Post by apexstaff on Feb 11, 2023 0:58:18 GMT -5
Thursday Night Riot!
2/9 - Principality Stadium - Cardiff, Wales
(PWS Apex: Riot opens without fanfare, without music, just a picture of a beaming young man taken in the throes of his young life. The only sound that can be heard is the roar of the fans in the arena as we hear a multitude of chants.)
“WE LOVE NIC!!!”
“NIC! NIC! NIC! NIC!”
“NIC! NIC! NIC FUCKIN’ POWELL! NIC! NIC! NIC FUCKIN’ POWELL!”
(Suddenly, filing out onto the stage is the entirety of the PWS Apex locker room- wrestlers, staff, even some legends- all wearing arm bands that say “NIC” on them…most of them are crying. Some are smiling up at the picture on the screen. Suddenly stepping forward into the forefront steps Star Stormz with Levi Russow and Laura Phoenix flanking her.)
Star Stormz: Tonight… is a sad night for the PWS:APEX family. Tonight… we mourn the loss of one of our own. Our family has shrunk by one, as he gained his wings way too early.
(She begins to choke up when Laura and Levi both reach out and place their hands on her shoulders)
Star Stormz: Nic Powell was more to PWS than anyone could know or understand. He was one of our founders, and one of our biggest fans. His creativity ran deep, only to be outdone by his loyalty. He WAS PWS, up to the very bitter end. It breaks my heart to stand here and even be discussing this, because he was taken from us too early. He fought through many hardships, health problems, and other things that tried to take him from us. But he endured…
(Star was visibly shaken as she looks back towards Laura and Levi, and the rest of the roster standing behind her silently.)
Star Stormz: He was many things to us. He was a founder. A fan. A creative head. A friend. But above all, he was family. Our hearts are… absolutely broken. And as we take time to mourn this horrible loss… I'd like for the entire PWS:APEX universe to join us in a 10 bell salute for our fallen comrade.
(She lowers her head, as an eerie silence takes over the arena. Broken only by the somber sound of the bell.)
DING
DING
DING
DING
DING
DING
DING
DING
DING
DING
(As the DING of the final bell echoes through the arena, the cameras pan across the roster on the stage. Huddled tightly in the middle were Audrey Russow, Daniel Russow, Max Sheppard, Nick Madison, and Max Delgado.)
Star Stormz: Fly High, Nic. Fly high.
(The lights fade out to the following graphic)
Singles Match
Miss Puppies vs Donatella Martinelli
(This match is a nice change of pace for what has been a pretty solemn show so far, with a bit of levity to elevate the crowd a bit. It starts off relatively light, with Puppies signalling for a test of strength and then poking Donatella in the eyes as soon as she spreads her arms. Puppies laughs to herself and just shrugs at the referee while he admonishes her, then follows up with a flurry of offense designed to keep Donatella on the back foot, really showcasing Puppies’ brawling abilities. The crowd seems to rally around Miss Puppies during this time, clapping in rhythm and chanting to egg her on as Donatella desperately tries to claw back any kind of momentum, but to no avail. She eventually does get a LITTLE bit of offense in, managing to trip Miss Puppies into the ropes and nail her with a Reverse Frankensteiner. Donatella then heads up top…)
JR Freeman: Oh, things could be heating up here…
Alfonso Banks: Hotter than Miss Puppies? I don’t think so!
(Whatever Donatella Martinelli had been PLANNING to do when she jumped off the top, it doesn’t matter anymore, as Miss Puppies catches her out of the air and sends her sprawling to the mat with a FALLAWAY SLAM! Puppies then springs up and pounds her chest, netting a pop from the fans, before she grabs Donatella by the hair and lifts her into position… for the Cherrybomb! Miss Puppies covers…)
ONE!
TWO!
THREE! IT’S OVER!
WINNER - Miss Puppies
(The cameras cut to the back where Star Stormz and Max Sheppard were standing in what appeared to be a boxed up office. Star had tears in her eyes as she looked at her co-worker and friend.)
Star Stormz: I’m so happy that you got this new position. I just wish it didn’t mean leaving the weekly shows
Max Sheppard: I know, I don’t want to but this is…
Star Stormz: An opportunity you would be stupid to turn down. I get it. You’ll be missed.
Max Sheppard: I’ll miss you guys all, too. But this new behind the scenes position will put me in a better position to help you all. And it will allow me the time I need to fix things with my family.
(Star nodded, understanding.)
Star Stormz: Good luck..
(The two share a hug as the scene fades to black)
(The cameras cut to the ring where Max Delgado was standing, holding on to his PWS:APEX United title)
Max Delgado: So, it’s been brought to my attention that at Demon’s Run, I’m scheduled to defend this title against one Gracie Lopez. I guess Star and my dad think she deserves a shot since she won that stupid Armageddon match. Whatever, it’s not my business anymore.
(The crowd starts to murmur in confusion.)
Max Delgado: It was not meant to be, apparently. I have obtained an injury during training recently. Unfortunately, it’s one that will prevent me from defending this belt.. Which means that I am being forced to vacate.
(The crowd boos)
Max Delgado: I know, you guys wanted to see me take out the young Lopez in the battle of the 2nd gen. But… don’t you worry. Because I have found the PERFECT replacement to take my spot in the match… another 2nd gen superstar… JACK RUSSOW!
(The crowd erupted as the cameras cut to commentary)
JR Freeman: Can you believe it!? We are going to see Jack Russow vs Gracie Lopez for the United Championship!
Singles Match
Morgan Baker vs Cassie Wolfe
(The match is off to a quick start, with the Rebel Princess hitting a lot of high-flying moves that really catch her English opponent off-guard, following up with a bit of technical work on the mat. Morgan ends up breaking out of the submissions, and makes a slight comeback, but it’s soon overtaken by Cassie on the offense again. She plays to the crowd, who cheer for the up-and-comer as she brings Baker to the mat one more time.)
JR Freeman: This new girl’s really showing off her skills. She’s someone to watch!
Alfonso Banks: She’s part of the Rebel alliance and a traitor! TAKE HER AWAY!
JR Freeman: …You’ve been waiting to use that line since Cassie first joined, didn’t you?
Alfonso Banks: YOU DON’T KNOW HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO USE IT!
(At this point, Morgan starts making a comeback! She does some rope rebound moves, hitting some running moves, and overall just out-performing the newcomer. Baker’s about to go for Trouble in Paradise, getting in position for it, but Cassie manages to kick her in the face enough times that she lets go! With a second wind having built up, The Rebel Princess takes full advantage of the situation, hitting a few more devastating high-flying moves, getting excited as she jumps off the ropes to hit Air Aussie! She goes for the cover…)
ONE!
TWO!
NO, not quite, Morgan kicks out!
(Not deterred by this in the slightest, Cassie continues on the offense, even whipping her opponent into the turnbuckle at one point. She really plays it up for the crowd, the 19-year-old showing some impressive displays of athleticism at her age as she finally goes to end the match, looking for The Coronation, which she hits, directly onto her opponent! Now she goes for another cover!)
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
(The bell rings as the match ends.)
JR Freeman: Well, what an impressive first display from Cassie Wolfe, the Rebel Princess!
Alfonso Banks: Leia?
JR Freeman: No, she’s… oh, never mind.
WINNER - Cassie Wolfe
(The scene cuts to the back where Alexis Makarios was standing. Her eyes were red and puffy, as if she had been crying recently.)
Alexis Makarios: I’ve done a lot in PWS in my career. I’ve held the World Title… United Title… I’ve been inducted into the hall of fame… Main Evented Destiny… but you know one thing I never got to do? Enter… and win… a Rebel Rumble. And this year… is the year! This is my chance. What I’m saying is… Alexis Makarios is declaring the rumble!
(The crowd cheers)
Alexis Makarios: And no one can stop me from winning and claiming that World Title Shot that I rightfully deserve. Good luck to everyone else… you gotta get through ME.
(The camera cuts to a commercial)
(The scene switches backstage and Camen Fernandez knocks on Gracie’s door to the crowd's reaction. Doesn’t take long for Gracie to answer the door, she’s in a tracksuit because her ring gear is underneath, and she looks at the small girl who knocked on her door with a glare.)
Gracie Lopez: Yes? May I help you?
Carmen Fernandez: HI! I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about what’s going on.
Gracie Lopez: I’m trying to get ready for my match but sure, I can answer some questions you have, I suppose!
Carmen Fernandez: I’m sure you heard the announcement that your United Title match got changed, how do your feel about that?
Gracie Lopez: Awful. I was looking forward to facing Max and now that opportunity got ripped from me. That kid is really talented and I feel like we would have tore the house down. But that’s how things go in wrestling. One minute your excited and then an injury happens out of nowhere that derails everything. I wish the kid well in his recovery, I really do. Hopefully one day we can have that match that was taken from us in the future.
Carmen Fernanez: And Jack? How do your feel about Jack getting the opportunity?
Gracie Lopez: Jack… that guy is good, he’s just like his dad in many ways. I’m looking forward to it. The Lopez vs Russow battle lives on with us now, and I’m excited about it. Jack and I grew up together in this business and we always talked about wrestling in that ring together, and now we get that chance. The new blood in this company will see what and why the Lopez vs Russow rivalry is still the best rivalry around, you’re gonna see stuff you’ve never seen before.
Carmen Fernandez: Thank…..
Gracie Lopez: Don’t you ever cut me off… I wasn’t done.
Carmen Fernandez: Sorry….
Gracie: Lopez: We don’t need to hype this match up that much. Why? Because our names alone bring eye balls from different parts of the world. Our names alone bring ratings and our names alone live on in the folklore of Pro wrestling. You say Russow or Lopez, you think of us. You think of our fathers, and you think of the Lineagae and the respect we have for each other. This match means alot to me now, and I can’t wait to show it!
(Gracie slithers back into the locker room like a snake leaving Carmen Fernandez standing there to think about the words that were just said.)
George Sullivan: Oh man! That’s gonna be a match of the year candidate for sure!
Alfonso Banks: Gracie vs Jack? Sign me up! 2 kids that are about to show us what passion really means and I’m here for it!
Singles Match
Tyson Sykes vs. Dionysus
(This one starts probably about as intense as most fans would’ve expected, with Dionysus ambushing Sykes BEFORE he’s even finished his entrance and nailing him with a SICK lariat on the entrance ramp! He then proceeds to lay into the Ripper on the outside, brutalizing him with stiff strikes, Powerbombs and every weapon he can get his hands on. The ANTITHESIS defector suffers a Gorilla Press slam onto the audience barricade, followed by SEVERAL vicious steel-chair shots to the back, before a sickening Belly-to-Belly Suplex into the steel ring steps, detaching them from the ring completely! The Mad God lives up to his name during this beating, slamming Sykes head REPEATEDLY into EVERY individual ring step until the Ripper’s face is a mask of gleaming crimson, then CACKLING as he tans the Ripper’s back with a kendo stick until it breaks beyond all recognition, discarding the splintered wood into the crowd.)
JR Freeman: My god, this is DISGUSTING! The referee needs to DO something about this, the match hasn’t even STARTED yet!
Alfonso Banks: Would YOU go and tell Dionysus that, JR? You know what? Please do! Go down there right now, let him know he’s breaking the rules; I’ll wait!
JR Freeman: *Sighs audibly* You know, Alf, I really don’t even know why I talk to you some days.
Alfonso Banks: And yet, you keep doing it…
(Back… well, BESIDE the ring, Dionysus has chosen to cap off his assault by lifting Sykes onto the top of the detached steel ring steps, hooking the Ripper’s legs.)
JR Freeman: Oh no, no, I don’t like this…
(The referee shouts at Dio to get into the ring, but the Mad God simply grins as he lifts Tyson up… and plants him head-first on the steel with the Pale Rider!)
JR Freeman: DIOS MIO!
Alfonso Banks: HOLY FUCKING ASSCRACKERS!
Rhys Williams: NEFOEDD WEN!
(Tyson Sykes collapses in a heap and the Mad God finally seems content, rolling his body into the ring and following suit. He covers Tyson AS the bell finally rings, looking to quite literally end this match before it starts.)
ONE!
TWO!
TH-NO!
(Somehow, against all odds, Tyson gets a shoulder up! The crowd goes wild for their newly-crowned hero, who then begins the impossible task of turning the tables on the Horseman of Death, his former blood-brother. He does not have much success at first, with every attempted revolt being smacked down by the Mad God, but Tyson Sykes is NOTHING if not infernally persistent, and he keeps fighting back, keeps kicking out of every attempt to put him down, and finally battles his way back to his feet and starts laying offense on the giant. He targets mainly the knees and the neck, using stiff chops and thunderous kicks to get any advantage that he can, drawing upon his experience fighting alongside Dionysus to make full use of the Mad God’s weaknesses. Sykes also shows that he’s still unafraid to put his own body on the line to injure his opponent, nailing Dio with a series of VIOLENT, CRACKING headbutts despite his bleeding forehead. He finally manages to get the monster to one knee, then inhales deeply and draws upon all his strength… LIFTING DIONYSUS FOR A GUTWRENCH SUPLEX, which plants him on the mat!)
JR Freeman: Dios mio! The sheer POWER of Tyson Sykes knows no bounds!
Alfonso Banks: I-I’m flabbergasted, JR! Absolutely gobsmacked! Have we EVER seen the Mad God leave his feet before tonight?!
JR Freeman: We indeed have, Alf, but NEVER at the hands of just one person!
(The crowd goes WILD for Tyson Sykes after that incredible display, though it seems to have taken quite a lot out of HIM to pull it off, as both men lie writing on the mat for several moments afterwards. The referee’s double-down count reaches about eight before Sykes manages to pull himself on top of Dionysus, draping an arm over his shoulders, but it only nets a two-count. The crowd boos as the Mad God sits bolt upright, but cheers again as he’s met with a swift chest kick from Tyson. The two battle on the mat, Sykes trying to keep his enemy there where the giant’s weakest, and begins to apply his submission expertise to keep him on the defensive. This backfires, however, as Dionysus FULLY STANDS UP out of a Grapevine Headlock by Sykes, with the Ripper now clinging desperately to the Mad God’s monstrous back. Dionysus rushes backwards towards the turnbuckle, trying to knock Tyson off, but his lingering weakness from the impressive suplex has the giant stumbling a bit, and the referee gets caught between them! The referee DOES fall to the mat after taking a full Dionysus/Sykes combo to the face, at which point Dionysus tries again to shake Tyson off, but the Ripper holds onto the top turnbuckle with both knees, shoving the Mad God so he stumbles forward. Sykes then leaps into the air as Dionysus turns around, flooring him with a modified version of the Heatseeker! Both men hit the mat hard, but as Tyson drapes himself over Dionysus and realizes there’s no referee, he makes it up to his knees, turning to face the entrance ramp.)
Tyson Sykes: COME ON! Get someone out here, damn it!
(A referee wearing a mask comes running down to ringside, unsure of who this referee is, the fans start cheering. The referee slides into the ring and without hesitating, v-triggers Tyson Sykes in the face, before climbing to the top turnbuckle quickly and nailing him with senton bomb, before rolling out of it, reaching up she pulls off the mask and reveals Alexandra Sanders. She grabs a piece of barbed wire out of her pocket and wraps it around her gloved hand, before punching Tyson Sykes with it repeatedly. She busts him open, before slipping it off her hand and stuffing it into her pocket and reaching over to wake up Dionysus, dragging him over on top of Sykes. She moves to wake up the referee, making sure he sees the pin. He starts the count.)
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Alfonso Banks: THAT SNAKE IN THE GRASS, ALEXANDRA JUST COST TYSON SYKES ANOTHER MATCH!!!
JR Freeman: Well does this mean he faces HER next week?
(Alexandra slips into the ring, standing over Sykes looking down at him. She slaps him hard across the face, the ring microphone can hear her telling him, “Next week.. You take a trip to the land of the nightmares... It’s YOU AND ME. Say your prayers.. BITCH.” This time she slaps him again, before wiping his blood across her face and down her chest.)
Alfonso Banks: Did I just hear that right? Alexandra is challenging him NEXT WEEK?!?!
JR Freeman: Well she is Jonathan Sanders wife and you know that Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned. She feels that Sykes betrayed her King.. and well.. As you’ve seen in past weeks, Alexandra is Anti-Thesis’s Queen.
Alfonso Banks: Things don’t look so good for Tyson Sykes. If Alexandra has her way.. Sykes will be DONE.
WINNER - Dionysus
(Championship title belts, sports collectables, movie posters and memorabilia. All of that and much more adorned the walls and filled the space of PWS Hall of Famer Chaz Holiday’s trophy room at his home in Los Angeles, California. Chaz himself was sitting in his office chair, nicely dressed per the usual; designer jeans that fit him just right, a light blue Gucci t-shirt and above all - that large smile that the PWS audience was very accustomed to.)
Chaz Holiday: Hey guys! Sorry to interrupt. I promise I’m not gonna take too much of your time. I know it’s been a hot little minute since you’ve heard from me. Just to give you a quick update - I’ve been amazing! I’ve really thrown myself into doing a lot of charity work and giving back to people as much as I’ve possibly been able to. I’ve recently gotten into video game streaming, so that’s exciting. I’m looking forward to venturing further into that. And there’s one other thing I wanted to tell you all about…. What was it… it’s slipping my mind….
(He tapped an index finger to his chin, thinking, a quizzical look overtaking his facial features. That is, until his face lit up once more.)
Chaz Holiday: Oh yeah! Yours truly - that’s me - is going to be entering the Rebel Rumble! That’s right, I’ve decided to once again step inside the ring and give it a go. I’m healthy, I’m feeling good and I’m ready! I was able to accomplish a lot in my time in wrestling and in PWS in general but winning the Rebel Rumble was one thing I never achieved. And I’d like to change that. I can’t wait to see all of my friends and all of the PWS fans. It’s gonna be lit so don’t miss it! I’ll see all of you beautiful people there. Ciao!
(Chaz flashed a little wink into the camera, a slight grin on his face as the feed faded out.)
Triple Threat Match- non title
Candy vs Carmen Rodriguez vs Ivory Sullivan
(Before this match begins, Star Stormz comes back out with little fanfare, still wearing a sombre look on her face, and has a whispered conversation with Meg Reynolds. Meg nods and lifts the microphone.)
Meg Reynolds: Folks, it has just been brought to my attention that, due to a travel issue we were unable to resolve, Ivory Sullivan will NOT be present for this contest this evening. Instead, we’ll be proceeding with the following contest as a SINGLES MATCH between Carmen Rodriguez and the returning veteran, Candy!
(The crowd pops for this news, though the announcement of Ivory Sullivan’s absence elicited some boos.)
Meg Reynolds: We appreciate your patience in this trying time for PWS: Apex. Now, without further ado… ladies, tear it down! INTRODUCING FIRST…
(The camera cuts to the top of the ramp as the first of the ladies begins to make her entrance.)
Singles Match- non title
Candy vs Carmen Rodriguez
(This one gets off to a CRACKING start, with Carmen rushing Candy out of the corner before Star has even fully made it to the back. She presses the advantage in the early going, using her martial arts prowess - as well as every underhanded tactic in the book - to keep Candy on the back foot, taking full advantage of her opponent’s naive optimism to get the upper hand. She really brings the fight to Candy for a while, nailing her with a series of strong European Uppercuts to disrupt her balance and lead into an Arm-Drag, after which point she switches to submission expertise to keep the bubbly pink unicorn princess grounded. She locks in a Fujiwara Armbar, then grabs the ropes to crank up the pressure while Max keeps the referee distracted.)
Alfonso Banks: Damn, what a strong showing from Carmen Rodriguez tonight!
JR Freeman: Strong maybe, Alf, but not exactly an HONOURABLE one!
Alfonso Banks: Honour, schmonour - it’s GRIT that wins championships, pal!
JR Freeman: …Well, the state of our title scene right now unfortunately means I can’t disagree with you.
(The ref does eventually notice what’s going on as Candy gets to the ropes, desperately stretching out one arm to brush it with her fingers, but it’s enough to trigger a rope break. As the two return to their feet, Carmen tries to keep taking the fight to Candy, maneuvering her into a Roses Fall, going for a quick cover!)
ONE!
TWO!
NO! Candy kicks out!
(As the pair return to their feet again, the Bubbly One has had enough, and she turns the tables by reversing an attempted Superkick into a leg-trap Fisherman’s Suplex, then goes on her OWN offensive… which mostly consists of a lot of slapping and screaming about how Carmen isn’t very nice. She begins to mount a real comeback, though, but Candy’s… well, not ANGER per se, but frustration with being bullied finally boils over as she reaches in a small pocket on her gear and pulls out a handful of … something! She opens her hand to reveal a handful of GLITTER. She blows it directly at Carmen’s face and causes her to recoil, glitter everywhere all over her face and ring attire and hair. Candy seems quite pleased with herself, laughing and giving a thumbs-up, but then the referee calls for the bell and she looks confused.)
Candy: D-did I win?
JR Freeman: I’m so sorry, Candy, but no. No, you did not…
Alfonso Banks: I… have no idea what the Hell I just watched.
JR Freeman: Yep, that’s Candy for you.
(Candy pouts and starts questioning the referee as Meg Reynolds announces Carmen as the winner by DQ, with the challenger still looking like she has no idea what’s going on or why the match ended. Our last shot is of Max helping Carmen to the back, cleaning glitter out of her eyes and hair while glaring daggers down the ramp at Candy.)
WINNER - CARMEN RODRIGUEZ
“Wake up…
Take my hand and give me a reason to start again.
Wake up…
Pull me out and give me a reason to start again.”
(A first person camera angle is moving in slow motion backstage tonight cued up to “Sleepwalking” by Bring Me The Horizon…capturing grieving members of the roster, showing some paying their tributes, but then as if on cue as the camera slowly passes and turns to tune in on certain people…their faces acknowledge the camera with a startling amount of disgust…perhaps jealousy. But at what? The camera moves on down the hall and it’s more of the same…the grieving dry their tears while snarling through the pain at the camera. Something was amiss…)
“Your eyes are swallowing me…
Mirrors start to whisper, shadows start to sing.
My skin's smothering me…
Help me find a way to breathe!”
(As the camera moves on past what is considered the “Heel” locker room the camera starts to show more of the “Face” roster…we see familiar faces bawling their eyes out and some look at the camera with genuine excitement and love as a few of the veterans one at a time sporadically walk up and embrace the camera. After the warmer reception, the camera keeps floating down the hallway until we come to a locker room door.)
“Time stood still…the way it did before.
…It's like I'm sleepwalking.
Fell into…another hole again…
(The door opens, the light switch is flicked as we see the cameraman’s free hand toss a duffel bag onto the couch as the camera turns towards a mirror and we see Jack Russow…rugged…now in the best shape of his life. He sets the camera down and focuses on his reflection in the mirror…it’s just a moment before he sniffs his nose and smudges the reflection with his hand turning back to his bag…but for some reason, when Jack pulls away from the mirror…his reflection remains. As the reflection looks into the camera and reveals his Nic Powell tribute shirt before blowing the camera a kiss and the reflection disappears.)
“...It's like I'm sleepwalking.”
JR Freeman; HE’S BACK!!! THE PUNK THAT WAS PROMISED COME TO TAKE WHAT’S DUE HIM!!!
Alfonso Banks: He literally hasn’t done ANYTHING to deserve ANY sort of attention, much LESS what they have in mind for him! This is nepotism at it’s finest!
JR Freeman: You know Goddamn well that young man’s pedigree. He took time off to be a father but now? NOW he’s found the drive, the ambition, Jack Russow has come to start claiming a legacy of his own!
Alfonso Banks: It still stinks something fierce.
JR Freeman: Then might I suggest pulling your head out of your ass, partner.
(The lights go out and a creepy voice is heard over the speakers)
Did you forget about us?
Did you think we came here just for our red haired queen?
Think again.
We are entering the rumble….
We are coming for the gold…
You should be afraid….
(The voice fades to show the words “COREY BULL ENTERS THE RUMBLE)
Main Event
Special guest commentator: Mike Hawk
Cleo Philips vs Gracie Lopez
(The camera cuts to the entrance ramp, as “Hail to the Chief” plays. The crowd sings along to it as world champion Mike Hawk walks out, a big smirk on his face, wearing a black shirt that says “AAAAAAND NEEEEEEEWWWWWW!” on it in big white letters. He’s also got on blue jeans and sunglasses. His title is draped over his right shoulder as he makes his way down the ramp.)
Meg Reynold: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… the PWS: Apex WOOOOOOORRRRLD CHAAAAAMPIOOOOONNN… “The President of Professional Wrestling”... MIIIIIIIIIIKE HAAAAAWWWWK!
(Hawk walks down the ramp, basking in the crowd reaction as he looks around at everyone in attendance. Giving a small nod and a smirk, he motions with his finger to the words on his shirt, mouthing “And New” as he does, then pats the belt with his left hand, before walking over to the announce table.)
Alfonso Banks: Oh boy, we have a VERY special guest with us now! Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence, Mr. President!
Mike Hawk: Hey, it’s my pleasure. I figure, as PWS: Apex WORLD CHAMPION, I should really be on every show in some capacity or another, since I now represent what the company stands for. Take notes, Sierra. THIS is how you do that, sweetie.
Alfonso Banks: Uh… can you even mention-
Mike Hawk: I’m world champion. What are they gonna do, fire me?
JR Freeman: Well, whatever the case, we’ve now got ourselves one hell of a match, as the now-former world champion, and your #1 contender, Cleo Phillips, is in action against someone who’s absolutely a shoe-in for future world champion, Gracie Lopez!
(The lights in the arena go out, as Def Leppard's “kick” starts to play as the crowd cheers as Gracie walks on stage. Pyro sprays across the stage and around the videoboard as she walks down the ramp.)
Meg Reynolds: The following contest is your MAIN EVENT!
(The crowd cheers for the main event, and for Gracie as she makes her way out.)
Meg Reynolds: Introducing first… from San Diego, California, weighing tonight at 125 pounds… GRRRRACCIIIIIIEEEE LOOOOPEEEEZZZZZ!!!
(While walking down the ramp, Gracie high fives some fans in the front row before rolling into the ring.)
Alfonso Banks: Well, here comes Gracie, fresh out of Armageddon. She must be feeling pretty great about herself right about now!
JR Freeman: Absolutely, Alf! What are your thoughts on Gracie, Mike?
Mike Hawk: Y’know, JR, I’m so glad you asked that question. There’s no doubt in my mind that Gracie is world championship material. Hell, she beat Jonathan Sanders; Cleo couldn’t even do that! I mean, she did it with the help of Tyson Sykes, which is like saying you won a fight against a skeleton with the help of The Incredible Hulk, but hey, it’s the pin that really counts.
(She leaps up on the ring ropes and pyro sprays around the lighting rig above her as the crowd cheers for her again.)
(A loud pyro explosion leads into the beat to "Gangsta's Paradise" echoes throughout the arena, as the lyrics begin Cleo swaggers out onto the stage, she folds her arms and looks around at the crowd from behind her shades.)
#As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life, and realize there's nothin' left
'Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long
That even my momma thinks that my mind is gone#
Meg Reynolds: And her opponent… from The Bronx, New York, weighing 145 pounds… She is the BODY SNATCHER… CLEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO PHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPSSS!!!
(Cleo pounds her chest twice and points around the arena before making her way down the ramp, as the song continues.)
#But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talkin' and where you walkin'
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk#
(Once at ringside, she jumps on the apron and rolls into the ring, where she postures and poses for the crowd as some more pyros go off.)
#I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the streetlight#
(Finally, she poses with her arms crossed on the turnbuckle, as the chorus comes in.)
#Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise#
(The bell rings and the match begins, Gracie immediately heads to the ropes, jumping off and hitting a flying DDT to Cleo, before grabbing her arm and wrenching on it with an armbar! The Body Snatcher reaches for the ropes, elbowing Gracie in the temple with her non-locked elbow, making the Lopez daughter break the hold. Cleo stands, but Gracie’s up too. Both women circle each other like lions, and soon the tension is broken as they lock up, with Cleo getting the upper hand this time, using Gracie’s arm as a ripcord for a clothesline, sending Gracie to the mat! Standing her up, she whips Lopez into the corner, looking for a running knee, but Gracie moves out of the way, sending Cleo crashing knee-first into the turnbuckle!)
Mike Hawk: Oof, god damn! Cleo’s gonna kill herself if she’s reckless like that! …Which, to be fair, WOULD make our rematch easier for me.
JR Freeman: True, but don’t you want Cleo at her best?
Mike Hawk: I GOT Cleo at her best, JR. Her best wasn’t good enough. What I want is for Cleo to have a new standard for “best”! I want the stakes to be raised, I want Cleo to bring 200%, and frankly, if we’re being honest, right now I kinda want a ginger ale.
Alfonso Banks: Ooh, that does sound good.
(Not wasting the opportunity, Gracie gets down on the mat, locking in a kneebar! She wraps her legs around, making it a grapevine kneebar, and Cleo yelps in pain. Getting a look of determination on her face, she grabs the ropes, pulling herself closer to them as the referee counts. Gracie releases the hold at 3, both competitors getting up, though Cleo a little wobbly. Gracie takes this opportunity to give her a stiff dropkick, before going for an ankle lock, but as she has Cleo’s leg in hand, Cleo kicks at her multiple times, causing Gracie to tumble into the ropes. Cleo stands up and hits a dropkick of her own, sending Gracie to the outside, before rebounding off the opposite ropes and hitting a suicide dive!)
(The referee begins counting both women out, but soon Cleo’s standing again. She hits Gracie with a few punches, being met with some of her own, before rolling her back in the ring, following her back in herself. Cleo kicks Gracie a few times while she’s on the ground, before sizing her up for the Milly Rock. As the young Lopez stands, Cleo runs at her, but Gracie dodges out of the way of the move, hitting her with a quick spinebuster before pausing briefly. Walking over to Cleo, she picks up the former world champion, looking for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but mid-rotation Cleo reverses into a hurricanrana! The crowd cheers for the spot, both women down for a moment.)
(After a brief pause in the match, Gracie’s up and she lifts Cleo by the hair, but the Body Snatcher hits her in the gut a few times with a newfound intensity. She runs, rebounding off the ropes and hitting a Bronx Kick! She goes for the pin…)
ONE!
TW- No, Gracie kicks out at one-and-a-half!
(Cleo cracks her knuckles, cracks her neck, then grabs Gracie’s hair, hitting her in the face repeatedly with her elbow, before standing up, bringing Gracie with her. Hitting a Roundhouse kick, she then follows that up by locking in The Lockup! She wrenches on Gracie’s arm, making the young Lopez cry out in pain, but Gracie isn’t giving up. She powers through it, reaching out for the ropes, but Cleo made sure to lock in the move in the center of the ring so she couldn’t reach the ropes. Gracie, ever-resilient, drags herself to the ropes, with Cleo still on her arm, and just BARELY manages to GRAZE one of the ropes before Cleo pulls her back to the center of the ring. She does it again, but this time Gracie grabs the second rope, giving her a better grip, and the ref counts for Cleo to break it up, which she does after a count of 2. Gracie writhes for a few moments, before Cleo drags her to the center of the ring, getting up on the turnbuckle. She waits for Gracie to get up, and once she does she jumps off, looking for a diving crossbody, but Gracie counters, finally hitting the Blue Thunder Bomb! She looks down at Cleo for a moment, breathing heavily, before going for the pin.)
ONE!
TWO!
TH-NO, Cleo kicks out!
Alfonso Banks: What an impressive display from Gracie! She managed to counter that perfectly!
JR Freeman: I’m surprised you haven’t commented on Cleo’s body yet, Alf.
Mike Hawk: Yeah, I’m surprised how creepy you haven’t been.
Alfonso Banks: Well, I’m trying to be on my best behviour in front of our world champion.
Mike Hawk: Shut up, Alf.
Alfonso Banks: Yes, sir.
(The match continues with Gracie on top. She grabs Cleo’s leg in an ankle lock, which is quickly broken via a rope break, but that doesn’t stop Lopez from lifting Cleo into German Suplex position, hitting 3 of them in a row before rolling through into another kneebar. Cleo reaches for the ropes but they’re not there. She reaches out to another side, looking to reach the comparatively closer set of ropes instead, pulling herself over to them before being pulled back by Lopez, who keeps the hold locked in tight! Cleo reaches a hand out, like she’s about to tap, but doesn’t do it, instead managing to grab the bottom rope, making Gracie break the hold. Cleo pulls herself, using the same rope, to the outside of the ring, which gives Gracie an opportunity.)
(After Cleo’s stood herself up, Gracie runs to the turnbuckle and leaps off into a Golden Triangle Moonsault! The crowd erupts, as both women are out for a moment, the count having been restarted, before Gracie manages to stand up, rolling Cleo into the ring before getting in herself. She looks determined now, dragging the former champ to the middle of the ring, before jumping off the ropes for a Style and Grace, but Cleo gets her knees up, making Lopez crash and burn! Cleo manages to roll her way to the ropes, using them as leverage to help her stand, dodging a running forearm attempt and flipping Gracie over the top rope. Gracie manages to hang on, standing on the apron, and jumps instead onto the rope, looking for a headscissors takedown, but Cleo counters into a powerbomb, before her right leg collapses due to all the submissions it’s taken over the course of the match.)
Alfonso Banks: Cleo’s looking beat up.
JR Freeman: No kidding, Gracie’s been working the legs all match!
Mike Hawk: Work… the… legs… thanks, guys!
JR Freeman: Are you writing this down?
Mike Hawk: Hey, a guy’s gotta strategize SOMEHOW!
(Cleo manages to stand up again, picking Gracie up, her right leg collapsing briefly again, but she manages to push herself back up onto it as she hits a Mad Dash, before picking Gracie up again, hitting a few kicks in a row to the young Lopez, and setting up for the Milly Rock, walking to the opposite side of the ring from Gracie, as the younger competitor stands. Cleo runs at Gracie, but her leg collapses as she runs, giving Gracie the opportunity to land a roll-up!)
ONE
TW- Cleo rolls through into a roll-up of her own!
ONE!
TW- Gracie rolls through into another roll-up!
ONE!
Reversal!
ONE!
Reversal!
ONE!
Reversal!
ONE!
Reversal!
(After the multiple partial counts, the pair keeps rolling, so fast that the ref can’t keep up with who’s pinning whom. After a moment of this, both of them stop, Cleo getting to her knees, as Gracie hits a dropkick, then hits the Style and Grace! She quickly goes for the cover!)
ONE!
TWO!
…
THRE-NO! CLEO GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!
(The crowd ERUPTS for the former champion’s display, as Gracie looks on in shock. She picks Cleo up, but Cleo punches her in the gut, grabbing her for the Set It Off! She walks to the center of the ring, so there can be no rope shenanigans, and she hits it, pinning Gracie down!)
ONE!
TWO!
…
THREE!
(The bell rings, and Cleo nods, looking down at Gracie.)
Meg Reynolds: Here is your winner… CLEEEEOOOO PHILLLLLIIIIIIPS!
(Cleo smiles, helping Gracie to her feet, still a little unsteady on her own, and extends a hand. Gracie smiles back at her, accepting the handshake, and Cleo turns it into raising Gracie’s hand. She speaks, just barely loud enough for the camera to hear.)
Cleo Phillips: This right here! This girl’s a future champion!
JR Freeman: Damn, what an impressive match from two young athletes!
Alfonso Banks: And Cleo’s really hot. Dammit! I couldn’t keep it in any longer!
Mike Hawk: It’s fine Alf, you did well enough. You get a cookie when we get backstage.
JR Freeman: Mike, what do you think of your rematch with Cleo going into Demon’s Run?
Mike Hawk: Cleo’s going to be a tough opponent… I would know, she was once already… but one thing’s for sure: I’ll be leaving Demon’s Run with the belt. Because I want it SO much more.
(As if on cue, Cleo gets out of the ring, walking over to the announce table, looking directly at Hawk. She motions to the belt, then around her waist. Hawk shakes his head, taking off his headset, lifting his belt in the air, as he and Cleo get eye-to-eye. The crowd cheers loudly for the two future world title competitors. They speak to each other, again just barely audibly enough to be heard.)
Mike Hawk: This is mine! You hear me? You’ve had your run, this is my year!
Cleo Phillips: We’ll see about that!
WINNER - CLEO PHILLIPS
JR Freeman: Well Alf, I think that’s all the time we have!
Alfonso Banks: Well, the main event’s over, so what’s the point of staying?
JR Freeman: Good night folks, thanks for tuning in to another episode of PWS: Apex Riot!
Alfonso Banks: May Nic Powell rest in peace, and we’ll see you all next week!
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