Post by gvb on Nov 16, 2021 17:05:48 GMT -6
MWE Presents: On The Rise Pre-Show (night 2)
Live from Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC
Sunday, November 14th, 2021
The Academy Pre-Show Match
Gold Star Triple Threat Match
Jasper King © VS Bey Addams VS Rainer NordhagenGold Star Triple Threat Match
Just like last night, the show opened with a pre-show match featuring some of the most promising students of the Academy. Tonight the MWE fans will get to see the two #1 draft for each team and the inaugural Gold Star fighting for the top prize. Gabriel Landry was surely keeping a close eye on this, having earned the right to challenge the winner. In the blink of an eye, Hollywood bursts out of his corner and charges towards Carter in the corner. Blindsiding him, Kaiden knocks Hollywood down to the mat with a running shoulder block. Rainer and Bey exchanged a quick glance. They may not be best of friends but they both agreed that Jasper would be much less of a threat if they took on him together rather than singularly. Addams walked up toward King, Nordhagen quickly blindsided her with a forearm to the back of the head, claiming that he needed no help to deal with the Farm Boy. He probably regretted it as an open hand chops from the King Of Pumpkins landed on his chest, leaving a red handprint on his pecs. The powerhouse then easily lifted the blonde man and bodyslammed him into the canvas. Adding some teathrics to his moveset, he flexed for the camera before showing off his biceps before dropping an elbow to the heart of the German-Australian. Addams came charging in and blasted Jasper with a single leg dropkick. The Stronk Boi rolled away from the action, clutching his face with both hands. Bey looked down at Rainer and, mindful of the recent betrayal, made him pay with a series of stomps before putting him into an armbar. Jasper saved the day with a kick to Bey’s shoulder, forcing her to break up the submission. Jasper was impressive tonight. Sure the size and power were definitely giving him a big advantage on the opponents, but he really took the stage tonight and dominated the first half of the match. Rainer and Bey eventually began to work together, this time without sudden betrayals and for a brief moment it looked like they could turn things around. They kicked Jasper’s legs, trying to take the Gold Star down. Not only he remained on his feet, he also grabbed the two opponents by the throat and lifted them in the air, dropping violently on the canvas with a double chokeslam. He also made a double cover, making a huge statement. Well, almost, since Addams and Nordhagen kicked out in two. The North Carolina fans had found their favorite in this match, cheering loudly for King who was now walking toward Bey who was recovering in the corner. Rainer attacked him from behind, taking out his leg with a chop block. Finally the giant was down to a knee, within range for a stiff knee to the face from Addams. Rainer kicked him to the back of the head, Bey doubled down with a kick to the sternum while Nordhagen hit the ropes to gain momentum and put more force on that running knee to the back of the head. Jasper was down, Addams made the cover but Rainer pulled her up before the count reached the one, claiming that it was his strike that knocked Jasper out and it was his pin to make. This could only end in a way, a heated exchange in the middle of the ring. With Jasper momentarily out, Bey and Rainer had their chance to shine and show off their talent. Bey, and coming from that family it couldn’t be otherwise, put on a clinic, smoothly transitioning from one hold to the next, showing shades of her brother Tapp in her display of technical wrestling. Here and there she showed some well executed suplexes, but she mostly prefered mat wrestling to counter Nordhagen’s speed. While not a high-flier, in fact, Rainer was very quick on his feet, thus giving him room to maneuver could be very dangerous. His kicks were swift and precise, hard to dodge for Addams. That wasn’t his only strength though, the young man was also technically gifted as the beautiful capture suplex testified.They went back and forth for a few minutes while the champ recovered, and both of them came really close to walk out with the gold. Jasper slowly came back to senses, picking himself up and leveling the two opponents with a double clothesline. The final moments of the match were something that kept the fans on the edge of their seats. Jasper threw Rainer out of the ring with a gorilla press slam, Bey took the Gold Star down with a drop toe hold and put him into a figure four, interrupted by Nordhagen who then dropped Bey on her head with a butterfly ddt. The referee’s hand stopped inches away from hitting the canvas a third time thanks to Jasper’s last minute save. Rainer hit a quick combo on the champion, kicks and forearms in rapid sequence leading up to a roundhouse kick for the grand finale. He hooked the leg for the cover but King kicked out in two. The German-Australian went for a bicycle knee strike but Jas dodged it and Nordhagen hit the turnbuckle with his knee. Bey hit King from behind, he turned around and powerbombed her into the mat. Despite having hurt his knee on the impact against the turnbuckle, Rainer pushed through the pain and hit a dropkick to the back of King, sending him stumbling over the top rope. He then limped into a cover, hooking both legs of Bey to secure the win. WINNER: Rainer Nordhagen (NEW GOLD STAR) BY: Pinfall, 14:46 |
MWE Presents: On The Rise (night 2)
Live from Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC
Sunday, November 14th, 2021
The scene opens backstage with Faizah Marshall already decked in her ring gear. TD Batterson, the tall looming presence Faiz hired to watch her back, stands in the background looking menacing as ever.
Faizah Marshall:
So you want a thank you, Trinity?
Faizah takes a moment to breathe. Once she exhales she completes her thought.
Faizah Marshall:
Thank you... for giving me the opportunity to settle this once and for all. Happy now?
Faizah Marshall rolls her eyes.
Faizah Marshall:
You don’t understand how hard this is for me. No surprise. You never cared about me in the first place. When I learned you were the one who cued up Tiff’s music to distract Faith, giving me the opening to become Gold Star Champion back in The Academy, did it cross your mind how much that broke my heart? You knew how important it was for me to beat Faith on my own without any controversy. My feelings never crossed your mind. All about your half sister, who cares about anyone else. I would be the least bit understanding if you showed actual remorse, whatever, you said it yourself, you don’t regret what you did. You don’t regret destroying our friendship. You can bring up me sabotaging JJ all you want. Your actions almost sabotaged my legacy.
TD rests a comforting hand on Faiz's shoulder realizing she is working herself up into an emotional wreck. She looks over her shoulder, nods, pushes forward.
Faizah Marshall:
This one on one is all I ever wanted. We need to end this. Correction. I need to end this; I don’t matter to you at all. My feelings don’t. My success doesn’t. You can sleep well at night. Trinity, I can’t, not until I punch you in the face. Being in the same company as you and Faith is not my cup of tea, at the very least, I can move on from all this Academy nonsense once and for all. This is a huge roster. I want to win a singles championship. Closing the book on this chapter in my life is what I need. Don’t worry, you’ll always have your sister and Mille to leetch off of. I will continue to shine while leaving you behind once and for all.
Faizah looks over her shoulder, nods at TD Batterson. Both of them walk off screen as the scene fades to black.
We cut backstage to see Tiana Petrova-Hammond doing her usual prematch warmup, only this time there was a bit less energy, a lot less focus. Gone were two of her biggest supporters, Yulia being in the hospital and Damian making sure he’d be there every step of the way. There was no prematch tape session, or striking drills with the pair. She stopped stretching with her resistance bands and set them to the side, only to be tapped on the back. She jumped, fully expecting it to be the cause of her current mood, Echo...only it wasn’t. She unclenched her fists and smiled weakly toward her only real support system there for her, her best friend since day one of The Academy, Trinity Thompson, who herself had just gotten cleaned up from her own match.
Trinity Thompson:
Hey! You ready for the big match?
Tiana shrugged her shoulders and turned her back, taking a sip from her bottled water.
Trinity Thompson:
Come on, Ti… She’s gonna be okay, and she’d want you to focus up and bring this home. For you, for the Fight Lab, as a big F-U to Echo. You can do it!
Tiana nodded her head and pulled on her Chicago Fight Lab hoodie. She handed her bottle to Trinity and walked her way down the hallway, leaving her best friend with a worried look.
Singles Match
Faizah Marshall VS Trinity ThompsonThe root of this match sank back in march this year when both these young women were students in The Academy. Faizah was challenging Faith Savell for the Cloud Gate championship at the Skull Kids event when Tiffany’s music played, distracting Faith and allowing Faizah to win. A tainted win the Original BAE never quite got over. For weeks Marshall blamed Rollins for it, only discovering later that it was Trinity who did it, and the reason why she did. There was never an apology from the redhead, who never regretted costing Marshall the title and despite having a common friend in Millie Smith, that rift between them never fully closed. Not wasting a single second, both women stepped away from their corners and approached each other, stopping toe to toe in the center of the ring. They shared a cold, silent stare while the referee reminded them of the rules. The bell finally rang, Trinity drew first blood and lunged forward, connecting with a solid right to Marshall’s jaw. Firing back with a punch of her own, Faizah rocked Trinity, sending her stumbling back a couple of steps. She went for a kick to the stomach but Thompson caught it. Trinity pushed the leg upward causing the opponent to make a full flip in mid air. Marshall landed on her feet but Trinity hit a dropkick that sent the two time Gold Star into the corner. Thompson charged at full speed and crashed into Faizah’s foot. The Best At Everything climbed on the top rope, but Trinity was right on the attack with a jumping punch that stunned Marshall. Trinity grabbed the top rope with both hands and jumped on the lower rope to propel herself to the top one which she used as a springboard to dropkick the opponent to the outside. Faizah would have hit the concrete floor hard if her bodyguard TD didn’t catch her in mid air, carrying her back to the apron. Trinity tried to protest with the referee but the official just shrugged his shoulders. Taking the matters in her hands, Trin sprinted to the opposite side of the ring, bouncing off the ropes and launching herself with a suicide dive. Seeing it coming, Marshall leapfrogged over it and Thompson crashed into the brick wall named TD Batterson, taking him down but definitely getting the worst out of it, landing awkwardly shoulder first on the concrete. Back inside the ring, Faizah obviously began to target the shoulder Trinity injured with that reckless dive, connecting a standing dropkick with pinpoint precision. Locking onto her wrist, Marshall pulled him up from the mat and then in for a short-arm shoulder tackle, knocking Trin back down and maintaining the hold on the wrist. Stepping over the arm, the Original BAE fell backwards, locking the opponent into an armbreaker. Thompson cried out in pain and the referee immediately moved in to ask if she wanted to tap out. Refusing to give up, Trinity began considering her options to get out of this situation. The ropes were too far away, Marshall had wisely applied the submission right in the middle of the ring. She tried to wrestle her way out of it but technical wrestling had never been her forte, Marshall was more proficient in that department and kept a tight clutch on her arm. The only thing she could do was to grit her teeth and roll through so that both of Faizah’s shoulders were touching the mat. The referee started the count right away and the former Gold Star had no choice but to release the hold to avoid defeat. Pushing herself up to one knee, Trinity clutched her shoulder and looked up to Marshall with a smirk on her face. Sure, she was in pain and had been close to giving up, but she didn’t waste the chance to remind her opponent how close to three she got, signaling it by keeping the thumb and index at short distance. The mockery didn’t sit well with Faizah who kicked the opponent hard on the shoulder. Trinity went down and Marshall went to stomp on that same spot. But Thompson scouted it and rolled away, taking the opponent down with a sweep kick. Popping up to her feet with a kip-up, the Naptown Girl rushed straight to the ropes, jumping on the second one to land across Faizah’s chest with a beautiful springboard moonsault, obtaining a two. The two young girls were looking impressive tonight, clearly this match meant a lot for them. Trinity’s combination of high-flying moves and stiff strikes forced Marshall to take a breather on the outside in order to regroup. The young half-sister of Tiff showed a certain inclination to awe the fans with acrobatic maneuvers, no matter how big the risk. With no hesitation she leaped on the top rope and soared through the air with a spectacular springboard shooting star press to the outside. If earlier in the match it was by accident, this time TD purposely took the bullet for his young employer, pushing Marshall out of the way. Faizah didn’t let his sacrifice go to waste and quickly picked up Trinity, throwing her shoulder first into the ring post. She kept working on that limb even after re entering the ring with an arm ddt and a double foot stomp. Thompson fought back valiantly, using her left arm to throw some wild punches that staggered the Original BAE and followed with a kick to the stomach that doubled Faizah over. She then pushed her head between her legs and lifted her vertically, falling to a seated position to spike her with a piledriver. This was it, Trinity made the cover but no! Marshall raised the shoulder in time. Undeterred, Thompson dragged the opponent closer to the corner, signaling that the match was over. TD Batterson took a step toward her and Trinity told him to stand back. After the short argument with Marshall’s bodyguard she bounced on the lower and middle rope to finally rebound off the top one with the triangle springboard moonsault she calls Holy Trinity. A thing of beauty, but the high risk this time didn’t pay off. Possibly thanks to the time TD bought her, Faizah had enough time to recover and was ready to counter the move by raising her knees. Wasting no time, she stepped over Trinity who was holding her ribs in agony and ended the match with her own variation of the springboard moonsault, jumping on the second rope and from there on the third. Less elaborate, slightly less spectacular than the one performed by Trinity but, eventually, more effective. WINNER: Faizah Marshall BY: Pinfall (BAE Alert), 10:12 |
After the match was over, TD joined Faizah in her celebration. Marshall looked down at her fallen opponent. Finally she had the closure she had been looking for months. TD went to Trinity and, without too many frills, picked her up. She then looked at Marshall, waiting for a sign.
The Best At Everything looked back at him, then at Thompson and finally one last time at her bodyguard. She stretched out her arm, keeping her closed fist horizontally. A gesture like the one the emperors in Rome used to make in movies, in those moments where they decided between life and death of a defeated gladiator.
She though about it long enough, clearly struggling to make a decision. And finally made up her mind.
Thumbs up. Trinity was safe.
TD let the young woman go, and went his way along with Faizah.
The Best At Everything looked back at him, then at Thompson and finally one last time at her bodyguard. She stretched out her arm, keeping her closed fist horizontally. A gesture like the one the emperors in Rome used to make in movies, in those moments where they decided between life and death of a defeated gladiator.
She though about it long enough, clearly struggling to make a decision. And finally made up her mind.
Thumbs up. Trinity was safe.
TD let the young woman go, and went his way along with Faizah.
The Greensboro Coliseum goes into darkness, as a video package of The Bad Boyz time in MWE is shown. When the trailer like video ends, the arena remains in darkness as the scene opens up in what looks to be a warzone in the middle of the city. It becomes more clear that we are looking at riots taking place in New York City, it then shows riots in Seattle, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, Washington D.C.. The riots goes global to London, Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris, Jerusalem, Sydney, Beijing, Hong Kong, the list of countries with riot police fighting violent protestors the continue to grow, when the scene suddenly goes black. We open up the middle of Greensboro, North Carolina, where we the streets are empty, a couple vehicles and garbage bins are on fire. We see five individuals all wearing black hoodies, black jeans and black combat boots, standing on top of a police car, as the blue and red lights flash.
The "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring Roddy Rich begins to play as we move back to a sold out Greensboro Coliseum. While the lights are still out, multiple flare sticks illuminate the stage area with a reddish glow, as the smoke rises. As a bright spotlight shines on the stage area, one of the figures in black with the hoodie over his head makes his way out on stage. "Rockstar" continue to play as the hooded man in all black makes his way to the ring. As the unknown man makes his way towards the steel steps, he notices a fan in the front row holding up a sign saying "Repent Now, for his Kingdom Comes". This obviously caught the attention of the man in the black hoodie, he simply shakes his head and makes his way up the steel steps and enters the ring. "Rockstar" fades as he pulls the microphone from the back pocket of his black jeans. He stood in the middle of the ring as the crowd begins to chant "Marcus, Marcus, Marcus, Marcus". With the lights back to normal, the man lifts the hoodie from over his head, revealing he is wearing a ski-mask, he takes it off, revealing it is indeed the leader of The Bad Boyz, Marcus Ali Jr. The crowd erupts in the cheers, as Marcus smiles.
Marcus Ali Jr:
Greensboro, North Carolina!!!!
He pauses briefly to listen to the roar of cheers.
Marcus Ali Jr:
I'm back!!!!
Marcus receives another pop from the crowd.
Marcus Ali Jr:
Yeahhhhh!!! It's been a long time coming, but I'm back, The Bad Boyz are back.
He is interrupted with a "Welcome Back" chant from the sold out Greensboro crowd.
Marcus Ali Jr:
I'm going to bring out the boys in a moment, but I wanted this moment to talk to you. .....Each and every single one of you, here and at home watching. You see there are times.......
He is interrupted by the man with the sign, shouting at him loud enough to get his attention.
Marcus Ali Jr:
Look maybe you wasn't around when The Bad Boyz ran the asylum, so I'm going to give you a fair warning.
The leader of The Bad Boyz steps out of the ring and gets into the face of the man who is yelling at Marcus to repent.
Marcus Ali Jr:
Fan or not, crazy or not, I'm going to kick your ass if I have to come over here one more time.
The crowd erupts with cheers as Marcus grabs the sign he is holding and rips it up and hands it back to the man, before heading back into the ring.
Marcus Ali Jr:
Like I said The Bad Boyz is.....
Before The Bad Boy could finish what he is saying, the crazed man had jumped the barricade and entered the ring behind Marcus and tackles him. The crowd erupts in a mixed reaction, as security, and referees storm the ring to stock the intruder. As they pull away the guy from Marcus who gained his footing, Marcus goes on the offense as chaos erupts inside the square circle, this cause for The Bad Boyz all dressed alike in black hoodies, black jeans and black combat boots to rush to the ring and calm down Marcus, however Khalil Washington III turns around and attacks the guy, breaking through security who is trying to detain the man and protect him from the onslaught of a pissed off Ali Jr. The crowd is wild with excitement. With Omari Johnson holding back Marcus, Drake and Dante turned their focus to hold back Khalil, as security places handcuffs on the fan and escorts him. With all the chaos taking place, this is when the lights goes out. After some time, a loud crackling thunder is sounded as a lightning bolt struck the stage area and lights a massive symbol of a slanted cross in the center of a circle, that was not there previously, but is now, blazing in flames. Everybody stares at the burning symbol, while the detained crazy fan yelling "Repent for his Kingdom comes" as the scene fades.
Singles Match
Dean Smith VS Jordan Parker-KaneBefore the bell silenced, both men burst from their corners and charged towards each other. Meeting in the center of the ring, Dean took a swing for Jordan’s head but came up short as Parker-Kane ducked underneath the vicious right hook and countered with an elbow to the mid-section. Popping straight up, JPK then hit Smith across the chest with two back to back knife edge chops. Kicking his foot up, the former MMA star went for a kick to the stomach but Dean grabbed ahold of it with both hands and spun him around. Jordan made a complete revolution and when he stopped he got turned inside out with a massive clothesline. On his feet again, Dean wasted no time and quickly rushed in on the opponent, jumping in the air and coming down with a knee drop. Crawling over Jordan’s body, Dean mounted himself into position before firing away with rapid lefts and rights. Having trained and competed in Martial Arts, Jordan was prepared to counter this ground and pound attacks, fending off most of Dean’s strikes while shifting his position until he freed his leg and put Smith in a tight gogoplata. The chokehold quickly affected the former Invictus champion whose face began to turn red. Knowing it won’t take long before he’ll pass out, Smith produced his maximum effort to stand up and lift the opponent, throwing him into the corner with a buckle bomb. Taking literally a second to catch his breath led to Dean missing the corner splash and hitting the empty turnbuckle. Jordan jumped on his back right into a sleeper hold, Smith tried to shake him off but Parker-Kane wasn’t letting go, not even when the opponent grabbed the rope. The referee started to count to five to break the submission but Smith had other plans, turning his back to the ropes and leaning back against it. Gravity did the rest and both of them fell on the outside. The referee began to count them out, getting to seven before they recovered from the nasty fall. Jordan was the first to get up, heading straight to the ring. He slid under the bottom rope with his torso and then was pulled into a German suplex to the floor by Smith. The two fought it out on the outside, trading hard strikes in an attempt to get the upper hand. And every time someone got the advantage and tried to get back inside the ring to stop the count and continue the match, the other would stop him and keep the fight going. Jordan thought he had it when he sent Smith head first into the steel steps with a drop toe hold and finally got back inside the ring. He even started celebrating before time when the ref reached eight and Dean hadn’t moved yet. But Smith, though visibly dazed and bleeding from the forehead, beat the count and grabbed the unaware Jordan by the ankles and pulled him out once again, restarting the count one more time. It actually was the last one. Dean unleashed his fury on Jordan, a blind rage probably due to the head injury suffered. Hard punches to the ribs, to which Jordan fired back with stiff kicks. The two went back and forth, not paying attention to the referee’s count anymore. The momentum caused them to drift further away from the ring, getting dangerously close to the Riot commentators’ table. Amy moved away, Figgles shouted at them but eventually fled when Dean lifted Jordan upside down and put him through the table with a suplex. Just as the desk crumbled under their weight, the referee’s count reached ten and the bell sounded. WINNER: Draw BY: Double Count Out, 7:38 |
We open backstage where we find the Glorious Golden Era in mass. Standing out in front is “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock dressed in her wrestling gear and looking intense. To her right stands Sophie O’Brian and standing to Glory’s left is Neil Newman.
Glory Braddock:
“And we have arrived. Night Two of On The Rise, right here in Greensboro, North Carolina…a great state that has bore witness to many great wrestling memories. The Glorious Golden Era was founded upon the traditions of professional wrestling. We are all about upholding the traditions and history of this great sport. And you don’t find a place more entrenched in the traditions of professional wrestling. And tonight is the one night when The Glorious Golden Era could walk away with gold around all our waists and I cannot think of a better place than Greensboro, North Carolina to do just that.
Neil nods.
Neil Newman:
I couldn’t agree more. Been way too long since we’ve come here. Circumstances last year prevented us from taking our show on the road. We’re back in full force, going from city to city, town to town, state to state; carrying the banner of professional wrestling. I’m not the sentimental type, but as a kid I would sit next to my father every Saturday. My first wrestling memory was watching my very first show, the company at the time visited this great state. The energy from the crowd was electric. The history being made left an impression. It does mean a lot to me whenever we come here.
A rare smile forms on Neil’s face.
Sophie O’Brian:
General George Patton said, the object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his country.
Sophie smirks.
Sophie O’Brian:
For far too long we have stayed our hand. We have watched the likes of Eldon and Olly run roughshod over the tag team division and drive the tradition of wrestling into the ground. Well that ends tonight because tonight there is nowhere they can run, nowhere they can hide, and no way in hell they will survive the hell that The Glorious Golden Era will rain down upon them in the ladder match for the MWE World Tag Team Championship.
Neil cracks his knuckles.
Neil Newman:
I said it once and I’ll say it again, K20 are the worst tag team champions of the modern era. Not denying the talent is there. For their shitty attitudes, they can go. Their ultimate problem is they are too damn lazy to fully capitalize on their potential. Content with taking short cuts. Pissing everyone off under the sun. The tag team division deserves better representatives. That’s where Sophie and I come in. Wardblade 42 and Fabulous would make great champions, no question about that. Fate put Sophie and I together. I was used to teaming with Kyle, Sophie with her brother. Management felt it was a good idea to put us together. Since then, we have been a dynamite team, every day we continue to jell, our chemistry is solid. Getting screwed over by K20 left a salty taste in our mouths. It is time to finish the goddamn job. Failure is not an option. Kyle loves to say the Tide will Roll. Well, tonight, The ERA will RISE again. I am the unofficial King of the Ladder match, I like our chances.
Neil chuckles making the reference to him winning the Tag Team and MENTV Championships in Ladder Matches in his MWE career.
Neil Newman:
Won’t just be me and Sophie bringing the tag team championships where they belong. The World Championship comes home too.”
Neil looks at Glory and nods.
Glory Braddock:
Duke thinks he has a monopoly on North Carolina wrestling? I have made many memories wrestling in this great state. I have created memories for others promoting matches in this great state. North Carolina is just as important to me as it is to you. But more importantly, WRESTLING and its traditions are more important to me than they are to you. Since 2008 I have been plying my craft, since 2008 I have been stepping into the ring week in and week out taking on all comers without fear, without intimidation. During that time I have stared down many arrogant sods like you who thought that they were untouchable, who thought that they were unbeatable. And guess what happened?
She pats herself on the chest.
Glory Braddock:
I BEAT THEM ALL! Now you’re right, at Hic Sunt Leones there was a hiccup. I didn’t get the job done. I make no excuses about that. But one thing about wrestling is that you learn from your mistakes. I have learned from every mistake I have made in this business. That is why I have come to be as successful as I have been today. And tonight I will take all of those lessons I have learned and apply them. The lessons I learned from my father, the lessons I learned during every failure of my career, and even the lessons I learned from my friends and foes alike, and I will use those lessons as I go sixty minutes of hell in the Iron Man Match against you. You want to question whether or not I can go sixty minutes? You dumb bastard. I’ve wrestled sixty minute matches before in my career. This isn’t new to me. Just like winning world championships is nothing new to me. I have done it fifteen times already. And tonight, Duke, tonight you will make history…you will be the man I defeat for my historic sixteenth World Championship, my first EVER MWE World Championship.
Braddock shuts her eyes.
Glory Braddock:
Sic Semper Tyrannis…
We see Alex bouncing around backstage, doing some jumping around getting herself loosened up for her title defense. She's definitely in the zone a bit. She sees the camera and shakes her head as she walks over to it.
Alex Andrews :
You know something, I've been thinking. I was this close....to being in the Academy like so many of these people I've been defending MY title against ever since I won it back. I was almost qualified for it. I just happened to have one or two matches under my belt before it got under way. So who knows, maybe things would have worked out differently.
Alex chuckles to herself.
Alex Andrews :
But as it stands, it gave me the chance to spread my wings, to work outside one certain bubble and I think that might have helped. I'm not here to say I have all the experience in the world, I'm not some world weary veteran by any means, but I do believe I've done alright for myself. I had a pretty one track mind since that ladder match where Neil grabbed this title out from my grasp.
Alex reaches down and grabs the MWE MENTV Championship belt, holding it up to the camera.
Alex Andrews :
So, in that respect, I've gotten intimately familiar with the rules and stipulations that go along with defending this title. Nobody knows it better than me. I've spent the last six month or more grinding. Defending at every chance I could. So with that said, Tiana, you pushed me. You pushed me to a time limit when no one else has. Well, outside of Tiffany Lynn Page and her cheating ways, but nevermind that. You've done more than most and for that, you've gotten my respect. And now, we'll see if you can get the job done this time. I have my goals and don't believe for a second that I'm looking past you, I just know what I want. And I'm going through you to get it done. I've travelled all over gaining all sorts of different experiences outside of what The Academy gave y'all. And you'll see just how big the experience gap really is.
Alex smiles as grabs her gym bag and walks off down the hallway away from the camera.
MENTV Championship
20 Minutes Time Limit
Alex Andrews VS Tiana Petrova-Hammond20 Minutes Time Limit
There was legit concern among the fans about Tiana’s mental condition after last night’s event. Everyone saw the look on her face when Echo broke her trainer’s leg: lost, disoriented, shocked. Surely not something she could shake off in a good night’s sleep, implying she could actually sleep. Judging by the look on her face, not really. Or not well, at least. Not much changed when the bell sounded, Tiana was completely off her game and Alex took advantage of that, landing some punches and forearm before throwing Tiana into the ropes and leveling her with a clothesline. Pulling Tiana up from the mat, the MENTV champion wrapped her arm around the Russian-American’s head and began to punch her with her free hand. The former Gold Star finally reacted, pushing Alex into the ropes and taking her down with a shoulder tackle. For a brief moment she looked like she didn’t know what to do, a small hesitation before she stepped over the MENTV champion and hit the ropes. As she bounced off the ropes, she ducked under Andrews’ leapfrog and continued her run, coming back a second time into a dropkick from the champ. It was all Alex in the early going, which was surprising considering how extremely balanced their last match was. She connected another knife edge chop across Ti’s chest and then jumped, lifting both knees as high as she could and planting them underneath the young girlìs chin. Stumbling backwards, Tiana crashed into the nearby corner. Alex charged with a full head of steam then leaped forward, flipping her body around and slamming her back into Tiana, squashing her against the corner. Alex threw another sharp elbow then ran back to the center of the ring, spinning around and going for a running knee strike. Tiana pulled herself out of the trajectory and the champion’s knee collided against the empty turnbuckle. It took her a while, but Tiana finally seemed to have overcome that initial struggle, getting her focus back on the challenge in front of her. And once the young and talented Russian-American was on top of her game, she was a tough challenge for everyone. Relying on what we could define the Fight Lab style, she left the initiative to the opponent, using quick counterattacks to swing the momentum in her favor. This type of match was quickly wearing down Alex and with every second passing, her frustration seemed to grow. It had to be quite discouraging seeing most of her attacks getting dodged, the suplexes blocked and every submission applied being escaped before doing any actual damage. More so when she was paying for every mistake. Missing the Elysium (running bicycle kick) for example led to Tiana connecting a shin breaker. And right when she thought she had her and locked Petrova-Hammond’s leg in a figure four, Tiana rolled through, reversing the pressure and forcing the champion to crawl to the far ropes. The defensive approach paid off for Tiana, fully in control with seven minutes to go. Most of the counter strikes aimed at Andrews’ leg, the one she crashed against the turnbuckle in the early minutes. Tiana was now waiting for the opportunity to get that decisive submission in, even if that meant she opened up to Alex’s comeback. The champion knew Tiana was going for the leg and sucked her in. She grabbed the arm when Petrova-Hammond lunged in and twisted her arm. Tiana easily reversed the wristlock but Alex escaped it in turn, bending the former Gold Star’s arm in a hammerlock. From that position she dropped her on her head with the Queen’s End. Cover by Alex and kick-out in two by Tiana. Determined to keep the momentum going, Andrews started stomping at Tiana, inadvertently giving the younger opponent the chance she had been waiting for. The first two stomps connected to her chest, the third was the one the Fight Lab representative blocked. In one fluid motion Tiana put the opponent in the same calf crush Echo used the night prior, one of the trademark moves of Yulia Kirilenko and her students. What was meant to be a tribute to the injured founder of the Chicago Fight Lab turned into a nightmare for her new pupil. Visions of night 1 stormed to the young russian’s mind, combining with the memories of May 23, the night she, by accident, broke JJ’s arm. Her mind sort of shorted out, she instantly released the hold and stumbled back in the corner. Alex wasn’t quite sure what happened, but she was glad that excruciating pain only lasted for a couple of seconds. Honestly, she doubted she could have lasted much longer. Seeing Tiana in the corner, she instinctively hit her with the Elysium, possibly not even noticing how upset and traumatized she was. The kick hit Petrova-Hammond right in the face and knocked her down. With only a couple of minutes left, Alex wasn’t taking any chances and dragged her back to the center of the ring where she dropped her on her head with the Hella Rough. Defense number four, by far the most challenging Andrews had, was in the books. One doubt remained in the fans’ minds. Could we have seen a different outcome if Yulia’s injury didn’t shock the young wrestler so deeply. The applause the fans tributed to Alex continued even after the champion was gone and Tiana slowly started getting up. WINNER: Alex Andrews (STILL MENTV CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (Hella Rough), 17:44 |
We quickly catch up with Tiana post match, pulling her mouth guard out and throwing it against the wall. She wiped the sweat off her brow, brushing her slick hair out of her face, only to mess it all up again by kicking at a storage crate against the wall. Not once, not twice...just repeated kicks, denting the metal and probably messing her foot up as well, but she didn’t care. Her rampage was only stopped by another tap to her back, and expecting it to be Trinity again, she spun around...only to be face to face with the Junior Heavyweight Champion, who wasn’t even expected to be at the arena after suffering her fair share of injuries.
Echo:
Yulia failed, you failed… And it’s because of what, again? How you don’t have what it takes to do what’s necessary? You give up, you don’t push through, and it’s gotten you NOWHERE. It’d be funny if it just wasn’t so path-...
Echo was quickly shut up by Tiana, who headbutted the champion square in the nose. Echo dropped to the ground, her face profusely dripping blood again, but it wasn’t over. Tiana pounced, driving a knee into the fallen Aussie, then followed her to the ground with a flurry of elbows and punches. Echo finally managed to push her away, though she wasn’t left alone for long. Tiana once again was on the attack, hitting a stiff roundhouse kick that echoed through the hallway.
Once again Tiana crawled on top of Echo, raining down more and more elbows, covering herself in the Aussie’s blood. Seizing the moment, she wrapped her arms around Echo, locking her in a rear naked choke. The champion quickly faded due to her exhaustion and blood loss, and Tiana showed no interest in letting go until a multitude of backstage personnel and Trinity ran in to force her off. Tiana struggled against the pulling arms, keeping the hold locked in until her grip was finally broken. She screamed as she was dragged down the hallway, the dazed Echo groggily sitting up on her own, only to fall back over.
“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page is sitting in a chair as her personal makeup artist is finishing. The makeup artist stands back and looks at Tiffany.
Makeup Artist:
You look marvelous if I do say so myself.
“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
You are just stating facts, Kelsi.
Kelsi begins to put her makeup away as Tiffany looks at herself in the mirror.
“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
In an arena that is steeped in tradition, tonight we will see even more history being made. Not only will Clyde destroy James for the final time by leaving him in a pool of his own blood, and most likely even in his own urine. Hahaha! That will just be a beautiful thing to see. But we will also see an epic sixty minute Iron Man Match….Good luck Duke.
Tiffany smiles.
“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
We will also see what the entire wrestling world wants to see and that is of course me becoming the next MWE Intercontinental champion. It is no indictment on you Matt. I don’t know you well enough one way or the other to have a feeling about you. You are just in my way and in the way of history being made. Because it is the natural order of things for me to get what I want anytime I want and what I want is the Intercontinental championship you currently have in your possession. Between you and me, Matt, that pretty little title belt of yours will look better around my waist. It is just a fact of life and you know it.
Tiffany stands up out of the chair and winks at herself in the mirror then walks away.
Trios Match
Tribe Called Conquest VS Tank Steiner & Devon Slayton & Dusty Douglas
The Tribe Called Conquest has taken MWE by storm since making their debut this summer and taking out the former World champion Devin Hearst in the IC championship ladder match. Ever since then they’ve been involved in a feud with Dusty and Tank who didn’t take well their interference. Devon Slayton got dragged in for his friendship with Tank, which earned him a brutal assault on Riot. Tonight, they’ll settle the score in this trios match which unsurprisingly starts with an all out brawl involving all six competitors. Thanks to the superheavyweights involved, this initial brawl turned in favor of Tank & Company, who cleaned the ring off the Tribe for the joy of the fans. The trio regrouped, deciding that Commas should start the match. On the other team, the choice fell on Devon Slayton who quickly locked horns with Oxford. The Minnesota born easily got the upper hand in the test of strength, though it was probably because Commas didn’t even try, letting Slayton push him back toward the Tribe’s corner. And when Devon tried to switch to a different hold as he was getting too close to the enemy’s corner, Commas suddenly spun around and began to actually use his strengths, pinning Slayton in his corner. Commas made the tag to Cutler but all three of them, including Chantelle from the outside, stomped the hell out of Dev. The referee struggled a bit to stop them, and when he finally did, the damage on Slayton was done already. Dante picked him up and unceremoniously tossed him in the centre of the ring, raising his hand toward Dustin and inviting him to get in the ring. He didn’t have to ask twice, the Murder Train was ready to go and he stepped over the top rope. His own partner, Tank Steiner stopped him, stating that “that’s not how we operate”. Douglas didn’t seem too happy but he still listened to the Austrian and went back to his place on the apron. Cutler called him a coward and dragged the battered Devon to his knees, hitting him with the Liquid Swords. The Tribe’s chemistry was nothing short of impressive, the three of them working as a unit on the poor Slayton, keeping the two big men on the outside. Douglas tried to get in the ring to help him but Tank Steiner stopped him once again, telling him to trust their partner. And he was right about it as Slayton somehow turned the tides, stunning Chantelle with a headbutt. He followed with some quick jabs and the crowd came alive, cheering on him. He fed on those cheers, clocking the woman with a bicycle high knee, following with a spinning back fist and a spinning back kick. Chantelle was down but Slayton wasn’t done yet. He was still missing one last piece to complete his Hot Streak, and he waited until she got on her knees to deliver the running knee strike to her head. As he bounced off the ropes to catch some speed though he received a kick to the back, courtesy of Dante Cutler. Both legal competitors were down, crawling to the respective corners. Chantelle was closer to the goal and got there before her opponent, making the tag to Commas. The member of the Tribe rushed to the opposite corner trying to prevent Devon from making the tag but he got there one moment too late. Tank didn’t even enter the ring, punching Oxford right on the face from the apron and knocking him down. Only now the Austrian Hulk stepped inside the ring and immediately dragged Commas up to his feet, shoving him in the corner and inviting the fans to get quiet. They knew what was coming and did as asked, and in the silent Greensboro Coliseum the echo of that tremendous chop could be heard loud and clear. Dusty shook his head and said that he could do better. A bold statement that the fans welcomed with playful boos. After all, Tank was the undisputed king of chops.. Steiner, instead, invited him to try, obviously making it legal with a tag. Just like Herr Steiner did, Douglas hushed the fans, swung his arm back and landed a nasty chop on Commas’ chest. Surprisingly, it was harder and louder than Tank’s one. The Murder Train bragged about it, but Tank wanted another chance to take the crown back. Giving in to the fans’ pressure, Dusty obliged and Steiner was back in the ring. He was ready to hit his second chop, the third considering Dusty’s one on Commas but Dante had seen enough and put a stop to this with a superkick to the back of Tank’s skull. The Tribe had to join forces, sometimes even illegally, to get the best of the big Austrian, but eventually they got control, with the more expert of the group, Dante, calling the shots. He was literally dictating the pace of the match like a true ring general, eventually getting himself involved as well, spiking the big man on his head with a diving tornado ddt. The British trio continued to tag in and out, keeping a fast pace and making it harder for Tank to get any offense in. This tactic was working pretty well and it was not a coincidence that when Commas took some more time to taunt the opponents on the outside, the tides turned for the Tribe. Steiner wrapped his strong arms and lifted Oxford for an Austrian suplex. Commas sprung back to his feet and charged at Tank, looking to remedy his mistake. But it was too late, the Austrian Hulk raised Das Boot and leveled him. Steiner finally made the tag to Dusty, who entered the ring to an ovation from the fans. Something he wasn’t used to, but he surely appreciated. The Big Nasty cleaned house, turning Commas inside out with a clothesline, kicking Chantell off the ring with a big boot and inviting Dante to come get some as well. The leader of the Tribe stepped in and challenged the Murder Train, unafraid. What he lacked in brute strength he made up for with speed, landing considerably more strikes than Dusty. Cutler had a huge advantage, something Dustin, too caught up in the brawl, seemingly forgot. The legal man was Oxford and he was finally getting up. Douglas eventually won the dispute with Cutler, clubbing him with a thunderous punch to the face, and that was when Oxford struck, delivering a stiff forearm to the kidneys before he dropped the Murder Train down with an inverted ddt. Commas hooked the leg and obtained a near fall. Tag to Chantelle who used her speed to keep pressure on the big man. She did a good job and learned a tough lesson. When you’re against someone like Dusty, you can’t afford the slightest distraction. All he needed was one move, the Giga Impact and the match was over. Tank and Slayton protected the pinfall by stopping the rest of the Tribe from breaking up. WINNER: Dustin Douglas, Tank Steiner & Devon Slayton BY: Pinfall (Giga Impact), 14:54 |
As Night Two of On The Rise continues, the cameras find Paisley Dawn standing somewhere backstage at the Greensboro Coliseum, with microphone in hand. Standing to the right of Paisley is Lowri Moss, who is dressed in her ring attire, and with today being Remembrance Sunday in the UK, she is sporting a red poppy-- the emblem of the Royal British Legion-- which has been embroidered onto her top.
Paisley Dawn:
Lowri, coming up shortly you’re going to be facing Henri Black. Before we talk about that match though, first I want to discuss what happened during the most recent episode of Millennium.
Lowri gestures for her to proceed.
Paisley Dawn:
It was announced a couple of weeks in advance that the main event of that show would be a tag team match, with Tiffany Lynn Page and Clyde Sutter taking on James Edwards and a partner of his choosing. James repeatedly said though that he didn’t need a partner, so how did you come to be his partner for the match?
Lowri Moss:
I saw the episode of Riot four weeks ago when Vincent Moretti made the announcement that you just referred to, Paisley, and while I can’t claim to know James particularly well, I do know him well enough that it didn’t come as any surprise at all to me when, like you said, he told everyone that he didn’t need a partner. As one of the commentators said though-- Peyton, I think it was-- if James had tried to take on both Tiffany Lynn Page and Clyde Sutter on his own, it would’ve been suicide. Now, I probably would’ve preferred not to have gotten involved in that whole… ongoing situation with him and Page and Sutter, if I could’ve helped it, but I knew that he needed a partner, so I volunteered my services, and… well, he didn’t say no.
Lowri smiles wryly, as she continues.
Lowri Moss:
Obviously the match didn’t end the way that either of us would’ve liked, and I can’t say that I appreciated what he tweeted after the show, about not being able to trust anybody and how he would’ve been better off going it alone, but… that’s James for you, I guess; there’s no ill will on my part, and I wish him all the best for his last man standing match with Clyde Sutter later on tonight.
Paisley Dawn:
The last time I spoke to you, five or six weeks ago, you told me there was one person in particular on the roster who you wanted to have a match with-- someone who you had wrestled previously, but not in MWE; were my colleagues on the commentary desk correct in their assumption that James was the one that you had been referring to?
Lowri responds with a nod of her head.
Lowri Moss:
Yes, they were. It’s a match that I’ve been wanting to happen for a while, and hopefully it will happen here in MWE at some point, whether that’s between now and the end of the year, or whether I have to wait until next year-- although having said that, I did see James tweet that if he loses tonight, “there is no tomorrow,” so I suppose I had better hope that he wins, otherwise it might not happen at all!
Paisley Dawn:
Following that tag team match with you, James, Page and Sutter, Henri Black then made a surprise appearance, staring you down for a second or two before quickly disappearing, a momentary confrontation that has now led to a match here tonight between the two of you-- what are your thoughts on that incident, and on this match?
A sigh escapes Lowri’s lips.
Lowri Moss:
I get why Henri did what he did, challenging me to a match for tonight-- but then at the same time, I also kind of don’t get it. I mean, I know that he wants vengeance after what Gareth did to Helena Noir at Glory Horizons, forcing her into retirement, so I can kind of understand why he decided to challenge me, Gareth’s better half, to a match.
She lets out another sigh.
Lowri Moss:
While we’re on the subject of what happened at Glory Horizons, I know I haven’t really made any public comment about it before now, but I do want to say that I don’t in any way condone what Gareth did to Helena Noir. And that’s not something that’s going to come as news to him-- I told him almost immediately afterwards, in no uncertain terms, exactly how I felt about what he did, but I chose to do it in private, rather than in public.
Lowri pauses to take a breath, before continuing.
Lowri Moss:
Anyway, as I was saying, I can kind of understand why Henri decided to challenge me to a match, but at the same time, it’s Gareth that he really wants a match with-- or probably more accurately, a fight-- not me, so why didn't he just speak to one or both of the general managers, and ask them to give him that match?
She shrugs her shoulders.
Lowri Moss:
I don’t know, but regardless of that, I’ve never shied away from a challenge before in my career, and this time wasn’t going to be any different; Henri wants a match, so I’ll happily give him one. If he wants a fight, a brawl, I’ll give him that too. I’ll meet him head on, in the ring, but if it’s satisfaction that he’s looking for, he shouldn’t expect to find it here tonight.
With Lowri looking and sounding confident about her upcoming match, the camera cuts away.
Singles Match
Henri Black VS Lowri MossLowri Moss was never one to turn down a challenge and the moment the fans saw Henri dropping the contract at her feet at the end of the last episode of Millennium, they knew this match was going to happen. Why did Henri want it? We can only speculate, the last Revenant hasn't really said much in the past weeks. But one guess could be that Lowri is a backup plan after her boyfriend Gareth Prichard ignored the challenge issued. Either way, the fans can be satisfied with two mainstays of the company going toe to toe in an unprecedented match between two people who, until no longer ago, were top champions in the respective brands. As the bell sounded, Henri Black fired a right hand that Lowri dodged. The Welsh returned fire with a quick jab staggering Henri back a step and showing him why she’s considered one of the best strikers in the world today. Lowri struck again but this time Henri dodged the blow, answering back with an elbow to her ribs. Henri immediately pulled out the heavy artillery going for the Black Diamond but Lowri dodged the knee and hit Black with a swift kick to the lower back. She wrapped her arm around his neck for an inverted ddt but the former Riot champion countered with an elbow strike that caused Lowri to lose her grasp. In the blink of an eye Henri spun 180° and knocked the Welsh down with a discus lariat. Henri Black reached down and lifted Lowri to her feet after he administered her the triple german suplex. Firing off another chop to her chest, he then tossed her against the ropes. The Welsh rebounded back in his direction and was sent flying over his head with a back body drop. Keeping momentum going, the Blackstar picked her up once again and drove an elbow into her stomach. He attempted a suplex lift but Lowri began firing shots into his stomach, causing him to break his grip. The former Cloud Gate champion grabbed him by the wrist and went for an Irish whip, but Henri reversed it into an Irish whip of his own, sending her into the turnbuckle. He charged in at full speed for a back elbow but Moss was faster to move out of the way, sending the Last Revenant to crash back first into the turnbuckle. The fans began to make some noise, knowing what was about to happen. Chop, forearm strike. Chop, forearm strike. Chop, forearm strike. Chop, forearm strike at a constantly increasing speed. It was the Scarlet Barrage and Henri looked pretty rocked by the time Lowri was done. She may be done with that move but far from done with him. She stepped back, putting some distance between them so that she could use the speed to increase the force behind her running big boot, to which she followed with the traditional running facewash completing the move she dubbed Just For Kick. Black fell on his face and the former Cloud Gate champion rolled him on his back so that she could make the cover, getting another near fall out of it. Giving Henri very little time to recover, Moss stayed on the attack with some stomps to the head before pulling him up to his feet and unleashing a flurry of kicks on the two-time Riot champion. At the end of the terrific sequence the Blackstar was doubled over, clutching his midsection in agony. Lowri knocked him down with a scissor kick to the back of the neck and hooked the leg, obtaining another two count. The majority of the fans sided with Lowri in this match, though Henri still had a number of aficionados who appreciated him, and they were very vocal. Hard to say if that played a part in Henri’s comeback or if it was just his nature of Revenant making him constantly come back even when they seemed done, but the Blackstar dodged the Breuddwydion Melus with a Matrix-style evasion and moved behind her, scooping her up for an inverted powerslam. He came close to the win with his patented spike ddt, but Lowri saved herself by putting her foot on the bottom rope, showing great ring awareness. Following the kick-out, Henri climbed to a knee and then pulled himself up using the ropes. Moss began to stand up as well, still a bit groggy from the impact. The Blackstar rushed forward with the Black Sacrament, knocking the Welsh back down to the canvas. He smiled before making the cover, sure that this was it. But he underestimated Lowri’s resilience and her will to win. Moss started to get up, interrupting Henri’s flurry of kicks with a backhand to the jaw. She tried to give some continuity to her attacks but a knee to the stomach abruptly ended her comeback. Henri set her up for the Para Bellum, the electric chair death valley driver he used to defeat Glory Braddock and he almost got caught by Lowri with a victory roll. He kicked out but as soon as he did he was met with a knee to the face. Wasting no time, Lowri followed that hard knee strike with the Breuddwydion Melus. The superkick connected this time and it gave Moss the win after a hard-fought battle. WINNER: Lowri Moss BY: Pinfall (Breuddwydion Melus), 15:08 |
The fans were on their feet, celebrating with the Welsh another impressive win to her record. But their joy didn't last long. A Black Sacrament caught Moss on the back of her head and leveled her. The cheers suddenly turned into boos as Henri stood over her body. His eyes were on the stage. "GAREEEEEETH!" he roared as he reached down to grab Lowri's foot. He twisted her ankle, lightly at first. "Come out or I'll break her leg!" Was he really going to do it or was it just a bluff? Hard to tell, but what became sure was the reason why he challenged Lowri.
She was a pawn to get to Gareth Prichard Jr, and it seemed that he was willing to do to her what he did to Helena. An eye for an eye.
He put some more pressure in his ankle lock, not enough to injure Moss but enough to elicit a groan of pain from her. He kept staring at the stage, waiting for Gareth. And finally he came out, though he didn't seem to be in a rush. Who was in an actual rush was someone else, leaping over the barricade and getting inside the ring.
Melissa Reeves!
The fans cheered for the former World Champion, coming back from an injury. She stared at her fellow Australian with a stern look, asking him what the fuck he was doing. He didn't reply, but he twisted Lowri's ankle a bit more. That was when Mel stepped in and pushed him back, freeing Lowri from the grasp. Reeves asked him if he really thinks Helena would want this. At the mention of her sister in arms, Black snapped and swung a punch toward her. The Reaver ducked it and caught him with a Facial Deconstructor.
With Henri down, she helped Lowri back to her feet, asking her if she was ok. Moss nodded and thanked her, turning then to her boyfriend who was watching from afar. He would have stepped in to help her if Mel didn't get there first, right?
She was a pawn to get to Gareth Prichard Jr, and it seemed that he was willing to do to her what he did to Helena. An eye for an eye.
He put some more pressure in his ankle lock, not enough to injure Moss but enough to elicit a groan of pain from her. He kept staring at the stage, waiting for Gareth. And finally he came out, though he didn't seem to be in a rush. Who was in an actual rush was someone else, leaping over the barricade and getting inside the ring.
Melissa Reeves!
The fans cheered for the former World Champion, coming back from an injury. She stared at her fellow Australian with a stern look, asking him what the fuck he was doing. He didn't reply, but he twisted Lowri's ankle a bit more. That was when Mel stepped in and pushed him back, freeing Lowri from the grasp. Reeves asked him if he really thinks Helena would want this. At the mention of her sister in arms, Black snapped and swung a punch toward her. The Reaver ducked it and caught him with a Facial Deconstructor.
With Henri down, she helped Lowri back to her feet, asking her if she was ok. Moss nodded and thanked her, turning then to her boyfriend who was watching from afar. He would have stepped in to help her if Mel didn't get there first, right?
Backstage for the second night of On the Rise we find someone who’s been on the rise since winning the Millenium Intercontinental championship, Matt Stone, talking with his business associate Nicole Rossi.
Matt Stone:
So I told the caterer that if they don’t make those little sandwiches with the toothpick in them I don’t want them at my party and that was the end of it, good riddance!
Nicole opens her eyes wider for a slight moment, almost as if she was on the verge of falling asleep, before she gives a quick shake of her head. She glances at the delicate gold watch around one wrist before looking back towards Matt.
Nicole Rossi:
I can’t believe you’ve been talking about sandwiches for ten minutes now.
Matt Stone:
You can’t? I feel like that’s completely believable given my track record, and the only other thing to talk about would be Tiffany Page and how she thinks that a win against me because someone attacked her is going to lead to her winning my championship. How out of touch with reality can you be? Especially someone who treats their social media account like they’re a reality star?
Nicole Rossi:
Well I imagine that’s better than using your social media to see how much you can suck up to Karen Eldon.
Nicole raises one eyebrow slightly to further drive home her little dig with an amused smirk now tugging at the corners of her mouth.Matt feigns offense to that remark and shakes his head.
Matt Stone:
I happen to find her entertaining, is that such a crime? I mean, you’re the expert on those matters, after all.
Nicole rolls her eyes as she reaches out with one hand to give him a slight shove.
Nicole Rossi:
Oh please, you act like a horny teenage boy around her, it’s pretty gross.
Matt Stone:
I’ll take your etiquette notes under advisement but tonight isn’t about that...unless you think she’d like to go to my party?
He sees the icy stare coming from Nicole and changes the subject.
Matt Stone:
Defending the Intercontinental championship is a big deal, you know. Under the bright lights, everyone will be watching. It’s pretty important for me to look my best, which means more money for the pair of us, as well.
The expression on Nicole’s face changes into something much more friendly as the smile grows into one that’s very genuine. She reaches out with one hand to run her fingers through Matt’s hair in an effort to get it back into place.
Nicole Rossi:
I’m not worried, I have full confidence in your ability to retain your Intercontinental championship, regardless of who’s standing across from you in the ring. It’s why I made sure to spend a generous amount of money on my dress for your party when we’ll celebrate.
Matt Stone:
And I’m confident you’ll look ravishing in it, even if we won’t have those delicious little sandwiches. Did you know they make those with Wagyu now? God that sounds delicious.
Nicole Rossi:
God. Am I going to be hearing about these sandwiches all night?
Once again she is rolling her eyes as she crosses her arms in front of her chest. He adjusts the title on his shoulder, making sure the camera can pick up just how great he looks with it.
Matt Stone:
No, I suppose not, you’ll soon be hearing about how great I was out there and how no one in this company can take this title off of me in a one on one contest. The problem though is everyone already knows that, I’ve made sure of it! Here’s a question for you, though, do you consider pigs in a blanket to be a sandwich?
Nicole brings up one hand that she quickly balls up into a fist as she shakes it right in Matt’s face.
Nicole Rossi:
Would you like a knuckle sandwich?
Matt eyes her for a few seconds, then just shakes his head.
Matt Stone:
Fiiiiiine, we’ll focus on wrestling. I’d say you used to be fun but I’m struggling to recall when that was. Anyway, we should get going, don’t want to keep my adoring public waiting, right?
Nicole Rossi:
I have a feeling it’s more me that they’re waiting to see.
Nicole gives a flip of her hair as she turns on her heels, not even giving Matt a chance to respond, as she begins to make her way down the hall where he has no choice but to follow. The sound of him protesting can be heard as the camera cuts away.
MWE Intercontinental Championship
Matt Stone © VS Tiffany Lynn-PageTiffany Lynn-Page walked to the ring alone, and that was the first news of the night. Matt Stone, on the other hand, was still accompanied by his beautiful manager Nicole Rossi. The resident Diva immediately tried to get Nicole sent off, bringing up her history of helping the Straight Shooter. Rossi looked offended by those (not so) wild accusations and went into an argument with Page. The ref tried to tone down the tones a little by saying that he will keep an eye on her, but Tiffany was no longer listening to him, focusing on Matt’s manager? The champion shrugged his shoulders, taking a couple of steps toward Tiffany and lifting her for a German suplex. The landing wasn’t exactly smooth for the former MENTV champion, who favored her neck right away. Matt saw that and doubled it down with a neckbreaker, forcing Page to get out of the ring to catch an early break. She started pacing the ring while the referee counted her out and Matt waited for her inside, eventually reaching the position where Nicole was. Rossi had something else to say and that caused Tiffany to stop and start bickering with her again. Things were heating up between the two women and Matt, fearing for his manager’s safety, decided to do something about it, hitting Tiffany with a baseball slide. Things didn’t exactly go as planned, Page scouted his intentions and grabbed Nicole’s arm, pulling her in the trajectory. The impact was inevitable and Matt took out his own manager. Realizing what happened he checked on her, leaving himself exposed to Tiffany’s reverse hurricanrana. Back inside the ring, Tiffany was in control, using quick attacks and strikes to wear Matt down. Not wanting to take any unnecessary risk, she limited the high-flier moves to a bare limit, relying mostly on kicks. Speaking of kicks, the Prima Donna caught Matt right on the side of the head and flattened him. Tiffany made the cover but the referee stopped the count at two and half after seeing Matt’s foot on the bottom rope. Page protested that it had to be Nicole who put it there but the manager was still licking her wounds on the floor. She stomped Matt on the chest and pulled him up to his knees, drawing back and firing off a slap on his cheek. The insulting smack didn’t sit well with the IC champion, lighting up the fire in him. Spinning around, Tiffany went for a heel kick but Stone blocked it and took her down with a dragon screw. The challenger rolled over and got on all fours to push herself up. As she was doing that Matt stepped in and kicked her in the stomach, flipping Tiffany over to her back. Relentlessly, the champ began kicking her in the ribs over and over. He lifted her back up to her feet making sure he’d pull her hair in the process. The referee was still telling him that was not allowed by the rules enforced when Matt delivered a huge uppercut that sent the former MENTV champion in the corner. He pressed his forearm against her neck for as long as the referee allowed him to before hoisting her on the top rope and connecting the MLG 360 No Scope. While making the cover, Matt tried to take advantage of the nearby ropes for more leverage but the referee caught him and interrupted the count at two. Both competitors showed their personal, undoubtedly interesting, interpretations of the rulebook, really testing Charles’ attention and taking his patience to the limit. He did a good job though, not only with the two people in the ring but keeping the returning Nicole at bay as well. She did, in fact, provide a distraction to give her client some extra time to recover, a situation he fully exploited by sneaking up behind Tiffany’s back to hit her with the Stone Cutter. Charles made it clear, at the next interference, he’d send her in the back. The occasion to live up to his threat came a couple of minutes later, though in Nicole’s defense, she really was innocent this time. But Tiffany’s stunt was so believable, the way she pretended to trip over and how convincingly she accused Matt’s manager to grab her foot would’ve honestly fooled anyone, especially in a situation like this. Page finally got what he wanted, and took advantage of those chaotic moments where Nicole refused to leave and the referee started threatening to get security involved to kick Matt right between his legs. As he doubled over in pain she connected the All Eyes On Me, but Matt somehow survived and raised his shoulder in time. She couldn’t believe it, and tried to convince Charles to change his decision. This gave Matt time to recover and get up to his feet. When Tiffany turned around, he delivered an elbow to the face of his own! Was he really getting away with Being A Douche, stealing the opponent’s finisher? Luckily not or we would have never heard the end of it. He still won the match and retained the title, but he did it with his traditional finisher, the C-c-c-c combo Breaker. WINNER: Matt Stone (STILL MWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION) BY: Pinfall (C-c-c-c Combo Breaker), 16:31 |
Pre-recorded…
We open on a dark alley somewhere in Greensboro, North Carolina. A lone streetlight and the moon are the two sources of light. After several moments pass we hear footsteps approaching. “The Assassin” Clyde Sutter steps into view from stage left. He is dressed all in black with the lone exception of a white silk shirt. He is carrying a wall clock in his right hand. He stands up against brick wall and then turns to face the camera.
Clyde Sutter:
Everything has its appointed time. Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. Nothing can last forever. What everyone is slowly beginning to understand is that this same thing can be said for those unfortunate souls wandering the halls of the Millennium Wrestling Enterprise. Time can be changed, it can be enforced, but it can never ever be stopped.
Sutter motions to himself.
Clyde Sutter:
I am but a mere enforcer of time. Every single one of you pathetic souls on the MWE roster has an appointed time when you will meet your destruction at the hands of The Assassin. When that time comes, I will come knocking on your door, and I will tear your damn head off. But there are some very special people who can change time, delay it. Tiffany Page happens to be one of those individuals. She delayed her own destruction and in the process sped up the ticking clock of one James Edwards.
The Assassin chuckles.
Clyde Sutter:
As I have said time and time again, Mr. Edwards, none of this is personal. You had an appointed time just like everyone else. I would have eventually gotten around to destroying you as I have destroyed everyone else who has gotten in my way. Tiffany just had your countdown end sooner than it was planned. Which meant I came knocking on your door sooner than I had planned, and I started the process of destroying you sooner than I had planned. I didn’t mind. She paid me to do something I would have done for free.
He shakes his head.
Clyde Sutter:
But tonight is the last night. Tonight the clock stops for good.
Sutter smashes the clock violently against the side of the brick wall.
Clyde Sutter:
Your time has run out, Mr. Edwards! Tonight we finish our business! Tonight I put you in the ground and trust me, my friend, you will never EVER stand back up in this Last Man Standing Match!
Maybe he's tired. It could be that he's beaten down. But something seems off about James Edwards as he stands in front of a wall backstage.
James Edwards:
If I lose tonight, there is no tomorrow for me. At least not in this company.
He sticks his hands halfway down the waistband of his tracksuit bottoms.
James Edwards:
I've bet everything on taking out that walking thirst trap and her hired shaved ape. I knew this would be a battle, but I didn't expect a one-sided war. I didn't expect to fail like this.
His admission is laced with an unfamiliar bitter tone.
James Edwards:
I can't remember the last time I won a match here. What's it been, a few months? Hell, I can't even remember the last time I had a pleasant thought about going in to work here. That happens when you chase a score and keep coming up empty. You lose all joy. You lose your ability to trust. You lose your ability to believe in yourself.
He pulls his hands out of his pants and balls his fists.
James Edwards:
I'd see some light through the clouds if she paid any price. So far, she hasn't. She's had a long TV title reign and has a shot at the second most prestigious belt in the company tonight. All at my expense and while she hides behind a hired monkey. Shit, calling him a monkey is an insult. He's King Kong. I haven't been able to touch the guy, and I've lost count of how many times he's destroyed me. He's primed and ready to finish the job tonight while she watches and laughs from the safety of backstage.
He kicks the wall behind him.
James Edwards:
I've got one foot in the grave. If I lose tonight, I've got nothing left to fight for in this company. I have to win. It's the only way I get my tomorrow, the day where she'll finally pay, and all will be right in my world.
Last Man Standing Match
Clyde Sutter VS James EdwardsWas anybody really expecting these two to wait until they got to the ring to start beating the crap out of each other? No, not really. The only thing that might have come as a surprise, but only if you didn’t watch MWE in the past couple of months and didn’t know the level of exasperation Edwards has reached, was to see the Burning Heart blindsiding him on his way to the ring. The attack from behind was welcomed positively by the North Carolina fans who seemed to be definitely relating with Edwards who was now manhandling Sutter on the ramp, repeatedly slamming his face on the cold steel. Finally satisfied with the damage done, he walked away, leaving him flat on his chest halfway on the ramp. The referee started to count, apparently the bell had sounded sometime during that attack, its sound covered by the cheers of the fans. Not for a second James thought this was enough to get the win, and he went searching for a steel chair under the ring. He did underestimate Clyde’s tolerance to pain as the Assassin was back on his feet before he could pull the chair out. And when James turned around, Clyde was already bull-charging him, driving him back first against the ring edge. The Burning Heart lost his grasp on the chair that was promptly picked up by Sutter, who then proceeded to smack it against his skull. James went down like a ton of bricks, Clyde added another shot to the back before telling the referee to count him. He sat on the steel steps, the chair still in hand, knowing that James would get up, and when he did, Clyde was there waiting for him, swinging the chair aiming at his face. The former MENTV champion ducked it and swept the opponent up from the floor, spinning around and dropping him on the hard floor with a spinebuster. They didn’t get inside the ring for seven minutes. And when James did, he did it because he needed a break from Clyde’s hammering offense. The Assassin followed him in, dropping a heavy forearm to Edwards’ back while he was getting up to his feet with the help of the ropes. Anything goes in a Last Man Standing match, so the mule kick that caught Clyde on his jewels was perfectly legal. Just like ripping the protective pad from the top turnbuckle and shoving it in his open mouth, moments before driving his head on the exposed steel. James had to like the sound his skull made against the metal because he did that again, and again, and again. Until a crimson trickle poured from the Assassin’s forehead. James dragged him away from the corner and hit him with the Triple Play, leaving him laying on the mat as the count began. Sutter got back at eight, and the fight continued. James got a taste of his own medicine when Clyde lifted him on his shoulder and dropped him face first on the exposed turnbuckle, clocking him with a discus punch to the back of the head. Edwards fell forward against the corner, Sutter sat him on the top rope and performed a belly to back suplex. James barely got up in time from that one. There was a table in the middle of the ring and the Burning Heart was about to be put through it with a powerbomb. James tried to fight his fate but the punches to the head weren’t working, so he switched to the Ancient FIre (triangle choke). That could be a good strategy, if Clyde passed out he wouldn’t be able to get up before ten. But the move wasn’t all that effective, the fatigue from this very physical contest was certainly playing a factor and he couldn’t lock it in as tightly as he usually does, thus giving Sutter the chance to go through with his plan and powerbomb him through the table, though with sensibly less force. Both men were down, both men got up at six and resumed their fight. Hard punches began flying back and forth, Sutter came out on top at the end of the exchange and pushed the opponent into the ropes. A clothesline from the Assassin sent the two of them out of the ring, where the match started and, most likely, where it will end. The surroundings, the barricades, the steel steps, the apron itself, the ring post, all those were instruments to hasten the end. The hard floor only increased the threat, every slam, every suplex could be the last. And there was a whole array of weapons just underneath the ring for them to use. After a few nine and three quarters that frustrated the two competitors, making them wonder what it would take to keep the other down, James knocked Clyde down with a ddt onto a chair. He grabbed said chair and placed it against his head, taking a short run to kick it with the Violent Gospel. He seemed to have hurt his foot in the process, but that reckless move won him the match. WINNER: James Edwards BY: Last Man Standing, 18:33 |
We cut to the backstage area of the Greensboro Coliseum. We find MWE journalist Robbie Hayden in the middle of an absolutely Fabulous sandwich (see what I did there?). To his left stands Summer Collins and to his right stands “The Archangel” Jessica Lasiewicz. The two Fabulous friends and tag partners look confident as they prepare to go to battle tonight over the MWE World Tag Team Championship.
Robbie Hayden:
Well, I am Robbie and my guests at this time…
Summer Collins:
...are absolutely FABULOUS!
Robbie Hayden:
Huh?
Summer Collins:
Your guests…Jess and I…are absolutely FABULOUS! Say it, Robbie. You know you want to because it is the truth.
She winks. Robbie sighs.
Robbie Hayden:
Well…my guests are absolutely Fabulous!
Summer Collins:
Thank you, sweetie.
Robbie Hayden:
Tonight you are one of three teams challenging K20 in a ladder match for the MWE World Tag Team Championships. You have been champions before but can you do it in a ladder match?
Jessica Lasiewicz
You’re asking us that as if we haven’t seen that kind of match before. Summer and I are not new to this business, Robbie. We have been in some stellar ladder matches in our day. Are we intimidated by this challenge? Hell no! There is not one single challenge that you can put before us that we would be intimidated by. It doesn’t matter if it’s one team, two teams, three teams, ten teams, twenty teams…send them all against us…we will knock them all down and out. We will climb that ladder. We will become MWE World Tag Team Champions again.
Summer Collins:
What about the x-factor, the elephant in the room if you will, and by that I am referring to the fact that you, Summer, will be facing off against your husband tonight.
Collins chuckles.
Summer Collins:
Look at you! Trying to ask all the tough questions!
She smirks.
Summer Collins:
Look, Neil and I are consummate professionals. We have fought before. Sometimes I win, sometimes he wins. But what happens in the ring stays in the ring. The same can be said of his partner tonight, Sophie O’Brian, who is a friend of ours. And Warblade 42? We’ve gone to war against them. And we have a ton of respect for them. Now Jess and I happen to think we will be the ones walking out as the new Tag Team Champions. I know our opponents disagree. But there is one thing that Warblade 42 and The Glorious Golden Era agree with us on…
Jessica Lasiewicz:
...and THAT is the fact that Karen and Olly are going to get their asses kicked tonight. And tonight we are going to crown new tag team champions. And it will be ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!
We open backstage in the dressing room area. “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock is there in her two piece royal purple wrestling gear, doing some final stretches in preparation for her Iron Man Match tonight for the MWE World Championship. She is interrupted when she hears the door to her dressing room open. She spots Sophie O’Brian, her childhood best friend, entering the room. Sophie is dressed in her two piece green and black wrestling gear. Braddock smiles and stands up.
Sophie O’Brian:
I assume it is ok that I come visit with you for a few moments?
Braddock chuckles and nods her head.
Glory Braddock:
Always, mate. You never have to ask permission.
Braddock and Sophie embrace in a tight hug. Upon breaking the embrace Sophie is the first to break the ice.
Sophie O’Brian:
So are you ready for tonight?
Glory Braddock:
Are you kidding, of course I’m ready. Sixty minutes is a hell of a challenge but it isn’t as if I haven’t done this before, mate.
Sophie O’Brian:
I recall. Bear in mind that there is no individual who knows of your resume better than I do. And I also know that you haven’t wrestled a sixty minute match since August of 2017.
Braddock nods her head.
Glory Braddock:
It’s been over four years. And I won that match. I intend to win tonight. Trust me, Sophie. I’m ready.
She pats Sophie on the shoulder.
Glory Braddock:
But are you ready? If you and Neil can win the tag titles, and I win the World Title, then the Glorious Golden Era could leave completely covered in gold.
Sophie smirks.
Sophie O’Brian:
William McKinley says, ‘in the time of darkest defeat victory is the nearest.’ We have been through hell, Gloria. Neil and I have been robbed of the tag team titles by Karen and Olly. You were robbed of victory by Pierce Manning recently. But now we are on the verge of a complete turnaround. Tonight, if fortune will only smile upon us, then we will leave victorious, walking over the beaten bodies of our opposition.
Glory Braddock:
I hope so…either way, tonight we walk away with our heads held high knowing we gave it our all.
Braddock winks at Sophie.
Glory Braddock:
Sophie and Neil, World Tag Team Champions. That has a nice ring to it.
Sophie O’Brian:
Glory Braddock, the NEW MWE World Champion…that has an even better ring to it.
MWE Tag Team Match
Four Way Ladder Match
Four Way Ladder Match
K2O © VS Warblade 42 VS Glorious Golden Era VS Fabulous
Amy Maynard: “There’s an old saying that goes like he who sows the wind, reaps the storm...” Sir Figgles: “Really? I never heard of it. Anyway, it’s lame.” Amy Maynard: “Thank you for your deep and greatly appreciated insight but it doesn’t change the fact that it still applies here. K2O won the titles 173 days ago…” Sir Figgles: “Longest title reign in history baybay!” Amy Maynard: “... Tied with APE. Anyway, as I was saying, they resorted to any dirty trick in the book to retain the titles…” Sir Figgles: “That’s what champions do. They keep the titles.” Amy Maynard: “I’m trying to say something here, would you stop interrupting me?” Sir Figgles: “Probably not. But please, go on…” Amy Maynard: “Forget it, the match is underway.” Everybody wanted their pound of the champion’s flesh, that wasn’t a surprise at all. What was surprising was seeing Karen waving goodbye to Olly and leaving him to the wolves. Was the attack on her son the straw that broke the camel’s back? Did she finally choose family over gold? As crazy as imagining Karen having any redeeming quality might be, that seemed to be the case. She hopped the barricade and disappeared into the crowd, leaving the former student alone, cursing and swinging at the oncoming opponents. He dropped some pretty heavy insults, seemingly firing himself up with the trash talk. You have to give Olly credit, he was doing a good job at fending off the attacks. Sure, the brass knuckles he wore on his right fist proved to be a great crowd control tool, but he showed great dodging skills as well as a remarkable creativity, like when he picked up Summer and tossed her against Jessica and Neil. Eventually the numbers game got him, but that was when their great plan got exposed. Karen hopped back from the opposite side of the ring, picked up one of the folded ladders and entered the ring, holding the ladder horizontally and wiping out the group of opponents. Sir Figgles: “HAHAHAHA this is awesome!” Amy Maynard: “I have no words… They… They might actually pull this off!” Sir Figgles: “Best. Tag. Team. In. History. Change my fucking mind.” Olly smiled at Karen, she smiled back and he set up the ladder for her to climb on. She insisted that he would climb with her, so that they could retrieve both titles at the same time, enshrining a bond and unity of purpose that a lot of people seem to often question. The boos were deafening, what was promising to be a great match looked to be over in a couple of minutes. And the thing that was pissing off the fans the most was that, technically, they didn’t cheat. They just outsmarted the other teams. Or so they thought. Nobody noticed it, but Sophie O’Brian wasn’t among the pile of bodies right outside the ring. Not buying for a second that Karen would actually leave her partner, the master tactician kept herself out of the fight, leaning against the barricade next to the timekeeper’s table. And history proved her right. Now she was the fans’ only hope to stop K2O from getting away with the title after fooling everyone but her. She slid inside the ring and looked up at Olly and Karen, already halfway on the ladder. She had a grin on her face as she pushed the ladder, causing Karen to fall hard on the canvas. Olly wasn’t that lucky, crashing on the floor outside. O’Brian had now the chance to climb and retrieve the titles but she had to hurry since Valkyrie was getting up by now. Not wanting to end up like K2O, Sophie closed the ladder and pushed it into the corner, taking on the Great Dane Bitch instead. One by one, the members of each team except K2O crowded the ring, giving the fans that chaos they were expecting when the match was announced. Sir Figgles: “I gotta say I’m disappointed. K2O deserved the win for managing to pull that plan alone.” Amy Maynard: “Well, Sophie didn’t buy it so I guess you can’t say they really pulled it off…” Sir Figgles: ”Shut up, you know I’m right.” The match continued and the first ladder introduced by K2O got broken in two when Newman launched Valkyrie against it with a belly to belly suplex. Speaking of the champions, they eventually got involved in the match, at least Karen did. She raked Jessica’s back and when the Archangel turned around, she blasted her with a jumping knee. Olly took a little longer to get back in the swing of things, and he did by taking his personal revenge on O’Brian. He grabbed her foot and pulled her outside the ring and threw her into the barricade with a German suplex. Being the agent of chaos that he is, he spiced things up by adding a ladder to the mix. His plan quickly backfired as Niko saw him and kicked the ladder in his face with a baseball slide before he could even get in the ring. She kept the ladder tho and used it as a battering ram into Newman’s midsection, avenging her partner. She set it up and started to climb but Jessica slid between her legs and powerbombed her into the canvas. Her partner Summer tried to get to the titles but Karen tried to block her, grabbing her foot. Jessica started to climb on the opposite side and got all the way to the top, even touching the belts with her fingertips. But her dream to become a two time champ was crushed by Valkyrie who launched a ladder against the ladder knocking everybody down. Amy Maynard: “How about that Viking strength?” Sir Figgles: “Yeah, yeah… Kinda cool but pointless, unless she can now climb the ladder and retrieve the titles.” Valkyrie was going for it, and nobody seemed to have a chance to stop her. Newman was the first to get up and he rushed back in the ring, climbing as fast as he could and reaching Valkyrie on top. The two started trading punches and soon Olly joined them on a second ladder, positioned right next to theirs. He was on Valkyrie’s side so he first grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face on the steel steps. Then he punched Newman in the ribs while he was trying to unhook the titles. He then waves his hand to the GGE member and pushed their ladder with his foot, knocking them down. He stretched his hand trying to finally retrieve the gold and end this match, but Niko punched him on the jaw, twice. She then did something crazy, a sunset flip powerbomb that took herself and Olly out. Karen started to climb the empty ladder now, looking down at her partner before glancing at the belts, realizing she couldn’t reach them from that position. Amy Maynard: “Looks like the ladder slightly moved when Yua connected that crazy sunset flip powerbomb. Karen should have checked before climbing!” Sir Figgles: “Speaking of the crazy Japanese… Is she alive after that stunt? What about Olly?” Amy Maynard: “I surely hope so, though they haven’t moved yet.” You have to give Karen credit, she was ready to put her body on the line to remain champion. She jumped off the ladder to cling on to the titles, a move that surprised the fans. Sure, now she had to remove them from the hook and if she did, a long, hard fall was awaiting her. But wouldn’t that be the sweetest pain? She began to fumble, casually looking down to see Sophia getting back in the ring. She smiled, confident that by the time the northern irish would find a ladder, set it up and climb, she would be already celebrating. But Sophie had other plans. Amy Maynard: “Oh no… I think I know what’s going through O’Brian’s mind… Karen is about to get roasted, and not like she does everyday on Twitter..” Three words. Scorched. Earth. Policy. The fireball flew toward Karen who instantly let go of the titles and fell down to the canvas, barely avoiding getting burned to a crisp. Sophie once again tried to ascend but Fabulous blocked her attempt, pulling her down when she only climbed two steps. They hit her with their In Your Dreams, but just when they started their ascension toward the titles, they found Valkyrie and Newman on their way. Several vain attempts and a couple of broken ladders later, the ring was a total mess. Olly had just come back after the sunset flip powerbomb, after taking a five minute break on the outside. And he cleaned the ring, putting a brand new (and bigger than the others) ladder on his shoulders and went berserk, hitting everything that moved including, accidentally, his own partner. And now, he was alone in the centre of the ring. Battered, bruised, but with a golden opportunity to retrieve the titles for his team and confirming K2O at the top of the Tag Team Division in MWE, surpassing APE’s reign. He started climbing the ladder, quickly approaching the ultimate goal, grinning at the fans booing him with his usual cockiness. He even flipped the bird at them in a sign of ultimate disrespect. Imagine their joy when someone hopped inside the ring with another ladder and hit him with it as if he was a pinata. Imagine their surprise seeing who that person was. Amy Maynard: “CLYDE ELDON JR?” Sir Figgles: “What the hell did you do son? That’s your mother’s tag partner!” Amy Maynard: “It’s also the man who harassed and embarrassed him for months. Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Sir Figgles: “And it’s also the last one he’s going to eat… I doubt his mother is going to cook him another meal after this.” Amy Maynard: “I doubt his mother is cooking anything. She probably has a dozen people for that.” Clyde was absolutely trashing Olly now, stomping the hell out of him and even dropping the ladder on the shoulder he recently injured. And while he was taking his sweet and probably deserved revenge, someone set up a second ladder and started to ascend. It was Neil Newman, who looked down at Clyde half expecting him to make a move. But CEJ couldn't care less about who’d win the titles, as long as it wasn’t Olly. And so Newman reached the top, becoming the first two time MWE tag team champion. WINNER: Glorious Golden Era BY: Title Retrieval, 26:47 |
Shifting back to ringside, the commentators are in mid-analysis of the match just seen when an eerie tune begins to play. All attention switches to the venue’s large screen, where a handful of candles burn against a dark background.
Footsteps are heard, with black boots walking into view, before someone crouches. The young woman in view picks up a single candle, holding her palm just above the flame, before her gaze turns toward the camera.
Without a word, the woman tilts her head. Her long hair moves over her shoulders, parted to around a face with dark toned makeup, contrasting her pale skin. The stare she gives the camera is intense. Not intimidating, not ‘evil’, but intense.
Young Woman:
You, all of you, no doubt have many questions running through your minds as you see me here.
She allows a sly smile to slither across her lips. Her voice is calm, almost too calm.
Young Woman:
Stop that, this is not about me. I am simply a messenger here to enjoy this new playground. Evie, that is my name, I know you have been wondering.
She stands and the camera pans with her...revealing a far, far bigger man behind her. He says nothing, only standing there with folded arms.
Young Woman:
And this right here, he is my message...a physical force, the likes of which simply does not exist in Millennium Wrestling. Allow me to introduce Valentine...
She turns back to him. He says nothing, barely even a grunt.
Young Woman:
He is not particularly the chatty type, but you will get used to that. He prefers communicating in other ways, we will get to that in due time. But do not worry, you have me to keep you company on this journey. Oh, we are going to have fun, but until then...
She lifts the candle back into view.
Evie:
Be ready.
She blows out the candle, turning the whole scene to black and ending whatever that was.
"On The Rise" has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions. We saw unexpected returns, witnessed title changes, seen new stars rise and MWE veterans coming up short. We saw the brutality of Echo, the arrogance of Olly, we appreciated the payback they suffered. And now, it's almost time to wrap it up and go home.
With only the main event to go, we cut to an aerial view of the arena. It appears to be from a camera placed on a drone, often used to pan over the cheering fans. But this time, it's not pointing the crowd. We get an exclusive peek inside the VIP lounge of the Greensboro Coliseum, a privileged area reserved, it goes without saying, to Grace van Beek. The owner of MWE was not alone. Well, she never is, always surrounded by her bodyguards. Four of them, meaning that the fifth is right outside the room, watching the door. But aside from them, there's someone else there, sitting on a comfortable armchair right in front of the South African. From the little we can see, she's a woman. That's what we can tell from the crossed legs and the high-heeled shoes. Her hair are short, black as the darkest of nights.
And that's all we're able to see before Ryen Riekert, probably alerted by one of his men, moves in front of the window, blocking our view on what was supposed to be a private meeting right when the drone was moving to a different angle that would have given us a clear view on who Grace's guest was.
The camera cuts quickly to the backstage area. As for the person piloting the drone? Knowing Grace, he's probably going to have to find a new job tomorrow morning.
With only the main event to go, we cut to an aerial view of the arena. It appears to be from a camera placed on a drone, often used to pan over the cheering fans. But this time, it's not pointing the crowd. We get an exclusive peek inside the VIP lounge of the Greensboro Coliseum, a privileged area reserved, it goes without saying, to Grace van Beek. The owner of MWE was not alone. Well, she never is, always surrounded by her bodyguards. Four of them, meaning that the fifth is right outside the room, watching the door. But aside from them, there's someone else there, sitting on a comfortable armchair right in front of the South African. From the little we can see, she's a woman. That's what we can tell from the crossed legs and the high-heeled shoes. Her hair are short, black as the darkest of nights.
And that's all we're able to see before Ryen Riekert, probably alerted by one of his men, moves in front of the window, blocking our view on what was supposed to be a private meeting right when the drone was moving to a different angle that would have given us a clear view on who Grace's guest was.
The camera cuts quickly to the backstage area. As for the person piloting the drone? Knowing Grace, he's probably going to have to find a new job tomorrow morning.
MWE World Championship Match
60 Minutes Iron Man Match
Duke Andrews © VS Glory Braddock60 Minutes Iron Man Match
Peyton Holland: “And now we are ready for our Main Event! Tonight Glory Braddock gets her opportunity to stake her claim as a sixteen time World Champion.” Amy Maynard: “And she will have to dig down deep to make that dream become a reality.” Sir Figgles: “Duke has stayed true to his words since he won the title. You’re going to have to pull it from his cold dead hands, and I think that’s quickly becoming less of a saying and more of a realistic bet.” Duke Andrews handed the title over to the official as he gained Gloria as she stayed in her corner. His taunt did nothing to distract her from her goal. Amy Maynard: “We will know in sixty minutes who our World Champion will be. Once that bell sounds, it will be a sixty minute iron-person match!” Sir Figgles: “Iron MAN match!” Once the bell sounded it was the challenger making the first move. It proved effective as she went in for a test of strength with the Champion, but as he goes to tie up, she connects with a hip to the midsection. Controlling the early minutes of the match as they are feeling each other out, Glory gets Duke caught in a schoolboy roll up for a quick two count. As Duke rolled out he looked at her as she smiled in his direction holding up three fingers, letting the champion know she was close. Rolling back to her feet, her quick attempt at getting to the back of Duke did not work to her advantage, as he tossed an elbow resulting in a hard blow to the temple, followed by another to the other side. As Glory broke her grip around the midsection, Duke bounced off of the ropes and came back with a vicious clothesline that flipped her inside out. Duke quickly floated over and applied a crossface, wanting to get her to tap to grab an early lead. Ring awareness was key as Glory managed to get a rope break. Duke held his grip as long as he could without being disqualified. Showing his frustration as he looked up and saw that we were already approaching the thirty minute mark, the halfway point of our match. Duke took too long to get back and Glory managed to get to her feet first. She was realizing she needed to score a quick pin fall or submission to take the lead. Using her mat based wrestling ability she caught the champion off guard and flipped him over, hooking his head up, and his legs. Glory scored the first pin fall. Peyton Holland: “And Glory Braddock takes the early 1-0 lead! I don’t think it’s time to take her foot off the gas.” Sir Figgles: “This is all a plan from Duke. He’s letting her build a little bit of momentum before he snatches victory from her grips. Just like her last opportunity.” Duke shot up off the mat and shook his head in her direction as he jumped to his feet. He was no longer going to mess around with her, as he quickly began to stalk Glory. She settled in a ready position, but the strength of Duke was too much to handle as he shot the leg and took Glory to the mat. He used his strength to flip her to her back and began to take an old school approach and reign down lefts and rights. She covered up with her arms, but that didn’t stop Duke. Getting a call from the official before breaking, he hopped to his feet and snatched her by the hair, lifting her up, and attempting the Crossroads (leghook reverse STO) but Glory knew it was coming and slipped in and hit a huge German duplex and a bridge, grabbing another quick pin fall. Amy Maynard: “I don’t know if this would be an upset, but Glory has shot out to a two to zero lead. There’s about twenty minutes remaining!” Duke rolled out of the ring and immediately went after the ring steps. Kicking them apart as Glory attempts to follow quickly behind. As the steps separate he turns and sees Glory behind him. Grabbing her by the head and hitting a quick snap duplex and letting her back take the blow on the steps. Sir Figgles: “And now watch the master take apart the challenger.” Duke grabbed Glory by the hair and dragged her body from the steps and back into the ring. Following behind as they both got to their feet, the champion tossing the challenger hard into the corner before following behind with a shoulder tackle. Without letting her stray too far, he hit another, and another before allowing her body to fall from the corner to the mat. Duke moved out of his comfort zone and moved to the top rope. Looking at Glory’s body in the middle of the ring, before hitting a frog splash and the cover. Sir Figgles: “And now it’s 2 to 1. Back in it with ten minutes to go!” Duke wasted little time as he got up and measured the challenger. Watching as she slowly pushed upwards to her knees, Duke went in for a kill shot. Hitting a well placed V-Trigger. At the opposite side of the ring, he lifted his foot onto the middle rope and pushed the knee pad down before lining up and hitting another V-Trigger. Peyton Holland: “Do you feel like he’s wasting too much time?” Duke grabbed at Glory’s head as she swings once at Duke. He hit a knee to the midsection before pushing her to the corner. Quickly slipping into the corner he jumped onto the middle turnbuckle before hitting The Michigan Sunrise (Canadian Destroyer from turnbuckle) before sliding over for another cover. Sir Figgles: “And I told you we would get back to this point! Tied up!” Amy Maynard: “This is why this match was saved for the pay per view. Coming down to the wire!” Duke sat in the corner as he waited for Glory Braddock to get to her feet. Duke was smart in conserving his energy. Glory slowly rose to her feet. Knowing that time was of the essence she came out swinging. She and Duke locked up in the center of the ring as the crowd began cheering. One minute was remaining. Glory tossed a hook to the face, Duke countered with a left hook to the midsection. Glory went for the momentum and jumped back into the ropes and attempted a running shoulder tackle but was caught. Duke caught her in his version of the guillotine choke in the center of the ring. Glory squirmed as Duke held onto his positioning in the center of the ring, his arms hooked and locked in place, slowly pulling his body backwards. The official watching as Glory fought to stay alive in this match. But the chance was slipping. Fading fast. The official grabbing Glory’s wrist and raising her hand in the air, letting it fall. Then a second time. There was ten seconds remaining on the clock as the referee lifted Glory’s hand high, letting go as it fell a third time. Sir Figgles: “I told you! I told you he would do it!” With just seconds to go Duke let go as he took a three to two lead. The crowd was in shock as the bell rang. “Can’t Be Touched” by Roy Jones Jr began to play as Duke dropped to his knees, part in celebration, part due to being tired. WINNER: Duke Andrews (STILL MWE WORLD CHAMPION) BY: 3-2, 60:00 |