HD: Zack Malibu vs. Stephen Joseph Popick

[Zack Malibu 0]

"It Ain't Over For Me" leads us to the beginning of our next bout, as Contestant Number One is just about to grace us (sarcasm, btw!) with his presence on this pre-Halloween episode of HeldDOWN~!

 

BUFFER

Ladies and gentlemen, this next match is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Atlanta, GA. Weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty five pounds, he proudly proclaims to be the Most Hated Man in OAOAST History...STEPHEN JOOOOOSEPH!

 

Looking every bit as cocky as he was when he walked through the door five years ago, Popick makes his way to the ring to the expected fan reaction. Having grown used to it after all this time, the jeers bounce off of Popick like rubber, and he gets in the ring and uses the hatred to gloat to the fans and get under their skin just a bit more...until a certain Papa Roach song hits!

 

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH!"

 

BUFFER

His opponent hails from Providence, RI. Weighing in tonight at two hundred and ten pounds, he is the "Modern Day Warrior", he is "The Franchise"...he is ZAAAAAAAAAACK MAAAAAAAAALIBUUUU!

 

The look on Popick's face is the same stoneface expression you're bound to get whenever he and Malibu are in the same room, let alone in the same ring against each other! Malibu heads up the aisle looking back at his old foe, completely ready to relive their rivalry one more time here tonight.

 

The bell sounds, and the two old rivals go nose to nose, this being the first time they've faced off in in-ring action in several years. Zack steps back and motions for Popick to take the first shot, but SJ simply smirks, and starts circling his opponent. Malibu keeps an eye on him and walks backwards, circling the ring as well, before they come to the center of the ring, ready to lock up...

 

...and Popick turns and hops through the ropes, out to the floor!

 

COLE

Looks like someone is making Zack play the waiting game!

 

The fans react instantly, jeering the cowardice of the detested Stephen Joseph. Popick walks around the ring, rolling his eyes at his detractors, then hops up on the apron and steps back into the ring.

 

COLE

All right, here we go now!

 

As he walks towards Zack, the Preppy One ties up with him, and the two jockey for position until Popick grabs a headlock. He wrenches his arm around Zack's head, but Zack shoves him off rather easily...and when Zack starts moving towards him, Popick ducks out of the ring once again!

 

COLE

Look at this...Popick, after all this years, is still running away from Zack Malibu!

 

Malibu calls for Popick to come back in the ring, but SJ simply glares back at his longtime rival. Popick gets back up on the apron slower than the walking dead, and continues to glare at Zack from the apron. The stall tactic starts grating on everyone's nerves, especially the crowd, who blast Popick with a loud, hardly encouraging chant.

 

"CHICKEN-SHIT!"

 

"CHICKEN-SHIT!"

 

"CHICKEN-SHIT!"

 

Popick turns red, while Zack waves his arms for the chant to get louder. Knowing that this is surely pissing ol' BPP off, Zack smiles and waves him on, daring him to come back into the ring.

 

COACH

Don't let them get under your skin, SJ...pace yourself!

 

Despite the warnings from Coach, history repeats itself quickly, as Popick steps through the ropes and charges at Zack, who stuns him with a right hand as he's running towards him, dropping Popick to the mat! Popick rushes up to his feet, but when he's up, he starts getting rocked by a series of hard, open slaps across his face from Malibu! Popick reels, but manages to drive a boot into Zack's gut, cutting off the flurry. He takes Zack by the arm and sends him to the ropes, but makes the mistake of dropping his head, taking his eye off Zack! A hard instep kick follows, sending Popick staggering back to a vertical base, and now Zack starts waylaying him with hard chops, forcing him to step back with every shot before taking him by the head and nailing him with a European uppercut that knocks Popick through the ropes and out to the floor!

 

COLE

Well, if Popick likes it out on the floor so much, I guess Zack felt obligated to send him there!

 

It's hardly a vacation for Popick, as Malibu jumps out of the ring right after him. Zack spins a weary Popick around and nails him with a hard chop, then sends his face into the ring apron, which drops Popick to his knees! Zack pulls him up and then shoots him into the guardrail, then follows up with a running clothesline that cracks Popick's lower back against the metal barrier! Zack then takes him by the head and hurls him back into the ring, sliding in after his old foe.

 

COACH

Finally, we get back to action!

 

COLE

What would you call the last three minutes?

 

COACH

Weren't we at commercial?

 

COLE

Uh, no.

 

COACH

Sorry Mikey Cole, this new iPhone can be pretty distracting!

 

In the ring, Popick sees Zack standing over him, and he heads for the corner, begging off. Popick pleads his case to Zack, telling him "we're friends", but Zack knocks the attempt at a handshake away, and biels Popick out of the corner! Angered now, Popick gets up and charges, but gets taken down with a drop toehold! Zack hits the ropes and looks for a kneedrop to the back of the head, but he misses, as SJ pulls up at the last second! Zack hops to his feet, but he's immediately taken out wtih a short clothesline, and now Popick starts stomping him down!

 

COLE

Stephen Joseph with the opening, and he's looking to work Zack over!

 

Popick picks Zack up and throws him into the corner, then wraps his hands around the throat of the OAOAST Original, choking him against the ropes! Referee Nick Patrick will have none of that and backs Popick away, reprimanding him for the infraction...but as is typical of Popick, he brushes the referee off! As Zack gasps for air, he's stunned by a shoulderblock to the ribs...and then a taunting slap from Popick, who calls him on by shouting "C'mon, hero!" after the fact! Malibu bolts out of the corner and shoots for the legs, taking Popick down to the canvas, and then starts firing punche and elbows from the mount! Popick can't cover up, as Malibu is laying into him, then brings him to his feet...and Popick jabs a thumb in his eye, then delivers a headbutt that staggers Zack! Popick then grabs him and traps Zack in a headlock, putting the big squeeze on Zack's cranium! Zack struggles, reaching out for the ropes, but his hand can't even graze them, as Popick has him far enough away to prevent a rope break. Popick squeezes again, which can't be comfortable for Zack, so the former OAOAST World Champion powers Popick off his feet, lifting him up for a back suplex to break...but Popick twists himself so that he falls on top of Zack when the two land on the canvas!

 

ONE!

 

T-KICKOUT!

 

COACH

Close one, but a nice move by Popick there!

 

As they recover, Popick blasts Zack across the back of the head with a forearm shot, then sends him into the ropes, and up into the air with a back bodydrop! Gravity sends Malibu back down to earth, and when he gets up, SJ grabs him in a rear waistlock! Zack keeps his feet planted, not allowing himself to be taken over while at the same time firing elbows back to get the break! Popick backs off after getting drilled in the cheek, allowing Zack to hit the ropes...but Popick hits a running knee that doubles Zack over! Flustered, Popick drags Zack off the mat and tosses him into the corner, then wails on him with hard chops that redden his chest! SJ then throws Malibu over his shoulder and pushes him up onto the third rope, then heads up the ropes himself, striking Zack with a pair of punches to daze him...but Malibu fights back, shoving Popick down to the canvas! Popick catches his footing and climbs right back up, only this time Zack sees it coming and fights back again, nailing Popick with a hard right hand and then shoving him off the ropes! Popick falls to the canvas but is quick to get back to his feet...which Malibu times perfectly as he gets to his feet and leaps off the ropes with a huracanrana! Stephen Joseph is sent across the ring, and when Malibu gets to his feet he looks to follow up, pulling a stunned Stephen Joseph up onto his shoulders for an airplane spin...but after one rotation, Popick is able to grab the ropes, and Nick Patrick orders the break! Zack begrudgingly puts Popick down, then charges...and winds up elevated over the top! Zack lands on the apron, and when Popick turns around shoots a shoulder through the ropes...but SJ sidesteps it, and then kicks Zack in the side of the head! Popick then grabs Zack by the head and drags him into the ring, holding him horizontal so that his feet are hooked on the middle rope...and then he drives him headfirst into the canvas with a spike DDT that makes the crowd gasp in horror!

 

COLE

Zack Malibu could be out cold, and Popick could have the win here!

 

After dragging him away from the ropes, Popick covers the longtime thorn in his side, hooking a leg and calling for the count.

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

NO! SHOULDER UP!

 

COACH

He had him there! C'mon, he so had him there!

 

A snarl creeps across Popick's face as he's forced to listen to the cheers of the fans, who are glad Malibu escaped defeat at the hands of the Most Hated Man In OAOAST History. Popick then locks on a sleeperhold, drawing more boos, as he looks to put the semi-conscious superstar into a state of slumber en route to victory!

 

"ZACK!"

 

"ZACK!"

 

"ZACK!"

 

The rally starts up through the crowd, as a weary Malibu can barely muster the strength to fight off the submission hold. Popick scowls at the fans, telling them to shut their damn mouths, as he keeps the hold applied. Valiantly, Zack fights on, reaching for the ropes to force Popick to break the sleeper, but just as before, he can't get there! Popick holds on tight as Zack struggles, until finally, Zack is able to shift himself so that he can drive an elbow into Popick's bread basket! And another! And another! And a fourth one that does the job! The fans roar as Zack breaks the hold, but he collapses to one knee, visibly worn...and the fresher Popick quickly comes from behind and takes him over with a German suplex...THEN ROLLS TO HIS FEET WITH ZACK IN TOW!

 

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

 

COLE

What a smarmy bastard...he's copycatting Zack!

 

COACH

If you're gonna steal, steal from the best!

 

Popick seems too proud of his actions, and that smile is knocked off his face when an elbow is fired back from Malibu, breaking the waistlock! Zack reaches back and snapmares Stephen Joseph over his shoulder, then cracks him across the back with a hard kick! Popick reels, but a second kick follows and feels just as uncomfortable, and the sting of that one hasn't worn off by the time Zack bounces off the ropes and nails a basement dropkick square in Popick's face!

 

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

 

COLE

Don't ever count Zack Malibu out! Popick had him down, he had him worn, but then he had to get cocky, and now he's paying for it!

 

SJ rolls to his feet, trying to regain the momentum he lost, while Zack fires himself up and gains some steam. Popick gets to his feet, but Malibu hits the ropes and nails him with a leaping lariat! Popick gets up quickly, but then he's planted by an inverted atomic drop, which is immediately followed by a jawbreaker! SJ stumbles back to the ropes, catching himself from falling...but a Pissed Off Prep comes charging with a running lariat that dumps Popick over the ropes and out to the ringside floor! With the fans urging him on, Zack braces himself, keeping a watchful eye on his opponent...and the second Popick is back up on his feet, Zack is in motion, racing across the ring and soaring over the ropes with a picturesque no hands plancha, crashing down on top of Stephen Joseph Popick!

 

COACH

YO!

 

Zack rolls onto his back, holding his ribcage which must be sore after landing from high up above down onto another human being. Zack is the first to his feet, but as soon as he is up, he's shoved forward into the ring apron by an attacker from the crowd...WHO TURNS OUT TO BE THA PUERTO RICAN!

 

COLE

Via satellite my ass! He was laying in wait!

 

Malibu favors the ribs as he reels from the crash into the apron, but he's then spun around and dropped on the floor with a uranage from PRL! The crowd starts booing heavily as PRL continues to work Zack over before rolling him into the ring. PRL then checks on Stephen Joseph, helping him to his feet and pointing out that Malibu is prone for a cover. Popick creeps in under the bottom rope and crawls onto Malibu, while PRL backs up, proud of his handywork.

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

THR-KICKOUT! ZACK KICKS OUT!

 

PRL freezes in his tracks, cutting his retreat off, while Popick pounds the mat in disbelief. As he stands up, he eyes PRL, who doesn't know what to say, until he comes back towards ringside and motivates Popick to "take his ass out!" SJ pulls Zack up and traps him in a facelock, readying him for a Fallen Angel...but Zack kicks his legs back, not allowing himself to be hoisted into the air! He shoves Popick backwards, then fire's off a flash SCHOOL'S OUT...but Popick catches the foot and spins Zack around, schoolboying him along with grabbing a handful of tights!

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

NO! ZACK GRABS THE BOTTOM ROPE!

 

COLE

Popick thought he had this one won, but Zack Malibu got to the ropes when he needed to!

 

PRL seems to be growing angered, almost embarrassed that Popick hasn't been able to finish Zack off, even with his help. Popick pulls Zack up again and fires him to the ropes...but Zack uses the momentum to nail PRL with a baseball slide! Zack then climbs up onto the apron and springboards in with a bodypress...but Popick rolls through with it, and again has Zack's shoulders to the mat!

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

SHOULDER UP!

 

Now Popick is really heated, because the memories come flooding back...he's always had trouble defeating Zack Malibu, and this time is no exception! He pulls Zack up to his knees, and pounds on his temple with hard shots, driving his knuckles into Malibu's head. He scoops him up, but before he can slam him, Zack slides down his back and grabs a rear waistlock, and brings Popick over with a GERMAN SUPLEX~! Zack rolls through, bringing his foe back up to a vertical base...and German Suplex Number 2 follows! They come up again, but as they do PRL tries climbing into the ring to go after Malibu for the shot he took at him a few moments ago! Patrick hurries over to prevent the interference, and with his eyes off the competitors, Popick fires a leg back, catching Zack low! Malibu doubles over, and Popick quickly turns around and grabs him, planting him with a quick Fallen Angel that leaves him looking up at the lights, and Patrick turns around just in time to see the pin!

 

ONE!

 

TWO!

 

THREE!

 

COLE

Well I'll be damned! Stephen Joseph Popick, en route to a title match that some say he doesn't deserve, has just defeated Zack Malibu right here on HeldDOWN~!

 

Popick thrusts his arms in the air like he's just won millions, while PRL, angered from earlier and holding his jaw, looks in the ring. SJ climbs up on the ropes and motions to him, asking him if he just saw what he did, and PRL offers a slight nod before looking at Zack and scowling.

 

COLE

Tha Puerto Rican tried to exact some revenge on Zack Malibu that backfired, but his ally still pulls out the win. We weave a tangled web here on HeldDOWN~!, but we'll try to unravel some more of it when we return after this!