GENESIS V

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The following is a presentation of the Smartmarks Wrestling Federation...

 

We fade in from a black screen on a view of the glassy Genesis V set, with the camera situated at the bottom of the ramp. From here, we can see everything: the smooth, red carpet leading to the ring; the glassy busts of various SWF legends; and the large canvas paintings of various historic moments from Genesis past. The large orchaestra pit is empty, the two large SWFtrons on either side of the stage are black, and the entire Rose Bowl appears to be empty.

 

The camera closes up on one of many canvas still shots that line the entrnaceway of the stadium. This is a picture indellibly etched into the minds of all SWF patrons, though buried under five years of history. With the flashbulbs all over the arena shown capturing the moment in time, a bloodied PDS scoop slams NTD off the stage of the very first Genesis.

 

"It was a crazy idea. The IGNWF's innagural PPV was a gamble, an everything-or-nothing that would either catapault the federation into the mainstream or send it crashing back into a sea of nameless, faceless federations. It was overbudget, undermanned, and came on late... and needless to say, by the time it left the airwaves, this upstart league of wrestlers was the new power in the industry.

 

No match was more memorable, or arguably, influential than Pimp Daddy Sarp's frenzied battle with former world champion and reigning Intercontinential-Television champion NTD. In a bloody stairway to hell match, the crowd was roused, and then became electric as the most famous spot of the match occured when Sarp threw NTD off the stage. PDS would win the ICTV, and the start of a incredible career began. Some say, if you listen close enough... you can still hear those fans chanting his name."

 

And then, Funyon steps through the curtain, his face matched to the familiar voice over. We zoom in on him, wearing a suit, holding a microphone in his hand as always. He looks at the camera and begins to speak.

 

"History has a funny way of repeating itself. And the echoes of names chanted in the pass will cross with the new-age legends showcased tonight."

 

He begins walking down the ramp, and as he walks we can see him passing various glass sculptures and paintings. He seems to ignore them, for now.

 

"In, oh... three minutes, you, the viewer, are going to be watching the biggest event of the wrestling year. This event is the Super Bowl, the World Series, and Barnum and Bailey's Circus all in one. Ladies and gentlemen, we are... two minutes and forty-seven seconds away from Genesis V."

 

Funyon grins as he hits the bottom of the ramp. "Let's take that time to reminisce, shall we?"

 

Funyon turns to face the large crystal statue at the end of the ramp, looking up at the huge first champion of the SWF: Rane.

 

"If there was one man who embodies all the qualities of SWF Genesis, it would be Rane. He was a larger-than-life figure in the early SWF, the first-ever champion of the SWF, and a man who paved the way for all of the SWF superstars to come. Surely he would get swamped in today's SWF, but for his time period he was a trailblazer. His influence will never be forgotten in the SWF, and it could be said that there is nobody who quite compares to him."

 

Funyon turns, walking back up the ramp, stopping at a crystalline bust of a dreadlocked man: the Wildchild.

 

"I know, I know, some of you are questioning Wildchild's place as a legend here," Funyon says. "But as we all know, Wildchild played a very integral part in bringing the SWF's Cruiserweight division back. People had left the Light-Heavyweight belt for dead, but it was Wildchild who brought it back to the forefront. One could say that it was because of Wildchild bringing back such a prized piece of SWF gold that you'll be seeing, tonight, Spike Jenkins v. the Birdman v. Ryan Dustin, in a triple-threat ladder match for the SWF Cruiserweight championship. But enough about him; let's continue, shall we?"

 

Funyon continues his walk up the ramp, stopping at a large still shot of Genesis III, and what else but the famed Chris Raynor/Edwin MacPhisto match. Specifically, it's a portrait of Raynor being thrown through the E in Genesis. Funyon stops, eyeing it carefully before continuing to speak.

 

"Some people's careers are remembered exclusively for what occured on this stage. One could say that this is the case of Chris Raynor, who is remembered for his violent match with Edwin MacPhisto here at Genesis III. It was this match that ended his career until, ironically enough, this very show. However, no matter what happens tonight, it is safe to say that this was the biggest moment of Chris Raynor's career; having his neck broken and career ended at Genesis III. The same may be said, after tonight, for John Duran, who walks into tonight a beaten shell of the man who was an SWF World Champion. His neck may be gone, and his glory days are definitely in the past, but tonight he has a chance to make one final stand against an opponent none of us know about. Will he end up like Chris Raynor?"

 

Funyon continues on, and this time he stops next to a large crystalline statue of two men: Judge William Hearford and Ejiro Fasaki, the incomprable tag team known as Justice and Rule.

 

"And some people are not remembered for what they did by themselves, but what they did with the help of another. Such is the case of these two men, collectively known as Justice and Rule. Long considered the greatest Tag Team champions of all time, there has never really been a team that could compare to them. Tonight, however, that may change. Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez, the team known as Hollywood Boulevard, recently eclipsed the record held by these two men for longest title reign, and tonight they will put those titles on the line against "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis. Will we see a crystalline bust of Hollywood Boulevard instead of Justice and Rule next year, or will they be exposed as nothing more than second-best?"

 

Funyon continues on, but he stops in front of... nothing? He begins to speak once more.

 

"And then, there are some things that have never been attempted before, even at Genesis. Tonight, we will see "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis both compete in two title matches tonight. If even one of them managed to leave the Rose Bowl with two championships, it would be the first time someone held two belts after a Genesis event. If both of them managed to pull it off, then it would be even more incredible. Nobody would ever call "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins or Sean Davis a legend... but if they can leave Genesis tonight winning all three of their matches, people might begin to change their minds."

 

Funyon continues his walk, stopping in front of another still. This one is of El Luchadore Magnifico, his body on top of Chris Wilson's, whose hands are nailed to the mat by Mexican flags.

 

"Every year, Genesis brings out the worst in some people. Previously, Genesis II was the highwater mark for this, when El Luchadore Magnifico won his first World Championship by nailing Chris Wilson to the mat. Tonight, however, we may see something even more brutal, as Manson and Max King lock up inside a steel cage, with submissions being the only means of victory. Genesis has seen just about every stip ever dreamt up, but this one, dubbed Caged Fury, will be making its Genesis debut. We've seen people nail others to the mat to force them to submit... what will it take tonight?"

 

Funyon walks even further, stopping in front of another glass statue, a proud man holding a baseball bat behind his back: "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens.

 

"Mark Stevens is the only person competing tonight that will have the honor of walking past his own glass statue, and with good measure. Mark Stevens was one of the founding members of the SWF version of the Midnight Carnival, he was a two-time SWF World champion, an SWF ICTV champion, and two-time SWF Tag Team champion. Grand Slam Mark Stevens had done it all in this federation, and that's why he announced his retirement nearly two years ago."

 

Funyon sighs. "However, fate dealt Mark a bad hand, and he was forced to return to the ring earlier this year as a result of the Suicide King's overworded contracts. Tonight, Mark Stevens enters the ring having lost several matches in a row, and with his legend tarnished to a new generation of SWF fans. Tonight, the odds are stacked against him as he teams up with Landon 'La Cucaracha' Maddix and a mystery third person against the Suicide King, 'The Superior One' Tom Flesher, and 'the' Chris Raynor. The Suicide King is hell-bent on making sure that Mark Stevens is exposed as a fraud, and looking at the matchup here, King's will may become reality. In another man's last stand, will Maddix and Stevens be able to rise up against seemingly insurmountable odds?"

 

Funyon walks on once more, stopping at the top of the ramp between two huge crystalline statues. One is of Edwin MacPhisto; the other is of Cyclone Comet.

 

"These two men have long been regarded as the biggest heroes in the history of the SWF. Comet was one of the greatest talents in the SWF's early years, despite never winning an SWF World championship, his influence need not be brought up. Edwin has been called one of the greatest SWF Champions of all time, and is certainly considered one of the greatest talents ever. Both men had a talent for making people rally behind them at every turn."

 

"Tonight, one man has a chance to cement his reputation next to these two men. Johnny Dangerous finds himself the most unlikeliest champion of all time, defeating the cocky Toxxic in Toxxic's own open challenge to win the SWF World Championship. Tonight, the two men will lock up again, with the SWF Championship on the line. Johnny Dangerous finds himself at a crossroads. He could wind up two ways; he could become the next TNT, picking up one incredible win for the belt before losing it just as quickly... or he could end up as the next Edwin MacPhisto, a hero for all time."

 

Funyon walks through the curtain, and O Fortuna begins to play gently in the background as we fade to black. Funyon, however, continues speaking.

 

"Tonight is a night where legends can be born..."

 

Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis appear on screen.

 

"... and can be killed like nothing."

 

"Grand Slam" Mark Stevens and Suicide King appear now.

 

"Tonight is a night where careers can be shot to the stratosphere..."

 

Candace, Andrea Montgomery, Danny Dagda and Jamie Drazon appear on screen.

 

"... or ended in the blink of an eye."

 

Manson, John Duran and Max King appear on screen.

 

"Champions..."

 

Johnny Dangerous, Todd Cortez and Mike Van Siclen appear on screen.

 

"... and challengers..."

 

Toxxic, Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis appear now.

 

"... fight like there is no tomorrow."

 

A clip of Johnny Dangerous with an MI Slam on Toxxic!

 

"For some, we can see the story ending..."

 

Landon Maddix and Chris Raynor appear on screen.

 

"... and for some, it's merely the..."

 

GENESIS

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Card:

 

MAIN EVENT

SINGLES MATCH

WORLD TITLE BOUT

Johnny Dangerous© vs Toxxic

And so it all comes down to this. The biggest show of the year. The end of the SWF's callender. The most important match of the year. Genesis is ending and a beginning, a point of change for the SWF, although this does not always mean that titles will change hands. The fed is always drastically different after its flagship PPV, often the very following Storm, and this does not look to change in its fifth installment. People, places, directions can differ entierly. There isn't much that needs to be said about Toxxic and Johnny Dangerous -- the story of the fastest rising star in federation history and perhaps the most unlikely champion in federation history is well documented. It needs not to be recounted. Both men know that the greatest prize the SWF has to offer is on the line here, under the brightest lights that can be mustered. Who wins here will undoubtedly influence the SWF for the rest of the year, and the effects of Genesis V will ripple through it forever. To them, there may only seem to be the ring, the belt, and the two competitors. But the future this match shapes... is now.

 

HANDICAP MATCH

The Suicide King, "The Superior One" Tom Flesher and Chris Raynor vs "Grand Slam" Mark Stevens, Landon "La Cucaracha" Maddix...

With more carooms and bounces like a spastic pinball on speed, the story involving Mark Stevens' bizarre forced comeback to the SWF has taken its final hairpin turn at 120mph. Frustrated with his general lack of success in destroying his former friend's career and life once and for all, the Suicide King has pulled out all the stops -- The Superior One, King's strongest ally, is by his side, and the Heartbreaker has gone so far to invite former JL commissioner and fellow sympathizer Chris Raynor to aid his cause, a somewhat ironic choice considering their past discressions. Never the less, the odds are overwhelmingly against Grand Slam and his new friend, Landon Maddix... though all hope isn't lost. Benevolently, Mark has been offered the chance to make it into a six-man-tag team match, provided he can find another willing participant. However, his list of comrades is thin, and the Suicide King has made certain that if Mark Stevens goes now, he goes with the biggest bang possible on the biggest stage in the federation. Does the old Carnie still have a few tricks up his sleeve? Or is it all set to end in one last, hellish carnival mockery? Step right up...

 

CANADIAN DEATH MATCH

USJL CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

Ace Lezaire© vs David Cross

In the past, the US title has been renamed may countless times. This not the first time it's been won by a wrestler of the Canadian origin and then immediately renamed to better represent their home country, and if this revived tradition continues, it may not be the last. "Canada's Greatest Export," Ace Lezaire, is the proud champion of his nation, and be damned if he isn't going to defend its belt in the match that it was made for! ...nevermind that Zenon got cute and decided that if Ace was going to have six of one, he might as well have a half-dozen of another.

 

TAG TEAM TITLE BOUT

Hollywood Boulevard© vs Revolution Zero

No-one can deny that Sean Davis and Spike Jenkins have guts, but whether they have any brains is another matter entierly. Spike and Sean, despite being embroiled in seperate title matches earlier in the card, have elected to also face the reigning tag team champions as well! Truly a Genesis worthy effort, and spectacle that will go down as one of the most oustanding ever should they succeed even only here. However, much easier said than done: Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez have dethroned the incomprable Justice & Rule for the longest reigning tag team champions in federation history, and show no signs of loosening their white-knuckled grip on the belts anytime this century.

 

SINGLES MATCH

"The Notorious" John Duran vs ???

John Duran, the once proud, powerful and determined SWF champion has failed to show that spark since his return, only displaying the same fizzle that followed right after his world title win. Frustrated at his inability, Duran walks into Genesis almost certainly unlikely to see the main event again any time soon... however, he has been provided with a most intriguing matchup, one in which the commissioner was not letting a slip of the tongue happen. The ???-man collects his apperance fee at another SWF PPV, as the Notorious One tries to collect himself for one last stand.

 

CAGED FURY

Manson vs Max King

These two men have been on a crash-course destined for GV from the momenet they traded the USJL title. Although neither of them currently hold any gold, it is no matter, as there's still no love lost between the two of them. A motivated Manson has looked to be a pretty scary thing, as he's coming off the most successful weeks of his career and obviously intends to push King out of the way, once and for all. However, King's goals are no different, as putting Manson away here could do wonders for his rising career. However... the choice of stipulation may have been a slight miscue for Max, as the lovely and highly versetaile Kelly Connelly has been rendered almost irrelevent by the steel this match takes place in. Can King survive an onslaughted locked in against the powers of MANSONOSITY!? It's the rage... in the CAGE!

 

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

Sean Davis© vs Austin Sly

Revolution Zero's muscle department is in a bit of pickle. Mainly, he's double booked, defending one title and trying for another -- worse yet, his tag partner has almost exactly the same plans laid out. Never the less, Davis remains unflaggingly confident in his abiliy to not only walk into Genesis and win two matches, but to walk out with one MORE piece of gold than he entered with. The good news for Austin Sly is that Davis' psyche may not be as collected as it seems. The bad news is that either way, he's still going to face him fresh.

 

BATTLE ROYALE

Candace vs Danny Dagda vs Andrea Montgomery vs Jamie Drazon

These four have a tough act to follow, but should no doubt have the motivation and eagerness to make an impact! As their placement on the card and general success over the last month has varied, so does the reward for this match, leaving it a very lucrative offer. The last person remaining in the ring will be allowed to cash in on a shot at ANY title in the fed, including the world or tag team (provided they can find a partner). A Genesis sized offer indeed!

 

LADDER MATCH

CRUSERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

Ryan Dustin vs "Hollywood" Spike Jenkins vs The Birdman

A former champion. A 'washed up' old spot monkey. A mysterious, yet insanely talented lightweight. All three of these men come from distinctly different backgrounds, with distinctly different motives. Never the less, they share one important thing in common: Above all else, they value the cruserweight title, and they will kick off the biggest show of the year with a high-flying shootout. To futher make these three at home, the only thing that seperates them from the gold belt so rudely stripped from Tom Flesher's waist? Sixteen feet; one aluminum ladder or amazing leap from being called champion. Birdman may have fresher legs and Hollywood faster reflexes, but Ryan Dustin knows one thing: You're only as old as you feel.

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The camera comes up on the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, seated in a semi-pit, wind, procussion, and string sections lying in wait, while the conductor stands at the ready, before slowly nodding his head to the crowd and raising his wand...

 

"O Fortuna

velut luna

statu variabilis,

semper crescis

aut decrescis;

vita detestabilis

nunc obdurat

et tunc curat

ludo mentis aciem,

egestatem,

potestatem

dissolvit ut glaciem."

 

The camera stays on the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, while they continue to play Carl Orff's 'O Fortuna', cellos, bases and violins waft out the classic tune, backed up by the light tone's of flutes, obows and horns -- finally coming to a magnificent cresendo!

 

"Welcome loyal citizens; I, CYCLOOOOOOONE Comet, along-side, Robert Riley, present to you, an event without parallel!" shouts Comet, as the camera comes up on the announce both. "A Smarks Wrestling Federation Pay-per-view Extravaganza, the likes of which, never seen before! The culmination of our year in professional wrestling, when everything starts anew! And after the opening you citizens just witnessed all I can say is... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you:

 

GENESIS FIVE!"

 

The audience lets' loose a monsterous scream of excitement, mixed with anticipation for the biggest event of the year. Cyclone Comet's eyes go wide and he turns to his annouce partner, while bringing his right hand up to his headset, pushing it closer to his ear. The cheering continues -- not losing any steam -- while Comet's cohort in commentary bliss, Bobby Riley, tries to give him a look that says: 'yeah, this is Genesis, what the hell were you expecting?'. But, even Bobby can't hide the smile that slowly creeps across his face, even as the long ovation begins to die down.

 

"We are, live, from the sold out Rose Garden in Pasadena, California and Robert," begins Comet, yelling over the reminates of that huge ovation, "did you hear the tremendous--no, what an unbelievable ovation from this filled to capacity, California crowd!"

 

Riley just nods his head, as if trying to prove he expected this racous and wild response, but his eyes light up, none-the-less. "Come on, Comet, this is Genesis in a nutshell! Having called this event for the past two years, let me tell you, nothing and I mean nothing compares to the response that this event garners!"

 

"We have a jam packed super-card, so lets' run it down for the home audience, once again, Robert. A four person, over the top rope BATTLE ROYALE between Candace, newcomer Danny Dagda, Andrea Montgomery and the King of Hardcore Jamie Drazon!"

 

"The winner there gets a shot at the belt of their choosing! Even the World title! And Sean Davis defends the Hardcore championship against the number one contender Austin Sly! But that ain't all he's doing tonight, Comet. Revolution Zero's out for gold!"

 

"True, Robert, but we'll get to that in a moment. Don't forget, Manson and Max King settle differences that have been simmering for months now. There will be no interference in this one, as a fifteen foot high steel cage seperates them from anyone else."

 

"No disqualification, over the top or pin-falls to save someone here. Somebody's gonna tap! It's rage in the cage, Comet, in the aptly named Caged Fury match!"

 

"In addition, John Duran faces a mystery opponent, in what is rumored to possibly be his last match. If the rumors are true, can the former World Champ finish on a high note and defeat his unknown opponent."

 

"And as noted earlier by Robert, Spike Jenkins and Sean Davis of Revolution Zero, will attempt to do the unthinkable, battling twice in one night! Each have other affairs, but they battle here in tag team action, against Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez, Hollywood Boulevard!"

 

"In one of the most unique stipulation matches ever created, number one contender David Cross challenges United Sta--" Bobby lets loose a not so subtle cough, interrupting Comet. "--excuse me, the cocky Canadian champion, Ace Lezaire in a Canadian Deathmatch!"

 

"I still remember the debut of that stip. MacPhisto flipped his friggin' lid trying to win that one... that's when he officially started down the path that caused him to break Chris Raynor's neck."

 

"A fact that leads us into this match, Robert. Chris Raynor, inbittered and fueled by dreams of his chance in the main event stolen from him, has made a deal with the devil. He seemingly reluctantly assists the Superior One and Gambling man, who have stacked the deck in their favor. Can Mark Steven and Landon Maddix overcome the odds and defeat the Suicide King, Tom Flesher and the returning Raynor in a handicap match? Is there anyone that Mark Stevens' could add to his team in a last ditch effort to swing momentum and make this match even? Or will he and Maddix step right up and brave the battle alone? Only time will tell..."

 

"Please, with Tom Flesher in his corner, how can King not win? Stevens would have to bring the devil himself to town, to pull this one out. But, all he can do is say five hail Mary's, a Hallelujah and pray for better days!"

 

"And finally, in tonights MAIN EVENT we will see Toxxic, the former World champion, challenge Johnny Dangerous in a straight up singles match to determine who will walk out of Genesis as the best this business has to offer! Will the straight-edge sensation be able to defeat Agent Dangerous or will the Las Vegas showman, under the brightest lights of them all, hoist the belt high into the sky, for one more night!"

 

Riley snorts at that last comment, but Comet ignores him and continues. "Which brings us back to the opening match on tonights card! It's a matter of respect, for a belt and division that was disrespected by Tom Flesher. Now, three men look to climb the ladder of success and proudly proclaim themselves the Smarks Wrestling Federation Cruiserweight Champion! The title has been hoisted sixteen feet high and someone must retrieve it. It's Ryan Dustin versus Spike Jenkins versus the Birdman... in a LADDER MATCH!"

 

"And it's happening, right now!"

 

The camera zooms in on a twenty foot ladder, placed near the entrance in the middle of the aisle and pans away, slowly, giving a good view of the ladder, glass opening and crystalline busts. Funyon, the SWF master of cerimonies, clears his throat and then speaks. "The following contest is a LADDER match, for the Smarks Wrestling Federation WORLD Cruiserweight Championship!"

 

The crowd pops at the stress placed on 'ladder' and turns to the glass entrance, wondering just who will enter first...

 

 

 

A Pause.

 

 

 

"LEEET'S GET RETARDED... IN HEEEEEEEEERE!"

 

 

The Pasadena fathiful rise out of their seats in excitment as the Black Eyed Peas 'Let's Get Retarded' plays:

 

 

"And the base keeps runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and..."

 

With each 'runnin' stated, the crowds cheering gets louder and louder, as on all four sides of the canopy, the ginormous jumbotron televisions fire up, flashing highlite after highlite of the High-flying fowl soaring through the air; hitting hurricanrana's, body splashes, twisting presses, and the Bird dropping, all interspersed with his patented 'cawing'!

 

"In this context, there's no disrespect -- so, when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks!"

"We got five minutes for us to disconnect -- from all intellect collect the rhythm effect!"

 

And the Birdman makes his way through the curtain, flapping his wings, in a multi-colored outfit of black, gray and white, eerily similar to the valley quail, native of California and state bird. The crowds cheering tops out as the Birdman plays to them, but he suddenly slows and stares up at the large ladder placed directly in front of him. Birdy, stoic for only a moment, continues his pre-match routine and plays to the crowd again, while moving under the ladder.

 

"Introducing first, making his way to the ring--from parts unknown, weighing in tonight at two hundred and nine-teen pounds, he is "The High-flying Fowl" known as... THE BIIIIIIIRD-MAN!"

 

Birdman gets to ringside and slaps 'wings' with a few fans at the barricade, taking off his plastic mask and putting it on a younger SWF fanatic in the front row. Then Birdy slides into the ring and pops up to his feet, dancing about with what some my see as nervous excitment!

 

Suddenly, the techno beats of Darude’s “Sandstorm” begin playing over the announce system, and on all four sides of the canopy, the ginormous jumbotron televisions fire up, showing a slow-motion fly by of the famous HOLLYWOOD sign, in the motion picture captial of the world. Then it quickly cuts away to Spike hitting the Bad Beat, Last Dance, Clean Living and forcing people to tap out to the Sliver Lining, interspersed with: 'Revolution 0', until...

 

 

BOOM!

 

 

…White pyrotechnics goes off on each side of the entrance. “Hollywood” Spike Jenkins appears out from the backstage area, noticably not followed by his fellow stable mate, Jet. Spike stops at the entrance, the hood of his jacket hanging low, covering half of his face, while he stares at the ground. Spike flips the hood off his head, throwing his arms out in a cocky manner for the whole world to see, looking the ladder in front of him, up and down. Spike cockily flips his middle finger out, while he strides under and past the ladder making his way down to the ring.

 

"And his opponent," announces Funyon, while the crowd boos mercilessly, "making his way to the ring--from Hollywood, California, weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty-five pounds. He is a follower of Toxxic and member of Revolution Zero! He is "Hollywood"... SPIKE JENK-IIIIIIINNS!"

 

Spike mocks the fans in the front row (particularly the kid with Birdman's mask), as he climbs up the steel steps onto the ring apron. He walks across the ring apron, wiping his feet, then proclaiming his ignorance to the fans with his arms in the air. Spike steps through the ring ropes, and peels his jacket off, tossing it to a ring attendant with little care, as he stares down the Birdman and slides into a corner.

 

 

"I'm an Ouuuuut-law!"

 

The house lights have already dropped, making the clear sky above, all the more appealing, while the oranging sun shines brightly down upon the arena. And the vocals have already hit, causing the crowd to stand up and cheer, once again, while the low key, but upbeat "Lapdance" by N.E.R.D. blares throughout the Rose Garden. Brillant strobes of white, yellow, blue and red, flash about the arena, bathing the crowd in a mutli-colored hue, shading each section like a prism...

 

"Quick on the draw -- Quick on the draw...

Something you never seen before -- never seen..."

 

On all four sides of the canopy, the ginormous jumbotron televisions fire up, showing a shadow of a figure, arms crossed, back partially to the screen, allowing all to see the interlinking R&D crosshair on his jacket. When suddenly, a bullet flies through the picture, causing the image to shatter like glass and a single spotlight flashes across crowd, making its' way to the entrance, waving back and forth in time with the hip-hop beat, then centering on a lone spot...

 

And I dare a muthafucker to come in my face!

 

And as N.E.R.D’S ‘Lap-dance’ continues, it draws Ryan Dustin through the curtain, facing the crowd – arms folded across his chest – while in a casual lean; his red cameo jacket fluttering from an unknown undercurrent. After a pause, Dustin gives the huge ladder in the middle of the walkway a look, before quickly interacting with various fans by placing them in his 'picture frame'...

 

"And their opponent," continues Funyon, after a short pause. During the pause, Dustin walks to the uuber-ladder, his eyes wandering over it, before he continues underneath and down to ringside. "Making his way to the ring--from Carson City, Nevada, weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty-eight pounds, he is "The Real Deal"... RYAN DUSSSS-TIN!" announces Funyon, while Dustin slaps hands with a few fans.

 

Ryan reaches the ring, climbing up the outside of the turnbuckle, he poses once again, sizing up a few members of the crowd on the opposite side of the ring, by placing his hands in the form of a 'picture frame' again. As if waiting for a cue, Ryan turns to the near side crowd, nodding his head to the beat...

 

"It's so real!

How I feel!"

 

...before backflipping into the ring, giving the fans a little flourish for their buck. The crowd responds to that with a sizable pop, as Ryan disgardes his jacket and glasses, then leans back into his corner, glancing at his opponents as his music fades into the background.

 

DING! DING! DING!

 

The three men stand in the ring, Jenkins and Dustin both in a corner, while Birdman stands near the middle of the ropes. They each take steps forward, tenitive at first, but more confident with each stride, until they form a loose triangle center ring, never taking their eyes of the prize. Up there, each man sees the prize they are after. The Cruiserweight title. Spike Jenkins looks down from the title and finally spots the other two competitors looking at his belt!

 

So Spike, ever the asshole, yells at them both, informing them that it is infact, his belt! "That's MY belt--hey, I'm talking to you, motherf*cker! Yeah drunk, you, and you too freak... that's my belt!"

 

Dustin breaks his gaze from the title, catching Spike's anger out of the corner of his eye and responds with: 'and I'm supposed to be belligerent'. But Birdman doesn't do anything, causing Jenkins to shout at him some more. "Hey, Birdshit! If you don't stop watching my belt--something you'll never have and start watching me, you're gonna' get knocked the f*ck out!" adds Spike, seemingly straight out of the movie 'Friday'.

 

The Birdman finally acknowledges him and then goes right back to looking at the belt. Hollywood scowls, but turns to Dustin, as if to give him a piece of his mind -- only to round on Birdy and catch the unsuspecting fowl with a superkick!

 

"You just got knocked the f*ck out!" says Spike, in true Smokey-esque fashion, adding insult to injury, while Birdman lays on the mat, in a prone position. Hollywood turns back to Ryan and points a finger in his face, reiterating his point. "You can get some of that too. It'll sober you up, real quick!

 

"Look kid, how about you get your finger out of my face," states Dustin, his voice clear and his emerald eyes fixed on Jenkins, while he shoves the finger from his face, "and stop acting like a cocky little bitch, before I slap the everlovin' taste--"

 

Slap!

 

"Citizen Jenkins, not making any friends early, Robert." notes Comet, as Ryan Dustin rubs his jaw, head turned to the right from the blow. "Well, he did just give Birdman the Last dance and bitch-slap, Dustin, like he's a professional pimp! Not the easiest way to make friends, but it sure proves who the alpha male around here is."

 

The Real Deal is easily able to move from holding his jaw, into a hard hitting punch that connects with the face of his opponent, in response! "But I don't believe citizen Dustin is going to take that assault lying down!" says Comet, indentifying correctly, that Ryan's going to hit Hollywood back. Quickly. Spike comes back with a punch to the face and Dustin takes it in stride, firing off a second one! Hollywood hits him back and the Real Deal stalls for only a second, noticing that Birdman's getting to his feet, while nailing Jenkins with a right-hand. Spike comes back again, but this time Ryan blocks Jenkins strike and blasts him with another right. And another. And another! Hollywood stumbles back into the ropes and Ryan grabs him, rapidly tossing him off in an Irish whip. Spike runs the ropes, bouncing back towards Dustin, who hits the mat, forcing Jenkins to jump over him. Hollywood tries to slow his momentum, as he spots Birdman, up and about, but Birdy bends and elevates Spike high into the air and over the top rope--no, Spike quick reflexes allow him to shoot his hands out and grasps the top cable, directing himself back towards the apron; holding on for dear life, while swinging one leg onto the small space!

 

"Whew, Spike almost took a spill to the outside." notes Riley, as Jenkins looking like he's going to fall, regains his balance, while Dustin gets to his knees. Birdy turns, sensing that his opponent didn't take the hard fall to the outside and eats a punch from Spike that spins him around. From his knees, Dustin jumps into action, charging the Birdman and staring at his left knee, but all the planning in his head is for naught as the high-flying fowl leap-frogs the charge! Ryan continues running, thinking he'll get Birdy on the rebound... blissfully unaware of Spike Jenkins pulling down the top rope, while he's wrapped in it, sending Ryan to the outside in a heap, bouncing off the apron as he goes.

 

"Heh!" chortles Riley, attempting and failing to cover up his glee. Comet, on the other hand is not too pleased, at Spike's antics, while Jenkins points and laughs at Dustin on the floor. "I don't think it is humorus at all, Robert."

 

"Come on, Comet--lighten up!" requests Riley, still smiling broadly, as Jenkins taunts Dustin from the apron, who is crawling towards the barricade. "Spike didn't even do anything!"

 

"He didn't do anything? He pulled down the top rope, didn't he?" ask Comet, eyebrow raised in the air.

 

"Nah, I think Dustin's just relapsing to the last time he got wasted and tripped over his own two feet!" Ryan, at the barricade now, grabs the ladder directly in front of him for support and gets to his feet, slowly, still smarting from the fall to the outside, but looking to do some damage. Meanwhile, Hollywood leaps off the apron to take care of some business, not noticing Ryan's grip on the ladder. In other news, with Spike's back to him going after Dustin on the outside, the Birdman looks from one side of the audience to the other, taking one last look back at the two men on the outside...

 

"CA-CAW-CAW!" calls Birdman, cupping his hands in front of his face. And the crowd is quick to respond!

 

CA-CAW-CAW!

 

"This can't be good, Comet!" says Riley, as Birdman takes off -- full sprint -- towards the far ropes. Dustin, hearing the noise, looks up, wide-eyed, remembering his number one contenders match with Birdy, forcing Spike to tear his attention away from Ryan and towards the ring. "Cawing can't be good..." he adds, as Spike's eyes go wide and Dustin raises his hands and the ladder, in an attempt to shield himself, while the high-flying fowl does a cartwheel flowing immediately into a back handspring near the ropes...

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

"Definitely. Not. Good!"

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

...and finishing with A GODDAMN TWISTING BODY PRESS TO THE OUTSIDE INTO SPIKE, DUSTIN AND THE LADDER!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

...!!!

 

 

 

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

 

"Did you SEE that, Comet?" says an incredulous Riley, not able to look away from the wrestlers and ladder intangeled in a heap, just in front of the barricade. "Has Birdbrain lost his everlovin' mind?!"

 

"We've seen this before from citizen Man, Robert!" Bobby, still in shock, misses a chance to make fun of Comet's comment, proving he's still a little unbelieving of what just happened. "He is high-risk high-reward to a tee; throwing his body at anything and everything, in an attempt to inflict damage upon his opponents--consequences be darned!"

 

The front row stays standing, some mugging for the camera and others looking down at the mass of bodies and ladder strewn together, and grimacing. Spike Jenkins sits on his back, rubbing his head with one hand, while the other is intangeled in the ladder. Birdman lies on top of him, head in between one of the ladder rungs and feet sprawled out onto the barricade, seemingly having taken the hardest fall. Even though the last member of the trio is underneath said ladder, upper body sitting up against the barrier! With a groan, Hollywood pulls his arm from the wreckage and gets to a knee, still somewhat shocked. Jenkins, looks around and sees his opponents in the state that they are, so, he gets up and shuffles over to the apron steadying himself.

 

"Spike seems to be the only one that survived that collision!"

 

And then he lifts up the apron and goes for the plunder!

 

"With good reason, Comet." responds Riley, rapidly. "He's the only one who actually deserves to win this match and now he's got the tool necessary to do that."

 

Dustin, seeing Spike going for a new ladder, after a few hard pushes, shoves the ladder and Birdman -- who just groans -- off him, trying to get up. Hollywood pulls a ladder from under the ring, to a sizable cheer for being the first one to 'reveal' a ladder, but it quickly turns to boos, as Spike tells them he doesn't need their help: 'Oh, he's got a ladder, let's cheer the sheep we are'!

 

"Citizen Jenkins admonishing the crowd for actually cheering him..."

 

"Yeah, they shouldn't be able to jump on the bandwagon now that he's going to win, should they?"

 

Dustin rises, using the barricade to steady himself as he clutches his rib-cage briefly. Spike slides the ladder into the ring and follows it in, while the Real Deal stumbles over to the apron. Jenkins lifts the ladder and set's it up center ring, trying to find the proper spacing, but out of the corner of his eye, he spots Ryan slide into the ring. Hollywood shuts the ladder and quickly props it under his arm, grabbing a ladder rung and as Dustin rises to his feet, Spike rushes forward using the ladder as a battering ram to the Real Deal's gut!! Ryan hunches over and staggers back into the nearest corner, holding onto the ropes for support with one arm. "'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins using that aluminum ladder as a battering ram--like he's a police officer doing an illegal search and seizure!" says Cyclone, not too impressed with Jenkins manner during the match, so far. "But even the cops don't kick ass as well as Hollywood!" responds Riley. "And it doesn't look like he's finished either!" adds Bobby, as Jenkins smirks and backs up a few steps and charges forward once again leveling the ladder at waist height--nope, this time Ryan hits the mat, in a half side-step, half fall, making Spike crush the ladder into the steel ringpost, causing it to slingshot back, jarring his arm and shoulder!

 

"Ryan escapes!" shouts Comet, as Spike drops the ladder in pain, and walks away from the corner, shaking out his right arm! "Citizen Dustin escape and now he's going on the offensive!"

 

And the caped announcer is correct! The Real Deal gets up and follows Jenkins, clutching his ribs for only a second, before grabbing him by the shoulder, spinning him around and clocking him with a forearm to the face! Spike falls back trying to regain his bearings, but Ryan presses, hitting another stiff forearm to the jaw! Backing him into the ropes, Dustin sends Jenkins away in an Irish whip--no, Hollywood reverses and sends the Real Deal running. Ryan rebounds and ducks under a lariat attempt, lacing his arm with Spike's, while he turns into his body, wraping their legs together and shoving him down to the canvas in a Reverse Russian leg sweep! Taking a few seconds to get his wind back, Ryan sits up and pushes himself off the mat. The Real Deal checks around, noting that Birdman has finally begun to move on the outside and Spike is crawling to his hands and knees. Ryan gets to his feet, shuffling towards the ropes and stepping through them. Dustin breaths heavily, still trying to catch his wind and waits for Spike to get up to his full height.

 

"What's going to happen here?" questions Comet, as Spike stands turned in the opposite direction. Ryan slingshots up to the top rope, balancing for a second, as Spike turns around and then he springboards forward, legs wide and outstretched for a hurricanrana...

 

 

...

 

 

...And floats directly and unequivically into two boots from 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins, straight to the crotch, in a beautiful standing dropkick!! "Vile!" screams Comet, as Dustin falls to the mat, eyes shut in extreme pain, while Spike gets up from the mat and to his knees. "That is unjust treatment of a mans testicles!"

 

"Old man Dustin just isn't as spry as he used to be. He completely missed that springboard maneuver--whatever it was..."

 

"Please, Robert! That was vile, cruel and down right villianous! If he didn't mean to do it, that'd be a different story, but as it stands..." Comet trails off, as Spike, from his knees claps his hands together three times to signify that he's finished with Dustin. Spike gets up from his knees and laughs, picking up the ladder and setting it up center ring. The crowd boos loudly, as Spike climbs, taking two rungs at first, but slowing down a taking it one step at a time, after he slips.

 

"It looks like my prediction was--" Suddenly the crowds reaction shifts from boos to cheers, causing Spike to wonder what's up. Has the crowd jumped on his bandwagon again?! He cranes his neck to the left and spots the High-flying fowl, Birdman, leaping up onto the top rope and springing off into the air! Spike can only look on in confused horror, as Birdman soars nearly half-way across the ring and wraps his legs around Jenkins' neck, flinging him off the ladder!! Spike, in a last ditch effort, clutches at the ladder, but only succeeds in dragging the ladder done with him!

 

"Citizen Man saves the day with a flying headscissors of the springboard presuasion!"

 

"What did I tell you about about calling the idiot, 'Citizen Man'!" snaps Riley, upset his prediction did not come true, yet anyway. "Oh, I give up, Comet. Call him whatever you want..." resigns Riley, as Birdman stands and shakes out the cobwebs, rubbing his ailing neck.

 

The Birdman checks around and notices Spike getting to his feet, while Dustin is still on the mat, clutch his genitals in pain. Birdy walks over to Hollywood and picks him up, smacking him with a 'feather-edge' chop!

 

Smack! WHOOOOOOOO!

 

And another!

 

Smack! WHOOOOOOOO!

 

The crowd really gets into the chops to Spike chest, while Birdman backs him up into the corner. Birdy sends Hollywood off in a cross corner whip and Jenkins hits the turnbuckle hard, staying proped in the corner. Birdman backs up into his own corner and runs forward, doing a round-off into a back handspring, and another handspring, getting closer with each flip. Birdman ends the gymnastic display lunging backwards for an elbow and hitting it! Spike stumbles out of the corner, to the middle of the ring and Birdy loops behind him and pops his hips, lifting Jenkins for a neck-drop suplex--nope, Hollywood rolls through at the top and lands in a crouch, rotating full-circle while Birdman turns and straight up plastering him with a roaring elbow, that sends him to the mat like a ton of bricks!!

 

Spike shakes his head and towers over the downed Birdy, who begins to move on the mat. Jenkins, not done with his opponent just yet, grabs Birdy by the back of his neck and drags him to a kneeling position. Then Spike, drawing boos from the fans, pops Birdy in the head with a snap kick! The crowd lets out a startled sound at the thwack of foot meeting dome and Spike doesn't stop there; rearing back once more and connecting with a second snapping strike! Hollywood backs away, turning and playing to the crowd for second by motioning for them to boo once again. Satisfied, Spike turns around ready to level his opponent with the final knockout kick to the face -- but out of nowhere, the Real Deal sprinting semi-quickly from behind Birdy, hoping up onto the high-flying fowls back... and as Spike sees Ryan leaping off the back of his opponent...

 

...And he looks down at his knee…

 

 

...He sees Ryan kicking off it with his own right foot…

 

 

Crack!!

 

 

…And in the end, the Real Deal positively blasts Hollywood with a flush shinning wizard!! Dustin falls back to the mat, still gravitating towards his bruised nuts, while Spike lays spread eagle, blinking repeatedly and staring up at the sky, noticing that the orange sun, has slowly started to set, since this match first started.

 

"With a hop, skip and a jump, citizen Dustin has just felled Spike Jenkins!"

 

"Isn't it illegal to jump off someone back to hit another person?!"

 

Ryan sits up on the mat, noticing Spike off to the side near the ropes, nearly knocked out! To his left, Birdman is struggling to get to his feet, already up to a knee. Dustin, finding this pretty alarming vaults to his feet, as quickly as he can -- which is not all too quickly -- and moves over towards Birdman. Dustin stumbles forward and blasts a near kneeling Birdman with a forearm strike -- but Birdman fires back, lighting Ryan's chest up with a feather-edge chop!!

 

Smack! WHOOOOOOOO!

 

The crowd 'whoos', but Dustin takes the blow in stride and belts Birdman with a second uuber-stiff forearm!! Birdman wobbles, but fights back with another chop!!

 

Smack! WHOOOOOOOO!

 

Dustin, taking the lesser of the two strikes rallies, hitting a third forearm!! Birdy moves to attack again, but Dustin hits a shotei to the chest for spacing and then rushes forward whalloping Birdman with a fourth and final forearm!!! "Dustin outstruct citizen Birdman in their last two matches and it seems like nothings changed. Birdman needs to hit and move and not get drawn into striking duels with the Real Deal--who sends Birdman away with a whip!" calls Comet, as Birdman rides the ropes, rebounding back towards Dustin and ducking under a stepping shotei! Birdy uses his momentum and bounces back again, springboarding off the second rope and as Ryan turns, he walks directly into a flying forearm!

 

"Birdman hitting and moving to gain the advantage--" Birdy lays on the mat for a second and then brings his knees into his chest, kipping-up to his feet! "--kip-up! Kip-up by the Birdman and he is on the offensive!" Birdy spots the downed ladder to his right and realizing he needs to incapacitate Dustin before he can even attempt to go after the belt, so he picks it up and sets it in the corner. "I seem to have made the correct call--the hit and move working well for the high-flying fowl--who has now set-up a ladder!"

 

"I disagree." starts Bobby, beginning his rebuttal, as Birdman pulls Dustin up and whips him into the ladder back first. "He just needs to avoid trying to win altogether because he. Ain't. Gonna'. Win!" Birdy explodes forward and once he gets to the corner, Birdman leaps up onto the chest of the Real Deal and kicks off in a backflip kick, knocking his head back into the ladder!!

 

"No, I disagree." retorts Cyclone. "After that neat-o Hummingbird-kick from Birdman, hitting and moving seems to be exactly what keeping him in control." finishes Comet, while Birdy preps himself for his next attack -- but from behind Hollywood vaults forward into the picture, gathering momentum from god knows where to hit a Lariat!!

 

"DAAAAAAMN!" says Riley, pointing to the ring, where Spike stands over the face down fowl, until he falls to his knees. "That's one hell of a lariat, Comet... even you have to agree!"

 

"I'm not one to not give others their due, Robert." cuts Comet, as Spike shakes out his arm and shoulder, wincing slightly for effect. "I believe that's your department." Spike toes over Birdman, kicking him to the apron and out of the ring, while Riley give an indignant snort! Then Jenkins turns his attention back to Dustin and the ladder necessary to get the Cruiserweight title behind him. Spike grabs Ryan by the head and drags him out of the corner in a headlock swinging away with rabbit punches to the top of his head! Jenkins releases the headlock and steps back, getting a running start--nope, whatever he was planning isn't going down, as Dustin catches him coming in with a stepping shotei to the face! Spike's hand immediately goes up to his jaw and the Real Deal quickly takes his other hand, sending him away in a whip towards the ladder, proped in the corner! Spike may be hurting, but he rapidly reverses the whip, sending Ryan into the ladder face first and following him in. Dustin crashes into the ladder full-steam and with no control falls back into Jenkins in a head-to-head collision! Spike hits the mat, quick and sudden, holding his dome and Ryan staggers for a second on wobbly legs, until he turns, takes a step forward and falls head-first, dead center on Hollywood's balls!!

 

Comet struggles to hold in a laugh, but the crowd does no such thing, while Spike rolls around on the ground, bouncing up and down like a madman! "Hey, you didn't think it was funny when Spike kicked Dustin low!" spits an upset Riley, as Hollywood continue to cry out and Dustin stays face down on the mat. "Well, that was clearly intentional, while this was definitely unintentional and funny! Look at him carrying on and flopping around like a fish out of water!"

 

Spike finally begins to quite down and Ryan makes it up to his feet, saying: 'now you know how it feels, junior', before walking unsteadily over to the ladder in the corner. Dustin grabs the aluminum prop and drags it with him center ring, opening it up under the belt. The Real Deal readjusts the ladder once more and starts his trek. He takes the first two steps quickly, but his aching head forces him to slow down and concentrate."With both his opponents down, Ryan Dustin appears to be making the climb!" True to Comet's words, Ryan makes his way up the ladder, rung by painful rung, in a slow climb to the belt! The crowd comes alive cheering out for the Real Deal's quest to the top.

 

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

Dustin moves up another rung, garnering another chant!

 

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

"This crowd getting behind Dustin's climb, Robert," notes Comet, "but Birdman is back in the ring and up to his feet!"

 

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

A loud cheer rises up from another section of the audience, causing Ryan to wonder what's up. They wouldn't cheer Spike... but they would cheer...

 

"Bird-man! Bird-man!"

"Ry-an! Ry-an!"

 

The Real Deal looks up and see the title. It's only a few steps away!

 

"Bird-man! Ry-an!"

"Bird-man! Ry-an!"

"Bird-man! Ry-an!"

 

Ryan can't worry about that dueling chant now, as he takes another rung, not looking back. He has to get to the top. But if he were to look down, he'd see Birdman hot on his heels. Dustin makes it to the next rung and lunges up, grazing the title with his index finger. If he were only a little closer...

 

"Citizen Dustin--almost there, but the Birdman has got his foot and isn't letting go!"

 

Ryan shakes his foot, but Birdy holds stong, climbing another rung and grasping his other leg. The Real Deal holds the ladder tight, making sure he won't fall!

 

BOOOOOOOOO!

 

Hearing boos, if he were to glance down, instead of up at the title, he'd have seen Spike Jenkins, still shuddering from getting headbutted in the nuts and all of a sudden that tugging sensation wouldn't be surprising, since Hollywood looped under Birdman, yanking him down to the canvas on his HEAD in a powerbomb and in turn, yanking Ryan -- ladder and all -- down to the mat on his back...

 

 

 

 

...ho-ly shit...!

 

...ho-ly shit...!

 

 

 

 

Vagely, Ryan can hear 'Holy shit' chants, but all he can do right now is lay on the mat, and check out the retreating sun. "Wow!" says a breathy, Comet. "By Zeus what a fall that was..."

 

"What a fall--no, what a POWERBOMB, Comet!"

 

All three men lay on the mat, the ladder toppled over on them, as the crowd quites down, after that display! Spike slides from under the ladder, crawling away to the nearest set of ropes to pull himself up. And Ryan pushes the ladder off his face, rolling to the side, letting it land with a 'clang' back on the Birdman's masked face! "Indeed, Robert. Ryan Dustin was this close to the belt, but Spike Jenkins displayed his will to get the title and fought through hurt testicles to Powerbomb the Birdman and send the Real Deal back to square one!"

 

Ryan struggles to his feet, using the ropes and spots Hollywood off to the side, getting himself together. Dustin looks down and grabs the ladder off Birdy, slowly walking to the middle of the ring and setting up the ladder, climbing on one side of the aluminum prop, while Spike, who has finally worked out all the kinks down low, hobbles over and starts his trek up top!

 

"It's a race for the title! 'The Real Deal' Ryan Dustin versus 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins!"

 

And no statement is truer than that one! The Real Deal and Hollywood start out neck and neck, each man climbing at the quickest pace they can! Spike takes the lead by a rung, clearly the fresher of the two, after the last incounter between everyone. Comet and Riley, let the race speak for itself, as Dustin, spotting Spike climb another rung, scrambles up one position higher, hoping to fall back no farther! The crowd on the other hand, shows their support of Dustin in spades...

 

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

They are about three-quarters of the way up the ladder, and both within striking distance of the Cruiserweight championship! Dustin claws his way up another two rungs, nearly catching Jenkins as he reaches the top of the ladder, now, extending his arm up and tipping the title! Spike's almost there. He can FEEL the title in his hand...

 

But Ryan, now one rung below Hollywood, on the opposite side, grabs him by his blonde hair and rears back, socking him straight in the face!! Riley has to break his commentary silence, after thay one. "Closed fist! Closed fist!" he cries, as Dustin steps up and stands level with Spike, punching him again. "That's an illegal strike!"

 

Comet just ignores Riley idiocy and calls the action, as Spike punches Dustin right over his left eye. "This is the true definition of a race for the gold! Blow for blow on top of the ladder and the winning of this duel will undoubtably be the NEW World Cruiserweight Champion!"

 

Hollywood and Dustin trade stiff right hands, neither man backing down or hitting any less hard! The crowd continues showing its approval of Dustin, which Comet acknowledges. "Well, it's clear who these Pasadena fans want to win out..." At that Dustin catches Spike with a clean punch to his left eye, stunning Jenkins. He wobbles, but grabs Ryan by his dyed blond tresses and rockets back with another punch! And another punch! Dustin grabs Spike's hair and swings away wildly now, causing Spike to do the same!! Comet can barely contain himself, as the ladder wobbles under both men. "But who will have the will to not faaaaaaaaaall--"

 

 

 

 

And the ladder tips over...

 

 

 

 

As they both fall...

 

 

 

 

From the ladder...!!!

 

 

 

 

Ryan hits the canvas back first with a 'thud', actually bouncing off the canvas slightly, but poor Spike wasn't so lucky and falls straddling the ropes, crotching himself on the top rope!!! Hollywood cries out in pain, a shocked look of horror across his face...

 

Dustin rolls over and coughs, pushing himself up to his feet and surveys the scene in front of him. Birdman is beginning to move, reaching at the ropes, after getting Powerbombed on the back of his head and Spike is... hanging out. Dustin assess that Birdman is the biggest issue right now and slowly walks over to him, lifting the high-flying fowl up to his feet near the ropes and locks his hands around his head, leaping onto the second rope and springboarding back toward the middle of the ring, with a picture perfect Side Effect!!

 

"I believe that's the first time I've seen citizen Dustin hit a move like that." says Comet, as Birdman holds his neck and groans. "But it definitely put citizen Birdman back on the mat, quick!"

 

Spike, eyes still huge, in a smart play, grabs the ladder leaning against the ropes and pulls it over the top rope, sending it crashing to the outside. Ryan turns around, having taken out Birdman and sighs at his predicament. So Dustin grabs the top rope and bounces it up and down twice, causing Spike to cry out in pain!

 

"That's just mean..." states a sulking Riley, as Dustin climbs the turnbuckle pads and stares out into the crowd for a moment. Spike still sits stagnant on the ropes, eyes partially open now and Ryan tilts his head to the side, slowly bringing his hands up in a 'picture frame'!

 

THE!

 

Dustin tilts the 'picture frame' to another angle...

 

REAL!

 

And finally, Ryan settles on an angle, completing the trifecta...

 

DEAL!

 

The crowd chants 'The Real Deal!' in time with Dustin's hand gestures, just before Ryan leaps from the top rope... connecting with a jumping snap-kick to Spike!!! The Real Deal's kick lands clean, but his opponent does not, falling back to the thin outside padding at an awkward angle, landing on his right knee poorly--while Ryan on the other hand lands on a knee! The audience lets loose another racous cheer, clearly pleased with this attack and Dustin takes a minute to pause and catch his breath! On the outside, Jenkins can only groan in pain, while a few fans stand up and pound on the barricade. Getting some time, Spike sits up and crawls to the apron, looking to pull himself up using the tarp. He gets up to knee, but Dustin gives Hollywood no time to relax, as he quickly stands and grabs ahold of the top cable... the front row, along with the rest of the crowd, rises in it's seats causing Jenkins to look up. Ryan, not to be deturded, slingshots himself over the top rope...

 

Spike quickly moves, diving back towards the protective wall and out of the way of the would-be plancha, but Dustin lands on the apron, back turned to Jenkins. The crowd gets their cameras ready, sure something's about to happen, while Spike stands up on his tweaked knee, only to see the Real Deal bouncing off the middle rope...

 

 

Up to the top rope.

 

 

Flipping in mid-air, as Spike stares wide-eyed, sure he can't get out of the way of this one. And Ryan lands on Hollywood, as the flash bulbs continue to go off, giving to the fans and anyone else who wanted to see, a real classic moment!!

 

"ZOUNDS!" hollers Comet, in shock as the two men lay on the outside. Riley looks at the collision site and nods his head in agreement with Comet for the first time in this match. "Zounds, indeed, Comet."

 

The two wrestlers lay sprawled out, the ladder off to their left and Ryan is the first up to his knees, shaking sweat out of his dyed blonde hair! Spike on the other hand, is immediately thinking off a way to get back in control and he crawls to his left...

 

"Citizen Dustin taking a page from the Birdman and throwing caution to the wind! What a Real Classic that was!"

 

Ryan stumbles to his feet, clutching his ribs for a moment and turns around, looking to grab Spike once again, but Hollywood has picked up the ladder on the outside and drives it into Dustin's gut from his knees! The Real Deal hunches over, and Jenkins rams him in the stomach once again, stunning Ryan. "Spike using the ladder like a battering ram, once again, Comet, and I told you he's like a cop, but it's official. Spike Jenkins is a certified ass kicker!" On the inside of the ring, Birdman has begun to move, but on the outside Spike takes his chance, whipping the ladder up under the chin of his oppponent! Dustin staggers to the apron, holding on for dear life, while Spike gets to his feet, limping slightly. Hollywood pushes himself up onto the apron and crawls over to Dustin, grabbing him by the hair and sticking his knee behind his head...

 

 

 

...Driving him into the ground with his Super Ego trip~ FROM THE APRON TO THE FLOOR!!!

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

Ryan gets squashed into the ground like a bug, while Spike rolls around checking his right knee after the attack. With Dustin clearly out of action for the moment, Hollywood hobbles to his feet, waving towards himself as if he wants more of a reaction! The crowd really lays into him, while he slides the ladder into the ring and dives in under the bottom rope. "With Ryan Dustin squashed on the outside by that Super Ego trip from the apron, Spike Jenkins has once again asserted himself as in control of this match-up. Momentum can change, just that quick, as citizen Dustin just found out." says Comet, snapping his fingers at 'change', while Spike picks up the ladder, holding it in front of him -- when out of nowhere, Birdman lands a running dropkick, knocking the ladder into his face!!

 

"By Road Runners beak!" exclaims Comet. "The Birdman hits a running dropkick and like I just said, momentum can change, just like that!"

 

The ladder falls to the ground, still in the ring but off to the side and Birdy rises to his feet, looking to take advantage of his stunned opponent. Spike, things a little foggy, bounces off the ropes and stumbles forward some, trying to regain his balance. The High-flying fowl has an idea come to him and rushes ahead for a running elbow smash, "Running elbow!" notes Comet, but Jenkins ducks low, grabbing him by the waist for a hot shot on the top rope, "No, a Hotshot by Jenkins!" interrupts Riley, but as he's done so many times before, Birdman counters in mid-hold, wrapping his hands behind the neck of Spike and jutting his knees under Hollywood's jaw... all while falling backwards, sending his BUTT to the canvas, and knees to Spike's chin, ending in a stunning blow know as the Bird-breaker!!

 

"Bird-breaker!" they both shout in unison. Comet, in joy and Riley in anguish. The crowd comes alive cheering on Birdy, as his opponent lies on the ground, rubbing his jawline. Birdman, the fresher of the two men, gets up to his feet and spots the ladder, picking it up and hefting it into the corner, realizing he needs to hit something big right now! Opening it in the corner, he spots Spike starting to move some and walks over to him, nailing Hollywood right over the left eye, with a fistdrop. Birdman rise to his feet and immediately follows up with a second fistdrop, stunning Jenkins! Using the two fistdrops to stun Spike, Birdy picks the Revolution Zero member up to his feet and turning perpendicular to the ladder, snaps him up and overhead with a suplex!

 

"Snap suplex from the Birdman and what's going to happen here, Robert!" says Comet, his voice getting higher as he watches Birdy, exit the ring and climb to the top turnbuckle. The crowd rises to its' feet, cameras ready once again, as the high-flying fowl prepares to do some high-flying, climbing to the top of the ladder, slowly but surely! "I don't know, Comet, but it cannot be good..." Riley is right. It won't be good for Spike, as Birdy balances on the top raising his hands to his mouth...

 

"CA-CAW-CAW!" calls Birdman and the crowd responds.

 

CA-CAW-CAW!

 

"You remember what happened last time he was cawing, don't you, Comet..."

 

"I most definitely could not forget that train wreck..."

 

The High-flying fowl is all set to leap off, but 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins isn't having any of that and he shakes the ladder at its base, causing Birdy to loose his footing and land gut-first on the top of the ladder!! The crowd lets out a deflated moan, as Spike hobbles up to his feet, pushing a hand through his sweaty blond hair and starts climbing up the ladder! He makes his way up to the top and looks to chuck Birdman off the ladder, but Birdy fights back with a right hand! And another right hand. And another right hand! Spike teeters on the ladder, "Birdman's fighting back--Spike teeter on the ladder!" calls Comet, but Hollywood scores a thumb to the eyes, through Birdy's mask and even though Birdman put up a good fight, he gets tossed by Spike to the canvas, all the same!!

 

"Valiant effort from the Birdman, but Spike Jenkins cheat his way to victory. What a poor display of respect for straight competition from citizen Jenkins! I know I've said it before, but this man is villianous!"

 

"I didn't see you saying anything when Dustin was using the ropes to kill Spike's nuts... he's still walking with a limp!"

 

"That's not the only limp of his that you're interested in fixing..."

 

As the two commentators go back and forth, Spike turns around on the ladder and looks down at his opponent on the mat. He raises one hand in the air and then the other, pushing himself back up to the top rung, sitting on it... The crowd finally notices and rises to it's feet again, waiting with anticipation for a big move, but undecided if they should cheer or boo...

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

And Hollywood leaps off the ladder, causing flashes to go off in the arena, but Spike'll be damned if he does anything to break his neck for these fan, so he lands on his feet in front of Birdman. The crowd gives him a questioning look, as Spike steps on the chest of Birdy and flips the crowd the double bird!!!!

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

"The crowd certaintly didn't like that, Robert..." notes Comet, as the collective audience begins to chant...

 

"Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Spike has NO balls!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

"This crowd is way off the mark, Comet!" says Riley, sneering at the crowd. "He definitely has balls!"

 

"And you would know, wouldn't you?"

 

"Well yes," says Bobby with a pause, "uh, cause he hurt them when Dustin hit that low blow..." finishes Riley, with a 'whew', wiping sweat from his brow.

 

Spike soaks up the boos and re-folds the ladder, dragging it to the center of the ring and re-depositing it in the center of the ring! Spike begins his climb, sure that he'll have enough time to get to the belt, but a loud cheer from the crowd informs him otherwise. Birdman is now sitting up and trying to get to his feet!

 

"Birdman, fighting hard, will not give up, Robert. He won't lay down and let Spike get to the title unabaited!"

 

"Birdbrain never was right in the head, doesn't he know Spike's just going to beat his ass, like a red-headed stepchild?!"

 

Spike sighs in disgust and hops down off the ladder, re-folding it and proping it up over his shoulder, lying in wait for Birdman to get to his feet. The audience shouts warnings, trying to save their hero from getting pasted in the face, but Birdy just pushes his way to his feet and Hollywood explodes forward, cracking him in the skull with the ladder like a battering ram! The High-flying fowl crumples into the corner, only proped up by the corner ropes, which he's grasping as firmly as he can. Spike scowls and now pissed off, walks to the corner and slams the ladder into Birdy's face, leaving it to cover his opponent...

 

 

BOOOOOOOOO!

 

 

...Spike stalks back to the middle of the ring and turns, letting out a yell of anger and runs forward, raising his boot and squishing the ladder into Birdman's face!!!! Spike grabs the ladder and brings it back to the middle of the ring, while Birdy slides down to the canvas looking near knocked out! Jenkins resets it, only to hear another cheer from the crowd. Turning, because he doesn't believe it could be Birdman, Spike sees Ryan Dustin crawling his way into the ring!! "And now it's Ryan Dustin, Robert! They won't let Spike win this without a fight! Birdman looks to be incapacitated at the moment, after that ugly Yakuza kick into the ladder, but who knows what could happen if citizen Dustin fights long enough!!"

 

"It won't matter, because this is SPIKE'S belt! He even said as much in the beginning of the match, Comet!"

 

Dustin crawls to his knees and all he sees is a ladder heading straight for him... and finding its mark! Spike looks pleased as Dustin hits the mat and turns around looking to get the belt... but the crowd cheers again and the Real Deal is up AGAIN! Spike, clearly upset, stomps over to the nearest corner and wedges the ladder between the second and top rope. The crowd doesn't know how to react to this, but Spike Jenkins lets Ryan get to his feet weakly and ducks low, grabbing him by the waist for a hot shot and falling back into the corner, drapping the Real Deal's neck on the ladder!! "A Hotshot across the ladder by Jenkins!" says Comet, quite surprised, as Spike cracks Dustin in the ribs with a soccer kick, leaving him gasping for air, as he lies prone on the ladder!! Jenkins lifts Ryan up belly-to-back, hoisting him up like he's going for an atomic drop -- but Hollywood walks him back over to the ladder and deposits him crotch-first on one of the ladder rungs!!

 

"Paybacks a bitch, eh Comet?" says a sardonic Bobby Riley, referring to Dustin's treatment of Spike earlier in the match. Jenkins grabs Ryan by the hair and pulls him down into a tree of woe, kicking away with snapping kicks to the ribs of the Real Deal, finally turning and limping away... only to raises a finger as if to say: 'aha!', and rush back towards the tree of woe and slide into a soccer tackle to Dustin's unprotected face!!! Dustin looks out of it, as blood begins to leak out of the new cut just above Ryan's left eye and Spike stands up and walks away thinking the issue is dead and buried. Spike revels in the boos and noticing he doesn't have a ladder, slides out of the ring and grabs one from the barrier, dragging it into the ring and placing it in the center! Spike begins his climb, positive that he's taken care of everything...

 

 

"Hey, bitch!"

 

Spike looks out at the crowd, but doesn't see where the comment came from.

 

"Hey, nutless wonder, I'm talking to you!" Spike turns on the ladder, to face a bloody Ryan Dustin. "Yeah you, punk!" Hollywood just laughs and spins back around, but Dustin isn't finished yet. Not by a longshot. "Come on, punk--hey, I told you I'd slap the taste out of your mouth, you cocky jackass! Just give me a minute and I'll be there to do it!" Jenkins laughs these off. He has the title. It'll only take a few more steps...

 

"Hey, it's okay that you're scared of me. I'd be too, since Flesher walked out in my match, while I was about to win and he made you his personal bitch..."

 

 

 

And that. Got the job done.

 

 

 

Spike leaps down off the ladder and kicks it over, sending it towards the corner Birdman lies in, cracking him in the chest. Dustin smiles, a little bit of red seeping into his dyed blonde hair. That Tom Flesher one was damn good for spur of the moment...

 

Hollywood starts yelling, really pissed now. "You don't know shit! I'm ten times better than you or Flesher! That's my belt, bitch, MY BELT--and let me tell you, no let me show you, how much better I am!" Spike rushes forward, as quickly as a man with a limp can, prepping to squash him into nothing-ness, but Ryan was waiting for this and sits up, leaning forward and allowing Jenkins to run into the ladder chest-first! Spike falls to the canvas in a heap and Ryan unhooks himself from the rung, back-rolling to the mat. next to Spike, who is clutching lower throat!

 

"Oh my! Ryan Dustin uses a little psychological warfare, bringing up the name of Tom Flesher and he baited Spike into injuring himself, while Dustin couldn't!"

 

Riley mumbles to himself, as Dustin takes Spike and pulls him from underneath the ladder. Then Dustin, still not so well off, with a cut over his eye and aching ribs, walks around Spike linking his arms with Hollywood's legs! The crowd cheers as the Real Deal arches back in a catapult sending Jenkins into the ladder chest and throat first!! As Spike lies prone on the ladder, Ryan grabs him by the leg and folds it over, then lifts Hollywood up belly-to-back, hoisting him up and deposits him knee-first on the ladder!!! Ryan smiles, as Spike cries of in anguish and revels in the cheers, while he slips Hollywood into the tree of woe... and then kicks away at the unprotected knee of his opponent...

 

"Dustin going after the knee of 'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins, viciously..." says Riley, looking on at the Real Deal pounding away on the knee of his opponent. "This is that sadistic streak we've seem glimsces of in the past..." he adds, while Spike yelps from a preticularly nasty shot.

 

"Yeah, Robert--it looks like he's enjoying this... should he enjoy this?" asks Comet, as Dustin walks over to the ladder near Birdman and notices Birdy is holding it. Ryan reaches down and attempts to take the ladder but Birdman wraps himself around the ladder in a last ditch effort to buy time. Dustin, gives up on that and rolls to the outside, lift the tarp on the apron and beings pulling a ladder from underneath the ring!!

 

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 

The crowd pops loud for the introduction of a new ladder and their cheers get louder and louder, as they realize this isn't a conventinal ladder... and as Dustin finishes getting the ladder from under the ring and lifts it up, the people see it stands twenty feet high!!!!

 

"Dustin bringing out the big boy now, Robert!" notes Comet, in awe. "That ladder must be near twenty feet..."

 

"It's twenty feet exactly, Comet." answers Riley. "We don't get ladders any bigger than that."

 

Ryan pushes the huge ladder into the ring and slides in after it, standing and gripping it to set it up... but Hollywood starts yelling out curses in the corner, trying to catch Dustin with his own game. But Ryan will have none of that and hoists the ladder into ramming position, before rushing forward and blasting Spike's knee with the ladder!!

 

"Man, he didn't need to do that, Comet!" states Riley, upset that he's hurting Spike in this vunerable position.

 

"But it's turnabout fairplay, Robert. That is all this is, in my opinion. Doesn't he have the right?" asks Comet, more to himself than Bobby Riley, who responds with a no, clearly in Spike's corner from the start anyway. Ryan sets up the ladder center ring, and begins his climb, clutching his ribs with one hand and using the other to pull him up the ladder. Slowly. He makes his way, slowly up each rung, until he hears a cheers come forth!

 

"Let's go Bird-man!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

"This crowd getting behind Dustin's climb, Robert," notes Comet, "but they are also cheering Birdman to stop him! It seems like this crowd is split 50-50!"

 

"Let's go Bird-man!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

"Let's go Ry-an!" clap! clap! clap-clap-clap!

 

The Real Deal looks up and see the title. It's only a few steps away!

 

"Bird-man! Bird-man!"

"Ry-an! Ry-an!"

 

Ryan can't worry about the chants now, as he takes another rung, not looking back. He has to get to the top.

 

"Bird-man! Ry-an!"

"Bird-man! Ry-an!"

"Bird-man! Ry-an!"

 

But if he were to look down, he'd see Birdman hot on his heels. Dustin makes it to the next rung and jumps up, JUST missing the title belt and landing wobbly on the ladder. It's then that Birdman reaches up and yanks him down to the canvas! Ryan hits the mat and stares up into the darkening, as Birdman takes another step up the ladder. Spike's still trapped so it's all up to him...

 

Birdman is almost there. With a jump he can almost TOUCH the title with his hand... but the ladder begins to wiggle and Birdman looks down, spotting Dustin kicking the ladder out from underneath him!

 

The ladder falls.

 

 

 

 

The Birdman jumps.

 

 

 

 

And he links his hand around the title, swinging in the air from it!

[the.weej 0]

"Birdman has it! Birdman has the title!" shouts Comet, as Birdy attempts to bring his other hand up to the belt. "If he can unstrap it this match, is over!!"

 

On the mat, Ryan looks up in shock. How did he make that jump. To his right, Spike is shouting at Dustin to do something, anything, to stop Birdbrain from ending the match and his chance to get his belt! And after looking around, Ryan has a plan...

 

The High-flying fowl reaches his hand up and still can't get it to the title. He's only a few inches away from ending this match, but Birdman, dangling from title, sudden cries out in pain as Ryan Dustin hits his opponent dead in the back with the fallen ladder on a powerful overhand swing...

 

 

...Making him fall face-first to the CANVAS!

 

The crowd 'oohs' in sympathy, as Dustin drops the ladder and falls to the mat, clutching his ribs in pain. "Oh, my God! Birdman has just fallen from the title belt to the floor face-first..." says Comet, as if he can't believe it, while in the corner, Spike has been working the entire time on getting out of his tree of woe and Jenkins untangles his leg and falls on the back of his head, not even caring in the least because he finally has a chance to get back into this match! Thankfully, Birdman begins to bang his leg on the mat, a good sign because he could have been mistaken for dead before that....

 

"These men are pulling out all the big moves, Robert, but my question is what ELSE can they do to win this match?!"

 

"A whole lot more, Comet." mentions Riley, in an unsure voice. "A WHOLE lot more..."

 

Spike unwedges the ladder from the turnbuckle and hobles to his feet in pain. He knows he has to take out Ryan Dustin now. But Ryan spots the injured Jenkins and picks his ladder back up, hefting it onto his shoulder, as Spike preps his like a battering ram... and they charge--

 

Crack!

 

--Coming together and hitting eachother in the head and ribs respectively. The announcers look on in horror, as blood begins to leak from the head of Spike Jenkins, but the crowd cheers. The masses alway cheer. Spike and Ryan prep there ladders like a battering rams... and they charge again--

 

Crack!

 

--smacking together for a second time! This time Ryan wins out, causing Hollywood to drop the ladder and stumble in the ropes! Ryan opens up his ladder in the corner, realizing he can't win without taking out Jenkins, most likely with the StarDustin' Pressm but as he turns around Spike, bloody and batter, jumps off Dustin's ladder and kicks him in the back of the head with a Shinning apprentice!!

 

"Dangerous Wizard! Now that's how it's supposed to be done. The cool people use ladders for their shinning wizards--not peoples' backs!"

 

Spike climbs up the ladder and Birdman, who has reawakened, stumbles towards the ladder climbing up after him. The two battle, trading forearm shots, but Birdman escapes, sliding from the ladder to the ropes, balancing in a dangerous place. Spike takes a wild swing attempting to knock Birdy off the ropes and to the outside, so he can finally win this, but Birdman dodges and the high-flying fowl links his arms around Hollywood's neck in a front facelock, before leaping off and twirling in MID-AIR...

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

...DRAGGING SPIKE TO THE CANVAS FROM THE LADDER IN A TORNADO DDT!!

 

"Birdbrain just tried to kill Spike, Comet!"

 

"Robert, if you think that was an attempt to kill that villian, then you haven't seen anything yet!"

 

Birdy gets up, exit the ring and climb to the top turnbuckle. The crowd rises to its' feet, cameras ready once again, as the high-flying fowl prepares to do some high-flying, climbing to the top of the ladder, slowly but surely! "Comet... the last time he was up there he was stopped... what happens if he isn't stopped...?" Riley is right. It won't be good for Spike, as Birdy balances on the top rung, so as not to have a repeat of earlier, raising his hands to his mouth...

 

"CA-CAW-CAW!" calls Birdman and the crowd responds.

 

CA-CAW-CAW!

 

And Birdman LEAPFROGS OVER THE LADDER FLYING DOWN AND CRASHING INTO THE CHEST CAVITY OF SPIKE JENKINS WITH THE BIRD-DROPPING!!!!

 

 

 

 

...!

 

 

 

 

 

...!!

 

 

 

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

 

"Now that, Robert, was an attempt to kill citizen Jenkins..."

 

Ryan, the freshest of the men in the ring, grabs the closest ladder to him and steps it up under the title. Then Birdman, fresh off of flying down off the top of a ladder, shuffles over and gets his ladder. After a minute Spike joins the fray, grabbing the twenty foot ladder and catching up to his two opponent. Each man climbs their respective ladder, clearly looking worse for wear, but they aren't giving up. They can't give. Because if they didn't give their all they wouldn't know if they could have won the World Cruiserweight Title.

 

Hollywood and Dustin trade stiff right hands, neither man backing down or hitting any less hard! The crowd continues showing its approval of Dustin, and Birdman gets back into the contest, gaining their cheers again, which Comet acknowledges. "Well, it's very unclear who these Pasadena fans want to win out..." At that Dustin catches Spike with a clean punch to his left eye, stunning Jenkins. He wobbles, but grabs Ryan by his dyed blond tresses and rockets back with another punch! And another punch to Birdman! Dustin swings away wildly now, causing Spike and Birdman to do the same!! Comet can barely contain himself, as the ladder wobbles under both men. "But who will have the will to not faaaaaaaaaall--"

 

 

 

 

And the ladders tips over...

 

 

 

 

As they all fall...

 

 

 

 

From the ladder...!!!

 

 

 

 

Ryan and Birdman fall, straddling the ropes, crotching themselves on the top ropes!!!Hollywood cries out, a shocked look of horror across his face, as for the first time he doesn't fall on the ropes... instead falling ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR!!!!

 

"It's a race again, Robert!" shouts Comet, as Birdman and Dustin attempt to get out of the ropes. "It's down to Dustin and Birdman!" But Dustin's leg is caught in the ropes. Birdy knows he has it won. Hollywood's on the outside. Ryan's tied up in the ropes and he slowly makes the climb up the ladder. He can see the title. His dream will finally be achieved.

 

The crowd boos and he wonders why. They've been cheering all night...

 

Birdman is almost there. With a jump he can almost TOUCH the title with his hand... but the ladder begins to wiggle and then it hits him...

 

'Hollywood' Spike Jenkins climbs the ladder, blood in his blonde hair, right behind the high-flying fowl, Birdman. Birdy is in his grasp and Spike bangs his head into the ladder, stunning him for a second, so that he can climb even. Birdman tries to elbow Jenkins off the ladder, but Spike bangs his head one more time into the aluminum and turns him around... reaches up.

 

 

 

 

Spins.

 

 

 

 

And pulls Birdman.

 

 

 

 

ALL

 

 

 

 

THE

 

 

 

 

WAY

 

 

 

 

D

O

W

N!

 

 

 

 

WHAM!

 

 

 

Hitting the Bad Beat off the middle of the Motherfucking ladder!!!

 

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

HO-LY SHIT!

 

 

The ring shakes as they impact the mat, BLASTING Birdman's chin off Spike's shoulder, compacting Birdy jaw and neck like a steam roller running over a grape! Even the crowd can't help but cheer, as the Spike lays on the mat staring up at the lights, not quite sure if he actually hit that move or not. His shoulder is burning and his knee feels like jello, but damnit once he's Cruiserweight Champ he won't feel shit. So Spike stands... and falls back down. Laughing at Dustin who tries to get out of the ropes, he realizes he has plenty of time. So he stand slowly and turns, shuffling towards the ladder...

 

 

“I don’t believe it!” shouts Riley, as Ryan pries his foot from the ropes!!!

 

 

 

 

Ryan stumbles behind Jenkins and turns, reaching back grabbing Spike's neck with both hands and takes two big steps forward, dragging him away from the ladder!!! Ryan's tired and it shows, as he preps for his finisher—

 

 

 

 

 

 

“COUNTER!!!!” yells Riley.

 

 

 

 

 

Hollywood pries at the right arm of the Real Deal and spins, turning his body face to back! His arm wraps around Dustin's neck and he snaps him down with the Clean living!!! Spike on the mat, sucks wind, but he's countered the last onslaught. This match is over! He'll be the new Cruiserweight Champ, as soon as he climbs the ladder!

 

"It's OVER! Birdman has been taken OUT! Ryan Dustin has been taken OUT! He gave Birdman a final Bad Beat and Dustin has been sobered once and for all with the Clean Living!! All Spike needs to do is get the belt!!"

 

Hollywood climbs the ladder one last time. This is the final time. It all ends here. His body burns, but damnit, he's beaten them all. Birdman. Dustin. Flesher. He climbs, reaching the middle of the ladder and takes a breath. He needs to recover from everything that has happened. He can dully hear a cheer from the crowd, but why would they cheer. They booed him all night. They booed him when he wen't after Birdman on the ladder. They booed him when he went after Dustin on the ladder. The only reason they would cheer is...

 

And just like that Ryan Dustin has caught up.

 

"Holy Shit, Comet..." mumbles Riley. "He wouldn't...not after what we just saw Spike do to Birdbrain..." Riley's 'Birdbrain' is a reflex reaction. He's gotten so used to saying it, that it can flow from his mouth, even in serious situations.

 

 

This would be one of those situations.

 

 

"I-I... don't know...would he...?"

 

 

And he leaps.

 

 

 

FROM

 

 

 

THE LADDER

 

 

 

 

ALL

 

 

 

 

THE

 

 

 

 

WAY

 

 

 

 

F

U

C

K

I

N'

 

 

 

 

D

O

W

N!

 

 

 

 

WHAM!

 

 

 

Hitting his Wanted in 48 States SUPER DVD~ off the middle of the GODDAMN ladder!!!

 

 

The ring QUAKES with the impact! The crowd EXPLODES in cheers, but the announcers say nothing, clearly letting the moment speak for itself. Chants of 'Holy Shit!' can be hear in the background, as Dustin finally sits up, clutching his burning rib-cage and falling back to the mat! Spike has not even moved at all, staying spread eagle. The Real Deal stands, clearly hurting but he makes his way to the ladder and climbs. The climb is difficult, but there is nobody to stop him. His body aches. The final trek is hard. But as he reaches the top, one thing is certain.

 

 

 

The win is academic.

 

 

 

 

DING! DING! DING!

 

 

"The winner of this match and your NEEEEEEEW Smarks Wrestling Federation World Cruiserweight champion, he is the Real Deal... RYAN DUSSSSS-TIN!" bellows Funyon, over the loud pop still blazing from the crowd. Ryan raises the title high, and then makes his way down the ladder, falling to the canvas.

 

"Loyal citizen's, this was... this was something else--but these two wrestler put on a show for the Cruiserweight title. It was a bloody, brutal show, but in the end we have finally crowned a new champion. It appears, Bobby Riley, that the old man, Ryan Dustin, has not faded into the sunset, like the the golden orb in the air right now. Tonight, he is the Cruiserweight champion of the WORLD."

 

Ryan Dustin lays on the mat, rolls his way out of the ring and up the walkway, hurting beyond belief. The Real Deal climbs the ladder in the ailse and stands atop it, looking up into the darkening sky, title in tow. Dustin, beaten and battered, feels twenty years old. He stares at the sky and sees a lone star shimmering in the dusk and realizes he's a champion once again.

 

Tonight, Ryan Dustin has climbed the ladder to success!

[the.weej 0]

“With the ring cleared after the ladder match,” shouts Comet over the hyped-up Rose Bowl crowd, “it looks like things are about to get back down to earth here in Pasadena!”

 

Boy, is he mistaken.

 

CRACK!!

 

The crowd erupts as the telltale opening of “Born Bad” rips through the stadium!

 

“Oh, come on,” moans Bobby Riley. “I thought I had another 2 hours before I had to deal with this wash-up…” The crowd’s roars get even louder as Mark Stevens appears beneath the shimmering entranceway, starting the long walk down the red carpet to the ring. Determination and a bit of a smile etched on his face, Mark moves with a rare intensity.

 

“It looks like Mark’s going to give us the setup for the tag match tonight, Bobby,” comments Comet. “I hope he’s found someone, because as good as Landon Maddix is, three-on-two never turns out the way you planned.” The Heavy Hitter climbs into the ring and takes the microphone from Funyon, pausing to wave to the cheering throngs for just a moment before bringing it to his mouth.

 

“Well, I’m more of a Candlestick Park guy than a Rose Bowl guy, but let me just say…it feels great to be here!” The usual Grand Slam congeniality revs the crowd up even more, but the old vet waves them quiet. “But we’ve got a long night ahead, and I need to get back to planning just how I’m going to pin King in the center of that ring tonight, so I’ll be brief.

 

“King has done everything in his power to wreck my life for the past two years. In the past month, he’s forced me to wrestle against the best of the best in the SWF. He’s put me up against all the young guns, and I’ve lost. Again, and again – Ace Lezaire, Toxxic, Johnny Dangerous. I’ve lost, but I’ve never, ever given up.”

 

More cheers for the Slammer…

 

“So when King told Landon and I that he had a surprise for us, I wasn’t surprised. I knew he’d try to stack the odds against us. But I didn’t think he’d bring Chris into all of this. Not Chris Raynor” – the crowd’s mood changes – “a man who I called a friend, a man who I never hurt. A man who I respected, even in his darkest moments. No more, Chris. When you step into that ring next to the Suicide King and Tom Flesher, all bets are off.

 

“King thought he’d played his ‘trump card,’ to use his own lingo. Who in their right mind would team up with a washed-up old man and a young buck against three SWF legends? Maybe Johnny Dangerous” – and there’s a BIG roar from the crowd – “but how could I ask him to step in next to me just minutes before he had to defend that title? Maybe Jay Dawg, but how could Landon and I expect him to show up sober? The chips were down, as King might say, but while he was busy counting his winnings, we just stole home plate.”

 

The crowd roars, and Comet wonders. “It sounds like Mark’s got someone, Bobby!”

 

“Some nutball, for sure…”

 

“King forgot one thing,” says Mark, his voice booming, confident. “When you’ve got the other team down, with two outs in the ninth, don’t get cute. Finish the job. Don’t give them an inch, because the pinch hitter might just knock one out of the park and ruin your night.

 

“I said I’d be brief, so I’m finished speaking, but…well, as for my second partner…he’s a bit of a talker…”

 

And the Rose Bowl goes dark, the last drips of sun and starlight illuminating everything faintly, until…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I SAID HALLELUJAH!”

 

BOOM!

 

“TO THE SIXTEEN LOYAL FANS!

 

B-B-B-B-BOOM!

 

“SO GET ON YOUR MOTHERFUCKIN’ KNEES!”

 

FWOOOSH!

 

“CAUSE IT’S TIME FOR YOUR SICKNESS AGAIN!”

 

And an explosion of fireworks and spiraling blue lights reveals, tearing down the red carpet at an astonishing clip, the one, the only…

 

“My god, Bobby! It’s Edwin MacPhisto!”

 

The crowd is instantly on its feet, roaring and shouting as the Mac Daddy, clad in jeans and a brown bomber jacket, dashes down the carpet in the Heisman pose, jukes, spins, and dives into the ring to embrace Mark!

 

“It’s been a year since we last saw Edwin,” shouts Comet, “and he was in a bad way! Neck nearly broken at the hands of Nathaniel Kibagami, curled up in a hospital bed, giving advice to the Boston Strangler! But he’s back – the former world champion, the former leader of the Midnight Carnival, the crown prince of flash and panache - he’s back to make tonight’s fight a six-man tag match!”

 

“Well,” sighs Bobby, “Mark was right when he said anyone he could dig up wouldn’t be in their right mind…”

 

As Stevens backs away a bit, grinning, he hands the microphone off to Edwin. Underneath the eyes of the fans for the first time in a year, the Mac Daddy grins.

 

“Well, I missed you too.” Another big roar from the crowd, and Edwin leisurely struts around the ring, taking in the scope of the Rose Bowl. “I suppose it’s fair to let you know all where I’ve been. Stateside, not so much. Back in the arms of the queen? Positively. Londontown is a jolly town, and truth be told, I was done with all this.” The crowd murmurs a bit, but Edwin cuts them off. “Oh, be fair now – how many of you have nearly had your neck broken by a never-relenting nincompoop? It really is one of the most unfortunate things that can happen to a man, and when you add in the hospital food and the visits from big ol’ galoots like Mark and Strangler and Thugg, it’s just about a nightmare!”

 

“So what would it take to get me back, again, for another return, where I’m probably likely to get my neck broken for real this time? I’ll be honest with you all – I love Mark, but Mark’s business is Mark’s business…except when it’s our business.

 

“Had Mark just called me up and said, ‘Edwin, I’m in a tight spot, I need you to help start my car, or wrestle against the tag champions, or teach me how to change a diaper which I’m really still having some trouble with but please don’t tell Lynn because she’ll laugh at me and take away my allowance,’ I’d have said right back, ‘I thought this was the pizza delivery man’ and hung up right then. I like my quiet life. I like living tucked away and Hampstead Heath, with black hair and without spandex tights and with people who probably don’t recognize me. And not getting punched daily has really been the best part of all this.

 

“But that’s not what Mark said,” continues Edwin, pointing at his comrade and leaning against the ropes, Humphrey Bogart in a wrestling ring. “He said, ‘Edwin, King’s up to some old skullduggery, and he’s brought along a friend.’ And I thought, no way, no how. He wouldn’t, would he? But he did. And now, with Chris Raynor back in action, I almost felt like I had to be here. Like I owed it not only to Mark, but to Chris. You remember how, just a minute ago, I said that nearly getting your neck broken is one of the worst things you can imagine? The one thing that’s worse is being the breaker.

 

“I’ve looked for Chris Raynor these past two years. I’ve tried to find him, but I’ve never had any luck. I flat-out missed him at Genesis last year, when we might have been on better terms. I would have just apologized, and bought some coffee, and laughed about something old and ancient, like happy meals, or how we once humiliated Chris Wilson…okay, twice…okay, probably a lot more frequently than twice. But now it’s different. I’m still not sure how it’s going to be facing you in that ring, Chris. These glass letters behind don’t exactly bring back fond memories. But whatever drove you to be how you’ve been, to be what you were, was me – not Mark. You are no one’s pawn, and it embarrasses your legacy – your four tag titles, your ICTV wins, all the greatness you achieved – to dirty your hands with King’s leavings.

 

“If you’re here for Mark, well, watch out, because he’s got a little more back-up than you expected. But if you’re here for me…and I know you, Chris, and I know the way you think…then you’ve got me, Mr. Raynor. Step right up, old friend, and get your ticket.” Edwin hands the mic back to Grand Slam, the crowd nodding and cheering along with each word.

 

“You heard him, Chris, King, Tom,” booms Stevens. “The odds are even. You’re out of loopholes. We do this the old way – six men. One ring. Landon Maddix, Mark Stevens, and Edwin MacPhisto. We’ll see you gentlemen in a few hours.”

 

Stevens hands the mic back to Funyon, and the crowd roars as Mark and Edwin leave the ring, while the rest of the crew gathers themselves for the battle royal…

 

Backstage, in King’s dressing room, Tom Flesher sits with his face in his palms. The Suicide King and Chris Raynor look up at the monitor.

 

“Well, Chris, you got your wish. Happy now?”

 

Raynor cracks his knuckles.

 

“Very, very happy.”

[the.weej 0]

Camera two pans across the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the incomparable, yet insane, Fugue before coming to rest in front of the dashing figure of Cyclone Comet and the dainty Bobby Riley.

 

“What a match we just had!” Comet exclaims.

 

“I still think it’s unfair that Tom Flesher was stripped of his title,” Riley grumbles.

 

“How can you say that when you’ve been wanting to strip Flesher for years?” Comet inquires.

 

“That’s different. I just wanted to take off his belt so his pants would fall down...and I’ve said too much,” Riley says.

 

“Regardless of that, we’ve had an amazing beginning to Genesis Five! That three-way ladder match will go down as a great cruiserweight match, no doubt!” Comet shouts.

 

“Yes, it was very good. And we’ve got more title matches on the line, but I notice upon going down the card that a certain Landon Maddix is not defending his Intercontinental Television championship. Why has Commissioner Zenon not stripped this shiftless layabout of his belt? It’s because of a bias against Tom Flesher! Zenon was not content to gain some fluke victories over the Superior One in the ring, but he’s got to go after him every chance he’s got! It makes me sick!” Riley yells.

 

“Come on, Bobby! Landon has made several defenses since winning that belt, while Tom Flesher has weaseled his way out countless times!” Comet shouts. “I apologize for getting off track, fans. We’ve got a very interesting match right now, with very big rewards. Candace, Danny Dagda, Jamie Drazon, and Andrea Montgomery in a Battle Royale, with the winner earning the right to have a title shot for any title at all!” Comet exclaims.

 

“Would this be a Battle Royale with cheese?” Riley asks, breaking up in laughter.

 

“I will not dignify that question with an answer, and instead I will turn things over to Funyon for the introductions,” Comet states.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a Battle Royale! Each competitor can only be eliminated by exiting the ring over the top rope and have both feet touch the floor. The last person remaining in the ring shall be declared the winner. Introducing first, from Biloxi, Mississippi, she weighs one hundred, forty-three pounds and is a member of Team Flip Flop, AANDRREAA MONTGOMERRY!!” Funyon screams.

 

No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” starts playing over the PA system as the lights drop down, plunging the Rose Bowl in darkness. An explosion of green pyro hits the entrance way, prompting the lights to come back on as well as Andrea Montgomery to step out! Drea walks slowly towards the ring, pausing momentarily at Divefire’s bust. Andrea looks around at the packed stands, then continues on, and slides into the ring.

 

“That was kind of weird. She just stared at that bust of Divefire for a minute,” Comet points out.

 

“Well, they are pretty shiny, so it’s understandable for a simple woman like her to get easily distracted. Perhaps she was contemplating what it would look like dangling from a necklace,” Riley suggests.

 

Before Comet has a chance to defend Andrea Montgomery, the lights drop down once more. As the crowd begins to quiet down in anticipation of the next wrestler, “Dope Hat” by Marilyn Manson blasts to a cheer. Jamie Drazon steps out and stretches his arms out before heading to the ring.

 

“And next, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, weighing two hundred, forty-three pounds, the Hardcore Maniac, JAAIMEE DRRAAAZON!!” Funyon shouts.

 

JD slides under the bottom rope and pops to his feet. He takes a quick look at Drea, but then turns his attention to the entrance way.

 

“I try not to show favoritism, citizens, but I think Jamie Drazon would be expected to win this match. He outweighs Andrea Montgomery by one hundred pounds, and even more than that with Candace, and Danny Dagda is a tad inexperienced,” Comet states.

 

“You don’t show favoritism? That’s a laugh!” Riley shouts.

 

“No, a laugh is the sound you make in the back of your throat when someone tells a joke,” Comet says with an air of frustration at having to explain such simple things to Bobby.

 

Anti-Flag’s “Tearing Everybody Down” replaces “Dope Hat” as the current song and a blast of red pyrotechnics engulfs the entrance way.

 

“Introducing next, from Newark, New Jersey, he weighs two hundred, seventy-five pounds, DAAANY DAAGDAA!!” Funyon roars over the song and the jeers from the fans.

 

Dagda steps out, a smirk plastered on his face as he reaches in his pocket. Taking a cue from Terrell Owens, Dagda produces a sharpie! Danny removes the cap and walks to the closest bust, that of Divefire. In the ring, Andrea has a vague idea of his intentions, and quickly slides out of the ring, making a bee-line for Danny. Dagda, focused on defacing a legend, doesn’t happen to notice Andrea running towards him. And if he didn’t see that, chances are pretty high that he didn’t see the dropkick coming, either! Dagda hits the floor and the sharpie goes flying. Drea scrambles to her feet, picks up the marker and tosses it aside. Danny climbs back up and makes a grab for Montgomery, but she’s too quick for him and Drea rushes back to the ring. Angry at his plan being foiled, Dagda stomps his way to the ring, wishing for Candace to make a quick entrance.

 

“What a noble act by Andrea Montgomery, preventing that uncouth Danny Dagda from defacing the bust of a man such as Divefire,” Comet says.

 

“Dagda was doing no such thing! He simply noticed a fan asking for an autograph, and was attempting to fulfill those wishes when Andrea Montgomery interrupted him,” Riley says.

 

“And their opponent, hailing from Okinawa, Japan, she weighs one hundred, thirty pounds, CAAANDAAACE!!” Funyon booms out.

 

The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” comes on over the public address system, and out walks Candace, no emotion visible as her face is hidden by the black mask she now wears. Candace slides into the ring and turns to face Andrea Montgomery. As there’s no reason for him to be in the ring, referee Anthony Michael Hall slides out and calls for the bell.

 

DING! DING! DING!

 

Candace remains focused on Andrea, and completely misses the roundhouse from Drazon!

 

CRACK!

 

Candace drops down to one knee, obviously rattled from the kick. Drazon follows up with another kick to the mask, sending Candace flat on her stomach. Drazon attempts to pull Candace up, but Danny quickly wraps him up, and launches Drazon with a German suplex. Dagda pops to his feet and eats a dropkick from Drea. Danny stumbles backwards, right into an elbow from Jamie Drazon that lands directly on the spine. Danny turns around, throwing a punch in the same motion, but Drazon catches his arm and sends Danny to the mat with an armbar takedown! Drazon cranks back on Dagda’s arm for a moment, but releases because there’s no chance of victory down that path.

 

“Drazon with a nice armbar, but he knows that there’s no point in making Danny tap, so he lets go,” Comet points out.

 

“Yeah, but it’s good strategy. Weaken Danny’s arms, and you’ve taken out a large portion of his offense. Then again, Drazon isn’t too bright, so I doubt he’ll follow up any more,” Riley says.

 

Andrea lashes out with a kick aimed for Drazon’s head, which Jamie ducks, but he doesn’t see the other leg soaring towards him! Drazon goes to one knee and eats another kick. Andrea attempts a trifecta, but JD manages to grab her by the ankle and yank her to the mat. JD rises to his feet, still holding Andrea’s foot. He scissorlocks her leg and falls to the mat, trapping Andrea in a cross kneebar! Andrea slams her palm against the mat furiously, which has no effect. Jamie pulls back more, not noticing Candace get back up and send a flurry of kicks to the side of Jamie’s head, forcing him to release the hold in order to protect his brain.

 

“Jamie Drazon quickly locked Andrea in the hiza juji-gatame, and if could have kept it on longer, Andrea Montgomery’s chances of winning this match would have decreased severely,” Comet says.

 

“Yeah, but Candace put a stop to that, for reasons that I’m not entirely sure of,” Riley notes.

 

“But Drazon has a good strategy in this match. If he takes out the weapons his opponents have, it’ll be short work to toss them over the top rope,” Comet points out.

 

“Or, he might set himself up for elimination. I mean, he’s also making things easy for everyone else,” Riley says.

 

Drazon kicks Andrea away and pops to his feet as Candace lands another kick to his chest. Candace quickly locks on a front chancery and drops JD with a DDT. Candace pops to her feet, rolls Jamie over, and bounces off the ropes. Candace leaps in the air and comes crashing down, her shin landing across Drazon’s throat!

 

“What a brutal move from Candace! That might have crushed Jamie Drazon’s windpipe!” Comet exclaims.

 

“All is fair in love and war and number one contender matches,” Riley states sagely.

 

Candace rises to her feet and walks towards Andrea, completely oblivious to Danny Dagda stalking towards her. Candace bends down to pull Andrea to her feet, but crumples as Dagda rains down a huge forearm across Candace’s back. Dagda slams a boot into Andrea’s face, keeping her on the mat before turning his attention to Jamie Drazon. Danny hauls Jamie up off the mat and slaps on a front facelock. Danny lifts Drazon off his feet, trying to choke the Hardcore Maniac while also sending punches into Jamie’s ribs with his free hand. Drazon flails his arms, trying to find some means of escape. Danny quickly releases JD, then sends him to the mat with a lariat.

 

“Big lariat after that facelock by Danny Dagda, and Jamie Drazon is flat on his back. Danny Dagda can leisurely pick up whomever he wishes and toss them over the rope it would seem,” Comet notes.

 

“Of course he can! He’s an amazing wrestler! I had him picked to win the match all along,” Riley says.

 

“Really? I do not recall you revealing this information earlier,” Comet states.

 

“That’s because I try to remain impartial in matches, something you should strive for, Comet,” Riley says.

 

With his biggest competition down for the moment, Danny makes his way for the diminutive Candace. Danny lashes out, driving his boot into Candace’s ribs as she’s trying to push herself up off the mat. Candace falls down, the air gone from her lungs, and Dagda drops an elbow across her back. Danny wraps a hand around her neck, lifts her off the mat, and idly throws Candace towards the ropes. Dagda saunters over, pulls Candace up and drapes her throat-first across the middle rope. Dagda puts his knee on Candace’s back, grabs the top rope and pushes down, choking her. Danny climbs off and aims a pair of slaps to the back of Candace’s head. Dagda places his arms under the middle rope, then places his hands on Candace’s head and pushes down, strangulating her in the process!

 

“What an innovative full nelson from Danny Dagda! He’s going to render Candace unconscious if he keeps it up. And one can only assume that once she’s out cold, he’ll do what he pleases,” Comet says.

 

“Oh, you mean like all of your dates once you order them a ‘special’ drink?” Riley inquires.

 

“At least I can get dates,” Comet retorts. “With women,” he adds before Riley can say anything in response.

 

Candace flails her arms and legs, trying to free herself, but Danny simply pushes down harder. Candace thrashes about, but her movements are becoming slower as less and less oxygen-rich blood reaches her brain. She finally stops struggling, prompting Danny to release her. Grasping her firmly by the mask, Danny drags Candace back to the center of the ring. He grabs hold of her arm and threads it between her legs, getting Candace in the classic pumphandle position. Dagda stands directly behind Candace, one hand grabbing her wrist as the other waves to the crowd. A shit-eating grin on his face, Danny begins slapping Candace on either side of her posterior while vigorously thrusting his pelvis forward!

 

“Disgusting! I cannot believe what citizen Dagda is doing to citizen Candace!” Comet exclaims.

 

“Hey, take heart in this. At least he’s just pantomiming it and not performing the actual, uh, act,” Riley offers.

 

“That won’t console me, Robert. It’s the principle of the matter! Even pantomime of a sex act should never find its place in the wrestling ring!” Comet shouts.

 

“But, couldn’t a vast majority of wrestling moves be misconstrued as sexual? I mean, a casual observer and a die hard fan can see a rear waistlock and have two completely different ideas on what just happened,” Riley says.

 

“True, but a rear waistlock is an actual maneuver, and this is just...just disgusting!” Comet yells.

 

“Yeah, but this is entertaining!” Riley shouts gleefully. “Nothing like humiliating a woman to make a person feel good about himself.”

 

“You are a horrible person, Bobby Riley. You have disgraced any and every person who has stepped foot in a wrestling ring and put on a headset for commentary,” Comet says.

 

“I try, Comet, I try,” Riley says, pleased with his most current berating.

 

Danny lets go of Candace and watches her collapse on the mat. Danny turns his attention towards Andrea Montgomery, not noticing Jamie Drazon slowly rising to his feet. Dagda lifts Andrea up, turns to whip her into the ropes, but eats a kick from Drazon! Danny stumbles backwards, letting go of Drea in the process. Jamie lashes out with a knee to Danny’s stomach, doubling him over. JD straightens Danny with an uppercut, then sends him to the mat with a spin kick to the temple. Danny isn’t down long, though. He pulls himself back up and fires off a jab, hitting Jamie on the bridge of his nose, rocking his head back. JD retaliates with a punch of his own, this one catching Danny on the chin. Danny feints a punch, and as Drazon tries to block it, Dagda drives his knee into JD’s gut. Danny quickly cinches him up and drops Jamie with a DDT. As Danny gets back on his feet, a huge cheer erupts from the crowd. Dagda turns around and eats a flying roundhouse from Andrea Montgomery! Dagda staggers and Andrea steps in close, landing a flurry of kicks and knees to Danny’s torso. Andrea lashes out with a heel kick, doubling Danny over and Drea quickly grabs his arm, twisting it around in an armwringer. In one fluid motion, Andrea kicks out his legs while driving the point of her elbow into the back of Danny’s neck!

 

“Andrea Montgomery just took Danny Dagda down with that Magnolia Bloom! She had quite a flurry going, starting with that roundhouse Grind Sessions after Dagda took Jamie Drazon down with a knee lift and DDT combination,” Comet says breathlessly.

 

“I notice you conveniently forgot that exchange between Drazon and Dagda, an exchange Dagda completely won!” Riley shouts.

 

“That he did, but I like to talk about the very recent past, not the recent past you’re talking about, Bobby,” Comet says.

 

“So you can talk about something that happened thirty seconds ago, but a minute is out of the question?” Riley inquires.

 

“For the most part, yes,” Comet explains.

 

Andrea pops to her feet and walks behind Dagda, who’s also getting back up. Danny gets to his feet and shakes his head in an effort to clear it. Andrea crouches and unleashes a heel kick, hitting Danny in the back of the knee, causing him to stumble forward. Danny turns around and catches another kick, this time to the side of his knee. His hand shoots to his patella, but like a surly grandmother keeping grandchildren away from candy, Andrea cracks Dagda on the wrist with another heel kick. His hand stinging, Danny lashes out with a kick of his own, but Andrea sees it coming, leaps in the air and scissors his leg, taking him down to the mat. Andrea gets back on her feet, still holding Danny’s leg. Andrea looks at the fans then drives the point of her boot into the back of Danny’s knee! Andrea unloads with another kick before succumbing to one herself, from Candace!

 

“Candace is back in this match! I thought she’d be out for a long, long time after that choke by Danny Dagda, but she absolutely drilled Andrea Montgomery with a kick to the head!” Comet shouts.

 

“What are you talking about? That choke took place a long time ago, according to you. Hell, it might as well be ancient history!” Riley yells.

 

“No, Bobby. I used the phrase ‘for the most part’ in my response. That means I can change my opinion whenever it suits me, like in this case,” Comet says.

 

Drea sinks to one knee due to the kick, but as Candace fires off another, Andrea rolls forward, escaping the blow! Andrea pops to her feet and spins to face Candace. Andrea makes to charge Candace, but her roll left her too close to Dagda, who simply reaches out and grabs Andrea’s ankle, tripping her. Danny sits up as Candace walks over, presumably to thank him, but Danny explodes forward, wrapping Candace up and slamming her to the mat with a double leg takedown!

 

“Vicious spear by Danny Dagda! He folded Candace in half like, like...” Comet stumbles, at a loss for words.

 

“Like the back cover of a copy of Mad magazine!” Riley offers.

 

“Yes, only no amusing picture was formed,” Comet points out.

 

“Maybe not for you, but I had a laugh,” Riley says.

 

Danny leans over Candace and pins her arms down with his knees. He tightens his hand into a fist, rears back and...lightly slaps her open-palmed? Indeed, Dagda daintily smacks Candace on both cheeks before looking up at the crowd, his shit-eating grin back on his face. Danny pulls his arm back again and this time slams his fist into Candace’s face! Danny winds up for another punch, and lands this one across her nose, grinding his forearm over her face. Danny pulls back once more, but when he goes to punch, finds his arm held fast, by none other than Jamie Drazon! JD quickly locks in a half nelson and pulls Danny off Candace before falling backwards, capturing him in the kataha jime! Danny thrashes about, manages to roll onto his stomach, and place his free hand on the mat to steady himself. Thanks to his size and strength advantage, Danny has prevented Jamie from cinching in a body scissors, and gets to a kneeling position. Knowing how difficult it would be to stand up with an extra two hundred forty pounds on his back, Danny instead starts shuffling towards the ropes. Jamie Drazon digs his heels in, but Danny is too strong, reaches the ropes and with the help of them, pulls himself back to his feet! He reaches down and hooks Drazon’s near leg, lifting it off the mat. Danny turns around, placing JD against the ropes and Danny begins to lean backwards.

 

“What is Danny Dagda doing?” Riley shouts, befuddled.

 

“It looks like he’s threatening to send Jamie Drazon over the top rope!” Comet exclaims.

 

“But that Hardcore Moron has got a hold of Danny! He’ll go over, too!” Riley squeals.

 

“Maybe Danny is hoping that Jamie wants to win the match enough that Drazon will let go,” Comet wonders.

 

Drazon does notice he’s getting closer and closer to taking a spill over the top rope, and quickly releases Dagda, who still has a grip on JD’s leg! Danny tries to push Jamie over the top, but the combination of Jamie’s iron grip on the top rope and Danny’s oxygen deprivation are too strong for Dagda to overcome. He lowers Drazon’s leg, but still has a hold of it, that is until JD fires off a kick with his free leg, catching Danny in the torso and driving what air left in his lungs out into the Rose Bowl. Danny stumbles backwards, gasping for air, completely overlooking Jamie Drazon speeding towards him, leg outstretched.

 

SMACK!

 

“Down goes Danny Dagda after that Yakuza kick from Jamie Drazon!” Comet shouts.

 

“Damn Hardcore Moron! What’s he doing, putting submissions on people? If he hadn’t had Danny in the kataha jime, leaving him winded, Danny could have dumped Jamie Drazon over the top rope!” Riley shouts indignantly.

 

“I think that’s the whole point, Bobby, trying to make your opponent too weak to throw you over the top so you can do that to him,” Comet says.

 

“Yeah, but still, Drazon sucks,” Riley notes.

 

Drazon bends down to pick Danny back up, but gets nailed with a dropkick to the side of his head from Andrea Montgomery! Jamie shakes it off, but gets hit with a kick to the chest. Drazon backs up a few paces then hops forward, looking to land a kick of his own, but Andrea manages to duck and Jamie’s foot goes flying over her head. Andrea rolls to the left as JD brings his foot down, barely missing her. Andrea rolls backwards, pops to her feet and dropkicks JD in the chest, sending him into the ring ropes. Drazon stumbles forward, Andrea leaps in the air, and sends the Hardcore Maniac crashing to the canvas with a hurricanrana.

 

“What an exchange by Jamie Drazon and Andrea Montgomery!” Comet exclaims.

 

“Exchange? What exchange? Jamie Drazon didn’t land a single blow!” Riley shouts.

 

Andrea pops back to her feet to find Candace occupying her field of vision. Andrea darts forward, but it only causes Candace to take a step back. Candace throws a lackluster kick, trying to feel things out, but Andrea goes for it and takes Candace down with a legscissor takedown. Andrea torques on Candace’s leg momentarily, then releases and gets back to her feet. Candace gets back up and rushes Andrea, but ends up eating a heel kick for all her troubles! Candace staggers back, providing Andrea an opening to nail her with a dropkick! Candace tumbles to the mat, and so does Andrea a moment later as Danny Dagda landed a clubbing forearm to Drea’s back! Danny walks over to Candace, and bends down to pull her up, but decides to change his mind as her foot is firmly nestled in his nether regions!

 

“Candace seems to have exacted a bit of revenge after that horrible display by Danny Dagda earlier in this match,” Comet says.

 

“So in this case, since you brought it up, that is still relevant to the match?” Riley asks.

 

“Of course. If you talk about it and I didn’t like it, then it has no place in our conversation about current proceedings,” Comet explains.

 

“Okay. Well, what about that takedown by Andrea Montgomery? Pretty athletic, huh?” Riley inquires.

 

“Indeed it was. But I’m shocked that you’re taking interest in what a female wrestler, Andrea Montgomery, did,” Comet replies.

 

“I’m just wondering how athletic she can get while horizontal,” Riley explains.

 

“And once again, you’ve disgraced former wrestlers, current commentators the world over,” Comet says, dejected.

 

Candace pulls her foot back then shoots it forward, nailing Danny in the face. Candace gets to her feet and drills Dagda in the temple with a spin kick, dropping him to the mat. Candace heads towards Andrea Montgomery, but just happens to catch Jamie Drazon slowly getting back to his feet out of the corner of her eye and decides to go for him. Unaware of his surroundings, Drazon is wide open, and gets hit with a flurry of kicks from Candace. Candace moves in close, grabs Drazon, and sends him to the mat with an armbar takedown, but she positions herself to drive JD’s face into her knee on the way. Candace lets go of the Hardcore Maniac and heads for the ropes. She hops over the top rope and turns to land on the apron, looking into the ring. Though it’s hard to tell with her mask on, it appears that Candace is staring at Danny Dagda, waiting for him to get back to his feet. This doesn’t let her see Andrea Montgomery, however, who pops back up. Danny pushes himself up and turns around, dazed. Candace grabs hold of the top rope and leaps on before launching herself towards Danny. That flight is delayed as Andrea hits Candace in the chest with a dropkick, sending Candace backwards, past the top rope and ring apron, to the floor below!

 

“CANDACE IS ELIMINATED! Andrea Montgomery nailed Candace with that dropkick, sending Candace back over the top rope and outside the ring!” Comet shouts.

 

“NO! The wrong woman’s gone!” Riley laments.

 

“I thought you didn’t care for either woman,” Comet states.

 

“Yeah, but at least with Candace I can’t see her face and if I squint, she kind of looks like a guy,” Riley says.

 

“And how do you explain her, erm, mammaries?” Comet asks.

 

“Simple, he was on steroids for a while, but is clean now, and has developed man-boobs as a result,” Riley says smugly.

 

Candace staggers to her feet after the spill she took, and a huge roar erupts from the stands.

 

“It looks like someone’s coming down to the ring! Who is that?” Comet demands.

 

“I’m not sure, but whoever they are, the fans are parting for them. And no wonder, that person has a kendo stick!” Riley shouts.

 

“They’re getting closer, I think I can see...it’s...it’s...” Comet stutters.

 

“IT’S ANNIE ECLECTIC!!” Riley screams.

 

Annie reaches floor level, hops over the barricade and rushes straight for Candace. Surprised to see another Asian grappler, Candace steps towards Annie.

 

CRACK!

 

And gets dropped with a shot from the kendo stick. Eclectic raises the wooden sword above her head and slams it across Candace’s back! Annie raises it again, and brings it down on Candace’s head. Annie begins shouting at Candace as she beats her with the kendo stick.

 

“Ann Onita is beating Candace like a...like a...” Comet sputters, once again at a loss for words.

 

“Like a Latvian prostitute!” Riley offers.

 

“No, that’s just...no. But what is Onita shouting? This damn spandex muffles everything,” Comet says.

 

“Seeing as I don’t have a jockstrap on my head...” Riley begins.

 

“Not right now you don’t, but I’ve seen pictures otherwise,” Comet states.

 

“Anyway, it sounds like Annie is saying that Candace has disgraced all Asian women, especially female wrestlers,” Riley explains.

 

“Not to mention masked wrestlers,” Comet grumbles.

 

The Hardcore Queen pulls Candace up and drags her down the ramp and to the back to presumably beat her further, yelling at Candace the entire time.

 

Danny Dagda looks first at Andrea Montgomery, then to Jamie Drazon who’s still on the mat but making an attempt at getting back up. Danny rushes towards Drea, hoping perhaps to eliminate her quickly so he can focus on Drazon. Andrea ducks Danny’s clothesline attempt, and as he hits the ropes, Andrea rushes forward, trying to push Dagda over the ropes. Danny hardly budges despite Andrea straining to tip him over. He lashes out with a back elbow, but Andrea ducks under it and drives a shoulder into his gut. Another shoulder doubles Dagda up, and Andrea quickly slaps on a side headlock. Drea charges for the turnbuckles, scales them and leaps off, draping Danny across the top rope throat-first. Andrea lets go of Danny, letting him bounce back and she reaches out, grabbing the rope and she manages to skin the cat, getting back on to the apron! Andrea springs onto the top rope, back flips off and just manages to snare Danny in a front facelock. Montgomery twists around and falls back, driving Dagda into the mat with a DDT.

 

“Springboard shooting star tornado DDT from Andrea Montgomery after that bulldog hangman!” Comet shouts.

 

“She’s just lucky! What was she thinking, trying to push Danny Dagda over the top rope?” Riley asks.

 

“I guess it was a spur of the moment, rush of adrenaline type thing,” Comet explains.

 

Andrea rises to her feet and drops back down just in time to avoid a roundhouse from Drazon! Andrea rolls under the bottom rope and pulls herself up as Jamie follows after her. Drea grabs the top rope and goes feet-first between the top and middle ropes, kicking Jamie in the stomach. Andrea pulls herself back through, leaps to the top and turns around. Checking to make sure he’s winded, Andrea leaps off, crashing into the Hardcore Maniac with a corkscrew moonsault.

 

“Beautiful Sky Twister Press from Andrea Montgomery! She’s taken control of this match with her speed and athleticism,” Comet says.

 

“But there’s no way she can send either Jamie Drazon or Danny Dagda over the top rope! She’s too weak to push them over,” Riley points out.

 

“That is true, but leverage can go a long way, and if Andrea Montgomery can get some leverage, she might be able to send Danny Dagda and Jamie Drazon tumbling over the top rope” Comet states.

 

Andrea gets to her feet and pulls JD up as well. Driving knees into his stomach, Andrea slowly works Drazon towards the ropes. Andrea pushes JD against the ropes and tries to shove him over, but Drazon digs his feet in and keeps a firm grip on the top rope. Andrea lashes out with a kick, hitting Jamie in the jaw, then follows with another kick to the chin. Andrea lands one more kick, takes a few steps back and nails Jamie Drazon with a front flip dropkick that nearly sends the Hardcore Maniac over the top rope!

 

“With that dropsault, Andrea Montgomery might have rocked Jamie Drazon enough to send him over the top!” Comet shouts.

 

“Over the top? This isn’t an arm wrestling contest, Comet,” Riley says.

 

“You stupid, stupid man. I’m not talking about that atrocious Sylvester Stallone movie, I simply mean Andrea Montgomery can knock Jamie Drazon over the top rope, thus eliminating him from this match,” Comet explains.

 

“Oh, good, because damn did that movie suck. I mean, you have to win an arm wrestling tournament to gain custody of a child? That’s about as common as a judge sentencing a man without insurance to become the butler for the person he rear-ended,” Riley says.

 

“Actually Stallone is simply trying to earn the respect of his son through arm wrestling, but the point is still valid,” Comet corrects.

 

Drazon wraps his arms around the top rope to steady himself, and as Andrea gets back to her feet, Drazon lashes out, kicking Drea in the head. JD lets go of the rope and darts towards Andrea, landing an elbow to her face. Andrea stumbles back, but Drazon closes the distance and cracks her with a lunging headbutt. With her eyes watering from the previous blow, Andrea doesn’t even see the open palm uppercut headed for her chin.

 

“And Jamie Drazon retaliates with a series of well-placed blows that have knocked Andrea Montgomery off her feet,” Comet notes.

 

“She’s bleeding, too!” Riley gleefully points out.

 

“That she is, Bobby, a trickle between her eyes and some from her nose. Those were some rough shots from Drazon. As a super hero, I’m brave to no end, but I’m still glad that I’m not in that ring with Jamie Drazon, as he can easily go over the edge,” Comet says.

 

Drazon kneels down, hand outstretched, grabs Montgomery and squeezes!

 

“Drazon has that Iron Claw locked on, and tight! Andrea Montgomery needs to find some way out of this if she has any plans of winning this match,” Comet says.

 

“Well, then she’s fine. Honestly Comet, how many wrestlers go into a match thinking of how they’ll lose the match?” Riley asks.

 

Drazon notices Danny Dagda getting up with his peripheral vision and JD stands up, lifting Drea with him. Half-dragging her, Jamie makes his way towards Danny and he lashes out with a kick that hits Danny in the sternum. Danny tries to shake off the blow and lets loose a jab, but Drazon pulls Andrea in front of him, using her as a shield! JD lashes out with another kick, but only grazes Dagda as Andrea is in the way. Danny throws a hook, but Jamie manages to pull Andrea in the path of the blow. Jamie throws a punch over Andrea’s shoulder with his free hand and manages to hit Danny on the chin. Danny feints a punch with his left hand, and as Drazon moves Andrea to take the blow, Dagda lashes out with a right hand chop that connects with Jamie’s wrist, forcing him to release Andrea Montgomery from the Iron Claw. Andrea falls to the mat and Jamie headbutts Danny in the face.

 

“I doubt she planned it that way, but Andrea Montgomery has managed to get free of Jamie Drazon’s Iron Claw,” Comet says.

 

“Yeah, but that was great how Jamie Drazon was using her like a human shield! That chop to the wrist by Danny Dagda put a stop to that, though. That must have hurt, because Drazon’s got a strong grip,” Riley notes.

 

“Indeed, Bobby. A blow to the wrist like that from a man as strong as Danny Dagda would make just about anyone drop what was in his or her hand,” Comet says.

 

Dagda punches Drazon on the chin, but eats a kick to the ribs in the process. Danny responds with a knee lift that drives the air from Jamie’s lungs, then follows up with a European uppercut that straightens JD up. Danny poses for a moment, but only ends up catching an elbow across his chest. Danny swings wildly, but Jamie Drazon manages to grab him by the wrist and pulls Danny in. JD twists his body while still holding Dagda’s arm and sends Danny to the mat with a judo hiptoss. Jamie doesn’t let go of Danny and quickly scissors his arm.

 

“Jamie Drazon and Danny Dagda exchange blows after Jamie lets go of his shield, and he ends up the victor in this scenario,” Comet points out.

 

“Yes, he’s got Danny’s arm scissorlocked and doesn’t show any sign of letting go,” Riley states.

 

“Drazon going back to his earlier strategy of wearing his opponents down with submission holds and focusing on their own personal strengths. By attacking Danny Dagda’s arm, it will be that much harder for Danny Dagda to eliminate Jamie Drazon,” Comet notes.

 

Drazon keeps the scissorlock on Danny who’s thrashing in pain, trying to figure out how to escape the painful hold. Danny reaches towards Jamie with his free hand, trying to pull JD’s legs off of his arm, but to no avail. Danny tries to land a blow to Drazon’s crotch, but his own arm is shielding that area too well, not too mention Dagda’s arm just falling short of the target. Cringing in pain, Danny seems to have an idea and puts his free hand behind one of Jamie’s knees. Danny’s fingers wrap around JD’s knee cap, but his thumb is hidden from view.

 

“I wonder what Danny Dagda is trying to do. He’s got his hand on Jamie Drazon’s knee, but I don’t think Danny can push Jaime’s legs off,” Comet says.

 

“I think I know. Danny is putting pressure on the tendons and ligaments of the back of Drazon’s knee, and I can say from experience that that does not feel good,” Riley says.

 

Danny yelps in pain, but keeps his hand on Drazon’s knee, pushing and squeezing. After nearly thirty seconds of pushing, which equals one minute of Danny trapped in the jujigatame, Jamie releases the hold, rolls away and grabs at his knee while Danny brings his arm into his body.

 

“Danny Dagda manages to find a way to escape, and I believe that if he didn’t get free, Jamie Drazon would not have let go of his own volition,” Comet says.

 

“Well of course not. There’s no point for him to let go, and there’s nothing to make him let go,” Riley says.

 

Andrea Montgomery slowly rises to her feet and heads for the ring ropes to support her with Jamie Drazon up not far behind. Andrea leans heavily on the ring ropes and turns around only to see Jamie Drazon rumbling towards her. Drea slips down, still holding on to the top rope, just as JD extends his foot. Drazon’s leg straddles the top rope and Montgomery releases the rope and it snaps back, directly into JD’s reproductive organs, and by reproductive organs, we mean the thing between his knees, and by thing between his knees, well, that’s pretty self-explanatory. Andrea bends down and manages to lift Drazon’s other leg and put it over the top rope as well, placing JD in a dangerous predicament. Jamie turns around to dish something out to Andrea, but his eyes go wide, causing Drea to spin around as well. Charging towards them is Danny Dagda, arm outstretched.

 

“Danny Dagda is looking to finish this match right now!” Comet exclaims.

 

“Come on, Danny! Knock those bums over the rope and outside!” Riley cheers on.

 

As Danny nears, Montgomery shuffles out of the way, leaving JD as the only target. Danny reaches the ropes, but hits nothing but air as Drazon falls to the apron and pulls down the top rope! Dagda leans over the ropes off-balance, and Andrea darts in, grabs Danny by his ankles and heaves up, sending the New Jerseyian tumbling to the outside, leaving it down to Andrea Montgomery and Jamie Drazon!

 

“Danny Dagda has been eliminated! He tried to end it all, but that plan backfired, and now he’s out of this match completely!” Comet exclaims.

 

“Andrea Montgomery and Jamie Drazon cheated! What kind of a professional wrestler won’t take a blow head-on, but instead runs out of the way?” Riley asks.

 

“A smart wrestler?” Comet supplies.

 

“No! A coward, someone who has no business being in this business!” Riley shouts.

 

Andrea gets back to her feet and stands in wait for Drazon to get up as well. JD slowly pulls himself up with help from the ring ropes, and as soon as he’s back to a vertical base, Andrea wraps her arms around his head, cradling his jaw on her shoulder. Andrea drops, but not without first planting a knee in Jamie’s crotch! Dazed from the jawbreaker and hurting in ways unimaginable from the knee, Jamie stumbles around on the apron, but he has enough sense in him to wrap his arms around the top rope and hold on with dear life. Andrea shoves at Drazon, but he hardly budges, even as she begins sending kicks flying towards his head. Slowly, Drazon recovers from the genital assault and lashes out with a forearm to Andrea’s head. Andrea ceases her barrage, which allows Drazon to wrap her up and attempt to suplex her over the ropes, but Andrea blocks by wrapping her feet around the bottom rope.

 

“Now Andrea Montgomery is hanging on with dear life! She had Jamie Drazon backed against the wall, but now the tables have turned!” Comet points out.

 

“Well, she was pretty stupid in trying to force Jamie Drazon over the top rope. He’s too big and too strong for someone as small as Andrea Montgomery to send him over,” Riley says.

 

Jamie tries again to lift Andrea up, but she’s locked on to the ropes. Drazon tries a third time, but Andrea manages to writhe free of JD’s grasp! Andrea backs up and springs forward, nailing Drazon in the stomach, doubling the Hardcore Maniac over. Drea grabs JD and pulls his upper body between the top and middle ropes. Andrea knees Drazon in the head twice for good measure before taking a step backwards. Montgomery leaps up onto the top rope and dives forward, grabbing Jamie Drazon around the waist. Andrea pulls forward while sliding down and she lands on the very edge of the apron.

 

“Andrea Montgomery must be very desperate! She’s trying a sunset flip to eliminate Jamie Drazon!” Comet shouts.

 

“And it looks like it’s working! Drazon’s nearly lost his balance!” Riley points out.

 

The Hardcore Maniac windmills his arms wildly, trying to regain his balance as well as reach the ropes to steady himself, but he is just out of reach! Andrea pulls harder, trying to send Jamie to the floor. Drea tugs once more, and it’s enough as Drazon leans like the Pisan tower, and that’s enough for gravity to finish him off as Jamie tumbles backwards and lands on the cold floor. Hall checks to see Drazon’s feet touch the floor, then calls for the bell.

 

DING! DING! DING!

 

“The winner of this match, AAANDRRREAAA MONTGOMERRY!” Funyon roars out over the cheering crowd and “Just a Girl” playing on the public address system.

 

“Andrea Montgomery has won! She sent Jamie Drazon to the floor with that risky sunset flip!” Comet shouts.

 

“I’ve always said, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward,” Riley says.

 

“No you don’t, I remember that from an episode of Boy Meets World,” Comet says. “But now Andrea Montgomery can challenge for any title she wants. I have to wonder which she’ll go after. Will she reform Team Flip Flop and go after the tag titles, or perhaps what she’s best suited and the cruiserweight title?” Comet inquires.

 

“Oh, come on, Comet! If she’s smart, she’ll go after the World Heavyweight title! And that’s exactly why she won’t, because Andrea Montgomery is not smart,” Riley says.

 

“Andrea Montgomery is a very intelligent young woman, and you know that, Bobby! She’s also fully capable of giving any title holder a very good challenge, and capable of defeating some of these champions. I believe that the talent level of the SWF is so great that any competitor could defeat any other competitor on a given night!” Comet shouts.

 

“Prime example being anyone who has ever beaten Tom Flesher. Then again, I’ve got some very reliable sources that say Tom was severely drunk on each of his losses,” Riley says.

 

“And would that source be you in the form of President of the Tom Flesher Fan Club?” Comet asks.

 

“That’s a matter between myself and aforementioned President,” Riley says huffily.

 

Andrea walks back up the ramp, gently touches Divefire’s bust, then heads past the entrance way and to the back as Fugue cues up “O Fortuna”.

[the.weej 0]

Fade in.

 

The camera sweeps around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The capacity crowd cheers as the four Smarktrons above the ring fizzle to life. The sound of an acoustic guitar playing a hard driving riff floats out over the arena, but it is almost completely drowned out by the fans showing their support for the man about to emerge. Austin Sly steps out from behind the curtains with only a slight, cocky smirk to show any emotion on his face. He walks to the edge of the stage to do his pre match stretches, and then he makes his way toward the ring as Funyon makes his announcement.

 

"Weeeeeeeeelllcome back to SWF GENESIS FIVE! I'm Cyclone Comet, along with Bobby Riley, and we're tumbling headlong into this Hardcore Gamers' Championship bout!" greets the caped crusader.

 

Funyon announces almost simultaneously with Comet, "LAAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! The following contest is scheduled for one fall! And will be for the SWF HAAARDCORE GAMERS CHAMPIONSHIP!! The challenger!! Making his way to the ring, he stands six feet and three inches tall.. weighs in at two hundred and thirty pounds.. from St. Louis, Missouri.. AUUUUUUUUSTIN SLYYYYYY!!"

 

Austin jumps up onto the ring apron and hooks his arm on the top rope. He looks through the thousands of fans, not focusing on anyone or anything in the crowd, just taking it in before he climbs into the ring through the middle rope. He makes his way across the ring and leans on the ropes awaiting his opponent, the champion. The crowd chants to show him their favor over the Revolution Zero member.

 

AUS-TIN!!

 

AUS-TIN!!

 

AUS-TIN!!

 

Sly's entrance music fades into the background. The buzz of the crowd fills the silence for all of three seconds before a distant rumble of thunder echoes the Rose Bowl, and gradually grows louder until..

 

BOOM!

 

Two streaks of fire zip down the tops of the entryway and explode at the entrance into the ring area. The crowd begins to boo as 40 Below Summer's "F.E." kicks up over the sound system.

 

"And the champion!!" Funyon begins. Sean Davis steps into view, the HGC strapped around his thick trunk. Marcus Washington is close behind, steel briefcase in hand. The pair makes their way to the ring as Funyon continues his announcement. "Standing at six feet, four inches.. weighing in at two hundred and seventy pounds! From Jacksonville, Florida and being accompanied by Maarcus Waashington!! Representing REVOLUTION ZEERO!! SEEEEEANNN DAAAAAVIS!!"

 

DAVIS SUCKS!!

 

DAVIS SUCKS!!

 

DAVIS SUCKS!!

 

The crowd boos Davis as he makes his way down the isle of fame, but he hardly pays them any mind. He is clearly focused on his opponent. As Sean strides to the ring, he reaches around behind him and unstraps the belt from his waist. He picks up speed as he nears the ring, holding the title out to Marcus as he charges the apron and slides in under the bottom rope. Austin straightens, and prepares for an attack. The referee stands between the two competitors as Sean gets to his feet, and he continues charging! The striped official backpedals out of the way and Davis charges Sly, barreling toward him like a freight train without brakes!

 

DING! DING! DING!!

 

"Sean Davis is taking no chances tonight!" screams Riley over the shouting crowd.

 

Comet replies excitedly, "But Citizen Sly's ready for him! Austin uses Citizen Davis's momentum to throw him to the mat with an arm drag!"

 

RAAAAAAAAHH!!

 

Davis gets quickly back to his feet and charges at Sly again, this time, leveling his challenger with a fierce clothesline as Sly attempts another arm drag. Austin pops back to his feet, only to be slammed back to the mat forcefully. Sean pulls Sly up by his hair and whips him across the ring. Austin gains momentum on the return, but before colliding with Davis, he leaps off the mat and lands a double dropkick to the champion's knee! Sean yelps with surprise as the target knee buckles and he ends up kneeling on the mat. But the champion is up quickly, only to find his opponent gone. Sly has rolled out of the ring, and already searches under the ring for a weapon! Davis stalks to the ropes and steps over the top rope. Austin backs out from under the apron as Sean hops off, aiming a big double axe handle to his neck! Sly drives upward with his newfound weapon, a sledgehammer, and Davis falls gut first onto it! The champion drops to his back, clenching his aching torso.

 

"Citizen Sly taking an early advantage with that sledgehammer. It might be all Austin has to overcome the behemoth, Citizen Davis!"

 

"FOUR!!" shouts Austin! He raises the sledgehammer like a golf club and swings down at the prone champion!

 

CRACK!!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

HOLY SHIT!

 

BOOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

Washington enters the picture, as he clocks Austin over the back of the head with his steel briefcase!

 

"Forceful Bureaucracy at its finest!" claims Riley with glee.

 

Marcus hurries to Davis and shakes him to get him back into the game. The champion is bleeding profusely from a cut above his eye, his lids already swollen shut. Sean woozily stands and heads to Sly, who also begins to stand, holding the back of his head. Davis lunges at Austin, rocking him back with a huge right hand! Sly staggers back and is hit with another big punch! Austin hits the barrier separating the ring from the fans and then doubles over as Sean football tackles him, shifting the barrier almost into the crowd!!

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH!!

 

DAVIS SUCKS!

 

DAVIS SUCKS!

 

DAVIS SUCKS!

 

Austin slumps to the concrete floor and Davis reaches down, picking him back up. Sean pushes Sly's head down between his legs, then gutwrenches his opponent up onto his shoulder. Sly lays limp in the Canadian backbreaker, then is dizzied when Sean spins quickly.

 

"This move has been the buzz backstage, the Cyclone Driver, yet we have yet to see it! Will Citizen Sly be its first victim?!" asks Comet.

 

"You should be glad, Spandex Boy! It's got your name in it!"

 

Once he completes a few revolutions, Sean pulls Austin down into a piledriver position and drops to his knees, absolutely slamming Sly's head into the concrete! Austin falls limp, face down. Sean Davis appears to have aggravated his knee with the piledriver, and rolls away, holding said knee. Marcus shoves Davis in the shoulder, screaming at him to focus. Sean crawls over and lays an arm over Austin Sly. The referee goes down for the count.

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

 

 

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Cyclone Driver on Austin Sly! He's dead!" cries Riley!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't go down like this, Citizen Sly!" Comet worriedly begs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no resistance from Austin Sly.

 

BOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

DING! DING! DING!!

 

Marcus leaps into the air in celebration as "F.E." by 40 Below Summer kicks up, signaling his client's win! Sean Davis sits back, holding his knee and shaking his head from the pain. Washington helps Davis get to his feet and then also hands him his retained Hardcore Gamers' Championship!

 

"Your winner!" Funyon begins! "AND STILL SWF HARDCORE GAMERS' CHAMPION!! SEEAAAAAANN DAAAAAVIS!!"

 

"Boo," states Comet.

 

"Yay," retaliates Riley.

 

"Next, please."

 

The camera focuses on Sean Davis as he clutches the HGC belt to his chest. He leans heavily on his friend, Marcus Washington, and limps visibly. The blood from the cut on his forehead still flows fresh over the whole right side of his face. He winces with each step taken on his left knee.

 

"You've got time, Sean. We'll get you fixed up for the tag match. This was nothing, shake it off!" Marcus is heard coaching Davis.

 

The shot switches now to Austin Sly, who lays limp on the floor. The referee kneels next to him, trying to wake him. The ref looks toward the ramp and signals for help.

 

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!

 

The last view is of the referee.. the look of concern etched on his face is all that needs to be said.

 

Fade out.

[the.weej 0]

MANSON

 

 

Vs.

 

 

MAX KING

 

 

CAGED FURY MATCH

 

 

As the "Next Match" graphic flashes on the various screens scattered throughout the stadium, set to tbe backdrop of "O Fortuna", a huge roar erupts from the Rose Bowl crowd, and surely from those not lucky enough to be attending the event live tonight, as well. The visages of Manson and Max King, along with Kelly Connelly, invoke memories from these fans of the past months, which has led the two up to this point. And as always, Cyclone Comet and Bobby Riley are ready to call the match…

 

"(Comet) Well, that big iron cage we've seen hovering above the ring is ready to be put to good use, because it's time for the Caged Fury Match between Manson and 'The Icon' Max King!"

 

"(Riley) What a match it should be, especially since Manson will finally get what's coming to him…"

 

"(Comet) Who knew that when Manson and King first crossed paths, they would eventually meet here at Genesis V! Max King kicked off this heated rivalry by turning on Manson during a Six Man Elimination Tag Match for the Hardcore Contendership. This selfish act in some ways led to an injury to Manson in that same match…"

 

"(Riley) Hey, he had to do what he could to get that contendership… including taking Manson out of the equation."

 

"(Comet) Well, turning on your tag partner is low, and Max would eventually sink lower than that. Anyhow, Manson battled through his injuries and gained a mesaure of revenge by pinning Max King for the USJL Contendership in a Fatal Fourway, then captured the USJL Title from The Masked Man. However, lo and behold, Max King defeated Vladimir Everheart for the next USJL opportunity. At Ground Zero, Manson and Max King butted heads again, this time with the title on the line, with Manson emerging victorious as he made Max King tap out to retain his belt."

 

"(Riley) Pft… A lucky break…"

 

"(Comet) Of course, the story wasn't over there, as Max King couldn't let bygones be bygones. His ego was bruised, and so he viciously attacked Manson the show after Ground Zero, zeroing in on his injury and aggravating it further. As if that weren't enough, Max then cost Manson his USJL Championship, with Manson losing it to Vlad Everheart. With the pieces falling into place, in a Fatal Fourway also involving Manson, King won the ICTV Contendership as Manson was powerless to stop him."

 

"(Riley) Oh, yeah. Those last few things were actually the best part about this feud."

 

"(Comet) However, not one to be upstaged, Manson upped the ante by getting involved in King's title match versus Landon Maddix, providing just enough of a distraction to throw King off his game for a Maddix win."

 

"(Riley) That filthy cheat Manson…"

 

"(Comet) Yes, well, for all the talk of the USJL and ICTV, this thing between Manson and King has moved far beyond personal. When deep issues need to be settled, there are a few rare matches that get the job done, and Caged Fury is one of those matches!"

 

As we await the competitors, the cameras switch to the impeccably dressed Funyon, looking more than adequate for tonight's special occasion…

 

"(Funyon) Ladies and Gentlemen, the following is a Caged Fury Match! The rules are as follows… there will be no-disqualifications or countouts, and the match cannot be won by pinfall or escaping the cage. As such, no door is provided for exiting the cage. This match can ONLY be won by submission!"

 

The crowd cheers, ready for a fight, as Kelly Connelly saunters out to "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks, along with a healthy amount of boos from the entirety of the Rose Bowl crowd. Chants of "Get on with it!" can be heard, as Kelly sneers at the crowd and heads up the ring steps, finishing up her long walk down the red carpet. She steps through the ropes and motions for the mic. However, pondering whether to hand her the mic, Funyon instead ignores her, causing Kelly's face to turn red as Referee Matt Kivell ushers to the other side of the ring. The fans ringside heckle her, just as "Bitch" suddenly cuts out, making way for…

 

BOOM!

 

A big pyro explosion near the entryway, followed by Saliva's "Superstar" on the PA system!

 

"(Comet) You know, if it was that easy to keep Kelly quiet, Funyon should have done it before."

 

"(Riley) That unappreciative jerk… How dare he deny us Kelly's sexy, soothing voice? There's something about it, the way she talks about Max King, boasting his accomplishments, among other things. Heh. If someone didn't know any better, they'd think I was more attracted to Max King than I was Kelly… But I'm not…"

 

"(Comet) …right."

 

The fans boo and jeer without mercy, as Max King walks out from between the glass set design, a smug expression on his face. He holds up his head high, ignoring the fans as he walks down the red carpet lined with busts of SWF legends and the memorable moments. Max King ascends the stairs and greets Kelly, who sits on the second rope.

 

"(Funyon) Introducing first, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Weighing in at two-hundred and fifty pounds, and standing six feet, three inches tall… 'THE ICON' MMMAAAAX KIIINNNNG!"

 

Max King enters the ring and berates Funyon for mistreating Kelly, initating Kivell to get in between them. King gets a hold of himself, going over to his corner to loosen up, as Kelly kisses Max on the cheek and exits the ring. Then, as Max King looks toward the entryway, the house lights drop out, allowing for multi-hued strobes to flash. The cheers of the fans swell as "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" by Prong hits, and Manxon walks out from between the glass structure to a tremendous pop! He pauses just at the head of the red carpet and thrusts a clenched fist into the air! The fans cheer even more, before Manson drops his hands and walks down the carpeted aisle.

 

"(Funyon) And his opponent, hailing from Denver, Colorado! Weighing in at two-hundred and thirty pounds, and standing six feet even… MMMAAAAANNNNSOOOONNN!"

 

Manson approaches the ring cautiously and rolls in, popping up to his feet quickly before Max King has an opportunity to attack. Both can do nothing but stare at each other, already engaged in head games, as Funyon hightails it out of there. The cage descends from above, as SWF staff rush to secure the cage in place.

 

"(Comet) Well, to prepare for this occasion, Max King took on Todd Cortez in a Submissions Match and Candace in a Cage Match, coming out with the win on both occasions. Meanwhile Manson faced very tough competition in Tokyo X, obliterating him in the process."

 

"(Riley) Manson versus Tokyo X was a joke, and I don't know what he was trying to prove there."

 

"(Comet) He was obviously displaying just what he thought of Max King. Besides, you have to question the wisdom of King for taking part in a Cage Match prior to tonight's PPV. It's madness, that's what it is! ABSOLUTE MADNESS!"

 

"(Riley) Okay."

 

The staff finish fastening the cage to the ring and Kivell calls for the bell…

 

::DING DING!::

 

The crowd takes their seats as Manson and Max King head to the center of the ring, their first meeting since King's ICTV Title Match. The two do not go into the customary lock-up, and instead talk trash to each other, before King opens things up with a disrespectful slap to the face. King breaks into a fury of punches, trying to dish out some heavy damage to Manson early on. Manson puts a stop to that with a block of one of the swinging fists, landing one of his own. Manson continues pressing the attack, also with a multitude of punches, and King suddenly goes down!

 

"(Comet) King tries to outbrawl Manson, but he efforts are all for naught, as Manson fights back! King should know by now that he simply can't outbrawl Manson!"

 

As King hits the mat and proceeds to get back up a moment later, Manson is on him like a pitbull. He mounts King's back, pulls him up by the head and proceeds to strike him with a series of hard cross forearms to the side of the head and neck. Manson releases King and Max simply falls to the mat. Dazed, King gets to his hands and knees, and again Manson is there waiting, taking King by the hand and pulling him in close, knocking him down with a shortarm clothesline! Manson keeps hold of King's hand and scissors the arm, going down to the mat for the cross armbreaker! Shaking off the clothesline and coming to, King frantically convulses, trying to escape.

 

"(Comet) Manson going for the crucifix armbar!"

 

"(Riley) Ohh no… King doesn't want to let Manson get that on, assuming he's setting up for the Anathema later on."

 

Not intent on not letting Manson lock this in fully, Max is able to break the scissors on the arm just as Manson was about to fully lean back and pull on the appendage. Max darts up from the mat, back to a standing position, as he tries to gain a moment to clear his head. Manson wraps his arms around King's leg though, tripping him up! King hits the mat with a thud and attempts to get back to his vertical base, greeted by Manson wrapping his arms around King's waist from behind. Perhaps out of desperation, or finally getting himslf together, King drops down to his knees, stands and maneuvers around Manson, grabbing Manson's arm and bringing it behind his back into a hammerlock. King rushes forward while letting go of the hammerlock, sending Manson face first into the cage!

 

"(Riley) YES! Max King making use of the cage first!"

 

Manson stumbles back after bouncing off the cage, holding his forehead, as King ducks down and knocks his legs out from under him. Manson falls back, and King is back up on his feet, taking hold of Manson's right leg. King boots the back of Manson's knee, followed by another, causing Manson to scream out, before dropping an elbow across the knee!

 

"(Comet) King going after Manson's injured leg with elbows, still bandaged up with that knee brace after all these weeks!"

 

King stands and pointing to the crowd, resulting in a handful of boos, drops another elbow! Manson screams again, as King simply lays across the knee, grabbing onto the cuff of Manson's jeans with both hands. King gets a firmer hold on the shin and pulls up on the leg. Manson bats the canvas with his hands in pain, then props himself up on his elbows. Manson jolts forward and hammers King's chest with a forearm, causing King to wrench and pull the leg moreso. Manson grits his teeth and jolts forward again, now grabbing hold of King's chin to keep himself up. Manson hits King's chest and neck with a barrage of forearms, finally causing King to release the hold.

 

"(Comet) Mansonosity is able to fight out of the leglock, but who knows how much that hold took out of him."

 

King gets to his feet, with Manson following, and King is the first to attack as he hits Manson with a forearm to the jaw. King follows that up by grabbing hold of Manson's arm and whipping Manson to the aisleside ropes. Manson springs off and King wraps his arms around Manson in a waistlock, drving him into the cage once again!

 

"(Comet) King again throwing Manson into the cage!"

 

"(Riley) That a boy! That's what it's there for, so use it to your advantage."

 

Manson again bounces off the cage, now clutching the back of his head as he drops to the mat. Manson attempts to stand back up, as King simply pulls him back up and shoves him into the lower right corner. King turns a shoulder toward Manson and brings a flexed arm up, catching Manson with the European uppercut! Manson's head rocks back, as King ducks down again, hitting Manson with another hard uppercut! Manson dangles on the ropes, as King pulls him up and lays him flat against the turnbuckle, preparing for another strike. Thinking quickly, Manson simply thumbs him in the eye to the adulation of the fans!

 

"(Riley) Of all the rotten tricks…"

 

King backs off Manson, trying to clear up his vision, as Manson comes out of the corner. Wrapping an arm around King's chest and taking hold of his near leg, Manson grunts and heaves King up, throwing him backward with an exploder suplex! Instead of landing on the mat, though, King crashes into the cage, landing between the ropes and the cage itself!

 

"(Comet) Oh my! A release exploder into the cage!"

 

"(Riley) All because of something as low as a thumb to the eye. Manson should be ashamed of himself."

 

"(Comet) Hey, it's no-dq. In which case, he has to win the match however he can."

 

Kelly turns back toward the wreckage, imploring King to get up, as Manson sits on the mat smiling. Getting up to his feet, Manson looks at King and starts for the opposite side ropes, in the northern portion of the ring. He springs off and ducks low, diving feet first toward King, hitting him with a sliding dropkick against the cage!

 

"(Comet) And Manson follows up with a dropkick to King!"

 

King yelps as Manson stands up from the mat, throwing a fist in the air. King rolls out from under the ropes, and as Manson approaches him, looking to follow up on the attack, King's arm shoots up and catches Manson in the crotch! Kivell looks away, but Manson can only smirk and shrug his shoulders, before kneeing King flush in the face!

 

"(Comet) It appears as if Manson learned a lesson from Ground Zero, as he's apparently opted to wear a cup tonight…"

 

"(Riley) That's not fair! How does one expect King to win this if he can't use every trick in the book?!"

 

"(Comet) I don't know. By out wrestling him maybe?"

 

King pulls himself up with the use of the ring ropes as Manson comes nearer. King delivers a straight kick to Manson's knee, and Manson grimaces in pain. King goes back to the knee, now with a low roundhouse, followed by another, and another! Manson goes down to his knee, and King backs up a step, before coming forward, grabbing the head of Manson and dropping him with a swinging neckbreaker! King rapidly stomps Manson, and bends down to lift him up. Positioning himself behind and to the side of Manson, King sets up Manson as if for a backdrop suplex, but bends Manson's right leg over onto itself. King lifts up Manson into the shin breaker position, but instead of droppig him down right there, he takes him over the to north ropes and drops him shin first across the top! With his foe stuck between the cage and ropes, his knee in bad condition, Max takes a few steps back and charges Manson. King lifts his leg up as he nears Manson, flattening his head against the cage with a Yakuza Kick!"

 

"(Comet) What the holy heck?! That's one of Manson's signature maneuvers!"

 

"(Riley) Ah, but there King utilized it better than Manson ever has. I wouldn't be surprised if Manson got a concussion from having his head kicked against the cage like that!"

 

Manson crumbles to the canvas, his head no doubt throbbing from the Yakuza Kick, as Kivell checks on him briefly. Manson's eyes roll into the back of his head and spots of thick red liquid can be seen through his hair. King lifts up Manson, but similar to King moments before, Manson instinctively lifts his leg upward, kicking King square in the jumblies! King's face turns red, as he falls to his knees and onto his side, with Manson simply falling backward onto the mat.

 

"(Comet) Manson with the low kick now!"

 

"(Riley) See! See! Manson is nothing but a cheat!"

 

"(Comet) I doubt he was even aware of what he was doing there. It's obvious he's not with it at the moment."

 

Kelly screams at King, trying to get him to stand up, as he rolls over onto his knees. Manson still lays on the mat, breathing heavily. King stands up, as Manson tries to will himself over onto his side. King staggers toward Manson, still feeling the effects of the kick, as he looks at down at Manson, two probable places to focus an attack. His choice made, if only because he wants to get the job done as he intended, he lifts up Manson's leg and wraps his hands around it, going for the single leg crab! Again workng out of instict, Manson kicks wildly upward, catching King square in the face with the toe of his boot! King snaps back to the mat, as blood begins spurting out of his forehead.

 

"(Comet) Manson's lucky kick taps a vein!"

 

"(Riley) This can't be happening.. King had him…"

 

 

"MANSON!"

 

 

"MANSON!"

 

 

"MANSON!"

 

 

The fans chant, as both Manson and King lay on the canvas. Both get up at the same time, as King lunches in for a clothesline. Manson ducks, and sensing opportunity, leaps up and grabs King's head with his arms, going for the Consequences! King quickly shoves Manson off toward the aisle side ropes, and Manson hangs on. King rushes in, but gets backdropped over the top! He again crashes into the cage, nearly landing on the top of his head between the enclosure and the ropes!

 

"(Comet) Backdrop into the cage!"

 

"(Riley) Sickening. This thing should have been over by now, for crying out loud!"

 

Manson pulls King out from under the ropes, and dives onto the mat, wrapping his hands around King's arm and leaning back!

 

"(Comet) AND MANSON LOCKS IN THE FUJIWARA ARMBAR!"

 

King shouts and screams, looking for any way out. He swats his arm anywhere he can, finally composing himself and placing that free arm on the mat. Pushing himself off the mat, he manages to get his legs under him, and Manson releases the hold. Manson gets back up to his feet, but King is there waiting, as he tackles Manson by the legs and again goes for the single leg crab!

 

"(Comet) The half crab again, another one of Manson's signature moves!"

 

King sits down on Manson's back, trying to finally put him away. Knowing he doesn't have much time, pushes himself up with his arms and rolls through, knocking King off the hold. Manson and King get up onto their feet, and Manson wraps his arms around King's waist, lifting him up and over with the backdrop suplex, dropping him on his head! King flips up and over onto his stomach from the impact, as Manson slowly gets up to his feet. Noticing King down on the ground, Manson dives down and wraps his left arm in a scissors, while wrapping his arms around King's right!

 

"(Comet) ANATHEMA! MANSON HAS IT!"

 

"(Riley) OH NO! OH GOD NO!"

 

Kivell checks on King, as Manson pulls on the arms, tighter and tighter. Kelly buries her head in his hands as King's face turns red. Kivell asks him if he wants to give it up, and finally at the breaking point..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Max King says yes! Manson releases the hold and Kivell calls for the bell!

 

 

::DING DING!::

 

 

And "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" hits!

 

"(Funyon) Your winner, by submission… MMMAAAAAAAAAANNNSOOONNNNN!"

 

"(Comet) MANSON DID IT! MANSON DEFEATED MAX KING!"

 

"(Riley) …with the same move Manson used at Ground Zero. Damn it all to hell…"

 

The cage raises back into the sky, and both men are shown bloodied on the mat, but only one shall stand tall. And that man's name is Manson!

 

"(Comet) Well, that's it for Caged Fury, where Manson comes through with a big win versus Max King! Hopefully King will move on, and hopefully our next match between John Duran and... some guy... will be one to remember!"

[the.weej 0]

As the video package highlighting the next match comes to a close, the camera view is looking down upon the extravagant Genesis V set, the various SWF legends standing in relative silence, with nothing but the buzz of the crowd, pumped to see more action.

 

“NO~

NO~

NOTORIOUS!”

 

The fans immediately begin the mandatory booing for John Duran, as Spineshank’s “Synthetic” begins to play and he walks out onto the grand stage, looking out over the thousands upon thousands of people in the open-air stadium, and finally lifting his arms in the air, middle fingers extended high, making sure every fan in the Rose Bowl sees the extended digits before lowering his arms and beginning to walk down the aisle.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, this next match is scheduled for one fall,” Funyon begins as the music and the jeering continues on in the background. “Introducing first, weighing in at 268 pounds and hailing from Champaign, Illinois...he is THE NOTORIOUS JOHN DURAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!”

 

“Robert, this next match promises to be one to remember for a long time, because whenever we get these mystery men coming to our shows, there’s no telling who it will be!” Cyclone Comet says to his broadcasting partner.

 

“That’s true, Comet, but whoever it is, there’s no way that it can be enough of a challenge that Duran can’t handle it!”

 

Surrounded by legendary figures such as Chris Raynor, El Luchador Magnifico, and Edwin MacPhisto, the Notorious One takes a look at each statue on his way down to the ring, soaking in the atmosphere. As he exits from the aisle, he works his way around to the ring steps as fans scream obscenities and other words of ill will towards Duran, who climbs up the ring steps and onto the apron. From there, Duran goes between the ropes and enters the ring, before walking up to Funyon and calmly swiping the microphone from his hands.

 

“Okay, all of you idiots can take your time with your booing, but I’ve got something to say.” The boos only get louder by this announcement from Duran, and he drops the microphone to his side, raising his left hand up to his bad neck and rubbing it patiently, before deciding that the negative reaction won’t get any quieter unless he starts talking.

 

“As I’m sure every one of you fans in this stadium realizes, this is my final match as a professional wrestler.” The amount of cheers is staggering, as there is no love lost for Duran, even in his final match. “I figured that you all would love to hear that. The fact is, I’m fine that you want me gone. I don’t care enough about any of you to be hurt by your reaction to me. The fact is, I’ve had a hell of a career, and I wouldn’t change anything to please you fans, even if it would’ve meant not getting my neck broken.”

 

The cheers turn back to boos, but Duran isn’t nearly finished yet. “There’s only one person I blame. Well, technically, there’s a few people that I could blame. Myself, I feel the need to call out the commissioners that we have had in the SWF ever since I entered this federation at the Ground Zero PPV.” There’s a mixed reaction from the crowd now, and most of them are interested in seeing where this is going.

 

“The fact is, that by the time I got my very first shot at the SWF World Heavyweight Title, I had been put through utter hell. I had wrestled some of the toughest bastards that the SWF had to offer, and I just kept coming back for more. But by the time that I got my hands on that strap, it was far too late in my career. I had already been engaged in an intense rivalry with the Unnamed, and not too long after my first World Title match, I had been mutilated by that freak of nature Janus in a cage match.”

 

A gaggle of fans explode in approval, remembering the famous cage match that left Duran with a neck brace. “Yeah, that’s right, all of you dig that. Whatever. All I want to know is this: Where were those god damn title shots when I was a healthy man? Where was my opportunity to get the biggest prize in the business when my neck wasn’t hanging on a string?”

 

The boos are becoming louder and louder once again as Duran’s speech begins to build in intensity. “Was it too much to ask that I get a simple shot at the belt that I wanted more than anything, and that I knew I could have? I must have been too much of a threat to somebody. I was just as good 11 months ago as I am today, but the only difference is, that after this final match which is not for the World Title, I will be done! I don’t blame myself, I don’t blame my opponents, I blame the people that refused to realize the talent in me and give me the title shot that I rightfully deserve!”

 

The fans in the Rose Bowl, who have come from all parts of Earth to converge here, have had it with Duran.

 

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP

 

“Fine, you want me to shut the fuck up? Then let’s get this mystery opponent out here, so I can let my actions speak louder than my words, and show you all why I should’ve gotten any title shot, whenever I wanted!”

 

“THIS MONSTER LIVES!”

 

The growl of James Hetfield comes completely out of nowhere, but as Metallica’s “Some Kind of Monster” begins, the crowd blows the proverbial roof off the Rose Bowl (if they had one), as Duran’s jaw drops, only able to hold the microphone in his hand as an “old friend” steps through the entranceway and into the aisle filled with legends.

 

“It’s Charlie Matthews! John Duran’s speech has been interrupted by the return of the Grappler!” Comet is very excited to see the returning Matthews as he walks down to the ring, most of the fans in amazement to see that he seems to be having no problem at all with his neck that seemed to retire him for good after his match at Battleground with John Duran.

 

“What the hell?” Riley asks, confused. “How in the hell can they let this lame wrestler back onto these hallowed premises!”

 

“You have to admit, Robert, this is one heck of a surprise opponent for John Duran!”

 

“I don’t think I’d want to unwrap a surprise present to find that dangerously dull man inside, Comet.”

 

The crowd is in awe at the appearance of the big man, who is also a former SWF World Champion, as he saunters down to the ring, staring Duran dead in the eye as he climbs up onto the apron and enters the ring. Duran takes a step back and grabs Ced Ordonez, the referee for this bout, and tells him to keep Matthews away from him. While he’s doing that, however, Charlie sneaks up and yanks the microphone from Duran.

 

“John Duran,” Matthews growls, to a loud pop from the audience, “What the HELL happened to you? Five months ago, you beat me, you put me out of commission, and you took over MY spot at the top of the mountain. It didn’t even take a MONTH for you to collapse down to the bottom.”

 

Duran is fuming, and neither man budges as Matthews continues.

 

“Since then, you’ve become a shell of your former self. You’ve sat shows out, lost to the lowest of the low, and, worst of all, you never stopped complaining. Duran, it took me five goddamn months to heal my neck up enough just to fight again, and just two weeks ago my doctor told me I only have one match left in my system. I knew it had to be you. I KNEW that the one man I absolutely had to beat in my last match would be you, Duran. I called up Zenon and he made the match. I’ve got nothing left to lose, Duran, and it looks like you don’t, either. One more time, that’s all I ask. We can make history here tonight at Genesis Five; we can both go out on top.”

 

Matthews stops to wait for Duran’s response, and the crowd roars its approval of Grappler’s proposal. Finally, the Notorious One nods, and Grappler smiles, dropping the mike and telling Ced Ordonez to call for the bell!

 

*DING DING DING*

 

The noise level in the Rose Bowl intensifies as the two archrivals circle one another and then lunge in, throwing punches with blinding fury! Matthews gets the best of this exchange, causing Duran to stumble backwards towards a corner. Charlie shoves his opponent back against the turnbuckle, and then takes a hold of his wrist, whipping him across the ring and into the opposite corner! As soon as Duran hits, Grappler charges full speed ahead, sending all three-hundred-plus pounds into the Notorious One with an avalanche!

 

“LET’S - GO - GRAP - PLER!” *clap - clap - clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S - GO - GRAP - PLER!” *clap - clap - clap-clap-clap*

 

“I never thought we’d see the day,” Comet begins, “that Charlie Matthews would return to the ring to take on his archrival, John Duran!”

 

“And we shouldn’t have,” Riley snipes, “and how stupid IS Grappler, anyway? He just told Duran that his neck is still bad. Talk about painting a bull’s eye.”

 

“Well, Bobbo, I’m sure Matthews is well aware of Duran’s neck problems, as well. The battleground, no pun intended, is quite even at the start.”

 

Grappler backs up and allows Duran to stumble out of the corner, but quickly wraps his own arms around John’s midsection and hoists him up, turning on his heel and slamming him onto the mat with a side belly-to-belly suplex! Matthews drops down and presses on top of Duran for the quick cover…

 

“ONE!”

 

…but Ordonez can’t even lift his arm off the mat once before Duran shoots his shoulder up, breaking the count. Matthews rises to his feet and brings John with him, nailing him with a hard right hand before taking a hold of his wrist and, this time, whipping him towards the ropes. Duran rebounds and Matthews swings his outstretched arm out for a lariat…ducked! Duran continues to run to the opposite ropes, and as he hits those, Matthews turns around, just in time to take a running knee to the gut! Grappler doubles over in pain, and Duran lifts his arms into the air, bringing them down across the back of Charlie’s neck with a double axe handle. Now the Notorious One takes a hold of Matthews’ wrist and pulls him in, swinging his own arm out and executing a short arm clothesline that drops him onto the mat!

 

“If Duran knows what’s good for him,” Riley begins, “he’ll exploit Grappler’s neck before Matthews can do the same to him. Duran isn’t a pussy, he didn’t take five months off to heal his neck, and it’d be a damn crime if Matthews won this match.”

 

“Bobbo, do you actually think Duran has been trying in these months since he lost the title?”

 

“That doesn’t matter, Comet. What matters is he was still working, not sitting out paychecks and getting daily chiropractic care.”

 

In a fit of anger and determination, Duran begins stomping his boot down on Matthews’ upper body, showing ruthless aggression as he does so. Ordonez tries to intervene and stop the monster, but the Notorious One ignores him and kicks Charlie under the nearest turnbuckle. Duran allows Matthews the opportunity to pull himself up into a sitting position against the bottom turnbuckle, but once he does, John backs up to the center of the ring and then charges forward, looking to cave Matthews’ skull in with his knee…

 

…but Matthews rolls out of the way! Duran’s knee collides with the bottom turnbuckle, and taking advantage of the situation, Charlie grabs a hold of Duran’s grounded leg and pulls it out from under him, sending him onto his back with a single leg takedown.

 

“Matthews avoids Duran’s patented knee attack!” Comet proclaims, “One thing that makes this match so interesting is the fact that these two know each other so well. I honestly can’t make a prediction on who I think will win this battle!”

 

“No one asked, Comet,” Riley snarls, “because, let’s face it, there is NO way Duran is going out of the SWF on his back. He’ll be riding high into the sunset.”

 

With Duran on his back and Grappler having a hold of his left leg, Matthews gracefully bends it to the side and then comes down with an elbow, slamming it down onto John’s left knee as he squirms in pain under Charlie’s heavy frame! The Grappler then gets to his feet, continuing to hold tight to that leg and then bringing it over to the middle rope. Referee Ced Ordonez warns Charlie not to do anything nefarious with Duran’s leg in such a position, but it’s inevitable as Grappler straddles the leg dangling from the middle rope and then leaps into the air a short distance before coming down hard onto the leg, pushing it down against the resistance of the rope!

 

“An interesting strategy from Charlie Matthews here, Bobbo,” Comet analyzes, “he’s going after those fabled knees that Duran loves to punish people with. Perhaps if he can neutralize the knees of Duran, he can keep his own neck from getting hurt and then use that to his advantage and make sure that Duran leaves her with less neck then ever!”

 

“What a terrible thought to even think about, Comet. This is a former World Champion we’re talking about here, and he’s resorting to tactics that aren’t exactly sparkling clean, all for the sake of taking out this poor man’s knee when he’s already got a bum neck!”

 

Riley’s complaints do not get through to the Grappler, who once again jumps up and slams himself down onto the elevated leg, as referee Ordonez has seen enough and begins administering a five count.

 

“ONE!”

 

As soon as the first count is levied, Charlie gets off Duran’s leg, pulling him away from the ropes by his jet-black hair and then bringing him to his feet as Ced once again warns Matthews about grabbing handfuls of hair--but the crowd is loving every moment of it. The Notorious One is finally brought up to a vertical base, and Charlie at once goes behind Duran, running into the ropes as Duran is trying to shake off the pain of the attacks on his knees, and he doesn’t even notice Matthews rebounding off the ropes and diving down, slamming his shoulder into the back of John’s kneecap and sending him down to the mat in a hurry! As soon as Duran hits, he immediately begins to tend to that knee, flopping up and down on the mat from the immense pain of Grappler’s chopblock! Matthews crawls over to Duran and puts him in a lateral press, hooking the leg once again as Ordonez goes down to the mat, counting for

 

“ONE!”

 

before Duran once again gets his shoulder up, this time a little later than the first pinfall attempt from Charlie.

 

“Citizen Duran is in a bad way,” Comet states the obvious as he watches along, “and at this rate, it won’t be long before his shoulders are once again pinned down to the mat for the three count!”

 

“It’d be foolish to count him out yet, Comet,” Riley begins his response, “Duran has never been so determined to get a win than he is right now! This is the biggest event in his career!”

 

Matthews is still as cool as a cucumber as he starts to bring Duran back to his feet once again. John shows no resistance until he gets to both feet, at which points he pushes his former Unnamed stablemate off him, giving him a cold stare and then coming forward with a roar of anger!

 

SMACK

 

“OHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

Duran throws a vicious right forearm, slamming it across the bridge of Charlie’s nose as he stumbles back into the ropes, the scattered cheers now turning into nothing but boos for the former Unnamed leader. Duran brings the forearm back again, and comes forward in a rush...

 

SMACK

 

“OHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

And the crowd is stunned by how hard it nails Grappler in the jaw, jerking his head to the right swiftly. Duran then pushes Charlie against the ropes, using the springy rebound of those ropes to send Matthews into the other side.

 

“Hey, Comet, why did Charlie Matthews cross the road?” Riley asks his commentating partner as Charlie rebounds off the ropes.

 

“Why?” Comet asks back.

 

As soon as that second question is out, Duran grabs Charlie one step off the ropes and brings him up and over with a quick and thunderous powerslam.

 

“To get hit with a powerslam!” Riley cackles as John hooks the leg, staying in the powerslam position as Ordonez slides around to watch the shoulders, counting

 

“ONE!”

 

“T-”

 

Before Charlie is able to shoot a shoulder up quite easily.

 

“You’re just a pun master, Bobbo,” Comet says sarcastically.

 

After failing to get the three count on that last pinfall attempt, Duran immediately gets back on his feet before Charlie has a chance to get his bearings, leaping in the air and extending his knee out before dropping it onto the NECK of Matthews! The crowd begins to boo again, and soon are clapping their hands in unified rhythm. Duran is back up on his feet, however, and backs into the ropes, bouncing off and once again jumping once he gets close to Charlie’s body, this time extending his leg out completely and slamming it down along the neck of the Grappler, as the crowd continues to boo, the clapping dying down as some of the fans have lost hope that Charlie can come back just yet, if at all. Instead of going for the cover, however, Duran simply sits Charlie up as Matthews tries to massage some of the pain out of his neck. Duran gets behind Matthews, however, and locks his arms around Charlie’s neck, applying a sleeperhold on the Grappler!

 

“And now, Citizen Duran has turned to submissions, this one to try and put the big man to sleep!”

 

“Well, you know that it took a Blunt Force Trauma for Duran to get his last victory over Grappler, so maybe he’s trying something different this time!” Riley attempts to rationalize just what exactly Duran has up his sleeves with his choice of moves.

 

The rhythmic clapping begins again, along with a chant of

 

“LET’S - GO - GRAP - PLER!” *clap - clap - clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S - GO - GRAP - PLER!” *clap - clap - clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S - GO - GRAP - PLER!” *clap - clap - clap-clap-clap*

 

Grappler begins to feel the adrenaline going through him as he raises his right arm, saying “no” when asked if he gives up, and slowly brings himself up to one knee. Duran shakes his head “no,” not wanting Matthews to be able to break out of this hold. Charlie is fighting hard, however, and he eventually reaches both feet, doubled over slightly as he drives an elbow into the midsection of Duran. John continues to hold on for dear life, stretching some pain out of his knee by moving it around, but trying to ignore the pain that is now appearing in his stomach. Another back elbow to the same elbow, however, and Duran’s grip has loosened on the sleeperhold. Instead of breaking it completely, however, Charlie begins to backpedal, going back into the turnbuckles and slamming him into them backfirst. That breaks the sleeperhold completely, and Matthews turns around and immediately brings his hand back, sending it forward and chopping Duran in the NECK! Right after that, Charlie stomps at Duran’s left knee again, as John curses from the pain of both. The Grappler begins to alternate the strikes, chopping away at the neck and stomping at the knee as the crowd rises to their feet, cheering on the Grappler as he does each act five times.

 

“Matthews is chopping Duran down to nothing, and the crowd is absolutely loving this! They’re sick animals!” Riley yells at the crowd’s approval of Charlie brutalizing the neck and knee of Duran.

 

“They like to see Citizen Duran get hurt, and that’s all there is to it, Bobbo!”

 

While Grappler is pleasing the fans, he is not pleasing Referee Ced Ordonez, who is ordering Grappler to get out of the corner with Duran.

 

“ONE!”

 

“TWO!”

 

“THREE!”

 

With one last chop to the neck, the Grappler backs away from the corner, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as Duran slumps up against the corner, looking in an obvious amount of pain. Charlie approaches again, to bring Duran out of the corner instead of merely letting him wait there, but Duran reaches out and touches tights, pulling Matthews into the corner purposely as Duran moves out of the way, sending Charlie shoulder-first into the middle turnbuckle as the crowd groans and then quickly begins to boo again.

 

“Just like that, Citizen Duran is able to turn the tables! He’s still got some fight left in him, even after that barrage of strikes from Charlie!”

 

“He’s smarter than the average wrestler in this stink of a promotion,” Riley speaks with a cutting tone.

 

After going into the turnbuckle, Charlie tries to get back to his feet as Duran looks to be fighting through a ton of pain by even standing idle. He reaches over to grab Charlie by the back of his head, leaving through the ropes to go out to the apron and bringing Matthews out to the apron as well, trying to keep both of their balance.

 

“What does John have up his sleeve now?” Comet questions as the crowd in front of the side of the ring where the apron action is taking place remain standing, cheering on Charlie to fight back against whatever Duran has planned.

 

“I think he’s going for some kind of move from the apron to the floor!” Riley responds as they both watch Duran place the Grappler in a standing headscissors.

 

“Oh no,” Comet says suddenly, “do you think he’s going for a piledriver?”

 

“I can only dream of such things happening to a person like Charlie Matthews, Comet!”

 

“But Bobbo, this could not only mean the end of Citizen Matthews’ career, but also his life!”

 

“I’m sure he’s had a great one, but he can kiss it goodbye now!”

 

Duran wraps his arms around the waist of Charlie and tries to lift the former enemy of the Urban Decay up off the apron, but Charlie is able to resist the pull of Duran, keeping his feet on the apron. Duran brings down his arm across the back of Charlie, trying to soften him up, but when he attempts for the lift again, Matthews refuses to be lifted. Finally, Duran just gives up, backing away from the standing headscissors and pushing Matthews off the apron, sending him face first into the guardrail as his head whips back from the impact and Charlie collapses onto the floor, right in front of the fans in the front row, who are booing and yelling obscenities at the Notorious One.

 

“He tried for some kind of move from the apron, Bobbo, but in the end, Citizen Duran just decided to brutally send Citizen Matthews head-first into the top of that steel guardrail!”

 

“If you gotta settle for something, it might as well be sending your opponent into something made of steel!”

 

Duran hops down from the apron to the floor, standing by Matthews’ downed body but then quickly bringing him up once again as Ced Ordonez begins to order Duran to get the action back into the ring, and then begins a ten count.

 

“ONE!”

 

Duran looks over at the ring steps and then grabs Charlie’s near arm, trying to whip him towards the steps...but it’s reversed by Charlie! Duran goes hurdling into the ring steps...

 

CLANG

 

...and the ring steps are thrown askew as Duran crashes into them! Charlie raises his arms to the crowd in celebration.

 

“TWO!”

 

The crowd appreciates this and cheers Charlie on as he re-enters the ring, waiting for Duran to get back to the ring himself. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long, as Duran seems to have a little bit of rage in his eyes after being hurdled into the ring steps so viciously by the Grappler. The Notorious One re-enters the ring and Charlie keeps his distance, not even attempting to make any cheap shots at his former stablemate. Duran gets up onto his feet and invites Grappler to come and keep things going. They both step towards the center of the ring and then engage in a collar-and-elbow tie-up. John is able to get a boot up in the tie-up, and then puts Charlie in a front facelock, throwing a near arm over his shoulder. The Notorious One lifts Matthews up into the air, holding him upside down for one...two...three...four seconds before dropping Charlie onto his head with a stalling brainbuster!

 

“Duran will not rest until Charlie’s neck is broken,” Riley claims, “and I think he’ll do it tonight, Comet!”

 

“I don’t think we can put up with another injury to one of our superstars, we’ve had too many in this company’s history!”

 

After hitting the brainbuster, Duran rolls over onto Matthews’ body, not bothering to hook the leg as Ordonez slides down to the ground, counting

 

“ONE!”

 

“TWO!”

 

Before Charlie is able to kick out, getting a shoulder off the mat. Duran pounds the mat in frustration, seemingly running out of plans to put away Charlie with. He doesn’t relent, however, bringing Charlie to his feet yet again and pushing the bigger man of the two into the corner, even unleashing a right hand or two, clenched fists punching away at Charlie’s face as he is backed into the corner. Once in the corner, the referee once again attempts to restore order by telling Duran to get out of the corner, but he completely ignores the referee as he crouches down and begins to land body punches to the ribs, kidneys and breadbasket of Matthews, working over the midsection.

 

“Citizen Duran is working on the body now for some reason,” Comet says with a questioned tone, “it’s hard to say what he’s thinking about any more, my citizens of Pasadena.”

 

Matthews is sucking on the open-air wind at the Rose Bowl as Duran finally stops, backing away from the corner before he is disqualified by the referee. Duran then tries to cheat the system, attempting to go back and wail on Charlie some more..but Matthews gets a big black boot into Duran’s face! Duran is stunned by the blow, and Matthews comes out of the corner with a fury, tossing the Notorious One out to the apron!

 

“They’re going back to the apron,” Riley says increduously, “but this time Charlie is the aggressor!”

 

Matthews and the Notorious One meet on the apron again, and Charlie raises John into a standing headscissors.

 

“Could this be the Powerbomb?” Comet tries to predict. “Another devastating move that could be levied onto the shoulders and neck of John Duran!”

 

Charlie wraps his arms around Duran’s waist, but it’s a repeat of the last scene here as neither man will give up. Duran refuses to be lifted, but Charlie doesn’t want to quit. Finally, Duran is able to sneak out from between Charlie’s arms, and they begin to slug each other on the apron with right hands as the crowd is in a frenzy, wanting to see someone go off that apron now, thirsty for blood.

 

“Who will go down first, Bobbo?” Comet frantically asks.

 

“COME ON, DURAN!” Riley deafeningly screams into his headset as they battle it out on the apron. John lashes out with a kick, holding on to the ropes to keep his balance, as Charlie is doubled over into the standing headscissors! “YES!”

 

Duran tries to lift Charlie again, but the arms just won’t do it! Charlie fights it with every inch of him, and then finally, the Grappler, is able to use his body weight to his advantage, as he realizes that Duran is tightly around him, leaning on Matthews’ back for leverage. And so, Charlie simply stands up. And there goes Duran.

 

“YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The crowd screams in unison. Until Duran lands.

 

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“Oh no,” Comet and Riley both yell.

 

Duran falls out of the back body drop counter, and his neck strikes the side of the apron. The rest of his body crumples to the floor on the outside, as Charlie re-enters the ring, falling to one knee as he tries to catch his breath, not even realizing the horror that lies on the floor.

 

“We need someone down here right now,” Comet orders through his mask, as Riley is stunned into silence with the rest of the crowd.

 

The official SWF medic rushes down to make sure that Duran can still continue, as Charlie turns and sees that the medic is coming, and then looks at Duran. With that, he backs away from the ropes...and looks at Ced Ordonez.

 

“COUNT!”

 

Ordonez is stunned by what just happened, and is likely thinking that he should just stop the match, but that’s not his call.

 

“ONE!”

 

The crowd is shocked, and some actually begin booing.

 

“Duran could be legitimately hurt here, fans, I don’t know why this match is still going,” Riley finally says. A headset clamors to the table, and within seconds, Cyclone Comet slides into the view beside Duran on the floor.

 

“TWO!”

 

The medic rushes over and bends down to check on Duran, as the fans in front of Duran can’t say anything more than soft words to each other.

 

“THREE!”

 

Duran’s eyes are checked by the medic to make sure that he hasn’t been concussed, and then begins to check to see if the neck has any problems.

 

“FOUR!”

 

Finally, the male medic signals to the back to get help down here, waving his gloved hand in circles as Comet gets in close to take with Duran.

 

“FIVE!”

 

With his back turned to Duran...

 

Duran suddenly rises to his feet.

 

“SIX!”

 

“What the hell?” Riley asks, and watches his monitor as Duran lifts the medic up onto his shoulders, and then whips the medic’s legs out from under him, coming down hard with the-- “BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA!”

 

“SEVEN!”

 

The crowd doesn’t know how to react, still in shock.

 

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!”

 

“EIGHT!”

 

Duran lets out a blood-curdling roar, and the crowd begins to stand on their feet, cheering their approval of Duran’s fighting spirit, watching as the medic lies on the floor and Comet rushes back to the announcing position. “Citizen Duran has lost it!” he reports into the headset what we’ve already seen. “This is madness!”

 

Duran re-enters the ring at the count of nine, and tilts his head to the side slightly as he looks at Charlie. The Grappler motions his hand to “come get some.”

 

So Duran does.

 

They both meet in the center of the ring, flailing at each other with right hands as the ref tries desperately to separate these two, who are doing what they did in the beginning of the match. Duran nails a right and then a left, staggering Grappler backwards. Duran then comes forward with a forearm to the jaw, followed by a chop. Matthews pushes Duran away and then nails a forearm of his own, knocking Duran’s neck silly as he staggers to the right.

 

“YOU MOTHERFUCKER!”

 

Duran screams out these words at Grappler, spinning around and throwing a vicious forearm into Charlie’s face before he gets a chance to duck. Charlie is staggered back towards the corner, but not in it...and the Notorious One charges.

 

WHAM

 

“YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

Duran clobbers his shoulder into the midsection of the Grappler, sending him into the bottom turnbuckle head-first, knocking Matthews silly from that shot.

 

“This is amazing, the crowd has finally accepted Duran, they realize that he is a fighter!” Riley says, astonished.

 

Matthews tries to get back in the corner, and then begins to grunt out as he throws forearms at Duran to back him out of the corner once they both reach their feet. They finally stagger back to the center of the ring...and Duran reaches up and rakes the eyes of Matthews! Referee Ordonez gets in Duran’s face about the illegal move, so Duran turns his back to Grappler and focuses on the ref right in front of him...as he reaches back and mule kicks Charlie in the Matthews’ family jewels!

 

“That’s a low blow! Injustice!” Comet calls out, but the ref doesn’t see what millions of others see as plain as day.

 

Duran turns to face Charlie and then goes behind him, locking his hands above his head!

 

“Full nelson,” Riley announces.

 

Duran locks it on tight, and grits his teeth as he pulls back on it, making Grappler thrash under him.

 

“TAP! TAP YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

 

When Matthews fails to oblige, it’s only a matter of seconds before Duran slams backwards, flinging Matthews over his head with a Dragon suplex...and BRIDGING IT FOR THE PIN! Ordonez falls to the mat!

 

“ONE!”

 

“TWO!”

 

“THREE!”

 

Ordonez jumps to his feet and runs over to the timekeeper’s direction, calling for the ball as Duran finally releases the bridge, lying on the mat without any movement as Charlie rolls over onto his stomach. Funyon comes over to Ordonez and Ced whispers something into his ear.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Funyon begins, “referee Ced Ordonez has declared this match a double pin as both men’s shoulders were down for the three count! Therefore, this match is a draw!”

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“BULL-SHIT!”

“BULL-SHIT!”

“BULL-SHIT!”

 

The fans do not like the decision at all, and the medical team now rushes down, a sea of people in white surrounding the two men in the ring as Ordonez leaves the ring, gettnig hassled by fans on his way back.

 

“Fans...this isn’t the best match these two have ever had,” Comet admits, “but I’ve never seen fight like this from these two people. They knew that this was it...and it is. This is the final time we’ll see these two ever again, Bobbo.”

 

“It’s true, Comet. There’s nothing more we can really say.”

 

“Let’s cut to something else, please. We don’t need to show this anymore.”

 

The final image of John Duran and Charlie Matthews in the ring is blurred by the swarm of medics in white, tending to both men as the image fades into a video package for the next match.

[the.weej 0]

“What an amazing show we have had so far, Robert!” Comet boasts. The music of Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna” plays in the background as we return to the ringside area where Cyclone Come and Bobby Riley both stand.

 

“What are you talking about, Comet?”

 

“Oh, come on. You know very well, Robert. An amazing ladder match that defied the laws of physics to open us up, as well as a brutal hardcore match to determine the SWF Hardcore Gamers Champion. Not to mention a Caged Fury match between Manson and Max King! Amazing!”

 

“If you’re going to jump around like a fourteen year old Asian school girl, at least wait till the best part of the evening. Coming up, Tom Flesher, The Suicide King, and Chris Raynor will dismantle Landon Maddix and Mark Stevens! I can’t wait!”

 

“I don’t really think that will be happen, but we all have different opinions.”

 

“My opinions just tend to be right more often than yours.” Riley chuckles. “You probably think that Johnny Dangerous is going to retain the SWF World Championship against Toxxic as well.”

 

“Well…Yes, I do.”

 

“WRONG!”

 

“Time will tell. But on to other matters…”

 

“Other matters? I bet you are going to talk about Revolution Zero and how they are going to dominate the tag team champions.”

 

“Something like that…” Comet sighs. “The SWF Hardcore Gamers Championship and the SWF Cruiserweight Championship have both been defended here tonight. Revolution Zero members, Sean Davis and Spike Jenkins have gone through those title matches respectively. How much energy do they have left to take on the tag team champions, Hollywood Boulevard?”

 

“If any team can do it, its Revolution Zero. I predict the Revolution takes over tonight and they walk out of the Rose Bowl with tons of gold!”

 

'WEL-WEL-W-W-WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION!'

 

“Here we go, Comet!”

 

The Californian fans rise to their feet and immediately tear the arena apart as Otep’s “Battle Ready” starts up. Every light in the arena goes to full power, lighting up the dark sky and blinding the fans. Lightning strikes down from the heavens, hitting the stage and causing gold and red pyro blasts to erupt up. The Smarktron shows half-second clips of it's members' matches as whoever is coming to lay the Smarkdown make their way down the ramp in their own style. Between the clips the Smarktron goes white again and the words 'Revolution' and 'Zero' alternate.

 

“The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and is for the SWF World Tag Team Championships!” booms Funyon in the middle of the ring. “First, making their way to the ring. The challengers!”

 

The figures of Revolution Zero appear underneath the bright GENESIS sign that is at full power as well. “The Perfect Storm” Sean Davis, “Hollywood” Spike Jenkins, Marcus Washington, P.A. and Jet all make their way out from the back. Neither Spike nor Davis has any gold with them, because they are fully focused on the tag team titles. Spike has his ribs taped up from his previous death defying ladder match and Davis has a band-aid covering his eyebrow and walks with a slight limp.

 

“Coming to the ring, weighing in at a total of Five Hundred Pounds! They are accompanied to the ring by Jet and Marcus Washington. They are Revolution Zero!!!!”

 

“YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!”

 

The Revolution ignores the crowd, except Spike who pays attention to the “Spike Jenkins Fan Club” in one section of the crowd. Davis climbs onto the ring apron, stepping over the top rope. Spike slowly walks up the steel steps, holding his ribs in pain as he enters the ring. Spike peels off his jacket and tosses it to a ringside crew member as they wait for their opponents…

 

“Look at both of those men. They are extremely fatigued at the moment. How will they be able to fight Hollywood Boulevard?” asks Comet.

 

“Just have a little faith, Comet.”

 

“Faith, for Revolution Zero? I don’t think so.”

 

The echoing guitar riffs and smooth opening saxophone of "Rush Against the Grain" by Dave Gagne hit the speakers, the crowd's buzzing growing more intense as the frantic drumbeat starts, accompanied by...

 

*BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG! *

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!”

 

“AND THEIR OPPONENTS!”

 

“Here they come, Robert. The longest reigning SWF Tag Team Champions in History!”

 

Four blue pyrotechnics go off, and the crowd goes crazy as Mike Van Siclen and Todd Cortez leap through the curtain! Van Siclen yells at the crowd, firing both them and him up as Cortez raises his cross to his lips, kissing it and crossing his arms in front of his stomach!

 

“Coming to the ring at a combined weight of Four Hundred and Sixty-Seven pounds. They are the current reigning and defending SWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!! THEY ARE HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD!!!!”

 

“LETS GO MIKE! LETS GO TODD! LETS GO MIKE! LETS GO TODD!”

 

The crowd breaks into dueling Hollywood Boulevard chants. The crowd is absolutely going ape shit for the tag team champions. They try and soak in this extremely warm reception at the biggest show of the year…

 

 

…But quickly tear their tag titles off and begin throwing rights and lefts at the incoming Revolution Zero!

 

“Revolution Zero are attacking Hollywood Boulevard before they got to the ring! What is this?”

 

“Its Revolution Zero playing smart. They know that they are hurt and tired. So they are going in Guns-A-Blazing!”

 

“I call it cheap!”

 

Spike and Todd punch at each other while Mike and Davis do the same. Both teams end up coming down the isle way towards the ring. Spike hits Todd with an elbow to the chin that sends him back into the barricade. With Todd stunned, Spike turns around and heads back into the ring.

 

“What is Spike up too?” questions Comet.

 

Todd quickly comes too from the blow to the jaw and hits Davis from behind, helping his partner out any way he can. Mike and Todd both pound away at Davis, who stumble back towards the ropes. Mike hits Davis with a bitch slap that spins the big man around. All three are facing the ring now, as the catch the image of Spike Jenkins springing off the ropes and flying over the top rope with a tope, landing on all three men!!

 

“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”

 

“Spike Jenkins with a tope! He takes out his own tag team partner and Hollywood Boulevard!”

 

“Do you see this, Comet? You call it cheap. But Revolution Zero is already hitting Hollywood Boulevard with big moves. They need to end this match now, and this is the only way to do it. Hit high impact moves fast and hard. Toxxic must have taught them this strategy.”

 

“It does seem effective. Though Spike and Davis are both down as well.”

 

Referee Van Diesel stands around the ring, not sure what to do. The bell never officially rung, so he can’t count then men out.

 

“The bell hasn’t even rung yet! We are going to have to wait for these men to get to their feet now.” Whines Riley.

 

Both members of Hollywood Boulevard stir underneath the pile of rubble, but Spike is the first of his team to make it to his feet. He clutches his ribs as he grabs the hair of the woozy Todd Cortez. Spike drags Cortez towards the ring, and tosses him in under the bottom rope. Spike follows him in.

 

*Ding Ding Ding*

 

“And the SWF Tag Team Title match is officially underway!”

 

Cortez climbs up to his feet, but he is met by Spike Jenkins who grabs him by the wrist and Irish whips him into the corner. Cortez leans woozily against the corner. Spike charges in full speed towards him, and connecting with a palm strike across the jaw that sends a loud “popping” sound through the Rose Bowl.

 

“Running shotei by Spike Jenkins!”

 

“He stole that move from Tom Flesher! Flesher uses it to set up the Ego Trip! Can Spike be going for the Super Ego Trip?” questions Riley.

 

With Cortez reeling in the corner, Spike enters back into the center of the ring. He takes off again towards the corner, this time he jumps into the air and drives both of his knees into the chest of Todd Cortez. Cortez nearly falls out of the corner, but Spike keeps him in place before heading back into the center of the ring. Spike touches the center of the ring with his boot and sprints off towards the corner, just like a kid in high school. Cortez stands in the corner, still dazed from the previous assault as Spike runs towards him and drives his elbow into the Urban Legend’s jaw! Todd’s head snaps back as he nearly falls onto his face.

 

“Spike with a barrage of attacks in the corner. First the knees into the chests, and then a running elbow to the face…”

 

“He isn’t done yet, either!” Riley adds.

 

Spike quickly hits the center of the ring again, and sprints towards the corner. Spike springboards with one foot onto the middle rope next to Todd, and with his spare leg drives the knee into Todd’s face! Spike hops off the middle rope, giving Todd time as he drops to a sitting position in the corner.

 

“Spike is using all the strikes he has against The Urban Legend. Revolution Zero is really going full force with all they got here tonight!”

 

“Duh. I’ve said that about a zillion times!”

 

With Cortez now in a sitting position, Spike enters the corner again. Instead of charging in, Spike walks in. He places his boot over the face of Cortez; and begins driving it across the flesh, boot scraping the Urban Legend!

 

“Brutal boot scrapes by Hollywood!”

 

“Spike is going face washing!”

 

“It looks like he is trying to tear the skin off of Todd Cortez’s face!” exclaims Comet.

 

Referee Van Diesel charges into the corner, and tells Spike to break it up. Not wanting to lose another tag title opportunity, Spike ends the face wash. Spike charges towards the ropes opposite of the sitting Cortez. He hits the ropes and dashes across the ring, meeting Cortez with his boot across the face!

 

“Running boot scrape!” cries Comet. “Cortez’s must be in a lot of pain at the moment!”

 

“He’s not done yet!”

 

“Stop saying that. For Citizen Cortez’s sake.”

 

Spike charges out of the corner into the ropes opposite of Cortez. Spike hits them full force and comes running back towards Todd. As he reaches Todd, Spike leaps into the air and dropkicks Cortez directly in the face!

 

“Running basement dropkick to the face! Brutal shot onto one half of the tag team champions!”

 

“So far in this match, it has been all Revolution Zero.” Says Riley.

 

“Yes. They must of surprised Hollywood Boulevard with this game plan. Spike and Davis have been bringing the punishment to the champs, most notably Todd Cortez.”

 

Spike gets to his feet, grabs Cortez by the ankle and pulls him away from the ropes. Spike drops down and hooks the leg for the cover!

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

Kickout!

 

“Cortez is street fighter. Hitting him in the face a couple of times will only stun him. But it won’t keep him down for three. Especially when the tag team titles are on the line and at the biggest SWF show EVER.” Says Comet.

 

Spike climbs up to his feet, upset that Cortez didn’t stay down. Spike heads into the corner, and begins slapping his knee.

 

“Spike is setting up for the Yakuza Kick! One of his most dangerous strikes! If this connects, this match could very well be over.”

 

“I thought you said that a few hits to the face won’t keep Cortez down.”

 

“…Hmmm…Yes…Well…maybe it won’t be over. But the Yakuza Kick is still a very dangerous maneuver. If he hits it, I say the chances are Fifty-Fifty for it to be over.”

 

“The odds in Vegas are Seventy-five-Twenty-five.” Says Riley, who is looking down at a newspaper.

 

“Quiet you.”

 

Cortez begins to stir at his side of the ring. Shaking his head to get rid of the cobwebs, Cortez begins to make his way to his feet. Spike continues slapping his knee, growing anticipation among the crowd.

 

“Several weeks ago, Revolution Zero beat Hollywood Boulevard in a four team elimination match. The move Spike Jenkins used to pin Todd Cortez with was this same Yakuza Kick!” Notes Riley.

 

“He was also being held upside down by Sean Davis, and then slammed into the mat. Not to mention Todd basically fought through the whole match, meaning he fought two other teams.”

 

“If you want to be a smart mouth, I’ll tell Spike that. He’ll come over here and Yakuza Kick you.” Riley says with a note of disdain and sarcasm in his voice.

 

Todd finally gets to his feet and stumbles around. Spike bursts out of the corner with all the energy he can muster and throws his boot into the air…

 

 

 

 

 

 

YAKUZA KICK~!

 

 

 

 

…NO! Todd ducks! Spike nearly falls over, but regains his balance. He quickly turns back to Cortez who tries to meet him with a Spinning Heel Kick!

 

 

 

…But that is ducked. Todd tries to regain his balance, but his neck is pulled back from a down falling Spike Jenkins. Spike snaps Cortez’s neck over his shoulder, sending a bolt of pain through Todd’s vertebrae.

 

“The Yakuza Kick was ducked,” says Comet.

 

“But so was the spinning heel kick and Spike catches a neckbreaker! Excellent work.”

 

Spike turns Todd over onto his back, and hooks the leg.

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TH---NO! Mike jumps into the ring and breaks the count!

 

“Damn it! This match would be over if Mike Van Siclen didn’t break up the count!”

 

“He’s aloud too, Robert. That’s why it is a tag TEAM match.”

 

“Are you mocking me? Do I look like a little kid?”

 

“You certainly act like one.”

 

Mike tries to lay in a shot at Spike, but Referee Van Diesel forces him back into his corner. Mike tries to fight the decision, but its no use and he exits out onto the apron.

 

“LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD!”

 

Spike climbs up to his feet, rubbing the back of his head due to Mike’s kick to break the count. Spike leans down and grabs Todd by his hair. He drags Todd towards the Revolution Zero corner, where he slaps hands with Sean Davis. Davis steps over the top rope and officially enters the match for the first time tonight.

 

“Spike tags in the muscle of Revolution Zero, The Perfect Storm!”

 

Spike exits the ring, as Davis grabs Todd by the wrist and pulls him to his feet. Dragging Todd into the center of the ring, Davis holds his grip around the wrist of Cortez. Davis leans back and SLAMS his arm into the chest of Cortez.

 

“Big clothesline by Sean Davis. He is just so strong. No one can match his strength in the SWF today.”

 

“That’s why he is the dominating factor in the SWF. Toxxic is the brains and Davis is the brawn. Spike is the…uhh…well…Spike can pick up the chicks.”

 

“I hear Spike is very talented with ordering pizza’s too.”

 

Davis pulls Cortez up to his feet by the wrist and again SLAMS his giant arm into the chest/neck area of Todd. Todd hits the mat with a loud thud, but this doesn’t stop Cortez from pulling him up to his feet again. With Cortez nearly out on his feet, Davis pulls Cortez towards him by the wrist and hits another HUGE clothesline that sends the Urban Legend to the mat.

 

“Powerful short arm clothesline by Sean Davis!”

 

Instead of lifting Todd again, Davis drops to the mat and covers Cortez while still holding his wrist down.

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

NO!

 

“Cortez kicks out. That may be the only downside of the Perfect Storm; his lack of experience. Any veteran would of hooked the leg. Davis didn’t, and Todd was able to kick out.”

 

“He did hold Todd’s wrist down. At least he is learning from his partners in Revolution Zero.”

 

“That is true.”

 

Davis climbs to his feet, ready to attack. Cortez rolls over onto his stomach, trying to fight his way to his feet.

 

“Lets Go Todd! Lets Go Todd! Lets Go Todd!”

 

“These two teams have so much history together. It only makes sense that it comes into full motion here at Genesis V. The biggest SWF show EVER.”

 

“History? Do you mean Revolution Zero dominating Hollywood Boulevard?”

 

“No. Hollywood Boulevard has retained the tag team championships over Revolution Zero in what was a fantastic match. It really could of gone either way.”

 

“But besides that, Revolution Zero have defeated Hollywood Boulevard or the Urban Empire in six man tags, that four team elimination match, in singles matches. You name it, they beat Hollywood Boulevard in it.”

 

“How about that time Spike took Masked Man’s briefcase, and the Urban Empire had to break into the Revolution Zero hotel room and get it back.”

 

“I thought we agreed to never talk about that again…”

 

“Masked Man knocked Spike Jenkins out with a panda doll!” laughs Comet.

 

“IT HAD A PIPE INSIDE IT! THAT’S NOT FAIR, COMET!”

 

Mike stands on the apron, yelling towards Cortez to look out behind him. Cortez, who is still in a woozy state, turns around and gets caught around the throat by Sean Davis’ giant hand. Davis immediately lifts Todd into the air and drops him down with a chokeslam! Davis covers, hooking the leg this time!

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

THR---NO! MIKE BREAKS THE COVER, AGAIN!

 

“Again, Mike has to nose his way into other peoples business!”

 

“Ummm…Mike is in the match. It IS his business.”

 

“Worthless facts.”

 

Mike heads back out onto the apron, where he starts clapping his hands together. This action gets the crowd to clap with him, in hopes of bringing Todd Cortez back to his feet. Davis climbs up to his feet, as well, and heads into the corner. He slaps hands with Spike Jenkins, sending in the cruiserweight after handing out a mass amount of punishment.

 

“Spike Jenkins back in the ring. Still moving slower then usual, but can you blame him? He did just go through a ladder match for the SWF Cruiserweight Title.” Says Riley.

 

“His ribs are taped up, as well. How many times can one man fall off a ladder before getting seriously hurt?”

 

Todd turns over onto his stomach, and begins to crawl on his hands and knees towards his corner! Mike holds his outstretched hand toward Todd, who tries to reach for the tag…

 

 

…But Spike easily drops a knee over the back of Cortez’s neck. Cortez drops like a bag of potatoes, clutching his neck as Spike gets to his feet again. Spike drops his leg down across the back of Todd’s neck. Spike gets to his feet and drops down again, driving the point of his elbow into the vertebrae of Todd Cortez!

 

“Big knee, leg drop, and elbow drop to the back of Todd’s neck. Revolution Zero run the game plan of working on a member of the opposite teams neck. This is to set up for either one of their single finishers or their tag team finisher, The Perfect Spike!” notes Comet.

 

Spike turns Todd over onto his back, and hooks the leg for the cover.

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

TW—NO! Todd kicks out!

 

“Todd Cortez is being a thorn in the side of Revolution Zero. In all their matches together, they worked over Cortez and his neck. Spike’s Clean Living, Bad Beat, Lariat, or Dragon Clutch weren’t able to put Cortez away. The Perfect Spike did, but that is a very risky move to pull off and not to mention very hard. What move can Revolution Zero use to put away Cortez when everything else has failed?”

 

“I guess we’ll find out at the end of the match when Revolution Zero put Hollywood Boulevard away.”

 

“Right now, if Hollywood Boulevard want to retain the tag team titles, Todd is going to have to make a tag. Mike Van Siclen is still very fresh, and the only damage he has taken was by the tope Spike used earlier in the match.”

 

Spike climbs up to his feet and heads straight into the corner. One there, he starts slapping his knee, signaling for the Yakuza Kick…again!

 

“Yakuza Kick on its way again!” shouts Riley.

 

“Well, the Yakuza Kick may be able to put Cortez away. It did once before. But that was when he was held upside down and then slammed into the mat with the Perfect Spike!”

 

Todd staggers to his feet, rubbing his neck after all the pressure put on it. He turns to Spike, who bursts out of the corner with all the energy he can muster and throws his boot into the air…

 

 

 

 

 

 

YAKUZA KICK~!

 

 

 

 

…NO! Todd ducks! Spike nearly falls over, but regains his balance. He turns back to Todd…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…Who meets Spike with a Superkick! Todd’s boot connects perfectly with Spike’s jaw and both men go down!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!!!!!!”

 

“Todd Cortez finally hits some offense! Spike Jenkins is down! Todd needs to make the cover or tag in Mike Van Siclen!”

 

“He can’t. Revolution Zero has worked him over the whole match. He is exhausted and he is going to lose! LOSE LOSE LOSE!”

 

“Or he can make the tag…”

 

“Yeah, that too.”

 

Spike is the first to wake up, as he turns over onto his stomach and begins to crawl towards his corner. Not far behind him is Todd Cortez, who starts crawling towards his corner as well.

 

“LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD!

 

Both partners on the apron hold their arms out. Spike is able to crawl with all his might…

 

 

 

 

…And he tags in Davis!

 

 

 

 

 

Todd crawls towards Mike…

 

 

 

 

…Mike holds his arm out…

 

 

 

 

…Davis enters the ring…

 

 

 

 

…Davis charges towards Cortez…

 

 

 

 

…TODD TAGS IN MIKE…

 

 

 

 

…NO! DAVIS PULLS TODD AWAY!

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

 

Davis grabs Todd by the ankles and pulls him into the center of the ring, away from his partner, Mike Van Siclen. Mike lets out “God Damn It” in frustration, just as Davis drops a giant elbow across the upper back/neck of Todd.

 

“You can almost feel in the arena sigh after Sean Davis stopped Todd Cortez from making the tag!” says Comet.

 

“I didn’t hear any sighing. I heard a “Way to go, Sean” and a “Job well done”, though.”

 

“Its those voices in your head again.”

 

“Voices? You’re the one who thinks you’re a superhero!”

 

Davis climbs up to his feet and slams his boot down on the back of the neck of Cortez. Not wasting any time, Davis grabs Cortez by his hair and pulls him up to his feet, putting strain on the neck as he does. Davis hooks his arm in between Cortez’s legs and lifts him upside down. Davis wraps his other arm around the head of Cortez and SITS OUT, driving Cortez onto the top of his head with a Michinoku Driver!

 

“Double Underhook Brainbuster! The big man just put Todd Cortez away for GOOD!” cries Comet.

 

“Head drop, goodness.”

 

Davis lays Cortez out, and covers him.

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THR---NO! Mike Van Siclen breaks up the count, again!

 

“Mike is there to break the count again. Citizen Cortez really needs to make the tag.”

 

“Damn Mike. Revolution Zero have busted out everything they have so far, and yet they STILL haven’t won the match.”

 

“They haven’t busted out everything yet. Both still have their finishers, not to mention the Perfect Spike, and Citizen Jenkins’ Yakuza Kick. He has missed it twice before, and it’s the only guaranteed move to keep Todd Cortez down for the three count.”

 

“Sooner or later, Cortez is going down to Revolution Zero.”

 

Davis climbs to his feet, winded from his hardcore match and now the tag match. Taking his time to catch his breath, he reaches down and pulls Cortez up to his feet. Davis grabs his opposition’s wrist, and Irish whips him across the ring into the corner. Davis slowly walks into the opposite corner, catching his breath as he does.

 

“The big man is starting to feel the effects of running two matches. Sure, he is stronger than the entire roster put together, but his cardio is extremely low for a big man.” Comet points out.

 

“That’s why he is teaming with Spike Jenkins. Spike can wrestle in twelve matches a night!”

 

“I doubt that. But even so, Spike has been through a LADDER match. That’s not a typical match. He fell off that ladder what seems like twenty times.”

 

Davis sets up, and charges towards Cortez. He leaps in the air, aiming his chest at the chest of Cortez…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…WHO MOVES OUT OF THE WAY!

 

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!!!!”

 

 

Todd just gets out of the way, allowing Sean to run chest first into the corner. The impact of the blow and the exhaustion he is feeling knocks him down to the mat. Cortez follows him, as he tries to catch his breath and clear his head.

 

“Cortez moved? CORTEZ MOVED?”

 

“Of course he did.”

 

“What do you mean, ‘of course’”?

 

“I knew Citizen Cortez was going to move out of the way.”

 

“How did you know?” asks Riley.

 

“Well, Citizen Todd is faster than Citizen Davis. Citizen Davis took way too long for that attack, giving Citizen Todd the time to catch his breath and move out of the way.”

 

“Wow, Comet. That was very impressive.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Just one thing. WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL DAVIS THAT HE WAS GOING TO MISS?”

 

Cortez pushes himself off the ropes and crawls towards his corner. Mike holds one hand out for the tag, the other holding the tag rope.

 

“LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD!”

 

Cortez makes it around Davis, and is now on his way to make the tag. Cortez holds his hand out, as he inches closer to Mike…

 

 

 

 

…Davis begins to stir and starts to climb up to his feet…

 

 

 

 

 

…Cortez is only a few inches away…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… TODD TAGS IN MIKE! …

 

 

 

 

 

NO! DAVIS PULLS TODD BACK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!!!

 

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

 

“This crowd is very displeased at Todd not being able to make the tag. If Hollywood Boulevard want to retain the tag team championships, they have to make a tag and NOW.”

 

“Maybe they don’t want to retain the tag team championships, Comet.”

 

“Don’t be silly, Robert.”

 

Davis grabs Todd by his hair, and pulls him up to his feet. Sean locks his legs around the head of Cortez in a standing head scissors. He locks his arms around the waist of The Urban Legend, and lifts him up into the air for a powerbomb!

 

“Can this be the High Angle Powerbomb? With all the work on Citizen Cortez’s neck, Davis can put him away for good with this move.”

 

Cortez wraps his legs around the giant’s head…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…And flips back bringing the behemoth down with a hurricanrana!

 

 

“LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD! LETS GO TODD!”

 

“Hurricanrana by the Urban Legend!” cheers Comet. “Make the tag, Cortez! Tag in Citizen Van Siclen!”

 

Both men lay on the mat, catching their breath from the previous action. Cortez is the first to make the move as he begins to crawl across the ring towards Siclen. Davis begins to stir as well, and he starts to make his way to his corner.

 

“Who is going to make the tag first? Can Cortez tags in Siclen or will Spike get tagged in and stop it AGAIN?”

 

“The ladder.”

 

“Did you say ‘ladder’, Robert?”

 

“Umm…no.”

 

 

…Davis reaches out…

 

 

 

 

…So does Cortez…

 

 

 

 

…Davis tags in Spike…

 

 

 

 

 

…Mike holds his arm out…

 

 

 

…Spike charges into the ring towards the Hollywood Boulevard corner…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…AND CORTEZ TAGS IN SICLEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

 

 

“MIKE GETS TAGGED INTO THE MATCH!” barks Comet.

 

 

Mike jumps over the top rope into the ring, and charges straight at Spike. Spike sees this, and tries to catch Mike with some right hands, but they are quickly blocked. Mike smacks Spike upside the head with several forearms. Spike stumbles back, but Siclen grabs him by the wrist and Irish whips him across the ring. Spike hits the ropes and comes back to meet a running Siclen who catches him with a spear!

 

“Spear to the injured ribs of Jenkins!!!”

 

Spike grabs at his ribs as he yelps in pain. He rolls away, as Mike gets to his feet and poses for the crowd.

 

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

 

Mike turns around, to see the incoming Sean Davis. Davis charges at him, hoping for a clothesline; but the much, much faster Siclen ducks underneath and charges into the ropes. Davis turns around and is caught with the heel of Mikes boot with a spinning wheel kick! Both men fall to the mat. The only difference is Mike gets to his feet right away. Still feeling the adrenaline pump through him, Siclen turns around to meet Spike. Jenkins holds his ribs as he stumbles towards Siclen. Mike BITCH SLAPS Spike, the momentum behind it spins the Hollywood Superstar around. Mike wraps his arms around Spike’s waist, and lifts him into the air with a belly to back suplex…

 

 

 

…But drops Spike back first across his knee!!!!

 

“WHAT WAS THAT?” Riley bawls.

 

“A belly to back suplex, but dropping Spike across the knee! Not only does it hurt the back, but the ribs as well AND it takes the air out of Jenkins!”

 

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

 

Mike pushes Jenkins away, who rolls to the side. Siclen gets to his feet, ready for a fight, as he turns to the rising Sean Davis. Mike charges at Davis and catches him with a forearm to the side of the head. Davis barely flinches, and responds with a punch to the head that sends Mike stumbling back. Siclen holds his ground though and hits another forearm, which again gets no reaction. Davis nails Mike with another punch to the head, and again Mike stumbles back. Mike, being the smart wrestler that he is, goes in for another forearm. But instead of a punch, he pulls a play from his Heel Textbook and rakes Davis across the eyes!

 

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

 

“That’s cheating! Comet, he just raked Sean Davis’ eyes!”

 

“I saw. I don’t support that…but it does get the job done.”

 

As Davis grabs at his face, Mike backs up slightly, only to drive his boots into the kneecap of The Perfect Storm!

 

“Basement dropkick knocks the big man down!”

 

Davis falls flat on his face, but is quick to get to his knees. But Mike is quicker and gets to his feet. Mike grabs a handful of Davis’ short black hair, and begins to pound relentlessly at the forehead with closed fists!

 

“Mike Van Siclen is known for not using closed fists. He is more prone to his slaps and forearms. He must be desperate to keep the tag titles if he is going against his usual move list and tearing at Davis with punches.”

 

“That still doesn’t make it legal!”

 

“Hush you. Revolution Zero were using closed fists during the whole match.”

 

As Mike pounds away at Sean Davis, Todd Cortez stands on the apron, his hand out ready for a tag. Mike breaks away from Davis, to quickly tag in his partner. Todd enters the ring with a new found fire that he got while taking a break. Mike lifts Davis up to his feet, locking his head underneath the colossus. Siclen drops down to his knees, driving the jaw of Davis into the top of his skull!! The fans cry out, as they know what to expect next…

 

 

 

 

…Todd Cortez superkicks Sean Davis, connecting perfect with The Varsity Blues!

 

“Varsity Blues! The champions have hit Sean Davis with their finisher. Keeping a hit-and-run style of attack on the big man.”

 

“But Davis isn’t the legal man, so it doesn’t matter! He didn’t even fall down, either!”

 

To the surprise of everyone, Bobby Riley was right. After getting hit with the superkick, Davis stumbles back into the ropes. He is knocked out on his feet, but still on his feet.

 

“The Varsity Blues wasn’t enough to knock the goliath down!”

 

Mike gets to a full stance. He watches as Sean holds himself on the ropes, and charges towards him. Mike hits Davis with a big clothesline that sends the big man to the floor!

 

“Clothesline over the top rope by Mike Van Siclen!”

 

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

 

Mike stands over the fallen titan, talking trash to him. Behind him, Todd Cortez stands, waiting for some action…

 

 

 

 

 

…Only to fall victim to Spike Jenkins! Jenkins pops out from behind The Urban Legend, wraps his arms around the neck of Cortez and drops down with the running diamond cutter that is known to the world as…

 

“THE BAD BEAT! SPIKE HIT CORTEZ WITH THE BAD BEAT!” cries Riley with a passion. “Pin Cortez while Mike isn’t looking!”

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

 

Spike quickly does this, as he turns Cortez over for the cover!

 

 

 

 

ONE!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! MIKE BREAKS THE COUNT!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!!!!!!

 

Mike pulls Spike up to his feet. Spike tries to fight Mike off, but its no use. Mike catches Spike with a kick to the gut, and pulls him into a standing head scissors. Siclen wraps his arms around Jenkins waist and lifts him upside down. Spike tries to fight off, or maybe even counter the move that’s coming, but he can’t. Mike flings his legs over the hanging arms of Jenkins and drops DOWN, driving Jenkins on the top of his head and folding him up with the Riot Act!!!!!

 

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

“M—V—S! M—V—S! M—V—S!”

 

“RIOT ACT! ITS ALL OVER!” wails Comet.

 

“No! Cortez still has to pin Jenkins!”

 

Mike gets to his feet, and turns Jenkins over onto his back. He goes over to wake Cortez up, but he legs are pulled out from underneath him…

 

 

 

 

 

…By Sean Davis! Davis pulls Mike out of the ring, underneath the bottom rope. The second Mike lands on the floor, he unloads on the Perfect Storm with forearms. Davis fights back with punches of his own, but is too exhausted to continue much further.

 

“A brawl has broken out on the floor between Mike Van Siclen and Sean Davis!”

 

Mike grabs Davis by the wrist and Irish whips the giant into the guardrail…but Davis reverses into his own Irish whip; but instead sends The Spectacle into the steel ring post!!!!!

 

“Mike hits the steel post! He’s out!”

 

“Cortez is moving though! All he has to do is make the cover!

 

In the ring, Cortez slowly comes too and begins to crawl towards Jenkins. Not knowing how he got knocked down or what happened, Cortez throws his arm over the chest of Spike!

 

 

 

 

ONE!!!!!!!

 

 

“ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNE!!!!!!!”

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

“TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOOOOOO!!! Davis elbows Todd from behind and stops the count!

 

 

“Everyone in the arena just sighed. Hollywood Boulevard was a hair split away from retaining the SWF Tag Team Championships!”

 

“I’m on the edge of my seat, Comet. I am just waiting for Revolution Zero to win the tag titles!”

 

Davis grabs Todd by the hair and begins to pull him up to his feet…

 

 

 

 

 

…But Todd catches Davis with a low blow uppercut!!!!!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

 

“That’s not fair! Why is Hollywood Boulevard cheating??”

 

“I don’t know, Robert. But this has become a race to the finish!”

 

Davis holds his groin as he stumbles backwards. Todd gets to his feet, and connects with a superkick to the jaw! Davis stumbles back even further and falls through the ropes to the floor!!!

 

“Davis is out! Siclen is out! It’s all down to Todd Cortez and Spike Jenkins!!” cries Comet.

 

Cortez staggers around, but regains his heading as he turns back to Spike Jenkins. Spike is finally rolling around, just waking up from the Riot Act. Cortez walks over to him, and begins to pull him up to his feet…

 

 

 

 

…But is stopped short by a thumb to the eyes! Cortez grabs his face and Spike takes off into the ropes. Spike hits the ropes and comes dashing back towards Cortez. Cortez moves his hands away from his face, just in time to get smashed with Spike’s boot!!!!!

 

“YAKUZA KICK!!!!!” Riley shouts.

 

“The only move to ever keep Todd Cortez down for a three count! Spike hit it at this point in the match, and it HAS to be over!!!”

 

Cortez instantly goes down, with Spike falling right on top of him. Referee Van Diesel drops down and counts!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! TODDCORTEZKICKSOUT!!!!!!

 

“Oh My God!”

 

“What will it take to keep Todd Cortez down? The only move in Spike’s arsenal that could do it was the Yakuza Kick and now THAT hasn’t even worked!”

 

“This can’t be possible.” Riley stammers. “Every move that Spike has used on Cortez, he has kicked out of; except the Yakuza Kick. HOW DID HE JUST KICK OUT OF THE YAKUZA KICK?”

 

“I don’t know, Robert. I don’t know.”

 

“What is Spike going to do? He has nothing left!”

 

The crowd, at this point, is ecstatic. Todd chants are going, and people are clapping for the champions. Spike struggles to his feet, more confused than the announcers are. Trying to think of what to do, Spike signals for the Clean Living.

 

“Spike signaling for his other finisher, the Clean Living.”

 

“Oh, what’s the use? Cortez will just kick out of it!” stammers Riley.

 

“You never know…”

 

Cortez rolls onto his hands and knees. Spike grabs him by his hair and helps him up the rest of the way. Turning Todd’s back to him, he smacks his opponent in the back with a chop. Spike locks his arms around Todd’s neck, holding the Urban Legend in a reverse front face lock.

 

“With all the damage to Citizen Cortez’s neck, the Clean Living may put him away…”

 

Spike prepares to spin around into a neckbreaker…but Cortez hits him with a slap! Spike tries to shake it off, but Cortez hits another overhead slap! Spike stumbles back and gets hit with a third slap! Cortez breaks away from the reverse front face lock and the Clean Living!!

 

“Citizen Todd fights his way out of the Clean Living. It’s just him and Spike, now! He needs to end it while he can!”

 

Spike stumbles back, but tries to go back to the attack…

 

 

 

…But Cortez wraps his hand around the throat of the Revolution Zero member!!!

 

“The Urban Assault! Citizen Cortez’s finisher!!!”

 

“Come on Spike! Think of something quick!”

 

Cortez goes to lift Spike into the air, but Spike holds his weight down. Todd is too exhausted to fight it, and Spike pushes his arm away. In one fluid motion, Spike spins around and connects with a roaring elbow!!!! Todd stumbles back, but Spike immediately pulls him into a standing head scissors.

 

“What is Spike doing?” asks Riley.

 

“NO! IT CAN’T BE!!!!”

 

“WHAT?”

 

 

Spike double underhooks Cortez’s arms. He uses everything he has left in him and lifts him into the air. Once in the air, Spike turns underneath Cortez, holding him on his shoulders in a reverse Death Valley Driver position…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…AND DROPS TODD ON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD, FOLDING HIM IN HALF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING WITH A FUCKING I JUST BROKE YOUR NECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

“THE I JUST BROKE YOUR NECK!!!!!” screams Comet.

 

“OH MY GOD!!!”

 

Spike unfolds Todd, and turns him onto his back. Spike collapses on top of Cortez.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“ITS OVER! NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!”

 

The entire arena let out a gasp, as Referee Van Diesel signals for the bell. Otep’s “Battle Ready” starts up again, as Sean Davis, Jet, and Marcus Washington enter the ring. Van Diesel is handed the tag team titles, which is then pulled away by Jet. Washington is handed a title, as Davis rolls Spike towards the ropes.

 

“Revolution Zero are the SWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!!”

 

“This was a war. No other words can describe it, but a war. Both teams put up one hell of a fight, but Revolution Zero edged it out in the end.”

 

“I just don’t believe it. We thought Spike had nothing left to keep Todd down after that Yakuza Kick. But then he pulled out the I Just Broke Your Neck. The last time he used that move was over a year ago in the SJL! He retired Cutthroat with it!”

 

“I hope the same fate doesn’t happen to Todd Cortez. The I Just Broke Your Neck isn’t just a name to make it sound funny. Spike used the most dangerous move in his arsenal to win the SWF Tag Team Championships on the biggest stage of them all. Genesis V.”

 

Davis climbs out of the ring, pulling Spike out with him. Davis holds his title in one hand, and helps Spike in the other. Jet waves the title in front of Spike, but Spike is pretty much out of it.

 

“Here are your winners…and NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW SWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! REVOLUTION ZERO!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

 

“Toxxic is going to be so proud.”

 

“After that match, he should be. It could of gone either way. It just went to Revolution Zero thanks to a hidden ace in Spike’s hand. I applaud them for that match…too bad its Revolution Zero.”

 

Revolution Zero continue their way up the ramp, the SWF Tag Team Titles held high in the air.

Exhausted and drained, they hold their hard earned titles in the air…

 

 

 

 

…At Genesis V…The Revolution Began.

[the.weej 0]

“Welcome back to GENESIS FIVE!” screams Comet as the capacity crowd screams like a bunch of banshees. “As we continue to move on tonight, the matches are just getting hotter and hotter as now it’s time for the Canadian Death Match between Citizen Lezaire and Citizen Cross for the USJL Championship!”

 

“That’s the Canadian Championship,” replies Riley. “Don’t you forget it that a great Canadian wrestler in the form of Ace brought that belt back to respectability after Cross and Everheart tainted it.”

 

“Could you be more dishonest, Robert?” says Comet. “Both Citizen Cross and Citizen Everheart brought respect to the USJL title. Lezaire has renamed it, and used his own camera man to attack Cross. You call raising the prestige of the belt?”

 

“First of all Comet, it’s the Canadian Championship,” notes Riley with a smug look on his face. “Men such as the Rogeaus, Bret Hart, and Gene Kinski have all wore that belt with pride, and Ace was only bringing back to its original luster by defending it.”

 

“In any case, it look like Funyon is ready to go,” says Comet as the camera shifts to the dapper Funyon.

 

“The following match is for the USJL slash Canadian Championship and will be contested under Canadian Death Match Rules!”

 

Large pop for the violence that is soon to come.

 

“Regular DQ and count-out rules are not in effect. The winner is the first one to get a combined count of 10. Only 3 counts and higher can contribute to the combined count. Now, introducing the challenger…”

 

The lights get dark in the Rose Bowl as the sounds of ’Back on Earth’ begin to be played by the Orchestra surprisingly well to a loud round of cheers from the capacity crowd as more than a few fans bring out the lighters. Finally, as the spotlight falls on the ring entrance, Cross walks out of the backstage area to a big pop, but focused on the ring. The big man from Oil City makes his way to the ring, ignoring the props, statues, and red carpet, and walks up the final steps, slips off his jacket and kisses his cross.

 

“…weighing 277 pounds, from Oil City, Pennsylvania, the former SWF USJL Champion…”THE FAAAAALLEN ANGEL” DAAAAAVID CROSS!”

 

Cross hands his gear to the attendant at ringside, then goes to the second rope, raising his fist to the crowd as the cheer him on.

 

“Now, his opponent…”

 

The fans immediately begin to boo as the lights go down again.

 

*BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!*

 

The hard bass line strikes of Muse’s ‘Hyper Music’ signal the entrance of the one and only Ace Lezaire, striding out form behind the curtain with a cocky grin on his dial. He stands at the top of the stage, raising his arms to the heavens, thanking them for his looks and talent as…

 

*BOOM!*

 

*BOOM!*

 

*BOOM!*

 

“…from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at a weight of 234 pounds, he is “CANADA’S GREATEST EXPORT” and the current CANADIAN CHAMPION…AAAAAAAAAACE LEZAIRE!”

 

…Extra pyro explodes on either side of him, before the Prodigy heads to the ring, waving to the fans graciously as they boo the hell out of him. He walks to the ring full of confidence and swagger as he uses the statues to do a few mock poses as Cross waits in the ring. Lezaire finally gets in the ring and hands the belt to Hall, who raises the belt high to the cheers of the crowd.

 

“Citizen Lezaire has to go into this match with some confidence, as he has beaten Citizen Cross two times in a row, even if both were via dubious circumstances,” says Comet as Lezaire talks to the ref a little and Cross paces.

 

Not waiting, as soon as Hall steps out of the way, Cross charges the unaware champion and nails him with one forearm, then another, knocking Ace into the corner! The Fallen Angel continues the attack, driving one big forearm, then another followed by a quick kick to the gut to double over Ace. Cross then sends Lezaire hard into the opposite corner and as Ace bounces out…spear by Cross! Cross doesn’t stop for a moment, driving Ace with fits as Hall tries to break it off!

 

“Citizen Cross has just started off like a house of fire in this match,” says an enthused Comet. “Ace looks to be worse for wear.”

“Ace has handled worse,” scoffs Riley. “He is a true Canadian hero!”

 

Cross finally gets up, and drags Ace to his feet and then drives a quick knee into his midsection followed by a simple snap mare. Cross then boots Lezaire in the back of the head, dropping him to the mat again while the fans cheer. The Fallen Angel lines himself up, goes off the near ropes and elbowdrop to the back of the head! Cross then picks up Lezaire and picks him up, before driving him back to the mat with a hard lariat!

 

“Cross is being methodical here,” says Comet. “He’s wearing down Citizen Lezaire and taking his time.”

“It doesn’t matter Comet,” replies Riley. “Ace is lean, mean, Canuck fighting machine. Cross is just a goof who got lucky! How many times do I have to say that?”

“Until someone more than Citizen Lezaire and yourself believes that.”

 

Cross follows up the lariat by picking up Lezaire again and drives quick boot to the gut, and picks him up for a suplex, but Lezaire is still wily enough to slide down the back, then nail Cross with a low blow! Lezaire takes advantage of the stunned challenger and grabs David’s arm then takes him down to the mat with a Regal-style neckbreaker! Lezaire gets back to his feet, a smirk replacing the former grimace on his face as Lezaire simply stomps the hell out of Cross as the fans show their appreciation by booing the hell out of the Canadian Champion!

 

“I told you Lezaire is going to take control of this match,” says Riley. “He’s not the Sovereign of Swagger for nothing!”

“Still a long way to go in this fight for justice,” replies Comet. “Citizen Cross is not one to give up easily and just throw a match away. After all, he is a Defender of Justice!”

“Comet, Comet, Comet, who made Cross scream like a little girl? Ace did. Who made him quit? Ace did. It’s just a matter of time.”

 

Ace waits for Cross to get up by himself using the ropes, only for when Cross turns around to get nailed with a jumping heel kick! Cross stumbles again, allowing Lezaire to follow up things with a spinning back kick really sending The Fallen Angel wobbling, then he finishes things off with a spinning wheel kick sending Cross back to the mat! Lezaire does a little mocking of the fans in the front row, before posing for the AceCam to the further boos of the crowd. Lezaire then walks over to Cross, pulls him up mostly by the hair and backs up, framing Cross before nailing him with a vicious CYCLONE ELBOW, following it up with a huge DROPSAULT as the fans really begin to booing in earnest as Lezaire taunts the crowd a little more.

 

“Citizen Lezaire is surely being impressive in the early going,” says Comet. “But, can he keep this up. Cross won’t stay down forever.”

“That may be true,” replies Riley. “But Ace is talented enough because, well…he’s ace. He is truly Canada’s Greatest Export and will be showered with cash and women when he goes back to Canada a conquering hero.”

“From what I’ve seen of Canadian crowds, they will back a true hero in the battle against evil, not someone who claims to be their greatest export.”

“You truly are naïve,” says Riley.

“No, I just believe truth and justice will prevail in the end.”

“So like I said…naïve.”

 

Lezaire stomps Cross a few more times, then goes to the mat himself dropping a quick elbow, then locking on a armbar wrenching back on the hold as Cross attempts to get to the ropes to no avail. Lezaire cranks back on the rudimentary hold even more, causing Cross even more pain, but he is able to slowly get to the ropes and break the hold! Lezaire of course, waits until the full five count is offered before breaking even though the DQ rule is waived.

 

“Citizen Lezaire using the full count to further injure Cross,” says Comet. “After all, there are no submissions in a Canadian Death Match.”

“So, just because Cross couldn’t make a paralyzed man tap out doesn’t mean that Lezaire isn’t allowed to use the hold,” replies Riley.

 

Lezaire moves in as Cross gets to his feet, but Cross ducks under a martial arts kick attempt, sending Lezaire off-balance. It’s enough to allow Cross an opening and he takes it on the Canadian Champ, knocking him back with a size 17 boot right into Lezaire’s chest, knocking Ace back near the center of the ring! Cross then drives a kick into the sternum of Lezaire and the cocky twenty-one-year old doubles over, allowing Cross to grab him in a front chancery and bring him to the mat with a quick DDT!

 

“Citizen Cross has taken back the momentum of this match just like that,” says Comet.

“It won’t last,” replies Riley. “Lezaire is master tactician, Cross is a goof. Simple as that.”

 

Not even bothering with a pin, Cross pulls Lezaire up by his head and drives his right knee into Lezaire’s breadbasket, doubling him over again. The Fallen Angel then puts Lezaire in position, grabbing under Lezaire and bringing him up and over, driving his back into the mat with big GUTWRENCH SUPLEX! Cross goes for the first pin of the match and Hall drops down to count…

 

…ONE…

 

…TWO…

 

…KICKOUT!

 

“Remember, only three counts or above count in this match,” says Comet. “Near falls are just what they are in normal matches, close but no cigar.”

“Damn, I though Ace could just roll up Cross ten times and we could be done with this,” replies Riley.

“You’d like that sort of miscarriage of justice, wouldn‘t you?” asks Comet.

“If it’ll lead to you whining about justice being defeated and so on, bring it on.”

 

Cross pulls Lezaire up, but this time, The Prodigy is ready and pokes Cross in the eye! Stealing the moment of distraction, Ace follows it up by turning around and delivering a quick, sharp spinning back kick to David’s jaw, sending him crashing to the mat as the fans begin to boo again as Lezaire plays to the crowd. Ace follows up quickly, crossing David’s leg, then locking in the Cross STF as the fans really boo!

 

“What point is there to this?” asks Comet. “Citizen Cross can’t submit, and it’s not even as if Citizen Lezaire can get an underhanded pin in the position these two men are in at the moment.”

“Don’t you see the plan,” asks Riley. “If you weaken somebody down to nothing, it’s pretty easy to get any sort of count on them, even a ten count.”

“So you’re saying Citizen Lezaire would rather win through underhanded means, rather than beat Cross fairly in the middle of the ring?”

“He’ll take the win any way he can, Comet,” replies Riley. “He has no delusions about justice or righteousness. He just wants to win, and it’s a whole hell of a lot easier to pin a guy who’s knocked out then one still consciousness.”

 

Lezaire locks the hold on fully as Hall simply has to shrug his shoulders and simply make sure Cross is still breathing. Satisfied, Hall backs away as Ace locks the hold even more, increasing the pressure on David’ knee while locking in the face hold even more, pulling back on The Fallen Angel’s head while the crowd tries to get behind the big man from Oil City, Pennsylvania.

 

“Citizen Cross is a warrior,” says Comet, his voice a bit somber, “but every man has his limits. Citizen Lezaire is being despicable in the way he is carrying out this match.”

“Wah. Wah. Wah,” mocks Riley. “Is Lezaire not supposed to do submission holds just because they won’t let him win the match?”

“That’s the point of a Canadian Death Match, Robert.” notes a frustrated Comet. “Ten slaps on the mat and you win the match. Not by making your opponent blackout.”

“Just always have to pick on the little things, don’t you?”

 

Lezaire pulls back even more on the hold, but Cross slowly makes progress, making his way across the ring. Inch by inch, he gets closer to the ropes as Ace attempts to stop his move across the ring by pulling on the facelock portion of the hold even more. But, Cross is able to break the leglock through pure power and the two men sprawl out into the middle of the ring, the hold broken!

 

“Here we go,” says Comet as the two men face off.

 

Lezaire is just a step too slow for an angry Fallen Angel and he is nailed by a forearm which rocks him back a bit. Cross then follows that up with another big forearm, backing Lezaire into a corner as The Fallen Angel waits for a moment and…

 

*CHOP!*

*WHOO!*

 

…David leaves a slight welt mark with the big chop on Lezaire as the crowd cheers the pain being brought upon The Prodigy!

 

“This should be illegal,” cries Riley. “Look at the pain Cross is causing.”

“I have a feeling this is just the beginning of what Cross wants to do,” notes Comet.

 

The Fallen Angel sends Lezaire into the corner hard and Ace slumps down sitting down! As the fans cheer, Cross raises his fist and charges Lezaire, rushing toward the turnbuckle at great speed…

 

“Woo! Hoo!” yells a jubilant Riley

 

….as Lezaire ducks out of the way of the charge and Cross eats turnbuckle! Stunned, the champion turns David around and locks in the ¾ nelson and then drives Cross face-first into the mat with the…

 

“ACE CRUSHAH~!” screams Comet as Hall begins the count…

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

…THREE…

 

 

…FO - KICKOUT!

 

“Citizen Lezaire gets the first fall of the match out of nowhere, and he is up three to nil,” states Comet as Lezaire does a little dance in celebration. “He still has seven to go, though.”

“I told you Canada’s Greatest Export had a plan, didn’t I Comet,” asks Riley.

“Well, I don’t know why he had a plan that involved getting his BUTT kicked for a few moments,” replies Comet. “But it is his prerogative. After all, he’s in the ring and I’m not.”

 

Lezaire follows up the pin by acting like he’s already won the match, doing a series of poses for the AceCam while Cross gets to his feet. The two wrestlers then face off, Cross grim as usual well Lezaire just holds up three fingers. Cross and Lezaire lock up in a collar-and-elbow tie-up, but only for a moment as Cross sends Lezaire sprawling into the ropes! Lezaire scrambles to his feet quick enough to get nailed by a quick kick to the gut which doubles over Ace. As the fans buzz, Cross follows that up with his right knee right to the temple of Lezaire, sending him back up to a dazed, standing position. So, Cross finishes off the combo by twisting his left leg around with a CRESCENT KICK right into Lezaire’s temple, sending him crashing to the mat!

 

“Hey, hey, hey,” mutters Riley. “This is wrestling, not K-1 or UFC! If the big lug wants to do that, there’s plenty of places for him to go.”

“So, let me get this straight Robert,” replies Comet. “Trying to cause Cross to blackout with a submission is perfectly fine and dandy, but if you dare nail Citizen Lezaire with a few martial art kicks, that’s verboten.”

“Of course.”

 

Comet just smiles as Cross brings Ace back to a vertical base, immediately locks on a waistlock for a moment, before pulling and throwing Lezaire up and over with a RELEASE GERMAN to the raucous cheers of the Rose Bowl crowd! Cross then follows that up by dragging Lezaire to his feet again and driving a quick boot into his gut and locking him in a front chancery. Cross grabs Lezaire’s waist and pulls him up into a delayed suplex, but The Prodigy shifts his weight as Riley cheers his head off and slides down David’s back and immediately knees him in the back! Taking the moment he has, Lezaire threads his leg with The Fallen Angel’s and takes him down to the mat with a Russian Leg Sweep!

 

“Again, Ace proves why he is the true Soverigen of Swagger by outsmarting Cross once again,” says a joyful Riley while the crowd sentiments are very much to the opposite. “Not that it’s an especially hard thing, but Lezaire is proving that he is truly the greatest Canadian Champion since perhaps even the legendary Eskimo wrestler Kiss O’ Noses.”

 

“Oh, c’mon Riley,” says Comet. “I may wear a mask, but I’m not dumb. There is no wrestler in the history of this sport named Kiss O’ Noses.”

“Don’t’ you disparage his name like that. He held that belt with dignity from 1954-1957, a hell of a lot longer than The Fallen Angel.”

Comet just sighs and says, “Well folks, they call me the crazy one, but I think the audience at home knows exactly who is along the straight and narrow of sanity.”

 

Lezaire immediately gets to his feet and scrambles to the top rope, perching himself on it as Cross gets back to his feet, a little stunned. As he rises to a full vertical base, Ace leaps from his crouch and fires himself at Cross, knocking The Fallen Angel down with a MISSILE DROPKICK right to the jaw as Ace throws an arm over Cross after landing…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

…TH - SHOULDER UP!

 

“I thought he had that one,” muses Riley. “Oh well, he’ll finish him off in a little bit.”

“Confident much,” asks Comet. “After all, Citizen Lezaire still only leads 3-0.”

“Look at the match Comet,” replies Riley. “Through objective, not justice-colored glasses. Lezaire has dominated this match and if this was a -”

“If this was a real match Robert, I somehow doubt Citizen Cross would’ve fell to that Ace Crusher out of nowhere.”

“We’ll see in a few minutes who the real champion is Comet,” replies Riley. “Also, who’s just a chump.”

 

Both men get up at nearly the same time, but Lezaire is a little quicker and he fires a quick jab knocking Cross back. Then, Ace fires another one knocking him back a bit more! Quickly, Lezaire fires one last one right at The Fallen Angel’s jaw knocking Cross back a little. Lezaire then rears back and does the spin toward Cross…

 

“Abort, Ace!” screams Riley as he realizes is about to happen. “ABORT!”

 

…who ducks under the swinging discus punch and wraps his arms around Lezaire and pulls him up in the air, and as the crowd comes alive dropping him to the mat with a quick, sudden spinebuster! Cross doesn’t even bother going for a pin, instead sliding off Lezaire and rising to his feet and bringing his fist high in the air to the cheers of the packed Rose Bowl!

 

“CROSS!” “CROSS!” “CROSS!”

“CROSS!” “CROSS!” “CROSS!”

 

“This crowd of thousands upon thousands are one hundred percent behind the Fallen Angel,” says Comet. “How can Lezaire battle not only against The Fallen Angel, but this crowd as well?”

“The same way Team Suicide King is going to rip apart Grand Slam and Friends later tonight,” says Riley. “Pure, unstoppable skill. With a little bit of some shortcuts on the side.”

“So, you admit Flesher has cheated,” asks Comet.

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth,” asks Riley with mock horror. “I mean, accusing Tom of cheating. That’s blasphemy. It’s like saying Dangerous will walk out of here World Champion or something. It’s simply wrong.”

“I do not doubt the chances of Grand Slam, Johnny Dangerous, or even David Cross in their crusade of justice!”

 

Lezaire gets to his knees as Cross heads toward him and Ace gets to eat a large boot right in his teeth again, causing The Prodigy to fall face-first to the mat! Cross then grabs Lezaire and pulls him up, locking in a half nelson hold as Lezaire struggles a throws a few errant elbows, hitting nothing but air. Instead, David just locks in the hold tighter and then Cross begins to pull Lezaire up and over and crashes him to the mat, driving his neck into the canvas with a HALF NELSON SUPLEX! Cross doesn’t even bother going for a pin, instead pulling the limp body of Lezaire up who has glazed eyes, and grabs his left arm and pulls him into a SHORT ARM LARIATO~ as the crowd goes mad knowing what’s next!

“I do believe Robert, that Citizen Lezaire is about to become an unwilling part of a -”

 

Cross kicks Lezaire in the gut, and pulls him high in the air across his shoulders, but at the last possible moment, Lezaire rakes The Fallen Angel’s eyes! Lezaire takes the moment and turn the finishing maneuver into a…

 

Riley jumps in, “I don’t think so!”

 

…hurricanrana! The crowd overwhelming cheers turn to boos as Canada’s Greatest Export plays to the crowd a bit before walking back to Cross as he gets up and firing a vicious snap kick to the thighs to keep him hurting! Lezaire locks in the urange hold, as Lezaire spins the 270 pound frame of Cross into a big…

 

“…STO BY LEZAIRE!” screams Comet as Cross eats the mat face-first with a lot of force behind it. “What is the nefarious Citizen Lezaire planning to do now?”

“If I had to take a wild guess,” begins Riley. “I’d have to say just maybe, win the damn match?”

“I think Citizen Cross will have something to say about that,” notes Comet.

“Not if he’s out cold.”

 

Lezaire rises to his feet after the STO to boos from the Rose Bowl crowd and a very out of it David Cross on the mat. The Prodigy simply smirks, then rushes the ropes, jumps once, then twice, then thrice before he begins his arc back to the mat, crashing onto The Fallen Angel with a picture perfect…

 

“…TRIPLE JUMP MOONSAULT!” screams Comet as Hall begins his count.

“That’s what I like!” adds in Riley while the count starts…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

 

…THREE! KICKOUT!

 

“Citizen Cross just kicked out a moment too soon, and it seems Citizen Lezaire now has a nearly insurmountable lead of six to nil,” says Comet as Lezaire celebrates again, doing a little strut and avoiding the beer can that flies at his head!

 

“I told you right from the beginning,” says Riley. “This man here is a true Canadian hero, and all you wanted to talk about is that big goof and his search for justice. Screw him, and amaze yourself with The Prodigy himself!”

 

Lezaire continues the assault immediately, rushing Cross as he gets up and knocking him back to the corner with a jumping heel kick that knocks Cross in the shoulder! But, then the champion makes a slight error…he fires a jab at Cross again, only for Cross to block it, and fire back with his own right hand rocking Lezaire back a bit! Cross then serves up another right hand sandwich right into Lezaire’s mug as Ace stumbles back. The Fallen Angel then follows that up with a quick kick to the gut doubling over the self-proclaimed Canadian champion. Cross then pulled up Lezaire into vertical suplex position and then after a moment to let the blood to rush to the head, Cross dropped sending Lezaire’s head and neck crashing into the mat with a…

 

“…BRAINBUSTER BY CROSS!” yells Comet as the crowd goes mad!

 

“CROSS!” “CROSS!” “CROSS!”

“CROSS!” “CROSS!” “CROSS!”

“CROSS!” “CROSS!” “CROSS!”

“CROSS!” “CROSS!” “CROSS!”

 

“Why can’t these people be quiet and allow Ace to recover in peace,” whines Riley. “He needs his peace and quiet.”

“Well Robert, I don’t think Citizen Cross is going to let him have that anytime soon,” says Comet, chuckling a little. “In fact, I don’t think Cross is going to let Citizen Lezaire rest for a moment.”

 

As the fans continue to cheer, Cross does the throat-slitting motion, then grabs Lezaire in a headlock and drags him over to the corner. Cross then puts Lezaire on the top rope, facing the crowd as they buzz. The Fallen Angel then begins to climb the ropes.

 

“You don’t think…” asks a suddenly very, very concerned Bobby Riley.

“I think he’s about to cause Citizen Lezaire a great amount of pain and suffering,” says Comet. “To be frank, the smug bastard is about to get part of his comeuppance.”

 

As Comet says that, Cross locks in a waistlock, and then he jumps back carrying and throwing Lezaire back as they both fly towards the mat, but at the last possible moment, Cross releases…

 

 

*CRACK*

 

*THUMP*

 

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

 

“Citizen Cross just executed a vicious, nasty release German Suplex off the top rope and may have hurt himself just as bad as he hurt Citizen Lezaire,” says Comet as both men are down, Cross barely moving.

“Ouch. Just…ouch,” says a for once, quiet Riley.

“If Citizen Cross can get even a hand on Lezaire, this match may take a drastic turn in the challenger’s favor.”

“I have faith in The Prodigy, and one silly move isn’t going to break that faith.”

 

Cross crawls over slowly and after a few steps, throws a hand over Lezaire as Hall drops down to count…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

…THREE…

 

 

 

…FOUR…

 

 

 

…FIV - LEZAIRE GETS A SHOULDER UP!

 

“That had to be pure instinct,” notes Comet as Cross sits up, hearing the capacity crowd on his side. “But, this match is down to a simple two count difference, six to four and it looks like Citizen Lezaire is not in the best of shape.”

“Well, that move took a whole hell of a lot out of Cross too so I wouldn’t count out the Soverigen of Swagger just yet, Comet.”

“At the moment, the only swaggering Lezaire would be doing is in a hospital bed.”

 

Cross uses the ropes to get up, not exactly all back from his huge maneuver but he gets his bearings quick enough, and pulls an out-of-it champion to his feet. With the crowd on his side, Cross hit’s a nasty forearm right to Lezaire’s face and Ace immediately falls into the corner, and slumps down. The Fallen Angel then pulls Lezaire up again and grabs the Canadian Champion’s throat with his right hand. The fans buzz again, for the coup de grace when one little problem asserts itself…

 

“…STEVE JUST JUMPED ON THE FALLEN ANGEL’S BACK!”

“Hmm, he doesn’t look like Sherri Martel,” muses Riley as Cross loses his grip on Lezaire’s throat.

 

As Steve struggles to stay on David’ shoulder, he tosses Ace’s Canadian Championship to him! Lezaire finally seems to come back to the land of the living, and Hall just steps back, because there is no DQ and simply waits for the action. David, his back to Lezaire finally throws Steve to the mat, only to turn around…and GET NAILED WITH THE TITLE BELT! Lezaire immediately drops and hooks a leg…

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

…THR - KICKOUT BY CROSS!

 

“Damn, that was a good plan…” muses Riley again while the crowd goes wild.

“You mean, a devious and evil one.”

“Exactly. A good one.”

 

Cross rises to his feet pretty quickly, and with fire in his eyes as Lezaire attempts the title belt special, only for Cross to duck and kick him right in the gut! The belt is dropped, and then Cross follows up with a big forearm to the back and Lezaire collapses. The Fallen Angel pulls up Ace by his melonhead, but Lezaire is ready and low blows Cross! The Fallen Angel falls to his knees as Ace, like a Lazarus rises once again to the boos of the Rose Bowl crowd!

 

“If nothing else, you have to admire the cockroach-like resiliency that Ace Lezaire has had in this match,” says Comet. Whether it’s by hook or crook, he has managed to stay ahead in this match, even though if we were grading on points, many people would give Cross the match. I only wish he could wrestle on the side of JUSTICE~ instead of EVIL~!”

 

“Too bad, we have him Comet,” says Riley. “Not that I actually think your compliment was anything close to an actual once, but I’ll take what I can get from a masked freak like you.”

“I may be a freak, but at least I don’t have shrine to Tom Flesher in my linen clo -”

“Hey, you weren’t sup - I mean, I have no idea what you’re talking about Comet. Sure you aren’t going senile at a young age?”

 

Comet simply sighs as Lezaire walks over to Steve, as his cameraman hands him Ace his chair. The one with his face on it. Lezaire holds it high to the Rose Bowl crowd who erupt in boos. Waiting for Cross to turn around, Ace does a little strut until The Fallen Angel turns around, who gets a chair right in the gut followed by a swing at his head, but Cross get his hands up and blocks it! The two grapplers battle for the chair, trying to out leverage each other for the chair, but suddenly Lezaire kicks Cross in the gut to cause him to lose his grip! But, Lezaire drops the chair too as it falls to the crowd as Ace turns around and grabs David’s neck…

 

 

“…ACE CRUSHER ON THE CHAIR!” screams Comet as the fans boo like mad. The only thing Hall can do is kick away the chair and begin the count…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

…THREE…

 

 

 

…FOU - SHOULDER UP!

 

“The kid is a genius,” says a joyful Riley. “Who else would’ve thought of that series of events. Get the big goof to fight you for the chair, only drop it yourself and - WHAM!”

“So you’re proud of him?”

“Like I just had a baby boy.”

“On that disturbing thought, all Ace Lezaire has to do is get one more pinfall and this match is over. He leads nine to four over David Cross, who has to begin to get desperate here, or he might lose this match.”

“Well, Cross has to get a plan beyond Cross SMASH!”

“Worked well for Raynor.”

“But, he’s not one hundredth the man Raynor is.”

 

With Cross on the ropes, Ace has a big wide grin on his face as he makes his way back over to Cross after doing a strut and…SLAPPING HIM! Of course, that only helped David to clear the cobwebs and we was to his full weight, staring down at Lezaire. Bad move for Ace, as he suddenly backpedals and falls to his knees begging in the corner, only to low blow Cross again! The Cavalcade of Cheating continues as Cross gets his eyes raked, then a eye poke to further slow him down! Lezaire then follows all that up by going off the far ropes and dropkicking Cross to the mat! Taking advantage of the opportunity, he goes for the pin…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

…THRE - KICKOUT!

 

“How can you defend all of that, Robert?”

“Easy,” replies Riley. “It’s all perfectly legal in this match.”

“So if Lezaire decoded to come out with a truck to run over Cross, you’d be OK with that?”

“No, no, no, at most, he’d only need a mid-sized sedan.”

 

Lezaire picks Cross up again, gets him in position, locks in the urange again, swings him around and back into another STO! The Prodigy goes for the pin again…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

…THR - SHOULDER UP!

 

“Citizen Lezaire seems to be getting a little desperate to end this match,” notes Comet as the crowd stomps their feet for Cross.

“Balderdah, Ace is simply being a good Canadian and trying to move the crowd on to the utter destruction of Johnny Dangerous and Team Stevens later on tonight.”

“What color is the sky in your world?”

 

Ace heads to the corner again, and calls for Steve. The intrepid cameraman sets down his camera and grabs a chair, folding it up and tossing it to Lezaire, who now has a big grin on his face.

 

“This is disgusting and morally -”

“It’s all that, but also perfectly legal,” replies Riley.

 

As Cross gets up, he turns around to see a chair being swung at his temple! Cross ducks and Lezaire whiffs for his first try! But, Cross backs up as Lezaire turns back toward Cross and as The Fallen Angel comes out of the crouch…

 

“YAAAAAAAAZUKA~ WITH THE CHAIR!” screams Comet as Cross falls on Lezaire, hooking the near leg…

 

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

 

…THREE…

 

 

 

…FOUR…

 

 

 

…FI - SHOULDER UP!

 

“Just like that, in an instant, the whole tide of this match has changed!” yells Comet as the fans cheer like mad the comeback of Cross.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” notes Riley. “The Prodigy was supposed to play wiffleball with his skull, not get kicked into next week.”

“I’m sorry your hero deserted you,” says a chuckling Comet.

“Hast Tom thou forsaken me?”

 

Cross gets to his feet first and immediately tosses the foreign objects out of the ring, then simply looks at Steve. The cameraman wisely scampers to the safety of the floor as Cross then advances on Lezaire. The Fallen Angel his a quick kick to the gut, and David reintroduces himself with a big vertical suplex into the middle of the ring! As the crowd cheers like mad, Cross brings Lezaire up, kicks him in the gut and pulls him high again, but again, Lezaire rakes the eye and Ace drops to the relative safety of the mat! Again, taking his moment, the Canadian champion fires a quick spinning back kick which sends Cross loopy, then the man who calls himself Canada’s Greatest Import followed it up with a with a big CYCLONE ELBOW! With the crowd booing loudly, and making the Rose Bowl rumble Lezaire does his own throat-slitting motion, and slaps on the bulldog hold.

 

“It’s time for Ace to finish this once and for all,” yells Riley as the crowd buzzes.

“I think Citizen Cross is going to have something to say about that.”

 

David indeed does, blocking the first Ace Crusher attempt, then another quick one. As Lezaire tries to muscle Cross, The Fallen Angel sends Lezaire into the corner, and the champion eats turnbuckle! Lezaire stumbles backward, but right into Cross who locks up The Prodigy’s arms and sends him back into a…

 

“…STRAIGHTJACKET SUPLEX!” screams Comet again as the crowd pops huge and Hall counts…

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

…THR - CROSS COULDN’T KEEP THE BRIDGE!

 

“This match has taken it’s effect on both men,” says Comet as both men struggle to get up. “They’re both slow to get up and attack each other. They both know one big move by either man could take this. This is the endgame, ladies and gentlemen watching Genesis Five here with us.”

“I don’t think they’re any ladies watching, maybe ringra -”

“ROBERT!”

“OK, OK, seriously though, both guys tanks are about empty and all it will take is one big move to finish this off,” says Riley. “So Ace, hit the Ace Crusher and let’s move on!”

 

Cross and Lezaire both get up at the same time, but Ace is again a moment quicker and kicks Cross in the gut and puts him in the head scissors position. He tries to pick Cross up, but no dice! Ace tries again, but no! Cross blocks it again and…BACKDROP! CROSS JUST BACKDROPPED LEZAIRE! Ace stumbles to his feet and runs right into a big boot from Cross as the crowd goes mad!

 

“This isn’t good,” says Riley. “Just win already, Ace. I believe you.”

“No matter what you may believe, David Cross is just about ready to finish Ace Lezaire off!”

“Ace is going to pull this out, I know he will. For all the Canadians!”

 

Cross pulls Lezaire up and kick to the gut and pulls him up in the vertical suplex, but Ace slides out again! He takes a step back, waits for Cross to turn around, kick in the gut and…

 

“CROSS BLOCKED THE ACE CRUSHER! HE BROKE THE HOLD BEFORE IT HAPPENED!”

“That has to be illegal, right?” asks a desperate Riley.

“Sorry, Bobb-o,” replies Comet. “Totally above board.”

 

Pushed off, Lezaire turns around and walks right into a huge forearm! Cross pulls him close…SHORT ARM LARIATO! Everyone in the stadium rises because they know what’s next. Cross raises his fist, as he pulls Ace up, puts him in the standing head scissors pulls him up…

 

“Ace Lezaire is about to become part of a…”

 

…lets him stay at the apex for a moment, then Cross grabs him and sends him back to the mat with the…

 

“…BLACK MASS~!”

 

Hall drops down to the count as the whole stadium counts along…

 

 

…ONE…

 

 

…TWO…

 

 

…THREE!

 

DING! DING! DING!

 

Funyon immediately steps in as the crowd rises to their feet and the orchestra begins ‘Back on Earth‘, “The winner of the Canadian Death Match by a count of eleven falls to nine and NEEEEEEEEEEW USJL CHAMPION…”THE FALLEN ANGEL” DAAAAAVID CROSS!

 

Cross is handed the belt, and he holds it up to the flashbulbs of the cheering crowd as Ace rolls to the floor, holding his back. As Cross salutes the crowd, Lezaire makes his way to the back, ready to fight another day.

[the.weej 0]

The camera takes a slow tour of the Rose Bowl. The air is a little hazy now as the sun has gone down and the sliver of a moon hangs ominously in the air just over the top of the stadium, as if waiting for something momentous to happen...

 

Now it fades slowly into a view of the stage setup for Genesis V, The lights are slowly working the anxious crowd, all of whom know that there are only two matches left and are very aware of what will be the penultimate match of the biggest Pay-Per-View of the SWF year.

 

The arena goes dark... thousands of flash bulbs begin to pop, then...

 

ALL ABOARD!! AH HAH HAH HAH!!

 

The stage suddenly explodes as a wall of crimson pyro shoots skyward, deafening and blinding those closest. When the pyro finishes the wailing guitar chords of Ozzy Ozborne's "Crazy Train" pick up in volume and the Suicide King is revealed, posing cockily as the crowd pours its derision on him (save for the few sparse cheers from desperate women). Smirking in disdain he makes his way down to the ring, strutting like he is the single greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

Funyon: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a six man tag match and it is scheduled for ONE FALL!! Introducing first, weighing in at two hundred and twenty six pounds and hailing from Dayton, Ohio... he is the Gambling Man, the Heartbreaker... he is the SUICIDE KING!!!!

 

Making his way to ringside, he jumps up to stand on the ring apron and moves provocatively between the ropes. Once inside the ring the Suicide King circles the ropes, making sure that everyone in attendance gets a good, long look at the most talented, entertaining, and handsome man in wrestling today. The men swear, the women squeal, and the SWF collects another fortune in merchandising... the Suicide King casually brushes the hair out of his eyes and turns back to gaze at the stage, waiting for his allies.

 

Comet: Welcome back Citizens young and old! It's time for a grudge match that has drawn in some of the biggest names, past or present, ever to compete to in an SWF ring!

 

Riley: Comet, I've dreamed of a night like this ever since I was a boy! Suicide King, Chris Raynor and Tom Flesher together in a ring? My God... it's enough to make you cry...

 

As Comet sadly shakes his head, the sound system kicks up "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin. The crowd turns its hatred from the man in the ring to the man on the stage as "The Superior One" Tom Flesher struts out from behind the curtain, Allison Onita right behind him, looking stunning as always in a blue sequined blouse and short black skirt. Soaking in the jeers of the massive crowd, Tom and Allison begin the long walk down the ramp.

 

Funyon: And his partner, hailing from Buffalo, New York and weighing in at two hundred and thirty one pounds, being accompanied to the ring by Allison Onita... he is The Superior One... TOM FLESHER!!

 

As they reach the ring, Allison crawls seductively up to the apron, then sits on the second rope, clearing the way for her man, the ever-confident Tom Flesher. He follows her up, then slides in between the ropes. With a disdainful look out at the crowd, letting them know that he hears everything but just doesn't care, he walks over to shake hands with his training partner for the better part of a year, the Suicide King. Allison steps into the ring herself then, drawing catcalls from several front row patrons. King, ever a picture of the debonair playboy, raises her hand to his lips and lightly kisses her knuckles, drawing a few more boos from the crowd.

 

Riley: There they are Comet! Those two men are the epitome of what a man should be, classy, powerful, handsome...

 

Comet: Underhanded, conniving, evil...

 

Riley: You're always looking for the negative in everyone aren't you Mr. Superhero?

 

The lights go out...

 

The stage lights flicker white for a strobing effect, as "The Grudge" by Tool pounds out through the sound system. Chris Raynor does not spend much time dilly-dallying on the stage. He steps out from behind the curtain and starts walking to the ring.

 

Funyon: And their partner, hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and weighing in at two hundred and forty pounds, CHRIS RAYNOR!!

 

The Rayn man never looks away from the ring as he walks down the ramp. The crowd just unloads on him, never able to forget his betrayal of the Midnight Carnival. Nor will he let them forget as he wears a brand new shirt to the ring tonight with a flashy "Carnevil" logo on the front, and profiles of himself and the Suicide King, looking quite mad, adorn the back. He sees the camera focus in on his shirt out of the corner of eye, putting the profiles on the several giant screens around the stadium, and he smiles, an ironic, twisted cold little thing that barely breaks over his face.

 

Comet: I have to believe that Chris Raynor isn't here tonight to humiliate Mark Stevens. He isn't here tonight to help King, and certainly isn't here because of Landon Maddix. He's here because he was hoping, praying maybe, that he could settle things with Edwin MacPhisto, nearly two years to the day after their epic confrontation at Genesis III!

 

Riley: Of course that's why he's here. I know he spent every day in rehab dreaming about an opportunity like this. When King called him a couple of weeks ago, he had to know that his time has arrived.

 

Raynor rolls into the ring and to his feet. King, Tom and Allison move to meet him, but there is not the gregarious outpouring of affection from Chris that we saw just moments ago between Tom and King. He simply nods his head and says something far too low for the mics to pick up.

 

Comet: It appears to my super-human senses that the three men in that ring are not necessarily on the same page Robert.

 

Riley: Do they need to be? I have no idea what Zenon was thinking, putting this match this far up on the card. In my estimation... there's no way this goes longer than ten minutes, max.

 

The lights dim, and the crowd sounds change from boos and jeers to claps and cheers. They know now that "Team Heel" is in the ring; the next entrance has to be somebody worth cheering for...

 

"PREPARE...FOR...LANDON!"

 

And the crowd goes wild.

 

...WAAAAAHHHHH...

 

*DUM DUM*

 

The post-riff part of "Megalomaniac" by Incubus hits, as from behind the curtain steps Landon Maddix, stopping at the top of the ramp and thrusting his hands out to his side as the lights return back to normal. Landon turns back to the curtains...as Megan follows out from the back. They then walk down the ramp, with Landon leading the way, jaw jacking with fans on the way down the ramp as he goes.

 

Funyon: And their opponents... Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Megan Skye... he hails from Huron, South Dakota and weighs in at two hundred and eighteen pounds... he is YOUR Smartmarks Wrestling Federation Intercontinental-Television Champion... LANDON "LA CUCARACHA" MADDIX!!

 

Landon leaps to the apron, before running across the apron and leaping up to the middle turnbuckle. Looking out at the crowd, Landon grins and holds his arms out to the sides before leaping over the top and entering the ring. The ref is standing in the middle of the ring, arms out to either side, keeping the heels at bay on the opposite side of the ring from Maddix. Landon steps close behind the ref and says something, emphasizing it with a pointed finger at the Suicide King.

 

Comet: Citizen Maddix is the wild card in this match Robert... drawn into this after being held down by the evil Suicide King.

 

Riley: Please... Maddix is only here because King wanted him here. If there was any chance of him making a difference in this match, King would never have allowed him to be in it!

 

Landon waits in the corner, a huge smile on his face as he looks out at the sheer volume of people cheering him on. Megan leans close and says something to him, whispering into his ear. Landon nods to her and his smile gets a little bigger.

 

Comet: I can't imagine what is going through Landon Maddix's mind right now. He grew up watching wrestling, dreaming of being in the spotlight on a show just like this one... and now here he is!

 

Then, once more, the lights in the giant stadium fade to black...

 

The crowd is restless, anxious, knowing something is about to happen...

 

Then...

 

A soft female voice whispers two words not heard in over a year at an SWF event...

 

 

 

... Midnight Carnival ...

 

"You give me that funny feeling in my tummy..."

 

The IGNTron flashes blazing white in time with the opening beats of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Love Rollercoaster" as the Carnival's anthem pumps through the arena, revealing with each flash thin black lettering that reads "Step Right Up." As the guitar part drops in, three blue laser lights trace the arena, all stemming from the same point in the middle of the entrance ramp.

 

"Ahhh shit yeah... that's right... STEP RIGHT UP!!!!"

 

As the words "Rollercoaster of Love" echo through the arena for the first time, the laser lights flare out into a blue haze across the entrance ramp. The crowd is positively apoplectic as the curtain parts, revealing the one and only Love Rollercoaster, the heavily modified golf cart used by the members of the Midnight Carnival as transportation all those years ago. Grand Slam Mark Stevens is in the driver's seat, jamming to the music while Edwin MacPhisto, consummate showman, stands with his upper body stuck through the sunroof, dancing to the funky beat!

 

"Step right up and get your tickets!!!"

 

As the refrain arrives for the first time, the arena plunges back into darkness just as purple strobe lights tear through the house and the blue laser lights spiral wildly, illuminating the members of the Midnight Carnival in funky, staccato bursts. The IGNTron video plays, flashing half-second clips of classic maneuvers from all of the Carnival's members past.

 

Funyon: And his partners, at a combined weight of five hundred and thirty three pounds... hailing from London, England and Lincoln, Nebraska respectively... they are the Undefeated Stables Champions... EDWIN MACPHISTO AND "GRAND SLAM" MARK STEVENS... THE MIDNIGHT CARNIVAL!!!

 

As the Love Rollercoaster careens down the long ramp, the camera flashes briefly to the two former Carnies in the ring. King is ticked, ready to rip someone apart for this, but Raynor is surprisingly cool and collected.

 

The 'Coaster makes a lap of the ring and comes to rest on the side of the ring closest to the stage. Grand Slam steps out of the cart and starts up the stairs, still jamming to the music but focusing his attention on King. Edwin, on the other hand, pushes himself up through the sunroof and stands on top of the Love Rollercoaster, his bright red vinyl coast shimmering in the pulsating lights.

 

Edwin: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, just in case you may have forgotten about us I thought a primer might be in order before we get down to business tonight! We be, am, is ,are and forever shall be them that are known around this world as the greatest collection of pranksters, merry-makers, partiers and oh yes... wrestlers to ever grace the squared circle... we are the Midnight Carnival!!! (huge pop from the crowd) Tonight.. tonight... TONIGHT! Tonight we take care of business... tonight we right old wrongs... tonight we settle old debts... tonight we stand against those who would see us humiliated and destroyed! Tonight... tonight we will go into that ring and we will remind each and every one of you out there in this stadium and in TV Land that the side of righteousness, that the side of good, that the side of funk will never lose! Tonight we win! But tomorrow... tomorrow we party!

 

The crowd goes absolutely funky monkey insane! Edwin drops the mic back into the 'Coaster and steps through the ropes into the ring where Grand Slam is shaking hands with Landon and Megan. Edwin joins in the greetings by shaking Landon's hand vigorously, then grabbing Megan in a huge bear hug! Landon looks a little upset, but Edwin releases her quickly, looks at Maddix, smiles, then offers his hand to the young lady for a proper handshake!

 

Comet: Let there be no doubt that, at least for one night, the Midnight Carnival is back in business!

 

Riley: So sad, them living in the past like this, when they were cool, when they had a chance of winning... when they mattered.

 

Comet: Robert... I am shocked! Even for you that was low.

 

In the ring, the heels are making ready to start, but team face is smiling at them. Edwin mocks them. The viewers at home can't hear him, but it is clear what he is saying...

 

Edwin: We know something you don't know...

 

Funyon, still in the ring, again raises the mic to his lips.

 

Funyon: And, the special guest referee for this match...

 

Team heel is pissed, as is the ref already in the ring. King stomps over to Funyon, screaming in his face. The mic catches most of it, but as most of it is bleeps, all we really hear is...

 

King: ...your job sequin boy? No special ref!

 

Funyon: the Commissioner of the SWF... Alex Zenon!!!

 

Z's music plays and he appears from behind the curtain, dressed in the standard black slacks and striped shirt. King turns bright red. Tom kicks the bottom turnbuckle in frustration while Allison tries to console him. Edwin, Stevens, Megan and Maddix all share a good laugh at the heels predicament. Raynor seems totally unaffected, his eyes locked on Edwin MacPhisto.

 

Riley: This is too much! Z is the special referee? How can this possibly be fair?

 

Comet: Well Robert, by the glances being shared between the former referee for this match and the Suicide King, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that it has a far better chance of being called down the middle now!

 

Riley: Are you trying to imply that the Suicide King would stoop so low as to bribe a referee?

 

Comet: He's done it before.

 

Riley: That was just a tip, you know, like if a bellman helps you with a suitcase...

 

Z reaches the ring and goes straight to the former ref, points to the backstage area and says something. The old ref thinks about starting something, but decides now isn't the time and heads back up the ramp. As Funyon exits the ring, King calmly walks over to Zenon and says something. Z turns away, trying to ignore him, but King grabs his arms and spins him back so the two are nose-to-nose. King says something to the Commissioner again, this time with clenched teeth. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make out the words "If you do this..." right before Z points at the timekeeper and signals for the bell.

 

**Ding ding ding**

 

Comet: And this historic match is underway!!

 

The two teams confer, the Carnies+1 talking it out while the EvilCarnies+1 continue to have conniptions over the sudden addition of Z to the match. On the side of all that is light, holy, and out of shape, Mark shares a nod with Edwin and Landon and steps through the ropes.

 

Comet: Stevens will start it off for his team, possibly looking to anchor this match with a little old-school prowess.

 

Seeing the heavy hitter take his place in the ring, Tom Flesher pushes out of the surly triangle and nonchalantly ducks into the ring.

 

Riley: And it'll be Tom Flesher kicking it off for King's team! That's what I like to see, Comet - in the ring with two has-beens, two legends, and one yet-to-be, Tom's easily the man most physically prepared for the match, and he should be able to dismantle Ol' Gimpy in short order.

 

Comet: We'll see about that...

 

Stevens squares up to Tom, a head taller and probably a whole lot angrier than the walking technical handbook. The Superior One looks for an in, slowly shifting out of his corner and towards the center. With a slight jog forward he baits Stevens, and the heavy hitter charges forward looking for a lock-up. Stevens, vicelike, clamps his hands down on Tom's shoulders, and Tom starts to buckle under the pressure.

 

Comet: Grand Slam may still be rusty, but at 300 pounds he's going to be the juggernaut in this match...

 

As Stevens tries to twist Tom out into the center of the ring, safely away from the heel corner, the Superior One launches a left boot into Mark's shin, causing a short stutter in Grand Slam's walk. Tom fires again, but this time pushes upward as well, managing to shove Stevens off and out...but not too far out, as the Superior One bats a returning Mark back with an open palm to the face!

 

Riley: B-b-b-b-bitchslap!

 

Stevens reels, affronted, and the boos are on as Flesher immediately transitions into a low dropkick, cracking against Mark's always-troublesome knee and felling the big man to a one-leg kneel. Flesher wastes no time and pulls Mark back up into a front facelock. Stevens finds a knee flowing swiftly into his slightly pronounced gut, and then another, and then another, as Flesher slowly grinds him down. After a fourth jab, Flesher shoves the gasping Stevens back up and away, and this time drives a speeding palm strike straight into his collarbone!

 

Riley: And a palm strike from Tommy Boy keeps Grand Sham reeling! It was a brilliant tactical move to get Tom in there first - Stevens is mad and he wants a power brawl, but you can't throw a punch if you're a broken old man.

 

In the corner, Landon and Edwin start shouting words of encouragement and pounding the turnbuckle. Across the ring, King shoots instruction to Flesher, and Raynor glares across, steely and unmoving. Stevens wobbles back towards Flesher, who takes him into a smooth arm wrench, breaking down the shoulder slowly and painfully. Z checks for any suspect holds, but Flesher's all legal as he grinds Mark's joints. Tom pounds another knee into Mark's gut and the Slammer tries to shove back with a big palm of his own, but Tom leans with it and snaps Mark forward with the trapped arm. Mark surges forward, and Tom quickly drives a Doc Marten into the back of Mark's knee, dropping him again. The big man falters and Tom unloads a knucklehead smack across the back of his head, much to King's delight!

 

Comet: This is uncalled for!

 

Tom backs up and gives himself a little pat on the back while Mark, frustrated, clambers back to his feet. Stevens turns, fuming, just as Flesher saunters back and snares the arm again. But this time...

 

WHAM!

 

Comet: Now THAT was called for!

 

The crowd roars as Stevens slams Flesher raw across the face with his free forearm! The Superior One loses his grip and rocks back, and Stevens blasts forward and levels Taamo with a short-range clothesline! Flesher bounces up back off the mat almost straight off the momentum of Mark's crushing blow...and goes right back down again, facefirst, as Mark unloads another clothesline into the back of his head. Businesslike, Stevens hoists a wind-sucking Flesher up off the mat, catches a waistlock, and crunches him against the mat with a fearsome belly to belly! Stevens rises up off the mat like a fire-breathing totem while Flesher clutches at the small of his back, barely pushing himself back up to a stumbling three-point stance.

 

Comet: I haven't seen Stevens this revved up since his return! Tom tried to diminish him and Stevens wasn't going to have it!

 

Stevens gives Flesher a helping hand back to his feet, and then greets Tom with a hamhock of a punch! Flesher trades back with a palm blow of his own, but Stevens comes back even harder with another punch, then another, quickly taking control of the slugfest as the Superior One looks for an out. He looks left...he looks right...and then he looks right up the middle as a Grand Slam shoulder charge pounds him into the ropes and down onto his face. The crowd is revved up, but Mark, his body catching up with his heart, stops to catch his breath.

 

Fortunately, an eager Landon Maddix is just a step away...

 

SLAP!

 

Comet: It should be interesting to see how the fans react to Landon, who's only recently worked his way into their good graces.

 

Riley: I liked him better when he punched people in the crotch...

 

As Slammer steps out and takes a high-five from Edwin, Landon climbs through the ropes, hearing the fans' cheers waver a little bit at the somewhat untested commodity. Always a man of action, he quickly springs back to the second rope and leaps off, blasting the rising Flesher with a flying bodypress! Flesher crashes to the mat while Maddix bounces almost back to his feet. Landon runs into the ropes, bounces back and delivers a hard dropkick to the back of the Superior One's head, just as Flesher was starting to sit up! Landon scoots around, hooks the leg...

 

One... Two... Th...NO! Flesher kicks out!

 

Comet: Landon almost had him there Robert!

 

Riley: I disagree wholeheartedly Comet. Flesher is a ring veteran, he knows enough to wait as long as he can to kick out, to try and get some of his wind back!

 

Landon moves to his feet, dragging Flesher up with him by a handful of hair. Looking to keep fresh, Landon reaches for the tag while keeping Flesher under control in front of him. But Flesher has been around this turn too many times, and starts pumping his legs, picking Landon up and charging across the ring diagonally and driving La Cucaracha hard into the enemy turnbuckles. Tom holds out his hand for a tag and gets one. The Suicide King calmly steps into the ring, his swagger and confidence as intact as they ever have been. He steps up to Maddix and delivers a brutal knife-edge chop (Woo!!) that raises a red welt across his chest! Maddix is hanging in the corner, his arms draped over the top rope as King settles into a long practiced sequence of chops (each one accompanied by a Woo!) and elbow smashes to the bridge of Landon' nose.

 

Riley: Here's where it begins Comet. King and Associates has chosen a member of the opposing team to focus on and isolate, and now they are going to just pick him apart piece by piece.

 

Comet: I am familiar with the strategy of tag team wrestling Robert. However, I think they may have made a mistake by focusing their efforts on Landon Maddix. He's the most mobile and best conditioned on his team. The evildoers will have to work triple hard to keep La Cucaracha under control.

 

Riley: Conveniently, there are three of them.

 

Across the ring, the Carnies are clapping and cheering, trying to get Maddix fired up and get him out of the corner. Finally, Referee / Commissioner Zenon has to step in and remind King that, while accepted, keeping someone in the corner is, in fact, illegal. King acquiesces, stepping away from Landon and holding his arms out to the side. Z gets in front of him and says something, which King chooses to take as an insult and starts berating the Commissioner near the center of the ring. Meanwhile, in one of the oldest tricks in the book, Tom Flesher has pulled the usually forgotten tag rope across the throat of Landon Maddix, and is heaving backwards, choking the life out of him. Across the ring, Edwin and Grand Slam are absolutely livid that these sort of shenanigans are going on, and they are sure to tell their concerns to the referee. Unlike most single-minded refs though, Z is on the lookout for crap such as this and turns immediately, almost catching Flesher just as the Superior One drops the rope. Landon is coughing and sputtering as he tries to stagger out of the corner. Z admonishes the two heels in the corner with the universal sign for "I'm watching you".

 

Riley: Basic but effective teamwork will win you a match every time.

 

Comet: Robert, I don't even know what to say... these men are beyond the pale in their no-goodness. Why they're... they're... they're just bastards!

 

Riley: What did you say? Goodness Comet... think of the children!

 

King pulls Landon out of the corner by the arm and twists it, stepping under and turning, putting incredible tension on the shoulder joint. Landon reacts by dropping to one knee, King takes advantage by sending his foot way up in the air and bringing the heel down on the top of Maddix's shoulder! Maddix's free hand reaches across his body to the shoulder instantly. As King slowly torques the arm, grinding bone against bone and tearing tendons, Maddix slowly pushes his way back up. But as soon as he is vertical King hops back just a hair, then drives his foot hard into the armpit of Maddix with a nasty sidekick! Maddix again drops to one knee, his face twisted in agony. King pulls Maddix closer to the center of the ring, using the trapped arm as bait, holding it out towards Maddix's corner. Grand Slam and Edwin lean in, trying to make the tag! Stevens' arm is a little longer and he gets within an inch of Maddix's hand, but King, finished with his taunting, pulls the hand away. Absolutely ticked, Grand Slam charges into the ring only to be stopped very short by Referee Z, telling him to get back out of the ring. This, of course, allows plenty of time for King to signal to Raynor to come into the ring, Raynor slapping his hands together simulating the sound of a tag.

 

Comet: There is no way that is going to work against Z! He knows all of these tricks!

 

Riley: Just watch my good man, it doesn't have to actually work!

 

Z is still getting Grand Slam out of the ring as King uses the twisted arm to launch Maddix across the ring and into the ropes, bounce back, King grabs Landon around the waist and flapjacks him backwards, only to have Maddix's momentum abruptly stopped and reversed by a high dropkick right to his face! Maddix falls in a crumpled heap as Z finally turns around and sees both men in the ring and starts to point for Raynor to get out! Raynor, craft veteran, gets right in Z's face trying to explain to him that he made the tag! Z's rebuttal is simple, explaining to Raynor that he isn't stupid and that was the sound of Raynor's hand clapping.

 

Meanwhile, as Z and Raynor debate the finer points of Zen philosophy, King takes full advantage of the distracted ref by grabbing both of Landon's legs, opening them wide and dropping his knee right into Landon's... "special place". The crowd starts to boo again as poor, poor Maddix rolls over on his side, both hands covering the targeted area. Chris, knowing by the crowd's reaction that he has done his job, finally agrees that Z is correct and steps out of the ring. Z turns around to see King casually rolling Landon over onto his back and sitting down next to him, leaning back over him just enough to cause a pinfall but not enough to actually, you know, cause King any discomfort. As King examines his fingernails for chips and/or splits, Z drops to the mat...

 

One... Two... Thr... NO!! Landon kicks out hard. The crowd goes nuts and King looks slightly annoyed at the kid's persistence.

 

Comet: Robert, I am starting to think that King has no plans of actually pinning Maddix anytime soon.

 

Riley: Of course not Comet! Maddix is a trifle, a nothing! King wants to destroy Mark Stevens. The fact that Grand Scam is so willing to hide behind younger guys just means that King and Company will have to show him the results of that!

 

Comet: ...a trifle?

 

Turning onto his front, King glares deep into the eyes of Landon Maddix...before smashing him with a forearm. Maddix's body jolts from the impact, as King keeps the forearm placed firmly across the Maddix's jaw, grinding downwards as the youngster tries to squirm away. King makes sure he's going nowhere though, mounting Landon as he continues to force downwards on the ICTV Champion's head. Eventually referee Z feels the need to do something, raising his hand ready to start a five count... only for King to get right up and laugh at Z. Meanwhile, Landon shakes off the effects of King's forearm and gets back up. King notices and turns away from Z, and in one swift movement snaps forward with a thumb to the eye...

 

 

AAH!

 

ARRRRGH!

 

...WHICH IS REPLICATED BY MADDIX!

 

Comet: If King is looking to cheat, he's in the ring with the wrong kid...because Landon Maddix will match him illegal move for illegal move.

 

Riley: It kills you to say that, doesn't it?

 

Both men clutch at their eyes simultaneously as Z looks on, managing to keep a straight face. King is first to react, ignoring the pain filling his eye socket and reaching forward to grab Maddix by the arm. However, Maddix reverses an Irish whip and sends King into the ropes. King shoots back, but only a few steps as he grabs the top rope and stops himself short.

 

SLAP!

 

And tags in Chris Raynor, to a TORRENT of boos from the crowd! King manages a wry smile as he steps out of the ring, squinting slightly still from the jab he took earlier...as Raynor stops on the apron, looking briefly into the crowd. Maddix has yet to move since King tagged out, as Raynor takes one last deep breath before stepping into the ring. Already a buzz has filled the crowd, as Flesher and Allison busily applaud their partner.

 

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

The crowd are on their feet, practically screaming the name of their favorite Londoner...the man who two years ago almost killed Chris Raynor, who ruined his career...the man who Raynor is staring a hole through. The match has abruptly stopped as a result, as Raynor and MacPhisto are locked in a stare-down while Maddix looks on in confusion.

 

Comet: What a moment here.

 

Riley: Totally.

 

By now, Raynor has passed Maddix completely and is staring down Edwin who is looking straight back. Z is watching this, as every other person in The Rose Bowl is, wondering what to do...as suddenly King skulks back into the ring behind his and Landon's backs. The crowd begins screaming, but that isn't warning enough, as Landon is wide open for a clothesline to the back of the head!

 

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

 

King quickly re-exits the ring, getting reprimanded by Z as he goes, who didn't see the clothesline but isn't at his first picnic either. Meanwhile, Raynor still has his attentions set on Edwin. Pointing an accusing finger at Edwin, Raynor mouths the words 'you and me' before turning around, to see Maddix laid flat out face-first on the mat. Raynor is confused, obviously. But all the same, he moves in and grabs a handful of Maddix's hair to pull him off the mat. Grabbing the tights as well, Raynor pulls Maddix from off the mat and clubs him across the shoulder blades with a forearm that drops Maddix onto all fours. Quickly Raynor hooks under Maddix's arms and hauls him up from the mat again, looking frighteningly focused as he pulls Maddix forward into a stiff short-arm clothesline!

 

Riley: Raynor is looking good here Comet. No ring rust as far as I can tell.

 

Comet: Not yet, anyway. The test will come when he's in the ring with a fresh man, and that may possibly be a fresh Edwin MacPhisto.

 

With Maddix down, Raynor thinks about going for a cover...just as Maddix begins to struggle to his feet, his equilibrium out of whack. Raynor gives him a helpful hand up, followed with a less helpful hand to the jaw in the form of a right hand. Maddix stumbles across the ring, bouncing back off the ropes. But Raynor is waiting and nails Maddix coming back with a big boot to the face. Stevens grimaces slightly, watching his partner fall to the mat like a sack of potatoes, as King and Flesher break into some more applause.

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

Again the crowd begins to chant for Edwin, who begins to jig along with the rhythm of the chant without taking his eyes off of the action. Raynor meanwhile ignores the chants, as he hauls Maddix off the mat before turning him around so he faces towards the corner. A quick shove sends Maddix sternum first into the buckles, before staggering out into Raynor's waiting arms. He lifts the ICTV Champion up with ease, placing him carefully across the top turnbuckle before yanking Maddix's head south which causes Landon to get tied-up in the tree of woe position. Frantically the youngster tries to struggle free, but his leg is hooked tightly. Quickly Z moves in and looks to help out...but he just as quickly gets the hell out of the way as Raynor charges from the opposite corner of the ring with reckless abandon, like a bull charging at a red rag, ducking his head at the last moment and spearing the air out of the vertical Maddix!!!

 

"OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!"

 

The ring almost jolts forward with Raynor's body, as the force of the spear unhooks Maddix from the precarious position he was in. Slowly he topples back, hitting the mat hard. Meanwhile though, Z is busy in consultation with Raynor, warning him about the dangers of charging at a referee while he's doing his job.

 

Riley: What the hell is Z's problem? The only thing he's done all match is have a go at King and his team-mates.

 

Comet: And he's been justified each time.

 

Riley: Raynor did nothing wrong. Z just got in his way. And now he's in the way again.

 

However, Raynor just shrugs off the warning as he strolls back over to Maddix. Locking on a front facelock, Raynor uses that to pull Maddix up from the canvas with very little effort before throwing Landon's arm over his head and hitting a textbook vertical suplex. Maddix's back arches on impact and he starts howling in pain as he holds his ribs, which seems to worry Megan somewhat. The crowd have now quieted down, clearly worried in their own right, as Raynor stalks over Maddix once more. All Edwin and Mark can do is look on and encourage their partner on, as their partner is again effortlessly hauled from the canvas and whipped towards the turnbuckles with authority...

 

 

*CHINK!*

 

...which he hits HARD, sternum first! But before he can collapse to the canvas, Raynor is following in and clotheslines Maddix back into the buckles, crushing him against them! All Maddix can do is slump forward into the turnbuckles in an attempt to stay up, as Raynor shakes loose his right arm after the clothesline. Grabbing Maddix, Raynor pulls his opponent out of the corner...and he promptly slumps forward once more, falling into Raynor's body. Which is just asking for some pain. Raynor flings Maddix's arms aside and stoops low, scooping Maddix again and with a quick spin away from the corner SPIKES him with a spinebuster! Again Landon goes straight to clutching his ribs, while Raynor turns his attentions to MacPhisto...almost managing a smile as he glares at his former friend. Almost. But not quite. King, however, is smiling broadly, from ear to ear as he looks down at Maddix. Finally Raynor turns back around, and quick as a flash King extends a hand for Raynor and asks for the tag. Looking away from King, Raynor stomps Landon in the back of the head, but finally concedes and makes the tag, to bring King back into the match.

 

 

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

 

And the response is deafening.

 

Comet: Yes, and surprise surprise King wants back in now that Maddix is hurt.

 

Riley: I hope you aren't casting aspersions on a man with the social standing of the Suicide King.

 

Comet: I wouldn't be the first.

 

King slowly re-enters the ring, taking his sweet time as he swaggers across the ring...but then swaggers right back, seeing Maddix laid flat out on the mat, deciding to talk strategy with Flesher. The two chatter away, with Raynor distantly looking off to the side, before King finally breaks away. And again he swaggers across the ring, smiling widely. Maddix is now trying his damndest to get to his feet, but he's met with a knee across the side of the head from King. It's almost as if King is mocking Maddix now, as he strolls around his opponent's fallen frame before hitting a casual knee again.

 

"KING SUCKS! KING SUCKS! KING SUCKS!"

 

The crowd shoots some venom King's way, as he grabs Maddix by the leg and physically drags him towards the 'rudo' corner...before dropping an elbow to the back of Maddix's rib area. With his ribs taking a beating, Landon again tries to crawl towards the outstretched arms of MacPhisto and Stevens. But he's halted by King, who drops the elbow on the ICTV Champion again.

 

Comet: Maddix needs to make a tag here... he's been in the ring for what seems like an eternity!

 

Riley: I don't see it happening anytime soon Comet! Team King is just too good at what they do!

 

King tugs Maddix back again, then aims... and drops a knee right into Maddix's ribs! King motions to Grand Slam and Edwin in the corner as if dismissing them, but the crowd knows what Maddix needs... he needs energy!

 

MAD-DIX MAD-DIX MAD-DIX

 

Led on by Megan at ringside, the crowd cheers Maddix on, willing him to get up and make the tag, praying that he can keep his team in the match. In the ring, King decides to end all of the debate. He pulls Maddix to his feet and into a half-nelson!

 

Riley: Joker's Wild! King is going to finish this right here and right now!

 

Comet: I fear that you may be correct Robert...

 

Maddix hears the crowd cheering and starts fighting back, finally freeing his left arm from King's grasp as he attempts to pull it across his chest! With a fast move, he reaches around, grabs King's head in a three quaters headlock then runs at the corner, up the turnbuckles... flipping over...

 

Comet: Acid Drop!! Maddix reverses the Joker's Wild into the Acid Drop!!

 

Riley: No!!

 

Maddix and King are both on the mat, neither one moving! Z starts the ten count...

 

1...

 

2...

 

3...

 

MAD-DIX MAD-DIX

 

4...

 

5...

 

Maddix is on his feet, pulling himself down the ropes, trying to make it to his corner! King pulls himself up after him and the chase (such as it is) is on! King lunges at Maddix, trying to keep him away from the tag, but Landon lunges at the same time...

 

AND SLAPS EDWIN MACPHISTO'S HAND!!

 

Comet: He made it! Citizen Maddix has tagged in Edwin MacPhisto for his first action of the match!

 

Riley: I think I may be ill.

 

Edwin charges into the ring, catching King with a hard clothesline that turns him inside-out, dropping him to the mat! Flesher charges in, trying to break Edwin's momentum, but gets clotheslined himself! Edwin turns back and catches King with a hard right hand as he gets off the mat, staggering him back into the ropes! Tom is back on his feet and tries one more time to take out Edwin, but the Crown Prince of Flash and Panache ducks under the swing and slaps Flesher upside the head, followed by the other hand delivering a quick slap to the other side of the face! Tom is stunned just long enough for Edwin to do a little dance, pretend to make a little love and just get down tonight with a hard uppercut to the underside of Flesher's chin that causes the Superior One to stagger back against the ropes... and fall right out of the ring courtesy of a low bridge by Mark Stevens!!

 

Comet: Edwin MacPhisto is a house of fire Robert!

 

Riley: I wish he were... I really, really do...

 

Stevens drops off the apron, looking to pursue a little revenge against Flesher, but Allison rushes around the ring to get in between the Heavy Hitter and her man! Stevens backs off and climbs back up to the apron. While that is happening, in the ring Edwin is motioning to Raynor to come into the ring, going so far as to take a few steps towards the bad guys' corner, taunting him. But the Rayn Man is unperturbed, certain that his time will come. Z tries to push Edwin back and now Raynor decides to come into the ring, just a step, but far enough to spin Z around to try and push him back out of the ring. Edwin starts to some forwards again, eager to go ahead and take the Fallen Carnie on, but everyone seems to have forgotten about the original Evil Carnie, as King brings his arm up between Edwin's legs hard for a brutal low-blow, then follows it up by pulling Edwin back and into a roll-up that Raynor, as he steps out of the ring, helpfully points out to Z...

 

One...

 

Two...

 

Th..No!

 

Comet: That was very close Robert, very close to being a massive miscarriage of Justice.

 

Riley: That was beautiful! Edwin was on such a roll, now look at him!

 

Indeed Edwin certainly looks in great pain. In his corner, Stevens is slapping the top turnbuckle, trying to cheer him on as King pulls him to his feet by a handful of hair and into a reverse front facelock, then drops him hard onto his knee, working over the neck that was seriously injured last year at Genesis. King doesn't let up, grabbing a leg of Edwin's and standing, then dropping his knee right into the side of MacPhisto's knee, stretching tendons in directions they were never quite meant to go. King gets back to his feet quickly, not wanting to lose momentum, and pulls Edwin over towards the ropes. He places MacPhisto's foot on the bottom rope, jumps up and sits down right on Edwin's knee!

 

Comet: King is working over Edwin's knee here Robert, that is a little out of character for him, isn't it?

 

Riley: You have a point Comet, but King knows that Edwin has been out of a ring for a while now, and he knows that the key to any success he will have here in this match is being able to use what remains of his speed to keep ahead of everyone.

 

King continues to work over the knee, dropping an elbow down on it, then placing his foot in the crook of Edwin's joint and pulling the toe of his boot back with both hands! Edwin yells out in pain as King cranks back hard, using every bit of leverage he can find, including a little help from the ropes! Which, it must be said, may have been a mistake as this is just the type of thing that Z expects of King. He points accusingly at King and starts the 5 count to break the hold.

 

As expected, he gets to four and a half before King decides to break the hold. He stands up slowly and pulls Edwin up... but the Friar of all that is Funky fires up on King! Right hand! Right hand! Left! Right! King is staggered! Edwin throws himself into the ropes, bounce back... springing sidekick that nearly takes King's head off! Edwin hits the mat hard but King falls back into the ropes and is sprung back to a standing position! Edwin gathers himself and kips up, catches King in a front facelock and falls back hard, pegging King's head right into the mat!

 

Comet: Kip-Up DDT! That's signature MacPhisto, Robert! He's got the upper hand now, can he do something with it?

 

Riley: I doubt it, Comet... King has been the anchor of this team so far and with very few exceptions, has been near unstoppable.

 

Edwin gets back to his feet, the exertion obviously taking its toll on him, but he isn't done yet. He grabs a handful of King's hair, pulls him to his feet and whips him hard into the ropes, bounce back...

 

Comet: Shotai!!

 

King hits the mat hard trying hard to regain his breath. Edwin grabs him by the arm and drags him towards the heel corner, holding his hand out to the corner, asking for Raynor to tag in!

 

MAC-PHIS-TO MAC-PHIS-TO

 

Riley: What the heck does he think he's doing?

 

MAC-PHIS-TO MAC-PHIS-TO

 

Comet: Citizen MacPhisto knows why his arch-nemesis Chris Raynor agreed to be here tonight! He knows that he wants to get his revenge for what Edwin did to him two years ago! But don't make the mistake of thinking Edwin has forgiven and forgotten what Chris Raynor did, and tried to do, to both him and the Midnight Carnival!

 

MAC-PHIS-TO MAC-PHIS-TO

 

Raynor says something to Edwin who yells back and pulls King a little closer so Raynor won't have to reach far. Flesher knows what is happening, so he stays out of it. On the other side of the ring, Landon is ready to run across the ring and give Edwin a hand, but Grand Slam puts a huge hand on his shoulder, letting him know that this is a personal matter and they should stay out of it.

 

MAC-PHIS-TO MAC-PHIS-TO

 

Comet: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is two years in the making! If you haven't been taping this, now would be a good time to start!

 

Raynor reaches out his hand, holding it mere inches above King's.

 

Riley: He's going to do it Comet! We finally get to see this play out!

 

Comet: Hold onto your hats citizens! This is going to be explosive!

 

::Slap::

 

Riley: It's on! Here we go!!

 

Raynor steps into the ring slowly, letting King roll out under the bottom rope into the soft embrace of the ringside mat (and Allison Onita). Edwin backs up to the center of the ring, just waiting for Raynor. As the Rayn Man approaches, the crowd, previously chanting Edwin's name, just dissolves into mindless, indiscriminate noise. Edwin says something to Raynor, but Chris doesn't respond. He closes with MacPhisto and gets nose-to-nose, still saying nothing as Edwin continues to list off everything Raynor has done wrong, including aligning himself with Suicide King for tonight. Raynor's response? Simple. He rears back and slaps the taste out of Edwin's mouth! Edwin does a slow-burn turn, back to facing Raynor before he throws an equally wicked right hand that clubs Raynor across the cheekbone! Raynor's head snaps back into position as he returns the favor! The two men are trading punches back and forth, back and forth, working the crowd into higher and higher levels of frenzy!

 

Raynor sends a clubbing blow into Edwin's temple that causes him to stagger back a few feet, but Edwin responds by charging straight ahead and tackling Raynor, knocking him off his feet and onto his back! They are still trading blows, both men trying to bring a knee up into the other's stomach as they fight!

 

Comet: Robert, this isn't a wrestling match anymore! These two men hate each other so much that everything they know about holds and counters has been forgotten in the desperate rush to hurt each other as much as possible!

 

Riley: I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this Comet. This is a street fight!

 

Finally, Raynor is able to push Edwin off him long enough to get to his feet as Edwin does the same. This time their training gets the better of them and they hold off on the headlong rush and start to circle the ring. Finally they come together in the center of the ring with a classic collar-elbow lockup! They struggle for a moment, then Edwin gets the upper hand, swinging around behind Raynor, locking on a waist-lock and hoisting the Rayn Man up... hanging there... then driving him down with a monster German Suplex!! Edwin is right back to his feet, but his lack of ring time in the last year is starting to show as he is sucking wind. He stands still for a second, getting his breathing under control as Raynor gets slowly to his feet, both hands on the back of his surgically-repaired neck. Raynor comes at him, Edwin ducks under a clothesline, letting the Rayn Man run by him and into the ropes, bounce back, Edwin steps forward, arms out as if to catch Raynor, but Chris throws his feet into the air and splats his heel against Edwin's face, nailing him with a running scissors kick!

 

Riley: What a move! Edwin was going for something big so he might have a chance to put Raynor away, but Raynor just laid him out!

 

Comet: There isn't going to be any big technical exchange here Robert. There is just too much bad blood between these two men!

 

Raynor pulls Edwin to his feet, sends a hard shot right into Edwin's face to pacify him momentarily, grabs his arms and steps behind Edwin, crossing Edwin's arm against his throat! The he quickly pulls Edwin back, slamming him down against the mat, rolls him onto his stomach while sitting on his lower back, then pulls, using Edwin's own arms to make him submit!

 

Riley: What a move Comet! Raynor has Edwin totally under control!

 

Comet: Come on, Citizen MacPhisto! Don't let it end like this!

 

Edwin is fighting against the hold, but it is excruciating. Edwin is kicking his legs and shifting ever-so-slowly towards the ropes... three inches... two inches...

 

MAC-PHIS-TO MAC-PHIS-TO

 

One inch... he makes it! The crowd goes funky-monkey-forced-to-watch-Simple-Life-for-eighty-hours insane!!! As Z starts the five count, Raynor really wrenches back on the neck, delivering as much damage as possible in the four seconds he has. Finally he releases the hold and Edwin just falls forward, all of the energy in his body spent just trying to escape. Raynor sees that. King and Tom see that and start yelling for Raynor to make the pin. Grand Slam and Landon see that and start jumping up and down on the apron, trying to transmit some of their energy across the ring to Edwin.

 

Comet: This could be it, Robert. Edwin's neck is certainly a weak point, just as it is with Citizen Raynor. There's no way he could kick out of a pin here.

 

Riley: I agree Comet, and I can't see anything that will save him as he is far too close to Raynor's corner.

 

Raynor pulls Edwin out of the ropes and lets him flop to his back. Edwin is nearly out, his arms moving feebly and his breath shallow. Raynor kneels down next to him and Z drops to the mat, ready to count the pinfall...

 

But Raynor stops. He stares at Edwin, looking for something in his face, some sign that he has broken the prankster, that he has finished this war.

 

Edwin sees him staring...

 

And smiles.

 

Raynor spits at him and grabs him by the hair, pulling him to his feet and whipping him hard into a neutral corner! He follows him in, delivering a hard clothesline along the way. Then Raynor swaps places with Edwin and pushes himself up onto the top rope, pulling Edwin up with him. With Edwin standing on the second rope, Raynor pulls him into a standing headscissors. Raynor starts to underhook his arms...

 

Comet: Oh dear Lord...

 

Riley: He wouldn't... I mean... I know he hates him but...

 

Comet: Good God... alert the medics!

 

Riley: Raynor is going to try for a Demonstar Driver, the move that broke Raynor's and Edwin's necks, but this one will be from the top rope! That's inhuman!

 

Raynor starts to lift Edwin up, to turn him perpendicular to the mat... but Edwin fights back! Edwin gets his arms free! Raynor is punching down on Edwin's back while Edwin is struggling against the head-scissors... Edwin is free!! They are punching back and forth, trying to get the upper-hand!

 

Comet: How is Edwin doing this? Where does he get the strength?

 

Finally Edwin makes Raynor reel with a hard shot to the head! Raynor drops down, straddling the top turnbuckle! As the crowd cheers, Edwin pulls himself up to the top rope, pulling Raynor up with him and into a front facelock! Edwin steels himself, and with Z begging him to get down, he lifts Raynor up perpendicular to the mat and jumps!!

 

Riley: No!!

 

Comet: Air MacPhisto!! Air MacPhisto!!

 

Edwin twists Raynor in mid air and plants him on his shoulder and neck on the mat! Edwin is lying next to him, obviously exhausted. Raynor is almost out, but Edwin can't make the pin! Grand Slam and Landon are reaching for the tag, begging Edwin to bring them in!

 

Comet: Both men have given everything they have to this match, now both of them ned to get out of the ring

 

Riley: This is the pivot point of the match, Comet. Whoever gets the upper hand after this tag has a huge advantage in the match.

 

Both Edwin and Raynor are dragging themselves to their corners.. inch by inch... foot by foot... King and Grand Slam are reaching for the tag... the crowd is going abso-freakin'-lutely nuts! Edwin reaches... Raynor reaches...

 

Riley: Raynor tags!!

 

Comet: Citizen MacPhisto tags!!

 

Grand Slam storms into the ring, but King slowly steps through the ropes, blunting Stevens' charge. The two men stare each other down and the crowd fires up!

 

Riley: Here we go again... You know Comet, there are an awful lot of guys who really, really dislike each other in this match.

 

Comet: You aren't just whistling Dixie Mr. Riley! If there are two men in the SWF with as much history as these two men, I can't think of them!

 

Stevens puts his hands up for a test of strength. King looks at them dubiously but shrugs his shoulders and puts up his right hand, grabbing Mark's right. Grand Slam flexes the fingers on his left hand, waiting for King to grab it, but King starts to put his hand up, then...

 

::POINK::

 

Comet: Shot to the eye!

 

Riley: You know, after all this time, Stevens really should know better.

 

Grand Slam staggers back, both hands covering his eyes as King stands by and sadly shakes his head. King lays into Grand Slam with chop after chop, then grabs the arm and whips the Heavy Hitter into the ropes, bounce back, superkick! Grand Slam falls hard to the mat! King follows up with a series of hand stomps into the side and stomach of Stevens!

 

Riley: King is all over Grand Slam, Comet, just dominating him totally!

 

King pulls Grand Slam to his feet by the hair, whip into the ropes, bounce back, Heartbreaker Shotai!! Grand Slam falls back to the mat gasping for breath! King wastes no time climbing to the top rope and giving the "I love you" sign to the crowd, who proceeds to just boo him into oblivion! Judging the distance to the target, King leaps off the top rope and slams down onto Grand Slam, immediately hooking the leg...

 

Comet: The Superfly splash just buries Grand Slam!

 

One... Two... Thr.. NO!! Grand Slam gets his shoulder up just in time! King rolls off him and gets to his feet, waiting on Grand Slam like a cat ready to pounce! He steps behind the Heavy Hitter and grabs his left arm, and, pulling it across his chest, he hooks Grand Slam's right arm with a half-nelson...

 

Riley: It's over! He's going for the Joker's Wild!

 

But Grand Slam has been down this road before! Almost by instict, he swings around, reverses the half-nelson into a Full-Nelson, picks King up and plants him face first with a prime-time Grand Slam!! King hits the mat and stays there! Grand Slam collapses to his knees next to him, crawling slowly towards his corner where Landon Maddix is reaching for the tag!

 

Comet: Come on Mark! You're just inches away!

 

Riley: But that might as well be a mile for someone with the cardi... cradio... cardio-va... GET HIM KING!

 

Still Stevens crawls, as the outstretched hands of Maddix and MacPhisto await him...both stretching as far as the tag ropes will allow them. Meanwhile, behind Stevens, King is shaking off the effects and nearing the fallen frame of Grand Slam. His foot is about a foot away, ironically enough, from King's hand now, as Stevens grits his teeth and makes a final push...

 

 

 

 

...King suddenly dives forward though, lunging at Stevens' leg as if his life depended on it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...KING GRABS THE LEG!

 

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

 

The crowd's energy is sucked from them as King stops Stevens in his tracks. But only for a moment, as Stevens kicks his foot away and dives forward...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...TAGGING IN MADDIX!!!!

 

"YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

 

The crowd EXPLODES, as Maddix leaps into the ring and charges after the retreating King. Now it's King who's fighting to make the tag, but Maddix is quickly able to grab King by the tights and pull him back! The crowd is still going nuts, as are Flesher and Allison now, as Maddix pulls King up by the tights and spins him around into a STIFF forearm strike! King wobbles and almost goes down. But Maddix still has the tights and keeps King up, to waffle him with a second stiff forearm! And a third! A fourth! A fifth...Maddix is going crazy, nailing King with a flurry of forearms!

 

Riley: Oh NO...get in there guys!

 

As if on cue, finally Flesher has seen enough and enters the ring, so Maddix pushes King to the side and ducks an attempted clothesline by Flesher. Quickly Flesher wheels around, only to get dropped with a Dropsault that sends him flying back out of the ring and to the floor! With that dealt with, Maddix turns his attention back to King, who has retreated into a neutral corner to check that his jaw is still attached to the rest of his skull. As he does, Maddix suddenly breaks into a sprint. King doesn't see Maddix until it's too late and can't get out of the way of a running dropkick, which catches him FLUSH on the jaw and snaps his head back violently! Slumping forward, King falls flat on his face, as Maddix is suitably fired-up to charge at, and knock off the apron, Raynor with a dropkick!

 

Comet: Citizen Maddix has EXPLODED into life here Robert! I would say that The Suicide King would be eating his words right about now, but I'm not sure if he'll be eating anything solid after that dropkick!

 

Riley: This is a travesty! Z should be reprimanding Maddix for what he did to Raynor and Flesher!

 

Comet: I don't see why.

 

Stevens is down, Flesher is down, Raynor is down and King is...up, but with no idea as to where he is. Slowly he stumbles away from the corner as Maddix strides back over. From somewhere, King finds the energy and presence of mind to shoot off a Heartbreaker shotei, but Maddix is alert and counters it with an arm-drag! Not one to give up, King rolls through and looks for another Heartbreaker...but gets another arm-drag, sending him flying across the ring. Up rolls King again, but this time before he can even contemplate throwing another shotei at anyone, Maddix charges at the evil King and nails him with a flying forearm! This time King stays down, so Maddix drops on top of his hated rival and makes a cover...

 

 

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

 

KICKOUT!

 

Z reaches two before King kicks out, but it's almost as if Maddix is prepared for the kickout as he lands on his feet with cat-like agility. Grabbing King under the head, Maddix wastes little time in picking The King Of Hearts up from the mat and pushing him into the ropes. King is dazed and puts up a boxing-like guard, more out of desperation than anything, but Maddix goes straight to the breadbasket with a knee. Down goes the guard, and Landon capitalizes with another big-time forearm smash!

 

Comet: King is being out-wrestled here by Maddix, dare I say it?

 

Riley: That's a lie! Take that back! C'mon King!!

 

As King slumps back into the ropes, Maddix stops for a moment and grins at King...

 

 

 

...BEFORE SLAPPING THE TASTE OUT OF HIS MOUTH!

 

"OOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!"

 

All that succeeds in doing is pissing King off though, as he growls at Maddix to bring it on. Which he does, with another stiff forearm! Finally Maddix backs away, with more than a little encouragement to do so from a certain special referee, as King stumbles away from the ropes and looks to take Landon's head off with a big right hand. Maddix ducks though, catching King under the chin and quickly popping him over with an EXPLODAAAAAAAAAAHHH~! Suplex! The crowd erupts again, as King hits the mat. But Maddix is no puro god and his execution isn't spotless, proven by the fact that King manages to get back up quickly after his landing. Landon runs over to him straight away, grabbing King by the wrist and irish whipping him back across the ring. King reaches the ropes and grabs the top strand to stop himself...and is promptly pulled from the ring by Flesher, much to the crowd's displeasure.

 

Comet: And Flesher, helping out his tag partner! Boy, does King need some help right about now!

 

Riley: Quit worrying Comet, this is just a brief flurry. Nothing more.

 

Flesher checks to see if King is okay, helping him back to his feet and attending to the SWF part-owner's jaw. But while he does so, Landon Maddix has suddenly broken into a sprint in the ring. Hitting the opposite ropes, Maddix charges towards Flesher and King who are both totally oblivious to his current position and don't see Maddix leaping to the top rope in one single bound, before launching off the top...

 

 

 

 

...and wiping out BOTH Flesher AND King with a Spaceman Plancha!!!

 

 

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

 

Comet: Sweet Methuselah's ghost...Spaceman Planchaaaaa!!!

 

Riley: ...

 

The crowd in the Rose Bowl are on their feet, cheering wildly as Maddix lays atop the fallen bodies of King and Flesher. He is holding his ribs, but unable to wipe a smile from his face. Meanwhile in the ring, Edwin MacPhisto has stepped through the ropes and is walking into the center of the ring...as is Chris Raynor, both men's eyes locked on the other's.

 

Comet: And now, the two draft-in partners...the sworn enemies go toe to toe once more. And would you LISTEN to this crowd!?!

 

Indeed, every single fan is on their feet as slowly Edwin and Raynor start to stride towards each other, with referee Z wisely standing a safe distance away and allowing the two rivals go at it as they wish. Which they promptly do, with both men connecting simultaneously with a right hand. Both stagger backwards, but both come straight back with Edwin beating Raynor to the punch this time. Raynor manages to throw one back though, only for Edwin to retaliate straight afterwards. So Raynor breaks the pattern and goes to the gut with a knee, before stepping behind Edwin ready for the release german suplex.

[the.weej 0]

No! Edwin counters with a couple of back elbows, before ducking and weaving behind Raynor and hitting him with a hard snap kick to the kidneys. Raynor takes another kick, before Edwin goes to the waistlock and looks for a german suplex of his own. But Raynor is able to counter in a likewise manner, with a quick back elbow before irish whipping Edwin across the ring. Back shoots MacPhisto, as Raynor goes for a big boot...which Edwin ducks, quickly getting back to his feet and attempting to pull Raynor down low enough to apply the dragon sleeper. Raynor is wise to it though, turning into Edwin's body and charging him into the corner! Out staggers Edwin, as Raynor looks for a clothesline. But the counters continue as Edwin ducks, causing Raynor to careen forward and crash chest first into the top turnbuckle, which drives the wind right out of him!

 

Comet: These two men know each other so well, and are showing great ring knowledge here, considering both have been out of action for a long period of time.

 

Out staggers Raynor, into MacPhisto's waiting boot and an irish whip. Raynor flies towards the ropes, but at the last second Landon Maddix emerges on the apron and has the presence of mind to pull down the top rope, causing Raynor to topple over the ropes and crash into Flesher and King who had just gotten to their feet. The three of them fall to the concrete floor and set about dragging themselves back up, as Maddix extends his hand to Edwin...pointing a finger towards him, before pointing one out at Team Heel, regrouping on the floor.

 

Comet: No...he wouldn't.

 

Riley: Of course he wouldn't! Senior citizens don't fly...they take the bus!

 

It seems Edwin is on the same wavelength as Maddix, as he looks out to the crowd for encouragement. And to display his pelvic thrust. Oh yeah. Flesher, King and Raynor are pretty much up by now and it's decision time for Edwin.

 

Who chooses option A.

 

 

 

And charges across the ring...

 

 

 

 

Riley: No!

 

Comet: Oh yes...

 

 

 

Riley: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOPÉ SUICIDAAAAAAAAAA BY EDWIN!!!

 

 

"HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!"

 

 

Comet: EDDIE MAC! EDDIE MAC WITH THE TOPÉ SUICIDA!!!

 

 

 

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

"MAC - PHIS - TOOOO!"

 

The crowd is going CRAZY, as Edwin, Flesher and Raynor lay in a crumpled heap of human flesh on the floor. King meanwhile is staggering around ringside, having somehow gotten out of the way of the flying MacPhisto just in the nick of time. And now, King is trying to figure out where he is as he staggers aimlessly down the aisle and towards the huge "GENESIS" sign at the top of the entrance-way.

 

Which is never a good thing.

 

Comet: Wait a minute...King's trying to get the hell out of here!

 

Riley: Hey, he's a busy man Comet. You don't realize how much paperwork an SWF co-owner gets nowadays.

 

Seeing King staggering off, and realizing that he is the legal man, Landon Maddix hops off the apron...grimacing slightly as the adrenaline has worn off and now his ribs are hurting once more. But he has King in his sights, and ignores the pain as he strides down the aisle in hot pursuit of King, who, it seems, knows exactly where he is going.

 

Comet: Well, either King is running scared or he's laying a trap for Landon Maddix. Either way, I don't like this.

 

Much the faster, Maddix soon catches up to King...but takes a thumb to the eye, before getting whipped around and thrown into the steel barricade! Maddix bounces off the barricades like a rubber ball, holding his ribs tightly, as King grabs him in a side headlock and starts to bring him back towards the ring, grinning like a cheshire cat. But he isn't grinning for long however, as Maddix places a hand on King's back and pushes him off, sending HIM into the steel barricade!

 

Back at ringside, MacPhisto and Raynor are brawling around the ring exchanging hard punches, kicks and shoteis...whatever they can hit, they are hitting.

 

Meanwhile, back down the aisle, Maddix and King are both staggering towards ringside...with Maddix on the offensive, rocking King with some more forearms. In hope of a reprieve, King starts to pick up the pace and looks to get away from Maddix by rolling back into the ring. Maddix is right behind him however, feeling particularly froggy at the moment and in no mood to back down from a fight with anyone, even a respected veteran like The Suicide King. Especially considering this respected veteran has retreated into a neutral corner, sticking his head through the ropes in hopes of a time-out. Which he promptly gets, as Z steps in between Maddix and King and pushes the young ICTV Champion back. However Maddix is nothing if not determined and shrugs past Z, who thinks about going after Maddix...but he is stopped by Tom Flesher climbing back onto the apron, and quickly goes after him to make sure he doesn't enter the ring. As he does, Maddix pulls the Suicide King out of the corner and nails him with a forearm strike again, before brushing past King and hopping to the middle rope, ready for the Crash Landon. Only, King isn't as hurt as he's making out...

 

 

 

...AND CONNECTS WITH A BRASS KNUX SHOT!!!

 

 

"OOOOHH - BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

 

Despite the jeers of the incensed fans in the Rose Bowl, Z has no idea as to what as just happened because he's still trying to keep Flesher out of the ring. Quickly King removes his brass knuckles and passes them out to Allison Onita, who is handily placed and she quickly pockets them.

 

Comet: You just knew something like this would happen! King with the brass knuckles on Maddix, and I'm disgusted.

 

Maddix is down and out cold, as King crawls over towards him and...after giving a little wink towards Flesher, who promptly nods and finally strolls across the apron away from Zenon, makes a cover. Z turns around with a sigh and an angry look at Flesher, to see King laying on top of Maddix, arms already out-stretched to count along with Zenon's count...

 

 

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWOOOOO!

 

 

Comet: Kickout, kickout!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THR...

 

 

STEVENS PULLS KING OFF THE COVER!

 

"YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

 

Comet: The Heavy Hitter makes the save!

 

Riley: You can't call that fair, Comet.

 

Comet: After King used brass knuckles? I can call it whatever the hell I want!

 

Zenon reprimands Stevens and forces the exhausted Heavy Hitter out of the ring. King meanwhile looks pissed, glaring down at Stevens before turning to Z and hurling a torrent of rather vulgar abuse his way. Nearby, Raynor and Edwin pass, still exchanging right hands as they do so. But King is more concerned with Stevens...so he quickly shuffles over and tags Flesher into the match, before sliding out of the ring. Stevens is stumbling over to where the fight is going on on the outside and looking to help out his fellow Carnie, but gets taken down by King! Now a four man brawl has started on the floor between the veterans of the match...

 

 

 

...while back in the ring, Flesher has swaggered into the ring and is standing over Landon Maddix. Maddix is still down and out from the brass knuckles shot, so Flesher kneels down beside the ICTV Champion and makes a lateral press...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KICKOUT!

 

Riley: Damn it! Who the hell appointed slow-motion Zenon as referee for crying out loud?

 

Comet: Uhm...Zenon?

 

Riley: ...that bastard!

 

Grabbing a hold of Maddix by the hair, Flesher pulls the ICTV Champion up from the mat and quickly locks on a waistlock from the front, popping back and taking Maddix over with a railgun suplex! Maddix hits the mat, and hard, as Flesher remains in a seated position and starts to golf-clap his own efforts, which is replicated by Allison from the outside.

 

Still, the fight continues on the floor...

 

...as Flesher turns towards Maddix, looking down on him with near destain. Maddix is favoring his rib area once more and is busy trying to rub the pain out of his back, with little success. Over walks Flesher, giving Maddix a bitchslap once there, before pulling his opponent up with a front headlock applied. Knowing that he's in serious trouble, Maddix starts to frantically reach for the ropes in some attempt to get free from The Superior One's grip. But this is Tom Flesher. The Tom Flesher. And you don't escape from a Flesher front headlock if you're inexperienced in the realms of technical wrestling, which counts in Landon Maddix. Unable to reach the ropes, Maddix drops to his ass in an attempt to free himself. But all he suceeds in doing is putting himself down for some worse discomfort, as Flesher steps a foot to either side of Maddix and sits back, trapping Maddix in some 'Wet Cement'!

 

Riley: YES! Game over!

 

Maddix is trapped now...hence the name...and the crowd starts booing as they realize this could be match over. Tom pulls back as Z asks Landon if he wants to submit, but Landon bellows a loud NO!! Finally, unable to take it any longer, Stevens disengages himself from the brawl and slides into the ring, winds up and drives his knee into the side of Flesher's head causing the Superior One to let go of the submission hold! Grand Slam is obviously beyond reason as he grabs Tom by his singlet and launches him out of the ring, then follows him out under the bottom rope!

 

Comet: This match has just broken down! Z has totally lost control here!

 

Riley: Are you suprised? The man isn't a referee!

 

Landon slowly gets to his feet, shaking his head, trying to work the stiffness out. But behind him, the Suicide King rolls into the ring, charges up behind Landon,. hooks his arm and sweeps the leg...

 

::WHAM!!::

 

Riley: Joker's Wild!! King just nailed Landon with the Joker's Wild!!

 

King gets to his feet, gesturing and yelling at Maddix, obvioulsy satisfied that he was finally able to destroy the impertinent youngster. Then there is a tap on his shoulder...

 

King spins around, ready to scream his lungs out at Z...

 

But Z isn't there... Grand Slam is.

 

Toe kick! Stevens pulls King into a standing headscissors, hooks the arms, jumps back...

 

::WHAM!!::

 

Comet: WALK-OFF!! WALK-OFF!!

 

Grand Slam rolls King out of the ring and stands slowly, obviously exhausted... only to be met by Raynor! He kicks Grand Slam right in the gut, pulls him into a front facelock, then picks him up for a vertical suplex, lifts him straight up and hold him... Then pushes him out forward, as if turning it into a powerbomb, but at the same time he kneels down and drives the Heavy Hitter head-and-neck-first down onto his knee!!

 

Riley: Acid Rayne! Raynor just nailed Grand Slam with the Acid Rayne Version 3!

 

Raynor starts delivering stomps to Grand Slam's stomach, but is stopped by two arms hooking underneath his and lifting him up... then slamming him down hard!!

 

Comet: ENCORE CROSS!! I don't believe this Robert!

 

Edwin drops to one knee and slowly rolls Raynor out of the ring, then tries to follow him, but someone catches him by the hair and pulls him back into the ring... grabs him from behind... lifts him up...

 

Riley: Now Tom Flesher gets in on the act with a huge Ego Buster, and let me tell you Edwin MacPhisto has a huge ego to bust!

 

Edwin hits the mat hard and rolls out of the ring... but, long forgotten in the rush of Finishers, Landon pushes himself off the mat and runs at the ropes! he jumps, plants both feet on the middle rope and vaults out, catching a standing Tom Flesher on the way down, twisting, swinging and driving Tom down hard!!

 

Comet: CRASH LANDON!! CRASH LANDON!!

 

Riley NO!!

 

Landon, fully aware of who the legal men are, hooks the leg...

 

ONE...

 

 

TWO...

 

 

THREE!!!

 

Comet: It's over!! Landon Maddix has pinned Tom Flesher to give the Carnies plus one the win here at Genesis V!!

 

Riley: I can't believe it! How did this happen, Comet? I feel so... so... used.

 

Officials flood ringside, separating Team Heel from Team Face. Grand Slam, Edwin and Landon start up the ramp, clapping each other on the back and getting their hands raised by Z, while King and Raynor stand beside the ring, looking at Flesher in the center of the ring.

 

Riley: They were so close so many times... I can't believe they couldn't put it away!

 

Comet: But they did, Robert! Truth and Justice triumph again! But it isn't over yet, fans... up next we have the main event pitting the number one contender Toxxic against the World Champion Johnny Dangerous!

 

The camera lingers on Grand Slam for a moment as he drops to his knees raising one hand in the air, holding one finger up...

[the.weej 0]

I can hear the cheers for Stevens, MacPhisto and Maddix… and there’s something about them that just won’t let me get up. I know what’s happened tonight. I haven’t just let myself down. I haven’t just let Chris and Brian down.

 

I’ve failed.

 

“Fans, we have just seen quite possibly the most electric trios contest in the history of the SWF,” shills Cyclone Comet. “Landon Maddix, ‘Grand Slam’ Mark Stevens and the one-night wonder, the biggest star in the history of the SWF, Edwin MacPhisto have come out with the decisive victory!”

 

“No thanks to that bastard Zenon,” Riley grumbles. “I can’t believe they even let him ref this match. He’s been Edwin’s lapdog since he was in the JL!”

 

The crowd is quieting down now… they’re not chanting anymore. Edwin, Mark and Landon must be in the back by now. Raynor and Brian, too… probably turned their backs on me the moment that Alex slapped the mat the third time.

 

I feel so wrong, so alone. This was the biggest stage of my career… last year, I knew I was going to beat Hearford – it didn’t surprise anybody. Ejiro? He just exploited a weakness.

 

But tonight, against them – I was expected to win. I was supposed to be the go-to man in the match, and I let Chris and Brian down.

 

Flesher’s eyes flutter open. As he comes to, he squints at the brightness of the overhead lights. Counting lights, after all, isn’t something that he’s had a great deal of experience with.

 

He sits up slowly. The arena is quiet, and his head hangs low as he tries to get his bearings back. He looks to the outside, where the Suicide King and Chris Raynor stand, Allison Onita in between them. They look on wordlessly as Flesher slowly gets to his feet. Still dazed, still disappointed, Flesher looks around the arena.

 

There are no signs being held up. There are no vile insults being hurled, no derogatory chants, no beer cups being flung at the Superior One tonight.

 

It’s time. Sometimes, you can just feel things that everyone feels, but that no one knows how to articulate. This is one of those times.

 

And yet, even though I know it’s right… it’s still impossible to do.

 

Flesher stares at the mat, his head hanging in disappointment. Or, rather, not at the mat, but the trademark Doc Marten boots he’s worn throughout his career.

 

It’s time.

 

Without a word, Flesher drops to one knee. He reaches down and unfastens the tape around his bootlaces, then slowly and deliberately unties them. He switches knees and does the same with his other boot, leaving them laced only loosely. With a pained look on his face, his eyes welling up, Flesher stands up. He stands firmly in the center of the ring and takes one more long look around the ring. Then, wordlessly, he steps out of his boots.

 

Flesher doesn’t pause. In his stocking feet, he walks to the ropes, where he ducks to step out. The Suicide King, however, holds up one hand to stop him. Flesher stops advancing and stands up once again.

 

King begins to clap. Allison and Raynor join him, and soon the whole arena does as well. A small smile flits across Flesher’s face, and his eyes once again cloud over. Allison Onita climbs the stairs and holds the ropes for Flesher, who steps through them. To a roaring ovation, Flesher, Raynor, King and Onita walk to up the ramp, moving steadily without a pause. Three of the athletes step through the velvet curtain, leaving only Flesher on the stage.

 

He stops and acknowledges the crowd as they rise to their feet for him. He closes his eyes and bows his head for a second, then looks out at the crowd. He pauses, then raises an open hand into the air. With a single flick of his wrist, he waves to the crowd, and then quickly pivots and walks through the curtain.

 

The crowd continues cheering. As the noise slowly dies down, the only thing left in the ring is a pair of UK 11 black Doc Marten combat boots.

 

It was time.

[the.weej 0]

TALE OF THE TAPE

 

Toxxic

Age: 21

Height: 6’0

Weight: 218lbs

Bench: 303lbs

Move List: 27 practiced, 3 variables

Finisher(s): Intoxxication, Caffeine Bomb, Repeat To Fade

Accomplishments: Hardcore Gamer’s Champion, 2x ICTV Champion, World Heavyweight Champion (fastest since 2000)

Last Five: 4-1

 

Johnny Dangerous

Age: 28

Height: 6’1

Weight: 217lbs

Bench: 320lbs

Move List: 30+ practiced, 4 variables

Finisher(s): MI Slam, Death From Above, The Barracuda

Accomplishments: 2x Tag Team Champion, USJL Champion, ICTV Champion, Cruiserweight Champion, World Heavyweight Champion (current)

Last Five: 4-1

 

POWER ADVANTAGE: Johnny Dangerous

LEVERAGE ADVANTAGE: Push

SPEED ADVANTAGE: Toxxic

EXPERIENCE ADVANTAGE: Johnny Dangerous

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGE: Johnny Dangerous

HOT/COLD: Push

OVERALL ADVANTAGE: Johnny Dangerous

[the.weej 0]

It is fully dark now, and only the bright stadium lights keep the night at bay. ‘O Fortuna’ reverberates out of the speakers in the Rose Bowl as the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra plays below, and the tens of thousands of fans packed into their seats sit up a little straighter in anticipation. This is it. This is the moment that the entire Smartmarks Wrestling Federation has been gravitating around, the match that defines a year of blood and toil, triumph and tragedy, victory and defeat. The year since Genesis IV has seen old legends retire and new legends arrive, records set and records broken. The Unnamed formed, then splintered as each of the founding members rose to the World Title. The Unholy Trinity went through membership alterations and then disbanded forever. A new title was born in the Cruiserweight Championship. The SJL folded. The commissionership changed hands, and Grand Slam and Suicide King clashed again. Silent returned, rose to the World Title and then was finally, forcefully retired.

 

And in all that time, not once has the reigning World Heavyweight Champion successfully defended his title at a Pay-Per-View.

 

Two figures flash up onto the multiple Smarktrons that crown the ring, and the crowd noise increases with recognition. On the left, a slim, well-defined figure with spiky black hair, eyeliner and nail varnish. Two steely grey eyes stare out from his face as a familiar lopsided grin creeps up the right hand side of it. A pretty, dreadlocked girl stands slightly behind him as he cracks his neck sideways. To the right, a man in expensive shades with slicked-back black hair. A tight black T-shirt hints at the musculature beneath as he smiles at the camera and hoists onto one shoulder what this match is all about. The SWF World Heavyweight Title, the biggest prize in the business. Tonight, it goes up for grabs again.

 

“This is it, Citizens,” Cyclone Comet says as the music starts to die away and a spotlight picks out Funyon in the centre of the ring. “Hold onto your seats, because you are about to see one hell of a show.”

 

“FUNYON!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“FUNYON!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

The veteran ring announcer self-consciously adjusts his bowtie and smiles into what he knows is the centre of the world’s television screen as he wets his lips in preparation. He raises the microphone... waits for a few seconds to let the tension build... and begins to speak.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen in attendance, fans around the world. The Smartmarks Wrestling Federation would like to thank you for joining us on this greatest of nights... Genesis V.”

 

A smattering of applause is heard in the stadium, and a few isolated whoops, but most people are silent as they wait. They know what’s coming, of course... but that doesn’t lessen the suspense one iota.

 

We’re just about to get to the good stuff.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen... the following contest is tonight’s MAIN EVENT~ and is scheduled for one fall for the SWF WORLD... HEAVYWEIGHT... CHAMPIONSHIP~!!!”

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

The Smarktron abruptly whites out, and the cheers turn to boos in a split second as the opening chord of ‘Rookie’ by Boy Sets Fire blasts out over the PA system. The Smarktrons darken to black, and as they do so jagged white letters flash up, one word at a time, an oh-so-familiar slogan:

 

PREPARE TO BE PROVED WRONG...

 

As the guitar riff starts the black screen changes and becomes the top of a spiky-haired head that raises and stares out with piercing grey eyes before a lopsided grin creases the right-hand side of Toxxic's face. The bass drum kicks in and clips of his matches flash up - the All-Show Brawl with the Insane Luchador, the infamous Glass Jawbreaker on Aecas, dropping Nathaniel Kibagami on his head with the Caffeine Bomb and the Super Intoxxication that won him the World Title, all interspersed with the words ‘STRAIGHT-EDGE SENSATION’ and ‘TOXXIC’ - before moving onto footage of Toxxic taking Mike Van Siclen off a balcony and through a table, the devastating landing timed to coincide with the four blasts of red pyro that climb the entrance ramp before the final, stagewide eruption as the main riff starts-

 

*BAM-BAM-BAM-bap-BOOOM!!*

 

-that signifies the arrival of the SWF's premier straight-edger! The smoke starts to drift, and as it does so Toxxic strides through with the familiar smile already creasing one side of his face. The Straight-Edge Sensation is feeling it tonight... and he is not alone. Behind him comes not only his usual ring companion of Jet, but also the imposing figure of Sean Davis, the smaller, slighter one of Spike Jenkins and the bespectacled Marcus Washington.

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“What’s this?” Comet cries in dismay as the entirety of Revolution Zero make their way out onto the entrance stage. “Why is Toxxic bringing all his accomplices with him for a singles match?”

 

However, for once the masked superhero’s fears seem to be groundless as all three other men take it in turns to shake Toxxic’s hand, apparently wishing him luck, then disappear back through the curtain as the Straight-Edge Sensation continues down to the ring with only Jet at his side. As he passes the crystalline sculptures that adorn the rampway Toxxic smirks up at them. He pauses for a moment to stare at the familiar figure of Nathaniel Kibagami that must have been provided despite Commissioner Zenon’s wishes... but the Straight-Edge Sensation simply laughs out loud and continues on his way as the Slaughterer’s unchanging visage seems to stare accusingly after him.

 

“Making his way to the ring, the challenger,” Funyon booms, “accompanied to the ring by his girlfriend Jet; from Nottingham, England; he weighs in tonight at 218lbs; he is the leader of Revolution Zero; the ‘Straight-Edge Sensation’... TOXXXXXXX-IIIIIIIIIIIIIC!!”

 

The crowd doesn’t like him, but Toxxic hasn’t cared about what they think for a long, long time. Instead he simply rolls under the ropes, walks to the middle of the ring and, as the first verse comes in, throws his arms wide to ignite another blast of red pyro, not only from the top of each ringpost but also a massive explosion from the crest of the canopy above the ring that spears up into the California sky!

 

*bap-bap*

 

*BOOOM!!*

 

‘I never thought this could be me,

I guess you never do until it’s happening to you

Like all the fun turns into shame

And all the ‘could-have-beens’ rearrange...’

 

Toxxic strips his shirt off and gives it to Jet, then hugs his girlfriend and shares a brief kiss before she climbs out through the ropes to the stadium floor. For his part the straight-edger moves to the far side of the ring and leans against the ropes, awaiting his opponent as ‘Rookie’ dies away. He doesn’t have long to wait.

 

‘JOHNNY DANGEROUS!’

 

The sultry female voices oozes out of the speakers as the lights dim and dozens of strobes begin to pulse from behind the entrance stage, while similar ones strafe across the crowd from the top of the ring canopy.

 

‘I am the new way to go. I am the way of the future.’

 

The volume of the crowd rises exponentially as the trenchcoat-clad Johnny Dangerous makes his way out, silhouetted by the strobes and with occasional flashes reflecting off his expensive shades as he turns his head from side-to-side, looking out at his crowd.

 

‘I am the new way to go. I am the way of the future.’

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

And tonight, they are his crowd. Johnny walks slowly down the ramp, not rushing, letting the fans and the waiting Straight-Edge Sensation see the title that sits snugly around his waist. Johnny knows, the fans know and even Toxxic knows that it is going to take everything the Brit has to make Johnny even think about losing tonight. Because they are here on the biggest stage of them all, and it’s time for the Barracuda to cement his place in the main-event scene by doing what no-one else has done for a year.

 

‘There’s a lot of innocent people being crucified...’

 

“AND HIS OPPONENT!” Funyon bellows, desperately trying to make himself heard over the crowd noise. “From Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing in at 217lbs; he is the reigning and defending SWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION~... he is ‘The Barracuda’, JOHNNY... DAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNGGGGGEEEERRROOOUUUUSSS!!”

 

Johnny pauses at the bottom of the ramp and shrugs his trenchcoat off. He raises his hands to his face and takes off the shades before folding them up and tossing them to the crowd, then hops up onto the apron and steps through the ropes, not taking his eyes off Toxxic the whole time. The Straight-Edge Sensation hangs back and Johnny unbuckles the belt, then raises it high in the air and turns full-circle so the entire stadium can see it, even the ones in the top tiers getting a good view thanks to the massive Smarktrons.

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

The Barracuda climbs the nearest turnbuckle and raises his arms to the fans, still holding the belt in one hand, and the entire Rose Bowl rises in response as camera flashes go off from all sides in such volumes that it’s almost like sheet lightning has descended from the clear sky above. Johnny grins, tightly; for all his self-belief the tension of this night is getting even to him, but it’s always good to know that the fans are on your side.

 

“Well Citizens, we are moments away from the bell,” Cyclone Comet says as Johnny jumps lightly down from the turnbuckle and hands the belt over to Senior Official Matthew Kivell, who shows it to all four corners of the stadium. “Both these men have emerged from the midcard in recent months to challenge the established big-time players of the SWF; both are former ICTV champions; both were perhaps considered long shots to win the belt; and both have managed one successful title defence subsequently. The difference being, Agent Dangerous defeated Toxxic for the belt, and he is the reigning champion.”

 

“Comet, tonight is the last night you will be able to say that,” Riley asserts confidently.

 

Matthew Kivell calls both men close, having passed the World Title out through the ropes to the timekeeper. Johnny and Toxxic stare at each other past the referee’s head, but there is no danger that they will erupt into violence before the bell. For all their dislike, for all the heated rivalry and the mocking words and the cheapshots, this is no blood feud. This is simply one-to-one competition to be the very best in the business, and they will play this by the rules.

 

*DING-DING-DING!*

 

The moment the bell rings however, Toxxic snaps into action and launches a right hand straight at Johnny Dangerous’ head! The Barracuda is caught off-guard by the punch and staggers backwards, and Toxxic follows him in looking to capitalise on his early advantage. The straight-edger swings again but Johnny blocks this one, just as he blocks the left hand Toxxic tries subsequently before the secret agent fires off two snap kicks to drive his adversary back and then thrusts with a Shotei. Unfortunately for Johnny Toxxic has already squirmed away from the blow and inside Dangerous’ reach, then grabs Johnny’s arm and hoists him over to plant the Barracuda onto the mat with a textbook armdrag! Johnny remains on his back for a moment before coiling his legs and kipping up to a cheer from the crowd, but the flashiness costs him as Toxxic manages to slip behind him and take him back down with a neckbreaker. This time Johnny isn’t so quickly up to his feet, and as he rolls onto all fours Toxxic straddles his back and grabs the Barracuda’s right arm to hook in an armbar.

 

“-and Johnny Dangerous is in trouble from the outset here,” Comet notes in some dismay. “Toxxic may not have quite jumped the bell with that initial punch but you couldn’t insert a credit card into the difference, and he seems to have gained control in the early goings of this match as a result.”

 

“Oh please,” Riley gripes, “the match starts when the bell goes, right? Not ten seconds after, or whenever they get around to locking up. Johnny should have been prepared instead of wondering if he’d whitened his teeth properly before coming out here.”

 

It’s proving problematic for Johnny to escape the armbar, and his mood isn’t being helped all that much by Toxxic slapping the back of his head. This isn’t enough for the former champion however, and the rookie shifts to nailing the Barracuda in the skull with left hands. It being his weaker hand these are somewhat sloppy and badly-directed but still appear to be doing the job - at least until Matthew Kivell steps in, warning Toxxic about attacking Dangerous whilst the World Champion is still stuck in the submission hold. Toxxic changes the use of his left hand to flipping a v-sign at his fellow Brit, an action that not only encourages Kivell to admonish him more but also takes Toxxic’s attention away from the man he’s meant to be trying to get to submit. The lapse of concentration is enough for Johnny to adjust his position slightly and hook his left arm behind Toxxic’s left knee, then pull as hard as possible whilst pushing himself upwards. The combination causes the startled Straight-Edge Sensation to topple backwards in mid-argument with Johnny landing on top, albeit still with his back to his adversary. Toxxic tries to wrap his legs around Dangerous in a bodyscissors and retain his advantage but Johnny shifts around to face the Brit, reaches back with his left hand and-

 

*THWACK!*

 

-this time the Shotei hits, square between the eyes with the added bonus of causing the back of Toxxic’s head to bounce of the canvas as well! The former champion releases his hold on Johnny’s arm and the Barracuda rolls away to regroup, but before he can launch an attack of his own Toxxic is back on his feet as well and glaring at him.

 

“Yet more proof there that Evil contains the seeds of its own downfall,” Comet notes. “If Toxxic hadn’t wished to inflict more pain on the valiant World Champion by punching then Citizen Kivell would not have interfered and Operative Dangerous would have had a harder time escaping that hold!”

 

“It’s all Kivell’s fault!” is Riley’s well thought-out reply.

 

Johnny evidently decides that simply because his opponent is upright there is no reason to hold back, and after a moment’s hesitation he strides forward to deal some righteous punishment to his foe. Toxxic is not eager to close again however and the slippery straight-edger dodges back from Johnny’s kicks, then as the champion has him backed up on the ropes and swings a roundhouse at his head Toxxic simply rolls forward under it, popping back up on the other side of Johnny and leaping into the air to fire a dropkick into the champion’s jaw! The impact knocks Dangerous down to the mat, and before the Barracuda can get back up Toxxic is on his feet and jumps forward to land with both of them into Dangerous’ ribcage, then springs from there up to the second turnbuckle and mockingly salutes the crowd.

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“Pain From The Same Level!” Riley shouts as Johnny clutches his solar plexus and rolls away.

 

“Uh... what?” Comet asks, looking sideways at his broadcast partner.

 

“Sort of like the Death From Above,” Riley returns, referring to Johnny’s moonsault double stomp, “only slightly less effective. But still better, because it’s Toxxic doing it.”

 

The Straight-Edge Sensation is still on the second buckle and riling up the crowd, but Johnny is getting back to his feet. The Barracuda sets his sights on his adversary’s back and charges in, looking to knock Toxxic over the top rope to the floor...

 

...but at the last moment Toxxic nimbly moonsaults backwards, flipping straight over the onrushing Dangerous and landing on his feet behind him-

 

*SMACK!*

 

-whereupon Johnny promptly lashes out without even having to look and floors the arrogant straight-edger with the Johnny Kick!

 

“YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

Now it is Toxxic’s turn to roll away across the ring in pain, but Johnny doesn’t waste time in acknowledging the fans. Instead he hits the ropes and comes back, fist clenched for the Armed & Dangerous! Toxxic looks up at the last second and rolls to one side, but Johnny was merely feinting anyway and as the straight-edger scrambles to his feet Johnny vaults off Toxxic’s knee before whipping his other foot around to smash into the back of the rookie’s head with a step-up enzuigiri!

 

*CRACK!*

 

“Can Agent Dangerous maintain this momentum?” Comet asks as Toxxic lands on the canvas again. “As long as the Barracuda keeps this match close-in and striking-based he probably has the advantage, but we’ve all seen how slippery Toxxic can be.”

 

Johnny doesn’t wait for his opponent to get back up - instead he drops the point of his elbow into the small of Toxxic’s back, causing the straight-edger to spasm in pain, then gets back up and does it again before taking hold of the Brit’s left leg and preparing to lock in the Barracuda! Toxxic isn’t having any of it however and he manages to roll over onto his back and use his right leg to kick Johnny away before scrambling up to his feet. Johnny is up quickly as well, but not quickly enough to evade Toxxic as the Straight-Edge Sensation leaps onto the second rope and then springboards back to take Dangerous down with a spinning heelkick!

 

“...and that moment of separation was all Toxxic needed to regain the advantage,” Comet notes unhappily as Toxxic rolls through the move to come back to his feet, holding his back. “The former champion’s speed could give Agent Dangerous as many problems as Johnny’s martial arts could cause for the Straight-Edge Sensation.”

 

Johnny rolls over onto his front ready to push himself up, but Toxxic is already moving and-

 

*WHAM!*

 

-fires a basement dropkick straight into Johnny’s head! Dangerous clutches his skull in agony but he refuses to stay down and staggers up to his feet again. However, Toxxic is now out of sight and Johnny turns in a slightly wobbly circle in a bid to draw a bead on his elusive opponent. As he turns Toxxic jumps from his new position on the ring apron, springboards off the top rope and sails through the air to snare the luckless champion in a hurricanrana that sends him skidding across the ring on the back of his neck!

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

The chants are ringing out in the Rose Bowl but the Straight-Edge Sensation seems as deaf to them as ever as he steps over the Barracuda, vaults lightly up to the top rope and then springs back, twisting in midair to drive his fist into Johnny’s forehead upon landing. Toxxic takes a moment as he sits on the canvas to blow on his knuckles and soothe them from the impact, but Johnny seems to have got the worse end of the deal. Deciding that it probably can’t hurt, Toxxic leans over and hooks Dangerous’ leg for the first cover of the match...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but Johnny kicks out just after two, and the British rookie looks slightly disappointed.

 

“LET’S GO JOHNNY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S GO JOHNNY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

The Californian fans are getting behind the Barracuda and the volume in the stadium is starting to rise, but Johnny appears currently unable to justify the crowd’s faith in him. Toxxic stoops to pull his opponent back up to his feet, then sends his forearm smashing into Johnny’s jaw with a brutal European uppercut.

 

*WHAM!*

 

Johnny staggers back into the corner, but not for long as Toxxic takes his wrist and jacknifes his body to Irish whip the Barracuda across the ring. Dangerous reverses the momentum however and Toxxic is sent into the far turnbuckles instead... but the Straight-Edge Sensation simply leaps to the top buckle, then twists and comes flying back at his opponent to take him down with a diving clothesline!

 

“Role Reversal!” Riley shouts in satisfaction as Toxxic kips up again to the mass displeasure of the crowd, “and by the end of tonight we’ll have seen the mother of all role reversals when Toxxic becomes World Champion and Johnny becomes title-less!”

 

The continued shots to the head seem to be gradually wearing Johnny Dangerous down and he appears rather dazed as Toxxic hauls him up again. The Straight-Edge Sensation places his adversary in a reverse headlock and drops to one knee, driving the other into the back of the Barracuda’s neck, then pops up again and this time drops all the way down in an inverted DDT to complete the Detoxx. Matthew Kivell drops to count again as Toxxic makes another cover...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but Johnny kicks out again, if not with quite as much authority as the fans would like.

 

“LET’S GO JOHNNY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S GO JOHNNY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic doesn’t pick his adversary up; instead he leaves Johnny Dangerous on his back in the middle of the ring and strides over to the turnbuckle, jumps to the top rope in one fluid movement and corkscrews back, looking for the Hangover legdrop...

 

*BANG!!*

 

...but Johnny moves, and the Straight-Edge Sensation lands hard with no reward!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“LET’S GO JOHNNY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S GO JOHNNY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic tries to get back up to his feet but the pain in his hip slows him down just enough for Johnny to get ready for him. The Barracuda lashes out with a spinning back fist that snaps Toxxic’s head to one side, then fires off a Shotei that sends the rookie staggering back before stepping forward, hooking Toxxic up and bridging backwards to take the Straight-Edge Sensation over with an Exploder Suplex!

 

*WHAM!!*

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

Johnny lies on his back in the middle of the ring, breathing hard and trying to focus through the pain in his head. That little offensive flurry came from instinct, but the Barracuda knows that it’s going to take more than instinct to retain the title here tonight. He needs to have a plan.

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

“JOHN-NY!”

 

Johnny Dangerous rolls over and grabs Toxxic as the Straight-Edge Sensation is starting to move, snaring the straight-edger in a front facelock. Toxxic fights it but can’t get out as Dangerous brings him up to his feet, then throws the rookie’s right arm over his own head, takes a firm grip on Toxxic’s baggy trousers and hoists him up...

 

*BANG!!*

 

...and down, in a vertical suplex!

 

“ONE!”

 

Johnny rolls back up to his feet, taking Toxxic with him and lifting him up for another...

 

*BANG!!*

 

...and brings him down again.

 

“TWO!”

 

It takes a bit more effort for Johnny to get up this time, unable to use his arms as he is, but he still manages it and hoists one more time to bring Toxxic up and over...

 

*BANG!!*

 

“THREE!”

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Johnny sits up and grins tightly as the crowd start to cheer and clap in unison, then pushes himself back to his feet. Despite his respect for the fans he can’t afford to be distracted by them tonight - after all, his opponent has made a career out of not giving a damn what the fans think and winning matches anyway. So the Barracuda drags Toxxic up once more and stoops to take the straight-edger onto his shoulders in a Fireman’s carry. The crowd start to make more noise as he backs off towards the corner, then runs forward and flips in midair, landing on Toxxic and driving the rookie’s back into the ring and the air from his lungs!

 

“Spinal Explosion!” Comet calls as Johnny leans back into the cover, one arm hooking Toxxic’s leg...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but the straight-edger kicks out, although now it is Jet’s turn to look worried and the dreadlocked wrestler-in-training begins to pound on the canvas in an effort to urge her boyfriend on. However, she is drowned out by the capacity crowd in the Rose Bowl, who give voice once more.

 

“LET’S GO JOHN-NY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S GO JOHN-NY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

“It looks like Agent Dangerous is starting to work over Toxxic’s back and midsection,” Comet notes. “Such an approach sets up several of his high-impact moves such as the Death From Above, the MI Slam and the Shooting Johnny Press he used to win the title, not to mention his favoured submission hold, the Barracuda!”

 

“This is a minor setback,” Riley informs his commentary partner. “Toxxic will be on top again in no time, just you wait.”

 

“We aren’t talking about your late-night fantasies here, Bobbo.”

 

Johnny pauses for a moment to take stock of his situation - Toxxic is certainly in pain, but before he moves on to try anything higher-risk he wants to make sure that the slippery straight-edger is truly disadvantaged. So Johnny grabs the rookie’s head and forces him into a sitting position, then wraps his legs around Toxxic’s ribs and sits back into a bodyscissors, applying as much pressure as possible. Matthew Kivell leans down to check Toxxic’s progress, but his earnest questions merely receives an abusive response from the pained straight-edger. Kivell continues to question however, and Johnny continues to squeeze.

 

“Oh please!” Riley snorts. “Johnny, it was boring when Grappler did restholds when he was World Champion, and it’s not any better you trying it. In fact it’s worse, because at least Charlie Matthews could do them properly!”

 

“Robert, how dare you impugn our World Champion’s technique?” Comet asks. “Or is it just envy that someone else has their legs wrapped around Toxxic?”

 

“...I hate you.”

 

Toxxic still isn’t interested in quitting, so Johnny adjusts his grip to be slightly more side-on and uses his leverage to roll Toxxic over onto his back for a pin, which Kivell dives to count...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but as soon as the surprise wears off Toxxic manages to squirm his shoulders off the canvas. As he manages to get back into a sitting position the straight-edger starts to attack Johnny’s legs, looking to prise them apart, but Dangerous shifts position slightly again and gives Toxxic something else to worry about by attempting to lock in a sleeperhold! Toxxic desperately fights Johnny’s arms away, but as he tries to increase the distance between his upper body and that of the secret agent Johnny rolls him over for a pin again...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Toxxic gets out of the pin one more time, but now he isn’t interested in playing nice anymore and simply drives the point of his elbow hard into Johnny’s knee, causing the Barracuda to cry out in pain. Johnny reaches forward to try and grab Toxxic but the rookie’s flailing left hand catches him in the face and gives Toxxic the time he needs to finally prise Johnny’s legs apart and escape from the hold. Johnny springs back to his feet and goes for the straight-edger before Toxxic can get back up, but the wily Brit simply kicks one foot into Johnny’s knee again and sends the Barracuda hobbling away. Toxxic grabs the top rope and pull himself up, clutching his ribs as he does so and staring daggers at the World Champion.

 

“This is where Toxxic’s lack of technical knowledge may hurt him,” Comet surmises. “A better technical wrestler would be able to follow up those attacks on Johnny’s knee, but I’d be surprised if Toxxic manages it with any effectiveness.”

 

“He hits people in the head,” Riley replies as if explaining something to a simpleton. “As long as the SWF doesn’t hire any Samoans in the near future, that’s an approach that works on anyone. He doesn’t need to be Tom Flesher-”

 

“-although you’d love it if he was?”

 

Gritting his teeth and clutching his knee, Johnny Dangerous turns back to face Toxxic just as the Straight-Edge Sensation charges across the ring at him - but the Barracuda’s reflexes are up to the task as he simply snatches Toxxic out of the air and bridges backwards to plant the challenger into the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex!

 

*WHAM!!*

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“LET’S GO JOHN-NY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

“LET’S GO JOHN-NY!” *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic writhes on the canvas, clutching his back in pain while the fans go wild. Johnny scrambles over to his downed opponent and grabs Toxxic’s right leg, then starts to twist the straight-edger over onto his front!

 

“The Barracuda!” Comet yells. “Agent Dangerous is looking for his feared submission move, that over-the-shoulder half crab!”

 

Toxxic fights it, but to no avail as Johnny leans forward and puts more pressure on the Straight-Edge Sensation’s damaged back! Toxxic yells out in pain and reaches for the ropes, but salvation seems an awfully long way away for the rookie as Johnny tightens his grip and cinches the hold in. Ever ready to pounce on a heel’s predicament, the Rose Bowl crowd start to chant...

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

“Shut up!” Bobby Riley yells at them. “Have you got no respect for singles competition? Stop trying to distract the man!”

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

Johnny braces his feet on the canvas as Toxxic struggles against the hold - the Straight-Edge Sensation has got his eyes fixed on the ropes and is making every physical effort to get there, but the Barracuda is determined to keep his opponent locked down. However, Toxxic is not only trying to get purchase with both hands but is also pushing with his free leg, and slowly but surely Johnny Dangerous is being towed towards the ropes.

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

The gap between Toxxic hand and the ropes is down to two feet now, and Jet is thumping the canvas to urge her boyfriend on.

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

One foot, and Johnny’s face is showing the effort of trying to hold Toxxic back and keep the hold locked in tight simultaneously. However, the secret agent is secure in the knowledge that even if Toxxic makes the ropes, the straight-edger’s back will be in blazing agony.

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

Eight inches.

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

Six inches, and Johnny seems resigned to the fact that he can’t prevent this rope break. Nevertheless, he holds on for as long as possible...

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

...and Toxxic finally makes the ropes. Matthew Kivell calls to Johnny to break the hold but the Barracuda doesn’t comply immediately.

 

‘ONE!’

 

‘TWO!’

 

‘TH-’

 

Dangerous releases his grip well before five and rolls away from his opponent while the slightly-mollified Kivell gives him a semi-stern talking to about keeping a hold on after a call for the break. Meanwhile Toxxic rolls out under the ropes, holding his back and collapsing to one knee as he drops to the floor. Jet rushes over in concern and checks on her man while Johnny advances purposefully towards the ropes... and backs off again as Kivell interposes himself between the World Champion and his opponent, then turns to begin his count.

 

‘ONE!’

 

Jet talks hurriedly to Toxxic on the outside. The Straight-Edge Sensation is wincing in pain, but something the dreadlocked beauty whispers to him seems to grab his attention and his eyelinered gaze whips around to focus on Johnny Dangerous.

 

‘TWO!’

 

Gritting his teeth, Toxxic rolls under the ropes back into the ring and gingerly stands up as Kivell checks to make sure he can continue. The rookie waves the official away and advances on his opponent, but Johnny cuts him off in his tracks with a snap kick to the ribs that doubles Toxxic over once more.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic is gasping for breath but Johnny isn’t about to give his foe any quarter; he moves in and wraps his right arm underneath the straight-edger’s and across Toxxic’s chest!

 

“Urinagi!” Comet yells...

 

...but Toxxic has other ideas, and the rookie belts Johnny in the head as hard as he can with several sharp elbows! Johnny’s traumatised skull doesn’t stand up well to the blows and the man from Las Vegas staggers, allowing Toxxic to reverse the position of their arms and then drop to his knees, driving his shoulder into Johnny’s jaw!

 

“Minor Threat!” Riley yells exuberantly as the Barracuda falls backwards, half-stunned. “Toxxic just borrowed a move from the Straight-Edge Disciple, ‘Hollywood’ Spike Jenkins!”

 

“Toxxic must be getting desperate if he’s stealing moves from Jenkins...” Comet mutters uncharitably.

 

Toxxic leans forward on his hands, breathing deeply. His ribs are burning, his back is throbbing and every breath seems like an effort. However, his head is at least still clear and he knows that Johnny Dangerous does not have the same luxury. Cautiously, the Straight-Edge Sensation picks his way painfully over to where Johnny is struggling to rise and hauls the secret agent up, then hooks his left arm around Johnny’s neck in a Dragon Sleeper!

 

“Repeat To Fade!” Riley laughs. “He didn’t steal that from Spike, Comet! This will end Johnny Dangerous’ pathetic title run-”

 

-but Riley is cut off in mid-boast as Johnny takes advantage of the fact that Toxxic has not yet secured his right arm in the hammerlock part of his favourite submission move and simply starts punching the straight-edger in the ribs, despite being unable to see his target! A couple of shots is all it takes before Toxxic has to release his grip and clutch his battered sternum whilst Johnny squirms away, slips behind the Brit and clamp a rear waistlock on, then heaves backwards to send Toxxic flying across the ring with a German suplex...

 

*whump*

 

...Toxxic isn’t done yet though, and the slippery straight-edger flips through the move and lands on his feet!

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Johnny tries to scramble up from his prone position on the mat after delivering what he thought would be a telling blow, but he is half a second too slow to avoid the basement dropkick that comes in-

 

*CRACK!*

 

-directly into his left knee! Pain flares through the Barracuda’s limb once more, and as the force of the impact knocks him in a half circle Toxxic pops back up to wrap his hands around Johnny’s forehead from behind and drive the back of his skull into the mat with the Underkill!

 

*WHAM!!*

 

Toxxic reaches forward to hook the leg, and Matthew Kivell drops to make his count again...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-QUARTER!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-but Johnny kicks out, and the volume in the Rose Bowl begins to rise once more! Toxxic looks displeased at his opponent’s resilience, but heaves a sigh and rolls away from the pin position before stepping forward and kicking Johnny in the head as the Barracuda starts to push himself up onto all fours.

 

“Toxxic is employing a brilliant strategy here,” Riley informs Comet. “I’ll admit that he isn’t a master of mat wrestling, but he knows enough to keep picking away at Johnny’s knee now that it’s taken a bit of a knock. If he keeps doing that he can damage Johnny’s base for those martial arts kicks, as well as further increase his own speed advantage by slowing Mr. World Champion down further!”

 

“I hate it when you’re right Robert,” the masked superhero tells his fellow commentator. “My only comfort is that it is such a rare occurrence.”

 

Toxxic grabs Johnny by the head and hauls him up, then whips the Barracuda into the turnbuckles. Johnny hits hard but the defending champion doesn’t get a moment’s respite as Toxxic comes charging in after him, then leaves his feet to slam a leg lariat into Dangerous’ chest! The Straight-Edge Sensation flips backwards over the ringropes off the impact to land nimbly on the apron, then immediately climbs back up the buckles and hooks Johnny Dangerous in a rear headlock as the Barracuda staggers forwards slightly before swinging out of the corner with the Tornado Reverse DDT known as the Final Shine!

 

*WHAM!!*

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Toxxic reaches out and hooks Johnny’s leg, hoping that this one will be enough to finally put the champion away...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-QUARTER!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-HALF!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-THREE-QUARTERS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but Johnny manages to roll his shoulder off the canvas, and the Straight-Edge Sensation is frustrated again! Nevertheless, Toxxic seems to have scented blood and the leader of Revolution Zero rises back to his feet... then mimes cracking open a can and, as the Californian fans start to voice their displeasure, takes a ‘swig’.

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“Toxxic’s calling for the Caffeine Bomb, and I’m not sure if even Agent Dangerous will be able to weather this particular product of British Intelligence!” Comet says in alarm.

 

“Come on Johnny...” Riley coaxes as the defending champion staggers to his feet and starts to wobble in a circle to face the waiting Toxxic, “...just a little more...”

 

Either Bobby Riley wields some arcane power not meant to be understood by mortal man or - perhaps more likely - Johnny Dangerous was going to turn that little bit further anyway. Regardless, Toxxic steps up to the dazed World Champion and boots him in the gut, clamps on a front facelock and hooks Johnny’s right leg from the inside...

 

...but as he tries to lift his opponent up something seems to explode in the region of Toxxic’s back, and the leader of Revolution Zero has to stop and gasp in pain as all of the damage done comes back to haunt him! Realising his predicament, Johnny Dangerous fires a couple of right hands into the straight-edger’s ribs and forces his adversary to break the hold, then places his right leg over the back of Toxxic’s head as the rookie doubles over in pain and-

 

*WHAM!!*

 

-drops him facefirst to the canvas with a Guillotine Face Driver!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“Brilliant!” Comet exults as Johnny pushes himself back to his feet, limping slightly as his left knee takes his weight. “Agent Dangerous proves yet again what a resourceful fighter he is by escaping the villainous Toxxic’s devastating Caffeine Bomb!”

 

Johnny isn’t done yet though - without waiting for the straight-edger to rise to his feet the Barracuda reaches down and hauls Toxxic up facing away from him, then locks in a full nelson and hoists his opponent up into the air before sitting out and driving the Brit facefirst into the canvas!

 

*BANG!!*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“And this is excellent strategy from the Barracuda!” Comet says with a sly glance at Bobby Riley. “Agent Dangerous has done a marvellous job in working Toxxic’s ribs and back, and now he has hit a couple of quick blows to the head to stun the so-called Straight-Edge Sensation for long enough to hit a move that could win this match!”

 

Sure enough, Johnny has turned Toxxic over onto his back and has started to ascend the nearest turnbuckle. The fans start to rise, thinking they may be about to see another Shooting Johnny Press, but the Barracuda isn’t looking for that move tonight. Instead he remains resolutely facing out away from the ring and as he reaches the top buckle Johnny spreads his arms for a second and then vaults backwards to bring both feet down...

 

...Down...

 

...DOWN...

 

...onto Toxxic’s ribcage...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*BANG!!*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...which isn’t there!

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“YES!” Riley yells in triumph as the Death From Above misses and Johnny’s left knee buckles from the impact, dumping the Barracuda ungraciously onto his backside. “You’ll never make the Olympic team with that sort of dismount, you Matrix-worshipping James Bond-wannabe!”

 

Johnny pushes himself up to his feet, trying to get his guard up despite the searing pain in his left knee. He knew the risks of the Death From Above, but he also knew that if it connected it would have put Toxxic away, no question... but Toxxic wasn’t as stunned as he’d seemed, he moved, it didn’t connect, and instead the Straight-Edge Sensation-

 

-is slingshotting himself into the ring from the apron, hooking Johnny around the shoulders and bringing him down in the Radford Roll! Johnny is taken completely unawares and Toxxic stacks up all the weight of both men onto the Barracuda’s shoulders, hoping that the damage done to Johnny’s head and neck will prevent him from kicking out...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-QUARTER!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-HALF!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-THREE-QUARTERS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but his hopes are dashed as Johnny manages to squirm out of the pinning predicament! Toxxic doesn’t waste time arguing with Matthew Kivell; instead he lashes out with a European Uppercut to Johnny’s jaw while both men are still on their knees, then hauls the World Champion up to his feet. Johnny Dangerous’ eyes are half-focused now, and Toxxic can sense that victory may be near. With a malicious lopsided grin creasing his features the Straight-Edge Sensation whips Johnny into the ropes, then as the Barracuda rebounds Toxxic dives at his opponent’s legs in a soccer tackle-

 

*CRACK!*

 

-that catches Johnny right on the left knee! The World Champion lets out a cry of pain as he flips forwards, but Toxxic is immediately on him and wrenches him back to his feet. The straight-edger takes Johnny in a 3/4 headlock before charging for the nearest turnbuckle and running straight upwards, flipping back over his head...

 

 

...and coming down behind him to drive the back of Johnny Dangerous’ skull into the canvas.

 

*WHAM!!*

 

“NO!” Comet shouts.

 

“YES!” Riley yells once more.

 

Toxxic simply grins through the pain in his ribs as he hooks Johnny’s far leg and Matthew Kivell drops to count. For the second time, the Intoxxication has won him the World Heavyweight Championship. He’s proved them all wrong... again.

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-QUARTER!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-HALF!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-THREE-QUARTERS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-NINE-TENTHS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

But then again, people never believed Johnny Dangerous could win the World Title either. And most of the Rose Bowl probably can’t believe that he’s just kicked out of the Intoxxication.

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

 

But they catch on quick in California.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“He kicked out!” Comet almost screams over the thunderous roar of the crowd. “May the Lord Zeus on Olympus have mercy on my soul, Johnny Dangerous kicked out of the Intoxxication!”

 

Toxxic just stares at Matthew Kivell. For probably the first time in his life, the Straight-Edge Sensation appears to have been struck totally, impossibly dumb.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Well. If in doubt, go back to what you know.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

The Straight-Edge Sensation pushes himself back to his feet, then wraps a hand through Johnny’s sleek black hair and hauls the Barracuda up after him. There is no question that Toxxic has been shaken by Johnny’s resilience, but he’s still got a couple of tricks left up his sleeve. With a sneer for the tens of thousands of fans in attendance, Toxxic places Johnny Dangerous’ head between his legs and bends down to hook both of his opponent’s arms up.

 

“Toxxic Shock Syndrome,” Riley says slightly shakily, “this will do the job for certain...”

 

But Johnny hasn’t come all this way to be beaten like this. He hasn’t risen through the ranks, fighting doubters at every turn and taking on everyone from monsters like Janus to the cocky kids like Landon Maddix to lose to some sneering, eyelinered, loudmouthed British punk on the biggest show of all time.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

With one almighty effort Johnny breaks free of Toxxic’s grip and hooks the Straight-Edge Sensation behind both knees, then shoves forwards. The trapped straight-edger can only topple backwards and lands heavily on the one part of his body that could really do without taking any more punishment.

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Johnny Dangerous is operating more on instinct now that anything else, but is it an instinct that allows him to take Toxxic’s right leg and twist the Straight-Edger over onto his front again, then start to sit forward into the Barracuda!

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

“He’s got it locked in again!” Comet yells in excitement. “At this stage in the match, the Barracuda could do Toxxic in!”

 

But Toxxic knows this too, and the British rookie abandons all dignity and scrambles for the ropes with all his might. Johnny tries his hardest to hold Toxxic back but his head is still swimming and he can’t balance properly, and in a couple of seconds the Straight-Edge Sensation is clutching the bottom rope and yelling at Kivell to make his opponent break the hold. Johnny doesn’t even try to hold on but instead backs off, still looking like he’s half in dreamland.

 

“Hah!” Riley snorts. “I knew that’d never work, Toxxic has never tapped out in the SWF, Comet!”

 

“You’re very confident after the event, Bobbo...”

 

Toxxic pulls himself up on the ropes and charges towards Johnny, determined not to let the Barracuda have any more time to recover. Johnny swings an awkward roundhouse kick but he can’t pivot on his left leg properly and Toxxic ducks under it, then turns to face Dangerous as he swings around and fires off with a

 

RIGHT!

 

 

LEFT!

 

 

RIGHT!

 

 

LEFT!

 

 

...V-sign...

 

 

DISCUS CLOTHESLINE-

 

-but Johnny ducks under the blow and traps Toxxic with an arm across the rookie’s chest, then hoists Toxxic off his feet and dumps him down with a Urinagi!

 

*BANG!!*

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Johnny pops back up to his feet this time, and the World Champion seems to have found a second wind from somewhere! His breath is coming fast, he’s still limping and his eyes are slightly unfocused but Johnny Dangerous steps back from where Toxxic lies gasping for breath and lets out a yell that the crowd in the Rose Bowl give back ten thousand-fold.

 

Then the SWF World Heavyweight Champion strips off his T-shirt to expose his lean torso to the television cameras, throws the shirt into the grateful front row, and drops into a crouch.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic rolls onto his front and starts to rise, pushing himself up onto his hands and knees.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Johnny Dangerous edges a little closer, eyes fixed on his adversary. It’s almost time to take this home. Both men have something to prove tonight, but only one can come out on top.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

And even though Toxxic is still finding the energy to push himself up to his feet, Johnny is determined that it is going to be him.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic finally rises unsteadily to his feet. There is half a second before he is fully balanced... and in that half-second, Johnny Dangerous darts in. He places his head under Toxxic left arm, grabs the straight-edger’s left leg and lifts him up off his feet for the M.I. Slam, hardly even noticing the protest from his left knee...

 

...but Toxxic somehow manages to squirm out in mid-air, and instead of landing flat on his back the Straight-Edge Sensation swings around to take Johnny over with an armdrag!

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Toxxic rolls up to his feet, Johnny lands in something of a heap at the base of the ropes. The World Champion struggles upwards using the cables for support but Toxxic is already rushing in, looking to hit the Barracuda with something, anything that can give him the advantage he needs-

 

*THWACK!*

 

-but Johnny was quick enough to hit the onrushing challenger with a Shotei, knocking him down! Toxxic scrambles back up again, seemingly propelled by some mad energy, but Johnny is just quick enough once more and drops to his right knee to drive a Shotei into the straight-edger’s ribs. The blow stops Toxxic in his tracks and doubles him over, and Johnny turns his back on his opponent before hooking each arm under the rookie’s and twisting around, briefly bringing Toxxic up onto his back before sitting out-

 

*WHAM!!*

 

...and dropping Toxxic onto the back of his neck with the Wild Ride!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“DUB-CEE!”

 

“DUB-CEE!”

 

“DUB-CEE!”

 

The Californian fans briefly chant the name of the Human Hurricane, but it is Johnny Dangerous who is in the spotlight at the end of this long, hard night in the Rose Bowl. The secret agent hooks Toxxic’s leg and leans into the cover, putting all his weight behind it as Matthew Kivell drops to count...

 

ONE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-QUARTER!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-A-HALF!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-THREE-QUARTERS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO-AND-NINE-TENTHS!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

Toxxic got his shoulder up at the very last moment, and the fans in the Rose Bowl are absolutely rabid! The cameras zoom in on the centre of the ring, and one image fills the monstrous Smarktrons that rise above the ring. The face of Johnny Dangerous, gone white from shock.

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

“I... I can’t believe it...” Comet stammers. “I was sure... Johnny Dangerous was sure he had him then!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Bobby Riley just lets out a long, shivering breath and smiles in relief.

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Johnny stares down at the form of the Straight-Edge Sensation. He knows Toxxic isn’t that tough - even if he kicked out of the Wild Ride, one more hit will put him down. So the Barracuda hoists Toxxic up to his feet again and places his head underneath the straight-edger’s left arm again, then lifts his opponent into the air...

 

“MI SLAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!” Comet yells in delight...

 

...but Johnny’s second attempt fares no better than the first, as Toxxic manages to escape his grip and land behind the Dangerous One! The British rookie desperately reaches up to hook Johnny for a neckbreaker, but then twists around to drive the Barracuda’s face into his right knee-

 

*CRUNCH-WHAM!*

 

-before dropping back to spike Johnny headfirst into the mat with a DDT!

 

“Sobering Thought!” Riley shouts in his turn. “Wake up and smell the coffee, Johnny!”

 

Both men are flat on their backs in the middle of the ring.

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Referee Matthew Kivell takes a quick look at each man, then raises both hands and begins his ten-count.

 

‘ONE!’

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

The Straight-Edge Sensation stares up at the lights that adorn the underside of the canopy standing above the ring. It would be so easy to lie there and just wait for the match to end.

 

‘TWO!’

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

But back when he first came into the SWF he promised the fans that he would always, whatever the situation, give 100% in his matches.

 

‘THREE!’

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

And whether other people like it or not, Toxxic always keeps his promises.

 

‘FOUR!’

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

So he rolls over onto his front, braces both hands against the canvas, and starts to push himself up.

 

‘FIIIIII-’

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Besides, he can’t let them keep chanting that without one final effort to prove them wrong.

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

“He’s up!” Riley shouts as the noise in the Rose Bowl starts to change from abusive chanting to more generalised booing. “The Straight-Edge Sensation is on his feet Comet, and Johnny Dangerous is still down like the pussy-whipped bitch he is!”

 

“Look again Citizen Riley,” Comet responds angrily, “for the valiant secret agent is stirring too!”

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic looks around to see Johnny Dangerous starting to rise as well, and swears violently. He’d hoped that knock to the skull would have kept the Barrauda down longer, but clearly it was not to be. One more high-impact move should do the job, but he no longer has the energy to launch one of his characteristic springboard attacks. Instead he starts to climb the nearest turnbuckle, hoping that Johnny won’t see him waiting...

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

...Johnny manages to rise to his feet, his head spinning. There is very little in the mind of the Barracuda now beyond the knowledge that whatever else happens, he has to keep getting up. He also knows that he can’t see Toxxic, and he turns to see if he can find his opponent.

 

“JOHN-NY!” *clap-clap-clap*

 

Toxxic rises to his full six feet atop the turnbuckle, takes a deep breath... then coils his legs beneath him and springs through the air as Johnny rotates on the spot, legs reaching out to wrap around the Dangerous One’s neck and take him over with a hurricanrana. He catches Johnny sweetly at exactly the right moment and snaps backwards to complete the move...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but Johnny knew that something had to be up. He saw the Straight-Edge Sensation coming, and somehow manages to brace both hands against the canvas to prevent himself from being flipped over! Toxxic is trapped facedown beneath him, and in one swift motion Johnny Dangerous grabs Toxxic’s right leg, turns around and kneels down into the Barracuda!

 

“YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

“BARRACUDA!” Comet orgasms. “Surely, it’s all over now!”

 

But Toxxic isn’t finished just yet. You don’t go up against the likes of Dace Night, Danny Williams and Tom Flesher without learning a couple of tricks. So the Straight-Edge Sensation pushes himself up on his arms, despite the pain, and reaches back to drive elbow after elbow into Johnny Dangerous’ exposed left knee.

 

“TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!”

 

Johnny yells out in pain and instinctively stands up a little to get away from the attack, and that is the opening Toxxic needs. The straight-edger twists his torso underneath the Dangerous One and clamps both arms around Johnny’s left leg, then levers with all his might to take the World Champion’s base out from under him whilst using his trapped right leg to push on Johnny’ back. The combination topples Johnny Dangerous forwards, and he lands hard on his front.

 

“Get to the ropes!” Comet yells at the World Champion as Toxxic scrambles up to all fours, still with a firm grip on Johnny’s left leg and with a feverish light in his eyes, “for the love of Justice, GET TO THE ROPES!!”

 

But it is now too late. Toxxic hooks Johnny’s right foot into the crook of the secret agent’s left leg, then traps it there with a stepover toehold and leans forward. Johnny desperately tries to fight the straight-edger off, but without the ability to manoeuvre on the canvas it is a losing battle. After a couple of seconds of furious struggle, Toxxic manages to lock a three-quarter nelson facelock onto the World Champion.

 

“REGAL STRETCH!” Riley shouts. “Tap you bitch, tap!”

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Toxxic leans back and pulls with all his might. Johnny Dangerous lets out a strangled noise of pain, but right now the British rookie doesn’t care if he breaks his opponent’s neck. All that matters is that he wins this match and can finally shut the fans up.

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

Johnny claws at the canvas with his one free arm and reaches futilely for the ropes, but to no avail. He can’t stretch that far, and he can’t haul himself and Toxxic across the ring. For once in his SWF career, the Superspy is thoroughly, utterly trapped.

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

He doesn’t give up. He keeps reaching for the ropes, keeps fighting for a way to escape the pain even though Toxxic is wrenching back further and further.

 

 

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

 

 

And Johnny doesn’t give up.

 

 

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

 

 

And Johnny doesn’t give up.

 

 

 

“TOXX-IC SUCKS!”

 

 

 

And Johnny Dangerous, SWF World Heavyweight Champion... goes limp.

 

 

 

*DING-DING-DING!*

 

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

Even though the crashing opening chord of ‘Rookie’ rings out over the Rose Bowl, Matthew Kivell has to grab Toxxic and shake him to make the straight-edger realise what has happened. It takes a moment or two for the SWF’s senior official to get the message through, but then Toxxic almost gratefully releases his hold and rolls away from the unconscious former champion.

 

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HEEEERRREEEEEE IS YOUR WINNER,” Funyon’s voice booms out, still nearly drowned out by the chorus of disapproval in the Rose Bowl, “AND NEW SWF WORLD... HEAVYWEIGHT... CHAMPION... THE ‘STRAIGHT-EDGE SENSATION’... TOOOOOOXXXXXX-IIIIIIIIIIIC!!!”

 

*BOOOOOOM!!*

 

Red pyro erupts from the tops of each ringpost with an answering blast being fired into the night sky from the top of the canopy, but Toxxic isn’t paying any attention. The Straight-Edge Sensation is kneeling down in the ring, clutching the twenty pounds of gold handed to him by Matthew Kivell.

 

“Can you believe it!?” Riley squeals in joy. “Comet, can you believe it!? He’s done it! Toxxic is World Champion for a second time!”

 

“Unfortunately I must believe the evidence of my own eyes, Robert,” Cyclone Comet sadly acknowledges. “Agent Dangerous put up a tremendous fight, but in the end it was the villain of the story who came out on top. I have high hopes that balance may be restored at some point down the road but for now we are at a new beginning... and it is beginning in what might be the worst possible way.”

 

The rest of Revolution Zero are running down the entrance ramp towards the ring and Jet is already there, but Toxxic isn’t paying any attention to them. Instead the straight-edger rises up on his knees, still clutching the title close to his chest, and as he raises his face to the crowd streaks of eyeliner can be seen underneath his tightly closed eyes from the tears running down his cheeks.

 

Then as the camera zooms in and his face fills the entire screen a shiver seems to run through Toxxic’s body... and the steel-grey eyes snap open, and a malicious lopsided grin creeps up the right-hand side of his face. The enormous Smarktrons atop the ring canopy now carry only one message:

 

 

 

 

WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION...

 

 

 

 

Copyright Smarkmarks Wrestling Federation 2004

‘Raising Workrate By Typing Faster’

[the.weej 0]

And that's all she wrote for the biggest show of the year. In light of Genesis III and IV, I can't help but be disappointed with the overall feel of this show. The fact there were only two promos was a big, big, BIG downer, as was the fact only Toxxic did a tale of the tape bit. Also, there were too many no-shows for ANY PPV, let alone the biggest one of the year. Unfortunately, I can't say I'm surprised about that, but it's a really discouraging thought.

 

The fact that the main event was decided by default probably sums up my general feeling about this show.

 

Anyway, what's here is good, though. I highly reccomend the opener; my pick for MOTN.

 

-Z