Above Average

I've seen spies (other teams fans) before in our stadium, but they were probably a little more rowdy than normal. Still, you have to admit that it was funny. Not worth condemning the Philly fan base which has become an easy target nationally. The best is when we're getting blown out and start Eagles chants. I've gotten tons of dirty looks for that shit. And Berkman gets props for that response. Why didn't Scott man up like he did? The fans would've respected him for it.

JR's got 7 (?!) HR's... he must be on steroids. I'd say test that man ASAP if I wasn't a Phils fan and whats worse is I can't believe Matthews has got me calling him JR. Terrible. On a seperate note, did anyone see how pissed Howard was when he got punched out after Utley's bomb to straight away center?

That was kind of the point... Shawn wasn't better at WM for the title, but this time he proved he was. He had to do it after being so adament that Cena wasn't the better man. They've pushed that since the last match and I don't think it's stealing a spot if something new happens at the end. I do agree there was much more filler, but they were going long like you said because of Edge/Orton and cut it before it got TOO tedious. IF WM was **** I'd give this ****1/2. And like was said earlier frontrunner for WWE MOTYC.

I have to see that one again, but it was a hell of a match. Shawn took one hell of a beating and chose a much better limb to work this time. The early arm work teasing towards the continued arm stuff mid-match was very smart and JR's announcing really put it over. I think Cena may have the best timing of anyone on the RAW roster, because just as I was thinking Shawn's chopfest should be winding down, somebody (I believe John) calls a punch counter-chop spot, although I wouldn't be suprised if HBK did it either. John's worked much better mid-match sequences around the back/mid-section during his 'ground and pound' heel run on Smackdown (Cena/Taker in particular), though knowing he was going an hour probably affected that. Still even the biggest Cena critics have to admit he's alway smart about how his big matches are layed out and he does the little things extremely well. Him shouting 'I know, I let him go!' at the ref after breaking on the STFU, pounding on his arm to get some feeling back during his comeback and asking King what he needs to do to beat HBK stand out. Michaels brought the content by breaking the count on the fall into the announce table, finally punching instead of chopping after John pissed him off and the best one of them all was when Cena grabbed Michaels' hair from the hammerlock and then HBK shoots a half from it into one of the smartest pinning sequences I've seen in a while. Really freshened up a slow mid-section. Nobody really sells longterm anymore so both guys sold extremely well IMO. They also went above and beyond with tons of call backs to the Wrestlemania match... half of the damn counter sequences were built from there. The piledriver counter, second rope FU into the corner powerbomb, Shawn catching John mid-lariat and turning it into a backslide after tuning up the band, Cena catching the SCM when the ref backed him off from STFU in the sequence I mentioned earlier and after all those there are still more I could list, but that ending was clearly the biggest one. The WWE Main Event Style is limiting in some respects but its movie-like builds definitely lead to red hot finishes. Can't say enough about that ending and how all the teases helped it. The only thing that would have made it better is if they didn't protect SCM so much during the delayed pins. It takes Shawn like a minute to make those covers.

The left armed shoulderblocks are fine. JR put over the explanation (Cena gritting through the injury) and John sold the shoulder work the entire time during his comeback... except during the FU/SCM counter sequence.

Not much can bring me down on Cole considering all of his appearences this season have been quality starts or better and he's still building his arm strength. His fastball, using last season as a guide, can only get livelier since it's hovering around 90 right now. And if shopping Lieber by keeping him in the rotation leads to quality starts and Myers suring up our scary bullpen, all the better. But Jon has to continue pitching like he did last time for that theory to hold water.

As a Phils fan, all I heard when Myers was moved into the bullpen was that it was stupid to move your ace into the set-up role. Well, nobody would say it early cause it's the guys second year, but we all knew Cole was our true number one. His change-up is just nasty and that 15 K complete game tonight almost gets the bad taste from last game out of my mouth. Seeing an actual triple play on tv also helped a lot.

this was an interesting episode, considering there wasn't much to talk about. Johnny's deadpan reactions and hating on Clark's work schedule make the show. If you want to write an armbar, please don't let people force you to over describe the hold... that just leads to awkward filler.

I legitimately didn't have any ideas for the show. I'm working on a board promo now that the card is up, but even that idea's a little spotty. I'll be honest, it's difficult to change direction, even when you know it's quite possible you'll need to. Roll with the punches and all that... As for the show. It seems like a lot of us caught a breather with this one, so turning up for next Storm shouldn't be a problem. At the very least this show has cemented that Landon will more than likely have a brand new challenger at the top. Should be interesting to see where that goes.

I will comment eventually, but understandably, I'm a little deflated by the outcome of the PPV. Suffice to say, what was there is excellent and I really look forward to reading the All Show Ironman if it gets completed.

“Oh, so NOW we have two referees!” King bemoans, as slowly Drake starts to get up to his feet! “Where were you guys five minutes ago?!” Not really caring if the ladder is perfectly set up or not Gabe wanders over to the Home Depot hardware and begins what he believes will be his final climb. His knee aching, Drake goes up the ladder one rung at a time... meanwhile the Acer Arena audience begins to chant, praying for some kind of miracle: “LET’S GO LANDON!” *clap!-clap!-clap!clap!clap!* “LET’S GO LANDON!” *clap!-clap!-clap!clap!clap!* “These fans are going nuts, Brian!” Mak shouts. “They believe he can get up after that horrendous fall to the outside! After all the punishment and pain, the crowd is trying to will Landon Maddix on!” “LET’S GO LANDON!” *clap!-clap!-clap!clap!clap!* “LET’S GO LANDON!” *clap!-clap!-clap!clap!clap!* And the crowd finally gets their wish! Landon Maddix, against the urging of Senior Official Matthew Kivell, and plainly ignoring the pleading of Megan Skye… is up and crawling into the ring: “RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” “LAN-DON!” “LAN-DON!” Drake is halfway up the ladder already, as Landon slides into the ring and crawls onto the bottom rung! The crowd continues chanting, the energy flowing through the arena and Maddix as he attempts to catch the reigning World Champion! Everyone is invested in the chase! The Beast has made it three quarters of the way, as the Next Generation makes it to halfway… “It’s a race for the title!” King screams, as Drake makes it near the top of the ladder, Landon grabs his left hand! Drake still reaches up with his right, brushing the title and causing it to swing… he almost has it! “LAN-DON!” “LAN-DON!” The audience is buzzing as all the way at the top, Maddix, realizing he can’t stop the World Champ that way from getting title, lets’ go of Drake’s hand, which he was grasping and swings- *BAM!* -blasting him in the face! The Beast responds in kind- *WHAM!* -popping Landon in the jaw with a solid right! “Now they’re brawling at the top of the ladder!” Mak says, as both men let go of the clinch they have on each others hands and begin to throw down! “The stakes couldn’t be higher and neither man will give up!” *BAM!* *WHAM!* *BAM!* *WHAM!* *BAM!* *WHAM!* “This is dangerous, Mak, real dangerous!” King adds as the ladder teeters under the brawl at the top of the ladder. “They could fall at any moment!” Realizing this, both Landon and Gabe reach up for the SWF title, one hand from each grabbing the belt that means so much… “Both men reaching for the belt they worked so hard to win… the richest prize in our game!” “…OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” …When suddenly, Gabe bends at the waist into a double leg pickup, causing the crowd to react! “OH NO! NO-NO-NO! NO! NOOOO!” Mak repeats again and again, realizing what’s about to happen. “Don’t-don’t do it Gabe!” Francis pleads, as lugging Landon’s weight with him the Beast slowly stands…. “Please don’t do it…” He adds in a low voice, as Drake lowers Maddix down his back and off to the side, latching onto his head… Mak has to make the call. “OH MY GOD IN HEAVEN!” Even King reacts. “OH NO!” “…WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-” …just before he free falls back off the ladder- *BOOOOOOOOOM!* -IN AN INVERTED CROSS FROM THE TOP OF A SIXTEEN FOOT HIGH LADDER!!!!!!! “-OOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The crowd explodes having never seen anything quite like it, but suddenly quiets after seeing the fall of a lifetime! Mak Francis sits in his chair, floored by the scene in the ring. Landon’s spread eagle on the canvas and Drake flops up into a sitting position from the impact… “Landon Maddix has just been driven into the canvas from off a sixteen foot ladder in an Inverted Cross,” Francis shouts incredulously, “a modified version of an Air Raid Crash, by what may be the meanest, baddest, cruelest sunnuva-bitch on the planet!” As Gabriel shakily gets to his feet and starts his climb back up to the top, Megan attempts to enter the ring and check on Landon, but Matt Kivell stops her. Who knows what Drake would do to her if she entered that ring, even if it wasn’t to interfere… “King, I just don’t know what else to say…” Mak adds, as Drake finishes his climb to the top of the ladder, which is the top of the world for him. Nobody has much to say except for the crowd who can only boo and they do: “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” …but the ending is still the same, as Gabe reaches up and unclasps his SWF World Title! *DING! DING! DING!* ‘The Devil’s Rejects’ blares through the PA system confirming what everyone already knows to be true after that brutal finish. Gabriel Drake is still the man. As a tired Drake climbs down the ladder and gets his hand raised, Funyon makes the call: “The winner of this match… and STILL your S-W-F WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION… the ‘BEAST’, GAAAAAAB-RI-EELLLLLL… DRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEE!” “Landon Maddix put up a hell of a fight, taking some huge falls in what has to be the damnedest match I’ve ever been witness to, but the two-time Clusterfuck winner has not exercised those demons of old tonight.” Mak says, shaking his head. “He gave it his all—put his body, heart and soul on the line, but in the end it wasn’t enough, King.” “Enough about that two-time loser, Landon… Gabriel Drake came into this match with the deck stacked against him!” King begins, as trainers, EMT’s and Megan all slide into the ring to check on Landon. Gabe Drake just stares down at the scene around his opponent and walks to the back. “It was a true defense of his title in a stipulation his opponent picked, in an arena that hated his guts, against an opponent who defeated him on the grandest stage of them all, but none of that matters now!” “He was blasted with ladders, had his leg dissected by a steel chair… he even went through our announce table from the top of a sixteen foot high ladder!” Walking down the entrance ramp, exhausted from this crazy match, Drake kisses the nameplate on his belt once again and then slings the title over his shoulder. “But Gabe is still the man and that’s what he set out to prove! The SWF World Title he continues to carry is evidence of that fact!” “The Year of the Beast continues strong and you have to wonder, who can possibly stop Gabriel Drake?” Mak states, as the Beast comes to a stop, standing tall on the stage while raising the title belt high. “No matter how much I dislike the guy one thing is true…” Francis pauses… “…Be proud of this win, Gabe, you earned it.” Is the final word from the Franchise as he begrudgingly nods his head with the show fading to black… ©2007 Smartmarks Wrestling Federation A Superior One Production Raising Workrate by getting the matches in almost on time…

*Sigh* ========= From the Fire keeps on trucking after the ending to the All Show Ironman. In the booth sits the Franchise and the former King of Hearts, ready to give us the rundown of what’s yet to come… the final match of the evening! “Once again ladies and gentlemen,” Mak Francis opens, “while we’ve just witnessed a dramatic end to the All Show Ironman match between Insane Luchador and Zyon, we’re not through because the Main Event is still to come!” “It’s the match we’ve all been waiting for and you’re absolutely right, Mak. Whether you love him or you hate him like I do, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Landon Maddix!” King says while wringing his hands. “He is the only Clusterfuck winner in SWF history to not win here at From the Fire and to lose again would brand him a choke artist! I’m wringing my hands in anticipation because if he loses Maddix’s psyche may be damaged beyond repair!” “Say what you will about Landon Maddix, King, but the twenty three year old kid is a two time World Heavyweight Champion focused on a three peat and exercising those demons of old is just icing on the cake.” The Franchise states. “Universally, anyone would be devastated to lose a World Title match no matter the circumstances!” “Please Mak, the enmity between these two goes all the way back to Genesis! The circumstances matter more than ever and Gabriel Drake, the master manipulator himself has proven that over the last month. This match is anything but nothing personal.” “I’d have to agree as this rivalry took a new twist two shows ago.” Francis adds. “Gabriel Drake assaulted and abducted, Landon’s manager Megan Skye and then left her in the trunk of a car! Of all the vile things I’ve seen happen in this federation—and I’ve seen a hell of a lot, kidnapping that young woman and leaving her to possibly suffocate may take the cake!” “Megan Skye shoved her perky little… nose into Gabe’s business by getting into Maddix’s ear and now that she’s gone they’ll finally get to have a match they should have had at the grandest stage of them all, SWF Genesis VII!” “Well now this stage is certainly set… with ladders surrounding the ring and animosity at an all time high, for the richest prize in our game, the SWF World Title!” The camera cuts to an ominous view of the hardware set in the center of the aisle. The crowd sits in anticipation, low murmurs about the action that’s about to occur fill the Acer Arena. The mood, though quiet is also electric as they wait to- "REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH!" “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” -cheer as "Personal Jesus" by Marilyn Manson comes forth from the PA system, a very welcome change to the previous dead air, causing the fans rise to their feet! The house lights dim and strobes set about the entire arena alternate between completely blacked out and obscenely bright! Until, through the curtain and onto the stage, arrives the challenger to the SWF World Title! “RRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” Theme music blaring, the crowd greets the number one contender with the single largest reaction of the night! Pausing at the top of the ramp for the roaring crowd, Landon Maddix looks dead serious as he acknowledges the filled to capacity Acer Arena! Landon nods his head then takes a deep breath and walks down the aisle, trenchcoat billowing behind him! “Twenty one thousand plus SWF fans have embraced the South Dakota native as if he’s an Aussie, but markedly absent from this grand entrance is Landon’s manager, Megan Skye.” Mak notes as Maddix reaches a ladder situated at ringside. “I saw Megan in the arena earlier today, but I can’t blame her for not coming out after her ordeal.” Maddix comes to a stop, looking the black ladder over and then fakes walking under it before wagging his finger and sidestepping the metal structure with a wry smile! King sighs in disgust. “It’s true we’re missing one whore, Mak, but at least the other whore—the crowd whore that is, still came out. I legitimately thought he might be too scared after the ass kicking he got last week!” Having to add-lib his normal entrance without Skye, Landon slides into the ring from the floor and pops to his feet, but that’s where the changes stop as he spins center ring, falling into the HBK pose while accepting the audience’s adulation! “Maddix is coming into this match off a hard fought loss to the new tag champs, Wild and Dangerous, but what’s really important to note is the fall he took to the outside at the end of that match. That slam to the concrete along with the beating he took from Drake earlier in the night assures that Landon is not a hundred percent going into this-” Suddenly, cutting off Mak mid-word, the Smarktron flares to life and flashes from The Beasts debut vignettes splashing across the screen, as the deliberate strum of ‘The Devil’s Rejects’ begins to quicken. Meanwhile, the slow melody continues and the atmosphere is even amplified by the eerie menacing blue light and the flickering of several white strobes cutting across the darkened arena, until finally… “JAAAAAIIIIIL-BIIIIIRD!” …through all the bright lights, glitz and glammer; face framed by his black hair with white highlights… “JAAAAAIIIIIL-BIIIIIRD!” …with his SWF World Title wrapped around his waist… “JAAAAAIIIIIL-BIIIIIRD!” …Gabriel Drake himself appears through the curtain. “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” “I am the bad one… Distant and cruel one… I am the dream that, keeps you running down!” Hearing the opening lyrics of the Rob Zombie song, Drake pauses on the stage for a moment, looking around the arena spotting each and every single fan attempting to taunt him as mercilessly as they can! Gabe smiles wide and then proceeds to saunter down towards ringside. “-And I can guarantee that this man will take advantage of that!” Francis adds. “This man, who has been one of the most physically dominate champions since, well, I don’t know who to compare him to, but he has held the belt since the beginning of 2007 and probably won’t give it up over his own dead body!” “With distraction… Violent reactions… Scars of my actions, watch me running out!” The Smarktron behind him continues to flash scenes from famous wars and bits of destruction while showing him hitting a Musclebuster on Michael Cross, twisting Akira’s broken body in the Spite and Malice and deforming Landon Maddix’s feature by tossing him into a Steel Cage interspersed… [“HELL DOESN’T WANT THEM! HELL DOESN’T NEED THEM! HELL DOESN’T LOVE THEM!” …Until a final picture of the newly infamous leap off the second rope with Michael Stephens in tow, compacting his jaw with a sickening Mark of the Beast! “I think you’ve got it wrong, Francis!” King exclaims. “He won’t give it up over Maddix’s dead body! He’s going kill him and keep the title… and I can’t wait to see it! This is a LADDER match! There’s no pinfalls, no submissions, no disqualifications, and no count outs which basically means no rules to save him from this ass kicking except going up a ladder and getting the title!” Now at ringside, Drake also stares at the ladder sitting before him and walks directly under it, going to the ring steps before bouncing on his toes then methodically moving up the stairs and onto the apron! Walking to the center, he brings his hands down to frame the World Title on his waist and leans back, living in the moment! “I guess Drake is not one to believe in old superstitions, King?” “Sometimes a little bad luck is a good thing, Mak.” The former King of Hearts notes candidly. “Besides, Maddix is going to need all the help he can get if he’s going to even survive this thing!” “The Devil's Rejects… The Devil’s Rejects…” As the music fades, Gabe enters the squared circle and stares down his pacing opponent from his corner that makes a move for him, but is halted by the referee who sends Landon back to his own corner. In between them, Funyon sits center ring, mic in hand to launch the final match of the evening… “Ladies and Gentlemen, this your Main Event!” Funyon bellows. “The following contest is a LADDER MATCH and it’s for the Smartmarks Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship of the WOOOOORRLLLDDDDDDD!” “YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” “Introducing the challenger, from Huron, South Dakota!” At the mention of his hometown, Maddix stops pacing and discards his trenchcoat. “Weighing in at two hundred and eight pounds, he is a former two-time SWF World Champion and winner of the 2007 SWF Clusterfuck, LAAAAAAN-DON… ‘LA CUUUUU-CA-RACHHAAAAAA’… MAAAAAAAAAAAD-DIX!” “RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” “And his opponent, from Athens, Georgia! Weighing in at two hundred and fifty-eight pounds! He is the reigning and defending… SWF World Heavyweight Champion!” At this point Drake raises the title above his head. “He is the ‘BEAST’, GAAAAAAB-RI-EELLLLLL… DRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEE!” “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Folding the straps of the belt, Gabriel Drake in what has become a little tradition since his non-title loss to Insane Luchador, kisses the nameplate of the title and hands it over to Senior Referee Matthew Kivell. A black lasso lowers from the top of the arena, as Kivell once again raises the World title for all to see. “That’s what it’s all about, folks… the SWF World Title and I can’t think of two better people to showcase why it’s the best belt in our industry!” “I can think of one person who shouldn’t be in the match…” Kivell fastens the belts strap in place and signals for the title to be raised! Slowly, the belt ascends to the heavens and neither man takes their eyes of it! Now that the strap is situated, Kivell looks to Drake and asks if he’s ready. ‘Fuck Yeah!’ is Gabe’s response. A similar question is posed of Maddix, who nods his head and says ‘Yup.’. Swinging his hand to the timekeeper, Kivell signals for the bell… *DING! DING! DING!* And the Main Event is officially underway! Landon and Gabe start out by slowly turning the circle, neither man making too big a move lest they give up an early advantage. After a few second, both men slide forward little by little and come together in a collar and elbow tie-up! “I honestly thought Maddix would come out here guns blazing, but he’s showing incredible restraint considering what’s transpired.” Francis notes, as Drake overpowers Landon controlling the grapple into a side headlock. “The title obviously means a lot to him, as well it should!” “Well, if he came out guns a-blazing all that would happen is he’d die in a blaze of glory, Francis.” La Cucaracha pushes the Beast to the right into the ropes, sending him for the ride, but Drake returns center ring flying into his opponent in a shoulderblock and as their nicknames would suggest, Maddix gets squashed like a bug! Standing over Landon, Gabe reaches down and grabs another headlock, imposing his will on the smaller challenger. Grinding in the hold, Drake wrings his hands to gain a better grip, while Maddix guides Gabe down towards the ropes. Shooting the Beast off, Landon once again sits center ring preparing for a collision, but the freight train-like Drake rolls right through him! “Not the best of starts for Landon so far, King,” Mak states, as his announce partner can be heard audibly chuckling, “but the unpredictability of a ladder match can change things in a hurry. Again, there’s no pinfalls, no submissions, no disqualifications, no count outs and there’s only one way to win… climb the ladder and retrieve the SWF World title which is suspended twenty feet above the ring.” Having marched back over to Maddix, Drake feels the ire of the fans rise as he snitches on yet another side headlock! “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Gabriel laughs outright at this reaction, as Landon squirms in his grasp. Still bullying Maddix around the ring, Drake is slowly pushed to the left, as his opponent tries to liberate himself. Using momentum to get free, La Cucaracha makes Gabe run the ropes one more time, dropping to the canvas quickly avoiding another shoulderblock! Drake rebounds and Landon is up, leapfrogging the Champ’s six feet four inches with ease, causing the Beast to hit the brakes! Turning around after missing his second attempt at a shoulder to shoulder collision, Gabe walks right into… *SMACK!* “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” “GODDAMN!” King hollers, as Landon lashes out with an open hand right! “He just slapped the taste out of his mouth!” “That’s why you should never laugh in your opponents face!” Mak crows, as Drake holds his stinging jaw. The Beast’s eyes narrow and the Next Generation, who was talking some smack suddenly shuts up. “Third times the charm for Landon Maddix and—I don’t believe it… now he’s running away?!” Eyes wide and tail tucked firmly between his legs; believe it or not, Landon Maddix is indeed running away! Scurrying away in fear, Landon slides under the ropes and runs around the ring with Drake nipping at his heels! “What a joke!” King shouts, as Maddix turns the corner and runs in front of them. “All that’s missing is a girly shriek and some chase music!” Checking briefly to make sure his opponent is still pursuing, the sly cockroach dives back into the ring and pounces on a growling Gabriel Drake as he slides in head-first underneath the ropes! Raining down upon the surprised Beast with clubbing blows to his head and neck, Maddix has a fury in his eyes that’s very different from his earlier somewhat business-like demeanor… *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* …the speed of the strikes increase as Landon tries to keep the larger Drake down! Latching on to a handful of hair, La Cucaracha pulls Gabe’s face down to waist height and- *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* -proceeds to kick his face of with five vicious Kawada kicks! Transitioning into a cravate with ease, Landon spins Drake to the mat in a snapmare and then quickly back away- *THWACK!* *THWACK!* *THWACK!* *THWACK!* -before snapping off four Dragon kicks, each one stinging the Beast’s back! Lifting Drake to his feet, Landon moves Gabe back into the rope, but the World Champion will not be manhandled, forcefully shoving Maddix away! “I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes… Landon Maddix uses one of the oldest tricks in the book to take the fight right to Gabriel Drake! There’s the fire I expected!” Mak calls, as not to be deterred, the Next Generation bounds back into the picture- *SMACK!* “WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” -popping Drake with a knife-edge chop! The crowd as usual gives the appropriate response to the first plate of chops being served in this match! Rearing back again, Landon drives his hand into Gabe’s chest- *SMACK!* “WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” -hitting another knife-edge! Drake is still stunned from the Pearl Harbor has been easy prey so far, but he looks to be getting his wits about him. “If this were a restaurant I’d send those chops back to the kitchen!” “And then, hopefully, they’d spit in your food…” Mak’s little dig at King does get under his skin, but not as much as Maddix’s chop to Drake’s upper torso does!! *SMAAAAAACK!* “WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Seemingly answering King’s challenge and plastering Drake’s pecks with a scintillating knife-edge chop!! This one places a significantly red welt on the Champ’s chest and is enough to back him into the ropes for an Irish whip… …but Gabe holds his ground. Leaning against the top rope, Drake digs in preparing for an attack and Landon doesn’t disappoint, slamming his forearm into the Beast’s face! Again! And again! And again… until the World Champ grabs a side headlock to stop the assault! Leading Landon towards center ring, Gabe abruptly spins around, using the momentum from dragging Maddix forward and swinging his right arm into Maddix’s jaw to make for a nasty lariat!! *WHAAAAAAAM!* “That’s more like it, Gabe.” King boasts. “All the little tricks in the world can’t save Maddix from something like that and now the pain begins!” Shaking out his arm from the impact, Drake looms over the challenger to his title that just got knocked ass over elbow and grabs a tuft of blonde hair. Pulling Maddix up to his knees and yanking his head back, Gabe batters La Cucaracha’s chest with forearms! *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* *WHAM!* King’s prediction of pain seems to be prophetic, as Drake, after letting Landon fall back to the mat, reaches down and moves the Clusterfuck winner into a sitting position before- *SMACK!* -knife-edge chopping him across the back! Gabe’s right foot immediately rears back as Maddix seizes up in pain, before speeding straight ahead- *THWACK!* -plastering the challenger’s chest!! Landon falls prone on the mat and Drake takes this as his opportunity to run back into the near ropes, rebounding back with authority for a knee drop to the head… but suddenly stops when a groggy Landon attempts to cover his head, so instead Drake stares down at Maddix before bounding into the air and crushing his ribcage with a leaping knee!! “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Finished, for now anyway, the Beast stands up off Maddix’s stomach and raises his hands to booing from the crowd. “That’s nearly two hundred and sixty pounds to the challenger’s sternum and we can already see Landon is hurting…” Mak calls as sitting up, the Next Generation’s hand immediately goes to his lower back, while the other clutches at his ribs. “…And just think what could happen when a ladder gets introduced, Francis!” King practically sings. “Happy days are here again!” Grabbing a handful of hair, Drake uses his position of power to shove Landon in between his legs in a standing head-scissors! Situated over his opponent, Gabe, in a now familiar taunt points towards the outside of the ring and places his hand in the devil horns, swiping it across his neck! “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” “We both know what that means by now!” “Even the crowd knows, King.” Mak responds to his announce partner, as Gabe latches his hands together around Maddix’s waist! “Each time he tries this I think he’ll come back to his senses and not attempt it…” Francis adds, as Drake snatches Landon off the canvas onto his shoulders and rushes towards the ropes with a snarl… “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” …but as the Beast tosses Maddix over the ropes, he ensnares the World Champ’s head with his legs and sprawls backwards sending them both to the outside in a huracanrana, while he latches on to the top rope with his hand! Holding on for all he’s worth Landon pulls himself onto the apron, saving his body from another bad fall!! “Well scouted by Landon Maddix, who must’ve seen Drake’s match with Alan Clark and known what was coming!” The Franchise states as Gabe starts to move on the outside. “I think the best way for him to win this match is to use his speed and imagination with moves just like that!” The Beast is hurting a little from his tumble to the outside, but he’s tough and gets to a knee, then his feet. Maddix meanwhile looks back over his shoulder and after taking a big breath, leaps into the air… …springing onto the second rope… …and back flipping with a full layout onto Gabe in an Asai Moonsault!!! Nearly landing on his feet, Landon stands from a knee and walks over to the metal ladder located dead center in the aisle. Having someone dump all their body weight on you is not that uncommon in wrestling, so it’s not much of a surprise when the World Champion begins to rise, unfortunately for him Maddix has a plan! Folding up the hinges, Landon lifts the metal would-be weapon and wields the hefty object- *THWAAAACK!* -by blasting Drake square in the face!! “It doesn’t take much imagination to hit your opponent in the face with a ladder, Mak!” “That’s true, King,” The Franchise concedes, “but the fact remains, Landon was the first one to bring the hardware into play and he christened it against Gabe Drake’s face! There’s a learning curve in a match like this and when you have no experience it takes time to adjust. Even at less than a hundred percent Maddix can exploit that advantage.” Maddix smiles at the large cheer that comes forth from the audience after knocking the Beast down, but he’s got more important issues to deal with, like getting the ladder inside the ring. Landon walks over to the ring and slides the hardware inside under the bottom rope, but the back end of it gets caught on the apron tarp. Meanwhile, on the outside, shaking off the effects of a ladder to the skull is no mean feat, but Gabriel Drake does just that while La Cucaracha rolls back inside the squared circle. Bending down to pull the steel structure entirely into the ring, Landon doesn’t see Drake staggering over to the ladder- *THWAAAACK!* -or shoving down on said ladder, levering it directly into his nose!!! “I guess the learning curve isn’t as steep as you thought, Francis. Gabe might not have ever been in a Ladder match, but he knows a weapon when he sees one!” King brags to his announce partner, as Maddix flops to his back. “It’s just simple physics. Exert force down upon an object and watch as it crashes into something else.” Backing away a little from the hardware, Drake pushes the hair out of his eyes and then rushes forward, Yakuza kicking the ladder from the bottom rung, propelling it into Maddix’s mid-section!! *THWAAAACK!* “Now that took imagination!” King adds, continuing to crow about Gabe’s prowess with a ladder. “That ladder struck him square in side and you can tell he’s feeling every bit of it!” The Beast watches from the outside as Landon clutches his ribs and rolling back inside the ring, Gabe lifts the ladder off the mat, while Maddix crawls towards the corner to get to his feet! Situating the ladder like a battering ram, Gabriel dashes ahead aiming for Landon’s face, but the Next Generation dives to the right out of the corner, causing the World Champ to hit nothing but the steel post behind the turnbuckles! *CLANG!* Gabe’s shoulder is jarred so much by the impact that he immediately lets go of the would-be weapon, leaving it wedged underneath the top turnbuckle! Stumbling around and shaking out his arm, the Beast turns back towards the ladder and straight into an awaiting Maddix who pops him in the face with a close quarters forearm! And then another forearm rocks the Champ, allowing Landon to wraps his arms around Drake’s head for the Crash Landon 05, but before he can execute- *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* -Gabe counters with elbows to the nape of the challenger’s neck! Falling away, Maddix turns around right into a kick to the gut, hunching him over!! Sweeping Landon’s arm over his neck, Drake reaches down and grabs the waistband of his shorts, before arching back while lifting Landon vertical in a suplex onto the angled ladder wedged under the top turnbuckle in the corner!!! “Oh, what a vertical suplex by Drake and Maddix’s body—his lower back and kidneys… legs and neck all landing on that ladder!” Francis states, as Landon stays rooted to the spot on the ladder. “With a basic maneuver like a vertical suplex Gabriel Drake has put himself in complete control!” Smiling down at his handiwork, the Beast drops to his knees and rolls out of the ring, ducking under the squared circle and pulling out a second ladder to the chagrin of the crowd! “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” In other news, back inside the ring, Landon finally slides off the metal structure he crashed on to and down to the mat, while the World Champion shoves another ladder into the ring! Drake picks the ladder up near its base and as Landon struggles and pushes himself to his vertical base, Gabe cocks the metal weapon back like a baseball bat- *CRAAAACK!* -and blasts him in the side of his head and shoulder!! “Drake showing total disregard for his opponent with that reckless swing of the ladder, King!” Looming over the challenger to his title, Gabriel toes him onto his back and then, holding the ladder completely vertical, plunges it straight down into Maddix’s diaphragm!! *THWAAAACK!* “Heh, that was the Home Depot special there by Drake! I bet you’re wondering, just like I am, if Landon thinks a Ladder match stipulation was such a good idea now?” King asks, as walking over to the corner, the Beast places the middle of the ladder over the ring post, so that the top points out toward center ring! “Gabe’s just too big, too strong and has some real bad intentions for Landon and that ladder stuck in the corner!” “Landon Maddix is giving up size and strength and power and that may be too much to overcome in a normal match, King,” Mak starts, as Gabe moves towards his aching challenger, “but this isn’t a normal match… it’s a ladder match and the ability to do things to your body and with that hardware which no normal man would try can even any odds!” Picking up Landon by his hair and hoisting him onto his shoulder, Drake lines Maddix’s face up with the steel like a human lawn dart and rushes towards the hardware secured around the corner post- *CRAAAACK!* -but Maddix slides down his back and shoves Gabe face-first right into it!!! Drake bumbles backwards, blinking in pain from the solid contact of skull and metal, when Landon reaches overtop and tugs him into an inverted headlock, before turning and burning Drake with a Landon Eye! The World Champ’s head bounces off the mat from the impact and Gabe rolls out of the ring on instinct most likely, as Landon rises to his feet. Drake holds onto the guardrail while attempting to walk off the effects of Landon’s take on the Eye of the Hurricane! Meanwhile, falling back into the ropes with a tired expression on his face, Maddix looks up and suddenly takes off in a dead sprint, scuttling up the ladder then using it as a diving board to fly over the top rope before plummeting down on top of the Beast on the outside!!! “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” Laying on the ground just in front of the barricade separating them from the crowd, both men sit and are slow to get up after one crazy dive to the outside! Inside the ring, Matt Kivell, who hasn’t had much to do leans through the ropes to check on both men, as Mak Francis comments on the scene. “And that’s exactly what I was talking about! Landon taking a hell of a chance by running up that ladder and coming up and over in a Spaceman Plancha!” “With each big risk he takes there’s just as much a chance that he’ll fall flat on his face, Mak.” King rebuts, as Maddix rolls off of Drake and tries to work out the kinks in his sore body. “If you want to back the guy who has to nearly kill himself when his opponent is already doing a pretty good job of it themselves, you have my blessing!” Making it to his hands and knees, Gabe begins to crawl towards the ring apron just as Landon makes it to his feet. Circling around the ring post just like Drake, Maddix semi-politely (‘Give me your chair!’) asks the timekeeper for his seat at ringside! Drake is now up to his feet; although that’s a generous description and Landon Maddix doesn’t give him long to celebrate this fact- *WHUMP!* -jabbing Gabe in the gut with his new steel chair!! The Beast falls back, leaning against the post for support when Maddix takes a homerun swing- *CEEEERACK!* -but thankfully for Drake only hits the post!! La Cucaracha drops the chair immediately, his hands stinging from the missed assault and Gabriel uses that to his advantage, grabbing Landon by the shorts and tossing him in under the ropes! Now back inside the ring, the Beast quickly presses his newfound advantage, whipping Landon into the neutral corner unoccupied by a ladder! Maddix stumbles out after hitting the turnbuckles back first and Gabe scoops him up with ease, slamming the Next Generation across his knee in a Pendulum backbreaker!! “See how easily momentum changes, Mak.” King says, rubbing it in his fellow commentators face. “All the crazy risks in the world are no substitute for a balanced attack!” Throwing Landon off his knee, Drake ponders his next move and then spots the ladder that’s wedged under the turnbuckle. Pulling the ladder from its position and dragging it almost center ring, the Beast repositioning the ladder with a deft kick and grabs the downed challenger from the mat into his second standing head-scissors of the night! “It’s just like Storm all over again, Mak!” The Suicide King notes giddily. “Maybe Dangerous can come back out and Chokeslam him too!” Gabe points down towards the middle of the ring where the steel structure is and then latches his hands together around Maddix’s waist, before he snatches Landon off the canvas and onto his shoulders! Turning slightly, Drake holds Maddix in place with his hands on his back… *CRAAAACK!* ...but Landon flips out at the apex putting Gabe’s face on a collision course with the steel hardware beloWii! “FACEBUSTER! A facebuster counter to Drake’s Powerbomb!” Mak crows. “See how easily momentum changes, Brian.” The World Champ’s head snaps back from the blow, as Maddix sits on his hands and knees trying to take advantage! Noticing Drake looks out of it; Landon picks up the ladder and drags it to the middle of the ring, setting it up directly under the title! Starting his climb, Maddix makes his way up the first few steps easily, but the higher he gets the more wobbly the ladder becomes… in part because of physics, but mostly because Gabriel Drake has made his way back into the picture, pushing the hardware over and sending it to the mat. This may be a bad occurrence for some, but La Cucaracha does what cockroaches do best… adapt and survive, sadly Drake isn’t quite up to the task and he has to eat a little nuclear fallout from Maddix who dives off the ladder in the form of a Mushroom Stomp!! “You can clearly see it now, King! Landon’s experience in Ladder matches is showing through as he saw the Beast coming and executed an innovative Mushroom Stomp off the top! He’s proving right now that this is his environment and his match to win!” The momentum from the double boot to the back makes the Beast crack his head against the ladder and Landon having landed on his feet, grabs the stunned and groggy Champion and walks him before leaping over and to the outside, dragging him throat-first across the ropes in a Macho neck snap!! Hurriedly hobbling around the ring, Maddix slides back inside right in front of the ladder! Resetting it underneath the title on an angle due to the rushed situation, Landon starts his ascent! One rung, two rungs, three rungs, four… Maddix quickly scales the structure on his path to the belt, but his attack on Drake wasn’t enough to keep him out of the picture and Gabe recovers with the help of the ropes!! Bouncing over towards the ladder Gabe’s six inch height advantage pays dividends as he scales the hardware!! Landon makes it all the way to the top and reaches up, his fingers just below the level of the belt, when a hand comes from below and punches him in the gut! Maddix steps down a rung or two to regain his balance and Drake hits him again this time in the face!! “It’s a battle atop the ladder as both men are trading blows!” The Beast and Next Generation hammer each other with shots to the face, trying to knock each other from their perch… until Drake scores another punch to the gut, winding his foe! Grabbing at Landon’s locks, Gabe- *CRACK!* *CRACK!* -slams Maddix’s head against the top of the ladder twice, weakening La Cucaracha enough to pitch the challenger from one ladder to the other, which was secured around the top of the ring post until Landon soared into it!!! *THWAAAAACK!* “And Gabe Drake has w-” King was about to say ‘won it’, but he’s stopped mid-sentence by the form of Landon Maddix, who after flipping the ladder he hit with his face off the post and on top of his head, is currently tumbling backwards and knocking the ladder Drake’s currently standing on over… …CAUSING BOTH WRESTLERS TO WIPE OUT! “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” Maddix flops on his face, while Gabe lands throat-first across the top rope yet again, this time from off a ladder, but at least the crowd enjoyed it! Kivell looks on in utter disbelief much like the Suicide King, who can actually voice it… “So let me get this straight… Gabe tosses Maddix from the ladder like the rag doll he is and he falls into the hardware stuck around the top of the ring post,” King says in complete disbelief, “but after hitting it, Maddix somehow ricochets backwards knocking over Gabe’s ladder and pretty much destroying them both?!” “That about sums it up, Brian.” Mak responds. “I’ve never seen anything like it and I doubt I ever will again…” A few seconds pass, while Kivell removes the ladder that was perched on the post from the ring for safety reasons and neither Drake nor Maddix are moving much. Probably taking the less punishing blow and being the freshest man, Gabriel Drake stands first with the help of the ropes! On the other side of the ring, Landon Maddix is just trying to get to his hands and knees… and not doing a great job! Done removing the first ladder, Kivell goes after the other one, but Drake stumbles forward and snatches it from the referee’s grasp! Opening it up in the middle of the ring, Gabe sets the hinges and then notices Maddix on his hands and knees! Gingerly walking over to La Cucaracha, Drake reaches down to pick up his challenger and make sure he stays down, when suddenly Landon hits him with a weak elbow to the stomach! Hunching over slightly, Gabe continues to lift Landon and gets another elbow for his trouble! Fighting to his feet, the Next Generation starts firing off rapid punches to the World Champ forcing him back into the ropes!!! “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* “Landon’s firing up here, King!” Mak says, encouraged by his comeback. “He’s not as hurt as we previously speculated!” *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *WHAM!* …until the Beast cuts him off with ONE overhand haymaker that clocks him!! “Well, he certainly is now!” King counters, as Maddix seems to be out on his feet and Drake uses that to his advantage, immediately shooting a double leg pickup! “And because of his little comeback Landon’s now got a cross to bear—an Inverted Cross to be precise!” Finding himself suddenly on the shoulder of the Beast, Landon frantically reaches out trying to latch onto anything that can save him… and luck would have it that a ladder is directly within arms reach! Scrambling off Drake’s back and up the ladder, Maddix tries to climb as fast as an injured man can, but it isn’t fast enough as Gabe quickly turns around and yanks him by his shorts back to the canvas where he lands on the back of his head! “That was a bad fall for Landon Maddix and an easy way to get a concussion.” Mak calls, as realizing that this may be his chance, Drake starts to tentatively climb the hardware, not too sure of himself. “And it seems Gabriel Drake is going to take advantage, as he should.” “I think everyone in the arena can tell Drake’s not so comfortable on that ladder.” King notes, as taking his time, Gabe reaches about halfway up the ladder. “I mean, you could probably make it up there faster, Francis!” “Haha… very funny,” Mak deadpans, “you ass…” Drake makes it about three quarters of the way when suddenly a cheer comes forth due to his challenger, making it to his feet! “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Stumbling around to the other side of the ladder, Landon bounces off the ropes and then grabs a hold climbing as haphazardly as he can to catch Drake! As Gabe reaches the top of the ladder, Maddix’s hand shoots into the picture grabbing his right one to stop him from reaching the belt! Climbing higher, Landon notices Drake’s hand graze the gold… he can reach it even without his other hand! So Maddix in a stroke of brilliance or an idiotic move depending on which announcer you ask, sways back and forth, causing the ladder underneath both men to teeter… …and then it tips over… …FORCING DRAKE AND MADDIX TO STRADDLE THE TOP ROPE!!!! “…OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The crowd, Kivell, hell even Mak though it can’t happen to him anymore wince at that one. The lone person who didn’t wince is an irate Suicide King! “WHAT THE *BEEP!* WAS THAT!” Both Gabe and Landon sit on the top rope, holding their jewels, but the Beast not familiar with this particular situation loses his balance from his precarious position, tumbling to the outside and hitting the ring apron as he goes, landing in a crumpled heap!! Kivell, shocked by the fall climbs out of the ring to check on Drake and clear away the chair Maddix used unsuccessfully earlier. Gabe could have really got hurt by that thing… “A calculated risk by Landon Maddix has saved the match and even swung it in his favor!” “A calculated risk?!” King shouts, as Maddix eyes still wide from his fall, leans towards the canvas and lands on the mat also in a heap. “He pushed them both from a ladder with the express purpose of crushing both their balls! Now that’s nuts!” Pushing himself to his knees, Maddix lets out a low moan. After it happened it didn’t seem like such a great idea, but now that it’s over all that’s important is that Gabe Drake doesn’t have the title. Getting to a vertical base by use of the ropes, Landon checks to make sure he’s all there, before resetting the ladder center ring. Hearing a shout of ‘Hey!’ and spotting somebody move out of the corner of his eye, Landon turns and spots Gabriel Drake’s back and Matthew Kivell standing off to the side saying something. Dashing back into the ropes for a full head of steam, Landon Maddix dives through the bottom and middle ropes in his patented suicide dive, but Drake wheels around- *CEEEEE-RACK!* -AND LANDON GETS A CHAIR WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD MID-FLIGHT!!!! “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” “Jesus Christ!” Mak yells, seemingly as surprised as the crowd who begin to boo. “Landon went for his tope especial—a version of a suicide dive and Drake dented a chair around his dome in mid-air!” “He’d have been better off committing suicide, Mak!” “As crass as that is I bet Landon’s thinking the same thing right now…” Suddenly King changes his mind, citing that he would die before agree with the cockroach. Around the ring, Kivell immediately goes to check on Maddix, and be sure he doesn’t need to get a medic, while Drake drops the chair and slumps against the ring apron trying to regain his wind! Flexing his left knee a little, the Beast cautiously takes a few steps with an assist from the apron and then secure enough in his leg slowly rolls under the bottom rope. “It looks like Gabe is walking with a little bit of a limp.” Mak notes as Drake reenters the ring. “That fall to the outside was far from pretty so it probably happened there. I’d have to say if ever there was a time not to have even the slightest injury to your knee it’d be now.” “Okay lets’ compare.” King begins. “Is it better to limp a little from a trip to the outside or get cracked in the face with a chair from a trip to the outside?” “You do have a point.” “I always have a point, cause I’m always right, Mak!” King adds. “And besides, Drake looks fine!” The Beast pushes himself to his feet and leans over the ropes, checking to make sure that Maddix is still down. Yup, Kivell’s still fussing over him. Gabe hobbles to the middle of the ring and turns the ladder, positioning it right underneath the title. Beginning his climb up the hardware, Gabriel Drake seems a lot more confident in his abilities. The crowd begins booing each step Gabriel makes up the ladder, until a very odd sound comes from their lips: “RRRGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!” …cheers?! They would never pop for him so Drake looks back down and spots the scrappy Landon Maddix clawing his way into the ring under the bottom rope!! Not quite sure if he really believes Maddix has gotten up from that chair shot, the Beast turns around on the ladder! Watching as Landon slowly attempts to move forward and get to his feet, the World Champ thinking it’s better safe than sorry, leaps off the middle of ladder soaring through the air with his arms extended before driving his fists into the back of La Cucaracha’s head in a double axe handle!!! “Drake taking no chances after his last unexpected fall from the ladder, King.” Even though his knee is throbbing slightly, the Beast stands without assistance from the ropes and lifts Landon up to his feet. Throwing Maddix into the ropes, Drake lifts the weary Next Generation for a Stungun into the ladder, but the challenger hooks his hands around the rungs and scrambling off Drake’s shoulder, Maddix tries to climb as fast as an injured man can, but it’s nowhere near fast enough as Gabe turns his back to the ladder, while ducking underneath and between La Cucaracha’s legs! “That Devil’s reject attempt nearly backfired on the Champion there, but now he’s got Landon up…” Mak calls as Maddix’s feels himself being pulled from the ladder and begins to fight back, firing forearm after forearm into the face of the champion, until- *THWAAACK… BANG!* -Drake dumps Landon into the hardware in a release Powerbomb… BENDING THE LADDER’S HINGES!!! “GODDAMN KING!” Mak shouts as the Next Generation sits underneath the warped ladder. “Gabriel Drake just throwing Maddix right into that ladder—the strength of Drake is amazing but the most important thing is the way Landon, well, landed, which was right into the ladder’s hinges!” Kivell, who had been waving his hands for them to stop, slowly pulls the deformed ladder from around Maddix, hoping to do so with as little pain as possible to the man. “Well, Gabe finally got that Powerbomb…” King mentions. “I think they actually broke an industrial strength ladder… I thought I’d never see the day when that happened.” Gabriel Drake spotting that the ladder is of no use, rolls outside the ring and lifts up the tarp. Searching underneath, Gabe discovers another piece of hardware and pulls it out from under the ring. Looking up, Drake sees Kivell has completely removed the ladder and Landon Maddix’s body is halfway outside the ring hanging over the apron. Pushing the ladder inside, it gets caught on the ring apron, but the Beast slides in after it anyway. Going to the front of the ladder, Gabe finally gets it all the way inside the ring. “…Hey, does Landon have that-” “-Gabe!” King exclaims interrupting his partner. “Look out, look out, look out—LOOK OUT!” But Drake doesn’t look out, turning around- *CEEEEE-FUCKIN-RACK!* “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” -and walking right into a HOMERUN SWING WITH THE PREVIOUSLY DENTED CHAIR!!!! “It’s going, going… and quite frankly Gabriel Drake’s chances of retaining his title may have just left the building!” The Franchise calls, as Drake seems to have a delayed reaction, before crumpling to the canvas! “Landon getting revenge for that earlier chair shot from the Beast!” “This is a LADDER match, not a ladder and chairs match!” King says, dejected that his wrestler is now losing. “This isn’t right!” “That wasn’t what you were saying a little while ago, King.” Maddix seems to be on wobbly legs, but that doesn’t matter much to him! Looking at the Beast who seems to be out, Landon isn’t through! Raising his bent chair above his head, La Cucaracha swings the weapon down- *CRACK!* -across the left leg of his opponent!! Kivell waves his hands hollering for him to stop, while Gabe shouts out in pain and Maddix revels in it… but this is about more than revenge. He saw how Drake fell on the outside and if he can take out his leg… *CRACK!* *CRACK!* “He’s lost his mind, Francis!” *CRACK!* *CRACK!* Stumbling back into the ropes behind him, Landon just haphazardly tosses the chair to the outside as an afterthought to staying standing! “Actually King, I don’t think Landon Maddix has ever been saner!” Francis says, as Kivell comes over to check on Drake. “By attacking the knee, he can severely limit Drake’s mobility—this wasn’t some plan given to him or discussed before the match… Landon came up with this on his own, on the fly and probably after noticing the Champion’s limp!” Picking up the brand new ladder Drake just brought into the ring, Maddix unfurls it and moves the hardware to the corner. “And it doesn’t look like he’s done!” Mak finishes, as Landon basically falls into the ropes, still bruised from all the accumulated damage he’s received and after climbing through them begins to slowly scale the turnbuckles! Meanwhile, in the center of the ring, Gabriel Drake while still clutching his knee has enough foresight to push away the mothering head referee, sending him into the ropes… “…OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” …which in turn crotches, Landon ‘La Cucaracha’ Maddix! Falling back to his knees, Gabe has bought himself some time. But not much because Landon, while stunned, is not done with his attempt to climb. Mustering up some guts, Maddix lifts himself off the metal stud his balls fell across and very gingerly continues his trek. Getting to his feet on the bad wheel, Drake also realizes that as he’s scaling the ladder from the inside, Maddix is climbing from the outside… and whoever gets to the top first will have control of the situation! Both men stare each other down as they climb to the pinnacle and the two meet at the top of the steel structure!! Drake slams Landon’s head down on the top of the ladder and then grabs his arm, slinging it over his own shoulder prepping for a Superplex… from the TOP OF THE LADDER!! “Is he trying to do, what I think he’s trying to do?” Mak asks, alarmed by the scene while the crowd all stand as one in anticipation, as Gabe lifts… but Maddix blocks, falling back onto the ladder!! Another lift by the World Champ… and another block by Landon who loses his footing and steps out onto the top rope in order to gain some stability!! “This is looking pretty dangerous, Mak!” King states as the Next Generation stands wobbly on the top rope. Suddenly Drake smiles, reaching out and grabbing Landon by the throat! “…And it’s gone from bad to worse for Maddix and I love it! A Chokeslam to the floor!!” And that seems to be the plan as Gabe tries to clench his opponent’s throat, but Landon slaps away the hand- *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* -and crushes Drake’s head into the top of the ladder multiple times! His opponent sufficiently stunned, Landon wraps his arms around Gabriel’s head and shoulders. “What the hell… he’s not! NO!” Mak shouts, as the cockroach dives into the air… “OH MY GOD!” *BANG!* …SPIRALING DOWN TO THE CANVAS IN A CRASH LANDON FROM THE TOP OF THE LADDER!!!!! “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” The moment speaks for itself, as both men are devastated by the high impact move! Landon sits, clutching his bruised back, ribs and neck while Gabe rolls around the ring, holding his face and finally sliding to the outside due to not knowing where he is! “…Earlier today Landon Maddix’s attempt at the Crash Landon 05 was thwarted by Gabriel Drake,” Mak starts half in shock, “but he finally got it back in spades with the original Crash Landon!” Sitting center ring, La Cucaracha body in burning, but he knows Gabe’s in the same situation. Rolling from his back to his belly, Landon looks over and is shocked to see the World Champ is not quite through! Crawling underneath the ropes and rolling to the outside, Maddix lifts up the tarp and pulls a ladder from beneath the ring! And he keeps pulling!! And keeps pulling… until a LARGE ladder comes forth from under the squared circle!!! “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” “That’s a big ass ladder, Mak!” King notes, as Landon lifts the huge piece of hardware and hefts it onto his shoulder! “It has to be around sixteen feet high and of course, the only ‘inventive’ thing Maddix can think of is hitting Gabe in the face…” Kivell, who was checking on Drake, pleads with Landon from behind the Beast to stop, but Maddix runs forward anyway… *THWAAAACK!* …plastering KIVELL right in the face as Drake ducks out of the way!!!! “Landon was going for Drake, but he hit Kivell—and he doesn’t even care?!” Francis says, laughing outright at Maddix’s shrug of the shoulders. Bringing the ladder over to the ring, Landon proceeds as if nothing happened and shoves the gigantic ladder inside. Slowly getting to his vertical base, the challenger is hurting as he sets up the big ladder! Scaling the rungs to the top, very slowly what Landon doesn’t see while he’s climbing this huge ladder center ring, is Gabriel Drake scaling the shorter one set up in the corner!! Reaching the top of the normal sized ladder, the Beast dives off, shocking the crowd… “…WOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” …BY IMPALING LANDON AS HE SPEARS HIM OFF THE OTHER LADDER!!!!! *BANG!* “Good god, King, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this… a SPEAR from one ladder to the other!” “After all the big falls Maddix has taken over the past two weeks, there is no way he gets up from that!” King adds excitedly. “Landon completely forgot about Gabe after Kivell got taken out, but with that Spear he got reminded pretty quick that this match is the Beast’s to win!” Inside the ring, Maddix and Drake sit in a mass of humanity near the ropes, while the crowd finally starts to boo the World Champ! Rolling a hacking and wheezing Landon outside the ring, Drake bumbles to his feet and after resetting the hardware directly under the title, begins his climb to the top of the ladder! With each slow step to the top, the Acer Arena audience begins to boo even more audibly! Making his way to the middle of the ladder, the Beast thinks he has it in the bag… Maddix is down and there’s nobody to stop him from climbing the ladder to success and finally ending this match! Step by step, Gabriel is now three quarters of the way there! Continuing his trek single-mindedly, he doesn’t notice the entire crowd rising to its feet… “He’s got it!” King crows, as Drake’s hand brushes against the belt! “He’s got it—hey, wait a minute!” “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Quite possibly one of the biggest cheers of the night comes forth from the crowd when Megan Skye rushes down the ramp and steps through the ropes into the ring! “Hey, I thought she wasn’t coming out! What’s she doing here?” King asks speculatively, as Skye, whose appearance is something of a shock to Drake, comes up to the ladder and begins to push! “Is she shaking the ladder?” “Wait, I don’t think she’s shaking-” Mak says, his voice tense, while Megan shoves the ladder over completely… “MAK DISCONNECT! DISCONN-” King screams, doing just that and diving out of the announce booth! …SENDING HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE… “I’M IN A DAMN WHEELCHAIR I CAN’T GO ANYWHERE!” *CCCCRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!* …AND HURTLING THROUGH THE GODDAMN ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!!!!!!! “YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The crowd it seems is happy about the return of Megan Skye and her impact on this match: “THAT WAS AWESOME!” “THAT WAS AWESOME!” “THAT WAS AWESOME!” “THAT WAS AWESOME!” Lying in a pile of broken table bits and announcer notes, sits the quivering mass of Gabriel Drake! Beside him, Mak has been knocked out of his wheelchair and King reconnects his headset trying to think of something to end the dead air. “When the hell did this thing become a tables, ladders and chairs match?!” Brian says mostly to himself as he tries to stall. “Uh, we’ve got Landon Maddix practically coughing up blood on the outside and now Gabriel Drake has flown through our announce table, taking out Francis and all our viewing equipment… so I guess I’m flying solo for now!” “Everything’s a complete mess over here, this match is completely getting out of control—and can we get some help for, Mak… and maybe another ref, since Maddix killed the first one?” King inquirers, as Megan steps through the ropes and goes to check on her man on the outside, who is still feeling the effect of his spear. At the urging of his manager, Maddix slowly gets into the ring and shifting the ladder back on to its base, Landon makes his climb towards the title! Going up the hardware one step at a time, Maddix feels the energy from the crowd as they chant his name: “LAN-DON!” “LAN-DON!” “LAN-DON!” “LAN-DON!” Making it about halfway up the ladder, with Megan Skye and the entire audience cheering him on, Landon Maddix pauses to catch his breath. He can feel it in the air, its time for him to exercise the demons of old… “I just knew that bitch, Megan Skye would get involved since it was NO DQ and now she’s given Landon Maddix a clear path to the title!” When suddenly to the left of the Suicide King, Gabriel Drake crawls from the wreckage! “I don’t believe it! I literally don’t believe it! Gabe Drake is still in this thing!” Stumbling to the apron through the broken table, Drake looks up and spots Landon almost three quarters of the way up the ladder. Climbing into the ring, the Beast is spotted by everyone in the arena, except for the title challenger… “Gabe is willing himself through this; he couldn’t give a damn about the crowd who’s booing him or the fact that Megan Skye interjected herself in the match right now!” King calls, as Gabe enters the scene looking a mess, but still functioning! “All he’s focused on is stopping Landon Maddix and keeping his title!” Swiftly moving into position and lifting the bottom rung of the ladder off the ground, the Beast dumps Maddix from his perch… …SENDING HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE… *THUUUUUUMP!* …AND STRAIGHT TO THE ARENA FLOOR BACKWARDS!!!!!! “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” “HO-LY SHITE!” Mak Francis has finally been helped back into his chair and reconnected, as Maddix sits on the arena floor! It seems to have picked him up mid sentence. “-could have broken his back! There was no table to break his fall, no real padding on the arena floor—nothing but cold hard ground?!” Megan shrieks at the scene, rushing over to her man who looks like a certified train wreck! Afraid to touch him, incase his back is broken or something equally horrific, Skye is unbelievably thankful for referee Mark Hebner who comes down to ringside to finish officiating the match! “Skye looks distraught out there, all teary eyed and stuff…” “Wouldn’t you after seeing someone you cared for take THAT?!” Mak implores of King, who just kinda shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t you care about anyone but yourself?!” “Not really… although I do care if Maddix wins this match or not.” King responds. “After that, I’d say he’s losing, which is good in my book!” Resetting the ladder directly under the title, Gabe goes to climb and finally win this match, but then he spots Megs, huddled with a new ref, over Maddix’s prone form. Feeling all the pain that wracked his body from falling through a table at her hands, Drake makes up his mind. Grabbing a tuft of Skye’s blonde locks, Gabe lifts the valet/manager up onto the apron and yanks her through the ropes! “Hey asshole!” Mak shouts! “Let go of her! She’s a woman for christ’s sake!” “Megan Skye, once again, stuck her nose in Gabe and Landon’s business and now he’s going to get that bitch back!” King crows. “I think it’s just proper justice!” Gripping her throat, Drake starts to talk smack to the woman who caused him so much pain… and as she fades in unconsciousness, she remembers what she should’ve done that Storm two weeks ago! *…CHING!* “She kicked him in the balls!” Staggering back into the ropes, Megan rebounds forward and connects with some sweet shin music to the injured left leg of Drake and then with him hunched over, spikes him on his head in a DDT! “No, proper justice is what just happened, King!” Mak responds to King’s earlier statement. “The Skye is the Limit! Megan Skye has just re-evened the odds and now Maddix has a chance! The sky really is the limit now!” Mak calls and the crowd loves it: “SHE’S HARD-CORE!” “SHE’S HARD-CORE!” “SHE’S HARD-CORE!” “SHE’S HARD-CORE!” A ghost of a smile on her face, Megan’s demeanor suddenly changes, her focus hurriedly going back to checking on Landon. Skye quickly steps out of the ring, while Hebner moves inside to tend to Drake and finally up from his extended slumber, head referee Matthew Kivell takes his officiating partners place on the outside checking over Maddix.

I went there and to Lombardi's when I went on a similar Pizza in NYC trip with my ex. If you're on Bleeker you might as well find Mangnolia bakery and get some cupcakes to finish the tourist experience, cause if I remember correctly it's fairly close. Or I could be confusing it with the location of this Tex-Mex place we ate outdoors at...

This was a total cheese episode, but it was fun cheese that had me going WTF before every commercial break. I loved the fact that they brought in these new people just to kill them off in arbitrary fashion. I think the point of Nikki and Paolo dying was that they were guest stars and everyone knows guest stars are just there to die. Nikki even said it in the beginning of the episode. You can tell the writers had fun with this one and I got that tales of the crypt vibe as well. It told an interesting story, but I hope the story actually advance next week cause all I remember from the preview in the words of Joey Styles is... CAAAAAAAAAAAAT-FIIIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHHHHHHTTTTT!

Sorry my promos almost finished but I fell asleep last night at my laptop and couldn't finish this morning. Actual show comments when I'm done with the 'money promo'.

Completely agree. Then everyone can bitch ad nausium and deservedly so. That would just be weak writing, period. EDIT: didn't make it clear what I agreed with.

Well, that's true... but Heroes is in season 1, just like when everybody was saying the same thing about LOST compared to Twin Peaks (I think that was it). Can't wait for Heroes season 3 when everyone's like that new serial drama about something scifi/mystery that hasn't been done quite like it, is in season 1. Mass exodus I tell ya. The writing is similar quality but granted not as good as the first season. You're just used to it is all. Sit back, relax, let the show do its thing and pray that the worst thing you have to complain about is a great episode with a (I guess) somewhat formulaic end.

Well, the title of this episode confirms that Locke's dad is the previous Sawyer, not that most of us hadn't inferred that already. I'd just like to point out that everything is obvious in hindsight but this 'Holy Shit' moment was pretty much given ahead of time. I still didn't realize it until they wanted me to, but looking back it was 'obvious' considering I've watched the show since season 1 as well. At least the hate is more constructive now... instead of the balance which they fixed, it's the cliffhanger endings, which has been used in serial dramas since the beginning of time. Could it have been better, sure, but the entire series is built on the connections between the characters. I know a lot of people want to forget about that entire plot device but they might as well wrap up the loose ends before they get canceled.

...well, when they talk about it on Skull Radio, they won't have to work that hard now. There's a little bit more to it (at least I hope it comes across that way), which should come out on Storm, but they can pretty much quote this verbatum.

Nope, go back to smoking up. I have sworn off the chiba so you can make up for me. Anyway, back to the actual promo. Like MVS said, this is better than my first promo too. As Stephens has shown though I think that the one thing you guys'll definitely get out of joining our fed is character depth. I'd like to see more about why Rex craves competition and you can probably steal a little from CM Punk's ECW run for example. Just a thought.

I'm going to comment on Asia Underground vs. Zyon and Clark. To tell you the truth, creative writing exercises like first-person, from a fans perspective (which I tried once) and this... which I can't quite quantify are good. They don't always win because they are different, but it can help to get you out of a rut. I think the one thing this match lacked was a way to significantly break up the prose. It's why a lot of us use ONE... TWO... for our counts. If this was a book dialogue and paragraph breaks would be good enough, but we're writing about dynamic action sequences and it all feels very static. Your lack of pinfall attempts or acknowlegdment of those pins except for the finish made it difficult to read. As a match its fine, if not a little bland (minus the IL sighting), but it read and felt short, as Johnny said during Skull Radio. That's something that will have to definitely change. The story was good and the added prose gets across Alan's attitude about the match, but Zyon gets a little lost in the shuffle. It'd be nice if the perspective included his realizations through the match more. You could have toyed around with the tag idea and had Alan avoid a few tags earlier and then have Zyon notice he needs to catch Clark off guard to get the tag. Something like that that we wouldn't have known without reading the match in this particular style. If you're going to refine this style I'd suggest including more pins to add to the structure and also to make it more dynamic by taking words from the opening walk to the ring sequence to use for your action.

So is Danny still the Immortal Hulk Williams or something else? I'd like to see him become Tornado Williams and no sell all ball shots, while being the next great white dancing machine he is... Book it! Move over Travolta, it's Saturday Night (err, actually Monday...) and Danny Willliams has caught the Fever. In other news, good promo Danny.

I'll take the opening promo

The compass bearing was due to the chapter and verse of the scripture. John 3:05. That's the heading Sayid and Locke confirmed during the episode you're talking about. I think "lift up your head and look North" is an actual verse, but I'm not sure if it's in John. I also believe the word John is why Locke spotted the verse and decided it was important. It is his name after all. And I think that episode was great. They've found the balance between exploration and mystery again which everyone was pissed about on here. It's clear the stagnation during the Jack/Kate/Sawyer situation upset people, and that was due to them exploring through dialog instead of adventure. I enjoyed it, but I can see why others wouldn't and LOST has done a good job of running about six/seven high quality episodes pretty much back to back. I can't wait for next week. Locke episodes are always big on reveals and a good chance for some people to jump back on.

I probably should run down something in detail but I think Drea handled it well. I may get into someone's match if they ask. But on to the show... Clark's retrospective actually has me interested. Normally when people do those, they're building towards something large in scope for the character. I heard on Skull Radio that he's retooling his plans so this is a good start. Also, Michael Stephens is basically all over the show. I think when running thread like that happen it bodes well for us as a fed. Good bit of story telling with IL picking up the big pin, as though Storm promo's tell a different story, Stephens is fazing himself out even through the little things like taking a backseat to IL's story. WC wrote what I expected and it works with the way his characters been built. I'm just glad he got his title defense out of the way so it looks like W&D at the PPV. I do wonder what Calvin would have done with the belt though. It would have been sponsored by Tom Flesher and used as a toliet seat or something. Angles are starting to cook and new people are apparently on the way. A special mention to Landon for being one of the best promo guys I've seen and me for writing Toxxic correctly, since Landon can't As an aside it must feel odd for Xero to come back writing a true heavyweight after being the king of the DDT way back when. I'd love to see some throwbacks to that in his matches and moveset.