Post by Jade Night on Jun 12, 2022 2:36:17 GMT
Liberty Pro Presents...
Night One of Battle Symphony 2
Live from the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
On Friday, June 10th, 2022
Night One of Battle Symphony 2
Live from the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
On Friday, June 10th, 2022
BACKSTAGE
We open earlier in the day around the time that each competitor was getting to the warehouse. We know it’s a good amount of time before the show, as the camera focuses on the backstage door. Slowly, it opens, and in walks the redhead “drama queen” Chase Romano. Her attitude of late has changed drastically, obviously in response to everything that’s been going on with her now ex-boyfriend and ex-coach, Wade Manson. Her hair seems to blow in the breeze as she walks, and for once, she looks almost happy. Her baby pink duffel bag was slung on her shoulder, her ear pressed to her cell phone.
Chase Romano: Really though, I can’t thank you AAA girls enough. You’ve been so kind to accept a stray like me, I would never have known where to start with my training if you hadn’t been there to help. I owe you one, for sure!
She paused, continuing walking down the hall.
Chase Romano: Again, it’s very kind of you to offer to be at ringside with me tonight, but it’s just something I need to do on my own. I got myself into this mess, not only do I need to get myself out of it but I also need to make sure that nobody gets hurt.
Another pause.
Chase Romano:...yes that includes me!
She chuckles, and then listens as the person on the other line speaks. It’s more than likely either AMC or Ashley Sands, especially given recent events and the way things have gone down on twitter since last week.
Chase Romano: Okay, I’ll call one of you after the show and we’ll meet up for drinks around here somewhere, promise!
She giggled, taking the phone away from her ear and looking down at it as she walked. The shot began to widen, showing a man walking behind her. Not just any man. Wade Manson, walking behind her like some sort of Michael Meyers wannabe.
Wade Manson: I bet you’re real proud of yourself…
He said coldly. Although he wasn’t speaking loudly, the sudden realization that someone was near her, let alone following her, made her jump. She immediately halted her walk to the locker room, but her demeanor changed.
Chase: I -
Manson wasn’t in the mood for letting her speak, and he let her know. This was a completely different side than what Chase was used to seeing.
Wade Manson: FINE! Fine, Chase, fine. As I told you on Twitter, we’re going to see what happens tonight now that you haven’t had me to help you all week. You probably think you’re real smart, and you’re accomplishing something with this whole charade and circus display on twitter. How dare you drag my name through the mud like that. We’re going to find out tonight how well you fare when you’ve got to answer for your actions, Chase!
His words were cold but pointed, and that drove fear right into Chase’s heart. She didn’t say anything, though she wanted to. Wade just shook his head, before walking away down the hall. Chase stood there, grabbing her arm and looking at the floor. She desired the power to stand up for herself, to be something on her own. She shook her own head, but in a way that said she needed to shake off those bad thoughts. She couldn’t let him into her mind like that. That’s all it was, mind games. They had to be.
We open earlier in the day around the time that each competitor was getting to the warehouse. We know it’s a good amount of time before the show, as the camera focuses on the backstage door. Slowly, it opens, and in walks the redhead “drama queen” Chase Romano. Her attitude of late has changed drastically, obviously in response to everything that’s been going on with her now ex-boyfriend and ex-coach, Wade Manson. Her hair seems to blow in the breeze as she walks, and for once, she looks almost happy. Her baby pink duffel bag was slung on her shoulder, her ear pressed to her cell phone.
Chase Romano: Really though, I can’t thank you AAA girls enough. You’ve been so kind to accept a stray like me, I would never have known where to start with my training if you hadn’t been there to help. I owe you one, for sure!
She paused, continuing walking down the hall.
Chase Romano: Again, it’s very kind of you to offer to be at ringside with me tonight, but it’s just something I need to do on my own. I got myself into this mess, not only do I need to get myself out of it but I also need to make sure that nobody gets hurt.
Another pause.
Chase Romano:...yes that includes me!
She chuckles, and then listens as the person on the other line speaks. It’s more than likely either AMC or Ashley Sands, especially given recent events and the way things have gone down on twitter since last week.
Chase Romano: Okay, I’ll call one of you after the show and we’ll meet up for drinks around here somewhere, promise!
She giggled, taking the phone away from her ear and looking down at it as she walked. The shot began to widen, showing a man walking behind her. Not just any man. Wade Manson, walking behind her like some sort of Michael Meyers wannabe.
Wade Manson: I bet you’re real proud of yourself…
He said coldly. Although he wasn’t speaking loudly, the sudden realization that someone was near her, let alone following her, made her jump. She immediately halted her walk to the locker room, but her demeanor changed.
Chase: I -
Manson wasn’t in the mood for letting her speak, and he let her know. This was a completely different side than what Chase was used to seeing.
Wade Manson: FINE! Fine, Chase, fine. As I told you on Twitter, we’re going to see what happens tonight now that you haven’t had me to help you all week. You probably think you’re real smart, and you’re accomplishing something with this whole charade and circus display on twitter. How dare you drag my name through the mud like that. We’re going to find out tonight how well you fare when you’ve got to answer for your actions, Chase!
His words were cold but pointed, and that drove fear right into Chase’s heart. She didn’t say anything, though she wanted to. Wade just shook his head, before walking away down the hall. Chase stood there, grabbing her arm and looking at the floor. She desired the power to stand up for herself, to be something on her own. She shook her own head, but in a way that said she needed to shake off those bad thoughts. She couldn’t let him into her mind like that. That’s all it was, mind games. They had to be.
BACKSTAGE
Chris Sanderson stood backstage, near catering as he liked to hang out there to see what delicious bites came out. If anyone missed it, should he win the battle royale tonight, he has promised corn dogs to everyone in the crowd. The second-generation wrestler paces around and stops for a brief second.
"This match tonight, it's interesting, isn't it? A group of people thrown together in a battle royale, some of them having issues and others just attempting to find their footing to increase some momentum. It's interesting when you look at who is in the match and what some of them have accomplished during their careers. Former World Champions. Former various other champs. Everyone in this match tonight has their own story to tell and a different way to accomplish just that.
Sanderson takes a moment to sip a cup of water and look down at it.
"I haven't fared as well as I'd like here in Liberty Pro. We've seen my struggles so far and that... I just can't hit that final gear. And people are beginning to take advantage of it. We've seen someone fake an injury for an advantage. Well within their rights, but morally? A horrible act to pull on your opponent. Most of my career, people have kept telling me to keep at it. Stay the course. All this other stuff about being who you are."
He keeps his glance down at the water looking at his own reflection in it.
"Maybe I've just been preoccupied lately with the birth of my daughter. Maybe it's just been close to 10 years already and what do I really have to show for it? A few reigns with championships from companies that are long dead. Ice Dog? No one cared about that place. Sex & Violence Wrestling? A horribly ran company with nepotism running supreme. I've worked around the world. Held titles in Japan. Tag team champion with my half-brother. I've been in death matches and came out smiling. And yet none of it matters to anyone, does it?
A slight pause as his head hangs lower.
"It's funny how people can change over the years, but the past is still held against us. We reap what we sow. And I've been reaping it for the last three years. I've tried to show everyone how it's different. How I'm different. How my wrestling is different. I've dropped my father's name and none of it seems to matter to anyone. They still just see me as Chris Kane, the son of Brad Kane. The legendary ass kicker and womanizer. The man who set standards where he went. A man who was kicked out of Hell and doomed to roam the earth forever. That's the legacy I have to follow. As easy as it is to tell you I'm not chasing what was done before me, it's hard to not come back to it."
Again his head is kept low.
"Nearly 10 years of blood, sweat and tears given to this great sport and I'm stuck in this battle royale. If nothing else sums up these last 10 years so perfectly, I don't know what else could. I'm 26 years old and I have more experience than most people in their 30s in this sport. Yet continually, hard work and dedication is passed over for a flash in the pain piece of fucking shit rookie that flames out in a year and a half. 10 years of showing consistency doesn't mean as much as someone else doing stupid gimmicks on social media.
Everyone talks about hard work but who actually does it?
It's easy to get on Twitter and say you're a hard worker. Post a lil' selfie in the gym to show us you've been there and then go back to playing grab ass. What bullshit. People want me to see the real me? You're going to see the real me from now on. I'm tired of the constant disrespect that a 10 year veteran of this sport gets. Everyone who has put in the time and effort should just be as pissed off as I am. Tonight, if I win, free corn dogs for the fans and the start of showing every single person in this company what they want to see."
Sanderson puts the water down and walks close to the camera.
"The real me."
Cut.
Chris Sanderson stood backstage, near catering as he liked to hang out there to see what delicious bites came out. If anyone missed it, should he win the battle royale tonight, he has promised corn dogs to everyone in the crowd. The second-generation wrestler paces around and stops for a brief second.
"This match tonight, it's interesting, isn't it? A group of people thrown together in a battle royale, some of them having issues and others just attempting to find their footing to increase some momentum. It's interesting when you look at who is in the match and what some of them have accomplished during their careers. Former World Champions. Former various other champs. Everyone in this match tonight has their own story to tell and a different way to accomplish just that.
Sanderson takes a moment to sip a cup of water and look down at it.
"I haven't fared as well as I'd like here in Liberty Pro. We've seen my struggles so far and that... I just can't hit that final gear. And people are beginning to take advantage of it. We've seen someone fake an injury for an advantage. Well within their rights, but morally? A horrible act to pull on your opponent. Most of my career, people have kept telling me to keep at it. Stay the course. All this other stuff about being who you are."
He keeps his glance down at the water looking at his own reflection in it.
"Maybe I've just been preoccupied lately with the birth of my daughter. Maybe it's just been close to 10 years already and what do I really have to show for it? A few reigns with championships from companies that are long dead. Ice Dog? No one cared about that place. Sex & Violence Wrestling? A horribly ran company with nepotism running supreme. I've worked around the world. Held titles in Japan. Tag team champion with my half-brother. I've been in death matches and came out smiling. And yet none of it matters to anyone, does it?
A slight pause as his head hangs lower.
"It's funny how people can change over the years, but the past is still held against us. We reap what we sow. And I've been reaping it for the last three years. I've tried to show everyone how it's different. How I'm different. How my wrestling is different. I've dropped my father's name and none of it seems to matter to anyone. They still just see me as Chris Kane, the son of Brad Kane. The legendary ass kicker and womanizer. The man who set standards where he went. A man who was kicked out of Hell and doomed to roam the earth forever. That's the legacy I have to follow. As easy as it is to tell you I'm not chasing what was done before me, it's hard to not come back to it."
Again his head is kept low.
"Nearly 10 years of blood, sweat and tears given to this great sport and I'm stuck in this battle royale. If nothing else sums up these last 10 years so perfectly, I don't know what else could. I'm 26 years old and I have more experience than most people in their 30s in this sport. Yet continually, hard work and dedication is passed over for a flash in the pain piece of fucking shit rookie that flames out in a year and a half. 10 years of showing consistency doesn't mean as much as someone else doing stupid gimmicks on social media.
Everyone talks about hard work but who actually does it?
It's easy to get on Twitter and say you're a hard worker. Post a lil' selfie in the gym to show us you've been there and then go back to playing grab ass. What bullshit. People want me to see the real me? You're going to see the real me from now on. I'm tired of the constant disrespect that a 10 year veteran of this sport gets. Everyone who has put in the time and effort should just be as pissed off as I am. Tonight, if I win, free corn dogs for the fans and the start of showing every single person in this company what they want to see."
Sanderson puts the water down and walks close to the camera.
"The real me."
Cut.
MATCH ONE: SINGLES
Wade Manson vs Chase Romano
Wade Manson vs Chase Romano
| RECAP We can see in Chase Romano’s eyes just how nervous she is for this match, though she also has fire in her eyes. She wants and needs this win over Wade. Manson on the other hand has a smirk on his face, which just doesn’t sit right with anyone. The saga between these two has blown up completely, and Romano is feeling the pressure beyond a shadow of a doubt. As the bell rings, Chase starts circling around as if she’s about to go into a test of strength. Manson chuckles, he knows what she’s doing and the strategy Chase wishes to employ. After all, until recent events, it was Wade that was training Romano. Usually one to not show so much emotion from the get, Wade completely ignores that and rolls his eyes at Chase before obliging her. Naturally, the test of strength wasn’t going to hold long, as Manson quickly maneuvered out of it. He grabbed her front behind, slamming her to the canvas with a belly-to-back, but keeping pressure on her back. Now they’re both on the mat as he transitions to her legs, grabbing one into a single leg boston crab. Chase’s original expression is one of slight shock, with her being caught off guard by Wade’s speed. Next, her expression was changed to one of pain as she yelled out, reaching from the ropes. Wade sits there with the submission applied, and Chase unable to move. She’s trying to reach but she cant. Manson looks as smug as can be as he chooses to release. He remains smug, watching her struggle to get to her feet. Wade slowly walks around, waiting for the right time to grab her hand into a short-arm lariat that brings Chase back down to the canvas. Instead of leaving her there, Wade yanks her back to her feet by keeping hold of her hand, before bringing her back down with a fujiwara armbar. Again, Chase screams out in pain, trying with everything in her to get to the ropes, but Wade is obviously outclassing her. Chase is simply too green for the experience and aggression tactics by Manson. Still, she’s not going to give up, and that’s displayed as she struggles to get to the ropes. Wade, who has been hoping she’d tap, is becoming irritated though still smug overall. He applied more pressure and Romano screams even more, kicking her legs, but refuses to tap. Therefore, Wade releases her on his own choice again. Manson wastes little time in going back to her legs, transitioning into an ankle lock this time. For the third time, Chase tries to get to the ropes but to no avail. However, she battles up to one leg, still reeling in pain, before diving under herself. This forces Wade to release her ankle, and he stumbles forward, losing his balance and crashing to the canvas. In response, Romano quickly grabs his ankle and locks in an ankle lock of her own! The crowd cheers with glee as they see Wade’s own move flipped on him. He yells out in pain for a few moments, but is well aware of how to get out of such a move. He battles upwards in the same way, overpowering Chase, before turning into a spin kick right across Romano’s face. He’s not nearly as smug now as he acts fact, grabbing Chase as she’s kneeling, and applying a standing sleeper. You can see he applies it as hard as possible.But Chase has gained some self confidence, jumping up and back down, connecting Wade’s jaw with his head for a jawbreaker. He stumbles back, hitting the ropes but falls victim to a monkeyflip from Chase, who applies the Intermission (Dragon Sleeper) to Manson. The crowd is on their feet as the referee is checking to see Wade tap. After some time with the duo on the canvas, Manson reaches back and gives Chase a hard elbow. Again. Then again until she lets him go. They both get to their feet, Wade going for a right hand but Chase ducks! She steps up into a high knee across his face that gets him into the corner. She leaps to the second rope, placing Manson in a double-arm DDT position, and slamming him down after a tornado spin. She hooks his leg for a two count. As they get to their feet, Manson manages to headbutt her, drawing a vast array of boos from the Liberty crowd. He looks out to the crowd, shaking his head. He turns around and gets an uppercut right in the jaw. He clutches his face as Chase bounds off the ropes into a running leg lariat. She kips up and springboards off the ropes into a springboard moonsault. She hooks his leg again! But only another two count before Wade’s shoulder jolts up. There’s no smugness now as Chase tries to wear him down with strikes. He battles to his feet by blocking and covering his face. Then, he catches one of her high kicks, hoisting her leg onto his shoulder and hoisting her into a half-powerbomb looking position. Manson rushes forward into a modified buckle bomb that sees the back of Chase’s head bounce of the turnbuckle with a thud. The arena fills with boos as Wade yanks Chase’s legs over to the middle of the ring and lays across her for the pin. But she gets her shoulder up at the last second! Wade gets Chase to her feet, and she starts giving him right hands to his chest. One after another he eats it, getting more dazed by the moment until she kicks him in the midsection. Wade doubles over, which gives her a chance to hit the ropes, hoping for the Second Act (Martin-Knees). However, Wade knows what’s coming and scouts himself back, causing Chase’s knees to hit the canvas. He grabs her head, slamming her back down for the Full Frontal Lobotomy (Bus Driver). Wade flips her over for the three count and gets a crazy amount of boos from the in-house crowd. He brushes it off, sliding from the ring. As Chase begins to stir and starts getting to her feet, she looks defeated. The Liberty crowd begins to clap for her and then break out into cheers, applauding her effort. She looks grateful for them…but doesn’t see Wade enter back into the ring, slamming a chair over her head in the seated position with a sick thud! The crowd is horrified. He doesn’t stop there, positioning the chair underneath Chase’s head as she lies on the mat. From the corner he launches into his Decapitator Kick (Tornado Kick to the back of the head while opponent is getting up). The crowd boos and screams at him, but this time he stands in the middle of the ring, looking out blankly at the crowd. He doesn’t feel a thing for what he’s just done. The EMTs come from the back to assist Chase. WINNER Wade Manson METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 15:22 FINISHING MOVE Frontal Lobotomy |
BACKSTAGE
The scene opens with the Leader of The Lost Generation, Noah Ortega, staring hard into the camera.
Noah Ortega: Brooklyn, New York.. it's a been home to me, as long as I've been in the States... but still even then, I don't feel as if I belong. Just like any other place in this world, that's shunned me, ostracised me - pushed me to the curb... but still, there's something special about this place. There's a magic about New York, Brooklyn particularly, and it persists as long as you're here, it's almost never-ending... don't mistake that for weakness, I know what's real and what's not, what I'm saying is that whenever I'm in this place, I can somewhat relate to a lot of the people here, because a lot of the people are just like me. They're lost souls, aimlessly wandering, wanting to know what their purpose is, and who they really are... but for the most part, they don't get close to finding our who they are... they don't get close to finding the way their lives are supposed to have gone... and it's sickening, when you think about it, it's sad when you really think, what if? What if they found out? What if they knew their purpose and could take control of their situations before it was too late... for me, it wasn't too late... for me, my purpose, sprung on me when I least expected it, and since then, I've been on a path of redemption... I've been on a path, of The Lost...
He pauses, momentarily...
Noah Ortega: And the way of The Lost is the only way... and now, I introduce to your a brother in arms, in battle...
Alongside him stands The Mammoth Among Men, Anton Palmer, who looks coldly into the lens.
Noah Ortega: Anton Palmer, who just like me, embraced the way of The Lost by finding out who he truly is...
Ortega and Palmer fist bump one another as a warm embrace before Ortega refocuses his attention on the camera.
Noah Ortega: Palmer will follow the way of The Lost and together, we will make Liberty Pro Wrestling a better place.
Anton Palmer: The Way of The Lost, is the only way...
Noah Ortega: Already I can feel it. I haven't been here very long but this place, its stench, the people in it... it's suffocating, the hypocrisy, the irony, the insecurity... it plagues the locker rooms.
He pauses, shaking his head sideways in disapproval.
Noah Ortega: The walls are caving in... everyone is around you but you don't know who, or where you are... and all I can see is darkness.
He snaps his fingers, and the lights flicker in his surroundings.
Noah Ortega: Which way do you go? Who do you trust? What is happening to you?
He pauses once more, looking up to Anton Palmer who continues to coldly stare into the lens of the camera.
Noah Ortega: All those questions run through your mind, and some more for good measure. That's what plagues the minds of those involved in this battle royal tournament. They know that deep down, they're walking into an unknown entity, a battleground where anything and everything can happen. Battle Symphony, it's a sweet symphony that sings to me, one that I've become familiar with for all these years, for as long as I've known. It's all I've known. And now, I'm plunged into a royal with multiple other competitors vying, craving, yearning, wanting- the opportunity to truly make their mark here.
He clasps his hands together, rejoicing as a grin grows on his face.
Noah Ortega: People like Emily Carter, who persists on blaming me on her on failures when in actual fact, she's a lost soul who let her guard down and became distracted in our match... much like the other competitors in this Battle Royal, who are also lost souls aimlessly wandering, wanting to achieve and grip onto some hope of success but knowing that deep down, they won't be able to attain... not unless they embrace it all, embrace who they are and know, that they are, truly lost... maybe then, they'll be able to redeem themselves, just like I have.
He pauses once again, a smile etching onto his face.
Noah Ortega: I know that it'll be an uphill battle. I know that the hard work is only just beginning but I also know that eventually, Liberty Pro will be freed from its shackles, and it's only when this promotion embraces the way of The Lost... tonight, I will emerge the victor of this battle royal. Tonight, the way of The Lost, is revealed.
The scene cuts abruptly.
The scene opens with the Leader of The Lost Generation, Noah Ortega, staring hard into the camera.
Noah Ortega: Brooklyn, New York.. it's a been home to me, as long as I've been in the States... but still even then, I don't feel as if I belong. Just like any other place in this world, that's shunned me, ostracised me - pushed me to the curb... but still, there's something special about this place. There's a magic about New York, Brooklyn particularly, and it persists as long as you're here, it's almost never-ending... don't mistake that for weakness, I know what's real and what's not, what I'm saying is that whenever I'm in this place, I can somewhat relate to a lot of the people here, because a lot of the people are just like me. They're lost souls, aimlessly wandering, wanting to know what their purpose is, and who they really are... but for the most part, they don't get close to finding our who they are... they don't get close to finding the way their lives are supposed to have gone... and it's sickening, when you think about it, it's sad when you really think, what if? What if they found out? What if they knew their purpose and could take control of their situations before it was too late... for me, it wasn't too late... for me, my purpose, sprung on me when I least expected it, and since then, I've been on a path of redemption... I've been on a path, of The Lost...
He pauses, momentarily...
Noah Ortega: And the way of The Lost is the only way... and now, I introduce to your a brother in arms, in battle...
Alongside him stands The Mammoth Among Men, Anton Palmer, who looks coldly into the lens.
Noah Ortega: Anton Palmer, who just like me, embraced the way of The Lost by finding out who he truly is...
Ortega and Palmer fist bump one another as a warm embrace before Ortega refocuses his attention on the camera.
Noah Ortega: Palmer will follow the way of The Lost and together, we will make Liberty Pro Wrestling a better place.
Anton Palmer: The Way of The Lost, is the only way...
Noah Ortega: Already I can feel it. I haven't been here very long but this place, its stench, the people in it... it's suffocating, the hypocrisy, the irony, the insecurity... it plagues the locker rooms.
He pauses, shaking his head sideways in disapproval.
Noah Ortega: The walls are caving in... everyone is around you but you don't know who, or where you are... and all I can see is darkness.
He snaps his fingers, and the lights flicker in his surroundings.
Noah Ortega: Which way do you go? Who do you trust? What is happening to you?
He pauses once more, looking up to Anton Palmer who continues to coldly stare into the lens of the camera.
Noah Ortega: All those questions run through your mind, and some more for good measure. That's what plagues the minds of those involved in this battle royal tournament. They know that deep down, they're walking into an unknown entity, a battleground where anything and everything can happen. Battle Symphony, it's a sweet symphony that sings to me, one that I've become familiar with for all these years, for as long as I've known. It's all I've known. And now, I'm plunged into a royal with multiple other competitors vying, craving, yearning, wanting- the opportunity to truly make their mark here.
He clasps his hands together, rejoicing as a grin grows on his face.
Noah Ortega: People like Emily Carter, who persists on blaming me on her on failures when in actual fact, she's a lost soul who let her guard down and became distracted in our match... much like the other competitors in this Battle Royal, who are also lost souls aimlessly wandering, wanting to achieve and grip onto some hope of success but knowing that deep down, they won't be able to attain... not unless they embrace it all, embrace who they are and know, that they are, truly lost... maybe then, they'll be able to redeem themselves, just like I have.
He pauses once again, a smile etching onto his face.
Noah Ortega: I know that it'll be an uphill battle. I know that the hard work is only just beginning but I also know that eventually, Liberty Pro will be freed from its shackles, and it's only when this promotion embraces the way of The Lost... tonight, I will emerge the victor of this battle royal. Tonight, the way of The Lost, is revealed.
The scene cuts abruptly.
BACKSTAGE
The cameras cut backstage where Jack Graves can be seen taping up his hands for battle. The sound of “5 minutes alone” by Pantera is heard echoing off the walls of the otherwise empty room, and Jack looks laser-focused as he mentally prepares for the inevitable handicap match ahead of him. Intensity radiates from the pissed-off redneck, and it grows by the minute as the second hand on the clock continues to tick closer and closer to his showdown with Julian Savell and his Ex-friend Syn.
Suddenly, the door to the room opens slowly, and Jack bolts to his feet, ready to fight. His demeanor eases a bit when he sees Madi Smith instead of his nemesis, but not much. Madi’s body language broadcasts that she is clearly intimidated by the man in front of her, especially after he’d threatened her on social media. However, at the end of the day, Madi Smith was a professional and Jack Graves was a headliner. It was her job to be here, and she was the best at her job.
Graves didn’t budge as she got closer. Instead, he stood there stoically, expressionless, watching her every move closely just in case Julian was right behind her. He wasn’t though. She was there for business. Well, mostly. Her guilt over what had happened to Rayven had to have been a bit of the driving force that had brought her here. Either way, here she was, microphone in hand and fearless as ever in the face of the definition of danger.
Madi Smith: Jack… I just wanted to come by and talk to you before your match. I wanted to say sorry again for what happened to Rayven. She didn’t deserve that. She--
Jack doesn’t give her a chance to speak. He simply picks up his hat, and steps around her to walk out the door. Madi is left looking stunned at the sudden silence of Jack Graves, and she stares at the door as the scene fades.
The cameras cut backstage where Jack Graves can be seen taping up his hands for battle. The sound of “5 minutes alone” by Pantera is heard echoing off the walls of the otherwise empty room, and Jack looks laser-focused as he mentally prepares for the inevitable handicap match ahead of him. Intensity radiates from the pissed-off redneck, and it grows by the minute as the second hand on the clock continues to tick closer and closer to his showdown with Julian Savell and his Ex-friend Syn.
Suddenly, the door to the room opens slowly, and Jack bolts to his feet, ready to fight. His demeanor eases a bit when he sees Madi Smith instead of his nemesis, but not much. Madi’s body language broadcasts that she is clearly intimidated by the man in front of her, especially after he’d threatened her on social media. However, at the end of the day, Madi Smith was a professional and Jack Graves was a headliner. It was her job to be here, and she was the best at her job.
Graves didn’t budge as she got closer. Instead, he stood there stoically, expressionless, watching her every move closely just in case Julian was right behind her. He wasn’t though. She was there for business. Well, mostly. Her guilt over what had happened to Rayven had to have been a bit of the driving force that had brought her here. Either way, here she was, microphone in hand and fearless as ever in the face of the definition of danger.
Madi Smith: Jack… I just wanted to come by and talk to you before your match. I wanted to say sorry again for what happened to Rayven. She didn’t deserve that. She--
Jack doesn’t give her a chance to speak. He simply picks up his hat, and steps around her to walk out the door. Madi is left looking stunned at the sudden silence of Jack Graves, and she stares at the door as the scene fades.
BACKSTAGE
Avery Smith glides into shot hand-in-hand with her wife, Quinn. The two have the biggest of grins on their faces, all loved-up since tying the knot. They practically skip down the corridor as they make their way towards catering.
"Aww! Look at you two!"
They stop. A familiar voice. Their facial expressions change to that of excitement as they turn around to greet their sister, Jessica Anderson. Anderson, with her Freedom Tag Team Championship draped over her shoulder, is already dressed and ready to defend the titles.
JESSICA ANDERSON: It's lovely seeing you two together. We're usually on separate shows!
AVERY SMITH: We are. But you and Carli have been killing it over at Freedom. I'm so proud of you both.
Jessica and Avery share a sisterly hug as Quinn stands around awkwardly - at least until Jess and Avery drag her into it in unison. They maintain it for at least twenty seconds, probably closer to half a minute.
JESSICA ANDERSON: We have been, and we will continue to kill it tonight as we prove that even a Pride is no match for B².
QUINN: I love watching you and Carli compete. Other than Avery, you're my favorite wrestlers. I'm super excited to watch you both kick some serious butt!
AVERY SMITH: It's true. She's always watching B² matches with the boys. Those two definitely prefer your matches to mine!
The three ladies share a laugh as they continue to engage in their chitchat. It's Jessica who gets the conversation advancing again.
JESSICA ANDERSON: What about you, though? I know that things haven't been going your way recently. You haven't picked up a win in a while. Is everything okay?
AVERY SMITH: Yeah, everything is great. Obviously losing this often sucks, but I have a feeling that things are going to start looking up for me from now on. I'm going to have my rock with me at every show, which gives me that extra layer of support and confidence.
Quinn smiles at Avery lovingly, placing her hands over her heart.
AVERY SMITH: And tonight I'll need as much of it as I can get. This battle royal contains some of the best in the business and some of the brightest upcoming talents. I can't allow myself to get dragged down into Obscurity Avenue. I'll be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up that building. Whatever it takes to rediscover the Avery Smith that is synonymous with Liberty Pro Wrestling. I've got to fight for the spotlight. It's the story of my life. I take her home.
Avery suddenly bursts into song as she proceeds to dance her way down the corridor. Jessica and Quinn shrug their shoulders at each other with a chuckle, before parting ways with a hug.
Avery Smith glides into shot hand-in-hand with her wife, Quinn. The two have the biggest of grins on their faces, all loved-up since tying the knot. They practically skip down the corridor as they make their way towards catering.
"Aww! Look at you two!"
They stop. A familiar voice. Their facial expressions change to that of excitement as they turn around to greet their sister, Jessica Anderson. Anderson, with her Freedom Tag Team Championship draped over her shoulder, is already dressed and ready to defend the titles.
JESSICA ANDERSON: It's lovely seeing you two together. We're usually on separate shows!
AVERY SMITH: We are. But you and Carli have been killing it over at Freedom. I'm so proud of you both.
Jessica and Avery share a sisterly hug as Quinn stands around awkwardly - at least until Jess and Avery drag her into it in unison. They maintain it for at least twenty seconds, probably closer to half a minute.
JESSICA ANDERSON: We have been, and we will continue to kill it tonight as we prove that even a Pride is no match for B².
QUINN: I love watching you and Carli compete. Other than Avery, you're my favorite wrestlers. I'm super excited to watch you both kick some serious butt!
AVERY SMITH: It's true. She's always watching B² matches with the boys. Those two definitely prefer your matches to mine!
The three ladies share a laugh as they continue to engage in their chitchat. It's Jessica who gets the conversation advancing again.
JESSICA ANDERSON: What about you, though? I know that things haven't been going your way recently. You haven't picked up a win in a while. Is everything okay?
AVERY SMITH: Yeah, everything is great. Obviously losing this often sucks, but I have a feeling that things are going to start looking up for me from now on. I'm going to have my rock with me at every show, which gives me that extra layer of support and confidence.
Quinn smiles at Avery lovingly, placing her hands over her heart.
AVERY SMITH: And tonight I'll need as much of it as I can get. This battle royal contains some of the best in the business and some of the brightest upcoming talents. I can't allow myself to get dragged down into Obscurity Avenue. I'll be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up that building. Whatever it takes to rediscover the Avery Smith that is synonymous with Liberty Pro Wrestling. I've got to fight for the spotlight. It's the story of my life. I take her home.
Avery suddenly bursts into song as she proceeds to dance her way down the corridor. Jessica and Quinn shrug their shoulders at each other with a chuckle, before parting ways with a hug.
MATCH TWO: SINGLES
Scotty Latimer vs Kenzie
Scotty Latimer vs Kenzie
| RECAP The bell sounds through the warehouse and Scotty immediately rushes Kenzie with an array of right hands, backing her up into the corner, showing just how heated things have gotten between the two. After delivering a barrage of right and left hands, Scotty steps back, looking to rush forward with a splash on Kenzie. Unfortunately for him, she uses the ropes to her side to slip through the ropes and onto the apron. This causes Scotty to collide with the turnbuckle. He stumbles out of the corner, and Kenzie uses the ropes once again, but this time to nail a slingshot bulldog. Scotty is able to kip up almost right after Kenzie despite eating the blow, only to take a rolling wheel kick to the face. Kenzie is on the move, giving a little taunt to the crowd before hitting a standing moonsault pin. Latimer kicks out after one. It’s becoming increasingly obvious the sort of spectacle wrestling the two are performing, which is further shown as Latimer fights off Kenzie. He actually runs away from her for a second, causing her to chase him. However, he runs up the turnbuckle, leaping at the second rope into a second rope armdrag takedown! The crowd cheers with delight as Scotty spins and takes Kenzie down to the canvas. She tries to roll through, getting up on her feet and eats a front dropkick from Latimer. As they are getting to their feet, Scotty goes for a kick and it’s blocked. Instead, Kenzie lands her own kick to Scotty’s gut and puts him into a piledriver position. She launches into a flip piledriver but it’s reversed! Instead, Latimer drops her into a modified dudebuster by not letting her complete the rotation. The maneuver knocks the wind out of Kenzie, and causes her to roll from the ring. She gets onto her feet as the referee starts to count slowly. She looks like she’s about ready to get back into the ring, but it’s not her choice. Scotty flies through the air with a corkscrew plancha to the outside that puts them both on the floor! The referee continues to count as the two struggle to get to their feet. Naturally, Scotty is the first on his feet who tries to grab hold of Kenzie. She battles back, slapping his hand away and giving him a hard forearm followed by pushing him into the nearby announce table. Latimer suffers a momentary pain by being pushed into the table, but it gives Kenzie time to rush up onto the apron. Scotty follows her, that is until she leaps off into a closeline from the apron! Latimer’s head bounces off the ground. Now, with barely any time to spare, Kenzie is forced to help Scotty up and roll him into the ring before the count out. She climbs to the top of the turnbuckle, soaring off in a majestic legdrop. She hooks the leg for a two count. The twosome get to their feet, with Kenzie giving Latimer a backhand chop across the chest. It echoes through the arena. Scotty takes it, before coming back full force with a backhand chop of his own across Kenzie’s chest. She feels it a little more, stumbling across the ring but turning back to Scotty all the same. This time she gives Scotty a kick to the gut, before whipping him across the ring. Latimer reverses it! Instead, he sends Kenzie across the ring. She bounds back and Latimer ducks! The plan may have been to send Kenzie up and over, but instead she leaps over Scotty, landing on the other side of him. She reaches up, planting him with a reverse DDT. She waits for Scotty to get to his feet, leaping into a backflip headscissors takedown followed quickly by a basement dropkick that sees Latimer reel. Kenzie is feeling mighty proud of herself right about now, being in full control of the match as of right now. She grabs hold of the rope, leaping backwards into a springboard maneuver as Scotty is getting up. It’s her hope to catch Latimer off guard but he sees it coming! He catches her in a backdrop position, before he almost jumps up and slams her back down with a backdrop. He manages to hold onto her waist, getting Kenzie to her feet for a second backdrop before releasing her! Scotty hops up to the second rope in time to jump into a flying slingblade to bring Kenzie back to the canvas. He thinks about trying for a pin but decides against it for now. Instead, he hits her with a rocking elbow, spinning into a second one, spinning into a third one. He pauses to taunt the crowd for a moment, before jumping into a final jumping elbow drop. But Kenzie moves! This causes Scotty’s elbow to hit the canvas, and more than likely he hit his funny bone and was feeling the sensation all the way up through his arm. He holds his elbow, crawling, trying to get to his feet, but Kenzie is stalking him. She sizes him up, and everyone knows what’s coming. She goes for her Photo Kick(540 Tornado Kick)... But she stops. Kenzie stops in her tracks because up on the apron is Ricky Rodriguez, yelling to her. She was so focused on Latimer that she didn’t see Ricky make his way out from the back and stand at ringside. But now he was going on step further and distracting her. He yells something to her that she obviously takes offense to, but isn’t picked up from the camera. She takes the distraction, instead of slicing Scotty with her kick, she knocks Ricky off the apron with it! He crashes to the ground below. Kenzie gets to her feet, looking as pleased as ever. That is, until Scotty has grabbed her from behind and she falls victim to the Final Wave (Blade Runner). After which, Scotty is able to hook her leg for a three count. WINNER Scotty Latimer METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 16:11 FINISHING MOVE Final Wave |
BACKSTAGE
The cameras transition to the back. Battle Symphony two is in full effect, and so far the crowd has been completely electrifying the entire night. They can still be heard, even as the production crew shifts backstage - they pop a bit louder, seeing the LPW Noir Championship challenger prepare for war. Tamsin is fitting her knee pads as she looks up into the center frame.
Tamsin: Tonight’s the big night back, the real night back.
Her face is incapable of hiding a bright smile, she finished up with her pad, now running her fingers the length of her boot straps - tightening them snugly.
Tamsin: I’ve been waiting on this very moment, ya see when I left it was like Lib Pro lost a huge chip off of its shoulder. I stalked the halls of this place, dick first because I owned it. No one had any kinda words for this place until I defined it.
She pauses for a moment, letting it all come back to her. There was a special way she carried herself for big shows and big matches. If there was anything to gauge from her “feeling out” of the Noir Champion Emery, it would be the absolute fireworks sparking from running the bout back.
Tamsin: The moment I cashed that briefcase in, Lib Pro has been the land of opportunity. You wanna be a name here in New York? All it took was seizing the moment for yerself. I made that splash, and the rest of ya flowed off of the ripples I set for ya. And it's fine.
Another brief pause as she closes her eyes shut, a deep calming breath drawn in followed.
Tamsin: It’s more than fine, it’s exactly what I wanted this place to reflect. A reflection of ME. Because I’ve always carried myself with the utmost pride and competitive standard that a leader and a champion should have… Title on my waist or on the line - it never fucking mattered to me. Because without a shadow of a doubt you could never say that I didn’t put EVERY OUNCE of ME into any match I found myself in-
Everytime I laced up for you all, I wrestled like it was my last match on this Earth. Every time that bell rung, I showed you a compeitior that would rather have their heart fail and DIE in this fucking ring rather than letting anyone best them. I gave you best hits, I gave you instant classics, I gave you the best damn wrestling you’ll ever see under the LPW banner.
That eager smile fades as she spilled on.
Tamsin: But despite everything I sacrificed, it wasn’t enough. I wrestled myself into the ground, and to show for all of my sweat and toil, you all moved on. You all moved on and accepted lesser than…
You crowned champions more focused on their socials and selfies. You found heroes that can’t comprehend the concept of hustle. You forgot everything that I showed you, down to the point where we have champions who make big deals about putting their tertiary titles on the line every bout… NEWSFLASH EMERY you’re not special for it, I did it before you and on a much bigger scale putting that Liberty Championship on the line every time I suited up for war. It’s not the statement you think it is Em, and it’s not that impressive… Because when time inevitably runs its course… Few will remember and I guarantee that no one will care.
She scoffs for a second as she folds her arms tightly across her chest.
Tamsin: No one will care because it means shite next to nothing Em. Because ultimately they know that you’ve already lost. These people here may have forgotten, but it doesn’t take much to remind everyone of what I bring to the table in MY city.
They all know that deep down inside, this is a war you cannot win. Because regardless of wha’ happens Em… I am undeniable.
You think holding me down against a mat for three sec’ns makes you better than me? I doesn’t. Or-or how ‘bout twisting my joints to point where the pain is searing and I tap out?
She’s chuckling at this point.
Tamsin: Em you and every other poor sod in this company lost the very second I signed my Jane Hancock on the dotted line again… Because these people know that no matter how far something appears for me - NOTHING is ever out of MY reach. Because I won’t stop… A three count wont stop me, a submission won’t stop me… Because in the end my message will ring loud and clear for you and every other motherfucker who has the misfortune of sharing this company with me.
Throw yourself into the sea, the ocean gives up her dead… Emery, you won’t get a better offer from me.
The cameras transition to the back. Battle Symphony two is in full effect, and so far the crowd has been completely electrifying the entire night. They can still be heard, even as the production crew shifts backstage - they pop a bit louder, seeing the LPW Noir Championship challenger prepare for war. Tamsin is fitting her knee pads as she looks up into the center frame.
Tamsin: Tonight’s the big night back, the real night back.
Her face is incapable of hiding a bright smile, she finished up with her pad, now running her fingers the length of her boot straps - tightening them snugly.
Tamsin: I’ve been waiting on this very moment, ya see when I left it was like Lib Pro lost a huge chip off of its shoulder. I stalked the halls of this place, dick first because I owned it. No one had any kinda words for this place until I defined it.
She pauses for a moment, letting it all come back to her. There was a special way she carried herself for big shows and big matches. If there was anything to gauge from her “feeling out” of the Noir Champion Emery, it would be the absolute fireworks sparking from running the bout back.
Tamsin: The moment I cashed that briefcase in, Lib Pro has been the land of opportunity. You wanna be a name here in New York? All it took was seizing the moment for yerself. I made that splash, and the rest of ya flowed off of the ripples I set for ya. And it's fine.
Another brief pause as she closes her eyes shut, a deep calming breath drawn in followed.
Tamsin: It’s more than fine, it’s exactly what I wanted this place to reflect. A reflection of ME. Because I’ve always carried myself with the utmost pride and competitive standard that a leader and a champion should have… Title on my waist or on the line - it never fucking mattered to me. Because without a shadow of a doubt you could never say that I didn’t put EVERY OUNCE of ME into any match I found myself in-
Everytime I laced up for you all, I wrestled like it was my last match on this Earth. Every time that bell rung, I showed you a compeitior that would rather have their heart fail and DIE in this fucking ring rather than letting anyone best them. I gave you best hits, I gave you instant classics, I gave you the best damn wrestling you’ll ever see under the LPW banner.
That eager smile fades as she spilled on.
Tamsin: But despite everything I sacrificed, it wasn’t enough. I wrestled myself into the ground, and to show for all of my sweat and toil, you all moved on. You all moved on and accepted lesser than…
You crowned champions more focused on their socials and selfies. You found heroes that can’t comprehend the concept of hustle. You forgot everything that I showed you, down to the point where we have champions who make big deals about putting their tertiary titles on the line every bout… NEWSFLASH EMERY you’re not special for it, I did it before you and on a much bigger scale putting that Liberty Championship on the line every time I suited up for war. It’s not the statement you think it is Em, and it’s not that impressive… Because when time inevitably runs its course… Few will remember and I guarantee that no one will care.
She scoffs for a second as she folds her arms tightly across her chest.
Tamsin: No one will care because it means shite next to nothing Em. Because ultimately they know that you’ve already lost. These people here may have forgotten, but it doesn’t take much to remind everyone of what I bring to the table in MY city.
They all know that deep down inside, this is a war you cannot win. Because regardless of wha’ happens Em… I am undeniable.
You think holding me down against a mat for three sec’ns makes you better than me? I doesn’t. Or-or how ‘bout twisting my joints to point where the pain is searing and I tap out?
She’s chuckling at this point.
Tamsin: Em you and every other poor sod in this company lost the very second I signed my Jane Hancock on the dotted line again… Because these people know that no matter how far something appears for me - NOTHING is ever out of MY reach. Because I won’t stop… A three count wont stop me, a submission won’t stop me… Because in the end my message will ring loud and clear for you and every other motherfucker who has the misfortune of sharing this company with me.
Throw yourself into the sea, the ocean gives up her dead… Emery, you won’t get a better offer from me.
BACKSTAGE
CARLI DAVIS: Two huge men who think they’re very intimidating.
Carli crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head.
CARLI DAVIS: That’s exactly who The Pride think they are. Do they have a size advantage? Of course. But I’m pretty sure B² that size doesn’t matter. We’ve been in the ring before and we’ve handed them their butts twice!
She huffs, a little annoyed as she thinks about the last Freedom show.
CARLI DAVIS: I guess something sparked a flame in them, because The Pride decided to get involved in our match last week and cost us a win. I’m not really a fan of run-ins…and being thrown into the barricade was not fun! But they always say what goes around, comes around and The Pride will get what’s theirs tonight and spoiler alert it isn’t the Freedom Tag Team Championships.
She pats the Championship that’s placed across her waist.
CARLI DAVIS: It’s a super huge butt kicking is what they’re getting! B² is in super fight mode now and honestly, they don’t scare us. We’ve proven that already, just check our previous matches with them. They caught is off guard and it won’t happen again. They’ve been too quiet and now they have something to say? Well, too bad so sad. We aren’t letting these bad boys go. Nope. 3 belt bubz FOREVER AND EVER!
CARLI DAVIS: Two huge men who think they’re very intimidating.
Carli crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head.
CARLI DAVIS: That’s exactly who The Pride think they are. Do they have a size advantage? Of course. But I’m pretty sure B² that size doesn’t matter. We’ve been in the ring before and we’ve handed them their butts twice!
She huffs, a little annoyed as she thinks about the last Freedom show.
CARLI DAVIS: I guess something sparked a flame in them, because The Pride decided to get involved in our match last week and cost us a win. I’m not really a fan of run-ins…and being thrown into the barricade was not fun! But they always say what goes around, comes around and The Pride will get what’s theirs tonight and spoiler alert it isn’t the Freedom Tag Team Championships.
She pats the Championship that’s placed across her waist.
CARLI DAVIS: It’s a super huge butt kicking is what they’re getting! B² is in super fight mode now and honestly, they don’t scare us. We’ve proven that already, just check our previous matches with them. They caught is off guard and it won’t happen again. They’ve been too quiet and now they have something to say? Well, too bad so sad. We aren’t letting these bad boys go. Nope. 3 belt bubz FOREVER AND EVER!
BACKSTAGE
We see Brea seated in her basement back in Aurora, as "Caught in A Mosh" by Anthrax was playing in the background. Brea would give off a brief Billy Idol like sneer to the camera, before speaking to it, regarding the Battle Symphony, as she spoke about the upcoming fight.
Brea Lombardi: "Hey! It's your girl, the Mistress of the Metal Mulisha, Brea Lombardi! And coming up, I've got a shitload of people who wanna bang heads with me in the Battle Symphony Battle Royale!"
She shouted, pointing to herself with her thumb, and flexing her muscles briefly.
Brea Lombardi: "I've had my experience in a hell of a lot of mosh pits, and it's not too far off from a battle royale when you really think about it. Being put in the ring with a bunch of people that want to kick your ass, and an overall battle for dominance. So if any of these hot sluts think they have the guts, come bang heads with me! I'll show you what it's like, til you're bleeding!"
She said with a smirk, before the screen would flicker, before going to the next section of the show.
We see Brea seated in her basement back in Aurora, as "Caught in A Mosh" by Anthrax was playing in the background. Brea would give off a brief Billy Idol like sneer to the camera, before speaking to it, regarding the Battle Symphony, as she spoke about the upcoming fight.
Brea Lombardi: "Hey! It's your girl, the Mistress of the Metal Mulisha, Brea Lombardi! And coming up, I've got a shitload of people who wanna bang heads with me in the Battle Symphony Battle Royale!"
She shouted, pointing to herself with her thumb, and flexing her muscles briefly.
Brea Lombardi: "I've had my experience in a hell of a lot of mosh pits, and it's not too far off from a battle royale when you really think about it. Being put in the ring with a bunch of people that want to kick your ass, and an overall battle for dominance. So if any of these hot sluts think they have the guts, come bang heads with me! I'll show you what it's like, til you're bleeding!"
She said with a smirk, before the screen would flicker, before going to the next section of the show.
MATCH THREE: FREEDOM TAG CHAMPIONSHIPS
B²© vs The Pride
B²© vs The Pride
| RECAP -The Pride went through the other Freedom Tag Teams to get to this place and now? They have their shot against B². But B² is quite an accomplished tag team as well, so each team has their work cut out for them. -The first portion of the match is dominated by The Pride, as their size is just too much for B². And to be honest? It looked like it was going to be a quick squash match when Chase and JD hit Welcome To The Pride (Chase lifts the the opponent from their front and drops back when JD hits the ropes and comes back and nails the person in the side of the head with the perfect single leg drop kick) on Jessica Anderson! - Chase pinned but Carli Davis broke up the pinfall! JD came in and he startled to battle with Carli before he went for a clothesline but she ducked it and hit a spinning heel kick, followed by a missile dropkick! -This gave Jessica some time to recover as Carli was ordered back to her corner. Chase grabbed Jessica but she countered with a Pele kick! She then dove and tagged in Davis! Davis ran in and took JD out of his corner before she hit a single leg dropkick to Chase’s head! - Jessica and Carli then hit "Be There" - Stunned Silence into 702 on Chase! Carli pinned and picked up the three count as Jessica held JD off! They win! B² retains! WINNER B² METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 10:32 FINISHING MOVE Be There |
BACKSTAGE
Battle Symphony continues as we come upon Emily Carter. The Liberty Pro newcomer is walking the halls of Barclays Center before coming to a stop and leaning against one of the metal crates.
Emily Carter: Oh hi, babes! Emily Carter here and I'm super pumped to be here tonight at Battle Symphony! You know, it wasn't that long ago when I made my Liberty debut at a supershow. Tonight, though, I'm making my supershow in-ring debut. But it's not just any match, babes. It's a Battle Symphony Royale!
Emily rubs her hands in anticipation.
Emily Carter: I look around and I see all these big names. There's Chris Sanderson, who I've been in the ring with over in Valiant. He's definitely no slouch. There's my girl Miki, who I'm looking forward to finally getting in the ring with. Then there's a talent like Melissa Reeves, who could very well win this whole thing. There isn't enough time for me to go down the line and give each competitor the proper focus that they deserve. So let me focus on you, Noah Ortega.
Emily warm demeanor changes as soon as she turns her attention to the leader of The Lost. There's the slightest hint of disdain in her voice when she mentions his name.
Emily Carter: You know, Noah. I heard what you had to say recently. What was it again?
She starts to snap her fingers until she jogs her memory.
Emily Carter: It was something to the effect of how I was a lost soul... I wasn't focused... BUT, with your help and with the help of The Lost, I can find my way. It's interesting that you mention this Noah because at one point in time, I was lost.
Emily nods before continuing.
Emily Carter: About a year and a half, two years ago, I was lost. I was hurting. I was angry. I was sad. Things weren't great for me personally or professionally. My career had stalled. I didn't really know if or when it would continue. But like I said Noah, that was nearly two years ago and let me tell you, I'm found now. I found myself again. I found friends that believe in me and have stuck by me. On the career side of things, I found my passion for wrestling again. I found my place in this business again. After competing in Valiant for all of last year, I've now found myself here in Liberty!
Emily Carter: Noah, you might think you're giving these people a helping hand. You might think you're pulling these people up. You might even think that you're showing them the way and saving them. But as far as you and I are concerned, thanks... but no thanks. There might be others that are buying what you're selling. But me? I'm just not interested. Despite what you may think, I'm not lost. I know the way. In fact, I know the way to winning this Battle Symphony Royale: it's by going through every single person in the match, especially you.
Battle Symphony continues as we come upon Emily Carter. The Liberty Pro newcomer is walking the halls of Barclays Center before coming to a stop and leaning against one of the metal crates.
Emily Carter: Oh hi, babes! Emily Carter here and I'm super pumped to be here tonight at Battle Symphony! You know, it wasn't that long ago when I made my Liberty debut at a supershow. Tonight, though, I'm making my supershow in-ring debut. But it's not just any match, babes. It's a Battle Symphony Royale!
Emily rubs her hands in anticipation.
Emily Carter: I look around and I see all these big names. There's Chris Sanderson, who I've been in the ring with over in Valiant. He's definitely no slouch. There's my girl Miki, who I'm looking forward to finally getting in the ring with. Then there's a talent like Melissa Reeves, who could very well win this whole thing. There isn't enough time for me to go down the line and give each competitor the proper focus that they deserve. So let me focus on you, Noah Ortega.
Emily warm demeanor changes as soon as she turns her attention to the leader of The Lost. There's the slightest hint of disdain in her voice when she mentions his name.
Emily Carter: You know, Noah. I heard what you had to say recently. What was it again?
She starts to snap her fingers until she jogs her memory.
Emily Carter: It was something to the effect of how I was a lost soul... I wasn't focused... BUT, with your help and with the help of The Lost, I can find my way. It's interesting that you mention this Noah because at one point in time, I was lost.
Emily nods before continuing.
Emily Carter: About a year and a half, two years ago, I was lost. I was hurting. I was angry. I was sad. Things weren't great for me personally or professionally. My career had stalled. I didn't really know if or when it would continue. But like I said Noah, that was nearly two years ago and let me tell you, I'm found now. I found myself again. I found friends that believe in me and have stuck by me. On the career side of things, I found my passion for wrestling again. I found my place in this business again. After competing in Valiant for all of last year, I've now found myself here in Liberty!
Emily Carter: Noah, you might think you're giving these people a helping hand. You might think you're pulling these people up. You might even think that you're showing them the way and saving them. But as far as you and I are concerned, thanks... but no thanks. There might be others that are buying what you're selling. But me? I'm just not interested. Despite what you may think, I'm not lost. I know the way. In fact, I know the way to winning this Battle Symphony Royale: it's by going through every single person in the match, especially you.
BACKSTAGE
“Today it’s the dawn of a new era, for me and for this title. And what better way to kick it off than making a break cut with the past, starting with a former contender and former champion like Avery Smith?” Confident, some might even say arrogant, Nina smiled at the camera. “Operation: Redefine Anarchy starts tonight.”
Click.
The screen on which Nina’s first promo after winning the Anarchy title turned off. The camera shifted to show the Viper sitting on a chair in front of the TV, remote in her right hand and the Anarchy Title resting on her shoulder. The footage from a few weeks ago left a bitter smile on her face.
Nina: “Well, I guess we can say the mission failed.”
She said with a sigh, clearly disappointed with the turn things had taken in recent times.
Nina: “I wanted to Make Anarchy Great Again, and look at this.. The title I wanted to elevate can’t even get featured on the PPV. The champion, tossed into a battle royale that, as filled with talents as it is, sounds like a consolation prize, a way to get him a paycheck in absence of better options.”
The Anarchy champion shook her head, looking at the title on her shoulder.
Nina: “Not gonna lie, I was expecting Dylan to want to get this back, but he chose to attend Becky’s pity party and chase tag gold with Rowen. And I get it, I really do… Why would he give a fuck about a title the management doesn’t care enough to put on the line anymore?”
Pause.
Nina: “I mean, I get that maybe, part of this is my fault. Maybe I ain’t that big of a draw as some of my peers, and perhaps I’ve been slacking a bit on the promotion aspect. But it ain’t easy, at least for me. It ain’t easy to put on a smiling face and do the best interests of people who don’t seem to have our best interests in mind. This power struggle, the backroom deals, the weekly screw ups and screw overs, this constant playing three-dimensional chess on our backs…Not gonna lie, the thought of saying fuck it all crossed my mind a few times.”
Finally standing up from her seat, she patted the title belt.
Nina: “But here I am, like a good little soldier answering the call of duty and heading into the war the powers that be designed for me, wearing a medal whose valor has since long been forgotten or worse, ignored.”
Another pause, this one longer. Through all that time, she kept her eyes on the Anarchy championship.
Nina: “I still want to do you right, I still want to give you the spotlight you deserve. I just need to find a way...”
And with this promise made to the Anarchy championship, the camera cut to the next segment.
“Today it’s the dawn of a new era, for me and for this title. And what better way to kick it off than making a break cut with the past, starting with a former contender and former champion like Avery Smith?” Confident, some might even say arrogant, Nina smiled at the camera. “Operation: Redefine Anarchy starts tonight.”
Click.
The screen on which Nina’s first promo after winning the Anarchy title turned off. The camera shifted to show the Viper sitting on a chair in front of the TV, remote in her right hand and the Anarchy Title resting on her shoulder. The footage from a few weeks ago left a bitter smile on her face.
Nina: “Well, I guess we can say the mission failed.”
She said with a sigh, clearly disappointed with the turn things had taken in recent times.
Nina: “I wanted to Make Anarchy Great Again, and look at this.. The title I wanted to elevate can’t even get featured on the PPV. The champion, tossed into a battle royale that, as filled with talents as it is, sounds like a consolation prize, a way to get him a paycheck in absence of better options.”
The Anarchy champion shook her head, looking at the title on her shoulder.
Nina: “Not gonna lie, I was expecting Dylan to want to get this back, but he chose to attend Becky’s pity party and chase tag gold with Rowen. And I get it, I really do… Why would he give a fuck about a title the management doesn’t care enough to put on the line anymore?”
Pause.
Nina: “I mean, I get that maybe, part of this is my fault. Maybe I ain’t that big of a draw as some of my peers, and perhaps I’ve been slacking a bit on the promotion aspect. But it ain’t easy, at least for me. It ain’t easy to put on a smiling face and do the best interests of people who don’t seem to have our best interests in mind. This power struggle, the backroom deals, the weekly screw ups and screw overs, this constant playing three-dimensional chess on our backs…Not gonna lie, the thought of saying fuck it all crossed my mind a few times.”
Finally standing up from her seat, she patted the title belt.
Nina: “But here I am, like a good little soldier answering the call of duty and heading into the war the powers that be designed for me, wearing a medal whose valor has since long been forgotten or worse, ignored.”
Another pause, this one longer. Through all that time, she kept her eyes on the Anarchy championship.
Nina: “I still want to do you right, I still want to give you the spotlight you deserve. I just need to find a way...”
And with this promise made to the Anarchy championship, the camera cut to the next segment.
MATCH FOUR: NOIR CHAMPIONSHIP
Emery Layton© vs Tamsin
Emery Layton© vs Tamsin
| RECAP This match up as per request has been changed into a death match. The announcement of this prompts the crowd to go crazy, as for our competitors they for go any kind pageantry as they both just rush forward to clash in the center of the ring with a series of punches. The match goes on in a back and forth affair, there’s no technical acumen on display here and no signs of ring work wizardry, this is just a plain out and out fight. The first big spot of the night comes with the involvement of chairs. After Tamsin is spiked face first into the steel with a DDT. Its not enough to pin the former Liberty champion, but it does bust her wide open. The match traveled outside of the ring, with Emery and Tamsin trading chops all around the fan barricade. However it’s Tamsin that fires back with some heavy offense of her own, suplexing Emery into and through the barricade! The fans are wild as the fight spills all over the arena, heading up the stands. Next comes a very dangerous spot, as a running rana from Emery sent Tamsin toppling and rolling down wildly from near concourse level. As she hits the bottom we see a few LPW officials there to check on her. While the medical officials are verifying that Tamsin hasn’t broken her neck, we get a close in shot of Emery smashing down a fans beer, giving them a moment they’ll never forget. The match transitioned back into the ring. A few unprotected chair shots later and Emery is pinning Tamsin once more. With some gas in the tank, Tamsin manages to kick out, wiping the smile off of Emerys face. The next phase of the match is slowed. Emery is looking for that big move to put Tamsin away. Emery managed to get a ladder involved in the match, precariously placing it at the bottom rungs around Tamsins neck. Emery then hit the turnbuckle climbing it quickly and measuring herself. Everyone is looking nervous here as Emery took off in flight, heading down towards Tamsin - who managed to roll away at the last second! Layton goes crashing awkwardly into the unforgiving steel, and now Tamsin started to smell blood in the water. Tamsin quickly rushed towards Emery, peeling her off of the ladder and in one fell motion, positioned and landed a brutal looking exploder suplex on to the ladder! No pin as she quickly picks Layton back up for a Fameasser across the ladder! There’s a bit of hesitation but Tamsin finds the energy to make the cover! But no, only a close count at two! The bout is somewhat grinds to a clog. With Tamsin in control of the match, she’s using that ladder and some nifty new holds (probably Tapps modules) also creatively utilizing the rungs on the ladder to twist and bend Emerys arms and legs in uncomfortable ways. The match progressed with Tamsin now in a position to put this match away and claim the Noir championship for herself. There’s a slow but deliberate set up in the corner. Tamsin has Emery trapped in front of an exposed turnbuckle and a steel chair wedged through the ropes. With a charge, Tamsin lowered her head for a violent corner Veto! The chair flies from the corner and both ladies fall to the ground, both ladies a wellspring of blood and guts. Tamsin couldn’t even follow up the move with a pin attempt, both fighters slowly get back to their feet, both having to hang on to the ropes to stand. Until Emery hits that nasty out of no where cutter with a sudden surge of energy! She even has enough to make the cover, but no! Tamsin kicked out on a very close two count. Having just about enough, Emery rolls out of the ring to procure a barbed wire wrapped table. It’s mere introduction caused a massive pop. Excited to get it inside of the ring, Emery sliced up her hands a bit leaning it into the corner Tamsin was back on her feet and tried to rush Emery as she set up in the corner. But the Noir champ managed to move at the last second, letting Tamsin impale herself into the table! She doesn’t even have time to free herself carefully as The Pavee She-King throws herself into table with a spear! She landed on top of Tamsin, exhausted but still in pinning position. Neither of the move as the official makes his count, with an unconscious Emery Layton, coming out of night one STILL as Noir champ. WINNER Emery Layton METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 13:43 FINISHING MOVE Spear through table |
BACKSTAGE
The camera comes into focus in the locker room of Madeline Mason, where the soldier is warming up with a set of curls.
“Things are looking good, aren’t they?” She says out loud. She wasn’t referring to her arms, though she eyed the veins that had begun to pop from her bulging biceps.
“Tonight, I’ve got a mountain ahead of me. Nineteen other men and women in a battle royale. It’s a little fitting, isn’t it?” She smiled to herself. “After all, it wasn’t so long ago, in a company not so far away, that Reaper had a similar match, and we know how that went.”
She sets her weights down. It had become quite the talk around the SABER office. Reaper, with virtually no wrestling experience, walking into a new company for his second professional match, and emerging with his first championship.
“The pressure is certainly on then, isn’t it? That’s always the problem, I think. No matter what I do and what accomplishments I make for myself, I’ll be forever compared to the success of my SABER counterpart. But then… that’s motivation, isn’t it? That’s the motivation for all of us really. A team, but competitors as well. We’re all so proud of what Reaper achieved in his venture into the wrestling business, but that doesn’t mean all of us at SABER aren’t trying to out-do it.
And that’s what makes SABER so powerful. It’s what makes us stronger. We’re constantly pushing ourselves, trying to find that next level, reaching to be the absolute best. It’s… exhilarating, really.”
She pauses for a moment, but slowly the smile on her lips fades.
“I suppose that’s why I seek challenges beyond Liberty Pro. Why I join these tournaments, why when I’m offered an opportunity to compete twice this weekend, I jump at the chance. I’ve been told for years what I can and can’t do… it’s what pushed me to leave the army life behind, to come to America, and find a place that appreciated exactly what I was capable of. SABER has allowed me to thrive. It’s given me the freedom to do the things I know I can do, and when I succeed, I’m rewarded for my endeavors.”
Jackal chuckles to herself.
“So… yeah. Throw nineteen people at me tonight. I’ll run through them. Ask me to work alongside my brothers in SABER to work security for a match. I’ll do that too. Have me come back here tomorrow night, fight a former world champion, take on one of the toughest women this company has to offer. I’ll fight her too. No complaints. No excuses. No whining about how unfair it is, or how hard I’ve got it, or how much work I’ve got loaded onto my shoulders.”
Mason grits her teeth, her eyes meeting the camera.
“I will not be the weak link.”
The camera comes into focus in the locker room of Madeline Mason, where the soldier is warming up with a set of curls.
“Things are looking good, aren’t they?” She says out loud. She wasn’t referring to her arms, though she eyed the veins that had begun to pop from her bulging biceps.
“Tonight, I’ve got a mountain ahead of me. Nineteen other men and women in a battle royale. It’s a little fitting, isn’t it?” She smiled to herself. “After all, it wasn’t so long ago, in a company not so far away, that Reaper had a similar match, and we know how that went.”
She sets her weights down. It had become quite the talk around the SABER office. Reaper, with virtually no wrestling experience, walking into a new company for his second professional match, and emerging with his first championship.
“The pressure is certainly on then, isn’t it? That’s always the problem, I think. No matter what I do and what accomplishments I make for myself, I’ll be forever compared to the success of my SABER counterpart. But then… that’s motivation, isn’t it? That’s the motivation for all of us really. A team, but competitors as well. We’re all so proud of what Reaper achieved in his venture into the wrestling business, but that doesn’t mean all of us at SABER aren’t trying to out-do it.
And that’s what makes SABER so powerful. It’s what makes us stronger. We’re constantly pushing ourselves, trying to find that next level, reaching to be the absolute best. It’s… exhilarating, really.”
She pauses for a moment, but slowly the smile on her lips fades.
“I suppose that’s why I seek challenges beyond Liberty Pro. Why I join these tournaments, why when I’m offered an opportunity to compete twice this weekend, I jump at the chance. I’ve been told for years what I can and can’t do… it’s what pushed me to leave the army life behind, to come to America, and find a place that appreciated exactly what I was capable of. SABER has allowed me to thrive. It’s given me the freedom to do the things I know I can do, and when I succeed, I’m rewarded for my endeavors.”
Jackal chuckles to herself.
“So… yeah. Throw nineteen people at me tonight. I’ll run through them. Ask me to work alongside my brothers in SABER to work security for a match. I’ll do that too. Have me come back here tomorrow night, fight a former world champion, take on one of the toughest women this company has to offer. I’ll fight her too. No complaints. No excuses. No whining about how unfair it is, or how hard I’ve got it, or how much work I’ve got loaded onto my shoulders.”
Mason grits her teeth, her eyes meeting the camera.
“I will not be the weak link.”
BACKSTAGE
Kendrick is in the training room and has his AirPods in listening to ‘Til I Collapse as he is getting himself ready for his match tonight. Not just any match though. Another battle royale. He finally takes them out and looks at the camera.
KENDRICK KROSS: My second Battle Royale of the year? This is becoming frustrating. The first one I won and became a contender for that Noir Championship when I should’ve won it. The others didn’t have to win a Battle Royale but I did. That’s bullshit. That gives me even more motivation for this one though. Make sure I win this one…my second one.
He lays back on the table as one of the trainers works on him.
KENDRICK KROSS: I’ve been in a rough streak and it has to end tonight. There’s no ifs ands or buts about it. I can’t rack up another loss. Just going to cause me to fall down further and that’s the last thing I want or need.
The last show I lost two matches in one night. That isn’t a pleasant feeling. Especially when one is for the Noir Championship and one is for a chance at the Gotham Championship. Getting back on track tonight with a Battle Royale win will be perfect. And believe me. That’s exactly what I plan on doing. I’m making my way up to where I want to be and it starts tonight. So look out because I’m not going down easy.
Kendrick slides in his AirPods again as the trainer continues to work on him.
Kendrick is in the training room and has his AirPods in listening to ‘Til I Collapse as he is getting himself ready for his match tonight. Not just any match though. Another battle royale. He finally takes them out and looks at the camera.
KENDRICK KROSS: My second Battle Royale of the year? This is becoming frustrating. The first one I won and became a contender for that Noir Championship when I should’ve won it. The others didn’t have to win a Battle Royale but I did. That’s bullshit. That gives me even more motivation for this one though. Make sure I win this one…my second one.
He lays back on the table as one of the trainers works on him.
KENDRICK KROSS: I’ve been in a rough streak and it has to end tonight. There’s no ifs ands or buts about it. I can’t rack up another loss. Just going to cause me to fall down further and that’s the last thing I want or need.
The last show I lost two matches in one night. That isn’t a pleasant feeling. Especially when one is for the Noir Championship and one is for a chance at the Gotham Championship. Getting back on track tonight with a Battle Royale win will be perfect. And believe me. That’s exactly what I plan on doing. I’m making my way up to where I want to be and it starts tonight. So look out because I’m not going down easy.
Kendrick slides in his AirPods again as the trainer continues to work on him.
MATCH FIVE: BATTLE SYMPHONY ROYALE
Emily Carter, Chris Sanderson, Melissa Reeves, Noah Ortega, Miki, Jackal, Karen Willow, Avery Smith, Kendrick Kross, Sabrina McKay, Atticus Cassian, Brea Lombardi, Jackson, Jace Mitchell, Anton Palmer, Mai Suzuki, JJ Nova, Nina & Millie Smith
Emily Carter, Chris Sanderson, Melissa Reeves, Noah Ortega, Miki, Jackal, Karen Willow, Avery Smith, Kendrick Kross, Sabrina McKay, Atticus Cassian, Brea Lombardi, Jackson, Jace Mitchell, Anton Palmer, Mai Suzuki, JJ Nova, Nina & Millie Smith
| RECAP The massive Battle Symphony Royale starts with a bang! All 18 competitors start to go at it in the middle of the ring! Hell is breaking loose but soon there are certain groups starting to form. Noah Ortega and Anton Palmer have the advantage as the two of them work together, throwing off anyone who tries to come their way. Emily Carter and Avery Smith show a kinship in this one as well, as the two women both combine to fight off the larger than life, Atticus Cassian. Jace Mitchell is plowing through opponents, hitting a big boot here, a massive clothesline here. Jace is on absolute fire! He then grabs Noah and throws him over the top rope but Noah held onto Jace’s arm! Noah pulls Jace down with him as he stands on the apron and here comes Anton Palmer and he helps push Jace over and Mitchell tumbles to the ground as Noah slides back into the ring! ELIMINATED: JACE MITCHELL On the other side of the ring, Jackson is trying to eliminate Millie Smith but JJ Nova comes from out of nowhere and he dropkicks Jackson and it sends him flying over the rope! The second elimination of the match has come from out of nowhere from the newcomer, JJ Nova! ELIMINATED: JACKSON Speaking of newcomes, JJ Nova had no chance to recover after eliminating Jackson, because Mai Suzuki nailed JJ with a superkick and Millie grabbed the top rope and pulled it down! Nova is out! ELIMINATED: JJ NOVA JJ yells at Millie, telling her that was uncalled for. She shrugs but what she didn’t see was the veteran, Chris Sanderson, charging her. Chris hit her with a knee to the gut, followed by a swinging neckbreaker. He then picks Millie up and out she goes! Another elimination! ELIMINATED: MILLIE SMITH Jackal was having a lot of competitors focus on her, just like Atticus was fighting off a ton of competitors as well. The strongest are usually targeted here in these type of matches and it shows. Atticus soon broke free and took Avery and Emily out with a double clothesline. Jackal took Miki out with a big boot. Jack and Cassian both started to just take everyone out, one by one! Jackal then threw Mai Suzuki over the top rope! ELIMINATED: MAI SUZUKI Miki hit Atticus with a running knee to the jaw and he was dazed up against the ropes. She then charged again but Atticus recovered and he lifted Miki up and tossed her right over! ELIMINATED: MIKI It was now Jackal and Atticus Cassian both standing tall in the middle of the ring and the fans went nuts as they two strong competitors were ready to come to blows. Jackal and Atticus started to throw lefts and rights at each other. The two start to battle towards the ropes and they try to shove each other over the ropes. But Melissa Reeves came from out of nowhere and hit Atticus with a single leg dropkick that sent him over the rope! ELIMINATED: ATTICUS CASSIAN Atticus was LIVID! He got back in the ring and Melissa had no idea and before she could do anything, Cassian grabbed her by her hair and tossed her over! Jackal was upset with this happening and she clotheslined Atticus back out of the ring! ELIMINATED: MELISSA REEVES What a huge loss that was, as Melissa was definitely the favorite going into this, though it was outside sources that eliminated her. People were starting to recover and gain their stamina back. Kendrick Kross and Karen Willow were once again at each other’s throats, fighting back and forth. These two truly can’t quit each other. Sabrina McKay came from out of nowhere and she dropkicked both of them! Nina then came from out of nowhere and rammed a knee into Sabrina’s gut! Nina then grabbed her by the hair and sent her right over the top! ELIMINATED: Sabrina McKay Noah and Anton were battling against Avery and Emily, the two teams that have formed in this one. Sanderson is now bringing quite the battle against Jackal, using his high IQ and natural abilities to keep the strong woman down. Nina and Brea Lombardi were going at it and Kross and Willow were back at it again. So many battles weaving throughout the ring as half the field had been eliminated now. Karen was about to eliminate Kendrick but Nina grabbed them both by the legs and sent them over the ropes but Kendrick held on as Karen fingers slipped off the ropes and she was gone! ELIMINATED: KAREN WILLOW Kendrick stood up on the apron but BANG! Brea Lombardi speared him through the middle rope! They both went tumbling to the outside and Kendrick was eliminated. Brea was still in the match, as she went through the middle rope, but Kross hadn’t re-entered the ring yet. ELIMINATED: KENDRICK KROSS Avery Smith managed to toss Anton Palmer out of the ring as Emily held Noah off! ELIMINATED: ANTON PALMER Anton wasn’t having it though and he came into the ring again and he hit Emily with a spinning back elbow! Avery wasn’t having this and she hit Palmer with a superkick! This was enough of a distraction though and Noah grabbed Avery by the hair and threw her out!!! ELIMINATED: AVERY SMITH Brea Lombardi was back in the ring but Nina was on her immediately like a shark attacking its prey. The Anarchy Champion was relentless in her attack and she wasted no time, throwing Lombardi right over the ropes and eliminating her. ELIMINATED: BREA LOMBARDI Nina turns around and she’s met by Jackal! Nina throws a forearm to her face but Jackal does not back down! She grabbed Nina and lifted her up over her head and tossed her out! Nina landed right on Brea, breaking her fall but sadly, the Anarchy Champion was eliminated, though she had the most eliminations with three at this juncture. ELIMINATED: NINA We now come down to four. Emily Carter, Noah Ortega, Jackal and Chris Sanderson. All of them stand in their own corner and look at each other for a moment, catching their collective breaths. And just like that, they all charged in! Emily and Noah were at each other again, and we had the military vet, Jackal, battling with the wrestling vet, Chris Sanderson. The fans were cheering wildly at the action! There were several near eliminations over the next couple of minutes, but nobody wanted to give an inch. Finally, an elimination took place when Noah had Emily by her hair and he went to throw her out but she countered as she leaped up and hit him with a hurricarana that sent them both of the ropes but Carter grabbed the ropes and held herself up as Noah went tumbling down! ELIMINATED: NOAH ORTEGA We are now down to three as Emily eliminated Noah, who had been trying to recruit her to ‘The Lost’. Emily was catching her breath though as Jackal and Chris battled. But wait!!! Noah and Anton were back in the ring and they went right at Emily! The two of them started to attack her, beating her down until she was no longer moving. Noah then lifted Emily up and threw her over the ropes, eliminating her, despite not being in the match anymore. ELIMINATED: EMILY CARTER We are now down to two competitors. Jackal and Chris had been an even match so far during this one. Chris tried to shove Jackal over the ropes a couple of times but she was far too strong and she pushed him off. The match looked like it was over when Sanderson tried to go for a crossbody splash but Jackal caught him! She then lifted Sanderson over her head and she was about to toss him over but Chris wiggled free and dropped down behind her. Sanderson then shoved Jackal from behind and sent her over the ropes! That was it! Sanderson won!!! ELIMINATED: Jackal “Resentment” by A Day to Remember blared over the PA system as Chris is on his hands and knees, looking down at the canvas, nodding his head as the fans cheer him on. Chris knows he did it, he broke through, finally. After a few moments, he stands up and raises his hands in the air to the delight of the fans. Jackal looked up from ringside and caught Chris’ eye and she gave him a nod of approval. What a battle royale! ELIMINATIONS: Nina: 3 Noah Ortega: 3 Chris Sanderson: 2 Atticus Cassian: 2 Jackal: 1 Emily Carter: 1 Avery Smith: 1 Anton Palmer: 1 Melissa Reeves: 1 Brea Lombardi: 1 Mai Suzuku: 1 Millie Smith: 1 JJ Nova: 1 Kendrick Kross: 0 Karen Willow: 0 Jace Mitchell: 0 Sabrina McKay: 0 Miki: 0 Jackson: 0 WINNER Chris Sanderson METHOD Over the top elimination MATCH LENGTH 20:11 FINISHING MOVE Pushed Jackal over top rope |
BACKSTAGE
She’s tiny. She probably feels even tinier in this corridor in Brooklyn by the hand. It’s the first time she’s ever been out of their home in Houston. She’s tiny, sweet-looking and has big, round sparkly eyes. But Ruby Sabbath is not alone. Her father Diamond Jack Sabbath, in his ring gear, leads her down the corridor as she nonchalantly eats a gigantic ice cream she’s been given. With extra syrup and two flakes in it.
Ruby Sabbath I wanna go to the toy store.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: We can’t go to the toy store, Daddy has to go and beat up a silly little man who thinks he’s a sailor.
Ruby Sabbath But I wanna go to the toy store.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: You can GO to the toy store when I’ve become the United States Champion.
Ruby Sabbath And then I want more candy.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: You can have whatever you want once I’m done here.
And at this moment, Tim Anderson bounds his way over, kind of out of breath, with a mic in his hand. Stopping DJS and Ruby in their tracks, the Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling scrunches his nose up. In fact, it’s pretty much in unison with Ruby doing the same thing.
Tim Anderson: Jack, I was wondering if I could get a quick word about your match with Brendan Samuels.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Yeah, “winner”. There you go, see you later.
Tim Anderson: No, I mean…well, you’re finally getting your match with Brendan Samuels for the United States title but, I mean, you said on Twitter if you lost you’d quit on the spot? Why would you do that?
Diamond Jack Sabbath: I think I made myself quite clear, Tim. I’ve beaten Brendan before. Cleanly. Properly. And I’m so incredibly confident that I can do it again that I’ll leave if I can’t.
Tim Anderson: …
Diamond Jack Sabbath: What? What is it, what? Do you have something to say?
Tim Anderson: …Well…
Diamond Jack Sabbath: If you don’t say what you wanna say, I’m gonna hit you with my shoe. Spit it out, come on.
Tim Anderson: It’s just that…you’ve done this before. And every time you do something like this, you lose so…
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Well this time is different, Tom!
Tim Anderson: Tim.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Whatever. I have a perfect plan. And given that I’ve already beaten Brendan, it’s a fool-proof plan. Can’t possibly go wrong.
Ruby Sabbath Why is this ugly man asking you questions, Daddy?
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Because it’s all he’s good for, darling. Come here…
Jack picks up his daughter in his arms. She has ice cream all over her face by this point.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Y’see, the thing is Jim. I’m at the point in my life, honestly, where I do things because I want to. And I don’t care who’s spot I steal to do it, I don’t care about the next wave of talent getting their name out there. Honestly, Ron, I don’t give a fuck. I’m here to make MYSELF happy because I’m the special one here and I deserve it. And what do we do when we deserve something, Ruby?
Ruby Sabbath We TAKE it!
Diamond Jack Sabbath: That’s my girl! Little Ruby wants to be a wrestler JUST like her Dad. You lot are gonna be in trouble in twenty years. But that’s then. Tonight, you’re looking at the next United States Champion.
Tim Anderson: Unless you lose, and then you leave.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Oh fuck off, Tito. Or whatever your fucking name is. I’m not gonna lose. Mark my words. Come on, Ruby.
And off they go. DJS carries Ruby off. But as Tim stands there, Ruby looks back. Scowling at him.
We fade to the next segment.
She’s tiny. She probably feels even tinier in this corridor in Brooklyn by the hand. It’s the first time she’s ever been out of their home in Houston. She’s tiny, sweet-looking and has big, round sparkly eyes. But Ruby Sabbath is not alone. Her father Diamond Jack Sabbath, in his ring gear, leads her down the corridor as she nonchalantly eats a gigantic ice cream she’s been given. With extra syrup and two flakes in it.
Ruby Sabbath I wanna go to the toy store.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: We can’t go to the toy store, Daddy has to go and beat up a silly little man who thinks he’s a sailor.
Ruby Sabbath But I wanna go to the toy store.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: You can GO to the toy store when I’ve become the United States Champion.
Ruby Sabbath And then I want more candy.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: You can have whatever you want once I’m done here.
And at this moment, Tim Anderson bounds his way over, kind of out of breath, with a mic in his hand. Stopping DJS and Ruby in their tracks, the Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling scrunches his nose up. In fact, it’s pretty much in unison with Ruby doing the same thing.
Tim Anderson: Jack, I was wondering if I could get a quick word about your match with Brendan Samuels.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Yeah, “winner”. There you go, see you later.
Tim Anderson: No, I mean…well, you’re finally getting your match with Brendan Samuels for the United States title but, I mean, you said on Twitter if you lost you’d quit on the spot? Why would you do that?
Diamond Jack Sabbath: I think I made myself quite clear, Tim. I’ve beaten Brendan before. Cleanly. Properly. And I’m so incredibly confident that I can do it again that I’ll leave if I can’t.
Tim Anderson: …
Diamond Jack Sabbath: What? What is it, what? Do you have something to say?
Tim Anderson: …Well…
Diamond Jack Sabbath: If you don’t say what you wanna say, I’m gonna hit you with my shoe. Spit it out, come on.
Tim Anderson: It’s just that…you’ve done this before. And every time you do something like this, you lose so…
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Well this time is different, Tom!
Tim Anderson: Tim.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Whatever. I have a perfect plan. And given that I’ve already beaten Brendan, it’s a fool-proof plan. Can’t possibly go wrong.
Ruby Sabbath Why is this ugly man asking you questions, Daddy?
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Because it’s all he’s good for, darling. Come here…
Jack picks up his daughter in his arms. She has ice cream all over her face by this point.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Y’see, the thing is Jim. I’m at the point in my life, honestly, where I do things because I want to. And I don’t care who’s spot I steal to do it, I don’t care about the next wave of talent getting their name out there. Honestly, Ron, I don’t give a fuck. I’m here to make MYSELF happy because I’m the special one here and I deserve it. And what do we do when we deserve something, Ruby?
Ruby Sabbath We TAKE it!
Diamond Jack Sabbath: That’s my girl! Little Ruby wants to be a wrestler JUST like her Dad. You lot are gonna be in trouble in twenty years. But that’s then. Tonight, you’re looking at the next United States Champion.
Tim Anderson: Unless you lose, and then you leave.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Oh fuck off, Tito. Or whatever your fucking name is. I’m not gonna lose. Mark my words. Come on, Ruby.
And off they go. DJS carries Ruby off. But as Tim stands there, Ruby looks back. Scowling at him.
We fade to the next segment.
BACKSTAGE
We cut backstage to Dante Locke pacing back and forth. Normally, he has Blyss with him but this time? He turned toward the camera and glared into it as he started to make a growling sound.
Dante Locke: Marcus? The time for talking is over. You wanted me? One on one? No one interfering? Then you got it. I’m going to show the world why I’m the better wrestler and how I completely outclass you. You don’t stand a chance against a talent like me.
He pointed at the camera and yelled.
Dante Locke: You’re nothing but an overgrown bitch! A traitor! And for that? I have to tear you to shreds and drag you to hell! Say goodbye to your sea life, because the pits of hell are where you’re going now… BOY!
Dante spit on the ground before he stormed off and the scene cut away.
We cut backstage to Dante Locke pacing back and forth. Normally, he has Blyss with him but this time? He turned toward the camera and glared into it as he started to make a growling sound.
Dante Locke: Marcus? The time for talking is over. You wanted me? One on one? No one interfering? Then you got it. I’m going to show the world why I’m the better wrestler and how I completely outclass you. You don’t stand a chance against a talent like me.
He pointed at the camera and yelled.
Dante Locke: You’re nothing but an overgrown bitch! A traitor! And for that? I have to tear you to shreds and drag you to hell! Say goodbye to your sea life, because the pits of hell are where you’re going now… BOY!
Dante spit on the ground before he stormed off and the scene cut away.
MATCH SIX: US CHAMPIONSHIP
Brendan Samuels© vs Diamond Jack Sabbath
Brendan Samuels© vs Diamond Jack Sabbath
| RECAP Just before the bell, DJS and Brendan look at each other from across the ring. Jack also glances to ringside, where Anastasia Starling was with a gleeful smile and a wave. Sabbath looked none too thrilled as his gaze moved from Ana back to Samuels as the bell rang. Brendan came out of the gate looking for a tie up, but it’s something DJS isn’t willing to do. Instead, he begins a circle around Brendan, though staying at arms length. Diamond Jack reaches forward, slapping Brendan’s chest and then retreating. Brendan tries to do something similar but DJS dodges, landing a right hand on Brandan before retreating again. Brendan squared back up, reaching for another jab but only getting air, followed by a right hook. DJS is getting a kick out of staying just out of Samuels’ reach for the time being. That’s when Samuels tries to catch DJS off guard by running at him with a high kick. But this is what DJS has been waiting for, rolling backwards and popping up to catch Samuels in the face with a hard elbow that knocks him down. Jack leaps into a standing knee drop that hits Brendan on his throat. He looks directly at Starling before hitting another standing knee drop, this time keeping his knee on Brendan’s throat and choking him. The ref begins a count that forces DJS to let go when he gets close to being disqualified. He backs away from Samuels with his hands up to show the ref that he is done. With the forced distance between them, Samuels gets to his feet. He lunges forward, but DJS side steps him away. However, Samuels is thinking ahead this time, landing his knee directly in the direction Jack had moved in. Jack holds his gut but tries to kick at Samuels. Brendan grabs his leg, taking him down with a dragon screw, before moving into a quick armbar. DJS moves to the ropes in a few seconds with some struggling on his part. The referee motions for Brendan to break the hold and he does. Jack uses the ropes to get to his feet, leaning into them to earn himself more breather time. He pretends to brush himself off a bit, almost goading Brendan. Samuels bites with a running lariat, and doesn’t catch the spinning elbow from Sabbath until he’s caught in the face with it. Samuels tries as fast as he can to kip up but Jack has moved behind him, clutching him with a full nelson. He only uses the hold to control Samuels for a few seconds though, before drilling him with a snap tiger suplex. Jack looks pleased with himself as Samuels begins taking a little longer to get up. As he does though, Sabbath is again quick with it, picking Brendan up for a spinning side slam. Jack covers Brendan, and as he does he tries to put his foot up on the ropes for extra leverage on the pin. The ref doesn’t see it due to the angle, so he starts to count… But Anastasia has something to say about that. She runs along the outside, quickly pushing Jack’s legs off the ropes and stopping his illegal pin. Due to Jack slipping off the ropes, he slips his position completely and effectively breaks his own pin just after a fast two. On his knees, DJS looks over at Ana with a growing fire within his eyes, but she simply shrugs at him. Samuels doesn’t take a second moment, he hits DJS with a running neckbreaker back to the canvas. Jack is up again and walks right into a snap suplex. He kips up again and walks into another snap suplex! The third time, getting to his feet a little slower now, and a little dazed, he walks into a hard and faster fisherman suplex! Brendan hooks the leg but DJS powers out! Brendan isn’t going to lose his momentum though, slapping on headlock as DJS gets up. Jack gives multiple elbows to get Brendan to let go but he has it in tight! Instead, Sabbath lifts up Brendan and spins around into a modified spinning spinebuster! He tries for a pin but Brendan kicks out with force, not about to let his United States title fall into the hands of DJS. Jack is clearly getting a little more irritated, and it’s evident in his facial expressions that are too outlandish to hide. Jack goes to whip Brendan across the ring, but Samuels is able to reverse it…only for DJS to reverse it! Only this time, he sends Brendan right into the ref! Samuels is apologetic and immediately tends to the fallen referee, not realizing it was part of DJS’ plan all along. Jack slyly slides from the ring and grabs a chair, entering back into the ring. He’s about to smash it over Brendan’s head out of frustration when…his chair is gone? Anastasia has jumped up onto the apron, grabbing the chair from behind as DJS held it over his head. With it in her hands, she jumps back down to the floor and sets the chair, sitting in it at ringside. With a smile, Starling wags her finger from side-to-side as she sits. DJS shows an expression somewhere between shock and white hot anger. He’s got no time to think about it though, because he turns around into a kick from Brendan that lands across his chest. Brendan yanks DJS up to his feet, first giving him a push kick followed by a forearm smash that sees Samuels picking that momentum back up. He lunges towards DJS once they are on their feet again, but Jack is beyond frustrated and resorts to his usual tactics. This one involves spitting in Brendan’s face as he’s lunging forward, causing Samuels to close his eyes. The boos ring out as DJS gives Brendan a shoulder to the chest and then spins him around for a german suplex position. Jack lifts him up and sends him soaring with a release german suplex …but Brendan lands on his feet! He grabs DJS from behind, nailing a perfect Mac Lir (Crossface Chickenwing Suplex), before hooking the leg for the three count. WINNER Brendan Samuels METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 16:12 FINISHING MOVE Mac Lir |
BACKSTAGE
The sound of metal dragging across the table surface echoes before the scene opens to a closeup shot of Blyss Lockhart’s sharp green eyes boring into the camera lens.
Blyss Lockhart: Sparrow…
She begins and the shot fades into a zoomed-out medium frame, revealing a typewritten paper in her hand that she holds up. Whatever the page says, she doesn’t even glance at it as if she’s memorised every word. And so her gaze remains fixated on the camera ahead.
Blyss Lockhart: Raphael Christopher Dallins…
Tilting her head slowly, her tongue rolls over every one of those letters like she’s savouring them.
Blyss Lockhart: He is abandoned by his good-for-nothing family but grows up to make his own name. He feeds on the support of those who wish to see him at the finish line. No matter how difficult the road becomes, he still toes the line and does what he’s been taught. A good student until he learns to grab opportunities as they come. A much, much, better student now.
As she turns her nose up, her lips move into a sneer.
Blyss Lockhart: Making him the perfect challenger for the perfect champion. A challenger who provides the right amount of fight so that the champion stays in the ideal shape. Keeps her battle-ready.
The sneer fades fast.
Blyss Lockhart: For any war that may break out at a moment’s notice.
The shot tightens to a closeup of the paper in her hand where Sparrow’s name is clearly written.
Blyss Lockhart: That, my sweet Sparrow, is my gift to you. A glowing testimonial from Liberty Pro’s eternal Freedom champion that you can submit to your next employer after you lose your job here.
She places the printed testimonial down on the table and signs the bottom of it with her signature, big and unmistakable. Then carefully folds it and slots it into a white envelope where Sparrow’s name is written on the front. Wrapping her right hand with the metal chain that she’s been carrying around lately, she then slams down a fist on the envelope as if to seal it. That only hurts her more than anything and she immediately cries out in pain, using her left hand to gingerly hold her right. She grabs the Freedom championship in a tight embrace as she grits her teeth, breathing hard. Slowly, she calms down again.
Blyss Lockhart: It’s a shame, really, you know, Sparrow? For all that we’ve been through, I do feel some kind of sad at this point. Because after tonight, I’ll never get to see you again. And if I could be selfish, I would ask that you don’t give every bit of you in this match just so I could have a little of you to carry with me in the future. But I know that that’s not how you operate. No.
She shakes her head sadly.
Blyss Lockhart: No, you are the type to pour everything you’ve got into something. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you believe that it’s all for good. And you need it to be. That’s just how you are. I mean, how else do you find the strength and confidence to go up against Lily, Dante and me all by yourself? Even your sister manager Caroline is smart enough not to help. And… and with Marcus…
She winces, her right hand suddenly spasming. She yanks the metal chain off her hand and sets it down on the table.
Blyss Lockhart: You just got lucky. In a different reality, you would still be rotting inside that cage right now instead of getting handed a title opportunity.
She slams her right fist on the table.
Blyss Lockhart: YES! Despite the disrespect you’ve shown us the whole time, Lily still gave you a shot at MY title. And because of your attitude, it’s only fair that she imposed those rules on you. But with or without those rules, I have nothing to worry about because I know you have nothing left to give anymore. Be honest, Sparrow. It took every bit of you to beat TJ that night, didn’t it? Because that strength and confidence you felt when you thought you could take us down afterwards, it was all just a fool’s courage. That’s the real reason why you lost to me.
She laughs before picking up the Freedom championship from the table and placing it on her shoulder.
Blyss Lockhart: Remember that one time when you got a sudden jolt of bravery that pushed you to ask for a title shot? Lily didn’t pick you to be part of the dance because you’re a worthy contender. She picked you because you’re the only one naive enough to think you are so that when I eventually ascend to my throne, I’ll have someone good enough later to keep me sharp and alert without threatening my championship reign so early.
Her lips raise to a smirk as she drums her fingers on the championship belt, tilting her head slightly.
Blyss Lockhart: Just because you beat TJ one time, you think you’re all that now? Nothing about you scares me, Sparrow. You can try to rally the support of all your friends and fans. You can try to twist my words and use them against me. You can even try to undermine years of my hard work that rightfully puts me in the place of Freedom champion. But you, Sparrow, are no threat to ME. You’re just the first succesful defence for what will be a very, very long championship reign. Eternal championship reign.
The smirk now turns to a full reptilian grin before the scene cuts away.
The sound of metal dragging across the table surface echoes before the scene opens to a closeup shot of Blyss Lockhart’s sharp green eyes boring into the camera lens.
Blyss Lockhart: Sparrow…
She begins and the shot fades into a zoomed-out medium frame, revealing a typewritten paper in her hand that she holds up. Whatever the page says, she doesn’t even glance at it as if she’s memorised every word. And so her gaze remains fixated on the camera ahead.
Blyss Lockhart: Raphael Christopher Dallins…
Tilting her head slowly, her tongue rolls over every one of those letters like she’s savouring them.
Blyss Lockhart: He is abandoned by his good-for-nothing family but grows up to make his own name. He feeds on the support of those who wish to see him at the finish line. No matter how difficult the road becomes, he still toes the line and does what he’s been taught. A good student until he learns to grab opportunities as they come. A much, much, better student now.
As she turns her nose up, her lips move into a sneer.
Blyss Lockhart: Making him the perfect challenger for the perfect champion. A challenger who provides the right amount of fight so that the champion stays in the ideal shape. Keeps her battle-ready.
The sneer fades fast.
Blyss Lockhart: For any war that may break out at a moment’s notice.
The shot tightens to a closeup of the paper in her hand where Sparrow’s name is clearly written.
Blyss Lockhart: That, my sweet Sparrow, is my gift to you. A glowing testimonial from Liberty Pro’s eternal Freedom champion that you can submit to your next employer after you lose your job here.
She places the printed testimonial down on the table and signs the bottom of it with her signature, big and unmistakable. Then carefully folds it and slots it into a white envelope where Sparrow’s name is written on the front. Wrapping her right hand with the metal chain that she’s been carrying around lately, she then slams down a fist on the envelope as if to seal it. That only hurts her more than anything and she immediately cries out in pain, using her left hand to gingerly hold her right. She grabs the Freedom championship in a tight embrace as she grits her teeth, breathing hard. Slowly, she calms down again.
Blyss Lockhart: It’s a shame, really, you know, Sparrow? For all that we’ve been through, I do feel some kind of sad at this point. Because after tonight, I’ll never get to see you again. And if I could be selfish, I would ask that you don’t give every bit of you in this match just so I could have a little of you to carry with me in the future. But I know that that’s not how you operate. No.
She shakes her head sadly.
Blyss Lockhart: No, you are the type to pour everything you’ve got into something. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you believe that it’s all for good. And you need it to be. That’s just how you are. I mean, how else do you find the strength and confidence to go up against Lily, Dante and me all by yourself? Even your sister manager Caroline is smart enough not to help. And… and with Marcus…
She winces, her right hand suddenly spasming. She yanks the metal chain off her hand and sets it down on the table.
Blyss Lockhart: You just got lucky. In a different reality, you would still be rotting inside that cage right now instead of getting handed a title opportunity.
She slams her right fist on the table.
Blyss Lockhart: YES! Despite the disrespect you’ve shown us the whole time, Lily still gave you a shot at MY title. And because of your attitude, it’s only fair that she imposed those rules on you. But with or without those rules, I have nothing to worry about because I know you have nothing left to give anymore. Be honest, Sparrow. It took every bit of you to beat TJ that night, didn’t it? Because that strength and confidence you felt when you thought you could take us down afterwards, it was all just a fool’s courage. That’s the real reason why you lost to me.
She laughs before picking up the Freedom championship from the table and placing it on her shoulder.
Blyss Lockhart: Remember that one time when you got a sudden jolt of bravery that pushed you to ask for a title shot? Lily didn’t pick you to be part of the dance because you’re a worthy contender. She picked you because you’re the only one naive enough to think you are so that when I eventually ascend to my throne, I’ll have someone good enough later to keep me sharp and alert without threatening my championship reign so early.
Her lips raise to a smirk as she drums her fingers on the championship belt, tilting her head slightly.
Blyss Lockhart: Just because you beat TJ one time, you think you’re all that now? Nothing about you scares me, Sparrow. You can try to rally the support of all your friends and fans. You can try to twist my words and use them against me. You can even try to undermine years of my hard work that rightfully puts me in the place of Freedom champion. But you, Sparrow, are no threat to ME. You’re just the first succesful defence for what will be a very, very long championship reign. Eternal championship reign.
The smirk now turns to a full reptilian grin before the scene cuts away.
BACKSTAGE
The camera cuts backstage to Marcus Black, moments before he is about to step through the curtain, looking focused and ready.
Marcus Black: Tonight is a long time coming. We both made choices to get us where we are now Dante, but none of that matters now. What matters is you and me in that ring, one on one. Man to man. I am going to show you exactly where things stand between us, and that is going to be me above you with my hand raised in victory. Despite our personal history, when it comes down to it you are another step between me and the Freedom Championship, whoever may hold it once tonight is over. Because ultimately I fight for myself, Dante. While you only fight for her. You only bleed for her. There’s nothing for you in that ring tonight, no stakes, and I will make you pay for daring to stand across the ring from me with that attitude.
Tonight its the Hellhound against the Kraken, and I hope you can hold you breath little pup: because I’m going to fucking drown you.
With that Marcus heads out of shot through the curtain.
The camera cuts backstage to Marcus Black, moments before he is about to step through the curtain, looking focused and ready.
Marcus Black: Tonight is a long time coming. We both made choices to get us where we are now Dante, but none of that matters now. What matters is you and me in that ring, one on one. Man to man. I am going to show you exactly where things stand between us, and that is going to be me above you with my hand raised in victory. Despite our personal history, when it comes down to it you are another step between me and the Freedom Championship, whoever may hold it once tonight is over. Because ultimately I fight for myself, Dante. While you only fight for her. You only bleed for her. There’s nothing for you in that ring tonight, no stakes, and I will make you pay for daring to stand across the ring from me with that attitude.
Tonight its the Hellhound against the Kraken, and I hope you can hold you breath little pup: because I’m going to fucking drown you.
With that Marcus heads out of shot through the curtain.
BACKSTAGE
Backstage! And it’s chaos.
With the US title match having wrapped up, security and other staff are gathered, trying to calm what sounds like a fairly raucous situation. Things being thrown, smashed and expletives being slung around like nobody’s business.
Still in his gear, Diamond Jack Sabbath screams and grabs whoever is in the way. His daughter Ruby watches on.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: No! NO! FUCK NO! I’m going NOWHERE. I won! Do you get it?! Do you understand??! Do you know who I am?! I’m Diamond Jack Sabbath! I do not lose. You idiots! You fucking idiots! I’m the BEST! I’m not going anywhere! This is fucking sick, what you’re all doing now, by the way! It’s sick! Where’s Brendan?! Where’s Brend– we’re doing it again, right now. Get him here. We’ll do it right he– I will literally, I will STAND here. Right now. And we’ll do it here in this very sp–
And at that moment, we back out as Jack looks over the shoulder of the security trying to calm him down. A huge vein appears on the side of his head, his face beetroot red with anger. Passing by with her current client, the Noir Champion Emery Layton, DJS’ ex wife Amy Taylor-Knowles stops and looks back.
Amy Taylor: Oh dear. Did it happen again?
Emery Layton: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, mate.
Jack reaches forward and grabs for her but he’s nowhere near and neither woman even flinches as they pass.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Come back here. Come BACK! I’ll fucking– right, y’know what?! I will leave. I will! Yeah. But I’ll come back with a new War Enforcement, and I’ll bring the Legion here and the Survivors and all of the groups. You’ve fucked it, lads, you’ve fucked it!
Ruby Sabbath: Daddy can we go?
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Y’know what? Yeah. YEAH. I am going. You guys don’t deserve me anyway. I’m too good for this cesspool. Always was! Liberty Pro can go fuck themselves. I QUIT. Come on Ruby.
With a massive grunt, Jack pushes his way past the mob and storms down the corridor, leading his daughter.
Ruby Sabbath: Can I go to the toy store now? I want a new toy. And then I want more candy. And then a horse.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Oh Ruby, just shut the fuck up.
And that, dear friends, is the last we see of Diamond Jack Sabbath in Liberty Pro. For now. But on this, we go to our next segment.
Backstage! And it’s chaos.
With the US title match having wrapped up, security and other staff are gathered, trying to calm what sounds like a fairly raucous situation. Things being thrown, smashed and expletives being slung around like nobody’s business.
Still in his gear, Diamond Jack Sabbath screams and grabs whoever is in the way. His daughter Ruby watches on.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: No! NO! FUCK NO! I’m going NOWHERE. I won! Do you get it?! Do you understand??! Do you know who I am?! I’m Diamond Jack Sabbath! I do not lose. You idiots! You fucking idiots! I’m the BEST! I’m not going anywhere! This is fucking sick, what you’re all doing now, by the way! It’s sick! Where’s Brendan?! Where’s Brend– we’re doing it again, right now. Get him here. We’ll do it right he– I will literally, I will STAND here. Right now. And we’ll do it here in this very sp–
And at that moment, we back out as Jack looks over the shoulder of the security trying to calm him down. A huge vein appears on the side of his head, his face beetroot red with anger. Passing by with her current client, the Noir Champion Emery Layton, DJS’ ex wife Amy Taylor-Knowles stops and looks back.
Amy Taylor: Oh dear. Did it happen again?
Emery Layton: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, mate.
Jack reaches forward and grabs for her but he’s nowhere near and neither woman even flinches as they pass.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Come back here. Come BACK! I’ll fucking– right, y’know what?! I will leave. I will! Yeah. But I’ll come back with a new War Enforcement, and I’ll bring the Legion here and the Survivors and all of the groups. You’ve fucked it, lads, you’ve fucked it!
Ruby Sabbath: Daddy can we go?
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Y’know what? Yeah. YEAH. I am going. You guys don’t deserve me anyway. I’m too good for this cesspool. Always was! Liberty Pro can go fuck themselves. I QUIT. Come on Ruby.
With a massive grunt, Jack pushes his way past the mob and storms down the corridor, leading his daughter.
Ruby Sabbath: Can I go to the toy store now? I want a new toy. And then I want more candy. And then a horse.
Diamond Jack Sabbath: Oh Ruby, just shut the fuck up.
And that, dear friends, is the last we see of Diamond Jack Sabbath in Liberty Pro. For now. But on this, we go to our next segment.
MATCH SEVEN: EVERYONE BANNED FROM RINGSIDE
Dante Locke vs Marcus Black
Dante Locke vs Marcus Black
| RECAP As requested by Lily Callaghan, every member of SABER was standing ringside to protect the integrity of the match and make sure there is no outside interference; Reaper, Jackal, Rebekkah Katz and Rhys Adelson are all there, watching over. The bell sounds and the fans are hot as Dante Locke circles the ring with Marcus Black. The Hellhound Marcus with a couple of kicks to the thigh before he backs Dante up into the corner with a collar-and-elbow. Dante turns it around at the last minute and gets him with a few more thigh kicks then backing away to create some space as they circle again. A Greco-Roman lock happens with The Kraken easily overpowering Locke and backing him into the ropes, forcing a break, but not before he gets Dante with a few clubbing shots to the side of the head. More circling and Locke gets Black with some more thigh kicks, outside and inside, anytime he gets too close, using his muay thai abilities to keep The Kraken at bay. But Marcus swats at Dante with clubbing shots to the back in counter. They lock up again and Marcus backs The Hellhound into the ropes once more to force another break and Locke goes right back to his kicks, looking to chop the near 300-pounder. Going to the well one too many times, Locke tries for another thigh kick, but gets too close and Black grabs the back of his neck, raining clubbing blows down with his free hand. Once he breaks free, Dante goes right back to the kicks and he ends up backing Marcus into the corner where he starts to throw some wild forearms at him. Locke backs out once the referee starts to count him and then eggs Black on, taunting his former tag partner. Dante ducks underneath a grabbing attempt and they circle, but Marcus finally catches up to The Hellhound and backs him into the corner, throwing some clubbing lefts and rights at him. Marcus doesn't let Dante out of the corner as he starts to get his first real offense in this match and brutalizes Locke with absolutely brutal strikes. Dante slumps to the bottom of the corner and Black chokes him out until the referee forces a break then Marcus just kicks him right in the face. It is incredibly clear that this is more than just a match, it’s personal. With great ease, Marcus picks Dante up and throws him into the opposite corner, running in with a big boot. A snapmare puts The Hellhound in the center of the ring and The Kraken hits him with a running knee strike. Locke tries to scramble away, throwing some kicks at that weakened leg, but Black powers through these ones and shuts him down with some well placed stomps to keep him on the canvas. Picking Dante up, Marcus throws him to the outside, and climbs out after him, lifting him up once more before throwing Locke into the ringside barricade. With Locke slumped in the corner of the barricades, Black backs up, and then rushes in with another knee to Dante's head. Again, Marcus backs up and runs in with another knee to crush Dante against the barricade. He goes for a third time, but Black only crashes into the barricade as Locke just rolls out of the way. Dante is up to his feet and Dante rolls into the ring, trying to collect his bearings for a moment as Marcus slowly recovers, clutching at his leg. And then Dante comes flying through the ropes with a massive suicide dive onto Marcus! It takes a good while before Locke slowly gets up to his feet and powers Black up. Locke gets him with a few European uppercuts and does further damage to Black's thigh before throwing him into the barricade. Locke rolls Black into the ring and climbs up to the top turnbuckle, waiting for Marcus to get back to his feet, and when he does, Dante takes off with a front missile dropkick! But Marcus stays standing on his feet! The Hellhound scrambles to his feet to keep Marcus staggered with a few more kicks to the thighs and then runs the ropes, but Black nearly takes his head off with a huge clothesline! Picking Dante up, Marcus puts Dante up on his shoulders, looking for his Release The Kraken, but Locke knows Marcus well and has it scouted and he gets out of it and rolls Black up, grabbing a handful of tights in the process! ONE! TWO! THRE-NO! They roll up to their feet at the same time and Dante throws some higher kicks to Marcus's sides, but all it takes is one big forearm to knock him right back down! And Dante gets right back up, going to deliver some more kicks to Marcus! But another forearm stops him and Marcus runs the ropes only to get taken down with a dropkick out of nowhere to that bad left leg of his! Locke is having to change his strategy big time as he grabs onto Black's leg and wraps in a kneebar. The Hellhound gets it applied and tries to inflict as much damage as possible, but Marcus powers out of Dante's attempt and gets to his feet. Lockhe throws an open palm strike, but Black steps back out of the way and pulls Locke in for a release German suplex! Black picks Locke up once more and lifts him all the way up for a massive sitout powerbomb! He then holds on for a pin attempt on Dante. ONE! TWO! THRE-NO! Somehow, Dante kicks out and Marcus just looks annoyed by it. He picks Dante up onto his shoulders again, trying for Release The Kraken once more, but again he escapes and takes Marcus down with a chop block. Dante goes for a single leg Boston crab on Black and wrenches back as far as he can, but Locke is forced to release it once Marcus crawls to the ropes. Dante struggles to lift Marcus up and attempts a suplex, but he's way too powerful at the moment and reverses it into an attempt of his own. But Locke drives his knee down to get free and runs the ropes only to get caught in a powerslam from Black! He starts to stomp on Dante again and gets a couple of strikes in, but he somehow grabs onto Marcus's leg and pulls him down into another kneebar! This time they're in the center of the ring and Locke isn't letting up! However, once Black starts to use his other leg to crash into Locke's body, he finally gets him to let go of the submission. They take some time getting to their feet and the moment they do, Marcus levels Dante with a big lariat! Onto his shoulders again and Dante escapes it one more time to pull Marcus into a small package! ONE! TWO! THREE-NO! He barely kicks out! Black staggers to his feet and Locke clips him once with a forearm strike before taking him down with an enziguri. Locke makes another pin attempt, but Black kicks out at two! Dante gets back to his feet, grabbing onto Marcus's arms, and just driving his boot down onto his chest, neck, and head repeatedly! The fans are on their feet as Dante picks Marcus up after brutalizing him and Dante hits the Vestibule of Hell (Running knee strike to head)! And Black is stunned long enough for him to hit him with the Straight To Hell (Underhook Front Facelock Drop)!!! Dante rolls over onto Black and Locke hooks the leg! ONE! TWO! THREE-NO! Marcus KICKS OUT! Dante can't believe it, yelling at the referee, but there's nothing he can do as Dante is forced to turn back to Marcus. The Kraken is slowly recovering in the corner and Locke heads over, keeping Black there with a few high kicks to the chest before stepping out onto the apron, and climbing onto the turnbuckle. It looks like he's trying for an elevated Vestibule of Hell, but Black pulls Locke onto his shoulders and drops him dead center of the ring with the Release The Kraken (Muscle Buster)!!! Marcus wastes little time going for the pin! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!! Marcus Black picks up the hard fought win!!! WINNER Marcus Black METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 18:43 FINISHING MOVE Release The Kraken POST MATCH Marcus has his hand raised in victory but the celebration doesn’t last long as Dante, who now has a pair of brass knuckles on his hand, levels Marcus in the face and completely knocks him down and out!!! The fans boo as Dante shakes his head, telling everyone he isn’t done. He exits the ring and sets up a table on the outside. Locke then pulls out gas and a lighter and he sets the table on fire!!! Dante has a sadistic look on his face as he gets back in the ring to get Marcus. He goes to lift him up but Black comes to and he obliterates Locke with a wicked clothesline! Marcus looks at the table then down at Dante. He then yells out, ‘I’m ending this!’ He picks Dante up and Blyss Lockhart sprints down to ringside but SABER STOPS HER!!! Reaper and Jackal hold Blyss back as she screams! The match might be over but SABER doesn’t consider this a finished job yet until Dante and Marcus are in the back, clearly. With Blyss watching on and yelling for Marcus not to do it, Black picks Locke up and sends him over the top rope with Blackhammer (F-5) and Dante goes crashing down through the flaming table! Dante immediately catches on fire and he starts to roll around and scream. After a few moments, the ringside crew uses a fire extinguisher to put Dante out. Blyss yells out that Marcus will pay for this as Dante is put on a stretcher and rolled out. Blyss follows Dante to the back. Though she has a huge main event to prepare for soon. |
BACKSTAGE
We cut backstage to a cackling sound. The camera is looking around for someone but can’t find anyone until suddenly, Julian Savell appears in front of it, startling the camera man as he continues to cackle.
Julian Savell: Jack, Jack, Jack… Tonight? You’re all alone. Your little bird did exactly what I thought she would do and she flew away… Because I put the fear of death into her heart. She learned a lesson, Jack. But you? You’ve yet to be taught a lesson, boy.
He took his mask off and a sinister look was on his face.
Julian Savell: In this unsanctioned match, I’m going to bring you toward the brink of death. You won’t be the same man after tonight. No, you won’t be shooting at the mouth anymore. You’ll get in line like the rest of them and bow down before your God of Wrestling!
He grinned widely.
Julian Savell: Your blood will spill all over the arena. I will paint this entire place red with you until there’s nothing left. There will be NOTHING of you left. I will fucking end you and then? Then the story of the cowboy and the bird will be over. But will it get its happy ending?
He cackles again.
Julian Savell: No. No, it won’t. Because there are no fairy tales or happy endings in my world. There’s simply hell… And I’ll be dragging you through it.
…RUN!
The scene cut away.
We cut backstage to a cackling sound. The camera is looking around for someone but can’t find anyone until suddenly, Julian Savell appears in front of it, startling the camera man as he continues to cackle.
Julian Savell: Jack, Jack, Jack… Tonight? You’re all alone. Your little bird did exactly what I thought she would do and she flew away… Because I put the fear of death into her heart. She learned a lesson, Jack. But you? You’ve yet to be taught a lesson, boy.
He took his mask off and a sinister look was on his face.
Julian Savell: In this unsanctioned match, I’m going to bring you toward the brink of death. You won’t be the same man after tonight. No, you won’t be shooting at the mouth anymore. You’ll get in line like the rest of them and bow down before your God of Wrestling!
He grinned widely.
Julian Savell: Your blood will spill all over the arena. I will paint this entire place red with you until there’s nothing left. There will be NOTHING of you left. I will fucking end you and then? Then the story of the cowboy and the bird will be over. But will it get its happy ending?
He cackles again.
Julian Savell: No. No, it won’t. Because there are no fairy tales or happy endings in my world. There’s simply hell… And I’ll be dragging you through it.
…RUN!
The scene cut away.
BACKSTAGE
A pink tricycle sits in the middle of what must be a little girl’s. Bright colors, stuffed animals, even a tea set on a small table. The Furby occasionally seen with Ashley Sands is sitting atop the tricycle’s seat. After a moment to take in the room around it, the tricycle begins to move as it is being pulled forward by an obvious string that leads off camera, the multi-colored tassels hanging from the handlebars rustling with the movement. The tricycle continues to move until it comes to a stop with a close up of Peanut the Furby, it’s mechanical beak moving as a high pitched voice speaks.
Peanut: Hello Liberty. For years you have settled with mediocrity. How else can a team like the Girls of Summer say that they had a successful reign as tag team champions. Which brings us to the current state of Liberation and the stranglehold The Society has had on much of the show. If Liberation is to survive it must change.
There is a quick flash of an image of Antoinette holding the Liberation championship title belt.
Peanut: You have shown you have the will to live. You are willing to change and live a new life embracing it but you still show signs of your old ways like the Socialites being anywhere near being considered for a shot at the Liberation tag titles. The time for half measures is gone. If you are truly sincere in your desire to change, you must complete this transition to a new life.
There is another quick flash of a photo, one of AMC and Ashley Sands this time, The Ashes.
Peanut: Like a phoenix, The Ashes will be key in your resurrection. With them you will rise into your new life of prosperity and… non-sucktatude. The choice is yours Liberation. Cover yourself in the smell of awesome or continue the stink of doodie of your past.
Someone laughs off camera, the sound of the voice is like an unaltered version of how Peanut was just “speaking”.
Ashley Sands: Ha! Doodie!
A pink tricycle sits in the middle of what must be a little girl’s. Bright colors, stuffed animals, even a tea set on a small table. The Furby occasionally seen with Ashley Sands is sitting atop the tricycle’s seat. After a moment to take in the room around it, the tricycle begins to move as it is being pulled forward by an obvious string that leads off camera, the multi-colored tassels hanging from the handlebars rustling with the movement. The tricycle continues to move until it comes to a stop with a close up of Peanut the Furby, it’s mechanical beak moving as a high pitched voice speaks.
Peanut: Hello Liberty. For years you have settled with mediocrity. How else can a team like the Girls of Summer say that they had a successful reign as tag team champions. Which brings us to the current state of Liberation and the stranglehold The Society has had on much of the show. If Liberation is to survive it must change.
There is a quick flash of an image of Antoinette holding the Liberation championship title belt.
Peanut: You have shown you have the will to live. You are willing to change and live a new life embracing it but you still show signs of your old ways like the Socialites being anywhere near being considered for a shot at the Liberation tag titles. The time for half measures is gone. If you are truly sincere in your desire to change, you must complete this transition to a new life.
There is another quick flash of a photo, one of AMC and Ashley Sands this time, The Ashes.
Peanut: Like a phoenix, The Ashes will be key in your resurrection. With them you will rise into your new life of prosperity and… non-sucktatude. The choice is yours Liberation. Cover yourself in the smell of awesome or continue the stink of doodie of your past.
Someone laughs off camera, the sound of the voice is like an unaltered version of how Peanut was just “speaking”.
Ashley Sands: Ha! Doodie!
HEADLINE: UNSANCTIONED TAG
Rayven Hardy & Jack Graves vs Syn & Julian Savell
Rayven Hardy & Jack Graves vs Syn & Julian Savell
| RECAP The sound of a banjo twangs out through the arena as “Doc Holliday” by Volbeat begins to play. The song’s opening builds, and Jack Graves steps through the curtains to a pretty sizable pop from the crowd. There are no beers, smiles, or high fives this time around though as Jack makes his march to the ring. Instead, there is just intense focus on the face of the “Outlaw” as he rounds the outside of the ring, makes his way up the steel steps to wipe his boots on the canvas, and steps between the ropes. He motions for a microphone and the announcer abides, handing one through the ropes to Graves as the music dies down. Jack holds the mic, listening to the roar of the sold-out crowd for a moment, before bringing it to his lips. Jack Graves: So I’m sure you all saw on social media that our sociopathic boss has made this match tonight non-sanctioned. You know what? That’s fine by me. It wasn’t sanctioned when I made a house call to that motherfucker Julian Savell, was it? And I’m pretty damn positive that it wasn’t sanctioned when he tossed my girlfriend off of a bridge! This has transcended past wrestling and “entertainment.” This isn’t business anymore, this is personal! Tonight I am going to brutalize Julian Savell for EVER thinking that he could test me or fuck with the people I care about. Jack paces back and forth across the ring for a moment before pausing to take his hat off and send it flying into the crowd. It is quickly followed in succession by his button-up western shirt, and this gets another loud pop, and an “Outlaw Shit” chant begins to build in the arena as Jack continues. Jack Graves: Let’s not forget Syn though. We used to be tight, didn’t we? We’d talk to each other about anything and everything. We had each other's back through thick and thin... that is until you fucking stabbed me in mine. But you know what they say, “loose lips sink ships” and tonight I’m going to sink your fuckin’ battleship and bury your ass like I should’ve done a long time ago. You’ve lost my friendship. You’ve lost your girlfriend. Now you lose your fucking consciousness when you step across from me. So come on out. Let’s do this. Two on one. Come get this backwoods smoke so I can fucking embarrass you. It’s at this moment that “Black Honey” by Thrice erupts through the speakers and Julian Savell arrives at the top of the ramp with a smirk on his face and his trusty umbrella in his right hand! Jack tosses the microphone aside and immediately begins waving Julian on. Telling him to “come to get some” which starts a similar chant from the crowd as they try to goad Julian toward the ring. With Jack’s attention on Julian, Syn is able to hop the barricade and slide into the ring behind him quietly. The fans aren’t having it though, and they quickly spoil her surprise attack by yelling to Jack to watch out. Jack turns just in time to catch Syn stalking him, and it almost looks like she is frozen in fear for just a second before she slams him in the solar plexus out of nowhere with his own brass knuckles that he’d dropped in Julian’s house. This makes Jack double over in an attempt to catch his breath and Syn follows up with another pinpoint right hook to the jaw of Graves, slumping him to the mat as Julian slides into the ring. Jack is in a bad way now as both Julian and Syn begin kicking and stomping the SHIT out of him, with Julian mixing in shots from his signature umbrella as Graves does his best to turtle up into a ball to protect himself. Julian isn’t letting him get off that easy though. He tosses his umbrella out of the ring, and he rolls Jack over to get into a full mount instead. From here, Savell begins to HAMMER down punches to the face of Jack Graves, just like Jack had done to him in his own house. Boos rain down on Julian and Syn as Savell pops back to his feet, He tells Syn to position Jack for the Golden God kick and Syn does as she’s told. Knowing he has Jack where he wants him, Julian heads to the corner to get ready to put an end to the “Outlaw”… That’s exactly when “Emotion” by Molly Burch blasts through the arena out of nowhere and the crowd comes completely UNGLUED as Rayven Hardy sprints toward the ring with fire in her eyes. Hardy slides into the ring and Julian instantly charges at Jack, trying to take him out quickly before she can stop him. He’s met mid-stride with a beautiful running dropkick to the face by Rayven, however. Julian stumbles backward into the ropes, and Syn charges in at Rayven as she pops back to her feet. Ray sees her coming from a mile away though and she ducks under her arm to rebound off the opposite ropes and nail her with a fluid hurricanrana that sends her rolling out of the ring. Jack makes his way back to his feet as Julian charges toward Rayven. Jack returns the favor, cutting him off mid-stride before he can get to Ray and completely leveling Savell with a massive shoulder tackle that sends him flipping through the air and under the ropes to regroup. The crowd comes to life again as Jack and Rayven stand tall in the ring with each other, and Jack pulls Ray in close to lay a huge kiss on her, which gets another loud pop and some loud whistles. Syn uses this distraction though to climb back on the apron, and she soars through the air with a beautiful springboard cross body into the ring to take them both down. Kipping back to her feet, Syn looks down at her opponents before looking over at the timekeeper to tell them to ring the bell to start the match. The timekeeper objects, arguing with her about how it’s a non-sanctioned match. But eventually, Syn’s threats of bodily harm win out and the bell sounds to “officially” start the non-official match. As soon as it does, Syn sprints across the ring and does a lionsault off the ropes to land on both Jack and Rayven for the first pin attempt of the match. 1.. 2... As soon as the ref’s hand comes down for two, Jack and Rayven both bench press Syn off of them with such force that she goes through the top and middle ropes to once again back out onto the floor. Julian slides back into the ring now, and he blindsides Jack in the side of the head with a big boot, taking him off his feet. Rayven rushes in to try to catch Julian off guard, but she eats a back elbow for her troubles that stumbles her back a few steps. As she does, Syn grabs her by the legs to trip her face-first to the mat. Rayven gets a few good kicks in as Syn pulls her out of the ring under the bottom rope, and the two start brawling on the outside as Julian Savell drags Graves back to his feet in the ring. Jules whips Jack into the corner hard and follows up close behind, barrelling into him with a nasty corner clothesline. He’s not done though, as he tucks Jack’s arms back in the ropes and crushes him with a brutal chop that rings out through the arena to a “WOOO” from the crowd. He follows in succession with three more chops, meanwhile, outside the ring, Rayven catches a kick from Syn and executes a dragon screw that whips her to the ground hard. Without missing a beat, Ray hops up onto the barricade and attempts to moonsault off! Syn is able to get her knees up though and she drives them into the body of Hardy as she lands! Hardy rolls around in pain, holding her ribs as Syn stays down to take a breather. Back inside, Jack has countered one of the chops, and he clocks Julian square in the jaw with a HUGE right hand that drops him to the mat with a thud. Julian quickly tries to shake it off and get back to his wobbly feet, but Jack crumples him with another huge right hand, this time covered with his signature brass knucks!! Julian appears to be knocked out cold as he slumps the canvas in a heap. Jack quickly goes for the cover… 1.. 2... NO! Syn slides into the ring with a chair and blasts Jack across the back to break the pin. She then hits him again, and again. Jack fights through the shots, growling in pain and grabbing at his lower back as he tries to stand. Syn brings the chair down once more, this time at his head, but somehow Jack is able to turn and punch it with the brass knuckles, sending it ricocheting back into her head to drop her like a sack of bricks. Jack tucks the knucks back into his pocket and he puts his boot squarely on the chest of his former friend while looking at the ref to start the count. 1.. Julian comes out of nowhere with a chop block to Jack’s leg to break the pin. Rayven rolls back into the ring and begins firing right hands to the jaw of Julian to back him against the ropes. Hardy quickly Irish whips him across the ring but when Julian rebounds he catches the former champion with a textbook tornado DDT to spike her hard on the mat! All four contestants are down, with both Julian and Syn pouring blood courtesy of Jack Graves. The ref starts a 10 count for the double count-out and he gets to 6 before Julian makes it back to his feet. He pauses for a moment to stomp Jack a few times for the hell of it, before pulling the “Outlaw’s” big ass back to his feet. Jules lands a few stiff right hands, but Graves eats them like a champ and comes alive suddenly to clothesline both Julian and himself out of the ring and onto the floor once again. Back in the ring, Rayven is dragging Syn back to her feet by her hair. She tucks her head under her arm to look for a vertical suplex but Syn quickly tries to pull a fast one and rolls Rayven up with the inside cradle! 1.. Rayven powers out and pops to her feet but so does Syn. Syn charges the ropes, and Ray does the same on the opposite side. The two meet in the middle and Ray leaps up to spin around Syn with a head-scissor takedown attempt and she drops Syn face-first to the mat with a modified head-scissor facebuster. Both women hit the mat hard and stay there motionless, trying to catch their breath and gather some energy and will to continue. Meanwhile, Julian has placed Jack Graves on the announcer’s table outside, and the camera catches a glimpse of something shiny and metallic in his hand. As the camera pans in more, it gets a clear shot of a staple gun in the hands of the sadistic Savell. Jack is trying his best to hold Julian’s arms back, but Savell quickly lands a sickening headbutt that busts the nose of Graves instantly. This gives him the chance he needs to put the stapler to the lips of Jack Graves and pull the handle to put a staple across the mouth of his rival. Jack howls in pain and another two staples click into his lips, sealing them half shut. Julian Savell: I’M GOING TO SHUT YOU UP FOR GOOD! Savell roars in the face of Graves, positioning the stapler to finish the job, but Jack lands his own headbutt this time and his head appears to definitely be harder. The headbutt stuns Savell, and it allows Jack to pull him onto the announcer's table with him. The two fight to their feet, and begin trading heavy punches atop the table. This continues for only a moment, before Graves catches a punch, pulls Savell in smoothly with a straitjacket hold, and spikes him through the announcer's table with a straitjacket DDT. A “Holy Shit” chant echoes through the building as the camera gets a closeup of the carnage and the staples in the lips of Jack Graves. Back inside the ring, Rayven has made it to her feet and she moves over to the ropes to survey the damage and check on her man. This gives Syn a distraction to capitalize on and when Ray turns back around she is leveled with a Superkick! Syn instantly goes for the pin. 1.. 2... NO! Rayven shows incredible heart to kick out again and Syn instantly starts throwing a fit telling the ref he is counting too slow. This allows Ray to shake off the cobwebs and make it back to her feet again. It doesn’t matter though, because she only eats a forearm strike by Syn for her troubles. Getting pissed, Ray fires back a forearm of her own, and the two begin to trade back to back in the center of the ring. Meanwhile, outside the ring, Jack Graves has muscled himself into a sitting position and he can be seen pulling the staples out of his mouth. Gross. Back in the ring, the two technical savants have locked up and began a chain wrestling battle. Collar elbow to a side headlock, side headlock to a chicken wing, chicken wing to a straight arm bar. They are putting on a clinic for the technical wrestling fans as the brawlers recover outside the ring. Syn gets an ankle pick on Ray and tries to spin into a crossface, but Ray rolls her up onto her shoulders for a quick pin attempt. 1.. 2... Syn rolls out and tries to get back to her feet but Rayven pulls a veteran move and grabs her to drop her face-first into her knees with a codebreaker! Syn bounces off her legs and Ray tries to go for the pin to put it away, but Syn rolls just out of her grasp and outside of the ring once more to the safe zone. Ray is frustrated and slaps her hand on the mat a few times, but she quickly turns her attention to Jack as he rolls Julian into the ring and climbs in himself. The two of them discuss their game plan for a moment, and then Jack muscles Savell back to his feet to grab him by his throat, looking him in the eyes. Jack goes to hoist him for the Hangman Backbreaker, but Julian drives an elbow into the side of his head. Rayven rushes forward, and she eats a big boot for her trouble. Julian ducks under a punch from Jack and connects with a beautiful German Suplex! Jack rolls through it with the impact and lands on his knees. Before he can do anything else, he’s CRUSHED by a Savior kick to the jaw. Julian collapses on Jack, and it looks like he may have the match in the bag as he secures the pin. 1.. 2... Jack Graves gets his shoulder up at the last possible second and the building sounds like it might come down. Savell looks like he’s in the pits of despair as he tugs at his hair in disbelief. Just to make sure, he makes another quick cover. 1.. 2... Jack kicks out faster, and harder this time, shoving Savell off of him. Julian leaps right back on him though as Jack rolls to his hands and knees to stand up, and he lands a nasty knee to the body that drops Jack back to the mat on his stomach. Savell uses this opportunity to lock in a Savell lock before Jack can get back up! Jack yells in pain, clutching at his shoulder as it’s torqued backward. His hand waivers over the mat, ready to tap at any moment, but Rayven saves the day again by annihilating Julian with a beautiful shining wizard. Julian flops to the canvas, and Jack pushes himself up to his knees once more. As he looks up, Syn is standing right in front of him with a wicked smirk on her face. Syn: Say goodnight Jackie. She throws a NASTY buzzsaw kick at his head to put his lights out for good, but somehow Jack has the wherewithal to duck it at the last minute. He powers to his feet, grabbing Syn around her waist to lift her into the air before falling back to let Rayven catch her in a cutter to nail her with a surprise 3-D out of nowhere! Jack muscles himself back to his feet and he drags Syn up to her fee to hammer throw her over the top rope and out of the ring again. Jack Graves: Goodnight, bitch! Now stay out! He taunts, extending his middle finger down at Syn where she lays motionless on the floor before dusting his hands off to add insult to injury. Rayven’s hand on his shoulder brings Jack’s attention back to the ring though, where Julian Savell is seen slowly rising to his feet. Jack nods his head up at the nearby turnbuckle, and Ray makes the climb while Jack circles behind Julian, stalking his prey. When Julian looks up to see Ray perched atop the turnbuckles and no Jack in sight, his eyes go wide. When he turns to look for Jack, he’s lifted into the air by his throat and dropped down hard across Jack’s knee, the "Hangman's Call" folding him like a lawn chair. As soon as he rolls off Jack’s leg and onto the canvas, Rayven takes flight! She soars through the air with the picture-perfect "Skittle Star Press" and she connects! Rayven instantly goes for the pin, and the ref slides into position as Syn pushes herself vertical and tries her best to get to the ring on wobbly legs. Jack sees her coming though, and he sprints across the ring to send all 220 pounds suicide diving through the ropes to obliterate his former friend with a diving bull hammer elbow! Both of them are down outside as the ref counts the pin inside the ring. 1.. 2... 3.... DING DING DING! Rayven picks up the pin and the win for the team, but everyone involved in this non-sanctioned match is broken, bruised, and battered. Jack is able to push himself up to his feet with the ring as support, and he pulls a crowbar out from under the ring before rolling back inside. There is a crazed look in his eye as he circles the downed Savell like a shark circling his meal. Moving in quickly, Jack pounces on Savell and gets a quick full mount to press the crowbar to his throat, turning him purple as he chokes the life out of him in the middle of the ring. This only goes on for a second before Jack raises the weapon in the air to prepare to deliver the fatal blow. He probably would have too, if Ray hadn’t placed her hand on his shoulder to stop him. She didn’t even need any words. Just a single look made Jack drop the steel bar and push himself to his feet to stare down at Julian. Jack Graves: You’re lucky she just saved your life. This is done. You come after either of us again and I won't stop next time. Jack spits blood on the immobile body of Julian Savell, and he turns to raise Rayven’s hand in the air as her music hits again to celebrate her win with another pop from the crowd. The two slide out of the ring, and they help each other up the ramp as the scene fades on the carnage left behind. WINNER Jack Graves & Rayven Hardy METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 26:23 FINISHING MOVE Skittle Star Press |
BACKSTAGE
“We’re always fighting.”
Sparrow’s voiceover carries over a video of...Him watching, well...Himself. A black and white video of the West Indian Whirlwind, sitting quietly in a couch at his Harlem home. The darkness from either the blinds or the dead of night pervades as he quietly observes himself over the course of Liberty Pro. The audio of the various clips playing back is muted but the images make it obvious. His infamous speech that put him as deeply at odds with Lily Callaghan as could be. The matches with TJ Techniques over the course of time in Liberty Pro, loss after loss and that eventual victory that led to him having the shortest reign in Liberty Pro’s history. A dubious honor, with Blyss holding onto the championship. Rewind. King of New York championship defense against Donovan Rich, against Cait Flanagan, JPK... Quietly, Sparrow observes, the luminescence of the television bathing his face in light.
“We are always fighting. I am always fighting. I will keep fighting until the very end of time. I made peace with that ya know. It’s why I said y’all gonna have to end me. That’s what it’s gonna take. Beyond being fired, beyond being ousted from this company. Because...I love this company, and I love this brand. I’ve been happily part of this brand from the beginning of 2021 when Liam drafted me to it. It’s been a wild ride y’know. I faced so many opponents, I faced down the barrel of one enemy or the next, and sometimes folks who ain’t even have a problem with me but just wanted to make things my problems yes.
...
Yet through it all, Blyss. Through it all I kept going. Couldn’t tell ya why ya know. Maybe stubborn, maybe a little stupid...’Schtupid’, is how they pronounce it in Trinidad. I kept going because I kept thinking that I’d grind enough and push enough and my worth would be seen by this company. You wanna hear the most insane, hilarious thing of it all? By me just...Trying to jump down Lilly’s throat, I gained more traction than I could have ever dreamed. By being put in a situation of either beating a man who I...I can’t even fathom how good he is sometimes or being fired...Ain’t have a choice but to do the former to avoid the latter. TJ or fired. That was it. Beat him and be champion or go down...And what happened Blyss? I won.
...And if I woulda been fired, I woulda stayed fired.
...You know what galls me though? Hearing from Gordon Fury that you...You were put in a similar kinda situation and you just didn’t follow through. You got retired off a match facing him and you just decided No.
No.
“We’re always fighting.”
Sparrow’s voiceover carries over a video of...Him watching, well...Himself. A black and white video of the West Indian Whirlwind, sitting quietly in a couch at his Harlem home. The darkness from either the blinds or the dead of night pervades as he quietly observes himself over the course of Liberty Pro. The audio of the various clips playing back is muted but the images make it obvious. His infamous speech that put him as deeply at odds with Lily Callaghan as could be. The matches with TJ Techniques over the course of time in Liberty Pro, loss after loss and that eventual victory that led to him having the shortest reign in Liberty Pro’s history. A dubious honor, with Blyss holding onto the championship. Rewind. King of New York championship defense against Donovan Rich, against Cait Flanagan, JPK... Quietly, Sparrow observes, the luminescence of the television bathing his face in light.
“We are always fighting. I am always fighting. I will keep fighting until the very end of time. I made peace with that ya know. It’s why I said y’all gonna have to end me. That’s what it’s gonna take. Beyond being fired, beyond being ousted from this company. Because...I love this company, and I love this brand. I’ve been happily part of this brand from the beginning of 2021 when Liam drafted me to it. It’s been a wild ride y’know. I faced so many opponents, I faced down the barrel of one enemy or the next, and sometimes folks who ain’t even have a problem with me but just wanted to make things my problems yes.
...
Yet through it all, Blyss. Through it all I kept going. Couldn’t tell ya why ya know. Maybe stubborn, maybe a little stupid...’Schtupid’, is how they pronounce it in Trinidad. I kept going because I kept thinking that I’d grind enough and push enough and my worth would be seen by this company. You wanna hear the most insane, hilarious thing of it all? By me just...Trying to jump down Lilly’s throat, I gained more traction than I could have ever dreamed. By being put in a situation of either beating a man who I...I can’t even fathom how good he is sometimes or being fired...Ain’t have a choice but to do the former to avoid the latter. TJ or fired. That was it. Beat him and be champion or go down...And what happened Blyss? I won.
...And if I woulda been fired, I woulda stayed fired.
...You know what galls me though? Hearing from Gordon Fury that you...You were put in a similar kinda situation and you just didn’t follow through. You got retired off a match facing him and you just decided No.
No.
You know why that amazes me, B? Because it tells me that you hold absolutely nothing sacred. Nothing. You can freely throw some casual threats Lilly’s way if she didn’t follow through on getting you what you want? No one holds you to it, you continue to do whatever. You can shriek on about how TJ’s dead or I’m dead or whoever is dead, no one bats an eye. You haven’t even properly defended that Freedom championship, and you don’t care. You. Don’t. Care. Because you’re Freedom champion and ain’t nothing else in the world matters. I’m so...I’m so past the point of angry and fury and disbelief and having my job threatened so many times that I’m left in awe at the gall.
Nothing.
Nothing means anything to you, except that championship. You hold absolutely nothing sacred. It...The insane thing is it almost puts into perspective so many things I’ve seen and gone through this year where ever else I wrestle and who manages me. Some people simply don’t hold certain things sacred. They will if they can go full ‘fuck-with-it’. Whatever it takes, as long as it gives them what they want. Honor? Respect? Dedication to the craft and the prestige? Words, bana. Madness, wildness. Words and rantings, and a jumble of pronunciations and vowels and consonants that mean not a ‘ting. So since you hold nothing sacred, let me say this loudly, and clearly.
...
...
I’m going to shame you tonight. That’s...That’s my goal. Beyond being Freedom champion and hurting you the only way I can, beyond hurting Lilly and crumbling her plans one more time even if she puts me in this situation, I dunno, if she wants my success or failure or just is throwing shit at the wall.
...I’m going to shame you. I’m going to do you in such a way that there will be never a question in your life that I am better. You’ll lie about it of course. You’ll talk on the microphone how you’re better, win or lose. How you went through years and faux-this-that-kindashit. Bird language and Sparrow dead and how I should die and you’ll keep on because you’re you. You’ll go on about how you deserve everything you have, and X and Y and Z...But.
...
But you’ll know.
...
Mel.
This is me talking. Not Sparrow.
I’m better than you and tonight?
...
You will never forget it.”
BACKSTAGE
We cut backstage to Lily Callaghan pacing back and forth in a panic as she is on the phone.
Lily Callaghan: What do you mean Dante is in the hospital? I need him here, right now! He needs to be here for the main event!!!
Lily started to stomp her feet in frustration.
Lily Callaghan: I don’t care about his burns! Bring him here! BRING HIM BACK! I Need him for tonight and tomorrow night!
A look of shock crossed over her face.
Lily Callaghan: What do you mean he can’t be cleared for the WarGames match? WHAT THE HELL!? I DON’T HAVE ANYONE ELSE!!!
She threw her phone at the wall and it shattered into pieces.
Lily Callaghan: It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ll figure it out! Of course I will! You can’t get rid of me, Jade! And you Sparrow!? You especially can’t! I will be rid of you after Blyss beats you in just a few moments! You are gone, bird boy!!!
Lily laughed as the scene cut away.
We cut backstage to Lily Callaghan pacing back and forth in a panic as she is on the phone.
Lily Callaghan: What do you mean Dante is in the hospital? I need him here, right now! He needs to be here for the main event!!!
Lily started to stomp her feet in frustration.
Lily Callaghan: I don’t care about his burns! Bring him here! BRING HIM BACK! I Need him for tonight and tomorrow night!
A look of shock crossed over her face.
Lily Callaghan: What do you mean he can’t be cleared for the WarGames match? WHAT THE HELL!? I DON’T HAVE ANYONE ELSE!!!
She threw her phone at the wall and it shattered into pieces.
Lily Callaghan: It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ll figure it out! Of course I will! You can’t get rid of me, Jade! And you Sparrow!? You especially can’t! I will be rid of you after Blyss beats you in just a few moments! You are gone, bird boy!!!
Lily laughed as the scene cut away.
MAIN EVENT: FREEDOM CHAMPIONSHIP VS SPARROW’S CAREER
Blyss Lockhart© vs Sparrow
Blyss Lockhart© vs Sparrow
| RECAP Before the match can even begin, Sparrow charges Blyss and barrels over both Blyss and the official, who manages to land on the ropes and scramble out of the way as he calls for the bell to be rung and the pair begin to roll around the mat trading blows. Sparrow gets the upper hand first and crashes his elbow down into Blyss’ face, who tilts her hips slightly and brings her head up to slam it into Sparrow’s causing her to back off just enough for Lockhart to mount Sparrow in return, grabbing a handful of hair, Blyss bounces Sparrow head off the canvas before Sparrow is able to throw Lockhart off. Both competitors retreat to a corner to catch their breath before Blyss crouches low to the mat, resting back on her toes she places her hand on the canvas and locks eyes with Sparrow right before spearing him hard through the ropes, the pair both tumbling to the outside and hitting the floor hard in a heap. Blyss rolls off Sparrow and both take a moment to shake the cobwebs from the impact before Sparrow jumps up and runs at Blyss, with a double stomp to her face, he bounces Blyss’ head off the steel steps with a loud thud. Blyss grabs at her head and rolls away, backing up to the barrier. As Sparrow tries to charge her again, Blyss is able to counter with a drop toe hold and Sparrow's jaw hits the barrier before he comes down next to her. Blyss cradles her head for a moment longer before getting to her feet and going to the ring to try and get a weapon but she can duck under the apron to retrieve a weapon, Sparrow gets her hair by a handful and wrenches her neck back before dropping her with a neckbreaker. Sparrow picks Lockhart up but Blyss counters with an elbow to his gut. Blyss makes a run and dive for the apron and disappears under the ring before Sparrow can catch her. Sparrow bangs on the apron and calls for her to get the fuck out and with a boo from the crowd. Blyss soon pops out the other side, as Sparrow rounds on her, Blyss swings a bat, which she wrapped that chain of hers around, and connects with Sparrows shoulder, a sick crunching thud echoes throughout the arena as the bat connects. Blyss goes for a second swing but Sparrow grabs the end of the bat and shoves down and back, nailing Blyss hard in the ribs with the bat. Sparrow realizes he could be DQ’d for this, as the rules for him are different. He looks up at the referee and the referee gives Sparrow the clear, since the bat was technically in Blyss’ possession. Blyss pulls back on the bat trying to pull it free from Sparrow, ramming her shoulder to her own detriment, into the end of the bat she forces it back against the same shoulder and this time Sparrow releases the bat to fall back to his knee, holding onto his injured shoulder. Blyss swings the bat one last time and crashes it across that same shoulder, against Sparrow's hand that had been cradling it and Sparrow pulls his hand back with a shake and a yell as the impact. Before Blyss can capitalize though, Sparrow runs at her with a spear and the two crash through the barrier with a thud and the fans are going absolutely nuts. Sparrow gets up to his feet first and he sets up two tables and the referee is telling him that he can’t use them. Sparrow then grabs a bag that he saw on the ground and he knew what it was filled with. Sparrow starts to pour the contents on each table, which turns out to be thumbtacks. Sparrow ignores the referee’s threats before he grabs the bat but winces a bit from the pain in his shoulder and fingers. Sparrow fights through the pain as he grips the bat with both hands and he wants to swing it into Blyss but he knows what will happen, so he drops it. Instead, Sparrow starts to drive his knee into Blyss’ ribs, before he lifts her up and drops her rib first down onto his knee. Blyss lets out a howling scream as she rolls around in pain. Sparrow then grabs Blyss by her hair and drags her towards the apron of the ring. Sparrow gets up on the apron and picks Blyss up with him. It looks as if Sparrow is going to suplex Blyss to the ground on the outside but Blyss rakes Sparrow in the eyes. Sparrow is blinded for a moment and Blyss tries to throw him down but Sparrow fights back. The two battle back and forth with each other, throwing hard rights and lefts before they both throw hard forearms at each other, knocking each other so senseless that they both fall, each going through one of the tables that Sparrow had set up earlier. Both competitors yell out in pain as their bodies both have thumbtacks sticking into them everywhere and the fans start to cheer, ‘HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!’ Both Sparrow and Blyss are lying there in pain, both they both start to fight through it and start to trade blows. Blyss then hits a Bicycle knee strike from out of nowhere! She puts Sparrow into the ring and she pins him but nooooo! He kicks out after a two count! Blyss hits the top ropes, getting up on them gingerly before she leaps off, going for Blyzzard (Shooting Star Press) but Sparrows kips up and nails her with a pele kick! Sparrow then grabs Blyss and drops her with Izuna Drop (Spider Suplex)! He gingerly gets up and BANG! The Notorious K.I.C.K. (Standing Double Foot Stomp) right onto Blyss! Sparrow collapses onto her and the referee makes the count but NOOOOOO!! Right before the three count could be made, the referee is pulled out of the ring and pushed into the steel steps. With Dante Locke incapciated from his match with Marcus Black earlier, who could have done this? The camera pans in and it’s LILY CALLAGHAN! Fans boo as Lily cackles and points down at the referee. Sparrow is LIVID! He wastes little time as he nails Air Sparrow (AJ Styles’ Fosbury Flop), flying over the top rope and taking out Lily to the fans delight!!! Sparrow’s adrenaline is pumping now and he quickly gets back in the ring, where Blyss is still down. He climbs the top rope and he’s going to go for The Notorious K.I.C.K. II!He lines Blyss up and leaps off but she rolls out of the way! Sparrow lands on his feet and rolls but when he turns around? He’s met with black mist to the face from Lockhart!!! Sparrow is blinded as he backs into the corner trying to wipe the mist out of his eyes. Blyss wastes no time as she charges and nails Super fast running double knee smash! Sparrow goes down in a heap and Blyss climbs the top rope with an evil look on her face. She leaps off and nails Blyzzard (Corkscrew Shooting Star Press)!!! A new referee slides into the ring to make the count. 1… 2… 3!!! DING DING DING!!! The bell rings and "Nocturnal" by New Years Day blares over the PA system as Blyss is handed her Freedom Championship. She stands over Sparrow and holds it in the air with a sickening grin. Lily recovers and enters the ring before holding Blyss’ hand in the air. She then looks down at Sparrow and declares that he’s fired!!! The fans boo as confetti falls over Lockhart. And with that… We end Night One of Battle Symphony 2. WINNER Blyss Lockhart METHOD Pinfall MATCH LENGTH 19:21 FINISHING MOVE Blyzzard |