Following that, we get a flash of the NAFW logo as the opening hard and crunchy yet funky riff of Saul Williams “List of Demands (Reparations)” begins to play.
The Trust Fund Kids, Keith Owens and Trevor Cunning, stand nose to nose with the Tag Team Championship gold in their locker room.
We next move to an image of the unlikely duo of Ammo and Dustin Thomas standing face to face.
And we’re back to Keith Owens walking away from Trevor Cunning being upset by Derek Clarke in the ring.
Now we’ve got Heatwave swinging his signature black steel chair.
And “Illtown” Leonard Aarons and his trusty barbed wire baseball bat.
Following that is an enraged Spaz cornering Lane to enquire about the disappearance of his sister.
The next image we see is of Tyrone Smith standing tall over Hush and Mike Stryker.
Hush gets his turn devastating multiple men, including his two Pay Per View opponents.
Now it’s the Big City Hitman’s turn to stand tall with his Foundation Heavyweight Championship at the end of Annihilation #21.
As the song transitions into the chorus, Xavier Caine opposes Sorrow in the ring as Sorrow holds out the tape recorder in his hand.
This quickly changes up to Derek Clarke defeating the Mexican Toiletries in short time for his first handicap survival challenge.
Older footage from years ago with Derek Clarke opposing Kabashi Ten plays, as to not forget about their rivalry at a time when Derek is trying to branch out on his own.
Next is shots of Andy D being hammered by a variety of sporting equipment.
Followed by Snake and Psycho defeating Peter Gilmour and Andy D.
And we finish up with Andy D losing his cool and attacking Snake after his Atlantic Championship #1 Contender match against Peter Gilmour.
Spaz is seen running after Lane…
But Lane gets away in his limo…
And Spaz doesn’t believe Lane had no involvement in the disappearance of his sister.
Ashley Collier attacks head of security Ryan McJohnson.
But Jaime Alejandro is quick to enter the gauntlet match and serve Collier up a loss.
And finally we see both men pinned down and restrained by security following their pull apart brawl on Annihilation.
Here is our violence against women section as Reaper and Heatwave’s respective female managers are being laid out by aggressive men.
Heatwave brutalizes Reaper by setting him on fire…
…And Leonard Aarons beats the holy hell of Heatwave.
Gilmour is seen defeating Psycho at Chain Reaction.
But later pays for it as Psycho and Carlos drag him away from
This line is accompanied by Peter Gilmour being hung by Psycho’s straightjacket off of the scaffolding.
Andy D is looking really pissed at Snake.
Ashley Collier tries to knock Jaime Alejandro out.
Keith Owens is seen calling Ammo the winner while Trevor Cunning lays out Dustin Thomas.
Heatwave and Leonard Aarons both appear bloodied.
Spaz and Lane stare down.
One more time we get Hush, Tyrone Smith, and Mike Stryker, all in the ring.
The Breaking Point: Beyond The Limit logo literally cracks onto our screen and as we get the big fireworks roll.
ITS REALLY LOUD COVER YOUR EARS FOR THE BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the camera pans around the screaming fans in the arena, it cuts to the ringside announce table where our announcers for tonight, JB Mann and Tom “The Bear” Kalhoun, are standing by.
(JB) Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Breaking Point: Beyond The Limit, live from General Motors Place in Vancouver, Canada! What a card we have for you tonight.
(Tom) That’s right Mann. We’ve got Mike Stryker defending his Foundation Heavyweight Championship against Tyrone Smith and Hush!
(JB) Not to mention that for the first time in a long time, Mike Lane and Spaz will finally get their one on one encounter in the ring to settle their score!
(Tom) Heatwave will take on “Illtown” Leonard Aarons in what is sure to be a grueling I Quit Match.
(JB) The Trust Fund Kids have had their share of difficulties lately that they seemingly place behind them time after time, and tonight, they’ll take on Ammo from The Goods and Dustin Thomas from the Old School Empire, two enemies who will have to learn to work together if they want to capture the Tag Team Championship from Keith Owens and Trevor Cunning.
(Tom) Ashley Collier will be taking on old man Jaime Alejandro, Andy D will defend his Atlantic Championship against Snake, Derek Clarke will face a blast from the past when he tries to survive five minutes in the ring against Far ‘n’ Wide, Sorrow will face Xavier Caine, and Peter Gilmour and Psycho will try to hang each other in the first ever Hangman’s Horrow Match!
(JB) But before our opening match, let’s cut backstage!
Compliance Is Necessary
Fade into the backstage area. More specifically, fade into the parking lot. Our camera shot is positioned low and in the door frame of the entryway, with the doors obviously propped wide open. A limousine pulls onto the scene – which means a big deal is arriving. The driver puts the vehicle into park and walks around to the back passenger side door. He opens it up, and out steps a very familiar face: Keith Owens. The driver hands him his gym bag and Tag Team Championship belt, and Owens slips him a tip with the bill ending in two zeros.
Keith throws the tag team gold over his shoulder and begins to stroll into the arena with his gym bag in his hand. As Keith approaches the entrance doors, the camera pulls back, revealing six police officers lining the sides of the doorway. Once Keith clears the door frame, the officers step behind him to block the exit, and a man wearing a suit steps in front of him.
(???) Keith Owens?
(Keith) That’s me.
Keith looks over his shoulder and gets a very concerned look on his face.
(Keith) What’s this all about?
(???) I’m Detective Gordon, and I have orders for you to follow me.
(Keith) Wait… That doesn’t answer my question. What the heck is going on here?
(Gordon) I’m not at liberty to say right now, Mr. Owens. Now if you’ll please follow me, you’ll find out more.
(Keith) Hold it. I’m not going anywhere, not until someone tells me what this is all about!
Out of the shadows steps another man in a suit and a dark tan trench coat. It’s everyone’s favorite man of mystery, Jack Henderson.
(Henderson) Keith, I suggest you follow these men. Compliance is necessary. If you resist, these fine officers will have no choice but to take you into custody.
Once again, Keith takes a look at his surroundings and realizes he’s got no choice.
(Keith) I thought I could trust you Henderson.
(Henderson) And you can. Let’s go.
Henderson and Detective Gordon turn and starting walking, and Keith does the same with the police entourage following close behind.
(Tom) JB! What just happened?
(JB) It appears Keith Owens has been taken into police custody more-or-less upon his arrival to the arena, but why, we don’t know.
(Tom) It looks like Jack Henderson stabbed Keith Owens in his back! I thought Henderson was supposed to be going after whoever was sending those threats to Owens?
(JB) Perhaps, but we don’t know for certain. I guess we’ll just have to see if Keith Owens is arrested, and if so, how this will affect not only his Tag Team Championship match later tonight, but also the arrival of his father, United States Presidential candidate Senator Owens, who is also supposed to be in attendance tonight!
(Tom) I bet his father set him up! The good Senator doesn’t need a wussy son making his campaign look weak!
(JB) Alright then folks, it’s time for our first match of the night.
(Tom) And wake me up when Sorry! or The Big Red Machine wins.
(JB) That’s Sorrow and Xavier Caine.
(Tom) Yeah yeah yeah, Professor Xavier it is…
The arena lights dim as Godsmack's "Dead and Broken" begins playing over the sound system. The song serves to cover the confused sounds of the crowd as strobes flash over and over, alternately bathing the fans in both silvery light and inky blackness. At the top of the ramp, a cold fog spills from behind the curtain and a bizarre figure emerges from the backstage area. He is dressed in a silver and black bodysuit with a matching mask. Over his shoulders, he wears a flowing black cape. His movements are fluid and eerily graceful as he walks silently to the ringside area and slides under the bottom rope. He removes his cape as the crowd looks on at the odd spectacle that Sorrow has brought to the NAFW ring. He stands in his corner with his back to his opponent, head lowered and awaiting the fight to come.
(JB) Now all we need is Xavier Caine to emerge, and this match can begin.
The lights immediately dim as “Down and Out” by Tantric begins to play. When the base kicks in after the violin opening. A tall dark figure comes out and stands atop of the tramp. He walks down to the ring in a black suit, with a violet colored tie and highlights.
(Tom) I wonder where Caine got that suit? The Men’s Warehouse? Nordstrom’s? Casual Male: Big and Tall?
Referee Dave Connors rings the bell, and this match is underway. The two men lock up and instantly, Xavier Caine takes down Sorrow with a big move. Caine begins to stomp Sorrow on the mat until the referee pushes him aside and tells him to do something more productive. Xavier pulls Sorrow off the mat and whips him across the ring. He attempts a clothesline, but Sorrow ducks behind and hits a belly to back suplex. Sorrow goes for the cover and only gets a two count.
(JB) That was a near fall right there!
Once more both men are back up to their feet and grapple. This time Sorrow emerges as the victor of the tie up again, flooring Caine with a side suplex. Sorrow hops on top and begins hammering away at the face of Caine until Connors pulls Sorrow off at the end of a 5 count. Xavier Caine throws some left and rights at Sorrow, but Sorrow strikes back with a rake to the eyes, and a belly to belly suplex. He covers once more, but its only for a two count.
(JB) Sorrow sure is hitting some big suplexes tonight.
Guess where the two men are now? On their feet! Sorrow uses a low drop kick and takes out Xavier Caine by the knee. Sorrow capitalizes with a half Boston crab, but Caine powers out of the submission stretch after a short period of time. He grapples up Sorrow and hits a big move!
(Tom) WHATTAMOVE!
The cover on Sorrow only yields a two count. After the kick out, Sorrow rolls on top Caine for more ground and pound which is broken up by the referee once more. Sorrow backs away into a corner and stalks Caine as the big man rises to his feet. Sorrow quickly kicks Xavier Caine in the gut, then nails him with an high impact fisherman’s brainbuster. This time, Sorrow gets the three count for the win.
(Troy) Ladies and gentlemen, your winner, Sorrow!
(JB) That fisherman’s brainbuster is what Sorrow likes to call “The Depths of Despair.”
(Tom) How do you know that? Did you tell you personally?
(JB) He sent me a tape memo.
Suddenly, the lights go out and all we hear is that digitized voice saying “I’m sorry” repeatedly. After a few moments, the lights come back on, and Sorrow is gone.
(Tom) Did Sorrow teleport out of here?
(JB) Unlikely, Bear.
Hung Up!
We go to the backstage area where NAFW interviewer Mark Herriot is standing by. There is a black curtain behind him with the Breaking Point logo surrounding it. Mark is in a grey suit with black tie and grey pants. He looks into the camera, adjusts the microphone, and begins to speak to the fans at home.
(Mark) Hello wrestling fans, its me Mark Herriot and we are just moments away from probably one of the most intense and scariest matches on tonight's show, the HANGMAN'S HORROR death match which will pit Psycho against my guest at this time, he is accompanied by Max Masterson, the XTREME ICON Peter Gilmour!
Some of the fans start to cheer for Peter. Peter and Max step into the shot as both are seen with big smiles upon their faces.
(Max) Mr. Herriot, how do you do?
(Mark) I do well Max. Thanks for asking. Are you and Peter ready for the match that is coming up in just moments?
(Max) Indeed we are. You see tonight, marks the end of a young man's life. Tonight, someone will be hung and that man's name is PSYCHO! You see over the past few months, Pyscho and his buddy Carlos have been a thorn in our side and have been standing in our way of taking over the NAFW and gaining the world title, a title that my friend Peter here has been obsessed with for the past 4 years.
Max looks into the camera intently as Peter starts playing around with the noose and walking back and forth.
(Max) Carlos, your little pet is in store for the biggest beating of his life. Worse than when you beat him as a small boy. He is going to be taken all over this arena and if you so much as try to interfere, I will choke your ass out myself and put you in a body bag, just like my monster Peter will do to your "pet" Psycho. Isn't that right my friend?
(Peter) Psycho, tonight... YOUUUU WILLL DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Peter yells and rolls his eyes in back of his head as blood starts to come out as Max begins to laugh wickedly.
How We Got Here Part 1
Before we can go too far, we hear some giggling before static appears on the NAFWtron. The words 'May 2004' appear on our screen. The footage is from Axiom TV back in May of 2004. This is moments after then Axiom World Champion Heatwave retained his title against Eddie Heartbreak. As he is starting to celebrate his win with his wife Nicole and son Ian...
GR: Ya know, he's my boy and all, but this family business isn't rubbing me the right way. This is wrestling, not...
Right around here, we hear a booming, yet very sinister voice blast over the loudspeakers.
"Family hour? You're right, Gator. It's not family hour, contrary to what our so called World Champion would have you believe."
The fans start booing as the sound of one Illtown Leonard Aarons fills the arena. Axiom World Champion appears to be very annoyed, as Nicole and their son Ian are now inside of the ring with Heatwave standing in front of them. It's here that we see a face pop up on the Axiomtron and yup...fifty points for you if you guessed that it's Illtown. The real one, not that Varga clown. He's smiling and waving as he resumes speaking as only he can. The fans as you can already guess, are booing as only they can, cause that's what seeing and hearing him inspires the fans to do and do well.
Leonard Aarons: Ahhh, yes. Another Supremacy goes by and yet, we've got no real main event to give the fans. Another one of these ho-hummers, with matches so fucking lopsided, we may as well start holding these things on the San Andreas Fault Line to even things out.
He makes a subtle tsk-tsk sound, clucking his tongue twice as he slowly shakes his head from side to side.
Leonard Aarons: But, leave it to Heatwave to call out someone like Eddie Heartbreak as opposed to yours truly. But I guess that's the type of man you've got there, ain't it, Nicole? A real pussy ass, bitch made chump through and through, huh?
Heatwave mouths something which I'm all but certain the FCC wouldn't want repeated on the air towards Aarons. Even the loquacious Aarons is taken aback by the remark which Heatwave blurts out as he looks around and brings his head back a bit with his eyes widening in disbelief.
Leonard Aarons: Temper temper, daddy. You kiss your family with that mouth? Anyway, I think I've had more than enough of your act and your bullshit. See, a few weeks back, you had some not so nice things to say not just about myself, but the East Coast Connection as a whole and ya know what? I don't think we've had the opportunity to really address those said greivances that you have with myself and the rest of the group officially...
He trails off as behind the champ and his family, Maxwell Thatcher and Renshaw Prescott hop over the railing and slide into the ring. Nicole and Ian are the first to notice their arrival, but by the time Heatwave turns to notice, it's too late. They're already on top of the champ and pounding away on him with fists ablaze. Nicole instinctively grabs her son and gets out of harm's way, as they retreat to the opposite side of the ring. It's here that the feed cuts out as we see 'To Be Continued' as it fades to black.
Not Now
Backstage. A hallway somewhere in the depths of GM Place. The image shows on the NAFWTron inside the arena, and the fans go crazy as Sean "Spaz" Thomas walks down the hallway with a purpose.
He's dressed in street clothes, wearing black jeans and a light grey sweater. And of course, the ever-present Ruby Oakley sunglasses. With his bag strapped over his shoulder, he continues on his way, until he almost runs over John Mills.
(John) Spaz! Could I get a word with you?
Spaz barely acknowledges Mills' presence. He simply shakes his head and says three words.
(Spaz) Not now, John.
Mills is rather surprised by this turn of events, and looks on in shock as Spaz heads off further into GM Place.
(Tom) What's up his butt?
(JB) His sister was abducted, he's got a match against Mike Lane tonight, and he just got here. Cut the man a little slack.
(Tom) Slack schmack! He has no right to treat Millsy like that!
(JB) You're not the best person to complain about poor treatment of John Mills, Bear.
(Tom) Man... You put laxatives in a man's hot chocolate one time...
(JB) Per week, for a year...
(Tom) And suddenly you're treating him poorly. Has the world gone mad?
(JB) Just you, Bear... Just you.
(Tom) Lies.
(JB) We got a real slobberknocker for you fans next, right Tom?
(Tom) This ain’t some run down federation. This is the NAFW. And fans, this next match is going to be bloody. It's going to be brutal and someone is getting LYNCHED.
(JB) Indeed this has been one of the most hated rivalries in NAFW History. Psycho and Peter Gilmour have gone to hell and back and tonight, this feud ends tonight. Someone is going to be hung tonight. And I hoep its Psycho.
(Tom) Mark the date. I finally agree with you JB..
(JB) It's about time, dude. Let's go to the ring..
(Troy) Ladies and gentleman, our next match is a Hangman’s Horror match, where the only way to win is to hang your opponent over the top rope until he loses consciousness.
The arena darkens as Terrible by the Insane Clown Posse comes over the PA and neon green strobe lights flash into the crowd. Carlos Smith's face appears on the big screen with red eyes. Psycho comes out from the entrance area wearing a straitjacket followed by Carlos himself. The two make their way to the ring. Once inside, Carlos releases the straitjacket and Psycho stands in the middle of the ring screaming. Carlos barks some orders before going to the outside to manage Psycho.
The lights in the arena go black and the fans get excited as cameras flash all around. Suddenly, a gigantic lightning bolt comes down from the ceiling and hits the rampway and engulfs into flames for just a moment. The beginning chords of Walk With me in Hell by LAMB OF GOD begins to play as the lights turn dark red. The song speeds up as Peter Gilmour comes out wearing a long red cloak with no hood. Peter sees the flames in front of him and goes right through it with no fear of getting severely burned by the intense heat. Peter rolls his eyes to the back of his head as blood begins to come out and the camera cuts to some fans who are scared to death of what they are seeing. Peter gets into the middle of the ring and throws up a "X" as fire emits from the turnbuckles.
Dave Connors is doing the refereeing duty for the second match in a row, and brings Psycho and Peter together in the middle of the ring to go over the rules. Both men look at each other and you can cut the tension with a knife. The referee finishes explaining the rules and tries to start the match, but Peter and Psycho are staring holes into each other. Peter gives a slight chuckle then says something to Psycho which if u can read lips can be heard as saying, "You're dead meat." Psycho takes exception to this, and slaps Peter hard in the face. Peter holds his face and begins to laugh wickedly.
(JB) Man that had to hurt.
(Tom) Psycho just bitch slapped Peter. Peter isn’t going to take that lying down.
(JB) But why was he laughing? Seems like Peter actually enjoys pain.
(Tom) Oh shut up JB, when your wife smacks you, you cry like a little BABY.
(JB) . . .
The bell rings and Peter goes right after Psycho, but psycho sees the move and trips Peter with a side heel trip as Peter's face smashes into the mat. Psycho goes right on the offensive as he bashes Peter's face into the mat about 5 times. Peter seems groggy and lays on the mat. Psycho goes over to the ropes and looks to go for a Hollywood Hogan leg drop but Max trips him. Carlos comes over but the referee goes outside and stops Carlos and Max from starting a big fight. In a shocking twist, he throws BOTH Carlos and Max out. Both men are pissed as the fans in Vancouver boo vehemently.
(Tom) I don’t blame these losers in Canada for booing. Max did nothing wrong. Dave Connors must be the worst referee in history.
(JB) Are you blind? Dave Connors saw all of that and he made the right call.
(Tom) What match are YOU watching?
Peter sees Max leaving and screams for him. Psycho starts to stand up and has a chair in hand. Peter finally turns around and gets his skull caved in by a wicked chair shot by Psycho. The chair is completely bent beyond repair and Psycho slams it down. We can see a trickle of blood coming from the top of Peter's head. Like a shark who smells blood, Psycho exploits the cut and begins to bash the wound on Peter's head to open it up. The referee can't do much because this match is NO DQ. After finishing punching Peter's brains out, Peter is now a crimson mask. Blood is pouring out of the Xtreme Icon's face. Psycho picks Peter up and sends him into the corner. He tries to go for a big splash but Peter moves and Psycho hits the ring post with his head. Peter goes to the outside to catch his breath and finds his trusty kendo stick.
(JB) Peter looking for a weapon now.
(Tom) Time to take out the trash.
Peter gets back into the ring and stalks Psycho. He yells for Psycho to get up. Psycho, dazed and confused gets up and is met with a wicked shot to the head by Peter.
(JB) MY GOD WHAT A SHOT! THAT CANE SPLIT INTO 4 PIECES!!
(Tom) That was brutal!
Psycho is down and busted wide open. Blood is gushing out of his head. Peter looks at the rope in the corner and goes over to it. He picks it up and signals to the crowd that this may be the end. He puts the noose around Psycho but Psycho rolls him up. However, there are no pin falls or submissions in this match.
(Tom) What an idiot. Going for the cover when there are none.
(JB) Psycho has lost a ton of blood. He can’t see or think straight.
(Tom) That's a first.
Peter kicks out and smacks Psycho in the face then kicks him in the stomach doubling him over. He then tries to go for the Fatal Sins but is back dropped by Psycho to the floor. Psycho goes outside and starts to bash Peter in the back with forearm shots. He takes Peter and whips him into the fan barricade and Peter does a complete flip over the barricade. The ref follows Psycho over the rail and the fight is on in the crowd.
(JB) This is going to get ugly.
(Tom) Just like these fans.
(JB) Will you stop?!
Psycho takes Peter through the crowd and punches him some more. Both men are a bloody mess. Psycho whips Peter into the stage. He charges at Peter, but peter tosses him high above his shoulders and onto a part of the set on the side of the stage. Peter grabs the noose and goes to where Psycho is laid out. Peter picks Psycho up and hits the GILMOUR CUTTER on the stage. He then makes a cut throat signal and then hooks Psycho's neck with the noose and proceeds to drag Psycho to a steel part of the set. He wraps the rope around the structure and then begins to pull as Psycho is lifted up and is being hung right on top of the steel structure. Peter laughs wickedly as Dave Connors tried to get Peter to stop as he can't win this way.
(JB) Someone stop Peter, he's going to kill Psycho.
(Tom) Let him do it. One less "psycho" to deal with.
Eventually Dave Connors gets Peter to release Psycho and Psycho crumbles to the ground breathing heavily. Peter scans the crowd as they give him a mixed reaction. Peter then drags Psycho to the ring and throws him inside. taking his time to get in, Psycho somehow gets a adrenaline rush and knees Peter in the gut doubling him over in between the ropes. Psycho's eyes bulge out as he then hits a sick DDT through the ropes. Both men are down as Dave Connors checks on them. Psycho gets up after a while and then takes the noose of his neck and puts it on Peter. He gets it around Peter's neck then hits the PSYCHO DRIVER in the middle of the ring. Psycho gets up and stretches his arms out and screams as the crowd goes nuts.
(JB) PSYCHO DRIVER!! This one's about over.
(Tom) Damn! Get up Peter!!
Psycho has the rope now and drags Peter over to the rope facing the stage. He throws Peter over the top rope and Peter is now being hung. Dave Connors checks on Peter as he is trying to get some air as he is struggling to break free. After a while, Peter begins to fade.
(JB) Peter's fading fast. Psycho is going to do it!
(Tom) Not so fast JB, look at Peter.
Out of nowhere, a masked person comes from under the ring and smacks Psycho in the back with a barbed wire chair. Psycho lets go of the rope as Peter crashes to the floor in a heap. Psycho's back is bloodied up. The masked person lays the chair in the middle of the ring. The masked person Psycho up and hits a sick spinebuster on the chair full of barbed wire. Psycho screams in pain as Peter finally gets his breath and enters the ring. He sees the masked person and begins to laugh wickedly.
(JB) What the hell, is Peter forming a union with this masked person?
(Tom) I don't know JB, this is weird. It seems that Peter and this masked person know each other.
The masked entity goes out of the ring as Peter picks up Psycho who is covered in blood from his head to this back and then hits the FORSAKEN on the barbed wire chair as Psycho looks to be out of it. Peter senses this and throws Psycho over the top rope and pulls back hard. Dave Connors checks on Psycho and signals for the bell quickly as Psycho's eyes roll back into his head.
(Troy) You're winner of the match, the XTREME ICON PETERR GILMOURR!
(JB) Peter wins again over Psycho. This feud is finally over! …WAIT A MINUTE STOP HIM!
Peter continues to pull harder on the rope as Psycho is losing consciousness. Dave Connors tries to get Peter off but Peter shoves him to the ground hard. Dave calls on security, road agents and more referees to help out but Peter is too strong and he knocks most of them down. Eventually, they get Peter off and Peter sits in the ring laughing. We see Psycho on the floor bloodied and barely breathing. One of the referees throws up the "X" symbol notifying the EMT's to come down. They come down and check on Psycho who is not breathing much. They get him on the stretcher, put a oxygen tube over him and wheel him out of the arena.
(JB) I hope this feud is over. If these two face off one more time, someone will die!
(Tom) Don't worry JB, it's over. Psycho won't be coming back for a while, thanks to Peter.
Bear Claw
Cut backstage. Trevor Cunning is pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath. He’s got on his signature polo shirt – only one, not multilayered – and the collar isn’t popped. His NAFW Tag Team Championship belt is strapped tightly to his waist, and it’s even polished. And in his hand? No, not a bottle of Jack Daniels, but a nice refreshing bottle of Aquafina water.
Brian McJohnson, munching a bear claw donut, walks by the distressed Cunning.
(Trevor) Hey Fatty McGee!
The younger McJohnson turns around.
(Brian) What do you want? You got any more booze?
(Trevor) Can it, pie-muncher. Where is my partner? Have you seen him around? He was supposed to have arrived by now.
(Brian) You mean you didn’t see or hear? He arrived all right – then that Henderson guy took him away with a bunch of cops!
Cunning looks shocked. The Godfather steps up closer to the tubby intern and grabs him by his t-shirt under the throat. Brian drops his bear claw donut in fear.
(Trevor) What do you mean? Was he arrested? Where’d they take him?
Brian starts stuttering, feeling the imminent threat of Cunning’s fist.
(Brian) Uh… umm… No… He… He wasn’t arrested….. They uh…. took him back to some room here… I uh…. don't know where though!
Cunning lets out a groan and shoves McJohnson aside before walking off the scene. Brian, of course, picks his donut off the floor and keeps eating it. Fade out.
(JB) That’s what Cunning gets for spending his time drinking instead of watching the monitors backstage!
(Tom) Aha! This is where you’re wrong JB. Cunning is clearly as dry as the dessert. We had lunch earlier this week and he told me he was going to quit cold turkey!
(JB) Interesting, to say the least. Do you often have lunch dates with other men?
(Tom) Only when your mother isn’t available, Mannhole.
(Troy) This match is scheduled for one fall. The first man up... He hails from Waco, Texas. Coming in at six foot two and two hundred and forty-five pounds. He is the "THE BORN WARRIOR" ASHLEY COLLIER!
Collier slowly walks out to the ring with his black and gold robe. He looks at a few of the fans and threatens to backhand a few of them, as his taped fists with KTFO are showing on the camera. He heads up the steps and goes between the ropes into the ring.
He goes to the front of the ring and raises his fists in the air. The crowd lets out a thunderous boo. Ashley gives the folks the ol' Sicilian curse and tries to spook the referee.
(JB) This is the third match of the evening, Bear. And just from the tone of the day, we haven't heard anything from Alejandro, except for his promotional video.
(Tom) And as much as I hate Alejandro, when he's NOT talking, is when he's the most dangerous. You don't know what that psycho is thinking. However, I think Collier can handle him.
(JB) But there's that X factor. We've not seen or heard Jaime all night. Usually he's up for a talk, but he's not even been seen.
(Tom) He's probably scared out of his mind, and won't show up.
(JB) You actually believe that?
(Tom) No, but it sounded good...
The lights suddenly cut off
(JB) I think he's answering that call for you, Bear...
Blue lights start strobing all around
(Troy) His opponent. From San Antonio, Texas. Coming in at six foot four and two hundred and sixty five pounds. He is "THE SAINT" JAIME ALEJANDRO!
A grim voice starts up on screen.
You want a revolution...
He'll give you one.
The guitars crank up and we start hearing Corey Glover and Living Colour...
Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
The video starts up with Jaime Alejandro crashing into VYC via the .77, as we see this, the one word "SAINT" appears on screen.
I know your anger, i know your dreams
I've been everything you want to be
I'm the cult of personality
The next clip starts up with Mike Lane tapping out to to the WesTF. At this moment, Jaime walks out onto the stage in black trunks. His hair is completely soaked, as we pan in on him. He's glaring at the stage.
Like mussolini and kennedy
I'm the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality
The next clip shows the Intruder being thrown off the stage in a casket, as the name of Jaime Alejandro flashes on the screen. As it does, Jaime slaps his chest hard a few times and then pumps his fist in the air to signal a huge blue pyro wall.
Neon lights, a nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
Various clips ranging from his war with Keith Owens to his brawl with Trevor Cunning. He methodically walks down to the ring and stops at the middle of the apron. He pulls himself up slowly and looks inside the ring.
I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face on your t.v.
I'm the cult of personality
He clings onto the ropes with his hands and flips himself into the ring, landing on his feet.
I exploit you, still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three
I'm the cult of personality
Jaime looks at his opponent and shakes his head at him. And mouths off the words of, "You're mine, bitch."
(JB) Jaime appearing in the all black tonight, as the lights come back to normal. And he looks all business.
(Tom) He needs to be. Collier's just going to deliver a one-two punch and back into retirement for the old bastard.
As Bear says that, Richie Howard already has the first problem of the night as Jaime goes up and slaps Ashley upside the head. And of course, the yell of "Man up, bitch!"
(JB) The bell hasn't even been stricken, and Jaime's already ticked off.
(Tom) He cheap shotted Collier, throw it out!
(JB) Not happening, Bear...
Richie Howard calls for the bell, as both men circle the ring sizing each other up. Alejandro raises out his hand, looking for the Greco-Roman lockup. Collier looks very hesitant in going for it. Jaime waves it off and challenges him again.
(Tom) Collier isn't ready to lock it up yet. Not that I'd blame him. When it comes to wrestling skill, it's begrudgingly advantage for Jaime.
(JB) Collier isn't wanting to get into a grapple war at all. As Bear has said, Jaime's got the advantage in this situation.
Collier goes for the lockup, but gets the early jump with a kick to the gut. From here, he capitalizes with a few jabs. Jaime is staggering backwards into the ropes as Ashley lays his shots into him. Of course, Collier takes the safe bet and goes in for a head lock.
(JB) Collier getting smart, Bear. He's slowing the bigger man down.
(Tom) As much hell as I give Jaime, the truth is, if you don't slow him down, he's like the Juggernaut. He builds that momentum, and then, your night is screwed. Much like my nights with your mom, Mann-wheel...
(JB) By Gord, can we go one match without you mentioning my mother...
(Tom) Probably not...
Collier grinds in the headlock a bit more. He raises Jaime up for leverage to get in a better grip. He tries for a grip, but Jaime has enough leverage for a push off. Collier goes into the opposite ropes and comes back hoping for a turnaround. Instead, he collides with a Harley Race Jumping Knee from Jaime.
(JB) Jaime going back to the old school of wrestling with that knee.
(Tom) Alright, I'll give him that. He's gotten a little better at his routine, but Collier's in better condition than he is.
(JB) We'll see, Bear...
Jaime slowly picks up Collier and attempts to throw him to the ropes again. Instead, Collier stalls him and stops the attempt. Jaime tries again, only to get thrown himself. He takes a hard bounce into the ropes into a waiting Collier who drops down. Alejandro can't catch him, due to too much momentum.
(Tom) Ashley's got him!
Collier takes him up and over for a back drop. Jaime slaps into the mat hard. Of course, the big man is raising up and holding his back. Yet, he doesn't have the time to recover any strength, as Collier plants a hard kick into his back.
(JB) Collier taking a page from Jaime's book, Bear. As he delivers that hard soccer kick into the back.
(Tom) He's going to have to take it to Alejandro, Mann-wheel. If he doesn't, Jaime is a veteran. I don't like him much, but he's still older and smarter.
(JB) Which is probably why Collier is going hard right now.
He tries to get Jaime up for a backbreaker. But Jaime is stalling him massively. He tries again, but Jaime has a bit too much. Instead, Collier is trying for a bear hug onto the small of the back. Jaime is cringing in pain a bit...
(Tom) Keep that pressure on, Ashley!
(JB) Grounding the big man and keeping his strength at bay. Jaime is still a powerhouse, even at his smaller size, Bear.
Jaime is trying to shake it off, to no avail. Ashley is cranking on the pressure. The crowd is getting impatient and starts clapping. As they do, Jaime steadies himself. He plants one hard head butt into Collier's skull.
(Tom) No! He's going to hurt himself doing that. And then, he'll lose the three brain cells he barely has!
(JB) Alejandro using that famous "hard head" that you say he's got, Bear. Can Ashley last?
Alejandro again with a head butt. But Collier hangs on yet again. With frustration building in, Jaime repeatedly gives Collier a series of head butts until the hug is unlocked.
(JB) Collier lets go, Bear. It was too much for him.
(Tom) Dammit! New strategy, Ashley!
He doesn't get enough time to even try that, as Jaime pulls him in and whips him to the ropes. Collier goes into the opposite ropes and comes back. The big man leap frogs him!
(JB) What the... I saw it last week, and I still can't believe it this week!
(Tom) That big bastard just pulled himself over Collier! How?!!
(JB) I don't know, either. He just did, and look out!
Collier comes back to duck under a Jaime short clothesline. He pulls himself up to meet a huge side kick to his jaw! Collier falls backwards to the ground. Wasting no time, the big man goes to a perpendicular rope to Collier and springboards himself into a moonsault!
1. 2... KICKOUT!
(Tom) He's not done yet. Jaime can't put him away that easily, Mannwich!
(JB) Jaime showing more of that scary agility, but not enough to get Collier around.
(Tom) That should've taken a bit out of that psycho. Let's hope that Collier can make something from it.
Collier pulls himself up holding his ribs gingerly. Jaime pulls himself up and looks over at Howard, who's giving him the "TWO" sign. Jaime shakes his head and goes onto Collier, firing those hard rights and lefts. Howard starts yelling a five count, and Jaime pulls off at four.
He sits up Collier and runs to the opposite rope. On the return, he pulls himself up and over for the Mr. Perfect Snap Neckbreaker.
(JB) Jaime with the flip pushing neckbreaker perfected by the late Curt Hennig.
(Tom) It's like he's taking his skills to another level, Mann! Where the hell did this drunk learn this stuff?!!
(JB) Amazing what you learn when you're not drunk anymore.
Collier is holding his neck after getting the chin snapped into his chest hard. Jaime picks up Collier again and carries him over into a snap suplex. Again, he doesn't give him time to recover. Jaime puts him into a pinning situation.
He gets a 1, as Collier kicks up and pushes him over. Collier pulls himself up and stands toe to toe with Jaime. He pulls off a right, and gets a return from Jaime. Both men start throwing the fists.
(Tom) Both of them are wanting to whip the hell out of each other, Mannwheel!
(JB) Seems this is turning into a brawl, because Collier wants to stay in this match.
(Tom) Collier knows that Jaime can't hang in a punching match!
Collier backs up Jaime with a series of hits. He then slings Jaime to the opposite ropes. Collier vaults himself into the near rope, looking for the running clothesline. Both men meet, and Jaime takes him around for the misdirection powerslam!
(JB) Jaime's in the ballgame again! Misdirection powerslam in the middle of the ring.
(Tom) No! This isn't how it's going to end! Collier is the better athlete! He's supposed to win this minutes ago!
(JB) Tell that to the man dragging Collier to a corner...
Alejandro is indeed pulling Collier to a corner. He lifts up Collier and pushes him into the corner. Jaime goes to the opposite corner...
(JB) Bear... I know you don't want to hear this...
(Tom) Shove it, Mannwagon.
Jaime comes back hard with the 50 Caliber Kick to Collier's jaw! Collier slumps over a bit into a waiting Jaime. Jaime lifts him up over the shoulders, and Collier is looking down to his final place.
(JB) He's going for the kill, Bear.
Jaime scoots his feet backwards and drives Collier down hard into the mat!
(JB) CRIMSON REVOLVER!
(Tom) Dammit! This isn't... What the hell is he doing?!!
(JB) He's not done!
Jaime pulls himself over into a backward roll and changes direction. From here, he deadlifts Collier up into a powerful fallaway slam that smears him into the corner.
(JB) REVOLUTION... OH MY GOD...
(Tom) NO! Someone DQ that bastard!
(JB) He peels Collier out, but I don't think Collier is moving...
He pulls out Collier and covers him.
1. 2. 3.
Jaime looks up at Howard as he sees the hand hit for the third time.
(JB) Alejandro with the win, as he pulls out Revolution. A move he doesn't use often, unless he means it.
(Tom) We might need medical attention for Collier, Mann... Jaime just went nuts in that ring.
(JB) After all he's heard and had to take, you would too.
Howard raises Jaime's hand as the trainers slowly help out Collier.
(Troy) Your winner. JAIME ALEJANDRO!
Jaime looks at the entrance, with a look of intensity, almost like he's waiting for something. He looks right at the camera.
(Jaime) All you little bookers, listen up: I want only one thing. Give me a damn challenge. Not some two bit punk like the bitch they're scraping out.
Give me someone who knows how to man the f(beep) up.
He pulls himself over the rope and lands on the floor. Slowly he looks around at the shocked crowd and starts walking.
(JB) Jaime's not in a good mood, Bear. And that's not good news for anyone in the NAFW.
(Tom) The true psycho of the NAFW is back. The bad news, he's not in the business of making friends right now. He's sending out a punk card to the locker room.
(JB) ...and I know plenty who would answer it.
Safe and Sounding Off
Backstage. We're in front of a small set where a large plate glass window hangs on the wall broken (as if someone said "Indeed" with a certain guy from Alberta who shares his name with a towel nearby), with the shattered letters completing the Breaking Point logo spanning across it. In short, it's basically a generic promo background. Standing in front of the GPB are John Mills and Spaz.
Spaz is in his wrestling clothes now, having changed into his usual cargo pants and "SpaZ" throwback T-shirt. But the Oakleys remain, as always.
(John) Thank you for speaking with me, Spaz.
Spaz nods.
(Spaz) Sorry about earlier, John... It's been a long couple of days and I've got a lot on my mind.
(John) Not a problem. Now, I've heard that you have some good news?
Spaz nods again. But despite the fact that he has good news, he doesn't smile.
(Spaz) I do. My sister Krystin has been found. She wasn't hurt, and she's back home, safe and sound.
If Spaz isn't going to smile about it, Mills will.
(John) I'm sure I speak for everyone here tonight when I say that's wonderful news!
Spaz stares at Mills. Even with the Oakleys obscuring his eyes, it's clear that Spaz has taken issue with something Mills just said.
(Spaz) That's where you're wrong, John. There's one person here tonight that would rather I'd not found Krystin and taken her back home safe.
John seems to understand.
(John) Her abductor.
(Spaz) Mike Lane. That sorry excuse for a human being took my sister. He took my innocent sister, trying to get to me. To get under my skin. Well, you know what, John? It worked. That bastard pissed me off.
Pause. Spaz looks to the camera, as Mills takes a step back, now holding the microphone at arm's length.
(Spaz) Krystin's home safe, Mike. You're lucky in that respect, because I was prepared to go as far as I had to, to force her whereabouts out of you.
This is the moment where the sunglasses come off. Spaz stares straight into the camera, as if he were looking into Mike Lane's eyes. The anger is clear in those eyes.
(Spaz) I won't have to do that now... But you're not going to get off easy, Mike. You've put me through hell for a long time. And worse, you put my sister through hell the past few weeks. Tonight I pay you back for all of it.
For the first time, we get a small hint of a smile out of Spaz.
(Spaz) There's this saying... "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Well Mike, I've got a bit of a different take on it for you. Tonight, I'm going to prove that revenge is really a dish best served Sweet.
With that, Spaz turns and leaves the GPB area, and we're done here.
(JB) Well I'm glad that Krystin Thomas is home safe, Bear.
(Tom) Me too. I wouldn't want a hot young lady like that to be tied up... Although there may be some situations...
(JB) Do us all a favor, Bear, and keep the rest of that thought to yourself.
(Tom) I may need a few minutes in the bathroom to finish this thought.
(JB) More like a few seconds.
(Tom) Wow. I... Wow.
(JB) Tom Kalhoun is speechless. Folks, this happens very rarely. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Not Quite Over, Is It?
For the second time tonight, the NAFWtron starts to flicker and the sound of static fills the arena. The screen now shows a frozen image of where Part 1 of our little flashback piece left off.
(JB) Not this again...
(Tom) Yeah, damnit. Heatwave shouldn't have to go through this again.
He trails off as behind the champ and his family, Maxwell Thatcher and Renshaw Prescott hop over the railing and slide into the ring. Nicole and Ian are the first to notice their arrival, but by the time Heatwave turns to notice, it's too late. They're already on top of the champ and pounding away on him with fists ablaze. Nicole instinctively grabs her son and gets out of harm's way, as they retreat to the opposite side of the ring.
JR: Damnit! Those vultures have gotten the jump on our World Champion.
GR: Again I say, Heatwave's my dog, but he should've thought twice before he cursed the ECC and Aarons. You reap what you sow, Jack.
JR: Reap what you sow? Heatwave doesn't deserve this! Not in front of his wife and kid!
GR: Who are you to say for sure?
Heatwave absorbs one more blow to the rib section before he sees through an opening between the two, the look of horror on the faces of his wife and son on the opposite side of the ring. He finally taps into that reserve tank of his and fires back with rights for both men, as the fans get behind the champ. He staggers both men backwards with right hands and quick open hand chops before Prescott responds with a savage kidney shot followed up by a savage boot to the face by Thatcher. It's here that Nicole springs out of the corner, throwing herself on top of her husband's prone body in an attempt to stop any further action which could result in him being seriously injured. Thatcher and Prescott stare at each other before looking down at Nicole. It should be pointed out that Ian's in the corner crying his eyes out, as you can obviously guess that seeing his father beaten to a pulp by two men bigger than he is doesn't exactly give you much reason to smile.
JR: Oh no...don't tell me that...
OSV: HEY!!! Don't you ,i>DARE lay a finger on her!!!
The footage stops there, as Heatwave comes storming out onto the ramp in his fighting attire with his old Nebraska football jersey on and a mic in his hand.
(Heatwave) Real cute, Len, real fucking cute. So you want to go ahead and have this aired again? Traumatize my wife by showing the night you broke her neck? No way, not happenin' holmes. Get that crap off the screen, NOW!
The NAFWtron goes black as he smiles and the fans boo.
(Heatwave) You try to air the remainder of this and...
"And what Heatwave? Whatcha gonna do? Set me on fire again? Gonna be kinda hard to do with the lights being on and what not."
Heatwave starts to look around, trying to pinpoint the exact location of his nemesis before L's image appears on the NAFWtron. L looks down at his former friend and protege as it were, whistling to get his attention as Heatwave looks up and L waves at him playfully.
(Illtown) Hey ole chap, how's it goin? I figured you'd try to pull some crap like this, but hey. You showed your half of the story right before you got to unmask yourself and well, I felt obligated to show the people just why they're going to hear you say the words 'I Quit' tonight.
Pop.
(Illtown) So yeah, before you come out and get the asskicking of your career, I will air the final part of this and guess what? There's not a thing you can do about it.
Heatwave mouths the words 'we'll see about that bitch' before storming off as he drops the microphone. L simply smirks as he shakes his head, sighing as he says...
(Illtown) Poor bastard...he won't stop it...or me.
His wink is the final thing we see before the NAFWtron goes black.
(JB) It looks like Heatwave's going to try and find Aarons to stop the final part of this video from airing.
(Tom) I hope he does and I hope he breaks Aarons in half. How dare he try to show that footage again.
Feud Recap Video
The screen fades to black, and then flashes awake with a massive burst of pyro. Beat. Pyro. Beat. Masato Kabashi makes his way down the ramp, following closely by Derek Clarke – a picture from a happier time. This is a flashback. Cue a string of highlights from the two’s dominant Tag Team Championship reign, to an inspirational rock instrumental. Kabashi tags Clarke. Clarke tags Kabashi. Clarke and Vedder dump an Igloo full of Gatorade over Masato’s head. Everybody laughs because everybody’s happy. It’s simple.
And then the screen turns red. The music spoils. Clarke and Jeremy Lewis turn on Masato, and Mad Dawg makes the save. It’s a strange memory. The Championships are split, and the feud escalates. Both teams are taken to their limits in a 3 Wishes match; lost focus on the prize, spent too much time fighting one another … and the prize slipped away. We remember these things because that was the last time we would see Derek for a long time.
With Kabashi back in Japan, his injuries forcing him into a six-month retirement, the Foundation didn’t want a kid … didn’t have any use for Derek, and he went elsewhere rather than be thought of as “the kid who rode Kabashi’s coattails” – than to be the undercard. Cougar had very little to say, and Derek disappeared into the Indy circuit. All things we see in front of us on the screen; pumping iron in a basement, figuring himself out in an armory … becoming his own man.
Clarke’s re-debut. The music changes again, showing win after win against guys who shouldn’t even be wrestling. The conspiracy uncovered, even the match with Andy – his only friend, the only one who understood what it meant to be under-booked. It was all a lie, orchestrated by his uncle and manager. They wanted him to pace himself, to get used to the league again; they didn’t want it to crush him if he lost. He’d only ever lost 3 Wishes. He’s still only lost 3 Wishes. They didn’t trust him to make that decision himself, and that was it. The bubble burst.
Derek gets in the commissioner’s face. Buchanan is displeased, acts strange … decides that, if Derek wants a test, he’s going to get a test. But there’s a reward: try hard enough, and you can have that Wish you lost a long time ago. Survive five minutes in the ring with some of today’s top talent, make it to the end of the rainbow … and maybe you’ll come full circle.
The Mexican Toiletries. The Trust Fund Kids. Alejandro and Collier. It should have been impossible. Through luck and skill and opportunity, Derek survived. That means something. Even when the titles were gone, he’s always survived; he was always good enough to do it. It wasn’t Kabashi. It was Derek, too. Let it roll off your tongue: it was Derek, too. And if you don’t “get” what that means, if you wish that Clarke would just get this over already … then I can’t explain it to you. Full circle. Coming of age. Paying dues. And, for one night only … the opportunity for Derek to get the four-hundred and fifty pound monkey called Masato Kabashi off his back forever, to finally feel the sun outside Masato’s shadow.
To prove that he’s his own man.
“When All Is Said” by Trapt. It fits the entrance: Derek Clarke marches down the ramp, adjusting his elbow pads. They reach out their hands, but he walks on. His jaw is set, not even sure if they love him or hate him. It doesn’t matter. He can’t hear them over the sound of his heart beating, of the biggest moment of his life. Derek’s come a long way, and all that matters is the ring.
(JB) And what a change we’ve witnessed in this young man, ladies and gentlemen! When I first saw Derek Clarke, he a nice, clean-cut young man who had a lot of potential …
(Tom) He STILL has a lot of potential, JB! Just because he’s got a little beard-stubble doesn’t mean he’s a card-carrying member of the J.O.B. Squad!
Clarke rolls into the ring and takes a cursory bounce off the ropes, testing their elasticity. Those elbow pads really seem to be bothering him, as well, like they’re too loose or something; or something … like, maybe he’s nervous. A lot of pro wrestling is hyperbole, but there aren’t words to describe how important this match is in either defining Derek as a face of the future or proving everyone else right.
(JB) I know that, Bear, and if you’d let me finish my damn sentences once in awhile, I would have said: … a lot of potential to be one of the best this sport has ever seen! Derek’s had his strings pulled, for better or for worse, and all his trials boil down to this … here, tonight … as he tries to survive one last challenge match against the very man who helped make him what he is today, Kabashi 10!
As if on cue: the Japanese national anthem. Kabashi steps out onto the ramp, and the crowd explodes. Fans might have a short memory, but the gentle giant was a Tag Team Champion for over six months and defended it like a madman. That’s a hefty chunk, and nostalgia wants these fans to show him their thanks. He looks good, like he hasn’t missed a step – might’ve even lost some weight. Behind him is the seven-foot-tall behemoth known as the Zoid, other physical description supplanted by the awe he’s owed for his tremendous size.
(Tom) Don’t forget the Zoid, either, Mannhole! Derek would’ve never been Kabashi’s partner if not for the Zoid getting injured just prior to their North American debut! All those times we saw Derek winning with Masato … it could’ve been the Zoid, and you can damn well bet the old man’s bitter about it!
The original Far and Wide take a few steps forward, basking in the applause … before Masato suddenly stops, and puts an arm out to stop his partner. This is the first time he’s seen Derek since 3 Wishes, and their eyes meet across the expanse of the ramp; from this far, they say a lot. Even after all this time, there’s something in air: anger, hurt, betrayal. Derek was mad then because he would never be anything but “Masato’s partner,” and no matter what he’s done … He’s still mad about it, and tonight … Tonight, for the both of them, this is one grudge that needs to be settled.
(Tom) What?! What’s that idiot doing?!
(JB) It looks like he’s talking it over with the Zoid!
(Tom) Talking WHAT over?!
(JB) I don’t know, Tom, but the Zoid’s shaking his head. He’s … Masato’s sending the Zoid to the back! It looks like Masato Kabashi and Derek Clarke will be going one-on-one here!
(Tom) He can’t do that…! The commissioner…!
(JB) It appears he can, Bear! There’s only one man making his way to the ring right now … and that man is Kabashi 10!
Derek glares at the referee, Phil Redding, who apparently has no idea what’s going on; Clarke then grabs the ref and pushes him towards the ropes, yelling for Masato to get the Zoid back out here so they can have their match. Redding drops to his belly and rolls out, trying to stop Kabashi from getting to the ring until he’s got a partner … as stipulated by the contract. They signed on for this.
(JB) I’ve seen it all, folks…! Derek Clarke is actually upset that he’s going to be facing Kabashi one-on-one!
(Tom) Kid’s got a lot to prove, Mann-Oh!
Masato finally convinces Redding that this wouldn’t be the first tag team match to proceed without one of the participants and, based on the precedent, the ref has no alternative but to concede. Derek looks unhappy, really wanting to prove that he could stand up to both members of F’NW … but what’s done is done and the match gets underway.
5:00
(JB) Things starting out slowly here … You’d think that Derek would have words for his old partner, but they haven’t said a single word to one another! The clock’s rolling and Derek could very well be five minutes away from the Wish of a lifetime!
(Tom) But that’s not what he wants, JB! The Wish isn’t as important as proving he could take them both on!
(JB) He might not even be able to take Kabashi by himself!
(Tom) Well … we’ll never know now, will we?!
Kabashi and Clarke spend a good couple of seconds circling one another before locking up; 10 throws Clarke like a sack of potatoes but Derek is up and at him in an instant with another. Two more Collar and Elbows, and two more throwdowns later, Kabashi frowns at his opponent and tells him – we can see his lips moving – that it doesn’t have to be this way. Clarke slaps him, lost in his anger. Derek’s entire career has been building to this … to this Breaking Point, fittingly enough … and everything in him is coming out in a rapid fire rush of closed-fist punches.
Kabashi takes a step or two back before finally blocking Derek’s full-frontal assault, and uses his size to Clothesline the smaller man to the mat. Clarke’s back up in a hiccup and Kabashi sends him flying into the opposite ropes … ducks another Clothesline … Flying Forearm Smash!
(JB) Derek’s back on him like a man on a mission and … I’ve never seen him fight this way! Masato is at least twice his size … but Clarke’s not gonna give any ground!
(Tom) It’s not the dog, JB. It’s the size of his bite!
4:15
Derek follows the Smash up with a High Flipping Dropkick, knocking the Big Man off balance. Kabashi stumbles backwards into the ropes, but Derek isn’t going to give him any breathing room. Racing at his opponent, DC all but telegraphs another Forearm Smash … allowing Masato to lower his shoulder and send Clarke up and over the top rope with a Back Body Drop. The crowd cringes upon impact, the sickening thud of Derek hitting the protective mats outside.
(Tom) That’s what you get when you start reacting instead of thinking!
(JB) Derek took a hard landing for his zeal, that’s for sure!
3:45
For a man his size, Masato nimbly steps down to the outside, where Derek is crawling back to his feet after having his bell rung. Kabashi pulls him up by his hair and rolls him back into the ring, taking advantage of Clarke’s misstep only to get him back to a pin-able zone. Other wrestlers might toss their foes into the barricade or the steps … but not Kabashi. Not to Clarke.
Masato’s back in and pulling Clarke to his feet … only to be rewarded with an eye poke, much to the chagrin of the crowd. Even the commentators mention how out-of-character it is, though the arena’s too loud for us to hear them (or really pay attention to the white noise that is poorly written commentary). Clarke bends down and wraps his arms around Kabashi’s waist, calling upon on the strength in his body to lift the Big Man off his feet and into the air: a Side-Suplex for the Ages.
(JB) I don’t believe my eyes! It must have taken everything in that boy to suplex Kabashi!
3:15
Both men lay there for a moment, breathing heavily; Derek because 10’s one heavy son of a bitch and Kabashi because he’s not used to being taken off his feet. That’s a pretty rough ride for someone who’s not used to taking it. Then: back to their feet, tie-up … Clarke squirms in behind Kabashi and does it again! Side Suplex for the Ages, Part Deux! And this one had some pretty high elevation for what was being done, really showing the hard work Clarke’s put in to training for this match.
(JB) Unorthodox approach to the offense by Clarke … but it seems to be working! He seems to have thrown Kabashi completely off his game plan, and the clock keeps ticking!
(Tom) Completely off his game plan until Clarkey-Boy pulls a muscle in his back! That’s dangerous business!
2:50
Both back to their feet, although a little less energetic after having been pounded into the mat a couple of times: trading punches … trading punches … Clarke tries to whip Kabashi into the corner, but the Big Man counters with a whip of his own and Clarke lands hard against the post. Masato runs in with a Splash, and then throws the groggy Clarke into the opposite turnbuckle – where, again, he lands hard enough to take the wind out of him. Kabashi comes barreling in for another Splash … but Clarke rolls out of the way and 10 is left clutching his chest in pain where he jumped and skewered himself. Derek uses this opportunity to jump on his opponent’s back and lock in a crazy man’s Sleeper.
2:00
Kabashi struggles and struggles, but it appears as though Derek might have gotten the better of him. He’s really got that Sleeper synched in, and just when it looks like DC might get the W … one last surge of energy sends them both falling backward into the turnbuckle, effectively breaking the hold. Derek tries to regain his momentum … but all he gets is a big Standing Sidekick for his troubles. Kid drops like a sack of hammers, giving Masato an opportunity to catch his breath.
(JB) Both men trying everything in their power to end this thing … but Derek’s got a Heck of a lot more to lose if Kabashi walks away with the win!
(Tom) Kabashi and the Zoid! If Kabashi and the Zoid walk away with the win!
(JB) Bear … the Zoid hasn’t been out here the entire match!
(Tom) I know what the card says, Mann-dolin. If Derek gets beat tonight … it’s because he got beat two-on-one!
1:00
The official is asking Derek if he can continue, to which the former Tag Team Champion tells him to “@#$% off!” It’s pretty clear that he’s good to go, though banged up a bit. Masato and Derek tie up again, leading to Masato throwing Derek into the ropes. Powerslam…! Kabashi 10 pulls his opponent up-and-over and hard into the canvas.
(JB) First pin attempt gets a two and a half, folks! Derek’s still fighting!
:45
(Tom) All he’s got to do is survive for forty-five more seconds! Why isn’t that idiot just running circles around Kabashi? It’s not like that chunky McChunkerson is gonna be able to catch him at a dead sprint!
Clarke pitches a flurry of punches which is finally blocked and met with an equal assault by Kabashi. Derek falls backwards into the ropes, sidesteps a Judo Palm and nails Kabashi across the chest with a Backhand Chop. And then another. We’re keeping an eye on the clock, but Clarke’s not; time is not an option, not so long as he feels the need to provide evidence for his credibility.
:20
Clarke takes a cable bounce and leaps … but Masato catches him mid-air and flips him up over the shoulder, prepping him for the Adiosu Piledriver – something we in this business like to call a “finishing move.”
(Tom) No! Derek, you’re so close…!
The ring shakes as Kabashi sits, burying Derek’s head in the canvas. Adiosu! The crowd has been roused to a frenzy as Masato hooks a leg and rolls over onto the prone Clarke. Everyone’s counting right along with the referee as time begins to expire … One!
…
Two!
…
Three!
0:00
(JB) The dream is dead…! Clarke has lost the bet with Commissioner Buchanan!
(Tom) I demand a recount!
A buzzer announces the official decision: Masato takes no pleasure in having his hand raised – we kind of wonder why he accepted this job in the first place – but does not immediately disappear into the back. Looking rather glum, Kabashi paces until Derek can shake the stun and stand on his own.
(Tom) What’s that idiot waiting for?! He’s already won! Let’s get on with the show!
(JB) Don’t be so hasty, Tom … I think there’s more than meets the eye here, and I wanna see it play out.
Clarke is full of fire and shame, scowling at Kabashi one moment and then hanging his head the next; he’s in absolute disbelief, having come so far only to fail in the closing seconds of the match of his life. The fact remains, though: everybody was expecting him to survive this gauntleted ordeal and head into Oblivion with a chip on his shoulder … but that’s not quite what happened, is it?
(Kabashi) Derek.
We recognize that broken English as Masato with a wireless. Derek looks none too please.
(Kabashi) Derek, I am sorry.
He’s not mic’d up, otherwise we’d hear Derek say, “To Hell you are!” Derek is scarily antagonistic, like that night he assaulted both Jerry and Cougar. You remember that, right? Ben liked it. Clarke must be curious to hear what else his former partner has to say, though, because he hasn’t lunged for Kabashi’s throat. Yet.
(Kabashi) I only came back because … they told me what happened. Jerry told me about the mistakes he had made and … Derek, there was no wager. They just wanted to make it right, and give you the kind of test you knew you deserved. You have not been dishonored tonight. You were tired from a cycle of shows where the odds were against you. Your mind wasn’t right because of me, because of tonight. I was well-rested and well-trained … but you showed up and gave it your best anyway. You have a venerable soul.
Um … what?
Masato leans over the nearest rope, and the bell man hands him a clipboard.
(Kabashi) Commissioner Buchanan agreed that you had been done wrong, and he also agreed … that this is yours.
(Tom) A Wish!
(JB) So it would seem, Bear! The best apology any commissioner can give!
>Derek narrows his eyes and glares at Kabashi. He doesn’t give the Wish, the clipboard, a second look. The crowd’s buzzing; they’re not sure what to think, whether Derek would flip out again after being manipulated for what seems to be the zillionth time since his comeback. Just when he thought there was no one pulling his strings, Derek finds out differently … and you can imagine how upsetting that might be.
After boring eye-holes in his former partner, Derek violently grabs the Wish and, without a word, starts off towards the back. Masato bows his head, knowing that Clarke would have to deal with this revelation on his own time … but the thought is cut short as Derek suddenly stops, turns on his heel and marches back to Kabashi. Clarke continues to glare, but now his hand has gone up and …
(JB) That’s obscene!
(Tom) That’s great, is what it is! Don’t tell me you’ve never wanted to flip Masato Kabashi the bird!
Masato merely watches Derek’s gesture of defiance, regretful for all that’s happened. This lasts for several seconds, the crowd eating it up until DC finally storm offs – still, without a word – and disappears into the back, leaving Kabashi where he stands. It’s not the kind of closure you might expect … but Derek is finally free of the trappings of his past: of Far and Wide, of Kabashi, of Jerry and Cougar. He’s all alone now, just like he wanted, and that Wish…? That Wish is his future.
(JB) And from the ashes rises a phoenix, Tom! I bet we’re gonna hear more about this next week on Annihilation! What does the future hold for Derek Clarke? What’s next for the man without a country?!?
Release
We’re backstage once more, with the camera facing a random office room door in the arena. After a couple of moments, the door opens, and Keith Owens steps out looking a little pale. His shirt and tie are loosened, and he is dragging his gym bag and title belt behind him.
The Difference Maker walks away, but the scene doesn’t end there. Jack Henderson and Detective Gordon step out of the room as well.
(Henderson) So we’re set for later?
(Gordon) Yes sir.
The two men shake hands, and our shot fades out.
(Tom) Manwheel, I still don’t get what’s going on here.
(JB) Your guess is as good as mine.
(Tom) Is Keith still competing tonight?
(JB) Don’t look at me Bear. We’ll try to get someone back there to talk to Owens as soon as we can, and we’ll let you all know as soon as Senator Owens arrives to see if he has anything to do with what happened to Keith tonight.
One Move, Checkmate.
We open in the production truck where producers are getting ready to air the final piece that Aarons is looking to show fans, going back four years ago to May of 2004 to the night where he broke Nicole's neck. Of course back in the arena where we cut back to, a countdown starts on the screen as it starts from 3.
(JB) From the looks of it, I don't think Heatwave's going to make it.
(Tom) He'll stop it. Watch.
For the time being, he does not and we get the conclusion of this footage.
The fans pop a smidge, before they realize that the voice they hear is well, the same one they just heard five minutes ago. Yup and yup, it's still Aarons. He comes out with a mic in one hand and in the other, his barb wire Lendo Stick as he's accompanied to the ring by Vanessa Chamberlain. The boos are instanteous with his arrival as they make their way down to the ring, taking very brisk, yet purposeful strides as Aarons slides inside. He's wearing his 'The Doctor Will Devastate You Now...' t-shirt with some black warmups. He's all smiles as he motions for Prescott and Thatcher to step away from the champ and his wife. He simply stares down, looking at Nicole who's pretty face is covered in tears as you can see the mascara running down her eyes. Vanessa has just hit the stairs as she steps underneath the middle and bottom rope. Aarons just puts his right arm across his chest with his hand close to his heart and mouths 'awww' in a very callous fashion.
Leonard Aarons: Well, isn't this sweet? The wife of the champ at her husband's side to make sure no harm comes to him. If I had any type of emotional heart strings or the ability to feel any type of pity, I'd be moved right about now...
Long, dramatic pause by Aarons who turns away before laughing as he says...
Leonard Aarons: But thankfully I'm not one of you jackasses, so I don't have that problem. Vanessa, if ya please, remove the bitch from the side of the big bitch. I need to say a few syllables to ole Nic.
Vanessa happily complies as she grabs Nicole very roughly off of her husband's prone form by her hair, as she pins both arms behind her back as she's forced to look on. Aarons motions for Thatcher to come over and hold up Heatwave as Maxwell grabs the champ up into a sitting position as Maxwell's massive right hand has Heatwave by his head as he's staring eye to eye with the self professed Doctor of Devastation himself. Aarons crouches down, his left hand wrapped around the middle of the Lendo Stick, his right hand wrapped around the microphone as he waves a very sarcastic hello to his former comrade.
Leonard Aarons: Hiya Heatwave! I realize you're fading in and out of conciousness right now, so I'll get to the point of this whole thing. Now you're probably sitting there right now, thinking 'damn, my remarks are gonna get my ass kicked in front of the people I love the most'. Well...truth is, you'd be only HALF right on that one. See, I think that whole 'beating up a person in front of their loved ones' thing is...dare I say, cliched amongst heels. People see that and ya know, I don't think it really gives them much more reason to hate that heel than they already had.
He shakes his head from side to side.
It doesn't go any further as we hear a commotion and the feed quickly goes to the truck where an irate Heatwave has a guy up by his collar.
(Heatwave) Stop that tape and give it to me, or I'm gonna start making you spit out teeth. NOW!
The guy quickly motions for the tape to be handed over to him and it is, as Heatwave drops the poor guy. Heatwave snaps the tape and starts to head back in. Heatwave adjusts his jersey and pushes his way by an old guy by the door who has his back to him exiting the truck. The old guy is but so big, so he falls only he stops his fall with his left hand. As he turns to look over his shoulder, he flashes a smirk.
(JB) Wait a second...that guy...
(Tom) Why is he smirking? NO. HEATWAVE! GO BACK!!!
(JB) Heatwave can't hear you! That old guy is...
The fans start marking out as they see the guy remove his mask and undo his top. He's dark brown with wavy hair, he's a pretty big guy and oh yeah, he's styling a throwover which reads "Illtown Rules" with a picture of him posing as he flexes his right bicep. Yes, it is Illtown Leonard Aarons.
(JB) Illtown's been in the truck the entire time! Heatwave's out of the truck and he has no idea that Aarons is still there!
(Tom) Someone get him back there, damnit!
Illtown helps straighten the poor guy up and reaches into his pocket as he pulls out a tape. He motions for them to keep running it from where it left off as he exits the truck laughing.
Leonard Aarons: [Voice tone picks up a bit] Now beating up a member of someone's family while they're helpless to do shit about it...THAT is the fucking shit heels are made for!
This gets a massive eruption from the fans of nothing but boos and catcalls. Vanessa smiles sinisterly as Renshaw is in the corner holding little Ian by his collar.
Leonard Aarons: Oh yeah, see, this isn't about you...although it does go back to something you said without thinking. This is about what happens when I have to wait for something I rightly deserve. [Nodding] Yup, you guessed right. That Axiom World Heavyweight Title that you don't seem to wanna defend against me. Now I understand your fears and apprehensions cause if I were you...[leans in and whispers] I'd have them too if I had me after my ass. [Chuckle] But Heatwave, running and hiding isn't the course of action to take. Cause then you make me have to track you down and put you through some downright nasty ass shit. But let me take you back to June 15th, Dover, Delaware ring a bell?
He looks over to Nicole, who's face starts to pale just a bit. She remembers the significance of that particular night as the day when Heatwave came home as the new East Coast Champion. What she doesn't realize is that Aarons isn't talking about that particular event.
Leonard Aarons: Yeah dawg, you becoming East Coast Champion for the first time. Big win of your Atlantic career and tell me, who was there for you? Who was there right by your fucking side from bell to bell? Was it...myself and Renshaw?
Maxwell nods Heatwave's head up and down as Aarons mouths the words 'I thought so'.
Leonard Aarons: Now, later on that evening, when I was getting my ass kicked by Daliente in the back...[intense growl] WHERE IN THE FUCK WERE YOU?!!! Where was my comrade at arms when Zo had his ankle snapped or when I damn near had my career ended by Daliente?! I'll tell ya Heatwave, you were nowhere to be found.
Aarons breathes in and out deeply a few times, before cracking his neck and then slamming the microphone into Heatwave's skull three quick times before he lets go of the stick and gets right into Heatwave's face.
Leonard Aarons: So I sat in a hospital bed, wondering...wondering exactly how I would deal with you when the time came. I really wanted to come on the show the following week and just beat the fuck out of you for just cause, but I thought better of it all things told. I thought, if I wait, the right opportunity would come and that's when we had that tag match against ole Morgan and Bobby Irish. Knowing you, you probably thought I got even with ya by leaving you to be pinned by Morgan right? We'd just call it even and act like it never happened right?
Aarons this time reaches for Heatwave's head, which is now starting to bleed after the shots to the head as he moves his head up and down as Aarons shakes his from side to side.
Leonard Aarons: No little Husker, you were wrong. But when you said fuck me and the ECC, when you interrupted *MY* contract signing and left me bleeding...you gave me carte blanche to do this. To show you exactly why it's very hazardous to your health and those around you NOT to fuck with me. So I'm gonna tell you how this is gonna go down. Since my lady had to pay the ultimate price to save my career, I'm gonna see if your wife has what it takes to do the same for you and come out of it like the soldier ole Vanessa is. Only this time out, you're gonna be powerless to stop it, cause yeah, it'd be easy to just beat you senseless and leave your wife and child to pick up what's left of you...
He laughs before he stands and heads over to Nicole with his Lendo Stick back in his hand.
Leonard Aarons: But what would the fun in that be, huh? So Max, if you will, let's get our champ on his feet and wake him up cause the Doctor's about to give the Missus an Injection of a lifetime.
Aarons drops the microphone as he lets go of his Lendo Stick and slides out of the ring briefly.
JR: That's what this is all about? Some incident that happened 11 months ago?
GR: Hey, that was an emotionally scarring incident for Aarons. He got beat down to a bloody pulp and Heatwave wasn't even there to make a save. That's straight selfish, dawg.
JR: Yeah right, just think about how many times Aarons has left Heatwave to the dogs in comparison.
GR: Not many at all, but I know his wife never had to throw herself in the way of a pile of chairs to save him from having his career ended prematurely.
JR: Aarons is now back inside the ring with that chair and he's placing it flat in the middle of the ring. He's got that barb wire portion of his Lendo Stick lying flat on the middle, sandwiched inside as it's held in place.
GR: Something tells me that it's about to get real messy for Nicole.
JR: What's he whispering to Renshaw and Vanessa? Vanessa lets go of Nicole who tries to run, but she's yanked down by her hair thanks to that savage beast Prescott. Vanessa now has Ian and Nicole's being placed up top by Prescott. This isn't right, damnit! Someone stop this, please!!!
GR: What does my dawg have in store for ole...uh-oh. He's coming out of his shirt, I think the Doc's ready to proceed.
JR: Aarons is heading over to the corner and he's got his hand around the chin of Nicole Burbank. Heatwave's finally come out of it and he's incensed as he damn well should be!
GR: Prescott's over to keep ole Heatwave contained and he's not a factor. Go on dawg and do you!
JR: Aarons telling her something, I think he said you'll only feel it for a minute and he's going up top with her. Aarons now with her head tucked in between his legs and he's hooking one arm...oh my God he's not gonna do this. She's screaming her heart out, Aarons gesturing that he has a syringe in his right hand and...
GR: YES!!! Injection time!!!
JR: She doesn't deserve this...he's perched on the second, no, he's shaking his head...
GR: HAHA!!! He's going up one more!!! Set it off, big boy!!!
JR: Aarons has both arms hooked and he looks right into the eyes of Heatwave who's practically chomping at the bit to get at Aarons. Aarons looks out at the crowd and...
[...]
[...]
[...]
SKA-PLANK!!!
That would be the sound of Nicole Burbank's head being driven face first into not just the steel chair of her husband's, but right on top of the barb wire part of L's Lendo Stick. The very same barb wire which cost Tony Pride his vision temporarily. Nicole's body starts to violently twitch as the fans let out a shocked gasp before booing and pelting the ring with various objects. Heatwave's face turns paper white as he looks on in horror as Aarons remains on his knees, admiring his handiwork. Ian's in tears, as even Vanessa for a brief moment shows some signs of concern for Nicole's well being. Aarons on the other hand, shows no signs of any type of concern or remorse. He simply lifts up the chair a little, sliding his Lendo Stick out from underneath it and in the process, taking some skin off of Nicole's already bloodied face. Aarons takes the stick in his right hand and smiles sadistically, before pointing at Heatwave as he mouths the very same words to Jake Summers about a year ago on the same night he was attacked by Derrick Daliente.
"This shit's chess, it ain't checkers."
Aarons motions for Vanessa to let Ian go as he quickly slides out of the ring with mic in hand and backpeddles up the aisle. Ian quickly runs to his mother's side, as she has not moved from that prone position face down on the black steel chair. Aarons looks over at his two compatriots and motions for them to let Heatwave go. They do so quickly, sliding out of the ring as Heatwave rushes to his wife's aide as he screams for EMTs. The arena's in a collective state of shock and disbelief as L's two henchmen make their way up the aisle to join Vanessa and Leonard at the top of the aisleway. Aarons smiles as he clears his throat and begins to speak.
Leonard Aarons: Hey Nic...Nicky?
Heatwave snaps his head up from his wife's bloodied face and stares menacingly at Aarons.
Leonard Aarons: Remember when I told you that after your match with Cain, all bets would be off? That your wife, your son would all be fair game? Let me ask ya somethin', champ.
Aarons coyly smiles before he leans his head forward at a slight angle to the left as he eyeballs Heatwave and says arrogantly...
Leonard Aarons: Did ya think I was bullshittin'? Got your undivided attention now, don't I...champ?!
The feed ends there, as we cut to a picture of Heatwave who has seen all of this unfold on a monitor and he's seething. Actually, he's trembling with anger and his face is almost the same color of the jersey he's wearing. He stares at the words on the screen which read in no uncertain terms...
One move, checkmate...Husker.
Heatwave screams in anger, knocking over the monitor as he storms off in a huff.
(Troy) The following match is scheduled for one fall and is for the NAFW Atlantic Championship.
The Arena lights go down as the 'Ace' Signature logo appears on screen. A large '1' is spray panted over the top before Keep Yourself Alive II kicks in over the PA. Andy comes out and heads towards the ring, hand slapping a couple of the audience along the way.
(Troy) Introducing first, weighing in at 197 pounds, from Somewhere in the UK, he is the NAFW's Atlantic Champion....ANDY D!!!
Andy climbs into the ring and heads to his turnbuckle, flipping his bucket hat off his head and placing on the metal part of the turnbuckle. He takes off his shades and places them on the hat before turning around ready for the match.
(Troy) And his opponent...
The opening riff to Ozzy Osbourn's "I Don't Wanna Stop" plays as the word "SNAKE" flashes across the screen. As the guitars start to pick up, Snake comes out onto the stae to a chorus of boos.
(Troy) Weighing in at 227 pounds, now residing in the Bayou's of Lousianna...SNAKE!
Snake makes his way down towards the ring, ignoring any fans he comes across as he keeps his eyes locked on Andy D. After all, the man he's facing tonight almost killed his best friend.
(JB) Snake looks like he's ready to kill Andy D.
(Tom) Have you ever heard the phrase "Eye for an eye?"
(JB) Yes, but I don't think that Sna-
(Tom) Look at the way Snake's moving, he's got his eyes locked on Andy D, and nothing, not even a minor fan reaction, even a negative one like we're hearing now, is going to take Snake's attention away from doing to Andy D what Andy D did to Wilson.
Andy D is seen in the ring in a somewhat crouched stance, ready for Snake to "turn it up." Snake climbs in the ring by going up the steps, he doesn't acknowledge any fans whatsoever as he stands there, pacing back and forth in his corner like a caged tiger.
(JB) I wonder what tricks Snake's got up his sleeves tonight, Tom.
(Tom) What do you mean by "tricks," Mann-Wagon? According to various sources, Andy D didn't let Snake have the match he wanted, which just might hinder the match right out the starting blocks.
(JB) Well, as we've seen over the past few Annihilations from these two, anything is possible.
As soon as the bell rings, both Andy D and Snake start to duke it out in the middle of the ring. Dave Connors, who is the referee for this match, seems to be giving these two a bit of leeway knowing what's happened between the two thus far. Eventually, we see Snake duck under a right hand and get in a quick shot to the gut. Snake goes to hit a short arm clothesline on Andy D, but Andy D ducks under that and gets in a back waist lock, hoisting Snake up for a back drop. Unforntunatly for Andy D, Snake is able to roll through and land on his feet. Andy D turns to face Snake, and both men leap up for dropkicks at the same time, both coming up with nothing.
(JB) And a both men are thinking the same thing with double dropkicks that turn up bupkiss.
(Tom) I don't think Andy D's thinking "Kill Snake." I think Andy D's thinking "Survive Snake."
Snake gets his footing and he lunges at Andy D, taking him off balance and putting him in a side headlock, getting in hard rights with his free hand before wresnching in on the headlock. Andy D, not wanting to take too much damage this early in the match, uses what agility he has to knee Snake in the back of the head before wrapping his legs around Snake's head, forcing Snake to release the hold. Andy D cinches in this hold, only for Snake to fight his way over to his stomach, and flips forward into a jacknife pin attempt on Andy D.
One...
Andy D arches up, holding onto Snake's waist, and twists him into a backslide pin.
One...
Kickout!
(JB) Quick pinning combination and we have our first two pinfall attempts of the evening.
(Tom) I'm still waiting for our first carnage of the evening. With Snake on a warpath, there's sure to be destruction of epic proportions.
Both men are now back to their feet, and the two men go into a collar and elbow tie up. This time, Andy D is able to get the upper hand as he turns it into a standing side headlock. Snake hits Andy D in the side a few times and backs him into the ropes. Snake goes to push Andy D off, but Andy D has the hold locked in and is in total control. Snake, not wanting to be shown up, tries for a second time to push Andy D off, and this time he's successful, but after Andy D ducks under a clothesline attempt from Snake and attempts for a springboard cross body, Snake is thinking the same thing, and both collide in the center of the ring.
(JB) Crash and burn by Snake and Andy D!
(Tom) Not quite what I was getting at with "destruction of epic proportions."
At about the count of 7, both Snake and Andy D are back up to their knees on opposite sides of the ring. Snake is the first one to his feet and decides to sprint across the ring, unfortunatly for him, Andy D has pulled down the top rope to give himself some time to rest, sending Snake over the top rope to the mats below.
(JB) Smart move by Andy D.
(Tom) I have to agree and disagree with you there, Mann-wheel...By putting some distance between himself and Snake, Andy D not only gave hismelf some time to rest, but, as we've seen in the past, put Snake into an area he can be incredibly dangerous in.
At the count of 5, Andy D is seen getting to his feet, as Snake is just starting to stir. Andy D walks over to the ropes and tells Dave Connors to step out out of the way. Andy D waits for Snake to get to his feet, then leaps over the top rope with a body press, but Snake moves out of the way. Snake points to his head, as if to suggest he had outsmarted Andy D. Unfortunatly for Snake, Andy D's body, which comes tumbling off the ring apron to take out Snake, tells a different story.
(JB) SOMMERSAULT PLANCHA FROM ANDY D!
(Tom) Again! Not a smart move on Andy D's part as he just put himself in a dangerous place.
Andy D is slow to get to his feet, but is able to get up by the count of 6, and rolls under the bottom rope at 8, only to roll right back out to break Dave's count. Andy D signals that he doesn't want to win by a countout...or he's not done inflicting damage to Snake...either or. Andy D picks up Snake and goes to whip him into the steel steps, only for Snake to reverse at the last second and send Andy D back first into the steel. Andy D rolls around in pain and Snake rolls in and out before the 10 count to force Dave Connors to restart the 10 count.
(JB) Wait, what's he doing? Andy D had the match won.
(Tom) He probably knows that he needs to finish off Snake for good, or else Snake's going to keep coming back.
Snake heads over to the timekeeper's table and takes the Atlantic Championship belt in his hand. Snake raises it above his head and waits for Andy D to get to his feet. When Andy D gets to his feet, Snake charges with the belt in hand, out of instinct, Andy D drops to his back and trips up Snake with his feet, causing Snake to go face first into the steps with the Atlantic Championship belt cushioning the blow.
(JB) GOOD GOD! Did you hear that sickening thud!?
(Tom) I have ears, Mann-Wagon!
At the 8 count, Andy D is able to roll Snake under the bottom rope, and is just barely able to get in before Dave Connors reaches 10. Andy D, thinking he's got the match won, goes for a quick pin attempt.
One...
Two...
Kickout!
(JB) Near fall for Andy D.
(Tom) GOOD! Snake's still got some fight in him and could still take out Andy D like he promised!
Andy D, on his knees, runs a hand over his face, possibly to hide some frustration, possibly to hide dibelief. Andy D gets up to his feet and picks Snake up to his by the back of his mask. Andy D connects with a right hand, which reels Snake slightly. Andy D hits a few more rights, then gets in a quick low kick to the back of Snake's knee, forcing him down to the mat. Andy D then hits his leg and runs at the ropes, looking for the Dragon's Bite on the rebound. Unfortunatly for Andy D, Snake sees this coming from a mile away and ducks under Andy's foot, then gets to his own feet and hits a reverse neckbreaker. Slowly rolling over into a pin attempt of his own.
One...
Two...
Th-Kickout!
(JB) Near fall for Snake!
(Tom) Damnit, Snake! Finish him off!
Snake, frustrated, starts hitting the mat profusely. Obviously upset that that didn't do it. Snake gets to his feet and starts to stalk Andy D. Andy D slowly makes his way to his feet, and Snake grabs an arm of Andy D and pulls him up into a fireman's carry. Snake lets out a yell and looks for the Poison Drop, but Andy D lands on his feet. Andy D grabs Snake in a back waist lock, only for Snake to elbow Andy D in the side of the head, and does a standing switch. After a quick blow to the back, Snake grabs Andy D's head and puts him in the setup for the Venom Sting. Snake goes to spin, but thanks to impecable balance shown by Andy D, Andy D comes out in the starting position for the Venom Sting, but instead drops down for a layout reverse DDT.
(JB) OH MY GOD, WHAT A COUNTER! Andy D just showed great balance and agility by countering the Venom Sting into a layout reverse DDT!
(Tom) I have to, sadly, agree with you there, Mann-Wheel, whilst I want Andy D to get what's coming to him, that was impressive.
Andy D, thinking that that wasn't enough to put him away, points to the turnbuckle which gets a rise out of the crowd. Seeing as how, like Snake, Andy D's taken alot of damage thus far, he takes awhile to get to the top rope, but when he does, Andy D jumps off with a shooting star press...Only to crash and burn as Snake rolled out of the way at the last possible second.
(JB) Andy D misses a shooting star press, and possibly leaves himself wide open for an easy victory.
(Tom) It's called high risk, for a reason, Mann-Wagon.
Snake crawls over to Andy D for a two count cover. After a brief argument with Dave Connors, Snake thinks it'd be a good idea to introduce Andy D to the bottom of his boots. After several stomps to the head and body, and Snake using the five count to his full extent, Dave Connors quickly pulls Snake off and warns him of what might happen if he continues his assault. Dave then checks on Andy D, and with Mr Connors distracted, Snake goes to work on removing a nearby turnbuckle pad.
(JB) Wait a minute! Snake's removing the turnbuckle pad! Snake should be disqualified!
(Tom) What for? Snake hasn't used it as a weapon, yet. Besides, this is what Dave connors' gets for taking his eyes off of Snake.
Snake heads over to Andy D and picks him up and throws him into the opposite corner of the exposed corner, gets in a few quick punches, then grabs an arm and goes to send Andy D towards the steel. Andy D's in-ring awareness then kicks in, and he reverses it, and Snake goes flying towards the corner. Luckily for Snake, he was able to stop himself from certain disaster. What he couldn't stop, however, was Andy D's foot connecting with the side of Snake's head.
(JB) DRAGON'S BITE OUT OF NOWHERE!
Andy D goes for a pin attempt.
One...
(JB) IT'S OVER!
Two...
(TOM) NO! NOT LIKE THIS!
THREE!
(Troy) And here is your winner, and STILL NAFW Atlantic Champion, ANDY D!!!
(JB) A big win for Andy D tonight as he continues his dominance as Atlantic Champion!
Solo
Backstage. This time, we're inside a locker room. In a rare change, tonight Spaz has opted for his own room, as opposed to sharing one with The Goods. Spaz sits alone there, until the door opens to reveal his, and The Goods' manager, Twitch.
(Twitch) Hey Pez! Twitch is so ready to lead Jumbo and that little NotPez to the Tag Team Championships! And even more ready to watch Pez beat the crap out of Micky Line up close and personal!
Spaz looks up at his manager.
(Spaz) Sorry Twitch... That's not going to happen.
Twitch is confused.
(Twitch) What? Jumbo's totally going to win with Twitch out there! Twitch is the world's greatest manager!
Spaz shakes his head, but not at Twitch's continued use of Hector's old catchphrase.
(Spaz) I'm not talking about Ammo's match... I'm talking about mine. You're not coming to the ring with me, Twitch. I'm going solo.
(Twitch) But Twitch wants...
Spaz holds up a hand, stopping Twitch mid-sentence.
(Spaz) The decision's made, Twitch. I'm doing this myself. No distractions. This is how it has to be.
Reluctantly, Twitch nods.
(Twitch) OK. Twitch understands.
(Spaz) Thank you.
Silence for a moment... Which is really rather rare with Twitch around. As would be expected, Twitch is the one who breaks the silence.
(Twitch) Pez?
Spaz looks up again, having been lost in thought during the silence.
(Spaz) Yeah, Twitch?
(Twitch) Do Twitch a favour and bust Micky open... Twitch wants to see some blood!
Spaz nods, and we catch another hint of a smile.
(Spaz) I think that can be arranged.
That's all here.
(JB) I've seen Spaz before a lot of matches, Bear... But I've rarely seen him so intense and focused as he is here tonight. If you ask me, Mike Lane is in for the fight of his life.
(Tom) And if you ask me, Mike Lane can handle whatever Spaz throws his way.
(JB) One way or the other, we'll see about that later on!
The Bigger Arrival
(Tom) I’m getting word that our guest of honor is arriving at the arena tonight!
Guess where this is taking place? Backstage, once again! Another limousine pulls into the parking lot, this one with small American flags flying on the corners of the car. Like usual, the driver opens the car doors, and out steps several men in black suits and sunglasses, before the man himself – Senator Owens – gets out as well.
The Senator is on his mobile phone talking to someone as he walks through the doors with his security entourage.
(Senator) I’m trying to get this stop with over as soon as possible… No, I don’t know why I’m here. Just reschedule that meeting for 3:30 tomorrow, and see if you can get me out of having to do…
The Senator stops in his tracks as Detective Gordon and Jack Henderson stand face to face with his security detail. Both of them flash their badges and identification at the Presidential candidate.
(Gordon) Mr. Stephen Owens?
The Senator looks concerned, especially when now a dozen police officers surround him and his men. He hangs up his phone without finishing his conversation.
(Senator) Yes. What’s going on here?
(Gordon) You are under arrest for felonies committed within the United States of America. I’ve got an order to take you into custody where you will remain pending extradition to the United States.
Detective Gordon slaps the cuffs on the Senator, and his other police officers push aside the Senator’s security detail.
(Senator) What is going on? This is an outrage! I want my lawyer!
This time, Jack Henderson steps up.
(Henderson) Senator Owens, I’m Jack Henderson, CIA. Everything will be explained at the station, where your lawyer is waiting. We expect your full cooperation to settle this matter in the United States of America.
Keith Owens steps out from around the corner to witness his old man being taken into custody.
As soon as the Senator's eyes meet those of his son, he knows why he is being taken into custody. Months ago the Senator warned Keith that the threat of a demon was still out there and that he would look into things. But then Jack Henderson got involved, and it has lead to this.
(Senator) You! How could you? I told you there were going to be problems and I told you I was going to handle them, like when I cleaned up the mess for you last time! But no, after everything I've done for you and your career - You’ve gone and ruined it all! You've destroyed my career and ruined our family! Kiss your trust fund good-bye...
Gordon turns the Senator around and begins to walk him out of the arena as the Senator keeps yelling things that become inaudible.
Keith continues to stare as his father taken into custody, and he doesn’t even utter a word in response. Jack Henderson walks over to Keith.
(Henderson) Thank you for your cooperation in this matter Keith. We’ll be in touch with you when you return to the United States.
Henderson extends his hand to Keith, and slowly Keith returns the gesture.
Cut.
(JB) Oh my Gord! Senator Owens has been taken into custody by Detective Gordon!
(Tom) This is an outrage! How dare Keith lure his father all the way to Canada just to have him arrested and extradited back to his home country’s soil!
(JB) It doesn’t appear that Keith knew his father was going to be arrested today, judging by his reaction.
(Tom) Bullocks! Senator Owens was screwed by his son! You heard the man! This has ruined the trust fund!
(JB) Perhaps, but clearly there are bigger dealings going on than that Bear.
(Tom) Gah! I bet Keith was still mad about the time his father had him arrested for defending the X-Treme title in a Backyard Wrestling Match when it was clearly against the law. After all, Senator Owens wrote that law!
(JB) I have a feeling you're not even close with that assessment.
(Tom) As nuts as that was, this is going to be crazier.
(JB) As hot as this night here in Vancouver has been, it's nothing compared to our next match.
(Tom) Oh no, we see the end of Leonard Aarons in the NAFW as we know it tonight as he says those two magic words...I Quit!
(JB) Heatwave made his return to the NAFW last March and made it clear to Aarons, he hasn't forgiven nor forgotten what Aarons did to his wife some four years ago. He has wanted to get his hands on the man who broke his wife's neck, the man whom he's going to face tonight for the first time in four years.
(Tom) Revenge is a dish best served cold and tonight, L's going to get his.
It's here that we get the graphic of Heatwave, with his wife by his side followed by that of Illtown Leonard Aarons with his 'Illtown Rules' throwover and Vanessa standing by his as he stands with Lendo Stick in hand resting against his right shoulder pointing with his left hand before throwing up three fingers.
(JB) Let's take a look back at how we got to this point.
We cut to the sound of a movie projector starting up as it counts down from 5. It stops at 5 as we go to their first face to face encounter in the NAFW. March 16th, 2007. The epic face to face with Heatwave and The Reaper. We hear the words uttered by Heatwave just before their face to face during a promo Heatwave cut just days before his match against Charles Johnson...
"What he did to my wife is inexcusable...something I can never forgive and it's something that plagues my dreams night in and night out. I know what he did...and I told him once that I would come back and come for what's mine."
A shot of Heatwave pointing at Aarons as he warns him as Aarons stares back at him.
"I will come back and I come down on him with such vengeance, he'll think God himself has stepped down from the heavens."
We cut to Death Wish, when Aarons won the Foundation Heavyweight Championship from Trevor Cunning and the subsequent events that started after that. Aarons in the ring talking about his win and then the attack by Trevor, which was thwarted by Mike Stryker before Aarons was set on fire.
"But the best part of laying in wait...you'll never know."
The shot of Stryker standing over a drenched Aarons who had gasoline poured on him by Cunning. The lights then go out for a few moments before we see a bright amber flash illuminate the TD BankNorth Garden. We see it again and again as Heatwave's words echo in frightening clarity.
"You'll never know when and where it'll all come crumbling down."
The subsequent downward spiral for Aarons would continue at Redemption, with the arrival of one Mr. Black onto the scene. Then, during the close of the Aarons/Stryker title match, the knee to the face of Stryker causing the disqualification. Aarons gets to his feet as he stares Mr. Black in the eyes. The sound of a heartbeat slowing as the moments go by before Mr. Black unmasks just stops as the look on his face changes when he locks eyes on the Madman From Miami.
The music picks up as we hear the beginning of "Highway To Hell" by AC/DC accompany the next sequence of events.
Vanessa Chamberlain being attacked in the parking lot at Annihilation by a man swinging a black chair. That man would be Heatwave.
## Living easy, living free ##
## Season ticket on a one-way ride ##
The same night, Aarons being viciously assaulted by Heatwave with the same chair.
## Asking nothing, leave me be ##
## Taking everything in stride ##
One week later, we show Heatwave attacking Lorenzo and then proceeding to break Charlene's neck with a Black Furnace Driver on a chair. This is where the music fades briefly as we hear Heatwave speak moments after the fact over the music.
## Don't need reason, don't need rhyme ##
## Ain't nothing I would rather do ##
"I want Leonard Aarons...the Leonard Aarons -I- know..."
## I'm on the Highway To Hell ##
This cuts to grainy footage of Aarons in the NWC, sporting a clean shaven look yet flashing a very sinister smirk. This was coined by Aarons himself, the Trillion Dollar Smirk.
## Highway To Hell ##
"Not this watered down version where the fans love him and will probably drink his bath water if you let them."
## I'm on the Highway To Hell ##
This cuts back to a color version of the Aarons people have come to know and love today as "The Reaper".
## Highway To Hell ##
"I want the Leonard Aarons that wouldn't piss on Vanessa even if she was on fire...no pun intended."
## No stop signs, speed limit ##
## Nobody's gonna slow me down ##
More grainy footage of Aarons in the NWC: Atlantic, doing heinous things to people. Body after body being left bloodied and broken, his smirk ever constant no matter whom he left lying.
## Like a wheel, gonna spin it ##
## Nobody's gonna mess me round ##
"I want the Leonard Aarons that everyone hated...the True Reaper."
## Hey Satan, payin' my dues ##
The grainy footage continues as we hear what Aarons told Heatwave last March in his locker room.
## Playing in a rocking band ##
"I'm trying to tell you that I'm not looking to take this back to where it was."
## Hey Momma, look at me ##
A shot of Aarons hoisting the Atlantic Heavyweight Championship high over his head and then him holding the Axiom Heavyweight Championship strap over a fallen Heatwave show as we hear him continue.
## I'm on my way to the Promised Land ##
"Now if it's a vendetta you're after, I'm obligated to tell you that Devastation is what you're going to get."
## I'm on the Highway To Hell ##
We cut to Chain Reaction where Aarons has Stryker beaten, yet Heatwave rolls in crashing 15 pounds of FHC gold on top of Leonard's skull. Moments later, a Pardigm Shift after the fact, The Reaper is a former Foundation Heavyweight Champion. However, Heatwave's attack was just beginning. We cut to the very end where his attempt at setting The Reaper on fire was thwarted by Vanessa, who ate a fireball to the face as a result.
## Highway to Hell ##
This all "ended" in Tokyo, where Heatwave viciously attacked Aarons leaving him lying bloodied and unconcious in the ring with his head bleeding on a ring step.
## I'm on the Highway to Hell ##
We hear Heatwave speaking on the April 2nd edition of Annihilation where he attempted to retire.
## Highway To Hell ##
"I've done what I came here to do and I said all along that it was about Aarons. About making him suffer and I did just that. I made him suffer and when I couldn't wait for things to resume here, I sought him out and finished it once and for all. So it's...
## Don't stop me ##
Not. Over.
Vanessa's words are followed by an infamous laugh right as the guitar riffs cut out rather abruptly and then quick flashes of Aarons doing all sorts of evil in his NWC days as we hear the words Aarons uttered to Heatwave from a graveyard. This cuts into the very first theme L used back during his first run in the NAFW, namely "Tha Realist Killaz" by 2Pac w/50 Cent.
## There's gon' be some stuff you gon' see ##
## That's gon' make it hard to smile in the future ##
"At Breaking Point, for one night only, you will look the bastard that broke your wife's neck in the eyes for the first time in four years. For the first time in four years, you will stare into the eyes of the Monarch of Maelstrom and you know what? You're going to fold."
## Now since you're crying for mercy I promise ##
## My success'll be the death of you ##
The song skips right into the 50 Cent part of the song, or the second verse as we seec lips of their last battle in early June of 2004. With Aarons beating Heatwave silly, taunting the crowd which at that time loathed him and cheered Heatwave.
## Lo and behold you sold your soul ##
## Negro there's nuttin' left of you ##
"Check that, you're going to GET folded, boi."
## Look in the mirror, ask yourself who are you? ##
## If you don't know who you are, how could your dreams come true? ##
A shot of Heatwave being chokeslammed through a table by Illtown follows.
## Mother*bleep*er, I sat back and watched ##
## You pretended to be 'Pac, you pretended to be hot ##
We see Heatwave on the most recent edition of Annihilation beating Aarons bloody with a chair and then a pair of handcuffs. Then, we get Aarons sitting on the most recent edition of Annihilation as he is bloodied, yet smiling.
## But you're not (NOWWW) - I see it so clear ##
## You can't take the pressure, you pussy ##
"I think a Doddtown Street Fight...just doesn't do this thing justice."
## I warned you not to push me ##
A clip of Aarons from the previous Doddtown Street Fight against Bishop, which ended with The Reaper's Wrath through a table at Last Rites.
## You see me and chills run up your spine ##
"Breaking Point, you, me, I Quit match."
## God made men the same, boy, but your heart ain't like mine ##
"At Breaking Point, they're gonna be able to build a moat ringside with the amount of blood that will flow in that ring."
## Press, they look at me like I'm a menace ##
A shot of Heatwave bloodied at the hands of Aarons.
## I was playing with guns while your momma had your punk ass playin' tennis ##
"We're gonna paint the town a beautiful shade of crimson..."
## I'm a nightmare, you see me when you dream ##
A shot of Aarons, bloodied at the hands of Heatwave.
## Wake up, turn on your TV and see my ass again ##
"And in the end, you will be left lying broken, beaten and most of all..."
## You cowardly hearted, you couldn't make it on your own ##
A shot of Heatwave being carried off by EMTs following their last encounter in June of 2004, followed by Aarons being wheeled off on a gurney the night he was set on fire by Heatwave in July of last year.
## F**k The Source, I'm on cover of Rolling Stone ##
## YOU P***Y! ##
"DEVASTATED!"
We cut back to the arena as we see a split shot of Heatwave and one of Illtown, smirking rather arrogantly in his Illtown Rules throwover. We go back to the ring where Troy Gilmore is standing by in the ring as the bell sounds. The fans in the General Motors Palace are going ballistic, as Troy brings the microphone to his mouth.
(Troy) Ladies and gentlemen, this is an I QUIT MATCH and here are the rules. There are no pinfalls, no submissions, no disqualifications and no countouts. The only way to win the match is to make your opponent say, I QUIT!
The fans are going nuts before we hear the sound of three distinct gunshots, causing boos to fill the arena.
Ohhhh, don't even look at me wrong when I come through the hood
Ain't nuttin change still holla at my homies
Ohh and when I hit the block I still will kill
And I don't want to, sucka but I will if I got to Kill, if suckaz get to messin around
If suckaz get to messin around
The crowd instantly boo at the chorus of the Hip-Hop song as the lights slowly start to dim and a bright spotlight shines at the entrance.
(Troy) He stands tall at SIX FEET and FOUR INCHES!
The bass starts to thump as the boos simply get louder.
(Troy) He weighs in at a solid TWO HUNDRED and SIXTY-SEVEN POUNDS!
Yeah... respect come from admiration and fear
You can admire me if you could catch one in your wig
You see the Testarosa, the toaster's right on my lap
So if a sucka get out of line and sucka get clapped
I got a arsenal, an infantry I'm built for this mentally
That's why I'm the general, I do what they pretend to do
Front on me now sucka I'll be the end of you
Forget your enemies and think of what your friends'll do I drop a bag off, they'll let a mag off
The Heckler and Koch'll tear half of your ass off
I'm not for the games, I'm not for all the playing
The hollow tips rain, when I unleash the pain
Get the message from the lines or get the message from the 9
Paint a picture with words, you can see when I shine
Put my back on the wall sucka watch me go for mine
I let 21 shots off at the same time, YEAH!
(Troy) Accompanied to the ring by his wife, Nicole...he hails from the city of MIAMI, FLORIDA! He is….HEATWAVE!
Ohhhh, don't even look at me wrong when I come through the hood
Ain't nuttin change still holla at my homies
Ohh and when I hit the block I still will kill
And I don't want to, sucka but I will if I got to Kill, if suckaz get to messin around
If suckaz get to messin around
Boos continue to erupt from the crowd as Heatwave comes bursting through the curtain with his wife not too far behind him, with a spotlight following their every move towards the ring. A large smile is on his face as he simply looks about the booing crowd. They hated him and it was just the way he liked it. He didn’t care if they jeer, or let alone cheered him. He was here to do a job and it so happened to be that he was very good at it. He slides underneath the bottom rope in nothing but street wear; consisting of a pair of black Nike track pants, pair of Carolina blue Nike Shox and a pair black Nike batting gloves, as the lights start the brighten up.
Yeah... where I'm from death is always in the air homie
Nana love me so you know she say my prayers for me
I come creepin through the hood wearin teflon
Hit the corners bastards get left on
Suckaz know, if not they better check my background
Try and stick me I'll fill your back with mac rounds
Ask Prim' sucka 50 don't "Back Down"
I kick it funky like fiends in the crack house
Cross the line boy I'ma air ya ass out
Screw your face at me I wanna know what that's 'bout
Sucka I know you ain't mad I done came up
And if you are, forget you cause I ain't change up
The O.G.'s wanna talk but I don't know these suckaz
And I ain't did no business wit 'em, I don't owe these suckaz
a minute of my time, I get it cause
I grind All across the globe like the world's mine, YEAH!
Heatwave hops upon the middle turnbuckle of a corner of the ring and throws his fists in the air to the cheers from the crowd. But yet a wave of flash bulbs shine over him as he hops down and makes his way towards the other turnbuckle. He hops down and leans against the ropes as he simply waits for competition to make his way to the ring.
(JB) He looks in great shape, but tonight he's made it clear he's here to end Aarons once and for all. His wife is ringside with him to watch and one can only imagine what's going through her mind at this moment.
(Tom) What are you, stupid? She's thinking my husband's about to retire the man who broke my damn neck and had me in a halo for months on end? He took three years away from Heatwave's career and now, Aarons is gonna quit in front of a nationwide audience.
(JB) Aarons has been airing footage of that incident all night long and Heatwave's run himself all over the place trying to find him. He thought he stopped the last bit of it, but Aarons was in the truck the entire time and aired it anyway.
(Tom) He's about to get...
The lights in the arena go out as only lightbulbs are visible. The NAFWtron flickers off and on as the crowd begins to murmur, that murmur becoming a buzz as we see a crimson light cover the front left fourth of the General Motors Palace, then a gold one covering the opposite side. There's another one which covers the right fourth, then a gold covering the other half. This sequence continues until we hear the infamous Lion's roar followed by the ear shattering sound of razors being sharpened.
"Welcome to prime time, bitch."
Three huge pyro explosions bring the lights back on as the arena's flooded in crimson and gold. "Patiently Waiting" by 50 Cent w/Eminem begins to blare through the speakers as Heatwave's eyes are locked in on the entrance ramp. The fans are cheering like there's no tomorrow as Vanessa comes out first, styling an "Illtown Resurrection" shirt with a pair of tight jeans. It has a picture of a grave with Illtown's name on the tombstone and a hand rising up out of the ground holding the Lendo Stick. It should be noted that she's carrying a shopping cart with a black cloth over it. She throws up an L and A with her left and right hand, before throwing up three fingers as two huge pyro bursts erupt from both sides of the entranceway.
9...10...he's back a-gain.
"Walk On" by Method Man & Redman cuts into that as the fans erupt for the arrival of Illtown Leonard Aarons. He's styling his black Illtown Rules throwover with a pair of blue jeans with the word Illtown scrawled down the length of each pants leg in blood red. There's an urban looking Lion wielding a bloody Lendo Stick standing on top of each I as L styles a pair of thin black shades. He starts down the aisle with Vanessa following suit as she pushes the cloth covered cart.
(JB) It should be noted that this is the first time in four years that Illtown Leonard Aarons has wrestled under that alias. The last time he wrestled Heatwave, he defeated him for the Axiom Heavyweight Championship.
(Tom) Don't forget this was after the man's wife had her neck broken, real brave of him to challenge Heatwave with so much on his mind.
(JB) In any event, Axiom eventually merged into SCW and Aarons went away after the Anarchy pay per view in June of 2004. He eventually surfaced again in the NAFW in late 2004 and the rest as they say is history.
(Tom) Which is what Heatwave's about to make Aarons. History.
Aarons stops at the midway point in the aisle, counting to three on his right hand after he thumps his chest three times as he hoists three fingers in the air causing gold pyro to erupt from both sides of the entrance. Three pyro explosions explode once more as Aarons removes his shades, handing them to a little kid as he removes the throwover and pitches it into the audience revealing his NWC: Aarons muscle shirt which has him posing above a city skyline. Aarons snarls and just mouths the words, 'end game, boi, you're gonna get devastated tonight' before sprinting towards the ring as Heatwave waves him on.
Heatwave backs up seemingly letting Aarons storm in, as his wife hands him a light bulb tube which he holds behind him. As Aarons gets in the ring, he heads right for Heatwave only to eat a tube right to the head that stops him in his tracks. While he's staggering from that blow, Nicole slides in Heatwave's trademark black chair which is taken by the Madman who laughs before hitting him twice upside the noggin. The second shot drops Aarons as the crowd boos Heatwave raising the chair high over his head. He spikes it onto the ground and spits at Aarons as he asks for the microphone from referee Jason Martin.
(Heatwave) Alright, let's make this as simple as possible. I've owned your ass every step of the way and quite honestly, I'd like to make this a short night for you. One time, tell these Mother Canuckers...
Huge boos.
(Heatwave) Hey, HEY! I gotta hear this alright, so shut your Maple Syrup sucking holes up.
That didn't help.
(Heatwave) Alright, tell the Madman From Miami what he wants to hear and we can all go home. Come on...you quit, right?
Heatwave lowers the microphone towards Aarons who's still somewhat groggy after the early assault by Heatwave. He looks up at him and spits, before flipping him the double bird which gets two reactions.
Cheers from the Vancouver crowd...
And of course, a microphone bounced off his skull by Heatwave. Repeatedly.
(JB) I don't think that was the answer Heatwave was looking for. Heatwave repeatedly driving that microphone off the skull of Aarons and it's looking like this won't end early after all.
(Tom) Good, I want to see Aarons suffer for all the things he did to Heatwave's pretty wife. I think deep down, Heatwave would tell you he wants to punish him.
(JB) I don't even think the bell's officially rung to start this...
DING DING DING!!!
(JB) Ah, right on cue then.
(Tom) And Heatwave continues to beat on this clown that all the Mother Canuckers love, just because they are Mother Canuckers.
(JB) Come on ref, get the damn microphone away from him!
(Tom) What? It's legal. All perfectly legal, just the way Aarons wanted it.
(JB) This was originally supposed to have been a Doddtown Street Fight, but after a pre-emptive strike on Aarons after a match he had against Masato Kojima, Aarons changed it to an I Quit match.
(Tom) Yeah and he basically ensured that Heatwave's going to go out in style tonight.
Heatwave finally tosses the microphone back to Martin, as he stops for a moment to bask in the boos he's receiving. He picks Aarons up and hits him with a couple of hard rights to the skull, as Aarons staggers back after each shot. After the third shot, Heatwave stops and throws up three fingers before dropping into a crotch chop as he says something rather derogatory towards Aarons before throwing the fourth punch which is blocked by the Devastator who retaliates with a few of his own. Aarons gets the crowd on its feet rallying with shots of his own which get his former protege reeling before bouncing off the ropes. On the rebound, Heatwave catches Aarons at full speed and pitches him over the top rope turning his back assuming he hit the floor. L stops his momentum hanging on to the top rope as he skins the cat to the amazement of the crowd. He pulls himself back up staring lasers at Heatwave who's prancing about laughing it up, as his wife tries to warn Heatwave that Aarons didn't hit the floor.
Aarons decides to not wait any longer, hopping up on the top rope and launching himself towards Heatwave. Heatwave turns to see Aarons airborne and does the only thing he can do. Fall. L hits the ground hard as Heatwave gets to his feet, pointing to his head denoting he saw it coming as fans boo. Heatwave takes this time to stomp away at Aarons with those boots of his, stopping to jaw away at Aarons as he stomps away on his former friend turned hated rival. Heatwave yells to Nicole to get something from under the ring, which she does, pulling out of all things...a garbage can. She tosses it in, lid and all as Heatwave takes the lid and looks at it before sizing up Aarons.
(JB) Heatwave's got a trash can lid and he is sizing up Aarons.
(Tom) Get up, time to get that bell of yours rung!
(JB) Aarons is up and...GEEZ! There's a hard shot to the skull by Heatwave and another!
(Tom) One bell, two bell, three bell, UH!
(JB) What was that?
(Tom) Daylight come and Aarons will go home. Don't interrupt the song, Mann-canucker.
Heatwave drops the lid, picking up the trash can as he screams something at Aarons just before he stands him up. He hits him upside the head twice, before putting the trash can over him as he heads towards the chair.
(JB) Oh no...Aarons has that trash can completely over his head and the upper part of his body as Heatwave has that damn chair in his hand.
(Tom) Eh, it's probably best if Aarons didn't see what's coming next anyhow. Here's the windup...and...
...
...
SKRANK! SKRANK! SKRANK!
(JB) GOOD GORD!!! Three hard shots by Heatwave have totally dented that trash can and Aarons has dropped. Enough's enough already, I think this is it.
(Tom) Nope, I think Heatwave needs to flatten out some of the dents he made.
Sure enough, Heatwave starts to pound away some more specifically on the area where Leonard's face is. He viciously swings away, until the can has been flattened and he just folds out the chair, sitting down on it as he pulls the dented can off of Aarons to reveal his bloodied face. He simply shakes his head as he calls for the microphone and sighs somewhat facetiously just before he laughs.
(Heatwave) Wow...that's a pretty nasty boo boo you got there. Gotcha all bloody and woozy it seems. There's a real simple way this can end boi, two words. Let's hear it.
He extends the microphone towards Aarons, who somehow someway, is trying to get to his feet. Heatwave tosses the microphone back to Martin, taking his movement as a no before he gets up and continues to pound away on Aarons some more trying to keep him down. Heatwave starts to go back towards Martin, but he sees Aarons still trying to get up in spite of the blood that's slowly starting to cloud his vision from the chair shots off the trash can. Heatwave folds up the chair and decides to actually let Aarons get to his feet, smiling as he beckons for him to get to his feet. The crowd is behind Aarons as he tries to pull himself up using the ring ropes. After a few moments he finally gets to his feet, staggering as he turns towards Heatwave. Heatwave puts everything he can behind the swing before following through.
The blast unto itself, is enough to not just stop Aarons in his tracks, but it's more than enough to put a considerable dent into the chair itself. Aarons falls like a proverbial Redwood in the forest and the boos are deafening as Heatwave lets the chair drop and he just laughs. He goes to the far turnbuckle, hopping on the second buckle to strike The Reaper's trademark pose. He hops down and heads for the other one, standing proud as he strikes that signature pose one more time before flipping off the fans and grabbing his nether regions which gets even more boos than before.
Nicole slides in a bag that's tied, yelling for Heatwave to open it. As he hops down, he looks at it with amazement in a mocking fashion. He walks over and gets it, opening it as he smiles.
(JB) What's in that bag? Why is he smiling?
(Tom) Maybe it's a bag of pennies that he's gonna use to bash Illtown silly. I don't know Mann-hole, it's...TACKS!!! NICOLE GAVE HEATWAVE THUMBTACKS!!! HA-HA!!! Acupuncture time Lenny!
(JB) Oh my Gord, we've got tacks in the middle of the ring and Heatwave's spreading these things all over the place. He's now stalking Aarons, begging for him to get up.
(Tom) Awww man, this is going to be sweet. Aarons has no clue where he's at and Heatwave's just about ready to dust him off once and for all.
(JB) Aarons is using the ropes to pull himself up and he stumbles backwards right into Heatwave who spins him around and has him goozled.
(Tom) DOUBLE GOOZLE!!!
Heatwave screams at Aarons that this is for his wife, before throwing him overhead as his back comes crashing down on top of those tacks. Aarons pops up screaming in pain, as those tacks are digging into his back something awful. Heatwave walks over, smiling as he pulls Aarons up hitting him with a couple of hard shots before stuffing him between his legs. He hooks both legs and smiles at his wife, before lifting him up off the ground and delivering the Black Furnace Driver onto the tacks with Leonard's head and face, eating tacks. Heatwave sits up quickly, dusting the tacks off of his legs, what few have stuck themselves in after that move. Aarons The boos are almost deafening as Heatwave "presents" the bloodied and seemingly beaten Aarons to the Vancouver crowd. Nicole's applauding as Heatwave starts towards the referee asking for a mic as he just shakes his head laughing as he walks towards Aarons who's barely moving at this point.
(Heatwave) Alright, I think you've had enough. Come on, I've got dinner reservations for me and the Missus that you're holding me up from. So let's get this over with. Two words and it's done. I leave you lying in the mediocrity that is your career and I can celebrate with my wifey. Come on, let me hear it. Two words...
Aarons doesn't get a chance to respond with the two words he wants to hear, but someone else does...
"Daddy's back..."
Heatwave's eyes bulge out of his head as he drops the microphone, the PA system kicking up the sounds of "You Don't Know" by Eminem, 50 Cent, Cashis, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo as dry fog starts to emanate from the entranceway.
(JB) Are you kidding me?!
(Tom) No way, he's supposed to have a broken ankle! What the hell is he doing here?
(JB) Lorenzo Richards hasn't been seen since his ankle was broken at the hands of Heatwave a few months ago and we haven't seen or heard from him since.
Heatwave stands with chair in hand, waiting on Lorenzo's arrival. He stands ready, screaming for Zo to come on down and get some. However, what he isn't expecting is one of the cameramen to roll into the ring behind him. He removes the hat to reveal his dreads tied to the back and gets out of his blue jumpsuit to reveal his platinum colored fatigues as Nicole is screaming for Heatwave to turn around. Heatwave's unable to hear her over the roar of the crowd and the music, as Lorenzo stands tall, his ankle seemingly at full strength. After a few moments, an empty wheelchair rolls out with a platinum colored ankle brace which is empty.
(Tom) TURN AROUND HEATWAVE!!! HE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!! NICOLE, TELL HIM TO...
(JB) Over the noise of the music and the fans, he can't hear her or Lorenzo behind him. Lorenzo's ankle appears to be at full strength and he's just smiling. Heatwave doesn't know that Lorenzo's directly behind him. Aarons has now just started stirring and he finally sees his cousin.
(Tom) Oh I bet you're just loving this. Two on one against a man who was expecting a fair fight.
(JB) He broke this man's ankle and his wife's neck a few months ago. I fully expect...HERE WE GO!!! Zo turns Heatwave around and is belting him with massive rights and lefts staggering the Floridian.
(Tom) Can't the ref do anything about this?! He has no business being here!
(JB) It's all legal and listen to these fans! They're loving it!
Lorenzo sends Heatwave in for the ride and catches him with a big boot showing that his ankle is indeed fully healed. He yells before turning his attention back towards Heatwave, stomping away at him as Aarons tries to pull himself up, taking the time to rest as his cousin gets his payback on Heatwave. Lorenzo pulls Heatwave up by his neck, flipping him off before bringing him up and down with a vicious chokeslam. He doesn't stop there, keeping his hand clasped around his neck as he pulls him up one more time, screaming at Heatwave before hoisting him onto his shoulders in a Fireman's Carry position.
(JB) Big Finish time!
(Tom) No!
(JB) BIG FINISH BY RICHARDS AND HEATWAVE IS DOWN! Lorenzo's come back tonight with a vengeance and he has left his mark on Heatwave in a big time way.
(Tom) I can't believe the ref's letting this go. Now Zo's going over to his cousin, oh great, more TDC thea...HA!
(JB) What the hell?!
Lorenzo after dropping Heatwave with a Big Finish, turned his attention towards his cousin who was just starting to walk towards him. Lorenzo took a running start and took his cousin's head off with a vicious lariat that has silenced this crowd and has even Vanessa shocked. Lorenzo stares down at his cousin, then at Heatwave and then the referee asking for the microphone. He gets the microphone and shockingly, he doesn't walk towards Heatwave, he walks towards his cousin. He pulls him up brushing off the tacks from his bloodied face and looks at him, sneering before saying...
(Lorenzo) You're welcome, cousin.
He lets him drop to the mat as he lets his cousin fall flat on the mat. Heatwave's still down after the attack by Lorenzo. Vanessa is up on the apron, screaming at Lorenzo who simply ignores her and walks out of the ring. The fans are booing as Lorenzo walks up the ramp, leaving the man who broke his ankle and his wife's neck lying only feet away from the man who let it happen.
(JB) I don't get it. What was that?
(Tom) Ha! It's beautiful! He's thanking his cousin for sitting back and letting his cousin's wife have her neck broken and his ankle broken.
(JB) I don't think it was anything like that.
(Tom) Oh no? Tell me, when Lorenzo's ankle was sandwiched in that chair, who could've stopped it?
(JB) Aarons and...
(Tom) Who did nothing to stop it?
(JB) You have a point.
(Tom) Damn straight I do. He left his cousin to be maimed and that was the payment due.
(JB) Well, we've got Aarons bloody and out of it, we've got Heatwave out of it and both women are trying to get their respective men snapped back into it.
(Tom) Aarons is getting to his feet slowly, Heatwave's back into it and I think it's about over for Aarons. He's bleeding, he's been beaten on, he has nothing left.
(JB) How's he still standing then?
(Tom) He's too stupid to stay down. Not to worry, Heatwave's going to keep him down, you watch.
Heatwave heads towards Aarons looking to pick up where he left off, only Aarons reacts the only way he knows how. A well placed boot to the nuts which stops Heatwave in his tracks and has every man in the place crossing their legs. Aarons fires back with a hard right, followed by a few more as the fans start getting back into this match. He finally drops Heatwave with a quick Jersey Uppercut before dropping to both knees as he tries to get his breath back. He looks to Vanessa who removes the cloth from the cart to reveal a slew of weapons. Aarons asks for and gets of all things, the cloth as he whips it around before he begins choking Heatwave with it. He begins to choke the life out of Heatwave, yanking away as he motions for the referee to come over with the microphone.
(Illtown) Alright, quittin' time, boi. Let's hear it, right here, right now. Whaddaya say?!
Mason extends the microphone towards Heatwave who somehow manages to pull up on the clothlike noose around his neck, extending his leg as he kicks Aarons in the head causing him to release the stranglehold dropping Heatwave to the outside gasping for air. Aarons stumbles back a bit, shaking his head trying to refocus. Aarons takes a running start and tries to slide out on Heatwave who basically gets caught from behind and hits the announce table. Aarons stares at him and smacks him a couple of times, before drilling him in the face hard with a couple of hard rights square to the face. He yanks off the cover, takes one of the monitors and proceeds to bash Heatwave in the head with it repeatedly.
Illtown clears off the table, then stares at both announcers motioning for them to clear out which they do. He pull Heatwave up, grabbing him by the throat as he screams at him before he yanks him up and drills him through it with a vicious Chokeslam From Illtown. Fans go ballistic with the "Holy Shit" chants as Aarons throws up three fingers and roars as Heatwave lies on the ground twitching. He motions for the microphone and takes it, bending down with a bloody face and just smiles at Heatwave.
(Illtown) Alright, let's get this over with. You will tell the world...actually, hold up. You're not done yet.
He hands the microphone back to Mason, grabbing him up and sliding him into the ring. He walks over to the cart, sifting through the objects before he digs under the ring and pulls out something that gets a monstrous reaction from the fans. As it gets slid into the ring, folks can see that it's a board with barb wire strewn all over it.
(Tom) Oh Gord...get up Heatwave! Get up!
(JB) Aarons has introduced a barb wire board into this match for the first time tonight and he's in the ring with that wooden monstrocity.
Heatwave tries to get to his feet, still reeling from the chokeslam through the announce table. His wife's going berserk on the outside as she sees what Aarons has in his hands. Unfortunately, he turns around and sees Aarons charging. Actually, he sees a big board with a mess of barb wire coming towards him and unfortunately for him, he doesn't move quick enough as he is knocked down and whether it's on purpose or not...Aarons falls right on top of him with the board between them making for one bloody painful sandwich.
It should be noted that while Heatwave has felt the wrath of Lendo once upon a time, he has never had that much contact with barb wire in his life. Let alone all at once. He starts yelling in pain, as Aarons gets up and drops an elbow on top of the board repeatedly. Driving the barb wire into Heatwave's face and letting it dig into his skin. Aarons pulls it up rather quickly, as his foe thrashes about the mat, screaming. The referee cringes, as Aarons holds that board up for all to see just before he throws it directly at Heatwave as it catches him flush in the face and across his chest as he crumples into a heap screaming in pain, looking at blood starting to seep out of various areas of his body.
(JB) Aarons told us it wouldn't be pretty and by Gord, he meant it.
(Tom) He's not human. No human could dare do this to another human being.
Aarons places the board flat, in the middle of the ring, then decides to slide it outside of the ring as he rolls back outside and reaches through the ropes as he grabs a kendo stick. He slowly pulls it out to reveal that it's wrapped in barb wire from right about a 1/3 of the way up from the middle of the stick. In fact, from said point up, you can't see any real yellow to speak of. There's only dark silver that is barb wire. He looks out at Nicole, catches a glimpse of Heatwave's son and he just stops for a minute motioning for the microphone as he puts the Lendo Stick down. Once he gets the microphone, he walks towards Heatwave who's slumped in the corner, still trembling with pain after being hit with that barb wire board.
(Illtown) Now ya know what? I'm a compassionate man and truth be told, you didn't burn all of it out of me so I'll tell ya what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna spare most of the populace from seeing this get flat out repugnant, if you just give me two words. That's it. Two words and we can all go home, well, I'll go home and you'll be going to a hospital...so let's have it.
He extends the microphone towards Heatwave who simply replies...
(Heatwave) *BLEEP* YOU.
Illtown turns away and laughs, scratching his chin as he leans down and says rather coldly...
(Illtown) You first, bitch.
He slams his boot down hard into the nether regions and presses, as he slams the microphone into the skull of Heatwave again and again. The sound of electronic and plastic slamming against Heatwave's skull reverberates throughout the GM Palace in Vancouver. He finally stops hitting him as he tosses the microphone back to James Mason.
Vanessa whistles for Illtown to look over and he sees her holding a pair of handcuffs. He smiles, as he gets them tossed to him as he holds them up high for the fans to see. Heatwave is crawling after being beaten silly, he staggers to his feet and starts throwing punches at well...air. Aarons is smiling as he tosses the cuffs back to Vanessa and simply smirks, picking up his Lendo Stick as he sizes up Heatwave. Heatwave catches a blow to the ribs, the barb wire tearing his skin as he receives another blow to the back and then to the leg which knocks him through the ropes and onto the apron.
(JB) In all my years of calling action, I don't think I've ever seen brutality on this scale. Aarons has knocked Heatwave out onto the apron and it looks like he's backing off.
(Tom) Can't the referee call this thing already?! I mean, geez, look at the bloody spots in the ring from these two.
(JB) We knew coming in it wouldn't be pretty, but...OH MY GORD!!!
JB's cut off as Aarons takes off and using the Lendo Stick as something of a battering ram, he slams it into the head of Heatwave who goes flying past the mat and landing hard on the entrance ramp. He hits with a sickening thud and is lying out cold. Nicole's eyes are widened in horror, as she rushes over to her husband's aide and desperately waves for help which comes rushing out in a hurry. Aarons backs off, catching his first real break of the match as Vanessa beckons for more support for Illtown which fans are all but too happy to give.
(Tom) That's it, he's dead.
(JB) Illtown has just knocked Heatwave off the apron and now we've got the trainers out trying to tend to him and...
(Tom) Is he saying it's over?
(JB) Yes, they're waving it off and that's it. Illtown's won and thank God, it's
For the first time all night, maybe for the first time in months, Aarons snaps. As the referee calls for the bell, Aarons walks over snatching the microphone out of his hands just as the bell's rung.
(Illtown) Hold up! HOLD UP! This son of a bitch sets me on fire last July and gets off the hook just because he took a fall?! *BLEEP* THAT! This doesn't end until he quits! GET YOUR ASS UP BURBANK! School ain't out yet bitch!
He spikes the microphone into the mat and heads out of the ring, pulling Heatwave up and throwing him back into the ring.
(JB) Aww come on Leonard, the match is over!
(Tom) You're damn right it is, he can't continue like this! The trainers called for it, this isn't still going is it?!
(JB) I think it is.
(Tom) I think we're gonna need a coroner, he might be way too far beyond medical attention at this point.
(JB) Neither man's willing to quit, Aarons is a bloodied wreck, Heatwave's barely aware of where he is and something within Aarons has snapped.
Aarons walks over to the far side, snatching the handcuffs away from Vanessa as he cuffs Heatwave with his hands behind his back. The fans start marking out as a rather psychotic glare comes over his face and moreso, his brown eyes. Aarons doesn't even bother trying to wait for Heatwave to get up, he props Heatwave up against the ropes and begins pounding away on him with stiff shots to the skull with the Lendo Stick as the fans react in kind. The bloodthirsty are going ballistic, those with queasy stomachs are starting to turn away.
(JB) In the year and change since Aarons has been back, I don't think I've ever seen him like this. He's wailing away with that barb wire Lendo Stick and I really believe Heatwave's out on his feet.
(Tom) You think?! Okay, so Heatwave set the man on fire, but come on. When is enough enough here?!
(JB) Aarons is going ballistic with that stick and...hold up, did she just throw in the towel?
(Nicole) HE QUITS! HE QUITS PLEASE STOP! STOP IT!!!
Referee Jason Martin rings the bell as Aarons finally stops swinging and Heatwave just falls to the mat. Aarons stares at Jason once again, looking at him as if he's ready to kill him. Nicole gets in the ring, mic in hand as he quizzically looks at Martin and bites his bottom lip looking at the towel in the ring and staring at Heatwave as he's lying in front of his wife. Aarons once again, picks up the microphone dropped by Nicole as he shoots laser beams down on her and then snaps his glare up towards the referee.
(Illtown) You deficient?! SHE...DOES NOT QUIT FOR HIM! HE QUITS!!! Know what? She's right, it is indeed quitting time...time for him to feel MY PAIN.
He drops the microphone and kicks Heatwave square in the ribs, causing him to double over.
(JB) What in the hell did he mean by that?
(Tom) I don't know and I'm not sure I want to know. We've got a match that should've been stopped twice now that's still going on, we've got a ring that's practically crimson with all the blood spots in it...
(JB) Now we've got L rummaging around and...he's pulling out a table. This cannot be good.
(Tom) Oh come on Leonard, enough's enough, we get the point.
(JB) I don't think it's about that anymore. Aarons is setting up a table and now, what?
(Tom) He's signaling he's thirsty? Oh no...
(JB) That a bottle of Grey Goose?
(Tom) Looks like it is. Nicole's getting out of there and rightfully so, this is getting really bad.
(JB) Aarons has this table set up and now he's being handed that bottle along with...is that a lighter? No...he's not going to...
(Tom) You're damned right he's going to, he's a damn psychopath.
Aarons uncorks the bottle and drinks a good quantity of the drink, even walking over and pouring some over the face of Heatwave to wake him up so to speak. Aarons stomps on him a few times, then takes a drink as Nicole screams at him, stopping to look at her and gyrate suggestively to her before doing a spit take in her direction. He pours the liquid all over the table, before lighting it on fire as the fans in the arena take note to the amber glow lighting the immediate ringside area.
(JB) This all started four years ago with Aarons breaking Nicole Burbank's neck and hit a fever pitch when Heatwave set Aarons on fire. I'm thinking Aarons is looking to return the favor here.
(Tom) If Aarons has his way, it's going to end that way.
Aarons uncuffs Heatwave, tossing the handcuffs out to the crowd as he strikes his trademark Reaper pose before giving that trademark cutthroat signal of his as he hoists Heatwave up. He looks out at her and roars, before walking towards the burning table and throwing Heatwave out across his body for The Reaper's Wrath.
...
...
...
HOLY SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
(JB) REAPER'S WRATH THROUGH THE BURNING TABLE!!! HEATWAVE JUST GOT PUT THROUGH A BURNING TABLE BY THE MAN HE SET ON FIRE LAST JULY!!!
(Tom) If he's not quitting after that, something's seriously wrong. I've never heard a grown man scream like that before, but good grief, I can't even imagine his pain.
(JB) Heatwave's thrashing about on the mat trying to put himself out and Nicole's in tears. She's back in the ring now throwing herself over him and...Aarons just has a distant look in his eyes.
(Tom) I'm smelling the similar smell we had last July and it don't smell good.
(JB) Aarons picking up that Lendo Stick and he's stalking towards Heatwave, I don't think he's done.
(Tom) Nicole won't move. Aarons is screaming for her to move out of the way and she's not moving.
(JB) Come on Len, you can't do it...he's not going to hit her....
(Tom) She's in his face and right now, barking at him and...oh no...
(JB) He just got slapped by her and he's laughing. She had her neck broken by him just four years ago and...NOOOOOO...
...
...
...
"I quit! I quit!"
DING DING DING!!!
(JB) Thank Gord it's over.
(Troy) Your winner of this match...ILLTOWN! LEONARD! AAARRR-ONNNSSSS!!!
The Reaper's Breaking Point
(JB) ... Oh my God, it's over and Illtown is victorious.
(Tom) I...I'm speechless right now. I don't think I've ever seen anything that vicious, that brutal in my life.
(JB) You look in that ring, you see the bloody spots where both men lied...it doesn't even tell half the story. We've got a broken announce table, tacks, barb wire and that's not even talking about the burning table which proved to be the coup de grace for Heatwave.
(Tom) Do you really think he was going to hit Nicole?
(JB) I don't know...
Inside the ring, a bloody Leonard Aarons is using his Lendo Stick to stand at the moment. Fans are cheering because it appears that there's been closure to this matter. Vanessa, is slow to step inside, having witnessed a side of Aarons that not even she has ever seen before. She tries to hold him by his arm trying to calm him down to some degree. He stares at her as he breaks free of her release, she tries to talk to him, only he responds by removing his NWC: Aarons shirt and tossing it at her to a huge roar from the crowd. He drops down to the mat and rolls out of the ring, walking back up the ramp a bloody mess with the Lendo Stick in his hand.
"Go To Sleep" by Eminem, Obie Trice & DMX continues to blare only it cuts out once the camera shifts back to the ring as Heatwave is tended to by the medical crew. His wife is in tears, his kid sitting ringside hasn't lifted his head since his father was dropped with that vicious Reaper's Wrath by Aarons through a burning table a few minutes ago. They load him up as his wife with tears in her eyes, holds her husband's hand as bloody as it is as they proceed up the aisle. The fans, appreciative of the show they just witnessed applaud out of respect for the effort he gave.
(JB) Say what you will about Heatwave and all that he has done leading up to this point, but he fought with every ounce of his being tonight.
(Tom) Are you serious? He could've had his career ended tonight by Aarons! Aarons is a vicious, vile animal who is devoid of any remorse or regret for the lives he ruins. Heatwave was right about him and I hope to God he never regains that title.
(JB) Well as they cart Heatwave to the back to get some medical attention, we can now turn our attention to...
A very loud scream can be heard as the EMTs scatter and the gurney that had Heatwave on it is flipped over. As the camera switches up to the entrance ramp, we see that Aarons is indeed back out with Lendo Stick in hand. The fans roar as Aarons, his face the proverbial crimson mask after the I Quit fiasco, stands looking at Heatwave strapped to a gurney that was just capsized thanks to him. Nicole's crying her eyes out, screaming at Aarons to let him alone, only Aarons isn't hearing it. He simply heads towards Heatwave, oblivious to the EMTs trying to stop him. The few that are foolish enough to try and stop him, receive Lendo Stick shots upside the noggin for their efforts.
Aarons kicks the gurney back over, staring at a bloodied Heatwave and smiles, before blasting Heatwave in the face repeatedly with that stick.
(JB) GOOD GORD ALMIGHTY!!! AARONS IS BACK OUT AND HE'S NOT DONE YET!!!
(Tom) Someone get him off of Heatwave! Anyone?!
(JB) Nicole's teary eyed, pleading with Aarons to stop this and he's not listening. The man was set on fire and nearly had the same thing happen at Chain Reaction, but even I have to agree, it's going too far now.
(Tom) Too far?! He just unstrapped Heatwave from that gurney and he's dragging him over towards the pane glass windows on the stage!
Aarons has pulled Heatwave off the gurney and begun peppering him with rights, knocking him back towards the Breaking Point set. Aarons is belting Heatwave with some very hard rights as the fans react in kind. Heatwave's staggering, how he hasn't dropped at this point is anyone's guess. Aarons finally knocks Heatwave back against the glass. Aarons bends down, sizing up Heatwave when something unexpected stops him.
THWACK!!! THWACK!!!
(JB) Oh no...
(Tom) Run! RUN!!!
Nicole, in an attempt to get this man off of her husband, does what she felt she had to. She took L's Lendo Stick and hit Aarons twice in the back. The barb wire digging into L's back again knocking in those tacks from earlier. This causes him to wince in pain as he stops, snapping his head around to stare into the eyes of Nicole Burbank. He looks at her and flashes a bloody smile, as he extends his right hand, motioning for her to hit him again. She's terrified at this point, staring into the bloody eyes of the man who broke her neck just four years ago. She starts swinging the Stick as Aarons stalks after her, ala Jack after Wendy in The Shining on the staircase as she swung that bat. The only difference is...
This time, Aarons catches the Stick and laughs rather demonically. He pulls her in and snatches the stick away from her rather viciously, as he grabs her from the back of her head and drags her over towards her husband. He points at Heatwave, as Nicole begs for mercy, screaming at them both. He stares at Nicole and shakes his head, before locking his right hand around her throat. The fans start chanting The Reaper's name before he seemingly snaps out of it, putting her down as he apologizes.
(JB) Thank Gord he let her go...I get that he has been pushed a great deal by Heatwave over the past few months, but...
(Tom) I don't think Heatwave's gonna be as lucky.
Tom's right. Aarons lets her go and goes back to Heatwave, who's barely moving at this point. He snatches Heatwave up on his shoulders and screams at Nicole, before turning towards the glass and throwing his hated nemesis towards the glass.
SKRASH!!!
...
...
...
HOLY SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
(JB) OH. MY. GORD. Heatwave just received The Reaper's Wrath through that pane glass partition that's part of our Breaking Point set and...I don't think even Nicole can believe what we're seeing here.
(Tom) She can't?! He's got this man's wife in tears, she's begging him to leave him alone.
(JB) Enough's enough Leonard, I think he has gotten the point.
(Tom) According to Aarons, I don't think he has.
Aarons, simply motions to Nicole to wait just one second as he walks in over the broken glass as he walks over and smiles picking up Heatwave. He can be seen mouthing the words...
"Your wife wants to see you..."
Just before he throws Heatwave through the other window as Heatwave lands mere feet in front of his wife who's a virtual wreck. He lands at her feet, bloodied, broken and by anyone's guess...out on his feet. He steps out of the gaping hole, slowly stalking towards Heatwave. His wife throws herself over him and he bends down, as the camera picks up the chilling words out of his mouth...
(The Reaper) If you know what's good for him, you'll keep him away from me. You keep him out of my fed. I see him again, you're gonna be a widow.
Aarons gets his Lendo Stick and strikes his signature pose, roaring as "Go To Sleep" hits in the General Motors Palace. He looks down and mouths the word "Checkmate" to a bloodied and unconcious Heatwave before walking off. He walks right past the flood of medical attendants trying to get to Heatwave and lastly, Vanessa who he doesn't even make eye contact with. The fans are roaring their approval as Aarons walks into the back as Vanessa simply smiles, as she stares at Nicole and flips her the bird, laughing as they reattempt to get Heatwave strapped and carted out.
An Explanation Is Needed
Backstage, one more time. Keith Owens is now in his wrestling attire, sitting on the floor lacing up his boots.
(???)What. The. Fuck.
Keith Owens looks up, and the camera pans back. Trevor Cunning is standing over him, looking very upset. Owens rises up to his feet and stands nose to nose with his tag team partner.
(Trevor) What the hell happened tonight? You want to tell me what’s going on, like why the hell your old man was arrested and then eliminated our trust fund?
Keith inhales deeply, bites his bottom lip, and then calmly answers Trevor’s question.
(Keith) It’s over Trevor. I didn’t have a choice… It’s… It’s just over.
Trevor can’t even formulate a response for the answer he’s been given.
(Keith) We don’t need him anymore. Let’s go bro, we’ve got bigger things to worry about right now. I hope you’re ready for this.
With that, Keith picks ups his Tag Team Championship belt off the ground, puts a hand on Trevor’s shoulder, then heads toward the gorilla position.
Trevor, however, stands staring at Keith and shaking his head in complete disbelief at what just occurred.
Fade out.
(Tom) It looks like the Trust Fund Kids are broke, and Keith’s to blame!
(JB) What are you rambling on about Tom? Both men are professional wrestlers who receive pay checks – pretty big pay checks. I have a feeling they’ll be alright.
(Tom) But without an excess of money, they’ll have to pawn their Tag Team gold. High end strippers aren’t cheap, Mannhole.
(JB) But your mother is Bear. How do you like them apples?!
(Tom) I don’t eat apples, thank you very much.
(JB) To be honest, I'm not sure what to expect from our next match, Bear.
(Tom) I am! Trevor Cunning will reign supreme. He has to!
(JB) And what about his partner, Keith Owens?
(Tom) That rat? He cost Trevor his trust fund!
(JB) Tonight's arrest of Senator Owens was a shock to everyone, Bear.
(Tom) Bah! Keith got spooked by some weird notes then sold his own father down the river. He deserves to lose his fund for that... But poor Trevor didn't do anything wrong!
(JB) Trevor has routinely spent his money on excessive amounts of alcohol, shown up to work drunk and basically been a public nuisance.
(Tom) And your point is?
(JB) Clearly beyond your comprehension.
(Tom) Then why bother saying it?
(JB) I'm asking myself that same question. And while I try for the thousandth time to find an answer, let's hand things over to Troy Gilmore!
(Troy) The following contest is for the Foundation Tag Team Championships!!
Say goodbye to almost all of the lights - all but a red spotlight on the stage. Now, say hello to some rapid guitar and a steady drum beat. This is "Riot" by Three Days Grace. We come into the lyrics at the chorus lead-in.
(Troy) Introducing first, one of the challengers...
Refusing to back down
You're not the only one
So get up
(Troy) From London, Ontario, Canada...
As the word "up" reaches its peak, bright red pyro explodes from the NAFWTron, and we hit the chorus.
(Troy) Accompanied to the ring by Slush and Twitch...
Three figures emerge from behind the curtain. In front is Ammo, in his dark red tights, wearing fingerless gloves and black sunglasses. Behind him comes his regular partner Slush, who is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and their manager Twitch, who carries Blake Bouchard over his shoulder.
(Troy) He weighs in at three hundred and sixty-one pounds...
Slush and Ammo stalk down to the ring, with Twitch trailing close behind.
(Troy) AMMO!
Slush slides under the bottom rope, then Ammo pulls himself up onto the apron and steps over the top rope. Ammo hands his sunglasses to Slush and looks to the ramp for tonight's tag team partner. Meanwhile, Twitch circles the ring.
(Tom) Oh no. Please Gord, no.
Gord's not listening to Tom's prayer tonight, as Twitch pulls up a chair at the announce table and tosses on a headset.
(Twitch) The Twitch is back!
(Tom) Yay.
(JB) Welcome to the announce table, Twitch.
(Twitch) Can the pleasantries JC Penney. Twitch knows Twitch isn't welcome at the table. Not by JC and certainly not by the Care Bear.
(Tom) Then why do you keep coming?
(Twitch) Because Twitch likes to piss people off. Especially the Care Bear.
(Tom) Mission accomplished.
A siren hits the speakers and the word "EMPIRE" appears on the video screen.
(Troy) And his partner...
The lights flash red and blue, as the camera pans around the arena. Lil' Wayne's "Fireman" starts playing. As the intro continues, the lights flash red to black to blue and back to black as a spot light is focused on the curtain. The song kicks in and Dustin Thomas blows through the entry way, his hand pointed towards the stage. New School points up, and Shane comes out of the curtain, dressed in his street clothes.
(Troy) Accompanied by his brother Shane, he is from Toledo, Ohio...
Dustin taunts the fans as he walks down the aisle, while Shane walks slowly behind him, but still striking the occasional pose. Dustin takes off and runs the rest of the away down the ramp and slides into the ring. He leaps up to the turnbuckle to soak in the jeers.
(Troy) Weighing in at two hundred and twenty-five pounds... DUSTIN THOMAS!!
The Alpha hops up the steps, and climbs into the ring. He looks around the arena before stepping between the ropes to join his partner, standing face-to-face with Ammo and Slush of The Goods.
(JB) Ammo and Dustin Thomas have been at odds from the day The Goods returned to the Foundation...
(Twitch) Because Rusty and Shame NotPez are Micky Line's little bitches.
(JB) Well, tonight Ammo and Dustin not only have to co-exist, but they'll have to actually work together if they hope to walk out of here with the Tag Team Championships.
(Tom) There's no hope of that, Mannjuice. Even if Trevor's pissed at Keith for losing the fund, there's no way he's going to let that massive moron Ammo get the best of him.
(Twitch) Jumbo's smarter than Care Bear... But that doesn't say much. Blake Bouchard's got more brains than Care Bear.
(Tom) Did he just say that his damned towel is smarter than me?
(JB) He did, Bear.
(Twitch) And there's nothing to be done about it. Twitch is simply speaking the truth.
(Tom) Why the hell are you even here? Aren't you supposed to be a manager? Go manage!
(Twitch) Twitch isn't just any manager. Twitch is the world's...
(Tom) Don't even! You ripped that line off from Hector.
(Twitch) Why do people keep bringing up this Rectum guy?
(JB) Oh my.
(Twitch) Shut it JC.
(Troy) And now, their opponents...
The rock remix of "All About The Benjamins" kicks into gear to an anticipatory chorus of boos from the Vancouver crowd. Although nobody has stepped onto the ramp just yet, they know who's coming, and they're more than happy to react to that fact alone.
(Troy) At a combined weight of four hundred and ninety-one pounds...
Gold pyro streams down from the top of the NAFWTron as Owens and Cunning step through the curtain. Owens wears his Tag Team Championship belt around his waist, while Cunning carries his belt in his left hand and the usual bottle of Jack Daniels in his right hand... The only unusual thing about the bottle is the fact that it's full.
(Troy) They are the reigning Foundation Tag Team Champions...
The pair descends the ramp to a continued negative reaction from the fans. Keith seems to not care about the jeers as he slowly approaches the ring. Meanwhile, Cunning shrugs off the occasional obscene gesture and keeps his focus on the ring.
(Troy) Keith Owens and Trevor Cunning... The TRUST FUND KIDS!!
Keith slides into the ring, and Trevor follows right behind him. They both hand their Championship belts over to referee Phil Redding, before setting back into their corner. Trevor places the still-full bottle of Jack on the apron in the corner.
(Tom) Can we even call them the Trust Fund Kids anymore, now that the Senator has cut them off?
(JB) I don't know Bear... But I'm just glad that Trevor's skipped the part of his entrance where he spits on me.
(Twitch) That was the best part, JC. Only good thing River Running's done lately. Until losing to Jumbo tonight, of course.
Referee Redding stands in the middle of the ring and raises the title belts high above his head. Meanwhile, Slush and Shane are arguing as Ammo and Dustin look on.
(JB) So Twitch, how is your client...
(Twitch) Twitch's clients, JC. Twitch is the manager for the team of Jumbo and Rusty.
(JB) Your clients, then... How are they going to work together tonight, with all of the bad blood in their history?
(Tom) That's easy Manndible... They're not.
(Twitch) JC asked Twitch.
(Tom) Do I look like I care?
(Twitch) Twitch used to shut that moron Kramer up with a few punches... Want to see if it works on Care Bear too?
Back in the ring, Trevor Cunning has stepped out to the apron, clearly indicating that he expects Keith Owens to begin the match. On the other side of the ring, it's not quite so simple. Where one man should be, four still stand... Two of which aren't even scheduled in this match.
(JB) Well Twitch, you can answer the question in a moment, but first it looks like your team is having some trouble deciding who should start this match.
Redding approaches and instructs Slush and Shane to leave the ring. They follow their instructions, leaving Ammo and Dustin alone to decide who'll face off with Owens first.
(Twitch) No trouble at all. Flush and Shame were just giving a little last-minute pep talk. Not as good as the inspirational speech Twitch gave before the match, of course.
It's only a moment before Ammo steps over the top rope, leaving Dustin to start against Keith. Redding calls for the bell, and this match is on.
(Tom) Like you could possibly inspire anyone to do anything other than plug their ears, or maybe vomit.
(Twitch) Twitch is an excellent motivational speaker.
Dustin and Keith approach each other and quickly lock up. There's no beating around the bush in this one. Owens gets the upper hand with a knee to Dustin's gut. He follows up with a quick side belly-to-belly suplex, slamming Dustin to the mat.
(JB) Owens coming out of the gate quickly here. But he's not capitalizing on the early advantage.
Indeed not. Rather than follow up with Dustin prone, Keith stands up slowly and steps back, giving New School plenty of time to regain his feet.
(Tom) It's distraction. Owens is feeling guilty about betraying not only his father, but also his best friend!
They lock up again. This time, Keith grabs Dustin's arm and swings around behind, applying a hammer lock. Within a second, Dustin counters, swinging back around Owens into a hammer lock of his own. Owens endures the pressure briefly, before getting back behind Dustin once more. This time, Keith shoves Dustin away.
(Twitch) Hey... Twitch never answered that question.
(Tom) Nobody cares.
Dustin turns around and charges at Owens, who reacts quickly nailing a textbook Japanese arm drag. Dustin gets up quickly and charges again, meeting the same fate a second time. When Dustin gets up again, Ammo's hand is reaching out for a tag. Dustin promptly ignores it and charges Keith a third time, and it's decidedly not a charm as Dustin gets a plain old arm drag for his trouble.
(JB) Owens is putting on a clinic so far.
(Twitch) An arm drag clinic. How exciting.
(Tom) Somebody kill me. I actually agree with Twitch.
But Dustin kips up and charges Owens again, this time hitting a clothesline. Dustin runs to the ropes and bounces back just as Owens gets to his feet. New School drops The Difference Maker with a second clothesline and keeps on running. This time, as he hits the ropes, Ammo's large hand reaches out and hits Dustin on the shoulder. Phil Redding claps his hands to indicate that a legal tag has been made. Dustin lands a dropkick on Owens as Ammo steps over the top rope into the ring.
(JB) Now might be a good time to answer that earlier question, Twitch... How are Ammo and Dustin going to work together? Already we've seen Dustin ignore Ammo's request for a tag, and now Ammo has taken matters into his own hands and pulled a blind tag.
(Twitch) It's simple JC. They don't have to work together. Jumbo could take River Running and Leaf Blower on his own if he had to. If Jaguar's bitchy niece can last five minutes against them, then Jumbo's got it made!
For those unfamiliar with the older Twitch-names™, "Jaguar," or any large cat for that matter, will refer to Cougar Clarke. Thus, Twitch is indeed talking about one Derek Clarke here.
Anyway... Redding forces Dustin back out onto the apron and turns as Keith Owens approaches his own corner. Cunning turns around and jumps off the apron just as Keith reaches out for the tag.
(JB) What was that? Trevor Cunning blatantly bailed on that tag attempt!
(Tom) Clearly he was distracted by Slush or Shane.
(Twitch) Flush and Shame are nowhere near River Running.
(Tom) Yes. Very distracting.
Ammo moves in as a confused Keith turns around. Keith doesn't react quickly enough, as he's Irish whipped across the ring. Ammo raises a huge leg and catches Keith with a hard boot to the face. Ammo pulls Keith up and whips him again, this time running after him and putting Keith over the top rope to the outside with a hard clothesline.
Slush and Shane Thomas are there right away, and after a moment's argument over who should have the honor, they each grab one of Keith's arms and throw The Difference Maker back into the ring.
(Twitch) Good job Flush! Don't let Leaf rest up.
(Tom) But this isn't a lumberjack match!
(JB) And our referee is making sure Slush and The Alpha know that.
As Redding hands a warning down to the men on the outside, Ammo pulls Keith up into a bear hug. He squeezes the life out of the much smaller Owens for a few moments, before spinning and slamming The Difference Maker to the mat. Ammo hooks the leg, but Redding is slow to get there and Owens kicks out almost immediately after the one count.
(Twitch) Come on!
(Tom) It wasn't three anyway. And if your boy Slush hadn't gotten involved, Redding would have been there right away.
(Twitch) Shut up!
Ammo pulls Owens back up, this time sending him into a neutral corner. Ammo follows Keith in and unleashes his trademark punches. For a man his size, those fists move fast.
(JB) Owens is caught in the Crossfire!
(Twitch) Go Jumbo! Go. Go. Go. Go Jumbo!
So we're clear, that was semi-sung by Twitch, and you can't see it, but he was dancing in his chair as he said/sang it.
(Tom) Can I get some earplugs to ringside please? Earplugs to ringside, STAT!
(JB) Make it a double.
Ammo ceases fire as Redding reaches a five count and backs out of the corner. He pulls Owens toward the middle of the ropes and whips him across the ring, awaiting Keith's return poised for a powerslam. But instead of hitting the ropes, Keith dives toward his corner and slaps the unsuspecting Trevor Cunning on the arm. Once again, Phil Redding claps, then waves Cunning into the ring.
(JB) Trevor Cunning seeing action for the first time in this match.
(Tom) Time for Ammo to lose!
(Twitch) Looks to Twitch like River Running didn't want to see action in the first place.
(JB) It was a rather surprising tag by Owens. But after Trevor backed away from Keith's last tag attempt, perhaps a surprise tag was the only way!
Cunning reluctantly steps through the ropes and into the ring. He bounces from foot to foot briefly, as if to warm up, then moves in toward Ammo. The two larger men lock up, with Ammo's size advantage allowing him to gain the upper hand. Ammo lifts Trevor up and slams him straight down with a spinebuster.
(Twitch) That's Twitch's Jumbo!
Ammo follows up in much the same way that he did with Keith moments ago, sending a flurry of punches to Cunning's gut and sides, keeping Trevor pinned to the ground.
(JB) And now Trevor feels Ammo's Crossfire!
(Tom) Please Gord, don't let Twitch sing and dance again.
As Ammo stands up, after Redding's five count, Cunning lashes out with a kick to Ammo's gut. It doesn't knock the big man down, but it staggers him slightly. Trevor quickly gets to his feet, and deftly ducks Ammo's clothesline attempt. As Ammo turns around, Trevor quickly kicks him in the gut again, this time doubling him over. Trevor takes a step back, then rushes forward, lifting a knee straight into Ammo's face.
(Tom) Told you Twitch! It's time for Ammo to lose.
(Twitch) Jumbo's just getting started.
(Tom) Yeah, just getting started on the road to Loseville!
(JB) Loseville, Bear? Really?
(Tom) It sounded good in my head.
Trevor doesn't let up, laying into Ammo with a series of right hands and European uppercuts. Then he steps in and applies a front facelock.
(Twitch) Not happening.
Trevor thinks differently as he grasps Ammo's tights and lifts the big man up and over with a vertical suplex.
(Tom) Oh, it's happening!
(JB) That's a lot of weight to throw around, folks. Ammo weighs almost a hundred pounds more than Cunning.
Cunning leans down to pick Ammo up, but out of nowhere, Ammo grabs Trevor by the head and rolls him over into a small package. Redding gets right in, but Trevor quickly kicks out after a one count. Trevor gets up first and attempts to kick Ammo in the head, but Ammo catches Cunning's foot and lifts. Trevor loses his footing and falls to the ground.
Ammo gets up and tags in Dustin. As New School comes in, Ammo grabs hold of him in belly-to-belly position.
(Tom) What's that giant idiot doing?
(Twitch) Executing strategy.
(Tom) His strategy is to attack his own partner?
(Twitch) Who said anything about attacking?
As Trevor gets up, Ammo spins and releases Dustin, throwing him right into Cunning. Trevor staggers back to his corner, where Owens tags in as Cunning falls to the ground.
(JB) A rather unorthodox maneuver there, but it got the job done.
(Twitch) Of course it did! Jumbo's strategy at work!
Dustin regains his footing as Owens arrives on the scene. Keith grabs Dustin by the wrist and Irish whips him to the far side of the ring.
(Tom) You're telling me that Ammo plans to throw Dustin around as an offensive weapon?
(Twitch) Pretty much, yeah.
(Tom) That's outrageous.
(JB) But it might just work.
Dustin bounces back and Owens telegraphs a back body drop, which Dustin leapfrogs over. On his way back, Dustin hits his sloppy version of a bulldog. He follows it up with a standing moonsault into a pin fall attempt. Owens kicks out at two.
(Tom) Go Dustin!
(JB) Wait... Don't you want Cunning to win?
(Tom) Of course. But Dustin is part of the Empire, and therefore awesome.
Dustin attempts to pick Owens up, but Keith quickly wraps his legs around Dustin's head, bringing him down with a head scissors. Owens transitions directly into a Crucifix armbar.
(Twitch) Can't have it both ways, Care Bear.
(Tom) Sure I can. I don't like Ammo, and Keith's a dirty rat. So just make it Keith and Ammo against Trevor and Dustin and I'll be happy!
(Twitch) Except for the part where Jumbo is going to win this match, with whatever partner, against anyone!
(JB) Not to mention the fact that I seriously doubt Commissioner Buchanan will change the teams just to satisfy you, Bear.
Owens finally releases the hold and pulls Dustin up. He attempts to send New School into the Trust's corner, but Dustin reverses the Irish whip and instead sends Keith into Ammo's corner. Dustin rushes in and hits a splash on Owens as Ammo tags in.
Dustin doesn't leave the ring immediately, instead pulling Owens out and sending him to a neutral corner. Ammo then grabs Dustin by the wrist and whips his partner into another splash on Owens.
This is where Shane Thomas jumps up onto the apron, yelling at Ammo to stop throwing his brother around. Slush immediately jumps up as well, yelling at Shane to, basically, shut up.
(Twitch) Shame needs to simmer down and get on board with the strategy.
(Tom) If the strategy were to throw my little brother around...
(JB) You'd be glad it was him and not you.
(Tom) Damn you Mannacle.
Referee Phil Redding, somewhat surprisingly (since he's usually kind of an idiot) moves quickly to the apron and orders Slush and Shane down, warning them to stay there. Meanwhile, Ammo pulls Owens back out and once again sends The Difference Maker into Ammo and Dustin's corner.
Ammo tags back out to Dustin who is quick to get back into the ring. Thomas monkey flips Owens out of the corner, then scales the ropes. New School executes a perfect 450 Splash, his version which he calls the Fireball, but...
(JB) Owens moved!!
(Twitch) Guess that little Fireball crashed and burned.
(Tom) That's your client you're mocking.
(Twitch) So?
(JB) He's got a point there, Bear. Twitch is certainly an equal opportunity mocker.
(Twitch) Sucking up to Twitch won't help JC.
Owens gets up and pulls Dustin to his feet, applying a front facelock along the way. Keith quickly pivots and hits a cutter. Some know it as the Twist of Fate, but around these parts, when executed by Keith Owens it's the...
(JB) Difference Maker!!
(Twitch) Frell.
Just like that, folks, this thing could well be over. Owens hooks the leg, and Redding is ready for the count.
One!
(JB) There's two! And...
Owens mysteriously releases the pin. At least, it's a mystery to Phil Redding, who didn't see Shane Thomas slide into the ring and pull Keith off of Dustin by the leg.
(Twitch) For once Shame NotPez has a use!
Keith quickly gets up and questions Redding. Meanwhile, Dustin crawls to his corner. As Redding ends his discussion with Owens, Dustin reaches the corner and makes the tag to Ammo. Ammo steps over the top rope and helps his tag team partner up... And up... Into an overhead press.
(Tom) Oh, what now?
Ammo is ready to toss Dustin at Keith, when from the outside, Shane yells at Ammo to put Dustin down. Ammo shrugs, turns, then promptly throws Dustin out of the ring straight at Shane. The Thomas Brothers go down in a heap as Slush looks on, laughing.
(JB) I guess Ammo was tired of Shane's complaining.
(Twitch) Plus Jumbo told Twitch that throwing Rusty around is just plain fun.
Ammo turns back to Keith just in time to catch a standing dropkick to the chest. It sends the big man back a step, but he recovers quickly, moving in on The Difference Maker. Keith backs away as Ammo approaches, then abruptly changes direction. He jumps, springs off of the second rope, then lashes out with his heel to catch Ammo upside the head.
(JB) Owens is determined to put Ammo down.
(Twitch) It takes a lot to drop Jumbo.
Owens' trademark springboard heel kick serves to stagger Ammo a bit more, and the big man drops to a knee for just a moment. That moment is enough for Owens to run and launch off of Ammo's calf into an enzuigiri to the back of Ammo's head. Ammo falls to the mat.
(Tom) And by "a lot" you mean two well-placed kicks to the head.
(Twitch) Jumbo won't be down long. Trust Twitch.
Much to Tom Kalhoun's dismay, Twitch is right. Ammo is already pulling himself up as Owens gets to his feet. Keith runs and hits a front dropkick to Ammo's face to put the big man back down. Owens goes for the pin, but Ammo quickly launches Keith off, and sits up.
(Twitch) See! Twitch knows stuff.
Ammo gets up quickly, as does Keith. Owens springs off the ropes again, this time into a cross body block. But Ammo catches him and spins around into a hard powerslam. Ammo hooks the leg but only gets a short two count. Ammo pulls Owens up and puts him into a standing head scissors position... Better known as the precursor to a powerbomb.
(Twitch) Saddle up...
And a powerbomb is exactly what's about to happen. Ammo lifts Keith up onto his shoulders, then brings Owens forward and releases, sending The Difference Maker back-first into the mat from close to seven feet in the air.
(JB) Lock and Load!
Ammo drops down, going for the pin, when Shane and Dustin slide into the ring, with Slush following close behind.
(Tom) Here it comes. I knew this had to happen eventually.
Shane yells at Ammo about mistreating his brother, then shoves the big man. Slush defends Ammo and shoves Dustin.
(Twitch) This isn't good. Let Twitch handle it.
Twitch gets up and heads to the ring.
(Tom) Ah, blissful silence.
As six men - three of which have no business in the ring and one of which is the referee - argue, Trevor Cunning stands on the apron as if nothing important is happening. Not even noticing that his partner is slowly crawling toward him.
(JB) You'd think that Trevor would be helping his partner out during this breakdown between The Goods and the Empire.
(Tom) I'll say it again Manndolin: Keith cost Trevor his trust fund. Trevor is not happy.
(JB) Well, at least he's not drunk, either.
(Tom) He has a match to win.
(JB) If he gets in the ring again.
(Tom) He's waiting for his moment.
Finally, Phil Redding has had enough of this nonsense, and points to Slush, then Shane and then, rather emphatically, to the stage. The message is as clear as it is when the same action is performed by a baseball umpire: "You're outta here!"
(JB) I must say, this is a good call by Phil Redding. Slush and Shane have been a distraction out here and now they've completely disrupted this match.
(Tom) But what about Twitch? He's not giving Twitch the boot?
(JB) Twitch has been sitting here the whole time, Bear. He didn't do anything wrong.
(Tom) As far as I'm concerned, sitting here the whole time is pretty damn wrong!
Redding threatens to call security, and finally Slush and Shane leave the ring, heading up the ramp. Twitch also slides out of the ring, but does not head back to the announce position, instead taking up his managerial role. And last, but not least, Dustin takes to the apron, leaving the legal man, Ammo inside. Oh, and Keith tags Trevor.
(JB) Back to the battle of the big men here, Bear, as this match continues.
Keith pulls himself to the outside as Trevor steps toward Ammo. The big man charges, looking to take Cunning's head off with a clothesline... And he damn near does. Cunning pops back up as Ammo comes in for another clothesline, which connects. Cunning pops up again, this time a bit slower. Ammo waits, allowing Cunning to charge. Ammo catches Trevor and hits a sidewalk slam.
Ammo pulls Trevor up and whips him to the ropes. Ammo goes for a big boot to Trevor's face, but Cunning ducks it and slips in behind Ammo, applying a rear waistlock... Or at least, as close to it as he can, reaching around Ammo's wide torso. Showing a large amount of strength, Trevor pops back and nails a German suplex.
(Tom) Atta Boy, Trev!
(JB) Cunning is pretty impressive when he's sober.
Cunning floats over into a pin fall attempt, but Ammo kicks out before the two count. Trevor pulls Ammo up then in quick succession it's kick, wham and a Double Arm DDT.
(Tom) Boot and Rally!
Trevor goes for another pin, and again, Ammo kicks out, this time just after two. Trevor pulls Ammo up once again, and this time hoists the big man up onto his shoulders into a fireman's carry. Trevor doesn't hold Ammo there too long, before dropping Ammo into a knee to the face.
(Tom) And the Drink2Forget! Ammo is going down!
On the outside, Twitch is slamming the mat in support of his client. One more time, Cunning goes for the pin fall.
One...
Two...
(JB) Not yet, Bear! Ammo still has some fight in him!
Frustrated, Trevor goes to his corner and picks up the full bottle of Jack Daniels that has been sitting on the apron the entire match. He waits for Ammo to get up, then goes makes his move... But before he does, Keith Owens snatches the bottle out of his hand, and tags himself in at the same time.
(Tom) This isn't good.
(JB) Keith Owens does not want to see that bottle come into play, Bear.
Keith quickly steps into the ring. Cunning spins around and shoves Owens, as Ammo turns and heads to his own corner. Owens and Cunning shout at each other, arguing over Cunning's dirty tactics. Cunning shoves Owens again, and Keith shoves him right back, as Ammo makes the tag to Dustin.
(Tom) I don't like the look of this, Mannuscript.
(JB) Things seem to finally be breaking down between The Trust Fund Kids!
And faster than you think. With another shove, Cunning swipes the bottle back. An instant later he swings.
SMASH!
(JB) Good Gord!!
(Tom) That's one hell of a Jack Attack!
And Cunning's not done. Up goes Keith into a Canadian Backbreaker...
(JB) Sobriety Test!! Trevor Cunning has laid out his own partner!!
Phil Redding is confused, but not confused enough to forget that Dustin Thomas is now the legal man. Dustin, not wanting to get between Owens and Cunning, only now moves in. Ammo looks on with a hint of sadness as New School applies a lateral press on Owens. Meanwhile, Trevor Cunning slides out of the ring and heads up the ramp.
(JB) This is academic now!
Redding makes the count.
One...
Two...
(JB) It's over! Thanks to Trevor Cunning turning on his partner, we have new Tag Team Champions!
This is usually the point where Troy Gilmore would make the official announcement, and Phil Redding would hand the Champions their gold. But Troy Gilmore doesn't have his microphone, and Phil Redding was never handed the title belts.
Because Twitch has all three items. The manager slides into the ring and hands Dustin and Ammo their belts.
(Twitch) The winners and NEW Tag Team Champions... JUMBO AND RUSTY!!!
Ammo and Dustin raise their Championships in the air as "Fireman" plays. Meanwhile Phil Redding tends to Keith Owens.
(JB) What an outcome, Bear!
(Tom) I knew Trevor was pissed at Keith... But they've always worked things out before.
(JB) Not anymore, it seems! And now we have new Champions in Dustin Thomas and Ammo... Two men who have been bitter enemies for a long time... Not to mention the fact that they're each part of a different regular tag team!
(Tom) That's changed now, Mann-about-town! Ammo and Dustin are the Champs, and they're going to have to defend those belts!
After a few moments, Ammo, Dustin and Twitch leave the ring, heading up the side of the ramp toward the backstage area. Medical staff have joined Phil Redding in attending to Keith Owens.
(JB) I guess tonight, the tension within the Trust Fund Kids finally reached its Breaking Point!
The Brains Behind the Brawn?
We cut to the back and are in a dimly lit room. Directly in front of us is a man...or rather...thing that's been the center of a revenge story most foul for the past month or so. The round object is sitting in a wheel chair, and is heavily wrapped in gauze. There are parts where you can see red painted eyes and a mouth in breaks in the bandaging, so one can only deduce that this wrapped object is Snake's long-time friend, Wilson. Suddenly, the all too familiar voice of one Snake is heard from off camera.
(Snake) I failed you, Wilson...I failed to do what I had promised.
The camera pans back slowly, revealing a battered a bruised Snake, on his knees so that he's more or less eye-level with Wilson.
(Snake) I promised you I would do to Andy D what he did for you, but I wasn't able to make good on my promise.
Snake takes a deep breath and slowly lets out a sigh of disappointment for himself.
(Snake) I know I took Andy D to the limit, but it just wasn't enough to take him ou-
Snake stops quickly, almost as if Wilson has cut him off.
(Snake) Well, he did seem kind of sluggish after I-
Again, Snake stops himself.
(Snake) Oh...I get what you're getting at...He could be injured, and I have to find that injury work on it to the point where Andy D can't wrestle anymore!
Snake pauses briefly as something just crossed his mind.
(Snake) Wait...Problem...I lost to Andy D, how am I supposed to get another shot at hi-
Apparently, Wilson's great at giving pep talks, because whatever Wilson's telling Snake when he cuts him off, Snake seems to get more and more upbeat.
(Snake) That...That actually might work. Haha...Wilson, you're a genius! I would've never thought of that! In fact, as soon as I find him, I’m going to talk to Commissioner Buchanan about it...And once all of that gets straightened out...Andy D's nightmare...It will continue.
And with that, Snake gives off a slightly evil sounding chuckle before he gets up off the floor and heads off camera as we zoom back in on Wilson before we fade to black.
(JB) Why does that not surprise me?
(Tom) Because Wilson feeds you your lines for commentary?
(JB) Folks, up next is one of the most emotionally charged matches here tonight at Breaking Point.
(Tom) I don't see why. Spaz got his little sister back, so what's the big deal?
(JB) Whether Krystin is home safe or not doesn't make a difference to Spaz tonight, Bear. He's still convinced that Mike Lane was behind the abduction, and he's going to make Lane pay for that.
(Tom) But even you said that you didn't think Lane did it!
(JB) I don't know who was responsible, Bear, any more than you do. The bottom line is that Mike Lane has been a thorn in Spaz's side for quite some time. They have a long history between them, going all the way back to the Foundation's relaunch. It's about time they stepped into the ring to settle this feud once and for all!
(Tom) Now let's hand it over to Troy.
Standing in the centre of the ring, as always, is Troy Gilmore. He raises his microphone and does his thing...
(Troy) The following match is scheduled for one fall!
The opening chords of Metallica's "Sad But True" rock the arena as the fans come to their feet, and the booing has already begun.
(Troy) Introducing first, hailing from Kingsport, Tennessee...
The lights have dropped, leaving a single spotlight on the entrance way. As the intro finishes up, the lights drop completely out except for a single name on the NAFWTron.
MIKE LANE
(Troy) He weighs in at two hundred and eighty pounds...
As the lyrics come in, Lane steps out of the curtain. The intensity of the jeers increases, and we can see that he is soaking it all in. He stands on the stage for a moment before hitting the crucifix pose, complete with Mike Lane Grin. Pyro explodes behind him.
(Troy) MIKE LANE!!
He reaches out to smack a fans hand, but the fan pulls away. Mr. Old School Hollywood raises up his hand, like he's going to slap the insolence out of the poor kid, but then he just grins again and continues his walk. He climbs into the ring, and holds up his arm, allowing the fans to let him have it... And they're quite happy to oblige.
(JB) These Vancouver fans are certainly giving Mike Lane hell tonight!
(Tom) It's a Canadian thing, Mannwheel.
(JB) How is that?
(Tom) You know these Canadians... They're so proud of anyone from their lame little country who does something South of the border. People we Americans have never even heard of are huge stars in Canada, just because they had the misfortune of being born here.
(JB) Should I point out that Canada is one of the largest countries in the world?
(Tom) No. Because it's all ice. Completely unlivable.
(JB) What about the Inuit?
(Tom) In your what?
(JB) Never mind.
(Tom) Anyway, the point is, these Canucks are biased toward Spaz because he's Canadian. They'd cheer for the Devil himself if he was wearing a maple leaf.
(JB) Perhaps it's simply that they don't like Mike Lane.
(Tom) Impossible.
(JB) I beg to differ.
(Tom) Whatev.
(JB) Let's hand it back over to Troy...
(Tom) Good idea.
Indeed. The fans are getting a little restless, and there's only so many insults they can scream at Mike Lane before they lose their voices.
(Troy) And his opponent...
This is where you usually expect to see the lights drop and turn red, with spotlights and whatnot... And let's not forget the Daughtry. The only part of that we get is the bass riff of "There and Back Again."
(Troy) From Brampton, Ontario, Canada...
Before the verse even starts, Spaz comes running out from the Cougar Position and races down the ramp. The crowd pops like crazy for their fellow Canadian. (Meaning that Tom Kalhoun was actually kind of right for once.)
(Troy) Weighing in at...
Spaz rips off his t-shirt as he runs, tossing the remains to the crowd, and knocking the Ruby Oakleys off his face in the process. He slides into the ring before Troy can finish introducing him.
(JB) Better get out of there, Troy!
Gilmore didn't need that advice from Mr. Mann. He gets out of dodge as fast as possible, returning to the relative safety of the time-keeper's table.
Meanwhile, in the ring, Spaz is all over Mike Lane with a flurry of kicks to the legs and torso, coupled with punches to the sides and head. Lane tries to block as much as possible, but the sheer fury of Spaz's assault is too much.
Referee James Elbourn signals for the bell, to officially begin this match.
(JB) Spaz is coming out swinging tonight... Literally!
Spaz continues putting pressure on Lane with quick and relentless strikes. Any time Lane tries to fight back, Spaz is no longer there, already striking at an opening left by Lane's advance.
(Tom) I can't believe what I'm seeing!
(JB) Spaz is really taking the fight to Mike Lane.
Lane is forced back into the corner. Spaz takes a page out of his friend Ammo's book, continuing to unleash a flurry of body shots as Lane is pinned against the turnbuckle. James Elbourn begins the five count, and gets there. As if he doesn't even notice the referee, Spaz doesn't let up.
(Tom) That's five! Get him out of there!
Much like Troy Gilmore doesn't need advice from JB Mann, James Elbourn doesn't require instructions from Tom Kalhoun. The referee inserts himself into the fray. He pulls Spaz out of the corner from behind, and turns him toward the middle of the ring. Luckily for James, Spaz seems to get a hold of himself and doesn't swing at the referee.
(Tom) That's better!
Unluckily for Spaz, this respite gives Mike Lane the opportunity he's been waiting for since the bell. Lane, larger than both his opponent and the referee, shoves past Elbourn and grabs hold of Spaz's wrist. Lane Irish whips Spaz into the very same corner where the assault on Lane took place.
(Tom) Now we're getting somewhere.
(JB) Lane's getting his first real chance at some offence here, due in part to an error in judgment by Spaz. Not breaking off his attack has cost Spaz the upper hand.
Lane does keeps Spaz in the corner, landing a series of backhand chops to Spaz's bare chest. The obligatory cries of "Woo!" are only slightly diminished by the fact that the crowd hates Mike Lane. Such is the power of the Flair chop.
(Tom) Woo!
Elbourn, calling this thing fairly, administers a five-count to Lane. Unlike Spaz, however, Lane cuts off his attack before five. He takes a step back, then rushes forward and hits a quick clothesline on Spaz.
(JB) Lane in control now, after an opening flurry by Spaz.
(Tom) All is as it should be.
Lane quickly backs off to the opposite corner, then runs diagonally across the ring. He leaps, looking for a big splash in the corner... But rather than landing with all his weight on Spaz, Lane takes a pair of boots to the face.
(JB) Spaz got his feet up!
(Tom) I think we all saw that, Mann-at-Arms.
(JB) But he's not done!
Lane staggers backward, toward mid-ring. Spaz steps forward, then pulls a standing back flip, lashing out with both feet as they pass by Lane's chest.
(JB) Moonsault dropkick! Spaz is pulling out some new offense tonight!
As Lane falls to the ground, Spaz runs to the ropes. As Lane hits the ground, Spaz bounces off of the second rope. He spins in mid-air and lands a leg drop across Mike Lane's torso. Spaz almost goes for a pin fall, but stops himself.
(Tom) What was that about?
(JB) I guess Spaz isn't ready for this match to be over!
(Tom) Not that it would have been anyway. A dropkick and a leg drop aren't going to put Mike Lane down for a three count.
Instead of going for the pin, Spaz stands up and pulls Lane across to the ring to the ropes. Spaz lifts Lane's heavily braced right leg onto the bottom rope. Spaz unleashes a few stomps to the middle of the brace, at the knee.
(JB) That's Lane's bad knee, Bear.
(Tom) You mean that's what the brace is for? Who would have guessed?
(JB) Sarcasm duly noted.
Spaz switches from the stomps, moving to a sitting position with one of his own legs on either side of Lane's. Spaz jumps up and comes down hard across Lane's knee. He repeats the maneuver twice, before James Elbourn politely warns him off.
(JB) This is a clear strategic move on Spaz's part.
(Tom) Take out the bum leg. Pretty obvious strategy. I'm surprised Spaz came up with it.
(JB) Whether you like him or not Bear, you have to admit that Spaz is talented in that ring.
(Tom) I have to do no such thing. All this proves is that Spaz has watched a Bret Hart match... No surprise for a Canadian eh?
Please note the overly accentuated "eh?" here. Tom's stereotypical Canadian impression. The strange thing is that The Bear is actually right about another thing. He better be careful, or this might become a trend.
Of course Spaz has seen a Bret Hart match. Many, in fact. Even studied with the master of the Dungeon himself, Bret's father Stu. Normally that wouldn't be relevant in the middle of a match... But in this case, it most definitely is, as Spaz ceases the assault on Lane's leg, and pulls Mr. Old School Hollywood back toward the middle of the ring.
Spaz lifts Lane's legs into a very familiar position. The screams and cheers of the Vancouver crowd are immediate, as they know exactly what move that position leads to.
(JB) Spaz is looking for the Sharpshooter!
As Spaz attempts to roll his opponent over, Lane twists his lower body, breaking the hold and sending Spaz off to the side of the ring.
(Tom) He'll have to keep on looking after that brilliant counter by Mike Lane!
Spaz recovers quickly and doesn't hesitating in running back at Lane once again. Lane capitalizes on Spaz's haste, taking the Sugar Junky down with a toe hold.
(JB) Lane may have gained the upper hand again here.
(Tom) May? Spaz is rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off. He's not thinking, and Lane is damn sure going to take advantage of it!
Lane is up first and after shaking off any pain in his right leg, moves toward Spaz. He picks Spaz up and hits a quick vertical suplex. Lane pulls Spaz up again for a second vertical suplex, this time stalling, holding Spaz in the air.
(JB) The blood is rushing to Spaz's head here, folks.
(Tom) Spaz may be smaller than Lane, but let me tell you, holding someone up like this takes a lot of strength!
Lane falls back, slamming Spaz to the mat. He moves in for the pin fall. Elbourn is right there for the count.
(JB) Here's our first pin attempt of the match, Bear... And Spaz kicks out just after two!
Lane keeps up the offense, this time hitting a German Suplex and holding on with a bridge. Again, James Elbourn slides in to count.
(Tom) Lane is showing off his technical ability right now, Mannatee.
(JB) But Spaz kicks out again! These suplexes are taking something out of Spaz, but will they be enough for Lane to pick up the victory?
Lane certainly seems to think so, going for another suplex! This time, he pulls out one of his more infrequently used moves, a Northern Lights Suplex. Again he hits a bridge for a pin fall attempt.
(JB) Four straight suplexes, three straight covers, and... Three straight kick outs!
(Tom) I think it's time to up the ante.
It seems like Mike Lane agrees. This time, instead of going for another suplex, or any other maneuver, Lane whips Spaz into the nearest corner. Lane quickly follows, then lifts Spaz up onto the top turnbuckle. Lane cautiously climbs up the ropes, pulling Spaz up into vertical suplex position.
(JB) Is a superplex a big enough raise to the ante for you, Bear?
(Tom) It'll do!
Lane is just about ready to snap it off, when Spaz elbows him in the side. Another pair of elbows, and Spaz has broken Lane's hold. He shoves Lane off from the top rope, and Lane falls hard to the mat.
Wasting no time, Spaz steadies himself, then leaps into the air, performing a back flip in flight. He lands squarely on Mike Lane, all two hundred or so pounds impacting heavily on Mr. Old School Hollywood.
(JB) Shooting Star Press! Spaz is holding nothing back in this match, nailing one of the more dangerous moves in the business!
Spaz rolls off of Lane before Elbourn can come in for the count. After a few moments, Spaz is the first one up. He hits a knee drop across Lane's right leg.
(Tom) Back to the leg now, huh?
(JB) As I said before, it's a sound strategy, Bear.
Another knee drop. Then a leg drop. All continuing the earlier focus on Lane's braced knee. And it's leading toward the same goal as that earlier focus. Spaz pulls Lane to mid-ring again, and stands in that same position as before. Once again, the Vancouver crowd shows respect for the Harts as Spaz applies the Sharpshooter.
(JB) He's got it locked in, Bear!
(Tom) Not for long. Holds like this aren't as effective with a height difference as there is between Spaz and Lane.
(JB) Mike Lane does have several inches on Spaz.
For the moment, the hold is doing the trick, as Spaz keeps up the pressure, pulling back on Lane's legs. Lane is trying to pull himself toward the ropes, but progress is slow.
(JB) But this is still a good strategic move by Spaz. Taking away that height advantage by keeping Lane low to the ground.
(Tom) It can only last so long, Mannwagon. Lane has bigger, stronger legs. Even after Spaz's little Bret Hart impression. Not to mention a longer reach as he gets closer to the ropes.
(JB) Bear, I have to say, I'm quite impressed with your analysis of this match.
Lane pulls closer to the ropes, but still not close enough to grab hold. Spaz fights back, pulling against Lane's progress.
(Tom) I've been thinking, JB. Maybe it's time I stop making jokes about your mother, and give some real thoughtful commentary.
(JB) Really? I would like that. I would like that very much.
(Tom) I know you would. That's why I said it.
(JB) Thank you Bear!
(Tom) No JB... Thank you.
Lane is this close to grabbing the ropes. Not quite there yet, though.
(JB) You're welcome, I suppose... But why are you thanking me? And why are you smiling like that?
(Tom) Because last night, I bet your mother that you'd fall for that nonsense! You don't want to know what she has to let me do tonight... And it's all thanks to you!
(JB) I hate you.
After struggling through that entire piece of random commentary, Lane finally grabs the rope. But Spaz doesn't let go.
(Tom) Again with the not letting up!
(JB) Referee James Elbourn hasn't reached the five count yet, Bear.
Three...
Four...
Five...
And Spaz is still holding on.
(Tom) He has now! That's twice. Why isn't Spaz getting disqualified?
Much like before, Elbourn is forced to step in. He unhooks Lane's legs and pulls Spaz away. Lane quickly pulls himself toward the ropes and slides outside to get a break.
(JB) I'm getting word from the back that Commissioner Buchanan and senior referee Walt Mason have given James Elbourn instructions to be lenient tonight. After everything that's gone on between these two, they want to see a clear winner, even if a few rules are bent or broken.
(Tom) As long as Spaz isn't getting preferential treatment, that works for me!
(JB) The ruling applies to both Spaz and Mike Lane equally.
That's good to know. Back to the action!
Lane, still on the outside, circles the ring and ends up at the bottom of the entrance ramp. Meanwhile, Spaz has moved away from the ropes to mid-ring. When Elbourn moves back to the corner, Spaz wastes no time.
Spaz runs toward the ramp-side of the ring and slips through the ropes. For a second, he's standing on the apron, facing toward the ring. Without looking over his shoulder, Spaz jumps and springs off of the second rope, flipping backward toward Mike Lane.
(JB) Springboard Sweetsault!
Before Spaz lands on him, Mike Lane manages to get out of the way. So instead of hitting Lane and having the larger man break his fall, Spaz slams hard into the ground.
(Tom) Pretty reckless move by Spaz there.
(JB) I can't disagree with that, Bear. But it is Spaz's style to take risks on that kind of high impact move.
(Tom) He didn't even look behind him!
(JB) Fair point.
Lane goes on the offensive once again, this time sticking to the outside. He whips Spaz hard into the guardrail, the Sugar Junky taking a hard impact to his back. Not letting up, Lane pulls Spaz up into a bear hug, and slams him into the ring post.
(Tom) Now that's what I've been waiting to see. You go Lane!
Lane lets Spaz drop to the floor. He surveys the ground around him for a moment and finds what he's looking for: A seam in the mats that surround the ring. Lane rips at the Velcro, tearing the mat away to reveal a square of concrete.
(JB) This doesn't look good for Spaz.
(Tom) Sure doesn't! I love it.
Lane grabs Spaz again, this time wrapping him up for a T-Bone suplex.
(JB) Degeneration! What an impact on that unforgiving concrete!
(Tom) And Spaz brought it all on himself, jumping out of the ring like a crazy person.
Lane, who of course landed happily on the mat after throwing Spaz to the exposed concrete, gets up first. He pulls Spaz up again, this time tossing him into the ring. Lane slides in after him and applies a lateral press.
(JB) Lane going for a pin fall here, but he doesn't hook the leg.
One.
(Tom) So what?
Two.
(JB) He's left it much easier for Spaz to... Yes! He's got the shoulder up just before the three count!
(Tom) Damn.
A failed pin fall isn't enough to discourage Mike Lane, though. He keeps control, putting boots to the back of Spaz's right knee. A little payback for earlier on, softening up the leg for a submission hold.
(JB) I suppose you'll find this brilliant strategy on Mike Lane's part?
(Tom) Clearly.
(JB) And yet when Spaz did the same thing you dismissed it?
(Tom) Of course. Because Spaz did it.
(JB) And you say that Canadian fans are biased.
(Tom) They are!
(JB) I give up.
After a several more strikes to the leg during JB and Tom's exchange, Mike Lane is ready for his submission. He wraps Spaz's leg up and locks in the Figure Four.
(Tom) It's time to kick it Old School!
(JB) And Lane has this locked on smack in the middle of the ring. It's going to be tough for Spaz to break out of this.
Spaz is indeed struggling, trying to keep his shoulders off of the mat, all the while rocking back and forth, trying to build enough momentum to flip the hold over.
(Tom) This could be it for Spaz, Mannwich.
(JB) I don't know about that, Bear. We've seen a high level of intensity in Spaz tonight. It's caused him to be a bit too aggressive and reckless a couple of times, but I think it's going to be the fire that keeps him fighting through this submission hold.
JB may well be right. Spaz is certainly not giving up. He continues rocking, still not making it far enough to flip the Figure Four, but he gets closer every time.
(Tom) But if this fire ends up burning him again in the end, what's the difference? Why not give up now?
(JB) There's one thing you should know about Spaz by now, Bear... If he goes down, he'll be fighting when it happens. Especially here tonight against his constant rival, I don't think the words "give up" are in his vocabulary.
Spaz gets the rocking motion to almost ninety degrees... One more and...
(JB) He's flipped it! The pressure of the hold is now on Mike Lane! He can either release the hold, or try to fight through it.
After a few moments of pain, Lane opts for the former. Spaz, now free of the hold, quickly slides out of the ring. Interestingly, Lane does the same. But Lane heads toward the announce table.
(JB) Why is he coming over here?
(Tom) He probably just wants a pat on the back from the old Bear.
(JB) I seriously doubt that.
Lane bypasses the announce table completely, instead heading for the relative safety of the time-keeper's table. Troy Gilmore senses what's coming and jumps up out of his chair. This makes Lane's task so much simpler, as he picks up the steel chair and folds it up.
(Tom) This is promising.
(JB) Lane is about to really raise the ante now, Bear.
Lane charges toward Spaz, chair poised for the strike. At the last second, Spaz jumps and spins, unleashing a kick that connects directly with the steel chair. The chair then promptly impacts directly with Mike Lane's face. Both impacts make quite the smashing sound.
(Tom) Damn it!
(JB) That certainly backfired!
(Tom) Try to sound like you didn't enjoy that.
(JB) No can do, Bear!
(Tom) Typical.
With Lane down, Spaz picks up the chair. Without hesitation, he smacks Lane across the head with it. Then again over the back, before discarding the chair and moving back toward the ring.
(JB) Remember folks, that Referee James Elbourn is under orders to be lenient and let this match continue.
(Tom) How about this aggression from Spaz? He keeps this up, I may have to almost like him!
Spaz lifts the apron, and begins searching under the ring.
(JB) And we wouldn't want that, would we?
(Tom) Well, he is still beating on Mike Lane, so I kinda have to hate him.
Lane rolls over, revealing a healthy gash on his forehead.
(JB) Lane's been opened up by that chair!
(Tom) I'm all for blood, Manna-White... But not when it's Mike Lane's!
A wicked smile flashes across Spaz's face as he seemingly finds what he was looking for. The fans go nuts when they see what he pulls out from beneath the ring.
(Tom) Oh crap.
(JB) Spaz has found himself a ladder!!
(Tom) This goes poorly for Mike Lane.
Spaz slides the ladder into the ring, then turns his attention back to his opponent. Lane is just getting to his knees, as Spaz picks up the discarded chair. Spaz swings for the fences and lands one more shot on Lane for good measure.
(JB) What a shot!
(Tom) I can't watch!
Spaz tosses Lane back into the ring and slides in behind him. He goes directly to the ladder, setting it up in the corner. Spaz pulls Lane to his feet, and Irish whips Lane toward the ladder.
But Lane counters, instead sending Spaz toward the ladder, then immediately following him in. About as agile as they come, Spaz scales the ladder and back flips off as Lane runs forward.
Spaz lands on his feet behind Lane, as Lane manages to stop short of slamming into the ladder. Lane spins around, and Spaz moves in. Spaz drapes his right arm over Lane's left shoulder, and wraps his right leg around Lane's right leg.
(JB) Spaz is going for the Sugar Rush!!
That's the plan... But not all plans work out. Before Spaz can fall back and sweep Lane face-first into the mat, Lane elbows him in the head. Spaz loses his momentum, and Lane takes advantage. Keeping Spaz in the exact position that Spaz had set him up in, Lane executes the very move Spaz was about to hit.
(Tom) That's how it's done! Witness The Chaotix!
(JB) And Spaz goes face-first into that ladder!
(Tom) Which, might I add, Spaz put there in the first place.
After the impact, Spaz falls backward to the ground. His head is also opened up now, with blood trickling down the side of his face. Lane slumps down to the mat, going for another pin fall.
(JB) I hate to say so, but this could be it!
One...
Two...
(JB) NO! Spaz just got the shoulder up!
(Tom) When will he just stay down?
Lane pulls Spaz up and shoves him against the ladder. He backs away, and raises an arm.
(Tom) Hold on, I'll answer that myself... He'll stay down after the Shadow Kick!!
Lane rushes forward, lashing out with his right foot heading straight for Spaz's chest. The infamous Shadow Kick! (T-shirt available at TheNAFW.com under Merchandise.)
Unfortunately for Mike Lane, while his foot was heading straight for Spaz's chest, it doesn't connect. Spaz side-steps, leaving Lane's foot headed straight for a gap between rungs of the ladder. It goes right through the gap, leaving Lane's leg caught up in the ladder.
(JB) What speed from Spaz, even at this late stage of this match!
(Tom) I don't believe it.
Spaz dives outward, catching Lane by the neck on the way. The good news for Lane is that the momentum pulls his foot free... The bad news is that he takes a hard neck breaker in the process. Spaz quickly gets up and begins working on Lane's right leg once again.
(JB) Don't say it, Bear.
(Tom) What? That Spaz apparently has a grand total of one strategy for this entire match, and that it clearly hasn't worked so far?
(JB) Yes, that.
(Tom) Oh. I'd say I'm sorry...
(JB) But you're not.
After a few impacts, something seems to change in Spaz... He gets something of a blank look in his eyes before he bends down and begins to unstrap Lane's brace.
(Tom) No! He can't do that!
(JB) I'm honestly surprised that he is, Bear... It's more of the aggressive nature we've seen from Spaz throughout this match.
Spaz rips the brace off of Lane's leg and tosses it to the outside. As he does so, he catches sight of the ladder in the corner. Spaz grabs the ladder and flings it to the ground.
(Tom) Oh no... This is bad.
Yes it is. Spaz lifts one end of the ladder, then pulls Mike Lane's now braceless leg into the space. With a blank look in his eyes, Spaz slams the ladder down. Lane cries out in pain.
(Tom) Somebody stop this! Spaz has lost it!
(JB) I can't believe I'm seeing this Bear... But look at it from Spaz's perspective. He believes that this man kidnapped his sister. Who knows what's been going through Spaz's mind these last few weeks?
Spaz slams the ladder across Lane's leg again. Then he hits a leg drop across the ladder, adding his own weight to the impact.
(Tom) That's no excuse for this! He's made his point! Just end it already!
Spaz didn't hear Tom, and even if he had, he likely wouldn't have heeded the request. But apparently he agrees that his point is made and the damage is done... So Spaz pulls Lane out from the ladder and sets up for the Sharpshooter one more time.
(JB) This should be it, Bear.
Spaz lifts the legs... But suddenly, out of nowhere, Lane pops up and pulls Spaz down.
(JB) Small package!
(Tom) Holy Crap!
Here's the two count.
And here's the...
Three!!
(JB) Lane wins! Unbelievable!!
(Tom) I knew it all along!
Lane, on one good leg, scurries out of the ring as James Elbourn signals for the bell.
(JB) A minute ago you were yelling at Spaz to end it.
(Tom) Because I knew Lane would roll him up for the win!
Time for Troy Gilmore to do his thing again.
(Troy) Your winner, by pin fall... MIKE LAAAAANE!!
Lane is in no position to celebrate as he limps toward the ramp. James Elbourn waves to the back, and medical personal rush out from backstage with a stretcher.
(JB) This was an intense match, Bear... And after everything he went through, Mike Lane still came out victorious.
(Tom) Just proves what he's been saying all along. Mike Lane is better than Spaz.
(JB) Or luckier.
(Tom) Spaz had Lane down and out, Mannfred. If he didn't insist on ending it with the Sharpshooter, he may have won.
Lane is pushed onto the stretcher by the medics, and wheeled up the ramp. Meanwhile, Spaz is still in the ring. He hasn't moved an inch since the bell rang. He simply sits there, staring blankly into the crowd.
(JB) In any case, I think this has finally settled things between Mike Lane and Spaz. The question is, where will they go from here?
(Tom) Mike Lane will go to the top. And Spaz will go straight to the bottom. Pretty simple, really.
(JB) I suppose we'll see in the coming weeks. But before that, we have tonight's main event! Stay with us!
Evolution
We open with the shot of a gray metal door. The door opens to a sequestered chamber deep within the reaches of the General Motors Place arena. The somber echoes of vermin making their way through the subterranean pipelines and the obscuring shadows paint a decidedly dark picture of the setting of this little "interlude" between the action.
And in this damp cellar-of-a-chamber, we find two men poised on the brink of greatness.
Aleister Essex and the Monster, Hush.
The monster, fully garbed and ready for battle, stands before his master, as Essex paces back and forth in front of the behemoth, as though he were a military general about to lead his troops into battle.
(Essex) This is it, Hush. This is what we have been waiting for. This is what we've fought for months on end for. This is the opportunity that that villainous pig Buchanan kept you from. This is what you should have received upon setting foot in that god-forsaken ring in the first place.
The Foundation Heavyweight Championship.
You can feel it, can't you Hush? You can feel that sense of righteous might when that belt, that glorious belt, is on the line. You can feel the power flowing through your veins, and you feel, no, you know that you have to go out there and completely decimate those two puny little men and claim what's rightfully ours.
The Foundation Heavyweight Championship.
Essex stops pacing in mid-march and looks into the eyes of his beloved charge. Hush's steely blue eyes match his, unshakably locking on Essex's manic visage.
(Essex) That's exactly what I thought.
That's exactly what Tyrone Smith and Mike Stryker should have thought before submitting themselves to tonight's featured armageddon.
Hush, there is nothing that you cannot accomplish without a little guidance. Just remember that those teeny, tiny past missteps were just flukes. They were nothing but the meager rules and regulations keeping you down.
But what they haven't yet understood, Hush, is something that you and I know. These people, these corrupt, roguish imbeciles that deter you and I from claiming what is ours by using miles upon miles of red tape haven't gotten their heads around to realizing that we have learned to play their game.
Rubbing his hands together, Essex soaks in every part of the devious, cunning mastermind that we... know and love?...
(Essex) Those fools, from the higher-ups, to the cro magnons that fill the seats, they've all tried to put you in this box of being an monster whose only advantage is when the rule book gets tossed out the window! What imbeciles!
The fact is, or rather, what you and I know, Hush, is that, as men of intellect and rationale, we EVOLVE.
Every set back, ever fluke, every bureaucratic flubbery, it's all lead to constant evolution!
And tonight, these liars, these thieves, these politicians, they will all witness the pinnacle of evolutionary growth!
Because, Hush, if the last few months have taught me anything... It is not Tyrone Smith, who's casual shedding of a ridiculous former name and former shame, who has grown and changed the most... It is not Mike Stryker, who's half-witted plotting along has finally chanced him into both the most successful and most hazardous situation of his meaningless career that has grown and become a man worthy of legend.
It is you, Hush. You are the one who has grown. You are the one who, with my careful guidance, has learned to play their trite little games, and it is you who will emerge victorious tonight.
For we are the kind of men that legacies are written of. You and I, Hush, we are destined to go down in history, whereas the likes of Tyrone Smith and Mike Stryker will hardly warrant a footnote when all is said and done.
Essex, having wandered about once more, turns back around to look at his charge, ever motionless and ever intimidating.
(Essex) As for now, I have some business to take care of, so you will wait here, patiently, for my return, understand?
Good.
Now remember, Hush, keep on telling yourself that it is you who is the pinnacle of this industry, and that there is no man alive that can truly take you down...
As Hush watches on, Essex quickly and emphatically shuts the iron door behind him and locks it as well. He then proceeds to read into his lined pockets and produces a red (of course) colored Razr cellphone.
He opens the phone, checks his missed calls while mumbling under his breath, and proceeds to dial a number.
After a few rings, the other person picks up.
(Essex) Hello, this is Aleister Essex, I've been renting some living-space from your company recently, and I received a call earlier about a break in...
...Uh-huh... Uh-huh... Alright... So there was a break-in?... No property was stolen?... Well, that's good...
What's that you say? You have surveillance footage of the guy who broke in?... Can you send it over to me?... No I don't want to file a bloody Police Report, this kind of thing is under the table for a reason!...
...You'll send the photo right away?... Thank you...
Essex closes the phone and, within seconds, it begins to beep, signaling a received photo. Essex opens his phone and views the picture, his eyes widening as he sees who perpetrated the crime.
(Essex) Oh bugger... I was hoping it would just be a simple breaking and entering... But this?...
This just means the past is catching up to us.
Appearing as though trying to snap himself out of his utter bewilderment, Essex grabs his head and shakes it a few times before cursing the breaking news.
(Essex) Of all the times-... Well, damn! I don't have time to deal with this... It's too soon!
Argh... I'll just have to hope that this doesn't affect tonight's mission. I will let nothing, no man, get in my way of claiming that belt tonight...
No man. No one.
And with that, Essex furiously unlocks the door to Hush's chamber and swiftly closes it behind him, bolting the door shut and ending this unusual encounter quite emphatically.
(Troy) Ladies and gentlemen, this is the main event of the evening. It is a triple threat match for the FOUNDATION HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP!
(JB) This is the one we've been waiting for, Bear. Can Stryker do it. Two men focused on his one title.
(Tom) Stryker took out that clown, The Reaper, with no problems. Now he's got two men who are focused on him.
(JB) Makes you wonder about his odds.
(Tom) I think he just gave the finger to the odds a long time ago.
Troy raises up his microphone slowly.
(Troy) Introducing first...
All of the lights at ringside and on the arena floor dim as the NAFW-Tron lights suddenly turn a sinister shade of red. The opening notes to Tool's "Hush" creep up louder and louder through the PA system, that is, until the red lights turn off, suddenly. Then they turn right back on, along with an array of flames, errupting like a fountain all around the entry ramp, jolting the fans in the arena back in their seats. The video trailer for Hush begins to roll on the NAFW-Tron, as the monstrosity himself emerges from behind the NAFW curtains, with Aliester Essex trailing not too far behind.
(Troy) Being accompanied to the ring by Aleister Essex, coming in at six foot eleven and three hundred sixty-two pounds. He is the Behemoth known as HUSH!
(JB) Hush being lead into the ring by that slimy Essex.
(Tom) Slimy, but the man is a genius in his own twisted way. He got the giant into the match.
The pair make their way up to the top of the entry ramp, surrounded by errupting flames all around them, and promptly soak in the crowd's displeasure. Essex then leads the behemoth towards the ring, instructing him to scale the steel ring steps, and makes his way to the opposite corner as Hush steps over the top rope. The monster takes off his trenchcoat, allowing it to slip off his shoulders, before making his way to the middle of the ring, looking at the camera, and rubbing his hands together; his sign that he's ready for action.
(Troy) His opponent...
"Lip Gloss and Black" by Atreyu hits the PA as the lights dim and then flicker out. Strobe lights flicker on as smoke fills the entryway and the ramp. All the sudden, a figure comes out from the back and stands in the smoke, right fist pumped up in the air. The strobe lights make the figure seem like it is blinking as the figure cuts through the smoke. The crowd cheers as it is NAFW's Tyrone Smith. Tyrone walks down the ramp, adknowledging the crowd as he slides under the bottom ropes. The lights flicker back on as Tyrone pumps his fist in the air, runs around off the ropes and then turns, and waits for his opponent to come.
(Troy) Hailing from Gulfport, Mississippi. Coming in at six foot two and two hundred twenty-five pound. This is TYRONE SMITH!
(JB) Not to use a pun, but Tyrone has a tall order to even get started in this title match.
(Tom) Tall doesn't cover it, Mannwich! Hush is a genuine killing machine in all honesty.
(JB) The bad part is that you're probably right.
The house lights go down as "Til I Collapse" by Eminem begins to play through the arena. As the song goes through it's dark intro, various scenes from NYC come across the NAFWTron.
YO LEFT, YO LEFT, YO LEFT RIGHT LEFT!!
As the line repeats and the dialouge of the song starts in the background, the scene changes to a simple panoramic of the NYC Skyline. When the drums kick in, lightning fills the sky with each beat, and through the cloud cover, the word "STRYKER" can be made out with each bolt of lightning.
(Troy) Their opponent. He is the FOUNDATION HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! Coming in at six foot two and two hundred twenty-seven pounds. From New York City, he is the "BIG CITY HITMAN" MIKE STRYKER!
When the song finally kicks in, The house lights come up, with a bright white light punctuating each clap in the songs beat. Mike Stryker comes out in his black sweatshirt, hood up, hair hanging down in front of his face. He marches out, and as the crowd gives a roar of approval, he raises his Foundation Heavyweight Championship belt over his head. He gives the crowd a quick look before he begins marching himself to the ring, oblivious to the cheers.
Stryker rolls under the bottom rope and gets up on the opposite turnbuckles, again raising his belt as the crowd roars once more. He crosses the ring and repeats the action to another cheer. He dismounts from the buckles and pulls off his sweatshirt, tossing it aside and pacing the ring, waiting for the match to begin.
(JB) Look at Stryker, he isn't worried about his opponents, Bear.
(Tom) Any other champ, I probably would be. He's at the level that most are at right now, Mann. And this is a non-insult, which is rare. Stryker is at the level that Faithless, Owens, Lane, and I dare say Alejandro were at.
(JB) Is that a compliment?!!
(Tom) Semi one. He's at the level of invincibility. It's not bad, but it's not good. One of them could easily knock him off the perch and it's game over.
Walt Mason looks at the three men gathered into a nice triangle. Essex is on the outside glaring inside the ring. He adjusts the hat, waiting for the action to be called. Mason puts his hand up and calls for it.
(JB) Mason gives the word...
(Tom) Let the brawl begin!
Tyrone heads over first and starts wailing away on Hush. Stryker, knowing that he'll be the big problem of the night follows behind and assists Tyrone with a double team for a brief bit. Both men whip Hush into the ropes and let him sling back for a double dropkick to his knees. Hush falls down to the mat face first.
(JB) It's apparent we know what the plan is...
(Tom) The smartest one that idiot, Smith, ever came up with. Make the big man go to the ground. As you like to cliche, everybody is the same height on the mat.
(JB) It's true. Hush on the ground, means he can't get in his powerful moves.
Hush is pulling his knees to him as Stryker and Smith look at each other. Stryker then starts laying in a series of punches to Smith. Smith returns the favor by throwing some hits of his own. Both men start a back and forth until someone decides to rise up.
(JB) Somebody's awake, and he's not too happy to be awake, either.
(Tom) Those idiots forgot to take care of Hush! And he's angry!
Hush pulls himself up and grabs both men by the top of the head. He head butts both men, and watches as they go to the mat in opposite directions. Now, he has to make a decision on which one to take out first. That was until Essex screams to get the champion.
(Tom) Essex telling the giant to take out the champion. Which is a pretty smart move, if I say so.
(JB) Even though you know he wanted to go over and end Tyrone Smith once and for all.
(Tom) While I want him to, that can and should wait. He can do that after he wears the gold, Mannwheel.
Hush moves over to Stryker and proceeds to lift him up with both hands and throws him over to the corner. Afterwards, he pulls up that size 20 and jams it into Stryker's throat. Walt sees this and starts the count.
(JB) It's crude and somewhat very rude, but a boot to the throat is one way for the big man to weaken the champion.
(Tom) It's probably one of the big man's best moves. Use that large reach and those long legs.
Walt Mason calls for "four", and Hush pulls his foot off. As he does, he goes into the corner with a hard back elbow that drops Stryker. Smith is there to meet Hush with a hard boot to the gut, though. Hush bends down to hold his midsection. Tyrone takes advantage and starts placing hard forearms into Hush's back.
(JB) Smith taking the fight to the behemoth, Bear! After all the weeks of being bullied...
(Tom) Tyrone is taking his shots where he can. However, he might be doing much else than making Hush angry.
Hush springs back up and pushes Smith away from him. He charges forward to keep up the momentum. Hush goes for a clothesline, and Tyrone ducks under quickly. The giant slings off the ropes again and gets hit by another kick to the knee by Smith.
(JB) Tyrone is trying to floor Hush with another hard kneecap shot.
(Tom) Well, he didn't do it hard enough, because...
Hush shoots back up and nails Smith with a sudden clothesline. Smith flips a bit and hits back first on the mat. Hush goes over and attempts the pin. He gets a one, before he gets a boot to the head by Stryker.
(JB) Stryker not taking kindly to Hush trying to end this match early.
(Tom) Of course, this match ends like that, and Hush gets the belt!
Stryker starts laying a series of rights into Hush's head. Hush slumps over a bit. Mike looks at this as an opportunity. He puts in a the front chancery and attempts a snap suplex. He lifts up, and Hush stays on his feet. Stryker tries again, and Hush is still on his feet. Stryker does another attempt, and Hush carries him over into a vertical suplex stall.
(JB) The giant carrying Stryker over into a stall.
(Tom) And considering that Smith is down at the moment, he can take as long as he wants to.
Hush falls back and drives Stryker down hard. Stryker holds his back for a second as the pain sets in. Hush goes for a one hand choke over the prone champion. Mason runs over and starts the five count, as Hush throttles in the choke. Instead of the five count release, Smith comes in with a hard kick to the side of the head. Hush rolls over and lies back on the mat.
(JB) Smith with the save on Stryker.
(Tom) I think Smith knew that Hush was going for a chokeslam attempt after that choke.
(JB) Now it's Smith and Stryker facing off in the ring, eye to eye.
Stryker and Smith size up each other before deciding what to do. Hush, on the other hand, pulls himself up and stands up to look at his opponents. Both men turn around and start wailing on Hush. Hush backs into the ropes, and both men grab an arm each. They fire Hush into the opposite rope and duck down. Hush can't stop, as both men carry him over into a double team back drop.
(JB) Hush doing some unwilling flying as Stryker and Smith vault him over with a double team.
(Tom) It's all about survival. They might not like each other, but they both know that Hush is the "bigger" problem at the moment.
Essex has now jumped up on the apron, and he's screaming at Walt Mason. Mason goes over to tell Essex to get down. Essex pulls Mason to him, as to provide a distraction. Both men go over to try to get Essex away from the ring. This provides Hush the time he needs to slip out of the ring and recover for a bit.
(JB) Get him out of here! He's clearly trying to divert attention away from the match!
(Tom) It's a smart move. And Essex has a right to be there as the representation of Hush.
(JB) More like someone who wants to help his man cheat to win.
(Tom) And the problem in that is...
Hush slides back in with a chair. He zeroes in on Smith and cracks him on his back. Stryker turns around and gets cracked on top of his head. The giant slides the chair out quickly, as Essex jumps off the apron. Mason turns around to see two out of the three people down in the ring. Of course, he has no clue of what has happened.
(JB) Hush pulled a fast one, with the assistance of Essex.
(Tom) See, that's what a manager can do for you, Mann!
(JB) And you would be proud of a win like that, right?
(Tom) Of course.
Hush goes over and pulls both men up by the neck and raises them up high in the air. The crowd gathers into a loud and boisterous boo for him. Hush nods at the boos and plants both men into the mat with a hard double chokeslam. In an act of arrogance, he puts one hand over both of his opponents and Essex yells at Mason to count.
(JB) Not like this...
(Tom) Oh yeah! New champion!
At the count of two, both men spasm out of the pin attempt. Mason holds up the symbol of "TWO" to Hush's face. Hush shakes his head and growls a bit at Mason. He then decides to throttle both men with a choke. Mason yells at Hush to let go of his opponents. He gets to "four" on his count, and Hush pulls off and looks at the men on the mat.
He decides to move over to Smith and pulls him over away from Stryker. Hush puts Tyrone facing against the mat and pulls back the arms.
(JB) By Gord... Hush isn't going to, is he?
(Tom) Oh yeah, here comes a curbstomp!
Hush pulls up and puts the foot into Tyrone's back and comes down hard for the dreaded Curbstomp! Tyrone is seemingly out cold for the moment. Stryker gets up and drives a knee into the back of Hush and falls back with it. Hush falls over and cringes in pain as the move finishes. Hush is face first on the mat, holding his back with one arm.
(JB) The champion going with an unorthodox move to ground Hush.
(Tom) Stryker knows that he's got to take Hush down hard.
(JB) And he's got him ready for the Cloverleaf.
Stryker pulls the legs into a cloverleaf and turns it halfway and kneels down and yanks back. Hush is pounding both fists on the mat in anger. Mason asks if he gives up. Hush shakes his head and yells out. Stryker pulls back even harder, as he has the giant where he wants him.
(Tom) Stryker is pulling back on Hush's legs and wrenching it all in. He could have the big man tapping out soon.
(JB) Mike Stryker has beaten the odds before, Bear. He could do it again.
(Tom) He's pretty convincing with a stunned Smith and a screaming Hush.
Essex has decided that he's had enough and climbs up to the apron again to get Mason's attention. Walt goes over to him to try to get him down again. Smith wakes up to see that his thorn is messing with his match. Tyrone pulls himself up and goes over and decks Essex. In true slimy fashion, though, Essex grabs Walt by the shirt and incidentally wraps his neck into the ropes.
(JB) That weasel just grabbed the referee, as an attempt to keep the match going. I know it!
(Tom) I think he didn't want to fall to the apron, but now, we have no referee.
Smith looks down at the scene and sees Essex falling into the rail, and as he sees Walt go down, he starts laughing. Almost like he's proud of himself. Tyrone has had enough. He goes down to the ringside area and chases after Essex. The weasel tries to run, but Tyrone kicks his leg out from under him. He throws off Essex's hat and pulls him by that stringy blonde and black hair and drags him to the announce table.
(JB) Tyrone and the rat are coming this way.
(Tom) I don't like the looks of this. I think Smith's got bad intentions for Aleister. Those intentions probably involve going through this table.
(JB) I think so, too!
Mike looks over and sees Walt out cold. He realizes that he needs to wake up the referee quickly. Hush is on the ground, still holding his back and yelling a bit. Mike tries to revive Walt. Meanwhile, Tyrone is pounding on Essex's skull. Most of the hits aren't making the Brit's complexion look any better.
(Tom) It's chaos, baby! Mikey's trying to get Walt to get himself the win.
(JB) And Tyrone is beating the holy hell out of Essex to put him on a stretcher.
(Tom) Exactly! I love it!
Tyrone puts Essex on his shoulder and points out to the crowd. The crowd approves of it, and he drops that British mug right onto his knee!
(JB) RUTHLESS AGGRESSION TO ESSEX!
(Tom) He just busted Essex's face!
Essex is holding his face and screaming out in pain. Tyrone goes around and looks for something to further the pain with. In the ring, Stryker looks at Hush, who's still trying to get on his feet. Stryker starts stomping into Hush's back. Hush is doing all he can to get away from Stryker.
(JB) Stryker realizing that Hush needs to stay down.
(Tom) Which he's doing that by stomping the mudhole in Hush's back and dare say it, walking it dry.
Tyrone finds the chair that Hush used on his back earlier, and he picks it up. Essex is staggering over to the stairs hoping to get away. Smith sizes it up and goes for a low swing and cracks it into the back of Essex's head. Essex connects with the stairs and emerges a bloody mess.
(Tom) Smith just made the madman bleed! Essex is starting up his own crimson mask!
(JB) That weasel is tasting his own blood, as Stryker is taking out the vertical base of his giant.
Stryker is cranking back on Hush with a Boston Crab, in order to keep him softened up. Smith picks up the bloodied Essex and puts again over his shoulders. Tyrone takes a bit of a struggling step up the steel stairs and moves to the middle part of the apron. He then points to the announce table. At this point, the sellout crowd goes nuts. With the blood dripping on his head, Essex's eyes go wide. He knows what his future is going to be...
(JB) Bear... Now would be a good time to run.
(Tom) Oh Gord... He's headed for us, isn't he...
(JB) You got it.
Tyrone takes a short jump as he aims Essex's head directly into the announcer's table. The table gives out from the impact of two men crashing through it. Yes, this is the Death Valley Driver, folks! And Essex is now twitching. JB and Tom have moved out of the way, wisely. The crowd just sounds off in a "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!"
Stryker looks over at the scene, as he sees Essex and Smith crumpled in a mess. He sees the blood mask over Essex and claps at it. At the same time, he taunts Smith to get back in the ring. Tyrone pulls himself out of the carnage slowly and gets under the rope.
At this moment, the announcers take a seat and look down at the twitching Essex.
(JB) He's dead, Bear. The weasel is god damn dead!
(Tom) Tyrone Smith just did about the smartest thing in this match for him and Stryker. He took out Essex in convincing fashion.
(JB) Essex needs some plasma and a lot of painkillers right now, Bear. And don't believe I like this, either.
(Tom) You don't....
(JB) No, I love it! He can stay there to keep me happy!
(Tom) And you call me sick.
With a twitching Essex as a part of the table. Tyrone and Stryker take turns trying to beat up on Hush. They pick up the big man and pull him into a front chancery. Both men take him up and over into a double team snap suplex. Walt is still slumped over on his side. Essex is slowly moving around a bit.
(JB) Both men are taking the giant over onto his back. Which has been well worked on, by the way.
(Tom) Both men have been working on his back all match long. And Hush can't even get up to attack.
Essex slowly moves himself over to one side of the apron and takes a breather there. He looks up to see what's going on. Tyrone pulls up Hush and stands him up. He jumps up and puts his hands behind Hush's neck and attempts to fall back. Hush gains a burst of strength, however, and stops the attempt. He throws Smith over his head, and Tyrone lands on his back with authority.
(JB) Tyrone looking to end this match quickly and paid for it with a deadlift back drop.
(Tom) Hush still has life in him, Mann! He's going to be the new champ!
Stryker sees the flying Smith and gets Hush in the kneecap again. Hush falls down face first yet again in pain. He again slaps on the New York Cloverleaf. Walt Mason wakes up and sees the big man pounding the mat. He asks Hush if he gives. Hush slaps the mat, but no bell is ringing. Essex is laughing at Stryker as he pulled Mason out. Mason is on the floor in a daze.
(JB) That weasel won't die, will he?
(Tom) He took out Walt again! Walt isn't going to be able to continue.
(JB) Here comes the Champ!
Stryker goes down and decks Essex. He goes over and pounds more on Essex's head, making the red mask even worse. He then slings Essex into the post hard. Essex stays put from the sheer shock of heading into the post. Stryker then peels Essex off of the post and slings him with authority into the steel steps.
(JB) Stryker just finished off what was left of Essex.
(Tom) He might be liked a bit more by the sheep, but in his heart... He's still the Big City Hitman. And Essex just crossed his path.
(JB) And felt the big city pain?
(Tom) Now, you're talking, Mannwich!
Stryker gets into the ring, as James Elbourn runs out. Stryker goes over to the downed Smith and starts beating on him. Smith picks himself up and starts firing back. Stryker and Smith go back and forth. Hush pulls himself up on the ropes and looks over at his two opponents. He goes over and plows both with a double clothesline. Then he slumps over the ropes and sees Essex folded over by the steps.
(JB) I think the big man just realizes that his mentor is now down and out.
(Tom) I don't think he's got enough left to strike back, though...
Stryker pulls himself up and plows a forearm into Hush's back. Hush cringes and tries to shove off. Smith pushes Stryker over and turns Hush around. He grabs behind the head again and shoves the knees into the face. And HE CONNECTS!
(JB) NO REMORSE! THAT'S THE NEW MOVE THAT SMITH WAS TALKING ABOUT!
(Tom) Smith just took out Hush's face with that devastating move. He's nailed Hush!
Not to be outdone, Stryker knocks Smith in the back of the head and turns him around for a snap DDT! Smith is out cold now. The Champion pulls up Hush and puts an arm under his right leg. He then pulls Hush's right arm over the back of his neck. He jumps three times for momentum and carries the giant over in a Fisherman's Suplex!
(JB) Stryker just carried the big man over on his own!
(Tom) Hush is down! Hush is down! Essex's plan is falling apart!
Stryker turns over Hush into the New York Cloverleaf and he cranks it back hard. Elbourn looks down to see if Hush shows signs of giving up. However, Hush is too slumped over on the mat. Stryker cranks the move harder, but there isn't any sign of movement. Elbourn looks again and he gives the signal!
Hush is out cold!
(JB) STRYKER RETAINS! STRYKER RETAINS!
(Tom) Hush can't continue... He's out, Mann!
The bell rings and Elbourn hands the belt over to Stryker.
(Troy) Your winner, by the Hush's inability to continue, and still FOUNDATION HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! "THE BIG CITY HITMAN" MIKE STRYKER!
Elbourn raises Stryker's hand in the air. Stryker falls back to the rope in surprise. Smith is still face down on the mat. Hush isn't moving at all. Stryker holds up the belt as "Til I Collapse" cranks up.
YO LEFT, YO LEFT, YO LEFT RIGHT LEFT!!
(JB) Stryker wasn't an invincible champion tonight, Bear. However, he was a smart champion. He knew what he had to do.
(Tom) Stryker did a lot of talking in the videos. Tonight, he did a lot of the walking, too. He's still the champ. He's still got that huge target on his back.
A battered and bruised Mike Stryker stands to his feet as the referee hands him his Foundation Heavyweight Championship. He staggers over to the nearest turnbuckle, and soaks in the cheers from the crowd. The Hitman doesn't even ascend the turnbuckle, he just leans on the top pad, and raises his title in the air.
(JB) Stryker’s hard work pays off once again.
(Tom) Well, I didn't think he could do it.
(JB) Very few did, Bear. Mike Stryker is here, and tonight, he has proven that he is here to stay.
(Tom) I wouldn...
Both men are cut off by the opening strains of Jane's Addiction's "Superhero." The theme music of one Mike Lane.
(Tom) YES!!
Despite having his long-injured knee attacked by Spaz earlier, Mike Lane comes staggering down the isle, with a gaggle of referees and officials surrounding him. They are simultaneously supporting him, and holding him back. Astute viewers will recognize that Mr. Old School Hollywood is carrying the briefcase that holds his Wish.
(JB) This doesn't bode well for the Champion.
Stryker, for his part, is shaking his head, and moving around the ring, in what seems to be an effort to get his adrenaline going again.
(Tom) I think we might see a new Champion tonight after all!
(JB) I wouldn't speak so soon, Bear. Both of these guys have had wars tonight, and despite being more rested, I'd say Lane looks a little more worse for wear.
Lane rolls himself into the ring, and starts beckoning for a microphone. Officials surround both men, and they all seem to be telling Lane that he can't have another match tonight. Lane ignores them, while the huge bandage over his forehead looms ominously, holding back the bloodflow caused by Spaz earlier in the evening.
(Lane) Congrats, Mikey! You might have beat your two opponents, but I went one further and showed Sean Thomas that he should never have tried to take it up a notch with the best!
Now obviously, his condition kind of suggests that he's fibbing just a touch on that matter. Namely, Spaz beat the tar out of him, and would have won the match had he not decided to go for the submission.
(Lane) Now that I've proven that I'm the better man, I'm just plain sick and tired of seeing Sean's face all the damn time. I am done with him, and his gang of idiots. And now I can finally get back to unfinished business.
He eyes the Foundation title, and Stryker motions for him to come get some.
(Lane) I haven't forgotten that you turned on me at Chain Reaction, Mikey. After all I did for you. It's a shame that I'm going to have to take your title away.
Stryker is ready for some action, and the officials all seem to be shaking their head, and trying to dissuade Lane from this.
(Lane) But not tonight. I'm no idiot. While I'm sure I could still handle you, I'm not taking any chances. No no, I've got my eyes on the biggest prize in the game. Not just a simple Foundation title match. I had one of those at Chain Reaction. No, I want something I haven't had since Revolution over two years ago: A one on one Foundation title match. I've been held back long enough. But still, a one on one Foundation title match isn't even enough, Mike.
(JB) Then what the hell is?
(Tom) I think I know what my boy has in mind!
Lane smirks right at Stryker, who is still poised for a fight.
(Lane) I am cashing in my hard-earned Wish tonight to make it iron-clad. Mike Stryker defends his Foundation Championship, the biggest prize in the game, against Mike Lane on the biggest stage of them all... OBLIVION!
Stryker's eyes light up, and he steps forward to go nose to nose with Lane. The officials don't separate them, but are hovering around. Lane drops his microphone, and starts talking trash to Stryker, who responds in kind.
(JB) It has been set in stone here tonight. Next month, Mike Lane will challenge Mike Stryker for the Foundation Championship at the biggest show of the year, Oblivion!
(Tom) The bigger the stage, the bigger the embarrassment suffered by our current and soon-to-be former Foundation champ when he goes down at the hands of Lane.
(JB) After seeing him survive both Hush and Tyrone Smith, I don't think that any man should take our Champion lightly.
The NAFW logo comes up in the corner as Lane and Stryker continue jawing in the middle of the ring, and our Oblivion Foundation Heavyweight Championship match set in stone.
(JB) It's been a wild night, and you can join us for more of the same when we present Annihilation next week! As always, I'm JB Mann.
(Tom) And I'm Tom "The Bear" Kalhoun! Good night from Vancouver.
(JB) This has been Breaking Point 2008 from the General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Thank you. Good night!
The screen slowly darkens to black, and the NAFW logo flashes across the screen one last time.
