______ __ __ | __ \.----.-----.---.-.| |--.-----.--.--.| |_ | __ <| _| -__| _ || <| _ | | || _| |______/|__| |_____|___._||__|__|_____|_____||____| LEGACY-Pro Arena >-< December 19th, 2015 [As we dissolve through the opening sequence for Breakout to "Roots" by Imagine Dragons, L-PRO Arena is on its collective feet once again. The excitement in the air is building as usual, with several pans around the arena with lots of excited fans ready to explode. The LEGACY Pro logo is draped all over the place, banners hanging from the rafters and covering each side of the ring apron, which is black with the canvas of the ring a slate grey color. White ropes and black ringposts complete the look, as the camera up on the jib arm flies overhead and over the heads of the fans down at ringside.] AM: Welcome everyone to L-PRO BREAKOUT! We're back for our third episode, and this promises to be another huge night of- [Of course Amy is interupted in mid-sentence by the lights dimming and a spotlight falling onto the top of the entrance ramp as Midnight Gypsie's hard rocking cover of "Girl From Ipanema" plays over the PA. HUGE BOOS!] AM: Just... Great. Now we can't even go two minutes without seeing this idiot. SS: Now come on, Amy. They've promised a big annou-OH MY SWEET MERCIFUL LORD! [Sam's excitement has EXPLODED because five lovely young women in small metallic gold colored bikinis with "Cherry Cola" logos on the back of the bottoms are walking out to the ring holding title belts above their heads in a parade of championships. The crowd is no longer booing either. HOT LADIES POP! The bikini clad championship parade is followed by the all too familiar trio of "Up All Night" Pablo O'Connor, dressed in an expensive white suit with a gold colored tie and black shoes, his wife and manager Stephanie Delacroix, decked out in a white dress suit with a large gold colored briefcase in tow and gold colored shoes, and their massive wall of a bodyguard, Kobus deVries, dressed in his usual charcoal & cherry suit, tie & sunglasses get up. KdV carries a fabric covered object in his hands. The bikini clad women surround the ringside area, holding up the UWF Unified Telivision Championship belt, the UWF Rampage Championship belt, the UWF Meltdown Championship belt, the Cherry Cola World Heavyweight Championship belt and the International Fighting Championship belt. Sam's eyes are bugging out as he takes in all the eye candy.] SS: Thank You, OH MIGHTY LEGACY CROWN CHAMPION, for these visions you have given me tonight and for later as I replay this over and over on demand! AM: Calgon take me away. Calgon take me away! SS: HOW OLD are you? [O'Connor and Delacroix climb onto the ring apron and motion to KdV who holds open the ring ropes for them as they enter the ring. The behemoth follows in after them while the married couple share a quick kiss and a devious smile in the ring. BOOOS!] SS: Scantily clad women, this crowd will cheer for, but a little PDA from a married couple they boo. They should be ashamed of themselves. AM: I can't wait for this to be over. SS: Hey! You need to be fair, Amy. AM: Are you really saying that to me?! SS: Yes! These guys have promised history every episode and every episode so far they have delivered. With that kind of track record even you should be interested in what history making announcement they could be about to drop on the world tonight. AM: Maybe. SS: AND... LOOK AT THE BABES! [Marshall lets out a long frustrated sigh while Delacroix gets a microphone and hands it to her husband.] POC: The entire world and social media have been BUZZING about hashtag the L-Crown! [Pablo motions to all the women around the ringside area holding up the five belts that currently comprise the Legacy Crown amidst loud BOOS.] POC: Reports of our big announcement tonight have been trending the world over on every social media brand so, with that in mind, let's cut to the chase and get right to it, shall we?! [BOOS! O'Connor flashes a cocky smile before continuing.] POC: So far we have made history every time we have come out here for you people but the time has come to take it all up a notch! Tonight we unveil the brightest jewel of the Legacy Crown yet to date! [Pablo raises a hand in the air.] POC: Chase Williams! Bryan Young! Rob Cole! Rick Marley! Gibson Hayes! Johnny Detson! All of these six of these men have one thing in common. See there was this promotion out of Phoenix, Arizona... [A little rumbling from the crowd gives way to a loud NO WAY POP!] AM: No. He... He can't be serious. [O'Connor and Delacroix smile at each other as the crowd reacts to the insinuation.] POC: A promotion that for their brief run in the sun, RULED the world of professional wrestling! They beat Toronto! They beat Texas! They beat Bastard Texas! They beat EVERYONE in the fans' eyes! This was the biggest promotion around but.. They burned too bright and the flame went out. [Some fans BOO but more fans begin a chant: "P-V-W! P-V-W! P-V-W! P-V-W!" "P-V-W! P-V-W! P-V-W! P-V-W!" "P-V-W! P-V-W! P-V-W! P-V-W!" Delacroix and O'Connor nod their heads with the chants.] AM: I feel so bad for these fans. SS: Why? AM: There is NO way this guy could have gotten his hands on that belt. He's hyping something up he can not deliver. It's all to pull the rug out from under everyone and say he got the HUGE Championship or some made up title or something. [Pablo chuckles.] POC: I happen to be good friends with their last champion, the original Mister Hollywood himself, Johnny Detson. [DETSON POP!] POC: I got in touch with him and I proposed doing wrestling fans the world over a big favor. Let's bring the PVW World Heavyweight Championship BACK! [BIG POP!] AM: No. No. No. SS: Wow! They're gonna' bring it back! AM: No they aren't. I'm telling you. This... All impossible. SS: Why don't you want the fans to have nice things, Amy? [O'Connor's smile deflates and he puts on a grimmer expression.] POC: But see.. Johnny Detson is a very busy man. [A dissapointed rumble quiets the crowd some.] AM: I knew it! SS: Aw man. AM: I told you so! [Delacroix and O'Connor nod their heads sadly.] POC: Between Hollywood, television and Texas.. Johnny Detson did not have the time to show up here in Toronto and have a sporting contest to bring the PVW World Heavyweight Championship back from the dead. [More boos shower the scene in the ring.] SS: What a cruel tease! Anything he throws our way now will be a major letdown. AM: Good! Hopefully this is where interest in their act ends and they're shown the door soon. [Pablo nods his head at the boos.] POC: Johnny Detson is a busy man.. BUT... [He holds up an index finger in the air.] POC: He is also.. A businessman! [CONFUSED POP.] POC: He made a counter proposal. My Sweet and Sugar... [Motions to his wife.] POC: Had our people look into it. Was it legal? Was it possible? Would certain third parties sign off on it? [O'Connor nods at Delacroix who opens her gold briefcase and pulls out some documents that she hands to her husband.] POC: This is a contract. The details of which state that with the transfer of funds and with the signatures of all parties involved, HISTORY... Has been made. [ANTICIPATION POP!] SS: Wha-? What's he... AM: No... No, it.. It's not... [A growing smile creeps on O'Connor's face.] POC: This contract does more than just document the sale of a belt. It reactivates a beloved championship! It is basically a paid forfeiture to a championship match! Ladies and gentlemen.... I am the NEW... PHOENIX VALLEY WRESTLING... WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT... CHAMPION! [As the crowd LOSES IT'S [MEEP] Delacroix reaches over and pulls off the fabric from the object in KdV's arms to reveal the PVW World Heavyweight Championship! "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!" "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!" "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!"] SS: THEY DID IT! AMY, THEY DID IT! OH MY GOD THEY REALLY DID IT!! AM: OH COME ON! [O'Connor closes his eyes and puts his arms up in the air as his wife, with a CRAZED look in her eye and an equally deranged smile, straps the PVW World Heavyweight championship around her husband's waist.] SS: You said they couldn't deliver the history making moment they were building up and they totally have, Amy! AM: ARRRRRGHH! [Pablo opens his eyes as he looks down at the belt strapped around his waist and he flashes a cocky smile.] POC: Take notes, chumps! That is how you make history! You acquire the biggest, shiniest jewel to date to add to the Legacy Crown! [HUGE BOOS with mixed HEEL POP!] POC: And we're going to make history all over again because next time we are going to make the first ever DEFENSE of the L-Crown right here on Breakout! So be there or be square because HISTORY... AWAITS! [The hard rocking cover of "Girl From Ipanema" blasts over the PA as Pablo drops to one knee and throws his arms into the air. The bikini clad ladies climb into the ring and one by one drape the other five championship belts in the L-Crown over the shoulder and arms of the "Up All Night" while Delacroix applauds.] SS: This is INCREDIBLE! AM: NO! This is absolutely the WORST thing they have done so far! [The bikini clad women gather around KdV who remains stoic, betraying no enjoyment at this, while Delacroix drapes herself over her belt ladened husband and the duo kiss PASSIONATELY to everyone's disgust!] SS: Aren't you being a touch hyperbolic right now, Amy? AM: No, I'm not, Sam! What these two have done goes above and beyond making a mockery and farce of our sport. They have DESECRATED the proud heritage and memories of a beloved promotion by BUYING their hands onto the PVW World Heavyweight Championship! It goes against every single thing our sport has been built on! [Delacroix runs her hands over the PVW World title belt lustfully while O'Connor grins like they're putting on a Stan The Man and Sugar show for the crowd.] AM: What these two are doing is NOT funny! What they have done is DANGEROUS! They are DESTROYING the integrity of our sport and of the legacies that this promotion is founded upon! Whomever is challenging for the L-Crown next time has the responsibility of the entire professional wrestling world upon their shoulders to free these beloved championships and legacies from the STAIN of these wreckless, unethical jerks! SS: Nah, you're not overreacting at all, are you? [The show opening round of pyro explodes over the ringside area, as another larger banner drops that also bears the L-PRO logo. Of course Pablo's contingent acts like it's all for them as they leave the ringside area, and we swing up up towards the entrance stage area and the video wall. The small ramp leads up to the slightly elevated stage, as spotlights swirl all over it. Another cut brings us to the announcer position to the left of the stage, at which sits Amy Marshall and Sam Steeley behind a large black desk with monitors and iPad stations in front of them. To say the least, Amy has a look of pained frustration on her face.] AM: Welcome to the show everyone, I wish we were starting off under better circumstances but as you've just seen, Pablo O'Connor has somehow managed his largest coup to date, incorporating the PVW Heavyweight Championship into his vanity Legacy Crown. SS: Is it really just a vanity thing when he's got lineages like that? AM: YES! Because he didn't win a damn thing, he paid for the title. And that doesn't make him a champion of anything but narcissism. SS: Sooner or later you're just gonna have to realize much like Donald Trump or the Kardashians, that this is happening. AM: Ugh. Well at this point all we can do is just keep on moving with the show and try to forget we ever saw that. SS: Speak for yourself. AM: We received word from L-PRO management this week, that after the events on the last edition of Breakout, both "Doomsayer" Kyle Lee and Serge Annis have been banned from the company. The incident prompted L- PRO to look into legal options, but what we can tell you for now is that both Lee and Annis have been barred from the building, and neither are here this week. SS: You're just trying to make me mad now, aren't you? AM: No, but it is a nice little bonus. And we'll be right back with our first action of the night, right after we hear from one of the men involved. [Cut to the backstage interview location. Non-descript, with a simple logo affixed to the wall, standing in front of the camera is a young man in his early thirties, dressed in black tights with union jacks on each hip and an old faded t-shirt that reads "Sensation ROcking The Nation". His hair is shaved into a dark buzz cut, and there's a little stubble on his face.] JK: You may not know me, but you know my family. I come from a long line of winners, by way of Leeds, England. I'm Jamie Kidd, and for more than fifteen damn years I've been that 'other' member of the Kidd family. [Jamie sneers at the camera, shooting a look of disdain at the home audience.] JK: Alex Kidd was your world champion, your hero. Daniel Kidd was the one who made you laugh. Or get angry. But every time he came out to the ring he had something to prove, and more often than not he did just that. They both made their marks on this business, and that's what was expected of me when I began my own career. Call it unfair pressure, call it whatever you want, but from the very start I was looked at through a magnifying glass and every time I got a little bit of success, it was ripped away from me. From that dump in the London Docklands all those years ago to every other fly by night promotion, not one of them was worthy of me. So tonight, we do this again. ANOTHER introduction, ANOTHER first match. And who do I get? Some rookie who's not fit to shine my boots. Well that's fine. Elijah Little, I hope you're ready for this little wrestling camp fantasy of yours to come to an end because you're getting in the ring with wrestling royalty. When you're staring up at those lights after our match, remember what happens when you dare to dream. Those dreams turn into a nightmare. [Fade back into the ring, where Bill Chapman, L-PRO's ring announcer, is waiting.] __ ____ ____ ____ L / / / __ \/ __ \/ __ \ P / / _____/ /_/ / /_/ / / / /-------------------------- R / /__/____/ ____/ _, _/ /_/ / LEGACY PRO BREAKOUT O /_____/ /_/ /_/ |_|\____/---------------------------- DEBUT MATCH: Elijah Little versus "Sensation Rocking The Nation" Jamie Kidd ----------------------------------------------------------- BC: Ladies and gentleman, the following contest is your first match of the night, and is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Leeds, England, weighing in at two hundred and twelve pounds... "THE SENSATION ROCKING THE NATION" JAAAAAAAMIIIIIIIE KIDDDDDDDDDDDD! ["No One Is Innocent" by the Sex Pistols comes over the speakers, and as the crowd begins to boo Jamie Kidd emerges from the locker rooms, with a nasty expression on his face as he yells back at the crowd. Strutting down the ramp to the ringside area he deftly slides onto the apron, and swings under the bottom rope while rolling to his feet. Approaching Chapman, he has something to say to the ring announcer and comes close to poking him in the chest. Whatever it is, Bill doesn't look that pleased as he raises the mic again.] BC: Ladies and gentleman, I've just been informed that I was incorrect in my previous announcement. Please welcome, in the ring at this time... "THE NEW NIGHTMARE" JAMIE KIDD! AM: You've got to be kidding me. It takes a lot to make Daniel Kidd look less like the black sheep of the family. I've known Jamie for years, and I don't understand this change of attitude from him. SS: It took a while but I guess little Jamie finally done grown up. BC: And his opponent! [Kidd climbs the ropes and stands facing the entrance as he tears the shirt off his body, the one bearing his old nickname and tosses it aside with a smirk on his face. "Strong Will Continue" by Nas and Damien Marley picks up over the arena speakers, to a mild pop!] BC: From Rochester, New York, weighing in at one hundred and eighty pounds... ELIIIIIIIIJAAAAAAAAAAAAAH LIIIIIIIIIIIITTLLLLLLLLLLLLE! [Elijah stands in place for a short while during the opening to his theme, as spotlights center on him from either side. His head is bowed and he remains still, preparing himself for the fight to come.] AM: I have to admit I'm very curious to see this man's debut, having talked to him earlier today he's very much a fan of the business as much as he is a wrestler. Elijah Little is something special. SS: And he makes you feel old, doesn't he? AM: ... yes. [With sudden rush he bursts forward full of energy at the same time as the lighting returns to normal, running quickly to the ring with just enough extra time spent to allow any children near the entrance aisle to reach out and slap his hand. As Elijah slides into the ring, a small box drops down from the corner of the screen and takes over about half the space there, allowing us to watch both pre-recorded comments from Mr. Little while we also see him live in the ring, getting ready for the match. This bit of production is timed perfectly, as nothing of particular interest is happening in the ring while the comments are shown, Elijah mostly just energetically pacing back and forth and sending out some thanks to the fans as he finishes getting stretched out. In the recorded section, he's standing in his ring gear in front of a basic blue backdrop, a confident grin on his face.] EL: I'm about to step into the ring with a veteran with the last name Kidd, in front of hundreds, thousands of fans, in my national television debut. Any man would be nervous, and I'm not gonna lie to you - I'm feeling those butterflies in the stomach. But I also made a promise to all the Little Guys out there, that I'd fight for them with everything I have. [Little rubs his hands together in anticipation, a small plume of talcum powder flying in the air as the palms connect.] EL: So here I am, on TV, in the ring with a member of the famous Kidd family. The nerves are tense, the air is full of electricity. And win, lose, or draw, you're about to see me give 110%. You're about to see a role model, a warrior who won't ever give up. Because I made a promise to the fans, to all the Little Guys... ...and I'm a man that keeps my word. [As the inset picture disappears we return to the live action. Elijah steps to the middle of the ring and offers his hand to his opponent. Kidd slaps it away in a fit of cocky display, and once the bell rings fakes out a lockup and boots Little in the stomach. Hammering him with closed fists against the back, a facelock allows Jamie to snap Elijah off his feet with a quick takeover suplex, and then tries for the first pin attempt. Elijah easily kicks out at one, but a forearm press against the face forces the rookie to scramble back to his feet while shaking it off. Another kick to the stomach keeps the favor with Kidd, who sends him into the ropes for a clothesline, followed by a heavy backbreaker. Little again finds himself having to scramble to his feet, but reverses an armbar and shoves the New Nightmare to the corner and tries to roll him up with momentum. But Kidd rolls through it and back to his feet, kicking Little square in the face with gusto.] SS: Damn! I'd say your rookie's getting his first taste of what it means to be embarrassed in there, Red. AM: The difference in experience between these two is huge, Sam, there's bound to be a learning curve. Jamie Kidd applies a standing chinlock, and drives his knee into the small of Little's back now. SS: On the bright side he's in the first match, his mom won't have to wait too long to pick him up and drive him home. [Hooking both arms from behind, Kidd worked Little back to his feet and attempts to set up for a dragon suplex, but Elijah blocks it with his leg and escapes with a hiptoss. A standing dropkick puts Kidd flat on his back instead, irritating the Brit and causing him to rush forward into a leg trip, and Elijah flips over into another pin attempt. This one gets two before Kidd escapes, and puts an end to the rush of offense with a thumb to the eye and a hard european uppercut combination before the referee can even admonish him for it. From there Little is again taken down with a backbreaker, stretched out across his opponent's knee with a hand firmly on his chin to stretch him out. Refusing to submit, Elijah struggles free only to take a jumping double knee right into the small of the back again, which is clearly where Kidd is focusing his attack on now. Sitting on said back now Jamie hooks on an inverted chinlock, pulling back and stretching out all the muscles as Little struggles to reach for the ropes, pulling himself slowly to the side of the ring where he manages to grab at them. As the crowd pops, Kidd releases the hold but again jumps up and drives his knee into the damaged back.] AM: Methodically working over Little now, Jamie Kidd living up to his family's reputation inside the ring. He also seems to have changed up his wrestling style, less of the aerial tactics that put him on the map originally. SS: Why bother with that when you can just cripple a guy? [Kidd drags Little back to his feet and sends him into the ropes, catching him on the rebound with an abdominal stretch and locks it in tightly. The look on Little's face is one of anguish, increased when Jamie reaches down and applies pressure by lifting up on one of his legs as well. Again he refuses to give up though, telling the official no when asked, and digs down deep to eventually escape after a couple of quick elbows against the face and then hiptosses Jamie over. Not quickly getting up, Kidd is able to beat him back to his feet and double underhooks him into a powerbomb for a near count again, but Elijah gets his shoulder off the mat in the nick of time. POP!] AM: See! I think there's more fight in this guy than you're giving him credit for! And it sounds like the crowd is firmly on his side here. SS: Great. I forgot this was signed as a handicap match, Kidd against Little AND the audience. Oh wait... [Kidd gets up and grabs Elijah by the head once more, scooping him up for a bodyslam. Weary, Little keeps on trying to come back and eats a forearm shiver and gets whipped into the ropes again. Ducking his head, Kidd goes for a huge backdrop that sends Little flying up into the air, but in an amazing display of agility manages to land on his feet behind him. Jamie spins around, and eats a superkick hard enough that sounds like a rifle blast and lays him out where he stands! Kidd crumples to the mat, knocked completely senseless by it as the crowd roars with cheers! "LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE!" "LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE!" "LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE! LIT-TLE!"] AM: MY GOD What a kick! That came from nowhere and just changed the complexion of this match! SS: Get up! Get up! [Shaking himself out of disbelief, Elijah grabs the dead weight that is Jamie Kidd right now and drags him towards the nearest corner. With a quick climb to the top rope he steadies himself, looking around as the crowd is ready to completely lose their minds... and leaps off into a high angled senton bomb, crashing down on top of Kidd.] AM: ELIJAH LITTLE HITS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE! Cover him! ONE! TWO! THREE! [Little hooks the leg to gain the pinfall, winning his first professional match in L-PRO and as soon as the bell rings begins to grin widely. His music hits and the crowd pops hugely, as slowly the victory gets back to his feet. Holding his arm raised in victory, Kidd has made no movement at all, still out cold.] BC: Here is your winner... ELLIIIIIJAHHHHH LITTLLLLLLLLLLLLLE! [Little goes around the ring, hi-fiving the fans as he does before heading up the aisle towards the entrance. Cut to the announce position, Amy with a bright smile on her face and Sam rolling his eyes at the whole thing.] AM: What a great win to start off the career of Elijah Little, this crowd seems like they're already embracing him! And how can you not, his story is so endearing. SS: I'll tell you how... AM: Unfortunately, we don't have time for that right now. Up next, we've got two tag teams looking to take another step towards the L-PRO tag team championship, with a tournament match between Greatness and the Smash Brothers. SS: That's like comparing a team that really sucks with another team that's legendary. AM: Don't try to strain yourself with analogies, Sam. Greatness has a resume that'd be the envy of every other team in L-PRO, without a doubt. But the Smash Brothers are products of the Keening School and incredibly well trained in their own right. I think this match is going to be far more competitive than you think it is. SS: It'd almost have to, because I don't think it's going to be competitive at all. Tyler Rose and Christopher Michaelson all the way, baby. AM: Well, this is why they actually hold the matches. Let's get back to the ring! __ ____ ____ ____ L / / / __ \/ __ \/ __ \ P / / _____/ /_/ / /_/ / / / /-------------------------- R / /__/____/ ____/ _, _/ /_/ / LEGACY PRO BREAKOUT O /_____/ /_/ /_/ |_|\____/---------------------------- TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT[ROUND ONE]: The Smash Brothers versus Greatness ----------------------------------------------------------- [George Thorogood hits the PA system with "Bad To The Bone" and the crowd jumps to its feet! POP!] BC: The following contest is set for one fall, and is an opening round match in the Legacy Tag Team Championship Tournament! From Syracuse, New York and Sturgis, North Dakota, at a total combined weight of 560 pounds, the team of "LIKE A BOSS" MICHAEL ROSS and "HELL'S ANGEL" DARRYL STEVENS... THEEEEEEEE SMAAAAAAASHHHHHHHH BRRRRRRRROOOOTHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSS! [Stevens and Ross emerge from the locker rooms, Stevens in his long trenchcoat and bandana looking like he'd be at home in a bar fight, Ross dressed in a singlet and jacket. Both are ready for the match, clapping hands along the aisleway as they head to the ring, sliding in underneath the ropes or in Darryl's case stepping over the top rope. As they do, the music fades away, replaced by "Chase" by Giorgio Moroder now as the crowd begins to boo loudly for the rhythmic number. BC: And their opponents! Making their way down the aisle, from Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada respectively, at a total combined weight of 454 pounds, the team of "EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE" CHRISTOPHER MICHAELSON and "PERSONIFICATION OF PERFECTION" TYLER ROSE... GREEEAAAAAAAAATNNNNNNNESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! [Out from the back struts Christopher Michaelson first, clad in his trademark robe and followed by Tyler Rose behind him. Both have cocky looks on their faces as they survey the ring where the Smash Brothers are waiting for them. One by one they enter the ring, keeping their distance from the other two men who are antsy to get going. The veterans take their time, in no rush and soaking in the negative reaction from the fans who absolutely do not like these two or have patience for the world renowned team. Before very long, words are exchanged between the teams and it's a two on two standoff.] AM: Tensions look like they're already rising, what a scene we've got here. SS: I said it before and I'll say it again. Hand Greatness the straps now, it's the only thing to do. [With both teams jawing at one another, it's up to the referee to keep control of things and he manages to, getting the partners to exit to the apron as Ross and Rose stand opposite one another in the ring. The bell sounds, and as soon as it does Rose is the one who goes in hard for the tie-up. It's a stalemate for a few seconds, with the strength of the Smash Brother too much at first until Rose snaps him right off his feet with an armdrag, hanging on and then rolling through and back to a standing position. Ross responds by tripping him up and bringing him back to the mat, and latches on with a headlock before working back to his feet. Trying to shove him off, Rose finds himself trapped and tries to hammer his way free, but Ross shrugs it off and then shoots him into the ropes. A ducked clothesline allows Rose to nail a flying forearm that takes Ross down, and the veteran experience of Tyler Rose tells him to go for the cover quickly. But Ross kicks out, and Rose reaches out for the tag to Christopher Michaelson while holding Ross in an armbar.] SS: That's good old fashioned experience right there, and one of the reasons why Greatness has this in the bag. AM: If you don't mind, let's see how the match actually goes before you go declaring winners. Greatness does have history on its side, but their opponents are far from pushovers. [Michaelson switches off with Rose and traps Michael Ross in a front facelock to pull him up, hooks him and tosses his opponent to the corner. A charging elbow connects, but Ross fights back as he tries to climb the ropes for mounted punches and slips out, grabs him by the waist and brings him down with an elevated suplex that drops Michaelson on the back of his head. With a pop from the audience Ross grabs him and drags him to the ropes, dropping an elbow and reaches out for the tag for his own partner. In comes Darryl Stevens, stepping over the top rope and bringing the size advantage with him. The big man wastes no time in stomping away on Michaelson and drags him back to his feet by the head, forcibly sending him to the corner again where a series of forearms to the head and then a couple to the stomach leave the member of Greatness on shaky legs before a running clothesline chops him down.] AM: And Stevens lands a huge clothesline! His offense may not be pretty but it's effective. Quick cover, but nope here comes Tyler Rose in for the save! SS: It's going to take more than some bar brawling skills to take Greatness down. That's why they're called Greatness! [Stevens fights back to his feet even as Rose tries to get involved, while Ross tries storming the ring only to be held back by the official. That's all Greatness needs to turn the tide as it's very quickly a two on one situation on Hell's Angel, throwing lots of punches and kicks before a standing crescent kick from Ross allows Michaelson to snap the big man down with a swinging neckbreaker. Finally Rose slips from the ring just as Michaelson tries for the pin, but Stevens still manages to kick out at two and a half to a pop! Michaelson and Rose kept up the pressure though, with a few quick tags between each other as they wore down Stevens, keeping him grounded and off his game as much as possible. It wasn't until Michaelson went for his Chi-Town Exploder that Stevens managed to fight back, jamming an elbow into the side of his neck and into the corner he flew. A lunging shoulderblock smashed Michaelson, and gave Stevens just enough steam to fling himself towards his corner and his partner. HUGE POP!] AM: In comes the Boss! MEGA BUSTER ON MICHAELSON! [Mowed down by the thunderous clothesline, Michaelson tries to reach out for the tag to Tyler Rose, but he's already being flipped into the ring headfirst by Ross. A running knee to the side of the head leaves Rose hazy, and as Stevens gets back into the ring all four men engage in a wild brawl that has the crowd whipped up into a frenzy! In vain the referee tries to regain control, and given the stakes of this being a tournament match fights the urge to declare a double disqualification. Stevens chokes Rose out in the corner with a standing boot choke, and sidesteps his own partner as Ross drives Michaelson's head into his own partner's stomach with a battering ram headlock. Greatness is left completely discombobulated for the moment, and Ross as the legal man snares the dazed Michaelson with a head and arm clinch, suplexing him with sudden fury and dropping him on his head. As Stevens dumps Rose over the ropes, the referee drops to make the count!] AM: ONE! TWO! THREE! Smash Brothers win! ["Bad To The Bone" comes over the PA system to a huge pop as Darryl Stevens reaches out and pulls his partner back onto his feet.] BC: Here are your winners, and advancing to the semi-finals of the Legacy Tag Team Championship Tournament... THEEEE SMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH BROOOOOOOOTHERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSS! AM: What a great win by the Smash Brothers here, they manage to upset Greatness and earn a spot in the semi-finals! I guess that's what you get when you look past your first opponents, Michaelson and Rose might have the experience but it didn't help them tonight! SS: I am outraged by this! This was a robbery plain and simple! Cancel the whole tournament, that wasn't supposed to happen! AM: I don't think there's anybody in the company who can withstand that Master Sword Suplex! Congratulations to Stevens and Ross, who now await the results of the second tag team match tonight. SS: Enjoy it now you two, because you won't have much chance later on. [We cut to backstage where we find "Dead End" Derek Martin leaning up against the wall. He's dressed in his usual wrestling attire, the usual sneer on his goateed face.] DM: Eddie Kirkpatrick. The son of Caliban. Or the son of Edmond Winston IV, depending on who you talk to. [He shrugs.] DM: Makes no difference to me. I hated them both. So either way, Eddie, I get to kick the crap out of somebody who happens to be related to somebody whose guts I hate. Either way, I win. [A laugh.] DM: Of course, the way I've always seen it, anybody who dared to step into the ring with me was going to get the piss beaten out of them, anyway. It's just that Kirkpatrick having bloodlines from a couple others who I never liked to begin with, just gives me added incentive to beat the piss out of this guy. So get ready to be the latest example, Eddie. The latest example of what happens when they send somebody my way, somebody who wants to make a big name for himself... that he gets left broken by the man who has made a living out of breaking legends, and now gets to make a living out of breaking those who want to be the next big thing. [He pounds a fist into his palm.] DM: Whichever one of your relatives you got advice from, hope they advised you well about what happens when you cross my path, Eddie. And if they were smart, they told you that you don't stand a chance against someone like me. You might make a name for yourself some day. But against me... [A laugh.] DM: Don't bet on making any of your family proud. [Fade out.] AM: As always, Derek Martin making friends wherever he goes. I think his bad attitude's just gotten worse over the years. SS: Is it any wonder I love that guy? __ ____ ____ ____ L / / / __ \/ __ \/ __ \ P / / _____/ /_/ / /_/ / / / /-------------------------- R / /__/____/ ____/ _, _/ /_/ / LEGACY PRO BREAKOUT O /_____/ /_/ /_/ |_|\____/---------------------------- SINGLES MATCH: Eddie Kirkpatrick versus "Dead End" Derek Martin ----------------------------------------------------------- BC: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! From Toledo, Ohio and weighing in at two hundred and seventy pounds... EDDDIEEEEEEEEEE KIRKPAAAAAATRIIIIIIIICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! [The opening strumming chords to "Bright Lights" by Gary Clark Jr. plays over the PA system. When the drums hit, Eddie Kirkpatrick slowly makes his way from the back to the ring, a look of quiet confidence on his face. The well muscled Toledo native is dressed in white baggy shorts trimmed with black flames, black boots with white kickpads, black elbow pads, and taped fists. His focus is absolute as he climbs the steps and enters the ring.] SS: I still don't like this guy, no matter who his father is. AM: Then you're in the minority, because the fans have really taken to Eddie so far. SS: Getting these people to cheer you isn't exactly a high bar. [The opening strands of "The Garden of Allah" by Don Henley kick in over the speakers as the arena lights dim, and then, a light goes up by the entrance portal. A figure then steps into the light, but he can't be made out at first in the shadows. And then, the figure moves forward, revealing "Dead End" Derek Martin. He wears a standard wrestling singlet, black in color, with a yellow "DEAD END" sign with the letters in black lettering on the front of the singlet, plus black kneepads and black wrestling boots. And he has a dark, cold, sinister look in his eyes.] BC: And his opponent! From Rocky Ford, Colorado, weighing in at 265 pounds... "DEAAAAAAAAAAAD ENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND" DERRRRREK MARRRRRRRTIIIINNNNN! [Martin walks slowly down to the ring, the spotlight following him as he approaches. Walking up the steps and climbing into the ring, Kirkpatrick shows no intimidation, in fact he steps right up to the veteran. Martin likewise doesn't budge an inch either as they stare each other down. The match begins with a battling collar to elbow lockup, with neither man giving an inch on the other. Their similarities in size let them fight to a stalemate, but a short jab by Martin catches the rookie off guard. Or so he thinks, until Eddie blocks a second shot and comes back to fire one of his own into the longtime veteran's jaw. Soon they're going toe to toe with one another, exchanging punches with neither backing down until Martin goes low and causes Kirkpatrick to stumble against the ropes. Going for the choke, the ref has to break it up between the two and in the melee Martin tries to thumb Eddie in the eye but takes a closed fist to the skull.] AM: Oh wow, these two do not like each other alright. I don't think we're likely to see a lot of wrestling here, just a good old fashioned fight. SS: And that's gonna be the kid's downfall, Derek Martin lives for that sort of thing. [The sneer on Martin's face as the two go back at it again says it all, as they clash once more and this time it's Kirkpatrick on the offense with a kneelift that doubles up the Colorado native. A pounding sledgehammer shot across the back leaves him prone for a powerbomb attempt but Martin shrugs free of it and blasts Eddie with a shoulder to the stomach, then trips him to the mat and immediately applies a headlock to control things. The pair try to fight back to their feet at the same time, Martin hanging onto the headlock until Eddie manages to throw him into the ropes. On the rebound he goes for a powerslam, but Kirkpatrick barrels through with a shoulderblock that knocks Martin back off his feet again.] AM: GREETINGS FROM CHERRY STREET! Martin went down like a ton of bricks! It's like two bulls in there, and neither one of them wants to go down! [With his foe on the canvas, Kirkpatrick is on Martin quickly and hammers him with repeated body blows, trying to hold him down for the pin but Martin gets a shoulder up and then jams his fist under Eddie's chin, shoving him off. A pair of trapped knees to the face rattles the rulebreaker, and Eddie tries to set up again for a powerbomb but this time a show of strength in the form of a backdrop takes him off his feet, as Martin is the one who gets to a standing position instead. A russian legsweep continues the assault, and Martin now tries for a cover of his own, grinding his forearm into Kirkpatrick's throat for a near count of two and two thirds. But the younger wrestler escapes it and once again battles back, shocking Martin with a belly to belly suplex into the mat. Martin rolls from the ring wisely to get his bearings.] SS: That's veteran experience, slow it down and make him fight your fight, bud. AM: Bud? Have you even spoken to him in the last three years, Sam? SS: It's an unspoken kind of friendship. No words are needed. AM: He blocked your cell number didn't he? [As Kirkpatrick goes to follow out of the ring, Martin grabs his leg and pulls, snapping his opponent into the ropes and causes him to fall hard to the outside. A series of kicks in the head puts him back in firm control of the match, but it doesn't stop Eddie from fighting back to his feet again. Slamming his head off the side of the ring, Martin rolls him back in and beats the count himself, grabbing him by the legs and catapulting him throat-first into the bottom rope. He's left reeling, and another near fall from Martin is broken up but gamely he lifts himself back up right into a scoop lift, Martin hoisting him up for a fallaway slam position. But a sharp elbow strike loosens his grip, and a couple more frees him completely. Eddie pushes Martin back into the ropes and on the rebound tries the Rise to Power pop up. Martin however is too strong and lands on his feet, swings Kirkpatrick around and absolutely LEVELS him with his signature reverse neckbreaker! HUGE HEEL POP! As Martin rolls on top following the End, he grabs a handful of tights for good measure on his opponent, scoring a pinfall. "Garden of Allah" hits, and the crowd boos even louder now.] BC: Here is your winner... DEREEEEEEEEEEEK MARRRRRTIIIINNNNNNNN! SS: Damn right! The old man's still got fight left in him, never doubt a Pridesman! AM: Don't tell me you're going to keep crowing about the Pride indefinitely. But a big congratulations to Martin, who picks up the victory here. SS: Have you forgotten? Pride is forever! Better luck next time kid, maybe your pops will still take you out for ice cream. A for Effort, F for follow through. [Martin smirks as he rolls out of the ring, still enjoying the taste of victory as he continues to stare back at Eddie. The camera fades in on Stan Thomas. Stan's got the microphone under his arm and is using both hands to hold up a small blackboard. Written on the board in yellow chalk "DANNY HOLDEN STREAK". Stan sighs and rolls his eyes. Standing next to Stan in the backstage area is the tall, gangly, acne- faced Danny Holden. Holden's grinning as he wipes off the numbers underneath and quickly writes down, in white chalk '2-0'. Danny tilts the board towards the camera to reduce the glare from the lights and smiles, satisfied with his work.] DH: Thanks, Stan. I'd mount it on the wall, but you know wrestlers. Someone gets mad, a fight breaks out, and the next you know this gets shattered into a million pieces. [Danny takes the chalkboard away, allowing Stan to grab his microphone.] ST: Glad to help. [He really doesn't sound sincerely glad] Let's talk about the Legacy Pro Championship. We have one man in the Iron Survival Match in Angus Andrews, and tonight you're facing Liam Donegal for the right to be the second man. DH: Well, Angus has been around a long time. He's a veteran, knows every trick in the book, and he's always been on the cusp of greatness. That makes him desperate, and desperate men can be dangerous. ST: So you're worried about Angus? DH: Worried? [Danny chuckles] No. I'm not worried. I'm better than Angus. But that doesn't mean Angus is good, and I'd be a fool to think otherwise. And Danny Holden is nobody's fool. ST: Well, what about Lia- DH: [Ignoring Stan] In fact, I think you and most of your colleagues would say that I'm rather intelligent. Brilliant, in fact. ST: Right- Liam Done- DH: [Looking up, lost in thought] Certainly my in-ring tactics are spot- on, my long-term strategies always hit the mark. Really, other wrestlers use me as the benchmar- ST: DANNY! DH: [breaking out of his reverie, Danny shakes his head] Yes, Stan? There's no need to yell. I'm right here. ST: Liam Donegal. You've got him in a match tonight to move on to the Iron Survival Match. DH: I watched Liam in his match. Now I know a lot of guys would talk about MJ Carter, and she is an attractive lady. But Liam says she's his manager, and there's no reason to disagree. So I watched his match against Masters, and I noticed that you're much stronger than your size indicates. And I noticed that your Warp Spasm is a pretty devastating hold. But I also noticed that you dip your shoulder before trying a clothesline. And that you don't lock in the Dragon Sleeper well. So after our match tonight, your manager MJ is going to pull you aside, and she going to say "Don't worry, Liam. You did well. It's not your fault. You lost to the best wrestler in the wrestler in the world." And you know what? She'll be right. I'm sure you'll wrestle as well as you possibly can. That just won't be good enough. But at least you can tell your children someday that you- yes, you Liam Donegal- lost to Danny Holden. [Danny gives a two finger salute towards the camera.] DH: See you in the ring. [He walks off and Stan shakes his head as the camera fades to black.] AM: He gets more pompous every week. SS: You see pompous, I see confidence. __ ____ ____ ____ L / / / __ \/ __ \/ __ \ P / / _____/ /_/ / /_/ / / / /-------------------------- R / /__/____/ ____/ _, _/ /_/ / LEGACY PRO BREAKOUT O /_____/ /_/ /_/ |_|\____/---------------------------- TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT[ROUND ONE]: Black Mass Forever versus The Gunslingers ----------------------------------------------------------- BC: The following contest is an opening round match in the Legacy Tag Team Championship Tournament! Introducing first... [The lights are dimmed as a quote by Malcom Mcdowell echoes over the PA:] "Inside every one us, there exists a dark side. Most people rise above it, but some are consumed by it. Until there is nothing left, but pure evil." [Then, Stone Sours "Reborn" kicks in. Bruno Verhoeven enters first, tense and rigid, his eyes wide, his jaws working. Then, Shingen Ushitani saunters up besides him. "The Oni Prince" slowly raises his hands and theatrically covers his face with his palms, showing off his black fingernails. Abruptly, he drops the hands and grimaces psychotically into the camera, eyes wide and tongue stuck out Gene Simmons style. At this time, Verhoeven raises both of his arms and bellows out a howl of fury.] BC: Accompanied to the ring by Billy Slice, from Berling, Germany and Osaka, Japan, at a total combined weight of 465 pounds, they are "HELLSPAWN" BRUNO VERHOEVEN... SHINGEN USHITANI... BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK MASSSSSSSSSSSSSS FOREVVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! [Then, both men walk towards the ring. Only now, the "Crown Prince of Vice" Billy Slice rushes past them, clapping frantically. Verhoeven stops to stare down a particularly vocal fan. At ringside, Shingen climbs to the top rope via the turnbuckle and covers his face once more while Bruno Verhoeven climbs onto the middle of apron close and turns to the crowd, gives them the "thumbs down" gesture and with both hands and draws his hands across his throat afterwards. Billy Slice remains on the outside, cheering on his charges.] SS: Okay I take it back, these guys are my picks to win it all. How you going to bet against a tornado and a volcano combined? AM: As picks go, they're not a bad one. Black Mass Forever have been absolutely dominant here in L-PRO already. BC: And their opponents! ["Get Drunk And Be Somebody" by Toby Keith hits the PA system next, and out from the back comes the Gunslingers at full speed, charging the ring!] BC: The team of TEX THOMAS... "COWBOY" ROY SLOANE... THE GUNNNNNSLLLLLLLLLLLLLI- [But Bill can even fully get their names out or before the team of Sloane and Thomas could even make it into the ring fully the BMF are on them, brutalizing the cowboy duo with an onslaught of hammering forearms from Verhoeven, Ushitani opting for a rapid set of knee strikes.] AM: My god, Tex Thomas has been busted open before this match has even begun! The Black Mass Forever are trying to make another statement and it's at the expense of the Gunslingers tonight! [Not even able to take their pre-match gear off, Thomas is dragged to the middle of the ring and eats a nasty lariat from Bruno that flips him 360 degrees in midair. Shingen keeps Sloane at the side of the ring, stomping repeatedly on him until he rolls to the outside of the ring.] SS: They came to play, don't fault them for being a lot more prepared. AM: This is crazy, how can we even have the match now? [How indeed, Amy? The official bravely tries to step between the barely conscious Thomas on the mat and the towering Bruno, trying to allow the downed wrestler to try and regain his senses. Tex crawls on his hands to the ropes and struggles to pull himself up, finally pulling off the black vest and gear. Despite the river of blood flowing down his face he stands, daring Verhoeven to come at him again and yelling at the ref to ring the bell. Despite his better judgment the official does indeed call for it, and pouncing like a tiger Verhoeven grabs Thomas by the head and hurls him into the middle of the ring.] SS: Heads up! AM: Good god! They can't be seriously thinking of going on with this? SS: Those cowboys have more guts than brains, and that's in no way a compliment. [Outside the ring, Sloane finally manages to get around the ring and to his own corner as Ushitani exits to the apron. A spinning bodyslam from the big, bad german plants Thomas on the mat again, but again he struggles to try and sit up, earning himself a boot in the face which lays him out flat. Billy Slice demands to see more destruction from Verhoeven, who responds by picking Tex back up with two hands around his throat and lifts him right off the canvas with a choke lift. Struggling in his opponent's grasp he manages to free himself with a rake of the eyes, but it's a short-lived escape as he's snared in a full nelson, and Verhoeven drags him over to the corner to let Shingen tag into the match now.] SS: Look at these two, fine crafted twin engines of horror and destruction. AM: I'd argue that point, but I'm not sure I can at this point. Ushitani in now, and a stiff kick to the ribcage! Thomas is trying his damndest to stay in this match, but it can't possibly be worth it after how this got started. SS: Aren't you the one who preaches about the importance of these tournaments, Red? AM: Yes, but not when it wasn't a level playing field like this! This is a slaughter! [Ushitani delivers a running dropkick after sending Thomas to the corner, and he crumples to the mat as in the corner, Sloane is desperately reaching for the tag in. After a series of shoot kicks into Thomas's shoulder he's barely even conscious, and as he's pulled back to his feet an armdrag takedown hurls Thomas over to the side of the ring by his partner. With a POP Sloane tags in finally, determined to get the match going for his team finally... ...and Ushitani cuts the bigger man off with a deadly handspring leg lariat! HEEL POP!] SS: Sweet jesus! AM: Right on the button, Ushitani just chopped Sloane down to size! The Gunslingers just never got out of the gate tonight, their plan has been perfect. [A tag to Bruno as Sloane slowly gets back to his feet, dazed, and a superkick across the jaw from Shingen propels him right into a german suplex into the canvas, landing with a dull thud. Following the aptly named Tokyo-Berlin Express, it's a deadly straightjacket sitout powerbomb that brings things to a crushing end, Bruno scoring the pinfall victory. "Reborn" plays as the crowd erupts into raucous booing.] BC: Here are your winners, and advancing to the semi-finals of the Legacy Tag Team Tournament... BLAAAAAAAAAACK MASSSSSSSSSSSSS FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! SS: Holy hell, what a beating that was! AM: That one wasn't in doubt from long before the opening bell, that was a legalized slaughter by the Black Mass Forever tonight. I imagine the Smash Brothers are happy to see BMF as their opponents in the semi- finals, with a chance to settle the score. SS: Really? I doubt they even remember the last time they met, they got beaten so badly. AM: Ha ha. All we know for sure is that next week we'll see the first semi-final match of the tournament, the HEAT facing off with their longtime rivals Max & Sal, and what a showdown that's going to be. They've been at each other's throats for a long, long time in a rivalry that started elsewhere, but gets reignited right here in L-PRO. [Cut to the interior of what was once state of the art and cutting edge in the world of grocery stores. Now, there are high ceilings with nary a grocer to be found. Rather than rust in abandonment, this particular Chicago store has been converted into a flea market. Antiques. Cheap trinkets. Geuine knock off Sam Steely leather jackets as far as the eye can sea. It's a sea of pleather!] Scottie Saratoga: This place is a dump! [Enter three women, one of which wrinkles her nose at the foul scent of faux Steely.] Tara "Sunburst" Marshall: But you've not seen the good part. [Optimistic, Tara Marshall leads Scottie and one other to a large curtained off area in the back of the grocery store turned flea market.] Tesla St. James: Should I hold my breath? For reasons other than the smell? SS: For once, I agree with her. TSM: Get over it. This place smells awesome once they start cooking the turkey legs on Saturdays. [Tara brings the two redheads to a stop before a framed doorway, black curtains blocking the view beyond.] TSM: Now, if you two can stop sniping at eachother long enough... SS: All I need is one shot! TSJ: Its all you'd get! TSM: For Raekwon's sake! [Frustrated, Tara shoves the two through the curtains. Here they see a makeshift arena under construction, one that bingo halls and rat infested deathtraps can only dream about. A ring sits in the middle of the large space, metal guardrails surrounding it and leading to a simple entranceway on the other side of the rroom. Large banners that read "PSB" are strewn about the place.] SS: Okay... I was not expecting this. TSJ: The PSB stands for...? TSM: "Project Sunburst". [Scottie snickers as she starts to walk around to take in the sights.] SS: Conceited much? TSM: Considering this is all coming out of my pocket, I think I'm entitled. This is what I envision for women's wrestling going forward and you both know, there aren't many places for us to work our craft. TSJ: So, this is independent from LEGACY Pro? TSM: We'll have some support, but they're just as much a startup as we are. SS: And what are you needing from us? TM: I need people who want to see women's wrestling succeed as much as I do. I need people willing to put in the work. I need wrestlers. [Scottie and Tesla look at one another and in a rare moment that even the universe goes "WTF?" for, the two redheads nod in togetherness.] SS&TSJ: We're in. [Fade. We go back to the ring in L-PRO Arena, as the bell sounds three times loudly.] SS: I thought Project Sunburst was some sort of top secret breeding program arranged by the government. AM: [ignoring Sam entirely] Excitement is definitely building for the new development my sister has underway, but it's main event time! __ ____ ____ ____ L / / / __ \/ __ \/ __ \ P / / _____/ /_/ / /_/ / / / /-------------------------- R / /__/____/ ____/ _, _/ /_/ / LEGACY PRO BREAKOUT O /_____/ /_/ /_/ |_|\____/---------------------------- MAIN EVENT, LEGACY TITLE QUALIFIER MATCH: Liam Donegal versus Danny Holden ----------------------------------------------------------- [The lights dim, and a single spotlight shines at the top of the ramp. The scraggly voice of an old man speaks.] Man: I have seen many extraordinary things in my life. I have seen children born and men killed. I have seen storms that would blow over houses, snowstorms that turned the world white, and the moon so big that I thought I could reach out and grab it. But today... today is a day that I will remember forever, that I will tell my children and grandchildren. For today, I have seen the Greatest Wrestler on Mother Earth. [The orchestral music of "Chariots of Fire" by Vangelis thunders over the PA System. After a moment, out steps Danny Holden. He's a tall, skinny wrestler. And young- he still has some acne on his forehead underneath his shaggy black hair. He's wearing black shorts and boots with a red jacket. He raises his arms in the air, ready for the fans to bask in his greatness. He doesn't get it- the boos and catcalls reach his ears quickly, and his face twitches into a petulant frown. He walks down to ringside as the music plays, taking off his jacket and putting it on the ringside table, then rolling into the ring and does some stretches as the music fades.] BC: The following contest is a qualifying match for the Iron Survival Championship Challenge! Introducing first, already in the ring at this time, from Madison, Wisconsin, weighing at two hundred and twenty-two pounds... DANNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY HOOLLLLLLLDEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! [The lights go out. A single white spotlight shines down on the stage as Cruachan's "I Am Warrior" begins to blast out over the PA and Liam Donegal steps out through the curtain with his manager, MJ Carter, two paces behind.] BC: And his opponent! Hailing from Boston, Massachussetts, weighing in at 220 pounds, accompanied to the ring by MJ Carter... LLLLLIIIIAAAAAAM DONNNNEGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! [Donegal surveys the crowd and nods his head, then raises both arms up in the air and drops them to his side as twin jets of white pyro light up the stage. Then, pointing down at the ring, Donegal and Carter make their way down the ramp, trading handshakes and high-fives with the fans as he makes his way to ringside.] AM: So here we go now, who's it going to be joining Angus Andrews in the Iron Survival match in a few weeks time. [The crowd is ready for the match once both wrestlers are set, and from the sound of the bell it would seem that both are looking to wrestle a technical style. Holden takes control first with a top wristlock, but Liam catches him by surprise by reversing it and moving into a hammerlock. Danny expertly reverses it back, but then finds himself wrapped back up in a wristlock again. The two men find themselves on even ground, and as they finally break and back up from one another the crowd pops appreciatively for the fine display of skill. That doesn't console Holden too much, who takes it as a personal slight.] AM: They seem evenly matched here, both Liam and Danny are accomplished submission masters and technicians. Assuming this one stays clean, it could be one hell of a match we have brewing. SS: Just what are you saying? You think Donegal's going to cheat? AM: Not in the slightest. I would never say that about Liam Donegal. [Passive aggressive digs aside, Amy's right. The match continues with more of a technical display as they lock up, and outside the ring MJ watches on as Liam surprises Holden with a go-behind and lifts him into a back suplex to the mat. Angrily Danny rolls back on his feet, but is met with a beautiful standing dropkick, and a quick cover by Liam that gets him a count of about one and a half. Holden pushes him off and tries to compose himself, which leaves him open to a jumping forearm. Holden is reeling by now and Donegal springs off the ropes with an axehandle, sending Danny to the outside to regroup and figure things out better. LOUD POP!] AM: Of all the things I expected, I didn't think we'd be seeing Danny Holden taken off his game quite this much. He's taking his time to get back in the ring here, warning the official to hold Liam Donegal back. SS: Damn right, no shortcuts to the top Irish. [Rolling back under the ropes and to his feet, Holden demands they lock up again here. When they do, Holden tries to surprise him with a leg trip but Liam's waiting for it and evades, instead catching Danny with another surprise pin attempt for a count of two. Now positively irate, the Wisconsin native backs off and points a finger at MJ Carter, complaining to the referee that she's too close to the ropes and needs to step back. Already a good couple of feet away from the ring MJ throws up her hands in disbelief, and while the distraction is there Holden quickly grabs Liam with a double leg takedown and locks on with a leglock. Now finally back in control he returns to his feet still holding the leg, dropping his knee into the joint to cause Liam a jolt of pain. A stomp to the knee softens him up further, and as Donegal sits up he absorbs a knee square in the face, gets brought to his feet with a facelock and a short-arm clothesline from Holden has him in trouble now. Danny, who doesn't release the short-arm part of the hold, goes back to another hammerlock and scoops him up for a slam, dropping Liam on the arm.] SS: Now you get to see the master surgeon at work. Picking apart body part by body part. AM: Oh brother. I still can't believe he complained about MJ Carter being out here, she hasn't made any attempts to get involved. SS: But she's thinking about it. Dames. [Donegal tries to shake out his arm to keep it from bothering him, but Holden snags him with a standing armbar and keeps pressure on it. Liam reaches for the ropes but gets pulled back, tries again and again is pulled back away from them. On the third try he reaches the ropes, and the official forces Holden to break it but the moment he does and Donegal relaxes Holden is right back on him with another armbar. Liam gets back again to the ropes, but uses them to spring off and launches Danny out of the hold entirely and onto his back with a monkey flip. Both return to their feet at the same time, and after ducking a forearm Donegal lands a series of quick chops, throws Holden into the ropes and hits a backdrop. When Danny gets up a roundhouse kick lands and knocks him into the corner, where Donegal runs in and strikes with a leg lariat. Danny goes down, and Liam jumps up to nail a picture perfect split-legged moonsault right on top. Hooking the leg, he gets a count of two and a half!] AM: Nearly had him there, as Liam Donegal is proving to be quite the thorn in Danny Holden's side now! SS: Like a mosquito, you just have to squash 'em. [Trying to keep momentum on his side Liam drags Holden back up and lifts him up for a brainbuster, but the instincts of his opponent cause him to drive a knee into Liam's head to escape, and swings around behind him to land a superkick that rattles Donegal, leading into a dragon suplex with a bridge held that nearly picks up the win right there! HEEL POP! Liam kicks out in the nick of time though, and Holden LOUDLY complains about the "slow count" to the referee as MJ shouts from the outside of the ring for him to stop crying about things. A look of indignation from Holden as Liam finds himself back in an armbar on the mat; Danny attempts to switch up into a hammerlock but Donegal meets him with a kick right back in the shoulder on Holden and rolls him through to a pin attempt... rather than keeping it going he lets go and blasts Holden with a kneelift as he rises up, doubling him up for a piledriver but Danny grabs the ropes and uses them to backdrop Liam over. Trying to regroup again he begins to climb the ropes himself, but Donegal pops right back up and attempts to hook him with the double underhook!] AM: Could it be WARP SPASM TIME? No, Holden with a shot to the stomach there and shoves him back down! Look at him scramble off the turnbuckle, he knows exactly what could have happened there! SS: He does, because he scouts his opponents! He doesn't stay out partying all night before. AM: I highly doubt Donegal was out partying last night, Sam. SS: You mean he looks like that all the time? [Standing on the outside Holden takes a couple of stiff punches from Liam, who now tries to suplex Danny back into the ring. Getting halfway up before Danny uses the ropes to block it, he lets go and rattles Holden with a swinging uppercut shot that knocks him senseless for a moment, this time allowing him to hook him properly and pick him straight up into a vertical suplex, holding him upside down for several seconds as the crowd noise builds, cheering loudly the longer its held. But it's held just a little too long as Holden manages to escape it and land on his feet, swings around and hooks Donegal's arms with his own and executes a devastating backslide driver, taking Liam up and dropping him on his head! Keeping the pin attempt on Holden hangs on... 1 -- 2 -- 3! HEEL POP! "Chariots of Fire" comes on and the audience starts to boo once again.] SS: BAM! BC: Here is your winner, and advancing to the Iron Survival Match... DANNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY HOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLDEEEENNNNNNNNNNN! [Holden rolls to his knees, weary but satisfied with the victory as the referee lifts his arm. As the crowd showers him with boos he takes it in stride and sneers, relishing in the sight of Liam still on the mat.] AM: After a hellacious encounter it's Danny Holden moving on to the Iron Survival Match, joining Angus Andrews as the first two competitors involved! I don't think you could have been faulted in picking either man, they both left it all on the line tonight. SS: Maybe so, but only one guy's getting his arm raised tonight. Holden is a damn machine, and he's my pick to win the whole damn thing. AM: That's pretty bold since we don't even know who else will fill the last two spots, Sam. SS: As always, I reserve the right to change my mind if something better comes along. AM: So hard to believe you're still single. [As MJ slides into the ring, helping Liam to get back on his feet, Holden stops and turns back around, offering his hand out to him. Though with the cocky grin on his face, you can't really blame Liam for staring at him and not shaking hands back.] SS: What a sore loser. AM: Oh please, I don't buy that for a minute. Holden's just rubbing it in here, and as much as I don't like it, he's earned his spot in the upcoming championship survival match. Fans, that's it for us here this week! We'll be back next time with even more action, so long from Toronto! [Fade.]