(EAW intro plays.)
(A recap of last week’s Grand Rampage event is shown, culminating with Minerva’s Grand Rampage victory. After this a recap is shown of the tag team turmoil drawing, before the camera fades to the M&S Arena in Liverpool, England. The fans are cheering loudly, and the camera takes its time showcasing them before finally transitioning over to the commentary table, where Rich Russillo, Thadd Blazevich and Persephone are seen.)
Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome BACK to Sunday Night Voltage! We are returning following Grand Rampage, and we are kicking off the tag team turmoil tournament. Needless to say, this is going to be a chaotic one.
Thadd Blazevich: I know, right?? We have the entire first round of that insane tournament coming up, and we also have our Grand Rampage winner Minerva here tonight! This is bound to be a wicked night, dude. I can’t wait!
Persephone: I can. Who asked for an entire show full of tag team matches? The only highlight will be watching all of these teams fall apart.
(The camera pans over towards the stage, before finally ‘Duel’ by JINJER hit. This caused a loud reaction to come from the fans, and while it was still mostly negative, it was a bit more mixed than usual out of respect following the events that transpired at Grand Rampage. Before long, Selina Reyes and Daniella Atlas began to walk out, and the arrival of the Unified Tag Team Champions was followed by none other than the Grand Rampage winner, Minerva. The three all look pleased following what happened at the Grand Rampage event, and they begin to walk down the ramp together.)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen, Please welcome the Unified Tag Team Champions Selina Reyes and Daniella Atlas, and the 2026 GRAND RAMPAGE WINNER Minerva… TOXXXIN!!!!!
Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we’re starting Voltage off hot, as we’re getting an appearance from not only the Tag Team Champions, but our Grand Rampage winner!
Thadd Blazevich: All three of these women had awesome Grand Rampage performances, but dude, Minerva was just unstoppable! We already knew she was one of the greats, but a Grand Rampage win is an amazing thing to add to her resume, and you can’t say she didn’t deserve it with that performance.
Persephone: Eh… Winning a match against a bunch of horrible wrestlers can’t be that hard, especially when you have two people around to help.
(The trio known as ToXXXin made it down to ringside, walking up the steel steps before finally making it into the ring. ‘Duel’ faded out, and despite the three holding microphones in their hands, they waited. The fans continued to be loud no matter what thoughts they held on the group within the ring, and it took time before they finally began to calm down. After this, Minerva began to speak.)
Minerva: I made it very clear that when I returned to the ring following Grand Rampage, I would not be doing so empty handed. No matter who stood in my way, no matter who thought they could take the main event of Pain for Pride from me, I was going to return to Voltage having achieved everything I set out to. That has been the one constant of this entire season, and I was not going to let that go the moment a World Championship match in the main event of Pain for Pride was put on the line. The opportunity to right the wrongs of the past, the chance to once again end Pain for Pride where I belong, I see it. I’ve seen it for a long time now, but I was patient. I focused on my other plans. From the very beginning I warned you all to forget what you thought you knew about me. I warned you that I was going to approach this season in a way only I could, and now at Pain for Pride you’ll see where this road has been leading to. You’ll see a World Championship in my hands once more.
(A loud reaction comes from the crowd, once again mixed for Minerva as she continues.)
Minerva: Don’t forget, ToXXXin is exactly what I said it would be. We are the most dominant force in this company. We are unstoppable, and everyone that has attempted to prove otherwise has fallen. Whether it be those bold enough to step up to the Unified Tag Team Champions or those entering the Grand Rampage match, the result has and will remain the same. This season is nearing its end, and now it is official. Now my words are no longer declarations of the future, they are the present. I *am* headed to the main event of Pain for Pride. I am on the road to another World Championship, and this company rests in the hands of ToXXXin.
(There is a stern tone in Minerva’s face as she makes this statement, stepping forward as another loud reaction comes from the crowd.)
Daniella Atlas: bien dit rose noire. If you expected anyone else to reign victorious at Grand Rampage then quite frankly you were mistaken. As Minerva mentioned, we are an unstoppable force of human nature and as result this should have been what everyone expected to happen once all three of us were aligned together. Minerva did what she sat out to do and further our mission we laid out mon cherie.
Selina Reyes: That mission was pure domination, which is not only what we did when we first won these tag team championships but what Minerva did in order to win the Grand Rampage and the world championship ramifications that comes from winning such an affair. The Black Rose emerged as the one true winner of the Grand Rampage. Daniella and myself could not be more pleased with what Minerva has accomplished and will further solidify ToXXXin as the one true infection that spreads rapidly when he heads to Pain for Pride and comes out victorious.
(Daniella nods in agreement with Selina as she then speaks saying… )
Daniella Atlas: Now that Grand Rampage has settled, and all the glory went to the Black Rose… let’s discuss the tag team turmoil tournament shall we? Being the current tag team champions, myself and Daniella were of course exempt from randomization of participant tag teams as we see the makeshift duos that are lined up in this tournament. Captain Charisma and Eden Sinclair’s humorous attempt to try and bring more drama into the division is quite interesting to see. We of course have a close eye to whoever wins this tournament, it could be Diamond and Cosmo who got an immediate bye into the finals or the other teams that will try to work with their partners that they may or may not like as the opportunity to forge such a major title match at the grandest stage of them all hangs in the balance.
(Selina then continues talking as she adds on to Daniella’s point by saying… )
Selina Reyes: However, don’t mistake us watching this tournament closely thinking we are just going to sit back until Pain for Pride. Any other team would suffice in just laying low until they get their guaranteed spot at Pain for Pride but that is not how ToXXXin operates. We have defended these championships against teams that think they can take us down, not knowing the immediate danger they put themselves in by being in the ring with us to begin with. Daniella and myself are a unit not to be messed with and as such we want to continue to show utter dominance by defending these titles before we face the winner of this tournament at Pain for Pride. By the time this tournament concludes, we’ll be ready to conquer whoever meets us at Pain for Pride.
Daniella Atlas: Oui oui chérie! Once we do that, all of ToXXXin will end this season at the very top of the high altitude mountain.
(Daniella turns over to Minerva who once again speaks and says…)
Minerva: This is our show. Our company. The Unified Tag Team Championships are not going anywhere, nor will they once we reach the end of the season. There is only one thing that will change, and that’s the crowning of a new World Champion. I warned you all of what was to come prior to Grand Rampage, and now I warn you one more time. I know who I have my eyes on. I know what’s next for me. For Daniella. For Selina. The next step for ToXXXin will be the natural conclusion to the season we’ve had. More dominance.
(Minerva stops speaking, having said everything she felt necessary. The three members of ToXXXin turn towards the stage, but before they could exit the ring, ‘you are stronger’ by lyn inaizumi hits.)
Rich Russillo: WAIT A SECOND!
Thadd Blazevich: NO WAY! IS SHE REALLY HERE!?
(The crowd explodes with cheers as the three members of ToXXXin stop in their tracks, watching as sure enough, the Universal Women’s Champion begins walking out to the stage. Milli wears her Championship around her waist, and she already has a microphone in her hand as she looks inside of the ring. She gives a brief smirk, before beginning to head down the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: WELL, THIS IS A SURPRISE! It looks like we’re about to have the Universal Women’s Champion and the Grand Rampage winner under one roof, because Milli Banks is here!
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, and let’s not forget that these two already faced each other at Pain for Pride two years ago! Milli already got confronted by Caroline on Dynasty. What’s she doing here walking up to these three?
Persephone: I don’t know, but I don’t like it. ToXXXin was just about to leave, now I’m about to have more time wasted.
(Milli climbs onto the apron before entering the ring. She takes a moment, staring off against the members of ToXXXin as the fans cheer for this confrontation. After some time, Milli finally begins to speak.)
Milli Banks: I decided to pay Voltage a nice little visit tonight, so I was in the back when I decided I’d check in on what the Grand Rampage winner has to say. It’s a real messy time right now and from now until Pain for Pride I know everyone’s gonna be lining up to take their shots and I don’t plan to let myself get caught off guard. It’s why I said everything I said on Dynasty two nights ago, and the same goes here. I wanted to know who you’d pick or if you’d even make your decision tonight, and you might not have given us the answer that we’re all waiting for… But that doesn’t mean you haven’t already made that decision, now does it?
(Minerva doesn’t respond to this, but she appears amused by this statement from Milli, who continues.)
Milli Banks: Your history at Pain for Pride isn’t something just anyone can say they’ve matched. You were undefeated at that event for years, so when you talk about righting a wrong it’s not like there’s a whole list of options for you to pick from. There’s only one blemish on that record, and you brought that up yourself. Let’s just call it like it is, Minerva. You and Drake Armstrong have been on this brand all season. You never confronted him about his Championship. You never told him that you’re coming for him. You never gave him any of those warnings you had for anyone else on the roster, and we both know why.
Milli Banks: It’s because Drake was never your target. I am.
(This suggestion from Milli causes the fans to loudly cheer, excited just from the idea of Milli being the one Minerva intends to face at Pain for Pride.)
Milli Banks: I get it. If you wanna take your shot at me and “set things right” that’s fine, I have no problem with that. We just need to stop beating around the bush, which is why I want to remind you of something really quick before Pain for Pride comes around. I already ended your streak at that show, Minerva. Beating you was what kicked off my first Universal Women’s Championship reign and I’ve already come a long way since then regardless of the injuries I’ve sustained, so if you think it’s about that time you and I finally handled this one on one then we can do it, because I’m ready.
(A staredown between Milli Banks and Minerva followed these words. The crowd was electric and there was clear tension in the ring thanks to the history that these two have with each other. However… It was not Minerva that would answer Milli.)
Daniella Atlas: attends une minute! Pain for Pride isn’t the next event on the calendar, we still have another marquee event to go through and well… who’s to say you even make it to Pain for Pride?
(Daniella stepped towards Milli as she said this, and Milli kept her guard up, not responding to Daniella’s words as she waited to see exactly what she meant by this. The fans booed her words, but the Tag Team Champions continued to speak.)
Selina Reyes: Exactly what Daniella said, you could very easily get injured, lose that title, or even worse. Nothing is guaranteed Milli and that spot of yours can easily get taken away… if you’re met… with a toxic disease.
(Milli stared at Selina, temporarily turning towards Daniella as well. She could tell what the two women were thinking, and it didn’t take long for her to respond.)
Milli Banks: Alright, I get it. So what, are you two trying to step up to the plate and face me?
(After saying this, Milli takes a step forward herself and stares at the Unified Tag Team Champions.)
Milli Banks: If so, I’d love to know what you’re expecting right now. Do you think I’m just going to back down from either of you?
(Hearing this, Selina just grins.)
Selina Reyes: Perhaps you don’t want to feel the same effects that numerous other people have already experienced facing myself and Daniella. Hall of Famers, Legends, even the current Answers World Champion couldn’t dethrone us and take our tag team championships. Like we mentioned we are a dominant force Milli, and maybe if you face us… Pain for Pride may not be your grand destination.
(Daniella then speaks towards Milli, telling her… )
Daniella Atlas: Whoever else decided they want to face you, is not worth your time because we already took care of them. They felt the same infection rotting within their flesh just like everyone else and Milli deep down… I don’t think you want to face us considering not only those that we have defeated as champions, but the victims that we have gone through in order to maintain pure domination. You would have no idea what you would be getting yourself into dealing with Selina and myself.
Milli Banks: Alright, well I’m gonna say the same thing I said back on Dynasty when Caroline stepped up. I’m opening the door for any and all challengers, so I’m not gonna lie. You might’ve beaten everyone that’s been in your path including one of the women that fought for your titles and that’s great, but Pain for Pride is entirely too soon for me to go losing this Championship now. One thing I’ve never been is someone who shies away from a challenge instead of meeting that challenge head on and giving it all I’ve got, so if you two have a little plan in mind and you’d rather step up to face me for my title instead of just waiting for whoever will enter your division, just say the word. I’ll give you the match you want, but it’s not going to end how you want it to.
Selina Reyes: Such a great champion you are and it’s a shame that as noble and honorable as you are Milli about accepting any challenge coming your way… this isn’t a challenge for you to overcome… especially not with us, not with ToXXXin.
(Milli just smirks hearing this, shaking her head before responding.)
Milli Banks: I’m not here just to throw out a bunch of promises. I wouldn’t be the Universal Women’s Champion for the second time in my career if I couldn’t stay true to my word. I’m just not scared of any of you. In fact, I’d be more than happy to beat you.
(The fans cheer Milli, and seeing the confrontation between the Champions, Minerva just chuckles. This causes Milli to turn her attention towards her, as Minerva speaks up once more.)
Minerva: You should be glad, Milli. It seems you may actually have a quality match this time around.
(This was all Minerva said, before ‘Duel’ began to play once more. There was one more brief staredown between Minerva and Milli Banks, with a focused look on Milli’s face as she stared at the Grand Rampage winner. Minerva kept a smirk on her face, before finally, the three members of ToXXXin began to exit the ring.)
Rich Russillo: That was a lot for us to take in to open up this show! Milli Banks showed up and with good reason, as she seems pretty confident that Minerva is looking to challenge her at Pain for Pride, which Minerva herself did not deny!
Thadd Blazevich: Not only that, but things are continuing to heat up with that Universal Women’s title picture, bro! Caroline already staked her claim, now it looks like Daniella and Selina are doing the same! Things might be looking tough for Milli, dude. She has a lot on her plate right now.
Persephone: Well this is what she asked for, isn’t it? She has no one to blame but herself.
(Milli remained inside of the ring while the three ToXXXin members could be seen on the ramp. Milli glared at Selina Reyes and Daniella Atlas, who had seemingly called their shots for a match for the Universal Women’s Championship. The members of ToXXXin all had confident looks on their faces, and with this staredown, Voltage faded away from ringside.)
(Commercial for Friday night Dynasty.)
(Sunday Night Voltage continues on as ‘RUNITUP’ by Tyler, The Creator ft. Teezo Touchdown begins to play through the arena! Immediately, the boos start pouring in as Cosmo Goldworthy comes out with his usual confidence, stopping for a brief moment as his music fades out and transitions into ‘Nice To Meet Yah’ by Asian Doll, which begins to blast through the P.A System as Diamond Dixon comes out as well, following behind him. After a moment, they both begin to walk down the aisle and make their way towards the ring.)
Bella Braxton: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN… PLEASE WELCOME… DIAMOND DIXON AND COSMO GOLDWORTHY!!!
Rich Russillo: Cosmo and Diamond are making their way to the ring, and these two have all the confidence in the world right now thanks to what happened at Grand Rampage, where they battled ARIA and Candice Blair. It was a competitive back and forth match, but in the end, it was the two of them who emerged victorious and gained something quite valuable for their victory in the process.
Thadd Blazevich: Absolutely, Rich, bro. And what they got was a bye right into the finals of the Tag Team Turmoil Tournament, meaning that neither would get separated due to the random drawing and they could just sit back until the finals were set, which took place at Fighting Spirit. Of course, the winner of the entire tournament will go on to challenge for the EAW Unified Tag Team Championships at Pain for Pride, so if you’re Cosmo and Diamond right now… things are looking pretty good, broski.
Persephone: You sure you can say that, Thadd? So what if these idiots got a bye into the finals?
Thadd Blazevich: Well Persephone, they have the adva–
Persephone: I didn’t ask for a life story, pal.
Rich Russillo: Anyways… let’s see what both Diamond and Cosmo have to say!
(Cosmo and Diamond make their way towards the ring as they both climb the steps and enter through the ropes. There, they both get tossed microphones by ringside officials while soon enough, Diamond’s music begins to fade out and the two of them begin to speak.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: Ay, shut up for a moment and listen. If y’all really thought Cosmo Goldworthy and Diamond Dixon were going to lose at Grand Rampage, then you’re a broke ass bitch! ‘Cause your parlay didn’t hit, and you’re dead wrong. We told everyone how it was going to go down, and guess what? Candice Blair and ARIA got in our way and they got smacked for their troubles. We beat them, and we KNOW y’all absolutely hate the sight of that, but that’s just something that you’re gonna have to live with, alright? Great. I mean, let’s call a spade a spade here, folks, what happened was an inevitability. It was something that we knew for certain was going to happen, and who can blame us? Diamond and I are a great team. We know each other so well, fill each other’s blanks, and whoop ass all at the same time. Since coming together, we have been all business and business is what we did last week. Cry me a fucking river. And now, we get everything that we know we deserve, we head into Fighting Spirit, getting an automatic bye into the Tag Team Turmoil Tournament finals. Doesn’t that just sound so sweet?
(The crowd boo Cosmo as he can only laugh at it, stepping back and letting Diamond speak as she says…)
Diamond Dixon: It never meant a damn in the first place because we’re the best tag team in EAW, me and Mo knew that from the very beginning and our win over dumb and dumber only proved that. If those white chicks thought that they were going to stop us from winning this whole damn tournament, then they thought wrong. And now, it’s only right that we get the opportunity to sit back and watch to see who the other teams will be that we’ll meet in the finals. And you know what? It’s not even gonna matter in the first place who the other teams are, because they’re just gonna have to live with the fact that they had to go through some fuck shit teaming with partners they ain’t want to team with, while me and Mo are just a well oiled machine, only one win away from going to Pain for Pride and fighting for the Unified Tag Team Championships! So you know what we’re gonna do, Mo?
Cosmo Goldworthy: What are we gonna do, Diamond?
Diamond Dixon: The two of us? We’re gonna be sitting back and seeing who we meet in the finals. And while we’re at it? We might as well anoint ourselves as the official hosts of the Tag Team Turmoil Tournament!
(The crowd boos loudly at this, as Cosmo nods his head in agreement.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: I like the sound of that. And while we’re at it, FUCK-
(Before Cosmo could say anything else, ‘God Shattering Star’ by Takashi Baba begins to blast through the P.A System as out comes ARIA and Candice Blair! They do not look happy after what at happened at Grand Rampage, and with a determined look on their face, they both make their way down the aisle and towards the ring.)
Rich Russillo: Now this should be interesting, both ARIA and Candice are going to be a part of this tournament, but not in the way that they would prefer. While Candice is going to be teaming with NICK, ARIA is going to be teaming with the returning Bronson Daniels. They will not be together in this tournament, and I’m sure they have plenty to say in response to that, because the people who are at fault for that are in the ring right now.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, broski. Unfortunate events indeed, but Candice and ARIA put up a great effort despite the loss. I guess we’ll see what they are going to say Diamond and Cosmo in just a few moments, and it’s certainly not going to be anything nice considering they lost a spot in the finals with their tag team being put into jeopardy.
Persephone: YAWN!
(Candice and ARIA make their way to the ring as they pick up microphones placed on the ringsteps and climb up to enter in through the ropes. Their music begins to fade out as ARIA is the first person to speak…)
ARIA: Let’s get this out of the way now, Grand Rampage was not the result me nor Candice were looking for. Is that what you wanted to hear?
Cosmo Goldworthy: Can you say it again? :mjgrin:
ARIA: No. I hate to be the person who comes out here and sounds dramatic about all of this, but needless to say, it simply was not a loss that I expected, and more importantly, it weighs heavily on my conscience. It’s less about how I feel about myself and how frustrated I am or how “cursed” I feel, I let Candice down, and now we’re going to have to work twice as hard to make sure that either of us are in the finals when that could’ve been guaranteed for us.
Candice Blair: We’re split up now, and unfortunately that’s just the reality that we had to face. I didn’t anticipate losing to the two of you, but that’s what ended up happening. I didn’t expect to be split up from ARIA, but here we are. But that’s not the end all be all, as much as you two would like that to be. Let’s make it known now that we are nowhere near finished as a team… not one bit.
(The crowd cheers loudly at that as both Diamond and Cosmo look at one another, clearly not impressed. Diamond speaks up as she says…)
Diamond Dixon: Yeah… But what does that have to do with us? The records speak for themselves, honey. You had your shot, and you failed. You’re never going to get close to the Tag Titles, and that’s okay! But you don’t gotta take that out on us.
Cosmo Goldworthy: What’s done is done, and the last thing that I wanna do with my precious leisure time is waste it with a bunch of phonies who already got their asses handed to them by the best tag team in the division. Bunch of wasted potential looking ass losers tryna step to us, I’ll be damned. 🙄
ARIA: Look, while you both did manage to get the better of us at Grand Rampage, it’s like Candice said, we are nowhere near finished being a tandem. Things may look that way now thanks to how this tournament has played out and the situations that we’re in, but the two of us are going to make the best out of it like we always do.
Candice Blair: NICK and I are going to face ARIA and Bronson later tonight, and while the better team will win that fight… We agreed that we’re both still going to keep an eye on the both of you. Don’t think for a second that we’re just going to be okay with losing at Grand Rampage, ARIA and I aren’t just a team that’s going to give up on our dreams because someone got in the way of that, we are intent on fulfilling what we set out to do no matter what the two of you think.
(Both Cosmo and Diamond don’t look too bothered by what the two of them have to say. Diamond lets out a snicker before responding back to them by saying…)
Diamond Dixon: Um, listen girls. That’s cute and all but with all due respect… we’re both done with you. We already beat the two of you at Grand Rampage, and you had your chance to not only earn a bye into the finals but still be together as a team, butttttttttt… y’all just weren’t built for that. And most importantly, y’all weren’t better than us when you needed to be last week.
Cosmo Goldworthy: Tell ‘em.
Diamond Dixon: As cute as it is to see the two of you determined to want to face us again, we have other things to worry about and you do too. We’re focused on winning at Fighting Spirit and advancing to fight for the Unified Tag Team Championships at Pain For Pride, and you need to be focused on making sure that you can get there in the first place. Oop.
(Cosmo nods in agreement as he adds on, telling Candice and ARIA. )
Cosmo Goldworthy: You need to earn your shot against us again, and that’s not something that we anticipate happening. One of you is guaranteed to move onto the next round sure, but that don’t mean a damn thing if you just ain’t ready for the bright lights. Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of, but don’t you dare try and take it out on us. Like Diamond said, you had your chance already and you didn’t capitalize on the opportunity that Captain Charisma gave for the winner of the match. But we did, didn’t we?
Diamond Dixon: Mhm.
Cosmo Goldworthy: That’s right. We proved how great of a team we are, and why when the dust settles and all those other teams at Fighting Spirit are going to be facing us… we’re going to be the ones that win the entire thing, fighting for the Unified Tag Team Championships on the biggest stage… and then winning said titles.
(The crowd boos Cosmo once again as he makes a mocking gesture. But ARIA and Candice refuse to back down, as they say…)
ARIA: If that’s what you want to believe, you’re entitled to believe that. But one way or another, we are going to get to those Unified Tag Team Championships, and what that means is that you two have no chance of getting there yourselves.
Candice Blair: We’ve made careers out of flipping the script on doubters, and this is no exception to that. By all means, the two of you can believe what you want to believe, but trust that Grand Rampage wasn’t the last time you’ll see us.
Diamond Dixon: Sure, sure… If that’s truly what you believe, then we wish y’all the best of luck in this tournament. There are many teams out there in the field, and most importantly, it’s going to be interesting to see who are the ones that make it out of there and into OUR match.
Cosmo Goldworthy: And maybe if you’re lucky… we’ll see one of you at Fighting Spirit. Or not. Hopefully not.
(Both Diamond and Cosmo drop their microphone as ‘Nice To Meet Yah’ begins to play up again. They both proceed to exit the ring as Candice and ARIA look on with frustrated looks on their faces after what Cosmo and Diamond just said to them. Once again, the two of them look unbothered as they head up the ramp and toward the backstage area. )
Rich Russillo: I guess we got ourselves some hosts for this Tag Team Turmoil Tournament! Diamond and Cosmo will be keeping an eye on how this tournament unfolds of course as they’ll meet the other three teams that will advance to the finals at Fighting Spirit.
Thadd Blazevich: It’s either Candice or ARIA tonight, only one of them will advance to the next round after their match later tonight. The only thing that remains is which team will be the better team tonight.
Persephone: More importantly… did they really just make themselves the hosts??
(Sunday Night Voltage would soon fade off into commercial break. )
(Commercial showcasing the tag team turmoil tournament, as round one commences tonight.)
(The camera cuts to Bella Braxton in the ring.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS A TAG TEAM TURMOIL TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH AND IT IS SCHEDULED FOR…ONE FALL!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
(“The Leaving Song Pt. II” by AFI hits to a strong positive reaction as Hans Grayson steps onto the stage with the CITV briefcase in hand, making his way down before stopping at the end of the ramp. Then “Kostas” by Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine & Benny the Butcher hits to an equally loud reaction as Cody Maverick marches out. He joins Hans at the end of the ramp, the two standing shoulder to shoulder and sharing a brief look, filled with tension before they walk down the ramp.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first! At a combined weight of 454 pounds… THE TEAM OF HANS GRAYSON AND CODY MAVERICK!!
Thadd Blazevich: Now this is an interesting sight. These two went through a war at Grand Rampage, and now they’re standing side by side.
Rich Russillo: Yeah, but to their credit, you can tell they’re just trying to keep that behind them for tonight. Both guys know what’s on the line, and they’re professionals.
Thadd Blazevich: Exactly. There’s still a little edge there, sure, but right now it’s about getting the job done. They’ve got a mutual understanding, and that might be enough.
(“Tears” by Sabrina Carpenter plays to a negative reaction as Ashlynn Quinn steps onto the stage for her match, pouting with her arms crossed. Then “Pride and Arrogance” by Takeru Kanazaki blares through the arena as Drake Armstrong makes his way out, raising his World Championship on the stage. Ashlynn rolls her eyes and continues down the ramp, not waiting for him.)
Bella Braxton: And their opponents! At a combined weight of 350 pounds… THE TEAM OF ASHLYNN QUINN AND EAW WORLD CHAMPION… DRAKE ARMSTRONG!!
Rich Russillo: And here comes a team that might be even more volatile. Ashlynn Quinn and Drake Armstrong, and you don’t have to look hard to see the tension between these two.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, this isn’t about mutual understanding like the other side. This is egos clashing, bad history, and two people who barely trust each other trying to function as a team.
Persephone: Oh, this is gonna be a disaster… and I’m gonna enjoy every second of it.
(The referee signals to the bell as both Ashlynn and Hans start things off.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: Alright, it’s Hans Grayson and Ashlynn Quinn starting things off for their respective teams! Interested to see how this’ll play out as both competitors circle each other before meeting in the middle for a collar and elbow tie-up! Hans gets the upper hand with a standing side headlock, wrenching the hold on Ashlynn!
Persephone: Great, here’s the part I wasn’t looking forward to: the wrestling. What’s the point anyway? We both know they’re going to turn on each other.
Thadd Blazevich: Hang on a minute, bro. There’s no telling yet for sure.
Persephone: Please. Ashlynn and Drake almost had a meltdown over who was starting the match for Pete’s sake. If they can’t decide on that, then I doubt they can coexist long as a team.
Rich Russillo: Fair point. But right now, Hans Grayson’s firmly in control as he transitions to a hammerlock onto Ashlynn! Applying pressure to the arm and shoulder joint— BEFORE ASHLYNN DELIVERS A BACK ELBOW TO THE JAW! BREAKING IT UP!
Thadd Blazevich: Hans is stunned early on, favoring his jaw slightly as Ashlynn Quinn runs off the ropes in front of him! HANS TRIES FOR A HIP TOSS— BUT ASHLYNN FRONT FLIPS ONTO HER FEET! NICE ATHLETICISM THERE FROM QUINN! WHO GOES FOR A CLOTHESLINE ONTO GRAYSON— WHO DUCKS UNDERNEATH IT!
Rich Russillo: OOH! KNIFE EDGE CHOP FROM HANS WHICH ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE ARENA! Ashlynn Quinn’s certainly feeling the effects of that one as she backs into the corner with Hans slowly closing in for an Irish whip to the opposite!
Thadd Blazevich: ASHLYNN WENT TO GO UP AND OVER HANS IN THE CORNER, BUT HE HAD IT SCOUTED! STOPPING HIMSELF SHORT!
Rich Russillo: Ashlynn seems confused as to what happens, backing into Hans himself… BEFORE TURNING AROUND INTO A KNIFE EDGE CHOP TO THE CHEST THAT FLOORS HER!
Persephone: Ha! I’ll admit, watching Ashlynn Quinn get beat up is always a highlight.
Thadd Blazevich: Quinn sits up slightly, holding onto her chest as Hans pulls her back up for an ARM WRINGER! Gaining control of the wrist before YANKING on said arm! Ashlynn drops to a knee, struggling in that hold before rising back to her feet… delivering a KICK TO THE GUT! Hans doubles over as that kick caught him off guard and Ashlynn proceeds to plant him with a body slam!
(Ashlynn backs into the corner, holding her arm before tagging Drake Armstrong on the chest!)
(TAG!!)
(Drake looks annoyed at the tag, clearly caught off guard as Ashlynn stares back at him with the same frustration, impatiently gesturing for him to get in. She steps out to the apron while Drake reluctantly enters, lining Hans up from the corner.)
Rich Russillo: Well, Drake Armstrong’s entered the match and I bet he’s been dying to get his hands on Hans after what transpired at Grand Rampage! Here’s his opportunity after Ashlynn just served him up on a silver platter. Hans is still down after that body slam and Drake exits the corner for a JUMPING KNEE DROP!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT HANS MOVES OUT THE WAY LAST MINUTE! DRAKE’S KNEE GETS DRIVEN DOWN ONTO THE CANVAS HARD!
Persephone: Jeez. I guess nothing can go right for these two… I love it!
(Ashlynn throws her hands up on the apron in frustration as Drake just blew the lead in her eyes.)
Rich Russillo: Quinn does not look happy as Drake’s mistake there may have swung the momentum back in the other team’s favor with Hans grabbing Drake in a side headlock after he struggled to a vertical base on one leg! Drake backs Hans into the corner— only problem is: it’s the wrong corner! Drake just backed Hans into no man’s land and Cody tags himself in!
(TAG!!)
Thadd Blazevich: Tag is made, but there was some brief hesitation on Cody’s end before doing so! The tension between him and Hans Grayson very well alive as Maverick enters the ring, SMASHING Drake Armstrong with a shot to the ribs! A FORMER GOLDEN GLOVES IN BOXING, THE MAN KNOWS HOW TO THROW FISTS AND DIRECTS DRAKE ARMSTRONG TO A NEARBY CORNER! SLAMMING HIM FACE FIRST OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!
Rich Russillo: MAVERICK’S UNLOADING WITH RIGHTS NOW! DRAKE HAVING NOWHERE TO GO IN THAT CORNER AS “THE HEADLINER” IS ALL OVER HIM! THERE’S AN IRISH WHIP TO THE OPPOSITE CORNER BY MAVERICK, AND DRAKE STUMBLES OUT INTO A… BACK BODY DROP! GOOD GRIEF! DID YOU SEE THAT ELEVATION?!
Thadd Blazevich: He launched him HIGH, dude! Armstrong crawls toward the ropes, but look out because Cody’s hot in pursuit as he marches over there! Armstrong gets picked up to both feet, with Cody leaning him against the ropes for an Irish whip! This time, looking for the DEEP END AS DRAKE REBOUNDS OFF THE ROPES— BUT TAGS CODY WITH A PUNT KICK TO THE CHEST INSTEAD!
Rich Russillo: Cody turns around, clutching at his chest before DRAKE LEAPS UP FOR A DROPKICK TO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD AND NECK! SENDING HIM STUMBLING THROAT FIRST INTO THE MIDDLE ROPE! CODY’S COUGHING NOW AS HE WRITHES IN PAIN ON THE CANVAS, HE CAN BARELY BREATHE AFTER THAT ONE-TWO ASSAULT FROM DRAKE ARMSTRONG!
Thadd Blazevich: Not sure if that last part was intentional, but it’s definitely an opening for Armstrong to capitalize as he drags Cody towards his corner by the ankle!
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: Ashlynn tags herself back in, and even momentarily, both her and Drake Armstrong look to be on the same page! STOMPING DOWN ONTO MAVERICK! PUTTING BOOTS TO HIM AS HE TRIES HIS BEST TO COVER UP!
(The referee steps in and stops Drake’s stomping, forcing him back to the apron since he’s no longer legal.)
Thadd Blazevich: Ashlynn picks Cody back up and CLUBS him across the back! Cody arches in pain as he staggers toward the ropes, leaning on them for assistance as Ashlynn walks over… directing him to the nearby corner and bouncing him FACE FIRST off the top turnbuckle! Very reminiscent of what Cody just did to Armstrong a few minutes ago.
Rich Russillo: Maverick jolts upright off that impact, still stunned, and gets dropped with a RIGHT HAND!
Persephone: Cmon, Cody. Fight back or something. This thing is no fun if you don’t. In fact, it’s quite boring if you ask me.
Rich Russillo: Drake and Ashlynn have finally swung the momentum in their favor fully, with Ashlynn watching as Cody crawls his way into their corner, pulling himself up with assistance from the ropes. Cody’s likely stunned from the damage he’s taken, running off instinct so far, and doesn’t even realize where he is. But Ashlynn’s quick to remind him as she wraps both hands around Maverick’s throat— CHOKING HIM!
(While choking him in the corner, Ashlynn screams at the top of her lungs, even annoying her own partner Drake Armstrong on the apron as he plugs one ear and winces.)
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE!
Thadd Blazevich: Luckily, the referee steps in, forcing her back from Cody in the corner as he tries to catch his breath.
Persephone: Thank God, I couldn’t take another second of that screaming.
Rich Russillo: OH! DRAKE TAKES ADVANTAGE WITH THE REFEREE DISTRACTED, CLUBBING CODY IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD! DROPPING HIM FACE FIRST ON THE CANVAS!
(Ashlynn notices Hans trying to get into the ring behind her and quickly points him out to the referee, drawing the ref’s attention as he moves to stop him.)
Rich Russillo: The referee continues talking Hans down, forcing him back out to the apron as Ashlynn lurks in the corner, taunting him the entire time while keeping her eyes on Cody. She watches him struggle up to all fours, crawling and reaching out for the tag… JUST TO FIELD GOAL KICK HIM STRAIGHT IN THE ABDOMEN! Cody rolls over to a knee, slumping against the middle rope as the air is clearly driven out of him!
Thadd Blazevich: Look at that smile on Ashlynn Quinn’s face. She has Cody Maverick right where she wants him right now, and this crowd’s rallying behind him but I don’t know if it’s going to make a difference. Ashlynn stands him up for a vicious FOREARM STRIKE! Cody Maverick falls to a seated position and Ashlynn follows that up with a BOOT TO THE FACE!
Rich Russillo: Next, Quinn steps over her sprawled opponent and tags out to Armstrong on the apron!
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: Drake enters with a STOMP to Maverick’s chest! Maverick rolls onto his side, coming to somewhat before Drake stands him up for a EUROPEAN UPPERCUT! JACKING HIS OPPONENT’S JAW! Cody falls to a seated position, leaning against the bottom rope and DRAKE RUSHES OVER TO UNLEASH RIGHT HANDS TO THE SKULL! RIGHT HAND AFTER RIGHT HAND! BOTH ASHLYNN AND DRAKE AMPING UP THEIR AGGRESSION SOMEWHAT AFTER BEING EMBARRASSED EARLY ON!
Persephone: Please. The only thing embarrassing is their attempts at trying to wrestle.
Thadd Blazevich: The referee interjects, pulling Drake off of Cody! BUT DRAKE PUSHES PAST HIM, GOING RIGHT BACK ON THE ATTACK AGAIN WITH KNEES TO THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD! GOING TO WORK HERE ON MAVERICK! WE SEEN AT SHOCK VALUE JUST HOW CRUEL DRAKE ARMSTRONG CAN GET! TRUST ME, WERE JUST SEEING A SLIVER CURRENTLY!
Rich Russillo: DRAKE SCORES A FEW MORE RIGHT HANDED SHOTS TO THE TEMPLE BEFORE GETTING DRAGGED AWAY BY THE REFEREE AGAIN! BUT IT’S NO USE AS CODY PUSHES PAST HIM, ENCOURAGING CODY BACK TO HIS FEET FROM ALL FOURS!
(Cody crawls over to Armstrong, using his body to pull himself back up, grabbing at his kneepads, his trunks, anything he can find just to regain a vertical base. But even after getting there, he can barely stay on his feet as Drake looks down at him with a smirk, watching Cody cling to his shoulder, doubled over and struggling to stand…)
Rich Russillo: MAVERICK— STILL HAS FIGHT LEFT IN HIM AS HE EXPLODES WITH A RIGHT HAND! PERHAPS PLAYING A BIT OF POSSUM!
Thadd Blazevich: Maverick can barely stand, he’s on wobbly legs even after throwing that punch… Drake’s stunned too, but manages to fight back with a RIGHT HAND OF HIS OWN! MAVERICK’S TEETERING AFTER THAT ONE— BUT FIRES BACK WITH ANOTHER RIGHT HAND! TURNING DRAKE AROUND FOR A FULL 360 WITH HOW MUCH POWER IT PACKED AS ARMSTRONG STAGGERS BACK SLIGHTLY!
Rich Russillo: Maverick staggers forward— BUT INTO ANOTHER RIGHT HAND FROM ARMSTRONG!
Persephone: Ugh. They’re going back and forth, to which I ask “can someone drop dead already?”
Rich Russillo: RIGHT HAND FROM CODY! …RIGHT HAND FROM ARMSTRONG! CODY! ARMSTRONG— OOH! THAT LAST ONE FROM ARMSTRONG CAUGHT HIM FLUSH! CAUSING CODY TO STAGGER INTO THE NEARBY CORNER!
Thadd Blazevich: If Cody wasn’t getting worked over and grinded down by the duo of Drake Armstrong and Ashlynn Quinn, then I doubt he would’ve lost that exchange straight up. Rich said it earlier, the dude is a former Golden Gloves boxer. Drake STOMPS Cody down to a seated position in the corner and presses his boot into Maverick’s throat for a choke!
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!
Rich Russillo: Referee gave Drake til the count of five to relent, which he does. The referee backs Drake away, reading him the riot act that… let’s be honest, Drake probably isn’t paying much attention to.
Thadd Blazevich: No, his focus is solely on Maverick as he zones in on him once again in that corner. Maverick’s had his throat targeted throughout tonight’s match, getting sent throat first into the middle by Drake, then choked in the corner two times by both Drake and Ashlynn, one with a boot, one with the others bare hands. Drake and Ashlynn have a knack for bending the rules occasionally, or rathering testing how far the referee’s leniency will go.
Rich Russillo: We see that first hand in nearly every match where Drake performs the “Drakenomics.”
Persephone: He gets credit for that one thing. It’s a truly gnarly move. …I like seeing people get stomped out.
Thadd Blazevich: Dude… you have issues, bro.
Persephone: Just shut the fuck up and call the match!
Rich Russillo: Drake lifts Maverick to his feet in that corner and Irish whips him to the opposite! DRAKE CHARGES IN— BUT GETS SIDESTEPPED AND GOES STERNUM FIRST INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE! MAVERICK FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH A JUMPING NECKBREAKER AND HE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE HERE TO MAKE THE TAG OUT TO HANS!
Thadd Blazevich: HANS IS ITCHING TO ENTER THIS MATCH, ESPECIALLY TO GET HIS HANDS ON DRAKE! MAVERICK BEGINS CRAWLING TOWARDS HANS, BUT DRAKE STARTS TO STIR HIMSELF! CRAWLING TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RING AS HE TRIES TO GET HIS BEARINGS TOGETHER, WHICH HE’S GOING TO NEED AS…
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: THE TAG IS MADE! HANS GRAYSON ENTERS THE RING! DRAKE QUICKLY SHAKES THE COBWEBS OUT OF HIS HEAD, POPPING UP FROM ALL FOURS AND RUSHING AT HIM— BUT GETS DROPPED WITH A RUNNING CLOTHESLINE! DRAKE IS BACK TO HIS FEET— BUT GETS FLOORED WITH BACK ELBOW! DRAKE’S BACK TO HIS FEET A THIRD TIME BEFORE GETTING BACKED AGAINST THE ROPES BY GRAYSON FOR AN IRISH WHIP!
Thadd Blazevich: CALF KICK! CALF KICK BY HANS! AND BOTH COMPETITORS ARE BACK TO THEIR FEET WITH DRAKE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE HANS DOWN WITH A CLOTHESLINE OF HIS OWN, BUT HANS REVERSES IT WITH AN ARM TRAP NECKBREAKER! ASHLYNN ENTERS THE RING AND CHARGES HANS WITH A CLOTHESLINE, BUT HE DUCKS UNDERNEATH IT!
Rich Russillo: AND SHE GOES RIGHT INTO A “DEEP END” SPINEBUSTER BY MAVERICK! ASHLYNN ROLLS OUT THE RING AND CODY ENCOURAGES HANS TO END THIS THING!
Persephone: Yes, I’m encouraging the same thing! PLEASE end this!
Thadd Blazevich: Hans steps out to the apron with Cody picking Drake up from behind, hooking both arms as Hans SLINGSHOTS OVER THE TOP WITH A “BURNING SHOT LARIAT!” BUT DRAKE ARMSTRONG DUCKS UNDERNEATH AND HANS *NEARLY* GOES CRASHING INTO CODY! BUT HALTS HIS MOMENTUM JUST IN TIME!
Rich Russillo: THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE AS BOTH COMPETITORS STARE EACH OTHER DOWN— WITH DRAKE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT BRIEF MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY! SHOVING HANS INTO MAVERICK, WHICH SENDS CODY ROLLING OUTSIDE THE RING! HANS DROPS TO ALL FOURS BEFORE DRAKE SETS HIM UP FOR THE “NATURAL TALENT!”
Thadd Blazevich: BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE BY ARMSTRONG, HAVING DUMPED HANS HIGH ON HIS NECK AND SHOULDERS WITH THAT HALF NELSON, HALF CHICKENWING SUPLEX! THIS COULD BE IT!
ONNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEE—
Rich Russillo: KICKOUT! HANS MUSTERED THE STRENGTH TO KICKOUT! BUT ASHLYNN HOPS BACK ON THE APRON, REACHING OUT FOR THE TAG AND DRAKE QUICKLY OBLIGES!
(TAG!!)
Thadd Blazevich: DRAKE MAKES THE TAG AND ASHLYNN RUSHES INTO THE RING! ROUGHLY PULLING HANS BACK UP TO HIS FEET FOR A— OOH! HANS CONNECTS OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A KNIFE EDGE CHOP ACROSS THE CHEST! THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT! ASHLYNN CAN BARELY STAND AS HANS LANDS ANOTHER KNIFE EDGE CHOP ACROSS HER CHEST!
Rich Russillo: REALLY, BOTH COMPETITORS CAN BARELY STAND AS HANS IS REELING FROM THAT SUPLEX! BUT SWINGS WILDLY WITH A RIGHT— THAT GETS CAUGHT INTO POSITION FOR “THE MACHINATION!” STO BACKBREAKER BY ASHLYNN! DROPPING HANS TO THE MAT FOR A COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE—
Thadd Blazevich: KICKOUT!
Persephone: :noah: What’s it going to take?
Rich Russillo: No clue! But Ashlynn’s growing frustrated, which is the last thing you want in a predicament like this! Something Drake himself is reminding her of!
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) Get it together and tag me!
(Ashlynn shoots a look over at Armstrong, clearly annoyed at being barked orders like that.)
Thadd Blazevich: Ashlynn lifts Hans back up as he tried reaching for the tag out to Maverick on the apron, but that won’t be coming anytime soon as Ashlynn snapmares him down to the canvas! Looking to wear her opponent down as she tacks on a rear chinlock.
Persephone: Oh, brother.
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) Must I repeat myself? What are you doing, I said to tag me!
Ashlynn Quinn: (off-mic) Not listening, sorry!
(Drake shakes his head on the apron, jaw clenched as frustration and irritation set in over Ashlynn Quinn’s behavior, clearly just hoping she knows what she’s doing at this point.)
Rich Russillo: This crowd is rallying behind Hans here as he powers back to his feet… AND BREAKS THE REAR CHINLOCK WITH A BACK SUPLEX! BOTH COMPETITORS ARE DOWN BEFORE BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE AS HANS BEGINS CRAWLING FOR THE TAG OUT TO CODY ON THE APRON! MEANWHILE ASHLYNN’S FINALLY READY TO LISTEN TO DRAKE’S INSTRUCTION AS SHE CRAWLS TOWARD HIM ON THE APRON!
(TAG!!)
Thadd Blazevich: TAG FROM BOTH SIDES AS MAVERICK ENTERS THE RING AND DRAKE ENTERS THE RING! MAVERICK DROPS DRAKE WITH A RUNNING CLOTHESLINE BEFORE FLOORING HIM WITH ANOTHER AS HE GETS BACK TO HIS FEET! DRAKE’S BACK UP A THIRD TIME BEFORE CODY DUCKS UNDERNEATH A CLOTHESLINE ATTEMPT— SLIPPING BEHIND FOR A RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP!
Rich Russillo: UH-OH! YOU KNOW WHAT’S COMING NEXT!
(Cody presses a finger to his tongue as the crowd gets ready to shout with him…)
Crowd: CO-DY MAVERICK!!
Rich Russillo: CODY BOUNCES OFF THE ROPES FOR A JUMPING… ELBOW DROP! PUTTING THE EXCLAMATION POINT ON ARMSTRONG AS HE STUMBLES BACK TO HIS FEET FOR A KICK TO THE GUT! SIN CITY STUNN— NO!
Thadd Blazevich: DRAKE SHOVES HIM OFF AND ROLLS OUT UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM ROPE AS CODY DROPS TO A KNEE!
Persephone: FUCK!
(Drake rolls out under the bottom rope, leaning back against the apron as he reaches into his trunks for the Armstrong Family Ring, sliding it onto his finger—)
Rich Russillo: OH, AND HANS! HANS RUSHES OVER, REALIZING WHAT DRAKE IS TRYING TO DO! Cody Maverick is dazed as Drake rushes over, AND NOW ARMSTRONG TAKES A SWING AT CODY TO END THIS ONE!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT HANS BLOCKS IT TO DELIVER A PUNCH OF HIS OWN BEFORE— :krabs:
(Commentary quickly clears out of the way as Hans hurls Drake over the announce table, then marches around to the other side after him.)
Rich Russillo: HANS IS MOUNTING DRAKE BEHIND OUR ANNOUNCE TABLE WITH RIGHT HANDS! UNLEASHING ALL HIS ANGER AND AGGRESSION! DRAKE TRIED TO CHEAT HIS WAY TO ANOTHER VICTORY, BUT HANS STOPPED IT!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT CODY TAKES NOTICE OF THIS AND PULLS HANS OFF TO MOUNT DRAKE HIMSELF! DELIVERING RIGHT HANDS OF HIS OWN— ASHLYNN ENTERS THE FRAY! HOPPING ONTO HANS GRAYSON’S BACK, CLAWING AT HIS EYES!
Rich Russillo: HANS IS A LITTLE PREOCCUPIED WITH THAT, TRYING TO SHAKE ASHLYNN OFF! MEANWHILE CODY DRAGS DRAKE OUT FROM BEHIND THE TABLE, LOOKING TO BRING DRAKE BACK INSIDE THE RING— OOH! CODY GETS THROWN BACK FIRST INTO THE RINGPOST!
Persephone: This match has fully descended into chaos and it’s great!
Referee: …SIX! SEVEN!
Rich Russillo: YEAH, BUT I DONT THINK THEY’RE BEING WARY OF THE REFS COUNT!
Thadd Blazevich; HANS FLINGS ASHLYNN OVER HIS SHOULDER AS DRAKE PLACES MAVERICK ON HIS FOR THE “DEATH PENALTY” AT RINGSIDE! HANS RUSHES OVER, PULLING CODY OFF DRAKE’S SHOULDER! HANS CHUCKS DRAKE OVER THE BARRICADE AND ROLLS CODY BACK INTO THE RING! JOINING HIM INSIDE—
Referee: NINE!
Rich Russillo: DRAKE’S TRYING TO BEAT THE COUNT, ATTEMPTING TO GET OVER THE BARRICADE—
Referee: TEN!
(DING! DING! DING!)
Bella Braxton: HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS… CODY MAVERICK AND HANS GRAYSON!
(Cody rises to a knee, clutching the back of his head as Hans briefly raises his arm in victory. Maverick looks a little confused at first, then just goes with it as he starts to piece together what happened. Ashlynn pushes up to all fours, holding her back in pain as the camera zooms in on Drake Armstrong’s shocked face.)
Rich Russillo: Whoa! Hans Grayson and Cody Maverick did it!
Persephone: Yeah, but by count out. Lame.
(Cody Maverick rolls out of the ring while Hans Grayson takes a moment before following out himself as Drake storms over to Ashlynn, yelling down at her.)
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) Just a couple more seconds, Ashlynn! That’s all you had to do, stall him, and you couldn’t even get that right!
(Drake grabs at his head, pacing in frustration after the loss—)
Rich Russillo: OH, COME ON! DRAKE JUST STOMPS ASHLYNN RIGHT IN THE HEAD! AND HE’S NOT STOPPING!
Thadd Blazevich: THIS IS TOO MUCH, BRO! THIS AIN’T EVEN ABOUT THE MATCH ANYMORE!
(Drake continues stomping her over and over as she tries to cover up, completely defenseless.)
(Cody and Hans both glance back from the ramp, Cody simply shrugging before continuing up, while Hans slows down… turning fully around, clearly conflicted.)
Rich Russillo: THIS ISN’T RIGHT! HE’S TAKING ALL OF HIS ANGER OUT ON HER!
(Drake kneels beside Ashlynn, dragging her up and propping her against the steel steps.)
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) THIS!
(BANG!)
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) IS!
(BANG!)
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) ALL!
(BANG!)
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) YOUR!
(BANG!)
Drake Armstrong: (off-mic) FAULT!
(BANG!)
Rich Russillo: Jesus… he’s completely lost it. Ashlynn Quinn can barely even respond right now.
(Drake slowly rises to his feet, backing away just enough as Ashlynn remains slumped against the steps, barely conscious. He reaches down and starts lowering his knee pad.)
Thadd Blazevich: Oh no… don’t do this…
Persephone: OH YES! DO IT!
Rich Russillo: DRAKE CHARGES IN FOR THE IMMACULATE BLADE!!
Thadd Blazevich: …STOPPED!
(Hans Grayson sprints back down, sliding out of the ring and getting between Drake and Ashlynn, raising the Cash in the Vault briefcase in front of him. Drake immediately stops in his tracks, forced to halt his charge.)
Rich Russillo: Uh-oh… now what, Drake?
Persephone: What is he waiting for? Just go!
Thadd Blazevich: Hans wasn’t gonna stand by any longer! He just saved Ashlynn from something much worse!
Rich Russillo: And rightfully so! Nobody deserves that, I don’t care what happened earlier!
(Hans keeps the briefcase raised, staring directly at Drake.)
Hans Grayson: (off-mic) Try it.
(A brief pause as the tension hangs in the air.)
Hans Grayson: (off-mic) Give me a reason.
(Drake glares at the briefcase… then at Hans, jaw clenched, before slowly backing off toward the barricade. He reaches into the timekeeper’s area and grabs his World Championship, clutching it tightly to his chest as he retreats up the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: That’s enough to make Drake think twice… but this situation is far from over.
(Hans continues holding up the briefcase, eyes locked on Drake the entire time, ready at any moment as Drake backs up the ramp, clearly shaken. “The Leaving Song Pt. II” by AFI plays in the background as the scene fades.)
(Commercial for the new Tomodachi Life game, now on Nintendo Switch 2.)
(We have returned from commercial break and we see that the ringside area is empty and quiet as the action from the previous match has left. Bella Braxton is back in the ring and ready to begin the introductions for the next match.)
Bella Braxton: The following contest is scheduled for ONE FALL!
Crowd: ONE FALL!
Bella Braxton: AND IT IS A FIRST ROUND MATCH IN THE VOLTAGE TAG TEAM TURMOIL TOURNAMENT!
(“Run Into Flowers” by M83 starts playing as the crowd erupts for the appearance of Bronson Daniels, knowing that this is his first night on Voltage in months. Bronson is ready for action as he heads down the ramp, looking forward to getting back in the ring once more.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first and making his way to the ring! Residing in Los Angeles, California! Weighing 190 pounds. Here is “THE HEARTBEAT” BRONSON DANIELS!
Rich Russillo: Here comes Bronson Daniels heading to the ring for this tournament match and what a return Bronson had at Grand Rampage.
Persephone: Yeah. He beat the shit out of Kelton and it was hilarious.
Thadd Blazevich: Not only that, he eliminated Kelton from the match. Bro, that wasn’t all. He then eliminated himself and continued to fight Kelton. Tonight he has a chance to advance in the Tag Team Turmoil Tournament.
(Bronson enters the ring and his music is quickly replaced by ‘God Shattering Star’ by Takashi Baba. Seconds later, ARIA enters the arena and is ready for action as well as she heads to the ring. She doesn’t look pleased given the circumstances, but she does her best to maintain her focus.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing his tag team partner! Residing in Phoenix, Arizona! Weighing 130 pounds. Here is ARRRRRRRRRIAAAAAAAAAA!
Persephone: Here comes an annoying happy peppy bitch. I hope she gets her ass kicked.
Rich Russillo: ARIA had a chance to skip the qualifying matches entirely at Grand Rampage, but it unfortunately wasn’t meant to be as she is now teaming with Bronson Daniels to advance to the next round.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, that was a hell of a match at Grand Rampage and we get to revisit it a little bit with the opposition.
(ARIA enters the ring and takes the corner with Bronson as her music is replaced by ‘Kendrick, Clae & Cole’ by Marqus Clae starts playing as NICK enters the arena. He has a strong determined look on his face as he heads down the ramp, ready for the match ahead of him as he walks to the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing their opponents! First! From Detroit, Michigan! Weighing 215 pounds. Here is “EL CASTIGADOR”! HE! IS! NICK!
Thadd Blazevich: Dude, here comes NICK and he had a hell of a performance in his Grand Rampage debut.
Persephone: Who cares? He didn’t win.
Rich Russillo: NICK finished Top 10 in the Grand Rampage and he could be following it up by advancing in the Tag Team Turmoil Tournament with a victory in this match as long as he and his partner can work together.
(NICK enters the ring and takes a neutral corner as his music is replaced by ‘So Far So Fake’ by Pierce the Veil as Candice Blair enters the arena. ARIA watches on as her usual tag partner is now on the opposing side in this match. Candice has a smile on her face as she greets the fans on her way to the ring, but she isn’t any happier about this mess than ARIA is.)
Bella Braxton: His tag team partner! Residing in Malibu, California. Weighing 130 pounds! Here is “PRINCESS” CANDICE BLAIR!!
Persephone: And now this dumb bitch is here. The IQ of this match just dropped about 50 points with this Ava bitch coming to the ring.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, Candice is a very talented competitor who now has to make it through this tournament the old fashioned way after teaming with ARIA at Grand Rampage.
Rich Russillo: ARIA and Candice lost to Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy at Grand Rampage and now are on opposing sides tonight. Who will advance to the next round? We are about to find out.
(Candice enters the ring as she gets into her team’s corner. Candice’s music fades off as the referee checks both teams before calling for the bell.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: Here we go! This match is underway. This is the second of six First Round matchups here tonight on Voltage as we see it’s going to be the ladies of the teams starting things off.
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA and Candice circle the ring and probably know each other decently well after tagging together as recently as last week. Dude, I love seeing some good sportsmanship as ARIA and Candice shake hands in the middle of the ring.
Persephone: Oh that is absolutely disgusting. If it was any sweeter, I can guarantee that I will throw up. Let’s get to work, you dumb bitches.
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA and Candice are still in the center of the ring and now we see them lock up as ARIA takes the early advantage with an armbar.
Rich Russillo: ARIA is wrenching on her arm as Candice is trying to get free, BUT CANDICE DECIDES TO GET CREATIVE AS FALLS BACK ON THE MAT BEFORE THE KIP UP! CANDICE WITH A CARTWHEEL BEFORE CATCHING ARIA WITH A FOREARM!
Persephone: All that crap for a forearm? What a waste of my time. Just kill each other for gawd’s sake!
Rich Russillo: Candice gets free off the forearm and repeats the forearms until ARIA is backed against the ropes. Candice with a whip to the other side as ARIA comes back. Candice puts her head down AND ARIA COUNTERS WITH A KICK RIGHT TO THE FACE!
Persephone: Everyone else could see that coming from a mile away. That is like the oldest trick in the book. Good grief. The silicone must have seeped into that skank’s brain.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, Candice flung back from the force of that kick as Candice stumbled all the way to the corner. ARIA follows her AND DELIVERS A CLOTHESLINE SENDING CANDICE INTO A SITTING POSITION IN THE CORNER!
Rich Russillo: Candice is down at the moment as ARIA backs up into the opposite corner. She eyeballs Candice BEFORE RUNNING FULL SPEED INTO THE CORNER FOR A CANNONBALL SENTON—
Thadd Blazevich: NOBODY HOME AS CANDICE GETS OUT OF THE WAY!! ARIA CRASHES AND BURNS! ARIA MIGHT HAVE LANDED ON HER NECK!
Persephone: She’s fine sadly. She’s still moving, but I could have told you that was coming too. These bitches are so predictable.
Thadd Blazevich: Candice is back on her feet as she pulls ARIA out of the corner and starts dragging her to her team’s corner as Candice reaches out for the tag.
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: NICK is officially in the match for the first time as he makes his way up to the top turnbuckle as Candice has both of ARIA’s legs.
Persephone: Gawd. This looks like it’s going to turn out stupid. Like a train wreck waiting to happen.
Rich Russillo: NICK is in position on the top rope as Candice has her back to the corner AS SHE FALLS BACK INTO THE SLINGSHOT AND NICK COMES OFF THE TOP ROPE WITH A CLOTHESLINE SENDING ARIA BACK AND LANDING ON CANDICE’S KNEES!
Persephone: I told you this was going to turn out stupid.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, that was a nice little double team move right there as Candice rolls out of the ring and NICK goes for the first cover of the match.
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWW-
Rich Russillo: ONE COUNT FOR NICK AS ARIA KICKS OUT! Nick quickly follows up with a ground and pound assault with those mounted forearms.
Thadd Blazevich: The referee is watching closely to make sure that those forearms don’t turn into fists because the fists are illegal while the forearms are not, bro.
Persephone: Wow. What a very astute explanation from the gnarly moron over here. What happened, Thadd? Did the plug inside your brain finally enter the socket?
Thadd Blazevich: Dude, I am very knowledgeable when it comes to wrestling. I am not stupid.
Rich Russillo: He’s got you there, Persephone, but ARIA was trying to block as many of the forearms as she possibly can before NICK decides to stand and bring her back to her feet and whips her back into the corner.
Persephone: The excitement I feel in this match is completely overwhelming.
Rich Russillo: ARIA hits the turnbuckle as NICK comes in at full speed AND LEAVING HIS FEET TO HIT A BACK ELBOW INTO ARIA’S FACE!!
Persephone: Didn’t make her any smarter, did it? Now this moron has the momentum and he climbs onto the ropes? WHY?
Thadd Blazevich: NICK makes sure ARIA doesn’t fall as he climbs onto the second rope as HE STARTS THROWING RIGHT HANDS INTO ARIA’S HEAD AND THE CROWD STARTS COUNTING, BRO!
Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEV–
Rich Russillo: NICK COULDN’T FINISH THE PUNCHES AS ARIA IS ABLE TO GRAB NICK BY THE BACK OF THE TIGHTS AND PULLS HIM OFF THE ROPES WITH A MODIFIED POWERBOMB!
Thadd Blazevich: NICK lands hard on the back of his head, but he is able to roll onto his stomach as ARIA was trying to stack him up for a cover. Nice strategy on his part.
Persephone: Wow. He did one smart thing in this match. Break open the bubbly and celebrate!!
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA is able to roll him onto his back again long enough FOR ARIA TO FLIP BACK AND HIT THE STANDING MOONSAULT!! DIRECT HIT AS ARIA HOOKS BOTH LEGS FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOO!
Rich Russillo: NICK KICKS OUT AS ARIA BARELY GOT A TWO COUNT OFF THAT COVER!
Persephone: Only a two count? Good thing there is plenty of match still left. Lucky us.
Rich Russillo: Sarcasm duly noted as ARIA finds the strength to drag NICK the last foot or two so she can reach out for Bronson to get a tag.
Persephone: I would make a smart ass joke about there being about a 100 pound weight difference, but I forgot this is EAW and everybody in this damn company has freakish strength at the most opportune moments.
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, Bronson gets the tag and is now being featured in the match for the first time AS ARIA HOLDS ON AND BRONSON LAUNCHES HIMSELF OVER THE ROPES AND HITS AND ELBOW DROP RIGHT IN THE HEART OF NICK!
Rich Russillo: The crowd appreciates all four competitors in this match so it will be hard to pinpoint a fan favorite team because both could fit the bill, but right now, Bronson brings NICK onto his feet–
Thadd Blazevich: NICK WAS BRACING FOR AN IRISH WHIP BUT BRONSON FAKES HIM OUT AND DELIVERS A BELL CLAP! NICK NO DOUBT HAS RINGING IN HIS EARS AFTER THAT MOVE!
Persephone: More ringing than usual from what I heard. At least it’s a difference in sound compared to the elevator music he hears on a regular basis.
Thadd Blazevich: Bronson pulls NICK back to his feet and whips him over to the ropes on the other side, BUT NICKS IS ABLE TO STOP THE WHIP AS HE HOOKS HIS ARMS AROUND THE ROPES TO STOP HIMSELF–
Rich Russillo: BUT BRONSON SAW IT COMING BECAUSE BEFORE NICK EVEN STOPPED, HE WAS RUNNING TOWARDS THE ROPES! BRONSON DELIVERS A DROPKICK AND THAT SENDS NICK OVER THE TOP ROPE AND TO THE FLOOR!
Persephone: Did you hear the thud that NICK’s face made after hitting the edge of the ring? I did and I wonder if he broke anything. Doubt it, though.
Rich Russillo: NICK is able to land on his feet and LAUNCHES HIMSELF OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A SOMERSAULT PLANCHA AND LANDS DIRECTLY ON TOP OF NICK!
Persephone: Listen to these fans cheering loudly. It’s like they think that they did it themselves. What morons.
Thadd Blazevich: That was almost the same move that Bronson used to take himself out of the Grand Rampage to beat up Kelton. What a hell of a move that rocked NICK!
Rich Russillo: Great move by Bronson as he pulls NICK to his feet, BUT NICK PLAYED POSSUM AND CAUGHT BRONSON WITH AN UPPERCUT TO THE JAW!
Thadd Blazevich: BRO, THAT MIGHT HAVE DIMMED BRONSON’S LIGHTS A LITTLE BIT! Now NICK has Bronson around the waist AND HITS A GUTWRENCH SUPLEX ON THE FLOOR!
Persephone: Could have done more damage with a chair, but what do I know?
Thadd Blazevich: Bronson landed hard as NICK picked him up and rolled him back into the ring. NICK picks Bronson back up to his feet and drops him with a gutbuster.
Rich Russillo: Bronson is holding his ribs in pain as NICK rolls him onto his back and grabs his arms BEFORE HE JUST STARTS STOMPING BRONSON IN THE FACE!
Persephone: BREAK HIS NOSE! BREAK HIS FACE! CAUSE HIM TO BLEED!!
Rich Russillo: NICK CALLS THAT “STOMP THE STUPID OUT” AND HE IS JUST BLASTING BRONSON IN THE FACE! BRONSON COULD BE KNOCKED OUT RIGHT NOW!
Persephone: Good. I hope so. Now he decides to go for the cover. Could have stomped him a few more times, but what do I know?
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: BRONSON KICKS OUT! VERY CLOSE NEAR FALL FOR NICK AS HE WHIPS BRONSON INTO HIS CORNER AS CANDICE TAKES THE TAG!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: Candice is back in the match as NICK and Candice start double teaming Bronson in the corner with the double boots. Now NICK has a facelock on Bronson and tells Candice to get on the other side–
Thadd Blazevich: DOUBLE VERTICAL SUPLEX BY NICK AND CANDICE! Nick quickly rolls out of the ring on the referee’s count of four or else he would have disqualified his team on five.
Persephone: That would make him extremely stupid and I still don’t think those damn referees even know how to count to five on their own.
Thadd Blazevich: Bronson is still trying to shake off those stomps to the head earlier as Candice just puts the boots to Bronson who makes his way over to the ropes. The referee backs up Candice as Bronson makes it back to his feet.
Rich Russillo: Bronson is back up AND CANDICE RUSHES OVER AND DELIVERS A HEADBUTT KNOCKING BRONSON SILLY!
Persephone: So he’s as loopy as she is on any given day. Good to know.
Rich Russillo: Candice backs up enough so she can give herself a little more momentum AS SHE RUNS FORWARD AND LEAVES HER FEET AND SHE HITS THE “SPINNING WHEEL”! SPINNING WHEEL KICK RIGHT IN THE FACE!
Persephone: Yeah, look at how well it did because all it did was knock Bronson right into his corner. What a stupid bitch!
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: Bronson kept his senses long enough to tag in ARIA who jumps into the ring and ONTO THE SECOND ROPE AND FLIES BACK WITH THE SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT–
Rich Russillo: SHE GOT IT AND I THINK CANDICE TOOK A BOOT TO THE HEAD AS SHE LANDED AS ARIA SCOOTS BACK AND GOES FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: CANDICE KICKS OUT! That was a close near fall, but I really don’t think that ARIA got all of the moonsault, but ARIA’s boot might have broken Candice’s nose.
Persephone: It didn’t. No blood. No disfigured faces due to injury. Just disfigured due to a bunch of botox.
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA gets Candice back to her feet and whips her off to the ropes. Candice with the rebound as ARIA grabs her for the backbreaker, BUT CANDICE IS ABLE TO GET HER LEGS AROUND ARIA’S HEAD AND SHE COUNTERS WITH A HEADSCISSOR TAKEOVER–
Rich Russillo: WAIT! CANDICE HELD ONTO ARIA AND TRANSITIONS THE HEADSCISSORS INTO A CROSSFACE SUBMISSION! CROSSFACE LOCKED IN AND THE REFEREE IS THERE TO SEE IF ARIA GIVES IT UP!
Persephone: Submissions are alright to watch because they are being tortured, they always take so DAMN LONG to end a match. Just beat the hell out of each other and end it.
Rich Russillo: Candice has the crossface in deep and ARIA is trying to pull herself towards the ropes to force a break.
Persephone: Wake me when it’s over because gawd knows these submissions last a good thirty minutes.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, your negativity can be such a bore sometimes. BUT LOOK AT ARIA! ARIA IS FINDING THE STRENGTH TO TRY AND PULL CANDICE TO THE ROPES WITH HER AS THE CROSSFACE IS STILL APPLIED!
Rich Russillo: ARIA IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE ROPES! ARIA IS ONLY ABOUT A FOOT AWAY FROM THE ROPES! ARIA MAKES A LUNGE TOWARDS THE ROPES–
Thadd Blazevich: CANDICE ROLLS BACK TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RING TO PREVENT ARIA FROM CAUSING A ROPE BREAK!
Persephone: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WHAT A FUCKING LOSER!
Thadd Blazevich: WAIT A SECOND! ARIA FORCES CANDICE TO KEEP ROLLING AND NOW CANDICE’S SHOULDERS ARE DOWN IN A MODIFIED ROLL UP!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: CANDICE KICKS OUT AT RIGHT BEFORE THREE! THAT FORCES CANDICE TO RELEASE THE SUBMISSION AND BOTH WOMEN ARE DOWN AT THE MOMENT!
Persephone: ONE! TWO! EIGHT! NINE! TEN! Ring the bell! END THIS SHIT!!
Rich Russillo: Wishful thinking, aren’t you?
Persephone: Shut up.
Thadd Blazevich: Candice is the first one up to her feet as she grabs ARIA in the facelock and brings her back to her feet BEFORE TAKING HER UP AND OVER WITH THE SNAP SUPLEX! NOW CANDICE FLOATS OVER FOR A COVER, BRO–
Rich Russillo: ARIA BRIDGES UP AND PREVENTS THE COVER! BUT CANDICE COMES BACK WITH A CHOP TO THE CHEST! GOOD GRIEF! IT’S ALMOST LIKE SHE CHOPPED ARIA’S RIBCAGE!
Thadd Blazevich: That brings ARIA back down to the mat as Candice quickly brings ARIA back to her feet AND CATCHES HER WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD!
Persephone: Didn’t knock any brains out because she doesn’t have any left to lose.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, ARIA is on spaghetti legs as Candice whips ARIA to the ropes. ARIA comes back off the rebound as Candice puts her head down FOR A BACK BODY DROP–
Rich Russillo: ARIA GRABS CANDICE BY THE HEAD AND JUMPS IN THE AIR BEFORE COUNTERING WITH A JUMPING DDT! CANDICE LANDS ON HER HEAD!
Persephone: Looks like she is about to make another appointment with her plastic surgeon.
Rich Russillo: Candice rolls through and somehow manages to pull herself towards the corner as ARIA finds herself in the opposite corner.
Persephone: This couldn’t get any more exciting even if they tried.
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA comes out of the corner AND SHE DOES A BEAUTIFUL HANDSPRING! ARIA FLIPS ACROSS THE RING AND CATCHES CANDICE IN THE FACE WITH A BEAUTIFUL HANDSPRING ELBOW!!
Rich Russillo: You don’t see very many of those on Voltage, but Candice comes out of the corner on spaghetti legs of her own, but ARIA grabs her and tosses her to the ropes.
Thadd Blazevich: Candice rebounds off the ropes AND ARIA TRIES FOR THE POP-UP POWERBOMB–
Persephone: She countered. What a shock.
Thadd Blazevich: Candice gets free of the powerbomb attempt and lands behind Candice. Both ladies turn around-
Rich Russillo: CANDICE AND ARIA HAD THE SAME IDEA AS BOTH WOMEN WENT FOR SUPERKICKS! BOTH WOMEN HIT THEIR KICKS AND NOW BOTH WOMEN ARE DOWN!
Persephone: Now the referee does their job and checks these bitches before starting a count. Now the count will take about a year.
Rich Russillo: Both women are dazed but they are crawling to their corners as both Bronson and NICK are reaching out for the tags to get back into the match.
Persephone: Yay. They get in the match and there will be more boredom.
Thadd Blazevich: Candice and ARIA are still crawling their way to the corners and they are getting closer and closer. Who will get to their corner first and shift the momentum in their team’s favor–
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: IT’S CANDICE! CANDICE TAGS IN NICK–
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA TAGS IN BRONSON AND HERE WE GO! BOTH MEN MEET IN THE CENTER OF THE RING AND THEY ARE NOW THROWING PUNCHES!
Persephone: At least they aren’t looking like complete idiots out there. They are still idiots but not complete idiots!
Thadd Blazevich: NICK is starting to get the advantage in this exchange and is really starting to take it to the former World Champion Bronson Daniels!
Rich Russillo: GOOD GAWD! LOOK AT THE STRIKING ABILITY OF NICK! NICK IS TURNING BRONSON INTO HIS PERSONAL PUNCHING BAG!
Persephone: Bronson and a punching back have something in common. No brains and full of sand in their heads.
Rich Russillo: Hooks and uppercuts galore BUT BRONSON COMES BACK WITH AN UPPERCUT OF HIS OWN ROCKING NICK!
Persephone: It wasn’t that impressive because teeth didn’t fly out of his mouth.
Thadd Blazevich: NICK was dazed off of the uppercut AS BRONSON COMES RUNNING IN FOR THE “GODBREAKER”! CODEBREAKER ON THE WAY–
Rich Russillo: NICK BLOCKED IT! NICK BLOCKED THE CODEBREAKER AND SIMPLY ROLLS FORWARD INTO A JACKKNIFE COVER–
Thadd Blazevich: BRONSON BLOCKS IT AND BREAKS THE COVER BEFORE A COUNT COULD BE STARTED! Both men are down as the referee tries for another cover–
Persephone: They bridge up! Oh wow. That was so exciting.
Thadd Blazevich: Bronson has NICK in the gutwrench, BUT NICK GETS FREE AND CATCHES BRONSON WITH A THRUST KICK THAT ALMOST CAUGHT BRONSON IN THE THROAT!
Rich Russillo: NICK doubles over Bronson with another kick before lifting Bronson up in the air AND DRIVING BRONSON DOWN WITH A SITOUT POWERBOMB!
Persephone: I would say that the move broke his neck, but we know it didn’t. Either way, this NICK guy goes for the cover!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: BRONSON KICKED OUT! THAT WAS A VERY CLOSE NEAR FALL FOR NICK AND NICK ALMOST PICKED UP ONE OF THE BIGGEST VICTORIES OF HIS CAREER!
Persephone: Close, but didn’t. Now what is he doing?
Thadd Blazevich: Bronson rolled onto his knees and barely gets on his feet, BUT NICK COMES BEHIND HIM AND APPLIES THE “SECTION 8” CHOKE–
Rich Russillo: “MICKEY, I KNOCKED YOUR HEAD OFF”! NICK COULDN’T FULLY APPLY THE CHOKE AND BRONSON’S BACK ELBOW CAME FROM OUT OF NOWHERE AND CAUGHT NICK RIGHT IN THE HEAD! THAT LOOKED LIKE A KNOCKOUT SHOT AS BRONSON GOES INTO THE COVER!!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(“Run Into Flowers” starts playing again, and the crowd explodes with cheers as Bronson rolls off of NICK. Bronson is catching his breath as Bella Braxton announces the final decision of the match.)
Bella Braxton: Here are your winners AND ADVANCING IN THE TAG TEAM TURMOIL TOURNAMENT… THE TEAM OF ARIA AND BRONSON DANIELS!
Persephone: Do you know what the best part of this match is? The fact that it is OVER! About damn time.
Rich Russillo: Of course you would say that, but both teams really worked well together considering the situation. This match could have gone either way, but it is ARIA and Bronson Daniels who advance in the Tag Team Turmoil tournament.
(ARIA is back in the ring and helps Bronson back to his feet as the referee raises their arms in victory. Meanwhile, Candice rolls back into the ring to check on NICK. ARIA and Candice look at each other for a moment knowing that the two won’t be able to advance in the tournament together, but Candice just nods to ARIA, keeping in mind what was said earlier.)
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, people were expecting all of these teams to be combustible elements, but these two teams had some pretty decent chemistry considering they were brought together by the draw of the lottery.
Rich Russillo: You got to give Candice and NICK a lot of credit in this match. They brought the fight and were very close to winning it all on a couple of occasions, but unfortunately luck wasn’t in their favor as it’s ARIA and Bronson who advance in the tournament. Congratulations once again to–
(Before Rich could finish the crowd reaction rises with boos, as Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy suddenly slide into the ring!)
Thadd Blazevich: BRO! WHY IN THE HELL ARE DIAMOND AND COSMO OUT HERE? DIAMOND JUST ATTACKED ARIA FROM BEHIND AS COSMO ATTACKS CANDICE FROM BEHIND!
Rich Russillo: WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? HAVEN’T COSMO AND DIAMOND DONE ENOUGH? THEY BEAT ARIA AND CANDICE AT GRAND RAMPAGE AND NOW THEY ARE JUST ADDING INSULT TO INJURY!! WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT?
Persephone: They are both just as stupid as the stupid morons who competed in the match. Why can’t they just kill each other and then they’d all be gone.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, Diamond and Cosmo are just beating up on ARIA and Candice, BUT LOOK AT THIS!
Rich Russillo: NICK! NICK AND BRONSON ARE COMING IN AND DEFENDING THEIR TAG PARTNERS! NICK AND BRONSON ARE ATTACKING COSMO AND DIAMOND AND THEY GET THE HELL OUT OF DODGE!
(Cosmo and Diamond slide out of the ring as Bronson and NICK check on their respective tag team partners.)
Persephone: Damn. Those bastards ruined everything.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro. I am glad they did because who knows what they would have done if not.
Rich Russillo: No hard feelings between the teams as Bronson and NICK make the save for ARIA and Candice. Once again, congratulations to Bronson and ARIA for advancing in the tournament.
(The final shot shows Bronson and NICK helping Candice and ARIA back to their feet before cutting to Cosmo and Diamond not looking happy as they continue up the ramp as the camera shot fades elsewhere.)
(Commercial for the final episode of Daredevil: Born Again season 2.)
(Voltage returns to ringside.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS A TAG TEAM TURMOIL TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH… AND IT IS SCHEDULED FOR ONE-FALL!
(‘REVIVER’ by MY FIRST STORY begins to play as Sayuri Himura emerges to some cheers from the EAW fans. She looks focused tonight as she heads down to the ring. She isn’t pleased knowing who she is being forced to work alongside, but she does her best to maintain her focus, not allowing the circumstances to get to her.)
Bella Braxton: INTRODUCING FIRST…RESIDING IN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN…WEIGHING IN AT 125 POUNDS…SHE IS THE “THE YUREI”…SSSSSSAAYUUURRRIIII HIMMMURRRRAAA!
(‘Burn Victim’ by Methwitch follows as Eris Morti walks out to some boos. She has no expression, completely locked in on the match. She stares down Sayuri Himura on the way to the ring. Neither woman likes each other, but for now they choose to just tolerate each other. Eris makes her way into the ring, getting increasingly amped up ahead of the upcoming match.)
Bella Braxton: AND HER PARTNER…FROM PARTS UNKNOWN…WEIGHING IN AT 130 POUNDS…SHE IS DOOMMMINNNAA MORRRTIIISSS…EEERRRRRIIISSSSS MOORRTTIIII!
Rich Russillo: These two have history and tons of tension, and we saw during the week what that resulted in. I’m not sure how they’ll be able to co-exist while essentially being opposite ends of the spectrum, but they’ll need to if they want to win tonight.
Thadd Blazevich: That’s true, bro. They had a seriously tough challenge ahead of them, and I don’t know if they can win unless they get on the same page.
(‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ by Tupac blasts as the low rider rolls out. TLA leaps over the door and starts hyping the fans. He looks psyched up as he heads down the ramp. TLA stops at the bottom of the ramp, deciding that he’ll wait for his teammate despite his history with them, as he intends to focus tonight on just winning his match.)
Bella Braxton: AND THEIR OPPONENTS…FIRST…WEIGHING IN 210 POUNDS…RESIDING IN THE POON PALACE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA…HE IS LA PPPAANNTTEERRRA SEEXXXUUUAAALLL…T! L! A!
(“Somebody Get Me A Doctor” by Van Halen blasts throughout the arena as Dr. Bethany Blue walks out to the stage. She has a focused look on her face as the fans cheer, and she takes a moment knowing that it is her first appearance on Voltage since Shock Value. After some time, she begins walking down the ramp. She doesn’t pay TLA too much attention, as the two make their way into the ring.)
Bella Braxton: AND HIS PARTNER…RESIDING IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA…WEIGHING IN AT 125 POUNDS…SHE IS DOCTOR BEETTTHNNNNAAANNYYYY BLLLLUUEEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: This team also has some serious history going against them, but at the same time a lot has happened this season for both Elitists, so I don’t know if they’ll still hold onto the animosity they may have previously had.
Thadd Blazevich: I know, so this team could be a seriously dangerous one. I guess we’ll just have to see!
(Sayuri Himura and Eris Morti seem to be having a heated discussion in their corner as The Doctor enters the ring. She glances at the two of them before heading over to her corner.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: There’s the bell and this tag team match is now officially underway! And it looks like we’re going to be starting things off here with Eris Morti and Doctor Bethany Blue! The two meet in the center of the ring and Morti tries to cut her opponent down with a lariat! Bethany Blue ducks underneath it and attempts to hook the arms! She looks for the tiger suplex but Morti is able to pull her arm free…AND GETS BLUE WITH AN ELBOW! She then runs the ropes, looking to build up some speed! BUT BLUE CUTS HER LEG OUT WITH THE CHOP BLOCK!
Thadd Blazevich: And with that bro, she takes out the leg of Eris Morti! The Doctor stays on the hunt now, delivering a massive knee lift to Morti as she tries to get back onto her feet! She is in complete control at the moment…and now she hoists her up! Doctor Bethany Blue gets her in position for the Fallaway Slam!
Persephone: But that doesn’t work for Morti! She elbows her opponent in the side of the head! She manages to get dropped back onto her feet…AND THEN SHE ROCKS BLUE WITH A DISCUS ELBOW SMASH!
Rich Russillo: SHE THEN LIFTS THE DOCTOR UP ONTO HER SHOULDERS! It looks like she might be attempting the Death Valley Driver here! But Blue is able to slip off of them there! She then shoves her towards the corner turnbuckles! Morti is able to stop herself before she collides with them! She turns around…AND IS MET WITH ANOTHER KNEE LIFT! But her opponent doesn’t let her fall! Instead Bethany Blue lifts her up for the vertical suplex!
Thadd Blazevich: And she keeps her up there for a bit there! The Doctor showcasing some of her strength for the crowd! BUT MORTI BRINGS A KNEE DOWN ON HER HEAD! She escapes from Blue’s grasp…AND THEN ROCKS HER WITH A MASSIVE HEADBUTT! AND THEN SHE PULLS HER IN FOR A GUILLOTINE CHOKE! WHAT A COMBINATION THERE!
Persephone: That certainly was something. Now Morti is coiled around her opponent, hoping to cut off some blood flow for The Doctor! Blue knows that she cannot be in this hold for too long!
Rich Russillo: She manages to maneuver herself towards the ropes…and her foot reaches it! The referee is now calling for the break! Eris Morti is forced to release the hold! She obliges and waits until Blue is back up to a vertical base! SHE THEN HOOKS THE ARMS OF BLUE AND LOOKS FOR THE BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT BLUE COUNTERS IT BRO, LANDING ON HER FEET! SHE THEN PULLS MORTI UP FROM BEHIND- AND DROPS HER WITH A MASSIVE RIPCORD SUPLEX! She keeps hold of the arm and heads towards the corner where TLA has his arm extended for the tag!
TAG!
Persephone: And now here comes TLA! Bethany Blue keeps hold of the arm, holding Morti in place for La Pantera Sexual! TLA takes advantage…KNOCKING DOWN MORTI WITH THE SWAG SHOT! THE PIMP SLAP KNOCKS HER STRAIGHT TO THE MAT, AND THAT MIGHT’VE BEEN LOUD ENOUGH FOR EVEN THE FANS IN THE BACK TO HEAR IT! TLA now looks for the first and hopefully the last cover of the match!
ONE!
TWO!
Rich Russillo: But Eris Morti is able to get that shoulder up right at the two count! This is not looking good for her at the moment folks! She needs to turn the tide quickly or get Sayuri Himura into the fray! TLA though looks to continue this offense! He lifts her back up to her feet…AND THEN THROWS HER WITH A TIGER SUPLEX!
Thadd Blazevich: Dude…Morti just got completely tossed there! She uses the ropes to pull herself back up to her feet…BUT TLA GOES FOR THE MANDIBLE CLAW! He pulls her away from the ropes and locks in this nasty hold! The punishment just keeps coming for her!
Persephone: BUT SHE ESCAPES WITH A MASSIVE BOOT STRAIGHT TO THE STOMACH OF HER OPPONENT! AND THEN SHE TAKES TLA DOWN WITH THE EXPLODER SUPLEX! Morti now stumbles towards her corner where Himura is there, ready to be tagged into this match!
TAG!
Rich Russillo: AND NOW SAYURI HIMURA IS THE LEGAL COMPETITOR! She enters the ring and immediately makes her presence felt with a big knife edge chop to TLA! She then sends him into the ropes with an irish whip! WHEN HE COMES BACK TLA TRIES TO TAKE HER DOWN WITH A DRAGONRANA…BUT HIMURA IS ABLE TO AVOID IT!
Thadd Blazevich: She grabs the leg of TLA and rolls him back up to his feet! SHE LIFTS HIM UP AND LOOKS FOR THE FALCON ARROW! But bro manages to shift his weight and land on his feet! HE THEN TAGS HER WITH A BACK ELBOW…FOLLOWED BY AN ENZIGURI! A lightning fast combination there that leaves Himura stunned for a moment! HE TURNS HER AROUND AND LOOKS FOR THE ZIG ZAG!
Persephone: But Himura is able to shake him off before it can connect! He scrambles back to his feet…BUT HIMURA GETS HIM UP AND TAKES HIM DOWN WITH THE SNAP BRAINBUSTER! Damn, she moved quickly there! And now she looks for a cover!
ONE!
TW-
Rich Russillo: And TLA is able to power out of that just before the two count! Not exactly what Himura was looking for! She knows that she has to keep this offense going here though! She brings him back to his feet and catches him with a European uppercut! And she lifts him up…AND LOOKS FOR THE SAITO SUPLEX!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT TLA FLIPS OVER HIS HEAD AND LANDS ON HIS FEET! HE THEN TAKES HIMURA DOWN WITH A ZIG ZAG! The back of her head smacks right against the mat! TLA now looks to add something extra to this match! He makes his way up towards the top rope! HE THEN COMES CRASHING DOWN WITH A MOONSAULT!
Persephone: AND HE LANDS IT! A deadly move right there and he bounces right off Himura! He crawls back towards her to capitalize…but Himura rolls out of the ring! I think that was instinct right there…or something like that.
Rich Russillo: She manages to pull herself back up to her feet using the barricade! TLA knows what he should do next…AND SO DO ALL THE FANS OUT THERE IN ATTENDANCE! HE COMES FLYING OUT OF THE RING WITH THE SUICIDE DIVE!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT HE’S INTERCEPTED BY A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT DUDE! What a counter from Himura! She might have just knocked him out with that one! She lifts him up and throws him back inside the ring! Himura then heads to her corner and makes the tag!
TAG!
Persephone: And Eris Morti is the legal competitor once again! She looks to pick apart TLA now! She tries to pick him, getting him in position for the powerbomb…BUT TLA FLIPS HER OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A HURRICARANA! She catches herself on the apron…AND TRIES TO CATCH TLA WITH A LARIAT AS HE STANDS BACK UP!
Rich Russillo: But he ducks under that one with ease! HE THEN REPLIES WITH A VERY MEXICAN UPPERCUT! A brutal strike there that nearly knocks Morti off the apron! She’s barely able to hold on…and now TLA climbs out there as well! HE DOES A RUNNING JUMP AND GOES FOR THE HEADSCISSORS! HE SENDS HER CRASHING FROM THE APRON TO THE FLOOR BELOW! And now he heads back inside and walks towards Bethany Blue! Here comes the tag!
TAG!
Thadd Blazevich: BETHANY BLUE IS NOW THE LEGAL COMPETITOR ONCE AGAIN! She quickly heads to the outside and grabs onto Morti! SHE SLAMS HER HEAD OFF THE RINGSIDE BARRICADE! She then tosses Morti back inside the ring! Blue isn’t far behind and she heads towards the second turnbuckle! She then aims down at her opponent with a smirk on her face! SHE LOOKS FOR THE KNEE DROP FROM UP HIGH!
Persephone: BUT MORTI IS ABLE TO ROLL OUT OF THE WAY! She barely manages to save herself there! She slowly gets back to her feet but Bethany Blue is back on the attack! SHE GRABS MORTI AND TRIES TO GET HER IN POSITION FOR THE FISHERMAN NECKBREAKER! BUT HER OPPONENT SHOVES HER AWAY! Blue comes back at her…ONLY TO BE STRUCK WITH A MASSIVE BUZZSAW KICK!
Rich Russillo: That absolutely rocks her! Blue is stunned for a moment here…SHE FIRES BACK INSTANTLY WITH THE TJD! BUT MORTI IS ABLE TO SPIDER CRAWL UNDERNEATH IT! SHE THEN GETS BACK TO HER FEET…AND CUTS DOWN BLUE WITH THE SPEAR! MORTI HOOKS THE LEG AND GOES FOR THE COVER! Could we see the upset here!
ONE!
TWO!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT THE DOCTOR GETS THAT SHOULDER UP! Eris Morti looks down on Bethany, and a grin just creeps up on her face. I don’t know if she expected that kickout from Beth, but I think she likes what she’s seeing! She lifts her opponent back up…AND JUST HITS BETHANY WITH A VICIOUS ELBOW, CAUSING BETHANY TO CRUMBLE INTO ERIS’ GRASP! She then brings her right over to the corner dude and makes the tag back in for Himura!
TAG!
Persephone: Once again Himura is back inside the ring! AND MORTI HOLDS HER OPPONENT IN POSITION WHILE HIMURA BUILDS UP SOME SPEED! SHE LOOKS FOR THE LARIAT ON BLUE…BUT BLUE THROWS MORTI INTO IT INSTEAD! The lariat collides with Morti and she goes down! Himura can’t believe that just happened! She turns around…RIGHT INTO THE REMEDY! THE CUTTER CONNECTS! Bethany Blue hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE-
Rich Russillo: BUT SOMEHOW ERIS MORTI STILL HAS ENOUGH IN HER TO BREAK UP THE PIN! She just saved the match for her team right there! Blue looks pissed off and she sends Morti to the outside! She then turns her focus right back towards Himura! She then brings her back up to her feet…AND LOOKS FOR THE RIPCORD FOREARM!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT HIMURA IS ABLE TO DUCK UNDERNEATH IT! SHE THEN GRABS BLUE FROM BEHIND AND LAUNCHES HER WITH A RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX! What a move right there! She put so much into that one! She then lines up a shot as Blue is climbing back to her feet…HERE COMES THE SPINNING BACKFIST! IZANAMI!
Persephone: BUT BLUE DROPS DOWN AND LIFTS HER BACK UP! SHE THEN THROWS HER OPPONENT WITH A FALLAWAY SLAM! BLUE KIPS BACK UP TO HER FEET AND HEADS TOWARDS TLA! HERE COMES THE TAG!
TAG!
Rich Russillo: And now here comes TLA once again! He approaches Himura and gets her with a swift kick to the stomach! He follows that up with a kick to the face…AND FINISHES IT OFF A LEG SWEEP! A beautiful combination that takes her right off her feet! He then drags her over to the ropes and places her across the middle one! I think we all know what’s coming next folks! TLA BUILDS UP SOME SPEED…AND LOOKS FOR THE 305 ON HIMURA!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT SHE MANAGES TO AVOID IT BRO! It’s a wild swing and a miss! SHE THEN PICKS HIM UP AND SPIKES TLA DOWN WITH THE SAITO SUPLEX! He rolls towards the corner and struggles to pick himself back up…BUT AS HE DOES HIMURA BLASTS HIM SQUARE IN THE CHEST WITH THE SHOTGUN DROPKICK! It launches him backwards and straight into the corner turnbuckles! This might be the perfect opening for Sayuri Himura dudes!
Persephone: SHE HOOKS THE ARMS OF TLA AND HOISTS HIM UP INTO THE AIR! SHE GETS THE TIGER DRIVER ’98! THE BLACK MEMORY CONNECTS AND HERE COMES THE COVER! I think this one is finally over!
ONE!
TWO!
TH-
Rich Russillo: NO! BETHANY BLUE BREAKS UP THE COVER RIGHT AT THE TWO! Eris Morti immediately rushes into the ring to strike back at her! The two brawl and eventually take it to the outside! Meanwhile, Sayuri Himura slowly makes her way back up to a vertical base! She grabs TLA and drags him back up to his own feet…AND NOW SHE’S TRYING FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB! MUKANJYO!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT TLA MANAGES TO GET OUT OF IT BRO! HIMURA TRIES TO KEEP CONTROL WITH A LARIAT BUT HE DUCKS UNDER IT! HE THEN COMES BACK WITH THE PELE KICK! THERE IT IS BRO! THE CARTEL KICK NEARLY TAKES HIMURA’S HEAD OFF! He crawls on top of her for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
T-
Persephone: BUT NO! Sayuri Himura somehow is able to kick out of it! She manages to stay alive here in this one! And TLA looks surprised but it doesn’t seem to put a damper on things for him. Instead he begins his next ascent up to the top rope! She then lines up his shot! HE LOOKS DOWN AT HIMURA WITH A SMILE! AND THEN HE GOES FOR THE BURNOUT!
Rich Russillo: BUT THE CORKSCREW 630 SENTON COMPLETELY MISSES AS HIMURA MOVES OUT OF THE WAY! SHE GETS BACK ON UP ONTO HER FEET AS TLA WRITHES ON THE GROUND IN PAIN! And Sayuri Himura takes the opportunity to stumble back towards her corner! SHE TAGS BACK IN ERIS MORTI!
TAG!
Thadd Blazevich: AND HERE SHE COMES! SHE LIFTS UP TLA AND SPIKES HIM INTO THE MAT WITH A MASSIVE SAITO SUPLEX! But she doesn’t give him a second inbetween…bringing him right back up…AND GETTING HIM WITH THAT SHEER DROP BRAINBUSTER! THERE IT IS DUDE! THE DAGGER! ERIS MORTI GOES FOR THE COVER AND WE MIGHT HAVE OUR WINNER HERE BRO!
ONE!
TWO!
T-
Persephone: BUT BETHANY BLUE COMES IN WITH THAT TJD! THE SUPERKICK GETS MORTI RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES! She might have just been completely knocked out by that! Bethany Blue now helps her partner back into the corner!
TAG!
Rich Russillo: AND JUST LIKE THAT BETHANY BLUE IS THE LEGAL COMPETITOR ONCE AGAIN! She goes right after Eris Morti! SHE LINES UP HER SHOT AS ERIS MORTI SLOWLY MOVES TO ALL FOURS! AND SHE COMES DOWN THE CONCUSSION PROTOCOL!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ERIS MORTI MOVES HER HEAD OUT OF THE WAY AT THE LAST MOMENT! She comes up from behind bro and tries to take her down with a dragon suplex! BUT BETHANY BLUE DRIVES HER BACK AND RIGHT INTO CORNER…
TAG!
Persephone: Wait a second here! SAYURI HIMURA TAGS HERSELF BACK INTO THE MATCH! You can see the surprise on the face of Eris Morti as she knocks Bethany Blue away with a forearm to the back of the head! And now look at these two idiots, they’re arguing right now! Himura was telling her that it was the right move, Eris Morti is insisting that she could’ve handled it!
Rich Russillo: AND TLA GRABS THE LEG OF MORTI AND PULLS HER TO THE OUTSIDE! She was so distracted that she didn’t even notice him sneaking up on her! The two of them start exchanging blows on the outside…BUT TLA IS ABLE TO TAKE HER DOWN WITH A VERY MEXICAN UPPERCUT! That uppercut just knocked all the sense right out of her, AND TLA FOLLOWS UP BY SENDING ERIS INTO THE STEEL STEPS! And meanwhile inside of the ring…BETHANY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SAYURI’S DISTRACTED STATE, DROPPING HER WITH A NECKBREAKER!
Thadd Blazevich: And now she looks to finish this one off once again! This time it doesn’t look like there’s any escape bro! The Doctor brings Sayuri Himura back to her feet…SHE LIFTS UP THE ARM AND IT’S TIME FOR THAT CODE BLUE!
Persephone: BUT HIMURA PULLS HER ARM AWAY AND FIRES BACK WITH A KNIFE-EDGE CHOP INSTEAD! SHE KEEPS RAPIDLY FIRING THEM OFF UNTIL SHE GETS BETHANY BLUE TRAPPED IN THE CORNER! From there she runs to the opposite corner…builds up massive speed on the way back…AND GETS HER WITH A RUNNING EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Rich Russillo: And now Sayuri Himura lets her opponent stumble out of there and into the middle of the ring! The Doctor looks like she might not know where she is at the moment! And Sayuri Himura begins to build up some speed! THIS IS IT FOLKS! THE UPSET IS COMING! HERE COMES THE KNEE LIFT! SAYONARA!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT SHE’S ABLE TO AVOID IT BRO! BETHANY BLUE DODGES IT BY AN INCH AND GRABS THE ARMS OF HER OPPONENT! SHE SPIKES HER DOWN WITH AN ABSOLUTELY VICIOUS TIGER SUPLEX! And then she drags her into the corner and tags in TLA!
TAG!
Persephone: The difference in these team’s communication is very apparent here tonight! Eris Morti and Sayuri Himura have not been able to get on the same page nearly at the same level as Doctor Bethany Blue and TLA! And now TLA is back in the ring and being handed a gravely wounded Himura!
Rich Russillo: AND NOW HE GETS HER IN POSITION! The fans are all fired up as TLA gets Himura where he needs for that Mexican Destroyer…BUT SHE DROPS DOWN AND CRAWLS BETWEEN HIS LEGS! He tries to catch her but she scrambles away from him! He rushes at her, hoping to keep control of this match…BUT SHE ROCKS HIM WITH A MASSIVE ROLLING ELBOW! AND THEN SHE GETS HIM…AND TAKES HIM DOWN THE BLACK MEMORY!
Thadd Blazevich: OH MY GOD BRO! THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY! She was just so close to taking down Bethany Blue…can she take down TLA instead? She brings him back up to his feet and holds him up for the Northern Lights Bomb…BUT NO! TLA ROLLS THROUGH AND RIGHT INTO A COVER!
ONE!
TWO!
T-
Persephone: BUT NO! SHE’S ABLE TO KICK OUT AND BOTH OF THEM SCRAMBLE TO THEIR FEET! HIMURA LOOKS COMPLETELY STUNNED! AND SHE’S IMMEDIATELY TAKEN DOWN BY THE VERY MEXICAN UPPERCUT! AND HER HEAD MIGHT HAVE POPPED OFF!
Rich Russillo: AND NOW TLA MAKES THE CLIMB UP TO THE TOP ROPE! WE ARE DEFINITELY REACHING THE END OF THIS MATCH! AND THEN HE COMES OFF THE TIME! HERE COMES THE 630 SENTON! AND IT CONNECTS FULLY! He then covers her!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ by Tupac blasts throughout the arena as the EAW universe begins to cheer. TLA rolls off of Himura with a smile on his face, while Dr. Bethany Blue slowly just enters the ring, satisfied with the fact that they picked up the victory tonight. TLA returns to his feet, while the referee goes to raise the hands of both Elitists. TLA and Bethany stare at each other for a moment, noting that despite the fact that they didn’t like each other, they were still able to work together without facing any issues tonight.)
Bella Braxton: HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS…TLA AND DOCTOR BETHANY BLUE!
Rich Russillo: What a match here tonight folks! These two teams brought everything they could against one another tonight! But at the end of the day, it seemed like Himura and Morti were hindered by their own tension! They just could not work together as well!
Thadd Blazevich: And as a result of that, Bethany Blue and TLA are walking out of Voltage with the win this tag team bout bro! Congratulations to them for moving on to the next round!
Persephone: And thankfully, this is over.
(Dr. Bethany Blue and TLA celebrate their victory, before finally making their way out of the ring, having done what they achieved, and still being far from friends given the history they have. As the two head back up the ramp Eris Morti slowly rolls back into the ring, and she watches as Sayuri grabs onto the ropes, using them to try to get back up. Finally… A colder, more sinister look forms on the face of Eris.)
Rich Russillo: OH NO!!!
Thadd Blazevich: WELL I THINK WE KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY, DUDES! ERIS MORTI JUST RAN IN, DRIVING HER BOOT RIGHT INTO THE SIDE OF SAYURI’S HEAD!!!!
(Eris Morti can’t help but chuckle, just shaking her head as she grabs Sayuri by her hair.)
Thadd Blazevich: THAT WAS A NASTY KICK TO THE HEAD FROM ERIS, AND NOW ERIS DRAGS SAYURI UP!
Rich Russillo: ERIS IS LOOKING FOR THE DAGGER-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT SAYURI SLIPS OUT OF HER GRASP, LANDING ON HER FEET BEFORE HOOKING ERIS’ ARMS! “TSUKUYOMI” CONNECTS ON ERIS MORTI, DROPPING HER ON HER HEAD!!! ERIS ROLLS TO BOTH KNEES, AND SHE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHERE SHE IS! SHE’S SEEING STARS RIGHT NOW BROS, AND NOW SAYURI RUNS THE ROPES, FULL OF FURY!
Rich Russillo: SAYONARA CONNECTS, WIPING OUT ERIS MORTI!!!! ERIS IS DOWN AND OUT, AND I THINK SHE WILL REGRET TRYING TO TAKE SAYURI OUT LIKE SHE DID ON THE NIGHT THESE TWO DEBUTED!
(The fans cheer loudly as Sayuri grabs onto the ropes, pulling herself to her feet. Sayuri stares at Eris Morti, with a look just filled with disgust.)
Rich Russillo: We heard it from these two themselves. As soon as their time in this tournament was done all bets were off, and I think Eris wasn’t pleased with Sayuri tonight. She tried to make an example out of her, but Sayuri was ready this time, and she definitely shut Eris down.
Thadd Blazevich: I have no clue where things go from here, but one thing’s for sure, dude. These two hate each other too much for them to have ever made a good team.
(Sayuri Himura looks down at Eris Morti as the fans continue to cheer for her. She holds her jaw for a moment, before finally she just shakes her head, beginning to make her way out of the ring. She walks up the ramp, taking one last look back in the ring to see Eris Morti, who is laid out against the bottom rope, staring at Sayuri with a visibly furious look in her eyes, despite still being unable to move following the knee lift. With this final shot, Voltage begins to fade from ringside.)
(The camera fades to the backstage area of the M&S Bank Arena following the previous match, where Adam Lucas can be seen storming through the hallway. Adam appears to be furious, and it isn’t hard at all to tell why. He was finally able to defeat Miku Sakai at Grand Rampage, and he was finally able to get his hands on Kai Rabeaux, but that didn’t solve his problems. Instead another one would be added, as directly after Grand Rampage, he’d learn that Kai himself would be announced as his teammate in the tag team turmoil tournament.)
Adam Lucas: Where is he…? WHERE THE FUCK IS CAPTAIN CHARISMA?????
(Adam said this to a random stagehand he found. Captain Charisma wasn’t in his office at the time, and the fact that he couldn’t find the Commissioner was only making him even more frustrated. The stagehand was caught off guard by Adam’s hostility, backing up just in case as he answered.)
Stagehand: I-I don’t know, man. Haven’t seen him since earlier tonight. If he’s not in his office, I can’t help you.
(Adam just shook his head, storming away from the stagehand. Adam kept his eyes peeled, looking wherever he could as he walked through the hallways. He wasn’t sure where Captain Charisma could be, but he needed to speak to him as soon as possible, refusing to go into this tag team match without receiving answers for this. Eventually Adam Lucas would run into someone who could give him the answers he needed, but it wasn’t Captain Charisma.)
Eden Sinclair: Hey Adam, can I help you?
(Eden Sinclair was walking by when she noticed the look on Adam’s face. Despite her genuinely asking however, this question only further irritated Adam, who couldn’t believe she even had to ask such a thing at the time.)
Adam Lucas: Can you help me?… You know what? Yeah, you can. You can help me by explaining what the fuck that whole tournament drawing was about.
(Eden just sighed, having somewhat expected such a topic to come to her at some point.)
Eden Sinclair: Adam, I’m sure you know the drawing was randomized. It’s not ideal but there’s not really anything we can do about that, I’m sor-
(Immediately Adam storms up to Eden Sinclair, getting in her face as he cuts her off.)
Adam Lucas: No no no, do NOT give me that shit right now. Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid. It’d be one thing if it was TLA. If it was Jay Jerry Johnson, or Chris Elite. Hell at this point I’d even take Drake Armstrong. I don’t care if I have issues with them professionally. I don’t care if they don’t like me, I don’t like them, whatever. My history with everyone else on this brand doesn’t matter, BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T CROSS THE LINE THAT KAI DID! This isn’t like making Jay and Chris team up! This isn’t like making Minerva and Jon Kelton team up! YOU’RE FORCING ME TO WORK WITH THE MAN THAT KILLED MY CHILD, AND YOU’RE EXPECTING ME TO BE OKAY WITH THAT???
Eden Sinclair: Adam… Again, I’m sorry, but there wasn’t anything we could do. You were the final team, the drawing had already been completed by that point.
Adam Lucas: SO WHAT??? You run this brand, don’t you?? You hand people Championship matches, you put together marquee events, you do everything that Captain Charisma can do, but a tag team drawing pairs me with someone like Kai Rabeaux and you can’t do ANYTHING?? You expect me to just accept it because it’s “random”??? What kind of bullshit is that?? You don’t get it, Eden. Clearly NONE of you actually get it if you think this is something I can just work through. DO YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS RIGHT NOW??? DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME TO “CO-EXIST” WITH THE MAN THAT KILLED OUR CHILD JUST FOR A TITLE MATCH?? THIS ISN’T ABOUT A CHAMPIONSHIP! THIS ISN’T ABOUT A SPOT AT PAIN FOR PRIDE! THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF THAT, AND YOU TWO KEEP PRETENDING THAT YOU CARE! YOU KEEP PRETENDING YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS RIGHT, BUT THIS IS JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE!
(Eden didn’t respond to these words. She knew Adam Lucas had an understandable reason to be mad given what Kai Rabeaux did, but beyond that she was nervous seeing the intense look on Adam’s face, knowing that in recent times Adam had been known to let his emotions get the better of him and lead him to making violent decisions.)
Adam Lucas: I have dealt with a lot from the two of you and I tried to look past all that, because it was in the past. It’s behind us now. None of that actually matters anymore- that’s what I was thinking. I thought that maybe you were done messing with me, but clearly, CLEARLY I was wrong to think that. Of all the things you two could’ve done I didn’t think you two would be insane enough to pull something like this, but I guess after all this time my expectations for you two were somehow still too high. Pairing me up with a piece of garbage like Kai Rabeaux is unbelievable, and you know that. You HAVE to know that this isn’t okay, so why are you just letting this happen!? Do you WANT me to keep going through shit like this!? Are you just trying to mess with me?? Is this some kind of joke to you??
Eden Sinclair: No. We’re not trying to mess with you.
Adam Lucas: THEN WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?? WHAT’S THE POINT!? This is ridiculous and you know it. Forcing me to work with Kai of all people?? Treating what we went through like it doesn’t even matter, all because you need to adhere to the rules of some stupid tournament?? You could’ve done ANYTHING to fix this, and you just-
???: HEY!
(Adam Lucas is caught off guard, as finally, Captain Charisma makes his appearance. The Commissioner storms into the view, and he doesn’t look pleased whatsoever by what has just played out. He rushes over to Adam Lucas and pulls him away from Eden Sinclair, who is noticeably shaken by the encounter. Captain Charisma in between the two before beginning to speak.)
Captain Charisma: Adam, what do you think you’re doing?? I get it. You’re upset. You don’t like the situation you’re in, that’s fine, but you do NOT go and get in Eden’s face about it. What did you think was going to come from this??? Did you think that yelling at Eden was going to get her to cancel the match?? If you have a problem then you need to handle it the right way, NOT LIKE THIS! You KNEW the drawing was random. Any problem you have, any concerns regarding the tag turmoil tournament or any other issue you might have, just take it to me and we can handle it properly. DO NOT go causing a scene backstage, and NEVER go yelling at Eden.
(Adam didn’t respond to this, knowing that he might’ve gone a bit too far despite having every reason to be upset. He still had more he wanted to say, but before he could respond, Captain Charisma momentarily looked away from him, before beginning to speak once more.)
Captain Charisma: Look, just come with me real quick. We don’t need to do this here.
(Captain Charisma begins to walk away from the area after saying this. Adam waits for a second, before reluctantly he does follow. He glances towards Eden Sinclair as he leaves, who just stares back at him as Adam walks away, following Captain Charisma to his office. Captain Charisma opens the door for Adam, and the two enter before the Commissioner shuts the door behind, immediately beginning to speak.)
Captain Charisma: Listen. The last thing I want to do is turn this into a bigger problem than it already is, especially when I know that you’re in a tough spot. We can just talk this out, man to man. I don’t like this situation any more than you do, and-
Adam Lucas: Come on. Don’t pretend you hate this as much as I do.
Captain Charisma: Adam, if I wanted to mess with you, or I didn’t care about what Kai Rabeaux did to you and Bethany, I would’ve suspended you after trying to kill a member of my roster at Grand Rampage. Kai has been away from Voltage for weeks because he knew that if he showed up, you’d be after him. I could’ve made you sit at home. I could’ve forced you two to go no-contact. I didn’t do any of that, because I knew that whatever you did to Kai would’ve been undeniably deserved. It’s what I said from the very beginning, back when Eden and I *both* expressed just how much Shock Value upset us. Kai crossed the line in a terrible way and he has been making matters worse for himself ever since, and anything that came from that is entirely on him. This tournament? You weren’t supposed to have to keep dealing with him like this, and I’m sorry this is happening.
(After saying this, Captain Charisma just sighs.)
Captain Charisma: I’m sure you understand there are a lot of moving parts to this tournament, and you and Kai were the final announced team. You were watching, so you saw how I reacted. I wasn’t happy about it. I didn’t want things to turn out like that, but things happened to end up like that and as much as it sucked, we had no choice but to accept it. The drawing was held live, so our hands were pretty much tied. We knew it was going to be a mess and we knew you weren’t going to be happy about it, but there’s only so much you can do in a live, randomized drawing that millions are watching. It wasn’t fair to you and I understand that, but again, there was nothing we could really do about it. The only choice we had was to go through with it, but the same can’t be said for you. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.
(Adam doesn’t respond to this, but he appears a bit confused, wondering what Captain Charisma means by this as the Commissioner continues.)
Captain Charisma: You’ve been going through a lot as of late and I understand that. Honestly, I’m grateful that you and Bethany are even here right now after what you two went through. It was a situation we obviously have never had to deal with on this show before, so we don’t intend to make matters any worse for you two. That’s why when it comes to this tag team tournament and this mess with Kai Rabeaux, I want you to just handle it however you feel is necessary. I’m not going to get in the way, whatever you do is on you. There’s only one thing I am expecting from you, and that’s to never get in Eden’s face like that again. That’s not going to solve anything, so I don’t want to see you taking out your issues on her anymore. Do we have a deal?
(Adam Lucas thinks about Captain Charisma’s words for a moment. He’s still frustrated knowing he even has to be in this situation to begin with, but he can see that Captain Charisma is at least letting Adam Lucas handle this however he’d like. Eventually, Adam just nods his head, finally answering the Commissioner.)
Adam Lucas: Yeah, sure. We have a deal.
(After saying this, Adam just turns and opens the door to the office. He walks out, closing the door behind him as Captain Charisma is left in the area, alone to think about what just happened, and what’s inevitably to come later tonight. He just shakes his head, as the camera begins to fade away from the backstage area.)
(Promotional ad for Fighting Spirit, where the finals of the tag team turmoil tournament takes place.)
(Sunday Night Voltage returns as the camera focuses on Bella Braxton, who is standing by with a microphone in hand and a smile on her face.)
Bella Braxton: The following is a first round matchup in the TAG TEAM TURMOIL TOURNAMENT!!! Scheduled for…
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
(‘Rompe’ by Daddy Yankee begins to play up as the camera goes over to show Carmen Sanchez as she makes her way out. As she poses on the stage, her theme is quickly overtaken by ‘Bad Blood’ by Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar as the crowd erupts. Specialists Champion Auburn Ware is seen making her way out, immediately shooting a glare toward Carmen, who bears a look of complete seriousness, as the two of them make their way down the ramp and toward the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first… the team of CARMEN SANCHEZ AND THE EAW SPECIALISTS CHAMPION AUBURN WARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: As we know, an interesting situation here for the Champion. Auburn Ware not only has to team with her future challenger, but also is facing two people who she is not particularly happy have been drawn for this tournament as a tag team.
Persephone: We saw what happened when they even got close to one another a couple weeks ago, Auburn went batshit crazy. She is one mean bitch even if she tries to hide it, and we’ll see if that comes out tonight.
(‘Let Me Hear’ by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas begins to play up as the camera goes over to show Saori Aizen as she makes her way out under a bundle of strobe lights. She closes her eyes and exhales, while almost immediately, the sounds of ‘Until It Sleeps’ begins to play up. Behind her, Damon Lazarus is seen, having a straight look toward the ring, as the two of them stand side by side. As he takes a moment, they then begin to make their way down the ramp.)
Bella Braxton: And their opponents… the team of SAORI AIZEN AND DAMON LAZARUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: As for these two, it’s certainly interesting to see how they have interacted with one another this week. Damon, of course, is in a weird situation, but he has never backed down from making sure that the job is finished by any means.
Thadd Blazevich: And we know the lengths that he’ll go in order to get there, and we also know the lengths Saori Aizen will go to as well! Needless to say, this might be a blood bath, bro.
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: The bell has rung, and we have yet another Round One matchup in the Tag Team Turmoil Tournament! Needless to say, this one is quite the interesting situation that we have on deck right now. Damon Lazarus is starting off for his team, and Carmen Sanchez is starting for hers, and the tension in the air is already palpable.
(Damon has a serious glare on his face, completely blocking out all the other outside noise as he paces around Carmen, who looks equally opportunistic right now standing in the ring with someone as experienced as him. But meanwhile, in her corner, Auburn Ware has seemingly decided in her head what she wants to do, as she slithers herself off the apron and down onto the ringside area.)
Thadd Blazevich: It seems like we’re going to start this match off though as cordially as we can, as both Damon and Carmen are looking to engage in a collar-and-elbow tie up-
Persephone: SPOKE TOO SOON! AUBURN HAS JUST YANKED SAORI OFF OF THE APRON AND NOW SHE’S BEGINNING TO BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HER!
(Saori is shouting profanities as Auburn snatches her by the hair, slamming her against the apron repeatedly. Saori manages to gain her bearings back, starting to fight back, as the two of them start to trade punches back and forth. This has obviously stopped whatever has happened inside of the ring, as Damon and Carmen quickly rush out.)
Rich Russillo: Damon grabs a hold of Saori and manages to pry her off of Auburn, while Carmen rushes over and does much of the same for Auburn! It’s clear that the last thing that they need right now is for their partners to be off their game!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT AUBURN JUST TURNED AROUND AND SHOVED CARMEN RIGHT IN THE CHEST!
(Carmen falls back as she immediately looks up, mostly surprised at the antagonistic approach by the Specialists Champion. But as it begins to set in what just happened, that surprise boils down to anger, as she immediately stands up, getting in her face. There’s a brief, lingering moment as the two of them stare a hole into each other, almost like the brawl is about to transfer over to the two of them.)
Persephone: Unfortunately, cooler heads prevail. Auburn is backing off and heading back onto the apron, and even though Carmen doesn’t like it herself, she knows that she’s here to win, and quickly enters back into the ring.
Rich Russillo: And Damon is there to meet her as he immediately pulls her into a side headlock! He’s wasting no time establishing control, knowing that the brief distraction is something that he needs to take advantage of! Carmen is trying to plant her feet and slip out of it, but just getting her bearings about her is certainly not helping too much.
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen manages to push him against the ropes as she sends her toward the opposite side of the ring. She tries to catch him while he rebounds, but Damon grabs a hold of the ropes just in time and stops himself, immediately slowing down before it can pick up pace.
Persephone: Both of them want to play this in their ballpark, two extremely different paces, both equally boring. They lock up again, going back and forth in a test of strength. Damon immediately uses the strength advantage that he has to push Carmen against the ropes, and the referee immediately comes in and breaks the two of them apart. It seems like we’re getting a clean break, how sad…
Rich Russillo: NO! Damon strikes Carmen right in the jaw with a forearm to the face! Carmen is staggered, and this gives him the chance to grab her by the wrist and send her toward the ropes with an Irish whip! Carmen rebounds, RIGHT INTO A SNAP POWERSLAM-
Thadd Blazevich: But Carmen grabs a hold of the ropes just in time! Damon spins around and lands on his fists, as he slowly rises up to a knee, and the two of them are at a standstill right now, and it’s been quickly made apparent that neither of them want to give an inch at the moment.
Persephone: Carmen charges in, GOING FOR A KNEE STRIKE- But Damon manages to slip out of the way as he grabs a hold of her into a roll up! Nimble for his age!
OOONNNEEE!!!
Rich Russillo: But Carmen kicks out before the two count! She makes her way back up to her feet, only to be met with a hard European uppercut to the jaw courtesy of Damon Lazarus! She’s quickly dazed and Damon doesn’t waste any time grabbing a hold of her around the waist and running her toward the corner!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: Reaching out and tagging in Saori Aizen! She enters into the ring, and immediately takes Carmen out of Damon’s hands, dropping her down to a seated position with a Snapmare, following that up with a hard kick directly to the spine!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen is not in a good spot here, but all it takes is one tag to her fresh partner to change the tides! The last thing that Saori is going to do is let that happen though, bro! She drags her over to the edge of the ring and presses her knee against her back, choking her out against the bottom rope!
Persephone: Ew, she’s drooling everywhere like an idiot. Thankfully, the referee is stopping Saori, pulling her away before she can bend the rulebook any further. BUT DAMON JUST BOOTED CARMEN IN THE FACE ON THE APRON! HAH!
Rich Russillo: A dirty move by the team of Damon and Saori, but we know they’re not afraid to do whatever it takes in order to secure a victory. Saori quickly grabs a hold of Carmen from behind and drags her toward the center of the ring, BEFORE LIFTING HER UP AND DROPPING HER DOWN DIRECTLY WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX-
Thadd Blazevich: But before she can be taken down, Carmen manages to connect with a hard back elbow directly to the face! She manages to plant herself down to the mat and slip out of the hold, before turning around and going for a strike directly to the face of Saori- Dodged! Saori manages to duck under that as she runs the ropes while Carmen turns around!
Persephone: BUT CARMEN MANAGES TO CATCH HER DIRECTLY INTO TROMPO! THE TWISTING RUNNING CROSSBODY CONNECTS! But this idiot isn’t going for the pin, she’s dragging herself toward her corner!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: And that’s smart! Because now Auburn Ware is tagged in, and she can work toward picking up where Carmen left off in a more efficient manner! Saori is trying her best to make her way back up to her feet, clearly dazed!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT AUBURN RUSHES FORWARD AND NAILS HER DIRECTLY AGAINST THE FACE WITH SHINY BROKEN PIECES! The Discus Elbow connects and the Specialists Champion is quick to hook the leg and go for the pin attempt!
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!
TTTTTHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRREEE-
Persephone: But unfortunately, Saori is smart enough to kick out of it. And Auburn isn’t wasting any time, she grabs a hold of her by the head and places her against the ropes, and now she’s beginning to beat the shit out of her with repeated forearm strikes to the face!
Rich Russillo: We know that there has been no love lost between these two the past month, so we can see just how much Auburn has been itching to get her hands on her! But Saori manages to get away as she shoves her back, retreating toward a nearby corner, but Auburn rushes toward her, GOING FOR A CLOTHESLINE- But Saori manages to bring up her boot and connect right against her face to create distance!
Thadd Blazevich: And now Saori is making her way to the top rope, looking to go high risk, and dude, I don’t know if this is going to pay off! Auburn turns around, AS SAORI PUSHES OFF-
Persephone: But Auburn manages to stop her just in time with a strike to the face! And now she’s beginning to climb up with her, which doesn’t seem like the smartest idea, but dumb and dumber are wasting no time beginning to trade punches back and forth with one another!
Rich Russillo: But Auburn manages to connect with a headbutt directly to the nose which leaves Saori stunned! And this allows her to be able to take advantage as she grabs a hold of her into a front facelock and begins to set her up! GOING FOR DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE!
Thadd Blazevich: But the Superplex attempt is stopped, with Saori connecting with a shot to the side that allows her to slip her head free! She presses her boot against her chest as she kicks Auburn off of the top rope! Auburn lands hard on the ground and Saori has her sights set, oh no, bro! WATCH OUT!
Persephone: SAORI LEAPS OFF AND TRIES FOR HORIZON OF THE CAPTIVATING SKANDHA!
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN GETS THE KNEES UP JUST IN TIME! All the air is taken out of Saori Aizen’s lungs as she crumbles down to the ground, and neither of them want to risk it any further, they’re both looking to reach out for the tag!
(TAG!)
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: And they get that as they’re right back to square one! Damon Lazarus and Carmen Sanchez have both been tagged into this match, and they know that they can’t waste much time! DAMON RUSHES FORWARD AND CONNECTS WITH A CLOTHESLINE DIRECTLY TO THE FACE!
Persephone: Carmen makes her way back up, BUT DAMON FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH A SECOND CLOTHESLINE! And it’s not a particularly smart move to be trying to get up again, but she does as she tries to throw a strike at his face- But Damon manages to duck under as Carmen runs the ropes, ONLY TO BE HIT WITH A SNAP POWERSLAM!
Rich Russillo: And now Damon is grabbing her by the head and bringing her up onto the ropes, GOING FOR BLACKEST EYES! THE ROPE-HUNG DDT!
Thadd Blazevich: But Carmen manages to free her legs, as she trips Damon and pins her shoulders to the mat!
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!
Persephone: But Damon manages to kick out of that just in time! Both of them rise back up to their feet!
Rich Russillo: BUT CARMEN CATCHES HIM RIGHT IN TIME WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! Damon falls against the corner, but Carmen is quick to set up the opportunity!
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: AS SHE SPRINGBOARDS HERSELF ONTO THE ROPES AND LANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF DAMON, SPIKING HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND WITH CEREBRO! The Springboard Poisonrana connects and Damon is quick to roll himself out of the ring, not wanting any more of that!
Persephone: AND IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE SOMEONE TAGGED THEMSELVES IN WHILE CARMEN WAS DISTRACTED! SAORI AIZEN LEAPS ONTO THE ROPES AND FLIES THROUGH THE AIR WITH A SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE CHEST!
Rich Russillo: And Saori isn’t done as she makes her way up to her feet, falling against the corner and waiting for Carmen to get back up! And she’s not going to like what happens here!
Thadd Blazevich: AS SAORI RUSHES FORWARD AND GOES FOR RAIMEI HAKKE! THE KNEE STRIKE DIRECTLY TO THE FACE OF A RECOVERING CARMEN!
Persephone: But Carmen manages to slip out of the way of that just in time! She rushes to the ropes as Saori tries to get her wits about her! AS BOTH OF THEM COLLIDE INTO ONE ANOTHER WITH A DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE THAT TAKES THEM DOWN TO THE GROUND!
Rich Russillo: These two teams have been at an absolute standstill right now, and it’s clear that something has got to give or else we might just be fighting forever! Carmen and Saori are both crawling toward their corners once more, realizing that their odds are compromised unless they tag in one of their fresher partners now! They both reach out!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: And Saori manages to tag out to Damon!
(TAG!)
Thadd Blazevich: While Carmen… tags out… to Auburn.
(After the fast paced exchange that happened, everything suddenly comes to a screeching halt once the major question of the match comes into play. Damon methodically enters into the ring, a calm look on his face, and while Auburn does the same, there’s no denying that she looks visibly hesitant.)
Persephone: Auburn looks like she wants to be any place but here right now, and it seems like she’s looking to do just that. She’s turning around and trying to tag out.
Rich Russillo: But Carmen has dropped herself off the apron! Especially after what she just went through in this match, she wants no part of it.
(Carmen shrugs her shoulders as she backpedals herself away, and as Auburn slowly turns herself around, Damon has approached the center of the ring, a small, sinister smirk beginning to grow on his face.)
Damon Lazarus: (Off-Mic) *Show me.*
(Ultimately, Auburn nods her head.)
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN RUSHES FORWARD AND GOES UNDER, TAKING DAMON DOWN TO THE GROUND WITH A DOUBLE LEG! And now she’s beginning to unload with rapid fire strikes to the face!
Persephone: Damon manages to shove away, as Auburn makes her way up to her feet, BEFORE LEAPING UP AND GOING FOR A HURRICANRANA- But Damon manages to keep her up before pushing her off of his shoulders. Big idiot doesn’t even want to do a Powerbomb.
Rich Russillo: Auburn tries to recover as she rushes toward him, BUT DAMON GRABS HER BY THE HAIR AND SLAMS HER DOWN TO THE GROUND WITH A HAIR PULL MAT SLAM! Auburn is dropped, clutching the back of her head, as Damon turns around and runs the ropes, BEFORE LEAPING UP AND CONNECTING WITH A KNEE DROP DIRECTLY TO THE FACE!
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn clutches her face as she tries to rise up to her feet…
Persephone: BUT SHE TURNS AROUND DIRECTLY INTO A CTE BY DAMON LAZARUS!
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN SPINS OUT OF IT, COMPLETELY A FULL ROTATION AND ENDING IT WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO DAMON’S HEAD!
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn turns around now as she runs toward the ropes! GOING FOR THE HANDSPRING AS SHE LEAPS UP AND CONNECTS WITH A BACK ELBOW! THIS GIRL!
Persephone: BUT DAMON MANAGES TO CATCH HER AROUND THE WAIST AS HE SENDS HER DOWN TO THE GROUND WITH A RELEASE BACK SUPLEX!
(Damon has a stern expression as he rises up to his feet, rubbing his cheek. He glares down at Auburn, slowing his movement as he moves to her front.)
Rich Russillo: And Damon steps forward and boots Auburn directly in the face! And he’s circling around the body, connecting with repeated stomps to the arms and legs! The signature Garvin stomps by Damon Lazarus, executed to perfection by the veteran to Auburn!
Thadd Blazevich: And now Damon has fallen back against the corner, he has his eyes pierced and ready to go as she slowly begins to rise back up. And we know what he could be going for right now!
Persephone: IN ABSENTIA!
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN MANAGES TO SPIN OUT OF THE WAY! SHE KICKS DAMON IN THE LEG AND SENDS HIM DOWN TO ALL FOURS!
Thadd Blazevich: BEFORE RUSHING FORWARD AND CONNECTING WITH A FULL FORCE PUNT KICK TO THE FACE OF DAMON LAZARUS! RETURNING THE FAVOR IN KIND!
Persephone: THE SHEER IMPACT MAKES AUBURN FALL INTO THE CORNER, AND SHE TURNS AROUND, LOOKING TO FINISH THIS MATCH OFF-
(TAG!)
Persephone: Oop! But Carmen tags herself back in! It seems like she’s not entirely impressed with Auburn’s performance right now!
(Carmen enters into the ring, and immediately the two of them get into an argument with one another. Auburn insists that she has it handled, but Carmen has clearly already seen all that she needs to see.)
Rich Russillo: Auburn isn’t happy, but she doesn’t intend on compromising her team as she leaves for the apron. Carmen turns around and focuses on the match…
Thadd Blazevich: BUT SHE FALLS INTO ANOTHER MELLOTRON SCRATCH! THE POWERSLAM CONNECTS! And Damon pops right back up! Bro, I think he’s signaling for it! He’s slamming his fists to the mat, coiled and ready to strike!
Persephone: And look! While the referee is distracted, Saori has slipped through the ropes and rushed the ring!
Rich Russillo: AS SHE RUSHES TOWARD THE OTHER SIDE AND CRACKS AUBURN WITH A FIST TO THE FACE THAT SENDS HER OFF THE APRON! One hell of an insurance policy there!
Thadd Blazevich: AND DAMON LEAPS INTO THE AIR AND GOES FOR THE CTE!
Persephone: BUT THE CUTTER IS AVERTED AS CARMEN SHOVES DAMON AWAY AND STAGGERS BACK TO GET SOME ROOM!
Rich Russillo: BUT LOOK! AUBURN HAS HAD ENOUGH! SHE GRABS SAORI BY THE ANKLE AND YANKS HER OUT OF THE RING, AND NOW SHE’S BEGINNING TO UNLOAD WITH REPEATED STRIKES! SHE DRAGS SAORI OVER TO THE ANNOUNCER’S TABLE AND IS NOW BEGINNING TO SLAM HER FACE REPEATEDLY AGAINST IT!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen is looking at ringside, realizing that she doesn’t have a partner to tag to! She’s trying her best to make her way back up to her feet-
(THUD!)
Persephone: BUT DAMON RISES BACK UP AND MEETS HER WITH A VICIOUS IN ABSENTIA AS HIS FOOT MEETS CARMEN’S SKULL! CARMEN’S HEAD BOUNCES OFF OF THE BOTTOM TURNBUCKLE AND SHE IS COMPLETELY OUT COLD!
Rich Russillo: SHE’S COMPLETELY OUT COLD AND DAMON DROPS DOWN AND HOOKS THE LEG, PRACTICALLY BENDING HER IN HALF TO PIN HER SHOULDERS TO THE MAT!
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!
TTTTTHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(‘Until It Sleeps’ begins to play through the speakers once more as Damon Lazarus rises up to a knee. He continues to look down at Carmen Sanchez, not breaking eye contact, as the referee immediately rushes over to check on her.)
Bella Braxton: Here are your winners… the team of DAMON LAZARUS AND SAORI AIZEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(After a moment, Damon glances over at Auburn Ware, who has heard the bell and briefly stopped her attack on a groggy Saori Aizen, glancing back at Damon. But almost as if she doesn’t care…)
(CRASH!)
Thadd Blazevich: AND AUBURN JUST THREW SAORI SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE STEEL STEPS!
Persephone: The Specialists Champion is getting the fuck out of there after that.
(Auburn stomps off without a second glance, and while she does, Damon slowly slithers himself under the bottom rope and out of the ring, sauntering over to Saori and going down to a knee to check on her.)
Rich Russillo: Well, uh, Damon and Saori advance in the Tag Team Turmoil, but it certainly was a messy way to go about it.
Thadd Blazevich: I doubt they care, bro! What’s done is done. But I doubt whatever issues Auburn has are far from through to say the least.
(The last shot seen is Auburn disappearing through the backstage area, as Damon is seen continuing to talk to Saori, all while Carmen Sanchez is still being checked on after the punt kick, the force busting her open as blood drips down the side of her face. It’s the last shot seen before Sunday Night Voltage fades to elsewhere.)
(Commercial for Chipotle with Answers World Champion Jake Smith.)
(The camera cuts to Bella Braxton in the ring.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS A TAG TEAM TURMOIL FIRST ROUND MATCH, SCHEDULED FOR…ONE FALL!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
(“Thoughts of a Dying Atheist” by Muse hits to a positive reaction as Jay Jerry Johnson steps onto the stage, waiting. Then “Many Men” by 50 Cent hits to a mixed reaction as Chris Elite comes out. Chris walks right past Jay without a word, while Jay just nods and keeps his focus on the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first! At a combined weight of 433 pounds… THE TEAM OF JAY JERRY JOHNSON AND CHRIS ELITE!
Thadd Blazevich: Here comes Jay Jerry Johnson and Chris Elite, randomly paired up for this tournament, and you already know there’s some history between these two.
Rich Russillo: Yeah, they haven’t always seen eye to eye, but Jay looks focused on making this work tonight. He’s putting all that to the side for the bigger picture.
Thadd Blazevich: And then you add Minerva into this, Chris’s girl on the other side… this isn’t just a match, there’s a lot going on here.
(“All of the Lights (Interlude)” by Kanye West plays to a negative reaction as Kelton steps onto the stage, clearly not happy about teaming with Minerva. He walks down the ramp and enters the ring, blocking out the crowd as he stays focused. Then “Blood, Milk & Sky” by White Zombie plays as Minerva steps out onto the stage and makes her way down the ramp. Kelton watches from the ring, clearly annoyed as the two do not interact.)
Bella Braxton: And their opponents! At a combined weight of 327 pounds… THE TEAM OF JON KELTON AND MINERVA!
Rich Russillo: This is not a team you ever expected to see. Jon Kelton and Minerva standing on the same side tonight.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, considering what they’ve done to each other not too long ago, this is a tough situation. They’ve got to put all that aside if they want to win.
Persephone: They won’t. There’s no way this works. I’m just waiting for it to fall apart.
(The referee signals to the bell as both Kelton and Chris start things off.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
(Immediately after the bell however, Minerva shakes her head before stepping off the apron and backpedaling toward the barricade corner, reaching into the timekeeper’s area for a microphone, much to Kelton’s confusion.)
Minerva: On second thought… This is not going to work.
(Jon Kelton completely stops, unsure of what’s going on as Minerva starts making her way toward the ramp, maintaining a smirk on her face throughout it all.)
Minerva: I did not spend this entire season building ToXXXin just to come out here and play along in something that quite frankly, does not align with my goals. Daniella and Selina are my focus. The main event of Pain for Pride is my focus. Not this.
(She glances toward the ring at Kelton, unimpressed.)
Minerva: Quite frankly Jon, I have no interest in trying to make this “alliance” work with you of all people just for the sake of trying to take Championships from Daniella and Selina. The only Championship I am willing to take from them right now is the Universal Women’s Championship and the only place I am willing to fight them is the main event of Pain for Pride, a place I quite frankly do not see you joining me in.
(Minerva comes to a stop at the base of the ramp.)
Minerva: I’m not here to help you. This doesn’t benefit me, and it doesn’t align with what I’ve built.
(She slowly backs up the ramp, continuing to speak.)
Minerva: So as far as I’m concerned… you’re on your own.
(Minerva tosses the microphone aside, gives a small wave with her fingers toward Kelton in the ring, then turns on the ramp to leave as Kelton leans over the ropes yelling for her to come back.)
Rich Russillo: Wait… what? Minerva is just walking out on this match!
Thadd Blazevich: You’ve gotta be kidding me. She just left Jon Kelton high and dry in a two-on-one situation!
(Kelton stays leaned over the top rope, angrily yelling for Minerva to come back, but once it’s clear that’s not happening, he gives the rope one last hard tug in frustration before slowly backpedaling to the center of the ring, still staring at the stage. After a moment, he finally turns to face his opponent.)
Thadd Blazevich: Well, this is bad. Minerva has abandoned the match before it even started and Kelton’s found himself in a two-on-one handicap predicament against Jay Jerry Johnson and Chris Elite.
Persephone: Sucks to be Kelton right now. Then again, when does it not?
Rich Russillo: Kelton’s got a tall mountain to climb in Chris Elite and Jay Jerry Johnson, who are hard to beat in singles action, let alone with a handicap stipulation in their favor! Regardless, Kelton looks to do it as he stands across from Chris Elite, the two sizing each other up, preparing to close the distance— or I thought was! But Kelton rolls out underneath the bottom rope instead, wanting no parts of Chris Elite for now.
Thadd Blazevich: Wait, I think he wants no part of this match in general. If Minerva’s not going to try, then why should he?
Persephone: For once, I’m actually fully behind Kelton and his decision. Anything that help me get through this match faster… though, it would’ve been to see them smack him around a bit.
(Kelton gestures between the referee and Chris before raising both hands in surrender at ringside for a moment, calmly leaning back against the announce table with his arms folded as the referee begins the count.)
Referee: ONE! …TWO!
Persephone: Can you believe this? The crowd are actually booing. :mjlol:
Thadd Blazevich: I guess you weren’t alone in that boat of wanting to see the poor guy get battered.
Rich Russillo: Let’s be honest, Kelton hasn’t exactly made himself the most sympathetic after what he did to Bronson.
Thadd Blazevich: True that.
Referee: …FOUR! …FIVE!
(Chris Elite backs into his corner, talking things over with Jay Jerry Johnson on the apron while Kelton remains casually leaned back against the announce table, arms folded, jawing at a few fans who continue to boo and call him out.)
Referee: SIX! …SEVEN! …EIGHT!
Rich Russillo: Referee at the count of eight!
Persephone: Cmon, just hurry up with it already. You know he isn’t getting back into the ring.
Rich Russillo: No, but… Chris Elite just slid outside of it. :comeagain:
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, what’s going on here as Jay Jerry Johnson drops off the apron…
(Kelton pushes off the announce table, straightening up as concern starts to set in, with Jay Jerry Johnson and Chris Elite coming from opposite sides of the ring, closing in and surrounding him at ringside with nowhere to go.)
Persephone: Uh… what are they doing?
Rich Russillo: I think after some thought, Jay Jerry Johnson and Chris Elite aren’t willing to let Kelton off the hook that easily. Wanting to do a number on Kelton first, so they can earn this win instead of being handed it.
Persephone: What?! They’ve basically already been handed it by Minerv— you know what? I’m not even going to question it. If it means they’re about to beat the fuck out of Jon Kelton, then I’m paying attention.
(Kelton rolls into the ring, gesturing for both to calm down, but they aren’t listening as Jay and Chris slide in from opposite sides. Kelton spins around, darting between them before taking a deep breath as the situation he’s in begins to sink in…)
Thadd Blazevich: Welp. So much for taking the countout loss.
Rich Russillo: Kelton’s trapped, nowhere to go, and when you’ve got nowhere to go, you’ve only got one thing left to do… and that’s FIGHT! KELTON TAKES A SWING AT CHRIS— BUT ELITE BLOCKS IT AND STARTS TO UNLEASH A FLURRY OF RIGHT HANDS! JUST RIGHT AFTER RIGHT AFTER RIGHT, BACKING KELTON AGAINST THE ROPES FOR AN IRISH WHIP!
Thadd Blazevich: CHRIS WINDS BACK, HAVING PREPARED FOR KELTON TO COME REBOUNDING OFF THE ROPES— BUT HE HAS OTHER ARRANGEMENTS! GRABBING ONTO THE TOP ROPE AND ROLLING OUT UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM ROPE! JAY JERRY JOHNSON SLITHERS UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE HIMSELF, ROUNDING THE CORNER WITH A HUGE LARIAT AS KELTON TURNED AROUND! HAVING TAUNTED CHRIS ELITE AT RINGSIDE!
Rich Russillo: See, Kelton thought he outsmarted the Hall of Famer, but Jay was just one step ahead! Johnson is fired up on the outside as he marches toward Kelton, who rises back to all fours, attempting to shake the cobwebs out of his head after that vicious clothesline ran into him!
Persephone: I gotta admit, this is pretty great so far! This might be a rare time I’m actually GLAD to see a match extended.
Thadd Blazevich: Jay rolls Jon back inside the ring and he pulls himself up in the corner as Jay hops back on the apron. Chris Elite closes in, picking right back up where he left off! Going to town with punches in that corner!
Rich Russillo: God, are you seeing the snap on those?! Kelton’s head whipping back with force as—
(TAG!!)
(Chris stops punching Kelton for a moment and looks over at Jay on the apron, clearly not expecting the tag on his back, but instead of making a fuss about it, he decides to go with it.)
Rich Russillo: Chris Elite with an Irish whip to the opposite corner, which WOULD have been occupied by Minerva. But for obvious reasons, is not anymore. KELTON RUSHES IN— BUT CHRIS GETS THE BOOT UP! TURNING KELTON AROUND AS HE STAGGERS TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RING, WITH JAY RUNNING OFF THE ROPES BEHIND HIM FOR A “PRETTY VISITOR!”
Thadd Blazevich: THE CUTTER CONNECTS AND KELTON POPS UP TO A KNEE, REELING FROM THAT IMPACT! HE’S ALMOST RUNNING PURELY OFF INSTINCT AND ADRENALINE AS HE RISES BACK TO HIS FEET, STUMBLING INTO CHRIS FOR A RIGHT HAND! RIGHT HAND DROPS JON KELTON TO THE MAT!
Rich Russillo: THOUGH, TEMPORARILY AS HE’S ALREADY BACK TO HIS FEET! STAGGERING INTO A RIGHT HAND BY JAY JERRY JOHNSON NEXT THAT FLOORS HIM! AGAIN, KELTON’S BACK TO HIS FEET AND WANDERS INTO A KICK TO THE GUT BY CHRIS FOR ANOTHER RIGHT HAND THAT KNOCKS HIM DOWN TO THE MAT!
(Kelton rolls out under the bottom rope, barely able to stand with his back turned to Jay Jerry Johnson and Chris Elite in the ring, gesturing “forget it” as he staggers his way up the ramp.)
Thadd Blazevich: Oh, and Kelton’s looking to retreat from this match, not wanting any more of the punishment dished out by Jay and Chris Elite.
Rich Russillo: I mean, fair play to Kelton. If he actually wins this match, that just opens the door for more two-on-one scenarios if you think about it.
Persephone: Dammit, Rich!
Rich Russillo: :comeagain: What did I do?
Persephone: You’re actually making me want to see him win.
Thadd Blazevich: AND THERE’S STILL ROOM FOR HIM TOO AS JAY— JAY DARTS UP THE RAMP, CRACKING KELTON IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD WITH A RUNNING FOREARM! Kelton drops to all fours before Jay stands him back up, hooking both arms from behind for Chris Elite to take the free shot! WITH A COUPLE OF RIGHT HANDS TO THE GUT, NO DOUBT KNOCKING THE WIND OUT OF KELTON AS HE DOUBLES OVER OFF THAT LAST ONE!
Rich Russillo: NEXT, JAY SENDS KELTON RIB FIRST INTO THE STEEL SECURITY WALL WITH A LOUD BANG! IT’S BEEN A ROUGH NIGHT FOR JON KELTON THAT’S ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET WORSE AS JAY BRINGS HIM BACK DOWN THE RAMP, DIRECTING KELTON TOWARDS THE RING WHERE HE ROLLS HIM BACK INSIDE!
(Jay starts climbing back onto the apron, saying something to Chris at ringside while Kelton rebounds off the opposite set of ropes, unbeknownst to him—)
Thadd Blazevich: FOREARM! KELTON TURNS THE TIDE WITH A RUNNING FOREARM TO THE BACK OF JAY’S HEAD, KNOCKING HIM OFF THE APRON AND SENDING HIM CRASHING INTO CHRIS ELITE AT RINGSIDE! BOTH MEN COLLIDE HEAD-TO-HEAD!
(Jay drops to all fours while Chris spills to the floor, writhing in pain as he clutches at his head.)
Chris Elite: (off-mic) Agh… watch what you’re doing, bozo.
Rich Russillo: Kelton got a two-for-one special there, and for the first time in this match, has a glimmer of hope! Kelton could opt to take a countout victory here, but after being punching bag to both Jay and Chris to start this one off, I think he’s a little too angry for that and slides out the ring.
Persephone: God, he’s so stupid.
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton grabs hold of Jay Jerry Johnson at ringside and rolls him back inside… slithering in on his own to mount him with a FLURRY OF PUNCHES! UNLEASHING ALL HIS PENT UP ANGER AND AGGRESSION RIGHT ABOUT NOW, PERHAPS IMAGINING MINERVA’S FACE IN PLACE OF JAY’S!
(The referee tries getting Kelton to ease up, but Kelton pops back to his feet, getting in the referee’s face to argue before turning his attention back to Jay Jerry Johnson as he groggily sits up.)
Rich Russillo: Kelton turns his attention back over to Johnson… grounding him with a rear chinlock! Kelton grounds Jay with a rear chinlock, hoping to regroup after that recent assault, and wear his opponent down in the process!
Thadd Blazevich: Though, this crowd in Liverpool, England are rallying behind Jay! To which he uses their energy as fuel to power back to his feet… ATTEMPTING TO LOOSEN KELTON’S GRIP WITH REPEATED BACK ELBOWS TO THE MIDSECTION!
Persephone: Yes, fight out of this boring hold and get back to kicking his ass for me.
Rich Russillo: NOT SO FAST! KELTON SHUTS THAT ATTEMPT DOWN WITH A MAT SLAM! THE BACK OF JAY’S HEAD BOUNCING OFF THE MAT!
Thadd Blazevich: Jay rolls on his side, favoring the back of side head before crawling to the nearby corner. In fact, his corner that Chris Elite does not currently occupy after knocking heads with him at ringside, continuing to feel the effects of that while Jay pulls himself up to a vertical base.
Rich Russillo: Jon won’t allow Jay to breathe, and it’s the smart move if he wants to stand any chance at winning. Proceeding to wring Jay’s arm and whip him BACK FIRST INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER *HARD*! Jay instantly collapses down to both knees, clutching at his lower back while Kelton makes it to a knee, a smug grin forming on his face as he has Johnson right where he wants him.
Persephone: God, the more I think about this, the more upset I get. How did these two idiots just fumble a two-on-one lead? To JON KELTON of all people??
Rich Russillo: You gotta give Kelton his credit. He was shrewd to take advantage when he did, capitalizing on Jay’s back being turned for a second.
Thadd Blazevich; Kelton approaches Jay, standing him back in that corner for another wring of the arm… WHIPPING JAY HARD INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER AGAIN! THIS TIME, JAY COLLAPSES DOWN TO THE MAT COMPLETELY!
(Jay collapses face down on the mat before rolling onto his side, clutching his back, while Kelton rolls into a seated position, raising both fists in the air to gloat as the crowd rains down boos on him!)
Persephone: Ugh. Make it stop.
Rich Russillo: Kelton powers back to his feet, standing Jay up again before backing him into the corner… Kelton SMASHES Jay with a forearm! Jay is stunned, which is exactly what Kelton wants as he wrings his arm for ANOTHER hard Irish whip into the opposite corner! BUT THIS TIME, JAY STANDS HIS GROUND! DESPITE HITTING THE CORNER HARD, ITS LIKELY HE BRACED FOR IT!
Thadd Blazevich: ONLY FRUSTRATING KELTON, WHO CHARGES IN WITH A RUNNING— NO! JOHNSON AVOIDS WHATEVER HE HAD PLANNED WITH A DROP TOE HOLD INTO THE MIDDLE BUCKLE! KELTON GOES FACE FIRST, AND THIS COULD BE OPENING JAY JERRY JOHNSON’S NEEDED AFTER GETTING WORN DOWN!
Rich Russillo: Jay returns to his feet while Kelton’s rocked in that corner, turning him around before lifting him to the top turnbuckle! Jay climbs up there himself, going for an AVALANCHE HURRICANRANA ONTO JON KELTON— WHO BLOCKS IT! KELTON’S GOT JAY SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN, MUSCLING HIM UP FOR AN… AVALANCHE POWERBOMB OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE!
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON DROPS INTO THE COVER! THIS COULD IT! HOOKING THE LEG…
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRR—
Thadd Blazevich: SHOULDER UP! JAY JERRY JOHNSON POPS THE SHOULDER UP!
Persephone: Whew! That was a close one. For a second there, I thought he was almost going to win this predicament.
Rich Russillo: Kelton makes it back to his feet, grabbing hold of Jay’s hair before tossing him OUT through the middle rope! Jay lands on all fours before Kelton comes sliding out after him. Kelton lifts Jay back to his feet, leaning him against the barricade for a KNIFE EDGE CHOP ACROSS THE CHEST! KELTON FOLLOWS THAT UP BY SLAMMING JAY FACE FIRST OFF THE APRON BEFORE WHIPPING HIM BACK FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE!
Thadd Blazevich: Jay slumps down to a seated position… TO WHERE KELTON DELIVERS A COUPLE OF STOMPS TO THE SEATED JAY WHILE HE’S SAT UP AGAINST THAT BARRICADE! …Kelton brings him back up, and rolls Jay into the ring for a cover after slithering in!
ONNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHH—
Rich Russillo: KICKOUT! JAY JERRY JOHNSON STILL MANAGES TO POP THAT SHOULDER UP!
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton’s growing frustrated, having been unable to secure the victory thus far. But watches as Jay Jerry Johnson rises to all fours before dragging him into the corner by his head… Kelton drags Jay up to his feet… PROCEEDING TO DRIVE HIS HEAD INTO JAY’S REPEATEDLY WITH HEADBUTTS! HEADBUTT AFTER HEADBUTT FROM JON KELTON, SINKING JAY DOWN TO A SEATED POSITION!
Rich Russillo: HEY, KELTON BETTER BE CAREFUL! HE’S SHOWING NO SIGNS OF LETTING UP HERE, DONT WANNA GET YOURSELF ACCIDENTALLY DISQUALIFIED!
Persephone: I wouldn’t mind if he does at this point. Unfortunately the fun’s been over.
Thadd Blazevich: THE REFEREE DRAGS KELTON AWAY FROM JAY JERRY JOHNSON IN THE CORNER BEFORE KELTON PUSHES PAST HIM, ATTACKING WITH MORE RIGHT HANDED SHOTS TO THE HEAD! AGAIN, THE REFEREE INTERVENES— BUT KELTON PUSHES PAST HIM A SECOND TIME! DRIVING HIS KNEE INTO A SEATED JAY’S SKULL OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
Rich Russillo: THE REFEREE DRAGS KELTON AWAY FROM JAY A THIRD TIME! …Kelton looks to be properly calming down this time before going right back on the attack, pulling Jay up in the corner and lifting him to the top turnbuckle! Jay is dazed as Kelton climbs to the top rope… BUT JAY HAS ENOUGH WHEREWITHAL TO SLIP THROUGH HIS LEGS OUT THE BACK!
Thadd Blazevich: JAY CROTCHES KELTON ON THE TOP TURNBUCKLE FROM BEHIND! CLIMBING UP THERE SHORTLY AFTER HIMSELF TO HOOK JON KELTON UP FOR AN AVALANCHE BACK SUPLEX OFF THE TOP ROPE!! AVALANCHE BACK SUPLEX AND KELTON LANDS HIGH ON HIS NECK AND SHOULDERS, LYING PRONE ON THE CANVAS AS JAY FELT THE EFFECTS OF THAT ONE HIMSELF!
Rich Russillo: BUT JAY’S CRAWLING TOWARDS HIS CORNER WHERE CHRIS ELITE IS! HAND EXTENEDED FOR A TAG, WILL JAY GET IT?!
Thadd Blazevich: MAYBE NOT, AS KELTON IS STIRRING! KELTON IS REACHING OUT FOR JAY JERRY JOHNSON’S ANKLE, BUT HE HAS A FAINT GRASP OVER IT AS OPPOSITE TO A FIRM ONE! ALLOWING JAY TO CRAWL INTO THE CORNER FOR A TAG!
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: JAY MAKES THE TAG OUT TO CHRIS ELITE— PROMPTING KELTON TO COME DASHING IN! HOPING TO TAKE CHRIS DOWN WITH A RIGHT HAND! CHRIS BLOCKS IT WITH A ROPE-ASSISTED ENZUIGIRI, SENDING KELTON STUMBLING TO THE CENTER OF THE RING! CHRIS SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE TOP ROPE FOR A… SPRINGBOARD EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Thadd Blazevich: BOTH COMPETITORS ARE BACK TO THEIR FEET WITH CHRIS ELITE FIRED UP AS HE ISSUES A FOREARM STRIKE TO KELTON! KELTON FIRES BACK WITH A FOREARM OF HIS OWN! CHRIS IS ON SPAGHETTI LEGS— BEFORE A PUMP KICK TO THE FACE! CAUSING KELTON TO SPIN OUT BEFORE A “GALICK GUN!” SUPERKICK— NO! CHRIS ELITE CAUGHT THE BOOT!
Rich Russillo: SPINNING KELTON AROUND FOR A ROLLING ELBOW!! KELTON DROPS TO A KNEE BEFORE CHRIS SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE FOR A— “GALICK GUN!” KELTON CAUGHT CHRIS ELITE WITH THE SUPERKICK THAT TIME WHILE HE WAS UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE MOONSAULT!
Persephone: :roman:
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON DRAGS CHRIS BACK TO HIS FEET FOR “CHANGE THE FUTURE!” SPIKING HIM ONTO HIS HEAD! KELTON FLOATS OVER INTO THE COVER, HOOKING THE LEG!
ONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRR—
Rich Russillo: NO! CHRIS ELITE STAYS ALIVE AS JON KELTON ROLLS INTO THE CORNER, STALKING CHRIS AS HE STIRS ON THE CANVAS! KELTON’S URGING CHRIS BACK TO HIS FEET, LINING HIM FOR “THE FINAL ATONEMENT!”
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON CHARGES IN WITH A SPEAR— BUT CHRIS BLOCKS IT WITH A PENALTY KICK TO THE FACE! KELTON STUMBLES BACK INTO THE ROPES— WHERE CHRIS CHARGES IN WITH A CLOTHESLINE OVER THE TOP ROPE! CHRIS RUNS OFF THE ROPES FOR A SUICIDE DIVE!!
Rich Russillo: BUT KELTON CATCHES HIM OUT OF MID-AIR FOR AN OVERHEAD BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX! CHRIS ELITE STRUGGLES TO HIS FEET AT RINGSIDE WHILE KELTON LINES HIM UP FOR THE FINAL ATONEMENT— BUT CHRIS ELITE SIDESTEPS! SENDING JON KELTON SHOULDER FIRST THROUGH THE BARRICADE!
Persephone: Ha!
Thadd Blazevich: CHRIS ELITE GRABS KELTON BEFORE SENDING BRO INTO THE RING, AND NOW CHRIS QUICKLY FOLLOWS BEHIND BEFORE TAGGING JAY BACK IN! CHRIS DRAGS KELTON UP, BEFORE THROWING HIM INTO JAY!
Rich Russillo: AND JAY SCOOPS KELTON UP, BEFORE PLANTING HIM WITH “HEAVEN’S FEEL!” KELTON WAS JUST SENT INTO AN ASSISTED “HEAVEN’S FEEL”, AND I THINK THIS ONE IS OVER! JAY MOVES INTO THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
Bella Braxton: HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS… JAY JERRY JOHNSON AND CHRIS ELITE!
(“Thoughts of a Dying Atheist” by Muse plays as Jay Jerry Johnson rises to his feet, getting his hand raised in victory in the ring with Chris Elite, who pulls his hand away from the referee shortly after and rolls out under the bottom rope, not looking to celebrate for long with Jay.)
Rich Russillo: Big win for Jay Jerry Johnson and Chris Elite tonight, advancing in this Tag Team Turmoil Tournament. They took a rough situation and still found a way to close it out.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, Kelton gave them more trouble than expected, but once they got back on track, they finished the job.
Persephone: I’m surprised they didn’t mess it up.
(Jay continues celebrating in the ring while Chris Elite backpedals up the ramp, and the camera fades elsewhere.)
(Commercial for upcoming anime series “Kagurabachi”. Releasing April 2027!)
(Voltage returns to the tune of “Lowlife Princess” by BIBI echoing inside the M&S Bank Arena, all with a negative crowd reaction to match. Miku eventually walks on stage, posing for the audience, taking her time… as…)
(“COMO CAPO” by Clave Especial ft. Fuerza Regida plays to ruin it all, interrupting Miku’s little fun. Not long after, Diego Montana walks out, as nonchalant as ever, chewing gum in his mouth, looking as stone-faced as possible to impress his “pookums”, Miku Sakai, who is visibly pissed at this moment.)
(Once reaching Miku, Diego puts an arm around her shoulder, still chewing on that gum, still making no expression, except he’s quickly caught off guard by Miku Sakai pushing him away. Diego puts his hands up, telling Miku to calm down…)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING IS A TAG TEAM TURMOIL ROUND ONE MATCH!!! INTRODUCING FIRST… WEIGHING IN AT 309 POUNDS… THE TEAM OF MIKUUU SAKAAAII ANDDD DIEGOOOO MONTAAANAAAA!!!!!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: It seems Diego’s “rizz” wasn’t enough to capture Miku’s heart earlier.
Persephone: Thadd.
Thadd Blazevich: Maybe he needs to drop the framemogging and try some jestergooning instead.
Persephone: *Thadd…*
Rich Russillo: Yeah… so… we got a hell of a combination here. First, it’s the team of Diego Montana and Miku Sakai which… is an interesting luck of the draw, because a few weeks ago, Miku Sakai actually kissed Diego… Diego, he sees it as something deeper than that. Miku… well, it’s clear what she sees it as. Their opponents, meanwhile, are their two respective opponents from Grand Rampage… to whom they both lost… so, you know, there’s “turmoil”, but there’s also a chip on their shoulder…
Thadd Blazevich: You’re right, Richie, but that’s if Adam Lucas even lets this be a match… or shows up at all.
Rich Russillo: Um, yeah, fair point.
(Miku and Diego eventually enter the ring, Miku staying as far away from Diego as possible while Diego tries to shrug it off, doing his usual flexing and theatrics towards the hostile Liverpool crowd. On the topic of hostile reactions, that’s exactly what the sound of “Burn In My Light” by Mercy Drive, only amplified, as Kai Rabeaux walks out to the ring, Hardcore Championship around his waist, with a confident look behind his accessorized glasses.)
Persephone: How is this guy still alive…?
(In a moment of gloating, Kai takes off his entrance gear on the stage, revealing multiple portions of his body taped up with bandages. One around the lower area of his chest, covering the back as well, right above the championship around his waist. One across the shoulder, and another on his leg. To say he walks into the match healthy would be an enormous lie.)
Thadd Blazevich: I guess we have some really good doctors.
Persephone: No, I get that, but… how is his *heart* still beating?! Adam Lucas looked like he had him in cardiac arrest, he was looking like he was having a seizure.
Rich Russillo: We’ve… seen crazier things happen. I guess this is another one of them.
Persephone: Yeah, Rich, and I’m always disappointed when they come back in one piece.
Thadd Blazevich: I think a bigger surprise is that Kai is here in the flesh, honestly.
(Kai makes his way down the ramp, ignoring all the fans, ultimately entering the ring. His theme song fades as he hands the Hardcore Championship to the referee… and he leans on the ropes… awaiting his tag team partner… none other than *Adam Lucas.*)
(He takes a deep breath. Just waiting.)
Bella Braxton: And their opponents… The team of EAW HARDCORE CHAMPION KAI RABEAUX, AND… And…?
(And waiting.)
Persephone: Is the man-widow pulling a Kai Rabeaux on all of us, while Kai is actually here?
(10 more seconds pass.)
Thadd Blazevich: Adam did… voice… his disinterest in this match. I didn’t think it was to this extent.
Rich Russillo: Well… Captain Charisma did say to handle this however he sees fit. :lupe:
(20 seconds have passed.)
Rich Russillo: The mind games have been reversed, and as luck has it, Kai may wrestle this one ALONE!!
Persephone: Yeah, but Diego Montana is on the other team, it balances out.
(40 seconds.)
Thadd Blazevich: If this was a game, we’d call this a delay of game violation. In here, well, the leash isn’t tight whatsoever…
Persephone: Thadd, there’s no delay, we can do this forever, ‘cause Adam’s not here… and he won’t be.
(50 seconds.)
Rich Russillo: Well, I think this is officially a tough pill to swallow for Kai Rabeaux….
(An entire minute has passed, and Adam Lucas’ entrance theme never hit, nor did he walk out. Kai Rabeaux has a look of disbelief on his face; he’s facing an outcome worse than the worst one he could imagine. Still leaning on the ropes, he buries his hand in his face, groaning out of frustration… as… the referee has to reluctantly ring the bell, knowing Adam Lucas is just a no-show tonight.)
(DING!! DING!! DING!!)
Thadd Blazevich: Kai is… actually all alone after all.
Persephone: And I don’t even think he noticed the bell ringing…
ONE!!
TWO!!!!!
Rich Russillo: Diego Montana sneaked behind Kai and covered him with the school boy, but the Hardcore Champion came to his senses just in time. I think realization is starting to settle in Kai Rabeaux’s head… not only is this a one-on-two…
Persephone: But Adam Lucas could strike at any time. That certainly puts him on edge to add to the handicap situation and forces him to constantly look over his shoulder, clear all angles…
Thadd Blazevich: It’s a horrible predicament… Diego’s already stomping Kai specifically at that bandaged lower chest area…
Rich Russillo: And you can’t forget about the wrapped up shoulder.
Persephone: ‘Way it’s looking like… This dipshit may pull off the upset tonight.
Thadd Blazevich: …Upset?
Persephone: If there’s anybody I would barely trust to get the job done even under these circumstances… It would be Diego Montana.
Rich Russillo: Say what you wanna say, but Diego certainly softened the Hardcore Champion up last week at Grand Rampage, and now he’s here to pick up the pieces left in Adam Lucas’ wake.
Thadd Blazevich: Dang bro, you makin’ Diego sound like an absolute mastermind right now.
Rich Russillo: Don’t get me wrong… he carries the reputation of a cheat for a reason, but he’s gotten as far as he’s gotten for a reason!
Persephone: We really are propping up *anybody*. Anyhow, Diego’s got a headlock applied on a kneeling Kai…
Thadd Blazevich: He’s wrenching that in real good, dawg, but it’s too early in the match for Kai not to at least try to fight back in spite of his injuries.
Rich Russillo: It’s egregious to compare the hell these two have been through, but I’m certain Diego himself is feeling the effects of his Hardcore Championship match versus Kai as well. You look at Miku Sakai in the corner, same story really.
Persephone: What you’re saying is… Kai is lucky his opponents aren’t all that fresh either.
Rich Russillo: Yes. But let’s turn our attention back to the action, Diego’s not letting go of that headlock, he seems bent on choking the air out of Kai, but the Hardcore Champion is trying to find some footing himself…
Thadd Blazevich: Winching in pain, Kai has both feet planted into the mat… and Diego’s on top, right with him!!
Persephone: This incompetent bozo ended up on Kai’s shoulders… Fireman’s carry position but I’m not sure how long he can keep Diego up for anything here, they are extremely close to the ropes.
Thadd Blazevich: AND KAI IS WELL AWARE OF THAT!! HE DROPS DIEGO FACE FIRST INTO THE TURNBUCKLE FOR SOME SORT OF SNAKE EYES VARIATION… and the Hardcore Champion already has to catch his breath.
Rich Russillo: He just slaps himself hoping it would bring some energy out. Diego meanwhile is planted down in the corner, Kai pushes the advantage with a stomp, and another one!
Thadd Blazevich: That’s a mudhole of stomps as the referee’s getting in there
ONE!! TWO!! THREE!! FOUR!!
Persephone: Kai stops there, although if he was any smarter, he would’ve just taken the DQ.
Rich Russillo: At this point, we don’t even know what Kai’s brain fog is looking like. His instincts may not be at their best right now… but he is not forgetting to look around for Adam Lucas when he has the chance.
Persephone: Well, the guy whose kid he killed seems to not be around, so he takes Diego by the arm—straight into a short-arm forearm smash!!
Rich Russillo: The whiplash of that turns Diego turning around… Kai wraps the arm around Diego’s waist… lifting him up for a German suplex…
Thadd Blazevich: But Diego’s still got footing!! He’s resisting as Kai struggles to lift him over.
Persephone: But Diego has enough of this… “chud”… and just stomps Kai’s foot.
Rich Russillo: Kai is sent back, dropping the hold he had around Diego’s waist, cause now he’s holding onto his toes!!
Persephone: Dang, Adam hurt even his toes? :mjlol:
Rich Russillo: Who even knows at this point… Diego though got a full head of steam now!!
Thadd Blazevich: A RUNNING HIGH KNEE SENDS KAI STUMBLING INTO THE ROPES!! HE SLOWLY REBOUNDS BACK TOWARDS DIEGO AS DIEGO’S RUNNING OFF THE ROPES THE OTHER WAY!!
Rich Russillo: PICTURE PERFECT SLINGBLADE FROM DIEGO MONTANA!!! A FAT, FAT SMIRK HITS HIS FACE AS HE’S DROPPING LOOKS AT MIKU SAKAI OVER IN THE CORNER…
Persephone: She’s literally facepalming. Diego now hooks the leg.
ONEEE!!!
TWOOO!!!
T—
Rich Russillo: Rabeaux is still in this, but the pinfalls are already feeling pretty scary, even in this early stretch. Diego can’t get too disappointed though, momentum is still on his side and he’s gotta keep going at Kai.
Thadd Blazevich: There’s a chance that one moment Kai took to see if Adam is around is just what Diego needed to resist that German suplex and regain momentum. It’s Adam Lucas playing the mind games this time around, and it seems to affect the Hardcore Champion’s performance. Who would’ve thought the roles would reverse like this??
Rich Russillo: I mean, you just have to wonder what this means for Kai in those split-second moments later in the match—as oh!! DIEGO MONTANA RUNNING OFF THE ROPES HITS A MASSIVE DOUBLE FOOT STOMP ON A SEATED KAI RABEAUX!!
Thadd Blazevich: HOOKS BOTH LEGS RIGHT OFF THE LANDING!! ANOTHER COVER!!!
OOONNEEEE!!!
TWOOOOO!!!!
TT—
Thadd Blazevich: NO!! It’s not enough and you gotta wonder if Diego is a little too hellbent on ending this one early…
Persephone: I feel like Kai constantly kicking out despite the hurt state of his body would only fire him up mentally. I know Diego likes his shortcuts, but he’s starting to like ‘em a little too much.
Rich Russillo: Well, I’m certain there’s a level of hatred there to pair after the many not-so-kind words these two have thrown at each other lately. And Diego’s showing frustration already, trash talking and punching Kai Rabeaux while he’s down, making sure he keeps the momentum and also gets in the Hardcore Champion’s head.
Thadd Blazevich: Now he’s picking Kai up, one arm over his head, going for a vertical suplex…
Rich Russillo: And that’s good! But hold on, Diego isn’t done yet! He rolls around, and lifts Kai up again!!
Thadd Blazevich: The second suplex lands, and Diego is starting to feel himself again! That’s the third one ready to go!!
Persephone: He’s holding Kai up extra, looking Miku in the eyes and now flexing… that’s certainly winning her heart, dude.
Thadd Blazevich: That’s the arrogance from Diego showing, and those seconds spent stalling prove to be crucial as Kai finds a way out of that third suplex after an inventive knee to the head from that vertical position!
Rich Russillo: But the other two suplexes already did their damage—Kai swings at Diego, but that strike was slow, and Diego has the energy in his reservoir to duck—AND GETS KAI RIGHT BACK DOWN WITH THE CHOP BLOCK!!!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro is holding onto the ankle in pain, that was a tough blow after just escaping a series of suplexes, but we knew this was the type of adversity Kai would be going up against in a match like this and he’s well aware of that as well, especially with his tag partner not out here.
(With Kai writhing in pain in the middle of the ring, Diego finds himself on the top rope. He looks at Miku, showing her some latino heat theatrics while she covers her eyes and pretends to puke in response… as the crowd boos the gloating.)
Diego Montana: (off-mic) Tough crowd, eh?
(Diego shrugs, turning his attention back to Kai.)
Persephone: That was hard to watch… but at least he’s going flying!
Thadd Blazevich: DIEGO’S TURNING ON FLIGHT MODE AND LANDS THE LATIN LOVER SPLASH!!! THAT ABSOLUTELY DID HEAVY DAMAGE AND DIEGO IS GOING FOR THE COVER!!
OOONNNEEEEE!!!!!!!
TWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
THRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: BUT KAI REMAINS RESILIENT!! DIEGO IS SHAKING HIS HEAD, AND MIKU IS LOOKING ON, PRACTICALLY BEGGING FOR THE TAG!!
Thadd Blazevich: Well Diego is telling her he got this! Bro must not want the lady to get her hands dirty but knowing Miku, I don’t think she’s happy about that!
Persephone: Diego’s going back to attack Kai… BUT A BIG STRIKE RIGHT IN THE TEMPLE SENDS HIM STAGGERING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE CORNER!!
TAG!!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro did not have this at all! But Miku is finally in–AND SHE’S UNLEASHING A FLURRY OF ATTACKS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE!! A CRAZY AMOUNT OF OVERHEAD PUNCHES SENDS KAI STAGGERING BACK, PRACTICALLY DEFENSELESS NOW, PUNCHES, KNEE STRIKES, KAI IS GETTING OVERWHELMED ALL THE WAY TO THE CORNER AND ALL HE CAN DO IS PROTECT HIS HEAD!!
Rich Russillo: BUNCH OF MUDHOLE STOMPS TO KAI IN THE CORNER, HE DOESN’T GET A SINGLE SECOND TO BREATHE!!
Thadd Blazevich: HE ACTUALLY DOES!! CAUSE MIKU IS RUNNING INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER AND BACK—BUT I BET HE’S WISHING HE DIDN’T GET THAT SECOND BECAUSE—
Rich Russillo: MUSTACHE RIDE!!! A MASSIVE BRONCO BUSTER NAILS THE HARDCORE CHAMPION AND MIKU’S ADDING SOME EXTRA OOMF TO IT!!
Persephone: So fucking extra, and Diego is practically seething in the corner for some reason.
Thadd Blazevich: Knowing Diego, I think he—
Persephone: Don’t continue. I know what you wanna say. And I hate it.
Thadd Blazevich: I… think I do too…
Persephone: Sigh… Inside the ring, Miku dragged Kai back to his feet, and now making a quick climb to the top rope…
Rich Russillo: THE WALK OF SHAME!!!
Thadd Blazevich: NOTHING BUT AIR!! KAI RABEAUX COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY OUT OF THE RING!! IS THAT DUMB LUCK OR UNBELIEVABLE RING AWARENESS??
Rich Russillo: IT’S GOTTA BE A MIX OF BOTH!! THE DIVING CORKSCREW CUTTER COMPLETELY MISSES!! THAT’S NOT ONLY DAMAGE MIKU DID TO HERSELF, BUT THE MATCH ALSO GOES ON!!
Persephone: I mean… not for long, really. I doubt 10 seconds is enough for Kai to get back up.
Thadd Blazevich: Or… he could intentionally not get back in the ring, that’s also an option.
ONE!! TWO!! THREE!! FOUR!!
Rich Russillo: Well, Miku’s recovering, and she doesn’t seem happy!
FIVE! SIX!!
Thadd Blazevich: And Kai is slowly trying to find his way back up!!
SEVEN!! EIGHT!!!!
Rich Russillo: HE’S TRYING HIS DAMNDEST TO GET BACK UP, BUT THE ACCUMULATED DAMAGE MAY BE TOO MUCH!!!
NINE!!!!!
(Kai Rabeaux shoots out a hidden, devious smirk.)
Thadd Blazevich: HE COLLAPSES!! THAT’S IT!!
TEEEEE—
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) Oh no, you don’t!
Persephone: BAHAH!!! MIKU ROLLS UNDER THE ROPES!! THE MATCH IS STILL GOING!!
Thadd Blazevich: This may be the first time I’ve ever seen you happy a match is still going on!
Persephone: Don’t get me wrong, this is an absolutely horrendous match, but I cannot deny the hilarity here.
Rich Russillo: Miku seems to be PISSED that diving corkscrew cutter didn’t connect, and now’s unleashing hell on Kai! Throws him face first into the apron, then in the ring post!! Now on top of the steel steps, dang that was loud!!
Thadd Blazevich: Throws him into the barricade as well—AND FOR ADDED MEASURE DRIVES HIM SPINE FIRST INTO THAT BARRICADE!! THE SAME SPINE THAT ADAM LUCAS SENT CRASHING DOWN ON THE EDGE OF CONCRETE STAIRS!!
Rich Russillo: THE REFEREE IS LOOKING TO START ANOTHER COUNT, BUT MIKU GETS KAI BACK IN THE RING, AND SHE FOLLOWS RIGHT AFTER!!
Thadd Blazevich: SHE’S SIGNALING FOR THE END, I THINK I KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!!
Rich Russillo: A CUCK KILLER IS ON THE WAY AS MIKU RUNS TO THE ROPES FOR ADDED MOMENTUM!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT KAI CATCHES UP TO HER AND MEETS HER THERE!!!! HOLLOOOWWWWW POOINNTTTT!!!!!!!!! HOW IN THE WORLD DID KAI HAVE THIS IN HIM?!
Rich Russillo: I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA, BUT WITH KAI JUST COLLAPSING RIGHT NEXT TO MIKU… SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT WAS A LAST RESORT!!
Persephone: Diego is jumping around, itching to get in, and desperately asking for Miku to get up, but I don’t think that’s happening anytime soon!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) MIKU BABY, COME ON!!!
Rich Russillo: Kai is slowly crawling to the other corner, which is… well… empty, but he’s at least creating some distance!
Thadd Blazevich: Meanwhile Miku may have just now woken up, if Kai wasn’t beaten up like this, then this match would’ve been over! She’s trying to get to her own corner, where there’s actually a partner!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) MIKU-CHAAANN!!! YOU GOT THIISSS!!!! LET’S GO!!!
Thadd Blazevich: …but I don’t think Diego’s words of encouragement are inspiring her to make a tag here.
Diego Montana: (off-mic) I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!! COME TO PAPI DIEGO!!!
Persephone: No, if anything, I think she’s getting more pissed off and I’m not far behind her on that.
Diego Montana: (off-mic) MIKUUUU—
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) SHUT THE FUCK UUUUUPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Persephone: :mjlol: :mjlol: :mjlol: :mjlol:
Thadd Blazevich: Dang… I think the mics picked up all of that bro. Miku’s trying to find her way back up in the corner, but she got Diego shook, and something tells me she’s not gonna tag me in.
Diego Montana: (off-mic) Mamacita, come on—
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) HOLY SH—
Persephone: KAI RUNS UP ON MIKU FROM BEHIND—
Thadd Blazevich: OH!! MIKU QUICKLY DUCKS UNDER, SENDING KAI RABEAUX TRIPPING RIGHT ON THE MIDDLE ROPE!!
TAG!!
Rich Russillo: AND DIEGO TAGGED HIMSELF IN!!
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) Just watch me work!! You need some rest!
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) YOU’RE MAKING THINGS— HEY!! GET BACK HERE!!!
Thadd Blazevich: DIEGO’S GOIN’ ACROSS THE APRON, AND RUNNING BACK AT KAI WHO’S DRAPED OVER THE MIDDLE ROPE!! THAT’S THE DIRTY MAVERICK!!!
Rich Russillo: WITH EXTRA ASSISTANCE FROM THE RINGPOST!! MIKU, PISSED, WAS FORCED BY THE REFEREE TO GET OUT OF THE RING, AND KAI IS DIEGO’S FOR THE TAKING AS HE USES THE MOMENTUM OF THAT TIGER FEINT KICK TO GET HIMSELF RIGHT BACK IN THE RING!!
Thadd Blazevich: DIEGO DRAGS THE DAZED KAI OVER THE MIDDLE ROPE!!! I THINK HE’S GOING FOR THE HEATSEEKER—JUMPING UP USING THE TOP ROPE FOR LEVERAGE—
Rich Russillo: BUT KAI PUSHES HIM AWAY RIGHT AT THE HEIGHT OF THAT JUMP, SENDING DIEGO STUMBLING BACK!! THAT’S THE “LIVIN’ LIKE DIEGO” AND A GREAT COUNTER FROM KAI RABEAUX!
Thadd Blazevich: DIEGO IS CLEARLY NOT PLEASED THOUGH, HE RUNS RIGHT BACK AT HIM, BUT KAI DUCKS UNDER AND DRIVES HIS SHOULDER RIGHT INTO DIEGO’S GUT!! DIEGO’S SENT BACK, BUT THAT SHOULDER’S ALSO PRETTY HURT, WHICH IS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR KAI TO FIND A SIZABLE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF IT, ESPECIALLY WITH DIEGO BEING READY TO STRIKE AGAIN AT ANY MOMENT!!
Rich Russillo: KAI FINDS HIS WAY BACK IN THE RING OVER THE BOTTOM ROPE—IT TAKES LONGER ‘CAUSE OF HIS SIZE, BUT IT’S A PRETTY WORTHWHILE COST WHEN YOU KNOW DIEGO IS READY FOR ANOTHER HEATSEEKER!!
Thadd Blazevich: YOU CAN PRACTICALLY TELL DIEGO WAS WAITING FOR JUST THAT, BUT KAI’S RING AWARENESS IS SHOWING RIGHT NOW!
Persephone: Not sure that’s a lot better, ‘cause as soon as Kai got into the ring, Diego is going straight at him, overhead strikes, knees to the covered up gut, this 1-on-2 match has gone on long enough and Diego is as sick of it as I am!
Thadd Blazevich: Diego’s taking a few steps back, dropping that earlier onslaught, I think he’s looking for a full head of steam as Kai is trying to drag himself back up—VATO LOCOOO!!!
Rich Russillo: DIEGO SPRINGBOARDS, BUT THE MOONSAULT DDT ATTEMPT GETS CAUGHT BY KAI!!
Thadd Blazevich: HOLLON BRO!! THERE’S STILL FIRE IN DIEGO, HE JUMPS OFF HIS SHOULDER RIGHT INTO A TILT-A-WHIRL!!!
Rich Russillo: BUT JUST AS DIEGO WAS ABOUT TO FINISH THAT WITH THE DDT, KAI CATCHES HIM OUTTA MID AIR, RIGHT ON BOTH SHOULDERS IN A POWERBOMB POSITION!!
Thadd Blazevich: DON’T COUNT DIEGO OUT YET, THAT’S A HURRICANRANA HE WENT TO IN RESPONSE, BUT KAI ISN’T BUDGING!! THEY ARE EERILY CLOSE TO THE ROPES AND THAT WOULD’VE BEEN A HELL OF A SET UP FOR ANOTHER TIGER FEINT KICK, SOMETHING KAI IS TRYING TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!
Rich Russillo: WITH WHATEVER STRENGTH HE HAS LEFT, HE PICKS DIEGO BACK UP—WHAT’S THIS?!
Thadd Blazevich: HE GOT HIM UP AND GOOD, MAKING SURE DIEGO HAS NO WAY OUT, THAT’S A HIGH-ANGLE POWERBOMB KAI’S GOT PREPARED!!
Rich Russillo: BUT I THINK THE INJURIES ARE STARTING TO SHOW BECAUSE KAI’S ARMS ARE FREAKING SHAKING AND HE NEEDS TO DRAG DIEGO AWAY FROM THE ROPES TO PULL THIS MOVE OF!!!
Thadd Blazevich: HE’S TRYING, BUT HIS FORCE MAY BE WORKING AGAINST HIM THIS TIME AROUND!! IF ANYTHING’S HE’S GOING *CLOSER* TO THE ROPES, AND THAT’S A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR KAI!!
Rich Russillo: IT SURE IS, CAUSE LOOK AT THAT!!
Thadd Blazevich: DIEGO MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE HIGH ANGLE POWERBOMB BY PLACING HIS FEET ON THE ROPES—
Rich Russillo: AND THE TIGHTROPE PENALTY KICK IS THE CHERRY ON TOP!! WHAT A SEQUENCE!!
Persephone: That… might be the most impressive thing I’ve seen Diego do!
Thadd Blazevich: Even he seems proud of that! He goes straight to Miku, one arm over her shoulder!!
TAG!!!
Persephone: BUT MIKU TAGS HERSELF IN, AND DIEGO IS SHOOK!!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) MAMACITA, WHAT THE HELL?!
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) JUST SHUT UP, I GOT THIS!!
Diego Montana (off-mic) I HAD HIM!!
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) SHUT THE—
Persephone: YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT A CHERRY ON TOP?! HOW ABOUT KAI SPIKING MIKU’S HEAD ON THE MAT WITH A SPRINGBOARD CUTTER AFTER ALL THAT YAPPING?!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) Oh no…
Thadd Blazevich: DIEGO’S GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE THE RING, AND KAI SLITHERS BACK TO THE CORNER!! THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM CUTTER AND SOME TURMOIL TURNS THIS MATCH AROUND!!
Rich Russillo: KAI RABEAUX—IN THE CORNER—TAKES THE ELBOW PAD OFF, EYEING UP THE BLADE OF BABYLON—
(“Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)” by Royal Deluxe suddenly hits.)
Thadd Blazevich: HE’S HERE!!
Persephone: Well, as if the drama couldn’t get any better! :mjlol2:
Rich Russillo: THAT’S THE SONG OF ADAM LUCAS AND THAT COMPLETELY STOPS KAI RABEAUX IN HIS TRACKS!! THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY TIME YOUR PARTNER ACTUALLY COMING TO FIGHT MEANS DISASTER FOR YOUR TEAM!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT WHERE—
Rich Russillo: YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER, ADAM LUCAS ENTERED THROUGH THE CROWD, HOPPED ON OUR ANNOUNCE TABLE AND JUST LEAPED RIGHT ONTO THE RING APRON!!
Adam Lucas: (off-mic) AY’ PRICK, YOU GONNA TAG ME IN OR WHAT?
Kai Rabeaux: (off-mic) …😐
Thadd Blazevich: BRO IS DEMANDING KAI TAGS HIM IN, AND KAI IS BEWILDERED—
Persephone: WELL HE’S NOT GIVEN MUCH TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT—
TAG!!
Persephone: —WOW! ‘CAUSE MIKU SHOVES KAI RIGHT INTO ADAM, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR KAI, IT RESULTS RIGHT INTO A TAG!!
Rich Russillo: BUT I DON’T THINK ADAM LUCAS HAS HIS SIGHTS ON ACTUALLY COMPETING TONIGHT!! HE SLAMS HIS HEAD INTO THE TURNBUCKLE FROM THE APRON, AND NOW HOPS RIGHT INTO THE RING, AS MIKU JUST STEPS BACK!
Persephone: I’M SURE SHE’D LOVE SOME POPCORN RIGHT NOW—
Thadd Blazevich: ADAM THROWS KAI INTO THE AIR—AND IT’S A LEVEL UP!!
Rich Russillo: **INTO THE TURNBUCKLE!!!**
Thadd Blazevich: AND HE’S NOT DONE!! THE REFEREE IS TRYING TO STOP ADAM, BUT ADAM DOESN’T CARE!! HE MOVES KAI OUT OF THE WAY, AND NOW HE’S EXPOSING THE RING!! THAT’S SOME THICK, THICK WOOD BELOW THE MAT AND THE ONE LAYER OF PROTECTION THEY HAD, ADAM IS MAKING SURE TO GET RID OF!!
Rich Russillo: ADAM’S AGGRESSIVELY KICKING KAI BACK INTO THAT EXPOSED AREA, AND DRAGS HIM UP ON ALL FOURS WITH HIS BOOT ALONE!!
Persephone: THAT’S A CONCUSSION PROTOCOL ON THE EXPOSED WOOD!! ADAM LUCAS’ BEST ATTEMPT AT REGAINING HIS MARRIAGE, I GUESS!!
Rich Russillo: KAI RABEAUX IS BUSTED OPEN AFTER THAT… BUT ADAM LUCAS IS *STILL* NOT DONE, WHAT!!
Thadd Blazevich: LOOK MAN, IT’S HARD TO BLAME HIM, BUT IF WE’RE IN FOR THIS EVERY WEEK THEN I’M STARTING TO UNDERSTANDING WHY KAI WAS HIDING FOR A WHOLE MONTH!! ADAM’S DRAGGING THE LIFELESS BODY OF KAI UP BY THE ARMS, AND BY UP I DON’T MEAN TO HIS FEET, I MEAN TO THE FRICKIN’ TOP ROPE BRO!!
Rich Russillo: Now what in the world—oh… oh no…
Persephone: OH FUCK YES!! ADAM’S GOT KAI READY FOR AN AVALANCHE TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!! HE LEAPS!!!!
***CRRRAAAASSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!**
Thadd Blazevich: OH MY **GOD**!!! I THINK I JUST HEARD KAI’S SKULL CRACK OPEN!!
Rich Russillo: I MEAN, IT PROBABLY DID!! THAT’S A HEAD-FIRST COLLISION FROM THE TOP ROPE, RIGHT INTO THE EXPOSED WOOD!! ADAM DRAGS KAI’S HAND ONTO THE TAG ROPE, AND- DID ADAM JUST TAG HIMSELF OUT!? DOES THAT COUNT!?
Persephone: I GUESS IT’S GONNA HAVE TO BECAUSE ADAM IS ROLLING OUT OF THE RING… THAT COWARD COULDN’T GIVE ME MORE, BUT AT LEAST THE MESSAGE WAS SENT LOUD AND CLEAR!!
Thadd Blazevich: WHAT ADAM DID WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH DAMAGE… BUT MIKU’S BEEN CHILLING IN THE CORNER, WATCHING ALL THIS UNFOLDS, AND NOW SHE’S LICKIN’ HER LIPS—
TAG!!!
Rich Russillo: IT’S DIEGO WHO’S LICKING HIS LIPS, BECAUSE HE SUDDENLY TAGGED HIMSELF IN, AND HE’S RUSHING TO COVER KAI!! HE GOT BOTH LEGS HOOKED!!!
OONNEEEEE!!!!!!
TWWOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
THHHRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: DIEGO PINS KAI!!
(DING!!! DING!!!! DING!!!!)
(“COMO CAPO” by Clave Especial ft. Fuerza Regida blares through the speakers as Diego gets right up and begins celebrating, exhilarated by the victory. Kai Rabeaux isn’t moving whatsoever following the attack by Adam Lucas, who is just heading up the ramp as medical personnel rushes out.)
Bella Braxton: HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS… AND ADVANCING TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE TAG TEAM TURMOIL… DIEGO MONTANA & MIKU SAKAI!!
Persephone: I. Am. Crying. This buffoon is acting like he just won the Grand Rampage match or something! He’s celebrating a stolen valor of stolen valor!!
Thadd Blazevich: HAHA!! I’M DEFINITELY FEELING THE VIBES ‘CAUSE THAT WAS INSANE!!
Persephone: Well, Thaddy boy, I don’t think Miku agrees with you, ‘cause it looks like she’s not happy with these celebrations…
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) WHAT THE FUCK?!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) MAMACITA!! WE WON!!!
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) NO!! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ABOUT?!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) AHH, C’MON, MIKU-CHAN!
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) **WHAT** DID YOU JUST CALL ME???????
Diego Montana: (off-mic) Miku, darling…
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) STOP!!! STOP!!! STOP!!!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) My sweet, lovely situationship, please—
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) WHAT DID YOU CALL THIS?!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) A si—
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) NO!! SHUT UP!! I DON’T ACTUALLY WANNA HEAR IT!!!
Diego Montana: (off-mic) But—
Miku Sakai: (off-mic) NOT ANOTHER WORD!!! GO FUCK YOURSELF!!!
Rich Russillo: So…
Persephone: I’m having the time of my life.
Thadd Blazevich: Me too, dawg.
Rich Russillo: Sigh…
(Voltage fades to commercial as Miku Sakai continuously berates Diego Montana, interrupting his celebration, while in the back, medical personnel are rushing to check on the dire state of Kai Rabeaux…)
(Promotional ad highlighting the winners of the first round of the tag team turmoil tournament.)
(As Voltage returns to ringside, ‘All of the Lights (interlude)’ by Kanye West hits. This causes loud boos to come from the fans in attendance, and as the camera pans towards the stage, Jon Kelton begins storming out with a microphone in his hand. Kelton is clearly furious after what occurred earlier in the night, not wasting any time heading down the ramp.)
Rich Russillo: Jon Kelton is here, and I don’t think there’s any need to ask why he appears so frustrated. Minerva left him alone in their tag match against Chris Elite and Jay Jerry Johnson, and winning a handicap match just wasn’t possible under those circumstances.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah… That was pretty harsh from Minerva, but I guess we shouldn’t be shocked. I think we knew that these teams weren’t gonna last, but I think Kelton’s got a few words to get off his chest.
Persephone: Why? I don’t care if Kelton got screwed over. It’s Jon Kelton, he was probably gonna find a way to lose even if Minerva didn’t abandon him.
(Jon Kelton slides into the ring as soon as he makes it to ringside, wasting no time beginning to speak.)
Jon Kelton: That’s it. I’ve had enough of this. Time and time again I walk out here with the intention of finally making things right. Of finally taking the steps towards where I belong after what felt like an eternity of putting others before myself. I get these opportunities and no matter how ridiculous the circumstances are I step forward and I step up to the challenge, and what do I get in return? The Grand Rampage winner walks out on me, because of ALL the people I could have been paired with in that tournament… It just had to be the one who happens to be friends with the Tag Team Champions. The one I faced back at King of Elite, who just barely managed to scrape by me. I knew it was bound to happen. I knew there was no point in trying to trust someone like Minerva, but what was I supposed to do tonight!? Just throw away a Championship opportunity? Just walk away like Minerva did? Unlike her, I don’t have a guaranteed World Championship shot in my pocket! I don’t have a ticket to Pain for Pride yet. I need an opportunity that isn’t going to be stolen from me, and I’m not going to keep sitting around expecting that perfect opportunity to come.
(The fans boo, and Kelton just shakes his head before continuing.)
Jon Kelton: People hate to admit that I did what was best for my career because they hate the idea of me taking the same step forward I robbed myself of two years ago. Bronson Daniels enters the Grand Rampage at the most coveted spot and wastes it solely for the sake of going after me. Minerva is given the opportunity to end Pain for Pride as a double Champion and wastes it just to stick it to me. I have been getting screwed over week in and week out and I’m being expected to just accept that because I’m not the one you *want* to see at the top. You’d prefer for it to be Hans Grayson, or Cody Maverick, or Adam Lucas or even Bronson Daniels, but that’s not happening, because every single one of these people had the misfortune of being in *my* way.
(After saying this, Jon Kelton just turns towards the stage.)
Jon Kelton: I’m done waiting. Drake Armstrong, get out here. I want a match for the EAW World Championship, and I want it at Fighting Spirit.
(This causes a loud reaction to come from the crowd, as Jon Kelton waits for Drake Armstrong to come out. However, he doesn’t get what he wants, as ‘Run Into Flowers’ by M83 hits. The crowd explodes with cheers, and Kelton just sighs, frustrated once more as he takes a few steps back. Bronson Daniels begins walking out to the stage, and he has an amused grin on his face as he stares at Jon Kelton.)
Rich Russillo: Uh oh! Bronson Daniels is here, and we saw what happened last time they crossed paths again back at Grand Rampage! There was clearly no love lost there, and I don’t expect things to be any different now.
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton already looks pissed seeing bro, but hey, he’s not the one that had to miss a whole chunk of his season. I can’t say I’m surprised Bronson wants to get back at Kelton, but I wonder what he has to say.
Persephone: It can’t be anything good, knowing him. Why couldn’t Kelton have been useful for once and just finished him off back at Road to Redemption?
(Bronson walks down the ramp holding a microphone in his hand, not wasting too much time as he looks to join Kelton inside of the ring. Bronson jumps onto the apron once at ringside, and there is a brief staredown between the former members of Elysium before Bronson finally steps into the ring. Once there, the smirk on Bronson’s face widens a bit as he notices Kelton’s anger.)
Bronson Daniels: I guess the grass wasn’t greener on the other side, was it?
(This comment causes the fans to cheer, further annoying Kelton given the separate results of their respective matches in the tag team turmoil tournament. After this Bronson just shakes his head before continuing to speak.)
Bronson Daniels: Now listen, I’m not supposed to be out here right now. I’m coming off of a victory alongside ARIA, and while it’s not what I’d say I expected when I was ready to step back into the ring, we may be one step closer to fighting for the Unified Tag Team Championships. Turns out the whole tag team thing isn’t so bad when you’re working with someone who, at least as of right now, isn’t interested in screwing us both over just so they can mess with me. Now I was willing to leave you alone which is why I didn’t even think of showing up to screw you over in your match, not that you actually needed any help losing that… But then you walked out here and you started talking about opportunities, and taking the next step forward, and eventually you actually got to the point which was that you want a World Championship match. I heard all that, and I just thought…
(Finally, the smirk that was on Bronson’s face begins to drop.)
Bronson Daniels: Are you out of your mind?
(Bronson steps forward as the fans cheer, with the two Elitists now face to face.)
Bronson Daniels: I realized you were delusional a long time ago, but come on. Why would I sit back and just let you go for the EAW World Championship?? You said it yourself, didn’t you? I returned in the Grand Rampage match at the big number 30 spot yet I had no problem giving it all up just for the sake of taking you out. What makes you think that I would just be content with letting you walk by and get that big World Championship match after everything you’ve done? You stabbed me in the back and tried to take my career from me, and you know what, Jon? I *could* credit you for what you did at Road to Redemption. For finally stepping up and making sure that one way or another you finally finished things, but that’s just it. Even when you finally got that upper hand, even when you managed to injure me, you couldn’t keep me away for long. No. You tried to take my career from me and you failed, because nothing will keep me away from this ring, and I will *not* let you just walk away from all this unscathed.
(The fans cheer loudly for Bronson Daniels, but Kelton just shakes his head, not amused whatsoever with these words as he begins to respond.)
Jon Kelton: So what are you going to do, hm? Screw me over again? Try to interfere in my match at Fighting Spirit? Right now you’re just getting in the way, and I’m not even going to pretend to be interested in allowing the rest of my season to go down the drain because you can’t get over the fact that I was *better* than you. I need to know what you could possibly be trying to get out of this, because right now, it doesn’t look like you have a plan. Instead I think you’re just out here so you can hear the sound of your own voice, and I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to keep doing this.
(After saying this Kelton goes to begin leaving the ring, but before he’s able to do so, Bronson steps in his way. This causes a louder reaction to come from the crowd, as Kelton appears even further annoyed.)
Bronson Daniels: Actually, that’s not true. I’m out here because I have an idea of my own. The end of the season’s approaching and I for one am not afraid of a challenge like potentially competing in two matches in one night, so I think it’s about time I take back an opportunity I lost back when my career was nearly taken from me, and I fight for the EAW World Championship myself.
(The crowd explodes with cheers, and Jon Kelton’s eyes widen with disbelief over these words from Bronson. Kelton steps back, increasingly enraged as he begins to speak once more.)
Jon Kelton: No, no you can’t be serious. Again?? You’re seriously trying to do this again? What’s next, are you going to focus on taking me out just so you can hand Drake the win? You already had your chance and the Grand Rampage match and you threw *yourself* over the top rope, you don’t get to just go demanding Championship matches.
Bronson Daniels: And you do? I didn’t screw you over. I was a contestant in the Grand Rampage match and I eliminated you. What I did afterwards has nothing to do with that, and yet here you are expecting Drake Armstrong of all people to just walk out here and give you everything you want. You keep pretending that these opportunities are being stolen from you. That you’re somehow being robbed- but Jon, you haven’t experienced what I have. Not even close.
Jon Kelton: And I don’t intend to. I’m ending this season as World Champion. The smartest thing you could do is make sure you’re not in the way when that happens.
(The fans booed as Jon Kelton stared at Bronson Daniels, with a cold tone in his voice after everything he had to deal with tonight. Bronson didn’t back away despite Kelton’s words, and after a moment, he began to respond.)
Bronson Daniels: I don’t plan to keep entertaining this delusion. You can think however you want up until Fighting Spirit, but you’re not walking out with that Championship. I a-
(Finally, ‘Pride and Arrogance’ by Takeru Kanazaki hits.)
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Drake Armstrong walks out to the stage, carrying his EAW World Championship on his shoulder. He has an unimpressed look on his face as he stares at the two inside of the ring, just shaking his head at the sight of them. Drake could be seen holding a microphone in his hand, and he walked down the ramp as the loud boos continued.)
Rich Russillo: Well it was only a matter of time before the EAW World Champion made his presence known, and I can’t imagine he’s in the best mood following what occurred earlier in the night.
Thadd Blazevich: That’s true, but he can’t think about that now. He basically just had two people step up and challenge him. What’s he gonna do?
Persephone: Hopefully not give us another match as boring as the one he had against Jay Jerry Johnson.
(Drake Armstrong enters the ring, standing in between Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton. He takes a moment to look at the two men, before finally beginning to speak.)
Drake Armstrong: I don’t take either of you as the type to ignore your surroundings, especially when it concerns Your Immaculacy and his EAW World Championship. I know you both were watching my bout against Jay Jerry Johnson but I must ask… Were either of you genuinely paying attention to what you saw? Did you understand the brilliance that was put on display? Were you able to comprehend the gap that existed between challenger and Champion? I don’t ask these questions to insult either of you, even if any insult would be earned given how dreadful this season has been for the both of you. I ask this question because right now I should be celebrating another decisive Championship defense, but instead I am here after having already faced a loss thanks to the ever useless Ashlynn Quinn, listening to the two of you as you stake your claim to a Championship that belongs nowhere near you. If either of you were actually paying attention, I cannot possibly understand why you’d think that the proper step for you is to put yourself in my path. The same path that destroyed your hopeless brotherhood to begin with.
(These words cause loud boos to come from the fans, and the grin on Drake Armstrong’s face only grows as Bronson and Kelton stare at him.)
Drake Armstrong: It was I who handed you the ticket to the match that’d ultimately be your downfall, and I did so because I had a plan. A plan that as you can see, went exactly as I wanted. I didn’t need to partake in “Two Falls of Terror” to become the EAW World Champion. This Championship would find me no matter when I challenged for it. It was inevitable, and now you two hope to challenge that merely for the sake of salvation for your pitiful careers. “One more opportunity”. One more chance is what you’ve both been screaming for the last five chances, and perhaps there are quite a few who are somehow interested in the idea of either of you getting another…
(The fans cheer, showing that there’s far more than “a few” in attendance who’d like to see the EAW World Championship match happen. Brushing past this, Drake continues.)
Drake Armstrong: But I am not.
(Bronson begins walking up to Drake, having heard enough.)
Bronson Daniels: Alright, we’ve done this before and I’m not interested in doing it again. Get to the point.
(Drake looks almost baffled by these words from Bronson, as if he is surprised he’d even have the nerve to make demands from him. However, Drake maintains his composure, beginning to respond.)
Drake Armstrong: The point… Is that the mere implication that I should hand either of you a Championship match as if it were a participation trophy for the mere fact that you couldn’t make use of any of your previous opportunities is outrageous. Jon Kelton has never held a World Championship and at this rate it appears likely he never will so I can understand why he wouldn’t be able to recognize the mistake he is making, but the fact that you are willing to step all over the prestige this World Championship has now that it rests on my shoulder is enough to tell me exactly why your career has fallen off of a cliff. Neither of you understand what it means to stand in the position that I am in and as a result neither of you have any respect for the one who contained your futures in the palm of his hand from the moment this season began. The two of you walked out here both with the same demand. “Give me a World Championship match”, or better articulated, “Save my career”. You are asking me to do charity for you, and I have already done enough of that for one Championship reign.
(The boos return once more, even louder than before following these words from Drake Armstrong. However, he wasn’t finished speaking, and what he was about to say would only further disappoint the fans.)
Drake Armstrong: So to give you both the answer you’ve been waiting for… No. I will not defend my Championship against either of you. If you’d like yet another opportunity, do your best to earn one while you still can. Good lu-
???: Hold it!
(Drake’s head immediately drops in annoyance, as he slowly turns towards the stage. Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton wait, as Captain Charisma walks out with a microphone in his hand. The fans cheer at the sight of the Commissioner, but Drake Armstrong doesn’t look pleased whatsoever.)
Drake Armstrong: What is the meaning of this?
Captain Charisma: Well I happened to be in the middle of figuring out plans for Fighting Spirit, when Jon Kelton and Bronson Daniels decided they’d step up and make things very, very interesting. So interesting that I felt I had to come out here, because I had something to share with all three of you. I know in Bronson’s case things might be a little tough given his spot in the tag team turmoil tournament, but he seems up for a challenge, and it doesn’t look like the rest of you have anything on your plate any longer. Drake, I remember earlier in the week you even said that if you were to have a Championship defense at Fighting Spirit the tag team turmoil tournament would no longer even matter to you, so I’m sure you wouldn’t mind I take you up on that.
(Drake Armstrong appears annoyed having his own words used against him, prompting him to immediately respond.)
Drake Armstrong: Since you’ve suddenly decided to respect what I say, why not listen to what I am telling you right now? I will not defend this Championship against-
Captain Charisma: Drake, that’s enough. I’m sure you’ve said everything you needed to say while I was on my way out here, and I need to get back to my announcement.
(The fans cheer, and Drake Armstrong just watches on, now growing frustrated.)
Captain Charisma: You will defend your Championship at Fighting Spirit Drake, and it’s going to happen in a match I am sure you will love given the history that’ll be involved in said match, dating back to the very beginning of the season. A match that will involve not two, but *three* extremely talented competitors, all of which capable of potentially heading into the main event of Pain for Pride with the EAW World Championship. Bronson Daniels, Jon Kelton, I’ll need to credit the two of you for this idea… Because at Fighting Spirit, you two are facing Drake Armstrong in a triple threat for the EAW World Championship!
Rich Russillo: WOW!
Thadd Blazevich: A TRIPLE THREAT?? THAT’S GONNA BE AWESOME, BRO!
(The crowd explodes with cheers, and Drake Armstrong doesn’t even respond, just angered having already known that Captain Charisma would do something like this. He stares at Captain Charisma, and the commissioner has a grin on his face as he remains on the stage.)
Captain Charisma: Good luck to all three of you, and don’t forget… This is the final marquee event before Pain for Pride. This is not a match you want to leave empty handed.
(With these words Captain Charisma begins to head to the back, leaving the three Elitists inside of the ring to turn their attention towards each other, now knowing their fate.)
Rich Russillo: Huge news to close out this show, as at Fighting Spirit we now know that Drake Armstrong will be defending the EAW World Championship against both Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton!
Thadd Blazevich: This is an interesting situation, dude. Drake Armstrong is basically being caught in the middle of their beef, but he helped start it in the first place! It’s like a whole hate triangle.
Persephone: Yeah, which means that hopefully, they at least kill each other.
(One more shot is shown of Drake Armstrong, Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton as they all stare at each other. Bronson Daniels looks ready for Fighting Spirit, but Jon Kelton doesn’t look so pleased knowing that he has to share his opportunity with Bronson. He isn’t the most enraged about this situation though, as Drake Armstrong is downright furious knowing they both got the Championship match. With this final shot, Voltage begins to fade to black.)
(EAW logo buzzes.)
