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Post by Jess Fowler on Aug 29, 2021 22:24:44 GMT
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SHOW OPEN
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{ IWF Legacy goes live in the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida set to the tune of Writing on the Wall by Iron Maiden. We do a complete crowd scan showing off the signs the fans brought to the arena before settling on the commentary booth. }
Terri Morasco: Welcome to IWF Presents: LEGACY! I’m Terri Morasco and this is my broadcast partner, Vasco Dias!
Vasco Dias: We have an absolutely huge show tonight, Terri!
Terri Morasco: Absolutely! The civil war within the Church of Crosse continues! Then we will see Tara Fenix in a rematch with Rowan!
Vasco Dias: A number one contenders ladder match for the tag team titles will happen with four of the top teams in the division!
Terri Morasco: Pax Stormcrow will take on the runner up in the Heir to the Throne, JC Keeton for the World Television Championship!
Vasco Dias: Fiona McFly challenges Cals Jacobsen for a future Imperial Diamonds Championship opportunity!
Terri Morasco: For the first time ever, Shelly Diamond will go one on one with Eternity for the latters Women’s World Championship!
Vasco Dias: And in our main event. The Heir to the Throne winner, Roberto Verona will challenge newly minted Men’s World Champion, Ulf Hednir for his title!
Terri Morasco: Tonight is going to be absolutely huge!
Vasco Dias: But before all that we have something or should I say someone special making their long awaited return to the IWF!
Terri Morasco: Do you mean?
Vasco Dias: None other! Hit the music!
{ The lights in the arena go dim but they do not go completely out. The crowd waits in anticipation when the opening riff of Bad to the Bone by George Thorogood hits. The entire arena screams out as one as the graphics on the screen show some of the many highlights of the career of Rob Diamond. The second, third, fourth and fifth riffs all hit with pink pyro launching out of the stage and just as the lyrics kick in, Rob Diamond steps out to a huge ovation! }
Vasco Dias: Rob Diamond is back in IWF!!!
Terri Morasco: This is huge!!!
{ The crowd is chanting “Con-gratu-lations” at Rob who half laughs and takes a bow to both sides of the arena before heading toward the ring. }
Vasco Dias: Rob Diamond is fully cleared and ready to compete after giving birth to his son, Michael Robert Kane-Diamond!
Terri Morasco: I kind of need details.
Vasco Dias: Me too.
{ Rob makes it a point to slap hands with the fans at either side of the lower end of the ramp and then makes his way around the ring, even stopping to grab a picture with a young boy dressed like Dean Harper. Rob finally makes his way into the ring where he is handed a microphone by Alison Valance. }
Rob Diamond: -
{ A “Wel-come Back!” chant kicks off now as Rob lowers the microphone and just laughs a little bit, taking in the whole thing. Finally he raises the microphone as his music fades out. }
Rob Diamond: Did you miss me!?
{ A “Yes!” chant breaks out in the arena as Rob just laughs again. }
Rob Diamond: Some of you may have seen me tease a surprise return on Twitter earlier this week, sorry if I mislead anyone.
{ Rob rolls his eyes as the crowd starts their “Wel-come Back!” chant again. }
Rob Diamond: I know I’m not exactly as AWESOME as other people who could come walking through that door but I feel like I’m a pretty decent consolation prize.
{ Rob shrugs his shoulders a little bit as the crowd continues to roar for him. }
Rob Diamond: But before I say anything else I feel like I need to touch on a touchy subject.
{ A slow hush over takes the crowd. }
Rob Diamond: I don’t know if we are allowed to say his name or not like that AJ bird guy or Ana Halloween but let me just go ahead and run the risk. Steve Awesome walked out on this company not so long ago.
{ There’s a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd. }
Rob Diamond: And he took a lot of shots on his way out like he was doing his best Mike Laszlo circa 2014 impression. I honestly was really enjoying this new serious take on everyone’s favorite fuck up but then he said some stuff about the IWF specifically. Some stuff I didn’t really appreciate. And I know, everyone expects me to come out here and lampoon Steve because that’s what I do. No. Steve was my friend, my best friend. But he made a choice. He made a choice that ended our friendship and instead of manning up to it and just saying sorry he decided to act like it never happened then got mad when I stopped returning his calls.
{ Some more peppered boos. }
Rob Diamond: So let me just say in a public forum. I don’t hate you Steve. And if you ever want to have a real discussion instead of “you still mad bro?” then you know how to reach me. As for the things he said about the IWF? He’s dead f**king wrong!
{ There’s a loud pop from the crowd. }
Rob Diamond: I have been in this company since the day it opened! I was one of the first people to sign my name to an IWF contract! I’m one of the last first champions this company still has on the roster! What up not so dead Spike and Tara. Roberto Verona is a lot of things. A lot. But one thing he isn’t is a professional f**king chess player! We’ve had our differences, we’ve hashed them out in the ring, he’s beat my ass and I’ve beat his. But through it all!? Roberto Verona has never denied talent! He’s never held anyone down! He’s never just pushed his butt buddies! If you subscribe to r/IWFconspiracy then tell me why Jake Conway has never won the Men’s World Title!? Tell me why Jess Reed isn’t the IWF Women’s World Champion Eternal!? Tell me why Angel Blake is getting his arm broken by long lost kids and Dean Harper isn’t wrestling in the main event tonight!?
{ Rob looks around, a little heated. }
Rob Diamond: Look at this company! Look at who the champions are! Look at who the champions have been! If Roberto Verona wanted to start a circle jerk company with his friends then he’s doing a pretty piss poor job! We’ve got Ulf as the top dog, JC hot on his heels, Virginia tearing it up and my not so dead sister wrestling for the World title! IWF provides opportunities and it’s up to all of us to take them!
{ The crowd roars in agreement. }
Rob Diamond: That’s what I have been doing from day one and that is what I’m going to continue to do. So with that “pipe bomb” out of the way let me get to the meat of why I’m back. I wanna be World Champ again.
{ The entire arena cheers for Rob as he smirks. }
Rob Diamond: But don’t worry, Ulf or Verona, I’m not going to be one of those vets who just throws his pee-pee around and demands a title shot. No. I know I’ve been gone a minute and things have changed. I’m going to work my way back to the top of this company, I am going to face all comers until there is no one left for me to wrestle besides whoever holds that IWF Men’s World Championship!
{ A “Rob!” chant breaks out. }
Rob Diamond: I guess there’s only one thing left to say. IF YOU AIN’T DOWN WITH THAT!
{ The crowd roars back “THEN I’VE ONLY GOT TWO WORDS FOR YA!” And together with the crowd, Rob yells “SUCK IT!!!!” Bad to the Bone picks back up at the first verse as Rob drops the microphone and heads back to the ring side area to slap hands and hug more fans. }
Vasco Dias: Rob Diamond is back!
Terri Morasco: And he’s got his eyes on the top prize in all of professional wrestling!
Vasco Dias: I don’t know who is going to come out of the main event tonight as the Men’s World Champion but I’m sure both men were glued to the screens for this.
Terri Morasco: Absolutely. And whoever wins is going to have to be looking over their shoulder.
{ We watch Rob for a few more moments before heading to a video package for our first match of the evening. }
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SINGLES MATCH
Gregor Winter vs Gabriel Crosse
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Alison Valance: The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first from The Church of Crosse Compound, Gregor Winter!!!
{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 a single silhouettes fade into view. As the guitar kicks in hard, the lights flash onto the stage revealing ‘The First Apostle’ Gregor Winter in full, gazing out into the crowd he takes in the reaction of crowd; feeding off of it, both negative and positive. Slowly he makes his way towards the ring preaching the word of The Church of Crosse.}
Teri Morasco: In an unusual turn Gregor Winter is coming to the ring alone. I thought The Church of Crosse always traveled in packs, like rats.
Vasco Dias: Gregor obviously knows that he doesn’t need anyone's help to beat Gabriel Crosse. ‘The First Apostle’ is superior in every single way: size, strength, training, and he has no ring rust to deal with because he hasn’t been retired for almost a decade.
{‘This Means War’ by Five Finger Death punch hits over the arena sound system suddenly the entrance ramp is engulfed in flames before the maked man known as ‘The Nightmare Dragon’ steps out onto the stage to a chorus of cheers.}
Vasco Dias: I know that Miami is home of some of the most beautiful people in the world, but I didn’t know that they were so stupid. Listen to them cheering this hobbit!
Teri Morasco: They are cheering Gabriel Crosse because they are sick and tired of the bullying tactics of The Church of Crosse. These people are just happy that someone has the balls to stand up to Gregor Winter.
Vasco Dias: I just hope he has his affairs in order because without the rest of The Brotherhood he is a dead man walking.
{Crosse reaches ringside and suddenly a gout of flame erupts from his mouth making Gregor Winter hop back to his side of the squared circle. Smiling from ear to ear Gabriel climbs into the ring, but the smile quickly disappears when Winter charges across the ring and nearly takes his head off with a big boot. ‘Nightmare Dragon’ stumbles back into the corner as ‘The First Apostle’ walks to the opposite corner and does a cartwheel before finishing with a big splash.}
Teri Morasco: The Alaskan Goldrush! The move has been the beginning of the end for so many of Gregor Winter’s opponents.
Vasco Dias: This just proves that the only person with any brains in the Crosse family is Lucipher.
{Crosse begins to crumple to the mat, but Gregor grabs a handful of the tail on the back of his helmet to keep him weak-kneed, but on his feet. Laughing loudly Gregor slaps Gabriel across the face with a skillet sized hand once, twice, thrice.}
Teri Morasco: Gregor Winter is just toying with Gabriel Crosse
Vasco Dias: What did you think was going to happen Teri? Gregor Winter is a trained killer, while Gabriel Crosse is a banker.
{Winter whips his opponent from pillar to post and follows hitting a big splash. The air is audibly driven for Gabriel’s body as he falls to the canvas gasping. Gregor again begins laughing as he lays the boots to ‘The Nightmare Dragon.’}
Teri Morasco: Why doesn’t Winter just pin him and get it over with?
Vasco Dias: Because The Brotherhood has to be taught a lesson Teri. These three idiots have to be shown that it is hopeless for them to stand up against The Church of Crosse. We...I mean The Church is an army of thousands, not the three brother’s from the shallow end of the gene pool.
{Slowly lifting Crosse up off of the canvas and propping him up in the corner Gregor puts his finger to his lips to quiet the crowd before chopping Gabriel across the chest and leaving a massive red welt. Not satisfied with one chop the big Viking hits a second which sends the much smaller man tumbling to the floor. Winter then leans over and demands to be given a microphone.}
Gregor Winter: I told you that you were an idiot for coming out here Gabriel, but you’ve proven that you’ve got balls. Now why don’t you prove that you have brains and crawl back to the dressing room and then get on the next plane for Scotland. It’s obvious that you don’t have what it takes to wrestle with the big boys.
{Ignoring what Gregor had to say, Crosse is back in the ring before Blue Shoes even begins to make a ten count. ‘The Modern Day Viking’ just shrugs and goes back to laying the boots to his opponent. Once he feels that the much smaller man is beaten down he yanks his up places Crosse’s head between his knees.}
Vasco Dias: Looks like it’s time for a Viking Funeral!
{Winter lifts Gabriel up for the buckle bomb, but is amazed when he is taken off of his feet by a hurricanrana. The acting leader of The Church of Crosse roars as he jumps right back to his feet and deadlifts ‘The Nightmare Dragon’ up for a buckle bomb and just as he is lifting him back up for the sitout powerbomb the arena lights go black.}
Vasco Dias: Did Roberto Verona forget to pay the power bill again?
Teri Morasco: I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m getting word that there is some sort of a commotion in back
{A few more second goes by before a spot light on the entrance ramp shines up to illuminate Nick Knight sitting atop the giant screen.}
Nick Knight: Gregor you seem to not grasp the power that just three men can have. I get it you’re just a meat doing what my brother tells you to do, but he should be telling you to be very afraid. You see I have a bit of a reputation for being a psychopath and trust me when I say I’ve earned it. I mean come on you’ve seen the kind of matches that I have been in just here in IWF. What you may not know is crazy kind of runs in the Knight family, and I’m not talking about the kooky cult leader kind of crazy. I’m talking about the kind of crazy where we enjoy hurting people just a little too much.
{A second spot light comes on revealing James Knight standing on the entrance ramp dressed in a blood stained white jacket with drops of blood splattering down like rain. ‘Super K Ecstasy’ is holding a barbed wire wrapped baseball bat and grinning like a mad man.}
Nick Knight: Gabriel warned you that we were going to take you out one at a time. Well our plan hasn’t changed, we’ve just decided to start with someone other than you.
{All of the lights on the entrance ramp come on revealing that the blood dripping onto James Knight is not some special effect. No it is coming from the blood covered body of Jayson Matthews.}
Nick Knight: I’m not sure if it was your stupid plan, or my brother’s for you to come to the ring all alone tonight. I’m going to guess it was probably yours because you wanted to make up for that little issue you had with the clown. Well it was a stupid fucking plan because it left you and your boy both to be easy pickens.
{The light over the ring comes back on just in time for the crowd to see Gabriel Crosse roll Gabriel Crosse up from behind. Blue Shoes drops to make the count…
One…
Two…
Three!!!}
Alison Valance: Your winner ‘The Nightmare Dragon’ Gabriel Crosse!!!
Vasco Dias: No! Not again! This is almost as bad as losing to the clown
{Crosse rolls out of the ring and disappears into the crowd before Winter barely has a chance to realize what has happened.}
Teri Morasco: Your worried about Gregor Winter losing a match? Look at poor Jayson Matthews hanging there like a piece of meat. We’ve got to get some medical assistance out here right now.
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SEGMENT
Tara Fenix arrested
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{ We go backstage to find Tara… rather… The Demon Phoenix walking down the hallway with a stagger to her step. She lets her fingertips glide across the wall surface with the studded bat held in her hand and dragging on the floor. While walking, she suddenly blinks her eyes several times; there’s a small shift in their focus… as if she were coming back to norm… and her eyes are fixated on something or someone in front of her, as she cocks her head to the side and when the camera pans around to reveal what she spotted, it shows the challenger for the IWF Women’s World Championship who would battle Eternity later in the evening: Shelly Diamond. The Demon Phoenix, or Tara, strides forward with a much more balanced walk this time. }
Tara Fenix: I don’t know why you want to be my enemy… I just want my son back, and this week, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
{ Her voice was stable, and seemed content; despite the smeared make-up, and red paint already expertly applied under her eyes, she did not come off as possessed. She seemed reasonable. Tara still closed the distance between herself and Shelly until they were well within an arm's reach away. }
Tara Fenix: But I should wish you luck, because when you defeat Eternity, I’ll just have to come after you to take the belt back. After I deal with Rowan.
Shelly Diamond: You keep talking about your son like you actually care about him but you and
I both know the only thing you care about is that title. And after tonight? I'll have it.
{ Tara smirked over the comment, trying to maintain her calm… but with a blink of her eyes, she seemed to shift right back into demented and threw the bat down opting to use her fists; she and Shelly began exchanging rights and lefts with one another as security was quick to enter the scene and already prying the two women apart! Tara and Shelly are kicking their way free, and Tara manages to elbow one of the security guards as blood gushes from what could now be a broken nose; she charges forward and past the security to continue the battle! Shelly squirms her arms free and is able to get her hands up just in time to defend herself from Tara’s strikes, and starts battling back with her own. }
Backstage Crew #1: We need more help over here, now!
{ One of the larger security guards is able to get his arms around Tara and rather than restraining her, tosses her back; she lands near her bat and picks it up before beginning to swing away at security! Security is instantly backing up trying to keep themselves between Tara and Shelly, but Shelly doesn’t seem afraid as she’s still trying to push her way past… }
Jess Fowler: What’s the meaning of this?! Stop this! Stop it now!
{ Jess is trying to close the distance, when suddenly: WHACK! Tara connects with a shot to Jess Fowler’s stomach with the bat, and then hits it across Fowler’s back before security is finally able to spring forward and grab Tara by her arms. She drops her bat during the struggle. She’s still squirming her arms to try and get free but the numbers are becoming too much as they have also gotten Shelly away to safety. Even more security is pouring out from all ends as Tara is snarling trying to get free, and Shelly is across shouting out inaudible words but demanding to let her and Tara finish their fight. }
Tara Fenix / The Demon Phoenix: Let me go!
{ The voice came out as more of a growl, as the medical staff was checking on Jess Fowler… Roberto Verona comes onto the scene with his own entourage of security but also being led by local Miami-Dade badges. Roberto looks at the carnage and sees an unconscious Jess Fowler before calling out his order… }
Roberto Verona: Arrest her! Get her OFF of my property!
{ Roberto orders, and the police move forward. }
Tara Fenix / The Demon Phoenix: She started this…
{ Tara mumbled as the police take over custody and handcuff Tara’s hands behind her before leading her through the hallway; security joins them to assure that they have no trouble while Roberto Verona is trying to see if Jess Fowler is okay but Jess is still being checked on by the medical staff. }
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SEGMENT
“No Mercy”
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{ We find Caroline Machado standing backstage, bouncing up and down giddily as sheblows a bubble from her bubblegum. Tonight, she sports a T-shirt that says “Rave On!” -- a reference to a 1950s Buddy Holly tune. }
Caroline Machado: Hi!!!
{ Fiona McFly steps into the picture, sporting a stoic expression on her face, which causes Caroline to slow her “happy moves” down. }
Caroline Machado: Tonight, I am with Fiona as she prepares to face Cals Jacobsen in just a few hours. The winner will recieve an Imperial Diamond title shot at a future date. So, Fiona...are you prepared?
{ Fiona took a deep breath as Caroline batted her eyelashes. }
Fiona McFly: Thank you, Cals.
{ The Brazilian gave off a quizzical look on her face as her trainer paused. }
Fiona McFly: What you said last week struck a chord with me. Echoing Vivienne’s sentiments that this business can stick to you like a bug on a windshield, or like the scar from a cobra’s bite. I’ll admit...there’s a handful on this roster who haven’t given her enough credit for being a force in this division ‘cos of the perception of being all sunshine and rainbows.
In spite of all the setbacks and adversities -- she never gave up and earned what she’s always dreamed about earning.
So kudos to you, Cals...for being her teacher and her friend.
{ Fiona nodded warmly as Caroline left the former to her devices. }
Fiona McFly: Here’s a sentiment we can both agree on.
When you’re on the road, in the gym, or at a theme park or movie theater...you meet different kids of people. Some of those people turn out to be the scum of the planet; yet others...they turn out to be the best friends you can ever have. They are your guides, your rocks, your inspirations for living this life when you’re sitting i a smoke-filled bar, feeling the blues.
Those are the people who’ll stick to your mind for the rest of your life.
No matter how old you become.
But who am I kidding?! I’m just a 39 year old widow with a trio of tattoos, two Iron Maidens, and a World title to match -- yet probably will never get a dating site match if I even tried hard enough. You’re the Nonbinary Nightmare, a former Imperial Diamond Champion and Heroine of the Year, the first person to neither identify as male or female to make an impact on a women’s division that’s, for lack of a better phrase, in need of fresh faces to complement the existing stars.
Am I right?!
{ She paused again before pulling out a small bottle of Florida-made orange juice and taking a sip. }
Fiona McFly: ‘Cos when you think about it, Cals...there’s the Praetorian guard of athletes like myself, Jessica Reed, and those who’ve come here during this company’s first years of existence. Then...there’s people like you. You represent the women’s division’s youth movement, a crop of younger stars that want to define themselves by what we do in that ring -- just as we “old folks” once did.
Sounds like the perfect balance, like a perfect marriage...right?!
Here’s the thing -- close your eyes and take a moment to let your brain juices flow.
{ Fiona took another sip before closing her eyes. }
Fiona McFly: Imagine being stuck in an alternate timeline -- and if someone had quit on you after promising to set things right for not only himself, but for you and those he called friends. Say, for example...your brother Andrew blindly took a stipulation, lost a match, and got YOU, Vivienne, and himself banned from the Hall of Fame -- a place in which I’ve no doubt in my mind that you’ll be in someday.
A year later...Andrew makes a vow to set things right and goes on to face the very same person who made that stipulation in the first place. He makes an initial proposal -- that, no matter what happens, you and your friends get your potential Hall of Fame spots back, but is denied by the other side.
So he doesn’t get his way, his cries fall on deaf ears.
You try very hard to tell him that he has to be the bigger person and march onward, but instead of listening?!
He takes his ball, runs home, and gets rewarded with a spot in the Hall of Fame whilst leaving you and your closest friends holding the empty bag.
What would you do if what happened to me and my friends happened to you?! You wouldn’t be giving him a free pass, wouldn’t you? You’d find a way to flip him a middle finger or two, tell him to go fuck himself, and bruise his ego in the process. I know, right…working just to spite someone isn’t exactly the Jedi way of handling business. But you and I both know that we aren’t exactly Jedi to begin with.
That’s why this means so much to me. That’s what this represents -- a chance to hold the person who fucked me -- and my friends -- over accountable for his actions.
And I will do anything -- and I mean anything -- to ensure that the job’s done, that I get back what I RIGHTFULLY earned.
{ Fiona’s eyes light up as her stern vocal demeanour intensifies. }
Fiona McFly: You might think you know everything about me, Cals.
About where I’ve stood in order to get here -- but in reality...you don’t.
I got my start six years ago taking on Hall of Famers in a baptism by fire, the best this company had to offer. I was lit alame and basically KILLEDby Rowan inside that very ring. I came back from the depths of depression -- from the brink of SUICIDE -- to win a second Iron Maiden and then...the Women’s World title...when nobody gave me a chance at doing so.
For fuck’s sake...I once stood in that very ring with the man, the myth, and the legend himself -- SPIKE KANE -- but even he realised, ‘til the day he died, that dropping me on my head couldn’t keep me down for good.
I’ve been wounded before. I’ve been embarrassed before.
I’ve even been dead before.
When something didn’t go my way, with nobody else propping me up on some stupid pedestal, I’ve always gotten back up.
Always.
{ With the “always,” Fiona crumpled her plastic juice bottle and tossed it into a pink recycling bin. }
Fiona McFly: And I will get back up -- ‘cos that’s what survivors do.
You can try and break me, Cals...but guess what?! I’ll still be back in the game. You can try and point out how mentally incompetent I am of facing a Virginia, or a Tara, or a whatever...and I’ll only assure you that THIS “old, tired, frail, weak, sagging-boobs” widow can still fly with the younger generation of IWF stars! ‘Cos whether you like it or not?!
You’re gonna be a stepping stone, a means to an end.
I will do what I must in order to beat you.
No retreat -- no mercy.
{ She storms off -- the camera showing the lasting image of the emptied juice bottle, which had clanked off the side of the recycling bin and landed on the floor. }
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TAG TEAM LADDER MATCH
Winner receives a future IWF World Tag Team Championship Match
TDH vs Rising Dragons vs Vendetta vs Happy Suffering
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{ After a hype video plays recapping Roberto Verona's Heir To The Throne victory, and the World Championship match later tonight, we return to the arena where Happy Suffering are already standing in the ring for the next match up. "Nitro (Youth Energy)" by The Offspring plays James Gilmore and Nick Danger out from behind the curtain next. }
Alison Valance: Introducing next, making their way down the aisle... weighing in at a total combined weight of four hundred pounds... James Gilmore and Nick Danger... the Rising Dragons!!
{ Nick Danger walks out to the entrance ramp wearing red and white wrestling attire, and his leather jacket says "Savior" on it. He stands on the entrance ramp hyping the whole crowd to chant his name while James Gilmore poses to the song. They start walking down the ramp while giving fans high fives. Danger walks up the steel steps first, and Gilmore follows. Danger takes off his leather jacket and then throws it into the crowd while Gilmore points heavenward, taking in the moments as he waits for his opponent. }
Terri Morasco: This is a huge match up for the Rising Dragons tonight. James Gilmore has taken Nick Danger under his wing, and while some of his training techniques have been... unconventional... there is no denying they have clearly formed a strong bond with each other.
Vasco Dias: Of course they've formed a bond, Morasco... they're the two kids in high school who used to eat at the lunch table alone. They went from being weird little children to weird little men. At least now they don't have to eat alone in catering because they have each other, I guess.
Terri Morasco: That's not factual, I suspect. These people in the audience love them.
Vasco Dias: These people in the audience would love glue if we fed it to them, too... what's your point?
{ 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. Jessé Marchand steps out from behind the curtain first, followed closely by Travis Reinhart. Marchand kneels on the stage with his head bowed, tapping his fist to his nose three times; while Reinhart stands behind him and runs his thumb across his throat in a slashing gesture. }
Alison Valance: Coming down the aisle... weighing in at a combined weight of four hundred fifty-two pounds... The Iceman... Jessé Marchand... and The Clipper... Travis Reinhart... they are Vendetta!!
( Reinhart and Marchand begin to walk toward the ring with a cool and quiet confidence. )
Well, when you told me you were drowning
I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before, my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am
Well, I was there and I saw what you did
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin
I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies
{ Both men pause at the bottom of the ramp, holding up the middle two fingers on their right hands in a "V" shape for the camera. Marchand slides underneath the bottom rope into the ring while Reinhart heads up the stairs and leaps over the top rope. They climb opposite corners, perching themselves on the middle turnbuckles. Marchand surveys the arena, looking side-to-side while Reinhart glances back over his shoulder toward the ring with a bit of a smirk. Both men hop down and remove their jackets as the lights rise and the song begins to fade out at the 01:53 mark. }
Terri Morasco: Vendetta has been one of the fastest rising teams here in the IWF, as they've been quick to remind us all as of late. What do you make of their claim to the number one contendership spot for the Tag Team Championships.
Vasco Dias: I mean they have a valid point. Their only loss so far has been to the Violent Tendencies, and that was awhile ago. There isn't a snowball's chance in hell they can beat Violent Tendencies for the titles, but the way I see it they deserve the opportunity to lose to the Champs. I mean look at the collection of misfits they're in the ring with, and you tell me they're wrong.
Terri Morasco: They're incredibly impressive, absolutely. I believe they should be in this match. I don't share their opinion that no one else has an equal claim to that position, though. James Gilmore is incredibly decorated in his career, and Nick Danger is a rising star. Team Diversity Hire are very accomplished in their own right. It's a wide open field.
Vasco Dias: After Vendetta wins tonight, it won't be.
{ The opening hook of "Blood//Water - Grandson" blares from the PA as Nick Hunter, Nate Harris, and Gabirela Luna walk onto the ramp with Justine Harris with fairy wings and a crown on as she skips down the ramp in front of them. On the 'Tron there is the TEAM DIVERSITY HIRE logo as well as showing links to instagram, youtube, spotify and their personal merch store. }
Alison Valance: Introducing next, making their way to the ring... Nick Hunter and Nate Harris... Team Diversity Hire!
{ Justine waves happily to the crowd as each of the members stops to shake hands and fist bump the crowd before getting into the ring with Gabi lifting the young Justine into the ring. Each of them pose a moment before exiting the ring. }
Terri Morasco: I'd argue heavily that Team Diversity Hire should be considered the favorites in this match. They have an unique blend of power and athleticism suited to a ladder match. No one in the ring is going to overpower them, but it's also not as if Team Diversity Hire are two guys who can't move.
Vasco Dias: Well look at you trying to bring analysis to the party, Morasco. Now let me tell you why you're wrong- because the guy that might be able to help Team Diversity Hire win this match is fighting JC Keeton later tonight. Batman has another mission, and I don't know who is the old Robin and who is the new Robin here... but no one buys into two Robins saving the day. No one.
Terri Morasco: You're just trying to stir up controversy where there isn't any. Whoa, wait- we have a hot start!
{ Happy Suffering attempt to strike early by jumping Nick Danger before the bell with a series of fists and clubbing blows, but Gilmore immediately comes to his partner's defense. Team Diversity Hire makes a move for Vendetta, but Marchand and Reinhart elect to take a powder on the floor. Vendetta moves up the ramp, away from the action, seemingly content to allow the other teams to duke it out. Team Diversity Hire gestures for them to comeback, but Vendetta isn't biting. }
{ Meanwhile, behind the scene, Gilmore takes Mr. Happy up and over with a belly-to-back suplex while Nick Danger simultaneously plants Warren Suffering with a full nelson suplex. Nate Harris grabs Nick Danger though, tossing him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Nick Hunter begins throwing punches at Gilmore, forcing him back into the corner. Nick follows up, delivering clothesline after clothesline on Gilmore in the corner. Nate stays on Danger, executing a swinging neckbreaker. }
{ Hunter whips Gilmore across the ring, following him in and attempting a flying crossbody splash;but the Islander alum moves, and Hunter catches turnbuckle. Gilmore races across the ring and catches Harris with a running dropkick, knocking Harris down. Danger grabs at his neck, feeling some effects, then superkicks Nick Hunter as Justine tries to rally Team Diversity Hire on. Vendetta remains on the outside, conversing on the ramp about the action taking place inside the ring. }
{ Happy Suffering try to mount some offense on the Dragons to literally no avail, as Danger and Gilmore stuff them. The Rising Dragons roll over Happy Suffering for about a spell, hitting Warren and Mr. Happy with a variety of suplexes to the crowd's delight. The Rising Dragons have no problems with Happy Suffering, but Nick Hunter takes both members of the Rising Dragons down with a double clothesline while their attention is diverted attempting to set up a double-team on Mr. Happy. Nate Harris goes to the floor and grabs a ladder, introducing it into the match for the very first time. }
Terri Morasco: Team Diversity Hire might be considering making a play for the contract hanging above the ring! Vendetta is still lurking on the outside, interestingly enough not making a move.
Vasco Dias:They may be the most calculating team in this match, Morasco. The field is in there giving punishment and taking it, too... but Vendetta is as fresh as newly fallen snow. Remember, no one can be pinned in this match, so all Vendetta has to do is ensure no one climbs the ladder.
Terri Morasco: Team Diversity Hire not setting the ladder up yet though, most likely realizing Vendetta's strategy here, too. They're taking ends... and they just rammed Nick Danger with the ladder!
Vasco Dias: Danger took that right on his dome! That'll leave a mark! Oh, and there's one for Mr. Happy!
Terri Morasco: You can hear that metal ladder echoing off flesh and bone... and they're making use of it again, taking down James Gilmore!
Vasco Dias: Team Diversity Hiring is laying that ladder down now... what are they doing here?... This may not end well for Warren Suffering.
Terri Morasco: Nick Hunter isn't going to... it looks like he's going to try to hit Warren Suffering with the Who Dat Driver!
Vasco Dias: Good night, Warren Suffering! Hunter just drove Suffering into that ladder with the Who Dat Driver! Warren Suffering's body may be broken into a million pieces!
{ Team Diversity Hire eyes up Vendetta from the ring. The Canadians indicate to Team Diversity Hire that they should watch their backs, but James Gilmore has already charged in from behind to dump Nick Hunter over the top rope with a clothesline! Nate Harris and James Gilmore then begin to brawl in the ring, and Vendetta finally seizes the opportunity to strike, as Reinhart moves for Hunter on the floor and delivers a crushing side kick. }
{ Marchand chopblocks Hunter in the back of his knee a moment later. Both members of Vendetta puts the boots to Nick Hunter's previously injured knee, focusing solely on that area. Reinhart drags one of the ladders over, and both he and Marchand place Hunter's leg inside the steel frame of the ladder. Marchand slams the ladder down onto Hunter's knee... twice!... three times!! Reinhart delivers an axe stomp to the top of the ladder, sandwiching Hunter's knee in between the frame. Hunter screams out, and Vendetta continues the assault almost devoid of emotion. Justine can only watch as Marchand locks in a knee bar on Hunter and proceeds to wrench away on the hold. }
Vasco Dias: This is something I can appreciate, Morasco! It's vicious, and effective. Hunter is going to have a hell of a hard time climbing a ladder on one wheel.
Terri Morasco: This is a very different side to Vendetta than we're used to seeing...
Vasco Dias: That's not a bad thing, Morasco. Let's also not forget is what Hunter who told these guys to get noticed. Well, I'd say Hunter is noticing them right now.
{ Nick Danger slides another ladder in from the floor, near James Gilmore. Gilmore had gotten the upperhand on Nate Harris in the ring while the action had been taking place on the floor, and after Danger re-enters the ring, the Rising Dragons work together to double suplex Nate Harris onto the unforgiving ladder. Reinhart goes under the ring, finding a kendo stick there. Travis slides in under the bottom rope and canes Danger over the head with the kendo stick. Travis turns and strikes Gilmore across the chest with the bamboo, leaving a huge red welp. Reinhart puts the cane under Mr. Happy's throat, pulling him back onto the ladder with a modified Russian Leg sweep. }
{ Reinhart drags the ladder up, setting it up in the center of the ring. The Canadian begins his climb to a rather mixed reaction from the crowd as Marchand keeps holds Hunter in the knee bar on the floor, seemingly leaving no one to stop Reinhart's ascent. Travis makes it three-quarters of the way to the top when James Gilmore comes racing up the other side. The two men begin to exchange punches in between the ladder rungs. }
{ Nate Harris has recovered, and he hip tosses Nick Danger into the ladder, using Danger's body as a projectile to send the ladder tumbling, and both Gilmore and Reinhart fall crashing to the mat. Harris favors his back some, but sucks it up enough to head out to the floor and deliver a kick to Marchand's skull to free Nick Hunter from the knee bar. Harris checks in on Hunter. Hunter's face is ripe with anguish, but he motions for Harris to go for a ladder. Marchand tries to latch onto Harris' leg and shoot into a single leg takedown, but Harris fights him off. }
{ Harris overpowers Marchand and transitions the block into a gutwrench suplex, laying waste to Marchand's body on the floor. Afterward, Harris fetches a ladder and shoves it inside the ring. Harris lays some stiff forearms into Marchand on the floor, retaliating for the assault on his partner. Nate then slides in the ring and throws Danger out over the top rope. Nate sets up the ladder inside the ring, but Mr. Happy trucks Nate with an ugly shoulder tackle. Mr. Happy grabs a second ladder, setting it up side-by-side against the ladder already standing. }
Vasco Dias: There's no way this big goof is going to climb the ladder! Violent Tendencies will have a cakewalk!
Terri Morasco: Mr. Happy is a large man... I think... I think he's trying to decide how to navigate the ladder?
Vasco Dias: Mother of- He's putting one foot on one ladder, and the other foot on the other ladder. I think in the entire history of the IWF, he's the first person to ever pay attention to the weight capacity on those things!
Terri Morasco: I don't know how to call this... he has all the grace of a newborn baby deer trying to cross a frozen pond.
Vasco Dias: Yeah, if you strapped a half dozen sandbags on the deer's back, Morasco.
Terri Morasco: And here comes James Gilmore!
Vasco Dias: You're surprised!? If someone didn't stop that climb Verona would have had to purchase more air time.
Terri Morasco: James Gilmore is getting underneath Mr. Happy... and he pulls him off the ladder with a running powerbomb!
Vasco Dias: My water just shook, like that scene from Jurassic Park!
{ Gilmore sucks in a breath of air, and he begins to climb the ladder. Nate Harris starts to climb the second ladder, on the opposite side of Gilmore. Reinhart goes up, attempting to stop them both. All three men begin to exchange near the top of the ladders. Nick Danger starts climbing, swinging the odds in the Rising Dragons favor. Danger reaches for the case, but Reinhart slams his face on top of the ladder. }
{ Reinhart gets a hand on the case, but Nate Harris punches him directly in the mouth. Meanwhile, on the floor, Nick Hunter has begun to set up a taller ladder. Gilmore touches the case, but he can't secure it amidst the chaos. Hunter shakes out his bad leg and starts to climb the tall ladder on the floor slowly. Marchand comes in the ring, but he appears hesitant to climb the ladder. He goes up just high enough to grab Danger by the boot, pulling him down. Marchand locks Danger in the 'Breathtaker' on the canvas, trying to choke the air from Danger's lungs. }
Vasco Dias: We've got three men on the ladder, all grappling for that case! I don't know what Hunter is doing, but that ladder has to be thirty feet high!! He's just about to the top, but nowhere near the case!
Terri Morasco: Reinhart just swung the case out of Gilmore's reach, which was a very heady move... Nate Harris tries to catch it on the rebound, but it went just out of his reach!
Vasco Dias: I think Marchand has put Danger out! But what is Hunter!?... He's not seriously thinking of trying to leap for the case is he!?
Terri Morasco: I don't know! It looks like he's at least considering it! I'm terrified FOR him right now!
Vasco Dias: If he does this, he is risking literally everything! From that height, the best case scenario isn't all that great... and the worst will be catastrophic!
{ Nick Hunter takes a breath of air and crosses his fingers very visibly for the crowd. He leaps!! He sails through the air for a few fleeting seconds, but in the moment it seems like an eternity! Reinhart is stunned when Hunter swoops in, and Hunter connects with an awkward looking spear that takes Reinhart off the ladder! Both men crash to the canvas. Nate Harris seizes the chance, bouncing Gilmore's head off the top of the ladder, then delivering headbutts to Gilmore until Gilmore drops! Nate Harris reaches up, securing the contract for the Tag Team Title match for his team! }
Vasco Dias: What did we just witness!? Nick Harris is a mad man! He risked his career with the damnedest high-risk move that I've seen maybe ever! That football background showed there!
Terri Morasco: Can I open my eyes?! He's breathing, so let's take one more look at it...
{ The camera cuts to a replay of Nick Hunter's leap. When it returns, Nate Harris is sitting on top of the ladder, pointing down at his partner Nick Hunter, and holding up the case as if to say, "We did it!" Nick Hunter points back in return, laying flat on his back on the canvas, surrounded by a pile of wrecked bodies, but smiling ear-to-ear. Justine Harris jumps up and down with joy. }
Alison Valance: Your winners of the match... and NEW number one contenders for the World Tag Team Titles... Team Diversity
Hire!!
-------------------------------------
SEGMENT
Unsolicited
-------------------------------------
{We go to the back, with Ciara O'Connor and Cals Jacobsen standing in front of an equipment crate. Cals looks mildly irritated.}
Ciara O'Connor: No, but I gotta know, yeah?
Cals Jacobsen: I didn't realize we were talking. After all, there's the whole Vivienne thing...
Ciara O'Connor: I got my happiness, I'm over it. So is it real? The marriage contract thing?
{Cals groans audibly, burying their face in their hands with a sigh and a shake of the head.}
Cals Jacobsen: I have a number-one contender's match TONIGHT against a former World Champion, and you want to waste my time asking about that? How do you even KNOW about that?
Ciara O'Connor: You know how she gets around Manischewitz, and we spent a lot of time around each other. Did her uncle really get you to sign a legal contract? How was that legitimate?
{This earns an outright facepalm from Cals, who just shakes their head with a dismayed expression.}
Cals Jacobsen: It was legitimate because at the time, Wisconsin had some very strange and ugly laws still on the books. And, I would add, it was the reason that Uncle Morty isn't invited to family gatherings anymore.
{Ciara nods, visibly satisfied, before her expression gets a tiny bit more serious.}
Ciara O'Connor: So. That match you've got, yeah? Fiona? You better not fuck this up. You beat her once, do it again. And make sure you kick very, very hard.
Cals Jacobsen: Why do you hate her so much? You haven't been active for years, and it's not like she ever did any real harm to you or your wife.
{Shrugging, Ciara leans back against a production crate.}
Ciara O'Connor: She's a gobshite who makes my country look bad. Plus, she's from Belfast. That enough would've done it. Now, if you ever end up like this again and need to get in her head, I can recommend a lovely young woman whose accent is pure dynami—
{Cals cuts Ciara off with an upraised hand, rubbing their temples with a twitching eyebrow.}
Cals Jacobsen: If any of your next few suggestions includes the words "dead", "gay", or "husband", especially in that order, you can just...not.
Ciara O'Connor: Hey, the T-shirts sold well. Plus, the proceeds went to charity.
{Cals looks back at Ciara skeptically.}
Cals Jacobsen: Like...a 501(c), or your wife?
{Ciara shrugs noncommittally with a smirk on her face. Groaning, Cals walks away and down the hall, winding their wrist tape around their right wrist as they round a corner. As they do, the lights go out, flickering into darkness for a moment. When they come up, Cals is suddenly face to face with Rowan MacDonnough. Instinctively, Cals takes a step back, beginning to drop into a crouch, but Rowan speaks to break the tension, eyes fixed and glowing as they stare into Cals' own.}
Rowan MacDonnough: She is...more resilient than you would expect. During our encounters, I have learned which nerve clusters are most efficacious at inflicting pain.
{Stepping forward, Rowan's fingers reach out like elegant knives, tapping various points on Cals' shoulders, midsection, and lower body, each one earning a moment's flinch from Cals.}
Rowan MacDonnough: Here, here, and here.
{Stepping back, Rowan's gaze never leaves Cals' own, though her voice takes on a slightly harder edge than even its normal hiss.}
Rowan MacDonnough: Ensure she suffers. Punish her hubris. Do not waste my trial and blessing. Seize your victory.
{The lights flicker again, and when they come up Cals is once again alone in the corridor. They hurry along, shaking their head and winding their tape faster.}
Cals Jacobsen: Why does our entire Irish roster hate Fiona? Okay, Cals. Focus. Think about the title shot. The winner's purse. You can make a student loan payment. Buy something nice for the wife...like a crib...aaaugh, why'd she have to touch me? Now it feels all cold and weird and...
{They round another corner, nearly colliding with another figure. Cals is bowled onto their ass, and hurriedly pops up, ready to apologize. Their words die in their throat, though, as the figure turns around to reveal her brother Andrew, cocking an eyebrow.}
Andrew Jacobsen: Cals? You doing alright over there, bud?
{Cals trips over their own tongue a few times, stammering, before giving up and sighing.}
Cals Jacobsen: I...I'm fine, we're all fine here now, thank you. Just, uh, unexpected demon sighting. Uh, what are you doing here? You're not booked.
{Andrew shrugs, flashing a grin.}
Andrew Jacobsen: My broodmate's got a number-one contender's match. You kidding me? Not missing this for the world. So...what's been going on? You wanna talk about your close encounter?
{A pause, then Cals shakes their head, cracking a slow smile.}
Cals Jacobsen: Nah. I want to talk strategy. Come here.
{They grab Andrew by the wrist, tugging him down the hall as we fade to our next match.}
-------------------------------------
SEGMENT
"Off the leash"
-------------------------------------
{Backstage in the general locker room area, several of the undercard talents move about preparing themselves for their various matches as the door bursts open and an infuriated Tytus Rost stomps into the room closely tailed by an exasperated pair of security guards and Berrick.}
IWF Security: Sir ... SIR this room is for authorized personnel only. Sir!
{Berrick steps deftly between the polo-wearing Gestapos and his client seconds before the former made the mistake of putting his hands on Rost. O'Murphy wags his finger with a smirk on his face.}
Berrick O'Murphy: Hands to ourselves, gentlemen. I would not recommend you trying something that that again. But, to your point, my client has every right to be here as he is employed by this company.
{The second security guard puffs out his chest importantly}
IWF Security: I already checked and your boy isn't working tonight. He's got no reason to be here, and it looks like he's trying to start trouble. So, you and your 'client' gotta go.
{Berrick cocks an eyebrow at the guard before catching Tytus' gaze.}
Berrick O'Murphy: You hear that Tytus? These two say you've got to go 'cause you aren't working tonight.
{Rost's hands clench and unclench as some of the newer members of the roster make haste to give him a wide berth. O'Murphy steps forward and softly places his index finger into the chest of the closest security guard.}
Berrick O'Murphy: THAT, you jack-booted buffoon, is exactly the reason we're here.
{O'Murphy turns to Tytus}
Berrick O'Murphy: Doesn't look like he's here.
{At that moment the locker room door is pulled open and in walks Laura Howlett. What few wrestlers remained quickly covered themselves up, one even covering his own eyes much to Laura's delight.}
Laura Howlett: Are you two infringing on the rights of one of my clients?
{Her icy cold stare falls on the pair of security guards who confusingly look at one another.}
IWF Security: Ma'am, this locker room is for ...
{Laura raises a hand and immediately silences the talking security guard.}
Laura Howlett: Enough from you; my client is here under my direction. Now, if you would rather question my authority and take this up the food chain you're more than welcomed to go and bother Mr. Verona with this matter. Roberto's probably just warming up in preparation for his World Championship match later tonight ... but please, be my guest to interrupt him with ... this.
{The guards look from Laura to Tytus and then back to each other.}
IWF Security: Look, we just don't want any trouble here. We're going to be keeping an eye on you and your boys here and if they step out of line ...
Laura Howlett: If they step out of line what? What are you going to do about it?
{The guards shake their heads and motion towards Rost before heading for the door.}
IWF Security: Just keep him on a short leash and don't worry about it.
{As the guards leave the room, Laura turns to O'Murphy and Rost with a smile.}
Laura Howlett: Oh, I think we all know that this Lion is about to be let off his leash!
-------------------------------------
IWF WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
1K RP Word Limit
Pax Stormcrow vs JC Keeton(c)
-------------------------------------
{The contest is an absolutely blazing-hot affair from the word "go", with JC using the same blueprint he utilized in the Heir to the Throne semi-finals of exploiting his agility and trying to feint Pax into overcommitting on his offense. Pax, for his part, is happy to play patient, allowing JC to be the aggressor and not biting on his feints for the most part. An early grappling exchange leads to Pax gaining the upper hand, using his size and Olympic pedigree to ground and wear down the champion. JC finds salvation in the ropes, though, and Pax breaks immediately and obligingly, as is his custom.
They circle again, but JC ducks under a lock-up attempt and fires a low dropkick into Pax's knee, beginning a dissection of his vertical base that lasts the next few minutes, with kicks that disorient Pax and feints that drag him into explosive bursts which don't land close enough. JC bounces on the soles of his feet, lunging in with a pump kick at Pax, but the bigger man swats the kick away, hauling him in for a massive SAITO SUPLEX that earns a near-fall!
JC is dazed but not out, again rolling to the apron to find his bearings. Pax catches up and delivers a European uppercut, stunning him, before hooking JC for a suplex back into the ring THAT JC FLOATS OVER AND THROUGH INTO A POISONED FRANKENSTEINER! A massive deadlift German suplex follows, and when Pax rolls through onto his knees, dizzied and in pain, JC connects with a LEAPING DOUBLE STOMP that nearly ends Pax's night!
The match drags into deep waters, though, and Pax's conditioning begins to show, as JC is more and more winded by his energetic offense. An attempt at a leapfrog bulldog by JC is caught, and Pax drops him down and into a vicious dragon suplex for two. Pax seems to smell blood in the water, and grabs a rear waistlock on JC, looking to bull him into the corner for the CHAOS THEORY! NO! JC holds on to the ropes, shaking Pax off, and spins around, exhaling through his nose and charging with the ODE TO THE OUTLAW WHICH GETS SNATCHED OUT OF MIDAIR INtO A SPINEBUSTER! Pax rolls through into an attempt at the Broken Wing, but JC manages to woozily kick away, rolling to his feet. Pax, though, is right on him, lighting him up with one uppercut, two, three, four, five, six, before hooking him in for an emphatic PEACE OUT! ONE! TWO! THREE!}
Alison Valance: Here is your winner, and the NEW IWF Television Champion, Pax Stormcrow!
Terri Morasco: After far too long, Pax Stormcrow can call himself champion once more! What a match!
Vasco Dias: Hard-fought, cleanly fought. I hate it, but I have to respect the dedication.
Terri Morasco: Of course you do, Vasco. Both of those men poured their hearts onto that canvas tonight.
{Pax walks over to JC, taking his hand and helping him up, and the two exchange some brief words before JC turns to leave the ring, Pax being presented with the Television Championship belt. He climbs the nearest turnbuckle, hoisting it over his head with a huge grin on his face as the crowd cheers for the amazing contest they just witnessed.}
-------------------------------------
BEST SEGMENT CHALLENGE
1. Write the best on air segment pertaining to your match that evening to be submitted to the staff for the show before the normal role play deadline.
Winner receives a future Imperial Diamonds Championship Match
Fiona McFly vs Cals Jacobsen
-------------------------------------
Terri Morasco: The match to see who will get the next shot at the Imperial Diamonds Championship is here!
Vasco Diaz: Wake me when it’s over.
{ The lights go out, and we see a combination of eerie green lighting and fog fill the entire arena. Suddenly, a dancer, clad in green, walks onto the stage and performs a tap dance routine to an original Celtic piece, stopping to look at herself in front of a giant mirror--which projects an image of a very young Fiona McFly, aged seven, standing in front of a proud Royal Navy sailor as the first excerpt from the final tweet given by famed actor Leonard Nimoy is shown on the big screen above. }
"A life is like a garden..."
{ As the music increases in intensity, a second dancer, sporting a silver uniform, performs a slightly longer version of the same tap dance routine until stopping to look at the mirror--which then projects Fiona as a preteen, posing with her first go-kart racing trophy she'd won in the summer of 1994 at the age of 12. The second excerpt from the "Star Trek" legend's tweet is shown as the photo in the mirror fades into nothingness... }
"Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved..."
{ A third dancer, wearing a gold uniform, walks onto the stage to join the other two in a frenzied "Lord of the Dance"-style routine as the music reaches its crescendo. At this point, all three dancers stop to look at the mirror once again--this time, it projects an image of Fiona sporting blonde hair, wearing her old University of Wisconsin, followed by a photo of her beating up on Ana Valentine, her first IWF opponent, as the final except for Nimoy's tweet is displayed. }
"...except in memory."
{ As the dancers begin their final tap dance, the four different photographs, all black-and-white, fade in and out as the tune reaches its climax before coming to a stop. The trip walks over to the end of the stage to grab a giant mallet; as a group, they carry the object over and, with all their combined strength, aim it directly at the glass, which shatters into pieces. At this moment, the clean version of Halestorm's "Love Bites (So Do I)" begins to play as Fiona McFly, with a silver whip in hand, leaps through the busted mirror, prompting pyrotechnics to go off from the top ends of the stadium as a burst of confetti is shot from the stage. }
"Don't listen what your girlfriend says
She reads those magazines
That say you fail the test
You don't have what she needs
I'll slither like a viper
And get you by the neck
I know a thousand ways to help you forget about her
That chick can eat her heart out
Love bites, but so do I, so do I
Love bites, but so do I, so do I
Love bites..."
{ With the dancers tapping to her entrance theme, Fiona smiles lovingly as she twirls along with the dancers in her own routine before walking down to the ring, hugging fans along the way as the lights come back on. Before hopping into the ring, she gives the whip to a lucky soul as a souvenir. }
Terri Morasco: You don’t think this match is even worth watching?
Vasco Dias: What I do think is that Fiona McFly gets a bigger entrance budget then anyone else.
{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.}
Allison Valance: The following match is a number one contenders match for the Imperial Diamonds Championship and is scheduled for One Fall! Introducing first, from Belfast, Northern Ireland by way of Fredricksburg, TX… Fiona McFly!
{The Miami crowd cheers as Fiona jumps to the second rope, leaning over it and lifting a hand as she smiles to the fans.}
Allison Valance: And her opponent, from Minneapolis, MN… Cals Jacobsen!
{Cals runs over to the ring post, jumping up onto the second turnbuckle to yell out to the fans who respond with shouted cheers of their own. }
Terri Morasco: Both competitors are looking ready to go
Vasco Dias: They will need it. No matter how fired up they are neither one of them stand a chance against the Diamond Empress.
Terri Morasco: That is something that only a match can determine, but right now it’s time for these two women to shine!
{The Official checks both of them over and then singles for the bell.}
Vasco Dias: It’s fortunate that the lights here are so bright.
{With the ringing of the bell the two competitors meet up in the center of the ring, slipping into a collar and elbow tie up. The two of them struggle against each other for a moment. Cals frees an arm, nailing Fiona with a European uppercut to break the hold. They follow up, grabbing hold of Fiona to slam her into the mat with a russian leg sweep. Cals rolls to their feet, picking Fiona off the mat nailing her with a few more choice European uppercuts. They drape Fiona’s arm over their head for a snap suplex but Fiona manages to drop her hips low enough and hits a snap suplex of her own.}
Terri Morasco: Both competitors are feeling each other out at the start of this match.
Vasco Dias: A slow start, I knew this was going to be a snooze fest.
{As if almost hearing Vasco, picks Cals off the mat, hitting them with a flurry of chops to their chest. Then she picks up Cals and deposits them back onto the match with a scoop slam. Fiona goes in for the cover but Cals is able to kick out shortly after 1}
Terri Morasco: Fiona is stepping on the gas with a flurry of offense on her own.
Vasco Dias: Not enough offense apparently.
{Fiona moves in to continue her assault but Cals retreats, leaning through the ropes to garner herself a bit of a breather. The official moves in the way to separate them. Cals rolls their shoulders, stepping out to hold their hands up for the knuckle lock, but when Fiona moves in, they twists around, hitting a roundhouse kick to Fiona’s midsection. They move quickly to capitalize on their opening, picking Fiona up for an inverted atomic drop. Cals drops with Fiona, grabbing hold of her leg and rolling her over to lock in a single leg crab. In the motion though, Fiona is able to crawl forward and grab hold of the rope. Cals holds on for a three count before releasing the hold.}
Terri Morasco: Now it’s Cals turn to answer! Both fighters are picking up steam to get a victory
Vasco Dias: Cals is once again showing how green she is. She had a full second to hold that submission in.
{Fiona keeps hold of the rope, using it to help pull herself up as she shakes out her leg before she moves in to close with Cals. The two lock up again before Fiona gets a hold of Cals’ arm and nails her with a hammerlock take down. She manuvers herself, wrapping her arms around Cals to hit them with a belly to back suplex. She goes for a cover, but Cals is able to kick out and 2. Fiona doesn’t let up, seizing the edge to dive back onto Cals and lift her up of the mat. She grabs hold of Cals, using an Irish Whip to throw them across the ring. As Cals rebounds off the ropes, Fionna leaps up for a dropkick but Cals rolls under the attack leading Fiona to fall onto the mat. Both of them jump to their feet, warily circling each other.}
Terri Morasco: Both fighters are weighing each other up after an admirable series from Fiona.
Vasco Dias: They are gonna need to press down on the gas to get this match going.
{The two of them can be seen talking back and forth and Cals gestures to the ropes. They both turn, taking a run to bounce off the ropes. Cals ends up a bit faster, side stepping Fiona and hitting her with a swinging neckbreaker as they connect. Fiona rolls away, instantly clutching at her neck as she shouts in pain.}
Terri Morasco: A devastating neckbreaker from Cals!
Vasco Dias: That’s the way to do it. Target your opponent's weakness and exploit it!
{Cals slips out of the ring, using the floor to get to the corner. They climb quickly to the top rope, crouching in wait as Fiona slowly pulls herself to her feet. Cals holds her hands out, beckoning Fiona to turn and when she finally does, Cals leaps from the turnbuckle to hit a Green Skies! The fans pop for the high flying maneuver that Cals has perfected.}
Terri Morasco: Fiona tries to get back into the match but Cals with a Green Skies drops her back into the mat.
Vasco Dias: Fiona better get her doctor on the phone!
{Cals picks themselves off the ground, dragging Fiona to her feet. They hook her arms as the noise of the crowd grows in intensity. Cals looks around and nods their head before lifting Fiona up to smash her into the canvas with Fall to Pieces! She rolls Fiona over and goes for the cover}
Terri Morasco: Fall to Pieces! That has to be it!
Vasco Dias: Good night Fiona!
{The crowd count with the ref as his hand slaps the mat.}
1…
2…
3!!!
{The bell dings as the audience cheers. “Tears Don’t Fall” blast from the speakers as Cals slowly stands up. They pumps a fist into the air, shouting in victory while the official moves to lift their hand into the air.}
Allison Valance: Your winner… Cals Jacobsen!
{Once their arm is freed, Cals runs to the corner, vaulting up to the second rope. Their hands ball into fists as they shout in excitement along with the crowds cheers before the cameras fade to black}
-------------------------------------
IWF WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
SINGLES MATCH
Shelly Diamond vs Eternity(c)
-------------------------------------
Terri Morasco: Welcome back to Legacy! We have our first of two co main events of the evening!
Vasco Dias: Shelly Diamond who has been on a tear since returning to the IWF takes on the IWF Women’s World Champion, Eternity, for the Championship!
Terri Morasco: This is going to be a huge match up! Let’s get to the entrances!
{ The lights in the arena dim to a dull grey as smoke emits from the ramp way. Envy by Ice Nine Kills hits the pa as the lights in the arena turn bright white. As the song really kicks in the lights die down to a normal level to reveal Shelly Diamond standing on the ramp posing like her ex husband with her arms outstretched. She throws her arms down as pyro erupts behind her before strutting her way toward the ring to the beat of the music. Shelly walks up the steps then climbs up the outside ropes before throwing her arms out again as the lights in the arena turn up to a blinding level. When the lights return to normal she is now standing in the center of the ring, ready and waiting. }
Terri Morasco: The crowd is fully behind Shelly Diamond tonight!
Vasco Dias: Shelly is going to need a lot more than the crowd to defeat Eternity.
Terri Morasco: Eternity has been an absolute beast since the debut of the IWF and one of the pinnacles of this company. This is an uphill battle for Shelly Diamond!
{ The lights die suddenly.
Heeheeheeheeheeheeheehuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhehehehehehehehehehehehehahahahahahahahahahahahaahaahaahaahaahaahaahaahaahaahaahaa...
The soft chilling female laughter changes the atmosphere in the arena completely before the soft opening keys lead a procession of bright white starlights to twinkle in time with them. As more time passes, drums march alongside the keys. After a short while, the heavier instruments take over in leading the procession. Over a minute passes before the lyrics to “Death Incarnate” by Eleine begin to herald her arrival. The lights shift, as the stars are extinguished, replaced by sombre blue strobe lights, which provide just enough illumination for us to see the purple coloured smoke slowly gathering to cloud the entranceway.
Eternity emerges from within the cloud of colourful smoke. The Women’s World Championship hung from around her neck, a slackened but ornate noose. There is a mixed reaction from the adults, but the children seem to fear the shadowy woman who is wearing a white hat and veil over her face. Her head bowed, in remembrance of all those that have fallen before her as she seems to lightly bounce halfway down the ramp.
She stops in the middle of the ramp and takes a bow, taking her veiled white hat off and posing with it in her outstretched arms. She continues her journey down the ramp, skipping and carrying her hat in her right hand. She slides under the bottom rope into the ring and when she reaches the centre, she transitions into a skip, over to the turnbuckle where she hangs her hat on a ringpost, patting it.
She then skips to the middle of the ring, lifts the red and gold weight from around her neck and shoulders and falls to her knees, keeping her head bowed for a moment and her eyes closed. She tilts her head back, lifts the World up towards the sky in her right hand and slowly opens her eyes to the Heavens, mouthing “Gone But Never Forgotten.” This gesture now triggers the lights to slowly be raised back up to normal levels as her music starts also to fade away. }
Vasco Dias: And there’s the champion looking as menacing as ever.
Terri Morasco: Eternity has the single best win to loss record in of all IWF and with good reason. She is a phenom!
Alison Valance: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the IWF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!! To my right, she is the challenger, hailing from Hartford, Connecticut… SHELLY DIAMOND!!!!
{ There is a huge pop from the crowd! }
Alison Valance: To my left, she is the reigning and defendings IWF Women’s World Champion, hailing from the other side… ETERNITY!!!!
{ There is a definite show of respect for the champion. }
Terri Morasco: Here we go!
Vasco Dias: This is going to be great!
{ Blue Shoes calls for the bell and both women move out of their corners. Shelly starts to move in slow and then the two of them tie up in the middle of the ring but Eternity overpowers Shelly immediately and just shoves her down on her backside. }
Vasco Dias: Eternity has a definite strength advantage.
Terri Morasco: Shelly is going to have to work around it.
{ Shelly gets right up and loosens her neck before moving in again. The two tie it up again and Shelly goes for a drop behind but Eternity drills Shelly with a back elbow and grabs Shelly for Tears of Sorrow. Eternity quickly makes a cover but it’s only a one count. }
Terri Morasco: Eternity is looking very impressive here in the opening moments.
Vasco Dias: She has clearly been studying Shelly’s matches.
{ Eternity pulls Shelly up to her feet but Shelly fires off several palm strikes to the chest and face of Eternity that drives the champion back. Shelly goes for goes for a thrust kick but Eternity pushes it off and grabs Shelly with Ashes to Ashes! Eternity again goes for a cover and this time it’s for two! }
Vasco Dias: Eternity is just over powering her challenger.
Terri Morasco: The champion is looking to make short work of Shelly.
{ Eternity peels Shelly ip off the mat and puts her in the Devil’s Star! Shelly is struggling but Eternity isn’t letting up as she stretches the challenger. Shelly continues to fight against the strength of the champion and eventually Eternity releases her. Eternity looks down at Shelly with a tilt of her head and then dives in for the Epitaph! }
Terri Morasco: Eternity is looking to tap Shelly out!
Vasco Dias: She very well could!
{ Shelly works her way to the ropes and breaks the hold. Eternity lets go at the four count and stands up. Eternity buries a boot in the spine of Shelly before bending down to pick her back up. Shelly seems to be out of it and Eternity lines up for Dragon’s Breath but Shelly reverses out of the attempt and grabs Eternity for a dumping German suplex! }
Vasco Dias: Shelly with her first big offensive move of the match!
Terri Morasco: Shelly needs to press this opening!
{ Eternity is right back up but Shelly is on her with a spinning heel kick followed right up with a thrust kick that finds it’s target at the point of Eternity’s chin! Shelly then unloads several palm strikes before taking the champion down with an armdrag. Shelly captures the wrist and locks Eternity into a cross armbreaker! }
Terri Morasco: Shelly going for the champs dominant arm!
Vasco Dias: Smart move by the challenger!
{ Shelly has Eternity in the middle of the ring but the champion isn’t about to give up. With her free arm, Eternity starts throwing punches into Shelly, several hitting, causing Diamond to let go of the hold. Shelly gets back up to her feet as does the champion but Shelly goes for that dominant arm with a stiff kick and then drops the arm across her knees like a rib breaker! }
Vasco Dias: Innovative offense from the challenger!
Terri Morasco: Remove just one of Eternity’s limbs and you change the whole landscape of the match!
{ Shelly grabs the dominant arm of Eternity while she is on the mat and just stomps it! Shelly then looks for a armbar but Eternity fights her way back up to her feet. Eternity clubs Shelly with a forearm strike from her good arm and proceeds to pick Shelly up for a one arm power bomb! }
Terri Morasco: The strength of Eternity is almost unmatched!
Vasco Dias: Not to mention her resolve!
{ Eternity pulls Shelly up to her feet and then dumps her hard with Sincere Condolences! Eternity isn’t finished as she peels Shelly back up off the mat and hits Diamond with Sudden Death! Eternity makes the cover while driving her elbow into the face of Diamond but somehow its only a two count! }
Vasco Dias: With a couple of moves, Eternity took back control of this match and nearly won!
Terri Morasco: There’s a reason she’s been on top of the women’s division for so long and we are seeing it right now!
{ Eternity drags her challenger back up to her feet and clocks her with a hard elbow strike across the cheek. Eternity then sends Shelly into the ropes and catches her with the Blood God’s Wrath! Eternity isn’t finished. Eternity pulls Shelly up by her hair and sends her flying wit the Broken Windmill! Eternity makes another cover as Shelly is seemingly down for the count but somehow it’s only for two as Shelly manages to get a shoulder up! }
Vasco Dias: I don’t believe it! I thought this was over!
Terri Morasco: I’m shocked Shelly was able to get her shoulder up at all!
{ Eternity smiles coyly as she pulls Shelly up once more but Shelly comes back to life as she grabs that dominant arm again and brings it around the back of the champion for an arm trap suplex! Eternity is quick to get to her feet but charges right into a deep arm drag takedown! Shelly looks to be getting her second win now as the champion rises. Shelly launches a thrust kick into that dominant arm and grabs the champion for a wrist lock takedown! Shelly goes for an armbar again but Eternity is able to rip herself free before it gets locked in. }
Vasco Dias: Shelly rose from the dead there!
Terri Morasco: And right in the nick of time!
{ Eternity gets back up and catches Shelly with a punt kick. Eternity goes for a Y Incision but that dominant arm is bothering her now and she can’t quite get it. Shelly pushes off and grabs Eternity with a Diamond Cutter! Shelly goes for her first pinfall attempt of the match but Eternity immediately kicks out! }
Terri Morasco: Not even a one count!
Vasco Dias: I don’t think Shelly had all her strength behind that!
{ Eternity fights her way back to her feet and hits a huge chop across the chest of Shelly with her good arm. Eternity latches onto Shelly and hits her with the Whiplash! Eternity pulls Shelly up and heads to the corner. Eternity climbs the turnbuckles and walks across the top rope before hitting the Burning Angel! Eternity looks pleased now as she goes for the Death Wish! }
Vasco Dias: This could be it for Shelly!
Terri Morasco: Eternity has won countless matches with that maneuver!
{ Eternity is wrenching as hard as she can but that dominant arm is really seeming to give her an issue. Shelly is fighting and kicking and working her way toward the ropes. Eternity is trying to keep the move locked in and trying to keep Shelly from moving but after what feels like forever Shelly is able to just graze the ropes with her heel to break the hold. }
Terri Morasco: Shelly showing some determination but the damage may already be done.
Vasco Dias: Eternity looks poised to end this thing.
{ Shelly gets back to her feet but Eternity is right there with a punt to Shelly’s midsection. Eternity grabs her for the Last Rites but Shelly is able to reverse out of it and drops Eternity with another wristlock takedown. Eternity is right up but Shelly hits here with another Diamond Cutter! Shelly gets behind Eternity as she stands up. Shelly comes in with the Heaven’s Fury Bulldog! Shelly pulls the champion right up and into Tara Crises! Shelly pulls the champion up again and hits her with TFD!!! Shelly covers Eternity with both legs hooked and it’s one, two, three!!! }
Alison Valance: Your winner and new IWF Women’s World Champion!!! Shelly Diamond!!!!
{ Shelly is handed the bely and heads right to the ropes to climb up and celebrate! }
Terri Morasco: It took literally every move in Shelly’s arsenal to do it but she managed to overcome Eternity!
Vasco Dias: That was incredible and Eternity very nearly had the match won but Shelly just edged past her!
Terri Morasco: Both women gave it their all and I doubt this will be the one and only time we see them face off!
{ Shelly is goes from corner to corner as the crowd roars. }
-------------------------------------
SEGMENT
"What happens Next"
-------------------------------------
{The fans in the arena can see on the big screen as a disappointed looking JC Keeton walked through the parking lot of the FTX Arena dressed in street clothes consisting of a white t-shirt and jeans with a bag over his shoulder. As he approached his rental car, a Toyota Corolla, a huge figure came from the shadows and clubbed him across the back with a forearm.}
Terri Morasco: Someone is attacking JC Keeton in the parking lot of the arena!
Vasco Dias: I have a guess who it could be after what we saw to kick off his match earlier.
{Confirming Vasco's guess as Tytus Rost is revealed as the attacker and he begins slamming Keeton's head into the hood of the car. Berrick O'Murphy stood to the side egging his client on. JC tried to fight back but Tytus overpowered him and hits a belly to belly suplex onto the hood of the car.}
Terri Morasco: My God what a crushing suplex on the hood of that car, it just caved in and crumpled like it was paper.
Vasco Dias: Should have rented an American made vehicle.
{Tytus climbs up on the hood of the car then onto the roof dragging JC up with him. He places JC in position but the metal roof starts buckle under their combined weight. Tytus readjusts his footing more towards the frame of the car before placing JC in position again and brings him up and the crashing through the windshield of the car with Last Craz.}
Terri Morasco: We've got to get some help out there, this is disgusting.
{The Russian Lion smirks as he looks down at Keeton but he doesn't appear to be finished as he bends down and snatches JC by the throat pulling him out of the shattered windshield. He holds the limp body of the former World Television Champion up and just casually tosses him off the roof of the car onto the concrete below as a horde of referees and medical staff comes rushing outside to tend to JC.}
Terri Morasco: JC Keeton is a bloody mess, his white shirt is red.
Vasco Dias: I'm just curious what Rost's issue with JC Keeton is.
Terri Morasco: I'm sure Berrick will tell us.
{While the medics tend to JC, bringing out a backboard to strap him to Tytus just stands proudly on the car looking down at the destruction he'd caused and pounds his chest.}
-------------------------------------
IWF MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
SINGLES MATCH
Roberto Verona vs Ulf Hednir(c)
-------------------------------------
{ The lights in the arena all go out at "King of the World" by Porcelain and the Tramps begins to blare out of the PA system. Spotlights begin to scan the crowd before fixating on a figure at the top of the stage which is revealed to be Roberto Verona, his head bowed towards the floor. As cheers being to resonate around the arena Verona raises his head and he begins a slow methodical march down the ramp, the spotlight following him as golden pyro rains down from above on the stage. Verona stares with disgust at the crowd who cheer him as he approaches the ring, but he doesn't react to them. As he reaches the steps he slowly ascends them before walking towards the middle of the ring apron, turning around to look into the crowd one last time before looking up and closing his eyes as he stretches his arms out wide and basks in the adulation. After indulging himself Verona climbs into the ring, psyching himself up as he awaits the beginning of the match. }
Terri Morasco: The winner of the Heir to the Throne. Our own boss. Is here to challenge Ulf Hednir for the IWF Men’s World Championship. What do you think is running through his mind?
Vasco Dias: It’s obvious. He wants to prove that he’s still the best that this business has to offer. He got tired of sitting on the sideline. He never did lose the belt! Roberto Verona wants his spot back at the top of the mountain!
{The opening introduction for “Raise Your Horns” 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: SKÅL!
Crowd: SKÅL!
{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 timekeeper’s 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 this crowd is absolutely in love with our World Champion! He’s been generating quite a buzz with a recent lead role on a TV show coming up. I’m excited for it!
Vasco Dias: But with himself being spread so thin, how well can he hold this belt?
{ At the sound of the bell, Ulf is already coming out of his corner and goes for a quick Thor Punch-- }
Vasco Dias: You’re not going to catch him like that.
Terri Morasco: It’s always worth a shot.
{ Verona is able to easily step to the side, and Ulf continues striding forward with his momentum to rebound off of the ropes; Verona turns toward Ulf as Ulf swings for a Clothesline From Valhalla! But Verona is able to duck underneath. Verona quickly turns around and is able to connect with a quick kick to the back of Ulf’s leg causing his knee to buckle, but with a hobble, he’s able to keep standing. Verona advances his attack with a couple clubbing forearms to Ulf’s back forcing him forward until they’re against the ropes; Verona then takes Ulf by the wrist and slings him across with an Irish-whip, but Ulf reverses. }
Vasco Dias: Roberto isn’t going to win this by trying to overpower him.
Terri Morasco: It was some finesse, but just not enough.
{ Verona bounces off the ropes and is taken over with a powerslam! Ulf hooks the far leg, but Roberto rolls a shoulder up at the count of two. Ulf, still covering Roberto, starts bringing elbows back against Verona’s skull several times! Roberto tries to wriggle an arm free whilst Blue Shoes is ensuring that Verona stays conscious. }
Vasco Dias: Those vicious elbows! But come on, there’s gotta be some kind of rules against that!
Terri Morasco: You do what you have to do, right?
{ Verona finally manages to wriggle an arm free and is able to absolve the brunt of the impact with his hand until Ulf finally stands up and is dragging Roberto with him as he does get up; Roberto tries to fire with an uppercut, but Ulf is able to catch it and drives in a headbutt against the challenger causing him to stagger backward. Ulf advances forward and Roberto fires now with a back elbow that finds its mark with Ulf’s jaw, but the champion doesn’t seem too phased by it… He rubs his jaw for a brief moment before firing with a second headbutt. Roberto falls backward only saving himself on the ropes, and now Ulf takes Roberto by the wrist and aims to send him off with an Irish-whip; Roberto manages to keep hold of Ulf’s wrist and drops behind him before delivering a hard elbow to the back of Ulf’s leg. Ulf drops to one knee after that impact, and now Verona continues with several more elbows against Ulf and while continuing the onslaught, gets back to a standing position and ensures that he is driving the point of his elbow against Ulf’s skull. }
Terri Morasco: Roberto is incredibly calculated with his attacks.
Vasco Dias: He’s just picking him apart now.
{ After several shots, Ulf shoves Roberto off, but Roberto quickly recovers and comes back with a running knee to Ulf’s face! Roberto quickly capitalizes with a cover. One! Two! Ulf kicks out! Roberto gets to his feet and rather than picking Ulf up, starts stomping. After several stomps, Roberto begins driving his knee to Ulf’s midsection. Roberto alternates where his knee strikes land, and finally drops on Ulf’s neck and then holds it to choke him. Blue Shoes is quick to come in and begin the count, and Verona releases just in time to avoid being disqualified. Roberto stands up and drops a knee on Ulf’s neck again and repeats the choke! Blue Shoes is now threatening to disqualify Roberto, but Roberto releases again just in time to avoid it. Despite the commands of Blue Shoes, Roberto seems to answer in a friendlier fashion and commending Blue Shoes on a fine job. }
Vasco Dias: About time. No one gives Blue Shoes enough credit.
Terri Morasco: All of us do.
{ Verona walks toward the center of the ring before turning toward Ulf and measuring him up as he sits up. Verona charges forward just as he does going for a Veni, Vidi, Vici! }
Vasco Dias: Oh-- ALMOST!
Terri Morasco: Just as quick as The Thor Punch, the Veni, Vidi, Vici could have brought an early end to the match!
{ Ulf is able to move out of the way, and Verona is tangled in the ropes; Ulf takes advantage and frees Verona from the ropes by rolling him into a schoolboy cover: One! Two! Verona is able to kick out and quickly rolls up to his feet. Ulf charges forward starting to fire lefts, rights, punches and kicks to the challenger who is doing his best to defend himself. Verona is searching for an opening to fire back with his own offense, but not to much avail… Verona finally does take a chance and it pays off! Ulf staggers for a moment, but the offense between both of them alternates back and forth for several minutes. Neither man seems able to grasp full control of the situation. After the back and forth action, they clinch in the center of the ring where Ulf is overpowering Verona and shoving him back near the corner; Verona reverses at the last second, and immediately follows up with a knife edge chop getting a reaction from the crowd! }
Vasco Dias: There you go! That’s how Roberto has been the best, and the longest NCW World Champion of all time, and why he never actually lost the IWF Men’s World Championship! Because he knows how to attack his opponents and pick them apart! He knows how to expose their weaknesses!
Terri Morasco: He’s got to keep those attacks coming because we’ve seen a lot harder strikes against Ulf fail.
{ Verona connects with several more knife edge chops against Ulf’s chest, but each one phases him less and less. Ulf is finally giving a glare to Verona that is exciting the crowd - Verona fires for a knife edge chop, but Ulf grabs him by the arm and brings him into the corner before following in with left and right body shots. After four of them, Ulf stands up and connects with a hook that seems to fully daze Verona, and then Ulf grabs Verona and tosses him across the ring with a biel toss. }
Terri Morasco: And that’s Ulf showing Roberto who’s boss!
Vasco Dias: The power right there, and Roberto-- no! Don’t! NO!
{ Verona manages to roll-through and is back to his feet, although stumbling, as Ulf comes forward and connects with a Clothesline From Valhalla! }
Terri Morasco: The great halls of Valhalla felt that one! And I think Roberto Verona may be out!
Vasco Dias: Get up, Roberto! Kick out! Bring an end to this Viking sensation!
{ Ulf makes the cover: One! Two! Verona kicks out! Verona rolls over onto his stomach and starts pushing himself up to his feet, and Ulf positions himself in front of him, getting him into a front headlock and trying to maintain control. Despite the pressure being applied, Verona still manages to get himself to his feet and fires with a few shots trying to knock the wind out of Ulf. Ulf still has the headlock applied and is wrenching him in a direction that is reducing his oxygen. Verona charges forward to shove Ulf back against the corner and follows in with a shoulder thrust! Ulf is still keeping the hold applied, but has loosened it; Verona, in desperation, continues driving in shoulder thrusts. Verona figures the shoulder thrusts not to be enough and rather stomps Ulf’s foot several times that finally gets him to loosen the hold. Verona straightens himself out and elbows Ulf in the jaw then drives a knee to his stomach before drawing him into a front headlock of his own. }
Vasco Dias: No air, no attacks. That’s smart.
Terri Morasco: Verona is trying to keep control, but look at that power still! Ulf is still coming back!
{ But Ulf starts lifting Verona up! Verona reaches in front of him to get his hands on the ropes, preventing Ulf from carrying him toward the center of the ring and Ulf opts to fling Verona up and let gravity do its work with a snake's eyes. Ulf charges to the far ropes and comes back for a running big boot-- }
Terri Morasco: Running big boot-- NO!
Vasco Dias: Roberto knew he was coming, and just got out of the way in time and sent Ulf out of the ring!
{ Roberto is able to recover just in time to drop down, pulling the rope with him, and Ulf goes toppling over the top rope. Roberto lays on the mat for just a moment to catch his breath while Blue Shoes is shouting for Ulf to get back into the ring; outside of the ring, Ulf is getting back to his feet, but rather than Ulf getting back into the ring, Roberto rolls outside of the ring. As Ulf is getting up, Verona grabs Ulf and charges him forward skull-first into the steel post! }
Vasco Dias: He’s gonna knock him out with that one. But Blue Shoes is refusing to count.
Terri Morasco: He knows that they don’t want to see this match end like that. Not the Heir to the Throne against the World Champion.
{ Verona picks Ulf up so Ulf’s back is to him, before leaping over and connecting with a leg drop bulldog. Upon hitting the outside, Ulf seems to be straining to get up, and Verona chooses again to waste no time as he picks Ulf up, grabbing him by the head and aiming to slam his head down on the apron. He succeeds with the first one, and goes for a second, but Ulf manages to get an arm up preventing it; Ulf elbows Verona in the stomach, and Verona answers by stomping Ulf’s foot, and slamming his head back on the apron. Verona then holds Ulf’s head against the apron before driving several elbows to the back of his head. }
Vasco Dias: That is straight up assault, and I love every second of it!
Terri Morasco: Those are well-placed elbows, and each one capable of knocking him out.
{ Blue Shoes is trying to tell both of them to get back into the ring, but Verona says not yet as he maintains his control over the champion and aims to Irish-whip him to the steel steps; Ulf reverses! Verona collides with the steel steps and flips over them, landing hard on his back, but is still getting to his feet while holding his back. Ulf shakes the cobwebs from his head and is already searching for the challenger when he does spot him and spots his opening; he springs forward and uses the steps that have now been scattered as a catapult to aim for the Thor Punch! }
Vasco Dias: That’s two that Mr. Verona has been able to avoid, and I just don’t think it’s for him.
Terri Morasco: All it takes is one.
{ Verona is able to avoid the punch by rolling to the side. Ulf lands on his feet but stumbles a few steps forward, and immediately looks for his challenger again… Roberto is getting to his feet, and Ulf is already charging forward; Roberto isn’t able to get out of the way this time, as Ulf connects with a spear sending them both forward and knocking down the barricade causing the entire crowd to go into a frenzy. }
Vasco Dias: What the-- no! Come on! Both men may be broken now!
Terri Morasco: Blue Shoes looks like he is thinking about calling it, but-- he doesn’t want to. He won’t!
{ Both of them are laid out for what feels like minutes… Blue Shoes refuses to count either man out, and rather opts to go outside to check on both of them. Ulf is the first one to his feet, but he doesn’t get up on his own; he pulls Roberto up with him and is starting to take him toward the ring only for Roberto to shove him off and Ulf’s shoulder hits the steel post. Roberto hurries forward and connects with a sharp kick to the back of Ulf’s knee causing him to buckle, then reaches over him to get his arm and start pulling his arm around the post. }
Terri Morasco: That’s Ulf’s favored arm for the Thor Punch!
Vasco Dias: But he’s being smart by trying to take that out of the equation. I may not like it, Terri! I may not like it! But Ulf has been knocking everyone out with that one punch, and if you eliminate that from his arsenal, you are stopping him from using one of his major components.
{ Roberto continues wrenching at Ulf’s arm whilst Blue Shoes is shouting for them to take the action back into the ring, and even threatening to have no choice but to disqualify Roberto… Roberto pushes Ulf’s away a bit, but draws it back in hard against the post. Roberto finally tosses Ulf into the ring and follows in behind him going for a quick cover. One! Two! Ulf kicks out! Roberto wastes no time in getting back to his feet; meanwhile, Ulf has rolled over onto his stomach and is pushing himself to his feet. Roberto steps forward and gets Ulf into a front headlock beginning to use some clubbing blows while pulling him up and applying the hold tighter; Ulf groans, trying to resist and angle himself out, but Roberto keeps the pressure applied… Roberto drives a knee forward to Ulf’s stomach, before locking him in and sailing the champion over with a snap suplex! Roberto rolls over to go for a second cover, using all of his weight to push down Ulf’s shoulders: One! Two! Ulf kicks out! Roberto doesn’t let up, and begins to use a few palm strikes and punches against Ulf while he’s still grounded. Ulf brings his arms up each time to try to defend himself, but Roberto is calculated with his attacks. }
{ Despite the offensive pressure from Roberto, Ulf still is rolling over and getting back to his feet while defending himself from the strikes. Roberto stands up beside Ulf, continuing to unload the strikes as often as he can. Ulf fires with a strike of his own, but Roberto ducks under it and takes control of his back by getting Ulf into a sleeper hold; he goes for the grapevine, applying more pressure of the sleeper hold as Ulf is now wobbling… }
Vasco Dias: Ulf is fading-- fading, and there’s just no escape. We’re going to see Roberto Verona fulfill his mission! Proving to the world that he’s still the best there is!
Terri Morasco: Roberto is acting smart out there, but Ulf-- Ulf still has life!
{ Ulf suddenly rears back and backs into the corner with Verona taking the brunt of the blow. Roberto doesn’t let go, so Ulf takes a few steps out of the corner before backing in and using even more of his weight to crush Roberto… Roberto is still holding, but a third time finally forces him to break the hold and the crowd is getting rallied as Ulf raises an arm while pinning Roberto against the corner. Ulf starts alternating left and right elbows backward to Roberto’s skull, with Roberto just going back and forth and unable to defend himself from the elbows. After delivering all the elbows, Ulf starts trying to shake his arm and shoulder some to loosen it up from previous damage that had happened to it when Roberto had his arm wrapped around the corner. }
Vasco Dias: Come on! Those elbows should have had him disqualified many times over.
Terri Morasco: He would retain in either case…
Vasco Dias: But you know Ulf doesn’t want to win that way.
Terri Morasco: He doesn’t look done yet, and that arm seems to be bothering him… he’s trying to stretch it out, but-- what-- he’s going to show off his strength?!
{ Ulf takes a step from the corner and Roberto stumbles out only for Ulf to raise Roberto up in a military press slam! Ulf groans in the process and has to retract his injured arm, but still manages to hold Roberto up for three seconds before dropping him into a face plant in front of him with the crowd going crazy the entire time. }
Terri Morasco: Pure strength! Dominating power! Ulf, with one arm, was able to hold Roberto over his head!
Vasco Dias: It was impressive, but he’s gonna wear down that other arm of his.
{ Roberto is clutching his chest and stomach from the collision; Ulf tries to loosen up his hurt shoulder for a brief moment before grabbing Roberto by the hair and forcing him to his feet… Ulf gets an arm around Roberto and tries to get him locked into a Bjorn Hug! He manages to do just that, but is struggling to apply too much pressure. Roberto is still in pain, but tries to create a little separation to get one of his own arms free before bringing an elbow down against Ulf’s shoulder. Roberto drives a headbutt in against Ulf, but it seems to stagger him just as well… }
Terri Morasco: I don’t know how smart that was.
Vasco Dias: Not very. Let’s watch!
{ Roberto still manages to create some separation and opts to take Ulf down with a scissor leg sweep. He quickly flips Ulf over and goes for the Inquisition! Ulf is reaching out for the ropes but Roberto doesn’t apply too much pressure right away and rather maneuvers Ulf toward the center of the ring… once there, Roberto applies all of the pressure that he can. }
Vasco Dias: Ulf is in a lot of trouble here. This is where the experience really pays off. Roberto knows that Ulf’s shoulder is bothering him, so he’s not going to be able to use that power to drag himself to the ropes easily, so now in the center of the ring… Roberto has full control.
Terri Morasco: But this crowd is still rallying behind him-- these… These are the “bangarang” chants!
{ Ulf, with clenched fists, pounds the mat one time. He tries to pull himself toward the ropes but Roberto doesn’t budge… Roberto is calling for Ulf to tap out, but Ulf is shaking his head as he still tries in desperation to get himself moving toward the ropes. He’s only able to use the one arm to do anything significant, which is causing him to be slow, but the chants continue urging Ulf forward. Roberto shakes his head while wrenching harder with the hold. Ulf is inching his way closer, and closer, and closer. At least two minutes have passed with Ulf locked into this hold as Roberto is just unable to get the hold applied in such a way to do any permanent damage. Ulf gets his hand on the rope. Roberto keeps the hold applied for as long as he can without being disqualified. }
Terri Morasco: Come on! Let go!
Vasco Dias: Everything he’s doing is well within the rules. He’s taking full advantage of what he can.
{ Ulf uses the ropes to get himself up as Roberto does also stagger up… Roberto is the first to fire with a Silencer! But Ulf is still standing! }
Vasco Dias: I think-- I think he’s out on his feet.
Terri Morasco: It looks like it. That was a swift kick.
{ Roberto is watching Ulf carefully, and opts to call it as he rushes back to the far ropes and comes forward with the Veni, Vidi, Vici! }
Vasco Dias: Here it-- NO?!
Terri Morasco: Ulf dodged it!
{ Roberto lands on the mat, but is trying to recover… as soon as he does, he is met with The Thor Punch and the crowd wails in excitement! Ulf lets out a loud groan as he grabs his arm upon landing the punch, but falls over Roberto. Ulf makes the cover: One! Two! Three! }
Alison Valance: Your winner! AND STILL! IWF MEN’S WORLD CHAMPION! ULF! HEDNIR!!!!!
{ “Raise Your Horns” is blasting over the PA as Ulf gets up to his feet; he is wobbling, and still holding his arm, but he holds up the belt with his healthy arm on display for the entire crowd as they continue their various chants for the fan favorite. }
Terri Morasco: Ulf dug deep for that one, and you have to wonder if he’s really going to be ready for the next challenge. He did--
Vasco Dias: I don’t think he will be because Roberto Verona did some damage! He’s gonna want to sit this one out for a while, I think.
Terri Morasco: -- he DID take on JC Keeton in the past and competed for three months straight! What are we going to see him accomplish as champion?
{ Ulf continues posing for the crowd, with his belt held high. He goes to the turnbuckle, and with a struggle, does climb to the second rope to hold it up as the show comes to a close. }
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Well howdy there pardner.