ALEX STEEL vs. SHAWN WARSTEIN
“Got Each Other” by The Interrupters begins sounding over the arena, and the PRIME faithful look to the entryway to the stage for the start of the next match.
Vincent Howard: The following singles contest is scheduled for one fall, with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first, she is wrestling out of Saint Louis, Missouri! She stands five feet ten inches tall and weighed in at one hundred and twenty three pounds… “AWESOME” ALLLLEEEEEEEEEEX STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!
Alex steps onto the stage as she is introduced and amid the lights kicking up behind her. She stops to look at the PRIME faithful, does some quick stretches, then runs down the ramp. Alex slides into the ring, does a run into the ropes, before sliding out on the rebound to give her baseball cap and T-shirt to a young fan in the audience. She then slides back into the ring and waits for her opponent.
Nick Stuart: Alex coming into her second match having been saddled with a tough loss last time out. Nevertheless, she’s still full of fighting spirit to capture her first victory in PRIME.
Richard Parker: I’ll tell you, she’s full of something.
Nick Stuart: Come on, Richard, that’s beneath you.
Richard Parker: Are you telling me you buy into this whole “rah rah fighting spirit” bit? Yes, she could get a win here tonight, but what if she doesn’t? Will she still keep that fighting spirit, and will that be enough to win here?
Nick Stuart: Those are valid questions, if we get to that point, Richard. We’re about to find out!
“Centuries (Remix)” by Fall Out Boy feat. Juicy J sounds over the speakers as Shawn Warstein throws the curtains aside and treads onto the stage, throwing his hood back to reveal a steely focus towards his aptly-named opponent.
Vincent Howard: And her opponent, he is wrestling out of Chicago, Illinois! He stands six feet four inches tall and weighed in at two hundred and thirty four pounds… SHAAAAAAAAAAWN WAAAAAAAAAAAAAARSTEIN!
Richard Parker: Here’s someone who could crush Alex Steel’s fighting spirit before her PRIME career has a chance to get off the ground. Shawn doesn’t need that quality. He’s got his fists and his experience to steer him to wins.
Shawn walks down to the ring while a mostly unpleasant reception by the PRIMEates rains down from the stands. His focus remains on the ring and his opponent as he enters, checked on by junior referee Ashley Barlow, who clears he and Alex for PRIME competition.
Nick Stuart: I think you may be underestimating the talent of Alex Steel, Richard. She’s made it to PRIME for a reason, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she bests Shawn Warstein tonight.
Richard Parker: Get back to me then. For now, only one of them currently has won in PRIME.
DING DING
The match begins with Shawn and Alex meeting in the middle of the ring. Shawn appears to be telling Alex that he knows how to “Zag!” and what she’s going to do to stop him?! Alex responds by rocking Warstein back with a stiff forearm and then lands quick kicks to the knee, doubling Shawn over. “Awesome” goes off the ropes and leaps with an Axe Kick that comes down like a lead pipe on Warstein’s neck, leaving him on the ground a moment later. Warstein rolls onto his back and kicks Steel in the arm when she reaches down to get him. She shakes her arm and Shawn prepares to kip up, only to be smashes back down as Alex comes crashing onto him with a Standing Moonsault and remains there for a cover!
ONE!
TW—
KICKOUT BY WARSTEIN!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Nick Stuart: What did I tell you, Richard? Steel is for real!
Richard Parker: You sound like the Phillies going into the World Series. Hyped up on a hot, but small run, only to be let down in the pivotal game.
Nick Stuart: Yes, it’s only a strong start for Alex. Like the World Series, this match still has plenty left before a winner is determined.
Alex stays on Shawn with mounted punches until he throws her off and kips up! Alex meets him at standing and the two begin trading blows to the excitement to the PRIMEates, until Shawn gets the upper hand and forces Steel towards a corner. He winds up for a haymaker and Alex ducks under, slipping through the ropes and catching Warstein with a jumping kick to the face that backs him up. The Awesome One uses the ropes to vault to the top turnbuckle and then leaps off with a Cross Body Block! Warstein catches her and in one motion turns her inside out with a Powerslam, then holds her shoulders down!
ONE!
TW—
KICKOUT BY STEEL!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Nick Stuart: Shawn Warstein showing some power with a fine Powerslam counter. The veteran has a dangerous arsenal of moves
Richard Parker: He may not be a pick of the PRIMEates, he may be devious, but you have to admit Shawn is never not working on how to be great.
Shawn allows Steel to get to her feet before landing a Jumping Knee followed by a straight elbow, and finishing with a Spinning Back Elbow to complete the combo known as PFF!! Steel goes to the mat on the last strike and Warstein raises his arms to the PRIME faithful.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Nick Stuart: I thought Warstein had it with that PFF. His power-speed combination is encapsulated in that combo.
Richard Parker: He’s got all the tools. You can look at Shawn’s record and discount the guy, and you’ll pay for it dearly. At some point, he’s going to make his rise and tonight could be an example of that.
Nick Stuart: That certainly goes both ways, too. If Alex takes down Shawn, she could be well on her way to making an impact early on in her PRIME career.
Richard Parker: Alright, but why do we need to think of that side of it?
Looking with disdain at those in attendance, Shawn turns his attention back to Steel, who is using the ropes to get back up. He motions for her to let go of the support and turn around. When she does he lands a kick to the abdomen and hooks both arms for the Ego Trip!! NO! The Awesome One wriggled an arm loose before Shawn could secure it, and she back body drops him with a shout that gets the PRIMEates fired back up!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Richard Parker: The casino oxygen must be overstimulating the PRIMEates.
Nick Stuart: You can’t help but get excited by what we’re seeing from the newcomer, Richard. The PRIME faithful want to show her the same energy.
Richard Parker: I guess that’s her “fighting spirit” showing through? I’m still not buying in, you and these people can’t make me!
Hardly out of it yet, Steel watches Warstein quickly rise up, only to be taken back down with a Lariat. Adrenaline flowing freely, Alex continues to flash her award-winning power by scooping her almost double in weight opponent and slamming him down to the mat. She then ascends the top rope and plays to the PRIMEates before vaulting off with the People’s Moonsault! It connects!! Steel bounces off Shawn and grabs her side after the landing, then dives back onto him for a pinfall!
ONE!
TWO!
…
TH—
KICKOUT BY WARSTEIN!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Richard Parker: Don’t get your hopes too high, suckers.
Nick Stuart:: That was a close call for Shawn! He must have had the wind knocked out of him from the “People’s Moonsault” that Alex hits perfectly.
Richard Parker: If it was perfect, she wouldn’t have wasted a second or two getting back to make a pin.
Alex looks up at Ashley Barlow with a plea, but the junior referee is firm in her decision. Slapping the mat with a hunger for victory, Alex brings Shawn up with her sets him up for a Piledriver – no, the “Jerry Lynn Special” Cradle Piledriver! Shawn returns the favor from earlier with a back body drop only for Steel to land on her feet. She immediately runs off the ropes as Shawn turns, and leaps at him with her finishing Single Leg Dropkick!!! Warstein hits the deck and Alex sails over, landing on the mat with a thud! She scrambles to recover, but Shawn is on her and she’s planted on her head with the Ego Trip!! Warstein with a cover!
ONE!
TWO!
…
THRE—
STEEL WITH A SHOULDER UP!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Nick Stuart: Steel showing a resolve reflective of her name, slinging her shoulder up at the last moment. She needs to find her way back into this match, or she may be put away soon by the sinister Shawn.
Richard Parker: I think he’d take that as a compliment. He certainly doesn’t seem to mind the PRIMEates giving him grief. He may even enjoy it.
Shawn gets up and exchanges words with fellow Chicagoland resident Barlow, but Ashley is having none of it and tells him to focus on his opponent. With a prolonged withering glance, Shawn does so and turns to find Steel pop up with a Spear attempt that Shawn evades! Steel shoots halfway through the middle rope before stopping herself. As she tries to move out of them, Warstein lifts her legs and she holds onto the middle rope for dear life. The result is Shawn yanking her off and Alex twisting around to standing, and with her quick reflexes she tags Shawn with an Enziguri that sends him stumbling around the ring. When he comes back around, Alex secures both arms around the waist for a Belly-to-Belly Suplex. Shawn, only grazed by the Enziguri, still has his wits about him and blocks the attempt with two hands to the ears of Steel. He then grabs her around the midsection and with a spin, turns her over with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex of his own! Stunned, Alex rolls towards a corner to create some distance and, perhaps surprisingly, Warstein allows it, choosing to again taunt the PRIMEates.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Nick Stuart: Shawn could be wasting precious time here.
Richard Parker: Think of it as adding flavor to your recipe. You don’t just want to see Shawn pummel Alex Steel. He’s adding some flavor.
Nick Stuart: Yes, except Steel is in no way done. Shawn had better watch out for that sneaky power Alex possess, too. She can still turn this match around in no time.
As Alex gets to a knee, she looks up to find a reason Warstein allowed her movement. He’s poised. He wants to make this a dramatic and sudden finish with his King’s Crown finish. As he runs towards her, Alex times his approach and rolls past, causing Shawn’s knee to collide with the middle turnbuckle. Alex scrambles up and jets to the corner where Shawn is recovering and lands a Jumping Knee Strike to his chest! She stays on her feet and runs to the opposite corner, then comes in with a second Jumping Knee Strike that connects squarely with Warstein’s jaw! Shawn stumbles out of the corner while Steel makes her circuit once more, then comes in again to steal the dramatic finish with her Single Leg Dropkick!!
…
Nick Stuart: NO! SHAWN CATCHES HER IN MIDAIR!!
Warstein manages to hook one of Alex’s arms around his neck and raise his smaller opponent into the air, only to drop her with a Brainbuster!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Richard Parker: A wicked drop on that Brainbuster counter by Warstein! I don’t think Alex will want to ride the Free Fall at Six Flags anymore.
Nick Stuart: That had to take something out of Shawn, but the payoff of maneuvering Alex into that move was well worth it. She looks like she took every bit of that Brainbuster.
Yet, being dazed and damaged does not dampen Alex’s determination, and she struggles again to get to a kneeling position.
Not a moment after she does, WARSTEIN COMES IN HOT WITH KING’S CROWN AND FLOORS STEEL! Finally hitting his target, Shawn takes a moment to admire his work before hooking a leg for the pinfall!
ONE!
TWO!
…
THREE!!!
DING DING DING
Vince Howard: Here is your winner, via pinfall… SHAAAAAAAAAAWN WAAAAAAAAAAAAAARSTEIN!!!
Nick Stuart: Just a little too much of Warstein tonight for Alex Steel, tonight. She fought valiantly and I would imagine one or two moves differently could have seen her emerging with the victory.
Richard Parker: I know I said I’m not sold on the “fighting spirit” of Alex, and well… what did you expect! I’m the smartest guy in Vegas, Nick. You should listen to me more.
Nick Stuart: Agree to disagree, Richard, but I’ll credit Shawn Warstein for making his mark tonight. He can now look ahead with big things in mind, while Alex will regroup and remain focused on scoring her first victory. PRIMEates, we’re going to step away for a quick commercial, but you know we’ve got a packed and stacked show ahead. It’s ReVival 18 on PWA:TV!