MWE Presents: Hic Sunt Leones (night 1)

MWE Presents: Hic Sunt Leones (night 1) May 16, 2021 16:24:37 GMT -6

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Post by gvb on May 16, 2021 16:24:37 GMT -6

MWE Presents: Hic Sunt Leones (night 1)
Live from Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, IA
Saturday, May 15th, 2021

The lights dim down inside the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, the fans start buzzinf in anticipation of night one of Hic Sunt Leones. "Waking Lions" by Pop Evil blasts out of the loudspeakers and the tron comes to life showing a quick montage of some action from the wrestlers involved in tonight's event. Pyrotechnics go off on the main stage in an impressive spectacle. As the pyros die off and the music fades, the camera takes us to the commentary booth where we are welcomed by the four voices of MWE for a quick rundown of the card. Particular attention goes on the main event, of course. Ambra points out a tweet from BROOKFORD from earlier in the afternoon, suggesting that the real main event will be his match against Duke Andrews. A bold statement perhaps, but not a far cry as the battle of the heavyweights was cone of the most anticipated matches of the weekend. They talk about the other title matches as well, giving a quick shout out to the newest additions to the MWE roster, the students of The Academy who graduated last night and will make their official debut tonight.

Four of them in the next match.

Fatal Four Way Match

Cash Blye VS Rian Ellis VS Olly VS Tiana Petrova-Hammond

Three of the four competitors were already in the ring. Cash looked nervous, kicking off a pay-per-view was a big deal for the fresh-off graduation student. Even Rian Ellis was showing some emotions as well, although he was trying to mask by shadowboxing in his corner. Tiana instead didn’t seem to be feeling any kind of pressure, keeping her eyes on the ramp from where her rival Olly was about to come out. Aspen Eisley made the announcement, but nobody came out. The ring announcer repeated it a second time, obtaining the same result. The awkward silence only lasted a few moments before the crowd started buzzing and chanting “Where is Olly?” Tiana rolled her eyes and started shaking her head. Sure, her fellow student was no stranger to things like this, but she, and everybody else, thought he was going to take things more seriously and professionally now that he moved to the main roster. And yet, here we were,his first match in MWE and he couldn’t even bother to show up. The referee took the only possible decision, calling Aspen close to him and asking her to announce that the match will now be contested under triple threat rules. To say that Tiana wasn’t happy with it was an understatement. she would have loved nothing more than beating up Olly on Pay-Per-View again, and she took out her frustration on Ellis, unleashing a volley of kicks to the Miami born, eventually knocking him down with a spinning heel kick. Rian quickly popped up to his feet but as soon as he saw Petrova-Hammond ready to swing at him with a roundhouse kick, he dropped down on the floor and quickly rolled under the bottom rope. Cash tried to catch Tiana by surprise with a roll up, but the first ever Gold Star kicked out in time.

The three prospects gave rise to an extremely enjoyable contest, warming up the Iowa fans. Cash seemed to have overcome the initial jitters and was getting the best of Tiana using her speed to stay away from those vicious strikes. She moved quickly behind the BJJ purple belt and wrapped her arm around her waist as she pushed her into the ropes, pinning her with an O’Connor roll. Petrova-Hammond kicked out in two and both competitors were back on their feet. Ellis came flying in with a springboard bulldog that planted Blye on her face. As he stood back up, he received a kick to the gut from Tiana who then lifted him for a suplex. Ellis slipped away, landing behind her back and dragging her down into a double knee backbreaker.

Rian could count on a few special fans tonight, his cousin Skylar Rayner was sitting in the front row with Addison McKinley and Peyton’s daughter Harper. To them he “dedicated” the beautiful shooting star press he nailed Tiana with and that could’ve given him the win in his main roster debut if Cash didn’t break it up at the very last second. The disappointment on his face was evident, but rather than complaining, he remained focused on the task, throwing Cash into the corner. She was ready for him though, raising her leg and connecting her boot to his face. Ellis spun around and stumbled toward the center of the ring into a jumping knee strike from Tiana that sent him back into the released german suplex into the turnbuckle from Blye. Cash and Tiana then traded a few more strikes, but the exchange was short lived. Soon the russian-american caught the opponent in a standing arm triangle choke, giving her no choice but to tap out.

WINNER: Tiana Petrova-Hammond
BY: Submission (Standing arm triangle choke), 13:14

The pre-recorded footage opens to the empty Wells Fargo Center, setting for tonight’s Pay-Per-View Hic Sunt Leones. A couple of hours before the show starts, everything is ready for night 1. The stage is set, choreography is in place… The only thing missing are the fans, but soon they will be filling the bleachers. In the middle of the empty ring, two figures are standing. They’re dressed in matching gear, the color scheme resembles the coat of a lion, the words “Team Trillie” are printed on the back of their tights.

They are, obviously, Trinity Thompson and Millie Smith, two of the Academy graduates that will make their PPV debut tonight. The duo had a successful run as a tag team during their months at the Academy, ending the year as undefeated. And that earned them their title opportunity tonight.

Trinity Thompson:
Can you believe it, Millie? We made it, we’re on a MWE pay-per-view!

Millie Smith:
It's a really big arena…

Millie looks out past each side of the ring, towards the rows and rows of seats that go on and on.

Millie Smith:
We'll be on this huge stage.

Millie pulls on the drawstrings of her hoody nervously.

Millie Smith:
How do Bree, Dean and Luna do it?

Trinity is nervous as well, but she hides it better than her partner; the only giveaway is how she taps her foot on the canvas.

Trinity Thompson:
Well, I’m sure a lot comes with experience… Like, I’m sure they were nervous too the first time around, right?

Realizing that her words were not helping her tag partner, Trin shakes her head and takes a step toward Millie.

Trinity Thompson:
It’s perfectly normal to feel some butterflies in your stomach, that’s what Tiff told me. Especially the first time. I mean, I’m feeling them, and I’m sure your siblings and cousins did too. All of them, with no exception. But… You have an advantage, something none of them had…

Millie tries to reassure her partner of the nerves by squeezing her arm reassuringly.

Millie Smith:
What advantage is that?

Millie asks in a way a little sister would a big sister. Trinity smiles widely at her friend, lightly bumping her shoulder with her first.

Trinity Thompson:
You won’t be alone in this ring, silly! Look at it this way, tonight it’s not your debut, it’s OUR debut! You and me, Trin and Millie a.k.a. Team Trillie!

Millie Smith:
Tag Team Champions Team Trillie maybe, after tonight.

Millie's eyes open up as she says that, with an inaudible gasp. She takes a step forward then, giving her partner a look as Millie spins on her right heel.

Millie Smith:
When we've been together, it has been magic. Trillie have overcome every obstacle we've ever had in the academy, which has prepared us for this stage….this big, big stage.

Which is when Millie feels her tag partner catch her falling into a nervous tunnel vision and catch herself.

Millie Smith:
What do you think of all our opponents?

Trinity scratches her head, a light chuckle escapes her lips.

Trinity Thompson:
Well, the champions are champions for a reason… They’ve been through so much to get where they are today and I don’t think they’re giving it up so easily… I don’t know much about the Steeles to be honest.. I saw some matches and they have been in a bit of a losing streak so I totally expect them to be wanting to change their luck tonight..

A small pause before talking about the final team.

Trinity Thompson:
The Glorious Golden Era… They’re very talented, Sophie is kinda scary and she’s a multi time champion and Neil already won two titles in MWE, one of them was the tag gold… But I think it’s the first time they team up, that could be a problem for them… And an advantage for us.

The "scary" mention puts a plump in her throat. She stands strong, visible trying to keep confident about their opportunity, and admiring Trinity's perspective.

Millie Smith:
And we'll make our parents very proud of us. Going from students to big stage wrestlers…

Trinity Thompson:
… To tag team champions, perhaps?

She continued the sentence without really thinking, the two of them opening their eyes wide and staring at each other for a long moment.

Trinity Thompson:
… Wow, that wouldn’t be a bad way to make our debut, don’t you think?

Millie Smith:
It would be a big endorsement of the Academy.

Millie quips as her first thought.

Millie Smith:
We would have all the tag team eyes on us then too.

Millie says with a slightly worried tone, but clenches her fist.

Millie Smith:
We'd handle the pressure though. Together.

She smiles back at her tag team partner and puts her hand out flat, palm facing down. Trinity doesn’t hesitate and extend her hand toward Millie, resting it over hers.

Trinity Thompson:
Together.

The two stare in each other’s eyes and nod, firing each other up.

Trinity Thompson:
Here be lions, that’s what the PPV name means. Let’s show them that we’re no longer little cubs… And we’re hungry.

The redhead lets out a loud roar, imitating the cry of a lion. Millie is visibly blown away by what is an unmatchable impression of a lion's roar.

Millie Smith:
Let's go hunting.

Millie tries to show a little smarts there and makes a roar of her own, slightly quieter than Trinity's, followed by holding the back of her head and blushing. Trinity lets out a light chuckle and pats her partner on the shoulder, the two of them leaving the empty ring and heading up the ramp. Once on the stage, Trin stops and turns, taking another moment to look in awe at the empty Arena. A smile spreads on her lips, the realization that her dream, their dream has finally come true finally kicking in.

Fade to black.

Fatal Four Way Match
Submission Only

Dré Angelo VS Alan Envy VS Liv Mercer VS Nine van der Hoek

Unlike the opening match, this one was, indeed, a fatal four way. In the ring four Riot stars, a mix of former champions such as Liv Mercer and Alan Envy and two young prospects looking for a win to establish themselves and climb the ranks in the orange brand. The match could only be won by submission, by this didn’t mean they couldn’t go for some straight shots to start things off. That was how Alan and Dré got the early advantage on the smaller opponents, respectively forcing Nine and Liv in opposite corners. They kept pressure on their opponents with constant strikes, elbows to the face in Angelo’s case while Alan, more prosaically, opted for straight punches. Almost working as a team, they grabbed the girls by their wrist and threw them to the center of the ring, causing them to crash against each other. And now that both Liv and Nine were down, they attempted to submit them. Alan locked van der Hoek in a crossface while the Bad Boy sat on the former Riot champion’s back with a camel clutch. The Dutch escaped the Lonestar’s submission and clocked him with a knee strike to the face as he was getting up to his feet. She then saw Liv in difficulty and decided to free her, connecting a superkick to the back of Dré’s head, instantly flooring him. Hers wasn’t an act of kindness though, the only reason why she broke the submission was to prevent Mercer from tapping out to Angelo and exploit the work he had done on Liv’s back to take her chance to make her tap out, stepping in with a bow and arrow hold. Mercer screamed in pain, but her suffering didn’t last long thanks to Alan stomping at Nine and forcing her to relinquish the hold.

All of them were, to different degrees, quite proficient in mat based style, turning this match into a feast for the eyes of the fans of technical wrestling combining holds and submissions with suplexes and takedowns. Liv was targeting Nine’s neck area, taking her down with a hangman neckbreaker. Angelo was trying to wear Envy down with a sleeper hold but the former Tag Team champion drove his elbow into the Bad Boy’s mid section, managing to get some separation. It didn’t last long though as Angelo quickly hit him with a knee strike to the kidneys and applied the sleeper hold once again, this time as a start position for a suplex. Nine had turned the tides against Mercer, catching her in a dragon sleeper. Dré interrupted the attempt with a running big boot that flattened the New Problem before he went to apply the same submission on Alan. The Show Stealer managed to escape and quickly turned around catching the opponent with another flurry of heavy strikes that found its culmination into a kick to the stomach followed by the Envious Demise DDT. He looked ready to go for his Paying Dues submission but Liv slid behind his back and grabbed his shoulders, spinning him around and connecting with her Stay Grounded (Inverted Stomp Facebreaker). As she was going for the Liv Lock, her modified figure four headscissors, keeping it locked in until Angelo stomped her face into the mat and broke it up.

Nine was taking an extended break on the apron after Alan obliterated her with his pop up death valley driver. And the former member of APE took the stage in the final moments of the match, the decade of experience over the younger opponents allowed him to take control. He waited in the corner for the perfect chance to strike, blasting Angelo from behind with a stiff lariat and unceremoniously throwing him out of the ring in an impressive fashion with a military press. He then turned his attention on the only person left in the ring, the former Riot champion. Liv was starting to stand up after getting dropped on her head by Dré’s double arm ddt. He stalked her, moving behind her back outside of her field of vision and wrapped his arms around her neck, locking the Paying Dues in tightly. Gasping for air, Mercer began to wriggle around, trying to escape the submission but to no avail. Alan took her down on the mat, applying a bodyscissors as well, leaving her nowhere to go. She tried hard to resist, but she was starting to slowly fade already. Luckily for her, Angelo came back in time and managed to break the hold before it was too late. A few hard strikes from the former Mixed Martial Artist who then caught the veteran in his Hell Lock. Speaking of hell, the Frisian Demon came back into the match and made the save. She then delivered a knee to Dré’s face and followed with a Seventh Nightmare (somersault cutter). A second one was given to Alan as he tried to get up, taking the Lonestar down. Nine had one for Liv in store as well, but this time the Dutch transitioned straight into the arm trap crossface, forcing the former champion to quickly tap out.

WINNER: Nine van der Hoek
BY: Submission (The Seventh Nightmare), 10:31

We see a figure sitting on a bench in a secluded park, not much going on, just a quiet night. The bench illuminated by a single street lamp. The figure pulls back the hood of their hoodie to reveal a rather solemn looking Alex Andrews. She gives a camera a look and then just peers forwards, looking utterly lost.

Alex Andrews:
I thought I had it all. I thought I was going to have a long and glorious reign, be the best damn fighting champion in the company. But alas, that's not how things were to be.

She shakes her head, more in disgust with herself than anything else.

Alex Andrews:
I scratched and clawed and toiled for almost a year before things started turning around for me. And then I found the thing to help me focus. I suppose I have Neil Newman to thank for that.

She gives a dry little laugh.

Alex Andrews:
But then, I manage to get a few little title defenses, none as definitive as I would care for. I mostly just...survived them. And then, Tiffany Lynn Page happened. She had been here what? A month? If that? She managed to eek out wins in the most crooked ways possible and secured a title shot. And then...yeah.

Alex shakes her head.

Alex Andrews:
So no. I'm not happy. Not in the least. It feels all that hard work was for naught. Maybe I'm just being overly dramatic. Maybe this is how it goes in the business and I'm just going through growing pains, but I can't help but feel a sense of loss at it all. I had my big moment and lost it almost as quickly. I suppose the thing I should do is dust myself off, pick myself back up off the ground and stop feeling sorry for myself. That's the right thing to do, right?

A faint smile creeps back up on her face.

Alex Andrews:
I believe it is. So here I am. Out of any title picture. Against Dean Smith. I can do this. I've managed to beat men before. Big ole men whom think they got it in the bag against the likes of me. And I've proven them wrong then. I will have to do so again. Enough of this pity party crap. Dean, watch out, cause I've got a point to prove. Not only to the world but to myself. And I'll be damned if I gonna let anyone stand in my again.

Alex slowly stands up from the bench, pulling her hoodie back over her head and walks off into the quiet night.

Dean's little sister Clover is first seen backstage walking. Dressed in a Millennium special edition PPV t-shirt, white denim jeans, and a BreeTee baseball cap. The camera then shows she's accompanied by her brother Dean, who's dressed to compete.

Clover:
So if you win against Alex, you'll be able to get the new Invictus belt instead of the old one?

Dean Smith:
Possibly. Like I said, he did drop it to the new girl Tiffany, but there was some, how did you put it?

He looks down to his pint-sized little sister, putting a hand behind her to guide her right as she thinks they're turning left - to save losing her in the arena.

Clover:
Accessory play. The shiny knuckles thing. Maybe I could get a pair of those? They seem like they come in handy in Riot at least. I'd be the toughest girl on the playground with those is all I'm saying.

She holds both hands up as she lands that last line to try to show off to Dean her new nails she'd had done to match her sis Sabrina's, but this goes completely unnoticed by Dean.

Dean Smith:
We'll see... because she used those, it might mean he has a shot before me. If I was in his shoes and that happened, I'd elbow my way through everybody to make sure I remain at the front of the line. So you might see Alex getting that rematch. Maybe he wins, maybe he doesn't... but if I've beat him tonight on PPV, it puts me right at the front of line against Alex, Tiffany or Siobhan, whoever holds that title.

Clover:
Maybe you should get yourself a pair of those things.

They are about to turn one of the corners in the hall when they are stopped by someone who is coming in the opposite direction, none other than the blonde beauty Laurel Bradley who is making a rare appearance in person in the midst of her work as Dean’s agent. Laurel looks to be dressed comfortable in a pair of cutoff denim shorts with a red halter top, her blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She looks down at Clover with a small smile.

Laurel Bradley:
Nice nails.

Clover:
Thank you. I got them with Sabrina, two for one deal. Her boyfriend didn't want a Mani Pedi so he lost out. You're ready for the summer.

Dean Smith:
I was about to say that too.

Laurel Bradley:
I’m sure you were.

Laurel raises one eyebrow slightly, an amused expression on her face, before she pulls her phone out of the back pocket of her shorts so she can scroll through her notes.

Laurel Bradley:
I figured I would attend tonight’s show so I can give your fan club a great match review.

Clover:
What do you have so far?

Clover tries to get an inch or two higher than she's at in her flat shoes to peek at Laurel's phone, while Dean makes sure his wrist tape is all flat, and his gloves won't come off.

Dean Smith:
And let me read through it before you post it this time? You can't use the excuse your finger slipped again.

Laurel makes sure to hold her phone up higher to keep it safe from prying eyes as she gives Dean a look that reads pure innocence, imagine a halo above her head.

Laurel Bradley:
I have no idea what you mean…

Dean Smith:
The "artistic" use of certain words and not-Dean-like descriptions you used.

He says making air quotes, while Clover gives Dean a nudge.

Dean Smith:
Right. And the daily Dean digest pictures. When did you take some of them?

As Dean looks absolutely flummoxed as he scrolls through them completely dumbfounded by it. Laurel quickly snatches her phone back with a laugh as she shakes her head.

Laurel Bradley:
It’s all for the benefit of the fan club, we need to keep them invested, right? Don’t you trust my judgement as your agent?

Dean Smith:
Yes. I do. Yes. What was that "under construction" store thing though?

Clover:
I didn't hear anything about that from Erica, Stephania, or Guillermo when they were talking about it on our group call. Is it new?

Dean Smith:
Grou-?

Laurel Bradley:
Don’t worry about it.

Laurel holds up one hand to silence Dean before she brings her index finger up to her lips while looking down towards Clover.

Laurel Bradley:
Let’s keep this just between us girls, okay?

Clover:
I can agree to that.

As she extends her hand out. As Laurel begins to shake it, Clover chimes in.

Clover:
For a 20% cut of the profits. I expect a few large expenditures in my near future and swapping Williams veggie wraps for meat wraps just isn't cutting it anymore.

Laurel Bradley:
Hmm… I suppose we can leave it open to future discussions.

She lets go of her hand as she glances over at Dean.

Laurel Bradley:
Providing you keep bringing in the goods so we can push all the Dean we can on the people.

Dean Smith:
Don't I always?

Clover:
I do remember overhearing Laurel say you have the goods on a flight one time. That was after you two went to see the pilot cabin but didn't bring me along by the way…

Laurel Bradley:
It’s all boring stuff in there anyway, nothing you’d like to see.

Laurel places her hands on Clover’s shoulders to lead her down the hall.

Laurel Bradley:
How about we discuss our business arrangements a bit more while Dean gets ready?

Clover:
Sure. I hope you have sparkling water since I always pictured my first business negotiation to have that. Actually my second, my first was against Teddy Flufferton for his share of the Halloween candy.

The pair then head down the hallway as Clover waves by to Dean.

Dean Smith:
Laurel. Send me the final draft of tonight. I got a luxury suite so I can read it then.

Laurel glances back over her shoulder as she continues to lead Clover down the hallway.

Laurel Bradley:
I’ll make a quick stop on my way back.

Dean Smith:
I have a bad feeling.

He adds an extra layer of tape on his right wrist where it was a little loose.

Dean Smith:
Bad, bad feeling.

As he heads the other way to get in a quick training session before his match up with Alex.

Singles Match

Dean Smith VS Alex Andrews

Alex had imagined her HSL very differently. With the MENTV championship around her waist, adding another defense and getting one step closer to a Riot or Junior Heavyweight championship opportunity. But the last Riot changed everything, the controversial loss to Tiffany Lynn Page ruined her plans. And now, she was back to square one, not even getting the rematch she was, most likely, entitled to. Her opponent was Dean Smith, looking to get back on track after a prolonged discontinuity of results. The bell rang, and the two immediately rushed and locked up. Smith used his strength and tossed Alex on her back, but Lady Limitless popped up back to her feet and rushed back in. Dean caught her off guard with a powerful lariat and flipped Andrews again to her back. She got back up with a look of aggravation and again rushed the former Invictus champion who this time countered with tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Dean dropped down to make a first cover attempt but Alex kicked out in two. Smith pulled her back to her feet and the former MENTV champion checked him with a punch to the ribs, and another one followed by a third. At that point Dean lost his grasp on her shoulder, allowing her to take a step back and jump in the air, extending both feet to knock him on his back with a dropkick. Before making the cover, Alex dropped a fist to his skull, but all she got out of it was a count of two.

Both competitors were back to their feet and exchanged punches. Dean was, unsurprisingly, coming out on top, forcing Alex back against the ropes. Lady Limitless landed a lucky punch to the jaw that rocked the big man enough to allow her to connect extras,regaining ground and using an irish whip to send Smith into the ropes. He bounced off and got greeted with a lariat by Alex, but the attack didn't phase Dean. Andrews gave it another try, whipping him into the ropes again and waiting for him with another lariat. This time Dean ducked under it and hit the opposite side of the ring, coming back with a shoulder block, knocking the younger opponent down. Taking things up a notch, Dean whipped the opponent in the corner and kept her stuck there with a flurry of boxing uppercuts, keeping them coming until the referee asked, and obtained, a break. Dazed, Alex walked out of the corner right into the first of four european uppercuts that stunned her. Smith then lifted her and slammed her into the canvas with a high angle rock bottom for a long count of two.

Dean looked in absolute control, using his size to overpower the opponent and frustrate her attempt of a comeback. The fans were firmly behind the former MENTV champion, their support probably was what kept her alive for so long and made it possible for her to kick out of the fireman’s carry double knee gutbuster. She was still in the match, sure, but in visible pain. Dean was the portrait of confidence, and rightfully so. Alex looked on her last leg, struggling to even get up to her feet. He had plenty of time to climb to the top rope, waiting for the chance to strike her down with his Mean Dean diving knee. When she finally made it up to her feet he jumped. Andrews was able to dodge it by a hair, causing the former Invictus champion to land hard on his knee. Alex saw him in a kneeling position and took the chance to connect with the Brain Death (step up axe kick) making the cover right away. To everyone’s shock, Smith kicked out a moment before the three, and the match continued. Another hard exchange in the center of the ring, this time Dean didn’t make any mistake and came out on top, leaving Alex groggy in front of him. He went for a spinning backfist but the former champion ducked and quickly hooked his arms, planting him on his face with the Hella Rough before he could even realize what was going on. And this time, it kept him down for the one, two, three.

WINNER: Alex Andrews
BY: Pinfall (Hella Rough), 10:42

The scene opens up backstage in the gorilla position. Faizah Marshall, the former Gold Star Champion, is standing a little ways from the entrance. She takes a deep breath knowing full well what is on the line, the opportunity to regain the Gold Star Championship. She doesn’t notice Paisley Dawn come up carefully behind her.

Paisley Dawn:
Faizah... hope you don’t mind. Can I get a word with you?

Faizah slowly turns around to greet the energetic interviewer. She tilts her head to the side.

Faizah Marshall:
Go ahead.

Paisley Dawn:
For those who aren’t fully aware of what is going on. Two weeks ago you left the Gold Star Championship in the ring after overcoming everyone on Team Ali. One week ago in the Principal's office you expressed your intention on declaring the title vacant, due to circumstances beyond your control playing a role in you becoming the champion the first time. Gianluigi Vaccaro decided to honor your original request, in light of you wanting to change your mind, figuring this was the best way to teach you a lesson. My question is, do you regret making what some would argue was an impulsive decision?

Faizah took a moment to digest Paisley's recap of the road that led her to this point. She shook her head.

Faizah Marshall:
No; I don’t. Never know how much something means to you until it's gone. I was so caught up in the how I became champion, I forgot to enjoy the ride. That is a lesson I will carry with me for the rest of my career. Lesson learned. I will never, ever, give up a championship that easily again. That being said I realize the irony. After the bell rings, the moment I am declared the new and only two time Gold Star Champion, the belt goes back to the Academy anyway. I am officially a member of the main roster. There is no going back.

Paisley nods.

Paisley Dawn:
One more question, how confident are you in beating JJ Night? He did manage to pin you--

Faizah cuts Paisley off immediately.

Faizah Marshall:
In tag. team. action. Not singles competition. 2-0. Third time won’t be a charm.

Faizah flashes a cocky smile. Then her demeanor turns serious.

Faizah Marshall:
What JJ doesn’t fully grasp, I am on a mission to make things right. This goes back to why I originally wanted to hand over the Gold Star in the first place. JJ has a family legacy to live up to. For me? The only name I have is my own. I walked into the Academy billing myself as the Original B.A.E... Best. At. Everything. The way I beat Faith, not the way I wanted to build my legacy. Having outside help might be good enough for some people, not for me.

I need to show the world that I can become a champion on my own merit. I am marching down to my ring, standing across from JJ on my own, knowing I have the perfect opportunity to become the Gold Star Champion the way I wanted to begin with. Winning with no ones help. I am taking the chip on my shoulder and I overwhelm JJ with it. Then he’ll know beyond a shadow of a doubt no matter how far he’s come--

Faizah dust imaginary dirt off her shoulder.

Faizah Marshall:
-- I am the one constant he can’t overcome.

Paisley nods. She turns around to walk off in the opposite direction giving Faizah Marshall a few more moments to collect her thoughts before going out there in front of the biggest crowd she has ever competed in front of.

Gold Star Championship Match

JJ Night VS Faizah Marshall

Originally this was scheduled to be a triple threat match between the Gold Star Faizah Marshall, JJ Night (formerly known as The Kid) and Faith Savell. The recent events at The Academy brought a few changes to it: at first Faizah relinquishing the title on episode 27, Faith pulling out of the match to accept the challenge issued by the former Cloud Gate champion Tiff Rollins. Bottom line, it all boiled down to Marshall and Night fighting for the vacant title, for the right to be the final Gold Star of the first year of The Academy. JJ wasted no time and lunged at Marshall, tackling her to the mat and then proceeded to throw stiff left and right forearms to the Original BAE’s head. Faizah got her arms up to protect her face and Night, seeing that the forearms were no longer as effective, quickly got to her feet and began firing off left and right shoot kicks to the chest and arms of the former Gold Star, each one crackling and echoing throughout the arena. To finish the sequence he went for a roundhouse kick but Marshall ducked that one and tried to win the match with a flash schoolboy pin, only getting a two. Faizah set Night up in a front waist lock and attempted an overhead belly-to-belly suplex but as she lifted him, JJ managed to break the waist lock. He fell to his feet, and then began firing rapid right and left kicks to the sides of Marshall’s thighs. He then took advantage of the Original BAE clutching her leg, jumping up and nailing a fast hurricanrana, right into another pinning predicament that earned him a second near fall.

Faizah was recovering in the corner, baiting JJ to charge at her with a splash and moving out of the way at the last moment, causing him to crash in the empty turnbuckle. She grabbed him from behind and connected a german suplex, throwing the young man in the middle of the ring. Marshall landed a few stomps into JJ’s body and moved towards the legs, beginning to stomp at the right knee. She then grabbed that same leg and went to turn him over into a half Boston crab but as she flipped him on his stomach, JJ used his free leg to kick her back into the ropes. He was quickly up to his feet, doubling Faizah over with a kick to the stomach as she bounced back and pinning her with a sunset flip, obtaining yet another near fall. As they both stood up, Faizah delivered a hard knee strike to his face, leaving him stunned and defenseless as she draped her arm around his head to nail him with an implant ddt. The former Gold Star floated into a cover but Night raised his shoulder in time. Faizah kept the pressure on with some knee drops, giving the opponent the chance to stand up to his feet and charging at the ropes, coming back at full speed with a sick running Yakuza kick. JJ slowly tried to get up, finding himself in a vulnerable seating position while Marshall charged again, this time with a shining wizard. The following cover saw Night kicking out a millisecond before the three. The frustration was visible on Faizah’s face as she turned to the referee, asking if it really was only a two. It wasn’t really a protest, not in the form at least. She pretty much asked the referee if he was sure it only was a two, sighing when he confirmed his decision. Shaking her head, clearly disappointed, she dragged him up to his feet and got him in position for a T-Bone Suplex. Night fought to escape with some sharp elbows to the jaw. He freed his upper body, but his leg was still held by Faizah. Realizing this, JJ jumped and landed a nice enziguri that dropped the Original BAE face first to the mat. Both competitors remained down, visibly spent after a very intense match.

JJ got to his feet and Faizah was not too far behind him. As the former Gold Star tried to get her bearings, Night rushed in with a clothesline that Marshall managed to duck. He turned around and sidestepped a weak dropkick attempt, waiting as the Original BAE got up from her miss to crush her with an axe kick. He made the cover, but Marshall kicked out in the nick of time. Exhausted, JJ rolled off the opponent, breathing heavily on the floor. Slowly, the two of them picked themselves up at the same time, beginning to trade slow and weak shots, both of them barely able to stand after the epic battle. At this point, it was more of a matter of who wanted it the most. None of them was giving up an inch, channeling what little energy they had left in those direct strikes. It was JJ who eventually came out victorious, connecting three consecutive shots to Marshall’s jaw and leaving her stunned. With a twist of fate he dropped her down, climbing up to the top rope to seal the deal with the five star frog splash, tribute to Chris Night. Faizah pulled her knees to her chest to protect herself, making JJ’s landing the most uncomfortable. With a quick movement, she rolled him up and recaptured the Gold Star she vacated two weeks ago, and this time she did it without any shadow of doubt.

WINNER: Faizah Marshall (NEW GOLD STAR CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Roll up), 19:33

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page is sitting in her locker room in her wrestling gear and she is on her cell phone. She smiles and sets her phone down.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
In my short time here in MWE I have endeered myself to the entire roster and the audience. Which is why I am now the MWE MENTV Champion. It isn’t my fault nor my problem that someone doesn’t think I should be a champion around here…

Tiffany points at the MENTV title that is perched on a chair just a couple feet from her.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
I went from showing James Edwards he shouldn’t underestimate me, I showed Alex Andrews that I get what I want, and tonight Sioban will find out I do and keep what I want. Because this MENTV title will be used as a tool to ultimately get what I want from here in MWE. And I will get what I want. So, Sioban be happy that you get your fifteen minutes of fame because it won’t last longer than that.

Tiffany winks and blows a kiss at the camera.

The scene opens backstage in a locker room. Neil Newman is sitting down on a black steel folding chair. His legs are spread open. Both hands resting on each knee. The hood to his hoodie is on his head. Sophie O’Brian is standing behind him. Her hands resting on his shoulders.

Neil Newman:
I was listening to Kyle speak prior to his match with Duke Andrews a few weeks ago. What he spoke about struck a chord with me. He highlighted around this time eleven months ago how he wanted to avenge us losing the MWE Tag Team Championships by beating Duke. Kyle bringing that up made me realize I had not gotten over the McMillions screwing me and my best friend out of what belonged to us.

Ironic how life works. Learning that Sophie and I are going to challenge for the tag team titles brings up memories. I hate how me and Kyle lost those titles! The Golden Era should have correctly righted the wrong instead of moving on as casually as we did. Being unable to defend the titles one time still bugs me. Can’t lie to myself anymore!!

Neil scowls. Then a smile creeps on his face.

Neil Newman:
But I am also a proponent of adapting. Sun Tzu talks about being fluid, right Sophie?

Sophie nods. Neil continues.

Neil Newman:
Sounds cliche, everything happens for a reason. I believe the reason for this opportunity is to give me a second chance to have a more fulfilling reign as tag champions. Also, to bring gold back to the Glorious Golden Era. Glory will become World Champion. Kyle will find his way. Sophie and I, we’ll handle our end of the bargain.

Neil cracks his knuckles.

Neil Newman:
Rhett. Qiyara. Congrats are in order. After a long grueling road you finally became tag team champions, at my wife’s expense no less. Summer congratulated you. The respect earned from your battles with Fabolous I used to hear about every time you two clashed. Understand one thing, this isn’t about respect. Becoming champions is all that matters. And I’ll be damned if two fresh faced Academy brats and The Steeles stand between us.

In order to walk out champions one of us needs to be the last team standing. Elimination rules. When it comes to strategy, there is no one better than Sophie.

Sophie O’Brian:
The old Roman Empire had the most feared of armies at its disposal. When one got word that a Roman legion was on its way, you knew you had very options. You could fight, valiantly albeit, but ultimately end in failure and get trampled under the mighty foot of Rome. Or you could surrender and hope for mercy, but end up receiving none, because either way the result would be the same...the Roman legions would lay waste to your cities, your towns, your people. It was inevitable and everyone knew it because the Roman legions were truly the greatest most powerful armies of the time.

The Glorious Golden Era is not an empire like the old Roman Empire. We do not seek to conquer out of greed or materialistic gain. But I assure you that we are indeed the very best at what we do and when you have Neil Newman and myself, you have two of the greatest tag team experts to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. When it comes to pure wrestling, few can measure up to Neil Newman and when it comes to tactics and strategy, NO ONE measures up to me.

The Tag Team Championship never should have left the Glorious Golden Era in the first place. Tonight, Newman and I will right that wrong. We will reclaim what rightfully belongs to us. The championships come home tonight.

MENTV Championship Match

Tiffany Lynn Page © VS Siobhan Mahoney

The MENTV champion wasted no time by trying to lunge with a quick jumping knee smash to the face of Siobhan who slid under it quickly, almost expecting a cheap shot from Tiffany to take her off guard. Page gained her foot and turned around into an attempted roundhouse by the Irish that she managed to shift out of the way of. The champ went for a waist lock, the challenger squirmed around and then got her into a waist lock of her own. Tiffany threw a few forearms over her shoulder into the opponent’s face causing her to release the lock and stumble back clutching her cheek. The Diva then took a step back, measuring up the distance to connect the Prima Donna (chick kick) that caught Mahoney right on the temple, flooring her instantly. Tiffany dropped down into a cover, obtaining the first near fall of the match. She pulled at Siobhan’s blonde locks to drag her up to her feet but Siobhan caught her with a knee to the gut and flipped her over with an arm drag. The champion landed on her feet in one beautiful motion that caught the challenger off guard and put her in position to connect an arm drag of her own.

Halfway through the match and with Tiffany in control, Siobhan connected a move that changed the course of the match. Coming back off the ropes after an irish whip, Mahoney ducked the clothesline and bounced off a second time, blasting Tiffany with the Eire Raid running bicycle knee strike. The champion rolled out of the ring to avoid the pinning predicament but Siobhan dragged her back in the ring, landing a few stomps before attempting the cover and obtaining a two. The Irish kept pushing, delivering several strikes aiming mostly at Tiffany’s arm and shoulder. The reason became clear when she caught the champion into the cross armbreaker she calls Celtic Cross. Tiffany screamed in pain, the fans let out a loud roar at the sight of the champion desperately fighting the urge to tap out, wriggling and writhing in pain in a vain attempt to escape the submission. Her only salvation was represented by the ropes, so close and yet so far. It was a struggle, but eventually she reached them with her foot and interrupted the submission. Siobhan kept it locked in a little longer, fully exploiting the five count. When she finally let go, Tiffany slipped out of the ring.

The MENTV champion’s attitude was getting on Siobhan’s nerves and those of the fans alike. Finding herself in a rough spot and with her arm hurting like hell, Page took extended breaks on the outside, letting the clock rundown and perhaps hoping to get a time limit draw that wouldn’t count as one of the five defenses required to cash in the title for either the Riot or the Junior Heavyweight championship but would allow her to retain the strap. The Human Disaster had had enough of her wasting time and started chasing Tiffany around the ring. The champion slid back under the ring and Siobhan followed her, staying on her tail even when she slid under the bottom rope on the opposite side. Again they circled around the ring, eventually entering once again. Rather than leaving, Page bounced off the ropes this time to hit the opponent with a springboard crossbody for a count of two. With a little over three minutes to go, Tiffany tried to actually win the match with the Alluring brainbuster but it wasn’t enough to keep Siobhan down. Mahoney produced her greatest effort to swing the momentum back on her side, but her effort was frustrated by an eye rake from the champion who then hoisted her up for the Hottie Bomb, countered with a sunset flip by Siobhan that saw the champion kicking out in the nick of time. Both were up to their feet and Mahoney faked a superkick. Tiffany stumbled back to dodge it, but she couldn’t avoid the Shillelagh spin kick that followed. All Siobhan had to do now was to make the cover but unfortunately for her the time was up.

WINNER: Draw (TIFFANY LYNN PAGE STILL MENTV CHAMPION)
BY: Time Limit, 15:00

The camera comes backstage where we find Matt Stone and Nicole Rossi talking backstage before his big match later tonight.

Matt Stone:
Here we are at yet another big show and I still haven’t gotten a proper title match to show everyone what I’m capable of, how many more wins do I need to get before I get a chance to really shine? Shouldn’t you be talking to people or something about that?

Nicole Rossi:
Are you under the impression that I’m your personal assistant or something?

Nicole raises one eyebrow as she crosses her arms in front of her chest, the blonde clearly less than impressed with Matt at the moment. At least until a smirk begins to form on her face.

Nicole Rossi:
You can always ask your beloved Karen to do that for you.

Matt just rolls his eyes at that comment, electing to move beyond the jealous remark.

Matt Stone:
I’m just saying you’ve got a vested interest in my career, I would have thought that you would have shown initiative, that’s all. But you know what? It’s fine, I’m still on the big stage here tonight and I can still get a lot of people to see me for the future champion that I know I am.

Nicole Rossi:
Hopefully you can get that giant head through the curtains first.

Nicole waves both of her hands around her head for a moment clearly at Matt’s expense. Matt fakes a laugh, rather poorly at that, and fixes his hair a bit.

Matt Stone:
Very funny, but when you’re as smart as I am, a big head is needed to carry around the giant brain.

The expression on Nicole’s face is one that’s holding back laughter as much as possible, at least until she’s no longer able to keep it contained, and it echoes down the hall.

Nicole Rossi:
You’re right, you ARE funny!

Matt just stares at her for a moment, looking up and down the halls to see if anyone was around.

Matt Stone:
And you sound like you’re plotting to kill Batman.

Nicole Rossi:
Don’t you have a match you need to be focused on?

Nicole reaches out with one hand to give Matt a shove backwards.Matt takes a step back and nods his head.

Matt Stone:
Yeah, I do. So we should probably stop talking about how great I am and get going, eh?

Nicole Rossi:
I don’t recall talking about that, but yes we should, I always look amazing at ringside.

Matt smirks, starting to head down the hallway.

Matt Stone:
I never notice, I have a match to focus on.

Nicole opens her mouth to respond but Matt’s already on the move and she just huffs and begins to follow.

A darkened room appears on screen, in the darkness a match is heard being struck as a candle illuminates, emerging from the shadows, holding the match is none other than Niko Yua. The Blade Maiden of Tokyo ignites a second candle as she utters

Niko Yua:
Frost on a summer day:
all I leave behind is Eldons
that pollute the sacred mats

From behind the shadow of the Joshi, appears Valkyrie, the Dane painted up with the familiar blue paint streaks

Valkyrie:
Death has different levels of belief in different cultures, one of the assured pieces of life apart from paying taxes. And though we do not intend to actually kill the Eldons, we plan on killing off their so called legacy in Millenium. They are a stain on the industry and everyone knows it, though some of you need to hear it enough times to actually realise, but because Karen’s what, forty seven and tanked, people forget about shit talent and shit attitudes because of it.

Niko Yua:
When I first stepped into the ring, I was just eighteen years old, I hadn’t even graduated highschool and amongst the Joshi community, they called me Joshi Kousei, the Highschool Kid. And let me tell you, my young age didn’t stop the veterans of ten, fifteen, twenty years from bashing my face to oblivion, more than once I went into school after a weekend of wrestling with two black eyes and grazes along my face. Something that Karen and Erika are going to experience first hand when we finally get our hands on them properly.

Valkyrie:
Except we don’t believe or trust anyone with the surname of Eldon to conduct themselves with honour. I’ve stated it once on Twitter and I shall do so again: If Erika was showing up to a show wearing a neckbrace and bandages because of the THREAT of a chokeslam off the stage, if her neck is so fragile, then why is she even being allowed to feature on the Gods Damned Card? Call us paranoid, but we are properly So. We’re expecting to hear that she’s been removed from the match so Karen can have her choice of partner to go for the gold when she screws over the Forty Two.

Niko Yua:
Well, you awoke demons you should have kept in their places sleeping. Whoever shows up, we’ll be ready, and we will fight you like we are possessed. We are going to hammer you in the face with so many forearms and elbows that you’ll wish for death. If you thought we were nasty when we were allowed weapons, the fuck do you think we’ll do without them to people we fucking hate?! Warblade 42 don’t need weapons…

Valkyrie:
We fucking ARE weapons. Honed over a decade, tempered in blood, and severely pissed off with the shit we’ve been through because of fucking Karen. We’re sick of being made to look like fucking idiots. And we will do what the fuck we want to make sure this shit ends once and for god damned all!

From the shadows, Niko spat something over the candle, a blast of flame… then darkness.

Singles Match

Matt Stone VS Joey Leclair

If Joey made it clear his sight is on the World championship, Matt has been more quiet on that aspect, way more quiet than you would expect him to be, possibly advised by his Manager to keep a low profile and let results speak for him. His form has been great recently, putting him on a streak that definitely boosted his confidence walking into HSL. Leclair and Stone quickly closed the gap and squared off in the middle of the ring. Matt gestured to start off with a test of strength. Joey obliged but the resourceful Abominable Showman quickly changed plans and kicked him straight in the gut. With the Prodigy bent over, Matt hammered away with forearms to the back of the head, receiving praise from Nicole on the outside. He took a moment to flash a confident smile at her, a distraction he couldn’t afford against a dangerous opponent such as Joey who fed him an elbow to the stomach and Irish whipped him into the ropes. On the return, Stone was met with a bicycle kick that absolutely flattened him. Some ground and pound from Leclair who rained down forearms to the face of the Canadian. Leclair than grabbed him by the shoulders and set him up on his feet, spinning around for his Prodigal Elbow Smash. Matt saw that coming from a mile and easily dodged it, looping his arm around Joey’s head and dragging him down on his back with the Stone Cutter. A quick run to the ropes to get some momentum behind the jumping knee drop before Matt made the first cover of the match, barely getting a count of two. He’ll need a lot more to keep Joey down.

Leclair was able to duck a mailed haymaker, and hooked his head under Matt’s arm, planting him with a side slam. The former Chicago Way champion was quick to get back up and stomped on Stone in rapid succession. Nicole Rossi protested with the referee, mostly just to put pressure on him and maybe even rile up Leclair. The referee turned his attention on her asking her to calm down, and doing so he missed Matt’s eye poke. Momentarily blinded, Joey couldn’t avoid the S-T-Owned, but he still managed to kick out in time. Matt picked him up by the hair and rocked him with an uppercut, following with a side suplex and a cover attempt, but the Prodigy kicked out in time. As Joey started getting up to his feet, Stone moved behind his back, catching him in The Danger Zone, Leclair immediately bent forward and flipped the opponent on the mat, punishing him with a vicious kick to the spine. Matt arched his back in pain while Joey gained some momentum with a short run to the ropes and blasted the Canadian with a running knee to the back of the head.

Joey remained in control for several minutes following the vicious knee strike that left Matt dazed. With moves like the rope hung ddt and a buckle bomb he collected a few near falls, but he couldn’t get the decisive three count. Joey grunted in frustration and picked Stone back up. Again the Abominable Showman raked Leclair's eye, causing him to be temporarily blinded. Stone then guided him towards the edge, and dragged his face along the ropes, receiving a warning from the referee. The cocky multi-time champion just blew him off. Matt then turned the tattooed opponent around to face him, but Joey shocked him with an exploder suplex into the turnbuckle, The Straight Shooter’s leg got caught between the ropes, leaving him hanging upside down. Nicole climbed on the apron to try to free her client, but Joey already got a running head start, hitting a low dropkick to Matt’s face. Seeing the Prodigy coming at full speed startled the blonde manager, who lost her balance and fell off the apron. Both the referee and Joey looked at her, concerned about a potential injury more so after hearing her scream of pain. Matt instead saw an unexpected window of opportunity to low blow Leclair and roll him on his back with a quick schoolboy pin. The referee turned around and made the count, oblivious of the cheap shot that allowed the Abominable Showman to steal the win.

WINNER: Matt Stone
BY: Pinfall (Schoolboy Pin), 11:09

Already having made their entrance for their match we hear “Karate” by Babymetal playing over the speakers. Niko Yua is throwing punches at air in the ring while Valkyrie is doing some last seconds stretches of her arms. Both seeming ready and fully in kill mode, “Minuetto” by Luigi Boccherini hits and the boos start to reign down. Out from the back comes Karen Eldon dressed in her gold and white trunks, not far behind her comes Erika Eldon in matching ring gear. She looks wide eyed, as she looks out at the arena booing her. The boos only get even louder when all at once the crowd realizes that Karen has a microphone in hand ready to talk, stopping at the top of the ramp to do so.

Karen Eldon:
You know Niko..Valkyrie the two of you have been a thorn in my side for months now. You hurt my daughter at one point, you made it so my son wasn’t fit to wrestle. And now in the rubber match between us you thought you’d get away with beating my daughter and I instead of Clyde and I...But that won’t be the case…

Karen says this as though she caught them off guard but Niko and Valkyrie shouts up at her “We knew it” on repeat. Warblade long believed that Clyde would be stepping in regardless of what Karen had stated.

Karen Eldon:
So tonight it won’t be Erika as my partner...But you know what...it won’t be Clyde either…

Erika stands as confused as the rest of the crowd, Niko and Valkyrie now seeming to actually realize it isn’t going to be Clyde. “Balance, Not Symmetry” by Biffy Clyro hits as out from the back to the surprise of the crowd is Olly. Having earlier in the night bailed on the match with the other Academy graduates, suddenly that situation starts making a lot more sense. Karen smirks as she steps to the side to let him walk out, the crowd booing the young man, joining Karen not exactly going to win over any fans. Not that Olly, arguably the most controversial prospect coming out of the Academy, seems to mind.

If anything, he soaks in the negative reaction, standing tall and proud next to Karen with that infamous smirk on his face. Erika still looks surprised, she was ready to step in the ring with her mother and only now finds out she replaced her with Olly. Was this their plan all along? Did her own mother just use her as a decoy, a distraction to somehow throw Warblade 42 off their game? These, and more questions are going through her mind when Olly turns back and places a hand on her shoulder, speaking in a soft and reassuring tone.

Olly:
I got you.

Turning back again, he asks and obtains a microphone from his tag partner for the night, rising it to his lips.

Olly:
Bet you didn’t see this coming…

Now that the initial surprise faded, Valkyrie and Niko stare back at their opponents, and they don’t look impressed. After all, Olly is just a rookie on his first official match, and it’s the first time he and Karen team up.

Olly:
Bet you thought you could get away with what you did to Clyde and Erika before him. I bet you thought you could just waltz in this match tonight and walk out with an easy win, that you could steal the title match Karen and her son rightfully deserve by beating a girl who only just started her training… Well, I got bad news for you.

Olly was already going to have the crowd against him regardless, now joining up with another hated star only doubling the vile response from the crowd. Karen watches on, clapping as she enjoys the moment and catching everyone in the arena off guard as well, even if it meant tricking her own daughter. Olly hands her back the microphone, the two passing the mic between one another taking turns soaking in the boos.

Karen Eldon:
Those Tag Team championships are rightfully ours. And while he may be seen as a rookie, trust me when I say that Olly is more than ready to take the likes of you two out. So that WE can get the belts that we rightfully deserve.

Karen says this seemingly proclaiming Olly her partner going forward something that may not sit well with Clyde or Erika very much.

Tag Team Match
#1 Contendership

Warblade 42 VS The Eldons (Karen Eldon & Olly)

As soon as Karen was done talking, she dropped the mic and the duo charged at the ring at full speed, sliding under the bottom rope and bringing the fight to Warblade! Niko and Valkyrie reacted rather quickly and held their own against Karen and Olly, Actually, the Great Dane Bitch was coming out on top against Eldon, thanks to her greater size and strength, but that suddenly changed when the Academy graduate hit her from behind after getting rid of the Blade Maiden Of Tokyo. Two on one, the unusual pairing had it easy subduing the powerhouse, lifting her with a double suplex. The referee tried to restore some order, asking one of them to leave the ring. Olly raised his hands in an apologetic way and walked to his corner, leaving the stage to Karen who was now dropping hard forearms to the back of the grounded Valkyrie’s head. Dragging her up by the hair, Karen went for an irish whip that Valkyrie countered, sending the woman against the ropes. Blind tag made by Olly who waited for the unaware Dane to send Karen flying over her head with a back body drop and turn around before sliding inside the ring behind her shoulders, grabbing her in a waistlock to connect a snap german suplex. Olly and Karen worked surprisingly well together, especially for this being the first time they teamed up. They kept it simple, quick tags and basic offense with the occasional double team maneuver. Nothing too fancy, but effective enough to keep Valkyrie isolated and wear her down. The Warmaiden of Roskilde was in dire need of a tag and eventually found the opening when she caught Karen with a backbreaker.

With Niko in the ring the pace sensibly picked up, the Japanese’s strikes were too fast for Karen who couldn’t dodge nor block them. After knocking the woman down with a jumping knee, Yua started laying in a series of kicks to her downed opponent but Eldon caught the leg to take her down with a dragon screw. Without thinking twice, Karen rushed to her corner but Niko grabbed her foot and tripped her, causing her to fall on her stomach mere inches away from her tag partner. Niko slipped in and caught her in a side headlock, forcing her to get up and, maintaining the hold around her neck, adding a few punches to the top of her head. From that position she then whipped her into her corner and followed with a double knees to the face. Tag to Valkyrie who lifted Karen over her head in a gorilla press position and dropped her onto her partner’s knee for an elevated gutbuster. Vee hooked the leg, but Olly came to Karen’s rescue, breaking up the pin.

In the final moments, Olly and Valkyrie were fighting in the ring, an all out brawl with hard strikes flying everywhere. Oliver may not be the most technically sounded prospect to walk out of the Academy, but he was without a doubt the best brawler. His fighting style reminded, and that’s not by chance, that of Hammerstein. Valkyrie was known to be quite the heavy hitter as well, and a couple of her elbow strikes really did a number on the young kid, knocking him down and requiring Karen to make the last minute save. Up to their feet, the two traded more blows, this time it was Olly who had the best and whipped Vee into the ropes. She countered it and sent him for a run, but on the rebound Olly picked her up and slammed her into the mat with what looked like a running spinebuster. He picked the woman up in a powerbomb position and headed straight to his corner. Karen hit Vee with a kick to the back of the head as Olly launched her into the turnbuckles, another double team maneuver that surprised the commentators for timing and coordination. After the buckle bomb, Olly dropped on one knee, bringing his hand to the face and complaining about Valkyrie raking his eyes. The referee went to check, though nothing in the dynamic of the action or in Valkyrie’s documented history of sportsmanship suggested any irregularity. It was all a decoy to allow Karen to use the tag rope to choke Valkyrie. Niko realized it immediately and charged at the woman who let go of Valkyrie and began running around the ring, chased by the japanese.Eventually Niko reached Karen and tackled her to the ground, unleashing a flurry of punches to her head. Inside the ring, Olly picked the Dane up in a fireman’s carry position and dropped her into a knee strike, making the cover to pick up the first win on the main roster. And it was a huge one.

WINNER: Olly & Karen Eldon
BY: Pinfall (Not OK Either), 13:41

The scene cuts backstage where we see Andrew Raynes pacing back and forth a little bit. It was dark but you could see the silhouette sticking out showing it was him. Flashes of his face were seen as he walked back and forth. This was important to him, a title match following a loss put some added pressure onto the Embracer of Hate but this wasn't something unusual for him. He finally took a second to pause and look at the camera after gathering his thoughts.]

Andrew Raynes:
I bet you’re all just wondering how I am gonna respond after my loss to Xavier, right?

I can only imagine what some of you are thinking or considering? Oh, ANdrew came in like hot shit and got put in his place finally. Now what’s he gonna do?

I am only getting started.

Andrew smirks

Andrew Raynes:
Losing a match here and there isn’t something that is new to me, I came back after a two year hiatus as a man who wasn’t going to take shit from anyone, I would come in popping off at the mouth because I always knew I had the chops to back it up. I have never believed in being someone that would go undefeated or run a 6-8 month streak where I would never lose, I am not a fucking idiot. I run my mouth knowing there will be times I get punched in the face and eat a bag of pucks here and there but I don't care, losing is not the end of the world and losing only makes me even more dangerous.

I am an evolving force thanks to embracing hate as my salvation.

There’s a lot of people who come in talking hot game but they lose once and they are shattered, nothing more than fragile little kids who are full of nothing but hot air and bullshit, not me. I am someone who takes hits just as much as I give them out because I am here to evolve and grow into bigger and better things. The problem most people have with me is that I don't care how I get the job done, I will do whatever it takes because I don't have time for your shit, I don't have time for games and to wait around. I went after the former #1 contender to the IC title because it was going to send a message to everyone that i wasnt here to fuck around.

Now I am about to do one better, take the IC title outright! That brings me to you, Eliza

Andrew smirked again, his confidence was oozing and you could sense that he was feeling good about this match.

Andrew Raynes:
I bet it felt really good winning that belt at Dark Web, when I was destroying your challenger to the title! I bet it felt good when you actually defended the belt against him 2 weeks ago when I was losing my first match here in MWE. You think that’s going to give you something of an advantage against me?

Hate Never Sleeps.

I don't stop or think about losing just because I have suffered defeat. Unlike most people around here, I focus on moving forward and thinking about what's next, not about what happened. There are far too many people around here that hang their hats on a loss or waste time and energy complaining about why or how they lost and wanna be punk bitches about it. I've gone from having gold stolen from me to having a show stealing performance and claiming gold 2 nights later. There is nothing that stops me in this business, losing is only a means of growing and learning from what went wrong. Sometimes it's simply not having enough that night or losing focus for a second which can change everything.

You need to be careful about that too.

I don’t give a shit if your title reign has been short so far, you think that’s gonna make a difference when that bell rings? I’m only going to be focused on doing whatever i can to take that belt from you because i fucking win everywhere.

Losing to Xavier two weeks ago was a blessing in disguise for me and an absolute nightmare for you and everyone else here in MWE because you’re going to see a true force at work, a true demonstrator of what happens when you see in it's finest evolutionary form.

Not worried? I wouldn’t be surprised, most people aren't until they actually come face to face with me and get punched in the mouth, then the game is on.

I don’t stop Eliza, I won’t stop. I am a man that forges ahead regardless of what you’re gonna throw at me, any misstep on your part, anything you take for granted in our match, I will exploit and I will take advantage of in order to put you down.

By the time you realize it though, it will be too late.

Andrew paces a little more, getting himself fired up for tonight. He loves showing people how seriously he was, how much hating everything meant something to Andrew, beyond simply having a fucking rage problem.

Andrew Raynes:
Say whatever you want and convince yourself that your reign will continue but you can believe that I am going to be throwing everything I have at you because I thrive in these moments. You may feel confident coming into this but I will assure you it will change quickly. As you start seeing what's unfolding in front of you, if you fall behind you won't be able to stop me. I am relentless, unforgiving and merciless when it comes to the ring because I don't have time to be all cute and pretty about this. I am here to win, I am here to demolish and I am here to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

You don’t like it? Do something about it

Otherwise, prepare to embrace hate and embrace me as your next Intercontinental Champion.

Andrew cocks another smirk and walks away as the scene fades

MWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Eliza Foley © VS Andrew Raynes

A battle of words before the real battle actually began, some mind games played as the two waited for the bell to sound. And as soon as it did, Eliza hit Raynes with a sounding slap, a way to show him that she didn’t respect let alone fear the Embracer Of Hate. Andrew showed no emotion, he just reared back and blasted the Intercontinental Champion with a quick uppercut. Eliza was rocked and Raynes hit the ropes before turning her inside out with a lariat. He tossed Foley into the corner and hit her with a flurry of body shots before lifting her up with a fireman’s carry and planting her with a death valley driver. Instead of covering the champion, he opted to start smashing her with elbows to the neck. Eliza crawled to the ropes, obtaining a not-so-clean break from the Embracer Of Hate. Raynes took a couple of steps back, allowing the Mysterious Girl to stand on her feet. She quickly kicked him in the gut, catching him off guard and subsequently dropped him down with a swinging neckbreaker. With a flurry of furious stomps she tried to carve his head in. He pulled his arms up to cover himself but those didn’t stop, not even when the referee asked the champion to stand back. Only Eliza could decide when enough was enough, and when she did she let out a primal scream that fired up the Des Moines fans. Dragging the stunned opponent up by his long black hair, Eliza went for her finisher, trying to end this one quickly. But Andrew was alive and kicking, countering the Mysterious Girl with a standing shiranui, obtaining a two count.

Foley allowed him to sit up and when he did so, she kicked him hard on the back of the head for another two. She pulled him up and he countered with a knee to the gut followed by a snap suplex. Raynes was trying to build some momentum now, lifting the champ over his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position but she slipped out and landed behind him, jumping and bringing both knees to his back, pulling him down into a backstabber. Andrew kicked out from this one as well and started to get up, slower than usual, still feeling the effects of the double knee backbreaker. He was on one knee, mustering the energy to rise up and keep fighting. Eliza wasn’t taking the chance, swinging her leg for a brutal chick kick. Raynes lowered his head at the last possible moment to avoid impact, pulling Foley’s support leg and causing her to plant her face on the mat. By the time she started to get up, he was already on the run, hitting the ropes and coming back with the Code Of The Sith (running single leg dropkick), leveling the champion. Raynes wasted no time and climbed the turnbuckle, waiting for the right opportunity to jump with his Rayne Drop (top rope somersault neckbreaker). He laid on top of the champion who kicked out in two and half.

All plans were off in the final moments of the match, the two began hitting each other with their hardest strikes. Every kick and elbow they traded echoed in the Arena, highlighted by the fans’ loud reaction and the receiver’s groan of pain. The stiff exchange saw Raynes coming out on top, pushing the champ against the ropes. With her back against the wall, she went straight for his eyes, raking them and buying a moment to recover. But Andrew was back on the attack already, charging with a clothesline that sent them both tumbling over the top rope and landing on the apron. Even in that narrow strip of land the two kept fighting, trading hard kicks. The champion this time played it smart and kicked Raynes’ leg off, forcing him to one knee and blasting him with a knee to the face. As he laid on the apron, she entered the ring but only to reset the referee’s count, not intentioned at all in settling with a count out win. She stepped out again, this time behind Andrew’s back. She had a wicked smile on her face as she pulled his limp body up and set him for the Mysterious Girl on the apron, connecting it and giving the fans a “Holy Shit” moment. It took her a moment to pick up Raynes off the floor and rolling him in, and when she finally did and made the cover, he had enough time to recover and kick out in two. But Foley pulled him into the Say My Name (dragon sleeper with body scissors) right away, Raynes refused to tap out but he was starting to lose consciousness. The referee raised his hand and let it fall, repeating the operation a second time, to the same outcome. “One more!” he said as he grabbed Andrew’s hand and lifted it. Just like earlier, it fell without him showing any sign of life. He immediately called for the bell, signaling the end of the match.

WINNER: Eliza Foley (STILL MWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION)
BY: Submission (Say My Name), 15:30

We open backstage in the dressing room area. There we find “The Archangel” Jessica Lasiewicz dressed in her two piece wrestling gear, all black, complete with her hooded black leather jacket. Standing next to The Archangel is her best friend and tag team partner Summer Collins who is dressed in her two piece green and black wrestling attire.

Jessica Lasiewicz:
Gareth, Lowri, we’ve been going back and forth for weeks and weeks with each other. It all began when you, Lowri, issued an open challenge for the Cloud Gate Championship. I accepted that challenge because I respected your desire, your fighting spirit, and I wanted to give you the fight you deserved. And I gave you a lot more than you could handle, champ, because I had you beaten in the center of the ring. You were finished until your boyfriend came down to save your ass.

Lasiewicz shakes her head.

Jessica Lasiewicz:
But you won’t fool me twice. You have backup and so do I. Right, Summer?

Collins nods her head.

Summer Collins:
That’s right. And you two egotistical bitches thought that you would waltz right over us but when you did battle with Fabulous it was Jess and myself that beat you two and we we beat you at your own game. Gareth, you want to walk around claiming to know everything about being a badass? I can be just as dirty, just as rotten, just as horrible a person as you or anyone else out there. And it’s not a show or a game like you arrogantly and condescendingly paint it for everyone else on the roster. When under pressure, when backed against a corner, I can be the most ruthless and cutthroat person on this roster. And after what you did to Jessica when you two went toe to toe, choosing to take the coward’s way out by taking the disqualification instead of having a legit fight, choking my friend out, well now you just bought yourself a ticket to hell that you are not prepared for. Because tonight you’re not facing Jessica, you’re facing Summer Collins and your little girl has to defend her championship against a very pissed off Jessica Lasiewicz. Jessica’s job is to take home the Cloud Gate Championship…

She points a finger at the camera.

Summer Collins:
...but we already know that YOU can’t resist sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. So I now have a very important job and that job is to leave you beaten up so bad, and if I’m real good then you’ll end up crippled so that you can’t drag your lame ass out to the ring and save your girl’s ass this time. You talk about being bored? You bore me, Gareth. Your dumb act on social media, no-selling everyone and everything thinking it makes you cool. Newsflash, loser, that has been done to death. You’re uncreative, unoriginal, and I’m bored with you. So tonight isn’t about me beating you. I really don’t care if I win or if I lose. I just want to hurt you.

Lasiewicz shrugs her shoulders.

Jessica Lasiewicz:
What’s wrong, Gareth? Scared that your girl can’t get the job done on her own? Or what about you, Lowri? Do you realize deep down inside that maybe you can’t get the job done against me. Be honest with yourself, you know I had you beaten one on one. And then I DID beat you in the tag match. With every fiber of my being I want to believe that you do want a fair fight, that you want to defend that championship with honor and face me one on one with the better competitor, whomever it may be, leaving with the gold. That’s what wrestling is all about and I want to believe that you still believe in that. But the past several weeks has made me question exactly what you are all about, Lowri. I would love for you to prove me wrong. But regardless, whether you prove me wrong or not, the end result is still going to be me leaving with the Cloud Gate Championship.

Singles Match

Summer Collins VS Gareth Prichard Jr.

The Artist Formerly Known As Neal Durden didn’t seem too invested in this match. Everything, from his body language as he leaned back into his corner as Summer walked to the ring, to the posture when the referee called them both to the middle of the ring was screaming that he wasn’t enthusiastic about facing the tag partner of the woman who will face his girlfriend later tonight. Collins, on the other hand, looked fired up. She clearly didn’t forget what Gareth did ten days ago when he kept his chokehold on Jessica long after the match was over, deeming it as an attempt to take her out to favor Lowri. That was hardly the reason why GPJ did what he did, but rather than commenting and engaging in a pointless argument, he shrugged his shoulders, telling her to stop talking and start fighting. After all, that was what they came here to do. But as soon as the bell rang, he stuck his upper body through the ropes, forcing the referee to step in and keep Summer at distance. Mind games to get inside the opponent’s head and unsettle her, and they seemed to work. Summer’s attacks were driven by rage and became predictable for the Welsh who easily dodged her kicks and moved behind her back, connecting with an elbow strike to the kidneys. Summer arched her back in pain and he lifted her for an inverted suplex.

As he often did after coming back from his “retirement”, Gareth seemed to prefer a slow pace, using his vast knowledge of holds and submission to keep pressure on the opponent. Summer gave him a run for his money tonight, the former tag team champion was no stranger to the technical aspects of the sport and proved herself to be very proficient on the mat, a characteristic that she didn’t often have the chance to show in her stint as one half of Fabulous. The King Of Failure was using some joints manipulation on her, shifting into an armbar as soon as Summer even thought about a counter. Not one to hive up so easily, Collins tried to find a way to escape the painful hold, trying to catch the Welsh off guard with a quick pin that forced him to let her go. They both were up to their feet, Summer was quick to double Gareth over with a kick to the stomach and shoot him in the corner with an irish whip. He hit it chest first, Collins was right behind him and connected with a shotgun dropkick to the back, sending Prichard once again into the turnbuckles. As he stumbled back, she was waiting for him and wrapped her arms around his neck for her Summer’s End sleeper backbreaker.

In the final minutes, Gareth became more aggressive, relying on hard strikes to put the former tag champion away. Spinning elbow strike, spinning back fist and a ripcord jumping knee strike as the icing on the cake. With this combination Prichard knocked the opponent down, rushing into a cover for yet another near fall. Summer was not done yet, beginning to fight back with a flurry of punches, sending Gareth into the corner with an irish whip. As she charged at him, she ate a counter elbow to the face from the Welsh man that sent her stumbling back. Gareth charged out of the corner but Collins caught him with a capture suplex, worth another count of two. Summer waited for him to stand up and connected the Money Clip (stunner) that put the 2020 briefcase winner down. When she moved closer to him though, he was quick to catch her in the triangle choke he called Tudor Rose. The submission was locked in pretty tightly, right in the middle of the ring. Summer had nowhere to go, but still tried to break out of it. All her attempts failed, and eventually she had to tap out. For a moment it looked like the scene from last week was going to repeat, but eventually Prichard let Summer go.

WINNER: Gareth Prichard Jr.
BY: Submission (Tudor Rose), 12:59

We open backstage in the dressing room of none other than Sophie O’Brian. The Irish native is stretching in preparation for her tag title match tonight with Neil Newman. Sophie is dressed in her mostly black two piece ring attire. Sitting on a bench nearby is her childhood best friend, “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock. The blonde is wearing a royal purple dress with mid-length sleeves and a hemline that stops just at the knee. Black patent leather high heel pumps are on her feet and her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders.

Glory Braddock:
You’re going to do great, Sophie. I can’t wait to watch you and Neil become World Tag Team Champions tonight.

Sophie doesn’t reply, just grunts. Then she pushes herself up off the floor. Glory stands up and embraces Sophie in a tight hug. After the break Sophie then speaks.

Sophie O’Brian:
Appreciate the sentiment, mate, and you know Neil and I will do whatever is necessary to win the titles. But I have to admit, I’m surprised to see you here tonight. Don’t you have a bigger goal in mind that you should be worrying yourself over?

Braddock smiles warmly.

Glory Braddock:
The Glorious Golden Era isn’t about one individual. Hell, The Glorious Golden Era isn’t even about me, you, Neil, and Kyle. This is about wrestling, a sport all four of us are passionate about. My vision for this group was to make this sport better and make MWE better and to do that we have to be there for one another.

Braddock places a hand on Sophie’s shoulder.

Glory Braddock:
Besides, you have supported me in my challenges. You’ve been there for me every step of the way towards tomorrow night and the MWE World Championship Match. And I will always be there to support you, Sophie. You know that.

Sophie O’Brian:
Thank you, Gloria. Your support is always appreciated but you have EARNED this moment. Tomorrow night is yours and you will become the new MWE World Champion. I just know it.

The British Bombshell nods her head.

Glory Braddock:
I will do everything I can to make that a reality but don’t worry about me, at least not tonight. Focus on tonight, focus on making sure you and Neil bring home the tag titles. The Glorious Golden Era will truly be golden before Hic Sunt Leones is over.

MWE Tag Team Championship Match
Four Way Tag Team Elimination Match

A four way elimination tag match has become quite the norm in MWE, Rhett & Qiyara in particular were no strangers to this stipulation, having taken part in a couple of these with no luck. But it was a different story tonight, the champions looked confident and ready to prove why they are the best tag team in MWE. So confident that they decided to start the match, the same choice was made by Team Trillie, eager to show those qualities that allowed them to stay undefeated as a team in The Academy. Trinity Thompson was the one who started things off, measuring herself with Qiyara. The recently graduated girl offered a handshake, immediately accepted by Qiyara who didn’t question her intentions for a second. Finally the match was underway, the two competitors walked around in circles until Thompson started to test the waters with some light kicks to the thighs, checked by the Indian. Another side kick was blocked by QIyara who kept a hold of Trin’s leg. The Naptown Girl leaped to connect a telegraphed enziguri, easily ducked by Singh who then began to work on her leg with some kicks to the hamstring. She dragged Thompson in her corner and made the tag to Rhett who came in with a springboard elbow drop, staying on top of the young girl for the first near fall of the match. Quick tags for the champions who worked Trin mostly on the mat with their main target being the young girl’s right leg, proof that they definitely did their homework and tried to take her version of the Deathkick, the superkick made famous by Thompson’s half sister Tiff Rollins, out of the arsenal. She still had the left one though, and she used it successfully when she placed it on Rhett’s rear as he was trying to lock in the figure four and shoved him toward the Steele’s corner, where Kate tagged herself in.

The Siren opted for a different approach to the match, using her speed and her striking ability to wear down the Academy’s Class Of 2021 graduate. And it worked well for a while as she scored a couple of near falls with moves such as the spinning heel kick and a brainbuster. Eventually though, this strategy left an opening that Trinity exploited to rock the former Lockdown champion with a springboard enziguri that earned her the applause of the Iowa fans, as well as words of encouragement by her tag partner. It was now time to make the tag, the only problem was that Millie was out of reach, waiting in their corner on the opposite side of the ring. Much closer, and therefore a better option was the corner of the Glorious Golden Era, and that was where she headed, making the tag to Sophie. As for Kate, she called her husband to action, putting him in the tough spot of having to deal with O’Brian. Truth be told, the histrionic man created some difficulty to the expert Belfast born with a flurry of swift kicks as they started the hostility. His mistake, as often happens, was showboating while delivering his punching combo called You Ain’t So Bad. O’Brian wanted none of that nonsense and headbutted him to the bridge of the nose, causing him to stumble back and blood to pour out of his nose. The following Death Of Wisdom (variation of the codebreaker) didn’t make things any better fot the man, but luckily for him his wife made the save.

Rhett tagging himself in by slapping Sophie’s shoulder raised the tension between the teams. Total War didn’t appreciate being interrupted while she was going for the kill shot on Teddy, but such was the nature of the match and she had to leave the ring. Adelson went for his finisher, the Explosion running single leg dropkick but Steele moved out of the way and tagged Millie in. The rookie, making tonight her official debut on the main roster, impressed the audience with her speed and agility, obtaining a long count of two with a beautiful springboard crucifix pin. But the experience edge was clearly in Rhett’s favor, and he patiently waited for her to make a mistake. As Millie went for a crossbody, Rhett caught her in mid. air and dropped her down with a front slam. He then delivered a combo of hard kicks, flooring the young rookie. As Smith slowly climbed back to her feet, Adelson took a couple of steps back, measuring her up for the Explosion kick. He stepped close to the Glorious Golden Era corner and Newman tagged himself in. Rhett turned around to tell him something, but Qiyara asked him to let go and focus on the match. Adelson left the ring, shaking his head and walking to his corner. Newman charged at Millie who dropped on the floor and forced him to step over her and continue his run. As he came back, the blond girl jumped over him with a leapfrog and quickly prepared herself to receive him with a standing dropkick on the third return. She didn’t realize that Kate tagged herself in when Neil hit the ropes, getting blindsided by a lariat to the back. Steele wasted no time to set Millie up for the Punk Driver and hooking her leg to score the first elimination, but Trinity saved her partner. Teddy stepped in and the four brawled shortly until the rookie team floored Kate first and then her man with a double superkick. Thompson walked back in the corner, waiting for the tag that promptly came. She then lifted Kate upside down for a piledriver while Millie went to the top rope and jumped, pushing the Siren’s foot down and spiking her into the mat, performing the move they called “Eff You, We Win”. And they did, or at least they eliminated the Steeles.

Aspen Eisley: “The Steeles have been eliminated!”

The fans were on their feet, cheering loudly for the former Academy students. Their joy though was short lived as Neil sneaked up behind Trin’s shoulders and caught her off guard with a picture perfect german suplex, holding the bridge for three seconds, enough to crash the young girls’ dream.

Aspen Eisley: “#TeamTrillie has been eliminated!”

And just like that we were down to two. The Glorious Golden Era didn’t have the experience, as a team, Rhett and Qiyara could count on but they worked together like a well oiled machine still. Newman made the assist to her partner by lifting Qiyara by the leg with a flapjack into the Death Of Wisdom, but the tag champion kicked out in time. Rhett and Qi’s reaction came right away with a spinning sweep kick/540 spinning hook kick combination on Sophie, and in this case Neil was quick to rescue his partner. For five minutes the two teams battled back and forth, a fast paced contest where all four competitors shone, each of them coming at least once close to that three count. But in the end the champions were able to go that extra mile and retain, thanks to Singh’s Singhing Off Qi to the former tag champion. Rhett did his part by making sure Sophie couldn’t intervene, blasting her with his Explosion.

WINNER: Qiyara Singh & Rhett Adelson (STILL MWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS)
BY: Pinfall (Singhing Off Qi), 19:16

Duke Andrews:
Who knew a little Twitter statement could ruffle the big boys feathers.”

Duke Andrews sat in his gear, almost ready to go. His white singlet with red accents reflected the light in the back.

Duke Andrews:
Dustin, sweetheart, it’s a fact that needed to be said. You’re good. But ain’t on my level. And I’m sure one of these days we can settle that.

Duke reached to the side to grab his wrist tape. Quickly adhering the tape to his wrist before spinning the roll around his wrist and up his forearm.

Duke Andrews:
I’ve been asked a couple times about my thought behind the main event for tomorrow night. Essentially since my win over Seth puts me back into that echelon. It doesn’t matter.

A shake of his head as he rips the tape and smooths it over.

Duke Andrews:
I am patient. I understand that my opportunity is coming. I understand that tonight might have a little effect. I know big boy is salivating at the opportunity to get in the ring with me. I know that big boy Brookford is ready to put his name in the same category as mine when it comes to the title. And that’s what tonight is about. Tonight isn’t about Seth and the gals he’s facing. It’s about establishing the next crop of contenders. I welcome the challenge. This is something I’ve wanted for months now. And to make sure that the pot is a little sweeter knowing what stakes are on the line. Let’s get it.

:: PRE RECORDED ::

The scene opens in an empty restaurant somewhere in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Sitting at a round table with a rocks glass to his right and a bottle of scotch to his left is BROOKFORD. He is wearing a crisp blue double breasted suit, white shirt. He reaches for the bottle of scotch. He pours the contents into the rocks glass. Setting the bottle down he looks directly into the camera.

BROOKFORD:
Professional wrestling is a means to an end to collect a paycheck. Always been adamant about that. The money I have made from dealing with various problems my benefactors have had along the way has satiated my desire to be entertained. Wiping ROTTEN off the face of the map was just another day at the office. But I knew sooner or later I had to make the transition to refocusing on my own personal business. If I wanted to be strictly a hitman for hire, I woulda wound up like those thugs in Sandstorm Inc. Dreadnought and Andrew Wilkow to be precise.

BROOKFORD grabs the rocks glass. He takes a sip of scotch. Resting the glass back on the table, he continues.

BROOKFORD:
A man who could have become like those thugs is Duke Andrews. There was a time CCJ cast a huge shadow. Duke, you didn’t allow that punk to drag you down. In fact, when CCJ and whatshisface decided to merge A.P.E and Sandstorm, you didn’t follow his lead. You carved your own path becoming the epitome of perfection. Your hard work has been paying off. Didn’t allow Seth sticking his nose in your business to keep you down. Much respect. I’m not a guy who throws around flowery language about my opponent. What do I usually say. Just another day at the office. I know for absolutely certain tonight won’t be just another day.

BROOKFORD raises his glass to Duke.

BROOKFORD:
We are the real main event of Night 1. Lowri and Jessica? Psh! They’re alright. Neither of them hold a candle to what we are going to put each other through. We are two of the best hosses in the business preparing to whoop each others asses. Meat on meat. The minds of those fans are racing, anticipating what lengths we are willing to go to put the other down. This battle is the foundation of what professional wrestling was built on before certain people decided trying to be acrobats and gymnast equals evolution. Can’t beat the basics. We are the ones drawing money, not Jessica and Lowri.

BROOKFORD takes another sip from his rocks glass.

BROOKFORD:
As much as I respect you Duke. As much as I know, win or lose, this will be the most entertaining match I have had all year... there can be only one winner. There is a lot at stake, moreso for me than you. You beat Seth. You can lay claim to the World Championship anytime you want. Me? I haven’t had that one signature win. I haven’t had that victory that etches my name in the World Title discussion. That’s where you come in. You’ve main evented pay per views. Your stock is higher. I need this more than you. That simple. Tonight... I am prepared to do whatever it takes to finally be recognized as a top contender. No one can tell me otherwise if I put you down. Nothing personal of course.

BROOKFORD stands up. He walks away as the scene fades to black.

Singles Match

Duke Andrews VS BROOKFORD

Peyton Holland: “Two men who have been on a hot streak recently collide in this very ring tonight, two giants of the squared circle clashing in one epic battle. The Epitome Of Perfection Duke Andrews, against The Problem Solver BROOKFORD.”

Ambra Monroe: “Since losing to Seth Iser in that brutal Bar Room Brawl, Andrews turned to a new leaf, dropping most of those shenanigans that characterised his APE days.”

Peyton Holland: “And it’s undeniable that the change has been positive for him, throughout this season he obtained some impressive wins, including one over the World Champion himself.”

Ambra Monroe: “And speaking of impressive, the term describes BROOKFORD pretty well too. After making quick work of ROTTEN, the Problem Solver has been on a roll on Millennium, taking down opponents with disarming ease.”

Peyton Holland: “Well, it’s definitely not going to be as easy tonight, but the Problem Solver doesn’t seem to mind. He actually seemed excited when the match was announced.”

Ambra Monroe: “Entertained, that’s the word he used.”

The fans surely were entertained, since the first moments of the match. The sound of the bell was still echoing in the Arena and the two powerhouses were already trading hard punches. The Epitome Of Perfection had earned a few estimators since showing his new attitude, while BROOKFORD always had his fair share of fans who appreciated his no-bullshit approach to the business, and both sides were very vocal tonight, cheering loudly every time their favorite sent the opponent reeling back with one of those crosshand punches. But they always came back with one of their own, too proud to concede the first exchange to the opponent. The referee was only there to remind them that closed fists were forbidden, but after repeating that for the umpteenth time, he just gave up all hopes and let them tear each other apart. As hard as Duke hit, and he truly did, BROOKFORD was hitting just a little harder and was getting the best of this, rocking the two time Lockdown champion with a heavy fist and following with a couple of quick jabs. Andrews at the mercy of BROOKFORD, unable to counter his hard shots that kept coming more frequently. If he covered his face, the big man would aim at his ribs, if he tried to protect his midsection, he was going to be met with a stiff punch to the jaw. Losing ground as he was being pushed back into the ropes, Duke raised his knee into the opponent’s stomach, catching a momentary break. He looked to capitalize with an irish whip but BROOKFORD shook his head and blocked his attempt, pulling the opponent toward him into a spinning side slam.

Peyton Holland: “So far, the match did not betray the expectations.”

Ambra Monroe: “A hard hitting contest is what we expected from these two, a hard hitting contest is what we’re getting.”

As Duke rose back to his feet, BROOKFORD moved behind his back to execute a vicious looking full nelson slam, immediately attempting another pinning predicament and forcing Michigan’s Favorite Son to a second kick out when we were still under the four minutes mark. Not wanting to give Andrews a chance to catch his bearings, the Problem Solver floated over and somehow tried to lock in a modified version of the Kimura lock, but his experience and technical prowess allowed Duke to use momentum and leverage to roll out of the submission attempt. The two competitors locked up in a test of strength, a very evenly matched one that saw BROOKFORD barely getting the upper hand after a long stalemate situation. Duke managed to slip behind the New Yorker’s back and wrapped his arms around his waist, trying to lift him for a German suplex. The Problem Solver swung back with the elbow and caught him on the jaw hard. The Epitome Of Perfection stumbled back, rubbing his cheek clearly sore after the hard strike. BROOKFORD turned around surprisingly quickly and delivered a savate kick. Andrews was just as quick to drop on the floor and roll under the bottom rope, avoiding the kick to the face and taking some time to regroup after a somehow unexpectedly complicated start.

Peyton Holland: “Could it be that Duke underestimated BROOKFORD?”

Ambra Monroe: “I doubt it, I don’t think anyone can underestimate him. He’s accomplished, he’s big and deceptively quick. Duke probably wasn’t expecting this intensity from the get going, but I wouldn’t say he underestimated the opponent. That would be just dumb.”

BROOKFORD waited for his opponent to get back inside the ring at the count of six, meeting him with a kick to the midsection as soon as he stepped through the ropes. He grabbed his wrist and fired him into the ropes, missing with the clothesline and eating a shoulder tackle on the rebound. BROOKFORD pretty much absorbed the impact, only stumbling back a step but staying well planted on his feet. Andrews sprinted back into the ropes and tried to knock him down with a lariat, but despite the great force behind it, the Problem Solver was still standing. Third time's a charm usually, but that rule didn’t apply tonight in Des Moines. On his third attempt Duke received an anything but charming boot to the face that leveled him. It was BROOKFORD time to speed up the pace a little, taking a quick run to the ropes and jumping back first on the supine opponent with a running senton. Andrews rolled out of the way and the big man crashed back first into the mat, giving Duke the opportunity to lay in his series of Red Wing Stomps. The former Lockdown and Tag Team champion wasted no time and picked BROOK up from the floor, delivering a series of uppercuts before sending him into the ropes and clocking him with a spinning elbow off the rebound. “What the fuck..:” That was the audible expletive Duke let out when he realized that the opponent was still standing. Groggy, stunned, wobbly on his legs, but still standing. Andrews kicked the big man twice on each leg, following with a spinning backfist and a roaring elbow.

Ambra Monroe: “The Red, White & Blue combo did the trick, and eventually Goliath fell.”

Peyton Holland: “First cover attempt for Duke… Only a two, said the referee.”

Change of strategy for Duke Andrews who decided to slow the pace and put BROOKFORD into a sleeper hold. The commentary team pointed out how this could be a mistake, since often these situations end with BROOKFORD just lifting the opponent on his shoulders and drive him into the turnbuckles, or just flat out powering out of it. But Andrews was not like the others, he had the strength and ability to literally squeeze the life out of the big man, to the point where the referee went to check if the Problem Solver had passed out. Not quite, but he appeared to be fading out slowly. Digging deep in his reserves, BROOKFORD found the strength to react, pushing his elbow back into the ribs of the American Rebel until he had to let him go. Andrews doubled over, clutching his side but BROOKFORD couldn’t capitalize on it as he was still catching his breath after being nearly choked out. Another stiff exchange between the two saw Duke coming out on top thanks to a headbutt, but when he went to attack the Problem Solver, he grabbed him by the throat and chokeslammed Andrews on the mat.

Ambra Monroe: “Great counter by BROOKFORD, but is it enough?”

Peyton Holland: “We’ll… Good NIght! Duke caught him in his patented submission finisher!”

Once again BROOKFORD found himself in a precarious spot, caught in Duke’s choke. And once again he pulled his maximum effort to lift the former champion and powerbomb him on the mat. He pretty much collapsed on top of the Epitome Of Perfection and almost got the win, with Duke popping his shoulder up dangerously closing to the three. After the kick out both men laid on their backs, tired and worn out from a very physical contest. The referee started the count, the two men slowly began to stir, eventually getting up as the official counted to eight. Another exchange of hard strikes in the middle of the ring, this one seeing Duke have the upper hand and forcing BROOKFORD into the ropes. A clothesline sent both of them over the top rope and on the outside, where they continued their battle. The Problem Solver was the first to get back on his feet, dragging up Duke and delivering a vicious belly to back suplex that sent the man into the steel steps. BROOKFORD slid in and out of the ring to interrupt the referee’s count and then went back to work, connecting yet another suplex this time on the concrete floor. Andrews crawled to the barricade and used it to stand up, taking a moment to rest against it. A bad mistake that gave BROOKFORD the chance to hit him with a running big boot. Eventually the former Dynasty champion dragged the opponent back inside the ring and made the cover, but Andrews kicked out again.

Peyton Holland: “What does BROOKOFORD have to do to keep Duke down?”

Ambra Monroe: “Looks like he knows exactly what he has to do. Another problem is about to be solved…”

BROOKFORD setup Andrews for his dragon screw neck whip finisher, but the Epitome Of Perfection somehow slipped on the apron, dragging the Problem Solver’s neck on the top rope. As BROOKFORD stumbled back to the centre of the ring, Duke entered through the ropes and took a short run, driving his face into the canvas with a running bulldog. The mercenary survived that and the following Killshot (V-Trigger knee) but the match was clearly and steadily in Duke’s hands. And finally the co-founder of APE hit the Andrews Effect, dropping the 265 pounder down with the one winged angel.

Peyton Holland: “Huge win for Andr… WHAAAAAATTTT!??”

Ambra Monroe: “BROOKFORD kicked out? How’s that possible?”

That was a legit question, the Problem Solver was not moving but, according to the referee, the match was not over yet. And the replay confirmed it, his hands stopped a fraction of second before hitting the mat for the third time, as soon as he spotted BROOKFORD’s foot under the bottom rope.

Peyton Holland: “Incredible ring awareness shown by the New Yorker!”

Duke shook his hand and went back on the attack with another round of Red Wing Stomps, yelling a colorful version of “Why don’t you stay down?” to the Problem Solver. Once again The American Rebel dragged BROOKFORD up to his feet and lifted him on his shoulders for a second Andrews Effect. The Problem Solver dropped a desperate forearm to the head of Andrews and slipped free, landing behind his shoulders and quickly locking him in his half nelson choke and falling back, dragging Duke down with him and applying a body scissors.

Ambra Monroe: “Lights Out! Duke has nowhere to go!”

The referee went to check on Duke to see if he wanted to tap out, but the Epitome Of Perfection refused to give up. BROOKFORD tightened the hold. Andrews tried to wriggle out of it, but the body scissors wasn’t leaving him much space to maneuver. A second time the referee checked on him, but once again Duke vigorously shook his head. The more time passed, the more feeble the fight he was putting up became. Duke was slowly passing out, trapped in the Problem Solver’s choke. For the third time the referee checked on him, receiving no response. He raised his hand and watched it fall without any reaction from Duke. He repeated the same procedure a second time, and the outcome didn’t change. Third time the hand was raised and fell down, but now Duke reacted, stopping the fall. He still had to find a way to escape, and managed to do so with some elbows to the side of BROOKFORD’s head. The two were up to their feet, Andrews still struggling to breathe, BROOKDORD dazed from the nasty shots to the skull. Once again they traded punches, slower than the ones they traded throughout the match but equally hard. The Problem Solver missed wildly with the right hook, getting hit with a jumping knee to the back of the head by Andrews. The impact sent the big man chest first into the ropes and as he rebounded off them, he found his opponent waiting to pick him up over his shoulders for a second Andrews Effect. And this time, BROOKFORD couldn’t kick out in time.

WINNER: Duke Andrews
BY: Pinfall (Andrews Effect), 28:44

As the attention of the camera switches elsewhere, Paisley Dawn is shown standing somewhere backstage, microphone in hand.

Paisley Dawn:
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time… the Cloud Gate Champion… Lowri Moss!

The camera pans out and there is a pop from the audience when Lowri comes into view, albeit a smaller one than normal, due to the current restrictions over attendances. Ahead of the main event, the champion is dressed in her ring attire, which tonight is in the colours of the Wales rugby union team, consisting of a red top and white trunks, with red knee pads, boots and kick pads.

Paisley Dawn:
Lowri, shortly you will be defending your title against Jessica Lasiewicz, in what will be the third meeting between the two of you in recent weeks, following the original one-on-one match you had a few weeks ago, as well as the subsequent tag team between Fabulous and Pendragon; after all of the events of these past few weeks, how confident are you that you’ll be leaving here tonight still the Cloud Gate Champion?

Lowri casts a glance at her title, which is draped over her right shoulder, before she then answers Paisley’s question.

Lowri Moss:
I’m feeling pretty good about my chances, Paisley. I’m always confident in my ability, regardless of who I’m in the ring with, and if anything, I’m probably more confident now than I was a few weeks ago, prior to the first one-on-one match I had with Jessica; I learned from that match, I learned as well from the tag match we had-- the more times you fight someone, the more you learn about them, and so I go into this match knowing more of what to expect from her than I did previously. Now obviously that goes both ways, and Jessica will also have a better idea now of what she needs to do to beat me, but nevertheless, I’m confident that I can come out on top against her and continue my reign as Cloud Gate Champion beyond tonight.

Paisley Dawn:
Of course, this all began when you issued an open challenge last month to anyone on the Millennium roster who wanted a shot at your title-- in hindsight, do you have any regrets about having issued that open challenge?

Lowri responds with a shake of her head.

Lowri Moss:
Not at all. When I made the open challenge it was a week and a half after I had made my first defence of the Cloud Gate title, at Dark Web, and as I said at the time, I didn’t want to have to wait until the next pay-per-view event-- I didn’t want to have to wait until tonight-- to make my second defence. I’ll admit I didn’t anticipate that things would play out quite the way they have-- the way I envisioned things going was that I would successfully defend my title against whoever answered the open challenge, and then tonight I would be defending it against someone else-- but things don’t always work out exactly the way you want them to. Having said that though, I believe that I’m going to come through whatever adversity, and that I will defeat Jessica for a second time here tonight.

Paisley Dawn:
As you just alluded to, you did win the first match between yourself and Jessica, but she made it clear last week that she believes she would've beaten you if it hadn't been for a distraction by your boyfriend and tag partner, Gareth Prichard-- what are your thoughts on how that match ended, and what Jessica had to say about it?

Lowri smiles wryly, as she starts to answer the question.

Lowri Moss:
I’m not surprised that Jessica had something to say about how the match ended, I had been expecting it, nor am I surprised that in her mind, she thinks that she should’ve won that match.

A sigh escapes her lips.

Lowri Moss:
Paisley, I have no problem admitting that I would’ve preferred to have gotten the win without Gareth having made an appearance, but Jessica is experienced enough that she shouldn’t have allowed herself to be distracted; I was her opponent, not Gareth, and Jessica should’ve remained focused on the matter at hand. Also, she can claim all she wants that she had me beat, but the reality is that there’s no way of knowing what would’ve happened if she hadn’t allowed herself to be distracted. Maybe she’s right - maybe she would’ve won. Or… maybe I would’ve recovered to win the match anyway.

She gives a shrug of her shoulders.

Lowri Moss:
Like I said, there's no way of knowing for certain what would’ve happened if she hadn’t allowed herself to be distracted. I did notice though that she didn’t have anything to say about her partner, Summer, who was there at ringside throughout the match, distracting the referee when I went for a pin; funny that.

Paisley Dawn:
In any championship match, there’s always pressure to win on the competitors involved, particularly the champion, but would it be fair to say that there’s going to be extra pressure on you to win this match, given how the previous match between you and Jessica ended?

Lowri nods her head in agreement.

Lowri Moss:
Yeah, I think that’s probably a fair statement, I think there is probably more pressure on me now than there was a few weeks ago. There aren’t any butterflies in my stomach though, I’ve got plenty of experience of being a defending champion and of being in high stakes, high pressure matches, so I can cope with whatever additional pressure there is on me in this match. And the pressure isn’t completely off Jessica. I mean, she wanted this rematch and I was happy to give it to her, and if I now defeat her for a second time, then where does she go from there?

A momentary pause follows, Lowri leaving that question hanging in the air.

Lowri Moss:
I’ve asked Gareth to stay backstage, and I hope she tells Summer to do the same, so that this time we can have a match that will be free from any interference and which will have a definitive ending. I’m sure Jessica is set on making the most of this second opportunity that she’s getting, but I know that I can beat her, I believe that I'm better than her, and I believe that come the end of this match, I will still be the Cloud Gate Champion.

She finishes by uttering something in Welsh.

Lowri Moss:
Peidiwch byth â meddwl am y llewod, dyma ddod draig ffycin.

She repeats it in English.

Lowri Moss:
Never mind the lions, here comes a fucking dragon.

Lowri then takes her leave, and the camera cuts away.

Cloud Gate Championship Match

Ambra Monroe: “The fans are still buzzing from the great battle we just witnessed, and it’s already time for another great match. It’s main event time, the Cloud Gate championship is on the line:”

Amy Maynard: “It’s the second time Lowri Moss defends against Jessica Lasiewicz, the first one was at Millennium LXXXII one month ago in a match ended in a bit of a controversy as Gareth Prichard walked to the ring, distracting the Archangel.”

Peyton Holland: “In fairness, Jessica’s partner Summer Collins got involved as well right before Gareth…”

Sir Figgles: “Yeah, but isn’t Lowri supposed to be the standard bearer of fairness and sportsmanship? Why did she ask her boyfriend to help her retain the title then?”

Peyton Holland: “I don’t think she asked him to… As a matter of fact, she didn’t look too pleased when she realized what happened.”

Ambra Monroe: “Regardless, no Summer Collins or Gareth Prichard tonight, the Millennium General Manager made it clear that she won’t tolerate any interference.”

Jessica and Lowri each began to slowly walk to the middle of the ring. The Welsh fighter extended her hand as a sign of good sportsmanship but Lasiewicz refused to shake it, motioning for Lowri to ‘bring it on’. She smiled and then moved in to lock up but the Archangel eluded her, ducking under her arms and sliding out behind her. Lasiewicz quickly front dropkicked the back right knee out of the champion sending her to the mat. As he sat up and clutched it, Jessica hit the ropes quickly, bounced back off of them and this time landed a front dropkick to her face, flattening her out and making a first early pin attempt, from which Lowri easily kicked out in two.

Amy Maynard: “Did you see how Jessica immediately targeted the leg of Lowri?”

Sir Figgles: “Can’t blame her for that, Moss is known for being a heavy hitter, especially with her legs.”

Ambra Monroe: “That’s a good point. And let’s not forget one of the best moves in Jessica’s arsenal is the Four Card Trick, an elevated figure four.”

Lowri was, obviously, aware of that and paid extra attention every time Jessica moved in to grab her leg for a takedown, or targeted her with kicks. She didn’t limit herself to a defensive stance though, trying some attacks with quick kicks every time she saw an opening, piercing through the Archangel’s guard. It worked for a while but eventually Jessica was able to block the foot and dropped a couple of elbow strikes to the knee cap, before spinning and taking her down with a dragon screw leg whip. Lasiewicz moved back in to lay some stomps to the leg, landing a couple before Moss was able to adjust her position and trip her over with a sort of legscissors takedown. Jessica fell on her face, checking her mouth with her hand for potential bleeding. She didn’t even make up to her feet yet when Lowri clocked her with a shining wizard to the back of the head. The champion rolled the challenger on her back and made the cover, but the Archangel kicked out in two. The two competitors were back to their feet, Lowri connected a quick flurry of forearm strikes and fired the challenger into the ropes with an Irish whip. As Jessica bounced back, Moss jumped over her with a leapfrog but the Archangel stopped on her tracks and quickly turned around, grabbing Lowri’s leg as she was about to land on her feet, pulling her into an ankle lock.

Amy Maynard: “Where did she pull that out from?”

Sir Figgles: “I hope you have some tissues ready for your daughter, Amy.. She’s about to see her hero tapping out.”

Peyton Holland: “That’s an awful thing to say, even for your already low standards… Also, you shouldn’t be so quick to count Lowri out.”

And in fact the Cloud Gate champion reached the ropes, interrupting the submission maneuver. Well, technically, since Jessica didn’t let her go immediately, holding onto her foot for a few more seconds, exploiting the five count in almost its entirety. Lowri didn’t look too pleased with her opponent’s actions. casting a stink-eye in her direction as she stamped her foot to shake some feeling back into it. Lasiewicz shrugged her shoulder the same way we saw Gareth doing so often, perhaps a zinger at Lowri’s boyfriend? The referee checked on Lowri who said she could continue and the champion started walking around Jessica, pushing down and putting weight on the right ankle almost as if she wanted to test its stability. All was good judging by the question mark kick she delivered to the Archangel, forcing her to one knee. Moss wrapped her arms around the blonde’s head in a front headlock and delivered a couple of knee strikes before pulling her up and falling back with a ddt. She floated into a cover right away, but Jessica kicked out in time.

Ambra Monroe: “That’s why Jessica needs to find a way to block those kicks. One of them can just change the whole momentum of the match.”

Peyton Holland: “That’s Miss two-time FGA Striker Of The Year for you.”

Lowri dropped four quick knees to the head of the grounded opponent. For the fifth, she took a leap, telegraphing the move and allowing Lasiewicz to move out of the way. She landed hard on the knee, and it painted a grimace of pain on her face. She quickly got up though, only to be bombarded by a flurry of quick kicks to the leg by the Archangel that chopped her down to one knee. Clearly favoring that right leg, Moss stood back up, right into an Our Lady Peace from the opponent that absolutely flattened her. Lasiewicz didn’t even think about making the cover, going right for the leg with an inverted figure four leglock. Lowri screamed in agony as soon as the submission was locked in, putting pressure on the already injured leg. Immediately she began clawing at the canvas, trying to drag herself to the ropes. She almost got there when Jessica rolled over, pulling her away from the much needed salvation and frustrating all her effort. The referee went to check on the champion who stoically refused to tap out, beginning once again to crawl toward the ropes, eventually managing to reach the bottom one after a few more, seemingly eternal seconds.

Sir Figgles: “Don’t worry Amy, I just talked with my guy at the merchandise stand, I got little Mia a Fabulous t-shirt to help her cope with the heartbreak.”

Amy Maynard: “I swear to God, Figgles, I’ll punch you if you name my daughter one more time. Even better, I’ll let her do it. And I must warn you, she only hits under the belt.”

The challenger was relentless in her offense, kicking Lowri in the gut and connecting a snap suplex, only to immediately get back to work on the right leg. She grabbed and lifted it, beginning to kick away at the back of the knee as fast and as hard as she could with smacking shoot kicks. After landing what seemed like half a dozen of them, Jess closed in, clutching the leg under her armpit and slowly, with all of her strength turning the champion over into a Half Boston Crab, rearing back on the leg. Jessica put all her weight backwards, continuing to apply pressure on the leg and injured knee of the Welsh fighter as she writhed in agony. In a scene seen so often tonight, Lowri tried to make it to the ropes,,waving the referee off and making a final strong push to clutch the bottom ropes.

Peyton Holland: “Moss needs to figure something out and do it quickly. I’m not sure she can withstand another one of Jessica’s excruciating submissions.”

Ambra Monroe: “It’s a difficult spot the champion finds herself in. Jessica is systematically tearing her apart, knowing oh so well that the ground game is possibly the Welsh only weakness. And she’s fully exploiting it.”

The fans were all behind Lowri in this moment of need. They never stopped supporting her throughout the match, but they got even louder now, chanting her name over and over again. Moss was still down, clutching her right knee, visibly in pain. Which, considering she’s known for having a quite high threshold and for being able to take a lot of punishment, was slightly concerning. Stubbornly she refused to give up, and the ref had no choice but to let the match continue. Jessica confidently walked over her to drag her up to her feet, but Lowri rolled her over with a small package and almost got away with it. Jessica got up and boy was she irritated! She glared at the referee, blaming him for giving Lowri time to recover and then charged at the Cloud Gate champion who ducked the clothesline and quickly grabbed her in a waistlock, connecting a snap german suplex. Moss was up to her feet, limping her way to Jessica and rocking her with a series of uppercuts, pushing her into the corner. There she started delivering chops and forearm strikes in rapid succession, one of her trademark moves known as Scarlet Barrage. The injured leg forced Lowri to change strategy. No longer able to kick the hell out of the opponent, at least not as effectively as she would have done under normal circumstances, and unable to count on her speed, clearly limited by the hurting leg, the champion switched to a more “static” style of offense, relying on suplexes and throws. Not without effort she hoisted Jessica on the top rope and climbed up as well, ready to connect a superplex. Jessica obviously had different plans, hammering at the ribs of the opponent managing, in the end, to knock her down. Wasting no time, Jessica jumped off the top with a double foot stomp, landing once again on Lowri’s leg.

Amy Maynard: “Good grief!”

Sir Figgles: “And now Jessica is going for the Four Card Trick… This one’s over folks!”

Lowri quickly crawled to the ropes, hanging onto them before Jessica could actually apply the submission. Frustrated, Lasiewicz started kicking at her leg, receiving a stern warning from the referee for the blatantly illegal move, which happened when Moss was clearly touching the ropes. Lowri got back to her feet, keeping Jess away with an elbow to the face. Lasiewicz went to catch her a second time and was fed another elbow to the mush, this one harder and causing her to stumble back. Out of nowhere, Lowri delivered her Breuddwydion Melus (superkick), flooring the challenger.

Peyton Holland: “Sweet Dreams, Jessica.”

Sir Figgles: “What is this, the Lowri Moss Fan Club?”

Peyton Holland: “That’s actually what the Welsh words Breuddwydion Melus mean, actually.”

Jessica was down, but Lowri was taking too long to make the cover. The kick took a lot out of her, that right leg was hurting like hell and she wasted a lot of time before finally dragging her body on top of Lasiewicz, who recovered enough to kick out in two. Lowri showed some signs of frustration, slamming her hand on the mat. She stood up and dragged Jessica with her, setting her up for the Nos Da. Lasiewicz broke free and pushed Lowri chest first into the ropes, delivering a tremendous Our Lady Peace to the back of the head. She hooked both legs for the cover, but Lowri popped up her shoulder at the very last second, much to Jessica’s dismay. The challenger tried once again to apply the Four Card Trick but Lowri countered it with another cradle, getting a count of two. It was the crucial moment of the match, the fans were feeling it as well and got as vocal as ever, alternating chants for each woman to the iconic, and in this case very appropriate. “This Is Awesome”. Exhausted, Jessica and Lowri slowly climbed to their feet, engaging in one last exchange. Missed right hand from Lowri who was fed a nasty uppercut by Jessica that sent the Welsh against the ropes. Lowri rebounded with an elbow strike that sent Jessica spinning a full 360° degrees, blasting Moss with a discus elbow! Lowri would have collapsed to the floor but the ropes blocked her fall. Jessica grabbed her and dragged the champion to the center of the ring, ready to put the exclamation point on this match. She set her up for the Pure Deformation (Skull Crushing FInale) but Lowri managed to get free, delivering a hard knee to the spine. The Archangel arched her back and Moss capitalized by wrapping her arm around the head and dropping her down with the Nos Da. The referee moved in position and started the count, slapping his hand on the mat three times and immediately calling for the bell.

WINNER: Lowri Moss (STILL CLOUD GATE CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Nos Da), 27:51

MWE Presents: Hic Sunt Leones (night 1)

Post by gvb on May 16, 2021 16:24:37 GMT -6

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