ALEXANDER REDDING vs. JACOB MEPHISTO
For the first time tonight, we get a look at the packed house that is the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the crane camera panning around to the PRIMEates. Now, a selection of the wittier phrases Sharpied to bristol board:
I WANT TO BE CANADIAN DESTROYED BY A MANNEQUIN TOO
SUPLEX DADDY
THE HOUR IS SOON UPON US! HOYT SAVES!
CANCER FREE FOR 14 DAYS!
I SAW HAYES HANLON ON THE HUB
GBJ MUSSY SEX TAPE WHEN
HOPING FOR A LESS RACIST HEAD
FLAMIN HOT CHEETOS > BRETS
NATE DAYS A WEEK
I BANKRUPTED PRIME IN MY TEW SAVE
Nick Stuart: Welcome to ReVival! And on our 6th episode back! One show removed from Culture Shock!
Richard Parker: CANCER JILES IS DEAD! THAT EGG THROWING IDIOT IS DEAD!!!
Nick Stuart: What a show it was, we saw The Anglo Luchador survive Balaam, Hayes Hanlon capture the Five Star crown, and Brandon Youngblood finally crowned Universal Champion. And his challenger for Great American Nightmare has been set! The Marathon Man will challenge for the Universal Championship!
Richard Parker: Don’t forget about the first eliminations for Survivor!
Nick Stuart: Tonight we start off with Redding and Mephisto! Then we’ll be going to 2become1 vs The Bruvs.
Richard Parker: Then we’ll be going to our next Survivor show… I don’t think that’s wrestling though…
Nick Stuart: After that we’ll visit the glue factory for Larry Tact vs Phil Atken then we have Whealdon and Richards colliding! FLAMBERGE and Ria Nightshade will take us into our main event!
Richard Parker: JULIAN BATHORY HAS ARRIVED! FOREVER THE CROWN BABY!
Nick Stuart: Bathory will take on Shawn Warstein in our main event!
“TIIIIIIIIME… IS ON MY SIIIIDE…YES IT IS!”
The MGM Arena kicks off their evening with a chorus of boos, “Time is on My Side,” by Wilson Pickett sounding throughout the Garden. Flanked by Patience and Decius Montgomery, Jacob Mephisto strides casually onto the ramp, soaking in the crowd’s ire.
Nick Stuart: The buzz from Culture Shock still lingers in the air in the Garden, but it’s time to get back to business! Folks, welcome back to ReVival!
Richard Parker: I’m still buzzing from the after party!!
Nick Stuart: It was worth the hangover, partner. We kicked off the Survivor Tag Team Series, established Impulse as the #1 Contender, crowned Hayes Hanlon as the Five Star Champion, and to top it off, Brandon Youngblood defeated Cancer Jiles and held the Universal Championship over his head for the first time, winning the Almasy Invitational! But not to go unnoticed, Jacob Mephisto met Solomon Richards in the ring, and with help from his lackeys saw him crumpled to the mat via double chair shot.
Richard Parker: You call a man out, you’d better be ready to answer, Nick.
Vince Howard: Tonight’s opening match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, accompanied by The Twins, from Nazareth, Pennsylvania! Standing six-feet, three inches tall and weighing in at two-hundred and sixty-five pounds…Jacob! Mephiiistoo!!!
Mephisto takes his time climbing into the ring while The Twins take their place ringside, stepping toward center with arms outstretched. He can’t help but crack a small, wicked grin as The Garden continues to jeer, until the twang of “Love Spreads” by the Stone Roses takes over.
Vince Howard: And his opponent, accompanied by Teddy Palmer and Grady Patrick! From Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, standing six feet, two inches tall and weighing two-hundred and thirty-three pounds…he is one half of Red and Ted…Alexander! Reeedddiingg!
Out walks Red, receiving a marginal pop from the MGM crowd, looking focused as he marches down the ramp, Teddy and Grady following behind on either side. Mephisto locks a pair of cold eyes while Red climbs the steel steps.
Nick Stuart: An important opening match-up tonight, as both competitors are looking for a little traction in their short PRIME journeys, and both looking for that first win.
“Love Spreads” fades from the speakers, Ted and Grady keeping tabs on The Twins as they park themselves on the opposite side. Ashley Barlow checks with both competitors, then calls for the bell.
DING DING
The two opponents circle a moment before meeting mid ring for a lock up. Both opponents drive for leverage, the larger Mephisto earning the upper hand and pushing Redding into the corner. Gripping the ropes, Jacob drives a hip into Redding’s abdomen, followed by another, then a knee to the belly to take the wind out of Red’s lungs. Mephisto backs away toward the center of the ring before running forward once more, slamming Red with a big lariat. Redding stumbles forward after the collision before falling forward onto the mat.
Nick Stuart: Jacob Mephisto going to work early here against Redding! Mephisto with the cover.
ONE!
TWO…kickout!
Red pops his shoulders off the mat, and Mephisto is quick to guide him upright. After a hook of the arm, Redding finds himself abruptly brought to the mat with a snap suplex, into a sitting position and clutching his back. He doesn’t have long to think about it, however, as Mephisto rises up and clocks him with a soccer kick to the lower back.
Nick Stuart: And a sharp kick from the boot of Mephisto!
Richard Parker: Ol’ Red better get something figured out!
Red flops onto his stomach after the kick, clutching at his back. Mephisto circles a moment before dropping an elbow. He connects another, then stands tall before dropping a heavy knee to his opponent’s lower back. Jacob rolls Redding onto his back, hooking the leg.
Nick Stuart: Mephisto clearly targeting the back of Alexander Redding! Looking for another pin!
ONE!
TWO!
TH…kickout!
Mephisto, unappreciative of the kickout, flips his hair back with a snort before standing, taking a fistful of Redding’s hair and bringing him to his feet, then guides him to the ropes, placing his neck on the middle rope and pressing a knee to his shoulder blades. Red squirms to break free from the choke, while Ashley Barlow warns Mephisto by starting the five count.
Nick Stuart: Mephisto stooping low with the choke, Barlow’s not having it…and neither is Teddy Palmer!
Seeing his friend in trouble, Teddy runs from the far side of the ring and hops onto the curtain, striking Mephisto with a forearm before hopping away. Jacob glowers at Ted while they exchange some choice words, then turns to Decius and Patience, hollering at them to deal with Teddy and Grady. The Twins nod in response.
Richard Parker: Stay in your lane, Teddy, or you’ll be taking another nap in that ring!
Teddy points a finger at Mephisto as he returns to the side of Grady. Jacob turns back to the recovering Redding, taking another fistful of hair and standing him up.
Nick Stuart: Mephisto brings Redding to his feet, looking to lay on the punishme…OH! TOE STOMP FROM REDDING!
Richard Parker: That’ll do the trick!
Jacob quickly releases his grip after a hard stomp of the toes from Red, who is quick to take advantage by sprinting into the ropes. He rebounds off the ropes, and claps Mephisto in the head with a leaping Enzuigiri. Jacob falls back dazed into the ropes, but remains on his feet, only to stumble forward into the waiting arms of Redding, who twists him into a hammerlock before planting his head to the mat.
Nick Stuart: Devil Lock DDT! Great turnaround for Redding! Now Redding for the pin!
ONE!
TWO
T…leg on the ropes!
Red looks up, confused, to see Jacob’s leg resting on the bottom rope. Barlow throws up two fingers to the agitated Redding. Outside the ring, Decius retreats away after assisting The Family’s Patron.
Richard Parker: It was only two, buddy!
Nick Stuart: Two, only because Decius put Mephisto’s leg on the rope!
Richard Parker: Hey, if Teddy’s going to get involved, so will The Twins.
Teddy and Grady decide to interject, making their way around the ring toward Patience and Decius. In the ring Red had stood to get back to work, laying a few boots to Mephisto’s side, following up with an elbow drop. Redding runs to the ropes for momentum, charging back on the return, but is met with a running high knee as Mephisto is able to burst to his feet and kill any momentum from Red.
Richard Parker: Mephisto isn’t going to give Redding the edge just yet!
Nick Stuart: And referee Barlow better stay on her toes before things get out of hand outside the ring!
Outside, a shoving and shouting match has grown between Grady, Ted, and The Twins. Inside the ring, Mephisto has locked Redding into a clinch, striking his stomach with a series of knees. A quick push against the ropes brings momentum forward before Mephisto delivers a stiff short arm clothesline to Redding, sending him to his back.
Nick Stuart: Pride Before the Fall from Mephisto! He drops to a knee, Redding in a headlock, holding on and standing him up…
Mephisto twists, hooking the arm over Red’s neck, looking for a DDT, but Redding summons the strength to push him away and quickly jumps up with a spin.
Nick Stuart: WHEEL KICK FROM REDDING!!
Richard Parker: He clocked him good!
The two opponents fall to the mat, breathing heavily, and outside the ring the shoving match has subsided, both groups returning to their spots ringside. Redding and Mephisto stir, both slow to their feet. Red is up first, delivering a forearm shot to the side of Mephisto’s head while he stands. A second, and a third forearm staggers him against the ropes. He comes forward, Redding whipping him across the ring and off the opposite ropes. Red charges forward to meet him and brings him down with a stiff running STO.
Nick Stuart: GRADY SPECIAL II! Big chance for Redding!!
Redding pops to his feet, still woozy. Mephisto struggles to a knee. Catching his breath, Red rests his hands on his knees, allowing Jacob to get upright. Once standing, Red wraps his arms around Mephisto’s waist, heaving upward.
Nick Stuart: Red looking for the Grady Special III, BUT MEPHISTO WITH THE REVERSAL!
He heaves again, but Mephisto resists, instead squatting down a bit and looping an arm, reversing into a fireman’s carry, and swiftly spinning it into a lungblower.
Nick Stuart: MEMENTO MORIS! REDDING IS IN TROUBLE!
Richard Parker: Red’s gonna need an inhaler after that hit!
Red clutches his chest as Mephisto rolls from his back and onto all fours, still catching his own breath. He crawls toward Red slowly, and fails to see Teddy Palmer slide into the ring. Seeing this, Decius and Patience both leap onto the apron, followed by Grady hopping onto the same corner, bellowing at The Twins. This attracts the attention of Barlow, who keeps everyone at bay and warns them to stay out of it.
Nick Stuart: And here comes Ted!
The Twins start pointing into the ring and shouting at Barlow to turn around, but not before Teddy leaps, connecting a curb stomp to the still downed Mephisto, driving his head into the mat.
Nick Stuart: NOSEBLEED SECTION FROM TEDDY! What’s THAT about??
Richard Parker: I don’t know, Nick, but I like it!
Teddy quickly rolls Mephisto on his back before sliding out of the ring. Redding, still out of air, sees the downed Mephisto and crawls forward, throwing an arm over the chest. Barlow sees the cover, and starts the count.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING
Vince Howard: Yoooouurr winner…ALEXANDER! REDDIIIINGGG!!
Nick Stuart: And Alexander Redding getting away with the win thanks to his tag partner! Questionable activity from Teddy Palmer and Grady Patrick!
Richard Parker: Can you blame them? Patience and Decius were trying the same thing! Fire with fire, buddy!
Nick Stuart: They didn’t do anything Richard! Hang tight though! The Hollywood Bruvs against 2Become1 is coming up soon!
Richard Parker: On the ACE Network!
Murmurs chase Redding up the ramp with his arm over Teddy’s shoulder, Grady walking backwards to keep eyes on Mephisto’s contingent, who assist him in the ring.