MWE Presents: 5ive Year Anniversary (night 1)

MWE Presents: 5ive Year Anniversary (night 1) Dec 4, 2022 10:52:16 GMT -6

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Post by gvb on Dec 4, 2022 10:52:16 GMT -6

MWE Presents: 5ive Year Anniversary Pre-Show (night 1)
Live from Enterprise Arena in Chicago, IL
Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

The scene cuts to the back where Reign Reyes can be found getting ready for her big pre-show match. Sitting in her stall she’s already completely dressed, knees drawn into her chest as she stares off into the distance, airpods blaring, psyching herself up for the match at hand. She earned the right to choose the stipulation for this match… Last Woman Standing… and she’ll be damned if that woman won’t be her. Her mantra for this night was simple, whatever it takes.

Reign’s concentration was broken by the locker room door swinging open. An older man stepped into the room, a derby style hat held in both his hands down by his waist. He looked unassuming and kind and the moment Reign laid eyes upon him she began to smile. This man was none other than her grandfather, Javier Reyes.

Javier Reyes:
Excuse me, miss? Have you seen my granddaughter? I heard she was back here getting ready for her big match. She’s going to start the show off with a bang you know.

Reign cast her airpods aside and leapt up, running across the room to lose herself in her grandfather’s warm embrace.

Reign Reyes:
Poppy! I didn’t know you were coming!!

The old man smiles, running a hand through his granddaughter’s hair.

Javier Reyes:
Reigny, you know I wouldn’t miss this for the world. This is your big debut, in front of all those people out there. I remember how nervous I was in front of my first big crowd. I thought it might be nice to know that somewhere out there in that sea of faces was your family, pulling for you no matter what.

Reign looks up at him and exhales.

Reign Reyes:
It means more than you’ll ever know. I was disappointed to hear that Mom couldn’t make it.

Her grandfather grunts softly but shrugs.

Javier Reyes:
Maybe your mother not being here isn’t the worst thing, hmm? I worry about her influence over you.

Reign leans back, craning her neck to look up at Javier as her eyes narrow. He chuckles and raises his hands in the air.

Javier Reyes:
I know. I know. She loves you and she means well… BUT… do you really want to fashion your career after hers?

Reign steps back, her nose scrunched up a bit.

Reign Reyes:
Do I want to fashion my career after a woman who won multiple titles and was at the forefront of the women’s wrestling movement? Um, yeah I do.

Javier sighs.

Javier Reyes:
Your mother did a lot for her cause but at what price? Are those titles not tainted by the way she chose to win them?

Reign goes to protest but Javier continues.

Javier Reyes:
Are your last two victories not also tainted?

Reign’s expression turns stoic.

Reign Reyes:
You don’t think I deserved to win those matches?

Javier shrugged innocently.

Javier Reyes:
If you cheat again tonight we’ll never know, now will we?

Reign’s ire is raised a bit.

Reign Reyes:
Do you honestly think Saoirse Tyrell is above cheating?!

Javier Reyes:
Saoirse Tyrell is not my granddaughter, Reigny. You are.

Reign stares up at him, her tongue lodged into the side of her cheek.

Reign Reyes:
I did what I had to do. It wasn’t just Mom who agreed. Sammy understood too.

Javier smiles.

Javier Reyes:
Samuel seems like a good boy. It was a pleasure meeting him and his sister on Thanksgiving but he’s infatuated with you. He’s not going to tell you the truth. He sees everything through Reign colored glasses.

Reign hands are firmly on her hips at this point.

Reign Reyes:
So what’s the truth then?

Javier Reyes:
That if you continue as you have been, you’ll always wonder if you earned that Gold Star or if you just cheated your way to it.

Reign stands there in silence as Javier smiles warmly and kisses her on the forehead.

Javier Reyes:
I will love you no matter what you choose. I only tell you these things because it’s early and you still have time to forge your own path… your own identity. Your mother was very successful doing what she did and for some strange reason the people loved her. I see that in you. People love you. That’s a lot of power to hold in your hands, especially at your age. Don’t show them that cheating is how you get ahead. Show them a better way.

With that he places the hat back on his head and bows slightly in a show of respect.

Javier Reyes:
Either way I’ll be cheering for you, Reigny. You know that.

As Javier backs out of the locker room the camera zooms in on Reign who’s left with a lot to think about.

The Academy Pre-Show Match
Gold Star Last Woman Standing Match

Saoirse Tyrell © VS Reign Reyes

Probably the most heated rivalry in the Academy history since Olly and Dez Ali, a Last Woman Standing match was the bare minimum to set their differences. The MWE fans who don’t follow the Friday Night show had the chance tonight to meet two of the hottest prospects of this year. The first to make it to the ring was the Gold Star Saoirse Tyrell, member of the Band Of Nine and the Frisian Demon’s protegé. The heavily tattooed young woman shared the same demeanor as her Leader: cold, emotionless, creepy. The usually feisty Reign, on the other hand, seemed less exuberant tonight. Was she feeling the pressure or processing her grandfather’s words?
Tyrell felt that something was off with the opponent and tried to immediately take advantage, surprising the third generation wrestler with a throat strike. She then grabbed Reyes by her hair and smashed her face onto the knee, causing her to stumble back in the corner. Saoirse then walked up to her and raised her leg, pressing the boot against her neck and trying to choke her out.
It wasn’t long before Saoirse decided to take advantage of the rules and left the ring to retrieve a steel chair. Bringing it back inside the ring, she swung it toward the grounded opponent but Reign rolled out of the way. The backlash caused the Irish to lose grip on the chair that ended near her opponent. Reyes instinctively grabbed it and raised it in the air but she didn’t sink the blow. A quick glance where her grandfather was sitting and she instantly dropped the weapon. But good deeds are not always rewarded, and in this case Reign got a boot to her face as a “thank you” note from Tyrell.
Promising that she won’t use any weapons didn’t mean that she could not take advantage of the chair carefully positioned in the middle of the ring and drop the opponent onto it with a snap DDT. She then leaned back into the ropes as the referee started the count, but Saoirse got up in five.
A bit of a commotion coming from the crowd distracted Reyes from her attack. As she looked all around the ring, she noticed some cultists dressed in their black robes and golden masks standing among the fans. A huge uppercut brought her back to reality and sent her reeling back into the corner. Tyrell started smashing her face into the turnbuckle, stopping after doing it three times. It wasn’t an act of mercy, far from it. She ripped the protective pad away and kept doing the same thing over and over again, until a trickle of blood crawled down her forehead.
This was not how Reign had thought her night would be going. When she picked the stipulation, she had every intention of using every weapon to hurt the rival, but the encounter with her grandfather spoiled the plan. She still fought hard, counting only on her wrestling skills to try to put Tyrell down. She almost succeeded in her task, drilling the Gold Star with a tilt-a-whirl DDT that almost gave her the win. Saoirse stood up at, ironically, nine and continued the match.
The dazed Saoirse was using the ropes to get to her feet, turning her back to Reign. One of the cultists pushed a steel chain inside the ring and the Gold Star immediately picked it up and wrapped it around her right fist. When Reyes got close enough, Saoirse turned around and hit her with a knock out blow, catching her right on the side of the head. The challenger went down like a ton of bricks, but somehow managed to beat the count. Saoirse didn’t seem too worried, having already planned the next step of her offense. She used the chain to tie the opponent to the ropes and beat her down with vicious kicks and stomps, until she stopped moving and groaning in pain. This time the referee counted all the way to ten, stopping the match.

WINNER: Saoirse Tyrell (STILL GOLD STAR CHAMPION)
BY: Last Woman Standing, 13:09

The match was over, and Saoirse Tyrell had retained the Cloud Gate. But apparently she wasn't done with Reign just yet. And apparently neither was the rest of the Band Of Nine. The cultists surrounding the ring antered the ring to further punish the Academy student who disrespected their Leader in the past few weeks. A scenario the MWE fans grew quite used to, and one Reyes had somehow predicted. A few days ago she asked her "uncle" Julian Savell if she could count on the Division to watch her back and the Briefcase winner agreed. The Liberty Chapter of The Division, barring Wade Manson, came out of the curtains, ready to beat up some cultists. Jack Graves, Tyson Gregory and Thatcher Nash wasted no time, rushing down the ramp.

More cultists appeared from the crowd and stood in their way. They were no slouch, actually putting up somewhat of a challenge to the Division members, but eventually the trio got rid of them. Like a hydra, for ever head they cut two more appeared. There were six cultists now between The Division and Reyes, who was getting kicked and stomped by other of them. Oddly enough, the Band Of Nine members didn't try to overwhelm the LPW stars, the impression was that they were just trying to slow them down and prevent them from saving Reign.

Luckily for the young student, The Division were not the only ones watching her back. And the other person had more chances to succeed in rescuing them than Graves & Co. ever had. That person was, obviously, Alessio van Duren. Nine's former mentor and the one who took it on himself to stop the Frisian Demon, challenging her to a match on night 2. Much like what happened on the last Millennium, the mere presence of Alessio was enough to scatter the cultists. Only Saoirse was standing in the ring now, but she kept herself at safe distance from van Duren. Was it fear? Respect? A form of reverence toward the man who trained the Leader?

Or was it a trap?

As Alessio was helping Reign back to her feet, Nine herself slid in the ring, leaving the black robe and gold mask on the floor outside. Ironically, she used the same trick Alessio used to blindisde her last Wednesday and, before him, Trinity Thompson used to save her former tag partner Millie Smith from a sticky situation. Alessio realized too late that his former student, the "disease he unleashed into this world" as he referred to her, was behind him. Too late to avoid getting his lights turned off by a brutal kick to the back of the head. Saoirse went back on Reign who, taking advantage of the confusion, was trying to crawl out of the ring. Tyrell landed a few strikes to the back of Reign's head and pulled her back in the center of the ring. There, she applied a sort of modified armbar, but it wasn't a submission she was looking for.

She didn't twist the arm in some painful way, she was simply holding it still, and the reason became clear soon enough. Nine was searching Alessio's body, and eventually found what she was seeking. The ritual blade.

Seeing the knife looming over her arm, Reyes cried for help. The Division had somehow managed to push through the six cultists, but more appeared from out of nowhere. Where the hell were they coming from? How many of them were out there?

The tip of the knife was now pressing against Reyes' arm. Holding the knife with both hands, Nine closed her eyes and recited what looked like a prayer before beginning to carve her symbol in Reign's arm.

The fans roared as Alessio got to his feet and kicked Nine's arm away, disarming the leader of the Band. The next kick caught Saoirse right on the face, finally freeing Reign from her grasp. The Academy student immediately checked her arm. It was bleeding, but luckily it was just a superficial cut, and not the IX symbol of the cult. Nine seemed hurt, holding her right hand with the left one, glaring at her mentor. If looks could kill, they would have killed each other on the spot.

Instead, we'll have to wait 24 hours to see that happening.

MWE Presents: 5ive Year Anniversary Show (night 1)

Live from Enterprise Arena in Chicago, IL

Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

We arrive backstage to find two unfamiliar faces roaming the ball, a muscular man with tattoos and a tall leggy blonde who seems more than excited to be here.

Haylie LaFleur:
Rhysie, I know I said I wanted to make it to the show, but I didn’t realize you were going to get us special access backstage. I mean this is such a huge show, Millennium Wrestling Enterprises Fifth Anniversary! I can’t wait to see everything going down, but what exactly are we doing back here?

She questioned with a quizzical expression.

Rhys laughed and shook his head.

Rhys Adelson:
Come on Hal, you know I have my sources.

He looked around before grinning widely.

Rhys Adelson:
I know what people are thinking, that Rhett got us these access passes but it was actually Julian Savell, since I work for him and The Division sometimes.

Haylie smiled and looked around taking it all in.

Haylie LaFleur:
Well however you did, I am glad you did. Though we should take advantage of this opportunity

Haylie raises her brows at him before she miraculous pulls out a set of water guns. Leaving Rhys to furrow his brow on where exactly those came from.

Singles Match

Evelyn Carter VS Mystery Opponent

The young Evelyn looked nervous before the match. Not knowing who her opponent was surely was making her uncomfortable and didn’t allow her to prepare as she would have. The lights dimmed out, the moment was finally here. Time to find out who this mystery opponent was. “Beautiful Creature” by Miia blared out of the PA System and Haylie LaFleur made her way to the ring, The former HRW Lucky 7 champion received a warm welcome by her new MWE fans who clearly remembered and appreciated what they saw from her in Vegas.
She offered a handshake to Vi to start the match, apologizing for the secrecy about her identity, stating that it wasn’t her idea. “It’s cool” Evelyn replied as she accepted the handshake. The bell finally rang and the two circled around each other. Vi lunged in with a sweep kick but Hayley jumped and avoided it. LaFleur struck next with a right hand, but Carter ducked the shot and moved behind the blonde’s back, trying to spoil her debut with a backslide from which Haylie kicked out in two.
It was nice to see a fair fight where none of the competitors even considered taking shortcuts to get an advantage on the opponent. The result was a very exciting back and forth action, with several pinfall attempts and counters eventually resulting in a prawn hold from Carter that almost got her the win.
As the match continued, Haylie’s experience and skills eventually steered the contest in her favor. Evelyn sent her into the corner with an irish whip but the Formulaic stepped on the middle rope and then climbed to the third, flipping backward and landing behind the opponent’s back. Carter turned around and into a leaping knee by LaFleur who then went for a quick butterfly suplex. The Boston native then rolled on top of the Academy graduate and covered her, but Evelyn kicked out in two and half.
Things got really hard for Evelyn, unable to catch a break from Haylie’s attacks. She survived the 360 discus codebreaker and the avalanche X-Factor showing, if anything, great resilience. But to even hope to turn things around, she needed a serious change of pace. And a new strategy.
To do that, Vi rolled out of the ring, hoping to finally take a breather and regroup. Haylie didn’t want to waste her momentum and launched herself through the ropes with a suicide dive. Somehow Evelyn saw that coming and intercepted LaFleur with a jumping kick as soon as she went through the ropes. The impact left Haylie dazed and hanging on the middle rope. It took her a moment to recover and get up but she was still feeling dizzy. And the worst part was that Vi was on the apron and ready to jump on the top rope, bouncing back in the ring with a springboard crossbody. LaFleur raised her shoulder in time.
Credit to the young Carter, she fought valiantly against an opponent she couldn’t prepare for. But in the end, her effort to “ruin” LaFleur’s debut was in vain. The former HRW Lucky 7 champion blasted Vi with a shining wizard and immediately followed with an imploding senton to end things in style. After the match was over, she still paid respect to the opponent by helping her getting to her feet and thanking her for the match, before indulging in the well deserved round of applause.

WINNER: Haylie LaFleur
BY: Pinfall (LaFleurian), 8:23

Cameras behind Paula Parker and 'The Family' capture the four of them moving down the hallway. The younger sister and star of the family is front and center, walking down the hallway without a care when she suddenly stops in her tracks. The camera can't see why as the brothers, Jackie, Jesse, and Justin all move in front of Paula, shielding her from whatever, or whoever is in front of her.

Another camera captures what's going on as we see JESSICA CARTER standing in front of the three men, pointing towards Paula who was standing behind them.

Paula Parker:
What's the matter, Jessica? Can't be a good sport and wait for the ring? Are you sure this is a fight you want to pick at this particular moment?

Jessica places her hands on her hips as she scowls at the woman who has spent the past week mocking her.

Jessica Carter:
Funnily enough, that's exactly what I came to ask you. What's the matter, Paula? Why have you picked a fight with me? Do you know who it is you're fighting?

Sensing things were going to remain calm, or perhaps in an effort to intimidate Jessica, Paula tells her brothers to move out of her way. As the three men split, allowing the blonde to walk in front of them, they remain behind her, just in case.

Now, for the first time, the two women were face to face. The youthful, but very confident rookie has her nose turned up at the veteran.

Paula Parker:
Why you? It's pretty simple, Jessica, and I'll say it so even someone as clueless as you can understand: you're the right person at the right time. Someone that everyone knows, that some are even foolish enough to believe in, who provides more of a challenge than your pathetic sister in law, Evelyn.

Paula steps closer to Jessica who doesn't budge an inch. The two women were nearly nose to nose.

Paula Parker:
I'm called The Prodigy for a reason, and it's simple, I can beat a veteran like Kate Steele, I can beat a measly bartender like Evelyn, and I can certainly beat a career LOSER like you....

Jessica rolls her eyes at the rookie's continuing disrespect. She stands firm, maintaining her position.

Jessica Carter:
There we go again with the career loser nonsense. You keep saying it as though it'll become true. Sure, I've not won a match for a few months now. But let's not pretend that I've never accomplished anything in my career. You are familiar, I assume?

Paula looks back at her brothers, annoyed, as she rolls her eyes before looking back at her opponent for later in the evening.

Paula Parker:
I've done my research, but just for comedic purposes, why don't you go ahead and run down your...

She makes air quotations with her hands and a snobbish smirk.

Paula Parker:
Accomplishments.

Jessica, growing ever more agitated and bemused, shakes her head. She lets out a deep sigh.

Jessica Carter:
Where should we start, hmm? How about when I became a Women's Champion within the first ten matches in my career? Dethroning one of the greatest champions of all time in the process, by the way.

Jessica can tell that Paula isn't overly impressed by that, and so she continues.

Jessica Carter:
Let's go more recent, shall we? What about just a few months ago, when I became the Chaos Champion? I don't like to toot my own horn, but thriving in such an unforgiving and unpredictable environment is no mean feat.

Paula's expression begins to soften some, as she looks behind her at her brothers, almost as if to check if they were still there.

Paula Parker:
Congratulations. You won a women's only championship and a championship that is literally called the Chaos champion because it's more about the madness going on around you, than your actual talent in the ring. Is that all? Because you're wasting my time. I was going to grab something to eat before our match because all of this waiting around to pick up yet another win is both tiresome and hunger inducing.

Jessica Carter:
Oh, did I forget to mention that I am a five time tag team champion? With four different partners, too. Talk about versatility.

Jessica isn't usually one to brag, but in this instance she seems more than willing to make an exception.

Jessica Carter:
I'm the first ever Ironheart Champion, a Canadian Champion, I've been voted as tag team of the year... oh yeah, and I'm a former World Champion. I forgot to mention that one. Oopsie.

Jessica places her finger on her lips sarcastically.

Paula's face now showed a very different expression than the one she was known for, and replacing that smugness was a look of genuine concern. Jessica was far more accomplished than Paula cared to research and before she can say another word, one of her brothers, Jesse, walks up and gently takes her arm.

Jesse Parker:
It's time to prepare for the match.

He glares at Jessica, towering over her.

Jesse Parker:
You will excuse us, now.

The three brothers each play their position, with one holding a right arm, one holding a left arm, and the other in front of Paula who looks back at Jessica as they lead her down the hallway.

Carter's smile told the entire story of how that interaction just went, now, will Paula pull off the victory later, or will Jessica show exactly why she's a former multiple time champion?

Singles Match

Puala Parker VS Jessica Carter

Some may have raised an eyebrow reading the card, wondering who Jessica Carter was and how they missed her debut. No mystery here though, Carter is just Jessica Anderson’s new name after tying the knot with Millennium’s interviewer Jennifer Carter who was sitting at her desk tonight ready to call her wife’s return to MWE.
Paula Parker may be new to the company, but she already earned a good number of detractors due to her toxic attitude. Everybody would have loved to see Carter shutting the Prodigy up, and Jessica surely had the experience to succeed, as it became clear from the early minutes where she limited almost completely the young brat’s offense. A series of armdrags, each one followed by a roar of approval from the Chicago crowd, didn’t do much damage, but they frustrated Parker who took a break on the outside.
Similar scenes repeated a couple more times throughout the next minutes, with Parker leaving the ring at any chance preventing Jessica from really building any momentum. You could see that the former Valiant Chaos champion was dying to just soar over the top rope and wipe out the opponent and her brothers with one awe-inspiring aerial assault, but she saw what happened the last time someone tried that and wisely held back.
It became clear that Parker’s goal was exactly that, luring Jessica into going for a high-risk maneuver and just let her brothers absorb the impact, opening herself an opportunity to turn the tides. The fact that Carter didn’t take the bait was frustrating her, and she took that out with a furious series of strikes and kicks that left Jess stunned in the middle of the ring. Paula then moved behind her and yanked her by the hair, pulling her down into a backbreaker. After Carter kicked out, the referee took a moment to have a few words with Paula, which opened the way for Justin to sucker punch Jessica as soon as she got up to her feet. By the time the referee turned around to see what happened, he hopped off the apron and acted innocent while Paula hooked the leg for another cover and another count of two.
The Parkers played once again a major role in their sister’s match, not only with that cheap shot but by providing distraction to allow Paula to break a few rules and get away with it. Like when she poked Jess’ eyes and interrupted her kicking combination. As Carter was momentarily blinded, Paula moved behind her back and connected her inverted DDT for another near fall.
After years spent in the ring, Jessica knew how to weather a storm. She took everything the young opponent had to throw and when she inevitably slowed down, The Sidekick went for her counterattack. A slap on the face (more symbolic than anything) opened the way to a volley of strikes that left Paula groggy in the center of the ring. Carter followed with a nicely executed standing shiranui but she only obtained a count of two.
Paula’s undefeated streak almost ended when Carter connected with her Veneno (desecrator), planting the young girl on her skull and immediately making the cover. At the very last second Parker was able to get her shoulder up, Jessica didn’t waste any time and climbed to the top rope, ready to connect the Show Stealer. She took her eyes off the prize for a quick moment to check on Jennifer arguing with one of Paula’s brothers who threateningly approached the commentary table and when she jumped, she found nobody home. Paula had, in fact, rolled out of the way and was already up to her feet. Jessica tried to push up, but before she could even regain the vertical basis Parker caught her with the Point, obtaining her third win in just as many MWE matches.

WINNER: Paula Parker
BY: Pinfall (The Point), 9:01

We cut backstage to WALKER, who appeared to be smoking some kind of vape. He soon saw the camera following him and he rolled his eyes.

WALKER:
Fuck y’all want? To hear me talk about this old, saggy boob’d bitch, Valkyrie? Fine, but I won’t say anything nice.

He shook his head.

WALKER:
Actually, I will say that the Chicago Way Championship looks nice even though it looks so bad on her. To be honest? That belt has lost its luster and value since Julie Civil or whatever his name is, tossed it in the bin.

He laughed.

WALKER:
No lie, that shit was kinda funny though. But now that championship needs to be saved. It needs WALKER. In fact, MWE needs WALKER, just like your mom needs WALKER, ya feel me?

He takes another bit of his vape before blowing the smoke at the camera. When the frame clears up, WALKER is gone.

Chicago Way Championship Match
Tables Match

Valkyrie © VS Walker

Walker was in a rush to win his first title and didn’t even give the opponent a chance to get in the ring, jumping on her with a somersault plancha before the match even started. Unleashing his wilder side, the Academy graduate went straight for a steel chair, using it to get an early lead on the Chicago Way champion. After several shots he pushed the Great Dane bitch in the ring and grabbed one of the tables surrounding the ring, sliding it under the bottom rope. He set it up and laid the opponent on top of her, jumping on the top rope with the intention of ending this quickly. But Valkyrie had other thoughts and, most importantly, was far from done and rolled down from the table.
The champ wasn’t too pleased with Walker blindsiding her and she was determined to make him pay. Catching him in mid air off a double axe handle attempt, Valkyrie dropped him onto her knee for an atomic drop and turned him inside out with a clothesline. She then set up a table in the corner and rested Walker against it, ready to put him through with a spear. As she was charging in, Walker stopped her on her tracks with a boot to the head.
In the central phase of the match they momentarily stopped using tables and focused on wearing each other down. And when it all boiled down to wrestling, without the help of any sort of weapons, the greater experience and her incredible strength allowed Valkyrie to take control. The Great Dane Bitch kept Walker upside down for almost half a minute before slamming him into the canvas with the stalling vertical suplex.
Everybody, including the commentary team, had a hard time figuring out why the table didn’t break when Vee dropped the opponent onto it with a powerbomb. It was possible that Walker wished it broke too because the pain he felt when his spine hit the edge of the table seemed almost unbearable. Valkyrie doubled down, targeting his lower back with knee strikes and backbreaker.
The Bamboozler eventually recovered and tried to change the course of the match, blasting the champion with a savate kick that sent Valkyrie back into the corner. After the impact, the Warmaiden Of Roskilde slipped down to a seated position and ate a running knee strike from the young kid, who then left her here and set up another table in the corner.
He tried to suplex her through it but the Dane blocked the attempt and pushed him back. Walker was now laying against the same table he set up, too tired and exhausted this time to avoid Vee’s Hammer Of Thor. The table broke, marking another successful defense for the former member of Warblade 42 and a minor setback in the young man’s career.

WINNER: Valkyrie (STILL CHICAGO WAY CHAMPION)
BY: Table Breakage, 8:54

The scene opens backstage with Gabriel Landry. Upon seeing him, the crowd inside the arena cheers. Surprisingly he is alone by himself in the hallway stretching before his trios match with his good friend Jasper and someone he is unfamiliar with, Abby Blake. Considering the whirlwind of events he has been through he appears to be in a decent mood.

All that suddenly changes by what he sees off screen. He rolls his eyes. Only a few people who can garner that reaction.

Making their way into the frame is Karen Elbdon proudly wearing her Lockdown Championship.

He turns to walk away. Karen is quick to grab him by the arm. He could easily yank his arm away, he opts not to.

Gabriel Landry:
If you don’t let me go Karen I swear... leave me alone for one night. Please.

Karen acts like she is surprised by his hostility despite it likely being justified.

Karen Eldon:
No way to treat the girl you broke up with. If you recall. We can still be civil, you know? I mean I came to wish you the best of luck in this like eight, nine whatever person tag match you are in. I know you had bigger expectations than this…

Karen puts on her most nice and caring voice, Gabriel knowing the old tricks.

Karen Eldon:
I mean if it wasn't for Bree you could be fighting for a title. But hey these little random tag matches are…um important as well. When else can the crowd go get their snacks?

The former Gold Star Champion takes a deep breath.

Gabriel Landry:
Civil? So kissing Rainer in front of me is your idea of civil?

Gabriel chuckles.

Gabriel Landry:
You knew kissing that man would rile me up. Mission accomplished. I actually considered walking away from this company because of that. If all you’re going to do is pester me the same way you try to annoy Duke, what’s the point of any of this? You got what you wanted. You’re a champion. All the attention is on you. You can rub it in my face Bree cut ahead of me in line. Find someone else to annoy.

Karen Eldon:
It may surprise you Gabriel but I want you to succeed. I mean if your fine doing little tag matches with your buddy Casper. That is ok. If you want to make it to the top. You can't let so-called "friends" like Bree, walk all over you. I really hope you end up happy in life Gabriel…Even if you did break my heart…I mean, maybe you aren't cut out for this whole wrestling life.

Karen says this as though she is still being kind, but clearly trying to dig at him further.

Gabriel Landry:
Look... I’m sorry it didn’t work out between us. You’re the first woman I ever loved. Don’t know what that says about me, you are literally the devil...

Gabriel glares at Karen so hard that if he had laser vision her he would have lasered a hole through her head.

Gabriel Landry:
I can’t trust anything you say anymore. For someone who allegedly wants me to succeed, you have a funny way of showing it. I am going to leave now. Just so we’re on the same page, if Bree fails tomorrow, I am coming after the Lockdown Championship. I won’t allow anyone else to stand in my way. Until then, me, Jasper and Abby are going out there to put on a show.

Gabriel gently separates himself from Karen. He gives her one final look before he turns around and walks away from his ex-girlfriend.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page is in her locker room with her personal trainer, Marisol Vilaro. Marisol has her tablet in front of her as she is sitting on the couch in the locker room while Tiffany is stretching.

Marisol Vilaro:
This kid is a moronic country bumpkin. He refers to himself as the King of Pumpkins.

Tiffany looks over at Marisol with a confused look on her face.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
What? Who are you talking about?

Marisol Vilaro:
This Jasper King kid. He is on Gabriel’s team tonight.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
Man, Gabriel can’t catch a break. He finally rids himself of a relic arm piece and now has to team up with a moron.

Marisol Vilaro:
Karen can’t be that bad, can she?

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
She has been so envious of me and hates the fact that she is the trailer park version of me. She is the literal worst. Gabriel is a good kid though. He has a lot of untapped potential and can go far in this business.

Marisol Vilaro:
They are lucky they have Abby Blake on their side. Summer and I have witnessed her in Valiant Wrestling and she can hold her own.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
Well, Gabriel’s team has that going for him but you know my new friend Luna, West, and I aren’t going to fail.

Marisol Vilaro:
I have no doubt. Team Vilaro doesn’t fail whatsoever.

“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page:
Exactly! Gabriel, I am glad you got away from that she devil troll but as much as I like you this is business and I have a lot that I want to get done here in MWE. As being the face of MWE I will not allow anything but success for myself. That means finally doing away with MWE’s Karen problem and that means winning some MWE gold but it all starts on MWE’s fifth birthday when Luna, West, and I walk out the victors.

Trios Match

Abby Blake & Jasper King & Gabriel Landry VS Tiffany Lynn-Page & Luna & West Long

It’s been a couple of rough weeks for Landry. The break up with Karen, seeing her kiss his nemesis, Rainer Nordhagen and having to give up, at least for now, his shot at payback to his friend Bree… To say that he wasn’t in the best mental state walking into this match would be an understatement, but at least he had his good friend Jasper in his corner. The King Of Pumpkins took it on himself to start the match, while Luna and Tiffany picked West to oppose the big guy.
The match started with what the fans wanted to see, and what they chanted over and over. A test of strength. Jasper got the upper hand, pushing Long back toward the ropes. The Warwolf seemed both surprised and annoyed that he found someone stronger than him and broke the lock-up with a knee to the gut. He then whipped Jasper into the ropes and prepared to knock him down with a shoulder tackle, but he barely made him flinch. He tried again, this time with a running start but King wasn’t playing around and raised his boot, knocking the incoming opponent down.
The King Of Pumpkins surely knew how to excite the crowd. He played with them while delivering incredibly hard shots and performing incredible feats of strength such as lifting West for a military press slam. He then tagged Abby in and asked the to climb on his wide shoulders, from where she jumped with a meteora, taking Long down for a count of two.
Luna and Tiffany showed surprising chemistry, working together to change the course of the match. They isolated Abby in their corner and started to kick her in the chest, going way over the five seconds they were allowed to work together. The referee eventually restored some order and Tiffany left the ring, leaving Luna in. The Star Of The Night pressed her forearm against Abby’s trachea for an illegal choke. Once again the official stepped in and pushed them back, but by doing so he turned his back to Page who used the tag rope to strangle Blake. The boos of the fans drew the ref’s attention back to what was going on in the corner, and it was Tiffany’s turn to be lectured. As soon as the official engaged with the former Tag champion, West blasted Abby with a punch to the back of the head. Jasper had seen enough and he entered the ring, running into West and knocking him off the apron. He then grabbed Luna and just threw her over the top rope, right into her bodyguard. The official wasn’t happy with his actions and had a few words for him as well. He looked surprised when Jasper apologized and promised he wouldn’t do that again, before helping Abby to her feet and heading back in his corner.
Finally it was Gabe’s moment to shine. The former Academy Gold Star scored two near falls in rapid succession over Tiffany, one with the handspring cutter and one with a backslide driver after ducking the former Tag Team champion’s roundhouse kick. He had a harder time with Luna in the ring as the Star Of The Night countered his diving attempt with the Starstorm, taking down Landry in mid-air. Luna hooked his leg for a deep cover but Blake made the save.
By the end of the match it all went down to Jasper and West once again. The Warwolf looked like he could take this one home for his team when, with an incredible feat of strength, lifted Jasper over his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position and drove him into the canvas with a powerslam, but King had too much heart left and he managed to kick out from the Point Blank. The two big men fought back and forth for another couple of minutes with the King Of Pumpkins seemingly gaining strength with every passing moment, drawing energy straight from the fans. The Warwolf missed with a right hand and immediately got trapped in a full-nelson. King then hooked the opponent’s leg with his and fell forward with a full nelson facebuster.
Understanding that his partner and best friend needed this win more than anything, Jasper then made the tag to Gabriel. The two of them had a quick chat and then the King Of Pumpkins wrapped his strong arms around Landry’s waist, throwing him toward Long with an overhead German suplex. Gabriel did the rest, spinning in mid.air so that he landed with both knees on West’s chest. Abby and Jasper kept Luna and Tiffany at distance while Landry made the cover, scoring the win for his team.

WINNER: Gabriel Landry, Abby Blake and Jasper King
BY: Pinfall (German Suplex into double knee drop), Time

We open in the parking lot area as a long black limousine rolls up and slowly comes to a stop. The driver exits and walks to the back. He opens the doors and then Sophie O’Brian emerges. She is wearing tight black pants, black high heeled boots, and a black blouse. Glory Braddock exits the limo next. The British Bombshell is wearing a fuchsia v-neck sleeveless dress that stops just above the knee. She is perched atop high heeled sandals and her long beautiful blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders.

Glory Braddock:
The time is upon us, Sophie. Can you feel it?

Sophie O’Brian:
Indeed I can, old friend. The energy is in the air. Change is in the air.

Glory Braddock:
That’s right, Sophie. Change is in the air and what a more appropriate time for change than at the five year anniversary of Millennium? This company has been running strong for five years and now it is on the cusp of receiving the biggest and greatest anniversary gift of all…ME as its new MWE World Champion…ME leading this company into the future!

Braddock places a hand on Sophie’s shoulder.

Glory Braddock:
It starts tonight with you. You know what to do, don’t you?

Sophie O’Brian:
I do. Betsy and Tank in a triple threat will be challenging indeed but I will do you proud, my friend.

The British Bombshell shakes her head.

Glory Braddock:
Don’t worry yourself or put too much pressure upon yourself to perform just for my sake. Remember the greater goal of all of this is tomorrow night. I may need you in my corner tomorrow night. So definitely go out there and win it. Show them what the Braddock vision is and can do. But do not get yourself needlessly injured.

Sophie O’Brian:
I won’t.

Glory Braddock:
Good. Because I cannot leave anything to chance. Tomorrow night will be my night. I guarantee it. Now lets go.

Braddock and Sophie enter the arena.

Triple Threat Match

Tank Steiner VS Betsy Gallagher VS Sophie O'Brian

Three competitors looking to reignite their career entered the ring on the biggest night of the company’s history, but only one of them would actually be able to get the much needed win. Herr Steiner made the best use of the natural advantage Mother Nature gave him and immediately leveled both competitors with a double clothesline. To make his job easier, he took out one of two variables, unceremoniously tossing O’Brian out of the ring and focusing on Gallagher.
Even though Tank’s own moral code saved her from those deadly chops, the Brit was still taking a lot of punishment. The Big Austrian wasn’t going easy on the woman, bashing her with heavy forearm strikes and whipping her into the ropes, only to throw her in the air with a high angle back body drop. The landing was not pleasing at all for Betsy, nor was being on the receiving end of that massive elbow drop. Luckily for her, Sophie came back in the match and attacked Steiner with a running knee to the back of the head.
Sophie did the smart thing and tried to wear down the big man, cutting the regular flow of oxygen with a tight sleeper hold. But in this case, brain couldn’t beat brawn as Tank was able to fall back into the corner squashing O’Brian with his 340 pounds, breaking free of the grasp. Just as Steiner stepped out of the corner, a shotgun dropkick by Besty shoved him back into the turnbuckle, or rather into Sophie who was still standing between the proverbial rock and the hard place.
It didn’t take the two women long to figure out that they had to combine their effort to take out the big man before he took out both of them. Certainly a situation Tank was growing quite familiar with but despite being used to people ganging up on him, he didn’t really have a way to counter their incisive attack. Kick after kick, Betsy and Sophie cut the man down to size, forcing him on his knees. They then made sure he would stay down for a while, winging their legs and connecting with stereo roundhouse kicks to each side of the head.
With Tank currently on dreamland, it was down to O’Brian and Gallagher. The Manchester native took the early lead, scoring a first near fall with the Queen’s Lariat , but Sophie got her shoulders up in time. Betsy made a first attempt at her Betsy Bomb, finding out that her opponent had a counter for it. Dropping to a knee, O’Brian put her weight down and made it harder for the opponent to lift her in the powerbomb position. And when, with great effort, Betsy succeeded, the Northern Irish shifted her weight once again and turned the move into a pinning predicament, coming very close to the win.
The Sun Tzu enthusiast was out to remind everyone why she’s a former MWE tag champion and why she’s been for a long time a contender to the IC title, putting on a clinic and almost managing to make Titania tap out to her Wisdom (Muta lock). Only Tank’s comeback saved Betsy from what seemed to be a sealed fate, breaking up the excruciating submission. Gallagher decided to take a much needed breather on the outside, letting the opponents fight it out.
Herr Steiner was on fire, connecting a series of five consecutive Austrian Suplexes that rattled O’Brian for good. As he was ready to capitalize, he got blindsided by a Regal Knee from Betsy. This was the Brit’s best chance to win the whole thing. Realizing that her best moves wouldn’t work on Tank (as strong as she may be, lifting 340 pounds was not going to happen), she decided to go for a second Regal’s Knee. Incredibly, this wasn’t enough to knock the Austrian down, although that may have something to do with him bumping into the referee and knocking the official down. Wasting no time, she went for a third one, finally knocking him down. Gallagher was ready to pick up a massive win but… SCORCHED EARTH POLICY! Sophie pulled a classic out of her repertoire, taking advantage of the still recovering referee to spit her fireball to the Englishwoman. An Ode To Braddock (swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker) followed and sealed it, giving O’Brian a controversial win.

WINNER: Sophie O’Brian
BY: Pinfall (Ode To Braddock), 12:06

The scene opens up in the arena gym where Selena Lyre is seen hitting a punching bag with various swift punches, and kicks with high intensity, when Mr.X walks in the room.

Mr. X :
My oh my someone is very intense, and excited. Normally your just jamming out to music somewhere in a corner alone before your matches.

Selena pauses, and turns to face Mr.X with A smile on her face.

Selena Lyre :
Well tonight is a big night, in fact it could be a huge milestone in my career! I have a chance to win my very first championship, and so I gotta go at this with everything I have.

Mr.X :
Glad to see you so confident dear, but you are essentially going into a handicap match tonight, and so the odds are against you. What do you plan on doing?

Selena places her right hand on Mr.X’s left shoulder.

Selena Lyre :
I am well aware of this, but I have been facing overbearing odds my entire life Mr.X, and tonight will be no different! Erika from interacting with her on social media gives me the dumb blonde bimbo vibes, and Rainer seems to be a dumb douche bag, but he is the Junior Heavyweight Champion for a reason so I know not to underestimate him, and I wont dare look past Erika as well, but tonight I am motivated to win the Junior Heavyweight Championship so that I can show my family that my training has paid off, and to show my friends that I met through you Mr.X that your training has paid off, and so that I can make you proud Mr.X, and most importantly I am doing this for myself! So losing is not an option! Against all odds I leave Junior Heavyweight Champion tonight. Erika, Rainer tonight you both get to see why they call my the Electric Girl! Keep up if you can!.

Selena faces the camera, and gives it a wink.

Mr.X :
I have complete confidence in you, but given that you're basically walking into a trap? I will be at ringside tonight to make sure nothing fishy happens, and to give you advice from ringside.

Selena gets a huge smile on her face.

Selena Lyre :
That would mean the world to me Mr.X to have you at ringside. Thank you!.

Selena gives Mr.X a hug to end the segment.

Junior Heavyweight Match
Triple Threat Match

Rainer Nordhagen © VS Erika Eldon VS Selena Lyre

This was a triple threat only on paper. Selena herself realized as soon as the bell of the number one contender on the last episode of Riot sounded. The storm between the two lovers, caused by Karen’s kiss to her daughter’s boyfriend was water under the bridge now, the two former Academy students were back together and in perfect harmony, making this a handicap match.
Lyre wasn’t going to give up just because the odds were against her. Guided by Mr X, the Electric Girl looked impressive in the first moments of the match, dodging the duo’s attacks and waiting for the right moment to strike. The chance eventually arrived and she connected with a dropkick to Erika’s face, pushing her back against her boyfriend. The girl’s blonde head hit the German-Australian right on the mouth, knocking him off his feet.
While Rainer was out of the ring to check if his teeth were all still in place, Selena kept fighting against Eldon, slamming her face into the canvas with a running bulldog. Seeing his girlfriend in difficulty, and his reign as Junior Heavyweight champion hanging by a thread, Rainer climbed on the apron ready to re-enter the match, but a springboard dropkick by Lyre knocked him once again on the floor outside.
The last thing Erika wanted was to let her boyfriend down and cost him his precious title. While Rainer was on the outside licking his wounds, she started to fight back with a new found (and never seen before) determination. She connected a few knee strikes to Selena’s face before going for a facebreaker that left The Oracle flat on her chest. Erika looked like a woman possessed as she started stomping the opponent. After countless of those, she picked her up and connected a brainbuster. Instinctively, Erika made the cover. It wasn’t until the ref counted the two that she realized the implications of what she was doing. Should this go all the way to the three, she would take the title from her boyfriend. Immediately she stood up, voluntarily interrupting the pinning predicament. Rainer, who was sliding back in to break it up, stared at her in shock, asking what the hell she was doing.
True love prevailed and the two once again overcame the misunderstanding and went back to working together. Selena did her best to resist, but with the number’s game against her, there was little she could possibly do. Rainer dropped her with his jumping reverse STO, but once again the Seattle native kicked out in time. Erika picked her up and held her in position for her boyfriend’s The Last Stand. Lyre moved out of the way and the running knee strike knocked Eldon down.
Rainer seemed shocked, but it only lasted a few moments before the opportunist in him saw the occasion this presented. He went to make the cover but Selena came from out of nowhere and curb-stomped the champion. She made the cover on him, but only got a two. Wasting no time, she dove on top of Erika, who kicked out just in the nick of time. She couldn’t believe how close she was, pulling at her own hair while staring at the referee.
The fans who were actually believing Selena could defy the odds and walk out of this match with the title kept growing throughout the match, becoming the vast majority by now. And they manifested their support with chants, really pushing Lyre toward what could be described as a major upset. But there was no happy ending for Selena, eventually the duo of Rainer and Erika regained control and the former Gold Star dropped her with his patented Martyr’s Revenge.

WINNER: Rainer Nordhagen (STILL JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Martyr’s Revenge), 11:44

With the match now over, Erika and Rainer were free to celebrate. Eldon threw her arms around Rainer as he raised the title high in the air, indulging in a long kiss with her beloved. As their public display of affection continued, Erika's mother Karen came out of the curtain, the Lockdown championship resting on her shoulder. The loud boos from the fans and the "You Suck" chant gave away her presence, interrupting the lovers' kiss. Erika yelled at her to go away, leaning closer to Rainer as if she was claiming her spot in the Junior Heavyweight champion's life. Karen just smiled enigmatically. Why did she even come out in first place?

The answer came almost immediately, and everybody hated it. Rainer pushed Erika on the floor and walked to the ropes, sitting on the middle one to allow the Lockdown champion in. And then they kissed, this time there was no doubt they both wanted it.

Erika was in tears, desperate and incredulous as she watched her mother and her boyfriend professing their love for each other. It was like her world fell apart, disintegrating in front of her very eyes. How stupid she was to forgive him, how naive she was in believing his words. He used her, plain and simple. He took advantage of her feelings to get an easy title defense and then discarded her like she meant nothing.

Her instinct was to jump on them and make them feel a fraction of the pain she was feeling now. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Heartbroken, humiliated, defeated, she just rolled out of the ring and ran backstage, covering her face with both hands to hide the tears. Inside the ring, the new couple raised both titles in the air, celebrating in spite of the fans showering them with the loudest boos to memory.

The cameras then switch to Qiyara Singh who is doing her typical match preparations just as we see Rhett enter the scene also staring down at her momentarily.

Qiyara Singh:
Hello Rhetty

She said with an amused grin.

Qiyara Singh:
How excited are you for tonight’s show?

Rhett grabbed Qiyara's hand, holding it with both of his as he smiled widely.

Rhett Adelson:
My love, I can't put into words how excited I am every night that I get to go out to that ring and be your partner. Win or lose? I'm having the time of my life out there, because I get to have you by my side.

There was an infectious smile and what seemed to be a renewed spirit where Qiyara was coming concerned, she gripped his hand tightly before nodding.

Qiyara Singh:
It is my favorite too, I am sorry for the doubt I’ve had these few weeks, I know we have what it takes to be the best tag team here again. It just took me getting out of my head.

She stared into his eyes deeply before smiling further.

Qiyara Singh:
Let’s see just what Donnie and Jay have in store though shall we?

Rhett laughed and shook his head.

Rhett Adelson:
They are good but they don't have what it takes to beat us. We've had their number before, ya know? Not much is going to change out there tonight. It's time we get things back in order for us as a team and a win over Jay and Donnie is the perfect way to get things started.

Qiyara looked as if she were about to agree when suddenly the doors to the locker room burst open, Rhett and Yara are both taken by surprise as Rhys and Haylie are standing behind the door and soak both of them, what seemed like water before now looks like a different substance all nice and bubbly, Qiyara noticing Rhys after being startled licks her finger and shakes her head.

Qiyara Singh:
Is this champagne?

She asked as Haylie and Rhys laugh at the onslaught and Haylie is seen visibly nodding. Qiyara can only look at Rhett and laugh.

Qiyara Singh:
Happy anniversary MWE.

Tag Team Match

Nightfall Rising VS Rhett Adelson & Qiyara Singh

Despite the banter, especially between Rhett and Donovan, the deep friendship and utmost respect between the two teams was never to be questioned. And just because there was so much respect between them nobody was surprised to see them not going easy and holding nothing back. Keane had a very strong start, lighting up Adelson’s chest with a flurry of chops before firing him into the ropes with an Irish whip. Donnie leaped over his friend and turned around, preparing to receive him after the rebound. Adelson slide between his legs and swept his legs from underneath, causing Donovan to land hard on his face.
Whatever issue had been afflicting Rhett and Qiyara in the past few weeks seemed to be a distant memory tonight. The former champions were back on their best form, looking perfect as they isolated Donovan in their side of the ring, keeping him away from Jay. The tags kept coming frequently for the young couple, not giving their friend a chance to counterattack. Even their team maneuvers were perfectly timed, giving them a first near fall with a backbreaker/diving elbow drop combination.
Keane eventually was able to create an opening, catching Singh with an inverted single leg foot stomp. This gave him the chance to reach Gallagher in the corner and make the tag to the fresher partner. Qiyara did the same with her boyfriend, who stepped in the ring and immediately had to kick out of Jay’s diving crossbody attempt. He did so and immediately had to do the same, this time to defend himself from a quick cradle.
The fast paced back and forth continued, the two Nightfall trainees delighting the Chicago Crowd with some great action. Donnie had to interrupt his break to save his partner from Adelson’s top rope leg trap sunset flip powerbomb, allowing the match to continue. A minute later, he was back in the ring after a legal tag, catching Rhett with a codebreaker after Jay lifted him with a flapjack. This could’ve been the end of the match but Qiyara was there to save her boyfriend.
Rhett started elbowing his way out of the fireman’s carry Jay had him in, knowing oh too well his friend’s intentions. Gallagher was ready to hit him with the Jay Walking, his patented fireman’s carry into an overhead kick but Adelson wasn’t having none of it. He hit his friend harder, until Jay had to drop him. He immediately clenched his jaw as he stumbled back toward his corner. Rhett tried to prevent the tag with an enziguri, catching Gallagher right on the jaw. Unfortunately for him, the tag had already been made and Donnie was back in the match.
Adelson didn’t have any second thought, retreating toward his corner to let his girl in. A wise decision, the fatigue and punishment taken in his battle against Jay were certainly taking their toll, and taking on a dangerous, and fresh, opponent like Donne in those conditions could’ve been too risky. Qiyara, on the other hand, had enough time to recover and she seemed to know Keane quite well, always one step ahead and blocking every attempt he made. She then countered with the Qi To Your Heart (kick to the back of the knee followed by a side push kick, a high knee and a jumping kick), leaving Keane flat on his back. She hooked the leg, confident to have finally broken the “curse” and getting the first win for her team, but Donnie still had some left in his tank.
The joy for that first win seemed to only be delayed a couple of minutes as Singh appeared to be in full control. In all fairness, Donnie tried a comeback of sorts but his tornado DDT only gave him a count of two. And now he was standing groggily in the middle of the ring while Qiyara prepared her next move. She went for the 540 spinning hook kick but the move resulted oddly telegraphed, making it easy for Donnie to dodge it and pin her with a backslide. He looked surprised as well when she couldn’t kick out, and although he was declared the winner of this match, you could tell he felt bad for his friend once again coming up short.

WINNER: Nightfall Rising
BY: Pinfall (Backslide Pin), 9:58

The scene opened backstage, where we found MWE’s backstage interviewer Camille Bellamy standing next to a guest, the challenger to the Cloud Gate championship Addi McKins.

Camille Bellamy:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to 5ive, the celebration of five years of MWE. My guest at this time is someone who entered this company six months ago, but already started making waves since the very first day: you may know her as Khaleesi, or Captain Gold Star… Or, more simply, as Addi Mckinley.

Addi shifted her weight back and forth, staring at Camille with aloof eyes.

Addison McKinley:
You forgot GOAT, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m pretty busy so if we can get this going that’d be GREAT!

Camille Bellamy:
Right.. I promise this won’t take too long. I, and the MWE fans, just wanted to hear how are you feeling as you’re about to enter perhaps the biggest match of your career on the grandest stage. This is your second shot at the Cloud Gate champion, the first one being on your very debut on the main roster… And we all remember how that went. My first question is, how much has changed since that night in May? You fought Faizah a couple of times between then and now, mostly in tag matches. Do you think you are ready to end her almost year long reign?

Addison McKinley:
First off, let’s remind everyone how that went. I had her beat, finished, done, until that big ass TD got involved. I know it, you know it, she knows it. And now, now she wants to run around acting as if a few motivational tweets and talking about how she wants to do things the RIGHT WAY changes anything. It doesn’t. I’m still going to beat her, I’m still going to be Captain Cloud Gate.

Addi smirked.

Addison McKinley:
Then she can fuck off for all I care, it’s what she wanted anyway.

The dark haired interviewer nodded, clearly understanding where Addi was coming from.

Camille Bellamy:
I see your point, and we all know what lengths Faizah went to hold on that title, or to try and get what she wanted. The thing with Tiff and Trinity… I didn’t work here at the time but I remember watching and…

Camille shuddered.

Camille Bellamy:
But lately she seemed to really have turned to a new leaf. We saw that in the tag match a few weeks ago, not to mention she gave up on TD as her enforcer.. Don’t you think her desire to make amends for the awful things she did and prove that Best At Everything isn’t just a moniker is something you should take into account? This is not the same Faizah you faced in May…

Addison McKinley:
Her desire to make amends is about as useful as my desire to ride a dragon. It’s a nice thought and all but y’know, kinda impossible. There are no amends to be made, no Best At Everything, no change. Once you try to use someone’s contract to coerce someone into BANGING YOU, there’s no coming back. None. Do not pass go, do not collect your two hundo, go directly to dropping the belt to the Khaleesi and fucking off into irrelevancy.

Addi huffed, looking just off screen where her mentor, Sean Bennington was standing.

Addison McKinley:
She can try all she wants, but while she’s been involved in controversy after controversy, I’ve been studying. I’ve been watching the tape, I’ve been in the gym, I’m the B.A.E now, not her.

Confidence surely wasn’t something Addi lacked, nor was determination. With the moment of truth closing in for the Valedictorian of year 2, Camille only had time for one last question.

Camille Bellamy:
Before I let you go, there’s one last thing I wanted to ask. The Cloud Gate has always been considered one of the most prestigious titles not only in MWE but in the entire business. Ever since the days of Tiff’s record reign when challengers from everywhere stormed to the company trying to dethrone her, to the historic reigns that followed -I’m thinking about the likes of Anastasia Starling, Melissa Reeves, Lowri Moss- the title was considered almost on the same level as the World championship. The feeling among the fans is that with the last two reigns the prestige of the title kind of took a dent. Do you feel you can be the one to restore it and bring the title back to the heights of the good old days?

Addison McKinley:
Feel I can? I know I can. I idolized a few former holders, disliked a few too, but there’s no denying any of their skill and impact. The thing is, I’m every bit as good as most of them and better than the rest and after tonight, I’m ready to prove it. So I’m hoping everyone is taking note and getting ready to start the line, because Captain Cloud Gate is about to be here and she’s not goin’ anywhere.

Camille Bellamy:
You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen. Addison is ready to make history tonight at 5ive. All I have left to do now is to wish you the best of luck on your match that, I should remind the fans watching, will be contested under Pure Rules. So.. Good luck out there.

Addison nodded at Camille before walking across toward Sean, quickly huddling up with him as they talked strategy while walking down the hallway, leaving the interview behind

Cloud Gate Championship Match
Pure Rules

The culmination of a rivalry that has been going since May, when Addison immediately cashed in the title shot that was granted to her by winning the Gold Star back in the Academy on her first day on the roster, trying to take the title from Faizah. That night, TD Batterson saved the current champion, but he wasn’t here in Chicago tonight. A lot changed since that night, starting with TD no longer being in Marshall’s corner to the attitude of both women. While Faizah toned down the negative attitude that alienated her from her friends, Addi grew more and more obsessed with the title, and with being the one to end the BAE’s reign.
McKinley started this match with great aggressiveness, hitting Faizah with a volley of knee strikes to the guts. Three of them connected, each one with enough strength to lift the champion off her feet, eliciting groans of pain from the Best At Everything. Quickly transitioning from the clinch position to a front headlock, Addi then lifted the opponent for a snap suplex.
The Pure rules match only allowed three rope breaks, but none of the competitors was considering submissions in the first part of this match. Addi relied mostly on her striking ability, while Faizah did her best to keep herself away from the opponent’s attacks, using McKinley’s own rush against her. Marshall was in the corner, playing possum to mislead the challenger. When Addi charged in for a running knee strike, the Boston born moved out of the way, causing her opponent to hit the empty corner with her knee. A painful impact for sure, one Faizah immediately tried to capitalize on with a leg lock. Addi was close to the ropes and wisely used her first break to break free before Marshall could do too much damage.
Now the challenger had a target on her. That right knee obviously became the focus of Faizah’s offense, starting with a low dropkick while Addi was running at full speed toward her. The Khaleesi saw it coming and tried to leap over her, but it was too late already to avoid the impact. Mckinley did a complete flip in mid air before landing hard on her back. Faizah kept the pressure on her with several stomps while she was on the ground, stepping on the middle rope to jump higher in the air and coming down with more force. Another submission and another rope break, the second for Addison as the referee quickly pointed out. Marshall smiled, as everything was going according to her plans.
In a sudden twist, Faizah used her first rope break to get out of the Zaldrīzes ēdrugon (dragon sleeper). She looked back at Addi with a shocked expression, almost wondering how she managed to lock her in that submission so quickly. In response, McKinley smirked and showed her with her thumb and index at short distance, how close a call this was for the champion.
Despite the bad leg, Addison could still throw some mean kicks. She caught Faizah flush on the chin with a superkick and rushed into a cover, but the champion was able to kick out. Her offense continued with a falcon arrow, and Faizah used her second break to kick out of it, extending her leg and resting her foot on the bottom rope.
Perhaps it was the adrenaline, but the leg didn’t seem to bother Addison anymore. At least until she jumped on Faizah with a springboard knee strike, connecting to the side of the head and landing on the injured leg. Her knee immediately twisted, causing her to fall and waste precious seconds to make the cover. When she finally dragged herself on top of Faizah she only obtained a two.
Marshall noticed that the right leg of her opponent was hurting again and went back to work on it, taking Addi down with a chop block. She then applied a knee bar in the middle of the ring, forcing the opponent to produce an incredible effort to drag herself to the ropes. Addison was now out of the rope breaks and Faizah was ready to put her in another one, possibly decisive, submission. Using her free leg, McKinley pushed the opponent into the corner. Impacting head-first into the turnbuckle left Faizah dazed as she stumbled away from the corner and leaned against the ropes. Addi hit her with a clothesline and sent her tumbling over the top rope, but the Original BAE managed to hang on the ropes. It was make it or break it for Addison who charged toward her, slid between the legs and grabbed them, using the momentum to slide Faizah violently on the floor down with a powerbomb. The fans reacted to the move with a “Holy Shit” chant that lasted until Addison rolled Faizah back in the ring. Perched on the top rope, The Year Two Valedictorian jumped and landed with an elbow to the heart, but neither that was enough to keep Faizah down. She had to go for the Ohīlagon, her patented backstabber, even though that meant worsening the pain she was feeling on her knee. She jumped and brought her knees to the opponent’s back but Marshall held onto the ropes and saved herself while Addi landed hard on her back: This was the chance to end it for Faizah, and she went for a knee bar. During the set up phase, Addison rolled her up into a pinning predicament, using the ropes for some extra leverage to win her first title in MWE.

WINNER: Addi McKinley (NEW CLOUD GATE CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Roll-up), 17:14

Backstage we find journalist Camille Bellamy. To her credit she does not appear intimidated by the imposing figure of her guest that stands next to her at this time; none other than the reigning MWE Riot Champion Clyde Sutter. The Assassin is dressed in his all black ring gear and black trench coat. He has his MWE Riot Championship title belt wrapped around his waist. A cold sadistic grin is on his face.

Camille Bellamy:
Ladies and gentlemen I am here with a man who has had a dominant run as MWE Riot Champion thus far and he looks to continue that reign here tonight but first he must get past the challenge of Marshal Smith. Please welcome the reigning MWE Riot Champion, “The Assassin” Clyde Sutter.

The Assassin chuckles softly.

Clyde Sutter:
Ms. Bellamy, you are a breath of fresh air compared to some of the other staff and employees in this organization.

Camille Bellamy:
Thanks…I think. But do you care to comment on your title defense tonight against Marshal Smith?

Clyde Sutter:
There isn’t much to say of Mr. Smith, now is there? I mean, isn’t he just the hired muscle of Mr. Constantine Jr? Isn’t that his sole purpose for being here on the MWE roster? He’s here just to protect Mr. Constantine Jr. In fairness, one could say the same of myself and my relationship to Ms. Page.

Sutter pats the Riot Title belt that is wrapped around his waist.

Clyde Sutter:
But as you can see, I have proven myself to be much more than just hired muscle. I am far more than just someone’s bodyguard or hitman. I am more than just a street fighter or brawler. I am the executioner for fate itself. Fate determines the outcome for all men and women on this MWE roster and when the time is right, when their time is up, I am there to execute them all because that is their fate. Many have tried to stop me, Ms. Bellamy, but I have put them all down like the dogs that they are because you CANNOT…FIGHT…FATE!

He sneers.

Clyde Sutter:
Mr. Smith may have the backing of Mr. Constantine Jr but even that will not save him from his fate. His time has run out and tonight I will be his executioner. And I will leave still the MWE Riot Champion.

Riot Championship Match

The last time these two met was in Hawaii, a tag match featuring Tiffany Lynn-Page in Clyde’s corner and CCJ teaming with Marshal. That contest ended in a DQ as Constantine was caught in the act of cheating, although at the end of the night Smith was standing over the champion’s motionless body. A blemish on Clyde’s dominant reign that the champion was looking to avenge tonight, assaulting the big man as soon as the bell rang.
It was all Sutter in the opening minutes as he delivered a volley of solid punches to Marshal, forcing him back into the ropes. The champ went for an Irish whip but Smith countered it, sending The Assassin into the ropes. The challenger tried a clothesline but Clyde ducked and hit the ropes on the opposite side, getting more momentum the forearm strike to the face that floored the big man.
Relentless on his attack, Clyde dropped a couple of knees to Marshal’s head. He tried to roll away, but Sutter was onto him before he could slide under the ropes, mounting on his back and clobbering him with heavy strikes to the back of the head. Despite the blows, Smith tried to regain a vertical base, swinging his hand back to create some separation from the Riot champion. He inadvertently caught him in the eye with his pinky finger, leaving him exposed to a brutal big boot.
Just like that the momentum had changed, and Sutter learned the hard way why they called Marshal the Brooklyn Suplex Machine. He tossed him over his head with ease with a German suplex, doing the same moments later with a Belly To Back. Sutter was used to dominating his opponents physically, and finding himself on the receiving end of all those suplexes, tossed around like a rag doll was completely new to him. Visibly dizzy, he stood to his feet and stumbled into a massive spear by Smith, worth a long count of two.
Never before Sutter’s reign seemed in jeopardy as it was tonight. Marshal almost shocked the Chicago crowd when he lifted the Assassin upside down for his patented delayed vertical suplex and, after performing a few squats, drove him all the way to the canvas with a thud. Clyde’s experience and ring awareness kicked in and allowed him to save himself with a foot on the rope.
If anybody needed further proof of Sutter’s resilience, tonight had to convince them. Smith put up one hell of a fight, dominating the champion like very few people were able to do before him for long parts of the match, but not even his best shot, the Marshal Law was enough to keep the Assassin down. Even then though, imagining a comeback from the Englishman seemed hard to believe. And yet, Clyde turned the tides and finished the big man with his patented Claymore Kick, consigning to the history books another impressive defense.

WINNER: Clyde Sutter (STILL RIOT CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Unforgiven), 10:37

Leia LeBeau:
Are you ready for The Show?

Came the sultry tones of Sin City’s favorite Showgirl, Leia LeBeau. She was attired in a special celebratory attire for the fifth anniversary of MWE, a version of the poster on her outfit. But instead of the figures that were on the original poster, instead the images where of her, her sisters Bebe and Eloise, as well as Nightfall Rising. Tipping her top hat to the camera, she gave out that award winning smile.

Leia LeBeau:
Bright lights, big city. Five star night, five star pay per view, five star town. Ladies and Gentlemen… Turn your volume up by five as we take a big old stride into the biggest show in MWE history… Brought to you by the Greatest Show Women in professional wrestling.

Twirling her cane, she gave a wink to the camera.

Leia LeBeau:
Oh, you have been waiting to hear these sultry tones, haven’t you? It’s not often that Las Vegas Finest Showgirl takes to the microphone lets those beautiful words spill from these desirable lips, preferring exotic actions over colorful words. But tonight, in a night of chance, high stakes and celebration, it seemed all the better that we turn this up to Legs Eleven. And why not? With the prestigious Tag Team Championships on the line, why don’t we let these Damn LeBeau’s show the entire world what we can do as a tandem?

Eloise K. LeBeau:
Bebe… BEBE!

Came the voice of Eloise, their sister and agent. She was only partially in view, the camera focused on Leia as she slipped on her regal royal purple ring jacket. As the camera turned, it picked up the sight of their younger sister Bebe, who seemed to be kissing a member of the camera crew.

Eloise K. LeBeau:
Leave that damn cameraman alone and get on set!

Bebe hopped away from them, wiping their mouth, as the stagehand with a pencil thin mustache scampered away, shrouding their features with a baseball cap. Leia shook her head as Bebe trotted over.

Bebe LeBeau:
But they’re a cutie. Such a spoilsport!

She then threw up the peace sign, winking to the camera as she stuck out her tongue.

Bebe LeBeau:
Hi. I’m a Bebe! I’m awesome.

Leia then added on to this, patting her sister on the back. The usually warring siblings had seemed to have found common ground lately, and this is what had got them the title shot in the first place.

Leia LeBeau:
And as a tandem, we are awesome. Many people say the Bad and the Boujee have had a clear advantage over many other teams across the industry because they are family. They’ve worked together, lived together, trained together and fought together across multiple companies in the United States. And who could deny that they have had success?

Bebe LeBeau:
But they didn’t have much success on November 13th against a Bebe, did they?

Leia LeBeau:
No, no they didn’t. And while they sneaked a victory over Moi a short time prior to that, cheap as it was and cheap as they are, we now know exactly what they are all about. No matter if they jetset from company to company, no matter what gold they hold, the real future of sibling tag teams is staring right at you.

Bebe LeBeau:
Them Damn LeBeau’s! Future MWE Tag Team Champions of the WOOOOOORRRRRLLLLDDDD!!!

Bebe then did a little turn, mocking the Greenes as she shook her behind at the camera. The view inadvertently zoomed in on her butt, revealing that Bebe had a picture of the Greene twins on her butt cheeks.

Leia LeBeau:
I’m a record breaking Junior Heavyweight Champion. The most internationally recognised International Champion in MWE history. And Bebe here? She was the real standout star of the Academy, putting down bullies and twisting your little minds.

Bebe LeBeau:
And I’m super cute too! Sub to my site! Dubya dubya dubya dot, Bebelious dot com, forward slash Like This Butt!

Leia paused as Bebe said this, striking another pose and blowing a kiss to the camera, the infectious little troll beaming from ear to ear.

Leia LeBeau:
So Annica and Aliyah, try to pretend this has all been part of your plan and you were just testing the waters. But the bright, bright lights of the LeBeau’s are shining down on you now. Tonight is about the future of MWE, as well as a celebration of the past. And hand me down tag teams from elsewhere just ain’t what this celebrated company needs. It needs glamor. It needs flair. It needs style that is absolutely Savage.

Bebe LeBeau:
And a Bebe!

The younger sibling chimed in, producing what looked like a BMX bike handle labeled “Bish Stick”, waving it at the camera. Leia then just smiled that dazzling smile of hers, tipping her hat to the camera.

Leia LeBeau:
It’s Showtime, ladies.

MWE Tag Team Title Match

This wasn’t just a normal defense for Alyiah and Annica Greene. As of tonight, they have been holding the MWE Tag Titles for 149 days, closing in to K2O and APE’s record reign. Winning tonight was imperative for Bad & Boujee, although their opponents were no slouch, and they were well aware of that. Bebe and Leia LeBeau may be relatively new to the tag scene, especially compared to the twins who had tone more experience, but they already proved to be quite crafty and sneaky.
The challengers started the match with the right foot as Leia took Annica down with a hip toss. As soon as she stood to her feet, the former Intercontinental champion greeted her with a stiff kick to the ribs that doubled Greene over, forcing her to a knee. Tag to Bebe who quickly climbed to the top rope and jumped toward Annica with a meteora to the back, trying an early cover attempt for a count of one.
Bebe was putting her heart and soul into this match tonight. Unlike other situations where she seemed prone to distractions and too much of a showboater, the Academy graduate looked extremely focused tonight. She jumped in the air and connected a picture perfect dropkick that sent Greene back in the LeBeau’s corner. She followed with a running hip attack and made the tag to her sister, who entered the ring with a slingshot dropkick to the seated Annica.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and everybody knew the Greenes weren’t opposed to bend some rules to get the upper hand, especially when the stakes were so high. A classic thumb to the eye was perfect to create a bit of separation and strike Leia down with a hair pull facebuster. Finally Annica reached the corner and did the tag to her sister who wasted no time and charged toward LeBeau, blasting her with a dropkick to the face.
The twins’ innovative style, their fast paced offense and the ability to perfectly coordinate combined attacks and team maneuvers were, without a doubt, what allowed them to become, and remain, the team to beat not only in MWE but across several promotions. The Chicago fans could rejoice in seeing some of their trademark moves, including their patented It’s Bad, It’s Boujee (catapult by Alyiah into a diving hurricanrana by Annica) that gave them so many wins in the past. Not tonight tho, as Leia was quick to save her little sister.
The former IC champion took the spotlight as the match entered the fourteenth minute. She used her long legs to kick Aliyah and choke her in the corner, delighting the front row fans with the trademark handstand foot choke. Of course the Show Kicks could not be missing in a LeBeau match. Leia connected five of those before kicking Aliyah’s head off with a roundhouse. Annica needed to get in the ring to save her sister, and Bebe tried to stop her, coming a moment too late.
An all-out brawl ensued, with the four competitors going all out. The referee tried to restore the order but it simply wasn’t going to happen. They pulled each other’s hair, raked eyes, really pulled every dirty trick in their book and the official missed half of these as they tended to happen behind his back every time he admonished someone for their misdoings. Situations like these usually tend to clear themselves, and this one made no exception. Bebe pulled down the top rope causing Aliyah to tumble on the outside and quickly went to help her sister. Jumping on Annica’s back, the former camerawoman sunk her teeth on the champion’s shoulder, giving Leia the opening to connect with an enziguri kick that sent Greene out of the ring. Finally the referee had the chance to take back control, starting with admonishing Bebe and sending her back to her corner. The match restarted, but it was Annica who was in the ring now with the unaware Leia. Bebe tried to warn her and the referee that “the bish switched”, yelling to look at the shoulder where the bite mark was visible, but the referee didn’t pay attention to her and Leia realized it a moment too late as she was already in the air for Annica’s Like Woah (pop-up powerbomb). A Bebe tried to save the day but Aliyah pulled her off the apron before she could enter the ring.

WINNER: Bad & Boujee (STILL MWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS)
BY: Pinfall (Like Woah), 19:09

We cut backstage to JJ Night pacing the hallway. He’s talking to himself, hyping himself up when he sees the camera. The usual jovial JJ has seemed to have lost his smile.

JJ Night:
Is this what you wanted, Olly? You’ve been begging for it for two years now.

He peered into the camera with an intensity we hadn’t seen from him before.

JJ Night:
I’m done playing nice with you because Faith asked me to. The kiddie gloves are off and I’m going to deal with you the best way I know how.

JJ leaned closer to the camera.

JJ Night:
And that’s the Nightfall way. You aren’t ready.

JJ brushed past the camera and the scene cuts away.

Olly:
It takes a different breed of stupid to make the same mistakes over and over again.

The vitriolic words come from Olly's lips, curled in that characteristic arrogant smirk we often saw on the two time tag champion's face.

Olly:
Sometimes I wonder if you really hate yourself this much, JJ. It's been over two years since we first met in the Academy. It was hate at first sight, remember the fight we had in the lunch room? They say there's no time like the first time, and I will always remember fondly the first time I embarrassed you.

He let out a small chuckle, running a hand through his messy black hair.

Olly:
You probably think that I did all this for Faith, that she's the reason why you and I never got along. I mean, you two started the year as a couple but in the end I was the one who she thanked on her Valedictorian speech at the end of the year, I was the one she called, and I quote, "nothing short of incredible" the one who was there for her in the hardest moments... I was the one she kissed that day.

He reached for the St. Judas medal he was wearing around his neck. The Patron Saint Of Lost Causes, the gift Faith gave him on Christmas 2020, when she was still officially with JJ.

Olly:
But you'd be wrong. My issues with you have nothing to do with my girlfriend, "stealing" her from you was never my plan. I admit I misjudged her, when I first saw you two, I thought you two were cut from the same cloth, spoiled little children born with a silver spoon in their mouth. You two had everything growing up, and you never hesitated to flaunt it. And the worst part? You had no idea how fucking blessed you were. I hated, and I swore I would take that away from you. Starting with your happiness.

The young man took a deep breath, calming his nerves.

Olly:
Obviously, I was wrong, at least about Faith. I'm not ashamed to say that, at first, I got close to her only to get her away from you. I wanted you both to feel that loss I was sure you never felt before, to make you feel how it was like to be "not enough", I wanted Faith to feel how it was like to be used and then rejected. Of course, she already knows all this. And full disclosure, she was playing a similar game with me. I guess we both got too close to the fire and ended up burnt, or maybe we just realized that we were really made for each other, soulmates that couldn't be united until a certain obstacle between us was removed... But I'm digressing.

Reaching to his right, Olly picked up some tape and began wrapping his wrists with it.

Olly:
The point is, I was wrong about Faith but I was fucking right about you. To this day, you're still that petulant, snobby little bitch you were two years ago. Less arrogant, maybe. But even after you saw the light or whatever the fuck happened to you, JJ, you're still The Kid. You're still that Kid judging everyone from your fucking pedestal. You came into the Academy thinking that you were a better wrestler than anyone just because of your upbringing, while today you believe you're morally above everyone, that your fake-ass positive attitude make you better than anyone. Better than me. Flash news, Kid...

He said that final word, JJ's old moniker, with true disdain.

Olly:
You're not. You never were, you never will be. So do yourself a favor and stop fucking trying. Just lay down and let's get over with this stupid series. 3-0, a couple more weeks and we can both be done with it. Give up and accept reality, stay out of my way and nobody will get hurt.

Olly let out a sinister chuckle.

Olly:
Or be the stubborn bastard you are and pay the consequences. I'm fine either way.

On those ominous words, Olly walked away.

Best Of Five Series Match
Match 1: No Count Out

Olly VS JJ Night

This match between the two former Academy students was highly anticipated, but it’s safe to say that everyone was expecting a much resolutive stipulation to end this rivalry once and for all rather than announcing a series of matches between the two that will span from tonight to the next PPV. Nonetheless, the expectations were at an all time high for this one, with the fans’ support heavily leaning in JJ’s favor, although a few Division fans were making their presence felt with chants inciting Olly to kick Night’s head off.
As the match started, JJ used his speed to dodge Olly’s initial flurry of punches, ending up behind the former Tag Team champion’s back and wrapping his arm around his neck and dragging him onto his knee with a neckbreaker. JJ immediately got everybody on their feet with a picture perfect standing moonsault. Obviously that wasn’t enough to keep the tough opponent down, but it surely sent a message to Olly.
With a stipulation like this, it was only a matter of time before the match spilled out of the ring. The surprising part was that JJ was the one taking things there, knocking Olly over the top rope with a superkick, immediately following with a springboard shooting star press to the outside. He then moved on top of Olly and started to rain down punches to his face, something he definitely had been wanting to do for a long time. But as he quickly learned, he was now in Olly’s element, and this brawl situation? They were the Arizona native’s bread and butter. OK managed to move his leg under Night’s stomach and pushed upward, sending JJ into the barricade between them.
Every action from Olly was meant to punish and humiliate the opponent. After disrespectfully placing his boot on the opponent’s cheek and pushing his face into the barricade, Olly picked him up by the hair and left him dangling over the barricade, right in front of his cousin CJ and the other Academy students. He then took a few steps back and delivered a brutal Random Act Of Violence (running knee to the back of the head). As Night dropped on the floor, Olly took a moment to sneer at the young CJ before receiving a compliment and a high-five from his fellow Division member Jack Graves who was sitting in that same area.
Perhaps that Random Act Of Violence on the barricade could’ve given Olly the win already, but he never even considered dragging the opponent back in the ring to make the pin. With no count-outs in place, the two-time tag champion was taking his sweet time to further hurt the rival, enjoying every moment of it. Even when JJ was down, crawling toward the apron to pick himself up, Olly kept stalking him, waiting until he started to slowly get up to reach with his fingers inside the young man’s mouth with a painful fish hook. The boos were deafening but Olly didn’t care. He slammed JJ’s head into the ring post and as Night stumbled back toward him, raked his back. JJ fell onto his knees and Olly simply put his foot on the back of his head and pushed him face first into the steel steps. The former Junior Heavyweight champion couldn’t protect himself from the impact, splitting his forehead open.
Seeing the opponent bleeding only made Olly more vicious. He started grinding his tape-covered wrist on Night’s wound, inflicting more pain and widening the cut. He then unwrapped some of that same tape and used it to choke the former Kid. The referee stepped in, reminding Olly that while there were no count outs, he could still be disqualified for something like this. OK still continued to strangle his rival for the full count of five, before letting him go and laughing as he was trying to catch his breath.
Now in absolute control, Olly seemed to have had enough. He picked Night up and shoved him back in the ring, crouching in front of him and talking some trash before bitch-slapping him. He picked up the bleeding opponent and lifted him over his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position, ready to deliver his patented Born To Lose and get the lead in this series. But JJ wasn’t done yet, and managed to slip away, landing behind Olly’s back. He pushed him into the ropes and caught him on the rebound with a snap German suplex.
Pushed by the Chicago fans, JJ tried an incredible comeback. Leaving the fancy flips and aerial assaults aside, he focused on direct strikes to build some momentum, rocking Olly with his Knee’d To Sleep (wristlock into a jumping high knee). This gave him a first near fall on the brash Arizona kid, and a second one came at close distance after JJ dropped Olly with the Famouser. The tides had completely turned and Night had the chance to finally beat his long-time rival. He climbed to the top rope, ready to pay homage to his uncle with the Midnight Splash.
“LET HIM GO!” The scream came suddenly and unexpectedly, drowning out the buzzing of the cheering crowd. All eyes turned in that direction, the section of the crowd where the Academy students were sitting. The voice was that of Ava Grimes, yelling at RAZE and Manson who were pushing around CJ Night, JJ’s younger cousin. Grimes didn’t think twice and went to help her friend, but before she could take a step, a hand grabbed her from behind. It was Julian Savell himself, the founder and leader of the Division holding Gavin’s young sister while his henchmen began to beat up the Academy student. More people tried to interfere and help Night, including other students and Academy coaches but the rest of the Division and Julian’s bodyguard Rebekkah Katz stood in their way. The Murder City Saints savagely beat up the poor CJ, Ava tried to wiggle free to help him but Julian’s grasp was too tight. She even bit his arm in a desperate attempt to escape the hold but Savell didn’t let go despite the pain, nor did he react violently as you would expect from him. All this obviously got the attention of CJ who was about to take the matter in his own hands. But before he could leave the ring, Olly grabbed his hand and pulled him in a fireman’s carry position, connecting the Born To Lose and ending the match.

WINNER: Olly
BY: Pinfall (Born To Lose), 19:06

We then head to the rafters which are quite dimly lit. We then see a sight that we haven’t looked at in a minute, Seth Iser sitting there by himself with a contemplative look on his face. The attire though…is unlike what you’d expect from what you know of the man presently but people who knew of his earliest points of his career this look well: the leather jacket, the jean shorts, a Slipknot shirt with the skull on it as his choice of shirt. The only thing missing from the old look would be to dye his hair blonde but it is just the natural black today. He stays in silence for a few seconds, still mauling a couple of things over in his brain before finally speaking, not looking at the camera.

Seth Iser:
Alone…with my thoughts. Like I’ve been most of the day…being reminded further of old demons. Being reminded…of places I’ve failed.

A cold gaze is on Iser’s face with a colder look from his eyes. The man with the poker face has it in full effect at the moment despite how he’s thinking things over.

Seth Iser:
Pierce…your words had been repeating in my head for a while. All of the euphoria of so many people happy this company has now lasted as long as it has…I didn’t feel that. Even when I’m supposed to be celebrating my fiance’s induction into the Hall of Fame…I find it even harder than normal to crack a smile. Rebecca is always far better at reading a situation then anyone thought…part of what made her a good wrestler but she knew what was going on…all of this strife that was bubbling over yet again. I did my best to support her in this moment but I think she knew I was about to re-enter a different kind of hell. A hell…reopened by what you said…

His face just has a grim expression as he pauses slightly and taps his right index finger on his knee for a brief moment.

Seth Iser:
But it isn’t just the words…to be honest. It wasn’t the sudden renewed focus you displayed when you put on your gear and wrestled with a focus in mind. It’s…something chilling I heard when I was a young buck and it’s really come into my face the last year or so now.

There’s this grimace that’s coming across his face and even a sigh as he keeps his seat with his back to the wall.

Seth Iser:
Everything we ever do in this industry…or our life, it’ll come back to us and none of us are immune to the consequences. Whether it’s the promoter having to close down his promotion after stiffing one of the wrestlers on their pay one too many times…to the talented person who is blackballed because he just keeps not showing up. Hell…adapt it over to your personal life…the things you did to your parents rebelling you’ll often find the kid you make rebelling against you either in a similar fashion to you…or in total opposite to give you that frustration you put your mother and father through.

He just lowers his eyes briefly as if he’s reliving some of the things he’s done himself. There’s a long, somewhat awkward pause as he’s still mulling over the words but then he finally continues.

Seth Iser:
It happened to me with Julian and now…Pierce…it’s playing out with you in a whole different theater. But it’s also happening to you as well. I saw it too…because you hesitated when the truth crept in. I understood what that meant right away. I’m not so sure you do…not yet. You don’t have the necessary life experience to see what it is entirely.

The frown creeps deeper onto his face as he mulls this over a little bit further. You can also see his left hand tighten into a fist and tighten up to a point where he makes himself grimace ever so slightly.

Seth Iser:
Truthfully, Pierce Manning…I don’t think you know what you’re in for. A lot of the kids really don’t…so let me inform you: we aren’t just fighting each other…we’re also fighting the worst portions of ourselves.

A half of a smile finally creeps onto his face but it isn’t because he’s in a good mood. It’s faint though as if something dawns on him.

Seth Iser:
The irony isn’t lost on me. A man trying to free himself might become one with the chains that want to lock him up while I’m again confronted with a version of myself. The youngest version of that yet…the most haunting. The most vindictive and self destructive parts…but I’ve said it for a year now…and it’s true: Vengeance is the cotton candy of motivation. You think it’s filling and it seems so sweet to accomplish it but it’s empty. It’s…hollow…and it doesn’t fix the issues you have. We have to look into ourselves…to fully heal that wound.

The half smile vanishes as fast as it crept onto him and a deathly serious glare creeps onto it.

Seth Iser:
I need to see for sure…if my wound is mended and if yours is addressed. I’m channeling…part of that feeling I’ve always felt…for tonight and see if that’s truly gone. To see if I am indeed right about where I’m at…where I’ve progressed as a person. Not a wrestler…a person. And I hope the lightbulb goes off for you tonight…where you survive this experience. I can’t promise you that you will…the hardest demon we ever fight is never someone else…but ourselves. So we can respect ourselves in the end…

And finally he pulls himself up with a calm expression finally taking over him.

Seth Iser:
I’ve been crucified for my sins…Pierce. But if you want to truly move on…from all of this…you have to conquer your own demons…your own sins. Be able to live with what you’ve done…what you’re willing to do…and accept the price you’ll pay later for it. Ten years from now…if you survive this experience for good or lil PIerce Manning…you might end up being me in this spot later. Hopefully you win more world titles then I do in that time.

Just like that though…his eyes narrow and he’s channeling something…that’s both a mixture of his old self and who he is today. You can see some anger but…it’s not lashing out or out of control. It’s tempered.

Seth Iser:
But for tonight…you’re going to learn a portion of the price you pay…when you make the decisions you have. The industry is a cruel mistress in that regard…and I am the industry. I am Professional Wrestling. And your ego and poison must be addressed once and for all…and I am the vessel in which that’ll handle both. Those sins…that cross…it’s mine to bear. And this ultimately…is my price for my failures. And no I’m not seeking redemption or salvation…I know I’m too far gone for those things…done too many horrible things in my life. It’s too much in my nature anyway to do what I must to survive. And I accept that as fact.

And then he takes a step forward and with a sneer etched on his face.

Seth Iser:
However…I’m not going to let this industry endure another me. I can’t do that. And if that means you don’t survive this experience…then I too accept that cross to bear. That is my resolve. And I vow to see it through to the end regardless of its form. Can you say the same?

With that last probing question the veteran then walks off with determination on his face and purpose in his step.

Singles Match

Pierce Manning VS Seth Iser

Not quite a student versus mentor match, but more than a clash between former allies. We caught a glimpse of the depths their relationship goes in the weeks leading to this match, understanding the magnitude and implications of this match. A win tonight won’t be just a win in the main event of the biggest show of the company’s history, for either of them.
As expected, the match got real physical, real quick. It only took a few words from Seth to poke the bear and get Pierce to smack the taste out of the veteran’s mouth with a stiff right hand. Iser knew exactly which buttons to push with the former Riot champion, managing to get under his skin with surprising ease. And now he was paying the price for it as Pierce hammered at him with a flurry of punches in the ribs, although knowing Iser this was probably his plan all along. Pierce kept hitting the veteran in the corner, right under the eyes of the referee who decided not to intervene. He grabbed Seth’s arm and fired him in the opposite corner, but the Deity Of Destruction reversed the Irish whip and Pierce was the one crashing chest first into the corner. After the impact, he stumbled back toward the center of the ring, right into a painful punch to the kidney area by Iser.
Not calling the rope break early in the match was no coincidence, nor the last time the official turned a blind eye to what was going on. The impression was that he was going to take a lax approach to the rulebook, allowing the two competitors certain freedoms such as using closed fists or not making a big deal when Seth dragged Pierce’s face across the top rope.
The two competitors seemed to appreciate the opportunity to just focus on tearing each other apart without having to worry too much about that kind of trifle. And the crowd was on board as well, enjoying two big men just beating the hell out of each other, a wonderful way to end an incredible night of action. Seth had the size and strength advantage, as well as a greater experience in an aspect of wrestling he recently set aside to take a more conservative approach, but he definitely mastered in the past. A throwback for the Grizzled Veteran who showed that not only he still got it, but he never truly lost it. His giant fists connected to Pierce’s head and face, one of them opening a cut right above Manning’s eyebrow. Blood started dripping from the open wound, not flowing like a cascade but enough to hinder The Man’s vision. The Greatest Hunter took a couple of steps back, a smirk on his face as he saw his opponent busy cleaning the blood from his eye. A quick sprint forward and he drove that 14 size boot right on his face, knocking Pierce down. Seth hooked the leg but The Man stayed alive.
That cut on the forehead became the target of Seth’s attacks. The veteran wrapped his arm around Pierce’s head, trapping him in a tight headlock. The Man tried to fight his way out of it, but Iser just squeezed harder, forcing him to one knee. Pierce stood up once again, getting a punch to the head for his trouble. And a second one, then a third aimed at the cut , causing the blood to flow once again. He also hammered it with sharp elbows, and Pierce was in big trouble now. Iser dropped him with a brainbuster and made another cover. Same outcome as before, Manning got his shoulder up in time.
On his knees, Manning was refusing to go down. He started punching Iser in the stomach, managing to get a minimum separation to stand once again to his feet. Seth tried to take his head off with a lariat but The Man ducked it at the very last moment. Iser hit the ropes on the opposite side and bounced back, running into a high knee from Pierce that caught him right on the mouth. It wasn’t enough to take the big man down, but it sent him stumbling back as he brought both hands to his mouth.
A sudden rush of adrenaline seemed to reanimate Manning when he seemed to be on his last legs. He wrapped his hands behind Seth’s neck, pushing his head down as he began to raise his right knee to the veteran’s face. The commentary team lost count of how many knee strikes Pierce hit the opponent with, but at the end of them Seth was still standing. Bleeding from his nose, or mouth, or likely both. Red patches staining his beard, bloodshot eyes staring at the man in front of him, Iser took a step toward the incredulous Manning… And then collapsed to the mat.
Pierce didn’t try to make a cover, knowing that he would need a lot more to keep Iser down. He let him get up and when Seth was on all fours he took a run to the ropes, coming back at full speed and connecting a wicked lariat to the back of the head. He rolled the former World champion on his back, stomped him a few times and dropped an elbow to the old man’s heart. Only then he made the cover, but it still wasn’t enough to win.
The twenty minute mark was approaching, and they were still going with the same intensity they showed in the first part of the match. With a headbutt, Pierce interrupted Iser’s assault, sending him back into the ropes. Manning went for a clothesline to send him out of the ring but Seth foresaw it and took a couple of steps forward, anticipating The Man’s move and lifting him in the air before dropping him violently on his knee with the Icebreaker. Manning was rolling on the floor, arching back in pain. Seth wasn’t suffering like his younger opponent but you could tell he needed a breather. At 43 years of age it was understandable.
The match definitely lived up to the hype and then some, becoming a strong candidate for the Match Of The Year. The two competitors looked exhausted, a small mistake or a big move could tip the scale on one side or the other. And Pierce was the one who made that mistake when he tried to connect his rotating belly to back suplex side slam on Iser. The veteran blocked the attempt and broke free with an elbow to the jaw, quickly spinning around to blast Pierce with a discus punch. The only reason why Manning didn’t go down like a ton of bricks was because the force behind the punch sent him into the ropes. He bounced back into a kick to the knee from Seth who then quickly planted him on his head with the Deprivation DDT.
WHAT THE HELL? Seth couldn’t believe it when Manning kicked out. He didn’t even argue with the official, he knew that the ref made the right call. Which, in a way, made what Manning did even more shocking. The Man still wasn’t moving, but his survival instinct kicked out at the right moment and saved him from what looked like a sealed fate. You could see the wheels turning inside the veteran’s head as he explored his options, wondering what he should do to keep The Man down. He set Pierce up for a half nelson suplex, but once again Manning broke free, thanks to a headbutt. With the last energy, Pierce did the unthinkable, knocking Seth down with a combination of punches and kicks. Iser quickly rolled on the apron to escape the pin, but Pierce wasn’t going to give him a chance to recover. From inside the ring, he pulled Iser on his feet on the apron and clubbed him with a few forearm strikes, not enough to knock him off the apron but to wear him down just enough to pull his torso back in the ring between the top and middle rope and plant him on his head with the TBTM (rope assisted piledriver).
UNBELIEVABLE! Seth looked out cold but he still had the presence of mind to reach for the bottom rope with his foot, surviving Pierce’s best shot. The Man couldn’t believe it, nobody had ever kicked out of that before. The fans were going ballistic, despite none of the competitors being a true fan favorite, the Chicago Crowd (and surely everyone watching) at home) could appreciate what the two men were doing in that ring. The momentum was now on Pierce’s side, Seth may have survived the rope assisted piledriver but the move definitely took a toll on the veteran. Manning dragged him up, talked some trash that ended with an eloquent “Why won’t you stay the fuck d…” He never got to finish the sentence as Seth reached inside his mouth with his massive hand, applying the Injection Of Poison (mandible claw). Manning struggled, trying to get away from the excruciating move but Seth wasn’t letting go. Soon the forces started to abandon The Man, dropping first on his knees and then flat on his back. Both shoulders were on the mat and the referee started the count, but Manning apparently had passed out already.

WINNER: Seth Iser
BY: Pinfall (Injection Of Poison), 28:49

MWE Presents: 5ive Year Anniversary (night 1)

Post by gvb on Dec 4, 2022 10:52:16 GMT -6

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