Above Average

Picking Michael up to his vertical base, Gabe seizes Stephens’s arm and backpedals a little whipping Mike into the corner with so much authority he falls to his knees, causing the World Champ to hit the buckles so hard he rockets to the canvas face first!!! Drake stands, slowly extending his arms wide, hands formed in the devil horns, palms toward the crowd practically pleading for their jeers with his taunt... “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” And he definitely gets them! While Drake is posing, Stephens groans on the mat, holding his back and thumping his leg against the canvas… but Mike is a tough son-of-a-gun and he attempts to suck it up, reaching above him and grasping the middle rope! Rising sluggishly, Stephens finally makes it up enough to prop himself up in the corner! “He should just stay down.” King comments, as Drake walks towards Stephens. “Toxxic’s six-feet nothing, two hundred pounds maybe soaking wet! His body will probably be broken at the end of this, if it isn’t already!” Gabriel bends at the waist, hoisting Stephens onto his shoulder and slams him down on the metal stud! Looking up at Stephens as he refuses to whimper, Drake starts his climb up the turnbuckles, heading up top for what will presumably be a Top Rope Superplex! Clubbing Mike on the back of his neck, Drake places his left foot on the top rope, preparing to go all the way up top, but the woozy World Champion bangs his forehead into the Beast’s head, madly picking up the pace of each headbutt as he goes!! *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* “YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” Mike deliberately encircles his right arm around Gabe’s head clasping it under Drake’s shoulder with his left which throbs so painfully he contemplates not doing what he’s thinking of, but then he stares out at the crowd… he did this to the tosser once before and it may hurt him, but damnit, if that’s the case then this one’s gonna’ REALLY bleedin’ hurt Gabe… *BANG!* …When he dives off the ropes, slamming Drake into the mat on the back of his head at such a nasty angle, he flops over to his stomach like a mackerel!!!! “HO-LY SHIT!” “HO-LY SHIT!” “HO-LY SHIT!” “HO-LY SHIT!” “SIDE EFFECT OFF THE TOP ROPE!” Mak roars over the chanting fans, grabbing his announcer partner’s shoulders and shaking him so vigorously that his Santa hat falls off! “No matter how fragile you think Michael Stephens is… he’s the World Champ because the guy just won’t give up! He perseveres through anything you throw at him and then shoves it right back down your throat! The man has heart, end of story!” “Yeah, yeah,” King says looking at Mak funnily after his odd reaction, “The spot-monkey pulled off the same thing at the Elimination Chamber, but this time the match is one-on-one! There’s no Landon Maddix to throw soft-drinks or fluke pins by Zyon to save him from Gabe tonight!” Kivell checks on Drake first after the nasty fall, raising his fist as Gabe responds and then verifies that Stephens wants to continue, pumping his fist high after making sure he can still go! From there the ref immediately goes into his count: ‘ONE!’ No body moves. ‘TWO!’ The crowd cottons on counting along and stomping their feet while both men still sit on the mat! “THREEEEEEEEEEEE!” The noise continues to get louder as both Drake and Stephens barely begin to move! The Sensation clutching his ribs and reaching for his knee, while the Beast holds the back of his neck banging his fist repeatedly into the canvas. “The crowd can feel it!” Mak shouts over the roar. “Their World Champ can begin to turn the tide right here! It may be cliché but the first man to his feet will have the advantage!” “FOOOOOOOOO-UR!” “Tired clichés are right up your alley and where do you get off calling him their World Champion, Francis?” King requests of the Franchise. “Does having the fans support really mean anything? When I won the title I was their World Champ too, whether they liked it or not!” Another count down, as both men struggle to rise! Stephens sits up, flexing his hand and trying to shake the cobwebs out, while to his off to his right, Gabriel Drake pushes himself to his hands and knees!! “FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-VE!” “And I’m sure the ratings reflected that.” Francis mumbles, getting a good dig at King, who proceeds to rant about how much of a draw he was. Mak interrupts intent on actually calling the action. “-Now the question is who’s going to get up first…” Suddenly, Mike and Gabe’s eyes meet! It’s now real apparent to the both of them that they have to hurry or risk losing the advantage! Stephens turns to the side and plants his hands, pushing up just as Drake does the same from his knees… “SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-IX!” “…Damnit!” Mak curses, as Matthew Kivell claps his hands together signaling that Drake has made it to his feet, while Stephens shakes out his numbing left arm still on the mat! The audience practically groan as one as Drake ambles over towards Stephens, still holding the back of his head while reaching down with his other hand to pull Mike up to his vertical base – but the Brit from Nottingham uses his hard head to his advantage once again, yanking Gabe chin into his head as he sits-out on the mat!! “Sit-out jawbreaker!” King and Mak announce at the same time, one in sorrow and one in joy! “Clichés are made to be broken!” Francis adds, the crowd letting out a huge cheer while Mike gets to his feet! “YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” The Beast backpedals away into the ropes holding his jacked-up jaw and stumbles forward from the momentum, right into the diving shins and feet of Michael Stephens forcing him to face plant!! Using the ropes to get up, the Sensation stands over Drake who has gotten to his knees and turned around, but is still feeling the effects of the soccer tackle!! Pulling Gabe into a standing head-scissors, Mike underhooks both arms, but Drake’s arms unlike his legs are perfectly fine and he yanks down, pulling his right arm from Stephens’s left! It’s as if he steals the Champion’s crutch when he picks the single leg, sending Mike quickly to the mat! Then the Beast drops down, crossing both legs at the ankle and sure they’re secure reaches around Stephens’s upper torso cranking his head and body at an awkward angle!!! “YES!” King bellows and then begins laughing. “He’s got him in the Regal Stretch! What a great way to achieve his dream, by using the move of the chump who passed him up for Toxxic all those years ago!” “I actually have to agree with you there.” Mak adds begrudgingly shocked by the scene. “This would have to be the ultimate humiliation for the Champion! Beaten by the move taught to him by his mentor… but Drake’s made a mistake!” Francis adds, watching the ring carefully. “He wasn’t thinking about his ring positioning when he shot the takedown, just embarrassing Stephens most likely and he’s pushed his opponent back into range of the ropes!” Michael Stephens shuts his eyes and cries out in agony! He knows that the ropes are right in front of him, but the pain is searing through his body! He can’t focus on the cable probably just a little outside of his arms normal reach! This hold is very potent and he knows it! The longer this goes on the easier it will become to succumb to the pain, so with his ribcage burning more and more from each inch he stretches out his left hand, Stephens makes a play for the ropes!! Opening his eyes wide, he spots the rabid fans stomping their feet, screaming and pleading for him not to tap as his gropes… …But his hand falls just short! ]“Tap! TAP, Motherfucker! TAAAAAP, you son of a bitch!” With Drake shouting in his ear, a sharp pain in his side informs him that this is as far as he can go… Stephens’s left hand hovers for a second, seemingly having a mind of its own, but the will of the champion overrides what his body is telling him and with a final lunge and immense pain… …He makes the ropes!!!! “YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” Kivell moves in asking for a break and after two counts, Gabe drops the hold. Rolling away to his knees, the Beast stares at Stephens, whose hand has not yet let go of the bottom rope. “I don’t believe it!” King says disconcerted by the scene. “He shouldn’t have been able to reach…” Standing up, the Beast grabs Stephens by the ankle and tugs a few times trying to get him center ring, but the Champ’s grip on the ropes is too strong! Looking at Stephens with what can only be wonder, Gabe uses both hands and finally haul him towards the middle of the ring! Walking around in front of his former friend, Drake grabs him by the head and sticks him into a standing head-scissors!! “He’s going for a Demon-bomb folks and with Drake’s raw power this match may be over… if he decides to pin him.” Mak adds as an afterthought. Bending at the waist Gabriel hoists the World Heavyweight Champion up onto his shoulders, holding him at the apex for a second… Before Stephens flips out!!! “COUNTER!” Mak calls, in full markout mode! “Where does Stephens get this from after all the punishment?! He’s superhuman, King!” Using his extraordinary dexterity, the Sensation lands on his one knee and wrapping his right arm around Gabe’s leg, Michael stands, picking Drake’s leg while back-tripping the other and bracing it with his left arm!! Mike attempts to flip Gabe over onto his belly, but the challenger is much too strong for that, so mostly using his uninjured right arm, Stephens lifts Gabriel’s body up enough to slide his feet under and once secure leans back directly towards the corner, heaving the Beast overhead… …Over the turnbuckles… “NO LOOKOUT!” King squeals, seeing Drake continue to fly. …And into the STEEL RINGPOST FACE FIRST!!!!! *THUNK!* A dull thud echoes in the cool nights air, as blood practically explodes from Drake’s forehead!! “Oh, he busted his head wide open…” The Suicide King states, concern in his voice, as Gabe staggers backwards, dark red viscous liquid seeping from a gash in his face!! “Stephens finding the strength from god knows where catapulted the Beast into the unforgiving steel ringpost…” Mak calls suddenly cringing as he gets a clear shot of Drake, once he has stopped staggering backwards; now instead breathing heavily while the blood flows down his face, over the side of his nose and to his chest! “And the challenger has been busted WIDE open!” In the center of the ring the Beast stands on wobbly legs seemingly teetering on the spot, ready to fall at any moment! Michael Stephens hobbles to his feet and takes off for the near ropes hoping to topple his former friend face to face- *WHAAAAAAAAM!* -but he gets DECKED by his lacerated opponent while he falls to a knee in a sickening Lariat!!!! “SHOTGUN LARIAT!” King shouts, eyes going wide. “It certainly sounded like a damn shotgun blast!” “Good god you’re right, Brian, what a Lariat,” Mak adds surveying the violence, “but neither man is in any position to do anything either way!” “Yeah,” King agrees. “Drake’s bloodier than a used tampon and Toxxic is probably KOed!” Stephens gets completely turned inside out by the blow, landing on the back of his neck and rolling onto his belly, while the bloody Drake slumps to all fours!! Crawling to a neutral corner, Gabe turns, leaning back into the pads for support and watches as the World Champ slowly stands, briefly on his feet before stumbling into the opposite corner, a dazed look in his eyes!! Pulling himself up using the ropes, Gabriel measures Stephens from across the ring and dashes out of the corner, charging full speed ahead while leaping right knee out in his best Harley Race imitation… *CHING!* “OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHWAH…” Or would have if Stephens hadn’t dropped to the canvas!!! The male’s in the audience can’t help but feel a little sympathetic as Drake straddles the top rope clearly wincing in pain!! The World Champ crawls from the corner and then stands pulling Gabe down by his torso, his right foot already trapped under the metal stud!! “When we first started this match, Michael Stephens had five months of aggression to take out on Gabriel Drake and he was whooping his ass from pillar to post because of it. Now with everything that’s gone down in this match I guarantee only one thing is on his mind.” Francis flashes a smile. “Payback’s a bitch!” The adrenaline pumping, the World Champ forgets about the pain in his midsection, left knee and arm. Michael Stephens is focused on the pain his former friend Gabriel Drake is going to feel! Backing into the opposite corner with mean intentions on his mind, Stephens smiles… Payback’s a bitch! Sprinting from the corner, Stephens leads with his feet, baseball sliding into Drake’s bloody forehead with an appalling stiff dropkick!!! *CRACK!* “YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” Getting up to his feet, the World Champ isn’t through just yet! Blood spurts from Drake’s face, sliding into his hair and turning his dyed white streaks maroon! Gabe blinks, his crimson stained face scrunching up in pain as he opens his eyes and sees the upside down image of the man who ruined his life! Gabriel sits powerless to stop it, as Mike takes off from the corner again, this time leaping into the air and seemingly floating before- *CEEEEERACK!* “RRRRGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! -Plastering him with another horrendous hard dropkick!!!! “Brutal Hesitation dropkick from Michael Stephen, who has taken to attacking Drake, ironically enough, like a shark who smells blood!” Mak Francis says, as Gabe is even bloodier than before, a fresh wave leaking from his cut! Stephens stands up and releases his opponent from the tree of woe and he slumps to the crimson stained mat below! Grabbing Drake in a front headlock and slowly but surely using the leverage to pull him towards center ring, Michael pulls his knee back and just starts driving it repeatedly into the challenger’s head… *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” If he were to be honest, it’s not the blood lust of the crowd that drives Michael on as they high-five and cheer the disfiguring and dismantling of his heated rival! This is personal! Double underhooking Gabe’s arms, “Squire” Stephens channels someone from their mutual past, much like Drake did and arches back in a Butterfly suplex floating over while holding the arms in a lateral press pin!!! Kivell drops to count… ONE! TWO! THR- -but he can’t hold the pin, his left arm screaming in protest as Gabe kicks out!!! “The World Champ trying to feed Gabe Drake a little karma with that British-plex after he attempted to make Stephens tap to the Regal Stretch!” “Toxxic is a bitter, bitter man, Francis!” King responds. “Not only does he want to continue his blood-letting, but he’s trying to embarrass his opponent as well!” “Hypocritical much, King?” Mak asks. “Didn’t Drake try to do the same thing?” “That’s different… he has destiny on his side!” Stephens shakes out the offending arm that denied him his revenge and decides to get some revenge off his own! Lifting Drake up by his blood soaked hair, Stephens grabs him by his head and tights then whirls around tossing Gabe through the corner pads into the steel post shoulder first!! *THUNK!* Walking around an admonishing Kivell and climbing the turnbuckles, Stephens sits on the top rope, his dangling feet perched on the second rope. Reaching down with his right arm, Stephens once again underhooks Drake’s arm! “Could we be about to see the Triple S from Stephens?” The Franchise asks, as Mike reaches down with his left arm but winces in pain! Underneath him the dormant Beast begins to show signs of life, so without any better option, Michael Stephens rotates off the second rope… *BANG!* -Implanting Gabriel Drake’s face into a pool of his own blood with a one-arm Stephens Shock Syndrome!!!! “STEPHENS SHOCK SYNDROME!” “TOXXIC SHOCK SYNDROME!” Both announcers call out at the same time giving each other odd looks! Since Stephens already pretty much has a half nelson, Mike shoots Drake over while Kivell slides to the mat… ONE! TWO! THREE- -but Drake kicks out barely shoving his opponent off him!! Michael sits up looking to Kivell who says Gabe got the shoulder up and then grabs at the ropes pulling himself to his feet. “Destiny lives!” The Suicide King shouts, ready to go into a boast. “I knew I couldn’t be wrong because—well, I’m never wrong!” “Drake kicking out of a big move there,” Mak admits, “as Michael Stephens has put down quite a few wrestlers with that maneuver!” Stepping through the ropes one more time, Stephens holds his back, the adrenaline beginning to wear off. Limping on the apron, Mike slowly climbs the turnbuckles, but this time the World Champ gains his balance and stands tall readying himself for something big! “What the hell is he up too?” King questions, as some fans catch on and begin to take out their cameras! “Damned if I know…” The funny thing is that the crowd sure knows what’s going on and waits with baited breath! He knows it’s going to take a lot out of him with a sore knee and his core bruised up, but figuring what the hell, Stephens shrugs and flashes his trademark lopsided grin… “You don’t think-” Then Michael Stephens leaps, tucking his legs into his body as he swirls around in a backwards 360- *BANG!* “OH MY GOD!” Mak screams, channeling Philadelphia’s most beloved wrestling announcer! -Hitting the Shooting Star Leg drop!!!!!!!! Stephens collapses to his back the jarring pain in his lower lumbar and ribs setting his world on fire! Gabe Drake sits motionless, as Michael slowly sits up and pulls himself over to Drake’s body, then leans back into a cover, hooking the near leg!! Kivell slides halfway out of the ring to get in position as he counts… ONE! TWO! THREE! “KICK OUT!” They both yell in amazement, while the crowd nearly riots sure they were seeing Stephens pick up the win! “THAT WAS THREE!” “THAT WAS THREE!” “THAT WAS THREE!” Mike looks up at senior referee Matt Kivell who’s shaking his head in disbelief, but affirms that Drake did indeed get his far shoulder up!!! Stephens runs a hand through his hair and stands not quite sure what he’s going to do next! “…I think they’re right, King, that should have been three!” “You saw it as well as I did Francis!” King responds. “All the could’ve-should’ve-would’ves in the world won’t change the fact that Gabe Drake just kicked out of Toxxic’s Inglorious!” Pulling himself up in the corner, Michael Stephens looks down at his opponent, who has rolled to his belly from the kick-out! Moving over to his head, Stephens bends and using a tries to pull Drake to his feet, but is unable to get the sandbagging challenger up! Dropping to his knees, Stephens latches on a front headlock and uses it to drag the Beast away from the corner towards the middle of the ring! Leveraging Gabe up to his feet, Stephens turns into a three quarter facelock and points towards the ropes directly in front of him!! “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” “Stephens is calling his shot like the Great Bambino!” Mak notes, as the crowd cheers in anticipation of the big move that might finally put the challenger down! The Sensation takes off for the ropes knowing that he’ll need the extra spring to make it up overtop after the beating his body has taken, but on blind instinct seemingly sensing danger, the Beast pushes him off for the second time tonight! “But there is no joy in mudville as mighty Stephens has struck out!” This time though, Mike’s ring awareness shines through. He remembers back to a time when he wasn’t sure he could lay claim to the title of being the man. A match against an opponent who he couldn’t outwrestle, but could outmaneuver! As the World Champ rushes forward, it all clicks into place. Taking a huge gamble, Stephens leaps, landing precariously on the top rope. Bending his knees, Mike wonders if he can make the distance, but then banishes the thought from his mind… Springboarding back for the SUNNY IN ENGLAND!!!! *BANG!* …but he overshoots!! Landing on the canvas with a thud, Stephens hand goes down to his knee! “That move is a crapshoot any way you slice it, but Stephens probably overcompensated for his knee and just couldn’t reach back and get the facelock like he did against Tom at Genesis...” Mak calls as Stephens cringes, concentration momentarily seized by the pain and in that second Drake himself reaches back hooking Mike into a facelock off his own, hoisting the World Champ onto his shoulders like a backpack!!! “MARK OF THE BEAST!” King yells. “It’s SIX-SIX-SIX time! If he hits this Stephens will be down for an eighteen count!” …But you should know by now that Stephens will never go quietly! The threat of losing the title bringing him out of his stupor, Mike begins wildly kicking his leg to free it from Gabe’s grasp, while hammering Drake with his right forearm across the bridge of his nose with a cross-face! The challenger stumbles to the left under the force of the blow and releases the champ who immediately throws his free arm around the Beast’s neck in an inverted facelock!! Michael falls from Gabe’s shoulders with Drake no longer able to hold his leg and lands on bended knee, causing his opponent’s back to spasm- “Counter!” Mak shills. “An Inverted DDT on the knee!” -then wheeling Gabe around, Mike swings back with no pause at all, spiking Drake into the canvas on the top of his dome!!! “…Evenflow DDT?!” The Franchise adds apparently perplexed as Stephens sits up, his back groaning in protest while he rolls off the mat and crawls into a cover, hooking the leg! Kivell makes the count… ONE! TWO! THREE- -but the challenger shoves Stephens off him one more time breaking the pin!!! “Did we just see the Detoxx, King?!” Mak asks his announce partner. “We haven’t seen that one since we last called him by the Toxxic ring name! Stephens is pulling out all the stop here in New Hamsphire!” “Since when have I ever stopped calling him Toxxic, Francis?” “Good point…” Standing up using the ropes behind him for support, Michael Stephens stumbles into the corner and blows the hair out of his eyes. Pushing himself up onto the second buckle the battered Brit waits for his man. “I think this is a mistake by the champion.” Mak announces, as Drake slowly but surely gets to his feet, staggering around looking for his opponent. “He needs to stay on Drake, not give him time to reco-” Francis stops in the middle of his sentence because once Gabe spots him, the World Champion leaps from the cables, diving forward- *THWAAAAAAAAP!* -lunging into Drake with a European uppercut from the second rope!!! “A SUPER European Uppercut!” Mak Francis cries, as the Beast tumbles to the ground. “Gabe Drake has been taking heavy blows to the head all match and it wouldn’t surprise me if that one just rang his bell!” On the mat, Drake shakes his head trying to get rid of the ringing in his ears, while Stephens rolls to his feet, a bloody imprint on his right arm from where he rocketed it into Drake’s skull!! Gabe fights to a knee, holding the back off his head and moaning softly, as the World Champion walks over and underhooks his arms!! Expecting a standing head-scissors the kneeling Drake preps to sandbag, but he’s not thinking straight after having just gotten up from the devastating blow of Stephens, because he never expects to end up in a butterfly lock!!! “RTF II!” Mak yells loudly. “Stephens may not only beat Drake but take away his streak of never having submitted in a match!” Mike’s arm is killing him, but a lift is out of the question right now. He’s got to end this and this is one of the few moves he hasn’t tried yet tonight. Locking his hands together, Stephens believes if it’s a battle of wills between him and Gabe, he’ll win out. This may be his last stand. “Gabe looks moments away from passing out, but he’s fighting it!” King calls, as Gabe’s face is a mix of red from the effort, lack of oxygen and blood! Suddenly, Drake’s hand hovers over the World Champ’s back for the tap out, seemingly having a mind of its own, but it won’t happen this way. Michael Stephens will not crush his dream like he’s done so many others! Stephens looks around in shock, as his arms begin to quake under the new pressure being exerted upon them!! “Drake’s fighting!” Mak calls shocked by the display. “This is an unbelievable show of power!” Mike grips tighter with his right hand, trying to push through the pain, but his left arm succumbs to the power of the Beast, breaking the double underhook submission! Lugging Michael’s weight with him Gabe slowly stands his breathing erratic and shallow… and then lowers Stephens down his back and off to the side, sitting out and slamming his neck into the canvas- *BOOM!* -in an Air Raid Crash!!!!! “I’ve seen that move before from a teacher at the Blue Blood Academy!” King crows. “While Stephens was busy working sucking up to Regal, I bet you Gabe had Dave Finlay work with him!” “Well, hitting Finlay’s Celtic Cross is a huge blow in favor of the challenger, but he seems too injured to make a cover…” Kivell checks that both men are alright and then pumps a fist in the air, starting his count: “OOOOOOOOOOOO-NE!”’ No body moves. “TWWWWWOOOOOO!” Both men exhausted from the match so far. “THREEEEEEEEEEEE!” The noise continues to get louder as both Drake and Stephens barely begin to move! Stephens clutching his ribs and reaching for his head, while the Beast holds the back of his neck gasping for a second wind. “FOOOOOOOOO-UR!” Another count down, as both men struggle to rise! “FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-VE!” Michael Stephens sits up, his arm quivering while he tries to shake the cobwebs out!! “SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-IX!” Gabriel Drake pushes himself to his hands and knees!! “SEEEEEEEEEEE-VEN!” …And they’re up! Drake isn’t ready for Mike’s fist- *BAM!* -that catches him right on the chin! Staggered for only a moment, Drake fires right back with a- *WHAM!* -stinging right-hand of his own! Now standing toe-to-toe, Michael Stephens and Gabriel Drake decide it’s once again time to throw down!! *BAM!* *WHAM!* “It’s come down to a brawl in the center of the ring!” Francis yells, causing Applewhite smile. “And who one Round 1, Francis?” The answer to that question would be Gabriel Drake, as they continue to trade blows back and forth!!! *BAM!* *WHAM!* *BAM!* *WHAM!* *BAM!* *WHAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* …but this time it’s a different story as Michael Stephens takes command, rearing back for the knock-out blow… *BANG!* …but Drake dodges, catching the arm and dragging him into an arm trap neckbreaker!!! “Union Jack neckbreaker! Gabe pulls a counter out of his ass much like Stephens did early in the match!” “What goes around comes around!” King crows, as Drake slowly sits up and pulls himself over to Mike’s body, then Gabriel gains a side mount and repeatedly drives his knee into Stephens’s ribcage!!! *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* Moving down towards his legs Drake wraps Mike’s leg around the back of his neck for the Stretch Muffler Crab… “SPITE AND MALICE!” King shills. “No-one has survived this move without submitting! If he locks it on it’s over!” …but as Drake lifts him into the air to turn the World Champ over, Stephens kicks him in the face, and then once again sending him into the ropes!! The kicks to the face having hurt his pride, Gabe tries to retaliate with a Yakuza kick, lunging at Stephens, but he ducks low and lifts him up into an Electric Chair position… Mak Francis looks on, hoping he’s not seeing what he thinks he is, but Stephens just falls back to the canvas instead!! “Electric Chair Drop, but it looks like Stephens caught the worst of it… for a second there I thought he was going for something else.” Apparently realizing what could’ve just happened, Drake works his way to his feet and gets serious. Stephens is slow to get up, holding his back in pain and Drake explodes forward slamming him down into the canvas with his Pie-face STO!!! Having reassert himself, then Gabe decides he’s ending this right now! Officially pissed off, Gabriel lifts his opponent to his feet and ushers Stephens into the corner! Setting him up top, Drake spins- *THWAP!* -then plasters the Sensation with his leaping palm strike!! Packing Stephens up on his shoulders Gabe gets read to turn and walk towards the middle of the ring for a Musclebuster, but the sensational Sensation Michael Stephens flips out off his grip and lands, catching Drake- *THWAAAAAAACK!* -right on the point of the jaw with a ‘Superkick!!!! “Stephenskick!” Mak shouts. “Just when I thought it was over for sure Michael Stephens pulls an ace out of his sleeve!” Falling back into a pin, Mike splays his body over the challenger and hooks the far leg, stacking Drake onto his shoulders as much as he can without falling over!!!! Kivell counts… ONE! TWO! THREE! …but Gabe kicks out! Stephens has tried almost everything. His back couldn’t take the pressure of the Joker Driver even though he’s not quite sure if wanted to actually hit the move… Weary from all the punishment he’s both taken and given, Stephens goes on autopilot, placing Gabe into a standing head-scissors, this time interlocking his arms! “Why’s he going for the Toxxic Shock Syndrome again?” Applewhite asks. “It didn’t work off the second rope so why would it work now?” “I don’t think that’s what he’s going for…” “Don’t do it, Toxxic!” Francis shouts, the name slipping from his lips before he could think about it, among King’s voice in the background saying ‘I told you so’. “You’ll put him in the hospital!” His back and mid-section are on fire, but this is his last hope. He won’t lose this match. He can’t. Attempting to lift Drake perpendicular to the mat, Michael hoists his former friend halfway up for the move that’s ended more careers the any other in the SWF, but looking around at the shocked awe on the fans faces gives him pause. Is he really doing this? Should he? The accumulated injuries to his back, left arm and leg all hit him full force as he tries to suspend Drake in the air without the previous leverage and momentum he’s lost. Gabriel comes back down to mat, safely without his neck broken, which gives him the chance to arch backwards pinning Stephens underneath him!!! ONE! He sees it happening almost as if it were a dream. TWO! He unlocks his hands which have trapped him, his reaction slowed by the numb arm unable to follow his commands. THREE! Not allowing him to raise a shoulder in time. *DING-DING-DING!* ‘The Devil’s Reject’s’ blasts forth from the PA system and Matthew Kivell retrieves the World Title from the time keeper! Drake falls off Stephens and ends up on his knees, as Funyon makes the call: “The winner of this match… and your NEEEEEEW S-W-F WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION… the ‘BEAST’, GAAAAAAB-RI-EELLLLLL… DRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEE!” “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The pop is surprising to hear, but whether it’s because they realized they’ve just seen history made or that a mans destiny has been fulfilled, the people who hadn’t backed Drake and some who did during this match all cheer as one! “It’s a dream no more!” King shouts as Kivell hands Drake the title and he clutches it to his chest as if trying to protect it from anyone who may take the belt from him! The senior referee helps Drake to his feet and then raises Gabe’s arm in the air, but as soon as he lets go the new champion drops back to his knees! On the other side of the ring, the former champion sits on the mat in the corner after having crawled there, running through things in his head. He was pushed to the limit and the old Toxxic tried to come out, but it was that slight hesitation that cost him the title. He nearly had him up, but that isn’t Michael Stephens and now he sits without the gold. Wondering about just who he is and No longer the best this business has to offer. Looking over at Gabriel Drake, suddenly their eyes lock and Mike nods his head slowly mouthing ‘I’m sorry’ to the new champion. Rolling out of the ring, Stephens starts his walk to the back, while in the ring Gabe begins to blink. “A great gesture by the former Champion, leaving the ring to give Gabriel Drake his moment.” Rubbing at his eyes, Drake raises his blood stained face to look at the man exiting the arena area. Michael Stephens has changed. Gabe’s eyes follow his opponent, who looks up at the Smarktron and with one last look over his shoulder goes through the curtain. “Is he… is Gabe crying?!” King asks his partner, as Drake stands and walks over towards the turnbuckles. “…An emotional night for Gabriel Drake who has lived his dream and officially become the man in the SWF!” Mak Francis states surprised that he’s uttering the words to the viewing audience. “For the Suicide King, I’m Mak Francis saying good night and happy holidays! We’ll see you in the new year!” The final image of the new year is Gabriel Drake on the turnbuckles, the title belt held high in his left hand while tear stains can be seen from his eyes to his chin through a crimson mask! Heading in to 2007 Gabriel Drake is officially the man, because he had to be. It’s finally all about him. ©2006 Smartmarks Wrestling Federation

If somebody could delete this one for me it'd be appreciated. And for some reason the board's saying that 5K is too long to post underneath this so if anybody can help me with that I'll finish posting my match.

I'll just talk about everything briefly. Good job turning in something Herzog cause you've got a big match with Flesher at the PPV and a win is a win. Clark put in some good work for this show. I've already said this but the more grounded you are the better the stuff is that you write. Your promo did a solid job explaining the reason for your dual personalities with the PPV stip and your match had some neat spots... if I saw someone physically pull off that entire finish I'd probably mark out, but I doubt it could be done. I pretty much agree with Flesher. You tried to protect the final flash, but you took a lot of big moves without really selling them. Still, though it could have been toned down a little, it was perfectly acceptable storytelling and got Clark over as a tough guy, who literally fell into being Cruiserweight champ. I dug my promo and hope it makes up for my apathy lately. I am really pumped for this match. Flesher's match was good in establishing that he can handle bigger wrestlers which is what I assume Herzog is. I do wonder how it'll affect the Canadian Deathmatch because while it has been made into 'Flesher's match' maybe he'll have to cheat and cheat often to win this one. I'd enjoy that. I like the fact that Hawke did some character work here. In fact I almost prefer it to a match with a ton of cheating because Hawke in character as a heel should be pissed. He is the fed work horse, took Stephens to the limit and then as a technical wrestler he's put in a non-title Hardcore match. I liked it a lot. JJ's match was sick in the sense that it did what Danny Williams used to do a lot. Build specific moves for the PPV match in an attempt to make his false finishes even more believable. I saw a clip of the knee kick and it's a nasty strike. He also established the elbows, which'll be key in a match against Landon since both guys will probably write JJ pounding him down with them. Like Flesher said, shame it wasn't a competitive match and the tags messing up did make it harder to read. Good job not no-showing Akira and I know it was rushed. Since you had to do it quickly, I agree that you might as put yourself over strong. Nice tap-out to talk about in a promo.

I always love the Hard sell because it gives a great idea of where the match might go. I like the idea that Drake isn't special in the sense that Mike is the underdog in this match, but that the situation between these two is special. I think it really compliments my HoM segment well. Good stuff.

Yeah, that put it over the top in my book. King and JR's stuff before it was excellent too leading up to the silence. Good stuff all around.

That was a hell of a closing segment. They really paid off Trips recently getting the sledge from under the ring and making the big save by destroying Edge's chair, plus the bloody chair was a nice visual. Made me cringe each time I heard the thud and drew me in.

I always dig a hard sell and this one feels a lot more grounded than your other promos, which made them harder to follow. Really sets the stage from Clark's point of view and gives us a general direction of the match. "But there is one thing that I can do, and I will do in just a few days time. Win." I think this is the most telling part of the promo. Probably why you did the whole isolation of 'Win', so if that was the case it worked. I like the idea behind this match and hope you guys can do some inventive things with the partial DQ stip.

Do we know what the Christmas PPV is named yet? Cause I was thinking I could 'debut' it in the HoM. If you already have a Joe Peters promo planned for it or something don't worry about it. Either way no biggie.

HoM it is then.

Time to cut the money promo! I actually have been thinking out this promo for a little while now. Surprisingly Raynor booked a spot for me before I even had a chance to ask. I've been so apathetic lately that how this thing comes off may actually get me as pumped as I was for Genesis. We'll see.

Although I dug the show a lot more than most it seems, I think it made sense most of the time. Pretty much all the faces going over? That was once the WWE MO on the big 4. WM and SS especially. Plus this may be a way to repay and reward some of the Philly crowd for the South Philly Screwjob. Don't want to completely alienate a big market. Highlights of the show: Flair being the sole suvivor. Benoit/Chavo had a good set-up to build to future rematches. Lots of spots to build off of on that one. Cryme Tyme selling Lita's shit was priceless. We all knew Lita was going out on her back but damn I didn't see this coming at all. Nice little vignette to set it up and then actually getting money from fans that didn't seem to be plants had me rollin. The match was good as well, Lita's counter to Mickie's corner huracanrana was really nice especially. The great crowd reactions didn't hurt either. The HHH/Punk add-lib was cool. HBK kicking Knoxx, asking if the bell rung and then asking who he was after he pinned him was great. The Trips/HBK bit with Kelly Kelly and HBK posing with Melina had me dying too. I thought they might make more of Orton's sole suvivor streak but they didn't even mention it. I guess they decided that jobbing Punk or someone from DX, to get it to 2 on 1 which would make it seem like Orton actually had a shot would be too much trouble so they might as well just keep all the faces strong. Kennedy/Taker had an interesting take on the first blood stip. It probably didn't translate as well live but Taker going after internal injuries to make him cough up blood was neat. The vasoline on Ken's forehead, plus taking off the turnbuckle pads and his introduction being so serious. The commentary about how many World champs Kennedy's beaten this year and even the MVP interference to prolong/end the match. And it had an oldschool brawl feel, with a TOP ROPE Superplex added in. When's the last time we've seen one of those, much less from Taker! Then cap it all off with that stiff chair shot and beatdown! The little things in this match were all handled extremely well and I think everyone came out of this looking good. Whoever game planned it, be it Hayes or a road agent or Taker/Kennedy themselves really put a lot of thought into it. Cena catching the little bastard had me chuckling. And John got his boos, but turn the crowd back to his favor with his insta-pop spot. I hadn't really thought about it until now but whenever Cena is dealing with a hostile crowd, his salute goes to three fingers like they should read between the lines! That's pretty inventive. FUing Show will always get my respect no matter how many times he does it. Much like his last two traditional Survivor Series matches Cena ends up a sole suvivor after FUing the Big Show. And the show finishes with Batista completing his long road back to the World Title he never lost. If you want to send the fans home happy in theory, this was how WWE was going to do it. The only thing that didn't quite make sense if this was the case, was how they handled RVD. Sabu, wasn't projected to be the face of ECW, but I guess RVD's drug stop really soured Vince on him. I guess Lashley really is winning the title. Could it have been better. Definitely. I would have liked Orton to make the DX/RKO match more dramatic going into the finish and maybe they could have cut Batista/Booker & Team Cena/Team Show down by a few minutes to give that match more time. Bats win was not a big moment like they attempted to make it with him resorting cheating to win. I can see why some people might not like it, still, thumbs up from me, although I tend to look for the positives.

Honestly, I've lost a little momentum after writing 10K+ at Genesis and getting beat soundly by Landon. I helped with a promo and tried to write for this, but multiman's were never my strong point. And just like the Elimination Chamber I got stuck after getting part way through and realized the reason I suck at multimans is because I try to put too many stories into one match. And then I got a headache and it was all over from there. Hopefully I'm in the Classic cause I'm jazzed up for some singles matches, whatever the stip may be.

4500 words without intro from yesterday... now that I'm off work I hope I can finish.

Small edit to my stats soon. Nothing important as it's mostly about attire, but I might add/subtract a move or two and clarify some stuff.

*Plugs the angle* I like it.

From the overhead view they gave, the Others were on the main island when that happened and then probably relocated to the Hydra after they captured and drugged up Jack, Kate and Sawyer. Maybe the line in the sand from season two was to make sure they didn't find the Others main island village.

Yeah...and the other island is clearly visible from it. As aforementioned, Desmond never saw it in his 20 days of circling the island? Sayid never saw it while they were looping around? In 16 years, Rousseau never saw it? Also, Benry's "We don't kill people"? What the hell was Ethan doing when he killed Scott/Steve, then, in the first season? And what was Goodwin doing when he snapped the neck of the not-really-an-other in the Tailies' makeshift jail cell? I can't tell if the writers are setting the Others up to be batshit crazy or if they're just hoping the audience forgets the last two seasons, but either way it's not working very well. Desmond not finding anything occured before the Hatch imploded. Is it a reasonable theory that this is what caused him not to find the other island? Trying to see Alcaltraz from anywhere on the California coast would be difficult, so Rousseau would need to be in a specific place to spot it. Possible yes, probable maybe not so much... but possible?Sayid's journey around the island is an easy way to get around this though. I think Ben's reaction when they found out about the sailboat is telling. Juliet said they'll keep going in circles, but Ben contradicted her and ordered the search party to move as fast as they could, because they might find them and he wanted the boat, IIRC. This happened after the Hatch imploded, so the Electro Magnetic "snow-globe" effect, which might be why Rousseau couldn't see it, could have been destroyed. Plus, it doesn't seem like Sayid went completely around the island. He only made it to the docks, which is when they took the boat. Suspend your disbelief, this is a wrestling messageboard after all. But enough about that, I really dug this episode. I originally thought Jack would have to save Collen but it was a nice twist for her to die. Like people said Ben having the spinal tumor seems too obvious (although it would be a nice change of pace if it were the obvious pick), so I'll say it's him instead of someone yet unseen. I knew I remembered the needle scene from something, but couldn't place it. Odd that I immediately got the 'Of Mice and Men' references instead of Pulp Fiction. Sawyer's situation wasn't really believable, especially after Jack finds out that their equipment is broken during the OR scene, but your still not sure because the characters doubt is there. I liked that it's all another psychological experiment about Kate/Sawyer, but Pickett with his wife dead is tired of all the bullshit and pretty much forces Kate to confirm she loves Sawyer while whoopin his ass. The flashback was good and established some cool parallel's. The Of Mice and Men quote at the end really brought it home, but Sawyer's weakness is falling in love. I'd have to check all of Sawyer's story to see if there are any hints that he was the subject of a long con himself with the whole baby thing. Now that would be cool.

Congrats on the kid. I applaud you for giving her two names that are relatively decent. And typos mean NOTHING WC.

Come on what? I guess she can't possibly be able to hit hard, or know how to knock someone out because she's a girl. Jack hadn't eaten or had any water. Plus, she said he'd be weak and hallucinating from the drugs they gave him. Though you can't tell the amount of time that past during Jack's 'stubbon' period, I'd say this went on for about a day and the episodes pacing seems to back that up. Placed in that position it's completely plausible that Julie knocked him out.

The Jayson Grant Memorial Trophy - For Wrestler of the Year -Landon Maddix The Divefire Memorial Trophy - For Comeback Wrestler of the Year -Muzz -Tom Flesher The Pay-Per-View Match of the Year Award -Clusterfuck 2006 The Non-PPV Match of the Year Award -Michael Stephens vs. Bruce Blank -Gabriel Drake vs. Akira Kaibatsu (the only decent match I've done other than G7) The Feud of the Year Award -Zyon vs Hollywood Spike Jenkins -Landon vs Michael Stephens -Bruce Blank vs Jay Hawke -Tom vs. the cruiserweights The Jay Dawg Improvement Award - For Most Improved Wrestler - Bruce Blank - Akira Kaibatsu The Axis Memorial Trophy - For Under-Appreciated Wrestler - Jay Hawke - Gabriel Drake/Mak Francis (a.k.a Me motherfuckers nominate me for something ) The Rane Memorial Trophy - For Most Impressive Career -Not me -Raynor

The large metal object that MVS brought to the ring (which, if I'd had the time to go back and edit it in and/or promo, I would have made clear) was reshaped out of the same lead pipe that Van Siclen originally used to separate WC's shoulder back in '04. As far as the finish, the point was for the swing that WC took to have separated Van Siclen's shoulder, thereby making the shoulder breaker submission possible; basically, I was going for the WarGames '92 finish. If I'd had time to add it in, I would have had WC do additional damage to the shoulder by jumping off the top to spike that weapon into MVS's shoulder. Never seen WarGames '92 but I get the drift. Sounds good. In other news I liked your match Spike. You brought up all your previous matches and built off them (I guess we're under the assumption that your G6 match was ended by a Pepsi Plunge. Odd I never saw that. ) And the finish dramatic and had that dangerous feel to it. Good stuff.

That was a really good show. I wanted to wait on commenting until or match was up and Landon did write a excellent match. I'm not really upset because I knew going in it'd be tough competition beating a big match writer like him in this situation. Just going over the matches I read completely. WC did a hell of a job trying to create a sense of vengence. The shoulder thing was worked in well with the given storyline and was expected, although I don't quite understand a shoulder breaker finish (I guess you were trying to hyperextend the arm?). I thought there might be a few moves better suited towards the sub, but I honestly can't think of any right now. But anyway, now that that chapter is closed it'll be interesting to see where you go from here. The main event was a helluva match. Toxxic has improved greatly as a writer in handling 'pure' wrestlers since his match against Mak last year. The running commentary about Flesher's weight tying into the finish, where no amount of technical knowledge or skill can make up for speed and ingenuity was brilliant. I need to read everything on the show before commenting some more, but I think we should be proud of this one.

SWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT/CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Michael Stephens © vs. Tom Flesher © I couldn't tell you. Really, I couldn't. SWF INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - OLD SCHOOL RULES Bruce Blank © vs. "The Dean of Professional Wrestling" Jay Hawke This is a tough match to call as well. Based on writing these guys are very even. The stip leans towards Hawke, but you can see from his matches that Bruce loves the old NWA style. I'll go with Blank only due to the fact that I believe Jay Hawke should be in the World Title mix, not that Bruce couldn't be either. A win here is a significant put over and then he'll probably have huge run with the belt before dropping it to the next up-and-comer. GRUDGE MATCH Wildchild vs. Mike Van Siclen Wildchild. If Mike was writing more this would be more in doubt, but as it stands, the only questions are what is the finish and how we get to that finish. CAGE MATCH Landon "La Cucaracha" Maddix © vs. "The Beast" Gabriel Drake This was one opponent I've wanted to face for a while now. Given the big match atmosphere I know I need to bring some good content and I like what I've got planned. We'll see how that works out... I haven't written a Cage match since the JL so this will be interesting. FIRST BLOOD MATCH Johnny Dangerous vs. Charlie "Grappler" Matthews I'll go against the grain and pick Johnny. SWF HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Jimmy the Doom © vs. The Crimson Skull Jimmy. Who the hell could defeat Drea in a match this wacky. Sly is a hell of a writer when he wants to be, but really, it's gotta be Jimmy. SWF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDERS MATCH "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins vs. "The Divine Wind" Akira Kaibatsu I'd like to see Spike win this but he's got to show first. Akira may have a better track record, still though, I think Holly will take it. MYSTERY MATCH "Deathwish" Danny Williams vs. ??? Danny puts somebody who needs it over. Although if it's Nemesis, Danny Powerbombs him just to prove that Z was wrong and the same spot on Janus was completely possible in the context of his match. Then it promptly gets no-sold and Nemesis wins. FATAL FOURWAY ELIMINATION MATCH The Scion of Light vs. Scotty "The Crush" Raina vs. MANSON vs. Scott Rageheart Can't predict without seeing half of the people writing before. TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS MATCH "The Unique Youth" Zyon vs. JJ Johnson I'd have switched this to a Canadian Deathmatch considering there is already a 2/3 falls match on the card, but that's just me. Zyon, because he beat WC with his last match. That should make everyone take notice. SWF FROST PRE-PPV SHOW SINGLES MATCH Ian vs. Larkin Special Guest Referee: THE BOSTON STRANGLER~! Which ever ones the oldest and can create actual sentences... though that might not be good critera considering how Strangler got beat last time, so a Canadian Screwjob on Ian leads to a Larkin win.

Joe Peters stands in his office after Smarkdown has gone off the air. The Road to Genesis is officially finished and while he has most of his matches signed, he’s been waiting on one person. The under card won’t officially be complete until he can get this one done and considering how the fans have been reacting he needs to get it booked. If he doesn’t get this signed soon he’ll have trouble really promoting it. Joe exits his office intent on finding Maddix and bringing him there when… who should arrive but the man himself. “Ah, Landon,” Peters starts, ushering him back through the door. “Just the person I hoped would come by.” “I came here to get a match with Gabe Drake.” Landon begins, coming through the door. Looking around he spots his would-be opponent sitting at Joe’s desk. “Why are you here?” “I’m… supervising.” “Mr. Drake expected that you would want a match with him and has a few requirements that he wishes for you to agree to before he will get in a ring.” Peters says, quite unsure how to say this without upsetting Landon. “How should I begin? Well-” “-First things first, Maddix.” Drake cuts in. “Rule number one is that no matter what I do, you won’t lay a finger on me until our match.” Landon takes pause at this. He remembers the conversation with his tag partner well. Gabriel Drake will take any chance he gets to attack him and this basically gives him free reign. And that isn’t something Maddix wants considering what happened one show ago. “That’s not very fair.” Landon notes, a small chuckle coming forth. “Why would I agree to have open season on my own head?” Maddix glares at Drake, tapping his forehead. “The last time wasn’t enough?” “True.” Gabe says, smirking and gives an acknowledging nod. “I guess I don’t need to do that anymore. I can just talk about you and your dirty whore…” Landon’s eyes narrow. If Gabe wanted to know what gets to him, then he just found one clue. Two can play that game. “So, I guess I could talk about how Mike banged your-” “-Shut the FUCK up!” Anyone could tell that pissed Gabe off. “How about we do this?” Joe says, praying to God that Gabe Drake doesn’t jump Landon right then and there. This should be good enough. “A gag order! I’ll give a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars if you break it! That means you can’t say anything too inflammatory—beyond the normal pay-per-view hype of course,” Joe adds. He’s got to protect his match after all. “Or attack each other until the match at Genesis!” Drake pauses to think this over and then nods his head. Peters looks to Landon and gets a similar response. “Okay, that one was negotiable, but this one isn’t.” Gabe raises a second finger and his smile returns. “Rule number two is that there will be a stipulation of my choice for this match.” Mike was right on the money. Apparently he remembers more about Drake than he thought. Peters once again takes this chance to jump in, hoping to defuse the situation and get the match signed as quickly as possible. After all the last part of this little pre-match meeting is going to be the hardest. “Yes, Gabriel has requested that this match be held in a fifteen foot high Steel-barred Cage or else he’ll walk.” “You want a Cage Match?” Landon expected a stip and it does play to his opponents strengths. The Cage keeps them both at a close distance and gives a guy like Drake a natural weapon to use. Plus it’s less likely that Megan can help him in that type of situation. “Is that a surprise?” Drake asks, as Maddix shakes his head no. “You’re right, it shouldn’t be. I just wanna’ make sure there’s no interference. The last time we had words-” “-You mean when a psychotic bastard—that’d be you by the way, jumped me from behind?” “Sure, if that’ll make you feel better, why not. During our last altercation, after I beat you senseless, I decided that I was going to break your fuckin’ leg!” Gabe ends the sentence with a snarl and much more serious expression on his face than he started it with, but just as suddenly as it arrived it has left. “Sadly, the only problem with that and it’s a big one in my book, is that Toxx decided to get involved. In a steel cage that won’t happen, Maddix. In a cage there’s nobody to get between me and you, but your own fear.” Drake chuckles. “Peters made sure to add Escape rules, so that once you’ve really realized what you talked yourself into, you can try and run like the little bitch you are.” Joe shakes his head no at that. “I just thought it’d make for a more exciting match, Landon.” Maddix stares a hole into Peters and starts to speak, but Gabe isn’t completely finished… “But trust me on this, Maddix,” Drake growls. “I won’t let you get too fuckin’ far.” Landon looks at Drake as if to ask, ‘Are you done?’ and then he hears annoyed sound. Drake tries to recompose himself, taking slow breaths, as he watches Landon do the “Yak-yak-yak” hand taunt. Finally able to speak, Landon begins. “That’s all fine and dandy, Gabby, but I don’t intend on trying to escape until after I’ve beaten your ass all around that Cage.” Maddix responds. “Is that all you got? I was under the impression that you’d do everything within your power to get under my skin! Shoddy one-upmanship if you ask me.” “There is one last condition, Landon.” Peters adds warily, knowing it will be the toughest to get him to agree to. “Gabriel has requested that you ask him… politely, for the match.” “Is this a joke?!” Maddix shouts, but Joe just shakes his head. “Fuck that! No, seriously, fuck this Peters. I’m not saying anything, except politely asking him to kiss my ass!” “If you want the match, Landon, you’ll have to say it…” Peters’ looks at Drake who barely contain himself, while Landon stews, looking at his potential opponent like he just asked the worst possible thing. Drake must know that he really wants this match… “Can I have the match, Drake?” “You didn’t say please.” Gabe says slowly. “Don’t you remember how much you appreciated it when Toxx said please?” Landon grimace. Is this guy serious?! Maddix reminds himself that he was the one who was going to request this match. He wants it. Really bad… “Fine, can I please have the match at Genesis, Drake?” “Of course you could, but will you?” Happy go lucky Landon just went bye-bye again and Gwen Stefani did such a good job of lifting his spirits. This prick has finally found the one thing to get under his skin and he hit him where it hurts. His ego. Annoyed beyond belief, Landon collects himself looks Gabe in the eyes. This is going to hurt… “Okay, may I please have the goddamn steel cage match with you at Genesis?” “Although I didn’t appreciate the profanity, you have your match. Now scurry along you little cockroach—I don’t want to have to crush you until Genesis.” Gabe looks down at the contract on the desk already signing it in loopy cursive as he speaks. “Actually, you need to sign that, so take your time. I’ll leave.” Getting up to leave, Drake tosses the pen at Landon, hitting him in the chest while he exits with a parting word. “See you at Genesis.” Maddix walks over to the paper and before he signs, pauses. Peters begins to worry. God, this is one of his key under card matches. Especially in Canada where it seems that Maddix teaming with Stephens has turned him face. Landon Maddix getting face pops, who would’ve believed that. Canada really is Bizarre-o world. As Landon flips through the contract, he stops and stares at Peters. Is he not going to sign after he went through all that, Peters wonders? “Megs should look at this too…” And with that Landon calls Megan Skye on his cell as we… FADE…

So being Straight Edge is like being a virgin, once you lose it it's gone forever? Actually, I believe Punk covered this in his feud with Raven. Dreamer and Raven forced him to drink beer, breaking the code for his purely straight-edge all my life and better than you character, but Punk still said he was straight-edge in ROH (I think?) and in other promotions (OVW/New ECW) right? So, it's a life choice, because someone can become straight-edge after being a drug, alcohol or tobacco user. In fed terms, Spike's characters is the best example of this sentiment. Punk just really ramped up the character because some straight-edgers can be like that, but it's main goal is to change themselves for the better, in their own mind. I assume it'd really piss someone off if you decided to force them to break a promise like that to themselves. Your probably only not a straight-edger if you willingly decide not to be. Then again, I'm not straight-edge so this is all conjecture.