The Fantasy Wrestling Alliance proudly presents…
LIGHTS OUT 2022
LIVE! from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Saturday 22nd October, 2022.
We join Caesars Superdome to a raucous crowd, the camera focussing on the stage where a huge array of gold and green pyro emanates, escaping through the stadium’s roof and exploding in the Louisiana evening sky. The camera pans across the enthusiastic audience, finally resting on the commentators as they introduce us to the show.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Welcome, wrestling fans, to the second annual Lights Out extravaganza… it might be Divali tomorrow, but we’re going the opposite route, where the only lighting up will take place in Danny Toner’s locker room…"
Allen Price: "We have eight matches ahead of us tonight, including three of the FWA’s championship belts on the line! Shawn Summers will defend his Television Championship against Phillip A. Jackson in a rivalry that has bubbled over the past few weeks. And as Summers prepares for his second defense with his belt, the Spirit Walkers are ready to defend their World Tag Team Championships for the very first time, as Reagan Cole and Aka Yurei prepare to go up against Michelle von Horrowitz and Gerald Grayson of the Connection."
Rod Sterling: "But tonight isn’t all about championships, with grudge matches and battles for pride dotted over the card also. That includes Lizzie Rose, as the North American Champion prepares to lay old matters to rest against Johnny Johnson, who has been a proverbial thorn in her side for the past few months. Elsewhere, two FWA stars who’ve both had their fair share of bereavement recently in Uncle J.J. JAY! and Cornelius Aurelius Caesar - and looked like they might indeed come together in partnership before a swift and drastic fallout - will do battle right here in New Orleans."
Anzu Kurosawa: "And speaking of grudges, there are none larger than that held by Tommy Bedlam against Jason Randall, who was the man responsible for his lengthy recent lay-up on the injury list. What’s more, that match will be contested under X Rules! Glorious!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Whilst several championships will be defended tonight, we’ll also line up the next set of challengers for a multitude of belts. The Secular Spooktacular, which returns for its second incarnation and features a completely open, unannounced field, will decide the next men or women in line for shots at the Television, North American, X, and Tag Team Championships. A lot is on the line in that unpredictable contest… but the biggest stakes are on the line in the final two matches of the evening."
Rod Sterling: "We’re talking, of course, about the Golden Opportunity match, where seven competitors will enter Steel Roulette with the hopes of securing a guaranteed FWA World Championship at a time of their choosing over the next three hundred and sixty five days… and speaking of the big prize, our main event will see Danny Toner put that championship on the line against a man who has been a constant thorn in his side over the past few months…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Few years..."
Rod Sterling: "Indeed, few years! I’m talking, of course, about Alyster Black, who will continue his quest to dethrone Danny Toner and win the biggest prize in professional wrestling."
Allen Price: "So much lies ahead! Let’s get this show started!"
[video]
There's a decidedly mixed reaction in the Superdome, the tens of thousands of fans in New Orleans quite unsure as to how to welcome Gerald Grayson and Michelle von Horrowitz onto the stage. There are perhaps more cheers than usual for the duo, owing to Dreamer's former association with the city and Grayson's general nationwide popularity. There is a noticeable contingent of boos for the Connection, though, as they appear on the stage and survey the arena.
Rod Sterling: "It's time for your FWA World Tag Team Championships match, folks! Here come our challengers for the evening, who earned their opportunity here tonight back in last year's Tag Warz tournament, before re-staking their claim by defeating Bad Reputation back on Meltdown XIX."
Anzu Kurosawa: "They gave up that first shot when they stood aside for MOOT - who were then the champions - to address the threat of the Stocke Market ar Carnal Contendership, and it's been a bumpy ride for the Connection since then. It was at The Grand March that they both challenged Nova Diamond for the FWA World Championship in a triple threat match… a contest that MvH would emerge the winner of."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "There's an argument that this duo haven't quite been on the same page since Tag Warz, and that was shown again on Meltdown XX as well as Fallout 020. It seemed that on both shows Dreamer was ready to stretch the concept of competitive spirit, only for Gerald Grayson to dissuade her from doing so. That's been a regular motif for this partnership, but they'll need to be operating in unison tonight if they're going to win their first FWA World Tag Team Championships."
Von Horrowitz and Grayson have entered the ring, with the Daredevil hopping up onto the second rope to pose for the fans whilst Dreamer takes a seat in the corner. The crowd applaud GG and he basks in it for a moment, before finally hopping down from the turnbuckles and engaging in some shadow boxing in his team's corner. Michelle stares listlessly at the stage as their music fades out, and it's replaced by…
The reaction in New Orleans for the champions is overwhelmingly positive, the audience showing their support for the Spirit Walkers as the pairing of Reagan Cole and Aka Yurei walk out onto the stage. Cole has his belt over his shoulder whilst Aka has hers fastened around her waist, the duo pausing for a moment on the stage to survey the fans and then the two figures in front of them in the ring. Finally, they begin their descent of the ramp…
Rod Sterling: "Here are the FWA World Tag Team Champions, who came into official ownership of those belts at the recent Anniversary Show, defeating Bad Reputation to begin their first reign."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Victory in that match unified the FWA World Tag Team Championships with the Fallout World's Tag Team Championships, with Cole and Aka claiming the official crown after the Spirit Walkers won at the end of Meltdown's four team tournament. There's no denying both of these competitors are on a tear, and that is particularly true of Reagan Cole."
Allen Price: "He hasn't lost since before Back in Business, with Aka only suffering one defeat in that time period. That came against Michelle von Horrowitz and by virtue of a disqualification, meaning neither of the Spirit Walkers have been pinned or submitted sine that Rio de Janeiro supershow."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Talking of undefeated streaks… MvH and the Daredevil have emerged successful in each of their last six tag team contests as a duo, including the aforementioned run in the Tag Warz tournament. Both teams have a head of steam going into this one… something's gotta give, guys!"
Cole and Yurei have climbed into the ring, the Connection remaining in their corner as the champions parade their belts to the enthusiastic crowd. Eventually, after staring down their opponents with the gold in their hands, they give the belts to the official, who is standing beside Kurt Harrington next to the ring ropes.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall…"
ONE-FALL!
Kurt Harrington: "… with a sixty minute time limit… and is for the FWA World Tag Team Championships!!"
It's the official's turn to hold the belts aloft, the audience's anticipation growing now that all four competitors are in the ring.
Kurt Harrington: "Introducing first, the challengers… representing Cthulhu's Nephews… from Raleigh, North Carolina, 'the Daredevil' Gerald Grayson… from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, 'Dreamer' Michelle von Horrowitz… they are the Grayson & von Horrowitz Connection!!!"
Mostly boos, but some cheers. Grayson is now staring directly ahead of himself at his opponents, Michelle still seated and aloof next to him.
Kurt Harrington: "And their opponents… they are the reigning and defending FWA Tag Team Champions of the World… from Essex in the United Kingdom, 'the Apprentice' Reagan Cole… residing in Seattle, Washington, 'the Crimson Ghost' Aka Yurei… the SPIIIIRIIIIIIT…. WAAAAALKEEEEERS!!!"
Another cheer for the champions, who are now preoccupied with gazing across the ring at their challenger. The official hands the belts out to the timekeeper's area as MvH pulls herself up to her feet and shares some last minute whispers with Grayson. The referee issues his final instructions, and afterwards Dreamer and the Ghost retreat to the apron, Cole and Grayson eyeing each other up from opposite corners.
Finally, the bell rings…
Reagan and Gerald start by circling the ring before coming together with a collar and elbow tie up. Reagan begins to push Gerald across the ring slightly, before Grayson goes behind into a rear waistlock. Cole reverses by going behind himself and then shifting into hammer lock. GG attempts to cause separation by throwing an elbow back into Cole's head, succeeding with the third such strike and then taking Cole over with a snapmare. He unloads with a stiff kick to Reagan's back before propelling himself into the ropes. Cole is up before Grayson can hit whatever he has in mind, though, and collects Gerald in a bear hug…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Reagan Cole looking for a belly-to-belly suplex, maybe, but Gerald Grayson breaks out with an elbow strike to the top of the head… these two evenly matched in the opening exchanges of this one."
Rod Sterling: "Indeed, but Grayson is looking to forge an advantage here with a series of knife edge chops, backing Cole into the ropes."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Grayson tries the Irish whip, but Cole reverses and sends Gerald into the opposite set of ropes instead… and then connects with a standing dropkick! Grayson knocked off his feet for the first time in this contest!"
Cole hoists Grayson up and drags him over to his corner in a side headlock before making a tag to Aka. Yurei climbs into the ring and, whilst her partner holds GG in the side headlock, connects with a quartet of stiff kicks to the Daredevil's abdomen. Cole climbs out of the ring when the referee begins his count, allowing Yurei to go to work with more stiff kicks to the abdomen of Grayson, who takes them from a seated position. She drags Grayson up to his feet in a front face lock, maybe looking for a DDT, but GG is able to drive her back into a set of turnbuckles with his shoulder, before whipping her into the opposite set and attempting to follow her in with a clothesline. Yurei throws herself out of the way, though, causing Grayson to hit the turnbuckles chest first. Aka connects with a boot to the midsection… and then a neckbreaker! Yurei hooks the leg…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Grayson gets the shoulder up, but Aka seeks to maintain the advantage by applying a grounded headlock. Gerald fights up, first to his knees and then to his feet, and then begins to throw elbows into Aka's gut. He pushes her back into the ropes and then finally creates separation by throwing her into the opposite set, but Yurei is able to duck GG's attempted clothesline, hits the ropes again, and then connects with a clothesline of her own!
Aka neglects going for a cover, instead tagging into Reagan and allowing Cole to come in and then Grayson over in a single-leg Boston Crab. GG looks in agony as Cole wrenches on the move for a lengthy stretch, until the Daredevil is able to drag himself to the bottom rope and reach out to them. Cole lets go when the official's count again, but doesn't allow Grayson any time to rest up. He pulls Grayson to his feet and connects with a series of European uppercuts, backing GG up into the ropes. He attempts to whip the Daredevil into the opposite set, but Gerald reverses and sends Cole across the ring instead…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Blind tag there, as Cole gets launched out of the ring with a big back body drop! But he's no the legal man anymore, and I'm not sure Gerald Grayson realises it…"
Allen Price: "Doesn't look like it, Anzu! Grayson looks like he's teeing up Cole here as the Apprentice claws his way to his feet on the outside…"
Rod Sterling: "SPRINGBOARD SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! From the inside, to the outside!!"
The fans are on their feet for Gerald's aerial move, with the Daredevil surveying his handiwork approvingly… not realising that Aka Yurei has mounted the top turnbuckle behind him!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Look out!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Aka Yurei, who is the legal competitor for the champions, steadies herself on the top rope… Gerald turns, and Yurei goes for the diving cross-body!"
Allen Price: "But MvH rugby tackles her partner out of the way!! Out of nowhere, Dreamer with the save!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "And it's an ugly collision for Aka against the barricade at ringside!"
Dreamer doesn't give Yurei any time to rest, though. She lifts the Ghost up and throws her into the steel ring steps with an Irish whip!! Yurei collides with them shoulder-first, and Michelle proceeds to hurl Yurei unceremoniously back into the ring beneath the bottom rope. Gerald has regained his own vertical base, and gives Dreamer an admonishing look before he climbs into the ring himself. He picks Yurei up and throws her into a corner, mounting the second rope and proceeding to hit a series of right hands, the crowd counting along with him towards ten…
Rod Sterling: "That seemed like a big moment in this match, with Aka crashing and burning on the outside and the Connection assuming control."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That's why it's called high risk, Rod!"
When he teaches his tenth right hand, Gerald hops down from the ropes and hurls Aka across the ring with a HARD Irish whip. Yurei bounces off the turnbuckles and back towards Grayson, who is waiting for her with a flapjack! He then tags in Michelle, who comes into the ring to a mild pop, which is at first positive before the boos resonate and almost seem to win. It's a mixed reaction at best for Dreamer as she lifts Yurei up and backs her into the ropes with overhand chops. She throws her across the ring with an Irish whip before taking her out at the knees with a low dropkick! Yurei is down to one knee, allowing Michelle to put her in a front face lock, hook the arm, and take Aka over with a snap suplex. Michelle goes for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Yurei gets the shoulder up, and Dreamer wrestles Aka back up to her feet in a front face lock before dragging her to the corner and tagging in Grayson. Gerald applies a front face lock to the other side of Aka and along with Michelle hits a double suplex! Von Horrowitz exits the ring as Grayson sizes Yurei up, the Ghost slowly climbing to her feet and then receiving a boot to the midsection. Gerald applies another front face lock…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "We've already seen a snap suplex from Michelle and a double suplex from the Connection, and now Grayson lifts Aka up for a delayed vertical…"
Rod Sterling: "All of the blood is rushing to the head of Aka Yurei as Grayson shows off some strength, the audience counting along and well past fifteen… past twenty… before Grayson finally slams her down with the suplex!"
Grayson hooks the leg…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Aka kicks out, and Grayson promptly tags in Michelle. Dreamer lifts Yurei up and hits a mule kick to double her over, before hooking both of Yurei's arms, perhaps looking for a double underhook suplex. Aka has other ideas, though, and first blocks it by dropping to a knee, and then attempts to drive Dreamer back into her corner. She's reaching for Cole's tag, Reagan reaching out in turn… so Michelle abandons the double arm underhook and spins Aka round so that the Ghost is facing the wrong way, and then pushes her chest-first into the turnbuckles! Grayson has to lean back to avoid being knocked off the apron by Aka, who stumbles back to the middle of the ring where von Horrowitz takes her in a rear waistlock…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Deadlift German suplex!! And Michelle bridges for the cover…"
ONE… TWO… NO!
Aka with the shoulder up! Michelle maintains the rear waistlock, and begins to drag Aka back up to her feet again. It appears as though she's going for another German, but Yurei blocks it by placing her boot behind Michelle's calf and then flinging an elbow back into her head. This causes separation, and Yurei launches at Dreamer with an attempted clothesline… only for MvH to duck and get a grasp of her rear waistlock again. She bundles Yurei forwards into the ropes and then takes her back with an O'Conner Roll…
ONE… TWO… TH – NO!
Rod Sterling: "Looks to me like von Horrowitz had a handful of tights there, but still Yurei is able to kick out at two and a half…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "But Michelle is still on the attack… she's grasping for the ankle, maybe going for that ankle lock…"
Allen Price: "Aka Yurei is having none of it! She lashes out with a boot to the face… is this her chance to make a tag?!"
Aka inches closer and closer to her corner… only for Michelle to charge across and knock Reagan off with a dropkick! Yurei has nobody to tag, and von Horrowitz lifts her up in a bearhug before throwing her back towards the Connection's corner with a belly-to-belly overhead release suplex!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That looked like it might have been Yurei's chance, Price, but it's ripped away from her! And now Grayson is tagged in again…"
Rod Sterling: "The Connection are doing an excellent job of cutting the ring in half here tonight…"
Gerald waits on the apron for Aka to slowly drag herself up to a vertical base, before re-entering the ring with a springboard clothesline! Aka is down again, and Grayson immediately hooks the far leg…
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
Once more Aka kicks out! The crowd cheers for the Ghost's resilience, and there's a momentary flicker of frustration across the face of the Daredevil. He tags in Dreamer, who proceeds to climb up to the top rope…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "The Connection again looking to take things to the high rent district here… and who can blame them? They've had nothing but success from the top rope all night."
MvH steadies herself on the top rope and stares down at Aka, who is in a prone position in the centre of the ring… though perhaps a little too far away for her patented 450. Instead, Dreamer comes off the top rope with an attempted frogsplash… only for Aka to get her knees up!!
Allen Price: "Until now, J-L! That good fortune runs out, with Dreamer crashing into the knees of Aka Yurei!"
Rod Sterling: "And the Ghost is fighting up! She's first to her feet… and she nails Dreamer with a Tiger Suplex!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "But Aka is perhaps a little too fatigued to bridge for the cover! Instead, she crawls towards her corner… and makes the tag to Reagan Cole!"
The British Apprentice comes into the ring to a roar from the crowd, and takes the rising Michelle down with a clothesline to the back of the head! Grayson enters the ring to try and stem the turn in momentum, but he's nailed with a running forearm strike! And then a headbutt! And a Yakuza Kick!! Reagan Cole returns his attention to MvH, the legal competitor, and runs through her with a knee lift! Dreamer is staggered, and Cole takes her in a front face lock before delivering a tornado snap suplex! Cole goes for a cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Kickout from Michelle! Cole isn't deterred, instead lifting Michelle up and backing her into the ropes with a series of forearms. He Irish whips her into the opposite set, and winds up for a massive forearm… only for Dreamer to duck beneath it… and then connect with a thumb to the eye!! Cole's body is between Dreamer and the official, blinding him to the situation… AND putting him in the line of fire when Dreamer bundles Cole towards the turnbuckle! The official is squashed between Cole and the corner!
Allen Price: "The official is down! He's stirring, but he's down!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Nice to see the official is made of stern stuff, rousing himself here as Dreamer connects with an enziguri on Cole! And now she begins to undo one of the turnbuckle covers in that corner…"
Rod Sterling: "I'm not sure she'll have time to use it, though – the official is already on his hands and knees. Maybe she's hoping he won't notice it's exposed…"
Dreamer has a different plan, though. She waits until the sluggish official is up to his feet again near the corner, using the ropes to support himself… before driving Cole back into the corner again! Once more, the official is caught between Reagan and the corner, but this time his slams against the exposed turnbuckle ring and then slumps down to the mat!
And then she hits a low blow on Reagan Cole!!
Allen Price: "… I think the ref might be out cold!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Looks like MvH agrees with you, Price! She's looking underneath the ring already, and she produces a chair from beneath the apron!"
Von Horrowitz has the weapon in hand as she looms over Cole, the tag team champion slowly getting to his feet. MvH winds up with the chair…
… but Gerald grabs it out of her hands! He throws it to the ground, and then connects with a shining wizard on Cole!
Grayson turns towards Michelle, who looks perturbed by his actions. She drags her eyes off Grayson to look at the chair, lying on the mat, and makes to approach it again, only for GG to drag her attention back to him…
Gerald Grayson (off-mic): "I don't want to win that way…"
MvH stares back at Grayson, livid that he may be standing between her and the win…
You can cut the tension between the challengers with a knife…
… AND THEN AKA YUREI RUNS THROUGH DREAMER WITH A KENDO STICK!!
The crowd pops at the Ghost's return to the match, and Grayson looks surprised as Aka turns on him with the kendo stick. He ducks the first attempt at a strike and then doubles Yurei over with a boot to the midsection. He puts her in a front face lock, but Yurei still has the stick and lashes out with it on Grayson's legs! Gerald is forced to release her after the third hit, and then Yurei winds up for one more big shot with the kendo stick to the head of Grayson!
Aka turns back to readdress Dreamer, but finds Michelle already charging towards her! MvH connects with a clothesline, and the pair both fly over the top rope and onto the outside! Dreamer hoists Aka up and connects with a quartet of Mongolian chops, before taking Yurei by the wrist and attempting to Irish whip her into the steel steps for the second time in the match… only for Aka to reverse and send Michelle into them instead!
Rod Sterling: "A heavy collision for MvH against the steel ring steps, hitting them hip-first before bouncing over them and landing in a heap on the other side…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And Aka Yurei has more sinister ideas in mind! She's taking apart our announce table!!"
Indeed, Yurei rips the monitors and cover off the table and flings it to the floor. She then collects Michelle and throws her face first onto the table, before climbing up onto it and dragging Michelle on with her. She hits a boot to the midsection and then drags Dreamer's head into position between her legs…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Aka Yurei going for a piledriver here, maybe?! This would be game over if she put MvH through our desk with that…"
Rod Sterling: "Dreamer knows that too, Jean-Luc… she slumps to her knees, and another low blow!! This time it's Yurei on the receiving end of it!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And instantly Michelle collects Aka in a front face lock…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "BRAAAAAAINBUSTAAAAAAAH!!!"
Allen Price: "And the table doesn't budge an inch!!!"
Indeed, Yurei just thuds against the desk, which has no give. Aka lies atop the desk as Dreamer gets to her feet. She looks at Yurei whilst dragging in some deep lung-fulls of oxygen… and then she climbs onto the apron before ascending the top rope again!
Rod Sterling: "We've seen this before from MvH in big matches… maybe looking to finish Aka off here with one more big move from the top rope!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "TOP ROPE ELBOW DROP!! The table explodes beneath the move, finally giving way beneath Michelle and Aka!!"
Allen Price: "But who did that do more damage to?! Michelle von Horrowitz looks just as incapacitated as Aka Yurei after that move!"
Rod Sterling: "And we look to the two competitors in the ring, who will surely be responsible now for determining the winner in this chaotic opening contest!!"
Inside the ring, Gerald Grayson has come to his whereabouts and has seen the devastation outside of the ring. He approaches and looks to climb through the ropes, maybe going to check on his partner, but Cole lunges at him and connects with a forearm strike! Grayson manages to keep himself from falling to the ground by holding onto the ropes, but he’s already out on the apron and rocked by the strike. Reagan follows after him, hitting a trio of headbutts to GG on the ring apron, and then a kick to the gut to double him over. Cole drags Grayson’s head into position…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "PILEDRIVER!! Onto the apron!!"
Allen Price: "The hardest part of the ring!!"
Grayson slumps into a heap on the apron, and Reagan Cole isn’t much more with it as he rolls back into the ring. The referee still looks pretty out of it, and Reagan therefore drags Grayson back in and takes his team in setting him up in the corner in a seated position. Cole notices the chair that MvH introduced earlier in the match, and collects it before positioning it against Grayson’s torso. He then begins a slow ascent towards the top turnbuckle in an adjacent corner…
Rod Sterling: "It’s Reagan Cole’s turn to climb here! He senses his chance to finish Gerald Grayson off with something spectacular… COAST TO COAST!!! UNBELIEVABLE!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "The British Apprentice connects with a dropkick from all the way across the ring!! And now he covers Gerald Grayson…”
… … …
The crowd begins to count, and get to seven before Cole realises that the official is still out of it in the corner. He looks frustrated and gets to his feet, attempting to rouse the official by shaking him. It has some effect, the official looking up at Cole before shaking him off. The referee gets to his hands and knees, still feeling the effects of the bump earlier in the match…
… and there’s a change in the crowd’s demeanour within the arena, too! There are suddenly boos, and we find out why when we return to our wide shot…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That’s Thomas West! Thomas West is in the ring! And Quiet, too!!"
Allen Price: "The Nephews are here! What business do they have in this tag team championship match?!"
Reagan Cole turns away from the official, content that he’s finally coming to his senses… and receives a huge pounce from Thomas West!!! Cole lands at Quiet’s feet, and uses the masked man’s leg to pull himself up onto his knees…
Rod Sterling: "FIREBALL! Quiet unleashes a fireball into the face of Reagan Cole!!!!"
Cole instantly falls to the mat, where he rolls about, clutching his face!! And meanwhile, Gerald Grayson has rolled under the bottom ring rope, and steadies himself on his feet upon the ring apron
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Looks as though Gerald Grayson is lining up for Extreme Impact! I'm not exactly sure how much Grayson knows about what just went on, but one thing he's sure about is Reagan Cole not knowing where the hell he is!"
Rod Sterling: "Cole is getting to his feet, but I don't think his vision is too solid. He stumbles around the ring before turning to face Grayson…"
Allen Price: "EXTREME IMPACT!!! Gerald takes his head off with the clothesline!!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And now the cover!"
The referee, finally stirring, drags himself over to make the slow, drawn out count.
ONE… TWO… ….
THREE!
Winners: The Connection via pinfall at 19:15.
Another mixed reaction emanates in Caesars Superdome as Grayson rolls off his defeated foe and slowly climbs to his feet.
Kurt Harrington: "Here are your winners… and the NEW FWA World Tag Team Champions… THE CONNECTION!!"
Both of the belts are slid into the ring, the official handing both of them over to Grayson, who holds one in each hand and looks down at the gold, nothing short of sheer ecstasy etched on his face. Meanwhile, outside of the ring, Thomas West and Quiet are helping lift Michelle out of the wreckage of the announce table. They have an arm each and walk her towards the ring, Dreamer eventually standing under her own volition before rolling into the ring.
Rod Sterling: "We have new champions! It's been a long, long road, but the Connection have finally reached the very top of the FWA tag team division!"
Von Horrowitz is to her feet in the ring, and embraces Grayson heartily in the middle of it. The other Nephews remain on the outside, clapping the new champions merrily. Dreamer finally relinquishes her grip from her tag team partner, who promptly hands her her new belt.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Gerald Grayson wins his second belt here in the Fantasy Wrestling Alliance, and his first since 2022 when he resigned as X Champion… and MvH becomes the fifteenth triple crown champion in the company's history."
Anzu Kurosawa: "What a night for the Connection! This audience might not quite know how to react to this crowning, but the Nephews look in the mood for celebrating!"
West and Quiet have joined their comrades in the ring, and lift the new champions into the air on their shoulders, Michelle on Quiet and Grayson on West. The new champs lift their title belts, Grayson smiling giddily whilst von Horrowitz beats her chest.
Rod Sterling: "But spare a thought for Reagan Cole and Aka Yurei, who officially became tag team champions a short while ago at the Anniversary Show, but drop the belts tonight after a hardfought, gruelling contest…"
We cut away from the Nephews as they make their way up the ramp, and the camera turns to Cole and Yurei on the outside. Reagan is coming to his senses again, and climbs to his feet with an anguished look of loss on his face. He turns to Aka, who is finally stirring amongst the table debris, and the man from Essex leans over his fallen teammate to offer a helping hand…
… and just then, a hooded figure hops the barricade next to Reagan…
Rod Sterling: "What the –"
Anzu Kurosawa: "We got an interloper!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Where the hell is security?!"
If there are any security guards in the vicinity, they don't act nearly quickly enough. The hooded figure gives Cole a swift boot to the midsection, and then spikes him with a DDT on the outside!!
Allen Price: "Who the hell is this?! Has Reagan Cole not suffered enough?!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Not nearly…"
The hooded figure stands to his feet, over Cole, with Aka - still more than a tad worse for wear - teaching out and grabbing at his ankles. Finally, the figure removes his hood…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Is that…?"
??? (off-mic): "Nice to see you again, Reagan-o…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "It is! That's British Kid!"
Allen Price: "Who on earth is British Kid?!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "You should remember him from Back in Business earlier this year, Price! It looks like he’s finally finished picking the lighttube shards out of his head, and now he’s after some revenge?”
Rod Sterling: “And this pairing know each other very well from their time on the independent scene in the UK, where they teamed for the best part of a decade… but it looks like those amicable days are far behind them…”
British Kid notices security co-centralising, and thus decides it's time for him to hop the barricade and return from whence he came. The camera follows him for a while before we fade to black.
Back to the ring, each ring post now has a metal pole affixed to it. At the top of each pole is a briefcasing hanging from a hook atop each pole. A couple of wrestlers are already in the ring, Mr. Goal and Steve the Techno Pirate.
Kurt Harrington: "The following contest is the Secular SPOOK-tacular! In this match, competitors will compete for the four briefcases suspended from the poles surrounding the ring, and the match will end when each case has been claimed. Inside each of the four cases are different championship opportunites; a shot at either the X Championship, North American Championship, the Television Championship, or the Tag Team Championship with a partner of his or her choosing!
Introducing the competitors... First, already in the ring... MR. GOAL!
In the ring, Mr. Goal waves to the uninterested fans while decked out in hockey gear including a helmet that seems way too small for his head, a hockey stick in his right hand, and is sporting a St. Louis Blues jersey. Mr. Goal apparently did not get the memo that New Orleans isn't known for hockey and that while Blues music is pretty popular in the area, that's NOT a local sporting team. But darn it, he's trying!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "What a goofy looking guy this is! Where did he get that gear, goodwill? That helmet looks three sizes too small!"
Kurt Harrington: "Also already in the ring, STEVE THE TECHNO VAMPIRE!"
Steve pops it and locks it in the ring, which does get a more positive reaction from the crowd before he tosses his arms in the air.
Allen Price: "Steve The Techno Vampire certainly feels right at home here in this Halloween themed match! Maybe this could be his break out moment!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Somehow I doubt it, but stranger things have happened in the FWA!"
After about fifteen seconds of the opening to "Vampire," the lights in the arena dim. The camera zooms to the entranceway as the lights flash different shades of purple, red, and pink.
Kurt Harrington: "And now, making her way out to the ring representing MAYHEM... from OSaka, Japan... weighing in at one-hundred ten pounds... she is the WICKED SPIRIT... the YOKAI Queen... this is...VAMPYRA!"
Vampyra emerges from the back with her cape flowing behind her. Puffs of fire shoot up on both sides of the stage eliciting a pop from the crowd.
Rod Sterling: ""What an opportunity this is for Vampyra. She made her impressive debut on the most recent edition of Meltdown, making quick work of The Backstreet Boy. And now in just her second match, she could earn herself a title shot!"
Vampyra holds up three fingers to form an "M" before doing a small throat slashing gesture with her pointer finger. She heads down the ramp before rolling into the ring. Once in the ring, she shares a look with Steve the Techno Vampire, unsure of what to make of her vampire cohort.
A collective groan goes through the crowd as the camera pans over to get Vampyra's reaction. The Wicker Spirit licks her lips and smirks, not fearing taking on the Bad Boys once again.
Kurt Harrington: "Making their way out next... coming to us straight from the NINETIES... they weigh in at a combined weight of five-hundred ninety-four pounds... In-Sync... Mike Stand... and The Backstreet Boy... this is... THE BAD BOYS BOY BAND!
The boos intensify as the boy band trio prance and dance out from the back. Once they make their way down the aisle, they stop to huddle at ringside, with Backstreet Boy obviously pointing towards Vampyra, making their intentions known they are out for some payback in this match tonight.
Allen Price: "I'm not sure anyone would put money on one of the Bad Boys here tonight, but you can't help but think a numbers game in this match might not be a bad thing."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "The Bad Boys Boy Band seem to have their eyes on some revenge on Vampyra for Meltdown... but judging by Vampyra's reaction, she actually looks eager to get her hands on them again!"
The boos don't stop with the Bad Boys because they only get louder for the reveal of the next two entrants in the match.
Kurt Harrington: "Now making their way to the ring... weighing in at a ocmbined weight of four-hundred and seventy-six pounds... "The Sin City Bad Boy" Jackson Fenix and "Nasty" Nate Savage... they are... THE UNDISPUTED ALLIANCE!"
Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage walk out from the entrance, stopping on the stage to do a two handed high five.
Rod Sterling: "Speaking of numbers games... The Undisputed Alliance might actually be a little more threatening with that. They may be a little goofy at times, but you can't underestimate them in a match like this."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Not only that, but they've both tasted gold before and no doubt they'd love to get another shot at the Tag Titles or any one of those singles titles."
Fenix stops on the way to the ring to argue with some fans at ringside that are giving him a hard time. Fenix looks like he's ready to get into a fight with one young guy at a ringside, but Nate comes over and pulls him away, encouraging his friend to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: "And now, introducing to you... hailing from Ingolstadt, Germany.... weighing in at a staggering three-hundred eighty-five pounds... ITTTTTT'S AALLLLIIIIIVVVEEEEEEEEEEE.... this is.... FRANKENSEIN'S..... MONSTER!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Wait, what?"
Allen Price: "It's the Secular Spooktacular, JL! There's no telling who can show up! We got vampires! And now we have Frankenstein's Monster!"
Out from the back lumbers out THE BOULDER, who is decked out in a convincing Frankenstein's Monster cosplay, his face painted green with bolts coming out the side of his neck. He extends his arms out and slowly plods his way down to the ring as the fans take delight.
Anzu Kurosawa: "All joking aside, a man the size of The Boulder could grab one of those briefcases with minimal effort! The other competitors are going to have to give him a lot of attention to make sure he doesn't steal this one!"
The fans wait in anticipation for the next entrants, some of the crowd recognizing the music and being familiar with the team from Ground Zero.
Kurt Harrington: "Making their official FWA debut... coming to us from The Yukon, Canada... weighing in at a combined weight of six-hundred twenty-five pounds... DAN AND DOUG LUPONE... THE LUUUMMMMBERJACKS!"
Out walk the two identical rugged mountain twins, stopping to soak in the moment on the top of the stage.
Allen Price: "Looks like The Boulder will have some 'big boy' competition in this one!"
Rod Sterling: "No doubt about it. This brotherly tandom are making their debut here in the FWA, but were the standouts of Ground Zero Season 3! It may have taken them a while to get that official FWA contract, I have a feeling they are looking to make a statement here tonight!"
With intensity on their faces, Dan and Doug stomp down to the ring to join the rest of the competitors in the ring.
A solidly mixed reaction, trending towards mostly cheers, fills the audience as the camera cuts over to Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage, both sharing a look of disgust realizing a very familiar foe of theirs would be joining the fray.
Kurt Harrington: "Next up, from Hickory, North Carolina... weighing in at three-hundred two pounds... he is one half of THE BUDDY SYSTEM... BBBBBBBBIIIIIIIGGG BRYAN BAAAAAXTER!"
Trotting out from the back in his red "Buddy System" letterman jacket, Baxter tosses his arms up in the air to more cheers from the crowd.
Rod Sterling: "It's a big night for The Buddy System as later tonight, Jeremy Best will be competing for the Golden Opportunity, but right now his partner and friend Bryan Baxter has his own chance at earning a title shot."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Bryan's earned a lot of goodwill from the fans since his debut thanks to his association with Jeremy, and it shows on his entrance here. We haven't had much of a chance to see Bryan in action on his own, so this should be interesting to see how he holds his own in this environment."
Baxter is hyper focused as he made his way down to the ring, but can't help but lock eyes with Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage as he climbs into the ring.
Out from the back, a new face emerges. He slowly walks out decked out in long black wrestling tights featuring silver and blue trim with a coat of arms logo along with a skull and crossbones logo across his knee-pads. With a smirk on his face, he pauses to talk some trash to the fans at the top of the ramp. In the ring, Vampyra takes notice, indicating some familiarity with the next entrant.
Kurt Harrington: "And finally, making his FWA debut... from Newark, New Jersey, weighing in at two-hundred twenty-three pounds... AAAAAANNNDDEERRSEN VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGA!"
Vega cracks his knuckles on the ramp before starting to slowly making his way down the ramp. He takes his time, eyeing and measuring up each competitor in the ring individually.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "This is a much anticipated debut for Andersen Vega after we got a video package for him on Fallout. He's a highly decorated former champion in many other organizations and based on some social media activity in the lead up to Lights Out, has had some run ins with Vampyra in the past as well."
Anzu Kurosawa: "I'm really excited to see Vega in action here in FWA but this guy has a reputation for being one of the dirtiest players in the game."
Rod Sterling: "Here we go folks! This should be pure chaos and I can’t wait to see how it breaks down. A lot of hungry people in this ring tonight as only Nate Savage and Jackson Fenix have held titles among this group!”
With the ring of the bell, all thirteen competitors crowd the ring, waiting to see who strikes first. After breaking out of a huddle, The Bad Boy Boy Band rush over and gang up on Vampyra to officially get things underway. The mysterious masked wrestler fights back with some forearms and elbows to each, but the numbers quickly overwhelm her as 3 pretty boys work her over into the corner.
Elsewhere, as the bell had rung, we have ourselves a big boy beefy showdown going on between the Lumberjack twins Dan Lupone and Doug Lupone, both staring down Frankenstein's Monster, The Boulder. The trio of towers end their staredown as Frankenstein hits Dan with a right hand, which Doug quickly responds back with right hand of his own in defense of his brother.
On the other side of the ring, Mr. Goal is having some difficulty getting his helmet off to start the match. It's stuck! Here comes the debuting Andersen Vega. But he's not there to offer a helping hand. No, not at all. Instead, he snatches away Mr. Goal's hockey stick and SWEEPS THE LEGS of the hockey player, taking him down to the mat!
Meanwhile, Bryan Baxter starts the match off with a showdown with his old rivals, Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage of the Undisputed Alliance. Baxter cracks his knuckles and looks hungry to get his hands on them, but before he can....Andersen Vega smacks him across the back with the hockey stick as well! Baxter drops to a knee and Jackson and Nate decide to jump out of the ring and avoid the fury of Vega's newly acquired hockey stick in the ring.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Vega has a reputation for not being afraid to get creative with his corner cutting. He’s already living up to that reputation tonight!”
As the Lumberjacks send Boulder into the ropes, Boulder ducks a double clothesline, bouncing off the ropes and hitting a double clothesline of his own to Dan and Doug Lupone...but the big Lumberjacks are barely staggered, and they instead grab arms and hit a double boot to the chest of the Boulder to send the big man down! All the while, Vampyra is still being triple teamed by The Backstreet Boy, In-Sync, and Mike Stand! That is until...STEVE THE TECHNO VAMPIRE makes the save!
Steve quickly gets overwhelmed himself, but that opening is what Vampyra needs to fight her way out of the corner. A big roundhouse kick sends Mike Stand to the canvas, rolling out of the ring. Backstreet Boy and In-Sync have worked Steve down to the mat, now on his hands and knees taking a stomping from both men. That is until Vampyra rushes in, leaping off Steve's back as a springboard into a headscissors takedown to In-Sync! He rolls out of the ring to join his partner! Vampyra helps Steve the Techno Vampire back to his feet and the pair hit a double dropkick to send him out of the ring as well!
Allen Price: “A vampire team up! This is what I wanted to see tonight!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’m not sure Vampyra is looking for friends here as it’s every wrestler for themselves out there, but she’s probably thankful to have Steve there to lend her a hand at least in that moment!”
While all that was going on, Anderson Vega had given a beating to Mr. Goal, who still had not been able to get that pesky helmet off his head. Vega utilized that hockey stick to take him down with a Russian Legsweep, the stick across the throat of Mr. Goal. Vega then picks him back up by the head, and as Steve the Techno Vampire is trying to get his apparent new fellow vampire friend, Vampyra to dance with him...Vega uses Mr. Goal's helmet (while still on his own head) to headbutt Steve from behind!
This leads to a showdown between Vampyra and Vega. The two go nose to nose before they start to trade blows! Vega gets the upperhand with his size advantage, before sending Vampyra into the ropes! Off the ropes, Vampyra rolls across a backdrop attempt, continues to rush to the opposite ropes and its a SUICIDE DIVE out of the ring into all three members of the Bad Boys Boy Band at ringside!
Elsewhere, The Lumberjacks continued to work on The Boulder before sending him over the top rope with a double clothesline! Nate and Jackson Fenix watch on from ringside, deciding to not get too involved just yet.
Outside the ring, Vampyra and the Boy Band are getting back to their feet when from out of nowhere, Bryan Baxter displays some rare agility as he comes running off the apron with a running cannonball senton to take all five down to the ground at ringside!
Anderson Vega becomes the first to go for a briefcase, with most of the competitors now out of the ring...but unfortunately for him, two of the larger competitors were still in the ring! Dan and Doug Lupone stop Vega in his tracks before he can grab the briefcase..Doug pulls Vega down and delivers a big lariat in the corner. Doug moves out of the way as Dan rushes in a big body avalanche before Dan tosses him back towards Doug who hits a BIG BOOT to send Vega down to the mat! Doug then bounces off the ropes and impresses with a running somersault senton onto the fallen Vega!
Rod Sterling: “My God! How can a man that size move like that!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Look out, I think the twins have briefcases on their mind!”
Sure enough, it the twin Lumberjacks are the sole wrestlers left standing in the ring and the pair walk to separate adjacent corners and begin to climb to get a pair of briefcases!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "These guys won't have to climb far to grab those things."
Allen Price: "And let me tell you, you cannot teach size, can you?"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "No...no you cannot..."
But Nate Savage and Jackson Fenix were now back in the ring! Fenix has the hockey stick and CRACKS IT ACROSS DOUG'S BACK! But it BREAKS AND Doug NO-SELLS IT! He does jump down off the corner and confronts the UA pair. Meanwhile, Bryan Baxter climbs the apron and heads to Dan's corner, cutting him off with a running fist before climbing the turnbuckle with the big man. Baxter slugs away to rock the big Lumberjack who is on the middle turnbuckle...and its Baxter positioning himself to go down Dan's back...SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB to Dan!
Rod Sterling: "That's The Buddy Bomb! Bryan taking a page out of his partner's playbook to prevent one of those Lupone twins from grabbing the briefcase!"
Dan's brother Doug fended off both members of the Undisputed Alliance - showing off some impressive agility as he hit a step up enziguri on Jackson before connecting with a spin kick to an incoming Savage! But an unsuspecting UPPERCUT TO THE GROIN from a recovered Andersen Vega quickly stalled Doug's momentum, doubling him over so Vega can connect with a DDT to take the big man down. But it's Vampyra connecting with a SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY back into the ring to Vega as he got back to his feet!
Vega rolls pretty quickly back to his feet only to be hit by a running calf-kick from Vampyra! She looks to take advantage, climbing the ropes, but the Boy Band continues to be a thorn in her side as Mike Stand and In-Sync are now back in the ring and trying to climb up with her! But here comes Steve the Techno Vampire, once again making the save as he pulls Mike Stand down and lays him out with a bodyslam while Vampyra hooks In-Sync from the top turnbuckle...TOP ROPE SPANISH FLY!
With everyone else down in the ring, Steve the Techno Vampire can't believe it...he has the chance of a lifetime! He dances his way over to the corner and begins to climb up, but not so fast...it's a KICK TO THE GROIN from behind by Vega! Vega spins Steve around...and he hits him with THE EXCALIBUR!
Vega climbs up instead...AND GRABS THE BRIEFCASE, PULLING IT DOWN! Vega has retrieved the first briefcase of the match!
Case #1 claimed by Andersen Vega at 6:05
Rod Sterling: "Can you believe it? Anderson Vega in his debut here in FWA has already earned himself a title shot! We'll find out at the conclusion of the match just which championship he'll be going after...but what an achievement!"
As the match continues, The Backstreet Boy has now set up a table at ringside that he indicates has Vampyra's name written all over it! But Vampyra currently had her hands full with Fenix and Savage. Jackson tells Nate he has the secret weapon. Nate questions Jackson but all becomes clear as he pulls out a small seasoning container…
Allen Price: "He has GARLIC! The weakness of all vampires!"
Jackson laughs as he dumps some garlic into his hand and then tosses it at the recovering Vampyra...WHO DUCKS and the garlic goes into Steve's eyes! Steve oversells the garlic like he just got hit with acid, dropping to the mat and screaming in pain as he holds his face. Meanwhile its a superkick from Vampyra to Savage followed by a jumping bicycle knee to Savage, sending the big man into the corner. On the other side of the ring, Bryan Baxter is putting the boots to Dan Lupone in the other corner until his brother Doug recovers and attacks Baxter from behind with a big clothesline. Boulder's Frankenstein's Monster has finally re-entered the ring and come over to that corner as well, drawing the attention of Doug Lupone as well. The pair begin to battle once again, trading blows while Vampyra attempts a standing hurricanrana to Savage, but Savage holds on and counters with the PISSED OFF POWERBOMB to Vampyra, sending her to the mat with extra force!
Noticing a recovering Baxter in the corner, Nate heads over and attacks his rival, scoring with a big headbutt followed by a discus elbow smash. Meanwhile, The Lumberjacks have The Boulder where they want him, each grabbing the 7-footer by the throat...DOUBLE CHOKESLAM TO THE BOULDER!
The Lumberjacks moved on from Frankenstein to break up the brawl between Savage and Baxter. Baxter and Savage shared a look at one another as they suddenly found themselves standing across the ring from two larger men...something both are not too familiar with in FWA...and in a moment of rare collaboration between the two, they nod and both head before they charged...Baxter squaring off against Dan while Savage took on Dan! After some trading of blows, Baxter ducks a right hand from Dan and rocks the big Lumberjack with a discuss lariat before bouncing off the ropes and hitting a running high impact shoulder block to Dan that takes the big man down! With Dan down, Baxter comes over and helps out Savage, scoring a boot to the midsection of Dan and the pair hook Doug by the head...and the pair combine to lift Doug up...DOUBLE VERTICAL SUPLEX to the big man!
Allen Price: "It's an Undisputed Amigos reunion!"
Meanwhile, the Bad Boys Boy Band have pulled Vamyra out of the ring and have been working her over at ringside, trying to get her set up on the table, but Vampyra battles back! He fights back against the group, now standing up on the table and leaping off the table and catching Backstreet Boy and In-Sync with a flying double DDT off the table to the floor! Back in the ring, Baxter looks to take advantage of the Lumberjacks being down and Savage slows to recover as he climbs the turnbuckles, going for the next briefcase…
But Jackson Fenix is there to stop him! And Savage is up and comes over to join his partner, clobbering Savage from behind.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "So much for the reunion!"
Savage and Fenix each take turns hitting strikes to Baxter on the turnbuckle before Savage finally gives him a big shove...sending Baxter falling of the top turnbuckle..
THROUGH THE TABLE AT RINGSIDE!
Jackson and Nate are both left standing by themselves on the top turnbuckle. They smile to one another before they BOTH REACH UP AND GRAB THE BRIEFCASE! They jump down simultaneously, clearly satisfied with their plan.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "What just happened? They both came down with the briefcase!"
Allen Price: "Do they both get a title shot?"
Rod Sterling: "I don't believe that's what the rules indicate, but Jackson and Nate both seem to think they've won!"
Nate and Jackson hug one another with excitement before they leave the ring together, jumping up and down with jubilation. But a referee comes over, explaining to the team that only one of them could be declared the winner of the briefcase. Disappointed, the pair reluctantly agree but not before a game of Rock, Paper Scissors to determine who gets the briefcase.
Jackson chooses Scissors.
Nate chooses Rock.
Rock smashes scissors, so it's NATE SAVAGE retrieving the second briefcase!
Case #2 claimed by Nate Savage at 9:31
Jackson Fenix re-enters the ring and rushes to the far corner, immediately looking to retrieve one of the final two remaining briefcases, but he's hit by a springboard dropkick from an incoming Vampyra that quickly stops that! Vampyra holds up three fingers in an "M" shape, rallying the crowd, as Fenix begins to get up to his knees...Vampyra bounces off the ropes with a running double knee strike to the back of his head.
Anzu Kurosawa: "She calls that THE BITE and Jackson Fenix is certainly feeling that bite right now!"
Vampyra heads to the corner, looking to retrieve a briefcase…she almost has her hand on it when she’s lifted from behind by Dan Lupone! Lupone looks to drop Vampyra backwards with a back suplex, but Vampyra floats over and lands on her feet! She shoots a SUPERKICK to Dan! Dan is only staggered as Doug is up and tries to help out his brother, but Vampyra connects to Doug with a Superkick as well! But Doug is only staggered as well!
Vampyra hits another pair of Superkicks to both Lumberjacks, taking them down to a knee…when Vampyra herself is hit with the SUPERKICK ME BABY ONE MORE TIME from a recovered Jackson Fenix!
But unfortunately, Jackson gets a little too overconfident, mocking the falling Vampyra that he doesn’t see a DOUBLE BIG BOOT from the Lumberjacks coming! Fenix drops back down to the mat.
Bryan Baxter has crawled back up from the wreckage of the table, pulling himself up using the ropes and tries to climb the turnbuckles while the other four were battling, but just as he has his fingers on the briefcase, it’s once again the Lupone Lumberjacks stopping someone from grabbing the briefcase! Both Doug and Dan stand up on the middle ropes with Baxter…and now Frankenstein’s Monster Boulder has rejoined the fray as well! He comes over and clobbers both Dan and Doug from behind with forearm smashes before trying to climb up the ropes as well..
Jean-Luc Watkins: “We’re really testing the limits of those turnbuckles!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Look at the strain on the ring ropes! I don’t think it’s going to hold!”
Baxter, Doug, and Dan each wear down Frankenstein with some right hands before Dan hooks him – BACK SUPERPLEX TO THE BOULDER off the middle turnbuckle!
Doug, meanwhile, grabs Baxter by the throat – CHOKESLAM OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE TO BAXTER! Doug drops down to a knee after delivering the move…but in rushes Vampyra with a running low dropkick to Doug’s leg! It sends Doug falling down across the middle ropes! Fired up, Vampyra rushes back to the ropes…MOONLIGHT KICK (Tiger Feint Kick) sends Doug falling to the mat in the ring. From the apron, Vampyra heads to the corner, mounting the turnbuckles…
Reaching up…
AND SHE’S GOT IT!
Vampyra retrieves the third briefcase!
Case #3 claimed by Vampyra at 12:19
Back in the ring, the competitors realize it's down to just one briefcase, and Baxter sits up to his knees…desperation starting to show on his face after coming so close to grabbing the briefcase multiple times in the match. He looks to see the two giant Lumberjacks starting to get back up to their feet…he reaches into his tights..and retrieves a pair of Brass Knuckles!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Baxter resorting to some old tricks of his! I thought he had learned a thing or two from Jeremy about playing nice in the ring!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “You can’t teach an old dog, new tricks, Allen. Baxter is going to do whatever it takes to win! He wants to show he isn’t just Jeremy’s partner…he wants to win on his own!”
Baxter looks down, conflicted about the knuckles…and slides them back off, tossing them away!
Rod Sterling: “Not so fast! Maybe Jeremy has rubbed off on Bryan after all!”
The crowd seems to approve of Baxter’s decision as he rushes in, guns blazing towards both Dan and Doug! Punches back and forth to both men! Baxter has the Lupones reeling! DISCUSS LARIAT to Dan. DISCUSS LARIAT to Doug! Baxter whips Doug into the corner before whipping Dan into his own brother in the corner! Both Lumberjacks cornered…in rushes Baxter with a big CORNER SPLASH! Dan staggers back out of the corner into a side BELLY TO BELLY suplex! Now Doug staggers out and is caught by Baxter…who struggles…but uses all his might to LIFT UP DOUG…AND THEN SPINS HIM AROUND INTO A SITOUT POWERBOMB!
Rod Sterling: “Baxter is ON FIRE! Everyone else is down…nothing is standing between him and that final briefcase!”
Baxter lets out a primal scream as he gets back to his feet and stomps over to the final corner. Baxter makes his way up the turnbuckles…he reaches up…he’s got a hand on the briefcase…
SMACK!
BRIEFCASE TO THE HEAD!
Rod Sterling: “IT’S THAT DAMN NATE SAVAGE! He just smacked Baxter across the head with the briefcase he won earlier in the match! Baxter had the final briefcase! This should be over!”
Stunned by the shot, Baxter fell backwards off the turnbuckles, landing flat on his back.
Jackson Fenix pulls himself up using the ring ropes, quickly realizing that opportunity was knocking for him thinks to the assist from his best friend and tag partner. Jackson points to his partner with a smile, giving him big props but Nate tells Jackson to get to the corner and get that last briefcase! Fenix nods and stumbles over, beginning to climb up..
BUT AN ARM REACHES UP AND GRABS JACKSON BY THE FOOT…
IT’S STEVE THE TECHNO VAMPIRE! He has finally recovered from the devastating garlic attack Jackson used on him earlier in the match! Jackson tries to break free from the grip of the angered Vampire…but Steve pulls him down off the turnbuckles!
Jackson Fenix: “GET OFF ME YOU FREAK! I’M TRYING TO WIN A MATCH HERE!”
Jackson creates some distance by kicking Steve in the face, then lifting him up…Sin City Hangover! Jackson turns his attention back to the corner, but Mr. Goal has returned to the ring as well! He’s finally got his helmet off!
Jackson Fenix: “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Mr. Goal charges in at Fenix. Fenix simply moves aside and Mr. Goal crashes into the turnbuckles instead. He staggers backward into the Superkick Me Baby One More Time from Jackson, laying him out on the mat as well.
Jackson Fenix: “Anyone else want to come back from the dead?”
The frustration on Fenix’s face is evident…
But there was one more.
BRYAN BAXTER is back up! He spins Fenix around – BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION.
BAXTER DRIVER!
With Jackson laid out, Bryan pulls himself back up using the ropes…he’s already in the right corner but the Lumberjacks are both starting to stagger to their feet…so there’s no time to waste. Baxter ascends the turnbuckles..
Reaches up..
In comes both Dan and Doug…
BUT BRYAN HAS THE BRIEFCASE!
HE PULLS IT DOWN! He’s retrieved the final briefcase!
Case #4 claimed by Bryan Baxter at 14:53
Baxter drops down to the canvas, clutching the briefcase tightly as the bell rings to officially end the match.
Dan, Doug, and the rest of the competitors begin to clear the ring, exiting with disappointment as the four who did grab a briefcase tonight stick around.
Rod Sterling: “This isn’t over yet folks. We still have to find out title shot each of these competitors have won here tonight!”
As the competitors anxiously wait in the ring, Jon Russnow walks out from the back offering a round of applause to the winners. He makes his way down the ramp, climbing in and taking a microphone.
Jon Russnow: “Let’s hear it for our winners! What a match, what a match! But I know no one wants to hear me ramble on about it, because we all want to know what the heck is in these briefcases? Right!?”
The crowd cheered in agreement.
Jon Russnow: “Let’s start with our first briefcase here. How about this Andersen Vega. VERY first appearance here in FWA and you already have yourself a guaranteed title shot! Welcome to the FWA! Let’s see what title you’ll be going after.”
Vega gave a confident smirk as he joined Russnow in the center of the ring. Vega unlatched the briefcase, opening up and taking a look at it’s contents. He gives a slight chuckle.
Jon Russnow: “Well, well, well… Mr. Vega, I know you’re new here… but you’re going to have to find yourself a friend pretty quickly here because you have yourself a shot at the…FWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS!”
Rod Sterling: “How about that! But not sure Vega has endeared himself to many people so far, at least judging by this match. It’ll be interesting to see who is willing to partner up with the newcomer.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Hey, a guaranteed title shot may have people lining up offering to team with him!”
Vega doesn’t show any concern on his face about who he would find to be a partner, instead he lifts up the briefcase in celebration.
Jon Russnow: “Good luck to you finding a partner. One man that already does have a partner is next up…Nate Savage!”
Nate steps forward, his own face showing some slight disappointment that he and Jackson Fenix didn’t get the tag title shot, but it quickly fades as he realizes he still has a title shot nevertheless. Savage opens up his briefcase…
Jon Russnow: “Oh now isn’t that interesting. Nate Savage will be getting a shot the X CHAMPIONSHIP!”
Rod Sterling: “How about that! Nate Savage, the man Alyster Black defeated for the X Championship almost a year ago!”
Nate Savage has a big grin on his face, clearly eager to get a chance at the title he once held.
Jon Russnow: “I can’t wait to see that rematch! And how about our newcomers here in FWA. First Andersen Vega, now our next briefcase holder is getting a shot in just her SECOND match! Vampyra, you’ve certainly impressed so far and we’re glad to have you on the team. Let’s see what title you’ll be challenging for!”
Vampyra leaps forward, presenting her briefcase with some jubilation. She unlatches the case and extends it out.
Jon Russnow: “And for you Vampyra, you have yourself a shot at the Television Title which means you have yourself a date with either current champion Shawn Summers or PAJ depending on the outcome of tonight's match! Congratulations!”
Vampyra jumps up and down with excitement as Bryan Baxter now steps forward as well, his face unable to hide his emotion.
Jon Russnow: “And we don’t even have to open it up because we know by process of elimination what you, Bryan Baxter, have a shot at…but might as well go through the motions.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “What if it's a swerve and there’s actually a pink slip in there. Fingers crossed!”
Baxter’s hands are shaking from the excitement as he opened up the briefcase, and sure enough…
Jon Russnow: “Just as expected…no surprises here tonight, Bryan Baxter will get a shot at the NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP! Congratulations to you and the rest of the winners here tonight…well earned and I can’t wait for each of these upcoming matches!”
Baxter throws up both his arms in celebration once again as the four winners each admire their briefcase and look forward to their upcoming championship opportunities.
Kurt Harrington: “Ladies and gentleman, the following contest is a singles match with a thirty minute time limit set for one fall. Introducing first, weighing in at three hundred and nineteen liras, from inside the sacred Pomerium of The Glorious Roman Empire… he is CORNELIUS… AURELIUS… CAESAR!”
There’s a raucous ovation from the arena but instead of Caesar coming out, two columns of figures dressed in Ancient Roman military garb line up on either side of the ramp. At the forefront are two unarmed men, while the rest are geared. Finally, Cornelius Aurelius Caesar steps through the curtains on the back of a horse and the raucous ovation turns into an explosive one here in Caesar’s Superdome.
Allen Price: “It feels like we’re in Ancient Rome with how much these fans are behind Caesar! It truly is Caesar’s Superdome!”
He wears a gladiator helmet, a vibrant blood-red cape, and blade at his hip. He maintains a serious demeanor for this match despite being in what is virtually his home arena. As he reaches the top of the ramp, he slides off of the horse. One of the two unarmed figures at the top takes care of the horse while the other takes from Caesar his cape, helmet, and blade, leaving the General in his wrestling trunks.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Caesar rejected an offer to join the Nephews and it nearly resulted in an assault that almost certainly would’ve put him out of commission.”
Allen Price: “Caesar wouldn’t have accepted the offer no matter what sort of threats the Nephews had for him. They can’t defeat that sort of man by fear, and I think Uncle knew that.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "He’s been determined to prove his worth in the FWA, and a victory over a three time X Champion would certainly be a way to do that on route to an attempt to qualify for the upcoming F1 Climaxxx.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I hope Uncle makes up for his nonviolence on Meltdown against him tonight.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Always delightful to hear your takes, Anzu.”
Cornelius makes his way into the squared circle, and stands proudly in the center of the ring, nodding off to the impressive reception while his legionnaires make their way back up the ramp.
Kurt Harrington: “And his opponent, weighing in at Chunky for his Height, from the Cosmos… he is Cosmic Horror… Uncle… J… J… JAY!”
And the cheers subside to boos almost instantly. Cosmic Horror finds himself deep in the stands of Caesar Superdome. He’s dressed in a pink tracksuit with his his trademark mask covering his facial expression. He stops right outside the entrance in the crowd to stare far down at Caesar standing in the ring. As promised, there are no Nephews at his side.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Often with the Nephews, it’s a question of whether or not you’ll be facing just the legal competitors, or also a few allies. It looks like, and this may be a deception, Uncle intends to wrestle this one on his own.”
Allen Price: “It could be a deception, but I think I’ve come to realize that it’s always mind games with Uncle. The power of suspicion that it is mind games is enough. And the motivation that he beat Caesar without any assistance might also be driving him. Uncle wants to hurt Caesar morally, and I think he recognizes the numbers game won’t help in that process here.”
Uncle is patient as he makes his way down to the arena. He nearly gets into a shoving match with an overbearing fan but security is quick to get between. He then moves on to signing autographs from some of the Nephews in attendance in New Orleans, making sure to give his trademark tentacled kiss to some of his most fervent supporters.
Allen Price: “If there’s one thing I’ll never get about Uncle, is that no matter how many people hate him, there’s always a few who somehow idolize him.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Even Satan has his followers, Allen.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’m familiar with a few of them.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Uncle finally hops over the barricade, reaching ringside, and getting a better look at the man he calls General. He slides into the ring lackadaisically and makes his way to his feet. Caesar waits patiently in a corner while Uncle slowly removes his track suit and sets it aside, before stretching, and telling the referee he can ring the bell.
Cosmic Horror and Caesar circle around the ring, slowly approaching each other and - SLAP! Caesar is caught across the jaw with a very stiff slap from Uncle. Fury overtakes him instinctively and he goes in pursuit of his opponent who hurriedly heads for the rope and sticks his body halfway out, demanding the referee tell the General to give him some space. The jeers come fast and furious for the predictably troll-ish tactics. With some space given, Uncle stretches, and gestures for Caesar to come at him again.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Caesar’s going to have to learn not to take the bait. He’s going to have to prove he’s really the General, and out-strategize Uncle if he wants to win.”
Allen Price: “Easier said than done, Uncle is a master of getting a rise out of his opponent.”
The two start circling about once more with Caesar putting on some pressure in trying to corner Uncle, but all it does is send the man scurrying halfway through the ring a second time, forcing the official to come between the pair. Uncle takes advantage of the seperation and spits in the eye of the General. Caesar has enough of that and shoves the official out of the way. Uncle slides out of the ring and begins to sprint around it with the Dictator not far behind. He slides into the ring and hustles to get behind the recovered referee. When Caesar slides back in as well, he’s stopped by the official who warns him he won’t tolerate Caesar shoving him a second time.
Rod Sterling: : “Not a good idea for Caesar to get on the wrong side of the official. We’re already seeing Uncle’s loose relationship with the rules. He needs the official to be on his side.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "You’re right. The official is the only thing standing between him and Uncle using nefarious tactics to get ahead.”
Once Caesar reluctantly accedes to the official’s demand, he tries to move towards Cosmic Horror gets a poke to the eyes for his efforts. The official catches that one, and Uncle tries to explain he misfired, but with Uncle slyly getting himself between the official and Caesar, he delivers a back-footed low blow to the General that sees him dropping to the ground. The official is certainly suspicious about the act, but he didn’t entirely catch it and the referee opts to simply warn him to stop the funny business. Uncle bows furiously in respect, promising to be honorable.
He turns towards Caesar and shoves his foot in the face of the man, rousing his fury again. He does it several times, with Caesar becoming increasingly angry with each shove, until he’s back on his feet and eye pokes once again. The referee is furious this time and pushes Uncle, warning him he has no issue with disqualifying him if necessary. “Oh, come on, Nephew. I got scared! Did you see his face? It’s instinctive!” But the official isn’t having much of it. This time, Uncle’s dispute with the official costs him, and as he turns around back to his opponent, he’s caught with a stiff headbutt that sends him falling spread-eagled to the ground, seemingly knocked out.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Love that headbutt of Caesars! He should do it more often!”
Caesar dives for the pin attempt -
ONE… TW - KICK OUT!
The General has the advantage this time and he has no intention of allowing Uncle’s tactics to dominate the competitive affair. He roughly gets the man to a vertical base and plants him with a Michinoku Driver! He follows it up with another pin…
ONE… TWO - KICK OUT!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "A few quick pinfall attempts from Caesar, perhaps thinking avoiding messing around is his best bet.”
He’s not very deterred, helping Uncle up before hustling to the ropes, rebounding - JUMPING CLOTHESLINE! He moves onto his back and kip ups to a rousing New Orleans cheer. He motions for Uncle to start getting up, and charges ahead for a Knee Trembler! Uncle moves out of the way - roll up!
ONE… TW - KICK OUT!
The two men hustle to their feet, Uncle leaps over, sunset flip pin…
ONE… TWO - KICK OUT!
Rod Sterling: : “He’s got quite the array of pinfall maneuvers, doesn’t he?”
Caesar rolls through, knee to the face? No, Uncle ducks under again and gets the roll up…
ONE… TWO… THR - KICK OUT!
The two are back to their feet, SPINNING BACKFIST! No, Uncle ducks under! SPINNING BACKHANDED SLAP! Caesar ducks under! SPINNING BACKFIRST AND BACKHANDED SLAP! The two men have a hard time staying on their feet, both squatting. Caesar roars through the pain, boots Uncle in the gut, and lifts him in a Fireman Carry position! Uncle slips onto his back - SLEEPER HOLD! Caesar is doing his best not to fall onto his back which would certainly be a precarious position. Instead, he’s able to react quickly and flip Uncle over forward and while positioned behind him - ET TU, CAESAR! But Caesar doesn’t let Uncle bounce off his knees, instead, he drags him up a bit - THE TRIUMPH!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "We’ve never seen Uncle tap out in the FWA, could this be the first time? Caesar’s Triumph is a devastating submission move, especially against a smaller opponent.”
Rod Sterling: : “And you have to respect that Uncle is a submission master himself, that’s why he’s so good at avoiding tapping out.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “And because he’s a pervert, Uncle loves being submitted!”
Allen Price: “That does make sense.”
It’s not a spot where Caesar has an easy time doing the swinging part of the Master Lock, but it’s still a very tough position for Uncle, and the General has enough size advantage to still manhandle the smaller competitor! But Uncle is devious, and it’s not the first time he’s been in a Full Nelson lock. He starts maneuvering around despite the pain, and the lack of consciousness threatening to creep in. He’s able to roll into a seated position, and just barely stretch his legs out enough to grasp the ropes. It takes two counts, but Caesar ends the submission reluctantly.
When he tries to press his advantage, he finds that Uncle has slid out of the ring. He slides out of it to pursue the crawling Cosmic Horror, but Uncle is well aware of his pursuer and grabbing Caesar by the waist of his trunk, sends him hurtling into the hard-edged corner! Uncle rolls onto his ass and chuckles at the jeers and Caesar’s predicament. He gets back to his feet and starts ripping off the padding at ringside, unveiling the stiff concrete below, not the first time Cosmic Horror has gotten up to ruining the backstage workers’s hard efforts. With the exposed floor available to him, walks over to Caesar and drags him over.
He gets the General up to his feet, and giving a moment for the fans to register what he intends to do - DDTs Caesar unto the hard floor!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "You have to expect that if there’s a way to hurt your opponent more more than usual, Uncle knows it. He loves ripping off the floor mat.”
Caesar lays there limp while Uncle chucks at the massive jeers, before getting himself up, and leisurely rolling into the ring. He gestures for the official to get the count going.
Allen Price: “Uncle has no issue winning via a count out where most men might find that a disappointing way to win.”
ONE…
Uncle sits cross-legged in the ring.
TWO…
Caesar lays unmoving at ringside…
THREE…
The fans begin serenading the general in hopes he’ll wake up…
FOUR…
Caesar begins to stir.
FIVE…
Uncle demands the official stop being so dramatically slow with his count…
SIX…
Ceasar reaches out for the apron
SEVEN…
He starts pull himself to his feet…
EIGHT…
He grabs the ropes to begin pulling himself in…
NINE…
Uncle kicks at his fingers!
The referee breaks the count as a result, but Uncle cares little, he’s already sprinted towards the opposite side of the ropes -
SUICIDE DIVE!
Uncle crashes into Caesar, sending both men sprawling out at ringside! Uncle is back up first and grabs Caesar by the hair, dragging him up the ramp, yelling insults aplenty while he’s at it. Caesar can only stumble after the man. He smacks Uncle’s hand off his hair but gets a furious slap to the face in return. The slap is enough to stun Caesar so Uncle can finish dragging him to the very top of the ramp. He positions Caesar’s head between his thighs - SHORT-ARM PILEDRIVER SPIKED RIGHT ON THE RAMP!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Cosmic Horror is making absolutely sure Caesar’s not making it back to the ring before the count ends.”
Allen Price: “Such a pathetic way to try and win! Beat him in the ring like a man.”
Rod Sterling: : “If you can knock a guy out so silly he can’t crawl back into the ring, I’d say that’s a fair win, Allen.”
Caesar’s head smashing into ramp echoes around the superdome and leaves much of it momentarily speechless. Uncle pushes Caesar’s newly limp body out of the way and begins to swagger his way back up the ramp, slides into the ring, and for the second time, suggests the official begin his count out.
ONE…
Uncle takes his default cross-legged position…
TWO…
Caesar is still at the very top of the ramp…
THREE…
The fans renew their serenade, hoping it’ll work a second time…
FOUR…
Caesar is still frozen stiff
FIVE…
Uncle decides to join in with the serenade.
SIX…
Caesar still isn’t moving.
SEVEN…
Finally Caesar shows signs of life, turning over to his front…
EIGHT…
He begins a slow crawl…
NINE…
He stumbles to his feet, sprinting…
TE-
And he’s in just in time!
Allen Price: “YES!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Caesar showing some incredible resilience after being spiked on his head at the top of the ramp.”
Uncle quickly begins stomping rabidly at the General, killing any relief from his having survive the countout. He gets down to Caesar’s level to unload hard strikes to the head of the General, eventually even bitting it, before the referee forces him away because Caesar’s hardly fully in the ring. Once Caesar is within the square circle, Uncle begins a torturous effort, stomping on the General’s left digits, then his right digits, then his left ankle and his right ankle. The jeers from the Superdome only elate him. He grabs Caesar’s hand, and with the arena looking carefully, SNAPS TWO FINGERS! The cracking sound echoes around the Superdome, and Caesar holds onto his fingers in pain.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Do his other hand!”
Rod Sterling: : “This man must’ve been a torturer before he became a wrestler.”
Cosmic Horror leisurely heads to the top rope and waits for Caesar to drag himself to his feet - FRONT FLIP BACK RAKE! Streaks of red form on the back of Caesar’s back, adding itself to the list of minor but aggravating injuries Uncle has been inflicting on him. Cosmic Horror seems in full control now, and gestures to his hand for the Chokeslam! He waits for Caesar to turn around and grasps him by his neck! CHOKE- no! Caesar with a stiff elbow before Uncle can even make the miraculous effort to lift him! And another elbow! Uncle is forced to let go. Caesar kicks him in the gut, runs the ropes - SCISSOR KICK! No Uncle spins out of the way. HIGH KNEE FROM UNCLE! No Caesar spins out of it! DAMNATIO MEMORIAE!
Uncle is caught clean by the kick and falls down to the map. Caesar goes for the pin!
ONE… TWO… THR - KICK OUT!
Caesar smacks the mat to pump himself up and gets Uncle back to his feet. He places him between his thighs - CROCEA MO- no, Uncle sends him overhead and onto his back! Caesar tries to hustle to his feet, Uncle is off to the races towards the ropes, bounces off it, leaps onto Caesar - WORLD’s MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOST COMPLICATED D… D…- Caesar stops it mid-journey. Stops it, shoves Uncle away! A SECOND DAMNATIO MEMORIAE - No, Uncle ducks under it this time! PINK MIST!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "A pink mist, but it’s on the wrong target!”
It catches the referee when Caesar ducks under it! Uncle is briefly stunned, turns around - DAMNATIO MEMORIAE! Caesar may not have noticed the referee is blinded and can’t see anything, or may not care. He lifts Uncle to his feet - CROCEA MORS! Uncle is spiked onto the mat! Caesar hooks the leg… Uncle seems to have a smile on his face as he’s being pinned…
Allen Price: “No Caesar! The referee can’t see!”
ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… FIVE… SIX…
Uncle is half-dazed, half-chuckling as the count goes on and Caesar notices the official is still trying to get the substance out of his eyes. He gets to his feet and tries tohelp the official regain his eyesight, taking his eyes off Cosmic Horror who lazy gets behind Caesar and LOW BLOWS HIM! Uncle slowly gets to his feet while Caesar writhes on the ground, and he makes sure the official is still struggling with the mist. He slides out of the ring and leisurely grabs a steel chair from ringside alongside a water bottle. He slides back into the ring, placing the bottle in the official’s hand, and waits patiently for Caesar to get to his feet, smacking the chair a couple of times while the crowd is jeering and warning Caesar! Caesar turns around and Uncle tosses him the chair before dropping to the mat! Caesar is confused, until he notices that the official has finally washed the mist out of his face.
Caesar puts two and two together quickly enough and tries to calmly explain to the official what Uncle did. Although the referee lets himself get carried away to begin with and almost goes for an instinctive disqualification, the Superdome comes together to inundate the referee with jeers! This is Uncle we’re talking about here, and this is the honorable Caesar! Have some common sense. The referee seems to recognize his mistake and instead just grabs the chair from Caesar and warns him to be careful.
Uncle hustles to his feet and charges at Caesar as soon as he’s done with the referee, but the General must’ve anticipated that Uncle would strike at this most vulnerable moment and slips behind him, sending him crashing chest first into the turnbuckle, Caesar grabs him from behind CROSSING THE RUBICON!
Caesar rolls to his feet in a hurry and waits for Uncle to get back onto all fours, he sprints full speed ahead - SENATUS… CONSULTUM… ULTIMUM! Uncle’s head is practically punted out of the arena! Caesar hooks the leg…
ONE… TWO… THREE!
Winner by pinfall: Cornelius Aurelius Caesar in 17:23.
Kurt Harrington: “And your winner by pinfall… CORNELIUS… AURELIUS… CAESAR!”
The crowd explodes in support of the General who gets to his feet and has his hand risen while Uncle lies spread-eagled on the mat.
Allen Price: “And the General defeats Uncle! No cheating necessary! Just good tactics and better wrestling!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "And impressive showing for Caesar, I’ll admit, but the real challenge is ahead of him, should he make it into the F1 Climaxxx.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Did you see how hard he kicked his head in!”
The camera locks in on the former FWA Tag Team Champion, a proud but serious look on his face. He’s ready for his next challenge after tonight, ready to reach past glories.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “The show rolls on wrestling fans and up next we have in store for you what is sure to be a potential show stealing match, as we’ll see Shawn Summers defend his Television Championship against PAJ.”
Allen Price: “You could make the argument that any match on this card has that potential, JL, but this one certainly will get ugly in a hurry given the bad blood between these two men.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Things got extra heated after a verbal exchange between the two men following PAJ’s loss to Tommy Bedlam at Fallout 020. They both have said some things to get under each other’s skin over the last few weeks, but tonight the time for talk is over and it’s time for them to settle their differences in the ring!”
The opening of “Vacuity” rips through the sound system and after several seconds of the song playing, Phillip A. Jackson steps out on stage to a mixed reaction with mostly cheers given who his opponent is. PAJ doesn’t bother with any posturing on stage but he pauses to look out at the sold out crowd in Caesars Superdown before walking down to the ring.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “PAJ is walking into tonight’s match with a record of 1-5 since Back in Business XVI. PAJ has had a bit of a rough start since returning to FWA earlier this year at Carnal Contendership, but tonight he has a chance to get back on the right track.”
Rod Sterling: “PAJ is certainly no stranger to championship gold here in FWA, and I’m sure he’d love nothing more than to add another accolade to his already illustrious list of accomplishments if he can manage to put an end to the reign of Shawn Summers’.”
Allen Price: “I’m sure he’d also love a chance to shut up Shawn Summers once and for all!”
PAJ is in the ring and his music slowly fades out as he awaits the arrival of his opponent…
Shawn slowly rises through the stage with his head down and eyes closed. The lights strobe between white and red to the drums of the song as fog rises underneath him. Shawn tilts his head up, his face void of emotion as the camera pans around him. He stands in place taking in the moment until the chorus of "Cola" kicks in. He begins to make his way down the ramp mouthing the words to the song, ignoring the hands and verbal assault from the fans as he does.
Allen Price: “I mentioned it at Fallout 020, but Shawn Summers has a tendency to talk a big game but when the time comes he can never seem to back up his words. Maybe tonight he can prove me and all the naysayers wrong.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “I can assure that Summers is not losing any sleep over what you or anyone else thinks of him, Price.”
Allen Price: “I don’t know JL, he looked pretty peeved when PAJ referred to him as a choke artist.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He makes a good point, Jean-Luc.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Whatever, I’m sure that Summers has put all of that nonsense behind him and is one hundred percent focused on tonight’s match.”
Halfway down the ramp, he takes a visual survey of the arena before slowly walking up the ring steps and slowly ascending the turnbuckle. His eyes closed his head tilted high - he's fully taking in the moment before hopping down into the ring. Shawn makes his way to his corner and crouches down as he awaits the signal of the bell from the referee.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is set for one fall with a 30-minute-time-limit, and it is for the FWA Television Championship! Introducing first, the challenger, from Bristol, England but currently residing in Toronto, Canada, and weighing in at 235 lb…he is “The Cleanser”...Phillip A. Jackson!”
A heavy mixture of cheers and boos for the challenger as he stares across at his opponent.
Kurt Harrington: “His opponent, from Laguna Beach, California and weighing in 225 lb, he is the current reigning and defending FWA Television Champion…”Der Basterd”...Shawn Summers!”
Summers stands up from his crouching position in the corner and raises his coveted championship high up for PAJ and everyone else to see. Summers then takes another look at his title before handing it off to referee Joey Ortiz, who holds it up for the fans before handing it off to the ringside area.
Ortiz returns to the center of the ring and checks on both men one last time before he signals for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
There’s a buzzing from the fans as this one gets underway and both competitors before to circle each other, sizing each other up, looking for that opening before going in for a collar and elbow tie up and Jackson quickly spins around Summers into a rear waistlock position but Summers throws back some heavy elbows and turns the tables on Jackson as he spins behind Jackson in a rear waistlock. Summers tries a takedown, but Jackson won’t budge and Jackson manages to slip away from Summers and slides underneath between his legs and quickly he springs to his feet and Jackson gives a shove to Summers that sends Shawn forward into the ropes but Summers clings on to the ropes to save himself. Summers points to his head as if he’s trying to imply that he outsmarted the veteran Jackson on that exchange.
Jackson rushes forward at Summers but Shawn has the wherewithal to the catapult Jackson behind him with a back body drop, yet Jackson manages to land on the apron instead, unbeknownst to Summers and just as Summers turns around he’s leveled by a springboard forearm from Jackson! Summers quickly gathers himself as he’s back on his feet, but he’s knocked back into the ropes with a standing dropkick by Jackson, and Jackson catches Summers with an arm drag takedown as he begins to crank back on Summers shoulder while Shawn tries to reach out for the nearest rope to break up the hold. Shawn slowly begins to rise up while Jackson does his best to keep the hold applied, and he even transitions the hold as he traps Shawn’s arm behind Shawn’s back as he twists away just as Summers grabs the ropes with his other free arm to break it up and Jackson reluctantly relinquishes the hold. Summers shakes off the effects of that arm lock and spins around looking for a rolling elbow strike, but Jackson ducks and quickly grabs Shawn in a rear waistlock and attempts a german suplex only for Summers to flip out of it and just as Jackson gathers himself he’s stunned by an uppercut courtesy of Summers, and Summers is quick to follow up with a discus elbow smash that leaves Jackson staggered and Summers brings Jackson in close before he sends Jackson halfway across the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Summers with Wipe Out to PAJ and just like that Summers has control!”
Summers drops down for the lateral press and a pin, but only gets a two count as PAJ gets a shoulder up and Summers quickly maintains control with some well placed boots to Jackson’s legs as he stomps down on him for good measure before he drapes Jackson’s legs over the first rope and lands a beautifully executed seated senton directly on Jackson’s legs! Jackson writhes around on the mat, clutching his knees that felt the brunt of that attack while Summers seems pleased with his handy work.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Summers wisely targets PAJ’s lower portion, preferably his legs as he’s keen to do some high-flying and the damage being done to his legs could prevent any high-flying maneuvers from taking place.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That also softens him up for two of Shawn’s signature submissions, both based on the legs, I must admit that is smart on Summers’ part.”
Summers splits Jackson’s legs apart before dropping an elbow down on the right leg! Summers targets the leg with some more calculated stomps as that draws the ire of the crowd. Summers then brings Jackson to his feet and leans him up against the ropes and he levels Jackson with a knife-edge chop straight across the chest! Shawn takes PAJ by the wrist and looks to send him towards the ropes, but PAJ counters and pulls Shawn in close and clobbers Shawn with a forearm smash! Summers is stunned and PAJ delivers another forearm smash for good measure before he sends Summers to the ropes and off the rebound he catches Summers with a pendulum backbreaker! Shawn crumbles to the mat and this time it’s PAJ that makes the pin with a lateral press…
One…
Two…
NO!
Summers kicks out and rolls over to his side as Jackson hobbles over to him on that bad leg, and Jackson takes Summers in a front facelock but Summers instinctively fights back with a rake of the eyes! Jackson’s temporary vision loss gives Shawn some time to recover while PAJ tries to regain his vision. Shawn lines up PAJ as he sets up and he goes for Lights Out, but PAJ rolls out of the way just in time as he regains his sight. Shawn rolls through however instead of crashing and burning on the landing, and Summers charges towards PAJ but PAJ is ready as he strikes with the PAJle! The pele kick stuns Summers and Jackson brings Summers down to one knee with a basement dropkick and he quickly follows up with an enziguri! Summers is in a daze but hasn’t gone down just yet as Jackson runs the ropes and comes back with a one-handed bulldog on Summers and he drops down for the pin!
One…
Two…
THR-NO!
Allen Price: “PAJ is doing all that he can to bring the fight to Summers despite his bum knee courtesy of Summers.”
Rod Sterling: “It is an admirable effort being shown by the wily veteran PAJ, I would expect nothing less from him.”
Jackson gingerly runs the ropes and on the return he looks for a knee drop to Summers, but Summers catches him by the leg and Shawn expertly transitions into his signature ankle lock submission! Jackson grits his teeth as he fights through the pain while Summers wrenches back on the ankle. Summers drops down and grapevines Jackson’s leg to apply more pressure with the intent on breaking Jackson’s ankle!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Great ring awareness by Summers! Jackson has nowhere to go now!”
Allen Price: “He’s inches away from that bottom rope!”
Summers has a crazed look in his eyes as he keeps the hold applied while Jackson fights back the urge to submit with a pained expression etched across his facial features. Jackson desperately reaches out to the bottom rope, he’s just a fingertip away from reaching it…he gets there!
Jackson breaks up the hold much to the dismay of Shawn Summers! Summers refuses to release the hold, which forces the referee to count to five and Shawn begrudgingly releases the hold. Shawn sits up and berates Ortiz despite the fact that Joey Ortiz was just doing his job, but Summers doesn’t care as he brushes him off and begins to curse out loud while Jackson slowly recovers. Summers moves his attention back to Jackson and Shawn takes Jackson by the legs, but Jackson kicks Shawn away and that sends Shawn spiraling backwards to the ropes as PAJ kips up and gingerly lands on his bum leg. Summers comes back with another rolling elbow strike that Jackson avoids, and Jackson lands another PAJle on Summers! Jackson takes the dazed Summers and hits him with a bridging german suplex!
One…
Two…
THR-NO!
Jackson lays flat on his back as he takes in lungfuls of air while Summers is on his side. Jackson slowly starts to get up and he makes his way over to the turnbuckle and begins to take his time as he climbs up, but just as he gets there he’s stopped by Summers.
Anzu Kurosawa: “PAJ was making his way up to the top in what I can only assume was for his Amazing Splash.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Not on Shawn Summers’ watch, Anzu. He knew what was coming and he’s doing everything he can to ensure it does not happen.”
Summers is up there with Jackson and the two men begin to slug it out! They trade blows back and forth, and just when it looks like Summers regains control and he begins to set up Jackson in position for a superplex, Jackson finds a second wind and starts fighting for his life up there as he delivers forearm after forearm to Summers’ dome until finally Summers falls back first to the mat and Jackson readies himself up top…AMAZING SPLASH! JACKSON HITS ALL OF THAT SPINNING FROG SPLASH TO SUMMERS AND HOOKS THE LEG!
One…
Two…
THREE!
Winner: Phillip A. Jackson via pinfall at 23:50.
Kurt Harrington: “Here is your winner, and the NEW FWA Television Champion, Phillip A. Jackson!”
Jackson is handed the championship as he’s helped off of Summers, and Ortiz raises his hand in victory as Jackson holds his newly won championship aloft. He looks down at the title and smirks as he raises it high again.
Rod Sterling: “PAJ and championship gold, name a more iconic duo!”
Allen Price: “You can bet that Shawn Summers is not happy about this result at all, but he proved once again that he’s all talk!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Obviously he’s not going to be happy, and did you watch the same match I did, Price? Credit where it’s due to Summers for putting up a tremendous effort in this defense, if anything he showed he’s more than just talk!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It could have gone either way if you ask me.”
PAJ has left the ring and is walking up the ramp with his newly won title while Summers remains in the ring, absolutely seething as he watches PAJ leave with the title.
Rod Sterling: “Up next we’ll see two of Meltdown’s finest as Tommy Bedlam takes on “The Wildcard” Jason Randall in an X-Rules match, which is sure to be a recipe for chaos with those two involved!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Bedlam issued the challenge and The Wildcard was more than happy to oblige him, but Jon Russnow upped the ante by making this an X-Rules match.”
Rod Sterling: “That’s right up Randall’s alley, but given his track record for this year in those types of environments, things haven’t necessarily always gone his way but he’s looking to right those wrongs tonight.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “While Bedlam is just looking to settle an old score after Randall was the man responsible for putting Bedlam on the shelf for about six months this year.”
Kurt Harrington: “The following match is scheduled for one fall with a 30-minute-time-limit, and it will be contested under X-Rules!”
The opening to the familiar tune begins to play and as the opening vocals ring out, Tommy Bedlam makes his way out on stage to a great ovation. Tommy soaks in the adulation with a smile and after a few seconds he makes his way down to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, making his way to the ring from Sweetwater, Texas and weighing in at 244 lb…Tommy Bedlam!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “From my understanding is that it isn’t personal between them, but there’s still no love lost between them.”
Allen Price: “Like Anzu said, it’s all about settling an old score for Bedlam. Randall cost him six months of his career, and even though Bedlam has said it was sort of a blessing in disguise as it allowed him to reevaluate himself and the choices he had made, he still wants retribution.”
Bedlam enters the ring and poses for the fans to more cheers before removing his black leather vest…
“Go To Sleep” hits and after a few seconds the opening lyrics begin to ring out, and “The Wildcard” stomps out on stage to another great ovation from the fans. Randall opts to not stand on stage and instead marches down to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing his opponent, making his way to the ring from San Diego, California and weighing in at 234 lb…he is “The Wildcard”...Jason Randall!”
Rod Sterling: “Randall looks to be itching to get this fight going!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “What else is new Rod? Like you said, Randall is no stranger to this type of environment, but it also hasn’t gone his way every time. Maybe tonight he will change all of that with a win over Bedlam.”
Rod Sterling: “Technically he has a win over Bedlam already, but he could make it 2-0.”
Randall tosses away his black vest and points up at the ceiling before looking back at Bedlam as he urges referee Larry Stevens to get this started.
DING! DING! DING!
Randall tells Bedlam to bring it and Bedlam obliges him and the two men immediately begin trading lefts and rights as the crowd eats it up! What is reminiscent of an old-fashioned hockey fight, Randall and Bedlam duke it out in the center of the ring before Bedlam takes Randall down with a tackle and now they’re rolling around on the mat, still swinging wildly at each other! Randall turns the tables in his favor and he mounts Bedlam, and starts driving down punches as Bedlam does his best to cover up. Randall rises up and he’s fired up as he feeds off the energy from the audience, and he turns around in time to avoid a clothesline from Bedlam and Randall takes Bedlam down with a thesz press followed by more wildly thrown punches!
Randall drags Bedlam to a corner and begins to lay into Bedlam with some mudhole stomps! Randall then takes Bedlam by the wrist and is going to send him to the opposite corner with an irish whip, but Bedlam counters with his own and sends The Wildcard into the corner where Randall bounces hard off the corner and stumbles right into a discus lariat by Bedlam! Randall rolls underneath the bottom rope and drops down to the floor as Bedlam follows suit. Bedlam meets Randall on the outside, and Randall is on one knee as Bedlam approaches him but Randall catches Bedlam off-guard and shoves him back first into the steel steps! Randall slams Bedlam head first on the steps before tossing him back first into the barricade, and Randall wastes no time sending himself and Bedlam into the crowd with a massive clothesline over the barricade!
Rod Sterling: “Those fans getting their money's worth tonight that's for sure with this spilling out into the crowd!”
Randall takes Bedlam by the head and drills him with a forearm that has Bedlam reeling. Randall drags Bedlam through a sea of fans and tosses him into a wall! Randall has Bedlam leant up against the wall and delivers more stiff strikes but Bedlam counters and turns it around on Randall as he pushes Randall back into the opposite wall and Randall hits it hard as he crumples the floor, clutching at his head, but he doesn’t get long for reprieve as Bedlam drags him away further into the venue where they reach the concessions area as more excited fans are getting more than they bargained for…
Bedlam tosses Randall into another wall near a popcorn vendor, and nearby, Bedlam is handed a beer from a fan and of course Bedlam obliges the fans and downs the beverage before returning to Randall, who has a surprise for Bedlam as he throws a bag of popcorn at him! The popcorn has little effect on Bedlam but it does enough to catch him off-guard and allows to drive a knee into Bedlam’s midsection! Randall then slams Bedlam’s head against the stand before dragging him away into the men’s restroom where Randall tosses Bedlam into a stall and Randall tries to give Bedlam a swirly as he tries to shove Bedlam’s head into the toilet bowl but Bedlam prevents that from happening as he shoves Randall into the stall wall! Bedlam slams Randall’s head against the toilet paper dispenser before placing Randall’s head against the outer rim of the toilet bowl and he violently brings down the toilet seat on Randall’s head!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is barbaric and not to mention unsanitary!”
Allen Price: “I can’t imagine that’s been cleaned recently, ugh!”
Bedlam drags Randall out of the stall as more fans in the restroom scatter away and Bedlam tosses Randall near a sink and splashes water in his face, then he adds soap to the mix and rubs it in Randall’s eyes!
Anzu Kurosawa: “At least Bedlam was courteous enough to clean him up!”
Rod Sterling: “The soap in the eyes seemed unnecessary though.”
Randall, blindly stumbles out of the restroom as Bedlam follows him, and Randall has stumbled away from the concessions area back into the arena in the crowd area where he takes a fan’s drink and splashes it in his eyes to flush out the soap. Bedlam clubs Randall from behind and that sends The Wildcard falling down the steps! Bedlam reaches Randall at the bottom of the steps and drags him through the crowd before tossing him over the barricade back to ringside area…
Allen Price: “How nice of them to rejoin us!”
Randall crawls away as Bedlam climbs over the barricade, and unbeknownst to Bedlam, Randall has retrieved a steel chair from underneath the ring and Randall doesn’t miss a beat as drives the front of the chair right into Bedlam’s gut! Bedlam is doubled over and Randall cracks the chair right across the spine! Bedlam crumbles to the floor and Randall lets loose with a barrage of chair shots falling down on Bedlam until Randall feels he’s had enough and he tosses Bedlam back in the ring…
Randall searches underneath the ring until he finds a table and sets that up on the outside before searching for more weapons. He finds a small bag and throws that in the ring, as well as more chairs.
Rod Sterling: “I can only imagine that whatever is in that tiny bag can’t be good for either of them!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I can take a guess as to what it is!”
Allen Price: “Don't be so excited, Anzu.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “She loves this, Price, remember?”
Randall takes Bedlam in a front facelock before tossing him on the apron, and Bedlam is starting to come to when Randall does his best to knock Bedlam off into that table on the outside but Bedlam hangs on for dear life, and he knocks Randall back with a headbutt! Bedlam slingshots himself back in the ring and levels Randall with a lariat! He drops down for the cover…
One…
Two…
NO!
Randall rolls over and grabs one of the steel chair and he rises up and swings wildly with it at Bedlam, but Bedlam ducks and Randall drops the chair as Bedlam tries to take Randall from behind and lift him up for The Rough Ride, but Randall slips out of it and clubs Bedlam in the back before spinning him around and he sets Bedlam up before dropping Bedlam with an x-plex on top of the steel chair! Randall isn’t through yet though as he piles up the rest of the steel chairs before dropping Bedlam on top of them with a saito suplex! Bedlam is in a world of hurt as Randall drags him away and drops for the cover…
One…
Two…
NO!
Bedlam is still writhing around in agony on the steel chairs as Randall empties the contents of the small bag onto the mat…
Anzu Kurosawa: “THUMBTACKS!”
Randall turns back to Bedlam and takes him by the wrist and sends him to the ropes, and he catches Bedlam off the rebound as he attempts Wildcard Special on the thumbtacks but Bedlam does his best to slip out of it and prevent himself from falling into the tacks. Bedlam shoves Randall into the ropes and off the rebound he catches Randall with a spinning spinebuster directly on the thumbtacks! Randall writhes around on the mat with tacks sticking out of him and Bedlam isn’t through yet as Bedlam drops Randall into the tacks again with a sitout powerbomb!
One…
Two…
THR-NO!
Randall manages to get a shoulder up as he gingerly rolls away to the apron while Bedlam lies in wait, and Randall is slow to his feet on the apron as Bedlam nails him with The Buckshot superkick! That sends Randall flying off the apron right through the table on the outside! Bedlam goes to the outside and hooks the far leg for the pin…
One…
Two…
THREE!
Winner: Tommy Bedlam via pinfall at 24:50
Tommy Bedlam celebrates yet another victory in the ring as the officials sing his praises, until eventually we fade to black.
We cut to a video package. The sight that greets us is the skyline of New Orleans, a very speed-up version of the day-night transition. A voice soon tags along.
???: “What does it mean to you?”
After this opening sentence from our ‘narrator’, a text appears over the night sky: ‘NARRATED BY: NOVA DIAMOND’
Nova Diamond: “The Golden Opportunity.”
Cut to a shiny golden briefcase placed on a pedestal. A very familiar briefcase.
Nova Diamond: “No matter what happens in days, weeks, months … all it takes is just one lucky shot.”
Cut to Nova Diamond emerging from the crowd in New York, not yet noticed by Devin Golden or MVH.
Nova Diamond: “And then … you’re golden.”
The referee hits his hand to the mat for the third time, signalling Nova’s victory over Devin Golden.
Nova Diamond: “The world champion, the top of the food chain, the peak of the mountain, the brand, the franchise … ”
The closing seconds of that very same show is shown with Nova raising the FWA World Title above his head while Gerald Grayson and MVH lays knocked out.
Nova Diamond: “What would you do for a chance like that? What would you do for the opportunity to take the helm in any way, shape or form you want?”
Nova is walking on the ramp in Chicago, his belt wrapped around his waist as he makes his entrance for the only match he’d have as the world champion.
Nova Diamond: “Would you be willing to go through … this?”
All the glitz and glamour of the champion is gone and we’re cut to the cold steel structure of the Elimination Chamber.
Nova Diamond: “Think of it as a lot more brutal, punishing rehearsal of the moment this can all lead to.”
Some brutal spots from the last two chamber matches are shown in a very quick succession.
Nova Diamond: “The path to the top is always filled with curves, obstacles, variables that you have to navigate your way through.”
Shawn Summers is emerging under the ring with Mike Parr unbeknownst to it.
Nova Diamond: “Why would this be any different?”
And Mike Parr goes down after taking a pipe to the face.
Nova Diamond: “Inside that chaotic structure, you have to keep all your senses open.”
Nova pins Mike Parr, eliminating him.
Nova Diamond: “You have to strike at the right time.”
After everyone had piled their finishers on The Exile, Nova pins Cyrus Truth, eliminating him.
Nova Diamond: “You have to know your opponents.”
Nova takes advantage of Peacock’s distraction and plants him with Uncomfortably Numb. Then he pins him, eliminating him, winning the match and the briefcase.
Nova Diamond: “Sure, you will get hurt.”
Nova is thrown to the steel.
Nova Diamond: “Bruised.”
Gabrielle takes a similarly nasty bump.
Nova Diamond: “Beaten.”
So does Phillip A. Jackson.
Nova Diamond: “Battered.”
And Chris Kennedy.
Nova Diamond: “But in the end, it’ll be worth it.”
Cut back to Nova celebrating with the briefcase.
Nova Diamond: “The golden briefcase has been won by intelligence before.”
And he raises it.
Nova Diamond: “And resilience.”
Gabrielle overcomes her last opponent in the chamber match she won three years ago.
Nova Diamond: “Will you employ a similar strategy … or will you make your own way?”
The tubes inside the chamber are illuminated rapidly like a clock.
Nova Diamond: “Through resolve.”
Devin Golden is making his entrance.
Nova Diamond: “Through teamwork.”
Parr, Knox and Gabrielle follows suit.
Nova Diamond: “Through pure desire.”
Chris Peacock closes his eyes and takes in some chants.
Nova Diamond: “Through focus.”
Jeremy Best is in the ring now.
Nova Diamond: “Through experience.”
And Cyrus Truth is shown entering the Chamber on two different occassions.
Nova Diamond: “Are you ready to do this? Are you ready to truly realize what I’m talking about?”
Truth and Parr are shown starting the last year's match.
Nova Diamond: “The ultimate method of control. The perfect weapon. The Golden Opportunity. There’s nothing like it. There will be nothing like it.”
Rapid shots of Nova, Gabrielle, PAJ, Kennedy and WOLF with their briefcases.
Nova Diamond: “So, be ready.”
All seven participants of the Chamber are shown side-by-side.
Nova Diamond: “Be worthy.”
Following that video package airing, there is a return back inside Ceasars Superdome and the big reveal that the Steel Roulette structure has been lowered into place and spotlights shine all over the chamber, revealing four pods behind each turnbuckle and a divided area between the ring and the chamber wall in between each pairing of pods. We cut to a wide shot of both commentary tables next to each other, and the four broadcast team members smile at the camera.
Jean-Luc Watkins “Up next it will be the ninth Golden Opportunity match, to take place inside of the Steel Roulette structure. Seven of the FWA’s top competitors will step inside that structure and will not return in the same physical condition once all is said and done.”
Rod Sterling “We just heard from last year’s winner, Nova Diamond, and I could not agree more with what he had to say. The responsibility placed on the shoulders of the winner of this match cannot be understated. Victory means a guaranteed shot at the FWA World Championship at any time of their choosing between now and Back in Business.”
Anzu Kurosawa “Nova will understand what it means to hold that briefcase; we saw him wait for the optimal moment and he found it when he cashed in on Devin Golden earlier this year.”
Allen Price “Who can forget his unforgettable-”
Allen Price “-that’s why Chris Peacock will go one step further this year!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Price, I think that the folks at home missed almost the entirety of that - probably for the best - but we do apologise for that technical issue we encountered for a moment there and can hope that nothing similar happens again for the remainder of the show. It is time though to turn it over to Kurt Harrington. Ladies, gentlemen and wrestling fans alike, a Golden Opportunity awaits.”
Kurt Harrington is not in the ring to make the introduction and instead stands on the outside of the ring next to the announce tables, with a pedestal next to him. On top of the pedestal is the golden briefcase that the seven competitors in the match will be vying to compete for.
Kurt Harrington “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a Steel Roulette match and the winner will receive the Golden Opportunity briefcase! This will entitle them to a match for the FWA World Championship at any time up until Back in Business XVII next year!”
The match will start with three competitors in the ring, and the four remaining competitors each inside one of the four holding pods. Every five minutes, an additional competitor will enter the match. Eliminations can occur at any time via pin fall or submission only, and the match will end when one competitor remains. That competitor will be the winner of the 2022 Golden Opportunity briefcase!”[/B][/COLOR]
Kurt Harrington “Introducing first… from Friendship, North Carolina and weighing in at one-hundred and eighty pounds… he is ‘Your New Best Friend’ JERREEEEEEEMMMMMYYYYYYYY BESSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTT!!”
Rod Sterling “The first competitor out for this match is the only one of the seven that has NEVER competed for the Golden Opportunity briefcase before! Jeremy Best made his FWA debut at last year’s Lights Out event in Tokyo. Can he mark this meteoric rise through the ranks in the FWA by grabbing the briefcase tonight? It has already been a great night for The Buddy System, with Bryan Baxter capturing a shot at the North American Championship!”
Allen Price “Let’s not forget what Jeremy has managed to accomplish already in the FWA; he competed in last year’s Mile High Massacre match for the FWA World Championship and just recently on Meltdown XIX, he tapped out the FWA World Champion! Don’t let that smile fool you, Jeremy Best is for real.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “I was waiting for one of you to bring that up; yes, Jeremy Best holds a victory over Danny Toner. But it doesn’t matter. We saw him crumble under the pressure at Lights Out and no amount of impressive performances already under his belt will allow him to emerge victorious tonight.”
Best steps through the opened door of the Steel Roulette structure, and is ushered by referee Larry Stevens to one of the pods. Once Jeremy is inside the clear pod and encased in plexiglass, the door slides shut and is locked from the outside.
Kurt Harrington “Next, representing Executive Excellence… ‘The Prodigy’ MIKE PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “That’s right; Mike Parr epitomises everything that Executive Excellence is about, because he is just pure technical excellence in the ring. The greatest FWA competitor to have never captured the FWA World Championship, but I predict that will change one way or another sooner or later.”
Rod Sterling “I would be inclined to agree, were it not for Alyster Black’s existence, but there is no denying Mike Parr’s ability in the ring, Jean-Luc. ‘The Prodigy’ is part of Executive Excellence’s insurance policy to capture the Golden Opportunity briefcase to consolidate the group’s stranglehold over the greatest prize in this business.”
Anzu Kurosawa “There’s not going to be a Shawn Summers appearance this year - at least as far as we could predict - and Parr will have guaranteed allies in this match. The pieces are in place for him to walk out with the guaranteed shot of the championship that has evaded him for so long, that is currently held by his stablemate Danny Toner.”
Parr enters the Steel Roulette, and looks immediately comfortable with his surroundings, and he makes no issue of being escorted to an empty pod. Jeremy Best attempts an interaction with Parr, but ‘The Prodigy’ is in no mood to obtain any new friends in this match.
Kurt Harrington “Next, from the Long and Winding Road, weighing in at two-hundred and twenty-seven pounds… ‘The Exile’ CYRUS TRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTHHH!!”
Anzu Kurosawa “The Long and Winding Road is an apt way to describe the journey that Cyrus has taken to get to this point. Often a perennial winner, Truth has found himself coming up short of getting an opportunity at his fifth FWA World Championship, last year’s Golden Opportunity match being just another example of this.”
Rod Sterling “This is not the only time in recent memory that Cyrus has emerged victorious from a match like this, though. In the Jailhouse Blues Match at the recent 17th Anniversary Show, Cyrus Truth led his team to victory. He has that experience and much, much more to draw on to hopefully see himself earn his ticket back to the top.”
Allen Price “Cyrus has all of the experience, but I do wonder if he is falling into a trap of not taking the challenge as seriously as he could-”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Price, just stop talking.”
Truth shares a glare with Mike Parr, one of his former rivals over the North American Championship, and then walks across the ring into one of the last two remaining unoccupied pods.
Kurt Harrington “From Boogie Wonderland by way of New York City, weighing in at two-hundred and ten pounds… he is ‘Disco’s Last Warrior’... CHRIS PEAAAAAAACCCOOOOOOCCCCCKKKKKKK!!”
Allen Price “You’ll have to duct tape me if you don’t want me to talk about this man. Chris Peacock has fallen short time after time, after time. He was the runner up in last year’s Golden Opportunity match, the runner up in the CIBERNETICO match last year and the runner up in this year’s Carnal Contendership match. He’s done coming second in all areas other than the bedroom, and tonight I DARE anyone else in this match to get in his way!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Price, your blinding loyalty to a man who quite clearly does not hold you in any sort of regard is bordering on admirable. Despite his close calls in the past, I could not think of anyone less deserving to win this match, wrestling fans. Chris Peacock is nothing short of a coward and a hateful little man.”
Rod Sterling “Perhaps I can be trusted to give an unbiased account. These New Orleans fans - deadly loyal to Devin Golden - are not going to be endeared to the man that defeated their hometown hero at Back in Business. Chris Peacock showed in that match that he can win on the big stages, so tonight it could finally be his time to ascend into a position of a challenger for the FWA World Championship.”
Anzu Kurosawa “That cane he’s got is perfectly legal to use in this match as well!”
Peacock points at the other three already waiting with the cane before Larry Stevens moves him along into the final free pod.
Jean-Luc Watkins “There will be those that will underestimate Kayden Knox’s chances of walking out victorious in this match, but with Mike Parr and Gabrielle in there as well… I would consider him one of the favourites to see this out to the end with his brother and sister in tow.”
Anzu Kurosawa “A former X Champion, Knox will be able to survive in this environment. We know that he knows how to make his opponents suffer, I don’t think tonight will be any different.”
Knox declines to make his way into the chamber immediately, and instead waits on the stage and looks back at the curtain as his music fades out.
Kurt Harrington Next, representing Executive Excellence… KAYDEN KNOX AND GAAAAABBBBRIIIELLLLLEEEE!!!”
Rod Sterling “That is what I would call a show of force from Bad Reputation and Executive Excellence! Knox and Gabrielle are technically competing against each other in this match, but what better way to show all of the others that they’re going to be on the same page throughout than by entering the match as a team?”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Gabrielle Montgomery will bring crucial experience to our cause in this match. She is the only one of the seven to have held the Golden Opportunity briefcase before. She’s as dangerous as she is beautiful, and she is not going to back down to anyone inside the Steel Roulette.”
Allen Price “Well, Gabrielle and Knox are going to be two of the three competitors that are going to be starting the match, folks. That means that they’ve got five minutes with a total advantage over the final person to come out here, and the fans are already swelling in excitement.”
Knox holds the ropes open for Gabrielle to get into the ring, and he follows her afterwards. Bad Reputation share a friendly nod with Mike Parr from inside his pod before they talk about some last minute tactics between themselves.
“ZOOOOOOOOOOMMMMBBIEEEEEEE!”
Kurt Harrington “Finally, from NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA-”
Kurt is cut off by a mammoth pop from the crowd. Golden cracks a wide smile.
Kurt Harrington Weighing in at two-hundred and two pounds… ‘The Rotten Gold’ DEVIN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!”
Rod Sterling “I almost cannot hear myself over the noise that is being generated at the moment! These fans know every single word to this song and they are belting it out in unison, all in support of one of their own! Devin Golden was the victim of the Golden Opportunity concept earlier this year when Nova Diamond cashed in on him. He has vowed to win this match to ensure that history cannot repeat itself.”
Allen Price “As much as I personally dislike Devin Golden, I am currently awestruck by what I am experiencing right now. This is mesmeric.”
Anzu Kurosawa “This is the effect that Devin Golden can have on people, Allen. At the click of his fingers he can have them either eating out of the palm of his hands or hating his guts; he is just that good. This man is one of the best to ever do it, and one of the few things that he has not done before is hold the Golden Opportunity briefcase.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “It is good that Devin has had the year he has had, so he is already used to disappointment. He’s going to have to do well to make it through the first five minutes against Kayden Knox and Gabrielle, let alone last until the end!”
Golden sets his hat and cane down outside of the structure and then takes a deep breath before entering the structure. He does not get into the ring immediately and watches as the main door is closed behind him and locked. All seven competitors are now in the chamber and the only way they’ll leave will be if they are eliminated or if they walk out as the winner.
The music fades out and the lights return to normal, but the crowd continue to serenade Devin Golden until they finish the next chorus and burst out into large cheers. Golden himself nods and applauds their efforts.
Jean-Luc Watkins “The time for waiting is over, wrestling fans. It is time for the 2022 Golden Opportunity winner to be decided!”
As the bell rings to get the match underway, the fans let their voices be heard in support of Devin Golden, who seems nothing more than amused about the situation that he finds himself in despite the numbers working against him. Knox and Gabrielle immediately veer either side of Golden, who stands in between the pods containing Chris Peacock and Mike Parr. Golden shrugs his shoulders and goes for Kayden Knox, pounding him in the head several times! Golden manages to get in a few shots on Knox and backs him into the corner, before he senses Gabrielle approaching from behind him.
Anticipating this, Golden turns around and meets Gabrielle with a boot to the midsection which doubles her over, and he follows up with a kick to the face! This knocks Gabrielle back and Golden then has to contend with Knox again after that and he cuts him off with a forearm to the face. Golden beats Knox down with a series of clubbing blows to the back of his neck and his back, but Gabrielle grabs Golden by the hair from behind and drags him away, digging her fingers into his eye sockets and his face as well.
Knox brushes off the strikes from Golden and with Gabrielle holding Golden upright, Knox kicks Golden across his stomach and together Bad Reputation bundles Golden down to the mat. The crowd bombard them with ‘YOU SUCK!’ chants to which neither react to. Gabrielle motions for Knox to be the one to hold Golden up this time and she lines him up for a second and drills him with a Savate Kick to the jaw, knocking him flat on his back. Golden grits his teeth and checks his jaw and Knox stomps on him a couple of times and then pushes him under the bottom rope to the outside area in between Peacock and Truth’s pods. Knox and then Gabrielle follow Golden out and Knox presses his boot down on Devin’s face, crushing it against the floor.
Knox picks Golden up, but Devin meets him with an elbow to the face, and he grabs Knox around the back of the neck and sends him into the wall of the Steel Roulette structure! Knox drops to the ground and once again Golden has Gabrielle to contend with now, and he swings with a punch towards her, but she ducks it and sends Golden forward, crashing into the pod of Chris Peacock. The pod maintains its structural integrity, but what Golden does have to deal with is Peacock smirking at him as Gabrielle smears his face across the surface of the pod exterior.
Anzu Kurosawa “Whilst Gabrielle is often someone that we associate with their look, Devin Golden’s visage might not be the same for much longer because his features are getting messed up at the moment!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “All the while he’s got Chris Peacock there revelling in his misfortune. I’d like to see how well he’d do against the combined might of Executive Excellence. Golden has been associated with the tag team division for the majority of the last two years, but you are looking at the premiere tag team in the world in Bad Reputation.”
At Gabrielle’s beckoning, Knox brushes off his collision with the chamber wall and walks over towards Golden and together Bad Reputation grabs him by the head and then slams the back of his head down on the floor! Golden holds the back of his head and then Knox plucks him from the mat and throws him back through the ropes. Golden scrambles and attempts to get back up to his feet but Knox is quick to put him back down on his back with a running knee to the face that catches Golden just under the jaw.
Gabrielle gives Knox a nod as she gets back into the ring and Kayden takes this as instruction to bring Golden back up to his feet and Knox then leaps into the air and drops Golden on the top of his head with a Poisonrana - and Gabrielle follows through with a knee strike to the face once Golden is placed on his knees after Knox’s move! Gabrielle lays on top of Golden and hooks both of his legs, looking for a quick elimination;
ONE… TWO… NO!!
Despite taking a few heavy hits to the head, Golden has not had enough yet and finds himself being buoyed by chants of ‘DEV-IN GOL-DEN!’ from his hometown fans. Bad Reputation continues to ignore the negativity towards them and they get back on with their work and pick Golden up and send him into the corner hard with a Double Irish Whip. However, Golden manages to put the brakes on before colliding with the turnbuckle and he floats over Kayden Knox who charges in after him.
With Knox evaded for the time being, Devin follows through and cracks Gabrielle with a forearm to the jaw and then ducks a Clothesline attempt from Knox, who then has to stop himself from hitting Gabrielle with the move that was intended for Golden. Knox and Gabrielle hold their hands out in front of each other but before they can turn back to Golden, he runs forward and takes them both down with a One-Handed Bulldog for each of them! The crowd cheers as all three competitors that started the match are down on the canvas for the time being.
Rod Sterling “Devin Golden wriggling his way back into the match and almost causing a bit of friendly fire between the Executive Excellence members, Jean-Luc.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “A momentary lapse by Kayden Knox there, and I’m not surprised that a competitor as accomplished as Devin Golden found a way to capitalise on it. The complexion of the match could be about to change though because we’re almost ready for the fourth participant to enter the Steel Roulette!”
Allen Price “I wonder who it could be!”
Out of the three active in the match, it is Golden that gets to his feet first and he does his best to stay on top of both Gabrielle and Knox and prevents either from rising to their feet as the lights inside Caesars Superdome dim and a spotlight flickers between each of the four pods inside the Steel Roulette; either Chris Peacock, Cyrus Truth, Mike Parr or Jeremy Best are about to enter the match!
MIKE PARR @ 05:00
There is a collective groan from the New Orleans faithful as the door of Mike Parr’s pod swings open, and ‘The Prodigy’ wastes no time in rushing into the ring through the ropes and he makes a beeline for Golden, knocking ‘The Rotten Gold’ down with a running forearm to the back of the head to reestablish control of the match for Executive Excellence.
Allen Price “I would have liked this to be anyone but Mike Parr! Executive Excellence now have a three-on-one advantage over Devin Golden in there, although I wouldn’t be averse to all of four of these competitors softening each other up.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “I know what you’re trying to say, Price, but let me assure you that none of these four are the least bit concerned about your contender. Get ready to watch an absolute exhibition from Executive Excellence, with Mike Parr - the only ever four-time FWA North American Champion - in there to marshall the already coordinated effort of Bad Reputation.”
After delivering some stomps to the side of Golden’s head to exert his will over the only non-EE member presently in the match, Parr regroups with both Gabrielle and Knox and together the trio lift Golden up to his feet and Gabrielle and Knox hold Golden up for Parr, and Parr measures his strike before smashing Golden with a hard punch that knocks him down into the ropes. EE then takes turns striking Golden against the ropes until Parr aggressively pulls Golden away from the ropes and then dumps him on the back of his head again with a Belly-to-Back Suplex!
It is clear that EE’s tactic is to wear Golden down with targeted attacks to his head which can also disorientate him, and off of the Suplex, Parr instructs Knox to pull Golden up and Parr catches ‘The Rotten Gold’ with a jumping knee to the back of the head! Golden crumbles to the mat once again and the crowd wills him on as Parr then goes for a tight pin;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
Anzu Kurosawa “Devin Golden keeps himself alive in the match once again, and if you’re Executive Excellence right now, surely you are doing everything in your power to get Golden out of there and eliminated from the match? With Golden out, then every competitor that enters subsequently is going to be at that three-on-one numbers disadvantage and then they can manufacture it so it is just the three of them left to determine who walks away with the Golden Opportunity.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “There’s a reason that I value your insights significantly more than our respective broadcast partners, Anzu, even though you turned your back on the superior brand when the rabble came knocking. That briefcase is our insurance policy to make sure that our World Champion Danny Toner cannot suffer the embarrassing fate which befell Devin Golden earlier this year.”
Rod Sterling “Of course one of Golden’s main reasons for wanting to win this match is to prevent himself from being cashed in on again were he to become the FWA World Champion again through other means.”
Golden kicking out of the pin attempt only served to gain him more punishment at the hands of Executive Excellence, but Golden will know that if he is able to hold on for just a couple more minutes, that he will not be the only subject of EE’s assault. Once again, Golden is brought up and Knox approaches him from behind and puts Golden up onto his shoulders and Parr shoves Golden back so he hangs backwards off of Knox’s shoulders. Parr then gets on the mat behind Knox and pushes Golden’s back with his legs from the mat and Knox continues the momentum forward in an Inverted Alabama Slam… and GABRIELLE CATCHES GOLDEN WITH A CODEBREAKER ON THE WAY DOWN!!
There is an audible gasp from Golden as he is winded by the combination offence from Executive Excellence. Shots of the competitors in the pods show contrasting emotions; concern from Best, enjoyment from Peacock as he taps on the plexiglass with his cane and total indifference and focus from Cyrus Truth. Once again, Golden is brought up by Knox and once again Golden somehow finds the resolve inside of himself to fight back and he Headbutts Knox in the mouth which knocks ‘The Anointed’ back but once again Golden is stopped in his tracks by the superior numbers.
Parr traps one of Golden’s arms after he went for Gabrielle and Parr pulls him back… AND HE PLANTS GOLDEN ON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD WITH A ROLLING CUTTER!!
Rod Sterling “You could feel the anger in that Rolling Cutter from Mike Parr! He’s probably got a bone to pick with Golden after it was Golden’s protege Lizzie Rose that defeated him for the North American Championship on Fallout 020.”
Allen Price “Maybe Devin will have to channel some of his inner Lizzie Rose, and make sure that he just keeps getting up after all of this punishment he is taking. It is not that much longer until the next competitor is going to enter the match - not long until some reprieve for the New Orleans native!”
Despite dropping Golden with one of his signature moves, Parr opts to not go for the cover and instead he instructs both Gabrielle and Knox to hold Devin down on the mat. Knox and Gabrielle seem confused initially, but they then do as their stablemate requests and with Gabrielle holding Golden’s arms back and Knox on his legs, Golden is stuck as Parr heads to the turnbuckle that is in front of Chris Peacock’s pod.
The fans are hushed as they realise what it is that Parr is probably lining up here… until Parr reaches up and grabs the top of the pod and starts to pull himself up.
Anzu Kurosawa “This part of your plan, Jean-Luc? Mike Parr is climbing to the top of that pod and if he can Mark the Spot from up there, then Devin Golden is assuredly going to be eliminated from this match!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Sometimes you need to be willing to take risks, Anzu… wait, what’s Peacock doing? HE CAN’T DO THAT!”
To probably their own surprise, the fans find themselves cheering Peacock wildly as Peacock attempts to reach up and grab Parr’s boot as Parr steadies himself on the top of the pod - the wide chain link allowing Peacock to jump and touch Parr’s boot and he holds it down once he gets a grip! Parr punches at Peacock’s fingers to break his grip… but Chris grabs Parr’s hand instead and then pulls it down! Parr’s arm is yanked through the top of the pod by Peacock and he is left trapped!
It probably irks Peacock to have to call to Golden to work together, but Peacock shouts over to ‘The Rotten Gold’ that he has Parr trapped and he can escape. Golden understands and does his best to shake both Knox and Gabrielle off, but they instead mob him and lay into him with punches and kicks as the lights dim once again. The aerial shot of the structure and the pods shows Parr frantically trying to free his arm as the spotlight flickers between the three remaining occupied pods.
CYRUS TRUTH @ 10:00
Allen Price “Cyrus Truth! Cyrus has featured in the Golden Opportunity match on several occasions, but has yet to walk out with the briefcase. Tonight he has that chance, but he must make it through Executive Excellence, although Peacock is doing his best to keep Parr out of commission for the time being!”
Cyrus quickly exits his pod and gets into the ring where Kayden Knox is the first to approach him but Cyrus knocks him down with a Clothesline, and Gabrielle then gets one too! Knox is straight back up but Cyrus avoids his swing and Cyrus hits him in the back of the knee to drop him down and Truth then runs the ropes and runs through Knox with a Big Boot to the face - Knox takes a walk down the Broken Path! It is then Gabrielle’s turn once again, and Truth goes for another Clothesline but Gabriel ducks out of the way so Truth stops in his tracks and grabs Gabby by the head and drops her down with a Neckbreaker!
Getting back up after taking Gabrielle down, Truth hears the shouts of Chris Peacock and sees that Parr is still stuck in the position that Peacock had trapped him in, possibly with an entirely disconnected shoulder. Truth sees the position that Parr is in and then climbs onto the second rope and reaches up, clubbing Parr on the back. Peacock finally releases ‘The Prodigy’, but all this does is allow Cyrus the chance to allow Parr’s body to fall down onto his shoulders. The fans cheer as Cyrus turns and faces the ring with Parr up in an Argentine Rack… AND CYRUS HITS PARR WITH THE EXILE’S EDGE FROM THE SECOND ROPE!!
The crowd go ballistic for the big move, and a still very-fresh Cyrus Truth scrambles across the ring to Parr and he goes for a cover;
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!!
The pin is broken up by Kayden Knox! Knox bundles Cyrus down and lands some heavy blows to Truth whilst he has him down on the mat.
Anzu Kurosawa “This is the other thing Executive Excellence can do; not only can they work together to eliminate all of the competition from the match, but they can prevent each other’s eliminations, too.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “You would not often see pin attempts being broken up in a Steel Roulette match, but this is not presently every person for themselves. Parr, Knox and Montgomery all understand that Executive Excellence winning is the important thing. It matters not which one of them is the one to be officially recognised as the winner when all is said and done.”
Kayden Knox does manage to land some heavy blows to Cyrus’s face as Parr takes a moment to recover from the big move that he was just on the receiving end of. There is a look of fury in Knox’s eyes as he breaks through Cyrus’s guard and strikes him clean on the nose with a forearm. Knox though is prevented from causing any further damage to Truth as Devin Golden is back to his feet and he tackles Knox off of Truth. This gets a big cheer as Golden does what he can to get a measure of revenge on Knox for everything that he has had done to him during the match, and that particular tussle takes both Knox and Golden through the ropes where they battle between the pod housing Jeremy Best and the now-empty pod which Cyrus Truth emerged from.
In the ring, both Gabrielle and Cyrus find themselves picking themselves up from the mat at the same time, and Cyrus beats Gabrielle to the punch so to speak and he cracks Gabrielle with an elbow strike. Cyrus follows up with a Knife Edge Chop across Gabrielle’s chest and she slumps back into the corner and Cyrus tees up another chop on her which stings her chest. A quick trip from Cyrus forces Gabrielle into the corner against the bottom turnbuckle and ‘The Exile’ takes a moment to look around at the fans who cheer him on in encouragement as Cyrus stomps away on Gabrielle’s head with the First Five Steps!
In actuality, it is only four steps, as Gabrielle manages to catch Cyrus’s boot on the fourth and the former goddess wears a sadistic grin on her face as she stands up with Truth’s boot in her hand and she spins Cyrus around, right into a Dropkick from Mike Parr! Cyrus goes down as Gabrielle and Parr quickly give each other a nod to confirm that they’re both okay. Parr picks Truth up as Gabrielle drops to a knee, and Parr takes Truth over with a Vertical Suplex, and Truth lands across the knee that Gabrielle offered up for him.
Jean-Luc Watkins “Excellence will always come through, gentlemen. They might think that together they can stop this well-oiled machine, but they would be incorrect. Even after a couple of minor setbacks, we are back in control of this match.”
Anzu Kurosawa “It took some steely determination from Gabrielle to turn things around on Cyrus like that, but to me it looks like Kayden Knox could use some help against Devin Golden on the outside!”
A section of the crowd not focused on the goings on in the ring are cheering at very loud levels as Devin Golden is completely having his way with Kayden Knox on the outside of the ring, and the camera picks the action back up as Golden lifts Knox up, looking for the Rotten Touch on the steel floor, but Knox lands on his feet behind Golden. Knox connects with a Headbutt to Golden, and attempts to send him into the chamber wall, but Golden turns it around and Knox collides with the chain link fence… and he’s immediately busted open!
Bleeding from just above his eyebrow, Knox’s vision is impaired due to the gushing blood getting in his left eye. Golden twirls his moustache and smirks at Knox, and then clubs him on the back. A glance over at Knox by Gabrielle causes her to leave Cyrus for Parr to deal with alone as her tag team partner is clearly in need of assistance. Golden backs away a few paces from Knox and has his leg locked, ready to do something to Knox, perhaps pay homage to Randy Ramon with a Remix, but Gabrielle grabs Golden’s arm and holds him in place… AND KNOX CHARGES FORWARD AND TACKLES DEVIN GOLDEN THROUGH THE PLEXIGLASS OF THE EMPTY POD BEHIND HIM!!
Rod Sterling “Oh no! Kayden Knox - angered about Golden drawing his blood - has just potentially taken Devin Golden out of the match with that right there. I know we can’t do much about it, but Golden needs a medic urgently, folks.”
Even Gabrielle was shocked to see Knox actually go through with it, as the replays are shown several times. Golden’s body is unmoving, as is Knox’s on top of him, but Gabrielle navigates her way through the cracked plexiglass and she pulls Knox out of the wreckage, just as the lights dim once more.
Jean-Luc Watkins “This is going to be Chris Peacock or Jeremy Best, wrestling fans. Executive Excellence are still in control of this match, so it does not matter which one of them it is, because they too will succumb to our superiority!”
JEREMY BEST @ 15:00
A big cheer goes up when it is revealed that Jeremy Best is the penultimate man to enter the match, and a brief shot of Chris Peacock shows the former X Champion smirking to himself about securing the final entry spot.
Allen Price “Chris Peacock fans can rejoice, but for now it is Jeremy Best - the man who holds a recent victory over the current FWA World Champion Danny Toner. This is someone that will believe they can cash in that briefcase should he be the one to walk out of New Orleans with it!”
Best’s pod opens up into the carnage in front of him with Devin Golden laid in the remnants of the adjacent pod and Gabrielle helping Knox up to his feet immediately in front of ‘Your New Best Friend’. Gabrielle sees that the next entrant in the match is right in front of her so she sets Knox down and approaches Jeremy and goes for a forearm strike, but Jeremy ducks it but instead brings Gabrielle in for a hug - and then takes her over with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex on the steel floor!
As Gabrielle rolls under the bottom rope and back into the ring, Jeremy looks to approach the ring himself, but Kayden Knox - who is just about with it - goes for Best, but Jeremy ducks down and elevates Knox over the top rope and Knox lands on the mat. Best then gets into the ring and sees Mike Parr stomping away on Cyrus Truth. Best runs at Parr as ‘The Prodigy’ turns around and Best connects with a Shotgun Dropkick to Parr’s chest, sending him barrelling backwards onto his back. Cyrus Truth gets up from the mat and squares up to Jeremy Best, and the two stare at each other for a moment.
Rod Sterling “This is a mirror image of the Jailhouse Blues match that took place at the Seventeenth Anniversary show; Cyrus Truth and Jeremy Best started that match off together and Cyrus memorably slapped the taste out of Jeremy’s mouth when Best offered a handshake. It seems that Best has learned his lesson!”
The staredown does not come to anything between Best and Cyrus themselves, as Kayden Knox is back on the scene again but Best cuts him off with a kick to the midsection and Knox lands on his knees. Best then lays into Knox’s chest with a couple of stinging kicks, and then a third to the face on the cut eyebrow takes Knox down again. Cyrus has Parr in the corner and he gives ‘The Prodigy’ a taste of the First Five Steps, and is able to connect with all five stomps as planned on this occasion.
With Executive Excellence now at bay, Best and Cyrus find themselves at a crossroads once again, and it appears that this time they will focus on each other and they circle the ring before coming together and Best offers his hand to Truth once again - just like how he did at the Anniversary Show - and this time Cyrus accepts the handshake to a good cheer, BUT BEST THEN TAKES TRUTH OVER WITH AN ARM DRAG! Both men get back up and this time Truth reacts quicker and takes Best over with an Arm Drag of his own.
Again, both Cyrus and Best get back up and Truth grabs Best’s leg in an attempt for a Fisherman Suplex, but Best shoves Truth away and then brings his other foot up to connect with an Enziguiri to the back of the head! Cyrus is rocked by the kick but does not go down, and Best looks for a follow up with an Irish Whip into the ropes, but Truth turns it around and he rocks Jeremy’s shit with a Discus Punch right to the face! Best firms the blow and stays on his feet, but Cyrus quickly follows up the punch with an Enziguiri of his own and Best drops down to a knee. Cyrus quickly gets back up and then runs the ropes and connects with a knee to the face of Best, and then follows that with a standing knee drop to the face! Truth goes for a pin of his own on Best;
ONE… TWO… NO!!
Jean-Luc Watkins “Cyrus Truth unable to pick up an elimination of Jeremy Best coming off the Wanderer’s Wrath, but here’s Gabrielle to come in and strike Cyrus with a Roundhouse Kick to put the old man down! Notice how Gabrielle waited for that pin to happen before rejoining the fray, we don’t care if these guys fight and eliminate each other!”
Rod Sterling “It looks like Gabrielle could be about to give Cyrus a taste of his own medicine though, because she’s dragging him over to that corner where he had her in position earlier on.”
Gabrielle looks down at Cyrus with scorn and then drives her boot into his face several times, making Truth get a taste of the First Five Steps himself, but Gabrielle does not stop at just five! Truth’s body becomes less and less rigid with each stomp to his face draining some of the fight out of him. Once Truth’s body is fully limp, Gabrielle turns around to see Jeremy Best in front of her, getting to his feet after his dalliance with Cyrus. Gabrielle kicks Jeremy in the midsection and she looks to hook Best up for the EMPTY DREAMS DDT - BUT JEREMY SPINS OUT OF IT AND GETS GABRIELLE UP ON HIS SHOULDERS - AND JEREMY BEST DRILLS GABRIELLE WITH THE BFF!!
The fans cheer loudly to get behind Jeremy as he goes down to make a cover, and he hooks Gabrielle’s legs, surely to take her out of the match!
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
KAYDEN KNOX SAVES HIS TAG TEAM PARTNER! Not for the first time in this match, the bloodied and half-broken Knox saves a fellow EE member, and Jeremy shoves Knox away from him… but this leaves Best open for Mike Parr to charge in and crack Best across the face with a Shining Wizard! Everyone in the ring is now down due to either damage taken or just exhaustion in some cases, and Gabrielle is still spread-eagle after taking the BFF from Best.
Anzu Kurosawa “This is becoming hard to keep track of now, but that’s why Steel Roulette matches are so much fun! All of this chaos… who knows what is going to happen next?”
Allen Price “I think I have a good idea, Anzu, but I don’t know how well this is going to end…”
In among all of the flurry of action taking place in the middle of the ring, DEVIN GOLDEN HAS BEEN ABLE TO SCALE THE POD THAT HE WAS BARRELLED THROUGH! Golden steadies himself and stands up to keep his balance by holding onto the ceiling of the structure and he looks around to see the New Orleans crowd at a fever pitch for him. He grins broadly and GOLDEN LEAPS FROM THE TOP OF THE POD AND HE LANDS ON TOP OF GABRIELLE WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH!!!
Rod Sterling “GOLDEN TOUCH! GOLDEN TOUCH FROM THE TOP OF THE STEEL ROULETTE! DEVIN GOLDEN IS A MADMAN! Go on, Devin, cover! Pin her, Devin!”
Golden holds his ribs after the almighty fall from the top of the pod, but he does edge himself backwards and leans back over Gabrielle, limply lifting one of her legs up whilst holding his hand across his body. Cyrus Truth and Jeremy Best see what is happening… AND THEY HOLD KNOX AND PARR BACK AS THE REF COUNTS A PIN ON GABRIELLE!!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
GABRIELLE BY DEVIN GOLDEN @ 19:37
Jean-Luc Watkins “No!”
Caesar’s Superdome goes wild for the first elimination of the Golden Opportunity match, and it is a shock as it is the only person in the match to have won it before as the first person to be eliminated from it! Gabrielle is ushered out of the ring by the referee as Knox and Parr are released from the respective clutches of Jeremy Best and Mike Parr. Golden backs away out of the ring to recover due to what that move took out of him, and everyone else stays down in the ring, some of them rocked by what has just happened.
Allen Price “That’s one, Jean-Luc! There’s two more to go and guess what? It’s time for the final entrant to make their way into the match! He’s not going to come alone, either!”
The reaction in the arena flips on its head as the lights dim again, with everyone knowing that Chris Peacock is about to enter the match. Peacock taps the singapore cane on the side of his pod and the spotlight flickers on the one pod left to be opened until the buzzer sounds!
CHRIS PEACOCK @ 20:00
Rod Sterling “Chris Peacock has the advantage over his fellow competitors in this match by being the one to enter last. We saw that he’s had a bearing on this match from inside his pod when he restrained Mike Parr earlier on, but now he’s in the match and he’s got that cane with him!”
The door to Peacock’s pod slides open, just as the main door to Steel Roulette closes to allow Gabrielle to leave the match after being eliminated. Peacock takes a deep breath and then gets into the ring and the first person he sees is Jeremy Best… AND PEACOCK CRACKS BEST IN THE TOP OF THE HEAD WITH THE CANE! Jeremy crumbles to the floor and Peacock then meets an advancing Cyrus Truth with a cane shot to the midsection, and Peacock then brings the cane down on Cyrus’s back!
Despite attacking Best and Cyrus, Peacock’s eyes have been locked on Parr and Knox the entire time, and PEACOCK SWINGS THE CANE FOR KNOX - BUT KAYDEN DUCKS - AND MIKE PARR COPS A SHOT BETWEEN THE EYES INSTEAD!! Parr goes down and Knox grabs Peacock from behind and pins his arms down against his sides. Peacock brings his feet up using the turnbuckle and manages to flip over Knox and he lands on his feet and then cracks the cane off of Knox’s shoulder! Kayden admirably does not go down after this, so Peacock decides to just pepper Knox with the cane as many times as he can until Knox goes down.
With everyone he has attacked already down on the mat after their meetings with the singapore cane, Peacock turns around to see Devin Golden in front of him and the fans are extremely loud as Peacock approaches Golden, with the cane still in his hand. ‘FUCK YOU PEA-COCK! DE-VIN GOL-DEN!’ is the chants from the fans. This brings a smile to Devin Golden’s face, but Peacock remains stoic; the chants are not bothering him whatsoever. Not wanting to discriminate between Golden and the remaining competitors, Peacock swings for Golden with the cane, but Golden ducks it and then cracks Peacock in the mouth with a forearm!
The strike causes Peacock to drop the cane and Golden follows up with a couple more to knock Peacock towards the ropes. It is not long though until Peacock regains his bearings and fires back with a couple of his own, and given what Golden has been through thus far in this match, he is unable to go toe-to-toe with a fresh Chris Peacock. Peacock rocks Golden with a couple of jabs and then spins on the spot and instead of a disco pose, he offers Golden a middle finger right in front of his face! Peacock smirks as the crowd boos, but they soon start cheering when GOLDEN BITES PEACOCK’S FINGER!
Jean-Luc Watkins “Chris Peacock has never been above maiming or seriously injuring a fellow competitor, so why should Golden treat him any differently?!”
Peacock grabs his finger and screams as he holds it to his chest, and this allows Golden to lift Peacock up… AND GOLDEN PLANTS PEACOCK WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING! Peacock takes the big move, but Golden is unable to follow up as a very angry Kayden Knox has taken possession of Peacock’s cane and he smacks the cane off of Golden’s back! Knox snaps the cane over his knee and throws the two broken halves away so they can no longer be of use to anyone.
Knox scans his surroundings and sees Truth emerging from the mat but Knox plants him back down on the mat with some PEACE OF MIND! Knox’s feet drive Truth into the mat forcefully, and Truth rolls out of the ring, leaving Knox unable to follow up. Knox attempts to rouse Parr, with blood still dripping from the abrasion on his face, but Parr has a cut on his own forehead to worry about after taking that cane straight to the face.
Anzu Kurosawa “You can just see the toll that this match is taking on some of these competitors, just for how exhausted some of them are and the fact that some of them are bleeding for this opportunity.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “A shot at the FWA World Championship at any time you please? Seems as worthy an endeavour as anything else to bleed for, Anzu. Speaking of, Knox has lost a lot of blood and I think he’s going to have to work on his own for the moment with Parr out of commission.”
Looking around the ring, Knox sees Peacock on his hands and knees after Golden’s Rotten Touch, and Knox then decides to set his sights on the former ‘Boogie Man’ and Knox runs the ropes, looking for the EXECUTIVE EXECUTION… but before Knox can land the stomp on the back of Peacock’s neck, BEST CATCHES KNOX ON HIS SHOULDERS… AND BEST PUTS KNOX’S LIGHTS OUT WITH THE BFF!! Much like Gabrielle, her tag team partner takes the knee to the face from Best, and Best goes for the pin himself!
Allen Price “Best catches Knox, and this time there doesn’t appear to be anyone jumping in to stop Best from getting this pin because it was Knox himself that got hit with that move!”
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
KAYDEN KNOX BY JEREMY BEST @ 23:59
A big cheer goes up from the New Orleans fans, and Best sits up from Knox - ALLOWING PEACOCK TO RUN THROUGH BEST WITH THE STRUT!!
Rod Sterling “Kayden Knox is out but Jeremy Best is in trouble too; Chris Peacock hits him with the Strut, and that was the move Peacock used last year to be the first person to pin Best in FWA! Peacock goes for the cover!”
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
A big cheer goes up as Best kicks out of The Strut, and Peacock sits with his head in his hands, frustrated that he was not able to secure himself a quick elimination. Kayden Knox is helped up by the referee after the count of Peacock’s pin and as he leaves he looks angry about falling short in Golden Opportunity for the fourth time in his career. The match must move on, and Mike Parr rises to his feet in the corner, blood dripping from the cut across his nose, and ‘The Prodigy’ accepts his position as the final Executive Excellence member in the match.
Peacock rises up too and notes Cyrus Truth by the ropes and Peacock charges in, looking to Clothesline him out of the ring, but Cyrus ducks down and he sends Peacock over the top rope with a Back Body Drop - and Peacock lands the hard way on the steel flooring on the outside of the ring! Devin Golden rushes to his feet and he tries the same thing that Peacock did, getting the same result! Although, Golden manages to balance himself on the top rope… GOLDEN TOUCH FROM THE TOP ROPE ONTO PEACOCK BELOW!! The crowd cheers their favourite in the match, chanting his name again, and both he and his Back in Business opponent hold their ribs whilst down outside of the ring.
Anzu Kurosawa “Great athleticism there from Devin Golden; it was at the expense of his own body, but he’s probably done all of the others a favour by temporarily incapacitating Peacock, the freshest man in the match. Now look at this in the ring, an old rivalry revisited with Mike Parr and Cyrus Truth the only men standing.”
Rod Sterling “Both of these men will go down as two of the greatest FWA competitors of all time, but neither have won the Golden Opportunity briefcase before. Jean-Luc, surely Parr has prepared to face Cyrus Truth in this match?”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Mike Parr is the best technical wrestler in the world, Rod. There isn’t anyone that is or could be in this match that he would not be ready for. Mike is the last bastion of hope for Executive Excellence in this match and I fully believe that he will be able to bring this home for us and give us our insurance policy.”
Parr, who has been in the match for over twenty minutes now and definitely looks like he has, approaches Truth as Peacock and Golden had done so, but anticipates the elevation upwards and instead boots Cyrus in the face, knocking him back. Parr picks Truth up into a Vertical Suplex, and then bounces his legs off the top rope before taking him back! Parr expertly floats over into a cover and hooks both legs tight; his proficiency showing through even through his hurt state.
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!!
Truth manages to pop out of the pin and shoot his shoulder off of the mat to break the count, but Parr does not allow his former nemesis to get up and he stays on top of Cyrus and drives his knee repeatedly into Truth’s head whilst staying on top of him. Parr pulls Cyrus up from the mat and applies a Double Underhook, and takes him over with a Double Underhook Suplex! Parr decides to keep the underhook applied and he flips Truth over and then pops his hips to take Truth over for a second one!
As he looks to complete the trifecta, Parr has Jeremy Best to contend with once again, so he drops Cyrus to the mat and meets Best with a kick to the midsection and attempts to take him over with a Double Underhook Suplex as well, but Best spins out of it and cracks Parr with a forearm to the face. This allows Best to take Parr up and over with a Vertical Suplex of his own! Best rolls his hips on the mat and Parr goes for the ride once again and Best hits his second Amigo of the three. As Jeremy looks for the third suplex in his combination, Truth is up once again, and Best looks to hook him up as well.
Best tries to take both Cyrus and Parr over for the same time, but he cannot lift them both up, so working together, Parr and Truth take Best over with a Double Suplex!
Allen Price “I didn’t think we’d be seeing Cyrus Truth and Mike Parr working together at any point during this match, but Best maybe bit off more than he can chew there.”
With Best taken care of, Parr and Truth resume their tangle from a few moments ago and Parr beats Truth to the mark with a kick to the midsection, and Parr then bends Truth’s body back and hooks his head under his arm… looking for the ROLLING CUTTER - BUT CYRUS BLOCKS IT! A punch to the injured nose of Parr from underneath by Cyrus breaks Parr’s grip on the veteran, and Truth then scoops Parr up onto his shoulders into a Fireman’s Carry… JOURNEY’S END! Cyrus reaches forward and pulls Parr’s legs up, and Larry Stevens drops down to make the count!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
MIKE PARR BY CYRUS TRUTH @ 27:31
Jean-Luc Watkins “...”
The fans cheer wildly as with Mike Parr’s elimination, executive Excellence’s involvement in the match is over - no insurance policies will be obtained today! Parr is rolled out of the ring by the referee and Truth stands up after hitting the Journey’s End and getting the third elimination of the match, meaning that there are just four competitors left inside the Steel Roulette.
Rod Sterling “We are down to four, folks. Devin Golden, Cyrus Truth, Chris Peacock or Jeremy Best. One of these men will be walking out of Caesar’s Superdome with a guaranteed shot at the FWA World Championship at any time before Back in Business XVII!”
Anzu Kurosawa “Look at those four as well. You’ve got two legends of the business and multiple-time World Champions in Truth and Golden, and then Peacock and Best - less than three years FWA experience between them and neither having been FWA World Champion before - rounding out the rest of the field.”
Cyrus spots Devin Golden standing on the outside of the ring and then approaches ‘The Rotten Gold’, looking to bring him back into the ring, which he does. Truth keeps a front facelock applied and then runs towards the corner with Golden still in his clutches and jumps up into the air, kicking off the top turnbuckle and then planting Golden on the top of his head - for the umpteenth time in this match - with a Tornado DDT! It is not the usual offence one would expect from Truth, but he gets up and tenses his fists in front of him to surge on the crowd, who would rather he was attacking anyone other than Golden.
Devin’s awareness allows him to get back up to his feet where he settles in the corner, Cyrus charges in and connects with a Corner Clothesline. Truth senses Best approaching from behind and then violently grabs Jeremy’s forehead and plants him on the mat with the MEMENTO MORI! Cyrus opts not to cover Best and he turns his attention back towards Golden, and he scoops him up onto his shoulders into a Fireman’s Carry, just as he had done so to Mike Parr.
Rod Sterling “Cyrus Truth looking for that Journey’s End again - he pinned Devin Golden on the most recent edition of Fallout and he’s got the chance to do so again here if he can put ‘The Rotten Gold’ away with this!”
Truth looks to initiate JOURNEY'S END ON GOLDEN - BUT CHRIS PEACOCK GRABS GOLDEN’S BOOT AND PULLS DEVIN DOWN! Cyrus turns around and Peacock cracks ‘The Exile’ with a stinging forearm, and then kicks him in the midsection and drops him onto his face with a Famouser. Truth bounces straight back up and Peacock and Golden look at each other for a moment… AND PEACOCK AND GOLDEN BOTH DRILL TRUTH WITH A DOUBLE REMIX KICK TO THE JAW!!
Anzu Kurosawa “Stereo Remix Superkicks in tribute to their former mutual friend ‘Rockstar’ Randy Ramon!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “Someone mentioned Truth and Parr working together earlier on, but who thought that we’d be seeing something like this? Peacock - the fool - could have just allowed Cyrus to eliminate Golden and then picked up the pieces!”
The crowd cheers for Golden and Peacock’s momentary alliance, and Peacock then motions for Golden to climb up the turnbuckle. Golden seems hesitant at first, but then opts to go along with the plan. Truth is down in perfect position for Devin Golden to steady himself and stand on the top rope… AND GOLDEN FLIES FROM THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND CRASHES DOWN ONTO TRUTH WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH!! Golden holds his ribs again and then hooks Truth’s legs…
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
CYRUS TRUTH BY DEVIN GOLDEN @ 29:45
Rod Sterling “That’s a third Golden Touch of the Steel Roulette, and a second elimination for Devin Golden!”
The fans are elated as Golden gets up onto his knees after getting his second elimination of the match… BUT IT LEAVES HIM IN PERFECT POSITION FOR PEACOCK TO HIT THE ROPES AND THEN RUN THROUGH ‘THE ROTTEN GOLD’ WITH A STRUT!!
Allen Price “YES! Looks like Chris took your advice, J-L!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “That snake!”
Chris Peacock wears a broad grin on his face as he drops to his own knees and gets on top of Golden and the crowd showers the entire situation with boos and negativity as Peacock hooks the outside leg of the battered Devin Golden;
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
DEVIN GOLDEN BY CHRIS PEACOCK @ 30:04
Rod Sterling “And then there were two! What an effort by Devin Golden, outlasting that brutal onslaught by Executive Excellence at the beginning of the match and eliminating two competitors himself. It is not the result that New Orleans hoped for, but they can be very proud of what their hometown hero managed to accomplish in this match. As things are though, either Chris Peacock or Jeremy Best will be walking out of Steel Roulette with the Golden Opportunity briefcase!”
Jean-Luc Watkins “This is where Chris Peacock made it to last year, but he was soundly defeated by Nova Diamond. Everyone in New Orleans right now is hoping that Jeremy Best can cause history to repeat itself. Everyone in this building is Jeremy’s friend right now!”
Allen Price “Speak for yourself, Jean-Luc. This is the moment that Chris Peacock has been preparing for for months. Jeremy is just going to have to wait in line like Chris had to do last year. This is Peacock’s time to fly!”
As indicated by Watkins, the crowd is firmly in the corner of Jeremy Best now that their preferred choice has been ousted from the match. This is evidenced by the chanting of ‘FUCK YOU PEA-COCK!’ booming around the entire arena. The man that the chanting is directed at, Chris Peacock himself, tunes it all out. He watches Devin Golden and Cyrus Truth both being removed from the Steel Roulette chamber, and then spots Jeremy Best rising to his feet in the corner furthest away from him.
Best takes a moment to get his composure and stands up straight to face Peacock. Peacock sarcastically offers a handshake out to Best, but Jeremy is wise to the mind games and he attempts to lock up with Peacock, but Chris is quicker and more aggressive, and he lands a few jabs on Best which knocks him back towards the ropes. Peacock sends Best across the ring, or attempts to, as Best reverses it and sends Peacock for the ride instead, and Peacock leaps into the air and crashes down on top of Best with a Running Glitterball Drop!
Peacock gets up off of Jeremy’s chest and then picks Best up from the mat and sends him into the corner and mounts the second rope. The crowd show their hatred towards Peacock by accompanying each strike with a collective shout of ‘NO!’. Peacock reaches nine punches and instead of hitting a tenth or biting Jeremy’s head as he often does, he holds his arms out and soaks in the jeers towards him. Unfortunately for Peacock, this allows Best to reach up and smack Peacock across the chest. Best shuffles up the turnbuckle through Peacock’s legs and then strikes him on the top of the head a couple of times to drop him down onto the second rope. Jeremy stands in front of Peacock and then carefully places his foot on the wall of the pod behind him and he kicks off… BUDDY BOMB FROM THE TOP ROPE!!!
The back of Peacock’s head slams on the mat in the middle of the ring after the Sunset Flip Powerbomb out of the corner with the assistance of the pod, and Best quickly jumps on top of Peacock and hooks the far leg!
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins “I thought Best almost had him, wrestling fans! The fans here in New Orleans did too! Chris Peacock is somehow stayin’ alive in this match against near-everyone’s will!”
As both Best and Peacock make their way up to their feet after the Buddy Bomb and near fall, the New Orleans crowd can be heard making loud choking noises in the direction of Chris Peacock, referencing his past close-calls when it came to big matches. Peacock shakes his head, doing everything he can to block all of the noise out, but he goes for a lazy swing at Best which Jeremy is easily able to duck underneath, and BEST SCOOPS PEACOCK UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS… BFF - NO! PEACOCK CATCHES BEST’S LEG AND THEN DROPS DOWN INTO A KNEEBAR!!!
Allen Price “You spoke too soon, Jean-Luc! You know what this is - it’s the Commentator’s Curse! Peacock’s got Best trapped!”
Jeremy calls out in pain as Peacock yanks back as hard as he can on his right leg; Best will know that Peacock has snapped the legs of Christian Quinn and Sauce Man with this move in the past and with everything on the line as it is now, he will not hesitate to do the same here. Best claws on the mat trying to reach the ropes, but it won’t matter as there is nothing that the referee can do to compel Peacock to break the hold unless Best submits. Jeremy tries breaking Peacock’s grip, but Peacock has the submission locked in tight and he cranks back even further on Best’s knee the more that Best attempts to break the hold.
His hand hovers above the mat, and the crowd wills Jeremy Best on to endure the hold and get out of it, not wanting to see Peacock walk away with the briefcase through a submission win at the end of the chamber. It seems like Best is about to slam his hand on the mat, but he instead balls his hand into a fist whilst shaking his head - refusing to submit after having come this far himself. Peacock screams for Best to submit, threatening to snap his knee, but Best refuses and uses his free leg to kick Peacock in the face several times, but Peacock does not break free of the hold.
Anzu Kurosawa “I don’t think there is anything that Jeremy Best can do to make Peacock let go of this. Peacock is a man possessed and Jeremy’s got to think about his future!”
Allen Price “There’s always next year, Jeremy. Do yourself a favour and tap! Live to see another day, kid! How can you find Krash with one leg?”
Jeremy grits his teeth and pulls himself back, bringing Peacock’s weight with him, and he leans back, grabbing the top rope with both hands and he pulls himself up, again bringing Peacock with him. Best is now standing up and he uses this position to desperately stomp on Peacock’s face, with no other way of escaping the Commentator’s Curse. This seems to work, and Peacock’s grip loosens enough for Best to grab Peacock’s arms… AND BEST STARTS STOMPING ON PEACOCK’S HEAD!
Several boots land to the face of Chris Peacock, and eventually, Best stands up straight, but seems to be struggling to put weight on his right foot due to the damage taken as part of being trapped in the submission… but Best retains the grip of Peacock’s arms and then rolls through with him… AND BEST LOCKS IN THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELET ON CHRIS PEACOCK!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins “The Friendship Bracelet is locked in! Best has Peacock trapped now, how do you like them apples, Peacock?!”
Jeremy IS able to lock in the Cross Armbar submission on Peacock, and Chris is now the one groaning in pain as he is trapped in the middle of the ring with Best’s legs around his arm and Best now pulls back as far as he can on the hold and the crowd implores Peacock to tap out, taunting him with the choking noises, and Peacock refuses. He is unable himself to break Best’s grip of his arm so he uses his free arm and grabs Best’s ankle of the leg he had trapped in the kneebar and Peacock contorts Best’s leg as much as he can with his free hand.
Now it is Jeremy wincing in pain and Peacock pulls on his leg as much as he can and eventually the pressure becomes too much for Best to cope with. Peacock stretches out his arm as he is released from the Friendship Bracelet, and he backs into the ropes and watches as Best sits up whilst holding his knee… Peacock grins as he approaches Best, picking up speed… PEACOCK STRIKES BEST WITH THE STRUT FOR THE SECOND TIME!!
Allen Price “YES! That has to be it!”
The crowd boos loudly as Peacock falls on top of Jeremy, pinning him with the bad leg hooked, making it even harder for Best to kick out;
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
Allen Price “...”
BEST KICKS OUT OF THE STRUT FOR THE SECOND TIME! The fans go WILD and cheer before descending back into the choking noises aimed at Peacock, and Peacock is STUNNED! Peacock has a look of total bewilderment on his face as he looks down at Best, who is unmoving on the mat. Best kicked out, but he looks spent.
Rod Sterling “Extraordinary! Perhaps this hostile crowd is getting to Peacock; is he about to choke again? What else could he possibly have to do to put Jeremy Best away?”
Peacock’s face turns from one of shock and confusion to anger and aggression, he picks Best up and puts the deadweight over his shoulder and then runs Best into the nearest turnbuckle. Lifting Best up again, Peacock charges as fast as he can with him on his shoulders and sends him into the opposite turnbuckle… AND THEN PLANTS HIM ON THE MAT WITH A SPINEBUSTER!!
Allen Price “The Roller Disco! No one has ever kicked out of that. This has got to be it now, surely?”
Chris moves on his knees and lays himself flat on top of Best’s chest and waits for the referee to count the pin, he closes his eyes with a small and relieved smile on his face.
ONE… TWO… THREE-
NO!!!!!
BEST SHOOTS THE SHOULDER UP!!
Allen Price “WHAT?!”
Nothing Peacock can do - anything it would seem - is enough to keep Jeremy Best down, and Peacock then rises to his feet in the corner with an emotionless and crazed look in his eyes, and he motions for Best to get up again. Jeremy, his eyes completely glazed over, sits up out of familiarity more than anything and with a look of no remorse in his eyes, Peacock tells him not to kick out of this one… AND PEACOCK STRIKES BEST WITH ANOTHER STRUT - THE THIRD OF THE MATCH FOR BEST! PEACOCK DROPS STRAIGHT INTO THE PIN, HOOKING BOTH LEGS!!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
JEREMY BEST BY CHRIS PEACOCK @ 35:48
Winner: Chris Peacock at 36:48
Allen Price “YES! YES! YES! HE’S ACTUALLY DONE IT! NO CHOKING TONIGHT! HE’S DONE IT!”
Kurt Harrington: “The winner of the 2022 Golden Opportunity Steel Roulette… CHRIS PEACOCK!!”
In the middle of the ring, Chris Peacock sits up from Jeremy Best’s chest and takes a deep breath; he finally seems relaxed. The New Orleans fans, who were negative in their response to him for the duration of the match, continue that trend. None of that matters to Chris Peacock, who looks in the direction of the now open door to the Steel Roulette structure to see Kurt Harrington carrying the golden briefcase in. Kurt enters the ring and holds the case out and Peacock takes it with both hands and then holds it close to his chest.
Rod Sterling “It was under two years ago that Chris Peacock made his official debut in the FWA. It was on a Pay-Per-View, it was in a multi-person match and the winner received the opportunity to challenge for a championship held by Danny Toner. Tonight, here at Lights Out, Chris Peacock has earned himself a guaranteed match for the FWA Championship at any time of his choosing up until Back in Business XVII. Talk about things coming full circle. Allen, you know Chris better than any of us here. How are you feeling right now?”
Allen Price “I’m weeping tears of joy, Rod. We spoke about it earlier on about how last year, Chris Peacock was more concerned with his emotions during this match and that’s why he came up short. Tonight, he put everything aside and focused on the task at hand and he overcame six truly great competitors. All else I’ve got to say right now is to you, Jean-Luc. I want you to tell your guy Danny Toner that if he somehow beats Alyster Black tonight, then he’s got a very big problem on his hands, my friend.”
Jean-Luc Watkins “This is about as disappointing a result that I could have hoped for, given where my preferences lie. Chris Peacock won the match fair and square, there’s nothing that can be done about it, that much is true. He’s a threat to Executive Excellence; was before tonight and after this, even more so, but believe it or not, this is the easy part. He’s guaranteed himself the shot at the big time that he’s craved for so long, but when it is just him and Danny Toner - or even Alyster Black or anyone else - when it really matters, you and I both know that he’ll choke just like he has done every time before this, Price.”
Peacock looks up from his newly-acquired briefcase and sees that Jeremy Best is standing up next to the ropes, holding the back of his head, and just about with it after the brutal onslaught he endured at the end of the match.
Best is understandably disappointed with the result, but being the good sport that he is… offers Peacock a handshake. Peacock looks down at the extended hand of sportsmanship and takes the briefcase into his left hand, and accepts the handshake from Jeremy Best.
Anzu Kurosawa “Great show there from both of the final two competitors in this match. Jeremy Best - he is someone that people have compared to Chris Peacock in the past. He made this extremely difficult for Peacock at the end. Last year, it was Peacock in Best’s position so who knows? Can Best go one step further and capture the briefcase in 2023?”
Allen Price “Say what you want about Peacock, he will give respect where it is due. Everything that Jeremy Best has done so far in the FWA is commendable and it would be obtuse of Peacock or anyone else to deny that.”
The two exchange a few words before Best nods to reaffirm his show of sportsmanship before he leaves and allows Peacock the chance to bask in his victory. Peacock drops to his knees and holds the briefcase to his chest again, a triumphant, yet determined, look in his eyes.
It is shown that the ringside area has been returned back to its normal state following the Golden Opportunity Elimination Chamber match, and the music of the former North American Champion, Johnny ‘The Legend’ Johnson, shows that the show is ready to continue following that match. The New Orleans crowd is not too favourable towards Johnson, who is accompanied to the ring by his father, Logan Darwin.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is a Two-out-of-Three Falls Match, with a sixty-minute time limit! Introducing first, accompanied by Logan Darwin… from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… weighing in at two-hundred and thirty pounds… JOHNNY ‘THE LEGEND’ JOOOOOHHNNNSSSONNNNNNNNN!!!”
Rod Sterling: “This man is a former North American Champion, and tonight he has the opportunity to propel himself back into contention for that title if he can come away with a victory in this match against Lizzie Rose.”
Allen Price: “If Johnson wins tonight that would mean he’ll have beaten the North American Champion twice in the same match, so I agree, Rod. He’s got to move back into title contention with a win tonight.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Well, Johnny Johnson has defeated Lizzie Rose before. He did so to become the North American Champion on Meltdown XVIII and that was with the help of his father, Logan Darwin. Tonight, Darwin is going to be in his corner again it would seem, and Lizzie Rose and the referee are going to need eyes in the back of their heads if they want to make sure this match progresses without involvement from Darwin.”
Johnson slides into the ring and Darwin climbs up the steps to join his son in the ring. ‘The Legend’ seems to be laser-focused tonight, not paying any mind to the fans in the arena. Darwin gets into Johnson’s ear and seems to provide some last-minute advice which Johnson responds to with a nod of understanding.
Kurt Harrington: His opponent, from Brooklyn, New York… she is the NEW FWA North American Champion… ‘THE RAVE’ LIZZIE ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSEEEE!!!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “What a moment it was when Lizzie Rose won the FWA North American Championship on Fallout 020 a few weeks ago, defeating the record-breaking champion Mike Parr and Johnny Johnson at the same time in that Triple Threat Match.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It was undeniably a tremendous moment, Anzu, but that high will only last for so long. Lizzie now has to become accustomed to the life of a champion, which means that she will need to be on the lookout for constant threats and potential challengers. Like Rod and Allen said, defeat to Johnson tonight means that this rivalry with ‘The Legend’ will be far from over.”
Rod Sterling: “That’s a great point, Jean-Luc. We already know that Big Bryan Baxter has secured himself a shot at the North American Championship at some point in the future after retrieving that case in the Secular Spooktacular earlier on tonight. Lizzie has that to put her mind on, as well as the F1 Climaxxx, but tonight her attention has to be squarely focused on the dangerous competitor in front of her.”
As Lizzie gets into the ring, she sees that Johnson is currently staring daggers at her, but a calming hand on the shoulder from Darwin keeps ‘The Legend’ from acting on his disdain towards Lizzie. Lizzie climbs up onto the second rope in the corner and holds the title up into the air with one hand and waves out to the fans with the other. The championship belt is collected by referee Richard Davis, who then performs his final checks on both competitors and then calls for the bell once Logan Darwin has taken up a spot at ringside.
Both competitors approach the middle of the ring and the determined Johnson attempts to initiate a grapple with Rose, but Lizzie easily slides through his legs and gets back up to her feet behind him. Johnson turns around and Rose catches him with a quick arm drag that sends him into the corner once he is back up. Lizzie charges in at Johnson and leaps into the air but Johnson catches her at the knees and places her on the top rope. A boot to the mouth from Lizzie sends Johnson back, and Lizzie then takes flight… but Johnson catches her!
Rose wriggles whilst caught in Johnson’s grasp and he throws her up and attempts to lift her onto his shoulders, but Lizzie shifts the momentum and takes Johnson over with another Arm Drag! With a bit more urgency, Johnson gets up and rushes Lizzie, looking for a Clothesline, but she ducks it and grabs onto Johnson’s arm and grapevines his other… CRUCIFIX BOMB!! Johnson gets planted on the back of his head and Lizzie holds Johnny in position with his shoulders down on the mat!
Allen Price: “Wow! Great move by Lizzie Rose! She’s got him pinned!”
ONE… TWO… NO!!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Johnson kicks out, and I think we can see already in this match, just how far Lizzie Rose has come in terms of her wrestling ability. It was no fluke when she beat Gabrielle at Back in Business, and when she won the North American Championship after both her and Johnson put out a classic main event.”
Holding his neck as he gets up to his knees from the attempt, Johnson catches an attempted kick from Lizzie by trapping her foot by his side and stands up whilst holding Lizzie at bay. Johnson smirks as Lizzie tries to swipe at him with both hands but cannot reach him. Johnson piefaces Rose whilst still holding her in place, and he then takes her other ankle and takes Lizzie down. Johnson leans back and this catapults Lizzie towards the corner, but she impressively lands on the top rope! Johnson fails to realise this and he gets up and turns around as Lizzie leaps back, jumps over Johnson and catches him around the waist as she goes over him into a Sunset Flip! Again, Johnson’s shoulders are on the mat!
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Another near fall for Lizzie Rose off the Bass Boom; she’s clearly looking to get that first fall early. Johnson really needs to step up his game if he’s going to stop her from being able to get the early advantage.”
Allen Price: “Lizzie does need to get two falls over Johnson if she wants to walk out of this match as the winner, remember!”
Allen Price, everyone. Lizzie rolls back and up to her feet after the near fall and Johnson does the same. Johnny charges towards Rose and this time there is nowhere for Rose to go as Johnson meets her with a knee straight to the midsection. Rose hunches over after getting winded it would appear, and Johnsom grabs her by the waist and takes her over with a Gutwrench Suplex! Logan Darwin approves of Johnson getting a footing in the match by clapping his hands at his son’s strength. Johnson stalks Rose from behind as she gets up - as she always does - and he follows up his Suplex with a Pendulum Backbreaker!
Rose’s body is left bent backwards over her opponent’s knee and Johnson pushes down on Lizzie’s chest and thigh to bend her back even further in a way that it shouldn’t. The referee gets down to check on Rose, but she shakes her head vehemently, but she’s very quickly out of the pseudo-submission as Johnson changes grips to grab her by the wrist and he pulls her in for a Short Arm Clothesline that turns Lizzie Rose inside out! Lizzie landed on her front and this leaves her lower back open for Johnson to land on her with a Senton right across her back! ‘The Legend’ gets up and cockily grins out to the fans who boo him.
Rod Sterling: “Johnny Johnson will not be a popular man here against Lizzie Rose. As we saw in the previous match, we’re in Devin Golden country, and with Rose being a protege of sorts for ‘The Rotten Gold’, they’re going to be just as behind her as they would for their own homie.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Fan support doesn’t win you matches, Rod. All of these homosapiens here might hate Johnson’s guts, but that itself is not enough to bring Lizzie Rose victory.”
Johnson opts not to go for the cover on Lizzie and instead picks her up from the mat so he can focus instead on working her over some more. With a handful of Lizzie’s hair, Johnson holds her up straight and mockingly slaps her on the cheek a couple of times. Lizzie screws her face up and then stomps on Johnson’s foot, causing him to release her hair. Lizzie connects with a couple of forearm strikes, back on the front foot now. The strikes put Johnson back a couple of steps and Lizzie turns on her heel and runs the ropes and flies at Johnson with a Shoulder Block, but Johnson is unmoved.
It becomes evident to Rose that she is going to need to get some more velocity before she can take Johnson from his feet. Johnson dares her to go again, and Lizzie charges the ropes again and connects with another shoulder to Johnson and this one knocks him back a couple more steps. Feeling the roar of the crowd willing her on behind her, Rose looks for a third shoulder block and this one sends Johnson back into the ropes and Rose steps forward to catch him off of the ropes and she has him up for A SCOOP SLAM - BUT JOHNSON SHIFTS HIS WEIGHT AND FALLS DOWN ON TOP OF ROSE INTO A PIN - AND LOGAN DARWIN HOLDS LIZZIE’S LEGS DOWN UNBEKNOWNST TO THE REFEREE!!!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Johnny Johnson wins the first fall via pin fall at 5:26
Kurt Harrington: “The winner of the first fall via pin fall… JOHNNY JOHNSON!”
The crowd are not happy and Lizzie attempts to protest once ‘The Legend’ has got up from on top of her, but her case falls on deaf ears from the referee.
Allen Price: “Again! It was because of Logan Darwin that Johnny Johnson first defeated Lizzie Rose for the North American Championship and again, he’s the difference maker in this first fall here at Lights Out.”
Rod Sterling: “We saw how quickly Lizzie Rose started this match off, and I think losing a fall this early like that will do nothing but halt her overall rhythm. You can see that the North American Champion is thrown right now by what went down.”
As Rose attempts to continue her protestations with the referee, Johnson takes the chance to clatter into her to knock her down to the floor under the bottom rope. The fans aren’t kind towards Johnson, who now has the chance to capitalise on Rose in the ringside area. Johnson grabs Rose by the hair once again and throws her over the Fallout announce table! Lizzie’s body knocks Allen Price from his chair and Jean-Luc stands up, trying to stifle a laugh. The camera focuses on Rose, who attempts to untangle herself from the mess of wires after being launched over the table. She gets to her feet and walks over towards Johnson… AND GETS SMACKED IN THE FACE WITH A STEEL CHAIR BY JOHNNY JOHNSON!!!
Rose is knocked flat and everyone looks stunned as Johnson throws the chair down to the floor, and the referee immediately calls for a disqualification!
Lizzie Rose wins the second fall via disqualification at 7:13
Kurt Harrington: “The winner of the second fall via disqualification… LIZZIE ROSE!”
Lizzie Rose is barely with it as Johnson throws the chair on the floor and Darwin applauds his son’s actions. Johnson picks Rose from up off the floor by the announce table and then rolls her back into the ring, with ‘The Legend’ sliding in after her.
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think that may have been a deliberate tactic from Johnny Johnson and Logan Darwin; once he was ahead through their underhanded methods, they would throw the second fall, and Johnson would be on top going into the final, deciding fall of the match.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “You do have to commend them; it is truly excellent strategy from the two of them, and now Johnson gets on top of Lizzie for the cover - possibly to win the match!”
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!
There is a raucous reception inside the Caesars Superdome for Rose just getting her shoulder up in time after the pin attempt, and Johnson rises to his knees with his head in his hands. Immediately, Johnson points the finger at referee Richard Davis, forcing the official into the corner through intimidation. Johnson obscures the referee’s view as Lizzie scrambles towards the ropes and gets on her knees by the top rope… and Logan Darwin takes the opportunity to cheap shot Lizzie whilst the referee’s view is obstructed.
Darwin turns away from suspicion as he shakes his hand out, and Johnson - knowing what transpired - brushes past the official and then drapes his knee over the back of Lizzie’s head and uses the middle top to squeeze some of the air out of her and cut off her circulation. Davis comes across and counts Johnson up to five, but ‘The Legend’ smartly releases at four. After putting his hands up in the air to protest his innocence, Johnson then boots Lizzie in the side of the head to knock her back down. He grabs her by the wrist and ankle to pull her away from the ropes before going for another pin attempt;
ONE… TWO… NO!!
To Johnson’s anger, Rose kicks out again, and ‘The Legend’ is still angry with the referee for his treatment in the match thus far, although he has been flagrantly cheating throughout along with Darwin on the outside.
Allen Price: “What’s Johnson blaming the referee for? He got himself purposely disqualified a couple of minutes ago to sacrifice a fall! In this kind of environment, you want the referee on your side, if anything!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Richard Davis might be rubbing Johnson up the wrong way with his dutiful officiating, but that is not stopping ‘The Legend’ from completely having his way with Lizzie Rose at the moment. He’s got her up now and those arms trapped and that allows him to deliver those hard Headbutts.”
Rose is once again helpless to Johnson’s offence as he repeatedly rams his head into hers in the middle of the ring, with Lizzie’s legs and body becoming more and more limp with every blow that connects. Johnson releases Lizzie’s arms, and she drops down onto one knee and Johnson runs his thumb across his throat to signal that the end is nigh for the North American Champion. Johnson gets behind Rose and applies a Cobra Clutch, and he lifts Rose up into the air, looking for the SECOND GREATEST FINISHER - BUT ROSE ROLLS THROUGH!
Using the momentum against the larger opponent, Lizzie evades the finishing move, and Johnson is immediately back to his feet to charge in at Rose, but ROSE JUMPS INTO THE AIR AND BRINGS HER FEET DOWN ON JOHNSON’S CHEST WITH A GOOMBA STOMP!! The fans cheer loudly as Rose hits one of her own finishes, but it is clear that it was just a desperation ploy by the North American Champion and given she is down on her back on the mat next to Johnson, she is unable to capitalise on the move and go for a pin of her own.
Richard Davis resolves to initiate a count on both competitors, with Johnson down holding the back of his head. Johnson is the first to get up at five, despite taking Lizzie’s move, and he approaches Lizzie who is up to a knee. Johnson clubs Rose on the back and then pulls her up and attempts an Irish Whip to send Lizzie across the ring, and she comes back with a Brooklyn Flash! The Slingblade takes Johnson down and Lizzie gets back up, very fired up… and she follows up the Brooklyn Flash by CALLING MR. VAIN!! The kick to the head knocks Johnson down onto his back and Rose falls on top of him, just barely able to pull a leg up…
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!!
Rod Sterling: “This time it is Johnny Johnson showing his resilience, but you have to wonder whether the potency of Lizzie’s moves have been dampened by that chair shot earlier on.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “If there’s one thing that we have learned about Lizzie Rose is that she is as hard as nails, Rod. That’s what made her the first female North American Champion and got her victory over Mike Parr. Rose, heading up to the high risk district, now.”
With the crowd firmly behind Lizzie Rose, she slaps the top turnbuckle as she climbs up - presumably for the Roseacanrana. As Lizzie steadies herself, she finds herself unable to follow up on Johnson, as ‘The Legend’ has grabbed the official by the collar on the mat and he is using Richard Davis as a human shield! This has the double effect of allowing Logan Darwin, unseen by the referee, to SHOVE ROSE FROM THE TOP ROPE!!! Lizzie lands in a heap on the mat and Darwin drops down from the apron with a smirk on his face and his arms outstretched, soaking in the boos from the crowd.
Allen Price: “Logan Darwin, again! How much more of this can they possibly hope to get away with?”
As Allen Price’s question lingers and the fans show their disdain towards Legends Evolved, the camera quickly cuts to backstage and the shot of a closed door.
Rod Sterling: “What’s going on here?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Rod Sterling: “IT’S JOE BURR! JOE BURR IS BACK!”
The fans go wild in the arena as Joe Burr walks through the backstage area, flanked by security personnel. He looks in much better shape than the last time he was shown at Back in Business, but the most notable thing about him is the band around his neck. The fans immediately break into loud ‘JOE’S GONNA KILL YOU!’ chants aimed at Logan Darwin who looks extremely confused.
In the ring, Johnson watches in anger and he demands Darwin go and deal with this unforeseen problem that they have been presented with as Burr appears on the stage and then starts walking down to the ring. Darwin stomps towards Burr and demands to know his reasoning for being out there BUT BURR KICKS LOGAN DARWIN BETWEEN THE LEGS!!
Allen Price: “Yeah! Take that, Darwin! Joe Burr is BACK at Lights Out and he’s here to even out those odds for his friend Lizzie Rose!”
As Darwin keels down on the ramp, Burr continues and he and Johnson have an exchange of words through the ropes, with the ringside microphones picking up some strange feedback every time that Burr talks. Johnson demands that Burr leaves, but Burr shakes his head… and the distraction allows Johnson to get rolled up into a SCHOOLGIRL PIN BY LIZZIE ROSE!!!
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
Johnson just about kicks out! It was a clear shave from Johnson, who gets to his feet and then swings wildly towards Rose, who ducks him and then grabs him around the head and runs him forwards towards the turnbuckle… ROSE DROPS JOHNSON WITH SLICED LIZ! Rose sits on top of ‘The Legend’ and lifts his leg up, allowing the referee to count!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Lizzie Rose wins the third fall via pin fall at 14:04;
Winner: Lizzie Rose at 14:04
Winner: Lizzie Rose at 14:04
Kurt Harrington: “The winner of the third and final fall, and the match at two falls to one… LIZZIE ROSE!!”
The fans cheer loudly as Lizzie Rose stands up from on top of Johnson and has her arm raised by Richard Davis. Joe Burr claps his hands and climbs up the steps into the ring where he and Lizzie hug before she is handed her title and she climbs onto the second rope and raises the North American Championship to a large ovation for the crowd.
Anzu Kurosawa: “After everything that has happened in the last two months, Lizzie Rose has finally put an end to this rivalry with Johnny Johnson, proving once and for all why she is the reigning and deserving FWA North American Champion. Lizzie Rose takes it two falls to one.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It was an effective piece of planning on behalf of Legends Evolved, but I don’t think that anyone could account for the sudden appearance of Joe Burr. I certainly had no idea that he was going to be coming back and I assure you, were I to have my way, he wouldn’t have.”
Allen Price: “Joe Burr has as much of a right to be here as anyone else does, Jean-Luc! The two young competitors, close friends and both from New York City, work together to overcome the scheming father and son duo tonight here in New Orleans. Marvellous.”
Rod Sterling: “Like Jean-Luc, we had no idea that Joe Burr would be returning here tonight at Lights Out, but it looks like we might be able to get some answers from ‘The Giant Killer’ himself because Katie Baxter is in the ring with Joe Burr and the North American Champion, Lizzie Rose.”
In the ring, Katie Baxter enters and stands next to Joe Burr, who has Lizzie Rose next to him, with both New Yorkers looking very pleased, although Joe seems to be in some discomfort until he adjusts the band around his neck.
Katie Baxter: “Lizzie Rose and Joe Burr here. Lizzie, first of all, congratulations on your victory tonight against Johnny Johnson, I bet you feel great going into the F1 Climaxxx, huh?”
Lizzie nods her head with a big grin on her face and the crowd cheers. Next, Baxter turns to the returning Burr.
Katie Baxter: “And Joe - I don’t think anyone expected to see you here tonight! What made you come back tonight here at Lights Out? I take it that you’re fully recovered?”
Burr takes a moment to clear his throat which causes him great pain, but he brushes it off. When he does speak though, his voice is accompanied by a robotic drone-like voice, coming from the band around his neck.
Joe Burr: “Katie, at Back in Business, Saint Sulley shattered my larynx. It is going to be a long time before I am able to talk without this speaking aid that I’m wearing around my neck. I don’t know where Sulley is right now, but whenever he comes back, I want him to know that I’m going to be waiting for him!”
More cheers from the crowd and after getting passionate, Joe rubs his throat. Lizzie puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Joe Burr: “You see, Saint Sulley is nothing but a bully, Katie. Just like the man that Lizzie Rose defeated tonight, Johnny Johnson. Johnny thought that he and his daddy would be able to push Lizzie around and screw her tonight - but I don’t like bullies and I wasn’t going to sit idly by and let my friend get pushed around by just another couple of bullies!”
Burr nods his head and then looks back at Lizzie and then takes the microphone and turns towards the back.
Joe Burr: “There are people who might be in the F1 Climaxxx that think they can bully Lizzie Rose around too. That’s people like Gabrielle, Danny Toner, Knox, Parr, Michelle, West… it doesn’t matter who you think you are because I promise you now that you’re not going to push Lizzie Rose around.”
More cheers from the crowd, and Joe turn turns to the camera.
Joe Burr: “Lizzie Rose is going to win that tournament and I’m going to make damn sure of it!”
Burr slams the microphone down and Lizzie’s music plays once again and this time ‘The Giant Killer’ raises his friend’s arm into the air.
Rod Sterling: “Strong words from Joe Burr ahead of the Climaxxx… but tonight there’s just one more match to go and it is the big one. Alyster Black challenges Danny Toner for the FWA World Championship, right after this.”
[spoiler='Sonne' || Rammstein][/spoiler]
There's a pop in New Orleans as Rammstein play in the arena, partially because of the man about to appear and partially because of general anticipation for the upcoming main event. The masked man appears on the stage - two belts on his person, one from this country and one from another - to more cheering, and he surveys the arena before beginning his walk to the ring.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "It's time, wrestling fans, for your main event! And here comes the challenger, Black Jesus himself, who is enjoying some support here from this New Orleans crowd…"
Allen Price: "Most likely down to the recent commendation that Black received going into this match from Devin Golden, who is - of course - one of Louisiana's own."
Rod Sterling: "But, as we saw last month in Arlington, crowd support doesn't necessarily lead to success in a match. Alyster Black was so close to accomplishing his long-time goal at the Anniversary Show, and he'll be hoping to go one better here in New Orleans."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Absolutely, Rod. It seemed as though Alyster Black was closing in on a pinfall over Devin Golden in that triple threat match, only for our current champion to clock him with the championship belt and steal his victory."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "'Steal'?! Come on, Anzu! It was a triple threat match, and Toner did nothing outside of the remit of that match format. If it rains, you get wet!"
Black is in the ring, where he loosens up in the corner and hands his championship belts out to the timekeeper's area. Then, he turns to face the stage, and waits…
And he is kept waiting…
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
The crowd fills the silence, a chant starting up and quickly building in volume as Alyster Black stands alone in the ring.
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
The masked man nods his head and steels himself, his eyes transfixed on the stage.
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
And then…
[spoiler='Greenback Boogie' || Ima Robot][/spoiler]
The music instantly breaks up the chant, and the audience quickly descends into a chorus of boos as Danny Toner walks out onto the stage. He has a championship belt on either of his shoulders and a focused countenance on his face. He pauses on the stage surveying the hostile crowd before finally locking eyes with his challenger. There's a brief stand-off, the ramp in-between them, before the champion begins his descent towards the ring.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Here he comes: the Undisputed FWA Champion of the World, and a man who has gone from strength to strength this year."
Rod Sterling: "Indeed: after winning the Carnal Contendership and then the main event of Back in Business, Toner triumphed in that aforementioned triple threat match at the Anniversary Show. Our last three pay-per-views have gone off the air with Danny Toner standing tall in the middle of the ring. An impressive 2022, regardless of what you think of his choice of friends…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Is that aimed at me, Sterling?! You've been snippy all night, old man. Stick to hip hop references and leave the angst at home."
Allen Price: "Now now, boys. This is a time to be focussing on the action in the ring, regardless of what's gone on in the build."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Difficult to forget the build when Danny Toner has spent so much of it threatening to rip Alyster Black's mask off here tonight. That would be a massive show of disrespect, but I'd expect nothing less from these two."
Rod Sterling: "And we should expect nothing less than another incredible match from this rivalry, which has sprawled over the past years. The challenger currently holds a 4-2 record over the champion, including tag matches and multi-mans, and he'll be hoping to extend that record tonight."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "He can hope all he wants, Sterling! What's that record when the big prize is on the line?"
Meanwhile, Danny Toner climbs into the ring. Alyster Black doesn't vacate it, instead waiting patiently in his corner and continuing to loosen up as Toner climbs up onto the second rope and lifts both of his championship belts over his head. The audience rains down boos upon him. It doesn't phase him, and eventually he hops down from the ropes to engage in the customary stand off with his challenger.
When their eyes meet across the ring it's electric. 'Greenback Boogie' fades out, and now the only soundtrack is the quickly mounting anticipation of the Louisiana audience. The chant starts up again…
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
The stand-off lingers, until finally Aly drags his eyes off'f Toner's and onto the FWA World Championship on his shoulder, which Danny promptly lifts into the air.
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
Black’s eyes follow the gold, until eventually the referee comes inbetween them, sending them back to their respective corners. They do so, Toner talking a little trash as he retreats. Black says nothing, just nodding at his opponent’s words and taking up his spot in his corner.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentleman, it is not time for your Lights Out main event! The following contest is scheduled for one-fall…"
’ONE-FALL!’
Kurt Harrington: "… with a sixty minute time limit, and is for the FWA World Championship! Introducing first, the challenger… from Melbourne, Australia and currently residing in San Dimas, California… he is the FWA X Champion… ‘Black Jesus’... ALYSTEEEEEEER… BLAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!"
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
'ALY BLACK AINT NOTHIN' TA FUCK WITH'
The crowd go crazy for the announcement of the challenger’s name, but Black does his best not to let it register. Toner allows himself a little chortle.
Kurt Harrington: "And his opponent… representing Executive Excellence... from New York City, New York… he is the undisputed, reigning, and defending FWA Champion of the WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORLD…."
Harrington lets loose on the syllable, perhaps auditioning for a position as a South American sports commentator…
Kurt Harrington: "DAAAAAAAAANNYYYYY… TOOOOOOOOOOOONER!!"
Toner finally hands his championship belts to the official, who hands one out to the time-keeper before raising the other high into the air, allowing the New Orleans audience to see what tonight is all about. But, of course, it’s about much more than that…
There’s nothing left to do but call for the bell.
As soon as the match starts, Alyster Black explodes out of his corner and attempts to take Danny Toner’s HEAD OFF with his One Shot Kill lariat… but the champion ducks beneath it and goes straight into a rear waistlock. Toner attempts to wrench Black up and over with a German suplex, but the masked man anchors his weight down to the mat and then tries to pull his hands away from around his waist. Toner relinquishes and drives a forearm into his opponent’s lower back, and then starts ripping at Alyster’s mask!
Rod Sterling: "Here we go! Danny Toner is trying to unmask Alyster already, and we’re only just getting started!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "No time like the present, Sterling!"
Black fires a back elbow into the side of Danny Toner’s head to cause a little separation, and then fires off with a series of forearms to back Toner up into the ropes. He tries to whip him into the opposite corner, but the champion reverses and sends Alyster black into the turnbuckles instead, before following up with a cornered clothesline. Toner mounts the second turnbuckle and begins to unload with right hands, the crowd refusing to count along but Danny shouting out the numbers anyway until he reaches ten. He then hops down and hits a hard Irish whip into the opposite turnbuckles, and the impact of it causes the challenger to stumble back into the middle of the ring… and the champion runs through him with a spear!! Toner hooks the leg…
ONE… NO!
Rod Sterling: "Just a one count!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "After an extremely impactful spear! I thought he’d cut Alyster Black in half, but Black kicks out with authority at one!"
Toner has a momentary surprised look on his face, but then quickly places Alyster in a reverse chin lock. Black fights up to his vertical base before firing off with some elbows into the gut, before backing Toner up into the ropes and throwing him off him into the opposite set. Black winds up for his One Shot Kill again, but Toner ducks beneath it to evade once more, and then hits the turning Alyster with a dropkick! Black Jesus stumbles back into the ropes and Toner charges at him, looking for a clothesline of his own. The challenger ducks it and launches Danny over the top rope with a big back body drop, causing the champion to land in a heap on the outside! Toner uses the barricade to help himself to his feet, shaking off the cobwebs… and he doesn’t see Alyster Black charging towards him…
Rod Sterling: "FOSBURY FLOP! Alyster Black takes to the air and crashes down atop Danny Toner on the outside!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And just listen to this crowd! Firmly on the side of Alyster Black…"
Black gets up to his feet and sees Toner crawling away from him, proceeding to follow him with stomps to the back. He then hoists Danny Toner to his feet and hits a trio of knife edge chops, backing him up into the barricade… before an Irish whip into the ring apron! And then a second into the barricade!! And finally a third Irish whip into the steel ring steps! Toner hits them shoulder first before slumping back to the mat, Black surveying his handiwork and weighing up his next move.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Alyster Black is in control of this one here in the early stretches, but he’s got to be conscious of the referee’s count. He’s already at six, and the championship belt can’t change hands via a countout. Important that Black Jesus doesn’t let his emotions and his obvious distaste for the world champion get the better of him."
Almost as if he’s listening to the commentary, Black proceeds to lift Toner up and throw him under the bottom rope. He neglects going for a cover, instead deciding to hoist Danny up and throw him across the ring with a Saito suplex! Alyster with the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Toner with the shoulder up! Black grabs his arm and looks to be trying to wrench it into some sort of arm bar. Toner senses the peril and begins to scramble towards the ropes, hooking onto the bottom one with his free arm. The official insists on a break, which Black finally gives at four, pounding on the back of Toner’s head with straight rights until he finally rolls away from him. Alyster is up first and Toner uses the ropes to start getting up, Black helping him the rest of the way and then throwing him into the corner, working away at the body again with lefts and rights before driving his shoulder into his gut repeatedly. Alyster then heaves Danny up into a seated position on the top rope, climbing up after him and nailing him with a vicious headbutt! Toner teeters, and looks like he may fall off and back onto the outside, but Alyster holds him steady and then applies a front face lock…
Rod Sterling: "Alyster Black is thinking about a top rope superplex here, but Danny Toner again starts fighting out. He’s nailing the masked man with right hands to the side, eventually succeeding to break out of the front facelock…"
Allen Price: "And then he fights out with a headbutt of his own! Returning the favour, fighting fire with fire, and other such platitudes!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "The challenger loses his perch on the top rope, falling back into the ring as Danny Toner steps up onto the top rope himself… he comes off, looking for that tried and tested double axe handle… ducked underneath by Alyster…"
Rod Sterling: "ONE SHOT KILL!!!! Alyster Black takes Danny Toner’s head off!! We could have a new champion!!!!"
Allen Price: "He hooks the leg…"
ONE… NO!!!!
Rod Sterling: "DANNY TONER KICKS OUT AT ONE!!!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: “UNBELIEVABLE!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Believe it, Anzu! Such resilience! That’s why he’s at the top of the table! That’s why he’s the champion of the world!"
The move has taken its toll, though, with Danny Toner unable to do pretty much anything immediately after kicking out of the move. Alyster Black goes back to work, hoisting Danny up and taking him by the wrist. He ripcords, looking to take his head off with a second One Shot Kill… but Danny ducks beneath it and goes behind before nailing a Regal-plex!
Rod Sterling: "Danny Toner fires back with the suplex, but I think that was little more than a desperation move… Toner can’t follow up!"
The champion rolls underneath the bottom rope to try and recover on the outside after the vicious One Shot Kill. He’s clutching his neck, eventually managing to start the grim task of re-ascending to his feet. Black does the same on the outside, and slides out of the ring to try and gather Danny up… but the champion rakes his eyes! The official doesn’t see it as he’s climbing out of the ring himself at the time, and Toner seizes the opportunity to see about a shift in momentum, taking Aly over with a double leg takedown before firing him with a catapult into the steel ring post!! The challenger hits it head first and goes down clutching his face, and Danny - moving slowly even though we’re only just over seven minutes into the match - wanders over towards him… and then starts pulling at the mask again!!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Danny Toner is going for the mask again! Such disrespect!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Oh, come on! Black’s not a luchadore! If anything, wearing the mask in the first place is cultural appropriation! Such disrespect!!"
Danny seems to be trying to put his fingers into the eyeholes of Danny’s mask and rip at the material, but Alyster - still grounded and face down - crawls backwards through Danny’s legs before trying to roll away from Toner to sort his mask out… and Toner runs through him with a punt kick to the side! Alyster rolls away, but Toner doesn’t give him any opportunity to recover. He throws him under the bottom rope and hops up onto the apron, proceeding to climb as quickly as he can to the top turnbuckle… and coming off with a double axe handle!! This time he nails it, causing Black to drop to the mat once again. Toner grabs a leg and turns Alyster Black over with a single-leg Boston crab…
Rod Sterling: "And now the submission move from the champion, with Alyster Black sundered in the middle of the ring…but we know all about the fight of Black Jesus, and he begins to crawl towards that bottom rope…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "He hooks onto that rope, gaining its sanctuary, but just like Alyster Black earlier in the match, Danny Toner is reticent to let go of the hold until the official reaches four…"
Allen Price: "And then it’s a stomp to the back of the head from the champion on the challenger!! Far from a clean break from Danny Toner!"
Toner does then back away from Alyster, waiting in the corner for his challenger to drag himself up to his feet. Danny comes towards him, looking for a superkick… but Alyster catches his foot, and then he drags Toner in for a leg-capture suplex!! Toner lands at an awkward angle, and Alyster is quick to hook the far leg…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Toner kicks out again! Aly doesn’t let his frustration show, instead hoisting Toner up and backing him into the ropes with some Mongolian chops. Black Irish whips Toner into the opposite set, Aly loading up for another lariat, but Danny hooks his arms onto the top rope to check his momentum. Black charges at him, but Toner takes him out with a low dropkick to the knees! Toner climbs out of the ring and reaches under the bottom rope, grabbing Alyster by the mask again and dragging him from the ring with the eyeholes…
Rod Sterling: "Danny Toner is wrenching away at that mask again, just like he has all match, just like he promised he would during the build-up to this main event…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Danny Toner is a man of his word, Sterling!"
Alyster Black lands on his knees on the outside, with Toner still ripping away at the mask… Black reaches up and rakes Toner in the eyes, returning the favour from earlier in the match and causing some separation! Toner stumbles away, and Black approaches him with a pair of right hands, backing him up towards the barricade before charging at him… only for Toner to catch him with a flapjack! Alyster is dropped neck-first on the barricade, and does his best to turn and face Toner, but the champion is already coming at him and nails him with a boot to the face, sending Alyster over the barricade! The masked man lands at the feet of those on the front row, and Danny rolls in and out of the ring to break up the referee’s count. He stands on the ring apron, looking at Alyster Black, who is fighting up to his feet on the other side of the barricade.
Rod Sterling: "Toner is sizing Alyster Black up here, but that’s quite the leap from the apron to the barricade… what’s he got in mind?!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Toner takes to the air, leaps over the barricade… AND NAILS HIM WITH A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE!! Into the crowd!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And Danny Toner continues the onslaught, following up with right hand after right hand on Alyster Black! This one is breaking down!!"
Toner flings Black back over the barricade, following him over and nailing another half dozen stomps, following Black round towards the announce table. He grabs Alyster by the head again…
Rod Sterling: "Toner has his fingers in Alyster’s eye holes again! He’s tearing away! HE’S GOT IT! Danny Toner has ripped a good chunk of Alyster Black’s mask right off his head!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Alyster is missing that upper left quadrant of his mask! Wow… he has blue eyes!"
Allen Price: "Danny Toner isn’t done there, he takes Black by the scruff of the neck and rams his exposed head against the side of one of our monitors!! Here comes the blood!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "BUSTED WIDE OPEN!!"
Toner throws Alyster Black back into the ring beneath the bottom rope before following him in and hooking the far leg…
ONE… TWO.. NO!
Alyster rolls away, shielding his face and checking the full damage to his mask, but Danny is on him almost immediately, dragging him to his feet and alternating between forearm strikes and straight right hands, mostly aimed directly at the exposed flesh and open wound of Alyster Black. The challenger throws up a hasty guard, so Toner changes tact and starts hitting knee strikes to the abdomen, again backing Black up into the corner. Knife edge chops follow, and then Toner forces Alyster up into a seated position on the top rope. Danny follows him up, hitting a few more straight rides to the wound before placing Black into a front facelock…
Rod Sterling: "Danny Toner steps right up the tippy-top, and drags Alyster up with him… top rope superplex!! What impact!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Toner isn’t going for the cover… he senses the end is near, and he just needs one more killer blow to see off this pretender!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "The champion is stalking his challenger from the corner, and that usually only means one thing… Black is up to his knees, and here comes Danny, going for his patented Equaliser…"
Rod Sterling: "BUT ALYSTER BLACK FIRES BACK UP TO HIS FEET! ROARING ELBOW!!!!! He catches Danny Toner flush in the face, and the champion is staggered!"
Alyster Black follows up with a boot to the midsection before hoisting Danny up onto his shoulders, and then folds him up with a Death Valley driver!! Alyster is instantly down into the cover…
ONE… TWO… T – NO!!
Toner thrusts the shoulder up, and Alyster Black looks to push his advantage. He hoists Danny Toner up whilst in a front facelock. The challenger takes a deep breath…
Rod Sterling: "SATAN’S SPIKE!!! Danny Toner lands right on the top of his head!! That’s IT!"
Allen Price: "Black hooks the far leg…"
ONE… TWO… …. …. …. …
Anzu Kurosawa: "FOOT ON THE ROPES!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "What ring awareness!! That’s why he’s the champion!!!!"
Black is livid, his breathing haggard and laboured, but eventually he drags Toner back up to his feet and applies another front facelock…
Rod Sterling: "Alyster Black maybe looking for a second Satan’s Spike?! He drags Danny Toner into the middle of the ring, not wanting to run the risk of the ropes saving the champion again…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But Danny Toner is dead weight, and he slumps to his knees."
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Effective counter!"
Alyster Black wrenches Toner up to his feet, but with a surge of power and a hint of desperation Danny takes him up and over with a Northern Lights suplex…
ONE… TWO… TH – NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Shoulder up! Danny Toner almost flips the match on its head with that reversal, and both men are slow to get to their feet… this match is taking its toll on both of these competitors!"
Allen Price: "Just look at all the blood covering Alyster Black’s face! He may have lost part of his mask, but a crimson one is taking its place…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "It’s so beautiful!"
Both men are to their feet at roughly the same time, and turn to face each other in the centre of the ring…
Headbutt from Alyster Black!!
Toner stumbles, keeps his feet… and fires back with a headbutt of his own!!
And then Black returns fire!!
A second headbutt from Toner!!!
The two men begin to trade VICIOUS headbutts in the centre of the ring, one after the other, beyond count, well over a dozen each, the audience in rapture as the melee of violence takes place before them… until Alyster stumbles back into the ropes, bounces off them, and hits a HUUUUUUGE headbutt that sends Toner reeling. Black follows up with forearm strikes, open-hand slaps, right hands, a torrent of offense, a virtual assault, backing Toner up in the corner. Stomps to the gut follow, and then hard forearm strikes, one after the other, more headbutts! Danny takes a seated position, and Alyster proceeds to wipe the soul of his boot against Toner’s face!!
Anzu Kurosawa: "We got ourselves a violence party!!!!"
Rod Sterling: "Alyster Black throws himself off the opposite set of ropes, looking to hit that climactic boot to the seated Toner… but Danny pulls himself out of the ring beneath the bottom rope!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "There’s that ring awareness on display again from our champion!! He takes a breather on the outside as Alyster Black checks his momentum in the ring."
Allen Price: "But only for a moment! Black hits the ropes again… going for another Fosbury Flop…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "BUT DANNY TONER CATCHES HIM!! SIT-OUT POWERBOMB!!"
Anzu Kurosaw: I… what did I just see?!?!"[/b][/color]
The crowd erupts with a roar for the move, and Danny Toner is slow to get up to his feet, struggling to really take advantage of the devastating offense. Eventually, he picks Black up and throws him back into the ring, crawls towards him, and hooks the leg…
ONE… TWO… TH – NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Kickout from Alyster Black at two point nine, but you have to think the time it took for Danny Toner to deposit him back into the ring allowed him enough time to recover."
Toner gets up, still breathing heavily, and grasps for Alyster's legs, perhaps looking for his sharpshooter. Black has other ideas, though, kicking out at Danny to turn him around. Toner is using the ropes to keep himself up, exhaustion clear, as Aly rises behind him. Black turns Toner around and spits a mouthful of blood into his face!! Danny is momentarily blinded and turns away from Aly, doing his utmost to wipe the blood from his eyes as quickly as he can. Black puts him in a rear waistlock and tries to wrench him up for a German suplex, but Toner blocks by placing a boot behind Alyster's calf, and then the champion reels off with elbow strikes to the side of the head, attempting to cause separation… but Alyster responds by unloading with a headbut to the back of the head!! He then bundles Toner forward into the ropes, and takes him backwards with what looks like an attempt at an O'Conner Roll… but Aly rolls all the way through and hits him with a deadlift German!! Bridging for the cover…
ONE… TWO… T – NO!!
Danny kicks out, but Alyster has wrist control, and drags Toner in close…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Alyster going for One Shot Kill again… NO! Spinebuster from Toner!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "And he still has hold of the legs, Toner steps through, turns him over… The Clincher!!! Toner has it!!"
Indeed, the champion has the hold in deep, and the referee is in close, asking Toner if he wants to give in, but Black shakes his head defiantly!
Rod Sterling: "There's still some fight left in Alyster Black! He's crawling towards those ropes!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Closer and closer, inch by inch! Come on, Aly!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Hey! How about some impartiality!!"
Alyster is still crawling, the going arduous, any progress he is able to make incremental, until the point where - when reaching out with stretched fingertips - he is mere millimetres away…
… and then Danny Toner walks forward with Black still in the hold, dragging him back into the centre of the ring!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Oh, Jesus!! I don't like this!"
Allen Price: "And neither does Alyster Black! Listen to that guttural roar of pain from the masked man!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… and that may be Alyster's last act as a conscious man tonight! I think he's fading!"
Rod Sterling: "Sure does look that way!! He's lost a lot of blood already! The canvas looks like a Jackson Pollock painting! But the scene is more reminiscent of Greek tragedy!"
Alyster's arms are outstretched on the mat, face down, blood seeping from his wound and pooling next to his head. The referee comes in close to check if he's still with us…
…
…
… Alyster clenches his fist!! The crowd comes ALIVE with the gesture, and then Aly forces his head off the mat, straightening his arms, and lets out another guttural roar. This time, though, it's not born out of pain, but rather determination, as he crawls once more across the ring…
… and hooks onto the bottom rope!!! The crowd erupts, and the official tells Toner to release, the champion obviously waiting until four point nine nine until he finally does. Toner backs away from Black, who uses the ropes to slowly drag himself up. Toner is stalking him from behind, standing sidewards on, perhaps looking for a superkick again…
Aly turns around and Danny comes towards him… but before they come together, Black crumbles in a heap on the mat.
He forces himself up onto his knees, a bloody and exhausted mess.
Toner stares down at his challenger.
Alyster, defiant as ever, lifts up both arms to flip Danny the double-bird.
The crowd cheers the gesture, but there is an air of foreboding within the stadium.
Toner just nods. It's difficult to know what this means.
And then, the Equaliser. The connection is ferocious, and Black is laid out on the mat, looking up at the lights.
Toner hooks the leg.
ONE… TWO… …
… THREE!
Winner: Danny Toner via pinfall at 24:12.
Danny Toner rolls off'f Alyster Black but can't do much more than that. He lies on his back, just like his beaten opponent, staring up at the sky through the open roof of the arena.
Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner… and STILL the FWA World Heavyweight Champion… DANNY…. TOOOOOOOONER!"
There's some booing, some applause, but there's still no movement in the ring. Both men are spent, the exertions of the match plain from their dilapidated state.
Allen Price: "… wow! What a match! What a war!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "And at the end of it, it's Danny Toner who emerges triumphantly with his championship still intact. Unbelievable scenes!"
Rod Sterling: "I may have my opinions on the recent actions of Danny Toner, as I'm sure many in this arena and watching at home do too, but there's no denying that we just saw an incredible contest between two evenly matched opponents. Toner emerges with the win, but far from unscathed."
Finally, Toner is getting to his feet, the official helping him do so before handing him his two championship belts. He takes one in each hand before starting down at Alyster Black, a bloody and beaten mess, before lifting his two championship belts high above his head.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "This audience may hate it, but it remains undisputed: Danny, the Champion of the World…"
Rod Sterling: "But… what's this?!"
The booing breaks for a moment. It doesn't turn positive, but there's a rumble around the arena as another man walks out onto the stage.
Allen Price: "I think you mean who's this, Rod. And the answer is Chris Peacock, the holder of the Golden Opportunity briefcase…"
Indeed, Peacock has sauntered out onto the stage, his briefcase in his hand. Toner hasn't noticed yet, instead watching on as a team of medical staff and officials care for Alyster. Eventually, when the challenger has been rolled out of the ring and refused a stretcher, instead electing to struggle to the back under his own volition, he turns to see the man on the stage.
Peacock smiles, his briefcase clutched in his left hand. Toner lifts his belts up once more, defiant as ever, but his face suggests a certain amount of apprehension regarding the circling sharks.
With another smile, Peacock turns and exits through the curtain, leaving Danny Toner alone in the arena, standing in the middle of the ring, both championship belts clutched tightly against his chest.
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