SJL CRIMSON!!!!

February 14, 2003

OPENING PROMO

After exactly two years, Mike Van Siclen is finally at the top of the mountain. What does the champ have to say about his long sought after victory?

SINGLES MATCH

Insane Luchador vs Thor

The thunder god returns! After a long hiatus in Asgard, Thor has returned to the land of the mortals, back to preform in the ultimate spectacle. In the other corner, the Insane Luchador, Andrew Rickmen, a man Thor has never faced, despite the amount of time he put into the league. And a man who's mental state has begun to (further) slide away. It's between immortals and madmen on Crimson; who's gonna' come out on top?

Rules: Standard singles match, yadda yadda yadda

Word Limit: 4500

Send To: WrestlingDeacon

EUROPEAN TITLE #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH

PRISM MATCH

Fosta vs Omega Storm vs Tryst vs Christian Blackwell vs Aecas

A collection of the best and brightest that the SJL have to offer, and certainally the best group of young writers we've had in some time. Can the impressive Christian Blackwell, on a tear of late, pick up another huge win? Or perhaps the odd Tryst will garner Euro Title contendership in just his second match? Maybe the still winless Omega Storm will find victory in the most important match of his career so far? Or will Fosta or Aecas pull off a humongous upset? Five men will enter... one will win, and walk away number one contender to the European Championship.

Rules: Elimination rules. Last man in the ring will be declared the winner. Pinfall, submission, countouts and DQ's apply.

Word Limit: 6250

Send To: realitycheck

SINGLES MATCH

SMIRNOFF SHOWDOWN

Crow vs Janus

One winner, one loser. Janus, the last JL M7 member, comes off a crushing loss to Mike Van Siclen, not just in his home country, but in his HOME CITY at that. Even more, for the world title. Considered the next rightful heir to the world title after it was vacated, Janus is no doubt seething, looking to take out his frustrations on his fellow countryman, who was a mite more successful in Sydney, winning the bizzare Ball Crawl match. This certainly has some interesting implications, as Janus and Crow celebrated returning home by playing cricket with, beating the crap out of Russel Crowe, and drinking various alcohol. Good lord. Well, we here at JLCC have decided to capitalize on that last bit...

Rules: Somewhere inside the Olympic Arena are three bottles of authentic Smirnoff Vodka. First one to find and chug two will be declared the winner. And will likely die afterwards. Otherwise, there are no rules.

Word Limit: 5000

Send To: Drew_K

SINGLES MATCH

Dace Night vs Matt Myers

They faced on the last show in Sydney, and they will face once again in Moscow! Minus the kangaroo suits, of course. A re-match most likely influenced because of the fact no-one knows who came out the victor on Wrath, and a match where a victory could help Dace and Matt get back on track in their respective world title hunts, which have been derailed somewhat.

Rules: Standard singles match, yadda yadda yadda

Word Limit: 4750

Send To: Longdogger_Pete

Main Event

EUROPEAN TITLE

LADDER MATCH

Sean Atlas vs Chris Card©

Wow, what do you know. Unlike his predecesor, Chris Card actually has to DEFEND his European Title! Sean Atlas guns for Chris's title, after a rather conterversial finish to his match on Wrath, one in which Chris Card was in fact the special guest referee. Of course, there's no such luxury for Mr. Card in this match... and just to make sure that his usual Backup Plan (Re: Natasha) doesn't work, his belt has been suspended 15 feet above the ring! Atlas and Chris were all winks and smiles after Wrath, but it is doubtful the sentiment will carry over after this match...

Rules: At the beginning of the match, the European Title will be suspended 15 feet above the ring with a hook. The winner is the man who retrieves the belt from off the hook, by using one of the 8 foot ladders at ringside.

Word Limit 6000

Send To 5_moves_of_doom

February 14, 2003

Tsssssssssssssssssssssssew….

BOOOM!

BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!

The pyro goes off and we are on like a lightbulb as S-J-L Crimson hits airwaves all across America! The Moscow, Russia crowd roars for the pyro opening, many of them holding signs up… but nobody can read them, as they’re all in Russian. Flustered, the cameraman switches to a shot of the dynamic duo, Axis and the Suicide King, sitting excitedly at the commentary table.

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!” Axis’ face lights up as he begins to speak. “We’re coming off a huge Wrath that saw Mike Van Siclen defeat Janus for the SJL Championship, and he’ll be coming out here shortly to share his thoughts on FINALLY winning the JL Title. Also tonight we have the SJL European champion, Chris Card, attempting to retain his title against newcomer Sean Atlas – and it’s going to be a ladder match! We can’t forget the Smirnoff Showdown…”

King smirks. “Janus will destroy the bird and drink tasty Smirnoff while doing it. All in a day’s work.”

“But now…”

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Funyon begins to speak incredibly loud, and Axis shrieks from his commentary position “He cut me off!” “Now introducing YOUR Smarks Junior Leagues HEAVYWEIGHT Champion… he is Spectacular for the simple fact that he is Mike Van Siclen!”

The four quick cymbals and even quicker guitar riff that begins “Damage Done” by Dark Tranquility blasts throughout the arena, as the lights go out and blue strobes begins to flash in time with the music. Mike Van Siclen steps onto the ramp, his arms extending in a bent crucifix under his acid-green jacket, which covers up the SJL Heavyweight Championship strapped around his waist. He begins to calmly walk down the ramp, walking up the steps and climbing into the ring. He extends his arm in Funyon’s direction, looking for the mic which Funyon is happy to give him. The crowd begins to boo Van Siclen as the man who is Spectacular begins to speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Van Siclen starts. “I’d like to thank each and every one of you.”

The crowd, taken aback a bit, cheers, but Mike is quick to shift those cheers.

“I’d like to thank you for showering me with boos each and every week, which caused me to feel I had something to prove.” Van Siclen pauses, then begins to pace around the ring. “Because, you see, I’m not like other people. I know that I’ve had to prove myself since day one. I had to prove that I could overcome driving a snow plow to the ring. I had to prove that I could overcome being a cheap Vanilla Ice knockoff. I had to prove,” Mike gestures to the crowd, “Whether I liked it or not… I had to prove that I could entertain each and every one of you. And, whether you like it or not, I entertain you every single night, and deep down, I’m sure you all know it.”

The crowd, naturally disliking being told what to do, boos Van Siclen, but Mike casually no-sells and continues to speak.

“I never really ascended to the top, did I? It was more of a slow drift, and there were mornings I would wake up and I would look in the mirror, and I would say to myself… ‘Why do I continue to do this?’ The toils get old, and when you hear wrestlers that have been in this business for ten years, fifteen years, and they tell you that they’re in it so they can finally win the World title...” Mike pats his waist, where the title rests. “They’re not joking.”

Mike breaks into a grin. “But I haven’t been in this business for fifteen years, have I? Hell. I haven’t even been in this business five years, and I’m a World champion. Do you think someone like Chris Card will do that? Someone like Janus? Crow? Dace Night? Spike Jenkins? Of course not. And you know why they won’t?”

Mike smiles again. “It’s very simple, and it’s because they’re not me. It doesn’t matter how good you are, or how well you can wrestle. If you’re not Spectacular, you’re not getting anywhere. And I proved last night that I am spectacular and I am going somewhere. Janus? You think I don’t know what a television is? Yeah, so you lost to someone smaller, weaker than you. And? You’re overlooking the fact that you lost to someone smarter than you, someone more entertaining than you, someone – dare I say it? I believe I do. Janus, you lost to someone better than you, and that’s what I said.”

The crowd, who had been quietly simmering up until this point, begins to let their feelings be known. Chants of “ASS-HOLE” and “F**K-YOU-MIKE!” begin to echo throughout the arena, but Mike simply ignores them and charges on.

“Spike Jenkins? I hear you think you were robbed. You’re right, you were, and I’m the one that robbed you, baby.” Mike pats his title. “You think that you deserve this? I beat you, so you obviously don’t. I promise you, Spikey, you will never get a shot at this title as long as it’s around my waist.”

The crowd roars out in boos even louder, but Mike again ignores them. “Dace Night? Why should I give you a shot? You know, I used to mow my lawn in high school once a week, boyo, but I never ever, in my wildest dreams, thought about using it to hurt somebody. You’re a sick mofo, Dace Night, and I’m not giving you a title shot under anything other than a singles match.”

The crowd begins to chant out “WE WANT DACE! WE WANT DACE!” This time, Mike doesn’t ignore that chant.

“You want Dace Night, Russia? You want Dace Night?” Mike explodes in rage. “You’re not going to see Dace Night do anything but job to Matt Myers and Christian Blackwell! Dace Night? Dace Night doesn’t deserve to lace my boots! And none of you deserve to listen to my gifted lips SPEAK!” Mike throws down the microphone, and it barely picks up Mike yelling at the sound guy “Cue my music!”

“Damage Done” kicks up again, as Van Siclen rolls out of the ring and begins to walk up the ramp, muttering under his breath about “Night this” and “Dace who?” The commentators try to sum up what happened quickly.

“Van Siclen apparently doesn’t think anyone hardcore is worthy of a title shot!”

“I can’t blame him, Axis. Would you want to get into the ring with someone who willingly used a weedwhacker on another human being?”

“I don’t know, but I can tell that Mike Van Siclen doesn’t want to. Folks, we’ll be back right after this with our opener…”

February 14, 2003

Axis: And we’re back to SJL Crimson! Before the break, we heard a bit from our NEW SJL champion Mike Van Siclen and what a mouthful he had to say. Folks, I know Mike is a cocky young man and he may come off as brash, but I’ll tell you ladies and gentlemen, he definitely earned that gold.

King: You say he’s cocky and brash like it’s a bad thing! Those are two tools that are key for a wrestler to excel in this business. His arrogance and self-confidence have gotten him to the top of this company whether you like his attitude or not. Van Siclen is a winner!

Axis: Anyways... tonight we’ve got an incredible line-up of wrestling and performers including a hide-and-seek drinking match between Crow and Janus. But up first, we’ve got the returning Thor taking on the Insane Luchador, a man who has been acting VERY strangely as of late.

King mutters to himself: Damn hosses...

In the ring, Funyon raises the mic to his lips and clears his throat. “The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first... at a height of six feet and two inches... he weighs in tonight at an even two hundred pounds... he is the INSANE LUUUUUUCHADOOOOR!!”

“Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains hits the speakers as the lights begin to flicker irregularly. After a moment or two the crowd realizes that IL has not yet made his entrance and mumble in a puzzled manner. As the tune continues though, a huge pyro explodes all over the entranceway and the Insane Luchador leaps from the blast and rolls to his feet as the crowd cheers warmly and yet unsure at the same time. IL hears the reaction and flips off one of the fans in the front row wearing an Insane Luchador t-shirt. The crowd is baffled and the surrounding fans boo IL for his sudden change of attitude.

Axis: What the hell did he just do? Rickmen loves the fans, why did he just flip one of them the bird?

King: Its obvious Axis... that fan insulted him. Must have called him a name or insulted his mother or something.

Axis: The fan was wearing an IL t-shirt, I highly doubt he insulted the Luchador.

As he continues down the ramp, IL continues his odd behavior, now completely ignoring the fans that are cheering for him. He finishes his walk to the ring, Rickmen walks to the steel steps and ascends them slowly... very slowly... At the top, IL’s head hangs down so he is staring at his skate shoes, the Luchador turns around to face the crowd eerily and as he is facing them, he raises his head. The fans cock their heads to the side in confusion upon seeing the look on IL’s face. They haven’t seen such a look from Rickmen since he was called “The True Plague”. Rickmen soaks up the odd looks and stares coming from the crowd and enters the ring as his music fades to a halt.

Funyon even looks at the Luchador differently now as he prepares to introduce the opponent of IL. “And... his opponent... at a height of seven feet and weighing in at three hundred and forty five pounds... he is the God of Thunder... THOOOOOOOR!!”

The luminosity of the arena is quickly destroyed as a wicked guitar line kicks in and some odd chanting is heard in rhythm to the music. Smoke fills the ramp and is lit up by a pale blue spotlight as the chanting now turns to the word “Thunder”. The suspense is agony until the crowd explodes in cheers as Brian Johnson’s voice blares “YOU’VE BEEN... THUNDERSTRUCK!!” and a lightning bolt hits the stage with a mammoth KABOOM as a huge blue and red pyro erupts on the stage. The fans roar their approval as the massive wrestler to whom this massive entrance belongs to steps through the smoke.

With his huge hammer in hand, Thor looks to the ring at his opponent before cracking a cold grin. He starts to march down the ring, high-fiving the fans on his way down as “Thunderstruck” continues to play in the background beneath the crowd’s wave of cheers. As Thor reaches the ring, he stops and sets down his hammer, which is almost instantly picked up by a scurrying ring crewman who struggles to lift the heavy weapon. Thor steps up to the ring apron and over the top in two big steps and stands in the corner, flexing his arms to entertain the crowd and to try to psyche-out his opponent.

Axis: Its good to see Thor back in the ring. He looks like he’s ready to take on the world right now but first, he has to go through the Insane Luchador.

King: Surprisingly enough, Thor and IL have never actually faced off. I mean, come on! EVERYONE has faced Andrew Rickmen before, and I do mean EVERYONE!!

Axis: Yes King, but no one has faced THIS Andrew Rickmen, he seems somehow... different...

DING!! DING!! DING!!

The bell rings and the crowd is set for a night of great SJL action. The two wrestlers approach each other in mid-ring and look each other over carefully. Thor is the first to make a move. His arms spring up with his fingers outstretched, causing IL to take a quick defensive step back. Thor says something inaudible to the Luchador while offering him the test of strength. IL realizes what Thor’s intentions are and very cautiously approaches the giant. Carefully, Rickmen raises one hand to meet Thor’s... then slowly the other... Just as Thor’s banana-like fingers close on IL’s, the Luchador kicks Thor in the gut, causing him to double over.

IL hits a couple quick elbows to the side of Thor’s head and then several kicks to his shin, trying desperately to take the big man off his feet. With the behemoth wavering, Rickmen hooks his arm around Thor’s head and sends him forehead first to the mat with quick DDT. He stands up quickly but instead of capitalizing further, he leers at the crowd trying to draw a boo from them. Instead he gets a mixed variety of cheers, boos, and coughs. Not pleased with the fans’ reactions, IL looks back at Thor who is struggling to get to his feet. IL glares at the Thunder God and lays several stiff boots to the side of his head, sending him back to the ground. This gets the Luchador more of a negative fan reaction.

Axis: What a change from Rickmen! Instead of being your average crowd pleasing good guy, IL actually appears to be trying to get the crowd to hate him.

King: Wow, maybe the little bastard finally wised up. The crowd will reject you in the end, you might as well reject them now Luchador.

The pleased face of the Luchador is suddenly turned back to his opponent as Thor quickly rises to his feet. Rickmen tries to lay a quick punch to Thor’s face but his hand is caught just in time. Thor looks intensely into Rickmen’s eyes and squeezes the small hand in his iron grip. IL’s face shifts from intense focus to intense pain as Thor vices away on his opponent’s hand. Thor finally releases his hold, allowing IL to grasp his own hand in pain, which he does after taking several steps back, seemingly out of harm’s reach. The Insane Luchador is far from safe, however, as Thor runs forward with his arm stretched outward. IL suddenly sees the oncoming freight train that is his opponent but he sees it too late as Thor is suddenly right in front of him.

Though he is not hit... Thor inexplicably missed his clothesline and both men stand in confusion for a short moment. Regaining his wits, the Luchador quickly strikes Thor with several right jabs. Thor backs up as IL punches, gaining more momentum with each one. After a moment, Thor is reeling and Rickmen pulls his hand back for the haymaker but instead jumps in the air and holds onto the back of Thor’s head, smashing him face first into the mat with a thud. The Insane Luchador then quickly drops to the mat, rolls Thor over and lays over top of him for the pin. The referee quickly drops down as well to count.

1

.

2

Thor kicks out at the count of two. IL is angered as he questions the ref for possibly making a slow count or some other cheap trick against him.

Axis: It appears that Thor is having a tad bit of difficulty getting back into the swing of things. He definitely has some ring rust.

King: Heh, and if I know Rickmen right, he will take complete advantage of the big bastard’s weakness.

Axis: Why would you know IL at all? You didn’t take an interest in him until tonight when he started disrespecting the fans.

King: Oh no? How are you supposed to know who I take an interest in and who I’d like to see fail? I’ve had my eye on IL for a LONG time and it just so happens that my interest in him has peaked this evening. Now why don’t you go back to calling the match before I steal your shed key again.

The Insane Luchador rises and backs off, letting Thor get to his feet. As the big man rises, IL charges forward and kicks Thor’s knee to the side, causing him to lose his footing and fall to one knee. Rickmen immediately capitalizes on his near fallen opponent with a quick hurrincanrana, twisting Thor’s massive frame completely to the mat. Thor lies staring at the lights of the Olympic Arena unaware of the danger that awaits him. The Luchador ascends the turnbuckles quickly and turns around to face his opponent. An eerie grin befalls his face as he takes flight and lands crushing Thor’s chest with his thigh.

The legdrop takes its toll on Thor as he rolls to his side momentarily, Rickmen looks pleased with his high flying maneuver and its effects as he stands over the Thunder God, contemplating his next move. Too long he takes to plan, as in his daze, Thor grabs IL’s ankle and pulls his legs out from beneath him. Thor stands fairly quickly and bounds off the ropes, he then takes two large steps forward and then leaps into the air, kicking his legs out in front of him in the air. He lands hard... on the mat; IL rolls out of the way just in time. Rickmen gets to his knees quickly and hits a chop to Thor’s chest, knocking Thor back from his sitting position. IL gets up and attempts to hit a leg drop but Thor sits up just as Rickmen did and this time grabs IL by his wrist and springs up, as does the Luchador.

Thor attempts to wristlock IL but Rickmen literally flips over Thor’s arm, reversing the hold. The Insane Luchador quickly moves behind Thor, still holding his arm, now in a hammerlock position. Thor tries a back elbow but IL ducks. Thor tries another elbow but this time IL releases his hold, allowing Thor to get behind IL. Thor lifts IL up for a back suplex but the Luchador keeps his momentum going and rolls completely, landing on his feet. Both men step back and face each other. The crowd starts to cheer for the rapid-fire sequence of moves. Thor looks mildly puzzled, having never experienced such a fast exchange of maneuvers. IL is non-responsive to the all too familiar reaction to the usual luchadore exchange of moves.

Axis: WOW!! That is a combination of moves usually reserved for luchadores but Thor carried that off without a hitch.

King: What the hell? He shouldn’t be able to move that fast! He’s three hundred and forty five pounds, he should be restricted to clotheslines and headbutts dammit!

The respectful applause ceases as IL charges the Thunder God and drives his elbow into Thor’s breadbasket, forcing the giant to bend over in pain. His opponent dazed, IL whips him into the ropes and as he instinctively runs bounces off and runs back, the Insane Luchador bends over, attempting to backdrop the three hundred and fifty pounder. This mistake is quickly realized as IL attempts to lift Thor from between his legs but finds he cannot. Thor grins wisely and grabs IL around the waist and lifts him up in piledriver position. The God of Thunder screams “HOOOOOO!!” as the crowd goes completely INSANE in anticipation of the Ragnarok piledriver.

Axis: LOOK OUT!! RAGNAROK TIME!!

As the crowd continues to scream, Thor holds up his arm, signaling his finisher, but he is denied. Rickmen claps his feet together while inverted, boxing Thor’s ears with his skate shoes. Thor collapses and drops the Luchador as the crowd’s volume drops immediately having the big man miss his finisher. Thor rests on one knee as IL gets to his feet in a flash. In a split second, IL takes control of the situation and kicks Thor’s knee out from beneath him, tumbling him to the mat. With relentless aggression, the Insane Luchador begins to stomp on Thor’s right knee. After several vicious shots, the sadistic Luchador starts to knee-drop Thor’s weakened vertical base.

Axis: That was close, I could have SWORN that Thor had the match won with the Ragnarok. IL regained control however and is now starting to work on Thor’s right knee.

King: If a hoss can’t stand, he can’t win. It’s as simple as that; Rickmen has GOT to take out Thor’s legs if he has any hope in winning.

After he feels that Thor’s knee is properly messed up, IL stops and looks at the crowd, silently asking them what they think of him now. They pick up on the hint and some of them boo at the Luchador, only fueling his desire to win. With the crowd playing perfectly into his hand, IL feels that he has the match securely won and turns back to his opponent, only to find that instead of whimpering on the ground, Thor is now standing and angry. With fury, Thor grabs IL by the throat and hurls him into the corner. Thor limps over to his opponent, heavily favoring his right leg and exacts his revenge.

Thor reaches back and brings his arm down HARD across the sweatshirted chest of the Insane Luchador. Instead of the usual sharp sound made by a chest chop, the sound emanated is more like a sickening thud, but the crowd still responds with “WHOOO!!”. Thor looks at the crowd for a moment, then chops IL again, again drawing a “WHOOO!!”, but this time the Luchador kicks his feet up as a result of the major force of the blow. IL grimaces and Thor again looks at the crowd. One more time he chops IL’s chest (WHOOO!!) and again his opponent kicks his feet up in pain. Thor, feeling his job well done, whips IL into the turnbuckle with such force that the Insane Luchador flips over the turnbuckle and lands on the floor outside, drawing a massive pop from the crowd.

Axis: WOW!! Thor just whipped Rickmen so hard he flipped over the turnbuckle and landed right in front of us. Its been so long, I’d almost forgotten how much power that man has at his disposal.

King: So what if he’s as strong as an ox, he’s about as smart as one too. They smell about the same as well, come to think of it...

Axis: IL is starting to stir in front of us now. That kid has one hell of a pain tolerance.

Axis is correct in bragging up the Luchador’s pain threshold as Rickmen begins to stir rather quickly after being thrown over the top turnbuckle to the outside by a man as strong as Thor. Within the blink of an eye, the Luchador is on his feet and rolls into the ring gingerly. Thor is not what one would called pleased by IL’s quick recovery and shows his frustration by moving swiftly to his opponent and lifting up and tucking his head between his legs. Without so much as a grunt (though he leans slightly to the right, on account of his injured leg), Thor elevates IL above his head and back to the mat with a brutal powerbomb. Thor quickly drops to the mat and covers his opponent.

1

.

2

.

Thor’s hand collides almost instantly with his own head as he sees IL’s arm draped neatly over the bottom rope. This foolish mistake only further infuriates him as he quickly stands up, raising IL up as well by the belt of his khakis. Thor stops for a second, contemplating what to do next but he stops to think at the wrong time. The Insane Luchador sneakily hits Thor with a low blow causing the male portion of the crowd to wince and the ref to turn around to see what just happened. Thor’s eyes cross as IL takes the initiative and hits a quick DDT on Thor, bringing him all the way to the mat. IL then struggles to get back up whilst hoisting the Thunder God back up as well. After IL struggles to stand, he falls right back again with another DDT on Thor.

Finally, with a heavy and quite audible grunt, IL lifts Thor again and sends him back to the mat with his third of his “rolling” DDTs. The crowd’s reaction basically cancels each other out as it almost a perfect blend of cheers and boos. Both men lay on the mat, breathing heavily for a moment or two as the crowd begins to cheer for either man to get up.

King: IL just hit The Next Coming on Thor but it looks like it took a lot out of both men. Get up Rickmen, and send his godly ass back to Valhalla!

Axis: I think it’s gonna take more than a few DDTs to put down Thor. Besides, you heard what he said last week. He said he’s back for the title and he seems intent on getting it.

King: I’m still hoping that IL will put him away for good and REALLY dampen his spirits.

The tension is thick in the ring as the crowd anxiously awaits the movement of either man in the ring. After too long a moment IL’s arm suddenly twitches and the crowd starts to buzz as he slowly raises himself up to a vertical base. Thor moves slowly but surely and soon he raises himself up as well, using the ring ropes as a sort of ladder. Heavily favoring his right leg, Thor gains an unstable footing while leaning on the ropes. IL sees his opponent limping and quickly dashes forward, leaping in the air then sliding on the ground, dropkicking Thor in his wounded right knee. Thor collapses with reluctance and his face twists in pain, holding his knee.

The Luchador gets back to his feet, pauses, and then leaps like lightning to the top turnbuckle. No playing to the crowd, no pausing so the fans can take pictures, IL leaps off immediately in a moonsault. The lightweight gets enormous air as he flips in mid-air and then lands on Thor. The crowd pops just for the sheer height that IL got on the move but dies down ever so slightly as he hooks the leg for the pin. The ref runs back to the spot the two grapplers are in and slides down to the mat and counts.

1

.

2

.

Thor just -barely- kicks out before the count of three, which infuriates the already insane Luchador.

Axis: The Insane Luchador takes flight from the top turnbuckle and crushes Thor, moonsault style, but Thor just manages to kick out!

King: Dammit Rickmen, put that big dork down for the three count! Get him out of my hair... I mean... do it for the good of the fed!

IL is now ENRAGED at not picking up the pinfall and slaps his hands on the mat in anger. With a gleam in his eye, the Luchador rolls out of the ring and digs under the ring for something to get the job done effectively. The ref leans over the top rope and yells at IL to stop now but IL ignores him as the referee starts to count IL out. In the meantime, Thor gets up slowly and steadies himself to regain his composure. IL finally settles for a steel chair at ringside and dives back in the ring with it. The referee now almost screams at the Insane Luchador to put the chair down as he tries to wrestle the seating utensil turned weapon away from IL.

Thor realizes the potential danger coming towards him and formulates a plan to avoid it. As the referee tries to wrench the chair away from Rickmen, Thor charges forward to attack IL. The Luchador finally gives up with the insistent referee and drops the chair; just as the chair goes clang against the mat, IL turns to see Thor’s big boot coming towards his face. IL cleverly ducks under the heavy boot and charges against the ropes. Thor lowers his boot and turns around to see the lightning-fast Luchador charging at him at full speed. IL leaps at Thor and hooks his head in DDT position and spins him around, looking, no doubt, for the Evenflow DDT.

The luchadore is denied though, as Thor stops and refuses to follow through with IL’s momentum. Immediately, Thor flips Rickmen so he faces the ceiling and then hoists him up in a suplex. IL hits the mat with a boom and Thor stands up with but one thought on his mind. The SJL fans read Thor like a book and pop as they see where this chapter is headed. Thor points to the top turnbuckle and the crowd’s cheers intensify in volume as he walks towards the corner. He ascends slowly, stepping only briefly on his right leg. As he reaches the top facing the crowd, he holds up one of his arms to the heavens and acknowledges the fans’ praise.

Axis: It looks like Thor will be going for the Crack of Thunder here and... wait... IL is starting to get up and...

The crowd’s cheers turn to shouts of warning yelled too late as the Insane Luchador is suddenly right behind Thor and positions himself on the bottom turnbuckle. Thor starts to turn but IL springs to action, sticking his head between Thor’s legs and wrapping his arms around Thor’s waist. Thor barely has time to react before the Insane Luchador uses every ounce of strength in his body to push Thor forward, causing Thor to land in a makeshift powerbomb. The crowd goes wild as Thor hits the mat with a loud noise and gets angry as IL goes for the pin once again, this time putting his feet on the bottom rope for leverage.

1

.

2

.

The referee is about to slap his hand against the mat a third time when he stops short. The crowd is now booing rather assuredly at IL as the referee sees his feet on the bottom rope. IL tries to reason with the ref but their conversation is short lived. The Luchador realizes his ruse was spoiled and gets upset. Rickmen looks around and realizes there is only one way to put his large opponent out. He struggles to stand and after he does, he helps Thor to his feet. The big man shifts his weight over to his left side, allowing IL to move him to the corner, which he leans on generously.

Axis: Insane Luchador trying to use the ropes for leverage there, not gonna fly in this match.

King: What's wrong with that? I don’t know why that damn referee overreacted, its not like Rickmen was cheating or anything.

Axis: Now though, it looks like he’ll be going for the Brink of Insanity, which I’ve found that he has renamed as the Savior’s Verdict. If he can hit this, I believe it will finally be enough to put the big man down.

Indeed, IL is going for his finishing maneuver as he steps through the ropes and climbs up the turnbuckle and hooks a full nelson on Thor as he climbs. On the top rope, the Luchador stand, hunched over, his arms locked behind Thor’s head. Suddenly, IL leaps off, attempting to bulldog the Thunder God but he suddenly gains his wits and stops from falling over. Thor remains hunched over while the Luchador remains locked onto Thor in desperation. The crowd goes nuts as Thor charges himself backwards and rams IL between himself and the turnbuckle.

IL refuses to give up though and holds his ground (so to speak). Again Thor charges backwards, this time finding IL conveniently off his back and slumped to the ground by the turnbuckle. Thor staggers forward, almost in a daze, and hears the fans cheer him on. This sobers up the God of Thunder as he turns to the opposing turnbuckle and begins to walk towards it. The crowd’s volume steadily increases as he steps closer and closer. The big man finally reaches the turnbuckle but pauses for a moment. He grins ever so slightly as he steps through the ropes and then climbs up the turnbuckles, not making the same mistake he did earlier.

Axis: What?! Thor’s crazy, he’ll never be able to reach Rickmen when he’s on the other side of the ring!

King: I agree Axis, Thor may have taken one too many elbows to the head if he thinks he can hit his mark.

Thor does not share the doubting views of the commentators as his no fear attitude shines through. The big man looks across the ring, sizes up his target and leaps off, bringing his elbow in position ahead of time. Incredibly, Thor leaps the entire distance of the ring and drops a BIG elbow on the luchadore. The Insane Luchador feels the full effects of the elbow drop and remains almost motionless. The crowd pops like mad for the Crack of Thunder and even more as Thor pins IL.

1

.

2

.

3

DING!! DING!! DING!!

The bell rings and “Thunderstruck” fires up as Thor gets to his feet slowly, limping on his right leg. The referee also stands and raises the hand of the victor as Funyon announces from his ringside seat “Here is your winner... THOOOOOOR!!” The fans yell and scream with joy as Thor raises his arm and begins to leave the ring.

Axis: Wow, a struggling Thor hits the Crack of Thunder from ALL the way across the ring and ALL the way to victory! Stay tuned for more SJL action!

The Suicide King grumbles to himself.

February 14, 2003

SJL Crimson comes back from commercial, the cameras pan across the screaming Russian fans jam-packed into the Moscow Olympic Arena. The cheering intensifies as the lights dim down, before finally going to black as “Three Libras” by a Perfect Circle starts to fade in through the speakers.

Funyon: “The following contest is a Prism match, to determine the number one contender, for the European championship! The match will continue under elimination rules, until one man remains in the ring. Introducing first, from Rosslare, Ireland. Weighing 248 pounds, Christian Blackwell!”

Christian Blackwell slowly walks from the entranceway. His head bowed as he moves small bursts of fire flare up staying alight as Blackwell walks past. Blackwell slowly walks up the ring steps and onto the apron; stepping through the ropes and slowly pacing around the ring as the fans chant his name.

The cheers of the fans quickly turn to boos as “Loco” by Coal Chamber starts to play, and Fosta strides down the aisle. Fosta, clad in black leather trousers, boots and a black tank top, pauses briefly to stare at a member of the audience.

Funyon: “Making his way to the ring, weighing 235 pounds. He is from Chicago. Fosta!”

The fan that was previously shouting insults at Fosta loses some of his bluster under the gaze. A half smile tugs at the corner of Fosta’s mouth as he continues on to the ring, sliding under the ropes and standing up slowly, ignoring Blackwell as he concentrates on limbering up for the coming match.

Axis: “Two of our five competitors are in the ring now folks.”

King: “That’s right, Prism matches are always tough to wrestle, attacks can come from anywhere. Wrestlers who seem to be your allies can turn on you in a second if they see an opening.”

Axis: “Fosta will no doubt be gunning for Tryst tonight following his loss at Wrath.”

The arena plunges into darkness, red alert lights flashing around the arena as Rob Zombie’s “Superbeast” starts to boom through the arena speakers, as thick plumes of smoke boil up from the entrance way. The fans start to cheer once again as Aecas comes walking out of the smoke, eerily highlighted by the red spotlight as his face flickers with conflicting emotion, matching the flicker of the spotlight.

Funyon: “On the way to the ring, from Shrewsbury, England. Weighing 265 pounds. Aecas!”

King: “Speaking of losers…”

Axis: “That’s low King.”

King: “Nothing low about it Axis, he lost two matches straight against Sean Atlas.”

Axis: “Everyone has bad times, and you can be sure Aecas will be looking to win this match. If he does it will be a big, big win.”

King: “IF he does yes.”

Aecas jumps up onto the ring apron, quickly stepping through the ropes, running through a few quick stretches. He looks first at Blackwell, then at Fosta, a grin splitting his face for a moment before he moves to one corner leaning casually against it, waiting for the remaining two men.

The arena lights die out for a few moments, then relight in a fast strobe, going from neon green, to light blue, to white at random. The house speaker’s rumble with thunder for a moment, then a loud thunderclap is heard, accompanied with a bright flash of pyro from the entranceway. After the thunder, "One Of A Kind" by Breaking Point spins up nice and loud... The boos and crowd reaction are kind of a thunder on their own as Omega Storm walks slowly down the ramp. Storm walks confidently down the ring, sneering at the fans around him giving them the finger, and threatening the closer fans with his taser.

Funyon: “On his way to the ring, hailing from New Haven, Connecticut. Weighing 245 pounds. The Omega Storm!”

Storm slides into the ring running straight into referee Eddy Long, who makes sure to wrestle Storm’s taser away from him. Storm relinquishes his weapon with a scowl and retreats to his own corner, but not before flipping off both Aecas and Christian Blackwell.

The lights darken one final time and a deathly silence falls over the Russian crowd as they await the arrival of the final contestant in the prism match. A deep green spotlight shines on the entrance as the Smarktron plays a video of the camera’s point of view, running through a lush green forest at great speeds, finally stopping about 20 feet in front of a man, wielding a bow and arrow. He pulls the arrow back, releases, and as it reaches the screen, pyrotechnics on the opposite wall explode as “Forest” by System of a Down blasts across the loud speakers.

Funyon: “And their opponent from Bairnsdale, Britain. He weighs 218 pounds. Tryst!”

The fans lea back to their feet, cheering once again as Tryst makes his entrance to the arena, he runs into the center of the spotlight, striking a pose as he holds his bow and arrow in his hands. Tryst runs eagerly down to the ring quickly handing his quiver and bow to the timekeeper, he rolls into the ring and soaks up the crowds ovation as the lights came up and all five participants eye each other warily.

* DING! DING! DING! *

Axis: “And here we go! Each man is sizing up the other four.”

King: “Like I said Axis, this kind of match you have to watch your back, Prism matches are all about double crossing and back stabbing.”

Axis: “You’d feel right at home then?”

King: “Drop dead shed boy!”

All five wrestlers size each other up for a moment, none seemingly willing to make the first move. Aecas and Omega Storm lock eyes across the ring, both men remembering the brutality and the actions of their match on Metal. Storm flips off Aecas, the bigger man responds with a slight grin and beckons Storm as he moves across the ring. Storm smirks and moves towards Aecas in turn, the two meet in the center of the ring staring each other down. Storm trash talks at Aecas before shoving him in the chest, Aecas rocks back a pace before shoving back at Storm sending the smaller man back into the ropes. Storm rebounds from the rope and hammers a punch into Aecas’ face, the big man rolls with the blow replying with a punch of his own.

Seeing Aecas and Storm trading punches the others leap into action, Tryst and Fosta going right after each other, both men eager to repeat their match at Wrath. Blackwell steps in next to Aecas adding his own fist to Storm’s face, as Storm staggers backwards from the dual assault both Aecas and Blackwell grab an arm and send the hapless wrestler running into the ropes. Fosta stops Tryst’s charge dead in its tracks as he lands a hard dropkick to the knee of the man from Nottingham, Storm runs back off of the ropes meeting a hard double clothesline from Aecas and Blackwell.

Aecas turns away from the fallen Storm into a stiff kick across the chest by Blackwell, the Irishman capitalizes with a second, then a third kick to Aecas’ chest, sending the bigger man reeling. Blackwell hops back a step before sending his right foot streaking up, the hard Superkick connects with Aecas’ jaw knocking the big man from his feet.

Axis: “Superkick! Big move at the start of this match!”

King: “There’s bodies everywhere! This is why I love Prism matches Axis!”

Fosta takes advantage of Tryst while the man from Nottingham clutches at his knee; Fosta climbs up the corner turnbuckle getting ready to drop a big elbow onto Tryst. Before Fosta can leap from the top Blackwell runs over to the corner, grabbing Fosta by the front of his shirt and the crotch of his trousers and tossing him off of the top to land heavily on the canvas. A pair of arms lock around Blackwell’s waist, and the Irishman is heaved backwards almost landing on his head from Omega Storm’s German Suplex. Acting before Storm can react, Aecas floors his opponent with a hard Big Boot only to fall prey to a Spinning Heel Kick delivered by Tryst.

Seeing a chance Tryst dives onto Fosta, pinning his rival in a lateral press, hooking a leg with his free hand.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

THRRNO!

Fosta quickly kicks out of his pinning predicament, throwing Tryst off of him and rising to his feet quickly. Tryst aims a kick at Fosta, but Fosta catches his leg before the blow can connect. Fosta twists as he falls to the pulling Tryst with him into a Dragon Screw, doing yet more damage to Tryst’s already injured knee. Aecas sits up slowly, scowling slightly as he rubs his jaw before slowly getting up to his feet, unfortunately for the big man Omega Storm gets the drop on him. Aecas feels arms circling his waist, and sends an elbow crashing into Storm’s face, Omega Storm reels from the blow but doggedly holds on. Storm heaves himself backwards, arching his back and taking Aecas with him as he slams his opponents head into the canvas with a German Suplex, keeping his hold on Aecas as he takes the big man over again….twice...thrice….four times!

Christian Blackwell is also getting back to his feet, and wastes no time in taking advantage of Fosta, as the other wrestler is distracted. Blackwell turns Fosta around into some vicious chops that get the crowd going, before whipping him into the ropes. As Fosta runs back towards him Blackwell drops to the ground, one foot hitting Fosta’s shin while the other impacts on the back of his knee, the Drop Toe Hold sending him crashing into the mat. As soon as Fosta hits the ground Blackwell is moving, flipping Fosta over and grabbing his right leg, Blackwell starts to lean backwards into a Single Leg Boston Crab pressing his knee into the small of Fosta’s back.

Axis: “Christian Blackwell has that Single leg Crab hooked up, this could be it for Fosta!”

Fosta desperately crawls towards the ropes, one hand stretching out desperately for the bottom rope as he cries out in pain as Blackwell tightens the hold once again. Mustering all his strength, Fosta finally manages to grasp the bottom rope prompting Eddy Long to break up the hold.

Meanwhile Omega Storm is continuing his assault on Aecas, but the bigger man is getting back to his feet, Storm tries to Irish Whip Aecas, but has the move reversed and it is him that is sent running into the ropes. Aecas is ready for Storm as he runs towards him stopping his opponent with a hard kick to the gut wrapping an arm around Storm’s neck while the other grabs hold of Storm’s trousers. Aecas lifts Storm up high into the air, holding his opponent straight up, long seconds pass for Storm as he struggles weakly, feeling dizzy and nauseous as blood begins to rush to his head.

Tryst pulls himself up wincing a little and favoring his right leg, seeing Christian Blackwell busy hammering away at Fosta, Tryst looks to Aecas as the big man holds Storm upright in an impressive show of strength. Tryst moves to the nearest corner, climbing up to the top and waiting until Aecas turns towards him before launching himself off the top at Storm. Tryst twists to one side hitting Storm with a huge mid air Cross body, as Aecas falls backwards with the pair, Storm crashes into the canvas from the Suplex and Tryst lands on top of him completing his enormous splash.

Axis: “Nice double team by Aecas and Tryst! They just crushed the Omega Storm!”

King: “Good teamwork, but don’t expect that alliance to last long.”

Tryst, groggy from the impact slowly hooks a leg as he lies on Storm’s prone body.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

THREE!…..

Funyon: “The Omega Storm has been eliminated!”

Axis: “There goes the first man! It seems that Omega Storm’s unlucky streak is continuing,”

King: “Not his fault Axis, like I told you, Prism matches are very hard to win. You’re in there with four other guys, and you can’t watch your own back every second.”

Tryst seems to perk up somewhat as he hears Funyon announce that he is the first to eliminate an opponent, he gets off Storm and raises his hands in victory as the fans cheer for him. However Tryst’s celebration is cut short as a large hand closes around his throat, Aecas tosses Tryst’s arm over his shoulder, placing a hand on his back before hauling him up into the air for a Chokeslam. Salvation arrives for Tryst in an unlikely form, as Christian Blackwell makes the save, hammering two hard punches into Aecas’ kidneys, forcing the bigger man to drop Tryst and twist to face him.

Blackwell ducks a punch Aecas aims at his face, moving in close to the bigger man and landing a hard punch to the gut, Aecas grunts and doubles over slightly leaving himself open to Blackwell. Not one to waste an opportunity, Blackwell wraps an arm around Aecas neck and falls onto his back sending the big mans head crashing into the mat in a savage DDT.

King: *smugly* “What did I tell you about brief alliances?”

Aecas sits up after the DDT’s impact only to meet a pair of hard boots, as Fosta dropkicks Aecas hard in the face, sending him back down to the mat. Aecas rolls over onto his front pushing against the mat, trying to get back to his feet, but Fosta will have none of it and starts to stomp on Aecas, quickly joined by Blackwell, and Tryst.

Axis: “The other three men are all ganging up on Aecas!”

King: “Smart move, he’s the biggest man in the ring they need to eliminate him ASAP.”

Aecas tries to fight his way back up, scoring hits on Blackwell and Tryst before getting beaten down again by Fosta, Aecas slumps back to the floor briefly before he is hauled back to his feet by Blackwell and Tryst. Aecas tries to fight back against his three attackers, but he cannot block a hard clothesline from Blackwell that tips him over the top rope and sends him tumbling to the floor.

Axis: “Well they took Aecas out of the ring.”

King: “Yeah but they haven’t capitalized on that beating they put on him, he’s got a 10 count to get back into the action.”

Aecas lies on the floor outside the ring grabbing the announce table and starting to pull himself back up to his feet. Back in the ring things have once again broken down into anarchy, as Fosta takes advantage of the distraction, he sneaks up behind Blackwell wrapping an arm around his opponent’s throat. Blackwell struggles for a moment as he his bent backwards by Fosta, then the bottom drops out for Blackwell as Fosta dives forwards taking Blackwell with him in a huge Reverse DDT.

Ignoring the commotion in the ring, Tryst is concentrating on the outside, more specifically on Aecas who has regained his feet using the announcer’s table for leverage. Tryst moves to the center of the ropes, grabbing the top rope with both hands and squatting in the ring pulling the top rope down with him.

Axis: “Tryst is setting up for something big!”

Axis’ eyes widen slightly as he realizes the possible implications of Tryst jumping at Aecas, and points up behind the bigger man.

Axis: “Look out!”

Aecas turns around in time to see Tryst use the ropes to help catapult himself into the air, spreading his body out in a huge Plancha against Aecas. Tryst hits the bigger man chest to chest, but Aecas doesn’t fall, he lurches back into the announce table, his arms quickly locking around Tryst as the man from Nottingham struggles to extricate himself.

King: “Why the hell do you just help him?”

Axis: “Would you rather those two crashed onto us?”

King: “Good point…”

The action in the ring continues as Fosta hauls Blackwell back to his feet, the two locking horns in a collar and elbow tie up, both men push hard against the other, but Fosta proves the stronger. Fosta muscles out Blackwell, slapping an arm around his neck and grabbing Blackwell’s tights lifting him up into a vertical Suplex. Fosta can’t keep his grip on his opponent, and Blackwell wriggles free, twisting to land on his feet behind Fosta.

Blackwell links his arms around Fosta’s waist but two elbows to the face break his hold, Fosta runs towards Blackwell who ducks, forcing Fosta to leapfrog over him and hit the ropes running. Blackwell straightens back up as Fosta runs back at him, Blackwell steps to one side, hooking his arm underneath Fosta’s and throwing his opponent off his feet with a Hip Toss. Fosta quickly gets back to his feet as Blackwell charges him, Fosta links his right arm underneath Blackwell’s left, twisting his body and using Blackwell’s momentum to send him into a deep Arm Drag. Like Fosta, Blackwell gets back to his feet quickly running into a second Arm Drag and again quickly popping back up to his feet once more.

Fosta tries for another Arm Drag, but Blackwell plants his feet firmly into the canvas, ending up in front of Fosta. Reaching back Blackwell grabs the back of Fosta’s head then leans forward, pulling Fosta over his back and off of his feet in a Snapmare. Pulling Fosta up by the hair with one hand, and his right arm with the other, Blackwell pulls Fosta’s top half forward, stepping in behind him until his legs are either side of Fosta’s head. Blackwell’s legs tighten up trapping Fosta’s head between them and he falls backwards, still holding Fosta’s right arm with his opponent’s neck trapped between his legs. Blackwell grabs Fosta’s right arm with both hands and starts to pull it away from the body as his vice like legs complete a Triangle Hold on Fosta.

Axis: “Triangle hold!”

King: “This could be it for Fosta! If he doesn’t get to the ropes soon, Blackwell could wrench his shoulder or maybe even his neck out of its socket!”

As Fosta and Blackwell battle in the ring, the action outside has swung towards Aecas’ favour, keeping a tight grip on the unfortunate Tryst; Aecas drives his opponents back once and then twice into the steel of the ring post. Tryst cries out in pain as his spine meets the steel post twice, unfortunately for the man from Nottingham Aecas isn’t finished there as he drops to one knee bringing the small of Tryst’s back down against the hard bone with a Backbreaker. Aecas dimly hears referee Eddy Long counting “Seven!” and slides back into the ring, narrowly avoiding a falling Christian Blackwell, Aecas watches the Irishman turn the tide against Fosta with a Snapmare before starting to lock on a Triangle Hold.

Hearing a distracted Eddy Long count “Nine!” as the referee tries to split his attention between the outside action and the submission in front of him, Aecas slides back outside the ring, breaking up the count out. He hauls Tryst up to his feet before grabbing the shorter man’s shirt and planting another hand on his crotch. Aecas pauses for a moment before lifting Tryst above his head with a slight grunt of effort, holding him high above his head before Military Pressing Tryst through the ring ropes.

Axis: “Impressive display of power by Aecas there.”

King: “Why didn’t he let Tryst get counted out?”

Axis: “Perhaps he doesn’t want to end it that way. Whatever his reason all four men are back in the ring.”

King: “We might be down to three soon if Blackwell keeps that Triangle Hold locked on.”

Axis: “Fosta is desperately trying to get to the ropes. How much is left in his tank against the pain of that hold?”

Fosta desperately twists his body toward the ropes, shaking his head violently as Eddy Long asks him if he wants to submit, pain tearing at his neck and shoulder, Fosta finally manages to hook a foot onto the bottom rope prompting Eddy Long to break up the vicious hold.

Axis: “Fosta managed to hold on just long enough! But those injuries to his shoulder and neck could spell bad news as this match continues.”

Fosta slowly rolls outside of the ring taking a quick rest and trying to get some feeling back into his shoulder and neck. Blackwell turns away from Fosta for the moment, seeing Aecas looming over Tryst’s prone form. Blackwell waits for Aecas to turn around before aiming another Superkick at the big mans jaw, this time however Aecas anticipates the move, grabbing Blackwell’s foot and shaking his head. Aecas throws Blackwell’s foot away from him, causing the Irishman to spin around 360 degrees, before Blackwell can get his bearings, Aecas slaps a hand around his neck. The crowd roars as Aecas tosses Blackwell’s left arm over his shoulder, before adjusting his grip on the Irishman’s throat, lifting his opponent high into the air, one hand on the small of Blackwell’s back before slamming him back down to the canvas.

Axis: “Chokeslam! He just drilled Christian Blackwell into the canvas!”

King: “But he isn’t covering him! He’s focusing on Tryst! Doesn’t this idiot realise its mistakes like these that cost him two matches in a row against Sean Atlas!”

Seeing Aecas turn away from the fallen Irishman, Fosta has no qualms about sliding back into the ring hugging his right arm close to his body, and covering Blackwell the best he can.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

THRRNO!

Blackwell’s shoulder shoots off of the canvas before Eddy Long can count three, frustrated Fosta quickly gets back to his feet stamping hard on Blackwell. Fosta grabs at Blackwell’s right leg, uttering a sharp curse as his injured arm gets wrenched, Fosta does not give up grabbing the leg with his left hand and stepping over the limb. Gingerly grasping Blackwell’s left leg with his injured arm, Fosta grabs Blackwell’s other leg, turning it to the side and falling backwards trapping Blackwell in a Figure 4 Leg Lock.

King: “There’s the Figure 4! Fosta looking to get some revenge on Blackwell for that Triangle Hold!”

Eddy Long immediately kneels down next to Blackwell, as the Irishman grimaces and groans as his legs are stretched out in the painful hold, Blackwell shakes his head every time Eddy asks him if he wants to quit, trying to reach for the ropes. On the other side of the ring, Aecas bends down to grab the fallen Tryst, but the man from Nottingham is quick. Tryst grabs the back of Aecas’ head and pulls his off balance opponent over, rolling him up into an Inside Cradle. Tryst waits to hear the count, but hears only the cheering of the crowd, craning his neck backwards he sees Eddy Long occupied with Blackwell and Fosta. Tryst shouts to Eddy Long who asks Blackwell a final time before running over and sliding to a halt next to the pinned Aecas.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

KICKOUT!

Aecas kicks out of the Inside Cradle hard, Tryst drags him up, trying to Irish Whip the bigger man but lacks the strength as Aecas reverses the whip. Eddy Long watches Aecas and Tryst for a moment longer before rushing back over to Blackwell and Fosta, again asking Blackwell if he wants to give up, and again getting a negative response. Aecas crouches slightly as Tryst comes running back towards him, Aecas scoops up his opponent into a Powerslam, only to have Tryst reverse the move mid way, wrapping his legs tight around Aecas’ neck and taking him down to the mat with a Flying Head Scissors.

Axis: “Great counter by Tryst!”

King: “Yeah but can he capitalize with the other action in the ring?”

Axis: “Hard to say, Eddy Long is being run off his feet trying to cope with these two separate fights.”

Blackwell is still struggling in the hard leg lock, Fosta frustrates his opponents efforts to get to the ropes by dragging him back towards the center of the ring. Blackwell cries out in pain and frustration, doing the only thing left to him, trying to turn Fosta over to reverse the hold. Blackwell twists his body slowly, the pain ripping though him as he moves, Fosta sees what Blackwell is attempting and desperately tries to block the reversal. Blackwell grits his teeth and keeps punching hard, sweat beading his forehead with the effort as he finally manages to role over onto his front, reversing the pressure on his legs. Fosta cries out in pain as the move is reversed, he desperately crawls towards the ropes, sucking it up and using his injured arm to grab the bottom rope.

King: “Fosta showing his intelligence there, going for the ropes as soon as the hold was countered."

Axis: “Three men are down, and it looks like Tryst is trying to gain an advantage.”

Tryst slowly climbs up the turnbuckles, favouring his back, as he turns on the top turnbuckle the ropes suddenly bounce underneath his feet as Aecas shakes the ring ropes, Tryst loses his fight for balance and crotches himself on the top rope.

Axis: “Aecas stopped that plan in its tracks.”

King: “Now he’s going up top, this won’t be good for Tryst!”

Aecas slowly ascends the turnbuckles, pulling the winded Tryst up with him as he nears the top, Aecas shoves Tryst’s head down, almost bending the smaller man double as he first hooks one arm, then the other holding Tryst in a double underhook. Aecas stands upright on the turnbuckle for a moment before lifting Tryst up with the underhook, twisting his opponent’s body until his back faces the ring. Aecas holds Tryst in that position for a few seconds before falling backwards off of the turnbuckle, sitting out as he lands, Trysts back and head slamming into the back of the canvas.

Axis: “Super Tiger Driver!”

King: “What an impact! That’s gotta be all for Tryst!”

Axis: “Listen to the crowd they’re going nuts!”

The explosive cheering of the crowd is deafening, as the Russian fans cheer for the huge move that Aecas and Tryst just pulled off. Aecas moves stiffly to cover Tryst hooking a leg for the pin as Eddy Long rushes over.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

THREE!

Funyon: “Tryst has been eliminated!”

Axis: “We’re down to three men!”

King: “And two of them have already been in hard submission holds.”

Axis: “Aecas looks like he might have injured himself as well.”

King: “Look what he just did Axis, are you surprised?”

The three surviving men in the match get to their feet slowly, as Tryst rolls under the bottom rope collecting his quiver and bow from the timekeeper before making his way back up the aisle, the Russian crowd cheering him for his efforts. The surviving three wrestlers exchange looks with one another, Fosta shielding his arm, Blackwell favoring his right leg, and Aecas moving stiffly from the hard impact on his tailbone. Blackwell ignores Aecas and moves towards Fosta determined to finish the battle with his opponent, Fosta has the same idea, taking advantage of Blackwell’s limp to dropkick him in his injured knee.

Blackwell hits the canvas like a sack of bricks as his leg gives way underneath him, clutching at his knee and swearing loudly at Fosta through the pain. Fosta gets back up to his feet as quickly as he can, but finds Aecas on top of him as soon as he straightens up, Aecas scoops Fosta up onto his shoulder before bringing him down and slamming Fosta’s shoulder into his knee with a Shoulder Breaker.

Axis: “Aecas working on the shoulder and arm of Fosta.”

King: “All three of these guys are tired and hurting, I can’t see this going on for much longer.”

Blackwell pulls himself back up to his feet using the ropes for leverage, he ducks his head as Aecas tries to clothesline him, feeling the weight of his opponent on his head and shoulders, the Irishman straightens up using Aecas motion against him sending the big man over the top rope to the floor once again.

Axis: “Whoa! Up and over again for Aecas at the hands of Christian Blackwell!”

King: “That won’t keep him out for long, if Blackwell and Fosta are going to do something they had better do it now.”

Fosta turns Blackwell around and tries to whip him into the ropes, with Fosta only able to use one arm Blackwell is easily able to reverse the whip, but Blackwell doesn’t let go and pulls Fosta back towards him, stopping his opponent with a hard knee to the gut. Blackwell takes advantage of Fosta while his opponent is bent double, the Irishman quickly trapping Fosta in a reverse face lock, his head under Blackwell’s arm. The Irishman spins around quickly before dropping to the canvas in a brutal neck breaker, the crowd pops loudly as Blackwell puts all his remaining strength behind the move.

Axis: “404! Blackwell hit the 404!”

King: “That’s all she wrote for Fosta!”

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

THREE!

Axis: “And then there were two! Who is going to walk away from this match the victor?!”

Funyon: “Fosta has been eliminated!”

Aecas hears Funyon’s announcement as he drags himself back into the ring, seeing Blackwell starting to get up, Aecas moves up into a crouch waiting for Blackwell to turn around. The Russian crowd start chanting for both Aecas and Blackwell the chants getting louder as Blackwell slowly turns to see where his final opponent is. As soon as he sees Blackwell start to turn, Aecas charges across the ring slamming his shoulder into Blackwell’s gut in a huge Gore that knocks the Irishman from his feet.

Axis: “GORE! GORE! GORE!”

King: “That’s it! Aecas has got him now!”

Aecas falls on top of Blackwell covering him as Eddy Long makes the count.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

TWO AND A HALF!…….

KICKOUT!

King: “He kicked out?! How the hell did he kick out of that! I don’t believe it!”

Axis: “Aecas can’t believe it either!”

Aecas sits back up after Blackwell kicks out, an expression similar to disbelief briefly crossing his face, he looks up at referee Eddy Long, who shrugs helplessly as the crowd is going crazy, the cheers and chants deafening in the closed space of the arena. Aecas slowly gets back to his feet pulling Blackwell with him, Aecas pushes Blackwell’s head down between his legs, before leaning forward and wrapping his arms around the Irishman’s waist and lifting him up to his shoulders. Aecas holds Blackwell up before slamming him down to the mat in a hard Powerbomb, Aecas keeps his grip on Blackwell and lifts him up from the canvas once again. The tattoo on Aecas’ back looks like its moving, as his muscles bunch and contract with the effort of pulling Blackwell’s 248 pounds off the canvas and back into the air. Aecas takes a few steps back before hefting Blackwell once more and slamming him down to the mat again in another hard Powerbomb, before falling to his knees and making the cover again.

Axis: “Hard Double Powerbomb by Aecas, but fatigue is beginning to show on the big man.”

ONE!…...

TWO!……

KICKOUT!

The crowd erupt again as Blackwell once more manages to kick out, Aecas is visibly frustrated at Blackwell’s refusal to lose, pulling Blackwell to his feet once more, Aecas grabs the Irishman’s injured right leg. Before Aecas can act Blackwell bends his good leg and leaps up his foot crashing into Aecas’ temple as he hits an Enzuigiri in desperation, staggering Aecas and giving him an opening. Blackwell moves as fast as his injured leg allows grabbing Aecas in a reverse face lock, the fans, sensing that Aecas is about to suffer the same fate as Fosta are on their feet cheering Blackwell’s name as he spins around and drops Aecas into the 404.

Axis: “404 on Aecas! Will THIS be enough?!”

Christian Blackwell slumps on top of Aecas hooking a leg as Eddy Long makes the count.

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

TWO AND A HALF!…...

TWO AND THREE QUARTERS!…..

KICKOUT!

The crowd explode again as an anguished look passes over Blackwell’s face, much the same as Aecas beforehand, as the match still carries on.

Axis: “Both Aecas and Blackwell have kicked out of their respective finishers! What’s it going to take to put these men down!”

King: “They’ve both proved their toughness in this match Axis, its come down to who can hit the finishing move first.”

Blackwell slowly gets to his feet, one hand grasping Aecas’ long hair pulling the big man up, the Irishman whips Aecas towards the nearest corner but the big man manages to reverse it, sending Blackwell running into the corner. Aecas follows up with a hard clothesline rocking Blackwell almost off his feet, seeing an opening Aecas turns around locking his arms around Blackwell’s neck trying for a Diamond Cutter. Blackwell grabs the ropes hard, stopping Aecas from dropping him into the finishing move, Aecas backs up and tries again to the same result. Aecas lets go of Blackwell’s neck just long enough to elbow him in the side of the head; the Irishman’s grip loosens on the ropes. Aecas grabs Blackwell’s neck once again and runs out of the corner, dragging Blackwell with him before jumping into the air and hitting a huge Diamond Cutter on his opponent.

Axis: “Diamond Cutter! What a Diamond Cutter out of the corner!”

King: “Aecas has the cover! He’s hooked a leg this has to be it!”

ONE!…..

TWO!…..

THREE!

* DING! DING! DING! *

Aecas rolls off of Blackwell and slowly makes his way up to his feet using the ropes for support as the crowd explodes, “AECAS!” chants echoing through the building.

Funyon: “The winner of the match, and the Number One contender for the European Championship. AECAS!”

Axis: “What a war we have just witnessed ladies and gentlemen! Omega Storm eliminated with a Suplex/Cross body combination. Tryst falling to a Super tiger Driver from the top rope, Fosta drilled with the 404, and Christian Blackwell finally falling to the Diamond Cutter. Aecas pulled through on top, and will go on to face the winner of tonight’s Ladder match for the European title!”

King: “Hey we aren’t finished yet Axis! Aecas is going back towards Blackwell.”

Axis: “Is he going to help? Or is he going to hammer?”

Blackwell sits up slowly and looks at Aecas, as he moves to stand next to him, the two look at one another for a long moment before Aecas bends slightly and offers his hand to Blackwell. Blackwell hesitates for a moment before taking the proffered hand, Aecas pulling him back upright and giving him a firm handshake, before raising both Blackwell’s arm and his own in tribute to a great match.

Axis: “A great display of sportsmanship between these two men King. The fans are on their feet, cheering for both men.”

Aecas and Blackwell lower their arms as the crowd give them a standing ovation, a smile breaks across Aecas’ normally gloomy face and he raises his arms one last time in affirmation of his victory in front of the screaming Russian fans. Aecas smiles widely celebrating his first victory in the SJL, before moving to the ropes, exiting the ring slowly, and walking back down the aisle with Christian Blackwell.

February 14, 2003

[We cut to the back, where Ben Hardy is standing by, microphone in hand, seemingly about to conduct a short interview.]

Ben Hardy: That's right; I'm standing here with none other that Sean Atlas, the number one contender to the European Championship, who will face Chris Card later tonight in the Main Event. Sean, any thoughts on Main Eventing your first show in just your third match here in the SJL?

Atlas: I'm not surprised at all, Ben. I know how good I am, and I know what I'm here for. What does surprise me, is that the cross you wore last week is mysteriously missing tonight. What gives, Ben?

Hardy: Uh, well I, um...

Atlas: You really wanted this interview, right? Figures.

Hardy: It just seemed odd that you walked away after seeing a cross on my neck...

Atlas: Odd? Not at all. I don't like to talk to people who project their irrational beliefs onto others. Don't talk to me about odd. Odd is what's going on , here in Moscow...

[The fans in the crowd who understand English pop for that remark...]

Atlas: You see, back in the 1930s, when Lenin was in power and the Bolsheviks had control over this land, God was not an accepted idea. For the first time, an entire country consisted of Atheists. The arts flourished, the economy boomed, and people were actually happy. Then Stalin brought in his Democratic Constitution and Communist principles, coercing the population to convert to Christian-Orthodoxy...

Ben: (interrupting) Uh, I don't see what this has to do with...

Atlas: (ripping the microphone out of Ben's hands) What happened, Moscow? You were so brilliant decades ago. Now, your economy is suffering, your strength as an international power has dwindled, and you forced all the Jews out of your country, persecuting the ones that stayed. I pity you, I really do. Allowing The Vatican to court you, and convince you to accept a Soviet God... It's wrong.

[The crowd boos the short diatribe against their beliefs, with some Jews and Atheists cheering]

Atlas: But if all of you, including this excuse for an employee over here, want to project your crosses unto me, then I will most definitely project my influence onto you. You watch me. Watch me win that match tonight. You'll have no choice but to accept me as your champion. As the Unified European Champion. You watch...I can convert the masses too...

[Atlas forces the microphone into Ben Hardys's hands and walks away. Ben looks frightened by Atlas, as the camera pans away from him, and follows Sean down the hallway...

Fade Out.

February 14, 2003

The cameras come back to life on Crimson and pan the cheering, fuzzy-clothes wearing, semi-English-but-mostly-Russian crowd who all try and jump and wave at the camera, holding up signs signifying their favourite SJL superstars. Strangely enough, the signs aren't written in Russian, but in perfect English. Signs such as "M...V...S = R...V...D?" and "Asgard or Bust!". The most amusing sign of the night has to go to a group of green...yes, green...clad Russians all holding up one big sign that says "We Live In Sherwood Forest!". Finally, the camera pans down past the fans to the announce table, where the ever-loved duo of Axis and the Suicide King are sitting. The SWF commissioner/commentator looks all nicely rugged up in a thick and warm coat, while Axis is, for some strange reason, in his standard announcing attire and looks like he's freezing his arse off.

Axis: "D..d....dammit King! W..why didn't you tell me....w...we were coming somewhere....c.....c.....cold!"

Suicide King: "Because you're supposed to check the destinations yourself, Aussie genius."

Axis: "B....bugger you, King. We have a m...m...match"

Suicide King: "One that will keep the competitors warm, but not you! Baha!"

The Smarktron suddenly fizzles to life, revealing the backstage locker room area. It shows both sides of a hallway, and a door on each side. A referee stands at each door and jiggles the handle, showing that both are locked. The camera cuts back to the announcing team, as the Smarktron appears to split down the middle with a shiny silver bar-graphic, and two new camera angles appear, of inside the rooms. Silence fills the arena, and then the soft strains that herald the beginning of Fear Factory's "Resurrection" echo through the building.

'Consumed with memories...

That preceded today...

Given a chance to bereave...

Life that's slipping awaaaaaay!'

The soft strains drop into heavy guitar riffage as Funyon lifts his microphone, shouting to be heard above the loud music and the booing of the fans as they recognise the song.

Funyon: "The following contest is a Smirnoff Showdown! Hidden within the arena, in seperate locations, are three bottles of the finest Smirnoff Vodka. The first individual to find and scull two bottles will be declared the winner provided they do not expire beforehand!! And introducing first, from Sydney Australia..."

The 'split' in the middle of the Smarktron moves to the right, illuminating the left-hand side as a white-haired monstrosity looms into view. With fists clenched, and an angry expression on his face that would scare even the most hardened individual, Janus tilts his head back and looks up clearly at the camera, scowling and looking at the door as "Resurrection" blasts out over the speakers and Funyon continues his announcements.

Funyon: "The Hell Machine.....solitary member of the Magnificent Seven's Junior League contingent....and who specifically told the referees not to get in his way tonight.....he is the one, the only.....JAAAAAANUS!"

The crowd boos the seven footer, who just scowls at the camera before staring fixedly at the door. The loud beat of "Resurrection" pounds through the speakers before slowly trailing off. The bar on the right hand side of the Smarktron image slides back to the middle, and after a pause slides towards the left, illuminating the other side of the Smarktron as the other person's themesong begins, and the crowd boos yet again as the song rattles the speakers.

'WAIT FOR CHAOS!!

WAIT FOR WARFARE!!

AT THIS POINT OF NO RETURN!!

BLEED FOR MONEY!!

BLEED FOR JUSTICE!!

GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL WITH A WOUNDED SOOOOOUL!!'

Again, Funyon raises his microphone as the long, wet black-hair of Janus' opponent comes onscreen, and the Antichrist Superstar himself, Crow, looks up into the camera with an expression that's mixed smugness and the faintest hint of fear as he shoves his hair out of his face and pulls his shirt off in preparation. The sliding bar slips back to the middle of the Smarktron, showing both superstars warming up in their seperate locker rooms. For a few precious moments, the camera switches back to the announce team.

Axis: "..T...t..these two, after a l...l..loss and win respectively...in A.A..Australia...facing each other..."

Axis trails off, shivering in the cold air, the poor sod, as the Suicide King takes over with a grin all over his face.

Suicide King: "Janus lost the title to Mike Van Siclen, while that fucking bird Crow won his punishment match. They celebrated a lot and it's going to be FUN to see them tear each other apart!"

Axis: "....Th..they're countrymates. Th....they wouldn't hurt ea..each other badly...."

Finally, the timekeeper at ringside rings the bell, and both the referees - Matthew Kivell and Sexton Hardcastle - look at each other for several moments before unclicking the locks on the locker room doors. Hardcastle gets off lightly as Crow just swings his door open, but Kivell gets knocked back as Janus almost kicks the door off its hinges to get it open - despite the fact it was unlocked - and stalk out into the hallway, and he and Crow go toe-to-toe for several long moments. The giant and the bird look into each other's eyes, Janus' face grim and angry-looking, while Crow just smirks faintly before stepping back and offering a hand as if to say 'we're countrymates, right?'. The crowd just boos both the heelish superstars, and pops as Janus suddenly and aggressively wraps his hands around Crow's throat and firmly throws him against the concrete wall before lumbering away down the hallway with a low snarl. The Antichrist Superstar shakes his head with a grimace, pulling himself up from the slumped position and chasing after Janus, who's already moved out of sight.

Axis: "J..J..Janus showing he's P...P...PISSED...at his t....ti....title loss....."

Suicide King: "And he'll tear apart anyone who gets in his way! Haha, this is gonna be marvellous....."

The camera cuts back to the Smarktron, to show a lumbering Janus heading through the parking lot area. He's stopped before he moves offscreen as Crow tears up the concrete - metaphorically speaking - and throws himself forward, executing a nasty running dropkick to the back of the giant's knees. This proves to be a good tactic to slow his opponent down, but not a wise one, as Janus topples back and lands on TOP of Crow, squashing the smaller superstar beneath him. Rolling off the compacted Adelaidian, Janus grunts and rubs the feeling into his knees as Crow tries to get the air back into his chest. Rather than pause to pummel his opponent, Janus lurches back to his feet and stomps off through the parking lot, pushing open a random door...

...and happening upon the kitchen area that supplies the arena's concession stand! His eyes gleam with intent as he scans the shelves, ignoring the cries of the workers as he pulls open cupboards and yanks out packets of candy corn, fairy floss, and various confectionaries as he searches for the vodka. The sound of the door opening again makes him turn his head, and he arghs as Crow charges into the room with a metal trolley and drives it into the giant's shins! Taking up where Janus left off as the giant reels and clutches his legs, Crow opens a freezer and starts picking out bottles.

"Beer...wine...beer...whiskey...Vanilla Coke...."

Muttering to himself, Crow throws the bottles at Janus' feet, causing them to shatter and splatter the giant's boots with various liquid substances. Shaking his head, Janus looks up as Crow reaches into the back of the freezer and smiles triumphantly, pulling out the first bottle of vodka. The crowd actually cheers this development, as nothing is more interesting than seeing a superstar get tanked on their native drink.

Axis: "Cro....Crow has the f...first bottle!"

Suicide King: "He's not getting it easily though!"

Janus steps over the trolley, his foot landing on a slippery and sticky portion of ground thanks to Crow's beverage-throwing. The giant's boot loses traction and he starts to slip, but before Crow can open and drink the vodka, Janus's arm comes up and crashes into the side of the Antichrist Superstar's head, sending him reeling, and the bottle flies into the air. Janus can't capitalise as his boot continues to slip, and he falls backwards onto the ground, hitting his head and hissing sharply in pain. He immediatley sits up, holding the back of his head, as Crow reaches for the bottle and grabs it out of the air....

...as Janus uses Crow to pull himself up! The two stare eye to eye, and then Crow puts the bottle on the table and smirks - a smirk that quickly vanishes as Janus smashes him in the face with a punch! Crow reels, and counters with a punch of his own! Punch by Janus! Punch by Crow! Janus! Crow! Crow! CRRRRROW! The crowd cheers the senseless violence as Crow smashes his fist into the bridge of Janus' nose, staggering the giant, and then hooks his head and grins before dropping the giant face first into the shattered fragments of glass on the ground with a DDT!

Suicide King: "Bahahaa! This is just the beginning of the carnage!"

Axis: "Y..you...you're awfully che....chee....cheerful tonight......"

Suicide King: "Not only am I warm and comfortable, I get to see some senseless brutal violence as they kill each other for vodka!"

Indeed, the Gambling Man seems to be all smiles, as Axis is all chills as Janus tries to push himself up, stunned from the DDT and little pieces of glass sticking to his lacerated face. He shakes his head firmly as Crow opens the vodka bottle and waves to the camera, before tilting his head back and sculling the bottle in roughly three seconds! He smacks his lips and puts it down.....then grabs his throat and makes a sort of hissing, pained sound as the alcohol sets his throat on fire - figuratively speaking. The Smarktron beeps, and a small picture of each superstar's face appears in the upper right and lower left corners of the screen. Next to Janus' in the lower left, it reads "0", but next to Crow's in the upper right, it reads "1".

Funyon: "There are only TWO bottles remaining! The drinker of the first bottle is CROW!"

With that annoucement made, the camera cuts back to the Smarktron as Crow tries to hold his liquor, almost whining at the burning sensation in his throat. Using the table for guidance as the vodka goes straight to his head, Crow heads for the exit as Janus pushes himself back to his feet and shakes his head, little glass shards sparkling as they fall from his face. He growls like a beast, and without further ado, charges the slowly fleeing, semi-drunken Crow and drives a big boot into his spine! Arching his back, Crow gurgles in pain, as Janus hooks him in a full nelson and drags him towards the mess of glass and liquid beverage. The Antichrist Superstar struggles, but Janus lifts him up, spins him around and plants him with a full-nelson drop, driving the glass shards into his rear end! Crow cries out in pain and holds his bum as Janus rises, wiping the seeping blood on his face away, and exits the room, coming out behind the concession stand and out into the 'lobby'-esque area of the arena.

Axis: "C..C...Crow gets the..f....fi....first bottle, but J..Jaa...Janus makes him pay!"

Suicide King: "Good thing all the bottles are in different places, or this wouldn't be fun! Oh wait, you're not having fun...you're frozen! Bahahaaha!"

Axis (merely glares death-threats at the Gambling Man)

Striding out into the 'lobby', Janus is beset upon by a small horde of fans who couldn't get into the arena proper and were waiting around for such a match to present itself. Surrounding the Hell Machine, they pester him with their squeaky voices, asking him if he just cut himself or if he really did get hurt, what the hell is he doing wandering around, and doesn't he have a match? The giant's angry face starts to look pained as he looks for a way out of the crowd, but can find none! Besieged on all sides, Janus finds himself trapped as Crow lurches out of the kitchen door, and sees him....and waves.

Janus just glares back.

Crowe smirks and staggers off drunkenly past the crowd of wannabe fans as they besiege Janus, looking around for where the next bottle of vodka could be. He considers going out onto the street, then shrugs and decides it wouldn't be outside - who'd wanna go out when it's that cold? Instead he picks a nearby door at random, striding off down the hallway. Well, lurching, really. The effects of the vodka are already apparent on his system as he stumbles about, almost bouncing from wall to wall as he stumbles past doors and ends up slumping against one - promptly falling as it's a push-open door, and collapsing into a storage room.

Axis: "C..Cr...Crow collapsing in a sto..storage room!"

Suicide King: "If Janus finds him, he's dead! There's bound to be PLENTY of brutal weapons in there..."

Axis: "...You're v...very...exci...excitable...to...today..."

Suicide King: "Aw...Axis, you sound bitter. Could it be the fact you're nearly frozen to your chair? NAaaaaah...."

Shaking head ferociously to clear the drunken haze, Crow stumbles back to his feet and looks around, spotting metal chairs, fire extinguishers, tables, lead pipes...and starts to smile. Despite his slightly drunken walk, he begins rummaging through the items to find a suitable weapon. Leaving the bird to his searching, the camera cuts back to the 'lobby' area, where it finds a crowd of piled up, geeky looking wannabe fans, eyes glazed and bodies twitching. To one side of the pile, Janus dusts his hands off and scowls before following the path Crow took, walking down the hallway and spotting the open storage room door. The crowd starts a rhythmic chant as the giant approaches the door.

"WE WANT HARDCORE!" *stomp stomp stomp-stomp-stomp*

And as the giant sticks his head into the storage room to spot his opponent, the crowd whoops wildly as they get what they want - a lead pipe crashing into Janus' forehead! The giant reels back as Crow steps out of the storage room with a lead pipe in each hand, and starts hitting the giant with them - arms, legs, torso, head - absolutely clobbering him. Janus sinks to his knees, and Crow lifts the lead pipes above his head and swings them down towards the giant's skull...

..and Janus lifts his hands and catches them! Blood leaking from his forehead and from minor cuts over his body from the pipeshots, he glares up at Crow, who wavers on his feet as the vodka takes effect. The giant pulls the lead pipes from Crow's grip and rises, standing tall and holding one in each hand. After a pause, he throws one aside, wraps both hands around the other pipe, and takes a baseball-style swing at Crow's head. The bird, seeing the streaking metal pipe ready to concuss him, actually throws himself backwards - and trips over a chair in the storage room, collapsing to the floor. Janus growls like a beast and lifts the pipe, swinging it down and cracking it into Crowe's ribs with an impact that makes him cry out. The giant then drops the pipe as he spots something, and leans over, grabbing a folded up table.

Axis: "He'...he's pl..planning SOME...thing..."

Suicide King (actually chanting with the crowd): "WE WANT HARDCORE!"

Axis: ".....Fre...freak. They....they're hu..human..be..beings!"

Suicide King: "And they're paid to do what they're told! Sit back and watch the stupid Australians kill each other in this match!"

Janus steps back out of the storage room, actually powerful enough to hold the folded up table in both hands, holding it over his head. Inside the storage room, Crow gets back to his feet and rubs his chest, staggering out to look for his foe...and looks up in surprise as Janus uses all of his immense power to swing the table over his head and watch it splinter and fall apart upon smashing into Crow's skull! Left holding the frame of the table, the giant watches as the bird, his head busted WIDE open by that table-shot, collapses to the ground, as the crowd cheers loudly for the brutality. The King of Hearts looks like he's highly amused by this, grinning like a Chesire Cat at seeing the two Australians battle it out.

Janus nudges Crow with a foot. The Antichrist Superstar groans and holds his head, his face already the proverbial crimson mask. The giant smiles to himself, satisfied with this brutality, and lumbers off down the hallway after dropping the metal table frame to the floor, searching out the next bottle of vodka. Crow oh so slowly sits up in his absence, but the camera pans to follow the more 'live' superstar as Janus storms down the hallways, trying to figure out where they'd hide the bottles. He considers locker rooms, production vans, the parking lot, then realises that he doesn't have any bloody clue where they could be. Spotting a backstage worker about to drink a cup of coffee, the giant moves forward. Seeing the shadow fall over him, the poor worker nearly drops his coffee as Janus rests a great hand ominously on his shoulder.

Janus: "Vodka. Where is it?"

Worker: "I...I..I...dunno! Not exactly!"

Janus: "Not...exactly? Tell me."

Worker: "I..I...I can't!"

The giant growls, squeezing the worker's shoulder and then shoving him against the wall, stalking off down the hallway and coming out into an open area with storage boxes, and various heavy vehicles like the production truck, a forklift, and one thing that catches Janus' eye and makes him grin slowly. Waving off the camera, he heads offscreen. The cameraman shrugs and turns around, looking back at the hallway as Crow comes stumbling down it, holding his head. Coming out into the open concrete area, he looks around, and then freezes as a noise reaches his ears.

*Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrr~!*

Axis: "W..wha...what..?"

Suicide King: "...Oh god...don't tell me Janus is going to demean himself again with THAT! Stupid Australian!"

Unfortunately, the King of Hearts seems to be in the right, as the camera pans over from Crow to see Janus hunched in the driver's seat of what looks like a cross between a golf-cart and a security buggy. The cart springs forward, rolling towards the Antichrist Superstar ominously. Fleeing, Crow climbs into the forklift and starts the engine with the keys that just happened to be sitting in the ignition. Both slow moving vehicles rolled towards one another, as both superstars, one drunk and bloodied, one bloodied, stared each other down as the vehicles slowly closed the distance to each other...

...Closer...

.....Closer....

*THUD*

Janus squeezed out of the cart jus as it rolled onto the forklift's..well...forks. Crow engaged the lifting mechanism, and the buggy began to lift up, up...and fell off, crashing to the floor with an electric buzz as its motor overloaded and fizzled out. The giant Janus lunges at the side of the forklift, climbing up before the bird can turn it, and grabs Crow by the hair, trying to drag him out. He drives a few punches into the bird's head, but Crow fights back with an elbow to the skull, and he hooks Janus' head and lifts himself up, swinging his body out of the forklift and to the concrete with a modified Murderous DDT! Janus hits the ground and twitches in pain, clutching his skull as Crow holds his lacerated rear end from hitting the concrete.

Axis: "MURRRRRRRRRRDEROUS DDT!"

Suicide King: "Ah, the pain, the suffering! These two are killing each other!"

Axis: "Cro...Crow is up..and he...he's off!"

The Smarktron shows Crow getting up and snorting, kicking Janus in the ribs as he holds his head and starts to head off, clutching his rear and his head as he stumbles towards a side door that leads to yet another hallway. Janus pushes himself up slowly, blood coming from his forehead in a nasty looking stream as he turns his head to look at the cart, not spotting Crow leaving. His eyes widen a little, and the camera pans over to the cart....

...because sitting in a previously hidden compartment is the second bottle of vodka! He slowly pushes himself up, stumbling over to the upturned vehicle and grabbing the bottle. He victoriously utters an incoherent yell, and Crow turns around, blinking - and swearing as he sees Janus uncork the second bottle. He races back towards the giant, but Janus sculls the second bottle and spins around to throw it straight at Crow's face, causing the Antichrist Superstar to slow down and duck - but Janus takes advantage and rushes forward, driving a shoulder into Crow's ribcage and charging with him across the backstage area and Goreing him into a brick wall! He yells in pain again, clutching his ribcage as he slumps to a seated position. Janus looks down at him and holds his shoulder - the Australians merely stare at each other through the crimson blood staining their faces. Janus holds up a finger, signifying 'one left' as Funyon, back in the ring, announces.

Funyon: "There is only ONE bottle left! The second bottle was drunk by...JANUS!"

The crowd whoops as the giant suddenly pauses and rubs his throat with a low grumble, starting to waver a little on his feet. Given his height and weight advantage over Crow, the vodka doesn't affect him as badly, but he still wavers on his feet. He leans on the wall like the leaning tower of Pisa, getting his bearings as Crow starts to claw his way back to his feet, gasping and holding his chest. Both superstars pause as they eye each other, each stumbling on his feet. Crow finally lifts his hand, narrows his eyes at the giant, and swings, the crowd taking a deep breath and waiting for the impact...

*CHOP*

"WHOOO!"

A knife-handed chop sends Janus reeling backwards thanks to his drunken state. Crow follows it up with another!

*CHOP*

"WHOOOOO!"

Janus reels back, and counters with a massive chop of his own to Crow's chest, sending the drunken bird reeling backwards as well! The crowd 'whooos' in excitement as the duo exchange chops, sending each other reeling all around the storage-type area. Finally, Crow delivers a stiff chop that sends the drunken Janus reeling, and grabs him in a bearhug and drops to his knees, cracking the giant's chin on his shoulder! Janus 'arrrghs' and clutches his jaw, staggering, as the intoxicated bird wraps his arms around the giant's waist and attempts to heave him over in a belly-to-belly suplex.

Axis: "No..nnoo...w..way!"

Suicide King: "Unlike you, these AUssies are strong and big! He'll hit this suplex!"

The Suicide King laughs, continuing to mock the chilled Axis. The Australian commentator doesn't reply, as the camera watches Crow heave back once, twice, and not flip Janus over! His foot slips out from under him, and the groggy Adelaidian falls backwards on his arse, yelling in pain at the reawakening of the pain of the glass in his gluteus maximus. The crowd laughs as Janus hoists the Antichrist Superstar back to his feet, driving a massive forearm into his bloodied forehead to send him reeling in pain, then lifting a hand into the air and wriggling the fingers. He attempts to lock a hand around Crow's throat, but the alcohol impairs his vision - instead his hand clamps around his opponent's jaw...

...and Crow bites him! The giant arghs in pain and looks at the rent in his black glove, and the bloody teeth marks on his skin. He growls, and Crow smirks at him before grabbing the giant's leg and dropping, twisting and managing to just barely flip Janus over with a dragon screw legwhip! The giant crashes into the ground, arghing and holding his back. Crow kips up to his feet and almost falls straight back over as the crowd laughs. Janus slowly, oh so slowly sits up, stifling a huge belch of alcohol...and a voice calls out to them both.

???: "Hey!! I know wh..where the last b..b..ottle is!"

Both the drunken giant and the tanked Crow look over in the direction of the voice, but the camera refuses to pan over. Slowly climbing back to his feet and clamping a great hand on Crow's shoulder so he doesn't go anywhere, Janus motions for the owner of the strange voice to go on. There's a low chuckle from the mysterious unseen person, and then he laughs out loud, voice amplified through a microphone.

???: "It's wr...wrapped up und...under the ann...announce table!"

At the announce table, the Suicide King blinks in surprise, and turns his head to ask Axis what the hell's going on - when he sees the seat is vacant. Wheels start to turn in the Gambling Man's head as he looks back towards the Smarktron and yells into his headset.

Suicide King: "YOU FUCKING AUSSIE!!"

The camera finally pans around to reveal, yes, the mystery person who just told the superstars where the bottle is, is none other then the Suicide King's announcing partner Axis! The crowd cheers like mad for this strange development, as Axis waves to the camera and covers his mouth as he sneezes at the cold weather of Moscow, grinning at King.Back at the announce table, the Suicide King harrumphs angrily, and yells out something to the effect that he's 'not moving' or anything. The camera pans from Axis back to Janus and Crow...

..or rather, their backs as the two superstars run, stumbling and trying to shove each other out of the way as they charge through the hallways side by side, heading for the stage. Janus starts to pull ahead of Crow, and the Antichrist Superstar puts on a burst of speed and lunges, leaping up onto Janus' back and holding on for dear life as the giant roars through the hallways, pushing over various backstage workers and any superstars unfortunate enough to be in his way, not bothering to shake Crow off as he loses his balance.

Suicide King: "What the hell is this!? Hardcore action and then that damned Aussie announcer gets tired of my jokes and runs off to spoil the fun!"

The crowd 'ooh's in sympathetic pain as Janus practically rolls out of the entrance, crashing into the ground with Crow attached to his back, both superstars sprawling drunkenly on the stage and twitching slightly. Pushing themselves up, they drunkenly charge down the ramp, delivering punches to each other's heads like a pair of clowns before finally coming to a stop leaning on the announce table. The Suicide King just glares at them and folds his arms, refusing to continue announcing. Janus looks at the table. Crow looks at the table. They look at each other.

Suicide King: "Hey!! Don't do that!!"

Standing on either side of the table, Crow and Janus grab it, and bulk their muscles, heaving with all their might. The announce table creaks, as both drunken superstars heave with all their might, and the bolts holding it to the ground creak, loosen...and as if specially designed for this spot, they break, allowing the two superstars to flip the announce table over, monitors and all, and send it crashing to the ground!

And taped to the bottom...is the last bottle of vodka.

With the Suicide King sputtering in fury, Crow and Janus lunge at each other, exchanging hard, slugging punches. Crow drives a knee into the giant's gut and attempts to hook his head and lift him up for the Natural Born Chaos, but the giant is too heavy and attempts to yank Crow into the air for the Rage Unleashed...but the Antichrist Superstar slips down the giant's back, and as he turns around, delivers a stunning roundhouse kick that sends Janus reeling! The Suicide King shrugs angrily, looking at his ruined desk.

Suicide King: "Das Wunder Kick...just drink the fucking vodka already..."

Crow smirks at the Gambling Man and bends over, ripping the vodka out of all the duct tape holding it to the table. He's forced to drop it though, when Janus staggers him with a brutal lariat. The giant bends over to grab the vodka, but Crow mounts the guardrail and throws himself at Janus in a crossbody. The giant automatically drops the bottle and catches Crowe, and shifts him over one shoulder. He grins bloodily, and drops Crow's arm into his knee with a shoulderbreaker! He pauses once to acknowledge Axis sitting back down next to the glaring Gambling Man, as he slams Crow's shoulder into his knee again. The Antichrist Superstar cries out and clutches at his pained shoulder...and as such is in NO way able to protect himself as Janus abruptly drops down and smashes his skull with a Tombstone piledriver! There's no commentary as Janus picks up the last vodka bottle, uncorks it, and downs it in about three seconds. The bell rings!

*DINGDINGDING*

Funyon: "The WINNER of this bout...JAAAAAANUS!"

The giant staggers on his feet and lifts his arms into the air as "Resurrection" booms over the speakers, and then promptly falls over with a glazed expression. The announcers "debate".

Axis: "And Janus wins with his Chains of Agony combo and drinks the last bottle."

Suicide King: "You TOLD them it was here!! They weren't supposed to find it!!"

Axis: "Just giving them a fair show...hey, guess it's not so cold in here..maybe because I got you back!"

Suicide King: "Shut up, Aussie."

The camera focuses on the unconscious form of Janus, who looks smashed from drinking the vodka, before cutting to commercial....

February 14, 2003

"And that's how I made my return to my life, and finally got all my money back." King says

"And how did that happen again?" Axis questions, looking slowly down at the red light.

"One of these Russian Mail Order Brides." King replies.

"King, smile, you're on Communist Candy Camera!" Says Axis, grinning.

King stares very slowly at Axis, his face going read and white at the same time.

"It's not a Communist country anymore.." He sounds out slowly, the only thing he can think of.

"As good as the one about the blonde and the stock market."

"I'm going to kill you Axis. Just you wait until the next advert break." Snarls King.

"You should pay more attention, and be nicer to people." Axis says almost quote like.

"Nice, I'll show you nice. A Nice good ass kicking!" Yells King.

"And I'm still shocked that the great Suicide King had to get a Russian Mail Order Bride." Axis says sliding one last one in below the belt before Funyon sets into the ring.

"The next match up of the night on SJL Crimson, here in the Olympic Arena, Moscow is up now!" Funyon booms out, over the crowd cheering at the hometown mention.

"The following match is a singles match for one fall."

"There two went head to head on the last show in Australia, but that wasn't to serious at all. Now we've got this rematch to really show these guys can do." Axis calls.

"Introducing first, from Honolulu, Hawaii, in at two hundred and twenty one pounds, he is ... 'PUNK ROCKSTAR' MATT MYERS!"

'Over My Head' is churned out from the speakers across the arena, as Matt Myers makes his way out to the cheering of the Moscow fans. In tights with the colours of the American and Russian flag, Myers slides under the bottom rope into the ring. Standing tall, he waves his arms to all sides of the arena, posing for the fans.

"And his opponent, from Birmingham, England, in at two hundred and fifty four pounds, he is ... DACE 'HORRORCORE' NIGHT!"

'Winds of Creation' starts hammering out, as the lights flash, and Dace Night appears in the entranceway. Striding under the ramp to the ring, he climbs onto the apron, hanging up his trench coat on the ring post. Climbing over the ropes, he stands in the ring, throwing the horns up the crowd, for their cheers.

Standing face to face against each other, Dace and Myers each extend a hand. With the handshake comes the call of cheering from the fans.

"Handshake, this one looks to be a good clean wrestling match." Comments Axis.

"Damn Russians, don't know what they like." King grumbles.

Stepping back to opposite sides of the ring, the two men wait for the bell to ring.

DING, DING, DING!

"It's on!"

Stepping slowly around the ring, shaking out their limbs, the two men circle like stags. With a nod, they surge forwards into a tie up.

Using his greater size and power, Dace rushes forwards, driving Myers back into the corner without too much opposition, before bringing up his knee and driving it into Matt's midsection. Swinging the other leg up, Dace drives a knee into Myers' chest, and switching legs again drills home a second knee to the midsection, sapping the breath out Myers' body.

Leaning Myers back up into the corner, Night archers back and lets fly with a huge Knife Edge Chop. Getting in a grove, Dace keeps letting fly with them.

WWWWOOOOOOOOOHHHHH! WWWWOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH! WWWWOOOOOOHHH!

"Knees to the gut and Knife Edge Chops, sucking the air straight out of Matt's lungs, giving Dace time and fighting advantage." Axis comments.

Throwing Myers out of the corner onto his feet, Dace turns on his heel and hammers home an Elbow Smash to the back of Myers' neck with a ringing crack.

As Myers staggers from the blow, Dace ducks himself in, looping his arms between Myers' legs and around his waist, hauling the Punk Rockstar into the air and dropping him back onto the mat a Backdrop Suplex.

Rolling back to his feet, Dace beings Myers up with him, straight into a Front Facelock, not letting up on the offence. With one smooth motion, Dace flings his body backwards, sending Matt overheard with a Snap Suplex, leaving his back slapping off the mat again.

Rolling up a second time, Myers is pulled up with the Brummie Goth, but this time, finds a shoulder in his gut, and arms wrapped around his waist. With another arch backwards, Dace takes Myers overhead, with time with a Northern Lights Suplex, pinning Myers to the mat, and bridging his weight back.

......ONE!

......TWO!

Kickout!

"Dace taking the back road, with a blow to the back of the neck, then a series of Suplexes wearing Myers down for the cover off the Northern Lights, but it's not enough."

The crowd cheers Matt on for his kickout, Dace rises to his feet and waits on Myers.

Shaking his head off while he's still on the mat Myers comes up and bobs right back down, ducking a lariat, before sending his weight forwards with a Superkick, crashing into Night's jaw, dropping him to the mat.

"Superkick that gives Myers valuable time to recover and start an attack plan of his own." Axis comments.

"There's no one worth supporting in this match up. Can we please get this over with quickly, before I turn to the bottle." King says dryly.

"You've never needed a reason to turn to it before King." Quips Axis.

Having had time to get his head together, Myers takes run up and a leap, twisting his body through the air and hammering his foot into the side of Dace's head as he rises up. Rolling through to the Spinning Wheel Kick, Matt runs to the ropes, bouncing off, and coming back at Dace, making him regret getting up so fast. Myers takes him full in the chest with a Cross Body toppling Dace backwards for a cover.

......ONE!

.....TWO!

...Kickout!

"Myers uses the ropes for speed, and takes Dace down with that Cross Body, but the speed advantage isn't enough for the win yet. But Myers has to get moving, or Dace will get hold of him and wear him down." Calls Axis.

As both men come back to their feet, Myers gets to the gun first, whipping Dace off towards the ropes. Dace comes charging back, Matt drops flat to the mat, letting him pass overhead.

Spring back up, Myers dives towards the returning Dace, catching his head in mid air, then with a kick of his feet sends himself and Dace twisting round, before planting him on the Mat with a Tornado DDT.

MYERS! MYERS! MYERS!

With the crowd behind him, Myers drops a leg for added measure across the English man's chest.

Not risking a come back from the big man, the Punk Rockstar pulls him up, stepping behind him and tripping him backwards to the mat with a Side Russian Leg Sweep, but with an added flick of his feet, sends them both rolling over.

Dace ends up face down on the mat, as Myers carries on through, ending up on his feet, and without a pause jumps forwards, into a Frog Splash from the mat, landing across the small of Dace's back.

The arena is filled with the cheering of the fans from Matt Myers' show of speed and skill.

"Russian Leg Sweep rolled through and straight into a standing Frog Splash, Myers showing off his skill, while keeping the risk down, good game plan here." Axis shouts over the crowd.

"Boring." King puts without any real effort.

Rolling Dace over, Myers makes another cover.

.....ONE!

......TWO!

......1/4

......1/2

Kickout!

"Again, not enough!"

Pushing himself back up, Myers drags Dace back up and whips him off into the ropes again, but Dace slams on the breaks using his size and power. Sending Myers flying off into the ropes, the Horrorcore wrestler takes a few steps back, and then runs in after him, ploughing through the return form of Myers, Dace takes a moment to listen to the crowds cheering as he lands the Yakuza Kick.

"Yakuza Kick! Myers is down!"

"Axis, why are you always busting a nut over that move?" Questions King.

Now back in the driving seat, Dace starts off by cutting of Myers speed and breath, dropping his two hundred and fifty pounds onto his chest with a Knee Drop.

Dragging Matt up, Night plants a knee into his gut, keeping him out of breath, before clamping him into a Stand Headscissors, wrapping his arms around Matt's waist, Dace pulls him up for a piledriver, but instead of sitting down, drops forwards to his knees, like a Tombstone, spiking Matt's head into the mat.

"Dace putting a new twist to the old school piledriver, by kneeling down instead of sitting out. Keeping up the work of keeping the Punk Rockstar out of breath, and attacking his head," Axis shouts.

With Myers' head still locked between his legs, Dace stands back up, pulling Myers back into another tight Standing Headscissors. This time underhooking both his arms, Horrorcore easily flips the two hundred twenty pounds of his opponent into the air and drives him down onto his back as Dace sits out.

"Venom Driver, Dace chaining from one move to another, giving Matt no time to recover."

......ONE!

......TWO!

......1/4

......1/2

....Kickout!

The crowd cheers on for both men, as the carry on their back and forth duel.

Not missing a beat, Dace pushes himself back up to his feat, and brings Matt up as well. Looping his arm around Myers' head, Dace hauls him up into the twisting round, looking to drive him down back first into his knee, but Myers has other ideas.

Just like he's done before, Myers twists his body, reaching his arms back around Dace's head, and drives to the mat, crashing Dace's chin and throat into his shoulder.

"New Found Glory Diamond Cutter! Matt Myers manages to twist out of the Faithless and turn it into the New Found Glory in mid air. DDP would be proud of that one." Axis yells.

"Can we please not suck up to guys from the big two. It just sounds so bush league Axis." King says sourly.

Both men are down, and the crowd starts a beat, getting behind them, willing one of them to get up. The referee starts to count them down.

......ONE!

CLAP!

......TWO!

CLAP! CLAP!

......THREE!

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

......FOUR!

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

......FIVE!

The crowd gets to a fever pitch as the two men rises back up to their feet.

Dace swings an Elbow Smash but Myers ducks, and comes back round looking for another New Found Glory, but Dace pushes him off just enough to switch his grip into a rear waist lock and send Myers flying over head with a German Suplex.

Again playing the speed card, Myers uses the classic counter and turns the throw into a somersault, landing on his feet. As Dace flicks himself back up, Myers darts in, slapping on a Facelock, looking for the Op. Ivy Drop, but Dace once again pushes him off, and this time answers with an Elbow Smash to the jaw.

Matt staggers back, Night closes in after him, forcing him down into a Headscissors. Reaching down, Night tries to lift Matt up, but Matt jams both feet on the mat, and tries to Backdrop his way out.

Using greater weight and power, Dace keeps his feet on the floor as well, and trying to lift Myers a second time, Dace succeeds, getting him all the way up onto his shoulders. Finding himself perched up in the air, Myers kicks off the Goth's shoulders, getting him out of trouble and back down to the mat.

No sooner than Myers can land, than Dace smashes a knee into his gut, clamps on a Facelock, and wrenches Myers back up into the air, this time for a Sheer Drop Brainbuster. Having objections to being driven down on his neck, the Punk Rockstar shifts his weight, and falls backwards on his own terms.

Spinning Dace around by his shoulders, and arching back at the same time, Myers lunches off what should be a connecting Superkick. Know that he's taller, and the only place in the ring where the other man could be, Dace ducks as he turns, narrowly dodging the Superkick.

Swinging his body as he goes with the duck, Dace ends up behind Myers, quickly hooking the leg, and flipping him back for a Backdrop Suplex, only for Myers to flip out to his feet once again with his speed.

Now behind Night's back, Matt breaks into a run, grabbing his arm, and twirling round in a circle, sending it flying off towards the ropes. Dace comes back at full speed, right into Myers' waiting arms, who sweeps him and plants him back first to the with a Spinebuster.

Without a single moment of pause, Myers heads right for the turnbuckles, climbing to the top rope, going with all the juice and charge he's go in him. As the crowd roars and cheers on from the back and forth action, Myers leaps off through the air.

Flipping head over heels through four hundred and fifty degrees, Myers comes down, and eats mat from the Less Than Splash, as Dace rolls away from danger.

AAAAAWWWWWWW! Comes the cry some sympathy from the fans as Matt crashes into the ring mat.

"Elbow, no! Diamond Cutter, no! German, no! Evenflow, no! Elbow Smash! Powerbomb, no! Backdrop, no! Powerbomb, no! Back to his feet, no! Sheer Drop Brainbuster, no! Drops down. Superkick, no! Backdrop Suplex, no! Irish Whip! Spinebuster! Less Than Splash, no! He moves!" Cries Axis as fast as he can manage in time with the actions of the two men.

"These guys are incredible, between Myers' speed and Dace's technical skill, I can hardly keep up with these two guys."

"You know we do have slow motion action reply that can do your job for you Axis. If you can't manage it yourself." King says.

Dace is backup, and Myers is still down. Climb across the Punk Rockstar's back, the Horrorcore wrestler drops into a back mount, and then hammers home an Elbow Smash to the back of Myers' head. And another, and a third, leaving him just as dizzy and confused as when he first hit the mat.

DACE! DACE! DACE!

The crowds chanting firmly behind Dace Night.

Lifting the almost punch drunk Myers to his feet, Dace brings his arms around into a Facelock, throwing one of Matt's arms over his shoulders, before hauling him high up into the air. Without his senses about him, Myers cant get out of this one this time. Throwing his feet out from under him, Dace drops back to the mat, bringing Myers down on his neck.

"Sheer Drop Brainbuster! Myers has got to be out after that one!" Cries Axis.

With a twist, Dace is leaning across Matt's chest for the cover.

......ONE!

......TWO!

......1/4!

......1/2!

......3/4!

......9/10!

Kickout!

RRRRRAAAAAAHHHHH!

"Myers manages to kick out again! This match is still going strong." Calls Axis.

Slapping mat in frustration, Dace goes back for another try at putting Matt down for the three count.

Pulling Myers onto his knees before driving a series on knees into his chest, Dace proceeds to drag Myers into yet another Headscissors. Lifting Myers up and power, Dace lets him slide down his back slight, before grabbing him around the arms, into a Crucifix.

Pushing Myers back up, Dace readies to throw him forward and down, but Myers cheats fate one more time, managing to wriggle free of Night's grasp. Landing feet first, and the shift in weight causing Dace to lean back, Myers brings him arm up and over, wrapping it around Dace's head, neck and arm, in a Dragon Sleeper.

"Matt escapes the Black Nova, and now he's going for the Ska Stretch!"

Making the split second chance that he has, the Punk Rockstar sweeps Night's legs away from under him, before tying them up as well on the mat, locking in the Ska Stretch Dragon Sleeper.

The referee slides down beside the two the check on Dace Night, to see if he wants to give up.

"The referee is in position, but are we about to see Dace Night tap out? Somehow I doubt it." Axis yells.

"Axis, you doubt the sky is blue, or that the shed door is locked at times." King puts in.

The referee asks Dace if he's going to give up.

NO!

Arching his back to add more leverage to the hold, Myers holds on desperately as Dace tries to fight his way out.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

The crowd claps and cheers for both men, backing them each equally, as the continue to fight.

The referee asks again.

NO!

He asks a third time.

NO!

Myers arches back even further, trying to get the submission.

Going with the shift of his body that Myers has to make, Dace pushes with his free arm, rolling himself and Myers over on the mat, leaving himself face down, and Myers across his back, hoping Myers will do something next.

As gets rolled, Myers manages to keep his legs scissored around Dace and simply throws his weight to the side, rolling the both of them back over, and back into the perfect position for the hold.

BREAK!

Myers looks about in shock as the break is order, then sees what has happened, and release the hold, as the crowd roars for Dace's mat game.

"Dace rolled over, which didn't get him anyway, but he was a step above, and two head of Matt. Matt thought he was trying something so the rolled back over into that safe back down position. But what he didn't see, and Dace importantly did was that but them slap bang by the ropes, so Dace could grab them and make the break." Says Axis.

"There was some really weird phrasing in there, I think all the vodka in the air alone is getting to you man." Mutters King.

Myers backs off across the ring as Dace pulls himself up on the ropes, trying to shake his head out and suck in big gulps of air.

Stepping back up, the two men tie up again. Playing the speed plan, Myers is far quicker to the gun, booting Dace sharply in the mid section, and drops back suck as sharply, spike Dace's head off the mat with a Op. Ivy Drop DDT.

Heading to the top rope again, Myers gambles again. He dives off backwards, spinning his body through the vertical and horizontal. A two seventy flip in one, a three sixty in the other, with a perfect Corkscrew Moonsault, which connects at full speed into prone Dace Night.

"Reel Big Jump! Myers nails it. Dace couldn't roll like from the Less Than Splash. This one is over!"

......ONE!

......TWO!

......1/4!

......1/2!

.......3/4!

.......9/10!

...Kickout!

YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

The crowd bursts up from it's seats yet again in this match as Dace kicks out of Myers' latest offence.

"He still won't go down for the three count. But after what happened at Malice In Wonderland, I don't see how anyone could feel confident that they had Dace Night down for the one, two, three." Axis yells over the fans.

Now Myers bangs his fits off the mat in frustration as the toughness of his opponent.

Rising his arm into the air, Myers makes a call to the fans.

"THIS ONE'S FOR CURT!"

"What...!?"

Pulling Dace up, Myers clamps his arms out into a Front Facelock, then reaches down, and hooks the leg.

"Is he going for the Catch Twenty Two?"

Instead of trying to lift Dace over head, Matt Myers just Suplexes him over, with a Prefect Plex.

"PREFECT PLEX! PREFECT PLEX!"

The arena lights up, as Myers nails the Prefect Plex in tribute to the late, great, Mr. Prefect.

The referee has to take a moment to blink before sliding in and making the count as the crowd is on it's feet.

CURT! CURT! CURT! CURT!

......ONE!

.....TWO!

......1/4!

......1/2!

......3/4!

.......9/10!

......Kickout!

"Dace barely kickouts out of the Prefect Plex. This crowd is just on fire. Matt Myers with a tribute to the Late, Great, Curt Hennig, Mr. Prefect!" Calls Axis, with a look of pride on his face.

"SJL is Prefect!" Calls King, teary eyed, which Axis doesn't mention.

Rolling onto their knees, the two men look at each other, before looking up a the rafters and rising their fists in salute, to still sound cheering of the fans in respect.

Finally coming back onto their feet, Dace and Myers make last orders.

Dace fires off a huge lariat, but with adrenaline still pumping hard from being on the attack, Myers ducks, and delivers a boot to the gut, doubling Dace over. Turing around, and sitting on the back of his neck, and reaching back, he books the arms. Myers has Dace set up for the Lit Up, his Inverted Pedigree.

"Lit Up, coming up!"

King lets the terrible line go, lost in memory.

Standing on his tip toes, Myers goes to lunch himself up and down, but Dace just stands up, taking all of Matt's weight across the back of his neck and shoulders, leaving him high and dry.

Walking across the ring, Dace dumps Myers forwards off his shoulders, onto the top turnbuckle in the corner.

"Dace just stands up, then dumps Myers up top, facing the crowd, now that's he planning?"

Climbing the ropes, Dace steps up behind Myers, looking to take him all the way from the top to the mat, but a series of desperation back elbows of Myers forces Dace off the turnbuckles and back down to the mat alone.

Slowly pushing himself up, Myers looks like he's about to try another Reel Big Jump, but Dace is right back up on the turnbuckles behind him. This time another Elbow Smash to the back of the neck silences any fight back from Myers.

Turning slowly around on the second rope, Dace reaches back, hooking his arms under Myers' and lifting him up into a crucifix, balancing him high above the ring.

"Is it over this time?"

Dace jumps of the turnbuckles, bring Myers with him, slamming him forwards onto his back, as Dace sits out pinning Matt down for the cover.

"SUPER BLACK NOVA! The Sitout Crucifix Powerbomb from the second rope, sealing the fate of the Punk Rockstar!"

Getting his legs behind him, Dace leans over Myers, doubling his legs back over, and pushing down on his shoulders, getting all the weight on them he can, Dace covers.

......ONE!

.......TWO!

......1/4!

......1/2!

......3/4!

......THREE!

'Winds of Creation' tears back into life, as Funyon booms over the PA.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, here is your winner by pinfall ... DACE NNIIIGGGHHHTTT!"

"Dace wins, for the second time in a row against Matt Myers, but an altogether more serious and real victory this time."

"Wow, these two managed to do something in this match that interested me. And Axis, if you mention this, I burn your shed down." King growls.

Helping Myers up to his feet, Dace shakes his hand, and embraces him in a hug, as the crowd cheers down to the sportsmanship the two show.

Grabbing the house mic, Dace turns the crowd, as Matt rests in the corner, trying to get his senses back.

"Ok, there are two very important things to say. The first one is important to me. The second one, we all know what that one is." Dace calls outs.

"So, first of all. Mike Van Siclen! You managed to win the World Title. Well, I'm letting you know right here and now that I'm coming for that title. Just like good old ECW's Mikey, I'm not sure how the hell you won the title, but you did." He continues.

"So, it's the World Title belt, and it will be respected, and defended. So Mike, are you gonna put it on the line? As you that good of a World Champion. Can you do it, Mikey?" He yells to a finish.

The Moscow fans cheer Dace on as he makes the challenge to the current World Champion.

"But now, for the second more important thing." He says rather more slowly and solemnly.

Waving to Myers, he joins him in the middle of the ring.

"This one was all for a Legend that as sadly left us. For another one of wrestling greats that has passed away. This was for Mr. Prefect! RIP CURT!" He shouts out.

"RIP man!" Myers shouts in as well.

"RIP Curt." Axis says mournfully.

And as if they hadn't done so already, everyone in the build gets to their feet, and starts to chant, lead my Dace and Myers.

"Curt! Curt!"

"Curt! Curt! Curt!

CURT! CURT! CURT! CURT! CURT! CURT! CURT! CURT!

The camera slowly fades away on the image of the chanting fans.

February 14, 2003

Mike Van Siclen is sitting in the back, his legs stretched across a long pleather couch and the television set playing the video for SR-71’s “Tomorrow”. Mike mutters something about “Underrated”, when suddenly the door bursts open! Dace Night angrily enters the room, but Mike doesn’t so much as flinch. Dace stares coldly at Van Siclen.

“I want a shot.”

Mike cocks an eyebrow at Night. “Really? I want to watch SR-71, too. So if you could kindly move out of my way, maybe we could discuss your title shot when you learn the difference between gardening equipment and weapons…”

Night grabs Mike by his acid-green jacket and leans down so that his face is close to Mike’s. “I don’t think you understood me properly. I said, I want a title shot.”

Mike puts on a fake grin, trying to chuckle a bit. “Yeah, well, you know, I don’t control the title shots around here, I’m just the champion… shame about them taking you out of the tournament, by the way, I was really looking forward to…”

SLAP!

Dace’s hand strikes Mike across the side of the face, and the crowd eats it up! Mike’s head snaps around, but Dace grabs him by the chin and forces the champ to look him in the eye. “I will say this one more time. I want a title shot, and I want it on Metal.”

Mike tries to keep the faux smile on and does a poor job of it. “Let me go, man, I’ll think about it…”

Dace backs off of Van Siclen a bit, and the World champion sits up on the couch. “Look, Dace, I don’t know about this whole title shot thing… you might pull a ride-on tractor on me or something…”

Dace shoots Mike an icy glare. “I’ll pull a light tube on you right now if you don’t give me a title shot.”

Mike visibly stiffens. “Well, see, I can give you a shot for Metal… but no hardcore.”

Dace shrugs.

“No weapons.”

Dace shrugs again.

“Do you understand me.”

Dace nods. “All I want is a shot at becoming the SJL Champion.”

“But I’m not letting you use any weapons. You can save your light tubes and weedwhackers for Top Gun knockoffs. I’m a wrestler, and I plan on beating you in a wrestling match.”

Dace nods. “You can try, little man. You can try.”

“You know what? I think that you think you’re gonna wait until the ref is down and use a weapon on me.”

“If you want to believe that.”

“Well, I’m not going to let that happen. So our match? Two referees. You’re not gonna pull any s**t with me, Night.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Well, you’d better plan on seeing lights.”

Dace chuckles. “As I said… you can try, little man. You can try.”

Dace leaves the room, and Mike breathes a sigh of relief. He turns the television back on and then realizes what he has just done.

“What am I gonna do about Dace?”

February 14, 2003

Axis: Welcome back, everyone, to SJL Crimson! Already, we've had a hell of a show, and to cap it all off, the Main Event will be a Ladder Match!

Suicide King: And don't forget, it's for the European Title, too. Which is all the more meaningful because we're currently in Europe! Moscow, to be more specific. And in honor of this match, and this city, I've bought... this. (King pulls out a furry Russian hat, round on the sides, flat on top, with big floppy ears and puts it on.) They call it a "Shlapa". You like?

Axis: (With a dull look on his face) ... I will never understand you... In any case, let's see how well Chris card fares in his first title defense, less than nine days since winning it.

The opening notes to Breaking Benjamin's "Polyamorous" hit the speakers, and the arena lights flash accordingly. Shortly after, white pyro explodes onstage, and once the heavier music plays, Sean Atlas comes out wearing his usual attire and mask. As he makes his way down the ramp, some fans actually cheer him on, despite his condemnation of the crowd, and the country as a whole, earlier in the show. At ringside, he looks around at the four ladders placed on every side of the ring. He takes the one closest to him and slides it into the ring. While placing it in the corner, leaning against the ropes, Funyon gets to his announcement duties...

"The following match, tonight's Main Event will be a Ladder Match, and it is for the Unified European Championship! The first man to climb the ladder and successfully retrieve the belt will be declared the winner. Currently in the ring, from Chicago, Illinois, USA, weighing in at 105 kilograms, SEAN ATLAS!"

King: Atlas is quick to use the ladders here, getting one in the ring before the belt is even placed above it.

Axis: What do you expect, he's Main-Eventing in his third match here. He's obviously very anxious to get this started.

Atlas' music fades while he runs the ropes, keeping an eye on the stage. "Grind" by Alice In Chains fires up and Chris Card walks into the entranceway, followed by Natasha, who's holding his European Championship. To a chorus of boos from the crowd, they walk slowly and deliberately down towards the ring. Chris looks around the ring at the ladders, and sees the missing one already in the ring. He smirks at Atlas, who stands leaning against the far ropes, probably grinning back. Funyon once again picks up the mic...

"Making his way to the ring, accompanied by Natasha, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, weighing in at 120 kilograms, he is the Unified European Champion, CHRIS CARD!"

Natasha hands him his belt once they get to ringside. He jumps onto the apron, then slowly goes through the ropes, clutching the title he's about to defend. Inside, he drops into his Heartbreaker pose, crouched in a fighting stance, arms crossed across his chest, thumbs pointing towards his heart. Natasha stays on the outside as the referee asks Card for the belt. He places it on the hook and everyone watches as the European Championship ascends 15 feet into the air. The ref, Ced Ordoñez in this match, backs up and waits for the bell...

*Ding Ding*

Atlas and Card circle one another around the ring, both paying close attention to his opponent's motions. They lock up, and after a brief struggle, Chris Card gets the advantage. He forces Atlas back against the ropes, and from there, decides to whip him across the ring... Atlas reverses however, and sends Card running. He bounces, comes back, and is met with an Arm Drag. Both men quickly jump back to their feet, as Chris changes at Atlas again. Sean goes for another Arm Drag, but Card reads it early and pulls his arm away. He ducks down next to Atlas, grabs around him, and then slams him down with a Side Suplex. They both rapidly get to their feet; Card doing so a little quicker than Atlas. Chris tries to hook Sean's neck, presumably for a Suplex of some kind, but Atlas fights it, and swings around the champion, trying a German Suplex... but when he lifts, Card refuses to budge, and instead hooks his legs around Atlas form the front, rolls forward to flip them both over. On instinct, he tries grabbing Atlas' legs, but quickly realizes that this is a ladder match, and instead rolls away from his opponent.

Axis: Heh, King, i think Card was about to go for the cover after that Forward Rolling Cradle.

King: Really? I saw no suck thing... Slick move by the champ there, though.

Atlas quickly comes to his feet, backing away from Card, who also stands. The fans let out a slight cheer for the in-ring action, and Card arrogantly assumes the reaction was to him, turning the cheers into boos. Atlas regroups and heads for his opponent again. Chris is ready though, and attacks him with *smack* Knife Hand Chops right to the chest cavity. Unlike in the states, the Russian fans don't "whoo" every time, reacting instead with a sustained jeer towards Chris.

Another few chops forces Atlas back into the corner opposite the ladder. Card grabs Sean's arm, leans in, then pulls back, forcefully whipping him into the opposite corner. Atlas sees the ladder in front of him, and slides down onto the surface of the ring to avoid it. He end sup sliding right next to it, and while standing back up, grabs the ladder in between rungs. Holding it over his shoulder, he charges at Chris Card, hoping to collide with his face. Chris doesn't let that happen though, and busts out a Roundhouse Kick to the front of the ladder, timing it perfectly. It sends Atlas stumbling to the side, dropping the ladder. He turns around to face Card again, but meets nothing ut the sole of his foot, after Chris shoots it out with a Thrust Kick! Atlas lands with his back on the ladder, as the crowd "ohhs", understanding the pain.

King: Heartbreaker! Chris Card uses his old finisher on an obviously inexperienced Sean Atlas.

Axis: What do you know about his experience? He may have only had three matches here, but we know nothing about his career before then.

King: You and your logic... Stop that, or I call this match in only Russian.

Axis: You don't even know Russian!

King: Uh, da? Niet! Shlapa!

His face grimacing, Atlas rolls off the ladder, holding his back with one arm. Chris walks over and lifts him up, confident in his opponent's weakened state. He hooks around his neck and grabs his waist. Then, after turning his back towards the ladder, he pops his hips, and hits a Snap Suplex on Atlas, dropping him right back onto the steel ladder. To Natasha's cheers from the outside, and boos form the fans in the seats, Card stands up and rolls Atlas off the ladder. he stands it upright, positioning it under the title belt. He climbs up its rungs, certain that he's about to grab the belt and win. Around two thirds up though, the ladder starts to shift under him. It's Atlas, and from his knees he tries to push it over... He does, and Card goes flying into the ropes!

Chris stumbles coming off, holding his right side after colliding with the ropes. Atlas stands up beside him, and after setting up his arm and neck, drives his head into the mat with a Single Arm DDT. The fans let out a cheer, apparently for Sean this time. Atlas walks over to the ladder and lays it down on the mat again. Turning his attention back to Card, he stomps on his kidneys in an effort to keep him down longer. Then, Sean bends down, waistlocks Card from behind and lifts, throws Chris over him, then viciously drives his back into the ladder! The Wheelbarrow Suplex draws another cheer from the crowd, as Card yells out in pain, becoming familiar with what Atlas felt when his back was the one hitting the ladder.

King: What's with these people, they're actually cheering Sean Atlas! Why don't they like Card, their very own Champion of Europe?

Axis: I'm not sure if you know this, King, but in the mid-1900s, much of Russia was an Atheist nation. I guess a good portion of the fans in attendance tonight agree with Atlas' religious views.

King: See, there you go with that logic again. Cut it out!

Atlas gets to his feet, then brings Card up from the ladder. He tugs on Chris' arm and sends him running into the ropes. He bounces off, and as he comes back to Sean, he can't avoid a Drop Toe Hold, and ends up falling, face first, back onto the steel ladder! By now, the ladder has moved over near the edge of the ring, and before it falls out, Atlas picks it up, walks over to the middle of the ring with it, and sets it up under the prized European Title. He notices Chris Card starting to stand though, and quickly gets over to him. Atlas sets up besides Card, hooks his led around that of the champ, and falls back, hitting a Russian Leg Sweep! That incites yet another cheer form the crowd, and Atlas is almost playing to them by now.

He gets back up and walks over to the ladder. Climbing carefully but swiftly, Atlas knows that he'll have to do this quickly if he wants to reach the belt before the champion stands up... Halfway up now, Sean can see Chris almost standing, ready to charge the ladder... He does, and hits a forearm to Atlas' lower back. He forces Sean down a couple of rungs, and climbs up a few himself. Now under and slightly to the side of Atlas, Chris Card forces himself even higher, getting his head under Sean's arm. Then, moments before the combined force of their efforts knocks the ladder over, Card pushes off, holding on to Atlas, taking them both down with a Back Drop Suplex!

Axis: Not a very smart move by Chris Card. He hurt himself with that Suplex as well.

King: But at least he saved the title. Shows how much you know... just trust in Technical Perfection, he knows what he's doing in there.

On the outside, Natasha looks legitimately concerned for Chris, while he collects himself and gets to his feet. The ladder landed on its side in the ring, and Card walks over to it. He folds it back up, and instead of setting it up in the middle of the ring, he places it in the corner, lying across the top rope, making a triangle with the turnbuckle. Walking back over to Atlas, he lifts the masked man up to a standing position, then throws some forearms to the side of his head. Then, leaving a groggy Atlas standing in the ring, Card runs to the ropes, using them for momentum and as he gets back to Sean he throws a clothesline... but Atlas ducks it! Card cleverly planned for this though, and stops short, kneels down, spins his body backwards and knocks Atlas over with a Leg Sweep Kick!

Card quickly stands up again, and without allowing him to fully stand up forces Atlas over to the corner with the ladder in it. He tries to throw Atlas' head against the metal frame of the ladder, but Sean places his hand on it to stop himself. Instead, he slams Chris' head against the steel, then throws a knee to his gut. Once doubled over, Card is forced under the ladder and face first into the turnbuckle pads. From there, Atlas comes between the ropes and to the apron, slower than usual due to the tolls his body already took in this match. He climbs up the ropes, and from the second rope, grabs Card's head. he forces his opponent to climb with him, with the ladder still laying across the ropes. Sean gets up to the third rope, still pulling Card higher. Finally, he puts Card in a front face lock, and the fans realize what's about to happen...

Axis: No, don't tell me he's about to use a Front Suplex on Chris Card, dropping him onto the ladder.

King: Well I won't tell you, but I think you're about to find out on your own...

With one final pull, Atlas gets Card to the top rope. He lifts Chris up... but he doesn't budge. The champ's feet barely left the ropes as he resisted Atlas' attempts at a Suplex. He tries it again, and for a second time, Card resists. He then readjusts and locks on his own front face lock. He backs up a little to carefully place his feet on the ladder. Then, when everything is in position, Card lifts Atlas up and successfully gets him into the air... and he actually keeps Sean's body facing straight up for several seconds, to the increasing anticipation of the fans. Suddenly, Card pushes back with his feet (knocking the ladder off the ropes and out of the ring) turns his body parallel to the mat, but keeps Atlas' perpendicular to it, and drives his head into the mat with a Brainbuster from the ladder!

Axis: Unbelievable! Chris Card, who rarely, if ever, takes such risks, hits a magnificent Brainbuster off the ladder he set up himself!

King: he can win it here! If the ladder was still in the ring, Card could grab the belt and retain!

Axis: He still can, look!

Chris Card rolls out to the apron, still dazed from his own move. He stands up outside the ring and grabs one of the other ladders. Meanwhile, on the other side, Natasha picks up the fallen ladder and doesn't see that Chris rolled out to get his own. She clumsily brings it over to the ring, then slides it in under the bottom rope, far too close to the fallen Sean Atlas. At around the same time, Card slides his own ladder in the ring, and finally realizes that he now has two ladders to work with. Putting it out of mind for the time being though, he sets up the ladder he brough in, and places it under the belt. He starts to climb towards the belt that just nine days earlier didn't even belong to him.

Halfway up now, and Sean Atlas finally comes to. He sees the ladder next time him, then sees Card climbing the other ladder. Acting fast, he grabs on to the near ladder and slides it into the one Chris is climbing. Still on the ring surface, Atlas keeps kicking the ladder until finally, he forces Card's ladder to topple over, with the champ himself already near the top! Chris flies off again, and for the second time in this match, hits the ropes! This time though, he landed right across the top rope, clearly hurting his manhood...

King: Owww... That'll ruin his weekend.

Axis: Yeah, and Natasha's too.

King: You imbecile, he's not doing the wee-wacky-whoo-hoo with Natasha. That's Crow's and Dace's property right there.

Axis: Ahh, yes. Pardon be for not following the bicycle that is Natasha...

Card lands in the ring after tilting himself off the ropes. Atlas, meanwhile, uses the ropes for leverage when getting up. He steps over one of the fallen ladders and makes his way towards Chris. He brings the champ up and puts on a front face lock again. Because his back has already taken tons of punishment, Atlas turns Card over and slams him down with a neck breaker instead of any sort of Suplex. Back up, Atlas takes the nearest ladder and leans it against the turnbuckle. The other ladder is still open and on its side, after falling with Chris Card atop it.

Atlas lifts Chris up again, but before allowing him to stand up all the way, Sean attacks Card's knees with swift kicks from the front. Then, he pulls back on Card's arm, and whips him towards the ladder in the corner. Running there, Card becomes alert of the heavy steel he's about to collide with, and turns his back towards it, in a futile attempt to lessen the pain. At the moment of impact, the fans "oohhh", hearing the metal frame of the ladder clank against itself and Chris' body. Atlas sees Card come back off the ladder after hitting it, and charges at the hurting champion... hitting a Spear into the ladder!! A crash twice as loud is heard this time, as Chris Card's body knocks against the ladder, then falls forward, ladder landing atop him. Sean Atlas' momentum carried him to the side and almost out of the ring...

Axis: You know, I wonder if Atlas was planning to hit that Spear when he launched Chris into the ladder, or if he had something else planned.

King: Does it matter? The European Champion is down and the masked rookie has a great opportunity to win it here.

Atlas, fully aware of the opportunity, stands back up. He makes his way across the ring to the other ladder, leaving the one atop Chris Card laying there. Setting it up in the middle of the ring, he starts to climb. Foolishly though, he is climbing with his back facing Card, who Natasha tries to revive at this point. She gets him to look at Sean's body, less than half of the distance away from the belt. The reality of the situation hits him, and Card starts to stand, with one ladder still on top of him. He wisely grabs it, and drags his way to Atlas... then slams the ladder across the small of his back!!

Sean yells out in pain, halting his climb to the top. A weakened Chris Card sets his ladder up next to Atlas', and begins to step up the rings, adjacent to his opponent. Occasionally pounding on Sean's back and side to prevent him from making it any further up, Chris manages to climb evenly with Atlas. Once there, he grabs Atlas' near arm and twists it behind him in a hammerlock. Another firm punch to his back, and Sean is forced to lean backwards a bit, nearly losing his balance. Carefully, Card throws his other arm over Atlas' neck, turns around to see how far below the ring is, and against his better judgment, pushes back off the ladders...

*SLAM*

King: Cardiac Arrest!!! Mr. Technical Perfection hits his old finisher from high up on the ladders, driving Atlas into the mat yet again!

Axis: And again, hurting himself in the process! He's not known to take these kinds of risks, King.

King: it's a ladder match, man. You can't NOT take risks.

The two men roll around the ring in pain from the high impact landing. By now, they are both aware that to win this match, they have to not only hit their high impact moves, but also wear the other down to the point that no comeback can be made - which means a higher toll on both men's bodies. Chris makes his way up first, leaning against the ring ropes. He sees the two fallen ladders, one leaning on the other. He takes the ladder on top and, folding it, lays it down in the center of the ring. He walks back over to Atlas and brings him up. Judging by the way he stands up, it's clear that Sean's back will be bothering him long after this contest ends. Card pushes Atlas against the ropes, letting his hand go. Sean runs back to Chris, and before he can do anything about it, he finds himself in the middle of a backbreaker!

As if everything else wasn't enough, the backbreaker definitely does the trick and gets Atlas down, wailing in pain. Chris rolls him onto the ladder he placed down earlier, positioning him face down. He walks over to the second ladder, folds it up as well, and to another cry of pain, brutally throws it against the back of Atlas! He then carefully positions it parallel to the other ladder, sandwiching Atlas in between. Seeming like he knows exactly what he's doing, Card reaches through the rungs of the ladder and pulls one of Atlas' legs out. he then puts his own knee atop the ladder, in a place where it would ordinarily be in Atlas' back, and pulls back on the leg, locking on what seems to be a Single Leg Boston Crab through the ladder!

King: Holy buttmonkeys! Now that's Technical Perfection, right there.

Axis: A Half Crab with the ladder in between! But why? He can't win it this way...

King: He's trying to take Atlas out completely! The more he suffers, the sooner Chris can win the match!

The crowd gives the move a mixed reaction, but mostly sustained jeers for Card, who puts more and more torque on the hold. Sean's screams of agony are heard above all though, as all 264 pounds of Chris Card, 30-some-odd pounds of the ladder, and his mere position between two hunks of steel damage him from all sides. He tries shaking Card off, hoping the instability of this setup will give way... and it starts to, but Card keeps the hold locked in tightly. Sean tries moving back and fourth, hoping to somehow loosen his opponent's grip, but it's no use either. Finally, he tries rolling over, which forces Card to topple over to the side and let go of the leg, to Atlas' relief. His leg is still trapped between the rungs of the ladder though, which is just as uncomfortable as it sounds.

Chris confidently walks over to Sean, pulls him out of the mess of metal around him. He steps to his back and puts on a standing crossface, with the ladder under him. He then drives Atlas down into the ladder's edge with a Reverse Mat Slam!! Feeling as though it's enough for the tie being, Card pushes the ladder and Atlas away to clear up some room in the center of the ring. he picks up the second ladder and sets it up under the belt... Sure of himself, he begins to step up the rings to the cheers of his manager. The fans in the arena begin to suspect that the match may be over in a few moments, and boo Card on his way up. Sean Atlas, still down in the ring, looks up at the lights, and sees a slight break in the lighting setup. That break is the body of Chris Card moving higher up the ladder...

Without enough energy to stand up on time, Sean rolls over towards the standing ladder. Card sees him moving, and climbs a little faster. He's got three rungs to go before he reaches the gold... Atlas crawls over to him before he can make it up the rungs and tries pushing the ladder over... He can't do it from such a low angle though... Two rungs left for Card... Atlas gets to his knees puts more force on the ladder, which is now starting to tilt. Near its top, Chris Card has to decide between trying to get the belt and possibly falling off yet again, or safely jumping off... But once the ladder tips over far enough, Card picks the latter option and leaps off to the side!

Axis: Finally, a wise move on Card's part, avoiding another collision with the ropes...

An angered Chris card walks over to Atlas, still down on his knees. He lifts the challenger up, and just as he did earlier in the match, smacks his arm into the chest of Atlas. Another few *smacks* against his skin, Atlas is forced into the ropes. Card turns his head to check if there is a clear path tot he other side, and once sure of it, he whips Atlas across the ring. Sean bounces and on his return, Chris drops down and forces Atlas to the mat, face first with a drop toe hold. From there, he floats over and mounts Sean's back, then elevated himself for a knee strike, once again to Atlas' back! Sean arches his body after the first strike, then with the second he screams out in anguish! Before allowing Card to do any more damage, he rolls over at the right moment, causing him to miss a third knee strike. As Card stands up again, Atlas uses his leg to sweep card off this feet, giving him another moment to rest.

It's not long enough though, and Chris still stands up a second or two before Atlas does. He waits for his Sean to get up, standing in a martial arts position, preparing for something... Once Atlas makes it up, Card swings his leg around and tries kicking Atlas side... but the leg is caught! Atlas was somehow alert enough to hold on to Chris' leg and pull him forward, preventing Card from trying an Enziguri. More rapidly than anyone expected, Atlas hooks his arm around Card's neck and tries lifting him up, leg still held in with the other arm. To his own tormenting roar, Atlas throws Card's body over, successfully executing a Leg Capture Suplex!

King: Hey... how'd he do that? I thought his spine was rubber by now...

Axis: I guess not. But it looks like he surprised Chris Card just as much as you.

His face cringing, Atlas stands up, trying to builds on his momentum. His holds his back, which is taking much more punishment than it should, and checks on the position of the ladders: Both are folded up and are at the edge of the ring. Sean turns to card and brings him to his feet. He grabs Card's arm and whips him towards one of the ladders, but doesn't let go, forcing Card to snap back into him. Normally, Atlas would try a belly-to-belly suplex at this point, but knowing that doing so would take a lot out of him, he grabs Card's neck instead turns, drops his own body down, and pulls Card forward and down using a....

Axis: Diamond Cutter! Atlas goes after Card's neck again; using a move that he claims is rare for him.

King: If he was smart about it though, he'd have done that from the top of the ladder.

Axis: Yep, hurting himself in the process. You'd love to see that wouldn't you...

The fans react to Atlas favorably, which would be unusual if he had any other opponent. He stands up, and looking around the ring, takes note of Natasha's position. He walks over to the nearest ladder, picks it up, and places it in the center, under the title. He starts to climb when he sees Chris Card already trying to stand. So instead of climbing higher, Atlas gets off, folds the ladder up again, and stands behind Chris Card, waiting. Just as he stands up, Natasha yells "Chris!" from the outside, but it doesn't come soon enough and Atlas slams the ladder into his back. He doesn't knock him over, though, and instead, keeps the ladder standing, pushed against Card's back. Atlas then reaches between the rungs, and from behind, hooks his arm around Chris' neck, across his throat. Simultaneously, one rung lower, Atlas reaches through and puts his other arm under Card's in a half-nelson. He tightens the grip, and everyone realizes that Sean Atlas has locked in the Katahajime Choke on Chris Card, through the ladder!!!

Axis: Dear god! Atlas took a page out of Card's book, and locked in his signature submission hold with the ladder in between!

King: That bastard! That unoriginal, but incredibly clever bastard! I'm offended and impressed at the same time!

The ladder flails wildly between the two men as Atlas keeps a tight hold on Card. The champion's arms flap against the steel as he tries to grab Atlas to get out of the move, but due to the position of the ladder, his efforts are in vain. He looks at Natasha on the outside, asking her with his eyes to help in some way. Concerned and running out of time, Natasha jumps up on the apron. She looks into Chris' eyes, slightly visibly behind his hair, seeing fear and agitation. She comes through the ropes, and smiles at him, then smiles wickedly at Atlas. The look of shock on Card's face starts to fade as the choke is getting to him... Then, Natasha tilts back, and thrusts her leg out, aiming it between Card's legs... but also between the lower rungs of the ladder, and through to Atlas, with a brutal low blow!!!

Axis: What a bitch! She teased turning on Chris Card, and used the distraction to hit her Ballbreaker move!

King: That's a brilliant woman there, Axis. had she not done that, Atlas could have pushed Card into her, or even hit her himself. But because she's got a clever head on her shoulders, she stood by her man and got him out of a bad situation.

Sean immediately removes his grip on Card's arm and neck, and falls back, tending to his man-pain. Chris Card falls forward, relieved from the massive pressure inflicted on him just seconds ago. Natasha holds him though, keeping him up on one knee. He mouths a "thanks" to her, and asks her to get out of the ring. She helps him make it to his feet, then exits as he turns his attention back to Atlas. Somewhat recovered, he picks up the ladder that was just pressed into his back, and carries it over to Atlas, still down near the middle of the ring. Card furiously throws the huge chunk of metal at Atlas, hoping to just injure him at this point. It comes off Atlas' body with a loud thud, and lands to his side. Card bends down to lift Atlas by his neck. He then picks him up onto his shoulder, hooks Sean's leg with one arm and cradles his neck with the other. Card takes a step towards the ladder, and to the sound of the fans expecting a huge move, sits down, dropping Atlas on his head, directly onto the steel ladder!!!

King: Air Raid Crash! Another rarity from the man they call Technical Perfection!

Axis: Unbelievable! Both men have recovered to quickly from the brutality they took in this match.

King: Well they both want the Championship of Europe, Axis. Especially to be able to say that they won it IN Europe.

The Air Raid Crash sent out a thud heard through the arena, and the fans now realize that at this rate, the match will soon be over. Atlas rolls off, his lights knocked out after colliding with the ladder. Chris Card stands up, and grabbing Atlas by his arms, pulls him into the center of the ring, face down. He then picks up the ladder that he just introduced to Sean's skull, and opens it up. He places one of its legs over Atlas' body, so that Sean's' waist is trapped under the bottom rung of one of the ladder's legs. His torso and entire upper body is under the ladder because of this. Chris Card sits down with his legs on the back of Sean's knees, and locks Atlas' ankles behind his legs. He then leans forward, around the ladder, and grabs onto Sean's arms. He yanks back on them; slamming Atlas' back into the inside edge of the open ladder, and firmly locks in an Elevated Surfboard!!!

King: Holy shite! That's the setup for his finisher!

Axis: If Card can somehow get Atlas in a dragon sleeper, he'll have the Cordova Submission successfully locked in, through the ladder!

Card rocks back and fourth, viciously slamming Atlas' back into the ladder every time. Atlas grunts every time his weakened body slams into the steel, while the fans "oohhh" to the sound of metal against flash and bone... Card keeps pulling back on his arms, perhaps hoping to dislocate a shoulder, or at least hurt Atlas enough to prevent him from winning the match... Finally, he lets go of Sean's left arm, and reaches through between two low rungs on the ladder... He snakes his arm around Atlas' neck, and brings his head back onto the steps of the ladder, between the rungs... He forcefully arches Atlas' back, pulling against the chin and throat, effectively putting Atlas through the ladder through the ladder, into the CORDOVA SUBMISSION!!!

Axis: He's done it! Cordova Submission locked in, with the ladder adding to the move's punishment!

King: It's gotta be over after this. Atlas is done!

To the roar of the crowd, Chris Card putts more and more pressure on Atlas' neck, cutting off his carotid artery. Atlas swings away with his free arm, but just as doing so was ineffective for Card earlier, it's futile for Sean now as well. In desperation, he starts tapping out against his chest, despite knowing the stipulations of a ladder match. Eventually, he can swing and tap no longer, as we see the movements of his arm slow down, then come to a halt. Card feels Atlas' muscles loosen and the force of his resistance lessen. He keeps the Cordova locked in a little longer before letting go, slingshotting Atlas limp body back through the ladder and into the ring mat. He looks up at the belt hanging 15 feet above him, and steps on the bottom rung of the ladder...

With sweat dripping down his face, blood oozing out of random gashes on his body, Chris Card ascends up the ladder that caused many of these gashes... He occasionally looks at Sean Atlas below, making sure that he is still down and out... The fans jeer at him, cursing in Russian, disapproving the match's outcome... Natasha anxiously awaits Chris' rise up to the top, mouthing "come on" from the outside of the ring... Atlas still lies under the ladder, coldly, with his body stuck under the ladder on the same side that Card climbs...Halfway up now, Chris can see flashbulbs reflecting off the golden surface of the belt... He climbs carefully, making sure to keep his balance on the dangerous structure... He keeps it from tilting to the sides, and with just a couple of steps to go is within reach of the belt... But when he feels the ladder tilt forward, he is powerless against the force of gravity and looks down, seeing Atlas push against the bottom step of the ladder! Card reaches out towards the title, tipping its golden face with his fingers, and flies past it, forward and down, towards the menacing ring surface...

*CRASH*

Chris Card's body slams into the ring, followed by the ladder falling onto him! The fans let out a cheer for Atlas, falls back down to the ring after exerting so much energy to topple the ladder over. On the outside, Natasha covers her face with her hand, concerned over Chris Card's well-being. Chris meanwhile, lies motionless with the knocked-over ladder at his side. Atlas starts to stand now, stumbling and losing strength in his legs. With limited energy left in him, he pulls back on the fallen ladder and stands it upright once again. He too, is bleeding, and its crimson color is clearly seen on his white mask and gear. He steps onto the ladder's first step, happy to be on it rather than under it.

Slowly, he climbs up, his eyes alternating between on the prize above and the enemy below. Card starts moving now, but Atlas knows that if he stops his ascension now, the match will be over. So he climbs on, step by step, edging closer to the European Championship. Chris Card is now half standing as well, leaning against the other side of the ladder with his head. He pulls himself up and steps onto its lower rungs. He's slightly behind Atlas though, who is two-thirds up, and less than half a dozen steps away. Card speeds up his climb, trying to get himself even with Sean. Due to the slight height difference between them, he has an advantage in this department. Finally, he makes it up and with Atlas needing only a couple steps more, he attacks him under the top of the ladder, between steps, slowing Sean down to a halt.

Chris uses the moment to climb higher, and reach for the title belt, but Atlas, doubled over and using the top step of the ladder for support, throws a punch to the gut of the champion. Chris tries to retaliate, swinging at Sean's head, but Atas ducks it and throws a mean uppercut, nearly knocking Card off the ladder! He thinks about going after the belt, but because Card is right next to him, Atlas has no chance of getting it. Unless... Atlas takes another step up, and turning to the side, sneaks his arm around Card's neck. With his other arm, Sean grabs onto Chris' leg and using the ladder for leverage, lifts the European Champion onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry... With flashbulbs going off, and a rising roar from the fans, Sean bends at the knees and leaps off to the side... He floats through the air, tilting to point Card's head down... and with a resounding thud, HITS THE SAINT'S DEMISE FROM THE TOP OF THE LADDER!!!

King: Did I just see that?!?

Axis: You did! Atlas hit The Saint's Demise, his version of the Death Valley Driver, from over ten feet in the air!

King: Card should consider himself lucky if he survived that!

Finally, after successfully using his finisher on the champion, Atlas forces himself back up. He leans his forehead against the ladder, spitting out a chunk of blood. He slowly places his feet back on the ladder, and climbs up. In the back of his mind, he is aware that Natasha may come into the ring and knock the ladder over, so he climbs faster, not taking his eyes off the gold belt. He can feel the ring shaking below his as Chris Card's valet enters, to check on him. Sean can hear her yelling as he reaches the top, carefully balancing himself on the ladder. Just inches away now, he can practically see the belt around his waist, his name being added to the record books, his legacy forever left in the SJL, winning the title in Europe.... Just as Atlas' fingers reach for the belt, the ring shakes even more and Sean can feel the ladder tilting, his feet losing support and gravity going to work...

But as Natasha knocks it over, she's just too late and Atlas falls down, clutching the European Championship in his hands!!!

*DING DING*

"The winner of this match, and your NEW UNIFIED EUROPEAN CHAMPION... SEAN ATLAS!!!"

"Polyamorous" hits the arena speakers and Atlas lies in the ring, holding his newly won championship belt. Ced walks over to the winner, and from the mat, raises his hand in triumph.

Axis: In an unbelievable upset, Sean Atlas, in his third match here in the SJL has beaten "Technical Perfection" Chris Card, stopping his reign at nine days! Both men took a brutal beating in this match, outlasting one another until the very end, shocking us all with their desire to win. This is your night, Sean Atlas. You've won the Championship of Europe on European soil!

To Axis' booming voice, the copyright message pops up in the corner of the screen, as the view of the carnage in the ring and the Russian fans in the stands fades to black.

February 14, 2003

OPENING PROMO

- MVS is finally champ, and now that punk ass bitch Dace just wants to take it all away from him. Seriously, let him enjoy his title.....on second thought, fuck that. Blood = good.

IL vs. Thor

That Thor, he's a hoss, hitting that Crack of Lightning all the way across the ring! BAH GAWD!

EUROPEAN TITLE #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH

PRISM MATCH

Fosta vs Omega Storm vs Tryst vs Christian Blackwell vs Aecas

What a battle, with Aecas coming out with a surprising victory (only to some; I've got this kid pegged for greatness. Greatness, I tells ya!). And we have a new #1 Contender! Who will Aecas be taking on?

And we take a quick break to talk with tonight's challenger for the European Title, Sean Atlas. He insults the Russians for being morons and changing back. Atlas is so TOTALLY my hero. Now if only they'd get a good "ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY!" chant going when he fights that punk-ass bitch Ivan Drago.....I hate him SO MUCH!

SINGLES MATCH

SMIRNOFF SHOWDOWN

Crow vs Janus

They both get to chug down some delicious vodka, but Janus wins the match in superb fashion. Check this one out for sure, folks.

SINGLES MATCH

Dace Night vs Matt Myers

Dace emerges triumphant. But they screwed up! It's not "CURT! CURT! CURT!" It's "ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY!" C'mon guys, get your act together.

And now MVS/Dace is gonna have TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [/Montreal] referees for their big main event title match. Now whatcha gonna do, MVS? Whatcha gonna do?

Main Event

EUROPEAN TITLE

LADDER MATCH

And Atlas picks up the European Title, continuing an amazing run for this youngster. I'm telling you, this batch of n00bs is as good as any. Hopefully we'll get a rematch somewhere down the road.

SJL CRIMSON!!!!

Recommended Posts

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Guest TheBostonStrangler

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Browse

Activity