gvb
Millennium Roster
Posts: 1,408 
|
Post by gvb on May 27, 2022 13:43:24 GMT -6
  MWE Presents: Bound For Greatness (night 1)
Live from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
Saturday, May 14th, 2022
We cut to the backstage area and it is there where we are able to see Crystal Zdunich. She has a wicked grin on her face as she looks right into the lens of the camera.
Crystal Zdunich:
I know it has been a while since I stood in front of a camera here but I just want to say that it feels amazing to be back. Not only am I back on camera but tonight bound for greatness is extremely special. You want to know why it is amazing?! It is because we are right here live in my home town if Detroit Michigan!
Crystal smirks as she looks at the camera.
Crystal Zdunich:
To be honest I haven’t really been myself but let me tell you people something I am ready to go out there and win this match I know it’s a four-way match but I feel that I am the best wrestler in that ring I haven’t been the same since I stepped in the ring with faith and I know that I couldn’t challenge for the cloud gate championship but as of tonight in my hometown I am going to walk out a winner. I am going to do whatever it takes to come out ahead.
Crystal continues to smile as she speaks more.
Crystal Zdunich:
I don’t care who is in the ring with me. I’ve been held back for far too long and tonight I sent to the top there might be four people walking into this wrestling ring tonight but make no mistake I’ve been doing this for 17 years I’ve held 19 world championships and tonight I get back to where I belong things get back into focus and I will prove why I am the best 313 motor city! Are you ready to see me get to where I belong?!
The crowd cheers excitedly
Crystal Zdunich:
Are you ready to see why this movie has many sequels and things aren’t over for me?!. If there ever was a moment for me to step up tonight is that moment tonight I grasp that brass ring and I showed the whole world why I am the fucking best. Tonight you will see a new side of me you will see a side that hasn’t been seen in quite some time the other three opponents out there tonight you better bring it because I guarantee I will win point fucking blank. See you out there!
With that Crystal is super focus as we go elsewhere.
Four-Way Match
Crystal Zdunich VS Morag Bean VS Siobhan Mahoney VS Betsy Gallagher
- A chance at redemption, an opportunity to steer the direction their careers had taken and get some momentum after the recent ups and downs. Betsy seemed to be the most determined of the pack, coming out strong of the gates and immediately cleaning the ring. She floored Siobhan with a flurry of chops, tossed Morag out of the ring and into her bodyguard’s arms and knocked Crystal off her feet with a standing dropkick. The English woman then showed some athleticism as she got up to her feet with a kip up, receiving a round of applause from the fans. Mahoney sneaked up behind her and tried to steal the win with a schoolboy pin, but Titania kicked out in two.
- If anyone was still wondering why Morag Bean was called the Cannibal Queen, they should really look at this match. Knowing that she could not be disqualified, the Scotswoman turned into a rabid wolf and went on a biting frenzy. First victim was Gallagher, who got bitten on the arm while she had Bean in a sleeper hold. Crystal was next, Morag sunk her teeth on the Blossoming Rose’s forehead and raked her eyes to win the punches exchange and subsequently floor her with a knee to the face. Always the ultimate opportunist, Mahoney came from out of nowhere and leveled Morag with a big boot. She then began to stomp her face but Morag grabbed her foot and bit her calf, causing her to scream in pain.
- Zdunich was by far the more experienced in this match, and sooner or later that had to become a factor. Her slow start was a good strategy that allowed her to come out in the long run, when the other three inevitably slowed down. After knocking down Morag with an enziguri, Crystal showed the fans that she still got it, connecting her Smell The Roses (handspring standing moonsault) for a two count.
- Siobhan opted for an even more conservative tactic, keeping herself out of the fight for as long as possible, taking long breaks outside and siding back in at the right moment. This strategy didn’t make her any friend in the match nor gained any sympathy with the Detroit fans but she would’ve gladly traded all that for a win tonight. And she got so close to it when she slid back in the ring and blindsided Crystal with a running bulldog. Morag desperately dove on them and broke up the pin at the very last moment.
- All in all, this was a good contest, fought at a quick pace and with some exciting exchanges. If one had to pick a “star” in this one, they would definitely choose Betsy Gallagher. She impressed the fans with a solid performance, controlling the match for long portion and showing off her strength with high impact moves such as the British End she dropped Mahoney with. Once again Morag was in the right place at the right time and made the save.
- The two final minutes of this match were absolutely hectic. After having to count a long sequence of pinfalls and counters, the referee thought he could catch a breath for a brief moment. But then Morag hit Crystal with the Iron Fang (RKO) from out of nowhere, and down he went again to count a two and nine tenths as Betsy made the last minute save. Gallagher picked Bean up and slammed her into the canvas with her patented Betsy Bomb (sitout double underhook powerbomb) and there he had to count a new pinfall, this one too interrupted by Mahoney’s Shillelagh to the seated Betsy. Not even time to make the cover and Mahoney was knocked down by a superkick to the back of the head by Christina, who then pushed Betsy out of the ring and climbed to the top rope, coming down on Morag with the Mega Buster to secure the win.
WINNER: Crystal Zdunich
BY: Pinfall (Mega Buster), 8:24
|
Our scene opens up this time we find ourselves in the back stage area it is there where our image shows us diamond steel she has a wicked grin on her face as she begins to speak to the crowd
"Diamond" Kate Steele:
Well well well it’s been quite some time hasn’t it . First and foremost to the crowd out here he probably doesn’t give a fuck that I’m talking to you right now. I just want to say that you can all go fuck yourselves. I know when you see booked on the show you guys don’t care I come to the Wrestle. Go on and admit it. You all think I have no use for being here. You all pay money just to see me get my as skicked by other stars.
Diamond shakes her head in disgust.
"Diamond" Kate Steele:
Bunch of wankers you took advantage of Kate Steele and you showed me little to no respect. I was a lock down champion and a damn great one at that. However I lost and since that day I couldn’t pick up any steam. I know I have competed in other companies and you have seen me wrestling under the moniker of Diamond. You want to know why?!
Diamond grins as the crowd boos loudly.
"Diamond" Kate Steele:
I am the Shining Star! I am the Sparkling Sensation! I am the Sorceress of Submission! I am the Mistress of the Microphone, and the conqueror of catch wrestling! I am the woman who has nick names upon nicknames and Lucie doesn’t stand a chance against me. Tonight I take my fucking respect and all of you will witness the rise of something great.
Diamond licks her lips.
"Diamond" Kate Steele:
Tonight I shine like the star I am and all of you will take pride that you will see a woman who is just awesome in every single way. Bring on the fight. I will be waiting cheers
She grins before walking away.
No DQ Match
Lucie Callaway VS Kate Steele
- Anything goes between Lucie and Kate, a stipulation that definitely favored the former Chicago Way champion,even though the first part of the match was all Steele. The Berkshire born came into the match prepared, armed with some pepper spray she used to get an early advantage on Callaway. After blinding the opponent, Kate delivered a flurry of martial arts kicks to the youngest champion in MWE history. The last one was aimed to the stomach and it doubled Lucie over, setting her up for Steele’s spike DDT.
- As she started to regain sight, Callaway was mad. Her red irritated eyes staring a hold through the opponent and while her vision was obviously still blurry, she charged head on at Kate. Most of her strikes missed the target, but she still managed to pin Steele back into the corner. Now that she had nowhere to go, it got harder for Kate to dodge the attacks, sharp knees into the ribs. With an Irish whip she was sent to the opposite corner, where she countered Callaway’s running splash with a boot to the face.
- It wasn’t long before Kate brought in her favorite weapon. She set up the table close to the corner and laid the opponent upon it. She then climbed to the top rope, ready to dive on Lucie with a leg drop but the second generation wrestler rolled away. Patiently, Steele hopped down and went back to work but by that time Callaway had already retrieved a brass knuckle from inside her boot. She kept it hidden until Steele dragged her up to her feet and blasted her with a straight punch to the jaw, knocking her on the floor.
- This was when things took a bad turn for Steele. Lucie brought some toys in the ring, things like a kendo stick, a bag of tacks and a steel chair wrapped in barbed wire. First she used the cane, biding her time between one strike and the other and making sure Kate felt every bit of it. The slow torture lasted until the stick broke in half, which disappointed Callaway who would have loved to keep this going a little longer. Now she could move to the second part of her sadistic plan, which involved the use of the barbed wire-wrapped steel chair.
- The first shot plunged the top part of the chair, one of the few spots that weren’t meant to cut. Lucie used that to double Kate over and then smack the chair across her back, planting those edges deep in her skin. Steele groaned in pain and dropped to her knees, trickles of blood coming down her back. Lucie smirked maliciously and hit the opponent with a knee to the side of the head. Dropping the chair on the mat, she then pushed it with her foot right under Steele’s face and took a few steps back, ready to curb stomp her onto it! Luckily for Kate and those who know her, she was able to move away at the very last moment and Callaway stomped on the steel chair. Worst part of it, her right foot remained stuck into the barbed wire, making her an easy target for Kate’s revenge.
- Again those kicks proved to be a terrific weapon of offense, more so with Lucie unable to move. Steele then decided to use one of the weapons Callaway introduced against her, pouring the tacks on the mat and clotheslining the former Chicago Way champion onto them. Doing that earned her a near fall but, and that could be a downside, freed Lucie’s foot from the wires.
- Both women took a lot of punishment but Lucie showed the highest pain tolerance. In the final moments she simply “had more” left and punch after punch, kick after kick, she created herself the opportunity to seal the deal with her Nine Crimes, but that wasn’t enough. This was when she spotted the table, still standing untouched near the corner. What better way to make a statement than putting someone through a table? Well, if you asked Lucie she’d say that it would be putting someone through a FLAMING table. She poured the flammable liquid all over the surface and set it on fire before picking up the unaware opponent and powerbombing her through the flames, ending the match in a spectacular fashion.
WINNER: Lucie Callaway
BY: Pinfall (powerbomb through flaming table), 9:13
|
When the building was built, it was supposed to be the new state of the art arena, built in the heart of the newly named Arena District. What it became was another ugly building that was just placed in the center of all the foot traffic. Behind the building, inside the gates, the black 2022 Range Rover pulled inside the gates before quickly disappearing from the crowd and into the back of the building.
Once inside, the SUV came to a stop as the drivers door opened. The only thing that alerted people as to who was inside, was the TopHeel license plate. The navy blue, yellow lettered Water-Winter Wonderland plate.
The driver quickly opened the back door and allowed Tiffany Lynn Page to step out. The crowd reacted from inside with a cheer, as this was probably the second city that would give Duke Andrews a fan favorite reaction.
As the back hatch opened, Duke stepped out from the other side as the driver quickly moved to fetch the bags from the back. Dressed in a solid black suit, white shirt, and a light blue tie. Duke took the black duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder as he grabbed the handle of the other suitcase before slowly making his way to the doors to enter the arena.
Security:
Mr. Andrews, please, follow us.
The group of security guards had stopped Duke and Tiffany before they could enter the building. A shrug of the shoulders, not a word to be spoken.
Security:
This is for your own well being.
Once those words were spoken, Olly and Karen could be seen in the background.
Olly:
Get this primate out of here!
A long inhale, followed by a smug smirk as Duke began to turn and head in the direction of one thorn he couldn’t shake from his side.
Duke Andrews:
You’re a god damned dead man. You did this. You put yourself in this position. Your blood is on your own hands!
The security didn’t take long to quickly step between Andrews and Oliver. Karen tried to step between as Duke took a swipe at Oliver, but he was just beyond reach.
Duke Andrews:
You better hide your ass boy. These clowns can’t keep me from getting to you and beating your ass.
Olly:
You're tripping, old man...
Was the answer of the arrogant former Academy student, followed by a loud laugh.
Olly:
I wasn't even there, buddy. I was in Nashville, working for another company you idiot! Get outta here.
Elsa McCarthy:
ENOUGH! We told you we would handle this situation-
Duke Andrews:
Yet you haven’t. And now I will.
Elsa McCarthy:
Focus on your match tonight against Billy Danielson. We have an ongoing investigation, as soon as there are news, you'll be the first to know.
Duke Andrews:
Do it fast, or there won’t be a soul left on your roster. You’ve had long enough to settle this, but as god as my witness, when you reveal the person responsible, they’ll be ripped limb from fucking limb.
At this point security had managed to get Oliver and Karen out of the area, as Duke was ushered into the building and into his locker room with the rest of APE. Quickly he chucked his bag to the corner as Alan stepped up to calm down the leader of the faction.
Alan Envy:
Tonight we get back to our ways. Redd and I will handle the rest of these tag teams and secure the tag team titles that were wrongfully taken away from Tiffany and Megan. And you…
Duke found a chair and took a seat.
Duke Andrews:
And I will have the responsibility of taking down Billy Danielson. It’s a travesty that this fucking company hasn’t figured out how to book events, but it has to be done. Between what happened against Nathaniel, the attack on Tiffany, and being pushed away from events, there’s a couple weeks of pent up frustration that needs to be let out. But as we sit, the goals are still the same. I will slaughter whoever Elsa and Vegas put before me. I will enter to win the briefcase, and I will get my title back.
Tiffany leaned in and whispered into Dukes ear as he turned his head to the side.
Duke Andrews:
Come hell or high water this is the bottom for us. We have not accomplished a single fucking thing since we came back. Tonight that changes.
MENTV Championship Match
Devon Slayton © VS West Long
- The challenger started off very aggressive, in a rush even. You may think that for a guy of that size and power 15 minutes to beat someone are more than enough but Long knew that a veteran like Slayton could actually use that to his advantage, dragging the match to wear him down. He drove his shoulder into the champ’s mid section and pushed him all the way back into the corner, where he went for more shoulder tackles. He hit two of those, but the third attempt was countered with a knee to the face by Devon.
- Long was right, the champion’s strategy was to cut him off and counter the overwhelming power with his technical prowess and submissions expertise. The legs were definitely a target for the MENTV champions’ attacks and the subsequent holds, but Slayton liked to keep things interesting by switching to the arms every now and then, with the obvious goal to limit the Warwolf’s power moves.
- The master submissionist didn’t go for the basic holds either, putting a lot of pressure on Long and using his own body as leverage to weaken the arm by placing his right boot under the big man’s armpit to increase the torque during the armbar. Grunting in pain. West dragged himself and the opponent toward the ropes, grabbing the bottom one to break the hold.
- West may not be as well-versed as the opponent in the technical department, but he likely didn’t need to be. Sometimes. raw power and superhuman strength work just fine to get out of those predicaments. Surely standing up to a vertical position with the MENTV champion hanging onto his arm was not easy, but the payoff was great when he powerbombed Slayton into the turnbuckle. The champ looked stunned after the impact and Long followed with a running big boot to the face, turning the tides.
- Things weren’t looking good for the champ now. With six minutes to go, Long had plenty of time to dispose of him and wear him down with his arsenal of high-impact moves. The spinning spinebuster rattled the ring but it wasn’t enough to keep Slayton down.
- Time was running out, and with less than three minutes to go, West felt the urgency and tried to end things quickly. This proved to be a mistake as Slayton took him down with a drop toe hold and went back to his submissions, adding some neck wrenches to the series of holds.
- It looked like Slayton could settle for a time limit draw to retain his title, though this was likely to grant Long a rematch down the road. One thing for sure, he was definitely biding his time, using his elbow into the opponent’s joints to make the big man squirm in pain. But even those small things were just a means to an end. He used those to further wear the Warwolf down before debuting his brand new submission called “South Of Heaven” (cervical clutch). Long tried to resist but Devon’s hard and meticulous work paid off, and the big man tapped out.
WINNER: Devon Slayton (STILL MENTV CHAMPION)
BY: Submission (South Of Heaven), 14:06
|
Backstage we find Robbie Hayden. The journalist is the center of an absolutely Fabulous sandwich (pardon the pun). Standing to his right is “The Archangel” Jessica Lasiewicz and standing to Robbie’s left is Jessica’s good friend and tag team partner Summer Collins. The two ladies known collectively as Fabulous are already dressed in their ring gear. Lasiewicz has a nasty sneer on her face while Summer is sporting a confident smirk.
Robbie Hayden:
I am Robbie Hayden with one of the tag teams who will be participating in the tag team gauntlet tonight at Bound For Greatness. They are former MWE World Tag Team Champions looking to regain their title glory tonight. They are Jessica Lasiewicz and Summer Collins, better known as Fabulous.
He turns to face Summer.
Robbie Hayden:
I want to start with you, Summer. You and Jessica have threatened to do whatever it takes to become tag team champions tonight. In fact, you have implied that you would cheat or bribe your way to victory if necessary. Is that still the case? Is that still your mindset?
Summer Collins:
It wasn’t implied, Robbie. It was a stated fact. Jess and I both grew up in this business. My older brother Michael is a pro-wrestling Hall of Famer and both of Jessica’s parents are pro-wrestling Hall of Famers. Before either of us even got the idea in our heads that we would like to follow in our family’s footsteps we had already learned every dirty trick in the book. And at least in the case of my family, as much a dirty cheater my brother and my sister-in-law are, we wrote a few chapters in that great big book of cheating. Despite the vast knowledge shared between myself and my good friend here, we still chose to limit ourselves. We still played by the rules. And yet even though we limited ourselves we were still one of the best tag teams in the world today. Former GCW World Tag Team Champions, former GCW Global Tag Team Champions, former MWE World Tag Team Champions. Hell, we probably would have had more success than that if we just refused to be restrained by the rules. But we chose to play by the rules out of respect for this business. But what did playing by the rules get us, Jess?
Lasiewicz shakes her head.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
No respect. That’s what it got us. After we lost the MWE World Tag Team Titles, management seemed hell bent on keeping Summer apart by putting us in singles matches…
Robbie Hayden:
You mean by giving you two opportunities to win singles gold?
The Archangel holds up a hand to silence Robbie.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
Zamknij swoje cholerne usta dupku.
Summer Collins:
You’re in trouble now, Robbie. Jess only speaks Polish when she’s pissed…or if she’s around her father…
Jessica Lasiewicz:
Yeah, they gave us singles opportunities. But when we got singles title matches we were screwed over and MWE did nothing about it. So of course we wanted to go back to tag team wrestling, because if MWE wasn’t going to look out for us, at least we could look out for one another in the tag team division. But despite constantly and publicly telling them over and over that we wanted to return as a tag team, management continued to force the singles division down our throat. It’s painfully clear to me what MWE is up to…they are protecting the tag team division from myself and Summer.
Lasiewicz shakes her head.
Jessica Lasiewicz:
But Fabulous is like a hurricane. You cannot stop it, it will eventually come. If you live in a place like Louisiana or Florida, hurricanes are inevitable. Fabulous is inevitable. MWE could not stop us forever. So Summer and I decided that when we finally got back into the tag team division we would no longer hold anything back. Every single weapon in our arsenal would be utilized. We are two of the best technicians in this business and we will use those wrestling skills to win. We also know how to cheat better than anyone else in this business and we will cheat to win.
Collins flashes a wad of cash.
Summer Collins:
And we’re not above buying our way to the top, either. In fact, I may have already sealed the deal on the best entrant spot for the gauntlet…which would be the LAST spot…but you will have to wait and see. What I can tell you is that Jess and I will do whatever is necessary and stoop to any lows we have to in order to regain the MWE World Tag Team Championship and once again reclaim the MWE Tag Team Division as ours. And that will be absolutely FABULOUS!
Singles Match
Meg Coleman VS Gareth Prichard Jr.
- Losing the tag title without getting beat and losing her first singles match after that, put Meg Coleman in a very bad mood. She tried to take out her frustration on Gareth Prichard Jr, but the Welshman was too quick on his feet and dodged most of her initial attacks, waiting for the opportunity to catch her off balance with one of his takedowns, bringing the contest on the canvas.
- Being a former MMA specialist, Meg knew a thing or two about holds and submissions and she gave Prichard a run for his money. The result was a long technical exchange to the delight of the fans, with the two competitors grappling and trading holds for a good couple of minutes before GPJ wrenched the former Tag Team champions’ arm behind her back in a grounded hammerlock.
- Back to their feet, the two locked horns once again. Coleman this time didn’t take any chance and immediately raised her knee, hitting Gareth in the pit of the stomach. She then muscled him back against the ropes where she connected a few chops to the chest before sending him on the opposite side with an Irish whip. As Prichard bounced back, Meg went for a clothesline but got caught by a beautiful flying armbar from the former Neal Durden.
- After escaping the submission with a rope break, Megan left the ring to regroup, taking the full nine count before getting back in the ring with a new strategy. Gareth welcomed her with a kick to the head but she was able to raise her arm in time and parry the impact partially. This granted her the opportunity to quickly fight back, catching Prichard in a clinch position and delivering a few knees to the face before lifting him for a suplex.
- Once again the contest was taken to the mat, but this time it was Coleman in control. And she didn’t “waste time” with holds, relying on some ground and pound strikes to wear down the former UG Underworld champion, using some strikes that she wouldn’t be allowed to use in a regular MMA fight. Those forearm strikes behind Gareth’s head left the Welsh dazed. He stood up with the help of the ropes but he was quickly knocked back down by Meg’s Superwoman Punch. Being so close to the ropes saved the former Briefcase winner.
- Since she couldn’t put the opponent down with her strikes, Coleman decided to try submitting him. Her kicks were now focusing on Gareth’s right arm, laying in the groundwork for the Coleman Special armbar. She never had the chance to lock that in as Gareth eventually blocked one of her kicks and, with a dragon screw leg whip, took her down to the mat. Here it was a child’s play for him to switch into his devastating kneebar. Meg immediately tried to reach the ropes but when she realized they were too far, she had no choice but to tap out. Prichard kept the submission locked in for a few more seconds before finally letting go.
WINNER: Gareth Prichard Jr.
BY: Submission (kneebar), 8:38
|
We cut backstage. The cameras catch up to “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock walking through the halls with her gym bag in hand that contains her wrestling gear. Braddock is currently dressed down, very much down from how she is typically attired; she is wearing denim jeans, sneakers, royal purple jacket, a black “MWE” t-shirt, and a baseball cap that matches her royal purple jacket. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a ponytail in the back. Glory rounds a corner and then finds a dressing room door that is partially open. The British Bombshell approaches the door and pushes it the rest of the way open. Sure enough, this IS in fact her dressing room, because she finds her good friend and tag team partner for the evening, Sophie O’Brian, already there. Braddock places her gym bag down and folds her arms over her chest as she gazes at Sophie.
Glory Braddock:
I can see you’re ready to go.
What Glory is referring to is the fact that the devious black haired Irish woman is already dressed to fight in her wrestling gear, which is mostly forest green and black. Sophie looks up at Glory standing there just inside the dressing room. Sophie stands up and approaches her good friend. A grin forms on Sophie’s face.
Glory Braddock:
Alright…something MUST be wrong…
Sophie O'Brian:
Why do you say that, Gloria?
Glory Braddock:
Because you never smile. Were it not for me knowing you so well, I would think you were the most miserable person on the planet with how much you scowl all the time.
Sophie O'Brian:
My….scowl as you put it…is strategic. It is unwise to let anyone around me know just how confident or nervous I happen to be. Or, as Americans like to say, it is a POKER FACE.
Braddock nods her head.
Glory Braddock:
I see, but why break that old habit of yours now just for little old me? I can’t be that special, can I?
Sophie O'Brian:
Ah but that is where you are wrong, my friend. You are indeed special and this is a very special moment in time for the two of us. We are challenging for the MWE World Tag Team Championship. It is the first time we have ever had the opportunity to hold tag team championships as a team. You have held tag team championships with the likes of Carrie Storm, Brittany Lohan, Angela Jameson, and even your husband Kurt Logan. I have been tag team champion primarily with my brother Mark but also with Neil Newman. Yet even though we are very good friends we have never before held tag team gold together. Tonight is the night where we change that. Tonight you and I will become the new MWE World Tag Team Champions and that will be a very special moment between the two of us. So of course I would crack a smile even if for that reason alone.
A soft chuckle escapes the lips of The British Bombshell as she takes in everything her friend just told her.
Glory Braddock:
You know, Sophie? Individually we are good. Hell, as you pointed out both of us have had success working as part of tag teams. But we have never worked together as a tag team on a regular basis until just recently. In all honesty, mate, we are the underdogs tonight against well established teams who have the experience we don’t. Yet you sound awfully confident about our chances.
Sophie O'Brian:
Of course I am confident…why wouldn’t I be? After all, those other tag teams in the gauntlet tonight have to face the best version of me…
She points a finger at Glory.
Sophie O'Brian:
...and the best version of you.
Glory Braddock:
What does that mean?
Sophie O'Brian:
Come off it, Gloria. As a master strategist I just naturally pay very close attention to everyone around me. Besides that, I know you better than anyone else. This time last year you were sporting the same kind of scowl…or poker face as it were…as I do. You strutted around in the fanciest of attire as if you were better than everyone else. And wrestling to you was a responsibility, even a chore at times. Slowly but surely I have witnessed that you have had a bit more of a spring to your step. A smile has creeped back onto your face. And once again you are your father’s tomboy.
Glory Braddock:
And you like this turn of events? Out of everyone I thought you would have hated it.
Sophie O'Brian:
I admit that at first I liked the person you had become…the stuck up, arrogant power-mad woman who thought she was the best in the world and never had any qualms telling the world about it. Because I believed your father was the best and I believed you were the best and I believed that you both had every right to shove it in the face of the world. Yet I realize now that while you may have had what I perceived as the right attitude, that attitude was holding you back. You are the type of person who needs to enjoy herself in order to be successful. You need to have fun. You need have that passion in order to be the best. And seeing you tonight the way you are…I can tell that passion has returned. That’s how I know that you and I will win the MWE World Tag Team Championship.
Braddock places a hand on Sophie’s shoulder.
Glory Braddock:
Thanks, Sophie. Your faith in me, your loyalty to our friendship, it means a lot to me. And tonight I won’t let you down. Tonight you and I are going to run the whole damn gauntlet if necessary, but we ARE going to become the new MWE World Tag Team Champions!
Singles Match
Abby Blake VS Luna
- Ever since Abby’s debut in MWE her path and that of Luna kept crossing, but this was the first one on one match between the two ladies. The Star Of The Night looked less confident without West Long in her corner, and certainly the absence of the Warwolf was going to be a factor in the match, considering he’s often been decisive in tipping the scale in her favor.
- The contest proved to be exciting and spectacular from the get going as both competitors stepped on the gas and imposed a quick pace from the very first moment. The commentators struggled to keep up with the fast and furious action and the numerous counters they both performed, a sign that they studied the opponent.
- No matter how much one “does their homework” on Luna and prepares for her set of offense, that throat jab is not something one can see coming. Abby began coughing, stumbling back and bringing both hands to the neck. Luna exploited the lowered guard and to attack the pint-sized opponent with a volley of Krav Maga knee striker. Blake was down, still struggling to breathe correctly. Luna jumping on her chest with a double foot stomp surely didn’t do her any good.
- One of the most frustrating things about Luna, at least for the fans, is that she’s technically gifted, an excellent striker and one of the best high-flyers in the company, but too often she choose to be “lazy” and get over with shortcuts and external help rather than relying on her own skills. Even tonight, even without Long at ringside providing distractions and such, she felt the need to cheat, leaning into the ropes from extra leverage when she pinned Abby after the Starstorm. When the referee spotted it, he had to interrupt what might as well been the decisive count, giving Abby a chance to fight back.
- And Blake made the best of it, driving Luna’s face into the canvas with the wheelbarrow facebuster. Luna rolled on her back and Abby went for a standing moonsault. Luna had it scouted and raised her knees but Blake saw it coming and corrected her trajectory mid fight, landing on her feet and immediately hit Luna with a fist drop to the face.
- The two battled a little longer in a very evenly matched contest.The turning point that heavily tipped the scale in Abby’s favor was when she locked her fingers with Luna’s and slid between her opponent’s legs. She then jumped onto Luna’s back and hit the sunset flip, quickly getting up and charging at the ropes to deliver a stiff shining wizard to her head of the former Lockdown champion. She didn’t get the win off this combination, but it surely represented a huge step in that direction. Luna looked dizzy after that, and it was only a matter of time before Abby would set her up for the Fore (Natural Selection) scoring the win.
WINNER: Abby Blake
BY: Pinfall (Fore), 11:06
|
Backstage here at Bound for Greatness we find ourselves finding what most would be a dreadful sight. We see Gabriel Landry, the Gold Star of the Academy leaned against a wall locked lips with Karen Eldon. Pushing away from him after a long kiss, she smiles looking around at the arena area they are in.
Karen Eldon:
Done with all that Academy drama. You get to sign with the big roster, move in with yours truly? Don’t have to spend your days dealing with all those other losers in the Academy. Getting to spend your days with the most beautiful, smart woman in the world.
Stopping to smile at her own compliments with Gabriel simply nods in agreement with.
Karen Eldon:
No more fighting for little made up titles, now you’ll be on the big show fighting for real gold. And I just know the next big show you’ll be under these bright lights, doing all those cool flying moves you do. And becoming the biggest star this company has ever seen.
Gabriel Landry:
And likely one of the most hated.
Gabriel chuckles knowing now that he is on the main roster and his relationship with Karen bound to gain a much bigger spotlight, his chuckling is more of an acceptance of things to come. His arms are around Karen’s waist.
Gabriel Landry:
I won’t let that bother me. I am on the big show like you said. I am with the woman of my dreams. Neat little perk of being a now former Gold Star Champion I guess, is I can challenge for a singles championship. In no rush to do that. All I’m focused on is the here and now.
Gabriel returns to kissing Karen, an unwelcome sight to most everyone, especially Erika Eldon. Who has now finished her time with the Academy, and is also at the event. She turns the corner to have to see her mother making out with Gabriel, ready to hurl. Following not far behind her is Rainer Nordhagen.
Erika Eldon:
Disgusting! If I am going to have to be around I NEED you to keep this disgusting behavior to a minimum. This is why nobody likes you guys.
Gabriel rolls his eyes.
Gabriel Landry:
Jesus Christ... and here I thought I’d never see you two again.
Gabriel glares at Rainer now.
Gabriel Landry:
What happened to those billions of offers you claimed to have Rainer? I was hoping you’d take one of them to get out of my life forever!
Rainer rolls his eyes at Gabriel dismissively, slinging his arm over Erika’s shoulder, pulling her in close to him.
Rainer Nordhagen:
Still as stupid as the day I met you, I see. I’m not at liberty to discuss my plethora of offers pouring in from companies around the globe. Even if I was - do you honestly think you’d get the inside scoop?
He chuckles at that with Erika, who is possibly pretending to understand some of the words Rainer is using.
Rainer Nordhagen:
See, unlike you, Landry - we know what we’re worth. We aren’t snot-nosed little rookies like you, we’re a part of the ever illustrious Team Rainer, so we’ll hold out until the deal is right for both of us.
Gabriel rolls his eyes.
Gabriel Landry:
So you’re lying, per usual, living in your own fantasy world. Noted.
The last ever Gold Star Champion takes a deep breath to release the tension of seeing Rainer and Erika just now.
Gabriel Landry:
We don’t have time for this. Karen...
Gabriel grabs Karen’s hand.
Gabriel Landry:
Lets get out of here. Both of us have better things to do than entertain these two pieces of crap. Oh and one more thing before we go...
Gabriel makes sure he looks at his Academy rival.
Gabriel Landry:
If you and your simp cross paths with me and Jasper, it’ll be my pleasure to stop you from walking out as the tag team champions.
Karen and Gabriel exit walking past Erika and Rainer as Erika glares.
Erika Eldon:
God I hate them…
Rainer nods his head in agreement as the two watch them walk off.
Lockdown Championship Match
Bree's Rule: Gym Strap Match Bree Smith © VS Dean Smith
- Always awkward to fight family, especially when you’re as tight as the Smiths. Bree and Dean just looked at each other while the referee tied them together with the gym strap. Everything was ready for Bree’s second defense and the bell finally sounded. A smile, a handshake and the match was underway.
- The initial collar and elbow tie up resulted in a deadlock, which seemed to surprise everyone but Dean. He nodded and smiled at Bree, congratulating for the progress she made in the strength department. Bree thanked and then quickly slid behind him, locking her arms around his waist and looking for a suplex. Dean blocked the attempt and connected a couple of elbows to the jaw of his sister, creating some separation. Turning around quickly, he leveled her with a clothesline, walking to the corner to touch the first pad.
- That first, unrealistic attempt was immediately blocked by Bree. The Smiths then engaged in a hard exchange of right hands in the middle of the ring. Dean’s boxing background allowed the former Invictus champion to get the upper hand, sending Bree flying onto her back with an uppercut. Once again Dean started his walk toward the first post but Bree yanked the strap that got wrapped around his foot and tripped him over. Dean’s face bounced off the canvas before getting hit by a shining wizard from the defending champ.
- Two corners were touched by Bree before Dean pulled her back to the center of the ring where he met her with a kick to the gut that doubled her over. He moved behind her and applied an abdominal stretch, pounding at her midsection with heavy strikes. From that position, he then lifted her on his shoulder for a running powerslam, granting himself another shot at touching all the four turnbuckles. He did the first two without any issue, but as he approached post number three he met some resistance as Bree was back on her feet and pulling the strap with all her might. Unfortunately her effort only slowed down Dean, but she didn’t have enough strength to actually drag him back to the center of the ring. So she decided that she would go to him, knocking him down with a lariat to the back halfway to the fourth and last corner.
- A shocking vertical suplex kept Dean down long enough for his sister to get to three of the four posts. She would have definitely made the fourth too if Dean didn’t roll out of the ring. Bree tried to reach the last corner, but the strap was already at its maximum extension and she was steel a few steps away from her goal. Dean then dug deep to find the strength necessary to pull his sister all the way across the ring, far away from that last post she needed to reach.
- The two siblings fought with everything they had, and surely the rest of their family will be proud of their performances tonight. A hard hitting yet fair contest where it took all of Bree’s focus and determination to retain her title after not one but two Power Of Bree (triple german suplex) to keep Dean down long enough for her to stroll around the ring and touch all four posts.
WINNER: Bree Smith (STILL LOCKDOWN CHAMPION)
BY: Four Corners Touched, 13:26
|
KENZIE GARRETT:
Tonight... tonight is something special.
The recently-returning competitor states, standing outside of the Little Caesars arena. Some street lights illuminate her. Her hands pocketed into a beat up black hoodie which baggily hangs over a pair of skin tight black jeans, each knee sliced through. Some equally beat up boots are what complete the effortless garb. Her eyes are cast up to the sky, as May 14th is a special night: the night of a Super Flower Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse. Though the events in the sky do preoccupy her interest, her disinterest in the camera in front of her is only amplified by the events that MWE has put her through.
KENZIE GARRETT:
You finally heard me. After a slap in my face, and wanting to risk my life, my health, my wellbeing, my career... you listened. But, that doesn't mean that the casualties cease. No... that's not my style. I make good on what I say. The fact that it needed to be repeated? That doesn't sit well with me. That is disrespect, that MWE is trying to package as opportunity. It lets you wash your hands of blame.
Her head lowers, finally facing the camera. A slight breeze blowing her long, thick, dark tresses, making the shot only that much more cinematic. The contemptuous, dark gaze in her eyes matched with a scowl.
KENZIE GARRETT:
So I did what I needed to do... I disrespect you back. And I get painted as so many things I've seen over the past few days... people calling me ungrateful, undeserving, acting above my station...
Finally, the corners of her lips turn up. A brief chuckle following.
KENZIE GARRETT:
My station is wherever I damn well please to set it! But... Leia... Val... you already knew that, didn't you?
She smirked, her attention once again going back to the sky.
KENZIE GARRETT:
I know you two have been waiting, thinking that Bound for Greatness is going to be your Cinderella stories, didn't you? It was going to be your chance to right the wrongs that I did, to get a one-up on me, and especially you, Val - you've been clenching your hands, hoping, praying, thinking that tonight is the night that you'll finally get the Intercontinental Championship that I robbed you of.
Her head tilted, examining the camera.
KENZIE GARRETT:
That's the difference between people like you and me. You wait for things to happen... I make them happen. You hope to be Cinderella... I'm cutting off my toes to fit in that glass slipper and doing what I need to to take what is mine, whether or not ANY of you think I ever deserved to be more than the mid-card display of blood and guts! I do what needs to be done. And I cannot think of any night more fitting for my ascension...
The camera catches the sight of the eclipse. The moon, illuminated, in an almost ominous red glow. Kenzie, once again like her night on the rafters, is bathed in an atmospheric red hue.
KENZIE GARRETT:
Blood moons are said to bring chaos, disruption, and violent energy... this is what you wanted from me, MWE! And it's exactly what you will get. I just hope you don't expect Leia and Val back the same way after you sent them to their slaughter.
Her arms raise to the sides. The camera fading out on her silhouette bathed in copper light.
Dalek comes rolling into the scene from stage left. The deranged ginger known as Kimberly Williams is riding on top dressed to kill (literally perhaps) in her wrestling gear. She is sporting the Freddy Krueger knife glove she calls “Betty White” on her right hand. She waves playfully at the camera as she hops off of Dalek.
Kimberly Williams
Hi guys
Dalek:
GREETINGS ALL HUMAN FLESH CREATURES WHO ARE INFERIOR TO THE DALEK RACE! GRACE VAN BEEK IS MY WIFE!
The Woman Scorned shoots an annoyed look at Dalek before quickly refocusing back to the camera.
Kimberly Williams
Now it is time to answer the question on everyone’s mind. Why did I bother to enter this tag team gauntlet in the first place? Did I suddenly change my mind about death match wrestling? No, I still am a firm believer that death match wrestling, hardcore wrestling, whatever you want to call it is truly the most fair style of wrestling in existence today. Look at wrestling promotions today. They don’t abide by any of their own damn rules. Take a look at this tag team division in MWE. You may not Karen and Olly…but did they deserve to lose the tag team titles when someone not even a part of that ladder match interfered? For that matter, should they have had as long a reign as they had based on the amount of rules they broke in order to retain? Or take one of the teams in tonight’s gauntlet…Bed And Breakfast…
Dalek:
THAT’S BAD AND…
Kim kicks the Dalek.
Kimberly Williams
Hush it, Dalek! Do you want to become a tag team champion and impress Grace or not?
Dalek:
APOLOGIES MISTRESS!
Kimberly Williams
Right, so as I was saying…Bed And Breakfast has been winning lots of matches lately, but they’ve cheated to win just about all of them. Hell, their record should be about ZERO AND NINE HUNDRED BY NOW! But they’re unbeaten or shit right? Because MWE won’t enforce their own rules. When you don’t enforce your own rules for tag team wrestling it makes your tag team division into bad comedy. Worse still, it makes it unfair. The Chicago Way division…that is fair. Because there is no such thing as breaking the rules when there are no rules to break.
Williams sneers.
Kimberly Williams
One day I will get the Chicago Way Title back. But for now I am going to purge the tag team division. I am going to cleanse the tag team division the only way it can be cleansed…by burning the whole damn thing to the ground. Tonight Dalek and I are going to win the MWE World Tag Team Championship. The first humiliation is the fact that MWE management will have to recognize a mutant hate squid drone as one of its champions. The second humiliation will come later when Dalek and I take the titles to Millennium or Riot, whatever show is next after Bound For Greatness. Because on that Millennium or Riot I am going to sell the tag team titles to the highest bidder.
Dalek:
SELL! MONEY! PURCHASE!
Kimberly Williams
So to all of you tag teams out there whose collective asses I’m about to kick tonight, don’t be disappointed or depressed because you failed oh so miserably. Because all you have to do is get that checkbook handy and I will give you those tag titles on a silver platter! Why would I do this? To prove my point about traditional wrestling. That’s why.
Dalek:
UNIONIZE!
Williams rolls her eyes.
Kimberly Williams
Yeah, yeah, I MAY reconsider selling the titles if MWE promises to unionize…but that’s a big IF! Purging MWE’s tag team division and proving that death match wrestling is the only fair and prestigious form of wrestling is my true goal in life!
Kimberly hops up on top of Dalek. Dalek rolls away with Kimberly riding on top.
Intercontinental Championship Match
Triple Threat Match Leia LeBeau © VS Kenzie Garrett VS Valentine
- Not exactly an easy first defense for Leia LeBeau, forced to put her title on the line against not one, but two dangerous opponents: the monster known as Valentine and the returning Kenzie Garrett. The Ravager imposed his size and strength advantage on the two ladies who tried to gang on him, seeing him as a threat to eliminate fast. But a direct approach wasn’t the smartest way to take on Valentine who didn’t even felt their strikes and just grabbed both their heads, smashing them together.
- He launched Leia into a corner with a buckle bomb, then whipped Kenzie in the opposite and ran back and forth between the two of them, delivering clotheslines and splashes to each opponent. A physically consuming task that undeniably paid its dividends as both Leia and Kenzie collapsed to the ground after he was done with it.
- Once they coordinated their attacks better, the two women were able to knock the big guy over the top rope with a stereo superkick. They then immediately turned to each other, throwing more swift kicks. This first exchange was one by Leia who then sprinted toward the ropes coming back with a running single leg dropkick to the face of the former Chicago Way champion. Leia quickly made the cover but Valentine pulled her under the bottom rope and launched her into the barricade.
- Strangely, Kenzie did better one on one against Valentine than she did with Leia. Using her speed to dodge the big man’s powerful but slow attacks, she retaliated with kicks to the legs, eventually chopping Valentine down to size and blasting him with a superkick to the face. She was about to capitalize on it with a cover when she spotted Leia climbing back on the apron. With a dropkick she knocked the champion on the floor below but this diversion gave Valentine time to recover. He was already up to his feet and when Garrett did the same, he caught her in a full nelson, lifted her in the air and drove her into the canvas.
- The champion seemed to be taking her time, letting the other two do the dirty work and trying to take advantage of the situation. A risky tactic, but so far it seemed to be working well for the Sin City girl. And most importantly, it allowed her to get to this part of the match relatively rested and unharmed, or at least not as battered as the opponents. And now Leia could exploit this, getting rid of Valentine with a crane kick that pushed him over the top rope. Now she could focus her attacks on Kenzie, delivering one of her boxing combinations to the cornered opponent and choking her with the handstand foot choke. After all that, the Intercontinental champion launched the opponent in the middle of the ring with a monkey flip and jumped on her with the standing somersault legdrop. Kenzie raised her shoulder in time.
- Years spent putting her body on the line in hardcore and death matches gave Garrett an incredible pain tolerance. This ability to withstand a lot of punishment came in handy even in “normal” matches like this. To Valentine’s surprise, the former Red Line winner survived his Facelift (ripcord big boot) and even found the strength to fight back with a quick series of knee strikes to take him down. The Geek Gladiator then made it up to the top rope and jumped on Valentine with the Pinball Wizard for another near fall.
- The Ravager eventually switched into beast mode. Garrett was the first to meet his fury as he just powerbombed her out of the ring, leaving her writhing in pain on the floor. Evie smiled at the camera and began to applaud her client, clearly enjoying the wake of destruction he was leaving behind. Leia seemed helpless against his hard blows and it was only a matter of time before Valentine scooped her up for the Precipice Of Apocalypse. A scream, and then the video cut to static. The production immediately shifted to a different camera showing that Bebe LeBeau, Leia’s sister and photographer/camera girl for MWE, had tripped on Kenzie’s body. Luckily she didn’t seem to have hurt herself but the camera was completely destroyed. The incident allowed Leia to slip out of Valentine’s grasp and roll him over for a quick pin. LeBeau pulled the trunks and used the ropes to try to keep him down, barely succeeding. Kenzie tried to break up the pin but she, as well, tripped over Bebe and landed on her face.
WINNER: Leia LeBeau (STILL MWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Roll-Up), 13:20
|
Opening up backstage, we see Millenium’s favorite “underrated” wrestler, Billy Danielson, smiling up a storm. He’s dressed to the nines and isn’t quite ready for his, but the look in his eyes shows he’s more focused than ever. There’s an air about him, the kind any top-tier wrestler has right before they go out for an unexpected Match of the Year qualifier. Billy looks at the camera with a grin as he begins to speak.
Billy Danielson:
Duke, buddy, I’ve known you a long time.
He takes a moment, as he thinks fondly about his opponent.
Billy Danielson:
But what I recently realized, Duke, is that for as many years that we’ve known each other, we have never actually been in the ring together. Sure, I was your lumberjack, and we’ve probably sparred in a training session with one of our numerous mutual friends, but you and I? We’ve never done this dance before.
Danielson spreads his arms out a bit as if revealing this crazy revelation to the world. It is, after all, always intriguing to see which of our favorite wrestlers have never had the chance to go one on one before.
Billy Danielson:
Call it good partnership, call it a lack of opportunities, call it better late than never, or call it what you will. This match, this moment in time, is groundbreaking. This match is literal history in the making, a DREAM match if you will, for everyone in Millenium. Now, I don’t know about you, Duke, but that excites me. That excites me more than you know.
Billy’s smile keeps growing bigger with every word, as he places one hand on his hip and points the other at the camera.
Billy Danielson:
It excites me because you are one of the few wrestlers I truly respect. I know people always say there’s no honor or respect amongst thieves, and you and I have NEVER been perennial boy-scouts for any stretch of our careers, but I truly see you as an equal in this industry.
He chuckles a bit, almost sighing with it as if there was a sense of comedic irony to all of this.
Billy Danielson:
You have supported me here in Millenium, hell you’re the one who put the chip on my shoulder by calling me one of the most underrated workers on the roster and talking about how it was a crime that I was in mid-card purgatory. You, indirectly, have become the iron on which I sharpen myself on. However, now, I have to prove that I have become shaper than you.
Danielson stirs both of his hands in the air, trying to find the right words to say here.
Billy Danielson:
Because here’s the thing, Duke… you are a franchise-level wrestler here in Millenium. You have the spot I want, even if you no longer hold a title here. In order to break out of this “midcard purgatory”, I need to beat someone substantial and place them where I once was. I tried it with Neal Durden, Lil Pierce, Julian Savell, and the likes. But, in reality, they don’t hold that same weight that you do. Their names don’t have the same meaning yours does, and that’s why I HAVE to beat you tonight.
Billy ends that sentence with a bit of fire in his eyes there. You can see how much emphasis he’s putting on this match. To anyone else, this would be a fun exhibition, but Billy is treating this as if a title or a career is on the line. He wants everyone, not just Duke, to see that he can live up to his potential here in Millenium and take over the way he has in other companies.
Billy Danielson:
I want what you have. I want the recognition that comes with being the man that beat you. I want more than what I have now, and I know you can respect that as much as I respect the fact that you can’t allow me to make my name off of you. I respect you, Duke, but this isn’t about my respect for you. This is about business, and if that means I have to put you down, then by Me, that’s what I’m going to do.
He takes one last breath.
Billy Danielson:
I can’t wait to see you out there, Duke. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me. I can’t wait for the electricity and chemistry and sheer awesomeness that we will bring to this match. Most importantly though, I can’t wait to see where I am elevated to next when I pin you in the middle of the ring and get my hand raised… See you soon.
Singles Match
Duke Andrews VS Billy Danielson
- The former World champion Duke Andrews spent nice words for Billy when he selected him as one of his lumberjacks in the title match a few weeks ago. Words that Danielson surely appreciated, but the time for pleasantries was over. Now, it was time to prove everyone that Duke was right, starting with Andrews himself. Their face-off began with a test of strength. Nobody was getting the upper hand in that, until Andrews shifted behind the opponent’s back and locked his arms around his waist. With a couple of elbow strikes to the jaw Billy freed himself and turned around with a discus lariat, but Duke ducked it and kicked Danielson in the back, pushing him against the ropes and into a snap german suplex.
- The former World champions’ chops seemed to only fire up Billy, who fought back with one of his own, leaving a red bruise on Duke’s chest. Danielson then dared the Epitome Of Perfection to hit him again, and Andrews gladly did so. Despite the stinging pain, Danielson barely flinched and fired with another one of his, even harder than the first. Andrews took it like a champ and accepted the obvious challenge, nodding at his opponent. They threw the best shots at each other, skin-tearing chops that echoed through the arena, each one of them followed by the “WOOOOOOOOO!” of the fans who were clearly loving all this.
- Billy won the “chops war”, but he didn’t walk out of it unscathered. Red bruises all across his pecs, just like those adorning his opponent’s chest when he picked him up and lifted him for a suplex. Danielson then shifted into a mounting position and began to punch the former champion’s face. Duke was able to roll through and return the courtesy but Danielson quickly shrugged the leader of APE off himself and made it up to his feet.
- Another lock up in the middle of the ring, this one quickly resolved by Billy with a knee to the stomach. Danielson would then throw a volley of uppercuts that left Michigan’s Favorite Son groggy in the middle of the ring. Billy locked his sight on him and hit the Chicago Blackout, obtaining a count of two.
- An eye for an eye, a knee for a knee. Less than a minute after the Chicago Blackout, Andrews returned the courtesy, flooring The Franchise. Andrews hooked both legs for a deep cover but the result was the same. Two and half.
- The fans were loving this hard hitting contest, two men just beating the crap out of each other not only with direct strikes but with some of their trademark high impact moves as well. Duke planted Billy on his face with the Crossroads but it wasn’t enough to keep Danielson down. Frustrated, Duke began to Red WIng Stomp Danielson, yelling at him to stay down. But Billy, obviously, didn’t comply, standing to his feet and fighting back instead. And soon enough, the second Chicago Blackout connected, knocking Duke on his ass.
- Both of them wanted this win badly, throwing whatever they had at their opponent. Billy tried to put Duke down with The Franchise but surprisingly the former World champ survived the Inverted Crucifix Powerbomb. The look of shock on his face was almost as big as the one Duke had when he drove Billy down with the Andrews Effect and saw him kick out.
- All good things must come to an end and after almost twenty minutes of one of the most intense battles to memory, this match came to its epilogue after a battle of will where both Billy and Duke tried to connect their finishing maneuvers for a second, hopefully decisive, time. Having been on the receiving end of them once already, they both knew how to counter. But Billy had an ace up his sleeve, a move he rarely uses and saves for the grandest stages called, not without reason, Big Match Driver. Andrews didn’t see it coming, and Danielson’s crucifix piledriver claimed another victim, giving the Chicago native the biggest win in his MWE career.
WINNER: Billy Danielson
BY: Pinfall (Big Match Driver), 19:49
|
MWE's backstage interviewer Jenny Carter is standing backstage with her first guest of the evening, the First Academy Class graduate Trinity Thompson. Dressed in a ring gear inspired by the League Of Legends character Jinx, complete with blue wig and a replica of her trademark customized rocket launcher Fishbones, the younger half sister of Tiff is almost unrecognizable. Even under the cosplay though, the look of concern on her face is still visible, and it couldn't be otherwise considering the magnitude of the match she's involved into in a matter of minutes.
Jenny Carter:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome my guest at this time, Jin.. Err I mean, Trinity Thompson.
The pretend slip-up brought a slight smile on the young wrestler's face as she waved her hand to the camera.
Jenny Carter:
Trinity... Let's not beat around the bush and address the elephant in the room right away. Exactly one year ago, at Hic Sunt Leones, you made your professional debut after graduating at the Academy. I'm not trying to jinx you, no pun intended, but tonight might be your last match in MWE, unless you can make Nine van der Hoek quit. How do you feel about it?
Thompson takes a deep breath and exales.
Trinity Thompson:
I'm nervous, as you can tell... This is the biggest match of my career, the stakes really couldn't be any higher. If I lose, I'm gone and yeah, I'd still have Liberty and XIX is coming back next month... But MWE is home, it's where I started off, the place where my sister, my girl and my best friend work.. I'm not ready to lose it.
Jenny Carter:
I can imagine... I have to ask you though, why did you do it then? Why did you put your MWE career on the line in a match against someone who already beat you in the past?
The reminder causes Trin to sigh.
Trinity Thompson:
She must be stopped, Jenny. Do you remember how we got here?
Carter nods her head.
Trinity Thompson:
She was about to assault Millie, just like she did with others before her. I couldn't let her do itl, I had to stop her.
Jenny Carter:
Some mght argue that you had the chance...
Trinity cuts her off.
Trinity Thompson:
I know what you're referring to. Olly was right, you know. Well, at least partially. I picked him as my partner because I knew things were gonna get ugly. I stand by what I said, in my eyes he was expandable. I mean, if he got injured it would've been karma striking down on his bitch ass...
A chucle escapes Jenny's lips. The interviewer quickly covers hier mouth regaining her composure.
Trinity Thompson:
But at the same time... I stilll hate his guts and it pains me to say this but should I find myself outnumbered in a street fight? He's the guy I'd want by my side. He fights dirty and he's not afraid to go lengths other people wouldn't go... Including myself.
Jenny Carter:
You mean....
Thompson quickly shakes her head.
Trinity Thompson:
Oh no, none of that was planned. But it's safe to say that stuff like that tends to happen a lot when Olly's around, and i was counting on that. I was hoping he'd rough Nine up, put her on a shelf for a few weeks and hopefully that would've taught her. But when i had the chance. when it was on me to strike and put her out of commission... I couldn't do it.
A pause.
Trinity Thompson:
I'm not like her. I'm not like Ollly or Echo. I need to find another way to stop her, and here we are.
Jenny Carter:
It takes a lot of courage to do what you're doing, Trinity. But do you feel it's really necessary? This is not the first "cult" in wrestling, things like this usually don't last.
Trinity Thompson:
I pretended to be one of them for a minute, and I heard some things... This goes much deeper than you think, Jenny. There's no time, I must stop her and I must do it tonight.
There's so much more Jenny would like to ask, but she won't have the chance tonight. Trinity's eyes open wide, as if she had seen a ghost. Quickly turned around, Thomposn leaves walks away, leaving Carter confused.
I Quit Match
Loser leaves MWE Nine van der Hoek VS Trinity Thompson
- For well over a month Nine van der Hoek and Trinity Thompson have been at each other’s throats, ever since the former Academy student disguised as one of the cultists to save her tag partner Millie from the New Problem’s wrath. This match was Trin’s idea to stop Nine once and for all. High risks for a high reward, but Thompson, for the occasion dressed in a perfect rendition of the League Of Legends character Jinx, looked focused and determined to keep her job and free the company of Nine and her cult. Proof of that was the fact that she walked straight to the ring without stopping by with the fans asking to take a picture. Her face was tense, not even a smile, not even a word. Just a cold stare at her opponent.
- Tension wasn’t the only reason for her odd behavior. As soon as the bell rang, Trinity spewed some liquid, electric blue as the color of her hair in the Frisian Demon’s face, blinding her and following with a series of hard knees. The fans loved this aggressive start cheering loudly for Trinity who, finally, was free to thank them with a wide smile. Some members of the Cult Of Nine were standing in the crowd and Thompson taunted them to come and get her, knowing oh so well that if any of them did that, she would be declared winner of the match with all the consequences that implied. Obviously well instructed by van der Hoek, they didn’t move, not even when Trinity delivered a brutal kick to the side of Nine’s head.
- This aggressive side of Thompson was something Nine wasn’t prepared for. The Academy graduate completely changed her approach for this match, leaving the flips and acrobatic attacks that made her one of the most exciting to watch in MWE aside to focus on direct attacks to the legs. Having trained with Tiana in preparation for this match, she was likely preparing the ground for the Fight Lab Calf Crusher with which she hoped to make Nine quit. The first attempt at applying the submission was too cumbersome and slow and Nine was able to turn it into a submission of her own.
- Excruciating holds were the bread and butter for the Dutch, turning the following minutes in a torture for the Naptown girl. Her screams of pain echoed in the Arena while Nine pulled her fingers apart with her joint manipulation armbar, but the young girl answered with a resolute “Go To Hell” when Nine asked her to say those two words. Trinity instinctively crawled toward the ropes looking for a break that, under these rules, Nine had no obligation to concede. And yet, the New Problem immediately let go, clearly playing mind games with the young opponent.
- Thompson knew a few games herself, although hers were far less psychological and implied the use of weapons. Trinity showed a strong ability in wielding a kendo stick, perhaps having practiced a lot with lightsabers in her Star Wars cosplays. Her strikes were precise and her movements fluid, making her attacks choreographed and deadly at the same time.But that elegant dance came to a sudden stop when Trin gave in to her dark side and jumped on Nine, pinning her to the canvas and pressing the cane against her throat. Van der Hoek couldn’t have said “I quit” even if she wanted, the pressure applied on her trachea was making it hard to breath for her, let alone speak. The Frisian Demon grabbed the Kendo stick with both hands and pushed upwards, trying to ease the pressure against her neck. Despite the size, Trinity was deceptively strong and, facilitated by the position of advantage, she kept the pressure on the opponent, grunting at her to give up. Van der Hoek managed to position her legs under the young girl’s stomach and flip her over and onto her back.
- Nine wasn’t against using weapons and that kendo stick came in handy to punish Trinity and buy herself some time to recover and catch her breath, resting against the corner. Thompson slowly stood up, glancing at the broken cane on the floor and at the bruises on her skin. Something she had in common with Nine, who may have recovered from her breathing issues but wearing a visible red mark on her neck.
- Thompson was back on the attack, blasting Nine’s thigh with five consecutive kicks. The New Problem felt those shots, buckling as she tried to take a step forward. In the blink of an eye, Trinity delivered a low superkick, the equivalent of the Nap Kick to the opponent’s knee. Van der Hoek went down with a groan of pain, immediately holding onto her leg. Thompson wasted no time and successfully locked the Fight Lab Calf Crusher. The fans erupted in cheers as they saw Nine squirming in pain while Trinity bent her leg in an unnatural way. The referee went to check on the Dutch, who really looked on the verge of giving up.
- It took all of Nine’s ability to disentangle herself from Trinity’s submission, but the damage was done. That leg became a liability, barely able to hold the weight. Nine tried to fight through it but the knee gave up and she just collapsed to the mat. Trinity had a smirk on her face as she approached the opponent, ready to lock her in another submission and likely get her to quit. But Nine wasn’t in as much pain as she made the opponent believe. With a swift kick, she swept her leg and took her down. The unexpected takedown caused the back of Trinity’s head to hit the canvas hard, and before she could recover and get back up, Nine was already wrapping her legs around the young girl’s neck, locking her in the Old Honor. Thompson fought to escape the reverse figure four necklock, but to no avail. Slowly, she began to faint. The fans cheered as loud as ever for the young girl, showing their support in this tough moment when her career was on the line. Trin had some sort of reaction, a desperate attempt to slip out of the submission. But Nine shifted her position and locked her back in, frustrating the attempt.
Lights out. Not for Trinity, but for everyone. The whole Arena plunged into darkness and when the lights came back, only the referee was standing in the ring. Nine and Trinity? Gone. Erin Marie Paige and the rest of the Cult Of Nine standing in the crowd? Vanished in thin air. A surreal silence fell over the Arena, only interrupted by the sound of the bell as the referee had no choice but to call the match.
WINNER: No Contest
BY: 17:36
|
Here we find the twins, the tag team known as Bad & Boujee, standing with hands on their hips. Tonight they are wearing of course matching outfits in holographic silver and blue, everything matching right down to how their boots are laced. This is not a surprise, clearly, if you pay attention. Aliyah raises a hand up and points before she paces a little back and forth, a practically pensive look on Annica's face during these moments.
Aliyah Greene:
This is a big thing ain’t it? A big ol’ damn mess of a match, a Gauntlet match whis is always bad enough - but the PRIZE that’s what errybody wants. Erry team in this declared for it already, some of them dumbasses already talkin’ bout they gonna DO THINGS to the title belts WHEN they win.
Annica Greene:
They done fucked up with that, promise. IF is still not it, no, but trust. The word gets around. Nobody wants that shiiiiii…. anyhow.
Aliyah Greene:
Fourteen teams, in a gauntlet match for the championships, and more. Oh much much. It’s the Main Event of Night One, Bound For Greatness and we? Know if it’s as bonkers as we are bettin’ it will be, that it’ll be on errybody’s lips the next day too. We intend to OUTSHINE and OUTWORK them ALL.
Annica Greene:
Why not? Why shouldn’t we? We are EXTRA AS HELL. We are everythin’ others wish they was. When we say it, we do it. We are not the sum of the hype and expectations, we are GREATER THAN THAT.
Aliyah Greene:
We gonna go in there, and do what needs done. We are in the face style, we are strong style, we are Bad & Boujee and it’s about damn time we turn all of that on teams beside them that are… no… more.
Annica Greene:
Amen. We in it, we doin’ it.
With firm, decisive nods the duo move in perfect synch and turn to leave the room, heading out with purpose in their steps and a swaying of their hips.
It’s already been a big night for all involved as we draw closer to the main event that promises a lot for the teams involved. One of those in question is the team of Phenomenal Cosmic Power, Matt Stone and Veronica Sawyer respectively, who are standing inside of their dressing room both in their matching ring gear. Featuring a generous amount of gold per Veronica’s request who is doing some last minute stretches on the floor. Her focus is determined based on what’s on the line here for them tonight and she takes a deep breath before speaking.
Veronica Sawyer:
This is everything we’ve been preparing ourselves for since I arrived here.
Matt looks himself over a bit more before looking back over at Veronica, nodding.
Matt Stone:
I do like being covered in gold, and all it takes is one performance, one big statement tonight and not only will we be dressed in gold, but we’ll be carrying it around as well. You’re ready for this, V?
Veronica Sawyer:
Of course I’m ready.
Veronica scoffs a little bit underneath her breath as she holds out one hand towards Matt waiting for him to help her up from the floor.
Veronica Sawyer:
Most people tend to break under pressure, but that’s where I thrive, they want to see some real champions step forward out of the many teams we have stacked around here. Only one can outlast and prove their worth, and who’s more worthy than us?
Veronica’s speech is given more credence as she’s helped up off the floor by her partner.
Matt Stone:
No one. Simply put, no one in this match is more worthy than we are. I’ve made history in this company and proven beyond a doubt that I can do what no one else in this company can do and now that we’ve been preparing together, this company has to deal with two of me effectively, and they aren’t ready for it. No one is!
Veronica raises one eyebrow slightly.
Veronica Sawyer:
Two of you, huh?
Matt Stone:
More or less, yeah. You know how you’ve always wanted to be like me, right? I even heard you humming that song from the Jungle Book, don’t deny it.
Veronica Sawyer:
Between the both of us, I would definitely say that you are the monkey.
Veronica laughs a bit at her own joke before reaching out with one hand to give Matt a slight shove to show him that she didn’t really mean it. Maybe.
Veronica Sawyer:
You are right that between the both of us we have much more talent than any of the other teams involved. How long have some of them even been around this place without making so much as one big wave? Nothing but filler for the audience while they’re waiting for the true talent.
Matt smirks, not taking too much offense at the joke at his expense. At least she didn’t talk badly about the hair.
Matt Stone:
Too many of them to be honest. We’ve had some growing pains as a team, that much is true but unlike some of these other teams we know what success feels like. We know what we’re missing out on and we know what we want. I don’t care if we have to go through one of them or one hundred, we’re going out there and we’re fighting till the end because we are the best team in this company. We might not have the titles yet, but that’s just a matter of time.
Veronica Sawyer:
No time like the present as my father would say.
Veronica places her hands on her hips as she gives Matt a small smirk.
Veronica Sawyer:
All we need to do is outlast all of the other teams, some we’ve beaten, some that we owe a measure of revenge against for beating us, and others are about to find out exactly what PCP can do inside of the ring.
He smirks, glancing over at Veronica as if to signal her for something.
Matt Stone:
All of them though have one thing in common. They can’t shut us…
She catches on what he’s trying to do as she holds out her hand for a quick fist bump from her tag team partner while finishing his now famous catchphrase.
Veronica Sawyer:
Up!
MWE Tag Team Championship
Tag Team Gauntlet Match Glory Braddock & Sophie O'Brian VS Fabulous VS Tank Steiner & Dusty Douglas VS Nina & Javen VS Kimberly Williams & Dalek VS Megan Manning & Pierce Manning VS Smash & Splash VS Tiff & Clyde Eldon Jr. VS Millennium Cheethas VS Nightfall Rising VS Bad & Boujee VS Jessica Anderson & Evelyn Carter VS APE VS PCP VS more??
- If there was a silver lining in the unfortunate accident that happened to Tiffany Lynn-Page, it had to be found in this massive, star-studded main event for the vacant tag team titles. Fourteen teams were announced for this one, and on top of that the fans were also promised some unannounced surprise entrants. The first two teams were already in the ring, cursing their luck for the negative draw that faced them with an impossible task to outlast the entire gauntlet. Stamina wouldn’t be an issue for the Dalek who could run the whole gauntlet without, literally, breaking a sweat. For its partner Kimberly Williams and their opponents, the team of the Academy graduates Gabriel Landry and Jasper King collectively known as Smash And Splash, things were a tad more complicated but all three of them looked ready for the task.
- This match presented somewhat of a “logistic” problem due to the Dalek’s structure and the difficulty this implies when it comes to enter and exit the ring. That problem was solved by allowing it to stay in the corner inside the ring, Jasper and Gabriel impressed the fans for the chemistry shown, even though that wasn’t a surprise to anyone who followed their voyage through the Academy. Their combination of speed and power worked quite well against Kimberly, for the first part of the match, and the former Chicago Way champion found herself in great difficulty, barely kicking out in time from their backbreaker/diving legdrop combination.
- Things took a different turn after the Woman Scorned managed to get an opening with an enziguri kick and reached her metal friend and legally allowed him to take part in the match. In all fairness, there wasn't much “legal” about a genocidal creature from space or the way it “wrestled”. Between extendable “arms” with which he reached Gabe and Jasper and other unorthodox attacks, the referee seemed confused on whether to consider them illegal attacks or not. He then figured those were just parts of his body and rolled with it. Even when the poor Gabriel got hit with Dalek’s infamous chili sauce to the eye and subsequently ran over by the overgrown tin can who then laid one of his telescopic “arms” on the kid’s chest to make the cover. Landry kicked out in two.
- If you’re looking for the “spot of the night”, and one of the highlights of this first half of the year in MWE, look no further than this match. Jasper was an absolute powerhouse, nobody had any doubt about it. But when he wrapped his strong arms around the Dalek, the common thought was that he was biting more than he could chew. And yet, he managed to pull it, lifting the Dalek for a belly-to-back (or belly-to-belly, it’s hard to tell when it comes to suplexing a tin can) suplex. The fans were shocked, the commentary team left speechless and Gabriel and Kim had a hard time believing what they just witnessed too. Even the referee seemed to be needing a moment to process it before he started the count, interrupted by Kim at two and half.
- After getting up to its “feet” with the help of Kim and a pin it used to push itself up, the Dalek began to run in circles, blabbering about “EXTERMINATE” someone. Nothing surprising, if it wasn’t for a small detail. Its target wasn’t Jasper, or Gabriel, or even Kim like that one time it thought it was Andrew Raynes. Dalek began scanning through the crowd until it found what it was looking for. The camera pointed in that direction and… Hold on, is that Jacky Rex Daniels? And Anna Daniels was next to him? “MAXIMUM EXTERMINATION TO THE TIME LORD!” The Dalek tagged itself out and dropped down, rolling under the bottom rope and heading straight toward the couple. Of course he crashed into the barricade but that didn’t stop him from threatening the couple with its hot spicy sauce gun. The duo just smiled and walked away, leaving with more questions than before. What were they doing here? How could Dalek know they were in the crowd? Were they the reason for Dalek's malfunctioning? Probably those questions will be answered in the future but for now, there is still a match going on. Gabe caught the obviously distracted Kim with a handspring cutter and finished her with his Take To The Sky (630 splash). Smash & Splash advanced to the next round of the gauntlet. (Kimberly Williams & Dalek eliminated)
- The first surprise entrants in the gauntlet were a couple of well known faces to the MWE fans. Zoe Rian and Kiernan Santos of Strip Search were back for one night only, receiving a warm welcome by the Detroit fans. The duo looked in good shape despite the prolonged absence from the ring, taking on Gabe with their quick, hard hitting set of offense. Zoe came close to the three with the PoleDriver (implant DDT) but Landry kicked out.
- Gabriel finally managed to reach the corner and allow the big man to enter the ring. Kiernan charged at him for the 11-41 but ran right into a pop-up powerbomb by the King Of Pumpkins. Zoe tried to jump him with a crossbody from the top rope but Jasper just swatted her away. King then picked Santos up and drove her into the canvas with an inverted falling powerslam, The first ever Gold Star of year two rolled on top of the opponent and made the cover, Smash & Splash advanced to the next turn. (Strip Search eliminated)
- Another surprise for the two young talents, this one though was far less pleasant. Team Rainer, aka Rainer Nordhagen and Erika Eldon was up next and, considering all the history between the four of them, things were about to heat up. For those who are not up with the Academy vicissitudes, Gabriel and Rainer have been at each other’s throats since day one. Two opposite personalities that were meant to clash, and their respective relationships only made it worse. Landry, in fact, is in a relationship with Karen Eldon, mother of Rainer’s girlfriend Erika. If the sentimental drama wasn’t enough, Rainer and Gabriel were set to fight for the Gold Star at Below Zero but Erika injured Landry in training and cost him his shot. With those premises, the match was bound to be intense, and it lived up the hype as Gabriel didn’t even allow Rainer to get inside the ring, flying toward him with a suicide dive.
- The fans were firmly behind Smash & Splash, trying to push them through yet another stage of the gauntlet. But the fatigue definitely became a factor as the match dragged on and despite Gabriel coming milliseconds away from taking his revenge and eliminating Nordhagen with his front flipping piledriver, but Eldon was there to make the save. Gabriel then left the stage to his partner who dragged Rainer up. Erika started screaming that Jasper pulled her boyfriend’s “beautiful and luscious hair” and threatened to enter the ring. The referee stopped her which was exactly what Nordhagen was waiting for. He was now free to hit King with a low blow and blast him with the running knee, getting the three count and advancing in the gauntlet. (Smash & Splash eliminated)
- Another Academy student was up next, with a very special guest on her side. Evelyn Carter, sister of MWE’s backstage interviewer Jenny, entered the gauntlet with one of the best tag team wrestlers today, the multi-time and multi-promotion champion Jessica Anderson. Vi handled pretty well the pressure of her professional debut, planting Eldon on her skull with a reverse rana. She struggled a bit more against Rainer who wisely slowed down the high-flyer and kept her grounded with a series of holds. But Carter eventually found her way out of it and reached Jess in the corner.
- Rainer tried every trick in the book to keep the momentum going, but the experience gap was just too much. Anderson was always one step ahead, After barely surviving the Ass Kisser (hip attack), Rainer decided that he needed a break and tagged Erika in. Eldon tried to surprise the veteran with a schoolboy pin but Jess kicked out in time. The two women fought back and forth until Anderson caught the former Academy student with the Bonne Nuit. Rainer tried to desperately save Erika but a running single leg dropkick to the face by Evelyn stopped him in his tracks. (Team Rainer eliminated)
- Sixth team to get in the ring was the Triumvirate, represented by Pierce and Megan Manning. The former Riot champion had in store a rough welcome to the main roster for Vi, He roughed her up with hard rights, whipping her in the corner and charging with a clothesline. Carter raised her leg and kicked him in the face, lifting herself to the top rope and jumping with a diving crossbody for a count of two.
- Jessica and Vi showed great chemistry despite this being their first time as a team, coming close to end the Mannings’ hopes to capture the gold with a double DDT on Megan. Jessica was now on the top rope ready to end things with her Show Stealer (630 splash) but the landing wasn’t quite what she was planning. Pierce pushed her off and she landed hard on her back. Slowly, she stood up finding Megan waiting for her with a quick to the stomach followed by the Beautiful Disaster DDT. Just to make sure she’d get the three, Megan rested both feet on the rope, getting that extra leverage to keep Anderson down (Jessica Anderson & Evelyn Carter eliminated)
- Nina and Javen came running down the ramp, the Viper immediately slid in the ring and brought the fight to Megan while Javen attacked Pierce on the outside, dragging him down the apron. They wanted to exploit the element of surprise to get rid of the Golden couple in the shortest possible time, so that they could save energy for the upcoming fights. And there were plenty of those still to come. Their plan was simple yet brilliant and it counted on Megan’s reaction to the initial attack. As the former Intercontinental champion started fighting back, driven by anger and frustration, The Viper could use her counterattacks, striking Meg down with the Viper Sting (Sambo casting punch). Javen had just got rid of Pierce with a nasty DDT on the floor and had take his place in the corner. Nina smiled and pointed her finger toward him, asking the crowd if they wanted to see Javen’s patented swanton bomb and the answer was, obviously, an unanimous “Yes” screamed on top of their lungs. And so she tagged him in and let him fly from the top like the good ole days, landing perfectly across Megan’s chest and pinning her for the one, two, three. (The Triumvirate eliminated.
- Megan and Pierce didn’t take it well. The former Riot champion grabbed a steel chair and smacked it across Nina’s back, knocking her off the apron. Javen went to help his partner but a low blow from Megan stopped him and dropped him on his knees. Pierce re-entered the ring and held the chair in front of Javen’s face for Megan to hit him with the Mega Kick. The post match assault before the next round of the gauntlet continues as Pierce is just stomping a mudhole in Javen while Megan is delivering vicious crossfaced strikes to the bridge of Nina’s nose. The audience is booing this poor display of sportsmanship after the fall was counted. A couple of security people try to sprint in to break it up but Megan cracks one with a Mega Kick(Running single leg dropkick) across the jaw and Pierce just clobbers the second one with a clothesline that knocks your entire body stiff before they go back to continue the assault. Suddenly the boos turn to cheers when a baritone voice cuts in.
Seth Iser:
THAT’S ENOUGH!
The somewhat unexpected cheers for Seth Iser as he’s marching down the ring like a dog on a hunt get a little louder as he’s dressed in street attire and with a microphone in hand. He’s entering the ring with a purpose. And in a little bit of a rarity he seems a little hot and animated. While this is going on, other security guys are pulling Nina and Javen out of the ring.
Seth Iser:
THIS is what you come up with after taking all that time off? This? You were taught better than that. Both of you by multiple sources, including me! No more coddling, it’s time for some damn toughed love.
The other two thirds of the Triumvirate have stopped their beatdown and are looking at the elder statesman with a little bit of shock. But Seth’s boiling with a different kind of anger…the one reserved for students when they really mess something up.
Seth Iser:
Megan look at me.
This is where that awkward eye contact comes in.
Seth Iser:
We talked about this. This kind of post match assault without a purpose…attacks solely for cruelty’s sake, are the kinds of things that helped get your original mentor retired not once but twice and if Blyss ain’t careful, the third time won’t be the god damned charm and history will repeat again! It just puts the wrong kind of target on your damn head! Don’t fall under her trap! Be better than her! Be better than me as well at that age! Control your damn impulses and let them out in a far more constructive manner because this is the kind of shit that will end you in this industry fast! You’re too god damned talented to let that happen!
For a moment Megan breaks eye contact before nodding her head and this is where he then turns toward Pierce. There’s the same scolding fire that he had for Megan.
Seth Iser:
This is NOT the actions of someone who has considered themselves a King, Pierce. A crown is obtained by blood, yes…but someone who has to jump someone out of spite and cruelty while saying they are the King…shows that they aren’t the god damn King! This isn’t a crown of gold! It’s worth less than the fake crowns you get children at fucking Burger King!
There’s a gasp as Iser’s laying that line a little heavier yet as Pierce breaks eye contact for a moment before going back toward it otherwise he’d earn another bit of ire there.
Seth Iser:
You lost your way when you lost something to chase. The drive to continue to get better…it wasn’t there anymore. So you’re just happy to go along for the ride at the moment…ducking challenges that you both deem unworthy but for you…after where you in particular came from Pierce…you can’t afford to do that bullshit. The thing that makes YOU who YOU are isn’t ducking challenges that would’ve pushed you harder or acting like a King. It’s the fact that you were willing to grind harder than anybody else in this goddamn company doing what you had to do to WIN! The weight of the crown you put on yourself ended up being too damn heavy. You’re focusing way more on that than putting in the goddamned work! And if I were you…you’d have to vacate that god damn crown, put your nose in the dirt and find someone to chase while learning how to deal with the side effects of success! You can’t let the gold taint you…lord knows I’ve done that earlier on and had my own ego run out of control from it. And you can’t lash out when that eventually ends. You have to find a new goal to keep YOURSELF on top of the game…or the game will run you out.
The crowd cheers the tongue lashing but Iser isn’t speaking to the crowd, he’s speaking just to his fellow Triumvirate members.
Seth Iser:
Am I understood?
Megan and Pierce look at each other for a moment as the crowd continues to cheer what just happened. They exchange a nod. Pierce then turns around and walks away. Tries to at least. Seth grabs Pierce by the arm. Pierce sighs, not reacting at first. With Seth’s attention on Pierce, he doesn’t completely see what comes next. To the shock of everyone in the crowd, Megan chop blocks Seth. He drops a knee. It’s then Pierce turns around, takes a step or two back to gain enough momentum to drive the heel of his boot into Seth’s face, knocking him to the mat. Once the crowd gets over the shock, they boo The Manning’s relentlessly. Megan mounts Seth, she punches him with complete malice. Pierce rolls out the ring, goes under the rope, he pulls out his trademark sock full of coins. He rolls back in the ring. Seth does manage to get Megan off of him. As he stands up, he doesn’t see Pierce clock him with the sock full of coins in the back of the head. The crowd grows even more distasteful towards the power couple.
Pierce then helps Seth up. He nods to Megan. Together they give him Megan’s version of the Lifting DDT she calls Beautiful Disaster. Not done with the assault, Megan applies the Rydell From Hell (Anaconda Vice). Seth isn’t in much condition to fight back. Pierce goes over to grab the microphone Seth had. He drops to his knees so he can look at Seth as he begins to say.
Pierce Manning:
Yes... we understand. We understand we don’t need you anymore.
And with that, Pierce unrelentlessly drives the microphone into Seth’s head over and over and over again. The fans rain down boos onto the Mannings as Megan lets out a psychotic laugh while Pierce continues his assault onto Seth. After a few more hits with the microphone, Pierce hands it over to Megan.
Megan Manning:
You know, this was a long time coming, wasn’t it? The old man was holding us back! Just like he was trying to hold us back right now. As far as Pierce and I are concerned? Triumvirate is DEAD, just like Seth’s career.
Megan gives Seth a kick in the gut for good measure.
Megan Manning:
It’s time for the King and Queen of Millennium to re-ascend to their thrones and we don’t need a JESTER to get us there. Because that’s all you are, Iser. You’re the comedic relief. You’re not just the punchline, you’re the entire joke. And here’s the thing? Pierce and I have grown tired of your jokes, or as you like to call it, your ‘sage advice’. We don’t need it. In fact, we NEVER needed it. We don’t need anyone but each other.
With that last line said, Megan grabs Pierce and gives him a long, passionate kiss to the disgust of the crowd. - As the couple left the ring under a rain of trash tossed by the fans, the next team entered the ring. Barely able to stand, Nina helped Seth up before focusing on her tag partner. Of all the three of them, Javen got the worst beating. Nina cursed and, despite being far from 100% herself, she took on the challenge. In fairness, she put on a valiant effort, resisting for a few minutes against the former Tag Team champions Fabulous. But she couldn’t escape her fate, falling victim to Summer’s Stock Market Crash. (Nina & Javen eliminated)
- Halfway through the gauntlet, the heavyweights came in. Tank & Dusty were up next, imposing their strength on Fabulous. Summer got tossed around like a rag doll by both men who appeared to be back to their old, dominant selves after a few setbacks. Tank tried to beat his Giant Swing record but he stopped at thirty-four rotations before letting a visibly dazed Collins go. The Austrian tagged the Murder Train in and Douglas immediately delivered his King Kai Bomb, obliterating Summer. Thankfully for Fabulous, Jessica was able to break it up in time.
- Things took a turn when a fresh Jessica finally entered the ring. She fought Douglas head on, not impressed by the size difference and aware that one single punch from the Murder Train could change the direction of the match. And Dusty swung that stone-like fist, missing Jessica’s face by mere inches as the Archangel dodged the blow. Lasiewicz then delivered the Our Lady Peace, knocking Dougas back a few steps. It took three of those to finally take the man down, but they still weren’t enough to keep him down for three seconds. Douglas was in great difficulty, like we had never seen him before. Jessica just kept hitting him with those deadly kicks until she had him weakened enough for the Pure Deformation (skull crushing finale). The Murder Train survived this one as well, resting his foot on the bottom rope but Summer was quick to push it down before the referee could see, securing the three for her team (Dusty Douglas & Tank Steiner eliminated)
- A huge win for Fabulous against the former #1 contender, but one that took a huge toll on Jessica and Summer, and their next opponents were no slouch. Matt Stone and Veronica Sawyer took full advantage of the worn out opponents, isolating Jessica with quick tags to keep her in their side of the ring. The Straight Shooter’s Stone Cutter gave PCP an early near fall.
- Fabulous promised that they would walk out champions by all means and they surely were ready to back up those words. From the apron, Summer yanked Ronnie’s hair causing the Canadian to turn her attention away from Jessica. This gave the Archangel some extra time to recover and blast Veronica with a forearm to the stomach when she went to pull her out of the corner. Lasiewicz followed with more strikes, creating an opening to reach her partner. Summer immediately earned a near fall off with a roundhouse kick, but Matt was there to save his partner. PCP was not against breaking some rules either and so when the referee was not looking, Matt used the tag rope to choke Summer. After the tag, the former Intercontinental champion connected the MLG 360 No Scope for another near fall. Summer saved herself on that occasion, but she only prolonged their presence in the match for another minute. That’s how long it took Matt to connect the C-c-c-c Combo Breaker and score the pinfall that allowed PCP to advance in the gauntlet. (Fabulous eliminated)
- Next up was a team Matt and Veronica were looking forward to meeting. A couple of weeks ago Jay and Donnie of Nightfall Rising obtained an upset win against the Canadian duo who were surely looking forward to getting some payback of sorts tonight. Both teams relied heavily on their chemistry honed over the years spent wrestling together. The result was a fast paced contest with both teams pulling their signature maneuvers to advance to the next stage. Jay survived a double flapjack from Matt and Veronica and, one minute later, joined his brother in arms in performing the the running single leg dropkick/zig zag combination that almost put Sawyer down for good.
- The feeling throughout the match was that this could’ve gone both ways. By far the longest segment of the gauntlet, the battle raged on for almost ten minutes and it ended with Donnie rolling up the Abominable Showman and pulling his tights to keep him down for three seconds. (PCP eliminated)
- Millie Smith and the Cloud Gate champion Faizah Marshall made their way to the ring. Just like PCP, they were in that triple threat in Portland and were looking to get some payback on the boys. The Millennium Cheetahs, this was the name they chose, have come a long way since making their, almost random, debut. Working like a well oiled machine, they quickly took control of the match and obtained a near fall with Faizah’s springboard meteora on Keane, who somehow managed to get his shoulder up.
- Never count Nightfall Rising out. Jay and Donnie, after all, have been trained by Julian Savell among the others so they were not opposed to crossing some lines to get things their way. They did so at the expenses of Millie who was pulled by her hair back in the corner by Donovan. And while the referee had a conversation with him, Jay dragged Smith’s face across the top rope all the way to the opposite corner where he smashed her face on the top turnbuckle. Marshall tried to get the referee’s attention on what was going on between Millie and Jay but Keane got the ref’s focus back on himself, which gave Jay the opportunity to remove the protective pad and expose the steel underneath. Without hesitation, Jay dropped her onto it with a flapjack, calling the referee as he made the cover. Marshall broke it up and had a violent, almost physical confrontation with the official, telling him that he sucked at his job and they were making him look like a fool, doing all sorts of nefarious things behind his back. That would’ve been a noble speech, perhaps a tad harsh in the choice of words but well intentioned. Too bad that it only served one purpose, to keep the ref distracted while TD Batterson obliterated Keane with a clothesline before entering the ring and powerbombing Jay on the exposed turnbuckle. The massive bodyguard then laid Millie on top of him and left the ring. As the ref finally turned around, he had no clue about what happened or why the protective pad was on the floor, and he could only make the count that allowed the Millennium Cheetahs to advance in the gauntlet. (Nightfall Rising eliminated)
- The winners of the last gauntlet were looking to repeat the feat, this time walking away with the gold. Rollins was laser-focused and determined, making quick work of Faizah with a long sequence of kicks culminating in her personal tribute to Andreas Lasiewicz, the leaping knee known as Peacemaker. The Original BAE could’ve really used a break but seeing her partner still licking her wounds from the previous assault made her push through.
- Luckily for her, Millie recovered quickly and tagged herself in. Smith obtained a near fall with a Spanish fly. Hearing Marshall calling her name, she turned around and reached for the Cloud Gate champion’s extended hand. Faizah kept the pressure on Rollins, kicking the FIve Foot Death Machine in the ribs every time she tried to get up. Not above taunting the opponent, Faizah grabbed a handful of the former champ’s blonde hair and told her that soon people will stop associating the Cloud Gate championship with her, as she will be replaced by the Best. At. Everything. The disrespect shown and the continuous flirting with Clyde outside were truly annoying Tiff and lit a fire inside her. She got up and just charged at the opponent, driving her shoulder in Faizah’s back and shoving her into her own partner! Clyde fell off the apron and busted his nose in the process. Rollins quickly apologized and he gestured that he was alright. Marshall rolled the former Cloud Gate champion over and kicked her in the head, checking on Clyde as well and apologizing, though she made sure he knew that it was all Tiff’s fault for pushing her. The match continued and Marshall was in control, until Rollins planted her on the canvas with a spinebuster that took the last energies out of the Little Hoss. Both competitors were down, slowly climbing toward the respective corners. Faizah made the tag and Tiff tried to do the same, but Clyde shook his head and jumped off the apron! What the hell was going on? The fans turned on Karen’s son, booing him out of the building. Tiffany was in disbelief, not even noticing that Millie was behind her, ready to connect a reverse hurricanrana for the win. (Tiff & Clyde Eldon Jr. eliminated)
- On his way out, Clyde walked past Marshall and wished her luck, even going as far as shaking her hand. “For Planet Faizah”, he said before heading up the ramp, crossing path with the next entrants, Sophie O’Brian and Glory Braddock. Millie and Faizah tried to resist, but after two matches their efforts weren’t just enough against the determined and way more experienced duo. The end came in right under five minutes when Braddock caught an exhausted Millie with the Glorification and Sophie blocked Faizah’s attempt at breaking it up. (Millennium Cheetahs eliminated)
- The roof almost came down when Bad & Boujee appeared on the stage. The twins were one of the favorites to win this and, with only APE left after them barring other surprise entrants, the MWE fans were expecting the twins to go all the way and claim the titles. Sophie and Glory had other plans and they gave the Greenes a run for their money. Tag team wrestling at its finest, this match saw a classic contrast as styles. The flashy and acrobatic attacks that made Aliyah and Annica one of the most exciting teams to watch opposed to the british duo’s grappling based offense.
- Glory’s Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Alyiah’s Barbie Thingz, Sophie’s Ode To Braddock and again Annica’s Like Woah. You name it, they did it. But nothing seemed to work, there was always someone to make the save or just the incredible resilience all four of them possessed that pushed them that extra mile toward the final goal and allowed them to incredibly kick out. The twins had to pull one of the oldest tricks in the books, the switch, to get a very hard fought win, with Annica pinning Glory. Sophie was the only one who realized what happened but her protest didn’t do her any good. (Glory Braddock & Sophie O’Brian eliminated)
- Speaking of surprises, the next team was not originally announced. Izzi Grimes was back in MWE after taking part in Red Line, and she came with her tag partner Chloe Night. The duo, collectively known as Might Nightfall, was the second team representing the world famous gym, and they hoped to have better luck than Jay and Donnie. Initially they did, imposing their pace on the match, so fast that even the Greenes struggled to keep up with it. The two young girls almost scored the upset with the Nightfall Combo (hurricanrana driver from Izzi followed by a frog splash from Chloe), but Annica pulled Night’s foot and dragged her out of the ring, interrupting the pinfall attempt.
- An impressive performance from Chloe and Izzi, but as minutes passed by, some flaws became more visible, mostly due to Night’s ring rust after a long time away from the competition. And the twins were able to exploit that, isolating Chloe in their half of the ring and keeping her isolated from Izzi by any means, including yanking her hair or attacking Grimes to prevent the tag from being made. And eventually they connected the It’s Bad, It’s Boujee! (Catapult by Aliyah into a diving hurricanrana by Annica) to advance to the next round. (Mighty Nightfall eliminated)
- The size and power of APE, especially after the twins had already survived two matches, seemed to be too much for Alyiah and Annica. Especially when REDD was in the ring, this looked like an impossible mountain to climb for them, easily tossed around by the masked powerhouse. And yet, somehow, they were still in the match. Thunder made the tag to Envy who immediately dropped Annica on her head with the Envious Demise; her sister was able to, once again, save her. The fans were all behind Bad & Boujee but contrary to what happened in other circumstances, their support wasn’t helping the Greenes. Annica finally made the tag and Alyiah fueled the crowd’s hopes with a flurry of kicks. But it was short-lived as the fatigue soon kicked in allowing Alan to take back control. A flash, a sudden roll up out of nowhere put the Lonestar’s shoulders to the mat. The referee started the count and Alyiah leaned on the ropes for some extra leverage, managing to steal the win! (APE eliminated)
- They did it! Alyiah and Annica are the new MWE Tag Team champions and the crowd is loving it! It was such a great moment of joy and celebration that nobody seemed to notice that the bell hadn’t sounded yet. And when all of a sudden “Balance, Not Symmetry” by Biffy Clyro blared out of the loudspeakers, the fans as well as the twins looked shocked at the entrance stage. Olly walked out slowly, dressed in his ring gear consisting in blue jeans and a white sleeveless shirt. And he wasn’t alone. “HOLY SHIT! THIS IS THE BEST MOMENT IN THE COMPANY’S HISTORY!” Sir Figgles shouted enthusiastically, likely the only person happy to see Karen Eldon walking behind Olly for what looked like the K2O reunion nobody asked for. So much for enjoying the early retirement, right Karen? The former champions officially entered the gauntlet, taking on their long time rivals already strained by three matches. Despite their efforts, Alyiah and Annica eventually capitulated when Olly connected his Born To Lose on Annica. Her sister immediately entered the ring attempting a desperate save but she ran right into Karen’s Can i Speak To Your Manager? knee strike. Olly and Eldon exchanged a quick nod and pinned both girls at the same time. The referee got in position and inexorably counted the one, two, three. (Bad & Boujee eliminated)
WINNER: K2O (NEW MWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS)
BY: Pinfall (Born To Lose), 72:57
|
Olly:
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.
The deafening boos following K2O’s return and their shocking title win have yet to subside but the now two-times MWE Tag Team champion Olly doesn’t seem to care, yelling in the microphone to let his voice heard over the crowd’s noise.
Olly:
You all thought you got rid of us, you rejoiced in seeing Karen on the sidelines and celebrated her early “retirement”. You watched all these teams squabble for weeks for what has always been ours.
The young man looks down at the title in his hands, lifting it to kiss the central plate. Standing next to him holding her belt close to her chest as she revels in the boos from the crowd. She looks down as she looks ready to cry.
Karen Eldon:
You all don't know how much this means to me…
Not good enough actress to actually muster up a tear. But after a few moments a smirk comes across her face as she eagerly holds up her belt in the air to continued booing. The fans at this point not letting up. Perhaps never more angry than having to see Olly and Karen get to celebrate.
Karen Eldon:
I am not done! I am still at my peak! We are still at our peak! There is nothing that can stop us. K2O is back and now two time champions!
Olly:
April 1st, that was when Karen announced her retirement. Seriously, none of you figured out it was a joke?
Olly and Karen laugh along, clearly enjoying how their plan came to fruition.
Olly:
I even told you, several times, that K2O was not dead. We just couldn’t bother with pointless matches against teams we already beat. Fabulous, PCP, the Walmart version of Team Trillie.. Been there, beat them. We don’t have to prove that we are the best team, you hate to admit it but you know that too. We don’t fight for your entertainment, we fight for gold. All we needed was the perfect chance to make our comeback, and we created it.
Karen walks over as Olly puts his arm around her. The two having such a good time only making the crowd more mad.
Karen Eldon:
Oh yeah? And I did so by taking out little miss Tiffany. Get well soon sweetie!
Waving at the camera and presumably Tiffany. Olly and Karen share another laugh revealing the heinous actions that got the belts stripped were their own.
Karen Eldon:
You thought our first reign was long? This time no little worthless child of mine is going to cost us. We are going to be champions for a long, long time. Because at the end of the day? Ape, Tiff and Clyde, Glorious Golden Era, Fabolous…All know we stand alone at the top. Forever.
The two raise their belts in the air, boos reigning down on them as Night One ends on a rather shocking and unwelcome result.
|
|
