Post by gvb on Jan 3, 2019 16:37:07 GMT -6
Millennium XXIV: Sic Semper Tyrannis
Live from Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VI
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019
The live feed opens up with a view of the entrance stage, with the Millennium logo floating on the tron, and the usual pyrotechnics display welcoming the fans to the 24th episode, coming live from the Richmond Coliseum. “When Legends Rise” by Godsmack blares out of the loudspeakers and the camera pans over the sold out crowd, stopping on some handmade signs the fans brought in.
“#TheStreak 4-0” “Hack me Knoxy” “Free Hickey” “Rie sees dead people” “Thank God Destroy Dick December is over” “Nessa To the Wall” “Selina is gonna kill you” “Tyler Bennett can have my babies”
At the announcer's table, Jared Idol and Bea Torres welcome the audience with a smile. Or at least, Bea does…
Bea Torres:
We're baaaaaaaackkk!
Jared Idol:
Welcome back to Millennium ladies and gentlemen and Happy New Year from Jared and Bea.
Bea Torres:
And what better way to kick off 2019 than with THIRTEEN matches?
Jared Idol:
With the last three matches of the Tag Team Tournament, tonight we will find out who's going to join Jetpack in the fatal 4-way elimination tag team match to become the first ever Millennium Tag Team Champions.
Bea Torres:
One week from tonight at Imperium in Washington DC, the Millennium Championship will also be up for grabs as the current champion Nessa Wall takes on the former champ, Jennifer Yang. The stipulation? It will be determined tonight in our main event. Consider it an appetizer!
Jared Idol:
There's just so much on the plate tonight. But before everything, our General Manager Gianluigi Vaccaro has an announcement to make.
The camera cuts to the ring, where the GM is standing dressed sharply in a tailor made grey suit next to a golden trophy. Raising the microphone to his lips, Gian waits for the fans cheers to fade down.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the the 24th episode of Millennium.
There's a loud round of cheers following his words.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
I know you all are excited for tonight, and with good reasons too. But let me steal just a couple of minutes to address something that happened last Thursday.
A small pause for dramatic effect.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
It was a great night for Millennium and for one of its most talented members. And if there's such a thing as a career defining moment, competing and winning your first trophy in your hometown is definitely one of them. Please, welcome with full honors and the respect she definitely deserve one of the most true rising stars in this business, Tiffany Tompkins.
The crowd cheers as “Very Ape” by Nirvana echoes across the arena, signalling the arrival of the girl Gian had just announced. Tiffany Tompkins, in a casual attire rather than her usual ring gear, appears on the stage, failing to hold back a huge smirk as she makes her way to the ring. She climbs the steps and squeezes between the middle and bottom rope, and as she steps into the ring, she is welcomed by a congratulatory hug from Gian. As the music dies down, chants of “Five Foot Death Kick” begin, causing Tiffany to blush slightly as she holds a microphone up to her face.
Tiffany Tompkins:
Wow...still not getting over this…
Tiffany takes a moment to catch her breath as the fans finally hush.
Tiffany Tompkins:
You know...if you told me one year ago that these past few months would happen, I would not have believed you. 2018 was one hell of a year for me, and it all culminated with, as Gian just put it, a career defining moment. I still can't describe how it felt, but overcoming all those odds and walking out with this precious trophy in the town where I grew up in, it's definitely the best moment, not just in my career, but in my entire life.
The crowd applauds, as does Gian.
Tiffany Tompkins:
But you know what? This is only just the beginning. New years are about resolutions, right? Well I promise you that 2019 will be an even bigger and better year than 2018 was!
Before Tiffany can continue however, the crowd’s attention turns to the entry way as the Cloud Gate Champion steps out from the back in a form fitting black dress and the championship around her waist. Britty Kane shook her head listening to Tiffany.
Britty Kane:
You’ve been wrestling for what? A year or two and you’re already at a career defining moment? That’s… that’s a little sad don’t you think? I could say winning this title right here.
Britty takes the time to pat the Cloud Gate Title as the crowd collectively eye rolls.
Britty Kane:
But it wasn’t. This was a stepping stone to becoming something greater. Winning a one night tournament, good for you, great, grand, awesome, but if that is going to define your career you must not plan on doing this for much longer. You want to sit here and be all “Yeah, I won a trophy in my hometown, love me more for it,” it’s falling just a little short. We all know if I had been in that tournament, I’d be standing in that ring getting my ass kissed by Gian over there.
The crowd didn’t care for that one.
Britty Kane:
You still haven’t done too much to impress me, midget. So please, continue on with this celebration of something no one will remember in six months because you exploded in a fit of rage because no one wants to be your friend...
Tiffany Tompkins:
Goddammit just shut up already!
A collective sigh of relief from the crowd after Tiffany just interrupted Britty.
Tiffany Tompkins:
You can’t just drop it, can you? All year long you’ve gone out of your way to undermine me at every turn. I’ll admit it, I haven’t beaten you yet, but why do you have to constantly throw it in my face? It’s like you’re more concerned about ruining my career than focusing on your own. But if you got something to say, why don’t you come down here and say it to my face?
The crowd cheers, anticipating a fight. Britty walks down to the ring but stops short of stepping inside. Instead, she backs up the entry way and smirks.
Britty Kane:
So you can attempt to cheap shot me? I hardly think so, lil’ Tiff.
Again the crowd jeers the Cloud Gate Champion. A few begin to call her a “chickenshit.”
Britty Kane:
I technically don’t need to say anything. While you have a trophy, are you going to carry that around so you finally have that self-validation that you need, but I have this championship. This championship I’ve had coming up on five months pretty soon. A championship that I made you pass out for in Madison Square Garden. A championship I’ve defended against all comers as soon as I won it. Yeah, you won a tournament but do you know how to keep winning again and again with something on the line? I don’t think you do.
The crowd continues to rain down boos on Britty Kane who doesn’t seem to mind it at all.
Britty Kane:
But, we’re freshly removed from the holiday season and I’m in a giving mood. I’ll ALLOW you one last shot at me. And, to make it interesting and to finally remove the stain of you out of my life, much like how you should’ve ended up during coitus, I’ll give you a chance to beat me not once, but twice.
Tiffany looks back to Gian, who holds his hands up as if he’s leaving the dispute between the two girls. Tiffany then looks back up the ramp and at the Cloud Gate champion.
Tiffany Tompkins:
I know you love the sound of your voice Britt, but do you actually know what you’re saying right now? You ALLOW me one last shot? You’ll GIVE me a chance? Do you honestly think, after how much I fought to earn this trophy, that fighting me now will just be a walk in the park or something?
Tiffany continues to motion to her trophy.
Tiffany Tompkins:
This, right here, is what I’ve done since the last time we went one on one. Your efforts to put me in my place or whatever have all been useless. I’ve kept fighting, I’ll always keep fighting, and I won’t stop until I get better and better. This trophy does not mean that I got lucky at “some tournament”. This represents how much I’ve grown since I broke out of developmental, and unlike a chickenshit like you…
Tiffany takes a moment for the fans to start chanting at Britty, but this does not stop her intensity.
Tiffany Tompkins:
...I don’t take shortcuts. I don’t need you letting me have one last shot. I earn my opportunities, just like how I earned my spot here in Millennium. Just like how I earned this trophy. And just like how I’ll earn the right to say I’m better than you.
Britty looks at the crowd that continues to call her a chickenshit and shakes her head.
Britty Kane:
I’m a chickenshit? All because I blindsided you before you had the chance to do the same to me? Tiffany, bitch please, you all but ADMITTED that you didn’t want to team with me, threw a fit all week long, tried to get out of the match. You begged and you pleaded to have something else that week. Then when I do what you were going to me, it makes me the bad person?
Another shake of the head.
Britty Kane:
You want to parade around with your trophy like it means a DAMN THING in this company. You want to run me down for being a chickenshit? I don’t think so. You want to keep fighting and yet YOU were the one who wanted to get out of a match. YOU, NOT ME. So don’t you stand there and lecture me about being a chickenshit. I’ve defended this title for months against anyone and everyone without complaint.
The Cloud Gate Champion begins to walk to the ring now.
Britty Kane:
Do you know what I can’t stand about you, Tiffany? You’re a smug midget who has this sense that she deserves everything because of who helped get you along in wrestling. If you were better than me you would’ve beaten me by now. If you were better than me, you wouldn’t have to call me a chickenshit to try to prove a point that was far from valid.
She stops short of stepping inside of the ring, standing on the ring apron instead.
Britty Kane:
I challenge you to a match and you can’t even accept it without going on another one of your bitchy rants about how I need to put you in your place and how you keep fighting and fighting. Jesus Christ, Tiff, you would’ve been better served to drip out of your mom’s hole onto the backseat of the car.
That was the last straw...
Tiffany Tompkins:
There you go again. This is exactly why I didn’t want any part of that match in the first place. Despite what you think, I had no plans to blindsight you, and despite the bitching that I did, I would have gone through the match anyway. In fact, I actually did, until you cheap shotted me. I’ve already said before, I’d rather fight you than team up with you, but I guess you took a little offense to that. Thought you would be use to that in your social life by now…
The intensity doesn’t stop there...
Tiffany Tompkins:
And you have the nerve to call me smug? That I deserve everything? I literally just mentioned how I earned this trophy. At least I didn’t have to rely on a surname to get anywhere in this sport…
She stops for a moment, as if she’s expecting Britty to respond again, but as she does, Tiffany suddenly interrupts her.
Tiffany Tompkins:
Oh I’m sorry. Got an answer to that remark too? For someone who constantly calls me a rageaholic, you sure do get offended pretty easily. Well how about this: for once in your goddamn life, why don’t you just shut up, stop acting like a delicate flower and fight?
Tiffany throws her microphone to the mat, ignoring Gian in the corner, and motions for Britty to get in the ring. Britty remains on the ring apron and shakes her head no.
Britty Kane:
Fight as in right now? No, no I don’t think so.
The crowd jeers that response. Britty turns her attention to Gian in the corner.
Britty Kane:
If she wants to fight me that badly, she can fight me at Imperium, two out of three falls because I know she can’t beat me once much less twice in the same night. After that, I’m done with this little girl, Gian. Make the match.
The General Manager, who has been standing on the sideline in a corner of the ring leaving the scene to the two girls, is taking some time before making his decision. More for dramatic effect, since in his mind it’s pretty clear already that this match has to happen. And the fans seem to be thinking the same. Gian takes a step forward, glancing at the Cloud Gate Champion and at the Meraki Tournament winner. The two rivals never took their eyes away from each others, engaged in a intense staredown.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
You’re not leaving me much of a choice here ladies. You both want it…
He glances up, looking at the fans filling the Arena.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
These people want it…
A “Yes!” chant follows his words.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
And I want it too. That’s it, next week at Imperium, Britty Kane will defend her Cloud Gate Championship against Tiffany Tompkins in a Two Out Of Three Falls, one more time.
A small pause, as both girl turn their attention to the GM.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
One last time. Good luck to both of you, and may the best win.
Singles Match
Paddy Costigan VS Dustin Douglas
This was the biggest challenge up to date for Dusty. Despite the recent losing streak, he still was, after all, a veteran of this sport, way more experienced than the 35 years old rookie. And if him being a seasoned competitor wasn't enough to stack the odds against Dustin, Costigan walked into this match with a huge chip on his shoulder, consequence of said losses. Despite not being known to be a proficient brawler, Paddy was definitely holding his ground, showing a ruthless aggression Dustin didn't seem quite able to contain, soon finding himself staring at the ceiling after an European Uppercut. But that didn't slow down the grizzled man offense, as he was quickly on top of Dusty dropping forearms to his face. Douglas was able to roll to his side, climbing on top of the opponent and returning the courtesy, until Paddy was able to switch positions one more time, landing a couple more punches before Dustin rolled to his side again, dragging both of them outside the ring. And even out there, the fight didn't stop, with both men still trading blows, until Paddy sent his opponent against the steel steps. Grabbing him by the hair, Costigan slammed his face against the ring post before rolling him back in the ring as the referee count had already reached seven, following him in and dropping the knee on his face for good measure before going for the cover, hooking the leg for a two count. As the match went on, Dustin caught Paddy with a reverse atomic drop, following with a running knee strike, attempting a pinfall as soon as he hit the mat. Costigan kicked out, but his suplex was blocked by the rookie who answered with one of his own. He quickly rolled back on his feet, swinging and missing with a right hand ducked by Douglas who quickly applied a full Nelson and dropped him down with a snap dragon suplex. Paddy wasn't staying down, not even after Dusty's huge Samoan drop. But the persistence of the 35 years old rookie, supported by the loud South Carolina's fans eventually had the best of his strenuous defense, and The Killamajig (Gory Neckbreaker) gave him the fourth win a in a row. WINNER: Dustin Douglas BY: Pinfall (The Killamajig), Time 5:08 |
Bea Torres: "Another win for Dustin! Still a non-believer, Jared?"
Jared Idol: "Aye. I admit Paddy was a tougher challenge than the one he faced before but..."
Bea Torres: "Shhh! Dusty has something to say!"
After Dusty put away his opponent handily, the 35 year old rookie sensation asked for a microphone. He smiles, and catches his breath
Dustin Douglas:
I waited FIFTEEN years to make my debut in professional wrestling. for FIFTEEN years I watched people climb into various rings around various promotions in various parts of the world. Some were and still are extremely talented…..while others…..
He points to his opponent
Dustin Douglas:
Not so much. But there was always something missing from the sport, the art, the game of professional wrestling. Something Big….something Nasty……Dustin Douglas was missing. Now I am putting together a winning streak that, since I’ve tasted it, I will never, EVER let it end. Week and week, month after month, and Lord willing….YEAR after YEAR Big Nasty is going to suplex every smacktard, jaw-jack every jabroni, and submit every sucker that enters into this ring.
Everyone likes to give me a hard time about how my gimmick sucks….
The crowd starts to chant “Your Gimmick Sucks"
Dustin Douglas:
And yet day in and day out, Big Nasty is here to entertain you people…MY people in MY ring. I love you all, and this win streak is more for you than it is for me. Who cares if my gimmick isn’t some edge lord or some rich millionaire or some other tired cliche that everyone has seen. I am here to SMASH and to entertain the masses.
Dustin drops his mic and rolls out of the ring, the crowd still chanting “Your Gimmick Sucks"
Once again, the scene is just somewhere backstage. At least this time, there's a crappily set up green screen where there would normally be a few crates. Into frame steps Katie Montes, and there's an audible sound of booing as she does. A few cheers from more than a few very forgiving souls, but mainly boos. It's faint, and not enough for Katie to hear, but definitely audible.
Katie Montes:
I hate triple threat matches... honestly, I hate having more than one opponent in general, no matter the stipulation. I lost my first title in a triple threat match. I lost one of my biggest chances at being a world-renowned wrestler in a triple threat match. It's the part where I don't even have to be pinned to lose that bothers me, because... well, that's just it! I DON'T have to be pinned to lose. I DON'T have to tap out to lose. I could just be casually tossed out of the ring to lose, or have perfume sprayed in my eyes, making me tumble out of the ring to lose. Theoretically, I don't even have to be touched to lose, and it bothers me so... so much. Like, you have no idea how much. I think to date, I've woooooon...
Katie's eyes glance up, trying to remember. The majority of the crowd continue to jeer Katie's sheer presence, going so far as to start a "FUCK YOU, KA-TIE!" chant.
Katie Montes:
One. One triple threat match. I don't think I've ever won a fatal-4-way match. Matches with multiple opponents that aren't tag team matches? Not my forte. Never my forte. I've never met someone with a worse track record in these kinds of matches than me.
The rest of the crowd are tired of these "FUCK YOU KA-TIE" chants, and start chanting "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" at those chanting "FUCK YOU KA-TIE". This, Katie hears.
Katie Montes:
...I'm sure that makes all of you really excited about my chances...
The full crowd is split to about 60-40, 60 "YES", 40 "NO." It's probably a miracle that the split is that deep since last month.
Katie Montes:
Here's the thing about chances. They're the same for everyone, no matter who's in the match, until the end of that match. To paraphrase Mos Def, "Numbers are hardly real, they never have feelings, but if you push them too hard, they have limits." Yeah, I know, it's kinda cliche to spit numbers when talking about chances, but cliches are cliches because they're the most common denominator. Just like the most common denominator I know in triple threat matches is defeat. Katie Montes losing in triple threat matches is my cliche because I've lost so many high stakes triple threat matches in my career, in my LIFE that aside from one other instance, it's all I know when it comes to one. Instead of a Yellow Jacket, you could call me a vulture tonight, because my diet in these matches is basically 100% losing, and this vulture's hungry for something else...
There's a brief pause before...
Katie Montes:
This speech kinda got away from me, but I'm gonna keep it because I haven't even mentioned my opponents yet. I really need to do that. Christina Rose... I mean Crystal Hilton. The most I've seen of you is on Twitter, where you basically insert yourself into other people's conversations where you aren't needed. Those are my only interactions with you past your bio on the Millennium site. You used to be a movie star somehow, and yet you gave that up due to your D.I.D., somehow you had a relapse of wrestling skill since you gave up being Crystal Hilton, which is another can of worms I'm not EVEN gonna try and open... and now you're here in Millennium, doing exactly what you do on Twitter: inserting yourself where you aren't needed. Since you fancy yourself a comic convention regular nowadays, I'm sure you've heard the term "the hero something needs, but doesn't deserve?" With you? People know the history. You're not a hero, no matter what you go by, and even if you were...? Millennium doesn't need you. I'd blame your D.I.D., but that's like blaming my autism for me being socially awkward. It's obvious. It's a cliche, and tonight, I'm looking to turn all of those on their heads. I hate to come across as harsh, considering you're trying to be a good egg, but once eggs are rotten, that's it for them. You know what happens to rotten eggs? They get thrown, either at a house on Halloween, or in the trash where they permeate the room while those living there wonder what that terrible smell is. Oh, it's just Crystal Hilton. I meant to put those in the dumpster outside. Someone get some Febreeze. I'm sorry, I cannot bring myself to say one good thing about you. I didn't even like Mega Man that much growing up... you know, the whole thing your everything is based around? When I tried a Mega Man game, it turned out to be Battle Network. Now, I got nothing against Mega Man Battle Network, but that's not really a pure Mega Man at it's core, which I can't bring myself to like. I've tried, my friends have told me to try, but I just can't. So, hey, you and Mega Man are a match made in heaven, really.
Katie takes a breath, the crowd actually somewhat turning to Katie's side with her words. She's saying these things with such conviction and such bite that the crowd can't help but be respectfully quiet to hear what she'll say about her other opponent.
Katie Montes:
Anyways, now that I got THAT out of my system... Rie Shimizu...
Katie clears her throat, before...
Katie Montes:
You and I are nothing alike. I have found atheism throughout 2018. There is no hope for me in whatever afterlife you believe in. Just look to this past January. I was effectively flogged in public thanks to hearsay and stupidity. I can say thanks to that, 2018 was the worst year of my life, and if there were a God, people would have understood my issue. But no one was there to catch this devil when she fell from Heaven. I was homeless afterwards. I had no one. I had nothing. I was about ten minutes away from killing myself when someone finally decided to show me pity. Fast forward about 11 months later and I send in an application to Millennium Wrestling, as if to say KNOCK KNOCK, LET THE DEVIL IN!" And, without any spiritual guidance, they allowed me back into a wrestling ring and caught absolutely no flack for it. I don't believe in a God, but I do believe in a last chance, and if Millennium turns out to be my last chance to become a World Champion, then I cannot, under any circumstances, believe in whatever afterlife you do. There's nothing wrong with believing in a God, but when it comes down to it, even Gods can be ran over by a Ramblin' Wreck when it goes fast enough. I refuse to let anyone, spiritual or otherwise, ruin my last chance at becoming a World Champion.
And finally, with her theme already asking "Can you tell me, can you tell me, the way the story ends?"
Katie Montes:
You're both good in your own ways. But when I'm this fired up? I'm better. And that's how this story ends.
To the ever-dulcet screams of Jonathan Young, away Katie goes to try and turn her narrative of triple threats around.
Singles Match
Sean Libby VS Jacob Figgins
The path of Sean Libby and Jacob Figgins crossed quite often recently, the memory of that Moonshine Delirium on the steel ladder still clear in the fans’ mind, as well as, obviously, in Sean's. And perhaps that would explain why the Irishman couldn't even wait for the bell to ring to start hammering the opponent with some stiff forearm shots, gaining an early advantage fully exploited forcing Jacob in the corner and, after lighting up his chest with four resounding chops, each one of them followed by the wooo of the fans, he threw him to the opposite side of the ring, following up with a corner dropkick. Climbing up to the third rope, he looked down at the opponent with crazed eyes before diving with a senton, landing on Figgles’ knees. Jacob was now in full control after the missed opportunity by Sean, relentlessly stomping the opponent without giving him the chance to stand up, kicking him in the ribs as soon as Libbeh was trying to get on all fours. All this lead Figgles to a near fall, after one of his trademark moves, a knee drop with the usual, senseless, teathrics. After the kick-out, Jacob immediately transitioned into a submission, a Boston crab precisely. The pressure put on his back seemed too much to handle for Sean, who in more than one occasion was on the verge to give up. But pushing through the pain, he eventually reached the ropes, forcing the break. Five minutes into this contest and Sean turned things around with a sling blade, following up with a springboard leg drop. Once again the pace picked up with Libby hitting the ropes and connecting with a hurricanrana. Jacob tried a reaction but his lariat was ducked by the opponent who wrapped his arms around the waist, trying to steal th win with an O'connor Roll, but Figgins held onto them, blocking the move. This didn't stop Sean from launching himself against the opponent with a crossbody block, and both of them ended up outside the ring. Being the first back on his feet, Libby climbed back on the apron, measuring the distance for a springboard moonsault to the outside. But when he went to pick Figgles up, he was met with a poke to the eye, missed by the referee that allowed Jacob to regain control with a kick to the stomach and a powerbomb on the barricade. As the count out reached six, none of them seemed to have the slightest intention to bring the fight back in the ring. Actually, Figgins charged and, with a lariat, flipped him over the barricade and into the crowd, where the fight kept going way over the ten count that declared the end of this match WINNER: None BY: Double Count-Out, 7:33 |
Bea Torres: "Welp..."
Jared Idol: "It's a neverending story between these two."
Bea Torres: "I'm saying, if they are so eager to tear each other apart, why not giving them the chance?"
Jared Idol: "It's a neverending story between these two."
Bea Torres: "I'm saying, if they are so eager to tear each other apart, why not giving them the chance?"
Backstage Alan Envy is lacing up his boots getting ready for his handicap match against Paid To Pummel. A bounty was placed on the man Heathen Jones calls Lonestar's head and his cousins were going to attempt to cash in. Alan slaps the side of his boots and looks into the camera.
Alan Envy:
Hell of a way to start out 2019 right? I was supposed to be in a tag match, but apparently it's all a big part of Heathen Jones’ plan to eradicate 'ol Lonestar. He has a bounty on me. How honored do I feel that I am on someone's hitlist right?I hate to break it to you Louser-ana but it's not the first time someone wanted me gone. I've been in this business since I was 15 years old. I've been a main event player for 13 years now. Guys like me are the ones you want to take out, the only difference is those before you didn't pay their family members to do the job. You're a coward Heathen, and after tonight you're going to look like a damn fool.
Hell of a way to start out 2019 right? I was supposed to be in a tag match, but apparently it's all a big part of Heathen Jones’ plan to eradicate 'ol Lonestar. He has a bounty on me. How honored do I feel that I am on someone's hitlist right?I hate to break it to you Louser-ana but it's not the first time someone wanted me gone. I've been in this business since I was 15 years old. I've been a main event player for 13 years now. Guys like me are the ones you want to take out, the only difference is those before you didn't pay their family members to do the job. You're a coward Heathen, and after tonight you're going to look like a damn fool.
Alan starts taping his fists still talking but not looking into the camera.
Alan Envy:
2019 is going to be one of my greatest years in this business. If you think you are going to chase me off so you can poison the business I love you're sorely mistaken. You are on my list boy, not the other way around. You are list in time with how you treat women thinking it's alright to drag them by a chain. But I figured out why you do it boy. It makes you feel like a man, empowered because you don't have the guts or the balls to man up the right way. Tonight after I run through your cousins... I'm going to come find you, and I'm going to make a man out of you. Something your Uncle Saul should have done a long time ago. But you now get your Uncle Al to do it.
2019 is going to be one of my greatest years in this business. If you think you are going to chase me off so you can poison the business I love you're sorely mistaken. You are on my list boy, not the other way around. You are list in time with how you treat women thinking it's alright to drag them by a chain. But I figured out why you do it boy. It makes you feel like a man, empowered because you don't have the guts or the balls to man up the right way. Tonight after I run through your cousins... I'm going to come find you, and I'm going to make a man out of you. Something your Uncle Saul should have done a long time ago. But you now get your Uncle Al to do it.
Envy finishes his tape job and looks into the camera again.
Alan Envy:
I warned you kid... it's not wise to screw with me. Your family finds that out tonight, and then I'll remind you the same.
I warned you kid... it's not wise to screw with me. Your family finds that out tonight, and then I'll remind you the same.
Envy continues staring into the camera as the shot faded to black slowly.
As the feed returns inside the arena, the sudden beat and descriptive backwood lick brings the crowd to their feet. While Adam Calhoun raps the first hook of “Country”, the crowd erupts in cheers as “Fat” Saul Swinechop steps through the curtain. An unexpected appearance of the former nemesis of Alan Envy, but a welcomed surprise by the man calling matches from ringside these days. The Old Man slowly spins once before waving his outstretched arms upward to amp the cheers. Saul nods once over each shoulder, welcoming Lil’ Roscoe to join him on his left and Kuntry Swag to his right. He shook each of their hands, pointed to the ring and then took full bow that he completed with a tip of his fedora. With a wave, Saul returned backstage and “Paid to Pummel” started toward the ring.
Roscoe, who is anything but “little”, towered over his shorter, heavier partner going down the ramp. Compared to Swag's “smooth” gelatin-mold wiggle and walk, Roscoe marched down the ramp with his eyes up and ears alert. When they get to the ring, Swag continues to work the crowd while Roscoe waits for him in the center. It's soon very clear to everyone watching, Roscoe is the muscle to Swag's mouth because “Oompa” cut loose on the microphone despite the crowd's mocking chant.
Kuntry Swag:
Yo Roscoe, we are here on the big show, Bro!
Yo Roscoe, we are here on the big show, Bro!
At this point, it's their usual song and dance. Swag was loud, obnoxious and high-pitched.
Kuntry Swag:
So, check this out, listen see, we been brought here tonight to collect on someone we done already gave a pummelin´ once upon a time.
So, check this out, listen see, we been brought here tonight to collect on someone we done already gave a pummelin´ once upon a time.
Luckily, he was the highest educated of the Harmony Lake bunch, he made nearly the same sense that Ol´ Saul manages.
Kuntry Swag:
He s'posed to team up with our cous´ Heathen, but it ain’t happenin’ like that, Tex.
He s'posed to team up with our cous´ Heathen, but it ain’t happenin’ like that, Tex.
Roscoe slowly turns his head to each side. Swag gives him a nod and continues.
Kuntry Swag:
We don't fight family and that there is just too damned bad for you. See, Heathen done said he ain't gonna be here tonight to team with you so, you come on out here and take another pummelin’ or keep your yellow ass in the back and give us the forfeit.
We don't fight family and that there is just too damned bad for you. See, Heathen done said he ain't gonna be here tonight to team with you so, you come on out here and take another pummelin’ or keep your yellow ass in the back and give us the forfeit.
Roscoe continues to keep a steady watch on the entrance, at this point Swag is verbally taunting while the big guy is physically daring Envy to take the handicapped match.
Kuntry Swag:
Either way, it's you against us, Bubba; and, that ain't never worked out for you.
Either way, it's you against us, Bubba; and, that ain't never worked out for you.
That was it.
It wouldn't have taken much any way, Envy had expected this out of this group since the match was announced. He was all but dumb to their antics. So, much like they would have done him, Envy attacked from behind. Roscoe was clobbered. The big man stumbled forward, missed catching the top rope and fell through to the floor. Swag didn't fare as well, rocketed to the ropes and dropped with one helluva lariat. Swag bounced off of the mat and the momentum rolled him back to his feet. Envy turned him inside out again as he rebounded from the opposite ropes this time. Envy checked, Roscoe had taken a bad landing, then he ripped Swag from the mat and fired him into the corner hard, back-first. The entire ring shook. Swag stumbled forward, directly into an amped-up, breath-robbing spinebuster that rattled the entire building.
Then, that music hit, a hard bass hook ripping over a thumping beat while psychedelic pulls on steel spun overhead.
Envy's attention is immediately on the entrance, allowing Swag to roll out under the bottom rope on the other side. Zac Brown Band's “Heavy Is the Head” jammed from the speakers, ushering out the epitome of sin, that Godless Heathen from the South.
Envy second-thought ducking through the ropes and opened them instead. Heathen Jones remained steadfast at the top of the ramp. Blatantly not taking the bait. Purposefully attempting to infuriate Envy. While the links of the chain were most-certainly wrapped around his left hand, a microphone took the place of his mudjug in his right. And, he stood there and made them wait until the garbage was deep enough to cover the toes of his Red Wings.
Heathen Jones:
Funny ain't it…
Funny ain't it…
Heathen's voice was gleefully maniacal.
Heathen Jones:
…look ah´cha Lonestar, uh-man o´action. Got tuh take care o´dat shit in-uh moment. Can't wait.
…look ah´cha Lonestar, uh-man o´action. Got tuh take care o´dat shit in-uh moment. Can't wait.
Heathen moved his head to the left, slightly stretching to look past Envy in the ring.
Heathen Jones:
Sure, ya beat up Swaggy. Who ain't. Used dat fat bastard as-uh punchin´ bag growin´ up. Good for ya…
Sure, ya beat up Swaggy. Who ain't. Used dat fat bastard as-uh punchin´ bag growin´ up. Good for ya…
Then, he lit the crowd up as he jerked the chain with all of his power.
Immediately, the trash flew and Envy smacked the top rope in disgust as Hickey was yanked through the curtain. While Envy and the crowd shared a few choice words with Heathen, tonight, she fought with all her dainty might.
She buried her feet, pushing and pulling; she dug in with both hands, clawing and crawling; she did not want him to go down there and as much as she fought, she screamed and yelled about it.
All for nothing, Heathen and Envy were locked on one another; and, he just jerked her forward when the rope went taunt. Showered in garbage, closing a very short distance between to the Texan, Heathen dragged her down the ramp. And, he continued to talk the Icon up.
Heathen Jones:
Yeah, ya be a man o´action while duh-Heathen, meh like when small things jus´ happen tuh work out see, `cause ya forgot `bout the “Lil´ Guy”.
Yeah, ya be a man o´action while duh-Heathen, meh like when small things jus´ happen tuh work out see, `cause ya forgot `bout the “Lil´ Guy”.
Roscoe smashed Envy from behind, but the adrenaline or his experience, maybe both, Envy was quickly in control of a rights and lefts exchange in the center of the ring. While control was established and Envy was heaving bombs, Roscoe simply ate them with little attempt to block and just as bit effective.
Meanwhile, on the outside, Hickey refused to get near enough to be chained to the post. Needless to say, Heathen is infuriated and gassed, she had fought every step to this point. Now, in a leveled game of tug of war, she was standing her own.
Roscoe proved he could take a beating and, while Envy is known to throw decisive strikes, the Legend is a Professor of Catch in the center of the ring; and, his larger opponent was schooled. The transitions were flawless, a wrist lock to a hammerlock to a waist lock and Envy would bounce the big man with a side suplex. The sequence varied twice more, each ending with a suplex that jarred the breath from Roscoe's lungs. Then, Envy snatched Roscoe up from the canvas and set him up for the Envious Demise.
The crowd went crazy as Heathen crossed the ring from the left, fighting the chain with one hand just to get the other on his rival, he threw a wild clothesline. Envy ducked, spiking Roscoe's head off the mat like a lawn dart. Heathen didn't have the slack to keep Envy down as Hickey was determined to go back up the ramp. Heathen lost his balance and could do nothing to protect himself as Envy drove him backward into the corner with the rival-sacking spear of a blitzing power safety.
They had smacked heads on impact. The skin and bone thud was chest jolting. Everyone gasped a long draw of breath as Envy kind of rolled backward onto his elbows. Concussed. They both looked to be somewhere in the beginning of next week, widened eyes staring blankly, for a moment.
Then, Envy wiped his mouth and Heathen dragged his forearm across the bottom of his nose. Envy's lip had been gashed open and Heathen's nose was busted. Not profusely, but both bled a decent amount.
Heathen glanced up at Envy; demented, maybe half-way.
Envy glared at Heathen; serious, always.
Both nodded because both knew where this had to go. As they stained the mat that heart-beating crimson, both of them tasted the iron of their own blood. Envy had picked up a count-out victory over “Paid to Pummel”, but the only match either of these two cared to consider would go down in blood at Imperium. The ring was soon flooded with officials, administrative and medical personnel as the feed cut from the arena.
Tag Team Match
Alan Envy & Heathen Jones VS Paid To Pummel
WINNERS: N/A |
Bea Torres: "What the heck just happened?"
Jared Idol: "I can tell you what didn't happen. The scheduled tag team match. Instead of that, we had the usual display of violence that seem to follow Envy and Jones."
Bea Torres: "This thing had been going on for months, starting in Lonestar and dragging here in Millennium."
Jared Idol: "Aye. These two are definitely on a collision course. Something tells me that at Imperium we will see the ned of it."
We find ourselves in the backstage area and it is there where we are able to see the one and only Christina Rose. She has a disgusted expression on her face as she looks right into the heart of the camera.
Christina Rose:
Who am I?! You all know me as Christina Rose. The gamer girl with the purple hair. The woman who owns her own movie company. I feel absolutely disgusted with how things have been going for me in my career in this company. Just when I start to build some momentum I come crashing back down because I lose to the likes of Luna Star…
Who am I?! You all know me as Christina Rose. The gamer girl with the purple hair. The woman who owns her own movie company. I feel absolutely disgusted with how things have been going for me in my career in this company. Just when I start to build some momentum I come crashing back down because I lose to the likes of Luna Star…
Christina just shakes her head in utter disgust as she continues to speak.
Christina Rose:
I don’t mind losing but what I don’t appreciate is the fact that people like Luna and Selina look at me as if I am one fucking joke. Joking over the fact how one beat me faster than the other. That’s not how a Hollywood Starlet such as myself should be treated!
I don’t mind losing but what I don’t appreciate is the fact that people like Luna and Selina look at me as if I am one fucking joke. Joking over the fact how one beat me faster than the other. That’s not how a Hollywood Starlet such as myself should be treated!
Christina shakes her head again as she continues to speak.
Christina Rose:
I know for a fact I am way better than that and this company needs to respect me as being one of the premier athletes in the sport today! I am far from being a joke and i deserve respect. I am Crystal Hilton!
I know for a fact I am way better than that and this company needs to respect me as being one of the premier athletes in the sport today! I am far from being a joke and i deserve respect. I am Crystal Hilton!
Crystal smiles as she brings her hands through her hair.
Christina Rose:
I bring with me bright lights, the spotlight, and just flat out being a diva. You don’t like that?! Do something about it! Show me you have what it takes to stop this attitude of mine. Tonight it’s about getting through this triple threat. It’s about moving ahead and showcasing my talent. Anyway I have a match tonight which I will win and from there it’s about getting to the top. See you soon!
I bring with me bright lights, the spotlight, and just flat out being a diva. You don’t like that?! Do something about it! Show me you have what it takes to stop this attitude of mine. Tonight it’s about getting through this triple threat. It’s about moving ahead and showcasing my talent. Anyway I have a match tonight which I will win and from there it’s about getting to the top. See you soon!
With that Christina angrily pushes the camera as she storms away.
We see a hallway deep inside the Richmond Coliseum, as a cameraman makes his way down, searching. He continues in silence for a few moments, before the sudden sound of footsteps walking down an adjacent hallway come. He pauses, the camera turning to look down the empty hallway. A moment of hesitation, but then he begins down that hall. The only footsteps now are his own. But as he passes room after room he finally stops, suddenly looking back at one passed. Walking back and peering through the window on the door, one can see a candle set up, with Rie Shimizu sitting on her knees in front of it. Her eyes are closed, head slightly bowed, mouth moving a bit as she seems to be talking to herself.
Or maybe she’s talking to something else.
The cameraman starts to reach for the door, to step in and join her.
Homare Kato:
It’s rude to intrude.
The voice of Rie’s manager, right next to the camera, causes the feed to shake for a moment. Wheeling around, looking back the way he walked down the hall, he finds Homare Kato. Back against a wall, Kato looks to the cameraman with a small smile on his face. He lets out a few “tsk tsks”, teasing.
Homare Kato:
Rie is busy, speaking to the beloved departed that step through this Coliseum. That is important to her, so let me do this for her.
He steps forward, throwing his arms out.
Homare Kato:
I will handle the task of speaking to you and the wrestling world beyond the lens!
And then he takes a short flourishing bow.
Homare Kato:
It is a task I approach humbly.
When he looks back up at the camera that smile is on his face still.
Homare Kato:
First you’ll want to hear of last week, yes? Where Rie faced a respected elder like Costigan and found the means to overcome, to get the first win she can respect in Millennium. I can tell you that the only thing that outweighed my pride in her accomplishment was her own joy. Not only did she defeat someone with so much more experience than her, learning so much in the process, but she did it while carrying thoughts of the departed around her in her heart. She succeeded not just for herself, but for them. And that brought such joy to her.
He places a hand over his heart.
Homare Kato:
It warmed what is cold, and brought only more pride in her from me. She failed once, and immediately did what she needed to change the path she put herself on. She excelled against Costigan. And now, with that win finally under her belt, she strides ahead into the next challenge. A triple threat. Christina Rose and Katie Montes.
For a moment he pauses, a hand reaching up and absentmindedly scratching at his chin. He mutters something in Japanese, before stepping forward. Reaching out, he places a hand on the camera lens and tilts it up, so it can look into his face better. The smile fades, just a tad.
Homare Kato:
What...interesting parts of the living she will stand in the ring with this week, hrm?
He moves out of frame, familiar footsteps indicating him to be walking around the cameraman who, for some reason, does not try to follow him, rooted to the spot. Homare continues to speak.
Homare Kato:
One that seems familiar but different, a success but now an unknown. A strange contradiction, and one that has sadly not had the happiest time in Millennium of late. That, of course, makes her dangerous. That need to succeed after recent failures, that makes dangers of many. Couple that with this miasma that surrounds what she now is, and an eye must always be spared to keep watch upon her.
A pause.
Homare Kato:
And one that is known. She is a danger in her own ways. Fresh off success, wanting more, wanting to succeed despite what others think, capable of doing so. She must also be watched, for safety’s sake. A match where one’s eyes must always be split, always watching two at once, or risk tragedy so soon after joyous success. What a situation to be put in.
Another pause, and then a rather determined tone.
Homare Kato:
But Rie will be ready. She has been studying, training, preparing, for this kind of match. Watching both of them wrestle, and just watching matches of this type. To learn the potential tricks and pitfalls, she has studied. And perhaps I am biased, but I do believe it has prepared her. And soon we shall see which is stronger. The desire to succeed despite the tar on a name, the need to succeed after failing, or the hope to continue on the path of success. I have my beliefs, of course, but I am also not what matters here. What matters, in this moment, is that woman in that room, speaking to the departed. If Christina and Katie hear my words, I would ask them to think. Carrying thoughts of them in her heart pushes her farther, yes, but that is not what I want to speak of now. Think of those she speaks to now. The departed who hear her speak, saying she knows they are there, that they are in her heart, that she will do her best to bring some victory in their name. Think of them then looking at who will stand across from her, and what they may see. What blessing they may decide to hand down to that woman, if they see what is across. What I mean is…
Suddenly Kato peers from outside the frame, that strange smile on his face.
Homare Kato:
I wonder what the dead will think of you two, and how that may sway their desire to empower her.
With that strange statement spoken, he says nothing else. There is silence for a moment, before the sound of a door opening comes. The cameraman suddenly seems to remember how to move the camera, spinning it around to find Rie stepping out of the room. In her hands she clutches the now put out candle she had been in front of, and the sight of the camera and Homare puts a small smile on her face. She gives a bow, and the camera awkwardly returns it. Homare steps past the cameraman, walking over to the woman he advises. He takes the candle and places it into the inside pocket of his jacket, and the camera can see when he opens it that many of the same candles line the inside pocket. Looking between the two, Rie finally looks at Homare and speaks.
Rie Shimizu:
あなたは何について話しました？
Homare lets out a small chuckle.
Homare Kato:
ああ、ただ...カジュアルな会話。
She tilts her head, but says nothing else, while Homare just looks to the cameraman and reaches up to the peaked cap on his head, tipping it to the cameraman.
Homare Kato:
Our time together has come to an end, I’m afraid! It’s time for Rie to have her final preparations. With such a challenge ahead, I’m sure you understand. But don’t worry...we’ll speak again.
The camera seems to tilt down just a bit, either from disappointment at it ending, or the idea of it coming again. Regardless Rie places her hands together, saying something in Japanese, and Homare is only too happy to translate.
Homare Kato:
“I will do my best tonight, for all, living and departed. Thank you.”
And with that he raises a hand.
Homare Kato:
And to all of you watching, we hope the departed favor you on this night.
He brings his hand down, and the feed just cuts, leaving only darkness and the lingering thoughts.
Triple Threat Match
Rie Shimizu VS Katie Montes VS Christina Rose
Both coming from a winning streak, undefeated since their debut, it was only a matter of time before Katie Montes and Rie Shimizu would cross their paths. Sharing the ring with them was Christina Rose who, despite some ups and downs here in Millennium, is always a former Champion and, therefore, not one to be taken lightly. And to prove the point, Rose started the match with a standing dropkick to take Rie down, ducking Katie's lariat and pinning her with a backslide. Katie kicked out and Christina quickly sent her against the ropes waiting for a clothesline that the former Zero Gravity champion ducked easily, coming back with a sling blade. Showing off her athleticism, Katie kipped up back on her feet, right into a discus lariat from Shimizu. The Japanese quickly went to apply her Deepest Slumber (Guillotine Choke) that Christina quickly broke up with a kick to the head. She then picked up Montes and pushed her against the ropes, catching her with a scoop powerslam. Despite Rie's attempts to slow it down, the pace of the match remained quick, forcing the Japanese to change strategy, relying more on direct strikes rather than submissions. And the new approach was definitely paying off, her educated feet shooting down the aerial attacks of her opponents, like she countered Katie's crossbody from the top rope with a superkick, keeping her down for a two count before Montes lifted her shoulder. Christina Rose grabbed Shimizu by her shoulder and tossed her over the top, picking up Montes and sending her against the ropes. Katie countered the Irish whip, waiting for Kristal in the middle of the ring but finding herself on the receiving hand of a tilt-a-whirl ddt. Christina followed up with a handspring standing moonsault she calls Smell The Roses, and this time it was the returning Rie Shimizu who broke her dreams of glory and the pinfall. With Katie recovering outside the ring, the fight between Rie and Christina went on, and the Japanese wrestler was firmly in control, working on her arm and shoulder with precise strikes and submissions. After the Flash Nap, a jumping knee strike that knocked Rose down, the path to the win was clear for Rie who locked her in The Other's Side Grasp, an Hoverboard Lock targeting the Arm she worked on so diligently for the past minutes. But right when Christina seemed on the verge of giving up, Katie came back into the match, leveling Shimizu with a shining wizard. Her attention then moved back to Rose, still on the floor favoring her arm. Without wasting a moment, Montes climbed to the top rope and jumped on her with the Ramblin Wreck (from Georgia Tech). Rie eventually broke the pinfall after the beautiful Phoenix Splash. But it was a moment too late, right after the ref's hand hit the mat for a third time, declaring Katie the winner of this match. WINNER: Katie Montes BY: Pinfall (Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech), 8:03 |
Jared Idol: "Huge win for Montes!"
Bea Torres: "Hmpf. I guess her bad luck in triple threat matches is over. Good for her."
Jared Idol: "You don't seem too happy about it."
Bea Torres: "Meh.. I just didn't like what she said..."
When we return from break the shot is backstage at the rocking Richmond Coliseum. In front of the tried and true Millennium Wrestling banner stands Chloe Collins. She’s lookin pretty as a picture, as she always does, and holds a mic in her hands. Seems like she got the word we’re live and raises her mic up.
Chloe Collins:
Welcome back everyone to this exciting, action-packed event from Millenium Wrestling! I’m of course Chloe Collins and I hope you’ll join me in welcoming my guests: Christian Michaels. Javen. The Brothers McMillion!
Welcome back everyone to this exciting, action-packed event from Millenium Wrestling! I’m of course Chloe Collins and I hope you’ll join me in welcoming my guests: Christian Michaels. Javen. The Brothers McMillion!
From either side of the camera steps the two long-haired boys from down south in Tennessee. To Chloe’s right with his hair sharing many colors with the rainbow, stands Simon McMillion but better known as Javen. To her right is his older brother Christian, easily identified by the blonde streak in his hair above his left eye.
The brothers take turns shaking hands with Chloe.
Chloe Collins:
Gentlemen, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me here tonight. I know you two must be super busy preparing yourselves for your match later.
Gentlemen, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me here tonight. I know you two must be super busy preparing yourselves for your match later.
A nod from both men. Christian, though, speaks up.
Christian Michaels:
It’s our pleasure Chloe, thanks for having us.
It’s our pleasure Chloe, thanks for having us.
She nods.
Christian Michaels:
And you’re right Chloe, my brother and I have been extremely busy as of late preparing for this match. Naturally we took some time out to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family, but there was hardly a moment we weren’t thinking about this match after it was announced. So every moment we could steal away to train and watch tape and get ready? That’s what we were up to.
And you’re right Chloe, my brother and I have been extremely busy as of late preparing for this match. Naturally we took some time out to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family, but there was hardly a moment we weren’t thinking about this match after it was announced. So every moment we could steal away to train and watch tape and get ready? That’s what we were up to.
Chloe Collins:
Well guys I have to say that’s some good news to hear. I know there were a lot of people excited about the two of you signing with the company, myself included, but two matches in and things haven’t gone your way. Tonight’s match is your last chance to get into the title match at Imperium….
Well guys I have to say that’s some good news to hear. I know there were a lot of people excited about the two of you signing with the company, myself included, but two matches in and things haven’t gone your way. Tonight’s match is your last chance to get into the title match at Imperium….
Javen speaks up a bit here.
Javen:
Chloe, if I may before my brother has a chance to sugarcoat things?
Chloe, if I may before my brother has a chance to sugarcoat things?
Chloe Collins:
Certainly.
Certainly.
Javen:
Listen, no one was more hype about us coming to Millenium Wrestling than us. We were, and honestly still are, thrilled about being here. We’ve heard some things about this place. Ya know about the level of competition that’s featured here on a weekly basis. But if ya wanna know the truth: Losing sucks ass! And I don’t know about my brother over there, but I’m already a lil sick an tired of the taste it puts in my mouth.
Listen, no one was more hype about us coming to Millenium Wrestling than us. We were, and honestly still are, thrilled about being here. We’ve heard some things about this place. Ya know about the level of competition that’s featured here on a weekly basis. But if ya wanna know the truth: Losing sucks ass! And I don’t know about my brother over there, but I’m already a lil sick an tired of the taste it puts in my mouth.
Chloe looks over to Christian to see if he wanted to add to those sentiments.
Christian Michaels:
I gotta agree with Simon there Chloe, losing really does suck. I’m officially entering my 19th year now as a competitor. Over all these years I’ve had a lot of success, it’s a taste that I grew accustomed to. And that makes losing a bitter pill to swallow.
I gotta agree with Simon there Chloe, losing really does suck. I’m officially entering my 19th year now as a competitor. Over all these years I’ve had a lot of success, it’s a taste that I grew accustomed to. And that makes losing a bitter pill to swallow.
Chloe Collins:
Tonight the competition doesn’t get any easier as you face the team of Null and Kid Terra, collectively known as The Mighty Now Thrive.
Tonight the competition doesn’t get any easier as you face the team of Null and Kid Terra, collectively known as The Mighty Now Thrive.
The brothers nod in agreement with Chloe’s thoughts on TMNT.
Chloe Collins:
Though this is their first match since back on the 12th of last month where they were scheduled to face the team of Stone Hendrix and Zooey West-Jaa. Unfortunately they were attacked and the match didn’t take place. Since then, Null and Kid have sworn to find out who attacked them…..many people already suspecting their scheduled opponents that night...Do either of you think this will help your chances at victory tonight?
Though this is their first match since back on the 12th of last month where they were scheduled to face the team of Stone Hendrix and Zooey West-Jaa. Unfortunately they were attacked and the match didn’t take place. Since then, Null and Kid have sworn to find out who attacked them…..many people already suspecting their scheduled opponents that night...Do either of you think this will help your chances at victory tonight?
Christian Michaels:
Physically I’m sure that they’re fine now. It was what? Twenty days ago or something like that? So no advantage there, but I do believe we may have an edge in the mental department. Because no doubt as we’ve seen them say; they’re looking to find out who attacked them. I personally don’t know if it was Stone and his gal. It ain’t my place to name suspects. What I know is that winning this match? That’s the only thing that we…
Physically I’m sure that they’re fine now. It was what? Twenty days ago or something like that? So no advantage there, but I do believe we may have an edge in the mental department. Because no doubt as we’ve seen them say; they’re looking to find out who attacked them. I personally don’t know if it was Stone and his gal. It ain’t my place to name suspects. What I know is that winning this match? That’s the only thing that we…
He points to himself and then his brother.
Christian Michaels:
...have on our minds tonight. And as great as our opponents are? I firmly believe that is going to give us the advantage we need to pick up this win and procure ourselves a spot in that title match come Imperium.
...have on our minds tonight. And as great as our opponents are? I firmly believe that is going to give us the advantage we need to pick up this win and procure ourselves a spot in that title match come Imperium.
Javen: Yeah, I totally agree with Christian here. And honestly I gotta say that sucks. I’d love nothing more than for the two of us to beat these guys on a perfectly even field. Facts are though they’re gonna be thinking about their investigation into their assailants all night long. Who did it? Why’d they do it? Was it the easy suspect Stone and chicky? Will, whoever it is, come after them in the middle of the match? Those are the kinda things these kids are gonna have to think about tonight. And that’s gonna let us put this one away when they slip up.
Chloe seems to be understanding what they’re saying here. She looks between the brothers and offers up another question.
Chloe Collins:
So neither of you think it’s going to affect your performance with how much pressure is on you tonight?
So neither of you think it’s going to affect your performance with how much pressure is on you tonight?
Christian Michaels:
Ma’am, as the cliche goes: this ain’t our first rodeo. We know all about having our backs against the wall. And tonight you and all these great fans here in Richmond are gonna see just how well the two of us can plant our feet and shove back.
Ma’am, as the cliche goes: this ain’t our first rodeo. We know all about having our backs against the wall. And tonight you and all these great fans here in Richmond are gonna see just how well the two of us can plant our feet and shove back.
Javen:
Yeah, tonight we’re gonna go out there Chloe and gives these fans a showing like they’ve never seen before. Caution? It’s gonna get balled up and thrown to the wind. I ain’t seen a risk yet that I won’t take; it doesn’t change tonight. Mark our words right here an now, we’re gonna be in that title match come Imperium!
Yeah, tonight we’re gonna go out there Chloe and gives these fans a showing like they’ve never seen before. Caution? It’s gonna get balled up and thrown to the wind. I ain’t seen a risk yet that I won’t take; it doesn’t change tonight. Mark our words right here an now, we’re gonna be in that title match come Imperium!
Chloe Collins:
Guys thanks for your time and good luck out there tonight.
Guys thanks for your time and good luck out there tonight.
Christian Michaels:
It was our pleasure.
It was our pleasure.
Javen simply nods as the brothers exit the scene. Our shot pulls in closer on Chloe as she throws things back to ringside.
Chloe Collins:
Back to you guys at ringside!
Back to you guys at ringside!
Tag Team Match
Non Tournament
Non Tournament
The Mighty Now Thrive VS N. E. W. World
The fans welcome with a huge round of boos the band of misfits captained by Drakkon as they walked down the ring. The High Score Heroes were waiting for them inside the ring, discussing who should start the match for them and hyping each other up. Eventually they agreed that Billy should be the one starting. Valentine turned around pumped up and ready for the fight, confident and determined to impress the thirteen thousand fans in Richmond tonight. But the look on his face definitely changed when he turned around and looked up at the much taller, much heavier and all in all scary Deadman towering over him. Or at least that's what the change in his body stance gave out. Nonetheless he was able to use his speed to his advantage, staying out of the zombie's reach and directing his offensive moves to the legs. Always keep on moving and quick kicks, that was the strategy he applied to deal with the mountain of man standing across him. After a low dropkick finally took him on his knees, Billy gave the tag to his partner and they both went for a superkick, taking him down. Strife went for the cover but barely got a two count out of it. Wasting no time, he picked up where Valentine left, implementing the same plan and successfully so. Once again Deadman was laying on the floor, and once again HSH worked like a well oiled Machine with a diving legdrop/splash combination. No matter what they tried, Deadman just wouldn't stay down. Maybe that's what drove Billy to climb to the top rope and going for a crossbody. A terrible mistake since the big man caught him and simply tossed him all the way across the ring like a rag doll. After picking him up and throwing him in the corner, where he met him with with a running splash, Deadman lifted him over the top turnbuckle, carrying him over his shoulders as he tagged Vengeance in. The Doomsday Device wiped him out but Jimmy was quick to dive in and make the save. But the tides had turned, and N. E. W World was now dominating the match, isolating the opponent in their corner with quick tags and devastating tag team maneuvers. On the apron, Strife was helplessly watching his partner getting brutalized by the relentless duo, with Deadman holding him in a piledriver position and Vengence diving to help him with the Deathbed. The Swedish moved into a cover, while his huge partner made sure that, this time, Jimmy couldn’t save his partner. An unnecessary measure, since, somehow, Battlin’ Billy Valentine managed to kick out, to the surprise of Drakkon on the outside. The fans went on their feet, chanting for the High Score Heroes while the leader of the N.E.W. World was yelling at his companions to finish him. But with the last burst of energy, Billy was able to block a couple of right punches from Vengence, connecting with some of his own before creating himself the opening he needed with a chinbreaker. On all fours, the 23 years old crawled to his corner, from where Jimmy was leaning in and holding his hand out for the tag. Deadman entered the ring, despite the referee’s vain attempt to impose himself and keeping him outside, preventing the tag by grabbing his leg. Valentine connected with an enziguri that stunned Deadman long enough for him to reach his partner. And Jimmy Strife hopped inside the ring to the cheers of the fans, running at the opponents and after ducking a clothesline from the giant, he jumped at the legal man wrapping his legs around his neck with a headscissors and sending him rolling outside the ring, He then turned around just in time to see Deadman charging at him and avoiding the collision by stepping away and pulling the top rope down, sending the big man crashing on the outside. As soon as they both started to get up on their feed, Strife took a run to the ropes and dove on them with a tope con hilo that took both of them out. Quickly, he picked up Vengence and rolled him in the ring, getting only a two count out of it. With Deadman already recovering they knew their window of time was closing, and that this was their best opportunity to win this match. The fans exploded in cheers when the High Score Heroes connected the Contra Code and Billy hooked the opponent’s leg. And with Deadman too slow to break the pin, nothing was stopping the HSH from walking out of the ring with a win. Unless, of course, A.C.I.D. would slide in the ring and break the pin, causing the disqualification for his team. WINNERS: High Score Heroes BY: DQ (Outside Interference), 8:27 |
Obviously, saving the match wasn’t the goal of the N.E.W. World. More likely, they wanted to make a statement, this time in front of the cameras. After taking out Billy with a forearm shot to the back of the head, courtesy of Deadman, The Trio set Jimmy up for the New World II, with Deadman and ACID holding the poor Strife in a powerbomb position, with Vengence climbing to the top rope ready to spear him down.
But rushing down the ramp came Null and Terra Kid, seeking payback from the attack from three weeks ago and, de facto, saving Jimmy. For a minute, Null and Kid Terra seemed able to fight off the N.E.W. World, but eventually, the numbers game caught up. Eventually, Yona Blake jumped off the barricade and entered the ring jumping on Deadman’s massive back and biting (yes, biting) him on the shoulder before he could chokeslam her boyfriend Null. Finally free from the grasp, Null went to help his partner evening the two on one situation with a superkick. Kid Terra thanked him for the help and headbutted Vengence on the bridge of the nose before carrying him over his shoulder. Null quickly leaped over the top rope and, after annihilating the Flying Bones Of The New World with the Pack Mentality they both turned their attention to Deadman who finally managed to get Blake off his back, literally. A double superkick from The Mighty Now Thrive set him up for Yona’s Late Snack (Springboard Cutter.) The big man was finally down and Drakkon called his troops to an embarrassed retreat.
But rushing down the ramp came Null and Terra Kid, seeking payback from the attack from three weeks ago and, de facto, saving Jimmy. For a minute, Null and Kid Terra seemed able to fight off the N.E.W. World, but eventually, the numbers game caught up. Eventually, Yona Blake jumped off the barricade and entered the ring jumping on Deadman’s massive back and biting (yes, biting) him on the shoulder before he could chokeslam her boyfriend Null. Finally free from the grasp, Null went to help his partner evening the two on one situation with a superkick. Kid Terra thanked him for the help and headbutted Vengence on the bridge of the nose before carrying him over his shoulder. Null quickly leaped over the top rope and, after annihilating the Flying Bones Of The New World with the Pack Mentality they both turned their attention to Deadman who finally managed to get Blake off his back, literally. A double superkick from The Mighty Now Thrive set him up for Yona’s Late Snack (Springboard Cutter.) The big man was finally down and Drakkon called his troops to an embarrassed retreat.
Bea Torres: "TMNT to the rescue!"
Jared Idol: "I guess this cancels any doubt on who attacked them three weeks ago."
Bea Torres: "I KNEW IT!"
Jared Idol: "Really?"
Bea Torres: "Uhhh no, but I was sure it wasn't Stone and Zooey... Kinda."
Jared Idol: "I guess this cancels any doubt on who attacked them three weeks ago."
Bea Torres: "I KNEW IT!"
Jared Idol: "Really?"
Bea Torres: "Uhhh no, but I was sure it wasn't Stone and Zooey... Kinda."
Backstage at the Richmond Arena in, well it’s Richmond VA so what do you want from it, the cameras swoop down the hallway as if carried by a running cameraman only to find the team of Jetpack as they hang around in catering. Jet Blanchard of course carries a tray with snacks that his partner Penny Kaplan delicately places on it, before she claps in delight at the cake being served tonight - vanilla, with raspberry filling and coconut creme frosting.
Penny:
Ohh wow. I’ll get us a couple slices and hide it for after the match or it’ll be all gone by the time we’re done.
Ohh wow. I’ll get us a couple slices and hide it for after the match or it’ll be all gone by the time we’re done.
Gleefully she loads up a plate and gets a cover before she flees catering for a bit, leaving Jet to blink at the tray before he picks a table and sets it down to await her return. He spies the waiting camera and waves it over before he takes a seat and relaxes a bit.
Jet:
Howdy and all that noise. Bet y’all want a sound bite or two before our match against The BreeTee Committee, and sure, maybe Penny enjoys this part more than I do and that works for us. A good team fills in the gaps, like they say. But a great team…
Howdy and all that noise. Bet y’all want a sound bite or two before our match against The BreeTee Committee, and sure, maybe Penny enjoys this part more than I do and that works for us. A good team fills in the gaps, like they say. But a great team…
Jet gestures at the tray of things Penny wanted to try and there’s a gleam in his eyes.
Jet:
A great team has two people that’ll step in, and step up when the other one needs it. Without needin’ to be asked or have too much explained. Penny and I have been a team since April of 2016. We’re two time Tag Team Champions from a company that had a thrivin’ murderer’s row of a tag division - somethin’ you just can’t find anywhere you look and y’all know this.
A great team has two people that’ll step in, and step up when the other one needs it. Without needin’ to be asked or have too much explained. Penny and I have been a team since April of 2016. We’re two time Tag Team Champions from a company that had a thrivin’ murderer’s row of a tag division - somethin’ you just can’t find anywhere you look and y’all know this.
A charming wink from the Georgia boy as he picked up a bottle of water and easily twisted the cap.
Jet:
I’d like to be able to sta… well, heh sit here before y’all and say some wonderful things about the ‘team’ that Jetpack will be in the ring with tonight but frankly there’s nothin’ much to say as yet. Britty n’ Teagan… it is Teagan right? Not trying to be a jerk here, and well it’s one thing to hear somebody say the name during the broadcast an’ another to read it on the press material right, right. Did okay for themselves against Teddy and Kate Steele but sorry folks, that’s not sayin a whole lot of much. Been watching those two for years and married or not they just can’t ever get any real traction as a team. Shame too, and that ain’t sarcasm. Good tag teams? Hard to find, at times.
I’d like to be able to sta… well, heh sit here before y’all and say some wonderful things about the ‘team’ that Jetpack will be in the ring with tonight but frankly there’s nothin’ much to say as yet. Britty n’ Teagan… it is Teagan right? Not trying to be a jerk here, and well it’s one thing to hear somebody say the name during the broadcast an’ another to read it on the press material right, right. Did okay for themselves against Teddy and Kate Steele but sorry folks, that’s not sayin a whole lot of much. Been watching those two for years and married or not they just can’t ever get any real traction as a team. Shame too, and that ain’t sarcasm. Good tag teams? Hard to find, at times.
His strong fingers drum on the table before he shrugs a bit.
Jet:
Don’t matter none I suppose in the grand scheme. Jetpack, we win a lot. We lose a few, and we’re more than capable of gaining gold and defending it. Ask around, hell there’s another team that was In Your House here right now that y’all surely know too. Point is, right now Millennium is on the cusp of potential greatness. There’s some trash that needs swept out the door, but hey. You’ll find that anywhere.
Don’t matter none I suppose in the grand scheme. Jetpack, we win a lot. We lose a few, and we’re more than capable of gaining gold and defending it. Ask around, hell there’s another team that was In Your House here right now that y’all surely know too. Point is, right now Millennium is on the cusp of potential greatness. There’s some trash that needs swept out the door, but hey. You’ll find that anywhere.
He laughs as Penny comes back in, a sly look on her face.
Penny:
They’ll never find it now!
They’ll never find it now!
Jet pushes a chair out for her with his boot and grins as she picks up one of the snacks and nibbles, waving at the camera.
Jet:
Just show up, Bree & Tee. We’ll give you the same fair shake, and level ground we offer anyone. We don’t cheat, if y’all don’t so there shouldn’t be nothin’ but an exciting match that the fans are gonna talk about tomorrow.
Just show up, Bree & Tee. We’ll give you the same fair shake, and level ground we offer anyone. We don’t cheat, if y’all don’t so there shouldn’t be nothin’ but an exciting match that the fans are gonna talk about tomorrow.
Penny finishes her bite and flashes the V for victory sign.
Penny:
Good luck!
Good luck!
The cameras go elsewhere as Penny enjoys her food and Jet grins.
Tag Team Match
Non Tournament
The BreeTee Committee VS Jetpack
After getting their first win in the last episode of Millennium, The BreeTee Committee was determined to kick off 2019 with another win. On their way to this goal, the former two time IYHWF Tag Team Champion and the first team to qualify for the Tournament Final, Penelope Kaplan and Jet Blanchard, collectively known as Jetpack. Not really a walk in the park. The match started with Teagan and Penny squaring off. Teegs clearly did her homework and, aware of how dangerous the more experienced opponent can be if given the chance to use her speed to her advantage. And for the first part of the match she was able to contain her offense, limiting her movements by easily transitioning from one submission to the next and keeping Penny to the ground for the first part of the match. After escaping from a modified crossed legs STF, Penny created herself an opening with a drop-toe hold and tried to reach her corner. But Teagan stopped her and quickly wrapped her arms around her waist for a german suplex. PenPen landed on her feet and, after a single leg dropkick, easily reached her corner to make the tag. With one of their many tag team combination, they kicked him in Tee in the guts and dropped her on her head with a double ddt, a move they call Doublemint. Jet’s athleticism was too much for Gallagher. He was always finding a way to dodge her shots, surprising her with counter moves like when he dropped her with a falling neckbreaker for the first near fall of the match. After the kick-out, the 25 years old man remained in control of the match, keeping the contest on a high pace. A beautiful sequence of a back kick and a handspring enziguri seemed to be enough to put away the blonde girl, but once again she managed to lift her shoulder. Just when things seemed to be turning for the worst for Tee, she found an unexpected opening when she sidestepped at the last moment a stinger splash from the Georgian born. But she also found herself in the wrong part of town, closer to the opponent’s corner than she was to hers… And Jet, who already recovered, was standing now in her way. She ran towards Bree, trying to leap over the opponent but Jet caught her, and turned it into a flapjack. He picked her up, going for a suplex to put some more distance between her and Bree, but the Irish girl found the last bit of strength to resist and, after a couple of punches to the stomach, hitting the Gallagher’s Way. Both competitors were down, but this time Bree Smith was just within reach, and the tag was made. The powerlifter brought the contest to a whole new level, imposing her physicality on the opponent. Once again Jet was flying across the ring, but this time the landings were harder than he would have hoped them to be, courtesy of Bree’s suplex frenzy. Smith was not going to stop here, dropping an impressive and dominating performance tonight against the former champ. She wrapped his legs in the notorious Lasso From El Paso but, instead of trying to go for a submission, she dropped him on her knees with a backbreaker. It took a big effort for Jet to kick out this time, rolling under the bottom rope and holding his back in pain. Bree was having none of it, and quickly interrupted his break, walking to the ropes and dragging him back to his feet, suplexing him from the outside in. Once more she hooked the leg, getting the same result as before. Things changed drastically when Jet blocked the Power Of Bree, the series of three german suplexes and wriggled out, touching Penny’s hand. Once again the match kicked into high gear and the girl from Massachusetts completely shifted the momentum of the match, minus a minor setback when Luna caught her with an over the shoulder dropdown backbreaker. Kaplan kicked out with authority, and once again started building her offence with quick strikes and acrobatic maneuvers. After getting this close to the win with a floatover ddt, the blonde girl picked the opponent up and, after setting her up with a kick to the midsection, she finished the job with a running corkscrew neckbreaker, picking up the win for her team. WINNERS: Jetpack BY: Pinfall (Penelope Code), 11:10 |
Jared Idol: "Another win for Jetpack"
Bea Torres: "The forme IYHWF Champions have been on a roll since coming to Millennium!"
Jared Idol: "Indeed. Later tonight, they will find out who will join us in the title match at Imperium. But you have to believe that, with performances like this, they are the favorite to win the gold."
Bea Torres: "Hmm i guess we'll see. I wouldn't count out Uncanny Socialites just yet."
Jared Idol: "IF they qualify..."
“Hold me close, don’t let go, watch me!”
Eerie violins and flickering lights fill up the arena. A silence spreads across arena but doesn’t fill it up. Small sections around muster up the courage to break it and boo the man stepping out onto the stage. He wears his robe and facepiece and floats down the ramp with his staff leading the way. Jason enters the ring
Jason Hawk:
Tonight, I again get to prove that I should already be the Empire Extreme champion. I’ve beaten Saki before and trust me when I say that I will do it again. But there is something that is bothering me. So much so, that I can’t seem to focus on Saki. The Kawaiian Death machine is of no concern to me. She is a walkover. She can’t hang with me. She isn’t on me level or even on the level below me. If Mr. Vaccaro wasn’t so incompetent to do his job, he would award me the title already, but he likes to hire useless referee and just in general be useless himself. So, we know that won’t happen. But none of that concerns me tonight. The Empire Extreme title hasn’t even crossed my mind. No... There is something else that has been racing around my mind for weeks now.
Jason stops for a moment.
Jason Hawk:
Rayven Hardy...
He says softly. The fans cheer by the mere mention of her name.
Jason Hawk:
There is something about the girl that I can’t get out of my mind. For the longest time I couldn’t get my head around what it was. I’ve had sleepless nights thinking about what it is that I can’t get out of my head. I was stumped. Nothing rang a bell. But there had to be a reason. There had be something that had me worried and then I suddenly recognized my feelings. I felt sympathy for her. But not for the obvious reasons. I felt for her because I know that you are building her up just to crush her soul and break her spirit. She doesn’t know your evil yet. Blissfully unaware of what you monsters have planned for her! You did it to me and now you are doing it to her. And I can’t stand by and just watch as this is going on. No, I tried to warn her! I wanted her to listen and take my advice. She doesn’t even realize it, but she is just like me and it breaks my heart that she can’t see it. So, I do the only right thing and warn her before it is too late. And what does she do?
Jason stops again and sighs.
Jason Hawk:
Rayven Hardy threatened me. She told me that if I ever put my hands on her outside of a scheduled match, she would... well, she didn’t specify what she would do. But we all know how this works, right? This is a dog eat dog world. She must come up with vague threats to seem like she possesses any kind of danger at all. Much like everyone else in the back it is all talk. There is nothing to it. She sure can talk the talk. But walk the walk. No... there is only one who can do that. You’ve only ever seen one stay true to his word and deliver what he promises. That is me. When I tell you that I am going to destroy whoever is put in front of me I mean it. I don’t hype myself up just to disappoint. No no no... when it comes to me, always believe the hype. Now I want to challenge Rayven. I know you are back there somewhere. I want to see what you do when your confronted with your own words. So, if you all care to join me, I am going backstage to punch Rayven Hardy in the face.
Jason steps through the ropes but is stopped on the apron as Fly by Nicki Minaj blasts throughout the arena. Rayven steps out onto the stage to a roaring applause. With her she has a bag slung over her shoulder. The people’s hero has once again stepped up to the face of evil.
Rayven Hardy:
Stop it, you are all too kind.
She says with a charming smile which the fans fall for and just cheer louder. Rayven takes a moment to soak in the genuine adoration that the fans are throwing her way. Meanwhile Jason is standing in the ring looking displeased with what he thinks is nothing more than empty shouts and fake promises. They would forget her soon enough. He should know.
Rayven Hardy:
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m the last person to attack someone outside of a scheduled contest. That isn’t my style at all. I fight my battles inside of the ring, the way they should be fought. Win, lose, draw, when the final bell rings, the fight is over and that’s just the way I operate. I was raised to respect this business and my opponents, and that’s exactly what I do.
She makes her way down the ramp. Along the way she makes sure to high-five out stretched hands of the fans and a lucky fan even manages to get himself a selfie with the woman they all believe in. She walks up the steps and along the apron to where Jason previously stood. As she turns to face the ring, she stands face to face with Jason Hawk. He doesn’t move. Just stares at her with evil intentions in his eyes. But Rayven isn’t afraid anymore. She had come face to face with His Dying Majesty so often the last few weeks that she knew that if she was just brave, she could stand up to him. Rayven doesn’t move either and looks back at Jason with confidence in her eyes. If he was going to strike, she was ready. Even though he had just promised to do so a strike never came. Instead he backed up a step and allowed Hardy to step through the ropes.
Rayven Hardy:
I’m sure you had every intention on actually punching me, you’re a man of your words, but hear me out first. Let’s get to my threats. Like I just said, I’m not someone to attack anyone out of the ring. I do my fighting in the ring, to entertain these fans, so when I ‘threatened’ you, it was only to let you know that you can’t walk around bullying everyone. If you attacked Emi because of a mistake, I would be there, in your face. And if you want to attack me? Well, here I am.
Hardy steps into Jason’s face with confidence. She was standing her ground and Hawk didn’t seem phased by the young wrestler either. Hardy finally smirks before lifting the bag she carried to the ring with her. She extends it to Jason, who seems taken aback before finally taking the bag.
Rayven Hardy:
Your list of accolades is long, too long to mention each accomplishment if I’m being honest. So, instead of naming all of them, let’s go back to the one that everyone remembers, the one that I remember watching at home. You were one of the most dominant wrestlers in the world then. Go ahead, open the bag. Seriously, I’m excited to give this to you.
Jason looks suspicious but still opens the bag. He reaches in and pulls out a red title belt. He looks stunned. A ghost of the past had come back to haunt him.
Rayven Hardy:
The IWF Full Throttle championship. If memory serves me right that title is synonymous with you. No one held it longer and no one defended it as often. You held that title in a time where IWF needed a champion they could rely on. The world title was being thrown around like a hot potato. It never became worthless, but it’s prestige fell drastically. Suddenly the stars and main eventers were gunning for you. I remember how Corey Casey and Nick Ridicule suddenly forgot all about the world title because the Full Throttle belt meant so much more. You did something that, so few have done before you. You took a minor title and elevated it above the world title. You brought that prestige to it. Now I want to show you all something.
A picture appears on the titantron of Jason Hawk with the very same belt raised high above his head.
Rayven Hardy:
Your first match in months at the time. What I want you all to notice is the man slumped down in the corner.
Shock runs through the crowd as the immediately recognize the man. The dominating James Shark
Rayven Hardy:
You just walked in and beat James Shark. No one does that! James Shark is too good and powerful just to be beaten like that. And if that isn’t enough. On the night you pinned Death-Angel! The man is 8 feet tall and weighs 500 pounds! With ring rust and all you just walked in and delivered on your promise to beat them both. That is what this man can do!
She points at Jason as she addresses the crowd.
Rayven Hardy:
But was it just a fluke?
A video begins to play on the titantron
“James Shark slowly backs up… and gets just within arm’s length of Jason Hawk. Jason Hawk reaches out and grabs James Shark’s legs. Jason Hawk wraps James Shark up in a small package pin just as the ref turns around. The ref quickly counts
-1- -2- -3-
The ref calls for the bell
[Ding! Ding! Ding!]
Megan O’Day- Here is your winner and STILL FULL THROTTLE CHAMPION…Jason Hawk!”
Rayven Hardy:
No, just a month later you did it again! You outsmarted him again. You were never the biggest dog in the fight, but you were always the smartest. All these people know exactly how good James Shark is. He can knock anyone out. His opponents cower in fear when he steps through the curtain. And honestly, I would be nervous if I stood opposite him in the ring. But not you. You kept your head cool and schemed yourself to victory time and time again. Where is that Jason Hawk? Where is the Jason Hawk that all these fans so adored? They loved you! And instead of proving to them once again just how good you are, you turned their back on them. This isn’t the Jason Hawk I remember. This is not the Jason Hawk my family told me stories about and that I watched growing up. This isn’t the Jason Hawk who said screw the sky, there are no limits and then proceeded to blow everyone’s mind. Where is that Jason Hawk? The Jason Hawk that I looked up to. In a minute Saki is going to come up here. And now I want to challenge you. Bring back that Jason Hawk. Bring back His Flying Majesty. They all loved him, bring him back so they can all love you again. Do it for them and do it for me. Because just like them, I too was a fan.
Rayven puts her hand against his chest where his heart is.
Rayven Hardy:
Find your heart. Find yourself. Do it for yourself as much as you do it for all of us.
Rayven drops the mic and exits the ring leaving Jason speechless as he is suddenly receiving sympathetic cheers from a crowd that all of a sudden want to see him succeed.
Singles Match
Saki VS Jason Hawk
It wasn’t the first time these two met in a Millennium ring. Last time, the first ever show under the new management, saw Jason Hawk coming out victorious after an hard fought battle. And that was a stain Saki was determined to erase. Refereeing the match, much to Jason's disappointment, was once again, Emi Yamamoto. Since the beginning she went all out on His Dying Majesty with a lightning fast kicking combination that caught Hawk off guard and left him defenseless against the wheelbarrow bulldog that almost gave the current Empire Extreme Champion an early, shocking win. Jason's reaction came almost immediately, with a standing dropkick as soon as Saki picked him up, to which he followed with a running shooting star press. This time he went for the cover and picked up a two count, finding a reason to complain to Emi about a slow count despite the evidence stating otherwise. And that became the leitmotiv of this match, with the former Pride Television Champion constantly testing the referee patience and pushing her, getting countless warning and challenging her authority at any given chance. Clearly, he still wasn't over her mistake in his match against Rayven, and he literally got in her face when she pulled him away from Saki after he kept pushing her throat on the ropes after Emi counted to four. While he was busy trying to intimidate the Japanese referee, he also gave Saki time to recover and a change to surprise him with a roll up. Jason kicked out, turning to Saki in anger and going for a lariat but the Singapore Mauler ducked and jumped on the middle rope on the opposite side, taking Hawk down with a springboard cutter. The Kawaii Deathmachine quickly climbed up the turnbuckle, waiting for the opponent to rise before leaping for her Tornado DDT. The following cover only gave him a two count. Shaking her head, clearly disgruntled about the unsuccessful attempt, Saki picked him up and went for a piledriver, countered by Jason with one of his own. He didn't go for the pinfall though. Instead he waited for her to stand up to knock her back down with the ZUUUUUUUUMA! only then deciding to try for the cover. Once again Saki showed her resilience raising the shoulder right before the three. Approaching the ten minutes, the Empire Extreme Champion had the opponent on the mat, consequence of a vicious Buzzsaw Kick. She climbed to the top rope once again, this time calling for the Cotton Candy Kiss Of Death. Jason was starting to get up, noticing Saki ready to hit him with her best shot, in his mind starting to think about a possible counter… But then Saki fell from the turnbuckle. Behind her was Sephora Eastwick with a wicked smile and her trusted cattle prod in hand. Emi Yamamoto called for the bell WINNER: Saki BY: DQ, 9:36 |
Bea Torres: "WHAAAAT? Sephy, whyyy?!!"
Jared Idol: "This is no longer just about the title... This seems personal. Someone has to stop this!"
Eastwick obviously didn't stop there, unloading a flurry of punches to the Extreme Champion. Emi tried to separate them, but there was no way to contain the Bell Of The Brawl tonight. Seph reached inside her boots for a brass knuckles, determined to inflict more damage to the defenseless Saki. Hawk watched the scene, and for a moment it seemed like he was going to step in. But this was none of his business, and with a shrug he left the ring, something that the Richmond fans didn't appreciate, booing him loudly as he walked up the ramp heading backstage. At the same time, security rushed down and eventually separated the two women, allowing the EMTs to check on the Singapore Mauler.
Flesh slamming against curved kick shields and bodies colliding with a training mat created a beautiful sympathy within the gymnasium. It wasn’t the Kurokawa’s home training facility; that was a far fancier place. But this place would suffice for evening. It happens to be a local YMCA. The Happy Few have taken refuge in its combat room. On one side of the room, SERO squats down and steadies the the kick shields. OMI centers herself before she starts throwing out a series of crisp middle roundhouses. Meanwhile, NEON is grappling with an older Japanese woman. Japanese wrestling fanatics and enthusiasts know her to be Natsuko Aimi. Natsuko is the clearly the stronger of the two, but NEON is much faster than the woman her senior. They continue work holds and trade counters.
June Oikawa stands off to the side with her hands folded across her chest as she watches over the entire crew. Her expression is relatively blank at first. However, the sight of everyone hard at work produces a slight smile.
June Oikawa:
I wonder if Millennium Wrestling truly knows just how fortunate it is a company?
June pauses for a moment before she continues.
June Oikawa:
NEON. OMI. SERO. Three of the most gifted wrestlers on the entire planet. The skills that they possess would allow them to wrestle anywhere. And yet, they saw it fit to bring their talents to Millennium. The company is lucky—
She’s cut off by the sound of one of OMI’s shotgun blaring kicks. It echoes throughout the the room. Although, June is the only that seems affected by it. Everyone else carries on as if nothing special had occurred. She glances back at the camera.
June Oikawa:
Though, they are not respected enough. No to my liking. Just look at them. Instead talking lewd online and posting nudes, they are hard at work here in the gym. They are improving themselves. They are perfecting themselves. Those are the markings and signs of high caliber athletes. If you were a wrestler, wouldn’t you want your peers to have the same qualities?
There is a slam on the mat as NEON takes Natsuko down and works her way into a kimura. Natsuko taps after a second or two. The two soon get back up. She and NEON talk for a second. Natsuko then heads across the room to the water fountain as NEON makes her way over to June. She grabs a nearby towel to wipe her face. NEON then says something to June in Japanese. The two have a brief conversation before June looks back at the camera.
June Oikawa:
Those questions are ones that plague me. However, NEON is not concerned with them. Not one bit. SERO, OMI, and NEON know how the mind of a professional wrestler operates. Therefore, they already anticipated the cavalier and flippant attitudes of their co-workers.
NEON continues speaking.
June Oikawa:
NEON urges everyone to continue bening saucy; she and her siblings will continue putting people on their asses.
With one last, echoing THWACK, that momentarily draws June’s attention away from the camera, the session between OMI and SERO comes to a close. The karateka recoils her leg with the same ease and grace with which she just struck, lowering it back to the mat as she exhales a long breath. OMI offers her brother a slight bow, then turns her attention to June and NEON. There’s a few moments of conversation between June and OMI, the latter of whom’s whispered voice only barely picked up by the camera.
June Oikawa:
“Perfection,” to some, may mean having the loudest voice on Twitter. “Perfection,” to some, may mean having a body they enjoy showing off. But to these three, to the Happy Few, “perfection” isn’t achieved through photos, nor tweets, nor complaints. It is achieved, one match at a time, by leaving opponent after opponent down and out. Perception may be “reality” to some wrestlers, and the belief that they are as important as they want to be may be what helps them feel better about themselves, but reality will always be objective.
OMI’s whispered voice speaks up again, a smirk curling just barely onto her face, even as June turns from OMI, back to the camera.
June Oikawa:
Those who don’t know any better may question the merits of the Happy Few, they may question the “relevance” of this group--and then, they will learn the reality of their situation. The reality, the inevitable result: the Happy Few doing what they do, beating down those in front of them. The objective truth, that the Happy Few are the shining light of this tournament.
NEON puts her arm on OMI’s shoulder as she says something to June.
June Oikawa:
Does that sound crazy to you? Think about it. Everyone’s eyes have been pointed towards OMI and NEON. They have been placed center stage. That placement has caused people to rack their brains in order to try and get a handle on them. Assumptions have been made. Hypothesis after hypothesis has been thrown out. Nonetheless, if people just opened their eyes, they would see the light. They would see the truth—that The Happy Few are this tournament’s life-force. Not Jet Pack. Not the Uncanny Socialites…
OMI and NEON share a word or two as June carries on.
June Oikawa:
Zooey? Stone? Will you two be different? Will you be the first two to finally be cognizant? Will you two be the firsts to take off your shades and spot the beaming rays? Or, will you fall into the same traps and pitfalls as all the others, and believe that your “games” will be enough? Time will tell, I suppose.
The video fades to a close.
Singles Match
Knox VS Sero
Next on the card was a match between two men who, for different reasons already made an impact in Millennium. Knox accompanied to the ring by his step sister and surrounded by that air of mystery about his true intentions and reasons found the leader of The Few and freshly crowned Youngbloods Iron Rougarou Champion waiting for him in the ring with his characteristic cold and confident demeanor. But things drastically changed as soon as the bell rang, with the two men meeting in the middle of the ring and starting to trade right hands, immediately setting the bar for what would be a hard hitting contest. None of them wasn't budging a inch, more focused on outdoing each other rather than try to block or dodge the opponent's shots. And, although not as easily as in other occasions, SERO came out on top on this first exchange, landing a few kicks to the ribs after stunning Knox with a right jab. Carrying Knox over his shoulder in a fireman carry position, he then dropped him with on his knee with a neckbreaker. Tyler Bennett didn't seem too worried about her client's health, despite SERO being now in full control. And she wasn't trying to encourage him either, limiting herself to pace around the ring and watch the action that saw now the Panther King hitting the kneeling Hackerman repeatedly with shoot kicks to the chest. After four or five of those stiff strikes, PANTERA sprinted against the ropes and knocked him out with a shining wizard. But it wasn't enough to keep Knox down for three seconds. Eventually the Weirdo, as his step sister affectionately uses to call him, started to build some momentum, surprising the leader of The Happy Few with an headbutt and following up with an atomic drop. He then sent him in the corner, running after him and hitting the Iron Rougarou Champion with a forearm smash. The impact busted SERO lips open, but this didn't stop Knox from grabbing him by the back of his neck and drive him head first against the turnbuckle. Ten times, according the count of the fans. With the opponent down, the Hackerman slid outside the ring and, wrapping his legs around the post, locked him in a figure four leglock. The action came now back in the ring, and Tyler was finally showing some form of involvement in her brother's match, even though she was actually shouting at him to focus his offense on one part of PANTERA's body, instead of constantly changing target. Instead of keep working on the legs, Knox was now stomping the opponent's arm, locking him in an Armbar. SERO was quick to reach the ropes, but apparently the damage was done and once Knox released the hold, he started favoring his right arm. A slight smile appeared on Knox face as he saw his strategy paying off. And that right arm became the main focus of his offense from that moment on, whether it was with direct shots or submissions aimed to hyperextend the elbow. But the leader of the few once again turned things around, showing that his left arm was as much of a deadly weapon as the right. And he could still count on his legs to inflict more damage. He rocked him with a jumping knee, the first of a series of hard strikes in the best representation of that King's Road style. Knox found himself at the ropes,both literally and figurative, trying to find an opening to change the momentum back in his favor. But SERO never missed a beat, slowly but inexorably crushing down the opponent's defense alongside his hopes. The referee separated the two contenders giving Knox the break he so desperately needed. But it was the calm before the storm, a moment of quiet before the Tenchi Kaijin that, once again, gave the Japanese wrestler the win. WINNER: SERO BY: Pinfall (Tenchi Kaijin), 10:09 |
Jared Idol: "The Iron Rougarou champion is once again impressive."
Bea Torres: "What is even a Rougarou?"
Jared Idol: "Does it even matter?"
Bea Torres: "I guess not, I was just curious..."
Bea Torres: "What is even a Rougarou?"
Jared Idol: "Does it even matter?"
Bea Torres: "I guess not, I was just curious..."
Tag Team Match
Tournament, Group B
The Happy Few VS Zooey West-Jaa & Stone Hendrix
Who hits harder? This was the question, or rather the challenge Zooey and Stone launched on Twitter with relative hashtag before tonight's show. Grace interference last week put The Happy Few in a must win situation in order to qualify for the title match at Imperium, while Hendrix and his girlfriend can actually even settle for a time limit draw. But this didn't seem to be the case as they wasted no time to attack the opponent's before the bell could even ring. After the cheap shot, Stone got rid of OMI and left the ring, leaving Zooey and NEON as the legal competitors. The match finally started and, it goes without saying, there wasn't much room for technical shit or flips. The former Muay Thai champion relying heavily on her kicks forcing NEON a few steps back trying to escape those heavy shots. She even blocked one of them, only to eat a dragon whip from the former [R]evo superstar. Relentlessly, West-Jaa picked her up and, holding her in a Muay Thai clinch position, she drove her left and right knee alternatively to her face wearing her down before performing a butterfly suplex. And then there was the tag, with Stone entering the match and diligently following the game plan, stiff shots and throws. And it was quite effective. Granted, the Tiny Dragon always kicked out of every pinfall attempt, even from a bridging German, but as minutes were passing by, she seemed more and more in desperate need for a tag. But Stone and Zooey were doing a great job in keeping away from OMI with quick tags and combined maneuvers. Eventually the Japanese was able to slip out of yet another suplex attempt, applying an inverted facelock and lifting Zooey for a reverse suplex. Both women went for the tag, with Zooey reaching her corner first and allowing Stone to get back in. He quickly ran toward the opponent, but despite the effort, he couldn't prevent the tag to be made. And Typhoon quickly went for the opponent's throat, literally driving her stiffed fingers on his neck catching Hendrix completely off guard. OMI seized the opportunity to grab his arms and twist them in a straightjacket position, dropping him down with a neckbreaker. After the strong start, OMI offense slowed down, and Stone found a chance to react, reaching the Japanese with two European uppercuts before sending her against the ropes and taking her down with a dropkick. He kept control for a few minutes, almost taking her out with a powerbomb. But when NEON came back in after a blind tag, things turned for worse for the blonde guy. The Satsujin Kikai palm strikes left Hendrix exposed to her Northern Lights Suplex onto a double foot Stomp. Somehow Hendrix survived it, and he was even able to create some separation with discus lariat that turned NEON inside out. But when he reached his corner, he found that his partner was no longer there, dragged down of the apron and tossed against the barricades by OMI who was now stomping her to the ground. Desperation could be seen in Stone's eyes before he turned back and met his fate in the form of a rolling elbow, prelude to the Ketsueki Toll, the bridging Dragon Suplex that gave The Happy Few the win tonight and the spot in the fatal 4 way at Imperium. WINNERS: The Happy Few BY: Pinfall (Ketsueki Toll), 10:22 |
Jared Idol: "OMI and NEON for the win. Another clean sweep for the Happy Few."
Bea Torres: "I can't say I am a fan, but no one seems able to stop them."
Jared Idol: "And suddenly, Oikawa words start making sense, right? The Happy Few are a force to be reckon with."
Bea Torres: "I can't say I am a fan, but no one seems able to stop them."
Jared Idol: "And suddenly, Oikawa words start making sense, right? The Happy Few are a force to be reckon with."
"All The Stars" by Kendrick Lamar anticipates the entrance of the Lockdown Champion Luna. Dressed in a casual outfit, the Star Of The Night enters the ring asking for a microphone to address the events of two weeks ago. She starts saying that "no matter what Gian thinks, no matter what you people think, Selina didn't prove anything in that match."
The fans obviously disagree, some of them start calling her names while the majority simply chants Selina's name over and over. This is getting on Luna's nerves and the Lockdown Champion commands the fans the respect she deserves. As soon as she mentioned the word respect, "Ich tu dir web" blasts out the loudspeakers interrupting her speech. A thunderous ovation welcomes Selina as she walks down the ramp, microphone in hand. She starts asking why the fine people of Richmond Virginia (cheap pop guranteed) should respect someone who keeps hiding her failures behind a wall of pathetic excuses.
Luna counters saying that it's not her fault if her tag team partners couldn't get on the same page. This makes Metzger roll her eyes, and she asks Luna if she really think that, in a one on one match, she could beat her. The champ takes the bait, saying that yes, she's confident she could beat the German Amazon.
"What about right here and right now?" That's the answer Selina gives her, taking off her shirt to reveal her ring attire under it. Luna starts laughing saying that no, they won't have a match tonight. And then Vivaldi's "La Tempesta Di Mare" starts playing in the Arena and Gianluigi Vaccaro walks to the satge to settle this once and for all. He books an impromptu match, with a fifteen minutes time limit. Should Selina beat the Champion in that time, she will prove without a shade of a doubt that she deserves a title shot. But if she fails, she won't get another shot until Luna holds the belt. Selina accepts the challenge with a smirk, while Luna tries to plead her case. But Gian is already heading back to his office. The match will take place after the commercial break.
The fans obviously disagree, some of them start calling her names while the majority simply chants Selina's name over and over. This is getting on Luna's nerves and the Lockdown Champion commands the fans the respect she deserves. As soon as she mentioned the word respect, "Ich tu dir web" blasts out the loudspeakers interrupting her speech. A thunderous ovation welcomes Selina as she walks down the ramp, microphone in hand. She starts asking why the fine people of Richmond Virginia (cheap pop guranteed) should respect someone who keeps hiding her failures behind a wall of pathetic excuses.
Luna counters saying that it's not her fault if her tag team partners couldn't get on the same page. This makes Metzger roll her eyes, and she asks Luna if she really think that, in a one on one match, she could beat her. The champ takes the bait, saying that yes, she's confident she could beat the German Amazon.
"What about right here and right now?" That's the answer Selina gives her, taking off her shirt to reveal her ring attire under it. Luna starts laughing saying that no, they won't have a match tonight. And then Vivaldi's "La Tempesta Di Mare" starts playing in the Arena and Gianluigi Vaccaro walks to the satge to settle this once and for all. He books an impromptu match, with a fifteen minutes time limit. Should Selina beat the Champion in that time, she will prove without a shade of a doubt that she deserves a title shot. But if she fails, she won't get another shot until Luna holds the belt. Selina accepts the challenge with a smirk, while Luna tries to plead her case. But Gian is already heading back to his office. The match will take place after the commercial break.
Singles Match
Luna VS Selina Metzger
Coming back from the commercial break, we found the two competitors already in the ring, as this impromptu match was about to start. Luna's confidence seemed to be fading as she found herself in the presence of a laser focused Selina, who took the challenge to heart and exploded out of her corner as soon as the bell rang and ran over Luna with a wicked clothesline. Wasting no time she picked her up over her shoulders, immediately going for the Elbe Valley Driver, but the Lockdown champion desperately hung on the ropes, avoiding an early and quite embarrassing end. Selina charged at her, but Luna showed great ring awareness by ducking and pulling down the top rope, letting her own momentum throw Metzger off balance and out of the ring. Luna didn't even consider following the German outside. She patiently waited for her to come back into the ring to roll out on the opposite side. A move that annoyed the fans filling the Richmond Coliseum, and pissed off even more the Ubermensch who started chasing her. A good minute passed before the challenger caught the champion, grabbing her leg before Luna could slide out once again She literally dragged her back to the center of the ring deadlifting her for a devastating gutwrench powerbomb, covering the opponent but only getting a two count. After the initial phase where Metzger was in full control, Luna created herself an opening with a poke to the eyes, receiving a warning from the referee who reminded her that a disqualification would have granted Selina her opportunity. The star of the night showed her Krav Maga background, hitting the bigger opponent with precise and quick strikes, knees, elbows and throat strikes. The Ubermensch was in clear difficulty, unable to predict and block the Lockdown Champion moves. Eventually Luna managed to take her down with the Stardom, a Discus Spinning Roundhouse. She went for a cover, yelling out her frustration when the German kicked out in two. Her speed became the key factor in this part of the match keeping the champ away from Selina's grasp. With a spinning headscissors into a shotgun dropkick the champ sent her opponent in the corner, following up with a corner splash for good measure. And that's when she made a mistake, trying to lift the powerhouse and sit her on the top turnbuckle with the intention to go for her Spanish fly. The size disadvantage made this an impossible task, with Selina reacting dropping a few heavy shots to her back and forcing her to her knees. She then put Luna’s head between her thighs and lifted her in a powerbomb position, running towards the opposite corner and launching her against the turnbuckle. When the champion bounced back, Selina picked her over her shoulder and dropped her in the middle of the ring with a powerbomb, hooking the leg for the cover. Luna kicked out, trying a mild reaction with some kicks but the German caught her leg and easily tossed her over her head with an exploder suplex. When she went to pick her up, the Lockdown Champion surprised her with a chinbreaker, trying to capitalize with a crossbody from the top rope. But Selina caught her in mid air and set her up over her shoulder before dropping her down with the Elbe Valley Driver. The fans welcomed with huge cheers the three count, cheering for the German born wrestler as the referee raised her hand. She glanced at the tron, a smirk appearing on her face as she watched the time it took her to beat the reigning champion. She looked down at the beaten and frustrated Luna, motioning her that the next time they will meet, Selina will be walking out with the title around her waist. WINNER: Selina Metzger BY: Pinfall (Elbe Valley Driver), 11:43 |
Bea Torres: "SHE DID IT!"
Jared Idol: "Selina just beat Luna in less than fifteen minutes, earning herself a title shot at Imperium."
Bea Torres: "And you have to believe, after a performance like this, we could be looking at the next champion!"
Jared Idol: "Selina just beat Luna in less than fifteen minutes, earning herself a title shot at Imperium."
Bea Torres: "And you have to believe, after a performance like this, we could be looking at the next champion!"
Olivia Wythe:
Hello Millennium!
The scene opens up to a shot of Olivia Wythe and Levi the Baby K standing outside of their home in San Marcos, Texas. I mean, we can only assume it’s their home. Would be pretty strange for them to be around somebody else’s home, cutting a promo for a wrestling company. Either way, they look happy to be here today. It’s a New Year! Olivia looks like she had celebrated the night pretty hard, her voice a bit harsh as she introduces herself and Levi to the crowd now watching.
Levi looks over to Olivia, who pulls the strings on her hoodie just a little tighter. Levi actually looks refreshed, and was probably the one who enjoyed the night before very responsibly.
Olivia Wythe:
I don’t know why it has to be so bright today, ugh…
It’s a grey and overcast sky today, the wind is picking up as we can see from the background. Trees bend and sway, Olivia moves up next to Levi just to get a little warmer.
Levi the Baby K:
You really should’ve went to bed earlier. The New Year is a lot better when you sleep through midnight and all the screaming and fireworks, you know. Also, you wanna get your cereal and cartoons in before your morning jog. None of which you did, by the way. Come on, Olivia, you’re usually the one saying all of this. Don’t make me be the adult here, please.
Levi smiles at Olivia, obviously joking with her words as she teases the other girl through her hangover. Happens every time, especially since Levi herself can’t relate, never having drank herself.
Olivia Wythe:
Please don’t talk about exercise right now.
Olivia turns away from the camera, as we can hear audible retching from her part. Levi looks a bit concerned, but also very grossed out. Olivia turns back around, putting her hands up.
Olivia Wythe:
I’m good, I’ll be good.
She takes in a sigh, looking up at the sky as she tries to collect her bearings.
Olivia Wythe:
Anyway, we’ve got work to do. Can’t be out here throwing up, because I’m honestly already nervous about this week. So far in Millennium it hasn’t been good for us, not terrible, but not good either! We’re looking to change that this week, as we’ve got a very tough task ahead of us. Levi, do you know anything about our opponents?
Liv turns to her friend, almost catching her off guard. Levi’s eyes widen as she thinks for a moment.
Levi the Baby K:
Uh. They’re a team?
Liv looks at her incredulously as Levi shrugs, unable to help the smile that forms on her face under the gaze.
Levi the Baby K:
Hey, what else is there to know? They’re a team and we’re a team! And not only are we a team here, we’re best friends and we’re living the dream. Yeah, sure, we haven’t really won anything, but who’s counting? I’m having a blast! Just the fact that I’m getting paid to flail around in front of a crowd is awesome.
Olivia nods, a smile breaking from her harsh exterior.
Olivia Wythe:
See, this is why I love having her as my partner. Levi, I must say that your outlook is amazing. Your positivity can shine through the cloudiest day, I swear. Unfortunately though this is not just another team. Luckily, I did the research, and we’re both going to learn a very important lesson here today. Never underestimate your opponents.
Liv looks away from her partner, and towards the camera. She’s looking a little better, now that she’s calmed down.
Olivia Wythe:
Kelsey and Rebecca have certainly been around this business quite longer than Levi and I have even had a thought about getting involved with it. They’ve got us beat in almost every category, so things shouldn’t look good for us, right?
Olivia holds up her hand, pausing that thought.
Olivia Wythe:
We’re going to show you why that’s wrong. Plain and simple, you never underestimate your opponent. Even with their lack of experience, you always take them at full face value. Kelsey and Rebecca, I can absolutely say that you have not taken us at our face value. So sure, we may have had only one official tag team match together. But we did well, well enough for somebody in our position. We fought hard, and even with time not being on our side I was still impressed with what my partner can do. I think you’re going to find out just how impressive we both are soon enough.
Levi had been listening and nodding to almost every word Olivia said, before pouting in thought suddenly. It takes her a moment to process the names of their opponents, before realizing she does actually know who they are.
Levi the Baby K:
Oh shoot! I do know them, actually! Should’ve said their names from the start, hello! They have that podcast and are selling things off for the children, which I want to get something by the way. Not to make this a plug, but charity is cool and their Uncanny Podcast is going to on January 7th. Make sure to tune in and get your bids in for the kids!
Levi is smiling at the camera like an idiot, just standing there as she keeps her expression in place. Olivia watches her silently, probably embarrassed as Levi finally unfreezes herself.
Levi the Baby K:
Okie dokie! That’s all I have to say, I don’t want to take up too much time to try and be mean or whatever most wrestlers do. I’m really excited, honestly. Now, to the gym!
Olivia looks on, as Levi looks ready to go.
Olivia Wythe:
Wait, let’s discuss this first. Are you sure you want to go to the gym? I feel like there’s going to be a lot of people there and…
Olivia trails off, as Levi leaves the scene. Skipping away, she has no choice but to follow her and continue this conversation off camera.
Tag Team Match
Tournament, Group C
Uncanny Socialites VS Olivia Wythe & Levi
It was the greatest challenge Levi and White faced yet, a match against one of the most decorated tag teams in the business. And if facing the Uncanny Socialites didn’t put already enough pressure on the two young competitors, the chance to earn a spot in the title match at the Imperium pay-per-view next week was more than enough to justify the jitters the rookie duo was showing walking to the ring tonight. And the ovation the fans reserved to Becky Saint and Kelsey Spencer when “Fake My Own Death” by Sum 41 blared out of the loudspeakers definitely didn’t help. And inevitably it carried in the match, with Kelsey quickly gaining control since the first stages of the contest with a series of holds aimed at slowing down Levi’s exuberance. Spencer thought she could keep her grounded after a headlock takedown but the Baby K quickly rose back to her feet and lifted the former BIW tag team champion with a headlock suplex. The pair was quickly back to a standing position, locking horns once again in the middle of the ring. Kelsey sent her opponent for a run against the ropes and flipped her over with a back body drop; with a great display of agility Levi landed on her feet and caught the bassist with an enziguri kick right on the side of her head. Spencer staggered back, luckily for her towards her corner where Rebecca took the tag. Saint came in full head of steam, ducking the clothesline and after hitting the ropes on the opposite side of the ring, taking Levi down with a crossbody. The pace of the match remained quick, with the young rookie holding her ground with the more experienced opponent, until Rebecca caught her with a superkick to counter one of her aerial assaults. The Aussie positioned herself next to the grounded opponent and landed on her after a backflip, hooking the leg after the standing moonsault. Levi barely kicked out. Eventually The Baby K managed to reach the corner and make the tag after slipping away from a fireman's carry position and pushing Rebecca chest first against the corner. And when the fresh Olivia stepped in, things started going in a while different direction. The powerhouse reached Becky in the corner and, after a couple of hard chops, she positioned the former Hybrid champion on the top rope, from where she connected a superplex that have her a two count. And even when Kelsey came back into this match after the tag, despite a strong start from the Blue Thunder who came in all guns blazing with a springboard forearm and followed up with a series of Japanese arm drags, the powerhouse regained control catching her with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The rookies started working with a well oiled machine, continuing the trend of progress and growth they have been showing since their debut. Levi couldn't believe it when Kelsey kicked out of her Pinky And The Brainbuster (corner assisted brainbuster), wondering what could have happened of she didn't waste that fraction of a second before going to the cover. But instead of wasting time spilling on the spilled milk, she once again called her partner in, determined to put an end to this match and walk out with the upset victory. Wythe dropped Spencer over her knee with a pendulum backbreaker and went for a cover after the diving elbow drop from Levi. But if there was a lesson for them to learn today it was that you can never count Kelsey Spencer out. Once again she lifted her shoulder, to the disbelief of both Wythe and Levi. The Uncanny Socialites fans erupted in cheers, rallying behind their idols in this moment of struggle. But a good portion of the fans was actually cheering for the other team. What a great underdog story it would be for the rookies to beat the way more experienced team! But what can be defined as a rookie mistake became the turning point of this match. The duo took a bit too long to plan their next move and that gave Kel a small window of opportunity to slip away from Olivia's grasp and send her crashing against her own partner! Slowly she made her way to the corner, reaching for Becky's hand a moment before Levi could grab her foot. The hot tag was made and Saint came in like a house on fire, handing out lariats like presents on Christmas morning to both her opponents. She then tossed Wythe over the top rope, but the Kansas girl landed on the apron, before getting knocked off it once and for all with a dropkick. This bought her partner some time and allowed Levi to nail Rebecca with a reverse ddt, adding another near fall to the count. Showing the first signs of frustration the rookie waited for the opponent to stand up before charging at her and going for a running bicycle knee. Kelsey shouted at her partner, and, thanks to that, Rebecca was able to move out of the way of he 25 cent Jawbreaker. The multi-time champion's answer was immediate and final. The Saint-hearted, a discus elbow smash, caught Levi off guard and right on the jaw, knocking her down for the three count. WINNERS: Uncannny Socialites BY: Pinfall (Saint-hearted), 14:22 |
Bea Torres: "Oh my God, they made it!"
Jared Idol: "The Uncanny Socialites are the third to qualify for the tag team title match, joining Jetpack and The Happy Few."
Bea Torres: "One last spot left, who will take it? The Brothers McMillion or The Might Now Thrive."
Jared Idol: "We'll see soon. But let me take a moment to say something about Levi and Wythe."
Bea Torres: "They came out short, but once again they looked impressive."
Jared Idol: "Aye. And even if they didn't get the win tonight, the recognition they're getting speaks volumes."
Inside the ring, Rebecca and Kelsey are seen shaking hands with the two rookies, congratulating them for the ourstanding performance and inviting the fans to praise them with a round of applause. And the 13 thousand in Richmond obliged.
Jared Idol: "The Uncanny Socialites are the third to qualify for the tag team title match, joining Jetpack and The Happy Few."
Bea Torres: "One last spot left, who will take it? The Brothers McMillion or The Might Now Thrive."
Jared Idol: "We'll see soon. But let me take a moment to say something about Levi and Wythe."
Bea Torres: "They came out short, but once again they looked impressive."
Jared Idol: "Aye. And even if they didn't get the win tonight, the recognition they're getting speaks volumes."
Inside the ring, Rebecca and Kelsey are seen shaking hands with the two rookies, congratulating them for the ourstanding performance and inviting the fans to praise them with a round of applause. And the 13 thousand in Richmond obliged.
“You know I never really got the appeal of hardcore wrestling…”
The voice of Christopher Kane echoes through the Richmond Coliseum. He’s dressed for not a regular match tonight, but a hardcore one with torn up jeans, work boots and a white t-shirt on.
Christopher Kane:
I never got why people would want to smash each other with objects and bloody each other up. I told myself when I was training I didn’t want to go down that road. The road that my uncle, my old man both did. See, it’s funny when people try to act like they know everything about me, and yet, they don’t know anything really.
He can only shrug his shoulders.
Christopher Kane:
People should know by now I don’t like to go back and forth on Twitter. Doesn’t appeal to me. Doesn’t speak to me. But apparently going with it makes me a bitch. Makes me this, makes me that. I don’t think everyone understand who I am. I know how emo that sounds but it’s the truth. No one gets it.
The second generation talent paces back and forth in the hallway.
Christopher Kane:
Wrestling is a curse to me. I have to do to because it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was eight, but it’s a curse. I’m cursed by these ghosts in the family. I’ve said it before but when the people that helped you on your way in a wrestling family. People like my old man, like my uncle who are both dead and six feet under and are ghosts.
A chuckle follows.
Christopher Kane:
They were both good in these kinds of matches. These hardcore matches and I didn’t want to learn a thing about it. Tonight, against Sephora who is trying to do what everyone else in the past six years has done, make me feel like I’m something they think I am. The fact is they don’t know me and yet all claim to. They don’t know about this curse I have. This chasing of ghosts that I have to topple.
Now a sigh as he slumps against the wall.
Christopher Kane:
You threaten to bring knives to a hardcore match because you want to leave scars? That’s fine. Bring knives, shovels, whatever else you need to get by because you need to have this. I don’t. You can beat me, feel great about yourself and brag about how you beat this bitch who just agreed with you on Twitter because social media doesn’t mean shit to me. It doesn’t effect my performance as a wrestler.
Kane looked up at the camera and smirked.
Christopher Kane:
But keep thinking it does. Maybe tonight you’ll free me of this curse and end my career. The ghosts will go away and I can live free. But, maybe, you’re all talk and this curse continues. Doesn’t matter either way.
The camera slowly backs away and fades off.
Hardcore Match
Sephora Eastwick VS Christopher Kane
Sephora and Chris glared at each other from across the ring, in her hand Sephora pulled out a short blade that glimmered in the lights she taunted Chris with it openly. The two competitors then charged towards each other and began to deliver left and right blows and the battle is about even at first until Chris shoved both of his elbows into Sephora’s face and it knocked her to the ground hard, the blade slid from her hands and out of the ring. Sephora got quickly back up to her feet and she charged Chris but Chris leveled her with a hard clothesline. Chris picked Sephora up and then pressed her up above his shoulders, holding her up in the air for a few seconds as the crowd looked on in awe. Chris threw Sephora over the top rope to the outside of the ring and the crowd gasped as Sephora took a hard fall onto the matting on the outside. Chris stepped over the top rope before jumping down outside of the ring. He grabbed Sephora by her hair and yanked her up to her feet. Chris then tossed Sephora hard into the barricade and Sephora’s back connected with it before she dropped to the ground in pain. Chris began to taunt Sephora as he screamed at her and kicked at her. Sephora began to crawl towards the ring and Chris kicked her in gut and Sephora rolled forward. Sephora tried to get away under the ring but only er upper body made it under and Chris grabbed her legs. Chris pulled Sephora out from under the ring and Sephora turned and had a fire extinguisher in her hand. Sephora sprayed it in Chris’s face, blinding him. Sephora sprung up to her feet before driving the fire extinguisher into the gut of Chris Chris, causing him to kneel over. Sephora then nailed Chris in the back with the fire extinguisher and he dropped to the ground on one knee. Sephora lifted the fire extinguisher high in the air and drove it down onto the back of Chris’s head and the sound smacked throughout the arena. Chris dropped hard to the ground and the fans went silent in shock. Sephora pulled out a table from under the ring and set it up. She then used all of her power to lift Chris Chris off of the mat and she rolled him onto the table. Sephora then pulled out a second table and pulled out the legs on it. She then positioned it over Chris to where he was sandwiched between both tables. Sephora then looked up at the turnbuckle and smiled. For a minute it looked like Sephora was going to leap off the turnbuckle, but at the last second, Chris somehow rolled out from between the two tables, tossing the one atop him to the floor as he rolled off the other and hit the floor. Sephora jumped down from the turnbuckle, slipping through the ropes she moved to the outside and stalked Chris who was now taking his turn to crawl around on the mats outside. Sephora reached under the ring and pulled out a bat, the very same bat that helped her to victory against Jenson the night before. To begin with, she seemed to be playing with Chris, short, sharp jabs to his ribs knocking his back to the mars everytime he tried to crawl away, but eventually she slammed the bat down on his spine and left him laying out on the mats. She stalked around him once more but this time, Chris reached out and grabbed Sephora by the ankle, he swims her up and she fellback, his grip still on her ankle he twisted it as she fell letting out a loud yelp. Sephora got free by slamming the butt of the bat into Chris’s nose and with a crack, blood trickled down his face, he released his hold to roll back and cradle his now bleeding nose. Suddenly from seemingly nowhere, Saki popped up with the blade in her hands, she stabbed Sephora clean in the ribs, blood immediately sweeping through the young women’s clothes as she hit the mat, color draining from her face. Saki stood perfectly still for a moment, admiring her handiwork before she slid out of the ring and skipped her way back up the ramp. In the ring, Kane demanded the match be called off as medical officials began to swarm the ring. Sephora tried to fight them off, but the wound was fairly deep and her right side from the waist down was beginning to be covered in deep, sticky blood. Officials managed to convince her to be helped from the ring, leaning on their shoulders Sephora was assisted backstage as fans and Kane alike, were left slack jawed at what just occurred. WINNER: Christopher Kane BY: Referee Stoppage, 10:10 |
Jared Idol: "Bloody Hell!"
Bea Torres: "OH MY GOOOOD"
Jared Idol: "Things escalated out of control... This is insane!"
Bea Torres: "Is Sephy ok?"
Jared Idol: "She didn't look ok... But sure as hell she's in good hands."
The cameras turn to the backstage area, where Grace van Beek walks with her usual entourage - a sight that brings some booing from the Millennium faithful at the venue. She arrives at the office of Gianluigi Vaccaro and orders her people to stay outside as she heads in.
GvB enters alone and closes the door behind herself. She sits at her desk and sighs, closing her eyes for a second as she tilts the chair backward. As she reopens them, her jaw drops in horror as she finds herself face to face with Melissa Reeves - and her trusty baseball bat.
Melissa Reeves:
Shhh.
Reeves covers her own lips with one finger, the bat pointed toward van Beek, whose hand is already on the office phone.
Melissa Reeves:
Don't do that, boss.
For a moment Grace weighs her options, but decides to withdraw her hand.
Melissa Reeves:
I thought we could take a moment, just you and I, to have a little chat.
Grace van Beek:
How did you get in here?
Melissa moves to just in front of the desk.
Melissa Reeves:
That's not important, Grace. What's important is that I did and I'm here now. Just us, all alone.
Reeves smirks as Grace looks up at her. There's a knock at the office door and one of Grace's guards asks if she's okay. Reeves' scowl tells Grace not to answer, even without having to say it.
Melissa Reeves:
I see time is short. Well you'll forgive me, Grace, if I cut to the chase.
Van Beek is stoic in her silence, but her glare says plenty.
Melissa Reeves:
You and me, van Beek. Accept the challenge. Stop ducking, stop making excuses, stop hiding behind this desk.
She slams the bat into the desk, breaking the keyboard. Grace remains unmoved until Melissa jabs the bat into her chest, then the fire shows in her scowl.
Melissa Reeves:
Ah, there it is...so you do have a warrior spirit.
Reeves smirks.
Melissa Reeves:
Show me your fire, Grace, and I will show you why it was a mistake to discount me. I'll show you why it was a mistake to overlook me, to think of me as just a pawn. I'll show you why I'm one of the best, perhaps even THE best, talents in this company.
Grace laughs and shakes her head.
Grace van Beek:
No.
The one word answer infuriates Melissa. She slowly nods.
Melissa Reeves:
I was hoping you'd say that.
In a sudden motion, she dives over the desk and sends van Beek flying backward, onto the ground. She lands a couple of punches before standing, adding a pair of stomps. As Grace moves to retaliate, Reeves swings the bat toward her.
Grace van Beek:
How dare you?
Melissa Reeves:
Oh I dare, and I will keep daring.
The security outside the office are pounding the door now. Reeves steps back from Grace, whose usually pristine appearance looks a little disheveled from the attack.
Melissa Reeves:
Think about what I said, Grace.
Reeves opens the door, threatening the guards with her bat, and heads out as they stand their distance from her. With her gone, two enter the office and one helps Grace to her feet - not that she's thankful. She snaps her arm away from him and holds her jaw, glaring at the void where Melissa now isn't.
Tag Team Match
Jared Idol: "And this is it ladies and gentlemen. The quartet that will fight for the Tag Team Titles at Imperium is now complete."
Bea Torres: "Jetpack, The Happy Few, Uncanny Socialites and Brothers McMillion... Oh gosh..."
Jared Idol: "A fatal 4 way elimination match to make history. Who will go down in the books as the first ever Tag Team Champions?"
Grace van Beek:
She crossed a line she should not have crossed this time.
The voice immediately identifies the woman talking as the owner of Millennium, Grace van Beek. But there's something completely different about it tonight. It's trembling, the tone betraying an array of emotions that usually don't associate with her composed demeanor. The scene takes place inside the Richmond Arena infirmary, where the Diamond Princess is sitting on the table while a doctor checks carefully, and most likely overzealously on her condition after the attack she suffered by the hands of Melissa Reeves. Standing in front of her is the General Manager Gianluigi Vaccaro. By the look on his face as he shakes his head, you can tell that he's cursing the moment he accepted this job. It's nights like this where the headaches are just more than one can bear.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Miss van Beek…
Grace van Beek:
Mr Vaccaro.
She interrupts him, all of a sudden finding once again that authoritative and secure tone she was missing before.
Grace van Beek:
I did try to be patient and pay her actions the attention they were worth. None. But tonight she made this personal. She dared lay her hands on me, Grace van Beek. And she did that inside your office. Which brings us to another question, how did she get in there?
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
I have no idea, miss van Beek. I left for a minute to get some updates on Sephora, who by the way…
Grace van Beek:
I do not care about her or her conditions. My only concern is this situation with Reeves. And I plan to address it,right here, right now.
Gian's eyes widen. Knowing his employer and how she dealt with a similar situation a month ago with Aurora, the idea of losing another top-tier talent is not so far-fetched after all.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Miss van Beek, let me deal with this. Please don't take any rushed decision.
He's trying to reason with the owner of the company, but the look on Grace's face leaves no doubt. She already made a decision and nothing, not even the GM silver tongue will change her mind.
Grace van Beek:
There is no decision to be made but one. She embarrassed me in front of everyone, she attacked me trying to extort a match out of me. She wants to paint me as a tyrant to portray this rebel hero persona she sewed on herself? I will show her that Grace van Beek is a fair and magnanimous ruler.
Gianluigi looks perplexed at the dark haired young girl in front of him.
Grace van Beek:
I will grant her wish. If she craves to fight me so much, I accept her challenge. Next week at Imperium, I will indeed fight Melissa Reeves in a submission match. And after the bell rings and she is left crying in agony in the middle of the ring, I want her to know that she brought it on herself. I want her to realize that if the last memory she left in her Millennium fans is the pathetic image of her hero vanquished and carried out of my ring on a stretcher, she has nowhere else to blame for her foolishness but herself.
Gian doesn't say a word, knowing oh too well that it would be pointless.
Grace van Beek:
She started this war, I will be the one to end it.
On her ominous words, the same she pronounced before the Year One Anniversary match, the camera cuts back to the next segment.
The cameras cut backstage to the parking lot where a still bleeding Sephora is being helped into a waiting ambulance, when Saki appears, blade still in hand. Sephora pushes away from the medical staff and Spears Saki into a parked car. The two women trade blows as Sephora slows down, Saki sinks the blade into her ribs once more and Sephora falls back, passing out from the second stab wound as security just manages to pry a laughing Saki from her prone body.
Singles Match
Winner pick the stipulation for the title match at Imperium
Bea Torres: "SHE DID IT AGAIN!!"
Jared Idol: "That's right, Jennifer pinned the Millennium Champion for the second time in a row! And now she gets to pick the stipulation!"
Bea Torres: "And speaking of Imperium... Did you hear what Grace just said?"
Jared Idol: "It's miss van Beek. And aye, she said that Melissa Reeves career will be on the line in a week, in a Submission Match."
Bea Torres: "That's not fair!"
Jared Idol: "In all honesty, Melissa wanted this match much more than miss van Beek ever did. Of course, our owner raised the stakes as she usually does. And we know that she only plays to win."
Bea Torres: "It won't happen this time! Anyway, our time is up. See you all in a week in Washington DC for Imperium!!"
Jared Idol: "Goodnight, ladies and gentlemen."
Tag Team Match
Tournament, Group D
The Mighty Now Thrive VS Brothers McMillion
With their back against the wall. These were the words used by Javen before this match, and they perfectly described the situation. There was only one option for the Brothers McMillion after the shocking loss against the High Score Heroes, and that was to beat the young and hungry duo of Null and Kid Terra. The match started with Christian Michaels charging at Null who ducked the clothesline by bending backward, matrix style. The wolf boy was quick to get up and turn around, wrapping his legs around CM's neck and flipping him over with a hurricanrana. The veteran stared at the opponent, shaking his head and showing some signs of nervousness. Javen slapped his shoulder taking the tag and locking up with Null, kick-starting a long sequence of quick pinfall attempts and reversals that even the referee seemed to have a hard time keeping track of. It all ended when after rolling out of backslide pin, Javen sent the opponent in his corner with a shotgun dropkick. Kid Terra took the tag and leaped over the top rope, meeting Javen in the middle of the ring where the two started jockeying for position, trading headlocks until the McMillion sent him against the ropes and took him down with a shoulder tackle. The TerraNova Rockstar jumped back to his feet with a kip up, sprinting to the ropes to gain some momentum and ducking under Javen's leapfrog, coming back with a forearm shots that took the Memphis born off his feet, in perfect position for a springboard moonsault. The Potluck Pro Tag Team Champions were in great shape tonight, dominating the first part of the match and almost walking out with the win when, after the tag, Kid Terra tripped Javen with a drop toe hold leaving him hanging on the middle rope, on the wrong end of a double 619. Christian was calling his brother and getting the fans behind him after he kicked out of the Dial That Phone! Finally Javen reached his corner and Michaels entered the ring, going for Null and engaging in a brawl with the wolf, easily getting the upper hand. But when he tossed him against the ropes with all the intentions of connecting a Samoan Drop, he had to reckon once again with his opponent's agility. Not only did Null slipped away, but he immediately hit him with a Pele Kick. The Big Wolf On Campus, as he refers himself to, probably regretted not taking that chance to make a tag. After Christian kicked out, in fact, things started coming to a head for him and his team. CM looked way more determined now, as if the close call made him realize that he needed to step up his game if he wanted to bring home the win tonight. And that he did, never leaving Null an inch to use his speed and agility, isolating him in their half of the ring with quick tags and combined moves. Kid Terra had to jump in to save his teammates after the CM lifted him with a stalling vertical suplex and Javen took him down with a crossbody, a move they made famous under the name of Dirty South Drop. A brawl with all four men involved followed, with the referee's attempt to restore order falling on deaf ears. Null caught Javen with a single knee facebreaker, helping them his partner to get rid of CM. Kid Terra made sure the older brother could no longer interfere in this match wiping him out with a Somersault plancha. This left Null dealing with Javen or, to be more precise, stalking him and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. “Play God” by Deathstars blasted through the PA system, taking Null's eyes off the prize for just a moment, the time needed to check on the entrance stage to realize that the N. E. W. World was nowhere in sight. But it was long enough for Javen to lock him in a reverse facelock and nail him with The Javen Effect for the win WINNERS: Brothers McMillion BY: Pinfall (The Javen Effect), 14:46 |
Jared Idol: "And this is it ladies and gentlemen. The quartet that will fight for the Tag Team Titles at Imperium is now complete."
Bea Torres: "Jetpack, The Happy Few, Uncanny Socialites and Brothers McMillion... Oh gosh..."
Jared Idol: "A fatal 4 way elimination match to make history. Who will go down in the books as the first ever Tag Team Champions?"
Grace van Beek:
She crossed a line she should not have crossed this time.
The voice immediately identifies the woman talking as the owner of Millennium, Grace van Beek. But there's something completely different about it tonight. It's trembling, the tone betraying an array of emotions that usually don't associate with her composed demeanor. The scene takes place inside the Richmond Arena infirmary, where the Diamond Princess is sitting on the table while a doctor checks carefully, and most likely overzealously on her condition after the attack she suffered by the hands of Melissa Reeves. Standing in front of her is the General Manager Gianluigi Vaccaro. By the look on his face as he shakes his head, you can tell that he's cursing the moment he accepted this job. It's nights like this where the headaches are just more than one can bear.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Miss van Beek…
Grace van Beek:
Mr Vaccaro.
She interrupts him, all of a sudden finding once again that authoritative and secure tone she was missing before.
Grace van Beek:
I did try to be patient and pay her actions the attention they were worth. None. But tonight she made this personal. She dared lay her hands on me, Grace van Beek. And she did that inside your office. Which brings us to another question, how did she get in there?
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
I have no idea, miss van Beek. I left for a minute to get some updates on Sephora, who by the way…
Grace van Beek:
I do not care about her or her conditions. My only concern is this situation with Reeves. And I plan to address it,right here, right now.
Gian's eyes widen. Knowing his employer and how she dealt with a similar situation a month ago with Aurora, the idea of losing another top-tier talent is not so far-fetched after all.
Gianluigi Vaccaro:
Miss van Beek, let me deal with this. Please don't take any rushed decision.
He's trying to reason with the owner of the company, but the look on Grace's face leaves no doubt. She already made a decision and nothing, not even the GM silver tongue will change her mind.
Grace van Beek:
There is no decision to be made but one. She embarrassed me in front of everyone, she attacked me trying to extort a match out of me. She wants to paint me as a tyrant to portray this rebel hero persona she sewed on herself? I will show her that Grace van Beek is a fair and magnanimous ruler.
Gianluigi looks perplexed at the dark haired young girl in front of him.
Grace van Beek:
I will grant her wish. If she craves to fight me so much, I accept her challenge. Next week at Imperium, I will indeed fight Melissa Reeves in a submission match. And after the bell rings and she is left crying in agony in the middle of the ring, I want her to know that she brought it on herself. I want her to realize that if the last memory she left in her Millennium fans is the pathetic image of her hero vanquished and carried out of my ring on a stretcher, she has nowhere else to blame for her foolishness but herself.
Gian doesn't say a word, knowing oh too well that it would be pointless.
Grace van Beek:
She started this war, I will be the one to end it.
On her ominous words, the same she pronounced before the Year One Anniversary match, the camera cuts back to the next segment.
The cameras cut backstage to the parking lot where a still bleeding Sephora is being helped into a waiting ambulance, when Saki appears, blade still in hand. Sephora pushes away from the medical staff and Spears Saki into a parked car. The two women trade blows as Sephora slows down, Saki sinks the blade into her ribs once more and Sephora falls back, passing out from the second stab wound as security just manages to pry a laughing Saki from her prone body.
Singles Match
Winner pick the stipulation for the title match at Imperium
Nessa Wall VS Jennifer Yang
Even without the title on the line, the implications this match had were as big as it gets. The opportunity to choose the stipulation for their title match, to play on the opponent's weakness to get an advantage in the attempt to capture Millennium’s most coveted prize is something neither Nessa nor Jennifer wanted to waste. Add to that the fact that this is a sort of rubber match since, despite never facing each other in a single match before, they both hold a pinfall against the other and you get all the ingredients for a great main event tonight in Richmond. The Millennium Champion seemed to have learned a precious lesson from their last encounter: when it comes to striking ability, Jennifer is one, if not the best, in this company. Her strategy was simple and effective, controlling the pace of the match and disable Yang's most dangerous weapons, her speed and her kicks. That would explain why, since the opening bell, the Canadian went for the former champion's right leg, luring her in and grabbing it after a kick, taking her down on the mat with a dragon screw, applying a leglock right after. On the mat, Jennifer was definitely out of her element, unable to find a way to escape the champion's grasp. She managed to, literally, break the hold with some punches on Nessa's leg, but it was only a short break before Wall applied a figure four, dragging the opponent back to square one. This time Jennifer pushed through the pain, crawling toward the ropes and after a long minute of agonising pain, she managed to grab them, forcing the break. The champion obviously fully used the five count before letting her go, replying to the referee admonishment with her cocky smirk. Yang used this time to get back on her feet with the help of the ropes, leaning against the corner where Wei reached her to give out some words of advice. And whatever he told her, it definitely seemed to work as Jennifer anticipated Nessa and sent her face first against the middle turnbuckle with a drop toe hold. Stepping on the apron outside, the former champion shook off the pain from her leg before going back into the ring with a slingshot dropkick. Picking up Nessa, she connected a couple of hard chops before lifting her and reaching her on top. The top rope hurricanrana that followed was a thing of beauty, but it still wasn't enough to keep the champ down. The fans were loving the back and forth action, the majority of them obviously wanting to see Yang coming out victorious tonight. Their hopes almost crushed Against The Wall (pun intended). The spinning backfist seemed to turn off the lights for the former champion as she fell flat on her back. Nessa quickly went for the lateral press, confident that this was enough to put Yang down, but she counted out the former champ too soon. You could tell that frustration was starting to grow on the Canadian, more so after the resilient Jennifer kicked out from the MENSA Application: Denied (Beautiful Disaster Kick). In a replay of their last match, Nessa positioned the former champion on the top rope for the Snarktopus Splash, only to find herself shoulder on the mat after Jenni countered it with a victory roll. History didn't repeat itself this time, and Wall kicked out of the #YANGVICTORY. Jenni tried to surprise her by grabbing both legs to take her down and flipping over for a Jackknife cover, but once again the champion didn't let her quickness catch her off guard. With tiredness starting to kick in, lucidity started to fade in both contenders and all the strategies, all the game plans blew up. Forget displays of technical prowess, forget daredevil aerial assaults, the match turned down into an all out brawl, exactly what Nessa wanted to avoid. And it was just a matter of time before Jennifer would get the upper hand with a quick series of Wing Chun punches and knees, doubling Nessa over and sealing the deal with a switchblade kick. Exhausted after the #LOCKDOWN, Yang fell on the opponent, covering her for the three count. WINNER: Jennifer Yang BY: Pinfall (#LOCKDOWN), 16:53 |
Bea Torres: "SHE DID IT AGAIN!!"
Jared Idol: "That's right, Jennifer pinned the Millennium Champion for the second time in a row! And now she gets to pick the stipulation!"
Bea Torres: "And speaking of Imperium... Did you hear what Grace just said?"
Jared Idol: "It's miss van Beek. And aye, she said that Melissa Reeves career will be on the line in a week, in a Submission Match."
Bea Torres: "That's not fair!"
Jared Idol: "In all honesty, Melissa wanted this match much more than miss van Beek ever did. Of course, our owner raised the stakes as she usually does. And we know that she only plays to win."
Bea Torres: "It won't happen this time! Anyway, our time is up. See you all in a week in Washington DC for Imperium!!"
Jared Idol: "Goodnight, ladies and gentlemen."