low, hobbles over and starts his trek up top! "It's a race for the title! 'The Real Deal' Ryan Dustin versus 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins!" And no statement is truer than that one! The Real Deal and Hollywood start out neck and neck, each man climbing at the quickest pace they can! Spike takes the lead by a rung, clearly the fresher of the two, after the last incounter between everyone. Comet and Riley, let the race speak for itself, as Dustin, spotting Spike climb another rung, scrambles up one position higher, hoping to fall back no farther! The crowd on the other hand, shows their support of Dustin in spades... "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! They are about three-quarters of the way up the ladder, and both within striking distance of the Cruiserweight championship! Dustin claws his way up another two rungs, nearly catching Jenkins as he reaches the top of the ladder, now, extending his arm up and tipping the title! Spike's almost there. He can FEEL the title in his hand... But Ryan, now one rung below Hollywood, on the opposite side, grabs him by his blonde hair and rears back, socking him straight in the face!! Riley has to break his commentary silence, after thay one. "Closed fist! Closed fist!" he cries, as Dustin steps up and stands level with Spike, punching him again. "That's an illegal strike!" Comet just ignores Riley idiocy and calls the action, as Spike punches Dustin right over his left eye. "This is the true definition of a race for the gold! Blow for blow on top of the ladder and the winning of this duel will undoubtably be the NEW World Cruiserweight Champion!" Hollywood and Dustin trade stiff right hands, neither man backing down or hitting any less hard! The crowd continues showing its approval of Dustin, which Comet acknowledges. "Well, it's clear who these Pasadena fans want to win out..." At that Dustin catches Spike with a clean punch to his left eye, stunning Jenkins. He wobbles, but grabs Ryan by his dyed blond tresses and rockets back with another punch! And another punch! Dustin grabs Spike's hair and swings away wildly now, causing Spike to do the same!! Comet can barely contain himself, as the ladder wobbles under both men. "But who will have the will to not faaaaaaaaaall--" And the ladder tips over... As they both fall... From the ladder...!!! Ryan hits the canvas back first with a 'thud', actually bouncing off the canvas slightly, but poor Spike wasn't so lucky and falls straddling the ropes, crotching himself on the top rope!!! Hollywood cries out in pain, a shocked look of horror across his face... Dustin rolls over and coughs, pushing himself up to his feet and surveys the scene in front of him. Birdman is beginning to move, reaching at the ropes, after getting Powerbombed on the back of his head and Spike is... hanging out. Dustin assess that Birdman is the biggest issue right now and slowly walks over to him, lifting the high-flying fowl up to his feet near the ropes and locks his hands around his head, leaping onto the second rope and springboarding back toward the middle of the ring, with a picture perfect Side Effect!! "I believe that's the first time I've seen citizen Dustin hit a move like that." says Comet, as Birdman holds his neck and groans. "But it definitely put citizen Birdman back on the mat, quick!" Spike, eyes still huge, in a smart play, grabs the ladder leaning against the ropes and pulls it over the top rope, sending it crashing to the outside. Ryan turns around, having taken out Birdman and sighs at his predicament. So Dustin grabs the top rope and bounces it up and down twice, causing Spike to cry out in pain! "That's just mean..." states a sulking Riley, as Dustin climbs the turnbuckle pads and stares out into the crowd for a moment. Spike still sits stagnant on the ropes, eyes partially open now and Ryan tilts his head to the side, slowly bringing his hands up in a 'picture frame'! THE! Dustin tilts the 'picture frame' to another angle... REAL! And finally, Ryan settles on an angle, completing the trifecta... DEAL! The crowd chants 'The Real Deal!' in time with Dustin's hand gestures, just before Ryan leaps from the top rope... connecting with a jumping snap-kick to Spike!!! The Real Deal's kick lands clean, but his opponent does not, falling back to the thin outside padding at an awkward angle, landing on his right knee poorly--while Ryan on the other hand lands on a knee! The audience lets loose another racous cheer, clearly pleased with this attack and Dustin takes a minute to pause and catch his breath! On the outside, Jenkins can only groan in pain, while a few fans stand up and pound on the barricade. Getting some time, Spike sits up and crawls to the apron, looking to pull himself up using the tarp. He gets up to knee, but Dustin gives Hollywood no time to relax, as he quickly stands and grabs ahold of the top cable... the front row, along with the rest of the crowd, rises in it's seats causing Jenkins to look up. Ryan, not to be deturded, slingshots himself over the top rope... Spike quickly moves, diving back towards the protective wall and out of the way of the would-be plancha, but Dustin lands on the apron, back turned to Jenkins. The crowd gets their cameras ready, sure something's about to happen, while Spike stands up on his tweaked knee, only to see the Real Deal bouncing off the middle rope... Up to the top rope. Flipping in mid-air, as Spike stares wide-eyed, sure he can't get out of the way of this one. And Ryan lands on Hollywood, as the flash bulbs continue to go off, giving to the fans and anyone else who wanted to see, a real classic moment!! "ZOUNDS!" hollers Comet, in shock as the two men lay on the outside. Riley looks at the collision site and nods his head in agreement with Comet for the first time in this match. "Zounds, indeed, Comet." The two wrestlers lay sprawled out, the ladder off to their left and Ryan is the first up to his knees, shaking sweat out of his dyed blonde hair! Spike on the other hand, is immediately thinking off a way to get back in control and he crawls to his left... "Citizen Dustin taking a page from the Birdman and throwing caution to the wind! What a Real Classic that was!" Ryan stumbles to his feet, clutching his ribs for a moment and turns around, looking to grab Spike once again, but Hollywood has picked up the ladder on the outside and drives it into Dustin's gut from his knees! The Real Deal hunches over, and Jenkins rams him in the stomach once again, stunning Ryan. "Spike using the ladder like a battering ram, once again, Comet, and I told you he's like a cop, but it's official. Spike Jenkins is a certified ass kicker!" On the inside of the ring, Birdman has begun to move, but on the outside Spike takes his chance, whipping the ladder up under the chin of his oppponent! Dustin staggers to the apron, holding on for dear life, while Spike gets to his feet, limping slightly. Hollywood pushes himself up onto the apron and crawls over to Dustin, grabbing him by the hair and sticking his knee behind his head... ...Driving him into the ground with his Super Ego trip~ FROM THE APRON TO THE FLOOR!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOO! Ryan gets squashed into the ground like a bug, while Spike rolls around checking his right knee after the attack. With Dustin clearly out of action for the moment, Hollywood hobbles to his feet, waving towards himself as if he wants more of a reaction! The crowd really lays into him, while he slides the ladder into the ring and dives in under the bottom rope. "With Ryan Dustin squashed on the outside by that Super Ego trip from the apron, Spike Jenkins has once again asserted himself as in control of this match-up. Momentum can change, just that quick, as citizen Dustin just found out." says Comet, snapping his fingers at 'change', while Spike picks up the ladder, holding it in front of him -- when out of nowhere, Birdman lands a running dropkick, knocking the ladder into his face!! "By Road Runners beak!" exclaims Comet. "The Birdman hits a running dropkick and like I just said, momentum can change, just like that!" The ladder falls to the ground, still in the ring but off to the side and Birdy rises to his feet, looking to take advantage of his stunned opponent. Spike, things a little foggy, bounces off the ropes and stumbles forward some, trying to regain his balance. The High-flying fowl has an idea come to him and rushes ahead for a running elbow smash, "Running elbow!" notes Comet, but Jenkins ducks low, grabbing him by the waist for a hot shot on the top rope, "No, a Hotshot by Jenkins!" interrupts Riley, but as he's done so many times before, Birdman counters in mid-hold, wrapping his hands behind the neck of Spike and jutting his knees under Hollywood's jaw... all while falling backwards, sending his BUTT to the canvas, and knees to Spike's chin, ending in a stunning blow know as the Bird-breaker!! "Bird-breaker!" they both shout in unison. Comet, in joy and Riley in anguish. The crowd comes alive cheering on Birdy, as his opponent lies on the ground, rubbing his jawline. Birdman, the fresher of the two men, gets up to his feet and spots the ladder, picking it up and hefting it into the corner, realizing he needs to hit something big right now! Opening it in the corner, he spots Spike starting to move some and walks over to him, nailing Hollywood right over the left eye, with a fistdrop. Birdman rise to his feet and immediately follows up with a second fistdrop, stunning Jenkins! Using the two fistdrops to stun Spike, Birdy picks the Revolution Zero member up to his feet and turning perpendicular to the ladder, snaps him up and overhead with a suplex! "Snap suplex from the Birdman and what's going to happen here, Robert!" says Comet, his voice getting higher as he watches Birdy, exit the ring and climb to the top turnbuckle. The crowd rises to its' feet, cameras ready once again, as the high-flying fowl prepares to do some high-flying, climbing to the top of the ladder, slowly but surely! "I don't know, Comet, but it cannot be good..." Riley is right. It won't be good for Spike, as Birdy balances on the top raising his hands to his mouth... "CA-CAW-CAW!" calls Birdman and the crowd responds. CA-CAW-CAW! "You remember what happened last time he was cawing, don't you, Comet..." "I most definitely could not forget that train wreck..." The High-flying fowl is all set to leap off, but 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins isn't having any of that and he shakes the ladder at its base, causing Birdy to loose his footing and land gut-first on the top of the ladder!! The crowd lets out a deflated moan, as Spike hobbles up to his feet, pushing a hand through his sweaty blond hair and starts climbing up the ladder! He makes his way up to the top and looks to chuck Birdman off the ladder, but Birdy fights back with a right hand! And another right hand. And another right hand! Spike teeters on the ladder, "Birdman's fighting back--Spike teeter on the ladder!" calls Comet, but Hollywood scores a thumb to the eyes, through Birdy's mask and even though Birdman put up a good fight, he gets tossed by Spike to the canvas, all the same!! "Valiant effort from the Birdman, but Spike Jenkins cheat his way to victory. What a poor display of respect for straight competition from citizen Jenkins! I know I've said it before, but this man is villianous!" "I didn't see you saying anything when Dustin was using the ropes to kill Spike's nuts... he's still walking with a limp!" "That's not the only limp of his that you're interested in fixing..." As the two commentators go back and forth, Spike turns around on the ladder and looks down at his opponent on the mat. He raises one hand in the air and then the other, pushing himself back up to the top rung, sitting on it... The crowd finally notices and rises to it's feet again, waiting with anticipation for a big move, but undecided if they should cheer or boo... ... And Hollywood leaps off the ladder, causing flashes to go off in the arena, but Spike'll be damned if he does anything to break his neck for these fan, so he lands on his feet in front of Birdman. The crowd gives him a questioning look, as Spike steps on the chest of Birdy and flips the crowd the double bird!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! "The crowd certaintly didn't like that, Robert..." notes Comet, as the collective audience begins to chant... "Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "This crowd is way off the mark, Comet!" says Riley, sneering at the crowd. "He definitely has balls!" "And you would know, wouldn't you?" "Well yes," says Bobby with a pause, "uh, cause he hurt them when Dustin hit that low blow..." finishes Riley, with a 'whew', wiping sweat from his brow. Spike soaks up the boos and re-folds the ladder, dragging it to the center of the ring and re-depositing it in the center of the ring! Spike begins his climb, sure that he'll have enough time to get to the belt, but a loud cheer from the crowd informs him otherwise. Birdman is now sitting up and trying to get to his feet! "Birdman, fighting hard, will not give up, Robert. He won't lay down and let Spike get to the title unabaited!" "Birdbrain never was right in the head, doesn't he know Spike's just going to beat his ass, like a red-headed stepchild?!" Spike sighs in disgust and hops down off the ladder, re-folding it and proping it up over his shoulder, lying in wait for Birdman to get to his feet. The audience shouts warnings, trying to save their hero from getting pasted in the face, but Birdy just pushes his way to his feet and Hollywood explodes forward, cracking him in the skull with the ladder like a battering ram! The High-flying fowl crumples into the corner, only proped up by the corner ropes, which he's grasping as firmly as he can. Spike scowls and now pissed off, walks to the corner and slams the ladder into Birdy's face, leaving it to cover his opponent... BOOOOOOOOO! ...Spike stalks back to the middle of the ring and turns, letting out a yell of anger and runs forward, raising his boot and squishing the ladder into Birdman's face!!!! Spike grabs the ladder and brings it back to the middle of the ring, while Birdy slides down to the canvas looking near knocked out! Jenkins resets it, only to hear another cheer from the crowd. Turning, because he doesn't believe it could be Birdman, Spike sees Ryan Dustin crawling his way into the ring!! "And now it's Ryan Dustin, Robert! They won't let Spike win this without a fight! Birdman looks to be incapacitated at the moment, after that ugly Yakuza kick into the ladder, but who knows what could happen if citizen Dustin fights long enough!!" "It won't matter, because this is SPIKE'S belt! He even said as much in the beginning of the match, Comet!" Dustin crawls to his knees and all he sees is a ladder heading straight for him... and finding its mark! Spike looks pleased as Dustin hits the mat and turns around looking to get the belt... but the crowd cheers again and the Real Deal is up AGAIN! Spike, clearly upset, stomps over to the nearest corner and wedges the ladder between the second and top rope. The crowd doesn't know how to react to this, but Spike Jenkins lets Ryan get to his feet weakly and ducks low, grabbing him by the waist for a hot shot and falling back into the corner, drapping the Real Deal's neck on the ladder!! "A Hotshot across the ladder by Jenkins!" says Comet, quite surprised, as Spike cracks Dustin in the ribs with a soccer kick, leaving him gasping for air, as he lies prone on the ladder!! Jenkins lifts Ryan up belly-to-back, hoisting him up like he's going for an atomic drop -- but Hollywood walks him back over to the ladder and deposits him crotch-first on one of the ladder rungs!! "Paybacks a bitch, eh Comet?" says a sardonic Bobby Riley, referring to Dustin's treatment of Spike earlier in the match. Jenkins grabs Ryan by the hair and pulls him down into a tree of woe, kicking away with snapping kicks to the ribs of the Real Deal, finally turning and limping away... only to raises a finger as if to say: 'aha!', and rush back towards the tree of woe and slide into a soccer tackle to Dustin's unprotected face!!! Dustin looks out of it, as blood begins to leak out of the new cut just above Ryan's left eye and Spike stands up and walks away thinking the issue is dead and buried. Spike revels in the boos and noticing he doesn't have a ladder, slides out of the ring and grabs one from the barrier, dragging it into the ring and placing it in the center! Spike begins his climb, positive that he's taken care of everything... "Hey, bitch!" Spike looks out at the crowd, but doesn't see where the comment came from. "Hey, nutless wonder, I'm talking to you!" Spike turns on the ladder, to face a bloody Ryan Dustin. "Yeah you, punk!" Hollywood just laughs and spins back around, but Dustin isn't finished yet. Not by a longshot. "Come on, punk--hey, I told you I'd slap the taste out of your mouth, you cocky jackass! Just give me a minute and I'll be there to do it!" Jenkins laughs these off. He has the title. It'll only take a few more steps... "Hey, it's okay that you're scared of me. I'd be too, since Flesher walked out in my match, while I was about to win and he made you his personal bitch..." And that. Got the job done. Spike leaps down off the ladder and kicks it over, sending it towards the corner Birdman lies in, cracking him in the chest. Dustin smiles, a little bit of red seeping into his dyed blonde hair. That Tom Flesher one was damn good for spur of the moment... Hollywood starts yelling, really pissed now. "You don't know shit! I'm ten times better than you or Flesher! That's my belt, bitch, MY BELT--and let me tell you, no let me show you, how much better I am!" Spike rushes forward, as quickly as a man with a limp can, prepping to squash him into nothing-ness, but Ryan was waiting for this and sits up, leaning forward and allowing Jenkins to run into the ladder chest-first! Spike falls to the canvas in a heap and Ryan unhooks himself from the rung, back-rolling to the mat. next to Spike, who is clutching lower throat! "Oh my! Ryan Dustin uses a little psychological warfare, bringing up the name of Tom Flesher and he baited Spike into injuring himself, while Dustin couldn't!" Riley mumbles to himself, as Dustin takes Spike and pulls him from underneath the ladder. Then Dustin, still not so well off, with a cut over his eye and aching ribs, walks around Spike linking his arms with Hollywood's legs! The crowd cheers as the Real Deal arches back in a catapult sending Jenkins into the ladder chest and throat first!! As Spike lies prone on the ladder, Ryan grabs him by the leg and folds it over, then lifts Hollywood up belly-to-back, hoisting him up and deposits him knee-first on the ladder!!! Ryan smiles, as Spike cries of in anguish and revels in the cheers, while he slips Hollywood into the tree of woe... and then kicks away at the unprotected knee of his opponent... "Dustin going after the knee of 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins, viciously..." says Riley, looking on at the Real Deal pounding away on the knee of his opponent. "This is that sadistic streak we've seem glimsces of in the past..." he adds, while Spike yelps from a preticularly nasty shot. "Yeah, Robert--it looks like he's enjoying this... should he enjoy this?" asks Comet, as Dustin walks over to the ladder near Birdman and notices Birdy is holding it. Ryan reaches down and attempts to take the ladder but Birdman wraps himself around the ladder in a last ditch effort to buy time. Dustin, gives up on that and rolls to the outside, lift the tarp on the apron and beings pulling a ladder from underneath the ring!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA! The crowd pops loud for the introduction of a new ladder and their cheers get louder and louder, as they realize this isn't a conventinal ladder... and as Dustin finishes getting the ladder from under the ring and lifts it up, the people see it stands twenty feet high!!!! "Dustin bringing out the big boy now, Robert!" notes Comet, in awe. "That ladder must be near twenty feet..." "It's twenty feet exactly, Comet." answers Riley. "We don't get ladders any bigger than that." Ryan pushes the huge ladder into the ring and slides in after it, standing and gripping it to set it up... but Hollywood starts yelling out curses in the corner, trying to catch Dustin with his own game. But Ryan will have none of that and hoists the ladder into ramming position, before rushing forward and blasting Spike's knee with the ladder!! "Man, he didn't need to do that, Comet!" states Riley, upset that he's hurting Spike in this vunerable position. "But it's turnabout fairplay, Robert. That is all this is, in my opinion. Doesn't he have the right?" asks Comet, more to himself than Bobby Riley, who responds with a no, clearly in Spike's corner from the start anyway. Ryan sets up the ladder center ring, and begins his climb, clutching his ribs with one hand and using the other to pull him up the ladder. Slowly. He makes his way, slowly up each rung, until he hears a cheers come forth! "Let's go Bird-man!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "This crowd getting behind Dustin's climb, Robert," notes Comet, "but they are also cheering Birdman to stop him! It seems like this crowd is split 50-50!" "Let's go Bird-man!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! "Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap! The Real Deal looks up and see the title. It's only a few steps away! "Bird-man! Bird-man!" "Ry-an! Ry-an!" Ryan can't worry about the chants now, as he takes another rung, not looking back. He has to get to the top. "Bird-man! Ry-an!" "Bird-man! Ry-an!" "Bird-man! Ry-an!" But if he were to look down, he'd see Birdman hot on his heels. Dustin makes it to the next rung and jumps up, JUST missing the title belt and landing wobbly on the ladder. It's then that Birdman reaches up and yanks him down to the canvas! Ryan hits the mat and stares up into the darkening, as Birdman takes another step up the ladder. Spike's still trapped so it's all up to him... Birdman is almost there. With a jump he can almost TOUCH the title with his hand... but the ladder begins to wiggle and Birdman looks down, spotting Dustin kicking the ladder out from underneath him! The ladder falls. The Birdman jumps. And he links his hand around the title, swinging in the air from it!

Card: MAIN EVENT SINGLES MATCH WORLD TITLE BOUT Johnny Dangerous© vs Toxxic And so it all comes down to this. The biggest show of the year. The end of the SWF's callender. The most important match of the year. Genesis is ending and a beginning, a point of change for the SWF, although this does not always mean that titles will change hands. The fed is always drastically different after its flagship PPV, often the very following Storm, and this does not look to change in its fifth installment. People, places, directions can differ entierly. There isn't much that needs to be said about Toxxic and Johnny Dangerous -- the story of the fastest rising star in federation history and perhaps the most unlikely champion in federation history is well documented. It needs not to be recounted. Both men know that the greatest prize the SWF has to offer is on the line here, under the brightest lights that can be mustered. Who wins here will undoubtedly influence the SWF for the rest of the year, and the effects of Genesis V will ripple through it forever. To them, there may only seem to be the ring, the belt, and the two competitors. But the future this match shapes... is now. HANDICAP MATCH The Suicide King, "The Superior One" Tom Flesher and Chris Raynor vs "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens, Landon "La Cucaracha" Maddix... With more carooms and bounces like a spastic pinball on speed, the story involving Mark Stevens' bizarre forced comeback to the SWF has taken its final hairpin turn at 120mph. Frustrated with his general lack of success in destroying his former friend's career and life once and for all, the Suicide King has pulled out all the stops -- The Superior One, King's strongest ally, is by his side, and the Heartbreaker has gone so far to invite former JL commissioner and fellow sympathizer Chris Raynor to aid his cause, a somewhat ironic choice considering their past discressions. Never the less, the odds are overwhelmingly against Grand Slam and his new friend, Landon Maddix... though all hope isn't lost. Benevolently, Mark has been offered the chance to make it into a six-man-tag team match, provided he can find another willing participant. However, his list of comrades is thin, and the Suicide King has made certain that if Mark Stevens goes now, he goes with the biggest bang possible on the biggest stage in the federation. Does the old Carnie still have a few tricks up his sleeve? Or is it all set to end in one last, hellish carnival mockery? Step right up... CANADIAN DEATH MATCH USJL CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT Ace Lezaire© vs David Cross In the past, the US title has been renamed may countless times. This not the first time it's been won by a wrestler of the Canadian origin and then immediately renamed to better represent their home country, and if this revived tradition continues, it may not be the last. "Canada's Greatest Export," Ace Lezaire, is the proud champion of his nation, and be damned if he isn't going to defend its belt in the match that it was made for! ...nevermind that Zenon got cute and decided that if Ace was going to have six of one, he might as well have a half-dozen of another. TAG TEAM TITLE BOUT Hollywood Boulevard© vs Revolution Zero No-one can deny that Sean Davis and Spike Jenkins have guts, but whether they have any brains is another matter entierly. Spike and Sean, despite being embroiled in seperate title matches earlier in the card, have elected to also face the reigning tag team champions as well! Truly a Genesis worthy effort, and spectacle that will go down as one of the most oustanding ever should they succeed even only here. However, much easier said than done: Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez have dethroned the incomprable Justice & Rule for the longest reigning tag team champions in federation history, and show no signs of loosening their white-knuckled grip on the belts anytime this century. SINGLES MATCH "The Notorious" John Duran vs ??? John Duran, the once proud, powerful and determined SWF champion has failed to show that spark since his return, only displaying the same fizzle that followed right after his world title win. Frustrated at his inability, Duran walks into Genesis almost certainly unlikely to see the main event again any time soon... however, he has been provided with a most intriguing matchup, one in which the commissioner was not letting a slip of the tongue happen. The ???-man collects his apperance fee at another SWF PPV, as the Notorious One tries to collect himself for one last stand. CAGED FURY Manson vs Max King These two men have been on a crash-course destined for GV from the momenet they traded the USJL title. Although neither of them currently hold any gold, it is no matter, as there's still no love lost between the two of them. A motivated Manson has looked to be a pretty scary thing, as he's coming off the most successful weeks of his career and obviously intends to push King out of the way, once and for all. However, King's goals are no different, as putting Manson away here could do wonders for his rising career. However... the choice of stipulation may have been a slight miscue for Max, as the lovely and highly versetaile Kelly Connelly has been rendered almost irrelevent by the steel this match takes place in. Can King survive an onslaughted locked in against the powers of MANSONOSITY!? It's the rage... in the CAGE! HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT Sean Davis© vs Austin Sly Revolution Zero's muscle department is in a bit of pickle. Mainly, he's double booked, defending one title and trying for another -- worse yet, his tag partner has almost exactly the same plans laid out. Never the less, Davis remains unflaggingly confident in his abiliy to not only walk into Genesis and win two matches, but to walk out with one MORE piece of gold than he entered with. The good news for Austin Sly is that Davis' psyche may not be as collected as it seems. The bad news is that either way, he's still going to face him fresh. BATTLE ROYALE Candace vs Danny Dagda vs Andrea Montgomery vs Jamie Drazon These four have a tough act to follow, but should no doubt have the motivation and eagerness to make an impact! As their placement on the card and general success over the last month has varied, so does the reward for this match, leaving it a very lucrative offer. The last person remaining in the ring will be allowed to cash in on a shot at ANY title in the fed, including the world or tag team (provided they can find a partner). A Genesis sized offer indeed! LADDER MATCH CRUSERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT Ryan Dustin vs "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins vs The Birdman A former champion. A 'washed up' old spot monkey. A mysterious, yet insanely talented lightweight. All three of these men come from distinctly different backgrounds, with distinctly different motives. Never the less, they share one important thing in common: Above all else, they value the cruserweight title, and they will kick off the biggest show of the year with a high-flying shootout. To futher make these three at home, the only thing that seperates them from the gold belt so rudely stripped from Tom Flesher's waist? Sixteen feet; one aluminum ladder or amazing leap from being called champion. Birdman may have fresher legs and Hollywood faster reflexes, but Ryan Dustin knows one thing: You're only as old as you feel.

The Smartmarks Wrestling Federation Presents... A P P V E X T R A V A G A N Z A GENESIS V LIVE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, FROM THE *SOLD OUT* ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA! FEATURING MUSIC PREFORMED BY THE LOS ANGELES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CARL ORFF'S "O FORTUNA" (7pm PCT, 10pm EST; check local listings for details) MAIN EVENT SINGLES MATCH WORLD TITLE BOUT Johnny Dangerous© vs Toxxic And so it all comes down to this. The biggest show of the year. The end of the SWF's callender. The most important match of the year. Genesis is ending and a beginning, a point of change for the SWF, although this does not always mean that titles will change hands. The fed is always drastically different after its flagship PPV, often the very following Storm, and this does not look to change in its fifth installment. People, places, directions can differ entierly. There isn't much that needs to be said about Toxxic and Johnny Dangerous -- the story of the fastest rising star in federation history and perhaps the most unlikely champion in federation history is well documented. It needs not to be recounted. Both men know that the greatest prize the SWF has to offer is on the line here, under the brightest lights that can be mustered. Who wins here will undoubtedly influence the SWF for the rest of the year, and the effects of Genesis V will ripple through it forever. To them, there may only seem to be the ring, the belt, and the two competitors. But the future this match shapes... is now. Rules: Standard singles match. Send To: realitycheck HANDICAP MATCH The Suicide King, "The Superior One" Tom Flesher and Chris Raynor vs "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens, Landon "La Cucaracha" Maddix... With more carooms and bounces like a spastic pinball on speed, the story involving Mark Stevens' bizarre forced comeback to the SWF has taken its final hairpin turn at 120mph. Frustrated with his general lack of success in destroying his former friend's career and life once and for all, the Suicide King has pulled out all the stops -- The Superior One, King's strongest ally, is by his side, and the Heartbreaker has gone so far to invite former JL commissioner and fellow sympathizer Chris Raynor to aid his cause, a somewhat ironic choice considering their past discressions. Never the less, the odds are overwhelmingly against Grand Slam and his new friend, Landon Maddix... though all hope isn't lost. Benevolently, Mark has been offered the chance to make it into a six-man-tag team match, provided he can find another willing participant. However, his list of comrades is thin, and the Suicide King has made certain that if Mark Stevens goes now, he goes with the biggest bang possible on the biggest stage in the federation. Does the old Carnie still have a few tricks up his sleeve? Or is it all set to end in one last, hellish carnival mockery? Step right up... Rules: Send To: realitycheck CANADIAN DEATH MATCH USJL CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT Ace Lezaire© vs David Cross In the past, the US title has been renamed may countless times. This not the first time it's been won by a wrestler of the Canadian origin and then immediately renamed to better represent their home country, and if this revived tradition continues, it may not be the last. "Canada's Greatest Export," Ace Lezaire, is the proud champion of his nation, and be damned if he isn't going to defend its belt in the match that it was made for! ...nevermind that Zenon got cute and decided that if Ace was going to have six of one, he might as well have a half-dozen of another. Rules: Regular DQ and count-out rules are not in effect. The winner is the first one to get a combined count of 10. For example, if one man pins the other for a 4 count, then a 3 count later in the match that’s a combined 7 count. Only 3 counts and higher can contribute to the combined count (you can’t just get 5 near falls in a row to win). Send To: 5_moves_of_doom TAG TEAM TITLE BOUT Hollywood Boulevard© vs Revolution Zero No-one can deny that Sean Davis and Spike Jenkins have guts, but whether they have any brains is another matter entierly. Spike and Sean, despite being embroiled in seperate title matches earlier in the card, have elected to also face the reigning tag team champions as well! Truly a Genesis worthy effort, and spectacle that will go down as one of the most oustanding ever should they succeed even only here. However, much easier said than done: Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez have dethroned the incomprable Justice & Rule for the longest reigning tag team champions in federation history, and show no signs of loosening their white-knuckled grip on the belts anytime this century. Rules: Standard tag team match. Send To: chirs3 SINGLES MATCH "The Notorious" John Duran vs ??? John Duran, the once proud, powerful and determined SWF champion has failed to show that spark since his return, only displaying the same fizzle that followed right after his world title win. Frustrated at his inability, Duran walks into Genesis almost certainly unlikely to see the main event again any time soon... however, he has been provided with a most intriguing matchup, one in which the commissioner was not letting a slip of the tongue happen. The ???-man collects his apperance fee at another SWF PPV, as the Notorious One tries to collect himself for one last stand. Rules: Standard singles match. Send To: Grand Slam CAGED FURY Manson vs Max King These two men have been on a crash-course destined for GV from the momenet they traded the USJL title. Although neither of them currently hold any gold, it is no matter, as there's still no love lost between the two of them. A motivated Manson has looked to be a pretty scary thing, as he's coming off the most successful weeks of his career and obviously intends to push King out of the way, once and for all. However, King's goals are no different, as putting Manson away here could do wonders for his rising career. However... the choice of stipulation may have been a slight miscue for Max, as the lovely and highly versetaile Kelly Connelly has been rendered almost irrelevent by the steel this match takes place in. Can King survive an onslaughted locked in against the powers of MANSONOSITY!? It's the rage... in the CAGE! Rules: The match is contested inside a steel cage. Competitors may leave the cage over the top, but may not win the match this way. No DQ or countout in effect, but competitors can only win the match by submission. No door is provided for exiting the cage. Send To: Thoth HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT Sean Davis© vs Austin Sly Revolution Zero's muscle department is in a bit of pickle. Mainly, he's double booked, defending one title and trying for another -- worse yet, his tag partner has almost exactly the same plans laid out. Never the less, Davis remains unflaggingly confident in his abiliy to not only walk into Genesis and win two matches, but to walk out with one MORE piece of gold than he entered with. The good news for Austin Sly is that Davis' psyche may not be as collected as it seems. The bad news is that either way, he's still going to face him fresh. Rules: There aren't any. Duh. Send To: Suicide King BATTLE ROYALE Candace vs Danny Dagda vs Andrea Montgomery vs Jamie Drazon These four have a tough act to follow, but should no doubt have the motivation and eagerness to make an impact! As their placement on the card and general success over the last month has varied, so does the reward for this match, leaving it a very lucrative offer. The last person remaining in the ring will be allowed to cash in on a shot at ANY title in the fed, including the world or tag team (provided they can find a partner). A Genesis sized offer indeed! Rules: Over-the-top eleimination rules, ala the Royal Rumble, naturally. Last (wo)man standing in the ring is the winner. Send To: Thoth LADDER MATCH CRUSERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT Ryan Dustin vs "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins vs The Birdman A former champion. A 'washed up' old spot monkey. A mysterious, yet insanely talented lightweight. All three of these men come from distinctly different backgrounds, with distinctly different motives. Never the less, they share one important thing in common: Above all else, they value the cruserweight title, and they will kick off the biggest show of the year with a high-flying shootout. To futher make these three at home, the only thing that seperates them from the gold belt so rudely stripped from Tom Flesher's waist? Sixteen feet; one aluminum ladder or amazing leap from being called champion. Birdman may have fresher legs and Hollywood faster reflexes, but Ryan Dustin knows one thing: You're only as old as you feel. Rules: The belt will be suspended securely from a ring hoisted into the air before the match begins. The winner is the man who retrieves the belt. Send To: chirs3 (Decorum notes: The Rose Bowl is, of course, an enormous outdoor football stadium, so hope for dry conditions. The ring is at midfield, and has a canopy over top of it, ala Wrestlemania IX; on all four sides of the canopy is a ginormous jumbotron television for those in the upper, upper, upper, upper mezzanine. The wrestlers enter from between a huge, flourescent glass sign with "GENESIS" written in cursive. An homage to G3's famous entrance way, however, this sign is firmly secured and not individually lettered, being 'handwritten,' theoretically preventing it from being used as a prop in a repeat of MacPhisto/Raynor. The entrace way is in red carpeting, and is lined with crystaline busts of famous SWF wrestlers through the federation's history, and large canvas spreads displaying still shots of famous moments. The orchestra is set up opposite the entrance way.) (Send everything to realitycheck, if you couldn't have guessed.)

Alright. Genesis is going to be postponed until the morning, as one of my markers is missing (surprise, surprise), and others have been rather late. Also, as a BIG NOTE, Mark, your match got cut off -- please resend it to me in two posts. This is a chance to add a little more to the show, though probably not a match if you no-showed. I heartily endorse trying it, given my late sleep habbits. EDIT: And as far as the Storm card goes, don't worry about it, as I intended it to be a promo show. -Z

If Mike's got a good idea, I'll let him go ahead and do it. Besides, he might remember more about the fed than even I do. -Z

No, it's not. I should've included it in the list of things I'd like to see on the show, although much like the tale of the tape, I'm not sure if anyone will step up to claim it (though Toxxic did do one for his own match). So, yeah. Someone should do the PPV intro. I'll give you a cookie and everything. -Z

See? Occasionally, I even try to keep order. A little. Somewhat. -Z

Yeah, I know. Thus, I slept through it, because I was up all night. Because I don't go to school. Because everyone knows this. Asshat. -Z

I always sleep through the fun stuff. -Z

Yeah, I'm getting that vibe, too. Anyway. I'd like to politely request (re: state and enforce with all my dictitorial power) that everyone who has the time turn in a promo or two or make up a video package or something for your match, and maybe some retirees write up some cameo promos or something along the lines of Strangler's "Genesis Legends" promo from last year. Y'know, just to add to the whole 'biggest PPV of the year' feel. Maybe I'll even write something, who knows. Also, I'd like to know if anyone wants to do tale of the tape for all of the matches. I did it last year, and it was... harder than it looked. But it was moderately cool, and that's the important thing. -Z

With Smarkdown two shows away, and the Genesis card set to go up soon after, I am... still not totally clear on what needs to be booked, outside of the main event. I'd like everyone to either mention their match plans here, PM me their plans if they want them kept under wraps, or make plans here if they don't have anything on the go right now. I'd like to begin putting the card together as soon as possible. -Z

Phew. Bigger than it looked. I am duly impressed with the sheer amount of promoage that was put into this show, and I hope the same amount of effort can be poured into Genesis V. Schemes and adventury abounds! There's lots of stuff in this show, so I encourage everyone to check it out. My apologies if anything is out of order, as it was REALLY goddamned hard to keep a logical order with a bunch of promos making up the bulk of everything. If I missed anything, again, I'm sorry. Just post it as an swf.net special, because no way I'm going back in to edit this show. GENESIS~! card up whenever it gets up. Understandably, I'm going to take some time to pull this together. -Z

The Gund Arena in Cleveland is roaring with cheers as the final show before the SWF’s flagship, Genesis V, begins. “Ladies and gentlemen,” says the masked commentator, welcome to S… W… F… SMAAAAARKDOWN!” “As always,” says his partner, “my name is Bobby Riley…” “And I’m CYCLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE COMET!” bellows Comet, getting a small pop from the few fans sitting by the table. “This Sunday night at Genesis, we’ll see one of the greatest cards in SWF history, headlined by…” BOOM! In mid-sentence, Comet is cut off by a huge explosion of blue pyro and smoke that accompanies the opening strains of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” The crowd reacts with boos, shouting vile insults as Tom Flesher and Allison Onita make a grand entrance from behind the curtain. Flesher is, as always, dressed for success, wearing a navy blazer with a blue and white striped shirt and a pair of dark jeans capped off with his trademark Doc Marten combat boots at a high shine. Allison follows behind, decked out in a fashionable powder-blue suit with pinstripes and topped with a matching fedora. Flesher strides to the ring, his chin jutted forward – clearly, he’s a man on a mission. The Cruiserweight Title shines from around Allison’s waist as she follows Flesher to the ring, then precedes him up the stairs and holds the ropes for him. As the song breaks into its symphonic hook, Flesher poses in the center of the ring, and his standard machine-gun explosions go off in each corner. As they finish, the music fades out, and Flesher motions for a microphone. Allison hands one off from ringside, and the crowd quiets down for a moment. “Oh,” says Flesher, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “is it GREAT to be back in Cleveland ….” FLESHER SUCKS FLESHER SUCKS FLESHER SUCKS FLESHER SUCKS Flesher sighs and leans on the ropes, waiting for the crowd’s chanting to subside. He rolls his eyes and waits for a few moments until the chanting quiets down. “There’s one reason why I’m out here tonight,” he says, “and that’s ….” FLESHER SUCKS FLESHER SUCKS FLESHER SUCKS FLESHER SUCKS Once again silenced by the crowd, Flesher throws up his hands and leans on the ropes again. He waits another few seconds, and again the crowd subsides. “I hope you’ve got that out of your system,” he says. “It’s really quite unbecoming of a crowd to interrupt the top athlete in the business when he’s come out here to try to explain a few things. Specifically, I’d like to dumb it down a shade for all of you and tell all of you exactly what I’m going to do at Genesis.” Flesher adjusts his collar, clears his throat and brings the mic back up to his lips. “You see, it’s come to my attention that I’ll be taking on, along with one of the most talented men ever to hold the SWF World Championship, an arthritic baseball freak and … Landon Freaking Maddix? What is this, some kind of joke? What has Maddix ever accomplished to warrant being in a match with two SWF Legends and Mark Stevens? It’s almost like Mark plotted this out without a partner… he traded his dignity for a face to be named later.” BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! “I know, I know,” says Flesher, with a feigned sigh of disappointment. “It’s sad for me, too, especially considering that Marky Mark was really hoping to win the big one. Believe it or not, I like the big lug… he’s not a bad guy, and he always bought the drinks on the road. There’s just one little problem… he never quite caught on that he was half out the door when Edwin MacPhisto retired him all those years ago. I think we all remember that guy who used to show up at our high school football games, don’t we? The guy who graduated six years ago, but kept coming out, wearing the varsity jacket that kept getting smaller and smaller, cheering on the team like he was still one of them? Mark, I’m sorry to say, has become that guy. He was talented once upon a time… he was a solid wrestler, although he never approached the skills of a Mak Francis or a Danny Williams, much less certain other technicians who shall remain nameless. He had a nice moonsault, but he couldn’t get off the ground enough to do anything interesting. And now that his knees are shot and he’s got a beer gut the size of Nebraska, how does he expect us to take him seriously?” Flesher pauses to collect his thoughts. “I’m sorry, Mark, but… I’m just going to have to put you out of your misery.” As Flesher finishes his sentence, the crowd begins to boo again. This time, though, Flesher simply drops the mic. “Kashmir” kicks up again, and over the roaring crowd, Flesher struts out of the ring as the show fades to commercial.

After everyone has left the arena, after the crew is done with the stage and the trainers have treated the last of the walking wounded, one man sits on a steel chair outside the back door of the arena. A rental sedan sits next to him, waiting quietly. Grand Slam finishes dialing a number on his cell phone, then holds it up to his ear. “Yes, operator, I need to dial an international number please… Thank you…. Where? London. London, England. Yes, thanks for your help…” As he waits patiently to be connected, as smile starts to creep across his battered visage. A big smile. FADE

The fans are still cheering the efforts of both men in the ring. Wearily, Johnny Dangerous and ‘Grand Slam’ Mark Stevens grin at each other, then clasp hands in an expression of sportsmanship before facing out at the crowd. Each section rises in response, elated at the brilliant match they have just witnessed between two of their favourite wrestlers. Everyone can go home happy... ...but then every light in the arena suddenly hits full, and the Smarktron whites out. ‘WEL-WEL-W-W-WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION!’ “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” “Oh no,” Cyclone Comet murmurs as the crashing guitars of ‘Battle Ready’ by Otep kick up over the arena PA, “I thought we’d got through the entire show without him turning up...” *BOOOM!* Lightning spears down and strikes the soundstage, sending up blasts of red and gold pyro, and through the smoke come the familiar shapes of Revolution Zero; Spike Jenkins swaggering along on one side, Sean Davis carrying his Hardcore Gamer’s Championship belt on the other, and in the centre the man Johnny Dangerous will face in six days time for the World Heavyweight Title... the Straight-Edge Sensation, Toxxic. “A show without Toxxic is like Pepsi Max without lemon,” Bobby Riley says sagely as the Number One Contender strides down the entrance ramp, “refreshing and likely to make you burp, but without that sharp edge!” “Err... what?” Johnny and Grand Slam’s faces clearly show their feelings about this latest development. Three-on-two isn’t great odds at the best of times but right now they are exhausted, the advancing Revolutionaries are fresh and the man calling the shots has no reason to be merciful to either of them... “TOXX-IC SUCKS!” “TOXX-IC SUCKS!” The straight-edger flashes a mocking lopsided grin at the fans before he rolls under the ropes and calls for a microphone. Sean Davis forcibly relieves Funyon of his and throws it to his leader before he and Spike also enter the ring. Meanwhile Johnny and Mark are edging closer together, not wanting to let any of Revolution Zero get behind them. “You know Mark, it’s very tempting to just beat the crap out of you right now,” Toxxic says conversationally to the former Commissioner. Stevens bristles at the rookie’s tone and almost steps forward to face him, but Toxxic raises one black-nailed hand to halt him. “Easy, big man. I gave you a pasting on Storm when you had a chair and I didn’t, we were both exhausted and you tried to jump me from behind. I don’t fancy your chances when I’m fresh, I can see you coming and I’ve got the numbers advantage.” Stevens stops advancing and merely treats Toxxic to some choice verbiage, which the straight-edger raises a sardonic eyebrow at. “And they call you a role-model for the kids,” he notes. “Don’t worry Mark, I’ve beaten you and left you lying, so I’m not too bothered about you right now. Besides, I wouldn’t want to ruin your chances of severely hurting Tom Flesher at Genesis,” Toxxic continues, grinning again. “Grand Slam does indeed have something of a grudge match coming up at the biggest show of all time, and I can safely say that it is only the prospect of that which is stopping him from stepping up to the plate and teaching young Toxxic a lesson in manners!” Cyclone Comet declares as Stevens fumes at the offhand manner in which Toxxic has dismissed him. “In your dreams, Spandex boy,” Riley responds. “It’s more the prospect of getting severely hurt!” “TOXX-IC SUCKS!” “TOXX-IC SUCKS!” “Which leads me onto Johnny Dangerous,” Toxxic continues, turning to face the Barrauda, “the man walking around the federation with my World Title.” “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Johnny stares straight into Toxxic’s eyes, then looks sideways at Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis. The secret agent seems to weigh up his chances for a moment... then steps forward and grabs Toxxic microphone hand, pulling it forward so that his own voice can be heard. “Whatever you’re going to do - bring it on!” Johnny tells the straight-edger. “I’m not scared of you and your goons, Toxxic! And remember this; whatever you do to me now, I am going to double on your ass come Genesis!” The World Champion spreads his arms wide and steps back, inviting Revolution Zero to do their worst. “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” “JOHN-NY!” “JOHN-NY!” “JOHN-NY!” In the ring, Toxxic’s malicious grin simply widens a little more. Johnny is still waiting for the attack, and Grand Slam looks ready to jump in and aid him... but Toxxic simply raises one finger to scratch the side of his nose, then starts to speak again. “Johnny, Johnny... very dramatic,” he says approvingly. “A complete lack of fear, coupled with a complete lack of commonsense. I wouldn’t expect anything else from you.” The Straight-Edge Sensation raises one hand and motions to Spike and Sean, who start to back away. “Sorry to disappoint you Johnny, but there won’t be any beatings tonight,” Toxxic continues. “The three of us could quite easily leave you two in whatever state we chose - but it’s not going to happen.” The grin drops from Toxxic’s face, and he stares across the ring into Johnny Dangerous’ eyes. “I came out here for one reason, and that was to make a point. I want you to remember this moment, Johnny. How it could have gone... and didn’t. There will be no excuses come Sunday, when I beat you in the main event of the biggest show of all time to win my title back. You won’t be able to whine and bitch about how we took you out beforehand.” The Straight-Edge Sensation follows his stablemates out of the ring, still holding the microphone. “Remember this, Johnny. Get ready, because I don’t need any other advantage over you than just being myself. And if you think that I’m underestimating you... if you think that you’re going to be able to put one over on me again... if, above all, you think that I am not ready for you in a way that you will never be for me...” The lopsided grin slides back on Toxxic’s face, just for a moment. “...Prepare To Be Proved Wrong!” Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis are already disappearing up the ramp but Toxxic slowly backs up it while he watches Johnny Dangerous. The World Champion is still standing in the centre of the ring, glaring unblinkingly at the Straight-Edge Sensation... who stares unflinchingly back. “Citizens, tune in on Sunday to witness these two battle it out over the biggest prize in the business!” Comet shills. “Tune in on Sunday for... GENESIS FIVE!!” FADE OUT Copyright 2004, Smarks Wrestling Federation ‘Making the panda happy since 2001’

The venerable Gund Arena reappears on television screens worldwide, the host, once again, of a night of spectacular SWF action. The fans are on their feet, waving signs and cheering. One sign that the camera alights on reads "Suicide Queen!" Another, "Grand Slam + Barracuda = Ratings!" Finally, the hyperactive camera settles on Cyclone Comet and his partner, the estimable Bobby Riley! Comet: Welcome back citizens! I don't think I'm lying or exaggerating when I say that tonight's main event is one for the ages! Riley: You know Comet; for once (God help me) I have to agree with you. I think it's an understatement to say I don't like either of these men, but there is no denying their accomplishments. Both men are huge fan favorites. Both are multiple time Tag Team Champions. Both are former Intercontinental-Television Champions. Comet: That's right Robert, but while Mark Stevens is a former two-time World Champion, Johnny Dangerous is the reigning Champion. Riley: It has been a long time since we have had a match up like this, but it is only fitting that this, a match of old school against new school... legend versus champion... happens tonight. Comet: That's right old chum. This is the last match before our biggest event of the year, Genesis V... this Sunday only on Pay-Per-View! The lights go out... Several seconds of hushed silence cause the crowd to become restless... they are clapping, talking, shouting, waving signs, waiting for whatever is about to happen... ::Crack!!!:: The crowd, simply put, explodes! The crack of a bat and the roar of the crowd announce "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens!! It quickly fades into the opening bass of "Born Bad" by the Gone Jackals, his classic anthem. The SmarkTron lights up with baseball highlights mixed with big spots from Grand Slam's matches while flashing the words "Grand Slam", "Mark Stevens" and "The Heavy Hitter". The various multicolored lights flash in time with the rhythmic bass until the guitars crash and the lead singer cries out "Born Bad!” then the arena is flooded with bright white light!! Red and white pyro explodes at the top of the entrance ramp!! When the smoke clears and everyone can see again, "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens is standing underneath the SmarkTron!!! The crowd erupts in even more cheers for the Heavy Hitter!!! Funyon: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your MAIN EVENT and it is a non-title match scheduled for ONE FALL! Introducing first, weighing in at two hundred ninety eight pounds... he hails from Lincoln, Nebraska and is known as the "Heavy Hitter"... "GRAND SLAM" MARK STEVENS!!! As Funyon makes his announcement, the Heavy Hitter walks down the ramp slowly, savoring every moment of cheers and pointing at various fans, slapping hands and keeping them screaming! Tonight, as the camera zooms in, he is wearing another Cleveland Indians baseball cap!! When the crowd sees this, they cheer even louder, nearly drowning out his music!! Grand Slam steps into the ring between the ropes and heads to a corner. He then climbs to the second turnbuckle, looks at the crowd, then pumps his right fist into the air several times, firing the crowd up even more and causing a flurry of flashbulbs to pop, illuminating the ring like a strobe-light!! Before dropping back to the mat, Grand Slam flings his cap out to the crowd, giving some lucky fan a unique souvenir from the SWF!!! Once the cap is sent out and the music dies, he pulls off his varsity jacket and hands it off to a waiting tech outside the ring. He then backs into the corner of the ring and starts to stretch, working out the kinks and getting ready for the match. Riley: I'll give the old man credit; he has gutted this first month out and is getting something like the match he wants at Genesis. But I knew the Suicide King was too smart for him, and he proved it tonight! Comet: King should be careful Robert. We know that Grand Slam is a great wrestler, and he will be looking for any opportunity to get his hands on the Suicide King at Genesis! And I have to say, Stevens looks better than he has in months! ..... "Johnny Dangerous!" ....... Suddenly, the lights dim, and a sultry female voice breathes the name of the SWF’s resident super-spy. "After The Flesh" by My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult begins to thump through the crowds. Smoke fills the stage as tons of strobes cut through it and Johnny Dangerous walks out onto center stage. Funyon: And his opponent, weighing in at two hundred and seventeen pounds and hailing from Sin City... Las Vegas, Nevada... he is YOUR Smartmarks Wrestling Federation World Heavyweight Champion... the Barracuda... JOHNNY DANGEROUS!! As he heads down the ramp, World Title belt shining, Johnny reaches out and high-fives several fans. As he turns the corner to head to the ring steps, he spies a very attractive young woman at ringside. With a sly smile, he sidles up next to her and leans in, receiving a kiss on the cheek from the young lass. A huge smile on his face now, Johnny heads into the ring, mounts a turnbuckle and raises his arms out to the fans. They go nuts. Everyone is cheering and clapping. Comet: Well there is no denying that Johnny Dangerous has become one of the most popular men in the SWF! Riley: I can't understand what anyone sees in this guy, but I have to admit that he has put on some spectacular matches since winning the Belt! Dangerous drops off the turnbuckles and hands off the belt to Funyon, who takes it with him out of the ring. Dangerous and Stevens approach the referee in the center of the ring. The zebra explains the rules to them both and, in a great act of pure sportsmanship; they shake hands and share a few words. With a smile, Grand Slam claps Johnny on the shoulder and points at him, saying something the home audience was not meant to hear. Johnny laughs and nods his head. The both men back off and start to circle the ring, waiting for a chance... **Ding ding ding** Comet: This match is underway! Riley: Theoretically anyways. What was with all of that buddy-buddy horse hooey a few seconds ago? Comet: That was two competitors who respect each other. It's refreshing to see in this day and age of rule-breakers, underhanded tactics and outright villainy! Riley: ...right... you're off your medication again aren't you? In the ring, the two gladiators come together in the center of the ring, momentarily in a collar-elbow lockup, but Johnny wants no part of that and escapes quickly, spinning around behind Grand Slam and grabbing him in a waistlock! But the Heavy Hitter is no rookie by any means, and in a move so practiced it is automatic, he steps out of the waistlock and into one of his own, then pulls Johnny up off his feet and onto the mat with a basic wrestling takedown. Quickly, he slides forward, pulling the World Champion into a side headlock. Using his huge arms, the Heavy Hitter pulls back on the Barracuda's neck, trying to wear him down fast so the disparity in their endurance won't come into play. But neither is Dangerous a rookie and he quickly uses both arms to slip out of Grand Slam's grasp. Recognizing what is happening, Grand Slam shoulder rolls to one side and to his feet as Johnny kips up behind him. They turn to face each other and hold, both of them catching their breath as the crowd lets loose with a huge pop! Comet: Both of these men are accomplished technical wrestlers and the SWF crowd appreciates that! Without too much of a pause, the two combatants go towards each other again. Grand Slam puts his arms up for another lockup, but, again, the Barracuda ducks underneath, but this time he grabs an arm and pulls, spinning himself around and whipping Grand Slam into the ropes! Bounce back, and Johnny throws out a fast Johnny Kick with his right foot, but Grand Slam has it scouted! He throws on the brakes and manages to catch Johnny's foot! The Secret Agent doesn't hesitate, throwing his body around, trying to land an enzugiri! But Grand Slam ducks under, Johnny lands on his left foot and throws it up in a mule kick, catching Grand Slam right in the chest! The Heavy Hitter drops Johnny's right foot and staggers back into the ropes. Johnny lands on his chest and rolls to his side at the same time that Grand Slam uses the ropes for a little momentum and charges across the ring, trying to catch Johnny unawares. But the World Champion rolls a little out of the way, catches Grand Slam's right foot with his feet and executes a textbook drop-toe hold! Stevens falls chest first into the ropes and falls back... right into a fast rollup by Johnny! Comet: Holy... first pinfall attempt of the match! The ref drops to the mat... One... Two... Thr... No! Grand Slam reaches up and grabs Johnny head, pulling him over into a pin attempt of his own! One... Two... No! Johnny kicks hard and pushes Grand Slam backwards onto his shoulders again! One... Two... Thr... No! Grand Slam kicks out hard! Johnny rolls away and pops back to his feet quickly, ready for anything Grand Slam can throw at him, but the big man slower, using the middle rope to pull himself off the mat and to his feet. The crowd is on the edge of their seats and when they see the momentary pause in the match they go nuts! Half of the crowd starts to chant "Johnny... Johnny", the other half takes up a "Grand Slam" chant. Comet: What a sequence of moves and reversals by these two great champions! Citizen Dangerous and Citizen Stevens are absolutely putting on a clinic here tonight! Riley: There's no denying their skills Comet. Neither of these guys was a fluke champion, and I can assure you that both of them are proud men that want to win this match to prove something to themselves. In the ring, Johnny is eager to lock up again, but the slower, bulkier Stevens is more wary, having felt the effects of Johnny's superior speed only moments ago. He stalks the ring, left hand extended to catch anything Johnny throws at him, the right at his side, flexing and twitching. Again, in the center of the ring, the two adversaries come together. Johnny tries for a fast arm wrench, but Grand Slam grabs Johnny's arm instead, pulling it hard and sending the World Champion hard into the ropes. Bounce back, Grand Slam grabs Johnny slings him to the side and plants him on the mat with a huge sidewalk slam! Riley: Wow! What power in that move! Comet: Indeed Robert, Grand Slam strikes with the first impact move of the match and seems to have things under control for the moment. Grand Slam pulls Johnny to his feet by a handful of hair and into a front facelock. Before Johnny can squirm out of the hold, Grand Slam grabs a handful of black pants and throws Johnny up and over, powering him through a snap suplex and into the mat! The crowd is cheering him on as some of the old Grand Slam seems to appear in the ring. He rolls to his feet and runs into the ropes, bounce back, jump and crashes down with a huge leg drop right across Johnny Dangerous' chest! The World Champion rolls to his stomach as Grand Slam moves his leg and stands. Riley: Look at the instincts of the Barracuda Comet! He rolls to a position that makes Grand Slam work harder if he wants to pin him! Grand Slam has no intention of pinning the Super Spy just yet, as he knows all about Johnny vaunted resiliency. With a deep breath, the Heavy Hitter pulls Johnny to his feet... but before he can do anything, Dangerous lashes out with a hard kick to the midsection! Grand Slam takes a step back, but Johnny doesn't let him catch his breath. He moves in with hard chops (each accompanied by the now-traditional Wooo!) and fast kicks, keeping the Heavy Hitter off balance! Finally, another toe kick doubles Stevens over and Johnny pulls him into a front facelock, but Grand Slam isn't out of it yet! He throws his arms around Johnny and lifts, popping his hips and throwing the Dangerous One up and over, slamming him to the mat with a prize-winning Northern Lights Suplex! He bridges... One... Two... Th... NO!! Johnny kicks out! The crowd is going ballistic and everyone is on their feet, totally drawn into this clash of titans! Grand Slam is starting to breathe very hard his face and chest really starting to redden as he tries to pull more and more oxygen into his body. Johnny is crumpled on the mat, a little dazed, his eyes not quite focused. Comet: Citizen Stevens is pulling out all of the stops in this match, looking more and more like his old self! Riley: But his Achilles' Heel is still his endurance, or rather his lack thereof. He is pushing himself hard in the early stages of this match, hoping he can pull out the win before his wind gives out. After taking another deep breath, Grand Slam pulls Johnny to his feet and immediately picks him up, adjusts his stance in the ring, then drives him down to the mat with a classic scoop slam! And, now that Johnny is positioned just so, Grand Slam stomps over to the corner and climbs... to the first rope... the middle rope... the top rope! The crowd can sense what is going to happen, and the cheers intensify! For a moment, the Hall-of-Famer stands there on the top turnbuckle looking out at the crowd as seemingly everyone in the Gund Arena takes the chance to get a picture. Then as the flashes continue to illuminate the ring, Stevens jumps back and out, flipping over once and slamming down hard onto Dangerous with his trademark moonsault! Comet: It's over now Robert! Riley: You know what they say about counting chickens Comet! Grand Slam reaches across Johnny's body and hooks the leg... The ref falls to the mat... One... Two... Thr... NO!!! Comet: Dangerous kicked out!! Johnny Dangerous kicked out! Riley: Of course he did! You didn't expect the World Champion to go down without a fight did you? Grand Slam rolls off, looking at the rafters as if to ask, "What do I have to do?" As Johnny begins to stir, Grand Slam seems to have hit upon an answer! He gets to his feet and raises his right arm, circling it over his head, signaling for his finisher! The crowd is cheering and the cacophony of flash bulbs starts up again as the Heavy Hitter, breathing hard, pulls Johnny off the mat and into a standing head-scissors! He hooks the arms... but Johnny isn't going quietly into that goodnight! He fights one arm free, then the other! Then, faster than Grand Slam can react, Johnny steps back, freeing him of the head scissors! He throws himself backwards into the ropes, bounce back, he jumps in the air, twisting enough so that he connects with a huge spinning heel kick right to the face! Grand Slam falls back hard, Johnny right next to him! Grand Slam can feel a pin coming so he rolls over onto his stomach, keeping his shoulders off the mat! But that is exactly what Johnny wanted to see! Without missing a beat, the Spymaster wraps both of his arms around Grand Slam's head and pulls! Riley: Riley has locked in the Interrogator! Comet, I'm not sure Grand Slam has taken enough punishment for that submission to be effective! Comet: I don't think that's what Citizen Dangerous has in mind Robert! If I were him, I'd be looking for a chance to recover from Grand Slam's furious offense for a few seconds while keeping Grand Slam under control! Back in the ring, Johnny seems to be gaining energy moment by moment as the ref asks Grand Slam over and over if he wants to give up. But the Heavy Hitter's will is indomitable and he refuses, slowly trying to inch his way towards the ropes. Johnny keeps the pressure on, but appears to be making no attempt to keep Stevens from breaking the hold on the ropes. Finally, after what seems minutes, Grand Slam manages to get his arm over the bottom rope. The ref starts to count, but Johnny releases near instantly. Quickly, the Barracuda gets to his feet, waiting for Grand Slam. The Heavy Hitter starts to pull himself up by the ropes, stretching his neck trying to work the pain out. He turns... right into a huge Shotei right over Stevens' heart! Riley: That had to hurt Stevens! In addition to the sheer pain of a shot over the heart, it had to knock the wind right out of him! Comet: It appears as if Johnny has a plan of attack, and he is sticking to it! Grand Slam spins around, both hands over his chest. Johnny steps up behind him, laces his arms under Grand Slam's, locks them, lifts... and drives the big man down hard into the mat! Comet: What a move! The Barracuda delivers the Dangerous Driver late in this match, and that might be all she wrote! Riley: If so, there is no shame ::snicker:: in going down to the ::snicker snicker:: Dangerous Driver... Johnny flips Grand Slam over... hooks the leg... One... Two... Thr... NO! Grand Slam gets a shoulder up! Johnny appears somewhat unsurprised as he gets to his feet, pulling the Heavy Hitter up with him and into a front facelock. Johnny grabs a handful of tights, drapes Steven's arm across his neck, takes a deep breath and pulls Grand Slam off his feet and through a vertical suplex! The Heavy Hitter crashes to the mat, all of the breath appearing to fly out of him at once! But Johnny has no respite planned for Stevens as he throws his feet around to roll Grand Slam over, then pulls him up and nails a second suplex, then repeats the sequence again, driving the Slammer to the canvas with one more vertical suplex! Comet: That was a statement by Johnny Dangerous! He's serving notice that no matter who you are, no matter how big you are; he knows just how to take you apart! Riley: He did more than that Comet; he just took away any chance of Grand Slam getting his wind back anytime soon! Johnny gets to his feet to the cheers of the SWF faithful chanting his name! Grand Slam pulls himself up to his feet and moves towards Johnny slowly. The Barracuda doesn't back down as Grand Slam swings a wild right hand after him, instead ducking under it and bringing a forearm up hard into Grand Slam's chin! The Heavy Hitter staggers back a bit, but finds some energy somewhere and throws a fast knife-edge into Johnny's chest! (Woo!) Johnny responds in kind, delivering a blistering chop to Grand Slam's chest! (Woo!) Grand Slam digs down deep and responds with a chop stronger than the first! (Woo!) Johnny appears momentarily stunned, but the exhausted Grand Slam can't follow up! Instead of trying to regain control with an impact move, the Heavy Hitter has to settle for grabbing Johnny's arm and whipping him into the ropes! But Johnny reverses, sending Grand Slam hurtling across the ring! Bounce back and this time Johnny plants the Johnny Kick right into Grand Slam's chin! The Heavy Hitter hits the mat like a sack of drunken slugs! Johnny throws himself backwards into the ropes, bounces back, flips in the air, and comes down fist first onto Mark Stevens' chest! Comet: We've seen that combo before, a Johnny Kick followed immediately by the Armed and Dangerous! Grand Slam has big troubles Robert! Riley: Stevens caught Dangerous off guard with the flurry of offense early, but ever since the Barracuda reversed the Walk-Off, it has been all Johnny, all the time! With the crowd firmly behind him, Johnny gets to his feet and pulls the nearly unconscious Grand Slam up with him. The crowd lets loose a huge cheer as the Barracuda pulls Grand Slam arm over his neck, hooks the big man's near leg with his right arm, lifts and falls back in the same move... WHAM!! Comet: MI Slam!! MI Slam!! This has to b it now! Riley: I've seen men kick out of this move before, but not after the beating that Stevens has taken! Johnny maintains the hold on the leg, using his other arm to pull it towards him... The ref drops to the mat... One... Two... Three!!! Grand Slam pushes his shoulder off the mat, but a second too late! Johnny raises both arms over his head in exultation as the ref signals for the bell! ** Ding ding ding** Funyon: The winner of this match by pinfall... the SWF World Heavyweight Champion, JOHNNY "THE BARRACUDA" DANGEROUS!! Comet: The Champ pulled it out! But what a match Robert! Riley: When you're right, you're right! This match showed us several things Comet. On one hand, it proved that Johnny Dangerous is for real! This was no green kid he pinned out there, that is a bona-fide Hall-of-Famer! On the other hand, as much as I hate to admit it, it showed that Grand Slam is on the way back! Comet: I have to agree Robert! Both of these men gave this match everything they had! In the ring, Grand Slam is on his feet and staring at Johnny who has just been handed his World Title belt. For a moment, Stevens stares at the big gold belt, memories of past glories swimming in his eyes. Then, just as Johnny is starting to grow suspicious of the Heavy Hitter's interest in the belt, the Hall of Famer reaches over and raises Johnny's hand high in the air, signaling his victory! The crowd absolutely funky-monkey-on-crack insane as the two fan favorites shake hands in the ring!

We return LIVE to the Gund Arena, former perennial home of the SJL! The loyal Cleveland crowd explodes at the sight of themselves on the SWFtron, waving their signs excitedly. The camera pans past the upper deck before settling on one lucky fan whose sign proclaims that "Grand Slam + La Cucaracha = Breakfast at Denny's." After that quick interlude we immediately return to the SWF announce desk and our very own posterchildren for retroactive abortion, Cyclone Comet and Bobby Riley! "And we are back, Citizen Robert!" Comet adjusts his mask thoughtfully. "And what a night it has already been as all our respective superstars look to make their mark on this last show before Genesis 5!" "Bah. Most of these guys are just phoning it in Comet. They should be ashamed of themselves!" Riley scowls into the camera. "Although I have to admit that part of me actually enjoyed watching the Birdman and Andrea beat the bejeezus out of that new Dagda kid. Let the hazing begin!" "I take that to mean that you will be waiting for the young man in his locker room in a whipped cream bikini then?" Comet jabs. "NO!" Riley snorts in indignation. "Turning over a new leaf Robert?" "You masked malcontent! Stop implying that I am gay!" Comet considers for a moment. "You are quite right, Robert. I, and all of my Junior Comet League sidekicks, do hereby formally renounce that most homophobic of activities, namely Riley-baiting." Bobby nods vigorously. "Damned straight you do! And besides..." "Besides what?" "I'm lactose intolerant. It'll be shaving cream tonight." Comet sighs. "I knew it was a bad idea to let you travel between shows with NTD. Anyway-" A pointed glance at Riley stops the retort dead in its tracks. "ANYWAY, next on our card for the evening is... well, I don't know what. Are you missing a page here too, Robert?" Riley shuffles through his copy of the card. "Umm... yes. Damned Kinko's." Comet flashes the nervous grin of those suddenly forced to improvise. "Well, I suppose that reminds me of a story-" ALL ABOARD! AH HAH HAH HAH HAH! The crowd instantly turns its attention and its venom to the stage where the man himself, the Suicide King, emerges to a thunderous chorus of boos! Comet's no dummy. "Ah. Well, that would explain it. It looks like the Suicide King decided he needed some time to address the crowd, and he just erased whoever else had this time to build up for their match at Genesis." "Umm..." Riley swallows nervously. "He isn't dressed to talk, Comet." And indeed he is not! The Gambling Man walks down the aisleway to the ring, resplendent in his classic black and red tights and showing none of the flab associated with his nemesis Mark Stevens. Stopping for a moment to point at his exceptional physique, the King slides into the ring before rolling to his feet and spreading his arms wide! Soaking in the... well, adoration isn't the right word... of the crowd he spins in place, making sure everyone gets a good long look at the greatest heel the SWF has ever known! Unsurprisingly the crowd responds in its typical Pavlovian fashion. Riley sighs dreamily. "You hope and you pray that this day will come, and then when it does you don't know what to say! The Suicide King is dressed to wrestle in an SWF ring once more, and it's clear that unlike that hack Stevens the Heartbreaker had access to a gym!" "Yes, selling your soul to the Devil will frequently result in an excellent physique." Comet's eyes narrow for a moment. "Robert, are those pages of the card sticking out of your pants?" "When the owner of 25% of the federation tell you to do something Comet, you say yes!" The King of Hearts signals for a microphone, and it is quickly handed to him. The King raises it to his lips to speak... and is quickly drowned out by a flood of heat from the Cleveland crowd! Smiling to himself he waits for a few moments before trying again. "It's nice to see you too. I see you all still haven't forgiven me for closing down the SJL and forcing men who never should have even dreamed of wrestling back into the food service industries. I know it was the only thing that put Cleveland on the map, but you all need to let it go. It isn't healthy to live in the past." Grinning like an idiot, the King soaks in the jeers of the crowd. Riley speaks up. "He plays the crowd like a violin, Comet! It's masterful!" Comet apparently has the good sense not to encourage his partner who is clearly in the throes of full-on heel worship. The Suicide King continues. "I know how much you treasure this time in which we have our little heart to hearts, I'm afraid something more important must take precedence. I know that all of the women and ten percent of the men have noticed my exceptional ring shape..." The boos are interspersed with a a few catcalls and the leers of desperate women. "... But I didn't get this body sitting behind a desk. Oh no! I took special measures once I retired from active competition, and less active commissioning. I relied on the greatest ring technician the SWF has ever know to keep me in my sterling form, and to take me even further. I am in the best wrestling shape of my life now, and it is all thank to the Superior One himself, Tom Flesher!" At the merest mention of Flesher the crowd actually redoubles its booing. King appears mildly annoyed that anyone should be garnering more heat than himself, but the grin is back plastered on his face faster than humanly possible. "Yes, after I voluntarily departed the Commissionership at Genesis 4-" Cyclone Comet cannot help himself by interject. "You mean, after Dace Night and Mark Stevens made you relinquish your unjust iron grip on our federation?!" Luckily King cannot hear the announcer's feed. "I kept myself prepared. I knew the day would come when I would finally have the chance to reveal Stevens as the fraud he is! And to that effect twice a week I met with Tom Flesher who put me through his own unique-" King turns to the camera. "And SUPERIOR," King turns back to the crowd. "Mat routines. By myself, I am one of the greatest athletes the wrestling world has ever know. With Tom's help, I am simply unstoppable." To say that the crowd disagrees with this sentiment would be like saying that World War Two was Hitler's way of saying "Get off my lawn." "And I will show Mark Stevens and Landon Maddix that indisputable fact at Genesis. But tonight, I am going to show YOU." King spins in place, pointing his finger at the capacity crowd. "And toward that end, I would like to introduce you all to a contemporary of mine and Mark's, and my opponent for the evening..." Metallica's "Frantic" immediately kicks up, and if there is one song that the former SJL hometown of Cleveland recognizes, it's that one. The lights fade to a scarlet red as a familiar form in white karate pants emerges from backstage accompanied by a referee... the crowd swells to welcome back a mainstay! "It's XERO!!!" Comet explains. "Xero, the King of the DDT, multiple time champion and veteran of the federation since its IGN days! One of the few men to compete in the ML, JL, and WF, and always with distinction at that! And last but not least, my former tag partner!" "Did we mention perennial jobber, and pity bump to the SWF?" Riley adds. King is apparently taking over for Funyon for this segment as he tries to speak over the surging crowd. "And introducing... from Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada... weighing in at a much beefier than usual 223 lbs, he is another sad relic of a bygone age about to meet his maker thanks to yours truly... he is XERO!" The crowd is buoyant as Xero makes his way to the ring followed closely by the referee for tonight's affair. The camera easily picks up a scowl on Xero's face at King's comments, but the exact profanities he used to express his displeasure are lost to history. Both men slide into the ring with the referee immediately going to a neutral corner. Xero hops on to a turnbuckle and raises both hands to the jubilant crowd who respond vigorously. Even King takes the time to clap mockingly. Xero hops off the turnbuckle and lands in front of the King, and apparently takes the opportunity to jawjack a little to his competitor. King nods occasionally condescendingly... and the ref signals for the bell- But King grabs his arm, shaking his head! Throwing the microphone out of the ring, he gestures to the ref that he wants to do something first... and reaches out a hand to Xero? "Look at that Comet! The Suicide King shows respect to those who have come (and gone) before!" Riley gushes. Comet retorts. "We can only hope that Xero's senses have not been dulled by his time away from the ring!" Well, the crowd is certainly letting Xero know what they think of this latest shennanigan. He looks left, then looks right... he even looks up on the off chance the guy in the lighting rig has an opinion. As the crowd's displeasure grows, Xero falls back on the one thing he can rely on: experience. After all, the last time King and he wrestled (lo those many moons ago) the handshake went off without a hitch! Xero takes King's hand in a firm grip as King's grin grows to the point where the top of his head threatens to fall off. The two men share a steely glance for a long moment.... before- KA-PWING!!!!!!!!! The Suicide King's boot nestles itself snugly and at great force right in Xero's crotch! As the King of the DDT falls to his knees clutching his jumblies, the Gambling Man gestures to the ref. NOW, he can ring the bell. DING DING DING!!!! Comet is indignant! "That's reprehensible!!! The Heartbreaker is the worst kind of scum!!!!" "You should watch the exclamation points there Comet. Terry Pratchett says that multiple exclamation points are the signs of an unsound mind. Anyway, what did you expect? This is the Suicide King we're talking about. And that textbook Galatea special is just the thing to show everyone that he is back, baby!" The Suicide King takes a moment to enjoy the crowd's disdain before lifting the hesitant Xero to his feet and whipping him into the ropes... bounce back and Xero's mug eats a picture perfect dropkick that drops him to the mat! King scrambles over to Xero on hands and knees, pouncing on on him and driving his thumbs into his eyes! Xero thrashes around on the mat, screaming as the ref begins his five count! ONE! TWO! THREE! FO- And King breaks the highly illegal hold, springing to his feet and showboating for the crowd as the ref dives in to inspect Xero's eyes. The ref looks closely but is satisfied that the match can continue, and signals thusly. Xero rolls weakly on the mat, one hand at each of his major nerve centers. The Gambling Man saunters over to his downed foe, playfully slapping him on the top of the head a couple of times to help him focus. "Is there no virtue whatsoever in this man?" Comet asks heaven above. King reaches in and grabs ahold of Xero's arm, using it to raise him to his feet. Quickly spinning it in place, he tightens in a loose arm wringer with one arm while cocking his leading leg back... and firing a straight side kick into Xero's armpit! Riley squeals! "Classic King! That's a great way to dislocate a shoulder!" "Loathe though I am to admit it, King's strategy here is as efficient as ever, working over the shoulder to make countering the Jokers Wild all the more difficult!" King keeps ahold of the arm and fires another hard straight kick into Xero's protesting armpit. Xero reaches over with his free arm, desperate to relieve some of the pressure at this latest hotspot of pain on his body... King cocks his leg back one more time, this time bringing it down on Xero's shoulder like an executioner's ax! King finally releases the arm, allowing Xero to fall to the mat now cradling his damaged arm. The Gambling Man doesn't let up however, diving down to the mat on top of Xero and clutching his face with criminal intent! The camera angle makes it awkward to tell exactly what is going on, but it is apparently sufficiently illegal to warrant another five count! ONE! TWO! "My goodness. He's raking Xero's nostrils!" Comet exclaims. THREE! And King breaks the hold, wiping his hands on his tights as the referee scolds him. The King smiles, nods, and casually begins wiping his hands on the referee's shirt instead! "The Gambling Man has no respect for the authority of the referee! Look at that show of callous disregard!" Riley chortles with glee. "The Suicide King IS the authority here tonight, Comet! He's in charge, and nobody can stop him in the ring or outside of it!" The referee's face turns an impressive shade of purple as he contemplates striking the Suicide King for his astonishing crassness. The King sees the coming impropriety however, and snarls into the referee's face! In no uncertain terms the King tells the referee exactly what and how he will be doing lest the King does some very unfortunate and permanent things to him! The referee is rocked back by the force of King's rebuke... "If there's one thing the King doesn't tolerate it is impudence in his underlings!" Bobby Riley says approvingly. "But he thinks everyone is under him!" Comet protests. Turning his attention back to his victim, the Gambling Man lifts Xero up and wraps him in a side headlock. Backing into a corner, King raises a finger and spins it around in a mockery of the signature gesture of Mark Stevens! Revving up, King rushes out of the corner and prepares to drop Xero with the bulldog of a lifetime... BUT XERO PICKS HIM UP AND RUNS HIM RIGHT INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER TURNBUCKLE! Xero drops to a knee to one side of the turnbuckle as King's chest takes the bump the way a pillow takes a bullet! Staggering out of the corner and completely oblivious to the cheers of the crowd, King holds his chest with an expression on his face that indicates he forgot exactly how much that hurt!! Xero stands painedly and takes the distracted King by the arm, whipping him back across the ring to the corner that started it all! Again, King's sternum slams into the well-padded turnbuckle, but you wouldn't know it to look at him! "And it's all coming back to Xero now! This could be just the opening he needs to take King down the proverbial notch!" Cyclone says in a blatantly partisan way. "Please!" Riley retorts. "LIke Xero could beat a former SWF World Champion! He probably couldn't even park his car!" Xero is starting to feel it now as he steps in to the wounded Gambling Man and fires off a knife edge chop with his good arm to the pecs! Another, and another, too fast for the crowd to chant along with! One more and- "He went to the well once too often!" Riley notes with glee. As King catches the hand in front of him! Xero looks shocked for a moment before King stomps HARD heel first right on his toes! Xero backs away in pain with King still holding his good arm! King stomps again, this time on Xero's other foot! Xero's stance becomes unsteady and King flicks him hard right in the nose! Xero's eyes water over, and unfortunately he doesn't get to see what happens next... the Gambling Man cements his grip on Xero's good arm, diving between Xero's legs with a baseball slide and popping to his feet behind Xero with his arm in a familiar position... KA-PWING!!!! And just NAILING Xero in the groin with his own arm! "AGAIN?" Comet asks the world in general. "You know what to do referee!" "What? That was just an unfortunate consequence of the pumphandle position!" Riley covers like an even coat of paint. "You want to disallow one of the core set-up sequences of wrestling?" The Suicide King swiftly pulls the arm all the way through and hooking the other, lifting Xero up and dropping him down hard on his outstretched knee! "Pumphandle backbreaker by King, and I think that has the ref sold that all genital contact was incidental!" Riley says. "A masterful stroke of misdirection!" Xero rolls of King's outstretched knee weakly. Shaking his arm King tries to restore some feeling to his injured pride and pectorals... Quickly lifting the stunned Xero to his feet King backs him into the ropes and whips him across the ring. Following Xero for a step or two King widens his stance and cocks his right arm back... "Uh oh." Bounce back, and King's arms fires out like a howitzer, catching Xero in the chest with a sternum-shattering shotei! Xero crashes to the mat like the Gambling Man just hit him with a battering ram! "Heartbreaker shotei!" Riley pops. "Devastating shot from our boss and Xero is now officially among the walking wounded!" "Point of order," Cyclone Comet counters. "Xero isn't walking." "The wailing wounded then. He's taken too much punishment, too fast. He was in pretty good shape for one of us retirees, but King is a golden god!" Xero is out of it. King knows it, and the capacity crowd in Cleveland knows it. Strutting over to the fallen Xero, King drags his limp form upright before wrapping his injured arm up into a half nelson and stepping beside him... "You know what this means Comet! The originator of the move every heel has utilized to put their foes down for three is gonna show the kids how it's done!" "It's no Demonstar. It's no Rage Unleashed." Comet counters. "Yes, well if we kill our opponents we can't gloat now can we?" King rears back, snapping Xero forward and sweeping him facefirst into the mat with a sickening crunch! Something that may or may not be a tooth rolls out from under Xero's face as King flips him over into a lazy cover... ONE! TWO! THREE!! DING DING DING! "King is back, and he's badder than ever!" Riley lauds sickeningly. "He's taken care of one retiree, and come Genesis he'll show one more what for!" "Stevens is no pushover even if his best days are behind him Robert. And Landon Maddix the face of the SWF's future! King may very well find that meddling in that young man's career will cost him in the end!" King waves off Funyon before he even begins his spiel, and with slow and deliberate kicks he shoves Xero right under the bottom rope and to the floor below accompanied by all appropriate heat. Xero, his face now bloodied, is escorted to the back by SWF personnel, but not before getting one last appreciative round of applause from the diehard Cleveland fans. Comet groans. "Oh no... the Suicide King wants the microphone again..." The Suicide King gestures for silence, which has its usual effect. "Fine, fine, you porch monkeys. I'll yell over you. Tom! Get out here! I've got a surprise for you, and I think you're going to like it!" A few moments of silence pass before the all-too-familiar opening strains of "Kashmir" sound out over the speakers. With this truly epic noise blasting through the sound system the man himself, the Superior One, strides out onto the stage accompanied by the derision of the fans. Not that it bothers him. Not that is has EVER bothered him. Tom Flesher strides to the ring as confident in his superiority as ever. The Suicide King sits on the ropes so as to allow easier entry to his favorite wrestler (besides himself) and as he enters the ring, the King is there to greet him with a firm handshake! Comet snorts. "I take it that Tom wasn't watching the match then, or he might have been more hesitant to take that handshake!" "Hush you!" The two men stand at arm's length, each clearly aware of the profound admiration has for the other. Well, that's a bit much. "The only reason these two can even stand in the same ring is that each thinks the other is as close to wrestling perfection as it gets, barring themselves!" Comet notes. "Just once, I would like to see THEM fight over who is better." "Umm... isn't that a bit like Superman fighting Jesus?" Riley swallows nervously. "I mean, what would be left to believe in?" King raises the microphone to his lips, grinning like a shark. "You're gonna love this Tom. I mean it." Flesher gestures for the King to go on as the crowd begins to focus their hatred on the ring... "You remember who I said that since I had you as my partner, I could begin to make all appropriate arrangements for our match?" Flesher nods, smiling as he anticipates the latest twist. "Well, as we all know I was counting on Stevens trying something stupid to get me in the ring at Genesis. He showed uncommon foresight making it a tag match with that no-talent hack Maddix, but I have completely trumped him on that front by getting-" King turns to the crowd. "-as we all know-" and back to Tom. "A truly Superior partner. And so we are here, at the eve before Genesis standing on the threshold of this epic match! Tom Flesher and the Suicide King versus Landon Maddix and Grand Slam! It'll be huge! Gigantic! The biggest tag match Genesis had ever seen! A fair fight to finally determine the best route to power in the wrestling business!" In spite of themselves the crowd is sucked into King's naked hype, cheering the prospect of a future Team Face victory over Team Heel! Flesher taps his nose with one long finger, showing that he has caught the crux of the matter from King's own words. "That's right Tom. A fair fight... and that was, of course, the problem." *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!* "Oh, do shut up. The 'good guys' want a fair fight! Now by definition no one getting into the ring with us is going to get a fair fight!" King grins at Flesher. "Unless maybe we each cut off an arm." King snickers to himself. "No, there's going to be no fair fight. Besides, as any wrestling mind can tell you, nobody actually wants to see a fair fight anyway! No, you Cro-Magnons want to see the good guys surmount impossible odds! Do the impossible! Beat the unbeatable!" "And it is precisely because I respect you, the fans, SO MUCH... that I am going to make this as unfair as possible. You know what would help Tom?" Flesher shakes his head, indicating that while he is enjoying the drive he has no idea where King is going. "I think we're gonna need another partner!" *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!* "Say WHAT?" cries Comet, over the rising displeasure of the crowd. "The Suicide King is granting himself a second partner? This is absurd!" "If by absurd you mean the single greatest decision any human being has ever made in the entirety of existence, then I agree, Comet!" "You know quite well what I meant, Riley," Comet responds, with some bite. "Oh..." Riley looks a little befuddled, before adding "Well... then, uh... you're wrong." Even Tom Flesher looks a little surprised by the announcement, but very much in a good way. He grins a broad grin, and King turns to him for a nod of approval. The two of them are just eating up the crowd's reaction, which only causes the fans to boo even louder. "How can you be so ungrateful?" King mockingly asks them, prompting another round of jeers. "Here we are heading into the biggest show of the year, and I'm doing my best to add a little oomph, a little spice, a little something extra to make sure it goes down in the history books as one of the best... and this is the thanks I get?" *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!* "Can you believe these ingrates, Comet?" Riley asks in disgust. The Suicide King holds up his, attempting to silence the unwashed masses. It doesn't work, but whatever. "In the interest of fairness, however, I have allowed Mr. Stevens the same luxury. IF he can find anyone foolish enough to rally to his cause in the next five days, we'll have ourselves a good old fashioned six-man! Let me make it clear that anyone who did such a thing would make me very unhappy, with potentially permanent consequences for his career." The King can't help but laugh at this point, and he adds "Yeah. Good luck with that, Mark." "See Comet?" Riley makes no effort to hide his glee. "Perfectly fair! If Mark can find a partner, the sides are even!" "As sick as this makes me, I have to say the King has a point - with so little time, I don't think Mark Stevens can find anyone willing to stand in the face of such overwhelming odds! And we don't even know who King's second man is yet!" The crowd shows no signs of letting up, so the King shrugs, and continues. "Well, no matter. I'm used to my particular brand of genius being misunderstood - there are so very few people in this world capable of appreciating it... people like Mr. Flesher here." He nods in Tom's direction... pauses for a moment... "And like our partner." Riley begins fidgeting in his seat. "Here it comes, Comet!" "He's a man some of you might remember, actually," King teases. "He made a bit of a splash in the SWF not too too long ago... unfortunately, circumstances not entirely clear to him ended his run prematurely." "A veteran of the SWF? What trick does King have up his sleeves this time?" Comet cautiously ponders, as he slides a cup across the desk to catch Riley's drool. "We've had our differences, he and I... we didn't always see eye to eye," - Tom perks up at this, but the King is quick to add "but he has since seen the error of his ways. And considering the nature of this match, I think you'll agree, Tom, that there's no one we'd rather have on our side." "The nature of this match?" Comet wonders out loud. "It's a-" ... "Oh no." It seems like a few people in the crowd caught on as quickly as Comet, as they're already facing the entrance and booing! "Who? Who is it Comet? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Riley begins poking his partner in the arm. "Huh? Huh? Huh-" *SMACK* "Owie!" Flesher too begins to understand. He looks toward King incredulously, and the Gambling Man simply smiles and nods. They share a good villainous chuckle, and then the King sweeps his free arm towards the ramp and announces "So put your hands together and give a warm SWF welcome..." "...to CHRIS-" Booooooooo! "RAYNOR!" BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The entire Gund Arena shakes as "The Grudge" pounds out of the sound system at deafening volume, so loud that even Riley's schoolgirlish squeals are entirely drowned out. Everyone is focused on the stage, hoping, wishing, praying that this is all some kind of sick joke... ... but as the curtain is swished aside, their hearts drop. Chris Raynor has returned. He slowly strolls out to the center of the ramp, then stops, looking out over the SWF crowd for the first time in almost two years. It's all coming back - the jeers, the boos, the unadulterated hatred of millions. His face says it all. Ahhh... it's good to be back. He cracks a grin, and heads down the ramp, where the ropes are being held open for him. "Comet... Comet! Why is your headset off?" "I took it off a moment ago, Citizen Riley, because I felt the uncontrollable urge to say things that these citizens should never hear a superhero say!" "Comet! For shame!" "Well this situation certainly calls for it! First the Suicide King changes the rules of the match at the last second, leaving Mark Stevens with no time to find a partner, and then he brings back Chris Raynor! Is there no depth to which he won't stoop?" "Uh... no. We've pretty much established that there isn't." Raynor rolls into the ring before popping to his feet. Tom Flesher claps him on the back as Raynor responds with a wary smile... before heading over to the Suicide King and standing in front of the evil mastermind. Long moments pass punctuated by flash bulbs. "Two former Carnies and Tom Flesher, united in a mutual hatred of an outmoded relic and a glorified curtain jerker!" Riley sniffs. "I promised myself I wouldn't cry!" Raynor stands there with a mixed expression on his face, seemingly having some sort of internal debate... before finally reaching out a right hand that is quickly taken by the Suicide King! The boos return in earnest as the two men share some private words. At a nod from Raynor, the King hands over the microphone. Chris Raynor stands there, tall, proud, and trying to find the words that have etched themselves into his psyche. "Why. That's what many of you are probably asking. Why." Comet interjects, "Yes, that's what we're asking! What did Grand Slam ever show you but kindness?! What has Landon ever done to you, good or bad!?" The crowd's instant rejection of whatever Raynor has to say seems to provide him with some amusement, bitter though it may be. "You wouldn't understand. You've never been so close to the main event you can taste it, only to have a man you thought was your friend take it from you! Take everything you ever believed in away! You wouldn't understand." King and Flesher nod like support group members. "Well, I found someone who understood. Someone who once bought the lies of a fraud who presented himself as a good man. Someone who went through the wilderness I knew so well and came out the other side. He might have come out as a conniving little weasel-" Raynor glares at King, who gulps with a touch of nervousness. "-But he knows nonetheless. And he came to me with the offer of everything I ever wanted. A main event marquee match, at Genesis. My chance. MINE. To show the world that this is where I belong, that it never should have been kept from me in the first place! And if I have to trod over Mark's legacy to cement mine... then fine. So be it." Raynor moves stiffly over to the King and slams the microphone into his chest. "Is it me, or are his words ringing a little... false?" Comet comments. "There's something else at the root here." "Oh who cares?" Riley chortles. "Team Heel is assembled, and you want to read the fine print! Don't read the fine print! You'll ruin the evil surprise!" The Suicide King recovers his composure, taking Chris's and Tom's hands in his own and raising them high into the air! Turning in place to present themselves to the crowd (and perhaps making sure that they get even heat on all sides) the threesome stands tall and confident in their supremacy. Tom Flesher. The Suicide King. Chris Raynor. "Grand Slam has a very serious problem on his hands! There's not enough time to find a partner, even if he could find one who would risk the wrath of the Suicide King!'" Comet notes. "And it looks like poor Landon will be going down with him. In any event we have to cut to commercial citizens! Stay tuned for the latest developments on this, the last Smarkdown before Genesis!"

We return to SWF Smarkdown from the Gund Arena, where "Superstar" by Saliva blares from the speakers. However, instead of Max King in the ring, we see… Tokyo X, dressed exactly like him, right down to the mask, which has a photo scan of Max King's face on the front… Suddenly, the house lights drop out and multi-coloured strobes come into play, as "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" by Prong hits! The fans explode into a frenzy of cheers and applause as Manson walks out and stands at the head of the ramp, thrusting his fist into the air. He breaks out of the pose and heads down the ramp… "Welcome back to Lockdown, LIVE from Cleveland!" screams Comet. "Up next Tokyo X will face Citizen Manson… X had to be literally dragged out here by a pair of security guards during the break, I assume because he didn't want to face the awesome power of Mansonosity." "What kind of joke is this? Max King takes on Todd Cortez on Lockdwon and Candace tonight in order to warm up for his match at Genesis, yet Manson wants Tokyo X!" exclaims Riley. "Well, he's obviously making a mockery of Max King, in an effort to throw him off his game." "That's a great cover, I guess Manson didn't have any good ideas for a promo." "FOURTH WALL! FOURTH WALL!" screams Comet, hysterical. "And his opponent, hailing from Denver, Colorado -- weighing in at two-hundred and thirty pounds, standing six feet tall… MMMAAAAAANNNSOOONNNN!" Funyon announces, before hightailing it out of the ring… Manson hits the ring and rolls in under the bottom rope, coming to a stand. He then makes a break for Tokyo X, catching him by surprise and smashing him against the turnbuckles, as Kivell… ::DING DING!:: …calls for the bell! Manson, meanwhile, holds X by the neck and repeatedly hits him with rapid punches in the side of the head! Kivell warns Manson away from X, and Manson does so, as X stumbles out of the corner. Manson pursues X as he comes out to the center of the ring. Manson wraps his right arm in front of Tokyo's chest, kicks his leg forward and brings it back just as quickly, connecting with the legsweep and planting X with the STO! "STO by MANSON!" screams Comet. Manson shoots up from the mat and pumps his fist in the air, as Tokyo X lays on the mat. Slowly Tokyo X reaches up into the sky, willing himself over onto his side, propped up by his elbow, and finally to his knees. He gets one foot on the mat and pushes himself up onto both, as Manson runs up beside him. Manson jumps and catches Shining Black by the head on the way down… "Here it comes!" Comet says… PLANTING HIM WITH THE CONSEQUENCES! Tokyo is driven into the mat, and he lays still, Manson looks down at him. Manson then opts to lift X up by the leg, and wrapping it with his right arm, turns X over and leans back, planting a foot in the back of Tokyo X's head in the process. "OMGODZ! THE REQUIEM!" screams Comet. Matt Kivell lifts up Tokyo's arm once… And it drops to the mat! He lifts it up again…. It drops once more!! Kivell shakes his head, and does the same… Tokyo's arm drops again! Kivell calls for the bell! ::DING DING!:: "Your winner, by submission… MMMMAAAAANNNNSOOOONNNNN!" "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" hits, as Manson rolls out of the ring to the applause of the fans and makes his way up the ramp. "I expected something quick, but not this…" says Riley, surprised. "Still, Tokyo X isn't one-eighth the competitor Max King is… and Max King will prove that at Genesis." "Well, Manson makes short work of Tokyo X tonight, obviously seeing a little bit of Max King in that ring tonight…" says Comet, as we go to break.

"You can't do this!" Alex Zenon stares back with cold eyes at the two-headed monster of Brian Applewhite and Tom Flesher. He can't do this? He can't do this! The hell he can't! He's still the Smarks Wrestling Federation commissioner, at least for now... "The hell I can't! I told you!" growls the former one letter wonder, pointing at Flesher. "I said you had to defend the belt." Alex switches his attention to the man who said he couldn't do this. "I told you he had to defend the belt, King, but he walked out because he thought you could push me around. Don't think I haven't heard the rumors about my job. I have and if that's the case, then I'm not backing down anymore." Flesher turns to King, who give him a reassuring look and motions for him to simmer down, so he can handle the situation. "And I told you, Tom, I wasn't going to let it happen. So I took the belt. You don't deserve it anyway. It meant nothing to you." Flesher, still affronted that he may actually lose the belt this way, raises his eyebrow at that comment. It doesn't matter if the belt means anything to him. It should still be his property. "But it does mean something, damn it. And I'm going to prove that right now." King steps into his path, as Alex moves around Flesher. "I'm going out there now. I've got something to announce." King raises his hand, as if he's about to speak, but Alex interrupts. "You've got him in your Genesis match, so stop bitching." The Suicide King; known far and wide for his quick wit and sneering sarcasm, can only stand there lamely, mouth hanging open, as Zenon sidesteps him and stalks down the hall. "Alex!" shouts King, regaining his words. "Alex!" he says again with a pause, quickening his pace to catch up, but he still gets no response. "Zenon, you listen to me when I'm talking to you. You go out there and you'll regret it!" King stops chasing after Z, shocked that he won't acknowledge him... "I already have plenty to regret." says Zenon over his shoulder, not even breaking stride. "What's one more thing." The camera fades away and comes back to rest on the faces of Cyclone Comet and Bobby Riley, each pondering on this new bit of information. Alex Zenon is on his way to the ring. He has the Cruiserweight title with him. And he is not a happy camper. "It looks like our commissioner is making his way out to the ring, Robert." starts Comet. "And from that display, I'd say he's got something important to say." "I still can't believe he stripped Tom of the Cruiserweight title. Zenon's just jealous! Jealous and ungrateful!" adds Riley with a snarl. "He must have been holding that grudge for ages, Comet." "Well, like I said earlier, the match in question was before my time--when Mark Stevens was your announce partner in fact." He turns to look at Riley and continues. "But Tom Flesher knew the risks, Robert. He sat there and mouthed off to the Commissioner--he called bluff and paid the price." "I'm out here tonight, to tell you fans something you may have forgotten over the past few months." Zenon raise the Cruiserweight title high in the air with his left hand while hold the mic in his right. "This, is not something you put around your waist to hold up your pants." Zenon paces about the ring, the crowd not quite sure where Alex is going with this. He stops mid stride and faces the ramp; his voice still betraying his anger. "This, is not some fashion accessory! This, is not to be used as a place-mat for dips." The crowd, starting to understand where this is going, begins to cheer at the reaction to Flesher's treatment of the Cruiserweight belt. Alex stares straight ahead, making it clear that this is directed towards the man he left in the back. "And most assuredly, this belt--this belt I hold in my hand, means something!" YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! "And I'm going to prove it. Ryan Dustin get your ass out here!" "Lap dance" by N.E.R.D begins to play in the background, while multi-colored lights flash. A lone spotlight shines down upon the stage and as the vocals drop, "Lap-dance" continues, causing Ryan Dustin comes to the stage, through the curtain, facing the crowd -- arms folded across his chest -- while his red cameo jacket flutters from an unknown undercurrent. Dustin walks down the entranceway, slapping hands with the fans as he stares into the ring at the Commissioner. He walks up the steel steps, enters the ring, and calmly walks towards Zenon. "I'm sorry that you were cheated out of your chance to win this championship, but I cannot just give you the belt. Now, we haven't always seen eye to eye, but if you respect this title, then you'll want to earn it. And to do that you need to have a match... and I have just the opponent for you!" A pause. "So Birdman, get out here now!" “Let’s Get Retarded” by the Black Eyed Peas starts, as Birdman jumps out from behind the entrance curtain, dancing around like a big…bird. Birdman charges down the isle way, slapping hands with the fans Ultimate Warrior style, and slides into the ring. He jumps to his feet, and starts dancing around to the enjoyment of the fans. "You are two of the best cruiserweights in the SWF today. You've fought with near reckless abandonment, all for the shot at becoming the World Cruiserweight Champion! And at Genesis--" The techno beats of “Sandstorm” stop Zenon in his tracks. The crowd immediately sends off a chorus of jeers. Without wasting any time, “Hollywood” Spike Jenkins pops out from behind the entrance curtain, microphone in hand. “Whoa, whoa whoa. Wait just a minute…” “JENKINS SUCKS! JENKINS SUCKS! JENKINS SUCKS!” “Zenon, if you do what I think you are about to do, you are making a very grave mistake. Yes, those two in the ring right now are some of the top cruiserweight talent in the SWF. But come on! I AM the best. There is no doubt about it.” “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” “Stay out of this Spike. This doesn’t concern you now. You have your tag title shot at Genesis. There is no need for you to get two title shots in one night.” “No, but you see Zenon. There is. There is this thing in contracts, called a Rematch Clause. You should know about it, Mr. Paperwork Man. I am supposed to get a rematch for my Cruiserweight title. My plan was to save it for Genesis to take out Tom Flesher, and prove that I am better than him once and for all. But Flesher knew I was coming for him, and he forced you to strip him of the title! But that means nothing to me now. I’ll get Flesher one day. But right now, I am putting myself in the Cruiserweight title match at Genesis, whether you like it or not!” "All right, Spike. My hands are tied…” "I told you fans that this belt means something, which it clearly does to these three. And at Genesis, we're going to find out just how much." "At Genesis, one of these three men will climb to the top of the cruiserweight division." "Because we're going to have the number one contender, Ryan Dustin. The man that defeated Tom Flesher just one show ago, Birdman. And the man who was never given his return match for the title, Spike Jenkins... in a match. But not just any match." "A match in which, the Cruiserweight title will be suspended 15 feet into the air, in a contest that has made as many careers as it has destroyed." "At Genesis, it will be Ryan Dustin versus the Birdman versus Spike Jenkins for the Smarks Wrestling Federation World Cruiserweight Title... in a ladder match." All three men looked stunned at the announcement, but with the exception of Spike Jenkins, look thrilled for it. Dustin eyes Birdman. Birdman eyes Dustin. Both turn their heads to the top of the stage, where Spike points at them both… …And motions for the title around his waist…

“…well call me when you DO hear something, mmkay?” The familiar voice of Mike Van Siclen is the first thing heard as Smarkdown returns from its latest commercial break, as the scene opens in the backstage area of the arena. Van Siclen stands in the corner of the room, turning to face his compadres in the Urban Empire; the incomparable Masked Man, and the co-holder of the SWF World Tag Team Titles, Mr. Todd Cortez. “So what did they have to say?” questions Cortez of Van Siclen’s phone conversation. “They’ve heard nothing. Just like us. Genesis is just around the corner and not even the most inside of insiders can tell us who we’re taking on. You would have thought that when we gained this hero status of ours that the suits in this company would warm up to us, but noooooooo.” “Any ideas, mastermind?” “Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Absolutely…” “OK…OK. I catch your drift, Mike.” In a show of frustration, Van Siclen kicks the wall, causing a loud bang and scaring whoever may be at the catering table on the other side. “This is crap, guys. The three of us have been tearing it up lately. We’ve had Revolution Zero breathing down our necks, and given it back to them ten-fold. BOTH of you guys have had some remarkable showings against Landon Maddix lately. Oh, and did I forget to mention that we’re the most dominant SWF World Tag Team Champions in HISTORY, Todd? I swear, I…” “Mike, ease up for a second, will ya?” “Yeah, I mean if it wasn’t for the fact that you were the most reviled piece of pond scum in the SWF for the last who-knows-how-long, maybe we WOULD get a fair shake!” Cortez and Van Siclen pause, and then simultaneously turn to Masked Man, who returns their bewildered looks with one of his own. ”What…I mean, I’m just saying…” “I know, Mask.” Van Siclen retorts. “My in-ring reputation is one thing, but I guess it’s gonna take some time for everyone in the company to get used to “Mike Van Siclen: Fan Favorite”.” “Hell, I’M still getting used to it, brah,” says Cortez before patting Mike on the shoulder, showing he’s just joshing around. “Just remember one thing…you ain’t gotta TRY, you just gotta DO. Keep goin’ on about things the way we’ve been. Fight tooth and nail, stand your ground. People are gonna have to respect you to like you.” “Baby, I’m the king of charisma around here. Of COURSE they’re gonna like me!” Cortez just rolls his eyes, while Masked Man shrugs. “Guys, I’m just kidding. Sorta. Anyhow Todd, that was very heartfelt and all, but the fact that we’re walking around with these belts puts a nice target on each of our asses. They could throw anyone in our path.” “Yeah, they could. So we just plow right through ‘em. Just like the Casino Brawl, just like Revolution Zero, just like…” “…the Casino Brawl.” “Yeah, what about it?” “It gave me an idea.” “Me too! I say we find the nearest one, hit up the buffet after the show, and then hit the slots. I swore I saw Max King hiding a roll of quarters in his boot, so I’ll go steal the boot, and then we’re off!” proclaims a way too enthusiastic Masked Man. “Mask, first off we’re in Cleveland, not Vegas. Secondly, why would you steal the boot and not just the quarters?” “Sheesh Todd, I don’t want to make it obvious!” Cortez just shakes his head. Van Siclen chuckles. “All right look. Mask, I’ll see what I can dig up as it pertains to you for Genesis." "Actually..." the Romanian meekly speaks up, but he's cut off. "As for these belts, mi amigo," Van Siclen continues, "my wheels are spinnin’, so I’m gonna see what I can do about it. All I know is that we made these belts mean something, you and I, and I won’t be content sitting on the sidelines come Sunday.” “I’m with you on that. Go do your thing, brah. Mask?" The tag champions turn to look at their compadre, but he can only shake his head. "My friends, all of this talk about Genesis, I just...I...I don't think I deserve to be on the show. I deserve to sit on the sidelines." "What?!" Cortez questions his former partner, "Mask, what are you talking about? You were USJL Champion for a month, you helped me defend the tag titles twice, and you took it to Landon freakin' Maddix!" "Was, helped, and took," Mask repeats, "past tense, Todd. I haven't done anything worthy of wrestling in Genesis for over a month now. I have been wallowing in mediocrity. I just...I just need time to sort things out." "Right, Mask," Van Siclen interjects, "And a perfect way to get back on track would be a win at Genesis." "No, Mike. I have already planned it out. I have booked a flight, tonight, to Cuba, so I can experience Hurricane Ivan first hand. From there, I will sail to the waters of the Antarctic, and go on a scuba diving exhibition." Van Siclen scoffs and Cortez lets out a chuckle at the silliness, but Mask is completely serious. "I need to get my edge back, my friends. I wish you all the best of luck at Genesis, but for me...it is not my time." After one last look at his Urban Empire teammates, Mask turns and exits the locker room. Van Siclen looks at Cortez, and at their locker room, which suddenly looks much emptier. "So, uh, I guess we're recruiting, eh?" Cortez lets out a chuckle. "I guess so." Van Siclen sighs, slumping down on a chair and grabbing a bottle of water. He takes a drink and continues. "Man, I don't get him sometimes. We're riding high, we're going to be the guys who exterminate Revolution Zero, and he goes and bails on us." "Aww, he's not bailing on us, man," Cortez says, but his words betray his grim expression. Van Siclen cocks an eyebrow at Cortez. "Okay, let's say he's not bailing on us, merely taking a hiatus," Van Siclen says. "So now, we're outnumbered again. If Rev-0 suddenly decides, 'Hey, let's beat on the blonde guy', we're pretty much screwed, are we not?" "Well... I'm sure we could fight them off for the time being." "Temporary solution isn't going to work, Todd, and you and I both know that," Van Siclen says. He pauses to take another swig of water, and then gets to his feet. "Look, we have some allies in the fed... I'll start talking to people, see if we can't drum up some more of a resistance towards Revolution Zero. I know they're recruiting, so it can't hurt for me to call a few guys, can it?" Cortez sighs. "I suppose not." Van Siclen smiles. "There we go. I think I may give Birdman a call, he seems to know what's up even if nobody's quite sure who he is... and Johnny, Johnny'd be on our side no problem. And Andrea, and Austin... I'm sure we can find someone, Todd." Todd nods. "Mike, it's not going to be like Mask, you and I both know that. Mask was reliable, Mask was eccentric, Mask was pretty much one of us, you're not going to find that in Johnny or Birdman or Andrea and you know that." Mike sighs. "Yeah, I know, Todd, but as much as it sucks to lose Mask, we have to keep plugging away if we're going to keep the gold where it belongs. Look, I'm going to start calling people... I'll catch you later." Van Siclen grabs his half of said gold, getting to his feet. He slaps hands with Cortez and walks out the door, dialing his phone as he exits the room. Cortez runs a hand over his face, lost in thought as to what’s in store for The Urban Empire come Genesis. FADE OUT.

As we come back from commercial break, we find that the steel cage for our next match is already set up, the ominous bars locked up together to prevent normal entry or exit. As the officials put the finishing touches on locking up the cage's connections for good, Funyon steps into the middle of the ring to announce. Funyon: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a special attraction steel cage match! The only way to win this match is by climbing over the top of the cage and having both feet hit the arena floor. As soon as that announcement by Funyon is finished, the somewhat melodious sounds of "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks starts to play over the arena, quickly causing the crowd to let loose with their boos and "Slut" chants! Funyon: Introducing first, to announce one of the participants to the ring, the self-proclaimed future owner of SWF...KELLY...CONNELLY! "How can these people give someone like Kelly such a negative reaction whenever she comes out, Comet?" Riley ponders as the leggy red-head makes her way out, wearing a black business suit that shows plenty of leg and a good amount of cleavage. "After all the things she's done in the past to help Max King get some wins in this company, I don't find it surprising at all, really." Comet notes. "But this match will be against her...the solid steel structure of the cage will deter any attempts by Kelly to get involved in this match, unlike at Lockdown." Riley sighs as Kelly steps through the cage door, then the ring ropes. "I know you're jealous of her, Comet, but come on...you should really talk nicer about the future boss of this company." Comet is about to comment on what Riley says, but before he can, Kelly grabs the microphone away from Funyon, looking out to the crowd in the arena. "The last step before greatness is here!" Kelly calls out to the crowd, who naturally don't give her the reaction that she's looking for. "Because tonight, here on MY show, Smarkdown, we're going to see my man take out another punk on his way to the greatness and glory of being on the card for Kelly Connelly Presents: Genesis V! So right here in...um..." she pauses, pulling out a card from her pocket. "What's this all about?" Comet asks. "She can't remember where we are tonight?" "Well, this IS a no-name town." Riley replies. Kelly smiles. "That's right...here in Cleveland, Ohio...you're going to see the slaughtering of a girl that WANTED to be as popular as I am in this company. A slaughtering like what you will see against Manson at Genesis! A slaughtering by the one...the only..."THE ICON"...MAX...KING!" BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! "Superstar" starts to play up over the speakers now, and clad in his royal blue ring attire, as well as having a smug, arrogant expression on his face is "The Icon" Max King...causing an expulsion of boos from the crowd for him. "Max King is going to prove a point here tonight, Comet!" Riley begins. "He beat Cortez last week in a submission match, and to further his training for his submission cage match, he's going to beat the freakish dyke Candace tonight inside the steel cage!" "I still question this intelligence of this though." Comet notes. "Manson isn't going to be someone to take lightly, and King may be risking his body too much to prepare for a match like this." As King enters the ring now, Riley scoffs. "Come on tights boy, look at Max King! He's the epitome of conditioning, Comet! He's going to make quick work of Candace here tonight, especially if she's not recovered from the ass-kicking she got on the last show!" "That is a question that is on a lot of peoples minds, is whether or not Candace is ready to go out for this match after what happened to her against Austin Sly this past Lockdown." Comet states, ignoring the love-fest between Kelly and Max in the middle of the ring. While this exchange goes on between King and Kelly, "Helter Skelter" starts to play over the speakers, and all eyes turn towards the entryway, to see Candace come out...with a black leather mask on her face to cover her injuries from her last match. "...well, I didn't expect this..." Comet notes as Candace comes out. "I'd say it's an improvement." Riley says, not caring about emotional feelings as far as Candace is concerned. Funyon: And his opponent, from Okinawa, Japan...weighing in at 130 pounds...CANDACE! The crowd is unsure how to react for the now masked female wrestler Candace, but as the camera comes close to her face, it can be seen in her eyes that she has nothing but anger and contempt. "What's up with the chick, Comet? She afraid of a little bloodshed that she won't show her face anymore to the public?" Riley asks. "I'm not sure what is with Candace and this mask, but I believe it's the scar that she got in her match with Austin Sly that caused this. She must be ashamed of how she looks now." Comet states as Candace is about to enter the ring. "She wasn't that great looking to begin with, if you ask me." Riley states. "And King showing it's no concern to him as he helps Candace into the ring..." "...yeah, by flinging her by her head into the ring. This match has started prematurely!" Comet calls. With Candace flipped into the ring the way she is, King tries to take advantage and, to the disdain of the fans, escape the cage from over the top. Candace gets up much quicker than King probably would have expected, grabbing his ankle and pulling him off of the cage down to the mat. She starts to kick away at the ribs of King when he's down on the mat now, not stopping one bit as she seems to be wanting to injure King with the kicking. King shows his wrestling skills as he grabs her kicking leg, pulling it so she falls to the mat once again. Candace lands, but not without making sure that her other leg sweep-kicks King right in the side of the head. King and Candace both start to get up to their feet at about the same time, King going to protest with Candace about what she did in the match, but Candace just pretty much charges in to hit him in the head with a spinning kick, then mounts him to punch him repeatedly in the face. "I've never seen Candace this violent before!" Comet notes. "That last match she had must have put her greatly over the edge!" "Either that or it's just that time of the month for her!" Riley calls as Candace drops her elbows repeatedly into the face of King. She turns "The Icon" over to his chest now, and goes to lock him up while he's on the mat with her regal stretch, but King manages to roll out of the move and chops Candace right across her breasts. "Yeowch...I'm no woman, but that must have been REALLY painful for her." Comet concludes. "Oh, you think?" Riley sarcastically replies. "They hurt no matter WHO you are." With Candace holding her chest from the chop right on her breasts, King has regained the advantage in the match, and takes this moment to whip Candace into the ropes. As she comes back towards him, he lifts her up, and with ease flapjacks her onto the mat chest first. King, having a smug expression on his face, goes over to the cage to apparently climb out of it, but then pauses, looking back and seeing Candace starting to get up to her feet. He smirks, kneeling down right in front of her while she's down, taunting her a bit (the camera too far away to hear exactly what he's saying though), before slapping her right across her face. "Oooooh...." the crowd calls, knowing that Candace didn't like that at all. Candace holds her face a bit, then glares over to King, and hits him right in the jaw with a hard elbow shot, before grabbing him by the throat on the mat and starts choking him. "ILLEGAL CHOKE!" Riley is VERY quick to point out. "THAT'S AN ILLEGAL CHOKE-HOLD!" "What do you want done about it? It's perfectly legal in this type of match, and King himself requested this type of match!" Comet states. Candace lets go of King while he's holding his throat, going to the nearest corner and calling for King to get back up to his feet. When King finally does get back up to his feet, Candace leaps off of the top rope and nails King right in the face with a Missile Dropkick! "That could do it for Candace!" Comet notes. "All she has to do now is climb out of the cage, and that's it for her!" Candace glares down at King through her mask, the camera getting as close a zoom as possible...she shakes her head slowly, as if to say she's not ready for this match to be over just yet. She moves in over to King now, grabbing him by his hair to get him off of the mat and back up to his feet, before flinging him head-first into the steel cage! "NO! Candace is jealous of how good looking King is, and now she's trying to make him look as hideous as she probably looks now!" Riley almost cries. "Either that, or she felt that King wasn't out of the match enough for her to make the escape." Comet states. "There does have to be some type of strategy in this type of match, you know." Candace goes to try to slam the face of King into the steel of the cage once again, but King blocks with his hands, elbowing Candace hard into the sternum, before returning the favor that Candace did to him and slams her face into the cage now. Taking a chance while Candace is down on the match, King starts to scale the steel cage now, trying to make his escape. He manages to grab the top bar of the cage, about to pull himself out from the cage before Candace starts to scale the cage herself, showing great agility as she grabs the head of King with her legs and head scissors him down off the cage back down to the mat! Doing that, however, took a bit out of Candace as she landed on her chest once again. "That shows just how stupid Candace is!" Riley calls. "She had the match won earlier with the missile dropkick...well, maybe...but then she went for more punishment on King. Now she's paying for her idiocy!" Candace, despite knocking the breath briefly out of herself from that move, manages to get up off of the mat before King even starts to move. She watches as King finally starts to move when she's completely up to her feet now, and when King is on his knees on the mat, she swings her foot right into the side of his head with a Buzzsaw Kick, causing King to crumple down to the mat in a heap. Candace now goes over to the cage, and seems to finally be ready to climb out of the cage now to get the win. "Candace is going to get the win in this match right now, Riley!" Comet calls. "She's going to get herself back into the winning ways as she escapes the steel cage right now." Candace reaches the top of the cage, but unknown to her, King is back up to his feet behind her, and with surprising speed for someone that was just kicked in the head like he was climbs up the cage and grabs Candace by her head, leaping off of the cage and dropping her from the top of the cage all the way to the mat now with a neck breaker! King, unlike Candace, lands on his back when he drops her with the move, thusly being able to get back up to his feet after the move. Seeing Candace start to get back up to her feet once again, King decides that he needs to put some more punishment on the now masked woman, lifting her back up to her feet once again and moving her over to the cage. Seeing an opportunity with the iron bars set up, he lifts Candace up off of her feet to apparently drop her with an Atomic Drop, but instead holds her up in that position before pushing her through the bars, making sure that one of the vertical bars hits her right into her crotch area! The referees admonish King from the outside of the ring, but King pays them no heed as he grabs the vulnerable Candace, holding her into a Dragon Sleeper position! "That's the way King! King is so smart, Comet...he's going to make sure that Candace has passed out completely in the ring before he goes to try to get out of the cage again. And with this style of hold, there's nothing that..." Before Riley can finish his statement, Candace uses her free hand to try and punch away at the ripped abdomen region of King, rocking King but not breaking the hold just yet. However, one good elbow shot just below the ribs does, leaving Candace dangling by her feet in the steel bars for the moment. King goes off the ring ropes to drop an elbow right into the face of Candace while she's hanging, but the young Japanese woman shows great strength as she sits up just before the elbow can hit, causing King's elbow to crash down into the mat without a target. Candace finally manages to get her feet free of the bars of the steel cage, slipping back down to the mat and rolling onto her feet now. Candace goes to kick King again, King catches the kick to try and counter, Candace then tries to hit him in the back of the head with an Enzuigiri, but King has that scouted, ducking his head just in time and grabbing the other leg while she's down, locking up her legs into the four position and holding her back with a Texas Cloverleaf! "Max King holding Candace down with the dangerous submission move right here, and this is going to put amazing pressure onto the back and legs of Candace right now!" Comet notes. "And if we're lucky, that will keep Candace down just long enough for King to get out of the steel cage and rest up for Genesis!" Riley says. "Watch this Manson, this is going to be a very possible future for you in a very short time!" King continues to pull back with the Texas Cloverleaf in the middle of the ring right now, loving the screams of pain that Candace is letting out as he pulls back with the hold. From the outside of the ring, Kelly leans in as close to the cage on the side that Candace's face is near, shouting at her. "YEAH! TAKE THAT YOU UGLY BITCH! YOU KNOW THAT YOU DESERVE THAT!" Max King finally drops the legs of Candace, leaving her writhing in pain in the mat now, and looks to the nearest cage wall. Brushing off his hands as if he believes that this is over and done with now, Max King calmly walks over to the cage and starts to scale the side of the cage, leaving Candace down. "Prepare the champagne, Comet! This match is all over with now! Max King is going to easily escape the steel cage, and there's nothing that Candace can do about it!" Riley states. "You may just be right about that, Riley. Candace's body was pulled back pretty hard with that Texas Cloverleaf in the middle of the ring, so it's going to be really hard for her to get up that cage to try and stop someone like King from leaving." Comet states, then blinks. "But Candace IS getting up off of the mat now! She's struggling up to her feet, and she's going to try to stop King from leaving!" King smugly poses on the top rope for a bit, unaware that Candace is back up to her feet, and goes to reach for the top bar of the cage again, before getting nailed right between the legs with a low blow by Candace. Kelly holds her hands over her mouth, nervous about the condition of King after that low blow, and Candace climbs up onto the ropes once again, leaping up and taking King down from the rope to the mat with a hurricanrana! Instinctively, Candace goes for a cover in the match, but then remembers that this match is a cage match, and quickly gets off of King and goes over to the cage, now trying to climb up and out herself. "Candace is just lucky that this isn't a regular match, otherwise she wouldn't have had the chance that she did to try and get out of the cage!" Riley states. "Hurting the genetics of Max King like she did, that just isn't right!" "And crotching Candace into the steel bar like she was earlier WAS, Riley?" Comet questions as Candace takes a few deep breaths while on the top rope, before going to make that final climb up, over, and out. Kelly reaches her hands between the bars of the steel cage to bang the mat, making sure that she's making enough noise for King to hear. King starts to stir a bit, seeing Candace going to make the final climb out of the cage now, already halfway over the top bar and about to leave out of the cage. Acting as quickly as he can, King goes over to that side of the steel cage, climbs up quickly, grabs the head of Candace, and drops her right onto her head into the ring with a DDT from the top of the cage to the mat in the middle of the ring, now both competitors down and seemingly out in the middle of the ring. "This match is quickly taking something major out of both Max King and Candace, and again I question if it was wise for King to go into this type of match not to long before his match against Manson at Genesis V." Comet states. "His body may not be in the condition for his match. And as for Candace, she may never be the same after this match either." "King knows what he's doing in this match, Comet. He's preparing his body for the punishment of a submission cage match. As for Candace, she's never been right in the head to begin with, so it won't really matter WHAT you do to someone like her." Riley states, as both Candace and King start to squirm up to their respective vertical positions once again. Candace goes to punch King into the face, leaning all of her body weight into the punch to knock King back just enough, but King retaliates with a punch of his own, the body weight of his punch allowing more damage to Candace than Candace did to him with her punch. While both combatants are in a kneeling position, they start to trade right hands with each other, until King decides to take one of his personal shortcuts and jabs a thumb right into the eye of Candace after blocking one of her punches. King takes the momentary distraction to get himself back up to his feet now, and turns Candace over to her chest now, going to drop a knee right into her back. Candace however moves out of the way, quickly going behind King and getting the chance, with surprising strength for someone her size, hoists King up and drops him down with a German Suplex right to the mat! Candace doesn't let go of her hands, however, as she goes to get him back to his feet once again before dropping him one more time with a German Suplex! "Candace making a quick comeback right now, and this is exactly what she needs. King has been dropped onto his head twice in a row, and I don't think that he's going to get up anytime soon right now." Comet states. "Come on King, get back up! You have a point that you have to prove out there, you NEED to get this win, Max!" Riley calls. Candace looks down at King while he's on the mat, then goes to lift him by his hair again, then flings him by his hair face first into the steel cage! This time, the hit busts something onto Max King, as there's a small trickle of blood coming from his forehead now. "EEP! King is bleeding! Someone get the EMT out here quickly!" Riley calls. "Someone as good looking as King shouldn't have to see his own blood right now!" "That's a part of the match, Riley, and you know it!" Comet retorts. "If he didn't expect to bleed in the ring, he shouldn't have signed for the match in the first place!" Candace only seems to get more fired up seeing the blood coming off of the face of King, grabbing King with a headlock and starting to repeatedly drive her hand into the cut that's on the face of King, trying to intensify the bleeding from his forehead! "Candace is a sadistic bitch!" Riley calls. "Someone should get into the ring with a straightjacket and bind her up tightly, throwing her into a padded room!" "Why don't you go into the ring right now and do it to her then, Riley?" Comet asks, as Candace starts to drive her fingernails into the cut on King's forehead now. "I have to carry you on the booth, Comet! You should know that after all of this time working together." Riley replies. Candace slams the back of the head of King into the mat a few times now, causing The Icon's head to almost start looking like a basketball as it repeatedly hits the mat. With King weary and bloody now, Candace goes to the top rope, looking down at him and leaping off, hitting King right in the chest with a Swanton Bomb that causes the wind to be knocked out of the body of King. Candace makes sure to spit on the downed King, before going to the cage and starting to scale the ring ropes and then the cage bars to make her way out of the ring. "This match is now over Riley...Candace has bloodied up Max King and knocked the wind out of him now, it's academic now that she's going to get the win." Comet states. "This isn't the way that the match is supposed to go!" Riley protests. "King is supposed to win this match, not that masked slut!" Candace scales up the cage, looking back this time to make sure that King is still down on the mat, and then goes to complete her escape from the cage. However, as she leans over to the top of the cage to get out, Kelly is right there to pull out a Singapore Cane from under the ring, and then nails Candace HARD between the shoulders with the cane shot! "Kelly getting involved in a match of Max King once again!" Comet says angrily. "Can King EVER wrestle a match where Kelly DOESN'T get involved?" "Why should he? You use whatever it takes to win a match, Comet. Kelly is one of King's assets, so why shouldn't King have her help him out when the need comes?" Riley questions. "You wouldn't understand. You have a mixed sense of justice." Comet states as King starts to get up, Candace still hanging halfway over the top of the steel cage and halfway in the ring. King reaches up to grab Candace by her legs now, pulling her off of the cage and causing her to hit the top rope throat first. King then grabs Candace by her head, pulling her back and drops her with a reverse DDT right onto his awaiting knee, making sure the back of Candace's neck hits the point of his knee. Max King wipes some of the blood off of his head now, glaring back down at Candace as she lays down on the mat, and lifts her up to her feet once again, going to start slamming her head repeatedly into the steel cage, a look of sheer rage on his face as he continues to brutalize the already hurting face of Candace...ramming it repeatedly into the steel cage, but the damage being done to the face of Candace isn't really seen as the mask obscures her face. "I have to wonder if this is really doing any major damage to Candace though..." Riley asks. "Who knows what kind of padding she has in that mask? She could have a steel lining in it!" "I think the way that Candace is falling down on the mat now proves how wrong you are in this situation, Riley. That mask is just to hide the face of Candace apparently...and who knows what kind of damage has been done to the face of Candace under that mask." Comet notes. King lifts Candace back up to her feet after she falls down from being slammed repeatedly into the cage, and slams her one time to the mat before going over to the nearest turnbuckle. Scaling it slower than usual for him, he eventually reaches the top rope, and after pointing up to the sky with both of his hands, leaps off the top rope and drops a picture-perfect elbow drop right onto the downed Japanese female! King, apparently getting a second wind, rolls backwards right onto his feet now and starts to flex a bit, almost adding insult to the injury that he put onto Candace just a little bit ago. "I wouldn't be posing if I were King in this situation, Riley." Comet states. "Candace could recover a bit at any moment now, and turn the advantage back into her favor. Posing could cost him the win." "Oh shut up Comet!" Riley says. "King is doing this for all of the fans of his in the crowd, and especially for his two biggest fans...me and Kelly!" "You mean his ONLY two fans, Riley." King turns around and sees how Candace is rolled over onto her chest again, holding it in pain as she still tries to get back up to her feet to continue on with the match. King just curses at seeing Candace try to get back up to her feet, and hits her with a sledgehammer blow right between the shoulder-blades now to knock her down, but Candace manages to get back up again! King tries to get back up once more, but this time Candace pops up to her feet faster than King can strike her, and she starts to repeatedly hit King into the side and chest with hard and fast kicks, following up the kicks to the side with a hard roundhouse kick right to the jaw, taking King right down to the mat! Candace gets King back up to his feet now, grabbing his head and using the ropes to drop him down with a tornado DDT! Candace doesn't waste any time trying to climb up now, trying to leave the cage and get the win, but King recovers before Candace can get too far up in her climb and climbs up on the other side of Candace, the two combatants struggling to knock each other off the side of the cage with fists, while each holding onto the cage with their other hands. Neither combatant seems to get one set advantage though, as they're both knocked off the cage at the same time, and both fall on the back of their heads onto the mat below! "Well this doesn't look good for the result of this match..." Comet states as both King and Candace seem to be down and out in the middle of the ring the way that they fell. "If both of these competitors are knocked out, then this match will have to be thrown out." "Don't count King out just yet, Comet!" Riley states. "King can recover from this, you just need to give him the right moment to make a comeback!" However, despite the words of Riley, it's Candace who makes her way back up to her feet first, with King starting to get up slowly after. Candace is about to strike King, but she sees Kelly on the outside, still holding the Singapore Cane that she struck Candace between the shoulders with earlier on in the match. Candace takes a chance, reaching through the bars of the cage to grab the cane, pulling it into the ring with her. When King gets back completely onto his feet, Candace swings the cane as hard as she can, causing a loud smack to reverberate throughout the arena. Candace glares evily through her mask at King, and starts to smack away at his body repeatedly with the cane! "HEY! Someone stop this psychopath already! That was Kelly's personal property, and now Candace is abusing it!" Riley shouts. "Kelly was the one that first used it in this match to help King, now Candace is using it to her favor." Comet notes. Candace lifts King up to his feet one more time, kicking him repeatedly to get him onto the ropes. She follows this up by whipping him into the ring ropes now, going to kick him one more time...but King catches the leg, lifting Candace up, and tossing her into the steel cage. However...this toss doesn't allow her to hit the cage face first...but instead her head gets stuck between one of the squares of the steel cage. "Oh shit, now THIS is priceless!" Riley says. "Look at that slut squirm...there's no way out for her right now!" "Candace just got her head stuck between one of the squares of the steel cage, and King seems surprised by this." Comet notes. "Does Max King have a heart after all? Is he showing concern for..." Comet's question is quickly answered when King kicks her hard once in the legs, making sure that she's still trapped. Smiling widely, he starts to scale the cage right next to Candace, the masked woman not able to get out from being trapped like she is, and King easily reaches the top of the cage, taking his time to slip over the top of the cage. "MAX KING SUCKS!" "MAX KING SUCKS!" "MAX KING SUCKS!" The crowd is almost deafening as King slowly makes his way down to the arena floor, the life being drained out of the exposed part of the face of Candace as the cage partially chokes her out. Making sure to get one more shot into the face of Candace, King lets go of the side of the cage to drop down to the arena floor. *DING, DING, DING!* "Superstar" starts to play over the speakers again, as Kelly rushes over to Max King to hold his hand high up in the air. Funyon: Here is your winner..."THE ICON"...MAX...KING! "One lucky break was all it took for Max King to get the win." Comet notes. "If Candace didn't get stuck head first into the cage like she was, she might just have gotten the victory over King." "But she didn't and King's got a good winning streak going for himself going into Genesis!" Riley states. "Manson, you better watch out...King's on a roll, baby!" The camera fades out on the inside of the ring, as EMTs quickly get into the ring to try to free Candace from being stuck into the square of the cage.

Lobo heads to Candaces' dressing room to find the door locked. He glances nervously at his watch to check the time, then catches his breath. There is still quite a while before her upcoming cage match with "The Icon" After composing himself he knocks softly on the door. "You ok?" he asked in a concerned tone as the door slowly opens. To Lobo's surprise it is answered by Mr. Tanner who looks extremely pissed. "What do you want big and bald?" he barks as Lobo locks eyes on him. "I'll settle for your damn skull on my wall!" Lobo barks back as Frisco trots out of the room to seperate the two. "Guys can we have a little unity here?" he asks as the two men regain their composure. "Were's Candace?" Lobo quizes as Frisco closes the door. "She's with the doc" Inside the lockerroom Dr.Morgan is laying out some surgical dressings on a table. He is being extremely careful not to compromise his sterile field. Candace sits nearby on a wooden bench with a large abd pad covering her left cheek. She also has a three inch think kling dressing wrapped all around her head which is supporting another large abd pad covering her left temple. She is looking sheepishly at the floor as Dr.Morgan speaks. "I'll be changing the dressings today. You must keep these on at all times" he barks in an annoyed manner. "Under no circumstances are you to remove them otherwise your wounds will get infected." Candace nods quietly in agreement as Dr. Morgan begins to remove the white micropore tape that secures the abd to her left cheek. "Please close your eyes because i'm going to be spraying a solution in this wound that is a strong anti bacterial. If it gets in your eyes it could harm them." As Candace locks her arms shut Morgan quickly lifts part of the dressing. He slowly takes a 4cc syring with a 18 guage angiocath and shoots a stream of clear fluid onto the wound. For her part Candace can only feel the cool liquid run down her face as Dr. Morgan quickly changes the dressing. "Just please be certain to always keep this covered. The wound is very deep and will take months to close. The slightest tamperng with it could cause it to get infected which could pose serious problems should the infection get into your facial muscles or nerves" Again Candace merely nods in mute understanding. Her eyes remain locked shut. After a moment Dr.Morgan removes the kling from her head. He gently removes the blood soaked ABD pad from the left side of her head and tosses it into a red plastic bag nearby. A large portion of her hair directly above her left ear has been shaved off as several long lacerations are clearly visible. He quickly cleans them with a four by four and some normal saline before covering them with a telfa dressing and another ABD pad. He mutters to himself as he struggles to recover her head with another kling dressing. Outside the room Frisco begins to pace. He glances at his watch nervously. "Damn it hurry the fuck up" Seconds latter the door opens and Dr. Morgan comes out with candace who is now wearing a mask to conceal her face. As Lobo turns his head to avoid her eyes Frisco smiles at the doctor. "Is everything ok?" Frisco asks as Dr. Morgan shakes his hand. "Perfect" he replies.