-------------------------------------
SEGMENTPreshow
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{The camera pans out through the sold out crowd as the theme for High Stakes is blaring. The fans are cheering and waving there signs all about. âSpike Kane fears accountabilityâ, âWarren Kane is in real Danger!â âUlf Fears Zionâ âGod shouldnât have to slap his thighâ âThe Church of Crosse needs an Awesome best down!â âI wish Mandi was my momâ âCome sit by me Locke!â âShellshock!â And loads more. The camera pans further and we see the pre-show panel.}Summer Thompson:: HELLO EVERYONE! Welcome to one of my personal favorite pay per views and one that Iâm sure a lot of fans look forward to every year. Not only do we have a PACKED show tonight but we got the Roulette! The match that shapes the Night of Immortals main event. Welcome to the show guys, gals, and non-binary pals. How are you doing? How is that Roulette hype treating you tonight?â
{Summer turns and greets her fellow panelists.}Robert Henderson: Iâm also excited for the Roulette. It is a match that is surrounded in tradition and nobility. The stakes are on the line as you said Summer, the winner goes to the main event to wrestle for the world championship at Night of the Immortals. Itâs something the entire roster fights for. Itâs hard to get much bigger than that without actually wrestling for the world title itself.
Rayne:: I like the Roulette for its unpredictability and the fact that it can make stars. Sometimes legends win it but other times people win them and become legends. Look at Andrew Jacobsen in 2017. He won the rumble and transformed from a Boy Scout into a Man Scout that won the world championship.
Uriel Black:: I just like the brutality myself. There is just something about thirty some odd men beating the piss out of each other until one is left that I really like.
{Summer nods.}Summer Thompson:: Oh absolutely. There is certainly something for everyone to love in our main event. But before we talk more about it. Letâs check out the rest of the card. First up we have Cals Jacobsen verse Vivian Rodgers for the Imperial Diamond Championship. What are your thoughts?
Richard Henderson:: Vivian is a former champion. Iâve been made privy to some of her new training techniques and for as good as Cals is, I think Vivian will surprise her with the win tonight.
Rayne:: No way. Sure maybe Viv has been training hard, but Cals is walking and talking proof of what itâs like being at the top of your game right now. I think Cals is going to steam roll right over that little fluff ball.
Uriel Black::: I think I agree with
Rayne: on this one. Vivian is a former champion but Cals has been bringing it while Vivian has everything to prove. I got Cals Jacobsen to retain.
{Summer shakes her head.}Summer Thompson:: Well I think Vivian is going to end the amazing Cals reign tonight. But moving onto the next match. The Television Title.
{Uriel slaps the table like a game show buzzer and quickly blurts out an answer.}Uriel Black:: ULF! Next!....oh sorry force of habit.
Summer Thompson:: He he itâs okay. It will be Ulf Hednir defending in his fifth title defense in a row, against Xavier Zion.
{The name Zion made Uriel get a little more serious as he reconsiders.}
Uriel Black:: Hmmm, okay well I think Iâm still backing Ulf here, but Zion could definitely be the one to prove me wrong.
Rayne:: Iâm ready for a new champ. Iâm tired of Ulf. Thor Punch this. Thor Punch that. Skal, skal, skal. Whatever. I think Xavier Zion has the skills to finally shut Ulf up.
Richard Henderson:: Xavier Zion has been on fire since debuting here in IWF. But so has Ulf Hednir. He is constantly showing just how important the Television Championship can be to a wrestlers career. So much so, that Xavier Zion wants the honor for himself. Itâs hard to bet against Ulf, but Iâm locking in my pick with Xavier Zion
Summer Thompson:: Well Ulf is pretty hot. And heâs a great champion. And heâs hot so Iâm giving him my pick. But moving on to the next match. Tara Fenix taking on Mandi Matthews for the womenâs title.
Rayne:: Big whoop. So Mandi strung together enough losses to get a world title match? Tara is going to pick her clean.
Richard Henderson:: Thats if the match even happens. Iâm getting word that this match has been postponed? Iâll have more info on that as I get it.
Uriel Black:: Well I love me some Mandi Matthews. Hereâs the thing about Mandi. Aside from one or two big fights, she has never really been tested on a world championship level. Iâm not going to write her off too quick, because she may surprise usâŠ.but itâs probably Tara who retains tonight.
Summer Thompson:: Yeah. With the Church of Crosse on the back of her mind, Iâm not sure if Mandi will be able to focus on such a huge task. Iâm going to have to say Tara Fenix retains. Then we move right into the world tag team championships. Gods and Monsters look to take the titles away from The Powers That Be.
Uriel Black:: I think Iâm looking forward to this match the most other then the roulette. This one is going to be big. These two teams are going to beat the hell out of each other for those tag titles tonight! Of course I gotta give it to the Godâster himself. The immortal Angel Blake and his son Dean Harper.
Richard Henderson:: You sound confident Uriel, but tonight Angel and Dean face another tag team that can rival their intensity. Locke and Abraxes have been absolutely killing it as a tag team. Not to mention the tag titles will be hanging above the ring. I think Gods and Monsters dethrone the Powers that Be and become the new tag team champions.
Rayne:: Nope. You are wrong and stupid for the opinion that you have Henderson. Only I am right in this subjective situation. I think The Powers that Be retain tonight. God only loses when he wants too. They are in control. They have been the entire time.
Summer Thompson:: I agree. I think Powers That Be continues their powerful reign as tag team champions. And then the IWF World Championship match. Nick Danger steps up to the plate to challenge Warren Kane.
Rayne:: Okay so Iâm not exactly sure where this one came fromâŠ.but yeah no, Warren Kane is going to put that kid to bed early.
Richard Henderson:: Well
Rayne:. I think Nick Danger knows heâs the underdog going into this match, but I think Danger knows this is a real opportunity to show what he can do in a main event scenario. These are moments, win or lose, where people step up and go from just there, to crucial and respected members of a roster. I think Nick Danger is going to take full advantage of that and may even surprise us all.
Uriel Black:: That was a beautiful and inspirational speech Hendo, but, yeah Warren Kane is going to thrash him.
Summer Thompson:: Iâm going with Warren to retain. And now we go to the main event. The roulette. The winner goes on to face either Warren Kane or Nick Danger at Night of the Immortals. Iâm sure we could sit here and talk about it for hours. But letâs keep it short and sweet. Who do you think is going to win and who are you thinking is the mystery entrant at number ten?
Rayne:: Abraxes is going to take this thing home this year. The monster has just been hiding his time. Waiting for the right moment to unleash his true terror. Abraxes is my pick. As for mystery entrant? I donât know...but wouldnât it be funny if it was Fiona McFly?
Summer Thompson:: She canât enter she is in the womenâs division.
Rayne:: Iâm just saying she might find a way, I wouldnât put it past her.
Uriel Black:: I think my man Caleb Lockwood is going to take it home this year. And as far as mystery entrant, what if itâs Spike Kane?
Summer Thompson:: Oh come on! What did he do? Return from the dead?
Uriel Black:: Pfft, I wouldnât put it past him.
Richard Henderson:: Well as far as the mystery entrant is, Iâve heard some different things. A lot of silly rumors about fired or banned wrestlers making a return. I doubt that. I think it could be a brand new debut. I know Bob Pooler is down there fine tuning some promising new athletes. Could be one of them. As for the winner. Iâm going Nick Knight. There are four members of Church of Crosse in this match all coming out near each other. If they are on the same page, they will dominate I think.
Summer Thompson:: Well after what weâve seen with Jayson and Mandi, thatâs a big IF. But we will see. Get ready folks! HIGH STAKES IS NEXT!!!
{The pre show panel waves goodbye and the scene fades.}-------------------------------------
SINGLE MATCHTatmusaki vs Adel Travent
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{Adel wins}-------------------------------------
SINGLE MATCHChristos Rousakis vs Billie Parris
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{Billie wins}-------------------------------------
SINGLES MATCHJack Ferriman vs Nate Fate
-------------------------------------
{Nate has an advantage in the early part of the match, unleashing and showing the crowd he's not someone to overlook. Jack turns things around midway and unleashes a lot of pain on him. Jack pins him for the win.}-------------------------------------
Main show:-------------------------------------
IMPERIAL DIAMOND CHAMPIONSHIPWriting challenge: Straight Trash Promo
Cals Jacobsen (c) vs Vivienne Rodgers
-------------------------------------
{The opening trumpets to Confident by Demi Lovato begin to play as the lights in the ring drop, leaving gold and green spotlights on the stage and ramp. The lights in the arena pulse with similar colors as the bass kicks in. Vivienne herself does not appear until the lyrics begin in Earnest, walking on from backstage. Vivienne grins confidently as she raises a fist into the air on stage, holding the pose for a few seconds before stepping toward the ring, throwing a few punches and a kick as she begins to walk. She jumps up onto the apron, walking alongside the outer part of the ring before going in over the top rope, interacting with the crowd as she circles the inside of the ring. She takes to the center of the ring as the chorus plays, raising her fists into the air before Vivienne settles into her corner.}Terri Morasco: This is gonna be a straight-up wrestling match for the Imperial Diamond title!
Vasco Dias: How boring...
Terri Morasco: Really...?! I think I know someone who'll beg to differ...
{ We transition .to the announcers' desk to find Caroline Machado, who writes notes on a small notepad with a smile .on .her face. }Caroline Machado: Hi!!!
Terri Morasco: Glad to have ya here, Caroline! What are your thoughts as Vivienne Rodgers waits for Cals Jacobsen!
Caroline Machado: (in slightly improved, yet still broken, English) This will go either way. Whoever wins here will make a fine Champion!
{The echoing guitar intro of "Tears Don't Fall" sounds through the arena before a howl of "LET'S GOOOOOO!" brings Cals Jacobsen running out onto the stage, shoulder-rolling forward and coming up kneeling with their hands in horns and their tongue out, grinning ear to ear. They pop up to their feet, nodding and grinning wickedly as they walk down the ramp, fistbumping and high-fiving with fans. Climbing the ring steps, Cals hangs off the ringpost, nodding along to the music, and steps through the ropes, pacing in a circle before running to the ropes and leaping up onto the second rope, throwing their hood back and bellowing out to the fans. Cals detaches their hood, unfolding it and tossing it into the crowd before running the ropes, clearly psyched for their match.}Vasco Dias: Really...?! That's such a chicken-shit answer!
Terri Morasco: Oh, WILL YOU STOP!?!
{ Caroline simply chuckles at Vasco's expense, watching as Blue Shoes holds up the Imperial Diamond title before calling for the bell. }[DING!]
{ These two, for fifteen solid minutes, showed the women's division exactly what it means to compete on the biggest of stages. This was a straight-up wrestling match that showcased both Viv's and Cals' technical prowess. Viv stars off by showing Cals her brand of light-hearted competition, applying a pair of vertical suplexes before applying a fireman's carry. Clas winds up going for the old tilt-a-whirl ride before being dumped to the canvas via a slam, which gives Rodgers a two-count. }Caroline Machado: This is great!
Terri Morasco: Viv's off to a hot start. Let's see if she can keep her focus here!
{ After trading moves with Cals for the next five minutes, eventually Jacobsen takes command with their own flavor of wrestler, inspired by their brother Andrew. Cals puts viv through a heavy grind, firing off a pair of dropkicks that have the former Women's World Champion stunned. Cals tries to go for a single-leg Boston Crab, but Viv squirms out of danger...only to wind up on the business end of a quick snap suplex! Cals kicks Viv in the gut before pulling off a German suplex that scores them a two-count as well. }Vasco Dias: Aww c'mon, man! When are these two lovebirds gonna trade punches?! I wanna see a catfight!!!
Terri Morasco: I find that to be highly unlikely!
Caroline Machado: No punches! This match can be great without them!!
{ And it was great, even without the strikes. Ten minutes in, Viv has Cals on the ropes. She's got her best friend placed into position for her patented Reflection screwdriver combination...but nope! Cals wriggles their way out of trouble before placing their opponent into their patented Spectrum-plex combination -- ending with a straitjacket suplex that wows the crowd! Cals goes for the pin... }1...!
2...!!
THREEEEEE--NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
{ Blue Shoes holds up the dreaded two fingers as Cals has that "certain look" on their mug! }Caroline Machado: I am impressed by Cals -- and Vivi too for the kickout!
Terri Morasco: Who wants it more...!?!
{ Cals grabs Viv and tries to place her in the Green Skies Meteora combination...only for Viv to counter with a quick Reflection screwdriver maneuver that has Jacobsen stunned and the crowd wowed! Rodgers goes for the pin... }1...!
2....!!
THREEEEEEEEEEAWWWWWWW...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{ Viv frowns as Blue Shoes holds up the dreaded two fingers! }Terri Morasco: So close to having a new Champion!
Vasco Dias: When will this snoozer end...?!
Caroline Machado: Only when the bell rings, Mr. Grumpy!!!
{ Both of these competitors are exhausted as we approach fifteen minutes. Eventually, Cals gets the better of Viv by executing a perfectly-timed FALL TO PIECES double underhook facebuster to score the three-count and retain the Imperial Diamond title!}-------------------------------------
IWF WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP1K RP WORD LIMIT
Xavier Zion vs Ulf Hednir(c)
-------------------------------------
{the lights shut off as the initial string of horns from âSimon Saysâ echos throughout the venue now entirely devoid of light. As the horns begin to stop and the snares indicate the beat drop the black shifts to a strong red, illuminating the faces of all those in attendance. Xavier emerges as always with a singular focus. Maybe a single high five is given; this is a business trip. He grips the twine of the rope as fireworks leap out of their foxholes from each turnbuckle. First blue, than red, the white again. He enters the ring and circles it, cutting the square in half. As he stretches himself out on the ropes in is corner he locks eyes with his opponent and begins to stalk.}
Vasco Dias: Tonight is the night! Celebrate, fans! Celebrate for Xavier Zion! Heâs going to win this championship!
Terri Morasco: You sound so certain, but what do you have against Ulf? He has proven himself many times over.
{The opening introduction for âRaise Your Hornsâ by Amon Amarth plays over the PA system, and the crowd goes into a frenzy! The music can barely be heard over the sound of the fans. Ulf Hednir quickly shoves the curtains aside, dressed in his wolf headdress, and marches out onto the stage with the IWF World Television Championship being worn around his waist, and his drinking horn held high over his head.}Ulf Hednir: SKĂ
L!
Crowd: SKĂ
L!
{Ulf drinks from the drinking horn, and after, turns it upside down to show the crowd that there is nothing left. Ulf attaches the drinking horn to a strap hanging off his primary belt, and marches down the ramp to shake hands or high five many of the fans along the ramp; fans scramble to get as close as they can and he takes an extra moment to ensure he greets as many as he can. Ulf goes around to the right side of the ring, still greeting as many fans as he can until he reaches the timekeeperâs table, where he removes the headdress and the drinking horn, placing them on the table. He walks up to the apron and leaps up, grabbing the ropes, and leaning back to let loose a mighty howl.}Raise your horns, raise them up to the sky,
We will drink to glory tonight!
Raise your horns for brave fallen friends,
We will meet where the beer never ends!
{The chorus plays over, and Ulf steps between the middle and top ropes before parading around the ring a bit. He removes the championship from his waist, and holds it over his head while showing it to all sides of the crowd. He finally hands it to the referee in charge, and waits for the match to start.}
Terri Morasco: And hereâs⊠Ulf! Heâs looking goodâŠ
Vasco Dias: Will you focus?! Keep it professional!
Terri Morasco: Heâs looking healthy! Heâs looking ready! Heâs ready to defend this belt!
Vasco Dias: Sure, thatâs what you meant.
{Jessica Andrews is standing in the middle of the ring and asks both competitors if they are ready for the start of the match; they both nod, and so she calls for the bell! Ulf explodes from his side of the ring, aiming for The Thor Punch!}
Terri Morasco: Ulf is looking fresher each week, and he comes out quick with this one!
Vasco Dias: But Xavier Zion is too quick, and too smart to be caught this early!
{Zion rolls out of the way, and is back up to his feet just as the champion turns toward him⊠Ulf closes the distance and attempts to clinch with Zion, but Zion ducks under him before delivering a quick kick to the back of Ulfâs leg trying to knock him off balance -- Ulf continues standing, hobbling for just a moment, then reaches for an overhand chop! Zion avoids it, then grabs Ulf by the wrist and starts delivering some quick kicks to his midsection; Ulf slowly backs up from each kick, but Zion keeps his wrist locked while continuously driving in thunderous kicks! The challenger backs the champion against the ropes and then sends him off with an Irish-whip!}Vasco Dias: Xavier Zion is holding a steady control of this match!
Terri Morasco: But Ulf is coming back, and--
{Ulf has rebounded off the ropes, and Zion advanced to the middle of the ring to collide with him, only to be taken down with a shoulder block!}Terri Morasco: A huge shoulder block!
{Ulf looks at his downed opponent, and charges against the ropes to gain some momentum; he wants to strike him on the ground, but Zion rolls toward him forcing him to step over as he didnât feel he had enough momentum⊠Zion springs to his feet as Ulf is going away, and Zion looks to connect with a Zuperkick on Ulfâs return!}Vasco Dias: Ulf-- nope!
Terri Morasco: Ulf hooked the ropes to stop his momentum, as if he knew that kick was coming!
{Zion is a bit off balance after Ulf stopped, but regains his footing; just in time to be taken down with a clothesline! Ulf reaches down and grabs Zion by the arm, almost dragging him to his feet, and takes him down with a short-arm clothesline! Ulf keeps Zionâs arm, and leans down to pull him up a second time, but Zion this time rolls Ulf up into a small package!}Terri Morasco: That came out of nowhere!
Vasco Dias: Xavier Zion is going to have to fight smart against someone the size of Ulf, and thatâs what heâs doing!
{Jessica Andrews counts: One! ⊠Two! Ulf is able to roll out of it!}Vasco Dias: Xavier Zion had him in, but Ulf does power out of it.
{Both men roll to their feet.}
Terri Morasco: And now back to their feet, Ulf taking the first swingâŠ
{Ulf swings for a wild clothesline, but Zion ducks it and tries to catch him around the waist for a German Suplex! Ulf puts all of his weight down, and Zion finds himself unable to lift him; it doesnât stop Zion from continuously trying.}Vasco Dias: You may want to stop, and get yourself ahead, Zion!
Terri Morasco: Ulf just has dropped his weight too much. Heâs dead weight.
{Zion tries one more time before Ulf manages to wriggle himself free, and swings an elbow toward him! Zion is able to duck underneath, and takes Ulf down with a double leg takedown before aiming to get him into a Sharpshooter!}Vasco Dias: There you go! You arenât going to overpower him, and even lifting him can be rather difficult, but you can take him down and beat him on the ground!
Terri Morasco: I hate to say it like this, but thereâs no other way to say it. Zion is the underdog in this match! He struggles against stronger opponents, and while he can take him to the ground in hopes of out-wrestling him, Ulf is highly experienced on the ground as well.
{Zion is trying to get the Sharpshooter locked in, but Ulf draws his legs in; with all of his might, Ulf shoves Zion back and springs up to his feet; Ulf immediately charges forward and goes for a running big boot! Zion is able to duck underneath, and Ulf is able to stop his leg on the top rope, and Zion capitalizes by using a forearm smash to his back and bringing him backward into an inverted headlock, and finally dropping Ulf with a reverse DDT!}Vasco Dias: Knock him down a peg!
Terri Morasco: And heâs going for the cover!
{Zion rolls Ulf up, and Jessica counts: One! ⊠Two!}Terri Morasco: Ulf kicks out!
{Zion gets up to his knees and kneels beside Ulf, before beginning to pummel away with strikes! Zion is connecting with his knuckles against Ulfâs forehead, repeatedly, until Jessica is finally pulling Zion backâŠ}
Jessica Andrews: Watch those fists, Xavier!
Xavier Zion: What?!
Jessica Andrews: Watch! Those! Hands!
Terri Morasco: Jessica Andrews is having some words with Zion! Heâs been pummeling away with closed fists, and sheâs not wanting to have to disqualify him, but closed fists are illegal!
Vasco Dias: I saw nothing! That was an open palm! Jessica Andrews is overstepping her boundaries!
{Zion gets to a standing position and is bickering with Jessica, who is standing her ground to the challenger. Ulf is covering his head, and checking himself for blood; there is none. Just a little sore. He rolls over and starts to push himself to his feet -- Zion finally dismisses Jessica, and turns at Ulf, raising his arms for a double axe handle smash -- Ulf retaliates by scooping Zion up with ease, causing the crowd to pop loud for the champion!}Terri Morasco: Ulf lifts Zion up like heâs nothing!
Vasco Dias: This isnât right! Jessica Andrews should not have intervened!
Terri Morasco: She was doing her job!
{Zion is shaking his head as he is looking down towards the mat, and Ulf slides Zion up onto his shoulder; he continues shaking his head, but Ulf snaps forward and down with a running powerslam! The two bounce off the mat from the impact.}Terri Morasco: Zion may have been hurt from that one!
{Ulf makes the cover, and Jessica counts: One! ⊠Two! Zion kicks out!Vasco Dias: Good! Show that toughness! Show that resilience! Xavier Zion is battling two people here. Ulf Hednir! And Jessica Andrews!
Terri Morasco: Heâs battling one. Thatâs Ulf. Jessica Andrews is calling it right down the middle!
{Ulf gets up to his feet and pulls Zion to his feet with him, and connects with an uppercut that sends Zion back a few steps! Ulf follows up with a right jab, and left hook! Zion stumbles toward the turnbuckle facing it, and Ulf charges from behind; Zion senses it coming and uses the ropes to spring himself up and try to go over Ulf! Ulf catches him back on his shoulder!}Terri Morasco: Ulf telegraphed that one perfectly!
{Ulf marches Zion toward the turnbuckle the rest of the way and starts to trap him on the corner in a tree of woe, or Yggdrasil positionâŠ}Vasco Dias: Come on! This canât be fair! This isnât fair!
Terri Morasco: Zion is in a lot of trouble in this position, and heâs trying desperately to get his legs free!
{Ulf raises an arm to gesture to the crowd, while taking a couple steps backward and pointing at Zion who is waving his arms frantically almost pleading for Ulf to not do itâŠXavier Zion: No! Donât do it! Donât do it!
{Ulf shoots with a finger gun at Zion before charging at him and going for a baseball slide!}Terri Morasco: Zion is-- no!
Vasco Dias: HA! Miss!
{Zion managed to pull himself up, but his legs are still trapped. Ulf slides outside of the ring and lands on his feet outside of the ring; Zion is still trying to get himself freed while Ulf slides back into the ring and closes in⊠but itâs too late⊠Zion has freed himself.}Terri Morasco: Heâs not safe just yet. Ulf still has the stance over him.
Vasco Dias: And whereâs Jessica Andrews to stop him?
{Zion tries to get to his feet on his own, but Ulf grabs him and drags him the rest of the way⊠Zion shoves Ulf back, and lunges forward for a clothesline! Ulf ducks, and Zion stops right behind him; they both turn to face each other at the same time, but Ulf hits a picture perfect dropkick that sends Zion to the mat!}
Terri Morasco: Beautifully executed! Not many people hit a dropkick like that!
Vasco Dias: Youâre paying attention to the dropkick, right?
{Ulf crawls over Zion, and covers. Andrews counts: One! ⊠Two! Zion kicks out!}Terri Morasco: It wasnât enough!
{Zion immediately rolls over onto his stomach and is getting up to his feet; Ulf beats him to his feet, and picks Zion up the rest of the way again⊠he connects with a few short elbows but Zion manages to catch one and drags Ulf down into a Crippler Crossface!}Vasco Dias: Perfection! Xavier Zion waited for the right moment to strike, and he did it! He has that hold locked in!
Terri Morasco: It was smart of him, absolutely, and Ulf does look like heâs in a fair amount of trouble!
{Zion wrenches back with the Crippler Crossface and Jessica Andrews is crouched beside Ulf to ask him if he wants to tap out; Ulf shakes his head and reaches his free arm up to try and pull Zionâs arm off -- to no avail. Zion is shaking his head and screaming at Ulf with the hold expertly appliedâŠ}Xavier Zion: TAP! TAP, YOU GIANT OGRE! TAP OUT!
{Ulf is trying to reach out for the ropes, but Zion has him in the middle of the ring. He reaches his arm up, seeming like he may tap out, but clenches his fist and continues refusing⊠he claws his way forward, using his legs to push himself forward, dragging Zion with him toward the ropes⊠Zion shakes his head at Ulf.}Vasco Dias: Come on! Tap out, Ulf!
Terri Morasco: The power of Ulf is astounding! Heâs dragging Zionâs full body weight, along with his own, towards the ropes!
Xavier Zion: SON OF A BITCH! NO! NO! NO! TAP OUT! RIGHT NOW! TAP!
{Ulf continues shaking his head and closes in almost one full foot off one shove; Zion wrenches back further, bending Ulf at an odd angle with the hold applied -- Ulf still reaches his hand out, and is just mere inches away from getting the rope break.}
Terri Morasco: Could he?!
Vasco Dias: He tapped! HE TAPPED! CALL THE BELL!
Terri Morasco: He didnât tap⊠what are you watching?
{Ulf stretches his arm further, andâŠ}Terri Morasco: ROPE BREAK! Ulf did it!
{Ulf grips the rope with his hand, and Zion looks frustrated that he did not get the submission victory. Jessica Andrews is telling Zion to break the hold, and he holds it for the four seconds allotted time that he can without being disqualified; Zion finally releases and rolls up to his feet.}
Terri Morasco: Zion is fuming that Ulf did not tap out!
Vasco Dias: Okay, okay! I will admit! Ulf did not tap out, and that was impressive⊠he closed that distance. It was impressive! It was resilient! But damn it, just tap out!
{Ulf is still lying on his stomach, and Zion steps forward before stomping on Ulfâs back, and then his wrist! Zion grips the top rope and starts aggressively stomping Ulf wherever he can land, and Ulf tries to protect himself while still getting up to his feet; Zion transitions from stomping, to kicking Ulf along the rib-cage, chest, and shoulder, but Ulf is still getting upâŠ}Terri Morasco: Those are stinging shots, and Zion is clearly looking to keep Ulf weakened. Just continuing to try and wear him down.
Vasco Dias: As he should. This title is changing hands tonight!
{Zion drives a knee to Ulfâs midsection, and follows in with a front headlock; before he can get it fully applied, Ulf shoves him off and lunges forward with a clothesline! Zion ducks under, and rolls Ulf up into a schoolboy: One! ⊠Two! ⊠Ulf kicks out of it!}
Terri Morasco: And Ulf still has enough to kick out, but you have to imagine heâs looking for something big to even the odds.
Vasco Dias: Letâs see that Zuperkick to bring this thing home!
{Ulf rolls to his knees and is back up, but Zion beats him to his feet; Zion fires for a Zuperkick! Ulf catches his leg, and shakes his head at Zion a few times⊠Ulf pushes Zion back and grabs both of his legs, before dragging him to the middle of the ring and Zion is pleading again for Ulf to not do anything crazy! Ulf begins spinning him around using Flight of the Valkyries!}Vasco Dias: What is this?!
Terri Morasco: Ulf demonstrating more strength, just spinning Zion around like heâs nothing!
Vasco Dias: Iâm getting dizzy just watching thisâŠ
{The crowd counts as Ulf spins Zion aroundâŠ}Crowd: One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! Eleven! Twelve! Thirteen! Fourteen! FIFTEEN!
{At fifteen, Ulf releases Zion who lands flat on his back; this doesnât stop Zion from trying to get to his feet, although wobbly⊠he and Ulf are both wobbling⊠but Ulf regains his bearing, and Zion stumbles into him and is lifted up onto his shoulders! Ulf gestures for the Valhalla Driver.}
Vasco Dias: Reach for the ropes! Heâs still off-balance, and you can do it!
{Zion reaches for the ropes, and just as Ulf notices to try and take him out of range -- Zion gets his hand on the ropes. Ulf flings Zion up, and connects with a knee to his chest! Zion is clutching his chest in pain, and Ulf bounces off the ropes to come forward and go for The Thor Punch!}Vasco Dias: Not again⊠NO! HA! MISS!
Terri Morasco: I think Zion saw his whole life flash before his eyes.
{Zion narrowly avoids the punch, and delivers a roundhouse kick to Ulfâs midsection! Zion connects with a second roundhouse kick, and a third, before grabbing Ulfâs arm -- he Irish-whips him toward the corner, but Ulf reverses! Ulf follows in and connects with the first part of Fury of the Gods!}Terri Morasco: The splash! The splash that starts the end!
Vasco Dias: Come on, Zion! Telegraph this next one!
{Ulf grabs Zionâs arm and sends him to the opposite corner and sits in wait⊠when Zion hits the corner and faces him, Ulf charges in and goes for the second part of Fury of the Gods!}Terri Morasco: Ulf could-- no!
Vasco Dias: Zion is just too quick for him!
{Zion has moved out of the way and Ulf now faces him while being in the corner, and Zion just charges in beginning to drive in shoulder thrusts! Zion musters the strength to lift Ulf to the second turnbuckle and connects with an uppercut! Zion climbs up to the second rope and looks behind him as he is trying to call for the super belly-to-belly suplexâŠ}
Vasco Dias: Why? Zion, you had it! Why are you going high?!
{The crowd is anticipating Zion to take Ulf down with the super belly-to-belly; he seems to struggle trying to sail him over⊠and just as Ulf seems to be coming-to, and trying to shift the momentum back in his favor, Zion lands it! SUPER BELLY-TO-BELLY!}
Vasco Dias: I canât believe it paid off!
Terri Morasco: These fans are going crazy!
{Zion lays on his back for a couple moments drawing in some heavy breaths, as Ulf appears to be laid out in the middle of the ringâŠ}
Vasco Dias: Cover him, Zion! Cover him! Win that title!
{Zion warily rolls over onto his stomach, and crawls over Ulf, and hooks the far leg. Jessica Andrews countsâŠ}Vasco Dias: New champion!
{One! ⊠}Vasco Dias: Itâs all over!
{Two! âŠ}Vasco Dias: AndâŠ
{Th-- Ulf rolls his shoulder off the mat!}Terri Morasco: NO! Ulf Hednir gets his shoulder up!
Vasco Dias: NO!!!
{Jessica Andrews holds two fingers up for the crowd to see, and the crowd is in a frenzy for the TV Champion! Zion is in absolute disbelief, as he holds three fingers up to JessicaâŠ}Xavier Zion: Three? THREE?! That! Was! Three!
Jessica Andrews: Just two, Xavier!
{She says while holding two fingers to Zion now.}Vasco Dias: Come on! Xavier Zion should be the new champion!
Terri Morasco: Ulf kicks out, and Zion just cannot believe it!
{Zion sighs, but stands up to his feet and starts calling for Ulf to get up⊠he waves his arm⊠daring him, and challenging him to get up to his feet; Ulf rolls over onto his stomach, and finally up to his feet⊠just as Zion snaps forward to aim for the Zuperkick!}Vasco Dias: And!
{Ulf ducks!}
Vasco Dias: How?!
Terri Morasco: And heâs running for the ropes!
{Ulf rebounds off the ropes just as Zion turns around, and leaps up connecting with The Thor Punch! Ulf quickly falls over Zion, and hooks the leg: One! ⊠Two! ⊠Three!}Terri Morasco: Ulf did it! Ulf retained!
Vasco Dias: Close! So close!
Alison Valance: Your winner! By way of pinfall! AND STILL! IWF WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION! ULF! HEDNIIIIIIIRRRRRR!!!!!
{âRaise Your Hornsâ by Amon Amarth blasts over the PA, and Ulf Hednir gets up to his knees and finally up to his feet as Jessica Andrews hands him the IWF World Television Championship. Ulf holds the belt over his head to celebrate his title defense, as Jessica Andrews holds his arm up; Xavier Zion rolls out of the ring, holding his jaw in pain, while the crowd is cheering for the champion.}
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WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHTara Fenix(c) vs Mandi Matthews
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{âUmbrellaâ by All Time Low starts rocking the speakersâŠ}Terri Morasco: And here we go! Mandi Matthews is looking to upset Tara here tonight at High Stakes with the IWF Womenâs World Championship on the line!
Vasco Dias: I hope she knows sheâs going to her own slaughterâŠ
Terri Morasco: She has been getting beat up by The Church of Crosse, but I think it could light a fire under her⊠get out some of that aggression, you know?
Vasco Dias: She better hope.
{The queue is missed. Mandi Matthews has not emerged from behind the curtains as her music continues to play, and the crowd seems to be in utter confusion⊠their applause has stopped, as they just look on questionably.}Vasco Dias: Did she get lost on the way?
Terri Morasco: Weâre trying to find outâŠ
{The music restarts, and âUmbrellaâ is rocking throughout the speakers! The crowd gives a loud cheer as they look toward the curtains to wait for Mandi to make her appearance! ⊠but⊠she does not arrive.}Terri Morasco: Still no sign of her?
{Suddenly⊠Every light in the arena shuts off⊠moments later, a single blue spotlight shines to the curtain as the opening melody for âThe Eagle Flies Aloneâ by Arch Enemy plays over the PA system and the crowd is giving their mixed reactions⊠The longtime fans have cheered, and overpowering the ones who do not know whether to cheer or not; some join in just out of peer pressure. Fog has filled the stage. The first verse comes and goes. The chorus comes in.}I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the powers that be!
{Tara emerges from behind the curtains; her head is covered by her hood. The championship around her waist glimmers from the spotlight hitting it, despite the fog covering some of it; Tara stands at the top of the stage with a sneer on her face as her eyes scan the crowd as if to find her supporters. Some of the crowd has gotten louder in her favor, while others are still mixed. Tara flings the hood back, and takes a better look at the crowd. The legendary Tara reaches down to trace her fingernails along the plate of the belt before going into a stride down the ramp; the stride turns to a brisk walk about halfway down the ramp. The crowd along the front row is bowing down to her. As she reaches the bottom of the ramp, she goes around to the camera side of the ring, and leaps onto the apron with one knee and straightens out her other leg while looking to the crowd and the camera.}
I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the pÎżwers that be!
The eagle flies alone!
{Tara crawls between the middle and lower ropes, and crawls to the middle of the ring. After standing up, she walks to the nearest turnbuckle and unstraps the championship from her waist; she holds the belt up with one hand before shouting out inaudible words. After several seconds of basking, she does a one-eighty off of the second rope and landing. She hands the championship to the referee, and then her coat, then proceeds to wait for the match to start.}Terri Morasco: I guess Tara got tired of waiting! The champion enters first!
Vasco Dias: Well, it does give time for them to find Mandi. Now where is that lamb?
{Tara stands inside the ring with her eyes fixated on the curtains looking for her prey⊠âUmbrellaâ again rocks the speakers throughout the arena, and the crowd starts chanting for Mandi! Tara backs away from the ropes, and nods her head, as she wants Mandi to come down to the ring⊠and just as the spotlight hits the curtain: no Mandi.}Vasco Dias: Ah! Iâve just received word that Mandi Matthews is not in the arena tonight. But they say the show must go on! Thereâs a last minute change to Taraâs opponent, and⊠here she comes!
{Pump it plays as Mimi comes running down the ramp and into the ring.}Vasco Dias: Mimi had better have the night of her life! This is the opportunity of her life! In the ring with arguably the greatest female -- maybe even the greatest in-ring competitor of all time!
Terri Morasco: Youâre still a fan after she threatened you?
Vasco Dias: You know it!
{Tara sneered at Mimi, who is inside the ring and just stretching to prepare herself for the match⊠Jessica Andrews calls for the bell, and the bell sounds, and Mimi charges forward trying to lock up with the IWF Womenâs World Champion! Tara snaps back, and forward, with the Genocide Kick!}Vasco Dias: Well, that was quickâŠ
{Tara grabs Mimiâs legs and locks in the Phoenix Lock, pulling on it as tight as she can! Jessica Andrews is checking on Mimi who is just pounding the mat in agony as Tara wrenches on the hold! Jessica Andrews immediately calls for the bell!}Alison Valance: Your winner! By way of submission! AND STILL! IWF WOMENâS WORLD CHAMPION! TARA! FEEEENNIIXXXXX!!!!
{Tara still has the hold applied and Jessica Andrews seems to be pleading with her to just release the hold, as Mimi is still crying out in agony; Tara finally does release the hold and rolls up to her feet⊠Jessica Andrews only holds her arm up momentarily, while Tara takes her championship and marches up the ramp as the victor.}Terri Morasco: Well, that was⊠very fast, as you say.
Vasco Dias: Tara is not taking prisoners tonight!
Terri Morasco: This is not who she expected to fight, but you have to imagine that she did send a message to the division and put it on notice. The Powers That Be can extend their reach.
-------------------------------------
SEGMENTA House Rebuilt
-------------------------------------
Terri Morasco: What an incredible show so far, Vasco!
Vasco Dias: Yeah, I canât argue with you there. My pants are feeling a little tighter after that last match for sure!
Terri Morasco: Iâm going to go ahead and ignore that because itâs about time for ...
{Terris cut off as the drumbeat of Even Horizon begins.}Vasco Dias: What the hell is this?
{âYou Are Black Holeâ whispers through the speakers, sending a shiver up the spine of the collective audience. From behind the curtain steps Tytus Rost, his face like carved granite as he stares with cold eyes down to the ring.
As he stands at the top of the entrance ramp, Berrick OâMurphy comes bouncing out behind him pointing and yelling, being the literal hype-man for the big Russian.}Alison Valance: Do ⊠do I announce? Yes? Oh, ok ⊠*ahem* Making his way to the ring accompanied by Berrick OâMurphy, weighing three hundred and four pounds ⊠from Mikhailovka, Russia ⊠The Russian Lion ⊠Tytus ⊠Rost!
{Berrick stands in front of Tytus barking instructions at him all-the-while pointing down to the ring. Rostâs upper lip curls in a sneer as he begins to move with purpose down the ramp with OâMurphy in tow. Making it to the ring, Berrick quickly scales the ring steps and climbs into the ring as Tytus stands on the floor and then leaps up to the apron in a show of agility for a man his size. He wipes his boots on the outside of the ring before stepping in through the ropes and joining OâMurphy in the center of the ring.}Vasco Dias: Look at him, Terri! How can you deny that this man is a future major player in this company.
Terri Morasco: Well, Iâm certainly not denying anything - but it still doesnât explain why heâs out here. He doesnât have a match on the card tonight.
{Tytus stands statue still while Berrick reaches between the ropes for a microphone}Berrick OâMurphy Jr: Ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls I stand before you tonight a disappointed man. Like everyone else, I feel weighed down by the state of our fair company. Monsters, demons, cyborg ex-champions, owner sponsored hits, and this new viking revolution we seem to be on.
{Thereâs a chuckle from the crowd}Berrick OâMurphy Jr: But Iâve let all that go, because with all of their faults, the rest of the company has had the foresight to leave us out of their drama. But, it would appear that unless youâre armpit deep in their drama, youâre simply forgotten.
For two weeks now Tytus and I have been standing backstage waiting to see if there would be room on the card, an opportunity to continue showcasing his unquestionable talents, a chance.
But, as you obviously know, this never happened. âWeâre sorry, thereâs just not enough timeâ theyâd say ⊠meanwhile Gilmore, the Powers that Be, and even Mandi Matthews are given minute after precious minute to waste our time.
So tonight, at High Stakes, weâre taking our time back.
Tytus was left from the card once again so I decided to go above my paygrade and enlist the help of someone with a history in IWF. Someone who has always gotten what they wanted, no matter who stood in their way.
Theyâve secured us a match tonight, so enough from me ⊠itâs go time!
{Berrick quickly climbs through the ropes as a trio of men, flanked by a referee, make their way through the curtain and down to the ring. Berrick meets them at the bottom of the ramp, his arms stretched out and allowing the first competitor and referee to slide into the ring as the ring bell sounds.}Terri Morasco: This is highly unorthodox. You canât just go around making your own matches ⊠who even are these people?
Vasco Dias: This is GREAT, Terri. This is taking initiative and this is what Roberto is always talking about. You want to make it big in this company, youâve got to find a way to stand out!
{Tytus stands and allows the smaller man to run forward, but stops him dead in his tracks with a standing side kick that nearly takes his head off}Terri Morasco: Iâve been told that these are members of the IWF Performance Center that have been marched out here tonight to prove some stupid point. In the ring now is Harry Maxwell, and waiting on the outside are Cole Sheppard and Hercules Stavros.
Vasco Dias: Nothing stupid about the point that Tytus is proving here right now, Terri!
{Tytus reaches down and pulls Maxwell back to his feet. Harry is on spaghetti noodle legs as Tyrus manhandles him into position and drives him back down to earth with the Last Czar. Rost isnât even attempting to make the cover as he motions towards the remaining men and points towards Sheppard.}Vasco Dias: Look at this, Terri! Rost is calling his next shot!
Terri Morasco: He hasnât even properly pinned the poor kid crumpled in a heap at his feet.
{Sheppard hits the ring and goes to work on Rost immediately. Lefts and rights fly as the large Russian is pushed back to the ropes. Cole grabs hold of Tytus by the arm and sends him flying across the ring. As Rost rebounds and comes back, he leaves his feet and hits Sheppard with the Event Horizon that nearly sends Sheppard up and over the top rope. Rost reaches down and pulls Sheppard back to a vertical position before walking him backward into the corner and begins going to town on him with lefts and rights of his own.}Vasco Dias: Look at those body shots, Terri. Thereâs no way Sheppard is going to stand a chance without mounting some kind of offense here.
{Cole reaches up and rakes the eyes, pushing Rost off of him and getting a much needed breather for a moment. Rost isnât blinded for long and is quickly back on the hunt. He doesnât spot Sheppard until itâs almost too late. Cole launches himself at Rost like a freight train, but Tytus catches him in mid air, using the momentum to spin and drive Sheppard into the mat with an Ursa Major. Rost slams his fists into the mat, roaring like his namesake, as the final competitor slides beneath the bottom rope looking to capitalize on Rostâs distraction.}Terri Morasco: Of the three, Hercules looks to have the closest build to Tytus and could match the Russian in strength.
Vasco Dias: Doesnât mean anything if Rost rips his arms off though does it?
{The crowd is riled up in anticipation as both men stand opposite of one another. Hercules moves in to clash into Tytus in the middle of the ring. Both men meet in the center of the squared circle and greet each other with fists to the face. Lefts and rights are thrown in this brawl and the crowd is on their feet cheering until Tytus clocks Stavros with a stiff right hook, following it up with a high knee to the gut and then taking the keeled rookie over with a rough Gutwrench Suplex. Rost stands with his arms outstretched to a now roaring crowd while Hercules hurries back to his feet only to be leveled with a standing side kick.
Rost drops down and mounts Stavros, raining down left and right hooks to the sides of his head. Hercules attempts to block but the strikes are still getting through. Tytus is ruthless as he lets his aggression out only breaking after he's gotten bored with the beatdown. The Russian Lion rises to his feet and brings the Performance Center recruit with him, shoving him back into the corner with a European uppercut.}Terri Morasco: Hercules looks to be out on his feet!
{Sure enough, the big Greek wobbles in the corner as Tytus takes a few steps back to give himself enough room to charge in with a corner body splash only for Stavros to sidestep out of the way at the last moment. Rost collides chest-first into the turnbuckles and stumbles out right into Hercules, who quickly crept up behind Rost for a School Boy pin...
One ...
TYTUS KICKSOUT!}Vasco Dias: You're not going to take this big guy down with that little girl's move.
Terri Morasco: Can you think before you speak? You are saying some stupid things tonight.
{Tytus looks furious at the pinfall attempt and simply brushes Stavros aside as he leaps up with a standing dropkick. Hercules hits the mat and as he sits back up, Rost is right there with a huge knee to the side of the head. Rost grabs a fistfull of Stavrosâ hair, getting an admonishing from the referee in the process, before pulling him back to a vertical base and getting his set up for Rasputinâs Will. He spins Stavros away only to pull him back while simultaneously executing a devastating looking lariat.}Vasco Dias: Sweet Jesus on a cracker - I think I saw his chest cave in!
Terri Morasco: How much more of this farce are we going to have to watch?
{Rost, staring down at the prone body of Stavros, sneers and turns his attention back to the other pair of bodies in the ring. He drags Hercules over to the others, adding Stavrosâ body to the pile before placing a boot on top and looking to the referee. Quickly, the referee drops into position and watches all three sets of shoulders while counting out the
ONE âŠ
TWO âŠ
THREE!!!!!}Terri Morasco: Tytus Rost is victorious tonight in this unplanned match up.
Vasco Dias: Dâyou think this counts as three separate victories or just, like, one really big one?
Terri Morasco: *looks at Vasco*
Vasco Dias: What?
{Vasco and Terri are cut off from further discussion as Berrick, once again, enters the ring. He takes hold of Tytusâ right arm and raises it in the air while bringing the microphone back up as well.}Berrick OâMurphy Jr: That is the kind of impact that you wonderful people could be seeing on a weekly basis if there was someone intelligent in charge of booking. But instead weâre all sitting on the edge of our seats wondering who will cash in on the Gillmore hit, when will Nick Danger become relevant, or how long before Spike Kane is resurrected.
Let this little break in that monotony serve as a reminder then, because next week you will most likely go back to that plebeian television programing that has put IWF on par with the Kardashians. But like I said earlier, I couldnât have done this alone. No, for weeks my calls for matches have been ignored and more than one blind eye has been turned in our direction. So, like a good agent I brought in the big guns, so to speak. This, all of this, is thanks to that one person; and as the agent of one Mr. Tytus Rost, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you all to the person responsible for what you see in front of you. Ladies and gentlemen, I present âŠ
Laura Howlett.
{Berrick turns to face the staging area and smiles as he points. From behind the curtain steps the indominadable Laura Howlett.}Terri Morasco: WHAT? Is that really?
Vasco Dias: Thatâs really her! Laura Howlett is BACK in IWF!
Terri Morasco: But what does this mean?
Vasco Dias: Is she putting the House back together?Is Tytus the first member? I WANT ANSWERS, MORASCO!
Terri Morasco: We all do, Vas. It doesnât look like weâre going to be getting them tonight though. But what a turn of events ⊠I never would have thought this would happen tonight!
-------------------------------------
IWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER MATCHGods and Monsters vs Powers that Be(c)
-------------------------------------
{The lights in the arena flicker and die as if there were some kind of power outage. As the light sounds of an acoustic guitar play, the high pitched laughter of children fills the air. A red spotlight shines on the stage as heavy smoke rolls across the floor. As opening lyrics of Monster (Under my Bed) by Call me Karizma starts to sing Abraxes rises from the center of the stage, his eyes burning out from under his mask as he stares down at the ring.
The rhythm of the song changes from a twisted lullaby do a grinding rock song just as he rises to his full height. Abraxes glares around at the audience before he walks down the ramp, focused on the ring in front of him. He crawls into the ring, exaggerated movements of his hands and legs to appear more like a creepy spider then a man. He rolls to his feet, holding his arms into the air as the lullaby starts anew.}
Lord knows the devil don't sleep,
He never shuts his eyes,
You never hear him creepin'... heh...
{ The gentle melody of the song begins to play through the PA; fog is filling the stage at the same time that the lights dim down. The lighting hues change to a pale green as Locke emerges from behind the curtains sporting his traditional sly smirk, his head slightly lowered so as to hide his eyes under the brim of his hat his thumbs tucked into his belt. }He's at your door, don't let him in,
He'll lie, he'll steal, he'll kill, he'll win
{ Locke walks down the ramp tipping his hat to the fans as he walks past them before shifting to his left and walking to and up the steel steps by the ring. He walks along the apron gliding his fingertips across the top rope while looking out at the crowd and stopping near the middle. He lifts his head to let his eyes peer into the camera in that direction, and out to the crowd, his smirk turning to a devilish grin joined by a slight chuckle before finally leaning down to step between the top and middle ropes, using his hand to keep his hat on. Upon getting into the ring he strides across, pounding his arm to his chest before stretching them out with his fingers extended out in a finger gun and throwing his head back. He holds the pose for a moment before dropping his arms and removing his hat and coat to hand them to the ring crew. He looks down at his shoes and kicks them on top of each other to get the dust off before ensuring his necklace is fastened tightly. He waits for the match to begin. }Vasco Dias: The demise⊠comesâŠ
Terri Morasco: Why are you counting them out? They did win the match last week.
Vasco Dias: Because The Powers That Be let them!
{ The lights in the arena go out as Mission Statement by Stone Sour begins to play. A spot light shines down upon the entrance ramp highlighting Angel Blake and Dean Harper. The two stand side by side with their arms out stretched before pyro fires off all around them. The father and son pairing head toward the ring as the crowd boos. Angel and Dean each take a different side of the ring and climb up before facing the crowd with their outstretched arms and the whole arena being engulfed in light. When the lighting returns to normal they are both in the ring and ready to fight. }
Vasco Dias: And here are the champions! They are going to dominate these two just to teach them a lesson.
Terri Morasco: I think itâs going to be a fairer contest than you think.
{The two teams stand across from each other as Blue Shoes calls for the bell, and like a gunshot for a swim race, the duos charge at each other firing shots back and forth! Dean and Locke! Angel and Abraxes! Abraxes is gaining the upper hand over Angel; meanwhile, Dean is getting the edge over Locke⊠Dean snaps back and catches Locke off-guard with a clothesline that sends him over the top rope and to the outside! Dean turns to see Abraxes still pummeling away on Angel, and charges from behind connecting with a flying forearm to his back! Abraxes stays on his feet, but tumbles forward into the corner.}Vasco Dias: Dean Harper makes quick work of Locke, and is now helping Angel gain the edge over Abraxes. Divide and conquer! Thatâs the key!
Terri Morasco: I thought the key was going to be to climb the ladder and get the belts?
Vasco Dias: But you have to wear them down!
{Dean shoves Abraxes into the corner and holds him there momentarily while Angel regains his footing; Angel gets up and delivers a hard kick to Abraxesâs stomach, and Dean follows up with his own; Angel and Dean alternate kicks into Abraxesâs stomach until heâs in a seated position⊠Angel uses his foot to choke Abraxes while commanding Dean to rush the ropes.}Vasco Dias: Listen to your father!
Terri Morasco: Heâs off the ropes, and-- nope! Locke has him!
{Outside of the ring, Locke had gotten to his feet and aims to trip Dean; Dean turns and tries to kick at Locke, but Locke trips him up the rest of the way and takes him over to the steel post as Dean is kicking his legs to break free from Lockeâs grip on his legs; Angel sees the commotion and starts walking in their direction, but Abraxes is now on his feet and takes Angel down with a clothesline to the back! Meanwhile, Locke now smashes one of Deanâs legs across the steel post! Dean screams out in a bit of pain, and Locke lines him up to do a second one; he succeeds! Dean pulls himself back and holds his leg as Locke climbs up to the apron. Between Angel and Abraxes, Angel is unable to get to his feet but Abraxes is forcing him up as Locke calls out for Abraxes to hold him.}Terri Morasco: Gods & Monsters are now on the offense, and Dean looks to be concerned for his leg rather early⊠If Gods & Monsters can focus on those legs of Dean Harper, that takes away an important part of his arsenal and prevents him from doing much high flying.
Vasco Dias: Itâs true. Itâs true. And if they play it smart, that also makes it difficult for Dean to climb the ladder and means Angel would have to be the one to do that. But Locke is on the ropes! And he connects!
{Abraxes held Angel still; Locke springboards to the top rope, and then off with a flying forearm smash that sends Angel back down to the mat! Locke is quick to get back to his feet, and he points down at Dean Harper; Abraxes almost rips Dean to his feet, but Dean fires back by dropping Abraxes with a jawbreaker! Dean gets back up, only to be met with cowpoke! Dean goes to cover his eye, and Abraxes charges in connecting with a spear!}
Locke: You keep hurtinâ âem! Iâll get the ladder!
Vasco Dias: And who does Locke really think he is, ordering Abraxes?
Terri Morasco: I think heâs just laying out a strategy, Vasco.
{Locke rolls out of the ring and grabs one of the ladders along the side, quickly bringing it into action; while Locke is doing that, Abraxes goes back and forth stomping between Angel and then Dean. Locke now has the ladder inside and is trying to set it up, but Abraxes shakes his head⊠Locke nods his head, and the duo lift the ladder and await-- Dean is the first to his feet, and they take him down in a clothesline fashion with the ladder! Angel is the next, and they do the same! Abraxes almost rips the ladder from Lockeâs hands, and raises it over Angel, beginning to send multiple shots down into his sternum!}Terri Morasco: Abraxes doesnât want to end it so quickly, he wants to hurt Angel!
Vasco Dias: Come on! Thatâs not how a ladder is supposed to be used!
Terri Morasco: I donât think youâre supposed to use it for wrestling, but look where we are.
{Angel is grunting in pain from each shot, but Abraxes doesnât slow down. Locke has shifted his attention to Dean, who is scrambling to get up and save Angel, but Locke intervenes with a rolling clothesline! Locke then grabs Dean and drags him to the edge of the ring and eventually out of it; Locke runs Dean head first into another ladder outside of the ring, and sends it tumbling over! Locke folds the ladder up and starts walking it back toward the ring. Inside of the ring, Abraxes has tossed the ladder aside and forces Angel to his feet and back against the corner, almost strangling him!}Terri Morasco: Locke is back inside the ring and setting it up this time, and they have just had full control of this one.
Vasco Dias: Dean is far from out, though, and heâs heading to the ring!
{Locke has the ladder setup and is climbing! He climbs fast, but Angel, seeing what is happening, shoves Abraxes back with all of his might and sends him into the ladder!}Vasco Dias: Oh! Locke is in a bad position!
{It wobbles. But continues standing. Locke smiles as he is happy to have regained his balance.}Terri Morasco: But here comes Dean!
{Dean, now inside the ring, reaches up and gets a hold of Lockeâs ankle! He pulls it out from under him, and Lockeâs head connects with a step on the ladder, and seems to have busted him open; Dean goes forward and shoves the ladder into Abraxes, which doesnât seem to inflict too much damage to him, but distracts him long enough for Angel to connect with a Genocide Kick! Abraxes tumbles back into the ladder again, but Dean holds it up.}Terri Morasco: And just like that, the momentum has shifted!
Vasco Dias: See! You never count them out!
{Dean grabs the second ladder and starts wedging it into the first ladder; Locke is already to his knees, wiping blood away, but Angel is turning his focus to him and pummeling away with forearms, elbows, and fists to that open woundâŠ}Vasco Dias: Heâs like a shark! When he sees blood, heâs going to attack it! You have to love that about him!
Terri Morasco: It has made him formidable to everyone heâs ever stepped into the ring with.
{Dean is using the wedged ladder as a ramp to just walk his way up toward their belts, and just as he is getting to the top of it⊠Abraxes starts lifting the ladder from underneath! The ladder starts going on its side, but Dean Harper is able to dive off of it to save himself⊠Angel is able to move, and Locke is able to also dodge to the side.}Terri Morasco: With Dean Harper standing on the ladder, and the ladders wedged together, Abraxes just flipped it while lying down!
{Abraxes sits up, and rolls over before finally getting to his feet; Angel is the first to charge forward to go for an overhand chop. He lands it! But it doesnât phase Abraxes; Abraxes still stands up, and fires back with a headbutt that sends Angel back a step-- Dean goes to follow in and connects with a forearm smash! After about three forearm strikes, Abraxes catches it, and follows up with another headbutt!}Vasco Dias: What is happening?!
Terri Morasco: The monster is rising!
{The father and son duo stand together, and join arms to go forward for a double clothesline; they are unable to get good momentum due to the ladder positioning, but in either case, Abraxes ducks under it. Abraxes turns and hits Dean with a shoulder block that knocks him straight down! Angel goes for a side strike, but is caught with another headbutt. Locke fixes the ladders up inside of the ring, but then ignores the ladder to assist Abraxes. Locke and Abraxes join arms and charge at Angel against the ropes; Locke gets carried away and goes over the ropes with him as they connect with the clothesline! Abraxes, still inside of the ring, grabs Dean by the head and starts dragging him upâŠ}
Terri Morasco: Abraxes just ripping control back in favor, and-- Dean fires back!
{Outside of the ring, Locke continues raining a few strikes down on Angel to keep him worn down; he grabs Angel and tosses him into the steel post, and then into the barricade! Inside the ring, Dean is able to break free and connect with a spinning side kick! He follows it up immediately with a step-up enzuigiri! Abraxes is still standing, but dazed, and Dean gets back up and now hits a bicycle kick that finally knocks Abraxes down to a seated position; Locke is climbing onto the apron, and Dean sees it coming⊠he charges at Locke, and sunset flips over him and takes him off the apron with Descent into Hell!}Terri Morasco: Something just woke up inside of Dean Harper, and heâs just a man on a mission!
Vasco Dias: And heâs not going to let them get the best of his father! What a good son!
{Dean walks over to Angel and holds a hand down to help him to his feet. The duo, now on their feet, see Locke trying to get up on his own although fully dazed from Deanâs trademark, Angel now connects with Revelations!}Terri Morasco: Locke may be out of this, but Abraxes seems to have gotten bored and is now climbing the ladder!
{Abraxes has climbed his way up the ladder⊠Dean quickly slides into the ring, and runs up the wedged ladder, and takes Abraxes off the top ring with a clothesline! Both men tumble from the top and collapse on the ring! Outside of the ring, Locke is shaking his head trying to re-gather his wits. Inside, Angel sees an opportunity to take the belts; but Locke manages to reach in and grab Angel by the ankles! Angel turns around trying to battle him off, but Locke has a grip on them that makes it incredibly difficult for Angel to break free; Angel finally manages to get free and shoves him back a bit. Abraxes and Dean are both standing up, and Angel snaps forward and connects with a front kick and gets Abraxes into a butterfly lock before trying to take him down with Taraâs Wings! Abraxes reverses by lifting Angel over with a back body drop!}Terri Morasco: Locke did buy him enough time that Angel wasnât able to capitalize, and now Abraxes is battling back again!
Vasco Dias: The toughness of Abraxes and Locke is rather impressive. Both have eaten quite a few big moves from both Angel and Dean that have the ability to put people out for a good while, and theyâre still getting back in there. Props to them.
{Abraxes and Dean are now exchanging shots back and forth! Locke decides to pull a table out from under the ring and slides it into the ring; he follows in after and starts setting it up⊠Dean almost gets the upper hand over Abraxes, but then Locke comes in with a blindside attack! Angel is back up, holding his back, but both teams are now back at each other! Arms and legs are flying; fists, forearms, elbows, knees, and kicks flying from one duo to the other!}Terri Morasco: Neither team wants to give an edge!
Vasco Dias: All they have to do is climb the ladder!
Terri Morasco: Easier said than done!
{The fighting between both teams seems to be back and forth for two minutes before Locke finally catches Dean with a knee strike! Before he can stand up, Locke has hit the ropes and comes back with Dirt on my Boots! Abraxes has clotheslined Angel back outside of the ring, but he lands on his feet and stumbles toward where Locke is standing⊠Locke gestures to the crowd his intelligence, when Angel gets back up onto the apron and just out of nowhere gets a handcuff connected to Lockeâs wrist, and to the steel post!}Terri Morasco: What? What did Angel do?!
Vasco Dias: Thereâs no rules here, right?
{Abraxes is unaware of what has happened, as he is now climbing the ladder⊠relatively slow. As if he wants to let it sink into the minds of The Powers That Be that they are going to lose their belts.}Terri Morasco: Angel is taunting Locke now, who is livid!
{Locke is reaching out with his free arm to try and get a hand on Angel, and tries desperately to rip the handcuff off of him. Dean Harper rolls out of the ring and searches under for something, getting another pair of handcuffs. Locke lets out a loud whistle, and out comes the doppelganger! The doppelganger tries to get into the ring, but Dean catches him off-guard by handcuffing him to the opposite corner!}Terri Morasco: Two Lockeâs?
Vasco Dias: And both are out of the picture! Do you see what happens when you prepare for your opponents?
{Angel waves his fingers at Locke in a taunting gesture. Dean is walking up the wedged ladder again to try and stop him, as Abraxes is unaware of what has happened to Locke who is pulling violently but is just unable to get himself free from the handcuffsâŠ}Terri Morasco: There is nothing Locke can do now, and Abraxes and Dean are fighting at the top of the ladder!
{Angel goes outside really quick to bring a third ladder into the mix, setting it up right beside the original ladder⊠Locke kicked desperately at the ladders, but Angel had set it up out of his range. Angel climbs the ladder beside Abraxes, and catches him with a quick elbow! Angel is trying to hold Abraxes down as long as he can as Dean climbs up the rest of the way on the ladderâŠ}Terri Morasco: He can end this now, but no! Whatâs he doing?!
Vasco Dias: Sending a message! To Gods & Monsters!
{Dean Harper hooks both of Abraxesâs arms as Angel has him caught, and musters the strength to lift Abraxes on top of the ladder and drops him down and through the table with Clipped Wings! Dean Harper has put his body on the line to send the message, but Angel just nods his head in satisfaction as he tears the belts down from the ring and the bell sounds. Angel holds both titles up in victory while Blue Shoes is tending to Dean and Abraxes.}Vasco Dias: You do not cross The Powers That Be! The roster should be on notice! The womenâs division learned it earlier! The tag team division should know better now! Do not cross them!
Alison Valance: Your winners! AND STILL! IWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! ANGEL! AND DEAN! HARPER! THE! POWERS! THAT! BEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Terri Morasco: They had to handcuff Locke to get him out of the picture, but damn it! Damn it! That wasnât right!
Vasco Dias: They chose this match, didnât they? They should have been prepared for anything and everything!
{Angel has climbed back down with the belts and helps his son to his feet; he hands him his championship, and assists him as they both walk by Locke who is snarling at them wanting to get his hands back on them⊠but they just chuckle and leave the ring with their belts.}
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IWF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPWarren Kane(c) vs Nick Danger
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Terri Morasco: Vasco, later tonight thirty men are going to vie for a chance at the World Champion. But, first we have to see who walks out tonight as World Champion. That brings us to our next contest, where Warren Kane will defend the title against Nick Danger. What do you make of this match, Vasco?
Vasco Dias: All week we've heard how Nick Danger is a "good guy", and now how Warren Kane is a "good guy"... that's great, except being a good guy gets you nowhere in this business. It'll be a great match, no doubt, but the man who walks out of here with the title tonight will be the man who finally decides to get a little nasty. I know Kane has it in him, and I don't believe Danger does... so I'm going with Warren Kane.
Terri Morasco: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say we're going to have a new Champion tonight. I don't know what it is, but on a night where anything can- and will- happen, it just feels right for what many might perceive as an upset. Let's go down to Alison for the introductions.
Alison Valance: This match is scheduled for one fall... and is for the IWF World Heavyweight Championship!!! Introducing first, the challenger...
{ Giving Up by Of Mice & Men comes on and Nick Danger walks to the entrance ramp wearing his wrestling gear and leather jacket that says "Dangerzone". }Alison Valance: Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... Nick Dangerrr!!
{He makes his way to the ring giving fans high fives and climb the steel step and gets on the top turnbuckle and looks at the crowd and tell them scream louder and does a front flip landing on his feet then take his leather jacket off threw towards the crowd then goes to corner and wait for the match to start. }Alison Valance: And his opponent!... He is the current World Heavyweight Champion!!...
{The lights go out and the snow steady beat of New Divide by Linkin Park plays and the crowd gives a good cheer for Warren Kane as he emerges from behind the curtains wearing a simple leather jacket, with his hands at his hips and a smile on his face. }Alison Valance: Warrreeeennnn Kannneee!!!
{ He then heads towards the ring, stopping to touch hands with members of the crowd before stopping in front of the ring. Closes his eyes, takes a breath before jumping up onto the apron, climbing the turnbuckle on the outside and raising his arms in the air getting a positive reaction from the crowd. The music dies down and the lights return to normal as he drops into the ring. }Terri Morasco: Warren Kane handing the title over to Blue Shoes, but the question becomes will it be for the last time?
Vasco Dias: Highly unlikely, Morasco.
Terri Morasco: We get a handshake to start the match... a nice show of sportsmanship from both men... and there's the bell!
{ Both men tie-up, and Danger quickly transitions into a rear waist lock. Kane throws a back elbow, and then takes Danger over with a snapmare. Kane delivers a stiff kick to the back. Warren hits the ropes, coming off and delivering a swinging neckbreaker to Danger. Warren goes into a quick cover... one!... No! Danger kicks out before Blue Shoes' hand hits the mat for the two count! Warren powers into another cover, hooking the leg deep, nearly folding Danger in two! Blue Shoes counts... One!... No! Another kickout from Danger! }
Vasco Dias: Smart wrestling from Warren. People at home might be wondering why cover the man after he just kicked out, but what it does is force Danger to expend energy on the kick out.
Terri Morasco: Warren bringing Danger up... and there's a knife edge chop! But Danger fires back with one of his own on Kane! Warren rips off another blistering chop! Oh!!! Danger with a superkick that rocks the champion!
Vasco Dias: He caught Kane flush, Morasco!
Terri Morasco: Danger quickening the pace... hits the ropes... and he catches a rising Kane with a Sling Blade! Nick into a cover! For the title!... One!... No!! Kane shoots a shoulder up!
{ Danger delivers a kick to Kane's chest. Nick lands a beautiful standing shooting star press on Kane! Danger again goes for a cover, but is only able to hold Kane down for a near two count! Nick lifts Warren and shoots him into the ropes with an Irish Whip. Danger drops flat to the canvas as Warren leaps over him off the rebound. Danger goes for a leap frog, but Kane counters by slowing his pace to catch Nick with a kitchen sink! Warren quickly capitalizes, pulling Danger up and taking him over with a 'Splosion suplex!! }
Terri Morasco: There's the 'Splosion!! Kane may have it here! He goes into a cover... One!... Two... No!!! Nick kicks out!! The champion's face is telling a story of utter disbelief!!
Vasco Dias: Warren thought he had Nick there, you can tell! I thought he had Danger there! Opportunity of a lifetime here though, and the guy is showing he's not going to quit!
Terri Morasco: He believes he has the potential to be the man to lead wrestling, and you can see it's there. He just needs to put all of the pieces together to do it.
{ Warren brings Nick to his feet and rocks his challenger with an European Uppercut! Kane goes for a jumping knee, but Danger shoves it off and connects with a pele kick! Danger takes a moment to gather himself as Kane climbs back to his feet. Danger charges... and scores with a running front dropkick, knocking Kane into the corner! Danger hits the ropes and lands a springboard roundhouse on Kane, who remains trapped in the corner! Kane falls forward, and Danger turns him over so he's face up. Nick ascends the turnbuckles. }
Terri Morasco: Danger with a Diving Double Foot Stomp!! That was almost two hundred pounds crashing down on Kane's sternum from way up above!
Vasco Dias: The Champion is in some trouble here, Morasco!
Terri Morasco: Danger is... he's looking for the Danger Lock! Kane tries to fight it, but Danger has it cinched in!!
Vasco Dias: Warren Kane may be seeing his grip on the World Title slipping as as Danger's grip tightens! But Kane is fighting for all he's worth!
Terri Morasco: Warren can see the ropes out of the corner of his eye! He's trying to inch his way back so his leg can reach! The agony has got to be excruciating!
Vasco Dias: Three feet can seem like a helluva long way to travel when you have a man trying to tear your head off for your title, Morasco!
Terri Morasco: This crowd is on their feet with dueling chants for Champion and challenger! Nick Danger may be seconds away from walking out of here as the new World Champion!
Vasco Dias: Kane has fought his way close though... but his face is seven shades of red!
Terri Morasco: He's got a toe on the ropes!!! Warren Kane just got the tip of his boot on the bottom rope to break the hold!! Blue Shoes telling Nick he has to release now!!
Vasco Dias: How much damage has been done to the champion, though? Has he only delayed the inevitable?
{ Nick covers his face with both hands, in shock. He sits in the center of the ring briefly as Kane lays beside him, suffering the aftereffects of the Danger Lock. Nick reaches over and lays in a few hard right hands on Kane to keep the advantage. He glances at the top turnbuckle, and drags Kane out from the ropes, leaving his body more toward the center of the ring. Nick raises his arms, trying to fire up the crowd, before beginning to head skyward on the buckles. He stands for a moment, measuring. }Vasco Dias: Danger is wasting a lot of time here... not wise.
Terri Morasco: I think he's looking for the Reborn Phoenix! If he hits it...
Vasco Dias: It'll be over, but he's got to go!
Terri Morasco: Danger off... but Kane lifts the knees!!! Nick Danger took a chance on the Reborn Phoenix, and he paid a heavy price!!!
Vasco Dias: When you live by the sword, as they say...
Terri Morasco: Warren didn't escape unscathed, though... he's still visibly feeling the effects of the Danger Lock... noticeably slowing him as he fights to his feet...
{ Danger makes it to his feet, a bit wobbly on his base as he clutches his ribs. Kane stands opposite of him, clearly hurting. Nick reaches for Warren, but Kane surprises him with the 'Saving Grace' from seemingly out of nowhere!! Warren covers... One!... Two!!... No!!! Danger kicks out a milometer before the three count!!! Warren takes a deep breath of air, nodding. }Terri Morasco: Such a close near fall there! Both of these men have given everything out here tonight in front of these fans!
Vasco Dias: Danger has surprised me, Morasco... I'll say that much.
Terri Morasco: Kane backs up into the corner... he's waiting on Danger...
Vasco Dias: Kidd Kick!! Kidd Kick!! Danger is out!!
Terri Morasco: Warren Kane slumps over Danger's chest for a cover! One!... Two!!... Three!!!
Vasco Dias: Kane retains!! I knew it!! I bust on Danger a lot because it's fun, but I got to give the guy credit... he pushed Warren Kane to the limit tonight! He let it all fly, and maybe if not for one mistake... might be walking out of here as the World Champion.
Terri Morasco: It's hard to say enough about the performance of both these men tonight! What a fight! And we had a good, clean match! It's Warren Kane walking out the victor on this night, though.
{ Warren has his arm raised by Blue Shoes. He is handed the World Title from the floor, and places it over his shoulder. He looks back at Nick, who is holding his head on the floor. Warren walks over, offering a hand to Nick to help him sit up. Warren quickly whispers a few words in Nick's ear, then gives him a nod. Kane turns toward the crowd and raises the title belt. }Alison Valance: Your winner by pinfall... and still World Champion... Warren Kane!!!
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SEGMENTsemantics
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{The cameras go backstage at High Stakes immediately following the previous contest, and Tara is seen with her championship now strapped to her waist; she has come near the locker room belonging to The Powers That Be, and is looking in desperation for Edward⊠but thereâs no sign of him. He must be inside. Tara approaches the door and before she could knock, security opens the door from the other side, and Angel takes a step out being surrounded by themâŠ}Tara: I did what you wanted⊠Where's Edward?
Angel: You did? It didnât look that way to me.
Tara: I wonâŠ
Angel: You beat a nobody. Someone thatâs not even a blip on the radar. You couldnât uphold your end of the bargain, so Iâm not obliged to keep mine. Heâs not here.
{Tara begins breathing heavily, and her face twitches a few times as she sneers at Angel; security has gotten between them to ensure that there would be no interaction between them.}Angel: Your match is done. You have no more business here tonight. Security will escort you out.
{Four members of the security force continue out of the locker room, and try to take Tara by the arms, but she pulls herself away⊠Angel shuts the door, ever so calmly, and you hear the click of the door being shut. Security walks Tara down the hallway toward the exit of The O2 Arena.}
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IWF ROULETTE MATCHA grand variation of a traditional Battle Royale is the Roulette Match where two competitors start and another one enters the match every two minutes until all the designated competitors have been accounted for (typically between 20-30 men). The Roulette Match is the signature attraction at the annual IWF Pay-Per-View, High Stakes and the winner is guaranteed an Imperial Championship title shot at Night of the Immortals.-------------------------------------
Alison Valance: The following main event of High Stakes is THE ROULETTE! Roulette Match starts with two competitors and another one enters the match every two minutes until all the 30 competitors have been accounted for. The winner is guaranteed a Menâs World title Championship shot at Night of the Immortals!
{The crowd cheers.}Terri Morasco: We have come to the main event and arguably the main attraction of the High Stakes pay-per-view.
{The camera pans over the crowd to show some additional signs âSpoilers: Ethan King wins againâ â30 MENâ âIf Gilmore wins we riotâ âGet That Breadâ âSpike Kane vs Child Support NOTI 2021â âVerona v McFlyâ âSomeoneâs getting fired tonightâ âI miss who's your daddy matchesâ âIâm Missing my brotherâs wedding to be hereâ}Vasco Dias: There is no argument about it. This is the event everyone has been waiting for.
Terri Morasco: Well some of the matches earlier in the evening were pretty important.
Vasco Dias: Doesnât matter. This is a chance to face the World Champion at Night of the Immortals. Itâs the golden ticket.
Terri Morasco: It is. Now, there is only one mystery entrance this year. It will be interesting who that might be. The ace?
{The lights go out, the crowd is cheering in excitement.}
Alison Valance: Entering at Number 1âŠ.
{As âfinal countdown startsâ Phillip walks heroically from the back, strikes a pose, then runs into the ring to take his place in the ring}
Terri Morasco: Phillip DeForest is the first entrant in the IWF 2021 Roulette.
Vasco Dias: Well then, looks like weâre starting off light. Whoever is number two might have some fun.
Alison Valance: Now Entering at number twoâŠ..
{Personal Jesus by Lollipop Lust Kill begins to play as red lights begin to flash slowly before lights come up on the stage. As the music swells, dim light begins to come up on the stage, now shrouded with smoke as two silhouettes fade into view. As the guitar kicks in hard, the lights flash onto the stage revealing the members of The Church of Crosse. Lucipher raises his arms as if welcoming the audience as Nick Knight walks to the ring.} Vasco Dias: Okay yeah thatâs probably the last person Phillip wanted to see.
Terri Morasco: Nick Knight is entrant number two and heâs being accompanied by that no good piece of trash Lucipher Crosse. They have been whipping The Matthews and Jack Ferriman brutally over the past few weeks but what happened last week with Lauren is just too much.
Vasco Dias: I agree, but the poor girl should have never even been in the ring. Iâm not justifying what happened but at some point you gotta start blaming Mandi you know?
Terri Morasco:Are you kidding me? You are the worst Vasco.
{The bell rings and the Roulette is officially on the clock. Phillip runs in towards Nick Knight but Knight is quick to overpower him. Nick buries a knee into Phillips gut and Phillip hunches over in pain. Nick hooks up Phillip and sends him flying over head with a big exploder suplex. Phillip lands hard on the mat and Nick looks over at Lucipher who gives a satisfied grin. Nick starts dragging Phillip to the ropes.}
Terri Morasco: With the sick and twisted Lucipher Cross satisfied, Nick goes for the elimination.
Vasco Dias: Nick is literally dragging Phillip by his head!
{Nick Knight yanks Phillip by the ears and tries to shove Phillip over the ropes. But DeForest gets a lucky kick to the gut that loosens Nicks grip and saves him from elimination from the time being. Nick recovers quickly and just drills Phillip into the mat with a big belly to belly suplex! Phillip cries out in pain and holds his back on the mat. Nick Knight starts to drag him back up to his feet when the timer appears on the screen.}
{The crowd turns its attention toward the entrance area as the drumbeat of Event Horizon begins. âYou Are Black Holeâ whispers through the speakers, sending a shiver up the spine of the collective audience. From behind the curtain steps Tytus Rost, his face like carved granite as he stares with cold eyes down to the ring.}Vasco Dias: The impossibly strong Russian Tytus Rost makes his IWF Roulette debut this year. I heard he fought a bear once!
Terri Morasco: Well Iâm not sure if thatâs true, but if it is, maybe it will come in handy here tonight.
{Nick Knight drops Phillip DeForest and walks up right into the face of Tytus Rost. The two men exchange a few shoves before Nick Knight blasts with a big right hand. Tytus staggers back slightly and then comes back with a big European uppercut! The power of Tytus is more then Nick expected and he staggers back toward the ropes. Tytus stomps in toward Nick who surprised the Russian with an eye rake. Nick holds his jaw in pain and glances over at Lucipher Crosse.}
Terri Morasco: Nick Knight with the cheap tactics. I bet that makes Lucipher Crosse happy.
Vasco Dias: I think the smiles and the nods coming from Lucipher make that obvious.
{Nick Knight throws a hard punch to the face of Tytus. Nick Knight goes to lock up Tytus for a belly to belly suplex but Tytus counters with a head butt that makes the Unholy son staggers back. Tytus uses his strength to walk over and lift Nick up to his shoulders and starts walking him over to the ropes like a sack of potatoes. Nick fights out with a couple elbows and drops to the mat. Both Nick and Tytus are battling each other near the ropes. Both men leaning over the ropes a bit as Phillip DeForest gets up and he sees his opportunity.Terri Morasco:Phillip DeForest! You donât think he canâŠ
Vasco Dias: No way in hellâŠ.
{Phillip DeForest runs up and gets underneath both men with full intentions on eliminating both Nick Knight and Tytus Rost at the same time! But he UhâŠ.he doesnât quite have the muscle for it. So much so that Tytus and Nick donât seem to notice.}Terri Morasco: Okay wellâŠ.yeah I guess you were right on that one Vasco.
Vasco Dias: Hey maybe his stable mate can help him out? Heâs coming out next!
{{âFight for your rightâ comes on, Ducky jumps out, DABS for the crowd and runs into the ring! He immediately runs to help Phillip.}Terri Morasco: Here is Ducky Tomlinson and heâs trying to help Phillip with his double elimination!
Vasco Dias: Does it still count as a double elimination if two guys eliminate two other guys? Or would it be a single elimination for both?
Terri Morasco: We can argue that later, Tytus and Nick are actually teetering over those ropes!
{ Nick Knight and Tytus Rost suddenly feel themselves being lifted a bit and they look to see Phillip and Ducky doing there absolute best out there. Nick and Tytus both shake their heads and they each grab one of the poor jobbers and perform ripcord lariats at the same exact time!}Terri Morasco: OH! RASPUTINS WILL AND WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD!!!
Vasco Dias: Both Phillip and Ducky got turned inside out on that one!
{ Phillip is out cold on the ground in front of Tytus and Ducky is writhing in pain in front of Nick Knight. Both Tytus and Nick step over there respective victims and get into each otherâs face and shoving, arguing about whoâs move that was. They both get fed up and Tytus grabs Phillip and Nick grabs Ducky. Nick hits a big T-Bone suplex! And Tytus drills Ducky into the mat and they go right back to arguing and they quickly start exchanging blows as the timer starts to tick down again.}
{Never Giving Up by Of Mice & Men comes on and Nick Danger walks to the entrance ramp wearing his wrestling gear and leather jacket that says âDangerzoneâ. As Danger is making his entrance Tytus looks away and Nick takes his eyes and throws Tytus over the top rope! But Tytus hangs on and lands on the apron!}Terri Morasco: Woah man! Close call there for Tytus Rost!
Vasco Dias: Canât take your eyes off the opposition for one second but itâs hard even for veterans like Tytus to do in the crazy dynamic of the Roulette.
Terri Morasco: Thatâs true! And now Nick Knight meets up with Nick Danger! This man had one hell of a fight for the world championship earlier tonight and now heâs here for a second chance and he isnât backing down!
{Nick Danger slides in the ring and starts trading punches with Nick Knight! They both start nicking away at each other with rights and lefts and chops. Knight hits a knee to the midsection and he goes for a German but Danger flips out just in the nick of time. Knight turns around to a punch from Danger and an Irish whip! Knight hits the ropes and Danger drops down but then Tytus Rost out of nowhere with a huge POUNCE!}Terri Morasco: EVENT HORIZON!! OH MY DID YOU SEE THAT!?
Vasco Dias: Nick Knight hit the ground and SLID!!
{Knight is out of it in the ring near the other side of the ring. Tytus roars at Nick Knight to assert his strength and dominance. But he doesnât seem to see Nick Danger springboard off the ropes! No! Tytus snatches Danger out of the air with ease!}Terri Morasco: My word! The strength of Tytus!
Vasco Dias: And heâs keeping his wits about him just like I mentioned he should do.
{Nick Danger sees the countdown ticking down getting real close to zero. He struggles and manages to escape Tytusâs clutches. Just in time forâŠ}
{No Resolve-Get Me Out starts to play and Nate comes standing on the middle of entrance ramp and starting letting the fans chants his name}Terri Morasco: Nate Fate is entrant number six! Youâd think heâd want to help his tag part Nick Danger!
Vasco Dias: Little Fateful Danger action here in the Roulette!
{Nate Fate slides into the ring and catches a turning Tytus Rost with a big spinning knee that knocks the big Russian for a loop and he spins right into a Legacy Cutter (springboard cutter) from Nick Danger!}Terri Morasco: Tail of the Legacy from the double team repertoire of Fateful Danger. That tag team experience may help them out here tonight.
Vasco Dias: The more friends you got in this thing the better off you are!
{Danger and Fate congratulate each other but see Nick Knight getting to his feet. Fateful Danger come over to Knight and back him into a corner with high and low striking combinations. Knight canât help but cover up and heâs getting a bit overwhelmed by the double team. Fate drops down to all fours and Danger runs over to the opposite corner. Danger comes running looking for a big tag move but Tytus Rost pops up out of nowhere with a big shuffle side kick that takes Danger right off his feet. Knight stomps at Nate Fates head but Nate rolls away in time and checks on his partner. Tytus and Nick stare each other down and seemingly form an uneasy alliance just as Phillip DeForest and Ducky Tomlinson are getting to their feet.Vasco Dias: We got six men in this match and what looks to be a stand off.
Terri Morasco: Still no eliminations in this match. The seventh entrant about to come out and tip the scales in the favor of the PC boys.
{As âUptown funkâ comes on, Adel starts strutting and dancing down to the ring in time to the music}Terri Morasco: And here is Adel Travent. He immediately goes and stands with Phillip and Ducky.
Vasco Dias: I think things are about to break down Terri!!
{ The two sets of teams; Fateful Danger and The Union of Jobbers and Tytus and Nick all collide in the middle of the ring and they start throwing punches and kicks and some people are struggling in the corner. Adel and Ducky are double team stomping Nate Fate! Phillip is getting slappied around by Nick Knight and Tytus and Nick Danger are exchanging blows.}Terri Morasco: Oh man this whole thing is getting intense! All seven men are throwing hands.
Vasco Dias: Itâs almost too hard to keep up with.
{Tytus has Danger in a corner and just welts his skin with a devastating chop to the chest followed by a big biel toss. Nate Fate manages to hit a roundhouse on Ducky but Adel is quick to jump onto Nate Fate before he gets fired up. Nick Knight hits a brutal uppercut on Phillip and the smaller man crumbles into the corner. Knight stomps him a few times before Tytus Rost comes over and clubs Knight in the back, reigniting there little beef. Danger gets up and starts helping Nate Fate.}
Terri Morasco: Here we are, awaiting the eighth entrant into the Roulette. Still no eliminations.
Vasco Dias: Well maybe number eight can start getting down to business.
{The spotlight hitâs the curtain as it does the loud sounds of Living in America by James Brown begins to blast across the speakers. The moment it does Todd Williams emerges from the curtains}Terri Morasco: And Todd Williams comes to the ring and he has his choice of what battle he wants to get involved in.
Vasco Dias: Tough choice? Two hulking brutes or two two lightning quick tag teams?
{Todd Williams looks back and forth and decides to do a big side kick to Adel. Adel drops to the mat holding his jaw. Todd looks over at Danger and Fate and gives them a quick thumbs up before he hits a big snap arm drag on Ducky! Todd turns and looks at Fateful Danger and he yells âI mean buis-â but suddenly he gets a missile drop kick from out of nowhere by Phillip DeForest! Fateful Danger shrug and start double teaming on Phillip.}Terri Morasco: Oof! Big missile drop kick just knocked the business right out of Todd Williams there.
Vasco Dias: And Nick Knight and Tytus Rost are on the other hand chopping meat!
{Tytus hauls back socks Knight right in the jaw. Nick staggers back. Nick goes to throw a punch but Tytus blocks that punch and clobbers him with another punch. Nick drops to one knee and Tytus hoists him up no problem for a running powerslam but Nick rakes the eyes and drops behind Tytus and quickly hits a devastating Half and Half suplex!}Vasco Dias: Nick Knight with the Non-Dairy Creamer!
Terri Morasco: Tytus landed hard on his head with that move he may be out. Prone for elimination.
Vasco Dias: Well a suplex is one thing, but Nick still has to pick up over three hundred pounds off the mat and over the ropes. But he has help coming in.
{What's Up Danger begins to play as the lights in the arena dim. A black and white image of Jack appears on the Imperatron as Jack slowly steps out onto the ramp, adjusting the long black coat he is wearing over his ring gear and cracking his neck. He slowly turns his head as he gazes around the arena before setting his eyes on the ring, slowly walking down the ramp}
Terri Morasco: And now we have Jack Ferriman entering the ring.
Vasco Dias: He hasnât exactly been faithful to the Church lately. Kind of keeping himself in the middle of the Matthews situation.
{Jack walks over to Nick Knight and they both watch as Lucipher Crosse steps up onto the apron. He smiles at the Unholy son.}
Lucipher Crosse: Calm this chaos. I have a message.
{Nick Knight and Jack Ferriman nod. Jack sees Todd in a kneeling position and immediately hits him with MAKE PEACE. Nick Knight grabs Phillip DeForest and T-Bone suplexes him right over the top rope!}Alison Valance: Phillip DeForest has been eliminated! (By nick Knight)
{Knight follows up with a huge double clothesline to Fateful Danger! Ducky comes running after Jack but Ferriman side steps Ducky and sends him flying over the top rope!}
Alison Valance: Ducky Tomlinson has been eliminated! ( by Jack Ferriman.)
{Jack is stomping on Nate Fate and giving some to Danger as well. Tytus starts getting up but Nick Knight boots him right in the face and Tytus falls back down. Adel starts walking up but Nick turns and looks at him and Adel just decides to go down on his own. Nick Knight starts choking Tytus in the corner with his boot. Lucipher Crosse enters the ring with a microphone once the coast was clear.}Terri Morasco: The two members of the Church of Crosse do a great job taking control of the ring for there piece of shit leader.
Vasco Dias: Quiet Terri? You want to get whipped too?
Lucipher Crosse: Just like there are two sides to every coin, there are two sides to every person. One side they may enjoy, the other side shows up when we are forced to do what we must. To the men in this ring. You could take my hand today and join the Church of Crosse. You could touch faith and Iâd show you how to always land on heads on the coin of life.
{Lucipher turns and looks at the opponents in the ring.}Lucipher Crosse: But Crosse me? Cross us? You force me to be someone I donât like being. To do things I donât like doing. What would you do if there was someone who tried to sneak into your house and take your family member? Thatâs what Mandi Matthews did. Thatâs what happens to any trespasser. And of course...what happened with the little girl was a shame. But it had to be done. Itâs either that or accept an even worse fate for sticking her nose in where it doesnât belong just like her motherâŠâŠ
{REGRETS I'VE HAD MINE!"}
{The lights in the arena explode to life as they flash green and black to the beat. Lucipher Crosse stands in the ring, a bit surprised to hear this music. He directs Nick Knight and Jack Ferriman to stand in front of him.}Terri Morasco: What!? Steve Awesome!? Steve is the mystery entrant?
Vasco Dias: Everyone had there theories butâŠ.He is supposed to be fired! Who told the truck to play his music? He canât enter a roulette can he?
{As they all wait for him from the entrance Steve Awesome suddenly hops the barricade and slides into the ring. He immediately grips Lucipher Crosse by the throat and pushes him into the corner.}Steve Awesome: You god damn stupid fucking piece of shit!!!
{Steve glares daggers into Lucipher Crosse from his rage soaked eyes. He hauls back to punch Crosse and start pummeling him for touching his daughter when Nick Knight clobbers him in the back of the neck with a forearm. Lucipher quickly gets out of the ring. Jack Ferriman quick joins Nick Knight in beating up Steve Awesome. Fateful Danger are back up fighting with Adel and Todd. All of a sudden Tytus Rost comes stomping in and just throws Jack Ferriman backward and grabs Nick Knight and goes for a powerslam but Jack Ferriman is back up to stop Tytus. Tytus letâs go of Nick and grabs for Jack in retaliation as the buzzer goes off.}
{As the banshee like screams of Robert Plant begins âThe Modern Day Vikingâ is dressed for battle in a khaki colored âModern Day Vikingâ t-shirt, desert camo cargo pants, and combat boots.}Vasco Dias: And now a third member of the Church of Crosse enters the Roulette! Gregor Winter!
Terri Morasco: And somehow as he stands in the ring he even makes Tytus Rost seem small!!
{Tytus drops Jack Ferriman and sizes up Gregor Winter. Tytus and Gregor start throwing hands! Tytus tries to lift Gregor up for a slam but the much fresher Viking powers out. Fateful Danger nail Todd Williams with their Controlled Destiny double team move and then they both start trying to eliminate Adel. But Adel wraps his arms and legs around the bottom rope and holds on for dear life. As Gregor and Tytus battle, Steve Awesome starts heading to where Lucipher Crosse is. But he gets cut off by Nick Knight and Jack Ferriman!}
Terri Morasco: So far in the early part of this Roulette itâs been about the advantage of being on a teams.
Vasco Dias: Fateful Danger have been in control of Todd Williams and Adel Trevant. And The Church of Cross have enough members to keep Tytus Rost at bay and stop Awesome from getting to Lucipher!
Terri Morasco: For Luciphers sake he better hope Steve doesnât get to him.
{Nick grabs Steve by the shoulder but Steve hits him with an elbow. Jack comes running in but Steve Awesome drills him with the Jawbreaker Superkick! Jack hits the mat and Steve finds the hard camera and smirks.}Steve Awesome: Did you hear the thigh slap on that one!? Oh man, he is gonna be eating through a straw tomorrow! Ooh yeah, I still got it, baby!
Terri Morasco: Well, Steve Awesome was never a humble man.
Vasco Dias: He needs to stop show boating or pay attention!
{ Nick grabs Steve by the waistline of his tights and his head and goes to toss him over the ropes but Steve Awesome reverses it! Nick Knight flips over the top rope but he catches himself and slides back in under the bottom. Just then Gregor comes stumbling in and bumps into Steve. Tytus stomping in to add more punishment to the Viking. Fateful Danger and Todd and Adel are still battling nearby.}
{The drum fill kicks in the door and the guitar riff of 311âs Perfect Mistake starts blasting over the PA system.}âListen Up!â
{The arena lights start changing from orange to black on the beat and Jayson Matthews comes bouncing from behind the curtain and head banging to the riff. He jams to the verse as he starts to walk down the ramp, slapping fives with as many fans as he can on either side. Jayson Matthews jumps up onto the apron and hits an insane springboard shooting star press that lands on everyone and everyone falls into the next person till everyone falls like bowling pins.}Terri Morasco: Jayson Matthews! With a crazy entrance into the Roulette!
Vasco Dias: He took out pretty much everyone!
{ Steve Awesome pulls himself up and he notices Nick Knight pulling himself up to his feet and talking with Lucipher Crosse. Steve runs over and clotheslineâs Nick Knight and both Steve and Nick go flipping over the ropes!}Alison Valance: Both Nick Knight (by Steve Awesome) and Steve Awesome (by himself) have been eliminated!
Terri Morasco: Steve Awesome just took out Nick Knight!
Vasco Dias: Now heâs going after Lucipher Crosse!
{Steve starts stalking Lucipher Crosse like prey but an enraged Nick Knight is back up to his feet and he and Steve Awesome start brawling out on the floor! A few referees and some security come down to separate the fight!}Vasco Dias: No! Steve canât do this! He was fired! He shouldnât even be here.
Terri Morasco: I donât know how but I know why. Steve Awesome has returned to stand up for his daughter. I bet this thing is far from over!
{As Steve Awesome and Nick Knight with Lucipher Cross are separated and the men in the ring get back on their feet, Adel goes back into beating Nick Danger with Todd Williams wailing on Nate Fate. Gregor slams Tytus into the turnbuckle. Jack goes to check on Jayson.}
Terri Morasco: Steve and Nick Knight are being guided out of the arena. Looks like that will be the last any of us have to see of the Church of Crosse for a while.
Vasco Dias: Gregor, Jack and Jayson are in the ring.
{ Gregor bloodies Tytus, attempting to toss him out of the ring but Tytus clings onto the rope. Jayson jumps to his feet and hits Gregor in the back with a strike. Gregor turns around and grabs Jayson by the throat. Tytus slides back in the ring asFateful Danger is fighting Adel and Todd. Gregor drops Jayson to the mat and points to Jack pointing at Jayson to take care of. Jack hesitates and Gregor screams at him as Jayson hits Gregor with a superkick, knocking the bigger man against the ropes. Tytus pops up with a european upper cut and Jayson and Tytus push Gregor out of the ring.}Alison Valance: Gregor Winter has been eliminated! (By Jayson and Tytus)
Vasco Dias: Oh no!
{Jayson turns and starts fighting with Tytus asâŠ.The lights in the arena flicker and die as if there were some kind of power outage. As the light sounds of an acoustic guitar play, the high pitched laughter of children fills the air. A red spotlight shines on the stage as heavy smoke rolls across the floor. As opening lyrics of Monster (Under my Bed) by Call me Karizma starts to sing Abraxes rises from the center of the stage, his eyes burning out from under his mask as he stares down at the ring.
The rhythm of the song changes from a twisted lullaby do a grinding rock song just as he rises to his full height. Abraxes makes his way down to the ring without his usual spider crawl but rushes to the ring. Terri Morasco: Here comes Abraxes. Iâm not looking forward to see what heâs going to do with the ring this packed.
Vasco Dias: We might finally clear some of the chaff from the ring!
{Abraxes crawls into the ring where Jack is still clearly having a moral conflict with himself and hits him with a powerslam of Jack over the ropes and hitting the outside hard on his back.}
Alison Valance: Jack Ferriman has been eliminated! (By abraxes)
Terri Morasco: Abraxes not caring what condition that might leave Ferriman in!
Vasco Dias: Jack Betrayed Abraxes. This was all coming to a head sooner or later.
{Abraxes sets himself up on the ropes, looking between where Jayson and Tytus are fighting and where Fateful Danger and Todd Williams are going at it. Adel and Abraxes make eye contact, Adel bows his head before grabbing onto Nate Fate. Abraxes bounces with a slingshot spear and knocks all the men in the tangle off the apron. Adel, despite the fall uses his back to lift Abraxes securely back in the ring.}Terri Morasco: ...What?
Alison Valance: Adel Travent, Todd Williams, Nick Danger and Nate Fate have been eliminated! (by Abraxes)
Vasco Dias: Insanity. I love it! Cleared out the ring in a massive way!
{ Tytus and Jayson stop their fighting to look over at Abraxes as he enters back in the ring, clicking his teeth at them. Jayson goes for Abraxes with a running knee. Tytus assists with a leaping knee kick.}Vasco Dias: I can see how you might think ganging up on Abraxes is the smart move, considering the number of people he has eliminated but it is not a good look.
Terri Morasco: Because youâre a coward.
{A roaring scream pierces the air, and as the crunching guitars of "Rise, Rebel, Resist" play, Caleb Lockwood stalks out from the back, stopping himself in the middle of the stage, nodding as he cracks his neck with a smirk. He makes a rush for the ring, sliding in and hitting Jayson and Abraxes with a superkick. He then looks to Tytus who basically seems to laugh at the smaller man. The two go to town on each other.}Terri Morasco: Caleb making an entrance!
Vasco Dias: But we all know he has to save some in the tank if he wants to win this.
{The big man rocks Caleb with a right hand, staggering him out of the violent rhythm he was in, and Tytus lets out a loud cry, whipping Caleb to the ropes and popping him up in an attempt at the LAST CZAR powerbomb! NO! Caleb punches down once, twice, three times before spinning around and drilling him with the POISON PILL reverse frankensteiner! Caleb stomps Tytus in the bad shoulder as insurance, hauling him up by his left arm before whipping him to the ropes and coming screaming after him a step behind with a clothesline that sends him to the apron! Tytus hangs on with his good arm, hauling himself up, but Caleb meets him as he rises with the BEAST OF WAR springboard roundhouse, knocking him off the apron and to the floor!}Alison Valance: Tytus Rost has been eliminated! (by Caleb Lockwood)
Terri Morasco: And Caleb makes a big impact right away, eliminating the largest man in the match with that big roundhouse!
{Caleb hops to his feet, grinning, and turns around, seeing Abraxes eyeing him up hungrily. Caleb shrugs, nodding, and beckons him in, the two rushing together and throwing right hands with each other. Caleb starts to get the worst of it, and rears back with an attempted superkick to Abraxesâ knee, only for the monster to catch his foot and snap his jaws, spinning Caleb around and cracking him with a massive headbutt as the countdown ticks away! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! âSuplexâ by A Tribe Called Red hits, and Pax Stormcrow hustles down to the ring to the cheers of the crowd!}Terri Morasco: Our first member of Team Diversity Hire on the night, and Pax looks ready to fight!
Vasco Dias: He had better be, look at the men in the ring! Former champions, all of them!
{Abraxes is the first one to charge Pax as he slides under the ropes, but Pax snatches the big manâs legs out from underneath him, lifting him and snapping him down with a huge spinebuster! Pax hops to his feet, and Caleb charges, only to eat a snap belly-to-belly suplex that sends him skidding across the ring! Jayson springboards in next, trying to catch Pax while heâs distracted, but this time Pax steps to the side, leaving Jayson to stagger, stumbling back into Paxâs clutches with a German suplex! Pax bounces from foot to foot, hauling up Abraxes and trying to sling him over the ropes. The big man fights him, clinging on to the ropes tight!}Terri Morasco: Pax making a big impact early with those throws, and if he aims one of those right, it could be the end of a night for someone!
Vasco Dias: All about that aim, though, and if Pax is reacting the way he was there, he doesnât have the time to aim!
{Caleb drags himself up by the ropes, about the same time as Jayson does, and the two men cautiously circle each other. Jayson moves in, but Caleb meets him with a sharp calf kick, sending the younger man staggering back with a whine of âCâmon, dude!â that only earns a savage smirk from Caleb. Abraxes manages to back Pax off with an elbow to the jaw, and the four men in the ring exchange strikes as the clock ticks down again!}
Terri Morasco: Well, we know whoâs next...
Vasco Dias: And if you thought Abraxes was evil, watch out!
{âOleâ by the Bouncing Souls hits the PA, and El Grande Malo hops out onto the stage, playing to the crowd as they heartily chant along with his theme music. He spins in place before pointing dramatically at the ring, running down the ramp...and as soon as he slides in, heâs met with a massive clothesline from Pax Stormcrow that sends him to the outside! Malo lands on his feet, eyes wide, and grabs the nearest camera, protesting his innocence.}Alison Valance: El Grande Malo has been eliminated! (By Pax)
El Grande Malo: That was no bueno! Malo want recount!
Vasco Dias: And just as El Grande Malo graced us, he is taken from us too soon.
Terri Morasco: A tragedy has befallen mankind indeed, Vasco.
{Pax shrugs, shouting âThemâs the breaks, brah!â over the ropes at Malo, only to turn around into a dropkick from JayMat! Pax staggers, bouncing off the ropes, and uses his momentum to blast into Jayson with a double leg takedown, spinning and locking up a front facelock that he turns into a gator roll! Calebâs taking a moment to recover, and Abraxes slides out of the ring under the bottom rope, stalking around to where Malo is still protesting with one of the officials. He creeps up behind the masked luchador, tapping Malo on the shoulder. Malo whips around, mid-protest, and his words die in his throat as Abraxes stares at him menacingly. Malo stammers, turning to flee, but Abraxes reels him in and snaps off a VICIOUS uranage on the floor, bouncing Malo half a foot off the ringside mats!}
Terri Morasco: What the hell?! What did El Grande Malo do to deserve that?!
Vasco Dias: Exist in Abraxesâ world, Terri. Itâs his world, weâre all suffering through it.
{Abraxes turns and slides back into the ring, where Pax has released his grip to avoid a Curb Stomp from Caleb and begun trading blows with the smaller man. Abraxes nods at this, meeting Jayson with a right hand as he stands up, and the four pair off again as the clock begins to tick down for the seventeenth entrant! The buzzer sounds, and âSimon Saysâ thumps over the PA as Xavier Zion runs down to the ring...albeit a bit unsteadily.}Terri Morasco: Vasco, youâre the expert here. Is Xavier drunk?
Vasco Dias: I resent that characterization. And yes, he does look to be drunk. He had that match against Ulf Hednir earlier, remember? Clearly heâs celebrating.
Terri Morasco: ...is he really?
{Xavier slides into the ring, immediately making the big dick play of walking up to the biggest, nastiest man in the ring and getting in his face. Unfortunately, Abraxes just reacts by snapping his teeth at Xavier mid-punch on Jayson, which causes Xavier to leap back with his hands up, loudly protesting his innocence. He backs into Caleb Lockwood, who blindly reaches back and hooks him for a neckbreaker, quickly kipping up to avoid Pax chasing him to the ground!}Terri Morasco: Oh Xavier, baby, what is you DOING?
Vasco Dias: Terri, I donât know how to break this to you, but you are Caucasian.
{The four men that have been active the most in the last bit trade dance partners again, Caleb sidestepping Pax and shoving him towards Jayson with a laugh as Abraxes turns his eyes to Xavier Zion. As the big man advances on Xavier, whoâs rolled into a corner and hooked his legs tightly around the bottom rope, Caleb leaps up and nails a leg lariat to the back, stumbling Abraxes forward and causing him to inadvertently drill Xavier with a knee to the temple! Xavier lets out a yelp of pain as Caleb climbs the buckle and mounts Abraxes from behin, drilling him with savage right hands as Abraxes covers up!}Terri Morasco: The night just keeps getting worse for Xavier Zion, trapped under almost five hundred pounds of malicious humanity!
Vasco Dias: Citation needed. On the humanity, not the malicious.
{As the timer counts down, the guitars of "Devil Trigger" start to echo through the arena as Evan stomps out and raises a hand to the crowd before just outright howling to the spotlight! He charges the ring, sliding smoothly under the bottom rope and popping up into an instant SHADOW CUTTING to Pax! Jayson leaps for the Jayson Matthews Experience, but Evan ducks under it, scooping him up into a firemanâs carry and rolling forward to crush him underneath before leaping up onto the second rope and drilling Jayson with the UMBRAL DANSE!}Terri Morasco: The Thunderchild is here! Evan Albrecht is lighting things up right away with that combination of speed and power heâs become feared for!
Vasco Dias: Speed is one thing, power is another, but the gas tank is the most important! You canât win this match early, but you can sure as hell lose it!
{On the other side of the ring, Abraxes has managed to elbow Caleb off of him, buying the two men some breathing room, and they launch back into each other with ruthless abandon. Caleb gets the superkick to Abraxesâ knee he had wanted earlier, and looks for the FADING HOPE DDT, but Abraxes manages to push him off! Abraxes charges Caleb, and Caleb sidesteps, but Abraxes ducks under the attempted leg lariat, coming back and FLATTENING Caleb with a crossbody block! Abraxes rolls over Caleb, pushing up to his feet, and runs forward, crushing the just-now stirring Xavier Zion with a running cannonball in the corner!}
Vasco Dias: Xavier may be glad that the pain is being numbed here, because that looks like it hurt!
Terri Morasco: What has this man done? What has he done? Answer me that, God!
Vasco Dias: Angel, if you are listening, please do not answer.
{ Pax hits Jayson with a gator roll then powerslams Thunderchild. Jayson responds with a spinning backfist. Thunderchild takes advantage of Jaysonâs distraction hitting him with a european uppercut knocking him over the top rope.}Alison Valance: Jayson Matthews has been eliminated! (By Evan)
Terri Morasco: Poor Jayson. He was doing so well.
Vasco Dias: Was he really?
{All of the lights flicker out throughout the arena and turquoise tinted lights quickly replace while the opening guitar riff of âBlow Me Awayâ begins to play through the speakers. A roar of cheers rings from the majority of the fans in the arena and from the way that the camera does see them, it doesnât appear that one single person is sitting in their seat; Seth emerges from behind the curtains dressed in his loose leather pants with the Halo symbol on his left leg. He lifts his hand above his eyes to block the blinding light from him to take a moment to look at the entire crowd, and smiles and nods his head in approval for the reception that he receives. Seth rushed to the ring and slides in as Evan and Pax are locked up. He moves past them and hits Caleb with an enzuigiri. Abraxes hits Seth with a headbutt.}Terri Morasco: Seth Evans hitting the ring quickly here, but Abraxes putting the brakes on things!
Vasco Dias: He has been serving to regulate the tempo here in a very important way.
{Seth stumbles back into the ropes, and Abraxes follows in, burying a body shot into the newcomer before attempting to hoist him up. Seth fumbles for the ropes, holding on for dear life, trying to stay in. Evan goes for another European uppercut on Pax, but Pax slips behind, wrapping him up in a full nelson, and launches him over with a dragon suplex! Pax pops up, letting out a shout, and turns around as Caleb charges, leaping over the bigger man and hooking him for a somersault neckbreaker! Instead of coming up, though, Caleb floats over, twining Paxâs arms into a crucifix and beginning to rain down elbows into the Olympianâs head!}Terri Morasco: Caleb Lockwood taking advantage and grounding Pax there with that brutal barrage of elbows, and this might be solid strategy here!
Vasco Dias: Heâs trying to wear Pax down, but I wouldnât want to stay on the mat for long. Pax has a lot of power in him, and heâs likely to use it. Do the damage you can and move on.
{As Caleb hammers down, the clock ticks down in time with his strikes. Pax manages to rip his arm free, rolling to the side as the buzzer goes off and âForfeitâ by Chevelle plays, as Stephen Terella walks out from the back, accompanied by Portia. After a quick kiss from her, Stephen nods, jogging down to the ring, and slides in just as Pax gets to his feet. Pax swings a clothesline at Terella, who blocks it and responds with a savage left cross that stumbles Pax back. Seth has managed to free himself from Abraxesâ grip, only to turn straight into a wicked clothesline from the King of Clubs that drops him to the mat again! Terella and Abraxes square up, Terella jawing a mile a minute before the two abruptly begin throwing wild shots at each other!}Terri Morasco: And we have a hockey fight in the Roulette, as these two bulls trade shots back and forth!
Vasco Dias: Abraxes is a tough beast, but Stephen Terella is one of the few men in IWF that can swap leather with him! This might be the break that the rest of the field needs!
{As the two men trade blows, Xavier Zion climbs up to his feet, breathing heavily, and locking eyes on the battle in the center of the ring. Gritting his teeth, he advances on the melee, just as Abraxes spins Terella around with a stiff right. Xavier winds up, looking for a ZUPERKICK, but Terella steps into the motion and intercepts him with the BODY SHOT! Xavier stumbles back, looking like he wants to vomit, right into Calebâs arms, who runs him into the corner and spikes him off the middle turnbuckle with the STREET JUSTICE! Xavier collapses into the corner, clutching the ropes again and shaking his head, as the closest camera catches him mumbling âUh-uh, nah, not againâ over and over again.}Terri Morasco: Oh, and Xavier Zion is NOT having a good night of it!
Vasco Dias: Heâs lasted longer than a lot of other, more proactive competitors so far. Maybe this strategy will pay off?
{An instrumental with hook version of "Shell Shocked" by Juicy J, featuring Wiz Khalifa and Ty Dolla $ign, begins to play, James Gilmore comes running down the ramp to cheers from the crowd. He slides into the ring and goes straight for Caleb with a spear followed by mounted punches. Evan hits Pax with a back elbow. }Vasco Dias: Gilmore coming in going straight for Caleb? What sense does that make?
Terri Morasco: Well, he said he wasnât going to have any regrets...
{Stephen hits Abraxes with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Seth hits The King of Clubs with a missile dropkick. Pax hits Evan with a facebuster. Caleb knocks Gilmore off of him, Caleb then grabs him and hits him with some repeated Muay Thai knee strikes. Thunderchild hits Pax with a neckbreaker.}Terri Morasco: Things are chaotic in the ring.
Vasco Dias: Itâs the roulette.
{Abraxes fall away slams The king of Clubs. Caleb kicks Gilmore in the ribs. Evan lifts pax up struggles to get him over the ropes. Abraxes Picks up Xavier Zion who is going full ânopeâ up and tosses him out of the ring.Alison Valance: Xavier Zion has been eliminated! (By Abraxes)
Vasco Dias: About time.
{The lights in the arena darken, and blue and white spotlights are cast upon the stage. Snow falls from the rafters, gently dancing in the lights, and landing softly onto the stage as the opening to Nonpoint's "In The Air Tonight" echoes throughout the arena. As Travis Reinhart comes charging down to the ring, as he slides in Thunderchild tosses Pax over the ropes.}Alison Valance: Pax Stormcrow has been eliminated! (By Evan)
Terri Morasco: Pax made a pretty good impact here at the roulette though.
Vasco Dias: Sure, but Thunderchild clearly has his eyes on the prize here.
{Evan turns around from waving goodbye to Pax to have The King of CLubs bump into him. Stephan grabs Evan and starts wailing on him in the corner. Abraxes, free of his former prey looks to Travis who motions him forward. Travis goes for a superkick but Abraxes ducks under it and uses having his leg as pressure to lift Travis over the ropes and dumps him on the outside.}Alison Valance: Travis Reinhart has been eliminated! (By Abraxes)
Terri Morasco: Abraxes looks like heâs tired of playing games.
Vasco Dias: Are you saying heâs been playing this WHOLE TIME?
{Seth goes to help Gilmore get out of Calebâs range of fire and hits Caleb away with a kick. James gives him a thumbs up as the two take on Caleb together. Stephan is punching Evan in the head but Evan seems to be holding his own, taking the hits despite everything. Abraxes paces as if waiting for more prey.}
Terri Morasco: I do not like this.
Vasco Dias: Who does?
{"Born to Be Somebody" by Justin Bieber hits the PA and the crowd looks confused.}Terri Morasco: Folks I'm not sure who we should be expecting hereâŠ
Vasco Dias: Bieber? And not even adult Bieber this is squeaky voiced kid Bieber who would come out to this.
{Alison Valance looks equally confused as she waits to see who she's supposed to introduce when Junior Producer John Bauman who was working at ringside strips off his IWF logo polo shirt and khaki pants to reveal a singlet and wrestling boots. The crowd pops as the energetic former intern begins running around ringside like a madman. Evan headbutts Stephan away, leaning on the ropes to regain his breath.}Alison Valance: Entering for JC Keeton is⊠John Bauman?
{John runs over to Alison and whispers in her ear. Caleb hits Seth in the throat as he stumbles backwards, ignoring him to keep beating on gilmore.}Alison Valance: Correction, entering for JC Keeton is⊠Johnny Somebody!
{Johnny slides in the ring and starts chopping everyone to a big pop before swinging a wild leaping clothesline at Thunderchild who ducks it and slings him over the top rope. Johnny sits on the mat outside the ring looking devastated.}Alison Valance: Johnny Somebody has been eliminated!
Terri Morasco: That was strange, entertaining but strange.
Vasco Dias: He's a creepy little man.
{Johnny starts walking to the back as a light "SOMEBODY" chant breaks out and he stops at the top of the ramp and smiles widely before screaming at the top of his lungs.}Johnny Somebody: I AM SOMEBODY!
Vasco Dias: Sure you are.
Terri Morasco: Let him have his moment.
{âAre yâall ready?!â
The thumping bass of âLetâs Goâ pounds from the speakers as Nick Hunter bursts through the curtain making a run for the ring but stops as Abraxes is staring him right in the face. Nick shakes his head telling Abraxes âGet your spooky ass out my way.â Abraxes snaps at Nick, who immediately hoofs it around to the other side of the ring, leaping up on the apron. Abraxes charges, but Nick sidesteps, kicks up into Abraxesâ face, and leaps up, springboarding in and drilling Abraxes with a clothesline! The big man is back up right away, but Nick uses the momentum to put half the ring between himself and Abraxes, turning to the camera and tapping his temple with a smirk!}Terri Morasco: Nick Hunter deciding to roll safe here in the Roulette with that entrance!
Vasco Dias: Is it really safe to attack Abraxes in any way?
{Meanwhile, on the other side of the ring, Caleb and Gilmore are trading vicious shots back and forth. Caleb swings wildly, but Gilmore ducks under, leaping up and looking for the SHELLSHOCKER! NO! Caleb blocks it, hooking Gilmoreâs head, and turns to the hard camera before drilling the former World Champion with the STORM OF THE MORRIGAN!}Terri Morasco: STORM OF THE MORRIGAN! Maybe Caleb isnât as ready to move on from the Pack as we thought?
Vasco Dias: When you have a move that lethal that close to you, you use it, Terri!
{Caleb rolls back from Gilmoreâs prone form, watching him roll onto his stomach, and hits the ropes, drilling him with an absolutely brutal CURB STOMP that leaves him flat! Hauling James up by his hair, Caleb rushes him to the ropes, throwing him over with an emphatic motion that sends Gilmore spiraling to the floor, landing with a dull thud!}
Alison Valance: James Gilmore has been eliminated! (Caleb)
Terri Morasco: Small vengeance against the man who took the World Title from him, but that has to feel good for Caleb Lockwood.
Vasco Dias: Victory is the sweetest revenge, Terri. Weâll see if he gets that second dose here tonight.
{The opening introduction for âRaise Your Hornsâ by Amon Amarth plays over the PA system, and the crowd goes into a frenzy! Everyone in the ring stops fighting and turns towards the entrance ramp as Ulf comes running down the ramp.}Terri Morasco: Here comes Ulf after another successful defense of his title.
Vasco Dias: I think he painted a big bullâs eye on his back.
{Ulf slides into the ring, looking around at the rest of the men in the ring. Everyone attacks Ulf as he does his best to defend himself from the onslaught. Itâs a struggle but the whole ring seems to push Ulf out. Ulf counters by tossing Seth Evans out of the ring.}
Alison Valance: Seth Evans has been eliminated! (Ulf)
Terri Morasco: Ulf is holding his own!
Vasco Dias: But how long an he withstand the onslaught?
{Everyone continues to push to beat down Ulf and he keeps pushing them back. He doesnât have much room to move but he swings at them none the less.}Terri Morasco: We are at a bit of a stand-still here.
Vasco Dias: Only because everyone knows Ulf shouldnât get another belt around his waist. Heâs already dominating the IWF Television title.
{As âEverythig is awesomeâ starts to play Billie steps onto the ramp, looks at the chaos in the ring and the fight Ulf is having with the rest. He decides to casually walk to the ring. Ulf is battling to stay in the ring. Nick Hunter tries to push Ulf over but is pushed over himself.}Alison Valance: Nick Hunter is eliminated! (ulf)
Vasco Dias: And Ulf tosses another man out.
Terri Morasco: Heâs a champion for a reason!
{Nick Hunter gets to his feet and sees everyone continue to try to eliminate Ulf and then sees Billie just standing there. Nick walks towards Billie who raises his hands in a âplease noâ way but Nick grapples him and picks him up, screaming âTHIS BITCH EMPTY YEET!â as he tosses him into the ring.}Terri Morasco: Is ...Is that allowed?
Vasco Dias: Thereâs nothing in the rules that says it isnât.
{Abraxes breaks from the group and grabs Billie much to his protest and uses him as a bat to wail on Ulf before using him to toss Ulf over the top rope and tosses Billie on top of him.}Alison Valance: Ulf Hednir and Billie Parris have been eliminated! (Abraxes)
Terri Morasco: Oh no...
{The pounding beat of â MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)â hit over the PA, and Nate Harris struts out from the back looking at the gathering in the ring and casually making his way into the ring, fist bumping Nick as he passes. Thunderchild hits the King of clubs with a belly to back suplex. Caleb and Abraxes stand waiting as Nate gets into the ring.}Terri Morasco: Oh I do not like this.
Vasco Dias: Going to loss more eyecandy, Morasco?
{Caleb hits Nate with a Neck snap across the top rope and Abraxes grabs Nate and tosses him over the rope.}Alison Valance: Nate Harris has been eliminated! (Abraxes)
Terri Morasco: Thatâs so unfair.
Vasco Dias: Letâs just keep things moving. We all knew he was not going to win here.
{Caleb glares at Abraxes, Abraxes chomps his teeth. Caleb seems to whisper something to Abraxes who tilts his head slightly.}Terri Morasco: I wonder what they are talking about?
Vasco Dias: Demonic pacts, you know. The kind of thing you discuss during a Roulette match.
{Evan hits Stephan with a snap suplex and proceeds to stomp a mudhole into the larger man. He seems to be getting angry but Caleb and Abraxes continue to talk at the edge of the ring. He lifts Stephan up to try and eliminate him.}Vasco Dias: Bit of a heavy load there, donât you think?
Terri Morasco: Evan has made it this long, I think he can do this!
{The lights in the arena darken, and blue and white spotlights are cast upon the stage. Snow falls from the rafters, gently dancing in the lights, and landing softly onto the stage as the opening to Nonpoint's "In The Air Tonight" echoes throughout the arena. JessĂ© Marchand walks out onto the stage, looks at Caleb and Abraxes waiting for him and seems to smile before rushing headlong into the waiting jaws.}Terri Morasco: I donât envy Machard here. Having to deal with those to psychopaths...
Vasco Dias: Theyâve been in the match for a while now. I donât think they will be much trouble.
{Evan finally pushes Stephan over the edge of the ring as Caleb and Abraxes unload on Marchand.}Alison Valance: Stephen Terrella has been eliminated! (Evan)
{Evan seems to rest against the ropes to regain his breathe as Caleb and Abraxes keep beating on Jesse. Jess knocks Caleb back and tries to toss him over but Caleb manages to kick him in the face. Abraxes wails on Jesse.}Terri Morasco: I wonder why Caleb and Abraxes are assisting each other?
Vasco Dias: Who can say?
{âThe Devil Donât Sleepâ by Brantley Gilbert begins to play and the camera glances to the entrance ramp but they do not see Locke. The camera pans back and Locke is in the ring behind Jesse tossing him over the top rope.}Terri Morasco: WHAT?!
Alison Valance: Jessé Marchand has been eliminated! (Locke)
Vasco Dias: Thatâs hilarious!
{Locke and Abraxes nod to each other. Caleb goes to talk to Locke but he hold up his hand shaking his head. The three stand in the ring, pacing as the time goes down. Evan looks to them then looks to the ramp.}
Terri Morasco: What are they waiting for?
Vasco Dias: Harper.
Terri Morasco: Oh. OhâŠ.
{Abraxes paces back and forth as Caleb leans against the ropes. Locke cracks his knuckles.}
Vasco Dias: Oh the wait is killing me.
Terri Morasco: I donât know if I want to see what is going to happen. After how the tag team match went earlier in the night I canât imagine things are going to go well for Dean here.
Vasco Dias: Do you want it to?
Terri Morasco: Not specifically...
Vasco Dias: Then just watch the show.
{With the rhythmic pulses of the beginning of Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm Of The War drums by A Perfect Circle begins to surge through the arena Dean walks down the ring. Caleb and Locke move back from the ropes to let Dean get in. Locke moves like he is going for a move but SPEAR FROM ABRAXES OUT OF NOWHERE! Abraxes Is carrying Dean like some kind of fucked up spider as he climbs the rope. Locke assists with a push on the back as Abraxes and Dean go falling to the ground.}
Alison Valance: Dean Harper Has been Eliminated! (Abraxes) And Abraxes has been eliminated! (Locke)
{Locke and Caleb laugh at the look on Deans face from the floor. Practically giddy as they lean on the top rope looking at what they had done. With the sound of a howl Evan is suddenly holding both Caleb and Lockeâs legs as he tosses them over the top rope. Locke lands on the floor while Caleb caught the bottom rope, lifting his feet from touching the ground.}Alison Valance: Locke has been eliminated! (Evan)
Terri Morasco: OH MY GOD!
Vasco Dias: WHAT?!
{Caleb tries to get back in the ring but Evan stomps on his hand and Caleb falls to the floor!!!}Alison Valance: Caleb Lockwood has been eliminated!
Terri Morasco: He did it! He did it!
Vasco Dias: I canât believe he did this?!
{Valiant Hearts plays as confetti rains down from the ceiling as Evan looks around as the crowd cheers. He seems overcome with emotion as he points to the Sing for Night of the Immortals.Alison Valance: "Thunderchild" Evan Albrecht has won the roulette!!
{The IWF logo flashes before the feed ends}
Well howdy there pardner.