6 Julian Bathory vs. 14 Hayes Hanlon
“Black Hole” by We Came as Romans.
Gold flashbulbs flicker along with the music’s growing beat. The PRIME*View soars into the cosmos, passing planets and nebulas, picking up speed and shaking as it approaches a massive black hole. A wall of gold bulbs ignite in the entryway as the song’s intro crescendos, the silhouette of Hayes Hanlon reaches both arms and fingers to the ceiling against the light. They dim as the music quiets, and Hayes walks out to the edge of the ramp, soaking in the spectacle and cheers of the crowd. The music builds again, and Hayes reaches his arms to the sky once more with the chorus.
“I FALL INTO A BLACK HOLE IN MY HEAD!”
Vince Howard: From West Linn, Oregon, standing six feet, three inches tall and weighing in at 261 pounds…Eeeeeevent Horizon… Hayes…HAAAANLON!
He immediately starts a quick and steady march down the ramp, another bright flash of gold filling the arena. The Event Horizon slides into the ring and moves toward the far turnbuckle, stepping onto the first ropes and turning to face the center of the ring.
“I’M FIGHTING THE GRAVITY, IT’S PULLING THE WORST PART OUT OF ME!
BLACK HOLE!!”
He leans back over the post with his arms outstretched, eyes closed with his chest aimed at the ceiling, the crescendo following the chorus blasting through the arena among the flashbulbs.
Vince Howard: And his opponent, from Szeged, Hungary, standing at six feet, one inches tall and weighing in at two-hundred twenty-six pounds! THE NEW WORLD SAVIOR… JUUUULIAN BATHORY!
“Shadow” by The Enigma TNG kicks up and Julian Bathory and Violence Jack emerge from behind the curtain to a chorus of boos. Bathory is wearing his green, gray, and black wrestling attire, while “Violence Jack” Bruce Shanahan is wearing a suit. The two march to the ring confidently, and Bathory slides in posing for the crowd as fireworks explode.
Nick Stuart: What a matchup we have for you this evening! Another CLASSIC for the Almasy Invitational!
Richard Parker: A CLASSIC murder!
Nick Stuart: Both of these competitors have gone through some tough opponents on ReVival 1 to get here. Julian Bathory defeated Genevie Carlson, and Hayes Hanlon took it to the Murder Daughter Cecilia Ryan!
Richard Parker: Be careful what you say about her, Dan could be anywhere…
DING DING
Nick Stuart: And here we go!
Bathory and Hanlon size each other up as the bell sounds. The bigger Hanlon looks for an in, and tries to shoot for a single leg. Bathory side steps, and immediately plants Hanlon in the side of the head with a vicious knee. Hanlon struggles to the ropes, and Bathory is on him instantly throwing forearms into Hanlon’s back. Ashley Barlow comes over to try to separate Bathory from Hanlon but he keeps unloading. Finally Barlow begins to count and gets Bathory to walk away.
Nick Stuart: What a ruthless start for Bathory.
Richard Parker: I told you, it’s going to be a murder in the ring!
Bruce Shanahan sprints over while Barlow is admonishing Bathory and throws two right hands into the face of Hayes Hanlon.
BOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Here we go with this stuff again from Violence Jack.
Richard Parker: Stuff? You mean Strategy Nickie.
Nick Stuart: No I mean stuff, because I can’t say what it really is.
Barlow turns around and Violence Jack immediately begs off to the referee, and Bathory is on Hanlon again like a wild man. Two more forearm shots to the back for Hanlon, then Bathory grips the bigger Hanlon around the waist and plants him with a German suplex.
Richard Parker: HAHAHA! They are playing ping pong with the referee!
Nick Stuart: Ashley Barlow isn’t having it though!
Shanahan’s hands are still raised as Barlow points to the backstage area!
RAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: HE’S OUTTA HERE!
Richard Parker: WHAT DID HE DO!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?
Bruce Shanahan throws a handful of MESSIAH pamphlets into the ring, and storms off down the entrance ramp, protesting the whole way. Bathory, meanwhile has taken the opportunity to deliver repeated boots to Hanlon. Barlow turns around and immediately backs Bathory back into the corner and checking on Hanlon.
Richard Parker: WHAT!? SHE STOPPED IT? HOW ARE BOOTS ILLEGAL NICK! EXPLAIN IT TO ME LIKE I’M FIVE!
Nick Stuart: They happened, because of Violence Jack’s interference.
Richard Parker: They happened because Bathory hit Hanlon with a German suplex… I’m putting this match under protest.
Hanlon nods to Barlow, and the two men are right back at it. This time Hanlon goes in and locks up with Bathory in a collar and elbow tie up. The stronger man grabs Bathory around the waist, and carries him sprinting to the corner. He drives Bathory into the turnbuckles, and repeats the shoulder block multiple times to Bathory’s stomach before taking a step back.
Richard Parker: I’m outraged! Disqualify Hanlon then! Come on!
Nick Stuart: For what? He’s just giving it all back to him!
Hanlon pulls back and delivers a huge chop to the chest of Bathory, and another, and another. Finally Ashley Barlow begins to count Hanlon who nods his head and pulls Bathory out of the corner. He picks him up, and drives him to the canvas with a huge powerslam.
Nick Stuart: Big powerslam by Hanlon!
Richard Parker: All starting from an illegal move!
Hanlon picks Bathory up quickly, Bathory tries to fight him off with a right hand, but Hayes slams him back with a right of his own. Hayes scoops Bathory up onto his shoulders and drives him to the mat with a ring shuddering Death Valley Driver.
Nick Stuart: This kid sure does have a ton of power!
Richard Parker: Can we restart the match again? ASHLEY! ASHLEY!
Nick Stuart: She can’t hear you Richard.
Richard Parker: Dammit.
Hayes looks over, and sees one of the MESSIAH pamphlets that Violence Jack tossed all over the ring, he picks it up and begins reading it. He looks down at the pamphlet pretending to read it and laughing as he plants a foot on Bathory’s chest.
ONE
TWO
Nick Stuart: Kickout by Julian Bathory, but I don’t think this is too smart of Hayes here.
Richard Parker: SLEEPING ON A MAN LIKE BATHORY!?
Hayes picks Bathory up, and sets him up for a powerbomb, but Bathory rolls through the back and brings Hanlon down with a neckbreaker!
Richard Parker: SEE! BATHORY DOESN’T NEED TO CHEAT!
Nick Stuart: Great reversal into a neckbreaker there from Bathory, and both men are down.
Both men crawl towards the ropes, and slowly get to their feet. They meet in the center of the ring, Bathory fires off a chop to Hanlon who staggers back. Hanlon goes to fire a chop at Bathory, but Bathory ducks under, and sets Hanlon up!
Richard Parker: CHAOS REIGNS! CHAOS REIGNS!
Nick Stuart: I think Bathory is going off of just instinct alone!
Richard Parker: PIN HIM!
The two men lay on the canvas, their chests heaving. Ashley begins her count, as both men immediately begin crawling to the ropes to drag themselves to their feet. Bathory makes it first, and is on Hanlon again in the ropes with clubbing shots to the shoulders and back. Ashley tries to get Bathory away, but he brings Hanlon with him.
Richard Parker: CHAOS REIGNS AGGAAAAAIIIN!
Nick Stuart: That’s gotta be it.
Bathory covers.
ONE
TWO
…
THREE!
DING DING DING
Vince Howard: The winner of this match….JULIAN BATHORY!
Bathory rolls off Hanlon and rises to a sitting position. Ashley raises his arm while on the outside of the ring, Bruce Shanahan has an evil smile on his face.
Nick Stuart: What a match! A valiant effort by the youngster Hayes Hanlon but in the end, Julian Bathory was able to put him away and advance to the next round. We’ll be right back with more Almasy Invitational action right after these commercials.