DAYTONA DIAMONDS VS. KAZUHIRO TROY
Vince Howard: The following match is one fall–
ONE FA–
And then a flock of owls descends from the rafters of the KFC YUM! Center and the fans all dodge furiously, hoping to not have their eyeballs plucked from their skulls (owls do that, right?).
Nick Stuart: Well, that was odd.
Richard Parker: Ha, marks.
Nick Stuart: Our third match of the evening will see Kazuhiro Troy, the adopted son of PRIME Hall of Famer —
Richard Parker: — and owner —
Nick Stuart: Yes, and owner, I was getting there. Kazuhiro, the son of Lindsay Troy squaring off against the Rhinestone Cowboy himself, Daytona Diamonds.
Richard Parker: These two went at it on ReVival 36.
Nick Stuart: That would go without saying. Kaz punched Daytona and then Wade went on to break his nose. Daytona retaliated later on in the evening by nearly choking Kaz out with a steel chain–
Richard Parker: That was pretty bad ass if you ask me.
Nick Stuart: Nothing bad ass about it! Kaz could’ve had his career ended before it started.
Richard Parker: Hm. Good point. Plus, you know, LT signs the checks.
Nick Stuart: Exactly. Let’s get this party started.
Lights out. A tumbleweed blows across the screen, from left to right. A solitary figure steps out onto the stage, cloaked in shadows. Four twangy notes play on a detuned guitar.
“Goin’ Out West” by Tom Waits.
The fans immediately start to boo before the music even picks up, before that driving bass hits and a single spotlight pierces through the darkness, gliding up the ramp before it settles on Daytona Diamonds.
I’M GOIN’ OUT WEST WHERE THE WIND BLOWS TALL
Vince Howard: Making his way to the ring… weighing in at two hundred and forty-five pounds…
The Rhinestone Cowboy starts to make his way down the ramp, the spotlight following after him and making all those rhinestones glimmer and gleam. Instead of his usual white outfit, Daytona’s dressed in blood red from his hat to his boots, that usual cocky grin replaced with a look of anger, of contempt, of violence.
Vince Howard: From Carson City, Nevada… The Rhinestone Cowboy… DAAAAAYTONA DIIIIIAMOMDS!
More booing. More jeers. Angry chants, buried beneath Tom Waits’ incessant growl. Daytona doesn’t seem to mind, circling the ring and stopping for just a moment to look at Ami Troy. A grin curls on his lips before he tips his hat to her, quickly moving on to climb the ring steps.
In the center of the ring, the spotlight shines down on him, one hand pointed up at the sky in the shape of a gun. As the house lights slowly come back on, Daytona moves to his corner, removing his jacket and tossing it to the outside of the ring. He takes off his hat and places it on top of the turnbuckle before leaning back against the ropes, his eyes like daggers, waiting for Kaz to walk out and receive the ass-whooping of a lifetime.
Nick Stuart: Man, if looks could kill.
Richard Parker: Exactly! LOOK at the face of Daytona! That poor, innocent face. He just wanted to drink in his saloon and Kaz assaulted him for no reason.
Nick Stuart: Sure. Daytona has been impressive since his debut and he could be picking up his third victory tonight.
Richard Parker: If Lindsay Troy had any self-respect, she would have pulled Kaz out of this match and given him a spanking!
Nick Stuart: You go ahead and tell her that.
Richard Parker: …I’m good.
The lights cut out briefly before bathing the PRIMEates in purple and gold. Reverberations, synth beats, and atmospheric violins reminiscent of a Classical composer engulf the KFC Yum! Center as the introduction to “Majesty” by Apashe feat. Waisu begins playing.
I’m the shit, use your throne as my toilet seat
I demand the king’s ransom for royalties
I deserve a mansion, I’m royalty
Address me your majesty
To form a new dynasty
The old one was dying, see?
I am your highness, please
Address me your majesty
The side of the PRIME*VIEW lights up in purple and gold while words slowly fade-in on the screen in bold, golden text.
K A Z U H I R O T R O Y
H E I R A P P A R E N T
Instant classic, that’s classical gold art
Urban blacksmith; black-fisted Mozart
From the bridge, we hit the drop, and pyro booms from either side of the stage. Kaz Troy walks out from the curtain with a confident swagger and a grin a mile wide. He takes a moment to stop and soak in the moment, nodding his head as his song keeps playing. He runs his fingers through his hair, gives the fans a wink, and then walks down the ramp.
Vince Howard: And his opponent…from Tampa, Florida! Weighing in at 235 pounds…he is the Heir Apparent…KAZUHIROOOOOO TROOOOYYYYYYY!
Kaz makes his way around ringside, slapping hands with a few fans before stopping at the guardrail to give dap to his sister and his Les Enfant Terribles stablemates. Ami, Archer Silver, High Flyer IV, and Killjoy all give the BRAZEN champion some last words of encouragement before he slides under the bottom rope. As Kaz enters the ring, he ducks under the wild clothesline from Diamonds and bounces off the ropes before connecting with a Busaiku Knee that sends Diamonds crashing to the mat and rolling under the bottom rope. Daytona shakes his head in fury as he puts his hands on his rhinestone-encrusted hips. As he turns around, he sees Kaz holding onto the top rope and launches himself over the top rope for a splash. Daytona quickly moves out of the way, tapping his skull to show off his smartness, only to turn around and see Kaz on the ring apron. Kaz immediately leaps onto the middle rope and connects with a springboard moonsault!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: And we are off to the races here.
Richard Parker: Something tells me these two are going to do everything short of murdering one another.
Nick Stuart: That could be very true, but I would think it’s not in Daytona’s best interests in murdering Kazuhrio.
Richard Parker: Oh really? You don’t say?
Kaz takes Diamonds, and Irish Whips him into the ringside barricade. Daytona collapses onto the floor mat, crawling away from Troy. Kaz slams the end of his boot into the midsection of Diamonds. Daytona flips onto this back, in a world of hurt, but he doesn’t remain there long as Kaz yanks him off the floor and rolls him back into the ring. Diamonds stumbles up to his feet as Kaz hops onto the ring apron. As Daytona turns towards Kaz, he springboards off the top rope and goes for a flying clothesline. Diamonds rushes forward and bounces off the ropes as Kaz crashes onto the ring mat. As Troy gets to his feet, he is mowed down with a stiff clothesline that sends Kaz flipping inside out.
Richard Parker: Talk about two guys looking to move onto the next round. You have to wonder if Kaz would even be here if it weren’t for the nepotism thing.
Nick Stuart: You know that’s not the case, but say it a little louder, why don’t you? I think I heard the fluttering of wings coming from the backstage area.
Richard Parker: That doesn’t scare m– OH SWEET JESUS!
Nick Stuart: Richard is hiding under the desk after a remaining owl shot straight for his head. You should have seen it, it looked like he knew it was Richard or something. Weird.
Diamonds catches a rising Kazuhiro with a knife-edge chop that rings throughout the arena and sends Kaz crashing into the nearby ropes. Daytona fires off a straight right that sends spittle flying out of Kaz’s mouth and into the crowd. Diamonds then connects with an uppercut that sends Kaz stumbling into the nearby corner. Daytona fires off a series of stiff kicks to Kaz’s midsection before Irish Whips him across the ring and sternum-first into the opposite turnbuckles. Kaz collapses backward as Daytona rises and drops his knee across Troy’s face.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: And you could see a bit of retribution there from Diamonds, as he wanted to damage the pretty face of Kaz.
Richard Parker: He does have a pretty face, you know.
Nick Stuart: Well, not if Diamonds has his say tonight.
Richard Parker: And well, that’s Kaz’s fault, because Daytona has a face that makes women in saloons swoon.
Nick Stuart: Sure. Whatever you say.
Daytona reaches down and begins to pull Kaz up to his feet only for Troy to retaliate with an elbow to the midsection. Diamonds doubles over as the wind races out of his lungs. Kaz slams his knee into the brittle face of the Rhinestone Cowboy, which sends Diamonds crashing to the mat, feet slamming into the canvas as the pain radiates from his nose. Kaz wastes no time as he mounts Diamonds and slams his elbow across Daytona’s vulnerable face. He then rises to his feet, steps onto the bottom rope, and launches himself into the air before dropping a knee across his opponent’s throat.
CRACK!
Richard Parker: Kaz is out there trying to re-break Daytona’s nose!
Nick Stuart: I don’t think he tried that on purpose!
Richard Parker: That knee landed flush with his nose.
Nick Stuart: I think those things just happen, Richard.
Richard Parker: And then got up, looked at Ami, and said ‘I got his nose!’
Nick Stuart: Well, I don’t think there’s anything else I can say there.
Diamonds rolls out under the bottom rope, needing a moment to catch himself, but Kazuhiro is right after him as he slips through the top two ropes onto the ring apron. Diamonds turns towards Kaz, and the child of the Hall of Famer rushes at Diamonds and goes for a flying head-scissors only for Daytona to catch him. He holds him up on his shoulders for a moment before slamming him back first onto the edge of the ring apron. Kaz slides down onto the floor, pain etched in his face.
DYAHAHAHAHA!
Richard Parker: And what a sickening thud there as Kaz’s spine met the edge of the ring.
Nick Stuart: That ring-edge powerbomb has become an increasing favorite of many in the industry and it has great impact, visually and physically. Meanwhile, Ivan is laughing about it.
Richard Parker: Kaz might need to see a chiropractor.
Nick Stuart: I imagine the Troy family has one on retainer.
Daytona sizes his opponent up and drives the tip of his boot into the chest of Kaz. The sound echoes throughout the arena as Kaz slumps forward. Daytona looks over at Ami and blows her a kiss before picking up her twin brother and yanks him up to his feet, driving his elbow into his throat before connecting with a gut-wrench suplex onto the ring apron. Kaz’s body thuds against the hard surface while Diamonds makes his way up to the top turnbuckle. He looks at Ami once again and waves at her before connecting with both feet into the midsection of her brother.
THUD!
Nick Stuart: Diamonds taking it to the Heir Apparent.
Richard Parker: And flirting with Ami Troy to boot, I knew I liked the moxie of that kid!
Nick Stuart: I don’t think Ami is going to give him the time of day.
Richard Parker: Oh, please. Ami would be lucky to get a man as good as Daytona! He’s got enough fashion sense for both of them!
Nick Stuart: If you call that fashion.
Diamonds watches as Kaz tries to make his way up to his feet and inches towards him. With Kaz dazed, Diamonds connects with a headbutt with the side of his skull against the side of Kaz’s skull. Troy stumbles away only for Daytona to grab him by the back of his skull. Diamonds tries to slam Kaz’s face into the ringside barricade, but Troy slams his elbow into Daytona’s midsection and then whips around with a stiff forearm that cracks through the arena and drops Diamonds to both knees. Kaz slips over the ringside barricade and measures Daytona up before slingshotting off the ringside barricade and connects with a dropkick to the kneeling Diamonds, square in his face.
CRACK!
Nick Stuart: Hell, Daytona might need to get his teeth checked out after that.
Richard Parker: The bruising on these two is starting to show and Daytona just spit blood out of his mouth. Is Elvis Nixon going to do anything? Stop flirting with Ami, you perv!
Nick Stuart: I don’t think he’s flirting with Ami, but making sure she and the Les Enfants Terribles stay out of the way of the proceedings of this match.
Richard Parker: How unfair of them to show up to this match, Bee-Tee-Dubs.
Nick Stuart: …what?
Richard Parker: You heard me!
Kaz takes Daytona and rolls him back into the ring before slipping in behind him. Daytona stumbles to his feet only for Troy to connect with a side suplex that drops Daytona onto the back of his skull. Kaz rolls through it, grabbing Daytona’s leg in the process and putting him into a half-Boston Crab before hooking his leg and locking in an STF! Diamonds howls in pain as Kaz wrenches back on Daytona’s face, inflicting as much damage as he can onto the broken nose of the Rhinestone Cowboy. Diamonds grits through the pain as the referee checks on if he wants to tap out.
Ivan then stands up and heads backstage
Richard Parker: Elvis, disqualify that man! Do you not see the pain he is causing Daytona?! This is ridiculous! That is an injury and Elvis is doing nothing to protect Daytona.
Nick Stuart: This is all fair game! Daytona was cleared, he knew the risks, and how else is Kaz supposed to lock the STF in? And where do you think Ivan went?
Richard Parker: He could do it under the chin, around the neck! And how should I know?
Nick Stuart: So you want him to choke out Daytona now, do you?
Richard Parker: …shit.
Diamonds begins crawling toward the bottom rope, grunting as he does so. Kaz tries to readjust the hold he has on Daytona and that gives Diamonds the opening he wants as he clamps his teeth around the hand of the Heir Apparent. Troy rolls away, grabbing at his hand, while Diamonds grabs onto the middle rope to help pull himself up to his feet. Diamonds then plants his boot into the midsection of the rising Kazuhiro and connects with a Northern Lights Suplex. Daytona rolls through it before dragging Kaz up to his feet and connects with a second Northern Lights Suplex. Daytona rolls through it one more time and connects with a third, this time bridging Northern Lights Suplex.
ONE!
TWO!
TH– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: What athleticism being shown by Daytona Diamonds right there! The trio of Northern Lights Suplex and the last one being a bridging one.
Richard Parker: And he’s having difficulty breathing! Elvis needs to practice his counting, that was clearly a three count.
Nick Stuart: It was not. Kaz managed to get his shoulder up in the nick of time, breaking the bridge.
Richard Parker: Lies, you spit lies and I will not allow you to do so, Nick. I challenge you to a duel.
Nick Stuart: Are you going to come out from underneath the table?
Richard Parker: …not until the owl leaves.
Daytona grabs Kaz off of the mat and whips him into the ropes before attempting a discus elbow, but Kaz ducks underneath it. As Kaz rebounds off the ropes, he connects with a Sling Blade onto the Rhinestone Cowboy. The Heir Apparent rises to his feet and plants his boot into the midsection of Diamonds before connecting with a double underhook piledriver! He then goes for the cover on Daytona.
ONE!
TWO!
TH–NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: The Royal Treament almost put Daytona Diamonds away there.
Richard Parker: How dare he, trying to damage that precious neck. Daytona better get that thing encrusted with rhinestones as well.
Nick Stuart: If he has any more rhinestones, we’ll all be blind.
Richard Parker: Yes, blinded with his genius!
Kaz gets back up to his feet and yells for Daytona to rise to his. Diamonds slowly acquiesces, his body drained from the back-and-forth match. Kaz connects with a forearm shot before wrapping his arms around Daytona’s waist and attempts a Saito Suplex. Diamonds blocks it though, slamming his boot into Kaz’s, giving him the clearance he needs as he whips Kaz into the corner and follows it up with a running clothesline. Kaz slumps in the corner, sitting up thanks to the bottom turnbuckle. Daytona rushes to the opposite corner and connects with a running basement dropkick before dragging him out of the corner and going for the pinfall.
ONE!
TWO!
THR– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: OH THE BOOT SCOOTIN’ BOOGIE GOT THE THREE!
Nick Stuart: No, it didn’t.
Richard Parker: It should have! How dense is Elvis?!
Nick Stuart: Not at all, actually. He’s a Rhodes Scholar, did you know that?
Richard Parker: What do I care that he knows about roads?
Nick Stuart: I– never mind.
Diamonds glares at Evlis before getting back up to his feet. He struts around the ring, finding Ami and blowing more kisses at her. Kaz stumbles back to his feet and Diamonds locks onto him and goes for a running clothesline on Kaz only for Troy to slip behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist, and connects with a release German Suplex. Diamonds lands on the back of his head and rolls back onto his knees, dazed. As he gets up to his feet, he goes for a kick, but Kaz grabs his leg and connects with a corkscrew dragon whip, sending Diamonds crashing to the mat. Kazuhiro then pulls Diamonds up to his feet and then connects with a corkscrew neckbreaker drop! He then goes for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: These two men are pulling out all of the stops here! That corkscrew neckbreaker drop could have won the match!
Richard Parker: And ended Daytona’s life. Whose side are you on here, Nick?!
Nick Stuart: I don’t take a side, but Kaz. Definitely Kaz.
Richard Parker: Your lack of journalistic integrity is soul-rattling.
Nick Stuart: What about you?
Richard Parker: Oh, I sold my integrity a long time ago! Everyone knows that!
Kaz sits up, his chest heaving, before he pushes himself up to his feet. He walks over to Diamonds and goes to drag him up to his feet, but Diamonds reverses it into an inside cradle. He only gets a two-count, but both men are quick to their feet. Kaz connects with a spinning heel kick into the midsection of Diamonds and then goes for a reverse STO only for Diamonds to slam his elbow into the side of Kaz’s skull. Kaz turns away from Diamonds and as he turns back towards his opponent, Daytona connects with a cutter (How The West Was Won). He goes for the pinfall.
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: ELVIS! ONE! TWO! THREE! IT IS NOT TOUGH! DO YOUR JOB!
Nick Stuart: Daytona in SHOCK after he hit the How the West Was Won and it didn’t keep Kaz down!
Richard Parker: Kaz… you have a dynasty behind you! You don’t need to win this match!
Nick Stuart: He wants to carve his own path in life.
Richard Parker: Well, that’s stupid.
Diamonds sits up and looks at the spunky Kazuhiro Troy and slowly nods his head. Daytona gets up to his feet and makes his way to the nearby corner, taking his time climbing to the top of it. He stands at the top of it, a bit uneasily, but then locks eyes with Ami and smiles before leaping off the top rope and driving both knees into the back of Kaz’s skull. He then flips Troy over onto his back and hooks the leg.
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!
DING DING DING
Vince Howard: Your winner, and moving on to the second round of the Almasy Tournament… DAYTONA! DIAMONDS!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: Yeah, baby!
Nick Stuart: You are far too excited. Daytona connected with the Blood Meridian and after that, it was all said and done.
Richard Parker: The right person won, that’s all that matters.
Ami and LET look none too pleased at the result. Daytona cocks his head to the side and smiles before sliding out of the ring, proud of his victory. He exits the ring, bruising evident around his face and chest. Kaz looks just as bad, as he gets to his feet and spits out blood.
Nick Stuart: Not the way that Kaz wanted that one to end, but he has nothing to be ashamed of. Let’s head backstage, where I understand we have… oh no. It’s Ivan Stanislav. Take it away.
We cut to the backstage area.