FROM THE VAULT~ SJL European Championship

[Hank Kingsley 0]

SJL Metal - June 11, 2003

 

BOOM~!

 

SJL Metal returns from a commercial break, with the crowd in the Gund Arena of Cleveland, Ohio all going rabid, trying to get their handcrafted signs on camera. They range from ‘I came to see Manson BURN!’ to ‘I LOVE YOU GRAPPLER <3!’ all the way to the insanely worthless “AUSTIN 3:16!” This night of action is not over yet, and the camera pans around to our hosts, Suicide King and his colleague, Axis.

 

Axis: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to SJL Metal! As we heard before the break, strong words by The Sinner, John Duran, as he prepares for his European Championship match against none other than Charlie Matthews.

 

King: John Duran won a hell of a match against Chris Trepanier last week on Crimson, giving him his new finisher, The Ultimate Sin, on the OUTSIDE. Duran has earned his shot.

 

Axis: And how can you forget Charlie Matthews, forcing the Black Angel, Aecas, to tap out in the middle of the ring to the Re-Education. He’s been on a hell of a roll lately, especially after dropping his despicable manager, James Matheson.

 

King: Despicable? The departure of James Matheson is the reason I’m going AGAINST Charlie in this match. Matheson was the heart and soul of the Grappler, helping him obtain EIGHT victories.

 

Axis: But Grappler DID win the European Title without his manager. Not to mention the fact that the fans are getting more and more into Matthews WITHOUT his manager around. They also love his random theme music of the week he has going on.

 

King: Oh, please. Duran will come bursting out of the gate in this match, using his powerhouse style to wear down Grappler to the point where he can hoist him into the air with the Ultimate Sin and win the Title. Grappler, eh; he’ll go for the usual technical style, focusing on a body part to try and earn a submission out of Duran.

 

The camera pans around to Funyon, who stands in the middle of the ring with the microphone.

 

Funyon: Ladies and gentlemen, this contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the SJL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Introducing first, the challenger; He hails from Champaign, Illinois, and he weighs in tonight at 265 pounds. This is THE SINNER…JOOOOHN DUUUUURRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Drowning Pool’s ‘Sinner’ blares over the sound system and the crowd immediately bursts into jeers as The Sinner, John Duran steps out of the curtain and onto the ramp. As he walks down to the ring, a fan holds a sign out in his face, and it’s apparent what it says: ‘DURAN SUX!’ Smirking for a second, John rips the sign out of the young boy’s hands and tears it into shreds, causing the boy to start crying. Duran ignores it as he continues his walk to the ring, getting up onto the apron and walking between the ropes, before holding his arms into the air with hatred in his eyes. He stands in a corner to wait for his opponent.

 

Funyon: Introducing next, the champion. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, and weighing in at a hair less than 300 pounds, ladies and gentlemen, I give you the SJL EUROPEAN CHAMPION, CHAAAAARLIE ‘GRAPPLER’ MAAAAAAATTHEWS!!!

 

Some wild drum beats are heard, before a man’s voice calls out:

 

You put your hand on your head…

 

Put your foot in the air…

 

Then you hop around the room…

 

In your underwear…

 

The crowd bursts into both cheers and laughter as the Willbury Twist continues raging on through the speakers. Finally, out of the curtain walks Charlie Matthews, the SJL European Championship Belt fastened snugly around his waist. He raises his arms at the top of the ramp, before continuing his walk to the ring.

 

You lift your other foot up…

 

Fall on your ass…

 

Get back up…

 

Put your teeth in a glass.

 

You ain’t never seen nothing quite like this,

 

It’s a wonderful thing called the Willbury Twist!

 

He walks up the ring steps and enters between the middle ropes, before taking off the belt. Kivell calls both men to the center of the ring, before calling for the bell to begin this contest!

 

*DING DING DING*

 

Grappler and Duran begin circling each other in the ring, never taking their eyes off one another. Quickly, Matthews ducks in, lunging for John’s legs, but the Sinner is able to sidestep it. Charlie brushes it off and continues to stare down Duran, as he lunges in for a collar-elbow tie-up. The two men lock horns, as Grappler quickly backs John into the ropes and grabs his arm, pushing him to the opposite side of the ring. Matthews ducks down in waiting for Duran, but Duran is able to stop himself early, and he brings his boot up right into the face of Charlie, sending him backwards a few steps. With Grappler groggy, Duran charges with his arm extended for a clothesline, but Charlie ducks this and shoots his leg backward as John turns around, catching him right in the midsection with a mule kick. As the Sinner is doubled over, Grappler runs off the ropes, towards the back of Duran. He then dives for his legs, clipping John right in the back of his left knee with a forearm, sending the Sinner to the canvas. Quickly, Grappler holds onto the leg and twists around it while still standing, executing a simple spinning toehold. However, Duran, being fresh, is able to easily slide over to the nearby ropes and grab the bottom, forcing Matthews to relinquish the hold, which he does. He then backs off and allows John to return to his feet.

 

Axis: Well, that certainly was a nice opening exchange between these two men.

 

King: And, of course, Matthews with a chop block and spinning toehold, letting everyone in this arena know exactly what body part he’s going to target in this match.

 

Duran meets Grappler back in the center of the ring and they lock up again. However, after a stalemate, Charlie lets go and rears back, slapping the edge of his hand across the chest of Duran.

 

*CHOP*

 

Wooooooooo!

 

*CHOP*

 

Woooooooooooo!

 

*CHOP*

 

Wooooooooooo!

 

Grappler rears back for a large overhand punch, but Duran is able to think quickly and duck this, before darting to the other side of the ring, bouncing off the opposite ropes. Matthews turns around to meet his opponent, but John quickly extends his arm out and catches Charlie right under the jaw with a wicked clothesline, dropping him to the ground! The Sinner drops on top of Charlie with a lateral press as Kivell counts:

 

ONE!

 

Matthews quickly shoots his body off the canvas, breaking the early count.

 

Axis: Well, you’re obviously not going to beat the European Champion with a clothesline.

 

King: It’s the thought that counts, Axis. Going for quick pins early in the match can only help you get into the head of your opponent.

 

Grappler quickly rolls to the ropes, pulling himself up. However, John Duran is right there waiting for him, sending his boot right into Charlie’s gut. With the larger man doubled over Duran brings his big arm down across Charlie’s back with a clubbing blow, before grabbing him in a front facelock and holding a handful of tights. Sinner hoists Matthews into the air, holding him upside down for a few seconds, before falling back onto the canvas. Grappler clutches his back at the force of the move, as Duran sends a few stomps onto his body.

 

Axis: It looks like Duran has an early lead in this contest, and it looks like he may be targeting the back. I guess the battle lines have been drawn.

 

King: I’m not surprised with the Sinner. His finisher, the Ultimate Sin, will be perfect for finishing off Grappler if the back is worked over enough.

 

Duran brings Matthews to his feet, and dashes to the ropes, pushing off of them and charging at Grappler, who is at a standstill. However, once John comes within the vicinity of the Champion, Matthews, with unheard-of speed, ducks under John’s arm and sweeps his left leg, dropping him to the canvas with an STO.

 

Axis: He calls that the Short Trip Over. I guess he enjoys acronyms.

 

King: Figures. Don’t you learn about those in third grade?

 

After hitting the canvas, Grappler keeps his leg wrapped around Duran’s, and brings his other leg around it before moving sideways, wrenching the Sinner’s leg with a modified leg lock. However, being close to the ropes, John props himself up on his elbows and slides, barely able to drag the stagnant weight of Grappler, and finally grabs the ropes to break the hold. Matthews brings Duran to his feet, but he surprises the champion by immediately clasping his hand across his throat, bringing him into the corner with a blatant choke. Matt Kivell begins the five count for John to break the hold:

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

THREE!

 

FOUR!

 

FIV-Duran finally breaks the hold, coldly eying Kivell. However, with Charlie momentarily stunned, the Sinner reaches across Charlie’s body, sideways, and lifts him up into the air, before dropping his back down across his knee as a wave of jeers passes through the crowd. After this backbreaker, Duran casually pins Grappler down to the mat as Kivell counts:

 

ONE!

 

TWO! Kickout!

 

 

King: It’s a DAMN SHAME that these people don’t appreciate this back work. I mean, really, c’mon!

 

Grappler quickly moves to his stomach and tries to crawl to the ropes, but John quickly brings his boot down across his back, dropping him down onto the canvas. Duran kneels down and drives his forearm into the back of Charlie three times, before dragging him over to the ropes. The Sinner places Matthews throat-first across the second rope, before violently pushing his throat onto the rope, choking him. Kivell quickly tries to break it:

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

THREE!

 

FOUR!

 

FI - Duran lets go, and charges to the opposite ropes, with Grappler in the same position. As John approaches Charlie’s back, he lifts his boot up and uses his momentum to carry it HARD right into Grappler’s back!

 

SMACK~!

 

The force of this move causes Matthews to flip all the way out of the ring, to the floor, on his back. Kivell once AGAIN makes his presence felt, this time administering a count-out:

 

ONE!

 

Axis: That was quite the offensive move by Duran, but if I were him, I wouldn’t let Grappler get counted out-

 

TWO!

 

Axis: -because he can’t win the title that way.

 

THREE!

 

FOUR!

 

King: Well, Duran needs a quick breather, and I mean, c’mon, it’s not like Charlie has taken that much punishment.

 

FIVE!

 

SIX!

 

Charlie finally gets to his feet, leaning on the guardrail for a moment before sliding back into the ring to break the count. As he comes into the ring, John lifts his leg up for another stomp, but Matthews, on his knees, grabs the leg of Duran and holds onto it while he gets to his feet. Grappler then uses his free hand to shove the Sinner to the canvas, while holding onto the leg still. Matthews shifts his weight to the side a bit, before dropping his right elbow down across John’s bad left leg. He gets up after the elbow drop and does it again, and then a third time. After the third, Charlie stands and grabs both legs of Duran, and then slowly but surely begins spinning, picking up speed as the Sinner is lifted off of the canvas going around and around as the fans chant the number of each rotation!

 

Axis: It’s time for the GIANT SWING~! Talk about an old school maneuver; not to mention the fans love it.

 

King: But you have to wonder how smart of a move that is, swinging a 270 pound guy around with a bad back.

 

Grappler completes a dizzying TEN rotations in the Giant Swing, but as King mentioned, he immediately clutches his back, not to mention stumbles around the ring trying to maintain his composure. Duran, as well, tries to get rid of the cobwebs, using the ropes to pull himself up. Grappler bends over to catch his breath, and seeing this, the Sinner charges at Matthews’ side – only to see that Grappler was playing possum, for as soon as John reaches Charlie’s side, he stands up, bringing the Sinner up onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry! Grappler then lifts Duran up off of his shoulders and drops him, stomach first, across his outstretched knee, causing the crowd to let out a roar!

 

Axis: THE GUT CHECK~! That’s the name of Grappler’s new offensive maneuver, a version of the gut buster.

 

King: Hey, I’ve got to admit that it was smart of him to play possum like that; it completely threw John Duran off his game.

 

Matthews holds his back for a second before quickly covering Duran with a lateral press, in his first pin of the match as Kivell counts:

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

Kickout~!

 

Duran quickly rolls out of the way of Matthews, under the nearby bottom rope. Grappler walks over to retrieve him, but as he bends down to grab his head, John quickly sends his thumb right into his eye, temporarily blinding him as the crowd boos. As Charlie recovers, the Sinner uses the ropes to pull himself up, before wrapping his arms around the massive frame of Matthews. Duran then lifts Charlie up, before rotating around and slamming him down to the canvas with a side belly-to-belly suplex.

 

Axis: Well, that was similar to Matthews’ playing possum in that he suckered Grappler in so he could use his sting, so to speak.

 

King: And I love it. Cheat to win~!

 

Staying on his opposition, Duran picks Charlie up so he’s in a sitting position, before backing up and unleashing a HARD kick right into the spine of Matthews. He immediately follows this by driving his knee into the Champion’s back, while outstretching his arms, executing a surfboard. The crowd immediately boos this move, before chanting ‘Let’s – Go – Grappler!’

 

Axis: Well, this submission is eerily reminiscent of Grappler just a few weeks ago, using these submission holds to wear down his opponent.

 

King: And why not? It’s time tested and at least guarantees to weaken your opponent. This is fine strategy shown by the NEXT European Champion.

 

The Champion desperately tries to fight out of the hold, ultimately rising to a knee, which relieves his back from Duran’s digging knee. He is then able to press up into a standing position, and sends his right leg into the gut of the Sinner, finally breaking the hold, and the crowd elicits a roar of approval. Grappler then charges to the ropes, bouncing off of them, and in a completely uncharacteristic and surprising move, Matthews brings himself up off the canvas and shoots his legs out, downwards, hitting a basement dropkick right into the back of Duran’s knee, causing him to fall to the mat on his face. Quickly, Charlie grabs the Sinner’s left leg and grapevines it with his legs, before falling backwards, exerting a high amount of pressure on the already affected knee.

 

Axis: And, once again, the submission skills of the Grappler come into play during this match, as he uses a perfectly-executed leg grapevine on John Duran.

 

King: Sure, whatever you say, Axis. I just know that this advantage for Grappler won’t last long.

 

Matthews stands up while still holding onto the grapevine, and then falls back once again, adding to the pressure on Duran’s leg. He stands up and goes for this again, but with less weight applied to his leg, John is able to quickly slide on his stomach, and grab the bottom rope, prompting Grappler to release the hold. Matthews backs up and allows the Sinner to get to his feet, but Charlie immediately charges at him as soon as he gets up. Duran, however, sidesteps Charlie’s charge, causing him to run into and off of the ropes. As he comes back, Duran ducks under his arm and sneaks behind him, grabbing him in a waistlock before arching backwards and hoisting the champion up and over onto his injured back.

 

Axis: Waistlock suplex there by John Duran, and a smart move during this middle stage of the match.

 

King: Usually, the waistlock suplex focuses more on the neck and upper back of your opponent; but if you noticed, John Duran and his unparalleled wrestling knowledge made sure the majority of the move was taken by Matthews on his back, which has already been worked over supremely.

 

Matthews rolls over onto his stomach, and the Sinner takes advantage of this, as he drops his body down to the mat and headbutts Charlie in the back once, twice, and a third time. The Champion escapes this by crawling to the ropes and pulling himself up to a standing position. However, the challenger is waiting for him, meeting Charlie with a hard boot to the gut, before scooping him up off the canvas so he’s held sideways. Duran taunts the crowd by holding Matthews up, but his left leg begins to buckle under the pressure, so he quickly arches backward, sending Grappler flipping over and onto his back yet again with a fallaway slam, as the crowd works a ‘Dur – an – Sucks!’ chant.

 

King: Whether these ingrates in Ohio think he sucks or not, he’s an extremely smart wrestler. I mean, all of his moves focus on the European Champion’s back!

 

Axis: You have a point, King. But these fans know what a rotten snake John Duran can be, and they’re not afraid to let him know that.

 

Duran clutches his leg immediately after the move, but slowly crawls on top of Matthews and hooks the near leg as Kivell counts:

 

ONE!

 

 

TWO!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

KICKOUT~!

 

The Sinner turns Grappler onto his stomach again, and relentlessly drops an elbow right onto his back, before straddling his body and reaching forward, grabbing Charlie’s chin and arching his body backward, executing a camel clutch. The crowd is far less than receptive, immediately booing the life out of John Duran.

 

Axis: This move was made famous by the great Iron Sheik, created specifically to work on the back.

 

King: See, John Duran knows exactly what he’s doing in that ring at every moment. Every move of his has a purpose.

 

Duran continues to put the pressure on Grappler’s back, smiling at all of the pain that he’s causing. Ignoring the fans completely, John pulls back even farther, causing Charlie to scream out in pain. The fans, supporting the champion, begin to work a ‘Let’s – Go – Grappler!’ for the second time, hoping it works in the same way the first chant did. Grappler waves his arms around while in the hold, trying to keep the blood flowing so he doesn’t lose consciousness.

 

Axis: I must admit; a masterful execution of the Camel Clutch here by John Duran. Matthews, a fine wrestler himself, is having a difficult time fighting out of this hold.

 

King: Well, that’s because Duran focused on the back the entire match. Slams, suplexes, and wear-down holds aren’t just for show.

 

Matthews, reaching down to his adrenal glands, begins slowly sliding on his stomach and legs, doing whatever he can to reach the ropes. He inches closer, and as he reaches to grab the bottom rope, Duran grabs his arm and pulls it away, before dragging Grappler back to the middle of the ring and wrenching in the hold even tighter!

 

King: What a great ring technician John Duran is. He deserves a ‘Man of the Year’ award or something.

 

Axis: Well, you can’t argue the fact that he wants to snap Grappler’s back in half. But Matthews IS a three-hundred pound man, so it’ll take some work.

 

The look on Charlie’s face slowly turns from pain to near-unconsciousness, as the crowd just deflates at the mere sight of his face. Doing the only thing he can do, Matt Kivell grabs Matthews’ arm and begins to check for the submission:

 

THE ARM DROPS ONCE~!

 

 

 

 

THE ARM DROPS TWICE~!

 

Crowd: ‘Let’s – Go – Grappler!’

 

 

 

 

THE ARM DROPS THRICE~!!!

 

 

 

 

 

NO!!!!!! Matthews’ arm does NOT drop, and his eyes burst open as he looks to have a new fire in his eyes. He once again slides on his stomach and legs, inching closer and closer to the ropes. Finally, he reaches out, and just as Duran tries to stop him again, but it’s too late, as he grabs a stronghold of the bottom rope, and the crowd bursts into cheers as the Sinner is finally forced to break the camel clutch.

 

Axis: Never, EVER count Charlie Matthews out of a submission like that. I admit, I had my doubts about him surviving, but he is a very vital man.

 

King: But you have to wonder about the condition of his back now. How badly is it injured after staying in a camel clutch for that long?

 

The Sinner waits for Grappler to get to his feet, and when he does he immediately unloads some punches to his face. He then kicks his leg out to boot Charlie in the gut, but Matthews catches the leg, before twisting around and whipping John Duran down to the canvas! As quickly as he can, Matthews wraps his legs around John’s left leg and wrenches the hold in, executing another leg lock. Matthews then moves to the side of Duran, while keeping the leg in the vice, adding to further pressure of the leg.

 

Axis: Would you look at the resiliency of Charlie Matthews. After withstanding that brutal camel clutch, he’s able to hit a dragon screw leg whip and go right back to that leg of John Duran.

 

King: Blah, blah, blah. Axis, it’s all calm before the storm; Duran is going to rock Grappler like a hurricane before it’s all said and done.

 

However, with Grappler so close to him now, Duran is able to shoot his fist forward and catch Charlie on the top of his head with punches. John sends a flurry of them onto Charlie’s head, eventually causing him to break the hold. The champion gets to his feet, and waits for the Sinner, who pulls himself up using the ropes, and favoring his legs. He leans on the ropes for a second, and Grappler uses this to his advantage by charging at Duran and extending his arm, and catching John right under the chin with a clothesline, but he uses so much force and velocity that both men are carried all the way over the top rope to the floor. However, in a twist, as Duran falls to the floor he lands in a standing position, thus putting pressure on his injured leg and forcing him to fall to the floor, while Grappler hits smack on his injured back.

 

Axis: Irony! But really, that was a bad move by Matthews to carry himself over on that rope clothesline.

 

King: I’m sure the size of Duran had something to do with it, and there’s Kivell, starting to count these two out.

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

THREE!

 

Axis: Wouldn’t it be something to see these two warriors go to a double count-out?

 

FOUR!

 

FIVE!

 

Grappler begins to stir, albeit clutching his back in pain.

 

SIX!

 

Likewise, John Duran begins to move, holding onto his leg with a grimace on his face. However, like Charlie, he begins to pull himself up.

 

SEVEN!

 

EIGHT!

 

Duran uses the steel guardrail to reach his feet, while Matthews uses the nearby announce table to bring himself up.

 

NINE!

 

Both men race, or, as fast as two injured men CAN race, to the ring apron, BARELY beating the count as they both slide into the ring.

 

Axis: Well, at least the match DIDN’T end in a double count-out. I want to see a true winner for this contest.

 

King: Now, we’re at the point in the match where these two guys really need to be cautious of their respective injured body parts; one false move could seriously spell the end of this match for them.

 

Duran and Grappler scurry to opposite sides of the ring, where the pull themselves up. For a moment, they stare at each other, wondering just what the hell it will take to put one another down for good. Both men then charge at each other, but it’s Grappler that brings his leg up and sends his boot into Duran’s gut. Matthews then grabs a front facelock, before reaching down to John’s legs and crossing them, and taking hold of them. Charlie then turns to one side, before snap-twisting to the other side, spinning the Sinner over with his version of the cross special cradle neckbreaker!

 

Axis: THE SCHOOL LUNCH~! A very unique name, yet a very dangerous move by Charlie Matthews!

 

King: That’s the best school lunch I’ve ever seen. Wait, on second thought, that’s not saying much.

 

Matthews quickly floats into a cover as Matt Kivell begins to count:

 

ONE~!

 

 

TWOOO~!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

THR-KICKOUT~!!!!!!!!!

 

 

King: It probably wasn’t the SMARTEST thing for Grappler to use a mostly back- and neck-associated move.

 

Axis: Well, I think Grappler just wants to win this match. I mean, sure he’d like to make Duran tap out to a leg-related submission, but with his back in the shape it’s in, he’ll take what he can get.

 

Grappler picks John Duran up off of the canvas, and stands him up in a stationary position before running to the ropes and pushing off of them. As he comes back, he brings his shoulder down and catches the Sinner right in the midsection, tackling him down to the canvas. Matthews then takes Duran’s left leg and twists his legs around it while standing, executing a spinning toe hold. Charlie wrenches this hold in; exerting a large amount of pressure on the Sinner’s already badly hurt leg.

 

King: From personal experience, I know that this is an extremely painful maneuver, especially when your leg has been worked on like Duran’s has.

 

Matthews spins around John’s leg again to add more pressure, but the challenger is able to boot Charlie in the ass while he has his back turned to him, which shoves him off into the ropes; as he comes back, the Sinner ducks down, and Charlie jumps over him running to the other ropes. Duran stands up and catches the returning Matthews, wrapping his arms around his back and squeezing with all of his might.

 

Axis: Oh, you have to be kidding me!

 

King: IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT’S BEARHUG TIME~!! This is a GENIUS move by John Duran. Not only is he getting into Grappler’s head by stealing one of his trademark maneuvers, but he’s getting into his BACK by using a move that adds crushing force to a hurt back.

 

The crowd begins relentlessly booing, trying to phase John Duran. A ‘BORING!’ chant fires up, echoing off the walls of the Gund Arena as the Sinner continues to flex his muscles around Charlie’s large frame. Matthews, meanwhile, does everything he can to fight out of the hold, pushing Duran’s head back, and trying to loosen the grip by the Sinner.

 

Axis: Well, getting out of a John Duran bearhug is going to be quite a task.

 

King: Of course. The strength of Duran is underrated, especially when he’s against guys larger than him, like the Grappler.

 

Finally, his arms drop to his sides, and he slumps down in Duran’s arms, once again walking a thin line between consciousness and unconsciousness. Without any further movements, Kivell does the only thing he can do, and for the second time in this match, he begins to check Charlie for a submission.

 

THE ARM DROPS ONCE~!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ARM DROPS TWICE~!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ARM DROPS THREE TIMES~!!!! IT’S OVER!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Axis: NO WAIT!! Matthews raised his arm a tenth of an inch at the last possible second!

 

Grappler’s arms begin shaking, as once again he appears to have new life, and the crowd is going crazy, just fueling the champion’s fire. He begins shooting off rapid fire right hands to Duran’s head, trying to get him to break the hold. Finally, much like Aecas did in their match last week to him, Charlie outstretches his arms and claps them together across Duran’s head, boxing his ears and causing so much pain and anguish, the hold is finally broken as the fans let out a mighty cheer!

 

Axis: Boxing the ears NEVER gets old! And you know, it always seems to work in desperate situations like that one.

 

King: I still don’t think it’s right, Duran’s equilibrium may have been thrown completely off kilter!

 

With the Sinner dazed, Matthews runs into the ropes and charges off of them, only to get caught by the arm of Duran, who stands side by side with him and lifts him up off the mat, only to sit back down with a side slam, once again hurting Matthews’ back! Duran pauses for a minute to grab his injured leg, making sure nothing’s broken, before taking the near leg of Charlie and hooks it as Kivell counts:

 

ONE~!

 

 

TWOOOO~!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE!!!!!NO!!!!!! KICKOUT~!!!!!!!!

 

Without missing a beat, the Sinner picks Charlie off of the canvas and stands behind him, before threading his arms under Matthews’ and locking them behind his head, pushing back on his head with the full nelson!

 

Axis: Whether he’s going for the submission or his Break Point finisher, the full nelson is a very effective move, executed with perfection by John Duran.

 

King: Nice to see you admitting things, Axis. It’s the first step to recovery.

 

Grappler, however, had this move scouted, as he’s able to untwist his arms from Duran’s, and duck under John’s arm and grab the close leg, before lifting him up and spinning slightly in the air. As he brings the Sinner down, he simply points Duran’s head towards the canvas and falls, dropping him RIGHT on his head! However, right after the move is executed, Grappler rolls on the mat, holding his back in pain.

 

Axis: THE JUDGMENT SLAM~! That sheer-drop Angle Slam is a very dangerous move, and would probably spell the end of the match if his back didn’t hurt so much.

 

King: Which was perfect strategy by John Duran; this buys him recovery time.

 

Grappler slowly gets to his feet, and walks over to Duran, bringing him to his feet. He then sticks the Sinner’s head between his legs, and raises his arms up to the capacity crowd in Cleveland, signaling for his new finisher, the Foreign Star Bomb! He wraps his arms under Duran’s body and goes to hoist him up. . . . . . and his back gives out.

 

King: YES! I *KNEW* this would happen! Everything John Duran does is for a purpose, and this was exactly what he was going for!

 

The Sinner then stands up, sending the stunned Matthews flipping over and onto his back again. Duran immediately drops to his knee because of the pain in his leg, but he is able to get up and turn Grappler onto his stomach, before running into and off of the ropes, and then leaping into the air, bringing his 265 pounds down across Matthews’ back with a big splash. He then rolls Charlie over onto his stomach and hooks the far leg as Matt Kivell counts:

 

ONE!!!!!

 

 

 

 

TWOOOOOOOO~!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

NO, KICKOUT~!!!!!! Matthews got out of the pinning predicament at the LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT! Duran, favoring his leg, stands up and picks Grappler up; placing him in the same position he just was for the Foreign Star Bomb. However, he stretches his arms outward, taunting the fans and signaling for his new finishing maneuver!

 

King: YES! It’s time for the Ultimate Sin! And unlike Matthews, Duran’s back is ready and able to perform this move on the big man!

 

Axis: But you have to wonder if his leg will hold up, the weight that will be put on his leg is going to be doubled!

 

However, Duran can hoist Grappler onto his shoulders, before dropping him back into a crucifix position! As he is about to drop the champion right to hell, Charlie is able to push himself down, out of Duran’s stronghold! The Sinner thinks quickly, and spins around, lifting his leg to send a boot into Grappler’s gut. However, Matthews grabs the leg, and like earlier in the match, twists it around and sends Duran to the mat with a dragon screw leg whip. He then grabs John’s left leg and twists it into a crooked position, so Duran ends up in an Indian style sitting position, with Grappler’s legs laced in for pressure. Matthews then falls backwards to the mat, exerting inhuman force on Duran’s legs!

 

Axis: Oh my God~! It’s the Native American Deathlock~!!!

 

King: No! This, this isn’t right! Duran had him all set up for the Ultimate Sin and everything!

 

Matthews wrenches back on Duran’s legs, as the challenger screams in pain, his leg seemingly tearing at the seams. John does everything he can to try and break the hold, from reaching towards the ropes, to trying to turn over and reverse the pressure, but none of it seems to work.

 

Axis: They’re smack in the middle of the ring, and there’s nothing John Duran can do! He’ll have to tap out!

 

King: Don’t count him out yet! If his legs BREAK, he’ll still be able to beat Grappler some how.

 

Duran uses his arms to push himself up, but there is seemingly no way to fight the hold of the European Champion. He shoots one last look at the ropes, and realizing that there is no escape. . .

 

 

 

 

 

TAP

 

TAP

 

TAP

 

 

Axis: That’s it! It’s over!

 

*DING DING DING*

 

Funyon: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner, as a result of a submission, and STILL SJL European Champion, Charlie ‘Grappler’ Matthews!!

 

The crowd explodes into applause as ‘Willbury Twist’ fires up again and Matthews releases his Indian Deathlock from John Duran. Matt Kivell hands Charlie the European Title belt, and he stares at it lovingly before raising his arms into the air and acknowledging the crowd.

 

Axis: What a match! After that, you have to respect both men for giving it their all in that ring. . . There is no shame in tapping out after a match like that.

 

King: Yeah, well. Duran will get his day in the sun, I guarantee it. But up next, we get to possibly see people burn and stuff!! Yes!!