We open with a black screen, which gradually gives way to a screen full of fog. After a second or so of venturing through it, we are met with the image of a large book, open on a podium. It is opened to a page headed by “Chapter 12 – Using Fire”. We then hear the narrator, who sounds like a wise, but strong old man…
Narrator:
Time is the fire in which we all burn
An image flashes by of a fire slowly consuming a grassy plain
Narrator:
For when something is lost in time…
The fire rapidly consumes the entire prairie, soon spreading to a nearby forest
Narrator:
…it cannot ever be recovered.
A flash back to the book, which shows an illustration of a forest on fire, which then comes to life as the forest we just saw catch blaze
Narrator:
It is forever lost, burned and marred through memories
The blaze soon spreads, the winds picking up embers and spreading it even farther before we flash back to the book
Narrator:
History has told us that when something is cast ablaze…
The pages of the book turn, showing another illustration of even more lands being consumed by fire, eventually reaching a town that has people evacuating and screaming in terror
Narrator:
…it is to be forever forgotten. To have never even existed. Obliterated.
The tremendous fire now resembles something out of Hell, continuing to grow in size before we turn the page of the book once more…
Narrator:
So when one is to set the world ablaze…
The book shows an illustration of the Planet Earth, held by the hands of Atlas that slowly comes to life and has the entire planet slowly being consumed by flames
Narrator:
…the aim is to leave everything behind. To set a brand new standard.
The Earth is now completely on fire in the hands of Atlas before we go back to the book which turns a page, the smoke now gone, everything surrounding the podium up in flames
Narrator:
So tonight, we redefine what you know…
As we peek into the book once more, we see an illustration of Christian, hoisting a steel chair above Lashley. The illustration quickly comes to life, Christian smashing Lashley’s head with a con-chair-to
Joey Styles:
My God…someone stop this…!!
Narrator:
Of life…
Another page turn and another illustration, showing Gregory Helms standing over a decimated Rey Mysterio. This comes to life as well, with Bryan Danielson rushing the ring after Helms.
JBL:
This is mayhem…!!
Narrator:
Of war…
Another given-life illustration lights up, as RVD leaps from the top rope onto Paul Wright, who collapses off the apron and falls for the first time in AOW
Joey Styles:
Van Dam’s felled the giant!
Narrator:
Of wrestling.
One more illustration is given life in Shawn Michaels standing in the middle of the ring after being named the special guest referee
Joey Styles:
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!
(echoes)
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING~!!
CHANGES EVERYTHING~!!
EVERYTHING~!!
Everything…
Narrator:
Tonight, Art of War Wrestling invites you to forget everything…
We see everything rewind back to the very first frame of the book in smoke, while a guitar rhythm begins to crescendo in the background
Narrator:
To forget everything that has come before…
The rewinding continues past what we’ve already seen, very brief flashes of iconic wrestling events AOW doesn’t even own the rights to are shown…
“…meets the Immovable Object…”
“The grandest stage of’em all!”
“…broken SMACK-DAB in half…”
“…says I just whipped your…”
“…boyhood dream has…”
“…dreams do come true…”
“…ERA HAS BEGUN…”
We finally end the clips and copyright infringement at a completely black screen, the guitar riff stopping as well before kicking back up as soon as the narrator speaks again, the lead singer simultaneous with him
Narrator:
And for a night you’ll never forget. as we set this WORLD ABLAZE!!
The official theme song, “World Ablaze” by Killswitch Engage is on full blast now, coinciding with some of the biggest moments in AOW’s young history
We alone remain
Samoa Joe and Finlay battle break the AOKO match cage
Don’t fear; what a waste
Shawn Michaels beheads RVD with Sweet Chin Music mid-air
We alone remain
The World’s Greatest Tag Team perform their ladder-aided World’s Greatest Doomsday Device
Set this world ablaze…
On that line again, we return to image of the book, the Art of War, on the pedestal as it completely ignites, panning out to a shot of the world in Atlas’ hands, completely consumed by a blaze
Set this world ablaze…
The guitar riff starts to fade as the Planet Earth explodes in absolute silence, the song abruptly cutting off before the screen goes white with only Joey Styles’ voice echoing in the background…
“THIS…CHANGES…EVERYTHING…!!!”
**End Package**
AND NOW, ART OF WAR WRESTLING AND MAMAJUANA ENERGY PRESENT…A 3-HOUR PAY-PER-VIEW SPECTACULAR…WORLD ABLAZE!!
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
An explosive wall of fire that seems like it’s from the depths of Hell itself shoots off followed by actual fireworks as we’re brought to the not-quite-sellout, but surprisingly solid crowd in the TD Banknorth Garden Arena, somewhere in the vicinity of 12,000 strong making their voices heard for AOW’s first ever pay-per-view event.
We look towards the World Ablaze stage, looking not too different from the usual Oblivion set-up format wise, but is indeed unique. In the center of it all, where the circular ‘tron screen usually is, there is now a protruding globe figure that seems to be made of some clear material, the continents shown on the planet are solid however. The globe is being held by two of Atlas’ arms, cradling it from the sides.
The rest of those two arms, from the wrist down, directly form the entrance gateway that surprisingly doesn’t have the blood-red curtain that has become an AOW trademark by this time. To the left and right of the protruding globe, we see two huge screens similar to Titantrons, but smaller, both being held up by two more of Atlas’ arms. Everything between seems to look like cracked and eroded ground.
After getting this great look at the set, we hear the excited voices of Joey Styles and John Layfield.
Joey Styles:
This is the night that does indeed change everything!! The stars of Art of War Wrestling are here to redefine everything you know about war, entertainment, and the art of wrestling itself! I’m Joey Styles alongside my broadcast partner, a man who has held over a combined 24 professional wrestling titles – John “Bradshaw” Layfield.
JBL:
Can you fell this electricity in the air, Joey? It’s some kinda tremendous, isn’t it?
Joey Styles:
This is exactly the kind of feel we here at AOW want for our very FIRST Pay-Per-View extravaganza!! Boston is on its feet and rearin’ to go for what should be an absolutely incredible night.
JBL:
Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe what’s gonna happen tonight, Joey. These Beantown bozos are in for a real treat. I mean, look at what we have on tap for tonight. Can any other wrestling promotion in the world give you Aero Star taking on Jamie Noble? How about Christian Cage taking on Bobby Lashley? Or how about Chris Jericho takin’ on Rob Van Dam? Not a single one, I tellya!! An’ we got’em.
Joey Styles:
Those are some of the matches highlighted tonight, but they are far from the only things we’ve got going here in AOW. But ladies and gents, enough of us babbling here at the commentary table, let’s get you to the ring, as we get set to kick this baby off with our opening contest.
**WELCOME TO WHITECHAPEL**
And after the very theatrical opening few moments, we’re instantly brought to the reason why we’re all here – to watch a terrific wrestling show. As the pipe organ music goes off, the globe that’s at the center of the architecture begins glowing a fiery red-orange, a few flames protruding from the actual structure. Directly beneath the globe in the entrance way, it fills up with a sort of steam or smoke from the glowing planet Earth, shooting from above into the space, a well-placed light making the curtain of smoke glow red, making the now signature AOW blood red curtain out of the fire’s smoke.
Paul Burchill and Brent Albright make their way through the fog without a flinch, however, their black tattered suit jackets over their shoulders. They’re both wearing their manscara, but look damn dark, as they both make their way towards the ring and down the ramp, walking very slowly and methodically, taking their time and sneering at the crowd.
**DING DING DING**
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the AOW Tag Team Championships!! Introducing first, at a combined weight of 493 pounds, the team of Paul Burchill and Brent Albright – THE MERCENARIIIEEES!!
JBL:
You can’t bet against these guys. Just look at’em. They move like champions, they act like champions, their aura just says bona fide money in the bank. These men are dangerous and they’re certainly hella deadly. There ain’t a better way to kick off AOW’s first Pay-Per-View than showin’ off these guys.
Joey Styles:
As they are indeed incredibly dangerous, and the World’s Greatest Tag Team found that out the very hard way this past Wednesday when they were picked apart by The Mercenaries, but nonetheless, Burchill and Albright come into this not holding tag team gold, but by the looks in their eyes right now I can safely say they don’t intend on leaving that way.
JBL:
Yer damn right they aren’t. Nothin’ against the World’s Greatest, but that name gets put to the test today when the Mercenaries collect their due in those titles.
**WORLD’S GREATEST**
The familiar hum goes around the arena and gives way to the globe again firing out the red curtain of smoke. From the blood-and-fire red smoke curtain comes the World’s Greatest Tag Team to a rousing opening ovation, Benjamin and Haas making their way down the ramp with those beautiful Tag Team Championships around their waist.
Haas is grimacing a bit every time he steps on his taped and tweaked right knee, while Benjamin is noticeably favoring his left shoulder quite often as well, both of these body parts on each man’s respective anatomies being picked at by the Mercs last week. They stop at the base of the ramp and glare at their opponents before stepping into the ring.
Tony Chimel:
Weighing in at a combined weight of 497 pounds…they are the AOW Tag Team Champions…Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas – the WORLD’S GREATEST TAG TEAM!!
Joey Styles:
These men fight for honor and they fight for the fighting spirit. For weeks, the World’s Greatest have accused The Mercenaries of not having earned their #1 contendership in a very respectful manner, Burchill and Albright not deserving respect. Tonight, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas get the chance to see if The Mercenaries have earned the respect they say they deserve.
JBL:
You and the World’s Greatest can talk about respect all you want, but it all boils down to those two leather straps right there, Joey – the AOW Tag Team Championships, the pinnacle of tag team wrestling in all the world. The Mercenaries already got a head start on’em, look at Benjamin an’ Haas, they’re already beat up!
Joey Styles:
But the fighting spirit that the World’s Greatest chose to embroider on the wrestling style won’t allow them to back down even with ailing parts…and this doesn’t look like they’re backing down anytime soon!
As Styles says the last part of his spiel, the WGTT step into the ring and meet the unwavering Mercs in the middle of the ring, each man meeting nose to nose and staring holes into one another. Benjamin and Haas haven’t even bothered to remove the tag titles from their waists, each man uneasily locking eyes. Benjamin and Haas finally do remove the tag titles from their waists, doing it in sync and lifting them high over their heads, garnering a very nice pop from the crowd and causing The Mercs to steps forward once more and getting in their faces.
Benjamin is seen mouthing the words “Y’all don’t deserve this” to Paul Burchill, who replies with a sneer and a smug smirk before telling Albright to back away into a corner. The ref then backs the champions into their corner, but we can see Burchill mouth to Albright that “I’ll show them what we deserve” before Albright nods and heads to the apron first.
AOW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
World’s Greatest Tag Team(c) v. The Mercenaries
After that hot opening exchange of a few words, it’s Benjamin and Burchill who kick things off on AOW’s first ever PPV. Both men begin circling one another before they lock up, Burchill immediately showing his aggression by forcing Benjamin into a corner. Benjamin, not to be pushed around, fights right back and pushes Burchill all the way back towards center ring, both men back in the center with the lock up still in. Benjamin then drops his level and double leg tackles Burchill, taking him down amateur-like before quickly covering Burchill –
1-NO!
A very quick attempt and a very quick kickout brings both men back to their feet, where they immediately go for another lock up, Benjamin getting the upper hand this time and pushing Burchill into a corner. Burchill, not one to ever be cornered, simply drops his level while keeping the lock up in, forcing Benjamin’s jaw off the iron post with a CORNER JAWBREAKER! This very resourceful move causing Benjamin to reel and give Burchill room to dart at him with a very HEAVY RUNNING LARIAT!! Burchill with his first attempt now –
1…
2-NO!!
Benjamin is quick to fight out, but he’s still holding his jaw and possibly trying to put it back into place. Both men get to their feet, but Burchill is quick to grab Benjamin’s wrist and wrench his arm, starting to open up the assault on his shoulder. Burchill keeps his meticulous approach by keeping the arm wrench and driving an elbow into the left shoulder of Benjamin, causing the former All-American to yell in pain and dropping to a knee before Burchill drives another elbow into it. Burchill then takes the in agony Benjamin and forces him to his feet, tossing him into the opposite ropes, catching him on the rebound with an arm drag to the still hurting left shoulder, quickly getting behind Benjamin after he flips him and executes a flawless BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX that forces Benjamin to land squarely on the back of his neck and on the left shoulder! Burchill with another cover –
1…
2…
NO!!
Benjamin is able to throw his good shoulder off the mat, but it may be too late. Burchill has already picked apart the torn appendage, dragging Benjamin by his hurt shoulder into his corner, where he tags in Albright, who enters and viciously begins stomping a mudhole into the injured shoulder. Benjamin grovels in pain yet again, as the apprentice in the Burchill-Albright relationship seems even more locked in than his advisor, again forcing Benjamin to his feet and hammering wrenching his injured arm. Benjamin doubles over at this, while Albright holds onto the arm and grabs Benjamin’s chin from around his head, giving him leverage to force him back RIGHT ONTO ALBRIGHT’S KNEE, targeting Benjamin’s neck as well now. Benjamin hasn’t been able to get a lick of offense in so far, and it doesn’t look like he will anytime soon, as Albright now takes the seated Benjamin and stuffs the arm under his arm before placing his boot onto the injured shoulder and literally PULLING THE ENTIRE SHOULDER AWAY FROM THE SOCKET. Benjamin’s screams of pain are heard all over the arena, as now Albright isn’t even being subtle about the Mercs strategy here. And Charlie Haas has had enough. Haas roars across the ring, his partner in dire jeopardy here, clubbing Albright from behind and forcing him to let go. The crowd lets out a pop for this, as Haas angrily begins pummeling Albright with right hands before the referee steps in and forces Haas away from Albright. Benjamin, who is leaning on the top rope right now for leverage, doesn’t benefit at all from the referee being distracted, as Burchill drops from off the apron and GUILLOTINE DROPS THE INJURED SHOULDER OFF THE ROPE!! Benjamin’s body and arm viciously whiplash towards the canvas, Albright with another cover, forcing Benjamin’s arm behind him –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Benjamin is able to force the arm up and break the count, but the damage looks to have been done already, the Mercs not wasting any time in punching more holes in the hull of the ship. Haas now has to look in horror as his tag partner is still being dismantled, his shoulder getting stomped on again by Albright before tagging back out to Burchill. Burchill takes Benjamin and tosses him across the ring into the ropes, but he follows him and immediately hits him with a running knee as soon as he rebounds off, doubling Benjamin over. Burchill then wrenches the left arm once more before going back into his corner and tagging back in Albright, who delivers a thrust to the armpit, again leaving Benjamin in pain. When Albright tries to grab Benji’s arm, however, Benjamin finally shows some sign of life, giving him an elbow to the gut with his good arm. Albright retaliates simply by giving him another thrust to the weak shoulder and gives him enough gusto to toss Benjamin into the ropes again, but on the rebound, Benjamin takes Albright’s lowered head and turns it into a neckbreaker!! Benjamin tends a bit to his hurt shoulder before getting to his feet, waiting for Albright to get up, while Haas is calling to him to tag him in. Benjamin turns to look at him with a distinct look in his eye…at which point, Haas realizes he’s not going to tag. This isn’t just about respect between both teams. It’s about respect with the individuals themselves. It doesn’t look like Benjamin would respect himself if he tagged out here. If that’s the ideology, Benjamin quickly turns to Albright and strikes him with a high reverse elbow, putting Albright down and getting Benjamin a cover –
1…
2-NO!!
Albright unsurprisingly kicks out, but as he crawling climbs the ropes to get to his feet, he ventures near a corner, where Benjamin begins stalking him before rushing full force – STINGER SPLASH!! Benjamin uses the top ropes to recover quickly, Albright’s body bouncing out of the corner. Benjamin quickly gets Albright in his clutches for an EXPLODER SUPLEX…NO!! Benjamin goes to lift Albright, but it looks like his bad shoulder gives way! Albright takes this chance to almost completely deadlift Benjamin and throw him over him with the BELLY TO BELY OVEREHAD TOSS!! Benjamin goes down hard, Albright with another cover –
1…
2….
3-NO!!
Benjamin still has some kind of fight left in him. Albright takes Benjamin and chunks him into his corner, tagging back in Burchill. Burchill steps in and grapples around Benjamin’s waist, while Albright rushes and rebounds off some ropes in front of them…LARIAT/GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO!! WOW!! Benjamin is beheaded while simultaneously having his head driven into the canvas!! Burchill keeps the bridge here, holding onto an impressive pin attempt –
1…
2…
3…
NO!! Charlie Haas breaks it up!! Haas has stormed the ring, kicking the shit out of Burchill’s exposed midsection on the bridge and forced the break! The ref tells Haas to get out, but this go ‘round, Haas doesn’t listen and instead awaits Burchill’s recovery before dropping him on his head with his own GERMAN SUPLEX!! But unfortunately for Haas, he’s being stalked by Albright, who grapples around Haas’ waist for a GERMAN SUPLEX OF HIS OWN!! Haas goes down for the first real time tonight, even as the non-legal man. As Albright stands over his prey looking menacing, he too is grappled from behind – Shelton Benjamin now lifts Albright with a little bit of difficulty…BUT HITS HIS OWN GERMAN SUPLEX!!! The inability to use his left arm causes Benjamin to let go and turn it kind of into a German suplex side slam, but nonetheless, the crowd pops and applauses for that rapid exchange of Germans! All are down are this point, Benjamin falling back on that hurt shoulder again after having to use some of it on his German, as well as still trying to recover from being double teamed. Benji has enough in him to try and crawl Paul Burchill, who is now on his feet, to get vertical himself. Burchill forces Benjamin to his feet and clubs his weakened shoulder yet again, forcing Benjamin to strut around in pain. As Burchill approaches Benjamin again, the tag champ shoves his knee into Burchill’s gut before using his good shoulder again for a surprise European uppercut on the European. Benjamin seems to be building a head of steam here, rebounding off the ropes behind him and hitting Burch with a clothesline, followed rapidly by another. As Burchill gets to his feet quickly, he’s met this time by Benjamin’s foot flying towards his face – which he catches. But as he throws it around…DRAGON WHIP!! Benjamin has life!! Benji now covers Burchill –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Burchill manages to get the shoulder up, forcing Benjamin to look at the ref in slight disbelief. Benji winces a bit more as he crawls off of Burch’s body, now crawling to his corner after somewhat redeeming himself. Haas is now there, recovered from his part in the German-fest, reaching over the rope and trying to reach Benjamin. Burchill is making his way into his corner as well, the crowd getting pumped for Benjamin to finally get into his corner and tag the proven psyched Haas. Benjamin reaches…and FINALLY gets the hot tag in on Haas, Burchill getting his tag in to Albright just a nanosecond afterward, Haas rushing full-steam, crowd charged towards Albright – who promptly lowers his stance and level, RAMMING HIS SHOULDER INTO HAAS’ WEAK RIGHT KNEE. Haas goes flipping over Albright, killing the momentum the WGTT had built up to that point, once again immediately gunning for the weak spot. The crowd is back to being deflated, Albright now going by Haas near the ropes, holding onto the top rope and leaping down and stomping on the hurt right knee. Albright lets out a very evil smirk that gets a good deal of heat before forcing Haas to his feet and against the ropes, giving a loud CHOP(Woooooo!) to the chest before following up with another CHOP(Woooooo!) that gets Haas gritting. Albright then keeps Haas forced up against the ropes and backs away, looking to set up maybe a CACTUS CLOTHESLINE…NO!! Haas gets a boot up into the face of Albright, causing him to turn away. Haas then grabs Albright in a headlock before springboarding off the second rope…SPRINGBOARD BULLDOG!! SPRINGBOARD BULLDOG!!! Haas pulling that one out of nowhere as he gets his first cover –
1…
2….
3-NO!!
Albright is able to get himself out of that surprise move, much to Haas chagrin. Haas takes a second sitting up to tend to his targeted knee before crawling on top of Albright and arm wrenches his arm while on the canvas, whipping it violently. It seems as though Haas may be sending the message that if you’re gonna hurt us, we’re gonna hurt you. Haas continues this by jumping on the targeted shoulder, putting in a key lock that wrenches the shoulder even more. We see Albright in a truly uncomfortable spot for the first time in AOW, trying to get to his feet and get out of this hold. Being willed on by Burchill, Albright eventually fights to his feet, but almost as soon as he does, Charlie Haas releases the hold and rolls Albright up from behind –
1….
2…
3-NO!!
Albright is able to throw his legs up and escape the pin attempt, but as soon as he gets to his feet, he rushes at Haas, only to be greeted by a ONE-MAN FLAPJACK! Albright goes face-first into the canvas, spinning onto his back on the impact, Haas again trying for the cover –
1…
2…
NO!!
Albright manages to roll the shoulder, forcing Haas to grapple him in a front headlock, Haas now going to his amateur background. Again looking to wear down Albright, the Oklahoma native doesn’t look to stay down too long, getting to his feet from the constricting hold somewhat quickly and lifts Haas up, looking for perhaps a suplex of some sort, but Haas clenches the headlock tighter and forces Albright to put him down. Haas then backpedals towards the ropes, soon throwing Albright over the middle rope, his upper body dangling inside. Haas then goes over and knocks Burchill off the apron very quickly before ascending to the second rope and patting his elbow and leaping, nailing a SECOND ROPE ELBOW DROP ONTO THE ROPE HUNG ALBRIGHT!!! Haas has a great deal of zeal in him now, as Albright folds over the ropes into the ring and prompting yet another cover –
1…
2…
3-WAIT!
Burchill yanks Haas from under the rope and onto the floor!! Haas is faceplanted onto the padded outside, stunning him for a moment, while the referee admonishes Burchill and tells him to get him back into the ring. Burchill ignores him, instead turning his attention to Albright, telling him “you’ve gone soft! Where’s your savage, boy?” Burchill then turns his attention back towards Haas, who juts up and puts a fist in Burchill’s stomach, only for Burchill to grab him and WHIP HIM INTO THE STEEL RING STEPS, KNEE FIRST!! The knee is targeted again by Burchill, the ref still pointlessly begging for them to get back in the ring. Burchill then looks at Albright again, saying “remember what we do?” Albright nods his head, his expression somewhat aggravated, but becoming a tad more aggressive. While that goes on, Shelton Benjamin cruises the ring apron to try and help his partner, but Albright looks to stop him only to get his head bashed against the ring corner. This stuns him enough for Benjamin to get to the arena floor, reaching around the iron post and kicking Burchill in the face before walking again on the apron and leaping, nailing Burchill in the face with an APRON LEAPING REVERSE ELBOW!! Burchill is knocked away, allowing Haas to get back into the ring – only to be greeted by an Albright kick to the knee, forcing Haas down, allowing Albright to stuff him between his legs…TURNBUCKLE POWERBOMB!! TURNBUCKLE POWERBOMB!! Haas’ head whiplashes with authority off of the iron post, the crowd ‘oooh’ing in pain. Haas is down, prompting Albright to pull him out of the corner and get a title-aimed cover –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!!
Haas somehow rolls the shoulder! Albright tries again, this time hooking the injured leg –
1…
2…
NO!!
Not any better luck! The look in Albright’s eyes goes to one of even more aggression, now taking Haas’ injured leg and locking in a half Boston crab. Haas sells the pain of the hold trying to reach around and find the ropes, but Albright isn’t letting him do a whole lot, especially when he gets off Haas’ back and just torques the knee using his leg in the kneepit as leverage. Haas is trying to find something, when he notices that he looks up, seeing Shelton Benjamin back in his corner. Haas is deafly trying to reach his corner, the crowd prompting him on, but Albright is doing his damndest not to let him get there. Haas finally rolls over and alleviates the pressure, kicking Albright all the way across the ring into his corner, allowing Charlie to tag in Benjamin, who looks well rested, sore shoulder and all. Albright is stooped in his corner, where Burchill tags himself in, Albright not showing any resentment. As Burchill charges towards Benjamin, Benji clocks him in the face with a hard right hand, forcing Burchill down, but he quickly gets to his feet only to meet another right hand and go down, only to get up again and charge one last time to get rolled through and rolled into another school boy –
1…
2…
NO!!
Burch is able to get out of the pin that may begin to show some desperation on Benjamin’s part. Regardless, as soon as both men get to their feet, Benjamin plants Burchill with a scoop slam, grabbing his hurt shoulder a bit afterwards. Benjamin then looks to ascend to the top rope, looking for some kind of high risk offense here. Before he can launch himself, however, Albright distracts him from the apron before the ref tells him to knock it off. When the ref looks back at the action, Albright simply presses down on the top rope, causing Benjamin to lose his balance a little on the top rope, but the sheer athleticism of Benjamin allows him to quickly regain this balance, bad shoulder and all. But this is costly enough, as this is all Burchill needs to recover, leap off the second rope and NAIL BENJAMIN WITH AN ENZEGUIRI OFF THE TOP ROPE!! Benjamin goes flipping from off the top and splatting to the canvas, the crowd going a little nuts over this move. Burchill doesn’t try for the cover here. Instead, the Ripper chooses to ascend to the top rope himself, not taking his eyes off Benjamin for a second, seemingly studying him all the way up top. His turn for high risk offense…? What’s Burchill gonna do here…DIVING HEADBUTT!!! DIVING HEADBUTT TO BENJAMIN’S AILING LEFT SHOULDER!! Burchill was sizing up where Benji’s shoulder was the whole time! Burchill reels from hitting human flesh with his own skull, trying to recover himself. Benjamin, on the other hand, is thrashing around, holding onto his shoulder as if it is indeed separated. Burchill finally makes his way over to Benjamin, throwing the hurt shoulder down and covering him –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!!
How did Benjamin roll the shoulder?? He does so to a marvelous pop, but Burchill doesn’t give him any time whatsoever to revel in his accomplishment, immediately forcing Benjamin over…ROYAL MUTILATION!!! ROYAL MUTILATION LOCKED IN!!! THE DEADLY FUJIWARA HAS BENJAMIN’S INJURED SHOULDER TORQUED BACK INSIDIOUSLY!!! The move the Mercs have been setting up since the beginning of the match!! It literally seems as though Benjamin’s arm is completely out of its socket, and by the way Benjamin’s selling it, you would think it was. Benjamin, struggling to hold on, grips, gripes, and tries to make his way to a rope, slowly crawling. Charlie Haas breaks across the ring to help his partner break out, but as he does, so does Brent Albright, who catches Haas halfway after driving a knee to Haas’ gut, driving his forearm into the back of his ailing knee, and chunking him through the middle ropes, going outside after him. Benjamin appears to be a sitting duck now, still struggling and crawling to find the ropes…
……
……..
Benjamin reaching for dear life…
……
…….
HE GETS THEM!!! BEJMAIN GETS THE BOTTOM ROPE!!! His left arm is completely wrenched right now, but Benjamin lives to fight a little longer. The crowd pops out of relief, the fan favorites still in this thing…but Burchill still hasn’t let go. The referee is counting the disqualification down, Burchill forcing his way to a count of four like a good heel. Burchill now has a look of aggression on his face. He’s already done as savage as he can. But perhaps there’s a bit more in the tank. Outside the ring, Albright has been slightly distracted by the fact that the match isn’t over yet, enough for Haas to knock him down with a Russian leg sweep. Burchill yanks the black athlete away from the ropes and back center ring, looking to LOCK THE MUTILATION IN ONCE MORE, but Benjamin is quick to his feet and prevent it from being synched in completely, short arm whipping Burchill before bringing him back in…EXPLODER SUPLEX!!! EXPLODER SUPLEX!!! Benjamin lands right on top of Burchill, unable to hook a leg, but he’s got it –
1…
2…
3…!!!
NO!!!!!
BURCHILL’S ABLE TO KICK OUT!! The complete decimation of Benjamin’s shoulder robs him of the strength he needs to properly power the move! The crowd can’t believe it any more than Benjamin can, but Benjamin is too busy tending to his incredibly ailing shoulder at this point. Benjamin’s mouth hangs open in exhaustion, slowly crawling towards the ropes to bring himself to his feet, Paul Burchill soon joining him in the vertical base. Benjamin fires himself towards Burchill, but Burch ducks underneath and grapples Benjamin from behind, setting up the REGALPLEX…but Benjamin rolls forward, getting Burchill trapped beneath him and hooking a leg for leverage –
1…
2…
3…!!!
Here are your winners and STILL AOW Tag Team Champions…THE WORLD’S GREATEST TAG TEAM at (16:41)
They did it! How in the hell did the World’s Greatest pull that out of their hats?? The somewhat desperate attempt to avert danger winds up costing the overaggressive Mercenaries here! Haas and Benjamin are handed their titles, though Haas is notably gimpy and Benjamin is still holding onto his shoulder for dear life. Both men need the ref’s help to stand after they’re handed their tag team titles, while Paul Burchill and Brent Albright only stare in absolute shock, Burchill staring at the canvas and constantly pushing the hair out of his eyes as if the more he clears his vision of his locks, the more likely what just happened will unhappen. Albright is still outside, peering inside the ropes and over his partner’s shoulder.
Joey Styles:
I can’t believe it!!
JBL:
Yeah, an’ neither can The Mercenaries! They’re in absolute awe!
Joey Styles:
The Mercenaries had the champs measured perfectly, but a last ditch effort by Shelton Benjamin proves to be the winning run in the ballgame!
JBL:
But look though, Joey, the World’s Greatest can barely stand on their own two feet after the beatin’ they got. The Mercenaries sure as hay on a farm left their mark.
Joey Styles:
But I guess having your hand raised and handed your gold by the referee is all the support you need to stay on your feet.
JBL:
As much as I wanted the Mercenaries to walk away with this thing with gold, I ain’t gonna argue that fact. Don’t matter how hurt you are, you ain’t ever in too bad enough shape to stand in the winner’s circle. I said it once an’ I’ll say it again – an ugly win is better than a beautiful loss any day.
Joey Styles:
What do we have here…? Is this the image of respect being earned…?
The image Joey is talking about is the fact that the victorious champions are standing over their still stunned opponents…with their hands extended. Burchill and Albright stare up from their positions, finally getting to their feet, Albright getting into the ring. This causes the World’s Greatest to back away a bit, but their hands don’t move, staying out and waiting. Albright looks as though he’s about to attack the winning team – until Burchill surprisingly stops him. The very stoic looking Burchill at this point stares both men in the eyes before looking at Benjamin…and shaking his hand!! He prompts Albright to do the same with Haas, which he complies to! All four men shake hands, respect having been earned tonight, in a very surprising move!! The crowd pops all over for this, but the Mercenaries drop the handshakes rather quickly before Burchill looks at them, he nor Albright having shown any kind of happiness during that whole exchange before finally backing out and heading up the ramp, both of them still looking as serious as when they went in.
Joey Styles:
Can you believe that? After all that, the World’s Greatest Tag Team’s gesture of getting respect out of their opponents is accepted by the most unlikeliest of foes!
JBL:
I’ve been sayin’ from day one about these two, Joey, an’ that’s that these two men are in a class all by themselves. But that’s the key word: class. These men were taken to their limit tonight by the Mercs, they tried to destroy them, an’ they couldn’t. The Mercenaries respect that they made a mistake along the way an’ the World’s Greatest give the Mercenaries respect, seein’ as how they didn’t make it easy. It’s a beautiful thing when competitors share that bond of respect.
Joey Styles:
But by the looks on the faces of Burchill and his apprentice, and those final words he said to the champions, that this may be far from over. But for now, Haas and Benjamin remain AOW’s – and thus the World’s – Greatest Tag Team.
***
We fade away to the parking lot now, where a police car seems to be just pulling in. A pair of pretty beefy police officers step out of the driver’s seat and shotgun, both of them leading to the same door in the back. One of them opens it to reveal Christian Cage, who is led out of the backseat, his hands cuffed in front of him.
Cage is wearing the exact same attire he’s been wearing for nearly a month – a dark hooded ‘Captain Charisma’ vest and tattered jeans. Cage still looks like hell. The look in his eye is still one of absolute intensity, his eyes worriedly knowing, with dark circles around them as though he hasn’t gotten any sleep since the night he smashed Lashley. One cop closes the door behind Cage before both men lead Cage into the building…
***
…as we fade into a close-up of Rob Van Dam, somewhere backstage. The crowd is heard giving a massive pop to him beyond the walls of wherever he is. Van Dam appears to be stretching, his eyes focused and his arms seemingly going into stretching positions. The camera angle then suddenly pans away from the close-up…to reveal RVD performing a split between two folding chairs to yet another pop. His signature Van Dam stature is the last thing we see before we fade away yet again…
~Still backstage, AOW Green Zone interview set…
The Miz:
What’s up, Boston? Don’t answer that. I’ll tell you what’s up. What’s up is I’m The Miz, and I’m gonna give you people a reality check right off the bat – this city is pretty crappy when compared to the fact that we’ve been in New York for a while. Guess Boston will always be second to New York, huh?
A great deal of heat befalls Miz for this one, a reference to the cites’ infamous dislike for the other for centuries
The Miz:
See, I’m like New York. And my supposed colleague, Torrie Wilson, is obviously Boston. Torrie will never be as good as me at anything, which is why I’m here on the big stage and she’s not. I heard she was somewhere back here, but hey, she’s not on camera where it matters!
Another round of heat as Miz smiles away
The Miz:
Enough of my rightfully deserved gloating, my guest at this time, the very first interviewee on an AOW Pay-Per-View in the history of professional wrestling, he is a man who deserves respect – Jamie Noble!!
Noble steps into the frame to a decent amount of heat, nodding with Miz
The Miz:
What’s shakin’, Jamie?
Jamie Noble:
Nothin’ shakin’, Miz. I ain’t nervous at all about my match. I’m ready to give that Aero Star boy a pig’s whippin’.
The Miz:
How do you suppose you’ll do that, Noble?
Jamie Noble:
How else am I gonna do it, Miz? Do I gotta explain everything to you an’ these stupid city folk?
A bit of cheap heat for Noble now
Jamie Noble:
I’m gonna take him an’ wish he’d never disrespected me. I’m gonna give him a reason to be wearin’ a mask. An’ mark my words, Miz, when this is all over, things ‘round here are gonna change for Jamie Noble. WOOO-WEEEE!! Go get’em!!
Noble’s Southern…er…‘charms’ on display there as Miz is even taken aback by the suddenness of it, but it brings us back out to ringside…
***
Joey Styles:
Jamie Noble certainly is excited for tonight, isn’t he John?
JBL:
As well he should be, Joey. But I can’t say that I’m glad The Miz is here with us.
Joey Styles:
I’m sure after those comments he made a few moments ago, I’m sure Boston wishes he weren’t with us here either. But you saw those three men, ladies and gents – Christian Cage, Rob Van Dam, and Jamie Noble – three men who do wish to go with the theme of set this world ablaze and leave it behind and change the way things are done around here. Christian wanting to do away with Bobby Lashley and spurn his ‘plots’ if there are any, reveal the ‘truth’ if there is one, Rob Van Dam wanting to finally take the AOW Championship off the shoulders of the manipulative, string-pulling Chris Jericho, and coming up right now, Jamie Noble set to try and earn a degree of respect for himself.
JBL:
An’ I believe he will do it in front of me, the rest o’these city folk, an’ the world, but you’re right, Joey, a good bit of men here tonight are seriously in contention for changin’ the way things work around here if they can get the big wins t’night. They really will set the AOW world on fire if any of that happens.
**SIN LIMITES**
The rotating helicopter blades turned song blares across the sound system as the man they call Aero Star makes his way through the smoke curtain wearing his now signature cloak and shoulder pads, although tonight the cloak is a very shiny silver coat, as opposed to its usual blue tint. We see the reason for this as we see Star, who gets a very nice pop, as his mask is not it’s normal deep blue, but tonight, is silver and gold.
Star rushes down the ramp and, runs by the turnbuckle and leaps, grabbing it and swinging like he’s dancing in the rain, giving his salute to the crowd as he comes around. We notice he gingerly moves, his mouth wincing, perhaps still feeling the effects of being put through a table by Jamie Noble, but he sucks it up it seems, takes off his pads and cloak to reveal a fully clad silver and gold costume tonight for his first American PPV appearance. Perhaps this is an allusion to Mistico, the top luchadore on the planet at this point in time…
***DING DING DING***
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is scheduled for one fall. From Mexico City, Mexico, weighing in at 175 pounds…AEROOOO STAARRRR!!
Joey Styles:
Well here’s the man they call Aero Star, the top luchadore prospect in all the world, today in his first ever American Pay-Per-View match! Star looks ready to excite the world with his truly outstanding lucha style, which has proven to be a little much for Jamie Noble in the last few weeks.
JBL:
As much as I hope Jamie Noble gets the win t’night, there ain’t no denyin’ Aero Star is one fun little bastard t’watch in that ring. He does things and takes risks that makes rodeo clowns seem like amateurs, he’s got fire. The guy is the top lucha prospect in the world for a reason, an’ so far he’s proved it against Jamie Noble, but t’night, Noble rights that ship.
**A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE**
Jamie Noble now thrusts his way through the fog, looking as ready as ever. He’s all glossed up, beating his chest with a clenched fist before throwing it in the air and getting a decent heel reaction. Noble shrugs off some high-fives before pointing to himself and shouting towards the crowd that “I’m nobody’s steppin’ stone!! Y’all hear me!”
Noble reaches the base of the ramp, staring at Star with a bad scowl on his face, wiping his mouth with his hand. Star doesn’t seem intimidated from what we can tell, as his mannerisms seem very calm to the angry Noble, even stepping up to the ring ropes as if to say ‘bring it on’.
Tony Chimel:
And from Hanover, West Virginia, weighing in at 202 pounds…JAY-MIE NO-BLLLEE!!
Joey Styles:
And to make case of what you just said, John, why is that you think Noble will walk away with the win tonight?
JBL:
Listen, ain’t nothin’ on this planet more dangerous than a driven man, an’ I’ll be damned if Jamie Noble ain’t driven right now. Yes, he may not’ve looked the greatest so far against Aero Star, yes he’s still got some kinks to him, but when it comes right down to it, Jamie Noble is here to prove to everybody that he’s no steppin’ stone, that he is for real, that he deserves respect, and I can fully respect a man who wants to come out here and prove that t’anybody, much less an entire arena of people. Makin’ his statement to the people was his first step, then he made his statement to Aero Star by puttin’ him through that table, an’ t’night, he gets to finish his statement by knockin’ off the luchador. Aero Star may have the fire, but Jamie Noble’s got the fuel.
Joey Styles:
He’ll need that fuel soon…LOOK AT THIS!!
PLANCHA HURRICANRANA!! PLANCHA HURRICANRANA TO NOBLE ON THE OUSIDE!! Aero Star immediately gets into things, obviously showing he’s not going to get bowled over by Noble here!!
GRUDGE MATCH
Aero Star v. Jamie Noble
JBL’s notion of Star having the fire is apparent from the get go here, as Star jumps on the downed Noble, the man who put him through a table just a few days ago, the luchador coming after him with feet of fury before socking him in the face with hard right hands! The referee is begging both men to actually get in the ring so they can formally begin things, but to no avail. Star keeps kicking Noble around, but Noble starts fighting back with hard fists, starting to drive Star back himself, Star resisting. As the shiny masked one keeps trying to get back in the game, Noble delivers stiff shots to Star’s gut before taking him and DRIVING HIM SPINE FIRST INTO THE STEEL RING STEPS!! The referee has stopped warning both men at this point, telling Noble to get in the ring or he’ll start counting out. Noble slides into the ring briskly as the ref starts counting out Aero.
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
…5!!
…6!!
Star starts stirring from his seated position, leaning on the steps to try and help get to his feet
…7!!
As he fully gets up, we see him tending to his back again, his mouth forming gritting teeth
…8!!
Star finally makes his way into the ring, but Noble is quick to jump on him like the Pitbull he is, keeping him down and throwing boots and fists all over Star until he takes Star’s head in his hands and just starts pounding it against the canvas repeatedly, the referee ordering him to stop. Noble doesn’t seem to adhere, but instead, pulls Star away from the ropes he’s close to and drives his elbow into Star’s deltoid before wrapping his hand all the way around with a chinlock. Noble then takes one of Star’s free arms and starts wrenching it back, putting a great deal of torque on his upper body, Noble possibly looking to wear down his faster opponent. As JBL gushes over how brilliant a strategy this is, the crowd starts trying to get Star back into things, but Noble is yelling at them to stop, Star feeding off the still hot crowd
*CLAP*
*CLAP*
*CLAP*
*CLAP*
*CLAPCLAP*
*CLAPCLAP*
*CLAPCLAP*
*CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Star is on his feet now, Noble still trying to sustain the chinlock and wrench, but Star pulls his arm away and grabs one of Noble’s wrists before rushing to the nearest rope, sitout sprinboarding off of it into a clean backflip and TURNING IT INTO AN ARM DRAG! The lucha offense again gets Star to one-up Noble, the crowd hot for the flashy maneuver. Star shakes his head a little bit, shaking the cobwebs out from the prior head smashing, but when he’s done, he looks to the crowd and gives us a smile and a thumbs up, the crowd again popping…and makes Noble only grow more angry, fleshing his teeth now. Noble really does look like a pitbull with that expression, especially since he’s on all fours at the moment. Noble gets to his feet and screams at Aero Star “you will NOT beat me!” The crowd throws heat now, Noble blindly rushing towards Star, but he ducks under it, yet Noble keeps running and rebounds off the ropes behind Star, coming back at him with a vicious chop block! Noble goes right back to trying to pick apart the luchadore, but Star is quick to roll away as Noble tries to tie him up in something. As Noble again rushes at Star, Aero sidesteps and lets Noble run right into the turnbuckle, the force throwing him into a backpedal that Star swoops between and rolls up for the first count fall of the match –
1…
2…
NO!!
Noble kicks his feet up and gets to his feet quickly, Star not as fast, leaving him prone for a rushing Noble boot to the gut, after which Noble grabs hold of Aero Star’s head and neck, twisting it into a falling neckbreaker. Noble now with his first cover –
1…
2…
NO!!
Star has more fight in him than that. Noble looks to twist it out of him, again going back to the chinlock, forcing Star’s head back. Star is faster to get to his feet this time, but he also stays in the hold for several seconds, again grabbing hold of Noble’s wrist, but this time, wrenches it behind Noble for a hammerlock. Noble quickly reaches around and rewrenches Aero Star, reversing the hammerlock into his own, Noble spinning him out of it before surprising everyone with a HAMMERLOCK SPUN LARIAT!! Star’s head goes spinning, as Noble’s face lights up with a sick grin as he tries for another cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Despite essentially beheading Star, he’s still got some fight! Noble doesn’t waste much time afterwards, taking the still out of it Star and takes him across the midsection, ramming him spine-first into a ring corner before continuing to ram his shoulder into his gut with shoulder thrusts. He then takes some steps back and marvels at his work, smiling sinisterly, before looking to launch himself with one more shoulder, shoving Star further into the corner upon that impact. Noble pulls Star out of the corner by the head with both hands before getting behind him and executing a nice elevated backdrop. Noble sits upright on the impact of the move, fleshing his teeth again before coving Star once more, pushing his forearm across the mouth of Star –
1…
2…
NO!!
Star keeps the fight alive, but Noble doesn’t want him to, bringing him back to his feet and tossing him into another corner and charging at him, but this time, Star gets a boot up to throw into the face of Noble, causing Noble to go reeling. Noble charges once again, but Star cleanly leaps straight to the top rope, Noble’s SHOULDER CRASHING INTO STEEL. Aero Star then hops off the top rope, lands and jumps off Noble’s back, before flipping forward across the ring with a no-hand rolling summersault, again showing off his athleticism. Star gives the crowd his signature salute while Noble recovers and sets himself in the corner, where Aero Star rushes towards him, leaps and kicks himself off of Noble’s chest, before leaping with a CORNER CLAD ENZEGUIRI! The move made famous by Tiger Mask sends Noble dropping like dead weight to the canvas, Aero Star now having to roll him over and attempt a cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
The Pitbull wants to keep the fight going. Star doesn’t seem to oblige him, raising him into an upright sitting position before delivering a SMACK of a kick to his spine before quickly running through the ropes onto the apron in front of him and springboarding off the top rope…INTO A LOW FRONT DROPKICK!! WOW!! The smooth lucha motions are again prevalent, as Star goes for another cover now –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Noble again keeps it going! Star’s mannerisms seems a tad frustrated, putting his hands on his hips and pouting a little bit, he just keeps going, standing over Noble and continuing to shock with a STANDING MOONSAULT SENTON!! Aero Star lifts himself into the air, only to come crashing down with his lower body embedding itself into Noble’s gut! Star with another cover –
1…
2…
NO!!
Noble doesn’t go down from the very flashy move, Star gathering Noble to his feet and attempting to whip him into the ropes, but it is reversed, Star whipped into the ropes instead. While rushing towards the ropes, Star dips his head, rebounding his legs off the ropes and striking Noble in the face with the HANDSPRING REVERSE ELBOW!! Noble gets hit hard, but doesn’t stay in the ring, opting instead to venture outside the ring and take a breather. The crowd boos at this, as this potentially breaks up Star’s momentum. The referee starts a count, but we’re not paying attention, as we’re watching Aero Star measure his opponent up before rushing and leaping through the ropes, hands by his side with the TOPE TORPEDO…NOBODY HOME!! STAR GOES CRASHING HEAD-FIRST INTO THE BARRICADE!! Noble, showing that he’s learned from the flashing lucha style, completely dodges the tope and lets Star crash himself against the barricade! Noble smiles now, but before he gets back in the ring, he takes Star and WHIPS HIM INTO A STEEL RING POST, causing him to flop to the floor in unconscious agony. Noble takes this time to roll back into the ring, the referee’s count-out already underway.
…3!!
…4!!
…5!!
…6!!
Star is to his feet, trying to climb back onto the apron…
…7!!
He’s on his feet on the apron, but Noble comes over and tries to sock him in the face with a hard right hand, but Star grabs it and seems to wrench it a little bit before keeping hold of it and leaping onto the top rope…AND WALKING ALONG THE TOP ROPE!! STAR’S WALKING ON THE ROPES!! The crowd stands absolutely mesmerized by this feat, but Star kicks them out of it by keeping onto the arm and KICKING Noble in the face before leaping off and executing a beautiful HIGH ANGLE HURRICANRANA!! The crowd again pops for the maneuver, some marginal, but not very loud at all ‘Holy shit’ chants begin to be heard. As Noble is thrown all the way across the ring, Star rushes towards him, only to get a back elbow for his troubles. Star starts firing back with hard kicks to the thighs, but Noble comes back at him with his hard fists once more. He backs up Star enough to whip him into the opposite ropes, Star ducking under a clothesline on the rebound, and springboards off the second rope, looking for the SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODY…Noble catches him on his shoulders out of mid-air…AND SEAMLESSLY TURNS IT INTO A FIREMAN’S CARRY DOUBLE KNEE GUTBUSTER!!! FIREMAN’S CARRY DOUBLE KNEE GUTBUSTER!!! This very smooth and beautiful transition gets an applause out of the audience, even if it was the heel who did it. The driven Noble then jumps on his downed lucha opponent, gritting his teeth yet again –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!
Star still has some fight!! The crowd ignites with this kickout, but Noble isn’t too pleased, running his hand through his hair for a moment before taking Star’s skull and starts pounding it off the canvas over and over again like he did before, the referee telling him to stop. Noble stops alright, but when he does, he wraps Star into a DRAGON SLEEPER, COMPLETE WITH SCISSORS!! Noble wraps his entire body around the smaller Aero Star, making sure that this will wear him down. Noble sells the intensity of the hold, telling Star to just give up, but the wordless high-flyer refuses to give in. Star is struggles into find a way out of the hold, but Noble’s bodyscissors allow him to keep the weight on him. The crowd is trying to prompt Aero Star back out of it, but Noble again is telling then no. As Star starts feeding off the crowd, trying to wrench open Noble’s legs, Noble takes his arm that’s holding Star’s arm out and BEATS IT OVER STAR’S STERNUM REPEATEDLY!! This no doubt takes the wind out of Star, Noble going back to having the Dragon Sleeper in. Star stays locked in the Dragon hold a bit longer before slowly working his arm back towards him and out of Noble’s clutch, Noble struggling to pull it back, but Star responds by striking Noble with several elbows to try and free himself before finally freeing himself of the sleeper hold, now turning his attention to the bodyscissors, which he pries apart, maneuvers himself around and surprises Noble with a jackknife cover! The count –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Noble powers out, not wanting to lose by surprise pin attempt. As both men start getting back to their feet, Star rebounds off the ropes and rushes back towards Noble, only for Noble to hit Aero SQUARE IN THE FACE WITH A DROPKICK!! Star flails towards the canvas, Noble taking a second to breathe on his knees before forcing Star up and put him between his legs, Noble extending his arms to a bit of heat, as he looks to make this the end. He then gets Star in the double underhooks before flipping him up for the move he put Star through the table with, the TIGER DRIVER, but Star keeps the momentum going, flipping himself over Noble’s shoulders and sticks the landing with a MOMENTOUS ARM TRAP SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! The move catches everyone by surprises, especially Noble, the referee down for the count –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!
Noble clasps his knees over Star’s skull forcing him to break it and allowing himself to roll away, taking a moment to gather himself after that whirlwind of a counter. Star again quickly rushes towards Noble, but the West Virginia native lowers his level and takes Star’s legs over his shoulders…ALABAMASLAM!!! WOW!! This comes out of nowhere, Noble delivering the fierce Alabamaslam to his smaller foe!! Noble quickly goes for the cover –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!
That doesn’t do it either!! Jamie looks towards the corner, getting an idea for what he wants to do it seems. He takes the still groggy Star and double underhooks him again, backpedaling into the corner. He uses the double underhooks to bring Star up to the top rope with him, Star’s back facing the ring, Noble’s towards the outside. He reaches the top rope…and it looks like he’s going for a SUPER TIGER DRIVER. The crowd knows it, Joey Styles preparing for the worst as well, but Star fights back by lifting his head into the chin of Noble before unhooking his arm and hitting him with several elbows. Star then wraps Noble’s head in a front headlock before launching a SUPERPLEX…BUT AERO STAR FLOATS OVER IN MID-AIR, and as the Superplex touches down, LANDS ON TOP OF NOBLE WITH A SUPERPLEX SPLASH!! WOW!! “HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!!” chants can be heard, but not arenawide again. The momentum of the move throws Star off for a split second, but he quickly gathers himself on top of Noble, hooking a leg, the crowd again on fire for the nimble Star, counting down with the ref –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!!!
NO?? NOBLE KICKS OUT!! Noble can’t even get to his feet, but he has enough gusto to kick out! It’s Star’s turn to think what he has to do next, not taking him long at all to figure out what that’s gonna be. Although reaching exhaustion, Star drags Noble a little bit closer to the corner before ascending to the top, his back towards Noble, setting up for the IMPLODING SHOOTING STAR…but Noble recovers, giving Aero Star a crushing blow to his ailing lower back, Star screaming in pain at that, the first time we’ve heard what his voice sounds like in AOW. Noble gives another hard shot to Star’s spine, again making him scream in agony. He then takes Star’s head and beats it off the post, forcing Star’s head to whiplash, but not fall off, still hanging on the ropes. Noble takes this chance to exit onto the apron through the middle rope before climbing to the top rope himself, taking the weakened Star and putting his lowered head between his legs and getting the double underhooks…leaping…SUPER TIGER DRIVER!!!! SUPER TIGER DRIVER!!! AYE DIOS MIOOOOOSS!!! WOW!!! All the blows to Star’s head and back come into play here, as Noble lands with Star in the sitout pin position –
1…
2…
3…!!!
Here is your winner…JAMIE NOBLE at (13:03)
No stepping stone indeed!! Noble gets to his feet and has his hand raised by the referee, exalting in pure adrenaline fueled ecstasy. Noble beats his fist against his chest in this same adrenaline fuel, the crowd not too happy with the result, but are now forced to acknowledge that this man does indeed deserve respect. Star is still motionless on the canvas, eagle spread, when Noble goes over to him and yells into his mask “Y’see, boy? I ain’t nobody’s steppin’ stone!”
JBL:
I’d say this this was a surprise, but I’d be lyin’ through my teeth. I told you my boy Jamie would get it done! Hot damn!
Joey Styles:
Jamie Noble indeed picking up a huge win over the man who’s outdone him at seemingly every turn until tonight – Jamie Noble was one step ahead and made sure not to be stepped on.
JBL:
An’ this is only the beginning for Noble! Go, kid! Have yourself a night! To hell with these mutants!
Joey Styles:
Woh, wait a minute…what’s Noble got on his mind here…
As Joey Styles says that, Noble has slid under the ropes to the outside and is rummaging around under the ring and pulls out…A TABLE. Reminiscent of the table Star was put through just last Wednesday, Noble slides it under the ring, the crowd buzzing for what could be going on now, knowing it can’t be good (but hey, they’re not gonna deny violence, are they?) Noble sets the table up over Aero Star, noting where he landed apparently, and takes Aero Star back towards the corner, locking in the double underhooks and yanking him up to the top rope yet again…he wants to Super Tiger Drive him again…only this time through the table. Noble has an animalistic look on his face, like a pitbull or rabid animal, pausing dramatically to look down at what he’s about to do…when Aero Star comes to life, recognizing he’s in extreme danger once again, this time thrusting his head up against Noble’s…eh…Virginia family jewels.
This gets an ‘OOOOH’ reaction from the crowd, Noble’s face contorting from one of intensity into groin pain. Star then adjusts himself, throwing Noble’s arm over his own as he places his arm over Noble’s chest and grabbing his shoulder in a Rockbottom like position, pulling Noble to his feet while still on top…both men vertical…Star leaps…MOONSAULT SIDE SLAM THROUGH THE TABLE!!! MOONSAULT SIDE SLAM THROUGH THE TABLE!!! AYYYYEEEE DIIOOOOS MIIIOOOOO!!!! “HOLY SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT!!! HOLY SHIT!!!” the entire crowd in unison this time, the arena rocking because Star flipped both he and Noble through the wooden slab!! Noble is seemingly dead, while Star doesn’t have any movement either until he removes his hand from Noble’s chest.
Joey Styles:
WOW!!! What did we just see?!? Aero Star retaliating to Noble already putting him through a table and wanting to do it again…by moonsault slamming him through the table himself!!
JBL:
I LOVE IT!! Noble made his case, now I’m more than certain Aero Star just made his! Neither one of these men wanna be the one that rolls over and lets the other one step on him! That’s the attitude you need to t’have in not just that ring, but in this entire business, the entire industry. Kudos to both of’em!!
Joey Styles:
Indeed, Aero Star showing that he is nobody’s stepping stone here by showing us how
luchadors go
hardcore~!
JBL:
As stupid as that nursery rhyme sounded an’ as much as I wanna smack you for it, I’m too pumped right now. These first two matches have definitely kicked off World Ablaze into absolute high gear! I don’t think anything can top this one, though. I don’t think these guys’ll be able to walk away from this one on their own.
As the commentators continue to put everything about these two men over, a slew of referees have come down to the ring to take the wooden slab away from the scene, as well as assist both men to their feet. JBL’s prediction is right, as both Noble and Aero Star are requiring referees to assist them in getting back up the ramp, Noble going first with a not too happy look on his face, while Star is left and still being attended to in the ring, but as the referees try to move him away, Star gives one last exhausted, but strong salute to the crowd, resulting in one of the biggest pops we’ve had thus far in AOW, the entire crowd on their feet for not just Star, but for both men’s efforts here tonight.
~WEDNESDAY NIGHT OBLIVION~
90 MINUTES OF ANARCHY
9/8c on FX
We head backstage, but travel to a different area, Paul Burchill standing alongside Brent Albright…
Albright:
So Paul…why exactly did we shake the World’s Greatest Tag Team’s hands after we’d lost? That was easily the most fluke win I’ve ever seen.
Burchill:
A ‘fluke win’ is still a win for them and a loss for you and for me. Okay, youngblood? The fact of the matter is we wanted those titles, they defeated us, thus, we don’t get the titles. Is that not registering?
Albright:
I still don’t understand why that means we should respect’em.
Burchill:
There’s nothing wrong with conceding defeat, youngblood. Besides…if they want to think we respect them and they respect us, the chances of us getting a rematch go up, don’t they?
Albright smiles at the way his partner thinks, but the smile quickly fades when Dynasty Champion Muhammad Hassan soon walks into the frame, title slung over his shoulder
Hassan:
Hey! What’re you two doing here, just standing around? You need to be getting ready for my match!
Burchill:
We do? You haven’t paid us for anything tonight. Hell, you haven’t paid us for teaming with Chris Jericho last week, either.
Hassan:
Look, I lost $50,000 last week. Alright? Do you want me to pay you when I have nothing on me?
Albright:
No. We want you to pay us when you have something.
Burchill:
And until then, you’d better learn to fend for yourself.
Burchill and Albright begin to walk away
Hassan:
Wait! If you guys just come out there with me as insurance, I promise, when I retain my title, I’ll take my $50,000 back from Lance Storm and you can split it between the both of you. Sound like a plan?
Burchill:
Alright. Fine. Now what exactly are we ‘insurance’ against…?
Hassan:
I want you to make sure CM Punk doesn’t show his face tonight. And if he does, you two will be the first people he meets. If he screwed me out of my money, he’s almost definitely gonna show up to cost me my title. So you two need to come to the ring with me and watch my back…understood?
Albright:
Wait, and how are we so sure you’ll get your money back from Storm?
Hassan:
It’s $50,000 in cold hard cash. Would you leave that lying around? But you’d better do everything you can. I don’t win, you don’t get any money. Got it?
This seems reasonable to Burchill and Albright, who proceed to lead the way for Hassan, as the screen fades back to the arena…
~Back at ringside…
**DING DING DING**
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the AOW DYANASTYYYY CHAMPIONSHIP!
**STORM LANCING**
The stage lights up and the smoke rains down again for the challenger, as Lance Storm cuts through the fog with as serious a face as ever…and already he’s screwed up Hassan’s plans. Why? He’s not carrying his briefcase with the buttloads of money in it. Storm is getting a generous pop from Boston, which is nice considering his complete lack of theatrics. Storm somewhat awkwardly acknowledges the fans when he gets into the ring, pumping his fist in the air to a sound chorus
Tony Chimel:
From Calgary, Alberta, Canada, weighing in at 231 pounds…LANCE STOOOORRRM!!
Joey Styles:
And you can see the serious look on the face of Lance Storm. He knows what he’s up against and he knows what’s had to happen for him to be standing in that ring. It took a sacrifice from CM Punk, a huge sacrifice, to get him here. But we saw a few moments ago, Hassan’s got help…but Storm doesn’t have his briefcase?
JBL:
I had a lot of respect for Lance Storm until this whole thing. First of all, getting help from that yuppie CM Punk in order to get a title shot is a whole new level of respect lost from me. An’ secondly, Hassan was right a few moments ago. When you have $50,000 in cold hard greenbacks, why the hell would you not take it with you wherever you went?
Joey Styles:
Well, perhaps maybe it’s not about the money, JBL. Maybe Lance Storm just wants to come out here and beat Hassan for the Dynasty Championship. It that too infeasible?
JBL:
It’s infeasible because it’s stupid. You got title shot and money. I’d flaunt that in my opponent’s face t’throw’em off ‘til kingdom come. It’s a mind game, Joey. But I guess there’s a reason why Lance Storm’s not ever gonna be in like John Layfield.
Joey Styles:
Well, no, he isn’t. You’re retired and sitting here, he’s competing for a championship in the ring there.
“HIIILALIALALIAAAHHH…”
**MAD MAN**
The slightly remixed, but still very annoying, Muhammad Hassan theme plays now to a great deal of heat, and gets even more when he actually shows up. Perhaps even the PPV set is annoyed, as for the first time tonight, it doesn’t throb and send down a red curtain of fog. This causes Hassan to look back with a ‘really?’ expression, but regardless, he keeps strutting down to the ring with Paul Burchill and Brent Albright still by his side.
He tells them to stop at the base of the entrance ramp, none of the men seeing Storm’s briefcase. Hassan pleads with the Mercenaries for a second to stay and he’ll find some way to pay them. The begrudgingly do, staying at the base of the ramp. Hassan finally steps into the ring and opens his arms, taunting, to even greater heat.
Tony Chimel:
And from Detroit, Michigan, weighing in at 243 pounds…he is the AOW Dynasty Champion…MUHAMMAAAAD HASSAAAAAAAN!!
Joey Styles:
You see the AOW Dynasty Champion there in the inherently wealthy Muhammad Hassan and joining him at ringside is his ‘insurance’, his own words, The Mercenaries.
JBL:
Muhammad Hassan is exactly the kind of guy who is gonna go far in this business whether anybody likes him or not. An’ he’s a lot tougher than anyone wants to give him credit for, either. He has earned that title, an’ I hope to heaven he beats Lance Storm down so I can get a little bit of respect back for him. I almost don’t wanna call this match ‘cause of Lance Storm.
Joey Styles:
Well, be that as it may, partner, it’s kind of your job to –
JBL:
Don’t you DARE tell me what my job is! The only reason I’d get any kind of excited for him is if CM Punk actually shows up like the goodie two-sheos he is an’ tries to interfere so he can get the snot beat out of him by the Mercenaries.
AOW DYNASTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Muhammad Hassan(c) w/The Mercenaries v. Lance Storm
As soon as the referee drops the title from holding it above his head to signify that this is indeed a title match, Hassan doesn’t waste any time, immediately gunning towards Storm with a running knee to the gut, doubling him over, before dramatically clubbing Storm on the spine several times. Storm is forces onto the canvas by this almost sucker punch start, prompting Hassan to very quickly throw Storm over on his back and try and early pin –
1…
2-NO!!
Storm easily throws his foe off, both men quick to their feet, but Hassan greets Storm with repeat hard fist shots to his skull, forcing Storm back into a corner. Hassan then forces his boot under the chin of Storm, effectively choking him, the referee beginning to count down. Hassan keeps the foot choke on ‘til a count of four and the ref stepping in to stop him himself. Storm is trying to recover in the corner, holding onto his throat after that cheap attempt, only to be assaulted again by a HASSAN CORNER CLOTHESLINE. Hassan showing some early domination here, quite the contrast the Storm-controlled previous meetings between the two. Storm collapses to the canvas following that stiff shot, Hassan not looking to let up, pulls Storm out of the corner and delivers a hard elbow drop, followed by another, followed by another, all of them in rapid motion. Hassan stays on top of Storm following the last one –
1…
2…
NO!!
Storm still has plenty of fight, but Hassan looks to drain it out of him, quickly catching him in a surfboard stretch. Storm is quick to tell the referee that no, he doesn’t want to give up and wants to keep going. Storm quickly finds his way to his feet following the refusal, but Hassan keeps on him, kicking the back of Storm’s leg to force him back to one knee. Storm still refuses to give up, forcing his arms forward and causing a struggle between he and Hassan for control of the move when Hassan gets too close to Storm, who quickly snaps his arms up and brings Hassan over with a hard snapmare, followed promptly by a STIFF KICK TO THE SPINE. The smack is heard arenawide, Storm following up on it by rebounding off the ropes and HITTING A MOMENTUS SEATED LARIAT to the still sitting Hassan! Storm with his first cover –
1…
2…
NO!!
Hassan finds a way to force the shoulder up and begin to get to his feet, but as soon as he turns back towards Storm, the Calgary native grabs both of Hassan’s legs and trips him up, inserting his leg into the middle of Hassan’s, looking for THE SHARPSHOOTER, but Hassan is quick to pull Storm in and turn it into a small package! The quick cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!
Storm is able to undo the wrapping, both men again getting to their feet rather quickly, only for Storm to ATTEMPT THE SUPERKICK, but Hassan notices this quickly and ducks his head to avoid it, then proceeding to roll out of the ring completely to take a breather. He’s getting a good bit of heat for this, brushing off the fans. He then roams over to The Mercenaries, still unmoved from their position at the base of the entrance ramp, asking them if they’ve seen any sign of Punk, to which they shake their heads. The referee hasn’t even begun counting Hassan out by the time he looks to get back in the ring, but stops on the apron before climbing back down again, proceeding to further frustrate everyone, especially Storm. The referee starts a count –
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
Storm looks to slide underneath the bottom rope here, but Hassan moves quickly to another side of the ring, prompting in Storm beginning to chase him down in a cat-and-mouse game, only for Hassan to quickly roll back into the ring. When Storm gets back in, he’s ambushed very quickly by a Hassan CLOTHESLINE THAT BEHADS STORM, sending him right back onto the canvas. Hassan then gets on the back of Storm, forcing him up…CAMEL CLUTCH!! A move we haven’t seen Hassan use very much in AOW, but a fierce technique nonetheless. The crowd is trying to will Storm on, but Hassan has the Clutch locked in tight. Storm is refusing to tap here, his mind almost certainly going towards CM Punk and the fact that the kid worked a little too hard for him to tap out now. Storm is getting life back in him, little by little, finally able to get to his feet, but Hassan promptly lets go of the Clutch hold and lifts Storm in a backdrop, only to BRING HIM DOWN ON HIS KNEE FOR A BACKBREAKER!! Storm goes down in pain, Hassan covering once more –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
The Perfect Storm manages to keep the contest going! The frustrated Hassan now looks over to the Mercs, who still shake their heads at any sign from Punk. Hassan’s face grows a good bit calmer on that, but as he reaches over to get Storm to his feet, Storm surprises him with the double leg takedown and taking both Hassan’s legs into his arms…CATAPAULT!! Hassan’s face bounces clean off the turnbuckle!! As it does that, Storm rebounds off the ropes and nails Hassan in the face with a SPINNING WHEEL KICK!! Storm now with a cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Hassan isn’t gonna go down that quickly, but it’s clear who has the momentum at the moment. Storm takes the downed Hassan and gives him a hard knee strike to the head, knocking him back a bit before getting him to his feet and planting him with a swift snap suplex. Storm then awaits for Hassan to get to his feet, stalking him, before charging at him when he does and hits the LEG LARIAT!! This plants Hassan and gets Storm another cover chance –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Another near fall for Storm doesn’t have him so much aggravated as it does annoyed, Storm now taking Hassan and performing an Irish whip and lowering his head, but Hassan smashes him in the face with a boot on the rebound. Hassan then rebounds again off the ropes and launches himself back at Storm, only to be caught in the roll-through…CANADIAN MAPLE LEAF…NO!! Hassan crawls away again, grabbing a bottom rope and pulling himself back outside the ring. Another round of heat ensues, once again Hassan going over to the Mercs if Punk has been sighted, another negative, only for Hassan to get bashed in the back of the head by a pursuing Storm. Storm continues to club on the back of Hassan’s head, Albright and Burchill just looking on. The referee is begging both men to get back in the ring, to which Storm ignores and brings Hassan to his feet and attempt to CHUCK HIM AT A RINGPOST…REVERSED…STORM GOES HARD INTO THE POST!! Storm’s face crunches off the iron post on the outside, Hassan trying to adjust himself after getting blindsighted. He looks at the Mercs with disgust, asking them “you were just gonna watch him beat me? I don’t pay you watch me get beat!” to which Burchill replies “You never paid us to attack him. You haven’t paid us at all!” This shuts Hassan back up enough to takes the still dizzied Storm and DRIVE HIS SPINE INTO THE RING LIP. Hassan then spins Storm into the ring, under the bottom rope, his head sticking out over the lip. Hassan takes several steps back and rushes, NAILING A BOOT RIGHT TO STORM’S TEMPLE. Hassan quickly glides back into the ring for another cover –
1…
2…
3…NO!!!
Storm finds a way to keep going! Hassan is getting frustrated now, forcing Storm to his feet, only for Storm to start retaliating with several hard kicks to Hassan’s sides, giving Storm room to rebound and launch himself back towards Hassan, who drives his boot into Storm’s gut again, doubling him over, and putting on the front headlock, perhaps looking for his LIFTING SWINGING DDT…NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX!!! Storm counters it, keeping the bridge intact –
1…
2…
3-NO!!!
Hassan keeps the gold for now! Storm gets up, not complaining, simply getting into position to stalk Hassan, warming his leg up, possibly getting ready for the Superkick…Hassan gets to his feet…SUPERKICK FIRES…NO!! Hassan ducks it again, turning Storm towards him and catching him in a three-quarter facelock – SNAPMARE DRIVER!! WOW!! Storm’s head becomes a dart, being driven into the canvas with enough impact, it stands him back up, hunched over. Hassan takes the now hunched Storm and NAILS THE LIFTING, SWINGING DDT!! A very impressive combination from a man not known for his ring prowess, Hassan now confident this is the end. He drags Storm to his feet and places him in the STO position…when the crowd starts buzzing. We look around to see what’s going on, the Mercenaries included…IT’S CM PUNK, COMING FROM BEHIND THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!! Punk’s come from the complete opposite of the entrance ramp! Punk’s complete in his wrestling attire, but he’s got his ribs taped up from his encounter Wednesday night. The crowd is getting louder, the Mercs both trying to storm the ring, the referee distracted by both of them, telling them they can’t get in. Punk uses this to get Hassan to see him after dropping Storm…SPRINGBOARD CLOTHESLINE FROM PUNK!!! The crowd ignites for this, the Mercenaries now jumping onto the ring apron, furthering distracting the ref and not helping their cause. Punk then quickly gets Hassan to his feet, throwing Hassan onto his shoulders…GTS!!! GTS…INTO A SUPERKICK!!! GTS INTO A SUPERKICK!!! Punk quickly evacuates as soon as he hits the GTS, Storm hitting the Superkick immediately afterwards!! With Punk now outside, however, he’s fair game for the Mercs, Albright quickly pursuing him and crunching his injured ribs with a hard club shot. The referee is finally freed from his distraction, still missing a few seconds of when Storm covered Hassan. The ref slides dramatically before starting the count –
1….
2….
3….!!!
NO!!! BURCHILL PULLS HASSAN’S FOOT ONTO THE BOTTOM ROPE!! Storm gets off, wondering why the ref stopped, only for the ref to point out Hassan’s foot on the bottom rope. Storm looks over to see his protégé doubled over and Burchill with his hands up, as if he’s done nothing. As Storm leans over the ropes to tell the Mercs not to touch Punk, Hassan has pulled the referee close to him, asking him to check on him. While the ref is now distracted with that, Albright and Burchill take Punk in a double flapjack…AND KNOCK HIS SKULL AGAINST STORM’S!!! Storm goes reeling, Punk falls down, gripping his skull, only for him grip his ribs when the Mercenaries mercilessly start laying boots into his taped midsection. Hassan, still somewhat groggy from the finishing shots he took, has enough in him to get the grip on the reeling Storm…REVERSE STO!!! Storm is pretty much dead following that, but Hassan doesn’t go for the cover. Instead, he yells towards the Mercenaries to get Punk up.
“I want him to watch this!!”
The Mercs comply, getting Punk to his feet and holding him from both sides, forcing his head up by pulling back on his long black hair. Hassan promptly locks eyes with Punk, gaze unmoving, before dragging Storm back to his feet…AND NAILING ANOTHER REVERSE STO!! Storm’s lights are out once more, but Hassan still doesn’t go for the cover, still looking intently like a mad man into Punk’s eyes. Hassan gets to his feet and drags Storm with him one last time, HITTING A THIRD REVERSE STO!!! This time, Storm’s head spikes into the canvas instead of just whiplashing violently, Punk trying to fight his way out of his grip, but Burchill just whacks him in the ribs to stop him from advancing. Hassan finally covers Storm, his stare never leaving the gaze of the helpless Punk –
1….
2….
3…!!!
Here is your winner and STILL AOW Dynasty Champion…MUHAMMAD HASSAN at (9:34)
Hassan’s done what most predicted and held onto his title, but Lance Storm isn’t moving. As the referee hands Hassan his championship gold back, Hassan hoists it high for all to see. The Mercenaries, still holding onto Punk strike him in the ribs simultaneously before throwing him down at ringside, Hassan leaving the ring and stepping over his body. As Hassan goes back up the ramp with the Mercs in tow, Punk is forced to get into the ring and check on the motionless Storm, while he himself is still in pain.
Joey Styles:
My God…an absolutely merciless destruction by the hands of Muhammad Hassan against Lance Storm…and that wasn’t even necessary! He didn’t do it to win! He did it to torture Punk!
JBL:
I feel a little bad for Punk havin’ t’sit there an’ watch all that like that, but hey, welcome to the real wrestling business, kid. People you look up to get hurt. You still wanna stick around in this ring after what just happened?
Joey Styles:
Bradshaw, I highly doubt Punk has doubts about being here. Hell, if anything else, that just solidifies the fact that Punk wants his hands on Hassan even more!
JBL:
But Muhammad Hassan is a powerful man, Joey. He’s got money, he’s got power, an’ he’s got people. What does CM Punk have? He’s broke. He’s powerless. An’ now, the one guy on the roster who had his back is lyin’ face down in that ring after havin’ lost his title shot. But I will say this – Muhammad Hassan just keeps provin’ that he’s one tough son of a gun.
Joey Styles:
It may not have been liked, but it still stands that that man, Muhammad Hassan, holds onto the AOW Dynasty Championship.
…
We’re backstage now, where we see AOW Champion Chris Jericho for the first time tonight, where he’s watched what just transpired on a television screen. He appears to be in a locker room of sorts. Jericho smirks to himself, pleased with something that’s just transpired in the ring. There’s a knock on his door before someone walks in…Bobby Lashley??? From Lashley’s demeanor, however, we can tell he really doesn’t wanna be here.
Chris Jericho:
Hello, Lashley.
Lashley:
What did you want me here for, Jericho?
Chris Jericho:
I’m sure you haven’t forgotten what Christian Cage said a few weeks ago, have you?
Lashley:
I haven’t forgotten anything Christian’s said.
Chris Jericho:
Well good. Because he mentioned something regarding both you and me. That we were in…some kind of scheme together…?
Lashley:
What’s it to you?
Chris Jericho:
Nothing. I just wanted to say good luck tonight on clearing both your name and mine.
Lashley:
Clearing your name? If I’m here to clear names, it sure as hell wouldn’t be your name I’m concerned about. I’m here tonight to prove that I belong here and I shouldn’t be associated with people like you who have come in here and thinking everything is yours just because of who you are. And personally, I’m kinda sad that Christian is the one who might be forced to leave tonight. Because I’d rather it be you.
The crowd gives an “oooh” for this, Lashley beginning to walk off from the scene before Jericho stops him by putting hand on his shoulder
Chris Jericho:
That’s all good and well, Lashley, but just remember something – these people don’t want you here. And I just want you to know that if you’re not the guy leaving tonight…it won’t be long before getting attacked in the parking lot by fans with golf clubs won’t be your only concern.
Lashley:
You’re seriously not trying to talk me out of winning, are you? Trying to convince me I shouldn’t win?
Chris Jericho:
Convince, enlighten, prompt – it is whatever you want it to be, Lash. Just want you to keep in mind that people are what drove Christian Cage over the edge. And if you’re the one who ends up staying…it won’t be long before these people put you in his shoes and drive you over that edge.
Lashley doesn’t seem phased by that in the least, simply staring over his shoulder at Jericho, who anxiously removes his hand from Lash’s huge shoulder, allowing the unintimidated Lashley to leave.
***
We then fade to another backstage area in a locker room, where we see Bryan Danielson, the real champion, making his final preparations as well, kicking the living hell out of a punching bag. Danielson stops to take a final breath and turns to walk on out, but he’s met at his door by someone very familiar to him…
Shawn Michaels:
Danielson, right? Bryan Danielson?
Bryan Danielson:
Oh, so you remembered. I’m sorry, Mr. Michaels, but I’m kidna in the middle of something here.
Shawn Michaels:
I know. I just wanted to say…good luck, kid. I know the first person who greeted me here in AOW was you. And you told me how much you looked up to me. And how you trained at my wrestling academy, but I never saw a match of yours.
Bryan Danielson:
Yeah. I did. It was the truth.
Shawn Michaels:
I know, I know…and I know I apologized then, but I’m gonna apologize again. And this time, I’m gonna do it with the full intent of watching your match from back here against Gregory Helms in a few moments. T’see what I’ve been missin’.
Bryan Danielson:
That means a lot to me, Mr. Michaels. It really does.
Shawn Michaels:
Hey. You go get out there an’ do your thing. Make me sorry I’ve never seen a match o’yers before. An’ make Helms sorry he ever did anything to you.
Michaels gives Danielson these stern words with a nod and walks out, leaving Danielson to get back in his focused trance, ready for his match.
~Back at ringside…
DANIELSON|HELMS
Joey Styles:
Bryan Danielson getting final words of encouragement from the man who inspired him to even step into the ring in Shawn Michaels, but quite frankly, I don’t think Bryan Danielson needs any more fuel to go about facing Gregory Helms up next in the first of our main events tonight.
JBL:
No doubt Shawn Michaels is one of the best ever, but you’re right, Joey, this thing between both Gregory Helms and Danielson has gotten so immense that I’m not even sure how both of these guys haven’t ripped into one another quite yet.
Joey Styles:
I agree John. These two have been brewing ever since AOW’s inception, going everywhere – even cyberspace, both men continually ‘hacking’ into AOW’s control grid from their own homes to send messages to one another.
JBL:
An’ let’s not forget Gregory Helms’ genius means of sendin’ his case to Paul Heyman online.
Joey Styles:
Oh, how could I…
JBL:
You better recognize greatness when it’s mentioned, Joey. Gregory Helms should be the true Cruiserweight Champion an’ you an’ everybody else around here knows it. This man has proven his case, proven his worth, an’ tonight, he will finally be able to walk away with what should’ve been his in the first place.
Joey Styles:
I thoroughly and respectfully disagree, Bradshaw. There’s nothing that Helms hasn’t done that Bryan Danielson hasn’t been able to respond to well. Danielson’s let Helms plot his way through and through just because he knows he truly is the best and that he is the true champion and will be the true champion when all is said and done.
JBL:
That’d be a great case had Gregory Helms not taken out Danielson’s friend, the little machismo, Mysterio. There’s so much Bryan Danielson’s had to deal with to even think about walking away with the title in this one. That said, no one’s gonna walk away from this one without a few battle scars.
Joey Styles:
Indeed partner, but don’t just take our word for it. Let’s take a look back and see how this entire ordeal has been shaped into something highly combustible.
**Video Package**
We’re brought to an image on the very first edition of Oblivion, Bryan Danielson shaking hands with Shawn Michaels
“Danielson”
Flash of static
“Bryan Danielson.”
A longer flash of static
“And some call me the Best in the World.”
Another brief flash of static, but then we’re treated to a flash of moments from Danielson’s matches in AOW – his first one against Rey Mysterio, and later against Chris Masters
“…and some call me the Best –”
Danielson is interrupted by more static, getting progressively worse as Chris Masters locks in the Masterlock
“…the Best in the World”
…when Gregory Helms bashes Danielson across the face with his Cruiserweight Championship before we’re completely overwhelmed by static and brought to the scene of Gregory Helms’ very first hack in AOW
“… I was gonna do this and call myself the “Best in the World”. But it’s come to my attention that somebody’s already taken that one…”
We see a shot of Danielson as the next line is said
“…and that’s some punk named Bryan Danielson.”
Back to Helms
“In due time, Rey Mysterio, Bryan Danielson, and anybody else who wants to say they’re better than Gregory Helms…”
Static slowly begins to trickle back on screen
“Please. You’ve just been hacked by Helms”
“…hacked by Helms…Helms…Helms…”
We cut to Bryan Danielson taking on Rey Mysterio in the first ever Yin v. Yang match, while the upbeat sound of strings is heard
Joey Styles:
These two men are here to show the past, present, and future of cruiserweight wrestling
We follow shots of the contest until Mysterio lands the winning Frog Splash on Danielson, but as they both stand beside the referee, Mysterio raises Danielson’s arm in victory, where we can hear Rey say
“He’s the future! This man is the future!”
…before Gregory Helms assaults both men from behind, the strings stopping on the impact, beating Danielson down and shoving his amateur camcorder into the arms of a legitimate cameraman, where our view goes to that of the camcorder, Helms looking into it with nothing but silence and audience buzz heard –
“This is the “Best in the World”? This is “the future”? This is pathetic!”
…before nailing Danielson with the Shining Wizard. The screen plays an ominous tone on that, leaving Helms with the sinister look in his eyes. The screen then cuts to black, where we hear the very clear and present voice of Bryan Danielson…
Bryan Danielson:
All my life, I’ve been told I was ‘pathetic’ for telling people I wanted to be a professional wrestler.
A shot of Danielson struggling to get off the canvas
Bryan Danielson:
All my life, I’ve been told a kid like me could never make it in a world of giants.
Danielson is shoved around by Chris Masters
Bryan Danielson:
But I’ve done nothing but shut them up. I took that world of giants head on…
We see a shot of Danielson and Gregory Helms across from one another, briefly dueling it out in the first ever Cruiserweight Championship match in AOW history before we see Helms leap at Danielson and get clocked in the face with a Danielson roundhouse before we reach another black screen…
Bryan Danielson:
…and felled them all.
“Here is your winner and NEW AOW Cruiserweight Champion…BRYAN DANIELSON!!”
Our screen lights back up with a shot of Danielson, absolutely jubilant with the Cruiserweight title in hand is shown to victorious trumpets, while a shot of an absolutely pissed Helms is shown before the screen is overwhelmed with static once again. When it’s cleared up, we can hear the voice of Gregory Helms
Gregory Helms:
A true champion is victorious in the face of adversity
Mick Foley is shown to turn away from Helms upon his request for a rematch for the title
Gregory Helms:
A true champion finds ways to do what’s right
Helms is shown marching to the ring after manipulating his way to a title shot
Gregory Helms:
A true champion goes out and takes what’s rightfully his
We return to the initial image of Helms smashing Danielson across the face with the Cruiserweight Championship before leaving the scene with the title, stealing it from Danielson
Gregory Helms:
And above all, a true champion reminds people of why he is the true champion
We are now shown the ending to Gregory Helms taking on Rey Mysterio, the screen getting a very monochrome feel, with a very intense, high pitched string being dragged, like nails on a chalkboard, as Helms stands sinisterly over Mysterio, ripping the protective knee brace off of Mysterio’s knee and raising the steel chair over his head…before smashing Rey’s knee repeatedly, with each shot, the monochrome frame gaining a disturbing throbbing red hue before going back monochrome. We now hear somewhat somber violin strings now, as Bryan Danielson rushes to the ring, Helms scurrying away, and Danielson left to check on Mysterio before the strings stop and we’re treated to a blank screen which statics up, with Bryan Danielson now appearing in his response ‘hack’
“…Gregory Helms…I can handle you trying to do everything in your power to try and take me down.”
Another shot of Helms standing over the beaten Dragon
“But what I can’t take is you bringing other people into this. Rey Mysterio was a true friend to me. And after what you did, there will be no forgiving you.”
The same shot fades to a seamless transition of Helms standing over the downed body of Mysterio, a Helms soundbite following Danielson’s
“At World Ablaze…”
“A true champion is victorious in the face of adversity…”
We now get alternating in-ring shots of both Helms and Danielson, their respective dialogues heard over their images in a call-and-answer rapid-fire manner…
“I will get my Cruiserweight Championship back…”
“A true champion is finds ways to do what’s right…”
“I will show you how unforgiven you are…”
“A true champion goes out and takes what’s rightfully his”
“And you will be consumed…”
“And above all…”
“By the American Dragon”
We’re now brought to two very intense, stoic images of Danielson and Helms, staring directly into the camera, their images again shifting as each of them speak directly to us
Bryan Danielson:
A true champion reminds people –
Gregory Helms:
– reminds people of why he is –
Bryan Danielson:
- of why he is the true –
Gregory Helms:
- the true
Both men are now shown, their images meshed together to create a split screen, both men still staring intensely, saying the final line conjointly before the screen is consumed by static
BOTH:
The True Champion.
**End Package**
**DING DING DING**
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is scheduled for one fall. And it is for the A – OH – W CRUISERWEEEEIIIIGGHHHT CHAMP-IONSHIP!!
A HUGE pop from the Boston crowd
“LISTEN~!”
**IT’S TIME (HACKER’S REMIX)**
The crowd lets out a rousing amount of heat for Gregory Helms, as the vicious hacker makes his way down the custom ramp, proudly touting the Cruiserweight Championship that still, to this day, is not his. The name “Bryan Danielson” is still on the nameplate, but Helms looks at all the front row fans and throws their hands out of his face, saying that he’s still the best in the world and that’s rightful champion.
Helms, beanie and all, steps into the ring and hoists the Cruiserweight title high, again, as though he’d earned it somehow, garnering another round of heat.
Tony Chimel:
Making his way to the ring, the challenger, from Smithfield, North Carolina, weighing in at 215 pounds…GREGORYYY HELMS!!
Joey Styles:
What should be an absolute hellacious match is about to be kicked off here, but folks be reminded, that Gregory Helms is NOT the AOW Cruiserweight Champion. Helms physically stealing that title from Bryan Danielson is one of just the many things that has gone on here between these two gentlemen.
JBL:
Yet. Gregory Helms is not the AOW Cruiserweight Champion YET. I’m supposed to be unbiased and like a businessman tonight, but mark my words, Joey, Bryan Danielson’s “best in the world” disclaimer is gonna be dropped an’ crippled just like Helms did Rey Mysterio. So what you’re lookin’ at right now isn’t Helms showin’ off with that title, what you’re lookin’ at is the near future when Helms takes the title once an’ for all from that damn dweeb!!
“IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!”
**FINAL COUNTDOWN**
The crowd ignites at the familiar and famous Europe song, but gets even louder as the title-less champion Bryan Danielson steps on up, stopping on the entrance stage and looking around him, taking the large crowd in, but he has an absolutely determined look on his face, focused and unwavering. He doesn’t seem to be much in a mood for playing to the crowd tonight, despite his face billing, but Danielson keeps his eyes locked on Helms as he comes down the ramp, hand and finger raised high above his head.
Danielson gets to the ring, still glaring at Helms, before reaching a ring corner, stepping to the top, as the signature song reaches its chorus line…where Danielson turns around and points at Helms, the crowd singing the iconic line with him
“IT’S THE FINAL CONTDOWN!!”
Tony Chimel:
And from Aberdeem, Washington, weighing in at 190 pounds, he is the AOW Cruiserweight Champion…The American Dragon, BBRRYAAN DANIELSON!!!
Joey Styles:
And if that gesture didn’t announce it enough, this is crunch time for Bryan Danielson. The man who has opposed him since he set foot in AOW, who stole his title, who denied his ability, who took out his best friend…is now two feet in front of him with nothing stopping him.
JBL:
I’ve been sayin’ it for weeks, Joey, all what you said is true, but because of all that, Bryan Danielson has too much on his mind. He’s got too much t’deal with an’ I don’t think he’ll be able to focus on actually stayin’ champion. But with that said, I’ll be damned if whoever walks out of this match doesn’t truly deserve that championship and the title of best cruiserweight in the world.
AOW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Bryan Danielson(c) v. Gregory Helms
The referee takes the title from Helms’ capacity and hoists it into the air, signifying that this is in fact for the Cruiserweight title. As he passes it along to the timekeeper, Helms begins trying to circle Danielson, but Danielson isn’t moving. His eyes are simply following Helms as he stands stoic. Helms tries circling in the other direction, but again, all Danielson does is stand still, hands balled into fists, but just staring Helms down. Helms has had enough of that, getting close to Danielson and waves his hand in front of his face, Danielson not flinching or even blinking. Helms then gets all into the champion’s face, nearly biting his nose off as he says “You gonna do something’? Huh ‘Dragon’? You gonna bite?” Danielson continues to stare directly into Helms’ soul, nothing happening but an intense nose-to-nose staredown here. Helms shakes his head and flicks his thumb against his nose, turning away before quickly turning back towards Danielson with an intended right hand, but Danielson finally makes a move, stopping it, before HEADBUTTING HELMS SQUARE IN THE FACE!!
Helms backpedals into the ropes, grabbing onto them as he backs up too much. Helms looks back at Danielson after tending to his nose, an expression on Helms’ face as though he just witnessed a car wreck. He quickly shakes it off and steps back towards Danielson, nodding his head, before cocking back with another right hand, but Danielson stops this one as well, this time firing back with his own right hand, followed by another, and another, Helms being forced to take steps back every time, the crowd behind every shot, but Helms begins to fight back now, Danielson not blocking these blows. The fans are all over this opening back and forth exchange –
BOO!!
YAY!!
BOO!!
YAY!!
BOO!!
YAY!!
YAY!!
YAY!!
YAY!!
Danielson begins pulling away with the punches, sending Helms backpedaling into a corner, before sending the crowd into an uncoordinated “YAY!” binge when he starts firing a frenzy of lifts and rights to the cornered Helms. Helms then takes several steps back, pumping his fist towards the crowd and exalting, the crowd joining, as Danielson rushes back towards the corner and nails Helms with an EXPLODING CORNER DROPKICK!! The crowd is all in now, Danielson pumped to the max, roaring and pumping his fists. Helms has fallen to the canvas and retreated under the bottom rope, getting onto the apron. Danielson makes his way over to Helms, hoping to pull him back in, but Helms fights back with a hard elbow shot before kicking Danielson in the gut through the ropes. With some space now, Helms flips over the top and catches Danielson in a sunset flip, but Danielson rolls all the way through, nailing Helms in the face again with a LOW FRONT DROPKICK! Helms goes down hard, Danielson ready with the first fall of the contest –
1…
2…
NO!!
Helms isn’t going to give up his dreams of becoming Cruiserweight champ so easily. Danielson then gets up and waits for Helms to get to his feet, Helms feeling around to see if his jaw is still in place. Helms looks to find Danielson, who is now windmilling his arm and doing a few stretches. Helms isn’t quite sure what to make of this, Danielson saying back “C’mon! I thought you said you were the best! I’m just warmin’ up!” Helms scoffs at this, as Danielson appears to be the one who’s getting under his opponent’s skin, quite contraire to JBL’s predictions. The members of the crowd who hear Danielson’s badass boast pop for him, Danielson now the one circling his opponent who just stares daggers back at him without moving. Helms is still trying to shake the cobwebs back, but we see his gaze never really leaves Danielson. Helms cracks his neck using his fist as leverage, making his own announcing gesture. Helms and Danielson are now back to staring holes into each other’s souls.
Without saying a word, Danielson and Helms finally lock up, both men jockeying for position. Neither man can seemingly get an advantage, so they break the hold, only to never break gazes and furiously go at it again, locking up. This time they’re not so stationary, whipping each other around the ring, each one still trying to get the upper hand. This one’s going nowhere either so again, they disengage and look to go at it again, but Helms shoots his way behind Danielson, getting him in a rear waistlock. Danielson tries to find a way to break the hold, but can’t find one until he pries Helms’ hands apart, but now it’s Helms’ turn for a headbutt, as he delivers one hard to the back of Danielson’s head, prompting Danielson to let go of his arms and Helms to scoop behind Danielson and pull him into a quick school boy cover!
1…
2…
NO!!
Danielson throws his legs up, the momentum causing him to backroll into a corner, but Helms is in hot pursuit, following Danielson with a CORNER CLOTHESLINE, which prompts Danielson to groggily step out from the corner and steps right into a Helms follow-up bulldog! Helms with his first cover of the match now –
1…
2…
NO!!
Danielson manages to throw a shoulder up and quickly get to his feet, shakes his head a bit, before swinging wildly at Helms, who ducks underneath his clothesline attempt and reaches back, grabs Danielson’s head and neck, and delivers a nasty neckbreaker! Helms doesn’t go for the cover this time, simply getting up and taking a few steps back, cockily letting Danielson get to his feet. Danielson does so, gripping his neck, but now it’s Helms’ turn to gloat. “I keep tellin’ you, boy – I’m better than you! And that’s not gon’ change tonight!” Helms caps that off by doing the title taunt, hands wrapping around his waist to a great deal of heat. Danielson now cracks his neck quickly and without the use of his hands and shrugs it off, he and Helms back to focusing on each other. This “I can do better” exchange between the two gives Helms a scowl, as his attempts to potentially get into Danielson’s head seem to be failing. Before either man can initiate anything more, Danielson offers hand, raising it above him. A strength test? Helms bites, looking to lock one hand with Danielson, before locking all ten fingers with him. The two struggle for a second before Helms starts managing to overpower Danielson, causing Danielson to arch back and bridge himself from falling onto the canvas. But as Helms struggles to force himself on Danielson and overwhelm him, Danielson begins fighting back from his bridged state, but Helms catches this quickly, unlocking his hands and nailing Danielson in the gut with an elbow drop. Helms watches Danielson writhe for a second before running and rebounding off some ropes, dropping again with an elbow drop, but Danielson quickly scurries to his feet and rebounds off some ropes, and tries to execute his own elbow drop on the still downed Helms. Helms then quickly gets to his feet and tries to do the same exact thing, rebounding and attempting an elbow drop to the now downed Danielson, who gets right back up and rebounds again and attempts an elbow drop again, but Helms rapidly rises once more! The crowd is eating up this exchange, both men now returning to their feet, still at a stalemate.
Helms, getting a tad tired of this, rushes at Danielson, only to be met with a kick to the gut for his troubles. Danielson uses this to whip Helms across the ring, but Helms hits Danielson with a hard clothesline on the rebound. Helms quickly mounts Danielson, pounding him with hard right hand after hard right hand, the referee warning him not to do so, with Helms dragging it out as long as he can without being disqualified. He pulls Danielson to his feet instead, kneeing him in the gut before attempting to toss him into the ropes, but Danielson resists and winds up pulling Helms INTO A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!! The sound of the move sends waves through the crowd. It hits Helms so hard, he drops to one knee, Danielson seeing an opportunity. The Dragon measures up Helms and starts delivering A RAPID FIRE OF KICKS TO HELMS’ STERNUM!! Each kick ups the tempo of the one before it before Danielson rears back and prepares for one AIMED FOR THE HEAD…but Helms ducks underneath it, and the bottom rope, going to the outside. Helms clutches his chest area, having been kicked red and raw. Helms turns away from the ring to lick his wounds, while the referee gets the count going.
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
On that count, Danielson exits through the ropes, staying on the apron and runs along it and leaps, NAILING HELMS WITH THE FLYING KNEE!! Danielson himself gets pressed against the barricade, but Helms, in the long run, doesn’t manage to avoid a blow to the head, face first on the arena floor. Danielson takes Helms and rolls him back into the ring, quickly following him for another cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Helms rolls the shoulder, despite his brain being scrambled at the moment! Danielson takes this opportunity to hook the arm Helms threw in the air and then hook the other one, getting the double chickenwing hold, the crowd popping for what could be CATTLE MUTILATION time, but before that can happen, Helms scurries to his feet. But Danielson still has the double chickenwing locked in, as he promptly flips Helms over himself with the DRAGON SUPLEX!! DRAGON SUPLEX!! Helms is dropped square on the back of his neck, Danielson keeping the bridge and getting another pin attempt –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
A move that has put some opponents away in Danielson’s past can’t quite do the job here, with the North Carolinian throwing his whole body into that kickout, finally undoing the double chickenwing. Helms lies on the canvas tending to his neck, Danielson veering over to him and trying to pull him to his feet, struggling a bit. As soon as Helms is vertical, Danielson gets him in a front facelock for perhaps a suplex, but Helms starts pounding away at Danielson’s midsection to prevent it, breaking the facelock and shoving Danielson into the ropes. Danielson rebounds towards Helms, ducking under a clothesline attempt and rebounding again, this time Helms lying flat for Danielson to go over him, causing another rebound, where Helms leaps over Danielson, showing some athleticism and causing yet another rebound, but while he does that, Helms rebounds off the ropes in front of him and vaults himself back toward Danielson and nails him in the gut WITH A KITCHEN SINK THAT SENDS DANIELSON FLIPPING!! An incredibly momentous move there, Helms quickly falling on top of the champion –
1…
2…
NO!!
Danielson rolls the shoulder, Helms stomping on Danielson a few good times before bringing him to his feet, tossing him towards a corner now, following him, but as he does so, Danielson leaps and backflips from the corner over the head of Helms, but as he’s doing that, Helms leaps onto the second rope. As soon as Danielson’s feet hit the ring canvas again, Helms leaps from the second rope WITH THE OVERCAST!! BACKFLIP INTO THE OVERCAST NECKBREAKER IN ONE FLUID MOTION!! The crowd is loving that transition, despite the heel getting the big maneuver, Helms again going for a cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
The crowd deflates back after that hot motion, Helms getting a little bit frustrated. He grabs Danielson’s head and grabs around him, looking to swing him over for a belly to back suplex, but as he looks to lift, Danielson flips completely over Helms for a counter, and grapples around Helms’ waist from behind. Danielson charges forward towards the same corner before hitting Helms’ sternum against it before rolling back with what looks like a victory roll –
1…?
The referee briefly starts a count, but Danielson keeps rolling, he and his opponent momentarily getting to their feet, but Danielson then nails a GERMAN SUPLEX FROM THE ROLL-THROUGH!! The move they call “Chaos Theory” is executed perfectly by Danielson, keeping the bridge and getting another pin attempt –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Helms manages to twist his body again and throw his shoulder up! Helms struggles to get to his feet, Danielson a little bit in disbelief that he couldn’t quite get the fall there, but nonetheless, right as he turns back towards Helms – SUPERKICK!! WOW!! The smack hits Danielson’s jaw hard, but Helms is still hurting from the German, and he collapses to the canvas himself. The crowd is popping big and on their feet for both men right now, who are undeniably already giving it everything they’ve got. Neither man can roll on top of the other to get a cover, the ref being forced to begin a KO count.
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
Helms finally begins to stir, Danielson slowly following…
…5!!
Helms makes his way under the bottom rope and staggers to his feet on the apron, using the ropes to bring himself up. Danielson is now somewhat vertical, still doubled over and grips onto the rope beside him to get fully onto his feet before charging over to the apron-clad Helms, who sees Danielson coming and has him run into a hard right hand for his troubles. Danielson fires back with his own before trapping Helms’ head in a front headlock, looking to perhaps suplex him back into the ring. The crowd sees this and starts buzzing, but Helms resists the suplex much like he did earlier in the match, driving his fists into Danielson’s ribs to prevent it. The facelock still in changes grips, as it’s Helms now to tries to suplex Danielson outside, able to lift Danielson over himself, neither man able to keep the balance of this hold for very long, but we do get the outstanding image of Helms holding Danielson completely vertical for a second while turning around. The off balance momentum of the maneuver starts bringing Danielson down, at which point, Helms leaps from off the apron…AND FALCON ARROWS DANIELSON ONTO THE OUTSIDE!! SITOUT SUPLEX SLAM TO THE OUTSIDE!!! WOW!! Both men are again downed, Helms tending to his tailbone at the moment, Danielson out cold on his back. Boston is all over that move, garnering some “HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!!” chants, but they stop once the crowd decides to count-out with the referee –
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
Helms to his feet…
…5!!
Staggering over to the downed Danielson…
…6!!
Helms takes the Washington native and throws him under the ropes and back into the ring, covering him aggressively, with a forearm in his face –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!!
DANIELSON ROLLS THE SHOULDER!! A great deal of the crowd can’t believe that’s not the end of it, Helms in accord with them. His jaw drops open, looking at the referee from his knees, holding up three fingers, but the referee still says it’s only two. Helms grabs at his beanie and pounds the mat in frustration for a moment before taking Danielson to his feet, gripping his head in a reverse headlock, and NAILS THE NIGHTMARE ON HELMS STREET!! NIGHTMARE ON HELMS STREET! This has to be it now, as Helms covers Danielson and hooks a leg –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!!
DANIELSON WON’T SAY DIE!! Helms is almost beside himself at that point, asking himself what does he have to do to put this guy away, much like in their first meeting. Helms desperately covers Danielson again –
1…
2…
NO!!
Helms throws his beanie off in great frustration!! The look in Helms’ eye is pure rage at the moment, but he’s also plotting something. Helms takes the still recovering Danielson and sits him upright, quickly giving him a kick to the spine to stunt him more, the smack of boot to back echoing around the arena, Danielson’s scream of pain joining the sound waves. With that, Helms rushes forward and rebounds off the ropes, aiming for the SHINING WIZARD…but Danielson lies flat to avoid it, quickly grabbing the attacking leg from behind and CATCHING HELMS IN A STANDING ANKLE LOCK!! ANKLE LOCK!! The momentum from the missed Wizard has Helms pressed against the ropes, however, as he’s grabbing onto the top one, but screaming in pain. The referee tells Danielson that he’s got to let go, but Danielson has a passionately intense look on his face and screams back to the ref that “I HAVE ‘TIL FIVE!!” The rejuvenated Danielson doesn’t let go, the referee counting until the disqualification occurs, but before he can get there, Danielson yanks back hard on Helms’ ankle, causing him to lose his grip on the ropes and forcing him to fall onto his stomach, the crowd popping for the now prone hold. Danielson keeps the intense lock held, Helms desperately reaching for the ropes.
Helms manages to crawl just a bit further towards the ropes, but as soon as this one step is taken, Danielson goes from standing to the canvas, but he’s still holding onto the ankle. He wraps the weakened ankle underneath his other leg, which he crosses over, before holding them both together with a leg and reaching for Helms’ face…REGAL STRETCH!! REGAL STRETCH!! Danielson pays homage to a man who taught him so much and uses it to possibly keep his Cruiserweight Championship! Helms has all the weight on his back, his ankle still wrapped in pain now wrapped within itself. Helms is still reaching, scratching, clawing his way towards the ropes…HE GOT IT!! Helms finally reaches the bottom rope, holding onto it for dear life. Danielson quickly lets go, not shouting back at the ref this time, instead taking a step back himself, as the adrenaline is starting to wear off a bit and all the blows he took before coming back to life are staring to catch up to him. Helms, weak as he may be at the moment, quickly crawls to the back-turned Danielson and gets him in another school boy! The count –
1…
2…
The count stops! Why? Danielson is contorting around Helm’s arm, transitioning the school boy right into…THE LEBELL LOCK!! LEBELL LOCK!! The crowd pops like mad, but before it can be synched in completely, Helms breaks free and crawls under the bottom rope again, saving himself and trying to catch a breather. The crowd shits on him for it, JBL praises him, and Danielson scorns towards him. Helms is trying to catch his breath, limping on the outside, his ankle still in bad shape and not having a moment to pause for several minutes now. Danielson himself takes this opportunity to shake the cobwebs out of his head, all those hard blows still ringing. Helms leans up against a steel ring post, his back on the pole, trying to regain a bit of himself, but Danielson keeps on keeping on. He reaches through the middle ropes and starts tugging on Helms’ head, forcing it to tilt a tad and grabbing a hold of it. Helms is struggling, to break that, trying to find his way around the pole to his Danielson. Helms looks to just go back into the ring, getting a leg up, but Danielson takes his free arm and grabs the leg. With both the neck and leg for leverage, Danielson begins pulling the rest of Helm’s body laterally, soon grabbing hold of Helms’ other leg before finally pulling all the way back…and reveals a BOW AND ARROW LOCK USING THE STEEL RING POST!! Helms’ body is wrapped and contorted in ways it shouldn’t be, the crowd popping big for yet another Danielson submission move. Even if Helms taps out, the hold is illegal, but Danielson is all about the hurt right now. The referee is admonishing Danielson and begging him to let go, Danielson keeping his teeth gritted while destroying Helms’ spine. Danielson finally lets go, forcing Helms to drop to the outside and Danielson to get a sizable pop from the crowd. The ref starts the count out for Helms –
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
…5!!
…6!!
Helms, holding his back, starts ascending the side of one of the corners…
…7!!
He reaches the top rope, but he’s got his profile facing the ring, oddly enough. Danielson spots this and starts to climb to the top rope, battling Helms on the top to try and do something here. Danielson then joins Helms up top, getting a shoulder underneath him and lifting up and shoving a bit, causing Helms to go backwards and STRADDLE ON THE TOP ROPE!! Helms, almost in the middle of the top rope, sits holding onto his family jewels, the crowd with an “OOOOHHH!!” of sentiment for him. Danielson readjusts himself on the top rope, his profile now to the ring…leaping…DIVING LARIOT!! DIVING LARIAT TO THE STRADDLED HELMS!!! WOW!! HELMS GOES FLIPPING INSIDE!! The angle of which he was hit forces him to conveniently flip inside, but the crowd is all on their feet for the move, getting a great deal of “HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!!” chants. Danielson, getting a bit exhausted here, drags Helms away from the ropes and covers him –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!!
HELMS SHOWS RESOLVE!!! Helms, possibly not even sure of where he is right now, still has the guts to kick out!! As commendable an action as this may be for a heel, Danielson is frustrated that that didn’t quite end things. Danielson, just wanting to try something, brings Helms to his feet and attempts to toss him into the ropes, but Helms reverses the toss, but holds onto Danielson’s wrist and brings him back towards himself, wrapping himself around Danielson…SIT OUT STRAIGHT JACKET SLAM!! Big impact move by Helms, but again, this leaves both men laid out, the ref forced for another count –
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
…5!!
Helms sits up by the ropes, using them to get to his feet again
…6!!
Helms is up by the aide of the ropes for the second time, Danielson now beginning to get to his feet…
…7!!
Danielson is up, but as he slowly situates himself, Helms is now on the top rope again, this time completely facing the ring. As soon as Danielson turns around he looks up to see Helms flying at him, OVERCAST IN MIND…DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!! DANIELSON CATCHES HELMS ON HIS SHOULDERS WITH A SICK DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!! OHH MY GAAAHHDDD!! Helms’ momentum carried him that way, and all Danielson had to go was guide him and drive his head into the canvas!! Both men are back flat, Danielson taking time to crawl on over to the eagle spread Helms, only with enough mustered strength to sling an arm over him –
1…
2…
3…!!
NO!!!
HELMS ROLLS THE SHOULDER!!! HE ROLLS THE SHOULDER!! HOW IN THE HELL?!? The crowd is deflated back to their seats, many of them with their hand in their hair or in the air, more than certain that was it, but neither one of these men are going down quite yet. It’s Danielson’s turn to be incredibly frustrated now, but all we can see of his frustration in his fatigue is his head face down on the canvas, his hands clutching his hair, the Dragon on the verge of ripping it out. Joey Styles also has to return to his seat, having nearly fallen out of it doing his trademark call. Danielson finally pushes himself up, stumbling as he does, before realizing he can’t keep his balance at the moment and just sits down at Helms’ head. Both Danielson and Helms keep pushing one another, Danielson not quite out of options, but certainly needs another moment. Danielson crawls over to Helms again, but this time, he forces Helms open with a sitting abdominal stretch it seems, but it all becomes apparent when Danielson raises an elbow and starts looks to start DRIVING HIS ELBOWS INTO THE HEAD AND NECK OF HELMS, but Helms has been here before, finding rolling his momentum forward and traps Danielson beneath him –
1…
2…
NO!!
Danielson manages to kickout, both men getting back to their feet wearily, but Danielson’s met with a hard Helms forearm, Danielson countering with a kick to the midsection. As Danielson then rears back and AIMS A ROUNDHOUSE AT THE HEAD…Helms ducks…BUT THE KICK STRIKES THE REFEREE!!! THE REFEREE IS DOWN!!! Helms gets a burst of life now, grabbing Danielson by the head and for the second time, NAILING THE NIGHTMARE ON HELMS STREET!! As he sits on top of Danielson once more, the look in Helms’ eye goes from angry to outright sinister. Helms then develops a sinister grin that goes with the look. One can only wonder what he’s thinking here, sliding under the ropes and by the timekeeper, GRABBING A STEEL CHAIR. But that’s not all he grabs. Helms reaches past the timekeeper for something that’s been covered all night it appears…a home video camera? The very camera Helms has been using to continually cut his ‘hack’ promos is now present and in his hands! Helms’ smirk only grows bigger as he slides back under the ring, removing the cap from the camera and turning it on. Apparently, Helms has hacked the camera into the system, the folks at home now viewing the up-close ring action with amateur footage. Helms then takes the camera and puts it on top of a turnbuckle as an impromptu tripod. Helms grabs the chair and smiles towards the camera, the fans still buzzing for what he’s attempting. Helms gazes into the camera –
“Hey Mysterio! I hope you’re watching! You’re gonna have company!”
Helms then takes the steel chair, looking to handicap his foe the same way as he did his friend, raises it over his head…and it comes down HARD AGAINST THE KNEE OF DANIELSON’S LEG!! Danielson is writhing in pain now, clutching his knee close and hoping it doesn’t fall apart. Helms tosses the chair aside now, staring right back into the camera, smirking. Helms now sits the ailing Danielson up, rebounding off the ropes and again looking for the SHINING WIZARD, but no, Danielson again lies flat and Helms is forced to rebound off the ropes behind Danielson, who quickly prepares himself and low dropkicks the momentous Helms’ legs, taking them from underneath him and sending him flying…onto the second rope. The ref is still down, barely stirring, but Danielson now looks at Helms before looking at the camera, pointing –
“Hey Rey!! I hope you’re watching! I’m about to dial you up!”
Danielson stumbles a bit, his knee still aching, but he finds a way to run into the ropes, headed towards Helms…619!!! 619!! A BRYAN DANIELSON 619!! Perhaps it should be a “360” for it being the area code of Aberdeem, but nonetheless, the crowd is going crazy for the Danielson homage to his best friend. Danielson doesn’t stay on the apron, either, but the kick did momentarily hurt his knee. He steps back in the ring, Helms slowly rising, but Danielson grabs the camera from off the turnbuckle, and looks into it and yells “There’s only one best!” before taking it in his hand and CRACKING IT OVER THE SKULL OF HELMS!! The camera seemingly shatters, the view from home now returning to the standard camera shot. We can see the pieces littered of the camcorder shattered, Danielson having to take precious time to get rid of it as the referee finally begins to come to, as well as tending to his knee. The Dragon rushes back towards Helms for perhaps a cover, but Helms has enough about himself to strike Danielson in the weakened knee, causing him to drop to only one. Helms, though still somewhat groggy, gets to his feet and quickly rebounds off the ropes and finally NAILS DANIELSON WITH THE SHINING WIZARD!! The ref is fully up now, though still somewhat woozy himself, Helms scurrying to cover Danielson, eagle spread, hooking the far weak leg in final desperation, the ref making the dramatic, slow count –
………1………
…
………2………
…
………3………
THE COUNT STOPS! Why? Danielson has brought his near leg over Helms’ holding arm, brought himself forward and upright into position…LEBELL LOCK!!! LEBELL LOCK COMPLETELY LOCKED IN!!! The omoplata crossface intact in the very center of the ring!! Helms is struggling but he has no life left, Danielson selling the intensity of the lock, yelling as the crowd is going crazy, as Helms’ hand goes up…
…
…
…
…
…
…
AND TAPS!! GREGORY HELMS TAPS OUT!!
Here is your winner and STILL AOW Cruiserweight Champion…BRYAN DANIELSON at (23:11)
YES!! Danielson FINALLY gets his hands back on his Cruiserweight Championship, “Final Countdown” ringing over the sound system and Danielson clutching the Cruiserweight title as though it were a newborn child, cradling it and kissing it before having his hand raised and declared still champ.
The exhausted Dragon still has enough in him to go to the top rope and sing the chorus with the crowd, although only one bar, before getting off the top rope and peering into the corner opposite of him, where an equally exhausted, but much more embarrassed, Gregory Helms is sitting, licking his wounds and attempting to mend his pride. Danielson no longer has an intense look in his eyes instead exits the ring, title in hand, hoisting it all for all to see who the real ‘best in the world’ is.
Joey Styles:
YES!! YES!! He did it!!! The rightful champion is finally re-crowned!! YES!!
JBL:
Sit down, boy! We’re supposed to be unbiased professionals!
Joey Styles:
Oh shut up, Bradshaw. Don’t tell me if Gregory Helms hadn’t won instead you would be hoopin’ and hollerin’.
JBL:
First of all, don’t ever tell me to shut up again. You’re lucky I love my job an’ we’re on live television, or I’d teach you why not to ever say those words to me again. Second, of course I’d be happy if Helms won, but I wouldn’t be embarrassin’ myself by actin’ like a damn cheerleader. Sit your scrawny ass down!
Joey Styles:
There’s 12,000 on their feet standing! Why the hell can’t I stand? Bryan Danielson’s done it, ladies and gentlemen! Your still, yet somehow new, true, Cruiserweight Champion!
~Backstage, in the Green Zone…
The Miz:
Ladies and gentlemen, my guests at this time, the impact players themselves, the hottest prospects in all of professional wrestling – Ken Doane and Chris Masters!
A bit of heat is heard as Doane and Masters approach Miz from both sides of the screen
The Miz:
So, guys, tonight, after you win the Tag Team Turmoil match, what’s your first plan of attack on making even more of an impact in AOW than you already have?
Doane:
Y’see Miz, there’s nothin’ to this –
Masters:
Wait, wait, wait…you’re asking him about winning and making an impact?
The Miz:
Is…is there something wrong with that?
Masters:
Yeah. There is. See, if you wanna talk about ‘winning’ and ‘impact’, I’m the only one of this duo who has actually done anything.
Doane:
What are you talking about? We’ve both made an impact on this company already! Did you not see the look on Low Ki and Jack Evan’s faces when we beat the hell out of’em a few weeks ago?
Masters:
Yeah, after you ran from them because you were afraid they’d beat on you.
Doane:
Oh, I ran scared? I ran scared? Who is the only guy you’ve actually faced so far – oh that’s right, Bryan Danielson. A guy half your size. And he almost beat you because you got stupid –
The Miz:
Guys, this is the Green Zone, ‘Green’ meaning safe and no fighting –
Masters:
Stupid? Stupid? Oh, I’ve heard it all now. The guy who can’t win and the guy who can’t make an impact is calling me ‘stupid’. Nice.
Doane:
Then so what? We go out tonight and we win the Tag Team Turmoil match and we go on to win those tag titles and then we both done somethin’.
Masters:
No, Kenny. See…I’d like to make an impact with someone who can in fact do something. I’ve at least won a match in AOW. What have you done since being here? Oh yeah, that’s right. You got beat by Samoa Joe. And then you got beat by Rob Van Dam. I beat someone who was a champion at the time.
Doane:
(Nervously grinning)
Look…this company hasn’t given you or me any kind of fair chance. You call a prospect up to the major leagues too soon, of course he’s gonna flounder around for a little bit. But tonight, we go out there, show up Low Jack again, show up the Sons, Hooliganz, and whoever else is in there, and I promise you, together, we’ll make’em see just how promising an impact can be.
Masters rubs his chin before nodding and going offscreen, Doane finally able to drop the nervous grin. When he does, it becomes a very methodical sneer, as Doane now walks out of the shot and leaves Miz behind, somewhat stupefied at what just occured
…fade away to a new area backstage, in another locker room. We see Christian, finally in a change of clothes, wearing his ring tights and wrestling boots. Once Cage has situated his gear, the two cops who entered with him earlier put the cuffs back on him before they begin to walk out again, but someone comes in the door…
Torrie Wilson:
Christian…?
Wilson looks in not sure if he’s here before seeing him, her face exploding with excitement
Torrie Wilson:
Christian!! I’m so glad you’re finally here…just kinda wish it weren’t under these circumstances.
Cage looks at Wilson, the intensity that’s been in his eyes for the last month seemingly nonexistent while he does. It returns briefly when Cage speaks to the police officers.
Christian Cage:
Gentlemen…will you please leave me and the lady be for a moment?
Police Officer:
We can’t do that, Mr. Cage.
Torrie Wilson:
Please? I’m requesting it. You guys can stand outside the door…please, I just need not even five minutes with him. Just give me two. Please.
The cops adhere to Wilson’s pleading, not before slapping the handcuffs back on Christian’s wrists. The men then step from around Christian and walking out of the locker room door, but position themselves right in front of it, almost closing the door, but leaving a small crack.
Torrie Wilson:
So…how’re you feeling, Christian? How’s it feel to be back?
Christian Cage:
Back…? You mean finally being led in, but in handcuffs? Finally allowed to change into my tights? Doing everything under constant surveillance? I’d rather be back wandering.
Christian’s face tenses up, but not nearly to the degree we’re used to, still eased in the presence of this muse
Torrie Wilson:
Christian…it’s all going to be okay. After tonight, you won’t have to be the ‘Man on the Moon’ anymore.
Christian Cage:
No. Torrie, you still don’t quite understand. I will always be the Man on the Moon. See, Torrie, the moon is all alone in the sky. And you would think he has the stars to comfort him, right? Wrong. It takes stars’ light millions of years to get to us, Torrie. Some of the stars in the night sky have been burnt out for eons, but we’re only just getting their light. Old photographs, you could say. And I think that’s a fate crueler than anything. Not having anyone there, but having instead only their memories, torturing you with the past.
Torrie Wilson:
But Christian…I’ve been here for you. I’ve always been here for you.
Christian Cage:
Really? Have you really, Torrie? Or have I been forced to sit in a jail cell for two weeks, thinking only about you and these people and how they’ve turned on me, having only your memories of believing me as comfort? Having to think about what Bobby Lashley is planning, me powerless in that cell? So have you really been here for me, Torrie?
Cage’s face slowly starts degenerating into the intense state we’re all familiar with
Torrie Wilson:
…yes.
…and just like that it eases back up in the tender voice of Wilson
Torrie Wilson:
Look, Christian…after tonight, it’ll all be over. Tonight, you beat Bobby Lashley and everything will be okay. Sure, it won’t be easy, but I think you staying here is much better for you than if you left. After tonight…the Man on the Moon…can return to Earth…
Wilson is getting closer and closer to Christian with each word…pressed against him…looking up into his now eased eyes… suddenly –
Police Officer:
That’s two minutes, lady. It’s time to go.
The cops bust into the room, forcing Christian away from the near clutches of Wilson and push him through the door in front of them, again looking to follow Christian on his way to the ring. Wilson is left with a very worried expression on her face as she runs her hand through her hair as we fade back to ringside…
***
At ringside, we get a shot of a group of men who are in the front row while we hear Tony Chimel introducing them.
Tony Chimel:
Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to extend a very special welcome to our special guests of the evening – members of your very own 2007 World Series Champion BOSTOOOOON RED SOOOOX!!
A HUGE pop goes up around the place as the men in the front row are being asked to stand
Tony Chimel:
ERIC HINSKE!!
“The Diesel” tips a cap before sitting back down
Tony Chimel:
Center fielder COCO CRISP!!
Crisp gets a very nice reaction before sitting back down
Tony Chimel:
Starting pitcher JOSH BECKETT!!
A very big hand for Beckett
Tony Chimel:
“The Captain” JASON VARITEK!!
Varitek isn’t wearing a hat to tip, but he gets the biggest pop out of anyone on the team thus far, probably because he’s actually wearing his jersey with the stitched ‘C’ for captain on it.
Tony Chimel:
“The Greek God of Walks”…KEVIN YOOOUUUKILIS!!
Another great ovation, this one sounding like a chorus of boos, but is actually a cheer of “YOOOUK!!”
Tony Chimel:
Your 2007 American League Rookie of the Year…DUSTIN PEDROIA!!
An even bigger ovation for the all-out and gritty playing second baseman who smiles and waves, mouthing ‘wow’ as he sits down
Tony Chimel:
And your 2007 World Series MVP…MIIIKE LOWEEELL!!!
The humble Lowell barely raises his hand only to get the largest pop out of his team and rivaling the actual wrestlers for reactions
Joey Styles:
Well there you see’em, folks. Some of the men who turned a curse into a dynasty. The Boston Red Sox breaking their World Series curse back in 2004 and stomping on its grave just a few weeks ago with another championship.
JBL:
How do you know so much about sports? I’m impressed, Joey, I really am. I wouldn’t expect you t’know the difference between a baseball an’ a horseshoe.
Joey Styles:
Well there’s lots you don’t know about me, John. I have a black belt in Tae-Kwan-Do too, y’know.
JBL:
Alright, it’s one thing to be conveniently brainy, but it’s another thing for you to try an’ make stuff up in your little fantasy world because John Layfield said he was impressed with you.
CHRISTIAN|LASHLEY
Joey Styles:
Well speaking of curses and fantasy worlds, folks it’s time for another one of our main events here brought upon by the actions of Christian Cage who believes he is cursed to an extent, having knowledge about a certain…er…plot I should say that may have developed in his own fantasy world and driven him to the brink as it has.
JBL:
It ain’t no fantasy, Joey. Christian Cage is onto somethin’, but there’s nobody who wants to listen to him. There’s nobody who’s lettin’ him speak, either. This bumbling idiot administration keeps tryin’ to silence this man, an’ he has more to say than anybody in AOW has t’say.
Joey Styles:
So do you buy into these theories he’s throwing around about our owner, Paul Heyman, Chris Jericho, and Bobby Lashley? Or his attempts to make theories about them, since he hasn’t really spoken them.
JBL:
I’ll believe anything that makes these people see what a phony and fraud Bobby Lashley really is. An’ this isn’t just his Spear talkin’. Lashley has done nothin’ but come here in AOW an’ screw things up, screwing Christian over, puttin’ Torrie Wilson at risk…Bobby Lashley says that he’s the ‘real deal’, but I say it’s a bunch o’ malarkey, an’ I hope to the God I pray to every night an’ all the ones I don’t that Bobby Lashley gets his due here tonight from Christian Cage!
Joey Styles:
A feud that has indeed been incredibly complex, causing Christian to lose his mind, Lashley to lose his patience, but in the process, getting the rest of us lost in thought. Only one of them is telling the truth, only one can stay in AOW after tonight, but who will it be? Will it be the Man on the Moon? Or the Real Deal?
**Video Package**
We open to an intense shot of Christian, an aura throbbing around him and a single symbol being heard
Christian Cage:
Why are you here, Lashley…?
A shot goes to Christian interrupting Lashley and RVD’s #1 Contender’s match
Christian Cage:
If you’ve come here because you think you can just mosey on in here and take whatever you want just because of your name and be worshipped, you’re sorely mistaken.
A flash goes by of Lashley being booed heavily inside the Hammerstein, regardless of what he does
Christian Cage:
There are too many of us back here who have worked our tails off only be turned away. And I’ll speak for them –
“…speak for them…”
On that echo, it cuts to a shots of Christian being refuted by the World’s Greatest Tag Team and Rob Van Dam
Lashley:
I came here to compete.
Lashley and Christian meet again, Lashley saying those words to Christian, the phrase ‘why are you here’ swirling around in the background
Lashley:
…you’re alone, Christian. All alone. So why are you here. .?
This leaves Christian with a vivid and blank stare…that fades into Christian sitting down a few weeks later, his eyes puffy and as though he hadn’t slept, the intense stare we’ve grown to know for weeks appearing for the first time and being approached by Torrie Wilson
Christian Cage:
I’m alone because no one can see the bigger picture but me. There’s something much bigger going on here than everyone here is willing to believe. But no one cares.
Torrie Wilson:
I care.
We cut now to Christian violently attacking Lashley, giving him three emphatic Con-chair-tos and shouting out –
“I HAVE TO STOP IT!!”
We soon are brought to the image of Christian staring at the moon
Christian Cage:
Christian tried to show you all the way. He tried to show you that there is a much bigger picture than you’re all realizing. And you rejected him when he tried to enlighten and save you. But unlike the sun…the moon shall rise again…
We then quickly cut to Christian in the ring a few weeks later, attacked from behind by Bobby Lashley
Joey Styles:
That’s Lashley!!
Lashley:
…so now one of us can’t be here…while the other one is…at World Ablaze, it’s gonna be you and me…in an I QUIT MATCH! Whoever loses…leaves AOW. FOR GOOD.
We then fade to the scene of Lashley being interviewed in the ring by JBL
Lashley:
You don’t know what’s real here in the real world or what’s going on in your head. Torrie Wilson? Christian, she’s scared for you. Mick Foley? He’s worried about you.
On that, the image of Wilson crying in Foley’s arms as Christian is dragged away by security and law enforcement shows
Lashley:
I’m not going to apologize because I know you’re not sorry… after Sunday, the only thing real will be me - The Real Deal.
Lashley cements his stance by spearing the living hell out of JBL
We cut to a black screen before it comes to life, the song “Slipping” and its unstable piano begins to play over images of the feud…
Look at these people - amazing how sheep'll
Show up for the slaughter
The overpan view of the entire Hammerstein crowd shows
No one condemning you - lined up like lemmings
You led to the water
Christian stands over Lashley after ambushing him with a lead pipe
Why can't they see what I see? Why can't they hear the lies?
A shot of Christian in the ring, declaring Lashley as part of a conspiracy; fades right into Lashley speaking at his interview again
Maybe the fees too pricey for them to realize
Your disguise is slipping…
Christian pulls off his Rorschach mask to reveal himself as the one who assaulted Lashley in the parking lot
I think you're slipping…
Lashley attacks Christian in his return
Society is slipping…
Torrie Wilson begs for Christian to stop his assault on Lashley, getting in the way of a possible Con-chair-to
Everything's slipping away…
Lashley almost punches the ‘Dr. Doom’ fan after bashing his car
So...
Go ahead, run away
Say it was horrible
Quick flashes of Christian and Lashley briefly meeting in a tag team match
Spread the word, tell a friend
Tell them the tale
Christian and Lashley mirror each other in their intense conviction promos
Get a pic, do a blog
Heroes are over with
Christian is dragged away by security, Lashley beaten
Look at him, not a word
Hammer, meet nail
Christian bashes Lashley’s brains in with the triple Con-chair-tos
Then I win, then I get
Everything I ever
Lashley spears Christian in their tag team meeting
All the cash, all the fame
And social change
Christian’s promo is interrupted by Paul Heyman
Anarchy, that I run
You people all have to learn
Christian sits over Lashley after the chair smashes, looking psychotic
This world is going to BURN…
An intense close-up of Christian
BURN…
An intense close-up of a posing Lashley after spearing JBL
BURN…!!!
The images are placed side by side, a fire erupting between and singeing both of them, the world on fire in the background…
**End Package**
**DING DING DING**
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is an I QUIT MATCH!! There are no count outs, no disqualifications, no pinfalls, and no submissions. The only way to win is to get your opponent to speak into a microphone the words ‘I Quit’. The man who loses this match will be forced to leave AOW.
**JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES**
Following that chilling video package and Chimel’s rule rundown, the man who has set this all in motion is the first man to come out, although the message of the lyrics seems a bit darker sounding surrounding the themes of this feud, but nonetheless, Christian steps through the erupting curtain with absolutely no change of expression. The police officers are behind him as he walks out to a grandeur mixed reaction, but there’s still very much positive reaction in the air.
Christian does no theatrics, no ‘Peep’ seeking, no nothing – just an intense and very authorized walk to the ring. When Christian gets to the base of the ramp, one of the officers gets the cuff key and unlocks Christian, taking the cuffs off…but Christian grabs the handcuffs from him, holding them in his hand, then tells the officers to leave. Christian steps into the ring, handcuffs still in hand, staring intensely at them and not moving from the center ring.
Tony Chimel:
Introducing first, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 212 pounds…CHRISTIAAAAN CAAAAAGE!!
Joey Styles:
The chains are off – Christian Cage holding those handcuffs that have possibly been around his wrist for weeks, symbolically holding them in his hand to show that there’s really nothing to hold him back now.
JBL:
Nothin’ to hold him back indeed, Joey. Chimel said it best – no disqualifications, no pinfall, no nothin’. All he’s gotta do is do the same thing he’s done to Bobby Lashley for weeks an’ that’s beat the holy hell out of him to beat some sense into him an’ leave this company be.
**HELL WILL BE AT YOUR DOOR**
The tune that spells the arrival of Bobby Lashley goes across Boston, Lashley himself stepping out the slowest of anyone thus far through the smoke curtain. Lashley, despite his actions this past Wednesday, is still getting a very much mixed reaction as well, but it is more geared towards positive, which is more than one could say beforehand.
Tony Chimel:
And the opponent, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, weighing in at 270 pounds…BOB-BY LASH-LEEEEEEYYYY!!
JBL:
Got a small question, Joey – you don’t seem t’have chosen whether or not to believe Christian or Lashley. What gives?
Joey Styles:
Well, you can’t really chose who you believe, Bradshaw. I just think both men have made very valid points to this point, and even though Christian may be the more sinister and underhanded man to this point, there are some likeable things about what he’s gone through that I can’t shake my head at. But we might start early~!!
Upon a glance at what catches Styles’ attention, Lashley is about halfway to the ring before Cage drops his handcuffs outside and goes outside the ring and up the ramp, and starts BRAWLING WITH LASHLEY BEFORE HE EVEN STEPS IN THE RING!!
I QUIT MATCH
*LOSER LEAVES AOW*
The Man on the Moon Christian Cage v.
The Real Deal Bobby Lashley
We’ve already been sucked into the action, Lashley being blasted by Christian’s early shots, but Lashley is all for it, as he strikes back with hard blows of his own, the crowd eating up this hot opening. All the referee can do is exit the ring and float around the brawl with the microphone in his hand that one man must speak those daunting words into. The two are already spiraling out of control, each man responding to the other’s hard shots with their own, before Lashley starts to pull away and delivers a hard knee to Christian’s gut, before sending him crashing into the guard rail. As Christian leans against the rails, Lashley tries to capitalize, but Christian counters by whipping Lashley into the rail himself and knocking his head off of it. Lashley is now dazed, prompting Christian to grab the microphone from the referee for the first time –
“Give up now, give into the truth, Lashley…it’s only gonna get worse from here!”
Lashley quickly answers ‘no’ by rushing Christian and grabbing around his midsection before driving him spine-first into the barricade. This foils Christian’s first attempt, leading to Lashley grabbing Christian by the head and finally rolling him into the ring. Christian is quick to his feet here, Lashley getting assaulted upon his entrance to the ring with hard rights. Lashley manages to fight the Man on the Moon off, shoving him into the ropes, but Christian rebounds with a THROAT THRUST that surprises everyone and Lashley, forcing him down momentarily before getting back up, only to be bashed into a corner by Christian. While Christian lays on the blows to the cornered Lash, the big black man blocks a few shots before grabbing Christian by the neck and reversing their situations, putting Lashley back on the offense and bashing the Man on the Moon with hard fists now. Christian still puts up a fight, giving himself space by giving Lashley a European uppercut, forcing him to backpedal. As Lashley does so, Christian leaps onto the second rope, waiting for Lash to turn back around…DIVING EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!!
Both Lashley and Christian fall, and under normal circumstances this would be a great place for a pinfall attempt, but this match doesn’t call for that. Christian follows up on this by bashing Lashley in the skull with hard fists before making some space between both men. Christian goes over into a corner and sits in a crouched position…playing with his hair in a psychotic manner…his intense stare turned into one that would scare children…is he setting what we think he’s setting? It begins to look so, as Christian motions for Lashley to get up with one hand, his face still frozen in psychotic intensity. The crowd acknowledges this potential homage to his best friend in that other company/poke at Lashley, but whatever the case, when Lashley gets to his feet Christian LAUNCHES HIMSELF WITH A SPEAR…but Lashley catches him and ONE-MAN FLAPJACK’S HIS FACE OFF A TURNBUCKLE!! Christian’s intensity caused him to crash and burn early, holding his possibly broken nose while drifting back into Lash’s clutches…OVERHEAD BELLY TO BELLY…SENDING CHRISTIAN OVER THE TOP ROPE AND TO THE FLOOR!!! WOW!!!
Christian lands with a sickening splat on the padded outside, the crowd vocalizing the pain Christian is now feeling. Lashley isn’t above beating the hell out of Christian here either, going outside the ring to fetch him, only for him to ask for the microphone from the referee –
“Christian…it’s only best if you quit now…what do you say, Christian? Stop this now –”
Christian gives him an emphatic ‘hell no’ when he SHOVES THE MICROPHONE INTO LASHLEY’S FACE. Lashley reels from this, but Christian still can’t get up, his back still plastered onto the outside padding. As he twists and cringes to get to his feet, Lashley comes back after Christian by delivering a hard blow to his back, bringing Christian back up and then CHUNKING HIS FACE INTO AN IRON POST!! Christian is in trouble here, but Lashley realizes he’ll have to drive Captain Charisma to his limit in order for him to finally quit. This running through his mind, Lashley goes over to the timekeeper’s table and rummages around…FOR A STEEL CHAIR. The chair is re-introduced tonight, but Lashley is blindsided – MICROPHONE SHOT TO THE SKULL!! CHRISTIAN WITH THE MIC SHOT!! The dramatic microphone thump is heard all around the arena, the shot selling itself, as Lashley drops back flat after dropping the chair. Christian stumbles a bit, still hurt, but he regains himself enough to go to the timekeeper’s table as well…and grab the RING BELL. Christian awaits for Lashley to start stirring to prepare for the upcoming assault, Lashley getting to his feet and turning around…BELL SHOT OFF THE SKULL!! BELL SHOT OFF THE SKULL!! LASHLEY GOES DOWN!!
Lashley drops like a stone, potentially knocked the fuck out. The camera view is off of Lashley for a second while he’s face down, Christian losing his balance he struck Lashley so hard. Christian sits along the ring as Lashley is still down, taking the microphone back from the referee and climbing over the body of Lashley and turning him over, where we can see he has been BUSTED OPEN. Christian sticks the microphone to Lashley’s lips and prompts him to ‘say those words’.
…
…
…
Lashley doesn’t respond! He can’t because he’s still completely KO’d from the bell blow. Only a few minutes into this match, and someone is already busted open! This doesn’t stop Christian from getting the ring bell back and again stalking the downed Lashley…and STRIKING HIM ONCE MORE IN THE HEAD WITH THE RING BELL!! If Lashley was unresponsive a few seconds ago, he sure as hell is gonna be now! But the look on Christian’s face doesn’t seem to even care if Lashley says those words…he just wants to end him tonight with his bare hands. Lashley’s just medically cleared concussion suddenly dawns on us, as Christian may be doing this intentionally to play into that. It certainly seems that way when Christian drops the ring bell and takes the much larger Lashley and throws him back into the ring, while he stays outside. He grabs hold of the steel chair Lashley had in his hands…but then goes to get another one. The crowd already knows where this is going, and so do the commentators, Christian ready to just end Lashley right now with the way this all began – a one-man Con-chair-to. Christian steps into the ring and sets everything up, placing one chair underneath Lashley’s skull and taking the other in his hand. Christian tries one last time, taking the microphone from the ref –
“Lashley…quit now. Or the sun will never rise again.”
“…you have to kill me…”
Lashley’s barely conscious response seems to infuriate Christian, but at the same time, give him a breath of life. He seems more than pleased to carry out Lashley’s wishes. Christian slowly and dramatically raises the chair above his head, BRINGING IT DOWN…LASHLEY STOPS IT!! Lashley’s quickly rolled over and had put both hands on the chair, trying to stop Christian from completely beheading him! Lashley’s gritted teeth and Christian’s intense expressions tell the story, as the chair isn’t moving from its spot until Lashley lets out one big burst of energy that flings Christian back into a corner, Lashley now with the chair in hand. He stumbles to regain himself, but once he does, goes for a CHAIR SHOT AIMED AT CHRISTIAN’S HEAD…but Christian swoops out of the corner, the shot missing and Lashley hitting pure steel and dropping the chair. Christian uses this to lunge at Lashley and begin bashing him over the head again, but Lashley is quick to fight back, getting back into a brawl with Christian. The man who has accused Lashley of many things swings wildly with a right hand, leading the Real Deal to wrap himself around it, before getting under Christian’s other arm…FULL NELSON SLAM…ONTO THE OTHER CHAIR!! Lashley’s drives Christian’s spine into the chair that was still sitting center ring!! Lashley, still trying to gather himself from the blows to the head, stumbles and leans on the ropes while the crowd takes in and pops for that move. Lashley then asks for the microphone again –
“I’m not sorry, Christian…for any of that. But if you stop now, you can still -”
“I’LL SEE YOU IN HELL!!”
Christian pulls the microphone close to himself to screech that into it, his body still wrapped with back pain. Lashley’s kind of a fool to think Christian would give up on that, but the onslaught continues on. Lashley now takes the chair Christian landed on and lies in wait, Christian trying to bring himself to his feet…only to be CLOCKED IN THE HEAD WITH THE STEEL CHAIR!!! Lashley doesn’t seem to have learned much from getting his skull caved in by Christian with the bell, as an incapacitated opponent can’t really answer, but both men seem to want to pass that point. Christian falls to the canvas hard, rolling to the ring apron somewhat instinctively, but he lies there, partially hanging off the side. Lashley takes this moment to recuperate some more, tending to his open wound and dropping the chair. While Lashley takes a momentary breather, Christian starts pulling himself up on the outside using the ropes, still very much feeling the chair shot. Lashley then looks over and rushes across the ring…SPEAR!!! SPEAR!!! SPEAR FROM OFF THE APRON CRASHING TO THE OUTSIDE!!! SPEAR TO THE OUTSIDE!!!
The crowd is popping all over again for that huge move, as both Lashley and Christian hit the outside hard. Lashley rolls off of Christian on impact towards the steel ring steps. He uses these to get back to his feet, still feeling a good bit off balance. Christian is essentially out of it at this point, taking more punishment, but regardless, Lashley still knows it’ll take more than that to put him down for good. With that in mind, Lashley, while still leaning on the steel steps, strongmans the steps and rips the upper portion of them off, flinging them away from he and Christian before getting the larger base of the steps and getting them in his hands. The crowd is anticipating what’s on Lashley’s mind, Christian just now starting to stir and get to his feet, wobbling off base before turning around…THE CHARGING LASHLEY BASHES THE STEPS OFF CHRISTIAN’S SKULL!! Christian takes a flat bump on the impact of the steel echoing off his cranium there, lying eagle spread. Lashley is panting heavily, even though the match hasn’t even gone on that long yet, but his concussion mixed with the fact that he’s losing oxygen with his blood loss seems to be getting to him now, dropping to one knee, but still holding onto the steps. Lashley motions towards the referee to go over towards Christian, the ref adhering, asking Christian ‘whaddya say?’
…
…
…
It’s Christian’s turn to be unresponsive, but he eventually does answer somewhat, getting enough about him to grab the referee’s wrist and chunk it away, a pretty emphatic ‘no’. Lashley doesn’t look surprised at that, Christian now getting another breath of life and struggling to get to his feet, Lashley grabbing hold of the steel steps again and again rushing towards Christian…ANOTHER CHARGING STEEL STEPS SHOT!! The goring rhinoceros that is Lashley drills Christian once again with the unforgiving steel, Christian this time being hit so hard, he’s flung backwards against the barricade. He falls down and folds into himself after going into a sitting position, Lashley finally dropping the steps. When Christian’s head resurfaces out of his lap, we see that now Christian is now donning the CRIMSON MASK. Lashley goes over to the ref and grabs the microphone out of his hand before going over to the now juicing Christian –
“Christian…please…if you stop now…there can be help.”
CHRISTIAN SPITS IN LASHLEY’S FACE. This incredibly blatant and disgusting show of disrespect sends Lashley back in that disgust, wiping it off of his face, Christian now wearily leaning against the barricade to get to his feet. Lashley has taken several steps away from Christian, but quickly turns as soon as he gets to his feet, charging…ANOTHER SPEAR…
THAT COLLAPSES THE BARRICADE!! LASHLEY AND CHRISTIAN COLLAPSE THE BARRICADE!! OHH MY GAAD!! They’re right there in the crowd now, the Boston crowd following Joey Styles with “HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!!” chants, neither man able to make any kind of motion. Christian is eagle spread, dead, and bleeding, while Lashley is face down and trying to push himself up, the camera angle catching an incredible shot of Lashley trying to raise himself, only for his blood to drip off his face before collapsing back down. The crowd is in a frenzy following this, some security having to back some fans off from trying to get involved and even touching two bleeding, sweating men.
After several lifeless moments, Lashley finally begins to stir and lift himself up, looming over to the ref and pulling the microphone away from him, the look in his eye hoping and praying that this does it –
“One of us isn’t gonna make it out of here, Christian…I don’t want to keep doing this…so please, for the sake of everyone that cares for you just stop this.”
“…somebody…has…to save…this company…”
Christian holds the microphone to his beaten lips to say the phrase that started this whole mess, grabbing the microphone out of Lash’s hands quickly afterwards, and BASHES IT AGAINST HIS TEMPLE just as quickly. Lashley reels backwards out of the crowd now, returning to the ringside area. Christian has some trouble standing, but when he does, he charges at Lashley, AIMING FOR ANOTHER MIC SHOT, but Lashley ducks underneath and hoists Christian onto his shoulders, RUNNING POWERSLAM ON THE STEEL STEPS…NO!! Christian fidgets his way off Bobby’s shoulders, ending up behind him, dropping the mike, and clutching his head…REVERSE DDT DROP ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!! Lashley’s spine thunders off the steel, while Christian sells the impact by recoiling himself, bouncing up before hitting the outside padding once more.
It takes another moment or so for Christian to regain himself, but when he does he stares a hole through Lashley as he lay open-armed on the steel before roaming over towards the base of the entrance ramp and reaching down for something…it’s the handcuffs he dropped at the beginning. Did he have plan for them all along? It would certainly appear so, as Christian rolls into the ring and locks one side of the cuffs around one of the corner posts, the other side being open. He rolls back outside to get his hands on Lashley, slapping them across him and throwing him back into the ring. Christian then reaches over to grab the still thrown around microphone, putting it close to Lashley’s face –
“Lashley…you can give in now and admit the truth to all these people, or should you continue to wear your mask, I’ll have to rip it off.”
“…NO!”
Lashley says this through gritted and aggressive teeth, sparing us from his infamous past gaffs with the word. Christian accepts this it appears, rolling back into the ring and pulling Lashley up, putting him in the corner he has the handcuffs wrapped in, but Lashley, whether aware of it or not, fights out of the corner, Christian subduing him with a shot to the head. Even so, Lashley surprises by again coming to life, hoisting Christian up and walking out of the corner, throwing Christian on his shoulder with ANOTHER RUNNING POWERSLAM attempt, but like the last one, Christian slips off of his shoulder, but doesn’t go for the DDT this time. Instead, he grapples with Lashley’s arms, turning them over FOR AN UNPRETTIER, but a still weakened Lashley still has gargantuan arms and strength, stopping Christian from completing the move and shoving him CHEST FIRST INTO THE CORNER, Christian recoiling and turning around violently from the blow. Lashley follows up on this by forcing Christian back into the corner, taking the empty handcuff slot…AND LOCKING CHRSTIAN IN.
Christian now has no escape, nowhere to go. The same chains that he seemed to be unbound from have captured him yet again, now a sitting duck for whatever Lashley wants to throw at him. Lashley stares at Christian for a moment, his eyes lacking an apologetic feel, keeping to his word. Christian’s eyes, on the other hand, don’t spell terror quite yet, but they are frantically intense. Lashley goes over to the referee, who has since retrieved the microphone, and takes it. He then goes over and grabs one of the two steel chairs still in the ring. Lashley slowly approaches Christian with the microphone, giving him one last chance to end it here before Lashley delivers some sort of punishment…
“Let’s end this, Christian.”
“SOMEBODY HAS TO SAVE THIS COMPANY…FROM YOU!!”
Christian swings wildly on this, but he’s restricted, so Lashley easily backs away and out of range, shaking his head as he does so. Christian is frantically flailing now, trying to find a way out, but soon stops when Lashley raises the chair…and BASHES CHRISTIAN ACROSS THE AILING SPINE WITH THE CHAIR!! The crack of steel echoes across Banknorth, but Lashley doesn’t stop there, BASHING CHRISTIAN AGAIN…
…
…AND AGAIN…
…
…AND AGAIN…
…
…AND AGAIN…
…
…AND AGAIN…!! Bobby Lashley crunches Christian’s spine six times before stopping now, again taking the microphone…but then gets a look in his eye that seems similar to Christian’s these last few weeks, Christian’s eyes now in a saddening agony. Lashley then hands the microphone back to the referee before taking the chair again…AND GOES ON A FRENZY ON CHRISTIAN, BASHING HIM TEN TIMES ACORSS THE SPINE AND LEGS, causing Christian to collapse in absolute agony, the crowd seeing this as far too much with each blow. Those who had faith in Lashley are slowly beginning to turn on him, Lashley getting a big rain of heat for not stopping. The referee even pleads with him that this is too much, with Lashley just staring at him over his shoulder and not adhering. It seems as though the roles have turned and possibly Chris Jericho’s warning has come true already…Lashley may be falling to the same darkness that has consumed Christian. Relentless in his attack, Lashley takes the chair again AND KEEPS MERCILESSY BEATING CHRISTIAN SEVERAL MORE TIMES, the crowd continuously throwing heavier and heavier heat, Christian completely unable to stand and on the brink of pain induced tears now. The chair smash count has reached the mid-twenties by this point, a whole new level of cruel, even for this feud, Lashley finally going back to the referee and intensely snatching the stick away from the referee, once more speaking into it, his voice sounding much more haunting than previous times…
“So…what’s it gonna be, Moonman?”
“I………I………I………WILL NEVER QUIT!!”
…and the crowd erupts. Somehow, whether it be Christian’s guts or guile, Christian has found a way to keep to his word and wants to get rid of Lashley, the tables having seemingly completely turned and resolidified after they were blurred. The crowd is completely with Christian. In one burst of life, Christian grabs hold of the microphone that’s still close to his face with his still free hand and CRACKS IT SO HARD AGAINST LASHLEY’S SKULL, IT BREAKS!! Lashley absolutely reels, going onto all fours and holding the side of his bloody cranium, while Christian collapses back to his captured state, the crowd all behind him on that blow. The blood on Christian’s face is absolutely daunting, literally wearing a crimson mask to the point that Ric Flair would be proud. As Lashley is recovering, his view away from the bloody and collapsed Christian, there begins to be a great deal of buzz…someone’s coming down the ramp…IT’S TORRIE WILSON!!
Wilson leaps into the ring to a big pop, the referee not being able to stop it due to the rules. The ref has since though, gotten a new microphone. Torrie cradles Christian’s destroyed face in her hands, tearing up and almost crying, but then appearing to get to the reason why she came. She goes in her back pocket and pulls out…THE HANDCUFF KEY!! Torrie Wilson’s got the key! Almost symbolic as the only thing standing between Christian and complete loneliness and hopelessness, Wilson has the key to unbinding him! Wilson starts to stick the key in and unlock Christian, but just as she does, a blindly rushing Lashley SANWICHES WILSON BETWEEN CHRISTIAN AND LASHLEY’S OWN SHOULDER!!!
A possible spear attempt absolutely destroys the non-competitive Wilson. If there was anyone left in the crowd who was behind Lashley, there certainly isn’t now. As she falls and grips her stomach, Wilson takes with her the cuff key that falls out of her hand and at the feet of Lashley, who is getting unbridled heat at the moment. Lashley notices the key, before kicking it out of the ring and far out of Christian’s grasp. Christian, on the other hand, has not removed his eyes from the ailing Wilson, the intense look on his face that we’ve become accustomed to seeing has vanished into one of a distraught lover, his face now a horrid mixture of blood, sweat, and vengeful tears. Christian calls out Torrie’s name, but Wilson doesn’t answer, completely lifeless now. Lashley seems to notice that what he’s done is seemingly unforgivable, but he also seems to get some sort of idea. Lash grabs one of the chairs that’s still in the ring and lies it center ring, far out of Christian’s reach. He then drags Wilson over…and places her head on top of it. The crowd is anticipating the worst, a great deal of people going silent, while Christian is seen frantically trying to break loose of the cuffs, doing everything he can, but to no avail, reaching out in vain to try and reach Wilson, his face in horror and enveloped in blood. Lashley then goes over and grabs the chair he was beating Christian senseless with, the crowd even more aware of what’s going to come. Christian’s eyes are stuck, knowing, but is completely helpless, perhaps another symbolism of the spot he’s been in since his suspension. Lashley then emphatically, dramatically, and slowly raises the chair high above his head, Christian not being able to take anymore, shrieking something that prompts the referee to careen over to him, microphone in place –
“I QUIT!! Don’t hurt her…just…I quit…I quit…please…”
THAT’S IT!!
Here is your winner…BOBBY LASHLEY at (18:44)
That’s it…a heart wrenching end to a brutal match. Just like that, Christian Cage, the Man on the Moon, is forced to leave AOW. Just when we began to understand what he was trying to say, just when we realized that Lashley was befalling to the same things that Christian fell to, just when Christian began to potentially be ‘human’ again, it looks like he’ll be leaving. The crowd is in some kind of shock, no one bothering to sing the customary ‘nah nah nah nah’ chant, everyone just shocked. But they’re not shocked silent, Lashley getting a tremendous amount of heat as he walks towards the back, his back turned to the ring, truly being unapologetic for what he’s done, an intense look written all over his face.
Going up the aisle, Lash is even pelted with garbage, many fans following suit. Inside the ring, a referee has gotten the key and unlocked Christian, who slowly scurries, his hands outstretched for Wilson, cradling her in his arms, holding her while looking down the ramp at Lashley, screaming after him. After a moment, several referees surround Christian and take hold of him, ready to escort him out of the building. Christian, bleeding and aching from head to toe, has no fight left in him it seems, as he may be physically, mentally, and emotionally broken by this point…
Joey Styles:
Did we just see…what I think we saw? Bobby Lashley…an absolutely brutal amount of punishment onto Christian Cage…
JBL:
I’m speechless, Joey…I really am. I didn’t think Lashley even had a side like that to him.
Joey Styles:
Lashley seemed to be punishing Christian for all the abuse he’d taken in the last several weeks from Cage, but it got to a point where it was just going to far…and that look, did you see that transformation in the eyes of Lashley? It was something sick and almost…almost inhuman.
JBL:
Revenge is a demon in itself, Joey, an’ when it’s at its worst, it can possess you to do things that you will regret…but from the look on Lashley’s face, he didn’t look sorry at all.
Joey Styles:
Lashley knowing Christian would not give in, no matter how much punishment he took went to absolutely desperate measures at putting Torrie Wilson, the only link that kept Christians’ mind afloat…and threatening to destroy her is just…I’m with you, Bradshaw, I’m not sure how to describe this at all.
JBL:
I’m not sure what to call it, but what I do know is how to call it. Bobby Lashley proved us all wrong. He proved the people that believed him wrong an’ he proved people like me who didn’t believe him wrong all at once. None of us knew who the real Bobby Lashley was, but at the same time, he wasn’t quite the fraud he let on. He told the truth, Lashley wasn’t sorry for anythin’ he did tonight. But he went even farther than any of us were hopin’ to believe he’d go.
Joey Styles:
That is a very interesting look at it, partner. You could be right…but what was the actual truth? Something tells me we may not know from Lashley himself…or from Christian for that matter, as you can see, Christian being escorted out of the building per stipulation of this match…he has to leave AOW. The truth he so desperately wanted us all to know will forever be with him and only him.
On those final lines, Christian is being taken up the ramp, his face frozen in one of the utmost depression. The crowd is trying to give him a good pop, but there’s nothing that can bring Christian up. Inside the ring, sever refs have begun attending to Torrie Wilson, one calling for medical attention it appears. When we get an up close view of the emotionless, but depressed Christian, we can see that he’s mumbling to himself…a very soulless and much less intense saying of the phrase that he’s been trying to get into people’s minds since coming here – “Somebody…somebody has to save this company…”
***
We reach a black screen, before lighting up with what seems like a very innocent Christmas-like image of a home covered in snow, Carol of the Bells chiming in the background before our first female narrator chimes in over it…
Narrator:
‘Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the home…
We actually get a look inside the house, which reveals a Christmas tree…ribbons replaced by barbed wire
Narrator:
Not a creature was spared a chair shot to the dome
The screen fades to shots of several chair shots to the skull thus far in AOW
Narrator:
Some things were hung by the chimney with care…
In perhaps a PR nightmare, a flash goes by of Finlay hanging Joe with the ring rope noose in their AOKO clash
Narrator:
In hopes better bosses might soon be there…
A brief shot now of Paul Heyman and Mick Foley nose to nose in silence
Narrator:
The Hammerstein faithful, mass and brutal as a mob
Shots of the cantankerous Ballroom crowd
Narrator:
Would carol along with each other, singing {/Joey Styles} “OH MY GAAD!!”
Styles’ voice goes over for a second, with a shot of Shawn Michaels going through the announce table
Narrator:
While some have been nice, others Scrooges, some seething
Respective shots go by of Bryan Danielson, Muhammad Hassan, and Chris Jericho
Narrator:
AOW would like to wish you all happy SEASON’S BEATINGS…
On that, the Carol of the Bells becomes the Trans-Siberian Orchestra variation, complete with electric guitars
~AOW: WEDNESDAY NIGHT OBLIVION PRESENTS~
!!A TWO-HOUR LIVE SPECIAL!!
SUPERSHOW II: A VERY MERRY WAR
December 26th, 2007
We fade somewhere backstage now, where Brian Kendrick and Paul London are together and getting a decent pop.
Brian Kendrick:
So…you sure you okay to go out there today, man? I mean, not to say you can’t go out there but…you took a beating a couple weeks ago.
Paul London:
It’s all good, Brian. Yeah I’m not 100% exactly…but that’s still 200% better than you!
London playfully gives Kendrick a jab to the shoulder, Kendrick smiling back. A forklift’s ‘backing up’ beeping noise is heard in the background, but those present choose to ignore it.
Paul London:
So we’re gonna go out there and win this thing, right?
Brian Kendrick:
It’s like you don’t know me at all. Yeah we are. But if we really want our best chances, just stay out of my way and let me do all the heavy lifting, okay?
It’s Kendrick’s turn to playfully jab back at London now, both men still being jokesters despite their match not very far away. The beeping is still heard in the background, but it’s not as noticeable as Super Crazy suddenly enters the frame, shaking hand with both Hooliganz
Brian Kendrick:
Woh! Super Crazy!
Paul London:
What’s goin’ on, man?
Super Crazy:
Not too much,
vato. Me and Psicosis couldn’t make it to de match tonight.
Paul London:
What’s up?
Super Crazy:
De Samoan Fight Club left him in baaad shape,
vato. Watch out for dose guys, hear?
Brian Kendrick:
Sure thing, Crazy.
As Crazy is about to leave both men, he finally acknowledges the beeping noise that’s evidently really close to them that they’ve been ignoring
Super Crazy:
Wha’s dat noise…?
Paul London:
Some noisy machine – HEY!! Can you keep…it…down?
London, Kendrick, and Crazy turn around to see Shawn Michaels, who appears for the second time tonight…and driving a forklift. He’s placing a bunch of miscellaneous heavy equipment in front of some double doors labeled ‘Paul Wright’.
Shawn Michaels:
Oh. Hey fellas! Just doin’ some referee stuff. Nothin’ doin’ here.
Michaels continues to place objects in front of the door, barring it, while the cruiserweights look on in confused delight. It’s not long, however, until AOW Champion Chris Jericho enters the frame, title around his shoulder, and furious.
Chris Jericho:
HEY!! MICHAELS!! What the hell do you think you’re doing?
Shawn Michaels:
Well, since you decided to give me lip last week, I thought if you had any plans about using your ‘beastie’, you weren’t gonna get rid of them. So I decided to get rid of’em for you. Aren’t I just the most considerate man ever?
Michaels flashes Jericho a cheesy grin towards the now beet red Jericho before stepping out of the forklift
Chris Jericho:
You think you’ve outsmarted me?
Shawn Michaels:
Outsmarted, enforced, outclassed – it is whatever you want it to be, Jericho. But it’s the rules. An’ I’m just doin’ my job. And tonight, it kinda is my job to stay one…step…ahead of you.
That statement serves an ironic echo from Jericho’s statements this past Wednesday (and just a few moments ago to Lashley), leaving Michaels with another brief and fake grin on his face before it becomes serious as he stares Jericho in the eyes before walking away. Jericho is left with a scowl on his face, once again potentially one-upped. Jericho looks over to see London, Kendrick, and Super Crazy all trying to stifle laughter.
Chris Jericho:
WHAT’RE YOU LOOKIN’ AT?
The three men nervously disperse, Crazy doing one way, the Hooliganz another as Jericho, though somewhat hammingly, screams at them. A final close up on Jericho’s face shows he’s pissed…but it slowly transforms back to a look of deep though…before turning into a smirk? Jericho walks off somewhere with a purpose as we fade away…
…to a locker room once again, where we see Siaki and Manu of the Samoan Fight Club making their final preparations. But while they’re doing those preps, they seem to be conversing with…American Made? While Siaki laces his boots and Manu stares at them intensely, Nameth appears to be selling them on something that we can’t hear anything about before we fade back…
~Back at ringside…
JBL:
I tell you what, Shawn Michaels is takin’ his job to heart.
Joey Styles:
With a guy like Jericho to keep an eye on, why not? And what about what we saw just now with American Made? What’re they up to?
JBL:
They’re American. It’ll be brilliant and completely nigh stoppable.
Joey Styles:
That could be true, but folks, we’re just a few minutes removed from an absolutely heart wrenching moment that concluded with Christian Cage being removed from the building, we have been told that due to losing his I Quit match to Bobby Lashley, Christian has indeed been forced to leave AOW, and thus, the premises. As for Torrie Wilson, she has been rushed to a local medical facility where we’re being told she’s being treated with multiple broken ribs.
JBL:
It’s a shame things had to come to that an’ to see a former Miss Iowa be treated in that manner…you can’t help but feel for both her an’ Christian.
Joey Styles:
Indeed, but folks, the show must go on, we’ve still got our main event to go and another match that looks like we’ll be getting right now to determine who will be the new #1 Contenders for the Tag Team Championships.
**DING DING DING**
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is the Tag Team Turmoil match! Now here are the rules – two teams will start the match. Once a team has executed a fall, the losing team will be eliminated. At that time, another tag team will come to the ring. This will continue until there are no teams remaining. The last team standing will win the match and become the NEW number one contenders to the AOW Tag Team Championships!
The crowd lets out a pretty big pop, but it quickly whiplashes…
**I AM THE FUTURE**
The mood quickly changes to a scene of heat, as Ken Doane and Chris Masters exit the blood-red mist curtain side by side, neither one of them with a very happy expression on their face for being one of the first teams out, nor given their exchange earlier in the program. They don’t give the fans along the aisle the time of day, Doane even slapping a high-five out of his face.
Tony Chimel:
Introducing first, at a combined weight of 495 pounds, the team of Ken Doane and Chris – Masters!!
Joey Styles:
Tag Team Turmoil on the horizon now folks, and John, you’ve been in several matches like these – what do you think is going, or should be going, through the minds of these two young men right now?
JBL:
Oh you can bet all the money in the bank that these two guys are not happy. As cocky as these two guys are, they really didn’t wanna be here. An’ who can blame him? The rest o’ the tag team division’s gotta clear shot at’em from the start.
Joey Styles:
And what about what we saw earlier between these two? Chris Masters was not happy in the least that he’s been in Ken Doane’s shadow, so to speak, already in this tag team that Masters thinks is going nowhere because Doane has done nothing!
JBL:
The key to tag team wrestling is believing in your partner an’ your partner believing in you. These two ain’t got a chance. They may be the future, but they’ve already shot themselves in the foot.
**THE PROUD WARRIORS (LOW JACK REMIX)**
And the crowd is loving it!! To kick off a huge match, the two teams who want each other dead the most are gonna start things! Low Ki and Jack Evans exit the curtain, both of them on the same accord for the first time since really teaming up with very serious expressions on their face. The looks on Doane and Master’s faces are largely different, both of them somewhat in a panic. Chimel doesn’t even have time to introduce them before Low Jack rushes on down the ramp, looking to instantly kick things off, but Doane and Masters high tail it out of the ring just as quickly, letting their cruiserweight opponents have the ring and getting a chance to regroup.
Joey Styles:
Well look at this!
JBL:
I love it! These guys wanna tear into those pretty boys an’ they’re kickin’ this bad boy off! I tell ya Joey, I love it, I love it!
TAG TEAM TURMOIL
Ken Doane & Chris Masters v. Low Jack v. Sons of the Dungeon v. American Made v. Samoan Fight Club v. The Hooliganz
(Participants not in order)
Doane and Masters finally get back on the apron, neither one of them really wanting to get into the ring with the focused team of Evans and Ki. While the ‘pretty boys’ as JBL dubbed them sort out what they want to (or don’t want to) do, Jack Evans dances a little jig in his corner, shufflin’ away before Low Ki taps him on the shoulder and shakes his finger at him, pointing to the opposing corner, reminding him why they’re here. Evans, as always, finally straightens up, but he gives way to Ki, who jumps in and looks to do the same thing he did a few weeks ago and charges towards the disoriented corner of Doane and Masters…but Doane sidesteps and sends Ki’s face crashing into the iron post!!
The match has officially begun, Doane finding some way to get things in his favor. Ki finds himself on the receiving end of a hard Doane shot to the face before Done suddenly has a change of pace now being in control, getting in Low Ki’s face and telling him “you wanna mess with us? Huh?” before getting clotheslined over and over and over again in the corner. Doane takes a few steps back, his face twisted in anger before rushing at Ki with one final clothesline, which squishes Ki and causes him to fall to the canvas. Doane rabidly gets on Ki’s back and pulls up on the roof of his mouth, forcing his head up before nailing him several times in the face with crossface forearms. Kenny gets off Ki’s back and opens his arms to a gathering amount of heat. Doane then takes Ki and tries to bring him to his feet, but he’s surprised by Ki rolling him up in a small package! The first count –
1…
2…
NO!!
Doane is able to kick his feet up and open to get out of it, and as both he and Ki get to their feet, Doane nails Ki in the face with a reverse elbow. This gives Doane some time and space to rebound off the ropes behind him and lifts his foot looking for a big boot, but Ki is able to duck underneath and cleanly leaps and CLOCK DOANE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH A LEAPING CALF KICK!! Doane’s face goes into the canvas as Ki looks for another cover here –
1…
2…
NO!!
Doane isn’t quite dead yet, leading Ki to await him to try and recover. When he does, he’s greeted by Ki aiming for A LEAPING ROUNDHOUSE, but Doane quickly ducks and rolls underneath it and scurries into his corner, tagging Masters on the chest. Masters looks at him like he’s got snot hanging out his nose, Doane pointing towards Ki for him to ‘sick’em’. Masters doesn’t stop staring down Doane for a second, even when he steps into the ring. He and Doane vocally begin arguing, Masters seemingly telling Doane “go ahead. The future’s better without you anyway”. Doane continues to argue back, Masters completely turning his back on Ki, who is just standing in his corner, being an honorable warrior and waiting. Evans doesn’t really share this notion, though, slapping Ki around the back on the chest and making himself the legal man, leaping into the ring and grabbing Masters from behind and between the legs, rolling him up –
1…
2…
3…!!
ELIMINATED: KEN DOANE & CHRIS MASTERS at (2:40)
Wow! Just like that, we’ve got our first elimination! Insiders know it’s because of an injury, but the Boston crowd is unaware of this information, popping for the quick elimination of the cocky youngsters. Masters and Doane both have looks of extreme displeasure on their faces, Masters in shock and Doane’s in shaking his head.
The referee asks both men to leave, with Chris Masters not obliging to this, Doane standing with his hands on his hips in disbelief. He drops from off the apron with Masters soon following, Masters trying to explain his case…when Doane snaps!! He grabs the larger and stronger Masters and CHUNKS HIM INTO THE STEEL RING STEPS!! Master’s spine crunches from off the steel, Masters seen gripping towards his left shoulder and howling in pain. Doane then takes several steps back, the crowd still having a shocked expression, before rushing at Masters with a RUNNING BOOT TO THE CHEST, conveniently aimed right at Masters’ legit injured pec.
While the referee is still telling Doane to get the hell out of here, Low Jack is just watching in kind of grotesque awe like it’s a car wreck. Doane soon grabs Masters by the collar and takes him up the ramp, Masters clutching his injured left pec/shoulder area before Doane gets to the stage…looks into Masters’ eyes sinisterly…before EXECUTING A DOANE-KO ON THE ENTRANCE STAGE!! Masters lay dead, Doane staring at him coldly before leaving to big heat. Some pre-planned security agents make their way to Masters and begin tending to him and taking him back as well, Masters gripping his left pec.
**LONDON CALLING**
Oh boy! After that hot opening exchange, we might get another one! Paul London and Brian Kendrick get fog curtain entrances, looking to their left at Masters being taken back before looking at each other and shrugging their shoulders and rushing down to the ring in their signature fashion
Tony Chimel:
Weighing in at a combined weight of 390 pounds, the team of Paul London and Brian Kendrick…THE HOOOOO-LIGANZ!!
Joey Styles:
Well right after a lightning quick elimination, we get a match-up between two teams who are seemingly lightning quick themselves!
JBL:
Oh, this is gonna be good! One of the best cruiserweight tag teams in all of wrestling goin’ against a good cruiserweight tag team in their own right in Low Jack.
Low Jack v. The Hooliganz
The crowd is still hot after the beatdown of Masters, carrying over into the possibilities between these two teams here right now who have been promised to meet before, but never really have. Paul London is in to start things against Evans, who stays in and stays the legal man. As the crowd somewhat hypes down after the entrance, London and Evans circle the ring, London clapping to maybe get the crowd back going or just clapping to himself at the opponents being people he admires, but nonetheless, everyone in the ring has somewhat of a grin on their face at the moment. Well, except for Low Ki, who still has a stoic and serious face. London and Evans’ faces soon dissipate into focus as their circling ends with both men locking up in the middle of the ring, London quickly sliding between Evans’ legs, pulling his shoulders down with him and folding Evans over himself in some kind of split-legged pin attempt –
1…
2…
NO!!
Evans is able to unravel the attempt, both men returning to their feet quickly, only to have London club Evans’ feet from behind and quickly drop on top of him, but Evans immediately springs him off, bringing both men back to their feet, only for Evans to club the back of London’s legs and quickly deliver somewhat of a crossbody to him, but London immediately springs him off. The two are again back on their feet, this cruiserweight exchange getting a bit of a good reaction. As both men stand stalemated, Evans rushes at London, but only to get an arm drag on the way over. When Evans returns to his feet, London rushes at him, London now getting an arm drag. As London gets back to his feet again, Evans comes back after him, but instead, he gets a DROPSAULT for his troubles, London catching the young one off guard! London with the cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Evans is able to kick out, but he’s still a little weary, giving London the control he needs to pull him into his corner and tag in Kendrick. They leave Evans standing, before quickly executing a CALF KICK/LEG SWEEP COMBONATION!! The cruiserweight high-and-low combo is nailed, Kendrick doing the ‘high’ part, London quickly squirming out of the ring, and Kendrick landing on top of Evans –
1…
2…
3-NO!!!
Evans still has a decent bit of fight in him! Kendrick looks to bring the kid to his feet, but Evans fights him off with several blows to the gut, making some room and rushing into the ropes, but Kendrick stops him on the rebound with a hard back kick to his gut. Instead, Kendrick rebounds off the ropes behind him and kicks the lowered head of Evans, popping him up. He backpedals again and rebounds, but Evans is able to catch Kendrick in a SCOOP SNAP POWERSLAM!! A high speed move from Evans, who immediately stays on top of Kendrick and hooks the leg –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Kendrick won’t go down with just one move, but it’s enough to get Evans to drag Kendrick into his corner and tag Low Ki back in, who gets a big pop upon his entrance. Both men take Kendrick and whip him into the ropes, where Evans lays flat so Kendrick leaps over him, but as he leaps, Ki NAILS HIM WITH AN AIRBORNE DROPKICK, sending Kendrick crashing back down to the canvas! A Ki cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Kendrick stays in the game, but he’s still pretty out of it, prompting yet another tag out, Ki tagging in Evans again. Evans jumps in, Ki leaving Kendrick standing, Evans rebounding off the ropes behind Kendrick and Ki rebounding off the ones in front…A LOW DROPKICK/REVERSE CLOTHESLINE COMBO!! Low Jack’s own ‘high-and-low’ offense is hit now, as Evans turns Kendrick over, but before covering him, executes a FLAWLESS STANDING MOONSAULT PRESS onto Kendrick, getting a bit pop for his flashy cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Kendrick showing more guts here! Even so, Low Jack doesn’t skip a beat, Evans tagging Ki right back in, Evans now setting Kendrick to sit up, where Evans KICKS KENDRICK SQUARE IN THE BACK, only for it to be immediately followed up by Ki KICKING KENDRICK SQUARE IN THE CHEST, forcing Kendrick back onto the canvas, Low Jack with yet another cover –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Ki doesn’t tag out this time, instead, bringing Kendrick to his feet and delivering a knife-edge CHOP(Woooooo!) that sends Kendrick reeling a bit against the ropes. As Kendrick grips onto the top rope, Ki takes a few steps back and tries to launch himself at Kendrick…but Kendrick pulls down the top rope, sending Ki flying over the top rope and to the floor!! As Ki struggles to get back to his feet, Kendrick goes over to Ki’s corner and knocks off Evans before quickly going into his corner and tags in London, both men looking towards the outside on a recovering Ki. Kendrick goes first, hitting a very impressive PLANCHA right on top of Ki outside, but Ki seems to catch Kendrick using his momentum and rolls back to his feet, Kendrick draped across his chest in a very nice display of pintsize power. But London is right behind him to back it up, flying through the middle ropes with a SUICIDE DIVE that careens right into the Kendrick-bearing Ki, pushing Kendrick right on top of Ki as he falls down!! All three men feel the pain as they hit the padded outside, the referee now having to start his count over.
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
…4!!
…but where’s Jack Evans going? As all three men look to get to their feet, we look up and see Evans on the top rope, his back towards all three men on the outside. Seemingly throwing caution (and some would say, psychology) to the wind, Evans leaps back and rotates…once…twice…DOUBLE MOONSAULT!!! DOUBLE MOONSAULT!! DOUBLE MOONSAULT TO ALL THREE MEN!!! Evans inadvertently knocks down his own partner, but this forces the referee’s count to stop and many in the crowd’s jaws to drop at the sight of the double rotation moonsault. The crowd is popping big for that, again marginal ‘holy shit’ chants popping up, but not gaining a bunch of ground. Despite being one of the main targets of the move, London is the first one to begin stirring, rolling back into the ring and allowing the referee to continue his count out, looking at Low Ki.
…5!!
…6!!
Ki rolls back into the ring and to his feet somewhat still out of it, but London meets him with a surprise double leg and a JACKNIFE COVER –
1…
2…
3…NO!!
OH, SO CLOSE, but no cigar for the Hooliganz quite yet, both men getting to their feet quickly again – SHOOT KICK TO THE SIDE OF LONDON’S HEAD!! This catches everyone completely off guard, as Ki’s quick feet strike London right in his temple, going down for yet another cover –
1…
2…
3…
NO!!
London now with the extremely close call!! Outside the ring, Kendrick and Evans have knocked each other back, both men making their way back to their corners. Ki takes London and whips him into the ropes, but London has enough wits about him to slide between Ki’s legs on the rebound, still shaking the cobwebs out of his head. When Ki turns around, all he sees is a leaping London catching him in a HURRICANRANA!! London keeps the leg hooked –
1…
2…
3…NO!!
Ki’s able to break the leveraged hold, throwing London off and forcing him to catch his already dwindling balance, but as Ki comes back at London with ANOTHER ROUNDHOUSE, London ducks this one and awaits for Ki to turn all the way back around before grabbing his head and nailing a LEGSWEEP DDT!! A momentum changing move right there, but London is still feeling the impact of that blow to the head, both men laid out now, the high pace of the match getting to their endurance. London doesn’t stay still for long, crawling to his corner and trying to get to Kendrick before finally doing so, Kendrick jumping in, London getting a small burst of life and standing upright. Paul then grabs Ki and brings him up into a powerbomb position, Kendrick grabbing his head for the Sliced Bread…TOWER OF LONDON!! The tag team finisher connects!! Ki has to be done now, Kendrick now covering Ki –
1…
2…
3…
NO!! EVANS BREAKS IT UP JUST IN TIME!! Evans comes leaping into the frame from out of nowhere, crashing on top of Kendrick and forcing him off. London hasn’t left the ring quite yet, rushing at Evans before knocking him over the ropes with a CACTUS CLOTHESLINE!! Both men go tumbling over and to the outside. Meanwhile, Kendrick is trying to pick up the pieces of the failed Tower pin attempt, taking Ki to his feet and gripping him in position, setting up for his own SLICED BREAD…Ki throws Kendrick towards the turnbuckle, Kendrick landing in the corner in a Tree of Woe!! Ki takes that moment to try and regain himself after the tag team finisher, the proud warrior never allowing himself to be shown much weakness. Ki quickly then makes it through the ropes and onto the top rope, his feet right on top of Kendrick’s. The crowd is standing and seeing where this is going, Kendrick trying to lift himself from the Tree position, getting parallel to the ring before Ki leaps…WARRIOR’S WAY!! WARRIOR’S WAY!! WARRIOR’S WAY FROM THE HUNG TREE OF WOE!! The impact and whiplash here is huge, Ki breaking the pendulum that was Kendrick, the crowd popping immensely for that, as Kendrick goes and flips and folds over himself, forcing Ki to stare at him for a moment and what he’s done before unfolding Kendrick and getting him on his back –
1…
2…
London tries to scurry back into the ring…
3…!!!
TOO LATE!!!
ELIMINATED: THE HOOLIGANZ at (10:53)
Hooliganz time: (8:13)
The crowd pops as the hand slaps the mat one final time, London only being able to helplessly see the ending. As Ki rolls off of Kendrick and a bell sounds, he looks London in the eye, both men getting to their feet. Evans soon rolls in, London now trying to get Kendrick out of the ring. London gives a small salute to both men as a sign of respect, making their way out as Ki and Evans salute back.
**EXECUTORS OF EXCELLENCE**
As the Hooliganz leave, we still get a rather substantial pop for the team of Harry Smith and TJ Wilson as they make their way down the ramp in matching tights, although tonight, instead of black and pink, they’re wearing black and red, a red heart being seen on both of their tights.
Tony Chimel:
Weighing in at a combined weight of 445 pounds, the team of TJ Wilson and Harry Smith – the SONS OF THE DUNGEEOOOON!!
Joey Styles:
After a very respectful bout between the Hooliganz and Low Jack coming to an end here, something in that salute tells me these two teams will meet again, but here come the final graduates of the Hart Family Dungeon!
JBL:
Low Jack and do all the flippin’ they want, but here comes the only team in this thing that can keep’em grounded.
Low Jack v. Sons of the Dungeon
Low Ki is still the legal man, having made it into his corner with Evans to give himself a bit of a breather. The respectful Sons give him even more time to do so, voluntarily choosing to not begin immediately. TJ Wilson is the man to kick it off for the Sons, who asks Ki if he’s ready to go. The answer is never no for a warrior, Ki approaching center ring and bumping fists with Wilson before the two circle up and initiate a lock up, but Wilson swiftly shoots behind Ki and gives him a forearm shot to the kidney that stands Ki straight up. Ki responds by grimacing and taking a step to walk it off and throwing a backhand chop aimed for Wilson’s head/neck/chest area, but Wilson ducks. Wilson gets out of the duck by springing onto Ki’s chest and throwing him over with A MONKEY FLIP…but Ki lands right on his feet, flawlessly landing on his feet and maintaining balance. The crowd pops for that show of athleticism, Wilson taking a moment of silence to acknowledge it as well before both men approach one another yet again, but this time it’s Ki who quickly darts out of the way and folds Wilson’s legs inside of his own to make some kind of cradle –
1…
Wilson quickly unfolds the pin attempt, putting both men back on their feet, Ki immediately going for a LEAPING ENZEGUIRI, but Wilson slaps his feet on by and causes him to fall flat, but he springs to his feet quickly only to meet Wilson trying the exact same thing, only to slap his feet on by and forcing him to recover. The crowd gives another solid pop for this exchange. As both these men stand and stare at each other in stalemate, Ki takes a moment and steps into his corner, but he doesn’t tag in Evans. Instead, we see him say something to Evans, to which Evans completely complies…by dropping off the apron! Evans just stands on the outside and flashes his partner a thumbs up, leaving Ki with…is that a smile? Like, an actual grin? Low Ki is smiling! Wilson soon catches on, looking into his corner, with Smith already knowing what’s going on…and he drops off the apron! Those still in the dark are wondering what’s going on. We see Wilson and Ki in the ring grinning in anticipation at each other, the first grins we’ve seen either of them have in AOW so far! What’s the occasion? It suddenly dawns on Joey Styles and he shares it with us:
nothing is more fun for a warrior than a worthy opponent or challenge. These two appear to be having ‘fun’ for the first time in AOW and this is how they wish to go about that.
With only Ki and Wilson sticking around in the ring, they circle each other once more before Wilson immediately goes for a headlock, but Ki easily twists out of the attempt, forcing them both to keep circling. Ki tries to test his reach with Wilson, but he’s not biting, keeping his distance. The two finally get in close counters once more when they lock up, Wilson getting the headlock he wanted gripped in on Ki and turning it into a headlock takedown, but Ki immediately gets the headscissors in on Wilson and forces him to break the hold. They again go at it, Wilson again getting the headlock takeover and Ki, again, doing the headscissors. As the two rush to their feet again, Wilson gets the headlock one more time, but Ki quickly turns it into a hammerlock, twisting it behind the back of Wilson, only for Wilson to twist behind Ki and give him a hammerlock himself. Ki somehow turns this into a hip toss, putting Wilson down momentarily before he jumps back to his feet and rushes back at Ki, only to get an arm drag…but Wilson keeps the arms interlocked, and when Ki whips him around on the drag, Wilson is able to regain his balance and counter the arm drag with another arm drag! This whips Ki around and he gets back to his feet, Ki and Wilson at yet another stalemate.
The crowd again pops for these two, putting on a real mat-based display here. They again try to approach one another, but the swifter Low Ki is able to land several stiff shot to Wilson’s thigh, Wilson finally catching one of the kicks and turning it into an ankle pick, whipping Ki to the ground with his leverage. Ki lies on his stomach now, Wilson putting some weight onto the back of Ki, trying to grab hold of something and put some pressure on him. What looks like Wilson searching is him actually wrapping Ki’s legs around one of his own, leaning back and grabbing Ki’s head with an INVERTED STF. This impressive move has Wilson with a nice bridge, Ki refusing to tap out here. Ki turns their bodies around while searching for a way out, to where he faces his corner, where Evans quickly leaps onto the apron and grabs the tag rope, putting his hand out of his partner. Ki, while seething in agony, waves his hand and gestures for Evans to get off, not accepting any help from a challenge he gave out. Evans somewhat hesitantly gets off the apron again, Wilson finally letting go of the hold when he can no longer sustain it. Instead, he keeps the inverted facelock on and rolls across Ki’s back, the inverted facelock becoming a front facelock and lifts Ki to his feet, SEEMLESSLY GOING FROM AN INVERTED STF INTO A SUPLEX. Wilson with a well-earned cover –
1…
2…
NO! Ki isn’t gonna go down like that, Wilson clenching on a chin lock pretty quickly following that, but Ki doesn’t intend to stay here for long at all, almost immediately getting to his feet and wrenching Wilson’s hands off of him, then quickly giving him a snapmare. As Wilson sits in a prone position, Ki KICKS HIM TWICE in the chest, both shots smacking through the arena, before turning and nailing a FINAL ROUNDHOUSE, completing the ‘Krush Kombo’. Wilson falls flat, giving Ki his own well-earned cover –
1…
2…
NO!!
Despite being kicked to death, Wilson is able to still keep going. He gets to his feet holding onto his chest, from the blows on it, somewhat unaware that Ki is coming back at him…STEP UP ENZEGUIRI!! The move Ki tried several chains ago comes back to hit the ailing Wilson, dropping like a stone…but Ki doesn’t go for a cover. He stops and stares, the commentators making note that perhaps Ki isn’t covering Wilson because he knew he caught him off guard. When Wilson finally does get to his feet and shakes the cobwebs out, Ki is standing in front of him checking to see if he’s somewhat okay, before Wilson gives a ‘yes’ with a CHOP(Woooooo!) to Ki’s chest. As Wilson rears back for another one, Ki ducks beneath it, wrapping his hands around Wilson’s waist from behind and pushes him into the ropes, looking for a victory roll, but Wilson holds onto the top rope and causing Ki to go back, Ki rolling all the way across the ring. Wilson and Ki then look to close the space by running at each other…COLLIDING CROSSBODIES!! Both men go down in heaps, clutching their midsection, prompting both men’s partners to jump up on the apron and stick their hands in, their partner’s brief respect duel potentially being over. As both men look up into their corners, we can see that Wilson does indeed want to tag in his other half, but Ki looks at Evans with eyes that almost beg him to leave before Ki lets out an audible ‘no’ and waves his hand again, asking for Evans to drop off. Evans does so much more hesitantly than the last two times. Once that occurs, Wilson, who still wants to tag in Smith, realizes what a shot that would be to the pride of both he and Ki if they didn’t play fairly and shrugs his shoulders at Smith, who waves it off as no problem and drops off the apron again, more than understanding this unspoken ‘warrior code’.
Both men make it back to their feet, the much more withered Ki using the ropes to do so. Once he’s vertical, Wilson rushes towards him, but Ki lifts Wilson over his head and onto the apron. Once he’s there, Ki tries to shove a shoulder into Wilson’s gut, but Wilson moves his body, leaving Ki’s head open and vulnerable to a HARD KNEE STRIKE, but he’s still stuck between the ropes. Wilson moves Ki’s head a bit back more in before standing on the bottom rope for a little more leverage, reaching over the bent over Ki…DOUBLE UNDERHOOK SUPLEX FROM THE APRON TO THE FLOOR!! WOW!! The bodies go splat on the padding outside, both partners with looks of concern – Evans much more evident, Smith, a bit more stoic. The referee beings his count-out –
…1!!
…2!!
…3!!
Evans looks to try and help his partner, but Smith is quick to rush and cut him off, but doesn’t touch him. Smith explains to Evans ‘they’d both never forgive us’.
…4!!
…5!!
On that, Wilson is able to get to his feet, but he doesn’t want to leave Ki outside and get the win this way. He brings Ki to his feet, but Ki instinctively reacts{…6!!}, breaking open Wilson’s grip and locking on his own, nailing a FISHERMAN’S BUSTER FROM NOWHERE!!! Wilson’s head gets driven into the outside, Ki falling back on the impact, all the more exhausted.
…7!!
…8!!
Ki rises and grabs Wilson, he neither wanting to win this way, Evans trying again to get past Smith here, but the larger Son stops him with a hard clothesline.
…9!!
Ki rolls Wilson back under the bottom rope, his head still spinning and forcing him to take a moment before trying to enter himself…
…10!!!
The referee calls for the bell!
ELIMINATED via count-out: LOW JACK at (19:03)
Low Jack/SOD time: (8:10)
Total Low Jack time: (19:03)
Such a shame!! It ended so! The SOD/Low Jack duel turned into an impromptu Ki/Wilson match ends in a very indeterminate manner! Ki realizes this, his potential selfishness in wanting to face Wilson alone donning on him that it cost he and Evans a tag title shot. Ki leaves the ring with his hands on his hips, waiting on Evans to get to his feet. Evans does, and starts going with Ki up the ram, but Ki hasn’t moved his eyes from Wilson, who is on his feet in the ring. Ki gives a small nod to Wilson, who gives one back. As soon as Evans and Ki go backstage, a very inglorious sound is heard…
**JIMBO**
Oh my. The Samoan Fight Club come bursting through the entrance way, rushing down to the ring, both men attacking the still outside Smith in a two-on-one assault. Siaki and Manu beat down on Smith, clubbing him repeatedly, not giving anyone a chance to introduce them. When Wilson sees what’s going on with his tag partner, he rushes to the ropes and prepares for a PLANCHA…but Manu reaches up and clubs Wilson in the skull, causing him to fall. They haven’t set foot in the ring yet, so nothing is even official, but Manu grabs Wilson and drags him outside into the beatdown as well.
Manu then takes Wilson into a powerbomb position, before RAMMING HIM SPINE FIRST INTO A TURNBUCKLE. Siaki, meanwhile, is having some trouble with the much fresher Smith, who is responding to Siaki’s blows very well, but Manu comes trumping back around and flattens Smith with a BODY AVALANCHE, Smith between Manu and the guard rail. Smith doesn’t completely collapsed, but is weak enough for Siaki and Manu go DOUBLE WHIP HIM INTO THE STEEL RING STEPS, completely displacing them. Wilson, who is struggling with recovering from both the Fisherman’s buster and the ring post shot, tries to fend off both men at once, but is overwhelmed when they fight back, Siaki bouncing his head off the guard rail. Siaki then grabs his head, telling Manu to do something, presumably grab his legs, in Samoan. Manu does grab his legs, as they take him over to the same ring post…and SIAKI THROWS KI’S HEAD AGAINST THE POST!! Manu swinging the legs around only enhances the matters, Wilson falling and gripping his head in pain.
Their participation in the match never even truly official, Siaki continues to orchestrate a well-thought out plan, telling Manu something, again in Samoan. Manu simply obeys, going over to the still downed Smith and trying to throw him into the ring, but Smith begins to fight back a bit. He’s hurt and fighting a monster, but he delivers several shots before Manu grabs him around his waist…and BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEXES HIM ONTO THE DISPLACED RING STEPS. Smith’s face tells the painful story, as Siaki rolls Wilson into the ring and Manu soon is able to follow up on the same with Smith. They place both men in opposite corners and climb into the ring by going to the top ropes, looming over their fallen prey, shouting the same phrase in Samoan, the crowd very much aware of what’s coming next…SAMOAN SPLASHES!! SAMOAN SPLASHES!! All the air leaves the building, as the Samoan Fight Club decimates the Sons of the Dungeon for the second time in AOW. Siaki tells Manu they can leave now, looking as if they’re work is done, not bothering with an actual match! As they go up the ramp, we can hear Siaki scream “WE DESTROY!” one last time.
Joey Styles:
My God…first Ken Doane goes berserk on his partner, Chris Masters, but now the Samoan Fight Club goes absolutely ballistic on the Sons of the Dungeon, minutes after Low Ki and TJ Wilson dueled…
JBL:
I almost don’t think the Samoan Fight Club even cares about winnin’ the tag titles. They jus’ wanna hurt people!
Joey Styles:
This wouldn’t have anything to do with these two talking with American Made moments ago, would it?
**WE AS AMERICANS**
Styles’ question is answered very quickly when Nick Nameth and Jack Hagar rush the ring, yet another team not being bothered to be introduced. They both enter, telling the referee to start it!
Sons of the Dungeon v. American Made
As soon as the ref rings the bell for these two, Nameth goes over to the downed Wilson and hoists him over his head for a suplex, sending him right on top of Hagar’s shoulders for a SUPLEX/POWERBOMB COMBINATION!! WOW!! The sickening impact is heard all around Boston, the commentators dubbing the move the ‘Patriot Act’. Hagar then hastily goes over to the still downed Smith and shovels him out of the ring, going outside with the body to make sure. Nameth tells the referee he’s the legal man, dropping on top of the decimated Wilson –
1…
2…
3…!!!
Winners and NEW #1 Contenders for the AOW Tag Team Championships: American Made at (22:16)
…and just like that, in barely thirty seconds, American Made are your new #1 contenders. Nameth and Hagar leap and run around the ring as though they’ve just won a world title apiece and as if they deserve to stand there with some kind of win. Their hands are lifted, the crowd finally giving American Made an undisputed and solid heel reaction that they’ve been seeking since their debut. Harry Smith bolts inside the ring to attack AM, but Hagar and Nameth quickly exit the ring together, Smith missing them by inches. They retreat up the ramp, still continuing their celebration, both of them with huge grins. Smith is left in the ring to tend to Wilson and his own wounds.
Joey Styles:
This is an absolute disgrace!! American Made doesn’t deserve a damn thing!! How could this happen? Whatever those two were planning along with the Samoan Fight Club seems to have come to fruition and cost the Sons of the Dungeon a potential title shot.
JBL:
Give credit where credit is due, Joey. How dare you sit here and say that American Made didn’t deserve that? They might not’ve done it in a way people think of pickin’ up a win, but a win is a win! They made their arrangements, saw somethin’, picked it out, an’ followed a strategy! You can’t fault them for havin’ their head in the game when TJ Wilson was out here tryin’ to show off with Low Ki!
Joey Styles:
No one was showing off! It was an immense sign of respect from all the guys involved, from Ki and Wilson in the ring, to Evans and Smith respecting their decisions! It’s amazing how you can’t see that!
JBL:
I’m all for having ‘warrior codes’ an’ all that, don’t get me wrong, but this was a TAG TEAM TURMOIL match. This wasn’t about gettin’ a one-on-one match with someone who you wanted to face. The goal was to win a title shot, both Low Jack and the Sons lost sight of that. The Fight Club, whether they even wanted to win or not, came out here and destroyed the Sons like a tag team should. So the way I see it, Joey, the Sons lost sight of what was important, Manu and Siaki reminded’em, an’ American Made showed’em the error of their ways while gettin’ themselves a well-deserved shot!
Joey Styles:
I have no idea how you can say that even remotely well deserved –
JBL:
Shut up, Joey! Whether you people like it or not, your new #1 Contenders are real American hee-roes!!
***
Once again, we head to a backstage locker room area, where we see CM Punk for the second time tonight, but his aura and his body language tell a story of utter defeat. His head his down, his dark hair covering much of his face from camera view, his hands rubbing his eyes. We assume his ribs are still taped, he has a T-Shirt on now, but still in wrestling gear. He seems to be pacing a little bit before actually going to a locker and is about to open it when he’s greeted by a face we haven’t seen in a while in Matt Sydal
Sydal:
Hey, Punk…uh…tough stuff out there tonight.
Punk:
You could say that, I guess.
Sydal:
I heard Storm wasn’t gonna be back for a while. Had a real bad concussion they said. Um…I’m sorry, man. I know you guys were kinda close and all -
Punk:
Matt – sorry to seem a bit impolite, but I know. I was there. And I was just about to get Lance’s stuff out of his locker and send it on down to him.
Punk turns back to the locker and opens it very quickly, the door swinging open. Something in a white envelope falls towards the floor, Punk not noticing it. He only notices what looks like a black jacket on the top shelf. Sydal picks up the note.
Sydal:
Hey, Punk. I think this is for you.
Sydal hands Punk the envelope, which Punk hesitantly turns around to open, where we can see the front of the envelope is indeed labeled “CM Punk”. Punk pulls out a small note and reads it aloud –
Punk:
Dear CM Punk…it’s great, and honestly flattering, that you have referred to me as your ‘mentor’ of sorts since coming to AOW. It makes me proud to know that with kids like you, who study the past and are passionate, that the future of this company, and wrestling in general is very, very bright. And since you have shown your appreciation of the past…I’m here to give you your due as my token of appreciation of the future. There’s something in my locker I want you to have. I think you’ll know how to use it better than I could. Stay serious…Lance Storm.
Punk gives the first smirk we’ve seen on his face all night at the final line, Sydal sharing in the chuckle. Punk then puts the note back in the envelope before looking in the locker, not noticing anything other than the jacket that appears to be on a shelf. He curiously moves the jacket…to reveal the briefcase that’s holding $50,000 cash won from Hassan last week. Punk takes it and flips it open, both he and Sydal shocked to see that not a single dollar has been touched since it was won.
Sydal:
Woh…do you know what to do with it?
Punk:
Matthew…I have a pretty good idea.
Punk smirks and closes the briefcase, Sydal patting Punk on the shoulder before leaving the scene, Punk putting the briefcase under his arm, nodding that the future may indeed look bright…
***
~Green Zone interview set…
The Miz:
Thank God this is the last time I have to show up in this crummy city tonight. I can’t help but remind myself that every miserable moment I spend here, it’s just one step closer to me riding on back to good ol’ New York.
Once again, Miz garners a great deal of cheap heat, but this soon turns into an overwhelming pop, as all the members of the Boston Red Sox present tonight have surrounded The Miz in a semicircle
The Miz:
Uh…ladies and gentlemen, the absolutely a-mazing city of Boston’s own world champions, the Boston Red Sox!
Miz nervously tries to kiss ass here, flashing a smile…but none of the Sox are buying it
Kevin Youkilis:
Hey Miz – who’s the greatest Red Sock to ever live?
The Miz:
Uh…Babe Ruth…?
The entire arena both groans and laughs at Miz’s horrible answer, the entire Sox team shaking their heads. They then proceed to pick Miz up and start walking away with him as though he were a prop
The Miz:
WAIT! But Babe Ruth was a Red Sock!
Kevin Youkilis:
Yeah. He
was.
The Sox continue to haul Miz off, who is absolutely terrified, as the crowd gets one last feel good laugh. Before Youk can follow his teammates, Rob Van Dam enters the frame to an enormous pop, grabbing at Youk’s shoulder
RVD:
Hey, Youk, man. What’re you doin’?
Kevin Youkilis:
Oh, nothin’. Just takin’ out the trash and probably seeing how it holds up the batting cages. Good luck, tonight, RVD.
Youk shakes hands with Van Dam very professionally before walking off
RVD:
Well then damn. I came here for an interview. Now who’s gonna do it?
Van Dam shrugs and is about to just cut a promo by himself, it seems, when a familiar voice is heard…
???:
How about me?
Van Dam turns to his left, our right, to see the plump but powerful figure of Samoa Joe for the first time in over a month to an enormous pop from beyond the backstage walls
RVD:
Joe?! What is UP, bro?
Joe:
I wasn’t gonna miss someone shuttin’ Chris Jericho up for the world. Especially not the Whole F’n Show himself, right?
RVD:
Ah, man. He’s steppin’ onto turf he doesn’t even know where to begin thinking about.
Joe:
Don’t get too wrapped up in your own head, though. I’ve heard you over the last few weeks talkin’ about ‘RVD is AOW’. I know RVD has a lot of pride, I’m not sayin’ that’s bad. I’m sayin’ if falling to ego is what got Jericho in the spot he’s in, it’ll do the same thing to you if you’re not careful.
RVD:
Hey – I’m not saying anything I can’t back up, dude. I’m in a place where there’s nothing Chris Jericho can do to me that I haven’t already faced in my career. I gotta keep Shawn Michaels in the back of my head though.
Joe:
Yeah. I know you an’ Shawn haven’t seen quite on the same page since bein’ here, but you can’t think about that. You gotta just go do your thing. Don’t trust Shawn Michaels. Trust Rob Van Dam.
Van Dam nods his head, Joe getting him pumped up
Joe:
You gotta go out there, remember everything Chris Jericho’s tried to do to get one over on you since the very beginning. Paul Wright attacked you. He tried to escape me. And don’t you forget how he’s talked to Mick Foley.
RVD:
That’s right.
Van Dam says this between breaths, as he’s jumping and shadow boxing, Joe placing a hand on his shoulder and coaxing him on
Joe:
To top it all off, he still thinks he’s the life and blood of this place. When we all know that title belongs to one man – Rob Van Dam.
RVD continues to box and get pumped up, nodding in agreement with Joe, stopping after his name is said
Joe:
Remind him who really is AOW by takin’ that precious AOW Championship right out of his hands!
Van Dam exalts in agreement, still boxing away before Joe stops him with one last stern statement
Joe:
And hey – you give that plottin’ bastard one
extreme ass kickin’, you hear me? Set his world ablaze.
RVD:
I hear you loud an’ clear, Joe.
Joe:
And y’know…maybe you give ol’ Samoa Joe the first title shot after you win.
Van Dam stops breathing quickly and stares at Joe for a second, who suddenly went from coaxing to somewhat serious. Joe’s face then breaks into a smirk before RVD pats him on the chest
RVD:
It’s all yours, big guy. But first – I gotta go take what’s mine.
The two bump fists before Van Dam walks off more pumped than he was before, leaving Joe to smile to himself as he watches Van Dam go get what he says is his.
~Back at ringside…
Joey Styles:
Well I for one was not expecting any kind of appearance by Samoa Joe, especially after the way that AOKO match ended several weeks ago.
JBL:
I wasn’t either, but I think I just became a Red Sox fan, Joey. I’ve been a New York man all my life, but damn if those Sox didn’t do what I’ve always wanted to do an’ that’s get The Miz the hell off of a TV screen.
Joey Styles:
Alright Bradshaw, cool the jets because of what we’ve got coming up right now. We’ve already seen some heartbreakers, some awe-strikers, and some just plain ‘OH MY GOD’-ers already here tonight, but now it’s all gonna boil down to the one that’s gonna top’em all.
JERICHO|VAN DAM
JBL:
You said it, Joey. There’s so much more than the AOW Championship on the line here. You’ve got pride, power, an’ even the very heart an’ soul of AOW all hangin’ in the balance.
Joey Styles:
You do indeed, parner. Our main event isn’t just about which man is going to walk out of here holding that title high, it may just be about the man who is able to overcome his obstacles and just walk at all – Rob Van Dam has Chris Jericho’s scheming and tactics in front of him, while Chris Jericho has to deal with RVD in his ideal rules – ECW Rules!
JBL:
An’ on top of that, the most important factor both of’em have to deal with is the man who is in charge of callin’ this thing down to the three count is a guy who hates both their guts in the legendary Showstopper himself, Shawn Michaels!
Joey Styles:
Everything surrounding this match will have a consequence, and everything these men do here tonight will rock AOW to it’s very core, no matter who comes out the winner. So let’s take you back to show you how the biggest main event in AOW history has come to be.
*Chris Jericho v. Rob Van Dam Video Package Recap*
~Chris Jericho weasels his way out of retaining his title at the first ever Supershow in a Triple Threat involving Van Dam and HBK
~RVD is named the #1 Contender the next night, never having received his one-on-one shot with Jericho
~RVD also has the right to choose all of Jericho’s opponents going into the PPV
~Chris Jericho manipulates his way around a weak Torrie Wilson to get what he wants from Mick Foley
~Van Dam, Jericho, Foley, and Paul Heyman meet at the first ever AOW Championship match contract signing
~At that contract signing, Jericho threatens to reveal AOW’s financial numbers as a sign of the bad administration
~Van Dam takes the helm, proclaiming that ‘RVD is AOW’ and that Chris Jericho’s hold on the title and the blood of the company is over
~Still at the contract signing, Foley reveals he one–upped Jericho and Van Dam, giving Van Dam the rights to pick his type of match, but also appointing a special guest referee
~Shawn Michaels returns after a month of absence, being confirmed as the special guest ref, his disrespect still in the air between he, Van Dam, and Jericho
~The next week, Jericho and Van Dam fail to capture the tag titles after Michaels smashes a steel chair over Van Dam’s head accidentally, but no apologetically
~Van Dam then declares the match type he wants – an ECW Rules match
~In the final bit of hype, Jericho tosses Van Dam onto Michaels, sending a message to both men
**End Package**
**OH…OH…SHAWN**
**SEXY BOY**
Boston goes crazy for the now signature tune of the Showstopper, as Shawn Michaels comes through the erupting fog and absorbs in his thunderous ovation. Shawn’s got his sleeveless referee stripes on, partially dancing down to the ring, but he’s not as jubilant as we’ve seen him before, whether that be because he’s bitter at not being a part of the match or something else we’re unaware of, but nonetheless, it’s Shawn Michaels and he can’t deny a crowd. Michaels steps into the ring and flexes his arms, performing his signature pose, his face finally breaking into a full-fledged smile.
**DING DING DING**
Tony Chimel:
Your special guest referee for the following contest…THE HEART BREAK KID…SHAWN MICHAELS!!!
Joey Styles:
You can see the expression on Shawn Michaels’ face. He’s not the happiest of campers that he’s not the man who is gonna have a chance to beat, but Mick Foley has put the utmost faith in Shawn Michaels that he will call this how he truly sees it and makes this as far a match as an ECW Rules contest can be!
JBL:
That’s why the boys runnin’ this thing are jus’ plain stupid. Why in the world would you put any kind of faith in Shawn Michaels? The guy’s done nothin’ but turned his back on everyone who has ever put any kind of faith in him…ever! He may not be competing, but he’s still the Heart Break Kid an’ somebody’s gonna get their heart broken tonight, but I’m not sure who he’s call this thing against more – Jericho of RVD.
Joey Styles:
But that’s why he’s here, John. To call this thing right down the middle.
JBL:
An’ the only reason he will is because he hates’em both pretty evenly, Joey. An’ with these damn ECW Rules, what’s to stop him from legally beatin’ the hell out of both guys just because he can?
Michaels stops pandering now, walking along with a stoic expression before leaning on the ropes and waiting for whatever’s gonna come next out of Chimel’s mouth…which surprises everyone.
Tony Chimel:
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome…AVENGED SEVENFOLD!!
We wonder where Chimel is gesturing to, going back to the entrance ramp…where we see a platform rising from under the entrance stage, being held up by a fifth Atlas arm. When the lights hit the platform, we do indeed see Avenged Sevenfold set up and ready to a curious ovation, the famous opening riff of Pantera’s “Walk” starting to be played.
“Can't you see I'm easily bothered by persistence…?”
“One step from lashing out at you...”
“You want in to get under my skin…”
“And call yourself a friend?”
“I've got more friends like you…”
“WHAT DO I DO??”
There’s a bit of buzz between people headbanging a bit, the buzz getting louder into a HUGE ovation when we do indeed see Rob Van Dam exiting through the blood-red fog curtain with his signature RVD smug look
“Is there no standard anymore?”
“What it takes, who I am, where I've been, belong!”
“You can't be something you're not…”
“Be yourself, by yourself, stay away from me!”
“A lesson learned in life…”
“Known from the dawn of time”
Van Dam is still walking down to the ring, each step he takes in tempo with the background guitar riff. He then stops and does his signature thumbs as the chorus of the song hits and matches the three-syllable chant…
"RE - !!”
“ - SPECT!!”
“WALK!!”
Van Dam is all kinds of pumped up following that, but he turns and makes a gesture of ‘oh, I forgot something’. Van Dam turns around and heads back up the ramp, thrusting his fist in the air to match with the chorus again.
“RE - !!”
“ - SPECT!!”
“WALK~!!”
And Van Dam soon returns to walking back down the ramp…WITH A GARBAGE CAN FULL OF KENDO STICKS IN TOWE!! The crowd pops like crazy for RVD seriously looking to take things to the extreme here tonight, Van Dam placing the barrel of fun by ringside before leaping in the ring, Sevenfold still going on the chorus strong, and RVD spinning with his hands in the air before leering at Shawn Michaels
Joey Styles:
What an entrance for Rob Van Dam!! What other wrestling show in the world can you go to where you can get action this awesome accompanied by headbanging?
JBL:
I wouldn’t call this music by a long shot, but damn if it ain’t getin’ these people pumped an’ if it ain’t gettin’ Van Dam pumped. But RVD’s gotta think about what Samoa Joe just said though, Joey.
Joey Styles:
Indeed so, Joe telling Van Dam to watch that ego of his. But from the looks of the toys RVD’s brought with him, he’s all business!! Re!! Spect!! Walk!!
The song ends on the signature instrumental of the piece, the final riff echoing through the arena to a huge pop, RVD no longer in the euphoria of the entrance, now glaring intensely at Shawn Michaels, who gives it right back. Van Dam finally looks away and does some shadow boxing before getting in a corner.
Suddenly, the arena goes dark for several intense seconds, even the glowing globe shutting off. After a little bit, the globe does keep throbbing in its glow, but as it gives off the only light in the arena at the moment, it reveals the profile of what looks like a man with his back turned and his arms open, almost as though it looks like (who we assume is Jericho) is holding the world.
This actually gets a big pop from the crowd, but this is isn’t just mysterious in the fact that Jericho hasn’t done this since the inception of AOW, but because the profile is even with the globe, very high above the entrance stage, probably on another platform. We then hear what sounds like the cage-lowering hum, as the Jericho silhouette gradually starts descending back to earth, and the closer it gets, the more lights turn back on. When it finally stops at the stage, the dramatic entrance is finally given voice –
“COME ON…YOU KNOW I GOT YA...YEAH…”
“BREAK THE WALLS DOWN!!!”
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
***PYRO***
**BREAK DOWN THE WALLS**
The lights come back on with the pyro, Chris Jericho dropping the arms unceremoniously before turning around to an initial pop, but it turns into a great deal of heat, as he reveals his heelish scowl and smug on his face, the AOW title over his shoulder. The Worthy Man, the Worthy Champion, now begins his ‘better than you’ walk down the ramp and to the ring, his nose turned up at the crowd. Still getting relentless heat, Jericho finally steps into the ring and holds the title high, his face still showing no emotion before he begins leering with Michaels…and then going to Van Dam.
Joey Styles:
Well not to be one-upped in any manner by any man, it looks like Chris Jericho guns for a dynamic entry of his own!
JBL:
Can ya blame him? Chris Jericho is better than Rob Van Dam in every single way possible, an’ he wants to prove that more than anything tonight to all you people who think he’s just blowin’ smoke even though he’s already proven to be completely and utterly worthy!
Joey Styles:
And if you believe in symbolism, folks, Jericho looked like he was holding the world in his arms at the very start of that theatrical entrance. That is what Chris Jericho believes – that he is in fact the best in the world and that AOW rests on his shoulders and his shoulders alone are keeping it afloat. But tonight, he’s got one rival calling the match another rival in their ideal environment – and that’s under ECW Rules.
We turn back to the ring, where Michaels is between both men, Tony Chimel still behind him, while Jericho and Van Dam are in opposite corners
Tony Chimel:
The following contest is an EEEEE CEEEE DOUBLE-UUUU RULES MATCH scheduled for one fall!!
Huge crowd pop, as they know it’s bona fide main event time!
Tony Chimel:
Introducing the challenger, weighing in at 235 pounds…he is the Whole F’n Show…ROB…VAN…DAM!!!
RVD guides Chimel through his whole name with his thumbs pointing towards him, before spinning with a leaping roundhouse on the final syllable, the crowd going even more apeshit for Van Dam
Tony Chimel:
And the opponent, weighing in at 225 pounds…he is the A – OH – W WOORRRLD CHAMPION…CHRIIIIIIS JERICHOOOOOOO!!!
Another torrential downpour of heat comes down for Jericho, who only smirks in delight at it, throwing the title in the air before taking a few steps forward towards the center ring. Van Dam follows him, leading both men to meet in the middle of the ring in a staredown, the title high above their heads.
Shawn Michaels is in the middle of it and shoves both men back, already not afraid to get his hands dirty. Michaels holds out of hand and orders Jericho to ‘gimmie that thing’, leading Jericho to cradle the AOW title in his hands before kissing it and handing it to Shawn Michaels who throws it over his head to show us all that this is indeed the main event and that this is, indeed, for the highest prize in professional wrestling
~AOW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP~
*ECW RULES*
SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE: Shawn Michaels
The Worthy Champion Chris Jericho(c) v.
The Whole F’n Show Rob Van Dam
With both men backed away into their corner, Michaels motions that both men may now approach the center, but only RVD even moves. Jericho is still in his corner, stoic expression and all, with Michaels looking at him wondering what the hold-up is. Jericho just looks at both challenger and referee as though they should wait and marvel at him as he pretends to still be fixing his wrist tape. RVD is losing his patience pretty quickly, but not as quickly as Shawn Michaels appears to be, actually grabbing Jericho by the wrist and FLINGING HIM TOWARDS VAN DAM who instantly reacts with a SPINNING KICK AIMED FOR JERICHO’S HEAD…but Jericho ducks and crawls beneath the bottom rope and to the outside, again garnering a great deal of heat and the ire of Michaels and Van Dam. Jericho looks like a mixture of both mad and scared, yelling at Michaels to ‘never touch him again’. He then starts walking around the outside, still pretending to fix his wrist tape before finally rolling into the ring. Van Dam opens his arms and shrugs his shoulders with an audible and very sarcastic “are you ready now?” Jericho answers that with an unimpressed scowling stare, only for Van Dam to retort with “good”…SPINNING KICK TO JERICHO’S HEAD!! The crowd pops for the move hitting this time, Jericho immediately reeling and getting caught in a corner.
Van Dam goes over to the corner clad Jericho, who darts his head between the ropes, forcing some separation, but he wants more separation, asking for Michaels to come and force Van Dam off. We see Michaels walking very lackadaisically, his back turned to both men, seemingly pretending to be biting his nails. Jericho screams in frustration only for Van Dam to pull him from the middle ropes and prepare to whip him into the opposite corner, but Jericho manages to reverse the whip and send Van Dam across. Jericho then grabs Van Dam’s head while in the corner and attempts to smash it against the corner – but the educated feet of RVD come up and prevent that from happening, Jericho trying again, only to get the same result and a STIFF KICK TO THE JAW for his troubles. Jericho goes reeling again, with Van Dam quickly following up on this by rolling Jericho up from behind for our first look at how Michaels is gonna count this –
1…
2-NO!!
Perhaps surprisingly, Michaels gives a pretty fair and unbiased count. Van Dam briefly appreciates it, but Jericho doesn’t get to his feet, immediately darting back out of the ring to more heat. Jericho is staring daggers into the ring, but we’re not sure if it’s directed towards Van Dam or Michaels. Nonetheless, Jericho roams around the outside and goes over to the timekeeper’s table, snatching up his title and jumping the barricade, evidently just going to say ‘fuck it’ to the very first Pay-Per-View main event in AOW history!! What’s pissed him off so much?? The crowd is throwing huge heat at this, while Van Dam shrugs with wide eyes. Michaels has a stoic expression while staring down the trotting Jericho, quickly darting out of the ring and climbing the barricade himself, grabbing Jericho’s wrist and forcing him back towards the ring several steps. The crowd pops pretty big for this, as Michaels is definitely showing where he’s standing tonight. Jericho looks square at Michaels with beyond pissed eyes and arguing that he’s not going back in. Michaels is getting more animated now, pulling Jericho back towards the ring, Jericho resisting. Michaels eventually snatches the AOW title from Jericho, who now has to come closer to Michaels to try and get it. While this childish game is getting going, Van Dam keeps the crowd buzzing by climbing to the top rope, his eyes directed towards the outside…VAN DAM LEAPS FROM THE TOP, CLEAN OVER THE BARRICADE, AND RIGHT ONTO JERICHO AND INADVERTEDLY MICHAELS All three men are down in the crowd, while “ECW!! ECW!! ECW!!” chants are abound!
Van Dam is unsurprisingly the first man to recover, pulling Jericho to his feet and tossing him over the barricade back towards the ring area, smashing his head against the iron post. Van Dam then ventures over to the kendo filled garbage can he’s brought and pulls out a kendo to a huge pop from the crowd. Van Dam holds it out with both hands and stares at it for a moment, channeling all the crowd’s excitement into the weapon before SMASHING IT INTO JERICHO’S MIDSECTION!! AND AGAIN!! AND AGAIN!! Jericho’s doubled over now, so Van Dam takes the kendo and SMASHES IT ACROSS JERICHO’S SPINE!! The crowd is eating this up, the relaxed extreme rules being put on display here. Van Dam drops what’s left of the now broken kendo stick before taking the cringing and still hunched over Jericho and places him on top of the barricade, his upper body sticking back towards the ring. A great deal of the crowd knows what’s coming next, as Van Dam gets up on the apron and looms over the prone Jericho, throwing his thumbs in the air –
“ROB…VAN…DAM~!!”
CORKSCREW LEGDROP…NOBODY HOME!!! Jericho crawls off the barricade at the last minute, sending Van Dam’s thigh crashing off the unpadded barricade!!! Jericho finally has an opening here, using it to venture over to Van Dam’s goody barrel and pulls out a kendo of his own, getting the exact opposite reaction to Van Dam pulling one out. Jericho ventures over to Van Dam and raises the cane…but Van Dam punts Jericho in the gut once…twice…three times, Jericho finally bringing the upraised kendo down. Van Dam then looks over to the barricade and leaps onto it and leaps back towards Jericho looking for something…KENDO CRACKED ACROSS THE SKULL!! Van Dam, possibly looking for the springboard back kick on the outside, instead eats a noggin full of kendo staff! Van Dam goes down hard, now victim of his own rules. Jericho finally has a smug look on his face before looking over his shoulder to see Shawn Michaels up and operating again, climbing back over the barricade with a sour face on. He stares at Jericho for a moment before going back towards the ring, Jericho still with kendo stick in hand as he SMASHES IT ACROSS THE BACK OF A RECOVERING VAN DAM!! Van Dam grits his teeth in selling the shot, Jericho now taking Van Dam and slinging him back under the bottom rope and into the ring, sliding in after him before frantically covering him. Michaels takes a moment to scowl, but he drops parallel and starts the count –
1…
2…
NO!!
A normal count for Jericho as well, it seems. Jericho seems a tad pleased with that, but he doesn’t let up on Van Dam, giving him a hard knee drop to the face, the knee pad raking across Van Dam’s skull. Jericho then takes Van Dam to his feet and looks to try and nail a suplex of sorts, but Van Dam stops him and begins socking him in the gut a few times before both men shuffle and trade positions, getting very near the ropes, Van Dam now looking to suplex Jericho, but Jericho floats over Van Dam and lands on the ring apron safe on his feet. As Van Dam turns to greet Jericho, he gets bashed in the face by a hard Jericho right hand that knocks him back, only for Van Dam to retaliate with a hard right hand of his own. Van Dam then drives a shoulder into the gut of Jericho and doubles him over, leaving Van Dam to flip cleanly over the top rope…SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB TO THE OUTSIDE!!! SUSENT FLIP POWERBOMB!!! WOW!! That gets the crowd riled up again, and even leaves Michaels with a pair of wide eyes. Van Dam is sitting against the ring lip, Jericho eagle spread across the outside. Some light ‘Holy Shit’ chants are going, but none too loud. Michaels does his referee duties and peeks through the middle ropes, checking on both men to see if they’re responsive, Van Dam grabbing onto the ring lip and bringing himself to his feet. Jericho begins stirring a bit, Van Dam taking Jericho by the head and bringing him to his feet before veering close once again to the barricade…Van Dam leaps onto the barricade…MOONSAULT OFF THE BARRICADE ONTO THE STANDING JERICHO!! More RVD flash now, as Van Dam sells the pain on his midsection of his body throwing moves, quickly getting Jericho and rolling him into the ring and going for a cover now –
…………
………
…1…
The hell? Suddenly, a very slow count from Shawn Michaels! Jericho easily throws his shoulder up on the one-count, Van Dam now glaring back at Michaels, who comes back into the equation. The crowd is throwing a good bit of heat towards Michaels’ way now, HBK not budging and staring back at Van Dam. RVD gets to his feet, his body language displaying his displeasure, while HBK stays stoic and tells Van Dam to ‘watch where you’re flyin’ next time, punk’. During that statement, Michaels pokes Van Dam in the chest, again drawing some heat from the crowd and ire of Van Dam, but RVD realizes what that was for – for leaping onto him a few moments ago. RVD just shakes his head for a second, but before he can turn back towards the champion, Jericho pounces on Van Dam from behind with a SLEEPER SLAM!! A somewhat retro Jericho move is pulled out of the hat now, Jericho with the cover –
…………
………
…1…
And ANOTHER slow count from Michaels! Van Dam quickly kicks out on that count, as now it’s Jericho’s turn to ask WTF. Michaels looks at him and says ‘that was fer tryin’ to run away like a rascal’. When Michaels says that, Jericho gives him another scowl before the wheels in his mind start turning and he looks towards where all three men were beyond the barricade. Jericho steps with a mission back outside and over the barricade, Michaels not quick enough to stop him. Jericho’s got something in mind, but it’s not leaving. He goes to the spot where Michaels and he were toppled…to grab the AOW Championship that’s been sitting in the crowd for several minutes. Jericho holds the belt very daintily before climbing back over and into the ring, Jericho’s delicate hold on the 12-pound strap turning into one of preparation, as Van Dam is already on his feet, but has his back now turned to Jericho. Jericho launches himself TRYING TO BASH RVD’S BRAINS IN WITH THE TITLE, but Van Dam seems aware of things and hits Jericho in the gut with a back kick that forces Jericho to drop the title. Van Dam then quickly follows up on this by leaping and nailing the SPINGBOARD BACK KICK TO JERICHO’S FACE!! Jericho drops, but Van Dam doesn’t go for a cover. Instead he quickly rolls under the ropes, grabs the AOW Championship, and puts it back on the timekeeper’s table. But in exchange for putting the title back, Van Dam grabs A STEEL CHAIR to the crowd’s delight and heads back towards the ring.
As Van Dam climbs back in, Jericho is still trying to recover, but he’s stopped dead in his tracks when Van Dam CRUNCHES THE CHAIR OFF HIS SPINE!! Jericho yelps in pain as he collapses against the ropes and towards a corner from the first chair shot of the match, forcing himself up in said corner while holding his back. Van Dam goes to the corner directly across the ring from Jericho, steel chair still in hand. Van Dam rolling summersaults across the ring, setting the steel chair down center ring as he does so, before springing himself up on the full roll-through onto Jericho…MONKEY FLIP…ONTO THE STEEL CHAIR!!! The camera catches the look of horror on Jericho’s face as he goes flying through the air, knowing he’s doomed by gravity to land right on top of the steel chair! Jericho oversells the pain a little bit, crawling on his knees to the opposite corner he was just thrown out of, holding his lower back, possibly out of instinct to not be pinned. Van Dam doesn’t let up, however, noticing Jericho sitting up on the lower part of the turnbuckle. The Crown Jewel of ECW takes the idle chair and raises it over his head, the crowd looking forward to what’s coming next. RVD starts walking in a circle, the crowd vocalizing the strut…CHAIR SURF!! CHAIR SURF TO THE FACE OF JERICHO!! Steel again crunching off Jericho’s body causes Van Dam to pull Jericho out of the corner and cover him, hoping there’s no slow count this time –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Jericho wants to hold onto his title! Michaels is back to a regular count now, seemingly having punished Van Dam enough for his crowd dive on the last count, but nonetheless, Jericho still has enough in him to throw a shoulder up. Van Dam isn’t pleased with that, but when you go hardcore and it doesn’t work, whaddya do? You go more hardcore. Van Dam exits the ring and rummages around a bit under the ring…AND PULLS OUT A TABLE. While he does that, Shawn Michaels is venturing over and has reached down into Van Dam’s garbage can and pulled out a kendo stick, simply examining it and bringing it into the ring, seemingly impressed by it. Back at the ring action, Van Dam slides the table under the bottom rope and into the ring, but doesn’t set it up as it should. Instead, he takes it and sets it up in a corner before taking Jericho in his clutches and looking for something, but before it gets done, Jericho surprises Van Dam by hitting a double leg takedown…WALLS OF JERICHO!!! WALLS OF JERICHO!! FROM OUT OF NOWHERE!!
Jericho’s got the elevated crab locked in, nobody seeing it coming! Michaels physically displays this, as he quickly drops the kendo stick to the canvas and looks back at the action, Van Dam now in a position to submit to the champion. Jericho keeps telling Van Dam to tap, RVD doing his damnest to not give in right now. RVD keeps telling Michaels that he doesn’t want to tap, Jericho cranking the Walls in a little deeper. RVD sells the intensity, but still doesn’t want to give up, but has no way out. The crowd is trying to will Van Dam out of the hold, Van Dam now getting some life and crawling towards the ropes…keeping crawling…when his hand finds the kendo stick Shawn Michaels just dropped into the ring…RVD gets a good grip on the stick…tries to lift it…SMASHES IT AGAINST THE BACK OF JERICHO’S NECK!!!
RVD is inadvertedy saved by the actions of Shawn Michaels! Van Dam is still holding his back on the canvas from the hold and the torque he needed to hit Jericho, while Jericho stumbles almost drunkenly towards the corner with the table. Van Dam finally gets to his feet, still gripping his back and the kendo stick. Van Dam steps towards Jericho and CRACKS THE KENDO STICK ACROSS JERICHO’S SKULL!! Jericho falls back, leaning against the table, while Van Dam delivers a hard shoulder to the gut, followed by another one. Van Dam then performs a backflip, looking to finish the combo by putting Jericho through the table…NO!! Jericho moves out of the way at the last minute, but Van Dam stops himself before he throws himself through the table. As Van Dam turns back towards Jericho, the Worthy Champion grabs the back of Van Dam’s head and nails the ONE-HANDED BULLDOG…ON THE STEEL CHAIR!! Van Dam’s face gets implanted into chair! Jericho shakes the cobwebs out of his head from the cane shot, covering Van Dam, Michaels getting to his job –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Van Dam keeps himself in the game! Jericho isn’t pleased to say the least about not being able to put him away, but brings RVD to his feet and gets him in a front headlock, sizing up where the chair still is, looking for a DDT…NO!! RVD still has enough to push Jericho off, causing him to hop back, but lunges right back at Van Dam, who catches him – SITOUT SPINEBUSTER ON THE STEEL CHAIR!! The Whole F’n Show stays strong! Both champion and challenger are sprawled out right now, both reaching exhaustion levels. Michaels himself gives both men a round of applause, before realizing that he has to actually check on both men to see if they can still go. Both men have taken heavy weaponry damage here, causing Jericho to roll under the bottom rope and to the floor. As both men lie hurt, Michaels just glares down at both of them, his displeased stoic gaze going from man to man….but he’s not performing the knockout count. The unnamed timekeeper steps up from his position at the table and roams over to the side of the ring and tells Michaels that he needs to start the 10-count knockout. Michaels just looks at the timekeeper with hard eyes.
“And stop them from beatin’ the hell out of each other? Then there’d be no winner. And then that’s just no fun.”
Michaels shrugs on the last line, blowing the timekeeper off in favor of potentially showing where he really stands tonight…
he just wants to see these two beat each other senseless. After Michaels turns his attention back towards both men’s bodies, Van Dam is the first man to start motioning, pulling himself to his feet and still gripping his lower back. Jericho has risen to his feet as well, although he’s needed the help of the announcer’s table to do so. RVD sees Jericho and rushes to the opposite ropes, rebound…AIR VAN DAM!!! AIR VAN DAM!! AIR VAN DAM…MISSESS!!! VAN DAM GOES CLEAN OVER JERICHO AND SPINE FIRST INTO THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!! Jericho ducks at the last minute and sends the summersault plancha-aimed Van Dam right on top of the somehow still stable announce desk! While Joey Styles and JBL try to readjust and get up from the table, the crowd cringes with Van Dam, who is stuck in his terrible landing position on his back, looking like a bug drowning in a pool of bug spray. The somewhat shell shocked Jericho takes Van Dam and positions him so that he is parallel to the side of the ring. What’s he setting up here? Jericho soon leaps clean onto the apron…LIONSAULT!!! LIONSAULT!!! LIONSAULT FROM THE APRON ON TOP OF THE TABLE!!! OHH MYY GAAAADD!!! The table doesn’t break, miraculously, but both men are still hurt – Jericho’s momentum sends him careening off behind the table, while Van Dam is selling the impact on his crunched ribs. “HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!!” chants are out and about now, Jericho fully taking it to Van Dam and showing him that he’s more than comfortable in this environment as well.
Even the Showstopper himself is staring in awe at what he just witnessed, as even Shawn Michaels is shocked at how far these guys seem to be willing to go. Perhaps it is awe, but perhaps it is jealousy that he’s not doing anything. Whatever the case, Michaels goes outside the ring and actually checks on both men this time, looking to see if either man can continue. Jericho’s tangled up in some of the production wires behind the announce booth, but he fights himself out of it and grips his midsection as he gets to his feet. RVD has rolled off of the table, but is having a much harder time getting vertical. As Jericho leans on the barricade to fully get up, a front row fan with an “RVD IS AOW” sign is flashing it incredibly obnoxiously in Jericho’s face. Jericho looks at the fan with great distain, but the fan isn’t letting up. Jericho then grabs the foam core sign from the fan and BREAKS IT OVER THE BACK OF RVD!! The foamcore doesn’t do a whole lot, but the impact stops Van Dam in enough time for Jericho to bounce his head off the announce table. As RVD spins back to the floor, Jericho now goes rummaging under the bottom of the ring…and pulls out ANOTHER TABLE.
Jericho sets it up very close to a turnbuckle on the outside, before grabbing RVD by the ponytail and smashing his head off the wooden slab, trying to throw Van Dam on top of this one now. He succeeds in doing so, Jericho ascending to the top rope now. The entire Banknorth Garden are on their feet, wondering what the hell the Worthy Champion could be up to here…but Van Dam stands up on the table! He starts clubbing Jericho in the head as he’s almost level with the turnbuckle…Jericho falls!! Jericho takes a big bump straight off the top into the ring. Van Dam now takes his somewhat elevated position on the table and starts climbing the to the top rope, the crowd very much aware what could come…looking for a FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH…but before Van Dam can leap…JERICHO FLINGS THE STEEL CHAIR INTO VAN DAM’S FACE!!! Jericho taking a page out of Sabu’s book sends the chair flying into Van Dam’s face, sending him off balance…AS HE FALLS BACK OUTSIDE THROUGH THE SET UP TABLE!! VAN DAM FALLS FROM THE TOP THROUGH A TABLE!!! Jericho leans against the ropes in slight awe himself with how that worked out, but he looks towards the crowd and starts pointing to his temple – “one…step…ahead!” Shawn Michaels is looking on and is not impressed, but Jericho just smirks his way as well before Jericho goes and pulls Van Dam from the rubble and rolls him into the ring, hooking the leg on the cover –
1…
2…
3….
NO!!!!
RVD ROLLS THE SHOULDER!! Van Dam showing the utmost resolve here, the fans going crazy on the kickout! Jericho looks at Michaels in extreme frustration, Michaels giving a look back that says ‘you gotta do better than that’. Jericho doesn’t want to do better. Instead, he jumps up and GRABS MICHAELS BY THE COLLAR and starts backing him away, arguing with Michaels over a better count, reminding him that ‘you’ve submitted to me’. HBK, surprisingly doesn’t do or say anything except hold his hands up, his face one of surprise. Jericho finally lets go to a chorus of heat, looking back down at Van Dam before looking back at Michaels with a raised finger…SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!! SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!! SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! JERICHO GOES DOWN!! Michaels wasn’t gonna take that!! Michaels face is back to one of stoicness, as RVD returns to his feet now and sees a downed Jericho before looking at Michaels, knowing he had to have something to do with it. The look in Michaels’ eyes almost looks like he’s daring RVD to cover Jericho. RVD drops to his knees and then falls on top of Jericho –
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….
There’s no count? What’s up? Shawn Michaels has tossed Van Dam off the body of Jericho! As Van Dam looks to step towards HBK get in his face for that…SWEET CHIN MUSIC TO VAN DAM!!! SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! BOTH MEN ARE DOWN BY THE SUPERKICK!!! HBK stares at both men now, the crowd not sure which way to go, but they’re certainly making plenty of noise. Michaels looks at Van Dam the hardest, where we can see his lips move…“you were supposed to say no.” Michaels retreats to a corner, leering at both downed men now, looking just like a nomad cowboy in an old Western. The champion is the first man to stir here, but Van Dam begins to make motions as well, Jericho the first man to get completely vertical here. Jericho wheels around to look and point at Michaels like he was doing before he went down, giving him a glossy eyed look of anger. Van Dam appears to be so out of it, he’s searching for something to grab onto. He grabs onto Jericho, who lifts him to his feet exhaustingly and kicks him in the gut. Jericho looks to keep softening Van Dam up, kicking him in the gut again. Jericho goes for a third kick, but Van Dam seems to be back, grabbing Jericho’s last kick…STEP-OVER SPINNING WHEEL KICK!! Jericho goes down, Van Dam’s turn to now look at Michaels. He quickly looks away now before he presses and pumps in the turnbuckle, leaping cleanly to the top rope. Again, looking for the FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH…but Jericho can feel it coming as well, rolling away and out of range. Jericho is trying to recover on all fours all the way across the ring from Van Dam now, but RVD thinks quickly and leaps from off the top rope…ROLLING THUNDER!!! ROLLING THUNDER FROM OFF THE TOP, ACROSS THE RING!!! Jericho may have been one step ahead, but Van Dam outdoes the chessmaster here!! The crowd is popping huge for that move, but Van Dam isn’t done. He seems to get a burst of energy, dragging Jericho from out of the corner and to the center ring, before quickly reaching his hand through the ropes and pulling back in the same steel chair that’s been used for every spot in the match. Van Dam then sets it up a step away from Jericho before running…TRIPLE JUMP MOONSAULT!! TRIPLE JUMP MOONSAULT!! Van Dam adopting a move from his best friend in Sabu, going for the big cover –
1….
2….
3….
NO!!!
It’s Jericho’s turn to stun! Van Dam can’t believe that didn’t get it, Michaels still with an unbiased count. The crowd acknowledges the kickout, but are now chanting “ECW!! ECW!! ECW!! ECW!!” Van Dam, even in his frustration, is seen nodding his head to the chants of his home promotion. RVD still hasn’t gotten the win yet, however, but immediately looks to the top rope to do so. The crowd is again on their feet, Van Dam going for his third attempt at a FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH…CODEBREAKER!!! CODEBREAKER!!! CODEBREAKER ON THE AIRBORNE VAN DAM!! OHH MY GAAADD!! The crowd is again in absolute awe at that move, Shawn Michaels falling down on overselling his reaction to it. The Showstopper’s mouth is agape, as Chris Jericho is still on his back from falling on it, not yet going over to cover Van Dam. RVD is dead as a doorknob, both men flat out again, the crowd starting their umpteenth “HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!! HOLY SHIT!!” chant. After a moment or so, Y2J pulls Van Dam away from the ropes before exhaustingly shooting the half and forcing RVD over. It takes Michaels a second to reengage himself and scoot over for the count –
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NO!!!!!!
RVD ROLLS THE SHOULDER!! Incomprehensively, RVD is still in this thing!! The commentary goes silent for a moment after the shoulder is lifted. We get a quick shot at why – JOEY STYLES HAS FAINTED!! JBL takes off his cowboy hat and starts to fan Styles off before shoving him back in his chair, but in that one silent moment, we see Rob Van Dam on his side, shoulder up, with Chris Jericho leaning on him with a look of absolute and utter shock on his face, eyes wide and mouth open, while beside them, Shawn Michaels is sitting up, his hands pulling his hair back. The crowd hasn’t stopped popping since the move was actually hit, nobody sure how much either of these men actually have left in them. Jericho’s plotting and planning is being foiled by RVD’s resolve, but he’s still got his head straight, grabbing Van Dam’s legs in a shock turned fury…WALLS OF JERICHO coming…RVD ROLLS HIM UP!! The quick turn of fortunes –
1…
2…
3-NO!!
Jericho has enough wits to get out of the move, but as soon as he gets to his feet, he’s met with an RVD scoop slam, landing near the ropes. Van Dam takes the steel chair that’s still lying around in the ring and SMASHES IT ACROSS JERICHO’S STERNUM for good measure before placing it on top of Jericho’s sternum. Van Dam then groggily runs to the other side, only to come back…ROLLING THUNDER ON THE CHAIR…JERICHO GETS THE KNEES AND CHAIR UP!!! Jericho’s double knees drive the chair into Van Dam’s back…WALLS OF JERICHO!!! WALLS OF JERICHO!!! Van Dam is caught!! Jericho quickly yanks him away from the ropes, catching him in the Walls center ring!! There’s nowhere for RVD to go now, the crowd giving their last breath to help RVD get out of this predicament. Van Dam starts to crawl, telling Michaels no, he doesn’t want to give up. Van Dam keeps crawling, Jericho keeps asking for Michaels to “ASK HIM!” Van Dam has enough in him to PULL HBK CLOSE TO HIM and tell him no. Even with this show of guts, RVD still hasn’t reached the ropes, but when he is finally within grasp…JERICHO LIFTS BACK AND TURNS IT INTO THE LIONTAMER!!! Jericho’s knee goes into the small of RVD’s back, all the weight on the back and neck now! Van Dam’s head is barely visible, being crunched beneath his own body and the canvas, but his hand is still very much alive and searching…..
…
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YES!!! RVD GRABS THE ROPE!! HE GRABS THE ROPE!! Jericho’s face is seething as Michaels orders him off. Jericho refuses, leaving Michaels only the option of throwing Jericho off himself. Jericho is absolutely pissed right now, looking at Michaels as if he wants to hit him…before just stopping and throwing his hands up and marching to the ropes, shouting over them towards the timekeeper’s table and orders that they hand him his title. Jericho is hesitantly handed the title he brought in and he clutches it close to his chest before turning around and looks to leave again. Michaels has no problem stopping him yet again, turning Jericho around back towards Van Dam – VAN DAMINATOR!!! VAN DAMINATOR WITH THE TITLE!! Jericho’s face is imprinted with the gold!! The crowd is amped up now, as it finally looks like this could be the end. RVD lining Jericho up…leaping to the top rope…FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!!! FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH FINALLY CONNECTS!! Van Dam flips off, displaying the sheer veracity of the impact! There’s sheer volume all around the arena, Van Dam, still feeling the Codebreaker and the Walls, takes a moment to crawl before throwing an arm over the downed body of Jericho, Michaels quickly down –
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………3-WAIT!!!
Jericho’s pulled through the bottom rope to safety! The culprit? PAUL “THE GREAT” WRIGHT!! Wright is here! Even in Michaels’ attempt to stop him, Wright somehow blew through the barricade! Wright is noticeably sweating profusely, probably from all that heaving around to get out, but nonetheless, he pulls Jericho out and checks on him before letting him lie on the outside. Wright then gets up onto the apron, where Michaels meets him and tries to prevent him from entering, but Michaels gets a headbutt for his troubles, sending Michaels rolling away. Wright finally steps in, his eyes now on RVD. Van Dam, still aching from the impact of his own finisher, looks up at Wright only to get a KNOCKOUT RIGHT HAND to his jaw! RVD falls forward and leans on Wright from the blow, where Wright takes him and slaps his hand across his throat for the goozle, raising him FOR THE CHOKESLAM…NO!! MICHAELS SMASHES WRIGHT IN THE BACK WITH THE CHAIR!! It stops the move cold, as Wright drops Van Dam, but the blow only seems to have gotten “The Great’s” attention, not hurt him. Wright turns and looks at Michaels with a ‘did you just throw that piece of paper at me’ body language, his face of sheer stoicness. Wright knocks the chair out of Michaels hand towards the ring, but Michaels isn’t phased – SWEET CHIN MUSIC to the big man…who doesn’t budge!! Wright takes the superkick and it causes him to step back a little, but he barely flinches! Michaels is stunned, but the stun turns to fear, as Wright recovers by GOOZLING MICHAELS, his hand shooting out and gripping Michaels throat…VAN DAM NOW WITH THE CHAIR SHOT! Van Dam returns the favor and hits Wright in the leg with the chair, causing Wright to look at Van Dam now, who throws the chair into Wright’s grip – VAN DAMINATOR!! VAN DAMINATOR!! Wright still doesn’t go down, but the chair is still on level with his face as he groggily turns towards Michaels…SWEET CHIN MUSIC WITH THE STEEL CHAIR!! SWEET CHIN MUSICAL CHAIRS!!
Wright finally goes down, falling backwards into a corner opposite the one that still has the table set up in it. Wright slumps down onto the lower portion of the corner he’s in, while Michaels goes close to him, reaching over the ropes to the outside…and pulling in the now empty GARBAGE CAN Van Dam brought in that once held the kendo sticks! This momentary Michaels/Van Dam alliance looks to continue, as Michaels grabs it and points to the top rope for RVD to go there. RVD and the fans realize what he wants to fully eliminate Wright from the equation, as Van Dam now goes to the top rope adjacent to the corner-clad Wright, reaching there and standing straight up, as Michaels holds the garbage can in front of Wright’s face. Van Dam prepares, thumbs at the ready –
“ROB…VAN…DAM~!!”
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……
VAN TERMINATOR!!! VAN TERMINATOR!!! VAN TERMINATOR, DRIVING THE GARBAGE CAN INTO THE MONSTER’S FACE!!! The crowd is still absolutely on fire following that huge move, even Michaels getting into it, the guy who took him out over a month ago getting some punishment and knocked out. When the garbage can falls from the face of Wright after a moment, it’s revealed that the unstoppable giant is indeed BUSTED OPEN!! It took two men, but Wright’s bleeding! Wright slumps over from finally being subdued, it taking both Michaels and Van Dam again to try and push him out, Wright finally falling to the floor through the bottom and second ropes. Michaels hangs out on the ropes for a second, selling the strength it took to get him out, while Van Dam exhaustingly, but emphatically, gets to his feet, still feeding off the crowd, but Jericho still outside, but crawling back towards the ring. RVD drifts towards the center of the ring, his back turned towards the ramp and holding his gut again, as the crowd gets buzzing. Van Dam turns back towards where Jericho was…SPEAR!!! SPEAR!!! SPEAR THROUGH THE CORNER TABLE!!! SPEAR THROUGH THE CORNER TABLE!!
HOLY HELL, ITS BOBBY LASHLEY!!! IT’S LASHLEY!!!
Lashley gores Van Dam through the table set up in the corner seemingly eons ago, a look of absolute intensity on his face. The crowd has shifted from grandeur pops on Van Dam and Michaels to a reaction of immense heat for Lashley, who couldn’t be satisfied with one heinous crime tonight it seems. Lashley seems to be soaking the boos in at the moment, before turning back towards Shawn Michaels, the guest referee, who saw the whole damn thing, but can’t do anything about it because of the rules. But Michaels doesn’t look to hit Lashley like he tried with Wright…he just has a very stunned look on his face…for some reason mouthing “no…no…” While that entire ordeal went on, the shock and heat around the arena seems to have reignited Chris Jericho, who has since partially crawled into the ring under the bottom rope. Lashley pulls RVD a little closer to the center, before grabbing Jericho and throwing him on top of Van Dam, Jericho still with his wits about him to hook a leg. Michaels is still staring, not wanting this to be true for some reason it seems, but he gets to his duties and starts the count, Lashley looming ominously over Michaels.
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…
Michaels raises his hand one last time and looks at Jericho, the look in Michaels’ eyes seemingly begging him not to go through with it. Jericho is too busy licking his lips to care about what’s going through Michaels head at that moment, at which point, Michaels forcibly brings his arm down…
………3……….
……
!!!!!
Here is your winner and STILL AOW World Heavyweight Champion…CHRIS JERICHO at (30:28)
Almost as soon as Michael’s hand comes down for the three and the bell rings, Michaels darts out of the ring, his head hung low and covered by his now out of a ponytail hair. As Michaels walks up the ramp, he virtually rips off his referee’s uniform and throws it on the ramp, not stopping in his very enraged walk towards the back. As Michaels disappears into the back in a huge display of disappointment, Bobby Lashley goes by the timekeepers and grabs the title, pulling Jericho to his feet, and handing him the gold to an absolutely deafening rain of heat. Paul Wright soon joins them, even in his beat up and groggy state, he has more than enough strength to stand vertical and even hoist Jericho on his shoulders, the Worthy Champion sitting on top of Wright like a chair. Lashley has his hands raised as well, signifying apparently some whole new unholy alliance that somehow we feel we’ve been warned about for some time…
Joey Styles:
What…what…could this be?? Bobby Lashley is aligned with Chris Jericho to hold onto his AOW title…did Jericho have this planned all along??
JBL:
I can almost guarantee Jericho’s had this planned up for a long, long time Joey. This doesn’t look like this just came about. Chris Jericho’s been one step ahead of everybody – of me, of you, of Van Dam, of Shawn Michaels, of Paul Heyman, of Mick Foley – EVERYBODY.
Joey Styles:
John, you don’t think…you don’t think this was what Christian Cage was trying to warn us about? Could this actually be what was going on? Was Christian Cage right? Is this the origins of a terrifying alliance that’s been brewing since the very beginning of AOW?
JBL:
I don’t wanna believe it…I just don’t. As brilliant an’ as flawless as it looks to be, this is a nightmare for everyone in that locker room, not just Van Dam and Michaels…but everyone.
Joey Styles:
Ladies and gentlemen, I hate for the very first Pay-Per-View in AOW’s history to end this way, with more questions than we have answers, but we have indeed lived up the hype in a way we weren’t hoping…we have set this World Ablaze. Everything we knew has been redefined, and the future is the hands…of those men. This is an atrocity…Chris Jericho is still AOW Champion, but what does all this mean?
…
**END SHOW**