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SINGLES MATCHJessica Reed vs Birdie Winston------------------------------------
"INTRODUCING FIRST, JESSICA REED!!!"
{The lights in the arena go out as "Die Young" by Ke$ha hits the PA system and the crowd go nuts. Strobe lighting begins to flash in various colours around the arena as Jessica Reed emerges from behind the curtain to a standing ovation. She smile and waves to the fans before steadying herself for a gentle sprint to the ring, slapping the hands of fans as she goes much to their delight. Reaching the ring steps she climbs up to the top of the turnbuckle and continues to wave the crowd, pumping them up even more before hopping down into the ring.}
"AND HER OPPONENT, BIRDIE WINSTON!!"
{The lights turn purple and Follow Your Arrow starts playing Birdie Winston jogs out and does variations of silly dances and a back flip. She makes her way down the aisle and executes a unique front-handspring from turnbuckle corner to the ring.}
{The ladies start circling the ring. Birdie stops and does a cute pose. Jessica looks around and does the same thing. They trade these cute poses and the crowd cheers for each one. Louder and louder. Frustration finally sets in as Birdie charges Jessica as she turns away to give a quick peace sign.Giving a quick german suplex, Birdie switches to a boston crab as the crowd boos.}
POSES! POSES! POSES! POSES!
{Birdie stops and poses again. Jessica gets up and does a jumping high kick. Then she poses.}
JES SI CA! JES SI CA! JES SI CA!
{Birdie gets up and does an Inverted Atomic Drop. Then another wrenching sub with an armbar. Jessica screams as the crowd boos again.}
BIRDIE SUCKS! BIRDIE SUCKS! BIRDIE SUCKS!
{Birdie shakes her head as she lifts Jessica up. Jessica counters with a toe kick to the gut. Then hits a Duck Faced and combos it into Peanut Butter Jelly Time. Taking her time to pose she pins Birdie.}
1...
2...
{Birdie kicks out while the crowd boos again. Jessica complains a bit and then kicks the sitting Birdie in the back. Then she climbs the top rope. She taunts then flips doing her patent leg drop. She pins Birdie immediately. }
1...
2...
3...
" YOUR WINNER, JESSICA REED!!!"
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SEGMENT------------------------------------
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SINGLES MATCH: NON TITLEShelly Diamond vs Sorcha Wynne------------------------------------
{The drums and guitars of "Rule of Nines" start to echo across the arena as Mist fills the entryway before Sorcha rises up from the floor when the main riff kicks in. stepping out smoothly dressed in a long cloak, ring gear underneath before she walks down the entryway , climbing the steps and kneeling in the middle of the ring to mutter some of prayer, rising and discarding the cloak jacket and moves to the corner.}Alison Valance: The following non-title contest is scheduled for One fall, and is schelded for a time limit of 15 minutes! introducing first from Ayr, Scotland! SORCHA WYNNE!
{The lights in the arena dim to a dull grey as smoke emits from the ramp way. Envy by Ice Nine Kills hits the pa as the lights in the arena turn bright white. As the song really kicks in the lights die down to a normal level to reveal Shelly Diamond standing on the ramp posing like her ex-husband with her arms outstretched. She throws her arms down as pyro erupts behind her before strutting her way toward the ring to the beat of the music. Shelly walks up the steps then climbs up the outside ropes before throwing her arms out again as the lights in the arena turn up to a blinding level. When the lights return to normal she is now standing in the centre of the ring, ready and waiting.}Alison Valance: And the IWF Women’s World Champion , SHELLY DIAAAAAAAAAAMOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNND!
{Sorcha charges out of the corner just as the ref clears out the way landing On Shelly with a Shoulder block dropping Shelly to the ground as she misses a big stomp attempt and then runs for the ropes, Shelly follows after with a Sleep, then as she jumps in the air Sorcha catches Shelly and drops her with a Manhattan drop, before backing up and then eating a quick roundhouse form Shelly as she recovers before Shelly quickly attempts to pull Sorcha over with a headlock takedown, Rolling smoothly around to slip into Top guard as Sorcha knock s away the post and pushes her up into the air where Shelly manages to hand stand cartwheel escape and face Sorcha as she stands the two ladies circling.}
Vasco Diaz: The Champ showing her dominance and bring the pace to her level
Terri Morasco: Wynne showing some explosive power be and trying to lay the Champ down early but The camp able to slow things down.
{Sorcha and Shelley slowly lock up with a knuckle lock on both hands before Shelly is quick to break apart with a kick trying to twist into a top wrist lock, Sorcha grips on and spins underneath trying to do the same and Bridging Shelly back before she drops to roll on her shoulders and pull Sorcha once again into a headlock, Sorcha backs up to the ropes pushing Shelly off and walking out as he legs suddenly drop out from under her as Shelly lands a basement dropkick and then is wrick to hop to the drop and hit a second dropkick to the side of Sorcha’s head, Sorcha stands and takes a snapmare from Shelly followed by the hard roundhouse as Shelly goes for a quick cover}
1.
Kick out!Vasco Diaz: Down with the Witch!
Terri Morasco: I don’t think we can say that on TV.
Vasco Diaz: W I T CH
{Sorcha is up as Shelly runs for the ropes Sorcha steps out of the way to push her of a little faster and then catches Shelly with a HUGE pop up flapjack, letting gravity bring Shelly down as Sorcha herself as Shelly instantly backs away after the fall Sorcha following up to start laying boots and chops in as she follows the Champ around the ring from corner to corner}Vasco Diaz: C’mon Champ!
Terri Morasco: Sorcha’s working on Shelly in each corner trying to pile on the pressure.
{Sorcha stays close tying to Work at a frenetic pace pulling Shelly out into the centre of the ring and hitting a HUGE Bodyslam the taking a moment to hit a BELTAINE BOMB to then cover Shelly}
1.
2.
Kickout!{Sorcha stands up and starts to wrench at Shelly’s Neck occasionally dropping into her spine with knees before pulling her up to hook in a suplex and then Shelly blocks once, twice and then drops to roll into a small package the kick out is almost instantly as Sorcha stood up and so did Shelly ducking under a chop then a back elbow and as Shelly rolls the next chop she leaps up for The Diamond cutter but Sorcha pushes her off Shelly uses the momentum to hit Sorcha with the Heaven’s Fury Bulldog! Rolling Over for the Pin!}
1.
2.
Kickout!{The two ladies get up and start to exchange forearms back and forth bulding in intensity as they get closer to the ropes and Shelly breaks for forearm exchange to Kick and Sorcha elbows her away before running for the opposite ropes even as Shelly flows , Sorcha going for the Low Bridge suddenly as Shelly catches herself on the Apron As Sorcha looks up and runs for the opposite Ropes again tying to wipe Shelly out to the outside with a Between the ropes Cross body, Shelly somehow gathers her wits in time as Socha burst through the ropes and nails a Diamond Cutter to the outside but obviously eats head to head due to Sorcha’s’ momentum as the ref Starts to lay in the count with both ladies on the outside.}1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
BOTH IN!{Shelly stands up first rubbing at her neck even as Sorcha gets up a little out on her feet charging to try and hit the Riastad! Shelly Ducks the lariat as Sorcha stumbled to one Knee and is quickly and suddenly dumped over Shelly with a Snap Dragon Suplex, Sorcha rolls all the way up to her feet and hits the opposite set of ropes to which she started on as Shelly scoops Sorcha up Smoothly onto her shoulder and connects with a TFD just to make sure, covering Sorcha}1.
2.
3!!!{Shelly gets up even as Sorcha is laid out in the ring and Shelly climbs a Turnbuckle to celebrate her win}Alison Valance: And the Winner is …The IWF Women’s World Champion , SHELLY DIAAAAAAAAAAMOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNND!
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IMPERIAL DIAMONDS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHWriting Challenge: Write a RP using any Xmas movie of your choice as a premiseCaroline Machado vs Virginia------------------------------------
{ The lights in the arena start to flicker as the intro to “Bitch Better Have My Money” hits the speakers. Smoke pours out onto the stage as Virginia Stepanov steps out. She walks to the head of the ramp, looking around for a moment before she shoots a high front kick into the air to show off and then makes a finger gun with three punctuated ‘shots’ towards the crowd ad the appropriate time in the song.
She struts down the ramp, mouth moving to sing along to her entrance as her head bobs along with the song. When she gets to the ring she jumps onto the apron, hanging onto the rope and leaning out towards the crowd, throwing a finger gun with another three shots before she steps through the ropes. She slips her coat off and hangs it in the corner. }Terri Morasco: Love her or hate her, there ain’t no denying that Virginia’s had a really good run in 2021.
{ We cut to a live feed from Club 47 on the campus of the Rising Dragons Academy, where a group of diehard Caroline supporters are watching Diamonds Are Forever on a high-definition smart TV. }Vasco Dias: Wow! They’re about fifteen hours behind us, right?!
Terri Morasco: That’s right! It might be around 5:30 AM Dallas time, but that ain’t stopping that watch party!
"Her ongoing mission...to boldly go where no one has gone before..."
{ The voice of Sir Patrick Stewart echoes throughout the arena before Dua Lipa's "Levitating" begins to blare. A blast a pyro goes off as Caroline Machado heads out to the stage, dancing to the beat of the tune while sporting a brief, but warmhearted grin on her face. }"(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I got you, moonlight, you're my starlight
I need you, all night
Come on, dance with me
(I'm levitating)
You, moonlight, you're my starlight
I need you, all night
Come on, dance with me
(I'm levitating)"
{ The Brazilian shimmies and twirls down the ramp, often stopping to give some lucky fans a hug or two. Her motion is fluid as she makes her way down to the ring, again dancing to the beats. }
"You can fly away with me tonight
You can fly away with me tonight
Baby, let me take you for a ride
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I'm levitating)
You can fly away with me tonight
You can fly away with me tonight
Baby, let me take you for a ride
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)..."
{ The lights fade out to a rotating green and yellow hue, with Caroline continuing to dance and pose for the cheering crowd. Eventually, the lights come back on as she gets into her MMA fighting position and waits for the match to start. Tonight, she’s wearing pink, silver, and white -- an homage to the famous bunny suit as seen in A Christmas Story. }Vasco Dias: Are those little rabbit ears?! She looks like a deranged Easter bunny!
Terri Morasco: Oh, will you stop!?!
{ Blue Shoes takes the Imperial Diamond Championship and raises up in the air. }
Terri Morasco: Unlike in years’ past, this is the lone title match on our program -- and I think we’re gonna be in for a doozy!
Vasco Dias: Virginia lookin’ to end the year in a dominant fashion. Caroline lookin’ to go into 2022 with her first title!
[DING!]
{ This was a fun and entertaining match to watch. both of these ladies gave it their all in a contest that lasted a solid thirty minutes. Early on, it seemed that neither one was able to gain the upper hand, trading strikes and two-counts as Caroline and Virginia tried to seek an opening that just wasn’t there. Eventually, Virginia took the lead as we hit the 14:30 mark, hitting Caroline with a pair of forearm smashes into the corner before sending the Brazilian for the ride; Caroline bounces off the ropes and is met head-on with a spinning heel kick! Virginia then applies an armbar that she transitions into a swift snapdragon, but she only gets a two-count1 }Terri Morasco: We’re about to head into the heart of the match!
Vasco Dias: I said this last week, I’ll say it again...get ready for World War III!
{ Caroline grabs the advantage as we hit the 18:00 point. Caroline sends Virginia into the corner and explodes with a T-bone suplex that crumples Stepanov’s back to the canvas! The ex-UTA product quickly goes back on the attack, grabbing Virginia’s left arm and going behind her, applying a hammerlock; Virginia reverses the hold...only for Caroline to quickly counter by turning the hammerlock into a takedown! She then goes for a reverse chinlock, but Virginia squirms out of hold and attempts a wild haymaker that misses its target! Machado counters with a headbutt, followed by a bridging German suplex that gets her a count of two! }Terri Morasco: Both of these ladies are prepared for the long haul!
Vasco Dias: Go figure. I loathe these types of matches…
Terri Morasco: Suit yourself, flip-flopper!
Vasco Dias: ...pffft, WHAT!?!
{ We’ve now hit the 23:00 mark, and it seems like both women have prepped themselves for a war of wills now. Virginia tries to break Caroline’s spirit, bringing out her trademark smugness that’s helped her dominate the Imperial Diamond title scene for some time. Virginia winds up blasting Caroline with her KMA half-spin mule kick, smirking to the crowd who gives her a “whorebag” Aussie rules football-style chant! Virginia doesn’t give a shit about the derisive singing and goes for the pin… }
1…!
2…!!
THREEEE--NOPE!!!
{ The crowd explodes as Blue Shoes holds up the two fingers! Virginia stands up pissed and shoots Machado into the corner! But when Virginia goes for her patented super kick....Caroline ducks underneath and plants her to the mat with her trademarked Service Ace RKO combination! The fans go apeshit as Machado goes for the cover, hooking the leg in the process… }1…!
2…!!
THREEEEEAWWWWWW…!!!!!!!!!!!
{ Now Caroline gets the two-finger treatment as the crowd groans. She solemnly shakes her head but presses onward anyway, pulling Virginia back up to her feet; to her credit, Stepanov springs to life and makes an attempt to hit her opponent with her Final Ride Claymore kick -- but Machado senses trouble and sidesteps the danger! Caroline sends Virginia crashing chest-first into the buckles and charges forward, hitting her with a reverse hurracanrana from out of nowhere! }
Vasco Dias: WHOA!!
Terri Morasco: That’s the second time we’ve seen Caroline do this move!
Vasco Dias: Look at this…!!
{ But as Caroline tries to go for Fiona’s kimura, Virginia manages to squirm free and out of trouble! Before Machado knew what’s happened, Virginia hits her with the signature FINAL RIDE before going for the cover… }1…!
2…!!
THREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
[DING-DING-DING!!!]
{ The crowd sighs as Blue Shoes hands Virginia the Imperial Diamond title. We can barely hear Alison Valance over the noise as Stepanov makes a quick and hasty exit! }Terri Morasco: Virginia retains the title, but...what’s with the exit?!
Vasco Dias: She doesn’t care about celebrations, that’s all!
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HEIRESS TO THE THRONE FINALSRowan vs Tara Fenix------------------------------------
{Lights out.}"Sanctus Espiritus!"{The hymnal opening of “Our Solemn Hour” by Within Temptation rings through through the arena, matched by a few flashing sparks of dark red light throughout the building. Red lights shine down and around the entranceway, still accompanied by sporadic flashing throughout the arena, illuminating the silhouette of Rowan MacDonnough standing at the top of the ramp, a graphic of Chiropteran wings seeming to sprout from her back, dominating the imperatron. She breathes heavily, shoulders heaving as her head hangs down. As the opening continues, red smoke floods down the ramp as Rowan occasionally twitches spasmodically in rhythm with the music...}"Insanity is all around us..."
{As the song roars to life, Rowan's head snaps upwards, glaring around at the audience as her golden eyes glint in the smoke and the red light. The wings behind her burst into flame and are reduced to cinders as graphics throughout the arena show images of roaring flames and swirling crows. She lopes forward, unconsciously rolling her wrists as her eyes bore a hole in the air before her. The smoke seems to follow her down the ramp as she walks.}"Time keeps on slipping away and we haven't learned, so in the end now what have we gained?"
{She leaps into the ring, landing with a roll in the center of the ring and pulling into a feral crouch. She stands, raising her arms as though conducting a savage chorus, posing one last time...}"Sanctus Espiritus! Is this what we deserve? Can we break free... from chains of never-ending agony?"{She slowly, reluctantly backs towards a corner, eyes constantly moving as she settles in to wait for the bell.}Vasco Dias: Rowan and Tara so far are tied, one loss and one victory to each other. This match could go either way.
Terri Morasco: I don't think this will be the last match by a long shot.
{Every light throughout the arena flickers out while the crowd gives a premature cheer; when the beginning of “The Eagle Flies Alone” begins to play, a blue spotlight comes in at the same sequence and is shining at the curtain which gets the crowd riled up further. The cheers that The Phoenix Queen is receiving from the audience is outweighing anyone in the crowd that opposes her. The sound of the fog machines can be heard going off heavily as the stage soon fills with fog. The lights in the arena are coming back up creating a blue hue and just as the chorus kicks in, the crowd lets out a huge roar when they finally see Tara Fenix emerge from behind the curtain.}I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the powers that be!{Tara is standing at the top of the stage wearing one of her designed jackets, and the hood pulled over her head. She is carrying a flagpole with a flag attached; she takes a moment to scan the crowd and see the number of her supporters and soon she raises the flag and waves it back and forth several times and the cameras do their own scan over the crowd and can see a number of people raising the same logo that is on the banner. The Age of the Phoenix. Tara continues to wave the banner for a few more seconds before holding it straight up and bringing the pole down to tap it against the stage and finally slings the pole over her shoulder while marching down to the ring. Some of the fans stretch their hands out for her, and she walks to one side with her arm held out slightly; however, her eyes remain locked on the ring. When she reaches the bottom of the ramp she goes to the nearby steel steps and quickly ascends. She stops for a moment and carefully attaches her own flagpole to the steel post where the Age of the Phoenix banner will be for the duration of the match.}I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the pοwers that be!
The eagle flies alone!{After securing the flagpole to the ring pole, she takes two steps on the apron before sliding forward and down onto one knee; her head and eyes scan the crowd again while the crowd is chanting her name. She finally crawls between the middle and bottom ropes then charges to the far corner and as she lands on the second rope, she pulls her hood back and lets her arms go out with her palms up. She holds the pose for several seconds, then does a one-eighty off of the second rope to land back on her feet; she runs to the opposite end where the flagpole is, and repeats the process but this time holds the banner out for all to see the symbol. She does another one-eighty, lands inside the ring, and takes off her jacket while waiting for the match to begin.}Terri Morasco: After what happened last week, you have to wonder what’s going through Tara’s head. She witnessed Angel and Wraith destroying each other, so what’s her mindset like?
Vasco Dias: Tara is a professional, so I think she’s ready… She’s been preparing herself since Rowan and herself got to the finals, and this is definitely going to be a fight to remember! I don’t think Tara has anything on her mind except for evening the odds.
{ At the sound of the bell, the crowd is already deafening when they look at the two titanesses standing in the ring. Tara, the twenty-one-year veteran standing across from Rowan, one of the most dominating forces that the IWF Diamond’s Division has ever seen. Their previous encounter barely left anything inside of the ring, and they could only imagine that there would be nothing left when the dust settled on this evening. Blue Shoes opts to get out of the way in preparation for these two to collide but they bask for several seconds longer before both of them finally charge out of their corner! Tara and Rowan are quick to lock up in the center of the ring, and it appears that Rowan is about to gain the edge with the strength advantage, but Tara transitions and gets Rowan into a side headlock; Rowan struggles to get herself free, but Tara has the hold locked in and is looking to drag Rowan to the mat…
Rowan is resisting being taken down with the headlock takedown with a perfect positioning, then finally manages to lift Tara up for what could end in a back drop! But Tara keeps the momentum through and lands back on her feet; she awaits Rowan to face her and fires for a spinning kick which Rowan is able to duck and Rowan moves toward the ropes to gain her own momentum before charging back and going for a flying knee right as Tara is facing her! Tara narrowly avoids it, and both women are back to their feet; Tara goes for a blindside attack against Rowan, but Rowan telegraphs it by firing an elbow which in turn was telegraphed by Tara who grasps her arm and starts trying to drag her down for an armbar.
Rowan is able to spin out of it, and fires for a wild haymaker! Tara ducks under, and rolls Rowan into a schoolgirl cover: Rowan rolls through before Blue Shoes can even go for the count, and Tara was still in a standing position while having Rowan rolled up…Rowan gets to one knee when Tara fires for a spinning roundhouse kick aimed at her head! Rowan ducks under, and Tara spins out; Rowan charges forward while Tara has her back to her, and is looking to lock her into a position for a German Suplex but Tara is able to charge forward until she gets to the ropes; she hooks both of her arms under the ropes and locks them in place to prevent Rowan from being able to sail her backward.
Rowan pulls relentlessly anyway, but to no avail! Tara fires back with an elbow, which lands, but Rowan absorbs the damage and takes the opportunity to grab Tara’s arm and get her in position for a cobra clutch slam…Tara is able to reverse into a hip toss and immediately continues forward with a few stomps against her downed opponents; Rowan gets her hands up to defend herself but Tara is just as relentless, and just as furious. The stomps are coming in rapid succession until Rowan is able to successfully trip Tara up and force her to fall on her back; Rowan uses the ropes to pull herself up as Tara gets back to a seated position only for Rowan to go for a running kick! }Vasco Dias: These two are already going back and forth, but it looks like Tara is a bit more calculated with her attacks while Rowan is going for that power behind every strike!
Terri Morasco: It’s pretty crazy the power that Rowan does have. I wouldn’t want to be in the ring with her.
Vasco Dias: That’s why no one will remember your name. It truly is crazy, though, the amount of power that Rowan has behind every strike; every strike could knock Tara out. But Tara is here to send a message to her here tonight, and to the rest of the locker room! But look at how athletic Tara is! She was able to use Rowan’s own momentum against her and she could be looking to end this early!
{ Tara is able to roll backward at the same time as Rowan is kicking to avoid the kick, but she is able to wrap up Rowan’s leg at the same time and looks like she may be able to get a single leg crab locked in! Rowan is wriggling to attempt to get free from the hold as Tara is setting her up for the Tara Lock but Rowan is still resisting! }Vasco Dias: If Tara is able to get the Tara Lock locked in, then this could be over!
Terri Morasco: I feel like the fans would be wanting a refund if this ended quite so quickly.
Vasco Dias: But do you think Tara cares? Do you think Rowan cares? Both women are looking to walk out with their own arms raised!
{ Tara is unable to bridge backward before Rowan is able to get to the ropes forcing Blue Shoes to tell Tara that she is going to have to forfeit the attempt. Tara steps away from Rowan and gets into a fighting stance as she challenges Rowan to get back to her feet. Rowan is more than happy to oblige as she gets into her own fighting stance; both of the women are snarling at each other while starting to circle the ring.}Vasco Dias: Both of them are upset that they have been unable to get an advantage over the other, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing them down. Rowan is on the offense this time, and she is closing that distance on Tara to give her nowhere to go.
Terri Morasco: Tara just has to defend. If she defends, she’s got a fair shot.
Vasco Dias: As dangerous as Rowan has been in the IWF, Tara has been doing this for twenty-one-years! Despite what some of the people have said, there is no doubt in my mind that Tara could very well walk out with this win. She has recently taken a big win with the Clive Darling Cup, she’s looking to win the Heiress to the Throne for the first time in her illustrious career!
{ Rowan lunges forward this time with a series of strikes; Tara answers by having no choice but to defend herself as Rowan battles her back against the corner before starting to unload a series of strikes going back and forth from her midsection, and aimed for her head; Tara is protecting her head over everything else while absolving most of the blows from Rowan but Rowan finally drives a knee into Tara’s midsection causing her to keel over… She gets Tara into a side headlock before attempting to charge her out with a running bulldog, but Tara is able to push her off at the last moment! Rowan continues forward and collides into the corner; meanwhile, Tara charges from behind but Rowan throws a clothesline which Tara is able to duck… Tara charges up the top rope and springs backward in a moonsault that takes Rowan down and goes for the cover! }ONE!
TWO!
Rowan kicks out!
Terri Morasco: Did you see the air, but y’know…I don’t know if you can notice, but Tara seems to have caused some damage to herself with that impact.
Vasco Dias: She has Rowan rolled up, and earned a near-fall, but yeah, now that you mention it, I can see that it looks like she may have landed off.
{ Tara maintains control over Rowan as they are getting to their feet, starting to single out her shoulder as she starts driving some heavy knees against Rowan’s arm and shoulder; Rowan is trying to pull her arm away but Tara steps over before trying to take Rowan down and into a cross armbar! Rowan hooks both of her arms to prevent Tara from gaining a full leverage, but Tara is still fighting for it; Tara starts throwing a few elbows to wear Rowan down but Rowan is still absorbing most of the damage…After a few more elbows, Tara finally gains control over Rowan’s arm– }Vasco Dias: Tara is looking to get an armbar in, and she’s going to pull Rowan’s shoulder right out of its socket if she does! But Rowan is fighting, and fighting hard, to keep Tara from being able to get it in!
Terri Morasco: The crowd is calling for Rowan to tap, but that hold isn’t even in yet!
Vasco Dias: And she better hope that Tara doesn’t get it in. Tara is an absolute submission machine; she knows how to get various holds in from various angles, and she has said it on multiple times–
Terri Morasco: If you don’t tap out, she’s going to break something! I don’t want to see something get broken. Not even on Rowan.
{ As Tara is about to pull back into a cross armbar, Rowan is able to roll Tara up into a schoolgirl cover, and Blue Shoes count! }ONE!
TWO!
{ Tara is able to roll her shoulder off of the mat, and throughout the transition of positioning, the crowd lets out a huge roar as Tara looks to transition it into TPT! The Phoenix Triangle! Rowan is still fighting against it, and is able to hook her arms a second time to prevent Tara from being able to get the hold locked in… }Vasco Dias: TPT! The triangle choke that Tara has dubbed The Phoenix Triangle, and something she has already used to successfully get to the finals here tonight, she could be looking to end it here!
Terri Morasco: This is crazy how Tara seems to be able to control the ground game against Rowan, and it’s just making me wonder what will Rowan have to do to answer?
Vasco Dias: Tara is wisely starting to throw some strikes while keeping Rowan locked in position to get ‘TPT’ locked in, but Rowan is able to withstand quite a bit of damage.
{ Tara releases one of her hands and starts using forearm strikes against Rowan while she is able to get the free shots in; it looks like Rowan is about to cave and lose her arm until she manages to power Tara off of the canvas before dropping her down! The veteran manages to hold on, and continues to try and get TPT locked in, but Rowan lifts her a second time and drops her down on her back before following in with a diving elbow that connects with Tara’s jaw! Tara releases the hold as Rowan is shaking it off and the crowd flare is starting to die down. }Vasco Dias: That is just straight brutality that Rowan is showing to get some of the momentum back in her favor. That elbow looked like it may have knocked Tara out, but she seems to still be conscious.
Terri Morasco: It definitely rattled her.
{ Rowan grabs Tara by the arm and pulls her to a standing position before committing to a spinning back elbow strike that hits her mark and causes Tara to stumble back a step, and Rowan connects with an alternating elbow to send her back another step, and a third, and finally a fourth until Tara was against the ropes. Rowan then opted to go for an overhand chop to earn a reaction out of the crowd. Rowan holds Tara’s arm out with one hand, and then brings her hand back in with a second overhand chop! Rowan sends Tara off with an Irish-whip, and Tara rebounds off the far ropes at the same time as Rowan is charging forward and Rowan connects with a back elbow that sends Tara down to the mat. Rowan drops down, driving her elbow against Tara’s skull while going for a cover. }Vasco Dias: What a beautiful back elbow that sends Tara to the mat, and Rowan goes for a quick cover. Normally, she would want to play with her opponent a little bit longer but I do think she may be wiser in knowing that she needs to end this sooner. Tara is not the person that you play with.
ONE!
TWO!
{ Rowan pulls Tara up just as it appears that she was going to kick out anyway; Rowan holds Tara by the hair while driving repeated elbows against Tara’s jaw several times. Rowan pulls Tara up while starting to mouth off at her before getting back up and pulling Tara back to a standing position before driving in with an uppercut! Rowan fires more uppercuts in succession until Tara is back against the corner before alternating lefts and rights while Tara puts her arms up to try to defend herself, but Rowan connects with a heavy right hook that causes Tara to slump back into the corner seemingly out on her feet…
Rowan takes a couple steps back while measuring Tara up, and charges in for a heavy shoulder thrust aimed for Tara’s midsection; Tara is able to sunset flip over and roll Rowan up! She places her feet over Rowan’s arms to prevent her from being able to kick out, and Blue Shoes counts with the crowd behind him! }ONE!
TWO!
Rowan is able to get an arm free and up just in time!
Vasco Dias: Tara is able to use that sunset flip and it looks like she almost stole that win away! Just a perfect execution; using her legs to keep Rowan’s shoulders pinned down, but Rowan was able to overpower it and just in the nick of time.
Terri Morasco: But Rowan is up!
{ Rowan rolls backward and to her feet while Tara is still in a seated position, and fires for Balor’s Gaze! }Vasco Dias: Balor’s Gaze! Balor’s–
Terri Morasco: Tara deflects it! That could’ve been the end right there.
{ Tara is able to deflect the kick and roll to the side; she uses the ropes to pull herself up and Rowan goes to cut her off; Tara fires with a straight punch to Rowan’s abdomen, but this doesn’t slow Rowan until a second, third, fourth, and fifth punch connects with Rowan’s abdomen. The crowd is rallying behind the veteran as she is succeeding with a series of strikes that is wearing Rowan down, and building her own momentum; Tara is now back to a full vertical position and throws in some hard shots against Rowan that hit their mark! Tara fires for a spinning back kick that connects with Rowan’s midsection.
Tara rushes for the ropes to rebound off of them, and charge at Rowan; Rowan is able to come forward and drive a knee into Tara’s waist that causes Tara to flip over and land on her back. Rowan turns and delivers a hard stomp which connects against Tara’s shoulder and arm; Tara sits up and clings to her arm but is given no rest as Rowan pulls Tara back to her feet with her arm still in tow; Rowan pulls Tara toward her and goes under to take her down with an arm trap neckbreaker! }Vasco Dias: Some of the damage is done, and Rowan has done well with maintaining the control thus far.
Terri Morsaco: You have to wonder if this is all but over. Tara could just be holding on to fight right now, but Rowan seems to have taken control and is not relinquishing it.
{ Tara is holding her neck but rolls over onto her front before getting to her hands and knees; meanwhile, Rowan is back up and goes to deliver a hard kick to Tara’s stomach; Tara gets her hand to absorb most of the blow but rolls over onto her back and is against the ropes…Rowan leans down to grab Tara’s braids, but Tara is able to get her hair free just in time and pull Rowan forward so she tumbles between the top and middle ropes and to the outside of the ring.
Tara is holding her stomach in pain while using the ropes to get back to her feet, and she looks to the outside of the ring as Rowan is starting to recover; Tara pulls back on the ropes and uses them to launch herself over and collides with Rowan with a vaulting body press! Rowan goes down, and Tara is able to rebound to her feet and is clutching her stomach still in pain…the move seemed to do just as much damage to herself as it did to Rowan. Tara holds the barricade while leaning over and is still in a lot of pain that is earning recognition from Blue Shoes as he is asking Tara if she’s okay… }Terri Morasco: Something does seem to be wrong with Tara. She may have hurt herself more than she would like to admit just with that one move.
Vasco Dias: But I think Rowan is smart and sees a point of attack the more that Tara is nursing that injury.
{ Tara is waiving Blue Shoes off and indicating that she is fine to continue competing; the moment she had to take gave Rowan time to get up, and Tara looks to continue with her own offense while Rowan is trying to recover but Rowan is able to successfully shove Tara off; Tara is able to catch herself on her back heel before kicking forward and connecting with a straight kick that connects with Rowan’s upper body that gives a sickening thud! Rowan is clutching her shoulder after the kick, but stands straight up while clutching it and Tara fires for a Genocide Kick! }Vasco Dias: The Genocide Kick! MISSES!
{ Rowan is able to step to the side, and Tara lunges forward for her foot to connect with the steel post. Tara is a off balance after missing the kick, and takes a hop to try to bring her center gravity back to control but before she can recover, Rowan fires with a heavy side kick against Tara’s shin; Tara’s leg buckles from the connection and Rowan starts firing with elbows and is just battering Tara down with continues elbow strikes that seem to be hitting the mark despite Tara raising her hands to cover her head. Rowan pulls Tara back to her feet and shoves her as hard as she can so her spine hits the steel post before launching forward with a haymaker!
Tara is able to avoid the blow at the last moment, as Rowan’s hand crunches against the steel. Tara fires with a back elbow, but is met with one from Rowan. Rowan shoves Tara off a second time before charging in for a flying knee while Tara is against the barricade…Tara steps to the side and while Rowan is still airbound, shoves her off so that her knee collides with the barricade! Rowan tumbles over the barricade and lands hard with the audience. The crowd is in a frenzy as these two are still battling to maintain control over the other. Blue Shoes is refusing to count inside of the ring, wanting there to be a declared winner for the match. }Vasco Dias: Blue Shoes needs to start counting. I’m sorry, but this match did not say that there was no count out! He needs to start counting!
Terri Morasco: I think the fans would be sorely disappointed if this ended in any other way rather than a declared winner!
{ Tara climbs over the barricade carefully while Rowan is clutching her knee, and Tara now takes a handful of Rowan’s hair to drag her up; Tara takes one of her arms and holds it in an arm wrench before beginning to shoot kicks along her arm! The impact from the kicks are doing their damage as Rowan tries to pull her arm free and after a kick to her shoulder, she is able to do so…she clutches her shoulder but goes forward anyway for a shoulder block against Tara, which connects and sends Tara back against the barricade but still does damage to her own shoulder in the process. Rowan also didn’t get a full impact of the move, and Tara is able to rebound quickly with a knee to Rowan’s midsection then pulls her forward and goes under her arm, before hooking Rowan around the neck with her arm…she drops Rowan down with an inverted headlock backbreaker! }Vasco Dias: Tara reverses, and she has been trying to get some work done on that arm. You have to imagine that she is getting Rowan set up for The Phoenix Triangle later in the match.
Terri Morasco: I can’t imagine why she would do that! I can’t see Rowan tapping out!
{ Rowan is holding her back. Tara stands back up and still advances against Rowan, and as Tara is pulling Rowan to a standing position, Rowan gets her arms around Tara’s legs and takes her down with a double leg takedown! Rowan goes for the mount, while Tara opts to recover and get herself into a closed guard to prevent Rowan from being able to gain any leverage with the attacks. Security is holding the crowd at a perimeter while Blue Shoes is calling for the action to get back into the ring, but still refusing to count. }Vasco Dias: Do you know what may bring the action back into the ring? The threat that they might be counted out! START COUNTING!
Terri Morasco: Strangely, I do agree with you. But look at these two going!
Vasco Dias: I can’t see much from this angle, and the camera is showing that Tara is trying to get into a guard to protect herself.
{ Despite being trapped with the guard from Tara, Rowan is still trying to get some shots in while Tara is holding her arms up to defend. Tara is deflecting, parrying, or blocking all of the shots that Rowan is throwing until Rowan finally collapses over her; she uses her forearm to press against Tara’s skull with intent on crushing it between her forearm and the ground! Tara grunts and switches to an open guard as she tries to relieve some of the pressure that Rowan is putting on her…but Rowan leans into it, starting to push down more weight, before starting to fire in with some elbows against Tara while holding her with her other forearm. }Vasco Dias: There’s that ferocity from Rowan again, and she is just brutalizing Tara now.
Terri Morasco: But the problem is that she does have to get her in the ring, so long as Blue Shoes is refusing to count.
{ After twenty seconds, Rowan finally stands up and grabs Tara’s leg to drag her back toward the barricade before Tara is able to successfully fend her off by using the power in her legs to shove her against the barricade. Rowan hits it just right to knock the wind out of her, and Tara gestures for the crowd to move…they oblige as Tara runs forward and springs off of one of the chairs to come flying in with a shining wizard over the barricade! Rowan slumps down against the barricade while Tara lands back on the ringside, and rolls through with some of the momentum. The knee from Tara gives the crowd a huge pop as she is trying to regain her composure. Some of the staff on the outside of the ring are trying to tend to Rowan immediately to see that Tara’s knee had hit her just right and busted her wide open. }Terri Morasco: Oh…OH! Rowan is bleeding! Rowan has been busted open!
Vasco Dias: That was a devastating knee, and that’s one thing you have to keep in mind from Tara: she is a black belt in multiple fighting techniques. Muay Thai. Krav Maga. BJJ. Tara is one of the most decorated fighters, and one of the most skilled, and she hit her mark perfectly right there!
{ Rowan is waiving off the medical attention and starting to snarl as she uses the barricade to pull herself up. At the same time, Tara is dragging herself to her feet and catching her breath… Rowan climbs over the barricade, still a bit of a stumble as she tries to shake off the knee that almost concussed her; Tara looks ready for a fight with Rowan, and Rowan does not disappoint as the bloodshed seemed to have fueled the fire and both women are now swinging wildly at each other! Each shot thrown causes the crowd to get louder with every sickening punch, elbow, knee, or kick that is thrown; the defense seems to go out the window while both women are now more focused on inflicting damage on the other.
The striking game seems to be going in the favor of Rowan, as she soon is able to reverse one of Tara’s strikes and follows up with several more; a knee from Rowan knocks the wind from Tara, and Rowan sends her forward and Tara collides hard with the steel steps…Rowan is relentless and goes forward to pull Tara back to her feet before cracking her head against the steel post! Rowan then sends Tara back under the ring as she tries to shake the cobwebs out, but Tara rolls back out the other ring just as Rowan is sliding in… Before Rowan can move too much, Tara trips her up and grabs both of her legs to drag her hard toward the steel post as the post connects with Rowan’s groin! }Terri Morasco: Don’t believe what King of the Hill shows you: THAT HURTS!
Vasco Dias: I mean, I can only imagine.
{ Tara intends on getting the Phoenix Lock locked in around the steel post! Rowan is squirming to get her legs free, but Tara is holding on; Blue Shoes is pleading with Tara not to do it, and trying to rationalize that the move is illegal…but the bloodthirsty crowd is chanting for Tara to break her legs, and as Tara is getting in position to get the hold locked in, Rowan sends her off just in time… }Vasco Dias: Rowan saves her legs this time around! But what is she doing?
Terri MOrasco: It…what’s she doing? Climbing up?
{ Rowan uses both of the ropes to get herself up while Tara is recovering, and the crowd gives a little pop as Rowan intends to go for something unorthodox…Rowan climbs up to the top rope! At the same time that she is climbing, Tara is able to get a spring in her step and jumps to the apron landing on one knee but swiftly back to both of her feet before connecting with a standing roundhouse kick that dazes Rowan!
Tara climbs from the outside of the ring, and is delivering a few clubbing blows to keep Rowan staggered… But Rowan raises her arms to defend herself during this time, and is able to reach up and rake at Tara’s eyes slowing her enough for Rowan to regain a footing on the top rope; she climbs up and drives a headbutt down against Tara’s skull while Tara is now seated on the top rope… Rowan is trying to force her to a standing position on the top rope while maintaining her own balance, but Tara starts firing back to swing the momentum back in her favor. }Vasco Dias: This is going to end very badly for one of them!
Terri Morasco: This crowd is loving it, though!
{ Both women are going back and forth trying to establish control on the top rope, and it looks like Rowan finally has it! Rowan goes to take Tara over with a belly to belly suplex, but Tara is able to lock her arm and both women tumble down and crash against the mat with Tara looking for the cross armbar! }Vasco Dias: What a move! What a reversal! But it looks like the damage was done to herself, and Tara had the wind knocked out of her; she’s unable to get that hold locked in time.
Terri Morsco: That could have been bad for both of them!
{ The impact had done too much, though, and Tara loses control over her arm; Rowan was able to land a bit softer and is quicker to get up…Tara rolls over onto her hands and knees again and is trying to get up, but Rowan scrambles forward and begins driving knees into Tara’s shoulders and head as hard as she can. Rowan then commits to a front headlock, starting to drag her down with a front naked choke, but Tara is able to get her feet back onto the ropes causing Blue Shoes to call for a rope break! Rowan keeps the hold applied for the allotted time before releasing. }Vasco Dias: Tara was far too close to the ropes, but Rowan doesn’t care. She just wanted to inflict as much damage as she could so she held her at a pretty bad angle for the duration of that time.
Terri Morasco: And it is showing as Tara is slow to get to her feet.
{ Rowan scrambles to her feet and is the first one up while Tara is holding her neck in a bit of pain; just as she is getting up, Rowan fires for Balor’s Gaze! }Terri Morasco: We could see Rowan land it this time, but–
Vasco Dias: No! Tara deflects it a second time, and she needs to buy some time for herself… She lunged forward, and she’s got her into an inside cradle!
{ Tara is able to deflect it a second time! Rowan spins through, but Tara is able to launch forward just before she can notice and roll her into an inside cradle! }ONE!
TWO!
Rowan shifts her weight and has Tara down!
ONE!
TWO!
Tara shifts her weight back into her favor.
ONE!
TWO!
Rowan kicks out this time!
{ Both women are getting back to their feet, and Rowan goes for a clothesline; Tara ducks under and catches her arm and rolls her up into a backslide roll-up! }ONE!
TWO!
Rowan kicks out!
{ Tara is the first one to her feet this time, and launches a series of kicks against Rowan; Rowan is able to catch one and take Tara down with a dragon screw before taking both of her legs and flipping over to hold the bridge and keep Tara in a cover… }ONE!
TWO!
Tara kicks out!
{ Both women get up at the same time this time, and Tara is the first to throw a strike against Rowan! Rowan stumbles but fires back with one of her own, causing Tara to stumble in turn! It doesn’t take too many back and forth strikes from the other to have the whole thing boil down with both women just throwing wild strikes to the enjoyment of the crowd…Blue Shoes is trying to get between them to keep the contest with clean action, but to no avail, and the crowd is chanting… }CROWD: Let them fight! Let them fight! Let them fight!
{ … repeatedly, and Rowan is again getting the edge over Tara. When Rowan gets Tara backed into the corner, she holds her with one arm while firing in continued elbows against Tara’s skull with her other until her elbow cuts Tara. Blood is seeping from her head as Rowan continues raining in with continuous elbows until Tara is able to finally get her arm free to block the shots; she spins Rowan around and puts her into the corner and starts to deliver some knife edge chops! }CROWD: Wooooo! Wooooo!
{ The crowd continues the chant with each one, until Tara finally stops with the chops and grips the top rope for some leverage while driving in some kicks against Rowan’s stomach. Tara takes a step out before firing in for a spinning roundhouse kick aimed for Rowan’s head; Rowan ducks! While Tara has her back to Rowan, Rowan lunges forward and drops for a chop block against the back of Tara’s leg; Tara goes down, and Rowan is already up before jumping up and coming down with a knee across Tara! Rowan holds her down for the cover. }ONE!
TWO!
Tara is able to kick out!
{ Rowan snarls when she sees the blood coming from Tara, and begins to rub her forearm against it in an attempt to widen the wound as Tara groans and is trying to push Rowan off again, but Rowan is much too vicious… }Vasco Dias: Like a shark smelling blood; Rowan sees the blood and she’s just zoning in on it.
Terri Morasco: Rowan is going to close in on that!
{ After several seconds, Blue Shoes finally orders that Rowan stop and that the match resumes cleanly. Rowan springs to her feet and cracks her neck while waiting for Tara to get up; Blue Shoes is asking if she’s okay to continue to which Tara of course answers that she is… Rowan closes the gap between her and Tara fast, but Tara is able to catch Rowan off guard with the FALLEN PHOENIX! }Vasco Dias: FALLEN PHOENIX! Coming out of nowhere, and that gave a full reversal of the momentum! Tara is scrambling for that cover, because she knows that she needs to end this, and end this soon!
Terri Morasco: With how much they’ve gone through, I don’t know if Rowan has anything left in the tank!
{ Tara goes for the cover. }ONE!
TWO!
TH– Rowan kicks out!
{ Both women are slow to get to their feet, but Tara is the first one up as she then grabs Rowan by the head and looks to continue a series of signature moves; she is looking for the SIREN! }Vasco Dias: SIREN! Tara is looking for Siren, which is a move that she has been using since she debuted way back in 2000; this has been her go-to, and we know it’s fully capable of ending the match! But! ROWAN AVOIDS IT!
Terri Morasco: I can’t believe what we saw! Rowan stays alive with that, and that seemed like pure desperation!
{ Rowan is able to successfully push Tara off at the last second, and Tara lands on her feet; Tara goes for a running enzuigiri, which Rowan is able to duck…Tara lands on her elbows, and Rowan goes forward to spring off the ropes and comes back with BEAST OF WAR! Rowan rolls Tara up! }ONE!
TWO!
THR– Tara kicks out!
Vasco Dias: At the last possible second, Tara kicks out! The last possible second! This seems to be fumes that they are running on, but instinct is getting them to kick out!
Terri Morasco: These are two of the best athletes that IWF has ever seen. These are two titanesses at the top of their game! Rowan is looking to go 2-0 over Tara in one-on-one contest, but Tara is refusing to let her get that over her. She’s holding on!
{ Rowan seems a little stunned by it; she is getting to her feet first as Tara is still laid out and covering her head… Rowan opts not to argue with Blue Shoes, and instead measures Tara up…just as Tara is sitting up, Rowan goes for the BALOR’S KICK! }Terri Morasco: Rowan is looking for the Balor Kick, and Tara has been able to avoid it thus far, but it looks like it– wait! Tara caught it!
Vasco Dias: Tara just caught Rowan’s leg and now has a good control over Rowan. Rowan is in trouble, and Tara has a wide arsenal to pick from!
{ Tara catches it! Tara, while still holding Rowan’s leg, turns her around and commits to a sweep that causes her to drop; Tara then stands up without any hesitation and steps over before bridging backward and locking in the TARA LOCK! Rowan is grimacing while the hold is locked in and Blue Shoes is asking if she would like to tap out… but Rowan is shaking her head frantically which only causes a bit more damage against her. Tara wrenches on the hold for as long as she can while Rowan clenches into a fist. She tries to throw a few forearm strikes back, but can’t get an angle to be able to hit Tara with anything. }Vasco Dias: This hold is locked in! Tara is a submission master; that is something that people seem to forget, but Tara knows how to put these holds in and there is no escape. The Tara Lock? Hard to escape. The Phoenix Lock? Hard to escape. The Sharpshooter? Remember the damage she did to Death Trap back in 2009 with that hold! She ended Caroline’s run in Heiress to the Throne with The Phoenix Triangle!
Terri Morasco: And in good positioning, Rowan can’t do anything to try and soften her up. She has no angle on her!
{ Rowan grunts and starts digging her nails into the canvas while mustering all of her strength to pull herself toward the ropes and dragging all of Tara’s weight with her…Rowan stretches her arm all the way out but isn’t quite at the ropes yet. The crowd is rallying behind Tara, trying to discourage Rowan. }CROWD: Just tap out! Just tap out! Just tap out!
{ The crowd continues to chant and Tara continues pulling on the hold but Rowan is still refusing to cave… and she pulls herself and Tara forward just another inch or two, and stretches her arm out to finally get her hand on the ropes in a full grip! The entire crowd boos as Rowan forces the rope break. }Vasco Dias: That’s the toughness that Rowan has. The resilience. She is able to withstand an excruciating amount of pain, and is able to hold on for the rope break! All while dragging Tara’s weight with her own toward the ropes!
Terri Morasco: This crowd is not feeling it, either.
{ Blue Shoes is telling Tara that the hold needs to be broken, but much like earlier when Rowan wouldn’t break the hold, Tara uses the allotted time to keep it applied and serve as much punishment as she can before she ultimately has to. Tara collapses beside Rowan and is heaving for air; Rowan takes a moment to drape an arm over Tara looking to end it right there. }
ONE!
TWO!
Tara rolls her shoulder up at the last moment!
Terri Morasco: I really don’t think Rowan was expecting a pin fall there, but she forced Tara to let out some of her energy by getting her shoulder up.
Vasco Dias: I really don’t think so either, but these two are still going at it.
{ Tara continues rolling through so she’s on her side before finally starting to get up, and Rowan is also getting up; both women are still hurting but Tara drives a knee in! She pulls Rowan into a butterfly hold before leaping up and looking to end things with PHOENIX WINGS but Rowan turns toward the ropes and grips the top rope to keep herself on a vertical base…but not for long, as Tara is falling backward and drags Rowan with her! Both women take a tumble outside of the ring! }Vasco Dias: No! Not again!
Terri Morasco: Back to the outside of the ring, and that seemed like it was the only way that Rowan was going to get out of the Phoenix Wings!
Vasco Dias: An absolute act of desperation, and very smart! But Rowan wasn’t able to get her hands on the ropes to save herself from the tumble, but it looks like she– yes– she’s landed on top, so she’s still in good positioning and Tara did break some of her fall.
{ As gravity is taking its toll on Tara, she is forced to release the butterfly lock she had in a futile attempt to save herself; both Tara and Rowan crash outside of the ring, with Rowan on top. Rowan is the first one to begin to move at the twenty second mark, as she rolls over toward the commentators table and uses it to pull herself up to her feet. At the thirty second mark, Tara is finally able to get up but Rowan cuts her off by delivering a vicious straight kick that connects with Tara’s collarbone. Tara staggers back, but still stands after the kick, and opts to go for her own attack which Rowan is able to counter by lifting Tara up and dropping her across the commentators table! Tara lands on top of the equipment that is still scattered across the table as Vasco Dias and Terri Morasco flee away holding their headsets to continue calling the match. The equipment cuts Tara up as she rolls back off of the table on the commentators side and Rowan begins to rip the equipment from the table. }Vasco Dias: Oh, come on! Not our table! Not our table!
{Vasco Dias points at Rowan in a threatening way, and the glare she gave him caused him to cower back in fear.}Terri Morasco: Just get out of the way, Vasco!
{ Rowan circles around the table and grabs Tara by the head, before smashing her head against the table; Rowan holds her head down and drives an elbow to the back of her head… She takes her head mockingly while mouthing off to the crowd. “She will burn!” Rowan shouts at them while maintaining her control over them; her face is sporting a crimson mask with the blood trailing down her body and parts of her attire ripped from any objects that she may have run into. Rowan raised Tara back up, and Tara was revealed to be just as bloody with cuts along her head, and her arms due to the same reasons that Rowan had become bloody. Both of them hid it well, but exhaustion was beginning to set in and they needed to bring this match to a close.
Rowan went to slam Tara’s head down on the table again, but Tara is able to bring her arm up to stop the forward momentum! The crowd begins to cheer and rally behind The Great Phoenix; Rowan lifts Tara’s head back up to get some space to force her back down, but Tara is able to throw an elbow back to Rowan’s stomach just in time! Tara then takes Rowan by the head and slams it against the table, and a second, and a third, and a fourth time! Tara grabs Rowan around the neck and through gritted teeth, tells her something which the audio is able to capture: } “¡No puedes matarme!” { Tara says to her before slamming her head back down against the table and mirroring her with an elbow to the back of her head. }Vasco Dias: “¡No puedes matarme!” That is Spanish to say: “You can’t kill me!”
Terri Morasco: You have to imagine that’s her trying to get into Rowan’s head, and letting her know that she’s not in hers.
{ Rowan does try to fire back with an elbow, but Tara is able to block it and drive a knee into the back of Rowan’s leg forcing her leg to buckle; Tara then slams her head back down on the table before raising her up and even further onto her shoulders before raising her up and dropping her on her knee with BURN TO ASHES! }Vasco Dias: BURN TO ASHES! That knee went right to her face, and… she does not look like she’s done.
Terri Morasco: Tara has a look in her eye, and I don’t know if I like what she has planned.
{ Tara puts Rowan onto the table so that she is lying up before pointing out the top turnbuckle… And the crowd is going into a frenzy. }Terri Morasco: Oh, my god! No! Tara is exhausted, and this is about a twenty foot jump! Don’t do it!
Vasco Dias: There’s no saying what it’s going to take to put either one of these women away, so Tara is dialing it back a notch! The phoenix will fly!
{ Tara grabs the rope before pulling herself onto the apron, and looks behind her to assure that Rowan is still in place; Rowan seems to get a jolt through her body every couple of seconds but still unable to move from the amount of damage and pain that both have endured. Tara climbs up to the second rope before glancing back… and then up to the third. She glances back one final time before taking a deep breath and launching herself– }Vasco Dias: OH, MY!
Terri Morasco: She’s got the air for it…
{ –the crowd is in silent anticipation for the landing of the move as Tara commits to a moonsault, and she got more than enough air, and more than enough distance; Rowan looks to come-to just as Tara is about to land with the PHOENIX DROP! Rowan goes to move…BUT NO! The move lands! Tara’s legs give out after landing, and she tumbles backward into a seated position at the barricade as the table gives out from under Rowan and Rowan is lying in the debris. }Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
{ There is not one person still in their seats after the spectacle that they have witnessed. The chant does transition… }Crowd: THIS IS AWESOME!
{ Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} THIS IS AWESOME!
{ Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} THIS IS AWESOME!
{ Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} THIS IS AWESOME!
{ Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} THIS IS AWESOME!
{ Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.} { Blue Shoes has left the ring to join the crew outside of the ring as they are tending to both Tara and Rowan; he is trying to figure out a ruling to see if either woman can still compete…but both of the women, despite their exhaustion, despite their bruises, and despite their blood loss are waiving off the medical attention. }Vasco Dias: Come on! It’s time to call the match.
Terri Morasco: What would happen if this were called a draw? A triple threat for the belt?
Vasco Dias: Blue Shoes has not been counting either competitor out, so I think he, like everyone else in this stadium, wants to see a winner! There has to be a winner!
{ Blue Shoes, while tending to Tara, is being told by the veteran to get back in the ring…and more importantly; she is telling him to start counting. Blue Shoes does as he is instructed and all of the staff is starting to clear away from the two competitors by order of Blue Shoes. Rowan is starting to push some of the debris from herself as she groans and is rolling over onto her stomach. Tara uses her legs to push herself against the barricade and back to a standing position, although she has to continue leaning against the barricade for support. Her legs are still wobbly but just by her standing earns a cheer from the crowd. }Vasco Dias: This crowd is absolutely electric; not one person is sitting. No one can believe what we are witnessing! These two women are looking to set the bar high for the next award show.
Terri Morasco: Tara is barely able to stand on her own two feet!
{ Rowan’s arms are trembling as she pushes herself up to her hands and knees before finally getting back to her feet; the crowd does pop for her Rowan as well more as a sign of appreciation for the fight that she’s giving when any ordinary competitor, on both sides, would have crumbled by now. }Terri Morasco: These fans are showing their appreciation for both of these competitors and everything they are laying on the line with this one match! I don’t think I’ve seen Rowan this hurt before… I don’t think I’ve seen anyone last this long with Rowan before!
Vasco Dias: I don’t think anyone has, either, and I think it’s shocking to Rowan. Rowan is the type of person: you end it fast, or you lose…but Tara is proving her own prowess, and her own experience, by lasting this long.
{ Tara is able to push off from her heel in an attempt to go for a clothesline, although she sort of tumbles forward and almost loses her balance in the process…Rowan ducks! Tara catches herself on the apron and pushes off from the apron to face Rowan just as Rowan turns to face her, but Rowan connects with DANCE THE SPIRAL! Tara goes down from the impact, while Rowan saves herself from the face plant by stopping herself with her elbows and pushes herself back up to her knees. }Vasco Dias: DANCE THE SPIRAL connects against Tara, and you have to imagine that if Rowan had her inside of the ring…this would be it! Tara is down! Tara is out!
Terri Morasco: But now Rowan has to get her inside the ring! Somehow! Some way! She has to get back into the ring!
{ Rowan glances back at Tara through the crimson mask and draws a deep breath before crawling over to her; she knows that she has to end this match inside of the ring…there’s no other way…Rowan grabs Tara by the head and starts pulling her with as she crawls toward the ring before using her other arm to pull herself up with help of the apron. Rowan takes Tara up afterward and slides her under the bottom rope and Rowan slides in right after her to go for the cover. }ONE!
TWO!
Thre–ROPE BREAK!
{ The crowd goes into an uproar when Tara gets her foot on the rope, and Rowan is snarling and looks frustrated that Tara is still not out. Rowan uses the ropes to get herself up while simultaneously grabbing Tara by her braids again, but Tara wriggles free and out of nowhere pulls Rowan in with THE PHOENIX TRIANGLE! }Vasco Dias: The Phoenix Triangle! The Phoenix Triangle! Tara is looking to end this match the same way she ended Caroline, and by forcing a submission! Rowan is clawing for anything but if Tara can drag her away, this match is all but over!
Terri Morasco: Rowan is holding on. She’s trying to get her arm free, but Tara is looking to pull it away!
{ The crowd gets even louder as it looks like Tara is getting the hold locked in…a surge of energy is coming through for Tara and Rowan, the fight or flight adrenaline, as Rowan is getting her other arm forward in an attempt to hook around her arm and prevent Tara from getting it locked…but Tara has it! Tara has her arm! Rowan squirms around for a moment and luckily enough for her, throughout their exhaustion, Rowan is too close to the ropes and ROPE BREAK. Tara has no choice but to let go of the hold. }Vasco Dias: That has to be it. That had to be Tara’s last hurrah, and last chance at ending this match because now Rowan has a bit of a positioning advantage over Tara; Tara has to get to her feet…
Terri Morasco: But Rowan cannot even stand up.
{ Rowan almost collapses over Tara; Tara is in a bit of shock that Rowan was able to get her foot on the rope. Rowan takes a moment before finally sitting up and she just hovers over Tara momentarily before driving in with DEFILER! The repeated headbutts seem to daze both of them but after several headbutts Rowan sits up with a glazed look over her eyes before finally managing to stand up; she points to the turnbuckle, ala to how Tara pointed for the Phoenix Drop. }Terri Morasco: Rowan is now planning on going high, but I don’t know what it would take to get her to be able to climb up. That could take everything out of her just to get up there! This is dangerous territory!
Vasco Dias: She is looking to end this match in the same way that she ended Brooklyn’s reign as the IWF Women’s World Champion! With Life’s Finale!
{ It took Rowan a bit longer to climb the top rope than it would have if she had not been winded… But when she did reach the top, she looked down at Tara who was still laid out and leapt off of the top rope for LIFE’S FINALE! }Vasco Dias: She goes up! And she comes down! Tara is unable to get out of the way! SHE LANDS!{ Rowan’s legs buckle after the impact with Tara’s stomach, and Rowan is just barely able to reach back to roll Tara up… }
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!!!Alison Valance: Your winner! By way of pin fall! And your HEIRESS TO THE THRONE! ROWAN! MacDONNOUGH!!!!!{ “Our Solemn Hour” by Within Temptation is playing over the PA as Rowan struggles to sit up… Blue Shoes kneels beside her to hold her arm up, but Rowan pulls her arm away while looking down at her victim. The medical staff is trying to get in the ring to tend to both of them, but Rowan waves them off along with Tara as Rowan then gets out of the ring. She takes a moment to sit on the apron while her music continues to play. }