(EAW intro plays.)
(As always, a recap is shown of last week’s Voltage, highlighting the major events of the night before it fades out. The camera reopens to the Rogers Bank in Edmonton, Alberta, where pyro can be seen shooting out ahead of tonight’s Voltage. The camera pans around to showcase the thousands of excited fans in attendance, before finally transitioning to the commentary table.)
Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Sunday Night Voltage! The road to Pain for Pride continues, as we have quite the amazing show lined up for you all!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, tonight has an insanely stacked card. The main event, the Pick Your Poison matches, I mean we even have a title match tonight! Voltage has been on a roll, and it doesn’t look like we’re stopping now, bro!
Persephone: Yeah yeah, I don’t see what the big deal is. Besides the Hardcore match, I-
(‘Kostas’ by Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine & Benny the Butcher suddenly hits, immediately causing a loud storm of cheers from the crowd. The camera cuts over towards the stage, panning towards the King of Elite as Cody Maverick begins storming out, not wasting any time with the pleasantries as he is in a hurry to get to ringside. Cody is fuming, and it’s clear why he’s furious knowing what happened to him only last week.)
Rich Russillo: Ladies and gentlemen Cody Maverick is not happy, and I don’t even think it needs to be explained why. We all saw what happened last week, and needless to say, it was a shocking sight.
Thadd Blazevich: Dude… I get Chris Elite was mad about his loss, but I didn’t expect all that. I thought we were gonna get an insane World Championship triple threat, but it looks like we’re about to get something else entirely!
Persephone: Well unless this means we’re getting two Barbed Wire Massacres instead of one at Pain for Pride, I don’t think I care what happens between Cody and Chris.
(Cody Maverick makes it to ringside, and he heads towards the timekeeper’s area while the cheers continue, overpowering ‘Kostas’.)
Cody Maverick: Shut my damn music off. SHUT IT OFF!
(These words however are enough to cause an abrupt end to Cody’s entrance music, as Cody jumps onto the apron before entering the ring. Cody wastes following up now that everything has quieted down, having a lot to get off his chest.)
Cody Maverick: Now I need every single one of you here to listen, ‘cause I’m not out here right now for any jokes or games. I’m here because clearly someone thought it’d be funny to mess around and screw up my chances of entering the Pain for Pride main event in a match against two people who could really use an ass kicking right now.
(There’s a few split reactions from the fans after this, as they aren’t too happy about what happened to Cody last week. Cody just nods, trying to keep his composure as he continues.)
Cody Maverick: Now I know how things go around here, don’t get me wrong. I’ve been on this brand long enough now to know that it was never gonna be simple, but I didn’t expect to walk down here ready to cash in the King of Elite crown I earned for a shot at the EAW World Championship only to be blindsided by… By Chris Elite. Chris Elite! Of all the people that could’ve stuck their nose where it didn’t belong it was Chris Elite- and for what!? So he can do what he’s been doing all season long and drop the ball once it’s given to him!? So he can screw up yet another big time opportunity over a decade into the game!? The man took a shot at me. He’s coming for my crown, all so he can cash it in for another shot at a Championship he can’t even win!
(Cody stares at the hardcam following this statement, one which receives nothing but cheers from the crowd. Cody can’t help but let out a bit of a chuckle, as if he still can’t believe what happened to him last week, before he gets serious once more. His eyes don’t dart away from the camera, making sure his next message is seen by the exact person it’s intended for.)
Cody Maverick: Well what do I look like, huh? Some sorta doormat you can just walk over? Nah, that’s not me. I fought my way to this crown, and you’re not just gonna ruin this for me just because you still can’t get anything going eight years after your last World Championship reign. You had opportunity after opportunity. You had everything in your grasp including a contract that might as well have given you control of this entire company. If you’re so stuck in your delusions that this crown is the answer to all your problems that you’re willing to try and take it from me that’s fine, but you’re gonna need to get to work ‘cause if you’re really coming at me as the Chris Elite we’ve been seeing all these years, this is all just one annoying waste of my time. You took your shot Chris but clearly you haven’t changed much, because that shot wasn’t good enough. You tried to send me a warning but all you did was piss me off, and now I’m here! You wanted my attention, and you got it! I’m all ears, so if you wanna come out here and you want to try this again face to face, be my guest! I’m not running, I’m not hiding, I’m standing right here, and I can either wait for you to finally walk out here and show us how much of a tough guy you really are, or I can go back there and drag your ass out here myself. Your call.
(Cody Maverick waits, but not for long. ‘Invincible’ by Pop Smoke hits, causing a mixed reception to come from the crowd as Cody gets exactly what he wanted. Chris Elite begins walking out to the stage, already holding a microphone in his hand. Chris shakes his head as he begins to wall down the ramp, like he’s not impressed at all with what Cody has said.)
Rich Russillo: Well here comes Chris Elite, who as we know attacked Cody Maverick before he could enter the Pain for Pride EAW Championship match. I’d say he made his motives pretty clear, but does he know what he’s getting himself into?
Thadd Blazevich: I think so. He does have history with Cody so I’m sure he knows it’s gonna be tough, but that’s not gonna shake Chris’ confidence. Not at this time of the year.
(As Chris reaches the bottom of the ramp, he doesn’t even wait to join Cody in the ring, instead beginning to speak right away.)
Chris Elite: You were gonna drag *me* out here, huh? Right.
(Chris lets out a laugh before he climbs onto the apron. Once there, he leans on the ropes for a moment, staring at Cody as he continues, with the smirk on his face slowly dropping.)
Chris Elite: What part of this are you not getting? You know what this is. Last week wasn’t about taking my shot or keeping you down, it was about making sure you knew what I wanted and clearly you got the message, so I don’t know why you even bothered coming out here and doing all this. I don’t care to hear you accept the challenge or none of that shit, ‘cause I didn’t give you a choice. I’m taking that crown from you, and you can really think whatever you want about me and where my career’s been, but what makes you think you’re actually good enough to try and hang any of my old setbacks over me? I get it. I’ve been here for a while, longer than most of the people around here. I took some losses in World title matches… But you’re carrying that crown around and talking all this shit like you weren’t right there to take one of those losses just this season.
(Chris finally enters the ring, and Cody remains silent, letting Chris Elite say everything he needs to say. There is a brief staredown between the two men once Chris joins Cody in the ring, and the crowd reaction rises thanks to the tension between them, before finally Chris begins to speak once more.)
Chris Elite: So what’s different this time, “King”? What makes you think you got it all figured out? Couldn’t win the World title at Bloodsport. Couldn’t win Brand Warfare even after putting me on the team because you *knew* I was too good to pass up. You weren’t even good enough to make it into the Chamber but now all of a sudden you wanna talk about not being good enough? Drake Armstrong’s been making you his bitch all season long, what did you really think was gonna happen if you cashed in last week? Only thing you were ever gonna accomplish is fucking up Hans’ cash-in, and I don’t know maybe that’s enough for you, but I’m not gonna sit here and go without a Pain for Pride match while that crown’s being wasted.
Cody Maverick: Wasted? You call a Pain for Pride main event a fucking waste? I get you haven’t seen that spot since this damn decade started, but unlike you I’m still early into my career. I’m still on the rise and the next stop for me is my first World Championship, a World Championship I could’ve won on the greatest stage possible. You don’t just get Pain for Pride main events handed to you. That’s the kind of thing you have to earn, and you know it, don’t you? You’ve been in that spot before. Hell you’ve been there more than once, so you know what it took to get there. You know what it’s like there, and you know EXACTLY what you took from me.
Chris Elite: So what? You just spelled it out for everyone, didn’t you? I’ve been missing out on all these different opportunities and until I attacked you I didn’t even have a clear path to Pain for Pride like I wasn’t a clear Hall of Fame talent before half the roster even entered this company. I *entered* the Hall of Fame before you even showed up, yet you think you run the place ‘cause you had a good night at King of Elite? No. You’re not safe just because you have that crown, ‘cause at any moment someone could snatch it right out your hands and do more with it than you were ever going to.
(Immediately Cody’s eyebrows raise, as he takes a moment, taken aback by Chris Elite’s words.)
Cody Maverick: So that’s it? Losing to Jay last week was the final straw, wasn’t it? Clearly losing to him must’ve broken something ‘cause you’re out of your goddamn mind if you actually think that I’m just easy pickings for you. I don’t walk around here like I’m safe. Never have, never will. I just see the top of the mountain, and instead of wasting my time I do whatever I gotta do to finally reach it. I did what I had to do. I earned my rights to this crown and Chris- don’t get it confused. I have no problem putting it on the line just to teach your dumbass a lesson. You want your match? You want my crown on the line? You got it.
(The crowd explodes, as every fan in attendance seems to be excited to see the match between them, especially given how high the stakes are. However… Cody doesn’t stop there.)
Cody Maverick: …But let’s get one thing straight. You beat me? It’ll be because you earned it, and I’m starting to think you don’t have it in you to earn much of anything anymore. You’re right. You did it all, you were inducted into the Hall of Fame before Cody Maverick was even a name for the people here to remember, it’s 2026, Chris! We’re going to Pain for Pride, and you’re about to realize exactly why *I’m* the man that won the King of Elite tournament while you’re spending week after week just trying to figure out how you can finally salvage what’s left of your career.
(Cody Maverick walks up towards Chris Elite, making sure he hears his next words clearly.)
Cody Maverick: Your odds of winning this crown are about as good as you retiring a legend at this point. Zilch!
(This gets a loud reaction from the crowd, but what gets an even louder reaction is Chris Elite shoving Cody away from him. Cody instantly shoves Chris back in response, and Chris just steps back up to Cody, as the two men stand face to face. It seems at this point that a fight can break out at any moment, but Chris is able to keep his cool, as does Cody. Chris stares at Cody with a look that’s enough to show how annoyed he actually is despite keeping his composure, until finally he just raises his microphone, beginning to speak.)
Chris Elite: It’s funny how shit works around here. Just a few months ago I was giving you props, ‘cause I could admit when I was wrong. I didn’t think you even had it in you to go this far and you did, so that was on me. I doubted you a bit more than I should’ve, but clearly I wasn’t all too wrong about you either because you’re still talking exactly how you were when this season started. Still talking like you’re above all this, like this is just a pointless waste of time for you and like you’re destined to be a World Champ before you know it. Y’know how many people I’ve seen come and go without ever getting it done? You know how many people I’ve seen get so close to the finish line only to find some way to fuck it up? I been saying for a while now that all it takes is one match to turn everything around, but that doesn’t just go for getting back on track.
Chris Elite: I don’t care what I took from you last week Cody, ‘cause that match at Pain for Pride is right around that corner, and that match is all it’ll take for you to lose everything. We’ll see how much all that legend shit matters to you when you’re starting from scratch, and entering next season exactly like you entered this one.
(Cody Maverick doesn’t immediately respond to this, much like Chris didn’t after his. Cody sighs after a moment, lowering his head for a bit as he responds.)
Cody Maverick: Y’know, it’s funny you talked about being wrong about our past opinions, ‘cause I agree. I was wrong about you. Turns out, I had more respect for you than I should’ve.
(Cody Maverick raises his head, staring right at Chris while delivering this last line, which receives nothing but cheers.)
Cody Maverick: You’re right, I let you on my Brand Warfare team. Don’t remember you standing out at all back then, so what happened? I’ve been accepting blame for what happened at Territorial Invasion but I said it to Miku and I’ll say it to you too. I’m not about to have members of my own team pointing fingers at me months after the fact- not when they had every chance to get off their asses and start pulling their own weight. That’s what you’re not getting Chris and hell, it’s what I didn’t even get about you until it was too late. You’re not the type of guy that can pull their own weight. You’re not the type of guy that can survive without someone around to hold their hand, and hell seeing how that tournament went it looks like even that’s not enough to save you. You’ve been a screwup for years. Bloodsport? Brand Warfare? Wicked Games? I came back from all those rough nights. I learned from ‘em. I bounced back and I won the opportunity to become a World Champion on any night I choose. You’ve been “rough nights” for eight years now yet from where I stand it’s looking like you still haven’t learned a damn thing, so let me spell it out for you.
Cody Maverick: At Pain for Pride I’m gonna kick your ass, because this company has changed and you’re not good enough to reach the bar that I’m setting.
(Another loud reaction follows this, as Cody Maverick just throws his microphone to the floor. At this point it’s clear he’s done talking, and it seems to everyone else that everything that needed to be said has been said. Cody slowly just begins walking past Chris Elite, bumping his shoulder in the process. However, Chris Elite seems to have finally had enough.)
Rich Russillo: UH OH, CHRIS ELITE JUST TURNED CODY MAVERICK AROUND AND SLAMMED HIS MICROPHONE INTO HIS JAW!!
Thadd Blazevich: I THINK WE KNEW THAT ONE WAS COMING! CODY DOESN’T EVEN LOOK SURPRISED! HE GETS UP OFF A KNEE AND SWINGS AT CHRIS- BUT CHRIS DUCKS UNDER BEFORE BEGINNING TO WAIL AT HIM WITH RIGHTS! CHRIS IS BEATING DOWN CODY MAVERICK HERE BROS, AND WHAT AN OPENING TO VOLTAGE THIS HAS BEEN!
Persephone: CODY WAS TAKEN TO A KNEE, BUT IT TURNS OUT HE ISN’T ENTIRELY USELESS BECAUSE HE’S THROWING SHOTS TO THE RIBS OF CHRIS ELITE!!
Rich Russillo: CODY PUSHES HIMSELF UP AND STARTS RUNNING FORWARD, BACKING CHRIS TOWARDS THE ROPES UNTIL FINALLY HE AND CODY BOTH TUMBLE THROUGH THE ROPES AND OUT TO RINGSIDE!!! THIS ONE HAS ALREADY GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL!
Thadd Blazevich: CODY MAVERICK RACES TO HIS FEET AND GRABS CHRIS, BEFORE SENDING HIM CRASHING INTO THE BARRICADE! CODY GRABS CHRIS BEFORE CHRIS CAN EVEN RECOVER, AND HE RUNS IN BEFORE SENDING CHRIS STUMBLING OVER THE STEEL STEPS!!!
Persephone: Chris stumbles to his feet as Cody rushes in- BUT CHRIS LANDS A BACK ELBOW! CHRIS SLAMS CODY’S FACE INTO THE BARRICADE AFTER THAT, BEFORE GRABBING CODY AND BACKPEDALING, SENDING THE BACK OF CODY’S HEAD INTO THE RING POST!
Rich Russillo: THIS FIGHT HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE- AND NOW YOU CAN SEE THE SECURITY GUARDS RUSHING DOWN THE RAMP, RACING TO SPLIT THIS ONE UP BEFORE THEY CAN JEOPARDIZE THEIR NOW CONFIRMED PAIN FOR PRIDE MATCH!!
(The security guards immediately rip Cody Maverick away from Chris Elite, and force Chris Elite backwards. Cody is pulled towards the ramp as the fans boo, while Chris is kept at ringside, unable to reach Cody.)
Rich Russillo: IT LOOKS LIKE THIS FIGHT IS BEING BROKEN UP, AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON’T BLAME THE SECURITY GUARDS ONE BIT! THINGS WERE ON TRACK TO GET WAY OUT OF HAND THERE, AND- WOAH, HOLD ON A SEC!
Thadd Blazevich: YOU MIGHT’VE SPOKEN TOO SOON, DUDE! THINGS ARE STILL WAY OUTTA HAND, CODY AND CHRIS JUST STARTED THROWING HANDS WITH SECURITY!!
Rich Russillo: CODY MAVERICK JUST KNOCKED ONE OF THE GUARDS OFF OF HIM WITH AN ELBOW, BEFORE DROPPING ANOTHER WITH A RIGHT HOOK! CHRIS JUST PUSHED ONE OF THE GUARDS AWAY FROM HIM- AND NOW THERE’S “OPEN YA MATA”!! A BICYCLE KNEE STRIKE TO DROP ANOTHER ONE OF THE GUARDS!!!
Thadd Blazevich: CODY MAVERICK IS FIGHTING HIS WAY BACK DOWN THE RAMP, WHILE THE REMAINING GUARDS ARE STILL TRYING TO HOLD BACK CHRIS! CODY GRABS ONE OF THE GUARDS- AND DUDE, BRO JUST THREW THE GUARD OVER THE BARRICADE!!!
Persephone: Okay, these two are going to get a crazy fine for this, aren’t they?
Rich Russillo: PROBABLY, BUT I THINK THAT’S THE LAST THING ON THEIR MINDS RIGHT NOW! CHRIS ELITE DROPS ANOTHER GUARD WITH SNOOZE, THAT VICIOUS UPPERCUT! CHRIS JUMPS ONTO THE APRON AFTER THAT AND LANDS A PENALTY KICK ON ANOTHER ONE, WHILE CODY SENDS ANOTHER GUARD INTO THE BARRICADE BEFORE SLIDING INTO THE RING!!!
Thadd Blazevich: CHRIS JUMPS ONTO THE TOP ROPE, FLYING AT CODY WITH A SPRINGBOARD-
Persephone: “LIGHTS OUT”!!!!!
Rich Russillo: OH MY GOD!!!! CODY MAVERICK JUST CAUGHT CHRIS ELITE RIGHT OUT OF THE SKY WITH THE SUPERMAN PUNCH- AND NOW THOSE SECURITY GUARDS TACKLE CODY MAVERICK, FINALLY GETTING AHOLD OF HIM AS THEY DRAG HIM OUT OF THE RING, GETTING HIM AWAY FROM CHRIS ELITE!!!
Thadd Blazevich: THE GUARDS ARE DRAGGING CODY AWAY- BUT I THINK IT’S A LIL TOO LATE FOR THAT ONE, BROS!! CODY JUST PUT CHRIS TO SLEEP WITH THAT ONE, AND IF THERE WAS ANY WAY FOR HIM TO GET A BIT OF PAYBACK IT WAS LIKE THIS!!!
Rich Russillo: AND REMEMBER, IT’S OFFICIAL NOW! CODY MAVERICK! CHRIS ELITE! KING OF ELITE CROWN ON THE LINE, AT PAIN FOR PRIDE!!!!!!
(The fans are electric as Cody Maverick can be heard still yelling a few more words towards Chris Elite, who at this point is unconscious following the superman punch. The security guards continue to drag Cody Maverick up the ramp, but with Chris taken out, Cody doesn’t fight back as much as he did before, instead just staring at his own work as he is dragged back. From there, Voltage fades from ringside.)
(Promotional ad for Pain for Pride 19, where Cody Maverick puts his King of Elite crown on the line against Chris Elite.)
(The camera fades to the backstage area of Sunday Night Voltage. It shows the office of Captain Charisma and Eden Sinclair. At the moment Sayiri Himura is having a conversation with the two, and she seems contemplative after what occurred last week.)
Sayuri Himura: Last week, I had my match with Eris Morti. I know that I lost. In the end, she was able to get the upper hand and steal that pinfall. But I am not going to let this set me back. I am looking to move past it now. I will admit that I have been wondering what may be next for me, especially with Pain for Pride being so close. In fact, we are less than a month away, aren’t we?
Captain Charisma: We are, and that’s exactly why I called you here. Sayuri, let me be very clear…we were impressed with your performance last week. Truly impressed. You and Morti pushed each other to the absolute limit. It was competitive from the opening bell to the final second. Yes, you didn’t walk away with the victory, but that doesn’t diminish the effort you put in. It doesn’t diminish the skill you displayed. If anything, it showed us exactly what you’re capable of.
Eden Sinclair: I agree completely. You’ve made excellent use of your time here on Voltage. You’ve shown growth, discipline, and a real hunger to prove yourself. And because of that, I’ve been thinking about what could be next for you. Something that reflects the work you’ve put in.
(Sayuri nods respectfully. While not one to allow losses to damage her, she wasn’t pleased by last week’s result, and knows that some opportunities that may have determined her Pain for Pride fate have already come and gone. With that in mind, the possibility being presented to her more than interested her.)
Sayuri Himura: That is wonderful news. What is it?
???: Well, well, well…what is going on in here?
(With this, the excitement Sayuri Himura previously held immediately dies down, as she frowns and turns around towards the door. The camera pans to show a grinning Eris Morti. She walks into the office with a smug aura. The energy is tense between Sayuri and Eris immediately. But Eris seems more cocky than challenging right now.)
Sayuri Himura: This was a private meeting. You may feel free to leave now.
Eris Morti: Oh, Sayuri…sweet Sayuri…the door was open. You’re taking quite the nasty tone with me right now. Are you still sore over last week? I thought that you would have moved past it, given you’re no stranger to these kinds of victories. Do you really hate me that much?
Sayuri Himura: I’ve already told you this not about hatred. You’d prefer that. I’m simply uninterested in entertaining you. It is always the same with you. You don’t care for this sport. You care only for satisfying your bloodlust, and I will not feed into your vices no matter how hard you try to force me. If last week was your attempt to prove a point I am afraid it has fallen on deaf ears, because I’m not like you, nor will I ever be. Last week’s loss was a disappointing one, but not one I’m unable to move on from. You won’t continue to plague my career, that much I can guarantee.
(Eris stares at Sayuri, and for just a moment she has a much colder look on her face, before that grin quickly reappears.)
Eris Morti: Who are you fooling, Sayuri? You were devastated last week, and it’s not hard to see why. You value your honor and your code so highly, and yet an honorless savage like myself proved that I can do anything you can. It fills you with rage knowing you can’t get rid of me. I can see it. I’m in your head, remember?
Sayuri Himura: No. You’re not in my head. You never were and you never will be. You proved nothing. You can tell yourself whatever you want but that does not make it true. You defeated me last week, and I defeated you at King of Elite. I heard what you had to say last week, and no. This is not the beginning. I have no desire to waste my career on someone with no desire to take this sport seriously. You view it as a joke. You think the ring is your personal playground, but I care for more than vengeance. I have far more important matters to take care of, so don’t force my hand.
(Eris Morti grins and slithers towards Sayuri. She gets into her personal space and stares her down. Sayuri, of course, is completely unwilling to back down. She refuses to be intimidated by her.)
Eris Morti: Or what? You don’t like vengeance. You don’t like violence. You don’t like anything interesting, do you? You underestimated me and therefore left yourself open. What do you think will happen as long as you continue to ignore the problem at hand? What happened last week is just a taste of what is to come.
(Sayuri Himura grows impatient with Eris, staring her down without any sign of backing down.)
Sayuri Himura: What happened last week is never going to occur again Eris. The next time that we face off, I am going to defeat you, and I will do it my way, not yours. You’re a pest, Eris. One that I’ll deal with how I see fit once necessary. You don’t get to decide who I am, or what I do with my career. You’ll get what you deserve, and nothing more. So, perhaps you should step out of the office now.
Eris Morti: Oh, but I have a very good reason to be here.
Sayuri Himura: I am very, very doubtful of that. Do you require assistance in finding the door?
Eris Morti: And you are being very, very rude at the moment. Is there something bothering you Sayuri? Do you need to let off some steam?
Sayuri Himura: Leave.
Eris Morti: And if I were to say no? What would you do?
(Eris turns her head, tapping her jaw as she steps towards Sayuri.)
Eris Morti: Will you finally hit me like you mean it?
Sayuri Himura: You don’t know what you’re asking for.
(Captain Charisma steps between the two elitists now and ensures they both take a few steps back.)
Captain Charisma: Ladies, ladies…no need for this to escalate. Not tonight. Especially not in my office. I would hate to have to fix everything once you were done tearing each other apart. I actually am the reason that both of you are here. I called you both to the office because both of you want to figure out what comes next. Eden and I want to tell you precisely what that is.
Eris Morti: See? I was invited here, Sayuri.
Sayuri Himura: For what reason?
(Sayuri looks at Eris for a moment, who just shrugs before gesturing towards Captain Charisma and Eden Sinclair. Sayuri doesn’t look thrilled by any of this, and looks like she’s about to say something else when Eden Sinclair raises her hands.)
Eden Sinclair: Ladies, please. Let’s calm down so we can tell you. You see, it is like you were saying earlier Sayuri. Pain for Pride is right around the corner. Truthfully, there is no reason why either of you should miss the show. After all, we have been very impressed by both of you since debuting. You have been working extremely hard to show everyone in the EAW Universe and us what you are made of. So, I bet neither of you want that hard work to go to waste. I bet both of you are itching for the chance to compete at Pain for Pride.
Sayuri Himura: Of course. It’s an essential part of my journey, so I would be honored to compete at Pain for Pride.
(Eris lightly chuckles at this response, which causes Sayuri’s eyes to dart towards her. She however chooses not to entertain her knowing it’s what she’d want, instead looking back towards Eden and Captain Charisma.)
Eden Sinclair: As you two know, Captain Charisma and I personally scouted the two of you because we saw the potential you both have. Clearly you two are different, some may even say opposites, but one thing that’s true of both of you is that you deserve the chance to fight in what could potentially become your championship crowning match.
Captain Charisma: That’s right. Now, I’m sure you two know about the 24/7 Battle Royale. This match is practically a trademark of Pain for Pride. In it, the last person standing in that ring gets the 24/7 contract. All you have to do is make sure that everyone else goes over that top rope and onto the floor. This allows them to cash in for a championship of their choosing at any time. That does mean any championship that they want by the way. The potential is fairly limitless. Many, many elitists have leveraged this chance to get their hands on gold in the past. Holding it is a guaranteed opportunity at one. Unfortunately, it has most recently been used by our current Hardcore Champion Kai Rabeaux, which undoubtedly propelled his career forward.
(Sayuri nods, and Captain Charisma continues, moving on from Kai and his personal thoughts on him.)
Captain Charisma: Well, the point is that both of you are going to be participating in this match. You and the various other people selected across all three brands. Now that does in fact mean that whatever business you have with each other is not quite concluded yet, and it certainly seems like there is some animosity left here. The two of you are going to be among the many other competitors that will be vying for that contract, though. I trust that you will each make the most of this.
(Sayuri Himura smiles at Eden and Captain Charisma, already looking like she’s anticipating the match.)
Sayuri Himura: Of course I will. I am very grateful to the two of you for this chance. I am going to make the most of this opportunity. No…I am going to be the last competitor standing in that ring. This is just what I was waiting for. I am going to put everything I have into the 24/7 Battle Royale. I mean…everything. Mind, body…soul. I promise that neither of you will regret making this decision. In fact, I promise that you will be very pleased. Thank you so much.
(Captain Charisma nods, and Sayuri Himura shakes both his and Eden Sinclair’s hands. However, during all of this Eris Morti can’t help but shake her head.)
Eris Morti: You say that with such confidence. It’s cute, adorable even. But you forget something…you couldn’t even defeat me. Just me. The 24/7 Battle Royale is unpredictable and messy. It’s chaotic, the kind of chaotic that someone like me would just love. You? You’re too rigid. Too disciplined. Too concerned with your principles to take in the moment for what it really is. It is why you failed to defeat me last week. It is why you will fail again.
Sayuri Himura: No. I will not. I am going to adapt to whatever comes my way, and quite frankly it doesn’t concern me what you think about that. You’re not even someone who cares for victory, and the 24/7 Battle Royale is the kind of match where your chances of victory can be wiped away in an instant as long as you’re careless. That match doesn’t favor you. Not as much as you think.
(There is a staredown between the two women, both of them with serious, focused looks on their faces, as just like the Commissioner said, the animosity between them had not yet faded. However, this staredown was only followed by a smile. A wide, almost eerie smile from Eris Morti, who said nothing else as she just turned and walked out of the office.)
(Sayuri remains in the office, watching Eris leave as she just maintains the tense stare she had. It’s clear that she’s taking this match seriously, and with this, she turns towards Captain Charisma and Eden Sinclair one more time.)
Sayuri Himura: I understand why you chose to add the both of us to this match, so I won’t complain to you about her inclusion. However, I’d like you to know one thing. I will win. No matter what. No matter who stands in front of me. When I say I’m putting all of myself into this… I mean all of me. Mind. Body. Spirit. Everything I have been taught. Which means that someone like her who intends only to make a mockery of this sport…
(Sayuri gestures towards the now opened door, enough to let the two in front of her know exactly who she is referring to.)
Sayuri Himura: …I will not allow to take this from me. Not her, nor anyone else. No matter what, you will see Sayuri Himura emerge victorious at Pain for Pride.
(With that, she turns back towards the door and takes her leave from the office, closing the door behind her. Captain Charisma and Eden Sinclair are left alone to take in these words, noting the clear determination in Sayuri’s voice despite everything that just transpired. The camera fades from there to the next segment.)
(Voltage reopens towards the guerilla position where Ashlynn Quinn is seen getting ready for her upcoming Hardcore Championship match. She is dressed in a gorgeous, brand new baby pink gear that is adorned with Swarovski crystal details and her hair is done in soft waves. She is listening to music and lost in her own thoughts, so she’s completely unaware when Mr. Cash in the Vault walks up to her. Hans Grayson has a smile on his face, something he’s been doing around Ashlynn more and more lately, and after a moment he steps closer and taps her on the shoulder. Ashlynn startles a little, but when she turns around and sees that it’s Hans who is behind, her face breaks out into a brilliant smile. She turns her music off and removes her earbuds, giving him her full attention.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Well hey there, cutie.
Hans Grayson: Hey yourself.
Ashlynn Quinn: And to what do I owe this pleasure?
(All Hans can do is smirk. He opens his arms and Ashlynn folds herself inside of them. Hans tightens them around the small of her back and after a few seconds, he looks down at her.)
Hans Grayson: Are you ready for Kai?
(A scowl crosses Ashlynn’s lovely face and she simply shrugs.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Give me a break. I’m totally ready, but I don’t think Kai Kai is ready for me. He like underestimates me and what I’m capable of doing, and that’s on him. I’m over people like him looking at me and seeing nothing. It’s super frustrating because I literally started this season as a champion, but you know, taking his Hardcore Championship away from him tonight is going to be ahhhhhh-mazing!
(Ashlynn is practically giddy at the thought of taking something so important to Kai away from him. Hans tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, running his hand up and down her arm in a tender gesture.)
Hans Grayson: I’ve got no doubt you’ll be able to put him in his place, but I have to be honest with you, Ash. This situation might end up completely out of your control.
(Another shrug from Ashlynn. She’s thought about the situation she’s walking into every single day since the Voltage card was released with Adam Lucas as the special guest referee. It’s dicey for sure, but at the same time, there’s never been a better opportunity for her to capture her second championship than tonight.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Trust me, babe. I totally know that. Things kinda sorta seem like they are stacked in my favor but if I have learned anything this season, it’s to just not trust anything involving Kai Rabeaux! He is the worst of the worst, a baby Drake, and it’s so gross. I mean of all the people someone could look up too, he is kind of the worst choice!
(Hans chuckles.)
Hans Grayson: You won’t get any argument from me on that. I’ve had about enough of them both this season, but at least everything is finally come to a head. Drake’s championship reign is as good as done and seeing you wipe the arrogance right off Kai’s face will be great to witness.
Ashlynn Quinn: Adam totally doesn’t care about the Hardcore Championship. He just wants to like murder Kai and I really can’t blame him! Kai killing his child is almost as awful as what Kai did to me, so you know I can sympathize with what Adam and Bethany are going through.
(Hans smiles in spite of himself, not caring enough to correct Ashlynn’s warped perspective of the situation between Adam and Kai. He’s just enjoying his time with her; something that has been a welcome surprise in recent weeks.)
Hans Grayson: I definitely think the issues between Kai and Adam extend way beyond the Hardcore Championship. In fact, just saying that out loud completely undermines the entire situation between the two of them :mjlol:.
Ashlynn Quinn: Karma’s just finally catching up to Kai Kai, and well… he deserves whatever he has coming. No championship. Humiliated by Adam at Pain for Pride. It’s all going to be so epic, and then…
(Ashlynn pauses, looking up at Hans through her long, dark eyelashes. There’s a bit of longing on her face and she traces her hands up his back, tangling them in his hair.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Maybe we can celebrate you becoming the EAW World Champion, together.
(This brings a smirk to Hans’ face, one that is a little more cocky than usual. Having a beautiful woman gassing him up and wanting to spend more time with him has him on cloud nine.)
Hans Grayson: Hmm. Celebrate you say? I wouldn’t be opposed to that.
(Ashlynn touched her finger to his chest and giggled.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Of course you’re not. After the date you took me on last night, I figured you would want to keep seeing more of each other.
(Ashlynn bit down on her index finger and looked up at Hans. She was far more playful and far touchier than Hans was; she could tell that Hans was enjoying her company even in spite of the stress of the past few months. It was also the first time in a long time that somebody was actually soft on her in EAW, and though she absolutely believed she understood why, she didn’t. Maybe Hans saw through her warped sense of self and noticed something others didn’t. Maybe he was just stupid and couldn’t see past his attraction. Did it really matter? Hans certainly didn’t question his judgement.)
Hans Grayson: I mean, of course I would. The caveat doesn’t *have* to be when I win the World Championship either. I’m sure you’d enjoy celebrating a win over Kai, hm?
(Hans smiled warmly; the almost-foot-difference between the two meant Ashlynn only reached his shoulder. If he wanted two he could rest his chin on the top of her head, though she would certainly like to think some high heels would get them on eye level.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Oh? Is that so?~ Okay, okay! We’re in Canada, so clearly you must know your way around, right? Where are you gonna take me, Handsome Hans? 😇
(He let out a soft chuckle. She was very sure of herself, and her rising tone at the start of her sentence more than had an effect on him.)
Hans Grayson: Well, I–
Ashlynn Quinn: Oooooh, I know, I know! So, when I was driven here, I kiiiinda saw two places I’d love to go just outside of the venue! There’s a sports bar, and there’s like a restaurant called Jimmy Bell Tower or something.
Hans Grayson:… Joey Bell Tower?
Ashlynn Quinn: That’s it!
(She didn’t really care for the names. Remembering what the restaurant was called wasn’t in her mind when she had her chin held in the palm of her hand, staring out of the window longingly just waiting to arrive at Roger’s Place. It was the furthest thing from her mind…)
Hans Grayson: Wait. Why exactly did you ask me where I wanted to take you if you had somewhere in mind? 😅
Ashlynn Quinn: Just wanted to know if you’d take the responsibility of taking me out, sweetheart!~ Then I kinda remembered seeing some things on my way here and thought “Hey I’d love to go there with Hans someday!”
Hans Grayson: You’re adorable. But I also don’t think you should be thinking about me when you’re getting ready to face Kai tonight.
Ashlynn Quinn: I know, I knowwwwwwwww. That’s all your fault though. You just make it so hard. 😊
(She traced the outline of his pectoral muscle with the end of her finger, slowly and gently making her way towards the middle of his chest before lapping back round. Her eyes never left his. He really appreciated how much she was thinking of him. He wanted her to be prepared for tonight, of course — especially considering he was planning on taking her out. But it was as she said. It was hard to stay focused around her. A surprise for sure, but a welcome one. He let out a relaxed sigh.)
Hans Grayson: Alright. Sure. We can get a meal later, yeah?
Ashlynn Quinn: Great! It’s a date.
(She flashed him a smile back.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Then… maybe you can be a gentleman and walk me back to my hotel room? I TOTALLY won’t keep you busy tonight, I promise!~
(Her hands moved up slowly towards his shoulders, wrapping around his neck. Behind his vision, Ashlynn crossed her fingers.)
Hans Grayson: You didn’t need to ask that, Ash.
Ashlynn Quinn: Just wanted to be sure. Such a cutie!~
(She giggled, he couldn’t help but join in – her short laugh was infectious, as was she.)
Ashlynn Quinn: We’re gonna celebrate my Hardcore Championship win tonight, and I ***PROMISE*** I won’t let that uggo mess up my makeup. But… just in case…
(Her words slowed, the atmosphere began to get quiet between the two — their eye contact never broke, as Ashlynn stepped onto her tippy toes. Hans met her half way, leaning down, gently and slowly. The Californian’s head tilted, and she leaned in to Hans.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Just… in case…
(She felt his breath on her lips, moments before their lips met. Their eyes closed and their breaths got heavier, she pulled him in closer. It was only a few short seconds, but it felt like eternity. For that brief time, they completely forgot exactly why they were here to begin with. He cupped her cheek, fingers gently brushing her hair back…)
(***KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!***)
(But it was cut short. Far too short. Their lips parted with a smack, and they took a moment to regroup. Ashlynn chuckled once more.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Oops! Almost forgot…
(Hans let out a sweet, awkward chuckle.)
Hans Grayson: Just… go win your match, okay princess?
Ashlynn Quinn: Deal.
(She bit her lip, the corners curving upwards. She couldn’t help but smile. The two stepped away from one another, as Ashlynn’s arms moved behind her back. Her fingers locked together, and she turned away, skipping off to head to the ring.)
(Hans took a deep breath, still smiling; a pink smudge at the bottom of his lip.)
Hans Grayson: Well… that… went well.
(He joked to himself, as the broadcast faded back to ringside.)
(Promotional ad for Pain for Pride 19, where Kai Rabeaux faces Adam Lucas with Adam’s career on the line.)
(Voltage returns to a rowdy crowd, as “Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)” by Royal Deluxe blares aloud. Adam Lucas emerges onto the stage, rocking a striped referee shirt over his torso, one that looked wrinkled and a size too big, as if he just grabbed the first shirt he could find.)
Bella Braxton: The following is a Hardcore Championship match set for…
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
Bella Braxton: First, please welcome the special guest referee… ADAM!! LUCAS!!!!!
Persephone: We’re in for some controversy and nonsense, aren’t we?
Thadd Blazevich: That is for certain! Adam’s role as the referee of this match presents a super unpredictable variable to this match, because Kai Rabeaux’s Hardcore Championship is on the line, and if Adam wants, he could make sure that title gets ripped from the dude’s hands, by Ashlynn of all people!!
Persephone: Well, I guess Adam is really going to leave us soon, huh? He’s truly on the worst retirement tour of all time, taking on every job in the business. He’s a ref now, next, he’ll be the ring announcer. Hopefully he’ll skip out on joining us on commentary…
Rich Russillo: Well, he’s been a guest on commentary before. Usually ended in chaos… but well, Adam seems determined to keep his career intact after Pain For Pride! He wants nothing more than to beat Kai Rabeaux, and his career being on the line will only fuel him more!
Thadd Blazevich: Kai has argued that Adam is actually in for the title, not to avenge his family… and I guess we’ll see how true that is, won’t we bro? Adam could make Kai lose everything tonight, and proving his motivations are purely personal!
(Adam enters the ring, leaning his back on the ropes, as his entrance music is replaced by the tune of “Tears” by Sabrina Carpenter, which promptly shifts the mood in the arena, pink lights taking over with a white spotlight centered on the stage, gleaming right above none other than Ashlynn Quinn, with a look of determination and anger written over her, juxtaposing her usual demeanor.)
Bella Braxton: INTRODUCING FIRST, THE CHALLENGER… FROM LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA… WEIGHING IN AT 115 LBS… MISS VOLTAGE… ASHLYYNNNNNN!!!! QUUINNNNN!!!!!!
Persephone: I like relationship drama between men… but I think I will take what we have here! It would however be a travesty if “Ashlynn Quinn” became a two-time champion in this company…
Rich Russillo: The title may be on the line tonight… but I don’t think that’s what it’s about. To Ashlynn, this is fully personal after the way Kai broke things off between the two! It does not help the lows he’s sunk to in order to get his hands on that title. Ashlynn is not just motivated to prove Kai’s doubts wrong, but she wants vengeance… and there is no better way to ruin him than to make him lose what he values the most, the Hardcore Championship.
Thadd Blazevich: Honestly, I think even admitting that hurts Ashlynn’s soul. I mean, valuing the title more than their love…? Ashlynn’s been through a lot, and she has sought connections with many people in her tenure with EAW. This may be the most bitter ending she’s had thus far…
Persephone: This insufferable doll has spoken in the past about the trauma that makes her this way. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like weeping, so she either gets over it, or keeps letting other disgusting men make her look like a fool…
(As she enters the ring, the crowd remains cheering her. It’s a surprise to Ashlynn, but it’s been difficult not to sympathize with her recently, and that reaction is only amplified by her recent connection with the home country hero, Hans Grayson. Ashlynn puts on a mask for a brief moment, smiling towards the audience and posing for them, before backing away, her focus resting solely on the entrance stage.)
(The whimsical pink glitters quickly die. “Burn In My Light” by Mercy Drive hits. The energy completely shifts.)
(The Rogers Arena erupts into boos, as Kai Rabeaux steps onto the stage with measured steps, inspecting the loud hatred emanating from every single person inside of the arena. From beneath his extravagant glasses, his stare pierces from across the stage to the ring, eyes meeting Ashlynn Quinn right in her bitter gaze.)
(Kai simply smirks. He grips the leather strap of the Hardcore Championship gold wrapped around his waist, letting its gold glitter beneath the bright lights.)
Bella Braxton: AND THE CHAMPION… FROM NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK… WEIGHING IN AT 230 LBS… HE IS THE HARDCORE CHAMPION… THE FORERUNNER, KAI RABEAAAUUUXXX!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: Real smug look on the champion tonight… He’s had some harsh words for Ashlynn last week…
Thadd Blazevich: Some unclassy stuff from Kai, but I don’t think he’s as confident as he makes it seem! Adam Lucas announced himself as the special guest referee for this match, and that provides an almost impossible challenge for Kai tonight. If he’s not letting his composure break right now, then he certainly showed it on full display last week!
Persephone: Kai is a complete piece of shit, and I almost love him for it. Unfortunately, he’s bald and untalented. A ploy by his idol Drake Armstrong led to a rift in his relationship with Ashlynn, and since we knoiw Ashlynn is clingy and stupid as hell, it only led to trouble for Kai’s material desires in this company. So… eventually, they broke it off. Now? Ashlynn found herself cozying up to Hans Grayson, and in true male fashion, Kai was mad about it like they were still together. The woman in me wants Kai to get demolished. The sadistic piece of shit in me wants Ashlynn to die. I guess you can’t go wrong for once!
(Kai ultimately climbs on the steel steps, slowly entering the ring as his stare fixates on Adam Lucas, instead of Ashlynn. The lights reset to their usual hue, as “Burn In My Light” fizzles out. Kai takes off his pompous entrance gear and flings his colored glasses out of the ring, as Adam slowly approaches him.)
(Kai unbuckles the Hardcore Championship reluctantly, taking a long look at it, and exhaling, as if it could be his last time with the title.)
(Without even giving him another moment, Adam snatches the championship out of Kai’s hands. He steps towards the center of the ring, and raises the Championship up in the sky as the fans cheer in anticipation. The Hardcore Championship is… technically… what it’s all about.)
(Then, he holds it in his hands, taking a long look downwards before a mocking smile emanates, pointed right at Kai.)
(Kai simply exhales sharply, moving his sights towards the jaded, focused Ashlynn, itching to get her hands on him… as Adam hands the Hardcore Championship to ringside.)
(After seconds of hesitation that felt like hours to Kai, Adam signals his hand towards the timekeeper’s area.)
DING!! DING!! DING!!
(And the bell rings.)
(Kai patiently makes deliberate steps towards the center of the ring, while Ashlynn’s chest inflates and deflates, channeling out every cruel emotion she has one final time…)
(Ashlynn takes a deep exhale… before running straight towards the center of the ring…)
(She never looked to hit Kai with anything specifically… she knew one thing: *she just wanted to hit him.* But Kai was prepared for her impulsiveness, cocking back a counterattack… However…)
(*Adam Lucas gets in the middle of the two.*)
(Ashlynn’s rage shows in full effect amidst the forced staredown, while a look of pure apathy is written over Kai’s unchanged expression.)
Persephone: Adam Lucas is a horrible wrestler, and also a horrible referee. LET THEM FIGHT!
(Adam scans the look on Kai’s face, beneath all that indifference is frustration, and as far as Adam can tell? He is the sole source of that frustration.)
(So he does as Kai wishes… He separates himself from the action…)
**SLAP!!**
(But he did so while giving enough room for Ashlynn to land a cheap shot. And that slap rang with echoes all throughout the arena.)
Thadd Blazevich: :roman: Tons of animosity behind that slap from Ashlynn!! Kai’s got his palm over his cheek, his skin tone quickly turning red where that hit!
Rich Russillo: Kai’s letting a frown show… but it’s not aimed at Ashlynn, instead, it’s more aimed towards Adam.
Persephone: And by taking his eye off the ball, Ashlynn doesn’t hesitate to come right back!! She’s unleashing an onslaught of strikes at Kai, while he doesn’t even know what hit him!! Ashlynn’s screaming and growling with every strike like she’s been waiting lifetimes to do this!!
Rich Russillo: But while she’s applying a ton of pressure to Kai, the strikes get less deliberate, and more desperate because of the pure anger and grief behind them!
Thadd Blazevich: And that gives Kai-Kai an opening to escape the onslaught! He shoves Ashlynn away which sends her backpedalling a good bit, but Ashlynn doesn’t care! She charges right back towards Kai!
Persephone: And runs right into a hard-hitting elbow strike! Ashlynn falls on the mat, but her anger doesn’t fade whatsoever! She’s powering herself up…
Rich Russillo: BUT KAI NAILS HER WITH A BIG BOOT WHILE SHE WAS ON ONE KNEE!! AND THAT PUTS HER DOWN FOR GOOD!
Persephone: I think the sole of his boot hit the heck out of her nose, and Ashlynn may be in for a long facial reconstruction tonight!
(Kai takes a moment to catch his breath, while trying his hardest to ignore the referee Adam Lucas who is slowly clapping sarcastically from the corner on the ring. The Hardcore Champion simply shakes his head, rolling out of the ring and tossing up the apron cloth.)
(The crowd roars as Kai unveils a…)
Thadd Blazevich: No way.
Persephone: The glass shard bat!! That’s the one he used to kill the baby in Bethany’s stomach!!!
(Kai shoots a smirk towards Adam, whose eyes suddenly widen, as he enters the ring.)
(The smirk maintains itself strongly, as an irate Adam begins to approach Kai.)
Rich Russillo: Adam is trying to disarm Kai of that weapon! A very specific one at that!
Persephone: Snowflake!!
Adam Lucas: (off-mic) ‘The fuck do you think you’re doing with that?!
Kai Rabeaux: (off-mic) Winning my match. Move.
Adam Lucas: (off-mic) Yeah? You couldn’t pick anything else from under there?!
Kai Rabeaux: (off-mic) No. Now—
Persephone: ASHLYNN ROLLS HIM UP!!
ONE!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: KAI GETS OUT OF THAT, BUT THAT WAS A FAST COUNT FROM ADAM LUCAS!!
Thadd Blazevich: YOU COULD SAY THIS WAS EXPECTED ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE POKING THE BEAR… BUT KAI HAS NO TIME TO BE ANGRY!! ASHLYNN GOES AT HIM—
Persephone: BUT THE BABY KILLING WEAPON NAILS HER RIGHT IN THE STOMACH!! Ashlynn drops down…
Thadd Blazevich: And Kai is looking right at Adam with a mischievous smile on his face, as Ashlynn has quickly become easy pickings bro…
WHAM!!! WHACK!!! WHACK!!!! WHACCK!!!! WHAAMMM!!!! WHACK!!!
Rich Russillo: **A BLITZ OF ATTACKS WITH THE GLASS SHARD-STUDDED BASEBALL BAT TO THE STOMACH OF ASHLYNN QUINN!!!!**
Thadd Blazevich: ASHLYNN IS WEEPING IN PAIN!! BITS OF BLOOD POUR FROM HER STOMACH!! SHE IS TRYING TO PROTECT HERSELF WITH HER HANDS, BUT THAT ONLY LEADS TO MORE CUTS!!!
Persephone: CRY, BITCH, CRY!!
WHACK!!! WHACK!!! WHA—
Rich Russillo: AND ADAM’S SEEN ENOUGH!! HE GETS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AND KNOCKS THE BAT OUT OF KAI’S HANDS!!
Thadd Blazevich: And Kai is getting real frustrated with our special guest ref, but there’s nothing he can do!!
Rich Russillo: They’re engaging in a verbal scuffle that the microphones cannot pick up… but it feels like Adam is just DARING Kai to strike!
Persephone: Unless he’s got shit for brains, then Kai knows that very well, so he’s gotta maintain his anger, while also keeping his focus on his opponent in this title match! I mean, it’s just Ashlynn Quinn, but she’s won a championship before under harder circumstances!
Thadd Blazevich: The shade is crazy… Kai, meanwhile, just shakes his head and focuses back on Ashlynn, who is still wincing in pain while trying to make her way back up!
Persephone: A super powerful kick spanks her ass!
Thadd Blazevich: I don’t think that’s quite where it landed… But now Kai has a hold of her head… and delivers a knuckle sandwich straight to her face, doing more damage to that nose! The face is where Miss Voltage hates being hurt the most, and that’s just where Kai is aiming!
Rich Russillo: Those are the advantages of knowing your opponent on a personal level! Now Kai runs off the ropes with a full head of steam—LOOKING FOR THE HOLLOW POINT—
Thadd Blazevich: BUT THE FORMER NEW BREED CHAMPION MEETS HIM IN THE MIDDLE!! A MASSIVE RUNNING HIGH KNEE DECKS THE HARDCORE CHAMPION IN THE FACE, ONE HALF OF THE “NOSTYLIST” SEQUENCE, AND NOW SHE’S LOOKING TO FOLLOW IT UP WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Persephone: Well, maybe she should’ve got a stylist, because not only is her gear super chopped, but she’s also struggling to even lift Kai up!
Rich Russillo: Are you suggesting she would have no issue lifting him if her attire was more fit to your taste?
Persephone: Yes!
Thadd Blazevich: Kai manages to resist, turning the German suplex attempt back on her… AND SLAMMING HER NECK FIRST ON THE MAT!!
Rich Russillo: BUT KAI IS NOT DONE, HE KEEPS THE HOLD OF ASHLYNN LOCKED IN AS HE TAKES HER BACK UP—LIFTING HER INTO A VERTICAL SUPLEX POSITION—
Thadd Blazevich: AND THE CHAMP DROPS HER DOWN WITH A HUGE BRAINBUSTER!! THE COVER!!
…
…
…
(Adam Lucas had his arms crossed and sights elsewhere, seemingly busy looking at an advertisement far off in the arena.)
…
…
Persephone: Are we gonna get a count going?
Thadd Blazevich: It seems not, as Ashlynn pops out of the cover, but Kai doesn’t even care about that!! He’s getting right in Adam’s face, demanding he calls this fairly!
WHACK!!!
Persephone: AND KAI GETS HIT WITH THE ABORTION DEVICE!! THE TABLES GOT TURNED!!!
Rich Russillo: ASHLYNN SWUNG RIGHT FOR HIS HEAD, AND THE HIT WAS A REAL GOOD ONE!! KAI COLLAPSES TO THE MAT, AND ADAM IS CHUCKLING AT THE KARMA KAI’S GOT A FEELING OF!!
(With pure disgust just looking at the weapon knowing its personal context… she shoves it out of the ring, and instead rolls to the outside looking for a better weapon to punish the former lover of hers.)
Thadd Blazevich: She grabbed… *Five* light tubes?! Is that right??
Rich Russillo: It is! And like a woman possessed, she grips all of them at once and slowly makes her way towards Kai—
CRAAAAAAACCCKKK!!!!!
Persephone: AND SHE JUST SLAMMED ALL OF THE LIGHT TUBES OVER HIS BACK AT ONCE!! A HINT OF A SMILE EMERGES ON HER FACE, LIKE SHE LOVES DOING THIS TO KAI!!!
Thadd Blazevich: Ashlynn doesn’t even attempt a cover! She goes back to the outside… looking for something else to punish him with!
(The crowd reaction amplifies…)
Rich Russillo: That’s a hockey stick wrapped in barbed wire!! We are in Canada, after all!
Persephone: You’re not looking deep enough, Richie! That weapon is an ode to Hans Grayson!! Ashlynn’s new boytoy and someone Kai despises!
Thadd Blazevich: Jeez louise! Ashlynn is pulling through with the mind games tonight and it seems the joke is fully on Kai when you add Adam’s involvement to all of that!
(After getting back inside, Ashlynn gives the uncovered tip of the hockey stick a soft kiss… seemingly confirming the allusion made to Hans Grayson…)
Thadd Blazevich: VINDICATION FOR HANS!!! ASHLYNN SWINGS!!
THWACK!!! THWACK!!! THWACK!!!!!
Rich Russillo: THREE SHOTS RAKE KAI’S BACK AS THE CROWD IS ON THEIR FEET!! BLOOD IS SLOWLY SHOWING ITSELF ON THE CHAMPION’S BACK…
Persephone: BUT ASHLYNN DOESN’T LOOK LIKE SHE GOT ENOUGH PLEASURE OUT OF THAT!!
THWAAACK!!!!! THWACK!!!!!! THWACK!!!!! THWACK!!!!! THWACK!!!!! THWACK!!!!! THWACK!!!!! THWACK!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: KAI IS CRYING FROM THE PAIN BUT EVERYONE IN THE ARENA IS ENJOYING IT!!! ASHLYNN IS SEEING RED, ADAM IS LOVING IT, AND THE CROWD WANT MORE!!
Crowd: ONE MORE TIME!!!! ONE MORE TIME!!!!! ONE MORE TIME!!!!!! ONE MORE TIME!!!! ONE MORE TIME!!!!! ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!
(Ashlynn hears murmurs of the chanting in her rage-filled mind… and as she growls once more, cocking the hockey stick back… The person who was never a crowd favorite would soon grant them their wishes—or perhaps, she was granting herself her own wish.)
**THWAAAAACCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!**
Rich Russillo: A FINAL BLOW RIGHT TO THE TEMPLE BREAKS THE HOCKEY STICK INTO PIECES!!! BARBED WIRE COILS RIGHT INTO KAI’S FACE, AND BLOOD STARTS POURING OUT!!
Thadd Blazevich: AND ASHLYNN DOESN’T HESITATE!!! SHE HOOKS THE LEG!!
ONEEE!!!!
TWOOO!!!!
THHRRR—
Persephone: Another fast count by ref Adam, but Kai manages to save his championship reign right in the nick of time!
Rich Russillo: Kai is directing an intense stare towards Adam, but he might wanna look for Ashlynn who is running off the ropes—**PINK STAR DIAMOND!!!**
Thadd Blazevich: BUT KAI MANAGES TO GRAB ASHLYNN’S SOLES!! HE SHOVES HER UP—
Rich Russillo: BUT ASHLYNN LANDS ON HER FEET!!
Thadd Blazevich: THE BARBIE DOLL IS STILL BACKPEDALING THOUGH… AND KAI MAKES A GO FOR IT!! HOLLOW POINT!!!
Persephone: But she ducks out of the way of that high kick!! Kai’s foot is stuck on the ropes… and Ashlynn’s running off to the side—
Rich Russillo: AND SHE SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE ROPE!!! **THE BAD & BOUJEE CUTTER!!!!**
Thadd Blazevich: …FAILS TO CONNECT! KAI MAINTAINS HIS FOOTING, AND ASHLYNN’S ARMS REMAIN WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK AFTER THE REAR-FIRST LANDING!!
Persephone: Kai hoists her up on her feet…
Rich Russillo: **REDLINED!!!** THE NORTHERN LARIAT KNOCKS ASHLYNN’S HEAD RIGHT OFF, AND KAI GOES FOR THE COVER!!
Persephone: Adam is taking his sweet time circling around before falling for the cover, for some reason going away from a position where he can actually see the shoulders!
ONEE!!!
TWOO— WAIT!!
(Adam Lucas points towards the rope.)
(Ashlynn Quinn’s foot barely hung on the bottom rope.)
(Kai is in disbelief.)
Thadd Blazevich: And just when it seemed Kai had this match won… the rope break puts an end to those hopes.
Persephone: What the hell are you talking about…? Adam clearly kicked Ashlynn’s foot into the rope! Why else would he count from that position- there aren’t even supposed to be rope breaks in a Hardcore match!
Rich Russillo: You… might be right with this. But in any case, Adam has complete control over the officiating of this match… so he can truly be as corrupt as he wants!
Thadd Blazevich: Kai’s back is truly up against the wall despite the odds technically favoring him! He’s straight up pissed right now, getting right into Adam’s face and arguing over that rope break, and Adam’s entertaining all of it, just daring him to do something!
Rich Russillo: But that’s playing into his hand, so Kai is forced to suck it up and move his sights back towards Ashlynn while she’s still dazy! A few knees to the body keep the pressure going, but as Ashlynn is slowly recovering, the fight in her returns, and now some strikes of her own are tipping the scales in this matchup!
Thadd Blazevich: Kai attempts a forearm, but Ashlynn ducks! Ashlynn goes for a roundhouse kick—
Rich Russillo: But Kai catches the leg! He’s now looking for a dragon screw leg snap, and if this hits, it would do massive damage to Ashlynn—
Persephone: But the ugly doll is quick to use her other leg to hit a step-up enzuigiri!! This faintly stuns Kai, and Ashlynn has the chance to get back on her feet!
Thadd Blazevich: But Kai is quick to keep the momentum on his side! LUNGING WITH A SUPERKICK!!!
Rich Russillo: BUT ASHLYNN CATCHES THE LEG!! PAYBACK TIME!!!
Thadd Blazevich: FURY IN ASHLYNN’S EYES WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY AS KAI IS TRYING TO CONVINCE HER NOT TO GO FOR THAT LEG SNAP—
Persephone: BUT IT’S FOR NOTHING!!! KAI’S KNEE GETS BENT HORRENDOUSLY, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY ASHLYNN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR!!
Rich Russillo: ASHLYNN GRABS THE ARM, LOOKING FOR THE EAT DEFEAT—
Thadd Blazevich: BUT KAI SHOVES HER!! HE’S TEMPORARILY SAFE AS HE TRIES TO REACH BACK TO HIS FEET, BUT ASHLYNN’S COMING RIGHT BACK ON THE OFFENSIVE—
Rich Russillo: KAI USES THE MOMENTUM AGAINST HER!! HE GETS HER UP INTO THE DANGEROUS SPINNING TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER—
Thadd Blazevich: WOAH!! ASHLYNN JUST BARELY MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE KINGSTONE PILEDRIVER BY TRANSITIONING INTO A VICTORY ROLL PINFALL!!! ADAM LUCAS WITH THE COUNT!!
ONNNEEEE!!!!!
TWWWWOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
THRREE—
Rich Russillo: DESPITE YET ANOTHER QUICK COUNT, KAI REVERSES THE VICTORY ROLL WITH ONE OF HIS OWN!!!
ONNNEEEEE!!!!!
TWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
THHHRRREEEEEEEEE—
Persephone: Ashlynn obviously kicks out when that’s the pace we’re counting at!!
Thadd Blazevich: But Ashlynn is far from done with Kai!! She charges right at him!!
Rich Russillo: INTO A SUPERMAN PUNCH!!! THAT’S SOMETHING WE DON’T SEE KAI DOING THIS OFTEN AT ALL!!!
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Persephone: Well… after all of these Hans Grayson references… I believe that is specifically the “Flaming Punch” Ashlynn got hit with, and that brought Kai a significant advantage and some payback, to the dismay of the Canadian audience!
Rich Russillo: Kai’s stare remains stuck on the referee Adam… but by this point I think he’s accepted the way to win this is by giving Adam no choice but to have to ring the bell!
Thadd Blazevich: The champ is picking up that coil of barbed wire left on the ground from that hockey stick… and he has cruel intentions in store for his ex-girl! Just look at his face!
Persephone: Armstrong Jr. is aiming to lock in a crossface with the barbed wire providing extra damage!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro said if I can’t get a pinfall win, then I’m forcing her to tap or pass out!! KAI HAS THE ARM TRAPPED, AND NOW HE’S PULLING ON HER ENTIRE FACE WITH THE BARBED WIRE!!!
Rich Russillo: HE’S WRENCHING IN DEEPLY WHILE ADAM HAS TO SIT AND OBSERVE ASHLYNN’S CONDITION!!!
Persephone: Ashlynn is quickly beginning to whine in pain as the barbed wire is going right through her face!!
Rich Russillo: BLOOD IS POURING OUT AT A CONCERNING PACE, AND KAI IS SQUEEZING THAT COIL OF BARBED WIRE BACKWARDS FOR A STRONGER AND TIGHTER HOLD!! ASHLYNN EITHER TAPS OUT, OR WE’LL BE HERE ALL DAY UNTIL SHE PASSES OUT FROM A LOSS OF BLOOD!!!
Thadd Blazevich: THE POOR GIRL IS TRYING HER HARDEST TO FIGHT OUT OF IT, BUT THE PAIN ONLY AMPLIFIES THE MORE SECONDS PASS, WITH NO ESCAPE IN SIGHT!!!
Persephone: HER PALM DROPS ON THE MAT ONCE… BUT SHE STOPS HERSELF FROM ACTUALLY TAPPING OUT!! THE CROWD ERUPTS!! SOMETHING TELLS ME ASHLYNN’S PRIDE CANNOT TAKE LOSING LIKE THIS TO KAI!!
Thadd Blazevich: ASHLYNN IS SCREAMING IN PAIN, KAI IS SCREAMING WITH FURY!!!! THE HARDCORE CHAMPION REMAINS RUTHLESS AS THE CRIMSON MASK ENGULFS ASHLYNN’S ENTIRE FACE!!!
Rich Russillo: BUT I THINK ASHLYNN WOULD RATHER DIE THAN TAP! AND ADAM JUST LOOKS ON WITH DISAPPROVAL!!
Thadd Blazevich: SPEAKING OF THE SPECIAL GUEST REF BRO, KAI JUST CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF HIM, AND THAT MADE HIM EVEN ANGRIER! HE LETS GO OF THE CROSSFACE ON ASHLYNN… AND CLIMBS ON TOP OF HER INSTEAD!!
Rich Russillo: Oh no…
(With empty eyes, Kai is sat astride over Ashlynn Quinn. His bloody hands still holding the dirty barbed wire slowly make their way towards her neck.)
(Kai leans forward, his cold look staring into her burdened eyes.)
Kai Rabeaux: (off-mic) This is the end, Ash.
(He leans even further, his fingers slowly wrapping themselves around Ashlynn’s neck.)
(His head tilts… his lips part… and he takes a final kiss from the bloody Ashlynn.)
Rich Russillo: This is… nasty…
(Ashlynn tries to resist, swinging her arm in an attempt to slap him off of her… but the swing was powerless, slashing through the void of the air, before collapsing on the mat.)
(After the one-sided kiss, Kai leans back upright, Ashlynn’s blood pouring down his mouth… as Ashlynn’s lips part.)
Ashlynn Quinn: (off-mic) Handsome… Hans…
(She whimpers… Kai’s hands steadily beginning to shake around her neck after that mere name mention, the barbed wire inadvertently leaving small scratches on her skin.)
Ashlynn Quinn: (off-mic) He’s—
(Kai has heard enough.)
Rich Russillo: OH MY GOD!!!
(**He FULLY TIGHTENS the grip on her neck.**)
(Ashlynn quickly begins gargling, as Kai’s grimace fills with nothing but soulless intensity. As barbed wire punctures through her neck and his choke turns her skin tone purple… Bits of blood escape from between his fingers.)
Thadd Blazevich: END THIS DAMN MATCH!! HE’S GONNA KILL HER!!!
Persephone: ADAM ISN’T GOING TO DO THAT, THAT BASTARD!!! AND WE’RE ALL ABOUT TO WITNESS A MURDER ON LIVE TELEVISION!!!!!
Kai Rabeaux: (off-mic) I DIDN’T HEAR YOU!! HE’S WHAT!?
(Kai begins to roar, squeezing on Ashlynn’s air with greater and greater force while her struggle slowly turns into a complete lack of movement.)
(His howls echo all throughout the arena, a disturbed look of shock overtaking the entire arena filled to the brim with fans…)
(Ashlynn’s pupils dilate, staring right into Kai’s merciless gaze, as her lashes slowly close over her eyes…)
Rich Russillo: ADAM’S SEEN ENOUGH!!!
(Kai’s tight grasp doesn’t halt.)
Thadd Blazevich: ADAM LUCAS JUST PUSHED KAI OFF OF ASHLYNN!!!!
(Air suddenly enters Ashlynn’s body again; a loud gasp sounds in the entire venue…)
(While Kai, with a look of pure savagery and frustration on his face, gets right in Adam’s face.)
Persephone: Uh oh. Since Adam ruined a murder… this better turn out into a great brawl.
Thadd Blazevich: ADAM GENUINELY DOESN’T WANT TO GIVE KAI THE WIN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, AND KAI IS DONE WITH IT!!
Rich Russillo: ADAM JUST SHOVES KAI, TELLING HIM TO FOCUS ON HIS MATCH!!
Thadd Blazevich: But Kai is shaking his head…
(Kai pushes Adam.)
(Suddenly… Adam smirks.)
DING!! DING!!! DING!!!!
Rich Russillo: ADAM LUCAS CALLED FOR THE DQ!! KAI GOT INSTANTLY DISQUALIFIED FOR PUTTING HIS HANDS ON THE REF!!!
Bella Braxton: THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH BY DISQUALIFICATION… ASHLYNN QUINN!!!!
(The crowd roars as Ashlynn Quinn has not yet moved an inch after almost being choked to death.)
Bella Braxton: HOWEVER… *STILL* THE HARDCORE CHAMPION, KAI RABEAUX!!
(The cheers quickly turn into boos, but none of that matters. Kai swings right at Adam, but that’s exactly what Adam has been waiting for.)
Thadd Blazevich: A HOCKEY FIGHT HAS BROKEN OUT BETWEEN THESE TWO BROS… OR ENEMIES!!
Rich Russillo: THE FIGHT QUICKLY SPILLS TO THE OUTSIDE!!! ADAM TOSSES KAI INTO THE RING POST!! KAI JUST CLAPS RIGHT BACK DESPITE THE INJURIES AND SHOVES HIM INTO THE BARRICADE, AND THEN RAMS HIS BODY INTO ADAM!!!!
Persephone: Strike, after strike, after strike!! These two have been kept apart for as long as they could have been kept apart, and now all hell breaks loose!!!
Thadd Blazevich: HARD ELBOW SMASH FROM ADAM STUNS KAI! AND NOW ADAM SENDS HIM SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE STEEL STEPS!!!! THE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION PICKS HIM RIGHT BACK UP, AND NOW DROPS HIM DOWN HEAD FIRST ONTO THE STEEL AT THE TAIL-END OF THE RAMP!!!
Rich Russillo: AND ADAM GOES FOR THE CURB STOMP!!
Persephone: BUT KAI GETS OUT OF THE WAY!! ADAM’S ANKLE LANDS HARD ON THE STEEL FLOOR!!
Thadd Blazevich: THE CHAMP CHARGES WITH THE BLADE OF BABYLON IN RETALATION!!
Rich Russillo: BUT ADAM DUCKS DOWN!!! AND NOW GOES RIGHT BACK AT KAI!!!
Thadd Blazevich: AN ONSLAUGHT OF TRADED STRIKES FROM BOTH OF THESE MEN!!! THIS BRAWL IS SPIRALLING TOWARDS THE EDGE OF THE RAMP, AND I DON’T THINK I WANT TO SEE THESE GUYS SPLATTER ANY MORE GUTS ON THE GROUND!!!
Persephone: KAI IS TETHERING RIGHT ON THE EDGE! ADAM IS CREATING SOME DISTANCE! YEEESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: YES!!! POLICE OFFERS JUST CAME OUT TO TACKLE ADAM!!!
Rich Russillo: KAI RUNS AT ADAM, BUT SECURITY RAN DOWN TO TACKLE HIM TOO!!!
Persephone: This stupid fucking security ruining the fun EVERY TIME!! BUT THEIR NUMBERS SHOULDN’T BE ENOUGH!! THESE TWO GUYS WANT TO BEAT EACH OTHER UP SO BADLY, I DON’T THINK THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY AND POLICE IS ENOUGH!!
Thadd Blazevich: I’M PRETTY SURE THIS IS GROUNDS FOR ARREST FOR ATTACKING OFFICERS, BUT THEY DON’T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES ANYMORE!!! THEY JUST WANNA FIGHT!!!
Rich Russillo: THEY’VE SOMEHOW CLEARED A PATH TO GO AT EACH OTHER!! SECURITY AND OFFICERS ARE TRYING TO DRAG THEM BACK, BUT THEY CAN’T BE STOPPED!!! IT’S BACK TO TRADING CONSTANT BLOWS!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: MEMBERS OF THE LOCKER ROOM HAVE BEEN BROUGHT OUT TO SEPARATE THESE TWO NOW!!! IT’S A WHOLE ARMY OF PEOPLE OUT HERE AND IT’S HARDLY ENOUGH TO SEPARATE THESE TWO!! THE OFFICERS AND GUARDS ARE GETTING BACK UP, AND THIS MAY BE WHAT FINALLY KEEPS THESE TWO APART!
Persephone: AN ENTIRE SWARM HAS BEEN CALLED OUT TO RUIN MY FUN, AND IT SEEMS THE NUMBERS MAY HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN THE BEST OF THEM.
(Voltage fades away from ringside as everybody sent out forcefully keeps the two separated until they are finally escorted away…)
(As security breaks up the aftermath of the controversial Hardcore Championship match, Voltage fades to the backstage area. Former Specialists Champion, Auburn Ware, is seen positioned around a corner with a book in her hand. For the last few weeks, Auburn has been trying to reread the ACOTAR series in preparation for books six and seven to be released in October and January respectively. Obviously, her mind has been preoccupied with thoughts of Damon Lazarus and Saori Aizen, so focusing on a book hasn’t exactly been easy for her, but to her credit, Auburn was at least trying to give something more positive her attention.)
(Easier said than done.)
(As she looked to start chapter four of ‘A Court of Thorn and Roses’, when Tamlin rears his misogynistic and emotionally abusive head, the door to a specific lockerroom opened. The hair on the back of Auburn’s neck stood up as Damon Lazarus stepped out and when she heard a female wishing good luck from somewhere inside that room, her eyes narrowed. Damon had not spotted her but the smirk on his face was enough to really piss off Auburn, and she slammed her book shut. He started heading in the opposite direction of her and when Auburn remembered how he completely ignored her last week, her grip on the book tightened and she stood up. Before she could stop herself, she reared back… and hurled the book directly at Damon!)
(It smacked against the back of his head, stopping the imposing Lazarus in his tracks.)
Damon Lazarus: …
Auburn Ware: You fucking hypocrite!
(With the advantage of surprise on her side, she hurled herself at him as hard as she could.)
Damon Lazarus: Auburn—
(Auburn attempts to send repeated hammerfists over his chest time & time again—as Damon is only taking subtle steps back in return, despite her willingness to get increasingly physical & potentially harmful, although judging by her physical blows, Damon’s eyebrows perk up slightly as he understands she’s not actively trying to apply true, detrimental harm against him in the manner that he’s seen her do so for Saori.)
Damon Lazarus: Huh, somebody’s pulling their punches.
(Auburn grunts softly in mediated anger as she’s now eyeing up toward him—and now the slaps across his face follow. An eyebrow simply raises from Damon as he stands in place, not actively motioning himself away as he allows Auburn to get her palms across his cheek in order, which don’t apply the pressure or sensation of pain toward him, as he simply chuckles under his breath while looking downward to her.)
Damon Lazarus: Getting it out of your system…? Don’t make this go longer than it has to, ‘cause I’m sure that you don’t have all da—
(Auburn aims low with her boot—which, Damon takes it upon himself to halt that particular attack by stopping her leg with a palm over her shin.)
Damon Lazarus: Really…? Don’t do that. That’s just cruel, don’t you think? Well, ‘suppose you already know where it’s been…
(He shoves her leg away & let’s go, leaving Auburn to stumble back & into the wall, glaring toward him as Damon exhales sharply.)
Damon Lazarus: Don’t start hurling shit at me every week, alright? That’ll get real damn annoying real quick.
Auburn Ware: Do you really think I give a fuck about whether or not you’re annoyed? I AM ANNOYED!! Not only did you treat me like a piece of trash, you cost me the Specialists Championship! For what?!? Because I cost you a match that ultimately gave you a better opportunity??? Because I wanted to give myself to you!? Because I actually gave a shit about you!?!?!
(Auburn scowls at him, her face burning with anger, and she reaches her left hand back to slap him again, only Damon anticipates it this time and catches her wrist—‘till she clocks him with her right hand, right across his mouth. She wrenches her arm free and shoves him in the chest.)
Auburn Ware: Asshole!!! Why me, Damon?? I deserve answers!
(Damon takes a slight press of his thumb along the corner of his own lip, his brow slightly raised as he glances down to a very light, subtle bit of crimson that she managed to form along the corner of his mouth as he nods to himself.)
Damon Lazarus: Yeah, I’d say that was your best one yet. Should try getting those hits in when they’re—more or less—unable to be seen coming. Damn good one.
(Damon gives a light shrug before his arms cross, sighing deeply as he looks down toward her with a largely tame expression.)
Damon Lazarus: I’ve explained this to you time & time again, you’re either being dense to my words on purpose just to remain upset, or you’ve regressed in your thinking capacity ever since we met. Frankly, I do tend to have that effect on people, even the most capable minds end up becoming diluted to what I see fit—examples of that are evident. I’m getting real ‘tired of going back & forth with you on this little matter, ‘cause it’s like I said—you better figure this shit out on your own accord.
(Damon then briefly chuckles once more as he shakes his own head.)
Damon Lazarus: And another thing, don’t bring up Fighting Spirit to me. You don’t know for sure if I had anything to do with that or not, do you understand how easy it is for anyone to get that music playing…? Could’ve been me, yeah—or, could’ve been her. Could’ve been somebody that got paid off. Regardless, you should’ve known better than to let that get the better of you anyhow.
Auburn Ware: The actual AUDACITY of you to turn this back on me?!?
(It’s Auburn’s first instinct to hit him again but she looks up into his eyes; unrelenting and cold, and some of her fight starts to leave. Not much, but enough. She folds her arms across her chest and just shakes her head.)
Auburn Ware: I’ll bring up whatever the fuck I want to you! ‘Cause you are NOT going to tell me what to do! I know you did it… That stupid whore knows you did it for her… That’s why she’s so fucking smug… You already picked her….. WHY did you have to help her beat me…? WHY!?!? What’s so fucking awful about me?!? Too easy?!? Too willing?!? Too naive?!? That’s what it is, isn’t it… You wanted someone with more experience than me, who’d bend the knee, and not defy you… Guess you wanted someone you could snap your fingers at and say bark, and she’d bark like the dog she is….
(Auburn gave Damon a look of pure disgust, or at least she thought that’s what she was projecting. The flicker of lust in her eyes was evident and Damon picked up on it, while silently cursing her inability to hide her emotions.)
Damon Lazarus: …’Cause it should’ve been you, hm…?
(Damon analyzes the look in her gaze, his eyes squinting for an extended moment as he pries away the veil of aggression she hoisted before herself, silently unraveling the deeply rooted feelings within herself that she would never openly express any admittance for in front of him—but he has always been intrinsically aware of how she felt.)
Damon Lazarus: You speak so derogatorily of her, yet under any instance that I did have you parading yourself at my own leisure, what did you do…? You obeyed. Yeah, you’ll tend to bite back & start acting like a spoiled little brat when it’s most convenient, but to say that I can’t snap my fingers right now & you won’t instinctively follow my lead may very well be a poorly educated white lie on your behalf… Matter of fact…
(Damon’s eyes squint further, as he indeed does snap his fingers, and motions his index finger for her to step up to himself.)
Damon Lazarus: C’mere.
(Auburn bites down hard on her bottom lip, unsure about this present turn of events. Damon’s eyes narrow at her hesitation, a look she’s all too familiar with, but she does take a tentative step forward before catching herself.)
Auburn Ware: (whispering) What’s the catch? I don’t trust you…
(Damon folds his arms across his chest and says nothing. Silence has always worked on Auburn and he can read her like she can read a book. In fact, he directs his gaze to the book she threw at him.)
Damon Lazarus: What happened the last time, you had a book in my presence?
(This time, Auburn’s face flushed a bright red and she looks down at the book. Damon chuckles.)
Damon Lazarus: The same book…
(Auburn shrugs, not even daring herself to speak. After a moment, she finally takes a deep breath. It caught her off guard that someone like Damon would remember such a minor detail.)
Auburn Ware: H-How do you remember it’s the same book..? It’s, it’s not…
(Damon exhales deeply before motioning down to a knee, as he takes the book in his own possession. He rises to his feet once more, standing upright as he decides to open the book, skimming through the pages on his own accord.)
Damon Lazarus: Hm, seems to be the book to me… Don’t know why it wouldn’t be… Yeah, I’m recalling what occurred…
(Damon closes the book, as he’s glancing toward Auburn with a slight grin—taking notice of what’s brewing, even if she is too hesitant & timid to truly express herself to that degree.)
Damon Lazarus: Turn around.
(Auburn stares at him wide-eyed, thinking maybe she pushed too much, but also unsure of where this might be going. She doesn’t want to walk towards him and she doesn’t turn around, but she finally closes the space between them. She gives him a look and drops her head. He had her. He always would, and she turned around burying her face in her hands.)
Damon Lazarus: No.
(Damon briefly drops the book off to the table, before his palms quickly seize her wrists, and he pulls them above her head, as he firmly holds her wrists together with a firm palm of his from behind, as Auburn’s still trying to keep her head lowered with her eyes remaining shut.)
Damon Lazarus: You don’t get to hide away from this, ‘cause it’s been made abundantly apparent that I haven’t sent the message clearly.
(Damon’s other palm takes hold of the book, as he grasps onto it with clear intent.)
Damon Lazarus: Whether I had any hand in the day that you lost your title or not shouldn’t matter, ‘cause at the end of the fuckin’ day you still fell for the oldest trick in the goddamn book.
(THWACK!!!!)
Damon Lazarus: Not only did you fall for it, but you were out there like a deer in headlights ‘cause you couldn’t get your head in the game when it mattered—ONCE AGAIN.
(THWACK!!!!!)
Damon Lazarus: And here you are, trying to point the finger ‘cause you’re making rookie mistakes, letting your puny little feelings for me get the better of you. You know what that makes you…?
(THWACK!!!!!)
Damon Lazarus: An amateur.
(Damon smacked the book across her rear repeatedly as he spoke with clear vitriol & criticality, keeping a tight grip of her wrists as he refused to allow her to garner any semblance of control.)
Damon Lazarus: You keep making the same mistakes, the same old excuses, and you need an explanation for why I’ve decided to stick this goddamn manhood in another woman…? You already knew the answer, you just refused to believe it…
(THWACK!!!!!)
(THWACK!!!!!)
(THWACK!!!!!)
(Damon slammed the book against Auburn’s backside one last time, knowing good and well it would bruise her for days and he tossed it to the ground. He spun her around, grabbed her chin with his hands and squeezed it hard until her eyes popped open.)
Damon: Pathetic. That’s pathetic, and you’re pathetic.
Auburn Ware: I… I can’t help, how I feel…
(Despite the way her backside burned and the way her ego felt destroyed, she pressed herself closer to Damon.)
Auburn Ware: You, you never even gave me the chance… Y-You never let me try to be what you wanted… Saori isn’t the one… She’s, she’s not ever going to be the one… She’s not… she’s not…
(Damon already knew what was about to come out of Auburn’s mouth and he sneered, almost daring her to say it. She jerked her head out of his grasp so she wouldn’t have to look at him.)
Auburn Ware: It doesn’t matter… Nothing I have ever said to you matters…
Damon Lazarus: Shut up already.
(Damon’s blunt response is followed by unceremoniously dropping Auburn back down by letting go of her wrists, causing her to falter onto the floor, left sitting plainly as Damon shakes his own head.)
Damon Lazarus: The same regurgitated nonsense that leaves your mouth every single time we encounter each other. Nothing has changed for you, where the hell is it…? You don’t deserve my time of day for such attempts when YOU haven’t even tried to scratch the surface of your own willingness. That’s enough of this.
(Damon crosses his arms, glancing off from her in a refrain of disgust to even look toward her.)
Damon Lazarus: Get up. At the very least, do that on your own accord. Do something useful for yourself…
(It took everything inside of Auburn to push herself up but she got back to her feet.)
Auburn Ware: What is ‘it’ Damon? Tell me and I’ll be it. I’ll be whatever you want me to be.
(Auburn winced at how small her voice had grown and when she looked at his face, she saw nothing there. He’d wipe his face free of everything and all he was doing was staring at her. Auburn took a step towards him and shook her head.)
Auburn Ware: I d-don’t understand this situation. I don’t want to be drawn to you. I didn’t want any of this to happen. I-I…
(Auburn reached out and grabbed at his arm, gripping him tightly.)
Auburn Ware: ……I’ll beg…
(She lowered her head.)
Damon Lazarus: You’ll beg….?
(Damon’s eyes squint in a refrain of genuine anger, as his palm soon seizes her throat—shoving her directly into the wall, directly by the door as he’s glaring down toward her.)
Damon Lazarus: What in the hell makes you think THAT will be enough?? You think it’s as simple as submitting yourself to me like a helpless lap dog?! I can turn ANY woman into precisely that without having to lift a goddamn finger! You’ve completely missed the point on what I expect out of you…
(His palm remains firm, as his eyes uphold their glare over her with focus.)
Damon Lazarus: Who you are, and who you stand to be… It’s not, enough. Get that through your head, Auburn… Get it through your head, ‘cause this little girl in front of me, has got plenty of fuckin’ work to do…
(He let go of her throat and Auburn sank to her knees, not willing but out of shock and the fact she wanted to get air back in her lungs. She coughed a few times, because Damon had squeezed her neck hard enough to restrict most of her air, and then she looked up at him.)
(Damon was staring down at her, and the vulnerability of her position was made all too obvious. Auburn swallowed hard, while Damon’s gaze remained locked on hers.)
(A moment passed.. )
(Then two… )
(Unaware of her own actions, Auburn’s tongue ran across her red lips and she placed her hand against the wall. She went to push herself up, eye level with one of the things she wanted from Damon, and she traced her eyes up his body.)
Auburn Ware: I bet Saori is so desperate she swallows doesn’t she? Is that what the appeal is?
(Damon rolls his own eyes in response, as he turns himself around from Auburn, stepping himself further away as his arms cross once more, tapping his foot on the floor steadily.)
Damon Lazarus: With a beaming smile. Now, go.
(Auburn got back to her feet and scowled at the back of his head. She snatched her book up from the floor, her face burning at the sight of it, and she clutched it to her chest.)
Auburn Ware: I hope she fucking chokes and dies on your dick next time you shove it in her mouth… Bastard…
(Auburn shoves him from behind, even though there’s no real fight behind it, as Damon resists the urge to wrap his hands in her hair to punish her further. With that, Auburn begrudgingly takes her leave with a sizable grunt of anger still following her every step.)
(Damon simply brings his gaze downward, exhaling sharply before letting a brief chuckle follow, shaking his own head as he proceeds to walk ahead in the opposite direction, pulling his phone out from his own pocket as he motions directly to his contact list—toward ‘Saori’, as he brings the phone to his ear before the scene slowly shifts away….)
(…)
(…….Toward a newfound figure, who is leaning against the corner of a wall, where she listened to every word, and overheard every motion that followed, her own arms crossed as her expression rings clear.)
Daniella Atlas: ………Hm…….Saori…..
(Daniella’s expression mediates to one of disgust, her eyes gazing downward to the floor as she deliberates silently to herself, shaking her own head as she ponders to herself on all that has transpired for her dear rival with this ordeal, as the scene fades.)
(Commercial for the upcoming Beat The Clock challenge Pick Your Poison matches.)
(Voltage returns to ringside.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS SCHEDULED FOR ONE FALL!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
(‘Rompe’ by Daddy Yankee begins to blast the P.A. System as out comes Carmen Sanchez, who gets a positive reaction from the crowd here tonight in Edmonton. Carmen looks ready and focused as she makes way down the aisle and towards the ring, knowing that the match ahead of her will be far from easy.)
Bella Braxton: AND INTRODUCING FIRST…FROM RENO, NEVADA… WEIGHING AT 102 POUNDS… SHE IS ‘EL TIGRE’… CARMEN SÁNCHEZ!!
Rich Russillo: Carmen is out first as this is the first of three pick your poison, beat the clock challenge matches here tonight on Voltage! It has been staple here in Elite Answers Wrestling as Captain Charisma last week introduced it for this ongoing Specialist Championship picture involving new champion Saori Aizen, former champion Auburn Ware and someone that put both ladies on notice, Carmen Sanchez! Of course the implications to who wins comes out victorious in this pick your poison affair, is quite heavy.
Thadd Blazevich: For sure Rich! Whoever can either beat their opponent in the shortest time or survive the longest against them will be able to pick the stipulation for the Specialists title match at Pain for Pride and since each woman was able to pick who would face who, Saori picked Damon Lazarus to face Carmen here tonight.
Persephone: Well I don’t think we need to guess why. Let’s pray for Carmen here tonight, I smell BLOOD in the water.
Thadd Blazevich: Damon bro is not a shark.
Persephone: He could be.
(Carmen enters the ring, ready to do battle as soon enough her music begins to fade out and ‘Until It Sleeps’ by Metallica begins to play. The crowd in Edmonton begins to boo quite loudly as Damon Lazarus emerges from the curtains. He keeps a sinister look on his face as he slowly trails down the ramp, even more fired up than usual, ignoring the many fans that are booing him and flipping him off.)
Bella Braxton: NEXT…FROM KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE… WEIGHING AT 285 POUNDS… HE IS THE OUROBOROS…. DAMON LAZARUS!!!!
Rich Russillo: Here’s the man that Saori picked Carmen to face tonight and considering what had just happened before he came out here… Damon Lazarus may be on one tonight.
Thadd Blazevich: You best believe that Rich! Damon’s destiny at Pain for Pride is already set as he’s going to battle in the Cash in the Vault ladder match and perhaps be the one to take down that briefcase and have that guaranteed title opportunity. You could say that with many others in the Cash in the Vault as well but Damon may be the most dangerous out of everyone in that match.
Persephone: Don’t worry, he’s going to be arrested for attempted murder tonight so I don’t think he’ll be able to make the trip to Toronto.
(Damon enters the ring as he waits in his corner. His music begins to fade out as both competitors stand opposite to one another before the referee signals for the bell!)
(DING! DING! DING!)
(TIME: 0:00)
Rich Russillo: The bell rings for this match as we are under way and— CARMEN GOES RIGHT AFTER DAMON WITH A RUNNING DROPKICK! CARMEN OFF THE BAT!! AS DAMON ACTUAL STUMBLES BACK INTO HIS CORNER!!
Thadd Blazevich: CARMEN RUNS FROM HER CORNER AND BACK TO DAMON AND— LANDS ANOTHER DROPKICK TO DAMON!! CARMEN RUNS BACK FOR ANOTHER AND— OH NO! SHE’S NAILED BY A GNARLY UPPERCUT FROM DAMON LAZARUS!!!
Persephone: So much for a hot start, Carmen just got leveled.
Rich Russillo: Carmen Sanchez is down on the mat as Damon quickly goes to Carmen and delivers a stomp right on her shoulder! Already on the aggressive side in the early moments of the match considering what had happened right before he came out for this match against Carmen. Damon now brings Carmen back up to her feet and– DELIVERS A SPINNING SIDE SLAM!!! DAMON IS ALREADY ON ONE AS HE GOES FOR THE COVER!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen bro gets the shoulders up!!! Damon doesn’t waste any more time as he clinches right into a headlock!! Bro has that hold locked in tightly on Carmen!! However El Tigre isn’t letting Damon hold onto this headlock, she’s fighting with every bone in her body!! Damon bro sees this and– transitions into another hold!
Persephone: But Carmen manages to slip out of his grasp while he was still trying to transition as she now– LANDS AN ENIZGURI ON DAMON!!! DAMON IS STUNNED AS HELL AS NOW CARMEN GOES FOR A SCHOOLBOY PIN!!! THE REFEREE GOES FOR THE COVER!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: Damon gets the shoulders up as soon as he can! Carmen is trying to end this fight as soon as she can as Damon comes right back to his feet and– CARMEN SPRINGBOARDS FOR A HEADSCISSORS TAKEDOWN!! THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR DAMON TO GET TAKEN DOWN TO THE MAT AS HE ROLLS OUTSIDE TO THE RING!! HE DOESN’T LOOK HAPPY WHATSOEVER!!
(TIME: 1:46)
Persephone: Look at him, he’s like a tomato!
Rich Russillo: NOW CARMEN RUNS FROM THE ROPES AND BACK– AND DELIVERS WITH A SUICIDE DIVE!!! IT SENDS DAMON RIGHT INTO THE BARRICADE!! DAMON IS STILL ON HIS FEET AS CARMEN ENTERS THE RING AGAIN AND GOES FOR ANOTHER SUICIDE DIVE!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT DAMON CATCHES CARMEN!!! CARMEN BRO DIDN’T LAND THAT SUICIDE DIVE THAT TIME AS NOW DAMON– THROWS CARMEN RIGHT INTO THE RING POST!!! CARMEN GOES BACK FIRST INTO IT AS SHE SCREAMS IN AGONY!!! DAMON GRABS CARMEN BY HER HAIR AND SENDS HER BACK INTO THE RING, AND NOW BRO JUST MOUNTS ON TOP OF HER AND NAILS SOME DEVASTATING PUNCHES RIGHT INTO HER FOREHEAD!!
Persephone: Demon time for Damon now as now he grabs a hold of Carmen’s right arm and– CRANKS IT HARD!!! CARMEN IS HOLDING ON TO HER RIGHT SHOULDER AS DAMON NOTICES AND STOMPS ON THAT SHOULDER AGAIN!!! He grabs a hold of that arm and has an arm wrench locked in after that… Forget what I said earlier.
Rich Russillo: You have to keep in mind Persephone Damon wants to control the pace of this match, he’s more aggressive right now as he has that arm locked in position which now forces Carmen to try and fight out of this match!
(We then cut to the backstage area as we see a split screen between Saori Aizen and Auburn Ware watching in different locations in the backstage area, looking on to see the result of this match and how it shapes up. Auburn is focused, if not irritated having to see Damon Lazarus after what just went down backstage, while Saori Aizen has a calm, confident look on her face as she watches.)
Rich Russillo: As you can see both Saori and Auburn are watching very closely for how this match goes as Damon continues holding onto that arm wrench.
(One more shot is shown of Saori and Auburn watching in their respective location, and Saori just shakes her head with a smirk on her face seeing the state Carmen is currently in.)
(TIME: 2:58)
Thadd Blazevich: Carmen bro isn’t giving up though, even though she’s locked in with that arm wrench by that monster dude Damon, Carmen isn’t going to give up that easily! Damon now transitions out of the hold as his opponent was getting up and lifts Carmen up for a back body drop– BUT CARMEN LANDS RIGHT ON HER FEET!!!
Persephone: Wow i didn’t expect that!
Rich Russillo: NOW CARMEN GOES FOR A CHOP BLOCK OF DAMON!! SHE TAKES DAMON DOWN TO ONE KNEE AS SHE RUNS FROM THE ROPES AND BACK AND– DELIVERS WITH A BASEMENT DROPKICK!!! CARMEN HOOKS THE LEG AND GOES FOR THE COVER!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON BRO GETS THE SHOULDERS UP!!! CARMEN TRIES TO GO A PIN AGAIN!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TW–
Persephone: Damon still kicks out! BUT CARMEN’S NOT WASTING ANYTIME AS SHE GOES TO THE TOPE ROPE–
Rich Russillo: BUT DAMON RUSHES TOWARDS HER AND KNOCKS HER LEGS OUT FROM UNDER HER! What a smart tactic from Damon just now as he grabs a hold of Carmen, AND DELIVERS WITH A VERTICAL SUPLEX!!! HE DOES IT WITH SUCH FORCE AND PRECISION! HE’S STILL NOT DONE AS HE PICKS CARMEN UP AGAIN AND– DELIVERS ANOTHER VERTICAL SUPLEX!!!! DAMON GOES FOR THE COVER!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Thadd Blazevich: CARMEN GETS THE SHOULDERS UP BRO!! Damon immediately goes right at Carmen with a chinlock this time applied, again doing everything he can to slow this match down and dedicate to his own style. Carmen bro has been trying to amp up that pace, and try to secure the win in such a manner but unfortunately for her bro… Damon isn’t going to let that be the case.
Persephone: Okay Mr. Socrates, don’t try and be all analytic now Damon just has a stupid chinlock applied to Carmen.
Thadd Blazevich: That is our job, broski.
Persephone: Whatever.
Rich Russillo: The crowd is clapping for Carmen though, trying to feed some energy to El Tigre as Damon is trying to block off that noise the best he can as– CARMEN DELIVERS AN ELBOW RIGHT TO DAMON’S STOMACH!! ANOTHER ELBOW CONNECTS BUT DAMON ISN’T BUDGING!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT CARMEN PUSHES HERSELF UP ENOUGH AND LANDS AN ELBOW RIGHT TO DAMON’S JAW!! HE’S FORCED TO LET GO OF THE HOLD AS CARMEN SPRINGBROADS OFF FOR A CROSSBODY!
Persephone: NOPE! DAMON CATCHES HER AS HE JUST SHAKES HIS HEAD!! DAMON NOW PLACES CARMEN RIGHT TOP AND LOOKS TO FOR AN ELECTRIC CHAIR DROP TO CARMEN!!
Rich Russillo: BUT WAIT LOOK! CARMEN ROLLS THROUGH WITH A VICTORY ROLL TO DAMON!!! HIS SHOUDLERS ARE DOWN AS THE REFEREE MAKES THE COUNT!!!
(TIME: 4:12)
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON KICKS OUT AS HE GETS RIGHT BACK TO A KNEE– AND CARMEN DELIVERS A PENALTY KICK TO DAMON!!! DAMON LAZARUS IS STUNNED AS CARMEN GRABS A HOLD OF DAMON!
Persephone: WHAT THE!
Rich Russillo: TORNADO DDT!!! CARMEN DELIVERS THAT TO DAMON LAZARUS AS SHE GOES FOR THE COVER!!!!
(TIME: 4:34)
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Thadd Blazevich: AND DAMON LAZARUS KICKS OUT!!! THIS MATCH HAS ALREADY GOT INTO ANOTHER LEVEL AS CARMEN IS DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO WIN HERE TONIGHT! THAT TORNADO DDT WAS A THING OF BEAUTY BRO BUT IT WASN’T ENOUGH TO BEAT DAMON!
Persephone: Did you honestly believe that would have ended it?
Thadd Blazevich: Aye bro we have seen a lot of weird things in the world of pro wrestling… you should have seen how this one match went down in Japan–
Persephone: Did I ask for a backstory chud, just focus on the match!
Rich Russillo: Anyways… Carmen is getting right back to her feet as she springboards– FOR A LIONSAULT!! THAT CONNECTS ON DAMON LAZARUS AS SHE GOES FOR ANOTHER COVER!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON STILL KICKS OUT AS BRO NOW ROLLS OUT THE RING! ONCE AGAIN AS CARMEN LOOKS ON AS SHE’S SCOOPING THE SCENE AS SHE RUSHES TOWARDS THE TOP ROPE AND– DELIVERS A DIVING PLANCHA TO THE OUTSIDE TO DAMON!! IT TAKES HIM DOWN AS CARMEN IS FIRED UP!!!
Persephone: I would be too believe it or not. If I took down a guy like that I would be jumping for joy! Carmen delivers some stops right on Damon’s leg, that same leg that she had chopped just moments ago in the match!
Rich Russillo: Carmen now brings Damon back to his feet and with all her strength brings him back into the ring! Carmen heads to the top rope looking to hit a maneuver and– LANDS A DIVING ELBOW DROP TO DAMON LAZARUS!!! CARMEN GOES FOR THE COVER!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Thadd Blazevich: NOPE! DAMON KICKS OUT ONCE MORE!!!
(We cut to the backstage area again with Saori looking on, seeing how Carmen is fairing up with Damon Lazarus. It then cuts to Auburn Ware who is also watching on, once again showing both competitors are watching this with their full attention considering they too will be competing later in the night.)
Persephone: I’m sure both Auburn and Saori got their eyes on someone other than Carmen.
(The camera switches back to the ring.)
Rich Russillo: Perhaps Persephone but let’s focus back on the action as Carmen now heads to the ring apron waiting for Damon Lazarus to get back on his feet as she springboards for CEREBRO!!! SPRINGBOARD POISIONRANA!!!
Thadd Blazevich: NOT SO FAST BRO!! DAMON MANAGES TO CATCH CARMEN AT THE PERFECT MOMENT NOT ALLOWING HER TO HIT THAT CEREBRO! THEY’RE ALREADY IN AN ELECTRIC CHAIR POSITION– AND BRO LANDS THE DROP ON CARMEN!! CARMEN WINCES IN PAIN BRO BUT DAMON ISN’T DONE!! HE BRINGS CARMEN BACK TO HER FEET, AND DELIVERS DAMNATION!!! THE INVERTED HEADLOCK NECKBREAKER CONNECTS!!!!
Persephone: Backbender Damon doing what he does best.
Rich Russillo: Damon slithers his way into a pinfall attempt!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: Carmen gets her shoulders up!! Damon just looks down on Carmen, as this one is still not over! No matter what offense that has been dished out to Carmen, she isn’t backing down from the aggression that is being shown by Damon. Lazarus brings Carmen back to her feet and– DELIVERS WITH A STRAIGHT PUNCH TO HER FOREHEAD!! CARMEN BOUNCES AND STUMBLES TOWARDS THE ROPES AND– AGAIN DAMON LANDS ANOTHER FIST RIGHT ON HER HEAD!!! DAMON STEPS BACK A LITTLE BIT NOW–
Thadd Blazevich: AND BRO GOES RIGHT FOR A CLOTHLINE IN THE CORNER!!! CARMEN BOUNCES OFF THAT TURNBUCKLE AS NOW DAMON BRO GRABS A HOLD OF CARMEN BY HER HEAD AND BRINGS HER IN BETWEEN THE MIDDLE ROPES. IT MAY BE TIME FOR CARMEN TO GET HIT WITH THE BLACKEST EYES!!!
Persephone: MAYBE NOT!
Rich Russillo: EL TIGRE GETS OUT OF THE ROPEHUNG DDT POSITION AND ROLLS UP DAMON!!! COULD SHE STEAL THE WIN HERE TONIGHT!!!
(TIME: 5:49)
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON BRO KICKS OUT!!! HE GETS RIGHT BACK TO HIS FEET AND– BASEBALL SLIDE TO THAT WORKED ON LEG!!! DAMON HOLDS ONTO THAT LEG AS NOW CARMEN– DELIVERS A ROLLING ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO DAMON’S HEAD!!! CARMEN THEN RUNS FROM THE ROPES AND– TROMPO!!! THE TWISTING RUNNING CROSSBODY DELIVERS AS CARMEN GOES FOR THE PIN!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Persephone: Once again Damon Lazarus gets the shoulders up as now Carmen– MAYBE GOING FOR A PRAWN PIN HERE!!! BUT DAMON ESCAPES AND ROLLS OUT THE RING ONCE AGAIN!! THE FANS HERE IN EDMONTON AREN’T HAPPY! DAMON DOESN’T SEEM TO CARE.
Rich Russillo: Damon once again, looking to take a breather after the flurry of offense that was dished out to him by Carmen Sanchez as– CARMEN RUNS FROM THE ROPES AND BACK FOR A TOPE CON GIRO!!!! BUT DAMON MOVES OUT THE WAY!!! CARMEN LANDS ON THE FLOOR BACKFIRST AS DAMON NOW PICKS UP CARMEN AND– DELIVERS WITH A BACK SUPLEX DROP RIGHT ON THE ANNOUNCERS TABLE!!!
Persephone: Thankfully he isn’t going to do it ag–
Thadd Blazevich: NOPE! DAMON DOES ANOTHER BACK SUPLEX DROP ON THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! THIS TIME WITH EVEN MORE IMPACT!!! DAMON HAS THAT FIRE IN HIS EYES AS– BRO IS STILL NOT DONE AND DELIVERS ANOTHER BACK SUPLEX DROP ON THAT ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!!
Rich Russillo: Damon rolls Carmen back into the ring as he delivers another stomp onto that shoulder of hers!! AND NAILS A KNEEDROP ONTO THAT SHOULDER!!! Damon hooks the leg and goes for the win!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: AND CARMEN STILL KICKS OUT!!!! CARMEN ONCE AGAIN SURVIVES, BUT THAT ONLY CAUSES AN EVEN SCARIER LOOK TO COME TO DAMON’S FACE, BRO!! DAMON NOW GETS INTO MOUNTED POSITION AND– IS NAILING RIGHT FIST AFTER RIGHT FIST TO CARMEN’S HEAD!!! THIS IS GETTING VERY UGLY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!
Persephone: DAMON IS NOT HAPPY!! HE BRING CARMEN RIGHT UP AND– HE’S GOING FOR IT!!! HE’S GOING FOR THAT CTE!!! HE HIS ARMS WRAPPED AROUND CARMEN–
Rich Russillo: BUT CARMEN GETS OUT OF IT IN TIME!!! CARMEN SPRINGBOARDS OFF AND DELIVERS A SMALL PACKAGE PIN OF THAT SPRINGBOARD!!! SHE HAS DAMON’S SHOULDERS PLACED ON THE MAT!! THIS COULD BE IT!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON KICKS OUT AND– TOSTONES!!!! THE STEP UP DOUBLE HEADSTOMP TO DAMON LAZARUS!!! THIS COULD BE IT AS CARMEN MAKES THE COVER!! CAN CARMEN GET THIS WIN IN THE FIRST OF THESE PICK YOUR POISON MATCHES?
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Persephone: NOPE! DAMON GETS HIS SHOULDERS UP!!! CARMEN DOESN’T LOOK TO WASTE ANY TIME THOUGH AS SHE BRINGS DAMON RIGHT TO HIS FEET, AND GOES FOR GASOLINA!! THE INVERTED SOMMERSAULT CUTTER!!!
Rich Russillo: DAMON PUSHES CARMEN OFF THE ROPES AS SHE LANDS RIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE!!! THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR EL TIGRE AS DAMON ROLLS OUT THE RING TO GRAB A HOLD OF HER– AND SENDS HER STRAIGHT INTO THE BARRICADE!!! CARMEN GOES SHOULDER FIRST AND THATS THE SAME SHOULDER DAMON HAS BEEN WORKING IN THIS ENTIRE MATCH!!!
Thadd Blazevich: CARMEN BRO IS WINCING IN PAIN RIGHT NOW AS DAMON– IRISH WHIPS HER AGAIN RIGHT INTO THE STEEL STEPS!! JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE BY DAMON LAZARUS! DAMON NOW THROWS CARMEN RIGHT BACK INTO THE BARRICADE NOW!!! JUST BEING AN UTTER SAVAGE AS THE CROWD ARE BOOING THE HELL OUT OF DAMON BRO!
Persephone: Damon Lazarus just bullying Carmen there as he brings her right back into the ring and goes for the pinfall attempt!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: AND ONCE AGAIN CARMEN KICKS OUT!!! IT IS ABSURD HOW SHE’S STILL IN THIS MATCH AND JUDGING BY DAMON’S FACE HE FEELS THE EXACT SAME WAY!! DAMON IS SLAMMING HIS FISTS ON THE MAT AS– HE GOES TOWARDS THE CORNER LOOKING AWAITING CARMEN TO GET ON HER KNEES! HE’S GOING FOR IN ABSENTIA!!! THE PUNT KICK!!!
Thadd Blazevich: NOT SO FAST BRO!! CARMEN MOVES OUT THE WAY!! DAMON JUST PUNT KICKED THE AIR AS DAMON LOOKS BACK AT CARMEN WHO IS STILL TRYING TO GET UP AS DAMON GRABS A HOLD OF HER!!
Persephone: PELE KICK!!!! CONNECTS RIGHT ON DAMON’S SHOULDER AS HE FELT THAT ONE!!! NOW LOOK, CARMEN DELIVERS A CHOP BLOCK ONCE AGAIN TO THAT WORKED ON LEG!!! DAMON IS DOWN TO ONE KNEE AS CARMEN HEADS TO THE APRON–
Rich Russillo: SPRINGBOARD DROPKICK!!! DAMON IS DOWN ON THE GROUND AS CARMEN SPRINGBOARDS– FOR ANOTHER LIONSAULT!!! CARMEN GOES FOR THE COVER HERE!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON BRO GETS HIS SHOULDERS UP BUT CARMEN ISN’T STOPPING!! SHE NAILING SOME STOMPS RIGHT ONTO THAT LEG! AGAIN! AGAIN! AND AGAIN!! CARMEN HAS RAMPED UP THE PACE LIKE SHE WANTED AS NOW DAMON GETS UP AND– IS NAILED WITH A DROPKICK RIGHT ON THE BACK AS HE’S SENT RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE ROPES!! CARMEN RUNS BACK AND FORTH AND GOES FOR THE TIGER FIENT KICK–
Persephone: BUT DAMON CATCHES HER LEGS, AND HE TURNS TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RING WHILE CARRYING CARMEN ON HIS SHOULDERS!!!
Rich Russillo: ALABAMA SLAM TO CARMEN SANCHEZ!!!! SHE JUST SPLATTED ON THE GROUND HEADFIRST AS DAMON NOW BRINGS CARMEN BACK TO FEET AND PLACES HER ON IN BETWEEN THE ROPES!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BANG! BLACKEST EYES CONNECTS!!! THE ROPE HUNG DDT DELIVERS AS DAMON GOES FOR THE WIN!!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Persephone: Wait… why didn’t the referee ring the bell, I don’t see Carmen having her shoulders up.
Thadd Blazevich: Look closely broski!!
Rich Russillo: CARMEN’S FOOT WAS ON THE ROPES!! THE REFEREE SPOTS IT AS THIS MATCH CONTINUES. Damon just glares at Carmen, and at this point he’s gotta be surprised seeing how she’s survived! He still has that look in his eyes though, one that says that he wants to end this once and for all. Damon looks back and– HE IS SLAMMING HIS FOREARMS TO THE MAT, WAITING FOR CARMEN TO GET BACK UP FROM HER FEET.
Thadd Blazevich: This could be it, Carmen may be done now.
(TIMER: 8:01)
Persephone: DAMON GOES FOR CTE!!!!
(The crowd suddenly erupts, as Carmen manages to avoid getting hit with the CTE utilizing a very unique counter.)
Rich Russillo: CARMEN JUST DID A HANDSTAND AND MANAGES TO AVOID THE CTE!!! SHE GOES FOR CRUCIFIX PIN TO DAMON AS THE REFEREE MAKES THE COUNT!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Referee: ……………………
Referee: ……………………
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON KICKS OUT AND– CARMEN GOES STRAIGHT FOR A SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! SHE HAS DAMON’S SHOULDER ON THE GROUND AS AGAIN THE REFEREE MAKES THE COUNT!!
Referee: ONEEEEEEEEE!
Referee: TWOOOOOOOO!
Referee: THREEEEEEEE!
Referee: ……………………
Referee: ……………………
Persephone: DAMON KICKS OUT AGAIN AS HE GETS RIGHT BACK UP– AND IS NAILED WITH DROPKICK TO THE BACK AGAIN AND GOES TOWARDS THE MIDDLE ROPES.
(The camera shows another shot of Saori and Auburn watching from the back, in separate locations in a split screen setting before it cuts right back to the ring and action inside.)
Persephone: SHE WENT FOR IT BEFORE IN THE MATCH AND GOES FOR IT AGAIN…
Rich Russillo: TIGER FEINT KICK TO DAMON LAZARUS!!! THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA!!! DAMON IS NAILED WITH THAT TIGER FIENT KICK AS CARMEN COULD DO IT!!! DAMON GETS RIGHT BACK UP AS CARMEN GOES FOR A SPRINGBOARD STOMP!!
(TIME: 8:46)
Thadd Blazevich: UPPERCUT FROM MIDAIR!!! DAMON COUNTERS THAT SPRINGBOARD STOMP WITH THAT VICIOUS UPPERCUT AS THE FANS BOO HIM IN EDMONTON! Looking at bro’s face and– is bro amused right now??
Persephone: It seems like now Damon grabs a hold of Carmen and brings into the corner, AND HE JUST THREW HER HEAD FIRST INTO THE TURNBUCKLE AS HARD AS HE COULD! NOW HE’S BASHING HER SKULL RIGHT INTO THAT TURNBUCKLE! AGAIN! AGAIN! AND AGAIN!! DAMON RIPS CARMEN AWAY FROM THE CORNER AND THROWS HER TO THE MAT, AND I DON’T THINK HE’S DONE!
Rich Russillo: DAMON IMMEDIATELY DROPS DOWN, GRABBING CARMEN’S HEAD BEFORE SLAMMING HER FACE INTO THE MAT! HE DOES IT AGAIN! AND AGAIN! COME ON, THIS IS JUST BRUTAL! DAMON ISN’T STOPPING!!
Thadd Blazevich: DAMON TURNS CARMEN AROUND, AND HE JUST BASHES THE BACK OF HER HEAD INTO THE MAT BEFORE BEGINNING TO PUMMEL HER WITH ELBOWS!!! CARMEN ISN’T EVEN FIGHTING BACK AT THIS POINT!!! COME ON, DUDE!!! CARMEN IS CLEARLY DONE, BUT DAMON DOESN’T CARE!!! HE JUST KEEPS SMASHING ELBOWS INTO HER, AND I THINK THE REF ISN’T SURE WHAT TO DO!
Persephone: WELL I DON’T THINK HE HAS MANY OPTIONS AT THIS POINT! HE’S LITERALLY BEATING HER BLOODY!!
Rich Russillo: DAMON JUST KEEPS THROWING THOSE VICIOUS ELBOWS TO CARMEN’S HEAD, AND SHE’S UNCONSCIOUS! THE REFEREE HAS NO CHOICE, HE’S CALLING FOR THE BELL!! THIS ONE IS OVER!!!
(DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!)
(‘Until it Sleeps’ by Metallica begins to play as the boos could be heard in the arena here in Edmonton. Damon rises up from that cover and gets his arm raised by the referee as he secured himself the win here tonight on Voltage. Carmen is laid out in the ring, with blood rushing down her forehead, following that final brutal assault from Damon Lazarus.)
Bella Braxton: YOUR WINNER OF THIS MATCH VIA REFEREE STOPPAGE…. DAMON LAZARUS!!
(While the fans boo, the camera then shows a screenbar once more, revealing the final time for that match.)
(TIME: 9:54)
Rich Russillo: Damon Lazarus gets the win here tonight on Voltage and despite the effort and heart shown by Carmen Sanchez here tonight, it was Damon’s brute force that was just too much as he picks up the win here tonight. That effort from Carmen cannot be understated though as the timer reads 9 minutes and 54 seconds.
Persephone: So?
Rich Russillo: Well, now Auburn Ware and Carmen Ware need to either win their matches, or last longer than that time against their opponents. Given who they’re facing, neither feat will come easy.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah bro, great effort from Carmen tonight as– WAIT A MINUTE, NO!! DUDE, DAMON ISN’T DONE AS NOW HE’S JUST GOTTEN BACK ON TOP OF CARMEN AND IS JUST SMASHING HER FACE IN AGAIN!!
(‘Until it Sleeps’ abruptly stops as Damon Lazarus continues to beatdown Carmen Sanchez, seemingly not satisfied with the damage he had already done to her. This causes the boos to grow even louder, but Damon couldn’t care less. The referee tries to intervene, but Damon just shoves him away before continuing to elbow Carmen.)
Persephone: YES YES!! BEAT HER UP SOME MORE!!!
Rich Russillo: Oh come on! The match already ended but Damon is elbowing the living hell out of Carmen, AND NOW HE JUST GETS UP TO A KNEE, PULLING CARMEN UP BY HER HAIR BEFORE JUST DRIVING PUNCHES INTO HER ALREADY BLOODY FOREHEAD!! SOMEBODY PLEASE STOP HIM!!
Persephone: NO, DON’T STOP HIM!!! DAMON MIGHT WRESTLE LIKE A TURTLE BUT HE ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO BE VIOLENT! LET HIM KEEP BEATING CARMEN BLOODY!
Rich Russillo: WHAT!? NO!! DAMON IS JUST DESTROYING CARMEN RIGHT NOW, AND IF HE KEEPS THIS UP WHO KNOWS IF SHE’LL EVEN BE IN ANY SHAPE TO MAKE IT TO PAIN FOR PRIDE!!! SOMEONE STOPS THIS!!
(Soon after these words are said, the crowd’s reaction suddenly begins to rise.)
Thadd Blazevich: JUST IN TIME RICH! JAY JERRY JOHNSON IS RUNNING DOWN FROM THE RAMP AND SLIDES INTO THE RING!!!! HE GOES RIGHT AFTER DAMON WITH PUNCHES OF HIS OWN!!! THE CROWD CHEERS ON AS JAY LANDS LEFTS AND RIGHTS TO DAMON!!!
Rich Russillo: DAMON LANDS ONE RIGHT TO JAY AS HE GETS BACK UP– AND DAMON JUST WENT FOR CTE, BUT JAY WASN’T HAVING IT!!! HE JUST PUSHED DAMON OFF OF HIM– BEFORE CATCHING DAMON WITH THE DRAGONSLAYER!!!!! THE DRAGONSLAYER CONNECTS ON DAMON, AND IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE JAY IS DONE AS DAMON IS STUMBLING!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: JAY IS ABLE TO POWER DAMON UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS, BEFORE DROPPING HIM WITH HEAVEN’S FEEL!!!! JAY JUST LAID OUT DAMON LAZARUS, BRO!! THESE TWO OF COURSE WILL BE COMPETING IN THE CASH IN THE VAULT LADDER MATCH AT PAIN FOR PRIDE BUT OF COURSE THEIR HISTORY WITH EACH OTHER SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!
Rich Russillo: AND DON’T FORGET! DAMON TOOK JAY OUT ONLY LAST WEEK! JAY JUST GOT SOME MUCH NEEDED PAYBACK, AND POSSIBLY SAVED CARMEN SANCHEZ FROM A TERRIBLE FATE!!
(The fans loudly cheer as Damon Lazarus rolls out of the ring. Jay Jerry Johnson goes to check up on Carmen after that beatdown from Damon, glaring out at the unconscious Damon Lazarus after seeing the damage he had done. With this, Sunday Night Voltage fades from ringside.)
(Sunday Night Voltage returns as the camera brings us backstage. There, NICK is seen walking through the hallway, looking frustrated as his loss to New Breed Champion Clayton Golde last week is left to fester. He walks quickly, steps hastened by his anger, but he isn’t paying attention… when he ends up bumping into someone.)
NICK: Hey! Can you watch it?
(NICK takes a step back as he collects himself, glancing over…)
Cynthia Valice: Oops! I’m so sorry about that… I wasn’t really paying attention- Oh.
NICK: Oh. Hey, Cynthia.
(NICK stares at Cynthia, as there’s a long moment of awkwardness between them after the encounter. Both of them have, needless to say… seen each other. After their moment in the Grand Rampage match, they are more than acquainted with one another.)
NICK: You’re all good. How have you been?
Cynthia Valice: Well… Not good actually. 😒
NICK: Really? Figured I would ask why you’re here on Voltage of all places.
Cynthia Valice: I know, it’s weird. But with all this Diego and Circe stuff I’ve been *really* in a bind. The whole masked attacker thing and desperate lover stuff is getting on my nerves, all because Diego gets, for lack of a better word, no play. So, I kinda challenged them to a match, but the problem is… I kinda need a partner. Which I’m kinda struggling to find right now. I figured that maybe there was someone on Voltage who might want to fill that position?
(NICK shakes his head with annoyance hearing Diego’s name.)
NICK: Diego? Don’t get me started on that idiot. He and I have some history. We’ve gone toe-to-toe in the past and he’s gotten lucky more times than I can count. He seems to excel at being a massive pain in the ass, last thing you want to see is him tongue fucking the nearest babe he can find. Huge creep. All that to say… not a fan. Well, that’s probably nicer than what you could say.
(Cynthia gives a light chuckle, shaking her head as well.)
Cynthia Valice: I think I’m starting to see that. Well… I’m not a fan either. They seem to want to cause problems every chance they can get. I can’t even get a win without being attacked by the two of them which is what happened last week. I guess I’m saying all of this to say… I’m tired of being disrespected and discarded the way that I’ve been. I’m not going to tolerate that anymore.
(Cynthia lets out a deep sigh and leans up against a wall.)
Cynthia Valice: I mean, do you get where I’m coming from or does it sound like I’m shouting at clouds? It’s been this weird cycle of torment for a while now, and I have to stop all of this. Pain for Pride is where that happens.
NICK: Dude, I get you completely. You shouldn’t take this crap. If I was in your position, I’d be doing the same thing. You have to stand on business after all. Can’t let someone like that push you around. I get why you’d dislike both of them. I don’t know Circe well, but she definitely seems like she has a few strings loose, especially if she thinks Diego is… anything more than a dirtbag. He’s… Diego. I feel for you, believe me.
Cynthia Valice: So, you understand exactly why I need a partner for Pain for Pride then? I want to take the fight to them and show them that I’ve had enough. It needs to come to an end.
NICK: Yeah, um…
(NICK rubs the back of his neck, having an awkward expression on his face.)
NICK: Hope you… find one.
Cynthia Valice: Oh, okay.
(There’s an awkward moment between the two of them as NICK is slowly rotating his body, almost like he’s about to leave.)
NICK: Yeah, I mean, I’m going through some troubles myself. That rat Clayton pulled the tights to steal a New Breed Title match from me, so… I know how you feel. Seriously, good luck.
Cynthia Valice: So you have nothing for Pain For Pride?
NICK: … Yeah, I guess you could say that.
(NICK goes to walk away but Cynthia steps in front of him.)
Cynthia Valice: Well then… Why not be my partner? I mean, it is horrible that you lost your chance at the New Breed Championship. I’m sorry that you were cheated out of that, but… It does seem though like you have history with Diego…and you are looking for a match for Pain for Pride. Together we could both take them down. It seems like this could be a win-win for the two of us!
NICK: You do you have a point there…
(NICK seems to be considering this now. It looks like he’s about to answer when…)
???: Woah! Isn’t this crazy?
(The camera pans to show Diego Montana strutting towards NICK and Valice with his shit-eating grin on his face. Circe is right behind him, looking quite gleeful.)
Diego Montana: I didn’t know all the CHUMPS were meeting here, am I right??? Yeah… you know, it’s loco we stumbled on y’all tho. I didn’t think I’d find you of all people, Cynthia. So soon, ain’t it? Whatchu doing on Voltage, aka… MY turf?
Circe: Cynthia, honey, you know better than to come here and try and pick a fight with us… Daddy Diego and I certainly don’t like having to get our hands dirty in a time like this…
Diego Montana: Heh, yeah…
(NICK just glares in their direction looking annoyed by this sudden interruption.)
NICK: I don’t think either of us want you two around. But I think you know how much of an annoyance you’re being anyway.
Diego Montana: Annoyance?! Hah! IGNORED!
Cynthia Valice: I’m not surprised either of you are here. I’m sure you want to cause trouble, so you might as well say what you want to say now and face the consequences.
Diego Montana: Woah, what are these accusations??? These threats??? Can you believe this, babe? The nerve of these people, gosh…
Circe: Accusations definitely. I don’t want you to make promises that you can’t keep, Cynthia. Like, consequences? I don’t think that you have the capabilities to beat a team like us.
Diego Montana: You don’t even got a partner! I mean, get a load of that? I wasn’t about to rub it in your face, but you wanna get all hostile with me and my gurl, so yeah, I guess it’s gotta be that way. I don’t know why y’all are so annoyed and shit, if anything, you should be taking notes and tryna be more like El Diablo Guapo, the PEAK of EAW.
NICK: Fuck outta here with that.
Diego Montana: I’m being deadass tho, homie. Especially since it seems like nobody wants to be your friend’s partner at Pain For Pride. EMBARASSING! Couldn’t find anyone on Showdown, so you came round MY brand tryna beg for shit. But ain’t nobody gonna give you a penny.
(Cynthia Valice just rolls her eyes at the two of them.)
Circe: Why are you having trouble finding a partner anyway, Cynthia? Is it because no one is dumb enough to take your side in all of this? Seems to be the case. I mean, nobody wants to go all the way to Pain For Pride just to be beaten by us. That wouldn’t be very fun for them.
Diego Montana: Truer words have yet to be spoken. Cynthia, why do you think you’re lonely AF right now? Because EVERYONE knows that you getting an L, they ain’t want no part of that. People got better things to do with their careers and shit. They could try and get into the 24/7 Battle Royal, enjoy some… catering, I suppose. Shit, y’all two might like catering! But you know… I think they can certainly find anything more appealing than losing with you, Cynthia. You feel me?
(Cynthia finally grows tired from all of this and interjects.)
Cynthia Valice: Of course that’s what you would tell yourself. This is unbelievable, Diego, even for someone like you. You are so full of yourself. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. You’ve clearly a mile on the wrong side by now. I think that you’re worried about me finding a partner.
Diego Montana: Worried? SMH. As if.
Cynthia Valice: Oh, I’m very certain both of you are. Because if last week showed me anything about you… It’s that both of you are a bunch of COWARDS! The way that you attacked CMZ? It was despicable. The idea of me bringing a partner into Pain for Pride must be sending chills up and down your spine. Seriously. Because it seems like the only way that you can accomplish anything is by attacking me from behind. Why should I be by any means scared of that?
Circe: Oh you’re beyond wrong about that one, dear. Daddy Diego and I might not have the accomplishments to back up your talk, but neither do you. Where is your gold? Where is your… anything? I attacked you because you were easy prey, and the only thing you’ve done is prove me right so far. Deep down, it doesn’t matter if you can find someone or not. You’re going to lose.
Cynthia Valice: Am I? You see, I know you come from a long legacy, Circe. I mean, your big sister is competing for the Universal Women’s Championship at Pain for Pride. But you? You’re nothing like her. And you’re going to get everything that is coming your way. I am going to embarrass you on the biggest stage, and is that really how you intend for your career to begin here in EAW? Because that is how it’s going to turn out. I don’t care what you think about me finding a partner, but I really think you should be afraid. Because the two of you know that once the odds are balanced out… You no longer have the power.
(Diego looks at Circe and the two of them chuckle.)
Diego Montana: C’mon! You gotta be kidding me with this! Get a load of this JACKASS, babe? Look, pendeja, it’s just not a good look for you to be so self-righteous. I have nothing to be afraid of against you. Nothing at all. But you know what? I have to admit that it is going to feel really, really good when we beat you at Pain for Pride. In fact, it’s going to feel so good that we’ll throw a celebration or something after! Babe, are there any good clubs in Toronto? Maybe with some good matcha?
Circe: Anything for you, Daddy Diego. I’m sure you and I will have a very fun celebration.
Diego Montana: Yeahhhhh we will. 🤑
Cynthia Valice: You won’t be celebrating anything. In fact, I think your mood will be pretty sour. But hey, I’m going to feel great knowing that I beat you and once that’s through I’m finally going to be done with you.
Diego Montana: No, mami. You gonna feel like exactly who you are, SHIT! From the beating that you get and from that feeling of knowing that you couldn’t stop us.
(Diego smirks and takes another step forward towards Cynthia. NICK takes a big step right in front of him. He smirks at him.)
NICK: Why don’t you hold on there a minute? You’re sort of coming off a little hot here, Diego. Something got you bothered? Maybe you feel a bit threatened by Cynthia here? Well, you definitely should be. Because I know what sort of man you are. Hardly one at all really.
Diego Montana: You tryna defend this gurl, chump? You think you boutta get in her pants or something? This is none of your business. Why don’t you do us all a favor and find somewhere else to be.
NICK: No. And you know what? I’m making this my business now. You see, Cynthia and I were having a chat before you interrupted us. Lo and behold we were talking about you actually. I was just telling her how much I disliked you. And as it turns out I have some free time in the near future. So, I might as well get to do something that I enjoy, right? Like beating the snot out of you.
Circe: You’re making a bad decision here…
NICK: I’m good. Don’t need to hear your shit actually. At Pain for Pride, I am going to team up with Cynthia against the two of you. And then we’re going to stomp you down into dust. Do you get that?
(Diego looks right past NICK and at Cynthia. He looks like he doesn’t believe this for a second. There’s a bit of outrage on his face as well.)
Diego Montana: THIS GUY? ARE YOU SERIOUS?
(Diego bursts out laughing and Circe joins in. He even wipes some tears from his eyes.)
Diego Montana: No, no, no…you have to be messing with me right now, Cynthia! You deadass gonna agree to this shit??? Look, he tryna rizz you up and shit, but he ain’t the partner for you. He not gon bring you matcha and labubus like my girl does, and he definitely ain’t gonna get you that win at Pain For Pride. He ain’t shit right now! Are you sure that you want to go from having nothing to do at Pain for Pride…to getting your ass kicked at it? Sounds to me like you’re a glutton for punishment, amigo.
NICK: Not at all. Because the two of us aren’t going to be beaten by you two bozos. In fact, I am going to kick your ass, Diego. Got that?
Diego Montana: Oh…I get it alright. I get that you’re stupid enough to th-
(Diego looks like he’s getting heated and tense, but suddenly… Circe puts a hand on Diego’s shoulder.)
Circe: Come on, Daddy Diego… Let’s not waste our time with these fools. It’s *their* deathwish after all…
(Diego looks back at her, managing a smirk.)
Diego Montana: Iight then. Catch you two losers around.
(Diego glances back at Cynthia and NICK, shaking his head as he follows Circe out of the scene. Cynthia then glances over at NICK.)
Cynthia Valice: Thanks for that! Guess you’re my partner now?
NICK: Damn right. Let’s kick their asses.
Cynthia Valice: It’s a date!
(Cynthia turns the other direction and skips off, NICK watching for a moment with a smile before thinking back to what she said.)
NICK: Wait what?
(NICK scratches his head with a perplexed expression on his face as he quickly follows behind her. It’s the last shot seen before the camera fades out.)
(Commercial for Halo: Campaign Evolved coming to PlayStation 5 this year. At some point. We swear. It’s definitely happening. Pinky promise.)
(The camera cuts backstage to Captain Charisma’s office. Papers are spread across his desk as he flips through several documents, reading over them with a tired expression on his face.)
Captain Charisma: Why is the permitting process for Barbed Wire Massacre always so complicated? We’ve done this match for years. There should be paperwork somewhere that says “yes, we’re intentionally wrapping things in barbed wire.”
(He flips another page.)
Captain Charisma: You’d think after this many times they’d stop asking questions.
(He reaches for another document before suddenly—)
**SLAM!**
(The office door flies open hard enough to rattle the glass. Captain Charisma immediately freezes, slowly lowering the paper in his hands. Standing in the doorway is Miku Sakai. Her face is red with anger. She doesn’t even bother closing the door behind her.)
Captain Charisma: …And now the most complicated part of my day.
Miku Sakai: WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS COMPANY?!
Captain Charisma: Good to see you too, Miku.
Miku Sakai: DON’T “GOOD TO SEE YOU” ME! I AM HAVING A HORRIBLE FUCKING TIME IN THIS SHIT HOLE OF A BRAND!
Captain Charisma: And what seems to be the trouble?
(Miku storms into the office.)
Miku Sakai: NO! YOU DON’T GET TO PLAY NICE GUY WITH ME! IF IT WAS ALL GOOD THEN WE WOULDN’T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION! I AM SICK OF THIS! I AM SICK OF THIS COMPANY! I AM SICK OF VOLTAGE! I AM SICK OF THESE STUPID MATCHES! I AM SICK OF THESE DUMBASS PEOPLE! I AM SICK OF EVERYONE MAKING MY LIFE MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT NEEDS TO BE!
Captain Charisma: You seem upset.
Miku Sakai: WOW! NOTHING GETS PAST YOU, HUH?!
Captain Charisma: It’s one of the reasons they made me commissioner.
Miku Sakai: DON’T GET CUTE WITH ME, CUNTFACE!
Captain Charisma: Then maybe don’t kick my door open.
Miku Sakai: MAYBE I WOULDN’T HAVE TO KICK DOORS OPEN IF THIS COMPANY STOPPED FUCKING ME OVER EVERY SINGLE WEEK AND CLOSING DOORS IN MY FACE!
(Miku starts pacing in front of the desk.)
Miku Sakai: First I get stuck with Diego Montana!
Captain Charisma: Here we go.
Miku Sakai: NO! LET’S START THERE! LET’S START WITH THE FACT THAT I HAD TO SPEND WEEKS OF MY LIFE DEALING WITH THAT MORON! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DID TO ME? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY KNOWING YOU HAVE TO INTERACT WITH DIEGO MONTANA?!
Captain Charisma: I book the show, Miku. I interact with Diego Montana regularly. Trust me. I know.
(Miku pauses.)
Miku Sakai: …
Captain Charisma: …
Miku Sakai: Fair.
Captain Charisma: Thank you.
Miku Sakai: BUT THAT DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING!
(Miku throws both arms into the air before beginning to pace the office again, still fed up with everything that has happened to her for the last few months.)
Miku Sakai: Do you understand how ridiculous the last several months of my life have been?! Empress of Elite, Jon Kelton- ugh, don’t even get me started on that stupid manbaby Adam Lucas! Then I spent weeks dragging Diego Montana through a tournament he had absolutely no business making the finals of! Every single round I had to sit there wondering what stupid thing he was going to do next. Was he going to flirt with somebody? Was he going to get distracted? Was he going to say something so unbelievably stupid that I lost brain cells just standing next to him? It was like babysitting a drunk toddler with a mustache!
Captain Charisma: That’s a vivid description.
Miku Sakai: IT’S AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION!
(Miku points accusingly at him.)
Miku Sakai: And after all of that? After all the effort I put into carrying his useless ass? What do I get for it? Nothing! We don’t win the tournament. We don’t get the money. We don’t get the title match. We don’t get shit! I wasted months of my life trying to make that work and it blew up in my face because Diego Montana is exactly as competent as everyone with functioning eyes already knew he was!
Captain Charisma: So this is about Diego.
Miku Sakai: NO CAPTAIN CUNTISMA! IT’S ABOUT EVERYTHING!
(Miku slaps the desk hard enough to make some papers shift. It’s enough to make Captain Charisma stop for a moment, as she continues speaking.)
Miku Sakai: Because then I get thrown into a Cash in the Vault qualifier and that goes to shit too! Every single time I get close to something, some dumbass gets involved, some idiot ruins it, some garbage situation falls into my lap and suddenly I’m right back where I started! Fighting Spirit? Disaster. The tournament? Disaster. Cash in the Vault? Disaster. At this point if I walked outside and got hit by a bus I’d assume Diego was driving it!
Captain Charisma: That’s probably not possible.
Miku Sakai: WHY?!
Captain Charisma: I don’t think he has a commercial license.
Miku Sakai: That’s honestly the most responsible thing I’ve ever heard about him. And I mean by a fucking long shot.
Captain Charisma: So more to the point… what exactly do you want?
Miku Sakai: WHAT DO I WANT?!
Captain Charisma: Yes. That’s usually the point where people tell me why they kicked my door open.
Miku Sakai: I WANT AN OPPORTUNITY!
Captain Charisma: An opportunity for what?
Miku Sakai: I DON’T KNOW! SOMETHING!
Captain Charisma: That’s very specific.
Miku Sakai: DON’T FUCKING START WITH ME!
(Miku throws her hands up.)
Miku Sakai: I’m sick of this! Empress of Elite? Nothing. Tag Team Turmoil? Nothing. Even a measly ass spot in Cash in the Vault? Nope. Nothing for Miku. Every time I start building momentum or even get a sniff of something real, some stupid bullshit comes along and ruins everything!
Captain Charisma: That’s competition.
Miku Sakai: NO! Competition is when somebody beats me! This is DIFFERENT! This is the universe personally deciding it hates me!
Captain Charisma: That seems unlikely.
Miku Sakai: DOES IT?!
Captain Charisma: Yes.
Miku Sakai: Well I disagree.
Captain Charisma: Duly noted.
Miku Sakai: Pain for Pride is right around the corner and everybody else has something going on! Everybody has a plan! Everybody has direction! Everybody has a match! And I’m sitting here wondering what fresh new disaster is waiting around the corner for me!
Captain Charisma: So this is really about Pain for Pride.
Miku Sakai: OF COURSE IT’S ABOUT PAIN FOR PRIDE!
Captain Charisma: You could’ve opened with that.
Miku Sakai: I DID OPEN WITH THAT!
Captain Charisma: No. You opened with Diego.
Miku Sakai: Because fuck Diego!
Captain Charisma: Pretty sure that’s what he wanted from you all along.
(Miku looks angry and points at him.)
Miku Sakai: I will call HR on your ass.
Captain Charisma: You’d have to sit long enough to fill out paperwork.
(Miku sighs before leaning over the desk.)
Miku Sakai: The point is that I deserve something. I’m too good to just wander into Pain for Pride with no direction. I shouldn’t have to beg for opportunities.
Captain Charisma: Then it’s fortunate that as it turns out, you don’t actually have to beg for anything.
(Miku blinks.)
Miku Sakai: …What?
Captain Charisma: I do happen to have a spot left open.
(Miku immediately narrows her eyes.)
Miku Sakai: Why do I feel like I’m about to hate whatever comes out of your mouth next?
Captain Charisma: Because you’re Miku Sakai and hating things is your primary personality trait.
Miku Sakai: That’s not true.
Captain Charisma: You kicked my door off its hinges five minutes ago.
Miku Sakai: That’s because I was angry!
Captain Charisma: Which is my point.
(Miku rolls her eyes.)
Miku Sakai: Fine. What is it?
Captain Charisma: Before I answer that, let me ask you something.
Miku Sakai: Oh my God.
Captain Charisma: Just answer.
Miku Sakai: Fine.
Captain Charisma: Do you actually want an opportunity, or do you just want to be angry?
Miku Sakai: What kind of stupid fucking question is that?
Captain Charisma: A serious one.
Miku Sakai: I literally just spent the last twenty minutes screaming about wanting an opportunity!
Captain Charisma: And you also spent twenty minutes blaming Diego Montana for global warming, so forgive me if I’m trying to sort through the details.
Miku Sakai: HE PROBABLY CAUSED THAT TOO!
Captain Charisma: Miku.
Miku Sakai: What?!
Captain Charisma: You said you’re too good to walk into Pain for Pride without direction.
Miku Sakai: Because I am.
Captain Charisma: You said you’re tired of watching everybody else move forward while you’re stuck in place.
Miku Sakai: Correct.
Captain Charisma: You said you deserve something bigger than sitting on the sidelines.
Miku Sakai: Also correct.
Captain Charisma: Good. Then we’re on the same page.
(Miku folds her arms, still skeptical.)
Captain Charisma: Because regardless of how the last few months have gone, you’re still one of the most accomplished women on this roster. Former Unified Tag Team Champion. Former Specialists Champion. Impressive wins all across this season including against current King of Elite Cody Maverick. You’ve done more than enough to solidify yourself as a threat to be on the look out for, so I don’t think it even needs to be said that you’re still somebody people pay attention to.
Miku Sakai: Obviously.
Captain Charisma: That’s why I wasn’t planning on leaving you off Pain for Pride.
(Miku’s expression softens slightly. Not much. But enough.)
Captain Charisma: I already have a match available. The only question is whether you’re interested.
Miku Sakai: …Okay.
Captain Charisma: Triple Threat All-Star Match.
(Miku stares at him for a moment.)
Miku Sakai: That’s the name?
Captain Charisma: That’s the name.
Miku Sakai: Sounds fake.
Captain Charisma: It’s not.
Miku Sakai: Sounds like somebody came up with it five minutes before a meeting.
Captain Charisma: That’s most wrestling names. A TLC match is just short for Tables Ladders and Chairs match. It’s not exactly the place for high level branding. Regardless. I have a spot for you.
Miku Sakai: So your big answer is an All-Star Match?
Captain Charisma: My answer is a Pain for Pride match featuring three of the best women from all three brands.
Miku Sakai: That’s commissioner speak for “yes.”
Captain Charisma: It’s an All-Star Match for a reason. It’s been in the works for some time now, and everything has already been set up across the last few days. Showdown is sending Brianna Hill, who I know is hungry for an opportunity. KASAI made it pretty clear she wants in on Dynasty, and given her own status, I can only imagine she’s looking to make a statement. I just need somebody to represent Voltage.
Miku Sakai: Okay. And?
Captain Charisma: And what?
Miku Sakai: What’s in it for me?
Captain Charisma: You mean besides a match at Pain for Pride?
Miku Sakai: Yes, Captain Smartass, besides the match.
(Miku folds her arms.)
Miku Sakai: Because I didn’t kick your door open looking for a participation trophy. If I’m going to Pain for Pride, I want it to actually matter. That’s the point of wanting an opportunity.
Captain Charisma: It does matter.
Miku Sakai: Convince me.
Captain Charisma: Fine.
(Captain Charisma leans back in his chair, ready to finally go into more detail about the upcoming triple threat match as he continues.)
Captain Charisma: Brianna Hill has spent the last several months building momentum for herself and, in case you’ve somehow forgotten, she’s a former Specialists Champion. KASAI is the reigning Empress of Elite who, if she plays her cards right, can become the Universal Women’s Champion on any given night. You already know exactly what both of them bring to the table. The winner of this match walks out of Pain for Pride with a huge statement victory over two of the biggest names in the women’s division. That’s the kind of thing that gets people talking heading into a new season. That’s the kind of thing that puts somebody in position to become a top contender, and before you know it, puts them in a Championship match.
(Miku doesn’t say anything immediately.)
Captain Charisma: Which, if I remember correctly, is exactly the kind of opportunity you just spent the last half hour demanding.
Miku Sakai: It wasn’t half an hour.
Captain Charisma: It felt like half an hour.
Miku Sakai: Fuck you.
Captain Charisma: Still wanna call HR?
(Miku rolls her eyes.)
Miku Sakai: Okay. Fine. That’s slightly less stupid than it sounded five minutes ago.
Captain Charisma: I thought you might feel that way.
Miku Sakai: Don’t get excited. I’m still deciding whether I hate this.
Captain Charisma: Sure.
(Captain Charisma shrugs.)
Captain Charisma: Especially considering one of the people in the match is KASAI.
Miku Sakai: What about her?
Captain Charisma: Well, she’s a talented competitor but I’d imagine getting to face her would do a lot for you, since you two actually have some pretty significant history that wasn’t even that long ago. It’s not like you’re just entering a random match that you can afford to just brush off, Miku. You’re about to face the same person that beat you in the Empress of Elite tournament, who then proceeded to win the tournament itself. One of the opportunities you were mad about coming out with nothing as I recall.
(Miku immediately goes quiet.)
Captain Charisma: And now you’ll have a chance to beat her at Pain for Pride.
Miku Sakai: …
Captain Charisma: …
Miku Sakai: That’s not why I’m interested.
Captain Charisma: Of course not.
Miku Sakai: It isn’t.
Captain Charisma: I believe you.
Miku Sakai: Stop doing that.
Captain Charisma: Doing what?
Miku Sakai: That thing where you act like you’re right.
Captain Charisma: I haven’t said anything.
Miku Sakai: Exactly! It’s fucking annoying!
(Captain Charisma can’t help but smirk.)
Miku Sakai: Look, if I happen to beat KASAI on the biggest stage of the year and if people happen to start talking about me again and if that happens to put me in a better position going into next season, then that’s just a bonus.
Captain Charisma: Naturally.
Miku Sakai: The point is that I’m doing this because it’s a great opportunity and I’m a professional.
Captain Charisma: Naturally.
Miku Sakai: Stop saying that!
Captain Charisma: Then stop making it so easy.
(Miku stares at him before finally throwing her hands up in frustration.)
Miku Sakai: Fuck! Whatever! I’ll do the stupid match!
Captain Charisma: Glad we could come to an agreement.
Miku Sakai: This wasn’t your idea.
Captain Charisma: Sure.
Miku Sakai: It wasn’t!
Captain Charisma: Miku, you literally kicked my door open asking for an opportunity.
Miku Sakai: And now I have one. See? Everything worked out because of me. Power of my positive attitude and self-actualization.
Captain Charisma: Whatever helps you sleep at night.
(Miku starts heading toward the door before stopping and turning back one last time.)
Miku Sakai: By the way, if this somehow goes wrong, I’m blaming you.
Captain Charisma: I figured.
Miku Sakai: Good. Glad we’re on the same page.
(With that, Miku finally exits the office. Captain Charisma watches her leave before looking over at the still-open door and the scattered paperwork across his desk.)
Captain Charisma: Somehow the barbed wire paperwork was less painful than that.
(Captain Charisma returns to his paperwork with a sigh, shaking his head and just getting back to work as the camera fades away.)
(The camera shot returns to the ring where Bella Braxton is standing with a microphone in hand as she is ready to start the introductions for the next match.)
Bella Braxton: The following contest is a PICK YOUR POISON MATCH SCHEDULED FOR ONE FALL!
Crowd: ONE FALL!
(‘my mind is a mountain’ by Deftones starts to play as one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions, Daniella Atlas, enters the arena to loud boos from the crowd. She has her title on her shoulder as she heads to the ring, focus on her face as she walks down the ramp as she prepares to face someone she knows very well.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first and making her way to the ring! Representing TOXXXIN! From Dunkirk, France. Weighing 170 pounds. She is ONE HALF OF THE EAW UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! “THE BLADE OF HERMES” DANIELLA ATLAS!
Rich Russillo: Here comes Daniella Atlas heading to the ring for singles action and she has got to be feeling good after successfully defending the Tag Titles last week on Voltage. Now she is taking on the Specialists Champion as Auburn’s Pick Your Poison selection.
Persephone: So that means this bitch could win this crappy match in a very short time frame? I would tolerate that.
Thadd Blazevich: But Saori wouldn’t. Daniella was selected by Auburn to make Saori’s life a nightmare in this match. Bro, these two have a lot of history together. I wonder how her opposition truly feels about this.
(Daniella enters the ring and hands her title to the referee as ‘Let Me Hear’ by Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas starts to play. The boos continue as the Specialists Champion Saori Aizen heads out to the stage. A grin forms on Saori’s face making her entrance with her Specialists Championship, before finally she turns her attention towards Daniella Atlas. She looks ready for action as she heads to the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing her opponent! From Tokyo, Japan. Weighing in at 59 Kilograms. Here is THE EAW SPECIALISTS CHAMPION! “THE CONTROL DEVIL” SAORI AIZEN!
Persephone: The bitch parade never ends! Aren’t we just so lucky!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, the Specialists Champion is here and he is a very demonic and very evil individual who will stop at nothing to win this match and keep her title at Pain for Pride.
Rich Russillo: We saw Damon Lazurus defeat Carmen Sanchez earlier tonight with a time of 9:54. Now it’s time for the champ to step up to the plate. Saori knows exactly what she has to do in this situation. Will Saori beat the clock and become the Pick Your Poison time leader or will Daniella ruin her chances? We’re about to find out.
(Saori enters the ring and hands her title to the referee as her music fades off. The referee quickly checks both competitors as the clock appears on the screen before calling for the bell.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
CLOCK: 0:00
Rich Russillo: There’s the bell and here we go with this Pick Your Poison match which actually doubles as a Champion vs. Champion match. Which lady will go into Pain for Pride with some extra momentum with a victory tonight? Saori must either BEAT Daniella OR last longer than 9:54 to stay in the running to pick the stipulation at Pain for Pride.
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn has to be watching this match closely because she is banking on Daniella beating up Saori and winning this match. Because Auburn has to follow suit later tonight and she hopes Saori gets destroyed so she only has to worry about Carmen. Think about the history between these two, bro. This is going to be a fight.
Persephone: Who cares? The shorter this match is, the better.
Thadd Blazevich: Well here comes the opening lock up and DANIELLA EASILY OVERPOWERS SAORI AND SHOVES HER DOWN TO THE GROUND!
Rich Russillo: Going head on against a powerhouse like Daniella will not work. Saori will need to rely on her sneaky strikes and body attacks in order to survive this match.
Persephone: Let her keep going head on and getting destroyed. Would make this show go faster.
Rich Russillo: Saori is once again asking to lock up with Daniella. It didn’t work the first time, but maybe it might the second time? Who knows? As Daniella obliges and there is another lock up.
Persephone: Well nobody accused Saori of being smart, BUT THAT’S WHY! BITCH GRABS A HANDFUL OF DANIELLA’S HAIR FROM THE BACK! Maybe Daniella is the stupid one because everybody could have seen that coming.
Thadd Blazevich: The referee doesn’t see that nasty move, BUT NOW THEY DO AS DANIELLA IS BACKED INTO THE ROPES AND THE REFEREE IS FORCING A BREAK BRO!
Rich Russillo: Saori doesn’t listen and the referee starts a count which she breaks on four to not risk getting disqualified. Daniella didn’t like that at all AND SHE FIRES OFF A FOREARM RIGHT INTO SAORI’S JAW!
Thadd Blazevich: Atlas doesn’t like dirty tactics turned against her and she is firing forearms until Saori is backed into the ropes on the other side before whipping Saori back to the other side.
Persephone: Wow. Very exciting as she hits the ropes and comes back. Daniella ducks her head for a back body drop, BUT SAORI STOPS AND KICKS HER RIGHT IN THE FACE! BAHAHAHAHA! OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK TO FALL FOR BITCH!
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella flings back from the force behind that kick and Saori hits the ropes again before coming back AND HITTING DANIELLA WITH A RUNNING LARIAT THAT ACTUALLY MANAGES TO TAKE DANIELLA TO THE GROUND!
CLOCK: 1:08
Rich Russillo: Saori pulls Daniella into a sitting position before hitting the ropes one more time AND COMING BACK WITH A BASEMENT METEORA–
Persephone: SHE AVOIDED IT! DAMN IT!! The match can’t end if you keep avoiding stuff.
Rich Russillo: Saori’s knees hit the mat as Daniella gets back to her feet AND CLOBBERS SAORI WITH A SPINNING BACK ELBOW TO THE FACE!! SAORI HITS THE MAT AND DANIELLA QUICKLY HOOKS HER INTO THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOO–
Persephone: She kicked out. Big surprise there.
Thadd Blazevich: Quick one count for Daniella as she grabs Saori and JUST LAUNCHES HER INTO THE CORNER! Saori hits the turnbuckle AND DANIELLA JUST STARTS CHOKING SAORI IN THE CORNER WITH HER FOOT!
Rich Russillo: THERE SHE GOES! SHE IS HYPEREXTENDING HER LEG TO CAUSE MORE DAMAGE! DANIELLA IS NOT PLAYING AROUND BUT THE REFEREE IS RIGHT THERE STARTING A COUNT BECAUSE THAT IS ILLEGAL!
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella lets Saori go on four. Look at Daniella’s face. She looks completely annoyed at Saori. Bro, she has to think that Saori has changed and hates what Saori is starting to become.
Persephone: You mean the part where Saori has a man and a title? Or the part where she’s somehow turning into an even bigger psycho bitch than usual?
Thadd Blazevich: Could be either way. But look at Daniella with the facelock on Saori as she lifts her up and sits her on the top turnbuckle.
(The camera cuts to the locker room area where we once again see Auburn Ware watching this second Pick Your Poison match with major intent in her eyes, even more than before given it’s Saori Aizen.)
Rich Russillo: Well now we see that Auburn is once again watching this Pick Your Poison match. You would have to assume that Carmen would also be watching this match… if she wasn’t probably in the trainer’s room getting medical attention after her match with Damon.
Persephone: Who gives a crap about those two? Let’s just focus on this crappy match so it can end quicker.
Rich Russillo: The clock is ticking as Daniella tries to climb up onto the second rope, BUT SHE IS MET WITH A BOOT TO THE FACE FROM SAORI!
Persephone: Another counter. Big shock there as she is now standing on the top rope BEFORE LEAPING LIKE AN IDIOT–
Thadd Blazevich: AND CONNECTING WITH A MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE FACE OF DANIELLA! BRO, SAORI QUICKLY RECOVERS AND GOES FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
CLOCK: 2:11
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA KICKS OUT!! TWO COUNT FOR SAORI AS SHE QUICKLY TRANSITIONS INTO A HEADSCISSOR HEADLOCK!
Thadd Blazevich: Saori doesn’t want to get too dependent on a submission. While they wear an opponent down, it can certainly eat up some clock. Remember that, win or lose, time is of the essence.
Persephone: If there is any sort of bright side, it’s that it’s the boring matches that have the time restrictions. They still suck!
Thadd Blazevich: The referee is checking to see if Daniella wants to give it up, which we know she won’t. BUT LOOK AT DANIELLA! DANIELLA IS MUSCLING HERSELF BACK TO HER FEET! WHAT POWER!
Rich Russillo: SAORI IS SITTING ON DANIELLA’S SHOULDERS! SHE KNOWS SHE’S IN A MESS OF TROUBLE AS SHE FALLS BACK INTO THE ELECTRIC CHAIR DROP! SAORI LANDS HARD ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD!
Persephone: That is such a misleading name for a move since she’s still alive, but Daniella uses her peanut sized brain and bridges up for a cover. I won’t get my hopes up.
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHH–
Rich Russillo: NEAR FALL FOR DANIELLA AS SAORI KICKS OUT AT TWO! BUT DANIELLA ROLLS BACK INTO A MODIFIED MOUNTED POSITION AND JUST STARTS THROWING ELBOW STRIKES INTO SAORI’S FACE!
Persephone: This might be tolerable if she manages to bust the bitch open. A little blood might add a small pulse to this.
Thadd Blazevich: And the Pain for Pride implications don’t, bro? Meanwhile, Saori is trying to block as many of the elbows as she can, UNTIL FINALLY SHE JUST THROWS A HEADBUTT AT DANIELLA, A MOVE SHE DOESN’T DO OFTEN TO FINALLY GET DANIELLA OFF OF HER!
Rich Russillo: It’s smart to pull out new tricks against familiar opponents, and we’re seeing that now as Daniella rolls off of her. Saori is back on her feet as Daniella is on her knees and pulled into a sitting position as Saori hits the ropes–
Thadd Blazevich: BEFORE COMING BACK WITH A PENALTY KICK RIGHT TO THE FACE! THAT COULD HAVE BROKEN A NOSE OR LOOSENED SOME TEETH, BRO!
Persephone: Fine by me. Let them send each other to the hospital.
Thadd Blazevich: With their history, they certainly could. Daniella has rolled onto her knees as Saori pulls Daniella up by the hair back to her feet. Bro, not cool.
Rich Russillo: Saori is actually able to muscle Daniella up into the side slam position BEFORE CHANGING IT INTO A PENDULUM BACKBREAKER! THAT MIGHT RATTLE THE SPINE A LITTLE BIT!
Persephone: One bitch is down and the other bitch hits the ropes. This is gonna be stupid–
Rich Russillo: Saori with the rebound AND SHE HITS THE DOUBLE FOOT STOMP! RIGHT INTO DANIELLA’S HEART! DIRECT HIT AS SAORI NOW GOES FOR A COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHH–
Persephone: OF COURSE SHE KICKS OUT! BIG FREAKIN’ SURPRISE!
Thadd Blazevich: Very close near fall for Saori as she rolls Daniella onto her stomach before pulling back onto her arms and stepping onto her legs BEFORE PULLING HER BACK–
Rich Russillo: INTO A MODIFIED SURFBOARD STRETCH BY SAORI! SAORI REALLY PUTTING A TORQUE ON DANIELLA’S BACK AND LEGS AS THE REFEREE AGAIN CHECKS ON DANIELLA TO SEE IF SHE WANTS TO GIVE IT UP!
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella’s power advantage has been surprisingly neutralized for the moment as Saori has been able to use her submission skills in this match.
Persephone: Of course she chooses to use the boring crap in the match. They should have made these matchups no rules so we can really see how long these bitches last.
Thadd Blazevich: LOOK! DANIELLA MANAGES TO GET AN ARM FREE TO THROW A BACK ELBOW TO GET HER OTHER ARM FREE! SHE GRABS SAORI BY THE HAIR AND TAKES HER OVER WITH A MODIFIED SNAPMARE!
Rich Russillo: Both ladies get back to their feet as Saori comes running in for a kick, BUT SHE IS MET WITH A BICYCLE KICK TO THE FACE!!
Persephone: Did her eyeballs roll back into her head? Gawd, I hope so.
Rich Russillo: Saori is dazed as she bounces off the ropes and stumbles right back towards Daniella WHO CLOBBERS HER WITH THE “INAMORATA”! WHAT A SHOT!
Persephone: I was hoping that the lariat would have decapitated her, but sadly, no head flying into the stands. That sucks just like this match, but the Daniella bitch rolls Saori over and goes for a pin to get all of our hopes up.
CLOCK: 4:04
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHHHRRREEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI POWERS OUT AT TWO! SHE GOT THE SHOULDER UP, BUT THAT WAS A VERY CLOSE NEAR FALL FOR SAORI!
(The camera cuts once again to the locker room where Auburn Ware has her attention completely focused on the match.)
Rich Russillo: There we once again see Auburn watching this match very closely. You would have to think that she is wanting Saori to lose, meaning that all she has to do is win and she gets to set the stipulation.
Thadd Blazevich: Saori is trying to quickly recover after having her bell rung off the lariat as Daniella brings her back to her feet. She quickly grabs Saori and pulls her back up as well.
Persephone: Wow. This is as exciting as taking the trash out or watching paint dry.
Thadd Blazevich: Daniella has Saori hooked up in a way as SHE TRIES TO LIFT SAORI FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX BUT SAORI SOMEHOW BLOCKS IT, BRO!
Rich Russillo: Daniella throws some shots into Saori’s ribs to try to weaken her defenses AS SHE TRIES FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX AGAIN–
Persephone: And it gets blocked again, ladies and gentlemen. Excitement at its finest on Voltage live from Hell.
Rich Russillo: Saori blocked the suplex AND CHANGES MOMENTUM ENOUGH TO COUNTER THE SUPLEX INTO A MODIFIED DDT!!
Persephone: Another counter that doesn’t lead to blood. Can this get any better?
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, now both ladies are down and the referee is left with no choice but to start their official ten count. Now what would happen if this match ends in a draw, Bro?
Rich Russillo: I think the ruling would be that Saori did not beat Daniella so it would come down to the clock, and after taking a quick glance at the clock on the screen….
CLOCK: 6:11
Rich Russillo: Saori would lose her chance to pick the stipulation.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, that would suck, but the referee is still counting and if they aren’t careful, that’s the exact result we will see.
Persephone: You make it sound like it will be a bad thing.
Thadd Blazevich: For you? Probably not. For the competitors in the ring, Bro? Absolutely.
Rich Russillo: Both Daniella and Saori are starting to move right now as the referee is still counting. This might be a photo finish right here. Can they beat the count?
Persephone: Does EAW give these damn referees IQ tests before they get hired? How hard is it to count to ten? COUNT FASTER!
Rich Russillo: The referee is at a count of eight and Saori makes it back to her feet as the referee says nine and Daniella is still not up. THE REFEREE IS ABOUT TO SAY TEN! DANIELLA MIGHT NOT BEAT THE COUNT–
Persephone: OH DAMN IT TO HELL!! OF COURSE SHE BEATS THE COUNT! WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, that was a dangerously close save by Daniella Atlas. But either way, both competitors are back to their feet AND THEY GET FACE TO FACE IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!
Rich Russillo: This is going to be good. The history between these two is about to come to a head right here and now in this Pick Your Poison match–
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI STARTS OFF WITH A RIGHT HAND, BRO! DANIELLA ROCKED A LITTLE BUT SHE COMES RIGHT BACK WITH A RIGHT HAND OF HER OWN!
Persephone: Then Saori comes back and catches Daniella with a right hand again. BORING! Let these bitches just kill each other!!
Thadd Blazevich: BRO, HERE COMES DANIELLA WITH ANOTHER RIGHT AND NOW THESE TWO ARE JUST SLUGGING IT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING, BRO! THE FIGHT IS ON!
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA AND SAORI ARE JUST HAVING A FIST FIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING AND NEITHER COMPETITOR IS GIVING AN INCH TO THE OTHER AND THE REFEREE IS TRYING TO BREAK UP THIS FIGHT!
Persephone: Why? It would be much easier to determine a winner. Or just ring the bell now and just end the match here. These referees need to stop being so damn wishy washy.
Rich Russillo: The referee has reached the point where they are warning Daniella and Saori that if they don’t stop, the referee will throw this match out. That causes Saori to stop because the match being called off would affect her more than Daniella.
Persephone: What a big baby. Keep punching the fuck out of each other–
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI WITH A SHOTEI!! YOU ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE, AS THAT NASTY STRIKE DEFINITELY TURNED THIS ONE AROUND! Saori then kicks Daniella in the gut and doubles her over before pulling her in!
Rich Russillo: After that, she hooks both of Daniella’s arms into a butterfly lock BEFORE SHE LIFTS HER UP IN THE AIR–
Thadd Blazevich: SHE GOT THE TIGER BOMB, BRO!! SAORI GOT THE “HYOKINDAMA” POWERBOMB AND DANIELLA ALMOST DRIVEN DOWN RIGHT ON HER NECK!
Persephone: Of course it was almost. Never perfectly. I hate this place sometimes.
Thadd Blazevich: Hate it all you want but this could finish the match here and now as Saori stacks Daniella up for the cover, Bro!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHHHRRREEEEEE!
Rich Russillo: DID SAORI GET IT? WAS IT A THREE COUNT?
Persephone: Gawd, I hope so!
Rich Russillo: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THE REFEREE SAYS IT WAS ONLY A TWO COUNT AND SAORI CAN’T BELIEVE IT!
Persephone: Why do these dumb bitches always look so damn shocked when they don’t get the win. Uh duh. It’s not over yet. There is no damn bell. Just keep going.
Thadd Blazevich: Saori grabs Daniella by the arm and just pulls her back to her feet BEFORE PULLING HER IN AND JUST CLOBBERING HER WITH A SHORT ARM LARIAT!
Rich Russillo: Daniella is back on the mat AS SAORI DOES A HANDSTAND AND JUST DRIVES HER KNEES RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF DANIELLA ATLAS!
(The camera cuts back to Auburn Ware in the locker room still watching this match very closely. As much as she hates Saori, she knows she can’t ignore a match like this given the stakes, especially with the timer getting closer to closer to the time Carmen had already set.)
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn is still watching this match very closely as this could determine what her parameters are going to be for her match later tonight. Honestly, what a match this has been.
Persephone: Ehhh. This match hasn’t completely bored me to death. Also, why in the hell do we keep showing Auburn Ware? Don’t we not have enough dumb bitches in the ring right now that we have to show a dumb bitch in the back. Seriously!?!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, as we get back to the match, I think that Saori is just trying to figure out what in the hell she has to do to keep Daniella down.
CLOCK: 7:58
Rich Russillo: Saori looks at the clock and realizes she is in a huge mess of trouble because there isn’t very much time left. She pulls Daniella back to her feet AND DANIELLA SWINGS FOR A KNIFE EDGE CHOP–
Persephone: Bitch ducked. What a surprise.
Rich Russillo: Saori is behind Daniella AND SAORI GOES FOR A SCHOOLBOY ROLLUP! SAORI TRYING TO STEAL IT HERE!!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!
Persephone: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LOOK! SHE HAS A HANDFUL OF TIGHTS! BITCH USING HER BRAIN AND REALLY TRYING TO STEAL IT!
THHHHHHHHHHRRREEEEEE!
Thadd Blazevich: DANIELLA KICKED OUT!! OH THAT WAS VERY CLOSE, BRO! SAORI ALMOST WON THE MATCH THERE! Now both women are going back to their feet as Saori–
Rich Russillo: TURNS INTO A HIGH KICK FROM DANIELLA ATLAS! LOOK AT HER EYES! DANIELLA IS PISSED OFF NOW!! SHE DIDN’T LIKE THAT SHORTCUT ONE BIT!! SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW SAORI WON THE SPECIALISTS CHAMPIONSHIP, AND I THINK SEEING HER TRY SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAINST DANIELLA MIGHT’VE JUST PISSED HER OFF!!
Thadd Blazevich: SAORI IS DAZED OFF THE KICK AS DANIELLA GRABS HER BY THE HAIR AND JUST STARTS DELIVERING REPEATED HEADBUTTS! ONE AFTER THE OTHER! OH MY GAWD, BRO!
Persephone: Bitch is going to knock herself out!
Thadd Blazevich: DANIELLA IS NOT STOPPING, BRO! SHE JUST BEATING SAORI WITHIN AN INCH OF HER LIFE RIGHT NOW! AS SHE HITS A KNEE LIFT KNOCKING SAORI DOWN TO THE MAT!
Rich Russillo: SHE IS NOT DONE! SHE DRAGS SAORI BACK UP BY THE HAIR AND HOISTS HER ON HER SHOULDERS BEFORE BRINGING HER BACK DOWN WITH “ANIMUS”!
Persephone: Bitch tried to fight back, but that onslaught led her to being dropped on her head by a Niagara Driver!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro I think it is safe to say that Saori might have taken things one step too far as Daniella drags her up one more time in the pumphandle position BEFORE BRINGING HER UP AND THEN DRIVING HER DOWN WITH THE “SOUTH OF HEAVEN”
Rich Russillo: SAORI WAS JUST PLANTED OFF THE PUMPHANDLE DROP AND DANIELLA QUICKLY GOES FOR THE COVER! OH BOY! THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE HERE!
ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!
TWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOO!
THHHHHHHHHRRRRREEEEEEEEE!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(‘my mind is a mountain’ starts playing again as Daniella rolls off of Saori. She takes a moment to catch her breath as Bella Braxton announces the final decision of the match.)
Bella Braxton: Here is your winner… DANIELLA ATLAS!
Rich Russillo: What a match between these two. Saori fought as hard as she could but it was the intensity of Daniella Atlas that overwhelmed Saori and gave Daniella the victory.
Thadd Blazevich: Dude, it was like a switch was flipped inside Daniella after Saori tried to take a shortcut and Daniella just DEMOLISHED Saori to pick up the win. We really don’t see that side of Daniella often, but if anyone could get it out of her? I guess it was bound to be Saori.
Persephone: I am just glad this match is over.
(Daniella gets back to her feet and has her arm raised in victory as she looks over at the video screen to see the time on the clock.)
CLOCK: 9:36!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BRO, SAORI DIDN’T MAKE IT!! SHE LASTED LESS TIME THAN CARMEN! OH DAMN! THAT WAS SO CLOSE!! Daniella won that by the skin of her teeth. You know what that means, Bro?
Persephone: It means everyone quits and we all go home?
(As Daniella leaves the ring to head up the entrance ramp, the camera cuts backstage to Auburn Ware also seeing the time on the clock and has a big smile on her face.)
Rich Russillo: No. What it means is that Saori is OUT of the running to pick the stipulation for the match at Pain for Pride. As you can tell by the look on Auburn’s face, all she has to do later tonight in her match against the EAW World Champion, Drake Armstrong, is to either BEAT Drake or last longer than Carmen’s 9:54, which still stands after this match.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, even though Saori didn’t win or have the best time, she really brought it to a competitor she has a lot of history with. She was close but showed how she has improved in the ring.
Rich Russillo: First congratulations to Daniella for the victory tonight. You have to expect that Saori will be watching Auburn’s match later tonight. The question remains… who gets to pick the stipulation at Pain for Pride? Will it be Carmen? Or will it be Auburn?
(The final shot shows Auburn still looking very pleased at the result before cutting to the ring, where Saori is sitting up. She sees the time on the clock and realizes not only did she lose the match, her time means she loses her chance to pick the stipulation for HER Specialists Championship at Pain for Pride. The realization really sets in, coupled with her facing defeat against Daniella Atlas of all people, as she starts pounding the mat in anger and frustration as the camera shot fades elsewhere.)
(Promotional ad for Pain for Pride 19, where Saori Aizen defends the Specialists Championship against Carmen Sánchez and Auburn Ware.)
(The camera cuts to Bella Braxton in the ring.)
Bella Braxton: THE FOLLOWING IS AN EIGHT-PERSON TAG TEAM CONTEST SCHEDULED FOR… ONE FALL!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
(‘So Far So Fake’ by Pierce the Veil hits to a positive reaction as Candice Blair steps onto the stage, taking a moment to look out at the crowd before pointing toward a few fans near ringside. She keeps a confident smile on her face as she waits at the top of the ramp. Moments later, ‘God Shattering Star’ by Takashi Baba begins to play, bringing an even louder reaction from the crowd as ARIA emerges beside her. ARIA nods to herself, taking in the atmosphere before exchanging a look with Candice. With that, the two head down the ramp together, slapping hands with fans on opposite sides as they make their way toward the ring.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first! At a combined weight of 260 pounds, they are… CANDICE BLAIR AND ARIA!!
Thadd Blazevich: Man, talk about a loaded match, bro! Candice Blair and ARIA have been through a lot together these past few months, and tonight they’ve gotta put all that aside and find a way to coexist with two people they absolutely cannot stand!
Rich Russillo: That’s easier said than done. Candice and ARIA have unfinished business with Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy heading into Pain for Pride, but for one night they’ll be forced to share the same side of the ring. Whether that works out or completely falls apart remains to be seen.
Persephone: I don’t know why everyone’s acting surprised. Eight-person tags are basically group projects. Half the people hate each other, nobody wants to work together, and somehow we’re all expected to pretend this is a good idea.
(Both ARIA and Candice enter the ring, each carrying a microphone as their entrance music fades out. The crowd cheers loudly as the two women make their way to the center of the ring. ARIA takes a moment to look around the arena before beginning to speak.)
ARIA: Last week, our match at Pain for Pride became official. It’ll be myself and Candice Blair taking on Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy, and honestly, while this isn’t the match either of us expected to have heading into the biggest event of the year, it’s the match we’re going to make the most of.
(The crowd cheers.)
ARIA: A few months ago, I thought I was heading toward something entirely different. I thought I’d be preparing for an EAW World Championship match. Candice had her own goals, her own plans for how this season was supposed to end. Things changed. Opportunities came and went. That’s the reality of this business. Not everything works out the way you expect it to. What matters is how you respond when things don’t go your way.
ARIA: The last few months have been filled with arguments, interference, and people trying to rewrite history depending on whatever version of events benefits them most. The truth is actually pretty simple. Diamond and Cosmo made a choice when they decided to involve themselves in our business. They cost me an opportunity that meant everything to me, and ever since then they’ve acted surprised that somebody eventually decided to answer back. At Fighting Spirit, they finally found out that their actions have consequences, and ever since then they’ve spent every week acting like they’re the victims in all of this.
(Candice nods before speaking.)
Candice Blair: That’s the part I’ve never understood. Every week it’s the same story. We ruined their plans. We cost them a championship opportunity. We took away what should’ve been their big moment. They tell everybody how unfair it was and how they should be preparing for something bigger than us right now, but somehow they never seem interested in talking about what happened before Fighting Spirit. They never seem interested in talking about why any of this happened in the first place.
Candice Blair: They want sympathy because they lost an opportunity, but they didn’t have any sympathy for us when they were the ones taking opportunities away. They had no problem laughing about it then. They had no problem getting involved when it benefited them. The second somebody gave them a taste of their own medicine, suddenly we were supposed to feel bad for them? Sorry. That’s not how this works.
(The crowd cheers loudly.)
ARIA: At this point, this isn’t even about revenge anymore. It’s not about getting even or proving a point. We’ve been dealing with each other for so long that all I care about now is finally putting an end to it. Pain for Pride gives us the opportunity to do exactly that. No excuses. No distractions. No one else getting involved. Just the four of us settling this once and for all.
ARIA: Diamond. Cosmo. You can keep talking about Grand Rampage if you want. You can keep convincing yourselves that Pain for Pride is going to play out exactly the same way. The problem is that Pain for Pride isn’t Grand Rampage, and if the two of you are spending all your time looking backward, then you’re going to be in for a very unpleasant surprise.
Candice Blair: Because one way or another, this ends in Toronto.
(Almost immediately, “Nice To Meet Yah” by Asian Doll hits. The crowd erupts with boos as Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy step onto the stage with microphones already in hand. Neither looks amused by what they’ve just heard.)
Rich Russillo: Well, it didn’t take long for them to respond.
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, after everything that’s happened between these four, there was no chance Diamond and Cosmo were staying quiet.
(Diamond and Cosmo begin making their way down the ramp. Cosmo raises his microphone first.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: See, that’s exactly why we’re still doing this. Every time the two of y’all get in front of a microphone, you tell the exact same story about consequences, accountability, and how Fighting Spirit was somehow justice being served. The problem is that none of that changes reality. No matter how many speeches you give or how many ways you try to frame what happened, Grand Rampage still happened. We still beat y’all, we still earned our spot in that tournament final, and nothing that happened afterward changes that fact.
Cosmo Goldworthy: The reason we’re standing here frustrated isn’t because we’re scared of Pain for Pride. It’s because we had much bigger plans than this. We had bigger goals than this. We were one match away from everything we’d been working toward, and now instead of talking about championships, we’re standing here having the same argument for the hundredth time because neither of y’all could let it go.
(Diamond continues as the two reach ringside.)
Diamond Dixon: What annoys me most is that we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. Me and Cosmo should be talking about championship opportunities right now. We should be talking about everything we earned when we won at Grand Rampage and everything we were building toward afterward. We spent months proving ourselves, proving we belonged, and proving that we could stand alongside anybody in this division, putting ourselves in a position where Pain for Pride could’ve been the biggest moment of our careers.
Diamond Dixon: Then Fighting Spirit happened, and now instead of moving forward, we’re stuck dealing with unfinished business because the two of you couldn’t accept what happened when we beat you.
(Diamond and Cosmo enter the ring, standing across from Candice and ARIA.)
Candice Blair: That’s funny coming from the two people who haven’t stopped talking about Fighting Spirit since it happened.
(The crowd reacts as Candice steps forward.)
Candice Blair: You say we’re the ones who can’t let things go, but every week you’ve come out here talking about the same thing. Every week you’ve reminded everyone about the opportunities you lost and the plans that got taken away from you. If you’re really over it, then why do you keep bringing it up? If you’re really ready to move forward, why are you still so obsessed with everything that happened?
Diamond Dixon: Because unlike you, I’m honest about what I wanted. Yeah, I wanted that title opportunity and everything that came with it, and I’m not gonna stand here pretending otherwise. The difference is that me and Cosmo actually earned that opportunity before somebody else decided to take it away.
ARIA: And you’re still missing the point.
(ARIA takes a step forward.)
ARIA: The reason any of this happened is because the two of you made yourselves part of our story first. You can talk about Grand Rampage all you want, but this didn’t start there. It started when the two of you decided to involve yourselves in something that had nothing to do with you. Ever since then you’ve acted like everything that followed came out of nowhere, and that’s simply not true.
Cosmo Goldworthy: Nah. What happened is y’all couldn’t handle losing. That’s what this really comes down to. We beat you, you got mad, and then you spent the next few months finding reasons to justify it.
Candice Blair: No, what happened is you got comfortable. You got comfortable sticking your noses wherever you wanted because nobody was making you answer for it, and the second somebody finally did, you started acting like the world was against you.
Diamond Dixon: Nobody’s acting like a victim.
Candice Blair: Could’ve fooled me.
Diamond Dixon: Believe whatever you want. At the end of the day, Pain for Pride is coming, and when it gets here we’re going to do exactly what we already proved we can do.
Candice Blair: Good. Then let’s stop talking about it. Pain for Pride is around the corner, and once we get there, one side is finally going to have to accept reality.
Diamond Dixon: Trust me. We already know what reality looks like.
Candice Blair: Then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Diamond Dixon: We don’t.
Candice Blair: Alright.
(The two women step closer until they’re nearly face-to-face.)
Candice Blair: Then prove it.
(A loud reaction comes from the crowd.)
Diamond Dixon: Gladly.
(ARIA steps up beside Candice. Cosmo immediately does the same beside Diamond. The tension rises instantly as neither side gives an inch.)
???: Ladies, ladies!
(Similar to last week, Eden Sinclair steps out onto the stage with a microphone in hand, raising a hand to calm things down as everyone inside the ring turns their attention toward her.)
Eden Sinclair: You know, listening to the four of you, I don’t think there’s any point pretending this is just another match anymore.
(The crowd cheers.)
Eden Sinclair: For months now, this has gone way beyond wins and losses. Every time one side gets even, the other side finds a reason to strike back. Every time it looks like this rivalry is finally over, somebody finds a way to keep it going. Quite honestly, after hearing all of this, I don’t think any of you are interested in settling things with a wrestling match.
(Eden looks between both teams.)
Eden Sinclair: I think all four of you want to hurt each other.
(The crowd reacts loudly.)
Eden Sinclair: So if that’s the case, let’s stop pretending otherwise. At Pain for Pride, it won’t just be Candice Blair and ARIA versus Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy.
(She pauses.)
Eden Sinclair: It’ll be Candice Blair and ARIA versus Diamond Dixon and Cosmo Goldworthy in a HARDCORE TAG TEAM WARFARE MATCH!
(The crowd explodes.)
Rich Russillo: WHAT?!
Thadd Blazevich: BROOOOOOO!
(Inside the ring, all four competitors immediately react to the announcement as Eden turns around to leave.)
Diamond Dixon: Hardcore Tag Team Warfare?
(A grin slowly spreads across Diamond’s face.)
Diamond Dixon: Say less.
(The crowd cheers again as Diamond turns toward Candice and ARIA.)
Diamond Dixon: You wanted this to end? Good. Because now there won’t be any excuses when it’s over. No complaints about who got involved. No crying about what was fair and what wasn’t. At Pain for Pride, the two of you are getting exactly what you’ve been asking for.
Candice Blair: That’s funny, because I was thinking the same thing.
(Candice doesn’t back down.)
Candice Blair: You spent weeks talking about how Fighting Spirit was stolen from you. Now you get a chance to take all that frustration out on us, and we get the chance to finally make you answer for everything that brought us here in the first place.
ARIA: No more arguments. No more debates. No more attempts to rewrite what happened. At this point, all that’s left is a fight, and honestly, that’s all either side has wanted for a very long time now.
Cosmo Goldworthy: Good.
(Cosmo nods.)
Cosmo Goldworthy: Because if y’all really believe we’re walking into Toronto just to lose to the same people we already beat, then you’re out of your minds. We had bigger plans for Pain for Pride than this, but now that this is where we’re at? Fine. We’ll make sure this is the last conversation we ever have.
Candice Blair: You keep saying that like it’s guaranteed.
Diamond Dixon: It is.
ARIA: We’ll see.
(The four move closer again, the tension somehow even higher now that the stipulation has been announced. It looks like things are about to explode all over again before—
‘Somebody Get Me A Doctor’ by Van Halen hits.)
Rich Russillo: Well that answers that.
Thadd Blazevich: Looks like it’s finally time for the match!
(The four competitors reluctantly pull their attention away from each other as Dr. Bethany Blue begins making her way onto the stage. The crowd erupts, while inside the ring the hostility remains obvious between the two teams despite the interruption.)
Rich Russillo: Those four may have to coexist tonight, but after what we just heard, there’s no doubt about it. At Pain for Pride, this rivalry is ending one way or another.
(Dr. Bethany Blue remains on the stage as ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ by Tupac hits next. Moments later, TLA steps out beside her, and the two exchange a quick nod before making their way down the ramp together.)
(Bethany and TLA stand across from the opposing team as ‘My Own Summer’ by Deftones hits. Selina Reyes steps onto the stage with the Unified Tag Team Championship around her waist before “Run Into Flowers” by M83 follows. Bronson Daniels starts to emerge from behind the curtain— only to get shoved from behind by Kelton, as “All of the Lights (Interlude)” by Kanye West replaces his music. Bronson immediately shoves him back, and the two come face-to-face while Selina looks on in frustration. After a tense moment, they reluctantly continue down the ramp, neither man willing to let the other walk ahead of him.)
Bella Braxton: Making their way to the ring… accompanied by Dr. Bethany Blue! At a combined weight of 727 pounds… THE TEAM OF TLA, SELINA REYES, BRONSON DANIELS, AND JON KELTON!
Rich Russillo: You can already see the tension on this team. Selina Reyes is focused on the match, but Bronson Daniels and Jon Kelton look one bad moment away from tearing into each other.
Thadd Blazevich: Which is crazy, bro, because they’ve got Three Stages of Hardcore Hell waiting for them at Pain for Pride! You’d think they’d save some of this anger for the match that actually matters.
Persephone: Or they could just start fighting now and make my night a lot more entertaining.
(The referee signals for the bell as Bronson and Cosmo stand in opposing corners.)
(DING! DING! DING!)
Rich Russillo: So we’ve got an eight-person tag underway, and this oughta be interesting because neither side can stand each other. Diamond, Cosmo, ARIA, and Candice all on the same team feels like a disaster waiting to happen, especially after the announcement of Hardcore Tag Team Warfare at Pain for Pride! But it’s not like things are much better on the other side either, with Elysium trying to coexist alongside TLA and Selina Reyes.
Persephone: It’s honestly fucked up by our showrunners to make this match. :mjlol: I mean, Bethany was right there. You could’ve eliminated some hassle already by putting her in this match.
Rich Russillo: True, but… where’s the fun in that? :mjgrin:
Persephone: I guess you’re right, I much prefer this over having to watch them actually wrestle. It’s just a countdown until things dissolve.
Thadd Blazevich: For now, it looks like things are going according to plan with Bronson and Cosmo starting things off for their teams! The two circle one another before Cosmo begins closing the distance, forcing Bronson to backpedal toward the opposing corner— AND DIAMOND TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE! REACHING OVER THE ROPES TO GRAB A FISTFUL OF BRONSON’S DREADS AND YANKING HIM BACK INTO THE CORNER!
Rich Russillo: ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN FOR COSMO GOLDWORTHY, WHO CHARGES IN WITH A RUNNING SPEAR! THAT HAD TO KNOCK THE WIND RIGHT OUT OF BRONSON AS COSMO KEEPS DRIVING HIS SHOULDER INTO THE MIDSECTION! NOW HE TAKES HIM DOWN INTO A SEATED POSITION IN THE CORNER AND STARTS UNLOADING WITH STOMPS!
(Cosmo reaches to tag in Diamond, but Candice quickly slaps herself into the match before she can. Cosmo immediately shoots her an annoyed look, clearly not happy about it, but begrudgingly steps back onto the apron.)
Rich Russillo: Candice is now legal but… I don’t think she’s who Cosmo Goldworthy was aiming for with that tag.
Persephone: You don’t think?
Rich Russillo: Fine, I know. :wow: But there’s cracks already starting to form here between both teams.
Persephone: Really, I’m surprised at how long it took.
Rich Russillo: To be fair… we aren’t too far into this matchup.
Persephone: Oh, I know. I thought they’d implode immediately, so I was proven wrong.
Thadd Blazevich: Fair assessment, bro.
Persephone: Wow, thanks for your totally useless input, Thadd. I’ll be sure to check in with you next time on if you think my “assessments” are fair or not.
Thadd Blazevich: Sweet! …wait, was that sarcastic?
Persephone: Ugh.
Rich Russillo: We’re already seeing the difference in mentality between these two teams. Earlier on, Cosmo and Diamond had no problem bending the rules a little and taking whatever advantage they could get. Candice and ARIA clearly weren’t on the same page with that approach, and it looks like they’d rather do things their own way.
Persephone: It’s boring, if you ask me. Why not take every advantage you could get in a predicament like this? It betters your chances because… let’s be honest, they aren’t gonna win this by being the stronger team overall.
Rich Russillo: You might have a point, but I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for now as Candice brings Bronson back to his feet. Candice winds up for a right hand— BUT BRONSON BLOCKS IT! BRONSON FIRES BACK WITH A RIGHT HAND OF HIS OWN THAT STAGGERS CANDICE, THEN ANOTHER! AND A THIRD SENDS HER STUMBLING BACK INTO THE CORNER! THE LAST PLACE SHE WANTS TO BE WITH DANIELS STARTING TO CLOSE IN—
(TAG!!)
(Kelton suddenly tags himself into the match and motions for Bronson to step aside. Bronson immediately turns and comes face-to-face with him, neither man backing down nor showing an ounce of fear… before Daniels reluctantly exits through the ropes.)
Thadd Blazevich: Did y’all see that?
Rich Russillo: Kelton isn’t the only Elitist trying to get under his rival’s skin tonight. Bronson’s trying not to show it, but you can tell that got to him. For now, Kelton turns back to Candice Blair in the corner and keeps her trapped there before CRACKING HER ACROSS THE CHEST WITH AN OVERHAND CHOP! THAT ECHOED THROUGH THE WHOLE ARENA!
Thadd Blazevich: That doubles Candice over in the corner, and Kelton lines her up again… ANOTHER OVERHAND CHOP TO THE CHEST!
(Candice doubles over once more as Diamond and Cosmo can be seen laughing on the apron, clearly enjoying what they’re watching. ARIA looks concerned for her partner before shooting both of them an angry look that immediately gets them to straighten up and act normal. The second ARIA turns back toward the ring, though, the two glance at each other and quietly start laughing again.)
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: Kelton makes the tag to TLA, who’s looking to take advantage of the damage already done to Candice Blair! These two have plenty of history with one another, but right now it’s all business as TLA steps in and FIRES OFF A RIGHT HAND! THEN ANOTHER! TLA BRINGS CANDICE OUT TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RING BEFORE LIFTING HER UP FOR A BACK SUPLEX! AND HE GOES RIGHT FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Rich Russillo: Shoulder up!
Persephone: To the surprise of absolutely nobody. Yeah, because I totally thought a back suplex was gonna win the match in 2026.
Rich Russillo: Worth a try.
Persephone: Eh.
Thadd Blazevich: TLA still forced Candice to use some energy on that kickout, and now he’s got a grounded facelock locked in! TLA pulls Candice back to her feet and tries to hoist her up for a SUPLEX! …BUT CANDICE SLIPS OUT BEHIND HIM! SHE GRABS A REAR WAISTLOCK AND TLA IMMEDIATELY STARTS FIGHTING IT, TURNING TOWARD HIS CORNER AND REACHING FOR A TAG—
Rich Russillo: BUT CANDICE DIGS HER FEET INTO THE MAT AND STARTS DRIVING HIM BACK THE OTHER WAY! SHE’S USING EVERYTHING SHE HAS TO FORCE TLA TOWARD HER CORNER, DRAGGING HIM ALONG WITH HER!
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: ARIA tags herself in while Candice keeps TLA trapped in the corner… ARIA WITH A KICK TO THE GUT! TLA stumbles forward before Candice and ARIA look to capitalize, backing him into the ropes and sending him off with a DOUBLE IRISH WHIP! CANDICE CATCHES TLA WITH ANOTHER KICK TO THE MIDSECTION THAT DOUBLES HIM OVER, ALLOWING ARIA TO HIT THE ROPES— AND CANDICE LAUNCHES HER INTO THE AIR FOR A DROPKICK RIGHT INTO TLA!
Thadd Blazevich: TLA rolls onto his side, clutching at his jaw as ARIA gets him back to his feet and backs him into the corner while Candice exits to the apron. Great teamwork from Candice and ARIA there, but now ARIA looks to keep the pressure on as she sends TLA hard into the opposite corner! ARIA CHARGES IN— BUT TLA GOES UP AND OVER HER, ROLLING THROUGH TO HIS FEET!
Rich Russillo: ARIA TURNS AROUND AFTER NEARLY CRASHING INTO THE TURNBUCKLES AND RUNS RIGHT INTO A BODY SLAM FROM TLA! TLA DOESN’T WASTE ANY TIME, JUMPING TO HIS FEET WITH A STANDING MOONSAULT TO FOLLOW IT UP AND HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE COVER!
ONNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Persephone: Yawn. Two count.
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA reaches toward her corner, but she’s still a long way from it as TLA drags her back up and traps her in an armbar. Now he’s guiding her toward his corner, looking for a tag to Selina Reyes!
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: Let’s see what Selina does here as one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions. TLA’s leaving the door open for some double team offense, but whether Selina wants any part of that is another story.
(Selina immediately takes hold of ARIA herself, causing TLA to throw both hands up with a grin. He doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest, backing off and returning to the apron while letting Selina handle things her way.)
Rich Russillo: Well, there’s your answer. Selina wants to do this her way. She drags ARIA toward the corner AND DRIVES HER FACE FIRST INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE! There’s plenty of history between these two as well, and you have to imagine ARIA hasn’t forgotten everything that’s happened between herself and Selina Reyes.
Thadd Blazevich: Absolutely not, bro. These two put each other through hell at Fighting Spirit, and that’s not something you just forget about overnight. Candice and ARIA might not be getting another shot at the Tag Titles this season, but they still have Pain for Pride ahead of them. If there’s any bad blood left between these teams, they’re definitely trying to get a few shots in before the big show.
Rich Russillo: You’re right about that. But Selina snapmares ARIA down into a seated position before DRIVING A BASEMENT DROPKICK INTO HER BACK! ARIA rolls away in pain as Selina quickly hooks the leg for the cover!
ONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Thadd Blazevich: Kickout! Selina reaches down to pull ARIA back up— BUT ARIA CATCHES HER WITH A JAWBREAKER OUT OF NOWHERE! Selina stumbles backward into the corner, and that gives ARIA the opening she needs to make it back to her team!
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: Candice Blair gets the tag! And take notice, Rich— no involvement from Diamond or Cosmo yet. Both teams have kept their issues out of the match so far. Candice charges straight at Selina in the corner and unloads with right hands before stomping her down to a seated position!
Thadd Blazevich: Candice might’ve gotten a little carried away there! Some of those stomps were getting awfully close to Selina’s head while she was trying to cover up! The referee pulls Candice away for a moment, but the second she gets some space, she heads right back in and grabs Selina—
Rich Russillo: BUT SELINA TURNS IT AROUND! SHE SHOVES CANDICE INTO THE CORNER AND STARTS FIRING OFF STOMPS OF HER OWN!
Thadd Blazevich: Selina’s returning the favor now! Stomp after stomp after stomp, driving Candice down into the corner until she’s forced to cover up! And look at this, Selina’s even grinding her boot across Candice’s throat!
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! …FI—
Rich Russillo: Selina lets go at four! She pushed the limit there, but she knew exactly how much time she had. These two clearly aren’t interested in playing nice tonight.
Persephone: Part of me was hoping she’d get disqualified, but I guess Selina still thinks she can actually win this thing.
Rich Russillo: Stranger things have happened around here.
Persephone: Unfortunately, you’re right. This company has lowered the bar for what’s considered normal years ago.
Thadd Blazevich: Facts, bro. I’ve only been back a short time and I’ve already seen enough crazy stuff to last a lifetime. Bethany Blue being out here tonight is proof of that.
Rich Russillo: I’d rather not unpack that right now. Meanwhile, Selina drags Candice back up, twists the arm, and starts backing toward her corner looking for a tag!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: Jon Kelton gets the tag and quickly heads up to the middle rope, looking to come off the top with a—
(Kelton suddenly gets shoved off the ropes by Bronson Daniels from the apron. Bronson immediately drops to the floor and throws his hands up innocently while Kelton spins around, furious. Kelton takes a swipe at him through the ropes, but Bronson backs away claiming it was an accident. Inside the ring, Selina desperately tries to keep hold of Candice as she calls for Kelton’s attention before the opportunity slips away.)
Rich Russillo: For a second there, I thought Kelton just lost his footing, but no! Bronson Daniels knew exactly what he was doing there, and he nearly sent his former Elysium partner over the edge!
Thadd Blazevich: Bro, if Bronson and Kelton started throwing hands right now, I honestly don’t think either one would complain. Winning almost feels secondary between those two at this point! Kelton finally turns his attention back to Candice and takes over from Selina with an arm wringer— BUT CANDICE IMMEDIATELY BREAKS FREE WITH A KICK TO THE GUT! KELTON DOUBLES OVER— ONLY TO TAKE CONTROL RIGHT BACK WITH A BODY SLAM THAT DROPS HER HARD TO THE CANVAS!
Rich Russillo: KELTON HITS THE ROPES AND COMES CRASHING DOWN WITH A JUMPING KNEE DROP! Candice quickly rolls away and scrambles back to her feet, trying to shake the effects of that one off as she stumbles into the ropes. Kelton wastes no time closing the distance!
(TAG!!)
Thadd Blazevich: Kelton makes the tag to TLA, who—
(TAG!!)
Thadd Blazevich: Immediately tags Selina right back in! TLA and Kelton grab Candice and SEND HER OFF WITH A DOUBLE IRISH WHIP! BOTH MEN TAKE HER DOWN WITH A SHOULDER TACKLE ON THE REBOUND, AND SELINA SPRINGS RIGHT INTO A STANDING CORKSCREW MOONSAULT! COVER!
ONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHH—
Rich Russillo: ARIA BREAKS IT UP WITH A STOMP TO THE BACK OF SELINA! Kelton was already on his way out of the ring, but he turns right back around and CHARGES AT ARIA! HE DRIVES HER INTO THE CORNER AS EVERYTHING STARTS TO BREAK DOWN! BRONSON GOES RIGHT AFTER COSMO, FIRING OFF RIGHT HANDS THAT FORCE HIM BACK INTO THE TURNBUCKLES! ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RING, DIAMOND AND TLA ARE TRADING SHOTS UNTIL TLA CATCHES HER WITH A KNEE TO THE MIDSECTION AND DRIVES HER FACE FIRST INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!
Thadd Blazevich: THIS MATCH IS FALLING APART, BRO! SELINA PULLS CANDICE BACK UP AND SHOVES HER INTO THE LAST OPEN CORNER BEFORE CLIMBING TO THE MIDDLE ROPE! EVERYBODY ELSE DOES THE SAME THING, AND LISTEN TO THIS CROWD COUNT ALONG!
Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!
Rich Russillo: TEN COUNT PUNCHES ALL AROUND THE RING! COMPLETE CHAOS! DIAMOND AND COSMO ROLL OUT TO THE FLOOR AFTERWARD, WHILE KELTON AND SELINA SEND ARIA AND CANDICE TUMBLING THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPE!
(Kelton, Bronson, Selina, and TLA have managed to clear the ring, standing tall for only a moment before Bronson and Kelton accidentally bump shoulders. Both men turn around immediately, stepping face-to-face the second they realize who they’re looking at.)
Thadd Blazevich: UH-OH! THINGS ARE ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN HERE!
Persephone: :gladbron:
(TLA and Selina quickly step between them, talking Bronson and Kelton down while reminding them what the goal of this match actually is.)
Persephone: Booooo.
(TLA and Selina eventually get Bronson and Kelton back onto the apron. TLA keeps a close eye on both men while Selina remains in the ring, waiting as the other team regroups across from her. Candice steps forward, ready to lock up with Selina once again before—)
(TAG!!)
Rich Russillo: Tag is made! Diamond Dixon checks herself into the match for the first time tonight! You have to wonder if her patience finally ran out after spending all this time watching from the apron.
Persephone: Can’t blame her. If I wanted to spend the whole match standing around doing nothing, I’d have stayed backstage.
Rich Russillo: Diamond has been forced to sit and watch Candice and ARIA control most of the action so far. Knowing her, she probably thinks it’s time to take matters into her own hands after her team got shown up a little during that exchange.
Thadd Blazevich: Candice definitely wasn’t happy about getting tagged out there, bro, but Diamond couldn’t care less. Now she’s standing face-to-face with Selina Reyes. Diamond still believes she and Cosmo should be the ones heading to Pain for Pride for the Unified Tag Team Championships, not TLA and Bethany. Well, if she wants to prove it, this is a pretty good place to start. Diamond’s talking a little trash, but Selina’s not giving her anything back. Just that same cold stare.
Rich Russillo: DIAMOND’S DONE WAITING AROUND AS SHE FIRES OFF WITH A CLOTHESLINE! SELINA DUCKS UNDER IT AND STARTS THROWING RIGHT HANDS TO THE FACE! ONE AFTER ANOTHER! DIAMOND EATS THEM AND GRABS SELINA BEFORE LAUNCHING HER INTO THE CORNER WITH A BIEL THROW! DIAMOND CHARGES IN— BUT SELINA GETS A BOOT UP RIGHT UNDER THE JAW!
Thadd Blazevich: SELINA BURSTS OUT OF THE CORNER AND JUST BARELY AVOIDS A RIGHT HAND FROM DIAMOND! SHE FIRES BACK WITH A LEFT! THEN A RIGHT! ANOTHER LEFT! ANOTHER RIGHT! SELINA’S FIGHTING LIKE A BOXER RIGHT NOW, STICKING AND MOVING AGAINST THE BIGGER OPPONENT! SHE’S TRYING TO CHOP DIAMOND DOWN WITH THOSE SHOTS TO THE HEAD— BUT DIAMOND SHOVES HER AWAY INTO THE ROPES!
Rich Russillo: SELINA REBOUNDS OFF THE ROPES— INTO A ONE-HANDED SPINEBUSTER! WHAT A DISPLAY OF POWER BY DIAMOND DIXON! SELINA GOT TURNED INSIDE OUT BY THAT SPINEBUSTER! AND LOOK AT THIS! DIAMOND DOESN’T STOP THERE, SHE CHARGES TO THE CORNER AND KNOCKS EVERYONE OFF THE APRON!
Persephone: Maybe Diamond was right to tell these dorks to move over and let her handle things. Look at the difference she’s made already.
Thadd Blazevich: Diamond drags Selina back to her feet AND CRACKS HER WITH A FOREARM! Selina stumbles right through the middle rope to the floor, where Cosmo Goldworthy is waiting for her! EUROPEAN UPPERCUT FROM COSMO! Selina drops to a knee against our announce table, and now Diamond’s out there too! OH COME ON! SHE’S BOUNCING SELINA’S FACE OFF THE TABLE COVER LIKE A BASKETBALL!
Rich Russillo: Selina looks completely stunned after that! Diamond rolls her back into the ring and immediately drapes her across the middle rope before driving a knee into the back of her neck, choking her against the rope!
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!
Rich Russillo: The referee forces Diamond to back away, but the second his attention is elsewhere, Cosmo unloads with a VICIOUS SOUTHPAW FROM THE APRON! Another cheap shot on Selina before he immediately calls for the tag!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: And he gets it! Cosmo shoots into the ring, hooks the leg, and goes for the cover!
ONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Rich Russillo: KICKOUT! Cosmo quickly pulls Selina back to her feet— BUT SELINA FIRES BACK WITH A FOREARM! AND ANOTHER! Cosmo’s rocked! Selina hits him again and has him stumbling all over the place! One more might put him down— BUT COSMO SLIPS BEHIND HER AND LOCKS IN A REAR WAISTLOCK!
Thadd Blazevich: Selina’s reaching for her corner! She’s trying desperately to make a tag, but Cosmo cuts her off with a forearm to the back that drops her down to all fours! …And now Cosmo’s taking time to talk trash to everybody on the apron before dragging Selina back up and LIGHTING HER UP WITH A KNIFE-EDGE CHOP!
Rich Russillo: Selina’s barely staying upright! Cosmo grabs the wrist and sends her toward the corner with an Irish whip! SELINA SLAMS INTO CANDICE WITH A BACK ELBOW! COSMO CHARGES IN AFTER HER— BUT SELINA CATCHES HIM WITH A BACK ELBOW TOO! Cosmo staggers backward! Selina tags ARIA with a punch before turning right back to Cosmo with a chop across the chest! She’s bouncing between both opponents right now!
Thadd Blazevich: PUNCH TO ARIA! CHOP TO COSMO! PUNCH! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! Selina’s completely forgotten about ARIA and is just teeing off on Cosmo now! But Cosmo finally answers with a chop of his own that sends Selina back into the ropes! Cosmo sees an opening and charges in— BUT SELINA MOVES! COSMO GOES CRASHING FACE FIRST INTO ARIA ON THE APRON!
(ARIA gets knocked off the apron and lands at ringside, immediately grabbing at her forehead. She looks back toward the ring in annoyance while Cosmo remains draped over the ropes, shaking his head and trying to clear the cobwebs himself.)
Persephone: I’m sure ARIA’s going to respond to that like a normal person and see it as a simple mistake, right? 🙂
Rich Russillo: WE’LL WAIT FOR THE FALLOUT FROM THAT, BUT LOOK AT SELINA! SELINA DIVES FOR THE TAG OUT TO TLA!
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: TLA IS LEGAL AND DUCKS UNDERNEATH A CLOTHESLINE BY COSMO! ARIA SLID IN FOR A RIGHT HAND— BUT TLA STRUCK FIRST WITH A FOREARM! NOW ITS TLA ALTERNATING BETWEEN BOTH ARIA AND COSMO, GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH A CHOP TO COSMO AND FOREARM TO ARIA!
Thadd Blazevich; ARIA DUCKED UNDER THAT LAST ONE AND GRABBED TLA IN A REAR WAISTLOCK, BUT TLA CAUGHT COSMO WITH A BIG BOOT AS HE TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! TLA SLAPS THE HANDS OF ARIA TO FORCE HER TO BREAK IT AND CONNECTS WITH A “CARTEL KICK!” PELE KICK BY TLA CONNECTS!
Rich Russillo: ARIA ROLLS UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM ROPE AND TLA POWERS BACK TO HIS FEET, FEELING IT AS— OH! COSMO TRIED TO SHUT HIS MOMENTUM DOWN WITH A KNIFE EDGE CHOP TO THE CHEST, BUT TLA DUCKED UNDERNEATH IT AND BACKS HIM AGAINST THE ROPES WITH A COUPLE OF HIS OWN CHOPS! IRISH WHIP BY TLA— BUT COSMO REVERSES! TURNING IT AROUND ON TLA, WHO SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE WITH A “VERY MEXICAN UPPERCUT!”
Thadd Blazevich: THERE MIGHT BE NO STOPPING THE HALL OF FAMER AS COSMO ROLLS INTO THE CORNER, PULLING HIMSELF UP AS TLA SHOOTS OUT THE OPPOSITE CORNER! COSMO GETS THE BOOT UP, TURNING TLA AROUND BRIEFLY AS HE HOPS TO THE MIDDLE ROPE— BUT TLA SHOVES COSMO OUT TO RINGSIDE! WITH COSMO HITTING THE APRON ON HIS WAY DOWN!
Persephone: Haha!
Rich Russillo: BRONSON DANIELS SEES AN OPPORTUNITY AND ENTERS THE RING! DASHING TO THE OTHER SIDE WITH A WRECKING BALL DROPKICK INTO CANDICE AT RINGSIDE AS SHE TRIED TO GET BACK UP ON THE APRON! BRONSON PULLS CANDICE BACK UP AND THROWS HER INTO A CORNER OF THE BARRICADE!
Thadd Blazevich: SELINA THEN COMES IN WITH A RUNNING BASEMENT DROPKICK TO THE KNEE OF DIAMOND DIXON, KNOCKING HER OFF THE APRON! ALTHOUGH DIAMOND IS STILL STANDING… TLA KNOCKS INTO COSMO WITH A RUNNING BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICK, SENDING HIM BACK FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE!
Rich Russillo: TLA SLITHERS OUT UNDERNEATH THE BOTTOM ROPE ONTO THE APRON AND DIAMOND TAKES A RUNNING SWIPE AT HIS LEGS! BUT TLA LEAPS OVER HER ARM AND KELTON ROUNDS THE CORNER WITH A “FINAL ATONEMENT!” A SPEAR INTO DIAMOND DIXON!
(Kelton pops to his feet, hyped up as he yells down trash talk at Diamond Dixon. After this he turns towards Bronson Daniels, yelling a few choice words to him as well. Bronson takes a moment and tries to keep his composure given there is a match still going. He takes one last glance on the action as Kelton just shakes his head and looks away, before—)
Rich Russillo: WHOA! BRONSON DANIELS JUST FLEW IN WITH A RUNNING CROSSBODY, SPILLING THEM BOTH OUT INTO THE CROWD AREA OVER THE BARRICADE!
Thadd Blazevich: KELTON COULDN’T CELEBRATE THAT WIN FOR LONG!
(TLA just throws his hand up, not even surprised at this point after already expecting it before turning his attention to ARIA.)
Rich Russillo: TLA JUMPS OFF THE APRON WITH A RUNNING CANNONBALL SENTON ONTO ARIA! COSMO GROGGILY ROLLS INSIDE THE RING AS TLA HOPS TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND GOES TO FLY OFF ONTO HIS OPPONENT AS HE CAN BARELY STAND!
Thadd Blazevich: COSMO CAN BARELY STAND AS TLA LEAPS OFF— BUT COSMO RUSHES HIM ON THE TOP TURNBUCKLE! FORCING TLA TO LEAP OVER HIS HEAD AND ROLL THROUGH TO HIS FEET! THERE’S COSMO WITH A RUNNING CLOTHESLINE! BUT TLA TRAPS THE ARM FOR A KICK TO THE GUT! HERE WE GO! “MEXICAN DESTROYER” COMING UP!
Persephone: God’s finally about to answer my prayers it seems like.
Rich Russillo: NO! COSMO PUSHES TLA OFF AND GOES TO CONNECT WITH SOMETHING— BUT TLA STRIKES FIRST WITH A RIGHT HAND THAT KNOCKS HIM BACK AGAINST THE ROPES! TLA CHARGES IN WITH A CLOTHESLINE— BUT COSMO CATCHES HIM AND LAUNCHES OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH AN EXPLODER! TLA’S LOWER BACK WITH A ROUGH LANDING ON THE APRON!
Thadd Blazevich: TLA struggles to his feet before a PUMP KICK! A PUMP KICK AT RINGSIDE FROM DIAMOND DIXON!
Rich Russillo: ARIA goes to pull TLA up— BUT DIAMOND THROWS ARIA FACE FIRST INTO THE RINGPOST BEFORE SHE COULD! LOOKS LIKE THERE’S STILL TENSION ON BOTH SIDES! DIAMOND AND COSMO WERE JUST WAITING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FIRE THE FIRST SHOT, WEREN’T THEY!?
Persephone: Yep, and now things are falling into place. :mjlit:
Rich Russillo: CANDICE SEES THIS AND JUMPS ONTO DIAMOND’S BACK! DIAMOND MANAGES TO FLING CANDICE OFF OVER HER SHOULDER!! CANDICE STUMBLES BACK UP- AND NOW THERE’S A BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICK BY COSMO, SENDING CANDICE STUMBLING INTO THE BARRICADE AS COSMO BACKS OFF!!! COSMO AND DIAMOND ARE SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS HERE, AND DIAMOND ROLLS TLA BACK INSIDE FOR COSMO TO FINISH OFF!
Thadd Blazevich: COSMO IS STALKING TLA FROM THAT CORNER WITH “THE COLDEST WINTER!” LINING HIM UP FOR THE… SPEAR— MEXICAN DESTROYER! TLA USED THAT MOMENTUM AGAINST HIM FOR THE MEXICAN DESTROYER! COSMO MIGHT BE OUT AS TLA CLIMBS TO THE TOP ROPE—
(TAG!)
Rich Russillo: SELINA TAGS HERSELF IN! INTERRUPTING TLA’S ATTEMPT FOR THE “BURNOUT” AND HEADING TO THE CORNER AS COSMO SITS UP— “ALAMO KNEE!” SELINA WITH A SLIDING KNEE STRIKE ON COSMO BEFORE HOOKING THE LEG!
Thadd Blazevich: DIAMOND LOOKS TO BREAK THINGS UP, BUT ARIA AND CANDICE BOTH GRAB ONE OF HER LEGS BEFORE SHE COULD SLIDE IN FULLY!
ONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
TWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
THHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
Bella Braxton: HERE IS YOUR WINNERS… THE TEAM OF SELINA REYES, TLA, BRONSON DANIELS, AND JON KELTON!!
(‘My Own Summer’ by Deftones plays as Selina Reyes rises off the cover and TLA drops down from the top rope, the two having their hands raised in victory— but the action is far from over as ARIA and Candice drag Diamond out underneath the bottom rope and launch her back-first into the barricade!)
Rich Russillo: THE MATCH IS OVER, BUT THE ACTION IS FAR FROM IT AS ARIA AND CANDICE JUST SENT DIAMOND DIXON BACK-FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE!
(ARIA slides into the ring and rushes right past TLA and Selina as they’re celebrating—)
Rich Russillo: SUICIDE DIVE! ARIA WITH A SUICIDE DIVE INTO COSMO! ARIA JUST TOOK COSMO OUT, AND NOW THE CAMERA SPLITS IN TWO! LOOK AT THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN! BRONSON DANIELS AND JON KELTON ARE STILL TEARING EACH OTHER APART IN THE CONCOURSE AREA!
Thadd Blazevich: THIS MATCH IS OVER, BRO! SOMEBODY TELL THEM!
Rich Russillo: I DON’T THINK EITHER OF THEM CARE! BRONSON JUST THREW KELTON FACE-FIRST INTO A SUPPORT BEAM! AND LOOK AT KELTON! HE’S ROCKED!
Thadd Blazevich: BRONSON GETS HIS HANDS ON KELTON AGAIN AND—
(SMASH!!)
Thadd Blazevich: BRONSON JUST THREW KELTON HEAD-FIRST THROUGH THE GLASS OF A POPCORN MACHINE!
(Kelton crashes down as blood begins running from his forehead while Bronson mounts him and unloads with right hands. Security rushes into the concourse, desperately trying to pull the two rivals apart.)
Thadd Blazevich: THESE TWO HAVE COMPLETELY LOST IT! THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT WINNING, LOSING, OR ANYTHING ELSE! THEY JUST WANT TO HURT EACH OTHER!
Rich Russillo: And on the other side of the screen, things aren’t exactly calm either!
(Inside the ring, TLA and Selina take in the chaos around them before TLA gives Selina a light shove, getting her attention after she stole the victory. The two quickly end up nearly nose-to-nose.)
Rich Russillo: TLA AND SELINA ARE HAVING AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE FINISH! TLA LOOKS LIKE HE WANTED TO PUT COSMO AWAY HIMSELF, I THINK HE KNOWS SELINA’S TRYING TO MESS WITH HIM GIVEN THEY’RE OPPONENTS AT PAIN FOR PRIDE!
Thadd Blazevich: Selina is arguing back, and remember, the match is over bros! All bets are off now, and I think both sides know that at Pain for Pride, they’re not gonna be as friendly as they were here!
(Dr. Bethany Blue enters the ring and walks over towards TLA and Selina, causing cheers to come from the crowd as the two teammates side with each other.)
Rich Russillo: Bethany now seems to be getting involved here as she can tell things are getting heated! The last thing she’s going to do is just sit back and watch a brawl between her tag partner and Pain for Pride opponent unfold, and—
(‘my mind is a mountain’ by Deftones suddenly blasts through the arena as Daniella Atlas sprints down the ramp.)
Thadd Blazevich: UH-OH!
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA ATLAS IS HERE!
(Daniella slides into the ring and immediately gets in Bethany’s face. The two exchange words before Bethany shoves her back. Daniella answers with a forearm, and suddenly the ring erupts.)
Rich Russillo: THERE THEY GO! DANIELLA AND BETHANY ARE THROWING HANDS!
Thadd Blazevich: TLA’S TRYING TO PULL BETHANY BACK! SELINA’S TRYING TO GET INVOLVED TOO!
Rich Russillo: THIS WHOLE SHOW IS COMING APART!
(TLA pulls Bethany away while Selina does the same with Daniella, attempting to calm her partner down before—)
Rich Russillo: OOH! SELINA JUST SPUN AROUND WITH A FOREARM AT BETHANY! BUT BLUE DUCKED UNDER IT AND SELINA CAUGHT TLA INSTEAD! NOW THOSE TWO ARE GOING AT IT AS BETHANY CHARGES DANIELLA!
Thadd Blazevich: BOTH SIDES HAVE BROKEN DOWN INTO A HOCKEY FIGHT NOW!
Rich Russillo: DANIELLA SHOVES BETHANY AWAY AND CATCHES HER WITH A HEADBUTT! TLA DRIVES A KICK INTO SELINA’S MIDSECTION, LOOKING FOR A MEXICAN DESTROYER— BUT BETHANY DROPS HIM WITH A BOOT!
(Daniella signals to Selina. The two nod to one another before Daniella grabs TLA while Selina pulls Bethany up.)
Rich Russillo: SOUTH OF HEAVEN!
Thadd Blazevich: ORYX AWAKENING!
Rich Russillo: PLANTING THEIR CHALLENGERS IN THE CENTER OF THE RING! WHAT A STATEMENT BY THE CHAMPIONS!
(The Unified Tag Team Champions stand tall over Bethany and TLA, raising their championships high in the air.)
Rich Russillo: A HUGE STATEMENT FROM THE CHAMPIONS JUST DAYS BEFORE PAIN FOR PRIDE!
Thadd Blazevich: And Candice and ARIA still aren’t done either!
Rich Russillo: NO— :krabs:
(Commentary clears out as ARIA hurls Cosmo over the announce table before joining Candice and Diamond at ringside.)
Rich Russillo: They made sure Diamond couldn’t save Cosmo during the match, and now they’re making another statement after it! Candice and ARIA are sending a message loud and clear ahead of Hardcore Tag Team Warfare!
Thadd Blazevich: ARIA AND CANDICE HAVE DIAMOND BEFORE—
(CRASH!!)
Thadd Blazevich: OH MAN! CANDICE AND ARIA JUST DOUBLE-TEAMED DIAMOND THROUGH THE CORNER OF THE BARRICADE! DIXON IS LYING IN THE RUBBLE!
(Candice and ARIA stand side-by-side, staring down at Diamond as she writhes in pain amongst the wreckage while Cosmo remains down behind the announce table.)
Rich Russillo: WE’VE GOT CHAOS IN THE CONCOURSE, CHAOS IN THE RING, AND CHAOS AT RINGSIDE! IF THIS IS ANY INDICATION OF WHAT’S WAITING FOR US AT PAIN FOR PRIDE, THEN THAT EVENT IS GOING TO BE COMPLETE AND TOTAL CARNAGE!
(The final image shows Bronson still trying to break free from security to get at a bloodied Kelton, ToXXXin standing tall over TLA and Bethany inside the ring, and Candice and ARIA glaring at Diamond and Cosmo at ringside before Voltage fades away from the scene.)
(Promotional ad for Pain for Pride 19, where ARIA and Candice Blair face Cosmo Goldworthy and Diamond Dixon in Hardcore tag team warfare.)
(Sunday Night Voltage returns as the camera goes over to show Bella Braxton, who is standing by with a microphone in hand and a smile on her face as she begins to speak.)
Bella Braxton: The following is a PICK YOUR POISON MATCH!!! And it is scheduled for…
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
(‘Bad Blood’ by Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar begins to play through the speakers of the arena, as the crowd erupts into a loud reaction for Auburn Ware, who’s seen making her way out from the backstage area. She has a serious expression on her face, glaring at the ring as she begins to make her way down the ramp.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first… from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe… weighing in at 119 pounds… THE PRODIGY… AUBURN WARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: This is our last Pick Your Poison match of the night, Carmen Sànchez is still in the lead with the longest time, and it falls on the shoulders of Auburn Ware to see if she can last the longest against her opponent. And she certainly has a lot on her mind right now considering what happened earlier in the night.
Persephone: Why do we keep allowing smut on our shows? Not that I’m particularly complaining… BUT STILL!
Thadd Blazevich: She certainly got the short end of the stick from Damon bro again, to keep it PG, and she’s definitely unhappy heading into a match that is certainly going to be one hill to climb for her considering who Carmen has picked for her opponent. But we’re just going to have to see!
(‘Pride and Arrogance’ by Takeru Kanazaki begins to play up as the crowd erupts into thunderous boos. The camera then goes over to show EAW World Champion Drake Armstrong as he makes his way out from the backstage area. He has a rather disinterested expression on his face, shaking his head at the opposition inside of the ring as he adjusts his title before beginning to make his way down the ramp)
Bella Braxton: And his opponent… from Scarsdale, New York… weighing in at 235 pounds… he is the EAW WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!! HIS IMMACULACY…DRAKE ARMSTRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: What better opponent for you to pick than the World Champion of the brand I may say. But by the looks of things, it doesn’t seem like Drake Armstrong is walking into this match to take it very seriously, there are no stakes for him in his mind, especially considering that he believes it’s merely an inevitability that he wins.
Thadd Blazevich: We know that he has a complete focus on his first Pain For Pride main event against Hans Grayson, but the last thing that he wants to do is completely tune himself out of the match! Or else Auburn Ware might get herself a win against an EAW World Champion, and that might not be something he particularly fancies.
Persephone: But let’s be honest… it would be real fucking funny, right? So you know what? Let’s see it happen!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(0:01)
Rich Russillo: The clock has started, and here we go. The time to beat is still 9 minutes and 45 seconds courtesy of Carmen Sànchez and our first Pick Your Poison match of the night. Saori Aizen tried but ultimately failed against Daniella Atlas, and now it’s Auburn Ware’s turn against Carmen’s choice of opponent…
Thadd Blazevich: … A very disinterested EAW World Champion.
(Drake is seen still leaning in his corner after the bell rings. He gives an exaggerated yawn, the crowd booing this slow start to the match. Auburn knows that time is of the essence, but at the same time, the last thing that she wants to do is get ahead of herself in a match as important as this.)
(But considering her current mental state comprises of a shaky, no fucks given, ground… she does it anyway.)
Persephone: AUBURN RUSHES FORWARD AND BOOTS THIS DOOFUS IN THE FACE!
Rich Russillo: RUNNING DROPKICK TO THE CORNER NAILS DRAKE FLUSH AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! The Champion is rocked, and Auburn is wasting zero time as she begins to stomp down on his chest repeatedly! Forcing him into a seated position!
Drake Armstrong: (Off-Mic) REFEREE- OW! REFEREE! GET THIS- OW! DELINQUIENT! OFF OF ME!
Thadd Blazevich: The referee is coming in to separate Auburn from Drake, but, bro! I don’t think anything is going to calm that girl down! She’s going right back for her-
Persephone: But that was enough room for Drake to bring his leg up and boot her directly in the face! Auburn staggers back, and that gives that little bug a chance to get back up to his feet.
Rich Russillo: Drake quickly rushes forward and instinctively grabs Auburn into a side headlock! He tries to keep her planted and refuses to allow her anymore offense, but Auburn is quick to keep her feet moving! She pushes him against the ropes before sending him toward the opposite side of the ring!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT DRAKE REBOUNDS AND CONNECTS WITH A SHOULDER CHECK TO TAKE HER DOWN!
(Drake has a disgusted expression on his face, unhappy with how this match has started out considering the pace that he usually prefers… slow and painful. But at this point, Auburn is absolutely pissed as she rises back up.)
Persephone: Look at his face, ew.
Rich Russillo: AUBURN RUSHES AT DRAKE- But he manages to sidestep out of the way as he throws her into the ropes! Drake then tries to grab a hold of her, TAKING HER DOWN WITH AN ARM DRAG- But Auburn manages to grab a hold of the ropes just in time! Drake quickly recovers, but Auburn is already on the move!
Thadd Blazevich: AS SHE HITS HIM WITH A DOUBLE LEG, ROLLING THROUGH FOR A JACKKNIFE PIN ATTEMPT! SHE’S TRYING TO STEAL THE WIN!
OOONNNEEE!!!
Persephone: But unfortunately, as funny as it would’ve been, Auburn doesn’t get the win there. Drake manages to kick out.
Rich Russillo: Drake has a bewildered expression on his face as he tries to rise up to his feet, ONLY TO BE MET DIRECTLY ACROSS THE CHIN WITH A SUPERKICK BY THE FORMER SPECIALISTS CHAMPION!
Thadd Blazevich: Drake falls against the ropes, AS AUBURN RUSHES TOWARD HIM- BUT DRAKE MANAGES TO LIFT HER INTO THE AIR AND DROP HER ONTO THE TOP ROPE WITH A GUN STUN! He then grabs a hold of her by the legs and begins to drag her toward the center of the ring!
Persephone: AND HE’S TRYING TO LOCK IN THE WILL KILLER! HE’S TRYING TO END THIS MATCH EARLY WITH THE BOSTON CRAB!
(2:00)
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN GRABS HIM BY THE HEAD AND PULLS HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND! GOING FOR AN INSIDE CRADLE PIN! ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE MATCH!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT THE REFEREE IS UNABLE TO START THE COUNT BEFORE DRAKE KICKS OUT! Drake quickly scrambles up once again, realizing Auburn managed to catch him off guard a second time-
Persephone: BUT AUBURN JUST LIFTED THAT BIG BITCH UP! WHAT THE FUCKKKK?!
Rich Russillo: FAIRY TALE CONNECTS! THE EAW WORLD CHAMPION JUST GOT HIT WITH AUBURN’S FINISHER AS THE DRIVER CONNECTS! AND NOW SHE HOLDS HIS SHOULDERS DOWN AS THE REFEREE SLIDES DOWN FOR THE PIN!
Thadd Blazevich: NO WAY, BRO!
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!
TTTTTHHHHHRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
(…)
(…)
(…)
Persephone: FUCK!
Rich Russillo: DRAKE BARELY HAS ENOUGH TO GET HIS FOOT ON THE ROPES! THE REFEREE NOTICES AND STOPS THE COUNT!
(Auburn exhales as she releases the pin, thinking that she had the EAW World Champion for a moment there. The crowd collectively gasps at how close this was as well, let alone that early, and that reaction isn’t reflective of how Drake Armstrong feels right now.)
Thadd Blazevich: That was extremely close for the EAW World Champion, and I think he knows that, bro! Drake has rolled himself out of the ring and headed toward our announcer’s table, and you can see that he looks absolutely pissed right now!
(Drake Armstrong, in a more sophisticated term, is in fact incensed by this. Curse his ego and his well-deserved arrogance, because it was enough to nearly let Auburn steal this match directly out from under him, and a loss on his record to someone that he considers beneath him this close to Pain For Pride… he wouldn’t know how to live with.)
(3:00)
Persephone: Drake just wasted a minute off of that, he probably doesn’t give a fuck, but he just helped Auburn out a little bit there.
Rich Russillo: He probably doesn’t care, but Auburn is going to make him care soon enough, as immediately she goes into motion!
Thadd Blazevich: SHE SHOOTS THROUGH THE ROPES AS SHE GOES FOR A SUICIDE DIVE!
(CRASH!)
Persephone: NO! DRAKE MANAGES TO SEE IT COMING OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS EYE! HE MOVES OUT OF THE WAY AS HE SENDS AUBURN FLYING DIRECTLY INTO THE SIDE OF THE ANNOUNCER’S TABLE! And almost immediately this fucker gets the match into his favor.
Rich Russillo: And this is exactly what he wanted! He goaded her to the outside and now he’s using this opportunity to pick the bones! He wastes no time approaching Auburn now, as he begins to stomp down on her abdomen repeatedly while she’s backed against the table!
(The referee is shouting at Drake to get the two of them back into the ring before he starts the count on the outside, but he only sneers at this. Combined with his ignorance of the crowd’s overwhelmingly negative reaction, Drake makes it apparent that he’ll run this match at his own pace, regardless of what stipulation is on it.)
Thadd Blazevich: Drake grabs a hold of Auburn and turns her around!
(CRASH!)
Persephone: AS HE SENDS HER SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE STEEL STEPS! Auburn writhes in pain as she slumps down to the ground, and Drake Armstrong uses this brief moment to catch his breath and compose himself after that quick start to the match. Fat fuck.
OONNEE!!
TTWWOO!!
Rich Russillo: The referee starts the count, and Drake knows the last thing that he wants to do right now is keep himself on the outside of the ring for too long. He grabs a hold of Auburn and lifts her body up, pushing her under the bottom rope and stuffing her back into the ring.
(4:00)
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn tries to make her way back up to her feet, but Drake already has a hold of her from behind as he lifts her off of the ground, BEFORE DROPPING HER DOWN DIRECTLY ONTO HIS KNEE WITH A VICIOUS BACKBREAKER! Auburn gives a cry of pain as she quickly tries to roll herself away, but Drake Armstrong is on the prowl, bro.
Persephone: Auburn tries to use the ropes to make her way back up to her feet, but Drake is quick to press his knee against her spine, choking her against the middle rope and cutting off her airflow! He’s taking a moment to let it all soak in, but he’s not going to have long as the referee is coming to break it up!
Referee: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FI-
Rich Russillo: And Drake releases the hold! He holds his hands up, but you can tell that he was trying to use as much time as possible on that to inflict as much damage as he could on Auburn, and the former Specialists Champion is forced to clutch her throat, struggling to breathe.
Thadd Blazevich: And now Drake is quick to take advantage of the situation, slipping in and locking in a chin lock, trying to apply as much pressure as possible to Auburn while he has the chance! He knows the amount of satisfaction it would bring him to win this match as quickly as possible, we know he has zero stakes in this! But at the same time, we saw earlier that one false move and Auburn could very well take advantage!
(5:00)
Persephone: Auburn is batting her beady little eyes at the clock as we get closer to the time to beat, and she knows that she has to last just a little longer in order to be the true winner, but really I don’t give a fuck.
Rich Russillo: And she’s beginning to make her way back up to her feet! Drake is struggling as he tries his best to keep her down on the ground, but Auburn is quick to begin to connect with repeated elbow shots to the body, forcing the air out of Drake Armstrong’s chest! And forcing him to loosen the grip that he has on her!
Thadd Blazevich: Drake is forced backward, as he tries his best to retaliate by rushing forward! BUT AUBURN BRINGS HER HEAD BACK AND CONNECTS RIGHT AGAINST HIS SKULL WITH A VICIOUS HEADBUTT! That staggers Drake back, AS AUBURN IS QUICK TO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A CLOTHESLINE DIRECTLY TO THE FACE!
Persephone: Drake is taken down to the ground as he absolutely looks like an idiot right now. He quickly tries to make his way back up to his feet, BUT AUBURN FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH ANOTHER CLOTHESLINE THAT DROPS THE WORLD CHAMPION DOWN TO THE GROUND! Damn, this is really our World Champion…
Rich Russillo: Drake once again rises back up, as he charges yet again at Auburn! BUT AUBURN MANAGES TO SPIN AROUND AND CATCH HIM RIGHT AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE HEAD WITH A SPINNING HEEL KICK! She then grabs a hold of Drake! Setting him up!
Thadd Blazevich: AS SHE PLANTS HIM DOWN WITH DIVERGENT! LEG DROP BULLDOG AS AUBURN QUICKLY FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH A PIN ATTEMPT!
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!
TTTTTHHH-
Persephone: FUCK! Drake kicks out. I guess, bro. Genuinely feels like time is going at snail’s pace, kill me now.
(6:00)
Rich Russillo: Auburn rolls toward the edge of the ring as she uses the ropes to begin to bring herself back up. Drake is trying his best to come to his senses right now, but it’s clear that he’s having a hard time fighting back.
Thadd Blazevich: AS AUBURN GOES FOR SHINY BROKEN PIECES DIRECTLY TO THE FACE OF DRAKE ARMSTRONG! TRYING TO CATCH HIM OFFGUARD!
Persephone: But Drake Armstrong is unfortunately not stupid! He manages to grab a hold of Auburn from behind! Trying to set her up!
Rich Russillo: GOING FOR THE IMMACULATE BLADE!
Thadd Blazevich: But before Drake can fully execute it, Auburn begins to connect with repeated elbow strikes to the face! She’s trying to force him to let go, but that’s the last thing that Drake wants to do! AS HE PULLS HER IN AND NAILS HER WITH A HARD HAMMER FIST DIRECTLY TO THE SPINE! Auburn nearly drops her down to a knee, but Drake manages to keep her upright!
Persephone: AS HE UNWINDS HER INTO THE RIPCORD, LEAPING INTO THE AIR AND ONCE AGAIN TRYING FOR THE IMMACULATE BLADE!
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN MANAGES TO FREE ONE OF HER WRISTS AND DUCK UNDER HIS LEG JUST IN TIME! SHE QUICKLY SPRINTS TOWARD THE ROPES AS SHE SETS HIM UP! GOING FOR THE HANDSPRING BACK ELBOW! THIS GIRL TO DRAKE ARMSTRONG!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT DRAKE MANAGES TO GRAB A HOLD OF HER FROM BEHIND AS HE BRINGS HER TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RING!
Persephone: LIFTING HER UP AND DROPPING HER DOWN ONTO THE CANVAS WITH NATURAL TALENT! THE SUPLEX CONNECTS HARD ONTO THE MAT AS DRAKE IS QUICK TO BRIDGE IT DIRECTLY INTO THE PIN ATTEMPT! HOPING THAT THIS IS IT!
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWOOOO!!!!
TTTTTHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRREEE-
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN MANAGES TO KICK OUT OF THAT! SHE STILL HAS SOME FIGHT LEFT IN HER!
Thadd Blazevich: And that definitely does not make Drake a happy camper!
(7:00)
(Drake sits up as immediately an displeased expression crosses his face. He furrows his eyebrows as he slowly rises up to his feet, questioning why this girl is putting up such a fight when he feels, in his mind, this match should’ve been far from over. But Auburn knows that she needs to continue fighting, indicated by her glancing up at the clock repeatedly as she comes to her bearings.)
(Drake can only shake his head in frustration, as he glances over at Auburn clutching the bottom rope, using them to slowly make her way up to her feet, the EAW World Champion practically stalking her, waiting to inflict the finishing blow…)
(That is until suddenly… a familiar sight unfolds.)
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(The titantron comes to life as Auburn, still on a knee, rears her head toward it. There, she’s greeted with a sight for sore eyes… Damon Lazarus.)
Persephone: It seems like that ugly, goblin-faced man couldn’t help but watch the match. He’s also not alone either.
(No… what really ends up grinding Auburn’s gears, is glancing to his right to see Saori Aizen sitting right next to her. Both of them have made it back to their hotel room near the arena, and they’re both in bed, watching this match intently, with Saori even stifling a snicker seeing Auburn notice them, despite her failures and the wounds that she sustained courtesy of Daniella Atlas earlier in the night.)
(Damon, however, especially with the pain and frustration that he is feeling right now, is certainly not smiling. And it’s certainly a sight for sore eyes to see Auburn take her eyes off the ball in a match that is considered a must-win for her.)
(That’s not what happens though.)
Rich Russillo: DRAKE GLANCES UP AT WHAT’S HAPPENING, AND THAT’S ENOUGH FOR AUBURN TO CHARGE AT HIM AND TAKE HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND FROM BENEATH! AND NOW SHE’S GRABBED THE CHAMPION BY HIS HAIR AND IS BEGINNING TO SLAM HIS HEAD DOWN ONTO THE MAT REPEATEDLY!
(8:00)
Thadd Blazevich: AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SIGHT OF THESE TWO LOVERS WAS ENOUGH TO TAKE THE POOR GIRL OVER THE LEDGE, DUDE! THE CHAMPION IS BEING ABSOLUTELY BATTERED RIGHT NOW AS AUBURN IS SEEING RED!
Persephone: But Drake manage to shove her directly in the face and get the fuck out of there as he crawls himself out of harm’s way! He tries to scramble up to his feet, realizing the trouble that he’s in right now and looking for some form of stable ground-
Rich Russillo: BUT AUBURN JUST GRABBED A HOLD OF HIM BY THE WAIST AND RAMMED HIM DIRECTLY INTO THE CORNER! AND NOW SHE GRABS HIM BY THE HEAD AS HE STARTS LAYING INTO HIM WITH REPEATED LEFTS AND RIGHTS DIRECTLY TO THE FACE! DRAKE IS TRYING HIS BEST TO DEFEND HIMSELF, BUT HE’S BEING COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED BY THIS ASSAULT!
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN GRABS DRAKE BY THE HEAD AND DISPOSES HIM TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RING! Drake tries to stagger back up to his feet, but he’s going to have to watch out!
Persephone: AS AUBURN RUSHES FORWARD AND NAILS DRAKE ACROSS THE FACE WITH SHINY BROKEN PIECES! THE DISCUS ELBOW STRIKE CONNECTS AS THE CHAMPION IS TAKEN DOWN TO THE GROUND! BUT AUBURN ISN’T DONE EITHER!
Rich Russillo: AS AUBURN CONNECTS WITH A FALLING FOREARM DIRECTLY TO THE FACE! AND NOW SHE’S BEGINNING TO LAY INTO DRAKE WITH REPEATED FOREARM SHOTS DIRECTLY TO THE FACE!
(9:00)
(As Saori is watching this, a look of displeasure crosses her face, with this reminding her of the brutal beatdown that Auburn gave her during their match at Fighting Spirit, with Saori getting hit with a barrage of strikes quite similar to this. Auburn isn’t thinking too much of it though, she’s infuriated, incensed, and she’s using her anger, completely taking it out on Drake Armstrong.)
Thadd Blazevich: AUBURN ROLLS OUT ONTO THE APRON AND MAKES HER WAY BACK UP TO HER FEET! AND SHE HAS DRAKE IN HIS SIGHTS AS HE STUMBLES UP TO HIS FEET! AND IT MIGHT BE TIME TO CLOSE THIS, BRO!
Persephone: AUBURN LEAPS ONTO THE ROPES, GOING FOR LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY! 720 SPRINGBOARD-
Rich Russillo: NO! AUBURN TURNS HER BACK FROM DRAKE AND THAT ALLOWS HIM TO STRIKE! HE WAS PLAYING POSSUM AS HE RUSHES FORWARD AND SWIPES AT HER LEGS, FORCING HER TO TRIP UP AS SHE SLIPS OFF THE ROPES!
Thadd Blazevich: ALLOWING DRAKE TO CATCH HER AND HANG HER LEGS OFF THE ROPES!
(THUD!)
Persephone: SPIKING HER DOWN RIGHT ONTO HER FUCKING HEAD WITH A VICIOUS HANGMAN’S DDT!
(Damon Lazarus, still on the titantron, smirks at the familiarity of the move as he wraps his arm around Saori. But he chalks it up to coincidence.)
Rich Russillo: BUT DRAKE DOESN’T RELEASE! HE MANAGES TO MAINTAIN HIS GRIP ON AUBURN AS HE LIFTS HER BACK UP AND PULLS HER TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RING! AND HERE WE GO!
Thadd Blazevich: DEATH PENALTY CONNECTS! GOTCH-STYLE PILEDRIVER DROPS AUBURN RIGHT BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND A SECOND TIME!
Persephone: Yikes, poor girl might be a vegetable at this point. But Drake Armstrong doesn’t seem to give a damn as he hooks the leg, going right for the pin.
OOONNNEEE!!!
TTTTWWWWWOOOO!!!!
TTTTTHHHHHRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(‘Pride and Arrogance’ once again begins to play through the speakers of the arena, as the crowd is absolutely deflated. Drake Armstrong is seen rolling off of the body of Auburn Ware, slowly rising back up to his feet with a disgruntled expression on his face. The referee makes his way over and hands him the EAW World Championship, as he raises it high into the air to the chagrin of the crowd here tonight in Edmonton.)
Bella Braxton: Here is your winner… the EAW WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!! DRAKE ARMSTRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: The EAW World Champion comes out on top in this one, but did Auburn last long enough to be the winner out of her two Pain For Pride opponents?
Persephone: I’m not gunna lie, if she gets like… 9:44, that might be the most hilarious shit ever.
(Auburn is seen slowly recovering in the corner, she’s definitely unhappy about what happened in this match, from Damon and Saori to not coming out as the winner, she’s teetering on the brink of insanity right now but is somehow managing to keep herself composed. The only thing she cares about is how long the match lasted, and as she glances up at the titantron…)
(…)
(…)
(…)
(10 minutes on the dot.)
Persephone: FUCK.
Thadd Blazevich: Auburn lasted 15 seconds longer than Carmen at the beginning of the night, therefore, she is the one who gets to pick the stipulation for the Specialists Championship match at Pain For Pride.
(Seated against the corner, looking at the time, Auburn Ware has the slightest, smallest smile on her face, with this being the most gratifying thing that has happened to her in the long time… which perhaps isn’t saying very much at all.)
(Meanwhile, Drake Armstrong glances up at the titantron, rolling his eyes as he couldn’t really give a fuck, he won, who really cares? He begins to make his way out of the ring…)
(CRACK!)
Rich Russillo: OH MY GOD!
Thadd Blazevich: HANS GRAYSON JUST SMASHED THE CASH IN THE VAULT BRIEFCASE AGAINST THE FACE OF DRAKE ARMSTRONG!
Persephone: It’s that time of the month!
(Drake is smacked right across the face, as he staggers back and collapses down back into the ring in an exaggerated manner. And Hans is quick to slide into the ring, as he drops the briefcase down to the ground and lunges on top of him, beginning to connect with wild strikes directly to the face!)
Rich Russillo: HANS IS BEATING THE STUFFING OUT OF DRAKE RIGHT NOW, AND THE CHAMPION IS TOO EXHAUSTED TO FIGHT BACK! HE’S BEING BACKED AGAINST A CORNER BY HIS PAIN FOR PRIDE OPPONENT, AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT HE CAN DO ABOUT IT!
Thadd Blazevich: DRAKE MANAGES TO SQUIRM AWAY AS HE SCRAMBLES UP TO HIS FEET! QUICKLY TRYING TO RETREAT AWAY!
Persephone: BUT HANS JUST RUSHED FORWARD AND LEAPED INTO THE AIR, NAILING HIM RIGHT AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE HEAD WITH A FLAMING PUNCH!
Rich Russillo: AND NOW HANS QUICKLY SLIPS OUT ONTO THE APRON AS DRAKE IS ON WOBBLY LEGS! AND HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT’S COMING FOR HIM RIGHT NOW!
Thadd Blazevich: BURNING SHOT LARIAT-
(Before Hans can launch off the ropes, security quickly rushes into the ring and stops him before he can. Drake completely collapses down to the ground in a heap, as they force Hans off of the apron and down to the ringside area.)
Persephone: Damn.
(Hans has a smirk on his face, satisfied with his work, as he holds his hands up in innocence, beginning to make his way around the ring to take his leave from the area, highfiving the fans in Edmonton who are cheering their fellow countryman. As he backpedals up the ramp, staring down an unconscious Drake Armstrong, it’s the very last shot seen before Sunday Night Voltage fades to a commercial break.)
(A commercial is shown for the NBA Finals featuring Milli Banks [New York] versus Jake Smith[(Probably somewhere in Texas])
(Sunday Night Voltage returns as the camera shows the backstage area of the Rogers Bank Arena. There, Sofia Clarke is seen standing by with a smile on her face and a microphone in her hand. She’s standing in front of medical, seemingly waiting on something or someone, as she takes a moment before beginning to speak.)
Sofia Clarke: Welcome back to Sunday Night Voltage, and what a show it has been! We are just moments away from our main event of the night, with Adam Lucas facing off against Minerva, but right now, I wanted to catch up on the aftermath of our previous match. We had the opportunity to see three Pick Your Poison matches, with the person who lasted the longest out of the three women in the Specialists Championship match at Pain For Pride being able to pick the stipulation. That, of course, would end up going to Auburn Ware, who lasted 15 seconds longer against Carmen Sànchez in her match against EAW World Champion Drake Armstrong.
(Sofia pauses, with the crowd inside of the arena being heard loudly cheering. Despite everything she has done, they are still heavily in support of Auburn.)
Sofia Clarke: Right now, I am just outside medical, waiting for an update on Auburn Ware, and more specifically, seeing if she has any news for us on the stipulation that she has the opportunity to pick for the match. Let’s check in right now.
(Sofia turns around and slowly opens the door, making her way inside as she sees Auburn Ware. She’s being treated by a doctor as she sits on a bed, nursing the back of her neck with an ice pack after the brutal ravaging that Drake Armstrong put her through in her match. Sofia slowly approaches, trying her best not to interrupt anything that she shouldn’t.)
Sofia Clarke: Auburn, do you mind if I get a word with you?
(Auburn scrunches her face in pain as she glances upward at Sofia. The doctor is about to speak, as if to say that she is still being checked on, but Auburn is quick to shoo them away with a sway of the hand. After a brief exhale, she nods her head, allowing Sofia to continue what she is going to say.)
Sofia Clarke: Well, as we all already know, you lasted the longest out of yourself, Saori Aizen, and Carmen Sànchez meaning that you have the opportunity to pick your stipulation for Pain For Pride. Of course, before you could come to your senses, Drake Armstrong got the floor wiped with him by Hans Grayson. :mjlol: So I was just wondering if I could ask you in a formal setting what your decision may be if this is something that you thought about.
(Auburn looks down at the ground, as if she’s pondering for a moment. After a brief, lingering second, she looks up at Sofia.)
Auburn Ware: Actually, Sofia, I have decided what the stipulation is going to be.
Sofia Clarke: Oh? Would you be willing to let us in on it?
Auburn Ware: Yeah, sure. The stipulation I choose is…
(Auburn pauses for suspense, allowing the moment to build up. Admittingly, she has a look of pure happiness on her face, something that hasn’t been seen in a very long time, something that is almost startling to look at considering this could only mean trouble for her opponents. She then begins to speak…)
Auburn Ware: … Pure Rules.
(The crowd inside of the arena doesn’t react as loudly to this, almost bummed out that it’s not something violent, gruesome, or completely over the top compared to Auburn’s bout against Saori at Fighting Spirit. Sofia raises an eyebrow in intrigue, as she responds.)
Sofia Clarke: Wow… I can’t say I expected that. Could you explain your reasoning behind it?
Auburn Ware: I mean, why wouldn’t I pick this? I’ve prided myself on being one of the hardest workers in the room and a pretty damn good wrestler, and I’ll admit, for the past couple of months… I’ve lost sight of that. I let my heart take over my passion and it cost me everything, more importantly… It cost me the Specialists Championship. And the LAST thing I’m going to do is let that happen again. So this is how it’s going to be, and whether you like it or not I don’t really give a damn, but I know for certain that it makes my opponent’s blood boil because it’s not anything more than that, and that really… REALLY, brings a smile to my face.
(Auburn nods her head, continuing to smirk as she goes on.)
Auburn Ware: So it’s as advertised. No closed fists, no weapons, no hijinx. The Triple Threat lax rules will not be in effect, and most importantly, the two of them are going to be in my environment. Because if there is one thing that you and I know, it’s that not a single fucking person in EAW can beat me in a pure wrestling match. Again, I let my heart get in the way of that, but trust me, even with that sign of weakness which I swear to Gawd will never happen again… THAT has never changed. And come Pain For Pride, I’m going to have my head in the game, and you know what that means?
(Auburn looks toward the camera, having a stern expression on her face while she does.)
Auburn Ware: That means both of you are fucked.
(Auburn exhales as she stands up from her bed. Doctors are seen surrounding her, again, because of her not fully completing her check up, but Auburn shoves them away, more interested in being alone right now as she makes her way out of the room. Sofia is left to her lonesome, having an amused expression on her face as she speaks.)
Sofia Clarke: Certainly a bombshell of an announcement! As Saori Aizen will be defending her Specialists Championship against Auburn Ware and Carmen Sànchez in a PURE RULES match at Pain For Pride! It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how Auburn’s opponents respond to this, but right now, let’s go straight to our main event of the evening!
(The camera begins to pan out as Sofia smiles, signing off as it’s the very last shot seen before Sunday Night Voltage begins to fade to elsewhere.)
(The camera returns to ringside, and in a surprising turn of events, ‘Self Help Tape’ by Moses Sumney begins to play. The fans cheer, not expecting the appearance from Voltage commissioner Captain Charisma as he walks out to the stage, carrying a smile on his face as he greets the crowd.)
Rich Russillo: Well this is a surprise! It looks like our commissioner has some words for us here tonight before our huge main event coming up.
Thadd Blazevich: Tonight has been an insane night so far, and I can’t see the main event being any different, bro. Whatever he’s got in mind gotta be good.
Persephone: Or it could be underwhelming. Not like that’d be anything new around here.
(Captain Charisma allows the cheers to continue for a bit, until finally he begins to speak, carrying more of a serious look as he does.)
Captain Charisma: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight has been quite the night, hasn’t it?
(This only receives more cheers, which causes a brief chuckle to come from the commissioner before he continues.)
Captain Charisma: I know, it certainly has been something to witness. From the Beat The Clock challenge to the insane four on four tag team match to of course… The Hardcore Championship match that took place between Kai Rabeaux and Ashlynn Quinn. Tonight has been a show filled with controversy and chaos, and nearly all of it has been because of how heated things have gotten on the road to Pain for Pride. Now I get it, everyone has their issues with each other, and when given the chance, they’re not going to hesitate to stick it to their enemies. That’s just how things are on Voltage… But up next, we have a match between Hall of Famers. Not only that, but two Elitists who I’d call not just two of Voltage’s best, but two of EAW’s best of all time. Now… You all wouldn’t want to see a match like that end abruptly, would you?
(The negative reaction that follows this question is enough to prove Captain Charisma’s point, leading to his next words.)
Captain Charisma: Great, it looks like we’re all on the same page then. With that being said, I’d like to announce that for this main event, *EVERYONE* IS BARRED FROM RINGSIDE!!
(This surprises the fans in attendance, causing a slightly mixed, but still positive reception. After this, Captain Charisma further explains.
Captain Charisma: This unfortunately means that Milli Banks and Kai Rabeaux will not be joining us on commentary, but given everything that has already happened, I’d say it’s for the best. As much as I usually like to let people handle their business as they see fit, sometimes you have to draw a line, and when there’s a chance your headlining match doesn’t even last thirty seconds, I’d say it’s time to draw that line. I’d like to see this main event and I know you all want to see the main event, so we’re going to have ourselves a main event! Ladies and gentlemen enjoy the rest of your night, and enjoy what’s bound to be a fantastic match. Bella, the floor is yours.
(With this Captain Charisma begins heading to the back, and finally the camera pans over towards Bella Braxton.)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen… The following contest is scheduled for ONE FALL!!!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!!!
(‘Everybody Knows (Unstoppable)’ by Royal Deluxe hits to loud cheers, as Adam Lucas begins walking out. Adam looks focused, trying his best to keep his mind off of everything else going on as he understands the kind of match he’s in right now, even if there are less distractions right in front of him now. Adam doesn’t waste any time, heading directly down the ramp as always, as his only concern at the moment is getting this match started.)
Bella Braxton: Introducing first… From New York… Weighing in at 238 pounds… EAW HALL OF FAMER, AAAAAAAAAADDDDAAAAMMMM LLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCAAAAASSSSS!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: Well we already saw Adam Lucas once tonight, and given how it all went down, I think it’s easy to see why Captain Charisma barred everyone from ringside for this match. Now we’re guaranteed to be getting ourselves a match free of interruption, and this one’s bound to be good.
Thadd Blazevich: Adam Lucas versus Minerva! If there’s any way to close out a show, it’s with this! Adam and Minerva are two of the best, but that’s not all bro. These two go way back, don’t they?
Persephone: I guess, but why is that a good thing? All that’s gonna do is make this match last forever because they know all of each other’s moves.
(‘Blood, Milk & Sky’ by White Zombie follows, which causes loud boos to pour in as Minerva begins to calmly walk out. Despite appearing confident as usual, she has a much colder look to her tonight as she stares down Adam Lucas from the stage, beyond ready for tonight’s match. She doesn’t spend too much time on the stage, slowly beginning to walk down the ramp, making her entrance in preparation for this main event.)
Bella Braxton: And his opponent… From Bucharest, Romania… Weighing in at 122 pounds… EAW HALL OF FAMER… MIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNEEERRRRRVVVVAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
Rich Russillo: One side effect, or even consequence of everyone being barred from ringside is that ToXXXin won’t be joining Minerva tonight, but I don’t know if that’s a bad thing for Minerva here, as it seems this one may be personal. Thadd wasn’t wrong about these two having history, but given who else Minerva has history with, I don’t know if I’d say these two are on the best terms.
Thadd Blazevich: True. We heard what Minerva had to say this week, so I’m expecting her to be out for blood. It’s hard to tell what state of mind Adam will be in given it’s Minerva he’s against, but hopefully bro can keep his head in the game.
Persephone: Or he could spare me and let this match end quickly for a change.
(Ding! Ding! Ding!)
Rich Russillo: AND OUR MAIN EVENT IS NOW UNDERWAY! Adam Lucas versus Minerva, and thanks to Captain Charisma’s orders, there will be nobody to get involved in this one!
(Right away the two Hall of Famers circle the ring. Minerva looks as if she is out for blood, possibly even more than usual given her opponent and the ties she has to his wife, Dr. Bethany Blue. Adam Lucas on the other hand has a conflicted look on his face, feeling a variety of different emotions both following the events earlier in the night and due to who he is taking on tonight.)
Rich Russillo: AND HERE WE GO! BOTH ELITISTS LOCK UP- BUT MINERVA IS WISE NOT TO STAY IN THE COLLAR AND ELBOW WITH THE LARGER ELITIST FOR LONG! SHE IMMEDIATELY TRANSITIONS INTO A HAMMERLOCK BEFORE KICKING THE BACK OF ADAM’S LEG! Adam drops to a knee, AND NOW THERE’S AN ELBOW TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva grabs Adam and sends him into the corner, BEFORE RUNNING IN WITH A CLOTHESLINE! SHE SWEEPS THE LEG AFTER THIS BEFORE RUNNING THE ROPES- BUT ADAM PULLS HIMSELF UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE! The fans are rooting for Adam to find his way back into this, but Minerva is in top form right now bros, and she’s not looking to let Adam get into this one whatsoever!
Persephone: I wish Adam would just walk out or something. Clearly his mind isn’t where it needs to be, so what’s the point?
Rich Russillo: I think the point is not letting a match like this go to waste. Adam cautiously slides back into the ring as Minerva waits for him… AND NOW MINERVA SWINGS AT ADAM, BUT ADAM IS ABLE TO DUCK UNDER! ADAM GETS TO HIS FEET AND RUNS THE ROPES- BUT MINERVA DUCKS UNDER A SWING! MINERVA LOOKS TO SURPRISE ADAM WITH THE DEVIL’S TOUCH- BUT ADAM CATCHES THE BOOT! ADAM CAUGHT THE BOOT, AND NOW HE SPINS MINERVA AROUND!
Thadd Blazevich: ADAM CATCHES MINERVA WITH A KICK TO THE MIDSECTION, AND NOW HE THROWS MINERVA OFF THE ROPES! LEVEL UP- NO! MINERVA JUMPS OVER AND NOW SHE RUNS THE ROPES AS ADAM TURNS AROUND!!! MINERVA NOW WITH THE RUNNING STO-
Persephone: NO! ADAM CATCHES HER WITH THE SPINEBUSTER, AND HE INSTANTLY GOES FOR THE COVER!
ONE!
Rich Russillo: BUT THERE’S THE KICKOUT BY MINERVA! These two know each other very well, so it’s going to be difficult for either Elitist to get one over the other using their usual arsenal.
Thadd Blazevich: I know, bro. Adam Lucas gets back to his feet as Minerva rolls towards the ropes- AND AS SHE PUSHES HERSELF UP, ADAM CATCHES HER WITH A KNIFE EDGE CHOP! That one had to sting hearing the sound of that one! Minerva stumbled backwards a bit, AND ADAM HITS MINERVA WITH A SECOND CHOP! Minerva is reeling bros- BUT WE KNOW ABOUT HER PAIN TOLERANCE, AND SHE’S ABLE TO GRIT THROUGH THE PAIN TO HIT ADAM WITH A KNIFE EDGE CHOP OF HER OWN! THAT ONE HAD TO HURT!
Persephone: ADAM GOES FOR ANOTHER ONE- BUT MINERVA BLOCKS IT BEFORE HITTING A SECOND ONE! A THIRD NOW! A FOURTH! SHE GOES FOR A FIFTH, AND IT CONNECTS, CAUSING ADAM TO TURN AROUND!
Rich Russillo: BUT ADAM TURNS RIGHT BACK, GOING FOR THE DISCUS PUNCH!!!
Thadd Blazevich: WHICH MINERVA DUCKS UNDER BEFORE GRABBING ADAM’S ARM FROM BEHIND! SHE TURNS HIM AROUND, IS SHE ABOUT TO GO FOR A SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE!?
Rich Russillo: NO, BECAUSE ADAM LUCAS JUST CAUGHT MINERVA WITH A DROPKICK OUT OF NOWHERE! HUGE DROPKICK BY ADAM LUCAS, AND THIS TIME IT’S MINERVA THAT GOES ROLLING UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE! THESE ARE TWO TOP TIER TALENTS GOING AT IT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE ADAM LUCAS IS STARTING TO REALLY GET INTO THIS! THIS MIGHT BE WHAT HE NEEDED!
Thadd Blazevich: Adam Lucas rushes to his feet before grabbing onto the ropes. Dude sees that Minerva rolled onto her feet, and…. WOAH, BRO, WHAT THE HELL!?!? ADAM LUCAS JUST PULLED HIMSELF OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A SLINGSHOT FOREARM ONTO MINERVA AT RINGSIDE!!!!! WOW!!!
(The crowd explodes as Adam Lucas rolls back to his feet, slightly backpedaling up the ramp. Despite the loud cheers directed to him, he remains locked in on Minerva, who is still getting back up even after the onslaught of offense.)
Rich Russillo: Minerva is using the apron to get back up which leaves Adam very little room to take in the moment, AND NOW ADAM RUNS IN WITH A BIG BOOT- OR AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT HE WANTED, BUT MINERVA MANAGED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, CAUSING ADAM’S LEG TO GET STUCK ON THE APRON-
Thadd Blazevich: THE DEVIL’S TOUCH!!!
Persephone: Well that’s it. This match is over, right?
Rich Russillo: I don’t know, but it definitely has taken a turn! Adam Lucas is down, and this is exactly where Minerva is at her most dangerous. Her opponent is at her mercy, and you know Minerva is anything but merciful!
(The boos have already started, as Minerva looks down at Adam Lucas for a few moments. She checks her nose for blood after that forearm, and a slightly irritated look crosses her face before she grabs Adam.)
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva drags Adam Lucas back up- AND IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG TO GET TO THIS POINT, BROS!! MINERVA JUST SENT ADAM LUCAS INTO THE STEEL STEPS, COMPLETELY KNOCKING THE TOP STEPS OFF OF THE BOTTOM ONES!!! THAT WAS A NASTY COLLISION FOR ADAM LUCAS, AND IF YOU KNOW MINERVA, YOU KNOW THAT SHE’S GOT A WHOLE LOT WORSE IN STORE!
Persephone: It sure looks like it. She’s powering Adam back up before bringing him over towards our side of the ring- which I really don’t like, by the way.
Rich Russillo: Minerva brings Adam over towards our table- BEFORE JUST SLAMMING HIS FACE INTO IT! Minerva doesn’t stop there, TURNING AND JUST SENDING ADAM OVER THE BARRICADE AND INTO THE TIMEKEEPER’S AREA, COLLIDING WITH THE RING BELL, CHAIRS AND EVERYTHING ELSE OVER THERE! MINERVA IS PICKING APART ADAM LUCAS RIGHT NOW, AND THE WAY THIS IS GOING, NOTHING CAN STOP HER!
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva rolls back into the ring before rolling right out to reset the count, and now she heads back towards Adam Lucas as he uses the barricade to get back up. Minerva grabs him by his hair, AND NOW SHE JUST STARTS THROWING CLOSED FIST PUNCHES AT THE TOP OF ADAM’S FOREHEAD!! MINERVA IS GETTING REALLY VICIOUS HERE, BRO! SHE KEEPS THROWING PUNCHES- BEFORE FINALLY JUST SLAMMING BROS HEAD INTO THE BARRICADE!
Persephone: Alright, can someone like, throw in the towel for Adam or something? I know he has basically nobody left these days, can we get an official to do it or something?
Rich Russillo: Minerva holds onto Adam to make sure he remains on his feet, and now she begins pulling Adam onto the barricade! I don’t know what Minerva has in mind, but she’s climbing up onto the barricade, and I gotta say, it takes a lot of caution and balance to do this! Minerva is slowly trying to get Adam to get back to his feet, and she’s successful! She slowly pulls him into a suplex position! I THINK MINERVA IS GOING TO SUPLEX ADAM OFF OF THE APRON!- WOAH, WAIT A SECOND!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: LOOK AT ADAM, BROS!!!!
Rich Russillo: BEFORE MINERVA EVEN GETS THE CHANCE, ADAM LIFTS MINERVA UP BEFORE DROPPING HER WITH A GOURDBUSTER ONTO THE APRON!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: MINERVA FALLS OFF OF THE BARRICADE AND INADVERTENTLY LANDS ON HER FEET- AND NOW THERE’S A DROPKICK OFF THE BARRICADE BY ADAM LUCAS!!!!! BOTH OF ‘EM GO DOWN, AND THAT WAS INSANE!!! WAS ADAM LETTING MINERVA DRAG HIM UP SO HE COULD TRY AND CONSERVE HIS ENERGY, OR DID HE GET LUCKY WITH THAT OPENING!? I DON’T KNOW, BUT EITHER WAY THAT WAS HUGE!
Persephone: I guess.
Rich Russillo: Adam Lucas pulls himself back to his feet holding his back, before he quickly grabs Minerva and sends her into the ring! Adam Lucas climbs onto the apron, and it looks like Adam has something big in mind here as he is calling for Minerva to get back up!
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva starts doing exactly that, but she’s looking dazed, bros! ADAM SLINGSHOTS OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A FLIP, AND NOW THERE’S THE EQUALI-
Rich Russillo: NO!! RUNNING STO BY MINERVA, AND NOW THE COVER!!!!
ONE!
TWO!!
Thadd Blazevich: ADAM IS OUT, BUT THAT WAS CRAZY!! Minerva managed to catch Adam off guard before he could even go for the lariat, that was quick!
Persephone: Adam Lucas is useless.
Rich Russillo: Minerva gets on top of Adam, AND SHE JUST DRIVES FOREARMS RIGHT INTO HIS FOREHEAD!! MINERVA WITH FOREARM AFTER FOREARM, JUST BEING AS BRUTAL AS SHE CAN TONIGHT AS ADAM HAS BEEN UNABLE TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM FOR TOO LONG! We know how tough of an opponent Minerva is, but can Adam find a way back into this!?
Thadd Blazevich: I don’t know! Minerva gets back up, AND SHE JUST STOMPS ON ADAM’S STOMACH! Minerva steps on him as she heads towards the corner, and now I think she’s looking to wrap this one up, AS SHE JUMPS UP AND GOES FOR HELL’S BELLS!!!!!
Persephone: BUT IT DOESN’T CONNECT!!!
Rich Russillo: NOT EXACTLY, AT LEAST!!!! ADAM WAS ABLE TO GET THE KNEES UP, AND MINERVA LANDED DIRECTLY ONTO THEM!!! MINERVA FALLS BACKWARDS AND STUMBLES ONTO A KNEE, HOLDING HER RIBS IN PAIN AS ADAM ROLLS ONTO ALL FOURS! ADAM FORCES HIMSELF BACK UP- AND JUST AS MINERVA GOT BACK UP, SHE WAS CAUGHT WITH A LARIAT BY ADAM!!!
Thadd Blazevich: MINERVA STUMBLED BACK TO HER FEET, AND ADAM LANDS A SECOND ONE!!! MINERVA GETS BACK UP AGAIN AND STUMBLES INTO THE CORNER, AND ADAM CHARGES IN, BEFORE CONNECTING WITH A HUGE STINGER SPLASH!!!! ADAM BACKPEDALS AS MINERVA STUMBLES OUT OF THE CORNER- AND NOW THE DISCUS PUNCH CONNECTS!!!! ADAM LUCAS IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW, DUDES!!!!
Rich Russillo: HE SURE IS, AS MINERVA WAS JUST ROCKED BY THAT ONE! SHE DROPPED TO HER KNEES, AND NOW THERE’S THE SHOOT KICK TO THE CHEST! A SECOND ONE NOW! A THIRD! A FOURTH! A FIFTH! SIX!! SEVEN!!! EIGHT!!! NINE!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: ADAM NOW WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK-
Persephone: BUT MINERVA DUCKS UNDER IT BEFORE SHOVING ADAM INTO THE ROPES!!!!
Rich Russillo: ONLY FOR ADAM TO REBOUND OFF OF THEM AND STEP OFF OF THE MIDDLE ROPE NEXT TO HIM WHILE CHARGING IN, CONNECTING WITH “GENESIS”!!!!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: GENESIS CONNECTS!!!!! THAT WAS A GNARLY SUPERMAN PUNCH FROM ADAM LUCAS, AND BRO, I THINK MINERVA JUST HAD HER LIGHTS KNOCKED OUTTA HER!! SHE’S DOWN AND OUT, AND NOW ADAM JUST DROPS DOWN ON TOP OF HER FOR THE COVER!!!!!
ONE!
TWO!!
THRE-
Persephone: BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH!! ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!?
(The fans are shocked seeing that kickout following that huge combination, but Adam Lucas just sits up, letting out a sigh as he knows he can’t let up now.)
Rich Russillo: If there’s anyone who knows how difficult of an opponent Minerva can be it’s this man, so I’m sure he can understand why that didn’t keep her down. I think Adam is thinking about what may actually get the job done though… And I think he might’ve gotten an idea.
Thadd Blazevich: You might be right, dude. Adam is eyeing the steps that were knocked over when Minerva threw him into them, and if he’s doing what I think he’s gonna do, this match could seriously be done for.
Persephone: In that case he better hurry up and do it. Anything to wrap this match up already, I’m sick of this.
Rich Russillo: Adam Lucas uses the ropes to pull himself to his feet before dragging Minerva up, AND NOW HE JUST USES HIS STRENGTH TO HIS ADVANTAGE, POPPING MINERVA ONTO HIS SHOULDERS BEFORE HEADING TOWARDS WHERE THE STEPS ARE! NO WAY!
Thadd Blazevich: DUDE, HE’S ABOUT TO SEND HER OUTTA THE RING WITH A LEVEL UP ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!!!!
Persephone: BUT OF COURSE MINERVA RUINS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY COULD’VE BEEN INTERESTING!!! SHE STARTED FRANTICALLY THROWING PUNCHES TO ADAM’S SKULL BEFORE HE COULD THROW HER INTO INSTANT PARALYSIS!! SHE LANDED ENOUGH PUNCHES TO CAUSE ADAM TO LOSE HIS GRIP ON HER, AND NOW SHE’S ABLE TO BRING HERSELF DOWN ONTO THE APRON-
Rich Russillo: BEFORE CONNECTING WITH SATAN’S KISS, DROPPING ADAM AND BAILING HER OUT OF THAT SITUATION!!!! THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE FOR MINERVA, THAT’S FOR SURE!!
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva holds onto the top rope with one hand, barely even able to keep her balance after the damage she’s taken. Minerva catches her breath before pulling Adam Lucas out to the apron with her. I don’t know what she’s got in mind, but you know how she is, dude. Anything she has in mind is bound to be scary, so I’m a lil scared for Adam right now, dude.
Persephone: Minerva positions herself right next to those steps at ringside before pulling Adam up! OH, IS SHE ABOUT TO GO FOR A PILEDRIVER INTO THE STEPS FROM THE APRON!?!? THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY KILL ADAM! THAT’D BE GREAT!!!
Rich Russillo: IT LOOKS LIKE THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE WHAT MINERVA’S LOOKING FOR AS SHE TRIES GETTING ADAM UP- BUT ADAM’S ABLE TO BRING HIS WEIGHT DOWN!!!! ADAM GETS HIS WEIGHT DOWN BEFORE QUICKLY MOVING HIS HEAD AND REACHING AROUND MINERVA’S BACK, DEADLIFTING HER UP- WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! NOO!!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BEFORE JUMPING OFF THE APRON, DELIVERING A GUTWRENCH SUPLEX THAT SENDS BOTH OF ‘EM CRASHING ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!!! DUDE, IS ADAM INSANE!?!?
Persephone: WOW! That actually wasn’t bad! I’m shocked! It’s not often Adam Lucas is actually good for anything besides whining, guess this is a good night for him.
Rich Russillo: Adam Lucas and Minerva are both down and out on the ringside floor, and I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. This is the kind of carnage that’s needed to keep either of these two Elitists down, and it looks like they both knew it seeing what they had in mind. They were both out for blood there, but Adam was able to put his size advantage to use once again, and at a critical moment. I don’t even know where to go from here, it’s a miracle that neither Elitist was paralyzed right there.
Thadd Blazevich: Adam Lucas is slowly raising his arm, pulling it onto the apron so he can slowly try to pull himself back up. You can see the pain he’s in as bro slowly tries to power through, and I think the ref might be giving a bit of leeway with this count just to make sure both Elitists are even in any condition to continue!
Persephone: Adam grabs Minerva before dragging her corpse up at a snail’s pace, and now he just pulls her up onto the apron before shoving her into the ring. Adam’s taking the time to catch his breath, and honestly it’s looking like every breath he takes hurts or something.
Rich Russillo: Well, I can imagine he’s having a hard time even standing after landing back first onto the steel steps. Still, he knows this isn’t over, so he has no choice but to roll into the ring, before using the ropes to force his way back up once more! Adam backs himself into the corner as he sees Minerva slowly pushing herself to all fours, AND NOW HE RUNS IN FOR THE PUNT KICK!!!! WOKE!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT MINERVA IS ABLE TO PULL HER HEAD OUT OF THE WAY!!!!
Rich Russillo: ADAM RUNS INTO THE ROPES AND STOPS HIMSELF! HE QUICKLY TURNS AROUND-
Thadd Blazevich: AND GETS CAUGHT WITH A SECOND SATAN’S KISS AS MINERVA USES ONE MORE BURST OF STRENGTH TO PUSH HERSELF UP!!!! MINERVA WITH ANOTHER NASTY HEADBUTT, AND NOW SHE PULLS ADAM IN!
Persephone: BEFORE DRIVING HIS HEAD INTO THE MAT WITH THE SIREN’S LONELY SONG!!!!!
Rich Russillo: THAT’S IT! THAT’S GOTTA BE IT!!!! BOTH ELITISTS ARE DOWN AND OUT, AND I THINK IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT TOOK EVERYTHING MINERVA COULD POSSIBLY MUSTER UP!!! MINERVA DOESN’T EVEN LOOK LIKE SHE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS, BUT SHE’S ABLE TO BACK UP ONTO ADAM, HOOKING HIS RIGHT LEG FOR THE COVER!!!!!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ADAM WAS ABLE TO GET THE LEFT FOOT ONTO THE BOTTOM ROPE!!! THIS ONE’S NOT OVER YET, DUDES!!!!
Persephone: Oh come on, really?
Rich Russillo: INCREDIBLE RING AWARENESS FROM ADAM LUCAS RIGHT THERE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT MINERVA HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF PREVENTING THAT IN THE CONDITION SHE WAS IN! Minerva used everything she had just to hit the move. It’s a miracle she was able to pin Adam at all, but this one is not over yet!
Thadd Blazevich: You’re right, and Minerva doesn’t look happy about that one bit! She slowly rolls away and pulls Adam away from the ropes- BEFORE GETTING ON TOP OF HIM AND JUST BEGINNING TO DRIVE CLOSED FISTS INTO HIS FOREHEAD ONCE AGAIN! MINERVA WITH PUNCH AFTER PUNCH TO THE HEAD OF ADAM, JUST LETTING EVERYTHING OUT!
Rich Russillo: MINERVA PULLS ADAM IN, BEFORE BEGINNING TO JUST DELIVER REPEATED TRAPPED HEADBUTTS TO HIM!!! MINERVA KNOWS ADAM HAS VERY LITTLE LEFT, BUT I DON’T THINK SHE PLANS TO STOP UNTIL HE’S AT ZERO! MINERVA IS OUT FOR BLOOD- AND I THINK SHE MIGHT’VE JUST GOTTEN EXACTLY WHAT SHE ASKED FOR!
(Minerva finally relents on the headbutts, which is enough to reveal blood finally beginning to fall down the forehead of Adam Lucas. Seeing this brings a smirk to the face of Minerva, but it doesn’t last long as a more sinister expression quickly follows.)
Thadd Blazevich: Adam’s leaking, and now it looks like Minerva’s got something devious planned! Adam’s in trouble dude, and at this rate I don’t know if he’s got anything left to give!
Persephone: Then tell him to stop surviving all these moves and just die already!
Rich Russillo: Minerva slowly grits through her own pain and pushes herself back to her feet, and now she just drags Adam up to a knee- BEFORE KNEEING HIM IN THE FOREHEAD! Adam’s head immediately just drops to the mat, and this has to be it for him. He doesn’t even have the strength to hold his head up at this point.
Thadd Blazevich: Minerva drags Adam up again before powering him up and into the corner of the ring, pulling his arms up onto the top ropes to keep him on his feet. That wound looks like it’s starting to get worse after that knee to the head, and if I had to guess, Minerva plans to make it a whole lot worse! Minerva slowly heads over towards the opposite corner, still holding her back in pain after that suplex into the steps!
Persephone: Adam’s still a dead body over in the corner right now, and now Minerva looks ready to kill right now. MINERVA USES WHATEVER SHE HAS LEFT TO LEAVE THE CORNER, CHARGING RIGHT AT ADAM-
Rich Russillo: BUT ADAM IS ABLE TO POP MINERVA UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!! WAIT A MINUTE, NO WAY!!!
Thadd Blazevich: LEVEL UP!!!!!
Rich Russillo: ADAM LUCAS SOMEHOW JUST CONNECTED WITH LEVEL UP, OR AT LEAST A VARIATION OF IT!!! HE COULDN’T REMAIN ON HIS FEET AFTER EVERYTHING HE HAS DEALT WITH, SO AFTER POPPING MINERVA UP HE INSTEAD CONNECTED WITH A FALLING POWERBOMB!!!!!
(Once again, everyone in attendance begins to cheer. It wasn’t the most impactful “Level Up” Adam Lucas has hit, but it was enough to inflict all the damage he needed right now. Minerva is out cold, and now all that is left is the cover, as Adam slowly drags his body over towards Minerva. It takes time, more time than Adam wants, but eventually, he makes it.)
Rich Russillo: ADAM PULLS HIMSELF OVER MINERVA!!!
Thadd Blazevich: TO BEAT THE GRAND RAMPAGE WINNER!!!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
Persephone: BUT BECAUSE THIS IDIOT TOOK THREE CENTURIES TO GET TO THE PIN, MINERVA WAS ABLE TO GET THE SHOULDER UP!!!!!
Rich Russillo: Wow. This match has just been unreal! As frustrating as that must be for Adam, there were multiple factors working against him there. Not only could he not deliver that powerbomb to the best of his ability, but he couldn’t get to the cover quick enough. All of this was the result of what these two put each other through.
Thadd Blazevich: Yeah, and just look at ‘em now.
(At this point, both Adam Lucas and Minerva are laid out on the mat, barely showing any signs of even being conscious, let alone actually moving. A round of applause slowly commences in the crowd, with the fans showing respect towards both Elitists for the match that has been put on tonight.)
Rich Russillo: It says a lot when Adam Lucas can’t even capitalize on his own finishing move. Losing blood might’ve been the final nail in the coffin for him tonight. Somehow, he and Minerva are on even footing despite that powerbomb!
Thadd Blazevich: It’s crazy. Minerva and Adam are both beginning to stir, somehow finding a way to at least get to their knees- AND NOW ADAM JUST CATCHES MINERVA WITH A RIGHT HAND! That barely even landed bro, but at this point I think anything’s gonna hurt. Minerva looks like she’s fighting just to stay upright here- AND NOW SHE JUST HITS ADAM WITH A NASTY PUNCH IN RETURN! That was a big one, bro!
Persephone: This has pretty much become a slugfest, which is annoying because it means it’s gonna be slow and boring.
Rich Russillo: Adam holds his jaw for a moment, BEFORE HE PULLS MINERVA INTO A FOREARM! MINERVA LANDS ONE IN RETURN NOW! NOW ADAM! NOW MINERVA! NEITHER ELITIST HAS EVEN MADE IT BACK TO THEIR FEET, BUT WITH TWO COMPETITORS LIKE THEM GOING AT IT, THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE EACH OTHER A SECOND TO RECOVER! MINERVA THROWS ANOTHER PUNCH AT ADAM-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ADAM AVOIDS IT AND GRABS THE ARM! ADAM’S TRYING TO PULL MINERVA IN FOR ICONIC! HE WANTS THE TRIANGLE CHOKE-
Rich Russillo: BUT MINERVA DOESN’T LET THAT HAPPEN, SHE KNOWS ADAM TOO WELL FOR THAT! SHE IS IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO HER FEET THANKS TO ADAM GOING FOR THE SUBMISSION, AND SHE USES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CLOSER TO ADAM AND TURN AROUND, STOMPING ON HIS FACE! Adam grabs his face and rolls to his knees, AND NOW MINERVA GRABS HIM, TRYING TO TAKE HIM DOWN LIKELY FOR OWL OF MINERVA-
Thadd Blazevich: BUT ADAM TURNS AND SWEEPS MINERVA’S LEG, DROPPING HER TO THE MAT!! ADAM QUICKLY GETS UP AND BACKPEDALS INTO THE ROPES, RUNNING OFF OF THEM FOR “WOKE” TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD!!!
Persephone: BUT MINERVA GETS OUT OF THE WAY!! SHE RUSHES BACK TO HER FEET AND CHARGES IN TOWARDS ADAM!!
Rich Russillo: BUT ADAM POPS MINERVA UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS AGAIN!!! ADAM GETS MINERVA IN POSITION POSSIBLY FOR A SECOND LEVEL UP-
Thadd Blazevich: ONLY FOR MINERVA TO DRIVE HER THUMBS DIRECTLY INTO THE WOUND ON ADAM’S FOREHEAD!!!! MINERVA’S LITERALLY DRIVING HER THUMBS INTO BRO’S HEAD, AND ADAM IS FORCED TO LET GO!!! Adam stumbles, holding his head in pain as he doesn’t seem to know where he is-
Rich Russillo: BUT THANKS TO THAT, MINERVA’S ABLE TO CATCH HIM WITH ONE LAST SATAN’S KISS TO STUN HIM, BEFORE PULLING HIM IN FOR THE SIREN’S LONELY SONG ONE MORE TIME!!!!!
Thadd Blazevich: IT CONNECTS!!!!!! THE SIREN’S LONELY SONG DRIVES ADAM LUCAS HEAD FIRST INTO THE MAT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THIS MATCH, AND DUDE, AFTER WHAT HE JUST TOOK TONIGHT, I DON’T THINK WE NEED TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THAT’S IT!! MINERVA IS DONE! ADAM IS DONE, AND NOW MINERVA JUST USES HER LAST FEW TRACES OF FUEL LEFT TO TURN ADAM OVER, GETTING AN ARM OVER BRO FOR THE COVER!!!!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
(Ding! Ding! Ding!)
Bella Braxton: Ladies and gentlemen… Here is your winner… MIIIIIIINNEEEEERRRRRVVVVVVAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
(Minerva remains laid out for a few moments, taking some time before she can even take her arm off of Adam Lucas. ‘Blood, Milk & Sky’ begins to play once more, and slowly Minerva just pushes herself to her knees, looking down at Adam, thinking about the fight that was just brought to her by her former friend as the referee raises her hand. After this, Minerva returns to her feet, gritting through the pain as she quickly grabs onto the ropes to maintain her footing.)
Rich Russillo: Wow. I don’t even know what to say about that one. We knew Minerva and Adam Lucas went back. Minerva obviously has been close with Dr. Bethany Blue, and this also isn’t the first time these two have faced off. I have to say, they brought everything tonight, and showed us exactly why they’re undoubtedly two of the greats.
Thadd Blazevich: I know, man. That genuinely coulda gone either way. I think that wound on Adam’s head really might be what sealed the deal! Without that, I think that last Level Up would’ve hit, and it’d have been game over for Minerva.
Persephone: Well it didn’t, so who cares?
Rich Russillo: We’re just saying, that was about as close as an get. This is what a match between Hall of Famers looks like. Congratulations to Minerva, who is headed to Pain for Pride with a huge win.
(Minerva stares at the booing fans in attendance for a moment, showing a focused look on her face undoubtedly to send a message to the Universal Women’s Champion. However… Soon after this, the crowd’s reaction changes, as it turns out someone else has arrived for a similar reason.)
Rich Russillo: Minerva and Adam Lucas both have huge matches at Pain for Pride, and if you’re either of their opponents, I don’t know how you’re not concerned after what we just witne-
Thadd Blazevich: HOLD THAT THOUGHT, RICH!!! LOOK WHO JUST JUMPED THE BARRICADE!!!!
Persephone: OH MY GOD, WHAT NOW!?
Rich Russillo: MILLI BANKS JUST SLID INTO THE RING, BEFORE SMASHING THE UNIVERSAL WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP INTO THE FACE OF AN UNSUSPECTING MINERVA!!!!!! MILLI JUST CAME THROUGH THE CROWD, AND I DON’T THINK WE NEED TO ASK WHY SHE’S HERE AT THIS POINT!!!
Thadd Blazevich: MINERVA WAS JUST FLOORED, AND NOW MILLI’S ON TOP OF HER, JUST THROWING UNRESTRAINED PUNCHES RIGHT TO THE FACE OF MINERVA, JUST HITTING HER WHEREVER SHE CAN!! MILLI’S GONE WILD TONIGHT BROS, AND I CAN’T BLAME HER!!! WE SAID THIS ONE’S GOTTEN PERSONAL QUICK, AND NOW HERE WE ARE!
Rich Russillo: MINERVA PUSHES MILLI OFF OF HER AND TRIES GRABBING ONTO THE ROPES TO PULL HERSELF UP- BUT MILLI JUST RUNS IN AND JUMPS AT MINERVA, TAKING BOTH WOMEN UNDER THE MIDDLE ROPE AND OUT TO RINGSIDE!!! BOTH WOMEN HIT THE RINGSIDE FLOOR HARD, BUT MILLI BANKS MUST BE RUNNING ON PURR ADRENALINE RIGHT NOW, AS SHE’S NOT WASTING ANY TIME TAKING THE FIGHT TO MINERVA, WHO CAN’T POSSIBLY HAVE ANYTHING LEFT AFTER THAT MATCH!
Thadd Blazevich: MILLI PULLS MINERVA UP AND SENDS HER FACE FIRST INTO THE RING POST, AND NOW MINERVA STUMBLES OVER TO THE TIMEKEEPER’S AREA AS MILLI QUICKLY CHARGES IN-
Persephone: ONLY FOR MINERVA TO GRAB THE RING BELL AND SWING IT AT HER-
Rich Russillo: WHICH MILLI CATCHES!! MILLI CATCHES THE RING BELL AND PULLS IT OUT OF HER HANDS, BEFORE RAISING IT UP AND BASHING IT RIGHT ONTO MINERVA’S HEAD!!!! MINERVA COLLAPSES TO HER KNEES, AND NOW MILLI HITS HER WITH THE BELL A FEW MORE TIMES BEFORE TOSSING IT ASIDE, DRAGGING MINERVA UP BEFORE RUNNING IN AND THROWING HER INTO THE OTHER PAIR OF STEPS!!!
(The fans explode with cheers as blood rushes down the face of Minerva at an alarming rate, likely as a result of that ring bell shot. Minerva can barely even move at this point and is just breathing heavily, but unfortunately for her, Milli is far from finished.)
Rich Russillo: MILLI GRABS MINERVA, AND SHE JUST THROWS HER OVER THE BARRICADE BEFORE QUICKLY FOLLOWING!!! IT’S EXTREMELY RARE THAT YOU SEE MINERVA LIKE THIS!
Thadd Blazevich: MILLI JOINS MINERVA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARRICADE AND PULLS HER UP- WOAH!!! DUDE, MILLI JUST SENT MINERVA CRASHING RIGHT INTO THE CHAIRS!!!! SEVERAL FANS HAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY JUST TO AVOID GETTING HIT, AND NOW MILLI TAKES ONE OF THEIR CHAIRS BEFORE BEGINNING TO JUST SLAM IT ONTO MINERVA!! WE MIGHT NEED SECURITY OR SOMETHING AT THIS POINT, DUDE!!
Rich Russillo: MINERVA TRIED GRABBING ONTO ONE OF THE CHAIRS EITHER TO FIGHT BACK OR PULL HERSELF UP, BUT MILLI JUST GRABS HER, BEFORE TAKING HER AWAY AND SENDING MINERVA BACK FIRST INTO THE TRASH CAN!!! MILLI BANKS IS ON A TEAR RIGHT NOW, AND-
(Suddenly, just as Milli Banks was on the search for something else to use to attack Minerva, ‘Duel’ by JINJER begins to play.)
Persephone: Oh great, it’s these two!
Thadd Blazevich: WELL IT’S NOT SECURITY, INSTEAD WE MIGHT HAVE OURSELVES AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM!!! MILLI BANKS MANAGED TO TAKE A TOOLBOX AWAY FROM SOME OF THE STAGEHANDS NEAR HER, BUT THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ARE RUNNING OUT AND THEY’RE HEADING STRAIGHT FOR-
Rich Russillo: NO!!
Thadd Blazevich: :krabs:
Rich Russillo: DR. BETHANY BLUE AND TLA!!!! DANIELLA ATLAS AND SELINA REYES’ PAIN FOR PRIDE OPPONENTS JUST RAN OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE STAGE, BLINDSIDING THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS AS ANOTHER BRAWL HAS BROKEN OUT ON THE RAMP!!!! BETHANY IS FIGHTING SELINA, AND TLA IS DEALING WITH DANIELLA!!
Thadd Blazevich: YEAH, AND THANKS TO THIS MILLI IS ABLE TO BASH THE TOOLBOX RIGHT INTO MINERVA’S FACE!!! SHE RAISED THE TOOLBOX AGAIN, AND SHE SLAMS IT DOWN ONTO MINERVA A SECOND TIME!!!!! THAT CRIMSON MASK IS FORMING PRETTY QUICK, DUDES!!!
Persephone: AND TOXXXIN CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THEY DIDN’T THINK THE PEOPLE THEY PISSED OFF WOULD WANT REVENGE! NOW HERE THEY ARE, GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH BETHANY AND TLA ON THE RAMP WHILE MILLI CONTINUES TO LITERALLY DESTROY MINERVA LIKE SHE’S FERAL OR SOMETHING!
Rich Russillo: TLA SENDS DANIELLA INTO THE BARRICADE ON THE RAMP, AND NOW SHE STUMBLES DOWN TOWARDS RINGSIDE! SHE FIGHTS BACK WITH A HEADBUTT AS TLA RUSHES IN, AND SHE TRIES TO FIGHT BACK BY SENDING TLA INTO THE RING POST- BUT TLA TURNS IT AROUND AND SENDS HER INTO IT INSTEAD! DANIELLA IS DAZED, AND NOW TLA RUNS IN, JUMPING ONTO THE APRON BEFORE LEAPING OFF FOR A DIVING, VERY MEXICAN UPPERCUT!!!!!
Rich Russillo: BETHANY AND SELINA ARE STILL BRAWLING DOWN THE RAMP THROWING FOREARMS AT EACH OTHER, AND NOW SELINA ROCKS BETHANY WITH A RIGHT HAND, SENDING HER STUMBLING BACKWARDS TOWARDS RINGSIDE! SELINA RUSHES IN AND TRIES TO SWING AT HER- BUT BETHANY DUCKS UNDER IT!!!
Thadd Blazevich: TJD!!!!
Rich Russillo: IT LOOKS LIKE BETHANY AND TLA ARE GETTING SOME PAYBACK, AND WHAT A WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE TAG CHAMPS!! MILLI IS STILL ALL OVER MINERVA, IS ANYONE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET HER AWAY FROM HER!?!?
(The crowd is on fire for all the chaos unfolding right now, but in the middle of it all, Adam Lucas has finally managed to stir. He finds the strength to roll out of the ring, but in doing so, he ends up noticing none other than the one person most important to him.)
(Just around the corner is Dr. Bethany Blue, standing over Selina Reyes as she lays in a few more stomps, making sure the Champion stays down. At this moment, none of the pain Adam is feeling even matters to him anymore. Even though he shouldn’t in the condition he is in, he forces himself to walk, making his way around the corner as he knows this may be the best chance he’ll get to finally try to repair his situation with Bethany-)
(CRACK!)
(But, he doesn’t even get the chance.)
Persephone: ???
Rich Russillo: WHAT THE HELL!?!?
Thadd Blazevich: KAI RABEAUX JUST CAME FROM THE CROWD AND BASHED A DUFFLE BAG RIGHT INTO THE BACK OF ADAM’S HEAD, BUT DUDE, ADAM JUST COLLAPSED INSTANTLY!!! WHAT THE HELL IS IN THAT THING!!?!?!?
(The fans are stunned as the expensive Louis Vuitton duffle bag drops down on top of Adam’s head. Kai slowly pulls himself over the barricade and to ringside, and as he lifts the duffle bag up off of the now bloody back of Adam’s head, it’s revealed that the bag has been slightly opened following the collision. Enough to reveal exactly what’s inside.)
(Bricks.)
Persephone: Wait… Are those…?
Rich Russillo: You can’t be serious… Kai loaded that duffle bag with BRICKS, JUST TO TAKE OUT ADAM LUCAS!!! Blood is rushing out of the back of Adam’s head and forming a pool right now, and I can’t even say I’m surprised!
Thadd Blazevich: Unreal, bro. I get he’s pissed after what happened in that Hardcore title match earlier, but this? This is too far.
Persephone: Come on. If we ever went “too far” it happened when Kai killed that kid.
(The sound of Adam and the bricks falling were enough to startle Bethany, just enough to catch her attention. She’s now locking eyes with Kai Rabeaux after turning around to see what happened, and with the sight in front of her, from the bloody, unconscious Adam Lucas who she still has conflicted feelings on to the man responsible for the death of her child, she doesn’t even know what to think about the sudden turn of events.)
Rich Russillo: I’m sure this isn’t an easy sight for Bethany, and I get it. Honestly, I don’t even know what to say about what has unfolded tonight. It looks like security guards are finally trying to get Milli Banks away from Minerva in the crowd, while ToXXXin is laid out here at ringside, and now this. This has been an unbelievable way to end tonight’s show.
(Kai however just sneers, turning towards Adam Lucas and spitting at him. He has seemingly done all he needed to now that Adam has been left a bleeding heap, and now he just walks past Bethany, with a cold, cruel look on his face as he heads up the ramp. Medical is heading both down the ramp and to the crowd to check on both participants in tonight’s main event as security guards continue to drag the Universal Women’s Champion away from the scene, while TLA looks towards Dr. Bethany Blue, who is watching it all unfold. One last shot is shown of Kai heading back up the ramp, as Voltage fades to black.)
(EAW logo buzzes.)
