Post by gvb on Sept 15, 2021 15:10:44 GMT -6
MWE Presents: Glory Horizons (night 1)
Live from XL Center in Hartford, CT
Wednesday, July 14th, 2021
The cameras come into focus and as they do we are taken to the backstage area. It is there where our image is brought to Crystal Zdunich. She rolls her eyes before crossing her arms together. She takes a long deep breath as she begins to speak to the lens.
Crystal Zdunich:
I have a lot to get off of my chest. Honestly it feels weird to be in this position. Things never seem to go the way that I always hope they would go. I often lose matches and people who shouldn’t somehow manage to get the better of me and establish their legacies at my expense. To be honest it’s a bunch of bullshit if you ask me. I know for a fact that I am a top tier athlete. I am among one of the best female wrestlers in the world.
Crystal takes a deep breath as she continues to speak.
Crystal Zdunich:
I know I go through a lot of ups and downs when it comes to competing here. I am a streaky superstar and out of every single company that I have ever competed at. This company always seemed to be the place where I have had the most issue. I fully understand what all of you think about when it comes to me as well. You don’t expect much for me because I really haven’t done anything of worth to get you to believe in me.
Crystal just sighs as she continues to speak some more.
Crystal Zdunich:
In the eyes of some I am just one big fucking joke or I am to be used as a welcome mat as some sort. That is really a fair assessment to have because I haven’t earned that level of respect from any of you. I know I have had opportunities to prove myself. There were times when I competed for the Junior Heavyweight Championship, the Lockdown Championship, and even the Cloud Gate Championship. Each match has always resulted in the same way. They ended up with me taking an L and I had to take the walk of shame.
Crystal turns her attention back to that camera as a serious expression is formed.
Crystal Zdunich:
Even to this very day it seems like I am being looked upon as some Fucking joke. I have made my way to the Pay Per View but it is in an opener against Faith Savell. She has quite the mouth on her and instantly thinks she has the ability to just try to add in a stipulation for a match because she feels I don’t deserve something. From the bottom of my heart let me be the first person to tell you that you can go fuck yourself. You have only been wrestling for a cup of coffee and you are like my daughter’s age. Hell I think you are younger than her. I am not going to let somebody who comes across like a private school brat who thinks she is an elitist to have that type of power over me. I might be a lot of things but I know that deep in my heart when I am focused I am a dangerous individual. I am the best fucking women’s wrestler in the world today. I am an 18 time World Champion and inducted into four different Hall of Fames. Who the hell are you again?!
Crystal cracks a wicked grin as the passion consumes her.
Crystal Zdunich:
I think you need to crawl certainly before you try to walk and not even acknowledging me is going to be your own undoing. For the longest I have dealt with some serious personal issues. Issues that caused me to not be as focused as I need to be and often I became my own worst enemy, I would lose matches I had no business in losing and thus I would be the mess that you constantly got to see…
Crystal shrugs her shoulders.
Crystal Zdunich:
I know it’s pretty messed up.. Also doesn’t help the fact that I often said shit that I wish I could take back and I dig my own grave. However what you don’t understand is that this is the year of the comeback. This is the year where I strike back, and this is where I rise back up to take my rightful spot at being near the top. I know it will be a long journey to get to where I need to go but I won’t dwell in mediocrity. I know the Quag Cup was a touchy subject for some. Some stayed while some dropped out. I didn’t have the best of seeds and throughout everything I made it to the final four. I was in the semi finals and it’s only the beginning of what you could expect for the rest of the year.
Crystal points at the camera.
Crystal Zdunich:
I don’t know if Faith was expecting me to say anything but I definitely will Clap Back and I will do so in ways she couldn’t imagine. This is about righting wrongs and showcasing why I will improve to be who I was. Faith you are only the first step of where I want to be. I am nobody’s punching bag and after our match where I completely embarrass you in every single way you will be an afterthought. See you inside the ring it’s time for the Burning Rose to leave you in the dust. Flame on… It’s time to burn a bitch….
With that Crystal is absolutely focus as we fade to elsewhere.
Singles Match
Christina Zdunich VS Faith SavellThe stakes just got much higher after Faith asked, and obtained an added stipulation to this match. Whoever loses tonight won’t be able to challenge for the Cloud Gate championship for a whole year. A bold move from the always confident Savell who, despite the young age and the lack of experience, didn’t seem to be feeling any kind of pressure as she walked into this match against a veteran of the sport. Faith got Christina in a wristlock to start, the veteran reversed it but Savell switched it back. The Valedictorian transitioned into an arm drag, taking Crystal down and keeping pressure on her arm with a shoulder lock. Zdunich eventually got out of it, delivering a sharp elbow to the stomach of the young opponent and flipping her over with a snapmare . Christina, wanting to prove her worth against the younger opponent who called her “a joke” went for a rear chinlock, planting her knee on Faith’s spine. The former Gold Star slowly made it up to her feet trying to escape the hold but a punch to the kidneys by Hilton brought her back to her knees, Christina took a run to the ropes and tried to hit Faith with a shining wizard but the best student of the first ever class of the Academy ducked it and quickly popped up to her feet, lifting the opponent with a belly to back suplex. The technical prodigy showed her technique, even more astounding considering her young age and short experience. Christina used a combination of experience and cheap tactics to put an end to Faith’s series of suplexes, yanking her hair and delivering a hard headbutt that left both women momentarily stunned. Christina was the first to recover and scooped Faith up for a slam but Savell slipped away and blasted Crystal with an elbow to the back and threw down Christina by the head. With the opponent down, Faith then jumped and drove both feet down on her chest, finally making the first cover attempt and earning a count of two. Christina threw Faith into the corner and elbowed her in the chest. Another Irish whip by Hilton sent Faith in the opposite corner, this time Christina followed with a jumping knee to the face. Grabbing the Valedictorian by the back of her head and went for a bulldog attempt, but Faith blocked it and pushed Rose away. As Crystal turned around, Savell delivered a huge superkick that sent the Blossoming Rose into the corner, allowing her to return the favor in the opposite corner. Unlike Christina’s attempt, Faith’s bulldog connected and the Valedictorian planted the veteran on her face. She took a moment to gloat before getting in position to make the cover, and she almost got caught off guard by a cradle from the quick Michigan Born. As the two women got up to their feet, Christina delivered a flurry of chops to Faith’s chest and then connected a standing dropkick. Crystal hit two more dropkicks before attempting a cover after the Smell The Roses (handspring standing moonsault) that only got a two count. This part of the match was favorable to Christina who tried to make the most of it with some quick striking combinations that lead up to the Flashing Lights (chick kick). Faith got hit right on the temple and went down like a ton of bricks. Rose was quick to get on top of her and make the cover that could put a huge roadblock on Faith’s career, preventing her from challenging for the Cloud Gate championship for a whole year. But Faith showed great ring awareness, resting her foot on the bottom rope and interrupting the count. Crystal went to the top rope, ready to jump with her cannonball Mega Buster to the downed opponent. Savell popped up to her feet and let herself fall against the ropes, shaking them and causing the opponent to lose balance and awkwardly fall on her shoulder. Christina picked herself up, holding the apparently injured shoulder with a painful expression on her face. Savell ruthlessly yanked at her arm and pulled Rose into a shoulder tackle. Wasting no time, Faith slipped her head under the opponent’s arm and connected her patented bridging Northern Lights suplex. Another flawless execution that allowed the Valedictorian to continue her undefeated PPV streak, and put Christina Rose out of contention for a whole year as far as the Cloud Gate championship goes. WINNER: Faith Savell BY: Pinfall (Bridging Northern Lights Suplex), 9:41 |
TBackstage we find “The Woman Scorned” and reigning Chicago Way Champion Kimberly Williams pacing the floors. She isn’t nervous or anxious, but more frustrated and upset. Her trusty Dalek companion watches on as she rants and raves about her many grievances regarding her championship defense tonight, a match that will be contested inside of an…
Kimberly Williams
Electrified steel cage?! Oh come on! Is that the best they can do?! Do they not know who I am?! I am Kimberly Frances Williams! And, come to think of it, they probably didn’t know my middle name until just now, but that’s beside the point! They should know that my legions of Kimmymaniacs out there hunger for bloodletting and violence and damn it, my Kimmymaniacs deserve it SISTER!
Dalek
I DO NOT COMPREHEND YOUR GRIEVANCE! EXPLAIN! EXPLAIN! EXPLAIN!
Williams turns towards her Dalek and pats it on the head.
Kimberly Williams
Listen, chrome dome; you of all people should know me by now. When I became Unsanctioned Champion in SCW I renamed it the Lizard Championship and decided to defend it 24/7. And I invited anyone from any promotion to challenge me. And people from all over took on my challenge and guess what? The people loved it! Last May I defended the MWE Chicago Way Championship in a Hardcore Battle Royal against four other opponents. I openly invited anyone else on the MWE roster to come challenge me for it but the no fun gang in MWE didn’t let them enter...that or everyone was too damn scared to enter! And now tonight I’m defending my Chicago Way Title against just three opponents...JUST THREE...and in an Electrified Steel Cage Match! MWE is letting me down, Rusty. They can do better than this and you know it. Why stop at Electrified Steel Cage? Lets make it a Barbed Wire Electrified Steel Cage! And add C4 Explosives underneath the mat! I thinkI saw a bed of nails used in Japan once so why not here?! And if MWE won’t sanction it, then maybe I’ll just have to make it happen!
Williams points to her bag of tricks sitting by the corner.
Kimberly Williams
Ok Rusty, in that bag is my usual stuff….the infinity gauntlet, Betty White, the staple gun, the shank, plus a few extra odds and ends; there is a bag of tacks, and a bag of broken glass. Bring that to the ring tonight. My fans wants more violence and if MWE won’t give it to them then I will!
Dalek
EXTERMINATE!
Kimberly Williams
That’s right, sweetie! We are going to exterminate them all!
Backstage in a dark corner of the hallway we spot “The Assassin” Clyde Sutter sitting propped up against a wall. He is dressed in his wrestling gear and he is also wearing a long black trench coat. A cold, callous smirk is etched across his face.
Clyde Sutter
Hell is empty and the devil is here!
Sutter chuckles.
Clyde Sutter
See? I’m not just dumb grunt after all. That was Shakespeare for those of you who don’t know. But it applies to me. I view myself as a devil in many ways, because me and old Lucifer have a great many things in common. For starters, we both refuse to be restrained by anything or anyone. Society tried to restrain me with its rules and when it didn’t work I was kicked out on the streets, the Glenn Braddock Wrestling School tried to restrain me with its rules and when they failed I was kicked out, then finally Mason Van Stanton thought he could restrain me and guess what? He’s laid up in North Carolina completely out of work! I cut him off and I cut the string! Now I do what I want!
He holds up two fingers.
Clyde Sutter
Two things control me....violence and money. They control me because I enjoy them. I enjoy violence, inflicting it upon others specifically, unlike the nutcase Chicago Way Champion Kimberly Williams who seems to enjoy taking pain just as much as she enjoys inflicting it. I thrive upon the agony of others, because making people hurt, making people bleed, that’s what I do best. The other thing that controls me is money because hell, I do love money and despite what they say, money DOES in fact buy happiness. That’s why professional wrestling was always a perfect fit for me, and this Chicago Way Championship in particular is perfect for me, because I can destroy people, I can maim people, and it is all completely and perfectly legal.
He points at his eyes and his voice begins to raise, almost into a shout.
Clyde Sutter
Look into my eyes! Do these eyes look like the eyes of a man worried about an electrified cage? Are these the eyes of a man concerned about whatever fucking carnage that lunatic Williams may bring with her? These are the eyes of a stone cold killer! These are the eyes of the man who will be the one to cause ALL of the carnage tonight! I am the devil, and I am bringing hell with me to the cage and I will burn every single fucking person around me to the ground, I will leave them all in ashes, and I will walk away as the new Chicago Way Champion.
Sutter storms away.
Chicago Way Championship Match
Electrified Steel Cage Four Way Match
Kimberly Williams © VS Kenzie Garrett VS Valkyrie VS Clyde SutterElectrified Steel Cage Four Way Match
The cage was lowered over the four competitors, locking them inside an electrified fence. The champion Kim and her challengers, among whom Valkyrie was standing out for her unique Thor inspired attire, complete with gloves with runes embossed on it, began moving around in circles, keeping themselves away from the steel surrounding the ring. The first one to lunge in was the Assassin Clyde Sutter as he caught the Woman Scorned with a punch to the jaw. He immediately grabbed her by the wrist and threw her against the cage, but the Chicago Way champion managed to slide and stop inches away from the electric wall. Both Valkyrie and Kenzie momentarily turned their attention on Williams, perhaps curious to see what the electrified cage would do to her and, potentially, to them as well. When that didn’t happen, Kenzie was the first one to react and kicked the Dane in the stomach, doubling her over and quickly following up with a swinging neckbreaker. Garrett tried a quick attempt but Clyde broke it up by stomping her back and throwing her back first onto the cage. Kenzie fell on her knees after getting shocked, but as soon as she stood up, a Shadowblade from Kimberly sent Sutter crashing onto her and caused her to hit the fence again. The second shock knocked her out, as for Clyde he may have avoided the cage, but the knee to the face busted his nose. Kim was ready to follow up but Valkyrie grabbed her from behind and hit a snap german suplex. This time the Wildcard couldn’t avoid being electrocuted. This left Vee and Clyde as the only two standing, with the Great Dane Bitch having the clear advantage. She delivered some hard uppercuts to the Assassin before lifting him for a stalling suplex. Clyde tried to shift his body weight to counter the move, but Valkyrie was able to complete her maneuver. The effort though only gave her a count of two as Clyde was able to raise his shoulder in time. A couple of minutes later, Sutter tried on his own skin what the cage could do as he was tossed face first onto it by a standing dropkick to the back courtesy of Kenzie right after she slipped away from a suplex attempt. The champion was on fire, delivering a whirlwind of kicks to the blonde and completing her sequence with the Morrigan’s Wrath that floored the Dane. Williams wasted no time and picked her up to toss her into the cage with an irish whip. Vee put her arm forward and… Nothing happened? Apparently the gloves she was wearing were made of some insulating material, or perhaps it was the Old Norse runes protecting her.. Either way, she wasn’t affected by the electrified cage and could knock the surprised champion down with a discus punch to the jaw. Garrett saw what happened and attacked Valkyrie from behind until the Great Dane Bitch clocked her with a spinning backfist. Williams was back on the attack, finding an ally in the former Chicago Way champion. A two on one assault was too much even for the She-Thor who got clocked by a double superkick from the duo. They then grabbed one of Valkyrie’s wrists each and pulled off her gloves before whipping her into the cage, hoping the rest of her outfit wasn’t made of the same material. It wasn’t, the jolt shocked the blonde and knocked her down.. Kimberly and Kenzie lit up the contest with a quick exchange of strikes, a stiff back and forth that saw the Geek Gladiator coming out on top with a jumping knee that stunned the champion and caused her to stumble back, close to the ropes. In an attempt to zap her, Garrett missed the superman punch and ended up riding the lightning as Kim dodged her attempt. Williams quickly dropped down for the quick cover attempt but unfortunately for her Sutter was there to break up the pin. And boy, was he in a bad mood… He dragged Kimberly up to her feet and tied up her arm to the ropes, doing the same with the second one. Her back wasn’t touching the fence, but every shot Clyde delivered sent her against it, causing the jolt of electricity to run through her body. Sutter seemed to enjoy torturing Kimberly like this, laughing after every chop or forearm to the face he threw, enjoying seeing her body twitching every time it touched the cage. The referee begged him to stop and even tried to untie the Chicago Way champion but Clyde didn’t stop and delivered another shot ar Kim, one the ref barely managed to dodge. On the opposite side of the ring the Dalek kept threatening to EXTERMINATE Sutter if he didn’t let Kim go but the Assassin didn’t pay attention to him. Nobody did, nobody noticed that the Dalek extended one of his thin mechanical arms and poured some water over his metallic body. Only Ambra realized and she tried to warn everyone about what was about to happen. The Dalek threw himself against the cage, and all went dark. For some long seconds the entire arena was plunged into darkness, it took the technicians some time to restore the lighting and the audio from ringside. When everything went back to normal, Kimberly was now free, First thing she did was run toward the Dalek that was standing right outside the cage. It was emitting no sound, none of those cute blinking lights either. What was even worse, he wasn’t trying to exterminate anyone. It looked… Dead, or actually deactivated. Kim tried to call him, but to no avail. She then stood up, the Woman Scorned looking like a woman possessed as she launched herself against Clyde, She took him down with a Thesz press and started raining down lefts and rights to his face, yelling at cursing at him for hurting her friend, even though technically the Dalek did it all by himself. Valkyrie grabbed the champion in a waistlock and suplexed her into the cage, only to find out that the power in it hadn’t been restored. Williams came out pretty much unharmed from it, and blasted Vee with a Shadowblade knee. In the meantime Kenzie had spiked Clyde with her Grim Fandango, but before she could make the cover, another Shadowblade from the champion knocked her down. Kim had a third one in store for Sutter, and she waited until he used the ropes to get up to his feet to deliver the running knee, sending his head bouncing against the steel. She hooked the leg for the cover, Valkyrie tried a desperate save but came to break it up just a moment too late. The match was over, but Kim didn’t celebrate. She asked that the cage was lifted and quickly ran to her Dalek, yelling to send the paramedics in. They didn’t come, but some members of security did and carried the Dalek backstage. Kimberly stood by its side as the headed up the ramp, the Connecticut fans tributing the fallen metallic hero with a round of applause. WINNER: Kimberly Williams (STILL CHICAGO WAY CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (Shadowblade), 12:52 |
The scene opens in a locker room. Neil Newman is sitting on a blue steel folding chair. His right ankle resting across his left knee. His arms folded. The hood to his maroon and gold jacket restring on his head. Sophie is standing next to him with her hand resting on his shoulder.
Neil Newman:
Fate can’t stop putting us together, huh BreeTee Committee?
Neil smirks.
Neil Newman:
A year or so ago, I wanted to leave the tag division behind, including you two. I did manage to become MENTV Champion, not going to lie, I wanted to accomplish so much more. Fate brought Sophie and I together at Sic Hunt Leons. We would be champions right now if it wasn’t for Adelson & Qiyara. Imagine that. Two people who until that point had not tagged together came within a whisker of becoming tag champions. Is fate telling us we need to finish the job we started? Who really knows. I had plans. Sophie had plans. Since we’re on the road, might as well finish the job, right?
Neil looks at Sophie. They both nod. He returns his attention to the camera.
Neil Newman:
BreeTee, fate has nothing to do with why you’re in this position. What have you truly accomplished? 1999, 2000, you two were the hottest tag team in the MWE. Me and Kyle took the championships from you, remember? In the span of a year you two have become an afterthought. Wasting away, failing to evolve, being the same old same old happy go lucky oreo eating fanatics, all well and good Kyle befriended you both. That won’t prevent the Glorious Golden Era from doing what is necessary. Winning.
Sophie O’Brian
Francis Bacon said, ‘A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.’
The Belfast native chuckles.
Sophie O’Brian
It would seem that the BreeTee Committee isn’t heeding the advice of Francis Bacon. They are the examples of those who are content with treading water and simply waiting for opportunity to come to them. Opportunity does not simply come to you, you must go get it. Now just as Neil said, we were on our own individual singles paths but we found ourselves in tag match after tag match, winning again and again, and so why not just go ahead and take those tag titles while we’re at it?
Sophie O’Brian
Individually we each have immense experience in tag team wrestling. Hell, tag team wrestling is how I got my start, working alongside my brother Mark; just as Neil worked alongside Kyle. And we have proven that together we are a formidable force. The writing is on the wall. The opportunity at glory is there. Neil and I will take it.
The scene opens with Kyle Butler roaming the halls. He stops in front of a locker room door. Remembering the last time he entered someones locker room he ran into Luna; he opts to do the smart thing and knock on the door prior to entering.
Bree Smith:
Who goes there?
Kyle Butler:
“Your bestest friend in the known universe, Kyle! Ok. Second bestest. Teagan is number one.”
Upon seeing Kyle walk in, Bree can be seen wearing a basketball style top designed by her sister Lexie in black and red with Bree's name on the back, with Bree wearing her ring gear black shorts and just trying her left boot nice and tight for the upcoming contender match up.
Bree Smith:
Oh. Hey! What's the word, Hummingbird?
Kyle smiles brightly upon seeing Bree.
Kyle Butler:
“Yes. Hummingbird.”
Bree grunts a little bit as she's talking, finishing up the laces on her boot.
Bree Smith:
You ready for this big show tonight?
She finishes up and pops her foot back down on the floor. Kyle rest his hands on his hips as he stares at Bree with admiration in his eyes.
Kyle Butler:
"I am more nervous about your match than I am mine. I want to wave my BreeTee pom poms but you got a gloriously golden road block in your way."
Kyle smiles nervously.
Bree Smith:
Don't bree nervous about us.
Bree gives him a confident pat on his back.
Bree Smith:
I know they're your bros, but we're ready to give them a real battle for glory. The best team's gonna win, Dude. Don't worry and don't sweat it.
She notices his brow getting a little wet and chucks him a clean cloth to wipe it.
Kyle Butler:
Guess you’re right. Neil has been on edgy lately and Sophie... she’s Sophie. I’ll take your word for it. The best team will win. No matter what, I’ll treat the winner to a fulfilling lunch.
Kyle takes a deep breath. He rested his hand on Bree’s shoulder.
Kyle Butler:
There is something I really need to say. Losing to Dustin Douglas at Domino Effect was really hard on me. Making it to the finals of the Sandstorm Heavyweight Tournament only to fall to him. Ripped my heart out. I sat backstage after the show wondering to myself what the heck am I going to do? All my hard work being for nought. Me being the bridesmaid, never the bride. I was happy Neil became MENTV Champion that night. I began to think I should have stayed part of a tag team. Kyle Butler, singles wrestler, was a failed experiment.
A smile breaks out on his face.
Kyle Butler:
Neil and Sophie and Glory and Jessica telling me everything was going to be ok was comforting. To tell you the truth, your friendship made the biggest difference. There is something about you Bree. Your energy. Your perspective on things. I was trying so hard to be this ultra serious guy. Being around you reminded me that goofy ROLL TIDE Kyle Butler isn’t so bad, you helped me not lose myself. And I’ll be forever grateful we became friends, ya know. No matter how my match with Dustin ends, he can tweet all the trains running over things pics he wants. He’ll never crush my spirit. The TIDE will ROLL regardless. Thank you for being a friend, Bree.
Bree gives him a high five for it and pulls him in for a shoulder bump.
Bree Smith
It's all good, Dude. I'm always there for people who need me. To pull you back up and continue being a genuine, good dude.
Bree smiles back as she grabs herself some water and starts to head towards the door.
Bree Smith
Just give me a shout if you ever need me ... although thanks for putting the Golden Girls theme song in my head now!
She starts humming that song on her way out as Kyle's eyes widen, realizing what he said, chuckles and closes Bree's door behind him as he leaves. The scene then fades out.
Tag Team Match
#1 contendership for the MWE Tag Team Titles
#1 contendership for the MWE Tag Team Titles
Glorious Golden Era (Neil Newman & Sophie O'Brian) VS The BreeTee Committee
The first of two matches to determine the next contenders for the MWE Tag Team titles saw three former tag champions battling out for another opportunity at gold. The “intruder” in that group was Sophie O’Brian, one of the most experienced and accomplished wrestlers in MWE. Bree and Neil insisted on starting the match, immediately realizing what Kyle Butler was dreading, seeing his brother in arms and former tag partner battling it out with the woman he recently grew friends with. The two locked up and Newman pushed Bree into the ropes before giving a somewhat clean break. Side headlock by Neil but Bree slipped out of it and clocked the former Tag champion with a right hand to the jaw. Newman fought back with a punch of his own, starting a stiff exchange where they both tried to knock each other down. Neil eventually came out on top and threw Smith into the corner with an Irish whip and charged in, but Bree halted his charge with a boot to the face and knocked him down with a double axe handle from the middle rope. They both tagged out, leaving the stage to the respective partners. Sophie and Teagan circled each other and traded holds, both of them showing off their grappling technique. Gallagher surprised O’Brain who wasn’t expecting this kind of challenge from the resident cat lady. But Teegan held her own against the veteran, and was the one coming out on top with an arm drag that took Sophie down. Back on their feet they traded strikes, Gallagher bounced off the ropes but Sophie hit her with a dropkick to the face. Bree entered the ring following the blind tag and attacked the unaware O’Brian. Her partner soon joined her and they went for a double suplex. Sophie was able to block the move and break free with a headbutt to each member of the Committee, stunning them and then taking them down with a double Death Of Wisdom (codebreaker). She made the cover on the legal woman Bree, but the powerhouse of the duo kicked out in two. The GGE slowly took control, double teaming Smith in the corner with a double boot by Neil and Sophie who then put Teagan on the top turnbuckle. Newman then lifted her over his shoulder in an electric chair position and dropped her down on a backstabber from his partner. Sophie made the cover but Bree was there to save her partner. This dominance went on for a few minutes as the Glorious Golden Era used quick tags to isolate Teagan. Scoop slam by Newman and a cover for a two count. A swinging neckbreaker from the pupil of Glenn Braddock obtained the same outcome. The Glorious Golden Era was clearly in the driver’s seat, but one thing every team in MWE has learned was that you can never count the Breetee out. A rare mistake from Sophie caused her to miss the London Plunge and opened the way for Teegs to make the tag. Bree entered the ring and cleaned house, getting rid of O’Brian with the Power Of Bree (triple german suplex). Neil stepped through the ropes to help his tag partner and ran right into a lariat that turned him inside out. Sophie was back to her feet and clubbed Smith with a forearm to the back, but the blonde seemed barely affected by it and turned around to scoop Sophie up and drop her onto her knee for the first of the Backbreaker Reps. She was about to hit the fifth when Newman charged at her. Luckily for Bree her partner cut him off with a springboard clothesline and allowed her to finish the sequence and pin Sophie, for a long two count. The fans were all behind Breeberry who threw some wild punches to the cornered veteran. On the opposite side of the ring, despite the referee’s attempts to convince them to go back to the respective corners, Gallagher was chopping the hell out of Newman. The two members of the Committee glanced at each other before grabbing their opponents by the wrist and whipping them to the center of the ring. Sophie and Neil both reversed the move and sent the opponents clashing heads. The impact left them both stunned, Sophie took advantage to drop Bree down with the Ode To Braddock (swinging fisherman neckbreaker) transitioning swiftly in the Muta Lock she called Wisdom while Neil caught Teagan in the EGV (standing triangle choke). Even though only Bree’s one mattered, both former Tag champions tapped out basically at the same moment. The Glorious Golden Era will challenge K2O or Scrivens and Price for the titles at the next supershow. WINNER: Glorious Golden Era/font] BY: Submission (Wisdom), 16:33 |
Pre-recorded…
We open in front of the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. We find Glory Braddock standing there just outside the entrance to the arena. The British Bombshell and a woman whom some claim to be among The Best in the World is dressed in a knee length pink dress with half-sleeves and her patent leather black high heel pumps. Her long blonde hair is left to hang straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders. A confident smirk is etched across her face.
Glory Braddock
Here we go again! Yet another chapter in the Pierce Manning and Glory Braddock saga is about to be written and it will be written in this building behind me, the XL Center, right here in Hartford!
Braddock pauses for a moment, as if expecting a cheap pop. But then she just chuckles and shrugs her shoulders.
Glory Braddock
Oh yeah, can’t get a cheap pop from a non-existent crowd now can I? But I do expect cheers from the fans in attendance tonight at Glory Horizons. And you gotta love that name, right Pierce? I mean, I love the name. I don’t want to sound too arrogant; god only knows that I have been at fault for being too arrogant and egomaniacal in the past and I am trying to leave that in the past where it belongs. But come on, mate, its almost as if Glory Horizons was made for The British Bombshell! Last May at Hic Sunt Leones I came within an eyelash of becoming MWE World Champion. I came so damn close to becoming a sixteen time World Champion. But I couldn’t get the job done.
Braddock shakes her head.
Glory Braddock
I make no excuses on my end. Seth Iser beat me that night. But I also told the entire world, Seth included, that I would not go away so easily. I promised to all of MWE and to my fans who have supported me through thick and thin that I would work my way back. And ever since my defeat at Hic Sunt Leones I have been doing just that. I have been taking on opponent after opponent, facing challenge after challenge, no matter how big or small, with a determination to get back to World Title contention. And tonight at Glory Horizons I will take the next step against you, Pierce. And it is appropriate that the next stop on my road back is through you. We have been in each other’s orbit since our own beginnings in MWE. From your time with Jenni Anderson, trying to help her become Riot Champion to you dumping her to side with the Triumvirate and there I was again to challenge you and your pals. Now here we go again, this time it’s just me and you. Unless you want to bring out Seth or Megan? Or maybe bring back Jenni? Or maybe you have another new friend to back you up?
The British Bombshell sighs with a sense of disappointment.
Glory Braddock
That’s the thing that disappoints me about you, Pierce. You are a loathsome creature, I can see why people hate you so damn much, but no matter how much they may hate you they still have to respect your talent. You do have talent. You do have great wrestling skill. There is no questioning it. Hell, I should know better than anyone else about your skill. I hired you to wrestle for my promotion GCW. So obviously I had to see something in you, otherwise I wouldn’t wasted my time and effort on you. But I did see something in you. I saw great potential in you. And that is what pisses me off the most, mate. You have all of that skill, that talent, and that potential and yet you still feel the need to use every bloody trick in the book to get ahead. You still think you need to take short cuts. You have bribed officials, you have drugged people, you have hidden foreign objects in your gear, you have had outside interference assist you in matches, you name it and you have probably done it to give yourself an edge.
Braddock’s face goes stoic and cold.
Glory Braddock
I would like to think that you and I could have a hell of a wrestling match. Actually, no, I take that back. I know we could have a hell of a wrestling match if we wanted to. But I am not naive. I have danced with you and your lot for far too long to believe that you will actually try to outwrestle me by the book. So I want you to understand that I am just as good as you are when it comes to playing dirty in the ring. You have friends and sidekicks willing to back you up? I have the Glorious Golden Era willing to back me up. So if you want a war then damn it we will have a war, but if you actually want a straight up wrestling match then we can have that too. It is all your call, Pierce, but you had better think long and hard before making a decision. Do not rush to judgment. Sic Semper Tyrannis…
Braddock suddenly throws her arms up out of frustration.
Glory Braddock
Ah bloody hell! There’s a very important part of this match that I forgot and that’s you, Henri Black!
The British Bombshell waves at the camera.
Glory Braddock
Hi Henri! How’s tricks? Have you been treating the Riot Championship well? I hope you have been treating it well and I hope you have enjoyed your time with it. The fact is that if your opponent is not able to compete at Glory Horizons then Pierce and I may be added to this match. I know, the last thing you want or need is yet another round with Pierce and myself. But think of it this way, if it does end up being a triple threat match we can team up and beat the living hell out of Pierce! And I mean actually team up, not the whole double team for all of thirty seconds bullshit that we see all the time. Once he’s rendered good and unconscious we can then focus on each other, yeah? That sounds like fun. And between that controversial four way that we tied in, the best of five series that I won, and the one on one rematch where you became Riot Champion, I believe that you and I do need a rubber match. So while I do not wish ill will upon Bryan Ford, a part of me does hope that tonight brings about our rubber match. Tonight IS Glory Horizons and one way or the other, MY Glory is on the Horizon!
Braddock smirks.
Glory Braddock
Do NOT roll your eyes! You knew I had to make that pun! I couldn’t resist!
Braddock turns and walks off.
Tag Team Match
#1 contendership for the MWE Tag Team Titles
#1 contendership for the MWE Tag Team Titles
Team Trillie VS Nightfall Rising
Back to back with another tag match to determine the second team that will face the champions at the next event. If this was, for team Trillie, a chance to get that chance at gold that Karen and Olly ripped from them a few weeks ago, Nightfall Rising saw in this match the opportunity to put their names back on the map after a few physical issues that kept them away from the ring. Jay and Donnie looked in wonderful shape tonight, bringing their quick paced and highly entertaining style into the match. The experience gap was showing as well and in the early minutes it was all Nightfall as the duo managed to isolate Trinity Thompson in their half of the ring. Working like a well oiled machine, Jay and Donnie tagged each other in and out rapidly, exploiting those five seconds together to hit the young graduate with some devastating combinations. Millie had to come in quite often in the first minutes to break up the pinning attempts and save her partner who was in great difficulty tonight. Especially after Donnie lifted her in a stalling vertical suplex position and dropped her on her head after Jay superkicked her. The high impact maneuver left Thompson dazed, but if there was one thing everybody learned about Tiff Rollins’ younger half sister was that she didn’t know the meaning of the words “giving up”. Picking herself up for the umpteenth time, Trinity received a straight punch to the jaw from Jay that sent her reeling back. The man charged again with a flurry of kicks and then lifted Thompson on his shoulders for the Jay Walking, In the moment of greatest difficulty Trin managed to slip away and land behind Gallagher’s shoulders to surprise him with a quick backstabber. Exhausted, she began crawling toward her partner but Jay grabbed her by the foot when she was mere inches away from making the tag and dragged her back to the center of the ring. The two traded strikes and despite being a clear disadvantage, Trinity was able to land a stiff kick to the ribs that doubled Jay over and allowed her to floor him with a quick ddt. Trin didn’t even have the strength to make a cover, laying on her back to catch some breath. Jay was feeling the effects of that ddt as well, the high impact angle was causing him some bother to the neck area. Therefore the referee started counting both of them, reaching six before they began stirring up.The tags were made simultaneously, Millie and Donnie entered the ring and charged at each other. The man missed the clothesline and Smith continued to run toward the ropes, jumping on the middle one to take the opponent down with a crossbody. Millie wrestled a brilliant match, without a doubt the best so far in her young and promising career, holding her own against the former PPW tag team champions and giving her partner plenty of time to recover on the outside. With a quick roll up on Jay, she almost stole the win, coming once again real close to it with a diving knee strike, tribute to her brother Dean, on Donnie, who managed to kick out just in the nick of time. But fighting with no support from her partner inevitably lead to the opponents using the numbers game to get the upper hand. Jay made the tag when Donnie bounced off the ropes for his Donnie Cutter (handspring cutter) and entered the ring with his patented springboard SSP called Galla-Star Press that gave them so many wins in the past, but Trinity recovered in time to make the save. After that it was all downhill for the Nightfall duo who, much like they did in the first part of the match, cut the ring in half, blocking Millie in the wrong side of town and slowly wearing her down. The turning point of the match was when, after a Pele Kick, Jay tagged his partner in. Keane climbed to the top rope and jumped for his DK Bomb and Millie rolled out of the way. Donovan was able to correct the trajectory and land on his feet, but he twisted his knee as his feet touched the canvas. He tried to stand up immediately but the pain was too much and he dropped back on his knee. Millie wasn’t sure about what to do, understanding that her opponent might have hurt himself. Trinity, instead, saw the opportunity this accident gave them and made the tag, hitting Donnie with her version of the Death Kick and making the cover. Jay tried to break it up but Smith blocked his attempt: Team Trillie earned themselves a title opportunity. WINNER: Team Trillie BY: Pinfall (Superkick), 12:20 |
Now for something a little different since this was recorded a little earlier in the day. We have a view of what’s going on in one of the locker rooms and it has somewhat of a golden tint to it all. The gleam of championship gold is all over the literal roundtable that’s there in a sight that hasn’t been seen too often. The men sitting on opposite sides of this roundtable of gold are two thirds of the Triumvirate, the men that are healthy enough to compete in Pierce Manning and Seth Iser. They’re both also dressed in three piece suits that don’t exactly look cheap.
Seth Iser:
What does it mean to be a professional wrestler...kids ask all the damn time. You learn how to wrestle with the basics. You pay your dues and put in some time...some of you skip this damn step and it shows. You get noticed by someone...get that break that gets your foot in the door for better opportunities. Certain things click as you further learn how to wrestle. You start to learn how the game is played...and learn that once you get to a certain point...you’re representing the sport itself. You learn how to wrestle a little more. Different opportunities await when everything falls together. But you continue to learn how to wrestle even after success…
Seth then gestures to the table with all the collection of championship gold on the table. A closer look reveals it’s all the championships that both men have won in their careers.
Seth Iser:
And in case you haven’t noticed that I’m putting one thing in some form or fashion above anything else: You learn how to goddamn wrestle in every aspect of our sport from the physical to the mental. From how people are wired when the adrenaline is going...to dealing with outsiders because...to be honest, the School of Tradition is no respecter of age. You always keep learning. Even when you reach certain milestones…they’re different kinds of learning experiences in the sport because deep down...you should never be satisfied. The moment you think you know it all...well...the sport passes you by.
The veteran acknowledges one of the truths as he finds it of the sport and lets it hang as Pierce is listening.
Seth Iser:
It’s a never ending education to reach the mythical point of nirvana in our sport..something that as much as anybody claims to have achieved, I’ll flat out look you in the face and tell you that it’s a lie. Sorry Duke if you think the narrative I’ve ‘spun’ in your mind is that but it’s just another lie you’ve told yourself over the past year. What I’m saying is the genuine truth. It doesn’t exist because you can’t compensate for every single flaw you could possibly have. You’re merely a magician trying to conjure up perfection...and the experienced eyes see right through that bullshit. Instead...there’s something far more realistic you can achieve even with whatever limitations you might possess.
The man starts to crack a half of a smile as he continues through...and the smile doesn’t seem to have a predatory air...it’s genuine.
Seth Iser:
People who talk about trying to become above wrestling often end up washing out. All because they quit trying to learn. It’s also a goal when you think about your legacy in the sport...that’s also an impossibility. You can’t become above the thing that’s given us a living. Instead...you should achieve to make the sport itself even higher or hell...do what Pierce and I have become in our own way.
And the half of a smile is gone as he just glares into the camera with full intensity as he gestures toward his associate and himself both.
Seth Iser:
When you look at us...above anything else...we are professional wrestling.
Pierce nods as he leans forward a bit.
Pierce Manning:
Before I met Seth, Megan. Before I came to Millennium Wrestling Enterprise; originally I didn’t get it. I was your prototypical spoiled rich kid. You all saw it. Take my former alliance with Jenni Anderson. She believed walking into this company with a wad of money was going to be enough to take over the pro wrestling world. I learned real quick that wasn’t the case. I went from a rich entitled brat who believed money would be enough to The Man-ning I am today. Don’t get me wrong, money is great to have. How else do you think I can afford the expensive suits I wear to arenas every week, fly from state to state on my private jet so I can avoid dealing with commoners. Money is a tool. Nothing more. Thanks to Megan. Thanks to Seth I have learned to become more than what I was... the embodiment of what professional wrestling should be.
Pierces pauses to allow his assessment to sink to everyone watching.
Pierce Manning:
Now my opponent will likely disagree us. Glory Braddock since the day I walked into this company short of two years ago has made various claims about representing the sport, no denying she is good in the ring. Don’t become a multi time World Champion by accident but she is not us. Glory has, and always will possess a savior complex. Sim Semper Tyrannis is her calling card. Cute. Real cute. Glory... professional wrestling doesn’t need saving. As long as there are men like Seth and I around and women like Megan, pro wrestling will continue to thrive. This sport could be a better place with more people like us. This isn’t a perfect world. Never will be. You don’t see Seth and I putting on the cape and cowl. Unlike you we’re not delusional. We are men of practicality. Of reason. We continue to make ourselves better, aside from militarizing Glorious Golden Era for a time; have you really changed? No. Stagnation plagues you. Seth and I refuse to become stagnant.
For those who harbor beliefs of being the best in the world or being perfect, Seth and I will shatter that illusion one way or another. Reality is the only constant. You are looking at reality at its finest.
Pierce smiles.
Seth Iser:
She’s good...you’re better. Similar proposition to what Duke has to deal with.
There is this devious smile creeping on the face of the champion as he recounts this as fact.
Seth Iser:
You really think tweets about how you’re the new King of the Jungle is going to impress anyone? Duke…brother you still have a lot to learn yet. I’m not perfect but with how sharp I am mentally...you have to wrestle a perfect professional wrestling match to beat me. You can’t make a mistake...I’m the master of capitalizing on the smallest mistakes...just look at the table here…
Seth gestures to the plethora of championships gathered but the first one he reaches for is the FGA Pride Championship. And it seems like he’s held that one in particular for a reason.
Seth Iser:
You do know I held this title for almost a year, correct? Sharpening my mind in the rules we are going to partake in now. It was also the first title in North America I held in several years...the first with a ruleset that you’d think disadvantages me considering I can’t use one of my greatest weapons…
He balls up his right hand into a fist to give it more of a proper demonstration.
Seth Iser:
I didn’t win this in a badminton contest either. I had to beat a woman who has grown to despise me to get there and navigate that hell. Hell some people do look at our fancy suits and think we’re just uptight assholes but...we fought to be in this position. We fought to become the people who DEFINE professional wrestling. And the thing we’re defining is change. Not just in ourselves but in others…and you know that all too well. Trading in your redneck attire for the local suit at trader joe’s. If you weren’t such a prick about it...I’d get you in contact with a proper tailor and the suits would look better.
There’s a smirk from Pierce’s face as if he envisioned that sight while Seth shrugs as he put the championship down.
Seth Iser:
But that’s neither here nor there. I want you to understand something perfectly clear. You think that starting to change puts you where you want to be as King of the Jungle but old habits die hard. It took me a while to understand that as well when you look at my droughts from holding gold...and I know just what habits are harder for you to break...especially in a match like this one. People might want blood and guts but...the other thing that should define wrestling and it’s been lost in the era of brawls, blood, entitlement, bullshit photos about looks and gymnasts thinking that they’re actually wrestlers...is that this sport is more like a chess match. You give tells with your eyes, how you position yourself...even how the crowd is yelling in a certain way. And...you can’t hide anything like that from me…I’ll know when you hesitate that slight little bit…oh boy you CAN’T hide from someone like me.
The champion is now getting a little fired up as he starts to peel off his jacket, a glint of anger in his eyes.
Seth Iser:
You’re also not the only one ‘getting in shape’ as you bragged because look at THIS!
With that Seth peels off his nicely dressed shirt and throws it off. The arms are even more toned as he’s put on a little more muscle without disrupting his form. He then snatches the MWE World Heavyweight Title and shows it to the camera with full aggression.
Seth Iser:
Not only am I the greatest mind...I keep honing my body to execute what my mind always sees! Why work so hard even when you’re at the top? BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING IS GOD DAMN IT! IT’S WHY I’M THE WORLD CHAMPION! NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR BULLSHIT EXCUSES! I’m the FUCKING MAN!
He lets out a roar for a moment before the sneer creeps back onto his face.
Seth Iser:
I’ve mastered making others fight left handed in a way they’ve never experienced in their lives. Even in my exhausted state from that cage...Glory couldn’t find a way to get by me even with her trying to jump me to start it all. And in your entire career Duke...I’ll be your first true experience DEALING with that proposition. No more word play...no more of your deflection bullshit. Hell, no more excuses for you. You lose...no matter how you lose, that’s it. You’re done. Even if it comes in a manner YOU never suspected.
The man has put himself back under control through those hot emotions that make his biceps show more veins.
Seth Iser:
And after tonight...it’ll be our turn. Pierce and I have our own ambitions to further ourselves, further pro wrestling, and further our own brand. For WE are the Triumvirate...the minds that have become synonymous with the sport! And it’s about time WE reminded all of YOU who the hell we truly are when we beat two of the best wrestlers in the world and there won’t be a damn thing Glory, Duke, or God o mighty himself can do about it!
Pierce takes a moment to soak in the passion that Seth Iser displayed. A smirk breaks out on his face. Then he looks at the collection of championships, he reaches for the MENTV Championship.
Pierce Manning:
Glory, you asked me was I more interested in a war of a good ole fashioned wrestling match. I meant what I said, I want to go out there and wrestle. This championship right here is when I truly appreciated the art of pro wrestling for the first time. Being MENTV Champion. Knowing I had to go out there, compete for fifteen minutes, it wasn’t enough for me to wait around for the time limit to expire. I needed to win. Doing so granted me a chance achieve my hightest honor, being the Riot Champion. I knew what I needed to do. I had to evolve. I needed to out smart and out wrestle one of Sandstorm Incs former goons, one bastard who had an issue with the love of my life. I had to defend this against the former holder of the Invictus Championship. As you’ve seen recently, Echo is a tough broad. I beat her twice. She wore a championship beholden to the rules that would limit most wrestlers. You think a scumbag like Henri could outwrestle me?
Pierce scoffs at the notion.
Pierce Manning:
He hasn’t yet. Though it was a lifetime ago, you haven’t beaten me one-on-one, and that was before I became The Man I am today. Are you really certain you want to lock up with a man of my caliber?
Pierce rests the MENTV Championship on the table. He takes a deep breath.
Pierce Manning:
The competitor in you will say yes. Fair to say with as many battles the both of us have been through throughout our time in MWE, I know you quite well. With the utmost confidence I can tell you beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt you are going to come up short. Whether its tonight or some other night, there is one thing I want more than anything. And that is to get Henri Black out of my hare forever. You are merely standing in the way of that. The depths I am annoyed by that son of a bitch reaches no end. I appreciate him finally opening his eyes to how good I am, I didn’t appreciate him laying me out!!
Pierce slams his hand on the table.
Pierce Manning:
I am sick and tired of your freaking bosom buddy. If I need to go through to get to him, SO FUCKING BE!
Pierce shoots out his chair. He takes off his suit jacket and tosses it to the floor.
Pierce Manning:
Glory, tonight we wrestle. Easy, I don’t hate you. Annoyed sometime? Yes. Not hate! Henri... well... after we’re done Glory, I plan to go to war with him. I am looking forward to the day I don’t have to share a locker room with that man... again.
Pierce thumps his chest a couple of times before returning to his seat.
Seth Iser:
Henri...you are on notice. Glory, nothing personal. And Duke? There’s no running from the truth. We are the standard that everyone wants to achieve and they’d change anything just from interacting with me to get there. Everyone wishes to be here...few ever get to this damn point. We’re true agents of change within this entire industry! It’s where Al and BROOKFORD are about to go to war to have the opportunity to build on what I did prior and they’ll go through hell to do it.
And then Seth’s face contorts to a frown for a brief moment as he’s firmly in control.
Seth Iser:
But the gold on this table...will increase again in due time and mean even more because we’ll define it that way. For we are two thirds of the Triumvirate...the brains of professional wrestling. And everyone else...is formulating a plan to make their best case or second best.
With that last statement the two now jacketless men almost do a cheers with gold they’ve both won in the past while Seth puts the current MWE World Championship over his broad shoulder.
Singles Match
Glory Braddock VS Pierce ManningThis match starts off surprisingly with just simple chain wrestling from the two well-versed technical wrestlers. Nothing dirty or cheap from the outset. After a few minutes of this chain wrestling, counter after counter, with neither gaining an edge, Pierce decided to turn it ugly with a right hand that decked The British Bombshell. A lariat to the back of Glory’s neck drops her and she rolls to the outside. Pierce goes out after her and whips her violently into the steel steps. He charges in with a knee to Glory while she’s propped up against the steps. He rolls her back into the ring and drops her with a hangman’s neck breaker. He covers but only gets two. Pierce applies a neck vice. Glory fights back to her knees and then back to her feet. Pierce changes to a side headlock. Glory breaks it with elbows to the gut and then connects with a step up enziguri. Glory with a dragon screw to Pierce and then turns him over into a single leg crab. Pierce fights to the ropes and eventually reaches them. Glory with another dragon screw. Glory locks in Glorify Thy Name. Pierce again muscles his way to the ropes. Glory attempts to lock in Glorify Thy Name again but Pierce counters by kicking off shoulder first into the steel ring post. Pierce with a rotating belly to back suplex side slam. Pierce with a diving knee drop and a cover and a two count. Pierce with another hangman’s neck breaker. Pierce with a neck vice reapplied. Glory fights her way back to her feet and Pierce knees her in the gut. He runs off the ropes and goes for a lariat but Braddock counters into a crossface chicken wing. Pierce struggles in the hold but refuses to quit. Glory mounts him to get more leverage on the hold. Pierce falls backward, landing hard on Glory and forcing the break. Pierce pulls Braddock up and sets her up for To Be The Man but Glory slips out of it and catches him with Gloria In Excelsis Deo! The cover from Braddock but Pierce gets his shoulders up! Glory pulls Pierce up and goes for Glorification but Pierce pushes her off and catches on the rebound with a power slam. Pierce drops her with To Be The Man! The cover...1….2...Glory gets her foot on the ropes but referee Charles misses it...3! WINNER: Pierce Manning BY: Pinfall (TBTM), 13:28 |
15 Minutes Of Fame Match
Xavier Laroux VS LunaThe match stars with Luna and Xavier talking, throwing out jabs and such from their past interactions. Luna running down his poor choice of attire while posing for the crowd with hers. X goes right for a quick roll up but only gets two as Luna is fuming and it goes nowhere as he restrains her in a double arm chicken wing. Luna avoids a facebuster by rolling through and locks in a pin of her own. X quickly kicks out, then gives chase to Luna who rolls outside. Luna quickly runs around the ring and slides back in, hoping to get a stiff kick in but Xavier catches it. Laroux spins Luna around and goes for the bulldog, with Luna slipping out and slaps Xavier hard across the face for daring to try and plant her face in the mat. X chimes back with a quip of his own, catches Luna's second, malicious slap and back flips over to finally hit Luna with a back suplex. Luna manages to kick out and rolls to the ropes to force a rope break. Xavier checks the time and that allows Luna to slip down behind him for an attempted O'Connor roll with Xavier managing to roll through for the pin, and Luna kicks out. Luna manages to hit Xavier with a boot right to the face to fend him off, then she hits back with Starstorm to put Xavier in the corner. Luna takes up a full minute of her 15 Minutes of Fame stomping, punching, chopping, and choking Xavier out in the corner. She takes a certain amount of pleasure for the repeated rib kicks she gets to dish out while he's down. Luna goes as far as locking in an octopus stretch for the cameras and sees her opponent fade. She happily shouts at him to tap or nap, but then she sees him come back to life. She tries to undo the move but Xavier keeps hold of her and wheelbarrow suplexes Luna over. Before she can get to the rope, he leaps over her and comes between her and the ropes. Laroux grapples onto Luna who thrashes about but still takes a second suplex. Now Xavier poses for the camera as he holds Luna upside down for a stalling suplex, only he spots the time, and lands a quick pin, yet Luna kicks out. Trying to figure out how to end it, as Luna escapes his finisher and takes a full 9 count to return while she fixes her hair, Xavier catches Luna with a dropsault only for Luna to grab both legs and squats to complete a Boston crab, forcing Xavier to watch the clock kick down. He crawls on his knuckles with vigor to grab the rope and Luna let's go of him, demanding a sanitary wipe because of his gross sweat. Luna tries to finish things off with Stardom but Xavier now escapes it. He elbows Luna off but grabs her hair to let her stay on the apron. Luna demands a disqualification but the official begins the count. Xavier tries to get Luna back into the ring but is ultimately forced to let go of her, and Luna gets to the outside to check her hair hasn't been mangled and ruined. Xavier throws caution to the wind and crossbodies Luna, rolling as they land to lift her up and slide her in the ring. Luna rolls away quickly and tells the referee she's had an issue with her outfit unclipping. Like a gentleman he gives Luna the space to reattach it and Xavier is annoyed as the clock keeps ticking. Once Luna finally fixes things, she sees there's not much time left. Luna decides to go for a series of strike and move away, keeping Xavier guessing and not letting him grab her. He ducks a high kick and just gets an arm on Luna when she uses a krav maga move of twisting it and a sudden strike to the back of the shoulder. Xavier heads into the ropes as Luna gets a warning for the move, believing her intent was to injure Xavier there and Luna arguing back she reacted out of instinct. Laroux tries to get the win off a DDT but Luna manages to push him off and then grab the ropes. Laroux sees how little is left and tries for a German suplex but Luna's got both hands on the ropes. Xavier sees the time and runs into Luna, squashing her against the ropes to break her grips and then looks for a roll up only Luna rolls through this time, 1 second left, she chooses to get some distance as the match goes the full distance. WINNER: Luna BY: Time Limit, 15:00 |
Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
Echo © VS Tiana Petrova-HammondEcho apparently has had a bone to pick with Tiana ever since the young russian-american graduated from The Academy. Or, we should say, since Yulia Kirilenko showed interest in her talent, asking her to join her at the Chicago Fight Lab. The first ever Gold Star used the title shot guaranteed by her A Grade contract to try to be the one to end Echo’s reign and, more importantly, her impressive streak. The bell sounded and Echo approached the opponent, offering her a free shot. Tiana wasn’t buying it and told her to stop playing and take her, and the match, seriously. But the Aussie was serious, and insisted that Tiana hit her first. This time the young wrestler indulged the champion and hit her with a punch straight to the jaw that made Echo reconsider her choice. The blow sent her all the way to the ropes, bouncing back into Tiana’s flying armbar, the same move she broke JJ’s arm with. The Junior Heavyweight champion quickly reached for the ropes and interrupted the submission. Tiana let her go and smiled confidently, showing with her thumb and index how close she went to make the champion tap out. In the front row, Yulia applauded the submission, not so much the following taunt. Echo got up to her feet and went straight to lock horns with the Russian-American, overpowering and forcing her into the corner. The referee asked for a break which was, surprisingly, granted by the defending champion. But as soon as she let the opponent go, Echo charged her arm and delivered a hard knife edge chop that left Tiana winded. Echo then followed with a series of hard knees to the chest and lifted the young girl for a brainbuster. The following cover attempt was unnecessarily cocky and it allowed Tiana to kick out easily. The Russian-American blocked another suplex attempt and tried to lift the champion for one of her own, but Echo shifted her bodyweight to land behind Ti's shoulders, pulling her by the hair into a backbreaker. Throughout the match Echo talked to her opponent, provoking her by saying that if she ever wants to accomplish anything in her career, she needs to stay away from Yulia and Damien. As much as Tiana was trying to stay focused, those words were getting to her, causing her to flinch before delivering the jumping knee strike that would've floored the champion. When she delivered it, Echo took a step to the side and sent Tiana missing with her shot. The Aussie was quickly behind her, locking the BJJ purple belt in a full nelson hold. Tiana struggled to get free,and just when it seemed she had found a way out of the hold, the Junior Heavyweight champion lifted her in the air and violently dropped her on the canvas. Tiana kicked out in two and got thrown into the corner by Echo who then charged with a running back elbow. Echo then put Tiana on the top turnbuckle and hung her upside down in the tree of woe position The Aussie then took a head start to deliver a dropkick to the face before she tried to choke her with a foot to the neck. Echo tried to keep pressure on the younger opponent with more hard strikes, but the first ever Gold Star blocked one of her punches and took her down with an armdrag. She then worked on that arm with a few knee drops and some submission holds but Echo eventually broke free thanks to her strength advantage. Back to her feet, she rocked Tiana with a flurry of rapid fire headbutts before throwing her against the ropes. On the rebound, she caught her for The Reverb, but Tiana was able to turn that into another flying armbar. Echo groaned in pain, caught completely off guard by Tiana’s beautiful counter. Her attempts to escape the submission were all in vain, the pain the Russian-American was inflicting almost becoming unbearable. With one last effort Echo was able to escape, turning the armbar into a powerbomb and breaking free of the hold. She stomped the young girl down and tossed her around with a few saito suplexes, the last one of which sent Tiana near the corner. Echo left the ring and wrapped her legs around the steel post, using it to put her into an illegal submission she could only keep for five seconds before being forced to let go. Echo used the remaining time to slam that same leg onto the post a few times before getting back inside the ring and proceeding to stomp at it. She even grabbed the foot and kicked her behind the knee, violently driving her leg down on the mat and jumping on her ankle. It was a lot of punishment delivered to that leg, all to set her up for the heel hook. Tiana tried to resist but, with nowhere left to go, she had no choice but to give up before getting injured. WINNER: Echo (STILL JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION) BY: Submission (Heel Hook), 14:28 |
The match was over, Echo was the winner and the referee handed her back the title. She raised it in the air, right in Yulia’s face. But the former Riot General Manager didn’t even look at her, her eyes were on Tiana who was, proudly, pulling herself up to her feet. As Echo realized that, she went for Ti’s leg once again and put her into another heel hook. The boos rose instantly, louder than ever in this first night of wrestling covering the referee's plea to let her go. Yulia tried to hop the barricade but the overzealous security blocked her. The ref’s request became a threat, either she let her go or he would’ve reserved his decision, awarding the win by DQ to Tiana. But Echo ignored him and kept trying to break her limb. Out came Trinity Thompson to rescue her best friend, sliding inside the ring and stomping the Junior Heavyweight Champion until she broke the submission. Echo was quickly up on her feet to fight back, but Trinity didn’t look intimidated, throwing a wild superkick in the champ’s direction. Echo dodged it and decided, for this time, to let go. Thompson didn’t trust her and kept her eyes on her all the time until the paramedic began checking on the Russian-American
Riot Championship Match
Henri Black © VS Bryan FordNo chance in hell that Bryan Ford was 100% walking into his match tonight. After the terrific injury sustained on the Mainstream show a few weeks ago, the Innovator Of Greatness spent a long time in a hospital, only getting dismissed barely in time to get cleared for tonight’s event. Black didn’t cut him any slack and went on the attack right after the opening bell, throwing stiff punches at Ford. The Mainstream superstar pulled up his arms to protect his head, leaving his side exposed to a vicious knee strike from the Australian, who doubled down on the challenger ribs with a rib breaker followed by a series of stomps. Bryan rolled out of the way and stood up to his feet, locking up with the Riot champion. They got right into it trading holds, Black got the IOG in a wrist lock but the challenger rolled out of it and snapmared the Blackstar. After a hard kick to the back, Bryan went for a quick pin with a lateral press, from which Henri easily kicked out, Ford grabbed the opponent by the hair and dragged him up to his feet..Irish whip by the challenger who leapfrogged over the running champion and dropkicked him as he came back off the ropes.,Bryan then performed a beautiful standing moonsault but Black had him scouted and pulled up his knees, inflicting more damage to the man’s ribcage. Once again the Aussie shoved the opponent in the corner and ate an elbow to the face as he charged him. Ford hoisted himself up to the top rope and flew onto him with a diving crossbody, obtaining a two count. Black got up and Ford knocked him back to the mat with a clothesline, Henri picked himself up one more time just to get knocked down again. The third time he managed to duck the clothesline and take another run to the ropes bouncing off to catch Bryan with a devastating bicycle kick, giving him a taste of his own medicine with the Blackstar’s version of the Bford And After. The Host didn’t appreciate the tribute, quickly popping up to his feet and saying something to the opponent before poking him in the eyes and doubling him over with a kick to the stomach, returning the courtesy by using Henri’s spike ddt against him. As much of a psychological warfare as it was a physical contest, this match kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Henri wasn’t the most popular guy on the roster, but he was defending the title against someone who wasn’t even part of the roster and that was enough to draw the crowd on his side. Black exploited the home field advantage and the far from impeccable form of his opponent to control the central phase of the match. His attacks were everything the doctors had told Ford to avoid, hard strikes to the head. Brainbusters, DDTs, Pilerdrivers and even the Black Sacrament hit the mark, leaving Bryan dazed. Henri taunted the opponent in his moment of greater difficulty, asking if that was all he got. It was almost as if, in his own twisted way, he was trying to get him to react. If that was the case, he got what he wanted eventually. Right when he had Bryan on his shoulders for the Para Bellum, the Innovator Of Greatness rolled forward and pinned him down with a victory roll. Despite the name, victory didn’t come with that move as Ford only got a two out of it. Both competitors got to their feet and the champion was quick to get back on the attack. Bryan this time dodged the punch aimed at the side of his head and caught Black with an uppercut to the chin, causing him to stumble back a couple of feet. Bryan lit up the champ’s chest with some knife edge chops before going for an irishj whip, countered by Black who sent the IOG for a run against the ropes. As he came back, Bryan had to duck once again under the Australian’s clothesline to continue his run and hit the ropes one more time to blast Black with the Bford And After. He quickly made the pin, but the bicycle kick wasn’t enough to keep the Blackstar down. What it did though was turning the tables, putting the challenger on a position of advantage. The second generation wrestler was going all out in his attempt to end Henri’s reign,relying on a combination of power moves such as the spinebuster and a top rope belly to belly suplex and aerial attacks such as the shooting star press that almost got the job done. Finding it extremely difficult to put the champion down for good, Bryan went for his nuclear solution, a move he rarely pulls and usually saves for the biggest occasions. And beating his long time rival for Riot’s top prize was definitely one. He jumped on the ropes for a springboard moonsault, looking to complete the Season Finale with the inverted ddt. As rare as this move was, Henri had it scouted, or perhaps it was his natural instinct that kicked in allowed him to block the attempt, switch behind Bryan’s back and connect with the first of his trademark three german suplexes. After the third one hit, Henri quickly followed up with the Black Diamond. The stiff knee knocked Bryan dizzy and then it was easy for the Riot champion to set him up for the Para Bellum and retain his title. WINNER: Henri Black (STILL RIOT CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (Para Bellum), 16:37 |
MWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Submission Only
Eliza Foley © VS Helena NoirSubmission Only
Amy Maynard: “Submission only rules for this IC title match against two of the best technical wrestlers in the company.” Sir Figgles: “Oh great. Wake me up when this snoozefest ends.” Amy Maynard: “”I doubt you’ll get bored but hey, at least I don’t have to hear you complaining all the time.” Sir Figgles: “I’m glad we have an understanding. Good night.” The referee brought both competitors to the centre of the ring and reminded them of the rules of this match. Only a submission can end this contest, no pinfalls and no count outs either. The two women stared into one another’s eyes as the official spoke, each of them looking extremely focused and determined. As the bell finally rang, officially starting the match, Helena extended her hand toward Eliza, offering a handshake. Foley hesitated for a moment and then shook it, wishing her opponent good luck and cheekily adding that she was going to need it. Noir didn’t react, keeping her cool and her eyes on the opponent. When the champion pulled back her hand, she didn’t let her go. She didn’t pull her into a kick or a clothesline as many would legitimately think she would, nor yanked her into an arm drag takedown. She just remained still, that icy stare still locked on the Intercontinental Champion. Eliza suddenly threw a heavy right hand, Noir returned with a heavy right of her own. The two traded punches back and forth, then the former MWE champ picked up the pace and laid in continuous blows to the opponent, backing the Swede into the turnbuckle with her punches. The Mysterious Girl wasn’t letting up, but her flurry of offence was cut short by a knee to the stomach by Helena who then started recovering ground, bombarding Eliza with several forearm strikes and pushing her back toward the middle of the ring where she knocked her down with a jumping knee. The crowd was fired up from the fast action as Helena was now taunting Eliza, urging her to get up. When she did, the former Liberty Champion went for a bicycle kick that was dodged by Foley who grabbed hold of that leg and took Noir down, locking her into a tight submission. Amy Maynard: “Here we go, the first submission attempt of the match, and it’s an ankle lock. Simple, elegant and very effective. A true classic, wouldn’t you agree, Figgles?” Sir Figgles: “...” Amy Maynard: “Fig..?” Sir Figgles: “...” Amy Maynard: “I can’t believe you’re really pretending you’re sleeping..” Unlike the Riot commentator, the fans seemed to appreciate the long neverending sequences of mat wrestling the two engaged in. Jockeying for position, the two traded holds for several minutes, trying to gain control rather than going for the big submission to score the win. But the momentum kept changing between the two, none of them seemed able to establish dominance for too long before the other found a counter. Foley had Noir in a front chancery trying to cut the flux of oxygen for the Swede who fought back and pushed herself to her feet. Eliza then quickly switched to a Muay Thai clinch and delivered a few knee to the Revenant’s face, leaving her stunned. Foley then followed with a single knee facebreaker. And now that Helena was down, the Intercontinental champion went back to another neck submission. Amy Maynard: “Eliza apparently changed strategy, she’s no longer going for the leg but she’s focusing on the neck instead.” Sir Figgles: “....” Helena escaped the neck crank and began fighting back with some elbows to the ribs, freeing herself from the champion’s grasp. But Eliza recovered quickly and hit her with a discus forearm to the jaw that sent Helena back into the ropes. Noir rebounded from the ropes and bounced right into a superkick to the midsection from the champion and dropped to her knees. Eliza moved behind the Swede’s back, locking her into a dragon sleeper. Amy Maynard: “This is it! It’s Eliza’s patented submission called Say My Name! If she can get the body scissors locked in, this could be over!” Sir Figgles: “It’s over? Great, congratulations to whoever won!” Amy Maynard: “It’s not over yet but…” Sir Figgles: “Ugh, you woke me up for nothing…” Helena was expecting it and had prepared a counter, managing to slip out of the champion’s grasp and drop her on her neck with a quick german suplex..Eliza tried to get back up, but Noir then sprung off the ropes to hit a sliding forearm smash into the champ. The challenger now mounted on top of the champion and rained down punches to her face. With one smooth movement she transitioned into an Anaconda Vise, trying to choke the life out of Eliza. The champion started squirming in an attempt to break out of the tight hold, but Helena kept control, leaving Foley no choice but to start a retreat toward the ropes. And she eventually got there, finally getting out of the chokehold. Amy Maynard: “That just shows how dangerous Helena can be. She almost got Eliza here!” Sir Figgles: “I hoped so. But I can never have nice things, apparently.” Amy Maynard: “They say that nice things happen to nice people so… No, you don’t fit in.” The prolonged time in Helena’s grasp took its toll on the champion, who was struggling to breathe for the following minutes. Noir exploited this moment to do more damage to the neck and back of Foley, playing on those old injuries that kept her out of action for almost a year. The Swede connected a backbreaker/neckbreaker combination before going to sit on Eliza’s back with a camel clutch. For a long minute Eliza’s reign seemed to have arrived to its conclusion but the Mysterious Girl finally made it out of the submission. In a world of pain, but still with a chance to fight. And she did, going back to target the legs of the former Liberty champion, partially thanks to a mistake from the tattooed woman who missed with her Dalecarlian Horse, hitting the empty turnbuckle instead of Eliza’s face. That opened the way to Foley’s comeback, the target becoming obviously that right knee. Direct shots to the inner part as well as submissions both legal and illegal such as the ring post figure four that caused the challenger to scream in agony. She could only keep it for five seconds, but they were enough to do a lot of damage to Helena's leg. Foley wasn't satisfied though and before sliding back inside the ring she slammed Noir's leg against the steel post a few more times. Amy Maynard: "A brutal assault from Eliza, and now she has Helena right where she wanted her." Sir Figgles: "Thank the Wrestling Gods this one's over and we can finally move to better things.” Amy Maynard: “Look at this, Eliza is relentless. She’s still stomping at Helena’s knee… The kneebar! She locked her in a knee bar!” A ruthless submission under normal circumstances, Eliza's choice seemed like a safe bet to make Noir tap out, more so after all the punishment delivered to that knee. That only made the Revenant's feat more incredible, and when she finally reached the ropes she was honored with a round of applause by the fans. Foley looked frustrated as she kept the submission locked in to exploit the five extra seconds. As she eventually relinquished the hold, the referee stepped between the two competitors to check on the Swede. Helena wasn't giving up, no matter how much the leg was hurting. Visibly limping, she slowly walked to the middle of the ring where Eliza was waiting for her with a smile on her face. Foley taunted Noir inviting her to attack, which she did by throwing a kick to the side with the bad leg. Sir Figgles: Dumb move by the challenger. She just threw herself back into the lion's den." Eliza blocked the leg easily and prepared herself to take Noir down with a dragon screw leg whip, the former Liberty Champion jumped and connected an enziguri with her good leg. The champion was stunned, stumbling back visibly rocked by the sudden kick. A second one followed, hitting her in the stomach and doubling her over. With great effort Helena was able to apply the front facelock and lift Eliza just enough to plant her on her head with the cradle ddt, keeping pressure on the trachea with a guillotine choke. Amy Maynard: “The Fondu Au Noir! That’s the move that gave Helena two Liberty titles in New York, and it could add another piece of gold to her palmares! Sir Figgles: “I don’t really care, as long as we can get this over with.” Too bad for Figgles, Eliza had no intention to give up and tried her best to get out of the choke or, at least, reach the ropes. A valiant effort that prolonged this match, and her reign, for a couple more minutes. But eventually. she passed out before giving up. WINNER: Helena Noir (NEW MWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION) BY: Submission (Fondu Au Noir), 19:37 |
Amy Maynard: “She did it! We have a new champion! What an impact Helena has made since coming back to MWE””
Sir Figgles: ”Yes! Awesome! I’m so happy! That means we can finally move to the main event, right?”
Wild Fire’s “Revolt” blasted through the loudspeakers and out came the briefcase holder, Gareth Prichard Jr.
Amy Maynard: “I guess not… That’s Gareth and it looks like he’s cashing in…”
Sir Figgles: “Tell me it’s not another damn submission match…”
Sir Figgles: ”Yes! Awesome! I’m so happy! That means we can finally move to the main event, right?”
Wild Fire’s “Revolt” blasted through the loudspeakers and out came the briefcase holder, Gareth Prichard Jr.
Amy Maynard: “I guess not… That’s Gareth and it looks like he’s cashing in…”
Sir Figgles: “Tell me it’s not another damn submission match…”
MWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Helena Noir © VS Gareth Prichard Jr.Amy Maynard: "It's happening folks.. Gareth could be moments away from winning his first title in MWE! But what a bitter end of the night this will be for Helena!" Sir Figgles:"The Briefcase cash in can be cruel for the victim, but from a fan point of view? They are one of the most exciting things." Helena looked like she was expecting this. After all, this was one of the last opportunities for TAFKA Neal Durden to use the Briefcase he won one year ago on one of the titles on the line at Glory Horizons, and the IC champion was the most prestigious one he could aim for. Of course she wasn't happy with having to put the title she just won on the line, well aware that, after the grueling match she had just been through and considering her knee was in quite a bad shape, this was going to be an uphill battle for her. Gareth wasted no time and went straight for the leg, trying to breach through the Champion's guard. Helena was on the defensive, doing her best not to give Gareth any angle to reach for her weak spot. She was able to connect with a few kicks with the opposite leg, one of which gave her an opening to connect a neckbreaker and pick up a near fall. But eventually Gareth caught her foot and delivered a few elbow strikes to the already damaged knee. And then, taking her down and locking her in his kneebar was a matter of moments. Noir screamed in pain and looked ready to tap out right away, which would’ve been the smartest course of action. But something kicked in her, maybe it was the champion’s instinct, the never give up attitude or just the will to not let go of the title she just won yet, but Helena fought through the pain, somehow managing to reach the ropes. The referee immediately asked for the break, but Gareth didn’t let go. A little disappointed, the referee started the count expecting a clean break from the once upon a time upstanding competitor. But this was a different Gareth, and he didn’t release the hold. Not even when the referee reached five, demanding that he’d stop. But Prichard kept the submission locked in, leaving the referee no choice but to disqualify him. WINNER: Helena Noir (STILL MWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION) BY: DQ, 2:13 |
It’s relatively quiet inside the locker room. Not a lot of moving in and out. The wooden lockers inside the XL Center in Hartford Connecticut show the brand new red and black singlet hanging from the brass hook. The red boots stashed in the upper shelf of the same locker. Duke Andrews sat with his hands folded across his chest. The gold Rolex on his wrist reflected the yellow lights inside the room.
Duke Andrews:
Last time that I checked, the momentum is in my court, Iser. Last time that I checked, it was me that had the upper hand in this little feud that we’ve got. Last time that I checked, I had you on your heels in almost every sense of the term. And that’s not just because I’m better than you, no. You know that what you’ve been preaching for months is true. I know it. Grace knows it. Elsa and Vince knows it. The locker room knows it. And that part deep down actually fucking scares you, doesn’t it?”
He leaned forward. The cream colored dress shirt, donning small red roses all over, hanging loose from his chest, yet still firm around his biceps.
Duke Andrews:
You actually pulled off something that I needed. The ol’ hustle and motivate. You got in my ear, made me doubt myself when I had you dead to rights in that bar room brawl. I took my eyes off the prize for one second and it was over. And then I went away. I sank back to the back of the line. I became obsessed. I had to become obsessed. I needed to be obsessed. And you kept chirping. You kept trying to hustle and motivate. Thinking it was going to the straw that finally broke me. And I fought you on it. Millennium live in Grand Rapids and I beat you in the ring. And I had to wait my time. So what happened? I took on the best names in this company and disposed of them like yesterday’s trash. Brookford, Reeves, and everyone else. Yet you still sat there trying to hustle and motivate.
He lets out a deep sigh from his nostrils. Looking down at the floor for a moment as he clasps his hands together. Slowly his eyes raised, deadpan into the camera.
Duke Andrews:
It became all about the dedication. They say that you need to look the part if you want to be the part. They say you dress for the job you want. They say you dress good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good. And yet, all along you were right. I was trying to be like you. You were the top dog in this company. Every single member of this roster, Iser, wants that spot. They want the cash that comes with it. They want the name in the marquee. They want the glitz and the glamour of being the man. So you’re right Seth. You’re fucking right. And what has that gotten you? Nothing.
His cold stare turns to a slight smirk.
Duke Andrews:
I’ve been grinding all my life. I’ve been told I’d be nothing more than a midcard. I’ve been told I had the look but not the talent. Fuck that Seth. And fuck you. You believe in that same bullshit rhetoric. You’ve told yourself that enough times to let you actually believe that. Yet here I am. Grinding. Grinding all my life. Continue to tell me that I’m not good enough. Continue to tell yourself that you’re out of my league. It ain’t gonna be a fluke Seth. Let that sink in. It. Ain’t. Gonna. Be. A. Fluke. I’ve been grinding all my life and I ain’t stopping now.
He leaned back once more in the seat.
And just like Nippsey it’s time for that victory lap. After the show goes off the air, I’m promising you that I will be the last one standing. I’ll be holding the fifteen pound of gold and leather. You wanted a pure wrestling match. You think you’re going to out wrestle the best wrestler in the world? That’s fine. Remember. It’s my victory lap.
MWE World Championship Match
Pure Rules Match
Seth Iser © VS Duke AndrewsPure Rules Match
Peyton Holland: “It’s time for the main event, ladies and gentlemen. The MWE World Championship is on the line once again between the defending champion, Seth Iser and his challenger Duke Andrews.” Amy Maynard: “We thought we had seen the last chapter of this rivalry between the two veterans at Dark Web III, in that brutal Bar Room Brawl match, But Duke found a way to earn another shot at the biggest prize in the company, beating Seth in a non title match in his hometown in Grand Rapids.” Amy Maynard: “That match you mentioned has been a turning point for Andrews. After losing to Iser in a match he campaigned for so heavily, something clicked in the Epitome Of Perfection, who dropped most of the shenanigans he relied on to win matches to focus on the one thing he believes he’s better than the champion in. Wrestling.” Sir Figgles: “You know, those are some nice words you used, Ambra. But at the end of the day, Duke is about to step in the ring with the Dirtiest Player In The Game, the Deity Of Destruction, the MWE World champion. This is no place for tiptoeing.” And neither man had intention to do so, starting things off with the most classic of the locks up in the center of the ring. Seth swung Duke around as they tangled up in a clinch. Andrews stuck his right foot behind Iser’s right heel then gave him a shove to trip up the champion. Duke then dove on top of Seth and began raining down lefts and rights to his face.This initial aggression fired up the fans who oddly got behind the challenger, at least part of them. The others, for equally unexplainable reasons, were firmly behind Iser who managed to sling shot the challenger off. The Epitome Of Perfection quickly stood up to his feet and prepared to defend himself from Seth’s counterattack. He was able to duck the first punches thrown at him, blocking a kick to the stomach and clubbing the champion with a straight shot to the jaw that sent Iser reeling back. Andrews charged in to capitalize but he was met with a discus forearm shot so hard that it shoved Duke back into the ropes. On the rebound the world champ picked him up and dropped him hard on the canvas with his Pillar Of Truth. Peyton Holland: “Solid start from the champion tonight. He resisted Duke’s initial outburst and quickly turned things around.” Amy Maynard: “And now he’s in control. Look at the way he already slowed down the pace.” If Duke thought he could outwrestle him, Seth was keen to test that theory, putting the opponent in a number of rest holds, keeping him grounded. Andrews almost found a way out of a headlock but Seth surprised him with a punch to the ribs before taking him back down on the mat. The frustration on the challenger was evident as he slammed his fist on the canvas. Unable to get out of this tight grip, Duke decided to spend one of the rope breaks to end this moment of dominance from the champ. As they got back to their feet, Iser reminded Duke that he only had two rope breaks left. Ambra Monroe: “I wonder if Duke was aware about the rules of the match or if he momentarily forgot when he decided to reach the ropes.Under the Pure Rules, he only has three ropes breaks.” Sir Figgles: “Well, now he only has two. And you can bet that someone like Seth will make the best of it.” Andrews finally got up only to have Iser grab him up from behind into a side headlock, looking to repeat the same takedown as before. This time Duke countered it and pushed Seth off and toward the ropes, where the champion bounced off to come directly back at Andrews full speed ahead! The challenger ducked the clothesline and forced Iser to continue his run As he bounced back a second time, Duke caught him up with a huge spinebuster, showing off his strength. The impressive feat only gave the challenger a two count, but it turned the tables allowing Duke to go on the attack. He made it a matter of principle and tried to prove to Iser that he was just as skilled on the mat, applying a series of holds that lasted almost as much as Seth’s one, even though the champion didn’t need a rope break to get out of it, freeing himself with a belly to back suplex. Andrews got back to his feet to find Seth charging at him. He couldn’t avoid the impact, the massive shoulder tackle dropped him down on the mat. Duke rolled under the bottom rope to regroup but the champion wasn’t going to let him catch a breath, picking him up by the hair and taking him back inside the ring with a brainbuster .Iser made another cover, but Duke extended his leg to reach the ropes with the foot. Peyton Holland: “And that’s number two. Duke only has one break left, while Seth can still count on all three.” Ambra Monroe: “It may not seem the case, after all you don’t need to run your opponent out of breaks to win the match, but this is a huge advantage for Seth. We could get to the point where he puts Duke in his Dream Eater and the Epitome Of Perfection won't have the chance to break it up by reaching the ropes." Amy Maynard: “That would be a bad spot for the challenger. Dream Eater is not just a fancy name for Seth’s most dangerous submission, it literally eats the dreams of glory of his opponents. I think the people who escaped it can be counted on two hands, those who did it without the help of the ropes? I’m not sure that club has any members as of yet.” Desperately needing to catch a break, Andrews hit the champion with a closed fist to the face, earning a warning from the official. And while the referee reminded him that repeating this infraction would result in a disqualification, Duke followed up with another closed fist to the side, this one allowed by the Pure Rules enforced in this match. More followed, hard shots to the floating ribs that caused Seth to groan in pain as he stumbled back into the corner. Duke insisted, driving his knee into the champion’s stomach a couple of times, letting go before risking another warning, or worse. He grabbed the champìs wrist instead and fired him into the opposite corner, connecting a running forearm to the jaw. Andrews lifted Seth on the top turnbuckle and climbed to attempt a superplex, but Iser fought back and knocked him down. The Connecticut fans witnessed what can be considered a rare sight, an aerial attack from the MWE World Champion who jumped from the top rope to drive a double axe handle on Duke’s skull, knocking him down for another near fall. Peyton Holland: “Every time Duke starts to build some momentum, Seth finds a way to take back control. It must be frustrating for the challenger.” Sir Figgles: “He needs to be patient. He’s in the best shape of his life, the longer this match goes, the better chances he has to come out on top.” For once Figgles was right. As the match reached the twenty minutes mark, Seth’s intensity diminished slightly leaving a small window of opportunity for Duke’s comeback. And the Epitome Of Perfection fully took it, hitting hard like a hammer[ with rapid fire forearm strikes followed by a lariat to take down the champion. Wasting no time, Andrews picked him up and whipped him in the corner, this time delivering a running boot to the face. Seth slid down against the corner, sitting on the mat perfectly placed for the Andrews’ Red Wing Stomps. The challenger followed up with the Killshot and quickly made the cover, a simple and somehow cocky lateral press without even hooking the leg. Seth didn’t have any difficulty in reaching out with his foot and touching the rope, interrupting the count. And when the referee made him notice it, the challenger smiled. Ambra Monroe: “Would you look at that, Duke just forced Seth to use his first rope break.” Amy Maynard: “And he’s not done yet, he’s going for the Good Night now!” Andrews immediately put the champion in his submission finisher, and did so in the same part of the ring he tried to pin him moments ago. Iser quickly realized that his opponent’s goal was to force him to use another one of the three rope breaks and did his best to try to escape it counting on his ability alone. But Duke’s textbook choke didn’t give him much room to maneuver, and eventually Seth had to take the easy way out, sacrificing his second rope break to escape. Peyton Holland: “How quickly the tables have turned… Now both competitors are left with only one break to use.” Sir Figgles: “And look at Iser leaving the ring.. The champ is on the ropes, literally and figuratively. What did I tell you?” Seth rolled under the bottom rope to regroup, Duke chased him outside, reaching the champ with a couple of thunderous blows to the back. Iser stopped and turned around to throw a wild haymaker that caught Andrews right between the eyes and sent him stumbling backward. Ignoring the referee who kept asking them to get back inside the ring, the two behemoths kept trading punches dangerously close to the announcer’s table.. Sir Figgles: “Not today! Back off SETHan, in the name of Our Lord And Savior Jes..” Ambra Monroe: “You went to Alan’s sermon again, Figgles?” Sir Figgles: “You have a problem with that, heathen?” Ambra Monroe: “Between me and you? I believe he’s full of shit and I’m not buying in this sudden change of heart. Happy to be proven wrong, but I won’t believe it until I see it.” Sir FIggles: “Woman of little faith…” Figgles was, luckily, interrupted by Andrews flying on top of the table thanks to a huge uppercut from the World champion. Seth rained down a few more shots before trying to powerbomb the challenger through the table. Andrews fought back with a flurry of punches to the skull, managing to stop the attempt and break free. Driving the shoulder in the champion’s midsection, he pushed him back against the ring post. Seth’s head bounced against the steel, painting a painful expression on his bearded face. His opponent doubled it down with a few right hands before dropping him back first on the concrete with a suplex. Under Pure Rules, they had a twenty count to tear each other apart, but it wasn’t enough for Andrews who rolled in to interrupt the count and quickly slid back out to keep the onslaught going. They weren’t certainly holding back, trading stiff strikes and using their power to throw the opponent against any and every piece of furniture they got close to. Barricades, steel ramp, steps, apron and back again full circle to the announcer’s table that, once again, withstood the impact. Seth mumbled some unrepeatable words and picked up the opponent once again, putting his hand between his thighs and dropping him on the concrete with his Black Magic. Peyton Holland: “Oh my God, he just piledrived Duke on the floor!” Amy Maynard: “And now he’s heading back to the ring. Seth seems content with the count out win!” As unpopular among the fans this decision might be, it made a lot of sense. The match had been going for nearly thirty minutes now, a very physical battle especially in the last couple of minutes they spent on the outside against one of the hardest hitters in the company. And that took its toll on the veteran, who was in clear difficulty. Duke was in a far worse spot though, laying flat on his back and with only six seconds to break the count and make it inside the ring. And shockingly he did, crawling back in moments before the twenty. Seth wasted no time to make the cover, but Andrews wisely spent the third rope break to escape. At least for now. Ambra Monroe: “And here comes the Dream Eater, Seth’s infamous submission! This might be over for Duke!” Sir Figgles: “Come on Duke, the ropes are right there, you can do it!” Amy Maynard: “That would be pointless. WIth the Pure Rules in place, Seth doesn’t have to break the submission even if Duke’s foot is touching the ropes.” But a break wasn’t what Andrews was looking for. He put both feet on the ropes and, fighting through the pain, used them to roll over so that Seth’s shoulders were on the mat, forcing the champion to release the hold in order to kick out. Sir Figgles: “That was FUCKING brilliant!” Peyton Holland: “Credit where it’s due, that was a great counter from Duke. But he’s not out of the woods yet..:” Seth, visibly upset, dragged him up to his feet and after a couple of thunderous chops, he set him up for the Deprivation DDT. Duke desperately began to punch his ribs, eventually forcing Seth to let go. And even if his right arm was hurting, he could still use it to rock the champion with the Red White & Blue Combo.Seth went down like a ton of bricks, but still managed to pop a shoulder up before the three. Andrews felt the moment was favorable and kept attacking the champion, lifting him over his shoulders and driving him down with a ring shattering Andrews Effect. Amy Maynard: “And it connects! We have a new champi… NO!” Ambra Monroe: “I can’t believe he kicked out.. What’s going to take to keep Seth down?” Duke was asking himself the same question, more so after he delivered another Killshot and a Crossroads, all to no avail. Not only Seth wasn’t staying down, but he found the strength to make a comeback too. The two fighters once again were brawling in the middle of the ring, their blows slower but not for this any less strong than before. And in the middle of that exchange, out of nowhere, Seth reached the challenger with a knee to the stomach and planted him on the mat with the Deprivation DDT. The look on his face when Andrews kicked out right after the ref’s hand hit the mat for the second time was priceless, pure shock. Back and forth they went again, a shorter exchange this time ended by a jumping knee that shoved the champion into the corner. Duke then lifted him on the top rope and picked him on his shoulders, running to the center of the ring to connect a second Andrews Effect. And this time, Seth wasn’t able to kick out in time. WINNER: Duke Andrews (NEW MWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (Andrews Effect), 33:16 |