Post by gvb on Jul 4, 2021 10:52:36 GMT -6
Millennium LXXXVIII
Live from Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021
Scene opens backstage. Kyle Butler is standing in front of a locker. The crowd cheers. This makes Kyle smile.
Kyle Butler:
Say it with me Baltimore. ROLL---
The crowd chimes in with him as they say ROLL TIDE BAYBEEEE in unison.
Kyle Butler:
That’s what I am talking about! Been doing a lot of thinking lately. What does Kyle Butler want? The answer is not all that complicated. Almost a year ago Neil and I decided to disband as an official tag team. We wanted to see what we could do on our own. He became the MENTV Champion. I haven’t risen to the occasion. Taking all these hits has been tough. I’ve questioned whether I am on the right track. I’m still here, day by day I am keeping the faith. Holding on to the dream. Not going to make demands, never been that type of guy. I’ll continue to win matches until Elsa believes I am worthy enough to challenge Dustin Douglas for the Lockdown Championship.
The crowd cheers. Kyle flashes a smile.
Kyle Butler:
Drew... in order to keep the dream alive, pun not intended Mr. Dream, I need to beat you. You’re good. This will be a challenge. As I always say, THE TIDE IS GONNA ROLL---
The crowd finishes Kyle’s sentence saying “TONIGHT.” Kyle pounds his chest.
Kyle Butler:
See you out there.
The crowd cheers. Kyle winks. He exits the scene as the scene fades.
Singles Match
Drew Dream VS Kyle ButlerThe two of them circled the center of the ring, ready to kick off the last Millennium before Glory Horizons and before the summer break. Dream reached his hand into the center of the ring offering a handshake to start before the bell rings. Kyle didn’t seem too convinced, pondering his options and trying to understand if this was a trick from the Airhead Of Atlanta. Eventually Butler opted to reciprocate the gesture but Drew slapped away his hand and jumped wrapping his legs around the former tag champion’s neck taking him down with a headscissors. Kyle quickly stood up on his feet, but Dream took him right back down with a low dropkick to the leg that put him down one knee. He then dropped him on his face with a hurricanrana driver and made the cover after a standing moonsault but his efforts were only worth a two. Dream kept the initiative and the pressure on Kyle with his quick attacks, even trying an early Gobstopper attempt but Kyle sidestepped and dodged the running single leg high knee, hitting Drew with a punch to the kidneys before the candy enthusiast could turn around. Applying a reverse headlock, Butler then lifted him with an inverted suplex, dropping him hard on the canvas. Dream brought his hand to his mouth after hitting his face on the mat, slowly rising up to his feet. Butler immediately caught him in a clinch position and raised his knee to the face a few times before taking him down with a neckbreaker. Kyle stayed on the attack, hitting lefts and rights and forcing Drew to put his hands up to block the strikes. As he did, he aimed lower, bombarding his ribs with a flurry of punches. Dream bent forward holding his ribs and Kyle knocked him down on all fours with an elbow to the back. From that position, he deadlifted him and dropped him down with a gutwrench suplex, going for a quick cover that earned him another near fall. The former tag team champion showed off all his technical ability with a never ending series of suplexes, including his trifecta of german suplexes, the last on bridged into a pin for yet another near fall. Dream never gave up, weathering the storm until he created himself an opening with The BJ (stunner). Kyle stumbled back into the ropes and Drew followed up with a cactus clothesline that took both men out of the ring. Drew was the first up to his feet and climbed on the apron, connecting with a Sweet Tooth (running hip attack) as Kyle rose to his feet. The Airhead Of Atlanta then tried to awe the fans with an asai moonsault, but Kyle caught him in mid air and violently dropped him on the canvas. After the tremendous impact, Butler rushed to roll the opponent back inside the ring and make the cover, but somehow Dream survived that one too. Unfazed, Butler dragged him up to his feet and set him up for the Rooooooooooooooooooolllll TIDE!! WINNER: Kyle Butler BY: Pinfall (Rooooooooooooooooooolllll TIDE!!), 8:16 |
Without much of a warning, the lights in the arena go off. People are a little confused until the opening of “The Downfall of Us All” by A Day To Remember begins to play through the PA system.
“Let's go
It's not easy making a name for yourself
Where do you draw the line?
I never thought I'd be in this far
Let's have fun some and never change that for anyone
Try not to miss me when I'm gone”
The vocals continue to fill the arena as strobe lights go a little crazy.
“You're right and I was wrong
This town will be the downfall of us all”
As the chorus loops through again, a single spotlight shines on the entryway. The MWE faithful are shocked, surprised and then get to their feet to see the only two time MWE World Champion standing in front of them for the first time since November 2019 when his contract came to an end. Chris Sanderson has a smirk on his face as he soaks it in. A few are still rightfully pissed at him for choosing a place that ended up going belly up in a matter of months, but hey, we all fuck up.
Chris takes his time getting down to the ring, taking in the moment. He goes through the usual motions of going on the top turnbuckle to play to the crowd a little bit as the song dies down. He takes a microphone that was sitting on the ring apron and taps it a couple of times.
Chris Sanderson:
Well, I’m back.
With those three simple words the crowd begins to cheer for the prodigal wrestler. He takes a moment to let everything die down.
Chris Sanderson:
I’ll make it simple. I messed up. I should’ve resigned when my contract was up in November 2019 but I didn’t. I wanted to get away from this place because of a few things going on in my life. So I left and I left on bitter terms. Should I have handled it better? Yeah, you bet, but I was frustrated. I was pissed off and I didn’t want a thing to do with this company.
That gets some boos, because, well, they love Millennium. They bought the tickets to be here. Chris looks out into the crowd and continues on.
Chris Sanderson:
I tried to Revive my career and the only thing it did was send it into a tailspin I’m still trying to get out of. When you put your career in the hands of some people, this happens, and I feel like I’m finally getting back to where I want to be. Between that and my elbow, it’s been a down couple of years since I left here.
Another pause as he paces around the ring, keeping a somewhat somber look on his face while he bares his soul.
Chris Sanderson:
But that’s the past and I want to be back here in Millennium. I want to do what I used to do to entertain each and every one of you. I want to smack some people right in the face because I remember what kind of scum bag they are.
He takes a moment and looks right at a camera and mouths something about Matt Stone.
Chris Sanderson:
It’ll be a little awkward at times because, well, I shit where I ate and both of those ladies are still wrestling here. But I have an ultimate goal. I’ve won it twice, and I want it for a third time. It’ll be a long climb back up that ladder, but to be able to say I’ve won that MWE World Title three times?
Chris fake wipes the sweat from his brow.
Chris Sanderson:
No one else could say that. But I also want to see the new faces here. Most people that were here when I left nearly two years ago are kind of gone. I see a lot of new talent here. And that excites me. No one wants to see the same old match up again and again, myself included. I also got a damn good friend wrestling here that we’ve talked about starting a tag team.
The second generation talent continues to gaze at the full crowd.
Chris Sanderson:
I’m back. I’m here. Let’s rock this.
With that said Chris hands the microphone back off and exits the ring. He makes it a point to go through the crowd to talk with the people as the show cuts to a break.
Singles Match
Marcus Ali Jr. VS HearstAs the ref signaled for the bell to ring, both superstars circled the ring. Trying to find some leverage, Devin tries to take Marcus down, but he countered with a kick to the gut. Grabbing Hearst, Ali launched him into a corner and charged at full speed, but the former World Champion countered with a kick to the face. Exploding out of the corner, he leveled the Bad Boy with a huge lariat, taking him down. He then started working on the grounded opponent, dropping a couple of knees to the head and then applying a front facelock, looking to cut the regular flux of oxygen and wear him down faster. Marcus powered out of it, getting up to his feet and delivering a few punches to Hearst’s ribs forcing him to release the hold. Ali was quick to put the opponent in the same hold, lifting him in a suplex position and, after bouncing him off the top rope, drove him down into the canvas. Marcus wasted no time shifting on top of him for a cover but Hearst raised his shoulder way before the two. Ali successfully used his boxing background to push Hearst against the ropes with a series of quick jabs. He attempted a discus punch to knock him out of the ring, but the Seven Headed Beast ducked it and scooped up Marcus, throwing him over the top rope unceremoniously. Ali landed hard on the concrete floor, Hearst left the ring and picked him up. dragging him around and slamming his face on each of the four corner posts. Only then, with the count reaching eight, he pushed the opponent inside the ring and hooked the leg for a cover, but Marcus kicked out in time. Forget the fast, back and forth action, Hearst was biding his time to punish the opponent. Marcus didn’t have many occasions to show what he could do, as Hearst basically dominated him for the majority of time. Hearst had more than one opportunity to close the match connecting some brutal power moves, but making the pin didn’t seem a priority for him, not even after the high impact full nelson slam. This was more about sending a message apparently, about putting the roster on notice. And he was making sure they got it loud and clear, making an example out of Marcus. The slow pace and the refusal to close the match when he had the opportunity left an opening for Marcus to lift him with a flapjack and drop him neck first on the top rope. The former champion started coughing, holding his throat with both hands as he tried to catch his breath. Marcus delivered a couple of stiff uppercuts then threw Hearst with a belly to belly suplex. In one fluid motion, the Bad Boy transitioned on top of the opponent and began raining down punches at his face. After his cover attempt couldn’t get the job done, Marcus grabbed Hearst by the throat with both hands and picked him up. He didn’t let go of his hold, keeping the illegal choke despite the referee’s plea and finally lifted the former World champion for an attempted chokebomb but Devin broke free and headbutted the Bad Boy, busting his nose open and causing him to stagger back. Ali was still cleaning up the blood that was dripping from his nose when Hearst charged him with his running pump kick The momentum of the match had shifted once again in Hearst’s side, his hard hitting style and raw power allowed him to easily keep control and cruise toward a rather easy and impressive win that came with The Path Of Lions (Emerald flowsion Kai). WINNER: Hearst BY: Pinfall (The Path Of Lions), 9:13 |
Alan: God has answered my prayers….
Alan Envy in his red and gold robe with the symbol of the Cross on the back paces back and forth with a smile on his face.
Alan Envy:
I was a different man the last time I ran into Brookford...I wasn't the man that I am today. That man you first met was a man full of sin, of a diseased selfish heart that was sitting in a hotel room with my ex girlfriend telling her how badly I wanted to end you. But now...my mission is to save you! Like I have saved so many others ever since I began this crusade of righteousness that has led me all the way to the finals of this Briefcase tournament. And the man I have wanted to save the most, is now my opponent in the finale.
Alan holds his hand up towards the sky.
Alan Envy:
Three stages of hell right? I'm more prepared than you are for this Brookford. I as a Christian know loving on this Earth is the closest to Hell I will ever fome close to because I have repented my sins. But for you...since you have been a sinner and in no way feel like you need to repent….this is as close to Heaven as you will be. This will be Hell for you because Satan has hid the truth from you. This isn't your best life ,and tonight you will go through your own interpretation of hell because demons blind you.
Alan Envy holds his hands up in the air.
Alan Envy:
Heavenly Father….show my brother Brookford the light and lead him to our Lord and Savior Jesus. And Lord if he refuses give me the power to persuade him the importance of repenting his sin...to give his life to You...because Lord Jesus you can have his soul...but his ASS….belongs to your faithful servant. Forgive me for my sins I commit tonight. IN jesus name...Amen.
The change in tone and delivery switched was disturbing and through the camera you could feel how the mood had changed as the scene slowly faded to black.
The scene opens backstage. Faizah Marshall is standing alone. The crowd instantly boos her. She rolls her eyes waiting for the crowd to die down.
Faizah Marshall:
No offense to my best friend in the whole wide universe, Millie Smith, I wonder... what does this match have to do with me?
Faizah shrugs her shoulders.
Faizah Marshall:
I wanted to move on from Academy related matters. Here I am teaming with Trinity Thompson, a woman who I can’t stand. I am standing across the ring from Ollie... who I want to like, I really really do but he is content simping for Faith. Oh and we can’t forget her... I get it. I superkicked her in the face a couple shows ago. That was because of you Elsa, you knew you were setting me up to fail like you are setting me up to fail tonight, come on, K20 and Faith will at least be on the same page. You think Trinity will tag me into the match?
Faizah rolls her eyes.
Faizah Marshall:
You think she wants anything to do with me? How can I graduate from The Academy if you keep sticking me in the ring Faith and Trinity? Is it too hard to ask to push all this Academy history aside?
Faizah shrugs.
Faizah Marshall:
Anyway, while I am distracted by all this, I could be focusing on my upcoming championship match with Lowri Moss. Hello Lowri. I haven’t forgotten about you... Elsa can put all these distractions in front of me. Champ, you are the one I am thinking about most. Faith can believe all she wants that I am shooting my load too early, I don’t think so. Why wait? Why delay the inevitable? If I had waited one or two more months would you be champion? No guarantees.
It’s not becoming Cloud Gate Champion that is the important thing, it is beating you that means everything. Waiting around to pick my spot didn’t make sense. The difference between me and Faith, I am not a schemer. I am not a rat. I am confident enough in myself to come straight for the head of the snake. And that’s you. The head. When the time comes, I am going to chop off your head. But I’ll have to wait for my chance to become champion. For now, I have a match to get through.
Faizah walks off screen as the scene fades.
Singles Match
Clyde Sutter VS Joey LeclairThe bell rang and neither man left their corner. Clyde Sutter stretched against the ropes, his eyes locked on the other man across the ring. Leclair took a step out and then changed idea, leaning back against the corner and waiting for Clyde to make the first move. Eventually they walked to the center of the ring, and while everyone was expecting them to go to war with a flurry of punches, the two men instead locked up for a test of strength. It was a very evenly matched one, but just as Sutter was getting the upper hand, Leclair slipped away and quickly took him to the canvas with an arm drag. He kept pressure on the opponent’s arm with a shoulder lock. The Assassin stood up to his feet and worked his way out of the hold, managing to get a grip of Joey’s wrist and pull him into a shoulder tackle. Leclair’s shoulders hit the mat and at that point Clyde let go of his arm and jumped, crushing his chest with both feet. He then dragged the former Chicago Way champion up to his feet but Leclair broke free with a knee to the gut and left the ring to regroup. Sutter followed him outside, but as soon as he walked within range, Joey kicked him in the stomach and quickly lifted him for a brainbuster on the steel ramp. Wasting no time, the Prodigy dragged Sutter back in the ring and attempted a cover, hooking the legs. But the Assassin was still alive and, after kicking out, he punched Leclair in the ribs to get free from his grasp and shoved him chest first into the nearby corner. Grabbing a hold of his hair, he then started slamming his head into the top turnbuckle for a total of ten times. Taking a moment to gloat, Clyde eventually lifted the former champ over his head in a gorilla press position, ready to hit his Crucifixion Slam but Joey slipped away and landed behind Clyde’s shoulders, immediately applying a sleeper hold to wear down the Assassin. A clash of styles, the match saw Clyde relying mostly on his hard hitting strikes while Joey, as often seen after coming back from the injury, favored a more technical set of offense, using submission and holds to keep the Assassin grounded and limit his dangerousness. Though the former Chicago Way champion didn’t mind going back “to his roots” and delivering some heavy striking combinations, ending the sequence of kicks and backfists with The Prodigal Elbow. Enough to knock down Sutter but not to keep his shoulder on the canvas long enough to get the win. Not to be outdone, the Assassin assaulted Joey with some stiff shots of his own, leaving him groggy in the center of the ring where he turned him inside out with a Clothesline From Hell. Just like the opponent before, Joey popped up his shoulder at the very last second. Forgetting about the technical aspects, Leclair now went back to that ruthless and ferocious side, unleashing hell on Sutter who didn’t shy away and fought back punch for punch. The referee spotted some closed fists flying and tried to warn the competitors, but it fell on deaf ears. They kept punching and kicking one another, Leclair firing off a headbutt and Sutter answering with a bite. Separating them was impossible, the momentum of the fight brought them both outside where they kept tearing each other apart for way longer than the ten seconds they had to get back in the ring. The match was over, but the fight was still going, until security stormed to the ring and pull them apart. WINNER: No Contestr BY: Double Count Out, 11:30 |
Last Millennium “The Archangel” Jessica Lasiewicz took on Tiff Rollins, though with a unique twist from the twisted mind of Jessica’s deranged half-sister Kimberly Williams. The reigning Chicago Way Champion was determined to help Jessica enjoy herself and she had a few ideas of how to make that happen. What Kim tried first depended upon the outcome of Jessica’s match with Tiff. Well as it turns out, Lasiewicz picked up the win. The Archangel wasn’t sure what to expect from her eccentric sister but she wasn’t expecting to stand here tonight next to Kimberly as the new Sanctioned Lizard Unsanctioned Title holder; or Lizard Champion for short.
Kimberly and Jessica are seated at a plain round table. That table is behind a door, no walls, just a door. The Lizard Title belt is sitting on the table in front of Jessica. Kimberly has her Dalek next to her and on the table is “Betty White”, The Infinity Gauntlet, a shank, a staple gun, and her MWE Chicago Way Championship belt.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
I can’t believe I let you talk me into this…
Kimberly Williams:
I didn’t talk you into anything. You agreed to this.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
I agreed to nothing! I accepted a bet…
Kimberly Williams:
Right, you accepted a bet. If you beat Tiff, which you did, you would become the new Lizard Champion. If you lost to Tiff, you would have to shave your head. Aren’t you glad you won?
The Archangel rolls her eyes.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
I suppose but you wouldn’t even tell me the stakes, otherwise I wouldn’t have accepted this ridiculous bet to begin with!
Kimberly Williams:
Why’d you accept without knowing the stakes? That’s insane.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
Insane?! You told me accepting a blind bet was fine! You put my house on the line in a damned poker game so you could win that Mrs. Potato Head outfit!
Kimberly Williams:
Yeah but I AM insane! And pretty soon, you will be too…
The Woman Scorned touches the Lizard Title belt.
Kimberly Williams:
….because defending that twenty-four seven, three sixty five, that can drive anyone nuts. The constant looking over your shoulder, waiting on the next pizza delivery guy to attack you and claim the title, it can get weary, it can push you over the edge. And you need a good pushing over the edge so that you aren’t so up tight!
Jessica Lasiewicz:
I think having to look over my shoulder all the time would have the opposite effect, Kim. And how do you know I won’t just give this stupid piece of crap to the first passerby to want it? I mean, hell, Datura would love to have it back. Maybe I should give it to her?
Kimberly Williams:
NO!
Kimberly leaps out of her chair.
Kimberly Williams:
Me and Datura waged a noble and honorable war for the greatness that is the Lizard Title!
Jessica Lasiewicz:
Noble and honorable war? Kim, you and Datura fought in an Ass Stapling Match.
Kimberly Williams:
Right, noble and honorable. Now I pass it onto you. Besides, this helps me too because I need a break from having to defend it all the time. I had fun beating up everyone from pizza delivery guys, reporters, retired wrestlers, and everyone else under the sun seeking out some little fame from beating me for the Lizard Title. But I need a break. I need to focus on this…
She taps her MWE Chicago Way Championship belt.
Kimberly Williams:
….I am still the MWE Chicago Way Champion. And tonight, as the champion of Chicago and its Ways, I will do battle with Sir Matthew of Stone, and I will use Betty White to gut him like a finish, the gauntlet to wipe him out of existence, and Dalek to finish the job!
Dalek:
EXTERMINATE!
The Woman Scorned pats Dalek on its…”head”?
Jessica Lasiewicz:
Fine! You deal with Stone and I’ll protect this until you decide you want it back, which I hope is sooner rather than later, because I have better things to do than to defend a title that no promotion recognizes or sanctions as legitimate. But Kim, seriously, if this is your idea of making me “loosen up” then you are failing miserably right out of the gate.
Kimberly Williams:
Don’t worry, Jess, this is only part one of my plan.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
Part one? What is part two?
Kimberly Williams:
I don’t know. You know all about me and plans, right? I don’t have them. I’ll come up with part two when it happens. But knowing me, it will be a blast!
The Woman Scorned turns and skips away happily. Her Dalek follows closely behind.
Singles Match
Kimberly Williams VS Matt StoneMatt Stone walked to the ring accompanied by his manager Nicole Rossi, the Chicago Way champion had her trusted Dalek by her side as she made her way to the ring. The creature, aside from wanting to exterminate the Abominable Showman as easily predictable, showed a certain interest in Matt’s gorgeous manager. Stone laughed about the situation but his mood quickly changed as the bell rang and Kimberly came charging at him. He stepped aside and the redhead continued her run, bouncing off the ropes and jumping at him with a superman punch. The unexpected blow knocked him off his feet and the Woman Scorned was immediately on top of him, raining down lefts and rights to his face. He quickly rolled over and switched position, finding himself on the attack. He only managed to hit her with a couple of forearm strikes before the Wildcard poked his eyes and slipped away from under him. Before he could regain sight, she rocked him with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head and made a quick cover, but Stone kicked out easily. Kimberly tried to use her speed to make quick work of the straight shooter, and the strategy worked just fine in the first minutes of the match as Kim came so close to the win with her Morrigan’s Wrath (superkick) after ducking Stone’s lariat. But eventually the canadian was able to get a hold of the Chicago Way champion, grabbing her by the waist as she was trying to hit the ropes after she caught him with a spinning backfist and performed a well executed german suplex. Williams popped right back up to her feet and Stone quickly caught her in a side headlock, wanting to slow down the pace. As the champ tried to break free, he delivered some punches to her head and then, from the same headlock position, took her down to the canvas. Matt worked her on the mat (no pun intended) for half a minute, eventually standing up only to lift her for a suplex and obtaining another near fall. The match dragged on for a little longer than the standard length of matches, but the fans didn’t get bored, enjoying the fast paced action as well as the Dalek’s shenanigans. Whether it was threatening Matt’s life, distracting him to help Kimberly or just engaging in amusing skits with Nicole Rossi, this match offered a unique form of entertainment on top of some quality wrestling. Matt seemed in control after connecting his Stone Cutter. Matt was now waiting for the opponent to stand up to hit the C-c-c-c Combo Breaker but then he spotted the Dalek offering his infamous chip to Nicole. In a desperate attempt to protect his manager from the nefarious Ghost Chili chip that put the World Heavyweight champion Seth Iser in great difficulty a couple of months ago, Matt launched himself through the ropes and hit the Dalek with a suicide dive, hurting himself more than he hurt the creature. The Dalek didn’t take it lightly and he was about to get his vengeance on the dazed Name Dropper but Kimberly, showing some sort of control over it, yelled at him to stop so that she wouldn’t incur into a disqualification. Then she avenged her metallic friend as she dropped the canadian on his head with a springboard tornado ddt to the outside. Not without some struggle, she lifted Matt and pushed him inside the ring, entering as well as the count reached eight and immediately making the cover, from which Matt kicked out in two and half. She stayed on the attack and, one minute later, jumped on Matt with the Chaos Theory (corkscrew senton) for another near fall, this one closer to the three. In the moment of Matt’s greatest difficulty, Nicole stepped up and provided a distraction that bought Matt some time and delayed the Chicago Way champion’s Shadowblade. When Kimberly finally charged for it, Matt stepped aside and caused the Wild Card to hit the turnbuckle with her knee. He didn’t capitalize on it right away, preferring to wait and rest a little longer to deliver a quick combination of punches and kicks to stagger Kim and finish her with the C-c-c-c Combo Breaker. WINNER: Matt Stone BY: Pinfall (C-c-c-c Combo Breaker), 19:39 |
Back to the locker room we head as we find Karen Eldon rolling up one of the gold sleeves on her ring attire. Seated next to her on the left is her MWE Tag Team Championship which is never too far away from her. She looks motivated and ready to go but also not exactly worried, probably taking her opponents much too lightly. From the entrance we can hear the sound of what some may call the It Couple in MWE as Faith Savell and Olly enter the locker room. Both already in their ring gear as well, prepared for their six man tag. Given the long history between Karen and Faith some might expect tension but instead Karen walks over smiling.
Karen Eldon:
If it isn’t my favorite couple! You two look so cute together you know?
Not really giving them much time to respond instead Olly and Faith sharing a loving glance, clearly seeming to know that already.
Karen Eldon:
Know that nobody would have ever expected the two of us to see eye to eye Faith. But all that is in the past and most of the time my issue was with the fact that I thought you were going to blow it by not dating Olly. Now I get to team with the both of you? To get to beat up two of my least favorite human beings in the world in Millie and Trinity. Can’t imagine a more fun scenario.
Olly is the one who speaks first, patting the title around his waist.
Olly:
I don’t know what’s more amusing, if it’s the fact the whole “K2O fears Team Trillie” bullshit they’ve been spewing or the fact that they ACTUALLY BELIEVE they stand a chance.
Shooting a quick glance at the Valedictorian standing next to him, he then continues.
Olly:
The good thing is that tonight we’ll crush their dream once and for all. With Faith in our corner against the two of them and Faizah? I mean, they don’t really see eye to eye, and after the little stunt Trinity pulled last week, I don’t see them working together at all.
Karen Eldon:
Not a chance they can compete with us. We’ll handle them with ease, then maybe finally Team Trillie will realize that they’ll never be on our level. Just like Faizah will never be on yours, Faith. Though it is crazy she hasn’t realized that already.
Faith just rolls her eyes while Olly quickly adds.
Olly:
I think everyone realized it after the last time. At least a few months ago she could beat Faith with the assistance of Trinity, but now..
Referring to the controversial ending of the most recent match between Faizah and Faith when, just like back in March, Tiff's music hit in the final moments of the contest, though the outcome was quite different this time.
Olly:
I don't know if it's cute or creepy that they're all so obsessed with you.
He speaks directly to Faith.
Olly:
Faizah, Trinity, Tiffany.. I kinda get it though, it must be frustrating to be completely outshined by the Real Star Of The Academy.
Faith can be seen smirking, enjoying Olly talking her up until Clyde who was in the room and thus far had been ignored decided to pipe up.
Clyde Eldon Jr:
Well to most people you guys costing Millie and Trinity made them think you were scared of them as a team. And I mean, one on one with no distractions? I think Faizah beats you Faith…
Clyde says this as he stands up to walk past them; Olly gets in his face. Faith is about to say something but Karen intervenes.
Karen Eldon:
Clyde, the last thing we are, is scared of Trinity and Millie. They are jokes. As for Faith? She has shown time and time again that she is just better than Faizah.
Tensions continue to boil over as Clyde and Olly stare each other down, until Clyde exits the room knowing that Olly has tended to get the best of him verbally recently. Karen, trying to play the peacekeeper, tries to get everyone focused back.
Karen Eldon:
Anyways! Let’s not let any of that ruin our moment tonight. A chance to show the world why the three of us are the stars of the show around here. And most importantly let’s shut these conceited little girls up, for good.
Trying to rally the troops Karen looks at both Faith and Olly. Tensions simmering now that Clyde is gone, as Olly reaches over grabbing his belt throwing it over his shoulder as he puts his arm around Faith. The three of them looking ready to go.
Trios Match
K20 & Faith Savell VS Team Trillie & Faizah Marshall
, A lot of tension walking into this match, not only between the two teams but between Trinity and Faizah as well. The two argued about who should start, both of them wanted a piece of Faith who was the one taking the stage for the opposing trio. While the two argued, Millie stepped inside the ring and told the referee to start the match, settling the dispute between her two friends and tag partners. Trinity and Faizah both looked at Millie, almost apologizing and walked to their corner. The scene drew some hilarity among the opponents team, especially with the tag champions. Faith instead wasted no time and threw a wild punch at Millie, catching her off guard and causing her to stumble back. The Valedictorian grabbed her by the wrist and sent her for a run to the ropes. As soon as she bounced off, Olly kicked her in the back, causing Millie to fall on her knees arching her back in pain. Faizah and Trinity, for once on the same page, both left their spot in the corner and went to confront Olly. Karen, obviously, got involved and stood up for her partner and while the four of them argued, Faith delivered a sick kick to Smith’s face, making an immediate cover. Faizah grabbed the former Gold Star’s foot and pulled her away from Millie’s body, interrupting the count. Karen punched Marshall in the face, Trinity kicked the tag champion in the stomach and Olly leveled Thompson with a clothesline. Faizag was back to her feet and was about to go at Olly when Savell threw Millie over the top rope and onto the Original BAE. The son of the late Reese Kennedy completed the opera by helping his tag partner take out Trinity with a double suplex on the floor. The match had just started and the trio of K2O and Faith Savell was standing tall over the three opponents laid out on the floor. The three of them had a satisfied smile on their face, watching their work with a proud expression. Then Olly picked up Millie and rolled her back in the ring for another cover attempt made by Savell, and this time Smith kicked out in two. With the exception of a few minutes where Team Trillie managed to work together and momentarily turn the tides, scoring a couple of near falls on Olly first and Karen right after thanks to their tag team maneuvers, the rest of the match saw the tag champions and Faith in control. The frequent miscommunications between Thompson and Marshall and the general disdain for one another made it too easy for K2O and Savell to prevent the opponents from building any real momentum, using those hesitations to take back control. And when that failed, there was always Karen and her bag of tricks and cheap tactics to help their team stay on top of the opponents. It had been a rough night so far for Team Trillie, definitely different from what they expected and hoped for. A win tonight could’ve helped make their case for a shot at the titles and would’ve tasted like sweet revenge after K2O interfered in their match one week ago. But that didn’t seem to be in the cards as Millie, now the legal competitor, was now on the receiving end of Faith’s sequence of suplexes. The Valedictorian connected her patented bridging northern lights suplex but Faizah slipped under the bottom rope and broke up the pin just in time. Savell then tagged Olly in and the tag team champion further wore Millie down with a series of stiff shots, collecting another near fall with a bicycle knee strike. Picking the opponent up from the ground, he hoisted her up on his shoulders in a fireman 's carry position and dropped her onto his knee, connecting his finisher. What he didn’t realize though was that while he set Millie up, Trinity reached out and touched her tag partner’s foot, effectively making the tag. In fairness, nobody but the referee saw it. Not Faizah who once again rushed in to make the save, not Karen nor Faith who blocked the attempt. And with them both focused on Marshall, Trinity could slip in behind Olly’s shoulders and surprise the young man who was now asking the referee why he wasn’t making the count with a quick roll up. Karen was the first to realize what was going on and tried to save her partner but Millie, from the ground, tripped her and sent her crushing face first on the mat, securing the win for their team. WINNER: Team Trillie & Faizah Marshall BY: Pinfall (Roll Up), 13:58 |
The show transitions elsewhere, with a camera finding Lowri Moss standing somewhere backstage at Royal Farms Arena. Appearing live, rather than in a pre-recorded video, like in recent weeks, the sight of the Cloud Gate Champion elicits a cheer from the fans that are present inside the venue. Dressed in her ring attire and one of her Irish Whip Clothing branded t-shirts, and with her title draped over her shoulder, she begins by giving her usual greeting.
Lowri Moss:
What’s occurring, Baltimore?
The customary cheap pop follows. With a smile on her face, Lowri proceeds.
Lowri Moss:
We’re now only about a week and a half away from Glory Horizons, when I will of course be making my latest defence of the Cloud Gate title, this time against Faizah Marshall. But before that, I first have a match to contend with here tonight, against one of my predecessors as Cloud Gate Champion, in Tiff Rollins.
Following the briefest of pauses, she continues.
Lowri Moss:
It has been a few weeks since I was last inside an MWE ring, my most recent match being the triple threat, Champions Showdown that main evented the first episode of Millennium following Hic Sunt Leones, and having won that match, cementing my place as “the best champion on Millennium”--
After quoting what Ambra Monroe said at the start of that particular match, Lowri gives a playful wink to the camera.
Lowri Moss:
I think it’s kind of ironic that my next match is now against the promotion’s greatest champion, the woman who rewrote all of the MWE record books during her near four hundred day reign with this title.
She casts a quick glance towards the championship belt resting on her shoulder, before looking back to the camera.
Lowri Moss:
I’ve never crossed paths with Tiff Rollins before now, but she’s someone that I’ve been aware of for a few years, and not just for her exploits in MWE. I remember being in Underground when Tiff joined the roster there, around two years ago, at a time when she was being heralded as one of the brightest young stars in our sport. She had been on a roll for much of the previous twelve months, having won the Meraki Tournament in Pro Wrestling NEO, then having gone on to win the Republic Championship in the same promotion, as well as a title in the World Crown Syndicate, and of course the Cloud Gate title here in MWE.
At the time, Tiff was five months into her thirteen month reign as Cloud Gate Champion.
Lowri Moss:
Shortly after Tiff’s debut in Underground I actually did an interview with Skylar Rayner during which she asked me what I thought of Tiff’s signing, and I remember saying what a good signing I thought it was for Underground, talking about how impressed I was by her talent in the ring and what she had accomplished, adding that if the two of us were to end up facing off somewhere down the line, it would be a match that I would look forward to. I recall Sky saying that it was a match that she hoped people would get to see, but while it never did happen during the half a dozen or so months that Tiff spent in Underground, it is going to happen here tonight, on Millennium, it is a match that I’m looking forward to, and I hope that it doesn’t disappoint everyone else who is looking forward to it-- including you, Sky.
Lowri follows that by giving another wink to the camera.
Lowri Moss:
Obviously Tiff isn’t currently performing at the level that she was two years ago, when was in the midst of her reign as Cloud Gate Champion, but I’m still expecting a difficult match. Some people who’ve been in the ring with her recently might have been glad to be facing Tiff as she is at present, rather than the Tiff of a couple of years ago-- not me though. Every opponent I face, I want to face them at their best, and whatever happens tonight, I hope that Tiff does manage to get back to her best eventually, because that would be exactly the sort of challenge that I want, exactly the sort of test of my ability that I had in mind when I signed with Millennium earlier this year.
She tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Lowri Moss:
Tiff’s record-breaking reign set the standard that not just her successors as Cloud Gate Champion-- like me-- have to follow, she set the standard that every champion in MWE has to follow. And I know what it’s like to set such a standard, having a reign that considerably elevates the prestige of a title, becoming a seemingly unbeatable champion and having potential challengers queuing up to face you not only from within your promotion, but also from outside of it, all of whom want to be able to say that they were the one to end your reign. I’ve done it in Underground and in FGA, as a singles competitor and as one half of a tag team. Quite how close I can come to matching the standard that Tiff set here in MWE remains to be seen; so far I’ve been champion for about a third of the time that she was, and have had a third, or maybe just a quarter, of the number of successful defences that she had. I haven’t gone as far as to make it my goal to equal, or even break Tiff’s records, not yet at least, but I do want to have the best reign as Cloud Gate Champion that I possibly can, to hold the title for as long as I can, defending it successfully against as many challengers as I can.
There is a nod of the head from Lowri, as if to emphasise that statement.
Lowri Moss:
The work towards that goes on-- it has been going on since I won the title back in February, at Domino Effect, and I plan for it to go on past Glory Horizons and Faizah Marshall. And tonight is a part of that, a chance to keep my momentum going as I head towards my fourth title defence. The championship may not be on the line tonight, but it’s still an important match for me, as I can ill afford any setbacks so close to facing Faizah; it’s a match that I need to win--
She pauses to take a quick breath.
Lowri Moss:
It’s a match which I fully intend to win.
Lowri stares confidently at the camera, before it then cuts away.
Singles Match
Lowri Moss VS Tiff RollinsLooking to get her career back on track after her, so far, disappointing comeback, Tiffany went to her fast striking background and used kicks to the thigh to back the Cloud Gate champion up against the ropes. Moss, without a doubt one of the best strikers in the industry, fired back and regained ground on the Five Foot Murder Machine. Back in the middle of the ring, the two kept trading kicks for the joy of the fans. The cheers were loud, the crowd split in half as they chanted for Tiffany and Lowri, depending on who was getting the upper hand. The Welsh dodged a crosshand punch from the former Cloud Gate champion and delivered a quick european uppercut that caused Tiff to stagger back a couple of feet, allowing the champion to close in with a clothesline. Rollins was quickly up to her feet, walking right into a japanese arm drag from Lowri who then connected with a fist drop and put some pressure on the young opponent with a quick cover attempt. When Tiff kicked out, Lowri quickly put her back into an armbar, simple but effective. Rollins fought her way back to her feet and reversed the arm bar into one of her own. Lowri broke the arm bar with a blow to Tiff’s head and then backed her up with right hands. The Cloud Gate champion then attempted to lift her for a suplex but Rollins resisted and escaped the attempt by raising her knee into the champìs stomach, doubling her over. With a shotgun dropkick, Tiff sent Moss into the corner and charged with a full head of steam, squashing the Welsh with a cannonball senton. Not enough to put Lowri away but certainly a first step in the right direction. Hands down the best performance from Tiff since coming back, this match saw the blonde in control for long traits, obtaining some near falls over the Cloud Gate champion with the Peacemaker (leaping high knee) and the swinging ddt. Lowri fought back valiantly, almost putting down Tiff with some of her trademark moves such as the always spectacular Slice Of Heaven (springboard enziguri) and the cradle piledriver. This last move left Tiff quite dazed, and gave Lowri the chance to move behind the Little Hoss and lift her with a tiger suplex for the first part of the move she calls Severn Bridge. But as she transitioned into the bridging double chickenwing, the longest reigning champion in the company’s history slipped away and quickly got up to her feet, catching Moss with a shoot kick to the chest as she was starting to stand up. More followed, each one of them followed by a roar from the many fans of the Five Foot Murder Machine. Hard to say how many of them landed before Tiff took a step back and charged for her Death Kick. The move that gave her so many wins in her young career landed and Rollins quickly dropped on top of Moss and hooked the leg. The Welsh, somehow, kicked out right before the three, causing Tiff to plunge in despair. Frustration, disappointment and disbelief were the feelings shown clearly on the former champion’s face, and you could tell that discouragement was starting to creep in as well. After so many setbacks, coming so close to beating the current champion and one of the best in the industry and seeing her kicking out from her best shot undermined her certainty and made her question herself. Lowri delivered a quick flurry of strikes that Tiff couldn’t dodge. With an irish whip, Moss sent the blonde into the corner and hit the Scarlet Barrage obtaining another near fall. For the following couple of minutes it was pretty much all Lowri, Tiff only attempted a shy comeback but it was easily controlled by the Cloud Gate champion who then sealed the dial with the Nos Da (rolling cutter). WINNER: Lowri Moss BY: Pinfall (Nos Da), 17:12 |
We open to the shot of the vacant locker room inside the Royal Farms Arena. A small black hard side suitcase is shown next to a simple padded black folding chair with a red duffel bag with a simple white Nike Swoosh on the side. It doesn’t take long for the bag to be lifted by none other than Duke Andrews as he takes a seat on the chair.
Duke Andrews:
For too long you’ve focused on the two percent. Saying five would be giving you benefit of the doubt, Seth.
Dukes hair was pulled back, sporting a mint colored Nike polo shirt and grey slacks, looking like a pair of golf pants. It was his was of staying fresh in the summer heat, all while still looking like a million dollars. He had traded in the Apple Watch for a Rolex Daytona watch.
Duke Andrews:
For the better part of the last three months you and I have been at each other’s throats. We have stepped in the ring and gone to war, fought in an empty bar room. And what have we settled?
He shook his head as he rested his elbows on his knees. His legs spread on either side of the chair as he looked directly into the camera.
Duke Andrews:
By all counts it’s square at one apiece. I shouldn’t even be in this position, should I? I mean, I had you dead to rights in that bar room only to take my eye off the prize. You know it, hell you admitted that much. But then I took my pride and I pushed it down to the bottom of my stomach and I started my climb back to the top. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and I knew I’d have to take down some of the best wrestlers this company has to offer.
Duke hung his head for a moment, his thumbs massaging his temples before he raised his head up again. His eyes piercing the camera.
Duke Andrews:
Kyle Butler, West Long, you Seth, Brookford, Melissa Reeves, Olly and you know what each of you have in common?
A king pause comes from Duke. The lights in the locker room are dim offering just a simple yellowish light off to the side.
Duke Andrews:
Every single one if you thought you could do it. Every single one of you had the mindset that I wasn’t ready to elevate my game and you all failed. Every one of you on that list is currently or has been a champion in this company and I still stand here without a blemish on my record since that night in the bar. And you know why Seth?
He lets out a long exhale before he popped his entire upper body up.
Duke Andrews:
Because I am that god damn good. I am more than the two percent that you’ve been hung up on. I am the entire package. You can focus on the fluff, and you can ignore the hours that go into every match I have. Every time I step into that ring, it isn’t just flying by the seat of my pants. But you know that. You just can’t come to bring yourself to admitting that for everything you think you do that’s so great, I am even better.
For the first time in weeks, his scowl fades and forms a slight smirk.
Duke Andrews:
You have spent the last month criticizing me for busch league bullshit that you only say to make yourself feel better. But that’s all it has done. It’s built up your own ego, which is going to make it all that more exciting when I take the one thing you hold close. But since you want a pure rules match, remember that it’s your grave you’re digging. That’s why I gave you that opportunity.
A long sigh as Duke looks directly into the camera.
Duke Andrews:
I challenge you to one thing Seth, just one as we head into Glory Horizons. Give me something new. Don’t spew the same promo you have for the last three months. Bring me something new.
Duke reaches down and grabs his bag as the scene fades to black.
We then notice a familiar sight in the locker room considering how alone he stands at the moment. Dressed in ring attire is the well traveled veteran of nearly twenty years and current World Champion Seth Iser. The man is donning a more earth-like variation of his attire...it has a brown base, and vines growing everywhere pointing to a man seeking illumination on both sides. The grey is shining through in his black hair and with what beard is showing that’s fully grey.
Seth Iser:
We’re almost at the end of this little journey and quite a bumpy ride we’ve taken to get to our destination. A destination where pure rules will bring such a different variable but we have a tag match before we reach this stop, don’t we Duke? And neither of our partners are exactly our first pick due to philosophy and personality disagreements now are they?
There’s almost a knowing smirk on the veteran’s face as his arms are crossed. The gleam of the championship shines above his head in the locker behind him as he even has
Seth Iser:
Helena and Eliza have their own dispute involving the very championship my protege spent a long time turning into her own. Hell, Eliza Foley also had a bit of a hand in her development I’ll admit...my disagreements with her philosophy being one thing...she’s more than capable enough to have her own defining reign if Helena can’t find the right submission combination. But I also recall the last time she was partnered with someone she didn’t care for…
The relaxed smile is gone for a moment as Seth’s sneer has taken over.
Seth Iser:
Not the way I would’ve handled it but we’ll cross that bridge if and when we get there. It’d just be another thing to worry about. That ontop of the damned briefcase…
And then Seth mutters that word coldly, the device that brought him the World Title as he rubs his left arm thinking long and hard on it.
Seth Iser:
Duke. Are you sure you’re ready for all of this? Not just the weight of the match we’re about to have on pay per view but the weight of what might be coming after the fact. This is something you have to consider before you even beat me. The clock is already ticking for the champion considering what’s coming. You and I both know about it. The very briefcase that I won over a year ago. The thing that I used to save you…
He pauses for a moment as he lets that hang for a second, the veteran instinct calling more and more.
Seth Iser:
Ask yourself something. You really think Al with the briefcase in his hand wouldn’t hesitate to use it on you? Hell...I know him better than you do. He’d use it on you the first damn chance he has if either of us were weakened. Above anything else...he’s a mercenary looking out for his own career whether it follows in his light...or God’s or anyone else’s for that matter. It came to pass when Sandstorm happened, Duke. And history? You know how it loves to repeat if we don’t learn from it...you’d be victimized by it. You might think I’m full of it but...I can see it playing out if you find a way to get by me. He’d be the most dangerous person in the world next to you...a ticking time bomb. The kind of paranoia that could destroy anything coursing through both of you in it’s own form. Maybe you make the move first in that scenario doing the thing you accuse me of in terms of doing what it takes to keep the World Title. Maybe he sees your form of greed and envy as a sin and uses the briefcase to try to cleanse you of sin. It can play out in so many ways...
Seth then tilts his head to the side as the hair moves around in his motion, it seems he’s slowly growing it back out again but in a more controlled manner.
Seth Iser:
This isn’t me pontificating either...as you know. I’m sure Envy would tell you considering his sermons but I’ll inform you of another thing from the Bible. The grey hair? It’s my crown of splendor...attained for my own righteousness. You can admire the strength of youth but you best respect the grey hair of age. People often misconstrued my age as nothing more than a physical limitation but I think you know better deep down...how my age is quite the dangerous weapon in my arsenal indeed. The life experience it brings.
His eyes narrow as he thinks about his experience further before he stands up from his chair, the gleam of that knee brace shining through.
Seth Iser:
For all of your talent...you still have too much to learn; You have too much growing up to do and I’m going to give you that push. Right now you can’t carry that burden...not with you both talking about wrestling clinics and then on the other end talking about how you want to end everything that I am. To destroy me...all that bile. But Duke...I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: You can’t kill what I’ve become. I’m the agent of change.
A knowing smirk has creeped back onto the champion’s face as he reaches back behind him to grab the World Championship that he’s won.
Seth Iser:
My legacy continues to grow by the second...with who I’ve influenced in the sport...who I’ve taught. Hell, I’m going to use you to further this legacy of mine. I’m going to make you an even better wrestler then you ever thought possible. Maybe it’ll lead you to a world title sooner rather than later but...in time you’ll fulfill your entire potential and become a machine. A machine almost on par as Gareth but with more traditional wants…
Seth lets out a snicker as he taps the gold.
Seth Iser:
But the one lesson you’re going to learn in Pure rules with me...with those two conflicting goals of yours to try to emancipate this from me...you’ll never beat me in this form of combat. You are too divided...too conflicted. Your own sin...in a way, will poison you from within and blind you. And you’ll make a mistake. Perhaps I’ll give you a taste of that tonight…
But the smirk is far gone now as he taps the championship one more time.
Seth Iser:
Not to mention give you and the other top contender one more reminder that at forty years of age...I’m not just one of the greatest to ever play our game...I’m one of the most complete wrestlers in the world today. And I’ll gladly give that example to you tonight.
With that the champion then walks off with his point being made.
Tag Team Match
Helena Noir & Duke Andrews VS Eliza Foley & Seth Iser
Peyton Holland: “A strange bedfellows match in our main event tonight. On one side we have the World Champion and the Intercontinental champion teaming together against their respective opponents at Glory Horizons” Ambra Monroe: “Helena and Duke earned the right to challenge the champions by pinning them without any controversy in their previous encounters. A win tonight can mean a lot in the matters of momentum going into Glory Horizons.” Peyton Holland: “That goes for the champions as well. Walking into the PPV with two losses against their opponent could be detrimental on a psychological level. Seth and Eliza NEED the win tonight, possibly even more than their opponents.” No chivalry tonight as the two men took the stage relegating their female tag partners in the respective corner. The bell sounded and neither Duke nor Seth moved. They kept staring at each other without flinching, a war of nerves between the two giants. Several seconds later, it was the World Champion who started the hostility and lunged in, locking up with Andrews with a collar and elbow tie. The test of strength didn’t have a clear winner, none of them was giving up an inch. But Duke raised his knee to catch Seth in the stomach, breaking up the lock and causing the champ to double over. The Epitome Of Perfection fired off a flurry of forearm strikes to the face, pushing Iser back toward the ropes.: Eliza made the tag and Duke immediately stopped hitting his opponent, glancing over at Foley and shaking his head. Ambra Monroe: “Looks like Duke wants nothing to do with Foley.” Peyton Holland: “Or with anyone not named Seth Iser, I would say.” Andrews reached his corner and made the tag to Helena, Foley yelled something at him but he paid no mind, turning back and stepping through the ropes. The two women met in the center of the ring and gave rise to another display of their talent, trading holds and strikes just like they did not so long ago in that unusual triple threat match involving Gareth Prichard Jr. Helena came out on top of this first exchange, putting Foley into a hammerlock. The IC champion swung her elbow back and caught Noir right under the eye, making her stumble back. Eliza quickly turned around and clocked Helena with a chick kick, flooring the former Liberty champion. Before she could capitalize though, Noir slid under the bottom rope and left the ring to regroup. Seth left his corner to perhaps force the tattooed woman to get back inside the ring but Duke stepped in front of him to block whatever he had in mind. Helena never took her eyes off Eliza who was standing inside the ring, almost daring her to come back in. The Swede shook her head, and waited for a moment before sliding back in the ring. Eliza was onto her in an instant and rocked her head backwards with a hard right, and then another, sending her back towards the ropes. She then grabbed her arm and whipped her across the ring, extending her arm for a clothesline. Noir ducked t and slowed down her run, stopping before hitting the ropes one more time. Eliza turned around into a back kick to the stomach from the Revenant who then planted her on her head with a running DDT. Ambra Monroe: “These two seem to know each other so well, and yet this is only the second time they are in a ring together.” Peyton Holland: “They’re both very methodical and scrupulous, they probably spent hours studying and watching the tapes.” Ambra Monroe: “Wow did you see that? Duke refused to tag, he clearly stated that he’s only fighting Seth Iser.” Helena didn’t appreciate it and tried to get the Epitome Of Perfection to work with her but he was adamant. Eliza took advantage of the situation to slide one arm between Helena’s legs and take her down to the mat with a school boy pin, rolling through to blast her with another kick to the head. Only now the champion made the cover but her challenger kicked out in two. Unlike their opponents, Seth and Eliza had no problems working together, keeping their tag team maneuvers to a minimum but cutting the ring in half and isolating Helena from her partner. The Swede eventually managed to counter Seth’s stalling suplex attempt with an inverted ddt and crawled to her corner where, this time, Duke was willing to get the tag. The World champion though was faster than her and reached the corner while Helena was a few inches away from Andrews. As soon as Michigan’s Favorite Son saw that Eliza was now legal, he shook his head and dropped off the apron, leaving a worn out Noir to deal with Eliza once again. Foley was methodical in her offense now, keeping constant pressure on the opponent and controlling the pace. Helena kicked out a moment before the three on two occasions, a third time it was Duke who saved her after a high angle ddt. But somehow she was able to surprise the IC champion with a jawbreaker. She took a couple of steps back and looked ready to hit her with the Dalecarlian Horse, but at the very last second she turned around and tagged herself out to a surprised Duke Andrews. Peyton Holland: “Can’t say they are on the same page, or that Duke was eager to enter the ring but a tag is a tag, I guess.” Ambra Monroe: “Silver lining, Andrews is by far the freshest of the bunch.” Andrews tried to tag out and leave the ring right away, but Helena jumped down from the apron and expressed her feelings with a rude gesture, telling Andrews to “pull his damn weight.” Which, in fairness, he did by scooping up the charging Foley and bodyslamming her into the canvas. He followed with a jumping knee drop and a not so deep cover, even though he pressed his forearm against her throat as he laid on top of her. Duke turned this into a brawling contest and Eliza didn’t shy away from trading punches with the much bigger opponent. His strikes were, obviously, heavier than hers could be, but she made up the gap with her speed of execution and movements, dodging some of those hammering blows and countering with quick flurries to the ribs. The tactic worked quite well for her as he, at some point, had to stop to clutch his ribs: She made the best of the opportunity as she hit the ropes and delivered a nasty running knee to the temple, knocking Duke down. Helena entered the ring and dodged Seth’s running attack, breaking up the pin before the three. Foley set Andrews up for the Mysterious Girl but the number one contender to the World Title broke free and threw back an elbow that caught Eliza right on the mush. More stiff strikes reached the defenseless IC champion who was then lifted and dropped onto the knee with a shoulderbreaker. Duke didn’t make the cover, he instead delivered a vicious running soccer kick to the opponent’s head, almost knocking her out completely. He made the cover but he was too close to Seth who quickly broke it up. Ambra Monroe: “Is it just me or Duke intentionally made the cover close to Seth, almost taunting him?” Peyton Holland:: “Well, he’s now inviting him to enter the ring so I’d say you’re not too far off.” The clash of the titans finally happened. The two men who, in less than two weeks, will fight for the company’s top prize went toe to toe right here in Baltimore, and it was as epic as people expected it. Not only hard strikes but long chain wrestling sequences as well, leading up to huge suplexes and throws. Duke kicked out from the Pillar Of Truth, Seth saved himself from the opponent's Red White And Blue Combo by putting his foot on the bottom rope. Both of them were too proud to even consider retreat, the idea of tagging out never crossed their minds. They just kept throwing whatever they had left at the opponent. As the punches became slower and less precise, Duke threw a wild kick to the gut and doubled Seth over. Wasting no time he picked him up over his shoulders and connected with the Andrews Effect. Luckily for him Eliza managed to make the save in time. A couple of minutes later Seth found the opening to drop Andrews on his head with the Deprivation DDT. Helena tried to rush in but Eliza surprised her from behind and prevented her from reaching her partner. WINNER: Seth Iser & Eliza Foley BY: Pinfall (Deprivation DDT), 22:36 |