(EAW intro plays.)
(The camera opens up to a recap of last week’s Voltage as always. The highlights are shown of the events throughout the night, before the recap ends and the camera fades over to the Domo Polideportivo y Asociación de Squash in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The fans in attendance are loudly cheering, and the camera pans around the crowd as pyro shoots from the stage. After this, the camera cuts towards the commentary table, where Rich Russillo, Thadd Blazevich and Persephone are seen.)
Thadd Blazevich: Welcome to Sunday Night Voltage, bro! We’ve got a stacked show lined up tonight, and I’m telling you right now, it’s gonna be a good one!
Rich Russillo: Absolutely, Thadd. Plenty to look forward to, including a big debut as Carmen Sanchez goes one on one with NICK. We’ll also see Daniella Atlas take on Jon Kelton, which could go either way between two competitors trying to build some momentum.
Persephone: Yeah, yeah. Everyone’s trying to build momentum. Let’s just get to the part where someone actually wins.
Rich Russillo: And then there’s our main event. Drake Armstrong teams up with Jay Jerry Johnson to take on Candice Blair and ARIA. Candice and ARIA have been working well together, but the big question is on the other side. Can Drake and Jay coexist after what happened last week?
Thadd Blazevich: That’s the thing, bro! Jay made it clear he’s coming for Drake’s World Title, and now they’ve gotta team up? I don’t know how that’s gonna go!
Persephone: Poor Drake. He’s gotta team with the guy who wants his title. Sounds like a great night for him.
Rich Russillo: It could very well fall apart at any moment, and that might give Candice and ARIA the advantage in that main event—
???: CALLATE! CALLATE!
(The crowd erupts into loud boos as the camera cuts to the ring, revealing Diego Montana pacing back and forth with a microphone in hand, clearly agitated.)
Diego Montana: SHUT YOUR MOUTHS! SHOW SOME RESPECT— I said shut up! Damn, is it that hard to listen for once?!
(The boos only get louder, almost feeding off his frustration as Diego stops pacing for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a breath before continuing.)
Diego Montana: You see, this is exactly what I’m talking about. Week after week, I come out here, I do my thing, I handle business… and this is what I get? No respect, no appreciation… nothing.
(He gestures out toward the crowd as boos echo throughout the arena, Diego scoffing.)
Diego Montana: That’s fine. I’m used to it by now. I been dealing with this my whole career. People doubting me, people acting like I don’t belong, like I ain’t really him… but look where I’m at now.
(He points to himself again.)
Diego Montana: Number one contender for the Hardcore Championship.
(The crowd remains mostly negative, booing loudly.)
Diego Montana: Yeah, you don’t like that, do you? You don’t like the fact that I went out there at Shock Value and did exactly what I said I was gonna do. I saw my moment… and I took it. That’s what winners do. That’s what the great ones do, and that’s exactly what I did.
(He begins pacing again, settling into a rhythm.)
Diego Montana: But instead of giving me credit, instead of finally putting some respect on my name… you wanna sit there and act like it was luck? Luck? Nah. There’s no such thing as luck when you’re this good.
(He taps his chest, more confident now.)
Diego Montana: This right here? This is skill. This is instinct. This is what separates me from everybody else in that locker room. You can boo all you want, it doesn’t change the facts, and it doesn’t change what’s coming next.
(He slows down, staring directly into the hard cam.)
Diego Montana: Grand Rampage.
(He pauses, letting the noise build.)
Diego Montana: That’s where everything changes. Because at Grand Rampage, I step in that ring with Kai Rabeaux… and I take that Hardcore Championship.
(The crowd reacts loudly, mixed but mostly negative.)
Diego Montana: And when I do, when I walk out of that match with that title around my waist… then what? What are you gonna say then? You gonna say it was luck again? You gonna say I didn’t earn it?
(He shakes his head.)
Diego Montana: Nah. At that point, you ain’t gonna have no choice. You’re gonna have to look at me and admit it.
(He points directly at the camera.)
Diego Montana: That I’m the greatest wrestler in my entire bloodline. Yeah, I said it. Greater than all of them. Past, present, it don’t matter. I’m different.
(He stops pacing, turning toward the stage.)
Diego Montana: But there’s still one person who doesn’t get it… Kai.
(The crowd buzzes.)
Diego Montana: See, you had a lot of nerve last week. Running up on me from the side, trying to catch me off guard like that proved something. That didn’t prove nothing. All that showed me is you know what’s coming… you know what I’m about to do to you, and you had to get your shot in early.
(He leans on the ropes slightly.)
Diego Montana: So I’m giving you the chance right now. Come out here, face me like a man, and say whatever you got to say.
(He waits. Nothing.)
Diego Montana: Yeah… that’s what I thought.
(He laughs under his breath.)
Diego Montana: Too busy? Too important? Or maybe—
(The tron suddenly flickers to life, cutting Diego off as the crowd reacts loudly. Kai Rabeaux appears on the screen, calm and composed, dressed in a clean suit as he sits back on a couch with the Hardcore Championship resting across his lap. The camera sits low in front of him as he stares directly into it, completely unfazed.)
Kai Rabeaux: You still insist on speaking. After everything that has already occurred… you still find the need to present yourself as something more than what you are. It would be impressive, if it were not so misguided. I have other obligations to attend to this week. Matters far more important than entertaining you in person… not that you would be worth my time regardless.
(Kai adjusts the championship slightly on his lap, calmly brushing his hand across the faceplate before continuing.)
Kai Rabeaux: Unlike you, I do not need to stand in a ring and beg for validation from people who will forget your name the moment you fail. I do not need to shout over them or convince them of anything. My presence has already done that. That is the difference between us, Diego. You seek acknowledgement… I command it. I walk into a situation, and everything changes. You fight for moments… I decide them.
(Kai’s expression remains composed, voice even.)
Kai Rabeaux: You call what happened at Shock Value an opportunity. A moment you took. That is the language of someone who waits. Someone who reacts. Someone who hopes the circumstances align in their favor. I do not wait for moments… I create them. I do not react… I impose. Thirty minutes of suffering, of sacrifice, of destruction between two people who believed that what they were doing mattered… erased the second I chose to involve myself. That is what separates us. You exist within the match… I exist above it.
(Diego rolls his eyes, pacing again.)
Diego Montana: Yeah, here we go. All that talking, all that extra stuff. You always got something to say, but you never say it straight. Just say what you gotta say.
Kai Rabeaux: I already have. Last week.
(The crowd reacts louder at the reminder.)
Kai Rabeaux: What you experienced was not strategy. It was not necessity. It was a decision. You were present… and that was enough for me to strike. That is all it takes when you stand beneath someone like me. Not preparation. Not buildup. Just a moment… and everything you think you are disappears.
(He leans back slightly, voice steady.)
Kai Rabeaux: And yet you continue to speak as though that moment did not define you. As though it did not expose exactly where you stand. It did. Just as it exposed everyone else. That ring… that match… those people… all of it became irrelevant the moment I decided it would be. That is the reality you are stepping into, whether you choose to understand it or not.
(Kai’s tone sharpens just slightly.)
Kai Rabeaux: I have watched men louder than you, stronger than you, more accomplished than you stand in your position and convince themselves they were different. That they were the exception. That they would be the one to disrupt what I have built. And every single time… they fall. Not because they lack effort, but because they lack awareness. They do not understand the space they are entering… and by the time they do, it is already too late.
(Diego scoffs.)
Diego Montana: Yeah, yeah. You caught me slipping once. Congratulations. You want a medal for that too? Because that’s the only time you’re gonna get me like that. That’s it.
Kai Rabeaux: You continue to misunderstand. That moment was not an exception. It was an introduction… to the personal hell I’m about to put you through as we build to Grand Rampage, and to what happens when someone like you steps into a space that was never meant for you. You believe that because you are standing here now, because you managed to place yourself in this position, that you belong. That this is your moment. But all you have done is place yourself directly in front of me. You have not elevated yourself… you have made yourself accessible.
(Diego smirks.)
Diego Montana: Keep talking. Keep acting like you’re untouchable, that’s fine. Because at Grand Rampage, I’m the one taking that title from you.
Kai Rabeaux: No… you are not.
(Kai looks down at the title, running his hand across it.)
Kai Rabeaux: This championship is not something you take. It is not something you earn through effort or ambition. It belongs to me… by right. There is no outcome where you stand over me, and there is no version of this where you leave with what is mine. You speak about taking it as if it is within your control, as if this is about desire or will… it is not. This is inevitability.
(Kai leans forward slightly.)
Kai Rabeaux: My reign does not end because you want it to. It does not end because you believe in yourself. It ends when I allow it to… and I have no intention of allowing that for someone like you. You confuse proximity with purpose. Standing across from me does not make you worthy of what I have. It simply makes you the next name to fall.
(Boos rain down.)
Diego Montana: That’s where you’re wrong. You think you’re above everybody, like nobody can touch you… but I’m not everybody.
(A noticeable rise in crowd noise follows, a few cheers mixing in with the boos given their hatred for Kai and the idea of seeing anyone take him down, even if that person is Diego Montana.)
Diego Montana: And I get it now. You’re not busy… you’re not above this… you’re scared. Yeah, I said it. You’re scared of what happens when somebody finally knocks you off that pedestal. You’re talking about “other obligations”? Or you worried about Adam Lucas catching up to you?
(The reaction spikes, and for a brief moment, Kai’s expression tightens before smoothing out.)
Kai Rabeaux: You speak his name as though it changes anything. Adam Lucas has already had his opportunity. He has already fallen short… just like everyone else who believed they could stand where I stand. If he wishes to chase me again, he is free to do so… and he will meet the same result. What happened at Shock Value was not some lingering question left unanswered. It was a conclusion. A moment where everything aligned exactly as it was meant to, and I did what I have always done… I capitalized. What followed after… is not my concern. I do not answer for the consequences others attach to my actions. I move forward.
(He stares directly into the camera.)
Kai Rabeaux: And that is the difference. He understands now what it means to stand in front of me. He’s felt it. He’s lived with it. He knows what comes with stepping into my space, whether he wants to admit it or not. You don’t. You are not him. You are not on his level. You are not even in the same conversation, and invoking his name does not elevate you. If anything, it only proves how far beneath this you truly are.
(Diego steps closer to the ropes.)
Diego Montana: Nah, I hear you. You keep talking about what he “understands” like that’s supposed to mean something for me. That’s his experience, not mine, and you don’t get to use that to size me up before we even step in the ring. I’m not him, and I’m not worried about what happened at Shock Value. I’m worried about what I’m gonna do to you.
(He leans slightly on the ropes, eyes locked on the screen.)
Diego Montana: So don’t try to make this about him just so you don’t have to deal with me. This is about you and me, and you don’t get to hide from that.
(Kai exhales slowly.)
Kai Rabeaux: You are mistaken about one thing. I am not avoiding you… or anything else. I simply refuse to engage in things that do not matter. There is a difference.
(He straightens slightly.)
Kai Rabeaux: You want this to be something more than it is. You want to believe this is personal, that this is unpredictable, that this is something outside of my control… because that gives you hope. It gives you something to hold onto. But hope is not reality, Diego. Reality is that everything you are walking into has already been decided.
(Kai gives a faint, dismissive look.)
Kai Rabeaux: Enjoy this moment while it lasts. Enjoy the attention. Enjoy the illusion that you belong here. Because once Grand Rampage arrives… all of this disappears. And you will be left with nothing but the understanding that you were never meant to be here in the first place.
(Diego shakes his head, smirking again.)
Diego Montana: Keep telling yourself that.
(He points at the screen, shaking his head.)
Diego Montana: All that talking, all that extra shit… and for what? You keep trying to make it sound bigger than it is, like you’re on some whole different level, but I see it for what it is. You just don’t wanna deal with me right now. That’s fine… say that.
(A slight shrug, almost brushing it off.)
Diego Montana: But don’t sit there and dress it up like it’s something else.
Kai Rabeaux: Diego—
Diego Montana: Hey, hey… save it. I don’t need another speech from you, you’ve said enough already. I heard you the first time, so don’t keep repeating yourself like it’s gonna change something. Now? Just shut up.
(Kai scoffs, glancing at his watch and adjusting his cuff, irritation finally showing before he leans forward and cuts the feed. The tron goes dark to a loud reaction as Diego lowers his mic, staring up for a moment before smirking.)
Diego Montana: Yeah… that’s what I thought.
(He nods, pointing to the hard cam.)
Diego Montana: Keep acting like you’re above me. Keep acting like I don’t belong in your ring… Grand Rampage, I prove it.
(He lowers the mic as the crowd continues to make noise, Diego standing tall in the ring as the segment comes to a close.)
(Voltage fades to the surrounding backstage area, showing Sofia Clarke with a microphone in hand. She briefly smiles at the audience, before beginning to speak.)
Sofia Clarke: Good evening, EAW universe! We are fresh off the heels of a heated confrontation between Kai Rabeaux and Diego Montana… with a packed night of action ahead of us, so thank you all for joining us. Moreover, I want to thank my guest at this time for joining me…
(The camera pans backwards, revealing Damon Lazarus sitting on a production crate.)
Sofia Clarke: … Damon Lazarus!
(Damon nods.)
Sofia Clarke: So, last week you made your intentions known, interrupting a verbal scuffle between two former rivals in Jon Kelton & Minerva to declare for the Grand Rampage match. Those are some big names to step up to already. How do you tackle the challenge of a match like this one, where pressure is at an all-time high, and the best of the best all want their shot?
(He smirks, hopping off the production crate and gently moving the microphone in Sofia’s hands towards him.)
Damon Lazarus: Sofia. It’s as I said last week. If those two, or anybody else for that matter, wanted it so badly or had it in them to do so, they would have won the Grand Rampage match a long time ago, not on the umpteenth attempt at doing so. You see, unlike everybody else, I am a unique case — this is my first opportunity at this match, I have spent decades looking in from the outside, watching on as everybody else proves to be quite inept at taking what they feel is something they’ve earned as privilege. It’s quite unfun, actually. Which is why I am here. To their own credit, Minerva is a Hall of Famer for a reason. She has done just about everything there is to do and judging by her track record, perhaps one would take the statements that there is nothing she cannot do in this industry at face value. I am no fool though, I can see through these hollow statements people make. Meanwhile, Jon Kelton has proven himself to be a mainstay at the top echelon even if he never broke past the glass ceiling, but he, too, is part of the problem that plagues this industry, and I would say he is actually a big part at the core of this problem that has made everybody in this industry soft and misguided. My role in this match isn’t only to once more reach the absolute top of this industry, even at my hardened age. My role in this match is to make sure none of the men and women plaguing this industry keep doing so. Jay Jerry Johnson had the right to call himself talented as well, but he completely lacks the right to believe he will ever belong at the top of this business, and it is an absolute joke he thinks he can challenge for the EAW World Championship instead of facing me like a man in the Grand Rampage match after I had so much more to give to him.
(Damon hands the microphone back to Sofia.)
Sofia Clarke: Well, Damon, perhaps Jay wouldn’t have had the guts to lay out a challenge for the EAW World Championship if he didn’t get past the hurdle you put in front of him at Shock Value.
(Damon takes a look at the imaginary sky, taking an empty bite, before answering the witty response.)
Damon Lazarus: You’re funny, Sofia. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Not with me.
Sofia Clarke: Um. Okay.
Damon Lazarus: Good. The Grand Rampage match is one filled to the brim with the best—and the worst—EAW has to offer. Thirty guys all fighting for one opportunity, it’s an absolute dog fight. The rest of ToXXXin has made their intentions clear as well. They are fine enough inside the ring, but not enough to stop me. Maybe they’ll serve as obedient, thankless sacrificial lambs for the victory Minerva seeks, but I will put an end to that myself if I have to. But this isn’t just about Voltage’s stars. I will meet the stars of Dynasty & Showdown alike, and they will all have to step up to me and prove they belong in the business as well. I am on a mission to set things right with this sport, to bring us back to the glory days, and many of these guys? They like their video games. They like their jokes. They like their… “whimsy.” This is all a game to them… but it isn’t to me. It never was. No matter what parasite is put in front of me, I will not let them achieve victory at my expense and repeat the events of Shock Value. No. Otherwise, how would it make me look like, if the very people I criticize to no end for plaguing this industry manage to put me down?
Sofia Clarke: I understand what you’re getting at. We know in a match like this one, there is truly a lot of pressure, and so many people claim their names as the ones who will walk away with the victory. I just wonder, Damon, how do you prepare for these implications, knowing this is your first time in a match like this?
Damon Lazarus: They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I think that’s bullcrap to an extent. We all have to evolve in each walk of life. Every new experience toughens us up and is a new challenge to conquer. I treat the Grand Rampage match as exactly that. It was always going to be a matter of time before the opportunity to hold gold presented itself to me, and one may argue it came earlier than expected. Even after all my experience in this industry, I find myself quite entertained by the idea of something like the Grand Rampage match, but that is not to say the idea of victory out of my breadth. No chance. I have won World Championships everywhere I’ve been. I have walked the walk multiple times. I have proven myself time and time again in this sport, and unlike everybody else, I never needed EAW’s platform to make my name one that is widely associated with professional wrestling. I am my own entity, and that makes me far greater than anybody who is, quite frankly, an ant by comparison. My reputation precedes me, Sofia, and the time has come for everybody else to learn that fact of life if they even dream of sniffing the main event of Pain For Pride. Otherwise? I will take it from their hands without any hesitation. Now, Sofia, can you bring that mic closer?
(She does as asked.)
Damon Lazarus: Mark my words. When I enter the Grand Rampage match, the energy in the entire arena will shift. And by the time I’m done, it will be Metallica blasting, and my hand pointing at that Pain For Pride sign, showing everybody else I am the example to follow and the man the future should shape itself after. Any more questions?
Sofia Clarke: Uhm—
???: Actually, I got a question.
(A door is heard gently closing, and both Damon and Sofia’s eyes track the voice they just heard. Damon sighs, frustrated, while Sofia has a cheeky smile knowing she may just be about to cover some drama. Not long after, NICK walks into the frame, and gets in Damon’s face.)
NICK: Sofia, good job on that interview darling, but you’ll wanna stay out of this and lemme handle it.
(Sofia just nods, not wanting to find herself in the middle of a physical altercation. Her grip on the microphone softens, which allows NICK to take it for himself.)
NICK: I couldn’t help but overhear some of the discussion that was going on, and I’d like to take the opportunity to chip in. First off, I just walked outta Cap’ Charisma’s office, we arranged a couple things, and I guess I got the heads up to make things official to everybody else — I am entering the Grand Rampage match.
Damon Lazarus: Wow.
(Damon Lazarus sarcastically laughs.)
Damon Lazarus: Good for you, kid. You got a question worth asking here like you said, or are we done here?
NICK: What? You’re treating me like a waste of time, you arrogant old man? But yeah, I do got a question, and I guess it’s one Sofia couldn’t ask because of professionalism, just what makes you think you’ve got what it takes to so confidently prop yourself up as the winner already?
Damon Lazarus: Experience, kid. Years of dominance. A resume you would dream of. A career you would kill for. You’re at the bottom of the barrel, trying to scratch the surface, and that’s what makes your declaration for the Grand Rampage match so amusing to me, because we got different reasons to be here entirely. I’m here to tread on new territory. To do things I haven’t done in my storied career — which there isn’t a lot left, I’ll have you know. I fight for a record-breaking Grand Rampage win from my debut in this company. The only record you could ever possibly break is the one for fastest eliminated.
NICK: Aren’t you a bitter, arrogant dickhead? Our paths haven’t really crossed yet like that, but I can sense the animosity brewing from miles away. I can hear your tone very clearly. I know the way you look down on someone like me. Just know your statements don’t mean shit.
Damon Lazarus: Yeah, it’s nothing personal, brat, I’m just left unimpressed by you and many others.
NICK: Too bad, ‘cause it sure is personal to me, and I’m not gonna let you talk down to me like that just because you got some mileage in that body of yours and a legacy elsewhere in this industry. I got my own legacy in the streets if you wanna talk like that but if push comes to shove, you know you wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of toughness and I’m sure it eats you inside to know that deep down you’re just a soft, depressed guy who is spending the last years of his career making up for his last twenty knowing that clock’s ticking faster and faster.
Damon Lazarus: Let me tell you something, you nobody. You know nothing about me. Even if you wanted to try, you wouldn’t be able to comprehend any of it. The entire story of your career has been about biting off more than you can chew and being unable to bounce back and learn from your mistakes. You wanna talk about arrogance? Then look in a mirror and get out of my face, ‘cause if it’s a confrontation you want from me, then I don’t mind entertaining it, just know it will be you that walks out with regrets once it’s all said and done, alright? I don’t care if it’s a done deal that you’re in the Grand Rampage match, because in that case, you signed your own death warrant. This isn’t the match someone like you can handle, so I advise you worry about how you can handle pressure instead of making enemies and ending up even deeper in the mud than you already are, got it?
NICK: Nah, Damon. I don’t “got it.” All you do is talk shit, and that’s what you are. All talk. All bark, no bite. You made these same threats to Jay Jerry Johnson and you were the one left to die in the Electric Chair once it was all said and done. This story will just repeat itself whether you like it or not, because guess what? All this downplaying coming from you has given me a new mission on top of wanting to win that match.
Damon Lazarus: Oh yeah?
NICK: Yeah.
Damon Lazarus: Well, entertain me. What’s this mission of yours?
NICK: To be the one who personally eliminates your crusty ass and puts an end to your delusions.
(Damon shakes his head, seemingly irritated at NICK’s nerve.)
Damon Lazarus: Ahh, so we’re comedians now! Alright, kid. NICK, that’s the name, right? I’ll probably forget it by the time we step in the ring, so cherish this recognition I’m giving you. Now get the hell out of my way, you annoying little insect.
(Damon just pushes NICK out of the way, and begins storming off, bumping shoulders in the process. NICK doesn’t retaliate, but rather looks over his shoulder at the angered Damon, with a proud smirk on his face, knowing he ticked him off, before walking off himself.)
(The camera then begins to follow Damon around, who is pacing around with much less control than earlier, when the interview got started…)
???: OH—
Damon Lazarus: WATCH WHERE YOU’RE— Oh.
(Damon and the Specialists Champion, Auburn Ware, had bumped into each other. Auburn happened to be passing by, knowing she has her own challenges and obligations on Voltage to address tonight, and Damon’s carelessness almost got her knocked to the ground. Auburn catches herself, but Damon comes back to his senses, placing one hand on the side of Auburn’s shoulder, helping steady her.)
(With the other hand, Damon picks up the Specialists Championship that was dropped on the ground in the process, and hands it to her.)
Damon Lazarus: Champ. I’m—
(Auburn wants to say something, but no words manage to leave her mouth. Her features suddenly change colors to a pink-red, with a flush creeping across her cheeks. Before being handed the title, she fleetingly locked eyes with Damon… but quickly moved her gaze back to the championship. She took the title back from Damon, and never took her eyes off of it, rushing off before even hearing the full extent of what Damon had to say.)
Damon Lazarus: —sorry…
(Damon looks behind from the corner of his eyes, feeling an emotional 180 after the earlier confrontation with NICK that came close to setting him off. With more of these “antics” happening between him and Auburn, he’s left intrigued. He chuckles at whatever idea goes on in his head, before Voltage fades back to the ring.)
(Commercial for the Super Mario Galaxy movie with Damien Kutcher.)
(The camera returns to ringside, and before long, ‘Let Me Hear’ by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas hits. Boos fill the audience as Saori Aizen walks out to the stage, holding a microphone in her hand as she walks out. Saori doesn’t appear bothered by the reception, instead storming down the ramp as she shakes her head, approaching ringside as she appears to be fired up ahead of her Specialists Championship match at Grand Rampage.)
Rich Russillo: Saori Aizen had quite the eventful night last week, between learning she’d be fighting for the Specialists Championship at Grand Rampage and then attacking Auburn Ware later in the night! I’m curious to see what she is doing out here now.
Thadd Blazevich: Same here, dude. Saori is a real threat, and someone like her could definitely find a way to become the Specialists Champ at Grand Rampage. It won’t be easy though, bro. Not in a huge fatal four way.
Persephone: Doesn’t help that Saori’s a loser that has basically never managed to get the job done when it mattered in her entire career. But yeah, she has something to say or whatever.
(Saori Aizen slides into the ring, quickly returning to her feet as her entrance music fades out. Saori walks towards the ropes facing the camera as she stares at the crowd, beginning to speak.)
Saori Aizen: What did you expect, Champion? Did you think I wouldn’t strike the moment you decided to show your face on this brand? You know what I am after, and for the remaining time before my coronation as the new Specialists Champion, you have a target on your back that I will only continue taking my shot at until you are no longer capable of returning to your feet. I had my sights set on you from the moment I became a participant in a number one contendership match at Shock Value, and you were not ready. You were comfortable last week, when you were declaring yourself ready for a fatal four way and taking it upon yourself to walk to ringside in the middle of the tag team match featuring two of your other challengers, but thanks to that comfortability, a message was sent. A message you needed to hear before it was too late, as when Grand Rampage comes around it does not matter how many people I must go through, nor what I must do to those people. I will leave that event with what should already be mine.
(Boos come from the crowd in attendance as Saori maintains the cold look on her face.)
Saori Aizen: Do you understand that, Champion? I don’t wish to repeat myself, and truly Auburn, my problem is not with you alone. You are an obstacle, but you were an inevitable one. For as long as you held that Championship and it remained in my path it was only a matter of time before you and I crossed paths, but I did not anticipate doing so under these circumstances, with… Factors I did not plan on influencing my Championship match.
(Saying this brings a more annoyed look onto the face of Saori, who despite her frustrations maintains her composure, continuing to speak as she turns her attention towards her other opponents.)
Saori Aizen: Ashlynn Quinn, Eris Morti, you were not supposed to be involved in this. Our battle at Shock Value was not one that I hated, but I had no desire to have a rematch with my opportunity to finally become Champion now on the line. I have waited far too long for this. I have already been cost opportunities that should have been mine, and I have had time of my career stolen from me. Time that could’ve been used to win the Championship currently in Auburn’s possession. You two have found yourselves in my path once again, and I struggle to imagine you two understand just how catastrophic Captain Charisma’s decision was for the two of you. Ashlynn, Eris, I will take this time to invite you to the ring. We have history, so I will do you a favor and make sure you are well aware of the fate I have in store for you.
(The loud boos continue to flood the crowd, but Saori sharply turns towards the stage, anticipating the arrival of her fellow Championship challengers. However, that is not what happens, as instead ‘Bad Blood’ by Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar begins to play, causing Saori to take a slight step back, tilting her head as she didn’t seem to expect this just yet. The fans cheer, as Auburn Ware can be seen walking out to the stage with her Championship around her waist, walking down the ramp as she stares at Saori Aizen.)
Rich Russillo: Well, it looks like the Champion herself is back here on Voltage! Saori wanted to confront the other two challengers, but instead she’s about to come face to face with the Champion herself!
Thadd Blazevich: I don’t think she’s real happy after what Saori did to her last week, either. Auburn’s been a real fighting Champ, but someone like Saori is gonna do whatever she can to try and throw Auburn off her game.
Persephone: Well clearly she didn’t do a good enough job last week, because for some reason Auburn’s back.
(Auburn Ware walks up the steel steps before entering the ring with Saori Aizen. Once in the ring ‘Bad Blood’ begins to fade out, and there is a brief staredown between the two before Auburn turns towards the ropes, reaching out to the timekeeper’s area as she is handed a microphone. After this, she turns back towards Saori, beginning to speak.)
Auburn Ware: Saori, it’s funny how desperate you are to try and discard me and demean my status as Champion. If anything, I think that is the one deciding factor of all of this. I’m not an obstacle, I’m the immovable object that you’re going to have to get past if any of what you want to say is validated. And you’re so desperate to gain this control, that you’re willing to do ANYTHING in order to get it, quite like what happened last week. And the last thing I’m going to do is stand around and let that happen.
Saori Aizen: It frustrated you being as defenseless as you were last week, didn’t it? You should know that worse will come your way as long as you hold the Specialists Championship, so if you’d prefer to remain safe and avoid ending your nights on the ground, it’s best that you stay out of my sight, and out of my way.
Auburn Ware: You’re kidding yourself if you think that’s ever going to happen. I haven’t backed down from a challenge yet and that’s not going to change just because you told me to do so. This title means the world to me, and walking into yet another Marquee Event as Champion AND walking out of it as one is my fullest intention. Everyone that has come my way I have beaten them, and it’s going to be much of the same thing when it comes to the three of you. That much I promise.
Saori Aizen: Auburn, I am certain you know better than to assume that the challengers you faced on Showdown even belong in the same conversation as I. You have not defended that Championship against an opponent like me no matter how hard-fought your prior title defenses may have been, and that fact only holds true because of the time that has been stolen from me. You had your moment at Road to Redemption, but you couldn’t stay away from me forever. At Grand Rampage, your time with that title comes to an end.
(Auburn just shakes her head hearing this, walking up to Saori as she begins to respond.)
Auburn Ware: Well then, all I can tell you is that both you, Ashlynn, and Eris are in for one hell of a reality check…
???: Excuse me????
(A familiar voice is heard as both Auburn Ware and Saori Aizen turn towards the stage. Ashlynn Quinn can be seen storming out with a microphone in her hand and an offended look on her face, staring at Auburn and Saori. However, she is not alone. Trailing behind her is Eris Morti, who Ashlynn teamed up with in the tag team match that was interrupted by Saori’s attack on Auburn.)
Rich Russillo: Uh oh, it looks like the two who were affected by that big altercation between Auburn and Saori last week are here, as Ashlynn Quinn and Eris Morti have decided to interrupt this back and forth!
Thadd Blazevich: Well bro, this is what Saori wanted in the first place! Guess she’s getting her wish, although I don’t know… Things could get pretty bad having all four of ‘em here after last week.
Persephone: I don’t see what could be worse than the fact that they all have microphones in their hands.
(On their way to the ring, Ashlynn Quinn continues.)
Ashlynn Quinn: The LAST thing I’m going to let happen is let myself get disrespected by two UGGOS who have no idea what being a true Champion means. For months, I was the greatest, GREATEST, New Breed Champion this place has ever seen, and I did more with that title than either of you can do in a lifetime. So the only person who should be holding that title at Grand Rampage is ME! No ifs or buts about it. You all are better off just giving up while you have the chance, because it’s just not worth it.
Auburn Ware: Both of you have such a quaint way of saying that you’re going to win this match. For years now, I’ve done nothing but bet on myself and work hard to get to where I am today, and if it were as easy as just making demands and forcing me to step aside, then people a whole lot more talented than you would’ve done that already. But I’m still here, aren’t I?
Ashlynn Quinn: SHUT UP. God, none of you know how it feels to be this GREAT yet still scrutinized. I gave all of you the best option, but since you decided that wasn’t going to be in your best interest, now you’ve washed it all away, and I’m not just going to embarrass you at Grand Rampage, but I’m going to make sure you never show your face again. The best thing you should do right now is admit to your mistakes and all the wrongs that you did to me, ESPECIALLY after what happened last week.
(Ashlynn and Eris both enter the ring, and as they do, Saori Aizen begins to respond.)
Saori Aizen: Oh, Ashlynn… What do you expect to gain? An apology for distracting you? Truthfully, whatever issues you may have with Auburn Ware are none of my concern, but if you must know, I was not there for you last week. As I’ve already said, my target was the Champion, and clearly you already saw what I did to her the moment I had the opportunity. I didn’t do what I did for the sole purpose of hurting you, and to be honest, I am quite insulted by your accusations. You know me better than that by now, don’t you?
Eris Morti: Ashlynn is right to feel how she does about last week. I can tolerate mindgames, but it was a shame to have a match against such interesting opponents cut short before I could get a good taste of what they have to offer. Still, I’ve already come to understand the kind of woman that Saori Aizen is. Saori is one who’ll do whatever she deems necessary to get under the skin of those in her path with little regard for who gets caught in the crossfire, so I am not as surprised by her actions last week as I was the first time she decided to cost us a match. However, while Saori’s actions did not surprise me, what does surprise me is that *you* would put yourself in such a position, Auburn.
(Auburn stares at Eris, and she waits to see where she is going with this statement, watching as Eris continues to speak.)
Eris Morti: Well, Auburn, I commend you for being willing to take such a challenge head-on, but while you were busy with Grace De Luca and Cynthia Valice, things had already grown heated between the three of us here on Voltage. You threw yourself to the wolves, but rather than staying in the back and scouting your competition ahead of what’s bound to be a tough Championship match, you chose to play games with us. I’m not sure if you were satisfied seeing Ashlynn on the receiving end of that pinfall, but if you’re willing to make your presence known in such a manner, I hope you’re able to handle what comes your way.
Auburn Ware: I am. I think it should have been long established that I’m ready for this, but I don’t think any of your egos are allowing yourselves to see it. In all of your minds, you’re the best competitor in this match and the most worthy candidate of being the Specialists Champion, but you’re not allowing yourself to see a reality where that isn’t the case, and it’s going to make it all the more sweet when I throw a wrench in your plans. You may think that you’re ready to be Champion, but one thing I know for certain is that you’re not ready for me.
Saori Aizen: Of course, of course. You can say all of this now Auburn, but you don’t know what Grand Rampage has to offer. This is inarguably going to be your toughest Championship defense to date, only this isn’t a winnable one for you. You’ve reached your limit, and you are not tough enough to withstand what I will send your way. Eris Morti is obsessed with pain but in turn lacks the proper desire for glory, and Ashlynn-
Ashlynn Quinn: … is GLAMOROUS, and AMAZING. Did I finish your sentence for you??? To be honest with you, Saori, honey, I really don’t give a damn what you or anyone else has to say. It doesn’t help that I have already been screwed by a match that I should’ve won. Now I have you two uggos down my throat trying to tell me what’s true and what’s not. When are you just going to understand that all of this is completely pointless?
Eris Morti: To be clear Ashlynn, you aren’t free of blame for last week, either.
(Hearing this, Ashlynn quickly turns towards Eris, surprised by what her own tag team partner from last week just said.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Excuse you??? The last thing I need is a scolding from someone who I put on my back and carried to the finish line!
Eris Morti: You disappointed me last week. I hoped to see more of what you had shown me for the weeks approaching Shock Value, and instead I watched you allow Auburn Ware’s presence alone to completely snuff out any fire you may have had, and leave you so vulnerable even that boyfriend of yours couldn’t help but take advantage of the opportunity. It was pathetic, and quite frankly if I’m to fight for a Championship, I expect more from my opponents.
(Ashlynn stares at Eris for a moment in disbelief, before beginning to respond.)
Ashlynn Quinn: This is absolutely absurd. You know what, back up ten steps away from me, you don’t deserve to come out by my side anymore. What Kai did doesn’t matter, what happened in that match DOESN’T MATTER, let’s take our minds off of it, because right now, my mind is completely focused on taking that title and once again continuing my dominance in this company. Something that none of you will be able to understand.
Saori Aizen: There is no need to expect more from the doll. What matters right now is not what occurred last week, or whether or not you are true threats. What matters is the Specialists Championship, and at Grand Rampage *none* of you will leave with it in your possession.
(This statement brings out boos from the crowd, but Auburn Ware steps towards Saori, beginning to speak once more.)
Auburn Ware: If there’s one thing that Ashlynn is right about, it’s that this is all completely pointless. We’re never going to be able to get on the same page with one another, but that’s okay. I think that’s something that I’ve long expected. I’m just going to let my actions do the talking, and it’s going to end with me adding another defense under my belt.
Ashlynn Quinn: In your dreams, loser… You can convince all these people that you’re the rightful Champion, but I doubt it. None of you has what it takes, none of you…
(Ashlynn folds her arms, annoyed after hearing what was just said by her Grand Rampage opponents. However, after a moment, Eris Morti slowly walks up next to her with a slight grin on her face.)
Eris Morti: There’s no need to worry, Ashlynn. Even without the Specialists Championship you will have more than enough opportunities to prove just how fierce you are. Those opportunities are even closer than you think.
(Eris slowly puts her arm around Ashlynn as she says this. Ashlynn immediately turns around towards Eris, but just before she could react…)
Rich Russillo: WAIT A SECOND! ERIS TURNS AND PULLS ASHLYNN INTO A KNEE TO THE MIDSECTION, BEFORE TURNING AND THROWING HER SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE RING POST!!!! ERIS MORTI ATTACKS HER TAG PARTNER FROM LAST WEEK, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE OF HER GRAND RAMPAGE OPPONENTS!
Thadd Blazevich: Ashlynn falls through the ropes and out to ringside, and now Eris is on her tail! She rolls out of the ring as Ashlynn pulls herself back to her feet, and Eris grabs her- BUT ASHLYNN FIGHTS BACK WITH A PUNCH TO THE RIBS! ASHLYNN NOW WITH A FOREARM AS ERIS STUMBLES BACK, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE GETTING RIGHT TO IT, BRO!
Rich Russillo: ASHLYNN IS PUNCHING AWAY AT ERIS- BUT ERIS GRABS HER AND RUNS FORWARD, RAMMING HER BACK FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE! ERIS KNEES ASHLYNN AGAIN AND BEGINS TO GO AT HER WITH PUNCHES- BUT ASHLYNN ENDS UP GRABBING ERIS AND TURNING ERIS AGAINST THE BARRICADE- BEFORE SENDING HERSELF AND ERIS OVER IT WITH A CLOTHESLINE!
Thadd Blazevich: Well knowing who we’re dealing with, I guess this was bound to happen! Eris and Ashlynn both get back to their feet, and both women are just fighting through the crowd now, not backing down at all!
Persephone: Well, at least they’re out of sight.
(Auburn Ware keeps her eyes on the two challengers fighting through the crowd, as the brawl gets further and further away from ringside. However, while Auburn was watching the fight in the crowd, the remaining challenger was only staring at her, causing the crowd reaction to slowly rise with boos as they can sense what’s about to happen.)
Rich Russillo: NO, LOOK OUT!!!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI AIZEN RUSHES IN TO ATTACK AUBURN WARE FROM BEHIND!
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN WARE WAS PREPARED THIS TIME, AND SHE MANAGED TO DUCK UNDER SAORI’S STRIKE! SAORI TURNS AROUND- AND NOW AUBURN STARTS THROWING FOREARMS AT HER, BACKING SAORI INTO THE CORNER OF THE RING AS SHE UNLOADS WITH THESE STRIKES, LOOKING FOR SOME PAYBACK AFTER LAST WEEK!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI GETS BOTH FEET UP, PUSHING AUBURN OUT OF THE CORNER AS AUBURN ROLLS BACKWARDS BACK TO HER FEET! SAORI RUSHES IN AT THE SAME TIME THOUGH DUDE, AND NOW BOTH WOMEN JUST START GOING AT IT, PUNCHING EACH OTHER AS WE JUST HAVE A WILD HOCKEY FIGHT GOING ON!
Rich Russillo: AUBURN TAKES A STEP BACK AND LOOKS FOR “SHINY BROKEN PIECES”, BUT SAORI IS ABLE TO DUCK UNDER THAT BEFORE CONNECTING WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK! AUBURN WARE CRUMBLES TO A KNEE AFTER THAT ONE, AND NOW SAORI RUNS THE ROPES FOR THE FOLLOW UP!!!
Thadd Blazevich: RAIMEI HAKKE!!!!
Rich Russillo: NO! AUBURN WAS ABLE TO SCOOP SAORI INTO A FIREMAN’S CARRY JUST AS SHE REBOUNDED OFF THE ROPES, AND NOW AUBURN PLANTS HER WITH MALIBU RISING!!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN GETS BACK TO HER FEET, AND I DON’T THINK SHE’S FINISHED YET, BRO! SHE GRABS SAORI BY THE ARM BEFORE DRAGGING HER UP, AND I THINK SHE’S ABOUT TO REGRET ATTACKING AUBURN LAST WEEK DUDE! SHE GETS SAORI INTO POSITION BEFORE LIFTING HER UP!
Rich Russillo: AND DROPPING HER WITH THE FAIRY TALE!!! AUBURN WARE WIPES OUT SAORI AIZEN, AND I CAN’T SAY I EXPECTED THIS TURN OF EVENTS, BUT SAORI CAN’T SAY SHE DIDN’T HAVE THIS COMING AFTER WHAT SHE DID LAST WEEK!!!
(The fans cheer as Auburn Ware returns to her feet, all while Saori Aizen slowly rolls out of the ring in pain. Auburn is fired up as she returns to her feet, raising her Specialists Championship as the cheers grow louder.)
Rich Russillo: Things are definitely heating up between the four Elitists in this Championship match. Ashlynn Quinn and Eris Morti got into a brawl that made its way through the crowd, meanwhile Auburn Ware just laid out Saori Aizen, getting some payback after last week!
Thadd Blazevich: This is totally getting heated dude, but you know what that means! We’re just gonna get an awesome match for that title, where anything can happen thanks to it being a fatal four way!
Persephone: Right. Hopefully it’s not entirely boring, but I’m really not expecting much with this group.
(Auburn Ware begins to exit the ring, looking at the fallen Saori Aizen at ringside as she holds her Championship on her shoulder. Auburn slowly backpedals up the ramp as she looks down at her, and with this final shot Voltage fades away from ringside.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where the Specialists Championship is defended in a fatal four way.)
(The camera cuts to Bella Braxton in the ring.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS A SCHEDULED FOR… ONE FALL!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
(‘Rompe’ by Daddy Yankee plays to a positive, slightly unsure reaction from the fans as Carmen steps onto the stage with both hands behind her back. She looks around with a smile, soaking it in before confidently making her way down the ramp, high fiving a few fans on the way to the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first! Hailing out of Reno, Nevada, weighing in at 102 pounds…SHE IS EL TIGRE…CARMEN SÁNCHEZ!!
Thadd Blazevich: And here she comes, bro! Carmen Sanchez making her debut tonight, and you can already feel the energy from her just walking out here!
Rich Russillo: This is a big moment for her. First impressions matter, and Carmen looks confident heading down that ramp. We’ll see how that confidence holds up once the bell rings against someone like NICK.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, no easy task for a debut, but if she can hang in there tonight, that’s gonna say a lot about what she brings to the table going forward.
(‘Kendrick, Clae & Cole’ by Marqus Clae blares throughout the arena as NICK steps onto the stage, giving a brief nod to the crowd before making his way down the ramp. His expression stays mostly stoic, hard to read as always, but there’s a natural cool confidence to him as he heads toward the ring.)
Bella Braxton: And her opponent! Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, weighing in at 215 pounds… HE IS EL CASTIGADOR… NICK!
Rich Russillo: And here comes NICK, and you can feel the presence immediately. Earlier tonight, he made it clear he’s entering Grand Rampage, even interrupting Damon Lazarus to say it himself. That’s a bold move, and now he’s looking to carry that momentum into this match.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, bro, that was a statement for sure. You don’t just interrupt someone like Damon Lazarus unless you’re serious, and NICK looked serious. Now he’s got a debuting Carmen Sanchez in front of him, so this is a chance to back all that talk up.
Persephone: Or he could just win, move on, and we can stop talking about it. That’d be great too.
(The referee signals for the bell as both competitors stand in opposing corners.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: There’s the bell, and we are underway between Sanchez and NICK. Carmen is making her debut here tonight, and I’m very interested to see what she brings to the table against someone of his caliber. NICK has come close to Championship gold before, and he’s pushed some of the very best to their limit early into his run. You have to imagine he’s looking to do the same here, ready to test exactly what Carmen is made of.
Persephone: Well, right now, it doesn’t look like much. She’s shorter than Harper Lee, for crying out loud.
Rich Russillo: Looks can be deceiving. Harper Lee has done very well for herself in EAW despite that clear size disadvantage, and sometimes that speed and agility can make all the difference.
Persephone: Or maybe it just means the people she’s facing aren’t that good. I’m leaning toward that, honestly.
Thadd Blazevich: Come on, you can’t write her off already, bro. At least let her get going first. I’m actually excited to see what she’s got.
Persephone: Ugh, fine. 🙄 But if she gets run over in the first minute, I’m not taking any responsibility for it.
Rich Russillo: This is going to be an interesting clash of styles as both competitors begin to circle each other, feeling things out early in this one.
Thadd Blazevich: Finally, NICK and Carmen meet in the center of the ring with a collar and elbow tie-up! As expected, NICK overpowers Carmen, using that size advantage to back her straight into the corner and keep her pinned there until the referee steps in with a five count.
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE!
Rich Russillo: NICK breaks at three, holding his hands up to show he’s clean— but Carmen shoves him right back! That’s some attitude from Sanchez, and you can see NICK give a slight nod. He respects that. Carmen is not going to be pushed around, she’s not going to be bullied, and she’s certainly not backing down as they circle again.
Thadd Blazevich: Looks like we’re getting another lock-up— but Carmen switches it up, slipping behind NICK with a rear waistlock! Smart move, avoiding a strength battle, but NICK quickly pries her hands apart and turns it into an arm wringer! He grabs the wrist and YANKS on the arm, putting a lot of pressure on that shoulder!
Persephone: If he actually pulled it out of the socket, we could all go home early. Just saying.
Rich Russillo: Carmen struggles for a moment under that pressure, but look at this— she rolls forward into MULTIPLE kip-ups! That’s impressive athleticism, and she pops right back up to her feet, reversing into an arm wringer of her own! Now she has control— or she did, because NICK just scoops her up and plants her with a BODY SLAM!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen rises up on her own, holding her back as NICK watches closely. The two circle again, and this time Carmen jumps into a standing side headlock, really cranking it in! But NICK presses down on the back of her knee, forcing her down to one leg!
Rich Russillo: That opens the door for NICK to slip right out of the hold and transition into a wristlock on the kneeling Carmen! She works her way back up, though, and turns it into another arm wringer to regain control— but NICK backs her into the ropes, and the referee has to step in again!
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE!
Thadd Blazevich: And again, Carmen gives him a shove on the break! These two are getting heated now, standing face to face, exchanging words— BEFORE CARMEN FIRES OFF WITH A SLAP RIGHT ACROSS THE FACE!
Rich Russillo: And that’s enough to tick off NICK, who drives a knee into the midsection! Doubling her over before a hard blow across the back! Carmen drops to both knees, clearly feeling that one as she tries to rise— but NICK grabs the back of her head and directs her to the corner, slamming her FACE FIRST into the turnbuckle!
Thadd Blazevich: Face first into the top turnbuckle, and Carmen turns around right into a KNIFE EDGE CHOP ACROSS THE CHEST FROM NICK!
Persephone: Yeah, welcome to Elite Answers Wrestling. This is what happens when you step in there unprepared.
Rich Russillo: Carmen is hurting in that corner as NICK goes for the Irish whip into the opposite— BUT SHE GOES UP AND OVER HIM! Lands on her feet as NICK turns around— and she charges in—
Persephone: —Right into a bad idea.
Rich Russillo: —NO! NICK GETS THE ELBOW UP! That stops her in her tracks, staggering her back before NICK charges in—
Thadd Blazevich: BUT CARMEN SIDE STEPS HIM! NICK GOES INTO THE CORNER AND BOUNCES RIGHT BACK OUT FOR A RUNNING BIG BOOT— BUT CARMEN AVOIDS THAT TOO! Using her speed now as she runs in— TILT-A-WHIRL HURRICANRANA!
Rich Russillo: Beautiful counter from Carmen! That was smooth, but she needs to stay on him— NICK is already getting back to his feet, and he walks right into an ARM DRAG! Carmen transitions into an armbar, grounding him for the moment!
Persephone: For the moment being the key part.
Rich Russillo: And just like that, NICK powers up to a knee, firing forearms into the body to loosen the grip!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen realizes she’s losing control, so she switches to a side headlock while he’s still down— but NICK powers up to his feet and sends her off the ropes! Carmen rebounds with a SHOULDER TACKLE—
Persephone: —And nothing happens.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK doesn’t move at all! Just shakes it off!
Rich Russillo: Carmen tries again, stepping in— but NICK catches her with a single leg trip! Down she goes onto her back, and NICK runs the ropes— Carmen rolls onto her stomach, forcing him to hurdle over!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen pops up for a leapfrog— BUT NICK STOPS BEHIND HER! Shoves her into the ropes, and leapfrogs over her on the return!
Rich Russillo: NICK drops down— BUT CARMEN CARTWHEELS RIGHT OVER HIM! That was impressive! She turns and beckons him in—
Persephone: Please hit him with something that matters.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK POPS UP— AND RUNS RIGHT INTO A DROPKICK FROM CARMEN!
Persephone: Okay. Sure, I guess.
Rich Russillo: NICK needs to create some separation, and he crawls into the corner, using the ropes to pull himself back up to his feet… Carmen closes in and winds up— KNIFE EDGE CHOP ACROSS THE CHEST! Giving “The Punisher” a taste of his own medicine!
Thadd Blazevich: NICK staggers out of the corner, staying close to the ropes as Carmen follows right behind him. He leans against the ropes for support as Carmen goes for an Irish whip— BUT NICK TWISTS THE ARM AND PULLS HER IN FOR A KNEE TO THE MIDSECTION! That stops her cold, and now he brings her to the center of the ring, setting up for a suplex—
Rich Russillo: NO! CARMEN FLOATS OVER BEHIND HIM INTO A REAR WAISTLOCK! BUT NICK IMMEDIATELY SLIPS BEHIND WITH A STANDING SWITCH— AND GOES FOR A CHOP BLOCK! BUT CARMEN BACKFLIPS OUT OF THE WAY!
Persephone: That was a lot just to not hit anything.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK DROPS TO BOTH KNEES AND COVERS UP AS CARMEN GOES FOR A SUPERKICK!
(Carmen stops herself at the last second. NICK slowly lowers his guard once he realizes, and Carmen casually pats him on the head before backing up with a smirk.)
Rich Russillo: A little bit of mind games from Carmen Sanchez, but that could come back to haunt her. NICK gets back up, and now the two are jawing at each other— BEFORE NICK SHOVES HER!
Persephone: There it is.
Rich Russillo: Carmen shoves him right back— BUT NICK FIRES OFF WITH A SLAP ACROSS THE FACE!
Persephone: :mjlol2:
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen’s stunned for a moment, holding her jaw as NICK keeps talking— BUT CARMEN FIRES BACK WITH A SPINNING BACK KICK TO THE GUT! That doubles him over! NICK starts to rise— AND SHE HITS ANOTHER ONE! That drops him to a knee, and Carmen circles him, waiting for him to get back up—
Rich Russillo: She goes for a third— BUT NICK CATCHES THE BOOT! Throws it forward— BUT CARMEN HANDSPRINGS THROUGH AND LANDS ON HER FEET! AND FOLLOWS IT UP WITH A JUMPING TWISTING ENZUIGIRI! THAT SENDS NICK ROLLING OUT UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE!
Persephone: Finally, something useful.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK’S STAGGERING AT RINGSIDE— AND CARMEN’S NOT GIVING HIM TIME TO RECOVER! SHE BUILDS MOMENTUM, SPRINGING OVER THE CORNER TO THE APRON!
Rich Russillo: AND SHE TAKES HIM OUT WITH A RUNNING CANNONBALL OFF THE APRON! WIPING NICK OUT AT RINGSIDE!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen pops right back up, and she’s fired up! And listen to this crowd, they are starting to get behind her here!
Rich Russillo: Carmen rolls NICK back inside the ring and watches as he sits up— PENALTY KICK RIGHT TO THE SPINE! You could hear that all the way up here! Carmen quickly drops into the cover, looking to put this away!
ONNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
Rich Russillo: No! NICK kicks out! Carmen doesn’t waste time, locking in a rear chinlock to slow things down and wear him out, but NICK starts to power back up— only for Carmen to quickly transition into a front facelock as he rolls over to all fours. From there, she tries to bring him up for a suplex— BUT NICK BLOCKS IT!
Thadd Blazevich: NICK plants his weight down, and that’s not something Carmen is going to overpower! She tries again, but he blocks it once more and fires shots into the abdomen! Now NICK turns it around, lifting her up for a suplex of his own— trying to swing the momentum back!
Rich Russillo: But he can only get her halfway up before Carmen blocks it! She drops her weight and goes down to a knee to stop it!
Persephone: Oh no, all 100 pounds of her. How will he ever recover?
Rich Russillo: Somehow, he does! NICK powers through and lifts her anyway— DEADLIFT FISHERMAN SUPLEX! That was impressive strength!
Persephone: Yeah, looked pretty easy to me.
Rich Russillo: Carmen tried to outsmart him there, but it backfired. She pulls herself up using the ropes, but NICK is already on her, setting her up for an Irish whip— and she comes right back into a BACK BODY DROP! Carmen flips high in the air and crashes hard onto the canvas!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen gets back up quick, holding her ribs— BUT NICK COMES FROM BEHIND! DRIVES HER STERNUM FIRST INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND ROLLS THROUGH INTO A GERMAN SUPLEX! That’s Chaos Theory! But he’s not done, keeping the hands locked as he pulls her up again— DRAGON SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: He’s still holding on! NICK drags her up one more time— STRAIGHT JACKET SUPLEX! Beautiful bridge into the cover as he completes “Three The Hard Way!”
ONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRR—
Thadd Blazevich: CARMEN KICKS OUT! She stays in it!
Persephone: That looked like three to me. Could’ve just ended it there.
Thadd Blazevich: I think you just want this over with, bro.
Persephone: And if I do, can you blame me?
Thadd Blazevich: …
Rich Russillo: NICK pulls Carmen back up and drops her to a knee with a right hand! He brings her up again— KNIFE EDGE CHOP! That drops her right back down! And again, he pulls her up— JUST TO SMASH HER ACROSS THE BACK WITH A CLUBBING BLOW!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen rolls out under the bottom rope, trying to recover on the apron, but NICK follows her out! He grabs her by the back of the trunks to pull her up— BUT CARMEN FIRES BACK WITH A BACK ELBOW! And another!
Rich Russillo: She’s trying to break free— BUT NICK STILL HAS HOLD OF HER! He yanks her back in and drives a forearm across the lower back! Carmen drops to both knees, trying to recover, and NICK rolls her back inside the ring for another cover!
ONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Persephone: And another kickout… great.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK lifts Carmen back up and sends her off the ropes— RUNNING BACK ELBOW! That was nasty, bro! And he doesn’t even go for the cover, just dragging her up to both knees. Carmen tries to fight back with a shot to the ribs— but it barely fazes him!
Rich Russillo: NICK answers with a FOREARM ACROSS THE FACE! Carmen is still on her knees, trying to hang in there as NICK steps in again with a RIGHT HAND— AND CARMEN EXPLODES WITH A RIGHT HAND! That one catches NICK clean and sends him stumbling back!
Thadd Blazevich: NICK is staggered for a moment, but he marches right back in, grabbing Carmen and pulling her up from both knees— RIGHT HAND! Carmen stumbles back toward the corner!
Rich Russillo: NICK follows in, but Carmen fires off a KNIFE EDGE CHOP! That slows him down for a second, but not for long— NICK BLASTS HER WITH A BIG BOOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! Carmen drops down into a seated position in the corner!
Persephone: Good. Enough of this already.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK looks frustrated now, dragging her back up and sending her hard into the opposite corner! He charges in— CLOTHESLINE IN THE CORNER!
Rich Russillo: Carmen can barely stand, she’s leaning on him just to stay upright— but NICK shoves her back and sends her across again! He charges— BUT CARMEN GETS THE BOOT UP!
Persephone: Oh, come on…
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen stumbles out of the corner, staying near the ropes— NICK RUSHES IN AGAIN, BUT SHE GETS BOTH BOOTS UP AND KICKS HIM BACK! NICK rolls through to his feet— BUT CARMEN HITS A ROLLING THUNDER! AND CATCHES HIM WITH A JUMPING CLOTHESLINE!
Rich Russillo: And now look at Carmen! She’s back up, and there’s a different look in her eyes! She steps in— RIGHT HOOK! SPINNING BACKFIST! NICK is rocked! SUPERKICK TO THE KNEE! That drops him down to one!
Thadd Blazevich: AND SHE GOES FOR A ROUNDHOUSE— BUT NICK STILL WON’T GO DOWN! He stumbles back into the ropes— AND CARMEN LAUNCHES HERSELF WITH A RUNNING CROSSBODY! BOTH OF THEM GO OVER THE TOP AND CRASH TO THE FLOOR!
Persephone: Good. Stay out there.
Rich Russillo: Both competitors are down, but they’re already starting to move! NICK pushes up to all fours, and Carmen does the same— she tries to pull him up in a front facelock— BUT NICK SHOVES HER OFF!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen swings wild with a roundhouse— NICK DUCKS AND LANDS A RIGHT HAND! That one stuns her!
Rich Russillo: NICK goes for a rolling elbow— BUT CARMEN CUTS HIM OFF WITH A SUPERKICK! He’s out on his feet!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen builds momentum, charging in— BUT NICK TOSSES HER OVERHEAD WITH AN ALLEY OOP!
Rich Russillo: BUT SHE LANDS ON THE APRON! WHAT BALANCE! AND SHE SPRINGS OFF THE MIDDLE TURNBUCKLE WITH A CORKSCREW SENTON ONTO NICK AT RINGSIDE!
Thadd Blazevich: She lands on her feet, rolls him back inside, and follows right in! Carmen heads to the corner, lining him up as he gets to all fours!
Persephone: Please just end it.
Thadd Blazevich: CARMEN CHARGES IN— STEP-UP DOUBLE STOMP TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD! “TOSTONES” CONNECTS! SHE ROLLS HIM OVER, HOOKS THE LEG!
ONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE—
Thadd Blazevich: NO! NICK KICKS OUT! He got the shoulder up!
Rich Russillo: Carmen simply stands herself up, and marches to the nearby corner with her back to NICK. Carmen’s gesturing him to get up, likely going for her “GASOLINA” finishing maneuver… NICK starts rising to a knee before rolling to the opposite side of the ring as he realizes what’s happening.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK saw Carmen bracing for something and knew he wanted no parts— crawling to the opposite side of the ring and rising up to a knee. Carmen rolls her eyes before marching over as NICK has his back towards Sanchez, who grabs him from behind— ALLOWING FOR NICK TO SLIP BEHIND HER HIMSELF WITH A STANDING SWITCH FOR A GERMAN SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: BUT REMINISCENT TO EARLIER, NICK HAS BOTH HANDS LOCKED— DRAGGING CARMEN BACK TO HER FEET FOR A SECOND GERMAN SUPLEX! LANDING HIGH ON HER NECK AND SHOULDERS! NICK KEEPS BOTH HANDS LOCKED, DRAGGING SANCHEZ UP FOR A THIRD—
Thadd Blazevich: BUT CARMEN! CARMEN REACHES OUT, GRABBING HOLD OF THE MIDDLE ROPE IN THE CORNER AS NICK’S BRINGING HER BACK UP! NICK DOES MANAGE TO GET HER UP TO A VERTICAL BASE— AND TRIES FOR THE GERMAN SUPLEX— BUT CARMEN’S GOT HOLD OF THE TOP ROPE WITH BOTH HANDS TO BLOCK IT!
Rich Russillo: CARMEN FIGHTS FREE WITH MULTIPLE BACK ELBOWS THAT STAGGER NICK BACK SLIGHTLY— AS SHE SPRINGS TO THE MIDDLE ROPE FOR A “GASOLINA!” BUT NICK TAGS HER ON THE LOWER BACK BEFORE SHE COULD FLIP!
Persephone: :noah: Kill me.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK climbs to the middle rope as Carmen’s doubled over, stunned— hooking her up for a back suplex off the middle rope! But Sanchez gets one foot on the top turnbuckle, fighting him off with elbows across the back of the neck! NICK’s stunned on the middle as Carmen climbs to the top—
Rich Russillo: WITH NICK SURGING TO LIFE ON THAT MIDDLE ROPE FOR AN AVALANCHE GERMAN SUPLEX— BUT CARMEN— CARMEN BACKFLIPS ONTO HER FEET! NICK SCRAMBLES BACK TO HIS ONCE TAKING NOTICE— AND IMMEDIATELY GETS CAUGHT WITH A SPINNING HEEL KICK THAT TURNS HIM AROUND FOR A “CEREBRO!”
Thadd Blazevich: NICK GETS PLANTED ON HIS HEAD WITH THE POISONRANA— BUT POPS BACK TO HIS FEET AS CARMEN RUNS OFF THE ROPES, LOOKING TO FOLLOW UP—
Rich Russillo: —BUT NICK CUTS HER OFF! “SPINBACK!” THE FLYING FOREARM SMASH CONNECTS!
Thadd Blazevich: BRINGING CARMEN’S MOMENTUM TO A SCREECHING HALT, BUT NICK IMMEDIATELY POWERS BACK TO HIS FEET! KNOWING HE DIDN’T GET ALL OF IT— AS CARMEN STARTS TO RISE— BUT HE SNATCHES HER FROM BEHIND! LOCKING HER IN THE “SECTION 8!”
Rich Russillo: “SECTION 8” FROM NICK— KATAHAJIME LOCKED IN, LEGS WRAPPED AROUND THE WAIST! CARMEN IS TRYING EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO SCRAMBLE AND ESCAPE THE SUBMISSION, BUT THERE’S NOWHERE SHE CAN GO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ARM TRAPPED! CARMEN IS FADING!!
Thadd Blazevich: AND THAT’S IT, DUDE!! CARMEN IS OUT!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
Bella Braxton: HERE’S YOUR WINNER… NICK!
(NICK releases the submission instantly as ‘Kendrick, Clae & Cole’ by Marqus Clae plays. He takes a moment to catch his breath after that hard fought match, before pushing himself back to his feet. He gets his hand raised in victory by the referee as Carmen lies on the mat, coughing as she slowly regains consciousness.)
Rich Russillo: Big win for NICK here tonight! He had to dig deep, but he gets it done in the end.
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen brought it though, bro. For a debut, that was impressive. She pushed him more than a lot of people expected.
Persephone: And still lost. Shocking.
Rich Russillo: That’s a tough lesson to learn, but there’s definitely something there with Carmen Sanchez. She proved she can hang.
Thadd Blazevich: No doubt about it.
(NICK makes his way over to the corner, offering a hand to Carmen. After a moment, she takes it, and he helps her up to her feet before shaking her hand, and giving a nod of respect. Carmen returns the show of respect, congratulating him for the victory. NICK then exits the ring, leaving Carmen in the corner as she leans back against the turnbuckles, catching her breath while the camera fades elsewhere.)
(Commercial for the upcoming movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day.)
(Sunday Night Voltage returns to show the backstage area of the Domo Polideportivo y Asociación de Squash, as the camera focuses on Gorilla Position to see someone making their way through. As the camera pans up, Carmen Sánchez is shown making her way through. She’s nursing the back of her neck after a grueling match against NICK just before this, as she makes her way down the halls. But before she can get very far, she’s stopped.)
Sayuri Himura: Hello.
Carmen Sánchez: Hi…
(Sayuri Himura is seen crossing her arms as she turns her attention completely toward Carmen. Behind her, a television screen is mounted on the wall showing a replay of her match, one that piques Carmen’s interest, but regardless, she lets Sayuri speak.)
Sayuri Himura: Welcome to EAW. I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with your performance tonight. Your father is El Tigre, correct?
Carmen Sánchez: Yes, and that is who I represent every time I step into that ring. I would hope I had a good performance, win or loss, one that is worthy of the Sánchez name.
(Sayuri smirks, nodding her head in agreement.)
Sayuri Himura: I say much of the same thing to myself. My father was not a famous wrestler, but he was an honest man. He did everything for me and prepared me for this very moment. I feel the only way I could repay him is by doing good on my word and being the very best professional wrestler that I can be. Do you feel the same way, Carmen Sánchez?
Carmen Sánchez: I couldn’t agree more, actually. My father, along with my entire familia, fought just as hard to give me a life worth living, and I am going to honor his legacy, and more importantly, I’m going to do it the right way. I’ve heard of you, Sayuri. I’ve heard of your honor, and I’m impressed. Pero tengo una pregunta para ti. Why would you bother approaching someone who just got here? It’s as if you want something out of me…
(Sayuri takes a moment to think about what Carmen said, before shaking her head. She smiles as she looks to respond to her.)
Sayuri Himura: No, not at all. I believe my wanting to get a chance to speak to you, Carmen Sánchez, is exactly what you said. You are a person with a mentality that does not come easy in this business, and perhaps it is because you are a fresh face with no outside forces trying to impede on you, but you will find out quickly just how many influences try to infest your mind. For the past couple of months, since my arrival, I have been so caught up facing people who have little regard for honor and respect in this sport. The likes of Eris Morti, who thrives off of chaos and looks to bring everyone down with her. The likes of Clayton Golde, who will do anything to further his greed even through nefarious means like he so happily boasts…
(Sayuri’s face straightens as she talks about this, clearly displeased to look back on what have been frustrating moments in her career so far.)
Sayuri Himura: Some of those individuals that I have faced do not have that experience in this company that you would expect. They have just walked through the door, and they are just as much of a fresh face as the two of us, just like you. The point is that you, Carmen Sánchez, are a nice change of pace. You are someone who walks into this with the same mindset that I do, and we will never say that our way is the only way to go, but it is the path that we are on, and nobody is going to take that away from us. Ultimately, that is exactly what I have been looking for out of an Elitist.
Carmen Sánchez: I do see where you’re coming from. Finding people who are “purehearted,” as we surely like to call ourselves, is a hard bargain. But that’s just how it goes. Nobody is forced to be nice in this company; it’s just what we choose to be, and the way I look at it, my uncle gave me a chance at redemption. He gave me a chance to make something out of myself in the name of El Tigre, and my father would not only want me to succeed in that, but to do it the right way as well. I don’t know what’s next for me, I don’t know what this company has in store, and I think that’s a little exciting. I’m ready for whatever is coming my way.
Sayuri Himura: That open-endedness is exactly why we should all be prepared. When I lost to Clayton Golde, I did not know what to make of it. I lived in a world where I thought that I was guaranteed the New Breed Championship because the likes of me were meant to beat those evils through and through, as if it were some sort of fairytale. But that ended up not being the case. And when it came down to it, I could not blame anyone other than myself for what occurred. I didn’t know what was going to be next for Sayuri Himura, but what I did know was that I was going to make the best of it. It’s an exciting thing, I think we should all be excited, because we are the future of this company.
Carmen Sánchez: Estoy de acuerdo. I have a lot of paths that I can go down, but right now, I’m just trying to see how far I can go. Every week, I’m improving. I feel it in my bones, I feel it in my very being. But at the same time, I know that I can be better, I know that I can be something more, and that’s what I want to do. I want to keep going and test myself against any person that I can get my hands on.
Sayuri Himura: That is the same mindset that I have. I am great, sure, but I am not the greatest. It is a tall task to tell yourself that you are going to be the greatest wrestler ever, but that type of adversity is exactly why you should go out there and give it a shot. Steel sharpens steel, and my blade is not where I want it to be yet, but when the time comes, I will cut down anyone who stands in my way, but it is not immediate; it is not right now. It is going to take another lifetime of struggle in order to fulfill such a task.
Carmen Sánchez: I admire that a lot, especially coming from my background; it was never going to be easy for any of us, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Unlike you, though, Sayuri, wrestling was never my passion. Even though my family’s history is so deeply rooted in the business, it was never going to be what I set my mind to; it just happened to be by chance that I got here. But when I set my mind to it, that’s when I make something happen, and that is what I’m going to do going forward. I will happily say that I have a lot of respect for you and what you have done, but once we get in that ring? Es una historia completamente diferente.
(Sayuri nods her head in agreement.)
Sayuri Himura: I wouldn’t have it any other way, Carmen Sánchez. I learned quickly upon my time here in EAW that constant improvement is not just something that you get through reps. Failure is not an option; the only way that you can succeed is through victory, and that is what I plan to do. Perhaps this company has hardened me a little, showed me the reality that my honor comes with a price, and that is something that I am willing to pay for. Regardless of how I may think about you, there is no telling if you are going to be the next person standing in my way or not. But trust that if you are, if the situation arises where our paths cross, then I will not hesitate to make sure that I am the one coming out with my hand raised in victory.
Carmen Sánchez: I’m glad we’re on the same page, Sayuri. Should we cross paths, I don’t plan to hold back just because you were nice. But regardless, I wish you luck in whatever comes next for you.
Sayuri Himura: You have my interest, Carmen.
(Carmen nods her head as she makes her way out of the scene. Sayuri turns her head as she watches the direction that she’s headed, and after a moment… a smirk begins to creep up on her face. As she turns around and makes her way out of the scene, it’s the very last shot shown before Sunday Night Voltage begins to fade to elsewhere.)
(The crowd looks toward the stage, awaiting the next segment before the lights go out and “Duel” by JINJER hits. A red spotlight shines down on Daniella Atlas as she stands on one side of the stage with the Unified Tag Team Championship around her waist, while another spotlight shines on Selina Reyes on the opposite side with the Championship resting on her shoulder. In the center of them, in her own spotlight, is none other than Minerva. Daniella raises her leg before stomping it down, cueing the lights to come back on along with their entrance graphics. From there, Minerva starts to head towards the ring while Selina and Daniella walk toward each other and meet at the center of the stage, standing side by side as Selina raises her title into the air while Daniella looks around with a slight grin on her face.)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS… SELINA REYES AND DANIELLA ATLAS… AND THE HALL OF FAMER… MINEVA… AKA… TOXXXIN!
Rich Russillo: And here come the Unified Tag Team Champions, Daniella Atlas and Selina Reyes, accompanied by their mentor, Minerva. They haven’t held those titles for long, but already made a statement defending them against two other teams at Shock Value.
Thadd Blazevich: Big time, bro. That kind of win early in your reign builds confidence, and now they’re carrying that momentum toward Grand Rampage after both declaring for the match, alongside Minerva.
Persephone: Yeah, because holding tag titles and throwing yourselves into a battle royal at the same time to help your egomaniac friend win sounds like a great idea.
Rich Russillo: Anyways! This match with Jon Kelton isn’t just about Daniella. It’s a chance for both champions to keep building momentum, even if only one of them is competing tonight.
Thadd Blazevich: Exactly, bro. Kelton gets his shot to make a statement too, but for Daniella and Selina, this is all about keeping that momentum rolling into Grand Rampage.
(Minerva, Daniella, and Selina enter the ring as Daniella makes her way to the right side, reaching through the middle rope to take two microphones from a ringside stagehand. Minerva leans back in the corner with a smirk on her face, watching her girls. Daniella turns back toward Selina and hands one to her before the two step side by side at the center of the ring. They wait for the music to fade out, both carrying a quiet smugness in their expressions as they look out at the crowd.)
Selina Reyes: Last week, we gave you time. Time to think, time to decide, time to figure out whether or not anyone in this division actually believes they are ready for what comes with standing across from us.
(Daniella adjusts the title around her waist, her expression composed, almost unimpressed as she looks out at the crowd.)
Daniella Atlas: And now that time is up, because we meant everything we said. We are not waiting for someone to be handed an opportunity, and we are not standing here while people hesitate, second guess themselves, or wait around for the perfect moment.
(Selina nods once, lifting her championship slightly so it catches the light.)
Selina Reyes: There is no perfect moment. There is only the decision to step forward or stay exactly where you are… and if no one is willing to step forward on their own, then we will stand here and wait until someone finally does.
(The crowd makes noise as both women stand still in the center of the ring, eyes locked toward the stage. A few seconds pass, then a few more, the silence stretching just long enough to feel intentional.)
Daniella Atlas: This is what we expected. All that talk, all that confidence… and when it comes time to act, nothing.
(Selina lets out a faint breath, not quite a laugh, but close as she keeps her focus ahead.)
Selina Reyes: It is always the same. Everyone believes they are ready… until they actually have to prove it.
(Another moment passes as both continue to wait. The crowd begins to stir more, some booing, some calling out, the tension building with every second that nothing happens.)
Selina Reyes: So this is your last chance. If anyone is going to step up… now would be the time.
(Suddenly, ‘Stop Breathing’ by Playboi Carti hits.)
Rich Russillo: Well, that answers the question. Someone has stepped up, and it’s coming from outside of Voltage.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah bro, that’s Jake Smith from Showdown, and someone that needs no introduction. You already know he’s not out here for no reason.
Persephone: Of course he is. If there’s a spotlight, he’s going to find a way to stand right in the middle of it.
Rich Russillo: And after what he did on Showdown, inserting himself into that World Title situation, this feels like more of the same. Jake is trying to position himself everywhere at once.
(The crowd boos heavily as Jake Smith appears on the stage with a confident look, microphone already in hand as he takes his time looking toward the ring. There is a mix of loud boos and surprised murmurs as he makes his way down the ramp, completely unbothered by the reaction before stepping onto the apron and entering through the ropes. He glances at Minerva, who blows him a sarcastic kiss, and he keeps his distance as he stands across from Daniella and Selina, taking a moment before raising his microphone.)
Jake Smith: Surprise. :mjgrin: You know… I was back there listening to all of this. The waiting, the calling people out, the whole “who’s ready to step up” thing.
(He shrugs casually.)
Jake Smith: And honestly… I figured, why not?
(He takes a step forward, looking between both champions.)
Jake Smith: I mean, I already made things interesting over on Showdown. I stepped in, did what I had to do, and now I’ve got myself right in the middle of a World Championship match next week.
(The crowd erupts into loud boos at that, clearly not happy hearing it.)
Jake Smith: So I got to thinking… if I’m already going after one title, why stop there?
(He smirks slightly, confidence written all over his face.)
Jake Smith: Why not go for all of it?
(Selina and Daniella remain still, listening without much reaction. Minerva’s interest is piqued, however.)
Jake Smith: And look, I’ll be honest. Reasonable Doubt didn’t exactly go the way it was supposed to. But things happen. You adjust, you move forward, and when you do that… you take what you deserve, which is exactly what I’m doing now. Not just for me—
(He pauses briefly, letting it sit.)
Jake Smith: But for me and Caroline both. By the way, I hope you’re watching this… loveee youuuu…
(Jake gives an awkward wave toward the camera with a forced smile, clearly trying a little too hard to get himself out of the doghouse.)
Jake Smith: But here’s how this works. You wanted challengers. You wanted someone to step up.
(He spreads his arms slightly.)
Jake Smith: Congratulations… you got them.
(Selina finally speaks, her tone calm but sharp as she takes a step forward.)
Selina Reyes: You?
(She looks him up and down briefly.)
Selina Reyes: That is your answer?
(Daniella lets out a small breath through her nose, not quite amused as she steps forward as well.)
Daniella Atlas: After everything we have already done… after everything we have already proven, you believe that you and Caroline are the ones who end this?
(Jake nods without hesitation.)
Jake Smith: Yeah. I do.
(Selina tilts her head slightly, studying him.)
Selina Reyes: That confidence is… interesting. But confidence is not enough.
(Daniella follows up.)
Daniella Atlas: We have already stood in situations that were meant to break us. Multiple teams, unpredictable environments, everything stacked against us… and every single time, the result has been the same.
(Selina finishes the thought.)
Selina Reyes: We are still standing. And we are still champions. So no… we do not see you as the team that changes that.
(Jake smirks slightly, shaking his head as he steps forward.)
Jake Smith: See, that’s the problem. You’re still looking at this like you’re choosing who’s good enough.
(He points at them.)
Jake Smith: That’s not what this is. You asked for challengers, and I’m giving you exactly that. You don’t get to question it now.
(Selina and Daniella glance at each other for a brief moment before looking back at him.)
Daniella Atlas: Very well.
(She nods once.)
Daniella Atlas: If that is what you want…
Selina Reyes: Then you have it.
(The crowd responds with a mixed reaction as the challenge is accepted, some cheering the match while others continue to boo.)
Selina Reyes: Just understand what you have chosen.
(Daniella steps forward slightly.)
Daniella Atlas: This does not end the way you think it does.
(Jake gives a small shrug.)
Jake Smith: We’ll see.
(A tense moment lingers before Daniella and Selina suddenly step forward at the same time, looking to attack, but Jake is ready as he quickly backs off and rolls underneath the bottom rope, escaping to the outside before they can get their hands on him.)
Minerva: :mjlol:
Thadd Blazevich: Oh, he got out of there!
Rich Russillo: Jake saw that coming and avoided it completely!
(Jake backs up the ramp, holding his hands up with a grin on his face as the champions stand in the ring, clearly annoyed.)
Jake Smith: Not tonight.
(He points toward them.)
Jake Smith: I’ll see you when it matters.
(He lowers the mic as he continues backing up the ramp, still smiling to himself while Daniella and Selina remain in the ring, composed but clearly focused as the segment comes to a close.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, as Jon Kelton, ToXXXin, NICK., and Damon Lazarus all enter the Grand Rampage match.)
(We have returned from commercial break and we see Daniella Atlas standing in the ring with Minerva and Selina standing at ringside. ‘My Mind Is A Mountain’ by The Deftones is playing in the background as Rich Russillo welcomes us back.)
Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome back to Sunday Night Voltage and as you can see, Daniella Atlas has been in the ring since before the break, so let’s not waste any more time and send it straight to Bella Braxton for the introductions for the next match.
Bella Braxton: The following contest is a special GRAND RAMPAGE PREVIEW MATCH SCHEDULED FOR ONE FALL!
Crowd: ONE FALL!
Bella Braxton: Introducing first and already in the ring! Representing TOXXXIN! From Dunkirk, France! Weighing 170 pounds. Here is ONE HALF OF THE EAW UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! “THE BLADE OF HERMES” DANIELLA ATLAS!
Persephone: I hate this! The Blade of Herpes herself and her skanky friends are still here. Can’t they all just leave.
Rich Russillo: Think of her however you want, but we found out last week that Daniella, Minerva, and Selina have all entered their names into the Grand Rampage match after successfully defending their Tag Titles at Shock Value.
Thadd Blazevich: Last week, Daniella and Selina also issued out an open challenge and if we heard correctly on Showdown last night, they might have some takers. But that’s coming up soon, bro. Tonight, Daniella has someone else to focus on.
(Daniella is focused on the entrance as she prepares for her match as “All of the Lights (Interlude)” by Kanye West. Seconds later, Jon Kelton enters the arena to a negative reaction from the crowd. He doesn’t care what they think as he heads to the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing her opponent! Residing in Dallas, Texas! Weighing 205 pounds. Here is “THE FLAW OF THE WORLD” JON KELTON!
Persephone: We go from Herpes to walking disease of mediocrity in Jon Kelton. The world is full of stupidity once again.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro…. Last week, Jon Kelton was not in a good mood after losing at Shock Value to Miku Sakai leading to him declaring for the Grand Rampage before being confronted by Minerva.
Rich Russillo: There is still bad blood between Minerva and Kelton and that was obvious to see last week. Tonight, will Kelton be able to stay focused in his match against fellow ToXXXin member Daniella? Or will Minerva be the cause of another Jon Kelton defeat? We are about to find out!
(Kelton enters the ring and glares at Minerva before taking his corner and his entrance music fades off. The referee checks both competitors before calling for the bell.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: Here we go! This match is underway and both competitors meet up in the center of the ring and lock up.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, Kelton might have the size advantage over Daniella, but Daniella is one of the strongest women on the roster so it is going to be hard for Kelton to overpower Daniella in this match.
Persephone: Who cares? They are both stupid and nobody likes either one of them. I hope they just beat the fuck out of each other.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, bro. Neither one of these two will be elected Most Popular around here. But Kelton starts things slow by getting the early advantage with a side headlock on Daniella, BUT DANIELLA EASILY LIFTS HIM UP AND DROPS HIM WITH A BACK SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: Kelton dropped on the back of his head as Daniella puts the boots to Kelton as he rolls himself over to the ropes to get a quick breakaway.
Persephone: What a little bitch! The match just started and he is already running away. This is annoying. Get your ass back in the ring and fight.
Rich Russillo: Minerva is inching herself closer and she almost looks like she is stalking Kelton. The referee is counting and Kelton isn’t left with much choice but to get back in the ring.
Persephone: For the love of gawd! This is absolutely ridiculous.
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton gets back on the apron and Daniella grabs Kelton by the neck AND BRINGS HIM BACK INTO THE RING THE HARD WAY–
Rich Russillo: BUT KELTON LANDS ON HIS FEET! Kelton runs and hits the ropes on the far side before coming back to Daniella and ducks the Daniella clothesline–
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON JUMPS ONTO THE MIDDLE ROPE AND COMES BACK WITH A SPRINGBOARD CLOTHESLINE TAKING DANIELLA DOWN!
Persephone: Looks like his lonely brain cell is trying to do something relevant.
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton quickly changes momentum into his favor, but look at Minerva and Selina at ringside. Minerva is staying stoic even though she does not care much for Kelton, but Selina is looking very annoyed, dude.
Rich Russillo: Kelton brings Daniella back to her feet and whips her to the ropes. Daniella with the rebound and Kelton puts his head down for a back body drop attempt–
Persephone: BAHAHAHAHAHA! Daniella kicks Kelton in the face. Won’t improve his looks, but she follows up the kick with a clothesline taking Kelton back down to the mat.
Rich Russillo: He doesn’t stay down very long as Daniella brings Kelton back to his feet AND SHE STARTS THROWING FOREARMS RIGHT INTO HIS FACE!
Persephone: She needs to hit him harder so it will knock his dumbass out. Then she needs to knock herself out.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah. Sure, dude. But those forearm shots send Kelton back into the corner. The referee tells Daniella to back up and let Kelton out of the corner—
Rich Russillo: BUT DANIELLA IS NOW CHOKING KELTON IN THE CORNER WITH HER FOOT! DANIELLA’S BOOT IS RIGHT IN KELTON’S THROAT! THE REFEREE IS RIGHT THERE TO TELL DANIELLA TO LET KELTON FREE!
Thadd Blazevich: She isn’t listening, so the referee has no choice but to start a count. The referee reaches four on the count before Daniella finally lets Kelton go.
Persephone: Can’t these referees ever count to five? These matches would be so much shorter if they can ever count to five.
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton drops to the mat as he gasps for air as Daniella grabs Kelton by the head and pulls him back to the center of the ring. Daniella with a facelock AS SHE LIFTS KELTON UP AND OVER WITH A SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: Kelton lands hard as Daniella floats over and goes for the cover!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEE!
Persephone: He kicks out! Big surprise there. I would have never seen that coming.
Rich Russillo: Kelton easily kicks out at one, but Daniella probably felt that was coming as she quickly gets into the mount position AND JUST STARTS THROWING FOREARMS INTO KELTON’S FACE!
Persephone: Forget the forearms, use your fists AND JUST BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM!! DON’T HALF ASS THIS SHIT!
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton is trying to block as many shots as he can as Daniella is just trying to break through the defenses and cause as much damage as she can–
Rich Russillo: SHE CHANGES COURSE AND STARTS CHOKING KELTON! KELTON IS KICKING AND TRYING TO GET FREE AS THE REFEREE STARTS TO COUNT!
Thadd Blazevich: The referee reaches four and Daniella finally stops before being disqualified.
Persephone: Just disqualify her so we can move on with our lives.
Thadd Blazevich: The referee is telling Daniella to watch it and she puts her hands up in defense, BUT IT BACKFIRES AS KELTON LIFTS HIS LEGS AND BRINGS DANIELLA BACK INTO A MODIFIED SUNSET FLIP FOR A COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA KICKS OUT AT TWO! Daniella quickly rolls through and grabs Kelton by the legs and drags him towards the corner.
Persephone: Whatever she has in mind is probably going to be stupid. Bitch still has hold of Kelton and she falls back–
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA GOES FOR A SLINGSHOT BUT KELTON CATCHES HIMSELF AND LEAPS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP ROPE! AMAZING ATHLETICISM BY KELTON THERE!
Persephone: It’s not that impressive.
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella is back up as she turns around AND KELTON JUMPS OFF THE TOP ROPE AND HITS A BEAUTIFUL CROSSBODY OFF THE TOP ROPE AND TAKES DANIELLA DOWN AND HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHRRRR–
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA KICKS OUT! WAIT! NO ONLY DOES SHE KICK OUT, SHE ROLLS THROUGH AND GETS BACK TO HER FEET WITH KELTON STILL IN HER ARMS! WHAT POWER BY DANIELLA!
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella moves Kelton onto her shoulders in the Fireman’s Carry position. It takes her a moment to get Jon exactly where she wants BEFORE SHE HAS KELTON AND LIFTS HIM UP IN THE AIR FOR THE MILITARY PRESS!
Persephone: Kelton should just enjoy this moment because gawd knows he will never be up in the air in victory or anything like that. He also gets to feel a little taller too.
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella has Kelton in the center of the ring in the air BEFORE SHE BRINGS HIM OVER AND DOWN WITH THE GORILLA PRESS SLAM!! HOLY CRAP! THIS DANIELLA IS A POWERHOUSE!
Rich Russillo: Selina is impressed and Minerva has to be pleased AS DANIELLA DROPS THE ELBOW ACROSS KELTON’S THROAT BEFORE GOING FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHRRRR–
Persephone: In a moment that NOBODY would have ever figured would happen, Kelton kicks out. I just hope that the elbow drop injured his voicebox.
Rich Russillo: Kelton is very resilient and with Minerva out there, he doesn’t want to lose this match and give her any satisfaction.
Persephone: I don’t see why not. Bitch has a hard time getting a man to want to satisfy her because lord knows she won’t get any from the bald weirdo she’s been hanging around with.
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella grabs Kelton and brings him back to his feet and gets him in position for a NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX–
Rich Russillo: KELTON GETS FREE AND FLIPS BEHIND DANIELLA AND LANDS ON HIS FEET! Kelton shoves Daniella to the ropes. Daniella comes back for the rebound–
Thadd Blazevich: AND KELTON LIFTS DANIELLA IN THE AIR AND DRIVES HER INTO THE MAT WITH A VERY POWERFUL SPINEBUSTER!
Persephone: Whoop de do. One big move isn’t going to make a difference. How about we see some results.
Thadd Blazevich: It is leading to that, bro. Daniella is down and Kelton grabs hold of her and drags her over to the corner. Once again, Kelton is going to go upstairs and make his way up to the top rope.
Rich Russillo: Selina and Minerva are watching closely as Kelton is in position BEFORE HE LEAPS OFF THE TOP ROPE AND HITS A FROG SPLASH! DIRECT HIT ON DANIELLA THAT COULD HAVE BROKEN HER RIBS AS KELTON HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHRRRRREEEEEEEE–
Persephone: Well big surprise. She kicked out. This match gets to continue on. Yay us.
Rich Russillo: Very close near fall for Jon Kelton as he was close to getting the win there as he gets Daniella back to her feet and hoists her onto his shoulders. Is Kelton gonna return the favor from Daniella earlier?
Persephone: I doubt it because I don’t think Kelton can do that without looking like an idiot or breaking her neck. Actually, I hope he tries it and breaks her neck.
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton gets Daniella up in the AND SENDS HER FLYING WITH THE F-1O FACEBUSTER–
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA WAS ABLE TO GRAB KELTON’S HEAD AT THE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND AND COUNTERS THE FACEBUSTER INTO A MODIFIED FLOAT OVER DDT!
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON GETS SPIKED HEAD FIRST INTO THE MAT AND NOW BOTH COMPETITORS ARE DOWN! THE REFEREE CHECKS BOTH COMPETITORS BEFORE STARTING A COUNT!
Persephone: One. Two. Nine. Ten! Match over! Call for the bell! DING! DING! DING! YAY!
Thadd Blazevich: You know that’s not how things are going to go. Both Daniella and Kelton are moving and trying to get to their feet as the referee is continuing their count. This is going to be close, but it is going to be a race to see who gets to their feet, bro.
Rich Russillo: The referee has reached seven on the count as Daniella is the first one to make it to her feet with Kelton following suit at eight. They meet in the center of the ring and KELTON STRIKES FIRST WITH A RIGHT HAND!
Persephone: Wow. That was so exciting. So exciting that this bitch follows his stupid direction with a right hand of their own.
Rich Russillo: Kelton and Daniella are trading lefts and rights BEFORE WE HAVE A FIST FIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE RING AND THE REFEREE IS TRYING TO BREAK THINGS UP!
Persephone: An EAW referee losing control of a match. Who would have ever seen that coming. Big shocker.
Thadd Blazevich: Neither competitor is letting up as DANIELLA CATCHES KELTON WITH A SNEAKY KNEE LIFT TO THE GUT!
Rich Russillo: Dirty trick by Daniella as she doubled Kelton over and grabs him with the gutwrench BEFORE LIFTING HIM UP IN THE AIR WITH A POWERBOMB–
Thadd Blazevich: NOPE! SHE CHANGED IT TO THE “ANIMUS”! NIAGARA DRIVER BY DANIELLA ATLAS AND ALMOST DROPPING KELTON RIGHT ON HIS HEAD AS SHE STACKS HIM UP FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHRRRRREEEEEEEE!
Persephone: OH COME ON!
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON KICKED OUT! HE BARELY GOT THE SHOULDER UP BEFORE THREE AND DANIELLA ISN’T HAPPY ABOUT IT! HONESTLY, NEITHER ARE MINERVA AND SELINA!
Rich Russillo: Daniella gets back to her feet and brings Kelton up as well and gets him back in position for another powerbomb AND LIFTS HIM IN THE AIR–
Persephone: Oh here we go! Kelton has to go out literally swinging as he is throwing lefts and rights. Just stop, stupid!
Rich Russillo: Kelton flips back AND HE COUNTERS WITH A MODIFIED FRANKENSTEINER SENDING DANIELLA HALFWAY ACROSS THE RING! Daniella gets back to her feet, but Kelton grabs her by the head AND PLANTS HER WITH THE TWIST OF FATE!
Persephone: How very exciting. He just forced the bitch to kiss the canvas. Good for him and that lonely brain cell.
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella is starting to recover and get back to her feet as Kelton is watching closely and ready to strike like a predator towards his prey, dude.
Rich Russillo: Daniella is back to her feet AND SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON AS KELTON CRACKS HER IN THE JAW WITH THE “GALICK GUN”!
Thadd Blazevich: SUPERKICK WAS A DIRECT HIT AND DANIELLA FALLS BACK TO THE MAT ALMOST LIKE STONE! SHE COULD BE OUT COLD AS KELTON HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHRRRRREEEEEEEE!
Persephone: I HATE THIS PLACE SOMETIMES! HOW HARD IS IT TO COUNT TO THREE?
Thadd Blazevich: SHE KICKED OUT AT TWO! KELTON THOUGHT HE HAD IT, BUT THE REFEREE IS SAYING THAT IT WAS ONLY A TWO COUNT! BRO, THAT WAS A VERY CLOSE NEAR FALL!
Rich Russillo: Kelton brings Daniella back to her feet and decides to return the favor by kneeing her in the midsection and doubling her over. Kelton pulls Daniella into the gutwrench position–
Persephone: This idiot is trying for a Canadian Destroyer, but Minerva’s bitch in training is blocking the attempt. This is looking ridiculous.
Rich Russillo: Kelton keeps trying, but Daniella is still blocking it AND INSTEAD SHE COUNTERS WITH A MODIFIED NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX!!
Persephone: About time this bitch hit the suplex after trying about eighty times.
Thadd Blazevich: The referee drops down for the cover, BUT KELTON BREAKS THE BRIDGE AND DANIELLA LANDS ON TOP OF KELTON! The referee looks to go for another count–
Rich Russillo: BUT BOTH COMPETITORS BRIDGE UP AND GET BACK TO THEIR FEET! Kelton turns around and gets the gutwrench applied again AND LEAVES HIS FEET FOR THE CANADIAN DESTROYER–
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON HITS THE CANADIAN DESTROYER… WAIT A SECOND!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT, BRO!! DANIELLA ACTUALLY DOES A BACKFLIP AT THE BEST POSSIBLE MOMENT AND SHE FLIPS TO HER FEET TO COUNTER THE CANADIAN DESTROYER!
Persephone: How the hell does that bitch manage to pull this off at the last second? For the love of gawd!! Stop being so damn cutesy and just beat the holy fuck out of each other.
Thadd Blazevich: That was an amazing counter by Daniella as she hits the ropes before coming back AND HITTING A BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICK INTO KELTON’S FACE TURNING HIM HEAD OVER HEELS!
Rich Russillo: Kelton quickly rolls back on his feet, but Daniella grabs Kelton by the ears and DELIVERS A HEADBUTT! THAT CAUGHT KELTON RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD!
Persephone: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What an idiot! They both took damage from that. Not that either one of them has anything up there to hurt in the first place.
Rich Russillo: Both competitors were dazed after that headbutt, but Daniella regains her composure long enough to get hold of Kelton and lifts him up in the AIR FOR THE FALCON ARROW–
Persephone: Of course he finds a way to counter. What else is new!
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton knees Daniella in the side of the head and he is able to get free. Kelton is able to land behind Daniella and grabs her around the waist AND TAKES HER UP AND OVER WITH A RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: Daniella goes head over heels as Kelton quickly follows up the suplex by grabbing Daniella and hooks her arms! KELTON IS LOOKING TO “CHANGE THE FUTURE”–
Thadd Blazevich: DANIELLA IS ABLE TO COUNTER BY LIFTING KELTON UP IN THE AIR WITH A MODIFIED BACK BODY DROP–
Persephone: He lands on his feet. What else is new? Now this idiot turns around–
Thadd Blazevich: AND HE TURNS AROUND RIGHT INTO “INAMORATA”! WHAT A LARIAT FROM DANIELLA ATLAS THAT ALMOST TOOK KELTON’S HEAD OFF–
(The crowd immediately starts booing really loudly as somebody is coming down the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: What in the hell is going on? Why in the hell is he doing here?
Persephone: For shit’s sake, it’s that creepy bastard Jake Smith. Of course we know why he’s here. We literally found out before this match that he accepted the Unified Tag Team Championship open challenge for himself and his little witch girlfriend, Caroline, or whatever the fuck she is.
Rich Russillo: He has a smile on his face and he is waving hello like the condescending asshole that he is as he continues walking down the ramp towards ringside. He is heading right towards Toxxxin–
Persephone: Naturally, here comes Minerva. Bitch is just as bad about sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong just like Jake. They are both egotistical assholes.
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva has stepped into the mix and she is running interference to stop Jake from getting anywhere near close to Daniella, Selina, and this match. Meanwhile, there is still a match going on with all of this going on outside the ring.
Rich Russillo: Things are starting to get very interesting outside the ring as Selina is facing Jake outside the ring ready to fight Jake, should he decide to try and interfere in this match involving her fellow Tag Team Champion partner.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro :mjlol:
Persephone: We already have a bunch of losers out here, so why not add a few more? It’s not like we don’t have plenty of them on our own brand.
(Meanwhile, with everything going down, somebody has snuck into the ringside area and sneaks behind ToXXXin.)
Thadd Blazevich: WAIT A SECOND! A PERSON WEARING A HOODIE HAS SNUCK INTO RINGSIDE! WHO THE HELL IS THAT, BRO! THEY ARE TAKING THE HOODIE DOWN—
Rich Russillo: IT’S CAROLINE! CAROLINE FROM OUT OF NOWHERE HAS SHOWN UP ON VOLTAGE WITH JAKE SMITH—
Persephone: BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!
Rich Russillo: CAROLINE FORCEFULLY TURNED SELINA AROUND AND HIT HER WITH THE MIST! THE INFAMOUS MIST! CAROLINE MIGHT HAVE JUST BLINDED HALF OF THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!
Persephone: You say that as if it would be a bad thing? She can retire and never have to show her face here ever again!
Thadd Blazevich: LOOK AT CAROLINE! SHE IS SO PROUD OF HERSELF AND WHAT SHE DID, BRO!!
Persephone: It’s a beautiful sight if you ask me.
Rich Russillo: You mean seeing Selina writhing around in pain on the ringside floor?
Persephone: Exactly.
Thadd Blazevich: Meanwhile, this now has the attention of Daniella Atlas and she looks absolutely pissed off. Daniella is screaming at Caroline from inside the ring–
Rich Russillo: LOOK AT KELTON! KELTON SEES THE CHAOS AND DECIDES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION AND ROLLS UP DANIELLA FROM BEHIND! SCHOOLBOY ROLL UP AS KELTON TRIES TO STEAL IT HERE!!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHRRRREEEEEEEEEEE!
(DING! DING! DING!)
( “All of the Lights (Interlude)” starts playing again as Kelton scrambles out of the ring. Caroline is pleased with the job she has done as she sneaks away through the crowd. Jake takes advantage of the chaos and runs away from Minerva. Minerva is seething and angry as Bella Braxton announces the final decision of the match.)
Bella Braxton: Here is your winner… JON KELTON!
Persephone: Well big freaking surprise. Jon Kelton couldn’t do this on his own so he takes advantage of somebody else’s situation to get a win. Such a leech and a mooch.
Rich Russillo: Is it the most ethical of wins? Not exactly, but it is EAW and not everything around here is necessarily ethical. This was a good match by the way.
(The referee raises Kelton’s arm in victory as Daniella is stunned, but she quickly rolls out of the ring to check on Selina, who is still on the ground in pain after being misted.)
Thadd Blazevich: Dude, you had to believe that Daniella had the win in the palm of her hand, but Jon Kelton has got to make sure to find Jake and Caroline and take them out to dinner for something.
Persephone: Or they can all just go away and never come back. That would make things better around here.
Rich Russillo: You have to give Daniella credit for the effort she put in this match. It was just the unfortunate circumstances that led to Kelton sneaking away with the victory.
(Jon Kelton is celebrating his victory while Minerva looks over and shakes her head in extreme disgust.)
Persephone: Yeah yeah. Minerva is pissed at Kelton because he stole the win, but I can get the look on that bitch’s face because looking at Kelton can make anybody sick.
Rich Russillo: Be that as it may, Jon Kelton just picked up a big victory here on Voltage tonight, but there is also something brewing between Toxxxin as well as Jake Smith and Caroline. Jake and Caroline threw the first punch so it is going to be interesting to see how Toxxxin will respond. This is going to be a hell of a fight.
(The final shot shows Daniella and Minerva helping Selina up and helping her up the entrance ramp while Kelton is still celebrating his victory as the camera shot cuts elsewhere.)
(Commercial for the upcoming game Crimson Desert.)
(Sunday Night Voltage returns as the camera pans around to show a shot of the Domo Polideportivo y Asociación. The crowd here in Guatemala City is already bustling in anticipation for what is to come, and they get even louder as ‘Invincible’ by Pop Smoke is heard playing through the speakers of the arena. The camera goes over to the stage to show Chris Elite as he makes his way out from the backstage area, and judging by the expression on his face, he’s not in the best mood. He takes a moment to exhale and compose himself, as he then begins to make his way down the ramp and toward the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… CHRIS ELITE!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: Last week certainly came as a surprise to us and the person making his way down to the ring, as TLA would end up laying out Chris Elite after the two of them had a disagreement about what went down at Shock Value. TLA would blame Chris for what happened, saying he cost them the titles, and while Chris tried to explain that it wasn’t on purpose, TLA just wasn’t trying to hear it.
Persephone: And it was very fucking entertaining if you asked me. For so long now we’ve been held down by the treachery and tomfoolery of Chris Elite and TLA, and NOW, it will FINALLY be put to an end! One of them is going to fucking die, and I am so excited.
Thadd Blazevich: Well, bro, that’s if they don’t make up here tonight. I don’t know what got into TLA, he’s a nice dude! What he did last week might’ve been sporadic, but we know that’s not who he is, that’s not who he’s ever been. But also, a part of me thinks that it might be too late for reasonings, especially with a person like Chris Elite; he’s going to be looking for a fight.
(Chris makes his way up the steps and onto the apron as he makes his way into the ring. He takes a moment before heading over and taking a microphone from the ringside area, while ‘Invincible’ begins to come to a close. As he heads toward the center of the ring, he looks down at the ground, thinking to himself, before beginning to speak.)
Chris Elite: Iight, let’s get down to business. I don’t know who the fuck pissed in TLA’s cereal, but what he did last week was completely unnecessary, and I think we can all agree with that. I’m never going to admit that I’m a perfect person, shit, at Shock Value, I made a mistake that apparently I have to live with for the next couple of weeks now. But we’re not going to sit here and act like TLA is the antithesis to Chris Elite. That he somehow gets off scot-free for what happened there himself. Look, I appreciate him and everything that he has done for me. The month of February was one of the most fun I’ve had in a long time because we were both General Managers together. But damn, the last thing that he needs to do after everything that he’s gone through this season is take it out on me.
(Chris begins to pace around, shaking his head as he continues on with what he has to say.)
Chris Elite: We had our laughs, we had our fun, but I’m not going to bullshit around with TLA anymore. Not after what he did to me last week. So I’m calling his ass out right now, and if he’s got something to say to me, then he can explain it to my face. Otherwise, we can cut the formalities, and we can start a proper fight.
(Chris turns around toward the stage as he makes a gesture toward it, lowering his microphone. And ultimately, he gets what he wants as the sounds of ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ by Tupac begin to play through the speakers. The camera goes from the ring to the stage as TLA is seen making his way out from the backstage area. He raises an eyebrow in amusement as he looks toward Chris in the ring, who, again, is definitely not looking to play games with him, as he begins to make his way down the ramp and toward the ring.)
Rich Russillo: Here comes the man of the hour, and we certainly have to be wondering what TLA is thinking right now, especially after hearing everything that Chris had to say. These are two people who virtually had no problems with each other, but it has seemed to spiral into this, in a situation that we never expected it to spiral into.
Thadd Blazevich: Chris is standing on it. He made a mistake, but the one thing that he’s not going to do is stand down while TLA makes a fool out of him just because he’s saying that it’s completely his fault. That’s just not how he does things around here! They might just fight right now, but TLA might also be looking to respond to what he has to say.
Persephone: I’m definitely interested to see how this goody two-shoes idiot navigates himself out of this situation. Then again, I guess TLA has never been defined as a goody two-shoes, so what do I know?
(TLA makes his way up the steps and onto the apron as he makes his way into the ring. He makes his way over and takes a microphone from the ringside area while ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ then begins to come to a close. As he turns around and makes his way over to Chris, he takes a moment before beginning to speak.)
TLA: Hold on, ese! Imma need you to calm down a lil bit, si? What I said last week is exactly how it went down, you deadass thought that I was going to do nothing after being cost those titles? Shit, homie, I basically got attacked by my own partner! Why you think I wasn’t boutta return the favor? I ain’t gonna say you not mi amigo, Chris, then again, shit might be out the window now, but it is what it is. But La Pantera Sexual got a pair of cajones as well, and he ain’t the mfer to fuck with if you know what I mean. You did that shit to yourself, vato, and you shouldn’t even be surprised after what you did at Shock Value.
Chris Elite: Nah, ‘cause why the fuck would I purposely cost us that shit? I needed that title just as much as you did. You have every right to be frustrated. I’m frustrated right now. But I was more than happy to go out on separate paths because this partnership was clearly not going to work out in the long term. But you couldn’t do that, could you? You had to make a stand for yourself and create a completely unnecessary problem that you could’ve just walked away from. But here we are, and if you think even for a second that I’m going to back down just because you were my friend, then you’re wrong. I’m done trying to convince your dumbass anymore.
TLA: Look, hombre, I was tryna do you a favor! I got my lick in, but I wasn’t boutta fuck with you anymore than I already did! Nah, I was planning to move on from this. I was gonna set my sights on the Grand Rampage match, and I was going to make sure that I ended the season the right way, you feel? As a World Champion. You ain’t need to get in the way of that. But shit, I guess you doing that right now. So we might have a problem, vato.
Chris Elite: Man screw you. I’ll enter the Grand Rampage if for nothing else to make sure you DON’T win! If you think for a second that I’m just going to let you walk away after doing that shit to me, then you must be fucking crazy. If you’re entering the Grand Rampage match, I’m entering the Grand Rampage match. And if you think you’re about to win, then you’re not going to as long as I’m in it. I’ve been telling you that Shock Value wasn’t intentional, and it’s true, but
Grand Rampage? What I do there will be.
TLA: You deadass right now?
Chris Elite: Yeah, I’m being fucking deadass. I’m not just going to let you move on after what you did.
(There’s a moment of tension between the two of them, as they stare a hole into each other. After some time, TLA nods his head as he takes a couple of steps back.)
TLA: Iight.
Rich Russillo: TLA SWINGS A PUNCH DIRECTLY INTO THE FACE OF CHRIS! HE STAGGERS BACK AS TLA GRABS A HOLD OF HIM!
Thadd Blazevich: AND GOES FOR A MEXICAN DESTROYER! SHADES OF LAST WEEK!
Persephone: BUT CHRIS REVERSES IT INTO A BACK BODY DROP! TLA FALLS INTO A SEATED POSITION-
Rich Russillo: AS CHRIS LEAPS INTO THE AIR AND CONNECTS WITH A BOX OFFICE SMASH DIRECTLY TO THE SIDE OF TLA’S HEAD! And it’s Chris Elite who manages to get the last laugh as revenge for last week!
Thadd Blazevich: And TLA is definitely not going to be happy when he wakes back up, bro.
(‘Invincible’ begins to play up once more as Chris makes his way back up to his feet, straightening himself off as he looks down at an unconscious TLA. Chris shakes his head as he turns around and makes his way out of the ring, with that being the very last shot seen before Sunday Night Voltage begins to fade to elsewhere.)
(Following Chris Elite’s attack on TLA, the camera begins to fade away to the backstage area. There, Captain Charisma can be seen. The Voltage commissioner is standing in front of the camera, and he takes a moment before beginning to finally speak.)
Captain Charisma: Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you are all enjoying your night. We may be on the road to Grand Rampage, but one thing about me is that I’ve always been committed to making sure the fans here for Voltage every single week are able to be given the best show possible. We’re going to keep putting on fantastic shows and doing everything we possibly can to make these shows exciting. For that reason I have an announcement for you all, and… Well, I planned to have TLA here for this announcement, but unfortunately, I am sure we all witnessed what just happened moments ago.
(Captain Charisma sighs. However, he brushes past the actions that occurred between TLA and Chris Elite, knowing that what he has to announce will excite the fans.)
Captain Charisma: TLA may not be in any condition to take part in this announcement, but I don’t want any of you to miss out, so I’ll do this on my own. So before I get to the announcement, I’d like to give you all a bit of context. As we all know TLA had spent the month heading towards Shock Value as the general manager of this brand. During TLA’s stint as general manager he took part in the Make A Wish program, and during that time he had the opportunity to meet with a boy from Oaxaca, Mexico. His name is Javier, and his wish was to be able to experience a live EAW show in his hometown. Well, TLA chose to put his time as general manager to great use, as he decided to give Javier what he wanted. Next week on Voltage, we will be coming to Oaxaca, Mexico!
(Cheers are heard from the crowd as Captain Charisma could be seen with a smile on his face, but the commissioner wasn’t finished speaking just yet.)
Captain Charisma: That’s not all, either. TLA put a lot of effort into the show while he could, and I’d like to follow through with what he’s been working on. Next week Voltage will be paying tribute to Lucha Libre culture, and we’ll do so by holding our show at an arena that had been utilized for shows in Mexico for decades. That of course, is Arena San Francisco! This is a legendary location known for its standing in Lucha Libre history, and we look forward to holding Voltage there. However, that is not all that we have to offer, as last week members of our roster had the incredible opportunity to visit Javier in Oaxaca, while also giving a tour of the area Voltage will be held in. Right now I’d like to take this time to give you all a look of what took place last week, and as I do so, I would like to thank Candice Blair and ARIA in particular for taking part in this experience!
(After this, the camera begins to fade away from the area, transitioning over towards the video package that had been recorded in preparation for next week’s Voltage.)
[SCREENBAR – Oaxaca, Mexico.]
(The camera cuts to a video package, highlighting the events that occurred last week in Oaxaca, where next week’s Sunday Night Voltage will be held. In Oaxaca, EAW Elitists Candice Blair and ARIA can be seen, meeting with a young child who is with his parents. That child is Javier, who is unfortunately suffering from cancer. Seeing the Voltage Elitists brought a smile on Javier’s face, as the video package briefly showcased the two speaking to him.)
Candice Blair: So, right now we’re about to take you on a trip through Oaxaca, and show you around Arena San Francisco, where we’ll be holding our special Voltage show in two weeks. Is this going to be your first time attending an EAW show, Javier?
Javier: Yeah!
ARIA: That’s great! Voltage is going to be right here at home, and it’ll be an experience I know you’ll never forget. I hope you’re ready.
(The video package cuts to some of the activities they did during their time in Oaxaca, as the two Elitists take Javier and his parents along for the ride. Javier is given the chance to ride on one of the EAW-provided tour buses, allowing them to get a good look of Oaxaca as they travel. They’re shown exploring the streets and the views of Oaxaca, eating some of the food there such as garnachas, and finally travelling to Arena San Francisco.)
(Once at the arena Voltage will soon be held at, Javier has the chance to meet other names working for EAW, such as officials and other workers who were not present for last week’s Voltage. Javier is shown being given a custom EAW World Championship in one of the clips, before cutting away to a later part of their tour, where the Elitists take Javier to the ring.)
(There, Javier gets the chance to see exactly where Voltage will be held once in Oaxaca, and he has a large smile on his face. They allow him to walk down the ramp, giving him the full experience as the video package continues. Javier is seen sitting on the apron in the following clip, and as the video package continues, Candice Blair could be seen briefly holding a phone towards Javier. One that appears to be on a facetime call, as two familiar faces to EAW television are shown on the other side of the call.)
Cameron Ella Ava: It is so nice to meet you! I hope you’re enjoying your time with Candice, Aria and the rest of the EAW crew. How old are you now, Javier?
Javier: I’m thirteen!
Consuela Rose Ava: Wow, thank you so much for being a fan of us all these years. It means the world to us, and it is always a pleasure getting to meet fans like you. I hope you have a great time at Voltage in two weeks. You’re going to have an amazing time.
(Javier was able to speak to Consuela Rose Ava and Hall of Famer Cameron Ella Ava. Javier was always a huge fan of the Elitists in the Ava family, so getting to speak to them all like this was basically a dream come true for him. A few more shots would be shown of the experience, including shots of the arena itself, which features various posters of legends in Lucha Libre who’ve competed at the arena in the past, as well as various matches that have taken place at the location and old Championships that are propped up, which Javier is able to take pictures with. After highlighting everything that the arena had to offer, the video package began to finally fade out.)
(After this the camera returns to a separate area backstage, where Sofia Clarke could be seen holding a microphone in her hand. Before long, she begins to speak.)
Sofia Clarke: Ladies and gentlemen, at this time please welcome Candice Blair and ARIA!
(The fans cheer, and the camera pans over to the left, revealing Candice Blair and ARIA, returning to Voltage after their trip to Oaxaca. The two have smiles on their faces ahead of their interview with Sofia, who begins to speak once more.)
Sofia Clarke: Candice, ARIA, thank you for joining me tonight. Now with the big announcement regarding next week’s Voltage out there, I’d like to ask you two how you’re feeling after everything you’ve experienced lately.
ARIA: Well to start, we’re beyond grateful for the opportunity we had to meet Javier and in a way bring Voltage to him before he comes to Voltage. It’s always meaningful getting to see the impact you’ve left on those who stay with us and watch every single week, and Javier and his family were all so nice, which made it a great experience for us. We don’t get many chances to take a step back and appreciate everything this business offers, so I think it’s important to make the most of the opportunities that we do get, and this was certainly one of them. I am sure that next week’s Voltage will deliver, but I’m just glad that we were able to do what we did last week, which of course is why we weren’t here for the previous Voltage.
Sofia Clarke: It seems like this was quite the memorable time.
Candice Blair: It was, and to be honest, it was kind of relieving. What we did was about way more than ourselves, but the last match we had was back at Shock Value, and it was pretty disappointing leaving without the Unified Tag Team Championships. We really wanted those titles. We’ve both been working hard to get on the right track this season, and I don’t think either of us were expecting to end up forming any sort of team after everything we’ve experienced, but in the end we’ve done pretty well for ourselves and we thought the tag titles could’ve been our shot towards getting what we were looking for. It wasn’t to be, and it’s good to take the time to temporarily remove ourselves from all of that and clear our heads.
ARIA: That’s true, and now that we’re back and we have such a special Voltage ahead of us, we don’t really plan to waste any more time. We’ve already missed out on enough opportunities as is. Grand Rampage is on the horizon, so we’re not going to have many more chances to get where we want to be this season. Now’s the time for us to make a move.
Candice Blair: Which is why we need to get things started now. Right now, we’re ready for a fight. It’s a shame we couldn’t win the titles, but if we want to work our way to another shot at them or any other Championships, the only thing we can do is get back in the ring. It’s time that we-
???: So you want a fight, huh?
(Candice and ARIA turn, surprised by the sudden interruption. After this, Cosmo Goldworthy and Diamond Dixon can be seen walking into the camera’s view, surprising Sofia Clarke who hadn’t anticipated something like this occurring. She stepped back, allowing the Elitists to handle things themselves as Cosmo continued.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: Good. Guess we’re not the only ones then.
Diamond Dixon: I get it. You two aren’t happy about Shock Value and how all that went down, and I don’t blame you. That was a big tag title match you had and it was probably one of the last opportunities available to win a Championship before Pain for Pride, but you two aren’t the only ones who didn’t like how Shock Value went. I had to go to war with Minerva and I wanted to shut her up. I wanted to make sure she knew I wasn’t the one to play with, and trust, I gave her the fight I said I would. Still, I didn’t get the win, and neither did Cosmo despite the fact that he should be the one gearing up to face Kai Rabeaux right now. Things didn’t go our way at Shock Value, but you two said something we agree with, which is that we can’t afford to sit around worrying about our problems. We just need to get in the ring, and handle them.
(Candice and ARIA look at each other for a moment, before turning back towards Diamond.)
Candice Blair: Are you saying you want to fight us?
Cosmo Goldworthy: We’re saying we want a match, and turns out, you want the same thing we do. Look, we’re not about to beat around the bush and duck the subject. You just did all that talk about Shock Value and how rough it was for you, and we get it, ‘cause you know as well as I do that I should be the number one contender to the Hardcore title right now. I didn’t get to have the week off, either. I had to get back in the ring and get right back to handling business, but I did that, and I want more. Diamond and I have plans and we’re not really interested in sitting around every week when we should be in the Championship picture, so it’s really up to you two. If you really want to get right before Pain for Pride comes around, you can take your shot and face us.
Diamond Dixon: And you can do it at Grand Rampage.
(This causes cheers to come from the fans, surprised to hear the challenge thrown out by Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy. Candice and ARIA look at each other once more, before finally, they nod.)
ARIA: We accept your challenge.
(This brings more cheers, as Diamond and Cosmo smirk. However, soon after this, Candice begins to speak once more.)
Candice Blair: Let’s make one thing clear, though. We don’t plan to face you just to take another loss. We’ve already dealt with enough this season, and ARIA and I aren’t the type of Elitists to give up so quickly, but we’re also not just going to keep putting ourselves into the exact same spots over and over again. It took time for ARIA and I to build the trust that we had walking into the tag title match, and we thought that after all that Shock Value would be our time but we were wrong. Clearly we still had more work to do, and after being put in a situation that could’ve cost me some serious time of my career if ARIA hadn’t helped me out, I realized that. If we’re going to face you at Grand Rampage, you shouldn’t expect anything but our best.
Diamond Dixon: Of course not. Let’s not forget, I know what position I’m in right now. It’s only been a few months since I returned to EAW, and Cosmo’s been having some struggles in his own right despite everything he can do. We’re not about to sit here and pretend this is gonna be some cakewalk for us. If it was, we wouldn’t bother wasting our time coming to you with the challenge, we’d go after someone actually worth the time and effort. We know how things are looking for you two, and clearly you’re not about to pass up the opportunity to fix things however you can. This is as good of a shot for us to get some momentum as it is for you, so I’m just gonna go into Grand Rampage making sure we’re ready to leave with the win.
(Hearing this, ARIA just nods.)
ARIA: Then we’ll see you at Grand Rampage. As far as I know, you two have also set your sights on the Unified Tag Team Championships, so this match could be a good opportunity for one of us to push forward towards a title match. Candice and I would certainly like to get one more attempt to win the titles, but I also understand that neither of you have had the opportunity to be Champion in EAW and that you’re not going to so easily pass up what could be your chance to finally take the steps towards achieving this. It’ll be a great match and Diamond, Cosmo, I’m glad you understand that this won’t be an easy match for you, but you and I both know that we’re far too late into the season to even entertain the possibility of defeat.
Cosmo Goldworthy: Long as we got the message clear, I couldn’t care less. You two can think whatever you want, but the better team’s gonna win at Grand Rampage, and I didn’t walk into this industry just to be second place. I know you two got a match to get to, but trust me, we’ll be watching, and when Grand Rampage comes around we’ll see who the better team really is.
(There was a brief staredown between Candice and ARIA and Diamond and Cosmo, both teams in agreement about the match at Grand Rampage. However, after some time, Candice Blair and ARIA did decide to slowly leave the area in preparation for their match in the main event. Cosmo and Diamond remained where they were, and they began to speak to each other about the now upcoming tag team match at Grand Rampage, before beginning to leave ahead of Diamond’s own match. From there, Voltage faded away from the backstage area.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Kai Rabeaux defends the Hardcore Championship against Diego Montana.)
(The camera returns to ringside.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING IS A SINGLES MATCH SET FOR ONE-FALL!
(“Nice To Meet Yah” by Asian Doll blasts throughout the arena as a confident Diamond Dixon walks out with Cosmo Goldworthy behind her. Diamond has a confident look on her face as she always does, but she’s focused especially after her back and forth with Candice and ARIA, knowing that they may be watching after the back and forth they had prior to this.)
Bella Braxton: INTRODUCING FIRST…ACCOMPANIED BY COSMO GOLDWORTHY…FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS…WEIGHING IN AT 176 POUNDS…SHE IS THE “CROWN JEWEL”…DIIIIAAAMMOONNDD DIIIIXXXXOOOOON!
Rich Russillo: And this is the chance to send a message to her Grand Rampage opponents’ folks! After that heated confrontation with Candice and ARIA earlier tonight, she knows what she needs to do here tonight!
(‘REVIVER’ by MY FIRST STORY switches in as the crowd cheers. Sayuri Himura heads out onto the stage with a focused look on her face, ready to get back on track following Reasonable Doubt. With unwavering determination, she marches down to the ring, staring towards Diamond Dixon, who stands in the ring.)
Bella Braxton: AND HER OPPONENT…FROM YOKOHAMA, JAPAN…WEIGHING IN AT 125 POUNDS…SHE IS “THE YUREI”…SAAAAYYYUUUURRRIIII HIMMMURRRAAAAA!
Thadd Blazevich: And bro, Sayuri Himura is looking to make up for Reasonable Doubt! She couldn’t capture the New Breed Championship from Clayton Golde but that only makes her more determined bro!
(She gets down to the ring, eyeing Goldworthy as she does. When she gets in, her focus is solely on Dixon. The two stare each other down before the bell rings.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: And that’s the bell which means this one is officially underway here folks! And these two ladies look to lock-up in the center of the ring! Diamond Dixon lunges but Himura slips behind instead, wisely avoiding a contest of strength here! She tries to take her down with the german suplex but that’s proving to be a difficult feat! DIXON BREAKS FREE AND SWINGS AN ELBOW BACK! But Himura is able to duck underneath it and replies with a big knife chop! He lets a second fly, and it has enough impact behind it to send her opponent staggering!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro tries to follow that up with a running lariat but Diamond Dixon doesn’t go down! She tries for another…AND DIXON CATCHES WITH THE BEARHUG! This is not the position you have to be in dude, not at all! Sayuri Himura is having her spine crushed by her opponent…all the life is being squeezed out of her! But Himura begins to rally here…driving down some elbows into her head! She manages to get her opponent to drop her down…AND THEN ROCKS HER WITH THE UPPERCUT! BUT DIXON REPLIES WITH A BIG BOOT!
Persephone: She nearly took her opponent’s head off with that one! Himura goes down and tries to scramble back to her feet! BUT AS SHE DOES…DIXON LIFTS HER AND SPIKES HER DOWN WITH A SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: Dixon’s got a smirk on her face as she runs the ropes! She builds up some speed and then looks for a running leg drop! Himura is able to move out of the way, letting her opponent land rear first on the mat! I think the wind night have been knocked out of Dixon with that! She tries to stand back up but Himura is on her in a flash! She rocks her with the European uppercut AND FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH THE EXPLODER SUPLEX!
Thadd Blazevich: It took a lot of her to throw her opponent there but she managed to pull it off bro! Himura looks to follow that display up with another! She drags Dixon back to her feet and lifts her up! SHE LOOKS FOR THE FALCON ARROW BRO! BUT DIXON DOESN’T FEEL LIKE GOING BACK UP IN THE AIR! SHE COUNTERS WITH ANOTHER SUPLEX! She doesn’t relent, lifting Himura up another time and sending her into the ropes with an irish whip! CLOTHESLINE OFF THE REBOUND DUDE!
Persephone: And she completely turned her opponent inside out with that one! Himura practically did a backflip from that impact. And now she hooks the leg, looking for the first cover of this match!
ONE!
TW-
Rich Russillo: But Himura is able to get the shoulder up before the two count! It looks like we have a long way to go before ‘The Ghost’ fades away tonight! But Diamond Dixon is willing to send her into the afterlife no questions asked! She drags her opponent back up to a vertical base! SHE THEN HOISTS HER INTO THE AIR LOOKING FOR THE GORILLA PRESS!
Thadd Blazevich: NO BRO! Sayuri Himura is able to slide off and land right behind Dixon! SHE NAILS HER WITH A ROLLING ELBOW STRAIGHT TO THE BACK OF THE DOME! Dixon staggers forward towards the ropes! SHE TURNS AROUND AND DUDE! SHE GETS BLASTED BY A RUNNING LARIAT THAT SENDS HER OVER THE TOP ROPE! It looks like this one is already spilling to the outside! Himura for one, would rather this be settled inside the ring! She heads to the ringside and tries to get Dixon back inside the ring!
Persephone: BUT DIXON SHOVES HER INTO THE APRON INSTEAD! Himura’s ribs collide with the steel apron and that’s definitely gotta hurt! And now her opponent lifts her up…AND SLAMS HER INTO THE RINGSIDE FLOOR WITH A SPINEBUSTER! You know, it sucks to be Himura right now.
Rich Russillo: You could say at the very least she finds herself in a difficult situation! It hasn’t been too long into this match and Dixon is inflicting some major damage! Dixon lifts Himura up and rolls her back inside the ring! She wants to finish this thing as early as possible! SHE PUTS HER HAND AROUND HER THROAT! COULD WE SEE A CHOKE SLAM?
Thad Blazevich: BUT HIMURA SHOVES THE ARM TO THE SIDE! SHE THEN LETS A KNIFE-EDGE CHOP FLY AGAIN BRO! That one had some oomph behind it! AND THEN SHE FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH AN ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL SERIES OF UPPERCUTS! SHE JUST KEEPS GOING DUDE, OVER AND OVER TO WEAR DIXON DOWN! AND THEN SHE LIFTS HER UP ONCE…SAITO SUPLEX! A GNARLY LANDING FOR HER OPPONENT! Himura scrambles on top of her for a cover!
ONE!
TW-
Persephone: And that certainly didn’t get the job done. In fact, Dixon was able to shoulder up before even a two count! Sayuri Himura looks dumbfounded but come on…did she really think that was going to be the end?
Rich Russillo: She shakes it off and decides to continue with her offense here! She brings Dixon back up to her feet…AND SENDS HER INTO THE CORNER WITH AN IRISH WHIP! Dixon hits the turnbuckles and bounces off of them…SHE TURNS AROUND INTO A SHOTGUN DROPKICK! NO WAIT! DIXON CATCHES THE LEGS INSTEAD! She reaches down and lifts her opponent sky high! ARE WE ABOUT TO SEE A POWERBOMB HERE?
Thadd Blazevich: HIMURA ONCE AGAIN RAINING DOWN ELBOWS ONTO HER OPPONENT! She desperately chips away at Dixon to avoid being flattened here! She’s able to get dropped down once again, landing on her feet! She goes to build up speed again…BUT DIXON CATCHES HER BY THE WAISTBAND! SHE GRABS HER AND SMASHES HIMURA’S FACE OFF THE CORNER TURNBUCKLE! She then sends her into the opposite corner with a hard irish whip…AND THAT’S A NASTY COLLISION THERE AS HIMURA HITS THEM FULL SPEED!
Persephone: She staggers back towards the center of the ring and Diamond Dixon takes her right off her feet with a massive spinebuster! And once again, this is not where you want to be if your name is Sayuri Himura! She’s about to be in a world of hurt!
Rich Russillo: Absolutely! Diamond Dixon lifts her up off the mat and sends her into the ropes with an irish whip! OFF THE REBOUND SHE LOOKS FOR THE SPEAR TO CUT HER IN HALF! BUT HIMURA IS ABLE TO LEAP AND ROLL RIGHT OVER HER OPPPONENT! Both of them scramble back up to their feet before Himura is quicker on the draw! SHE BLASTS DIXON WITH THE SHOTGUN DROPKICK! SHE CATCHES HER CENTER MASS AND SENDS HER FLYING BACK INTO THE CORNER TURNBUCKLES!
Thadd Blazevich: AND SHE BOUNCES RIGHT OFF OF IT BRO AND STUMBLES TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RING! Here comes Sayuri Himura from behind! SHE GRABS HER OPPONENT AND TRIES FOR THE TSUKUYOMI DUDE! BUT THE BRIDGING DRAGON SUPLEX NEVER LANDS! DIXON TEARS ONE OF HER ARMS AWAY AND THEN ELBOWS HIMURA RIGHT IN THE FACE! She gets free here…AND REPLIES WITH A DROPKICK!
Persephone: And down goes Himura once more here! Diamond Dixon is thinking about she can do enough damage to keep her down! She rolls her over on her back…AND HITS A LEG DROP! That comes down like a guillotine! She then runs the ropes, building up speed…AND HITS ANOTHER! She rolls Himura over and looks for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
Rich Russillo: BUT HIMURA GETS THE SHOULDER UP! Dixon doesn’t love that at all and looks at the referee to verify! She shakes off her frustrations and lifts her opponent back to their feet! SHE THEN PUTS THE HAND AROUND THEIR THROAT ONCE MORE! BUT THE CHOKESLAM IS DENIED WITH A MASSIVE EUROPEAN UPPERCUT! Himura sends her opponent reeling backwards there…she stumbles into the ropes…AND IS MET BY A ROLLING ELBOW!
Thadd Blazevich: A lot of hard strikes being brought out in this one bros! And I have a feeling we’ve barely begun! Dixon remains leaning on the ropes while Himura heads across the ring to build up some speed…AND SHE’S MET ON HER WAY BACK WITH A MASSIVE BIG BOOT! DIXON REPLIES WITH FULL FORCE DUDE! Both of these two ladies hit the mat and it seemed like Dixon was acting on instinct there! And now they’re trying to stand back up but both of them have been hitting hard all match!
Persephone: And now they get to their feet and rush right at each other! Himura is able to duck underneath the clothesline! Himura gets around her…AND TAKES HER DOWN WITH THE SAITO SUPLEX! She then hooks the leg for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
Rich Russillo: But she manages to get the shoulder up once again! Right at the two count as well! Sayuri Himura isn’t disheartened quite yet, instead she looks to get right back on the offensive! She drags Diamond Dixon back to a vertical base here and gets her with a knife edge chop! AND ANOTHER! AND ANOTHER! She drives her all the way to the corner using those brutal strikes! She then tries to lift her up and get her on that top rope! SHE DOES IT!
Thadd Blazevich: And now Himura climbs up there with her with Dixon! She just starts laying into her bro, clearly trying to wear her for something big! AND NOW’S SHE TRYING TO LIFT HER UP…ARE WE ABOUT TO SEE HER HIT AN AVALANCHE FALCON ARROW HERE DUDE?
Persephone: Nope. Diamond Dixon breaks free and pays her back with some hard right hands! SHE THEN SHOVES HIMURA DOWN FROM THAT TOP ROPE! Himura landed harshly on the mat and that was definitely painful. Dixon in the meantime, readjusts herself…AND TAKES HER OPPONENT DOWN WITH A FLYING CLOTHESLINE!
Rich Russillo: That isn’t typically in Dixon’s repertoire but when in Rome! She lifts Himura back off her feet…AND GETS HER IN ANOTHER BEAR HUG! She’s going right back after that lower back again! She knows that she needs to cut off any bit of lifting ability Himura might have! Himura reaches out towards the ropes but she can’t get anywhere! Instead she starts driving elbows down into her opponent’s head, trying to get free the same way as earlier in this match!
Thadd Blazevich: But Dixon doesn’t want to put up with that for too long! SHE DRIVES HIMURA RIGHT INTO THE TURNBUCKLES BRO AND CRUSHES HER! SHE THEN THROWS HER BACK TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RING! As Himura struggles to get back to her feet, Dixon rushes forward and helps off of them with a brutal running clothesline! Himura looks completely out of it after that one! It might not be too long before she’s done for dude!
Persephone: Yep, it’s about to be a very bad night for Sayuri Himura! Dixion looks to finish this one off now! SHE REACHES AND LIFTS HER UP…AND THEN GETS HER WITH THAT POWERBOMB! Oh this is so over now! She looks for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
T-
Rich Russillo: BUT NO! Somehow Himura is still able to kick out of that! Diamond Dixon looks completely dumbfounded here! She thought that it was over! She grits her teeth and shoots the official a dirty look! He confirms that it was a two count! She takes out her frustrations on her opponent instead! SHE LETS OUT A FEW NASTY STOMPS BEFORE LIFTING HIMURA TO HER FEET! She lifts her up and tries for another powerbomb!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT HIMURA IS ABLE TO TAKE HER DOWN WITH A HURRICANRANA! She barely is able to avoid that one bro! Dixon is taken by surprise and she goes to recover…SHE’S DRILLED BY A SHOTGUN DROPKICK! IT CATCHES HER RIGHT IN THE CENTER MASS ONCE DUDE AND SHE ROLLS OUT OF THE RING! Himura doesn’t love that but she knows she needs to stay on a warpath! She climbs out onto the apron…AND DELIVERS A MASSIVE DIVING EUROPEAN UPPERCUT TO TAKE DIXON OFF HER FEET ONCE MORE!
Persephone: And great! It looks like the action is spilled onto the outside once again! This is going to descend to chaos real quick I bet. Himura lifts Dixon up and goes to throw her inside the ring! BUT DIXON TRIES TO SMASH HER FACE OFF THE APRON! Himura was anticipating the cheap shot this time and slips behind Dixon instead! AND THEN GETS HER WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX!
Rich Russillo: Dixon lands headfirst on the hard floor out here! That’s definitely going to take the fight right out of her! Himura picks her up and rolls her back inside the ring! It seems like the ball is completely in her court at the moment! And she definitely digs down deep to take advantage of that! SHE HOOKS THE ARMS OF DIXON…AND TAKES HER DOWN WITH THE TIGER DRIVER ’98! THE BLACK MEMORY CONNECTS! She looks for the cover and she might have this!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-
Thadd Blazevich: NO! DIAMOND DIXON GETS HER SHOULDER UP RIGHT BEFORE A THREE COUNT! Himura is struggling to believe it! She thought that she won this but it’s not over! Himura has no choice but to break out the big guns now! She slowly drags Dixon back up…AND THEN GOES TO END THIS WITH THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB! MUKANJO BRO!
Persephone: BUT DIXON BREAKS FREE AND SHOVES HER AWAY! Himura rushes right back at her but she’s taken down by a surprise spinebuster! That was pretty close for Dixon and you can tell she doesn’t love that at all.
Rich Russillo: in fact, now she looks to finish this one off herself! She lifts Himura up and grabs her by both sides of the face! She stares her straight in the eyes and talks some trash! WE ALL KNOW WHAT’S COMING NEXT FOLKS! SHE LOOKS FOR THE FACELIFT AND HIMURA IS DONE FOR!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT NO! HIMURA IS ABLE TO PULL HER HEAD BACK AND AVOID THAT BRUTAL FACEBUSTER! Dixon lands on her behind bro…AND HIMURA BLASTS HER WITH A DROPKICK TO THE FACE! Himura then rolls up to her feet and lets out a rallying cry! SHE LINES UP HER SHOT AS DIXON SCRAMBLES BACK TO HER FEET! AND HERE COMES THE IZANAMI SPINNING BACKFIST!
Persephone: BUT DIXON BLOCKS IT WITH ONE HAND AND THEN THE OTHER COMES AROUND THE THROAT OF HIMURA! SHE FINALLY LIFTS HER UP AND DELIVERS A BIG CHOKESLAM! Dixon goes for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-
Rich Russillo: BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY SAYURI HIMURA KICKS OUT BEFORE THE THREE! These two elitists have been pulling out all the stops here tonight, pulling out the biggest moves in their repertoire to get the job done! Dixon knows that she needs to resort to extreme measures if she wants to put her opponent in the dirt! She reaches down and grabs Himura by the throat…lifting her up…AND THEN ONTO HER SHOULDERS! TORTURE RACK! OH MY GOD SHE’S GOING TO TRY AND BREAK HIMURA IN HALF HERE! You can see the absolute agony written all over Himura’s face!
Thadd Blazevich: And she just might have to tap out here bro! This is hard to watch! BUT HIMURA KEEPS ON FIGHTING THROUGH THE PAIN! She drives her elbow into the face of Dixon over and over again! Bro, she is just firing off everything she can just to survive here! And eventually it’s enough! Dixon drops her down and Himura is freed from the hold! She’s clutching at her lower back and clearly there’s not that much gas left in the tank bro!
Persephone: Dixon comes back at her with a big right hand…BUT HIMURA CATCHES IT…AND THEN SHE DELIVERS IT! THE SPINNING BACKFIST CONNECTS! THE IZANAMI KNOCKS DIXON DOWN AND HIMURA CRAWLS ON TOP HER, BARELY ABLE TO HOOK THE LEG!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-
Rich Russillo: BUT NO! DIXON KICKS OUT OF IT WITH AUTHORITY! SHE PRACTICALLY SHOVES HIMURA OFF OF HER! She is operating on pure survival instinct here and Himura looks completely shocked! But she can’t waver now…she has to keep pushing if she wants this win and by god does she want it! She brings Dixon back up…AND THEN JUST STARTS THROWING CHOPS AND AN UPPERCUTS LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW! EVERYTHING SHE CAN MUSTER IS GOING INTO THIS VICIOUS COMBINATION!
Thadd Blazevich: And she is absolutely doing whatever she has to here dude! Dixon barely looks like she knows what arena she’s in now! Himura holds off on the strikes and instead lines up her shot instead…SHE LOOKS FOR THE KNEE LIFT BRO! SAYONARA DIAMOND DIXON!
Persephone: BUT DIXON MOVES OUT OF THE WAY AT THE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND! SHE DODGED A BULLET THERE! AS HIMURA TURNS BACK AROUND, SHE BOOTS HER IN THE GUT! DIXON THEN DRIVES HER SKULL INTO THE MAT WITH THE DDT!
Rich Russillo: But she’s hardly stopping there folks! No, Dixon brings them both back to their feet and sends her into the ropes with an irish whip! OFF THE REBOUND SHE LOOKS FOR THE SPEAR BUT HIMURA THROWS HER BODY INTO DIXON’S WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT INSTEAD! THAT WAS A GAMBIT THAT PAID OFF! At least for a few moments here as Himura recovers from that DDT! She pulls herself together and drags Dixon off the mat! SHE LIFTS HER SKY HIGH…
Thadd Blazevich: BUT NO! THE DAMAGE TO HER BACK IS TOO MUCH! SHE DROPS DIXON BEFORE SHE CAN COMPLETE THE MOVE! She is looking in rough shape but she refuses to stop here! Himura goes to pick Dixon back up…AND DIXON IMMEDIATELY GETS HER WITH THE FACELIST! NO BRO! THE FACEBUSTER CONNECTS OUT OF NOWHERE! DIXON ROLLS ON TOP OF HIMURA!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(“Nice To Meet Yah” by Asian Doll blasts throughout the arena and there’s a very mixed reaction from the crowd. An exhausted Dixon rolls off of Sayuri Himura as Cosmo Goldworthy claps for her. After a moment, Diamond begins to get back to her feet with a smile.)
Bella Braxton: HERE IS YOUR WINNER…DDIIIAAAMMOOONNNDDD DIXXXOOONNN!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro that was a match right there! Both of these elitists put their best forward tonight, an absolute war between these two competitors! I mean, I’m personally amazed by what we just saw out of these two my dudes.
Persephone: Yeah, but does it really matter? All that matters is that Diamond Dixon is the winner.
Rich Russillo: Agree and disagree! Sayuri Himura should get credit where it’s due! She put her heart in this match and was so close to getting the win! Alas, it was Dixon who was able to get the win with that Facelift out of nowhere!
(Diamond Dixon walks up the ramp, alongside Cosmo Goldworthy who is absolutely shit-talking and celebrating as hard as he can. Himura is left looking disappointed in the ring, not even standing yet. Meanwhile, as Diamond and Cosmo leave, someone else begins walking out to the stage.)
Thadd Blazevich: Wait a second here bros…it looks like we have a visitor! It looks like Carmen Sánchez is here!
Rich Russillo: We heard the conversation she had with Sayuri Himura following her debut match. Looks like Sayuri wasn’t the only one watching to see what’s going on here.
(Carmen Sánchez stands on the ramp looking at Himura in the ring. She gives a slow nod to Sayuri Himura in the ring, which is met back with a staredown, as Sayuri returns to her feet. There is one final shot of the two staring each other down, before the camera fades from there.)
(The camera begins to fade over towards the backstage area, where Sofia Clarke can be seen walking through the hallway with a microphone in her hand. At the time she seems to have noticed someone in the area, and she begins to pick up the pace, walking faster in an attempt to catch up to the person she has noticed, until finally she begins to speak.)
Sofia Clarke: Miku! Miku, do you have a moment?
(The fans immediately begin to boo as the camera pans over towards Miku Sakai, who was about to turn the corner of the hallway. Miku turns towards Sofia, and despite appearing annoyed, she reluctantly stops.)
Miku Sakai: What? What do you want now?
(Sofia is a bit taken aback by the hostility, but after a moment she responds to Miku.)
Sofia Clarke: Well, if it’s okay I’d like to take the time to interview you.
(Miku stares at Sofia for a second, before eventually she just looks away and sighs, turning back towards Sofia.)
Miku Sakai: Alright. Fine. Ask away, I guess.
Sofia Clarke: Thank you. Now, I’m sure you already know what’s on everyone’s mind, but I think it is only right that I ask you directly about it. Miku, last week you unleashed a brutal assault on Adam Lucas, moments before he could fulfill his own goal of attacking Kai Rabeaux. It was a very violent scene that ended with Adam Lucas left in a bloody mess, and right now I think we’re all just wondering the same thing. Why?
Miku Sakai: …
(Miku stares at Sofia for a while, and after some time, a more disgusted look begins to form on her face.)
Miku Sakai: That’s it?
(This response just leaves Sofia confused.)
Sofia Clarke: What do you mean?
Miku Sakai: You disrespect me weeks ago interviewing that loser bitch Jon Kelton and I beat him at King of Elite. Now you finally have the chance to interview an Elitist that’s actually good at their job, and instead of asking me about what I plan to do next since my season’s completely gone to shit, or about how I was completely screwed out of becoming World Champion this season, or about literally anything that actually matters, you STILL find a way to make it about Adam Lucas?? Are you serious right now??
Sofia Clarke: Well, I jus-
Miku Sakai: No, SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP! CLEARLY you’re just useless as shit, but I guess I should’ve expected that! God you’re dumb as fuck. You ask me for an interview and the first thing you want to ask me about is Adam Lucas. WHY WOULD YOU THINK I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ADAM LUCAS? DID YOU HEAR A SINGLE WORD I SAID LAST WEEK?? Do you know how many annoying little weirdos have been running up to me trying to ask about Adam?? I can’t get away from him! Real life, on social media, everywhere I look all I see is “Adam Lucas” this and “Adam Lucas” that, but what about me, hm? Where are the questions about someone that actually matters around here? Someone besides that annoying ass couple??
(Sofia is stunned at this point, unsure of what she should even say after the outburst from Miku, not anticipating such anger following her question. She takes a moment, trying to collect her thoughts before speaking.)
Sofia Clarke: I- if you want I could ask about something els-
Miku Sakai: No, just stop. Literally just shut the fuck up for a second. You probably don’t even have any other questions. You and everyone else is so busy feeling sorry for Adam Lucas of all people as if he hasn’t spent the past year and a half terrorizing the Voltage roster! ADAM DESERVED IT, OKAY??? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANNA HEAR SO BADLY?? Is it?? I already said everything I needed to! Adam deserved everything that happened to him and if we’re being honest he should’ve gotten even more. Right now I should FINALLY be moving on to bigger and better things, but instead here I am talking to you about a stupid piece of shit!
(After hearing this, Sofia just shrugs before beginning to respond, unsure of what else she can even do at this point but apologize.)
Sofia Clarke: Sorry. I guess I just-
???: MIKU!!!!!!
(Suddenly, both Miku Sakai and Sofia Clarke turn towards the direction the yelling came from. Sofia takes a few steps back, unsure of what is about to happen. Miku on the other hand just appears even further annoyed, but she doesn’t back down. Instead she waits, as Adam Lucas storms into the area.)
(Adam walks directly up to Miku Sakai, and once in the camera’s view, it is clear that Adam is in rough shape. On top of still sporting bruises from Miku’s attack last week he is beyond furious, from Miku’s attack to Kai Rabeaux’s escape to everything else he has dealt with, but behind it all he just looks exhausted. He and Miku stare at each other for a moment, and it takes some time, but eventually Adam is able to bring himself to speak to her.)
Adam Lucas: Do you have… Even the slightest idea of what you did?
(Miku rolls her eyes.)
Miku Sakai: Ohhhh my Goddddd, who cares??? Why do I need to-
Adam Lucas: I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT, MIKU! The last thing I need- the absolute last thing I need right now is to have to deal with your bullshit. You don’t get it. You don’t give a fuck about anyone but yourself and that’s fine, I don’t care, but all you had to do was mind your business. The only thing you needed to do was NOT get in my way, and you didn’t just fail to do that. You did worse… Right. I guess it wasn’t enough for you to win at King of Elite, is it? It’s not enough that you beat Jon Kelton, it’s not enough that you get World Championship opportunities, it’s not enough that you get the interviews you asked for, all the attention in the world isn’t enough to satisfy your miserable ass so instead of minding your own business, you chose to attack me… You chose to come picking a fight with me at the worst possible time, and now all of a sudden you think you have nothing to explain!?
Miku Sakai: Yeah. I do. I don’t have anything to explain, because I shouldn’t have had to waste my time on you to begin with! I WOULD’VE been happy with being World Champ, but that didn’t happen, did it? You’re part of the reason for that, so what are you expecting here? Are you expecting me to just sit here and apologize, because that’s not gonna happen. I don’t care how you feel. I deserve better than this, and you just keep getting in the way!
(Adam just stares at Miku for a moment, and despite the brief lack of words between the two, it is clear just how heated they are. Adam is forced to look away at Miku for a moment, doing his very best to remain calm despite the circumstances. Despite the heavy breathing, he just shakes his head, turning back to Miku and beginning to speak once more.)
Adam Lucas: Why should I care, Miku? With the year I had, with everything that happened, with… With everything that I’m going through right now, what makes you think that I care what you’re dealing with? Do you really think that this is about you, Miku? I didn’t go looking for you last week. I wasn’t “in your way”, YOU ATTACKED ME! I was right there… I was fingertips away from giving a dead man everything he deserves, and just before I could put him in the ground you decided you’d get in the way. YOU LET HIM ESCAPE, MIKU! I HAD HIM! I FINALLY HAD HIM AND YOU JUST WENT AND THREW IT AWAY! YOU LET THE MAN WHO TOOK OUR CHILD FROM US RUN AWAY JUST SO YOU CAN HANDLE A PETTY ONE-SIDED GRUDGE AND NOW YOU’RE HERE BITCHING ABOUT IT! WHY??? Because nobody cares about you, that’s it?? I’m not the problem here, Miku… I’m not the one that asked for this. YOU started this, so whatever comes your way, whatever happens going forward, the only one you can blame for any of it is YOU.
(Adam takes steps forward while saying this, causing Miku to have to step backwards. However, once he stops Miku remains where she is, and she isn’t amused whatsoever, even in the face of a clearly tense and disheveled Adam Lucas.)
Miku Sakai: Do you think I’m scared of you or something??
Adam Lucas: I don’t care how you feel about me. That’s what you don’t ge-
Miku Sakai: No I got it perfectly fine, what you’re saying is just dumb as fuck. Why is what I did so wrong, hm? What makes my problem with you some petty grudge while you can spend nearly an entire season fighting Jake Smith while nobody says anything about it?? You’re not innocent. You’re not some victim and I don’t see why you’re being treated like one just because everything’s gone to shit for you. It was about time stuff like this happened to you if you ask me. You shouldn’t even be here right now. You should be rotting in a hospital bed right now, or better yet you should just roll over and die so this place can finally move on from you.
Adam Lucas: You already had your shot, and you didn’t do it while you could. You screwed up Miku, and I mean that. I’m not here for your stupid games, I’m not here to entertain some back and forth with you, and I’m definitely not here to make you feel better about the awful season you had. I’m just holding onto the last bit of composure I have left right now to tell you like it is, and the one and only thing I can say is that you shouldn’t have done that. You went out of your way to make things more difficult, and in case you still have yet to get it through your thick skull, you’re not the only one being affected by this. Do you think I want to be the topic of conversation right now? Do you think I was happy with where I was, even before you attacked me? You don’t know what you’re doing and we’ve known that for years which is why you can never actually get anything going without finding some way to sabotage yourself, but this isn’t about Championships or attention or whatever else you’re worried about anymore. You’re on very thin ice right now and I’m only going to give you one warning. Be very… Very careful with the next words that leave your mouth.
(There was a shaky, yet serious tone in Adam’s voice as he said this. However, hearing the threat only put a smirk on Miku’s face, who wasn’t buying it.)
Miku Sakai: Or what? You look like shit, and instead of just going home or wherever you’re staying these days, you keep coming here as if that’s actually gonna solve your problems. Clearly being here is only making your life worse so it should be pretty fucking obvious what you should do by now, but you’re going out of your way to be a dumbass and expecting me to feel sympathy for you like everyone else. I’m just gonna tell you right now that it’s not happening. I don’t care what you’re going through or how badly you’re hurting. I’m not gonna feel bad for you just because you’re throwing tantrums like that baby you’ll never ha-
(Finally, Adam Lucas snapped. He threw a punch that caught Miku off guard, causing her to stumble backwards, right into the wall. Adam grabbed her, and he threw her into the crates and chairs that were located within the hallway. Miku tumbled over the chairs before hitting the crate, but before she could even fall off of the chairs, Adam dragged her back up, pulling her back before throwing her head directly into the crate.)
(Adam dragged Miku back up before once again beginning to strike, throwing forearms and elbows to the back of her head while she was still leaning on the production crate. Adam raised Miku’s head after this, slamming it onto the crate one more time before finally dragging Miku off of it, allowing her to just hit the floor. Miku tried to pull herself to all fours to crawl away just long enough to get her bearings, but Adam rushed over, grabbing her before lifting her up onto his shoulders.)
(Adam turned the corner after this, running in before throwing Miku into the wall with a powerbomb, leaving Miku laid out right next to a door. Miku at this point wasn’t moving any longer, but after what she had just said, and with everything Adam’s already going through, he was nowhere near satisfied. Adam walked over towards the door and pulled it open, before dragging Miku over towards it, propping her against the door frame. After this Adam stepped back, grabbing onto the door.)
(THUD!)
(THUD!)
(THUD!)
(THUD!)
(He began repeatedly slamming the door into Miku Sakai’s head, bashing it against her head as hard as he could, pouring everything he had into it without holding back. He kept going, not even stopping after seeing the repeated shots to the head bust Miku’s head open. He had no intention of stopping, and was willing to keep bashing the door into Miku’s head for as long as he felt was necessary.)
(However, he couldn’t.)
(Eventually, the door’s swinging slowed, before coming to a complete halt. After this, Adam Lucas just slowly crumbled to his knees, barely managing to continue holding onto the door. He wasn’t feeling the effects of his injuries from Shock Value, nor was Miku Sakai’s attack last week catching up to him. Instead, Adam had broken into tears, unable to bring himself to do much more with everything on his mind. A rift had already been formed between himself and Dr. Bethany Blue heading into Shock Value, but since then life had only spiraled into an even bigger mess than he could’ve ever imagined, from Kai Rabeaux’s actions costing he and Bethany their child, to now Miku Sakai applying further salt in the wound. He was already desperate last week, but now he wasn’t even sure what to do, and everything that has been on his mind for the last three weeks had taken its toll.)
(Adam remained on his knees, not even moving as security guards began to rush into the area, stumbling on the chaotic scene that had unfolded. Tears continued to fall from Adam’s eyes, and when the security guards made their way over to him, he didn’t even fight them. Instead they were forced to help Adam Lucas back to his feet, slowly dragging him away from the area as he was overcome with emotion, and was too much of a mess to worry about dealing with security.)
(During all of this, medical personnel began to also rush in. They went to check on Miku Sakai, and during all of this, Miku had not moved one bit, as blood could be seen on the side of the door thanks to the attack from Adam Lucas. With one last shot of the scene that had unfolded, Voltage faded away from the area.)
(Voltage fades to Cody Maverick in the backstage area, in his usual, signature casual wear and sunglasses over his eyes, covering up the topic of curiosity that is his injured right eye. Cody wasn’t doing anything too special at the moment, seeing as his schedule for this edition of Voltage has opened up more than past editions, so he was simply sitting up on a production crate, looking at his phone, handling whatever business he didn’t have time to before this.)
(When suddenly, a face he had never seen before, dressed in a three-piece suit, approaches him.)
???: Sir Cody Maverick?
(Cody looks up…)
Cody Maverick: Yeah?
(And responds reluctantly, placing his phone in his pocket.)
???: Nice to meet you.
(The person extends a handshake, and Cody hesitantly shakes it…)
???: My name is Patrick Nestrada. You can call me Pat, if you so desire. I am the Executive Operations Leader of The Armstrong Group — working critically under Drake Armstrong himself to ensure we make the best dealings possible and keep ourselves at the top of the animalistic food chain of the corporate world.
(Cody Maverick stares blankly for a second.)
Cody Maverick: Great. One of those guys. With all due respect, how about you go piss off?
Patrick Nestrada: I am afraid that is not possible, Mr. Maverick. You have nothing to worry about; I rather have a simple message to deliver on behalf of Drake Armstrong. Sir Armstrong has a proposition for you, one that is hard to refuse, and he only wishes you hear him out.
(Cody sighs.)
Cody Maverick: I’m good.
(The Armstrong underling was visibly losing his temper, but he’d keep it together long enough to persuade Cody.)
Patrick Nestrada: Mr. Maverick… a few minutes to spare wouldn’t hurt, now would it? Like I said, you have nothing to worry about. Sir Drake Armstrong only has some words to spare to you without any more animosity between the two of you, words that he believes could help both of you out in the long run.
Cody Maverick: Is that so? In that case, why couldn’t he come out here himself?
Patrick Nestrada: Sir Armstrong is a very busy man. He took time out of his day especially for this, so he would be rather disappointed if I come back with an answer he wouldn’t like. Could you please, Mr. Maverick, make this easy for the both of us and come to his office with me?
(Cody sighs, again.)
Cody Maverick: Fine, but I’m only doing this to save your ass.
(Patrick forces a smile.)
Patrick Nestrada: Thank you for your cooperation. Please follow me.
(Cody hops off the production crate, and begins to follow behind the suit.)
(Not long after, Patrick notices the door, and makes a comment.)
Patrick Nestrada: Security is sleeping on the job again? Ugh, I will have to handle that. Anyhow, Mr. Maverick, Drake Armstrong is waiting for you inside. Please make yourself comfortable.
Cody Maverick: … Thanks.
(It seems security was supposed to be attending the door, but nobody was there. Cody enters directly without a knock, while Patrick makes his way somewhere else to figure out the mess. Cody steps into a big conference room, with a massive table spearheaded by Drake Armstrong, with the EAW World Title clicked together, sat on the table, and in front of Drake, a chess table that he’d be playing by himself.)
(Armstrong looks up.)
Drake Armstrong: Cody! You’re finally here. Couldn’t spare me a knock on the door?
(Cody was quite confused by Armstrong’s sudden friendliness. He doesn’t give him a direct response.)
Cody Maverick: Funny. This conference room is what they could spare for their “King of the World?”
Drake Armstrong: Unfortunately, this arena did not have the funds to accommodate all of my requests, and with Matthiaseu Daniels back in office, he is quite stubborn over his own accommodations and isn’t exactly big on sharing. Anyhow, please, take a seat of your choosing.
(Cody shrugs, and just sits on their chair across from Drake Armstrong, keeping himself at a distance.)
Drake Armstrong: Interesting choice. Could I serve you with anything?
Cody Maverick: Nah.
Drake Armstrong: Okay. So, how’s that eye doing? How did the neurological tests come back?
(Cody tilts his head, wanting to comfort his eye that’s still itching, but being unable to move his hand… he’s quite pissed at Drake making remarks over damage he himself had caused.)
Cody Maverick: Get to the point. What’s this about, Drake?
Drake Armstrong: I see you’re not one for fellowship and small talk. Fine, then. Let’s talk, princeling. I have a proposition for you.
Cody Maverick: I’m listening… for now.
Drake Armstrong: Of course. I see both you and Hans Grayson have caused quite the ruckus recently. Hans persuaded you with friendliness at first, yet it seems things escalated in your match later in the night, and everything turned into chaos, with the two of you fighting each other like there’s no tomorrow. I want to offer you a quick word of advice about this Hans Grayson creature… this is how his mask slips. Hans Grayson pretends to be your friend, then little by little shows you his true self. He is no fighter, he is no warrior. He is a coward who is only in it for himself.
Cody Maverick: Whatever happened with Hans Grayson last week isn’t all that big in my mind. Aren’t you just projecting here, Drake?
Drake Armstrong: Aht, aht. That’s where the issue lies, believing it’s nothing big. Trust me, princeling, I thought the same at first, though the more you get to know Hans Grayson, the more evident it becomes of the man he actually is beneath the mask. Thinking the issues are not too big is what he WANTS you to think, and you’re falling into his trap, princeling. Now, THINK, for a second, why would Hans Grayson want to get close to you, before escalating the situation the moment you two would get your hands on each other?
Cody Maverick: I dunno Drake, how about you open my eyes?
Drake Armstrong: Very well, princeling, though it saddens me you cannot understand this yourself without having your hand held.
Cody Maverick: Nah, trust me, I understand all of it. I’m just curious to hear you out. Isn’t that what I’m here for after all?
Drake Armstrong: Fair enough. The truth is that both of you hunt for one common thing.
(Drake grabs the EAW World Championship on the desk, and places it over his shoulder.)
Drake Armstrong: This. The EAW World Championship. He has that Cash In The Vault briefcase, one we both know can be used in very venomous ways by even the men held most highly on the moral pedestal in EAW, and you have the King of Elite crown. You two are in constant competition for who may take my head first. So, not only are you both in competition with me, but you’re in competition with each other. Do tell, if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be in Hans Grayson’s best interest to rule you out as soon as possible?
Cody Maverick: I guess so, but that’s just the nature of the game.
Drake Armstrong: What you don’t understand is that Hans is someone who wants to dictate the “nature of the game.” You see the way he lurks around, seeking for an opportunity to strike, little by little taking his shot at the rest of the competition before ensuring there’s nobody else standing in his path.
Cody Maverick: Drake, Drake. This is outrageous. You’re giving me a play-by-play over how YOU reached the top.
Drake Armstrong: Not at all. I extended my hand to Hans Grayson, and he threw it all away because he was too individualistic and paranoid to accept it. I see no similarities here. If it were you walking out victorious at Shock Value—hypothetically speaking—do you not think Hans Grayson would pull out that same vile act he did with me? This isn’t about personal animosity, it’s about the man creating an enemy out of you so he gives himself an out for the antics he presents, and so the fans cheer him on despite his actions. He brandishes himself a superhero yet could not be the furthest thing from it. Let’s face it, “Codester”, Hans Grayson is our biggest, most immediate threat and he is very aware of it. That’s why he “happened” to come by you, have a friendly little chat, then things just “randomly” imploded once you two came face to face. There’s a lot of pressure there, and pressure brings us to our true nature. The pressure on Hans Grayson’s shoulders is to ensure YOU don’t pose a threat to HIM so that his vile Cash In The Vault moment can come at a time most opportune… before his window of opportunity expires in three months time.
Cody Maverick: Cool, so we’re in a competitive little three-way. That’s all fine. You know I have a lot of time until I can use this King of Elite stip, right? You could be long gone by the time I decide to make my move.
Drake Armstrong: But that’s how fools think. As long as you wear that crown over your head, you’re an immediate threat and a target is on your back at all times. And it’s quite obvious Hans Grayson wants to deal with you as soon as possible while the walls are closing in on him.
Cody Maverick: Sigh…
Drake Armstrong: Our issues can, for now, remain a thing of the past—which makes Hans Grayson our common enemy here. And you know what they say about the enemy of my enemy, right?
Cody Maverick: I do. But this is my thing to handle, so stay out of it. I’m not here to help you and your reign of tyranny out, alright?
Drake Armstrong: Oh, not so fast, princeling. You shouldn’t make up your mind so quickly, after all, there is *a lot* to get out of this.
(Drake Armstrong rubs his thumb and his index finger together in a very obvious manner.)
Cody Maverick: Are you suggesting you’ll pay me for this…?
Drake Armstrong: To take out Hans Grayson. To make this easier for the both of us. In the long run, it’s most beneficial for the both of us if Hans Grayson isn’t slithering around, trying to inject us both with his venom.
Cody Maverick: Drake, c’mon dude. This is insane. The guy cannot be that much of a threat to you, considering you had an entire year to prepare for the moment you two would butt heads again.
Drake Armstrong: That’s NOT what this is about, princeling! You have nothing to lose here, you make yourself richer, give that childhood version of yours some happiness over what you couldn’t have before, and you make your path to the EAW World Championship this much easier. It’s a deal you’d be foolish to negle—
(The sound of a door opening is heard.)
???: Cody!! Finally found you, dude!
(Hans Grayson barges in.)
Hans Grayson: Ah, Drake… you’re here too.
(Cody gets up from his chair, and the two shake hands.)
Hans Grayson: Last week was pretty wild. It seems we both let the idea of fighting get the better of us. Sorry about that. I don’t usually go that far. I hope I didn’t hit the eye or anything.
Cody Maverick: It’s all good, dude. I don’t mind it. The eye is fine. I took a liking to beating the crap out of you anyway.
Hans Grayson: Now that you say it, I guess I did too. So, what’s this about? What is *he* doing here?
Cody Maverick: Drake? Don’t worry about—
Drake Armstrong: Fireheart! Quite rude of you to barge into my office like this, especially after continuously dodging me whenever it’s convenient to you.
Hans Grayson: Dunno what you mean, Drake. I was looking around for Cody, this door was slightly open, so I just went in hoping I’d find him, and there it is.
Drake Armstrong: Because I would believe that. What did you tell the guards at the door to get in?
Hans Grayson: Guards…? There were no guards.
Drake Armstrong: Wow. Very well. This is my private office, Grayson. You don’t just enter in and do whatever you want, whenever you want, got it? You’ve played enough tricks with me up to this point, and I’ve just about had it with you.
Hans Grayson: Ah, come on, Drake. I never went as far as to take you out of action for months with a broken arm, now did I?
Drake Armstrong: …
Hans Grayson: Exactly. Now look, don’t make yourself a bigger problem than you already are. My “vile” actions seem to already have gotten deep under your skin and the more you push me to these lengths, the worse it’ll get for you. Sorry for barging in or whatever, but I suggest you hire competent security next time to avoid that.
Drake Armstrong: Okay, Fireheart. Whatever you say. I have a match to prepare for, so I cannot spend more time on this childish banter with you, Hans Grayson. Now, please leave my office before security actually gets here and deals with you in ways you’d find less than pleasant. And you, Cody… you have my number.
(Drake’s stare is on Cody for a second, to gauge his body language, before lingering back to Hans Grayson as he walks off. Both of the two look on as Drake takes his leave, and then back at each other.)
Hans Grayson: So… what was he talking to you about?
Cody Maverick: Oh… it’s, uh… it’s nothing. Nothing important. Just the usual Drake Armstrong stuff, you know? Gloating, some lifestyle tips. The whole masquerade.
Hans Grayson: Yeah… he’s quite obnoxious, isn’t he?
Cody Maverick: Yeah. Anyway, let’s get out before trouble arises. I’m not trying to fight more than I have to.
Hans Grayson: You got it.
(Hans begins walking off. Cody stays on his feet for a moment, looking on at Hans, before glancing at the chess table behind him. He doesn’t say anything, only lets thoughts flow in and out, before walking out of the pseudo-personal office himself.)
(Promotional ad for Grand Rampage, where Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy face Candice Blair and ARIA.)
(Voltage returns to ringside, where Bella Braxton can be seen with a microphone in her hand.)
Bella Braxton: The following contest is the main event of the evening, and it is a tag team match scheduled for ONE FALL!!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
(‘God Shattering Star’ by Takashi Baba begins to play to loud cheers, as ARIA begins walking out to the stage. ARIA waits there, as ‘So Far So Fake’ by Pierce the Veil begins to replace her own music. Candice Blair meets ARIA on the stage, and the two Elitists look ready and focused for the match ahead of them, knowing who they’ll be up against.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first… The team of CANDICE BLAIR, AND ARIA!!!!!
Rich Russillo: We learned earlier that Candice and ARIA will take on Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy at Grand Rampage. Well, what better way to make a statement than by beating the EAW World Champion and the man eyeing his title?
Thadd Blazevich: Good point, dude. Let’s not forget, this is also Candice and ARIA’s chance to bounce back after taking an L in the tag title match at Shock Value. These two have come a long way as allies. Let’s see where that takes them tonight.
Persephone: Probably not far, since neither of them are actually good wrestlers.
(‘Thoughts of a Dying Atheist’ by Muse hits, receiving more cheers as Jay Jerry Johnson walks out. Jay doesn’t look pleased to be part of this match, but he reluctantly waits at the stage, as ‘Pride and Arrogance’ by Takeru Kanazaki hits, immediately bringing in loud boos. Drake Armstrong walks out with a smirk on his face, taking in the reaction as he just walks past Jay, leaving Jay to shake his head and follow behind.)
Bella Braxton: And their opponents… The team of JAY JERRY JOHNSON, AND THE EAW WORLD CHAMPION, DRAKE ARMSTRONG!!!
Rich Russillo: ARIA and Candice have a tough task ahead of them, as Jay Jerry Johnson and Drake Armstrong are two of Voltage’s best. However, you have to wonder if they’ll actually be on the same page.
Thadd Blazevich: Well Triple J has always been one to at least give these odd partnerships a shot, y’know? If you ask me, this all just depends on if Drake Armstrong is willing to work with him, especially after what happened last time they crossed paths.
Persephone: Well Drake is a weirdo who’s always scheming something, so I’m sure he has something up his sleeve.
(Ding! Ding! Ding!)
Rich Russillo: AND HERE WE GO! The main event for the evening is now underway as Jay Jerry Johnson and ARIA seem to be starting this one off! The two Elitists lock up, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY’RE ALREADY GETTING TO IT AS JAY TWISTS THE ARM OF ARIA! Jay has the arm wrench- BUT ARIA IS ABLE TO ROLL OUT OF IT- ONLY FOR JAY TO SWEEP THE LEGS TO GROUND ARIA! Jay immediately transitions into a grounded headlock- but ARIA gets the headscissors in to pull Jay off of her! Both Elitists now returning to their feet-
Thadd Blazevich: AND ARIA GOES AFTER THE LEG, PICKING IT AND ATTEMPTING TO POSSIBLY TRAP JAY WITH AN ANKLE LOCK EARLY ON! TRIPLE J IS ABLE TO CATCH HIMSELF WITH HIS HANDS BEFORE HE COULD HIT THE MAT THOUGH, AND NOW HE USES HIS FREE LEG TO KICK ARIA’S ARMS OFF OF HIM! Smart move by Jay there who rushes back to his feet- AND DUDE, ARIA JUST CAME IN SWINGING, BUT JAY DUCKED UNDER IT, CAUSING ARIA TO NEARLY COLLIDE WITH THE TURNBUCKLES! ARIA stops and turns-
Persephone: BUT DRAKE ARMSTRONG GRABS ARIA BY THE HAIR, PULLING HER BACK BEFORE HOLDING HER IN PLACE BY THE ARMS! DRAKE IS TELLING JAY TO TAKE A CHEAP SHOT… And the idiot won’t do it?
(Jay storms into the corner, as does the referee. Jay tells Drake to let go, which he does reluctantly so as to not get in the way of a potential victory. As the referee reprimands Drake, Jay just shakes his head, grabbing onto ARIA and pulling her into the middle of the ring for a front facelock-)
Rich Russillo: WAIT A SECOND! INSIDE CRADLE BY ARIA!
ONE!
TWO!!
TH-
Thadd Blazevich: AND JAY KICKS OUT, BUT THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE, BROS! JAY GETS BACK TO HIS FEET- BEFORE GETTING CAUGHT WITH A STEP-UP ENZUIGIRI, CAUSING JAY TO STUMBLE AND FALL THROUGH THE ROPES!
Persephone: ARIA quickly runs the ropes while Jay is still getting his bearings- AND ARIA FLIES AT JAY WITH A SUICIDE DIVE! Wow. It’s been not even five minutes and Drake and Jay are already sabotaging themselves. Amazing.
Rich Russillo: We know Jay Jerry Johnson has never been the worst at working with foes. Usually he is willing to just put his differences aside until the match is over, but Drake Armstrong wanted Jay to go low and take a cheap shot, which just isn’t Jay’s style, especially not unprovoked. I can see why Jay was against Drake’s idea, but unfortunately that was the wrong time for bickering.
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA grabs Triple J before sending him back into the ring, and heading to the top rope. ARIA waits as Jay stumbles back to his feet, BEFORE WIPING BRO OUT WITH THE DIVING METEORA!! AMAZING MOVE BY ARIA RIGHT THERE DUDE, AND NOW SHE HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE COVER!
ONE!
TWO-
Thadd Blazevich: But Jay is a tough dude, and he’s able to kick out! Jay gets to all fours as ARIA returns to her feet, and now ARIA seems to have other plans as she pulls Jay into a front facelock!
Rich Russillo: BUT JAY RUSHES FORWARD, SENDING ARIA BACK FIRST INTO THE TURNBUCKLES INTO HIS CORNER! Jay now pulling ARIA out of the corner, and it seems he may have an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles in mind as he sets ARIA up-
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: But Drake Armstrong just tagged himself in!
Persephone: Great. Just what we needed. Jay turns towards Drake all confused, and Drake just gets in the ring before booting ARIA in the stomach, before taking her to the mat with a snapmare and applying a rear chinlock. I already want Jay back in the match, and I can’t even believe I’m saying that.
Rich Russillo: The fans don’t seem happy at all about Drake Armstrong’s actions throughout this match already, but unfortunately it seems his methods may actually be working as ARIA is trapped under the weight of Armstrong!
Thadd Blazevich: The fans are trying to will ARIA on right now bro, trying to get her to maybe find the strength to overpower the Champ for just a few crucial seconds! I think ARIA’s trying to find something she can do to counter the size difference right now. She’s trying to reach for bro’s leg, possibly to pull it out from under him- BUT DRAKE JUST GETS UP, THROWING ARIA TO THE MAT BEFORE STOMPING ON HER BACK!
Persephone: At least Drake’s being smart. Candice is reaching out for a tag, and Drake puts himself between Candice and ARIA so that can’t happen.
Rich Russillo: Drake drags ARIA up, AND NOW HE JUST RAMS HER INTO THE TURNBUCKLES IN HIS CORNER LIKE JAY DID- ONLY DRAKE IMMEDIATELY STEPS AWAY FROM JAY AFTER THIS, MAKING SURE HE REMAINS THE LEGAL COMPETITOR! Drake pulls ARIA in, delivering a knee to the midsection as he seems to be working on that area now! Drake now setting ARIA up for a vertical suplex-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ARIA IS ABLE TO FREE HERSELF FROM DRAKE’S GRASP AND LAND BEHIND HIM! ARIA SENDS DRAKE BACK INTO HIS OWN CORNER WITH A DROPKICK-
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: DRAKE FALLS TO A KNEE, AND NOW ARIA TURNS BEFORE LEAPING OUT TO CANDICE BLAIR, MAKING THE TAG TO HER!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: Candice Blair enters the ring as Drake stumbles out of the corner, AND CANDICE CATCHES HIM WITH A FOREARM SMASH! DRAKE STUMBLES BACK TO HIS FEET- AND HE GETS CAUGHT WITH A SECOND ONE! DRAKE NOW STUMBLING INTO THE CORNER- ONLY FOR CANDICE TO RUN IN WITH A DROPKICK! DRAKE IS DAZED, AND NOW CANDICE GRABS HIM, BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE TURNBUCKLES AND CONNECTING WITH STARLIGHT!!! THAT WAS A HUGE TAG, AND NOW CANDICE GOES FOR THE COVER-
Thadd Blazevich: WAIT, WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!! TRIPLE J JUST LIFTED CANDICE UP- BEFORE DROPPING HER WITH THE YKHM LAST LOVE!!!! WHAT THE HELL!?!? DUDE… DON’T TELL ME…
Rich Russillo: DRAKE WASN’T THE LEGAL COMPETITOR!! JAY MANAGED TO SNEAKILY TAG HIMSELF IN WHEN ARIA KNOCKED DRAKE INTO THE TURNBUCKLES, BUT THE ANGLE CAUSED CANDICE TO NOT SEE THIS! JAY JUST PLANTED CANDICE, AND NOW THERE’S THE COVER TO PUT AN END TO THIS ONE!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR-
Persephone: BUT FOR SOME REASON, CANDICE IS OUT AT TWO! What the hell, what happened to putting an end to the match???
Thadd Blazevich: It looks like it’s gonna take more than that to get this match over with!
Persephone: Yeah, that’s the problem. Why??
Rich Russillo: Drake Armstrong rolls out of the ring, forced to use the apron to even stand after getting hit with that onslaught of offense from Candice. ARIA is back on the apron meanwhile, trying to reach out to Candice for the tag!
Thadd Blazevich: Jay Jerry Johnson now dragging Candice Blair back up- BUT CANDICE SURPRISES JAY WITH A FOREARM! Candice is still showing fight even while hurt from the YKHM Last Love! Jay is the more fresh Elitist though- AND HE DELIVERS A SHOOT KICK, DROPPING CANDICE TO HER KNEES! Jay now trying to potentially set up for Heaven’s Feel, AND CANDICE IS TRYING TO REACH OUT FOR THE TAG AS JAY STARTS TO LIFT HER UP- BUT DUDE, LOOK!
Persephone: DRAKE ARMSTRONG JUST DID THE SMART THING AND DRAGGED ARIA OFF OF THE APRON, BEFORE THROWING HER INTO THE BARRICADE! Drake slowly starts walking into his own corner, and now Candice is left without a teammate.
Rich Russillo: BUT CANDICE ISN’T GIVING UP YET, AS SHE MANAGES TO SLIDE DOWN JAY’S BACK WITH A SUNSET FLIP PIN!
ONE!
TW-
Rich Russillo: Jay is out of that one though- AND HE RUSHES BACK IN WITH A PENALTY KICK!! Jay now turning around, noticing ARIA laid out at ringside! Jay turns to see the smirk on Drake’s face as he stands on the apron, and I think Jay is connecting the dots!
Thadd Blazevich: Jay walks over to Drake Armstrong and it looks like they’re having a bit of an argument- but Drake just extends his hand to Jay, telling Jay to tag him in! Honestly I’m not sure if I’d do it, but Triple J might have to prioritize winning the match over his issues with Drake Armstrong.
(After thinking it over for a moment, Jay reluctantly tags Drake back in, shaking his head while doing so.)
Persephone: Well you guys did say that Jay was the type to try and work alongside his teammates, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he’s not ready to just get this match thrown out yet.
Rich Russillo: Drake Armstrong gets in the ring as Candice uses the ropes to pull herself up- AND DRAKE JUST PULLS CANDICE INTO A DRAGON SLEEPER, KNOWING THAT CANDICE IS ALREADY TOUCHING THE ROPES! DRAKE CAN ONLY KEEP THIS UP FOR THE FIVE COUNT, BUT HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY JUST TO INFLICT FURTHER DAMAGE!
Thadd Blazevich: Drake lets go of the hold before dragging Candice back up by her arms- AND PULLING HER IN BEFORE THROWING HER TOWARDS THE CORNER WITH A DOUBLE UNDERHOOK SUPLEX! That was a nasty one from Drake right there bro, and now Candice is seriously in some trouble. Drake wastes no time going after her, pulling her up and shoving her into the corner before connecting with an elbow strike!
Rich Russillo: Drake now kicking at Candice’s midsection, and he’s just taking this one slow, picking Candice apart as the fans just shower him in boos. Candice tries to regain her footing- AND DRAKE JUST KICKS THE SIDE OF HER LEG AS A RESULT! The booing only grows louder, as Drake just waits for Candice to get back up once more, knowing that once she does he’s just going to strike again! Candice is slowly able to find her way up once more- AND NOW DRAKE PULLS HER HEAD UP BEFORE GOING FOR A CLOTHESLINE!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT CANDICE DUCKED UNDER THAT ONE! IT LOOKED LIKE DRAKE MIGHTA BEEN TOYING WITH HER, AND THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU WANNA DO AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE CANDICE! DRAKE TURNS AROUND- AND HE’S CAUGHT WITH A BIG FOREARM! ANOTHER ONE NOW! ANOTHER- AND NOW DRAKE PUSHES CANDICE AWAY SO HE CAN STUMBLE OUT OF THE CORNER!
Persephone: Candice ducks under a swing from Drake and bounces off the ropes-
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: AND NOW CANDICE DUCKS UNDER A SECOND STRIKE ATTEMPT FROM DRAKE, ALLOWING A RETURNING ARIA TO CATCH DRAKE WITH A SPRINGBOARD CLOTHESLINE AFTER MAKING THE BLIND TAG! Candice heads back onto the apron, and now there’s another tag as ARIA pulls Drake up, holding him in place for Candice, who steps into the ring- BEFORE HITTING DRAKE WITH A HUGE SUPERKICK! CANDICE AND ARIA ARE ON FIRE RIGHT NOW!
Thadd Blazevich: Candice makes the tag to ARIA once again, and now she drags Drake Armstrong up, BEFORE THROWING HIM TO ARIA FOR THE PHOENIX CUTTER-
Rich Russillo: BUT DRAKE CATCHES ARIA- BEFORE GRABBING HER AND THROWING HER INTO CANDICE!!! BOTH CANDICE AND ARIA GO DOWN, AND NOW DRAKE IMMEDIATELY BACKPEDALS INTO HIS OWN CORNER, TAGGING JAY JERRY JOHNSON IN BEFORE RUSHING BACK, AND BEGINNING TO STOMP AWAY AT ARIA, WHO IS THE LEGAL COMPETITOR RIGHT NOW!
Thadd Blazevich: Drake grabs Candice and pulls her up, AND HE THROWS HER THROUGH THE ROPES, CAUSING HER TO HIT THE RINGSIDE FLOOR HARD! Triple J gets in the ring, and he just tells Drake to get out, saying that he’ll handle this on his own!
Persephone: Jay drags ARIA up as Drake slowly gets out, and Jay throws a knee at ARIA’s midsection, BEFORE LIFTING HER UP AND DROPPING HER WITH A FALCON ARROW! JAY HOOKS THE LEG FOR A PIN, THAT HOPEFULLY MANAGES TO GET THE JOB DONE!
ONE!
TWO!!
T-
Rich Russillo: NOT YET! ARIA manages to kick out! Jay shakes his head, but it doesn’t look like he’s out of ideas just yet!
Thadd Blazevich: Jay grabs ARIA and lifts her up on the top rope, and bro, Triple J must have something serious on his mind right now! Jay is beginning to make the climb up to the middle rope while ARIA is up there, AND NOW I THINK JAY MIGHT BE SETTING UP FOR A SUPERPLEX- BUT ARIA IS ABLE TO SURPRISE TRIPLE J WITH PUNCHES TO THE RIBS, BEFORE GRABBING BRO AND SHOVING HIM OFF THE TURNBUCKLES! JAY ROLLS BACK TO HIS FEET, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ARIA’S BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH TIME TO GET INTO POSITION, BROS!
Persephone: AND AS SOON AS JAY GETS BACK UP, ARIA DIVES AT HIM FOR A DIVING CROSSBODY!
Rich Russillo: BUT LOOK!!! JAY JERRY JOHNSON WAS ABLE TO ROLL THROUGH AND RETURN TO HIS FEET, ALL WHILE HOLDING ONTO ARIA! THAT SIZE DIFFERENCE JUST CAME INTO PLAY IN A WAY I DON’T THINK ARIA WAS ANTICIPATING, AS NOW JAY IS ABLE TO BEGIN SETTING HER UP FOR A POWERSLAM!
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA ISN’T ABOUT TO GO DOWN THAT EASILY THOUGH, BRO! SHE SLIPS OUT OF JAY’S GRASP AND KNOCKS HIM AWAY WITH AN ELBOW, STUMBLING BACK AND GETTING THE TAG TO CANDICE! Candice and ARIA switch places, AND NOW ARIA GETS THE BLIND TAG AS JAY CHARGES IN! Candice now with a boot to keep Jay at bay, and she pulls him in!
Rich Russillo: ARIA climbs up to the top rope, while Candice holds onto Jay, AND NOW THERE’S A DIVING DROPKICK, CAUSING JAY TO ROLL BACKWARDS TOWARDS HIS CORNER! ARIA gets back to her feet as Candice heads back out to the apron, and it looks like ARIA and Candice may be gearing up to potentially get a huge upset win! ARIA heads over to Jay and pulls him up- BUT WAIT A SECOND!
Thadd Blazevich: JAY JUST PUSHED ARIA’S HANDS AWAY, BEFORE SPINNING AND CONNECTING WITH THE DRAGONSLAYER!!!! THAT CAME OUTTA NOWHERE, BRO! JAY DROPS DOWN ONTO ARIA FOR THE COVER, HOOKING THE LEG!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT THIS ONE STILL IS NOT OVER! ARIA WAS ABLE TO GET THE SHOULDER UP JUST BEFORE THREE, AND DUDE, IT’S LOOKING LIKE JAY AND DRAKE ARE GONNA HAVE A TOUGH TIME IF THEY WANNA GET THIS ONE OVER WITH! ARIA and Candice are giving them an awesome fight, and while Jay seems to remain calm, I don’t think Drake was expecting that from them.
Persephone: Well yeah, obviously. ARIA and Candice are terrible wrestlers, and Drake Armstrong might as well have a God complex the way he talks about himself. I can’t say I’m surprised he wasn’t expecting a challenge, although for this to be one says more about him and Jay than anything.
Rich Russillo: Jay returns to his feet, and-
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: Well… Speak of the devil.
(Drake Armstrong enters the ring, and Jay looks confused, telling Drake that he was doing just fine. He tells Drake that he could’ve finished the match on his own, but Drake just shoves Jay away, before turning his attention to ARIA. As Drake walks up to ARIA, Jay remains still for a moment, just beginning to think.)
Thadd Blazevich: WOAH, WAIT A SECOND! WHAT’S TRIPLE J DOING????
Persephone: HE JUST TURNED DRAKE AROUND, BEFORE DROPPING HIM WITH THE PRETTY VISITOR!! ABOUT TIME, I WAS WAITING FOR THIS! HE JUST FLOORED DRAKE WITH THE CUTTER!
Rich Russillo: AND THAT’S NOT ALL! HE IMMEDIATELY TURNS AND GRAVS DRAKE! HE PULLS HIM UP WHILE RETURNING TO HIS FEET- BEFORE DRIVING DRAKE’S HEAD INTO THE MAT WITH HEAVEN’S FEEL!!!! DRAKE ARMSTRONG WAS JUST WIPED OUT BY HIS OWN TAG TEAM PARTNER, AND I THINK WE SHOULD’VE SEEN THIS COMING AT SOME POINT! JAY HAS BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH ENEMIES IN THE PAST, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO PUSH HIS BUTTONS THE WAY THAT DRAKE ARMSTRONG HAS!
(The fans are cheering loudly for Jay Jerry Johnson, who just stares at Drake Armstrong with a disgusted look on his face.)
Thadd Blazevich: The ref is yelling at Triple J to leave the ring, and Jay does that and more! Jay rolls out of the ring, and dude, I think he’s done! Jay is slowly heading towards the ramp, and bro I would hate to be Drake Armstrong right now! Bro clearly got on Jay’s bad side, and now look at the spot he’s in! Bro doesn’t have a tag team partner anymore, and to make things worse, dude was just dropped on his head by Jay’s finishing move! Drake is out cold, has no partner, and to make things worse for him, ARIA is stirring!
(The fans continue to cheer after seeing Drake Armstrong get what he deserved. Jay Jerry Johnson heads back up the ramp, and finally, ARIA gets back to a knee. There, she notices Drake Armstrong laid out on the mat, leaving her confused. However, she turns to Candice, who nods and encourages her, and ARIA just gives a quick nod, regaining her focus and pushing herself back to her feet.)
Rich Russillo: ARIA IS BACK UP, AND SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DRAKE ARMSTRONG WHILE SHE WAS LAID OUT FROM THE DRAGONSLAYER, BUT I DON’T THINK SHE’S GOING TO WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET A VICTORY OVER THE EAW WORLD CHAMPION!!! ARIA QUICKLY BACKS INTO THE CORNER, WAITING FOR DRAKE ARMSTRONG TO STIR AS DRAKE SLOWLY BEGINS TO SHOW SOME SIGNS OF LIFE! DRAKE HAD ALREADY BEEN HIT WITH HEAVEN’S FEEL! THE LAST THING HE NEEDS IS TO TAKE FURTHER DAMAGE!
Thadd Blazevich: WELL UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM, I THINK THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN, DUDE!!!! DRAKE ARMSTRONG STUMBLES BACK TO HIS FEET, AND NOW ARIA EXPLODES OUTTA THE CORNER WITH J4A!!!!!
Rich Russillo: IT CONNECTS!!!! J4A CONNECTS, AND THAT’S A SECOND FINISHING MOVE TO DRAKE ARMSTRONG IN A ROW, AFTER DRAKE WAS BETRAYED AND ABANDONED BY HIS TAG PARTNER! ARIA QUICKLY PULLS HERSELF ON TOP OF ARMSTRONG, HOOKING THE LEGS FOR THE COVER!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
(Ding! Ding! Ding!)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, here are your winners… AAARRRRRRRIIIIIAAAAAAA AND CAAAAANNNNNDDDIIIIIIIIICCCCEEEEEE BBBBBLLLLLAAAAAAAAIIIRRRR!!!!!!!!
(‘God Shattering Star’ begins to play once more as ARIA rolls off of Drake Armstrong. The crowd explodes, and Candice rushes into the ring, helping ARIA back to her feet as the referee heads over to the two. The referee raises their hands, and both Elitists look pleased, having picked up a victory over not just anyone, but the EAW World Champion.)
Rich Russillo: WOW! I CAN’T SAY I WAS EXPECTING THAT ONE! Not only did ARIA and Candice pick up the victory, but ARIA just pinned the current World Champion! That’s a huge win, even if Jay Jerry Johnson did play a big part in it!
Thadd Blazevich: Well, Drake did do this to himself, bro. He kept messing with Jay and trying to get Jay to do things his way, and in the end Triple J decided that there’s no point in helping a dude that clearly doesn’t want it.
Persephone: I’m glad he did it, too. If he didn’t, there’s no telling how much longer this match would’ve lasted. We might’ve been here all night.
Rich Russillo: Well, congratulations to Candice Blair and ARIA, who-
Thadd Blazevich: COLDEST WINTER!!!!
Persephone: ?????
Rich Russillo: WHAT THE HELL!?!?!
(The fans are shocked as ARIA goes down, having been hit with Cosmo Goldworthy’s “Coldest Winter” finisher. Candice Blair turns, but before she could even react to Cosmo’s sudden appearance-)
Rich Russillo: AND NOW THERE’S A PUMP KICK TO CANDICE!!!! DIAMOND DIXON AND COSMO GOLDWORTHY ARE HERE AFTER A THRILLING MAIN EVENT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY’RE SENDING THEIR GRAND RAMPAGE OPPONENTS A HUGE MESSAGE!
Thadd Blazevich: Cosmo drags Candice back up, AND HE THROWS HER TOWARDS DIAMOND- WHO DROPS CANDICE ONTO HER OWN TAG PARTNER WITH THE FACELIFT!!!! THE FACELIFT CONNECTS, AND ARIA AND CANDICE ARE BOTH JUST DOWN AND OUT! Dude, those were the winners of the main event, but they sure don’t look like it right now!
Persephone: Well, at least they’re not waiting around to get things going. It would’ve been boring if they were all “I respect you!” every week until Grand Rampage.
Rich Russillo: Well I don’t know what’s running through the minds of Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy, but it couldn’t have been that far off for them to do something like this! That felt like a warning shot, and one hell of one as Voltage comes to a close. There’s no telling where we go from here, but we will find out next week, at Arena San Francisco!
(Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy stand over Candice Blair and ARIA, who are both just laid out and unconscious on the mat. Diamond and Cosmo appear satisfied with what they’ve done tonight, looking down on their fallen Grand Rampage opponents. From there, Sunday Night Voltage begins to fade to black.)
(EAW logo buzzes.)
