CULTURE SHOCK BATTLE ROYAL
For the second night in a row, we’re taken inside a capacity-filled AT&T Stadium. Thousands of PRIMEates hold up their signs, hoping for a few seconds of fame on the supershow broadcast…
I AM ON THE MOOOOOOOOOON
JUST 40 GUYS (AND GALS, AND NONBINARY PALS)
I’M READY TO DO THE CULTURE SHOCK RUMBLE
I’M THE OFFICIANT AT ABE AND LT’S WEDDING
FOSTER NACKEDY CONCUSSION METER: 3 AND HOPEFULLY COUNTING
I WAS TOLD THERE’D BE AT LEAST 36 OTHER BATTLE ROYALES AFTER THIS ONE
PLUNDER ME RAVE DADDY SASQUATCH
ONE OF THE BATTLE ROYAL ENTRANTS HAS DIARRHEA
WE WON’T SAY WHO
WE WILL, HOWEVER. IT’S JC HALL
THE ALIAS TITLE ALMOST HAS AS MANY NAMES AS MORTIMER KETTLEBELL
SCURVY JONES HIVE RISE UP
AND STILL, AND ONLY
A CROWN FOR AVALON
I’M HERE FOR THE DUAL HALO!
I’M HERE FOR DULE HILL, STAR OF USA NETWORK’S PSYCHED
ARRIVE
EAT CHIPS
ELIMINATE BIIIIIIIIITCHES
LEAVE
JULIAN BATHORY IS A COWARD
JULIAN BATHORY IS A SQUIGGLY BITCH
I GOT ALL THE TROPHIES ON OWL SIMULATOR
I AM A SECRET ENTRANT IN THE BATTLE ROYAL
I SHOULD PROBABLY START GETTING READY
IN FRANCE THEY CALL IT A BATTLE ROYALE WITH CHEESE
THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE MY TAG CHAMPS
PRAISE HOYT
ALEXEI RUSLAN THREW UP ON ME AND NOW I HAVE THE CLAP
RAISEN AND IVAR COME TO BATTYLE ROYAL ON MUSTACHE RIDES
I WANT A SID PHILLIPS WRESTLE BUDDY
SURPRISE ENTRANT: EL HIJO DE BRUSCH
IF I HEAR HESSIAN’S MUSIC, I WILL CRY
SURPRISE ENTRANT: JACKIE DAYTONA, REGULAR HUMAN BARTENDER
YOU MIX A HELL OF A CAUCASIAN, JACKIE
AND STILL, AND ONLY
IF DEVIN SHAKUR APPEARS, WE RIOT
The camera then pans over to PRIME’s Hall of Fame announce duo: Nick Stuart and Richard Parker.
Nick Stuart: Hello again everyone, I’m Nick Stuart, alongside my colleague Richard Parker, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Culture Shock Night Two!
Richard Parker: IVAN WAS ROBBED, THIS IS A CONSPIRACY!
Nick Stuart: For those of you who joined us last night, it was a wild affair up and down the card. We have a new Alias champion…
Richard Parker: GAS has GOLD!
Nick Stuart: One hall of famer conquered another as Brandon Youngblood defeated Matt Ward in a match a decade-plus in the making…
Richard Parker: You know Youngblood’s not gonna let Ward hear the end of it.
Nick Stuart: Paxton Ray held off Nova in a brutal match to retain the Intense Title..
Richard Parker: That goddamn Bayou piece of shit…
Nick Stuart: Eminence was able to walk out their two out of three falls match as champions…the only tag champions of the ReVival Era…
Richard Parker: I was really looking forward to a custom Sid Phillips Powerbomb Title and the fact that those two dipshit lovebirds robbed me of that is something I will never get over.
Nick Stuart: It took Nate Colton two Colton Clutch Suplexes to overcome the third generation mega-talent Tyler Adrian Best.
Richard Parker: Yet another instance of highway robbery on the show last night. LT had better launch a full inquiry.
Nick Stuart: I doubt that is going to happen. And finally, in the main event, Hayes Hanlon was able to recapture the Universal Title in a hellacious match within the confines of a steel cell.
Richard Parker: Normally I’d give the Space Cadet a golf-clap for being opportunistic but not when he robbed IVAN STANISLAV of his rightful place as Universal Champion!
Nick Stuart: All three men put on a battle for the ages last night, but only Hayes was able to reap the rewards. We’ll see both Ivan and Rezin in the battle royal tonight and I really have to wonder what kind of shape Rezin is in after Ivan threw him through the top of the cell to the mat below.
Richard Parker: Hopefully he’s dea–
Nick Stuart: RICHARD!
Richard Parker: What? A man can dream.
Nick Stuart: You’re unbelievable. I’m getting word from the back that we’re about ready to get things underway, so let’s throw it over to our colleague Vince Howard for the intros!
A quick cut to Vince in the ring, looking smoove in his three piece suit.
Vince Howard: Ladies and Gentlemen… it is TIME! FOR THE CULTURE SHOCK BATTLE ROYALE!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: Forty competitors will walk down that ramp and compete in an over-the-top battle royale. Two competitors will start the action and every two minutes, a new competitor will enter the fray. No competitors are able to be eliminated until all forty competitors have entered the ring. Competitors are free to go between the two rings as they see fit. The winner… will receive a Universal Title match at TROPICAL TURMOIL!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: INTRODUCING THE FIRST COMPETITOR IN THE CULTURE SHOCK BATTLE ROYALE!
“No Limit (Sencita Remix)” by Wiz Khalifa explodes through the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: After his hellacious match against Brandon Youngblood on Night One of Culture Shock, Matt Ward, better known to the world as Tchu, has the unenviable distinction of being the first entrant into the Battle Royale.
Richard Parker: This is not what he wanted, you have to know that, and yet, here we are.
Nick Stuart: He’s got a long road ahead of him. It will be some eighty minutes before he can even see the first person eliminated. He will be in this match for a long time and if he wants to pull it off, he will have to be in the ring until the very end.
From the back emerges the Inhuman Being, brace on his knee, and looking pissed off as hell to boot. He makes his way down to the ring.
TCHU! TCHU! TCHU! TCHU!
Nick Stuart: The fans showing their support for Matt Ward, who came back with a purpose and that was to become the first-ever four-time Universal Champion. If he’s going to make that a reality, this is his first opportunity at doing so.
Richard Parker: I think he should go ahead and find a corner and take a nap.
Nick Stuart: Why, because that’s what you’re going to do?
Richard Parker: Why do you think I brought my pillow and blanket?
Tchu enters the ring closest to the entrance and moves towards the ropes furthest away while Vince Howard looks up at the ramp.
Nick Stuart: Who do you think it will be?
Richard Parker: As long as it’s not you, we should be good to go.
Nick Stuart: Ass.
Silence fills the AT&T Stadium. The lights dim down.
BOOM
The first beat of Quarashi’s “Stick ‘Em Up” dims the lights above and around the stadium seats. The familiar but long forgotten riff rips through the arena, along with a murmur of excitement. Fans turn to each other, friends and strangers alike, their half-smiles and expectant gazes looking for confirmation that this is, in fact, what it seems to be.
Nick Stuart: It’s been a while, Richard, but if this music is heralding who I think it is—
Richard Parker: Then I hope his cheatin’ ass has those three benjamins he still owes me.
Spotlights race across the crowd in time with the speeding guitar, searching all around for the owner of this jammin’ entrance music.
“WHAT WHAT WHAT HIT IT!”
Those that know it, shout it. Just like that the spotlights cease their manic movement and converge near ringside on a single man.
Vince Howard. The crowd gives a small but generous cheer of respect for the long-time Voice of PRIME as he stands, smooths out some creases on his well-tailored suit, and raises his microphone.
Vince Howard: LAAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! CHILDREN, AND MAN-BABIES OF ALL AGES!! IT IS MY EXTREME HONOR TO WELCOME A DEAR OLD FRIEND, and the three hundred bucks he tipped me to say some of this shit…
Richard Parker: Rat bastard.
Vince Howard: …the next entrant in the BATTLE ROYAL!!!! MY FAAAVORITE 5-STAR CHAMPION… really, man…THE GOLDEN BOY… WINNER OF THE 2008 DUAL HALO… BREAKER OF HEARTS AND BONES… THE MOST DESIRED MAN IN PRIME…
Pause. Deep breath. The crowd is cheering. Anticipation is palpable.
Vince Howard: TYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYLEEERRRRR
Is this supposed to be a children’s program? I should’ve asked before all that nonsense above. Well, cover thine ears, children. Because the adults are about to get vulgar.
“MOTHER FUCKING”
Vince Howard: RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYNNNNE!!!!!!!!!!!!
The spotlights leave ringside and zoom up into the stands. To a figure standing at the top of a flight of stairs. Tyler Rayne.
The man himself. The ridiculous mess of dark hair. The famed 5 o’clock shadow. (Both with a little more salt sprinkling the pepper than last he’d been seen). The sexiest smirk in professional wrestling.
He forgot how much he loves this shit. How much being a part of PRIME means to him.
There’s a brief flash of emotion that wipes the eternal smirk from his face. Then, as quick as he lost it, he brings it back. Tyler Rayne points toward the top of the arena, the spotlights following his finger line. What appears to be money is, ahem, raining down from above.
Faux 5 dollar bills, y’all. The fake bills, of course, feature Tyler Rayne’s smirking face in the center. The 5s in the corners of the bill are centered on a star. Hehe. Get it? Yeah. You get it.
Tyler Rayne begins a slow descent down the stadium stairs. Both because there’s a lot of damn stairs and a lot of damn fans wanting a piece of the former 5-Star Champion. High fives. Selfies. Sharpie autographs in inappropriate places.
Richard Parker: He does want to start this thing, right?
Nick Stuart: Have you ever known Tyler Rayne to care about something like that?
He stops at the edge of the mid level seats, just above the floor seats. Grabs a handful of popcorn from a fan as he climbs onto the barricade keeping that very fan from tumbling onto the floor seats below. He sits on the edge of the barricade and turns to another fan to ask for a drink. Tyler takes a big swig of overpriced stadium beer, stands up, and spreads his arms. The crowd cheers. He falls.
It isn’t a long fall. But it still looks cool.
Tyler falls into the crowd below, sinking beneath the sightline for just a moment, before he is launched upward again on the hands of the crowd. The crowd body surfs Tyler Rayne right up to the front row. He stands up on top of the barricade, turns to face the crowd for one more roar of approval, then climbs down to ringside.
Matt Ward moves across the ring and to the ropes closest to the entrance ramp and looks down at Rayne in disbelief.
Nick Stuart: We haven’t seen Tyler Rayne since Colossus VIII! It has been over eleven years since he was in PRIME and the last time was at Soldier Field in Chicago when he squared off against Wade Elliott.
Richard Parker: Speaking of, can I get a camera on the faces of Wade and Lindsay Troy right now?! Because I think Her Highness has some ‘splaining to do!
Nick Stuart: And these two, Matt Ward and Tyler Rayne, have only ever faced off one-on-one once before and that was in the Jewel in the Crown semi-finals back in 2009.
Richard Parker: Despite the fact that you’re making me feel really old over here, Nick, it also goes without saying that Ward has had some choice words for Rayne over the years, specifically as it concerns his now ex-wife.
Rayne looks at the camera, that shit-eating grin refusing to be wiped from his face, and then winks.
For you. For me. For everyone.
And maybe mostly for Lindsay Troy.
He then steps into the ring as Vince Howard exits. Ward and Tyler Rayne lock eyes.
Nick Stuart: You came for a battle? You’re about to get a battle!
Richard Parker: This is going to be something that you want to be glued to your television screen for because for the next two minutes, we’re about to get some OG PRIME action going on here in TEXAS!
Nick Stuart: They say everything is bigger in Texas and well… I think that has just been proven! TYLER RAYNE! MATT WARD! These are our first two of forty competitors in the Culture Shock Battle Royale! Tonight is not for the faint of heart!
The two circle around the ring, looking at one another. Ward looks like a man ready to tear into Rayne while Tyler stretches out his arms.
DING DING
Nick Stuart: And we’re off!
Richard Parker: This is going to be one of the most brutal matches that these men have ever been in. It may not be a Dual Halo, but with no eliminations and thirty-eight more competitors still to come, the pain is going to be real.
RAYNE! RAYNE! RAYNE! RAYNE! RAYNE!
TCHU! TCHU! TCHU! TCHU! TCHU!
Rayne looks out at the fans and then back at Ward. He shrugs his shoulders and rushes right at Matt, who is more than willing to meet him in the center of the ring as they both begin trading open-handed palm strikes across the face of each other followed by forearm shots that stagger both men.
Rayne grabs the wrist of Ward and whips him across the ring before connecting with a leaping knee to the jaw of the first entrant. Matt stumbles backwards from the shot and Tyler runs full speed at him, going for clothesline, but Ward dips his shoulder and sends Rayne over the top rope and onto the ring apron.
Nick Stuart: Remember, neither of these two competitors can be eliminated at this juncture of the match.
Richard Parker: Are you certain they know the rules?
Nick Stuart: I mean, I assume they were informed of the rules before they came out here. Do you think Rayne cares about rules? Has ever cared about rules?
Richard Parker: Okay, fair enough.
Ward rushes at Rayne, who meets him with a forearm to the face. Matt stumbles backwards from the shot and Tyler takes the opening to springboard off the top rope and connects with a flying forearm that sends both men crashing to the mat.
Neither say down for long though as Ward gets back up and ducks under it a knife-edge chop from Rayne, spins him around where is standing, and launches Tyler across the ring with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Tyler sits up, grabbing the bottom of his back as Ward gets back up to his feet and runs full speed at him, drilling his shoulder into the back of the second entrant.
Richard Parker: Okay, well both of these men are dumb.
Nick Stuart: And why do you say that?
Richard Parker: Because they’re beating the hell out of one another and they have over an hour left to go! Do they not think that maybe they should take it easy on one another, shoot the shit for a few minutes? I mean, where is the intelligence between either of these two?
Nick Stuart: I mean, I think you bring up good points, which is a bit scary if you ask me.
Ward is back to his feet and brings Rayne with him, before pushing him into the corner and connects with a knife-edge chop that sends a grimace across Tyler’s face. Matt then climbs onto the second turnbuckle and begins to lay into Rayne with a series of fists to the crown of his head.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE!
SIX!
SEV–
Before Ward is able to connect with another punch and the fans continue their count, Rayne rushes out of the corner while carrying Matt. He then drops him into an atomic drop that sends a wave of pain through the body of the Inhuman Being. Rayne, with Ward still on his feet, steps backwards a bit and then connects with a superkick that lands flush on the jaw of Matt. Rayne then explodes out of the corner and goes for a clothesline only for Ward to launch at him with a clothesline that flips Rayne inside out!
Richard Parker: See? What did I tell you? Idiots, the lot of them!
Nick Stuart: That seems a bit harsh.
Ward pushes his way back up to his feet and reaches down before dead-lifting Rayne off of the mat and then connects with a German Suplex. Tyler grabs the back of his head from the shot while Matt grabs him by the arm and pulls him to his feet before placing him into a hammerlock. Rayne reaches behind him with his free arm, hoping to grab the head of the Inhuman Being, but is unable to do so. Ward then hoists him into the air and drops him face first into the center of the ring.
Nick Stuart: Ward just abusing Rayne at this point, throwing Tyler around this ring like a rag doll.
Richard Parker: You think there is any residual impact from their last match together?
Nick Stuart: From 2009?
Richard Parker: I mean, Rayne is a prick, and he did the Boss wrong, so…
Nick Stuart: Good point.
Rayne rolls onto his back and as Ward reaches down to pick him up, Tyler slams his boot into his face. Ward’s head snaps back as Rayne kips up and smashes his knee into the exposed midsection of the three-time Universal Champion. Rayne then pushes Ward into the ropes and whips him across the ring before connecting with a back body drop.
Matt doesn’t stay down for long and is met with a dropkick that sends him flying into the corner. Rayne runs to the opposite corner and runs full speed at Ward, connecting with springboard knee to the face that slumps Ward in the corner.
Richard Parker: This man is jumping around this damn ring as if he hasn’t been away from action for over a decade. Surreal.
Nick Stuart: Are you becoming a fan of Tyler Rayne?
Richard Parker: Look, do you know how many hedonistic—
Nick Stuart: The time you spent with Rayne is why we sent you to sensitivity training. Let’s not dredge up the past.
Boots reign down from Rayne onto Ward, who is simply trying to cover up from the never-ending attack. Rayne grabs Matt’s wrist and pulls him up to his feet before connecting with a spinning back elbow that sends Ward back into the corner. Tyler whips Matt across the ring and the Inhuman Being collides with the turnbuckle, but then explodes out of the corner and connects with a massive clothesline that sends Rayne crashing to the mat.
Nick Stuart: These two are reminding everyone how badly we wanted Tchu vs. Tyler Rayne II back in the ReVolution Era!
Richard Parker: There’s a lot of things that should’ve stayed in the past and maybe Tyler Rayne was one of those things.
Nick Stuart: Yeah, well, it’s been a minute since we’ve started this match and I imagine it’s about time for someone to enter the fracas.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life and begins counting down to our next competitor. The fans rise to their feet and begin counting down.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In the ring, Ward is pulling Rayne up to his feet and drills him with a big right hand that sends Rayne stumbling into the ropes.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Rayne fires back at him with a discus elbow that drops Matt to one knee.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: These two don’t even seem to care that someone is about to come out.
Richard Parker: I don’t think Rayne knows the rules, to be fair.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Who is the third competitor in the Battle Royal tonight?!
“Let Me Entertain You” hits the sound system, to a mixed reaction from the crowd as Kenny Freeman makes his way to the dual-rings.
Nick Stuart: Kenny’s excited to enter the fray.
Richard Parker: That doesn’t look like the face of excitement. That looks like the face of torture. Are we even certain this is our universe’s Kenny Freeman?!
Nick Stuart: …fair question.
Freeman slides into the ring with Ward and Rayne as Rayne connects with a knee to the face of the kneeling Ward. Kenny is quick to action as he connects with a clubbing blow to the middle of Rayne’s back before spinning him around and connecting with a snap suplex that puts Rayne on the mat. Kenny hops back up to his feet and connects with a boot across the chest of a rising Ward before helping him up to his feet and connects with an uppercut. He whips Ward across the ring and connects with a dropkick onto the three-time Universal Champion.
Nick Stuart: Well, someone is taking advantage of the situation in the ring and getting the momentum going over Ward and Rayne!
Richard Parker: Yeah, definitely not our Kenny Freeman. That one has too much smarts.
Kenny catches a rising Rayne with an open-hand palm strike across the jaw, but Tyler fires back with one of his own. The two continue to trade palm strikes at one another until Ward re-enters the fracas with a running clothesline onto Freeman that sends him crashing into Rayne. Ward then smashes his head into Tyler’s before grabbing Freeman and connecting with a gutwrench powerslam in the center of the ring.
Richard Parker: Well, that was fun for Kenny Freeman, but it’s time to come back down to reality.
Nick Stuart: Long match still to go here as Freeman is going to have a long way to go as well to make it to the end of this match.
Richard Parker: If anyone was going to somehow get eliminated before the eliminations could begin, it would be Kenny Freeman.
Nick Stuart: …can’t disagree with you on that.
Freeman pushes himself up to his feet and is met with a stiff side kick from Rayne, sending him careening into Ward who hoists him up and drops him throat first across the top rope. Kenny’s body snaps back into a roundhouse kick from Rayne as the PRIME*VIEW comes back to life and the fans begin to count-down.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
As Rayne turns away from Freeman, he is met with a running shoulder tackle from Ward.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Ward immediately mounts Freeman and begins slamming his fist into the face of Tyler.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Richard Parker: Please let it be someone better than Kenny Freeman.
Nick Stuart: Are you praying?
Richard Parker: …yes.
The rocking vibe of Little V Mills cover of “Precious Heart” spreads throughout the arena. Kohime Mori enters quickly, gazing around the arena while standing in place. The smile she usually has on her face is replaced with a look of determination. Mori gives a double fist pump and an enthusiastic yell before making her way down the aisle. As she bounces her way to the ring, she leans left and right to slap hands with the fans before sliding into the ring with Rayne, Freeman, and Ward!
Nick Stuart: This could be a huge moment for Kohime, who has started strong out of the gates since entering PRIME and competed last night for the Alias Title!
Richard Parker: I… I try to hate her, but it is really difficult. I mean, she is just so positive. She brought me a slice of cake backstage for no reason.
Nick Stuart: For no reason?! You were barking about how you wanted cake, that you were the cake man, and that if you didn’t get cake immediately, that you were going to turn everyone into cake!
Richard Parker: I have no recollection of that.
Kohime immediately drills her forearm into the face of Kenny Freeman, who manages to make his way back to his face. Her attack forces him into the corner as she continues to reign down forearm after forearm. She then whips Kenny to the opposite corner and connects with a running splash into the corner. Freeman stumbles out of the corner as Kohime hops onto the middle turnbuckle and plants him in the middle of the ring with a bulldog.
Nick Stuart: Now Kohime coming out of the blocks strong, having her way with Kenny Freeman.
Richard Parker: You make that sound like it is difficult.
Nick Stuart: If you’re in PRIME, you’re some of the top talent in our industry!
Richard Parker: Sure, Nick. Sure.
Kohime gets back up to her feet and narrowly dodges a running kick from Ward. She grabs Ward by the shoulders and spins him around before smashing her elbow across his face. Mori then hoists him up and connects with an atomic drop before stepping out of the way as Rayne comes flying and connects with a running leg drop across the neck of the standing Inhuman Being.
Nick Stuart: The action is picking up in the ring as more people enter the ring. By the end of it, we will have forty people between the two rings and you have to imagine mayhem will only increase from there.
Richard Parker: I mean, this idea seemed crazy on paper and lo and behold, it is crazy in person. Whoever came up with this idea should be fired. LT needs to stop taking ideas from that person.
Nick Stuart: You’re just bitter because you wish you came up with it.
Kohime inches away from Rayne, whose eyes have landed upon her. Rayne goes for a roundhouse kick, but Kohime manages to block it and connects with an overhead chop on Tyler. Rayne then goes for a spinning forearm onto Kohime, but she rolls out of the way before connecting with a dropkick that sends Rayne into the corner. Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life and begins its countdown once again.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Kohime goes to whip Rayne across the ring, but Tyler manages to reverse it and sends her flying into the corner instead. As she bounces out of the corner from the impact, Tyler scoops her up and connects with a spinebuster.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Then, Freeman bounces off the ropes and drops his knee across the face of Ward.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Kenny ducks a running clothesline from Rayne, reaches up, and drops him with a neckbreaker.
ONE!
Richard Parker: Please, someone that I can actually stand to look at.
The first dabs of the organ intro to “Oye Como Va” by Santana fill the arena as purple and green lights strobe while the telltale mask of The Anglo Luchador rotate on the PRIMEview behind. Smoke begins to waft across the entryway as the instrumental beginning of the song swells into its big climax. Right before the lyrics sound, The Anglo Luchador appears from the back, looking out at the crowd. He exhales and bows his head before he takes his final stride towards the ring.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: Massive cheers from the fans for The Anglo Luchador, who is looking for a big moment to remind everyone exactly why he has been considered one of the top stars in PRIME.
Richard Parker: Maybe take off the mask, has he thought of that?
Nick Stuart: You wouldn’t understand. Anyways, Luchador lost a match against Tyler Adrian Best at ReVival 24 that decided who would be one of the final members of the roster to come out in this Battle Royale, but we didn’t know where the loser would be slotted in at. Now we know.
Richard Parker: Loser might be the most apt description of T-A-L that there is.
TAL slides into the ring and immediately makes a beeline for Matt Ward, who is caught by surprise from the aggressive nature of TAL. Fists reign down upon Ward as he tries to cover up to the best of his abilities, but TAL’s aggression is unrelenting. Across the ring, Kohime and Freeman are trading blows with one another until Kohime connects with a spinning back kick to his midsection that doubles him over. TAL spots Rayne making his way up to his feet and connects with a series of clubbing strikes to the upper back before connecting with a butterfly suplex.
Richard Parker: Well, someone lit a fire under The Anglo Luchador’s ass. I guess losing to two (maybe three?) of the biggest assholes on the roster will do that to a man.
Nick Stuart: The Anglo Luchador was one of the pillars in 2022 and to say he’s hit a rough spot to start 2023 would be an understatement. This is his opportunity to reclaim his spot and aim towards a shot at the Universal Title at Tropical Turmoil.
Richard Parker: Talking about Tropical Turmoil, did you make your accommodations for Hawaii yet? I’ve got a place you can stay at.
Nick Stuart: I think I made it crystal clear that I’m never rooming with you again.
In the corner, Kohime’s boot is pressed against the throat of Kenny Freeman while Matt Ward catches TAL from behind with a stiff punch to the kidneys. The shot stuns TAL as Ward spins TAL around, wraps his hands around the back of TAL’s skull, and slams repeated knees into the gut of TAL. He then whips him across the ring only for TAL to connect with a flying forearm that sends both men down to the mat.
Kohime’s choke on Freeman is interrupted when Rayne wraps her arms around her waist and goes for a German Suplex, but Mori manages to land on her feet. As Rayne spins around, she dropkicks him into the corner, where Kenny Freeman is currently residing. Kohime then grabs the rising TAL and whips him into the corner, where he connects with a leaping splash into the corner on both competitors.
Nick Stuart: Creative offense there from Kohime and The Anglo Luchador. These are the kind of moments that you can see come up during this match, where competitors might team up for a moment to help take out opponents.
Richard Parker: You call that teaming up? That looked more like Kohime using whatever she could to abuse her opponents and I definitely do not believe she received consent from The Anglo Luchador!
Nick Stuart: That’s a lot of anger that you’re holding onto there, you got something you want to get off your chest?
Richard Parker: …no.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Ward comes up behind Kohime and connects with a reverse suplex that lays Mori out on the canvas. Meanwhile, Freeman is slamming his fist into TAL’s face while Rayne is leaning on the ropes, catching his breath.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Ward walks over to TAL and plants his boot into TAL’s midsection before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a spear that lays out the former Intense Champion. Rayne plants his boot into the back of Freeman’s left hamstring.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: The action continues in the ring as the sixth entrant into the Battle Royale is ready to make their appearance.
ONE!
Richard Parker: Let’s hope it’s not Angelo Deville…
“Out of the Black” kicks in over the arena PA system as the lights dim down to near darkness, with smoke beginning to billow out from the sides near the backstage area. After a few moments the lights rise again, with Jack Sullivan standing with her back to the crowd. She has a studded leather vest over her ring gear: white pants and a sports bra, with black flames along the sides of her leggings, with white kick pads over her black boots. She then turns to the crowd, pointing towards them with a grin.
Nick Stuart: Jack Sullivan from Level Up is here!
Richard Parker: …who?
Nick Stuart: Jack Sullivan!
Richard Parker: Do you just watch wrestling for fun?
After a few more moments the young competitor starts to make her way down towards the ring, yelling to the crowd to egg them on to cheer. She then dashes down the aisle, sliding into the ring, and connects with a flying forearm to Kenny Freeman who goes down and quickly gets back up. Jack puts him into a wrist lock before slamming her shoulder into his, dropping Freeman to one knee. She then slams her left knee into his face, dropping him onto the mat.
Richard Parker: Well, I might not know who this person is, but I definitely think Kenny Freeman would have preferred he not meet her. Ever.
Nick Stuart: Sullivan, entering her second year in the business, is definitely looking to make a name for herself at Freeman’s expense, but she will have a long road to climb against the varied veterans that are in the ring currently.
Sullivan spins around and narrowly ducks a clothesline from Matt Ward. As Ward bounces back towards the young up-start, he is met with a dropkick from Sullivan with her landing on her feet. Ward scrambles back to his feet and Sullivan connects with a spinning heel kick that drops Ward down to one knee. Sullivan bounces off the ropes and goes for a running knee strike on Ward, but is met with a roundhouse kick to the chin from Kohime!
Nick Stuart: Sullivan didn’t even see that one coming!
Richard Parker: Not sure how you miss someone of Kohime’s stature, but she definitely didn’t see her there and paid the price for it.
Nick Stuart: Kohime kneeling down to grab Sullivan, but Rayne comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her midsection.
Richard Parker: Rayne going for the… prom pose?
Rayne attempts to hoist Kohime up, but Mori blocks it and slams her elbow into his face, loosening his grip in the process. Kohime then bounces off the ropes and connects with a leaping boot to the face of Rayne, sending him crashing to the mat.
TAL then connects with a stiff boot to the midsection of Kohime Mori before he connects with an uppercut that snaps her head back up. She leans against the ropes while TAL bounces off the ropes and runs smack into a boot to the face from the eager rookie. Meanwhile, Freeman stumbles back to his feet and narrowly ducks a running clothesline from Ward, before spinning around and connecting with a clubbing forearm to the face that stops Ward in his tracks.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Richard Parker: I got a good feeling whoever it is.
Nick Stuart: Is that right?
Richard Parker: Indeed. Dare I say whoever it is that comes out next just might win the whole goddamn thing.
Nick Stuart: So say you bet on the seventh entrant without saying you bet on the seventh entrant.
Richard Parker: PRIME’s Culture Shock is sponsored by the High Octane Gambling sportsbook, where live betting is still underway!
Nick Stuart: (eye roll) You shill..
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In the ring, Sullivan is pulled to her feet by Kenny Freeman, who slams him an elbow into her throat. He whips her across the ring and connects with a back body drop.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Luchador connects with a stiff elbow to the face of Rayne, backing him into the corner. TAL backs up and then runs full speed at Rayne, who dips his shoulder and sends TAL over the top rope and onto the ring apron. Rayne then mows TAL down with a clothesline that sends the former Intense Champion onto the ring apron, grabbing the back of his head as he rolls back into the ring.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: HERE COMES NUMBER SEVEN!
An all too familiar chill moves unabashedly through the air. Then, a presumably ghost white wolf can be heard howling from off in the distance.
Nick Stuart: Wait just a second!
Then.
After what seems like forever…
An explosive bevy of pyro illuminates JerryWorld, and Dirty Dick Parker’s worst nightmare comes true.
I’m the one your mama warned you about…
Nick Stuart: Can it be?
When you see me, I will leave you no doubt
Richard Parker: Are you shitting me…
I’m the coolest man that ever walked this earth
I’ve been the coolest since the day of my birth
I AM THE COOL!!!!!
Richard Parker: Please Hoyt, let this be a sick joke…
But, it’s not.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
There stands Cancer Jiles. His hair is simply perfection. His T-Shades have their own AI built into them. Presumably. His arms are outstretched, as he graciously welcomes the tens of thousands in attendance serenading his soul.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: So much for that good feeling, Rich.
Richard Parker: I want to kill a dove so badly right now!. Unbelievable! What a complete shitbird, I better have jinxed him!
The only mortal man to have ascended COOLYMPUS stands at the top of the ramp for a good minute while the PRIMEates let him have it.
WE HATE CAN-CER! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*
WE HATE CAN-CER! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*
WE HATE CAN-CER! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*
A smile appears on his face… a smile too cool for school.
Richard Parker: That smug son of a bitch.
Nick Stuart: He’s just standing there! Every other competitor has made their way down the ramp in a hurry and he’s standing there, soaking it all in.
Richard Parker: Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Did Lindsay Troy lose a bet?
Nick Stuart: Hold on… (Nick puts a finger to his earpiece) Okay, got it. LT says you’re about to lose your balls if you say another word about her.
Richard Parker: Goddammit…
Finally….FINALLY…the Maestro begins making his way down the ramp.
Sloooooowly.
As the fans continue to chant —
WE HATE CAN-CER! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*
WE HATE CAN-CER! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*
WE HATE CAN-CER! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*
— in the ring, Jack Sullivan connects with a springboard elbow to the jaw of Tyler Rayne who stumbles into the ropes. Sullivan bounces off the ropes and runs smack into a set of flying knees from Rayne who lands on top of her with ferocity.
Matt Ward and Kenny Freeman trade punches back and forth with one another until Freeman slams his boot into the left knee of Ward. The PRIME Hall of Famer drops to one knee as Freeman connects with a sweeping DDT.
Kohime Mori blocks a running clothesline from TAL and pushes him into the corner where she connects with a stiff kick to the midsection followed by a butterfly suplex out of the corner. As TAL lands on his lower back, Rayne bounces off the ropes and drops both knees across his midsection.
Nick Stuart: The action is really picking up in the ring right now.
Richard Parker: While we have assface strolling to the ring and making a mockery of everything. How does this guy have a contract?!
Nick Stuart: Getting awfully close to invoking LT’s wrath again.
Richard Parker: Ugh, FINE.
Suddenly the PRIME*VIEW comes to life once again.
Nick Stuart: Entrant #8 is moments away from entering the match.
Richard Parker: Does that person actually count as Entrant #7?
Nick Stuart: …no.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Jiles is halfway down the ramp now. Rayne ducks under a running boot from Kohime Mori, springboards off the ropes, and connects with a flying crossbody that sends the young rookie to the mat. Jack Sullivan meanwhile connects with an uppercut on Kenny Freeman.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Before Sullivan can do anything else though, TAL comes up behind her and connects with a snap Dragon suplex that plants her on the back of her skull in an uncomfortable position. Ward connects with a discus forearm to the face of Rayne.
Jiles is at ringside now, but eschews entering the Battle Royal. Instead, he stops by the announce table to check in with his old pal. Richard takes off his headset, and the two’s ensuing exchange is far from cordial.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: I think Jiles plans to belittle Richard Parker until the last entrant gets announced! He’s even got a notepad with him like he’s been jotting down grievances during his time away.
ONE!
A classic rock riff signals the beginning of “Tryin'” by the Eagles.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Moments later Nate Colton emerges from the curtain. He holds his arms up high, showing off his blue satin jacket–his family name emblazoned on the back; his first name stitched on the front.
Nick Stuart: The Five Star Champion is here! And Richard looks like he’s about to pop a blood vessel in his right eye.
Colton marches down the ramp toward the announce table. Richard and Jiles are oblivious, and neither breaks their heated banter until Colton grabs Cancer by the back of the skull and unceremoniously enters the former Universal Champion into the battle royal!
Nick Stuart: NATE COLTON HAS THROWN CANCER INTO THE RING AND HE’S FOLLOWING RIGHT BEHIND HIM!
Richard Parker: I pick him to win! NATE COLTON IS THE GOAT!
Nick Stuart: There is something clearly loose in your brain over there.
Jiles slides to the middle and slowly gets up as every other competitor already in the ring circles around him. Colton enters the ring to join the following competitors:
Matt Ward
Tyler Rayne
Kenny Freeman
Kohime Mori
The Anglo Luchador
Jack Sullivan
And Cancer Jiles.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Richard Parker: Get him! Destroy him! Tear him to pieces!
Nick Stuart: This doesn’t look good for Cancer Jiles.
Richard Parker: What a jerkoff! If by some act of God he wins tonight I’m going to use the money I won to hire a hitman and kill him. I know a guy, too.
Nick Stuart: Rich, that’s not something you really want announcing to the world.
Richard Parker: I DON’T CARE, SOMEONE KILL HIM!
Cancer looks around at the predicament he has found himself in. TAL is the first to move and rushes right at Cancer only for Jiles to roll past him and slide under the bottom rope of the ring and back to the outside.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: HOW?!
Nick Stuart: Jiles showing that he hasn’t lost a step in the intelligence department.
Richard Parker: That implies he had intelligence to begin with and now I’m going to be sick.
Colton immediately slides out of the ring, behind Cancer, and taps him on the shoulder. Cancer turns around and is immediately met with a right fist from Colton before sliding him back into the ring. As Cancer stands up, he is met with a flying roundhouse kick from Tyler Rayne that flips him inside out. Matt Ward walks up to Jiles, yanks his sunglasses off of his face, and proceeds to crush them in his hand before throwing them out of the ring.
Nick Stuart: TAL now grabbing Jiles’ arm and is twisting it in a way that has Jiles howling.
Richard Parker: This is better than anything I could have ever asked for. Can we get some popcorn over here?!
Nick Stuart: …please stop yelling at the walking concessionaire.
Kohime Mori lifts Cancer off of the mat and holds him up as Jack Sullivan connects with a massive boot to the face of Jiles that causes him to simply slump onto the mat.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant 9 is about to enter the ring!
Richard Parker: Please let it be Brandon Youngblood and we just watch him suplex Cancer Jiles for the next sixty minutes.
Nick Stuart: I don’t think anyone in AT&T Stadium will mind that in the least bit.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Colton immediately rushes Jack Sullivan and begins pelting her with fist after fist to the midsection. Meanwhile, Rayne trades blows with Kohime Mori until the rookie connects with a headbutt before hotshotting him across the top rope, sending the Underground Pimp to the floor clutching his throat.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Ward and TAL find themselves in a test of strength that ends with TAL on both knees with Ward towering above him. TAL then rolls through the spread legs of Ward and slams his forearm into the right knee brace of the PRIME Hall of Famer.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: Any final guesses on our next entrant?
Richard Parker: I’m just hoping for somebody that wants to rip Cancer Jiles to pieces.
ONE!
“Dangereux” by IAM plays to a cacophony of jeers.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
As FLAMBERGE emerges from the backstage area, Nate Colton and The Anglo Luchador immediately turn towards the ramp, chomping at the bit to get their hands on FLAMBERGE.
Nick Stuart: Oh, this is going to be fun for FLAMBERGE.
Richard Parker: See? These two pricks are ready to pick on FLAMBERGE. Never okay. Bullies!
He walks down the ramp in AT&T Stadium, wasting no time, with a certain cock to his step, not afraid in the least bit. He walks up the ring steps and steps foot into the ring, looking at both Colton and TAL, not afraid to trade punches with either man.
Richard Parker: Get them, FLAMBERGE!
Nick Stuart: This kid has no shortage of confidence, that’s for sure.
The name of the game, folks, is trading punches. Because FLAMBERGE wastes no time as he slams his fist into the face of Colton and then is punched in the face by TAL. FLAMBERGE fires off a punch to the jaw of TAL only for Colton to fire back one of his own. FLAMBERGE grabs the back of TAL and Colton’s skulls and bash them into each other before running off the ropes and connecting with a flying crossbody that sends all three competitors to the mat.
Meanwhile, Cancer Jiles jams his thumb into the eye socket of Kenny Freeman before putting him into a headlock and proceeds to give Freeman a noogie.
Nick Stuart: Well, that’s the height of wrestling technique right there.
Richard Parker: Hehehehehe.
Nick Stuart: What is so funny?
Richard Parker: He’s giving a noogie!
Nick Stuart: You hate Cancer Jiles, remember?
Richard Parker: I know, so you can imagine the conundrum that I find myself in.
Colton makes his way back to his feet and narrowly dodges an elbow across the face from Jack Sullivan before grabbing her arm, spinning her around and planting her in the center of the ring with a vertical suplex. TAL makes his way up to his feet and blocks a stiff punch to the midsection from FLAMBERGE before planting his knee into his midsection and connects with a headbutt across the bridge of FLAMBERGE’s nose.
Nick Stuart: Man, you can see the frustration that has built up inside of TAL. His match at 25 against FLAMBERGE didn’t extinguish any of the heat between these two.
Richard Parker: And you think that justifies TAL trying to break FLAMBERGE’s perfect nose?!
Nick Stuart: …did I say that?
Richard Parker: You might as well have.
With Sullivan laid out in the center of the ring, an elbow from Tyler Rayne is dropped across her throat. Rayne is up to his feet and as he does, he is mowed down by Cancer Jiles. Rayne is quick back to his feet and is met with a boot in the midsection from Jiles before being planted in the center of the ring with a DDT. As Jiles gets back up though, Ward connects with a stiff forearm to his neck that sends him stumbling into the arms of Nate Colton who quickly hoists him up, drops him jaw first across the turnbuckle.
Nick Stuart: The amount of action happening in the ring is keeping everything moving here and the fans are definitely eating it up.
Richard Parker: You’re not going to see as many competitors in the ring at any given time. In some cases, you will see feuds rekindle or matches you may have never seen happen before your very eyes.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
The fans stir to their feet while Kohime Mori connects with a question mark kick to the skull of Kenny Freeman, dropping him to both knees. TAL comes up behind him and places him into a sleeper hold.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
FLAMBERGE connects with an uppercut to the jaw of a rising Jack Sullivan, sending her into the corner. FLAMBERGE grabs her wrist and goes to whip her across the ring, but Sullivan reverses it and sends FLAMBERGE crashing into the corner with Sullivan running after it and connects with a clothesline in the corner.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Matt Ward grabs Rayne and smashes his head across the turnbuckle and then connects with a Saito Suplex on the Underground Pimp.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Who is Entrant 10?!
With the pulse of steady drums, “Satori Part II” by Flower Travellin’ Band begins to thump throughout the arena. At the arrival of the entrancing, buzzsaw psychedelic guitar tones, so arrives Sage Pontiff, the Bodhisattva of Transformative experience. Resplendent in a flowing silken kimono that bears cherry blossom branches and a large design of three eyes in a triangle painted on the back. He’s wearing a crown of flowers on his head, holding his arms out to the side and slowly spinning. He pauses and takes a deep, respectful bow three times–once to the left, once to the right, and once toward the ring–and he looks entirely too relaxed for the fracas he is about to enter…
And then he books it down to the ring with no introductions or playing to the arena! Sage sheds his robe and crown and tosses them to the crowd! As he reaches the ring he leaps into the air, threading the needle and diving through the bottom two ropes before landing with a roll, immediately kipping to his feet, ready for action!!
Sage connects with a stiff punch that drops Freeman and does the same to Kohime. He then turns around and connects with a leaping knee strike to the face of Tyler Rayne before spinning around and nails a palm strike to the throat of Nate Colton, dropping him to the mat.
Richard Parker: Well, that’s one way to enter the Battle Royale.
Nick Stuart: No kidding. Sage Pontiff has come in and seemingly has eyes in the back of his head as he managed to put down four competitors in a matter of seconds.
Richard Parker: Do you think he actually has four eyes?
Nick Stuart: …no.
Richard Parker: Oh, okay. Because that would have been cool.
As Sage turns around, he is met with a leaping roundhouse kick to the jaw by FLAMBERGE. With Pontiff on the mat, FLAMBERGE begins to stomp away, slamming his boot across the face of Pontiff. TAL comes up behind FLAMBERGE and is met with an elbow to the jaw for his troubles. This only incenses TAL as he tackles FLAMBERGE to the mat and begins a ground and pound approach until FLAMBERGE manages to push him off of him. Both men scramble to their feet and run at one another, both attempting a clothesline, and both connect, sending them crashing to the mat.
Richard Parker: Traffic wreck on aisle five.
Nick Stuart: Man, you have to imagine those two are going to go after one another all match long. Whatever animosity they had is far from over.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Rayne connects with a powerslam to Cancer Jiles while Matt Ward is met with a boot to the face from Jack Sullivan.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Colton narrowly dodges a kick to the midsection from a dazed FLAMBERGE. Nate then grabs his leg and lifts him up before slamming him down onto the mat.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Pontiff drills his elbow across the face of Kenny Freeman, forcing him to slump in the corner from the shot.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: Any thought as to who will be entrant eleven?
Richard Parker: As long as it’s not you, I’m good.
ONE!
The Arena darkens. The shift in ambiance has the fans rise to their feet, the sound rising. And then, cutting through it all, The Battlecry.
Nick Stuart: THE DIAMOND IS HERE!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE
LET THE GALAXY BURN
From the very start of Bloodsport (World Domination) by HEALTH, Brandon Youngblood surges from the curtain and into the well of sound filling the arena. Through the blinding blue and white strobing light cutting through the darkness, the Tower of Babel powerwalks, his eyes trained forward, an oppressive scowl of intensity a hallmark painting his face.
Richard Parker: Who will Brandon punch first?
Nick Stuart: Might be easier to ask who he won’t punch first.
He rushes into the ring and tackles FLAMBERGE to the mat, slamming fist after fist into his face. He doesn’t get far into that though as Matt Ward comes up behind him, yanks him off of FLAMBERGE and begins trading punches as the fans go crazy at watching the two PRIME Hall of Famers trade punches with one another.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: We are getting a repeat of Night One of Culture Shock as Youngblood and Ward are trading punches!
Richard Parker: I guess these two didn’t get enough of each other last night and the fans seem to be approving… wait, what is that I see?
Nick Stuart: Cancer Jiles has rolled from Ring 1 to Ring 2 and he is rolling to the edge! He seems to be just hanging out over there by himself, as if he’s knocked unconscious.
Richard Parker: What an ass.
Youngblood ducks underneath a haymaker from Ward, spins him around, and connects with a German Suplex that launches Matt halfway across the ring. Tyler Rayne comes flying in with a forearm, but Youngblood manages to duck that one as well and connects with another German Suplex that dumps Rayne on the back of his skull. Brandon is quick to his feet and clotheslines Kohime Mori and does the same with Sage Pontiff!
Richard Parker: Youngblood taking out his aggression on anyone that he can find it appears!
Nick Stuart: And now he is looking around, as if he’s looking for a particular person.
Richard Parker: Oh snap, I think he found that person and that person is in Ring 2.
Sure enough, Brandon Youngblood’s eyes have landed upon Cancer Jiles and Youngblood quickly scurries through the ropes into Ring 2 and walks over to Jiles who seems unaware of what is about to happen to him. As Youngblood reaches down and begins to pull Jiles up to his feet, the crafty Cancer throws some kind of powder into the face of Youngblood, blinding him temporarily while Jiles slips behind Youngblood, hoists him into the air and drops him face first into the mat.
Nick Stuart: Did I just see Cancer Jiles with a face plant on Youngblood?
Richard Parker: Did Cancer slip acid into our drinks?
Nick Stuart: That seems very likely.
With Youngblood on the mat, Cancer drops to his chest and rolls to the edge of the ring again. FLAMBERGE looks over and sees Youngblood on the mat and quickly scrambles into Ring 2 where he drops an elbow across the back of Brandon’s skull. Back in the first ring, Colton lifts Sage off the mat, whips him into the ropes and goes for a spinebuster, but Pontiff — while in mid-air — manages to wrap his arm around Colton’s head and spikes him into the mat with a DDT.
Kenny Freeman manages to connect with a palm strike to the chest of The Anglo Luchador, stopping him in his tracks and to one knee. This gives the opening to Jack Sullivan who comes up behind TAL, puts him into a full nelson, and connects with a Full Nelson slam that lays TAL out. Kohime Mori meanwhile gets to her feet and connects with a stiff uppercut to the jaw of Rayne who collapses into the ropes.
And then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant number twelve is up next! We are starting to move through our entrants, but we’ve still got a lot more to come.
Richard Parker: The end is nowhere in sight and that could be dangerous for the eleven wrestlers, though calling Cancer that is mentally hurting my brain, remaining in the ring.
Nick Stuart: Any predictions?
Richard Parker: Just pain, lots more pain.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
FLAMBERGE pulls Youngblood up to his feet, whips him into the corner, and goes for running shoulder into his abdomen, but Youngblood gets his boot up and stops the young Frenchman in his tracks.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Ward gets up to his feet and blocks a fist from Colton before connecting with a headbutt.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
TAL connects with a drop toe hold on Jack Sullivan.
ONE!
Garrett Biggs’ “Mama Didn’t Raise No…” plays over the sound system and on the PRIME*View, a video plays showing a series of wrestling trophies on a dresser next to an old high school football uniform that has ‘Ellis’ on the back.
An acoustic guitar plays and the vocals begin.
“Mama didn’t raise no… quitter- guaranteed to get the job done.”
Adam Ellis and Ginny Van Lear walk out from the back hand in hand and stand on the stage. Ellis then kisses his wife before he races down the ramp and enters the Battle Royale. As he slides under the bottom rope, he makes a beeline for Sage Pontiff, slamming his shoulder into his ribcage and tackles him to the ground before slamming forearm after forearm into his face.
Nick Stuart: Adam Ellis is here and he has targeted Sage Pontiff right out of the gate.
Richard Parker: The bandaged ribcage might make him an easy target and Ellis has turned into an assassin.
Nick Stuart: Does that sound realistic to you?
Richard Parker: No, no it doesn’t.
Pontiff kicks Ellis off of him and both scramble back to their feet only for Ellis to connect with a clothesline that sends Pontiff back to the mat. Ellis turns around and narrowly misses a clothesline from Sullivan. As Jack bounces off the ropes, Ellis spins around and connects with a release overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Ellis bounces back up to his feet and is sent back to the mat with a dropkick from Pontiff, taking advantage of the opening that Ellis provided him.
Richard Parker: Pontiff picked his spot there, beautifully! That’s how you end up winning the Battle Royale!
Nick Stuart: Are you picking him to win the match?
Richard Parker: …no.
Nick Stuart: Fair enough.
In Ring 2, FLAMBERGE slams his fist repeatedly into the ribcage of Youngblood until Brandon is back up to his feet and lifts FLAMBERGE off his feet and drives him into the turnbuckle, driving the wind out of FLAMBERGE. Youngblood then yanks FLAMBERGE out of the corner and slams his knee into FLAMBERGE’s midsection. He then puts him into a front facelock and goes to lift FLAMBERGE into the air only for an arm to appear between his legs and connects with a low blow that drops FLAMBERGE onto the mat and Youngblood onto his knees.
Richard Parker: That asshole! Cancer Jiles over there playing possum!
Nick Stuart: Talking about someone picking spots–
Richard Parker: DON’T! DON’T YOU START WITH ME!
Nick Stuart: Ran out of champagne for your orange juice over there?
Richard Parker: And I can’t buy anymore because of stupid laws here in Texas! UGH!
Colton races through the ropes into the second ring and slams his boot across Cancer’s face. FLAMBERGE gets back up to his feet and slams his forearm repeatedly into Colton’s back before spinning him around and slamming his knee across the budget of Nate’s nose. The blue blood rookie drops to one knee, grabbing his face in the process, while FLAMBERGE bounces off the ropes and slams his knee across the side of Colton’s face.
Then, the PRIME*View comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Colton thought he was coming to Youngblood’s aide and FLAMBERGE took the opening to lay out his long-time rival.
Richard Parker: Wouldn’t be surprised to see these two in the end going face to face with one another.
Nick Stuart: Same here.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Ward ducks under a boot from Kohime Mori and connects with a backstabber.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
The Anglo Luchador connects with a discus elbow to the face of Kenny Freeman.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Rayne springboards off the middle rope and connects with a flying knee to the face of Ellis.
ONE!
Darkness.
The haunting opening notes of “Real Me” plays. A single light shines through the billowing fog at the entryway, from behind a single figure standing at the center of the stage, the light and the fog shrouding him in silhouette. He wears a patchwork fur cloak, with the right shoulder having the faux head of a lion stitched to it and the left shoulder spiked with claws and fangs.
The moment the guitars hit, the lights come back on, and there standing at the top of the stage is the Crownless King himself. Coral Avalon makes his way down to the ring, hopping up onto the apron, and stepping inside.
Nick Stuart: The Crownless King is here and could this be his big moment?
Richard Parker: …seriously?
Nick Stuart: It could be!
Richard Parker: Go sit in the corner and think about what you just said.
Nick Stuart: …ass.
Avalon enters the ring and spins Freeman around before connecting with a discus elbow to his jaw. Avalon then whips him into the ropes and connects with a textbook drop kick that sends Freeman onto the mat. Avalon bounces back to his feet and ducks a clothesline from Pontiff. Sage stops on a dime, spins around, and is met with a spinning heel kick to his injured ribcage before Coral puts him onto the mat with a butterfly suplex. Avalon is back to his feet in a hurry and connects with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on a rushing-at-him TAL.
Nick Stuart: Avalon comes out of the gates firing on all cylinders.
Richard Parker: Okay, maybe you’re not an ass.
Nick Stuart: Is that your form of an apology?
Richard Parker: …maybe.
Nick Stuart: I accept.
In the second ring, Jiles drives his forearm into the throat of Colton while FLAMBERGE drops Youngblood with a high angle hip toss. FLAMBERGE then bounces off the ropes and goes for a front-flip leg drop on Youngblood, but eats the mat instead. Youngblood gets back up to his feet and drives his forearm across the back of FLAMBERGE’s skull before he plants his boot across the back of Jiles head. Youngblood hoists FLAMBERGE up and wraps his arms around his waist. He goes for a German Suplex, but FLAMBERGE lands on his feet and dropkicks Youngblood into the nearby corner where he collides chest first.
Nick Stuart: The action in the second ring is hot and heavy.
Richard Parker: Are you describing a romance novel?!
Nick Stuart: Don’t act like I haven’t seen you devouring a Colleen Hoover novel.
Richard Parker: THAT SHIT IS GOOD!
Nick Stuart: Alrighty then.
As Youngblood ricochets towards FLAMBERGE, FLAMBERGE leaps onto his back and wraps his arms under the jaw of Youngblood, cutting off his air supply. Colton gets back to his feet and connects with a Samoan Drop on a stunned Cancer Jiles before he rips FLAMBERGE off of Youngblood’s back and connects with a bulldog to slow the hotstart rookie down.
Back in Ring 1, Jack Sullivan connects with a pumphandle slam on Kohime Mori while Rayne connects with a roundhouse kick to Coral Avalon that sends him crashing to the mat.
Nick Stuart: Looking at the fans, you can see they’re enjoying all of the non-stop action in the ring currently.
Richard Parker: The action has only increased and with it, a bit of intensity which seems a bit dumb. There’s a ton of match left and people are starting to wear themselves down when we haven’t even hit the halfway mark of the match.
Nick Stuart: Definitely something you have to consider.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: And just like that, we are up to entrant number fourteen!
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Pontiff slams his elbow across the jaw of Adam Ellis before connecting with a jawbreaker on him.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Ward connects with a double leg takedown on Pontiff and proceeds to drop haymaker after haymaker across his jaw and face.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
In Ring 2, Colton whips Jiles into the ropes and plants him in the center of the ring with a sidewalk slam.
ONE!
Richard Parker: Here we go…
“Happy Song” by Bring Me the Horizon roars through AT&T Stadium as Darin Zion appears at the top of the ramp.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
He wastes no time as he rushes down the ramp and slides under the bottom rope. As he does, he connects with an European Uppercut on Matt Ward before connecting with a roundhouse kick on Tyler Rayne! The member of the Love Convoy then walks over to the nearby corner, hoists himself onto the middle turnbuckle, and connects with a missile dropkick on TAL, sending him tumbling to the mat.
Nick Stuart: And Zion has come out of the gates, firing on all cylinders!
Richard Parker: Couldn’t happen to a nicer kid.
Nick Stuart: What did you put in your drink now?
Richard Parker: Something that I will keep between myself and my coffee mug, thank you very much.
Zion bounces back up to his feet and goes for a Rolling Cutter on Kohime Mori, only for her to shove him off of her and he bounces off the mat. Kohime lifts him off of the mat and connects with a knife-edge chop that reddens his chest immediately, nearly matching the hue of the heart on his tights. Kohime then whips him into the ropes and goes for an elbow strike, but Zion ducks under it and connects with a springboard crossbody that sends both crashing to the mat. As Zion gets back up to his feet, Coral Avalon connects with a snap kick to the midsection before landing a belly to belly suplex.
Richard Parker: And to think, Zion was on a roll there for a moment.
Nick Suart: That is something that must be done, having your head on a swivel, otherwise you will become a target.
Richard Parker: Depending on the order that the Love Convoy comes out though, they could take over this match in a hurry.
Nick Stuart: Just remember, no eliminations until EVERYONE is in the ring!
In Ring 2, Colton connects with a forearm to the face of FLAMBERGE. He then turns around and is met with the sight of Pontiff springboarding off the top rope of Ring 1 into a Frankensteiner onto Nate in Ring 2! Pontiff gets up to his feet in a hurry, grabbing at his ribs before connecting with a headbutt to Youngblood to slow the former PRIME Universal Champion down before sending him to the mat with an armdrag.
Back in Ring 1, Jack Sullivan runs at Kenny Freeman and connects with an elbow into the corner, dropping Kenny into a seated position. Jack then bounces off the bottom set of ropes into the air and then drives her knees into his face, connecting with a sickening thud as Kenny slumps over. Jack then turns around into a set of flying knees from Tyler Rayne that sends her crashing into the corner and into a seated position, leaning against Freeman. Then, without warning, TAL flies into them with a cannonball into the corner!
Richard Parker: Jeez, that couldn’t have been pleasant for either Sullivan or Freeman. Freeman because he just took a beating there while Sullivan has to… touch Freeman.
Nick Stuart: Well, that’s just rude.
Richard Parker: But am I wrong?
Nick Stuart: …no.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Cancer Jiles drills his boot across the face of Youngblood while FLAMBERGE wraps his legs around the throat of Nate Colton while Sage Pontiff drives boot after boot into his midsection.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Ward drives his knee into Ellis’ midsection and connects with pumphandle sit-out powerbomb that knocks the wind out of Adam. Ward gets back up to his feet, gingerly, and begins to make his way to the second ring.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Coral Avalon connects with a springboard enziguri to the back of Kohime’s skull.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: It’s time for entrant fifteen!
“Because of You” by 98 Degrees erupts inside of AT&T Stadium, receiving a chorus of boos from the crowd.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: The Nuzzle Lord has arrived!
Nick Stuart: And a bit of foreshadowing from you earlier as two members of the Love Convoy are going to be in the ring together and that could spell disaster for the rest of the roster!
Richard Parker: Without saying, Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy will be a gamechanger in this match.
In the ring, Ellis connects with a drop toehold on Zion, moves back to his feet quickly, and drops an elbow to the back of Darin’s neck. TCG sees this and rushes down the ring, slips under the bottom rope, and connects with a stiff jab to the jaw that rocks Ellis. TCG whips Ellis into the ropes, lifts him into the air with one arm, and connects with a backbreaker. TCG then walks over to Zion and helps him up to his feet before Zion beams at him, thrilled that another member of the Love Convoy is there.
Nick Stuart: This could spell danger for everyone else in the ring!
Richard Parker: If Zion and TCG can figure out how to keep their offense flowing, keep the momentum going, then they could end up dominating this match until Jonathan-Christopher Hall makes his way into the match.
TCG and Zion look around the ring until they pinpoint Avalon and run after him, slamming forearm after forearm into his upper back. Zion spins Avalon around, kicks him in the midsection, and then TCG connects with a neckbreaker. Zion stomps away at Avalon while Gladhappy gets back up to his feet. TCG connects with an elbow to Kenny Freeman and gives Zion the opening for an European Uppercut.
The Anglo Luchador comes rushing over and slams his forearm into the back of Zion’s skull, but TCG is quick to attack as he connects with a hip toss on TAL and with him in a seated position, Zion bounces off the ropes and connects with a dropkick to the seated former Intense Champion. With TCG’s back to him, Tyler Rayne bounces off the ropes and connects with a leaping clothesline to the back of TCG’s neck, sending both crashing to the mat. Zion is quick to attack as he plants his boot into Rayne’s midsection as he gets back up to his feet and connects with a snap suplex.
Richard Parker: And it’s like from my lips to their ears, they listen to exactly what I tell them to do.
Nick Stuart: Two-on-one is usually the recipe for success in a match like this and it seems like Vicki may have gotten them on the same page before heading out here.
Richard Parker: Which is a scary proposition.
In Ring 2, Ward drives his knee into Youngblood’s midsection and connects with an Exploder Suplex. Meanwhile, Jiles and FLAMBERGE team up on Colton, slamming their boots into his midsection until FLAMBERGE pulls him up to his feet and connects with a hammerlock suplex that drives the wind out of Colton. Jiles then bounces off the ropes and drops a knee across Colton’s face.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant Sixteen is going to be making his way down the ramp here shortly!
Richard Parker: Getting closer to the halfway mark and that means closer to getting the hell out of Texas.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Sage Pontiff connects with a Koppo Kick to a dazed Nate Colton. Meanwhile, Jack Sullivan plants Kohime Mori with a belly to belly suplex.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Kenny Freeman places TAL into a hammerlock and slams his knee into the chest of the former Intense Champion.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Zion and TCG connect with a double clothesline to Tyler Rayne.
ONE!
“Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” by Streetlight Manifesto begins to play and Rocky de Leon explodes out of the backstage area, runs down the ramp, and slides into the ring.
Richard Parker: He better be careful with going Full-on Pterodactyl here in Texas, they might put him in jail.
Nick Stuart: Oh knock it off.
Rocky de Leon makes a beeline to Kenny Freeman and connects with a stiff elbow to the back of his neck, breaking his hold on TAL. He spins Freeman around and lays into him with a series of forearm smashes to the face before whipping him across the ring and connecting with a back body drop. Rocky then bounces off the ropes and springboards off the opposite set of ropes, twists in mid-air, and connects with The Diving Dino (high angle senton bomb) onto Freeman. Rocky bounces back up to his feet and Matrix dodges a running clothesline from Zion before getting back up to his feet and connecting with a boot to the face of a trailing TCG before spinning around and hopping onto the shoulders of a turning Zion and connects with a Hurricanrana.
Nick Stuart: Rocky is off to a FAST start here, his athleticism paying off in dividends currently.
Richard Parker: Yay, flippy do time.
Nick Stuart: Well, it seems to be working for him right now at least.
Richard Parker: Until it doesn’t.
Nick Stuart: You could say that about every wrestler.
Richard Parker: …fair.
Rocky bounces back up to his feet and connects with a knee to the chest of Adam Ellis who collides into the ropes and uses the momentum to connect with a Superman Punch on Rocky, sending him crashing to the mat. As Ellis finishes, Sullivan comes up behind him, slams her forearm into his shoulder, spins him around, and connects with a Northern Lights Suplex.
In Ring 2, FLAMBERGE hoists Colton off the mat and into the air, but before he is able to do anything, Coral Avalon soars into the ring with a springboard dropkick that sends Colton crashing into FLAMBERGE. Avalon is quick to his feet as he catches Sage, who is running towards him, with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before popping back up to his feet, and connecting with an uppercut to Cancer Jiles. Jiles stumbles backwards into the arms of Youngblood who connects with a release German Suplex.
Richard Parker: DESTROY HIM, BRANDON!
Nick Stuart: I feel like you would enjoy an OnlyFans of people destroying Cancer Jiles.
Richard Parker: Does such a thing exist and can I have it debited directly from my paycheck?
Nick Stuart: Well, I guess that’s better than the other things you could be looking at on OnlyFans.
Rayne connects with a series of rapid knees to the midsection of Adam Ellis before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a lifting knee strike that stops Ellis dead in his tracks. Rayne then bounces off the ropes and connects with a Lou Thesz Press and begins slamming his fist into the face of Adam Ellis.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
In Ring 2, Avalon ducks under a running clothesline from Matt Ward and as Ward bounces off the opposite set of ropes, Coral connects with a snap kick to the midsection that he follows up with a swinging neckbreaker onto Avalon’s right knee.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In Ring 1, TCG and Zion connect with a double shoulder tackle onto Rocky de Leon before being speared by The Anglo Luchador!
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In Ring 2, Nate Colton yanks Jiles off of the mat and whips him into the corner. He then runs after and steps up the turnbuckles before smashing his knee into Cancer’s face.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
In Ring 1, Kohime Mori connects with an overhand chop onto Kenny Freeman.
ONE!
Richard Parker: Entrant Seventeen, right?
Nick Stuart: You’ve been paying attention.
Richard Parker: Well, you keep incessantly talking in my headset so I don’t really have an option.
“They say it’s good to start a story with a tragedy.”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The chunky guitar riff of “Fistfight” by The Ballroom Thieves kicks in as Paxton Ray walks out under the PRIME*VIEW. He sneers as the fans boo, then slowly holds his hand up in the air.
Richard Parker: This might be the moment of the night right here! Paxton Ray is about to step in the ring with a series of wrestlers who want nothing more than to destroy him and I’m here for it.
Nick Stuart: Judging by the look on Paxton’s face, he knows what’s coming, and he looks ready for the beating he’s about to put on people.
Heads turn within Rings 1 and 2, primarily from TAL and Colton, hungry for the opportunity to lay into Paxton Ray. Others though are also interested and concerned all at the same time. Paxton cracks his knuckles and marches down to the ring, running his mouth in the process as he stomps up the steel steps and enters Ring 1. TAL runs straight at him and is met with a fist to the face for this trouble, dropping him to the mat. Paxton reaches down and grabs TAL’s skull before yanking him off the mat and throwing him into the nearby corner. Ray begins to unload fist after fist into the abdomen of TAL as if he’s a punching bag.
Nick Stuart: You can see the aggression coming from Paxton’s ears! Rocky de Leon rushes in and begins hammering his own set of fists on Paxton, but it doesn’t seem to be doing a lick of good, even when you consider Paxton’s match last night against Nova.
Richard Parker: That is an understatement as Paxton just turned around and headbutted Rocky so hard that I think Rocky lost some teeth.
Nick Stuart: And now he’s turned his attention back to TAL who has been in this match for a minute and is definitely feeling the effects of it.
Ray scoops TAL into his arms and drops him jaw first across the top turnbuckle before bouncing off the ropes and connects with a boot across his face. With TAL on the mat, Paxton grinds his boot into TAL’s face and turns it violently, looking to extract as much pain as possible on the man he took the Intense Championship off of. Tyler Rayne comes over to the beast from Lafayette and sticks his finger into his mouth before proceeding to give him a Wet Willy.
Richard Parker: That is… an idea.
Nick Stuart: The intelligence of said idea though may be lacking.
Richard Parker: You said it, not me.
Paxton slowly turns around and glares at the Underground Pimp, who proceeds to flip him off. Ray swings at Rayne, who ducks under it and slams his knee into Paxton’s midsection. The grimace on Paxton’s face shows Rayne got him good and he swings wildly at him again only for Tyler to step back and then plants his boot into Paxton’s midsection. He then puts him into a front facelock and goes to lift him, but Paxton blocks it and instead lifts Rayne up and twists him so he’s on his shoulder before connecting with a running powerslam!
Nick Stuart: Well, some of Rayne’s organs might be rearranged after that.
Richard Parker: This is the kind of match that plays right into the wheelhouse of Paxton Ray. He just wants to hit people as much as he can and we just have to hope that more people want to hit Paxton first.
Nick Stuart: Even that may not be a sound strategy.
Paxton looks around and grabs Kenny Freeman by the throat before lifting him off the mat and chokeslamming him in the middle of the ring. He then turns around and mows Jack Sullivan down with a clothesline that flips her inside out. Ray’s eyes dart towards Adam Ellis and he connects with a headbutt that sends Ellis down to the mat where Paxton connects with a big splash. TAL takes another crack at him, connecting with a stiff elbow to the jaw, but Paxton eats it and follows up with a Discus Elbow of his own that plants TAL back on the mat.
Nick Stuart: This is not looking good for anyone else in the ring right now.
Richard Parker: That would be an understatement right now if you ask me.
Then someone taps Paxton on the shoulder and Ray spins around to come face-to-face with Nate Colton.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
A smile appears on Paxton’s face and Colton seems sure of himself.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Colton ducks a wild fist from Paxton Ray as he snaps his boot across the side of Paxton’s face, rocking the behemoth. He then sneaks up behind Paxton Ray and connects with a Saito Suplex.
Nick Stuart: Colton taking it right to Paxton Ray!
Richard Parker: This could either end horribly for Colton or… probably going to end horribly.
Nick Stuart: Your lack of faith is concerning.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Paxton doesn’t stay down for long and connects with an open-handed palm strike to the throat of Colton, who immediately drops to one knee. Ray hoists Nate into the air only for Colton to slip out of Ray’s grasp and land behind him where he connects with a dropkick to his right knee.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: Entrant Eighteen is next!
Richard Parker: Hopefully it is somebody who can take Paxton Ray down a peg or two.
ONE!
As Colton bounces off the ropes and connects with a running knee strike to the back of Paxton’s skull, “Smiling and Dying” by Green River begins to play and out walks “Sub Pop” Scott Douglas to cheers as he races down the ramp and slides in under the bottom rope. He bounces off the ropes immediately and connects with a running bulldog on Tyler Rayne. Douglas wastes no time getting back to his feet and connects with an arm drag on Zion, though Gladhappy is quick to retaliate with a series of Love Slaps.
Richard Parker: Scott Douglas… Nick, take it away!
Nick Stuart: He’s been out of the mainstream for the past two years, but is a former DEFIANCE Southern Heritage champion.
Richard Parker: Got it, thanks for catching me up.
Douglas turns towards TCG and connects with a stiff elbow to the face followed by a Russian Leg Drop. Scott kips back to his feet and looks like he hasn’t been out of the ring for two years. Zion is back on his feet and Douglas connects with another arm drag, driving his knee into the shoulder of Zion while doing so. Across the ring, Kohime Mori slams her forearm across the back of Rocky de Leon’s neck and connects with an inverted DDT that leaves him planted in the center of the ring.
Over in Ring 2, Coral Avalon bounces off the ropes and nails FLAMBERGE with a sling blade. As Avalon gets back up to his feet, he is met with a thumb to the eye from Cancer Jiles, which Brandon Youngblood takes exception to as he wraps his arms around Jiles’ waist. Cancer, always thinking ahead, slips his leg through Brandon’s and connects with a low blow that frees him from his grasp.
Richard Parker: That asshole.
Nick Stuart: Is that going to be your go to all night?
Richard Parker: Do you have a problem with that?
Nick Stuart: Not at all. Just checking.
In Ring 1, Paxton Ray grabs Adam Ellis from behind, wraps his forearm underneath Ellis’ jaw, and yanks back, reducing the air supply to Ellis. TAL immediately pounces on Paxton Ray, but Paxton pushes him back with his free hand. Nate Colton then hops off the middle turnbuckle and connects with a diving clothesline that sends Paxton crashing to the mat. Tyler Rayne meanwhile snaps his boot into the ribs of Scott Douglas and connects with a lungblower.
Back in Ring 2, Cancer snaps his boot across the hand of Brandon Youngblood while Avalon connects with a stiff kick to the right leg of FLAMBERGE. Coral then grabs Cancer Jiles by the wrist and whips him across the ring before connecting with a back body drop.
Then the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant Nineteen is up next and we are nearing the halfway mark in terms of entrants.
Richard Parker: This match might go all night.
Nick Stuart: What madman would write a never ending match?
Richard Parker: …
In Ring 1, Freeman clotheslines Jack Sullivan onto the mat. He then bounces off the ropes, hits a Dab, and then drops his leg across her throat.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In Ring 2, Matt Ward reaches down and connects with a Gutwrench Powerbomb on Brandon Youngblood.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In Ring 1, The Anglo Luchador whips Tyler Rayne into the corner and nails a corner running back elbow that dazes the Underground Pimp.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
In Ring 2, Sage Pontiff connects with a Koppo Kick on Matt Ward.
ONE!
The opening riffs of “You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You” by Dean Martin begins and the masked man emerges from the curtain as the lights dim and the spotlights shine on the ramp. The new Alias Champ, Mortimer Knightingale begins making his way down the ramp, pointing to the fans in attendance. As he walks by, he pays no attention to the fans, he’s there to a job and his gait shows it. He slides into the ring under the bottom rope and is immediately met with a stiff boot to the back of the head by Kohime Mori.
Richard Parker: Scorned lover on aisle three!
Nick Stuart: Even after their intense Alias Title match last night, there’s still a bit of tension between these two as Kohime is slamming her boot repeatedly into the back of Moritmer’s skull.
Richard Parker: Well, that’s one way to get over your crush, crash his skull in.
Nick Stuart: I’m sure your exes would have enjoyed the experience as well.
Richard Parker: You have no idea.
Mortimer powers his way up to his feet, whips Kohime into the ropes, and connects with a clothesline. Kohime crashes to the mat and is right back up to her feet where she is met with a stiff boot to the midsection and is followed up with a snap suplex. Kohime sits up, her body sore from the events of the Battle Royale thus far and Mortimer takes the opening as he hops up to his feet, bounces off the ropes and connects with a dropkick to her back. Kohime cries out in pain as she rolls over onto her side, clutching her back in the process.
In Ring 2, Colton snaps his boot across the jaw of FLAMBERGE, dropping him to one knee. Nate yanks FLAMBERGE up to his feet and connects with an uppercut to his jaw that sends FLAMBERGE into the corner. Colton advances on FLAMBO only to be met with a boot to the midsection. FLAMBERGE hops onto the second turnbuckle and as Colton straightens up, FLAMBO connects with a second-rope neckbreaker that crashes Nate into the mat.
In Ring 1, Paxton Ray drills his fist into the jaw of Rocky de Leon, sending him stumbling into the ropes. Paxton connects with a straight right that drops Rocky to the mat. Paxton wastes no time as he slams his boot repeatedly across the chest of the young rookie, each shot a bit more intense than the previous one until the ferocity in his kicks to Rocky catches The Anglo Luchador’s attention and TAL rushes over, slamming his entire body into TAL. Ray quickly gathers himself and goes for a clothesline on TAL, but TAL runs under it and springboards off the middle rope as Paxton turns around, connecting with a springboard dropkick.
Richard Parker: Keeping up with action might require two television sets because the action is hot and furious right now!
Nick Stuart: You’re not kidding as Scott Douglas connects with a top rope moonsault on a prone Kenny Freeman while Sage Pontiff just ducked a clothesline from Brandon Youngblood and rebounded with a spear that laid out the former Universal Champion.
Richard Parker: You have to wonder if anyone in this match is actually considering the fact that twenty more competitors are still to come before eliminations can happen. Wearing yourself out before the final entrants come in could be disastrous.
Nick Stuart: Very true and everyone has to consider that otherwise you’re going to be a target. If you’re Tyler Adrian Best, you’re going to be chomping at the bit as one of the last few wrestlers to enter the ring at an opportunity to clear house as soon as possible.
Ward drives the face of Cancer Jiles into the top turnbuckle in Ring 2 before spinning him around and planting his boot into Cancer’s midsection before connecting with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. As Ward gets back up to his feet, he is met with a stiff front kick to the abdomen from Coral Avalon. Coral then puts Ward into a front facelock and tries to lift him for a suplex, but Matt blocks it and connects with a neckbreaker.
Then, the PRIME*VEW comes to life for the next entrant in the Battle Royale.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Rayne connects with a spinning back elbow to the face of Darin Zion, but as he does, TCG connects with a series of fists to the face of the Underground Pimp.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Sage Pontiff bounces off the ropes and connects with a knee across the face of Nate Colton. As he gets back up to his feet, he is met with a shoulder tackle from Matt Ward.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Mortimer whips Kohime into the corner and connects with a running clothesline in the corner. He then pulls her out and throws her onto the mat before hopping onto the second rope and connecting with an elbow across her throat.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: It is time for Entrant Twenty!
The arena’s lights dim slightly as a woman’s voice sings out over the PA system while the words flash in white lettering on the black tron screens.
Who you talkin’ to man?
Who you talkin’ to man?
The music fully kicks in as the lights come up, red and white strobes pulsating on the stage. The tron begins rushing through images of a long career, different clips of matches, backstage segments, promos – all splashed across the screen in black and white with details accented in pink and aqua.
Who do you think you are?
Some kind of superstar
Who do you think I be?
A pretty beggar on my knees
What’s that across your eyelid
What’s that across your tongue
Which funeral comes marchin’
When the holy deed is done
With the first verse, Vhodka Black emerges from the backstage area standing framed in pink and aqua strobes center stage, a small lit torch in her left hand. She is dressed in high waisted latex briefs that are attached to a studded latex halter top through a harness that travels up her midsection. Her legs are covered by torn fishnet tights with studded straps working their way down like garters to attach onto studded knee pads. Her hair is orange, snarled and hanging down her back, with bangs braided back and pinned underneath to keep them from her eyes. A smile plays across her lips as she nods her head with one hand in the air before she emits a spray of fluid that is ignited by the torch in her hand.
She then rushes down the ramp and slides into Ring 2 where she connects with a headscissors takedown on Sage Pontiff!
Nick Stuart: Vhodka Black is here in PRIME and looking to mark her spot in the PRIME Battle Royale!
Richard Parker: The name… I’ve heard of people taking their coffee black, but their vodka? I prefer my vodka clear.
Nick Stuart: That’s because you don’t want people knowing you’re drinking vodka when they think it’s water?
Richard Parker: It’s worked for me for all my life.
Vhodka bounces back up to her feet and connects with a back body drop on a rushing-at-her Brandon Youngblood. Brandon rolls onto his stomach and as he does, Vhodka flies off the ropes and connects with an inverted stomp facebreaker on Youngblood! She spins around and snaps her boot into the midsection of FLAMBERGE before whipping him into the ropes and connects with a spinning back elbow that sends the former Five-Star Champion crashing to the mat. As she turns around, she is met with a forearm to the face from Ward. She fires back with one of her own, but Ward pulls her into him with a knee strike to the abdomen. He lifts her up onto his shoulder and he begins to run to the nearby corner only for Vhodka to slip off his shoulder and dropkick him into the corner.
Nick Stuart: Well, that’s one way to make your mark in PRIME as she is taking it to former champions in there with not even a second thought in the process.
Richard Parker: Though, I don’t know if making enemies of everyone in the ring all at the same time is the wisest of moves.
Nick Stuart: That’s probably one of the more astute things you’ve said tonight.
Richard Parker: You didn’t appreciate me discussing how I like my vodka?
Nick Stuart: …no.
In Ring 1, Tyler Rayne slams his fist into the face of Mortimer Knightingale. As he does so, Kohime rushes over and plants her boot into his midsection. The duo then connect with a vertical suplex, planting Mortimer in the center of the ring. As both get back up to their feet, Paxton Ray rushes at them with a double clothesline that sends both competitors crashing to the mat. Paxton Ray then sets his sights on Darin Zion as he smashes his boot into his face, stumbling the man to his knees. Ray connects with a forearm smash to the shoulder blades of Zion only for TCG to come over and slam his forearm into the back of Paxton’s skull.
Nick Stuart: Well, judging by the look on Paxton’s face, I’m not sure if that was the smartest decision there.
Richard Parker: Paxton Ray got up to his feet and is glaring at Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy and looks as if he is going to remix TCG in a way that DJ Tristy is not going to appreciate.
Paxton lifts TCG high over his head and drops him face first into the top turnbuckle of the nearest corner. Gladhappy bounces off the turnbuckle and stumbles into the waiting arms of Ray who lifts him up and chokeslams him onto Darin Zion.
Meanwhile, Adam Ellis connects with an uppercut to the jaw of The Anglo Luchador. He then drops TAL with a drop toehold before bouncing back off the mat and into the ropes where he drops an elbow to the back of TAL’s skull. Scott Douglas bounces off the ropes as Ellis gets back up to his feet and connects with a running bulldog that sends him crashing to the mat.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life for the next entrant.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Coral Avalon ducks a forearm smash from Vhodka Black and as she turns around, she is met with a superkick to the jaw that drops her to one knee. Avalon follows this up with bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a sliding forearm to the face of Black.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Tyler Rayne gets back to his feet and connects with a knife-edge chop to the chest of Paxton Ray. Ray looks unhappy with his, but Rayne motions for Ray to come after him. Paxton goes for a fist, but Rayne ducks under it and slips behind Ray before connecting with a backstabber on the Lafayette giant.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: We are moving into the second half of the roster and there is no telling what’s coming up next.
Richard Parker: Pain. Destruction. Death.
Nick Stuart: Well, that’s really uplifting.
ONE!
The lights dim to darken the arena and a few low strobe lights flicker atop the stage.
“There’s about to be a what? Girlfight!”
KA-BOOM!
A giant pyrotechnic ‘V’ flashes as “Girlfight” by Brooke Valentine continues to play over the PA system and Violet Samuelsson stands in the center of the stage. Clad in a pair of dark purple wrestling pants with a black rhinestone racerback tank top – she extends one fist into the air, pointing towards the ceiling before she blows a kiss to the fans in attendance. She wears a long black cape with a large dark purple ‘V’ on the back of it, harkening back to her ‘superhero’ days. She makes a quick jaunt down the ramp, slapping the odd hand ringside before she slides in under the bottom rope of Ring 2 and connects with a running clothesline on Cancer Jiles!
Nick Stuart: Violet Samuelsson, upset at losing against Kohime Mori and ruining her opportunity to be in the Alias Title Finals letting her frustration out on the former Universal Champion!
Richard Parker: Do you have to remind me of that dark period in my life?
Nick Stuart: Was it that much of a dark period in your life?
Richard Parker: It could have been!
Samuelsson is back to her feet and rolls under a running clothesline from FLAMBERGE, bounces up to her feet and connects with a Pele kick to the top of a turning-around FLAMBERGE’s skull. FLAMBO goes down in a heap as Samuelsson gets back to her feet and connects with a forearm to the face of Sage Pontiff before kicking him in the midsection and connecting with a cutter in the center of the ring. As she gets back up to her feet, she dodges a running boot from Vhodka Black. Violet wraps her arms around her midsection, but is peppered with a series of back elbows from Black before she does a standing switch and connects with a backstabber!
In Ring 1, Rocky de Leon bounces off the ropes and connects with a running clothesline on Darin Zion. He then grabs a kick to the midsection from TCG and swings his boot into the midsection of Scott Douglas. He then runs through the seam created between TCG and Douglas before springboarding backwards off the ropes and connects with a double DDT on both competitors. As he makes his way back up to his feet, he is grabbed by the wrist by Paxton Ray and whipped into the corner where he connects with a big splash in the corner.
Richard Parker: Someone take that asshole out. Like for good.
Nick Stuart: Paxton Ray has been delivering punishment since he entered the ring and it is definitely going to take a bit for him to be taken out of the match, one way or another.
Richard Parker: Does that sound like words I want to hear right now, Nick?
Nick Stuart: Probably not, while in the second ring, Colton has connected with a knife-edge chop to the PRIME Hall of Famer, Matt Ward!
Ward retaliates with a stiff knee to the midsection of Colton and with him doubled over, slams his forearm across his shoulder blades. Nate drops down to one knee as Ward bounces off the ropes and is met with a textbook dropkick from Colton, who leapt off the mat in a graceful manner. As Ward’s shoulders hit the mat, Colton bounces off the ropes and drops an elbow across his throat. While Colton is getting up to his feet, Youngblood grabs Jiles and goes for a German Suplex only for the Cool One to land on his feet and drives his shoulder into the lower back of BY who careens into the turnbuckle viciously.
Back in Ring 1, Jack Sullivan leap frogs a rushing Anglo Luchador and as Luchador rebounds off the opposite set of ropes, he connects with a hip toss. TAL isn’t down for long as he hops right back up to his feet and is met with an arm drag from Sullivan for his troubles. Kohime Mori connects with a stiff kick to the back of Sullivan’s neck, staggering the outside entrant. TAL gets back up to his feet and connects with a monkey flip that sends Sullivan flying across the ring. As he gets back up to his feet, Kohime whips him into the ropes and connects with a Pendulum Backbreaker!
Nick Stuart: Oof, TAL is going to feel that one in the morning.
Richard Parker: So is Kenny Freeman as Tyler Rayne is hitting a succession of kicks to the shin that is going to bruise right up when Kenny falls asleep.
Nick Stuart: Well, that will be a problem until he trades with another universe’s Kenny Freeman, right?
Richard Parker: You clearly have no idea who the multiverse works, Nick.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Mortimer Knightingale places Darin Zion into a headlock, only for the Love Convoy member to connect with a side suplex that drops Knightingale on the back of his neck.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Coral Avalon dodges a clothesline from Violet Samuelsson and flies off the opposite set of ropes before connecting with a flying roundhouse kick that sends both competitors crashing to the mat.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Paxton Ray swipes at Tyler Rayne, but the Underground Pimp ducks underneath it before planting a kick into the midsection of the Beast from Lafayette. Rayne then bounces off the ropes and connects with a front-flip leg drop across the back of Ray’s neck.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Entrant Twenty-One is about to come down the ramp and get us going on the second half of our entrants in this hellacious Battle Royale!
“REACH OUT, TOUCH FAITH!”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
The beat of “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode blasts throughout the arena as Hoyt Williams, the Religious Icon of PRIME bursts onto the entranceway with a sense of pride evident in his demeanor as always. With his arms outstretched, he is showered with boos from the Dallas crowd.
Richard Parker: PRAISE HOYT! THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE BATTLE ROYALE!
Nick Stuart: This is literally our first one ever.
Richard Parker: AND IT WILL NEVER BE REPLACED! HAIL HOYT!
“Your own. Personal. Jesus.
Someone to hear your prayers. Someone who cares.”
Hoyt slowly walks down the ramp and enters the second ring before connecting with a palm strike to the throat of Nate Colton, who goes down in a heap. Williams turns around and ducks a wild kick from Vhodka Black, slipping around her before connecting with a Saito Suplex. As Williams sits up, Violet Sameulsson bounces off the ropes and goes for a running knee to his face, but Hoyt blocks it, holding onto her leg in the process. He makes his way to his feet, still holding it, and connects with a leg corkscrew, sending Violet onto the floor grimacing in pain. Williams makes his way back to his feet and comes face to face with Matt Ward and Brandon Youngblood.
Nick Stuart: …oh boy.
Richard Parker: PRIME history is standing in the ring right now and good Hoyt, I feel the goosebumps all up and down my ribs.
Nick Stuart: Exact–, wait, what? Your ribs?
Richard Parker: Yeah. What’s wrong with that?
Nick Stuart: Many things.
The trio circle one another in the ring, eyes locked upon each other. Youngblood is the first to strike, going for a forearm smash, but Hoyt blocks it and slams his elbow into the throat of Matt Ward, causing him to stumble backwards. Williams then plants his boot into Youngblood’s midsection and connects with a butterfly suplex. As Hoyt rises to his feet, Ward wraps his arms around the legend. Williams goes for a back elbow, but Ward ducks underneath it and in the process spins Williams around before connecting with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex that launches Hoyt across the ring. Williams isn’t down for long though as he gets back up and connects with a running boot to the side of Ward’s face, dropping him to one knee. Williams then bounces off the ropes and leaps into the air before bringing his knee down across the back of Matt’s neck and skull, driving him into the mat.
Richard Parker: OH HOYT! WE DO NOT DESERVE YOU!
Nick Stuart: Sit down, calm down, and oof how much vodka did you put in your mug?
Richard Parker: I don’t have a problem!
Nick Stuart: …sure. Hoyt Williams putting on an offensive display here as he has taken control of Ring 2, putting two other PRIME Hall of Famers on their backs and showing what made him so special in the ring so many years ago.
In Ring 1, Rayne goes for a front kick to Scott Douglas, but the DEFIANCE wrestler blocks it and pulls Rayne into him with an arm drag. As Rayne gets back up to his feet, Scott connects with a forearm smash before putting the Underground Pimp on his back with a Russian Leg Sweep. As Rayne lies on the mat, grabbing the back of his head, Douglas climbs to the top rope and sizes his opponent up before leaping into the air and crashes into Tyler Rayne with a top rope elbow smash!
In Ring 2, FLAMBERGE slams his boot into the right hamstring of Coral Avalon. Coral pulls up his leg, smarting from the shot, which gives FLAMBERGE the opening to connect with a high angle hip toss. Coral refuses to stay down for long, but FLAMBERGE is ready for him as he puts him into a hammerlock before putting Coral back down on the mat with a hammerlock suplex. As FLAMBERGE gets up to his feet, he grabs both of Coral’s arms and begins to repeatedly smash his boot into his face, the ferocity picking up with each kick until Nate Colton comes up behind FLAMBERGE and connects with an Exploder Suplex.
Nick Stuart: Back and forth action happening in both rings and it’s hard to keep an eye on everything happening at the same time.
Richard Parker: I mean, that’s an understatement as The Anglo Luchador just connected with a Dragon Suplex on Kenny Freeman while Vhodka Black just landed a headscissors takedown on Sage Pontiff. And how many more people are there still to come?
Nick Stuart: Eighteen more entrants left, including the likes of Mushigihara–
Richard Parker: Good luck eliminating him
Nick Stuart: –Jonathan Christopher Hall, Anna Daniels, Eddie Cross, Tyler Adrian Best, and so many more.
In Ring 1, Darin Zion and Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy whip Kohime Mori into the ropes and connect with a joint back body drop on her. They then launch themselves at Adam Ellis, connecting with a double clothesline on him. They then turn around and lift Mortimer Knightingale into the air and drop him throat first on the top rope.
In Ring 2, Ward drives his forearm into the face of Hoyt Williams, who stumbles into the ropes, and uses that momentum to connect with a flying shoulder tackle that sends both competitors to the mat.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: And it is time for our next entrant!
Richard Parker: Do you know who it is?
Nick Stuart: Nope.
Richard Parker: Why do I feel like you’re lying to me? Is it Angelo Deville? I will kill you if it is Angelo Deville.
Nick Stuart: Easy there, tiger.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In Ring 1, Rocky de Leon flies off the ropes and connects with a running crossbody onto Jack Sullivan.
In Ring 2, Colton blocks a spinning back kick from FLAMBERGE.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In Ring 1, Tyler Rayne connects with an uppercut that sends Adam Ellis crashing into the corner while Paxton Ray lifts Zion above his head and bodyslams him into the mat.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
In Ring 2, Sage Pontiff slips under the meaty arms of Brandon Youngblood and connects with a side suplex to put the Jewel in the Crown on the mat.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Entrant Twenty-Two, come on down!
“Plenty” by Northlane begins playing in AT&T Stadium and because this dummy changes his theme music every arc, the crowd is confused as to who it is.
But then he appears on the stage and the fans go wild!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: Jared Sykes is the next one in the Battle Royale!
Richard Parker: And Paxton Ray has already left the ring, making his way up the ramp towards Sykes.
Nick Stuart: Oh shit–
No sooner than the words have left Nick’s mouth, Jared Sykes emerges from the backstage area and is met with a massive boot between the eyes from Paxton Ray. Jared stumbles backwards, put off with the sudden attack, and Ray immediately connects with a right hand to the jaw that stuns Jared, but only momentarily as his fight or flight kicks in and it’s immediate fight as he slams his fist back into the face of Ray, sending him stumbling backward. With a bit of separation, Jared runs full speed at Paxton Ray and connects with a running dropkick with Jared landing on his back while Ray rolls down the ramp.
Richard Parker: So… I take it they still don’t like each other at all?
Nick Stuart: Whatever gave you that idea?
Ray gets back up to his knees and sees Jared running right at him and explodes from his stance and spears Sykes onto the entrance ramp before slamming fist after fist into the face of his sworn enemy. Ray wraps his hands around Sykes skull and yanks him up as he stands before throwing him like a ragdoll into the ringside barricade. Sykes collides hard with it as Ray sizes him up and slams a fist into Sykes kidney that could have him pissing blood after the night ends. There’s a ruthlessness in the way that Ray looks at Sykes, as if Jared won’t be making it to that ring tonight.
Nick Stuart: Paxton now lifts Jared up over his head and drops him throat first onto the ringside barricade. Hell, Paxton is looking to destroy Jared right here and right now!
Richard Parker: I think that goes without saying. Jared manages to get his elbow into Paxton’s gut, get him Jared, and follows up with an uppercut. You can tell Sykes is hurting, but man, he is giving it his all.
Nick Stuart: Without question. Jared gathers a bit of himself as plants his boot in Paxton’s abdomen and just connects with a neckbreaker onto that steel ramp and both men are lying there, in pain, but there’s no quit in either of them.
Back in Ring 1, Adam Ellis is whipped into the rope and ducks a clothesline from Mortimer Knightingale. As Mortimer turns around, he sees Ellis springboarding off the middle rope and manages to counter just in case with a dropkick to Adam’s ribcage. Meanwhile, Scott Douglas and Rocky de Leon are trading punches until Zion and TCG bumrush them, slamming their shoulders into them. A series of stomps to both men follow-up the random attack from 2/3 of the Love Convoy. Meanwhile, Jack Sullivan presses her boot across the throat of TAL.
Nick Stuart: There is mayhem everywhere and the fans here in Arlington are eating it up as we’re some forty-five minutes or so into this match.
Richard Parker; Like I said, there’s a long way to go in this match. We’re… what, another forty-five minutes or so until the last entrant is in this match? That’s ninety minutes simply to get everyone in this ring and something tells me that it’s not going to take ten minutes for everyone to be eliminated.
Nick Stuart: Certainly not.
Richard Parker: So pace yourself!
Nick Stuart: Well, I don’t think Jared Sykes is taking your advice as he just grabbed Paxton’s leg and drove his knee into that unforgiving metal.
Richard Parker: Well, that’s fine.
Jared plants his boot, repeatedly, into the right knee of Paxton Ray until Ray kicks him in the leg with his other foot. Paxton is slow to get up, but wraps both hands around Jared’s throat before lifting him up into the air and slamming him onto the metal ramp. Paxton then grabs the back of Jared’s neck and begins to drag him up the ramp.
Richard Parker: Well, I’m sure Paxton simply wants to treat him to a nice meal in the catering area.
Nick Stuart: Something tells me that’s not what is going to happen.
In Ring 2, FLAMBERGE connects with a Judo Throw on Violet Samuelsson and then immediately drops to her level with a slicing elbow strike across her forehead, nearly busting her open. Meanwhile, Sage Pontiff connects with an arm drag on Youngblood and as he gets back up, slams his boot into the midsection of the former Universal Champion and connects with a DDT.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Time for another entrant!
Richard Parker: A person who will definitely want to avoid Paxton Ray and Jared Sykes at all costs as they are now fighting on the top of the entrance ramp, teetering dangerously close to the edge for my liking.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Ray connected with a clubbing forearm to the throat of Sykes, dropping him to one knee. Paxton reaches down only for Jared to slam his fist into his midsection.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Paxton retaliates with a stiff knee to the face of Sykes, nearly breaking his nose.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Ray then grabs Sykes and puts him onto his shoulders as if he is going to powerbomb Sykes off the ramp and to the production area beneath them.
Nick Stuart: Dear God, don’t do this.
Richard Parker: Why is Paxton Ray such a sick fuck?!
ONE!
Ray then hoists Sykes even higher, blood and anger evident in his eyes.
The lights then dim in the arena, and a stormy sky appears on the video screen. Before it registers in Paxton’s mind as to who is coming out, The Risen Star, Nova, emerges from the backstage area in a hurry with a steel chair in his hand, cracking it across the back of Paxton Ray.
Nick Stuart: NOVA IS ENTRANT TWENTY-THREE! AND HE JUST SMASHED THAT CHAIR TO BITS ACROSS PAXTON’S BACK!
Richard Parker: GET HIM! DESTROY HIM!
Ray drops Sykes, who lands on the edge of the stage before firing away with a forearm shot. The shot, full of piss and vinegar, sends Ray stumbling into a fist to the face from Nova. Sykes drills him with another forearm shot and Nova plants his boot into Ray’s midsection and plants him with a double-arm DDT!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Richard Parker: Listen to this crowd, fresh off one of the most violent matches we’ve seen in PRIME last night between Nova and Paxton Ray.
Nick Stuart: Talk about two people who wanted to rip each other apart. Add Jared Sykes to the mix and you’ve got a powder keg ready to explode.
Richard Parker: Just leave him there, you dorks!
Nick Stuart: Sykes and Nova are draggin Ray up to his feet — and he just slammed their heads together!
Richard Parker: Ugh.
Ray connects with a shot to Sykes’ throat before headbutting Nova. Nova begins to stumble down the ramp and Ray follows behind him, grabbing The Risen Child and connecting with a meaty right hand that drops Nova on the entrance ramp. Ray, full of his own piss and vinegar, picks Nova up off the mat and proceeds to chokeslam him on the ramp, causing Nova’s back to arch in pain. Nova doesn’t have a chance though to recover as Ray plants his boot in his midsection before dragging him off of the ramp and sending him hurtling into the ringside barricade.
Nick Stuart: You have to imagine Nova’s body is wracked with pain after last night’s hellacious battle.
Richard Parker: I’m not sure how either of these are standing right now to be honest.
Nick Stuart: Yeah, that’s pretty fair.
As Ray begins to make his way over to Nova, Sykes comes flying from behind, drilling his forearm into the back of Ray’s neck. The Lafayette Giant is stunned, but only momentarily as he then grabs Sykes by the throat and throws him into Nova, who is leaning into the ringside barricade. Ray then walks over to the duo and grabs a chair that a fan is standing near and folds it before he lifts it over his head to bring it crashing down on Sykes and Nova, but is stopped.
Nick Stuart: NATE COLTON JUST YANKED THE CHAIR OUT OF PAXTON’S HANDS!
Richard Parker: Good on you Nate, drilling the edge of that chair into Paxton’s midsection —
Nick Stuart: AND CRACKING IT OVER HIS BACK!
Ray drops to one knee as he goes to crack it on Ray once again, but Paxton’s hand shoots up and wraps itself around Nate’s throat. Colton drops the chair, chopping at the massive arm of Paxton Ray, but to no use. Paxton stands up and begins to lift Nate into the air for another chokeslam, but is cut short.
THWACK!
Nick Stuart: THE ANGLO LUCHADOR WITH A STEEL CHAIR TO THE BACK OF PAXTON RAY! PAXTON TURNS AROUND AND TAL BENDS THE STEEL CHAIR AROUND THE SKULL OF THAT ASSHOLE!
Richard Parker: Well, I think this is a great reminder of how many enemies Paxton Ray has made in PRIME.
Nick Stuart: Everyone?
Richard Parker: …pretty much.
TAL plants his fist into Paxton’s midsection while Colton rubs his raw neck. Sykes connects with a superkick to Paxton’s jaw that sends him stumbling back up the ramp. Nova follows right after him and connects with a running clothesline to the back of his neck. Colton follows the other three up and snaps his elbow across the neck of Paxton Ray, who while hurt, refuses to go down.
Nick Stuart: And Nova just planted his boot into Paxton’s midsection. He’s got Ray bent over and is lifting him up for a powerbomb.
Richard Parker: TAL and Colton and Sykes are helping hold him up!
They then move to the edge of the stage and launch him forward, sending him flying through the production tables set up with various monitors and other production items on.
CRASH!
BOOM!
THWACK!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: And that is ONE way to take out the beast from Lafayette!
Richard Parker: For now. There is no putting down a monster like that.
Nick Stuart: Sadly the truth, as he has not been eliminated.
Sykes and Nova rush into Ring 2 while TAL and Colton slide into Ring 1 after the mayhem they’ve just created. Jared Sykes ducks a clothesline from Vhodka Black before connecting with a forearm to her face followed by a snap suplex into a sliding elbow strike off the ropes! Meanwhile, Nova catches FLAMBERGE with a knee to the midsection before whipping him into the corner and connecting with a splash!
Meanwhile, Colton catches a boot to the midsection from Kenny Freeman, but before he is able to do anything else, Rayne connects with a flying boot to the face that sends him crashing to the mat. TAL ducks a forearm shot from Darin Zion, drills his knee into his midsection, and plants him in the center of the ring with a butterfly suplex.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant Twenty-Four is coming out next!
Richard Parker: Getting closer to the end, though not nearly close enough.
Nick Stuart: You act like you’re not enjoying yourself.
Richard Parker: Wouldn’t say that, just, you know, got a date.
Nick Stuart: Yeah, okay.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Sage Pontiff blocks a forearm shot from Nova and spins him around into a German Suplex.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Rocky de Leon flies off the ropes and connects with flying crossbody onto Kohime Mori!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Kenny Freeman connects with a dropkick onto Scott Douglas.
ONE!
The very familiar opening chords of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” echo throughout the arena as the lights take on a purple hue and the fans begin to jeer in earnest.
The piano transitions into a rock version of the classic – a modern rock version by Cole Rolland – as the man himself, Ned Reform, appears through the curtain. He’s dressed for action: purple and white singlet, white boots, and arrogant smirk. One hand is tucked behind his back as he scans the people, completely no-selling the rude gestures and boos. Behind Reform lurks his muscle, the uber athletic and no-nonsense TA Cole.
Reform begins to walk to the ring, waving and smiling to his “adoring” fans before he steps into Ring 1. Reform ducks underneath a running clothesline from Jack Sullivan and he flies off the opposite set of ropes before connecting with a leaping forearm strike to Jack’s skull. Sullivan goes down in a hurry and is slow to her feet where Reform connects with a dropkick to the knee. As he gets back up, Darin Zion rushes at him and is met with a spinning heel kick to the abdomen for his troubles. Ned puts Zion into a front facelock before connecting with a delayed neckbreaker. Reform wastes no time getting to his feet as TCG rushes at him and Ned grabs his arm and connects with an arm breaker.
Richard Parker: Well, someone shot Reform out of a cannon, it appears.
Nick Stuart: Certainly he has, getting some momentum in the Battle Royale as he plants his boot into Ellis’ midsection and bounces off the ropes before connecting with a swinging neckbreaker.
Richard Parker: And as he sits up, Nate Colton plants his boot into his chest. Ass.
Nick Stuart: If you’re in one of those two rings, you constantly need your head on a swivel, no question about that.
Colton pulls Reform off of the mat, puts him into a front facelock before lifting him up and dropping him abdomen first on the top rope. With Reform hanging there, Colton bounces off the ropes and connects with a running boot to the side of Reform’s head, sending him back into the ring. Before Colton is able to do anything further, Mortimer Knightingale comes up behind him and connects with a forearm strike in between his shoulder blades. Colton whips around and slams his forearm into Mortimer’s face, but Mortimer follows that up with a rake of the eyes.
In Ring 2, Jared Sykes and Coral Avalon lock eyes with one another. There’s a hesitation there, but also an eagerness in the same breath.
Nick Stuart: Sykes and Avalon have shared the ring before, but not in this version of themselves.
Richard Parker: Sounds so weird when you say it like that. As if they evolved into people.
Nick Stuart: Well, they were berries at one time or another.
Richard Parker: Weird.
The duo circle the ring, Coral having watched Jared Sykes up close on Night One as Eminence squared off against Winds of Change. They slowly move towards one another before going into a collar-and-elbow tie-up. The two jockey for position, moving around the ring, until Sykes pushes Avalon into the corner. Sykes breaks the hold and Coral nods his head before going for a double leg takedown that Sykes manages to block effectively, slipping Coral behind him. Coral wraps his arms around Sykes’ midsection and goes for a German Suplex only for Coral to land on his feet.
Richard Parker: These two trying to get the best of each other is absolutely hilarious to see unfold.
Nick Stuart: …why?
Richard Parker: Because they clearly know each other so well.
Coral spins around and Sykes grabs his arm, going for a hip toss. Avalon manages to land on his feet and immediately bounces off the ropes as Sykes drops to the mat and Avalon jumps over him. As Avalon bounces off the opposite set of ropes, Sykes bounces up to his feet and goes for a leapfrog only for Avalon to catch him in mid-air and connects with a Samoan Drop on Sykes. Avalon bounces back up to his feet and Sykes is right behind him, grabbing at his ribs a bit, before Jared connects with a forearm strike, spinning Coral around. This gives an opening to Sykes, who goes for a Poisonrana on Avalon!
Nick Stuart: And Avalon managed to get his hands down, turning it into a backflip of sorts and lands on his feet before connecting with a dropkick onto Sykes, which sends Jared crashing into the corner. Avalon runs into the corner, but Sykes manages to lift himself up and rolls off Avalon’s back onto his feet in the center of the ring!
Richard Parker: Someone just hit someone!
Nick Stuart: I think that’s what they’re trying to do.
Richard Parker: Well, they’re not doing a very good job at it.
As Coral rushes at Sykes, he is instead met with a tackle from Sage Pontiff while FLAMBERGE connects with a stiff right followed by a Judo throw. Avalon slams his fist repeatedly into the jaw of Pontiff while Sykes gets back up to his feet, ducks another right from FLAMBERGE, grabs his arm, and short-arms him into a backdrop driver! Meanwhile, Avalon slams his boot into Sage’s chest, giving him the space he needs as he gets back up to his feet and connects with an uppercut that sends Sage to both knees.
Sykes and Avalon then lock eyes again.
Nick Stuart: Round 2 between these two?!
Richard Parker: Oh dear, I hope not.
Then, the PRIME*VEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In Ring 1, Rayne connects with a running knee strike to Rocky de Leon before lifting him off of the mat and connecting with a Saito suplex!
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In Ring 2, Avalon and Sykes circle one another while Nova connects with a German Suplex on Violet Samuelsson.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Avalon and Sykes seem to be moving in for a test of strength when Cancer Jiles comes up and drills his elbow into the back of Jared’s skull.
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Who is going to be Entrant Twenty-Six?!
“Immigrant Song” by Voodoo Prophet cues up as two letters appear on the PRIME*View with a bleeding effect; this is created by a machete graphic that slices through the bottom of the screen.
AP
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Arthur Pleasant emerges from the curtain, clad in a black and blood-spattered longcoat. Absorbing the boos like a sponge absorbing water, Pleasant smirks with devilish intent.
Nick Stuart: Arthur Pleasant is here and this is going to be a rather physical match with him in it.
Richard Parker: I just love all of these fans booing him. I couldn’t wait to get him off my screen at ReVival 25.
Nick Stuart: Yes, well, these fans might have to endure him a bit longer if he manages to pull this thing off.
Richard Parker: Please, don’t joke about such a thing.
Pleasant walks down the ramp, removing his longcoat as he does. He enters Ring 2, a vicious grin on his face as he grabs Coral Avalon by the throat and tosses him into the nearby corner as hard as he can before connecting with a running clothesline in the corner. He then drags Coral out of the corner, slamming the edge of his hand into Coral’s throat, before whipping him into the ropes and planting him with a spinebuster that shakes the ring. The evil smile remains on his face as he motions for someone to come after him and Matt Ward is quick to do so only for Pleasant to scoop Ward into his arms and drop him face first into the nearby corner.
Richard Parker: Someone put this prick on the mat.
Nick Stuart: You can tell how much Pleasant is relishing this opportunity!
Richard Parker: Well, I’m not.
Vhodka Black comes up behind Pleasant, wrapping her arms around his midsection, to which Pleasant fires off a succession of elbow strikes to break the hold. He then turns around and gouges her eye, pressing his thumb against the socket and pushing her into the ropes where he drills his left knee into her abdomen. With the air being driven out of her, Pleasant picks her head up and slams his into hers before whipping her into the ropes and connecting with a muay-thai punch that drops her in the middle of the ring. Arthur then turns around and is drilled in the face with a stiff forearm from Nova!
Nick Stuart: Well, your prayers might be answered here in a moment.
Richard Parker: Speaking about Hoyt, where is he at?
Nick Stuart: I think he’s started pontificating to some fans in the front row.
Richard Parker: Sounds about right.
That smile remains plastered on Pleasant’s face as he goes for a jab on Nova, but The Risen Star blocks it and connects with a headbutt that causes him to shake his head to remove the cobwebs that are forming. Pleasant is phased slightly, but immediately comes after Nova who is ready for him and connects with a T-Bone Suplex that shakes the ring. Pleasant isn’t down for long and as he gets up to his feet, he’s got another PRIME Hall of Famer ready for him as Youngblood slips behind him and connects with a German Suplex that sends the monster crashing to the mat.
Richard Parker: Here we go. Send this fool running back to DEFIANCE or wherever he crawled out from.
Nick Stuart: Pleasant though is refusing to stay down as he is back up on his feet and — OOF! — roaring elbow from Hoyt Williams to Pleasant’s face drops him to one knee.
Richard Parker: PRAISE HOYT! THAT IS A REAL GOD RIGHT THERE!
Nick Stuart: And inching even further away from you, just in case.
In Ring 1, The Anglo Luchador connects with a spear on Scott Douglas before getting back up to his feet, bouncing off the ropes, and connecting with a senton on Douglas. As he gets up to his feet, he is peppered with a series of elbow strikes from Tyler Rayne, pushing him into the corner. Before he can do anything though, Darin Zion and Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy rush to the duo and begin landing successive punches, slowing TAL and Rayne down. Zion and TCG then whip TAL and Rayne across the ring, with TAL and Rayne flying back with double crossbodies that send Zion and TCG crashing to the mat.
In Ring 2, Jared Sykes snaps his boot into the hamstring of FLAMBERGE only for the French start to connect with a Judo toss and as Sykes gets back up to his feet, slightly disoriented, FLAMBERGE plants his knee into the left hamstring of Sykes, dropping him to one knee. FLAMBERGE then puts him into a reverse facelock and connects with a reverse suplex. As FLAMBERGE gets back up to his feet, he slams his boot into the face of Nova, who was busy clubbing Pleasant in the face with forearms.
Nick Stuart: Tyler Rayne and Matt Ward have been in there since the very beginning of the match and you can see the wear on their faces, but they have continued to put a good fight.
Richard Parker: Very true and they need to keep some of their energy in the reserve — GEEZ, Violet Samuelsson just connected with a roundhouse kick on Cancer Jiles and landed on her feet gracefully. I hope Cancer is missing some teeth after that.
Nick Stuart: We are getting deeper into the back half of our entrants and you know there are still a few out there can definitely change the trajectory of this match, like Anna Daniels, Tony Gamble, Jonathan-Christopher Hall, Tyler Adrian Best —
Richard Parker: It’s going to come down to luck when it is all said and done. Who has it and who doesn’t when the time matters the most.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Jack Sullivan connects with a stiff elbow to Rocky de Leon before planting him in the middle of the ring with an Exploder Suplex.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Coral Avalon connects with a succession of front kicks to the chest of a kneeling Arthur Pleasant before bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a running knee to his face.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
TCG and Zion bounce off the ropes and connect with a an elbow drop across the chest of Nate Colton.
ONE!
The entire stadium dims causing the PRIMEates in attendance to steadily come to a hush. After a moment, the beginning guitar notes of Solid Space’s “A Darkness In My Soul” begin. Nothing comes on the PRIME*view to note exactly who is coming out. Suddenly, a spotlight pierces through the dark pointed to the top on the entrance ramp. Anna Daniels stands there, her profile positioned towards the light. She lets it wash over her while letting the fans get a good look at the merchandise. Finally, she glances at the rings with a small smirk on her face.
Richard Parker: Whelp, it’s headkicking time!
Nick Stuart: That it is and it’s just a matter of her choosing whose head she wants to kick in.
Richard Parker: Well, can she decide fucknut 1 and fucknut 2 should be the ones she kicks their head in?
Nick Stuart: …Cancer Jiles and Arthur Pleasant?
Richard Parker: Who else would I be talking about?!
Nick Stuart: …everyone else?
Anna makes her way down to the two rings and looks at Ring 1 and then over at Ring 2. She looks back at the fans, as if she’s on the Price is Right. Decisions, decisions. She then climbs onto the ring apron of Ring 2, slowly entering it, and then snaps her boot across the back of Vhodka Black’s skull!
“FUCK YOUR HEAD!”
Richard Parker: Did she just yell… what I think she yelled?
Nick Stuart: Yes, I think that was the case.
Richard Parker: Whelp, everyone’s fucked.
FLAMBERGE rushes at her and she connects with a roaring elbow that drops him to one knee where she lines him up for a Muay Thai kick to the jaw, slumping the former Five-Star Champion.
“FUCK YOUR HEAD!”
She then bounces off the ropes, ducks under a clothesline from Sage Pontiff, and then springboards off the opposite set of ropes into a 720 DDT onto Pontiff, spiking his head into the canvas! Daniels kips up and then Matrix dodges a spinning heel kick to the jaw from Arthur Pleasant. She then snaps her boot across his left knee before taking a step backwards and then superkicking.
“FUCK YOUR HEAD!”
FUCK YOUR HE-AD *clap clap clapclapclap*
FUCK YOUR HE-AD *clap clap clapclapclap*
FUCK YOUR HE-AD *clap clap clapclapclap*
Nick Stuart: Well, I hope there aren’t any kids in attendance tonight.
Richard Parker: Let them learn not to mess with Anna Daniels!
Nick Stuart: Are you saying… she would kick a kid in the head?
Richard Parker: The fact that you’re asking me this means you already know the answer.
In Ring 1, Ned Reform ducks a forearm strike from Mortimer Knightingale and connects with a German Suplex on him. As Reform gets back up to his feet, he is met with a forearm strike from Violet Samuelsson, who then whips Ned across the ring while she completes a front roll and uses the momentum to launch herself into the air and come crashing down with a clothesline on the Good (Bad?) Doctor. Violet then plants her boot into the midsection of Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy and goes for a double arm DDT, but TCG connects with a back body drop on the counter. As Samuelsson gets back to her feet, TCG grabs her leg and connects with a dragon screw.
In Ring 2, Daniels is sneaking up behind Cancer Jiles and as he turns around, she goes for a roundhouse kick only for Cancer to duck under it and connects with a low blow.
Which has no impact on Daniels. And we know this because she is looking at Jiles with this look of ‘how fucking dumb are you’.
Which doesn’t sit well with Cancer, who definitely doesn’t want his head kicked in. Anna takes a step towards Jiles only for Hoyt Williams to stand in front of her, arms outstretched. Anna cocks her head to the side before going for a roundhouse kick, which lands flush on Hoyt’s jaw.
FUCK YOUR HE-AD *clap clap clapclapclap*
FUCK YOUR HE-AD *clap clap clapclapclap*
FUCK YOUR HE-AD *clap clap clapclapclap*
Richard Parker: You think she’s going to hawk a shirt with that saying on it?
Nick Stuart: It’s like you don’t even watch the shows sometimes. She’ll hawk anything at the PRIMEproium.
Richard Parker: …right, right.
Jared Sykes bounces off the ropes and connects with a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Matt Ward before popping back up to his feet and being drilled in the face with a boot from Arthur Pleasant who then slams his shoulder into Jared’s face. Before he can connect with an uppercut, his arm is grabbed by Coral Avalon who connects with a high kick to the side of Pleasant’s head before DDTing the kneeling beast.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Brandon Youngblood wraps his arms around Nova only for The Risen Star to connect with a back elbow and does a standing switch into a Northern Lights Suplex.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Kohime Mori connects with a scissors kick on Nate Colton and before she can turn around, Scott Douglas connects with a single leg takedown before pelting her in the face with forearm strikes.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Rocky de Leon leaps off the top rope and connects with a crossbody on both Zion and TCG!
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Time for Entrant Twenty-Eight!
Green Screen.
Match Start in 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…
3…
2…
1…
– Eliminate Other Players –
ISIS (ADHD) by Joyner Lucas (feat Logic) begins, and the arena lights focus on the entry as Eddie Cross emerges from the backstage area and races down the ramp and slides into Ring 2! As he enters the ring, he immediately makes a beeline for Nova, wanting to make it clear he was a player in this match. Nova connects with a clubbing forearm to Matt Ward when Eddie comes up and connects with a forearm shot to the upper back of the Risen Child. Nova arches his back in pain as Eddie spins him around and puts him in a wrist lock before connecting with a side kick to the torso.
Richard Parker: What petulant kid.
Nick Stuart: Do you like anyone at this stage of your career?
Richard Parker: Hoyt.
Eddie, with Nova still in a wrist lock, connects with another kick to Nova’s midsection before pulling him into a front facelock and connecting with a snap suplex. Eddie is back up to his feet and Nova isn’t too far behind him, but Eddie connects with a palm strike to his neck before spinning him around and connects with a side suplex, dropping Nova on the side of his skull. Eddie bounces back up and connects with a knife-edge chop to Sage Pontiff, fresh off a stiff kick to the ribcage of Jared Sykes. Eddie quickly grabs the stunned Pontiff and connects with a Russian Leg Drop. He then gets back up to his feet, bounces off the ropes and drops an elbow across Pontiff’s sternum.
As he gets back up to his feet, he is met with an uppercut from Arthur Pleasant, rocking Eddie into the ropes. Eddie uses that momentum to connect with a short-arm clothesline, which rocks Pleasant slightly, but not enough to get him off his feet. Eddie bounces into the ropes again and connects with a stiffer clothesline. Pleasant wobbles slightly and Eddie then runs off the opposite set of ropes before connecting with a chop block to Pleasant’s right knee to send the monster crashing to the mat.
Nick Stuart: Eddie Cross is starting to carve out some space for himself.
Richard Parker: Someone flash him the newest copy of Pong and he’ll be distracted for a while.
Nick Stuart: The newest version of… Pong?
Richard Parker: They don’t release yearly updates of that game?
Nick Stuart: How old are you?
Eddie bounces off the ropes again and runs smack into an elbow from Hoyt Williams, dropping him to one knee. Hoyt clubs Eddie’s upper back before connecting with a butterfly suplex. In Ring 1, Reform connects with a flying shoulder tackle on Kenny Freeman before mounting him and connecting with a flurry of punches until Tyler Rayne comes up behind him and kicks him in the back of the head. Reform slowly gets up to his feet and looks at Rayne, connecting with a knife-edge chop that pains the Underground Pimp, but gives him an opportunity to connect with one of his own that reddens Reform’s chest immediately.
In Ring 2, Youngblood slips around a kick from Anna Daniels, before driving his forearm into the back of her neck and then goes for a side suplex that sees Daniels landing on her feet. She then connects with a dropkick into his back, which sends him collapsing into the ropes. With Youngblood’s head on the middle rope, Anna shrugs her shoulder and places her left knee across the back of his neck and presses the middle rope into Brandon’s windpipe, causing him to thrash against her.
Nick Stuart: Well, that’s one strategy for Anna Daniels?
Richard Parker: I don’t mind this strategy. Youngblood can come off emo at times.
Nick Stuart: You going to say that to his face?
Richard Parker: Obviously… not.
Kohime slams her fist into the midsection of Rocky de Leon, stopping the young star in his tracks before putting him into a front facelock and hoisting him into the air. She holds him there for a moment before walking to the side of the ring that connects to Ring 2 and dropping him stomach first across the top rope of Ring 2! With Rocky hanging there, Kohime climbs onto the nearby turnbuckle before connecting with a flying leg drop across the back of Rocky’s head that sends both competitors crashing into the space in between the two rings.
Richard Parker: Does that count as an elimination?!
Nick Stuart: Well, no. Not until everyone is in the ring first. And that doesn’t count as an elimination as you have to be thrown over the top rope and to the outside.
Richard Parker: So is that area like… no man’s land?
Nick Stuart: I think so?
Richard Parker: What kind of idiot came up with this match?!
FLAMBERGE grabs Rocky de Leon and pulls him into Ring 2 before planting his boot across his face. Multiple times. Painfully. He then reaches down and pulls Rocky off of the mat and pushes him into the corner where he pelts him with kick after kick to the midsection.
Meanwhile, Kohime rolls back into Ring 1 and is then pulled up to her feet by Mortimer Knightingale, her opponent last night. Mori immediately unleashes with an assault of open handed palm strikes to the chest of her former romantic interest, yelling at the top of her lungs as she does so before connecting with a spinning back elbow that catches Mortimer on the jaw and sends him down to one knee.
Ward plants his boot into the chest of Cancer Jiles, sending him crashing into the corner. Ward walks over and slams his shoulder into the abdomen of the former Universal Champion before driving him out of the corner with a hip toss.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant #29 is coming out next!
Richard Parker: Any clues as to who it could be?
Nick Stuart: None at all.
Richard Parker: What good are you?!
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Nova bounces off the ropes and connects with a leaping clothesline on Coral Avalon while Zion and TCG connect with a double dropkick onto The Anglo Luchador.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Kenny Freeman ducks a fist from Nate Colton and wraps his arms around Colton’s midsection only for Nate to snap his head back and catch Kenny on the bridge of his nose. As Kenny breaks the hold, Nate connects with a drop toehold before putting him into an STF!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Vhodka Black goes for a splash on a prone Violet Samuelsson, but Violet manages to get her knees up and Black crashes into them.
ONE!
Daniels stops Eddie Cross in his tracks with a superkick that puts him back on the mat.
“Hel II” by Melencolia Estatica begins to play in AT&T Stadium and Abe Lipschitz emerges from the backstage area, races down the ramp, and immediately slides into Ring 1 where Ned Reform is at and immediately tackles him to the ground before pelting him with a series of forearm strikes!
Richard Parker: Well, I think Abe wants revenge on Reform for what he did at ReVival 25.
Nick Stuart: What gave you that impression?
Richard Parker: Ass.
Reform manages to push Lipschitz off of him and as both men are to their feet, Abe fires away with a series of fists that backs Ned into the corner. Abe tees off on Ned before whipping him into the opposite corner and connecting with a running clothesline! Reform stumbles out of the corner while Abe connects with a springboard clothesline that sends both men crashing to the mat! Lipschitz is quickly back to his feet and slams his elbow into Scott Douglas’ sternum before hotshotting him across the top rope and follows that up with a neckbreaker! Abe gets back up and targets Reform again, tackling him through the ropes and to the outside where Abe continues to light him up with a series of fists.
Nick Stuart: Reform and Lipschitz are going at it and this might become extremely violent as Reform kicks Lipschitz off of him again. Abe and Ned are back up to their feet and Abe just speared Ned into the ringside barricade!
Richard Parker: What did everyone think was going to happen after Ned cracked Abe at ReVival 25?! Not that there was anything wrong with what Reform did.
Nick Stuart: Are you serious?!
Richard Parker: Of course.
In Ring 2, Jared Sykes connects with a drop toehold on Cancer Jiles before bouncing off the ropes and dropping his knee across the back of his skull. As Sykes gets back up to his feet, he is met with a forearm from Ward who then whips him into the ropes and then connects with a spinebuster, dropping Sykes onto Jiles! Ward gets back up to his feet and cracks a fist into the face of Hoyt Williams, history unfolding before their very eyes as Hoyt fires back with one of his own. Ward connects with a boot to Hoyt’s midsection before the Inhuman Being connects with a side belly-to-belly suplex, planting Hoyt on top of Sykes and Jiles!
In Ring 1, Colton bounces off the ropes and snaps his boot across the face of Darin Zion before ducking a running clothesline from TCG who then flies off the opposite set of ropes and into the arms of Nate who puts him on the mat with a bodyslam. As Colton gets back up to his feet, TAL charges at him and connects with a flying forearm. Both men are kicked to their feet with TAL getting Colton into a wrist lock and drives Colton into his shoulder, dropping Nate to one knee. With Colton on one knee, Jack Sullivan bounces off the ropes and connects with a running knee!
On the outside, Reform dips his shoulder and sends a running-at-him Lipschitz over the barricade and into the crowd. Reform grabs Lipschitz as he gets up to his feet and slams his head into the barricade before suplexing him over the barricade and onto the mat outside of the ring.
Nick Stuart: We might need to get some order over here as chaos is starting to unfurl just about everywhere you see!
Richard Parker: Well, when you have nearly competitors looking to rip each other to shreds, this is bound to happen. Hell, that’s probably why we had the Dual Halo in the first place! Keep these idiots all in one place without, well, whatever Abe and Reform are doing.
Nick Stuart: Abe was about to be sent back into the ring and he reversed it, sending Reform crashing into the ring apron back-first instead! Abe is now on the ring apron itself and just ran and slammed both knees into the face of Reform!
Richard Parker: Well, that was uncalled for!
Mortimer Knightingale then bounces off the ropes and connects with a shoulder tackle on Kohime, sending her to the mat. Before Mortimer can follow up on it though, Kenny Freeman springboards off the middle rope and connects with a dropkick on Mortimer, sending him to the mat!
FLAMBERGE deftly dodges a stiff kick from Anna Daniels and grabs her leg before connecting with a dragon screw. Pleasant meanwhile drives his boot into the face of Eddie Cross in the corner before lifting him onto the top turnbuckle and connecting with an open handed palm strike to the chest that echoes through AT&T Stadium.
On the outside, Abe rolls Ned into the ring before connecting with a slingshot splash onto his sworn enemy.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Next out is entrant thirty and we will be three-fourths through our entrants. Then we can start having people eliminated.
Richard Parker: Can I pick? Because I will start with Coral Avalon.
Nick Stuart: No, you don’t get to pi– why Coral?
Richard Parker: His forehead is HUGE!
Nick Stuart: Well, that’s just rude.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Kohime connects with a step up knee strike to the face of Mortimer, dropping him to one knee.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Hoyt Williams goes for a chokeslam on Jared Sykes only for Sykes to slip out of it and connects with stiff kick to the back of Hoyt’s knee.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Rocky de Leon flies off the ropes and connects with a flying knee to the face of Nova.
ONE!
“You think I’m funny… Funny how?”
The unmistakable voice of Joe Pesci irritates the eardrums right before Metallica’s ‘Better Than You’ begins to blast through the PA System, the calling card of Tony ‘The Grin’ Gamble. He walks out at the same time the music kicks in, passing a quick arrogant glance toward the crowd, and then starts to make his way down the ramp before he pauses and shakes his head. He looks down at the other competitors in the ring and decides to take a few steps back up the ramp, preferring to take his time and let everyone else go at one another.
Richard Parker: This is why Tony Gamble is one of the smartest people in PRIME!
Nick Stuart: You know, Cancer Jiles did the same thing when he came out and you didn’t think it was smart.
Richard Parker: Cancer Jiles is an ass. Tony Gamble is… an ass too, but I like his ass.
Nick Stuart: …what?
Richard Parker: That didn’t come out the way that I wanted it to.
Nick Stuart: Well, Gamble is standing at the top of the ramp and sees content th– oh no. Paxton Ray just appeared out of the rubble he was laying in and he doesn’t look pleased.
Richard Parker: RUN TONY, RUN!
Paxton makes his way up the ramp and Tony looks over to see the Lafayette Monster looking more pissed off than usual. Tony quickly makes his way down the ramp with Paxton Ray stalking behind him. Before Tony can get in the ring, Paxton grabs him and tosses him over the top rope and into Ring 2 with Paxton right behind him! Paxton discontinues his pursuit of Gamble at that point though as he snaps his boot across the face of Nova before connecting with a haymaker on Sykes that sends him crashing into the nearby corner.
Nick Stuart: Paxton Ray is back and he is out for BLOOD and CARNAGE!
Richard Parker: I hope everyone in that ring fucks him up.
Nick Stuart: I mean, he is in the same ring as Nova, Sykes, Youngblood, Avalon… he’s got enemies in that ring.
Richard Parker: Meanwhile, is it just me or is Tony Gamble crawling out of Ring 1 and into Ring 2?
Nick Stuart: That he is and his GAS associate is in Ring 1!
Sure enough, Mortimer is in there, getting his face bashed in by Kohime, who is looking to extract as much pain on him as possible. Tony sneaks up behind her and smashes his forearm into the face of her skull, causing her to stumble forward from the surprise attack. Kohime quickly turns around and is met with an eye rake from Gamble before pushing her into the corner and slamming his boot into her midsection repeatedly! Kohime is eventually in a seated position as Gamble bounces off the bottom ropes and drives both of his feets into her face!
Nick Stuart: And Gamble has TEED off on Kohime!
Richard Parker: Clearly upset at the way Kohime treated Mortimer! Breaking his poor heart.
Nick Stuart: Exact– what did you say?
Richard Parker: I feel really bad about the way that Mortimer was treated by Kohime! And then this display last night and just now! When is enough, enough?!
Nick Stuart: You are seriously something else.
Tony looks to go for it again when Mortimer wraps his arm around Gamble’s waist and stops it. Tony looks bewildered at his associate and Mortimer puts his body in between Kohime and Tony, much to the chagrin of The Grin.
Richard Parker: Oh my goodness, Kohime doesn’t deserve Mortimer! What a great guy! Standing up for her even after ALL she has done to him!
Nick Stuart: You seriously are not of this planet. I’m certain of it.
Tony puts his finger in Mortimer’s face and pushes Mortimer in the chest. Mortimer shakes his head and is about to slam his fist into Gamble’s face when Kohime connects with a dropkick to the back of Mortimer and sends him flying into Gamble instead.
Richard Parker: How could she?! After all that Mortimer has done for her!
Nick Stuart: I seriously don’t know how you wrap yourself up in pretzels like this.
Richard Parker: Back in 2008, this woman named–
Nick Stuart: Nope, moving on.
Mortimer and Gamble dust themselves off and before they’re able to continue their issue, Darin Zion and TCG dive at them and begin slamming punches into their abdomen. Gamble connects with a palm strike to TCG’s throat while Mortimer stomps on Darin’s face before placing his throat against the top rope and choking him.
In Ring 2, Paxton Ray drives his fist into the abdomen of Jared Sykes before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a back body drop. As soon as Sykes hits the mat, Nova rushes at him and connects with a clothesline, but Ray seems unfazed as he headbutts Nova and sends him crashing to the mat. He then turns around and eats a boot from Youngblood who has been waiting a while to get his hands on him. Brandon bounces off the ropes and connects with another boot, but Paxton shakes it and yells at Brandon to try it again. Youngblood obliges and this time, Paxton is ready for him as he slips in between Youngblood’s legs, lifts him onto his shoulders, and power bombs him onto the mat!
Richard Parker: Ray and Youngblood, I’m going to need Youngblood to let the 2005 version of himself out and rip Paxton’s head clean off his body.
Nick Stuart: Well, that sounds disgusting and as if that would be the end of PRIME.
Richard Parker: Yeah, but we came back once, we can do it again, right?
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: We’ve gotten through thirty entrants and now we’ve got ten left! Who will be entrant number thirty-one?
Richard Parker: We don’t have many options left… right?
Nick Stuart: I don’t think so? You never know around here.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Tyler Rayne goes for a sweeping kick to the face of Reform, who ducks underneath it and then connects with a German Suplex.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Hoyt Williams connects with a palm strike to the chest of Vhodka Black, who collapses to the mat from the shot.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Arthur Pleasant goes for a boot on Daniels, only for Daniels to block it and connects with a step up enziguri, sending both competitors to the mat.
ONE!
“Bright Future in Sales” by Fountains of Wayne plays and the PRIME*View shows a lot of different spreadsheets with formulas and TPS forms. Mike McGee walks to the ring in a “business casual” singlet – double hooked and made to look like a collared shirt and slacks. He sneers at fans and gives out warnings before he slides into Ring 1. As he does, he connects with a running forearm to the face of Jack Sullivan. He quickly turns around and connects with another running forearm to the face of Kenny Freeman. He stomps over to the corner and then runs full speed at Nate Colton, connecting with a running dropkick that sends Colton flying into the opposite corner.
Richard Parker: You know, I drove here in a red Kia and this guy —
Nick Stuart: You didn’t.
Richard Parker: He accuses me of stealing his car!
Nick Stuart: This guy is a bit… unhinged. Especially when it comes to a red Kia.
Richard Parker: Well, someone get him some help!
McGee flies off the ropes again and is with two forearms to the chest from The Anglo Luchador who plants him in the middle of the ring. McGee pops back up to his feet and TAL connects with a knife-edge chop that causes McGee to grimaces before TAL plants his boot into the midsection and connects with a butterfly suplex on McGee! TAL then gets back up to his feet and plants his fist into Zion’s midsection before connecting with a right jab – left jab – right cross combo! Zion stumbles backwards as TAL then pushes Zion into the corner before connecting with a running back elbow!
In Ring 2, Daniels jams her thumb in Paxton’s eye socket before driving a succession of punches to the kidneys of the monster. She then grabs Paxton’s arm and connects with a Judo throw on him. Ray sits up from the surprising throw from the smaller Daniels and Anna immediately plants the toe of her boot into the spine of Ray. The shot sends a grimace to Paxton’s face as Daniels takes a few steps backwards and then runs at Paxton, driving her forearm into the back of Paxton’s neck!
Richard Parker: Would it be wrong of me to not mind if Anna breaks Paxton’s neck?
Nick Stuart: Definitely not. Daniels now bounces off the ropes and connects with a dropkick to the face of the seated Paxton Ray, slumping him over in the process!
Richard Parker: I mean, I have no problem with any of this at all. Whatsoever.
Nick Stuart: Meanwhile, Kohime Mori is wailing away at Tony Gamble.
Richard Parker: Why isn’t Mortimer doing anything about it?!
Richard asks a great question as Kohime slams fist after fist into the face of Gamble while Mortimer stands nearby, able to strike, but possibly unwilling to do so. He rubs his right shoulder before shrugging and grabbing Kohime who wastes no time as she slams her forearm into Mortimer’s face before flapjacking him onto the prone Gamble! Kohime then hops onto the nearby corner’s second turnbuckle and connects with an elbow across the back of Moritmer, driving him into Gamble even further!
In Ring 2, Sykes connects with an uppercut on Hoyt before slamming his knee into his midsection. Jared then springboards off the middle ropes and drives both feet into the back of the bent over Hoyt Williams, sending him to the mat. As Jared gets back up to his feet, he is met with a fist and then a wrist lock from Arthur Pleasant who then pulls Jared back into him and connects with a forearm strike across his face. Jared drops to one knee as Pleasant bounces off the ropes until he is behind Jared and connects with a running knee to the back of his head. Sykes slumps onto the mat as Pleasant gets back up to his feet and is immediately met with a roundhouse kick from Avalon!
Richard Parker: Well, Pleasant is a beast, but there’s few who can withstand a roundhouse kick to the jaw and Pleasant isn’t one of them it appears.
Nick Stuart: Once again, I’m not certain if making enemies in the ring is a smart idea and Avalon is not going to want an enemy of Pleasant later in this match.
Tyler Rayne connects with a spinning back kick to the midsection of TCG before grabbing the top rope, using it to lift him into the air and drives his knee into the back of TCG. WIth TCG on the ground, Tyler connects with a springboard senton onto the prone TCG.
FLAMBERGE meanwhile connects with a knife-edge chop on Matt Ward before pushing him into the corner where he drives his knees into Ward’s midsection. FLAMBERGE then hops onto the middle turnbuckle and goes for a Tornado DDT out of the corner, but Ward blocks it and hoists FLAMBERGE over his head, landing FLAMBERGE into a Tree of Woe in the corner. Ward then drives his boot repeatedly into the exposed midsection of FLAMBERGE until the French start falls onto the mat, grabbing at his ribcage.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: And we are ready for entrant thirty-two!
Richard Parker: I have no idea what to expect next.
Nick Stuart: Pandemonium!
Richard Parker: …joy.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Scott Douglas rushes at Ned Reform and Reform side steps, propelling Douglas into the ropes and connects with a snap German Suplex!
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Nate Colton is whipped into the ropes by Tony Gamble, but Colton uses the ropes to modify his momentum as his legs swing between the top and middle rope before he rushes at Gamble and connects with a running clothesline that flips Gamble inside out!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Paxton Ray drives his head into Nova’s, dropping the Risen Child to one knee. Ray grabs the wrist of Nova, looking to pull him up off the mat, but Nova uses the momentum to slam his shoulder into the face of Ray before connecting with an Exploder Suplex.
ONE!
“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith begins to play in the AT&T Stadium!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Jonathan-Christopher Hall emerges from the backstage area with Vickie Hall right behind him. JCH marches down the ring and immediately makes his way over to RIng 2 where TCG and Zion are slowly starting to make their way towards. JCH’s eyes are focused upon one person.
Brandon Youngblood.
Slowly, JCH enters the ring as TCG and Zion do the same.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood is about to be preyed upon by the Love Convoy.
Richard Parker: Quite frankly, a long time coming if you ask me.
Nick Stuart: I don’t think anyone did.
Richard Parker: Ass.
The Love Convoy starts to surround Youngblood as Vickie stands on the outside, daggers in her eyes.
“GET HIM!”
As the words leave her mouth, Zion and TCG immediately go after Youngblood, assailing him with fists after fists — to the face, to the torso, to the back — while JCH hangs back and watches for a moment before he slams his forearm into Youngblood’s face as Zion and TCG hold his arms. Youngblood spits the blood in his mouth at the feet of JCH and Hall shakes his head before driving his boot into the face of the former Universal Champion. Zion and TCG then let Youngblood go, beginning to plant their boots into his midsection repeatedly as Youngblood curls into the fetal position.
“ELIMINATE HIM!”
JCH looks over at Vickie, confused. He remembered the rules. No eliminations until everyone was in the ring. She points furiously at him and then at Youngblood as TCG and Zion hoist Youngblood off of the mat. JCH then grabs the battered Youngblood by the back of the head and the trio toss Youngblood over the top rope!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: YOUNGBLOOD IS DONE FOR!
Nick Stuart: No, no he’s not. That’s not the rule. Did you read anything they gave you before the show started?
Richard Parker: Why would I do that?
Nick Stuart: *sigh*
Youngblood lies on the mat for a moment as Vickie Hall walks up to him, laughing and pointing as if Youngblood just told the funniest joke she’s ever heard. Slowly, Youngblood gets up as JCH watches on. Brandon turns towards Vickie and begins to walk towards her.
“TAKE HIM TO THE BACK! HE’S ELIMINATED!” she yells at one of the referees, who tells her the eliminations haven’t started yet. Her eyes grow large as Youngblood inches closer to her. She immediately races into the ring, darting behind JCH who puts his arms up as Youngblood slides under the bottom rope again and marches towards JCH, fury in his eyes. Vickie then pushes JCH into Youngblood before scurrying away from the ring, sliding back out on the opposite side of the ring.
Youngblood immediately wraps his arms around JCH before snapping his head against JCH’s, dropping him to one knee where Youngblood pummels him with another knee strike. Zion and TCG come after Youngblood, but they don’t make it very far as Coral Avalon and Jared Sykes attack, connecting with a flurry of fists.
Nick Stuart: Well, that was a situation.
Richard Parker: So, why isn’t Youngblood eliminated? No one has explained that to me!
Nick Stuart: Because not everyone is in the ring yet.
Richard Parker: And… how many people need to be in the ring?
Nick Stuart: FORTY!
Richard Parker: Right, right. I knew that.
Nick Stuart: Did you?
Richard Parker: …how many people need to be in the ring again?
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
In Ring 1, Mike McGee is pummeled to the mat by The Anglo Luchador who then springboards off the middle rope and connects with a moonsault on the man who enjoys spreadsheets for a living.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In Ring 2, Sage Pontiff snaps an elbow across the face of Violet Samuelsson before connecting with a Northern Lights Suplex!
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In Ring 1, Ned Reform ducks a clothesline from Mortimer before spinning him around and wrapping his hands around the back of his neck and then dropping his chin on both of his knees as he falls backwards.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
In Ring 2, Paxton Ray drills his fist into Jiles stomach, dropping him to one mat where Cancer wastes no time and connects with a low blow on Ray!
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Entrant Thirty-Three is next and we’re nearing the end of our entrants!
Richard Parker: How many more?
Nick Stuart: Shut up.
“There’s something inside you…”
The whispering voice of Lovefoxxx brings attention to the entrance of the arena as “Nightcall (SAWAGii Remix)” by Kavinsky begins to play. Smoke begins to emanate from the floor with shades of red, orange, and yellow glowing through the clouds. Out from the back emerges the man known only as Thane. Thane stands at the entrance, looking over the crowd, dressed in a sleeveless trench coat that he discards, letting it fall into the fog. He inhales deeply, closing his eyes as he does so, letting himself feel the moment.
Once the nerves are gone, Thane begins his walk down the aisle. He wears his black, red, and orange gear and the intense scarring that tore pieces of his skin away from untold traumas are displayed in earnest across his arms, face, and chest. His tattoos, once a tapestry, now marred with the wounds of a body desperate to heal. His taped and gloved hands and wrists reach up the bottom rope, pulling himself to the ring apron. With no further concern for himself, he enters Ring 1.
Richard Parker: Do you know who this guy is? Is he on our roster currently?
Nick Stuart: He isn’t, but he’s a former SHOOT Project Battalion champion who recently made his return after a lengthy time away.
Richard Parker: …so he’s in SHOOT with the Boss, anything else?
Nick Stuart: That’s all LT told me in my headset.
Richard Parker: Alrighty then.
As Thane enters the ring, he immediately targets Mike McGee, dropping him with a straight right hand that he follows up with a swinging neckbreaker. Thane is back up to his feet in a blink of an eye and connects with a knee to the midsection of Kenny Freeman before whipping him into the ropes and sends Kenny flying with a back body drop. As he gets up, Sullivan comes up behind him and is met with a back elbow from Thane before spinning around and dropping her to one knee with a headbutt. He then grabs her by the wrist and whips her into the corner before bouncing onto the second rope and slamming his knee into her jaw.
Nick Stuart: Well, that is domination coming into the ring.
Richard Parker: I mean, it was McGee, Freeman, and Sullivan. If you call that domination then I have a bridge I can sell you.
Nick Stuart: Well, Sullivan might be wondering where she’s at as she is slumped in the corner and Thane is running at her and just connects with a dropkick in the corner!
Richard Parker: That’ll smart.
Thane is back up to his feet and is met with a short-arm forearm shot to the face from Ned Reform that stops him in his tracks. Ned then does a standing switch with Thane, spins him around, and connects with an Exploder Suplex into the corner, with Thane landing right on top of Sullivan! Before Reform can take another step, Lipschitz tackles him into the ropes. Reform drives forearm after forearm into the shoulder blades of Abe before driving his knee into his midsection and springboards off the middle rope and drives both knees into the back of Lipschitz!
Nick Stuart: Reform seems like a man possessed.
Richard Parker: Ever since ReVival 25, he looks like a different person. As if something snapped inside of his brain and well, this is the Reform we have and that seems rather scary and dangerous.
Nick Stuart: You’re not wrong as — oof, Jiles just connected with a hot shot on Avalon, dropping him throat first across the top rope!
Richard Parker: HATE HIM! HOW DARE YOU MENTION HIS NAME IN MY PRESENCE?!
Avalon stumbles backwards, clutching his throat, as Anna Daniels comes up behind him, puts him into a wrist lock and goes for a German Suplex only for Avalon to land on his feet. Coral immediately wraps his arms around Anna’s waist and goes for a German Suplex of his own, with her flipping from the velocity at which Avalon releases her, causing her to land on her face and torso! Meanwhile, Rocky de Leon slams his forearm into the sternum of Eddie Cross before putting him into a front facelock and lifting him and then dropping him across the top rope. With Cross hanging there, Rocky climbs the nearby corner and connects with a legdrop across the back of Eddie’s neck and shoulders!
Richard Parker: I think people are getting at the point where they just want to murder people in this ring. We need to get everyone else in this ring and fast before we end up with broken bodies and no eliminations.
Nick Stuart: The bodies of everyone in that ring are feeling the effects of this painful match and no one in this ring is willing to rest, to heal, but instead are just laying every ounce of pain that they left inside of them.
Richard Parker: Yeah, try telling that to Matt Ward, who just slammed his elbow into the throat of FLAMBERGE and whipped him into the corner sternum first! Ward and Rayne have been in this match since the very beginning.
Nick Stuart: Well, they will need to find something deep down in order to make it to the very end. They could be the final two.
Richard Parker: At that point, we might not have a winner because it could be hours since they’ve entered the ring.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Brandon Youngblood drives his knee into the midsection of Vhodka Black before connecting with a gutwrench suplex.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Adam Ellis bounces off the ropes and connects with a sliding clothesline to the kneeling Scott Douglas!
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Hoyt Williams drives his boot in between the eyes of Nova, sending The Risen Star into the ropes where he explodes into a flying crossbody only for Hoyt to catch him and connect with a fallaway slam.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Jared Sykes ducks a short-arm clothesline from Pontiff and then bounces off the ropes before connecting with a Shining Wizard!
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Another entrant will enter the ring here in a moment and bring us up to thirty-four!
“Godzilla” by Bear McCreary begins to play in AT&T Stadium as the God-Beast himself, Mushigihara appears from the backstage area and wastes no time as he races down the ramp and slides under the bottom rope.
Richard Parker: Well, someone like Mushi coming in towards the end of the match doesn’t bode well for anyone else!
As he enters the ring, he plants his fist into the rib cage of Mike McGee, dropping him to one knee immediately. Mushi bounces off the ropes and drives his foot across the face of McGee before grabbing a leaping-at-him Tony Gamble in mid air. He hoists him onto his shoulders and drops him with a Samoan Slam onto McGee! As Mushi gets to his feet, Mortimer cracks his forearm across Mushi’s face, which only angers the God-Beast as he grabs Mortimer by either side of his head and throws him into the corner where he lays into him with a succession of fists to the torso. Scott Douglas rushes up behind Mushigihara, leaping onto his back and putting him into a sleeper hold only for Mushi to throw Scott off of him effortlessly.
Nick Stuart: Mushi got the perfect spot in the Battle Royale and he is making everyone pay for it!
Richard Parker: That is an understatement, you have a beast the size of Mushi as one of your final entrants and he’s got a full tank while everyone else is running at half tank or empty at this stage of the match.
Nick Stuart: And Mushi connects with a headbutt on Scott Douglas before swiping his paw into the sternum of Ellis, dropping him to the mat!
Tyler Rayne drives the point of his boot into the hamstring of Mushigihara, stinging the big man for a moment. Mushi then grabs Rayne and throws him into the corner. He goes to unleash a fury of fists into the Underground Pimp, but Tyler deftly moves behind Mushi and begins to pelt him with kick after kick into the back of Mushi’s legs until Mushi is in the corner, feeling the pain from those shots. Rayne connects with front kick after front kick to the torso of the God Beast before taking a few steps back. He runs full speed at Mushi only for the God Beast to connect with a clothesline that flips Rayne inside out!
Richard Parker: Well, that’s not going to be a pleasant memory for Mushi.
Nick Stuart: I wouldn’t think so, no.
Paxton Ray drives his elbow into the sternum of Violet Samuellson before whipping her into the ropes and dropping her with a Discus Elbow. With Violet down, he immediately connects with three quick elbow drops onto Violet. As he gets back up to his feet, Rocky de Leon whips him into the ropes only for Paxton to connect with a rope swing into a shoulder tackle that flips Rocky inside out and lands him face first into the mat! Paxton reaches down and drags Rocky off of the mat and choke throws him into the corner where he connects with a running splash, slumping Rocky in the corner.
Nick Stuart: Talking about beasts, Paxton Ray is one guy that people are going to want to target as soon as eliminations begin, otherwise he is going to be out for blood and wanting to eliminate as many people as possible.
Richard Parker: That feels easier said than done.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
JCH connects with a boot to the side of Nova’s head, sending him into the ropes. Nova rebounds with a Lou Thesz press before slamming his fist repeatedly into the face of Jonathan-Christopher Hall.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
The Anglo Luchador ducks a running clothesline from Mushigihara. TAL then bounces off the ropes and goes for a springboard crossbody onto Mushi only for the God Beast to catch him in mid-air. Nate Colton then dropkicks the back of TAL, which sends the God Beast toppling over.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Ned Reform bounces off the ropes and cracks his boot across the face of Kohime Mori, who drops to one knee. Reform wraps his arm around her neck and goes for a DDT only for Kohime to block it and connects with a Northern Lights Suplex!
ONE!
Nick Stuart: Entrant Thirty-Five is up next!
There is a pregnant pause and a slightly late entrance.
Greatness rarely shows up on time.
“All I wanna do is…”
The gunshots of MIA’s “Paper Planes” brings the audience in the know back over a decade before the mix transforms into “Emperor’s New Clothes” by Panic! At The Disco. The arena erupts into a loud mixed reaction, a chaotic cacophony of sound just like she intended. Elise Ares, the former PRIME Tag Team and Five Star champion, swaggers through the curtain wearing her typical royal purple and gold ring attire under a crop top violet leather jacket.
Nick Stuart: WOW! Elise Ares is back in PRIME tonight and that is not someone I thought we would see here tonight.
Richard Parker: Definitely not.
Pausing and taking a look at the crowd going apeshit behind LED sunglasses flashing “I’M” and “BACK”, she drops the jacket to the ground before ripping the glasses off of her face. She instinctively goes to throw them into the crowd as she does every time in DEFIANCE, but instead holds onto them, tosses them over her shoulder, and shrugs before taking her time marching towards the ring.
Richard Parker: Say, you think I can get the $5 I spotted her twelve years ago?
Nick Stuart: Why don’t you go over there and ask her?
Richard Parker: I’ll ask her backstage later…
Elise races down the ramp and slides into Ring 1 where she immediately catches Reform with a running clothesline. As Reform gets up to his feet, Elise races off the ropes and connects with a flying headscissors, sending Ned flying across the ring. Reform refuses to stay down as he gets back up to his feet and goes for a wild punch on Elise, who ducks underneath it before connecting with an enziguri that drops Reform to one knee. Elise backs up into the corner, hops onto the second turnbuckle, and then connects with a front-flip leg drop across the back of his neck and spiking his head into the canvas.
Nick Stuart: Elise Ares bringing her hatred of Ned Reform from DEFIANCE into PRIME!
Richard Parker: If I was Reform, I would just lay there and not move. Because something tells me Elise is eager to take his head off his shoulders.
Nick Stuart: And Elise just turned around and her and Gamble have locked eyes.
Richard Parker: Plenty of history between these two as Elise Ares captured her Five-Star Championship after defeating Gamble. I’m sure Tony has completely left that in the past.
Gamble immediately cocks his arm back and goes to smack the shit out of Elise, but his arm is grabbed by Kohime Mori, who shakes her head at him before pushing Tony into Elise, who connects with a dropkick that lands squarely against Tony’s jaw. Elise lands on her feet as Tony stumbles back into Kohime, who once again pushes him into Elise who connects with an uppercut that drops Tony to one knee. She then wraps her arm around Gamble’s neck and connects with a springboard DDT!
Nick Stuart: Well, I don’t think Tony has left that in the past, but I also think he might be leaving any animosity he has towards her in the past moving forward.
Richard Parker: That might be a fairly smart choice by him.
In Ring 2, FLAMBERGE connects with a running knee to the face of Jared Sykes, sending him crashing to the mat. FLAMBERGE immediately mounts Sykes and begins to wail away with fist after fist, but is cut short when Avalon connects with a clubbing forearm to the back of FLAMBERGE’s neck. He then pulls FLAMBERGE off of the mat and whips him into the ropes before connecting with a spinning back elbow. FLAMBERGE drops to one knee as Avalon goes for a Butterfly Suplex, only for FLAMBERGE to block it and connects with a double leg takedown and connects with slicing elbow strikes to the head of the Crownless King.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant Thirty-Six will be coming down soon. Any guesses?
Richard Parker: No idea. After that is Tyler Adrian Best?
Nick Stuart: Exactly, we are getting closer and closer to the moment when everyone will be in the ring and eliminations will begin.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
In Ring 1, Adam Ellis blocks a stiff fist from Abe, before spinning him around and connecting with a Saito Suplex.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
In Ring 2, Ward snaps his boot across the face of Sage Pontiff before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a pop-up Powerbomb!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nate Colton hits a standing switch on Mike McGee before connecting with a German Suplex!
ONE!
“ALLL ABOARD… AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…”
A single burst of fog streams upward, resembling that of a locomotive, as “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne begins playing. Tens of thousands of fans immediately rise to their feet and turn towards the ramp. Parting the smoke is Jack Harmen, who throws one hand wildly into the sky in his trademark devil horn taunt.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: HIGH FLYER IS BACK IN PRIME! AND THE ROOF ON THE AT&T STADIUM MIGHT AS WELL NO LONGER EXIST AFTER THE REACTIONS FROM THE PRIME FAITHFUL!
Richard Parker: Hide your wife! Hide your kids! Lock up your vehicles and pray to Hoyt that he doesn’t go crazier than he is capable of, because JACK HARMEN is about to enter the Battle Royale!
Harmen immediately races down the ramp and slides into Ring 1! As he slides under the bottom rope, he races into the opposite set of ropes and connects with a flying forearm to the face of Tony Gamble! Harmen is quick to his feet as he connects with a spinning back kick to Elise Ares, who takes it in the torso and drops to one knee. Harmen then runs off the ropes, running perpendicular to Ares, and does so a few times before connecting with a running knee to the side of her face! Harmen kips back up to his feet and drives his fist into the torso of Scott Douglas before running into the ropes, doing a back handstand into a head scissors, scrambling Douglas to the mat!
Nick Stuart: Harmen has come out of the gates on fire and he just cracked Tyler Rayne with a knife-edge chop, which Rayne shakes off and laughs in the face of Harmen before firing one off of his own.
Richard Parker: Oh great, we are about to get a crazy-off.
Harmen shakes his body from the shot before he cocks his head back and lets out a laughter that rings through the AT&T Stadium as Harme drills Rayne in the face with a stiff forearm before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a back body drop. Rayne, slow to his feet as exhaustion has settled in, eventually makes his way back up and is dropped to the mat with a dropkick! Harmen runs around the ring, his arms extended, as if he’s a plane getting ready for take-off before he connects with a running Shooting Star Press on the prone Rayne!
In Ring 2, Brandon Youngblood drives his boot into the midsection of Darin Zion before whipping him into the corner where he connects with a running clothesline. Zion stumbles out of the corner as Youngblood slips behind him and connects with a German Suplex, Zion’s head bouncing off the middle turnbuckle. As Youngblood gets back up to his feet, JCH drives his fist into the face of his arch-rival. Youngblood is stunned as he backs into the ropes where JCH connects with an uppercut before whipping him into the ropes and connects with a spinning back elbow!
Nick Stuart: These two rings are brimming with top-notch talent —
Richard Parker: — for the most part —
Nick Stuart: And you can see the exhaustion on many of their faces as Mushigihara just tackled Thane with his shoulder and Thane must have flown about six feet across the ring as a result.
Richard Parker: Yeah, I feel like staying out of Mushi’s way is the winning strategy here.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Ned Reform drives his forearm across the throat of Nate Colton and goes to whip Colton into the ropes, but Colton reverses it before catching Reform on the rebound with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Eddie Cross is planted with a boot to his midsection by TCG, who then bounces off the ropes and is caught by a leaping knee strike from Cross. TCG bounces into the ropes and is met with a spinning back from Cross, sending TCG to the mat clutching his ribs.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Mike McGee rushes at The Anglo Luchador who catches him and connects with a Urange Slam!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: Well, we know who our next entrant is.
Richard Parker: We do?
Nick Stuart: I just mentioned it like three minutes ago.
Richard Parker: Oh, that’s right. Dusk!
Nick Stuart: …no.
ONE!
The lights in the arena dim, as “T A B” flashes across the screen in bright gold letters. The letters suddenly begin to drip 97Red as “People I Don’t Like” begins to blast over the sound system. Tyler Adrian Best steps out from behind the curtain, slowly making his way out onto the stage and staring out into the sea of fans. He gestures to the crowd as he saunters down the ramp, slowly entering Ring 1.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
As Best enters the ring, he flips off the audience before connecting with a running clothesline on Thane before bouncing off the ropes and connecting with another running clothesline, this time on Mike McGee. Best then slams his fist into the face of Nate Colton, his opponent from Night 1, and then drives his knee into his midsection. Colton fires off a few shots of his own until Best pushes him into the corner and begins slamming his boot into his midsection repeatedly.
Nick Stuart: And these two are picking up right where they left off last night!
Richard Parker: Colton picking up the victory over Best has clearly incensed Best and he has a certain fire in his eyes tonight.
Nick Stuart: And Best just drilled his elbow into the throat of Colton, causing the Five-Star Champion to grab his throat in pain.
Best then springboards off the nearby middle rope and connects with an enziguri to the back of Colton’s skull. Nate stumbles out of the corner as TAB hops onto the middle turnbuckle and connects with a bulldog. Best is right back up to his feet where Tyler Rayne drives his fist into the midsection of the third-generation Best. Tyler then connects with an uppercut to his jaw that sends TAB into the ropes, but TAB uses that momentum to come flying off the ropes with a leaping forearm that sends both men crashing to the mat.
Richard Parker: You know, TAB was trained by Lindsay Troy.
Nick Stuart: …yes.
Richard Parker: And Tyler Rayne was married to Lindsay Troy.
Nick Stuart: …yes…
Richard Parker: Do you think Tyler Adrian Best was named Tyler because of Tyler Rayne?!
Nick Stuart: …no. That makes no sense at all, Rich. None whatsoever.
In Ring 2, Jared Sykes plants his boot into the midsection of Jonathan-Christopher Hall before grabbing the back of his head and driving it into his knee. JCH stumbles backwards into the ropes and as he recoils towards Sykes, Jared connects with a picture perfect dropkick. Sykes then mounts JCH and begins to slam fist after fist into JCH, images of chocolate waterboarding filling his mind in the process. Darin Zion and TCG quickly yank Sykes off of JCH, but as they do, Coral Avaon flies off the ropes and connects with a running knee to the face of Darin Zion. At the same time, Nova comes up behind TCG and drives his forearm into the back of his neck before connecting with a side suplex.
Nick Stuart: You’re seeing rivalries, old and new, all happen at the very same time.
Richard Parker: Do you think this is what Lindsay wanted when she made the rules of the Battle Royale?
Nick Stuart: I mean, that seems like good business sense.
Richard Parker: Maybe everyone will kill one another in the ring!
Nick Stuart: I feel like that would solve all of Lindsay Troy’s problems.
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Jack Harmen connects with a spinning heel kick to the jaw of Mushigihara, which stuns the God Beast. Harmen then springboards off the nearby middle rope and goes for a clothesline only for Mushi to catch him in mid-air and body slam him into the mat.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Hoyt Williams bounces off the ropes and drops a knee across the throat of Eddie Cross. As he gets back up to his feet, Sage Pontiff drives his elbow into his sternum before connecting with a neckbreaker.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Kohime Mori drives her boot into the midsection of Tony Gamble and connects with a back elbow to Mortimer before planting both in the center of the ring with a double DDT.
ONE!
The lights cut.
BANNG!!
Strobes and smoke obfuscate the entry-way as “I Have A Prepared Statement” by Whores. pumps in over the PA. The PRIMEview cycles through footage of nuclear explosions, weapons of war, burning cities, riots in the streets, and in-ring highlights of Rezin being his daring and dastardly self. Blinding white light fills the entry-way as the silhouette of a man steps through the curtain.
Nick Stuart: Entrant Thirty-Eight is next and that person is none other than Rezin!
Richard Parker: Lindsay Troy dodged a bullet when he lost last night against Hanlon!
The now former Universal Champion appears from the backstage area. Disgruntled and bandaged, Rezin makes his way down the ramp and hops onto the ring apron for Ring 1. As he does, he locks eyes with Nate Colton before connecting with a springboard missile dropkick! Colton quickly gets back up to his feet and the two stars begin trading blows with one another until Rezin drives his boot into his midsection, drops on his back, and connects with a right hand to the face of the Five-Star Champion. As Rezin gets back up to his feet, he then makes a beeline for Tyler Adrian Best, driving his forearm into his shoulder blades. As TAB stumbles forward, Rezin breaks out into a run and connects with a one-handed bulldog!
Nick Stuart: And Rezin seems to have a bit of fire in him tonight as well!
Richard Parker: That would be an understatement as the GOAT BASTARD himself seems to want to inflict the pain he is feeling on everyone else in the vicinity.
Nick Stuart: And Rezin is back up to his feet and slams his boot across the face of TAB, who was making his way up to his feet. There’s a bit of extra aggression coming from Rezin right now.
Rezin drags TAB up to his feet and drives his fist into his midsection before springboarding off the middle rope and connecting with a cutter. As Rezin gets back up to his feet, he is met with a flurry of forearms from Nate Colton. Colton goes to whip Rezin into the ropes, but Rezin reverses it and connects with a drop toe hold on Colton. Rezin is back up to his feet in a hurry and is met with a stiff knife-edge chop from Elise Ares. Rezin howls in pain before headbutting Elise in the face and connects with a butterfly suplex.
Meanwhile, in Ring 1, Eddie Cross drives his elbow into the sternum of Sage Pontiff. Pontiff stumbles into the ropes where Eddie reigns down a flurry of forearm shots until FLAMBERGE comes up behind Cross and connects with a German Suplex! As Eddie stumbles to his feet, grabbing the back of his head in the process, FLAMBERGE comes at him with a flying dropkick that sends Eddie crashing into the nearby corner. FLAMBERGE walks over to Eddie and hoists him onto the top turnbuckle.
Nick Stuart: What the hell does FLAMBERGE have planned for Eddie Cross?
Richard Parker: I’m not certain, but I imagine it is something painful and dangerous.
Nick Stuart: FLAMBERGE is climbing up to the top turnbuckle and the two are trading punches until FLAMBERGE connects with a trio of headbutts, dizzying Eddie a bit. He’s now pulling Cross up with him!
FLAMBERGE puts him into a front facelock and begins to pull Eddie up for a Superplex when Brandon Youngblood hops onto middle turnbuckle and puts FLAMBERGE into a waist lock. Brandon uses his strength as he pulls back while FLAMBERGE is pulling Cross up, with FLAMBERGE connecting with a Superplex on Cross while Youngblood connects with a German Suplex on FLAMBERGE.
Nick Stuart: Holy hell, those men have to be broken into pieces!
Richard Parker: You would think so, but it looks like Youngblood locked his hands and is rolling FLAMBERGE through and picks him up —
Nick Stuart: Rolling German Suplex! FLAMBERGE’s head bounced off the mat and now he is lifting FLAMBERGE up for a third time and just connected with a third rolling German Suplex!
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
The Alias Champion drives his knee into the midsection of Ned Reform before whipping him into the corner and connecting with a short-arm clothesline.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Anna Daniels plants her boot into the midsection of Darin Zion before connecting with a gutwrench suplex!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Mushigihara connects with a spinning back elbow to Jack Sullivan before whipping her into the ropes, tossing her into the air, and letting her land flat into the canvas.
ONE!
“The Soviet National Anthem” by the Russian Red Army Choir erupts as Ivan Stanislav and Alexei Rulsan emerge from the backstage area, looking angry as all get-out. Stanislav storms down the ramp with Alexei on his heels, then steps onto the ring apron of Ring 1 and looks at Rezin. The Goat Bastard glares back, remembering that Ivan threw him through the roof of the cell the night before, costing him his Universal Title.
Ivan curses under his breath, knowing he should have been the one to pin Rezin and claim the Universal Title for himself. He then climbs over the top rope and immediately places his massive paw across the face of Rezin.
Nick Stuart: We’ve got two-thirds of our Night One main event, ready to go right now!
Richard Parker: After seeing the roof of the cell cave in, I would be hesitant to remain in that ring with those two!
Rezin immediately clubs the arms of The Russian Bear, but to no avail as Ivan launches Rezin backwards and into the nearby corner. Ivan puts his head down and runs full speed at Rezin, connecting with a splash in the corner that nearly flattens the Goat Bastard. Ivan goes to whip Rezin to the opposite corner, but Rezin manages to reverse it and sends Ivan in chest first. The Russian Bear stumbles backwards out of the corner from the impact and Rezin places him in a waistlock. He lifts, going for a German Suplex, but Ivan doesn’t budget. Instead, he plants his elbow into the face of the former Universal Champion, spins around, and heabutts him to the mat.
Tyler Adrian Best rushes over to Stanislav and pelts him with forearms, but Ivan scoops TAB up with one arm and slams him into the mat. Scott Douglas rushes over, but Ivan connects with a meaty fist to the face that sends him crashing to the mat. Jack Sullivan leaps off the top rope, looking for a top-rope crossbody on Ivan, but the Russian Bear catches her and swings her around into a Uranage slam! Tyler Rayne rushes over and pelts him with a series of kicks to his legs, which only seems to anger Stanislav as he wraps his hand around Rayne’s throat and choke slams him in the center of the ring.
Richard Parker: Stanislav is clearing house and it definitely makes you wonder… who is going to be able to stop Stanislav? It seems like the only person in PRIME who has managed to do so is Hayes Hanlon, even though he didn’t pin him last night at Culture Shock – Night One!
Nick Stuart: That is a rather fair question.
Richard Parker: You know something else that I noticed?
Nick Stuart: What is that?
Richard Parker: That Stanislav was supposed to be the last one out here, but he’s only entrant thirty-nine. Who is coming in after him?
Nick Stuart: Um, oh… shit. You’re right.
In Ring 2, Jared Sykes connects with a springboard knee to the face of Paxton Ray, dropping the Lafayette Monster down to one knee which prompts Jared to run and goes for a Shining Wizard only for Paxton to catch him in mid-air, lift him into the air, and connects with a power bomb on the Tag Team Champion.
Coral Avalon meanwhile connects with a knife-edge chop on FLAMBERGE, backing him into the corner where he drills his shoulder into FLAMBERGE’s abdomen, repeatedly. As he is doing so, Darin Zion and JCH come up behind him, pulling him off of FLAMBERGE. JCH lifts Avalon off of the mat while Zion bounces off the ropes before connecting with a running clothesline on FLAMBERGE!
Then, the PRIME*VIEW comes to life.
Nick Stuart: Entrant Forty! This is the last one!
Richard Parker: That it is… and who could possibly be back there who isn’t out here yet?
Nick Stuart: That’s a great question.
Richard Parker: My money is on Lindsay Troy.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
Stanislav watches as High Flyer bounces off the ropes, running straight at him, and sends him to the mat with a large boot in between the eyes.
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
Tony Gamble clips the knee of Ned Reform while Mortimer bounces off the ropes and drops a knee across the face of Reform.
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
Arthur Pleasant drives his shoulder into the rib cage of Anna Daniels as he lifts her up and slams her into the nearby turnbuckle.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
…
The PRIME Faithful watch on with bated breath.
…
…
…
…
…
I said ‘kiss me, you’re beautiful’
These are truly the last days'”
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: It can’t be.
Richard Parker: No way…
The weathered voice from the beginning of Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s “Dead Flag Blues” fades into the short acoustic section that begins Coheed & Cambria’s “Welcome Home.” After twelve seconds, the bitchin’ guitars start to kick ass, as green and silver pyro goes off in perfect timing with the power riffs.
And then, the following appears on the PRIME*View…
M O D E L C I T I Z E N
Finally, the man himself – the Sultan of Style, the Viet Viper – swaggers out from behind the curtain.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: HOLY HELL, CHANDLER TSONDA IS HERE!
Richard Parker: I’m seeing it, but I’m not believing it!
Nick Stuart: All eyes are looking at the PRIME Hall of Famer, who nobody has heard a peep from in… YEARS!
Tsonda soaks up the fans’ reaction at the top of the ramp for a few moments before sauntering down to ring with a smile on his face. He walks up the steps of Ring 1, and looks over at Tyler Rayne before he steps through the ropes. Rayne has just gotten back to his feet after taking a chokeslam from Ivan Stanislav and can’t believe his eyes. Chandler walks, confidently, up to Tyler with the most serious look possible on his face.
TSOND-A! TSOND-A! TSONDA-A! TSONDA-A!
RAYNE! RAYNE! RAYNE! RAYNE!
Just when it looks like the two men are going to trade blows, Tsonda removes his sunglasses, tosses them into the crowd, and the besties come together in a big bro hug!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: I can’t believe what we are seeing. Tsonda’s returned and the amigos are reunited!
Richard Parker: Thank God that dipshit Dawkins isn’t here, this is sickening enough.
Nick Stuart: This could spell danger for everyone else in the match, especially since all forty competitors are in the ring and the elimination process can now start.
Almost as if on cue, Tsonda and Rayne rush over to Mike McGee and begin to plant fist after fist on him. Tsonda whips McGee into the ropes and then Rayne puts him down to the mat with a roundhouse kick that threatens to take McGee’s teeth out!
Tsonda then climbs up to the top rope and connects with a moonsault on the Excel Master!
Nick Stuart: THE MODEL CITIZEN! MCGEE IS DONE!
Chander then gets to his feet, feeling the soreness in his body already, but pushes through it as he grabs McGee by the back of his head and throws him over the top rope, making him the first elimination of the match!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
ELIMINATED: MIKE MCGEE
Richard Parker: See ya later, Mikey!
In Ring 2, Paxton Ray drives his boot into the midsection of Violet Samuelsson before connecting with a butterfly suplex that leaves her stunned in the center of the ring. Ray wastes no time as he lifts her up off the mat, whips her into the ropes, and lifts her into the air before connecting with a left uppercut as she comes down.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: LAFAYETTE LULLABY!
Richard Parker: I would’ve preferred that everyone take out Paxton and then eliminate him. I assume I’m not going to get my wish.
Nick Stuart: It certainly does look like it will as Paxton has just grabbed Violet by the back of her head and tosses her over the top rope with not an ounce of remorse in his face.
ELIMINATED: VIOLET SAMUELSSON
Tyler Rayne connects with a flying side kick to the face of Rezin before Tsonda bounces off the ropes and drops an elbow across the throat of the Goat Bastard.
Then, the PRIME*View comes to life.
Nick Stuart: …what the hell?
Richard Parker: Did you miscount again?!
Nick Stuart: No… there’s forty people! Thirty-eight remain in the ring! What is going on?
Well, everyone else in the ring wonders the same thing as they’ve all paused. It doesn’t help that it’s become rather ominous as the lights have dimmed some and there is lightning bolts dancing across the PRIME*View and the sounds of thunder fill AT&T Stadium.
TEN!
Ready?
NINE!
Prepare to scream.
EIGHT!
Or don’t.
SEVEN!
We don’t give a fuck.
SIX!
And neither does the person about to come out.
FIVE!
Hope you’ve got your pants firmly applied.
FOUR!
Because they’re about to fall down.
THREE!
Or be pulled down… by the person about to come out.
TWO!
Cue screaming.
ONE!
Cue vomiting
ZERO!
Because it’s zero sum time.
“MR. FINISH LINE”
Richard Parker: No…
Nick Stuart: That can’t be… I’m getting word from the production truck…
A solitary figure stands on the stage while the PRIME*View continues to crackle. His slim silhouette is easily distinguishable for at least one man.
“MR. FINISH LINE”
“MR. FINISH LINE”
Richard Parker: I can’t… I don’t… this…
Nick Stuart: I just got word from the truck we have a forty-first entry!
Richard Parker: IT’S HIM!!! IT’S ACTUALLY FUCKING HIM!!!
HE’S MR FINISH LINE
A single solitary spotlight beams down and the crowd loses its entire collective fucking mind. Babies are conceived, born, and old people fall over dead. The entire cycle of life occurs in the flash of an eye as the man looks up.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH~!
Richard Parker: IT’S CECILWORTH FUCKING FARTHINGTON! IT’S THE GOD DAMNED FINISH LINE! HOW HALL OF FAMER! FARTHY TWO BELTS! THEN FARTHY THREE BELTS!
Nick Stuart: Cecilworth Farthington is one of three men with the claim to the most dominant world title reign of all time…
Richard Parker: YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS~! IT’S HIIIIIIIM!!!!
As the theme song weaves to bringing things to a boil the music stops, a record scratches…And “Choke” by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me hits and the PRIME*View white washes leaving one name.
CECILWORTH FARTHINGTON
Richard Parker: LINDSAY TROY IS THE BEST OWNER EVER! SHE HAS MADE MY LIFE COMPLETE! FARTHINGTON IN A PRIME RING IS PERFECTION(not that dickhead)!!!!!
Richard stands up from the announce booth and rips off his suit jacket and button-down, revealing a t-shirt underneath that says “PRESIDENT OF THE FARTHY THREE BELTS FAN CLUB: SOUTHWEST CHAPTER”
Nick Stuart: Richard…
RIchard Parker: I HAVE WORN THIS SHIRT EVERY PRIME SHOW SINCE WE CAME BACK, NICK, AND NOW ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE. THIS IS THE GREATEST MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COMPANY!
Nick Stuart: I think that’s a little…
Richard Parker: DO NOT WRECK THIS FOR ME, NICK, I SWEAR TO HOYT…
There is no racing down the ramp. Instead, Farthington takes a slow walk as everyone in the ring, everyone in the arena, looks on with jaws dropped and curiosity filling their minds. He slowly walks up the steps to Ring 1 and steps through the ropes. He walks over to Tyler Rayne, who has a look of faint recognition on his face.
Unfortunately for the Golden Boy, Cecilworth knows exactly who he is.
Farthington then unfurls a series of forearm strikes to the face of Tyler Rayne, battering the PRIME legend who has been in the ring since the very beginning. Each shot to the face of Rayne is stiffer than the previous one until Cecilworth kicks Rayne in the midsection, hoists him up, and connects with a Fisherman’s Buster!
Nick Stuart: Worthless from Farthington onto Rayne! Dear Lord, the impact!
Richard Parker: TAKE THAT RAYNE, YOU UNFAITHFUL CHEATING PIECE OF SHIT.
Cecilworth then picks Rayne up and looks him in the face.
“FUCKING WORTHLESS!”
He then tosses Rayne over the top rope.
ELIMINATED: TYLER RAYNE
Somewhere backstage, Lindsay Troy is smirking.
Everyone was on notice and realized… shit had hit the fan. At that moment, all hell broke loose in the rings as the thirty-eight remaining competitors broke out into an all-out brawl.
Nick Stuart: Thirty-eight competitors remain as Tyler Rayne, Violet Samuelsson, and Mike McGee have all been eliminated thus far.
Richard Parker: MOAR, I WANT MOAR!
Tsonda, engaged in a slugfest with Rezin and unable to help his bestie Rayne, slams his knee into the midsection of the Goat Bastard while Cecilworth Farthington drives his forearm into the throat of Scott Douglas. In Ring 2, Jared Sykes blocks a side suplex from FLAMBERGE and plants his elbow into the face of the French star repeatedly before spinning around and connecting with a double-leg takedown!
Nate Colton connects with an uppercut on Mushigihara, who retaliates with a stiff headbutt that drops Colton to one knee! Mushi then bounces off the ropes and slams his knee into Colton’s face, sending Colton to the mat. Mushi immediately reaches down and tosses Colton into the corner where he unloads on him with a series of fists, each one stiffer than the last, and each one making Colton wish this ended… now.
Nick Stuart: Colton is on the receiving end of some brutal body shots from Mushigihara.
Richard Parker: Talking about body shot–
Nick Stuart: No.
Richard Parker: Just a little bit?
Nick Stuart: No.
Paxton Ray slams his head into the face of Vhodka Black, sending her crashing to the mat. As he turns around, Youngblood bounces off the ropes and connects with a spear to the Lafayette Monster before mounting him and entering ground and pound mode. Ray covers up until he’s able to eventually push Youngblood off of him. As Ray gets back up to his feet, Youngblood rushes at him and Ray manages to get him up and connects with a sidewalk slam!
Nova slams his forearm into the back of Pontiff’s neck before grabbing him by the back of his tights and pulling him into Nova, who drives his forearm into the small of Pontiff’s back, dropping him to one knee. Nova then bounces off the ropes and connects with a Shining Wizard to the back of Sage’s neck.
Elise Ares bounces off the ropes and ducks a clothesline from Rezin. She then runs into the next set of ropes and springboards into a crossbody on Rezin, who is ready for her and connects with a dropkick to her ribcage, sending her crashing to the mat in the process. Cecilworth Farthington bounces off the ropes and drives his boot into the face of Adam Ellis who stumbles backwards from the shot and then launches himself forward into a clothesline on Farthington!
Nick Stuart: Mayhem everywhere you look.
Richard Parker: This match just got real for a lot of people as eliminations can now begin and everyone is looking for their chance to win the Universal Title, now held by Hayes Hanlon!
Nick Stuart: Well, we might have our next elimination as Mushigihara has Nate Colton up on his shoulder!
Richard Parker: See ya later, Natey boy!
Mushigihara walks to the ring edge and goes to throw Colton over the top rope only for Colton to slip off of his back. Mushigihara turns around and is immediately met with a succession of forearm shots to the face. Mushi is stunned from the shots as Colton then bounces off the ropes and connects with a clothesline that sends Mushi over the top rope and tumbling to the unforgiving outside!
ELIMINATED: MUSHIGIHARA
Nick Stuart: And there goes Mushigihara! What an elimination from Colton who just used every ounce of strength in his body to send the God Beast tumbling over the top rope!
Richard Parker: Colton should be breathing a sigh of relief right now, because Mushi had him exactly where he wanted him and could have tossed his dumb ass over the top rope.
Nick Stuart: Did Nate Colton do anything to you or are you just drinking vinegar now?
Richard Parker: Look, I saw him at the club. I was waiting in line. He could’ve helped get me in, but instead he walked to the door, handed the bouncer way too much money, and left me outside all night! What kind of friend does that?
Nick Stuart: Are you two friends?
RIchard Parker: Good point.
Matt Ward catches Jiles in the face with a forearm strike as the Mount of COOLympus rushes at him. Jiles stumbles forward and as Ward walks up to him, Jiles catches him in the face with a back elbow. Jiles then whips Ward into the ropes and connects with a clothesline that sends Ward crashing to the mat.
Eddie Cross, meanwhile, connects with an uppercut on Arthur Pleasant. Pleasant stumbles backwards, and Cross rushes at him only for Pleasant to scoop him up and powerbomb him into the mat. As Pleasant gets back up to his feet, Williams slams his forearm into his back, spins him around and connects with a butterfly suplex that shakes the ring.
Tyler Adrian Best slams his elbow into the face of Scott Douglas before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a dropkick. TAB quickly picks Douglas off of the mat and goes to throw Douglas over the top rope, but Douglas slams his elbow into TAB’s midsection before driving his fist into his face before following it up with a snap suplex.
Ivan Stanislav runs into the corner and drives his elbow into the face of Abe Lipschitz, causing his eyes to nearly bulge out of his head. Stanislav then throws Abe out of the corner and onto the mat. Ivan climbs onto the second turnbuckle, but before he is able to do anything else, Chandler Tsona rushes over and kicks the inside of Ivan’s leg repeatedly to slow him down before springboarding off the nearby middle rope and connecting with a bulldog off of the second rope.
Richard Parker: My head is on a swivel and I still can’t keep up with all of the action.
Nick Stuart: Thirty-seven competitors remain in this match and you know they all can feel the chance for a Universal Title match at Tropical Turmoil at the tips of their fingers!
Richard Parker: Elise Ares now drilling her elbow into the face of Jack Sullivan.
Nick Stuart: Ares seems to be finding her momentum and rhythm in this match and at the right exact moment!
Ares goes for another elbow strike to Sullivan, but Jack ducks underneath it and as Ares turns around, she is caught by the step over spinning heel kick from Sullivan.
Nick Stuart: Phoenix Crusher! Could this be it for Ares?
Sullivan then climbs to the top rope and waits for Elise to get back up to her feet. As she does, Sullivan leaps off the top rope, looking for the Asai Moonsault, but misses as Ares moves out of the way at the last second!
Nick Stuart: And Sullivan goes for the Supernova on Ares, but misses completely!
Richard Parker: Those top rope maneuvers will get you in danger in a match like this!
Nick Stuart: And Elise connects with the double foot curb stomp on the back of Sullivan’s head! She is out!
Richard Parker: Extreme Makeover indeed!
Ares then lifts Sullivan off of the mat and tosses her over the top rope.
ELIMINATION: JACK SULLIVAN
Richard Parker: And just like that, we have five people eliminated from the Battle Royale! Sullivan is out of here and good riddance!
Nick Stuart: What did she do to you?
Richard Parker: Nothing.
Nick Stuart: Then why are you happy to see her eliminated?
Richard Parker: So I can go home! We’ve been over here for like ninety minutes now!
Coral Avalon bounces off the ropes and ducks a clothesline from Anna Daniels and as he bounces off the opposite ropes, Daniels runs right at him and slams her knee into his midsection. Avalon, doubled over, is then hit with a knee to the face from Daniels who then connects with a spinning back kick to his abdomen. Daniels then bounces off the ropes and connects with a neckbreaker!
The Anglo Luchador drives his boot into the midsection of Mortimer before bouncing off the ropes and slamming his knee into the side of face. Mortimer drops to one knee, but TAL then puts him into a front facelock and connects with a suplex. TAL holds on and rolls through it, dragging Mortimer back up to his feet before connecting with another suplex. TAL holds on once again and rolls through to his feet before connecting with a third suplex on the Alias Champion.
JCH connects with a clothesline to the back of Youngblood’s neck. Brandon stumbles into the corner where JCH turns him around and connects with a knife-edge chop. This only incenses Brandon who switches places with JCH and begins unloading on him with a series of knife-edge chops.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
JCH stumbles out of the corner only for Youngblood to push him back into the corner and unloads another series of knife-edge chops.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
Richard Parker: JCH’s chest is redder than that time Nick tried to ask Angelica out on a date and she turned him down!
Nick Stuart: That wasn’t me, that was you!
Richard Parker: Yeah, but the story sounds better if I say that it’s you. No one is going to believe that I got turned down for a date.
Nick Stuart: What, why?!
Richard Parker: Look at me!
NIck Stuart: No thanks. I’d like to keep my stomach in my stomach.
Ned Reform bounces off the ropes and connects with a slingblade on Thane before bouncing up to his feet and driving his boot into the midsection of Colton and then nailing him with a Butterfly Suplex onto the body of Thane!
FLAMBERGE plants his boot into the midsection of Vhodka Black before snapping his leg against hers repeatedly until she drops to one knee. FLAMBERGE then bounces off the ropes and connects with an axe kick to the back of Black’s neck! With her on the mat, he immediately puts her into a guillotine choke!
Nick Stuart: FLAMBERGE has the Marie Antoniette locked! He is trying to make Vhodka pass out!
Richard Parker: That sounds like a pretty sound strategy to winning the match if you ask me.
Nick Stuart: And she is out, but FLAMBERGE is holding it in for good measure.
Richard Parker: No one to stop him either.
FLAMBERGE then let’s go and drags Vhodka up to her feet before throwing her over the top rope!
ELIMINATED: VHODKA BLACK
Nick Stuart: Six competitors are out of this ring! Out of the match, out of the running for a title shot at Tropical Turmoil!
Richard Parker: Let’s go. More eliminations!
Cancer Jiles drags his fingers across the eyes of Rocky de Leon before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a back elbow. Rocky is stunned for a moment before he connects with a leaping kick to the back of Cancer’s skull, dropping Jiles to one knee. Rocky walks over and begins to drag Cancer up to his feet when Jiles connects with a low blow and then connects with a sitout powerslam!
Elise Ares catches Reform in the midsection with a stiff knee before pushing him into the corner. Ares connects with a back elbow into the corner before grabbing him by the wrist and goes to whip him across to the opposite corner, but reverses course and sends Reform crashing chest first into the corner! Ares then hoists Reform onto the top turnbuckle and climbs up with him where she goes for a side suplex off the top rope, but Reform rotates in mid-air and connects with a splash on Ares!
Jared Sykes eats a massive fist from Hoyt Williams, dropping him to one knee. Hoyt slams his forearm into his upper back before whipping Sykes into the ropes and hoists him into the air before catching him on his back and slamming him into the mat! Sykes lays there as Williams gets back up to his feet and drops an elbow across his sternum! As Hoyt gets up to his feet, Pleasant drills his boot into the face of Hoyt before going for a suplex that sees Williams land behind Pleasant where Williams puts him into a reverse face lock and then connects with a reverse DDT.
Richard Parker: Want to make a bet on who will be the next one eliminated?
Nick Stuart: Not really.
Richard Parker: Oh come on! Have some fun with me.
Nick Stuart: Fine, who do you think will be next?
Richard Parker: Darin Zion.
Nick Stuart: That’s not nice.
Richard Parker: But you agree with me just a little don’t you?
Nick Stuart: Yes, and I don’t know why!
Scott Douglas then bounces off the ropes and connects with a running bulldog onto Tony Gamble. Douglas is kicked to his feet as he connects with a Northern Lights Suplex that plants Tony near a corner. Douglas makes his way over to the corner, climbs to the top rope, and connects with a Shooting Star Press!
Nick Stuart: The Fremont Plunge! Douglas got all of that one and the former DEFIANCE star is in a great position to eliminate Tony Gamble!
Richard Parker: That seems to be the idea in mind as he’s got Tony up on his feet and is dragging him over to the ropes.
Douglas starts to throw Gamble over the top rope when Mortimer Knightingale comes up behind Douglas and slams his forearm into the back of his neck. Gamble hangs onto the top rope as Douglas turns around and Mortimer drills him with fist after fist. Gamble gently lowers himself to the ring apron and pulls down the top rope as Mortimer connects with a clothesline that sends Douglas tumbling to the outside.
ELIMINATED: SCOTT DOUGLAS
Nick Stuart: That is one group that could definitely take advantage of this free-for-all, GAS, as Mortimer saves Tony before he gets eliminated.
Richard Parker: Yeah, until Tony no longer needs Mortimer’s goofy ass.
Nick Stuart: Well, that might be the case, but Mortimer just helped Gamble out when it mattered the most.
Richard Parker: Dork.
Gamble scrambles back inside of the ring, looks at Mortimer, and then decks the shit out of Kohime Mori who is coming up behind the Alias Champion. Meanwhile, Nate Colton connects with a palm strike to the chest of Kenny Freeman, sending him crashing to the mat while Elise Areas bounces off the ropes, counters the clothesline that Abe Lipschitz wants to hit her with, and wraps around his arm before planting him in the center of the ring with a DDT.
Sage Pontiff connects with a drop toehold on Rocky de Leon before bouncing off the ropes and dropping a knee across the back of his neck. FLAMBERGE connects with a dropkick on Hoyt Williams that sends the Anointed One crashing into the ropes with the ropes locking his arms in place. FLAMBERGE wastes no time as he plants his boot repeatedly into the gut of Hoyt before pelting him in the forehead with closed fist after closed fist.
Cecilworth Farthington hits a headbutt on High Flyer, dropping him to one knee. Farthington puts Flyer into a headlock and connects with a head toss, keeping the headlock on as he works to cut off the air supply of Harmen. Harmen, craftily, wraps his legs around the neck of Farthington, who immediately rolls Harmen onto his shoulders before dead-lifting him and power bombing him into the mat.
Richard Parker: I still can’t believe that Farthington is here. I can die a happy man.
Nick Stuart: Troy and Farthington have been close for a number of years but still, this is quite a shock.
Richard Parker: And a coup!
TCG and Zion put boots to the body of Brandon Youngblood, having driven him into one of the ring corners. Youngblood sends fist after fist, trying to fight them off, but then JCH rushes into the corner and connects with a splash on Youngblood. The Love Convoy puts boot after boot into his abdomen until he is in a seated position in the corner. Zion then backs up and connects with a senton on Youngblood! TCG then does the same and then JCH connects with a dropkick to the seated Youngblood.
Nick Stuart: Love Convoy has had their eyes focused on Youngblood ever since JCH made his way out to the ring.
Richard Parker: Honestly, smart. Use the trio you have to eliminate everyone in the ring and then everyone leaves and let JCH claim the title shot!
Nick Stuart: I mean, not a bad idea. Not sure if targeting Youngblood first is the smartest decision.
TCG and Zion drag Youngblood out of the corner and lean him against the ropes. They then, with the help of JCH, start to lift him up by his legs, looking to eliminate him. Youngblood though fires off with a series closed-handed fists into the face of all three men until he headbutts JCH in the face and sends him stumbling backwards. Youngblood then wraps his arms around the torso of Zion and connects with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex that sends Zion over the top rope and crashing into the ringside barricade.
ELIMINATED: DARIN ZION
Nick Stuart: That looked like the end of the road for Brandon Youngblood and yet, he managed to fight off the Love Convoy and eliminated one of their members!
Richard Parker: Not what Vickie Hall wanted at all, judging by her face.
Nick Stuart: No, not at all as she and Zion are having some words before Darin returns to the backstage area.
Paxton Ray connects with a back elbow to the face of Matt Ward before whipping him into the ropes and dropping him with a boot to the face. Arthur Pleasant scoops TCG into his arms and spikes him on the mat with a body slam. Brandon Youngblood slams his fist into the face of Jonathan -Christopher Hall before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a spinebuster that leaves a JCH-sized imprint in the center of the ring.
Chandler Tsonda connects with a back kick to the stomach of Rezin before slamming his knee into the bridge of the Goat Bastard’s nose. High Flyer leaps off the top rope and connects with a missile dropkick on Elise Ares and when he gets up to his feet he is met with a Shining Wizard to the face from Thane. The Anglo Luchador feels the boots in his midsection from Kenny Freeman and when Freeman goes to whip him to the opposite corner, TAL reverses it into a short-arm clothesline that sends Freeman slumping into the corner.
Kohime whips Tony Gamble into the ropes and connects with a uranage backbreaker, holding Gamble on her knee for a moment before dropping him onto the mat. She takes a clothesline to the sternum by Mortimer, but then drives her forearm into the face of Mortimer before connecting with a go behind German Suplex. Cancer Jiles rakes the back of Matt Ward who connects with a back elbow before putting him down on the mat with an Exploder Suplex.
Richard Parker: Not certain how Matt Ward is still in this match.
Nick Stuart: Closing in on two hours and he’s somehow not only still in the match, but still dishing out punishment. You can see it on his face though, how much this moment would mean to him.
Richard Parker: If he manages to pull it off, it will be one of the more amazing stories and will only add to his legacy.
Freeman makes his way back up to his feet only to be drilled in the face by Ivan Stanislav with an open-handed palm strike to the chest. Kenny drops to one knee from the shot, clutching his chest in the process. Ivan picks up him, wraps his hand around Kenny’s throat, and then chokeslams him. Ivan then picks up Freeman and chucks him over the top rope.
ELIMINATED: KENNY FREEMAN
Nick Stuart: Ivan Stanislav is a man who could eliminate everyone in both rings simply by thinking it.
Richard Parker: You would think everyone would smarten up and decide to eliminate him, but it seems like everyone is in their own kind of bubble.
After Ivan tosses out Freeman, Tsonda rushes up to the Russian Bear and pelts him with a stiff kick to the back of his left leg. Ivan howls out as he turns around, connecting with a swinging back fist to the former PRIME Universal Champion. Chandler stumbles away, but Ivan grabs him by the shoulders and turns him around. He wastes no time hoisting him onto his shoulder and looks like he’s about to throw him over the top rope when Tsonda slips out of his grasp and chop blocks him in his right knee.
Eddie Cross connects with a dropkick on FLAMBERGE and as FLAMBERGE gets back up to his feet, Eddie catches him with an uppercut that sends him into the corner. Eddie plants his boot repeatedly into his midsection before yanking him out and whipping him into the ropes. Eddie goes for a clothesline, but FLAMBERGE ducks underneath it. FLAMBERGE then springboards off the middle rope and connects with a spinning heel kick to Eddie Cross, sending him to the mat.
Elise Ares plants her boot repeatedly into the midsection of Nate Colton, who fires back with a succession of forearm shots of his own. She puts him into a wrist lock and Colton grimaces in pain before pulling her into him. She ducks around him, slamming her forearm into his neck. As he stumbles away, she springboards off the middle rope and connects with a flying headscissor that sends him across the ring.
Nick Stuart: Elise Ares has been impressive since she entered the ring. The former Five-Star Champion versus the current Five-Star Champion could be a compelling match down the road!
Richard Parker: If she eliminates him, we all will have to suffer having her around. Then again, the thought of Elise smacking him around a bit is actually pleasing to my soul.
Nick Stuart: I thought you sold that.
Richard Parker: Just to a pawn shop. Got it back.
Pleasant plants his fist into the midsection of Paxton Ray, driving the air out of him. Ray pauses for a moment before slamming his fist into the jaw of Pleasant. Arthur stumbles away, but Ray keeps the pressure up as he slams his forearm repeatedly into the shoulders of Pleasant. Arthur fires off a back elbow that catches Paxton square in the face. Pleasant then hoists Paxton onto his shoulders.
Nick Stuart: Looks like Pleasant is looking for the Calamity Pain here!
Richard Parker: Good, rid us all of Paxton Ray!
Paxton slips off the back of Pleasant, spins him around and connects with an uppercut. He grabs Pleasant by the back of the head and goes to throw him over the top rope, but Pleasant manages to reverse it and sends Paxton instead!
Richard Parker: Damnit! Paxton Ray manages to land on the ring apron.
Nick Stuart: Just needs a good kick in the face and he’ll fall to the outside!
Pleasant has that exact idea as he runs full speed at Paxton, looking to connect with a big boot to his chest. Paxton steps out of the way though, hanging Pleasant on the top rope. Paxton slams fist after fist into the face of Pleasant before yanking him over the top rope. Pleasant manages to stand on the ring apron as well, but not for long as Paxton connects with a Discus Elbow that sends Pleasant crashing to the floor!
ELIMINATED: ARTHUR PLEASANT
Richard Parker: Ugh. Just kill me now. If I have to watch Paxton Ray win this thing, just wheel me to the edge of the stage and push me over.
Nick Stuart: Do I have to wait til Paxton wins? I can just do it now.
Tyler Adrian Best connects with a side belly-to-belly suplex on Adam Ellis. As he gets up, he snaps his boot into the midsection of Abe Lipschitz and connects with a butterfly suplex. Rezin bounces off the ropes and drills Tsonda with a running forearm that drops him to one knee. With Tsonda vulnerable, Rezin connects with a double-underhook DDT. As he gets back up to his feet, he is met with the paw of Ivan to the face that sends him crashing to the mat next to Tsonda.
Rocky de Leon leaps from the top rope and connects with a top-rope hurricanrana on Sage Pontiff. As he gets back up to his feet, he cracks a knife-edge chop across the chest of Eddie Cross before connecting with a Discus Elbow that plants him in the middle of the ring. Rocky is lightning fast to the nearby turnbuckle and connects with a diving elbow drop across the sternum of Cross.
Sykes grabs the wrist of Coral Avalon and puts him into a hammerlock before connecting with a hammerlock suplex. He gets back up to his feet and drives his boot into the sternum of Coral Avalon and as he does, Matt Ward comes up behind him and goes for a German Suplex. Sykes manages to land on his feet and he puts Ward into a waist lock, but is drilled in the face repeatedly by Ward until Ward connects with a Northern Lights Suplex on Sykes, slamming him into the prone body of Avalon.
Nick Stuart: Really impressive to see the likes of Matt Ward —
Richard Parker: — don’t you say it —
Nick Stuart: Kohime Mori —
Richard Parker: — don’t you are say it —
Nick Stuart: The Anglo Luchador —
Richard Parker: — I swear, if you say it —
Nick Stuart: and Cancer Jiles —
Richard Parker: — I told you not to say it!
Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy plants his boot repeatedly into the chest of Nova before driving elbow after elbow to his sternum. As TCG gets back up to his feet — with Vickie cheering him on — Youngblood comes up and connects with the Karelin Lift out of nowhere! He then drags the lifeless body of Tristan-Cristpin Gladhappy off of the mat and tosses him over the top rope!
ELIMINATED: TRISTAN-CRISPIN GLADHAPPY
Nick Stuart: And the Love Convoy is down to one person!
Richard Parker: If I was Jonathan-Christopher Hall, I might want to get out of the same ring as Brandon Youngblood.
And JCH does just that, as if he could hear Richard Parker or something. After watching Zion and TCG get eliminated by Youngblood, he decides he’d have better luck in Ring 1 while Thane exits from Ring 1 and enters Ring 2 where he drills Eddie Cross in the throat with a palm strike. Cross grabs his throat as Thane then bounces off the ropes and connects with a running clothesline. Thane then turns around and is met with an uppercut from FLAMBERGE who then connects with a hip toss followed by an arm bar!
Elise Ares hops off the second turnbuckle and connects with a front-flip leg drop across the throat of Tony Gamble! Gamble clutches his throat as Elise gets back up to her feet and when she does, she’s immediately grabbed by the back of the head by Jonathan-Christopher Hall and tossed over the top rope! Ares though manages to land on the ring apron while JCH turns around, cockily thinking he tossed out Elise.
“HEY SHITHEAD!”
JCH turns around and Elise connects with a springboard forearm to the face! Brandon Youngblood meanwhile locks up with Matt Ward, using his strength to push him down to one knee. Ward then disengages and connects with a double-leg takedown of Youngblood, driving his elbow into his face repeatedly until he presses it against his windpipe. Back in Ring 1, Ned Reform ducks a forearm from Lipschitz and then grabs Abe’s head before slamming it into the mat.
Richard Parker: Thirty individuals left, right?
Nick Stuart: Yep.
Richard Parker: And we’re at the two hour mark?
Nick Stuart: Probably closer to the two hour and ten minute mark, but yeah.
Richard Parker: Just trying to time my Doordash for when I get back to the hotel.
Cecilworth Farthington connects with a jumping knee strike to the face of Adam Ellis, which causes him to stumble backwards from the shot. Cecilworth then runs full speed at Ellis, hitting him with a clothesline that causes both men to tumble to the ring apron! As they stand up, Ellis connects with a superkick that wobbles Cecilworth, who is hanging onto the ropes by fingernails.
Nick Stuart: Could Adam Ellis end up taking out Cecilworth Farthington?!
Richard Parker: If he does, Ellis better retire because there will be no greater moment than this!
Ellis takes a step back and goes for another superkick to Farthington, who ducks it and then uppercuts Adam in the groin.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
Ellis’s face grows white as he falls off the ring apron.
ELIMINATED: ADAM ELLIS
Nick Stuart: What an elimination by Farthington! I thought Ellis was going to get him.
Richard Parker: Not the best boy, Cecilworth! Takes a lot more than that to get him out of the ring!
As Cecilworth enters the ring, Tony Gamble begins to slam his closed fist into the face of Jack Harmen. The shots begin to rock him as he stumbles backwards into the rope and Gamble drives his elbow into the throat of Harmen! As he does, a hand appears on his shoulder and spins him around before decking him in the face.
Nick Stuart: Nova is in Ring 1 and he just decked Gamble in the face!
Richard Parker: These two have been best buds for quite some time and were former tag partners!
Nick Stuart: If they get on the same page in a hurry here, that could spell disaster for many of the other participants in Ring 1!
Nova and Harmen look at one another, bump fists, and then start stomping away at Tony Gamble before pulling him off the ground. They whip him into the ropes and Nova hoists Gamble into the air while Harmen bounces off the perpendicular ropes, springboarding off the middle rope and connecting with a cutter on Gamble while Nova falls backwards! As Nova and Harmen get back to their feet, Mortimer rushes in and begins sharing forearm shots between Nova and Harmen, but Nova connects with a headbutt and Jack bounces off the ropes and connects with a slingblade on him!
Thane plants his boot into Eddie’s midsection before connecting with a piledriver. Thane gets back to his feet in a hurry, bounces off the ropes, and drops an elbow across Eddie’s sternum before pulling him off the mat and connecting with an uppercut. Sage comes up behind Thane and places his hands on his shoulders, but Thane grabs Sage’s right hand and connects with a Judo throw, putting Sage on the mat. Thane takes a few steps as Sage sits up and drills his boot into the spine of Pontiff. As Eddie comes at Thane, Thane connects with a spinning back kick to Eddie’s midsection before bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a running bulldog.
Richard Parker: Thane handling Cross and Pontiff all by himself is not something I anticipated to see.
Nick Stuart: Anything and everything is possible in the Battle Royale!
Elise Ares drives her elbow into the face of Jack Harmen, but before she is able to continue her attack, Nova connects with a side suplex that dumps Ares on the side of her head. Elise is slow to her feet and as she gets to her knees, Nova plants his boot into her chest. Her body snaps back from the shot and Nova connects with another one that rocks Elise in the process. He then drags Elise up to her feet and plants his boot into her midsection before bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a leg drop bulldog.
Nick Stuart: Dying Star Drop from the Risen Star!
Richard Parker: He’s now climbing to the top rope, which is never a good idea!
Nick Stuart: He’s looking for his patented Shooting Star Press!
As he steadies himself on the top rope, he looks down at Elise, but before he can start his rotation on the Shooting Star Press, Tyler Adrian Best rushes into the corner and pushes Nova off of the turnbuckle and to the outside.
ELIMINATED: NOVA
Nick Stuart: NO! The Risen Star is out!
Richard Parker: Astute timing there from Tyler Adrian Best. Sounds like something he figured out from his daddy and his grandpappy.
Nick Stuart: Very possible!
Thane re-enters Ring 1 and connects with a knee strike to the face of Ned Reform before connecting with a suplex. As he gets up to his feet, he is met with a stiff fist from Mortimer, who follows it up with another one. Meanwhile, Rezin tackles Tyler Adrian Best to the mat and plants forearm after forearm into his face for the elimination of Nova. As he is doing that, Abe Lipschitz climbs the nearby corner and connects with a splash onto Rezin and TAB!
In Ring 2, Jiles rakes the eyes of Sage Pontiff and connects with a side suplex. He is quick to get back to his feet and stamps his foot onto Anna’s foot and then drills her in the face with a forearm shot. He then whips her across the ring and connects with a backbody drop. Meanwhile, Rocky de Leon drives his shoulder into the rib cage of Eddie Cross repeatedly, each shot coming sooner than the last. Rocky then flips Eddie out of the corner and onto his back with a hip toss before climbing onto the second turnbuckle and dropping a leg across his throat.
Richard Parker: Rocky’s going to get up on that turnbuckle one of these times and get knocked to the outside. Then we’ll see him have to be Fully-Dicked Pterodactyl in the backstage area.
Nick Stuart: Please, never repeat those words to me ever again.
Hoyt Williams lifts Jared Sykes onto his shoulder and connects with a powerbomb in the center of the ring. Chandler Tsonda connects with a spinning backfist to the face of Nate Colton before springboarding off the nearby middle rope and connecting with a DDT!
Thane whips Gamble into the ropes and plants him on the mat with a sidewalk slam. Gamble lies there for a moment before Thane rips him off the mat and begins to drag him towards the ropes. Gamble, realizing what is happening, slams his fist repeatedly into the abdomen of Thane, which slows him down slightly. Thane connects with a headbutt to quell Gamble and begins to lift him off the mat. Gamble immediately grabs the top rope, determined not to go over. As he does this, Mortimer realizes what is happening and rushes over, slamming his forearm into the back of Thane repeatedly.
This forces Thane to drop Gamble, who lands on his feet inside of the ring as he trades blows with Mortimer and then connects with a spinning back elbow to the jaw that stuns Mortimer. Thane grabs Moritmer and starts to lift him to go over the top rope when Gamble rushes up behind Thane and dumps him over the top rope!
ELIMINATED: THANE
Richard Parker: Thane didn’t even see it coming, but GAS was able to distract him long enough for Gamble to get the elimination!
Nick Stuart: Gamble is as opportunistic as anybody else in the ring is–
As they are talking, Kohime rushes up behind Gamble and dumps him over the top rope. He manages to land on the ring apron and as he gets to his feet, Kohime connects with a dropkick that sends Gamble crashing to the ring floor!
ELIMINATED: TONY GAMBLE
Richard Parker: And just like that, Tony Gamble has been eliminated! He took his eye off the prize for a moment and Kohime found the opportunity to eliminate one of her arch rivals!
Nick Stuart: And Mortimer seems to have a puzzled look on his face, as if he doesn’t know if he should be happy or disappointed that Gamble has been eliminated from the match.
Kohime takes a long look at Mortimer, as if to say ‘Seriously?’ and then connects with a spinning backhand that knocks Mortimer onto his ass as Kohime stands above him.
Matt Ward runs full speed into the corner, looking for a running shoulder tackle on Paxton Ray only for the Lafayette Monster to move out of the way. Paxton then catches Matt as he stumbles backwards from the momentum and snaps his elbow across the back of Ward’s skull before putting him into a waist lock and launching him backwards with a suplex that sees Ward flip inside out and land on his torso. As he sits up from the shot, Paxton slams his boot into Matt’s face, causing him to roll over in pain.
Tyler Adrian Best stands above Elise Ares, planting multiple boots across her sternum and chest before springboarding off the middle rope and dropping a knee across her throat. Best then yanks Ares off of the mat, whips her into the ropes, and goes for a clothesline only for Ares to duck underneath it. Best turns around to see Ares springboarding off the middle rope only for Elise to be met with an uppercut to the jaw as she comes closer to Best. Best then stands over her before pressing his knee against her throat.
Jared Sykes ducks a forearm shot from FLAMBERGE and grabs FLAMBO’s arm in the process before trapping it and connecting with a Saito Suplex! FLAMBERGE rolls onto the mat, exhaustion setting in with a painful mix of agony as Sykes floats over and drives his knee into the back of FLAMBERGE’s neck. As he is doing that though, Hoyt Williams cracks his boot into Jared’s face, giving FLAMBERGE a bit of a reprieve. Hoyt then lifts Jared off of the mat and connects with a chokeslam onto the prone body of FLAMBERGE!
Nick Stuart: Final twenty-six competitors, though it does feel like the eliminations have been happening at a faster clip.
Richard Parker: This match ultimately comes down to making a mistake and someone capitalizing on it. Like right now, Harmen is climbing up to the top turnbuckle. This could be an opportunity for someone to knock him off of his pedestal and eliminate him from the match.
Harmen looks down at Reform and leaps into the air for a splash on Reform. As he starts rocketing towards Ned though, Ivan Stanislav runs into Harmen (in mid-air mind you) and sends Harmen flying over the top rope and crashing to the outside!
ELIMINATED: JACK HARMEN
Richard Parker: Wow, from my lips to God’s ears.
Nick Stuart: Don’t even think about it.
Richard Parker: I never realized how powerful my words are!
Nick Stuart: They’re not.
Richard Parker: What else should I ask for?!
Nick Stuart: Nothing.
Anna Daniels connects with a spinning back kick to the rib cage of Sage Pontiff. She then snaps her elbow across the back of his neck, dropping him to one knee. Anna, no stranger to exacting pain, plants her fist into the side of his face before yanking him up to his feet. She puts him into a front facelock and goes for a suplex only for Sage to land behind her on his feet. He immediately puts her into a waist lock and goes to lift her up into the air only for Anna to block it and smashes her elbow into his face. Sage lets go of her and Anna immediately spins Sage around and connects with a spin-out sit-out powerbomb!
Abe Lipschitz plants his knee into the midsection of Ivan Stanislav, but it has no impact on him. At all. Ivan stares down at Abe who backs up, hands in the air, as Ivan works to close the gap between them. Abe immediately grabs Kohime and puts her in front of him. Ivan simply picks her up and tosses her from Ring 1 into Ring 2, with Kohime landing hard on the mat. Ivan then grabs Abe and tosses him into the corner where Ivan runs full speed at him, looking for a corner clothesline, but Abe manages to roll out of the way causing Ivan to hit the turnbuckle square in the chest. Abe then jumps on Ivan’s back, wrapping his arms around Ivan’s neck.
Paxton Ray drives his fist into the midsection of Youngblood, who doubles over and as Paxton gets near him, he snaps his head up and catches Ray in the jaw. Paxton turns and stumbles away as Youngblood stalks him and puts him into a waist lock. Brandon tries for a German Suplex, but Ray blocks it. Brandon immediately drives his knees into the back of Ray’s legs, weakening the base of the monster. Youngblood then tries to lift once again, but Ray reaches out and grabs the top rope. Paxton then twists his hips so that Youngblood goes flying out of the middle rope and onto the ring apron.
Richard Parker: Knock Youngblood off of the ring apron! He’ll be eliminated!
Nick Stuart: He has to go over the top rope!
Richard Parker: Dumb rules. I hope we don’t have this dumb match next year.
Nick Stuart: We probably won’t.
Kohime slowly gets up to her feet after being yeeted to the second ring by Ivan Stanislav. As she does, Hoyt drives his fist into the crown of her skull. Kohime stumbles backwards from the shot and then Hoyt slams his knee into her midsection. Hoyt then grabs her by the back of the head and goes to throw her over the top rope, but Kohime puts her boot on the top rope and slows him down with an elbow to the gut. Kohime then connects with an overhand chop to the Anointed One before taking a few steps back and going for a clothesline to send him over the top rope. He manages to stay in though and connects with a headbutt to the face of Kohime.
With Kohime stunned, Hoyt grabs her and puts her against the ropes before he runs off the opposite ropes and connects with a big boot to the face that sends Kohime crashing out of the ring and to the floor.
ELIMINATED: KOHIME MORI
Nick Stuart: Such a disappointing weekend for Kohime, as she narrowly lost out on the Alias Championship and now has been eliminated from the Battle Royale.
Richard Parker: You should always kneel before Hoyt! You don’t let him touch you unless he’s blessing you!
Nick Stuart: That doesn’t sound weird and creepy at all.
The Anglo Luchador bounces off the ropes and connects with a slingblade on Mortimer! As Mortimer gets back up to his feet, TAL connects with a huge right forearm strike across the face that drops Mortimer to one knee. With him down on one knee, TAL connects with a butterfly suplex. Mortimer is slow to his knees and TAL bounces off the ropes, looking for a knee to the face of Mortimer, but Mortimer manages to duck out of the way. TAL stumbles to his feet as Mortimer greets him and connects with an Atomic Drop before putting him into a headlock. TAL slams his fist into the lower back of Mortimer before going for a side suplex. Mortimer lands on his feet though and connects with a bulldog onto TAL!
Youngblood plants his forearm into the face of Hoyt Williams, but before he’s able to connect with another one, Jiles slams his fist into the lower back of Brandon. Youngblood turns around and snaps his fist across Jiles face. Cancer, stunned from the shot, then fires one off at Youngblood, who ducks it and instead connects with Hoyt! Hoyt’s eyes grow large as he plants his boot into the chest of Youngblood who then connects with a back elbow on Jiles! Cancer shakes his head before slamming his thumb into the eye of Youngblood and kicks Hoyt in the groin.
Richard Parker: You can’t do that to the anointed one!
Nick Stuart: Well, apparently you can.
Richard Parker: How?! It’s supposed to be… holy… down there.
Nick Stuart: I legit have no idea what you’re referring to.
Ned connects with a stiff kick to the midsection of Elise and puts her into an abdominal stretch! With her midsection exposed, Reform slams his free arm’s forearm into it repeatedly, increasing the pain that Elise is feeling. Reform then hoists Elise onto his shoulder, but before he’s able to connect with his next move, Mortimer comes up behind and kicks Ned in the knee, causing him to drop Elise. Mortimer slams his shoulder into Reform’s face, sending him crashing into the ropes. Mortimer then runs full speed at him and goes for a clothesline only for Ned to drop down, pulling the top rope down with him, and sends Mortimer over the top rope.
Nick Stuart: And Mortimer is hanging on, standing on the ring apron. I don’t think Ned has realized it yet either.
Richard Parker: It appears someone else has though!
Abe Lipschitz then rushes over and slams his fist into Moritmer repeatedly before connecting with a spinning back fist that catches Mortimer straight in the mouth. Mortimer lets go of the top rope and falls backwards from the shot.
ELIMINATED: MORITMER KNIGHTINGALE
Nick Stuart: And Mortimer is our first champion eliminated tonight!
Richard Parker: …what does that mean?
Nick Stuart: Don’t you remember what I said at the beginning of the match?
Richard Parker: That was like over two and a half hours ago!
Nick Stuart: *sigh* That means that the person who eliminated Mortimer gets a shot at the title!
Richard Parker: And… who was that?
Nick Stuart: …Abe. Lipschitz.
Richard Parker: Right, right. And was I here for that part?
Nick Stuart: Nevermind.
Tyler Adrian Best locks eyes with Nate Colton, his opponent from Night 1 and the two immediately move towards one another with Best running his mouth until Colton connects with a forearm shot to his jaw that ceases previously mentioned trash talk. Best drives his fist into the side of Colton’s head before pushing him into the ropes. Best tries to lift Colton up over the top rope, but Colton smashes his elbow into the right shoulder of Best until Tyler lets go. Colton then bounces off the ropes and snaps his knee across Tyler’s face, dropping Tyler to one knee where Colton puts him into a sleeper hold.
Coral Avalon bounces off the ropes and connects with a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Eddie Cross. With Cross prone, Avalon bounces off the ropes and drops a knee across the sternum of Cross. Avalon then goes to lift Cross off of the mat only for Eddie to sweep the legs out from Avalon, sending him to the mat. Eddie immediately mounts Coral and pounds and grounds Coral until Avalon manages to extricate himself from the situation. As both men get to their feet, Eddie connects with a leg kick before connecting with a series of precision palm strikes to Coral.
Elise Ares ducks underneath a stiff punch from Cecilworth Farthington and puts him into a rear waist lock. Farthington though is ready for it as he rolls forward and sends Elise crashing into the top turnbuckle. As she stumbles backwards, Farthington connects with a release German Suplex that sends Elise across the ring!
Nick Stuart: Ares is going to need to get that neck checked out after this match after Cecilworth dropped her on the back of it.
Richard Parker: And Coral just blocked a palm strike from Coral and drills him with an uppercut followed by an enziguri.
Nick Stuart: Look at you calling out wrestling moves like a big boy.
Richard Parker: Don’t get used to it.
Coral spins around and is met with a stiff forearm shot from Rocky de Leon that sends Coral crashing into the ropes. Rocky then launches himself at Coral, sending both men over the top rope. Avalon manages to hold onto the top rope though while Rocky crashes to the outside.
ELIMINATED: ROCKY DE LEON
Richard Parker: The derpiest of the derps.
Nick Stuart: I’m not sure two of those words were actually words. Unfortunate series of events there for Rocky, who had been doing a bang-up job in the Battle Royale.
Richard Parker: Yeah, sure. Whatever you say. Go full-dick it in the back!
Nick Stuart: It’s a miracle none of these wrestlers smack you in the face.
Richard Parker: You and me both.
As Rocky is eliminated, Abe Lipschitz slips out of Ring 1 and into Ring 2 where he immediately decks Sage Pontiff in the face before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a spinning heel kick. With Sage doubled over, Abe connects with a swinging neckbreaker. Lipschitz is back up to his feet in a hurry as he connects with a knee drop across the face of Sage.
Ned Reform plants his boot into the midsection of Chander Tsonda before connecting with a butterfly suplex. As Reform gets back to his feet, Farthington bounces off the ropes and connects with a flying boot to the face, sending Reform crashing to the mat. Farthington immediately puts Reform into an armbar.
Youngblood puts Williams into a waist lock and connects with a German Suplex. As Youngblood gets to his feet, he grabs the left leg of Hoyt and slams his boot into his hamstring. Before Youngblood is able to do anything else, Paxton Ray clubs Youngblood in the back of the head and spins him around before lifting him off of the mat and running him into the nearby corner. Ray then drills his shoulder into the midsection of Youngblood.
Nick Stuart: Ray is looking to dismantle Youngblood and Youngblood is almost defenseless at this juncture of the match.
Richard Parker: Somehow, Paxton looks like he’s got another full tank of gas and that only makes me hate him more.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood needs to get out of that corner fast or else he’s going to be ground beef when Ray is done with him.
Tyler Adrian Best plants his knee into the midsection of Rezin before slamming his knee into the face of Rezin. Rezin’s head snaps back and as Best comes at him, Rezin connects with a spinning back elbow to Best’s jaw. Tyler drops to one knee as Rezin drags Best over to the nearby corner and smashes his face into the top turnbuckle. Rezin then hoists Best onto the top turnbuckle and climbs up with him before connecting with a Super Side Plex!
Youngblood drills his elbow into the back of Paxton’s neck, which slows Ray down just enough for Youngblood to connect with a knee to his face. Paxton stumbles out of the corner and turns around right into a spear from Youngblood as the Blood God demands blood and retribution, reigning hammering fists down into the face of Paxton until Paxton manages to get his boot into Youngblood’s chest and sends him stumbling back into the corner.
Tsonda connects with a question mark to the back of Colton’s head. Nate stumbles into the corner where Tsonda plants his boot into Colton’s midsection before connecting with a springboard enziguri to the back of Nate’s skull, sending him slumping into the corner. As he does, Elise Ares runs full speed at Colton and connects with two knees to the face of the Five-Star Champion!
Nick Stuart: Elise Ares nearly breaks Colton’s face into pieces! Could she eliminate Colton and get a shot at the Five-Star Championship?
Richard Parker: That definitely seems like a possibility! Do it, Elise, do it!
Lipschitz then connects with an uppercut to the jaw of Eddie Cross. With Cross stunned, Lipschitz then hoists Eddie onto his shoulders and connects with the Quackendriver II.
Nick Stuart: Hot Cross Stuns to Eddie Cross! Now can Lipschitz eliminate him?
Richard Parker: And eliminate himself in the process? That would be *chef’s kiss*
Nick Stuart: I thought we agreed you would stop doing that.
Richard Parker: Never!
Lipschitz yanks Eddie off of the mat and throws him over the top rope.
ELIMINATED: EDDIE CROSS
As Cross hits the floor, Abe begins to twerk, excited from eliminating Eddie, his second elimination of the night. Abe then hits the Running Man followed by a bunch of dad dancing moves. As he does this though, he doesn’t see that Anna Daniels is flying off the ropes and connects with a flying knee to the face that sends Abe crashing over the top rope and to the floor below.
ELIMINATED: ABE LIPSCHITZ
Richard Parker: HAHA! YES!
Nick Stuart: Abe Lipschitz was so excited that he never even saw Anna Daniels!
Richard Parker: Serves him right!
Nick Stuart: Well, Abe the Babe can try and go backstage, shoot his shot with Lindsay I guess.
Richard Parker: Need to make that into a sitcom because that would be hilarious to see him get shot down every week.
Cecilworth Farthington drops behind TAL and drills his forearm into the back of TAL’s neck. He then spins TAL around and connects with several slaps to the face before whipping TAL into the ropes and connecting with a spinning toe hold that drops TAL onto the mat. Farthington moves to the nearby turnbuckle and climbs onto the middle turnbuckle before dropping a knee across the face of TAL.
Coral Avalon bounces off the ropes and slams his knee into the midsection of Paxton Ray before grabbing him and slamming him into the mat. Coral stomps away at Paxton before pulling him off of the mat and nailing him with an uppercut. He then whips Paxton into the corner and connects with a charging corner uppercut that spins Paxton around. Coral slams Paxton’s head into the top turnbuckle repeatedly before hoisting him onto the top turnbuckle. As Coral climbs up, Paxton fires off a trio of back elbows that sends Coral crashing to the mat. Ray slowly stands up on the top rope and connects with an elbow drop across Avalon’s sternum.
JCH drives his shoulder into the back of Ivan’s knee, stunning the Russian Bear, but not enough to drop him to one knee or onto the mat. Instead, Ivan turns around and grabs JCH by the face. JCH furiously chops at Ivan’s arm with forearm strikes until Ivan lets go. JCH then bounces off the ropes and connects with a chop block on Ivan, dropping him to one knee. JCH then connects with a dropkick to the face of Ivan, who stays on one knee. JCH wraps his arm around Ivan’s head and goes for a DDT, but Ivan doesn’t budge while JCH crashes into the mat. Ivan puts his hands around JCH’s throat and lifts him into the air before throwing him into the corner where he connects with a running clothesline.
Nick Stuart: JCH should have chosen to stay out of Ivan’s path.
Richard Parker: I still don’t understand how Ivan has a job here! All he does is destroy every building that he is in.
Anna Daniels blocks a running boot from Hoyt to the face and as she grabs his boot, she drapes it over the top rope. She then begins to grab Hoyt’s other leg to push him over the top rope, but Hoyt drives his elbow into the back of her neck. Hoyt, while having one leg on the top rope, grabs Anna by the throat. She chops furiously, but it doesn’t stop Hoyt as he pulls her into the top rope and pushes her over the top rope. Anna manages to land on the ring apron, but Hoyt connects with a forearm strike to the face that sends her tumbling to the mat.
ELIMINATED: ANNA DANIELS
Richard Parker: Praise Hoyt! And hopefully Daniels won’t kick his head in backstage or something later in the evening.
Nick Stuart: And with that elimination, we have less than twenty competitors left in the match.
Richard Parker: Does that mean I should order my Doordash now?
Nick Stuart: …no.
Nate Colton hoists Rezin into the air and slams him into his knee, connecting with a backbreaker. Rezin grimaces from the shot as Colton reaches down only for Rezin to sucker punch him in the gut. With the wind knocked out of him, Rezin pops up with an uppercut that sends Colton into the corner. Rezin plants his boot repeatedly into the midsection of Colton before pulling him out of the corner and turning him around while Rezin gets onto the middle turnbuckle. He then puts Colton into a front facelock and goes for a Tornado DDT only for Colton to hold onto him in mid air.
Rezin slams his fist repeatedly into the top of Colton’s head as Nate puts him back onto the top turnbuckle and connects with an open-handed palm strike across Rezin’s jaw. Nate then climbs up to the top turnbuckle with Rezin as the two trade blows until Colton connects with a series of headbutts. Colton then puts him into a front facelock and connects with a Superplex!
FLAMBERGE puts Cancer Jiles into a rear waist lock and ducks under a back elbow from Jiles before spinning him around to face him. FLAMBERGE then connects with a side belly-to-belly suplex. FLAMBERGE floats over and mounts Cancer Jiles, connecting with a series of elbow strikes before getting back up to his feet. As he does, he is tackled to the mat by Youngblood who then gets back up to his feet and plants his boot into the sternum of FLAMBERGE.
Elise Ares bounces off the ropes and connects with a Shining Wizard to The Anglo Luchador. TAL stumbles backwards as Elise gets up to her feet and connects with a spinning roundhouse kick to the face of the former Intense Champion, sending him to the mat.
Nick Stuart: What a brutal kick from a former Five-Star Champion!
Richard Parker: Brutal doesn’t even come close to what that kick must have felt like. Elise has feet that should be on OnlyFans, they’re that good.
Nick Stuart: Gross.
Ward and Pontiff begin to trade punches with one another until Pontiff puts Ward into the corner and slams his knee repeatedly into the battered ribcage of the PRIME Hall of Famer. Pontiff goes to whip Ward into the corner only for Matt to reverse it and sends Pontiff charging into it instead. As Pontiff stumbles out of the corner, Ward hoists him onto his shoulders and connects with an F5 into a spiking DDT!
Nick Stuart: WEIGHT OF THE WORLD!
Richard Parker: Take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning because you’re going to feel that one.
Ward then gets back up to his feet, his body nearly betraying him, but he then reaches down and pulls Pontiff off of the mat and chucks him over the top rope.
ELIMINATED: SAGE PONTIFF
Nick Stuart: And another elimination, this time the Bodhisattva finds himself on the outside looking in.
Richard Parker: How long did you have to practice that nickname?
Nick Stuart: Like twice.
Richard Parker: I still can’t say it! It sounds like bathroom when I say it!
As the duo were talking, The Anglo Luchador slipped into Ring 1 and immediately started trading punches with Hoyt Williams, their entanglement for most of 2022 having been a top feud in PRIME. Hoyt connects with a series of haymakers to TAL, which is enough to stun the former Intense Champion, but TAL refuses to stay down for long as he headbutts the chest of the Anointed One and follows that up with a knife-edge chop.
Cecilworth Farthington plants his boot into the midsection of Jonathan-Christopher Hall and connects with a Gotch style piledriver that leaves JCH prone on the mat. Farthington gets back up to his feet, bit winded, but not enough to slow him down as he climbs onto the middle turnbuckle and connects with a double foot stomp across the midsection of JCH, causing the lonely member of Love Convoy to roll onto his knees, in a world of pain. Farthington though reaches down and slowly pulls JCH to his knees before Farthington bounces off the ropes and connects with a boot to his face, causing JCH to slow-motion to the floor from the impact.
Jared Sykes and FLAMBERGE trade blows with one another until Sykes plants his boot into FLAMBERGE’s midsection. Sykes manages to snap his shoulder into the face of FLAMBERGE, which sends him down to one knee. Sykes drags FLAMBERGE back up to his feet, puts his boot into FLAMBO’s midsection, and connects with a facebuster! As Sykes gets back up to his feet, he reaches down to grab FLAMBERGE, but the French star takes Sykes’ legs out from underneath him and traps him into a heel hook!
Richard Parker: I hope FLAMBERGE rips Sykes’ heel off and feeds it to him.
Nick Stuart: Well that sounds painful and disgusting all at the same time.
Richard Parker: Sounds like all of my exes, Nick.
Nick Stuart: All one-and-a-half of them?
TAL connects with an uppercut on Hoyt, who retaliates with a headbutt to TAL’s skull. TAL stumbles into the ropes as Hoyt immediately tries to push TAL over it. TAL fires back with a succession of back elbows to break the grasp that Hoyt has on him. He then grabs Hoyt and connects with a ripcord into a right cross!
Nick Stuart: TAL with the Drizzle-Maker! Could that be enough to get Hoyt over the top rope?!
Richard Parker: IT BETTER NOT BE!
TAL though grabs Hoyt by the back of his head and pushes him over the top rope, picking up Hoyt’s legs to send him crashing to the outside.
ELIMINATED: HOYT WILLIAMS
Richard Parker: I HOPE TAL RECEIVES A THOUSAND BOILS! PRAISE HOYT!
Nick Stuart: Well, that would definitely be painful and unnecessary considering that TAL simply did what the match demands.
Richard Parker: Do I look like I care?!
As Hoyt is eliminated, Ivan Stanislav exits Ring 1 and enters Ring 2 while Matt Wards leaves Ring 2 to enter Ring 1.
Ivan immediately clubs his hand into the chest of Youngblood, sending him crashing to the mat. Coral then runs full speed at Ivan and is met with an overhand chop to the chest that does the same to him. Jared then hops off the second turnbuckle, looking for a double axe handle to Ivan, but Ivan catches him in mid-air and rag dolls him onto the canvas. Ivan then turns around locks eyes with Paxton Ray, who seems to be salivating at tussling with the mammoth beast.
Ray runs full speed at Ivan and hits him with a shoulder tackle, but Ivan barely budges.
“DYAH-HA-HA-HA!”
Ray glares at Ivan and points at the ropes. A smile appears on Ivan’s face as he bounces off the ropes and hits Paxton with a shoulder tackle. Paxton takes a few steps back, but remains on his feet. A smile appears on Paxton’s face as he then bounces off the ropes and hits Ivan with everything he’s got, but still no movement from Ivan. Ivan then bounces off the ropes and as he hits the ropes, he is met with a massive boot in between the eyes by Paxton!
Nick Stuart: That dirty bastard–
Richard Parker: Come on Ivan, what are you even doing here?
Ward and Tsonda lock eyes with one another, the former PRIME Universal Champions, PRIME Hall of Famers, they’ve locked eyes with each other before, tussled in the ring, and both men had somehow come out on the other side still intact. They circle one another.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The fans feel the anticipation at the sight of these two PRIME legends wrestling each other for the first time in two decades. They lock up in the center of the ring, Ward using his strength to push Tsonda down, but Chandler refusing to give in to the old rickety knees of Matt Ward. He pushes back as they jockey for position before eventually ending up in the ropes. Tsonda holds up his hands, wanting a clean break and as Ward looks to do the same, Tsonda gets stiff right into the ribs of the Inhuman Being.
With Ivan dazed, Youngblood begins to wail away at him while Paxton has been met with a dropkick from TAL, who is renewing their ReVival 20 match. Youngblood, using his considerable strength, is trying everything he can to push Ivan over the top rope. Avalon rushes over to help him, seeing an opportunity to eliminate a heavyweight in this match and starts to push at him as well. Ivan fights back, but has lost his balance slightly.
Jared Sykes then bounces off the ropes and comes flying at Ivan, hoping to use his momentum to push Ivan over. As he does though, Ivan snaps his elbow across Youngblood’s jaw and then drags Coral into the line of fire, causing Jared to collide with Avalon and sends him over the top rope and crashing to the mat below.
ELIMINATED: CORAL AVALON
Nick Stuart: No! Oh man! That is a horrible sequence of events there.
Richard Parker: Camelot attempted to eliminate Ivan and Ivan managed to get one of theirs eliminated.
Nick Stuart: Well, technically it’s going to count as an elimination for Jared Sykes.
Richard Parker: Well, that’s going to be awkward.
TAL connects with a stiff knee to the midsection of Paxton Ray, who follows that up with clotheslining TAL over the top rope and into the ‘in-between’ of Ring 1 and 2. TAL lays there, body sore and in pain, while Paxton Ray is met with a clubbing blow from Ivan that distracts him from TAL.
Ward has Tsonda in the corner and is wailing away at him with hammering fists before he whips Tsonda to the opposite corner and chases after him only for Chandler to run up the turnbuckles and land behind Matt. Ward turns around and is met with a knife-edge chop from Tsonda. This incenses Matt who grabs Tsonda and tosses him into the corner where he lays into him with a series of body shots that takes the Sultan of Style and puts him down to one knee. This opens Tsonda to a series of knee strikes from Ward.
Meanwhile, Ivan has Paxton in a bear hug and is determined to squeeze the life out of him. Paxton grimaces from the grinding of his ribs into one another when he opens his arms and connects with a bell clap on Ivan. Stanislav tightens his grip on Paxton, but the Lafayette Monster connects with another bell clap that forces Ivan to let go of the Intense Champion. Paxton then bounces off the ropes and nails Ivan with a massive clothesline, but the Russian Bear refuses to budge. Instead of trying another clothesline, Paxton punts Ivan in the groin, causing the Russian Bear to drop to both of his knees while Paxton bounces off the ropes and connects with a massive boot to the face.
Nick Stuart: Paxton Ray will do whatever it takes to win this match and it is deplorable.
Richard Parker: Are you surprised at this point by Paxton? I’m sure Jonathan Rhine would’ve preferred a kick to the nuts instead of being paralyzed.
Nick Stuart: Fair enough.
Ward then hoists Tsonda onto his shoulders and looks as if he’s going for another Weight of the World when Tsonda drills his elbow into the side of Ward’s skull, repeatedly, until Matt drops him onto the mat. With the Inhuman Being dazed, Tsonda hops onto the middle turnbuckle and pulls Ward into him, back-first. He then connects with the Diamond Dust on Ward!
Nick Stuart: RUNWAY VAULT!
Richard Parker: Tsonda has still got it!
The impact of the move pops Ward back up to his feet and Tsonda immediately clotheslines him over the top rope and the Inhuman Being hits the ring apron before landing on the floor.
ELIMINATED: MATT WARD
Nick Stuart: NO! Matt had been in this match since the very beginning.
Richard Parker: Like three days ago.
Nick Stuart: The match hasn’t gone on for that long. We’ve had longer!
Richard Parker: We’re not done yet. It might last longer than Jesus did behind that rock.
Nick Stuart: Now our new Iron Man of the match —
Richard Parker: Don’t say it —
Nick Stuart: Is Cancer Jiles.
Richard Parker: I TOLD YOU NOT TO SAY IT!
Nick Stuart: Oh, nope. That’s not right. TAL actually has been in the longest.
Richard Parker: You just did that to rile me up.
TAL rolls back into Ring One and as he does, Rezin is quick to the attack as he drops a forearm to the back of TAL’s neck. Rezin then mounts TAL’s back and starts firing forearm shot after forearm shot to the back of TAL’s skull. TAL manages to connect with a back elbow that stuns Rezin just enough to give him space to get away from the King of Punk Rock. As he starts to pull himself up using the ropes, he manages to block a kick from Rezin before drilling him in the face with a forearm shot. Rezin stumbles into the corner from the shot and TAL is on top of him with a series of body shots before connecting with a monkey flip.
In Ring 2, Paxton Ray continues to battle with Ivan Stanislav as Ivan gets back up to his knees and slams his fist into Paxton’s stomach. Ivan then stands up and uppercuts Paxton Ray before scooping him onto his left shoulder and connecting with a running powerslam. As Ivan gets back to his feet, Youngblood is there as he snaps his boot across the face of the Russian Bear. Youngblood then puts him into a rear waist lock and tries to lift Ivan up, but Ivan blocks it before trying for a back elbow. Brandon manages to dodge the elbow though and digs his knees into the hamstrings of the Russian Bear.
Nick Stuart: Could Youngblood manage to suplex Ivan?
Richard Parker: Not in a million years! Never going to happen.
Youngblood tries again and Ivan’s feet leave the ground, but Youngblood quickly has to drop him. As he does, Ivan connects with a back elbow that stuns Ivan, but before Ivan is able to do a follow-up, Jared Sykes springboards off the middle rope and connects with an enziguri that stuns the giant.
Back in Ring 1, TAL tries to go for a Karelin Driver on Rezin, but the Goat Bastard blocks it and then connects with a Sitout Standing Shiranui.
Nick Stuart: INTO THE VOID! Could that be the end of the road for The Anglo Luchador!?
TAL stumbles back to his feet and as he does, Rezin comes up behind him and sends him over the top rope!
ELIMINATED: THE ANGLO LUCHADOR
Richard Parker: Ugh, that means the Iron Man award goes to Cancer Jiles.
Nick Stuart: Correct.
Richard Parker: Just shoot me now.
Nick Stuart: You’ve made it three hours thus far, you can make it the rest of the way.
As Rezin turns away from TAL, he is met with a right hand from Nate Colton and then another one. Rezin is rocked by the shots as Colton pushes Rezin into the corner and whips him across the ring to the opposite corner. Rezin hits the turnbuckle hard, but rushes out of the corner and connects with a running clothesline on a Nate Colton that was closing the gap between them. Rezin stomps his boot across the face of Colton before Rezin pulls him off of the mat and connects with an open-palm strike to Colton’s jaw.
Sykes connects with a forearm strike to the face of Cancer Jiles before Jared whips him into the ropes and connects with a spinning back elbow. Cancer turns around, stunned by the shot, and that gives Jared the opening he is looking for as he connects with a Poisonrana on Jiles! Meanwhile, FLAMBERGE connects with an arm drag on Youngblood and with Brandon on the mat, FLAMBO connects with a knee drop across the face of Youngblood’s face.
Tyler Adrian Best connects with a Saito Suplex on Jonathan-Christopher Hall and then floats over before picking JCH up and connecting with a Snapmare Driver! Elise Ares then bounces off the ropes and ducks under a clothesline from Cecilworth Farthington before connecting with a flying heel kick to the face of Farthington. As she gets up, Ned Reform connects with a jawbreaker.
Nick Stuart: Getting down to a smaller group of wrestlers and you can see the exhaustion is setting in. People are managing their energy right now and trying to find their spot in order to make it to the finish line.
Richard Parker: I mean, imagine how I’m feeling.
Nick Stuart: You mean you, who is sitting in a chair, having had a probably large amount of vodka? I don’t think anyone pities you.
Rezin goes for a Shiranui on Colton, but Colton blocks it and holds him on his shoulder before dropping him on the back of his head with a side suplex. Rezin rolls onto his stomach, his body beaten and battered from the previous evening where he lost the Universal Title. He knows he can make it to the end and pushes himself off of the mat and turns towards Colton who is ready for him and connects with an Exploder Suplex.
The power behind it causes him to bounce off the mat and as Rezin does, Colton is ready for him as he clotheslines him over the top rope and to the outside!
ELIMINATED: REZIN
Colton stands there, above Rezin and looks at him, as Rezin looks up, surprised.
Nick Stuart: Well, that feud between Rezin and Colton is long from being over!
Richard Parker: I figured that when Rezin walked out on Colton as ReVival 24. This is revenge for Colton and let me tell you, it suits him well.
Nick Stuart: This is not the weekend that Rezin expected. He didn’t even expect to be in this match, but he took the pin last night that saw Hanlon regain his Universal Title and has now been eliminated.
Richard Parker: Rezin’s march through Tropical Turmoil is going to be an interesting one as he had a taste of what it was like to be at the top of the mountain and you know he’s going to want to get back up there as quickly as possible.
JCH gets up to his feet, cobwebs in when he hears Vickie screaming at him.
“LOOK OUT!”
He turns his head and is immediately met with a right hand from Brandon Youngblood that sends JCH into the corner, looking for space from the Diamond himself. Youngblood though refuses to give him that space as he digs his knee into JCH’s midsection and then connects with an uppercut.
JCH stumbles out of the corner, but Brandon is right there. Youngblood wraps him into a rear waist lock, but JCH fires off three quick-fire back elbows to break the hold that Youngblood has on him. He turns around, puts Brandon into a front facelock and connects with a vertical suplex. Brandon sits up and JCH plants his boot into Youngblood’s spine.
Nick Stuart: JCH needs to get as far away from Youngblood as possible.
Richard Parker: This should be standard order for anyone for that matter. Youngblood looks like a wrestler who hasn’t washed himself because he is a ‘method wrestler’.
Nick Stuart: I have no idea what that means.
Richard Parker: You know, like the guy who placed Joker. You know, Joaquin Phoenix. He does that method acting to be the Joker.
Nick Stuart: Except… Youngblood is actually a wrestler.
Paxton and Ivan continue to trade blows until Paxton connects with an elbow that rocks the Russian Bear. As Ivan leans into the ropes, FLAMBERGE connects with a kick to the back of Paxton Ray’s calf. Paxton howls out in pain as he turns around and finds himself eating an elbow from FLAMBERGE, which he follows up with an arm drag onto the mat. FLAMBERGE proceeds to stomp away at Paxton, limiting the mobility of the Lafayette Monster in the process.
JCH drags Youngblood off of the mat and looks for his elevated double chickenwing only to find Youngblood slipping out of it and then dropping him on the back of his head with a German Suplex. As JCH sits up, Youngblood yanks him to his feet and puts him into the Kata ha Jime! JCH struggles right away as he tries to fight Youngblood off of him.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood is looking to put JCH out and JCH seems to be fading fast here! And Youngblood just lifted him up and connected with the Gridlock Suplex!
Richard Parker: This might be the end of the road for JCH. Get it? End of the Road. Boyz II Men?
Nick Stuart: And Youngblood is lifting JCH off of the mat and dragging him over to the ropes. He just tossed him over the top rope! JCH is out of here!
ELIMINATED: JONATHAN-CHRISTOPHER HALL
Vickie rushes over to him and JCH looks up at her, his eyes a bit glassy from the aforementioned choke hold and suplex. Vickie though has vague disappointment on her face as she tries to help JCH to the backstage area.
In the ring, Paxton Ray connects with body blow after body blow to the body of FLAMBERGE. He then whips FLAMBERGE across the ring and connects with a running clothesline in the corner. FLAMBERGE stumbles out of the corner, eyes closed as if he’s almost unconscious. Paxton lifts FLAMBERGE onto his shoulder and drops him face first into the top turnbuckle before connecting with a reverse suplex onto the French star.
Tsonda eats a massive elbow from Cecilworth Farthington that drops him to one knee. Farthington then bounces off the ropes and goes for a running knee to Tsonda, only for Chandler to roll to his left at the last possible second. Farthington turns around and walks straight into a superkick from Tsonda. Farthington stumbles backwards, out on his feet, as Tsonda connects with a second superkick that sends Farthington crashing to the mat. Tsonda then springboards off the middle rope and connects with a moonsault on the prone Cecilworth.
Jared Sykes connects with a forearm smash on Cancer Jiles, who retaliates with a rake of Jared’s eyes. Cancer then drags Jared over to the nearby ropes, takes his legs out from under him and places his throat on the middle rope. Jiles then presses his knee into the back of Jared’s neck, pressing his throat into the rope in the process, and choking him out. Cancer then bounces off the ropes and jumps on the back of Jared’s neck, pressing his throat into the braided cable even further.
Nick Stuart: Cancer Jiles looking to permanently injure Jared Sykes right there.
Richard Parker: How is Jiles even still in this match?! He does like four moves and two of them are to someone’s eyes or to their junk.
Nick Stuart: We’ve seen Cancer hold the Universal Title and you’re surprised he’s still in this match? He’s crafty! This is what he does!
Elise Ares stomps her boot into the midsection of Nate Colton repeatedly before dragging him to his feet and whipping him into the ropes before connecting with a dropkick. Nate stumbles backwards from the shot and falls into the ropes. Elise quickly gets back up to her feet and runs full speed at Colton, connecting with a flying knee to his face that sends the Five Star Champion over the top rope, but he manages to land on the ring apron!
Richard Parker: Elise Ares is going to knock Colton off of the ring apron!
Nick Stuart: She’s trying, but Colton just managed to block a kick from her. Meanwhile, Paxton Ray is dragging FLAMBERGE over to the ropes and just tossed him over the top rope — he landed on the ring apron! FLAMBERGE is on the ring apron!
FLAMBERGE connects with a high kick to the temple while holding onto the top rope to daze Paxton Ray. He then wraps his arm around the neck of Paxton Ray and begins to squeeze on his windpipe, reducing the amount of air he’s taking in. FLAMBERGE wrenches back, using the top rope to help while he holds onto the middle rope with his free hand.
On the other side, in Ring 1, Elise comes running with a boot to the face of Colton, but he manages to side step it and then smashes his forearm into the face of Ares. She stumbles backwards and Colton connects with a springboard forearm smash to the face of Elise!
FLAMBERGE starts to pull Paxton Ray over the top rope as Ray looks nearly lifeless. FLAMBO wraps his legs around the middle rope as he pulls Ray over and leans as far back as possible until Ray comes tumbling out of the ring and lands on the ring apron before rolling onto the outside mat.
ELIMINATED: PAXTON RAY
Nick Stuart: I have no idea how FLAMBERGE managed to pull that off, as he is literally dangling from the middle rope as his entire body is extended.
Richard Parker: Well, we now know that FLAMBERGE never skips leg day.
Nick Stuart: That seems accurate. We’re seeing the list wind down. Any guesses?
Richard Parker: No one. I think they all will eliminate each other or pass out and this match will have been for nothing.
Ivan moves into Ring 1 and Cancer, Jared, and FLAMBERGE follow after him. Colton and Reform begin trading blows while Elise Ares and Tsonda do the same. Ivan though wastes no time in causing as much destruction as humanly possible as he connects with a headbutt on Cecilworth Farthington and does the same to Brandon Youngblood. Youngblood crashes to the mat, but he immediately gets back up to his feet with the fury of ten gods as he snaps his elbow across Ivan’s nose and begins slamming his knee into Ivan’s midsection.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood taking it to Ivan and Stanislav is taking the shots quite well, but you know his body has to be exhausted after last night’s main event and the shots he’s taken thus far in this match.
Richard Parker: I don’t know, he seems to have eaten everything thrown his way thus far, there’s no reason to think that’s going to end now if you ask me.
Nick Stuart: Well, if these other nine competitors aren’t careful, he could easily toss each one of them out of the ring. We saw this man carrying around a soda machine at ReVival 25!
Richard Parker: True, but at the same time, could you really see all nine of them teaming up to take out Ivan?
Youngblood doesn’t stop as he continues to throw everything he has into each shot at Ivan and Jared Sykes immediately rushes over to help him, careful to not make the same mistake that he made earlier when he eliminated Coral Avalon. Ivan keeps taking swipes at Jared and Brandon, but they manage to either let the adrenaline mask the pain or dodge the shots as they continue to push Ivan into the ropes, keeping him off balance.
FLAMBERGE rushes over to do the same, realizing that this is their one and only chance to eliminate Ivan as he connects with a springboard knee to the face of Ivan, knocking the Russian Bear’s head to the right where Tyler Adrian Best comes flying in with a knee strike of his own that sends a howl through AT&T Stadium before Colton and Reform, Ares and Tsonda, and eventually Farthington hurry over to use their collective strength to push Ivan into the ropes and with hopes of toppling the Russian Bear.
Nick Stuart: Can this work?!
Richard Parker: Somewhere in the back, Hayes Hanlon and Lindsay Troy are having to be held back by security to not rush out here and help drag him over the top rope!
Both of Ivan’s feet are off of the mat and the nine other stars continue to push him closer and closer to toppling over the top rope. Then, Ivan fires off a right hand and connects with Elise’s face. He then grabs Reform’s head and headbutts it. Ivan, recognizing fight or flight, has chosen fight and continues to hammer away, swatting away the annoying gnats that would take away his shot at the Universal Title. As his feet touch upon the mat again, Tsonda comes flying in with a superkick that rocks Ivan and that is followed with Farthington smashing his feet repeatedly into Ivan’s knees.
The group regroups and pushes as hard as they can, seeing his feet come off the ground, and Ivan topples over the top rope and lands feet first onto the AT&T Stadium’s ring mat.
ELIMINATED: IVAN STANISLAV
Then, there were ten.
Brandon Youngblood.
Cancer Jiles.
Cecilworth Farthington.
Chandler Tsonda.
Elise Ares.
FLAMBERGE.
Jared Sykes.
Nate Colton.
Ned Reform.
Tyler Adrian Best.
And almost at once, everyone picks their person they want to take out and immediately go at it. With Jared Sykes targeting Elise Ares, Ned Reform and FLAMBERGE trading blows, Nate Colton and Cancer Jiles tying it up, while Cecilworth goes after Tsonda while TAB slams his fist into Youngblood’s face.
Nick Stuart: And all pandemonium has broken loose as the final ten are going at it and giving it everything they have right now!
Richard Parker: I have no idea how anyone in this ring is able to do anything for that matter. Their bodies have to be on empty.
Nick Stuart: That’s why only the best are in PRIME!
TAB continues his assault on Youngblood, switching between punches and elbows in order to keep Youngblood off balance until TAB plants his boot into Youngblood’s chest and sends him crashing into the corner. TAB then springboards off the middle rope and connects with a dropkick to the stationary Youngblood.
Sykes dodges a forearm strike from Elise, grabs her arm, and short-arms her into a backdrop driver that leaves Elise stunned on the mat. Sykes then springboards off the middle rope and goes for a moonsault, but Elise manages to get her knees up in the knick of time and Sykes ribs suffer as a result.
Tsonda plants a spinning heel kick to the midsection of Farthington, dropping him to one knee. Chandler then bounces off the ropes only for Cecilworth to explode from the kneeling position into a knee strike to the face that rocks Tsonda into the ropes. Cecilworth plants his boot into Chandler’s midsection before putting him into a front facelock. He then lifts Chandler up and drops him ribs first onto the top rope and uses that momentum to spin Tsonda 360 degrees onto his shoulder and connects with a powerslam onto the canvas.
Nick Stuart: Talk about some dream matches in the ring right now! I mean, Elise Ares versus Jared Sykes? TAB vs. Youngblood? Tsonda vs. Cecilworth? Holy hell.
Richard Parker: Yeah, all of these outstanding wrestlers and then… Jiles.
As if on cue, we see Colton lift Cancer into the air and spikes him with a brainbuster.
FLAMBERGE connects with a spinning back elbow to the face of Ned Reform, which sends Reform into the ropes and he rebounds with a flying forearm to the face of FLAMBERGE. As he stands there, Elise Ares comes up behind him and launches him over the top rope, sending him crashing to the mat below.
ELIMINATED: NED REFORM
Nick Stuart: Elise Ares with the out-of-nowhere elimination on Ned Reform, who has had an outstanding run in this match to this point!
Richard Parker: The Doctor definitely schooled many wrestlers in there tonight and he should be proud of how far he came in this match!
NIck Stuart: And he’s banked himself a match for the Alias Title at Tropical Turmoil!
Richard Parker: If Mortimer makes it that far, it could be one hell of a match.
TAB hops onto the second turnbuckle and goes for an elbow across Youngblood’s sternum when the Diamond of PRIME gets his foot up and TAB’s jaw collides with it quite violently. Youngblood then rolls onto his knees and connects with a Northern Lights Suplex on TAB! Youngblood pops right back up and removes the top half of his singlet, pulling it down, and then grabs TAB before connecting with a forearm strike which he follows up with pushing TAB into the ropes and planting him on the canvas with a Samoan Drop.
Sykes connects with a dropkick to Elise Ares and as he gets up to his feet, connects with a Discus Elbow. As she rocks backwards, Sykes nails her with a spinning heel kick. Elise drops to one knee as Sykes walks over and connects with a snapmare into a surfboard! Elise cries out in pain as Sykes continues to apply the pressure to Elise, wearing out her limbs in the process.
FLAMBERGE grabs Cecilworth by the shoulder and connects with a forearm smash before driving his knee into his midsection. FLAMBERGE then connects with a butterfly suplex and floats over to put Farthington into an armbar. Cecilworth locks his hands together while FLAMBO tries to pry them apart. Farthington rolls to his knees and puts FLAMBERGE’s shoulders on the mat before lifting him off the mat. Before Farthington can powerbomb FLAMBERGE into the mat though, FLAMBERGE rolls off of Cecilworth and lands on his feet behind him before he connects with a lifting knee strike that sends Farthington crashing into the ropes.
Nick Stuart: FLAMBERGE has been nothing short of impressive in this match thus far. Could he eliminate Cecilworth from the match?
Richard Parker: No, not the Best Boy!
Elise gets to her feet, after Sykes lets her out of the surfboard and drills Jared with a spinning back fist that rocks Sykes. Before Elise can follow up with it though, she is met with a superkick from Cancer Jiles that stuns her on her feet. Before Elise can do anything, Sykes runs full speed at her and clotheslines her over the top rope.
ELIMINATED: ELISE ARES
Nick Stuart: Sykes eliminates Ares with the help of Cancer Jiles!
Richard Parker: That is not a sentence I imagined you uttering before this night began.
NIck Stuart: You and me both, partner.
Tyler Adrian Best rushes up behind Nate Colton and connects with a series of forearm strikes to the back of Colton’s neck and shoulders. He then turns Colton around and pushes him into the corner where puts boots to his midsection before hip tossing him out of the corner. Colton doesn’t stay down long as he runs full speed at TAB, but Best jumps out of the way and Colton runs full speed into the metal ring post with his left shoulder taking most of the impact.
Youngblood puts Tsonda into a rear waist-lock and goes for a German Suplex only for Tsonda to land on this feet. Youngblood turns around and Tsonda unloads with a superkick that puts Youngblood out on his feet. Tsonda then grabs Youngblood by the back of the head and connects with a face crusher on the former Universal Champion.
Nick Stuart: Talk about a blast to the past here between these two!
Richard Parker: Seriously, it feels like 2007 all over again. Can I talk like I did in 2007 and ignore the sensitivity training I took since then?
Nick Stuart: No.
Tsonda gets back up to his feet and goes to lift Youngblood up, but before he can get him fully standing, Cancer Jiles comes up behind Tsonda and starts wailing away with a series of forearm strikes. He then spins Tsonda around and connects with a knife-edge chop. Tsonda plants his boot into Jiles stomach and connects with a Stalling Lift Implant DDT!
Richard Parker: YES! TAKE OUT JILES!
Nick Stuart: Golgotha Drop on Jiles! Tsonda looks like he’s ready to follow up his attack on Jiles, but Youngblood puts him into a rear waist lock and connects with a release German Suplex throw!
Jiles gets up to his feet and as he does, he is met with a stiff knee to the midsection by Farthington. Jiles tries to rake, Cecilworth’s eyes, but Farthington grabs it and glares at Jiles. Years of hostility between the two have led to both of them knowing each other far too well. Farthington then headbutts Jiles, not once, not twice, but three times, cracking Cancer’s head open. Blood starts trickling out of Cancer’s skull as Farthington lifts him up and connects with the Fisherman Buster. As Cancer bounces off the mat, Farthington chucks him over the top rope and Cancer crashes onto the ring mat below.
ELIMINATED: CANCER JILES
Richard Parker: WHOOOOOOO! MY LONG NIGHTMARE IS OVER!
Nick Stuart: Cecilworth with his second Worthless of the match and have both led to eliminations! Farthington, a man who has been out of the ring for well over a year, seems like he hasn’t lost a step even if his gas tank is a bit more limited.
Richard Parker: Could you imagine if Farthington managed to win this Battle Royale? Whoever is the Universal Champion going into Tropical Turmoil would have to be thinking twice about stepping in the ring with him!
Nick Stuart: Truth. Cecilworth is the kind of person who can mess you up for a long time and not think twice while doing so.
Best drives his knee into the midsection of Jared Sykes who is stunned from the shot, but connects with a stiff right to the jaw of Best. Best goes to whip Sykes into the ropes, but Jared reverses it and connects with a dropkick that sends Best to the mat. Both men are on their feet in a hurry as they begin trading knife-edge chops until Best plants his boot into the right leg of Jared. Jared hobbles away from the shot, but Best follows it up with another series of right fists until he connects with a drop toe hold that lands Sykes on the middle rope.
FLAMBERGE snaps his elbow across the throat of Youngblood before connecting with a judo throw that lands Youngblood on the mat. As Youngblood sits up. FLAMBERGE cracks his boot across the back of Brandon’s neck and then reigns down a series of forearm strikes across the neck and right shoulder of Youngblood.
Tsonda connects with a stiff boot to the midsection of Colton and then follows that up with an uppercut that sends Colton into the corner. Colton, looking exhausted, is unable to move as Tsonda connects with a running clothesline in the corner. He pulls Colton out of the corner and goes for a Diamond Dust, but Colton blocks it and slams Tsonda into the mat. He then stomps away at Tsonda before pulling him off of the mat and whips him into the ropes before connecting with a backbreaker.
Nick Stuart: Colton is holding his own in the ring, having been in this match teh longest.
Richard Parker: Being in this match this long isn’t a benefit in the least bit. If anything, it puts a mark on you that you’re easy pickings.
Nick Stuart: Well, I don’t think Colton is looking like easy pickings in the least bit.
Richard Parker: Maybe, though when you look at who is in the ring right now, you either have young stars like Colton, FLAMBERGE, or TAB or you have experienced, grizzled veterans like Youngblood, Tsonda, Sykes, and Farthington.
Nick Stuart: Very true. Will youth propel someone with enough energy to finish this match or will the experience provide an advantage that allows them to pick their moments?
Tsonda gets up to his feet and moves over to the nearby corner where he climbs to the top. He then goes for the triple jump corkscrew moonsault
…
…
But crashes into the knees of Nate Colton! Colton is quick to his feet as Tsonda rolls around clutching his ribs. Colton yanks Tsonda off of the mat and then tosses him over the top rope!
ELIMINATED: CHANDLER TSONDA
Nick Stuart: NO! Tsonda went for The Model Citizen Redux and Colton baited him into it!
Richard Parker: Going to the top rope in this kind of match is high risk, low reward, and Tsonda experienced that first hand! That was not a situation where experience outweighed youth, that’s for sure.
Nick Stuart: It definitely didn’t and you have to give it up to Tsonda for one hell of a performance. Hopefully this isn’t the last time we see him. Hopefully he realizes he’s still got plenty in the tank and can come back for one more run.
Tsonda gets to his feet and the disappointment is evident on his face as he thanks the fans around him and high-fives the fans on his way up the ramp.
As Colton turns around, he is met with a stiff boot to the face from Farthington that drops Colton to both knees. Farthington drives the point of his boot into the rib cage of Colton repeatedly, putting the Five-Star Champion onto his stomach.
Youngblood trades blows with Tyler Adrian Best until Best drives his boot into the midsection of Youngblood. Best then tries for a powerbomb on Youngblood, but Youngblood manages to block it and connects with a back body drop on Best. As TAB gets to his feet, Youngblood connects with a boot to his face and then puts him down on the mat with a sidewalk slam.
FLAMBERGE goes for a haymaker on Sykes, but Sykes manages to block it. FLAMBERGE goes for a short arm clothesline, but Sykes ducks underneath it and as FLAMBERGE turns around, Sykes plants his boot into FLAMBERGE’s midsection and connects with a leg drop across the back of FLAMBERGE’s neck.
Nick Stuart: Six competitors left and it’s a wonder how any of these six are still standing. They’ve thrown everything they have at one another and it seems like somehow they find something deep down to keep propelling them.
Richard Parker: It’s amazing how much these competitors are willing to put their bodies on the line for a shot at the Universal Title at Tropical Turmoil.
Farthington drags Colton up to his feet and pushes him into the corner. Colton fires off a forearm shot that stuns Cecilworth. He then switches places with Farthington and drills a few more forearm strikes to the jaw of Farthington before hoisting him onto the top turnbuckle. Colton climbs up with him and Colton puts him into a front facelock before connecting with a Superplex! Colton then rolls through it and somehow finds the strength to lift Farthington up once again and connects with a Falcon’s arrow!
Best blocks an elbow from Youngblood and connects with a knee strike. With Youngblood stunned, Best runs into the ropes and springboards off the middle ropes for a springboard crossbody. Youngblood is ready for him as Youngblood falls backwards and gets his knees up, which TAB collides with.
FLAMBERGE is dragged to his feet and Sykes goes to throw him over the top rope, but FLAMBERGE manages to reverse it and sends Sykes over the top rope. Sykes though grabs the top rope right before his feet land and he manages to hold on as the referees confirm he didn’t touch the ground.
Richard Parker: How is Sykes holding on?!
Nick Stuart: It’s a miracle, but he has done it and FLAMBERGE hasn’t realized it.
As FLAMBERGE turns around, Sykes skins the cat and pulls himself up until his legs are wrapped around the neck of FLAMBERGE. Sykes manages to pull FLAMBERGE over the top rope and sends him falling onto the mat outside of the ring.
ELIMINATED: FLAMBERGE
Nick Stuart: What a hell of an elimination from Sykes there, managing to use his leg strength to drag FLAMBERGE over the top rope and to the outside!
Richard Parker: Alright, well I guess Jared doesn’t skip leg day either. I guess we should have figured that out based on the dump truck he’s got back there. No wonder Justine can’t get enough of him.
Nick Stuart: Alright, enough.
Richard Parker: Oh, I forgot. You’ve had eyes for Justine for months.
Nick Stuart: You are too much sometimes.
TAB gets up to his feet and dodges a kick from Youngblood and drives Youngblood to the mat with a clothesline. TAB mounts Youngblood and begins drilling him with a series of closed handed fists until Sykes tackles TAB from behind. Jared quickly gets to his feet and kicks TAB in the midsection as he gets up before putting him into a hammerlock and connects with a hammerlock suplex!
Farthington connects with an European Uppercut that stuns Colton into the ropes. Cecilworth quickly wraps Colton’s arms into the ropes and hits him with a series of closed-fists before bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a running boot to the face. Colton slumps, but is still held up due to the ropes as Farthington bounces off the ropes again and connects with a knee to Colton’s face that nearly knocks him out.
TAB gets to his feet and drives his shoulder into the stomach of Sykes, who immediately hits him with a series of forearm strikes to the shoulders of the young star. TAB is unphased though as he drives his shoulder into the ribcage of Sykes, who is pressed against the corner. TAB goes for another one, but Youngblood wraps him up with a rear waist lock and he connects with a side suplex that drops TAB on the back of his head.
Nick Stuart: TAB is trying to take out both Sykes and Youngblood, and that doesn’t seem to be the soundest of plans.
Richard Parker: Well, if you ask me, this is rather unfair to TAB and I hope Sykes and Youngblood get their comeuppance as a result.
Farthington unwraps Colton from the ropes and goes to smash Colton’s face into the top turnbuckle, but Nate blocks it with his boot and then snaps Farthington’s face into the turnbuckle instead. Cecilworth turns into Nate, who scoops him up into his arms and drops him onto the mat with a scoop slam.
TAB grabs a kick to the face from Sykes as he gets up to his feet and slings it into Youngblood’s midsection. With Youngblood doubled over, TAB connects with a forearm smash to Sykes face and then grabs his head before connecting with a Springboard Cutter.
Nick Stuart: STREETS SWEEPER FROM TAB TO SYKES!
Richard Parker: TAB managed to think outside of the box and took both Sykes and Youngblood out!
TAB then grabs Sykes off of the mat and tosses him over the top rope as the lifeless body of Sykes lands on the outside mat.
ELIMINATED: JARED SYKES
Nick Stuart: Sykes gave it his all and he just came up short in the end!
Richard Parker: Serves Sykes right. I’m just shocked TAB could get him over the top rope with all of that booty. That booty has to be an extra seventy-five pounds.
Nick Stuart: Okay, this conversation is getting a bit weird. We are down to our FINAL FOUR COMPETITORS!
The Final Four indeed.
NATE COLTON.
TYLER ADRIAN BEST.
CECILWORTH FARTHINGTON.
BRANDON YOUNGBLOOD.
Youngblood and Best immediately enter a collar-and-elbow tie-up as they circle each other around the ring. Best’s ego refuses to let him drop to one knee and thus he drives his heels into the mat and pushes against Youngblood every inch of the way. Regardless of how his muscles are screaming at him, begging him to stop. Youngblood, who has lived this life for longer than Best has been alive, relishes the look on TAB’s face that tells him everything he needs to know.
Best is trying to wrestle Youngblood’s style. And no one can wrestle quite like Youngblood.
Meanwhile, Farhington hoists Colton off of the mat and drills him with a forearm shot, but Nate refuses to stay down as he cracks a knife-edge chop across the chest of Cecilworth. The shot reddens the chest of Farthington, but he fires back with a straight right in between the eyes of Nate that sends Colton into the ropes. As Cecilworth gets close, Colton fires back with a kick to the midsection and then Colton drives his knee into the face of Cecilworth.
Youngblood backs Best into the corner and drives a fist, his right, into the rib cage of Best and then follows with a left. Best slams his boot into the midsection of Youngblood to give him an inch of space and then hops onto the middle turnbuckle. Before Best can get his next move off though, Youngblood closes the gap and grabs Best before yanking him off the second turnbuckle into a Northern Lights Suplex! Youngblood then rolls through it and muscles Best off of the mat and connects with a second Northern Lights Suplex! Brandon manages to do it one more time, connecting with three rolling Northern Lights Suplex!
Nick Stuart: What strength and concentration there from Youngblood!
Richard Parker: That man is not human.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood managed to get the victory over Matt Ward on Night One and nothing will make him happier than to win this match and move forward towards Tropical Turmoil to have a chance to reclaim his Universal Title.
Richard Parker: The last time we had a Tropical Turmoil, some demons came out of Youngblood that have haunted him long since. That could be a chance to put them to rest once and for all.
Colton slams his boot across the face of Cecilworth, whose exhaustion is showing on his face. Over a year away from the ring has done its toll on him and he’s simply trying to get enough deep breaths to steady himself. Nate refuses to give him an inch though as he drives his shoulder into the face of the man from Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Colton whips Cecilworth into the corner and connects with a running forearm strike that forces Cecilworth to slump in the corner. Colton stomps away at Farthington as Cecilworth tries everything he can to block the shots.
Youngblood drags TAB to his feet and TAB looks like he is out of it as Youngblood slaps the youngster in the face. This drops TAB to one knee. Youngblood tries to drag TAB back up to his feet again, but TAB slams his fist into Youngblood’s midsection. He then gets Youngblood into an arm wrench. He yanks on Youngblood’s arm, causing considerable pain to come across Brandon’s face as TAB looks to pull his shoulder out of its socket. TAB yanks on it again and this time Youngblood goes for a forearm shot. TAB manages to duck under it though and connects with a belly to back suplex!
Colton drags Cecilworth out of the corner and whips him into the ropes where he connects by slamming both forearms into the chest of Cecilworth. Farthington crashes into the mat, but doesn’t stay down for long as he gets up to his feet only for Colton to hoist him onto his shoulder and connect with a shoulder breaker.
Nick Stuart: Colton completely controlling Cecilworth and that is fascinating to watch as Colton has really handled his own against the legend in Farthington.
Richard Parker: Colton definitely stepping up to the challenge here and that is admirable, but the name of the game, at this stage of the match, is to eliminate Farthington. This is not a wrestling match, not yet. He needs to make it to the final two and he’s not going to manage to do that if he keeps just wrestling him.
Nick Stuart: Well, the same could be said for Youngblood.
Richard Parker: Exactly. Throw them out of the ring and let’s get to Youngblood and Colton, something that the fans — gags — want to see.
Nick Stuart: You okay over there?
Richard Parker: Yeah. I just have no desire to see that match, personally.
TAB grabs The Diamond of the Revival and hoists Youngblood onto his shoulders. Brandon immediately slams his elbow into the side of TAB’s neck, forcing Tyler to drop him. Youngblood connects with a fierce knife-edge chop that drops TAB to both knees. Youngblood immediately moves behind TAB and deadlifts him into the air. He goes for the Randallplex, but TAB manages to slip out of Youngblood’s grasp and lands on his feet. He then hoists Youngblood onto his shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry and then connects with a Uranage slam!
Nick Stuart: THE TY-BREAKER! Could TAB end up eliminating Youngblood?
Richard Parker: Let’s goooooooooooo!
TAB yanks Youngblood off of the mat and tries to send him over the top rope, but Youngblood catches him with an elbow to the midsection. Youngblood tries to clothesline TAB over the top rope, but TAB manages to hook his arms around the top rope and he lands on his feet. He ducks a fist from Youngblood and drives his boot into the face of Youngblood, stunning him.
TAB then flies off the ropes and connects with a double knee strike to the face of Youngblood, sending him over the top rope.
ELIMINATED: BRANDON YOUNGBLOOD
Nick Stuart: And there were three! TAB with a phenomenal elimination of Youngblood right there and man, Youngblood can’t believe it as he is on the outside looking up in disbelief.
Richard Parker: Almost a perfect weekend for Youngblood, so painfully close, but he was unable to pull it off in the end!
Best collapses into the corner and sits there, watching as Colton and Farthington continue to battle with one another.
Colton pulls Farthington up to his feet and Farthington connects with a forearm shot that snaps Colton’s head back and drops him to one knee. Farthington bounces off the ropes and goes for a knee strike to the face of Nate, but Colton lifts him into the air and plants him in the middle of the ring with a spinebuster. Colton rolls off of Farthington, chest heaving from the length he has been in this match compared to the likes of Farthington and TAB.
Colton slowly sits up and is met with a kick to the face from Farthington. Colton rolls onto his side from the shot as Farthington gets to his knees and clubs Colton in the back of the neck. Colton uses the ropes to get himself back up and is met with a forearm from Farthington. Cecilworth then drapes Colton across the middle rope and plants him into the mat with a DDT. Colton lies face first into the mat, his legs hanging on the middle rope.
Farthington gets back up to his feet and drops a knee across the back of Colton’s skull. Nate rolls onto the mat, clutching the back of his head, while Farthington reaches down and starts to pull him up when Colton connects with a kick to the head of Cecilworth. Farthington stumbles backwards while Nate gets back up to his feet. Cecilworth turns back into Colton, who connects with an Exploder Suplex into the corner that sees Farthington’s head hit the bottom turnbuckle and he is upside down in the corner.
Nick Stuart: These two are beating the ever-loving shit out of each other.
Richard Parker: And this is playing right into TAB’s hands as he is just resting up and watching them do this. He’s learning and studying while his body has a cool off period. Genius!
Nick Stuart: It does play into TAB’s hand, but he lost to Colton last night and I don’t even want to talk about the history between Farthington and TAB.
Richard Parker: If TAB is smart, he will find his spot and capitalize on both Colton and Farthington.
Colton grabs Farthington and pulls him out of the corner before grabbing him by the back of the head and goes to throw him over the top rope, but Farthington reverses it at the last second and sends Colton over the top rope!
Nick Stuart: Colton manages to get a hand on the top rope and he manages to catch himself before his feet touch down on the outside. Colton is pulling himself up to his feet and he blocks a fist from Farthington!
Richard Parker: Knock him off of there, Cecilworth!
Farthington is met with a stiff forearm from Colton! Farthington stumbles backwards as Colton looks to springboard back into the ring. As Farthington turns back towards him, Colton begins to use the top rope to help launch him forward.
THWACK!
Nick Stuart: CECILWORTH WITH A SUPERKICK TO THE JAW OF COLTON! COLTON IS DOWN AND OUT ON THE MAT!
ELIMINATED: NATE COLTON
Richard Parker: And we have two left.
Nick Stuart: That we do and this is no longer an over-the-top rope elimination match, this is a one-on-one match where to win, you have to be pinned or submit.
Richard Parker: After the hellacious match that has just occurred, how will either of these two have anything left in the tank?
Cecilworth collapses in the corner, his chest heaving, sweat dripping down his forehead. He looks across the ring to the man sitting in the opposite corner and locks eyes with Tyler Adrian Best.
And Tyler Adrian Best locks eyes with Cecilworth Farthington. The history between these two men radiate, even though they’ve never officially stepped into the ring with one another in a sanctioned match.
Nick Stuart: No one expected Cecilworth Farthington to be in this match and especially not the man in the opposite corner of him. Tyler Adrian Best trained at the feet of the likes of Lindsay Troy, Dan Ryan, his father Mike Best, and this man, Cecilworth Farthington. Everything that Best knows is partly due to the man that he must now face to earn himself a shot at the Universal Championship.
Richard Parker: And something we neglected to mention is that Farthington now has a shot at the Five Star Championship at Tropical Turmoil.
Nick Stuart: Very true and it is that very championship that Tyler competed for last night and lost.
Richard Parker: Lost against the man that Farthington just eliminated.
Nick Stuart: Also, very true.
Timo Bolamba slides into the ring and signals for the bell to start for the one-on-one match between these two. Best is the first one to get up in his corner while Cecilworth takes another moment longer before grabbing the top rope and yanking himself up. Timo stands in the center of the ring and watches as Farthington moves towards the center of the ring as Best meets him there.
Nick Stuart: And Farthington and Best are touching forehead to forehead. You can see the intensity between the two of them.
Richard Parker: For all we know, these two have had heated training sessions. They could have had real animosity when training. Best has been trained at the very best, by legends, and for all we know, that could have created real animosity that he needs to show he is better than all four of them!
Nick Stuart: Anything is possible, but there is no sign of respect between the two of them right now. There’s heat between these two and they’re making it clear that they will do anything they can to walk out with a title shot at the Universal Title at Tropical Turmoil.
Timo watches as the two jaw off with one another until Best unloads with a loaded right forearm to the face of Cecilworth. Farthington’s head doesn’t even budget an inch as his eyes narrow and the intensity in them increases. Best stands there, wondering if he’s made a mistake, when Farthington fires off a right hand of his own. Best’s head turns to the right as he takes the shot completely. Tyler stands there, with his head to the right, for a moment. His eyes are closed before he spits the blood that has pooled in his mouth onto the mat.
Tyler slowly looks back at Farthington and taps the side of his jaw. Farthington is willing to do just that as he punches Best again in the jaw. Best, instead of moving away from the punch, leans into it and closes the gap between him and Farthington before snapping his head into Farthington’s. Cecilworth stumbles backwards from the shot and as he does, Best goes for a double leg takedown only for Farthington to stuff it. Best tries to get up, but Farthington doesn’t budget as he slams forearm after forearm into the shoulder blades of TAB.
Farthington then floats over, wrapping his arms around the waist of Best and begins to roll him around the ring. Best tries to get away from Farthington, but Cecilworth has him locked in. TAB tries to twist as Farthington continues to roll him around the ring, pulling on every muscle of Best, who is trying to go in the opposite direction, but failing. TAB eventually is able to twist so he is face to face with Farthington. He gets his feet into the ribcage of Farthington and monkey flips him only for Cecilworth to land on his feet.
Richard Parker: Geez, Farthington looks as if he’s as fresh as possible after just moments ago he looked like someone who was devoid of any energy.
Nick Stuart: This is where Farthington strives. He is going to get into the head of Best, he is going to wear him down with minimal exertion on his own end, and Best is going to become frustrated in the process. Best has to keep himself within his own box.
Richard Parker: Meaning?
Nick Stuart: He can’t allow himself to try and do too much, to punch outside of his weight so to say. Do what he knows best and stay within those confines. He can’t hope to match the experience or knowledge that Farthington has. He needs to find those moments to strike and capitalize upon them.
As Best gets back up, he goes for a double-handed palm strike to Farthington, who immediately puts him into a headlock. Best pushes Farthington into the ropes and pushes Cecilworth off of him and into the ropes. Farthington goes for a clothesline, but Best ducks underneath it. Cecilworth flies off the opposite ropes and goes for a knee strike, but Best pushes Cecilworth slightly off course before he gets Farthington into an abdominal stretch. Farthington immediately turns his hips and tosses Best over and onto the mat.
Farthington immediately puts Best into a rear-naked chokehold and wraps his legs around Best’s body. Tyler tries to worm his way out of it, but Farthington increases the pressure from his legs around TAB’s body. Best immediately rolls onto his knees, knowing he has limited time and has to do something fast. Timo watches on, his orders simple. Count if there is a pinfall. Check if there is a submission. Do nothing else.
Best pushes himself up to his feet, no easy feat considering he has a bendy Cecilworth Farthington on his back and runs straight into the corner, colliding Farthington’s head into the middle turnbuckle while TAB avoids any further damage. Farthington breaks the hold as he rolls off of Best’s back and grabs the crown of his head. Best gets up to his feet and Farthington rushes at him only for Best to sidestep him and trip him up. As Farthington goes to the mat, Best comes crashing down and tries to go for an armbar. Cecilworth is able to roll out of it before Best is able to get it locked in and connects with a knee to the face of a rising Best.
Nick Stuart: You think these two know each other? Because we are seeing two guys who know each other’s moves and how to get out of them in a hurry.
Richard Parker: Exactly. This is mentor versus mentee and you have to wonder if Cecilworth has been holding anything back just in case this moment came along.
Nick Stuart: At the same time, TAB may have learned a few things himself. Maybe he picked up habits from his Dad or Lindsay Troy that he can use in this match that Cecilworth won’t be able to defend.
Cecilworth moves in from a rear waist-lock and Best immediately twists his hips to send Cecilworth to the mat and floats over before putting his forearm into the throat of Farthington and pushing his head to the right to create added pressure. Cecilworth manages to get his legs up and wraps them around Best’s neck, releasing said pressure and placing Best on the mat with Cecilworth squeezing his legs to cut off circulation to Best. Best quickly rolls onto his knees and drives Farthington’s shoulders to the mat as Timo begins his count.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Smart thinking there from Best as he looks to try and get an easy cover on Farthington there.
Richard Parker: You can tell the mat wrestling game, which isn’t the strength of Best, but is good enough thanks to his training from Cecilworth. Farthington is a master of this sport and Best has taken in everything he could from Farthington.
Cecilworth immediately wraps his legs around Best’s torso as he tries to get up to his feet. Best pushes forward and snaps his elbow across Cecilworth’s knees to break the hold. Farthington quickly gets up to his feet and Best puts Farthington into a hammerlock, but Farthington quickly reverses it. Cecilworth drives the point of his boot into Best’s left knee to bring him down and Best closes the gap between them in order to flip Cecilworth over onto the mat. Tyler immediately puts him into an armbar, but Farthington manages to roll out of it and puts Best into a rear naked choke.
Best makes his way up to his feet and pries Farthington’s fingers loose to put him into a standing arm bar, wrenching back the arm of Farthington, the pain etched into his face as he closes his eyes. Cecilworth then does a cartwheel, releasing the tension and puts Best into a wristlock. Best reaches out for Farthington, but he stays just far enough out of his range to while wrenching the hold on Best. Cecilworth interlocks his fingers and cranks it even further back, threatening ligament damage on Best, but TAB fights through the pain as he walks over to the ropes and springboards off them, over the head of Farthington and puts him into a rear waist lock.
Nick Stuart: What athleticism being shown by both of these men, who are refusing to let the other one get any kind of hold on the other one that sticks.
Richard Parker: The question is, is this playing into Cecilworth’s hands or to TAB’s? Because TAB has the stamina and energy to keep this going. They’re not moving at a fast pace and TAB’s body is going to recover quicker as a result.
Farthington tries to pry the hands of Best loose as TAB cinches in the hold tighter. Tyler tries to lift Farthington up, but Cecilworth locks his leg around TAB’s to prevent it from happening. Cecilworth goes for a back elbow, but Best manages to evade it and with Farthington slightly off balance as a result, he connects with a belly to back suplex, driving Farthington to the mat. TAB immediately floats over and puts Cecilworth into a front facelock, driving his forearm into the throat of Farthington while pushing forward on the back of his head.
Cecilworth struggles against the hold, looking for a gap. He slowly pushes forward on his toes, putting him into a plank position before he kicks off with his feet and front flips onto the torso of Best, pinning his shoulders to the mat.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Best manages to push up with his arms wrapped around Farthington so they are bridging in order to get his shoulders off of the mat. Best manages to turn on his feet and brings himself to a standing position before connecting with a gutwrench suplex on Farthington. Best follows through on it, driving his forearm into Cecilworth’s throat while stretching his body out so he is also pinning Farthington at the same time, forcing Timo to start his count again.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: The back and forth between these two is absolutely stunning. They’re giving no quarter here, there is a complete lack of separation between the two, and the mat wrestling has been something to hold on to.
Richard Parker: But it begs the question of who this favors. As you mentioned earlier, is TAB doing a bit too much here outside of his comfort zone and playing perfectly into the hands of Farthington?
Nick Stuart: That is entirely possible.
Farthington keeps his right shoulder off of the mat, but it forces him to lean into Best’s forearm, which is cutting off air to him. Cecilworth kicks into the mat and floats over to Best’s back; he drives his forearm into the back of Best’s neck repeatedly while Mike tries to deadlift himself off the mat with Farthington on his back. Cecilworth brings his feet to the mat as he puts Best into a rear naked chokehold. Best then drives his feet into the mat and rushes backwards, driving Cecilworth into the corner and the air out of him.
With the hold on his neck loosened, Best turns around and drives his knee into Cecilworth’s midsection. He then unloads with a flurry of right hooks that turn Farthington’s face into ground beef and forces him to kneel in the corner. Best reaches down to pull Farthington back into a standing position, but Farthington takes the moment and lifts Best into the air before running across the ring and driving him backfirst into the opposite corner. Farthington then connects with a snug forearm before driving his foot into Best’s chest and sends him deeper into the corner.
Farthington then open-hand slaps Best in the face before driving his shoulder into Best’s midsection. Farthington then lifts Best into the air and drops him throat first onto the top rope. As Best grabs his throat, Farthington bounces off the ropes, and as Best turns towards Farthington, he is met with a boot in between the eyes. Best goes down and he immediately rolls out of the ring as he shakes his head.
Nick Stuart: Best can feel the frustration as Farthington has matched him step for step through the early parts of this one-on-one match. You can imagine he’s upset with how his match with Colton went yesterday and he’s not looking for a repeat here tonight.
Richard Parker: No, definitely not. This is really a mind game for Farthington. He can match Best move for move, he can take a bit of pressure and not feel like the world is closing in on him. For Best, he simply doesn’t have that experience and so everything feels like he’s on his back foot when things aren’t going his way.
Nick Stuart: It doesn’t matter how much training he might have in the ring is what you’re trying to say because when you’re in that ring, it can be a completely different ballgame.
Richard Parker: Exactly.
Nick Stuart: I like that you’re taking this seriously.
Richard Parker: Fuck off.
Farthington immediately exits the ring and slams his forearm into the back of TAB’s neck. He then grabs him by the wrist and goes to whip him into the ringside barricade, but TAB reverses it and sends Farthington instead. Cecilworth crashes into the barricade and arches his back in pain before kneeling on the ground. TAB takes his time walking over to Farthington, grabbing his head and yanking him off the mat before pushing him against the barricade and connecting with a knife-edge chop.
Cecilworth drops back to a seated position on the outside, back against the barricade. TAB wastes no time as he plants his boot repeatedly into the chest of Cecilworth, wanting to exact as much pain as possible on him. TAB moves a few feet back of Cecilworth and runs full speed, smashing his knee into the face of Cecilworth, driving the back of his head into the barricade. TAB moves a few feet again, looking to do it once again, but this time Farthington catches it.
Slowly, Cecilworth gets up to his feet, still holding onto TAB’s leg and lifts it into the air before bringing it crashing down upon the top of the barricade. TAB yelps in pain and then Cecilworth does it again, causing TAB to collapse from the pain. Now this time, Farthington slams his boot into TAB, but this time into the side of TAB’s skull. Cecilworth climbs on top of the barricade and then leaps off of it, planting both feet into the side of TAB’s skull.
Nick Stuart: And this is a pleasant reminder to TAB that Farthington is not messing around in there tonight. He doesn’t care who TAB is, that TAB sat at his feet and learned, Farthington is going to impart his final lesson to TAB tonight. That there are no friends when the bell has rung.
Richard Parker: First, if you call that pleasant, then eek. Second, that is the most important lesson in wrestling and TAB is definitely learning that right now.
Cecilworth grabs TAB and pulls him to a vertical base before rolling him into the ring. Cecilworth follows behind him and snaps his boot against the side of TAB’s head again. TAB rolls away from Cecilworth, his head on the bottom rope, where Cecilworth plants his boot against the side of the head, causing extreme discomfort for TAB. Cecilworth, with his boot against the side of TAB’s head, reaches down and grabs his wrist before pulling him up off the mat. He puts him into a wrist lock and then smashes his forearm into TAB’s face.
TAB drops down to one knee from the shot, but Cecilworth yanks him back to a standing base and connects with another forearm strike across the face. The shot drops TAB to his knee once again. Cecilworth yanks TAB back up again and puts his forehead against TAB’s. TAB doesn’t take kindly to this and snaps his head back before spitting in Farthington’s face. Cecilworth unloads with another forearm strike. He then goes to whip TAB into the corner, but TAB reverses it and launches everything he has into sending Farthington into the corner, causing him to crash chest first into the corner.
Farthington collapses to the mat from the sheer velocity from TAB. TAB drags Farthington away from the ropes and goes for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: And Farthington just gets his left shoulder up.
Nick Stuart: The amount of bruises these two are going to have on their bodies tomorrow will be too many to count.
TAB gets back up to his feet and snaps his boot across the face of Farthington. He then begins to pull him up to his feet and jams his elbow into the back of Farthington’s neck. The shot drops Farthington back to his knees and then TAB follows it up with a forearm strike to the face that turns Cecilworth to face the mat. Farthington muscles himself back up to his knees and is met with another forearm strike, this one causing some damage as Cecilworth spits blood out of his mouth and onto the mat.
TAB brings Cecilworth up to his feet, grabbing his wrist to do so, and then connects with another forearm strike that wobbles Cecilworth, who stumbles away from TAB. As TAB comes close to Farthington, Cecilworth connects with a back elbow that stuns TAB. Farthington turns around and TAB takes a step towards Farthington, who unleashes an uppercut that snaps TAB’s head back. TAB shakes it off the best that he can and takes another step forward into another uppercut from Farthington. This one sends him to his knees and Farthington bounces off the ropes, looking for a knee strike, but TAB blocks it.
TAB drives his forearm into the midsection of Farthington before popping up with an uppercut of his own. The shot stuns Farthington who stumbles backwards. TAB closes the distance between them and he is met with a palm strike to the throat for his troubles. Best grabs at his throat as Farthington catches his breath. Farthington then unloads with a forearm strike that drives TAB down to one knee. Farthington puts TAB into a side headlock only for TAB to slam his forearm into the lower back of Farthington. TAB uses the moment pause from Farthington to spin him around and connect with a snapmare.
Nick Stuart: Back and forth, back and forth these two go! Now TAB has got a rear naked choke hold on him.
Richard Parker: Not for long.
Nick Stuart: Not for long at all as Farthington pushed up on his legs and then connected with a jawbreaker on TAB, driving TAB’s jaw into his shoulder and there’s no way that felt good in the least bit.
Farthington spins around onto his knees as Best is rubbing his jaw and slams his forearm into TAB’s midsection. Farthington gets back up to his feet and whips TAB into the ropes, who flies back off with a springboard crossbody that sends both men crashing to the mat. TAB gets up and as he does, Farthington connects with a leg sweep that drops TAB on the back of his head. Farthington bounces back up to his feet and slams his boot into the face of TAB, who immediately sits up from the shot. When he does, Farthington connects with a dropkick to the side of his head.
Farthington then goes for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Best just gets his left shoulder up.
Richard Parker: You have to imagine that Best’s body is screaming in agony at this point. A furious match with Colton and then what, ninety minutes or so in the Battle Royale?
Nick Stuart: Exactly. As much as he will fight against this, you have to imagine that Best is feeling the limitations of his body at this moment. Farthington may have been off for fifteen or so months, but he didn’t wrestle last night and that might also help in his favor.
Farthington immediately gets up to his feet, grabs the left leg of TAB and drives his knee into his hamstring. TAB groans in pain as Farthington stands up and then does it again. TAB yanks his leg away from Farthington and shakes his head in pain. Farthington walks up and smacks the back of TAB’s head before pulling him up to his feet. TAB retaliates with a stiff forearm shot. He then goes to whip Farthington into the corner, but Cecilworht reverses it. TAB runs into the corner and manages to get his foot up onto the middle turnbuckle and spins around, looking to launch himself into an attack on Farthington, only to be met with a superkick to the jaw instead.
TAB drops down to both knees from the shot and shakes his head. Farthington stands above TAB and smacks him around in the head a bit, looking at him from every angle and willing him to get up and fight. TAB slams his fist into Farthington’s midsection, but Farthington shakes his head and smashes his knee into TAB’s face. TAB remains on his knees, his head lolled back, as Farthington smacks him around a bit more. This time, TAB launches up, wrapping his arms around Cecilworth in the process and drops him face first onto the top turnbuckle. As Farthington stumbles back, TAB gets him into a rear waist lock and connects with a release German Suplex!
Nick Stuart: TAB out of nowhere with that as Cecilworth seemed to be taunting TAB there.
Richard Parker: Indeed he was and I’m not quite certain why Cecilworth, when I am wearing his shirt under my dress shirt, would think that is a GOOD IDEA!
Nick Stuart: He might be using this as a teaching moment for TAB? Something that TAB can go back to and review after the match?
Richard Parker: No idea, but you shouldn’t play with your food is my initial thought.
TAB is slow to get to his feet while Cecilworth is lying on the mat, not moving much. TAB walks over to Cecilworth and snaps his foot across Farthington’s ribcage, punting him out of the ring in the process. Cecilworth lies on the cold plastic mat as TAB stands there, by the ropes, watching him pull himself up to his feet. As he does, TAB connects with a plancha onto the Cecilworth, sending both crashing to the mat. TAB immediately pops back up, another wind (third? fourth? eleventh?) coursing through his body.
TAB stands above Farthington, who is simply trying to sit back up. TAB helps him to his feet and then smashes his face into the ring apron before rolling him back into the ring. TAB steps onto the ring apron as he watches Farthington get back up to his feet. TAB then goes to springboard off the top rope, but his left leg buckles on him as he falls into the ring, grabbing at his left leg. Farthington looks over at TAB, who is trying to get up to his feet and looks concerned for half a second before connecting with a dropkick to the injured left knee of TAB, sending him crashing to the mat.
Farthington sits up as TAB grabs at his knee, clearly in pain. Timo checks on him, but TAB pushes him away. TAB works to get up to his feet and narrowly dodges a forearm strike from Farthington. He then grabs Cecilworth’s neck and goes for a neckbreaker, but Farthington hooks his arms and leans forward, sliding him down his back until his shoulders touch the mat. Timo begins the count on TAB.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: And TAB just kicks out! He rolls onto his knees, clearly in pain — and Farthington with a punt kick to the chest of TAB! TAB is still on his knees, but man, his chest is red after that shot.
Richard Parker: Smart on Farthington to wear down the left leg of TAB, taking away less so his vertical base, but more so his athleticism. He knows the kid will use the ropes to do planchas and dives more often than Farthington would and Cecilworth was clearly thinking about the long-term roadmap of this match.
Farthington gets back up to his feet as he looks at TAB, seemingly unconscious on his knees. Cecilworth drags TAB up to his feet and TAB fires off a forearm shot that drops Farthington to one knee. TAB kicks out his left leg a bit, trying to get the hitch out of there. As he turns back to Farthington, he is met with a slap that echoes throughout AT&T Stadium!
THWACK!
TAB’s head cocks to the side, but there is no pain there. Just pure anger.
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK-THWACK-THWACK!
THWACKTHWACKTHWACKTHWACKTHWACK!
THWACK — THWACK! — THWACK THWACK THWACK!
Nick Stuart: Holy hell, the two of them are just trading open-handed slaps to each other’s face at a rate that makes you feel like you’re watching a tennis match where the ball is being volleyed across the net at an ungodly rate.
Richard Parker: Watch a lot of tennis?
Nick Stuart: Anything to keep me occupied.
Both competitors are leaning against the ropes, across from one another, after smacking the holy shit out of one another. TAB runs full speed at Cecilworth and connects with a knee strike to his jaw. Farthington’s head snaps back. TAB then runs to the opposite ropes and as he turns around, he is met with a knee strike to the jaw from Farthington! The shot stuns TAB as he leans into the ropes.
Farthington grabs TAB by the wrist and whips him across the ring. Farthington picks up TAB with one arm, but TAB uses his momentum to do a backflip and lands on his feet before lifting Farthington into the air and connects with a twirling backbreaker across his right knee!
Farthington collapses onto the mat while TAB is in a seated position. Both men are heavily breathing as TAB looks over at Farthington while he massages his knee. TAB digs his knuckles into the mat and pulls himself up. There is still a hitch in TAB’s step, but TAB manages to drive his boot into the side of Farthington’s face. Cecilworth rolls onto his knees and TAB punts him in the rib cage as a result. TAB grabs Cecilworth by the wrist and yanks him up to his feet and puts him in a wrist lock before connecting with a knife-edge chop.
THWACK!
Nick Stuart: The amount of spite that TAB put into that chop is unearthly. Farthington falls backwards while TAB is still holding onto his wrist.
Richard Parker: And he pulls Farthington up into another knife-edge chop! Cecilworth is refusing to go down this time though and he fires off a forearm shot to the face of TAB.
CRACK!
THWACK — CRACK!
THWACK — THWACK — CRACK!
CRACK! CRACK! THWACK!
THWACK — CRACK — THWACK!
Nick Stuart: A flurry of forearm shots from Farthington and knife-edge chops from TAB. How are either of these two men still standing?!
Richard Parker: I have no Hoytly idea and my chest feels like it’s on fire from watching those chops.
Nick Stuart: My jaw may be dislocated from watching those forearm shots!
TAB still holds onto the wrist of Farthington, who drops to both knees. TAB slams his boot repeatedly into the chest of Farthington before pulling him back up and connecting with another knife-edge chop. TAB lets go of Cecilworth’s chest and Farthington stumbles into the ropes. TAB then connects with another knife-edge chop that sends Farthington through the ropes and onto the ring apron. He pulls himself up using the ropes and Best connects with a forearm shot that sends Farthington crashing into the ringside barricade!
TAB exits the ring and greets Farthington with a sickening kick to the chest. TAB goes to whip Farthington into the barricade, but Farthington reverses it into a short-arm clothesline. Farthington then fires off a forearm shot to the face before spinning TAB around and launching him chest first into the ringside barricade. TAB recoils into a forearm shot to the back of the skull from Farthington. Farthington spins him around and goes to hoist him up, but as he does, TAB drives his knee into the jaw of Cecilworth, causing him to drop him.
TAB then springboards off the ringside barricade, looking for a cutter, but Farthington catches him, twists him around and connects with a Michnoku Driver on the unforgiving outside. TAB grabs his head, twisting in pain while Farthington sits there next to him, his chest heaving as he looks at his protege. Farthington pats TAB on the back before driving his elbow down into his face.
Nick Stuart: Jesus —
Richard Parker: HOYT! NO JESUS! HOYT!
Nick Stuart: For Cecilworth to pat the kid on the back, as if everything is going to be okay, and then drive his elbow into his face is just cruel and unusual punishment.
Richard Parker: Because I’m sure that Tyler Adrian Best was just given lollipops while growing up and told how perfect he was in every single way.
Nick Stuart: Fair enough.
Farthington picks up TAB and whips him into the ring apron only for TAB to leap onto the ring apron and turns himself around before launching himself at Farthington with a knee strike that catches him flush in the face. Farthington crashes to the floor while TAB lands on top of him and smashes him in the face with a few fists before getting off of Farthington.
TAB reaches down and grabs Farthington before pulling him up to his feet. He puts him into a front facelock and drops him ribs first onto the ringside barricade. Farthington dangles there as TAB takes a few steps back and drills his boot into Cecilworth’s skull.
TAB then grabs Cecilworth and yanks him off the barricade before smashing his face into the ring apron. He then rolls Cecilworth into the ring and hops onto the ring apron. TAB climbs the nearby corner as Cecilworth fights his back up to his feet. TAB then leaps off the top rope, going for a crossbody onto Farthington, but Cecilworth connects with a dropkick to the ribs of TAB, sending him crashing into the mat and clutching his ribs in the process.
Nick Stuart: TAB might have broken ribs! Timo is checking on him and he is close to stopping this match as TAB is having difficulty breathing.
Richard Parker: And he just pushed Timo away!
Nick Stuart: Timo is looking like he’s going to stop the match!
CRACK!
Timo then collapses to the mat. Not from anything that TAB did, but from a superkick to the jaw from Cecilworth Farthington.
Nick Stuart: WHAT THE HELL?!
Richard Parker: What is Farthington doing?! He could’ve won the match if Timo called it!
TAB looks up at Farthington, eyes wide in confusion. Farthington stands in front of him and shakes his head before he kneels down before TAB.
“Not. Like. That.”
Nick Stuart: Farthington makes it clear that he is not going to take victory from referee stoppage.
Farthington then cracks his forehead against TAB’s.
Nick Stuart: He wants to destroy TAB to win this match!
Richard Parker: Wow. Farthington is… wow.
Nick Stuart: Regretting that shirt you’re wearing?
Richard Parker: Nowhere close.
Farthington then slams his forearm into TAB’s face as TAB slumps over, clutching his ribs as he’s in a world of pain and having difficulty breathing. Farthington makes his way up to his feet.
“LET’S GO, TYLER! IS THIS WHAT WE TRAINED YOU FOR?!”
Tyler looks over at Cecilworth, looking as if he’s been betrayed somehow. Farthington looks at him and then drives his boot into the side of his face.
“PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN! GET YOUR ASS UP!”
Tyler drives his knuckles into the mat and drives himself up, clutching his ribs in the process. He then eats a forearm shot from Cecilworth followed up with a knee to the midsection. Farthington then whips TAB into the ropes and connects with a dropkick that plants Best onto the mat. Cecilworth walks over to TAB and slaps him around a bit before pulling him off of the mat and driving another elbow to his face. TAB fires back with a series of open-handed palm strikes to the chest of Cecilworth, driving Farthington to his knees.
TAB then springboards off the middle ropes and connects with a Cutter.
Richard Parker: NO WAY!
Nick Stuart: STREET SWEEPER! THAT IS IT!
TAB then rolls Farthington onto his back and drapes his arm across his chest as the fans start to count.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE!
SIX!
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
NINE!
TEN!
Except, there is no referee there to count. Because Timo has been knocked out by Cecilworth. TAB looks over at the seemingly lifeless body of Timo and shakes his head. TAB pushes himself up to his feet and walks over to Timo, trying his best to get Timo up, but the superkick hit the right mark and sends Timo to dreamland. TAB walks over to Cecilworth, looking at him in disbelief. He brings Cecilworth to a kneeling position and looks at him, confused.
A smile appears on Cecilworth’s face.
“WHAT?!”
And then Farthington low blows TAB.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: FARTHINGTON! NO!
Richard Parker: Did you expect anything different from him?
Nick Stuart: I guess not.
TAB collapses onto the mat as Cecilworth crawls over and slaps Timo around for a moment before covering TAB. Timo looks just alive enough to start counting.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THR– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Tyler Adrian Best kicked out!
Richard Parker: How in the —
Nick Stuart: I think Farthington’s face says it all!
Farthington rolls off of TAB and looks at him, then at Timo, who still seems unaware of where he’s at. Farthington pulls himself up to his feet and grabs the back of TAB’s skull and brings him up before headbutting him. And then he does it again. And again! The third one cracks TAB’s skull open and blood starts to trickle down his forehead, over his eyes, and down his face. Cecilworth takes the blood on his hands and smiles as he then throws TAB over the top rope and to the outside.
Cecilworth exits the ring, standing on the ring apron. He looks over at TAB, who is struggling to his feet. As he does, TAB turns around and Cecilworth runs full speed, driving both knees into the face of TAB. Cecilworth kneels over TAB, an evil look in his face. He gets up to his feet and drags TAB with him before smashing his face into the ring steps. He holds TAB’s face up and looks at the crimson mask that he is wearing and seems dissatisfied before he smashes his face repeatedly into the ring steps, staining the silver metal with specks of blood in the process. He leaves TAB face down onto the ring steps as he walks towards the ring apron. He then reaches under the ring apron and pulls out a steel chair. He looks over at Timo, who is still lying on the mat, out of it.
He then walks over to TAB and taps the steel chair against the back of his skull. He then cocks it fully back and launches it full speed at TAB and the ring steps.
CRACK!
NIck Stuart: And Tyler JUST moved out of the way at the last second, recoiling the chair off the ring steps and into the face of Cecilworth!
Richard Parker: Tyler would’ve been knocked out if that chair had collided, thank goodness he moved out of the way.
Nick Stuart: I thought you wanted Cecilworth to win.
Richard Parker: I mean, I do. I just don’t want anyone to die… unless it’s Cancer. Then all bets are off.
Cecilworth drops the steel chair, blood trickling down his forehead now as TAB makes his way to his feet and drives his forearm into the face of Farthington. He then puts Farthington into a front face lock and connects with a Snapmere Driver onto the steel chair! TAB makes his way up to his feet and with Farthington’s skull on the steel chair, begins to stomp away at his head, cracking it into the steel chair in the process.
TAB then reaches down and brings Farthington up to his feet before smacking him across the face. Cecilworth drops to one knee from the shot. He then puts Farthington into a front facelock and connects with a suplex, dropping his ribs first onto the ring steps. Cecilworth lies on the steps as TAB then climbs onto the nearby turnbuckle. He looks down at Farthington and leaps off the top rope, both feet extended.
THWACK!
Nick Stuart: And Farthington JUST moved out of the way somehow!
Cecilworth then slams his forearm into the back of TAB’s knees, sending him crashing onto the ring steps. He mounts TAB and wails away at him, fist after fist, crushing into the face of TAB. Cecilworth then drags TAB off of the ring steps and rolls him into the ring. Cecilworth then smacks Timo around in the back of the head and pulls him up to his feet. He then walks over to TAB and yanks him up to his feet, plants his boot into his midsection, and connects with a Fisherman Buster.
Richard Parker: WORTHLESS!
Nick Stuart: And Timo looks conscious enough to count. Farthington is going to Tropical Turmoil for a shot at the Universal Title.
Farthington then covers Best.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
…
…
THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: I’m not sure how TAB kicked out of that, but he did and Farthington looks LESS than pleased.
Richard Parker: Less than pleased might be an understatement.
Farthington sits up and looks down at TAB, whose eyes are closed, and seems to be taking a nap. Cecilworth looks over at his protege and smacks him around a bit. TAB’s eyes open and they glare at Cecilworth. A smile appears on Farthington’s face as TAB sits up, body beaten and battered. He looks over at Cecilworth and lays into him with a forearm shot. Farthington nods his head and connects with a palm strike across TAB’s jaw.
This just incenses TAB, who moves to his knees and drives his forearm across the jaw of Cecilworth. Farthington’s head snaps to the right from the shot, but that smile remains on his face as he moves to his knees and slices his elbow across TAB’s face. TAB shakes his head, refusing to acknowledge the pain he is feeling as he gets to a vertical base and smashes his hand across the top of Cecilworth’s head.
Farthington then explodes from his knees and drives his shoulder into TAB’s midsection, hoisting him onto his shoulder and connecting with a Samoan Drop. TAB doesn’t stay down for long as he gets up and connects with a boot to the midsection of a rising Farthington and connects with a Butterfly Suplex. TAB floats and drives his forearm into Farthington’s face until Cecilworth manages to get his feet under TAB and kicks him backwards.
Nick Stuart: These two might just end up killing each other in this ring.
Richard Parker: Well, that would be a downer to this evening.
As Farthington gets up to his feet, he is met with a boot to the face from TAB. Farthington drops to one knee as Best lifts him up into a Fireman’s Carry. Cecilworth immediately reigns down elbows to the side of TAB’s head, forcing him to drop Cecilworth. Farthington then spins TAB around and kicks him in the midsection before lifting him up for another Fisherman’s Buster. TAB though manages to slip behind Cecilworth. He then wraps his arms around his waist and drives him chest first into the turnbuckle before rolling him up for the cover.
ONE!
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: And Farthington somehow kicked out!
Richard Parker: I thought the shot to the chest would have stunned him far longer.
Nick Stuart: So did TAB!
TAB makes his way to his feet and as Cecilworth sits up, TAB punts him in the chest. Cecilworth leans back from the shot, the pain evident on his face, but he remains on his knees. TAB walks over to Cecilworth and connects with a close-handed fist to the forehead of his mentor. That smile returns to Cecilworth’s face as TAB moves back and goes for another punt kick to the chest, but this time Cecilworth blocks it and quickly connects with a dragon screw that sends TAB crashing to the mat.
Cecilworth forces himself back to a vertical base and drives his boot to the chest of TAB before pulling him off of the mat. He then whips TAB into the ropes and connects with a stiff clothesline that drops TAB to one knee. Farthington slowly pulls TAB off of the mat, but TAB retaliates with an uppercut that stuns Farthington. TAB then whips Farthington into the ropes and connects with a pop-up powerbomb into a pin!
ONE!
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Farthington kicks out again!
Richard Parker: And you can see the annoyance on TAB’s face at not being able to put his mentor away.
TAB gets back up to his feet, looking at Timo and shaking his head. He reaches down to grab Farthington, looking at Timo in the process, and Farthington gets him into an inside cradle.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: And this time, TAB barely kicks out! My goodness!
Richard Parker: You might have to bury one of these two six feet under in order to walk away the winner of this match!
Both men scramble to their feet with Cecilworth connecting with an axe kick before TAB can get his senses together. The shot stuns TAB, giving Cecilworth the opening he needs as he punts TAB in the midsection and connects with a Fisherman’s Buster. Cecilworth wastes no time as he locks in the Cross Arm-Breaker.
Nick Stuart: ARTICLE 50! THIS COULD DO IT FOR TAB!
Richard Parker: You can see the agony on TAB’s face, he doesn’t want to submit, but he can feel the tendons and ligaments in his arm and shoulder threatening to rip apart.
TAB manages to shift to his hips, reducing some of the pain, but not all of it. He drives his heels into the mat and deadlifts Farthington off of the mat, his face in pure agony, before he holds him up and then drives him into a buckle bomb! The shot breaks the hold as TAB then springboards off the middle rope and connects with a cutter.
Nick Stuart: STREET SWEEPER! IS THAT GOING TO DO IT?!
TAB goes for the cover.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THREE!
Except, there is no bell being rung. TAB looks over at Timo, who is pointing at Cecilworth. TAB looks over and sees that Cecilworth’s foot is on the rope!
Nick Stuart: HOW DID CECILWORTH GET HIS FOOT ON THE ROPE?!
Richard Parker: Do you need to yell in my ear all the time?
TAB looks over at Timo in disbelief. He makes his way up to his feet and drags Cecilworth up with him. TAB just looks at his longtime mentor and then Cecilworth SMACKS TAB across the face.
TAB’s head nearly turns 180 degrees from the shot. TAB looks back at Farthington, who is defiant, as he slaps the shit out of TAB again!
TAB shakes his head and looks at his mentor, who smacks him for a third time! This one incenses TAB as he punts Farthington in the groin —
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
— and then springboards off the middle turnbuckle and connects with another Street Sweepers! He then yanks Farthington off of the mat and goes for a THIRD Street Sweepers!
Nick Stuart: He could break Farthington’s neck!
Richard Parker: That might be what he’s trying to do.
TAB then goes for the cover as Timo begins the count.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Vince Howard: YOUR WINNER, AND THE UNIVERSAL TITLE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER… TYLER! ADRIAN! BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEST!
Nick Stuart: He did it! He put down Farthington with not one, not two, but THREE Street Sweepers and he needed all of that to pull out the victory.
Richard Parker: Plus, the low blow.
Nick Stuart: Oh yes! The low blow too!
TAB rises to his feet and yanks his arm away from Timo Bolamba. Timo shakes his head and exits the ring as TAB walks over to the nearby corner and climbs to the second turnbuckle, looking out at the fans.
And gives them all two middle fingers.
Nick Stuart: What disgusting actions from the man who just won this match!
Richard Parker: And would you expect anything different from him?
Nick Stuart: No, not really.
TAB hops off of the middle turnbuckle and looks down at his mentor, who is still lying on the canvas. TAB walks over to him and stands over him.
Then he spits on him.
TAB then exits the ring and makes his way up the ramp.
Nick Stuart: What a hellacious match that saw not forty, but forty-one entrants in this match and we saw thirty-nine eliminations and one pinfall.
Richard Parker: That match between Farthington and TAB was absolutely brutal. Farthington pushed TAB as much as he could and somehow TAB managed to take all of it and then some.
Nick Stuart: In some ways, Farthington should be proud knowing he had a hand in making the man that we see before us today.
TAB stands at the top of the ramp.
Nick Stuart: We hope you’ve enjoyed a phenomenal two nights of Culture Shock! We saw new champions, we saw moments we will never ever forget, and we saw a man rise to the challenge and earn a shot at the Universal Title at Tropical Turmoil.
Richard Parker: The march to Tropical Turmoil begins!
Nick Stuart: For Richard Parker, I’m Nick Stuart. Thank you and good night!
TAB then raises both of his fists in the air, his mind focused on one thing and one thing only.
UNIVERSAL. TITLE.
FADE.
TO.
BLACK.