Post by Jade Night on Feb 25, 2021 13:57:03 GMT
Liberty Pro Presents...
Night Two of No Man’s Land II
Live from the Madison Square Garden
in New York, NY
On Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
Night Two of No Man’s Land II
Live from the Madison Square Garden
in New York, NY
On Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
MATCH ONE: SINGLES
Coby Quick vs Brady Vega
Coby Quick vs Brady Vega
RECAP From the jump it is obvious that The One True Icon thinks that this will be light work for him tonight. Vega begins off the match showing off his speed on Quik, picking Coby off with a few snap kicks, a headscissors, a snap neckbreaker followed into a basement knee to the face, really a small catalogue of Brady’s moves get on display. His attempt for a running two handed facebuster as Quik recovers is where things shake up however. Coby is quick to dodge it, before leapfrogging over Brady and then dropkicking him in the back of the head before pulling him into a quick pin. After that moment, things look much more even. Everything Brady does, Coby follows soon after while pumping the crowd up more. Everything Coby does, Brady finds his way around it. Vega goes for corner Snake Eyes? Coby counters at the last moment with a monkey flip. Quik attempts a Pele Kick? Brady pulls an ankle lock until Coby can throw himself over the ropes. Back and forth they go. Quik escapes the lock and Brady pulls a sunset flip? Coby answers by letting himself get overtaken by the momentum and hitting Vega in the face with a running basement dropkick. Coby does attempt the #ThatsWhatsUp but Brady pulls the referee in front of him at the last moment, causing Quik to come to a complete stop. This lets Vega pull a leapfrog this time. Over the ref’s head and hitting a jumping DDT on Quik as he lands. That leads to a two, near three count. The Influence gets vicious with Quik here. He works the legs again, lifting and driving Quik’s leg by the ankle, driving it into the mat. Here Vega drags Quik to a corner and sets him up for a tree of woe. Vega hits one basement dropkick to the face...Another...But before he can mete out the third and complete the Chain Reaction? Quik does a sit up and let Vega hit nothing, landing on his back. He tries to roll away but Quik is after him. Vega stands himself up, getting irish whipped. Brady goes for attempting a rebound into a crossbody block, but Coby has it scouted, ducks, and executes a nasty springboard roundhouse. The crowd hears that smack of the Kickstarter Project as Vega drops to the mat for a near three. Brady is on jelly legs after the amount of impact from that last kick, but Quik now focuses specifically on his head. A Pentagram choke nearly befalls Vega but he escapes it, only to turn around into a sit down jawbreaker. He hits the mat and rolls out of the ring. Coby goes for a running baseball slide but Vega pulls the apron and lets Quik slide in between mat and apron. Brady tees off on Quik with forearms before hitting him with a step up knee to the face. He shoves Coby back into the ring and stands to the top rope. There’s an attempt for his blockbuster...But Quik has it scouted there! Vega lands on his feet, but Quik catches him in a flying triangle choke while he stands. Vega’s eyes widen and he tries to keep himself standing, but the shock and sudden body weight has him leaning forward, unable to counter with a powerbomb or the like. He tries to escape further, but Quik’s grip is ironclad. There is little Brady can do but tap out after a few moments of trying to reach for a nearby bottom rope. The referee raises the arm of Quik, victorious here tonight. WINNER Coby Quik METHOD Submission MATCH LENGTH 9:54 FINISHING MOVE Quik2Sleep |
BACKSTAGE
We cut backstage and Donovan Rich is pacing back and forth in front of the locker room. The big man is all decked out in his gear. Clearly ready for what might be his last Liberty Appearance. After going somewhat quiet on twitter Rich has a look of pure determination on his face which more than explains his recent quietness. He turns mid pace and notices the camera immediately
Donovan Rich: Listen. The time for talking is over. I don’t know what you want me to say here bruh. I’ve spent months trying to do right by family. Months trying to make an honest living and Liam out here kitty chasing. My daughter asked me. She asked me Daddy. How come you don’t have your job back yet. Do you know what that feels like. For your daughter to ask you why you don’t have a job. Like it’s my fault Liam cares more about private time in his office than running his business.
Rich seems to calm himself down a bit. Taking a few big deep breaths.
Donovan Rich: It’s all good. No stress. You know why? I’ll tell you what I told my daughter. The reason I can’t get a job. The reason I’m getting embarrassed out there week after week is because There’s a very bad man. Obsessed with power and using it to impress girls. Obsessed with power and using it for enjoyment. For a laugh. But don’t worry. I told my baby girl. Don’t worry about a thing. Because now. Daddy gets to fight that bad man. And he gets to make him pay for everything he’s put us through. I promised Dontae. I promised my little girl that Liam is going to learn a lesson tonight. One that he won’t ever forget.
The Free Agent grabs a nearby towel and wipes his face.
Donovan Rich: And I’ll be Damned if I lie to my kid.
Rich takes the sweat soaked towel and throws it to the side. He shoves the camera away from him and moves down the hall, ready for one last chance.
We cut backstage and Donovan Rich is pacing back and forth in front of the locker room. The big man is all decked out in his gear. Clearly ready for what might be his last Liberty Appearance. After going somewhat quiet on twitter Rich has a look of pure determination on his face which more than explains his recent quietness. He turns mid pace and notices the camera immediately
Donovan Rich: Listen. The time for talking is over. I don’t know what you want me to say here bruh. I’ve spent months trying to do right by family. Months trying to make an honest living and Liam out here kitty chasing. My daughter asked me. She asked me Daddy. How come you don’t have your job back yet. Do you know what that feels like. For your daughter to ask you why you don’t have a job. Like it’s my fault Liam cares more about private time in his office than running his business.
Rich seems to calm himself down a bit. Taking a few big deep breaths.
Donovan Rich: It’s all good. No stress. You know why? I’ll tell you what I told my daughter. The reason I can’t get a job. The reason I’m getting embarrassed out there week after week is because There’s a very bad man. Obsessed with power and using it to impress girls. Obsessed with power and using it for enjoyment. For a laugh. But don’t worry. I told my baby girl. Don’t worry about a thing. Because now. Daddy gets to fight that bad man. And he gets to make him pay for everything he’s put us through. I promised Dontae. I promised my little girl that Liam is going to learn a lesson tonight. One that he won’t ever forget.
The Free Agent grabs a nearby towel and wipes his face.
Donovan Rich: And I’ll be Damned if I lie to my kid.
Rich takes the sweat soaked towel and throws it to the side. He shoves the camera away from him and moves down the hall, ready for one last chance.
BACKSTAGE
Backstage there’s a covid-appropriate shindig going on. No more than 8 of Honey and Derrick’s closest friends celebrating with masks on unless they are eating or drinking, because they’re being conscious about the pandemic. Streamers and balloons are all over the little room and everyone is laughing and having a grand old time, as they new Tag Champs walk around talking to everyone. They are giving out leis and popping confetti poppers all over to keep the party going. Honey and Derrick have their titles on their shoulders, because Honey is too small and Derrick is too big for the belts to fit around their waists. They finally come across the awkward camera guy watching them all party, give him a lei and pop some confetti on his head, before talking to him!
Honey - Your new Teamie Champions are here and we are ready to party!!!
Derrick - And after tonight, when we win the Battle Royal Tag Team Championships, we’re going to be the Teamie Champ Champs!!!
The Beast Friends Forever pull out little party horns and honk them.
Derrick - And whenever you’re ready to run it back, Rotten, we’ll be waiting. Bring any combination you want too, because we don’t want yall complaining anymore.
Honey - Yea and not just the rotten Rottens! BFF is here to stay as Teamie Champsand we’ll take on all the baddies and goodies around here!
They continue to celebrate as the scene fades to black!
Backstage there’s a covid-appropriate shindig going on. No more than 8 of Honey and Derrick’s closest friends celebrating with masks on unless they are eating or drinking, because they’re being conscious about the pandemic. Streamers and balloons are all over the little room and everyone is laughing and having a grand old time, as they new Tag Champs walk around talking to everyone. They are giving out leis and popping confetti poppers all over to keep the party going. Honey and Derrick have their titles on their shoulders, because Honey is too small and Derrick is too big for the belts to fit around their waists. They finally come across the awkward camera guy watching them all party, give him a lei and pop some confetti on his head, before talking to him!
Honey - Your new Teamie Champions are here and we are ready to party!!!
Derrick - And after tonight, when we win the Battle Royal Tag Team Championships, we’re going to be the Teamie Champ Champs!!!
The Beast Friends Forever pull out little party horns and honk them.
Derrick - And whenever you’re ready to run it back, Rotten, we’ll be waiting. Bring any combination you want too, because we don’t want yall complaining anymore.
Honey - Yea and not just the rotten Rottens! BFF is here to stay as Teamie Champsand we’ll take on all the baddies and goodies around here!
They continue to celebrate as the scene fades to black!
MATCH TWO: SINGLES
Liam Callaghan vs Donovan Rich
Liam Callaghan vs Donovan Rich
RECAP This match hasn’t quite begun yet. Donovan Rich has already made his way to the ring, but he quickly snatched the microphone away from the ring announcer. As his music died down, we see him pace around the ring. The man is narrowed eyed, and mean-mugging everyone in the MSG! Rich: “It feels like I’ve been fighting for livelihood forever at this point… Every match is a new hoop for me to jump through. Every match they keep moving the goal post even further and I’m sick of it!” We see Rich go on a few minutes spitting straight fire and brimstone. He touches importantly on the fact that this company profits off of the sweat of his back, while managing to keep food off of his family’s table. We get the feeling that somethings not right here. As he continues, Rich becomes gradually calmer and more stoic in his expression. Rich: “Tonight is the last life line I got… But it’s the last one I’m gonna need.” We see a sinister smile start to form on his face. His eyes trend upwards towards the ramp, as if he’s waiting on something. Rich: “I put my blood, sweat, and everything into every match I get… It’s only gotten me so far, so tonight I tried a different chapter in Sun Tzu’s Art of War… An enemy of my enemy… Is a friend.” On cue we see action happening towards the ramp. It takes only seconds, but soon all of the LPW fandom sees the horrible state Liam Callaghan’s been rendered too. The man is near lifeless and covered in his own blood. The crowd boos loudly as he’s being unceremoniously dragged down to the ring by The Interns! Huck and Max are leading the way down, followed closely by Clara, Micaela, OTK and flesh-and-blood Rory! The whole gang is here, and it looks like each of their hands are equally bloodied and guilty with whatever pre-match assault the put down on Liam. The unconscious Callaghan is roughly rolled into the center of the ring, served right up to Donovan. Rich: “Instead of fighting for the system, how about I just tear it all down on your heads!” He tosses the mic aside and looks ready to go. Our senior official looks completely hesitant to even get the match going… Liam’s not even on his feet. However, some quick peer pressure in the form of a signature OTK scowl started to change things. ROTTEN looked like they were ready to encircle this referee, until the man regained his wits and started the match. This match began and ended with one move. For the Love of Dontae! (Powerbomb Facebuster) proved to be nothing more than overkill. Reluctantly the official made the count as Rotten watched on. With the formalities over, we see Rotten turn to Rich with opens arms, all of them welcome to accept a new able body into Liberty’s Powerful Proletariat! WINNER Donovan Rich METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 15 seconds FINISHING MOVE For the Love of Dontae |
RINGSIDE
The crowd is buzzing after the last match and there’s still plenty of Liberty wrestling left to go. There’s a hum of anticipation as they await to see what happens next, or who will enter for the next contest. They are surprised, and judging by the boos, disappointed, when the sound of “Brains” blasts through the speakers. All eyes turn to the stage where, after a moment, Chuck Matthews emerges, a microphone in one hand and a steel chair in the other. He’s not yet dressed to compete; his match is still a ways off, but instead he dons a pair of jeans and an old, and heavily-worn Chuck Matthews “Last Full Measure” t-shirt. He makes his way slowly to the ring, pausing at the top of the ring steps to look out at the crowd. A tiny smile appears at the corner of his lips, and a look of reminiscence in his eyes. He takes a moment to appreciate the moment before stepping between the ropes, where he unfolds his chair and props it in the center of the ring. As he often did, he plants his feet on the seat of the chair and sits on the back, elevating himself to look over the ropes at the crowd. Chuck waits a moment for the music and the crowd to die down a bit before he finally raises the microphone to his lips.
Chuck Matthews: “It’s been quite some time.”
The crowd stirs up again, many of them raining boos on the Smartest Man in Wrestling. He smiles for a moment, looking at the mat with a small chuckle.
Chuck Matthews: “Yeah, I suppose I deserve that.”
The boos slowly subside.
Chuck Matthews: “Thing is… I know I’ve got a reputation. Callaghan, he knows I’ve got a reputation. Shit, Xavier Laroux sure knows I’ve got a reputation, he can’t go ten minutes without talking about it. And you’re all reasonably intelligent people out here, so I’m sure you know I’ve got a reputation, too.”
He takes a moment to scratch the whiskers on his chin. Chuck appears to be thinking over his words.
Chuck Matthews: “I’m sure… there are more than a handful of you who are waiting to hear that I’ve got some ‘master plan’ in the works, that I’m here for ‘one reason and one reason only,’ that I have some riddle to pose, some puzzle for all of you to solve, and I’m sure that even if I were to come out and tell you I don’t, quite a few of you are smart enough to know that I could very easily be lying to you.”
Slowly, Chuck stands from his chair, shaking out his leg with a near undetectable wince of pain. He lets out a small, defeated laugh.
Chuck Matthews: “I’m old, guys.”
He shrugs, unable to think of any other way to phrase it.
Chuck Matthews: “I’ve been doing this shit on and off since 2003. Almost twenty years since I started in this business. I’ve been put through tables, I’ve been thrown off cages, I’ve had concussions, bruises, broken bones, stitches, strains, sprains, and everything in between. I’ve had two major surgeries on my knee. I’ve lost Lord knows how much blood in the ring. I mean, we joke that I look a good twenty years older than I am, and truthfully, I’ve probably left all those years… right here.”
He motions to the mat around him, to this sacred space between the ropes. He approaches them, reaching out his arm and gingerly running his hand across the top rope, feeling it slip across his palm.
Chuck Matthews: “Who knows how much longer I’ve got, right? Who knows, maybe Emery Layton will come out here tonight and snap my neck and I can kiss my wrestling days goodbye for good. Maybe that bell will ring and I’ll lose all that steam five minutes in.”
He pauses. His expression, just a moment ago bright with fond memories and hopes of a successful return, now looks strained, pensive. He pulls his hand slowly off the rope, opening and closing his hand several times, as though trying to remember what it felt like.
Chuck Matthews: “For the better part of the last ten years, they’ve called me the Smartest Man in professional wrestling. There’s nobody I couldn’t outsmart, nothing I couldn’t think my way out of, no piece of information that escaped my mind, but I’ll be honest with you… I don’t know.”
He frowns. This is not an easy revelation for him.
Chuck Matthews: “I don’t know how this will go. I don’t know if my body can still keep up, I don’t know if I’ve still got ‘one more good run’ left in me. It may be the most up-front and honest I’ve ever been with you all, but truthfully, there’s a part of me saying I should give my apologies to Layton, to Callaghan, pack up my bag and head back to Chicago and save myself the potential humiliation.”
Another pause. He glances up at the crowd who, even to Chuck’s own surprise, has ceased their reactions entirely. There are no boos, no jeers.
Chuck Matthews: “But that’s never really been my style, has it? Fact is, I came back here, I came to Liberty to see if I could pull it off. Call it a test of sorts. See if I can still go, see if I can still put it all out there, see if this body is still as tough as this mind is sharp.”
He allows himself a smile, though it’s not that signature cocky smirk, that condescending grin that says he knows something nobody else does. No, this was a smile of… hope. Of optimism. Of a man who wasn’t here for business, or for riches, or as an unfortunate necessity to pursue an agenda. He was having… fun.
Chuck Matthews: “Look, I haven’t done this in a while, let’s see if I’ve still got it, huh?”
He laughs, looking for the camera. Chuck points to it, looking directly into the lens when he next speaks.
Chuck Matthews: “Emery, my dear… we’ve had a couple nice little chats over twitter, we’ve had the opportunity to look at our competition yesterday, during night one of No Man’s Land II… but tonight, this is our show. This is Emery Layton, a star of today, taking on Chuck Matthews, a star of the last era. I won’t pretend this is going to be easy, and I think I’ve made it pretty clear I’ve got some reservations about how this little experiment of mine is going to go. But we both know I have a lot of years’ experience tucked away in this head of mine, and I know I’ll have to pull out a whole lot of old tricks to beat a competitor like you.
I embrace that challenge.
I’ve said in the past: I could have asked Callaghan for an easy match. Could have gone up against some rookie, wiped the floor with them, slowly dipped my toes back in the wrestling waters. But that’s not why I’m here, is it? There’s nothing to prove there, not to these fans, and not to myself. No… if I want to see if I’ve still got some fight in me, I need the ones who will draw that fight out. Not too many who can do that like you, Ms Layton.
Now, I get it… both of us find ourselves at a similar junction. You, the one who’s always fought for others and have had it thrown back in your face one too many times… and me, always as self-serving and as vile as they come, and now maybe realizing I have a long penance ahead of me. We’ve both got our paths laid out in front of us, Ms Layton, and both of those paths have converged here, tonight, in our debut match in Liberty Pro. Fact is, nobody knows what’s going to happen… not even me. And when the Smartest Man in Wrestling can’t even make a prediction… well, that makes for a hell of a show, doesn’t it?”
He smiles, looking back out at the crowd with a hopeful look.
Chuck Matthews: “How was that?”
The crowd is buzzing after the last match and there’s still plenty of Liberty wrestling left to go. There’s a hum of anticipation as they await to see what happens next, or who will enter for the next contest. They are surprised, and judging by the boos, disappointed, when the sound of “Brains” blasts through the speakers. All eyes turn to the stage where, after a moment, Chuck Matthews emerges, a microphone in one hand and a steel chair in the other. He’s not yet dressed to compete; his match is still a ways off, but instead he dons a pair of jeans and an old, and heavily-worn Chuck Matthews “Last Full Measure” t-shirt. He makes his way slowly to the ring, pausing at the top of the ring steps to look out at the crowd. A tiny smile appears at the corner of his lips, and a look of reminiscence in his eyes. He takes a moment to appreciate the moment before stepping between the ropes, where he unfolds his chair and props it in the center of the ring. As he often did, he plants his feet on the seat of the chair and sits on the back, elevating himself to look over the ropes at the crowd. Chuck waits a moment for the music and the crowd to die down a bit before he finally raises the microphone to his lips.
Chuck Matthews: “It’s been quite some time.”
The crowd stirs up again, many of them raining boos on the Smartest Man in Wrestling. He smiles for a moment, looking at the mat with a small chuckle.
Chuck Matthews: “Yeah, I suppose I deserve that.”
The boos slowly subside.
Chuck Matthews: “Thing is… I know I’ve got a reputation. Callaghan, he knows I’ve got a reputation. Shit, Xavier Laroux sure knows I’ve got a reputation, he can’t go ten minutes without talking about it. And you’re all reasonably intelligent people out here, so I’m sure you know I’ve got a reputation, too.”
He takes a moment to scratch the whiskers on his chin. Chuck appears to be thinking over his words.
Chuck Matthews: “I’m sure… there are more than a handful of you who are waiting to hear that I’ve got some ‘master plan’ in the works, that I’m here for ‘one reason and one reason only,’ that I have some riddle to pose, some puzzle for all of you to solve, and I’m sure that even if I were to come out and tell you I don’t, quite a few of you are smart enough to know that I could very easily be lying to you.”
Slowly, Chuck stands from his chair, shaking out his leg with a near undetectable wince of pain. He lets out a small, defeated laugh.
Chuck Matthews: “I’m old, guys.”
He shrugs, unable to think of any other way to phrase it.
Chuck Matthews: “I’ve been doing this shit on and off since 2003. Almost twenty years since I started in this business. I’ve been put through tables, I’ve been thrown off cages, I’ve had concussions, bruises, broken bones, stitches, strains, sprains, and everything in between. I’ve had two major surgeries on my knee. I’ve lost Lord knows how much blood in the ring. I mean, we joke that I look a good twenty years older than I am, and truthfully, I’ve probably left all those years… right here.”
He motions to the mat around him, to this sacred space between the ropes. He approaches them, reaching out his arm and gingerly running his hand across the top rope, feeling it slip across his palm.
Chuck Matthews: “Who knows how much longer I’ve got, right? Who knows, maybe Emery Layton will come out here tonight and snap my neck and I can kiss my wrestling days goodbye for good. Maybe that bell will ring and I’ll lose all that steam five minutes in.”
He pauses. His expression, just a moment ago bright with fond memories and hopes of a successful return, now looks strained, pensive. He pulls his hand slowly off the rope, opening and closing his hand several times, as though trying to remember what it felt like.
Chuck Matthews: “For the better part of the last ten years, they’ve called me the Smartest Man in professional wrestling. There’s nobody I couldn’t outsmart, nothing I couldn’t think my way out of, no piece of information that escaped my mind, but I’ll be honest with you… I don’t know.”
He frowns. This is not an easy revelation for him.
Chuck Matthews: “I don’t know how this will go. I don’t know if my body can still keep up, I don’t know if I’ve still got ‘one more good run’ left in me. It may be the most up-front and honest I’ve ever been with you all, but truthfully, there’s a part of me saying I should give my apologies to Layton, to Callaghan, pack up my bag and head back to Chicago and save myself the potential humiliation.”
Another pause. He glances up at the crowd who, even to Chuck’s own surprise, has ceased their reactions entirely. There are no boos, no jeers.
Chuck Matthews: “But that’s never really been my style, has it? Fact is, I came back here, I came to Liberty to see if I could pull it off. Call it a test of sorts. See if I can still go, see if I can still put it all out there, see if this body is still as tough as this mind is sharp.”
He allows himself a smile, though it’s not that signature cocky smirk, that condescending grin that says he knows something nobody else does. No, this was a smile of… hope. Of optimism. Of a man who wasn’t here for business, or for riches, or as an unfortunate necessity to pursue an agenda. He was having… fun.
Chuck Matthews: “Look, I haven’t done this in a while, let’s see if I’ve still got it, huh?”
He laughs, looking for the camera. Chuck points to it, looking directly into the lens when he next speaks.
Chuck Matthews: “Emery, my dear… we’ve had a couple nice little chats over twitter, we’ve had the opportunity to look at our competition yesterday, during night one of No Man’s Land II… but tonight, this is our show. This is Emery Layton, a star of today, taking on Chuck Matthews, a star of the last era. I won’t pretend this is going to be easy, and I think I’ve made it pretty clear I’ve got some reservations about how this little experiment of mine is going to go. But we both know I have a lot of years’ experience tucked away in this head of mine, and I know I’ll have to pull out a whole lot of old tricks to beat a competitor like you.
I embrace that challenge.
I’ve said in the past: I could have asked Callaghan for an easy match. Could have gone up against some rookie, wiped the floor with them, slowly dipped my toes back in the wrestling waters. But that’s not why I’m here, is it? There’s nothing to prove there, not to these fans, and not to myself. No… if I want to see if I’ve still got some fight in me, I need the ones who will draw that fight out. Not too many who can do that like you, Ms Layton.
Now, I get it… both of us find ourselves at a similar junction. You, the one who’s always fought for others and have had it thrown back in your face one too many times… and me, always as self-serving and as vile as they come, and now maybe realizing I have a long penance ahead of me. We’ve both got our paths laid out in front of us, Ms Layton, and both of those paths have converged here, tonight, in our debut match in Liberty Pro. Fact is, nobody knows what’s going to happen… not even me. And when the Smartest Man in Wrestling can’t even make a prediction… well, that makes for a hell of a show, doesn’t it?”
He smiles, looking back out at the crowd with a hopeful look.
Chuck Matthews: “How was that?”
BACKSTAGE
Turning backstage we pick up on Miki of Liberty's developmental brand, Independence Pro Wrestling, as she quietly moves around between some of the big names competing tonight. She passes a few locker rooms; Kaia Granger, TJ Techniques, Lizzie Jones, Chuck Matthews and Emery Layton.
If her inner fangirl is running wild, she does well to hide it as she gets stopped by Dante Chapel.
Dante: "Hey there... Miki, right? Just Miki?"
The younger girl nods. Her eyes are glued to the fact there's a camera pointed her way, though.
Miki: "Um, yeah, just Miki. Wow, Dante, so cool! I've seen you on TV a bunch."
The ego boost isn't missed, Chapel smirks as he stands with his chest puffed just a tad.
Dante: "And now here you are, on TV yourself, backstage at No Man's Land II ahead of your own debut in our upcoming developmental brand. How are you feeling right now?"
Miki looks around, taking it all in, before she answers.
Miki: "Excited, a little nervous, very ready though. I think some people will see oh we're a new brand, oh we're just developmental, and assume we can't go hard just like the guys and gals here in Liberty. But that's not the case, everyone there has already done a lot to prove themselves in some way and IPW's debut show is step one of making a name for ourselves. So for that debut event, I'm crazy excited. Before that is tonight's show, though, and I've been enjoying it so far. It's still got some amazing contests to come, as well."
Dante looks a little stunned at the long winded reply, but he smiles to her.
Dante: "I won't keep you much longer, do you have a final message for the fans at home who may be on the fence about supporting you?"
Miki shakes her head.
Miki: "I think if people want to support me then that's so cool, but I'm not doing this to become famous or anything. I want to compete with the best and to get there, I know I need a bit more experi-"
She's cut off abruptly as Callie Buchannan steps into the shot and shoves her aside.
Callie: "What's all this then? Interviewing boring little Miki but not me, the face of IPW?"
Dante's eyebrow raises and he scoffs, but Callie is serious. She grabs his wrist and brings the microphone closer to herself.
Callie: "Dant-"
This time it's Callie's turn to be cut off, as Miki retaliates and shoves her sideways, toward the camera. Dante's seen enough in his career to know it's time to move and he steps back as the two women come face to face. Nothing further happens, though, as security pull them apart. Miki goes quietly, but Callie has a lot to say for herself.
Dante: "Well, there you have it. The drama isn't limited just to tonight's show, those two young ladies will clash on the debut event for IPW on March 4th!"
End.
Turning backstage we pick up on Miki of Liberty's developmental brand, Independence Pro Wrestling, as she quietly moves around between some of the big names competing tonight. She passes a few locker rooms; Kaia Granger, TJ Techniques, Lizzie Jones, Chuck Matthews and Emery Layton.
If her inner fangirl is running wild, she does well to hide it as she gets stopped by Dante Chapel.
Dante: "Hey there... Miki, right? Just Miki?"
The younger girl nods. Her eyes are glued to the fact there's a camera pointed her way, though.
Miki: "Um, yeah, just Miki. Wow, Dante, so cool! I've seen you on TV a bunch."
The ego boost isn't missed, Chapel smirks as he stands with his chest puffed just a tad.
Dante: "And now here you are, on TV yourself, backstage at No Man's Land II ahead of your own debut in our upcoming developmental brand. How are you feeling right now?"
Miki looks around, taking it all in, before she answers.
Miki: "Excited, a little nervous, very ready though. I think some people will see oh we're a new brand, oh we're just developmental, and assume we can't go hard just like the guys and gals here in Liberty. But that's not the case, everyone there has already done a lot to prove themselves in some way and IPW's debut show is step one of making a name for ourselves. So for that debut event, I'm crazy excited. Before that is tonight's show, though, and I've been enjoying it so far. It's still got some amazing contests to come, as well."
Dante looks a little stunned at the long winded reply, but he smiles to her.
Dante: "I won't keep you much longer, do you have a final message for the fans at home who may be on the fence about supporting you?"
Miki shakes her head.
Miki: "I think if people want to support me then that's so cool, but I'm not doing this to become famous or anything. I want to compete with the best and to get there, I know I need a bit more experi-"
She's cut off abruptly as Callie Buchannan steps into the shot and shoves her aside.
Callie: "What's all this then? Interviewing boring little Miki but not me, the face of IPW?"
Dante's eyebrow raises and he scoffs, but Callie is serious. She grabs his wrist and brings the microphone closer to herself.
Callie: "Dant-"
This time it's Callie's turn to be cut off, as Miki retaliates and shoves her sideways, toward the camera. Dante's seen enough in his career to know it's time to move and he steps back as the two women come face to face. Nothing further happens, though, as security pull them apart. Miki goes quietly, but Callie has a lot to say for herself.
Dante: "Well, there you have it. The drama isn't limited just to tonight's show, those two young ladies will clash on the debut event for IPW on March 4th!"
End.
MATCH THREE: NO HOLDS BARRED
Jade Night vs Ava Ryan
Jade Night vs Ava Ryan
RECAP Since the arrival of Ava in LPW, this has been a match that almost seemed destined to happen and as the two made their way to the ring, Jade seemed more determined than ever once the bell rang. Pretty even within the first few minutes of the contest this seemed to be the pace set until weapons became involved. Ava hit Jade across the back with a kendo stick, and then tried to lock in a sleeper hold, Jade was not to be put down so easily however, as she lifted herself up and grabbed a handful of Ava’s hair and whipped her to the mat below. Ava’s body landed on the mat with a sick thud and the expression on Jade’s face showed that over-emotional state we’ve seen from her a time or two in the previous weeks. As Ava went to lean up to gather herself again, Jade nailed a hurricanrana driver that sent Ava directly into the canvas and you could see the levee break as Jade rolled back up to her feet and began to pound lefts and rights into Ava’s back. Jade was now in control, and for the next few minutes she would dominate the match. Jade was being almost reckless with some of her moves like the suicide dive through the ropes that was coupled with a tornado DDT into the outside mats, but it was clear she had a point to prove and the reckless nature that would normal be identified as a weakness was working in her favor. She drilled Ava into the outside barricade, then directly into the steel steps. As Ava popped up on the other side, Jade ran grabbing hold of the turnbuckle pole to use as a swinging device launching herself over the steps and sending a kick right into Ava’s back, compelling the young woman forward. Ava looked to make a comeback, but the damage was worse for wear as the match continued, Getting a few helpless punches into the abdomen of Jade, she seemed almost hopeless at this point to surmount anymore offense, Jade made sure of that When they’d made their way back to the announcer’s table, tossing her on top of it Jade would head to the ropes in a show stopping moment she would leap from the top with her Jaded Nightmares. That was all she wrote as the table crashed down around Ava’s body and Jade made the pin for the win. WINNER Jade Night METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 8:59 FINISHING MOVE Jade Nightmares |
BACKSTAGE
The following was filmed and dated at least a week before No Man’s Land II. The footage in question is monochrome, a stark white room where Mighty Sparrow has perched himself, no pun intended. His legs have kicked up on one of the two pieces of furniture in the room, a circular table. The second is where the King Of New York champion has parked himself. A wooden chair, notably only for some nicks in the legs and a worn frame otherwise. The champion of the Freedom brand himself has nothing of great note as a clothing choice. Kicks? Regular Forces. Tee? ‘Melanated & Elevated’ print on a black tee. A pair of black Old Navy straight cut pants and that is it.
Sparrow: The run-time for an average show takes up a half-hour time slot. Thirty minutes. Y’all know the case. If you ever watched any shows, things are always padded out by the intro, the credits, the commercials until they do indeed fill that thirty minutes. The real-time for a show is anywhere between twenty-two to twenty-four minutes. Kinda like our match ya see, Jordan. It ain’t gonna take no full half-hour, closing credits and who was doing audio and visuals, who has producer credit and so on ey bana.
The West Indian Whirlwind reaches over to heft his KONY championship and drapes it over his waist. There’s something particularly jarring about Sparrow today. No boyband jokes and schtick with TJ or Kaia even at his own expense. At best Sparrow’s smile is acerbic, and fleeting.
Sparrow: In twenty-two, maybe twenty-five minutes...Everyone watching and everyone in both locker rooms will know who winnin’ this. From Teej to Tamsin, Layton to ROTTEN, from Jones to Flanagan, CVO and Cerrano, Kaia and Girls of Summer, Laroux to La’Bell, Clark and Kross and anyone else I did miss. This ain’t gonna be one of them things. Nah, brethren. It ain’t gonna be because honestly, I ain’t want it to be.
He gently drums his fingers on the championship and all the mirth from his face has drained. Similarly to that pre-match promo against Donovan Rich once upon a time, all that’s left is focus and ire.
Sparrow: What was my mistake, Jordan? What was your mistake? See mine...Mine was tryna dictate what you are goin’ through, what you must be dealin’ with, how it’s goin’ to affect you. By tryin to keep my whole self from even breathing life into what is goin’ on with your significant other and the boss? I assumed. I kept assuming, what you’re feeling and thinking. So lemme rectify that by stating with all earnestness and compassion... I don’t care. From a personal sense, it all means nothing to me. That’s probably the highest compliment I can offer brethren because all that can be talked about when it comes to you ain’t your title shot here. It ain’t about if you gon’ beat me and become the new King of New York champion. Nah, nah...The only conversation being had about Jordan Parker Kane is if his bae steppin’ out on he, or if its all bullshit with Liam, all talk and JPK here overreacting. That’s you. Not my contender, but a man with his house out of order. ...And that you have allowed this to become a major talkin’ point about where you at right now? Hate to see it, no cap. I do...Because at the end of the day, its still me to contend with in that ring. If you win? Great, I’ll shake your hand. if you lose? Shame, come find me again.
Sparrow glanced down at the title briefly.
Sparrow: ...But let me find out after all is said and done, that you win this title and a month down the road you ain’t gotten all the wildness and confusion together and all anyone can talk about is tha and not this championship you may have won. A championship that you arguably could take places I have only dreamed off. Then? Then I come for you and it ain’t gonna be nothin’ on this friendly conversation and tone I’m having right now. Because that is...What this is. A friendly conversation being had, the minor jabs and bites of two wrestlers who will understand each other better hurting each other than they ever do actually speaking. Sick ain’t it? Why is it so many times that so many of us understand each other better after we’ve tried to break a limb? When I say I don’t care I mean it’s white noise. All I want is you in the ring, not the foolishness. For you and I Jordan, there will be a lot of time to get to know each other in those thirty minutes...But the end now...Mm.
He leans his head to the side, Sparrow’s dreads all hanging in that direction. He seems to be rolling something around in his head, giving it consideration, process. Finally Trinidad’s finest, the KONY champion returns his neck to an upright, normal position and his head follows with. Eyes never meet the camera directly...No, they glaze into the infinite, watching a match that has not even happened yet.
Sparrow: By the end? The episode has been decided. The main character has rectified their mistake, the person they like will be back next episode, relations unresolved like this last episode and the one before that. The drug dealer will slink into the shadows if it’s a very special episode, everyone gets what they want if it’s a holiday episode. The plot never moves much unless its a season finale but the big question is did our viewers learn anything bana? Did...Did they learn a single thing from watching our protagonist or was...Was it all just a laugh, thirty minutes of comedy or drama? To quote the legendary William Holden: music up with the swell, final commercial...And here are a few scenes from next week’s show.
Sparrow motions at the cameraperson to cut it.
The following was filmed and dated at least a week before No Man’s Land II. The footage in question is monochrome, a stark white room where Mighty Sparrow has perched himself, no pun intended. His legs have kicked up on one of the two pieces of furniture in the room, a circular table. The second is where the King Of New York champion has parked himself. A wooden chair, notably only for some nicks in the legs and a worn frame otherwise. The champion of the Freedom brand himself has nothing of great note as a clothing choice. Kicks? Regular Forces. Tee? ‘Melanated & Elevated’ print on a black tee. A pair of black Old Navy straight cut pants and that is it.
Sparrow: The run-time for an average show takes up a half-hour time slot. Thirty minutes. Y’all know the case. If you ever watched any shows, things are always padded out by the intro, the credits, the commercials until they do indeed fill that thirty minutes. The real-time for a show is anywhere between twenty-two to twenty-four minutes. Kinda like our match ya see, Jordan. It ain’t gonna take no full half-hour, closing credits and who was doing audio and visuals, who has producer credit and so on ey bana.
The West Indian Whirlwind reaches over to heft his KONY championship and drapes it over his waist. There’s something particularly jarring about Sparrow today. No boyband jokes and schtick with TJ or Kaia even at his own expense. At best Sparrow’s smile is acerbic, and fleeting.
Sparrow: In twenty-two, maybe twenty-five minutes...Everyone watching and everyone in both locker rooms will know who winnin’ this. From Teej to Tamsin, Layton to ROTTEN, from Jones to Flanagan, CVO and Cerrano, Kaia and Girls of Summer, Laroux to La’Bell, Clark and Kross and anyone else I did miss. This ain’t gonna be one of them things. Nah, brethren. It ain’t gonna be because honestly, I ain’t want it to be.
He gently drums his fingers on the championship and all the mirth from his face has drained. Similarly to that pre-match promo against Donovan Rich once upon a time, all that’s left is focus and ire.
Sparrow: What was my mistake, Jordan? What was your mistake? See mine...Mine was tryna dictate what you are goin’ through, what you must be dealin’ with, how it’s goin’ to affect you. By tryin to keep my whole self from even breathing life into what is goin’ on with your significant other and the boss? I assumed. I kept assuming, what you’re feeling and thinking. So lemme rectify that by stating with all earnestness and compassion... I don’t care. From a personal sense, it all means nothing to me. That’s probably the highest compliment I can offer brethren because all that can be talked about when it comes to you ain’t your title shot here. It ain’t about if you gon’ beat me and become the new King of New York champion. Nah, nah...The only conversation being had about Jordan Parker Kane is if his bae steppin’ out on he, or if its all bullshit with Liam, all talk and JPK here overreacting. That’s you. Not my contender, but a man with his house out of order. ...And that you have allowed this to become a major talkin’ point about where you at right now? Hate to see it, no cap. I do...Because at the end of the day, its still me to contend with in that ring. If you win? Great, I’ll shake your hand. if you lose? Shame, come find me again.
Sparrow glanced down at the title briefly.
Sparrow: ...But let me find out after all is said and done, that you win this title and a month down the road you ain’t gotten all the wildness and confusion together and all anyone can talk about is tha and not this championship you may have won. A championship that you arguably could take places I have only dreamed off. Then? Then I come for you and it ain’t gonna be nothin’ on this friendly conversation and tone I’m having right now. Because that is...What this is. A friendly conversation being had, the minor jabs and bites of two wrestlers who will understand each other better hurting each other than they ever do actually speaking. Sick ain’t it? Why is it so many times that so many of us understand each other better after we’ve tried to break a limb? When I say I don’t care I mean it’s white noise. All I want is you in the ring, not the foolishness. For you and I Jordan, there will be a lot of time to get to know each other in those thirty minutes...But the end now...Mm.
He leans his head to the side, Sparrow’s dreads all hanging in that direction. He seems to be rolling something around in his head, giving it consideration, process. Finally Trinidad’s finest, the KONY champion returns his neck to an upright, normal position and his head follows with. Eyes never meet the camera directly...No, they glaze into the infinite, watching a match that has not even happened yet.
Sparrow: By the end? The episode has been decided. The main character has rectified their mistake, the person they like will be back next episode, relations unresolved like this last episode and the one before that. The drug dealer will slink into the shadows if it’s a very special episode, everyone gets what they want if it’s a holiday episode. The plot never moves much unless its a season finale but the big question is did our viewers learn anything bana? Did...Did they learn a single thing from watching our protagonist or was...Was it all just a laugh, thirty minutes of comedy or drama? To quote the legendary William Holden: music up with the swell, final commercial...And here are a few scenes from next week’s show.
Sparrow motions at the cameraperson to cut it.
BACKSTAGE
Backstage at Madison Square Gardens during the second night of Liberty Pro's "No Man's Land" walks Jordan Parker - Kane and his wife Ari. The pair spent several weeks at odds with one another over her friendship with Liberty Co-Ownwer, Liam Callahan. The couple hold hands as they move down the hall, seeming to have made up with one another.
JPK: You go ahead, I'll be right behind you.
Jordan tells Ari as he stops in the hall. He turns to knock on a door. A crisp British accent answers, “Come in,” and Jordan enters to see Oliver Thurston-Knott. The ROTTEN leader is alone, wrapping white tape around his wrists. He cocks his head to one side.
OTK: I wasn’t expecting you.
JPK: You need to control your boy.
Jordan says without any pleasantries. OTK raises his eyebrows.
JPK: He doesn't shut up I'm gonna kill hi..
OTK: Hey listen pal. Rory can be a loose cannon but you realise what we’re here for, right?
He pauses, a grin spreading across his face.
OTK: He can fire shots, there will be some collateral damage but it’s all about accelerating decline. I don’t want to bottle chaos… I want to let it flow. Destroy and then rebuild.
Jordan shakes his head.
JPK: No, you can do all your anti-capitalism shtick all you want with Liam and the company, but my wife, my family…
Jordan shakes his head.
JPK: No… I'm not gonna let go. So reign him in or I will.
OTK: Look, I like you, Jordan. I think you’re a good guy, OK? So all that chaos I was talking about, I wouldn’t want to channel its full force in your direction, but tread carefully.
Oliver sighs, turning away from JPK, but then looks back over his shoulder.
OTK: Now if you wouldn’t mind, I have a match to prepare for.
The door closes, leaving Jordan alone in the hall to stew over what's happened.
Backstage at Madison Square Gardens during the second night of Liberty Pro's "No Man's Land" walks Jordan Parker - Kane and his wife Ari. The pair spent several weeks at odds with one another over her friendship with Liberty Co-Ownwer, Liam Callahan. The couple hold hands as they move down the hall, seeming to have made up with one another.
JPK: You go ahead, I'll be right behind you.
Jordan tells Ari as he stops in the hall. He turns to knock on a door. A crisp British accent answers, “Come in,” and Jordan enters to see Oliver Thurston-Knott. The ROTTEN leader is alone, wrapping white tape around his wrists. He cocks his head to one side.
OTK: I wasn’t expecting you.
JPK: You need to control your boy.
Jordan says without any pleasantries. OTK raises his eyebrows.
JPK: He doesn't shut up I'm gonna kill hi..
OTK: Hey listen pal. Rory can be a loose cannon but you realise what we’re here for, right?
He pauses, a grin spreading across his face.
OTK: He can fire shots, there will be some collateral damage but it’s all about accelerating decline. I don’t want to bottle chaos… I want to let it flow. Destroy and then rebuild.
Jordan shakes his head.
JPK: No, you can do all your anti-capitalism shtick all you want with Liam and the company, but my wife, my family…
Jordan shakes his head.
JPK: No… I'm not gonna let go. So reign him in or I will.
OTK: Look, I like you, Jordan. I think you’re a good guy, OK? So all that chaos I was talking about, I wouldn’t want to channel its full force in your direction, but tread carefully.
Oliver sighs, turning away from JPK, but then looks back over his shoulder.
OTK: Now if you wouldn’t mind, I have a match to prepare for.
The door closes, leaving Jordan alone in the hall to stew over what's happened.
MATCH FOUR: 30 MINUTE IRON MAN MATCH
KING OF NEW YORK CHAMPIONSHIP
Mighty Sparrow vs JPK
KING OF NEW YORK CHAMPIONSHIP
Mighty Sparrow vs JPK
RECAP The bell rings and the 30 minute Iron Man Match for the King of New York Championship is officially underway. Sparrow peers across the ring at JPK, knowing he has his chance at showing Jordan that he doesn’t stand a chance. Sparrow charges at JPK, who quickly exits the ring. JPK yells at him, telling Might Sparrow that he’s too slow but Sparrow slides out of the ring and starts to chase JPK around the ring. He gave chase as the referee was counting them both out. When the referee counted to nine, JPK slid into the ring. Sparrow grabbed his leg but as he did, the referee counted to ten and counted Sparrow out, giving JPK the first fall. Falls: JPK 1, Sparrow 0 Sparrow lets go of JPK’s leg and looks at the referee in shock. The KONY Champion can’t believe that he was just counted out and he’s now down one fall because of it. Jordan stands up in the middle of the ring and he points and laughs at Mighty Sparrow, who isn’t having it. Sparrow gets back in the ring and the referee rings the bell for the match to start back up as JPK was in the corner laughing and pointing at Sparrow, as the second generation star was able to fool him but this gave Sparrow the chance to charge JPK and this time he hits him with a brutal clothesline. Sparrow then grabs JPK and hits him with a snap suplex, which he then follows it up with a running shooting star press. The KONY Champion goes for the pin but JPK kicks out. Mighty Sparrow is relentless, staying on top of Jordan as he picks him up and whips him into the turnbuckle and then charges in and nails a body splash, which he then follows it up with a running bulldog. Mighty Sparrow goes for the pin again but once again, JPK kicks out after two. Sparrow tells Jordan that he needs to stay down. He then backs up and looks to go for something big. Jordan stirs and Mighty Sparrow charges in at him but NO! Jordan hits Mighty Sparrow with a LOW BLOW!!! He hit Sparrow right in the nuts and he fell down to his knees, holding onto his midsection as the referee called for the bell, giving Sparrow one fall. Falls: JPK 1, Sparrow 1 Jordan simply laughs at his actions, but he now has an upper hand on Mighty Sparrow. JPK tells the referee to ring the bell and start the next round but the referee looks at him and rolls his eyes and tells JPK to back up. Parker-Kane listens for a moment but then he charges Sparrow and takes him out with a flying knee strike. The referee demands that JPK to get back again and he obliges this time but JPK keeps his glare on the Mighty Sparrow. The referee asks Sparrow if he is okay and he says that he is as he pulls himself up with the ropes, clearly in pain. The referee calls for the bell and JPK charges Sparrow before going for Bomaye (Running knee to the head of kneeling opponent) but Sparrow ducks under it! Mighty Sparrow hits JPK with a few leg strikes but JPK takes the lead again with a POKE TO THE EYE! The referee tells Jordan that he needs to watch it but he shrugs it off and charges at Mighty Sparrow again and this time, he nails the Bomaye! JPK then pins Sparrow and picks up the three count, giving himself a second fall with the match a little over halfway over. Falls: JPK 2, Sparrow 1 After a few moments, the beaten up Mighty Sparrow begins to gather himself. After he’s back up to his feet, the referee calls for the bell and separates the two. The referee then starts the match back up and JPK charges Sparrow again and he went for a shining wizard but Mighty Sparrow is able to counter it into a desperate powerbomb, which he hits to perfection. Once again, Mighty Sparrow has pulled off another impossible reversal! What will this man do next? Mighty Sparrow wastes little time as he pins JPK but the young prodigy from the legendary Kane family kicks out after two. Sparrow picks JPK up and once again, Jordan thumbs Sparrow right in the eye. The KONY Champion stumbles backwards, holding onto his face before JPK hits him with a dropkick, sending him over the ropes but Sparrow hangs on and doesn't hit the outside. JPK doesn’t see this and as he turns around and starts to taunt the crowd that was booing him. When JPK turns around, Sparrow is able to springboard off of the ropes and hits JPK with The Notorious K.I.C.K (Standing Double Foot Stomp) FROM THE TOP OF THE ROPE!!! This is a move Sparrow normally hits just by leaping in the air but he had gained even more air off the springboard and Jordan looks completely knocked out. Mighty Sparrow goes for the pin and it’s an easy three count, tying the 30 minute Iron Man match at two falls to two. Falls: JPK 2, Sparrow 2 A few minutes remain in the match as JPK and Sparrow retreat to a corner from across the ring, both clearly feeling the long length of the match as they were breathing heavily. The referee starts the match and JPK and Sparrow began to battle back and forth. JPK soon got the lead by hitting Sparrow with an enziguri. JPK then charges him and goes for another Bomaye but Sparrow catches him again and then runs towards the turnbuckle before hitting JPK with a brutal buckle bomb! Mighty Sparrow goes for the pin but no! Jordan kicks out after two. Mighty Sparrow decides to go for something big as he climbs up the top rope. He looks down at JPK before going for the Calypso Cross - 630 Senton but Jordan rolls out of the way! Mighty gets back on his feet, clutching his back and JPK charges in and nails him with the Bomaye!!! JPK wastes no time, pinning the KONY Champion One… Two… Thr-NO!!!!! Mighty Sparrow shows his resilience, kicking out of Jordan Parker-Kane’s big finish! JPK can’t believe it, he thought he had the match in hand. JPK picks Mighty Sparrow up and he goes for his other finish, the Standing Guillotine but Sparrow wiggles free! The time is running out with it tied two to two and JPK and Mighty Sparrow are trading blows with each other. It’s evenly matched right now but Sparrow soon takes the lead when he starts hitting JPK with striking kicks! Sparrow goes for an enziguri but JPK ducks it! JPK then rebounds off of the ropes but MIGHTY SPARROW LEAPS IN THE AIR AND NAILS THE NOTORIOUS K.I.C.K.!!! He doesn’t have a moment to spare as there are only ten seconds left. Sparrows drops onto JPK and hooks the leg and the referee starts the count with five seconds left! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!! DING DING DING!!! Mighty Sparrow wins the Iron Man match with two seconds to spare! He retains his King of New York Championship! What a match! WINNER Mighty Sparrow METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 29:58 FINISHING MOVE The Notorious K.I.C.K. POST MATCH Sparrow is lying down on his back, looking up at the lights as he holds his fists up in victory. He finally starts to stir to his feet, ready to receive his King of New York Championship from the referee when WHACK!!! He receives his KONY Championship but not where he wanted it, as a man wearing a hoodie slams the championship right into Mighty Sparrow’s face. The man then jumps on top of Sparrow and throws lefts and rights to his face, not giving him a chance to retaliate. The hooded man stands up and demands a mic and he gets it. ??: Your reign as King of New York will be coming to an end, little Sparrow. Because your throne? It will be mine! The man pulls his hood off and it’s MICHAEL MAROU!!! He has a sick grin on his face as he grabs the King of New York Championship and raises it in the air as he places his boot down onto Mighty Sparrow’s chest. He yells out a few expletives before dropping the championship down onto Sparrow’s face and then making his exit. |
BACKSTAGE
Here we are in catering where Coral and Nami are setting up a very nice looking display consisting of cake slices and individual ice creams, all carefully placed. There’s a large cart set to take the same cake and ice creams with sealed utensils out to the fans and there’s a little card with each portion that reads: Thank you for celebrating my birthday, Love, KC!
Coral: See, this is nice. I’m glad we got here early enough to get this ready. Do you think they’ll appreciate it?
Nami gives her sister a bit of a side-eye before she lets out a sharp laugh, shaking her head.
Nami: I mean likely not? But it’s good cake and ice cream, I wasn’t going to go cheap on KC’s party despite that.
To the side of the food table set up is a cooler with drinks, and a table with small gifts like keychains and whatnots along with a large display of balloons and noisemakers. There’s a picture of Nami’s son KC surrounded by streamers and the toddler looks happy as well as fashionable - for his age, at least. The boy himself was roaming around the backstage area with his father, no doubt.
Coral: So now this is ready, are you?
Nami: What, for tonight?
Nami makes a disgusted noise with her hands on her hips.
Nami: I’ve been ready, we both have.
She looks over her shoulder, winking at Calvin as he holds the camera recording all of this and then she lets out a primal yell, startling Coral and Calvin both as the camera jumps and takes a moment to recover to a more steady state as she turns around.
Nami: The Pride. PFFT. They’re clearly not as focused as we are about this. NEXT.
Coral: ROTTEN… well, they stink. I’m not convinced that they’re on the up and up with their message either. Jerks. Thieves, but wrestling is full of those, and that’s not why we dislike you, OTK… you’re just hella rude and a wee bit delusional.
Nami: Cause and Effect … well one of these days we’ll get our match with no outside interference and it’ll be a good time, but that’s not tonight and we know X and Gabe are going to fight just as hard as us for this. They give a shit.
Coral: We ADORE YOU HONEY.
Nami: And we guess Derrick will be there with her.
The Girls snicker and Nami continues.
Nami: Dexter and Joss… that’s another team we want to run it back with, just because they keep getting robbed, and well, it’s not like they deserve it. No matter what, just don’t give up. Be here, when the other teams drop off. We can build a great division with what we have, we promise.
Coral: Cross our hearts. Tonight though, this big ass Battle Royal…
Nami gives Coral a look, considering it’s usually her using the more colorful language.
Coral: We want what’s ours back, but we’re going to be dead honest here. If it’s not US? It needs to be anyone but ROTTEN. See you dudes out there!
Calvin moves forward, setting the camera down so he can get his own cake and ice cream as the feed cuts away.
Here we are in catering where Coral and Nami are setting up a very nice looking display consisting of cake slices and individual ice creams, all carefully placed. There’s a large cart set to take the same cake and ice creams with sealed utensils out to the fans and there’s a little card with each portion that reads: Thank you for celebrating my birthday, Love, KC!
Coral: See, this is nice. I’m glad we got here early enough to get this ready. Do you think they’ll appreciate it?
Nami gives her sister a bit of a side-eye before she lets out a sharp laugh, shaking her head.
Nami: I mean likely not? But it’s good cake and ice cream, I wasn’t going to go cheap on KC’s party despite that.
To the side of the food table set up is a cooler with drinks, and a table with small gifts like keychains and whatnots along with a large display of balloons and noisemakers. There’s a picture of Nami’s son KC surrounded by streamers and the toddler looks happy as well as fashionable - for his age, at least. The boy himself was roaming around the backstage area with his father, no doubt.
Coral: So now this is ready, are you?
Nami: What, for tonight?
Nami makes a disgusted noise with her hands on her hips.
Nami: I’ve been ready, we both have.
She looks over her shoulder, winking at Calvin as he holds the camera recording all of this and then she lets out a primal yell, startling Coral and Calvin both as the camera jumps and takes a moment to recover to a more steady state as she turns around.
Nami: The Pride. PFFT. They’re clearly not as focused as we are about this. NEXT.
Coral: ROTTEN… well, they stink. I’m not convinced that they’re on the up and up with their message either. Jerks. Thieves, but wrestling is full of those, and that’s not why we dislike you, OTK… you’re just hella rude and a wee bit delusional.
Nami: Cause and Effect … well one of these days we’ll get our match with no outside interference and it’ll be a good time, but that’s not tonight and we know X and Gabe are going to fight just as hard as us for this. They give a shit.
Coral: We ADORE YOU HONEY.
Nami: And we guess Derrick will be there with her.
The Girls snicker and Nami continues.
Nami: Dexter and Joss… that’s another team we want to run it back with, just because they keep getting robbed, and well, it’s not like they deserve it. No matter what, just don’t give up. Be here, when the other teams drop off. We can build a great division with what we have, we promise.
Coral: Cross our hearts. Tonight though, this big ass Battle Royal…
Nami gives Coral a look, considering it’s usually her using the more colorful language.
Coral: We want what’s ours back, but we’re going to be dead honest here. If it’s not US? It needs to be anyone but ROTTEN. See you dudes out there!
Calvin moves forward, setting the camera down so he can get his own cake and ice cream as the feed cuts away.
BACKSTAGE
In the locker room, Josephine Morant is doing some shadow boxing and kicking to warm up for the battle royal tag team championship match. She’s so into it that she’s making these loud battle cries with every move and doesn’t realise her brother and tag partner Dexter walking in from the side. She nearly elbows him in the face but luckily, he blocks it in time.
Dexter Morant: Hey, watch it!!
Josephine Morant: Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Dex!! I didn’t see you! Are you okay?!
He laughs and nods.
Dexter Morant: I’m fine, don’t worry about it.
Dex looks over to the camera and nods.
Dexter Morant: It’s about time we talk about this battle royale. Derrick and Honey are the tag champs now but nothing here has changed. Same stakes, some opponents. We’ve been preparing for it and we’ve done enough research to be ready. You see, while I’m able to get Joss and I prepared in the ring, she does the research. And let me tell ya, her notes this week? They were phenomenal!
Hearing this clearly delights Joss as a proud smile spreads across her lips. She claps her hands together excitedly before taking out her notebook.
Josephine Morant: Thanks, Dex! We may not be the most successful tag team in Liberty yet but we’re getting there! People always underestimate us, even so far as robbing us of matches. But hey, while you’re too busy stealing our spotlight, Dex and I will just keep working till the next opportunity comes along. And boy, what an opportunity tonight is! We’re going all the way and there’s no stopping us now!
Dex looks at his sister and nods in agreement.
Dexter Morant: Exactly! Tonight, we make a statement and then? Maybe we’ll be walking into Independence Pro as the Liberty Tag Champs! Wouldn’t that be a sight? But before we get ahead of ourselves, we have to win. The good news is, Gavin has been showing us how to last a long time in a battle royal. He’s only lost one of like what? Six or seven? We have all the pointers for this!
Josephine Morant: And with all the guidance we’ve got, it’s time we put it into action! Sure we’ve come out short before in big matches like this, but we’re not ones to keep looking to our past. Nope! We’ve got our eyes on the future and our future is here! We’re winning the tag team championship! It’s the only next natural step.
She shows the camera a drawing of the tag team titles she did earlier in her notebook and circles them a few times for emphasis. Then she slips the notebook in her bag and zips it up.
Josephine Morant: Time to bring home the gold, Dex! Let’s go!
They bump fists before Dex chimes in one last time.
Dexter Morant: It’s time for us to shine out there. You’re all about to see what the Morants are all about! Let’s get it!
They then walk off and the scene cuts away.
In the locker room, Josephine Morant is doing some shadow boxing and kicking to warm up for the battle royal tag team championship match. She’s so into it that she’s making these loud battle cries with every move and doesn’t realise her brother and tag partner Dexter walking in from the side. She nearly elbows him in the face but luckily, he blocks it in time.
Dexter Morant: Hey, watch it!!
Josephine Morant: Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Dex!! I didn’t see you! Are you okay?!
He laughs and nods.
Dexter Morant: I’m fine, don’t worry about it.
Dex looks over to the camera and nods.
Dexter Morant: It’s about time we talk about this battle royale. Derrick and Honey are the tag champs now but nothing here has changed. Same stakes, some opponents. We’ve been preparing for it and we’ve done enough research to be ready. You see, while I’m able to get Joss and I prepared in the ring, she does the research. And let me tell ya, her notes this week? They were phenomenal!
Hearing this clearly delights Joss as a proud smile spreads across her lips. She claps her hands together excitedly before taking out her notebook.
Josephine Morant: Thanks, Dex! We may not be the most successful tag team in Liberty yet but we’re getting there! People always underestimate us, even so far as robbing us of matches. But hey, while you’re too busy stealing our spotlight, Dex and I will just keep working till the next opportunity comes along. And boy, what an opportunity tonight is! We’re going all the way and there’s no stopping us now!
Dex looks at his sister and nods in agreement.
Dexter Morant: Exactly! Tonight, we make a statement and then? Maybe we’ll be walking into Independence Pro as the Liberty Tag Champs! Wouldn’t that be a sight? But before we get ahead of ourselves, we have to win. The good news is, Gavin has been showing us how to last a long time in a battle royal. He’s only lost one of like what? Six or seven? We have all the pointers for this!
Josephine Morant: And with all the guidance we’ve got, it’s time we put it into action! Sure we’ve come out short before in big matches like this, but we’re not ones to keep looking to our past. Nope! We’ve got our eyes on the future and our future is here! We’re winning the tag team championship! It’s the only next natural step.
She shows the camera a drawing of the tag team titles she did earlier in her notebook and circles them a few times for emphasis. Then she slips the notebook in her bag and zips it up.
Josephine Morant: Time to bring home the gold, Dex! Let’s go!
They bump fists before Dex chimes in one last time.
Dexter Morant: It’s time for us to shine out there. You’re all about to see what the Morants are all about! Let’s get it!
They then walk off and the scene cuts away.
MATCH FIVE: BATTLE ROYAL
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROTTEN vs Girls of Summer vs The Pride vs Cause and Effect
vs Derrick La’Bell & Honey vs Dexter & Joss Morant
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROTTEN vs Girls of Summer vs The Pride vs Cause and Effect
vs Derrick La’Bell & Honey vs Dexter & Joss Morant
RECAP ROTTEN vs Girls of Summer vs The Pride vs Cause and Effect vs Derrick La’Bell & Honey vs Dexter & Joss Morant The battle royal for the Tag Team Championships starts off with ROTTEN having a sizable advantage, as Micaela, Rory AND OTK start this match off together. Xavier and Gabriel go after The Pride, with both teams having heat with each other. Girls of Summer, Derrick & Honey, and Dex & Joss Morant all look at each other before setting their sights on ROTTEN! ROTTEN thought they had a numbers game but suddenly they don’t, as six people are all targeting the three of them! They charge in and ROTTEN looks to escape through the ropes, which is legal, but Micaela and Rory are caught by the group that are looking to get retribution on ROTTEN for all of their evil deeds. Meanwhile, OTK has made his way to the outside of the ring, safely away from harm. Micaela throws a few shots into Coral and then Nami, trying to fight the two off but then Joss Morant comes into the fray and she levels Micaela with a shotgun drop kick. The Girls of Summer then grab Micaela, who’s kicking and screaming at this point and they TOSS HER OVER!!! ELIMINATED: Micaela While this is happening, La’Bell was aggressively having throwing punch after punch at Rory but Derrick would soon get into it with Dex Morant, who wants a piece of Rory himself. Derrick and Dex start to push and shove each other and Honey tries to get them to calm down but it’s too late, Rory clotheslines Honey and Dex over the top ropes but Honey holds on while Dexter loses grip and is eliminated. ELIMINATED: Dex Morant On the other side of the ring, JD and Chase Hunter of The Pride are working of X and Gabe of Cause & Effect. X then hits JD with a low blow and shrugs with a grin. While Gabriel Laroux and Chase are battling near the ropes, trying to shove each other over, Xavier comes out of nowhere and grabs their legs and flips them over the ropes! He’s eliminated not only Chase Hunter but his own older brother as well! Xavier shrugs and says, ‘oops’ as the fans boo. ELIMINATED: Chase Hunter & Gabriel Laroux Xavier doesn’t realize that JD is back up on his feet and he levels X with a spear out of desperation, as he is still reeling from the low blow. Back to the action on the other side of the ring, Joss Morant isn’t pleased with how her brother was eliminated and she goes right at Derrick, the alliance being over now. Despite her size, she has La’Bell reeling. Honey goes from out of nowhere and hits a tornado DDT on Joss though! Rory tries to take advantage of the situation again and throws Derrick over the ropes but the big man lands on the apron and rolls back in. Rory is suddenly being attacked two on one by the Girls of Summer. They’re hitting him with a plethora of strikes and kicks before shoving him over the ropes but he takes Nami with him and they’re both in the apron. They battle back and forth, trying to knock each other off but Coral drop kicks Rory down and he’s eliminated! Nami tries to get back in BUT NO! OTK, who’s still on the outside, grabs her and powerbombs her to the ground, eliminating her. ELIMINATED: Rory & Nami This leaves JD, Xavier, OTK, Joss, Honey and Derrick left in the match, with the tag champs being left as the only full team. But this doesn’t last long, as Honey picks Joss up and tries to throw her over the ropes but Joss counters and hits a hurricanrana over the ropes, sending Honey flying to the outside as Joss holds onto the ropes tightly. ELIMINATED: Honey JD and Coral look at each other and then nod in agreement, they both exit the ring on each side and OTK has nowhere to go. They chase him until he has no choice but to slide into the ring. While this is going on, Xavier levels Derrick with his Narcoterrorism (Bicycle Knee Strike). The big man is knocked out in the corner now. As Coral and JD slide in after OTK, Joss uses this opportunity to nail JD with a super kick and he goes flying over the top rope!! ELIMINATED: Jacob Daniels Coral is distracted by this and she doesn’t see Xavier Laroux, who levels her with a Narcoterrorism as well and it sends her over the ropes. Meanwhile, Derrick La’Bell is back up on his feet and he grabs Joss and powerbombs her over the top rope, right into the recently eliminated Coral! ELIMINATED: Coral & Joss Morant We’re down to three, Xavier Laroux, Derrick La’Bell & OTK. Derrick takes out X with a brutal spear and then turns toward OTK. There’s a fire in Derrick’s eyes as he charges in at OTK. The two of them trade blows but La’Bell, a known striker, starts to gain an upper hand. He soon hits OTK with a knee strike to the gut before lifting him up, pressing OTK up over his head. Derrick heads towards the ropes and looks to eliminate the leader of ROTTEN but NO!!! Xavier Laroux clips the back of Derrick’s knee from behind and La’Bell goes tumbling down. Xavier and OTK both start to take turns beating down the big man before they both lift him up together and toss him over the ropes! The tag team championship reign of Derrick & Honey is short lived. ELIMINATED: Derrick La’Bell Now its down to ROTTEN and Cause & Effect and it’ll be interesting, as Xavier has recently aligned himself with ROTTEN, but of course he cares more about winning with his family, right? Xavier and OTK stare each other down and the crowd noise is reaching a fever pitch. When it looks like they are about to trade blows, Xavier Laroux then walks past OTK, throws himself over the ropes and then touches his feet down on the ground. That’s it! The bell rings and ROTTEN are once again Tag Team Champions and Xavier Laroux has eliminated himself. ELIMINATED: Xavier Laroux The referee hands the Tag Team Championships to OTK as Rory and Micaela get back into the ring to celebrate. Xavier Laroux then slides into the ring as well and OTK shakes his hand before placing one half of the Liberty Tag Team Championships on Xavier’s shoulder. The belts are back with ROTTEN once more. WINNER ROTTEN METHOD Over the top elimination MATCH LENGTH 24:23 FINISHING MOVE Xavier self-elimination |
BACKSTAGE
The scene opens to a medium closeup shot of Jennifer Yang who’s all dressed in her ring attire. Her hair is neatly tied up in a simple ponytail and she has a single focus expression on her face. It’s clear that she’s only got one thing on her mind and that’s her upcoming match with Alex Reeves. Looking up at the camera, she gives a soft smile before speaking.
Jennifer Yang: Tonight is the time we end this bad blood between us, Alex. Whatever prompted you to throw the first stone at me, I know to stop asking. It never mattered why, does it? I’m not like many in this business who like to get all loud just to attract eyes or step on heads or force my way into a championship match I haven’t earned. Instead, I do my own thing and I work hard and I bide my time. Whomever you see in that ring, that’s me outside of it too. I don’t have a public persona or a side of me that only my friends and family know. With me, what you see is what you get.
The shot closes in to her face even more at the declaration.
Jennifer Yang: So I’m sorry if that doesn’t sit well with you. I’m sorry if that even offends you. But I’m not sorry that it has come to this. Because while this has been like a game for you, I’m turning this into an opportunity for me to show that I am who I am and I’m not afraid of being just that.
Confidence is clear in her eyes.
Jennifer Yang: I’m ready, Alex. You wanted a Falls Count Anywhere match, I said yes. It’s strange that you think I might not get my hands dirty. As if I never did much to win championships in the past companies I worked in. As if I was handed all the victories in my record. You don’t think I worked hard to get to where I am today? Maybe I haven’t been consistent or the most popular in the industry. But I’ve done my fair share of blood, sweat and tears trying to make it here. So whatever you’ve got planned to hit me with tonight, just bring it. You can surprise me, Alex, but no matter what you do, I’ll make sure to keep getting back up and outlast you. See you out there!
She waves at the camera before exiting the scene.
The scene opens to a medium closeup shot of Jennifer Yang who’s all dressed in her ring attire. Her hair is neatly tied up in a simple ponytail and she has a single focus expression on her face. It’s clear that she’s only got one thing on her mind and that’s her upcoming match with Alex Reeves. Looking up at the camera, she gives a soft smile before speaking.
Jennifer Yang: Tonight is the time we end this bad blood between us, Alex. Whatever prompted you to throw the first stone at me, I know to stop asking. It never mattered why, does it? I’m not like many in this business who like to get all loud just to attract eyes or step on heads or force my way into a championship match I haven’t earned. Instead, I do my own thing and I work hard and I bide my time. Whomever you see in that ring, that’s me outside of it too. I don’t have a public persona or a side of me that only my friends and family know. With me, what you see is what you get.
The shot closes in to her face even more at the declaration.
Jennifer Yang: So I’m sorry if that doesn’t sit well with you. I’m sorry if that even offends you. But I’m not sorry that it has come to this. Because while this has been like a game for you, I’m turning this into an opportunity for me to show that I am who I am and I’m not afraid of being just that.
Confidence is clear in her eyes.
Jennifer Yang: I’m ready, Alex. You wanted a Falls Count Anywhere match, I said yes. It’s strange that you think I might not get my hands dirty. As if I never did much to win championships in the past companies I worked in. As if I was handed all the victories in my record. You don’t think I worked hard to get to where I am today? Maybe I haven’t been consistent or the most popular in the industry. But I’ve done my fair share of blood, sweat and tears trying to make it here. So whatever you’ve got planned to hit me with tonight, just bring it. You can surprise me, Alex, but no matter what you do, I’ll make sure to keep getting back up and outlast you. See you out there!
She waves at the camera before exiting the scene.
BACKSTAGE
Alex Reeves is sitting in her locker room backstage. I like previous occasions, Alex is alone in her locker room preparing for her match later on tonight. When she spots the cameraman she offers a half smile and wave to Mova call as she’s made it perfectly clear she has a lot to say in regards to her match tonight.
Alex Reeves: “So this is supposed to be it right? I kick your arse tonight I prove my point and then you fuck off back into The obscurity of Chris night sweaty ball sack. And save it I can already hear you, in that whiny nasally little voice that you’ve got… Oh my God Alex why can’t you just focus on wrestling?! I know I put my personal life out there for everyone to see… But that doesn’t mean you have to comment on it #Namaste #StrongWarrior #FutureChampion.”
Alex rolls her eyes in an exaggerated fashion, a slight sneer on her upper lip showing the disgust she has for the woman she was just mocking.
Alex Reeves: “See The thing is Jenny? I don’t actually care what you want, I don’t care why you think you can beat me, I don’t care why you think you’re the big I am… You lasted about five minutes as champion in a company and it’s already closed. In a company where you were eclipsed by people that have been wrestling for five minutes, in a company where the stars, well so-called stars, that are homegrown by this failure of a company… Beat you.”
Alex pauses to snicker, not even bothering to hide her laughter behind her hand. Amusement lift the tone of her voice so she continues to talk, even adding a hair flip.
Alex Reeves: “I don’t care if you ellipses follow me around begging for another match after this one. I don’t care if you make every excuse in the fucking book because I change the match to something where I can actually beat the ever living shit out of you, to claim that I didn’t even beat you fairly. After tonight you and me are done, you can scuttle back to your little dark corner where you belong. I’ve been proving since I arrived here that on the future of this company, I’m working my way up and you’re nothing more than a lumpy piece of roadkill on my road to success.”
Alex Reeves is sitting in her locker room backstage. I like previous occasions, Alex is alone in her locker room preparing for her match later on tonight. When she spots the cameraman she offers a half smile and wave to Mova call as she’s made it perfectly clear she has a lot to say in regards to her match tonight.
Alex Reeves: “So this is supposed to be it right? I kick your arse tonight I prove my point and then you fuck off back into The obscurity of Chris night sweaty ball sack. And save it I can already hear you, in that whiny nasally little voice that you’ve got… Oh my God Alex why can’t you just focus on wrestling?! I know I put my personal life out there for everyone to see… But that doesn’t mean you have to comment on it #Namaste #StrongWarrior #FutureChampion.”
Alex rolls her eyes in an exaggerated fashion, a slight sneer on her upper lip showing the disgust she has for the woman she was just mocking.
Alex Reeves: “See The thing is Jenny? I don’t actually care what you want, I don’t care why you think you can beat me, I don’t care why you think you’re the big I am… You lasted about five minutes as champion in a company and it’s already closed. In a company where you were eclipsed by people that have been wrestling for five minutes, in a company where the stars, well so-called stars, that are homegrown by this failure of a company… Beat you.”
Alex pauses to snicker, not even bothering to hide her laughter behind her hand. Amusement lift the tone of her voice so she continues to talk, even adding a hair flip.
Alex Reeves: “I don’t care if you ellipses follow me around begging for another match after this one. I don’t care if you make every excuse in the fucking book because I change the match to something where I can actually beat the ever living shit out of you, to claim that I didn’t even beat you fairly. After tonight you and me are done, you can scuttle back to your little dark corner where you belong. I’ve been proving since I arrived here that on the future of this company, I’m working my way up and you’re nothing more than a lumpy piece of roadkill on my road to success.”
MATCH SIX: FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE
Alex Reeves vs Jennifer Yang
Alex Reeves vs Jennifer Yang
RECAP The Falls Count Anywhere match between Alex Reeves and Jennifer Yang begins with the two locking up. Jennifer overpowers Alex and knocks her down. Alex rolls out of the ring and begins to strut around it as Jennifer tells her to stop playing games and for her to get in and the fans boo Alex. Alex begins to taunt Jennifer before Jennifer finally rolls out of the ring and Alex runs away. Jennifer chases Alex until Alex slides into the ring. Jennifer gets up onto the apron and Alex knocks her down with a brutal forearm smash right into her face. Alex then bounces off of the ropes and does a suicide dive through the ropes and lands on Jennifer, taking her down. Alex then grabs a chair from under the ring and she begins to pummel Jennifer with it over and over onto her back. Alex then drops the chair and picks Jennifer up before she DDT’s her onto it. Reeves goes for a pin but no! Yang kicks out at two! Reeves laughs as she yells at Jenni to give it up. Alex then throws her knee into Jennifer’s midsection before throwing her into the ring. Alex slides into the ring and picks Jennifer up and Jennifer counters her by whipping her to the ropes. Alex bounces off of them and Jennifer lifts Alex in the air but Alex wraps her legs around Jennifer’s head and catches her with a hurricanrana driver. Alex hits the top rope and climbs up it. Alex goes for a diving clothesline as Yang stirs but Jennifer counters with a superkick to Alex’s jaw. Alex stumbles back up to her feet and Jennifer charges, hitting her with a running knee strike. Alex drops and Yang wastes no time, going for the pin but Alesia kicks out after two! Jennifer doesn’t waste any time before she grabs Alex and whips her hard into the corner and Alex collides into it back first. Jennifer then hits her with #LOCKDOWN (Rapid Wing Chun punches/knee with theatrics till opponent doubles over + switchblade kick combo)!!! Yang goes for the cover but no! Reeves kicks out at two again! Jennifer grabs Alex again, trying her best to stay on the offensive. Jennifer whips Alex into the ropes and Alex bounced off of them. Jennifer attempts to hit Alex with a discus clothesline but Alex ducks under it. Alex then springboards off of the ropes and hits Jennifer with a twisting flying forearm smash. Alex takes a moment to catch her breath and it doesn’t take long for Jenni to start to stir, which causes Alex to kick Jennifer in the gut. Reeves then lifts Yang up but Yang counters with an elbow straight to Alex’s midsection. Jennifer whips Alex off the ropes and when Alex comes back, Jennifer pops Alex up in the air but as Alex comes down, she grabs Jennifer by her head and drops her with a hanging DDT. Reeves goes for another pin but Yang kicks out after two. Reeves picks Yang up but Jenni shoves her off. Alex counters and delivers a hard enziguri to Jennifer, knocking her down. Alex gets to her feet and begins to stomp Jennifer over and over again in anger. Alex then climbs the top ropes and waits for Jennifer to get up. Once Jennifer gets to her feet, Alex leaps off of the top rope and Jennifer counters and catches Alex with a Lights Out (diamond cutter) in midair! That’s a move straight from Chris Night! The fans chant HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! As Jennifer and Alex both lie out on the canvas. The referee counts to five and Jennifer gets up, even though she was exhausted. Meanwhile, Alex is still on the canvas, looking to be completely out of it. Yang waits for Reeves to stir and when she does, Jennifer charges Alex, who is holding herself up with the ropes, and Alex pulls the ropes down and Jennifer goes flying over. Alex springboards over the ropes and lands on Jennifer as she gets to her feet and she takes Jennifer out. The two are both out of it for a moment before Alex starts to stir first. Alex pulls a table out from under the ring and sets it up. She picks Jennifer up and then sets her down on the table. Alex then climbs the turnbuckle and looks down at Jennifer with a smirk. Alex soon leaps off and nails Jennifer with a frog splash through the table. Alex then gets up to her feet and raises her hands in the air with a smirk on her face. She then pins Jennifer in the rubble of the table but a voice can be heard telling Jennifer to get up and it’s not over yet and IT ISN’T! Jennifer kicks out at two!! Alex Reeves is completely and utterly livid. She looks out into the crowd and she sees Chris Night, he’s the one that was cheering Jennifer on! Alex yells at Chris to ‘shut the fuck up!’ Before she grabs a chair. She looks like she is about to beat Jennifer down with it but Alex turns toward the front row and LEVELS CHRIS NIGHT WITH THE CHAIR! Reeves grabs Chris and pulls him over the barricade and she keeps on attacking him over and over until the former heavyweight champion is starting to bleed! Reeves keeps her attack on Chris going and Jennifer stirs and sees what’s happening. The normally calm and cool Jennifer Yang starts to see red and she grabs the ring bell and lets out a scream! Alesia turns and BAM! Yang levels her with the ring bell and the sound can be heard throughout the arena. Jennifer doesn’t let up though, she grabs the chair and slams it onto Alesia, over and over again until it’s completely bent in half, not letting Alex escape her wrath. Jennifer waits for Alex to stir and WHACK! She nails her right in the head with the ring bell again and this time, a bloodied Alex Reeves is out of it. Jennifer then pins Alex and she gets the three count and the win! Jenni is still seeing red though and looks to continue her assault after the bell but Chris Night is back up on his feet and he grabs her hand. He tells her ‘it’s not worth it.’ Jenni looks around in shock, finally coming to her senses. The two of them then walk off but as the head up the ramp, Jade Night comes charging down it, but not before staring down her brother, Chris, with a cold look in her eyes. Jade then makes it to Alex and checks on it. Reeves comes to and tells Jade she’s alright and that this is far from over. We then cut to backstage WINNER Jennifer Yang METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 22:10 FINISHING MOVE Shot to head with ringbell |
BACKSTAGE
Oliver Thurston-Knott is standing somewhere backstage with a Tag Team Championship slung over his shoulder. His long hair is scraped back into a man bun and beads of sweat still visible on his brow from the battle royal. Next to Oliver is a folding table with a crate full of beer. The camera pans out to reveal the full ROTTEN roster is there too in a loose semi-circle formation.
OTK: Last night we suffered our first real setback as a team but it didn’t take long for us to get back on track, huh? That’s a cause for celebration. I’ve always said wins and losses don’t matter, it’s about sending a message - and I stand by that - but these titles...
With his spare hand, Oliver points to the belt on his shoulder and then towards the other Tag Team Championship which Rory has strapped around his waist.
OTK: They elevate our platform. They draw eyes to ROTTEN and as long as we have people’s attention, our message will spread and our numbers will grow. The latest additions to the team are proof of that. Now I want to take this opportunity to welcome our new comrades with a toast.
With a grin, he beckons the group forward. Clara, Micaela, Rory, Don and Xavier huddle around the crate, each pulling out a can. Max and Huck linger at the back for a moment and when the others move aside, the interns step forward and take a can too. Oliver then raises his own can.
OTK: To ROTTEN!
All: TO ROTTEN!
The team crack open their cans with a fizz and everyone takes a sip. OTK puts his can down on the table, surveying his teammates with a smile. He calls for the interns to come over and with one arm round each of them, he leads them a few paces from the remaining group - who are now chatting among themselves.
OTK: Lads, I know I threw you in at the deep end last night.
Huck: We’re just sorry we let the team down.
OTK: Stop that, you both did well. You’ve had like, what - three matches between you?
Max: That was my first.
OTK: Exactly. It was a test and you both passed.
Huck: But we lost your belts -
OTK: Our belts, comrade. But the test wasn’t about whether or not you could retain our championships. It was about your commitment to the cause, your willingness to throw caution to the wind and fight for what we believe in. Even when you know you’re not prepared, when you think the odds aren’t in your favour. You did us proud.
Max: Hey, thanks man, you know, that means a lot.
Huck: Yeah, thank you.
OTK: But remember… the odds will always be against us. You might think ROTTEN is a large group - and we are - but we’re not fighting individuals, tag teams or even factions. We’re fighting corporations, conglomerates, entire power structures, modern civilization itself.
He releases his bear like grip from around the interns and wanders back over to the table to drink his beer. Max and Huck share smiles of relief as we suddenly cut to static.
Oliver Thurston-Knott is standing somewhere backstage with a Tag Team Championship slung over his shoulder. His long hair is scraped back into a man bun and beads of sweat still visible on his brow from the battle royal. Next to Oliver is a folding table with a crate full of beer. The camera pans out to reveal the full ROTTEN roster is there too in a loose semi-circle formation.
OTK: Last night we suffered our first real setback as a team but it didn’t take long for us to get back on track, huh? That’s a cause for celebration. I’ve always said wins and losses don’t matter, it’s about sending a message - and I stand by that - but these titles...
With his spare hand, Oliver points to the belt on his shoulder and then towards the other Tag Team Championship which Rory has strapped around his waist.
OTK: They elevate our platform. They draw eyes to ROTTEN and as long as we have people’s attention, our message will spread and our numbers will grow. The latest additions to the team are proof of that. Now I want to take this opportunity to welcome our new comrades with a toast.
With a grin, he beckons the group forward. Clara, Micaela, Rory, Don and Xavier huddle around the crate, each pulling out a can. Max and Huck linger at the back for a moment and when the others move aside, the interns step forward and take a can too. Oliver then raises his own can.
OTK: To ROTTEN!
All: TO ROTTEN!
The team crack open their cans with a fizz and everyone takes a sip. OTK puts his can down on the table, surveying his teammates with a smile. He calls for the interns to come over and with one arm round each of them, he leads them a few paces from the remaining group - who are now chatting among themselves.
OTK: Lads, I know I threw you in at the deep end last night.
Huck: We’re just sorry we let the team down.
OTK: Stop that, you both did well. You’ve had like, what - three matches between you?
Max: That was my first.
OTK: Exactly. It was a test and you both passed.
Huck: But we lost your belts -
OTK: Our belts, comrade. But the test wasn’t about whether or not you could retain our championships. It was about your commitment to the cause, your willingness to throw caution to the wind and fight for what we believe in. Even when you know you’re not prepared, when you think the odds aren’t in your favour. You did us proud.
Max: Hey, thanks man, you know, that means a lot.
Huck: Yeah, thank you.
OTK: But remember… the odds will always be against us. You might think ROTTEN is a large group - and we are - but we’re not fighting individuals, tag teams or even factions. We’re fighting corporations, conglomerates, entire power structures, modern civilization itself.
He releases his bear like grip from around the interns and wanders back over to the table to drink his beer. Max and Huck share smiles of relief as we suddenly cut to static.
BACKSTAGE
There’s a bit of commotion backstage as a cameraman is racing down a hallway catching up to a speed-walking Tim Anderson.
Sasha Taylor: Sam....Sam, I’m getting word that our colleague Tim Anderson is backstage, Nathan Callaghan has been in the building tonight and he’s spent a large chunk of it in his office speaking to someone.
Samuel Griffin: ...He’s a busy man, why are we stopping the sho-
Sasha Taylor: Tim, are you there?!
On cue, Anderson spins around realising he’s on camera, giving a swift but stern glare to the cameraman behind the shaky camera shot for not warning him that they were on air.
Tim Anderson: Yes, yes guys...I’m back here trying to get a word with Liberty Pro’s owner, Nathan Callaghan. Before the show there was a large commotion as security was bringing a hooded figure into Madison Square Garden. They shuffled this mystery figure into Nathan Callaghan’s office and they’ve been there talking almost all night. Nobody has been allowed into the room, however I’m going to attempt to get a word and work out what’s going on!
Anderson walks all the way up to a door with a very neat plaque placed onto it. It’s got the Liberty logo on it and underneath has Nathan Callaghan’s name on it. Anderson knocks and there’s a pause. He knocks once more, but gets no answer again. He goes to knock for a third time but before knuckle can meet wood the door cracks up and Callaghan slides his tall frame out from the room, making sure no camera or interviewer can get a peek inside.
Nathan Callaghan: Ah, Tim! Just the man I was looking for, glad to see your on the case as per...Listen, I’m gonna need you to fetch me some security.
Tim Anderson: Me?
Nathan Callaghan: Well, you’re here aren’t ya?
Tim Anderson: I- I gues-
Nathan Callaghan: Great! I’ve got a brand new signing and we’ve been working on a fresh contract and we’ve just about come to an agreement… So they’re gonna head on back to a private ro-
He stops mid-sentence pondering for a quick moment before opening the door behind him and poking his head back in.
Nathan Callaghan: Hey, kid...How do ya feel about heading out there for the next match? Scope some competition out maybe? Yeah? Perfect! They won’t believe it!
He pokes his head back out and slams the door shut again just as Anderson was about to get a look into the room.
Nathan Callaghan: Tim, I need you to get me some security and then take the cameras and scram. You can find out when everybody else does soon.
He flashes that douchebag smile of his.
Nathan Callaghan: New year, new signings! I love it…
He winks and shuffles back into the room as Anderson shakes his head at having to be an errand boy.
Sasha Taylor: Another new signing? The Callaghan’s have certainly outdone themselves with the signings so far, so one begs to ask...just who do they have in store?
There’s a bit of commotion backstage as a cameraman is racing down a hallway catching up to a speed-walking Tim Anderson.
Sasha Taylor: Sam....Sam, I’m getting word that our colleague Tim Anderson is backstage, Nathan Callaghan has been in the building tonight and he’s spent a large chunk of it in his office speaking to someone.
Samuel Griffin: ...He’s a busy man, why are we stopping the sho-
Sasha Taylor: Tim, are you there?!
On cue, Anderson spins around realising he’s on camera, giving a swift but stern glare to the cameraman behind the shaky camera shot for not warning him that they were on air.
Tim Anderson: Yes, yes guys...I’m back here trying to get a word with Liberty Pro’s owner, Nathan Callaghan. Before the show there was a large commotion as security was bringing a hooded figure into Madison Square Garden. They shuffled this mystery figure into Nathan Callaghan’s office and they’ve been there talking almost all night. Nobody has been allowed into the room, however I’m going to attempt to get a word and work out what’s going on!
Anderson walks all the way up to a door with a very neat plaque placed onto it. It’s got the Liberty logo on it and underneath has Nathan Callaghan’s name on it. Anderson knocks and there’s a pause. He knocks once more, but gets no answer again. He goes to knock for a third time but before knuckle can meet wood the door cracks up and Callaghan slides his tall frame out from the room, making sure no camera or interviewer can get a peek inside.
Nathan Callaghan: Ah, Tim! Just the man I was looking for, glad to see your on the case as per...Listen, I’m gonna need you to fetch me some security.
Tim Anderson: Me?
Nathan Callaghan: Well, you’re here aren’t ya?
Tim Anderson: I- I gues-
Nathan Callaghan: Great! I’ve got a brand new signing and we’ve been working on a fresh contract and we’ve just about come to an agreement… So they’re gonna head on back to a private ro-
He stops mid-sentence pondering for a quick moment before opening the door behind him and poking his head back in.
Nathan Callaghan: Hey, kid...How do ya feel about heading out there for the next match? Scope some competition out maybe? Yeah? Perfect! They won’t believe it!
He pokes his head back out and slams the door shut again just as Anderson was about to get a look into the room.
Nathan Callaghan: Tim, I need you to get me some security and then take the cameras and scram. You can find out when everybody else does soon.
He flashes that douchebag smile of his.
Nathan Callaghan: New year, new signings! I love it…
He winks and shuffles back into the room as Anderson shakes his head at having to be an errand boy.
Sasha Taylor: Another new signing? The Callaghan’s have certainly outdone themselves with the signings so far, so one begs to ask...just who do they have in store?
RINGSIDE
We come back from a preview of this upcoming week’s Liberation and Freedom to find the entire MSG crowd is booing venomously like it’s their job, one wrong word away from a riot, and standing right amongst them, undeterred, is Emery Layton - Traveller, red-headed scumbag, Enemy of the World.
Sasha Taylor: “Oh my God. It is deafening in here.”
Samuel Griffin: “And for good reason!”
Sasha Taylor: “Emery Layton set to face Chuck Matthews in mere moments but she’s stood in the middle of the crowd right now. What the hell is she doing, is she nuts?”
Samuel Griffin: “Nuts or brave! This is gonna be one hell of a match between two veterans of entirely different ilks!”
Sasha Taylor: “Assuming she gets even there in one piece.”
After a few moments of soaking it all in, Em begins to walk through them. As she speaks into her mic, she still has to raise her voice to pass over them.
Emery Layton: “Y'know, for the past few months, there ain't no better words for how I been living my life than Freedom or Liberation. And when you got an Empire State of mind like this dirty, no-good Pavee right here, there ain't no better place to hang your hat than Liberty Pro.”
By this point, security has frantically made their way towards Emery’s location. Not to stop her, but to make sure nothing happens. And probably so to avoid court dates being thrown around in the near future. That said, she is still literally bumping shoulders with people as she walks. At one point, someone tries to throw their drink over her and she just basks in it, shaking her hair off.
Emery Layton: “Every single person in this crowd knows my name because-- hey keep your hands to yourself, you little scrote, ya-- cos I headlined this very arena four times. All these people booing right now used to dance to my beat, but I got a new purpose recently. Cos if I can’t be a hero no more, then I’ll make heroes outta other people.”
At that point, a man in the row to her left has stood up and is screaming at her, top of his lungs. She turns to him, and security begins to build a wall between her and the fan.
Emery Layton: “You wanna be a hero, mate? Dude, I would chew you up and spit you out, then go wrestle my match and forget you even happened. You paid a bunch for that seat, sit your fat New York arse down and get a clue.”
Naturally, the crowd does not appreciate this. As security tries to keep the man in place, Em continues her leisurely stroll, now mere metres from the barricade.
Emery Layton: “Your negativity don’t bother me none- I’m a Traveller, I dealt with discrimination my whole life. First thing I ever got told in this business was I’d never be nothing cos ‘no one wants to fuck with pikeys’, but here I am twelve years, several world titles and headline matches later. So I can walk through all these fools without a hint of fear cos I know there ain’t no single person in this entire crowd who could stop me, I tell ya now. Be glad I got an actual challenge in Chuck Matthews tonight, cos ain’t nobody sat here, right now who could get in that ring with me and meet my level.”
Oh, but there is. The boos turn to cheers. Thunderous cheers. As we slowly pull back to reveal why, or rather who everyone has spotted. Sat a few rows back from the front with a box of pop-corn, trying not to attract much attention and remaining relatively low-key...is Owen Gonsalves!
Sasha Taylor: “That’s...that’s Owen Gonsalves!”
Samuel Griffin: “Yeah, no shit, Sasha we can all see him. What the hell is he doing here?”
Sasha Taylor: “Wait...is he the new signee we heard about earlier? Is it Owen?”
Samuel Griffin: “Owen in Liberty Pro? This is a nightmare…”
Emery turns slowly, having now also clocked him to her left on a screen nearby. And the look. The absolute disdain. She couldn’t even have one moment. Still. She nods. Not to worry. She looks right at him, points to the ring and to her own eyes. Watch, mate. After the few seconds they spend glaring at each other, Em finally proceeds over the guardrail and rolls into the ring, as the match beckons.
We come back from a preview of this upcoming week’s Liberation and Freedom to find the entire MSG crowd is booing venomously like it’s their job, one wrong word away from a riot, and standing right amongst them, undeterred, is Emery Layton - Traveller, red-headed scumbag, Enemy of the World.
Sasha Taylor: “Oh my God. It is deafening in here.”
Samuel Griffin: “And for good reason!”
Sasha Taylor: “Emery Layton set to face Chuck Matthews in mere moments but she’s stood in the middle of the crowd right now. What the hell is she doing, is she nuts?”
Samuel Griffin: “Nuts or brave! This is gonna be one hell of a match between two veterans of entirely different ilks!”
Sasha Taylor: “Assuming she gets even there in one piece.”
After a few moments of soaking it all in, Em begins to walk through them. As she speaks into her mic, she still has to raise her voice to pass over them.
Emery Layton: “Y'know, for the past few months, there ain't no better words for how I been living my life than Freedom or Liberation. And when you got an Empire State of mind like this dirty, no-good Pavee right here, there ain't no better place to hang your hat than Liberty Pro.”
By this point, security has frantically made their way towards Emery’s location. Not to stop her, but to make sure nothing happens. And probably so to avoid court dates being thrown around in the near future. That said, she is still literally bumping shoulders with people as she walks. At one point, someone tries to throw their drink over her and she just basks in it, shaking her hair off.
Emery Layton: “Every single person in this crowd knows my name because-- hey keep your hands to yourself, you little scrote, ya-- cos I headlined this very arena four times. All these people booing right now used to dance to my beat, but I got a new purpose recently. Cos if I can’t be a hero no more, then I’ll make heroes outta other people.”
At that point, a man in the row to her left has stood up and is screaming at her, top of his lungs. She turns to him, and security begins to build a wall between her and the fan.
Emery Layton: “You wanna be a hero, mate? Dude, I would chew you up and spit you out, then go wrestle my match and forget you even happened. You paid a bunch for that seat, sit your fat New York arse down and get a clue.”
Naturally, the crowd does not appreciate this. As security tries to keep the man in place, Em continues her leisurely stroll, now mere metres from the barricade.
Emery Layton: “Your negativity don’t bother me none- I’m a Traveller, I dealt with discrimination my whole life. First thing I ever got told in this business was I’d never be nothing cos ‘no one wants to fuck with pikeys’, but here I am twelve years, several world titles and headline matches later. So I can walk through all these fools without a hint of fear cos I know there ain’t no single person in this entire crowd who could stop me, I tell ya now. Be glad I got an actual challenge in Chuck Matthews tonight, cos ain’t nobody sat here, right now who could get in that ring with me and meet my level.”
Oh, but there is. The boos turn to cheers. Thunderous cheers. As we slowly pull back to reveal why, or rather who everyone has spotted. Sat a few rows back from the front with a box of pop-corn, trying not to attract much attention and remaining relatively low-key...is Owen Gonsalves!
Sasha Taylor: “That’s...that’s Owen Gonsalves!”
Samuel Griffin: “Yeah, no shit, Sasha we can all see him. What the hell is he doing here?”
Sasha Taylor: “Wait...is he the new signee we heard about earlier? Is it Owen?”
Samuel Griffin: “Owen in Liberty Pro? This is a nightmare…”
Emery turns slowly, having now also clocked him to her left on a screen nearby. And the look. The absolute disdain. She couldn’t even have one moment. Still. She nods. Not to worry. She looks right at him, points to the ring and to her own eyes. Watch, mate. After the few seconds they spend glaring at each other, Em finally proceeds over the guardrail and rolls into the ring, as the match beckons.
MATCH SEVEN: SINGLES
Chuck Matthews vs Emery Layton
Chuck Matthews vs Emery Layton
RECAP The first minute of the match let everyone and their mother know that this match is going to be a barn burner from the jump off. In the first minute Layton goes for a european uppercut that the Smartest Man In Wrestling immediately counters into an attempted Russian Legsweep. Of course The Homewrecker has to counter that with swinging her legs around Chuck’s back into a crucifix pin...And to which Matthews counters THAT with feeding Emery’s momentum by tucking his legs at the knee, rolling through into a fireman’s carry with Layton on his shoulders. Before Matthews can turn this into a fireman’s carry neckbreaker, Layton sneaks it into a Tornado DDT. Chuck takes a crouch, countering the spin and completion before he hooks an arm around Layton’s head. With both of them having a single arm headlock on each other, Chuck’s legs planted and Emery’s legs waistlocking him...The referee forces them apart. Yes, again that all took place in the span of a minute. What follows is some light applause from the crowd. Not a single step missed between the two performers. Of course neither wastes the time of smiling at the crowd, chewing the scenery, basking in applause. They’re locking back into it with Matthews going for a single arm drag into a grounded wrist lock. He works the wrist over slowly with one hand, the other slowly loosening Emery’s fist into open fingers. He links their hands, intertwining fingers before he slowly rises up and yoinks Emery before yeeting her into a hip toss over the ropes and crashing on the apron. As The Enemy of The World recovers, she sees Matthews waiting in the ring for her rather than giving chase outside where her speed would kill. To that Layton hops onto the apron and springboards right at Chuck with a dropkick. The Smartest Man In Wrestling would have to be an idiot not to see it coming and gingerly side steps it. That seems to be what Emery was counting on however, tumbling at the last moment to mitigate the damage she does to herself before she stands up into a run, rebounding off the ropes and ducking a running knee from Matthews before coming back and nearly getting caught with an STO. Layton however uses the momentum to her advantage, doing a backflip under his arm into a step-up enzuigiri. She makes the pin after “Rolling The Ball” for a two count but hops up to immediately hit a moonsault senton and get another pin. That is a two count. For a moment it looked as though The Last Full Measure could have rolled out of the way but age might be a factor. Willing to go it again, Emery goes for a second standing moonsault senton but she lands into Matthews’ waiting arms on ground. A Dragon Sleeper. The Homewrecker makes a choice and begins rocking herself from side to side on the ground. Both the referee and Matthews look a little perplexed by this, as Layton only causes herself undue neck strain. The Smartest Man In Wrestling rocks with her however, an easy counter to Layton trying to pull away in a manner that only wears herself down...And then the ref tells Chuck to break the hold as Emery has rolled herself to the point of throwing a leg on the nearest rope. Matthews has no choice but to break the hold, allowing Layton to...Well punch him straight in the throat. While he recovers from that, The She-King rubs the back of her neck and her shoulder to get some feeling back after that method of escaping a hold. This however is a prime opportunity she doesn’t waste, forcing The Last Full Measure up before irish-whipping into the corner and catching him with a running corner dropkick...Followed by another, and another, and another. This is her usual Cloudbusting but with each subsequent kick Layton increasingly forgoes protecting herself as she lands to get herself up quicker so Chuck has little chance to pull himself out of the corner. By the sixth corner dropkick however, that sting in the shoulder is back. Layton comes out of the corner but Chuck rushes out of his own for the Hollywood Impact! The Enemy of the World BARELY leapfrogs over it, but Matthews stops himself, turns as she does and drills her into the mat with a snap DDT that makes Layton stand on her head before she crumples for a near three. It looks as though Chuck is going to set up for the Cryptic Cross but Xavier Laroux makes himself present front and center. Matthews steps away, leaning over the ropes to confront Laroux. As the ref tells Xavier to leave, Chuck goes back to Layton was...But she’s already coming off the turning and laying the Smartest Man In Wrestling low with a surprise top rope diving cutter! After the three count? Xavier looks vaguely pleased with the result and takes his leave while Emery Layton gets her hand raised. WINNER Emery Layton METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 19:17 FINISHING MOVE The Prikasa POST MATCH Emery isn’t done though, as she’s frustrated that people are trying to steal her moment, first Owen and now Xavier Laroux. Layton points at Owen in the crowd and yells at him to pay attention. She grabs a chair from under the ring and slides in, looking ready to attack Chuck Matthews post match and really lay into him. She lifts the chair up as Matthews stirs and before she can swing down, Owen Gonsalves is in the ring and he pulls the chair from her and throws it to the side. Owen then tries to go for a superkick on Emery but she ducks it and rolls out of the ring, retreating. The two exchange words and Chuck is now back on his feet. Chuck thanks Owen for the safe and shakes his hand as Emery stares daggers into the two of them. |
BACKSTAGE
Backstage, Tim Anderson catches up with Lizzie Jones. The challenger for the US Title is already in her ring gear, albeit with a jacket over her upper half.
Tim: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m joined at this time by Mrs. Lizzie Jones!”
He turns to face her. Her eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, but it’s pretty obvious she isn’t looking his way.
Tim: “Lizzie, tonight you-”
She holds a hand up.
Lizzie: “Let me guess, you want to know my thoughts on facing Kaia Granger in tonight’s headline match? I mean, come on, you know I’m a former interviewer. You know I was one of the best, too, so let’s not pretend I can’t answer what you’re going to ask before you’ve asked it.”
There’s a brief pause.
Lizzie: “So go on, ask it.”
Anderson sighs.
Tim: “I...was wondering what your thoughts on tonight’s match with Kaia Granger are?”
She shakes her head and probably rolls her eyes.
Lizzie: “Well, Timbo, it’s a simple answer really. Tonight is my opportunity, finally 1v1, to take that US Title and prove to all of Liberty that I can and will indeed make it here. It’s taken month after month of rehab, of horrifically slow recovery, all to be able to stand here and do what I do once again. Kaia likes to act as if she’s a good person, but let me ask you this...what sort of good person would deny someone as hardworking as I am the opportunity to make that hard work pay off? I’ll answer, good question Lizzie, the answer is Kaia would. Last time out was an insult, she used my hard work to get herself that win at Festivus. What kind of ‘good’ champion cruises along on wins like that?”
She removes the sunglasses now, directly addressing the camera.
Lizzie: “But tonight there’s no Brianna. Tonight there are no excuses and, moreover, tonight there will be no mercy. Kaia, you didn’t beat me at Festivus, you survived me. Tonight you won’t be able to scrape by like that again. Tonight is just about us and that title. In fact, no, tonight is about ME and that title. All you are is the girl that history will remember as the first person to give up her title to the rebuilt Lizzie Jones.”
She replaces her glasses and gives a wry smirk.
Lizzie: “I wasn’t impressed, Tim, by what I saw of Kaia at Festivus and she’s done nothing to improve my opinion since. She can’t steal my hard work and call it her own tonight. Instead, no, tonight she will face her reckoning. Time’s up.”
Lizzie gives a quick little shrug and steps away, walking out of the camera’s shot.
Backstage, Tim Anderson catches up with Lizzie Jones. The challenger for the US Title is already in her ring gear, albeit with a jacket over her upper half.
Tim: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m joined at this time by Mrs. Lizzie Jones!”
He turns to face her. Her eyes are hidden behind sunglasses, but it’s pretty obvious she isn’t looking his way.
Tim: “Lizzie, tonight you-”
She holds a hand up.
Lizzie: “Let me guess, you want to know my thoughts on facing Kaia Granger in tonight’s headline match? I mean, come on, you know I’m a former interviewer. You know I was one of the best, too, so let’s not pretend I can’t answer what you’re going to ask before you’ve asked it.”
There’s a brief pause.
Lizzie: “So go on, ask it.”
Anderson sighs.
Tim: “I...was wondering what your thoughts on tonight’s match with Kaia Granger are?”
She shakes her head and probably rolls her eyes.
Lizzie: “Well, Timbo, it’s a simple answer really. Tonight is my opportunity, finally 1v1, to take that US Title and prove to all of Liberty that I can and will indeed make it here. It’s taken month after month of rehab, of horrifically slow recovery, all to be able to stand here and do what I do once again. Kaia likes to act as if she’s a good person, but let me ask you this...what sort of good person would deny someone as hardworking as I am the opportunity to make that hard work pay off? I’ll answer, good question Lizzie, the answer is Kaia would. Last time out was an insult, she used my hard work to get herself that win at Festivus. What kind of ‘good’ champion cruises along on wins like that?”
She removes the sunglasses now, directly addressing the camera.
Lizzie: “But tonight there’s no Brianna. Tonight there are no excuses and, moreover, tonight there will be no mercy. Kaia, you didn’t beat me at Festivus, you survived me. Tonight you won’t be able to scrape by like that again. Tonight is just about us and that title. In fact, no, tonight is about ME and that title. All you are is the girl that history will remember as the first person to give up her title to the rebuilt Lizzie Jones.”
She replaces her glasses and gives a wry smirk.
Lizzie: “I wasn’t impressed, Tim, by what I saw of Kaia at Festivus and she’s done nothing to improve my opinion since. She can’t steal my hard work and call it her own tonight. Instead, no, tonight she will face her reckoning. Time’s up.”
Lizzie gives a quick little shrug and steps away, walking out of the camera’s shot.
PREVIOUSLY RECORDED
The Cameras begin to play a rather intriguing video package, There are visuals of open fields, sunshine, and flowers, everything is happy and light as a trail of fabric touches the right-side screen, white lace being drug through the fields of wheat before the field begins to alter slightly. A fidget in the film that affects the sunlight, and suddenly sees the field start to change. Almost like on a battlefield the mine explodes In the distance, but the white fabric continues to flow as the frame of a woman comes into the frame.
Her hair long and black, tied back into a ponytail, but unable to see her face as she is sleekly followed by the flowing cape of white that seems to billow around her approaching where those mines are exploding. We see debris fly through the air as another one goes off and yet still she approaches.
As the fields begin to decay, a tree seems to wither like going from spring to winter all in a haze, the one remaining constant is the woman in white though even that begins to fade from the bright color that it was into something a little different, it becomes dingier, stained, and tattered from the progression of he walk and then suddenly that image fades altogether leaving the view confused as to what they’d just seen.
Before a phrase appears on the screen. “No matter the scene, the Light Remains.”
Appearing again now the scene seems completely in ruins, almost like the theme of Tonight’s show, No Man’s Land II. A desolate wasteland accompanies the young woman who has now turned in her startling white gown, as golden chains accompany her neck, a decadent head piece adorning her head as the gown seems to completely swallow the entirety of her frame, the face of one Kaia Grainger is there, and a smile rests upon her lips as she turns again to head off into the distance of this No Man’s Land.
“Instead of fighting the darkness, you bring the light” - Ekchart Tolle
Another quote appears on the screen just before the video package fades.
The Cameras begin to play a rather intriguing video package, There are visuals of open fields, sunshine, and flowers, everything is happy and light as a trail of fabric touches the right-side screen, white lace being drug through the fields of wheat before the field begins to alter slightly. A fidget in the film that affects the sunlight, and suddenly sees the field start to change. Almost like on a battlefield the mine explodes In the distance, but the white fabric continues to flow as the frame of a woman comes into the frame.
Her hair long and black, tied back into a ponytail, but unable to see her face as she is sleekly followed by the flowing cape of white that seems to billow around her approaching where those mines are exploding. We see debris fly through the air as another one goes off and yet still she approaches.
As the fields begin to decay, a tree seems to wither like going from spring to winter all in a haze, the one remaining constant is the woman in white though even that begins to fade from the bright color that it was into something a little different, it becomes dingier, stained, and tattered from the progression of he walk and then suddenly that image fades altogether leaving the view confused as to what they’d just seen.
Before a phrase appears on the screen. “No matter the scene, the Light Remains.”
Appearing again now the scene seems completely in ruins, almost like the theme of Tonight’s show, No Man’s Land II. A desolate wasteland accompanies the young woman who has now turned in her startling white gown, as golden chains accompany her neck, a decadent head piece adorning her head as the gown seems to completely swallow the entirety of her frame, the face of one Kaia Grainger is there, and a smile rests upon her lips as she turns again to head off into the distance of this No Man’s Land.
“Instead of fighting the darkness, you bring the light” - Ekchart Tolle
Another quote appears on the screen just before the video package fades.
HEADLINE: US CHAMPIONSHIP
Kaia Grainger vs Lizzie Jones
Kaia Grainger vs Lizzie Jones
RECAP The match began with an exchange of nods between Grainger and Jones. It’s followed up by a few minutes of both women getting a feel for one another. Nothing high risk this early on, we just see an exchange of collar and elbow lock ups. However a crisp hip toss from Jones put Grainger down on the mat. Lizzie followed up with some quick attempts at pinning Grainger. However, Kaia’s not even close to being caught off her guard. The US Champion powers through every pin attempt, still Lizzie worked her methodical pace. A few minutes into the bout and Kaia fought herself back to her feet. It was a short lived victory, as Jones was smothering her with offense. A snap suplex sent the champ back down into the canvas again. Instead of pin attempts, its grindy rest holds - all aimed at weathering down the champ. We move even deeper into the match, and it remains all Jones. The story of this fight has been Grager scratching and clawing close to building some moment, all before things are snuffed out by her savvy opponent. Looking to put some panache in her match, Jones decided to go high risk with a frog splash. A miscalculation that saw Grainger manage to roll her way to safety. Kaia got up quickly, not wasting what appeared to be her best chance at getting back into this match! She hit the ropes with a timed leap. Springing and turning her body, she extended her leg out for a sudden Sirius! (Springboard Enziguri). The kick landed square into Jones’ face, and sent them both out with a double down. The crowd tries to energize their United States champion with cheers. Slowly both women stir, getting back on their feet. Far fresher than Grainger, Jones was able to get the initial advantage of the reset. She peppered in a few elbow shots. Still Kaia managed to whip Jones into the corner. She barreled in right after, hitting a corner dropkick that floored Jones. Feeling her chance on the horizon, Kaia went vertical. She scaled the top rope, ready to go aerial. However, Jones managed to reach her feet and cut off Grainger. Kaia started to kick out at Jones, one particular kick sent with enough force that it sent Jones bumping awkwardly into the official - taking him out. Liz is distracted just enough, looking at the official before - ASTRONOMICAL! (Top Rope Corkscrew Diving Stunner) The move rouses up the LPW fandom, and the US Champ quickly went for the cover.... But no count. It seemed the official caught the bad end of an incidental elbow from Jones, and was still reeling from the blow! Noticing there’s no count being made, Kaia turned her efforts into reviving the official, letting Jones roll out of the ring in a daze. A minute feels like ten, before Kaia has the official moving slowly and coming too his senses. Grainger looked to refocus her crosshairs on Jones as she started to head to retrieve her from the outside… until we heard a thundering crack of a steel chair! The fans are hissing and booing at Liz! She managed to get her hands on a chair from underneath the ring and used it to absolutely fold Grainger! With a smile, Liz kicked the foreign object back under the ring, all before sliding back inside of the squared circle. The fans were completely soured to see Liz steal this one, as she hooked the legs - got the three count - and managed to complete the heist job for the United States championship! WINNER And new US Champion… LIZZIE JONES! METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 16:43 FINISHING MOVE Chair shot |
PREVIOUSLY RECORDED
No Man's Land II continues as we transition to previously recorded footage. We get a sweeping shot on the inside of Madison Square Garden before fading into the ring, which is already set up and still in place from Night One. Perched up on the top turnbuckle in none other than the reigning Freedom Champion, TJ Techniques. TJ is decked out a blue Julius Randle home Knicks jersey, light wash Levi's and Retro 'Knicks' Jordan 3s with the Freedom Championship held proudly across his shoulder. The champ continues to soak in his surroundings before finally addressing the camera.
TJ Techniques: Drake and Future - Summer Sixteen Tour. August 6th, 2016. J. Cole - KOD Tour. October 1st, 2018. Game 5 of the 2013 Conference Semi Finals versus the Indiana Pacers. May 16th, 2013.
A beat.
TJ Techniques: Those are just three dates of many that come to me when I step into this building. You know, man, I've come to this arena countless times. As a spectator... as a fan... a paying customer. But tonight? Tonight, I'm in the main event. Not as the challenger, not even as a champion, but as thee champion. Countless times, I've been in them seats all the way up there.
TJ motions to the nosebleeds around him.
TJ Techniques: Section 306, Row 2. Section 213, Row 24. Section 221, Row 18. Seats like those are where I used to be at when I came to this arena. Tonight, though...
TJ hops down from his seated position on the top turnbuckle. He lands with a thud.
TJ Techniques: ...I'm right here in the center of the ring. With all eyes on me. If you call yourself a professional wrestler, there's no place you'd rather be than inside the squared circle at Madison Square Garden.
TJ points down at the mat before continuing.
TJ Techniques: Life's a trip man. It really is. If you told someone this time three years ago that this is where I'd be, they'd probably laugh you out the room. They would probably think that this is where Johnny Amazing would be, the more famous half of #AmazingTechniques. It wouldn't be a shock to see J-Amaze in this spot. My man is always booked and busy. As he should be. But TJ Techniques? Wrestling in Madison Square Garden? In the main event? Nah, never. If you told people five years ago that this is where I'd be, they'd ask you how high you were. Back in 2016, every so-called notable training school slammed their door in my face. They didn't return my calls. The ones that did? They told me I wasn't good enough. They left me out in this cold to fend for myself. No graduate program. No developmental-to-main show pipeline. No co-sign. No nothing.
TJ starts to walk around the ring.
TJ Techniques: If you told my Liberty peers, the ones who joined last summer, that this is where I'd be, they'd call you a liar. They would swear up and down that this where they'd be. Yet here I am. Main eventing in the world's most famous arena as thee champion here on the Freedom brand. Yet here I am, as one of the faces of this company. Now there's a couple of faces on that No Man's Land II poster. But there's only one face - only one - that's dead center. Do you know who's face that is?
TJ stops and points to himself.
TJ Techniques: This ain't the result of nepotism. I didn't get in with the powers that be. What you see before you is the result of years of hard work. It's the result of never taking no for an answer. It's the result of picking yourself up even when you're at your lowest. It's never quitting when it's the easier, less painful option. I have busted my ass to get to this point. I earned that poster. I earned my place on this card. I earned this belt on my shoulder. Which is why it bothers me, Helena Noir, that you would sit and fix your face to say otherwise. I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I hear everything. I heard the slick shit that came out your mouth the very next week after you lost the title currently across my shoulder. But in case you don't remember, why don't I remind you of what came out your own mouth. Play the footage...
TJ gestures to the camera. We quickly fade out to footage from the January 25th Episode of Freedom.
We fade back to TJ Techniques as he's in the middle of shaking his head.
TJ Techniques: Now ain't that about a bih.
TJ cocks his head to the side. he still can't get over that list bit.
TJ Techniques: Wouldn't I like to know if I can really beat you? Now yeah, I, like many fans of Freedom and Liberty as a whole, would like to see me and you finally go one on one. But wouldn't I like to know if I can really beat you? Do you understand the level of disrespect that came out your mouth, because I don't think you do. You know, leading up to that match, I didn't have anything negative to say about you. I praised you. I gave you your flowers for holding it down at the top of Liberty Pro as Liberty Champion. I even called you the ace of this promotion. Yet that's what you come with the very next week. Huh.
TJ rubs his chin before continuing.
TJ Techniques: You know what, man... I won't trip off it. Not any more than I already have. I mean, I get it, Helena. You probably didn't really mean it, right. I'm sure you were just venting on camera, right. You were probably just speaking from a place of hurt after you loss, right?
TJ rubs the back of his neck before continuing.
TJ Techniques: I'll tell you what. When that Elimination Chamber happened, any one of us could have been the last man out the pod. Any one of us could have been the first one in. The two of us just happened to be on opposite ends. It ain't my fault that I was the last man out. Life ain't fair. That's a lesson that we've both had to learn the hard way in Liberty Pro. But you're gonna learn something else here tonight. See Helena, I don't need to wait for 20 minutes to go after you. I don't need to wait no damn 20 minutes for you to be worn down. As soon as the bell rings, it's on. As soon as that match starts, I'm on your ass. You've called my win into question. I don't appreciate that. You coulda just gave me my props and kept it moving. But you had to get slick. I'll get you back for that tonight. But you're not the only one that thinks this. Like I said. I hear everything. I peep everything. I hear the critics. "TJ isn't really as good as Helena Noir. TJ can't get it done in big singles matches". I mean hey, let's talk about it. I won Old Glory here in an Elimination Chamber. That's a multi-man match and as you were so kind to point out, I was the last one in. I beat Kaia Granger and Mighty Sparrow, my fellow champions here on Freedom. But once again, it was a Triple Threat Match. I even beat you, Lizzie Jones and Jordan Parker-Kane. But once again, it was a Six Man Tag, Lizzie didn't really care for the match and I wasn't the one that got the deciding fall. But hear me and hear me good because I will not repeat myself twice. Tonight, I answer all questions. Tonight, I remove all doubts. Helena, if you had did the knowledge, done your googles and Peeped The Technique, you would know truly just how good I am. But you will find out tonight. Oh, Helena, you will find out tonight. But that's not the only thing you'll be finding out, Helena. Tonight, you will also Know The Ledge and understand that as good as you are - and you are damn good - you aren't better than me. I don't say that to put you down. I really don't. But these hands and these feet? These are what will put you down. Know The Ledge and Set Em Straight? Those will keep you down. This title right here, the Freedom Championship? It will enter this ring across my shoulder... and it will leave the very same way. Now peep that.
No Man's Land II continues as we transition to previously recorded footage. We get a sweeping shot on the inside of Madison Square Garden before fading into the ring, which is already set up and still in place from Night One. Perched up on the top turnbuckle in none other than the reigning Freedom Champion, TJ Techniques. TJ is decked out a blue Julius Randle home Knicks jersey, light wash Levi's and Retro 'Knicks' Jordan 3s with the Freedom Championship held proudly across his shoulder. The champ continues to soak in his surroundings before finally addressing the camera.
TJ Techniques: Drake and Future - Summer Sixteen Tour. August 6th, 2016. J. Cole - KOD Tour. October 1st, 2018. Game 5 of the 2013 Conference Semi Finals versus the Indiana Pacers. May 16th, 2013.
A beat.
TJ Techniques: Those are just three dates of many that come to me when I step into this building. You know, man, I've come to this arena countless times. As a spectator... as a fan... a paying customer. But tonight? Tonight, I'm in the main event. Not as the challenger, not even as a champion, but as thee champion. Countless times, I've been in them seats all the way up there.
TJ motions to the nosebleeds around him.
TJ Techniques: Section 306, Row 2. Section 213, Row 24. Section 221, Row 18. Seats like those are where I used to be at when I came to this arena. Tonight, though...
TJ hops down from his seated position on the top turnbuckle. He lands with a thud.
TJ Techniques: ...I'm right here in the center of the ring. With all eyes on me. If you call yourself a professional wrestler, there's no place you'd rather be than inside the squared circle at Madison Square Garden.
TJ points down at the mat before continuing.
TJ Techniques: Life's a trip man. It really is. If you told someone this time three years ago that this is where I'd be, they'd probably laugh you out the room. They would probably think that this is where Johnny Amazing would be, the more famous half of #AmazingTechniques. It wouldn't be a shock to see J-Amaze in this spot. My man is always booked and busy. As he should be. But TJ Techniques? Wrestling in Madison Square Garden? In the main event? Nah, never. If you told people five years ago that this is where I'd be, they'd ask you how high you were. Back in 2016, every so-called notable training school slammed their door in my face. They didn't return my calls. The ones that did? They told me I wasn't good enough. They left me out in this cold to fend for myself. No graduate program. No developmental-to-main show pipeline. No co-sign. No nothing.
TJ starts to walk around the ring.
TJ Techniques: If you told my Liberty peers, the ones who joined last summer, that this is where I'd be, they'd call you a liar. They would swear up and down that this where they'd be. Yet here I am. Main eventing in the world's most famous arena as thee champion here on the Freedom brand. Yet here I am, as one of the faces of this company. Now there's a couple of faces on that No Man's Land II poster. But there's only one face - only one - that's dead center. Do you know who's face that is?
TJ stops and points to himself.
TJ Techniques: This ain't the result of nepotism. I didn't get in with the powers that be. What you see before you is the result of years of hard work. It's the result of never taking no for an answer. It's the result of picking yourself up even when you're at your lowest. It's never quitting when it's the easier, less painful option. I have busted my ass to get to this point. I earned that poster. I earned my place on this card. I earned this belt on my shoulder. Which is why it bothers me, Helena Noir, that you would sit and fix your face to say otherwise. I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I hear everything. I heard the slick shit that came out your mouth the very next week after you lost the title currently across my shoulder. But in case you don't remember, why don't I remind you of what came out your own mouth. Play the footage...
TJ gestures to the camera. We quickly fade out to footage from the January 25th Episode of Freedom.
Helena Noir: It makes me wonder, TJ… What would have happened if the circumstances were different? If I hadn’t been in the ring for almost twenty minutes longer than you did? If the roles were reversed? If I wasn’t slightly more fresh. Aren’t you curious too? Wouldn’t you like to know if you can really beat me?
We fade back to TJ Techniques as he's in the middle of shaking his head.
TJ Techniques: Now ain't that about a bih.
TJ cocks his head to the side. he still can't get over that list bit.
TJ Techniques: Wouldn't I like to know if I can really beat you? Now yeah, I, like many fans of Freedom and Liberty as a whole, would like to see me and you finally go one on one. But wouldn't I like to know if I can really beat you? Do you understand the level of disrespect that came out your mouth, because I don't think you do. You know, leading up to that match, I didn't have anything negative to say about you. I praised you. I gave you your flowers for holding it down at the top of Liberty Pro as Liberty Champion. I even called you the ace of this promotion. Yet that's what you come with the very next week. Huh.
TJ rubs his chin before continuing.
TJ Techniques: You know what, man... I won't trip off it. Not any more than I already have. I mean, I get it, Helena. You probably didn't really mean it, right. I'm sure you were just venting on camera, right. You were probably just speaking from a place of hurt after you loss, right?
TJ rubs the back of his neck before continuing.
TJ Techniques: I'll tell you what. When that Elimination Chamber happened, any one of us could have been the last man out the pod. Any one of us could have been the first one in. The two of us just happened to be on opposite ends. It ain't my fault that I was the last man out. Life ain't fair. That's a lesson that we've both had to learn the hard way in Liberty Pro. But you're gonna learn something else here tonight. See Helena, I don't need to wait for 20 minutes to go after you. I don't need to wait no damn 20 minutes for you to be worn down. As soon as the bell rings, it's on. As soon as that match starts, I'm on your ass. You've called my win into question. I don't appreciate that. You coulda just gave me my props and kept it moving. But you had to get slick. I'll get you back for that tonight. But you're not the only one that thinks this. Like I said. I hear everything. I peep everything. I hear the critics. "TJ isn't really as good as Helena Noir. TJ can't get it done in big singles matches". I mean hey, let's talk about it. I won Old Glory here in an Elimination Chamber. That's a multi-man match and as you were so kind to point out, I was the last one in. I beat Kaia Granger and Mighty Sparrow, my fellow champions here on Freedom. But once again, it was a Triple Threat Match. I even beat you, Lizzie Jones and Jordan Parker-Kane. But once again, it was a Six Man Tag, Lizzie didn't really care for the match and I wasn't the one that got the deciding fall. But hear me and hear me good because I will not repeat myself twice. Tonight, I answer all questions. Tonight, I remove all doubts. Helena, if you had did the knowledge, done your googles and Peeped The Technique, you would know truly just how good I am. But you will find out tonight. Oh, Helena, you will find out tonight. But that's not the only thing you'll be finding out, Helena. Tonight, you will also Know The Ledge and understand that as good as you are - and you are damn good - you aren't better than me. I don't say that to put you down. I really don't. But these hands and these feet? These are what will put you down. Know The Ledge and Set Em Straight? Those will keep you down. This title right here, the Freedom Championship? It will enter this ring across my shoulder... and it will leave the very same way. Now peep that.
RINGSIDE
The second night of “No Man’s Land II” was drawing to a close, and what a rollercoaster of emotions it had been! Only thing left was the main event, the Freedom championship match between TJ Technique and Helena Noir. And while it may not have been the most “hyped” match of the night, and that was mostly due to Helena’s chronic disinterest for promoting anything on social media, this match was going to be the one they’ll be talking about on their way home, and for the days to come. And it couldn’t be otherwise, considering the calibre of the people involved.
The moment the fans had been waiting for was finally here and you could hear them buzzing in anticipation as the ring announcer took the center of the ring.
Ring Announcer: “The following contest is your main event of the evening and it is for the Freedom championship!”
Nothing new here, but it was enough to earn a loud pop from the fans.
Ring Announcer: “Introducing first, the challenger. Fighting out of New York City, standing at five feet nine, weighing in one-hundred and thirty pounds, she is the longest reigning Liberty champion in LPW history… HELENA NOIR!”
The light dimmed down, and a thick grey fog began to cover the entrance stage as the intro guitar of Shandon’s “Noir” played out of the loudspeakers. On the tron, rather than the usual video showcasing some of the highlights of Helena’s career, a different one was playing. The black and white footage was coming straight from the LPW archive, clips from three years ago,night two of the first “No Man’s Land”. The match in question was the huge battle royale between Liberty and Empire superstars, one that was eventually won by Helena Noir to become the first ever CanAm champion.
And there she was, the Swede appeared on the stage, sporting a total black look. As the chorus of the song hit, powerful spotlights flicked on and pierced the darkness engulfing the legendary venue. From that wall of blinding light the silhouette of the former Liberty champion emerged, slowly walking down the ramp, her features becoming more visible as she walked away from the lights. Focused, determined, not even the hint of a smile on Helena’s face, not even a glance in the direction of her adoring fans.
Finally reaching the ring, Helena demanded a microphone, wanting to say something before the champion made his entrance.
Helena Noir: “Three years ago, a little up north near the Canadian border, I won my first title in this company. It was February 3rd, the second night of an event named No Man’s Land. I entered a battle royale, I survived 22 other competitors and I became the first ever CanAm champion, a title shared between this promotion and the now defunct Empire Pro Wrestling.”
On the screen was now shown the freeze-frame of an exhausted Helena Noir raising the title in the air.
Helena Noir: “Both then and now, I entered the match as the underdog. Yes, you heard me right. I said I’m the underdog tonight, and you better believe it too. It doesn’t matter what I accomplished in the past, it doesn’t matter if, when and how I beat TJ before tonight. The champion always has the advantage.”
Her words had the fans buzzing. Was this a rare drop in confidence from Helena? Was it just mind games, an attempt of destabilizing the champion and throwing him off his game minutes before his first defense?
Helena Noir: “And I’m not talking about the champion’s advantage, the fact that he could get intentionally disqualified or counted out to retain the title. It’s safe to say that TJ technique is not that kind of person. But he became champion for a reason, he didn’t need to take any shortcut, he didn’t have to cheat. Sure, Lady Luck might have smiled down on him that night allowing him to be the last entrant in the chamber, but that doesn’t change the fact that right now he’s the best on Freedom, and he deserves my and your praise and respect for that.”
The former champion started a round of applause that was quickly echoed by the fans.
Helena Noir: “I don’t know if you realized it yet, but when you’re standing at the top, when you are the favorite… There’s a lot of pressure on you then. It’s easy to be the underdog, TJ. I’ve been one most of my career, I was the underdog when I won my first title, I was the underdog when I won my first World Title in AXN. Nobody expected me to become the inaugural Victory Wrestling Heritage champion. Three years ago...”
She pointed at the tron.
Helena Noir: “Very few people would’ve betted on me to win that rumble. That’s why so many fairy tales in wrestling end in tragedy. That’s why so many prodigies reach the top in the blink of an eye and then disappear just as quickly, becoming a footnote in the history of this discipline. They can’t handle it, they can’t handle walking around with this huge target on their back, they crumble under the weight of the expectations. They say pressure makes diamonds, that much is very true when it comes to champions as well.”
A brief pause in her speech.
Helena Noir: “We often exist in no man’s land, between the extremities of what we want to be and what we have become.
That’s where you are tonight, TJ. Anyone can become a champion with the right combination of luck and skills. Only a few can BE a champion. Let’s see if you have what it takes.”
Helena handed the microphone back to the ring announcer.
Ring Announcer: “Introducing next, from Staten Island, New York, standing at six feet, weighing in one hundred eighty-eight pounds, he is the reigning and defending LPW Freedom Champion T J TECHNIQUE!”
"Step into a World (Rapture's Delight)" by KRS-One blasted through the PA system and out came the champion himself. He nodded at Helena in the ring, her words definitely reached the champ, who seemed now even more determined to prove himself against the former Liberty champion.
The second night of “No Man’s Land II” was drawing to a close, and what a rollercoaster of emotions it had been! Only thing left was the main event, the Freedom championship match between TJ Technique and Helena Noir. And while it may not have been the most “hyped” match of the night, and that was mostly due to Helena’s chronic disinterest for promoting anything on social media, this match was going to be the one they’ll be talking about on their way home, and for the days to come. And it couldn’t be otherwise, considering the calibre of the people involved.
The moment the fans had been waiting for was finally here and you could hear them buzzing in anticipation as the ring announcer took the center of the ring.
Ring Announcer: “The following contest is your main event of the evening and it is for the Freedom championship!”
Nothing new here, but it was enough to earn a loud pop from the fans.
Ring Announcer: “Introducing first, the challenger. Fighting out of New York City, standing at five feet nine, weighing in one-hundred and thirty pounds, she is the longest reigning Liberty champion in LPW history… HELENA NOIR!”
The light dimmed down, and a thick grey fog began to cover the entrance stage as the intro guitar of Shandon’s “Noir” played out of the loudspeakers. On the tron, rather than the usual video showcasing some of the highlights of Helena’s career, a different one was playing. The black and white footage was coming straight from the LPW archive, clips from three years ago,night two of the first “No Man’s Land”. The match in question was the huge battle royale between Liberty and Empire superstars, one that was eventually won by Helena Noir to become the first ever CanAm champion.
And there she was, the Swede appeared on the stage, sporting a total black look. As the chorus of the song hit, powerful spotlights flicked on and pierced the darkness engulfing the legendary venue. From that wall of blinding light the silhouette of the former Liberty champion emerged, slowly walking down the ramp, her features becoming more visible as she walked away from the lights. Focused, determined, not even the hint of a smile on Helena’s face, not even a glance in the direction of her adoring fans.
Finally reaching the ring, Helena demanded a microphone, wanting to say something before the champion made his entrance.
Helena Noir: “Three years ago, a little up north near the Canadian border, I won my first title in this company. It was February 3rd, the second night of an event named No Man’s Land. I entered a battle royale, I survived 22 other competitors and I became the first ever CanAm champion, a title shared between this promotion and the now defunct Empire Pro Wrestling.”
On the screen was now shown the freeze-frame of an exhausted Helena Noir raising the title in the air.
Helena Noir: “Both then and now, I entered the match as the underdog. Yes, you heard me right. I said I’m the underdog tonight, and you better believe it too. It doesn’t matter what I accomplished in the past, it doesn’t matter if, when and how I beat TJ before tonight. The champion always has the advantage.”
Her words had the fans buzzing. Was this a rare drop in confidence from Helena? Was it just mind games, an attempt of destabilizing the champion and throwing him off his game minutes before his first defense?
Helena Noir: “And I’m not talking about the champion’s advantage, the fact that he could get intentionally disqualified or counted out to retain the title. It’s safe to say that TJ technique is not that kind of person. But he became champion for a reason, he didn’t need to take any shortcut, he didn’t have to cheat. Sure, Lady Luck might have smiled down on him that night allowing him to be the last entrant in the chamber, but that doesn’t change the fact that right now he’s the best on Freedom, and he deserves my and your praise and respect for that.”
The former champion started a round of applause that was quickly echoed by the fans.
Helena Noir: “I don’t know if you realized it yet, but when you’re standing at the top, when you are the favorite… There’s a lot of pressure on you then. It’s easy to be the underdog, TJ. I’ve been one most of my career, I was the underdog when I won my first title, I was the underdog when I won my first World Title in AXN. Nobody expected me to become the inaugural Victory Wrestling Heritage champion. Three years ago...”
She pointed at the tron.
Helena Noir: “Very few people would’ve betted on me to win that rumble. That’s why so many fairy tales in wrestling end in tragedy. That’s why so many prodigies reach the top in the blink of an eye and then disappear just as quickly, becoming a footnote in the history of this discipline. They can’t handle it, they can’t handle walking around with this huge target on their back, they crumble under the weight of the expectations. They say pressure makes diamonds, that much is very true when it comes to champions as well.”
A brief pause in her speech.
Helena Noir: “We often exist in no man’s land, between the extremities of what we want to be and what we have become.
That’s where you are tonight, TJ. Anyone can become a champion with the right combination of luck and skills. Only a few can BE a champion. Let’s see if you have what it takes.”
Helena handed the microphone back to the ring announcer.
Ring Announcer: “Introducing next, from Staten Island, New York, standing at six feet, weighing in one hundred eighty-eight pounds, he is the reigning and defending LPW Freedom Champion T J TECHNIQUE!”
"Step into a World (Rapture's Delight)" by KRS-One blasted through the PA system and out came the champion himself. He nodded at Helena in the ring, her words definitely reached the champ, who seemed now even more determined to prove himself against the former Liberty champion.
MAIN EVENT: FREEDOM CHAMPIONSHIP
TJ Techniques vs Helena Hoir
TJ Techniques vs Helena Hoir
RECAP #PeepTheTechnique its a hashtag that has become synonymous with the Freedom Champion, and many around the world have come to love and admire the hard work and dedication he’s been able to surmount since capturing the coveted championship. Tonight, though was his toughest battle yet and Helena let everyone know it with the stride she’s taken to the ring. The fans were in anticipation as the former Liberty Champion climbed into the ring and looked ready for the Champ as soon as he arrived. The Referee did his number with holding the belt high letting everyone know what was at stake and as soon as the bell rang you could tell both competitors already knew. Starting it off was a nice elbow and tie lock up, TJ Techniques himself showing you he actually does know the Technique, using the locking mechanism to the flip Helena off of her feet while still keeping hold of her arm TJ drops down with a leg drop onto that arm, showing he’s studied a bit of Helena’s rhythm and has switched it up slightly for tonight’s main event. Helena almost instinctively looks impressed as TJ backs away, giving a wry smirk on her face as TJ allows her up to her feet. The two lock up again. This time with Helena taking control into a side headlock. That’s about as slow as the pace on this one gets as Helena looks to release the hold and whips TJ into the corner, she is following behind, but in an amazing stunt TJ uses that agility in free running to flip over her, Helena watches as TJ soars over her head and back onto his feet and she’s able to turn around just in time for a kick to the mid section that backs her into the corner, TJ is firing on all cylinders then tossing her into the opposite corner he comes flying in with a corner clothesline, he follows it right into a moonwalk DDT, using some of that fancy footwork he goes for an early pin but Helena is nowhere near done yet as she kicks out. Helena in an effort to slow the pace down reverses whatever move TJ might’ve been going for next and as she’s known for locks in a triangle choke that instantly has TJ reeling. Luckily for him he his able to escape, but not within severely lowering the pack as he has to use all of his strength to lift Helena and then slam her back into the mat. You see this as he backs into the corner taking a break as Helena recovers as well rolling over onto her knees she stares in anticipation, but the two just break into a smile at one another’s efforts and the match continues on. We see several attempts at winning in the next few moments of the match, literally both opponents throwing everything in their arsenal at one another. TJ hits the Fosbury Flop on Helena on the outside then rolls back into the ring only to hit a simultaneous Somersalt Plancha just after that also lands. Still not enough to capture the three count as Helena gets an arm up. Helena herself gets in a Slingblade and a swinging neckbreaker, but there is no keeping the champ down for the three count either. By the twelve minute marker, both competitors seem to be slowing and there is still no clear winner in sight as both are on their feet measuring each other up once more. Helena seems to have a game plan though as she runs towards TJ who is just a little slower to respond as she nails The Declarian Horse, a move to show homage to her stepbrother the move seems to have rocked TJ right off of his feet and Helena is a little bit slow to make the cover having exhausted some of her energy as she had to reach the face of a 6’0 man with her 5’8 frame. All the more impressive as she goes for the cover. One, Two, Thrrrrrrrrrrrrr. . . . .! NO!!!!!!!!!! TJ somehow miraculously kicks out at the last possible second as the crowd echoes in awe and anticipation at his recovery. You can hear the chants as Helena rolls over disappointed, clearly showing the signs of fatigue she backs away to recover once more, and TJ slowly makes his way to his feet. It seems Helena is ready to try again by the time TJ makes it back to a vertical base, but he moves just as she’s about to go for a corner dropkick. Landing her in the corner, as she staggers out TJ nails a Spanish Fly, but he’s too exhausted to do anything with it. Both opponents lay out on the mat as the referee begins to count and they begin to stir at close to the 7, barely making it to their feet by the count of 9. The two begin to throw everything they have left in the tank as both seem to have caught a second wind in their break. TJ scores a Hurricanrana that he rolls into a fancy bridge, but it seems more desperation at capturing the win as Helena easily gets out of it. Next comes a springboard style arm drag into an arm lock, but Helena is able to roll through and gets TJ in another pinning predicament herself rolling on top of him and trying to leverage herself but TJ kicks out once more. Externally frustrated now we can see both competitors have lost their smiles at this rate in the match and wonder just what its going to take to put the other down, Helena seems like she has the answer yet again, looking to go for another Declarian Horse, but as she moves out of the way TJ seems to be on fire again, just before a BOOM! As we see Set ‘Em Straight come out of nowhere. 1, 2, 3!!!! The Bell sounds as TJ slowly gets up to his feet, he’s handed his championship and you can tell the emotion has overtaken him slightly almost like he won it again for the first time. The Fans cheer him on as he holds the belt into the air. WINNER TJ Techniques METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 21:12 FINISHING MOVE Set ‘Em Straight |