Post by Rick Majors on May 24, 2018 21:16:49 GMT -5
Pure Class Wrestling Trauma
Thursday, May 24th, 2018
Thursday, May 24th, 2018
The show begins backstage, to show Kyle Shane, the Pure Class Wrestling World Champion, walking in to the catering/common area, glimpsing the big whiteboard that has the 2018 Icemann Invitational tournament brackets. The same area he's been conducting a slightly underground betting pool with the production assistants for the last few weeks. Kyle is in casual mode, wearing skinny jeans and a Doctor Strange tee. He has a wad of money in his hand, ready to pay out to anyone who placed the right bet, but his other hand is ready and itching to take some cash off a sucker who backed the wrong horse.
Kyle Shane: Hey, guys?
There's no answer. That's weird. Kyle is a bit perturbed, but he puts on his air of confident, ready to go sarcasm to mask the disquiet.
Kyle Shane: Hey, uh, anybody who was betting on Daniel Silvaira to win the Last Chance Battle Royale, you're completely full of shit, that was out of nowhere, so, uh, payouts for last weeks main event were... not... Hmm. Guys...?
Kyle looks at the whiteboard, which has the updated brackets. But he doesn't see any of his, er, customers, at least not at first. He looks a little farther past the whiteboard, however, and he sees a circle of backs turned to him, heads ducked together in a huddle and a whispered, confidential meeting.
Kyle Shane: Guys? I'm here for the TIIT pool... you know? Like every few weeks?
One of the production assistants, a nerdy little specimen of Indian descent, jump startles, and a couple of the others soothe him, one mutters "We talked about this Vijay..."
Kyle Shane: ...Guys?
He smiles nervously. He has to take note that five of his regular pool customers are all lined up arm to arm, like the Musketeers, facing him. They're nervous, but they're trying to come across as a mix of nonchalant and confident. Rubbing their chins, licking their lips, trying not to act edgy. Kyle squints at them.
Kyle Shane: What's goin' on, broheims? You got a little side betting going on? That wasn't the agreement when we started this game.
Production assistant #1: No mister Kyle, we don't know what you are talking about.
Kyle Shane: Is that so, Vijay? Then you won't mind giving me that fifty you owe me.
He points at the wad in the PA's hand.
Kyle Shane: That fifty. Right there. Come on, little guy, hand it over. There you go.
Production assistant #2: No it's not for - that's our... taco truck money. Yeah... uh. We're giving it to him for our orders.
Backstage worker: Nothing to do with the TIIT pool.
Maintenance: Yeah, so once we give it to Vijay we can probably just go, right?
Kyle, getting angry and suspicious now, comes forward, yanking the money out of the first one's hand. And then he spots a slip of paper protruding from Vijay the first production assistants front pants pocket and his eyes widen. He gives a little wounded scoff, and then he gathers the small Indian man in for a hug.
Kyle Shane: Oh, Vijay, you poor, deluded soul, you would be Brutus, what's the money for, huh? Bring it in here, kid... *hugs* what's the money for, Vijay. What is the money for.
Production assistant #1: IIIIIII - I - I - OKAY! It's a new game betting which of the TIITs will be the ones to be claiming your championship.
Kyle is flabbergasted, his jaw drops. He reaches into the production assistant's front pocket, ignoring all boundaries and heteronormativity to pull out a list. When he does, he goes from innocently hurt to angrily hurt.
Kyle Shane: You fuc- You idiots are hustling against me? Me?! You, Conner, you bet - *looks at the list* 100 dollars that motherfucking Justin Stormm Michaels is going to win the 2018 Icemann and beat me?! Tristan? 250 dollars on ... fucking Grimm? What?! Oh, Tadarius, you asshole, you put down 300 fucking dollars that I'd lose to Seromine, that's money you owed me from the first round.
He waves the list in their faces.
Kyle Shane: This is nothing more than the taste of betrayal.
Production assistant #1: Mister Kyle we were just trying to recoup our monies from -
Kyle Shane: It's the taste of betrayal, you fucking Judas.
Backstage worker: So what if it is, huh? Man, after the last couple weeks, you riled up every one of them motherfuckers, and look what happened to you. Michaels punked you out, he gave you that match against Gabriel. Then he laid your bitch ass out. Seromine, too, you got up and he put you right on your back. Grimm, Monster, Hiroshi, every one of them motherfuckers got a reason to smoke your skinny white ass. Why shouldn't we place that bet? Why shouldn't we put our money on which one is going to be the one that ends your joke self. Huh?
Kyle rips the list up, his hands tearing in short, precise little jerks.
Kyle Shane: I started this pool in good fun because I was being given an easy schedule, while the company got this tournament off. And yes, because it was a game and I took that part, the part of betting and placing money on it, not serious. God of Game. It's what I do. But if you think, Tadarius, if you think I'm taking every bit of this as a joke, you don't know a damn thing about who Kyle Shane really is. I am Kyle fucking Shane. I'm not, as has so reductively been said, "all about glory, or shiny trophies", I am about stepping out there every single time I'm put on a card and proving myself the unequivocable best there is in this sport today. That is not something I take as a joke, nor is being the World Champion. So I'm saying right now. You can pick your favorite. You can pick your strongest seed. You can bet on the fastest horse in the race.
Symbolically, Shane opens his hand with the ripped up list and showers the scraps in front of their eyes with a steely gaze.
Kyle Shane: I am better than they are. And they can not out work me. You can put your money on that.
None of them can meet his determined eyes at the moment. Shane walks to the next one in the little circle, snatching money out of their hands, softly saying "Gonna take this, and this... you owe me this..."
Kyle Shane: So with that said, gentlemen, these side bets will be going to me, and I -
Voice offscreen: EXCUSE ME.
Kyle Shane: ...Wut.
Human Resources Department Head: Hi, yeah, guys, I'm with HR... we've had some reports that an illegal gambling pool has been taking place in catering. *Chuckles amiably* I'm sure I don't have to tell you that it goes against all of the policies in the handbook that we don't allow employees, contractors, or especially athletes to engage in gambling during a Pure Class Wrestling event, I'm sure you understand, hahaha.
Kyle shoves the wad of money behind his back, although dollar bills waft out of the pile and float around his legs like feathers.
Kyle Shane: There's no gambling going on like that. Is there, guys?
Human Resources Department Head: Right... well, I just couldn't help seeing the brackets up on this whiteboard here... and you do appear to be holding a large sum of money in your hands.
Kyle, caught in his lie, stutters and then tries to charm his way out of, putting on a friendly smile to the other production assistants.
Kyle Shane: Oh, no, this is... for everybody's lunch order. Taco truck order. Going to take this money to the food truck and get everyone something. So, Vijay, you wanted the pulled pork with cilantro, and - can I get anybody else?
Human Resources Department Head: Oh, is that what's happening here? *He turns to the five gathered backstage workers* Am I being told the truth?
They all shake their heads as one, negatively, their mouths straight lines of fury and their eyes boring into Kyle's furiously, since he just took their money and all.
Kyle Shane: ...You assholes. I'll remember this.
The HR rep begins stuffing wads of funds into his coat pocket as he takes an arm around Shane's arm and waist, steering Kyle unwillingly down the hall.
Human Resources Department Head: Mister Shane, why don't you step into the office and we can go over some of the finer points of the handbook when it pertains to illegal activities on an arena's grounds...
Kyle cranes his head over his shoulder, glaring at the guys who all begin to break up and go back to work. The camera switches to ringside where the commentary team still hasn't had a chance to welcome anyone to the show.
Sasha Greene: The following match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first…
Lights dim and the PCW-Tron goes black. With the sound of a sharp nib scratching across a ragged sheet of parchment, a sepia-toned cursive scrawls grimm across the screen. The name flickers, wavering in and out of focus with the occasional tracking glitch as if projected from an old forgotten film canister uncovered on the bottom shelf in the cellar. Sparse percussion resonates throughout the arena and is soon joined by a droning, distorted bass line. At that, A Perfect Circle’s ”Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums” stomps out of the speakers and marches through the aisles. The drums, the distortion, the voices – all work to herald the arrival of the Hangtown Horror.
Don’t fret, precious, I’m here. Step away from the window.
Sasha Greene: From Hangtown, Kentucky. He weighs two hundred and seventeen pounds. PHINEHAS GRIMM!
He walks out to a single blue-white spotlight, stops to bask in the light and shadows, and scans the crowd. The Lord of Misrule closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before making the long walk down the ramp, deadset on the ring and ignoring the fans along the way. The spotlight follows. The words work their way up through the layers of the song.
Go back to sleep.
Phinehas climbs up onto the apron and slides in between the ropes. Hopping up onto a turnbuckle, he casts his gaze out over the crowd with his arms at his side, eyes shifting to take in the sea of faces spread out before him. Grimm then drops down. And waits.
Sasha Greene: And his opponent…
The crowd looks to the entrance way as Rising Sun roars out and they know who is coming out from backstage and they start booing loudly almost drowning out the music.
Hiroshi Yukio steps through the curtain his face lit up with an evil smile followed closely by Alexa Black who loudly proclaims his greatness to the camera.
He walks slowly down the ramp as the booing intensifies as the PCW faithful don't hold back for the mountain man from Japan.
Sasha Greene: From Tokyo, Japan. Standing 6”6 and weighing in at 500 lbs. Accompanied by his manager Alexa Black, he is “The Destroyer” Hiroshi Yukio!
He waves mockingly to the crowd which pisses them off even more as he walks and when he sees a kid at ringside and holds up his sign and rips it in half then laughs
As he continues to walk down to the ring as the crowd grows louder and louder so even the announcers can't get a word in over the booing.
He goes up the ring steps and steps over the top rope and into the ring After he does he does a purification ritual by throwing salt in the ring to cleanse it before the match.
The music fades out as Hiroshi stays in the ring waiting for the bell.
Icemann Invitational Tournament Quarterfinal Match
Grimm vs Hiroshi Yukio
Referee: Charles Lim
DING!
DING!
DING!
Jerry Andrews: Ladies and gentlemen, we finally get a chance to say hello! What a jam-packed episode of Trauma we have for you tonight!
Ace Anderson: FOUR HUGE Icemann Invitational Tournament matches! I love this tournament!
Jerry Andrews: And we're starting off with an interesting matchup. Hiroshi has the size, height, weight, and Alexa Black advantages. But Grimm is a seasoned veteran, a PCW legend, and easily one of (if not thee) best to every step into the ring. He will not be intimidated.
Ace Anderson: All valid points. I would just like to point out that the winner of this gets the winner of the Stacy Jones and Dominator match. So the road won’t get any easier.
Grimm studies the former Yokozuna, looking for where he could have weak points at. His cold, pale stare watches in equal parts Hiroshi and the she-devil he sold his soul to outside of the ring. Yukio has a focused look of determination. This is a huge opportunity for him in the Icemann Invitational. One mistake and it could all come crashing down around him. He shows the Hangtown Horror some respect, but is not about to kowtow to the so-called boogeyman. Yukio is the first to advance. Grimm dances his way around the ring in order to avoid being trapped. Hiroshi shows off some of that surprising speed that catches people off guard. Phinehas stands his ground, blasting him in the face with a combination of forearms. They legit stun Yukio and knock him on his heels.
Grimm lowers his balance as the forearms piston fire into the large midsection of the former Underground champion. Yukio absorbs the punishment. Grimm is shoved backwards into the corner. Yukio doesn’t bite. Grimm attempts to get himself out. Yukio mirrors him as he advances to close any space. Grimm boots Yukio in the gut, but it has little effect. A well placed chop to the throat does more. Grimm hops onto the middle rope. He crashes down with his elbow catching Yukio flush in the face. It drops him to a knee! Grimm unleashes the beast, firing off multiple headbutts for good measure. Yukio reaches up to Grimm’s throat and in the blink of an eye, levels the former multi-time World Champion with one of his own. Grimm drops immediately. Yukio pulls him to his feet in order to shove him to the corner.
Corner avalanche squashes Grimm like a red-haired bug. Grimm shows that he too can absorb punishment. Yukio is surprised by the stick-and-move retaliation. Those forearm blasts finding their marks and having some effect. An uppercut finds its way as well, staggering Yukio. Grimm takes a handful of hair, a leap in the air, and a crushing headbutt to the back of his neck. Yukio is down to his knees! Grimm kicks him in the pectorals. Yukio shoves Grimm into the ropes, only for him to return with a knee trembler. Yukio is rolled over to his side. Phinehas is there to unload like he were making wine. Grimm drops down as he administers a blatant choke while staring down Alexa Black like it were a showdown at the OK Corral. The referee administers the five count. Grimm acquiesces.
Jerry Andrews: Grimm will have to keep Yukio grounded. And also keep a watch on that bitch from hell.
Ace Anderson: Alexa would take that as a compliment; And then take years off of your life afterwards. If only someone could get her attention…
Yukio gasps for air as he rolls his massive body under the ropes to escape. Grimm is just close enough to have his legs taken out from under him. Yukio pulls him into a bearhug. The squeeze is on! Grimm resorts to no less than FIVE bell claps to get himself freed. Yukio shakes it off before he runs Grimm aggressively into the ring post. Not once. Not twice. But three times! Yukio backs up a few steps. He crushes Grimm against that very ring post. Grimm falls onto his hands and knees. He reaches around to his back, grimacing in pain. Yukio lifts him by the seat of his pants and dumps him back inside. Alexa has a devilish grin of satisfaction on her face. Pleased with what she’s seeing from her client.
Yukio steps through the ropes. Grimm is deadlifted off the mat and bodyslammed back down with authority. As he is close enough to them, Yukio hits the ropes, missing with a senton splash. Grimm starts to pull himself up, showing again his ability to take punishment. Although he is favoring his back. Yukio is guided to a knee. He buries his head deep into the midsection, doubling Grimm over. Yukio grabs himself some of that fire red mane, using it to slam Grimm face first into the canvas. Yukio is quickly back up. A gentle spring off the ropes and it’s a leg drop to the spine. Yukio lifts Grimm with ease...and one hand...as he throws him into the buckles. Yukio scores with a battering ram. Grimm is shoved back upright. Yukio reverse whips him HARD into the same corner. Grimm hits the mat. He claws at the mat while his back continues to be weakened.
Yukio takes his time in pulling Grimm back up. Phinehas gets him with a forceful bite to the forehead, because why the hell not? Yukio yells in pain. Alexa yells at the referee. Grimm just continues to feast. He stops once he feels like the damage has been done. That same head meets the top turnbuckle a total of ten times. Yukio is dazed as he holds onto the ring ropes. Grimm starts to underhook him in the ribs, liver, and finally some highly effective kidney shots. Grimm rakes Yukio’s eyes across the top rope. He then returns him to the corner. Grimm ignores the vulgar dialogue from Alexa Black, having no time for her presence. Grimm drives his shoulder into the midsection as the air leaves Yukio’s body. He takes a few seconds to stretch that back out. A couple of kicks later and Grimm hits the ropes.
He returns with a diving headbutt to the jaw! Yukio slumps to a knee. Phinehas goes into a flurry of fists and feet, alternating between the referee’s instruction about breaking things up.
Jerry Andrews: Grimm is bringing the aggression here in order to maintain control.
Ace Anderson: He has to. If he leaves anything open, Yukio will make him pay dearly for it. Both have shown they can absorb whatever the other dishes out.
Phinehas pulls Yukio away from the corner. Swinging neckbreaker! Grimm remains favoring his back, albeit it not as much as he had. He has become cold and calculating in picking apart Yukio like a vulture would flesh. Yukio is onto a knee. Grimm finds the ropes. He bull rushes him back down. Grimm rubs the heel of his boot into the face of Hiroshi. It’s followed with a leaping elbow drop and a pin attempt.
1.
2.
Yukio presses him high in the air, showing he is far from done. He begins to pull himself off the canvas as Grimm advances. A second wind for the Japanese Nightmare! Grimm is run corner to corner at breakneck speed. The last of which is converted into a belly-to-belly suplex. Yukio brings himself to his feet. Running senton splash hits! Grimm folds himself inward as Yukio gets booed amongst the faithful. No one in attendance, at home, in space, was exactly blaming a peeled onion over the punishment he was taking. Yukio brings Grimm up as both men are on their feet. Yukio yells something to Grimm in his native tongue before Irish whipping him. Grimm returns and eats a Pop Up powerbomb! Yukio shakes his head with a smile developing.
Grimm is led to his feet and sent to the opposite side of the ring. A second Pop Up powerbomb! Yukio roars with laughter as he gets the approval from “The Black Widow.” Grimm finds his direction being turned to the third pair of ropes. He takes ANOTHER Pop Up powerbomb. Yukio powers Grimm to his feet. He spins his limp body around to the remaining ropes. Grimm is shoved into them. One last Pop Up powerbomb drives Phinehas back down to the squared circle with a nasty thud. Yukio looks down at him with sick, sinister glee. He raises his arms triumphantly as he takes a victory walk to every side of the ring, further drawing the ire of everyone.
Yukio turns his attention back to Grimm. He feels so confident about things, he simply puts a foot on his chest. Yukio demands the referee count the pin. Think better of the situation, he does.
1!
2!
3!
Jerry Andrews: GRIMM KICKS OUT!
Ace Anderson: You call it that. I call it an involuntary shoulder spasm.
Whether out of respect or...no, it’s respect, the fans rally behind Phinehas Grimm. If he were the aggressor, he would pay no mind to the crowd reaction, be it positive or negative. Yukio looks stunned that Grimm is not dead. At worst, he’s only seeing dancing jigs spinning around his head. Grimm is dragged to the corner where he is propped between the middle and bottom turnbuckle. Yukio confidently walks to the other end. After a ceremonial pose, he runs with abandon. Running hip attack MISSES! Grimm managed to roll out of the ring to avoid it. Alexa is right there to get after him. Yukio has staggered into the referee’s line of sight. She pulls Grimm to his feet. He sends her crashing face first into the steel ring post. That elicits loud cheers and even some laughs.
Grimm drags himself just under the bottom rope. Since his back has been worked over, he can’t move as fast as he would like. Yukio has the slightest of limps thanks to the missed hip attack. He pulls Grimm by by the scruff of his beard. Grimm is thrown into the air. Instead of Hiroshi hitting an elevated Samoan drop, it’s Grimm who manages to counter things into a reverse DDT! Both men are down and feeling different states of pain. Alexa Black is seen outside of the ring with trickles of blood forming around her gashed forehead. The referee administers the ten count on the participants. They are up and nearly the same time. There is a rather loud, disgusting sound of popping heard inside of the arena…
It’s Grimm working his spine back into order. Yukio takes some stinging jabs to the face. Grimm blocks any that come from Hiroshi. He turns his headbutt sideways as he gets Yukio between the eyes. Hiroshi falls against the ropes. Grimm runs his knee the midsection. Clutching the rope, he continues to lift the right knee over and over until Yukio gasping for some much needed oxygen. Yukio spins himself to the nearest corner. Flying shoulder block! Grimm goes mid-ring and returns with a running corner clothesline! Yukio staggers into a savate kick. It doesn’t put him down. Grimm throws in a second, a third, and a fourth to finally get him wobbly. Grimm throws himself into the ropes. He ducks under a running super kick. Grimm and Yukio collide with the Hangtown Horror drilling a SPEAR in the center of the ring. Phinheas remains over the behemoth for a pin.
1!
2!
3—Yukio kicks out!
Alexa is FUMING outside of the ring. The trace amounts of blood are streaking down her face now. She pulls herself partially on the apron. Grimm blinds her with a black mist. Alexa frantically drops down to the floor, her line of sight blinded. Grimm wisely focuses on his opponent.
Jerry Andrews: Alexa Black just got everything she deserved! Grimm is on fire as Yukio finds himself in serious trouble!
Ace Anderson: DEAD RECKONING!
A spectacular series of headbutts has rendered Hiroshi Yukio incapable of standing on his own two feet. Grimm put some extra intensity behind those. Almost like he was trying to pound him into dust. Grimm finds a corner top to climb on. Yukio staggers slowly to his feet with the assistance of the ropes, unaware of where Grimm is. When the moment is right…
THE HARVEST!
NO! YUKIO COUNTERS BY TURNING GRIMM AROUND AND DELIVERING THE YOKOHAMA DRIVER!
Fans are STUNNED by the sudden turn in events. Grimm had nearly completed the rotation in his finisher. Hiroshi somehow, someway, was able to power Grimm’s body around enough to hit his OWN finisher. Admist the LOUD booing of the faithful are scattered chants of ‘HOLY SHIT!’ Yukio drapes his arms over Phinehas as the referee has no choice but to count the pin.
1!
2!
3!!
NO!
NO!
NO!
Grimm is STILL alive! He just BARELY gets his shoulder off the mat. Yukio angrily has words, feeling like he did nothing of the sort. A misted, bloodied Alexa slams her hands on the mat out of shared anger. Yukio slowly returns to his feet, but he starts to pull Phinehas Grimm to the corner. Yukio has a foot on the middle rope. He now has the second one.
Jerry Andrews: This could be the BIGGEST upset of the tournament right here!
Ace Anderson: Grimm is about to be introduced to the other side of China…
Jerry Andrews (deadpanning): Hiroshi is from Japan, Ace.
MT. FUJI DROP MISSES!!
Grimm just NARROWLY dodges the devastating second finisher. Yukio’s rump rattles the ring. His eyes are wide. His face is marked with pain. Grimm is halfway on the apron. He DRAGS himself along the apron. Then the ropes. With all he may have left, he mounts the top buckle. Yukio finds his way into…
THE HARVEST! Grimm hits it this time and is floated over for the pin.
1!
2!
3!
The referee calls for the bell as this epic tilt is now officially over.
Sasha Greene: Here is the winner of the match, GRIMM!
A Perfect Circle serenades Grimm’s exit out of the ring. The referee leaps out to raise his arm high, as Kentucky’s own moves on to the semi-finals at Living a Legacy. But will it be Stacy Jones or Dominator that he’ll meet? Alexa Black has climbed into the ring to check on the fallen sumo...when all of a sudden…
Ace Anderson: WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE??
High Tide has shown up through the crowd. While Grimm is making his departure, Tide puts throws Alexa over the top rope. He then puts Yukio down with an Off the Plank! Getting himself a little measure of revenge for prior assaults. Tide exits back through the crowd with a strut.
Ace Anderson: He just signed his death warrant, Jerry.
Jerry Andrews (excitedly): Perhaps. Or perhaps Yukio and Alexa are sleeping with the fishes! Did you, just once, ever consider that?!
Ace Anderson: *sigh* We'll be right back.
The remaining tournament bracket is shown on a close up. This time, it isn’t to usher in the betting pool of the World Champion. Instead, this segment is brought to you by Seromine and Destiny. There is nothing special about where the dry erase board is set up at. It’s just in a random room. There are no candles lit. Instead, they have elected to go with the provided light fixture in the ceiling.
“Well my love, tonight is the night that I end the ‘last chance’ of the battle royal winner. How fitting. He shows up having no other participation in this charade. He eliminates those who did and now gets to meet the exact same fate as them.”
Destiny uses the black marker in her right hand to scribble out Darren’s name. She writes her husband’s in the semi-final bracket.
“There is a good chance I get to put down two champions in one night. Dominator may very well make the final still undefeated. So not only would I walk away the winner of the tournament on my first try, I would also be the only person to have beat the Underground Champ!”
Destiny smiles as she crosses off the name of Dominator. For good measure, she erases that of Stacy Jones. “But what of the Hangtown Horror?” she asks.
“What of it? Should Grimm find himself able to get by two of the biggest men in PCW, he’ll be in no condition to withstand the onslaught I’ll bring to him.”
Destiny’s smile widens as she finds childish glee in putting an X through his name. That of Hiroshi Yukio is erased.
“That leaves two.”
“Last week I proved yet again that I have the number of Justin “Stormm” Michaels. Tonight, it’ll be the turn of our brother, Gabriel!”
Her smile begins to lessen.
“Fret not. Michaels is anything but a threat on our road to victory. After you knocked him silly last Trauma, he’ll be lucky if he even remembers how to enter the ring. As for Gabriel...”
Seromine pauses mid-speech as Destiny alerts him to something. Or someone. Her smile has now completely sunk into a scowl.
Enter Gabriel. Seromine takes a quick double look at his wife, noticing her expression. He whispers something in her ear that brings a smile back. She turns her back to them as she attends to the board. As ‘jovial’ as he can be, Seromine greets his lone follower.
“BROTHER! We were just talking about you!”
Gabriel isn’t sure how to take that, given recent events, but he doesn’t proceed with anything but acceptance.
“My Lord, I just wanted to say...”
Seromine cuts him off.
“Don’t worry about it. All is forgiven. Right, Destiny?”
She side-eyes without turning her body around. “It’s like my mother always said; If the water isn’t flowing under the bridge, it’s flooding the valley.”
“You see? Time is a great healer. Besides. We all know that people like Kyle Shane. People like Stormm. People like Tyler Scott. They have tried to distort the message of GOD. Have tried to lead you astray from the lessons I have given you. You know why? Because they are trying to control you, Gabriel. They spew the vileness of your former name in a desperate attempt to remind you of your sinful past. They see you as weak. WE don’t. Right, Destiny?”
This time she turns around. Her attitude has taken a positive turn as she speaks with enthusiasm. “Whatever made you hammer away on Tyler Scott like you did, well, concentrate that same aggression on Justin “Stormm” Michaels. You saw how he put Jason through the announce table...”
Seromine intimates that his poor back suffered because Stormm chose to play dirty.
“I made sure he got what he deserved. Jason beat him for the win. Now it’s YOUR turn, Gabriel. Go out there and punish him as God would want you to. As WE want you to!”
Gabriel looks ready to do just that. Before he can respond to her, Seromine interrupts a second time.
“To show you that all is forgiven...”
Seromine picks up a steel chair, offering it to Gabriel. “I am willing to pay for my own sins. I want you to do to me as I did to you. Yes, I know that means I will be at another disadvantage in my match, but no matter the odds, no matter the disadvantages, I WILL be victorious! GOD spoke to me, Gabriel. He wants you to make things right!”
Seromine turns around with his arms held out. Gabriel has the chair in his hands, looking at it with great uncertainty about this request. The dents in the metal are there because of the shots he received from it. Ultimately he cannot bring himself to assault his Lord. Destiny informs Seromine of his decision. He turns back around.
“This is not a failure, Gabriel. You know now what you must to do Justin Michaels. Punish him! Make sure that if he somehow manages to advance, he won’t get to Living a Legacy in one piece. Go now, brother. It’s your time to WIN AGAINST SIN!”
Gabriel departs the room on a mission to carry out that very request.
“2 Peter 2:4. For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell, delivering them in chains to be held in gloomy darkness until their judgment.”
Seromine and Destiny share a subtle look. Her smile tells the whole story, while Seromine hides the truth deep inside of his soul. As they leave the room, the bracket is shown with only his name remaining on it. The show returns to Jerry and Ace.
Jerry Andrews: "I don't trust those two."
Ace Anderson: "They wouldn't lead Gabriel astray!"
Jerry Andrews: "You really have drank more than your fair share of the Kool-Aid, haven't you?"
Ace Anderson: "You mean like you and cheap Scotch?"
The scene returns to ringside.
Sasha Greene: The following is a second round match of The Icemann Invitational Tournament, scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, she weighs in at 150 lbs, STACY JONES!!
At ringside, all of the lights turn off suddenly, unceremoniously plunging the entire arena in darkness.
Spotlights appear, in purest white light and begin searching across the crowd, ring, ramp and eventually settling on the stage.
The lights flicker from white, to blue, to white again before the sounds of shattering glass are heard echoing through the arena and the spotlights seem to dissipate.
A moment of silence that hangs throughout the arena until the lights flash on and off, bright and sudden, like a strobe effect before a pyrotechnic crackles around the big screen as "Awake and Alive" by Skillet plays, the spotlights back now, the bright white light appears to dance around the crowd as a blonde haired woman walks out on to the stage ready to tackle the challenge ahead of her.
The camera gets up close to the stage to get the woman on screen. She is wearing black wrestling tights emblazoned with an angel wing design around the top and a white belt. On top, she wears a black and white matching top and shoulder pads with a pair of sunglasses as she confidently walks to the ring to face her opponent.
Jerry Andrews: Make no doubts about it, this young lady has made an impact in her matches since the first round of TIIT. From defeating Gerard Angelo in the first round, to hanging in against three of the most elite competition in Grimm, Seromine and Stormm last Trauma. Stacy Jones is truly turning a lot of heads.
Ace Anderson: I feel like she's used to that...
Jerry Andrews: Alright, Ace, keep things professional.
Ace Anderson: I'm not being inappropriate! I swear! The memo I got from human resources did it's job.
Jerry Andrews: Sigh... but moving along, Ace, does Stacy have what it takes to make it to the semi finals, AND topple the massive Underground Champion amid the tear he's been on?
Ace Anderson: Well that, we can all keep an eye on. Wink. Aw, dammit, I'm doing it again!! Sorry, HR.
Sasha Greene: And her opponent, he weighs in at 365 lbs, he is the reigning Pure Class Wrestling Underground Champion... DOMINATOR!!
The lights slowly fade to black. Flashes of cameras give intermittent glimmers of the darkened surroundings. There is a moment of silence as the crowd awaits with anticipation. The Tron slowly illuminates with the image of a ticking clock as the opening drum beats to Breaking Benjamin’s “Evil Angel” echo throughout the arena. The crowd suddenly comes alive as the guitars make themselves heard. As the first verse begins to play, he finally appears on the top of the stage…
…DOMINATOR…
The Zenith glares towards the crowd massed to his left, then to his right before slowly raising his left arm into the air, revealing a gold plated watch that envelopes his wrist. A shower of orange sparks begin to fall from the top of the Tron, briefly masking the Entrance Video as Dominator shows off his bulging biceps to the crowd.
He slowly walks down the ramp with a gleam in his eye, a wicked and arrogant smirk spread amidst his dark stubble. He makes no attempt to slap hands with the fans. He reaches the ring apron, grabbing the middle rope to haul him onto the side of the ring. He pushes down the top rope with his right hand, throwing one foot over the top before the other follows. He slowly makes his way to the center of the ring, turning a full three hundred and sixty degrees to admire the capacity crowd before raising his arms in the air in the exact same manner as he had done atop the entrance ramp, lifting them with malicious purpose to display the watches covering his wrists.
He cricks his neck back and forth before swinging his arms in preparation for the impending fight. All the while, that devious smile is still on his face and he looks to make eye contact with his opponent without a single hint of intimidation. The music slowly fades, the lights returning to a more average level of illumination as Dominator waits with masked enthusiasm for the start of the match.
Non-Title Match
Icemann Invitational Tournament Quarterfinal Match
Dominator (PCW Underground 👑) vs Stacy Jones
Referee: Tyrone Little Jr.
The ref orders the bell rung. Dominator and Stacy Jones both circle the ring before going for a tie-up. Dominator immediately flings Stacy halfway across the ring in a display of strength. Stacy rolls to a crouched position and eyes the bigger Dominator warily. She comes back towards him for another tieup, but gets thrown to the mat with the same result. Stacy shakes her head in irritation, as she gets back up to her feet. She moves towards Dominator, who smirks a little at the size differential between them. Stacy sweeps in and gives him a kick to the hamstring, then another, and another. She tries for one more, but Dominator grabs her foot and places a hand on her chest and physically hurls her across the ring. Stacy, dazed, pulls herself up on the ropes. Dominator tells her to come on.
Ace Anderson: Not neccessarily a knock against Stacy, but there's simply no way around it... she can't equal the great strength and power of Dominator.
Jerry Andrews: I doubt that that's what she has in mind. Furthermore, knowing Stacy like we both do, she isn't going to stop fighting.
Stacy ducks under Dominator's outstretched hands and gives him a forearm shot to the mouth, then she lights up his legs with a few kicks, including a straight stomp right on the knee. Stacy backs up to the ropes, but Dominator gives Stacy a back drop that sends her sailing high into the air and crashing down on the mat. Stacy shouts in pain and holds her lower back.
Ace Anderson: Dominator just gave Stacy some flying lessons!
Dominator lifts her up with ease and plants Stacy with a scoop slam. Stacy grits her teeth and hisses in pain, as she holds her lower back. Dominator lifts Stacy back up, clubbing her over the back a few times, which completely floors Stacy. Dominator irish whips her to the ropes, and as she comes back off Dominator swings for a clothesline but Stacy ducks under it and keeps running to the opposite ropes. She flings herself at Dominator for a Thesz press, but Dominator catches onto her in midair, holding her in a bear hug of sorts before lowering her across his knee with a Manhattan drop. Stacy sits down on Dominator's knee, as Dominator pulls her into a facelock and drops her to the mat with a DDT. Dominator then rolls over on top of Stacy, attempting to lock on a standing camel clutch submission. Stacy reaches out quickly and scoots to the ropes before the hold can be fully applied. The referee tells Dominator to break the hold and he does, holding his hands up innocently. Dominator lifts Stacy up, and whips her into the corner. He comes in looking for a corner splash but Stacy quickly slips out so that she's halfway onto the apron, sitting on the middle rope with her legs out. Dominator hits the turnbuckle and staggers backwards. He turns towards Stacy, to one side, and she tilts back and brings her legs up, connecting right in his face. Dominator stumbles back, and Stacy gets back into the ring. She gets a running start and then dropkicks Dominator right in the knee.
Jerry Andrews: I think Stacy has found her own strategy as a way to take Dominator down.
Stacy grabs Dominator's leg and hooks his foot under her arm as if for a DDT and then drops back, slamming in on the mat. Dominator grimaces and holds his leg and knee. Stacy straightens the leg out and then drops a knee across the leg. Then she puts all her weight on it as she grabs his foot and bends upwards, twisting it. Dominator groans and tries to push her off. He reaches for her, but she moves back out of his reach. The referee asks if Dominator gives up, but Dominator says no. Dominator swings at her, but again Stacy moves her head back, as she continues twisting upwards on his leg. Again, the referee asks if Dominator will give up, but he refuses. Finally, Stacy releases the hold. She gets to her feet and gives Dominator a low straight kick right to the sternum as he sits up. After she knocks Dominator down on the mat, she runs off the ropes, does a cannonball and comes across his chest with a leg drop. Dominator rolls around, holding his throat. Stacy pins him.
The referee: One... Kickout.
Dominator gets to one knee, as Stacy boots him down a little. Suddenly, Dominator comes out with a European uppercut that nearly knocks her head off. Dominator gets to his feet, limping a bit. Dominator turns Stacy around and clubs her over the back. He hooks her head and lifts her up into a vertical suplex. He holds on for a moment, stalling and turning her around as he holds her up in the air in a display of strength, before bringing her crashing down to the mat. Dominator plants Stacy into the mat with another scoop slam. His face is deadly serious as he paces around, staring at her. Dominator pulls Stacy back up into a waistlock, and begins giving her a German suplex. Stacy scrambles over to the ropes and grabs on to the top rope, holding on for dear life and attempting to block it. Dominator clubs her across the back a few times, as he tries to suplex her, but she hangs on. the referee tells them to break it up out of the ropes. Dominator and the referee argue for a moment, as Stacy continues holding on to the ropes. Dominator finally turns back to Stacy, who slips out onto the apron and gives Dominator a kick to the midsection. Stacy then hangs grips Dominator's head and pulls it down, hanging him up throat first on the top rope. Dominator goes stumbling back, holding his throat. Stacy gets back in the ring and takes Dominator down with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Stacy waits for Dominator to recover, and she attempts to give him a leg drop bulldog, but Dominator ducks his head under it and waits until her leg is perpendicular to his head and then he grip on to it, as he gets to his feet, lifting her up onto his shoulders and countering into an electric chair drop. Dominator lifts Stacy off the canvas and gives her a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, leaving Stacy laying across his knee. Dominator then lifts the smaller opponent as he stands up, and drops her with a back suplex. Dominator walks away towards one of the corners as Stacy slowly makes her way to her feet, and as Dominator circles around he nails Stacy with a big boot to the face that sends her off her feet. Stacy lays on the mat, dazed and not knowing where she is. Dominator lifts Stacy back up and whips her off the ropes. As Stacy bounces off the ropes, Dominator lifts her up onto her shoulder before dropping her with a powerslam. Dominator covers...
Ace Anderson: Stacy has taken quite a pounding in the early moments of this match, and it shows she can -
Jerry Andrews: Don't you say it, you'll get another email.
Ace Anderson: -- not afraid to hang in there despite adversity. There. What.
Jerry Andrews: Everyone knows what you're doing, Ace!
Ace Anderson: I don't know what you're talking about!
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Stacy rolls outside the ring to recuperate. Dominator follows right behind her. After a moment, Stacy starts to get to her feet. She makes her way around the ring. Dominator pursues Stacy around the ring. Stacy comes around the corner where the announcer table is, and she jumps on the corner of the table just as Dominator comes around the corner by the ringpost. Stacy jumps back with a springboard forearm knocking her back against the barricade and knocking Dominator back against the ringpost. Dominator then launches himself forward going for a clothesline, but Stacy ducks and Dominator gets nothing but ringpost. As Dominator backs away from the turnbuckle holding his shoulder, Stacy takes him down to the padded floor with a springboard legscissor off the ring apron. Dominator rolls to the outside, and the ref is counting them both out. Stacy rolls back in the ring, staring at Dominator with intense focus. Dominator, meanwhile, is pulling himself up. Stacy goes for a baseball slide, but Dominator moves out of the way and lets Stacy go by her. Dominator goes for a clothesline, but again Stacy ducks. Dominator and Stacy both rise to a standing position as Dominator wraps his arms around Stacy's waist and powers her into the ring apron with force, as Stacy screams. The referee has begun counting them out again. Dominator drags a limp Stacy over to the announce table and begins clearing it off. Jimmy and Ace Anderson scatter. Dominator scoop slams Stacy onto the announce table, then he walks over and climbs onto the Spanish announce table, gets a running start and gives her a big running leg drop on top of the announce table.
Jerry Andrews: The action came right to our doorstep, but we -
Ace Anderson: Don't hurt me, I bleed easily, I'm a hemophiliac!!
Jerry Andrews: You're a true soldier, Ace Anderson.
The referee is at a count of 8. Dominator quickly walks over and rolls in the ring and back out to break the count. Dominator then rolls Stacy back into the ring before entering the ring himself. Stacy grabs her by him arm and attempts to whip him to the ropes, but Dominator resists by planting his feet. He sends her into the far ropes with everything he has. Stacy hits the ropes fast, so fast in fact that Dominator can't get to his feet completely by the time she returns, Stacy runs off the ropes and as she comes back, she performs a short modified reverse hurricanrana to the doubled over Dominator that drives him face first into the canvas. Stacy then locks on a Fujiwara armbar, yanking Dominator's arm and shoulder as she wrenches it upwards. The referee asks Dominator if he gives up. Dominator refuses. Stacy bends his arm back at an uncomfortable angle, but Dominator still refuses to give up. Stacy breaks off the hold, and using her boot, she pushes Dominator over to the corner under the bottom rope. Stacy walks to the outside, and she grabs Dominator's arm, flinging it with force under the bottom rope into the steel ringpost. Dominator yells with pain. Stacy gives him several more of these attacks with the ringpost, until the referee shouts at her that he is about to disqualify her.
Jerry Andrews: I have never seen Dominator in such agony before, and this is a man who's gone through barbed wire and plate glass in an effort to retain his Underground championship!
Ace Anderson: Yep, I'm impressed, have a small fear tent being pitched in my pants, and am in awe at Stacy Jones' game plan. She's countered the power of Dominator and breaking him down piece by piece.
Jerry Andrews: The undefeated, unstoppable Dominator, it should be noted. If Stacy can wear him down, then she could not only bounce him out of TIIT, but she could give him his first L in one-on-one competition here in PCW.
Stacy is holding her hands up on the outside, standing back from Dominator's arm, as the referee admonishes her... and then she goes right back to it, putting a foot against the pole to brace as she grabs the wrist, and the audience at ringside cringes to see it pulled back against the post in a manner that human limbs just don't. Dominator actually lets out a loud scream of pain. Stacy screams for him to give up. Finally, Stacy releases Dominator's arm. Dominator, grimacing in pain, crawls away from the corner, as Stacy gets back in the ring. Stacy stomps on Dominator's fingers. She grips his arm, trying to lift him up and twist the arm at the same time, but Dominator explodes with a clothesline from his free arm that flips Stacy completely over. Dominator gets to his feet, shaking out his injured arm. Dominator lifts Stacy up and whips her off the ropes, giving her a one-armed version of a back body drop on the return. Dominator paces around, a determined expression on his face. Stacy gets to her feet, and Dominator boots her in the gut and goes to give her a DDT. Stacy spins out of it and wrings his arm. Stacy floats behind him with a hammerlock, but Dominator elbows her until she loosens the hold. Dominator runs her backwards until she is rammed into the turnbuckles with force. Stacy releases the hold, and Dominator pulls her out with one arm and plants her with a sidewalk slam. Dominator then nods to the referee and he turns Stacy over and applies a modified camel clutch, wrapping Stacy's arms around her throat and pulling back. Stacy lets out a choked yell of pain.
Ace Anderson: On one arm! Dominator smashes Stacy into the mat with one arm!!
Jerry Andrews: Despite the fact that his arm must be killing him to even move it, Dominator still fights on.
Ace Anderson: Haven't you heard? Dominator doesn't quit. He's only said it fifty times.
The referee asks Stacy if she gives up, but Stacy refuses. Dominator finally releases the hold after several more moments. He brings his backside down with force across Stacy's lower back. Stacy tries to get to her feet, but Dominator lifts her up, clubbing her relentlessly over the back with his good arm. He lifts her up on his shoulders, going for an air raid crash. Stacy wiggles her legs and slides off his shoulders, then as he turns around and charges at her but Stacy sweeps his legs from under him with a drop toehold, rolls through and maneuvers as if to lock in a rolling single leg Boston crab, but then she repositions the legs and applies a grapevine inverted bridging STF, or sickle hold. Dominator's eyes bug out of his head at being caught in this unexpected submission. The referee asks if he gives up, but Dominator refuses. Stacy releases the hold, only to float over and bend both his arms back into a scissored armbar. Dominator yells in pain as his shoulder is wrenched. Stacy shouts that he has to give up. Dominator yells that he won't. Stacy simply tightens the hold. The crowd is getting behind it, with a "Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap" jeer.
Jerry Andrews: The lines of agony are carved deep into Dominator's face, and even his strength isn't enough to break free of the hold!
Ace Anderson: What good is having the power to deadlift 500 pounds if it feels like your arm has been through a wood chipper?
Jerry Andrews: A wh- what?
Ace Anderson: It's not a... perfect metaphor... Big bitch is hurting, okay? Shut up.
Several moments pass by. Finally, Stacy releases the hold. She shakes her head in frustration. Attempting to lift Dominator up, but he's too heavy. Stacy pounds on his injured shoulder. Dominator shoves her away. Stacy comes running back in and boots him viciously in the side of the head. Dominator stumbles and falls to the mat, facedown. Stacy stomps on his hand and then gives his arm a knee drop. Dominator yells and holds his arm in pain. Stacy motions for him to get up. As he gets to his feet, Stacy doubles Dominator over with a spinning back kick to the midsection, then she grabs his head in a bulldog position and then goes to the ropes, bouncing off and hitting a Stratusfaction-like springing bulldog.
Jerry Andrews: Stacy has the big man down!
Ace Anderson: I can't believe it!
Stacy then goes for a moonsault, but Dominator gets his knees up and Stacy hits midsection first across his upstretched knees. Dominator then pulls the dazed Stacy to her feet as she locks her into an abdominal stretch. Stacy groans in pain. The bigger Dominator has Stacy bent into an uncomfortable position. Stacy reaches out for the ropes but she can't move any closer. Finally, Stacy brings her foot down and stomps on Dominator's foot. She does it again, and Dominator finally releases the hold just enough for her to drop him with a Pele kick. Stacy drops to all fours as Dominator stumbles back. Stacy pulls herself up, and then she runs to the ropes and when she comes back, Dominator catches her and slams her to the canvas with a spinebuster. Dominator then grips her legs and turns her over into a Boston crab.
Jerry Andrews: Look at all that weight on Stacy's back as Dominator twists her body like a pretzel.
Stacy shouts in pain and flails her arms around frantically. Dominator sits back on the hold. The referee asks Stacy if she gives up. Stacy shouts "No!". Dominator increases the pressure, and she screams, then bites her hand to keep from screaming. The crowd is chanting "LET'S GO STACY" over and over. She tries to crawl the short distance towards the ropes, but Dominator's weight on her back won't let her budge. Stacy can't help but to scream at the pressure on her back.
Jerry Andrews: How can she stand being bent in half by a man twice her size?!
Ace Anderson: Yoga? Kama sutra? Contortism? I don't know, man, what do you want from me?
Stacy finally inches forward just enough and pulls herself out, and grabs the bottom rope. The referee tells Dominator to break the hold. Dominator aggressively holds on for just a moment. Finally, he gets to his feet. He and the official argue for a moment. Stacy gets to her feet at about the same time, only Stacy is holding her lower back. Dominator walks over toward Stacy, and Stacy quickly gives him a spinning back kick to the gut, then jumps up onto the middle rope before jumping up onto Dominator's shoulder and spinning him around in a circle before dropping him to the canvas with a tornado DDT. Stacy rests, grimacing and holding her lower back. She slowly gets to her feet. Stacy attempts to lift Dominator up, and goes for a snap suplex, but she is unable to due to Dominator's size and her weakened lower back. Dominator lifts Stacy up in a hanging chokehold, but Stacy quickly kicks him in the side of the head as she tries to grab him, and then as she falls Stacy trips Dominator over like a drop toe hold. Stacy then applies a falling leglock, contorting Dominator's knee painfully. Dominator screams, and flails her arms. the referee asks Dominator if he gives up, but Dominator refuses. Finally, Stacy releases the hold. Stacy gets to her feet in a bit of pain, and then as Dominator pulls himself up he eats several kicks to the hamstring, and then to the midsection. Dominator shoves Stacy away, and Stacy runs off the ropes, only to be caught and spun around with a side slam. Dominator covers...
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Dominator stalks Stacy as she gets to her feet. Dominator then gives her an Alabama Slamma. He paces around the mat for a second before walking over to the turnbuckle. Then he climbs up onto the middle turnbuckle and jumps off backwards, flinging his legs out and going for a corner slingshot splash but at the last second Stacy rolls out of the way. Dominator hits the mat chest first, and he starts pulling himself up on all fours, holding his chest. Then Stacy quickly takes his head off with a buzzsaw kick. Stacy paces around, holding her back, and Dominator once again gets to a crouched position, as Stacy comes running in and gives him a low doublefooted dropkick to the side of the head. Stacy goes for a cover.
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Jerry Andrews: Out of all the seeds in this tournament, of all the opponents, it's Stacy Jones who is taking the Underground Champion to his limit!
Ace Anderson: All innuendos aside, I'm seriously impressed... Stacy could go all the way! ...Heh, there's an innuendo in there.
Jerry Andrews: ACE!!
Stacy rests for a moment, then she attempts to float in to an anaconda vice submission on the injured shoulder of Dominator. Dominator pounds on her head, making her release the hold. Stacy gets up, and Dominator slowly starts to pick himself up. Stacy gets a running start at him and gives Dominator a hurricanrana, before twisting it around into an octopus hold. Dominator's eyes open up wide at being put into this excruciating hold, as he stands, with Stacy hanging onto his shoulders and tearing at his injured arm. The referee asks Dominator if he gives up. Dominator shakes his hand no, but he's starting to fade. The crowd is getting behind Dominator slowly but surely, and then he starts pulling himself up. Dominator's strength looks to be fading as Stacy steals his breath and bends his arm painfully back. Dominator screams with effort, as all her weight on his shoulders is pushing him down. He slowly starts fighting his way to his feet. Stacy hangs on to the submission. The ref asks Dominator if he gives up, but he refuses. He finally is able to pull himself completely up to his feet. Dominator then flings himself and Stacy backward, trampling her with a modified Samoan drop. Stacy releases the hold. Both Dominator and Stacy are down on the mat, recovering and trying to catch their second wind.
Jerry Andrews: We've witnessed what could be a war tonight!
Ace Anderson: Stacy has had an answer for the power of Dominator every step of the way. I hate to bet against the big guy, but tonight, could we be seeing him deeply out of his element?
Stacy rests in the corner, catching her breath, and Dominator also takes a few deep gasps of air. After a few more moments of breath gathering, Stacy Jones is the first up. Stacy runs off the ropes, and then Dominator swings at her for a clothesline but she ducks and keeps running, going right into the corner and running up the turnbuckles until she is on the top rope, then she turns and flies off with a crossbody. However, Dominator catches her in position to give her a front powerslam, then he flings her overhead with a fallaway slam. Stacy is thrown across the ring, and lands on the apron. Dominator walks back over and grips her by the head, and throws her back in the ring. Stacy holds her lower back and contorts around. Dominator whips Stacy into the corner and follows her in with a corner clothesline. Stacy slumps limply in the corner, as Dominator backs up to the middle of the ring and charges in, then nearly cuts her in half with a corner spear. Stacy stumbles out, holding her midsection, then flops down into a seated position in the corner at the bottom turnbuckle and Dominator comes charging in and gives her a running corner knee strike while she's in a seated position. Dominator then pulls a nearly lifeless Stacy out and pins her.
Jerry Andrews: Oh my GOD, what impact!!
The referee: One...
Two...
Thre... Kickout.
Jerry Andrews: I don't think Dominator even knew just how much effort he would have to put out to defeat Stacy.
Ace Anderson: She refuses to go down!... And you can take that any way you want.
Dominator grits his teeth and argues with the referee, telling him it was three. the referee assures him Stacy kicked out. Dominator has an intense look on his face as he lifts Stacy up. He boots her in the gut and attempts to give her a powerbomb. He lifts her up in the air. Suddenly, she reverses into a victory roll pin. The referee count the pin.
The ref and the crowd: One...
Two...
Thre... Kickout.
Stacy slowly gets to her feet, and gives Dominator a few kicks. Stacy boots Dominator in the gut and grips his head for a standing shiranui, but at the last second as she flips herself up he pulls his head loose and grips on to her, bringing her down across his knee with a harsh backbreaker. Dominator then lifts Stacy up and plants her with a, well, gutwrench slam, or...
Jerry Andrews: There it is, the Namesake!
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three... Kickout.
Ace Anderson: Man, Stacy is really showing me something.
Jerry Andrews: I know, she has shown a lot of heart in giving Dominator this test.
Ace Anderson: Well yeah, sure, that, but there's also a thong popping out of the back of her pants.
Jerry Andrews: I just have to report this. I can't -
Ace Anderson: It was you that dropped the dime on me?!
Jerry Andrews: If you would comport yourself with dignity -
Ace Anderson: I'm just calling the action!
Dominator grits his feet in frustration at Stacy and he lifts her up, clubbing her over the back, which knocks her down subsequently. Dominator grips Stacy, about to lift her up for a lifting reverse STO, but as he pulls her up, she pulls her head loose in midair and twists around behind Dominator, kicking him in the back of the leg and then as he drops to one knee, she runs and uses his knee as a springboard to hit a shining wizard right to the temple. Dominator drops down to the mat. Stacy rests, using the ropes to hold herself up, and motions for Dominator to get up, and when he does, shaking the cobwebs out, Stacy blasts him with a superkick. Stacy falls like a marionette with cut strings to the mat, and Dominator actually holds his vertical base for just a second before FLUMPH, face down on the mat. Stacy, craning her head up as if she doesn't know where she is, scoots over and rolls the big man on his back.
The referee: One...
Two...
Three... Kickout.
Stacy yells in frustration. She attempts to lift Dominator up to irish whip him again, but again, he resists and whips her into the corner. Stacy hits the corner chest first. Dominator takes a moment to recover, then he charges in to the corner, looking to splash Stacy from behind, but Stacy sees him coming out of the corner of her eye. She quickly hops up so that she is sitting on the ringpost and turnbuckle, with her legs out in the aisle, and Dominator hits the turnbuckle himself and staggers, then slumps in the corner, facing out into the middle of the ring. Then, Stacy pushes her off and performs a modifed split legged moonsault, but as she falls down she grips Dominator's head and drops down to the mat in a seated position with a sitout facebuster from the top rope. The crowd pops at this innovative move, and Stacy hooks the leg, going for a cover.
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three... Kickout.
Stacy runs off the ropes and then wrap her legs around Dominator, going for a wheelbarrow transition bulldog maneuver (think Rey Mysterio) but Dominator grips on to her legs, lifting her up, and then planting her forcefully into the mat with a wheelbarrow facebuster, then while she's prone in that position he immediately steps over her and locks on a standing camel clutch. Stacy's eyes widen. Dominator pulls back on the hold. The crowd is getting behind Stacy. the referee asks Stacy if she gives up, but she shouts, "NO!" Dominator shouts for her to give up, but Stacy refuses. Slowly, she begins to fade from the pressure on her. the referee starts to lift her arm, but she jerks it back. She motions that she isn't done yet. Dominator settles back on the hold, increasing the pressure, and Stacy yells out in pain. Stacy tries to crawl to the ropes, but they're just out of reach.
Jerry Andrews: Stacy is fighting with everything she has not to give up.
Ace Anderson: She has to, it's hopeless! Just give up, Stacy, there's nothing wrong with being a quitter!
Stacy pulls herself closer to the bottom rope, stretching out as far as she can. Finally, after several more moment, Dominator releases the hold, seeing that she won't give up. He attempts to pull her back into the center of the ring and apply the hold, but she slips out from between his legs and quickly grabs on to the rope. The referee comes between them to make sure nothing happens while Stacy grabs the rope. Dominator backs off, and Stacy comes out of the ropes, and as Dominator swings for a clothesline, Stacy ducks under it and she kicks his kneecap out. Dominator roars and falls to one knee Stacy shouts for Dominator to get up, and she goes for a leg drop bulldog, but as she does he pulls his head from under her leg and hits her with a clothesline while she's still in mid-jump that makes her do a flip or two in the air before crashing to the mat. Dominator walks over and rolls her over for a cover.
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THREE... Kickout.
Jerry Andrews: How are they both doing this?!
Ace Anderson: Both Dominator and Stacy refuse to give up!
Jerry Andrews: There's too much at stake for both of them to go down in this match.
Dominator puts his hands over his face in disbelief and runs his hands through his hair, staring at Stacy intensely. He lifts her up, and attempts to go for another lifted reverse STO, but Stacy slides around behind him this time and shoves the big man forward. He goes crashing into the corner turnbuckle with enough force to make him groan, hitting chest first! Stacy then motions that it's time for Divine Wrath. Stacy climbs onto the apron so she can get on the top rope behind Dominator, looking to pull her up there with him. She makes several motions to the crowd to get them behind her. However, this half second interval was all Dominator needed to turn around, bash her in the side of the head and climb up on the second rope, before hooking Stacy from the side much in the way he usually does for his finisher... and falling back, giving Stacy an ugly and DEVASTATING looking lifted reverse STO yanking her from her perch on the top rope!!
Jerry Andrews: OH MY GOD!!
Ace Anderson: What in the world have we just seen?!
Jerry Andrews: Stacy had a slight hiccup there trying to pull Dominator up onto the top rope with her, and in the seconds she hesitated, Dominator was able to lift her off with an Anachronism FROM THE TOP ROPE!!!
Ace Anderson: You know in cartoons where Wile E Coyote plummets into a canyon and there's a black cutout where their form would be, that's Stacy Jones right now.
Indeed Stacy got the worst of that fall backwards, but the effort and the grueling match have taken their toll on Dominator too, the fall knocked the wind out of the big man's sails. The referee is checking both competitors, about to make a decision whether to start a ten count or wave the whole thing off. The crowd decides to chant 1... 2... 3... 4...
Jerry Andrews: That super Anachronism took a lot out of the Underground Champion.
Finally the referee notes that Dominator is moving sluggishly. The big man is laying face down, but still going inch by inch. All told, he is barely able to make it half a foot over and flop an arm over Stacy, but at length he does.
Ace Anderson: He made it! Dominator made it!
Jerry Andrews: Come on Stacy, kick out! Kick out!
The referee and the crowd: ONE!
TWO!!
.........THREE!!!
Ding Ding Ding
Sasha Greene: Here is your winner, advancing to the next round... DOMINATOR!!
"Evil Angel" by Breaking Benjamin plays over the PA and Dominator falls to his back, wracked with pain. Stacy is just beginning to start moving, crawling into a fetal position from the continued pain. Dominator needs to reach out to the bottom rope to steady himself.
Jerry Andrews: Dominator made it through to the next round, but oh my God, we need to talk about Stacy Jones in this match.
Ace Anderson: She nearly toppled the 360 pound juggernaut that is our Underground champion, single handed. What a performance from Stacy Jones!
Dominator, holding his midsection, collects his title as he limps out of the ring and around ringside. Stacy, dejected and heartbroken, sits up, but the crowd is giving her a standing ovation for her performance in this match.
Jerry Andrews: Even though the Icemann Invitational goes on without her, you have to give it up for the heart of Stacy tonight.
Stacy stands, and holds her hand up, receiving the adulation of the fans as the camera switches to show Dominator, looking back down at her from the top of the ramp.
The cameras switch to backstage to a dark locker room. With a dim backlight, Tyler Scott can be seen stood over a sink, leaning towards the mirror, staring into his own reflection.
“4 losses in a row…”
“You failed to take the North American championship away from that pompous prick Justin Michaels.”
“You were eliminated from the Icemann Invitational Tournament in the first round by that delusional zealot Gabriel”
“You lost the last chance battle royal to some no-name gorilla."
“Maybe... this was a bad idea.”
“Maybe... coming back to Pure Class Wrestling was a mistake.”
“Maybe… you are not good enough anymore.”
“Can you keep doing this?”
“Can you be saved?”
The scene then returns to ringside.
Sasha Greene: The following is a second round match in The Icemann Invitational Tournament! Introducing first, he weighs in at 219 lbs... GABRIEL!!
The lights go out. Suddenly the arena is completely lit up with white light as the opening notes of "There's a World" by Neil Young play. Gabriel emerges, wearing a tan button up shirt, brown overalls and heavy dark boots. He clasps his hands together and smiles widely before walking down to the ring.
"There's a world you're living in
No one else has your part
All God's children in the wind
Take it in and blow hard.
Look around it, have you found it
Walking down the avenue?
See what it brings,
could be good things
In the air for you.."
Gabriel climbs the ring steps and pauses. He then enters the ring, says a quick prayer, and awaits his opponent/the start of the match.
Jerry Andrews: Well, we are halfway through this second round. Grimm had an impressive victory over Hiroshi Yukio in our opening match and Dominator got by Stacy Jones in what was one of the best matches I've seen in a while.
Ace Anderson: Stacy almost did the impossible there but Dominator advanced. And now we have two matches left in this round.
Jerry Andrews: It could be argued that Justin Michaels cost Gabriel his match against the Pure Class Wrestling World Champion last week, setting the stage for this clash in the second round of TIIT.
Ace Anderson: It could be said because it's a true fact. But then, I can't tell if Stormm wanted to stick it to Gabriel more, or to Kyle Shane.
Jerry Andrews: Regardless, Gabriel would love to bounce back from that, and a win tonight would put him in an interesting position.
Ace Anderson: If you had asked me going into this if Gabriel could go all the way to the end, it would be about the same odds as the Washington Capitals winning the Eastern Conference. But they made a believer out of me. And Gabriel is always looking to make believers, converts to his faith.
Jerry Andrews: That was... some segue there.
Ace Anderson: You don't even watch Sportscenter. Shut up, Jerry.
Sasha Greene: And his opponent, weighing in at 252 lbs, he is the Pure Class Wrestling North American Champion... JUSTIN "STORMM" MICHAELS!!
"NO-TOR-I-OUS!"
"SO NO-TOR-I-OUS!"
The arena lights dim down to a gentle glow and a dense fog begins to cover the entrance way. The fans start to rise to their feet as a sudden bright flash of light floods the crowd before a deafening crash of thunder rattles the foundation and leaves the arena in darkness. "Notorious" by Adelitas Way instigates a small riot amongst those in attendance as flashes of light, like lightning, are all that illuminate the arena for the Force of Nature, and Justin Michaels appears through the curtain and onto the stage.
"SO NO-TOR-I-OUS!"
Justin plays to the cheers of the fans from atop the ramp, and marches back and forth while interacting with those in attendance. He nods his head and points towards the fans recognizing all the support they provide before turning his attention back to the ring, and starts to make his way towards the squared circle.
The Force of Nature interacts with fans on his way down the ramp as the first verse of "Notorious" accompanies him, but he never gets close enough to high five those begging for them, or to let anyone in the crowd touch him. The smile on his face is ripe with condescension, but the faithful are too amped up to notice. As he makes it to ringside, Stormm patrols around to the opposite side of the ring and gives a salute towards Ace and Jerry before hopping up onto the apron, and motions to the crowd once more.
Justin climbs through the ropes and immediately scales the nearest turnbuckle to raise his hands into the air for all to see. The flash bulbs surge throughout the dark arena, mimicking the lightning flashes, and the chorus of his theme song helps set the mood as the lights finally brighten back to the venue's usual lighting. Justin repeats his actions and poses on the turnbuckle in the opposite corner before hopping down from the corner as his music fades out, but the overwhelming applause does not as he stands the ready for his match.
Non-Title Match
Icemann Invitational Tournament Quarterfinal Match
Justin "Stormm" Michaels (PCW North American ©) vs Gabriel
Referee: Tyrone Little Jr.
Ace Anderson: And you know based on last Trauma he's willing to do anything to stick in the mind of Kyle Shane. I'm surprised our World Champion isn't paying more attention to this round.
Jerry Andrews: I think I saw him being herded to the office.
Ace Anderson: Here they go!!
The two men circle each other, and go to lock up. Michaels stops at the last second, and turns to play to the crowd. Gabriel waits for a moment, and then Michaels turns back toward him and holds his arms out. They go for a collar-elbow tieup, and Michaels pushes Gabriel back towards the ropes. Gabriel pushes back and the two jockey for position for a moment, before Michaels twists Gabriel's arm with an arm wrench, and then works it into an wristlock. Gabriel drops to his back, and uses his legs to push Michaels off, and he gets quickly up to his feet, but Michaels stops him by holding out his hand. Gabriel calls for another tieup, test of strength style, and the two men lock hands and Gabriel starts to push Michaels down to his knees. Gabriel laughs, and he yells "BELIEVE IN SEROMINE!" as he exerts more pressure, and Michaels slowly starts to buckle, and the Michaels falls to his back and uses his legs to kick Gabriel off and fling him into the air. Gabriel quickly lands on his feet, but as he turns around Michaels takes him down with an arm drag. Gabriel slaps the mat, and tries to pull free, but Michaels twists his arm into an armbar. Gabriel screams. Michaels twists his arm, and Gabriel reaches for the ropes, but they're out of reach. Suddenly, Gabriel flings his free elbow back into the side of Michaels’s temple, then another, then another, making Michaels release the hold. Michaels crawls to his feet, and Gabriel gets up, shakes his arm to get some feeling into it, and runs at Michaels for a clothesline. Stormm scouts it, takes Gabriel to the mat with a judo takedown, and holds on to his arm, twisting it into a keylock.
Jerry Andrews: Stormm is using his technical expertise to it's fullest.
Gabriel screams, as Michaels cinches in the hold. The crowd is starting to get behind both men, and Gabriel is pushing himself up with his free hand. With Michaels still holding his arm behind him in a keylock, Gabriel pushes over so that Michaels's shoulders are pinned to the mat. The ref counts...
Referee: One... Kickout.
Jerry Andrews: As we noted before, Gabriel is a cagey, dirty fighter, he'll use any technique in his arsenal to get the advantage. Not very pious of him.
Ace Anderson: Just answer me this, is Sasha out of danger? Beautiful Sasha...
Jerry Andrews: Please... stop... being... creepy.
Michaels gets to his feet, and pulls Gabriel up. He goes to whip Gabriel to the ropes, but Gabriel reverses, sending Michaels to the ropes. At the last second, Michaels hops up to balance on the second rope for a moment, then springboards off and takes Gabriel down with a flying arm drag. Gabriel gets to his feet, and Michaels takes him back down to a sitting position with a snapmare, then runs off the ropes in front of Gabriel and comes in with a baseball slide dropkick to the face of Gabriel. Michaels covers.
The referee: One... Kickout.
Michaels gets to his feet and grips Gabriel's arms, and pulls them back with a knee in Gabriel's back in a surfboard submission. Gabriel screams, and tries to get to his feet, but Michaels pulls back on the hold. The ref asks Gabriel if he gives up, but Gabriel does not reply. Gabriel slowly starts getting to his feet, and he twists around and before Michaels can react, Gabriel drops down with a surprise jawbreaker. Michaels lays on the mat, holding his jaw. Gabriel rests for a moment, then gets to his feet, pulling Michaels up. He clubs Michaels over the back several times, and then Michaels fights back by flinging an elbow into his midsection. Michaels starts getting to his feet as he lays a few rights and elbows into the face of Gabriel, but Gabriel cuts him off by viciously raking the eyes.
Jerry Andrews: Gabriel is so vicious, like a wild animal of some kind.
Ace Anderson: He does come across more Discovery Channel and less Jerry Falwell sometimes, but he is Seromine's number one guy.
Jerry Andrews: Yes, but ask yourself this, what would Seromine feel if Gabriel advanced tonight?
Ace Anderson: I dunno, let me get my magic 8-ball, "Answer cloudy, try again later?" What?
Michaels turns away, scrubbing at his eyes, and Gabriel grips his head and takes him down with a reverse neckbreaker. Gabriel drops an elbow across his chest, then several more. He starts to go for a cover, but pulls off. He lifts Michaels up, and whips him to the ropes. He swings for a clothesline, but Michaels ducks. Michaels turns around, right into a knee to the midsection from Gabriel, who then plants Michaels with a facebuster. Gabriel nods, and points to his temple. He applies a rear chinlock submission to Michaels as he wraps his legs around Michaels's midsection in a body scissors. Michaels flails his arms, but Gabriel has the hold in tightly. Michaels screams "No!" and continues flailing his arms and trying to reach for the ropes. Gabriel keeps his legs firmly grapevined, and the chinlock in place.
Jerry Andrews: It seems that, try as he might, Stormm can't get out from between Gabriel's legs!
Ace Anderson: Don't you dare try to make Gabriel seem perverted, when he's on his knees bowing to Seromine every morning - oh my God I'm doing it too.
Stormm looks to be starting to fade. The ref holds his limp hand up, once, twice... on the third time his hand stays in the air as Stormm starts getting his second wind. Michaels screams with effort as he pushes Gabriel's legs apart, and slowly starts making his way to his feet. Finally, Michaels is on his feet, and he flings an elbow back into Gabriel's midsection, then does it again, and again, trying to make Gabriel loosen the hold. Michaels starts to break free and run off the ropes, but before he can, Gabriel grips him by the hair and dashes his head down to the mat with force. Gabriel covers.
The referee: One…
Two… Kickout.
Gabriel holds his hands out to supplicate the crowd, yelling for them to join him in worship. receiving a pretty hefty shower of boo's. Gabriel pulls Michaels up, and whips him into the corner, then he comes in looking for a corner splash, but Michaels moves at the very last second. Gabriel staggers backwards, and Michaels quickly rolls him up from behind with a schoolboy. Gabriel breaks out of it rather quickly, and rolls Michaels into a small package.
The referee: One...
Two...
Stormm kicks out. Gabriel lifts him up and tosses him into the corner. He gives Stormm a quick corner splash and attempts a second one but Stormm ducks out of the way. Stormm quick drop kicks the knee out from under him, causing Gabriel to take a knee. He sends him over with a snap suplex and goes for the pin. Gabriel kicks out before it gets started, and Stormm forces him up and back down with a belly to belly suplex. Stormm rolls Gabriel over and hyperextends his arm with an inverted armbar with wristlock. Gabriel battles to the bottom rope quickly before it can get too far in. Stormm breaks the hold and delivers a few stiff kicks to the shoulder. The referee breaks up the tactics and allows Gabriel to get to his feet. Stormm quickly clubs him over the back of the head, following it up by placing Gabriel's throat on the middle rope and choking him. Gabriel flails his arms, as his wind is cut off. The ref begins warning Justin Michaels, who has his knee buried in Gabriel's back and is pushing with all his might as he pulls on the top rope for leverage. The ref begins a five-count to disqualification, and Stormm breaks at three. Then Stormm goes back to choking Gabriel on the ropes.
Jerry Andrews: What an aggressive display we're seeing from Justin Michaels.
Ace Anderson: You know, you can moralize about the disgusting antics of Seromine and the Followers all the livelong day, but when you get right down to it, they're saints.
Jerry Andrews: Their religion is just a lie based around worshiping a wicked man.
Ace Anderson: And Justin Michaels is a slimy piece of shit himself! Do you want to pull that thread, the only really good person in this entire building is probably the hot dog vendor.
Stormm breaks again, and then he grabs Gabriel's arm and wraps it up in the ropes, torquing it backwards with force. The ref once again warns Stormm about disqualification. Stormm eventually breaks, letting Gabriel up to his feet. They lock up and Stormm takes the same arm in with an arm wringer followed by a hammerlock. Gabriel attempts to roll forward but Stormm wrenches the hold in tight and suplexs him back. He goes for the pin.
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Gabriel lifts his shoulder up off the ground. Stormm lifts him up but Gabriel surprises him and flows around and sends his opponent over with a German suplex, but Stormm flips into a crouch. Gabriel and Michaels rise at the same moment, and Michaels boots Gabriel in the gut and drops down with a wicked looking DDT that leaves Gabriel nearly vertically driven into the mat. Gabriel flops over. Michaels takes a moment to begin stomping Gabriel, and stomps every exposed part of Gabriel’s body as he circles him. Finally, he drops a knee across Gabriel’s forehead. Michaels arrogantly holds his hands up.
Ace Anderson: You see, as much as the people dislike Gabriel...
Jerry Andrews: ...I think there might be mutual disdain for all parties.
Ace Anderson: Nobody is innocent, go for the holiest man.
Jerry Andrews: Well, doesn't Justin Michaels worship himself?
Ace Anderson: You might have me there.
Michaels lifts Gabriel up and gives him a harsh backbreaker, then stretches him across his knee. He shouts for Gabriel to give up. The ref asks over and over again if Gabriel will give up, but he refuses. Michaels stretches Gabriel further until his spine looks like it’s beginning to curve. Gabriel is contorting and throwing his arms around. Michaels finally settles for shoving Gabriel to the mat. He laughs in arrogance, and gives Gabriel a kick to the ribs. Michaels jogs around the ring, dancing and waiting for Gabriel to get up. When Gabriel gets up, he avoids a superkick, and Michaels turns around into a roundhouse kick. Gabriel whips Michaels into the corner and follows it up with a running enziguri in the corner. Gabriel picks Michaels back up, and shoves him back into the corner. He begins booting Michaels down a few times, and then he climbs up to the second turnbuckle and begins laying into Michaels's head with a ten-punch combo. As the crowd counts along, 1...2...3...4...5...6... Suddenly, Michaels pushes Gabriel off. Gabriel quickly gets to his feet and comes running in for clothesline, but Michaels ducks it and boots him in the gut. He sets Gabriel up on the top rope. He gives Gabriel a few right hands, then climbs up, motioning to the crowd as he gets set to give Gabriel a frankensteiner, but Gabriel headbutts him in the groin and pushes Michaels back to the mat. Gabriel flies off with a crossbody, taking Michaels down. Gabriel rolls into a cover, but Stormm rolls through it into a cover of his own. The ref counts...
The referee: One...
Two… Kickout.
Michaels gets to his feet, pulling Gabriel up and he grips Gabriel in a facelock, taking him down with a DDT. Michaels lifts Gabriel up near the ropes but Gabriel picks him up and faceplants him into the turnbuckle. The crowd moans as Michaels hits the pad face first. Gabriel shoves JSM into the turnbuckle so his shoulder rests against the turnbuckle post. Gabriel runs across the ring and front drop kicks Michaels in such a way to cause his shoulder to collide with the post. Gabriel jerks him out of the corner and applies a chicken wing arm lock to the arm he's targeted.
Jerry Andrews: Smart strategy by Gabriel, working that arm eliminates Michaels's strength advantage.
Ace Anderson: I'm trying to tell you, Seromine doesn't pick them for low intelligence. Just low resistance and original thought!
Gabriel jerks back on the arm, as Stormm screams and writhes in pain. Michaels starts crawling to the ropes, but Gabriel makes every effort to keep him in the center of the ring. Finally, Michaels is able to reach out and he grabs the bottom rope. Gabriel jerks him up but Michaels reacts quicker, dropping Gabriel across the top rope throat first. Gabriel goes falling back. Michaels lifts Gabriel up and plants him with a lifting t-bone suplex, flowing over for the pin.
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Michaels scoops Gabriel up off the mat and he drives him down with a rib breaker. Gabriel rolls out of the ring clutching his midsection. Michaels climbs out after him and he quickly lays the boots to Gabriel’s ribs. Michaels lifts Gabriel up and he rams him back first into the guardrail. The referee is counting both men out. Michaels lifts Gabriel up and he doubles him over with a hard kick to the gut. Stormm grabs a hold of and he throws him onto the concrete floor with a double underhook suplex. Michaels lifts Gabriel up and he rolls him into the ring. Michaels climbs onto the apron, raising his arms and taunting the crowd before slithering into the ropes. Gabriel is discombobulated, not knowing where he is as both get up to their feet, Michaels cuts Gabriel off with a knee to the gut. He takes Gabriel down with a snap suplex, Michaels lifts Gabriel up, gripping his arms and placing a boot behind his head and curbstomping him pretty hard. He goes for the cover.
The referee: One…
Two… Kickout.
Jerry Andrews: I think Stormm got a little too cocky there.
Ace Anderson: Cocky? Stormm? Never!
Michaels goes to lift Gabriel up, but is poked in the eye. Michaels stumbles away, holding his eyes. He checks his face. As he turns back around, Gabriel boots him in the gut, grabs him in a facelock and twists down for a front facelock cutter.
Jerry Andrews: Believe!!
The referee: One...
Two…
Thre… Kickout.
Gabriel, frustrated, hooks the leg for another pin.
The referee: One…
Two…
Thre… Kickout.
He does it again, as the ref repositions himself.
The referee: One…
Two… Kickout.
Gabriel slams his fists down on the mat.
Ace Anderson: Okay, it didn't work the first time, so why would you expect it to the next ten times you try it?
Jerry Andrews: The frustration is clearly mounting, this is a win big or go home for both Stormm and Michaels.
Ace Anderson: I can see that, but Gabriel cannot allow Stormm to get under his skin. Stormm is too cerebral, his game plan always works against you.
Gabriel lifts Michaels up to his feet, boots him in the gut, and hooks his opponent in a headlock, and then he screams to the crowd "THIS IS FOR YOU, MY LORD".
Jerry Andrews: Gabriel has Stormm hooked for the Word of the Lord!
Before Gabriel can hit it, Michaels breaks lose his arms and fights his way up where he has Gabriel lifted in the air in an electric chair position, Gabriel though drops down off Michaels's shoulders and pulls Michaels down into a rolling prawn hold.
Jerry Andrews: Beautiful counter by Gabriel!
The referee: One....
Two...Michaels clamps his legs together on Gabriel's temples, breaking the pin.
Jerry Andrews: Another close call.
Gabriel gets up, and holds his head for a moment, then he snarls down at Michaels and starts booting him. He slaps Stormm over the back of the head. Michaels, fired up and angered by the disrespect, punches him in the mouth. Stormm gets to his feet. Michaels goes for a punch, but it is blocked. Gabriel lands one of his own that stuns Stormm. Gabriel goes for an Irish whip, but Stormm counters. Stormm grabs the ropes as he hits them. Stormm charges at Gabriel but Gabriel drops down and Michaels tumbles over the ropes and to the floor. Gabriel takes a second to recover. Outside, Michaels gets to his feet. In the ring, Gabriel gets a running start and hits a slightly desperate suicide dive through the ropes with breakneck speed.
Jerry Andrews: Gabriel attempted something we don't usually see him do, with his history of injuries.
Ace Anderson: I think he's going for broke, or in his case, broken. What does he have to lose? (sotto voce) ...besides Seromine's respect and care.
Both men hit the floor but Stormm definitely gets the worst of it. The referee counts again. 1…… 2…… 3…… Gabriel stands up and he gives Stormm a very stiff kick to the ribs. Gabriel lifts Stormm to his feet and then he throws Stormm back first into the steel steps. 4….. 5….. Gabriel lifts Stormm back to his feet and then he destroys the Stormm with a stump pulling piledriver onto the concrete, drilling him head first. Gabriel is resting on the outside for a moment, but he is finally able to lift Stormm up and roll him into the ring. Stormm looks unconscious. Gabriel stumbles, and holds himself up on the apron. Finally Gabriel rolls into the ring, and slowly crawls over Stormm for a pin.
Jerry Andrews: Gabriel may be closing in on a victory!
Ace Anderson: Gabriel has really been showing a new fire in this match. I think even Stormm was unprepared!
The referee: One...
Two...
Three... Kickout.
Gabriel takes several gasping breaths and he looks over at the referee in shock. He pleads with the official to tell him that he got it, but he's taken enough of Tyrone Little's time. After another moment of pleading his case, he lifts Michaels up, but Michaels uses body positioning to put Gabriel's back between him and the ref as he gives him a hidden low blow. Gabriel’s eyes shoot open wide. Michaels pulls Gabriel down and hits a lifting inverted impaler DDT. He nods his head, smiling, and he lifts the limp Gabriel up. Stormm lifts Gabriel up to his feet again, giving him some forearms and backing him to the ropes. He whips Gabriel off the rope, and as Gabriel returns Stormm plants him with a textboox standing dropkick to the sternum. Gabriel goes flying back. Stormm paces over, clubbing Gabriel over the back, and he plants him with an STO backbreaker. Gabriel contorts around, holding his wounded back as he rolls to the apron. Michaels motions for Gabriel to get up, and as Gabriel slowly gets to his feet, Michaels tries to grab his arm and twist him down with a modified crippler crossface, but at the last second Gabriel pushes him off. Michaels turns around, and Gabriel spins him around and gives him a desperate sleeper hold drop. Gabriel is literally fighting for air in his lungs, gasping on the mat.
Jerry Andrews: Huge swing in momentum for Gabriel!
Gabriel desperately scrambles over for a pin.
The referee: One...
Two…
Three… Michaels gets his foot on the bottom rope.
Jerry Andrews: An eyelash away from Gabriel advancing in the tournament!
Ace Anderson: I've got to tell you, this year's TIIT has seen some heated battles, but none of them have as much attrition behind it as the bout between these two.
Jerry Andrews: That's because Justin Michaels sees himself, and not Kyle Shane, as the biggest threat to Seromine and his Followers.
Ace Anderson: He's certainly stepped up to that in this match.
Gabriel gets up with a snarl on his face. He fiercely begins measuring for Michaels to get up. Michaels pulls himself up slowly on the ropes, and then he turns, and Gabriel hooks his head in position for a headlock driver, but Michaels pushes Gabriel off, and when Gabriel turns Michaels boots him in the gut and hooks his arm, trying to take him down into the Eye of the Stormm. Before he can lock it in, Gabriel arm drags Michaels down to the mat. He hangs on, lifting Michaels up and whipping him to the ropes. Michaels catches himself before he collides with the turnbuckle. Michaels then meets an incoming Gabriel, coming in for a corner splash, with a stiff back elbow, and then Stormm goes up to the second rope and hops off, taking Gabriel down with an explosive flying shoulder block! Gabriel cuts a clip in midair. The crowd goes wild for these two men going all out in this match.
Jerry Andrews: Gabriel is down!!
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three… Kickout.
Michaels's eyes open wide in shock. He pulls Gabriel out into the middle of the ring, and goes for another cover.
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three… Kickout.
Michaels slams the mat in frustration. He begins throwing a tantrum, yelling the ref is ripping him off with slow counts. The ref assures him Gabriel kicked out. Stormm makes as if he’d backhand the ref, then he turns back to measure Gabriel. He lifts him up, as Gabriel looks to be lifeless but Gabriel gives him a boot to the gut, followed by a headlock driver out of nowhere!!
Jerry Andrews: Oh!! Gabriel finally hit it! The Word of the Lord!!
Ace Anderson: Gabriel is preaching tonight, amen!
Gabriel lays back and grabs a leg for the cover, bobbing his head.
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THREE... Kickout!!
Gabriel shoots up to a seated position, veins sticking out on his neck and forehead as he screams "WHAT!" Gabriel shoots to his feet and now he begins grabbing the ref by his lapels, shaking him and worrying him, telling him to rectify his mistake. The ref denies it and tells Gabriel it was a kickout. Gabriel argues for several more long moments. Stormm meanwhile is down and out on the mat. Gabriel then aggressively pushes past. He makes his way over to the turnbuckle and begins undoing the laces, yanking hard at it as he tries taking off the pad. Tyrone the ref goes "Oh no no no," and rushes over, trying to interject himself. There's a comedic little struggle as Gabriel and the referee jockey for position in the corner, as the ref tries to keep Gabriel from undoing the turnbuckle. However this time break has given Justin Michaels a chance to recover. Stormm spots Gabriel in the corner, gathering his footing from a kneeling position, and he gets set to rush in. He charges Gabriel in the corner, trying to splash him. But like the best matador possible, Gabriel ole's and... Michaels crushes the referee in the corner! That big 252 pound frame of Stormm goes smashing into a ref who looks about the size of a sophmore production of Our Town. The squashed Tyrone ref falls, broken to the mat. Stormm goggles in despair down at the ref.
Jerry Andrews: Oh, dear.
Ace Anderson: Why did we get a referee who looks as brittle as Benjamin Button in there for this match?! One hit and he's down!
Jerry Andrews: Will you shut up Tyrone may be hurt!
Ace Anderson: *Sobs* Better him than Sasha!!
Stormm's mouth turns down in an ugly frown as he looks at the fallen ref. Also, Gabriel has snuck up behind him, and is attempting to come from underneath with an uppercut low blow to the groin. But as the incoming fist snakes up between his legs, Justin Michaels senses it and grabs the wrist with both hands. There's a long beat as they stand there in some kind of impossibly phallic tableau, with Stormm holding both hands on Gabriel's wrist, looking back over his shoulder with the sternest "You fucked up now" face he can manage. Gabriel's eyes fly open wide.
Jerry Andrews: Oh, come on, Gabriel tried the sneak attack now!
Ace Anderson: Well, why doesn't the referee disqualify him. Referee, that is awake and conscious in this ring right now, disqualify Gabriel. Oh, that's what I thought.
Jerry Andrews: It's still not sportsmanlike, Ace.
Ace Anderson: But it's so satisfying to hit a man in the balls.
Maintaining wrist control, Stormm steps over the arm, so now he's holding both hands on Gabriels wrist and facing him chest to chest, and he pulls Gabriel in for a forearm smash. Gabriel responds back with a forearm smash, then Stormm responds with a headbutt. Gabriel stumbles back, Stormm sets Gabriel up in a suplex position, with his left arm over the back of Gabriel's head, and Gabriel's left arm over his left shoulder. Stormm then grabs Gabriel's left leg, lifting it up close to Gabriel's own torso, and then lifts Gabriel up into the cradle suplex position. Stormm then jumps a little, twirls about two hundred and seventy degrees, and falls on his stomach while Gabriel is forced to land on his neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Jerry Andrews: Stormm lands the Force of Nature!!
So annoyed at the intended nut shot and punch to the face was Michaels that he hits the move and then goes for the cover. But, of course, Tyrone the referee is still down and probably done for the night. So when Stormm lays in for the cover after the Force of Nature, he looks confident for two seconds as the crowd counts along joyously.
The crowd (but not the referee): ONE...
TWO...
THREE...
Stormm sees the problem now, and he angrily gets to his feet.
Jerry Andrews: Stormm had this match won!!!
He grabs the fallen tween sized ref by the shirt and starts trying to shake him back to life but the man's head lolls like a ragdoll. In the commotion, another referee is finally coming to run down to ringside. The new referee goes over to Stormm, yelling at him to put Tyrone the old ref down. Stormm flings his arms at him, yelling at him in frustration. It is at that moment that Gabriel slyly sneaks in and rolls him up with a schoolboy. The new ref enters the ring on a side facing away from Stormm's backside and Gabriels' pin, not noticing Gabriel has a handful of Stormm's tights.
Jerry Andrews: Wait a minute Ace, Gabriel has the tights, he has the tights!!
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THREE!!
Ding Ding Ding
Sasha Greene: Here is your winner, and advancing to the next round of The Icemann Invitational Tournament... GABRIEL!!!
"There's A World" by Neil Young plays over the PA as Gabriel releases the schoolboy as quick as he can so as not to get caught and in fact rolls out of the ring altogether, collapsing in a laughing, gasping heap on the floor, red faced. Stormm shoots to a seated position, complaining to the ref, telling him that Gabriel pulled his tights.
Jerry Andrews: I'm... I'm completely in shock at what we've seen... Gabriel beat Stormm! Gabriel beat Justin Michaels!
Ace Anderson: Gabriel continues on into yet another round of the Icemann Invitational... and he knocked Stormm out of it altogether! Stormm will not get a chance to go to his second TIIT finals!
Gabriel, celebrating wildly and thanking Seromine, laughs as he gets to his feet using the guardrail as a guide. Stormm stands up, looking shocked. The referee tells him he didn't see it when he tells him again he was cheated.
Jerry Andrews: This is the most unexpected upset of the tournament, Gabriel is one step closer to going all the way!
Ace Anderson: I knew the teachings of Seromine were going to pay off! Do you believe now, Jerry?!
Stormm snarls, gripping the ropes and pointing at Gabriel. He shouts for him to get his ass back in this ring. Gabriel laughs at him, tapping his forehead to signify he is too smart for that. Gabriel walks on up the ramp.
As Trauma returns, a dejected Justin Michaels is seen walking through the backstage area. Shane Dodge hurries after him, trying to get a word from the North American Champion. Before Dodge gets to him, Stormm turns a corner and walks right into Stacy Jones. The two stare at one another, neither willing to move out of the way or even consider apologizing.
Jerry Andrews: Uh oh.... both of these two are certainly feeling upset after their matches here tonight and....
Finally Stormm speaks.
Justin Michaels: Get out of my way.
Stacy Jones doesn't budge.
Stacy Jones: Now I know you're probably feeling a little angry after your loss tonight... but so am I. So maybe YOU should get out of MY way.
Stormm also doesn't budge. Stacy Jones continues to speak.
Stacy Jones: You know what? I'll move. You're the North American Champion after all.
Jones steps aside and Michaels slowly walks by. By Stacy isn't done talking.
Stacy Jones: However.... since we're both not doing anything for Living a Legacy now... why don't you put that belt on the line against me? If you're man enough, of course.
Stormm stops and turns back towards Jones. He nods.
Justin Michaels: You're on.
Michaels then walks away as Stacy Jones smiles.
Jerry Andrews: WOW! It looks like a huge match was just signed for Living a Legacy!
Back to ringside.
Sasha Greene: The following match is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first…
The pipe organ of “Be Still for the Presence of the Lord” echoes throughout the arena. As an angelic choir begins to sing the hymn, Seromine and Destiny enter from around the ramp in an open carriage, horse-drawn buggy. He halts the clydesdales, then assists her out of the ride. Slowly, the pair make their way down to the ring, stopping to “bless” some of those close to the barrier as a mixed reaction churns from the crowd.
Sasha Greene: From Anaheim, California. He weighs two hundred and forty pounds. Being accompanied by Destiny Willard, here is SEROMINE!
Seromine, dressed in preacher’s garb straight out of the 1800’s, walks arm-in-arm with his wife, who is also dressed in a very conservative, black dress with a white collar and cuffs and two white buttons on the front. His wide brimmed black hat and black coat lend a severity to his appearance as they make their way to the ring steps.
He lends his wife a gentlemanly hand up the stairs, holding the ropes for her as she enters, following quickly behind. He slowly makes his way around the ring, “blessing” the audience to a somewhat ungrateful reaction. Finally, he removes his hat and coat, handing them to his dutiful wife, while leaving his white button-up shirt and black ribbon bowtie on. Destiny kisses her husband as he holds the ropes open for her. She exits to ringside while he waits for his opponent.
Sasha Greene: And HIS opponent…
The lights dim in the arena and the opening drum beats of A Warrior's Call begins to play with strobe lights synced up. The crowd stands as the opening guitar riffs begin playing. The first words of the song -"Let's get ready to rumble!"-scream out of the speakers as Monsters huge frame steps out onto the stage. The crowd erupts into cheers at the sight of the big man. He raises an arm into the air and then brings it down as he begins throwing both arms down to his sides hard, warming up like a MMA fighter would before a fight.
Sasha Greene: From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Standing SEVEN FEET AND THREE INCHES. He weighs three hundred and fifty pounds. Here is DARREN “MONSTER” SILVAIRA!
Monster begins shadow boxing in sync wit the song and begins his descent down the ramp high fiving and bumping fists with the fans along the way. The words "Feel the power of a warrior" play and some in the crowd begin chanting the next part of the song.
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Let's get ready to rumble!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Monster throws his arms in the air in sync with the crowd, pumping them up more. Monster finishes ringside and walks the steps up to ringside. Without even grabbing the top rope, he throws one huge leg over and repeats the other, effortlessly stepping over the ropes and into the ring. Monster immediately heads to the opposite side of the ring and throws his arms in the air just as the song is coming to the next chorus. Monster throws a fist in the air as the crowd chants again.
"Feel the power of a warrior!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Let's get ready to rumble!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"A gladiator's left-hand hook!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Icemann Invitational Tournament Quarterfinal Match
Seromine vs Darren "Monster" Silvaira
Referee: Nigel Gale
DING!
DING!
DING!
“LET’S GO MONSTER! LET’S GO”
Nothing has happened yet and already there’s a chant. That is largely do in part to the hatred for one, Jason Willard, professionally known as Seromine and once known as “The Anarchist.” Destiny looks uneasy about the major difference in height. Seromine himself is in awe. He knew Monster was big, but to actually be across the ring from him? Whole different story. He is in NO hurry to jump into the fray. Darren, in a show of respect, offers a handshake to the Serpentine Sermonizer. Seromine looks at the massive reach, but doesn’t grant the gesture. He instead calls a “timeout” in order to hop out of the ring. He and Destiny confer amongst each other about what the hell to do.
Once something is decided upon, Seromine cautiously re-enters the ring. Darren waits on him to be ready. Seromine “shows” he comes in goodwill by shaking the referee’s hand first. He then returns the prior gesture by extending a hand to Darren. His gaze lowers down. There is a friendly smile from him as he shakes the hand of the longtime ring vet. Seromine is really laying on the platitudes thick here as he worms his way into gaining Darren’s trust.
Only to break it just as fast. Seromine slices and dices with lighting precision, the muscular legs on Silvaira. He works his way up like they were columns, targeting both sets of calves, hamstrings, and quads. Darren powers Seromine off of his feet in the process with just one of them. He takes a head over heels tumble. Seromine’s eyes are wide with shock, but the expression turns sinister. He races to his feet. Darren shows off that 84 inch reach. Seromine is quick enough to barrel roll underneath it, sliding between Darren’s legs.
He again goes to town on the tree trunks. Darren absorbs what he can before spinning around. Seromine looks briefly at him, but otherwise keeps working the legs over. Once he realizes that Darren is grabbing him, those kicks stop, and a ‘OH SHIT!’ takes its place. Seromine is FLUNG across the ring like a small child. The seven foot drop levels Seromine into a tailspin. He is on his feet, but Darren plows him OVER the ring post with a running shoulder tackle. Seromine ends up holding onto the post mid-flip, but he still eats a hard landing on the floor. Destiny races to her husband’s side. Darren bows to his opponent from inside the ring as he takes in the adulation of the PCW faithful.
Jerry Andrews: I think this is going to be my favorite match of the night, heh. Seromine is finding out what the battle royal participants did.
Destiny helps Seromine get to his feet. He seems disoriented about where he is. The frown on her face is telling. Seromine looks at his wife and appears to be talking up just how powerful “Monster” is. She looks towards Darren with fire in her eyes. Seromine releases himself from the comfort of his wife as he slowly returns to the ring apron. Seromine asks Darren to come over as he would like to introduce Destiny. The trusting Silvaira approaches. Seromine lowers himself. He drives his shoulder into the midsection of Darren from between the ropes. Seromine slingshots himself over his back. He spins around and charges into a chop block. Silvaira wobbles, but has a tight grip on the top rope. Seromine runs the length of the ring.
Silvaira stops him with that lengthy reach. Seromine is spun around on his heels from the precision palm strike. Darren ends up taking a spinning roundhouse kick to the ribs. It hurts him, but not to the degree Seromine wants. He is is hoisted way in the air so that Darren can look him in the eyes before giving him a trio of headbutts. Seromine is then sent skidding across the canvas with an unmitigated display of power. Destiny cups her mouth with wide eyed fear outside of the ring. Seromine has to use the ropes in order to get to his feet. He turns and takes the BIG RUNNING BOOT for his troubles. This sends him spinning over the top rope and to the floor. The faithful are enjoying every single second of this as they chant MONSTER in harmonious unison. As before, Destiny races to the aid of her fallen husband, showing great concern for his well being. Seromine...is laughing? “I’ve got him where I want him, babe!” he tells her from another world.
His head promptly lays back down with his eyes closed. Silvaira watches this take place from inside of the ring. Seromine has sat up as he hears the count of FIVE from the referee. Destiny once more has to help him to his feet. Seromine staggers to the apron. Darren uses his massive reach to pull Seromine into the air from his head. Destiny wraps her arms around Seromine’s waist, refusing to let go. A tug of war takes place, much to the amusement of the faithful. Destiny’s feet has begun to leave the floor. If he goes, so does she, and that appears to be something she is fine with. The referee has to intervene in the matter. Destiny rejects his instructions. Darren decides to lower Seromine so that Destiny is back on ground level.
Ace Anderson: Now that’s true love if I’ve ever seen it. Destiny is willing to save her husband at any cost.
Jerry Andrews: Save is right. Monster has absolutely dominated Seromine. I think I need a refill of popcorn!
Seromine sneaks a signal to Destiny. There is a smile developing on her face. Seromine drops Darren’s throat over the top rope with authority. He then is able to skin the cat. Darren catches him in an electric chair drop!! Seromine sits up and promptly falls back over following the over seven foot drop. Just as “Monster” gets to his feet, Destiny hops to the apron in order to dig her nails DEEP into his back. And she drags them all the way down, tearing his flesh open, so that blood has an escape plan. That stymies Darren right where he stands. There is a pained expression in his eyes as he puts a hand behind himself. He takes a look at the crimson return. It is just enough of a distraction for Seromine to come flying with a springboard. He kicks Darren’s hand back into his face. Seromine then starts to really go to town on the legs with precise, vicious aggression.
Darren reaches for him. Seromine rolls under and scores with a pele kick to the palm of his hand, driving it down to the canvas. Seromine double stomps on it as hard as he possibly can muster. He has Silvaira on a knee! Seromine interlaces his fingers behind Darren’s head as he pulls his face into stinging knee lifts. The referee starts the count on Seromine. He breaks each time at a whisker under five. Seromine backs up, and while listening to what the referee says, punt kicks Darren in the throat in order to take him down. Silvaira clasps his throat as he struggles to breath. Seromine unleashes the ABSOLUTION STOMP on the knees of Darren, with nine to each one. Silvaira attempts to sit, but takes a double stomp to his eye sockets. Seromine drops to his hands and knees as he is still reeling from the punishment he had taken. Darren’s hand finds Seromine’s throat. Seromine frantically throws the point of his elbow into the bend of Darren’s arm to free himself. Seromine saws away at the same point in an effort to prevent it from happening again. Silvaira writhes in pain, but he is able to throw Seromine over himself with the good left arm.
Bloodstains have pockmarked the canvas. Seromine’s slicing kick to the left arm sounds like someone having their arm broken. It’s enough to make some cringe, including Destiny, who recovers to show she wants Darren further cut down. Seromine cautiously goes to the legs. Darren bends like he is going to push Seromine off. But the innovative Seromine ends up somersaulting over with particular focus put on popping the right knee of Silvaira. The joint collides with Darren’s face to keep him down. He stretches the limb out, but is definitely favoring it. Seromine stretches it on the middle rope. He jumps, but Darren shoves him out of the ring with his left leg. Seromine tumbles over the rope and to the floor. Darren favors his right knee as he starts to slowly begin the ascension up. Seromine still has speed in him, beating Silvaira to the punch. He races back inside of the ring and is all over the right knee like a rabid animal. He powers it upright before unloading kicks behind the right knee. Silvaira fights through the pain to throttle Seromine around the throat. From a grounded position he scores with what sort of looks like a monkey flip, bringing his MMA background to the forefront. Darren has Seromine mounted, but Seromine has him deadlocked in a guillotine choke with his legs wrapped around the best he can get them.
Jerry Andrews: Seromine is going for a submission here!
Silvaira hugs Seromine and starts to power his way up, using his stronger left leg first. Seromine remains clamped. Darren has to time his breathing as that right leg has taken damage. One misstep and it could buckle. Seromine is in disbelief as Darren POWERS his way to his feet. Seromine slides his left hand under his own body. Darren buckles to his knees following what appears to be a clawing of his eyes. Seromine throws his weight down as Darren is driven with a DDT. Seromine arcs his his head backwards as he sees Destiny from an upside down point of view. She pokes her head between the ropes so that they can share a kiss.
All of this while Seromine maintains the guillotine choke.
Jerry Andrews: Of all the times for those two to feel like kissing…
Ace Anderson: You’re just jealous because the only thing you are used to kissing is the bosses ass!
Jerry Andrews: You can kiss mine, Ace. How about that? If I were Seromine, I’d be more worried about keeping Darren away from using his overwhelming power.
LET’S GO DARREN! LET’S GO!
The referee checks on Silvaira just as Seromine releases him. “HE’S DONE!” Seromine informs the faithful. He pushes the referee out of the way while ripping Darren’s head off the mat via his mohawk. Seromine leans in to study his deed. He again faces the crowd to repeat what he said, but this time with a pained laugh. Destiny chimes in with a round of applause and a victory skip around the ring. Darren’s eyes are closed. Seromine begins to smack him about the head, feeling pretty sure of himself.
“I HAVE SLAYED GOLIATH!” he triumphantly declares.
Destiny returns to where Seromine is, beaming with happiness. Only...it begins to slowly go away. Seromine watches her expression melt away. The applause of the faithful further tell the story. Seromine shifts his head around like it were on a swivel. He comes face-to-torso. Seromine slooowly looks up. He falls on his ass as the “Monster” is AWAKE. Seromine scoots back, pleading, begging as he apologizes for what he just said.
“WAIT!” He offers a handshake. “GOD WANTS US TO BE FRIENDS!”
The venom is dropping from his every word and Darren knows it. He takes Seromine’s hand alright. He takes it and squeezes as hard as he can. Seromine is roaring with pain. Before he knows it, he is hoisted in the air, BY ONE ARM, with his hand still clasped. Seromine swings his body from side to side in a feeble attempt to get free. Darren pulls him onto his shoulders….MONSTROUS POWERBOMB!
Jerry Andrews: Did you FEEL THAT?? WOW! Brace yourself for the aftershock, Ace!
Ace Anderson: ...He...he could have driven Seromine through the ring with that impact!
Darren hops up on his good left leg. He keeps weight off the weakened right. A lifeless Seromine finds himself powered up on Darren’s shoulder. The right leg is about to be tested. Darren charges all four corners in order to deliver an MASSIVE Oklahoma Slam! Break out the chalk, because there is a crime scene in the ring. Darren covers Seromine with his legs hooked.
1!
2!
3!
NO! Seromine gets his right shoulder off the mat just before he is pinned. Destiny feels like she just had a heart attack, but can breathe easy. For now. Even though the outright concern for what is happening has returned. Seromine is pulled up and sent to the ropes. Back body drop! Seromine has some expletives to yell once he hits. His back will also be feeling it in the morning. Destiny gets as close as she can. She reaches for his hands, but Darren is there to cut her off. Darren may be fatigued and partially down a leg, but he is still a powerful threat. Seromine takes a headbutt that throws him into the ropes and into an awaiting gorilla press slam. Seromine tries to get out of this, but takes a freefall instead. This has him going fetal as he kicks at the mat.
Darren appears ready to put the preacher down, when suddenly he roars in pain. Darren reaches behind his right knee. Destiny flashes a pair of poison dipped hatpins in her hand. The very kind that Nathan Saniti used a few times on her husband (as well as other rivals) when he was around. The malicious smile on her face is a lasting image. She managed to jab the weapon like the fangs of a snake. She receives nuclear boos for her underhanded tactic. The referee notices Darren losing control of his balance.
Temporary paralysis isn’t far behind. He looks at Destiny for answers. She plays the innocence card by drawing a halo around her head and shooting a wink. Destiny waves goodbye to Darren in the most insincere way as she lovingly informs Seromine as to what she did. Whatever pain he had been feeling. Whatever trouble he had found himself in. Has melted away. His laugh is sinister. They had a plan to stop Darren cold and it was just executed. There is an exchanged “I love you!” between them.
Ace Anderson: Genius! Sheer Genius!
Jerry Andrews: Seromine and Destiny make me sick. You have to wonder what may be in store for Gabriel. Or what Gabriel will even do since he could be moments away from facing his false prophet of a leader at Living a Legacy! Darren had this won, damnit!
Seromine clutches his midsection as he slowly rises to his feet. After stretching his back, he confidentially walks to Darren to inform him he’ll say a prayer for his soul. Unable to defend himself, Darren is muscled onto his knees. Seromine hits the ropes, returning with a diving discus clothesline. Darren is folded backwards. Seromine leans over and pulls him right a skull crushing, spine realigning DDT. A variation of his ASHES TO ASHES finisher, but a finisher none the less. Darren is slowly pulled out to the middle of the ring, preventing his length from possibly sticking out under the ropes. Seromine takes the pinfall.
“PRAISE SEROMINE! PRAISE THE LORD!”
1.
2.
3.
The referee calls for the bell as Seromine basks in the jeers.
Sasha Greene: Here is the winner of the match, Seromine!
Seromine is unable to celebrate too much. His back and torso are still sore spots for him, something Destiny is sympathetic towards. So their celebration is more subdued.
Ace Anderson: God is great, Jerry! Seromine is on his way to Living a Legacy!
Jerry Andrews: He wouldn’t be if not for those HATPINS produced by his wife! I hope Gabriel paid close attention. Darren Silvaira was on his way to an upset victory!
Ace Anderson: Darren "Monster" Silvaira proved that he is a dominant force not just in the Last Chance Battle Royal, but also here tonight. You have to think his future is bright!
Seromine and Destiny depart for the locker room, leaving the faithful to lose their voices as “Be Still For the Presence of the Lord” continues playing.
Jerry Andrews: Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's it for....
Suddenly, the opening notes of "In The Morning And Amazing" by Circa Survive begins to play. The big screen shows shots of Kyle’s matches. Kyle Shane steps slowly out onto the stage. Kyle adjusts the hood of his Destiny cloak, peering out at the crowd. The distinctive voice of Anthony Green hits the bridge:
"And how could anyone
You are in my dreams
Half human, half machine
You with someone else that I have felt and seen
I cannot rest, or my consciousness contest
Looking right through the lens
From winter brings the spring again"
Kyle tilts his head back and holds his arms out, taking in the reception of the crowd. He then picks up a microphone and starts to speak.
Kyle Shane: Okay... look... I know that a lot of people aren't entirely happy with me right now, but, come on.... I'm just having some fun and keeping things interesting. You know me, I'm...
Before Shane can finish his thought, 'Switchblade Smiles' by Kasabian gradually rises in volume to announce the arrival of Tyler Scott. The lights dim and flicker as the crowd react with alternative waves of boos and cheers.
Move back this wrecking ball,
Rips through the blackest hole,
Violence is coming. It's coming. It's coming
However, as Tyler Scott appears through the curtain, the boos surpass the cheers. He pauses at the top of the ramp and takes a moment to adjust the strapping around his wrists and direct a few abusive words to the front row crowd. A quick turn of the wrist and crack of the knuckles and Tyler continues his descent down the ramp. He enters the ring and take the microphone right out of Kyle Shane's hand.
Tyler Scott: The fun's over, Kyle. I haven't had the best run recently, but a lot of that's had to do with you. So, before you come out here giving everyone some "aw shucks I'm just having fun" speech, I have something that I want to say. You see...
Suddenly, Tyler Scott surprises Shane with a huge right hand to the face that drops the champion. Scott bends down and picks up the PCW World Title. He's about to raise it up in the air, when Shane tackles him down to the mat. The two start trading blows as security rushes out to the ring and....
- CLICK -
