Above Average

Commerce and Engineering with a Marketing concentration (bet you never heard of that major) right here... Marketing something like this is a lot like the big dot com boom. When wrestling was hot, it was easy to find people willing to give it a try. Now that it's leveling off and rebuilding its fanbase, branding becomes very significant. People go with what they know now and it's the reason why most if not all of the new recruits are returning writers. Things like e-fed role play competitions and that last community we were in (X-net?) get your name out there, but there is still an inherent problem. Even with our show quality, which may blow others away or be significantly worst than what's expected due to our system, we don't have any writer that's well known in the e-fed community minus Outcast who's been gone since G3. We never did well in anything we attempted outside the board because it's tough to push an alternative product. Cross promotion (OAOAST) is even harder because we aren't having as much fun anymore and they still are. We've been slowly falling through Maturity since between G5/G6 and the most viable option is to get lucky. Everyone's ideas about getting the product out there are good but how do you sell the SWF? Seven years plus of creative writing with an interesting pathos, good friends and you cultivate your character idea. This is a product solely based around how interesting we make it and the fact that everyone, including all of us like recognition. People still need recognition and still watch WWE. The double-edged sword analogy is a good one, but there is still a market for this. We have to restructure our product from within and make it more user friendly. We're now missing the things that made us easy to join and unique. That sense of reward/failure is still there due to competition, but the lack of elevation and finding out how to do this hurt significantly. The idea of the JL was to give a new writer something to strive for and make sure they see what (45000-5000 words on and off a week and that's the current reduced WF schedule) they're getting themselves into with others on their level. I got to read better writers stuff and aspire to be like or be better than them. If I hadn't done it in the JL the SWF would be intimidating. But the real idea behind it was that the JL was where you made friends and the WF was where competition was key. The thing that brought me in to this community is the thing that we are severly lacking now... a community. I used to talk to some of you guys on a regular basis through chat or Aim (my own fault), but now I haven't been in chat for over a year or two. Let's get back to being a community and see where things go from there and I see Mike has the same idea. I started up again and feuded with Toxx because I knew he was trying to really do something to get the fed active as a whole. I'm at the point where I write stuff because I think it might be cool instead of to have you guys think 'hey, that was cool'. Do you guys feel the same? We need to get back to trying to impress/outdue each other, but we don't because we rarely comment anymore (myself included) and I read almost everything that gets done. So if the 'high profile' guys can't get comments flowing through their ideas then how do the other writers feel when it seems like they're getting ignored. Maybe the current plan with Toxx and Landon can get us some comments, maybe not, but I plan on getting back to trying my hardest to show you guys that I do read your matches and promos. I can't promise to show better than I have been, but I will try to help you guys have fun again. If we all do that, then maybe we've got something to market and until then why would someone want to join...

Actually have to disagree with you there. Jack's Dad was supposedly a hallucination brought on by stress and lack of sleep and the Polar Bears were part of the Others' (possibly Dharma before them, if they aren't Dharma members themselves) animal experiments. These answers, whether proven completely correct or not, can be inferred from previous episodes. In Jack's case the easiest answer is currently the best one and his self-evaluation was probably correct. The information the Others have about the second island and the aside Tom makes about them solving the cage reward system indicates they were probably studying them. It's not too much of a stretch that the Bears could swim to the main island after being released somehow. Locke's dream about Boone on the otherhand was not explained. Locke's had dreams due to that hallucinogenic drug he's used in a few cases, but this one like the one's with Mr. Eko were due to something as yet unexplained. They'll more than likely tie that loose end up when they get into the Smoke monster and what it really is. At least, hopefully they will.

If by portions you mean most of it, then yes, Johnny. I've never struggled more with a match after having planned out the spots than this one. I'll read the tag match soon and comment on it, but with the match I did read, I knew who wrote it about two paragraphs into reading because I love the person's writing style. But the journey to the end of the match was just that a journey. This may give it away but the last time I saw him write a Clusterfuck match, I said the same things I'm about to say now. No body is better at the Battle Royal. Just so many little things done well. I may have actually laughed out loud about five or six times. And I legit marked out when number 20 came after all the build-up it's a great moment. I'm screwed if he brings the swankness of this one to our match, but I like being the underdog (hell, he's beaten me once before) so it should get me jazzed up.

That RAW ending was done to get the internet buzzing and Meltzer, while he's the most credible person for information right now, can be worked just like any of us. Although, it seems very possible that Dave is right and Cena's match was changed to include HBK in some manner. Just look at it from where WWE are coming from and setting things up. Cena/Taker is very interesting but a classic tease. With no knowledge of internet/Meltzer rumors, what do we know. Logical booking wise we have absolutely no idea what's going to happen except that Batista/Taker was pushed since before the Rumble and now Cena/HBK has been teased as the match if Batista/Taker happens. HBK has been pushed as wanting one last shot at Wrestlemania, so he's probably in one of the title matches, be that RAW or Smackdown. Then there's the ECW Title match. Other than that it's all conjecture except Trump-???/Vince-??? happening and Orton/Egde having to settle issues. So start with that: MAIN EVENT - World Heavyweight Title Title vs. Streak Batista vs. Taker Sub Mains WWE Title - Cena vs. HBK (Edge/Orton for Fatal fourway but WWE prefers one-on-one title matches) Edge vs. Orton (Gone if four way) Hogan-Trump vs. Vince-??? (Shane or Khali) ECW Title - Lashley vs. ??? (could be anyone, but they won't trot two four ways out there so this will depend on the more important WWE title) Okay, that's what I've got. In the midcard Kennedy in particular or possibly somebody like, Carlito, Shelton or Punk (who would benefit more from the exposure to the crowd than winning) could use a Money in the Bank match, while the TLC gets more people (tag teams) onto the card. Most agree that only one will be on the show and MITB is becoming a nice tradition, but they decided to move the Elimination Chamber onto different PPV's so it's not a given. Only one between the IC and US will be on the line since that's been common practice and it's not likely that they'll unify the Tag titles so TLC can get rid of that or Smackdown gets a defense, but honestly there's a lot of stuff they can do. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see them extend Kane/Booker out till Wrestlemania. The undercard's never obvious until after No Way Out.

Streak vs. Title = Huge to WWE and most people would agree, especially because of the drama with Taker being the first one to win the Rumble at 30 and it seeming like destiny.

kip up sit up!

Sandman's elimination was bullshit

Cena did a MANSIZED blade job

We Want Tables chant since you were wondering

Holy Shit! Never seen that before...

All faces winning the title matches could lead to a heel could win the Rumble I guess, though I wouldn't bet on it... And I love it when Cena does the serious sell before his matches instead of all that jumping around. He actually looks like a legit bad ass.

Oh dont get me wrong, it was a good match. It's just that Kennedy had to carry the match. Kennedy was the heel, thats what made it seem that way. Bats put in some surprisingly smart work to help make Kennedy look like a star, not that Ken didn't bring the content too. The modified Nagata Lock and his excellent timing during the heat, and near falls into the finishing segment in particular.

I purposefully tried to downplay stuff to make Drake's approaching blow-up stand out. We tried to set it up with those before the show Toxxic promos and once I get my other promo up it should show what's up with Gabe's current mindset. The pull apart was there because I thought it was the next logical step up from Drake getting punked out, but I see where you guys are coming from. Hope the money promo changes your feelings though.

During the training I should "accidentally" cause Spike to break his neck and wheel over his prone body while laughing like a meglomanic. Then in a swerve, stand up out of the wheelchair and punt some random woman's baby because it'd be funny to me. Is that what you're planning because if not you'd better rethink your direction. ASAP. Otherwise, this is okay.

I think Blank writing as Matt Myers with Matheson as his mouthpiece may be the most inventive idea since the blatantly obvious stats for Ghost Machine 2.0 surfaced last year. More power to Bruce for doing something extremely fresh. Also, I of course, like Toxx's stuff. The matches were all nice, but to try and get the commenting going, I'll review the first one to ask for it in this thread. So, get on that...

He'd be destroyed. And no, it's not the only thing they could have done. They could have beaten him like they both said they would, and put him on the shelf until the Rumble, where he gets his revenge eliminating them both in the Rumble, while losing himself, and they could further "injure" him until it's time for his 'Mania match. And then you don't have a number two face. I'm all for Shawn getting rest if he wants/needs it, but why get rid of another star when HHH is gone for 4-6 months. Plus, Vince loves the crowd pop (as most of us do every once and awhile) and that segment brought that to the table. Your idea is interesting and it is logical, but it also gets rid of Shawn for two weeks in which they could be building him up as the man on RAW to win the Rumble and takes him off the shows during the road to Wrestlemania. Not the best plan since Jeff Hardy all of a sudden becomes the number two man on RAW.

What did the Rock do in Sac? His Rock Concert where he sung that the Lakers would beat the Kings in the playoffs and then what makes it funnier is they actually did it.

That may have been the single best heel move on RAW since the Rock in Sacramento...

Ugh. No excuses from me this time. At least I have a match plan already written. I just have to sit down and crank it out, but the deja vu factor from writing this thing two times makes me wonder which version will be better. Hopefully this one.

I have a serious question. When is the last time anyone here remembers Hardcore Holly tapping? Pinfalls sure, but submissions not so much. This is CM Punk's first real feud. Punk's thing with Knoxx wasn't so much a 'feud' as an extended, extended angle, which is what they've been doing with him since his debut. In this feud, Holly is the tough smashmouth vet and Punk is the upstart rookie sub specialist. While Holly doesn't have much upside that finish wasn't really about him. The whole point of this feud seems to be to get over Punk and his Anaconda Vice. Isn't it completely based around Holly saying you can't make me tap out and Punk trying to prove him wrong? Don't the announcers put over the AV and his MMA/brazilian jujitsu almost every minute? Didn't he make Hardcore tap after the bell and then almost make the man submit in under three minutes or something? What kind of threat is Holly if he doesn't get a pinfall through his smashmoth style? There has to be some give and take cause there's no drama otherwise. This is supposed to be the feud that allows Punk to take Holly's spot in the upper midcard, so a clean job isn't going to kill his momentum when he's going to make Hardcore tap after a hardfought match in the blowoff. No one can deny Punk's over, but he's currently building his fanbase like Cena did during his 03-04 run. Since they have no midcard title, this is what they've come up with. This isn't the feud people should be upset at the writers about cause it actually makes sense, but that's just my opinion.

UPDATED FOR '07: Cleaned stuff up. Changed primary finisher and moved some other maneuvers around. Added a new rare move. Smarks Board Name: Above Average Real Name: Damien Gabriel Drake Junior Wrestlers Name: Gabriel Drake Alias: The Beast Height: 6’ 4” Weight: 258 lbs Hometown: Athens, Georgia Age: 25 Face/Heel: Heel Stable: None Ring Escort: None Weapon(s): Steel Chair Quote: None Looks: Somewhat untidy, a little over ear length black hair with some white highlights on the right side framing cold hazel eyes. Unshaven, with a barbell piercing in his left eyebrow and a hoop pierced into his lip. Average legs with big shoulders, well toned arms and biceps, though his abs area isn’t defined much and a distinguishing tattoo of three sixes in a triad on the back of his neck. Clothes-wise, he’ll be in traditional trunks of blue or red with a solid black bar down both sides. In the middle of his waistband sits a white logo box with three sixes in a triad in the same color (either red or blue) as his trunks. Boots with kickpads and kneepads, all in black, with a lone elbow pad on his left arm completely the look. NOTE: His right hand will be completely taped up with white padding, while his left will only have black wrist tape. Ring Entrance: Rob Zombie’s “The Devil’s Rejects.” “I am the bad one… Distant and cruel one... I am the dream that, keeps you running down…” “With distraction… Violent reaction… Scars of my actions, watch me running out…” “HELL DOESN’T WANT THEM! HELL DOESN’T NEED THEM! HELL DOESN’T LOVE THEM!” “The Devil's Rejects…” “The Devil’s Rejects…” This is just an outline. The arena will be filled with an eerie Blue light and white strobes will flash in time with the beat. Drake has a general routine that if you would like to see can be found on the first Storm of 2007. Stats: ¯¯¯¯¯ Strength: 5 – As a true Heavyweight in a fed of Cruisers his strength seems amplified. He could Powerbomb someone 280+ pounds with some effort and probably place anyone on the roster into a fireman’s carry. Speed: 3 – He can go quickly when he needs to, but it’s more about his fluidity in the ring than anything else. He just looks like a superstar in the making when moving. Vitality: 7 – Tough as nails, he takes punishment like a man and comes back for more. He’s that hard-headed kid who loved to fight because he was good at taking a punch. Charisma: 5 – Smart, but sinister; he sometimes uses vulgar language to intimidate. His tone slides from aggressive to nonchalant easily. He’s the kind of guy that grew up with a chip on his shoulder. Style: Traditional Mid-90's Heavyweight mixed with the current WWE style. Good puncher, but not really a striker… considered more of a brawler. A solid grasp of basic wrestling mechanics and technique with flashes of impressive power; a semi-accomplished chain wrestler who uses stretches, a few suplexes and his basic knowledge of mixed martial arts to dominate opponents’ center ring, building to his vicious arsenal of power moves and deadly effective finishers. Signature Moves: “The Right Hand of Gabe” – A Leaping Palm Strike. The name is derived from ‘The Right Hand of God’. Gabe will set someone on the top rope and then blast them in the face. Shotgun Lariat – Lariat after using the ropes for extra momentum. Spear – Executed like Edge’s running side tackle. “Mass Murder” – KENTA Combo (Well, part of it anyway). Two palm strikes and a spinning back fist, possibly followed up with a high kick. Due to Drake's lack of flexibility, the roundhouse is only used against opponents within or below the 6 foot mark. This is normally followed by one of Gabe's many takedowns. Dead-lift German Suplex – High impact. Gabe lifts his opponent off the mat from their belly and drags them (kicking and screaming if necessary) overhead in a delayed German suplex with a bridge. Butterfly Suplex – Tribute (of a sort) to Dave Taylor. Drake normal uses the release version, but he can execute Taylor's Britishplex which involves a float over into a pin while still holding the double underhook. “Devil’s Reject” – Old school Steve Austin’s Stungun. Top Rope Superplex – A Mid-90’s staple. All the way up top, unless in special cases when the opponent isn’t able to be put in position. This is normally executed after "The Right Hand of Gabe”. “Demon Bomb” – The Powerbomb. He has been known to do a Double Powerbomb or Spiral Powerbomb as well depending on the opponent’s weight. Common moves: Corner shoulder thrusts Pieface STO Fall away slam Knife-edge chops: Rapid fire and only used on an opponent in the corner. Backbreakers: Pendulum, Tilt-a-whirl and most other variants you can think of... Snap Spinebuster Yakuza kick: Like Masa Chono to an opponent’s head while on one knee. Dragon screw leg-whip Back mounted forearms: Randy Orton’s repeated forearms to the upper-chest of a kneeling opponent. Vertical suplex Knee related offense: Running knee lift to the head, Muay Thai knee strikes, kitchen sink knees to the gut, knee drops, a Harley Race high corner knee and finally a Diving corner knee to an opponent slumped in the bottom of the corner. Powerslam Belly-to-Back suplex STF: Step over toehold with a facelock, which can be a follow up to a “Face plant”. “Face plant”: Off a hard whip into the corner he will throw his staggered opponent to the mat face first. Rare moves: “Violence Party” – Shoving his opponent into the corner, Gabe lays waste to them with a crapshoot of strikes, varying each time he does it though there is a basic format. That format normally consists of alternating chops and forearms, leading to multiple head butts followed by grabbing them by the hair for numerous Kawada kicks while doubled over and finally, snapmaring them into a seated position before kicking the crap out of their spine with several Cowboy kicks. Adjust as necessary. “Manslaughter” – Running Musclebuster; The most frequent of Gabe’s rare moves because he’s strong enough to just lift them into it, but it’s most common use is for special cases when opponents can’t be maneuvered into a Superplex. Then he tries this, which could in theory also follow "The Right Hand of Gabe”. Koji Clutch – Normally set-up through a Complete Shot. “The Unholy Trinity” – Triple Powerbomb; He hits a Double Powerbomb followed up by a Spiral Powerbomb. “The Mark of the Beast” – Cradle Stunner; commonly known as a Piggyback Stunner. There are many set-ups but one of the most common is from a Fireman’s carry into the cradle position by sliding them off his shoulders and trapping the left leg under his left arm. If the opponent is too large to piggyback then from the DVD position Gabe’s opponent is flung into a falling Ace Crusher like maneuver without the cradle. A huge hit that is rare now due to the ease with which it could be countered. Finishers: “Inverted Cross” – Modified Air Raid Crash; Drake releases the leg late which drops an opponent on a slightly steeper angle like Finlay’s current ‘Celtic Cross’. Following the move Gabe just leans back directly into the pin. “Spite and Malice” – Stretch Muffler Crab; crushes the ribs/back while punishing the left leg through torque. If the opponent is small enough Gabriel will practically sit on their head as he twists their body like a pretzel. Ouch… Notes: Having never actually wrestled outside of his Wrestling Academy, Gabe is prone to making mistakes, but being a second generation wrestler the little things come naturally. He was considered the best chain wrestler of his class, but this is the pros and there will be much better and experienced guys around. When going against a pure striker he will get out struck, but trading rights center ring with the crowd actively booing… he can go toe to toe with a lot of fighters. And finally, for someone fairly inexperienced he is very territorial about his ring, especially with opponents smaller than him. He’ll try to add injury to insult whenever possible. Bio: A second generation wrestler trained at Dave Taylor's Blueblood Academy… and now the secrets out. Gabriel Drake, the former friend and training partner of Michael Stephens was sent to jail on charges of Manslaughter. Getting out for 'good behavior', Drake has gone on a tear in his SWF debut, forcing his way back into the former Toxxic's life. After tormenting his friends (well, I guess Landon's a friend), Stephens himself and then attempting to turn the crowd against him, Michael had enough and the match five years in the making was made. Now the World Heavyweight Champion and having done so by defeating his heated rival, Gabe is officially the man. But having reached his goal, what does 2007, dubbed the Year of the Beast, hold in store. Where do you go from the top of the mountain? Drake's about to find out what it's like to really be the man...

Right in one. I think you covered our differences more concisely than I could've. The main reason I went in the opposite direction of your match plan was because I didn't think Drake should beat him one-on-one, since he's an extreme underdog in the situation. The 'I'm sorry' was more like when Benoit when up to Orton and told him to be a man moment than Toxxic actually showing remorse. He was sorry he almost hurt him, but the question I wanted to leave unanswered was WOULD he do it if he physically COULD have. I had Gabe cry because it was his big moment and it was also supposed to be ironic in a way. In the end, Stephens HAD proved Drake wrong and apologized, so even in defeat he still comes out on top, but Drake doesn't care (and is moved to tears) cause he's finally the man and it's his time to shine. I should've made Gabe more incredulous at the 'I'm Sorry'. EDIT - I just noticed a typo... it's supposed to say 'Michael Stephens hasn't changed.' That might make it more clear.

Honestly, read the books. I watched movies 1, 2 and 3 before starting to read the series and it makes a lot more sense if you read the books first. They're pretty good once you get to the third one. And I personally dug the movies, but the third and fourth will leave you a bit confused if you haven't read the books. Nothing that someone who has read them can't explain though. About the new one... I like the title. I remember from reading the Once and Future King in highschool that one of King Arthur's quests was a search for these ancient Hallows. Hallows are considered buried spirits, hidden souls or graves. Something like that, my memories fuzzy. Like All Hallows Eve = All Souls Night. So it's basically Harry Potter and the search for Voldemort's Souls. Deathly Hallows has a better ring to it.

Finally got my part 2 up. Congrats to JJ by the way... that's a nice looking match. And to Mike, who pulled out the victory even in defeat. I'll look at everyone elses matches again later, but for now, good job from everybody involved.

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