13th Hour Losing Matches

[Guest Aecas]

Ah well lost, but it don;t matter as this is the first match I actively enjoyed writing in weeks. Have a look if you wish but Grats to Grappler on his stipulation

 

SWF 13th Hour comes blasting back from commercial, the cameras panning over the masses of SWF fans that jam packed themselves into the sold out Mark of the Quad Cities Centre, the cameras take in the sea of faces and the various signs that bob within it as Clint Mansell’s "Lux Aeterna" plays over the speakers. The camera view changes, panning over the crowd once again, coming to a halt and gazing at the huge clock that covers the entranceway, the Pendulum swinging ponderously from side to side as the time ticks ever onwards towards the 13th Hour. Eventually the camera view changes once more revealing Bobby Riley and Cyclone Comet seated at their announce table and ready as ever to continue calling the action.

 

“Hello everyone and welcome back to SWF 13th Hour!” Comet yells excitedly. “It’s been an amazing show so far and it’s fixed to get even better before the end! Isn’t that right Robert?!”

 

“Yeah, wonderful.” Riley replies, his face a picture of boredom as he listens to Comet, impatiently waiting for the next match to start, idly glancing at the card on the desk in front of him.

 

“Show some spirit Robert!” Comet insists as the PPV’s theme song slowly fades from the speakers and Funyon stands up moving to the ringside area looking up at referee Eddy Long who already stands in the ring ready to do his job as always. “We’ve already seen two magnificent title matches tonight! Not to mention the brutal Last Man Standing match between Citizens Toxxic and Kibagami! I’m amazed the ring canvas is still its original colour!”

 

“We’ll definitely need more than just a mop and a bucket before the nights done Comet. I’m already getting tired from calling all the action we’ve seen tonight and there’s still four matches to go!”

 

“Well you are in luck then Robert as we appear to be ready to get the next contest underway! The ring is ready and all we need now are the men themselves! Tonight will be a grueling experience for the Masked Man Robert!”

 

“That’s an understatement Comet. He wanted a chance to prove himself and he’s going to get it and then some as he potentially has to go through five people in succession!”

 

“Well Robert when you fight multiple opponents you have to do it quickly!”

 

“Exactly, the longer the Masked Man is in that ring the harder it’s going to be for him to put his opponents away. Granted he only has to win 3 of these falls to win the match but none of his opponents are going to make this an easy task for him.”

 

The cameras finally cut from the commentary team back to the ring as Funyon nods to Eddy Long and raises the microphone to his lips.

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen. The following contest is the Five Wound Gauntlet Match!”

 

The dapper announcer pauses for a moment as a loud cheer echoes around the stadium, the SWF fans rabid and eager for more action.

 

“The Masked Man’s opponents shall enter in a random order. The first fall will be straight singles. The second fall shall be a Chairshot Challenge. The third a Tables Match. The fourth stipulation will be chosen at random and displayed before the fall. And the final stipulation shall be a Ladder match!”

 

The announcement draws another round of cheers from the crowd at the prospects in front of him along with a buzz of curiosity as to the order in which TMM’s opponents will emerge. The buzz is swiftly cut short however as "Misirlou" by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones hits the speakers, the fans questions quickly turning to boos as the Gauntlet challenger makes his entrance.

 

The arena lights begin to strobe heavily, making every movement appear in slow motion as the Masked Man enters the arena, stepping calmly past the swinging pendulum, briefcase in hand as he walks slowly and purposefully down the aisle.

 

“Introducing first! Weighing 243lbs! And currently hailing from Orofino, Idaho! THE MASKED MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

TMM ignores the boos and vitriol of the fans either side of him, calmly adjusting his tie and brushing a speck of imaginary dust from his briefcase, the Masked Man places his briefcase next to the ring steps and jogs up the steel to the ring apron. Gripping the top rope TMM slingshots himself into the ring, quickly leaping up to the second rope of the nearest corner and whipping his jacket off in one smooth movement. A quick pose merely draws another wave of boos from the fans as he tosses his jacket to the ground and leaps back into the ring running through a few warm up exercises as he awaits his first opponent.

 

“He certainly looks ready Robert.”

 

“He is Comet, he asked Commissioner Zenon for a chance to prove himself and he got it. This one won’t go any further than 3 falls I can promise you that. The Masked Man is going to go 3 and 0 in this match.”

 

“You sound very sure of that Robert.”

 

“He’s got more talent than the rest of the oafs he‘s facing, why shouldn’t I be sure?”

 

Before Comet can come up with a retort for that the arena lights shut off and Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” hits the speakers, moments before the front of the stage explodes in a maelstrom of emerald flames. The fans quickly switch from boos to cheers as David Blazenwing strides out from the entranceway, his walk quickly breaking into a run as he charges down the aisle slapping palms with the fans before he slides into the ring.

 

“And his first challenger! From Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Weighing in at 245lbs! He is DAVID BLAZENWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“And here’s opponent number one! Citizen Blazenwing!”

 

Blazenwing quickly pushes himself up to his feet, ending up practically nose to nose with the Masked Man before Eddy Long interjects himself between the pair as Funyon his job temporarily done exits the ring. The referee keeps the two men apart just long enough to signal to the Time Keeper, and the shrill pealing of the bell cuts through the mix of cheers and boos as the match is officially underway.

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!

 

The two men smash into one another, both eager to get this first fall over and done with as they lock themselves together in a collar and elbow tie up, they strain against one another for a moment but TMM has a visible strength advantage. A break comes in the conflict, as the Masked Man bats Blazenwing’s right arm aside, quickly twisting his opponents left up behind his back into a Hammerlock. TMM twists Blazenwing’s arm up, trying to apply more pressure before the shorter man ducks and switches behind him, reversing the hold into a Hammerlock of his own. The Masked Man pauses for a brief moment as the hold is reversed but quickly reaches back behind him, grabbing the back of Blazenwing’s head and dropping down to one knee, taking his opponent over his shoulder with a Snapmare.

 

Blazenwing quickly scrambles back up to his feet and lunges at the Masked Man only to meet the canvas once again as the Masked Wrestler flips him over with an Armdrag. Blazenwing pulls himself back up once again, trying to press the attack against TMM who calmly meets the charge with a Japanese Armdrag, planting Blazenwing on his back for a third consecutive time. Blazenwing lurches back up to his feet for a third time and says hello to the boots of the Masked Man as TMM drop kicks him square in the face sending his opponent tumbling through the ring ropes and down to the floor.

 

“An auspicious start for Citizen Blazenwing Robert.”

 

“What did I tell you Comet? We’re less than a minute into the match and already TMM is all over Blazenwing, we should just put another victory into his W column now to save time.”

 

The Masked Man wanders over to the ropes, climbing onto the bottom and looking down at his fallen opponent before looking out at the fans and mockingly clapping his hands, inciting another chorus of boos before he vaults over the ropes to stand on the apron. Looking behind him at the now standing Blazenwing the Masked Man raises his right foot and gracefully kicks his opponent in the side of the head, sending Blazenwing reeling back against the crowd barrier. Pausing only to turn himself around TMM leaps off of the apron towards the smaller man splattering him against the crowd barrier and snapping his head back with a short Flying Clothesline.

 

TMM watches Blazenwing sag and then collapse back onto the floor before he reaches down and grabs the smaller man by the hair and the back of his khaki’s, rolling his opponent back into the ring breaking up Eddy Long’s fledgling 10 count.

 

The Masked Man pulls Blazenwing back up to his feet, grabbing an arm and Irish Whipping the smaller wrestler towards the ropes but going for a ride himself as Blazenwing reverses the Whip trying to get some momentum back behind him. TMM ducks Blazenwing’s Dragon Whip Kick, rebounding off the ropes and running right into a Samoan Drop as Blazenwing gets in his first offense of the match, slamming the Masked Man back first into the canvas.

 

“Citizen Blazenwing isn’t willing to lay down and die yet Robert!”

 

“Then he’s being stupid comet he’s only inviting more punishment on himself.”

 

Riley’s words seem unfounded however as Blazenwing quickly drags TMM back up to his feet giving him a swift kick to the gut before cradling a leg and heaving the Masked man over his head with a Fisherman Suplex, cinching it in tight as he tries for a quick win.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TW-

 

But the Masked Man is far far too fresh to fold his hand so early, kicking out of the pinning predicament with authority and surging back up to his feet to meet Blazenwing once more. Blazenwing tries to use his speed to his advantage, his right foot soaring towards TMM’s chin in a Superkick, but it never connects as the Masked Man catches the boot with both hands an inch away from his jaw. TMM throws the leg away from him, spinning Blazenwing on the spot before he lunges in threading his right arm under Blazenwing’s slaps the palm of his hand into his opponents face before scrambling his brains against the canvas with a DISGUSTING Reverse Half Nelson STO!

 

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“The Maski Pad! The fans felt that one Robert!”

 

“So did I! Judge Mental taught this boy well!”

 

Wasting no time TMM dives on top of his fallen opponent, quickly hooking a leg as Eddy Long drops down for the count.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

THREEEEEEEE-NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Blazenwing’s left shoulder just barely clears the canvas, to the delight of the fans and the ire of the Masked Man as he grabs Blazenwing by the hair once more, dragging his opponent back up to his feet.

 

“And Citizen Blazenwing refuses to stay down!”

 

“Indeed he does and “Citizen” Blazenwing is about to find out why he SHOULD have stayed.”

 

The Masked Man glares at the dazed David Blazenwing before slicing a pair of vicious knife edge chops directly into his opponent’s throat, stepping behind Blazenwing as his opponent gasps for air, clutching at his neck. Grabbing Blazenwing’s arms by the wrists TMM quickly twists his body, Blazenwing’s following suit, positioning his opponents head at the small of his back before dropping all his weight backwards, planting Blazenwing face first into the mat with The Masked Avenger.

 

“Goodnight David Blazenwing!” Riley crows as the Masked Man rolls his now very limp opponent over onto his back and simply leans backwards counting with his fingers as Eddy Long’s palm slaps the mat.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen the winner of the first fall. THE MASKED MAN!”

 

The fans erupt with boos and jeers once more as the Smarktron briefly overlays a scoreboard over the camera view.

 

*************************

STRAIGHT SINGLES

 

The Masked Man pinned David Blazenwing with The Masked Avenger.

 

The Masked Man - 1

Gauntlet Team - 0

*************************

 

The Masked Man half rolls, half pushes Blazenwing’s barely conscious body towards the ropes and finally to the floor before he stands back up raising his hands in victory to the displeasure of the fans who let him know exactly what they think of him while consoling themselves that there are still 4 more prospective opponents for him to face.

 

“One down, two to go Comet!”

 

“Indeed Robert. Winning the first fall gives him a well needed advantage, and the fact that he did so as quickly as he did is doubly advantageous!”

 

“Like I told you Comet, he’s got all the skill and ability to go the distance.”

 

“Perhaps he does, but now we’ll see how he fares when the Chairs come out to play!”

 

As if one cue the lights go out and Tool’s “Schism” hits the speakers, a smattering of cheers beginning to stir from the fans as the next opponent prepare to show himself, though perhaps unusual for this individual the cheers grow in volume as the drums are thrown into the mix, the darkness broken by the flashing of light blue and dark red lights all around the arena. A waterfall of black and red pyro sparks stream down the massive clock that covers the entranceway, making it look as though it’s bathed in a river of liquid fire.

 

“I know the pieces fit,

Because I watch them fall away.”

 

The fans erupt into cheers once again for this unlikely hero as IL leaps through the pouring sparks chair already clutched firmly in hand, one corner of his mouth twisted up in a cold smirk as the sparks patter off of him. The Insane One ignores the cheers and extended hands of the fans as he slowly walks down the aisle, his attention reserved for his opponent for tonight, as Funyon raises his mic.

 

“Challenger number two! For the Chairshot Challenge! Weighing 201lbs, and hailing from Easton, Pennsylvania. THE INSANE LUCHADOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

As IL reaches the ring the strobing of the lights grows quicker and more intense, the waterfall of sparks coming to an end and The Masked Man exiting the ring as IL enters it. The Insane Luchador drops the chair absently on the canvas as he ascends the closest turnbuckle, standing on the second rope as the flashing of the lights increases to a fast strobing pace he makes a cross with his arms, palms down before leaping back into the ring and picking up the chair once more.

 

“Things are going to get interesting Robert. The Masked Man may have outwrestled Citizen Blazenwing but will he be able to outdo Citizen Rickmen in the field of brutality?”

 

“You saw how easily he put away Blazenwing Comet. Chair or not The Masked Man is going to do exactly the same to IL regardless of what that masochistic idiot thinks.”

 

“Who knows what Citizen Rickmen thinks Robert, but the good Citizens in audience here tonight are certainly behind him.”

 

“Just shows you that the fans know nothing Comet most of the time they are on his case and now they’re cheering him?”

 

“Well Robert you have to give the Devil his due when he’s battling Cthulhu!”

 

“………… Comet do you make this crap up or does somebody have to write it down for you?”

 

“Surely Citizen Rickmen is the lesser of two evils here Robert? An Unlikely Hero standing against the tide of darknes-”

 

Riley buries his head in his hand as Comet blathers on before discreetly unplugging his partner’s headset, granting both himself and the viewers at home a few moments relief as Comet rabbits on.

 

“This is more like it folks, now I can do the play by play AND the colour!”

 

The Masked Man stands on the outside looking up at this new opponent, his head tilts to one side as he notes the perpetual smirk before he walks calmly to the time keepers table, casually shoving the time keeper off of his seat and grabbing it for himself. TMM folds the chair up with a metallic snap and slides back into the ring, slowly standing back up before casually turning to his opponent. Eddy Long quickly signals to the now standing time keeper who dutifully rings the bell once more to indicate the start of the second segment.

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Eddy Long dodges out of the way in just the nick of time as both men heft their chairs and lunge at one another, steel crashing against steel as the pair duel it out with their rudimentary weapons the sound echoing around the arena.

 

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

 

Neither man seems able to get an advantage as the chairs are slowly dented and battered out of shape before The Masked Man seizes the initiative, lashing out with his right foot as Il brings his chair upwards, catching the Insane One square in the gut. IL doubles up from the impact his chair hitting the canvas as TMM brings his own steel down across the top of the Luchador’s head.

 

SMACK!

 

IL staggers from the impact as it drives his head a little further down before he straightens up, a smirk creeping across his face once again as he shakes his head at the Masked Man. TMM however takes all this in his stride and with barely a pauses hefts the badly damaged chair once more and smashes it over the head of the Insane One for a second time.

 

SMACK!

 

IL staggers back a pace going down to one knee for the briefest of moments, before he surges back up to his feet and laughs in the Masked Man’s face, the high pitched noise more of a cackle than a laugh, but the eerie sound is cut off as TMM lifts the chair one last time. The Masked Man puts his entire bodyweight behind this shot demolishing what’s left of the chair over the head of the Insane Luchador.

 

WHAM!

 

The force of the blow is too much for even IL to withstand and the Luchador goes down hard, one hand coming up to press against the flesh of his forehead where that last devastating blow struck before The Masked Man dives on top of him.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO-KICKOUT!!!!!!!!

 

 

The fans explode into cheers once again as the Luchador kicks out strongly at two, not a man to give up, and one seemingly even less susceptible to chairshots.

 

“And here we have the problem when you face IL. Two hard chair shots didn’t faze him at all, and one of the stiffest chairshots I’ve ever seen only put him down for a two count!”

 

The Masked Man quickly drags IL back up to his feet, shooting the Luchador into the ropes and standing poised as the Insane One charges back towards him. TMM scoops his opponent off of his feet and into a Sidewalk Slam, IL’s momentum spinning both men around before the Masked Man drops to one knee, crunching the small of the Luchador’s back into the hard bone of his right knee. IL spasms from the impact, flopping back to the canvas but almost immediately begins to push himself back up, one hand briefly presses against his back before TMM is on him once more.

 

The Masked Man shoots IL into the ropes again, scooping up the running Luchador up once again as he runs back to him, however the Masked Man doesn’t have things his own way this time as the Insane One locks his legs around TMM’s head taking the masked wrestler off of his feet with a textbook flying Head Scissors.

 

“A little over eagerness perhaps on the part of the Masked Man, if you go for the same move twice, chances are your opponent will spot it.”

 

TMM quickly rolls back up to his feet as IL similarly pops back up, the masked wrestler quickly charging the Luchador, only to fall flat on his face as the Insane One dropkicks him in the left knee. Rolling to one side, IL seizes his fallen chair, sitting up and cracking the damaged steel over TMM’s upper back making his opponent’s back arch from the impact. IL delivers another hard crack with the chair before dropping it unceremoniously on the back of the Masked Man’s head. But the Insane One isn’t finished there, running towards the ropes and leaping up to plant both feet on the second rope springboarding himself back into the ring, his body carving an arc through the air as he lands stomach first on the chair covering TMM’s head with a huge Lionsault!

 

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!” shout the fans as The Masked Man spasms from that crunching impact before IL rolls him over, one hand clutching at his sternum the other hooking a leg for his first pinfall of the match.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO-KICKOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

“And IL isn’t the only man proving his toughness to all of us tonight! You fans should be ashamed of yourselves for doubting the Sexual Maskosaurus what’s not to like about him?!”

 

“His ring attire?” Quips Comet, who has finally realized that he was unplugged.”

 

“Like you can talk about ring attire.” Riley scoffs at his partner. “Anyway why have you been so quiet?”

 

“My headset connecter came loose…SOMEHOW.” Comet says, looking at Riley a little suspiciously before the ambiguously gay announcer shrugs his shoulders.

 

“What a shame. Now if you can drag your Spandex constricted brain back to the ring we’ve got a match going on!”

 

Denied victory, IL quickly rolls under the bottom rope and out of the ring crouching next to the ring cover and yanking it up to peer into the gloom beneath the ring. It doesn’t take him long to find what he’s looking for as the Insane One begins to pull steel chairs from beneath the ring, six of them in fact sending them sliding into the ring one after another before following them himself. The Luchador quickly tosses the chairs on top of one another making a rough pile of hard metal near one of the corners before he picks up the Sexual Maskosaurus once more and pulls him over to said corner. Vaulting up to sit on the top turnbuckle IL wraps his right arm around TMM’s head and without pause leaps from the corner, twisting himself in mid air and spiking the Masked Man head first onto the pile of chairs with a Tornado DDT!

 

The crowd collectively wince as TMM’s head cracks off the steel, but IL isn’t finished there, grabbing a spare chair he slams it down lengthways on the chest of his opponent before heading for the corner once again. The Insane One scales the corner quickly looking down at his opponent before he leaps from the top, cameras flashing all around the arena as he crushes the Masked Man with a Frog Splash! IL bounces high from the impact, falling next to the Masked Man, both hands clutching at his stomach as he sucks in a deep breath trying to recover as quick as he can, while the Masked Man lies motionless on the canvas.

 

“What Frog Splash by Citizen Rickmen!”

 

“Who just damaged himself as much as he damaged his opponent. His gut must be feeling pretty tender right now, that’s the second time its been slammed on steel!”

 

“You can’t argue with success Robert.”

 

“What success? They’re both down and he hasn’t tried to cover TMM yet. That’s not success Comet.”

 

IL sits up slowly, one hand reaching out to replace the chair on the body of the Masked Man before he slowly stands up once again looking out at the fans as that smirk returns once more, the Insane One twirling his fingers as he signals for the 450 eliciting another round of cheers from the fans who don’t want to see TMM go 2-0 up.

 

“Citizen Rickmen signaling for another devastating move from his arsenal Robert.”

 

“When he should have just covered TMM, why waste valuable time going for a big move when you have a chance of putting your opponent away?”

 

IL steps through the ropes and climbs up the turnbuckle once again a little slower this time as the impact of the Frog Splash is still with him, but it doesn’t deter the Luchador who finally perches himself on the top turnbuckle. IL slowly begins to stand up and gets a chair thrown right in his face from a rising TMM! The steel cracks off the head of the Luchador before tumbling to the hard floor, the Luchador himself losing his balance and crotching himself on the top rope with a yell of pain.

 

“Told you Comet.” Riley says smugly as The Masked Man steps over the pile of chairs to deliver a thunderous punch to IL’s gut, the air whooshing out of the Luchador’s lungs as he doubles up, right into TMM’s hands. The Masked Man wraps his own right arm around the Luchador’s head before he simply hurls himself backwards, returning the Luchador’s favour and spiking him headfirst into the pile of chairs!

 

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

IL’s body is perfectly vertical at the moment of impact before it crumples like a broken toy, as he flops down back first on the chairs, brains scrambled from the sheer impact as TMM quickly hooks a leg.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

…

 

TWO AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

…

 

TWO AND THREE QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

And IL refuses to stay down as he gets a shoulder up a split second before the three, Eddy Long barely managing to stop his hand in time before he thrusts 2 fingers up into the air to signal the near fall. The masked man moves quickly, pulling IL back to his feet and shooting the dazed Luchador into the ropes once more. Il rebounds from the ropes and never knows what hits him as the Masked Man scoops him up and brings him down hard with a beautiful Sky High Powerbomb, quickly gripping the Luchador’s legs tight as he tries to end the match once again.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

…

 

TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

…

 

TWO AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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TWO AND THREE QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

IL just BARELY gets the shoulder up in time to the delight of the fans and the anger of the Masked Man, TMM smashes the canvas once with his hand, the first active sign of irritation he has shown thus far before he begins to sling the chairs out of the ring to the floor, following them moments later and leaving his broken opponent in the ring.

 

“Citizen Rickmen kicked out of the Lineage! That must be playing havoc with The Masked Man that such a powerful move failed to put his opponent down for 3!”

 

“And now he’s going to the outside, this isn’t a good move on TMM’s part, he needs to keep the pressure on IL and not give him time to recover. However in TMM’s defense those last two moves should have been enough to keep most people down.”

 

“Apparently Citizen Rickmen is not most people Robert.”

 

Outside the ring the Masked Man works quickly, gathering up the fallen chairs and opening them one by one, placing each chair seat to seat creating a solid platform of steel. TMM searches under the ring himself and retrieves another pair of chairs, which he adds to the others before taking the smashed remnants of the chairs he and IL dueled with and placing them on top. The process is time consuming as TMM ferrets out the extra chairs to complete his steel coffin and as Riley feared IL begins to stir inside the ring, shaking his head and slowly sitting up as The masked Man works on the outside. Finally satisfied with his steel construction the Masked Man climbs up onto the apron to be greeted with a rather unfriendly punch in the face.

 

TMM’s head snaps back from the force of the blow and before he can recover another hard punch rocks him on the apron, IL following up on those two sledgehammer blows by guillotining the Masked Man throat first on the top rope. TMM sways on the apron but doesn’t fall, one hand gripping his throat while the other steadies himself as the Insane One runs to the closest turnbuckle, preparing to take to the air once more. The Masked Man catches the movement out of the corner of his eyes, turning to face his opponent but its already too late as IL leaps from the top rope AND KILLS TMM WITH A RANA OFF THE TOP AND THROUGH THE STEEL COFFIN!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

“The good Citizens say it all for us Robert!” Comet exults, shouting to make himself heard over the fans.

 

The Masked Man lays amid the pile of bent and buckled chairs that he hit back first, managing to roll himself over he tries to push himself up but the impact of such a devastating move defeats him and he slumps back down to the floor. IL is not faring well either, having had nothing to land on except a hard floor, the Insane One grabs hold of the apron, and then the bottom rope slowly dragging himself up as he limps towards his literally “floored” opponent. IL slowly, painfully drags the Masked Man back to the ring, heaving him up under the bottom rope and rolling him back inside before turning to look at the wreckage behind him, the Luchador sifts through the steel for a moment before he finds what he’s looking for, grabbing the twisted and abused remnants of the two chairs used in the duel and sliding into the ring with them.

 

“What the hell is this madman planning now?”

 

Dumping what’s left of the chairs in the center of the ring IL goes about answering that question, picking up the Masked Man slowly and pushing him into a corner front first, the Insane One lifts TMM up and seats him on the top turnbuckle facing the crowd. Turning around IL grins widely and points at the chairs in the center of the ring to fresh cheers from the fans before he reaches back, pulling the Masked Man over his right shoulder into what looks like a Canadian Backbreaker.

 

“Oh no…”Riley says shaking his head. “Not this! NOT THIS!”

 

But it is. The Luchador breaks into a run, carrying the Masked Man with him and leaping up into the air, pulling his opponent from his shoulder AND PILEDRIVING HIM ONTO THE BROKEN CHAIRS!

 

“RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

“GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOREGASM!” Comet cries as the fans rock the arena with another fecal chant as IL rolls his opponent over and hooks a leg, putting all his bodyweight on his opponent determined to make this one count.

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

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TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

…

 

TWO AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO AND THREE QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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…

 

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THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

The fans erupt once again as Funyon raises his mic turning up the volume to make himself heard as the Smarktron displays the result table once more.

 

“The winner of the Chairshot Challenge. THE INSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE LUCHADOR!”

 

 

*************************

CHAIRSHOT CHALLENGE

 

The Insane Luchador pinned The Masked Man with the Goregasm.

 

The Masked Man - 1

Gauntlet Team - 1

*************************

 

 

Eddy Long raises one of IL’s arms, the Luchador thrusting the other into the air for another modest pop from the fans before he head to the ropes, his job done. The Insane One steps through the ropes and down to the floor slowly walking up the aisle, turning halfway and looking at the still prone form of The Masked Man with that damnable smirk creeping back onto his face. Halting just before the pendulum of the clock IL makes a cross with his arms, holding the pose for a moment before he disappears into the depths of the backstage.

 

“And Citizen Rickmen returns to the locker room victorious! The scores are now even!”

 

“Yes, wonderful, great. Is TMM still breathing in there? That was one hell of a bump to the head.”

 

“I would suspect so Robert, however he had better do more than breathe before his next opponent enters! It may be that the Masked Man will not be able to fend off the wooden embrace of a table!”

 

“……Please tell me you don’t make those little puns up yourself Comet.”

 

Comet’s reply dies stillborn in his throat however as the superheroes attention is jerked back to the present as the next opponent makes himself known.

 

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

 

Seven hard bassline hits echo through the arena, practically shaking the building before a pair of blinding pyros explode either side of the entranceway temporarily blinding the fans with their brightness. As the pyros die away and visions return, none other than Ace Lezaire stands at the top of the entranceway, cocky lop sided grin on his face as his long suffering personal cameraman Steve, gets his good side amid the rising boos from the fans.

 

“Introducing challenger number three! Participating in the Tables Match! Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Canada and weighing 230lbs! HE IS CANADA’S GREATEST HOPE! ACE LEZAIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

The fans have no uncertainties on where their feelings are now, heaping abuse on the cocky youngster as he begins his walk down the aisle, Ace remains completely unfazed by such a negative reaction waving and grinning at the increasingly irate fans either side of him as he approaches the ring.

 

“Now this is an interesting pairing wouldn’t you say Robert?”

 

“Indeed it is, but we knew it was going to happen at some point in the match.”

 

“Well the good Citizens don’t like either one of them but I’m sure they are hoping for a Citizen Lezaire victory to further tip the balance against the Masked Man!”

 

“That might just happen Comet, TMM has hardly moved since IL left.”

 

As Ace nears the ring, the Masked Man is slowly beginning to come back to his senses, pushing himself slowly up to his knees as his hands go to his masked head, hardly noticing Eddy Long sliding the remnants of the chairs out of the ring. The young superstar finally reaches the ring looking at the still sluggish masked Man for a moment before he quickly lifts the ring cover and searches underneath, removing a table moments later. With Steve moving out of the way camera still rolling, Ace unfolds the table legs before flipping it onto its feet, positioning it close to the apron at the mouth of the aisle before he leaps up onto the apron. A quick glance into the ring shows Ace that the Masked Man has finally regained his feet, forgoing his usual pose the young superstar grabs the top rope Springboarding himself into the ring and sending the Masked Man back to the canvas with a hard Missile Dropkick to the back of the head as Eddy Long quickly signals the Time Keeper once more.

 

“Citizen Lezaire is wasting no time at all!”

 

“That’s because he’s smart Comet, if you can surprise your opponent you DO it!”

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ace’s cocky smile almost grows into a sneer as the Masked Man falls back to the canvas with all the grace of a sack of potatoes, the fans continue to boo and jeer at both men, no love lost between either of them as Canada’s Greatest Hope begins to pull TMM back up to his feet. The Masked Man sways slightly as he is put back onto his feet only making Ace grin wider at the battered state of his opponent, Canada’s Greatest Hope grabs an arm and Irish Whips TMM into the ropes.

 

“The Masked Man’s out on his feet Robert!

 

The Masked Man doesn’t resist as he is hurled towards the ropes, bouncing off of them and heading straight towards the younger superstar, as Ace leaves his feet however life snaps back into TMM and he deftly ducks a pair of boots, putting the brakes on as Ace Lezaire spins in midair and lands on his feet after the missed Dropsault. Before the confused Great Hope can turn around The Masked Man kicks him squarely between the legs, Steve dutifully recording the impact from the front before Ace groans in agony, both hands clutching at his damaged parts as he instinctively doubles over.

 

“Hahaha! Not quite as out as you might think Comet!”

 

The Masked Man wastes no time, grabbing Ace from behind and executing a quick Atomic Drop adding further insult to injury before he snaps on an inverted face lock dropping down to one knee and crunching the young superstars upper spine against his knee. Keeping hold of his opponent TMM pulls Ace back up by the head, turning on his heel and dropping Canada’s Greatest Hope back to the mat with a swift Neckbreaker. The Masked Man rolls across the ring and under the bottom rope to the floor, one hand pressing against his temple as the bells are obviously still ringing inside, before he searches under the ring once more, recovering a pair of tables from beneath the gloom.

 

“The Masked Man has to work fast here Comet. Blood Money has put Ace down for the moment but he’s far too fresh to stay down for long.”

 

“Added to that, The Masked Man still seems to be feeling the effects of Citizen Rickmen’s Goregasm.”

 

The Masked Man quickly slides the tables into the ring before he moves around the squared circle to the table that Ace set up during his entrance, just as he is about to lift the table a boot to the back of the head gives him a painful reminder that Ace Lezaire is still up and about. Reaching through the ropes, Lezaire half drags TMM back up onto the apron, the Masked Man tries to retaliate with a punch but it misses as Ace ducks and drives a shoulder into the gut of the masked superstar. Ace takes two steps back before he runs at his opponent leaping clear over his bowed head, hands grabbing for TMM’s legs as he tries for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb through the table.

 

Tragically for Ace the Masked Man is too wily to be caught unawares, the masked superstar wrapping his arms tightly around the ropes, remaining immobile as Ace Lezaire crashes tailbone first through the table and down to the floor, Steve once again in perfect position to record the crash landing.

 

“Citizen Lezaire is gone!”

 

“No he isn’t Comet. He FELL through that table all TMM did was hang on he didn’t try any kind of offensive move.”

 

The Masked Man slowly steps back into the ring as outside Ace Lezaire gets up, quickly but painfully, his tailbone having been assaulted twice in the last few minutes by an Atomic Drop and now the arena floor itself. Cockiness is replaced by the beginnings of anger as Ace slides under the bottom rope after his resourceful opponent, charging as soon as he regains his feet, right arm slicing forwards in a Clothesline. The Masked Man ducks the attempted clothesline, sending Ace hurtling into the ropes rebounding and coming back with even greater speed than before. TMM stands ready for him, charging his opponent arm extended for a Clothesline of his own, this time however luck is on Ace’s side, the young superstar jumping at his opponent, wrapping an arm his head and crunching him headfirst into the canvas with a modified Tornado DDT!

 

The Masked Man bounces off the canvas once again, the impact rattling his already rattled brain as he flops onto the canvas like a landed fish, as a quickly moving Ace Lezaire grabs one of the tables that TMM slid into the ring and drags it over. Not bothering to open the table, Ace places it folded metal legs first on top of the Masked Man, covering the masked superstar in wood and metal before moving quickly to the nearest corner. Scaling the turnbuckles with practiced ease an angry Ace Lezaire leaps off the top rope, dropping all his weight onto the middle of the table and the underlying stomach of the masked man with a huge double stomp!

 

CRUNCH!

 

“OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” shout the fans once more as the wood and metal of the table are driven into the body of the Masked Man, TMM convulsing underneath the wreckage of the table, both hands clutching his gut as his heels drum the canvas in testament to his agony.

 

“Is the Masked Man out Robert?”

 

“I’m not sure Comet. Technically HE didn’t go through the table. IT went through him!”

 

Eddy Long seems to concur with this explanation, the referee patiently explaining it to a protesting Ace Lezaire who insists that the match should be over. Lezaire finally relents, not wanting to waste anymore time as he seizes the second table, opening the legs up and quickly placing it on his feet, grabbing the Masked Man by the shirt Canada’s Greatest Hope hauls his opponent onto the tables flat surface before heading for the corner once more.

 

“Citizen Lezaire looks all set to make this contest 2 all Robert!”

 

“Yes he does Comet. I have to wonder how much longer the Masked Man will be able to keep going, taking into account the sheer amount of punishment that’s been thrown his way.”

 

Ace ascends the turnbuckles once more, a little slower this time as his tailbone protests from the blows that struck it until he perches on the top rope once more, its make or break time and both men can sense it, the thought seeping through the scattered mind of the masked man and galvanizing him into action. Nowhere near willing to quit yet TMM slides himself off of the table and hammers the ropes to dislodge his aerial opponent. Ace is no less quick off the mark, the young superstar remaining crouched on the top, hands gripping the ropes tightly as they shake thus assuring his continued stability. Unfortunately this action also leaves him wide open to attack as the Masked Man quickly proves. Taking two running steps TMM launches himself into the corner, feet landing firmly on the second rope, arms wrapping around Ace’s waist before the Masked Man launches himself backwards with all his strength.

 

Ace’s hold on the ropes is tight but not tight enough and he is plucked from his perch, flying head over heels and smashing back first right through the table!

 

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

“Wow!”

 

“Can you doubt this man now Comet? Can you?! Just when you think you have him beaten he’s shows you just how wrong you are! You’ve gotta love it!”

 

The fans however don’t love it as a rapidly rising chorus of boos fills the air as Funyon raises his microphone once more and the results board is overlaid on the Smarktron.

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen! The winner of the third fall, THE MASKED MAN!”

 

 

*************************

TABLES MATCH

 

The Masked Man defeated Ace Lezaire with a Belly To Belly Superplex.

 

The Masked Man - 2

Gauntlet Team - 1

*************************

 

 

“And we are 2 and 1 Comet! TMM only needs one more win and he’ll be walking out of 13th Hour with a lot of pride.”

 

“Well we know who the remaining opponents are Robert. Aecas and Ebony, I’m sure neither of them will want to contribute the last victory that the masked Man needs.”

 

“True, the luck of the draw doesn’t seem to be with TMM tonight. Ebony I don’t know about but having somebody like Aecas in the later stages of a match like this is always a bad thing, although there is one thing TMM can count on.”

 

“And what would that be Robert?”

 

“That he can outmaneuver that big idiot any day of the week.”

 

“Even in his current state?”

 

“Even then Comet, even then. Will somebody get the man an aspirin! Lets try and make these last two matches fair!”

 

As Comet and Riley trade words Eddy Long, with some help from the ring crew begins to clear the ring of its splintery wreckage, a disbelieving Ace Lezaire slowly exiting the ring shaking his head before making his way up the ramp. Even in defeat he has pride in himself, his cocky demeanor still showing through and still succeeding in infuriating the fans before he negotiates the pendulum and disappears backstage with Steve in tow. The Masked Man meanwhile has also left the ring, “acquiring” a bottle of water from a fan and taking several large gulps as he takes what rest he can in the short lull between the action.

 

“Well Robert next we have a random stipulation. What do you think it could be?”

 

“……Comet it could be absolutely ANYTHING. How in the name of God am I supposed to answer that?”

 

“Guess?”

 

“I don’t guess Comet, I’m a professional.”

 

“….….”

 

Funyon gets up from his seat at ringside and climbs the stairs to the apron, stepping into the ring carrying what looks like a chain, which gets a pop from the fans. He hands the mass of chain to Eddy Long before he raises his microphone to address the fans, who quiet down slightly to hear him speak.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, earlier today a stipulation was chosen by the Masked Man’s opponent and that stipulation IS A CHAIN AND COLLAR MATCH!” He raises his voice to put emphasis on the match type as Eddy Long holds aloft two spiked collars, joined to one other by a 15 ft chain, the announcement and the sight inciting a roar of approval from the fans while the Masked Man takes another gulp of water, obviously wondering just who he will be facing next.

 

“Chain and Collar match?”

 

“Well its certainly unique Robert. Joined at the neck and nowhere to hide from your opponent!”

 

“So who’s TMM against? Come on get them out here!”

 

The arena lights flicker, several of them turning green as the others drop out completely, leaving the ring and the ramp bathed in a mixture of darkness and emerald green light. As images of a knife and a glowering pair of green eyes flicker across the Smarktron, the sound of Alice Cooper's "Poison" begins to sound from the speakers, echoing over the arena as the fans eagerly await the arrival of Ebony, a few cheers already beginning over the sound of the music.

 

"Your cruel device

Your blood, like ice

One look could kill

My pain, your thrill!"

 

Black and green pyros explode across the entire length of the ramp like machinegun fire, the crowd roaring in appreciation. The sound only gets louder as the black cat suited figure of Ebony strides through the smoke. A smirk on her face as she looks left and right at the fans, winking to the ladies and flipping off the cruder males that throng the aisle as Comet and Riley not to mention the Masked Man try to make sense of the figure fast approaching them.

 

“I’m not familiar with what I’m seeing Robert…”

 

“It's a suit. It HAS to be a suit.”

 

“It doesn't look like a suit...”

 

“It's a SUIT! A very WELL DONE suit! There is no such thing as giant anthropormorphic ferret weasels!”

 

“But what about the tail? It’s moving on its own accord Robert...”

 

“SUIT!”

 

Seemingly unperturbed by the appearance of this new opponent Funyon raises his microphone once again as Ebony walks confidently to the ring.

 

“Introducing challenger number four! From Parts Unknown! Weighing 200lbs exactly! THIS…IS…EBONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

His job done Funyon exits the ring once more leaving Eddy long on his own clutching the chain and collars like a life jacket as Ebony leaps up onto the apron, stepping into the ring and mounting the nearest turnbuckle, staring out at the fans as the cheers continue to assail her from all directions, her ears flicking as some comments are clearer than others. She raises her arms, locking eyes with a pretty fan at ringside before with another wink she hops off of the ropes and turns to face Eddy Long holding out a hand for one of the collars. Long is more than happy to oblige, handing Ebony the spiked collar and stepping back out of harms way as she buckles it comfortably around her neck.

 

Her glowering eyes lock onto the form of the Masked Man outside the ring, TMM obviously wondering exactly what kind of situation he has found himself in here before Ebony crouches slowly extending a hand and beckoning to her masked opponent. As The Masked Man begins to walk up the stairs Ebony smiles, giving him some reason to pause at the sight of that mouthful of sharp teeth, refusing to back down however TMM enters the ring himself, gesturing to Eddy Long and receiving his own collar.

 

“Those teeth look extremely sharp Robert…”

 

“So do her nails. Amazing what they can do with suits these days isn’t it…” Riley says, with about as much conviction as Dr. Crippen’s defense lawyer.

 

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Rings the bell as Eddy Long motions to the time keeper for the forth time and the shrill pealing of the bell rises up into the arena once again, Ebony and the Masked Man locking eyes, both crouching slightly and beginning to circle one another. They slowly close the gap between one another, and it’s the Masked Man who makes the first move lunging forwards and wrapping his arms around Ebony’s right leg trying for a quick takedown. The ferret weasel will have none of it however, her left arm quickly trapping the Masked Man’s head in a Front Facelock as her free right hand delivers a heavy sledgehammer like punch to his kidneys. TMM’s legs almost buckle under the impact, another blow forcing him down to one knee before he grits his teeth and muscles Ebony backwards, pressing her into the ropes long enough for him to grab the second rope.

 

Eddy Long quickly demands that Ebony break the hold which she does reluctantly, Long shying away from the piercing glare she directs at him as TMM backs off a pace, rolling his neck once or twice before he lunges at Ebony once again. The two crash together for a second time, straight into a collar and elbow tie up straining at one another, the Masked Man with greater strength but Ebony with better leverage neither one gaining any leeway against the other until they break apart. TMM meets Ebony’s stare for a moment before his right hand lashes out, slapping her hard across the cheek, the volume of the impact making the crowd collectively wince.

 

“What a blatant sign of disrespect by The Masked Man!”

 

“Ha! They heard that one all the way up in the cheap seats!”

 

Ebony’s head snaps to one side from the impact before it snaps back to glare at the Masked Man, its not the only thing that snaps back as her own right hand comes up and cracks him across the face with a HARD slap of her own. TMM tries to roll with the impact, the left side of his face burning beneath the mask as he smashes another vicious slap across Ebony’s cheek, the return blow almost knocking him from his feet, sharp claws slicing the fabric of the mask before he shoves her hard, pushing the ferret weasel back a pace. Ebony merely grins at the Masked Man before they slam together in another collar and elbow tie up, locked together for barely a second before TMM takes control and locks a Side Headlock onto Ebony.

 

But as soon as the Masked Man has the hold cinched in, Ebony is pushing him backwards, ramming her opponent into a corner but TMM keeps the hold locked in strong until Eddy Long demands he break it. As TMM’s arms leave her head Ebony lunges up, smashing the hard bone of her forehead not once, but twice against the chest of the Masked Man before she rears back and rocks his world the wrong way with a NASTY Palm Strike to the temple. TMM’s head snaps back once again, he hardly has time to recover before another rough Palm Strike hits him like a hammer blow before Ebony grabs his left arm and whips him across the ring, the ferret weasel following him all the way in as he hits the corner smashing him from his feet with a vicious running Palm Strike.

 

“Citizen Ebony going with a VERY strike based style thus far Robert…”

 

“And she’s targeting that already damaged head. I can’t fault her on that Comet, TMM has been dropped on his head one too many times already and those Palm Strikes might knock him out!”

 

“His head’s dangling Robert! It might have already happened!”

 

The Masked Man is down again, slumped into the corner but he isn’t out yet, as Ebony takes a step back the Sexual Maskosaurus grabs the chain and yanks down hard, forcibly dragging the ferret weasel forwards and sending her crashing face first into the top turnbuckle. Using the ropes to physically drag himself back to his feet, TMM grabs the chain once again using it to Irish Whip Ebony back into the corner the ferret weasel hitting the turnbuckles back first. Running on nothing but adrenaline and instinct now the Masked Man snaps on a ¾ Facelock before running out of the corner, taking Ebony with him and planting her face first in the middle of the ring with a Diamond Cutter!

 

“Diamond Cutter! He got the drop on Citizen Ebony!”

 

“He’s got the leg hooked! Long do your job!”

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

THREEEEEEEEEEEE-NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Even with the element of surprise behind it, Ebony manages a strong kickout before the three, the ferret weasel too durable to succumb to such a move so quickly, shoving the Masked Man off of her. Dragging himself up once again TMM heads for the corner himself, slowly climbing up the turnbuckles until he reaches the top standing tall before he raises his arms fingers splayed out like the great Jimmy Snuka in days gone by. Springing from the top rope the Masked Man soars gracefully through the air, even managing a graceful landing as Ebony plants both knees into his guts and sends him crashing back down to the mat.

 

“Lady luck is not with the Masked Man tonight Robert!”

 

Springing lithely back to her feet Ebony stands over her downed opponent, a furious scowl on her face as TMM got the drop on her with his Diamond Cutter from the corner, sadly for the Masked Man Ebony is not one to forgive and forget, and certainly not when the offender is male. The ferret weasel stoops, carefully grabbing TMM’s legs by the ankles, lifting them up as she looks down at him an evil grin spreading across her face as she brings her right foot up and then swiftly damn stamping on the crotch of the Masked Man!

 

“OOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Go the male members of the audience, most of them wincing in sympathetic pain as Ebony merely lifts her foot up and stamps down again, to the accompanying cheers of more than a few ladies in the audience!

 

“OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“Crotch Stomping! That’s the wrong area! Its his head that’s injured not that!”

 

“Well, she did hit him in the head Robert....just not the top one...”

 

Letting go of the Masked Man’s legs in disgust Ebony walks towards the corner he so recently dove off, clambering up gracefully balancing on the top rope as she looks out at the fans, gleeful cheers still sounding all around her as she takes a backward glance at TMM’s curled up form behind her. Turning back to the fans she grins, slowly running her hands up her torso openly flaunting her sexuality to the crowd before she hurls herself backwards, body spinning through the air and crushing The Masked man into the canvas with an inverted 450 Splash!

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

“The winner of the fourth fall! EBONY!”

 

 

*************************

CHAIN AND COLLAR MATCH

 

Ebony pinned The Masked Man with “Man Is Obsolete.”

 

The Masked Man - 2

Gauntlet Team - 2

*************************

 

 

“And we are 2 and 2 Robert! Citizen Ebony ensuring that her team isn’t going to go out just yet!”

 

“We’re down to one last fall and one last opponent.”

 

“And unfortunately for the Masked man that last opponent is none other than Citizen Aecas!”

 

“The bigger they are the harder they fall Comet.”

 

“Are you sure Robert? I thought it was the bigger they are the harder they hit!”

 

Standing up slowly, Ebony unbuckles the collar from around her neck and contemptuously tosses it onto the body of The Masked Man before she raises her hands in victory getting another round of cheers and more than a few catcalls from men and women alike. The ferret weasel slingshots herself over the top rope to drop all the way to the floor landing with easy grace before she strolls casually towards the female fan that first caught her eye. Gazing at the fan for a moment Ebony asks a question which is lost to the camera due to the background noise, the woman however nods and gives a surprised cry as Ebony yanks her over the crowd barrier. The ferret weasel hefts the lady onto one shoulder and starts to walk back up the aisle, a big grin on her face as the now laughing woman waves to her friends, along for the ride of her life.

 

“Hey! She can’t do that!”

 

“Do what Robert?”

 

“Abduct fans from ringside!”

 

“It didn’t look like abduction to me Robert, it looked like the good Citizen agreed to SOMETHING.”

 

The cameras follow Ebony and her new “friend” as the ferret weasel walks calmly up the aisle, negotiating the pendulum before she disappears backstage, leaving the Masked Man to slowly sit up back in the ring. One hand moves up to unfasten the collar around his neck while the other presses against his still tender genitals, tossing the chain and the collars away from him, TMM slowly moves over to the nearest corner, leaning up against it and getting what respite he can before his final opponent emerges.

[Guest Aecas]

Two members ring crew of the ring crew emerge from backstage carrying a 20 foot ladder between them, the mere sight of which gets a respectable pop from the fans, the ring crew open the ladder up at the mouth of the aisle before retreating backstage once more. Eddy Long meanwhile hops out of the ring searching for the Masked Man’s briefcase, finally finding it next to the ring steps and sliding it into the ring, looking up the referee waits for the rope and hook to be lowered from the arena roof holding the briefcase loosely in one hand as it descends.

 

“It all comes down this now Robert, and there are two things on the line now, the match itself and the contents of that briefcase. Nobody has seen what it contains yet and I’m sure the Masked Man will want to keep whatever is in there secret!”

 

“It shouldn’t have come to this Comet and you know it. If it hadn’t been for IL this match would have been over a long time ago with the Masked Man winning in three straight falls. THAT’S what should have happened.”

 

Eddy Long attaches the briefcase to the now lowered hook, making sure its securely fitted before he steps back and watches as it is hoisted 25 feet up into the air, TMM’s eyes are on his briefcase as well, watching it climb higher and higher as he slowly pulls himself back up, leaning against the corner knowing his final challenger can’t be far away.

 

As if on cue the arena lights shut off once again, plunging the arena into darkness and dragging one more round of cheering from the fans as a graveyard bell tolls mournfully through the darkness.

 

“Are you scared?”

 

”He's here.......”

 

Amon Amarth’s “Death in Fire” blasts out from the arena speakers, red lights begin to strobe around the arena, like an alarm system gone wrong - or a system that is warning of imminent carnage. Thick smoke boils up from the entranceway, filling the air and carpeting the floor, a blood red spotlight picks out Aecas as he stands deep in the depths of the smoke, an eerie silhouette will a large staff in his right hand.

 

Aecas slowly raises the staff above his head holding it high with both hands. A long wicked blade snaps forth from the staff as Aecas tips his head back spraying a mist of blood into the air, inciting a roar of approval from the crowd as he begins to stride down the aisle.

 

“And introducing challenger number five! He Hails from Shrewsbury, England and weighs in at 315lbs! THE BLACK ANGEL! AECAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“And Citizen Aecas is certainly getting a warm reception tonight Robert!” Comet states as the Black Angel slowly makes his way around the ring, ignoring the Masked Man for the time being as he moves towards the time keeper’s table. The seven footer places his Flick Scythe reverently against the table, before he turns and walks past the announcer’s position. The giant grins at Comet and Riley with bloody teeth as he heads towards the squared circle, leaping up onto the apron and stepping through the ropes and into the ring.

 

The Masked Man remains in his corner, his head turning to face his huge opponent, having watched him all the way down to the ring as Funyon lowers his mic and sits back down, and referee Eddy Long steps into the center looking up to check the brief case is hanging secure above the ring before he checks the position of both men. Satisfied that nothing will start until he says so Long turns towards the time keeper and signals him to start the match which he dutifully does.

 

 

DING! DING! DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

As the bell rings the Masked Man charges out of the corner at his giant opponent, the two men collide in the middle of the ring straight into a collar and elbow tie up, both men straining against one another but Aecas’ greater strength quickly begins to tell in the uneven contest. The giant breaks the tie up quickly, wrapping one huge arm around the head of the Masked Man and drawing him in close with a Side Headlock. TMM reacts quickly, pushing Aecas back into the ropes and using all his strength shoots him off across the ring, the ring ropes bending alarmingly as the Black Angel rebounds and runs full tilt across the ring. The Masked Man ducks under a huge Lariat attempt by Aecas, whipping around to face the big man as he rebounds from the ropes a second time.

 

The Black Angel comes off of the ropes and gets knocked straight down as the Masked Man counters with a textbook Dropkick, catching Aecas high in the chest. Aecas is quick to get back to his feet, but the Masked Man is faster, pouncing on his opponent from behind and latching his arms around the giants middle in a solid waistlock. Aecas is quick to counter this latest threat however, snapping an elbow back into TMM’s masked face before he drops to one knee. Both hands come up to latch onto the head of the Masked Man, hauling him down over the giants shoulder and down to the canvas with a quick Snapmare. The Masked Man is quickly back up to his feet locking eyes with Aecas as the two men share a brief standoff, the Black Angel starting to pace the ring as the fans begin to warm up to the final segment of the match.

 

“A short burst of action there did not produce any decisive results for either of these two men Robert.”

 

“And if the Masked Man wants to win this he’s going to have to get this fall over with quickly, Aecas is stronger and equally as quick as TMM so he’s going to have to improvise.”

 

Aecas stops pacing after a moment and the two men square off for a second time, this time however the Masked Man ducks underneath Aecas’ questing arms and slips behind his giant opponent, once again latching on a waistlock. Aecas once again jams an elbow backwards into the head of the Masked Man, a second hard elbow follows loosening the grip just enough for the Black Angel to spin around and try for another Lariat, but TMM ducks once again. Both men spin around to face the other, the Masked Man lashing out with a booted foot kicking Aecas squarely in the gut. The kick has the desired effect as it doubles Aecas over leaving him wide open for TMM, the masked superstar doesn’t waste the opportunity, stepping in close and wrapping an arm around the head of his massive opponent.

 

A split second before the Masked Man can hit a DDT two massive hands latch onto his legs and Aecas straightens up quickly, easily lifting the struggling TMM into the air and onto his right shoulder. TMM struggles for a brief moment before Aecas yanks down hard on his legs, catapulting the smaller man backwards and slamming him backfirst into the canvas with a huge Spinebuster. Grabbing his opponent by his masked head Aecas drags TMM back up to his feet Irish Whipping the smaller man into the ropes and leveling him on the rebound with a teeth loosening Lariat.

 

“Decapitator!” Crows Comet as the Masked Man slams into the mat.

 

Aecas ignores his downed opponent moving to the ropes and stepping out of the ring all the way down to the floor, yanking up the ring cover the Black Angel begins to drag out the recognizable shapes of wooden tables, three of them to be exact, followed by a steel chair that he slides into the ring. Working quickly he opens the legs up on each of the tables and sets them up, placing two of them side by side on the bare floor and then positioning the third on top before he slides back into the ring. Dragging TMM back to his feet once more, Aecas makes a quick throat cutting motion before he easily lifts the Masked Man up into a Military Press as if he weighed no more than a feather.

 

“Mother F ‘n’ Bomb! If Citizen Aecas hits this its all over!”

 

“And we can all see where he intends to hit it! Come on TMM! You’re not beaten yet!” Riley cries out as Aecas runs towards the ropes poised to hurl the Masked Man into a splintery hell. But the throw never comes as the Masked Man wriggles out of Aecas’ grasp at the last moment landing on his feet behind his giant opponent and taking a page from Ebony’s book kicks him squarely in the crotch. Aecas lets out a shout of pain, his hands instinctively reaching for his abused genitalia before he staggers against the ropes as the Sexual Maskosaurus cracks the steel chair across the back of his head. Shaking his head, Aecas turns around taking another hard chair shot to the head, staggering back into a corner as the Masked Man winds the chair up one last time and denting it over the head of the Black Angel.

 

Aecas slumps into the corner, the giant pressing one hand against his forehead, the pain in his groin temporarily forgotten as the Masked Man throws the chair at him, the steel clattering off the big mans chest. The Masked Man makes his way out of the ring once again, as fast as his badly damaged body can take him, grabbing the ladder and folding it up before he slowly makes his way back to the ring sliding into the squared circle with the long ladder clutched in his hands. Aecas is slowly beginning to straighten up in the corner and the Masked Man gets back to his feet, hefting the ladder in both hands and charging at his gigantic opponent. Sadly Aecas has the same idea and with two massive steps meets the Sexual Maskosaurus in the middle of the ring smashing the ladder into the masked face of his opponent with a Yakuza Kick!

 

“Yakuza Kick! And Citizen Aecas puts more damage on the already battered head of the Masked Man!”

 

The Masked Man clutches his head with both hands from the double impact of steel and ring canvas, writhing in pain on the mat, ladder laying across his upper body as Aecas picks up the dented chair. Stepping up next to his fallen opponent the Black Angel brings the chair up and then down hard, smashing the ladder into the prone anatomy of the Masked Man.

 

CRACK!

 

CRACK!

 

CRACK!

 

CRACK!

 

“Like a Neanderthal swinging a club Comet!”

 

Kicking the ladder off of his opponent Aecas, forcibly opens the badly damaged chair and places it down, the steel rickety but standing as the Black Angel lifts up the Sexual Maskosaurus and drapes him chest first onto what’s left of the chair. Hefting the ladder next Aecas opens it up and positions it in the center of the ring, the fans becoming steadily more vocal as they sense that the end is near, the Black Angel makes as if to climb up the ladder before he grins and shakes his head pointing towards the corner nearest his opponent. The fans roar in approval as he points and the giant steps over TMM’s legs and begins to ascend the turnbuckle crouching on the top rope when he reaches it before straightening up slowly and thrusting his arms out almost in a parody of wings.

 

“We’ve seen this one before Robert! Straight out of a video game!”

 

Aecas leaps off of the top rope, both boots stamping down hard on the upper back and neck of the Sexual Maskosaurus before he crashes back to the canvas, the Masked Man flopping back down to the canvas behind him, spasming like a smashed insect.

 

“M BISON!” Comet yells gleefully as the fans erupt once again, some cheering but many just wincing as it looked as if Aecas brought his full weight down on the spine of the Masked Man. Aecas pushes himself back to his feet from his own less than graceful crash landing before he moves to the ladder placing one foot on the bottom rung and beginning his ascent.

 

“Here we go Robert! Its time for us to find out what the Masked Man keeps in his briefcase!”

 

“He can’t do this! That’s an invasion of privacy I’m sure of it!”

 

The fans cheers rise with the Black Angel as he gets higher and higher, closer and closer to his goal, the cheers filling the ears of the Masked Man as he looks up and sees Aecas climbing towards his brief case. The sight of victory slipping from his grasp forces the Masked Man to move his tired body, one hand reaching out and grabbing the bottom rung of the ladder, the other grabbing the second as the masked superstar desperately claws at the steel, if he can just tip the balance he can win…he can win…

 

…but time is not on his side and as he drags himself up to his knees, Aecas reaches the top of the ladder large hands reaching out and after a moments fiddling with the hook the Black Angel removes the briefcase from its perch.

 

 

DING! DING DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

“Ladies and gentleman! The winner of the final fall and securing victory for his team! THE BLACK ANGEL! AECAS!!!!!!!!!!” Shouts Funyon as the crowd explodes once again, Aecas holding the briefcase high as he slowly begins to make his way back down the ladder the fans eager to see what might lie inside the briefcase.

 

 

*************************

LADDER MATCH

 

Aecas defeated The Masked Man.

 

The Masked Man - 2

Gauntlet Team - 3

 

WINNER: GAUNTLET TEAM

*************************

 

 

“And the forces of good triumph once more!” Comet cries happily.

 

“So it’s a good thing to invade somebody else privacy?” Riley sneers as the Masked Man slams a fist against the ladder in frustration as the knowledge that he has lost hits him. However, not willing to release his briefcase so readily TMM takes matters into his own hands, shoving all his weight against the side of the ladder with Aecas still three quarters of the way up it!

 

“What is the Masked Man thinking Robert!”

 

“Revenge Comet! Its all he needs!”

 

The ladder tilts, slowly at first but with the extra weight of the Black Angel making it top heavy it quickly topples over, dropping Aecas out of the ring and through the three tables in an explosion of splinters!

 

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

The fans explode as the huge body smashes the tables into kindling wood before smacking against the hard floor of the outside, boos and cheers vie for dominance with another fecal chant as the cameras display the wooden wreckage at ringside. Aecas lays amidst the broken tables, a pained expression crossing his face as he struggles to move the briefcase lying forgotten next to him. Amidst the new wave of vitriol directed against him the Masked Man slowly rolls out of the ring, snatching up his briefcase and bringing his right foot down hard against the head of the Black Angel as Aecas tries to reach for the “prize” that was denied him.

 

“Robert I’m speechless!”

 

“I wish you were!”

 

"Misirlou" by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones hits the speakers once again, barely audible over the boos of the fans as the Masked Man begins to make his way up the aisle as quickly as his battered body will allow him. Back at ringside a large hand grabs the crowd barrier, swiftly followed by another as Aecas forcibly drags his protesting body up, leaning heavily against the heavy barrier, blanks eyes looking at the departing Sexual Maskosaurus with undisguised hostility. TMM looks over his shoulder, the sight merely spurring him on with greater urgency, briefcase clutched to his chest with one arm he carefully negotiates his way past the pendulum and into backstage.

 

“Citizen Aecas won the match Robert but he may have lost the war tonight.”

 

“Well boo hoo Comet, he shouldn’t have tried to steal the Sexual Maskosaurus briefcase then should he?!”

 

“But that was part of the match…”

 

“Rubbish Comet, Aecas was being nosy and he got his comeuppance for it.”

 

“Nevertheless I don’t think Citizen Aecas is going to forget that fall in a hurry.”

 

Pushing himself away from the crowd barrier Aecas finally begins to move, but with a noticeable limp, one hand pressed against the small of his back, the normally impassive face twisted into a grimace as he slowly makes his way around the ring to the time keepers table. "Misirlou" fades away and “Death in Fire” starts up as Aecas retrieves his Scythe, the Black Angel beginning to slowly make his way up the aisle like the Masked Man before him. The claps and cheers of the fans sound in his ears, and for a moment a smile cuts through the pain as he continues up the aisle, he pauses just before the clock turning around and slowly raising his Scythe in salute to the SWF fans before he too disappears backstage.

 

“Well Citizens we saw it all in that match! The Masked Man started out strong but ran into trouble in the form of Citizen IL, surprise worked for him against Citizen Lezaire but he was pipped to the post by Citizen’s Ebony and Aecas!”

 

“An injustice Comet. Plain and simple, TMM should have had this match on a plate but IL, Ebony and Aecas had to be stubborn about it. And it was Aecas who paid the price wasn’t it? I hope he knows the number of a good chiropractor, either that or a plumber after that fall.”

 

“Indeed! We have to take a quick break now Citizen’s but we shall be back before you know it! And what a line up we still have left for you!”

 

“Coming up next the USJL Title is on the line as Landon Maddix and Alan Clark battle it out for our pleasure. These two men are certainly no strangers to one another, they’ve been beating the crap out of one another from the JL onwards and tonight they are going to settle their differences for what is likely the last time. For two men who know each other so well a standard match just wouldn’t do, so coming up next we have Maddix Vs. Clark in a 60 minute Iron Man Match!”

 

“And the fun doesn’t stop there Citizens! After that grueling match we get to see the final installment in the Best of Five series between Citizens Flesher and Night! There have been surprises and perhaps even upsets in this series and like the Five Wounds Match moments ago the scores are tied, stay tuned to find out who will emerge victorious from this epic conflict!”

 

“And last but certainly not least we have Danny Williams defending the SWF Title against the “Hell Machine” himself Janus. This is the biggest opportunity Janus has had yet and you can be sure he’s not going to waste it.”

 

“That’s right Robert! We’ve had a great show and it just keeps getting better by the minute! See you after the break Citizens!”

[Guest Aecas]

Whoops missed the losing match thread Danny put up. My faulf for trying to post things when i'm barely awake.

 

*goes to find coffee*