Post by gvb on Feb 15, 2021 21:25:03 GMT -6
MWE Presents: Domino Effect (night 2)
Live from Enterprise Arena in Chicago, IL
Sunday, February 14th, 2021
The scene cuts backstage to a room that had dark red lighting. A whistling sound could be heard when we suddenly see a pair of boots in front of the camera. The camera pans up slowly and standing there with the Chicago Way Championship on his shoulder, is none other than Atti Valentine.
Atti Valentine:
First Blood… You want me to defend my ‘Valentine’ Way Championship in a first blood match?
Atti cackles.
Atti Valentine:
Poor Morag, Jada and Kate. Management really wanted them to suffer, didn’t they? They wanted them to suffer the wrath of Valentine, they wanted them to see what a bloody Valentine is truly like.
He lets out a sickening laugh before he shakes his head.
Atti Valentine:
This championship? I know what it means to all three of you. You want it to show off to your friends, your family, your fans. You want it for validation. You want it because it makes you feel good. But me?
He pauses and scoffs.
Atti Valentine:
This championship means nothing to me. I simply want to inflict pain; whether that physically, emotionally or both? It doesn’t matter to me. I know many ways to inflict pain on someone. Keeping this Valentine Way Championship is one of them. But also? Making you bleed is another and that? That’s something that…
Valentine pauses and shivers at the thought.
Atti Valentine:
It’s something that I can’t stop thinking about. Watching the blood pour out of three nuisances that have wasted my time over the last few weeks. Now that is something I can get on board with. And tonight? I will make my statement. I will show you all what it’s like when you deal with a Valentine and the lesson I teach you? It won’t be one you ever forget. The physical and mental scars you’ll leave tonight with, will be with you forever.
Atti picks up a bucket and walks closer to the camera and glares into it.
Atti Valentine:
I hope you’re all ready for My Bloody Valentine… Happy Valentine’s Day.
Atti throws the contents of the bucket to the camera and it turns out, it was a bucket of blood, which covers the camera lense, causing the feed to cut away.
We open up live from the Enterprise Arena in Chicago Illinois. It is there where we are shown Kate Steele. The blonde smirks as she is decked out in her union jack designed attire. The Brit can’t help but smile as she looks at her surroundings as she begins to speak.
Kate Steele:
Wow… So it seems like we are brought to this huge event… Night 2 of what should be an amazing night of wrestling, and I just want to say everything in life eventually causes a domino effect. I think one of the worse things to have ever happened was me dropping my title to Luna Star. It feels like it was so long ago. I was somebody in wrestling. I was the little engine that could and after building myself up for so long it all came crashing down.
Kate sighs as she shakes her head.
Kate Steele:
By crashing down I mean that I hadn’t been able to pick up the pieces ever since. I have been skating through this company being nothing but a joke. I was only somebody that all of you would laugh at and I wasn’t able to accomplish anything but be used as fodder for everybody else. It really destroyed my confidence because I felt like I couldn’t amount to anything. I felt like I just couldn’t be anything special. I was simply just here ready to cash in on a check but even that wasn’t all that good.
Kate looks at the ground sighing.
Kate Steele:
Nobody knows that feeling of hitting the bottom. It absolutely sucks and it hurts more than one could even fathom. However a few weeks ago something started to change within me. I started to be successful again. I started to pick up some wins and I was inching and clawing my way back to the very top of the my matches. It might not mean that much but to me it meant a glimpse of hope. It meant that I definitely could find myself again and all hope wasn’t lost. I know they say things happen for a reason but what’s better than hitting rock bottom is having the ability to climb back up and fight for what I believe in.
Kate nods her head as she finally grins.
Kate Steele:
And what I believe in more than anything right now is going out to that ring on a huge Pay Per View stage and being able to not just win my match but to emerge victorious as the Chicago Way Champion. I know I am not anybody’s first choice to win, and if you would do a poll I bet I would come out last… It’s all good because the only person I need to believe in me is myself. As long as I have that confidence I know I can do just about anything.
Kate smirks wider than before as she continues to pour her heart out.
Kate Steele:
That’s why on this night I am guaranteeing that I am walking away as a champion. I know it might be tough to be in a first blood match but I want this more than anybody could ever imagine. I can feel myself being able to go to the very top. I can feel like this is my moment to finally stand out and accomplish the unthinkable. All I need to do is push beyond my limits and I can conquer what I set out to do. I know Morag all too well… We have been in the ring before and I managed to come out on top. Jada or Atti… Honestly it doesn’t matter because I will be able to persevere and push beyond my own limits so I can finally be in the spotlight again.
Kate shakes her head.
Kate Steele:
There’s only so much disappointment that a woman can handle. So much of being denied, so much of being told you aren’t good enough or you just don’t have it anymore. I must say that entire thought needs to be pushed aside because I will make a way for myself. I will go above and beyond. I have left so much of my blood, sweat, and tears in this ring to get to where I am. So in this match I refuse to BLEED anymore. It’s time to shed somebody else’s blood so I can push my own ideals. I won’t rest until I am standing in front of you as a champion. So bring everything you have and it won’t be enough. Tonight the Siren rules the roost and she will leave the rest of you all SHIP WRECKED!!! Do you hear that?! It’s the sweet sound of my Siren’s Song… Once it’s fully played out that essentially means you all will be led to your demise. See all of you soon… You definitely will need all of the luck…. Cheers…
With that Kate forms a very confident expression and we fade out on that image.
Chicago Way Championship Match
First Blood Elimination Match
Atti Valentine © VS Morag Bean VS Jada Hashford VS Kate SteeleFirst Blood Elimination Match
“No more games”. That’s what Atticus said on Twitter and repeated as the match started, right before he pulled out the lead pipe from his boot and swung it in Jada’s mid-section, doubling the Backwoods Braggart over. The second shot was at Morag, and it caught the Cannibal Queen on the leg after he ducked her clothesline. Bean was on her knee, rubbing the injured thigh and Valentine was about to crack her skull with that same pipe, but Kate surprised the champion from behind with a superkick to the back of the head. The pipe fell on the canvas and rolled toward the edge of the ring, while Atti stumbled forward right into a kick to the stomach from Jada to set him up for a powerbomb. Valentine’s body bounced on the canvas but before Hashford could do any further damage to the champion, Morag planted her on her head with a reverse hurricanrana. Morag barked orders at Meera who was standing out of the ring, demanding that she’d hand her a chair. The gargantuan indian obeyed and went under the ring to find a chair, tossing it to Bean who caught it and quickly turned around, ready to put it to use on her rival. But Hashford was on her feet already, blocking the chair as Morag lowered it toward her skull and wresting it from her hands. The Mississippi Queen drove it into the Scot’s midsection and dropped the chair on mat, planting Morag on top of it with a double underhook ddt. Kate was on fire tonight, those swift kicks of hers really doing a number on the Chicago Way champion, forcing him into the corner. She sprinted toward him with a running yakuza kick, and went for a second one but Jada launched herself against Steele as she was charging in, throwing her out of the ring with a pounce. Morag attacked the Backwoods Braggart who saw her coming and tossed her in the air with a pop up powerbomb. Jada then turned her attention to Atti who, unseen by the opponent, had removed the protective padding from the top turnbuckle, covering it with his back. When Jada was within reach, he lifted and dropped her head first onto it with a flapjack. The impact against the exposed steel was hard enough to cut Jada’s head. Rumchata Ayano: “Jada Hashford has been eliminated!” Morag was laughing at the opponent who just got eliminated, and as you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with the Mississippi Queen. Letting out a roar, Jada darted out of the corner and turned Bean inside out with a clothesline. She then jumped on the floored opponent and began punching her face, the referee tried to separate the two but he was hit with a backhand from Hashford. Jada then retrieved the same lead pipe Atti used earlier in the match and walked to Morag. At this point Makara entered the ring to protect her friend, but the bloodied Jada clocked her with a shot to the head. The second one hit Morag on the forehead, a trickle of blood pouring out of the cracked skull. Rumchata Ayano: “Morag Bean has been eliminated!” The Cannibal Queen tried to protest, but there was nothing he could do to change the decision. Visibly upset, and rightfully so, Morag went to chase Jada and make her pay, but the Backwoods Braggart was gone already. And it was all down to Atti and Kate in the final moments, Valentine went for a german suplex but Kate swung her elbow back into the opponent’s ribs and rocked him with a pele kick. Atti stumbled back against the ropes and the former Lockdown champion took a short run on the opposite side of the ring to put more momentum behind her running clothesline, throwing all her weight into that move. The two of them rolled over the top rope and landed hard on the outside, Kate apparently having the worst of it as she landed head first on the apron and then bounced hard on the floor. And in fact Atti was the first to get back to his feet, dragging Kate by the hair toward the timekeeper area. Once there he grabbed his title and grinded it on Steele’s face telling her that she’s never going to take it from him. The confident look on his face was replaced by one of shock when Kate hit him between the legs with a knee strike. She took the title from his hand and drove it on his face. And again. And again. Her strikes were getting harder and harder, Kate was surely putting all the energy she had left in those shots, and the chances one of them, even accidentally, would cause Atti to bleed were pretty high. The champion had to think of something, and do it fast. He reached behind him and grabbed the gong, desperately swinging it at Kate’s head. A terrific shot that knocked the challenger out, but didn’t tear her skin. Atti asked (well, ordered) Rumchata to stand up and grabbed her chair, sitting the barely conscious Kate on it. He then placed the title on her face, the metal plate resting against her skin. “This is as close as you’ll ever get to it. He taunted her before taking a few steps back and blasting her with the Into The Fire (running single leg dropkick). The referee went to check on Steele, blood was gushing from a nasty cut near her right eye. The bell immediately sounded, Atticus went to retrieve his title, cleaned it off Kate’s blood and went his way. WINNER: Atti Valentine (STILL CHICAGO WAY CHAMPION) BY: Sole Survivor, 11:12 |
Ambra Monroe: "Would it be out of character for me to say Happy Valentine's Day?"
Peyton Holland: "I would expect that from Figgles, not from you."
Sir Figgles: "Hey..."
Ambra Monroe & Peyton Holland: "Shut up!"
Peyton Holland: "I would expect that from Figgles, not from you."
Sir Figgles: "Hey..."
Ambra Monroe & Peyton Holland: "Shut up!"
The commotion coming from the backstage area was enough to trigger the cameras to pick up the scene. As the camera comes into focus, there are a few members of MWE security trying to restrain a very angered Duke Andrews.
Security:
Sir, you are not supposed to be here tonight.
Duke looked at him. A somewhat big boy, looking like he’s going to be trying his hand at the Academy at some point. Dukes eyes begin to dart at the guys that are getting a little pushy with him.
Duke Andrews:
Not a wise move
His eyes glance down at a little string bean lookin dude that has his hand on Duke’s chest. Pushing him backwards.
Alan Envy:
Ah, shit. Not a good move kid. You don’t want to...that’s a caged animal that’s very pissed off.
Duke Andrews:
There’s five of you and one of me. That’s why I got Babe Ruth gripped in my hands.
Duke reaches into the bed of his truck and grabs the infamous red white and blue baseball bat from the A.P.E. hay day. Quickly striking the guy that had his hand on Dukes chest pushing back. Another one coming at him and Duke hip tossed him to the concrete floor.
Duke Andrews:
I can do this all night.
The other three members of the security team begin to retreat as Duke slings the bat over his shoulder.
Alan Envy:
You should really dress for the weather. Wearing a cut off and shit when it’s like 0° out there.
Duke opened the backdoor of his truck and grabbed a fifth of Tito’s vodka, a single gold wrapper taped to the outside.
Duke Andrews:
Give this to the intern that smells like dirt and looks like she hasn’t bathed in a couple weeks. Promised her a present.
Alan took the fifth, laughed and walked the other way. The camera wasn’t going to let this slip footage slip away.
Duke Andrews:
Seth, I just wanna talk. Get out here!
His voice echoing in the hall as he took the bat and swung at a door, pushing it open. Duke stopped in his tracks as he spotted Millennium GM Elsa McCarthey staring at him with her arms crossed.
Elsa McCarthy:
That’s going to cost you.
Moretti was sitting at a small desk across the room as Duke looked him over. Holding the bat in his left hand, reaching into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash with his right tossing it at Elsa.
Duke Andrews:
Roughly five grand. Keep the change.
Elsa McCarthy:
You shouldn’t be here tonight. You-
Duke Andrews:
You can’t make that call. I’m signed under contract and this is a company show. So you can’t tell me I can’t be here. I’m just here to make sure Al has a good match. That’s it.
Vincent Moretti:
Then why are you swinging that bat a looking for Seth?
Duke rolls his eyes before twirling the bat in his hand. Quickly winding up and swinging down, cracking the desk in front of Moretti.
Duke Andrews:
Don’t be a dick Vince. You knew this all along. You want Seth to be your champ? Cool. But he took MY MOMENT from me. My god damn moment. And I don’t give a flying fuck about the title last night. I had Hearst right where I needed him. I was going to cut the head off the snake and Seth took that from me. Took months of my anger and ripped it from me. You understand how that makes me look? You understand how that makes me feel? You und- you don’t. You don’t give a shit either. That’s the problem with you two. Always in cahoots and not caring about anything or anyone besides what lines your pockets.
Elsa McCarthy:
That is enough Mr Andrews. You are not cleared to compete. You are not cleared to be here. You are bleeding right now.
The camera picked up on the red blood flowing from the wound Duke suffered last night when his head hit the exposed turnbuckle.
Duke Andrews:
and that means what exactly? That I can walk down and just interject myself in any match I see fit and ruin what is going on?
Vincent Moretti:
That means in order to go to the ring you need to —
Duke Andrews:
Oh save me the busch league bullshit Moretti. You’re clearly not understanding what is going on. But since you allowed that to happen last night, and this goes for the two of you, what happens to Seth, or anyone associated with him, that’s on you. The blood is on your hands now.
Duke takes a deep breath as he tosses the bat on his shoulder again.
Duke Andrews:
See to it that you two fix what you two fucked up.
RECORDED EARLIER
Standing outside in front of a lake in the dark is Asher Miles, who simply has the light from the stars and moon shining at him. He’s looking up at the sky before he glances over to the camera and begins to speak.
Asher Miles:
So the MENTV Championship, huh? We see how big of an opportunity that is. Pierce just cashed it in and got his shot to the Riot Championship and he won it. Now it’s up for grabs and there’s six of us competing for it. Damn.
The Antares looks up to the sky once more.
Asher Miles:
All of us are so small compared to everything else in the universe, it’s something I’ve started to realize, especially thanks to my lady, Kaia Grainger. It makes opportunities like this so important to me. I don’t know when I’m going to get another shot like this, but I’m going to make the best of it. My focus has been on other things besides championships but it’s time for me to focus on advancing my career.
Asher nods as he looks back at the camera again.
Asher Miles:
This match has a lot of talent in it. Dean and Liv have been quite successful here in Millennium and Neil? He’s a big time vet. The Eye is a good rook and Alex Andrews can’t be slept on either. Plus, this is a ladder match, which means anything can happen. But let me tell you something, I love it when I’m closer to the sky. So getting on top of that ladder? It’s a thrill I ain’t afraid of. Whatever happens in this match? I’m ready to put it all on the line.
Miles nods and walks off and the scene cuts away.
Tag Team Match
Sandstorm Inc (Dreadnought & Andrew Wilkow) VS Tank Steiner & Alan Envy
Domino Effect wasn’t going as planned for Sandstorm, Hearst lost the World Championship and even though Constantine won his match against Jacky Daniels, his joy was short-lived thanks to the attack at the hands of ROTTEN and Xavier Laroux. It was up to Dreadnought and Wilkow to steer the course for Sandstorm Inc, but their opponents, though this was their first time as a tag team, were not slouches. And they had a big chip on their shoulder. Wilkow was HYPED, he definitely had a can of Sandstorm Energy™ too many. Or five. This seemed to worry his own partner who tried to calm him down to no avail. Wilkow was babbling about ripping Alan’s head off, then ripping another part of his body, then doing something else we rather not talk about. Dreadnought shrugged his shoulders and decided to let him loose, walking in his corner. The bell rang and the Appalachian Mountain Monster snapped out of his corner and turned him inside out with the LARIAAAAAAAAATTTT! This would’ve been over already if it wasn’t for Tank interrupting the count and taking the tag from a barely there Envy. The two locked up but Steiner forced Wilkow into a head lock and punched him in the face several times before he shoved him off into the ropes. Drew rebounded back at full speed, clashing against Tank with a shoulder block. The irresistible force met the immovable object. The Austrian invited him to give it another try, and when Wilkow came back, hoisted him up for a spinning sideslam. Dreadnought looked disappointed with his partner’s performance so far, and decided to take the matters in hand. He found himself face to face with a superheavyweight, but still managed to toss him around without much effort with a variety of suplexes and an impressive fallaway slam. The latter sent the big man close to his corner, Dreadnought turned around and smiled, not even trying to prevent Tank from making the tag to Alan. Actually, it’d appear that he was waiting for it, probably having received instructions to make an example out of the Texan for breaching in the Sandstorm factory. And he surely was doing that, slamming him into the corner after picking him up from the mat and hitting him with punches and kicks. The stalling vertical suplex held him there for a ridiculously long hang time, before the inevitable comedown and cover, for just a count of two. Envy wasn’t one to go down without a fight, no matter how stacked the odds were. He identified on Dread’s knee the weak spot and began to target it with kicks and chop blocks and even a figure four leglock. Dreadnought was in a lot of pain but we’ll never know if he would have tapped out or found a way out of the predicament because Wilkow entered the ring and stomped the Lonestar’s head. Still high on Sandstorm but apparently calmed down a little bit, Wilkow was now controlling the pace of the match, until a sloppy mistake allowed Alan to reach his corner. Tank Steiner quickly turned the tables chop after chop. After each one of them, Wilkow dropped a different colorful insult, which was quite amusing per se but not exactly PG. The buckle bomb that followed wasn’t PG either, the way Wilkow’s head snapped after the impact raised some understandable concern between the fans, but he kicked out in two, which had to mean he was alright. Not for long though, and not after the Austrian Suplex. Tank made the tag to Alan but rather than leaving the ring, he charged toward Dreadnought and knocked him down with Das Boot. Envy had waited for the opponent to get up to his feet and planted him on the top of his head with the Envious Demise ddt. And that’s all she wrote, night two of Domino Effect ended for Sandstorm just like the first did, with a loss. WINNER: Alan Envy & Tank Steiner BY: Pinfall (Envious Demise), 10:36 |
Amy Maynard: "You're Sandstorm Inc. buddies are having a rough weekend, Fig."
Sir Figgles: "Yeah yeah... But we still have Dustin who will bring the tournament home later tonight."
Amy Maynard: "That'd be a small consolation, they lost the World Title, this match, and they got embarrassed by ROTTEN"
Sir Figgles: "They're going to pay for that.."
Sir Figgles: "Yeah yeah... But we still have Dustin who will bring the tournament home later tonight."
Amy Maynard: "That'd be a small consolation, they lost the World Title, this match, and they got embarrassed by ROTTEN"
Sir Figgles: "They're going to pay for that.."
The scene opens on an incredible feat of strength. Neil Newman is doing push up with a two hundred and thirty six pound Kyle Butler sitting on his back. Neil isn’t breaking a sweat as Kyle is keeping himself busy by reading a copy of Sun Tzu’s “Art of War.” On the last push up, Neil rests chest first on the ground. Kyle opts to get off his friend. Neil rolls over on his stomach. Kyle is sitting right next to him.
Kyle Butler:
Are you ok?
Neil Newman:
Damn straight I am, you’re as light as a feather.
Kyle chuckles a bit.
Kyle Butler:
Please, you were breathing heavy.
Neil Newman:
No I wasn’t.
Kyle Butler:
Should really save your strength bud, ladder matches are no joke.
Neil sighs as he transitions into performing sit ups.
Neil Newman:
I got this. We won the belts in a ladder match, remember. I got this down to a science.
Kyle Butler:
Your girl disagrees with that assessment.
Neil stops his sit up at the top of the rotation. He raises an eyebrow at Kyle.
Kyle Butler:
I don’t get the mentor thing you got going on with her. The MENTV Championship is on the line; bud. Been awhile since any of us in The Era have held championship gold. Chop chop.
Kyle claps his hands. Neil rolls his eyes at him.
Neil Newman:
Don’t worry about me. Alex got her mulligan a couple months ago. Won't’ happen again. Where’s your head up? Last Man Standing. Murder Train. You’re gonna be in for a long night.
Kyle confidently holds up the Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Kyle Butler:
I’ve been going about these hardcore matches all wrong. I walked into each and every single one of them with the mindset I need to wrestle them like everyone else. Sophie has been on my ass about strategy. Obviously I can’t out murder the Murder Train. I need to work smarter, not harder. I can take a beating. He’ll likely kick my ass more than I can kick his. So I have worked through a few scenarios in my head. All I need to do is pick my spot. Onward to becoming the World Champion, bay beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Neil pats Kyle on the shoulder.
Neil Newman:
I’m proud of you man. Really grown. Taking advice from a sociopath.
Kyle Butler:
She’s one of us.
Neil Newman:
Be that as it may, the Kyle Butler I thought I knew would not have thought to turn to the dark side.
Kyle shrugs.
Kyle Butler:
HG Wells once said “Adapt or perish.” Hammerstein whooping my ass was the last straw. I wanted to walk away. I couldn’t stand the constant failure. Felt like all the work I have put in since the Summer Tour was all for nothing. I don’t know. I expected to make a smooth transition. I had to be humbled. I had to accept that there is more than one way to get where I want to go. If reading Sun Tzu is the path to stopping a Murder Train, so be it.
Neil smirks.
Neil Newman:
Whatever it takes.
Neil presents his fist to Kyle. Kyle fist bumps him back.
Kyle Butler:
Whatever it takes.
Kyle nods back. Neil returns to his sit ups. Kyle returns to reading Sun Tzu as the scene fades.
The scenes opens up in a warehouse, inside the vast warehouse is a wrestling ring. Maybe it's a boxing ring? The ropes seem a little saggy. And inside of the ring stands a ladder. This image is all we see for a moment before we hear footsteps. We see that those footsteps belong to one Alex Andrews, dressed warm to combat the weather, including a black leather jacket. She slowly approaches the ring, she drag a finger along the apron.
Alex Andrews:
You know what? I'm tired. I'm just exhausted. Every match I go into, it seems I have this wall, maybe it's just a perceived wall of doubters. Telling me how I'm not good enough, I'm not experienced enough. That I'm too small. That I'm too nice. And who knows? That might all be true. It feels like every match I'm in, I'm fighting from underneath, that I'm the underdog.
Alex clicks her tongue as she keeps walking, slow and steady, shrugging her shoulders.
Alex Andrews:
And swimming against that...pressure can be quite tiresome. But I try to tell myself one thing. Just keep swimming. To win in the game, you gotta stay in the game, right?
She nods and hops herself onto the apron, using the rope for stability as she walks.
Alex Andrews:
And maybe finally, after all that time. In what feels like forever, I'm finally turning a corner here in MWE. It felt like I might have been spinning my wheels just a little bit. But maybe all that grinding was there for a reason. I stood toe to toe with Tank Steiner. Didn't win, but I sure as hell showed up and brought the fight to him. And I continued bringing that fight. Week after week. And now, I finally have a shot at truly leaving a mark in MWE. Not quite the title I was expecting to be vying for, but you don't hear me complaining.
Alex steps into the ring, glancing up at the ladder now and then as she paces around it.
Alex Andrews:
So now I'm in this match, this ladder match against five other people for the MWE MENTV Championship. And perhaps, I should be nervous. I should be antsy about having such odds stacked against me. Fighting all these people with so much more experience than me in such a dangerous and volatile match. That should scare the bejesus out of little sweet Alex, right?
Alex shakes her head, turning towards the camera and staring hard at it, shoving her hands into the leather jacket.
Alex Andrews:
But I'm not. This isn't my first ladder type match. And the way I see things, this is where I take a stand. Where I show my haters that I'm more than just a snot nosed kid with delusions of grandeur. This is MY match to win. Mine. I get that there are people whom have been chasing the MENTV for quite a while now, but I doubt they want it quite as much as I do.
Alex turns her gaze back up at the ladder.
Alex Andrews:
And so, like I've done recently, I'm going to show up. I'm going to fight tooth and nail and claw and scratch. No more waiting for opportunities to present themselves. No more just happy to be here Alex. People like Neil Newman can claim that he knows me, and that he'll have me all figured out, but I surprised him at Coupe De Grâce, and I'll surprise him thus time too. I'm not the same person I was six months ago, heck, I'm not the same fighter I was two months ago. And heand the rest of the field will find out, I'm so much more than meets the eye. I want this and I'm taking this. You're looking at the next MENTV Champion.
Alex lets out an almost snarl as she says those last words before she steps towards the ropes and stares a hole at the camera as the scene cares to black.
MENTV Championship Match
Ladder Match
Asher Miles VS The Eye VS Dean Smith VS Liv Mercer VS Alex Andrews VS Neil NewmanLadder Match
The vacant MENTV championship was hanging ten feet above the ring, six of Riot’s finest were ready to battle for the title and the opportunity that comes with it. Five defenses and it can be cashed in for either a Junior Heavyweight or a Riot championship shot, like Pierce Manning did successfully last night. The bell rang and the six of them paired up in three fights in different corners of the ring. Asher went straight for Liv, still smarting about the loss suffered a few weeks ago, unleashing a series of unrelenting strikes to the first ever Riot champion. Newman had something to say to Alex Andrews before the match began. Nothing bad or offensive, more down the “Show me what you got” lines, but that was enough to trigger Lady Limitless. Whether his tone was actually condescending as she took it or not, those words caused Alex to jump on Newman with a Thesz press and began to hammer him with ground and pound punches. This left The Eye to deal with Dean Smith, and the former Invictus champion was really struggling against the agile Puerto Rican. The luchador was using his speed and athleticism to keep himself one step ahead of the stronger but slower opponent, avoiding Dean’s direct strikes and hitting him with sudden and spectacular offense like a springboard hurricanrana. The real fun began when the ladders came into play. Dean brough the first one in after slamming The Eye on the canvas with a spinebuster. But the high flier was already on his feet and drove the chair on Smith’s chest with a baseball slide when he pushed it under the bottom rope, sending the former champion against the barricade. He then used the ladder as a weapon, holding it horizontally in front of him and running through the duo of Newman and Andrews, wiping them out. Mercer was trying to sneak up behind him, but The Eye saw her (no pun intended) and quickly turned on his heels, catching her on the head with the ladder’s feet. Asher was the last one standing between him and the opportunity to retrieve the title. Standing might have been an exaggeration, the young man was actually pulling himself up. But sensing the danger, he instinctively jumped and hit a dropkick on the ladder, pushing it on The Eye’s face and burying him under it. That was Miles’ chance, the young man set the ladder up and began to climb, with nobody seemingly able to stop him. But then Dean came back inside the ring with another chair in hand and he used it to stop Asher’s ascent by driving the top in the small of his back. Double the ladders, double the carnage, even though none of the competitors was using it to climb. Liv tried, to be fair, but Dean shoved the ladder and sent her falling outside the ring. On Valentine’s Day, Liv’s boyfriend took one for the team and moved in position to catch his girl, getting knocked down in the process but somehow cushioning the terrific fall that could have had catastrophic consequences on the former champion’s chances to win. Still, there were only five of them now. Make it four after The Eye pop-up powerbombed Lady Limitless on the chair, and jumped on her with the rolling thunder. Alex rolled out of the ring to nurse her injured back and ribs, the Puerto Rican obliterated Newman with a flipping piledriver after doubling him over with a kick to the stomach and then shot a concerned look toward the title. Dean and Asher were fighting on top, trading blows inches away from the gold. Despite the sense of urgency, The Eye kept his cool and set up his chair adjacent to the one where the two competitors were fighting and climbed up on Dean’s side. The big man had won the exchange with Asher after catching him with a throat strike and was now trying to unhook the belt. The Eye punched him in the ribs and smashed his face against the ladder but Dean didn’t fall. Not even after a second strike. It took a gutsy kick to the spine from The Eye to knock him down, the Puerto Rican. A risky move since the ladder he was on was less than stable after being used as a weapon and began to wobble and eventually fall. But as it was falling, The Eye managed to jump on the one Dean was on, and climb a couple of steps to put himself in position to retrieve the gold. Asher had different plans for The Eye though, which included a long freefall to the waiting canvas with a reckless suplex. A new ladder was brought in by Andrews, the first one to get up after that carnage. She kicked one of the other two out and set it up right under the hanging title and began to climb. A couple of steps up and someone grabbed her foot. It was Liv Mercer who dragged Andrews down and immediately hit her with her Stay Grounded. Liv looked at the title, the missing piece of hardware that would make her the first Riot triple crown winner. It was a damn long way to the top, Mercer clearly still hurting from the previous fall. But eventually she got there, her hands were touching the gold and nobody could ruin this moment for her, not even The Eye who was now bringing a fourth ladder in, a longer one in that. Unless… Unless he would set it up obliquely against the one Liv was one and run his way to the top, throwing caution out of the window and himself against Mercer, taking her and himself down and out with a spear. Andrews and Miles, those two were the ones trying the climb now. But the Antares’ hopes were crushed by Newman who powerbombed him on the ground. He was the one who contended the title to Lady Limitless in a high-altitude battle, one he was losing. With the fans firmly behind her, Alex managed to string together a series of punches that rocked the former Tag Champion, and smash his face on the ladder to buy her enough time to try to retrieve the gold. But Newman was there to ruin her moment, raking her eyes and knocking her down with a headbutt. He looked at her laying on her back for a moment before unfastening the title from its hook. WINNER: Neil Newman (NEW MENTV CHAMPION) BY: Title Retrieval, 15:14 |
Peyton Holland: "An incredible battle, but in the end it was Neil Newman who came out on top."
Ambra Monroe: "It's a real shame for Alex, she was so close..."
Neil went to congratulate with Andrews after receiving the title. Not any of the other competitors, just her. And he looked sincere when he told her that she put up a great fight and offered her the hand to shake. She didn't believe him and slapped his hand away, dropping on the floor to leave the ring.
Ambra Monroe: "It's a real shame for Alex, she was so close..."
Neil went to congratulate with Andrews after receiving the title. Not any of the other competitors, just her. And he looked sincere when he told her that she put up a great fight and offered her the hand to shake. She didn't believe him and slapped his hand away, dropping on the floor to leave the ring.
Backstage in the dressing room we find Sophie O’Brian in her wrestling gear lacing up her black wrestling boots. She is alone and has specifically requested silence so she can meditate and get into the right mindset for tonight’s No Disqualification Match against Melody Lennox, a woman with whom she has had some significant run ins in recent weeks. Unfortunately for the Irish woman the door opens and her brother, the enormous Mark O’Brian enters.
Mark O’Brian:
Sophie…
Sophie O’Brian:
Leave.
Mark O’Brian:
But…
Sophie O’Brian:
I told you not to bother me right now, you overgrown evolutionary reject, and yet here you are.
Mark O’Brian:
Yeah but someone’s here who I think you may wanna see.
Sophie stands up and turns towards the door to find her best friend, “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock standing there. Sophie’s intense anger immediately softens. The two meet and embrace in a tight hug.
Sophie O’Brian:
Well this is different. I can always make time for the offspring of the greatest man who ever lived.
Braddock chuckles.
Glory Braddock:
Thanks Sophie...I think. But you really are too mean to your brother, y’know?
Sophie O’Brian:
Mark is used to it.
Mark smirks before turning and taking his own leave, leaving the two ladies to themselves.
Glory Braddock:
So what is your big game plan for tonight?
Sophie O’Brian:
If I told you then I would have to come up with a brand new game plan, then wouldn’t I? Secrecy, the element of surprise, is the ultimate tool of victory, Glory. And make no mistake about it that tonight I will shut up Lennox once and for all and she will be surprised. Call it my own version of the infamous shock and awe campaign.
Glory Braddock:
But the fireball is banned, mate. And after using your best weapon against her certainly she’ll be prepared now for anything.
Sophie nods her head.
Sophie O’Brian:
Yes the fireball is banned but what you fail to realize is that Melody is your generic, stereotypical blonde barbie with a loud mouth. True, she can be manipulative at times, but when it comes to true strategy she is every bit the dim bulb as my idiot brother. Tonight I will outwit her, I will outwrestle her, and if necessary I will use the no disqualification rules to my advantage and destroy her. And if she does try anything underhanded that is unexpected, then I know I can count on some Glorious Golden back up.
Sophie winks and The British Bombshell nods her head.
Glory Braddock:
Of course. You just give the signal if you need anything and me, Neil, Kyle, any of us, we’ll be there.
Singles Match
No DQ -Fireballs Are Banned
Sophie O'Brian VS Melody LennoxNo DQ -Fireballs Are Banned
Anything goes in this match, except fireballs. Odd exception, if you will, but one made necessary after what happened in the aftermath of their first encounter when Sophie countered Mel’s suicide dive with her Scorched Earth Policy. None of them was particularly fond of hardcore wrestling, and for the first five minutes of the match, they made this look like a regular match, and a great one too. A clash of styles between the high flier Lennox and the technical prodigy that was O’Brian, with the scale tipping in Melody’s Lennox in this first part. The Villainess used her speed to stay out of Sophie’s reach, finding an ally on the ring ropes she used as a springboard to take the opponent off guard. Her offence included a springboard enziguri, a crucifix pin (this one too after bouncing back from the ropes) and a moonsault after the Common Sense, but the Northern Irish wasn’t staying down. The first weapon to come into play was Melody’s 29 carat ring, an unorthodox choice but one that gave the woman a few wins in her career, especially when used in a sneaky way. But Sophie ducked her attempt and countered it with a half and half suplex. Melody got to her feet but O’Brian met her with a kick to the midsection and took her over with a snap suplex. Total war floated into a quick cover but Jamie kicked out in two, although she seemed to be favoring her back already. Sophie hauled her up to her feet but Jamie surprised her with an elbow right to the face. The member of the Glorious Golden Era was rocked and then sent into the corner by a dropkick from the Smol But Mighty, who then went for her Thread And Needle, the running splash in the corner. As always, Melody transitioned through the ropes and climbed to the top rope, but before she could do anything about it, a punch to the jaw from Sophie knocked her sitting on the top rope. It wasn’t a regular punch, O’Brian’s fist was wearing brass knuckles, which was perfectly legal tonight. Sophie followed with a muscle buster, but Lennox wasn’t done just yet. By the end of the match both women had won their reluctance to use weapons and gave up to their “dark side”, fueled by the growing hatred and the frustration that came from not being able to put the opponent away. Sophie’s weapon of choice was the ever versatile chair, one she used to boost the damage done by her Death By Wisdom (codebreaker variation). Sure, that hurt her knee but that seemed like a little price to pay to finally put down the tenacious Villainess. But not even that was enough to hold her down for three seconds. Melody pulled herself up and leaned back against the corner, but there was no rest for the Wicked, as Sophie was right back on the attack with some knife edge chops. Lennox used her head, literally, and stunned O’Brian with a headbutt, dropping her on the middle turnbuckle with a flatliner. Little detail everyone seemed to have missed, while picking herself up Melody removed the protective pad from it, and Sophie’s head hit the exposed metal. Lennox thought for a moment to go for her Crescendo, but considering the rules allowed it, she took things to the next level and left the ring to grab a ladder. She rammed it on the lying O’Brian a couple of times to make sure she’d stay down and climbed it. Then she jumped for a chest shattering Crescendo (Moonsault Diving Double Foot Stomp), but Sophie rolled out of the way. Mel landed on her feet, but it wasn’t a nice landing and she seemed to have twisted her ankle. She immediately crouched down and massaged it, eating a superkick from the opponent that turned her lights out. O’Brian grabbed the ladder and folded it, dropping it on the canvas. She then picked the Villainess up and connected the Ode To Braddock (swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker) on the ladder, obtaining the win that sealed the deal and gave her the win. WINNER: Sophie O’Brian BY: Pinfall (Ode To Braddock), 11:44 |
Amy Maynard: "Even without fireballs, Sophie managed to beat Melody Lennox."
Sir Figgles: "She was in a bit of a rough path after repeatedly failing to win the IC title from Megan The Great. Perhaps this win can help her get back on track."
Amy Maynard: "It's back to square one instead for Melody, who doesn't seem able to keep any momentum."
Sir Figgles: "Silver lining, she's done dealing with O'Brian now."
Sir Figgles: "She was in a bit of a rough path after repeatedly failing to win the IC title from Megan The Great. Perhaps this win can help her get back on track."
Amy Maynard: "It's back to square one instead for Melody, who doesn't seem able to keep any momentum."
Sir Figgles: "Silver lining, she's done dealing with O'Brian now."
Voice:
Do you ever feel like you’ve been drifting aimlessly?
Came the voice of an undisclosed individual as the camera opened up backstage, inside the locker room of Rhett Adelson and Qiyara Singh. The voice doesn’t appear to have come from either one of them as Qiyara stands there on her own and that voice didn’t quite match the tone that Rhett would have, perhaps to showcase a sort of inner dialogue going on in the Mumbai Native’s brain.
Voice:
Does it always feel worth it?
Again that voice, plaguing the room, as we slowly see Qiyara slipping on her boots, paying it no mind. We almost hear it about to say something else until suddenly the door to the room opens and inwardly steps Rhett himself. Qiyara turns to look up at him and instantly whatever thoughts might have been plaguing her were gone as her smile brightened just by seeing him there.
Qiyara Singh:
You are certainly a sight for sore eyes.
She stated this even though she’d probably seen him only moments ago, but perhaps that was just a constant feeling that she had to reverb into the atmosphere. There wasn’t a lot of time where they weren’t consistently close, but maybe she hadn’t meant it so literally.
As the cameras panned to see him further Rhett stood there, stone faced and not his usual jovial self before he shrugged.
Rhett Adelson:
You know how it is lately. When it comes to all of this, I’ve been in a different mindset. I’m not playing around anymore. I’m tired of letting people get away with murder against us.
He sighed and shook his head.
Rhett Adelson:
We deserve better and tonight? We’re going to show why we’re the best tag team here. Sorry Breetee Committee but I plan on making an example out of you.
Yara just looked him over and nodded. Perhaps that inner saboteur she’d been hearing was indeed alive and well in her mind when she’d seen the changes he’d been going through, there was a small part of her that felt responsibility for what was happening, a small part that believed what the naysayers had to say.
Yet her smile wouldn’t show it.
Qiyara Singh:
A former set of tag team champions and respectful opponents, I don’t see anything to be sorry for, they know the stakes as much as we do.
She stood now crossing the room towards him, before she look at him discernibly and almost like it were out of camera view before the filming changed views for more of an up-close shot.
Qiyara Singh:
I’m not talking about mindset though. I know you’re ready.
She was looking at him more with a concerned expression. One she’d held for weeks now.
Qiyara Singh:
We can’t start accusing everyone of being out to get us though, that’s a mind set of paranoia.
Rhett shook his head.
Rhett Adelson:
It’s not paranoia because everyone IS out to get us. Every single moment we let our guard down, we get fucked over, Yara. We keep on playing by the rules but then everyone else breaks them. So all I’m saying is, I’m not going to give Breetee Committee a chance to break the rules.
His expression was one that didn’t have much emotion to it but you could tell he was focused and determined. He wasn’t going to let anyone stand in their way anymore.
Rhett Adelson
We let last year pass us by. I won’t let 2021 be another year without gold. We will win tonight and we will be back on track for the tag team championships.
She paused ideally looking him over again, her eyes analyzing him before she nodded. Knowing now wasn’t the time or place to discuss his convictions but she couldn’t hide that momentarily lapse of worry that broke through the barricade she wrapped her emotions in.
Qiyara Singh:
Then let’s get to it then.
She smirked now losing whatever apprehensive pre-match jitters she might’ve had in place of a determined expression of her own now.
Qiyara Singh:
Vakra-Tunndda Maha-Kaaya Suurya-Kotti Samaprabha
She grabbed hold of his hands pulling them into her own before bowing her head slightly as she chanted the words as she continued.
Qiyara Singh:
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryessu Sarvadaa
As she finished the chant she released his hand before leaning into him to give him a kiss, before eyeing him playfully.
Qiyara Singh:
Guess We’ll be seeing them out there, huh?
A light lift of her hand brushed the side of his cheek, trying to get even a small glimpse of that anger he’d been feeling to dissipate momentarily.
He couldn’t help it, it was game over the moment she kissed him and placed her hand on his cheek. That trademark smile of his finally came through and he shook his head.
Rhett Adelson:
You don’t play fair, Singh.
Rhett grabs her free hand and nods towards the door.
Rhett Adelson:
But yeah, let’s get going. Breetee Committee will see we’re still a force to be reckoned with. Let’s get it.
With that the two exit the scene, ready for their match.
Tag Team Match
Rhett Adelson & Qiyara Singh VS The BreeTee Committee
Two of the best tag teams in MWE, the BreeTee Committee and the team of Rhett & Qiyara, found themselves booked in an anonymous match halfway on the card, out of the title picture where they’d definitely belong. Make no mistake though, none of them seemed annoyed with the placement nor it prevented them from tearing down the house with a fast paced contest since the opening bell. Bree and Rhett started things off, two different styles perfectly mixing in the most classical power versus agility clash. And The Power Of Bree was on display early tonight when the former tag champion caught the opponent’s attempt at a springboard back elbow and slammed him down with the first of the three suplexes. She didn’t bridge the third into a pin as usual, but it was a released version instead that sent Adelson in the Committee’s half of the corner. Tag to Teegan and the Belfast born opted for clipping the high flier’s wings and keeping him grounded with a series of submissions. It worked for a while, but eventually Rhett created some separation with a jawbreaker and rushed to his corner where Qiyara was waiting to make her impact in this match. Watching Singh in the ring was always worthy of the price of admission. Her movements were so smooth, both the defensive evasion maneuvers and the offensive attacks, her kicks so fast and always on spot. And tonight she showed that she could go with the best of them even on the technical aspect. Her and Gallagher battled for a good couple of minutes in a seamless exchange of holds, both standing and on the canvas. Sure thing, in the end it was the former Tag champion who got the last laugh and planted the Indian on her head with a hammerlock ddt, obtaining a count of two out of it, but Singh surely held her own. But her kicks were, without a doubt, her best weapon. The 540 spinning hook kick dropped the almost tok Teegs’ head off and Singh capitalized on it with another cover. Smith had to literally run through Rhett to make the save at the very last moment. Qiyara went back to work, dragging Gallagher up and whipping her against the ropes. The former champion was able to reverse it and Singh was the one going for a run. As she returned, Teagan dropped to her stomach and she hopped over her. Gallagher was up quick and she hit the ropes, getting a blind tag from Bree. Teegs ducked under a clothesline attempt from Qiyara and then hit a dropkick as soon as the Indian turned around, pushing her right into a full nelson bomb by the powerhouse of the BreeTee. Tag team wrestling at its finest in the final part of the contest, a lot of quick tags and combined moves for just as many near falls. The blondes almost got that win they were craving for to get back on track with the Over The Pop, when Tegan jumped off her partner’s shoulders with her 630 and landed on Rhett’s chest. Despite Bree wisely taking Qiyara, it couldn’t keep Rhett down for the three. In the final moments the young man grew more aggressive, nothing like the outburst from a few weeks ago, but still more vicious than he used to be. He even earned a warning from the referee for not respecting the rope break and continuing to stomp Gallagher into the mat. That seemed to snap him out of that dark place he went to, and he shook his head walking to his corner. Qiyara took over, not without a slight concern for her boyfriend and hopped inside the ring, taking Bree down off the apron with a yakuza kick so that she had clear field for the Singhing Off Qi, the ever beautiful feint kick into Spinning Tornado Kick that gave her team the win. WINNER: Qiyara Singh & Rhett Adelson BY: Pinfall (Singhing Off Qi), 12:51 |
Peyton Holland: "Big win tonight for Rhett & Qiyara. The climb toward the tag title has officially begun."
Ambra Monroe: "I believe 2021 could really be their year. They ended the last on with that incredible performance at Coup De Grâce, and if it wasn't for the Bad Boyz... Who knows, they could have been in Fabulous' shoes now."
Peyton Holland: "Now, that is a match I'm looking forward. And I'm sure Rhett and Qiyara feel the same."
Ambra Monroe: "I believe 2021 could really be their year. They ended the last on with that incredible performance at Coup De Grâce, and if it wasn't for the Bad Boyz... Who knows, they could have been in Fabulous' shoes now."
Peyton Holland: "Now, that is a match I'm looking forward. And I'm sure Rhett and Qiyara feel the same."
The scene switches over to the setting of an open field during the day time, and as the camera scans the area it comes across a man, and zooms it revealing it to be non other than Joey Leclair.
Joey Leclair:
Injuries can often discourage someone, and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t feel that while I was forced to sit home for two months doing nothing, but you see? it also allowed some time for personal reflection and while in my head? I realized that I havnt been myself.
Joey pauses for a moment and crosses his arms.
Joey Leclair:
I have been so caught up in Hate, loneliness, and regret that I forgot who I was, and so I owe everyone an apology, because since arriving in Millennium I have preached that everyone is fake, and only I am real, but in reality I was being a hypocrite, but I didn’t realize this because I was so consumed by my hate that I honestly believed what I was preaching, and for that I apologize. You will never see The Death Dealer again, but instead your going to get the Joey Leclair you guys deserve which is the real me, and so allow me to reintroduce myself.
Joey smiles and unfolds his arms.
Joey Leclair:
I am Joey Leclair the prodigy, and I am a machine, a force you have never seen, a masterful technician with a never stop never quit attitude. So what’s next you might ask? Well I want to face the best Millennium has to offer, and you may be thinking will the best is the World champion right? Wrong, because to me there is one woman who is the best in Millennium, and who is the undisputed face of the company, and I know your wondering who, but you will find out at the same time she does.
Joey smiles at the camera and does a salute at the scene comes to an end.
Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
Leia LeBeau © VS Omari JohnsonBoth wrestlers glanced at the Junior Heavyweight title belt before turning their attention back towards each other, knowing what was on the line in this championship match. As the referee rang the bell, Leia charged Omari, trying to overwhelm him with a flurry of kicks. Omari covered up as best he could but Leia had him backed up into the ropes. A missile dropkick took him off his feet and Leia immediately took to the ground to try and lock in the Sin City Sleepover, but Omari prevented it and as the two got to their feet, he hit her with an undetected eye poke. This allowed him to take control of the match, capped off with a massive 911 superman punch that took Leia off her feet. But this only earned him a two count as Leia was able to kick out. Amari wasted no time in trying to lock in the ATL, but Leia was able to reach out and grab the rope and pull herself away. Omari didn’t give her a chance to catch her breath as he drove her into the corner and began to deliver multiple shots to her head. The referee eventually forced him to break at a four-count, but Omari charged right back in. Leia seemed to see this coming though, as she dropped down and caught his legs with her own, causing Omari to trip and smack his head right into the turnbuckle. As he staggered back, Leia took him out with the Seattle Slutdrop and quickly went for a cover, but Omari kicked out at two. The next few minutes of the match saw the two wrestlers trade momentum, with neither of them gaining an obvious upperhand. That all changed when Omari charged at Leia, who dropped down and pulled the top rope with her, causing the challenger to tumble over the top rope to the floor outside of the ring. Not content to just wait for a count-out, Leia slid out of the ring and went after Omari, who was seemingly crawling under the ring. As Leia grabbed him to try to guide him back out, she suddenly yelled out in pain and collapsed to the ground. A replay showed Omari swinging a kendo stick hard into the side of her knee from under the ring, yet another cheap shot undetected by the referee from his vantage point in the ring. Omari picked up Leia and tossed her into the ring, before climbing up onto the apron. He tried to deliver another 911, but Leia was able to duck underneath it and avoid it. Her knee was still in pain from the kendo stick shot though, and no doubt made even worse as Omari dove and delivered a chop block to the back of said knee. Omari rolled Leia up for a pin, grabbing her by the tights for leverage as the referee made the three count to crown him new champi-no! Leia somehow managed to power out at two and a half even with the tight-grab. Never underestimate the heart of a champion as despite all the cheap shots, Leia was still in this match. And she wasn’t going down without a fight as she delivered a series of Show Kicks to the challenger’s chest. Omari tried to get out of it by whipping Leia across the ring and into the ropes, but she simply rebounded and knocked Omari off his feet with a running big boot. A two-count earned but it was back to the attack for Leia. Despite being limited to effectively one leg thanks to her hurt knee, she backed Omari into the corner with some powerful kicks. A dropkick to his knee took him down the ground, and she wasted no time. Leia lined it up before charging at Omari with the Jet City Jive. But he rolled out of the way before she could deliver it. Luckily for Leia, she saw it coming and was able to change her course of action and knock Omari down with an enzuigiri. She dropped down and locked in the Sin City Sleepover. Omari desperately fought to escape, eventually doing so by raking Leia’s eyes. As she stood to her feet with her hands rubbing her eyes, she couldn’t even see Omari as he dropped her with the Super Duper Kick. He went for the cover and waited for the referee to count, which never came. Instead the ref stood him up and began to reprimand him for the eye rake. Omari argued back as he and the ref got into it about the cheap shot. So much so that he didn’t see Leia slowly get to her feet and run at him, taking him down with the Seattle Slutdrop. Despite all the punishment she’d endured, Leia somehow managed to get back to her feet, deliver the Jet City Jive, and fall on top of Omari for the pin. WINNER: Leia LeBeau (STILL JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (Jet City Jive), 14:57 |
Amy Maynard: “What a huge title defense for Leia, overcoming all those cheap shots and still getting the win”
Sir Figgles: “That’s what true champions do, they overcome the odds”
Amy Maynard: “And to do most of it on basically one leg is even more impressive”
Sir Figgles: “Absolutely an impressive defense for Leia, and if she keeps wrestling like that it certainly won’t be her last!”
Sir Figgles: “That’s what true champions do, they overcome the odds”
Amy Maynard: “And to do most of it on basically one leg is even more impressive”
Sir Figgles: “Absolutely an impressive defense for Leia, and if she keeps wrestling like that it certainly won’t be her last!”
The feed cut backstage to West chilling backstage. His back rested up against a workbench, while he kept one leg stretched out and the other bent; stretching for the match up later in the night. West then noticed the camera ahead of him and spoke up.
West Long:
So tonight's the triple threat contest. Pitting me against Brookford and Matt Stone.
Last time Matt and I had somebody else sharing the ring.
He looked over to his right shoulder with some prominent blue tape across the back.
West Long:
I took a bad fall and, yeah, that took some time, a short time, but time on the bench.
Then he looked back towards the camera. He leaned forward and straightened out his legs so he could easily push himself off the bench. He stood up straight, giving the camera his full presence.
West Long:
But here we are again.
A match with two boys for me to throw around. Slam, do whatever the hell I want to with, yeah.
With a damn sweet prize nobody in this company would ever turn down.
Intercontinental gold. MWE Intercontinental gold.
At which point a close up of the title flashed on screen, then faded back to West.
West Long:
That belt has history.
Yeah looking at me, you might guess I train hard and forget about history. But nah.
History reveals patterns, mistakes, and I take the time to study it all.
A few montage shots from West's training sessions are mixed in with match rewatching by the Warwolf. West then began to walk towards the camera.
West Long:
Like that time Matt Stone stumbled in the Sandstorm Energy tournament.
Couple of good, stiff strikes to the flapping gums area and you can put him down.
I've shown I can hit and strike precisely
A quick shot showed West Long performing a straight high kick from MWE archive footage. The impact caused the footage to shatter with West Long standing behind it in a tailored suit.
West Long:
And end it on a single, good hit.
Whether it be him, or Brookford, or both, I'm gonna be the one standing tall...see you out there boys.
He rubbed his hands together rapidly, eagerly, and roughly. Flashed the camera a smirk and a wink before walking past it and leaving the feed to slowly fade to black.
BROOKFORD is in the hallway leaning up against a white wall. He cracks his knuckles. Glaring intensely into the camera he proceeds to speak.
BROOKFORD:
I have lived by one rule. Never personal; strictly business. This company has tested my patience more than any other. And I am not talking about the two men who were placed in my path. They are means to an end. Nothing more. All that consumes me is I should be the Intercontinental Champion today. Megan; you are the luckiest bitch on Gods green Earth, twice you escaped me by the will of some force. What pisses me off is you continue to walk around believing you are untouchable, knowing for a fact you can’t beat me straight up. Borderline insulting. As long as you hold the Intercontinental Champion, it’s a mockery to a real professional like me. Your existence is a mockery to me.
BROOKFORD pauses to take a deep breath.
BROOKFORD:
I need to be the one to end her reign as champion. In no way am I discounting Eliza, who knows, Eliza might be the one to do it. I don’t want Eliza to pull it off, Megan, you belong to me. You’re my kill. I promised you on your birthday I would be the one to choke you out. I intend on keeping that promise.
Unless Sandstorm or some other idiot wishes to make the biggest mistake of their life by denying me what I want. Matt. West. Nothing personal, you two were offered as a sacrifice, should any of you deny me, then you will deal with the biggest problem of your life... ME.
BROOKFORD snarls. He doesn’t let up the intensity as the scene fades to black.
Triple Threat Match
Winner gets a shot at the Intercontinental Championship
Matt Stone VS BROOKFORD VS West Long Winner gets a shot at the Intercontinental Championship
The right to challenge Megan Monroe or Eliza Foley for the Intercontinental champion was at stake tonight, three men ready to go to war to get one step closer to the prestigious title. The third ding of the bell was still echoing in the arena when BROOKFORD exploded out of his corner and blasted Matt with a big forearm to the face. Stone was completely caught off guard and rocked early, and things went from bad to worse when West Long joined in and the two big men began to hit the canadian with alternate chops. His chest turned bright red quite soon, his face was a look of pure agony as those heavy hands kept meeting his bruised skin. His back was against the ropes but they just kept coming, some of the loudmouth’s detractors in the stands particularly enjoying the beatdown the Abominable Showman was going through. A thunderous chop from Long landed on his pecs with a thud, such was the force behind it that Stone tumbled over the top rope. BROOKFORD and Long then looked at each other, both of them perfectly aware that their short-lived alliance had come to an end already. The Problem Solver threw the first punch. the Warwolf answered with one of equal intensity and from there things really took up, the two of them swinging their arms in a whirlwind of hard strikes. None of them was backing down a millimeter, the fans were absolutely loving the intensity the two men were putting in this exchange, while Matt watched from the outside, checking his bright red chest with a look of concern. It was BROOKFORD who got the best of the exchange, whipping the opponent against the ropes and catching him with a spinning side slam. West kicked out in two. Matt Stone seemed content with just taking some extra time and let the two behemoths wearing each other out. Long delivered a bicycle kick so hard that it sent the Problem Solver stumbling back against the ropes. West stood there to catch him to rebound and drop him on his extended knee with an STO backbreaker. At that point Matt tried to sneak back in and capitalize on the situation, flooring the Warwolf with a jumping knee to the head and making a quick cover on BROOKFORD. The former Underground Dynasty champion kicked out right at two but Matt got him up to his feet and whipped him into the ropes… Or at least he tried to. BROOKFORD reversed the momentum and was waiting for Matt to bounce back. From out of nowhere came West, shoving the New Yorker away with a massive shoulder tackle to be the one to push Stone high in the air and smash him down into the canvas with a one handed pop up powerbomb. The Warwolf covered him but BROOKFORD broke up the count. Long was dragged up to his feet and fed some stiff punches before BROOKFORD went for the throat, looking for a chokeslam. Matt began to kick the PS, but he winded up in the same position as West. BROOKFORD was going for a double chokeslam, an impressive feat of strength to lift both men off the ground. But Stone kicked him in the stomach and caused him to lose his grip. Long began to hammer at the arm and finally broke free as well. They then joined forces to lift him with a double suplex. The strength and experience of BROOKFORD allowed the big man to take control by the end of the match. He took Long out of the equation with a clothesline when the Warwolf was at the ropes, throwing him out of the ring. He then picked up Stone who was still recovering by that brutal spinning backfist and lifted him over his shoulder, walking toward the corner and hanging him upside down in the tree of woe position. Taking a running start from the opposite corner, BROOKFORD blasted him with a running knee and that seemed to be the end for the Abominable Showman, clearly rocked after the devastating strike. West re-entered the ring behind the unaware BROOKFORD’s shoulders and locked him in a double chickenwing, delivering repeated headbutt to the back of the head. Nobody ever questioned West’s strength, but seeing him connecting a german suplex on BROOKFORD and staying standing up as he did was impressive nonetheless. Ever the opportunistic, Stone tried to roll West up, but he only got a two out of it. When Long stood back up to his feet, Matt was quick to hit him with the C-c-c-c Combo Breaker (codebreaker), connecting a second one on BROOKFORD who just managed to get up to a vertical base and probably didn’t even realize what hit him. The fans were hating it, but Matt Stone had done it. He made the cover on the Problem Solver for the one, two… NO! BROOKFORD kicked out. The Abominable Showman couldn’t believe and tried to pin West instead. Just like before, the kick out happened a moment before the three. Hands in his air, Stone looked at the two opponents in disbelief, wondering what else he could do to take them out. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a figure hopping the barricade and entering the ring. He turned around to find himself face to face with… Christina Rose? He barely had time to identify her before she dropped him on his head with the Rock & Roll (swinging snap ddt). She looked satisfied with laying Stone down and left the ring when BROOKFORD got back to his feet. He saw Matt flat on his back, but he wasn’t taking any chances, lifting him for the Problem… Solved. Long saw what just happened and threw Brook out of the ring, capitalizing on his work with a quick cover to steal the win. WINNER: West Long BY: Pinfall (Problem… Solved), 14:09 |
Peyton Holland: "The ultimate opportunistic move earned a shot at the IC title!"
Ambra Monroe: "BROOKFORD doesn't look pleased... Like at all."
Peyton Holland: "And neither does Matt Stone. He probably had the match won there, but someone he's quite familiar with decided to ruin his part."
Ambra Monroe: "Yes, you saw it right, ladies and gentlemen. Christina Rose he's back, and he already made herself an enemy."
Ambra Monroe: "BROOKFORD doesn't look pleased... Like at all."
Peyton Holland: "And neither does Matt Stone. He probably had the match won there, but someone he's quite familiar with decided to ruin his part."
Ambra Monroe: "Yes, you saw it right, ladies and gentlemen. Christina Rose he's back, and he already made herself an enemy."
We then head to the locker room and rather than spend the previous night to go celebrate anything it seems Seth Iser is in the building for night two as well. He isn’t armed with the briefcase though as he’s dressed to the nines in a different black and purple suit. No, the briefcase that he’s often seen with is now replaced with the biggest prize in the company, the MWE World Championship. And the grin that ended the first night is still on his face for the moment.
Seth Iser:
The old man of professional wrestling found another way. I’ve often said time and time again...there isn’t a rule I don’t know my way around. There isn’t a way I can’t work around a situation when I put my mind to it. And once again...because my brain never shuts off...I now hold the crown jewel of the company. But you must be wondering why, just why would I make an enemy out of Duke Andrews in that situation since he has lost his temper all over social media vowing to everyone that he’d get me. Don’t worry...I’ll give you the why. Or rather...the whys…so let’s pull up a seat and I’ll tell you. Not just the professional reason...being the champion and all that. You already know that part. But let’s dig deeper, shall we? Deeper in a way where tweets just aren’t enough.
The smile that was on his face is now gone as he’s glaring into the camera with full intensity. The gleam of the championship is still over his shoulder. He literally does grab a steel folding chair and takes a seat so he’s more eye level with the camera.
Seth Iser:
Think long and hard on how Devin became champion to begin with. He mastered this ultimate scheme where he pulled this Sandstorm Incorporated idea and shattered everything from what people were going to do in the locker room, to whom to look out for entirely to even Duke’s brainchild as he says in APE. And he did it by supposedly outsmarting the room on that. Then he went next level and took out my family in Kelsey Spencer…knowing full damn well I wasn’t going to be on hand to do anything after I was sent to the hospital following my war with Neal. And he went and ripped away her dream. Not just the dream of being the world champion...but ripped away the dream of her being a professional wrestler with his callousness. A bright star...someone even I liked in a business that’s so selfish...taken out like that.
There is a particular maliciousness in Seth’s eyes as he’s recounting all of this. He’s even rocked on that chair slightly as he’s uneasy about telling the truth.
Seth Iser:
When he did that...it’s personal.
There’s a coldness in Seth’s eyes when he said the word personal but that’s melted away as he’s now the one getting heated.
Seth Iser:
I call her my family! We might not have the same methods and we might not share the same blood but that is what Kelsey Spencer is. And I wasn’t going to be able to look MYSELF in the god damned mirror if I let someone do that to MY family and let them walk away without paying the price. But if you think I’m not telling the damn truth…let me enlighten you.
There’s even more anger actually showing on the usually calm Iser’s face.
Seth Iser:
She, as a show of respect and with my blessing, helped repopularize the DDT! I don’t give that to just anybody but I gave it to her because she was special and she is my family. Let me also tell you something that a lot of others might not know: I was the one who walked Kelsey Spencer down the aisle for her to be wed! So when I say we are family...take it to the bank, we are family. And I wasn’t going to let Duke’s feelings, Devin’s ambitions or the fact that the damn doctors wouldn’t clear me get in the way. I was going to hurt Devin…in the worst possible way.
Again there’s that cold malice when he mentions that he was or in this case did hurt Devin as he taps the World Championship over his shoulder.
Seth Iser:
And Duke? You weren’t going to hurt him on that night. Not in the way he deserved. You went too direct. Almost too...honorable for someone who has shown none. Especially when he’s shown his morality to be non-existent. If you honestly think that you were going to kick out when he hit you with that damn baton and was about to hit a second Night Rider after thirty minutes of hell...your ego is overtaking your actual brain. You were dead to rights.
A sneer creeping over Iser’s face as he explains all of this. He’s just leaning back on the steel folding chair though.
Seth Iser:
But even if you were to get the victory played out in your head...I don’t think it would’ve been the long lasting revenge you wanted on him. Not at all. Because Devin’s god damned ego would re-inflate. He’d still have another crack at things. And his lackeys can still be sold that he’s the ultimate master manipulator. Hell, what would stop him from pulling another damn stunt to get it right back knowing he wasn’t outsmarted fully? So the moment Elsa announced that nobody was going to interfere...cleared or not, it all fell together. I didn’t have to worry about the variables of Envy, Constantine, or god knows who else that might want a piece of one or both of you. I’m not a damned fool. I didn’t last this long by being a damned fool. It all pieced together.
The sneer vanishes as the mask seems to be back in place for the time being. It’s a little more of the normal tone from the business like champion.
Seth Iser:
So I hit him where it truly hurt the most. A physical wound can heal. Broken bones go away, muscles torn can be repaired. And the scars? They become war stories that we share. But a wound to his mind...he’ll never forget it. He overextended himself. He got played. And now Devin Hearst...the man who seemingly always had a plan couldn’t come up with one. The man deep down now feels so sick that he’s beaten at his own game that the thing he gets off on the most...the thing that brought him the most joy...now he feels sick to his stomach and will have PTSD the rest of his life because of that night. I took no joy in doing what I did to Neal. I don’t really take joy in giving Duke a huge blow to his ego like that but that was the price needed to pay. But to Devin? Making his blood run cold as he knew his time ran out...and he couldn’t weasel his way out of the inevitable...I enjoyed every second of that by the smile you saw on my face. Especially because I know just how deep of a wound I actually put on him.
And the mask fades away as he’s coldly glaring at the camera.
Seth Iser:
And that’s why you don’t want me as your enemy.
Even with the grey showing in his hair and beard a bit...the way he said that last line is cold and chilling to the bone.
Seth Iser:
But Duke Andrews is an angry man right now. His ego is wounded and you are lashing out at me. I get it. I honestly do. But the situation was bigger than what you realized. But you shouldn’t be mad at someone who says to your damn face that I’m one of the most devious people to ever play our game and then lash out when I do something...that’s on the devious side. That wasn’t a time for honor either. Don’t give me that damn bullshit either. It goes out the window when your family is taken out and the World Title is there to boot. This industry is a selfish one at the end of the day. Vengeance, no matter the form, is selfish. Championship ambition, no matter the form or how you dress it up...is selfish. You complete either of those things by taking food or worse away from another man’s table. You take away another person’s dreams or desires to get there. I don’t like crossing up an innocent but I don’t have any damn sympathy for the man either. He knew what he signed up for in this sport. Being selfish in a selfish industry doesn’t bother me. And I’m not afraid to admit that. So here I am...completing my brand of vengeance and on top of that...for the fourth time, I’m a World Champion.
He shows the four fingers to symbol the four times he’s been on top of the mountain now. But he leans forward with a frown etched on his face.
Seth Iser:
I absolutely earned the right to write how I wanted to do it as well. Going through the tournament for the briefcase and then Hell in a Cell with Neal gave me that privilege. And it’s inarguably right now I’m one of the best wrestlers in the world when you combine every aspect of this game of ours. From the personal to the professional to dictating a style to adapting to hell...breaking the rules and making it an artform. There isn’t anyone on the goddamn planet like ME! So from Duke to Dustin or Kyle. To the person who I view as the closest person to ME in this industry in BROOKFORD. Hell...to former champions like Melissa or the ultra talent Devin Hearst who might also want a piece at me or one of my associates...now it’s Seth Iser at the top of the heap. I am part of a Triumvirate that rules over all. Pierce got the ball rolling when he won a new glory for himself and furthered his career. Megan will reinforce that later tonight when she kicks Eliza’s ass. Hell, I’m the leader of a new golden age for our sport with a unique set of circumstances.
The veteran stands up as he’s rattling all of this. All six feet five inches of him towering over the camera for that brief moment.
Seth Iser:
And everyone else? Go ahead and try us. Hell, try me for the biggest stakes if you get that opportunity. I welcome it. It’d take a great talent and a great mind wrapped in one to take the World Title away from me. And I don’t foresee that happening for a while. Just right now...I can say I’m the best damn professional wrestler in the industry today. And everybody else...will make their bid fighting for second place.
With that declaration in place the veteran, with the championship shining brightly over his shoulder, goes to take his leave.
Sandstorm Energy™ Heavyweight Tournament Match
Last Man Standing
Kyle Butler VS Dustin DouglasLast Man Standing
Sixteen heavyweights entered the Sandstorm Energy™ tournament, and it was now all down to Dusty Douglas and Kyle Butler. The sound of the bell brought the two to the middle of the ring where Dustin taunted the opponent by challenging him to a test of strength, well aware that barely anyone in MWE was as strong as him. Nonetheless Kyle didn’t back down, which somehow amused the Murder Train. As soon as they locked up, Butler kicked the Big Nasty in the stomach and switched to a side headlock. Grappling with Douglas could have been a good idea on papers, the big man was far from being a technical wizard, after all. But he had the power and strength to simply lift Kyle up and drop him on the mat with a belly to back suplex. Douglas wasn’t messing around, he wanted that trophy and the Lockdown title shot that came with it. Not so sure about the year long supply of Sandstorm, not after seeing what Duke and Envy did a few weeks ago, but you don’t look in a gift horse’s mouth. Anyway, his punches to the ribs hit hard as rocks, knocking the wind off the Alabama bornand taking a lot out of it. A dozen of them connected to the man's sides and chest, too quick for him to put up any sort of defence against them. He was standing groggily, still trying to catch his breath when the Hyper Beam knocked him down on his back. The referee started to count him out, but Douglas knew it wasn’t going to be so easy. And while the official was doing his job, he left the ring and grabbed a chair. He slid back in when the count reached five and Butler was up to his feet. Not for long though, as a chair shot to the skull knocked him down again. The Murder Train cockily unfolded the chair and sat on it, crossing his arms and asking the referee to count him out again. It was a six this time, but Butler was still in the match. Dustin stood up from his chair but a dropkick from the former Tag champion sent him back on it. Kyle then used a running big boot to level the opponent and take the chair from under him, using it as a weapon to smack his back with. Butler was no longer afraid to use weapons, something he rejected for most part of his career. But he had a giant to slay tonight, a man who, in one on one matches, nobody has been able to keep up for three seconds, let alone ten like he needed to do to win this tournament. Any and every help was welcome, like the kendo stick he used to try choke the man out. Of course he knew he couldn’t win by submission, but if he somehow managed to make the big man pass out… He couldn’t, at some point Douglas managed to get up to his feet and push backward, squashing the opponent against the corner. He then took the kendo stick from Kyle’s hands and broke it in half, saying that he didn’t need it. He then attacked the cornered opponent with several shoulder blocks to the midsection, working once again on the ribs. More damage to that body part was done with a rib breaker, but despite the pain Kyle got back up to his feet. He probably wished he didn’t since the following combination of a King Kai Bomb to the turnbuckle and a dropkick to the corner put him down once again. The count went on but Kyle wasn’t moving, not until the referee got to seven. By then he knew that beating the count would’ve been very difficult and wisely rolled out of the ring, using the apron as support to stand up. Dusty shook his head in disappointment and, leaning over the rope, grabbed Butler and dragged him up on the apron. His intention was to suplex him back in the ring, but the former tag champion found an ally in gravity and jumped off the edge of the ring, causing Dusty to bounce neck first on the top rope. As the Murder Train stumbled back, Butler entered the ring and planted him on his head with the Rooooooooooooooooooolllll TIDE!! (headlock driver). He leaned against the ropes, watching hopeful as the referee counted up to ten. His dream of winning the tournament, at least for now, ended one second before the goal line. Chairs were scattered all over the ring as the match drew to a conclusion. One was stuck in the corner between the second and the top rope, and another one was being wielded by Kyle, ready to strike on Douglas. He lowered it with force toward the skull of the kneeling opponent, but the Murder Train blocked the swing with his bare hands! And he stood up, shaking his head no and trying to wrest the chair out of Butler’s hands. A test of strength and will between the two heavyweights that saw Dustin getting the best. As soon as Douglas took the chair from Butler’s hands… SCORCHED EARTH POLICY??!! Taking a page out of Sophie’s book, Kyle threw a fireball at his opponent who immediately dropped the chair on the mat. Butler wasted no time and dropped him head first onto it with a ddt and fell back into the corner, exhausted but still on his feet. The same couldn’t be said for Douglas, who was now getting counted out. 9 and ¾, but the Murder Train was still in the fight, much to Kyle’s disbelief. Butler still had the advantage, until he was launched head first against the chair stuck in the corner. That rocked him pretty badly, and Dustin’s savate kick to the back of the head didn’t make him feel any better. He still tried to fight back, punching at the opponent in front of him but missing most of those shots. The inevitable ending came a minute later with the Giga Impact on the pile of chairs. Ten seconds later, it was all over. WINNER: Dustin Douglas BY: Last Man Standing, 19:06 |
Amy Maynard: "What a match! The Murder Train is the first ever Sandstorm Energy™ Heavyweight tournament and the new number one contender to Hammerstein's Lockdown championship.
Sir Figgles: "I must say I'm impressed with Butler. I would have never thought that he'd last for so long against the Murder Train."
Amy Maynard: "When you say that you'd never thought you mean you bet against him?"
Sir Figgles: "Under 15 minutes, damnit!"
Amy Maynard: "Sigh... But I agree, he did great tonight, but it wasn't enough to stop the Murder Train."
Sir Figgles: "Duh... Nobody can stop him!"
Sir Figgles: "I must say I'm impressed with Butler. I would have never thought that he'd last for so long against the Murder Train."
Amy Maynard: "When you say that you'd never thought you mean you bet against him?"
Sir Figgles: "Under 15 minutes, damnit!"
Amy Maynard: "Sigh... But I agree, he did great tonight, but it wasn't enough to stop the Murder Train."
Sir Figgles: "Duh... Nobody can stop him!"
Eliza Foley was backstage in her locker room, within the confines of the room were her wife Nora and their young daughter Anya. This was common practice since Eliza had returned to the ring; only feeling comfortable and safe knowing that her family were tucked away safely.
This wasn’t Eliza’s first time on the big stage, in fact at one point she had carried this place on her back: she was Millennium before it was Millennium, all the way back to when she had been a Valentine.
Her pacing was interrupted by a tackle hug to the legs from the blonde toddler, giving Eliza pause as she reached down to share in the hug. In her time away from the ring, Eliza had wed the love of her life and together, away from the public eye, they had adopted their daughter.
Eliza Foley:
I’m nervous, I’ve never been nervous before a big match before. But this is different, I know it is. I picked Megan out, before anyone laying claim to her even knew her name around here - I pointed to her and I told the world she would be my successor…
Nora Foley:
She's certainly better than her sister.
A half growl left Nora's mouth as she finally caught up to Eliza, and Anya. Wordlessly, she nodded to the nearby chair, and when Eliza sat on it? Nora was promptly stepping behind her, combing her fingers through her hair before starting the process of braiding it.
Eliza leaned her head back a little, enjoying the feeling of Nora braiding her hair, something she always did before a fight. Anya climbed up onto her lap and Eliza was quick to hand her a phone to amuse herself.
Eliza Foley:
Well, that’s not much of a challenge is it? Pretty sure the cub here could out wrestle Kenzie. Megan is a different breed, I saw greatness in her before and I know what she’s capable of. But at the same time, I’ve beaten her before. I’ve shown her who the dominant one out of the two of us is. That means we both have something to lose out there tonight.
She huffs a little, smirking at her own admittance. Nora's brows just rose, her hands pausing mid braid.
Eliza Foley:
It’d feel pretty shitty to have this big comeback and walk away with nothing…
BOP! Yes, Nora smacked the very top of her head! Anya looked up from her phone, her eyes darting between the pair.
Nora Foley:
Mommy Eliza had a spider on her head.
Anya:
Spiders are gross!
Nora Foley:
Agreed, Pup. So is doubting yourself.
Riiight before she patted Eliza's head, only to act as if she was cleaning it of spidery debris.. Eliza leaned her head back to look up at her wife with a wry expression.
Eliza Foley:
Right, fine. No spiders.
Bringing her head back down to keep one eye on the child, who had gone back to whatever she was watching, Eliza nodded.
Eliza Foley:
I came back because I know I’m not done, as much as I tried to just walk away? That wasn’t it for me. And every success I had in my career was greatly due to confidence in myself and my ability. Megan is beatable, I’ve done it once and I’ll do it again… and then I’ll remind this shit show what a true leader is.
That's when Nora dropped her hands on her shoulders and looked right into the camera.
Nora Foley:
And remind them that this is the house that Eliza Foley built.
With that, Eliza turned her head to whisper something in Nora’s ear before turning her own attention to the camera.
Eliza Foley:
I gave you this life Megan and I’m going to be the one to take it away.
Megan Monroe is standing in front of the Millennium cameras, already dressed down into her purple ring gear and the Intercontinental Champion on her shoulder. The look on her face is one that is calm, cool and collected.
Megan Monroe:
Tonight marks my 323rd day as the Intercontinental Champion. I’ve worked so hard to build this championship but not just that, but to build my brand as well. I’ve gone from being Megan Rydell to Megan Monroe. I’ve become my own person and stepped out of any shadows that were in my way. When I was a Rydell? One of those shadows was Eliza Valentine.
Megan pauses and nods.
Megan Monroe:
Eliza, you were constantly in my way during my first year as a wrestler. I might have been young, but I challenged you for the MWE Championship when this place was called Pride and I came so damn close to beating you. I came so close so many times but I always fell. You always told me I’d get you sometime. That my time would come. Well guess what, Eliza? My time has come.
Monroe steps closer to the camera as she adjusts the Intercontinental Championship on her shoulder.
Megan Monroe:
You left Millennium in my hands and I’ve done everything I could to make this place what it is today. Champions have come and gone, the so-called ‘future of Millennium; Tiffany Rollins, SERO, Jennifer Yang, Chris Constantine, Jr., Christopher Kane, Corey Grimes, Kristina Spencer, Spider, Cass Baumer, Anastasia Starling… All of their names have stuck with me. People looked towards them to lead this place but what did they do? They were just a flash in the pan here. Even Gavin Grimes came and went. But you know who’s always been here? Working on her craft while always repping Millennium as her home? Me! It’s always been me. Even you left, Eliza. But I stayed. I stayed and improved. I stayed and became the best.
Megan grabs her Intercontinental Championship and raises it in the air.
Megan Monroe:
This right here proves it. Not only am I the inaugural Intercontinental Champion but I’m the ONLY champion. I’ve defended this championship here, I’ve defended it at other company’s, I’ve done it all. And yet, people still doubt me. But you?
Megan puts the championship back on her shoulder as she shakes her head.
Megan Monroe:
You’ve never doubted me, Eliza. You’ve always believed in me, and that’s why you wanted this match. You could have gone for the MWE World Championship or the Riot Champion, maybe even the Cloud Gate Championship but no… You came for me and my Intercontinental Championship because this championship and me? It means more than anything in all of Millennium. I. Am. Millennium.
She pauses to let those words sink in.
Megan Monroe:
And tonight? I will prove that once and for all when I defeat it’s greatest champion. Because without you, Eliza? There might not be a Millennium. What you did here in the beginning meant everything. And what you did to push me and drive me? That also meant the world. I owe you everything and that’s why I’m going to beat you. To show you that you were right, that I truly was the future of Millennium. And yeah, I said that in past tense because let’s be real, I’m now the present of Millennium. While Seth and Pierce have won their own top championships, me and my Intercontinental Championship stand above everything else because of the prestige I add to it and when I beat you tonight, Eliza? Nobody can touch me. See you out there.
Megan walks away from the scene and it cuts away.
MWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Megan Monroe © VS Eliza FoleyAmy Maynard: “Three hundred twenty-three days. For almost one year Megan Monroe held the Intercontinental championship with a firm grip, collecting eight defense on her reign. Tonight she’s up for the toughest challenge to date.” Sir Figgles: “Eliza Foley was the first ever Millennium champion, the actual World Title. And her reign is still the third longest in the company history, add to that a dominant run as Riot champion before an injury sidelined and you get an idea of the kind of challenge Meg is up to tonight.” Amy Maynard: “You forgot that Eliza won Red Line 2 and used her granted title shot to get a match against Megan, a match she couldn’t get in any other way since they’re both signed to Riot and the IC title can only be defended against members of the opposite roster.” Sir Figgles: “There’s more than just the prestigious title and be the one who ended Meg’s historic reign at stakes. Monroe was invested by Foley to carry the company in her absence, and Megan did a good job at it. Tonight we’re about to find out if the student has what it takes to beat the master. Amy Maynard: “That’s… Incredibly wise and on point, especially from you. No sarcastic jabs at any of the two competitors?” Sir Figgles: “No. Eliza scares the hell out of me.” The bell rang and Elizal walked to the middle of the ring. Megan met her there and the two exchanged a few words of playful banter. But when the bell rang, their friendship went on hiatus. It was all business, and few knew it as well as Eliza. She pulled Megan to attack first, knowing that the IC champion would have gone for a kick to the side as her first strike. And she easily blocked her leg against her side, holding her foot now and shaking her head no. Monroe went for an enziguri kick, this one as well scouted by the challenger who easily dodged the attempt. Mel fell on her chest, her foot still in Eliza’s hand. Foley stomped the back of the knee of the grounded opponent, never letting go of her ankle. And then she rolled her on her back and began to kick the hamstring, clearly intending to take away the kicks from the champion’s arsenal, knowing they are a good percentage of her moveset. Amy Maynard: “Foley came into this match with a plan: blunt what can be easily considered the opponent’s most dangerous weapon.” Sir Figgles: “She’s one of the most proficient strikers in the company, and she relies a lot on her speed and agility. If Eliza can take that away from her, I’d say she has a good chance to walk away with the gold.” Megan wasn’t too happy that she got embarrassed in the first couple of minutes, so she rushed Eliza with a clothesline. Or at least he tried to because Foley sidestepped and quickly turned around, catching the champion with a dropkick that sent her back against the corner. Foley moved to the corner and climbed to the second rope, starting some corner punches. Only 7 out of 10 hit the target before Monroe slipped between the champion’s legs and set her up in a powerbomb position. Eliza kept raining down punches to the skull in an attempt to block Meg’s attempt but Monroe pushed through, picking up some speed before dropping her onto her knees with a powerbomb lungblower. Amy Maynard: “What a counter! You don’t see that often from Megan.” Sir Figgles: “And yet that’s what she needs to do. Eliza clearly had her scouted, and she still has the experience advantage. If she wants to keep her title, she has to come up with something new.” The right leg was clearly bothering the Intercontinental champion, and dropping the challenger on it definitely didn’t help the cause. The two competitors got up at the same time and locked in a collar and elbow tie. Megan switched quickly into a side headlock, pushing Eliza against the ropes from that position and dropping on the mat. Foley leaped over the champion and continued her run to the opposite side of the ring, bouncing back and ducking under the leapfrog. On the rebound, she was caught by a japanese armdrag from the champion who then popped up to her feet with a kip up. It took Foley a little longer to stand to her feet, all these hard landings on her back were starting to take their toll. She was on her knee pushing herself up when she got hit by Megan’s superkick. Down went the challenger, the champion giving a quick look to her position before sprinting toward the ropes and pinning her with a springboard moonsault. The referee moved in position and made the count, but Foley raised her shoulder in time. Sir Figgles: “Eliza’s back is what kept her on the sidelines for so long. Focusing on that part is a smart move from Megan.” Amy Maynard: “It’s… weird to hear you making sense.” Sir Figgles: “Shut up, I’m trying not to die here.” The same could be said about Megan, though that top rope ddt from Eliza nearly got the job done. Luckily for the champion, performing that move took a lot out of Foley too, and the challenger took a moment too long to make the cover, and that allowed Megan to kick out. Just barely. Eliza went for the killing blow, setting Monroe up for the Mysterious Girl but the champion was able to slip away and counter with the GamenGirl Kick. She made the cover right away, but only got a two out of it. Up on the top rope she went, soaring the air with her Fly-Dell but finding nobody home. Foley rolled out of the way and nailed the Mysterious Girl on the second attempt. Amy Maynard: “It’s over! We have a new cham… NO!” Sir Figgles: “Holy shit that’s as close as it gets!” Megan raised her shoulder at the very last moment, and Eliza’s reaction was… A smirk? She didn’t protest against the referee, she didn’t look desperate to see that Megan had kicked out from her biggest move. If anything, she looked like she wasn’t expecting anything less from the Intercontinental Champion, who was now slowly getting up to her feet, using the ropes to help herself. Eliza charged in but Megan was able to send her over the top rope, causing her to land once again hard on her back. Exhausted, Rydell took this time to recover, probably not minding a count out win at this point. But Eliza was starting to move, and it looked like she could get back inside the ring before the ten. Amy Maynard: “Hold on, is that… Henri Black?” Sir Figgles: “What the hell is he doing here?” Dressed in a fancy all black suit, but oddly enough with a knee pad on his right knee, the former Riot champion entered behind the unaware Megan’s back.. And when she turned around, he hit her with the Black Diamond! Megan went down and the match ended with a disqualification. Eliza was livid and slid back inside the ring but by then, the Blackstar had already jumped the barricade and was leaving through the dumbfounded fans. WINNER: Megan Monroe (STILL MWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION) BY: DQ, 22:03 |
Amy Maynard: "Megan retains once again..."
Sir Figgles: "... And we're all getting murdered by Eliza now. Thank you, Henri Black!"
Amy Maynard: "That's a bit extreme..."
Sir Figgles: "You're right, she's just going to kill him, probably. And that's fine, he deserves it."
Amy Maynard: "I'm more interested in why he did it, actually."
Sir Figgles: "Because he's a sore loser, that's why!"
Amy Maynard: "I think it has to do with the knee strike Pierce knocked him out with..."
Sir Figgles: "Shhh... Can you here it Amy? Are those black helicopters flying over our heads? Stop with the conspiracy theories. It's done, he lost. End of story."
Sir Figgles: "... And we're all getting murdered by Eliza now. Thank you, Henri Black!"
Amy Maynard: "That's a bit extreme..."
Sir Figgles: "You're right, she's just going to kill him, probably. And that's fine, he deserves it."
Amy Maynard: "I'm more interested in why he did it, actually."
Sir Figgles: "Because he's a sore loser, that's why!"
Amy Maynard: "I think it has to do with the knee strike Pierce knocked him out with..."
Sir Figgles: "Shhh... Can you here it Amy? Are those black helicopters flying over our heads? Stop with the conspiracy theories. It's done, he lost. End of story."
The cameras cut somewhere backstage to find Lowri Moss and the sight of the popular young woman from Wales draws a loud cheer from the fans that are present inside the Enterprise Arena. She is dressed in her ring attire, ahead of her participation in tonight’s main event, together with a backwards snapback and a Pendragon t-shirt. With a warm smile on her face, she starts by giving that now familiar greeting of hers.
Lowri Moss:
What’s occurring, Chicago?
The mention of the “Windy City” of course earns a cheap pop.
Lowri Moss:
The last chance I’ll have to say that for a while.
A reference to the fact that after tonight, MWE is heading back out on the road for the first time since last March.
Lowri Moss:
I’m sure none of you watching need me to tell you that today is Valentine’s Day, and I’m so delighted that I’m getting to spend it with my first love: pro wrestling-- oh, and I suppose Gareth is here as well.
For those who are unaware, “Gareth” is the former Neal Durden.
Lowri Moss:
But seriously, a love of wrestling, a love of competing, a love of a challenge… that’s why I’m here right now, rather than sat at home watching on TV-- it’s why I chose to sign one of the contracts offered to me by Elsa McCarthy and Vincent Moretti, rather than saying, “Thanks, but I’ve got enough on my plate elsewhere at the moment.” And as far as challenges go, they don’t get any bigger around these parts than the longest reigning MWE World Champion, and the current and second longest reigning Cloud Gate Champion-- and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
She shakes her head.
Lowri Moss:
In the weeks prior to me signing my contract, the two general managers both did their best to try to convince me to sign with their respective brand, and I could just as easily have chosen to sign with Riot, instead of Millennium, as I know there are plenty of people on the orange brand who could provide me with a challenge too. But Elsa knew she had a trump card. She may be young, younger than me even, but she demonstrated her acumen, first with the match on Millennium that she offered me last month, and again with the match that she offered me for tonight, both against the same opponent.
Following the briefest of pauses, Lowri continues.
Lowri Moss:
Like I said in my announcement video last Sunday, across the whole of MWE, across both rosters, there’s one person I want to face more than any other at this moment-- and that’s Melissa Reeves. And Elsa was smart enough to know that. She knew that offering me a chance to face Melissa on Millennium, and then again, but this time on a grander stage… she knew that would probably be enough to entice me to sign with her brand. And Melissa knew it as well. After that video of mine was uploaded to the MWE website, revealing that I had decided to sign with Millennium, Melissa remarked on Twitter that she didn't think I could resist-- and she was right, I couldn’t. There’s no one I can think of in this promotion, past or present, who would be a more fitting opponent for my first match as an official part of the roster than Melissa Reeves.
She puts her hands on her hips.
Lowri Moss:
As I’m sure some of you will remember, or maybe all of you, the first time I made an appearance of any sort in front of the MWE cameras was when I stopped Melissa from being cheated out of the Cloud Gate title by Freddie Hjalmar, back at Drums In The Night, last September. My relationship with Melissa goes back a bit further than that though. In fact, for what it’s worth, when I joined Twitter, she was actually one of the first people I followed who wasn’t part of the promotion that I began my career in. That was in August of 2016, but it wasn’t until two years later that we were on the same roster as one another for the first time, in Underground, and a couple of months later, in November of 2018, we were opponents for the first time.
She lets out a small sigh.
Lowri Moss:
That first match ended in a time limit draw. Then, in our second encounter, a little over a year later, Melissa ended my record-setting reign as the HKW North American Champion. Now, the match was a triple threat, and it wasn’t me that she pinned, but regardless of the circumstances… Melissa won, I didn’t, and obviously I was less than satisfied with that. I knew it wouldn’t be the last time we would meet though. I even remember afterwards telling my favourite interviewer-turned-wrestler, Skylar Rayner, that I knew where I could find Melissa on a Wednesday night if I wanted to. And sure enough, just over a year later, we had our third match, and we had it inside an MWE ring. That match, of course, ended in another draw, this time due to a double pin… which brings us on to tonight: our fourth match, this time two out of three falls, and with the Cloud Gate Championship at stake.
She takes her right hand off her hip, running her hand through her hair.
Lowri Moss:
After what happened at Drums In The Night, when I did what I believed to be the right thing, if someone had told me that Melissa would still be the Cloud Gate Champion now, five months later, I wouldn’t have found that hard to believe. What I would have found that hard to believe though, is if someone had told me that come the first MWE pay-per-view event of the new year, I would be the one challenging her for her title. But here we are, and I think there’s a certain irony that in my first match as an official part of the roster, I’m challenging for the Cloud Gate title, considering that last January, in his first match in MWE, Gareth challenged for the same title, in a match with Tiff Rollins, the only person to have held the Cloud Gate title longer than Melissa. Gareth was unsuccessful that night in his attempt to end Tiff’’s record-breaking reign, but I’m confident that I can one up my other half, not for the first time, and end Melissa’s reign here tonight.
Lowri stops to take a breath, before then continuing.
Lowri Moss:
I would’ve been happy to have this match even if the Cloud Gate title wasn’t on the line though. I mean, I don’t mind having an opportunity to add another accomplishment to my list of accolades, but with my head-to-head record against Melissa being what it is currently, like I’ve just talked about, the chance to finally get a win against her, at the fourth attempt, is enough of an incentive for me. Plus, I would like to think that Lowri Moss versus Melissa Reeves is a pretty big matchup even without having anything more than just pride at stake.
She now takes her left hand off her hip.
Lowri Moss:
Melissa has spoken about the respect she has for me, and the feeling is mutual-- I’ve got a lot of respect for her too, even after she struck me with a baseball bat on two separate occasions.
She smiles wryly.
Lowri Moss:
I think something that may have helped foster that mutual respect is how alike the two of us are. Melissa is older and more experienced than I am, but we have a very similar approach to wrestling, and we share many of the same attributes. I know she prepares meticulously for each of her matches, as do I, and inside the ring, we have a very similar style, with each of us knowing what works for us and what doesn’t. Perhaps most importantly though, we’ve both been able to take all of our talent and all of our hard work, and parlay that into successful careers for ourselves, with a lot more success still yet to come for each of us, I expect.
Lowri gives a nod of her head.
Lowri Moss:
We’re so evenly matched that our match tonight being two out of three falls doesn’t really favour one of us over the other. In the past two years alone, I’ve won at least half a dozen two out of three falls matches; I’ve held a title that is contested exclusively in two out of three falls matches, while there was another title that I also won in a two out of three falls match-- a stipulation that was actually chosen by my opponent for that particular match-- and so going into a match like this against most people, with my record in two out of three falls matches, I would be feel like I had a bit of an advantage. However, I know two out of three falls matches are right up Melissa’s street as well, so...
She shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly.
Lowri Moss:
Ultimately, as evenly matched as we are, something is going to have to give. Melissa intends to keep both her title reign and her unbeaten record against me intact, while I’m aiming to get my time in MWE off to the best possible start, by winning one of the promotion’s most prestigious championships, and by finally recording a victory against an opponent who I haven’t previously been able to defeat. I know it’ll be far from easy, I know the match is likely to go the distance, and I’m sure we’re going to deliver something special to cap off these two nights, but I’m confident that once the dust settles… I can be the one that’s left standing tall.
She finishes by making a heart with her hands. Well, it is Valentine’s Day after all. Lowri continues to smile at the camera, before it then cuts away.
Opening on a shot of the Cloud Gate Championship, Melissa Reeves speaks out unseen.
Melissa Reeves:
It’s been so long.
The shot transitions. Melissa sits in a stairwell, Cloud Gate Championship over her lap, eyes on the camera.
Melissa Reeves:
July of 2020, that’s when I won this title. Do you know how rare it is to hold onto something so valuable for so long in this industry? When you achieve it, though, you etch yourself into the history of it forever. It becomes part of your own history, too. It builds your legacy.
She places her hand on the title’s center plate.
Melissa Reeves:
I’ve been doing this for a long time now, I’ve learned a lot, I’ve seen a lot. Faces come and go, trends change, but one thing is constant: only legends are remembered. That’s what I aim to be, but simply wanting it isn’t enough. You need to grab it, you need to MAKE it happen.
She deeply inhales.
Melissa Reeves:
That’s where matches like tonight’s come in. A chance to fight one of the very best on planet Earth, Lowri Moss. I dare anyone to doubt her credentials.
She holds a finger up.
Melissa Reeves:
No, shut up, sit down. That was rhetorical, only a fool can doubt her and the words of a fool aren’t what I listen to. I know Lowri well, you’ve all seen our battles. At times adversarial, at times cordial...there’s a respect there. An understanding of what we each can do. I don’t need to research Lowri, I already have. I know what she’s going to bring - and I know that in the past it’s not been enough. Will it be tonight? Maybe, a match like two out of three falls really can go either way.
She looks down at her title.
Melissa Reeves:
If tonight is the night I’m finally dethroned then it would be fitting. But if tonight is the night, another night, where I defend this title? Well, that would be emphatic, wouldn’t it?
Reeves stands now, title in hand.
Melissa Reeves:
Plenty have tried to grab this, all have failed. Tonight we write another verse in the long chapter of my Millennium career, and it may just be the best one yet. See you real soon, Lowri.
End.
Cloud Gate Championship Match
2 out of 3 Falls
Melissa Reeves © VS Lowri Moss2 out of 3 Falls
Peyton Holland: “Here we are, folks. The match you all have been waiting for, two of the best performers in the world fighting for the prestigious Cloud Gate champion.” Ambra Monroe: “Melissa won it seven months ago back in July and defended it against the likes of Kate Steele, Jacky Rex Daniels and Freddie Hjalmar. Can she add Lowri Moss to that prestigious list?” Amy Maynard: “History, so far, would suggest so. They crossed paths several times in their careers, and Reeves never lost against the Welsh.” Sir Figgles: “The best result Lowri could get was a draw three weeks ago and, I believe, in another occasion. Which makes me wonder why the hell she chose to challenge for the Cloud Gate championship, more so knowing the stipulation.” Ambra Monroe: “Pride, the desire to test herself against the woman she could never beat, to push herself to the limits and possibly overcome them.” Peyton Holland: “She really needs to do that in order to pin, or submit, Mel twice and walk out with the gold.” The atmosphere was electric as the two competitors walked to the centre of the ring, looking up at the coveted title that was held in the air by the referee. He then handed the gold to Rumchata, and the match was finally underway. Before they would start kicking the crap out of each other, Melissa and Lowri once again showed the sportsmanship and the respect between them with a handshake. They then started moving in circles and locked up in a collar and elbow tie, a similar start to their latest encounter. The same wrist lock from the Welsh, the same evasion and counter into a hammerlock from Melissa who then tried the same suplex she performed on Millennium LXXV. But this time Lowri quickly pulled her down with an inside cradle, looking to get the early lead with a quick pin, but Mel was extremely attentive and kicked out in two. With a smile on her face, Moss motioned to the Cloud Gate champion how close she got, and Melissa answered with a nod before the two locked horns again. Jockeying for position, the two women indulged in a long grappling sequence that ended when Melissa slipped behind the challenger’s back and hooked both arms, kneeling down and sliding her shoulders on the mat. Moss managed to kick out a moment before the three. And Reeves playfully pointed out that how this was even closer than her attempt. Amy Maynard: “Some mind games in the early minutes.” Ambra Monroe: “They’re both been doing this for a long time though, I doubt this will affect them. It looks more like playful banter to me.” Peyton Holland: “Perhaps. But you gotta believe Lowri is feeling some kind of pressure now. Fourth match in the company, if we consider the one against Freddie in October, and she’s main eventing the PPV against someone she never beat.” Ambra Monroe: “She probably does, but she’s the kind of person who thrives under pressure.” From a headlock position, Reeves took the opponent down, but Lowri escaped in no time. She fired back with a thigh press and then took Mel over with a quick snap suplex. She quickly got the champion up and tried to send her into a corner with an Irish whip but the Reaver reversed the momentum.The Welsh hit the corner hard and Reeves followed up with a running back elbow that rocked the challenger. No waste motions as she sat Lowri on the canvas with a snapmare and pushed herself to the top rope, from where she jumped with a precise dropkick to the back of the head. The momentum changed once again when the Aussie was about to hit the Reaver Slam but Lowri slipped away, landing behind the champion’s back and hitting her with a headbutt to the nape. Both of them looked loopy after it, but Reeves definitely had the worst of it, stumbling toward the ropes. Moss then charged toward her but rather than striking the dazed champion from behind, she went straight for the ropes, jumping on the middle one and springboarding back with an enziguri kick that knocked the Cloud Gate champion off her feet. Lowri laid on top of her and hooked the legs, scoring the first fall of the match. Amy Maynard: “The Slice Of Heaven got Moss the first fall, right when Mel looked like she could get the advantage!” Sir Figgles: “A terrific one-two for the champion, but I believe that headbutt to the back of the head was what did it for here.” Ambra Monroe: “I tend to agree, she didn’t even have time to recover from it and she received another terrible shot to the head. I wonder if she’s ok.” That concern was shared by the referee and Lowri as well. Reeves kept nodding her head in the corner and saying she was fine but that appeared to be an overstatement. Since she insisted that she was fit to continue, though, the referee had no choice but to restart the match, with Lowri now one step closer to the gold. She reached Mel in the corner with a running forearm strike and followed with a knife edge chop. Then another forearm to the jaw, and a second chop to the chest. Rinse, repeat. Again and again. Peyton Holland: “That’s the Scarlet Barrage, the champion is really kicking into the high gear!” Speaking of kicking, that was the house specialty for Lowri Moss, and she served plenty of them tonight. The Cloud Gate champion was in trouble, finding herself on the receiving end of that flurry of stiff kicks with no chance to dodge or protect herself from them. The switchblade kick connected, the champion was down again and the Lowri fans were ready to celebrate the new champion when she made the cover on the seemingly unconscious Reaver. But it was the other half of the fans who got to cheer on this occasion as the referee spotted the champion’s foot on the ropes. Amy Maynard: “Lowri never beat Mel before and she got this close to the clean sweep tonight!” Ambra Monroe: “I don’t remember seeing the champion in this difficulty very often. She needs to find a way to get back control and do it soon, if she wants to keep chasing Tiff’s record reign.” Lowri led Melissa out of the corner and kicked her in the gut, doubling her over. Applying a front facelock, she set her up for the swinging neckbreaker but that was when Reeves’ comeback began, with some weak and desperate punches to the ribs, barely enough to block Lowri’s attempt. With great effort, she lifted her up and tossed her forward, Moss landing with a thud on her stomach. The Welsh tried to rally up to all fours but the champion blasted her with a running kick to the face, flipping her over onto her back as Mel went for the cover, obtaining another near fall. Her mat wrestling ability bought her some time to recover as she kept the challenger grounded with a tight front chancery. Lowri made it a matter of principle trying to wrestle her way out of it, but Mel kept the hold locked in. Slowly but surely the former World Cup winner made it up to a vertical base and tried to break it up with some sharp punches to the stomach. Reeves transitioned into a side headlock and Lowri pushed her away against the ropes. On the comeback, though, Mel surprised her with a sling blade. Ambra Monroe: “It looks like the champion still has something left in her.” Peyton Holland: “Anyone who thought she was done, doesn’t really know the Reaver. The word quit is not even in her vocabulary.” Kick by kick, Reeves closed the gap with her challenger and earned a near fall with the fisherman ddt. Feeling the momentum switching, she sent Lowri in the corner and charged with a double knee to the face, partially returning the numerous chops she fired earlier before throwing her back to the middle of the ring with a uranage. This seemed to be one of those situations when you have to take a risk in order to change the course of the match, and Mel never shied away from it. Up to the top rope she went, giving another look at Moss before bringing the Death From Above onto her. The shooting star press was a thing of beauty and Mel landed perfectly across the challenger’s chest. Then she hooked the leg, and the referee counted the one, two, three. Peyton Holland: “What a comeback from the champion!” Amy Maynard: “And we’re back to square one. The next fall will be decisive, who’s going to score it? Who still has enough in them to go that extra mile and get the gold?” The battle had gone for twenty-five minutes now, both the champion and the challenger looked drained, physically and mentally. But if there was something that could make them dig down deep to find that last bit of energy to put down the opponent, that had to be hearing the fans chanting their names. A battle in the battle between the two factions of fans, each side trying to cheer louder than the opposite for their favorite. ”LET’S GO REEVES!” chanted half of the crowd. ”LOWRI MOSS!” answered the other half. That alternance of chants was reflecting in the match, the two competitors, barely standing, traded back and forth punches. But none of them seemed to get the advantage, until the Reaver caught the opponent on the jaw and stunned her. Lowri stumbled back and brought a hand to her cheek, a momentary distraction that allowed Mel to catch her with the Facial Deconstructor. Exhausted, she pretty much collapsed on top of the Welsh, struggling to even hook her legs. But it was all in vain, Moss got her shoulder up. Ambra Monroe: “Unbelievable..” Melissa would agree with Ambra, staring in shock at the challenger. Moss used the ropes to get up, turning around as Melissa charged in with a clothesline. She ducked it by a hair and out of desperation turned around to meet the champion with the Breuddwydion Melus (Superkick). The impact sent Mel against the ropes and bouncing back right into a second Breuddwydion Melus. Sir Figgles: “Goodnight Melissa…” Peyton Holland: “Looks like you spoke too soon..” It was now Lowri’s turn to be shocked. Both sides of the crowd at this point agreed on one thing: This Was Awesome. They probably would’ve wanted the two to fight forever, but none of them seemed to have much left. Melissa, in fairness, hadn’t moved since the rapid succession of superkicks, and even when Lowri picked her up, she barely reacted as the Welsh applied the inverted facelock and planted her on her face with the Nos Da (Rolling Cutter). That was it, after a year and half Lowri Moss beat Melissa Reeves. And she did it when it mattered the most. WINNER: Lowri Moss (NEW CLOUD GATE CHAMPION) BY: 2-1 (Nos Da) 31:47 |
Amy Maynard:
It's over! Lowri Moss did it, she beat Melissa Reeves and she is the new Cloud Gate champion!
Ambra Monroe:
What a way to end the show. First pay-per-view of 2021 and we already have a match of the year candidate!
Peyton Holland:
An amazing contest between two of the best to do this. Just as expected.
Sir Figgles:
It's the end of an era, the second longest Cloud Gate championship reign has come to an end after over 200 hundred days.
Amy Maynard:
Melissa had a great run, but tonight she found herself against a formidable opponent. No shame in losing to Lowri Moss.
Peyton Holland:
Absolutely none. And what's happening in that ring just confirms it.
Battered, bruised, exhaused and perhaps heartbroken. But at the same time immensely proud and aware that the legacy of that title she helped build, couldn't be in better hands. Melissa Reeves wanted to be the one handing the Cloud Gate championship to her rival and friend, a passing of the torch between two world class athletes. And on that image, the show ended.
It's over! Lowri Moss did it, she beat Melissa Reeves and she is the new Cloud Gate champion!
Ambra Monroe:
What a way to end the show. First pay-per-view of 2021 and we already have a match of the year candidate!
Peyton Holland:
An amazing contest between two of the best to do this. Just as expected.
Sir Figgles:
It's the end of an era, the second longest Cloud Gate championship reign has come to an end after over 200 hundred days.
Amy Maynard:
Melissa had a great run, but tonight she found herself against a formidable opponent. No shame in losing to Lowri Moss.
Peyton Holland:
Absolutely none. And what's happening in that ring just confirms it.
Battered, bruised, exhaused and perhaps heartbroken. But at the same time immensely proud and aware that the legacy of that title she helped build, couldn't be in better hands. Melissa Reeves wanted to be the one handing the Cloud Gate championship to her rival and friend, a passing of the torch between two world class athletes. And on that image, the show ended.