IWF Presents: Sacrifice: Holiday Havoc - December 17th, 2021

IWF Presents: Sacrifice: Holiday Havoc - December 17th, 2021 Dec 17, 2021 23:36:31 GMT

Post by Jess Fowler on Dec 17, 2021 23:36:31 GMT

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SEGMENT
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James Big: 'Christ kid, how much sugar've you put in this? I can feel my teeth turnin' black as we speak!'

{ Ah, catering. A true sanctuary, a small patch of peace and calm within the carnage that is the rest of whichever given building is selected as the location for a visit from the IWF whenever the company comes to town. This week it's Stadium Australia in Sydney, but despite all of the constant moving around and flurry of new and exciting locales, catering remains a rock of stability, the same finely-polished tables with the same delightful spread of refreshments. }

James Big: 'How many times've I gotta tell you kid? C'mon now.'

{ And, unfortunately for him, the same attendant taking care of everyone's hot drink requests. He can't be any older than 19, more boy than man, he's only now beginning to leave the awkward, pimply phase of teenage adolescence. He knew that working for a wrestling company would see him come across his fair share of memorable characters, but he wasn't quite prepared for James E. Big. Nobody ever is, really. }

James Big: 'When I say two sugars I mean two teaspoons, not tablespoons!' Big shakes his head, shoving the paper cup of tea into the Kid's hand. 'And how much milk are you using?! That beverage was looking paler than my mother, and she's been in the ground quarter of a century!'

{ The Kid offers a hesitant nod, simply telling Big he was 'Sorry-' }

James Big: 'You're forgiven! Now c'mon lad, like we practiced last week. Water in first, then enough milk to give it a nice tan, then two sugars, and by sugars I mean...?'

{ He looks at the Kid expectantly. }

Kid: 'Teaspoons...?'

{ Big flashes him a grin, nodding. }

James Big: 'Atta boy. Off you pop.'

{ The Kid follows his command, turning his attention back to his station behind the larger catering table and beginning his latest attempt at meeting Big's expectations. Big lets out a small chuckle, shaking his head and taking a moment to pick at some of the finger-foods available at the table. Moments later, a hand reaches in before Big's to steal a sweet from his grasp. Big turns his head to see Vendetta standing at his side. }

Travis Reinhart: I'll have that, thanks.

{ Marchand looks at Mr. Big, sizing him up. Always serious, it is hard to get a read on Marchand's emotions from his facial expression. }

Jessé Marchand: Rough, isn't it? When someone swoops in and seemingly pulls something just from your reach. To the victor goes the spoils though, am I right?

{ Reinhart takes a bite of the donut in front of Big, holding the remainder up for him to see almost as if to say, 'Cheers.' }

Travis Reinhart: We haven't formally met, but the name's Travis. You might know me as... what was that he said last week, J?

{ Marchand stands, arms folded, voice completely monotone when he says: }

Jessé Marchand: Bumblefuck.

{ Reinhart chuckles, nodding. }

Travis Reinhart: Riiiiight... that's it: Bumblefuck. That's clever.

{ Reinhart leans casually on the table, sitting himself on the edge, arms semi-folded in a manner where he's able to hold the donut up about chin-high, in Mr. Big's view. }

Travis Reinhart: You had a lot to say last week about us while you were hyping up your boy, Jason, didn't you? I don't see him around right now, though. Imagine that. Anyway, we thought we'd drop by and give you the opportunity to explain yourself, man-to-man. If you've got a marketing pitch, I'd strongly encourage you to make it good.

{ Mr Big is a lot of things, but one thing he is not is self-aware. He cannot fathom a world where Travis' words AREN'T genuine, so gladly offers he and his partner a nod. }

James Big: 'Knew you boys'd see the light! Right, so your issue yeah? You are RESPECTABLE in-ring workers, but you come across as a couple of snot-nosed children with pretty much every single aspect of your presentation. I mean, even right now-'

{ He gestures to Travis, utterly in his element. }

James Big: 'Look at you, sitting on that table like some 13 year old waiting outside a corner shop for a packet of cigarettes!'

{ Speaking of children, the Kid returns with that cup of tea. Big takes it without breaking stride, pointing now towards Jesse Marchand. }

James Big: 'And you, you're not 13, don't worry. You're 15. That moody teenage phase, yeah? Arms crossed, glum look stuck on your face as if the wind's just changed.'

{ He takes a sip of his tea, eyes widening a touch with joy as, against all odds, the Kid did alright. He decides to down the entire cup to assert dominance, tossing the empty container onto the floor and wiping his tea-stained lip. }

James Big: 'You boys just need to have more respect for yourselves, you know? You're God-damn athletes man, carry yourselves like it!'

{ Travis looks to Jessé, and Marchand gives his partner a nod as if to say, 'ok.' With that, Travis comes up off the table and stands upright, putting a hand on Big's shoulder. }

Travis Reinhart: You think that'd take us to the top, eh? That's interesting. The presentation left a little something to be desired, but there's really just one problem, big man... We didn't really want your advice.

{ Marchand moves forward a bit, creeping into Mr. Big's personal bubble. }

Travis Reinhart: We have the best guidance in the world already. Jessé came down here wanting to give you the chance to apologize for last week because he's a pretty good guy, and you just whiffed. Me, well...

{ Travis kicks the tea cup across the floor, locking eyes with James Big. }

Travis Reinhart: I just came wanting to kick your head off in the event you didn't... and you just made my day.

{ Within an instant Big's face floods with panic. Oh no. Oh no, oh no. He bursts into a spontaneous sweat, his skin becoming pale and moist. }

James Big: 'N-now look, boys, we can talk about this...'

{ Neither member of Vendetta seems receptive to the idea, Big backs up until he's against the catering table itself: there is nowhere left to go. Just as he seems to be accepting his fate, however... }

Jason Williams: 'Yeah lads, beat up an old man. That'll prove him wrong.'

{ Reinhart and Marchand instantly turn around, being met with the stern gaze of Jason Williams, who stands with his arms crossed. Big seizes on the distraction and immediately worms his way through the gap between his two captors, hurrying to take shelter behind his client. }

{ Jason doesn't really acknowledge Big as his manager cowers behind him, he's not naive enough to believe that the situation is resolved yet. His focus lies with Vendetta as Reinhart moves for him. }

Travis Reinhart: If you want to take the bullet for him, I'll kick your head off all the same, eh.

{ There is a tense moment between Travis and Jason. }

Jessé Marchand: Easy, Travis.

{ Marchand speaks up, seemingly more reluctant than his partner to enter into an altercation with Jason. }

Jessé Marchand: Jason, I didn't come here to beat up an old man. We just wanted to iron out a few things with him. When a man disrespects you to your face though, old or not, we have a problem. You'd do him a favor to reign him in before one of you ends up suffering the consequences. You may find yourselves facing it soon enough.

{ Travis lingers in Jason's space, but his stare moves past Jason and onto Mr. Big as the manager cowers behind his client still. Travis gives a little smirk before tucking his hands in his jacket pockets and moving back a step. }

James Big: 'Right, enough with this "old" bollocks-'

Jason Williams: 'James? Shut up.'

{ Having found his voice again for just a second there, Big duly shuts himself up. Jason watches Travis carefully, identifying him as the more volatile component here, before switching his gaze back to Marchand. }

Jason Williams: 'I apologise for my manager's conduct, he is a moron.'

{ His eyes narrow slightly, this isn't going to be as simple as a kiss-and-hug make-up. }

Jason Williams: 'But am I to believe that it took the pair of you cornering him, alone, to "iron out" these differences? And am I to believe that your friend here-'

{ He nods towards Travis. }

Jason Williams: '-He came to talk and nothing else? That his comment about "kicking my head off" is what? A strange greeting custom I've yet to encounter?'

{ Reinhart shrugs his shoulders slightly, flippantly dismissing Jason's line of questioning. Marchand, sensing things are perilously close to a boil, quickly asserts more of a presence in the conversation. }

Jessé Marchand: What we have here may be a simple misunderstanding. We may have misinterpreted your intentions with your arrival. Moments become tense, things are said... I don't need to explain to you how the wrestling business works, though. You've been doing this for nearly as long as I've been alive.

{ Marchand extends a hand, his face showing no warmth in it's expression. Is it a ploy? }

Jessé Marchand: Let me be the first to congratulate you on you and Lio's victory over us last week. We learned something from it, so no hard feelings?

{ Jason stares at Marchand's hand for a few seconds. Decisions, decisions. To be naive or to be disrespectful. The former, every time. }

Jason Wiliams: Thank you, I appreciate that.

{ He takes Jesse's hand, giving him a firm handshake. }

Jason Williams: 'And despite our misunderstanding here, I have no issue with either of you.'

{ He releases Jesse's hand and switches his attention to Travis, eyeing him up for a second. Here goes nothing. }

Jason Williams: 'Good luck going forwards.'

{ Jason offers Travis his hand. Reinhart stands with his hands still planted firmly in his pockets, eyeing up Jason's hand. Travis casts another glance at Big, unconcerned about Williams for the moment being as how Vendetta has the numbers advantage. Slowly Reinhart produces his hand, accepting the shake with a firm,hard squeeze. }

Travis Reinhart: Yeah. Good luck to you, too.

{ Travis holds the grip; both feeling the strength in Jason's hand as Williams squeezes, and working hard to apply his own amount of extra pressure to Jason's hand. }

Travis Reinhart: Break a leg out there.

{ Travis flashes a bit of a wry smile, relenting on the pressure.
The men release grips. Marchand gives Travis a pat on the back to get
his attention. He indicates to Travis the pair should probably go with a shift of his head to the left, and Vendetta takes their leave of the area. }

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SINGLES MATCH

Jason Williams vs Abraxes

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{ Jason is first to enter the arena, looking at ease with the energetic noise of Visions playing in the background. As much as he is up against it tonight, he's done this walk too many times to count, and any anxiety bubbling beneath the surface has no chance of cracking through his perfectly composed armour. Big is his usual self, shouting and gesticulating to encourage further cheers for his client, though he seems a tad more stressed than usual: he's clearly not as good at keeping his cool. The real wildcard in all of this, of course, is the presence of Jenny Williams, who is utterly ecstatic to be out there. She slaps hands with fan members who have no Earthly idea who she is, enjoying the moment. Her unbridled and unapologetic joy is enough to coax the smallest of smiles from Jason. Finally, the trio make it to the ring and Jason enters, leaning back against a corner: the wait begins. }

{ The lights die and an ominous quiet falls over the crowd, smoke billows from the stage and obscures everyone's vision whilst the wonderfully creepy combination of an acoustic guitar and laughing children rings out, a noise that burns itself into the minds of everyone in attendance. Abraxes rises from the stage, bathed in a wash of red light that only adds to the already sinister vibe of his apperance. Whilst most of his face is hidden behind a twisted and unseemly mask, those burning eyes could cut through anything, and they're staring straight through Jason Williams. }

{ Tension fills the air as Abraxes enters the ring, his eyes having not left Jason the entire walk down. Jason, for his part, matches the monster's gaze, showing no signs of fear. The referee calls for the bell and then... something remarkable happens. Jason steps forwards, one hand behind his back, and the other outstretched: he's offering the handshake. Abraxes stares down at the hand, and then back to Jason's face. It's hard to tell what the beast is thinking, but for just a second, Jason is sure he sees the tiniest flicker of confusion. After ten or so seconds without reply Jason realises that Abraxes has no intention of shaking his hand, so pulls away, ready to begin. }

{ The match begins how many would expect, with Abraxes in firm control. Jason tries to avoid the monster's grasp, sticking to quick flurries of offence, but speed isn't exactly the veteran's strongest attribute, and there's only so much that can be done to neutralise the other-worldly power of Abraxes. Each clubbing blow from the monster echoes throughout ringside, with Jason very quickly becoming beaten and bruised. }

{ Despite the rocky start, Jason has a plan, and he's going to stick to it. All he needs is an opportunity, and that opportunity comes when Abraxes, having cornered Williams, attempts a headbutt. Jason manages to duck out of the way, resulting in Abraxes sending his forehead crashing into the turnbuckle, dazing the big man. Jason needs no invitation, quickly hitting a swift kick to Abraxes' right knee. Like a shark smelling blood in water, Jason is relentless, as if he's trying to surgically remove Abraxes' knee with his bare hands. Elbows, kicks, stomps, even an elbow drop from the top rope, all of it is aimed squarely at the right knee. The plan is working... until it isn't. }

{ Despite all of the pain he's in, Abraxes is still a supremely dangerous competitor, and it's almost as if the damage being dealt to his knee is just pissing him off. Out of absolutely nowhere he hoists Jason up and sends him flying overhead, connecting with a crushing Fallaway Slam that leaves his opponent downed and winded. The match continues in this same vain for a while, a battle of raw power versus precision offence. }

{ Unsurprisingly, the action spills to the outside. Big and Jenny, obviously, stay as far away as is possible as the fight continues, though it surely hurts them to do so given how much punishment Jason is taking. Brawling around ringside is hardly Williams' forte, he is sent flying against barricades and even into the steel steps. Abraxes, eager to see his opponent suffer more, smashes Williams' face into one of the ring posts, opening a flood of crimson from his victims' forehead. }

{ Like a predator toying with its prey, Abraxes ragdolls Jason back into the ring but makes no attempt at securing the pinfall, which proves to be something of an error. Abraxes calls for the Consign to Dream, a move that would highlight his raw power tremendously... if it weren't for the damage done to his knee. He hoists Jason into the air, but is immediately wracked with a stabbing pain that causes just a second's hesitation: a second is all Jason needs. He escapes Abraxes clutch and runs the ropes, ducking a wild Clothesline attempt and dropping the monster with a flying kick that leaves both men down. }

{ It's as Jason and Abraxes lie there, exhausted, that both men consider what it is they are fighting for. Abraxes' mission is final and his path is clear, Jason must be made to suffer for all of his hubris, all of his faux-morality. Jason, meanwhile, needs to look no further than ringside for his motivation... }

'C'mon dad, you've got this!'

{ Gritting their teeth, both men begin the arduous process of forcing themselves to their feet. Jason is quickest to act, launching a kick to Abraxes' chest. Abraxes responds with a forearm strike. Jason fires back another kick. Another forearm strike. It continues, both men wailing away on each other with all that they have left. Unsurprisingly, a straight-up fight is won by Abraxes, but Jason adjusts his strategy, beginning to kick at his knee once more. }

{ Tiring of these games, Abraxes launches a knee towards Jason's mid-section, but Williams is able to counter, catching the knee and immediately wailing away with elbows. Abraxes tries to get Jason away but Williams holds on, smashing the knee again and again and again until the beast crumbles to the floor. Jason locks in a knee-bar, prompting his foe to writhe around in agony, but there's no sign of quitting. It's as Abraxes tries to reach for the safety of the ropes that Jason seizes on the opening, expertly transitioning from the knee to the unprotected arm, sinching in the Fujiwara Armbar, wrenching and twisting and pulling Abraxes' arm until it threatens to be ripped from its socket. }

{ Abraxes needs this situation to change, quickly. Summoning up the last reserves of his strength, he forces himself to a knee, and then slowly begins to climb to his feet with Jason hanging onto his arm like an extra limb. Abraxes buckles and struggles but manages to stand, quickly stumbling over to a corner with the intention of smashing Jason into the turnbuckle. Jason, once again, transitions, releasing Abraxes' arm and mounting the monster's back, wrapping his arms around his throat and locking in a sleeper hold! }

{ Blood trickles down Jason's forehead and blocks his vision, Abraxes thrashes and fights for air, feeling his lungs begin to burn from the lack of oxygen. Jason clenches his teeth, sensing that this is his best chance for victory, tightening his grip and holding on with all of his might... }

{ Abraxes' vision begins to blur as he feels himself fading away. He falls to a knee, Jason tightening his grip further, choking the life from his foe. With everything beginning to numb Abraxes collapses onto his back, allowing Jason to hook his legs around his mid-section for further security. Not long after that, Abraxes is out cold. The referee calls for the bell, Jason releases his opponent at once and lays still in the ring, totally and utterly exhausted. He wins by knock out. }

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SINGLES MATCH

Alek Bronson vs Nick Danger

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Vasco Dias: We have an interesting last minute match coming up early on this Holiday Havoc special of Friday Sacrifice!

Terri Morasco: I’m excited to see how this turns out.

{I Hate U by Boston Manor comes on the speaker and Nick Danger walks out to the entrance ramp wearing Red and White wrestling attire and his leather jacket says Savior. He stands on the entrance ramp hyping the whole crowd to chant his name and starts walking down the ramp while giving fans high fives. He walks up the steel steps and goes through the middle rope to stand near the center of the ring for a moment then takes off his leather jacket and then throws both of them to the crowd then stands at the corner turnbuckle ready for the match to start. }

Vasco Dias: First out we have Nick “The New Savior Of Wrestling” Danger.

Terri Morasco: He’s a promising talent.

{"Simple Man" starts strumming as Alek walks out to a shower of pyro. He stops right outside the gate and looks around. He walks to the pace of the song. He holds up his hand with the pinky and index fingers extended and the rest pinched in the middle while he stops in the middle of the ramp. Then proceeds to the apron as he jumps up to the ring edge. He steps over the ropes and enters. He takes off his aviators and his coat and hand them to the outside as he stretches.}

Vasco Dias: Next we have Alek “The Warrior” Broson…who gives them these names?

Terri Morasco: Alek has been making an impression here since arriving.

{The bell rings. Alek and Nick go all out on eachother before Alek gets the upper hand and hits Nick with a Glaive going for the pin

1

2

3!!}

Terri Morasco: What a great match!

Vasco Dias: Next up we have the almost blood feud of Angel Blake versus Wraith.

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THREE STAGES OF HELL
SINGLES MATCH

Stage 1: First Blood
Stage 2: Pin Falls Count Anywhere
Stage 3: Last Man Standing
Angel Blake vs Wraith
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{ We come back from the break at the commentary booth with Terri and Vasco. }

Vasco Dias: Welcome back to the Holiday Havoc edition of Friday Night Sacrifice! We’ve got a huge contest coming up for you next!

Terri Morasco: This feud has spanned months,it’s caused both sides blood loss and heartache but it all comes to a head tonight in a three stages of hell match!

Vasco Dias: Angel Blake versus the son of his ex wife, Wraith! This is going to be huge!

Alison Valance: The following contest is a three stages of hell match! Introducing first, the First Son!!! WRAITH!!!

{The lights throughout the arena go out row, by row, by row, until the arena is shrouded in absolute darkness. The lights come on and Wraith is standing in the center of the ring — in unison, the crowd let’s out a heavy gasp. He tilts his head back and forth, eyeing the crowd, while waiting for the match to begin.}

Alison Valance: Introducing second, he call himself GOD!!! ANGEL BLAKE!!!

{ All the lights in the arena go out as words blaze across the Imperitron. }

“Blessed are the wicked who are healed by my hands.”

{ The opening notes of the orchestra version of Gateways begins to play as flames erupt across the stage like napalm. Slowly Angel Blake begins to rise from within the flames with his arms outstretched wearing a long black coat with the birthdate of his grandson embroidered on the back. Angel throws his arms up in the air as the metal version of Gateways really kicks into gear. Flames erupt all the way down the stage and ignite the ring posts as well as the lyrics finally kick in. }

The core principle of freedom
Is the only notion to obey
The formula of evolution and sin
Leading the way

{ Angel steps out of the flames looking over to the crowd with a terrible grin before looking toward the ring. He scowls as he begins to walk, flames erupting behind him with every step. Angel finally reaches the ring, lifting his coat to walk up the steps. He stops on the apron and looks out toward the crowd as the song blasts. Blake throws his arms out and his head back as the arena lights go up to a blinding level. Blake turns and steps into the ring with confidence heading over to the far corner. The chorus comes back around as Angel stands up on the second turnbuckle and crosses his arms over his head in an X. Blake hops down and turns his back to the corner and waits in the ring for the match to begin. }

Vasco Dias: I have literal goosebumps right now.

Terri Morasco: This moment right here, it’s like seeing Angel about to face his past self.

Vasco Dias: Very much so. These two are so similar but Angel has two decades plus of experience.

Terri Morasco: He does but Wraith has youth on his side. This match may just come down to who can take more punishment?

Vasco Dias: I’ve seen Angel wage some wars over the years, I’d have to put my money on Angel.

Terri Morasco: True but you have to keep in mind we haven’t seen the full extent of what Wraith is capable of inside of a professional wrestling ring.

Vasco Dias: Well we are sure about to!

FALL ONE: FIRST BLOOD

{ Blue Shoes calls for the bell and Wraith explodes out of his corner crashing into Angel with several hard right hands. His fists are closed as there are no other rules besides causing your opponent to bleed first and that is what Wraith is going for. Blue Shoes gets close enough to look for an open wound as Angel does his best to block the shots coming into the side of his head. }

Vasco Dias: Wraith is just going for it in the opening moments of this match!

Terri Morasco: I suspected this wouldn’t be a traditional match and Wraith is showing it right now! This is going to be a war!

{ Wraith is still unloading as Angel covers up in the corner. Finally Wraith transitions from closed right hands to elbow thrusts toward the bridge of Angel’s nose. Angel takes this momentary transitional opening to hit some staggering body shots to Wraith causing him to back up for a single moment. The moment is enough for Angel to crack Wraith with a Divine Justice causing Wraith to stagger back even further! }

Terri Morasco: Angel created an opening!

Vasco Dias: But can he take advantage of it!?

{ Angel comes in fast looking for his Genecide Kick but Wraith gets right under it and then catches Angel with one of his own! Wraith immediately charges in and cracks Angel with a clothesline so hard it sends the hall of famer head over heels onto his gut on the mat! Wraith goes right to stomps to the back of Angel’s head trying to crush his face into the mat and break something open somewhere. }

Vasco Dias: Angel had that opening but Wraith fired right back!

Terri Morasco: This is just brutal!

{ Wraith grabs Angel with a fist full of hair and just rips him up off the mat. Wraith then cracks Angel hard with a head butt aiming for the bridge of the nose but Angel manages to tuck his head slightly so they go forehead to forehead instead! Wraith shakes it off and whips Angel hard into the ropes, Wraith follows him in looking to dump Angel over to the outside but Angel drops a shoulder and sends Wraith over the top and onto the apron with a back body drop! Angel quickly climbs out onto the apron as Wraith begins to stand up but Angel grips him around the waist and dumps him on the apron with Divine Wrath! }

Terri Morasco: Angel with that Divine Wrath snap German on the apron!

Vasco Dias: That may open up a head wound on Wraith!

{ Blue Shoes climbs out to check on Wraith who has rolled to the floor but he doesn’t seem to be bleeding. Angel comes in looking to keep this momentum going and grips Wraith by the head, Angel drags the forehead of Wraith down the length of the apron before bouncing the skull of Wraith off the ring post! Wraith stumbles and drops to a knee as Blue Shoes comes in to check on him again. Wraith shoves Blue Shoes aside and fires up to his feet with a Genecide Kick right on the tip of the jaw of Angel before closing the distance and grabbing Blake with a sitout jawbreaker! Angel staggers backward and Wraith charges in with a Mirror Image Diving Justice knee strike! }

Vasco Dias: Wraith pulling a page out of Angel’s playbook with that knee strike!

Terri Morasco: That was a perfect mirror image if I ever saw one!

{ Wraith begins to pull back the padded floor mats to reveal the concrete floor underneath. Wraith exposes an entire side of the ring to the concrete floor as he stuffs the padding up against the crowd barrier. Angel is on a knee and Blue Shoes is checking him over for any cuts. Wraith marches back toward his father figure and as Angel stands, Wraith connects with a Genecide Kick! Wraith then grabs Angel and hits a Tornado DDT with a kip off the side of the apron and right onto the concrete floor!!! }

Terri Morasco: Holy hell!!!

Vasco Dias: Wraith isn’t just trying to win, he’s trying to end Angel’s career!

{ Wraith sits on his backside as Blue Shoes checks over Angel once more but somehow he is not bleeding. Wraith seethes as he pulls the limp body of Angel back up to his feet. Wraith connects with several open palm strikes to the face of Angel Blake before setting up for another Genecide Kick but Angel launches back to life with a Divine Justice! Angel then grabs Wraith and lifts him high up in the double underhook and drops him forehead first on the concrete floor with Tara’s Wings!!! }

Vasco Dias: What poetic justice!!!

Terri Morasco: That was incredible! Angel had Wraith up in nearly a full vertical drop for that underhook ddt!

Vasco Dias: I’ve never seen anything like it!

{ Angel moves away from Wraith as Blue Shoes checks him over. Wraith rolls over onto his back and blood begins to pour from an open wound! Blue Shoes calls for the first fall! }

FALL COUNT: ANGEL BLAKE 1 / WRAITH 0
FALL TWO: FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE

Vasco Dias: Angel picks up the first fall in the three stages of hell match!

Terri Morasco: That’s incredible but I have to say this, first blood is the easiest of the three falls in my opinion.

Vasco Dias: Compared to what’s next, falls count anywhere? I’d have to agree.

{ Blue Shoes is making sure Wraith is ready to continue as he sits up on the outside. Wraith is now noticing the blood pouring into his eyes and doesn’t look terribly happy about it. Angel roars in with a Divine Justice as Wraith still sits on the floor! Blue Shoes calls for the next fall to begin as Angel goes right in for a cover but Wraith immediately kicks out before even a one count! }

Terri Morasco: Angel not wasting anytime trying to end the second fall. That’s a little interesting.

Vasco Dias: Perhaps Angel doesn’t want to hurt Wraith quite as badly as Wraith wants to hurt Angel?

Terri Morasco: That may be the case.

{ Angel pulls Wraith up but Wraith fires off some body shots of his own before firing off another Genecide Kick to drive Angel back! Wraith charges in and grabs Angel by the wrists, turns him around and connects with a spinning wristlock takedown that sends Angel back first into the ring post! Wraith isn’t satisfied with that as he pulls Angel up to his feet and throws him hard into the crowd barrier, moving closer to the ramp! }

Vasco Dias: This match keeps getting further and further away from the ring!

Terri Morasco: It’s fall count anywhere now, this match could go literally anywhere!

{ Wraith backs off a little and then comes in at full steam and hits Angel with a running senton that sends both men crashing through the ring barrier into the crowd. Wraith again opts not to try and cover and insteads pulls Angel up to his feet. Wraith drags Angel further into the crowd and then connects with a Samoan drop onto the tip of a audience member’s steel chair, crushing it beneath the weight of Angel! }

Terri Morasco: Wraith is just dishing out the punishment now!

Vasco Dias: He’s not even trying to cover Angel!

{ Wraith is breathing heavy but not because he’s winded, simply because he’s so angry. Wraith pulls Angel to his feet again and runs him the rest of the way to the back of the floor crowd and tosses him into the wall! Wraith stomps on Angel as he lays on the ground, Blake not event trying to cover up. Blue Shoes watches like a helpless spectator as all of this is perfectly legal. Wraith turns and grabs a steel chair from another member of the crowd and as Angel starts to stand up, Wraith damn near bends the chair in half over the top of Angel’s head!!! }

Terri Morasco: HOLY SHIT!!!

Vasco Dias: That was disgusting!!!

{ Angel kneels there for a second as blood begins to pour from the top of his head. Through a crimson mask of his own, Wraith lets out a howl before crushing Angel’s skull one more time with that steel chair before tossing it aside. }

Terri Morasco: Okay, I’ve seen enough. Someone needs to stop this!

Vasco Dias: But who!? Who the hell is going to stop this!?

{ This second fall has been all Wraith so far as he once again opts to not pin Angel. Instead Wraith peels Angel up off the mat and drags him toward the steps leading to the second level. Wraith bounces the now blood soaked face of Angel off the railing before walking him the rest of the way up the steps to the top of the second level. Wraith runs Angel forward and just hurls him into the metal doors leading out to concessions. Angel is trying to get up but Wraith comes in with a Mirror Image, Divine Justice crushing Angel’s skull against the metal door! }

Vasco Dias: Okay! Even I have seen enough! Someone needs to end this shit!

Terri Morasco: I completely agree, this has gone way too far!

{ Wraith pulls Angel up to his feet, Angel is just a bloody mess now. Wraith says something to Angel that the cameras can’t pick up and then just hurls Angel down the steps with a high angle hip toss! Angel crashes all the way down the steps back to the ground floor of the arena! Several new cuts have opened all over Angel’s upper torso! }

Vasco Dias: I can’t take much more of this.

Terri Morasco: Someone needs to step in before this goes too far.

Vasco Dias: It already has!

{ Wraith reaches the bottom of the steps where Angel is laying. Wraith pulls him up and just slaps him across the face. Angel suddenly comes back to life with rapid fire palm strikes to the upper body and head of Wraith! Angel lights up the young man with his attacks before cracking him with a leaping Divine Justice and a Genecide kick! Wraith stumbles back and then drills Angel with a Genecide Kick of his own! }

Vasco Dias: Angel tried to mount a come back but it just wasn’t enough!

Terri Morasco: I can’t believe Angel is still standing after the onslaught that Wraith has unleashed.

{ Wraith drags Angel through the crowd and toward the stage. Wraith throws Angel over the crowd barrier and to the area beneath the stage. Angel tries to get up as Wraith climbs over. Angel stands and fires off a shin kick but Wraith stuffs it and hits Angel with a urange backbreaker! }

Terri Morasco: Wraith is wrestling this second fall like a man possessed!

Vasco Dias: I think he is! Possessed with rage!

{ Wraith pulls Angel up and rolls him onto some tables that are holding cords to the many cameras in the arena. Wraith then heads to the side of the stage and climbs up it until he reaches the top. Wraith looks down with blood now starting to dry and crack off his face. Wraith looks down at the motionless and bloody Angel and throws his arms out to mock Blake’s pose. Wraith turns and jumps off the side of the stage with the FALLEN ONE!!! Crashing through Angel and the tables! Blue Shoes runs in and makes the count as Wraith lays over the fallen body of Angel Blake for the ONE! TWO! THREE!!! }

FALL COUNT: ANGEL BLAKE 1 / WRAITH 1
FALL THREE: LAST MAN STANDING

Vasco Dias: ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

Terri Morasco: That has to be it! How the hell can either man continue after that!?

Vasco Dias: Wraith just leapt from twenty feet up in the air and crashed through Angel who was laying on two tables standing on the concrete floor!

Terri Morasco: Blue Shoes needs to end this thing right now!

{ Both men are still in the rubble on the floor and Blue Shoes looks concerned but he gets word through his head set to start the third and final fall of the match! }

Terri Morasco: Blue Shoes ringing the bell for the third fall to begin!

Vasco Dias: Maybe someone in the back told him to count to ten and count them as both down!?

Terri Morasco: That would be a genius idea and the best way to stop this before either man gets hurt any worse!

{ Blue Shoes begins his count but as he reaches four, Wraith begins to move. Angel also starts to move at six. Both men use each other to stand up at eight and that brings Blue Shoes’ count to a stop. }

Vasco Dias: How in the hell did they get up!?

Terri Morasco: I don’t know, Vasco, I honestly don’t know.

{ Wraith fires off a closed right hand but Angel blocks it and connects with a forearm shiver! Wraith goes for another punch but Angel blocks again and counters with a shiver. Angel then starts to come back to life despite the massive amount of blood loss and rocks Wraith with a dozen shivers in a row before grabbing him by the head and sending Wraith flying into the LED board along the side of the ramp with a two handed toss! }

Terri Morasco: I think Angel has found a second wind, perhaps?

Vasco Dias: I’ve never seen Angel come back from a beating like this before. He’s looking okay now but I don’t know how long he can continue.

Terri Morasco: For as long as he has blood in his body?

{ Wraith is laid up against the LED board and Angel charges in at him with Divine Justice! Both men go crashing through the LED board and are now underneath the ramp! }

Terri Morasco: Holy hell!

{ Blue Shoes tries to get a look in under the ramp but Angel shoves him aside as he pulls Wraith out from within. Angel drags Wraith down the side of the ramp until it’s low enough to roll the limp body of Wraith onto. Angel pulls Wraith up and Wraith starts to comeback with more closed fists followed by an attempt at the Howling! But Angel shoves Wraith off. Angel drills Wraith with another Divine Justice, reopening the wound over the top of Wraith’s head! Angel then stuffs the head of Wraith, double underhooks him and picks him up for the LAST GASP!!! Angel drops Wraith head first on the weakened area of the ramp and both men go crashing through!!! }

Vasco Dias: WHAT!?

Terri Morasco: Holy shit…

Vasco Dias: That… Has to be it…

Terri Morasco: They both went through the ramp on that pile driver…

Vasco Dias: Wraith had to have gotten the worst of it?

Terri Morasco: Probably but Angel was on fumes to begin with.

{ Blue Shoes is standing over the hole and making his count as both men just lay there. ONE! TWO! THREE! Angel begins to push the limp body of Wraith off of him and tries to stand. FOUR! FIVE! SIX! Angel uses the interior structure to find his feet. SEVEN! Angel looks down at Wraith who starts to come alive. EIGHT! Wraith pushes himself onto his knees and looks Angel dead in the eyes. }

Wraith: “iLíl yoo yeedláñgiñ ýat guçajáañ!”

{ NINE! Angel is stunned as Wraith stands up from the wreckage and just unleashes holy hell on Angel Blake with right and left hands, forcing him out from inside of the ramp! }

Terri Morasco: What did he say!?

Vasco Dias: I believe it was something along the lines of “You can’t kill me!”

{ Wraith beats on Angel down the length of the ramp until both of them are directly in front of the ring again. Wraith takes the head of Angel and bounces it off the apron and then hits him with a nasty clothesline that takes Angel down! Wraith reaches underneath the ring and pulls out a box cutter. }

Vasco Dias: Okay! That’s enough!

Terri Morasco: Blue Shoes needs to step in now!

{ Wraith rolls into the ring as Blue Shoes is counting but Angel isn’t down. Angel is pulling himself up on the apron. Wraith begins to cut away at the canvas inside of the ring. He cuts free one whole corner of the ring and then viciously starts ripping it back exposing the padding beneath. Wraith rips up a little more than half of the canvas in a diagonal across the ring. Wraith then starts to rip up the padding but Angel re enters the ring. Angel comes in but Wraith turns and jabs Angel in the forehead with the box cutter!!! Wraith twists it before Blue Shoes comes in and pushes Wraith off! Angel drops down and rolls out of the ring as his head is now pouring blood even worse than before! }

Terri Morasco: COME ON! VERONA! SOMEONE! END THIS MATCH!

Vasco Dias: This has gone way, way too damn far! Wraith is going to kill Angel in there!

{ Blue Shoes gets out of the ring to check on Angel and see if he’s well enough to continue. Inside the ring Wraith has revealed the wood beneath the ring canvas and padding. Wraith now takes the time to cut even more of it free until at least three quarts of the wood below is exposed. }

Vasco Dias: I’ve seen enough Dragon’s Dens and Death Cages and bullshit! Someone needs to end this before one of these men is killed!

Terri Morasco: This is above and beyond what I would consider acceptable in this sort of situation… This is just disgusting.

{ Blue Shoes allows Angel to stand back up but clearly he is incredibly wobbly. Angel’s entire upper half is covered in blood from his head to his waist from all the various wounds he has suffered. Wraith’s face is a bloody mess as well but he smiles as he begs Angel to get back inside the ring. Wraith tosses the box cutter out and waits for his would be father. Angel steps up onto the apron as the crowd is cheering for this mayhem. }

Vasco Dias: I don’t know how much more of this I can watch.

Terri Morasco: I’ve already seen enough.

{ Angel climbs into and comes at Wraith. Wraith fires off a Genecide Kick, Angel gets under it and fires off a Genocide Kick! Wraith ducks that and catches Angel with a Divine Justice leaping knee strike! Wraith then grabs Angel and again mirrors one of Angel’s own moves, the RANGER’S WAY ON THE EXPOSED WOOD!!! }

Vasco Dias: Christ! Not only is Wraith using Angel’s own signature moves, he’s now using some of Angel’s toughest rivals signature moves!

Terri Morasco: The Ranger’s Way is a deep cut and if Angel is still awake, I’m sure the meaning isn’t lost on him.

{ Blue Shoes moves in to make the count as Angel is bleeding out on the wood. Wraith stands over Angel ready for more. Blue Shoes makes it to a count of Eight and Angel pushes himself back up, Angel is vertical at Nine! Wraith comes in now but Angel hits a thrust kick! A spinning heel kick and a spinning back first before grabbing Wraith with an Aerial Spike on the exposed wood! }

Vasco Dias: Angel digging into those adopted moves of his old rivals, that was Falcon’s signature maneuver!

Terri Morasco: And Angel may have just delivered the most devastating version of it ever!

{ Angel backs up as Wraith is already starting to move at Four! Angel starts to move in as Wraith reaches all fours thinking about hitting a Daddy’s Dental Work Curb Stomp but hesitates just as his boot is coming down! Wraith spots this and pops up with The Dragon’s Screw Leg Whip! Angel tries to get up but Wraith is on him with a Divine Wrath snap German suplex onto the exposed wood! }

Terri Morasco: Everytime Wraith hits one of Angel’s moves on him, on that wood, I can’t help but think… Are we seeing the end of one era and the beginning of another?

Vasco Dias: Like I said earlier, I’ve seen Angel in a lot of wars over his twenty plus years, I’ve never seen someone take so much and keep giving out so much more against Angel. I’ve never seen someone give him such a run for his money.

{ Wraith backs off now and lines up his own Curb Stomp. Angel is struggling to get to his hands and knees as Blue Shoes hits the count of Six! Wraith comes in and jump up and comes down hitting the Curb Stomp, Daddy’s Dental Care, crushing Angel’s head into that exposed wood!!! }

Terri Morasco: That’s it… Please tell me that that is it?

Vasco Dias: It has to be… I don’t see how anyone could get up from that…

Terri Morasco: Just let it be over before this get’s any worse?

Vasco Dias: How could this get worse?

{ Wraith isn’t happy as Blue Shoes counts. Wraith grabs Angel by the hair and helps him up to his hands and knees again. Wraith backs off now and lines up another shot. Wraith comes in again with a Curb Stomp!!! }

Terri Morasco: NO! NO! NO!!!

Vasco Dias: TOP THE GODDAMN MATCH!!!

Terri Morasco: END THIS!!!

{ Blue Shoes moves in to count but Wraith drills the referee with the Genecide Kick! Wraith then pulls Angel up to his hands and knees one more time. Wraith thinks about doing it again as the crowd boos. Wraith starts to move forward when the crowd lets out a roar! }

Vasco Dias: IT’S TARA FENIX!!!!

{ Tara rushes down the ramp and slides into the ring placing herself between Angel and Wraith! }

Terri Morasco: I don’t believe it!! What is she doing!?

Vasco Dias: She’s going to stop this before it goes any further!

Terri Morasco: Thank you Tara!

{ The crowd joins Terri in that chant as Wraith is extremely upset with his mother who is begging him to stand down. Wraith keeps shaking his head and yelling “NO!” Tara helps Angel back to his feet as Wraith begins pacing in the background. }

Vasco Dias: Thank god this is over. Thank god for Tara coming down here and stopping this madness before it went too far.

Terri Morasco: I never thought I’d be so happy to see Tara Fenix.

{ Tara starts to help Angel to the ropes but Wraith isn’t having it. Wraith moves in and grabs at Angel but Blake turns and hits the Genocide Kick! Wraith stumbles back and almost on instinct Angel fires off a Divine Justice leaping knee! Wraith continues to stagger backward as Tara watches on, not sure what to do. Wraith falls into the ropes and the barely standing body of Angel Blake comes crashing into him with another Divine Justice! }

Terri Morasco: Angel is fighting on instinct and nothing else!

Vasco Dias: He’s like a zombie out there!

{ The crowd is behind Angel now as he picks Wraith up onto his shoulder and delivers the DEADLIGHTS IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!!! }

Vasco Dias: THE DEADLIGHTS!!!

{ Angel stands up for a moment, his body soaked in blood before just falling over. Tara looks from son to ex husband, not sure what to do. Finally Tara goes to Blue Shoes and wakes him back up. Blue Shoes is slow to stand but does eventually reach his feet with both men still down. }

Terri Morasco: Smart move, Tara is opting to end this match!

Vasco Dias: She knows neither man would want to “runaway” so this is the next best option without screwing someone over!

{ Blue Shoes begins counting, ONE! TWO! THREE! Tara looks on as from the outside of the ring now. FOUR! FIVE! SIX! Wraith starts to move as does Angel. SEVEN! EIGHT! Wraith is standing back up under his own power. Angel grabs for the ropes. NINE! Wraith reaches his feet and Angel lays against the top rope as Blue Shoes stops his count. Tara looks on with genuine concern. }

Terri Morasco: How… How are they still going!?

Vasco Dias: I have no idea… Wraith is the only man in the history of the company to get up from the Deadlights…

Terri Morasco: Luckily for Wraith the Deadlights is across Angel’s knee and not on that exposed wood. I think Angel is the worse for wear here.

Vasco Dias: Absolutely.

{ Wraith looks to his mother on the outside as she shakes her head and begs for him to just stop. Wraith looks back to Angel who pushes off the ropes, covered in blood but ready to keep going. }

Terri Morasco: Angel is an absolute mess out there.

Vasco Dias: Wraith isn’t that much better.

{ Wraith comes in looking for another Genecide Kick but Angel manages to just get under it. Angel tries to fire back with the Divine Justice but Wraith is able to side step up. Wraith catches Angel this time with the Genecide Kick and brags Angel in a tilt a whirl fashion, swinging him around into position for a tombstone pile driver on the exposed wood! }

Terri Morasco: NO!

{ Wraith holds Angel in the tombstone as he locks eyes with his mother. Wraith hesitate before finally letting Angel go. Blake drops to a single knee as Wraith rears back and just drills him one more time with a Genecide Kick directly on the jaw! }

Vasco Dias: That has to be it.

{ Wraith then quickly rolls out of the ring as Blue Shoes begins to count. }

Terri Morasco: I think Tara was able to get through to her son.

Vasco Dias: I hope so.

{ Wraith walks past his mother on the ramp, stopping for a second just behind her before continuing on. In the ring Blue Shoes has reached SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!!! }

FALL COUNT: ANGEL BLAKE 1 / WRAITH 2

Alison Valance: And your winner… WRAITH!!!

{ Tara immediately climbs into the ring as Angel is laying in a pool of his own blood in the center of the ring as Blue Shoes is calling to the back for help. Dean and Warren come rushing out along with a medical crew, all of them passing Wraith near the top of the ramp who has stopped to look on. }

Terri Morasco: Thank god this match is finally over.

Vasco Dias: And thank god Wraith had some mercy at the end there. Wraith could have ended Angel’s career but choose instead to end the match with his uncle's favorite finishing maneuver, the Genecide Kick.

Terri Morasco: Angel adopted that move years ago after defeating Doc but I think Wraith just made it his own after defeating Angel tonight with it.

Vasco Dias: Absolutely.

{ Tara, Dean and Warren are all hovering as the medical crew is checking over Angel. The crowd is applauding his effort. Wraith still stands at the top of the ramp, watching, Tara looking back at him before Wraith turns and heads through the curtains. }

Vasco Dias: Let this be the end of Angel versus Wraith, I don’t think either of them could survive another war like this.

Terri Morasco: I agree with you one hundred percent.

{ The medical team has a neck brace and a stretcher but Angel pushes them away as he struggles to get back to his feet. Angel nearly falls several times before Tara and Dean catch him under his arms. They both help him up as Warren steadies him. The crowd starts to cheer loudly for Angel as his family helps him out of the ring. The medical team is forced back by Warren as Angel frees himself from Tara and Dean and chooses to walk up the ramp under his own power. }

Terri Morasco: Incredible… Thanks to Wraith we may have not seen the last of Angel in IWF.

Vasco Dias: I sure as hell hope not.

{ The crowd continues to cheer as Angel walks up the ramp, his family right there besides him. We cut to a split shot with Wraith watching a monitor and an uncertain look on his face. }

Terri Morasco: All right, we have to take an extended commercial break to put this place back together but don’t turn that dial!

Vasco Dias: Don’t turn that dial? It’s 2021.

Terri Morasco: Don’t tell Siri to see what’s happening on TLC! We will be right back!

{ We got to replays of the brutal match, culminating once more in Wraith victory over Angel Blake in Three Stages of Hell. }

------------------------------------
HEIRESS TO THE THRONE SEMI FINALS
Virginia vs Rowan MacDonnough vs Sorcha Wynne
------------------------------------

Terri Morasco: And here we are…. The triple threat to see who will be in the main event for Diamonds are Forever and who will be in the Heiress to the throne finales!

Vasco Dias: Literal Chills.

{ the drums and guitars of "Rule of Nines" start to echo across the arena as Mist flls the entryway before Sorcha rises up form the floor when the main riff kicks in. stepping out smoothly dressed in a long cloak, ring gear underneath before sh walks down the entryway , climbing the steps and kneeling in the middle of the ring to mutter some sof sopoke prayer, rising discard the cloak jacket and move to the corner.}

Vasco Dias: First out we have Socha Wynn. She’s been kind of a puzzle here.

Terri Morasco: But she’s not messing around. She’s got skill and she’s got talent.

{Lights out. The thrumming opening of “Trip the Darkness” by Lacuna Coil pulses through the arena, matched by a few flashing sparks of dark red light throughout the building. Red lights shine down and around the entranceway, still accompanied by sporadic flashing throughout the arena, illuminating the sihlouette of Rowan MacDonnough standing at the top of the ramp, a pair of chains hanging from her wrists. She breathes heavily, shoulders heaving as her head hangs down. As the opening continues, red smoke floods down the ramp as Rowan occasionally twitches spasmodically in rhythm with the music...}

"Come to me, come to me... I am waiting for you. Come to me... I can't wait..."

{As the song roars to life, Rowan's head snaps upwards, glaring around at the audience as her golden eyes glint in the smoke and the red light. The stage and ramp are lit by swirling red light, but everything else remains dark. She lopes forward, unconsciously rolling her wrists as her eyes bore a hole in the air before her. The smoke seems to follow her down the ramp as she walks. She drops the chains as she reaches ringside, climbing up the ropes and perching over the ring on the top corner, standing slowly as she continues to twitch and spasm in time with the music.}

"Follow me, follow me! As I trip the Darkness... one more time!"

{She leaps into the ring, landing with a roll in the center of the ring and pulling into a feral crouch. She stands, raising her arms as though conducting a savage chorus, posing one last time...}

"Follow me, follow me... I awake from madness.... JUST IN TIME!"

{She slowly, reluctantly backs towards a corner, eyes constantly moving as she settles in to wait for the bell.}

Vasco Dias: Next, we have Rowan … I honestly hope she doesn’t win this.

Terri Morasco: I have to agree.

{The lights in the arena start to flicker as the intro to “Bitch Better Have My Money” hits the speakers. Smoke pours out onto the stage as Virginia Stepanov steps out. She walks to the head of the ramp, looking around for a moment before she shoots a high front kick into the air to show off and then makes a finger gun with three punctuated ‘shots’ towards the crowd ad the appropriate time in the song.

She struts down the ramp, mouth moving to sing along to her entrance as her head bobs along with the song. When she gets to the ring she jumps onto the apron, hanging onto the rope and leaning out towards the crowd, throwing a finger gun with another three shots before she steps through the ropes. She slips her coat off and hangs it in the corner}

Vasco Dias: And last but not least… Virginia Stepanov! Why do people not put her last name? I mean she’s good. But not having your last name attached is for like… Sting or Cher or Madonna.

Terri Morasco: She has been a repeat champion since she’s arrived.

{The bell rings. All three women are throwing their all into this match. No one is risking being counted out early here. There are attempted pin falls by all parties but always someone gets in the way. Rowan managed to knock Virginia over the barrier into the crowd before hitting Sorcha with a STORM OF THE MORRIGAN! Going for the pin
1
2
3!! Just as Virginia is about oit break it}

Terri Morasco: What a great match!

Vasco Dias: Next up we have The TV World title match between JC and Pax!!

------------------------------------
WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
LADDER MATCH
Pax Stormcrow (C) vs JC Keeton
------------------------------------

Terri Morasco: We have an amazing match on tap tonight as we're about to see the Television Champion, Pax Stormcrow, defend his championship against the challenge of JC Keeton. Pax has held that championship since August, where he took the belt from JC Keeton. Tonight, thanks to his victory in the Olympians tournament, JC Keeton looks to take it back and become our first two-time Television Champion.

Vasco Dias: I haven't talked to Keeton because- well, why would I- but for a guy that seems to fancy himself a belt collector, that'd probably be a pretty nice accolade to brag about. Let's also not forget, JC Keeton is still one half of the World Tag Team Champions- meaning he'd be a double champion if he's successful tonight. To be honest, I sorta feel like he will be. Roberto Verona is rubbing off on the kid a bit, and that's never a bad thing.

Terri Morasco: That's certainly debatable; but one thing that's not is Pax will not have the Champion's usual advantage here tonight, as you've probably noticed all the ladders around ringside. Someone is going to have to make their way to the top and pull the title down to walk out of here a winner tonight.

Vasco Dias: Which, again, favors Keeton in my mind. There's no disqualifications here tonight, and we've seen just a little glimmer of a dark side in Keeton as of late. The kid has a crying baby at home, probably hasn't slept in weeks, and may just snap here tonight and bludgeon Pax with a rattle or something, Morasco.

Terri Morasco: I doubt that. I also think you're selling Pax well short. Pax is a warrior, and if Keeton is going to take that title, he's going to have to wrestle a nearly perfect match. Let's go down to Alison in the ring for our introductions, though!

{ The camera moves to a shot of Alison Valance standing in the center of the ring. }

Alison Valance: The following contest is a ladder match for the IWF Television Championship!

{ The crowd pops. }

{The beat to "Born Legendary" by Emanuel Vo Williams hits.}

I crawled out the gutter
I rose to the top
My reign everlasting
I can’t be stopped
I was made for the throne
Rise up til I moan
You been waiting on a ruler
Well I’m home

{ As soon as he says the word "Home" pyro explodes from the rampway as JC Keeton steps through the curtain. He makes his way to the ring bouncing in rhythm to the music. }

Alison Valance: Introducing first, the challenger, making his way to the ring from Lexington, Kentucky... he stands 6'1" and weighs in at two hundred seventeen pounds... JC Keeeeeetoooonnn!

{ When JC reaches the ring he leaps up onto the apron and steps through the ropes. He continues to sway and bounce from heel to heel as he awaits the match to start. }

Alison Valance: And his opponent...

{ The lights in the arena dim, and there is the sound of a powerup collected in an old video game system. At the sound, the crowd leap to their feet with cheers A beat is laid out, filling the arena with the sounds of a Midi file. The lights pulse in time with the music. As they flash as the beat trembles, an explosion of sparks rocks the entrance stage. Pax walks out onto the stage, looking around as the crowd bursts into cheers. He gives a smirk as the chanting on Suplex by A Tribe Called Red kicks in. }

Alison Valance: Hailing from Aitkin, Minnesota... he stands 6'2" and weighs in at two hundred forty pounds... he is the IWF Television Champion... Pax Storrrrmcroooowww!

{ Pax stands at the top of the ramp, lifting his right fist into the air with his head down, bobbing his hooded head along with the music before marching down to the ring. He slides into the ring and jumps onto the second turnbuckle, throwing his hood off and hyping up the crowd with yells before slipping his coat off and letting it fall to the ground. }

Terri Morasco: This sold out crowd certainly sounds happy to see both these men, but it would seem Pax may be the slight crowd favorite here tonight based on those reactions. Does that surprise you at all, Vasco?

Vasco Dias: Not at all. Listen, Morasco, people hate winners because our audience is largely full of- well, you see them. I mean there's a reason they put this continent on the bottom of the globe- it's bottom barrel. If Verona wasn't paying me so handsomely, I would have used up every sick day I had to avoid this trip. But I digress, the people hate winners... and JC Keeton is slowly learning to become a winner.

Terri Morasco: First, let me apologize to the entire continent of Australia on the IWF's behalf. Secondly, Pax is the champion! He beat JC Keeton for that belt. What is up with this narrative you're trying to paint that Pax is somehow not a winner!?

Vasco Dias: I said what I said.

Terri Morasco: You frustrate me.

Vasco Dias: Well you annoy me.

Terri Morasco: I loathe you, Vasco. Loathe!

Vasco Dias: As if I've never heard a woman say that before. That was like a shin kick. Why don't you try actually hurting my feelings next time?

{ The opening bell sounds as both men peer up at the Television Title hanging on a chord suspended above the ring. The two men begin to circle each other in the center of the ring. They tie up in a lock up, and Pax uses his size advantage to drive JC back into the corner. The official for the contest, Blue Shoes, asks for a clean break in spite of the no disqualification stipulations attached to a ladder match, and Pax obliges out of sportsmanship. Stormcrow backs off with his hands in the air. Keeton nods and takes a breath. Both men circle each other once more, and another lock up ensues with the same result occurring. Pax again offers a clean break unprompted, but this time JC Keeton uncharacteristically drops and rolls under the bottom rope for a powder to a smattering of boos from the crowd. JC walks over to a young fan in the front row, pulling a pen from his boot and autographing a poster for her that she had made in support of JC. }

{ Inside the ring, Pax can audibly be heard questioning what JC is doing. Keeton points to the girl, explaining he wanted to sign her poster for her. The two competitors go back-and-forth verbally about the timing of JC's gesture. Keeton waves off Pax and taps on one of the ladders that has been set-up on the outside already for aesthetic purposes, and Pax has finally had enough. Stormcrow goes to the outside after JC. Keeton quickly slides into the ring as Pax gives chase. JC hits the ropes on the opposite side with a burst and bounces off, catching Pax coming in with a springboard cutter! }

{ Pax is down, and JC puts some boots to him to another smattering of boos from the crowd. Keeton demonstrates some impressive power by performing a Deadlift Gutwrench Suplex on Pax! JC measures the champion, then rushes in with a running knee somewhat resembling Roberto Verona's 'Veni, Vidi, Vici' knee, albeit a much sloppier version of the move. The move is effective enough, however, to buy JC some time to go to the outside and grab a ladder and slide it into the ring. JC re-enters the ring, but instead of setting up the ladder for a climb he picks it up and draws it to his chest, appearing to want to use it as a weapon. }

{ JC waits on Pax to regain his vertical base. Keeton swings the ladder at Pax's head; but Stormcrow ducks and the ladder bounces off the top rope, throwing Keeton off-balance. Pax grabs the base of the ladder and pulls it into him, spinning JC. This enables Pax to work his way in behind Keeton. Pax puts his arms through the rungs of the ladder and locks them in behind JC's head, and in a quick motion delivers a 'Skull Crushing Finale' that ends with JC's lips tasting aluminum! Stormcrow gets up shaking out his arms, having had his elbows pinched some delivering the blow. He wastes almost no time returning to the offensive, however. }

{ Pax grabs JC by the waist and delivers a German Suplex! The crowd roars as Pax holds his grip and pops his hips, dragging JC up and driving the back of his head into the canvas with another German Suplex! Not finished, Pax pops his hips again and brings JC off the canvas and drills him with a third German Suplex! But wait! Stormcrow still doesn't relent, turning his hips once more as he brings a wobbly legged Keeton off the mat and spikes him with a FOURTH German Suplex! Pax's pace begins to slow, but he keeps lock and pops his hips for a FIFTH time... bringing a battered JC Keeton to his feet and smacking the back of JC's neck against the canvas for a FIFTH German Suplex! }

Vasco Dias: Ok, I have to admit that was damn impressive! Keeton isn't the biggest man, but if you think that's easy than you should try tossing four fifty pound sandbags over your head five times without a break and see how it goes! I'd imagine after five German Suplexes, just the sight of a bratwurst will be enough to make JC Keeton cringe. Bratwurst City, baby!

Terri Morasco: Bratwurst city...?

Vasco Dias: Do you see what I did there? Bratwurst is a German food, for like a German Suplex... It's catchy. As often as Team Diversity Hire comes out here and tries to shamelessly shill their merchandise, they'll thank me. They could plaster it all over t-shirts, hats... kids toys! Imagine a giant stuffed cotton Brat with a smiling face plastered on it, wearing a Team Diversity Hire shirt, under little children's trees everywhere this Christmas!

Terri Morasco: Don't you think something like Suplex City might be a little catchier... and less, I don't know... odd?

Vasco Dias: Suplex City?! Like that'd ever sell a shirt, Morasco! How is anyone even supposed to know what kind of suplex it is?

Terri Morasco: I give up. But thankfully, back to the action... Pax is going to set up the ladder, looking to end this one off that barrage of suplexes...

Vasco Dias: I hate to use Pax and the word 'smart' in the same sentence, so I won't- but it's a good strategy, Morasco. The champion loses a bit of his advantage in these type of no DQ matches, so the sooner he can end it the better for him... and JC Keeton is reeling.

{ Pax has the ladder erected, and he drags it a bit to a position more to his liking. The crowd starts to cheer as Pax begins the climb. Pax makes it halfway to the top when JC Keeton regains enough sense of what's going on to notice his chances at the Television title slipping away with every step Pax takes, and JC quickly goes up the ladder after Pax. The two competitors trade closed fists around the sides of the ladder. Pax fires a hard right that knocks Keeton from the ladder, but JC lands on his feet on the canvas. He collects himself and shoves the ladder with everything he has, tipping it to the side. Pax falls into the ropes, then crashes on the canvas like a ton of bricks! }

{ JC tries to fire up the crowd, drawing a fair amount of cheers in response. There are, however, some very loud boos in response as well. JC Keeton starts aggressively putting some boots to Pax, then kicking at his ribs to drive Stormcrow back into the corner. Keeton backs off, creating some distance so he is able to hit a hesitation dropkick with Pax sitting in the corner! JC Keeton picks up the ladder, wedging it between the middle and bottom rope so that Pax is pinched behind it. JC takes hold of the top rope where it comes out of the corner and uses the ropes to push himself up before lunging in with a dropkick to the ladder, pressing the aluminum frame into Stormcrow's face! }

{ Keeton drags Pax out of the corner by his ankle, eventually placing a boot on the base of Pax's leg and snapping Stormcrow's leg back toward his head to work the hamstring. Keeton begins a targeted assault on Stormcrow's left leg for the next four minutes of the match in an effort to rob Stormcrow of his vertical base, ending the flurry by locking Pax into a kneebar as a small group of fans loudly chant from ringside, "J! C! Sucks!" Keeton notices the chant, transitioning into a heelhook almost as if to answer the chants by showing he doesn't suck. }

Terri Morasco: There are no submissions in this match, so JC Keeton is obviously only looking to inflict damage to Pax's leg here... and if you're hearing those chants and wondering if there is something wrong with your television, there is indeed not. JC Keeton has drawn the ire of a few of our fans in attendance tonight.

Vasco Dias: That's the price one pays for success, Morasco. People are jealous of success, and Keeton is learning that firsthand. That little snot-nosed punk from Kentucky has started to morph into the type of wrestler Roberto Verona can be proud to call a partner. He's even dressing the part now. Did you see his post on Twitter?

Terri Morasco: The clothes don't change a man, Vasco; but I am a little worried about the slight change in attitude we've seen from JC as of late.

{ Feeling he has done enough damage one would assume, JC Keeton releases Stromcrow from the clutches of the heelhook. JC plays to the crowd, wasting valuable time. There is some extremely positive support for JC in the audience, but it's drowned in a very loud, "Let's go, Pax!" chant. Keeton is patting himself on the back when a cup of soda comes flying in from the crowd and strikes JC in the face! Security descends on the fan who threw the soda as Keeton wipes Sprite off himself in the middle of the ring. }

{ Pax struggles to his feet, then limps over and spins JC. Pax stings JC across the chest with a knife-edge chop. Pax brings his arm back and slings it, striking JC with another chop! Keeton kicks at Pax's leg, slowing him! Pax staggers back, only to regroup and plow forward into a double leg takedown on Keeton as the crowd roars! Pax starts raining down fists on JC's forehead as Keeton tries to cover up! JC flips Pax and tries to slither away from him, but Stromcrow taps into his strong amateur wrestling background to keep control and transition into a Gator Roll on Keeton! }

{ Keeton's body language and movements hint at just a hint of desperation as he fights to free himself from Pax; but for the next three minutes they grapple on the mat, and for every amateur wrestling move JC Keeton attempts to make, Pax Stormcrow shows a counter. The flow of the match plays into Pax's strengths, and just as importantly largely keeps him from having to fight upright on his injured left leg. JC puts a hand on Pax's face, making an effort to push backward on Pax's face and head to free himself. Keeton's thumb catches Stormcrow in the eye, creating a break...}

Terri Morasco: Did JC... did he just poke Pax in the eye?!

Vasco Dias: That looked accidental to me, Morasco. Even if it wasn't, good for him! What is the ref going to do, disqualify him?!

Terri Morasco: It may well have been an accident... I don't want to accuse him of anything... It's just... It's tough to tell.

{ Keeton grabs the ladder and very deliberately rams the top of it into Stormcrow's midsection! The challenger raises the ladder above his head and brings it down across the champion's back! Pax cringes as his back arches. Keeton explodes into Pax with a spinning uppercut that draws a sizeable pop from the crowd! JC quickens the pace, bouncing off the ropes and catching Stormcrow in the jaw with a dropkick! Stormcrow goes down! Fueled by adrenaline, Pax doesn't stay down very long, though! His rise is only to see him eat a standing dropkick from JC Keeton this time! }

{ To the shock of the announcers, Keeton picks the Champion up into a torture rack at this point. JC bounces Pax up and down on his shoulders, eliciting a strong response from the anti-Keeton fans in attendance on this night. Keeton drops Stormcrow off his back, flashing a smile. Keeton makes the belt gesture around his waist. He looks behind him, spying the ladder. Sweat pours off of both men as they cross the twenty-five minute mark in the match; the Champion laying on the canvas, and the challenger now headed for the ladder. }

{ Keeton stands the ladder up and unfolds the frame, prepping for the climb. He starts up rung-by-rung, eyes laser-focused on the Television title hanging above him. His fans in attendance rally behind him when seemingly out of nowhere Pax is on his heels, coming up the same side of the ladder. JC kicks at Pax, knocking him down a rung. Stormcrow grabs at JC's ankle, however, using it to help him climb. Stormcrow works his way almost even on the rungs with JC, and the crowd goes absolutely insane when Pax Teardrop Suplexes JC off the ladder!! A deafening, "This is awesome" chant breaks out! }

Vasco Dias: Mother of- JC Keeton just got folded like a towel!! The man is broken in half!!

Terri Morasco: Pax Stormcrow dug down... fighting through the pain of a bad leg... fighting through the sweat and the fatigue... and he somehow managed to suplex JC Keeton off that ladder, eight or ten feet to the canvas below! How bad do these men want to be Television Champion!? They are absolutely laying their bodies on the line!

Vasco Dias: Stormcrow is short on brains, in my opinion- but I can't deny that he's long on guts, Morasco! Where he's getting it from, I don't know... they'd have been wheeling me out of there on a stretcher about twenty minutes ago... but Pax just won't quit. He won't lay down. He won't relinquish his hold on that Television Title.

Terri Morasco: Both men are down... and in a normal match we'd be seeing Blue Shoes exercising a standing ten count here. The only way to win this match though is to climb the ladder and retrieve the title... so we watch and wait as these two gladiators fight for that breathe... that little something extra that's going to will one of them up that ladder to unlock that title.

Vasco Dias: We've got some dueling chants going in the audience. If I'm Blue Shoes, I'm probably going to the back for a Snickers... because I don't think we're going anywhere for awhile.

Terri Morasco: We're getting a bit of movement from Pax... I think hearing this crowd voice their support for him has given him a second wind. He's rolled over, making it up onto all fours... and you can see the perspiration dripping from him.

{ Pax glances at the ladder, which fell onto the ropes off the suplex. Pax looks back at JC Keeton, who is laying face down on the canvas. Stormcrow limps over, gesturing for the crowd to make some noise before taking the ladder into his hands. He pulls the ladder to him, setting it up yet again for the climb. JC Keeton has begun to stir, however, rolling onto his side. The two competitors lock eyes, almost trying to look inside each other to see what the other man has left in the tank. JC forces himself into a sitting position before Pax even begins the climb, so the Champion shifts gears. }

{ Stormcrow moves for Keeton as an announcement goes over the speakers that, "Thirty minutes have elapsed. Thirty minutes have elapsed." Keeton gets to a kneel and throws a right hand into Pax's abdomen, driving the air from his body. Pax winces, then rips into JC with a knee across the face. Stormcrow wraps his arms around his challenger and deadlifts him up and over into a German Suplex! Not done there, though, Stormcrow drags JC up by the tights and plants him with an Olympic Slam! }

{ A glassy-eyed JC Keeton peers up at the lights. Stormcrow tries to shake the pain out of his leg, then moves to readjust the ladder's positioning. Keeton pounds the canvas with his fist in a rhythmic fashion, and some of the crowd begins to clap along as others cheer for Pax. The Champion begins to climb, staring at the prize atop the mountain- his television title. He makes it halfway up when somehow, some way, against all odds, JC Keeton brings his knees into his chest and kips up!!! }

Vasco Dias: They're cyborgs, Morasco! They have to be cyborgs! No human takes this type of punishment and keeps going!

Terri Morasco: I don't know where they're getting it from either, but what a display of heart! JC Keeton is going up the other side of the ladder again after the Champion! Both men know how imperative it is to their chances of winning not to give the other man the chance to even touch that title!

Vasco Dias: That's not a lie! The old adage is it only takes three seconds to lose in a regular match, but in a ladder match it can be even less... If you're willing to risk your health and trust your grip, you just put a hand on that belt and fall.

Terri Morasco: Pax reaches around the ladder and just absolutely decks his challenger with a right hand!

Vasco Dias: Here comes Keeton back with a right of his own!! JC reaching through the ladder now... trying to grab Pax...

Terri Morasco: But Pax takes his arms and pulls JC face-first into the ladder!... No snapping JC's arm down against that cold, aluminum frame! Stormcrow with a quick move up... and he has a hand on the title!!

Vasco Dias: Here comes JC with another right hand to Pax's gut!... He moves up, pulling Pax's arm down!... And he rams Pax's face into the top of the ladder! Keeton is going for the title!!

Terri Morasco: What in the hell!? No!!!! No!!!

{ Just as Pax grabs at JC's arm to stop him from taking the title, Stephen Terrella slides into the ring and shoves the ladder over, dumping both men off and sending their bodies careening to the outside! }

Terri Morasco: We haven't seen this man for weeks! What is he even doing here!?

Vasco Dias: Whatever the hell he wants, Morasco!

{ Terrella slides outside after the fallen men as the crowd boos. Terrella removes his leather vest, handing it to Portia. Terrella grabs Pax by the hair and yanks him up, ramming him head-first into the steel ring post. Terrella, practically seething, turns his attention to JC Keeton, who is laying almost defenseless on the floor. }

Vasco Dias: This doesn't look good for Keeton. Forget talking about just this company, there may be no one in this world that hates JC Keeton more than Stephen Terrella. He hates the whole Keeton family.

Terri Morasco: Pax Stormcrow and JC Keeton just wrestled for over thirty minutes, and now this sorry excuse for a human being is going to come in here and pick the bones!

{ Terrella kneels down next to JC Keeton, grabbing him by the hair with his right hand so he can unmercifully unload on JC's forehead with hard left hands. Blue Shoes tries to stop Terrella by grabbing his arm, but Terrella stands and beals Blue Shoes across the ringside floor! Terrella storms over and aggressively motions for Alison Valance to get up so he can grab her seat. He folds up the steel chair and walks back toward Keeton, slamming the chair down over Keeton's back! Terrella pulls back and brings the chair down again across Keeton's back with a sickening whack! }

Terri Morasco: He's out of control! We need to get some help out here!

Vasco Dias: He just threw Blue Shoes halfway across the arena... I can't imagine there being a line of personnel anxious to come out here...

{ Terrella forces JC Keeton up against the steel railing, propping him up in a seated position. Terrella holds up the chair for everyone to see, then seconds later swings it like a baseball bat right into JC Keeton's face! Terrella draws back and slams the chair into Keeton's face again, pinching it between two sets of steel! He fires off a third shot, stopping to allow Keeton to slump over. }

Vasco Dias: I like Terrella, but this may be a step too far... JC Keeton has a family... and he can't even defend himself now against those shots to the head.

Terri Morasco: This is an assault! It's nothing more than an assault!

{ Terrella hurls the chair into the ring as Portia kneels down next to JC and sarcastically asks him, "How you feeling, champ?" Terrella grabs a ladder and lays it over the barricade and apron, like a bridge. He takes JC by the head, who has some blood coming from his nose now, and puts him into position for a powerbomb. Terrella hoists him up and powerbombs JC Keeton on the ladder! Terrella holds on, pulling Keeton up and powerbombing him onto the ladder again! A small but vocal group of chants starts to yell, "One more time!" in support of Terrella. Terrella, almost angry the ladder hasn't broke, pulls JC up and grants their wish for a third time! Terrella continues to hold on, finally driving JC through on the fourth try as the ladder bends beneath JC's weight! }

Terri Morasco: Are you happy, Terrella?! That is a human being!

Vasco Dias: Here comes Pax! This might not be wise!

{ Pax dives into Terrella's hips and takes him to the ground with a double leg takedown! Much of the audience erupts as the two men tussle on the floor. Terrella has no qualms reaching up and pressing both of his thumbs into Pax's eyes, however, stopping Pax from throwing more blows. Terrella gets to a knee as Pax tries to regain his sight. Blinded and fatigued, Pax is easy prey though for Terrella to simply steamroll him! Stephen grabs a television cable and wraps it around Pax's throat, choking him with it. Three men from backstage run out to try to put an end to the assault, but Terrella dispatches of them all with left hands. }

Vasco Dias: He's assaulting backstage personnel now and that's usually going to result in a rather hefty fine. Terrella is just a man possessed.

Terri Morasco: What is the meaning of all this!? Why!? What is he proving!? He's assaulting two men that just wrestled each other for over thirty minutes! That doesn't take a big man when you ambush them, either.

{ Terrella rips the top off the steel stairs. slowly walks back toward Pax, pulling him up into a powerslam position. Terrella builds a head of steam and running powerslams Pax on top of the steel stairs! Terrella stands, shouting at the crowd, only to turn and splash Pax across the chest with his three hundred pounds, crushing Pax into the steel! }

Terri Morasco: Pax could have broken ribs.

Vasco Dias: He wanted to stand up and do the right thing by trying to save JC, I guess... and sometimes you pay for that.

{ Terrella flips Pax over, climbing the stairs so he can stand over him. Terrella locks Pax in the Iron Throne, holding his face so the crowd can see the pain etched across Pax's face. Portia comes over to verbally berate Pax for involving himself in this as Terrella continues to apply pressure in the Iron Throne until Pax starts to fade out. Terrella releases his grip, raising his arms in triumph as the crowd chants, "ass-hole." at him. }

{ Portia and Terrella share a kiss over Pax's fallen body, and Portia directs Terrella's attention to the title belt still hanging over the ring. Terrella rolls under the bottom rope, taking a ladder and setting it up in the middle of the ring. Portia joins him in the ring as EMTS and more backstage personnel flood out from the back to check on Pax Stormcrow and JC Keeton. Terrella slowly climbs the ladder, rung-by-rung, until he reaches the belt and unfastens it from it's perch. Terrella hoists the title in the air as his music hits, with Portia standing on the canvas below pointing up at her man holding the Television Championship. }

Vasco Dias: What have we just witnessed, Morasco?! Is Terrella taking the title!?

Terri Morasco: I don't know... right now I'm just worried for the health of Pax and JC, Vasco. This was an utterly disgusting display by Terrella...

Vasco Dias: As much as I like Terrella, I have to say he may be naive if he thinks this will go unanswered.

Terri Morasco: We have to go to a commercial, but if we get any updates on JC or Pax before the night is out we'll be here to bring them to you.

{ The show goes to break. }

------------------------------------
CIVIL WAR MATCH
The Church of Crosse vs Team Knight
------------------------------------

{A twenty foot tall roofed cell has been lowered from the rafters of the arena and IWF staff is setting up trash cans filled with weapons all around ring side. A quick scan shows kendo sticks, cricket bats covered in thumbtacks, and light tubes. Tables have been set up so that they are leaning against the cage in every corner.}

Teri Morasco: Now it is time for Civil War and here are the rules.

{A graphic appears on the screen}

The match will begin with one man from each team in the ring.
After five minutes a member from the team with the advantage, which is The Church of Crosse will enter.
A man will enter every two minutes after that until all six men are locked inside of the cell.
The match can then only be won by Knock Out or Submission
The losing team will be banned from IWF for life.

Let’s go down to Alison for the introductions.

Alison Valance: The following contest is Civil War!!! Introducing first representing The Church of Crosse, Johnny Somebody!!!

{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 trio of silhouettes fade into view. As the guitar kicks in hard, the lights flash onto the stage revealing Johnny Somebody along with ‘The True Unholy Son’ Lucipher Crosse and his bodyguard Itami.}

Vasco Dias: It is so good to see Lucipher Crosse back here in the flesh.

Teri Morasco: From the sound of the crowd you might be the only one that feels that way.

{The members of the The Church of Crosse gazing into the crowd and taking in their reaction of the infidels, Crosse grinning from ear to as if he lives to hear the jeers. Slowly they make their way towards ringside, Lucipher now trading insults with the fans and truly loving every second of it. One fan hops the guard rail and goes after the leader of The Church only to be laid out by a spinning heel kick from Itami.}

Teri Morasco: Itami just knocked out that fan with Baku!

Vasco Dias: Who needs security when you have Lady Pain!!!

{The three reach the ring and Johnny Somebody apprehensively steps through the door of the cell. He walks around the structure shaking the fencing with a look of almost fear in his eyes. He looks at the cans full of weapons his eyes wide, unsure of what he has gotten himself into. Finally he picked a kendo stick out of a cane and climbs inside of the ring. He bows his head in one of the corners saying a quick prayer to The Father. When he turns red pyro erupts from the ring post momentarily casting him in an synyster light.}

Teri Morasco: I do not envy Johnny Somebody one bit right now. He is about to be locked inside a cell full of weapons with a man whose nickname is “The Hollywood Butcher.”

Vasco Dias: Johnny has worked hard to become the best version of himself possible. I spoke with Lucipher just this morning and he has nothing but faith in the abilities of Pocket Hercules.

Alison Valance: Representing The Brotherhood, he hails for Los Angeles, “The Hollywood Butcher” Nick Knight!!!

{This Means War by Five Finger Death Punch hits hard over the sound system as Nick Knight steps out onto the entrance ramp dressed for battle. Instead of wrestling trunks he is wearing a pair of jeans and a Wayne Gretzky LA Kings jersey. He also has his hands heavily taped and a two by four wrapped in barbed wire over his shoulder.}

Teri Morasco: Johnny Somebody could not look any more like a fish out of water, but Nick Knight looks right at home.

Vasco Dias: That’s because Nick Knight is a psychopath. The man legitimately spent time in an insane asylum, so of course he would at home in a match like this one.

{Nick makes his way to the ring singing along to his theme song and smiling like the cat that ate the canary. When he reached ringside he steps inside of the cage without a seconds though and didn’t flinch when the door when Blue Shoes and Tommy Knocker slams and locks it behind him. The bell rings and a clock reading 5:00 appears on the big screen and begins counting down.}

Teri Morasco: The first ever Civil War is underway!

{Knight climbs into the ring using the steps never taking his eyes off of Johnny who patiently waits with his kendo stick cocked and at the ready. Still smiling Nick sets his signature weapon down in the corner and walks towards the center of the ring with his hands ties behind his back telling Somebody that he’s got the first shot free. The much smaller man looks unsure for a moment, but then charges forward swinging the length of bamboo with all of his might. The cane splinters but Nick just looks at his opponent and laughs like a madman. Not knowing what else to do Johnny runs away and throws himself out of the ring.}

Vasco Dias: I told you Knight is a lunatic. Johnny Somebody has been locked inside of a cell with a lunatic.

{Somebody goes to one of the trashcans and begins to rifle through it before finally pulling out a hard plastic cricket bat that had been covered in thumbtacks. A few feet away Nick has rolled to the floor and his stalking after Johnny, who is doing his best just to stay away from “The Real Bastard.” The clock over the stage is already down to 3:46.}

Teri Morasco: Over a minute has passed and the only action has been when Nick gave Somebody a free shot

Vasco Dias: A pretty smart strategy from The Church of Crosse, which I didn’t expect anything less for “The Real Unholy Son.” Johnny just needs to stay away until they get the two on one advantage.

{Nick keep getting closer, his strides nearly double that of his much shorter opponent, until finally Johnny turns and blasts Knight with the cricket bat. The shot seems to have not even effected Nick and he keeps moving forward despite thumbtacks embedded into his forehead. Somebody rears back for another swing, but he gets kicked in the gut and then taken over hard with a snap suplex. Johnny arches his back in pain and lets out a groan, but Nick pops right back and looks for something to use to inflict pain on the man that he once took under his wing. Reaching into the nearest trash can he pulls out a Kangaroo Crossing sign and lifts it up before bringing it down hard onto the prone body of Johnny Somebody.}

Teri Morasco: It is no secret that Nick Knight is nearly lethal with his suplexes, but I never though I’d ever see him suplex a road sign.

{The clock is reading 2:55 when Knight lays the sign lays the sign across Johnny’s body and climbs up onto the apron coming down with a senton the sandwiches Somebody between steel and the thinly padded concrete floor. “The Hollywood Butcher” winces slightly as he stands, but he keeps on the offensive flipping away the sign and laying the boots to Somebody. Trying to roll away from the stiff kicks Johnny finds himself under the ring and Nick reaches under looking to pull him out but stumbles back wiping at his eyes.}

Teri Morasco: Johnny Somebody found something under the ring that he threw into the eyes of Nick Knight. “The Hollywood Butcher” could be in serious trouble if that effects his vision, especially with just under two minutes until The Church of Crosse has the two on one advantage.

{Johnny rolls out from the ring holding what is obviously a box of salt.}

Vasco Dias: I think it’s safe to say that Nick Knight is in trouble. Have you ever got salt into your eye Teri?

Teri Morasco: Yes and it stings like crazy

{Nick is still trying to get his vision back when Johnny finds another heavy plastic cricket bat covered in broken glass in one of the trash cans. A sadistic grin on his face he rears back and connects once, twice, thrice with the cranium of “The Real Bastard,” before sawing it back and forth tearing into the heavily scarred flesh. Nick is screaming in pain as a siren sounds. Announcing the arrival of the next entrant.}

Alison Valance: Now entering the contest representing The Church of Crosse Jack Ferriman

{Ferriman sprints down the aisle and through the open cell door. Blue Shoes and Tommy Knocker quickly shut and lock it as the time keeper begins the two minute period. Jack finds the nearest trashcan and pulls out a pair of fluorescent light tubes and heads in the direction of the already screaming Nick Knight. The man formerly known as Disciple One hands one of the tubes to Johnny Somebody and gives him some instructions. Somebody nods that he understands and he shoves the rob of glass inside of the gaping maw of their former teacher before Jack connects with a super kick that sends broken glass flying. Knight does his best to spit out the shards and it is obvious that the inside of his mouth is sliced to ribbons given the amount of pink saliva running down his chin.}

Teri Morasco: There is not going to be any of Nick Knight left by the time the match really starts if he continues to take abuse like this.

Vasco Dias: Good, because the son of a bitch deserve everything he gets and ten times more. He turned his back on The Church of Crosse and he should be punished.

{Jack shatters the second light tube over the top of Knight’s head and uses the jagged edge to really gouge into the flesh. Blood begins to pour from the head of “The Hollywood Butcher” as Jack and Johnny Pull his over towards the cage to give Lucipher Crosse a good look at their handy work. “The Real Unholy Son” begins to talk smack as his two followers rub Nick’s face up and down using the fencing like a cheese grater.

The crowd begins to count down along with the timer above the entrance ramp

10…
9…
8…

Jack and Johnny drop Nick and both dig through the trashcans to find a weapon of choice.
7…
6…
5…
4…

The two men walk over to the cell entrance to wait the arrival of the next member of The Brotherhood
3…
2…
1…

An ear piercing siren fills the arena

"CUZ BABY NOW WE GOT BAAAAD BLOOD
YOU KNOW WE USED TO BE MAAAAD LOVE
SO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DOOONE
CUZ BABY NOW WE GOT BAAAAD BLOOD"

From the guerrilla position steps the one and only "Uncle Jimmy" James Knight! Clad in the usual black patent leather wrestling boots with black laces, black patent leather tights, black elbow pads, and black wrist tape. Knight's torso is wrapped in a long black patent leather ring jacket, his beard is kept and his wild blonde hair is allowed to fall as it wants. He stops at the top of the ramp to survey the arena landscape.

Alison Valance: Now making his way to the ring representing The Brotherhood, hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Canada! Weighing in tonight at two-hundred and ten pounds! He is "The Cancer" James Knight!

Knight makes his way down the ramp, ignoring the outstretched arms of the fans. Seeing the members of The Church laying in wait with weapons in hand James heads around the cage in the direction of his older brother. Itami steps between the two sons of Jimmy Knight, but James has not desire to go after his chicken shit brother, he is only grabbing a chair from the time keepers table.

Armed he walks to the entrance and Blue Shoes and Knocker unlock the door and “Uncle Jimmy” enters the bloody fray.}

Teri Morasco: The crowd is nearly deafening in here as they are all excited to finally be seeing the indy darling inside of an IWF ring.

Vasco Dias: James Knight is nothing more than a reprobate that has drank, snorted, or screwed his way out of every chance he has ever had in this business. He has no chance to stand up to the high moral fiber of The Church of Crosse.

{The door slams and is locked and the members of The Church of Crosse attack in unison. Johnny swings a kendo stick that has been wrapped in barbed wire, but James uses his chair to easily knock it a side but he is not so lucky from the other side and catches the edge of a tennis racket to the ribs. The blow stuns him for a second but he has to ignore it because Johnny was swinging for the fences. James once again got the chair up in time to block the cane and then kept on swinging waffling the smaller man between the eyes sending him staggering. Jack swings back the racket preparing to hit the youngest Knight across the spine with a forehand, but his attempt is interrupted by a low blow from behind. Ferriman crumbles to the mat red faced and grabbing at his groin in obvious pain. Nick’s darker side begins to show as he just laughs maniacally and kicks over one of the trashcans looking for just the right weapon for the situation, finally settling on a staple gun.}

Teri Morasco: This does not bode well for Jack Ferriman!

Vasco Dias: Of course it doesn’t bode well. Nick Knight belongs in a mental institution, not a wrestling match. Haven’t we talked about this before Teri?

{Nick reaches into his pocket pulls out a one hundred dollar note and staples Dame Nellie Melba’s face right to Ferriman’s peaches several times. A few feet away James and Johnny are still dueling chair versus barbed wire wrapped kendo stick until the bamboo finally shatters. “Uncle Jimmy” wastes no time driving the edge of the chair into Somebody’s gut before waffling him across the back dropping Pocket Hercules to the floor. Wanting to show the world that he’s not the only Knight that’s a few fries short of a happy meal James sets up the chair before lifting Somebody up for a vertical suplex but instead bringing him down cranium first onto the seat with a shear drop brainbuster.

The siren begins to sound and James and Nick look across at each and nod before rolling into the ring in almost unison.}

Alison Valance: Now entering the ring representing The Church of Crose, “The Modern Day Viking” Gregor Winter!!!

Vasco Dias: Those Knight boys are screwed now, here comes the big Viking!!!

{Winter slowly makes his way towards the cell to allow his teammates a few moments to recover. Ferriman is the first to his feet still showing the effects of a staples to the crotch and Johnny Somebody is still rolling around grabbing the back of his head in pain. The Knight brothers just stand in the center of the ring, satisfied to just allow Gregor Winter to enter at his own pace.}

Teri Morasco: I have to question the strategy of The Brotherhood right here. The two minutes of advantage does not begin until Gregor Winter is inside of the cell. So they are just allowing Johnny Somebody and Jack Ferriman to recover.

Vasco Dias: It’s a stupid plan, but what do you expect from those idiots. The only one with any brains in that family is “The True Unholy Son.”

{Winter finally reaches ring side and slowly climbs inside of the cell and the door is shut and locked behind him. The Knight Brothers continue to back up until they are in the corner opposite the door just waiting for the wolves to attack. Gregor shouts out orders and the three members of The Church each take a side of the ring. The big man counts to three and they all hit the ring like men possessed. James takes a powder, but “The Hollywood Butcher” stays put with a big smile on his face.}

Teri Morasco: What in the world is Nick doing?

Vasco Dias: Being a psycho like usual

{The Church members inch closer, but Knight does not move. When it looks like he’s going to be trapped he swings and cracks Jack Ferriman in the side of the head with the barbed wire wrapped two by four. The barbs tangle in his hair and he begins to scream as they dig into his flesh. The trap sprung Nick tries to roll out of the ring but Gregor catches him by the back of his jersey and sends him flying head over heels nearly all the way across the ring with a release German suplex. Like a giant out of some fairy tale he stops across the canvas and drops the point of his knee across the back of Nicky Nightmare, causing Nick to try to roll away. Winter just laughs and stops down on the lower back of his opponent repeatedly causing the crimson masked wearing Knight brother to arch his back and yell with every single blow.

On the outside of the ring James kicks over one of the trashcans and begins to dig through the pile of plunder. Not sure exactly what he was looking for he begins to just throw weapons over the top rope and into the ring. He throws a cricket bat wrapped in barbed wire, small bags that when they hit the canvas thumb tacks and broken glass come falling out, a square steel sign that reads Watch For Drop Bears, a rubber chicken that has been wrapped in barbed wire, and finally the trashcan.}

Vasco Dias: Did I just see a barbed wire wrapped rubber chicken?

Teri Morasco: That is Petey the Punctured Poultry and kind of mascot of The Knight Brothers going back more than a decade.

Vasco Dias: How do you know that?

Teri Morasco: While you were off kissing Lucipher Crosse’s ass I was actually doing some research!

{James rolls into the ring and is met by Johnny Somebody before he even has the chance to get to his feet. “Super K Ecstacy” does his best to fight off the pint sized Hoosier, but Johnny shows why he is pound for pound the strongest man in IWF by sending his opponent flying halfway across the ring with a deadlift suplex. A siren begins to sound and the crowd erupts as the final member of The Brotherhood comes sprinting down the entrance.}

Alison Valance: The following entrant representing The Brotherhood “The Nightmare Dragon” Gabriel Crosse!!! The first team to score a knock out or submission will be the winner of Civil War.

{Tommy Knocker unlocks the cell and both Gabriel Crosse and a glove wearing Blue Shoes enters. “The Nightmare Dragon” hits the ring like the proverbial house of fire and his met by Gregor Winter and they begin to exchange heavy blows, Gabriel not backing down an inch despite giving up nearly one hundred pounds. The big man distracted Nick has an opportunity to get to his feet, the camera catching a shot of the bloody mess that is his face. Pulling his jersey off he tries the use it to wipe out his eyes before throwing it out of the ring. Seeing that Nicky is still have blinded Ferriman strikes why the iron is hot and blasts the deathmatch legend with the barbed wire wrapped two by four that he finally was able to untangle from his hair. The steel barbs tear into his flesh as Disciple One drags the board down across Knight’s exposed flesh.

Half way across the ring Johnny Somebody is dumping out the bag of thumbtacks before walking backing over to James Knight and sticking the head of Jimmy Knight’s baby boy between his knees and lifting him up and slamming him into the pool of thumbtacks with a Liger Bomb. It is not looking any better for Gabriel Crosse as he is quickly losing his fight with big Gregor Winter and the Viking decides to put and exclamation point on it with a big boot that sends “The Nightmare Dragon” up and over the top rope the land awkwardly on the floor.}

Teri Morasco: Things are not looking good for The Brotherhood right now, as the match seems to be all Church of Crosse.

Vasco Dias: You act surprised.

Teri Morasco: Would you stop already!

{Winter rolls out of the ring and goes to the corner of the cell and begins to set up one of the tables. Inside of the ring Nick and Jack Ferriman are fighting for control of the barbed wire wrapped two by four, when finally Knight just grabs a hold of a section of the wire using his taped hands and begins to dig it into the forehead of his former protege and begins to move it back and forth tearing at the flesh. Pulling away the barbed wire Nick begins to bite the smaller man’s forehead making him scream as “The Hollywood Butcher” pulls back with his pearly whites showing through his blood red face.

Back out on the floor Gregor Winter is throwing Gabriel Crosse repeatedly as Lucipher stands outside talking trash to his younger brother. When Lou has finally had his fill of abusing his brother he walks away allowing “The First Apostle” to press Gabriel’s face into the fencing and use it like a cheese grater as he drags “The Nightmare Dragon” in the direction of the table that he has set up. Blood can be seen dripping from the forehead of the Dragon as Winter picks him up and slams him on top of the tables. The Viking jumps up onto the apron and begins to climb to the top turnbuckle.}

Teri Morasco: No! Gregor Winter cannot be thinking about hitting the Weapon of Mass Destruction!

Vasco Dias: Lucipher Crosse gave his men one instruction before the match and that’s to do whatever it takes to win.

{Gregor jumps high into the warm Australian air doing a backflip more graceful than a man of his size should be of capable of doing only to go crashing through the table. Gabriel Crosse rolled out of the way saving himself from being crushed beneath the over three hundred pounds of “The First Apostle.” Inside of the ring Nick Knight is keeping up the assault on Jack Ferriman by wrapping the length of barbed wire around his fist and punching Jack in the face repeatedly. A few feet away Johnny Somebody applied a gutwrench and looks to be going for a powerbomb, but he suddenly drops James Knight and paws at his face. Out of shear desperation “The Cancer” had thrown a handful of thumbtacks at the unsuspecting “Pocket Hercules.”}

Teri Morasco: The ring is beginning to look like a pileup out on Pacific Highway 1. There are bodies scattered throughout the cell and most of them are bleeding.

Vasco Dias: The carnage is beautiful!

{Gabriel Crosse gets to his feet and walks around the ring and sets up another table before crawling under the ring. A few seconds comes out carrying two metal bottles and a Zippo lighter. Grinning he lights the lighter and closes it a couple of time to let the entire world know exactly what he is thinking.}

Vasco Dias: There’s nothing in the rules about fire!

Teri Morasco: There aren’t any rules at all Vasco

{“The Nightmare Dragon” climbs to the top turnbuckle and begins to hose down the table. Patiently he waits for Gregor Winter to get back to a vertical base and stagger in his direction. When the “Modern Day Viking” is within striking distance he dropped the lighter engulfing the tables in flames and leaps from the top sending Winter crashing through the burning wood with a hurricanrana. The smell of burning hair fills the arena as Gregor rolls as fast as he can to put out the fire before he can seriously be burned.

James Knight gets back to a vertical base and tears in Johnny Somebody with a mix of European upper cuts and knife edge chops that has the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing from the rafters. The graduate of the IWF Performance Center desperately tries to escape the onslaught by Knight stops him by grabbing a handful of beard and then whipping the smaller man hard into the corner. Somebody hits the turnbuckles and stumbles back towards the center of the ring a few step only to be driven back with a shotgun dropkick. Johnny slumps to the mat half out of it, but James keeps on the attack with a running face wash.}

Teri Morasco: The tide of the match seems to be turning in the direction of The Brotherhood and The Church of Crosse needs to do something if they are going to continue to have jobs past tonight.

Vasco Dias: Don’t worry Lucipher will think of something. He’s said it hundreds of times Teri, he’s always three moves ahead of Nick and The Brotherhood.

{Jack Ferriman has been beaten to a bloody mess and Nick Knight signals that it was time for the end and he locks on the La La Land finisher. Blue Shoes moves into submission to look for the the tap or to call for the bell if “Disciple One” was to lost consciousness. A ruckus at the cage door distracts the senior official and he looks over to see a man wearing the black mast of The Church of Crosse taking out Tommy Knocker and using the key to unlock the cage door. The man climbs inside of the sell and pulls of his mask to reveal a very familiar face.}

Vasco Dias: It’s Jayson Matthews!

Teri Morasco: We have not seen Jayson in months, since he was brutally attacked by The Brotherhood to send a message to The Church of Crosse

Vasco Dias: Well it looks like Jayson is back to send a message to The Brotherhood

{Mathews makes a beeline for Gabriel Crosse and connects with a hard right that drops “The Nightmare Dragon.” “Disciple Two reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pair of handcuffs and quickly cuffs Crosse to the cell wall, before rolling into the ring and heading in the direction of “The Hollywood Butcher.” Jayson swings and misses giving Knight a chance to take out his former protege with a snap saito suplex. A set of brass knuckles goes sliding across the ring which Nick kicks to the floor.}

Teri Morasco: Just like that The Church of Crosse has a four on two advantage in this match.

Vasco Dias: I told you that Lucipher Crosse was three moves ahead of Nick Knight

{Nick yells to his baby brother to climb up onto the top rope as he he sets a trashcan up below. “The Real Bastard” cradles the head of Jayson Matthews between his knees and lifts him up for a piledriver. James comes off of the top and they drive the head of “Disciple Two” through the trashcan.}

Teri Morasco: A Spike Banned in Memphis through a trashcan. Jayson Matthews just might be dead.

Vasco Dias: Someone needs to get in there and check on him!

{Johnny Somebody is upright and stumbling across the ring with the barbed wire wrapped cricket bat in hand and bad intentions in his heart. “Uncle Jimmy” catches a glimpse of his out of the corner of his eye and and shoots across the canvas and takes down the smaller man with a football tackle. The bat goes scooting across the man, but James ignores it as he begins to rain down lefts and rights to the face of “Pocket Hercules.” The heavy punches are having an effect on Johnny as a massive mouse begins to form beneath his eye. “The Cancer” finally let up with the punches when his hands began to ache and looking around he saw the barbed wire wrapped rubber chicken within arms length. The crowd pops as he lifts it up and then begins to wash the face of Somebody with it. The pint sized brawler looks like he’s on the verge of submitting when the massive boot of Gregor Winter nearly knocks James Knight’s head from his shoulders.}

Teri Morasco: I can’t help but think that we have to be getting close to the end of this battle. I mean how much more can these six men put themselves through.

Vasco Dias: I have a feeling we’re about to see, because I don’t see any of them quitting as long as they have a breath in their bodies.

{The giant keeps on the attack trapping James’ arms and stomping on his head. Seeing that his baby brother was in dire straights. Nick Knight looks around the ring for something that he could use to help out and sees nothing but broken plunder. Rolling to the ring he find the very last untouched trashcan and begins to throw a fresh supply of weapons into the ring including a guitar, several cookie sheets, a frying pan, and a six pack of Foster’s Lager. Jumping back into the ring Nick grabs the guitar first and shatters it over the back of the head of Gregor Winter causing the man from Chicken to release his hold on James Knight and turn his attention towards Nick.}

Teri Morasco: This could be the end for The Brotherhood. Nick Knight has been in this match from the beginning and he has lost a lot of blood.

Vasco Dias: Not to mention the fact that Gregor Winter is quite simply the superior physical specimen.

{Nick can barely stand, but he throws away the broken neck of the guitar and tells Gregor Winter to come and get some. A giant smile on his face the former Marine charges at his former teacher and right into a big right hand that buckles his knees. There is an explosion of one dollar coins as Winter collapses to the canvas. Blue Shoes quickly checks on the big man but stands and nods that is somehow still conscious.

Knight falls back against the ropes absolutely exhausted from the battle. It is plain to his see that his legs are like rubber and he is in danger of just falling over. That is when Jack Ferriman armed with a pair of cookie sheets charges at him and Nick does the only thing that he possibly could grabbed a hold of the top rope and fell, sending Ferriman falling to the floor.}

Teri Morasco: There is not a single man left standing!!!

Vasco Dias: Blue Shoes should just give the win to The Church of Crosse since Jack Feriman was the last man standing.

{The camera takes a shot of Lucipher Crosse out on the floor and he is dangling a key in front of his younger brother and talking smack. Out of nowhere Itami hits Lucipher Crosse with a spinning heel kick that knocks him out and she hands the handcuff key to “The Nightmare Dragon.”}

Teri Morasco: What did I just see?

Vasco Dias: That little bitch just turned on The Church! I knew I didn’t like her for some reason!

{Gabriel Crosse hurries and unlocks the handcuffs and climbs into the ring. A battle worn Johnny Somebody stumbles towards him with a frying pain in hand. Crosse’s face is caked with dried blood while fresh blood flows from wounds in the head of Johnny Somebody. The arena has gone silent, everyone seems to be afraid to even breath because they know that this has to be the end of the match.

Johnny swings the pan hard at Gabe’s head, but the fresher man is easily able to dodge the blow. He swings a second time and Crosse easily dodges and this time he lashes out with a round house kick to the sternum of the smaller athlete. Johnny crumbles to one knee the pan slipping from his hand and falling to the blood stained canvas. “The Nightmare Dragon” locks on a Dragon Sleeper and Johnny tries his hardest to escape, but the exhaustion overtakes him and Blue Shoes calls for the bell.}

Alison Valance: You winner of Civil War The Brotherhood!!!

Vasco Dias: No! This can’t be!

Teri Morasco: The Church of Crosse is now and forever banned from IWF after losing one of the bloodiest battles we have seen in a very long time.

------------------------------------
SEGMENT
------------------------------------

{ We find Caroline Machado chilling out inside an empty office suite, sipping on a battle of peach tea with her friend and former classmate Mandy Prescott. Mandy, wearing a lanyard with a badge that reads “V.I.P. VISITOR,” smiles from ear to ear as she works on eating a mandarin orange. }

Mandy Prescott: Thank you, Caroline, for giving me the grand tour backstage!

Caroline Machado: D’awww...no biggie-biggie!

{ Caroline smiled. }

Mandy Prescott: I...I don’t know if this whole ‘wrestling’ thing would be a great fit for me, though. As much as I love being at the Academy and training with you, I think...I should stick with the university route!

{ Mandy chuckled as Caroline patted her on the back. }

Caroline Machado: I understand. You have to follow your own heart!

{ Mandy nodded. }

Mandy Prescott: So...have you got the timing of your new move down?

Caroline Machado: I...I don’t know if I’ll hit it or not…

Mandy Prescott: It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you love this sport, that you love life! Look around you...a lot of people thought this was a joke. Nobody’s laughing now…

{ Mandy gives Caroline a big hug before making her exit. }

Mandy Prescott: Win or lose, Fiona wanted me to tell you that she, JJ, and Rob all believe in you.

{ Mandy leaves the room, leaving Caroline to resume her meditation. }

------------------------------------

HEIRESS TO THE THRONE SEMI FINALS
Tara Fenix vs Caroline Machado
------------------------------------

{Every light throughout the arena flickers out while the crowd gives a premature cheer; when the beginning of “The Eagle Flies Alone” begins to play, a blue spotlight comes in at the same sequence and is shining at the curtain which gets the crowd riled up further. The cheers that The Phoenix Queen is receiving from the audience is outweighing anyone in the crowd that opposes her. The sound of the fog machines can be heard going off heavily as the stage soon fills with fog. The lights in the arena are coming back up creating a blue hue and just as the chorus kicks in, the crowd lets out a huge roar when they finally see Tara Fenix emerge from behind the curtain.}

I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the powers that be!

{Tara is standing at the top of the stage wearing one of her designed jackets, and the hood pulled over her head. She is carrying a flagpole with a flag attached; she takes a moment to scan the crowd and see the number of her supporters and soon she raises the flag and waves it back and forth several times and the cameras do their own scan over the crowd and can see a number of people raising the same logo that is on the banner. The Age of the Phoenix. Tara continues to wave the banner for a few more seconds before holding it straight up and bringing the pole down to tap it against the stage and finally slings the pole over her shoulder while marching down to the ring. Some of the fans stretch their hands out for her, and she walks to one side with her arm held out slightly; however, her eyes remain locked on the ring. When she reaches the bottom of the ramp she goes to the nearby steel steps and quickly ascends. She stops for a moment and carefully attaches her own flagpole to the steel post where the Age of the Phoenix banner will be for the duration of the match.}

I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the pοwers that be!
The eagle flies alone!

{After securing the flagpole to the ring pole, she takes two steps on the apron before sliding forward and down onto one knee; her head and eyes scan the crowd again while the crowd is chanting her name. She finally crawls between the middle and bottom ropes then charges to the far corner and as she lands on the second rope, she pulls her hood back and lets her arms go out with her palms up. She holds the pose for several seconds, then does a one-eighty off of the second rope to land back on her feet; she runs to the opposite end where the flagpole is, and repeats the process but this time holds the banner out for all to see the symbol. She does another one-eighty, lands inside the ring, and takes off her jacket while waiting for the match to begin.}

Terri Morasco: Here it comes! The second semi-final match of Heiress to the Throne!

Vasco Dias: Get ready for World War III!

"Her ongoing mission...to boldly go where no one has gone before..."

{ The voice of Sir Patrick Stewart echoes throughout the arena before Dua Lipa's "Levitating" begins to blare. A blast a pyro goes off as Caroline Machado heads out to the stage, dancing to the beat of the tune while sporting a brief, but warmhearted grin on her face. }

"(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

I got you, moonlight, you're my starlight
I need you, all night
Come on, dance with me
(I'm levitating)
You, moonlight, you're my starlight
I need you, all night
Come on, dance with me
(I'm levitating)"

{ The Brazilian shimmies and twirls down the ramp, often stopping to give some lucky fans a hug or two. Her motion is fluid as she makes her way down to the ring, again dancing to the beats. }

"You can fly away with me tonight
You can fly away with me tonight
Baby, let me take you for a ride
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I'm levitating)
You can fly away with me tonight
You can fly away with me tonight
Baby, let me take you for a ride
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)..."

{ The lights fade out to a rotating green and yellow hue, with Caroline continuing to dance and pose for the cheering crowd. Eventually, the lights come back on as she gets into her MMA fighting position and waits for the match to start. }

Vasco Dias: Tell ya what, if you’d told me that this kid was gonna be in this position after nearly eleven months?! I’d have laughed at you!

Terri Morasco: Caroline has, undoubtedly, earned her spot here!

[DING!]

{ This match was a war -- one of skills and one of attrition -- that lasted for nearly an hour! Tara dominated for what seemed to be around the first twenty minutes, Tara hit Caroline with just about everything in her common arsenal, from a gamut of various suplexes and armbars to martial arts kicks that targeted mainly the Brazilian’s ribs and legs, but Fenix couldn’t seem to put her opponent away! Yet as the match time reached 21:00, the tide suddenly turned in Caroline’s favor! Caroline, using her brand of mixed martial arts from ground ‘n’ pound forearms to her own variety of suplexes and Brazilian jiu-jitsu throws, also couldn’t put Tara down for a three-count! As we hit 42:30, the contest soon turned into a war of wills and attrition, with neither woman gaining a direct advantage over the other! One of Tara’s big highlights came about when she had Caroline locked in her patented trademark submission move, the figure-four leglock dubbed as the first iteration of the Phoenix Lock! }

Terri Morasco: Tara’s got Caroline locked in!

Vasco Dias: This could be the end right here!!

{ Blue Shoes checks for a tap, but Caroline stubbornly refuses to give in as Tara cranks up the hold! Machado, with something inside her soul, manages to keep on fighting the hold...eventually making it to the bottom strand and holding onto it, forcing a break! Tara stands up pissed, stalks Caroline, and tries to go for her ex’s famed Genocide Kick...but the Brazilian springs to life, ducking underneath the kick and PLASTERING Tara to the deck with her signature Service Ace RKO!! }

Vasco Dias: OH!!

Terri Morasco: Ace de serviço!!

Vasco Dias: Major upset right here!!

{ Caroline goes for the pin… }

1…!

2…!!

THREEEEEEEEAWWWWWWW…!!!!

{ Caroline sighs, shaking her head as Blue Shoes holds up the dreaded two fingers! Both women are exhausted, looking like they’ve just gone through a cycle-and-a-half inside a washing machine! As the sweat pours down both bodies, Caroline and Tara head towards opposite corners in order to plan out the next move -- knowing one wrong calculation could be fatal! Without warning, Tara charges forward and attempts to hit Caroline with a wild haymaker, but Machado ducks underneath and sends Fenix crashing chest-first into the turnbuckles! With whatever energy she has left in the tank, Caroline runs and flips Tara head over heels with a reverse hurracanrana, BUT…Tara somehow manages to squirm out of the back control position! Before Caroline knew anything ever happened, she wound up on the business end of Tara’s cobra clutch slam and triangle choke cimbination! }

Vasco Dias: TPT!!

Terri Morasco: This is it!!!

{ Caroline tries with all of her might to resist the hold, but Tara keeps pounding away with forearms! Blue Shoes checks for a submission, and at 52:30, Machado has little choice but to wave her arms -- prompting the zebra to call for the bell! }

[DING-DING-DING!!!]

{ “The Eagle Flies Alone” plays once more as Tara makes a quick exit! }

Vasco Dias: Wow...what a war! What a match!!!

Terri Morasco: Tara moves into the finals, but she had to pull everything out of the hat in order to get there!!

------------------------------------

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
SINGLES MATCH

Ulf Hednir (C) vs Warren Kane
------------------------------------

{The lights go out and the snow steady beat of New Divide by Linkin Park plays and the crowd gives a good cheer for Warren Kane as he emerges from behind the curtains wearing a simple leather jacket, with his hands at his hips and a smile on his face. He then heads towards the ring, stopping to touch hands with members of the crowd before stopping in front of the ring. Closes his eyes, takes a breath before jumping up onto the apron, climbing the turnbuckle on the outside and raising his arms in the air getting a positive reaction from the crowd. The music dies down and the lights return to normal as he drops into the ring.}

Vasco Dias: The challenger is in the ring and looking to have the fight for his life. This would make him a two-time World Champion, and you have to imagine that he would really like to be able to close out his year with the belt.
Terri Morasco: This one has MATCH OF THE NIGHT written all over it, which we’ve already seen so many classics! This one has MATCH OF THE YEAR written all over it for next year!

{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 Ulf is out here now! I can’t believe what we are about to witness. And I cannot wait!
Vasco Dias: Ulf, much like Warren, is looking to end the year with the title in their hands!

{Warren and Ulf stand across the ring from each other as the crowd is already going into a frenzy. Their alternating chants of, “Let’s go Warren!” and “SKÅL!” are absolutely deafening while the champion and challenger are basking in it for a moment. Thirty seconds pass before Warren and Ulf lock eyes; Ulf gestures toward the crowd with his head while sharing inaudible words with Warren from how loud the crowd is. Warren’s lips can easily be read: “Let’s do it!” He calls out to Ulf, and the bell sounds; moments later, both of them are charging toward each other with the crowd breaking off from the chants, and just bursting into a loud roar.}

Vasco Dias: I can’t hear myself think!
Terri Morasco: Warren is finally getting his rematch for the belt, and Ulf is looking to solidify his reign! This is going to be amazing!

{Ulf and Warren clinch, but Ulf is pushing Warren back against the corner. Ulf attempts to break from the clinch to get in some strikes, but Warren wisely holds the clinch; after a few more attempts, Blue Shoes has no choice but to call for the break… Ulf and Warren both nod as Ulf does let go and backs away with his arms in the air. Warren meets him back near the center of the ring as the two transition into a fighting stance, and Blue Shoes calls for the action to commence a second time! Ulf charges forward to go for another clinch, but Warren is able to circle around and catch him around the waist and tries to go for a quick German Suplex; Ulf is able to keep himself grounded and grabs both of Warren’s hands and power him off… After getting his arms from around him, Ulf spins to go for a backfist, but Warren is able to duck and begins firing with some knife edge chops that battle the champion back against the ropes. Ulf tries to fire in with a few strikes of his own only for Warren to successfully evade or counter all of his strikes and continues firing away with knife edge chops getting the reactionary “woo” from the crowd, and turning Ulf’s chest into a bright red.}

Terri Morasco: Warren Kane has come out and is ready to lay it all out!
Vasco Dias: The offense from Warren is strong, but those knife edge chops are only slowly chopping away at Ulf. It’s going to take a lot more work, and it looks like Warren is sending him off to the ropes, but Ulf reverses!

{Near the center of the ring, Ulf was able to reverse the Irish-whip. During Warren’s rebound, Ulf fires for a clothesline only for Warren to duck under it and hit the opposite ropes to which Ulf is telegraphing him and goes for another clothesline but Warren ducks it a second time… Warren hits the ropes a third time, and comes flying back with a front dropkick! The impact knocks Ulf back, but not down, as he saves himself on the ropes. Before he can take advantage over having the standing position over a downed Warren, Warren springs to his feet and is already advancing against Ulf. Ulf fires with a shoulder to Warren’s jaw which hits the mark, and then he goes for a standing clothesline; Warren ducks under it, and catches Ulf this time to muster the power to lift Ulf and drop him with a back suplex!}

Vasco Dias: Warren connects with a beautiful back suplex, and it looks like he’s trying to end it early by knocking the wind out of him. He keeps the bridge held, and Blue Shoes counts. But Ulf kicks out at one!
Terri Morasco: It’s too early.
Vasco Dias: True, but he’s forcing Ulf to expend some energy, and Ulf still hasn’t gotten much offense in.

{Warren wastes no time in getting to his feet, as Ulf is a little slower on the draw; the crowd is chanting: “Let’s go, Warren!” as loud as they can. Ulf is able to get to one knee when Warren fires a kick at him! Ulf deflects the kick, but Warren fires for a second; deflected! A third; deflected! A fourth; CAUGHT! Ulf stands up and shakes his head at Warren a few times before taking him down with a dragon screw, keeping the leg held and begins to go for the single leg crab… But Warren kicks Ulf a few times in succession; this doesn’t stop Ulf from turning him over into the hold, and Warren manages to get his leg free and roll Ulf up!}

ONE!
T–Ulf kicks out before the count of two!

{Ulf rolls backward back to his knees, and up to one, just as Warren does get back to his own. Warren is the first to charge and goes for a running knee. Ulf evades it. He quickly gets back to his feet; Warren hits the ropes just as Ulf gets to his feet, and Ulf springs off with one leg to fire for The THOR PUNCH! Warren hooks both of his arms around the ropes to stop his momentum and cause Ulf to hit air.}

Terri Morasco: Warren almost got caught!
Vasco Dias: That would have likely sealed the match right there, because Ulf went for it out of nowhere. But Ulf is going forward now and starting to throw some strikes but Warren gets his arms up and is perfectly defending. Look at how he’s trying to weave his way in and out, but he’s absorbing most of those shots but how long is he going to hold up? Ulf’s strength is going to wear him down. But Warren finally fires back!

{Warren fires in with a jab that startles Ulf, and causes him a delay. The two now begin exchanging strikes with each other; a series of punches, elbows, knees, and kicks that each one is firing but neither man getting enough power to do any serious damage out of it… They begin to transition into holds and suplexes, and for each one that lands, is never enough to keep the other down long enough for a cover. The series goes on for roughly five minutes before Warren connects with a back elbow against Ulf as he looks to continue with the advantage. The time of the match is currently at 15:23. Ulf staggers back toward the ropes and Warren charges for a clothesline but the champion is able to use a biel throw Warren over the top rope and he crashes outside of the ring!}

Vasco Dias: Warren is outside of the ring, and looks like he’s just trying to recover.
Terri Morasco: But look at Ulf inside of the ring. Look at the look in his eyes! This crowd is cheering! They know what’s coming!

{Ulf is looking at Warren, who is stirring outside of the ring, and points to the opposite end of the ring indicating that he is looking to fly. The crowd roars out with a mighty “SKÅL!” cheer and Warren gets to his feet; Ulf charges at the opposite ropes, and rebounds off of them; Warren turns to face Ulf, and Ulf leaps over the top rope! He connects with the suicide dive over the top rope, and lands back on his feet as Warren crashes backward into the barricade!

The crowd lets out a huge cheer for Ulf as he taunts the crowd and is getting them riled up and rally behind him.}

Terri Morasco: The Ulfpack is going crazy!
Vasco Dias: But he can’t let-up now, and it looks like he knows it… Warren still hasn’t been able to recover after crashing against the barricade, but it looks like Ulf is going to press the attack.

{Ulf grabs Warren by the head and pulls him up to his feet, firing in with an uppercut to keep him staggered. Warren shakes his head after the impact, trying to shake the cobwebs; Ulf gets him into a front headlock, and Warren manages to charge Ulf backward and into the barricade! The barricade looks like it’s going to topple over, but Ulf falls to a seated position, and Warren has him in a closed guard.}

Terri Morasco: Warren is a gifted striker, but you have to remember that Ulf is MMA.
Vasco Dias: But Ulf is dazed after the back of his head hit that barricade, so Warren definitely has a good chance of keeping the advantage in his favor.

{With Warren on top, he begins to rain down with a few shots as Ulf tries to block them with his arm. Blue Shoes inside of the ring is calling for them to get into the ring; he doesn’t want to commit to the ten-count, but after how much time has passed, he finally does! The crowd chants along with Blue Shoes. Warren turns to see Blue Shoes inside of the ring and now knows that he has to get Ulf inside of the ring. The title cannot change hands on a count out. Warren fires for an elbow that decks Ulf on the jaw, then brings in a few more. Blue Shoes is up to four when Warren finally stands up and grabs Ulf by the head to pull him up to his feet. Warren is dragging Ulf toward the ring in a side headlock…

The count is up to six. Ulf shoves Warren off and Warren collides with the steel post! Seven!}

Vasco Dias: All Ulf has to do is keep Warren out of the ring, and–
Terri Morasco: Ulf is not going to want to win like that!

{Eight! Ulf moves forward, and grabs Warren by the head… NINE! Ulf slides Warren back into the ring, and TE–ULF SLIDES INTO THE RING! Ulf returning to the ring earns a huge roar, but Ulf immediately goes for the cover: One! TWO! Warren is able to kick out of it! Ulf gets up and looks a little disappointed, but not surprised, that he did not get the three-count; he leans down to grab Warren and starts to pull him up, but Warren rolls Ulf into an inside cradle…}

Vasco Dias: Inside cradle! Warren is looking to sneak this one away!

{One! TWO! Thr–ULF KICKS OUT! Both challenger and champion are up to their feet, but Ulf is just a millisecond faster at getting to his feet; Warren moves forward but Ulf telegraphs everything and manages to lift him up and slam him down with the BERSERKER BULLDOZER! The crowd lets out a huge pop as Ulf rolls Warren up and this is all but over: One! TWO! THR–WARREN KICKS OUT!}

Vasco Dias: Blue Shoes needs to speed up that cadence because that should have been three!
Terri Morasco: The cadence was perfect! Warren kickd out!

{Ulf is surprised, but he doesn’t hesitate in getting to his feet and bringing Warren up with him… Warren is able to counter the grapple with a ‘SPLOSION! Warren now rolls over and hooks Ulf’s leg: ONE! TWO! THR–ULF POWERS OUT!}

Vasco Dias: This is getting too close!

{Ulf rolls over onto his side after the suplex, and is starting to crawl toward the ropes to use them to get himself back to a standing position. Warren is able to get up on his own as he is heaving for some fresh oxygen… Ulf, now standing, turns toward Warren and fires for a CLOTHESLINE FROM VALHALLA! But Warren ducks! Warren is able to spring off the second rope and come back to connect with a knee that hits Ulf’s skull! As Warren goes down, he looks to make the cover, but Ulf reaches an arm up and gets him into a front headlock; Ulf starts to get Warren locked with a grapevine, putting Warren in a bad position… Warren struggles for as long as he can, scrambling and just when it looks like Ulf may have the hold locked in; Warren gets his foot on the ropes! Blue Shoes calls for the break!}

Terri Morasco: It was almost over right there, and Ulf did well in stopping Warren’s momentum.
Vasco Dias: Ulf lets go without incident, but he is looking to keep the pressure on Warren… Both of them look like they are getting winded, and rightly so, we are almost thirty minutes into this match!

{Warren uses the ropes to pull himself to his feet, wobbling on his feet… Ulf is able to get up to his feet this time on his own, and the two begin exchanging blows with each other! Each shot from the other forces the other to stagger. The alternating chants from the crowd are giving them each a second wind as the striking is going back and forth at a faster pace. Ulf connects with an uppercut as Warren is firing for his own strike that seems to knock him out on his feet… he slouches forward into Ulf, and Ulf sends him into the corner and follows in with a Stinger Splash! He takes Warren’s arm to send him to the opposite ropes and follows in with a second Stinger Splash, but then doesn’t hesitate in charging against the ropes and coming back for THE THOR PUNCH!}

Vasco Dias: THOR! NO!

{Warren Kane is able to avoid the punch a second time but falls on the mat; he rolls over onto his back as Ulf is going toward him and Warren counters with a scissor leg sweep! Warren gets to his feet and hits the ropes as Ulf is getting up and goes for the KIDD KICK!}

Terri Morasco: Kidd Kick coming in! AND!

{Ulf moves!}

Terri Morasco: He misses!

{Ulf, now to his feet, goes at the ropes and comes back just as Warren has recovered and faced him; Ulf goes for the CLOTHESLINE FROM VALHALLA! Annnd… IT CONNECTS!}

CROWD: SKÅL!

{The roar from the crowd as Ulf now hits the mat with a closed fist and is looking for Warren to stand up… Warren gets to his feet after about fifteen seconds, still aching from the clothesline; he glances around to try to see Ulf, and as he stumbles back, he has no time to react as Ulf leaps and fires with THE THOR PUNCH! It connects! And Ulf falls over Warren Kane, hooking the leg!}

Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE!

{The bell sounds, and Ulf is getting his arm raised while “Raise Your Horns” is playing over the PA. Ulf struggles to get to his feet, and lets Blue Shoes hold his arm up momentarily with his belt handed to him and held high over his head; he finally leans down to help Warren Kane to his feet who is still hurting from the Thor Punch… He holds his jaw. Ulf drapes the belt over his own shoulder while holding a hand out for Warren, who accepts the handshake.}

Vasco Dias: What a fight! Warren Kane and Ulf Hednir laid it all on the line, but the champion prevailed in what was one of his toughest fights to date.

Terri Morasco: And this crowd is still going into an absolute frenzy! We saw a lot of great matches, and our next event will be the diamond exclusive DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER! Thank you for tuning in, everybody and we will see you next time!

{Show comes to a close.}

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Sabin / Madjinn: I hereby request a notion that the TV championship records be retired, and thus, the Gladiators Championship starts anew! That way J-TV will never break my record! Jun 10, 2024 17:11:47 GMT

J-TV: It's gonna be a cold day in hell before you take this TV Title away from me. I bet I look damned good with two belts though. Jun 10, 2024 10:02:08 GMT