DAYTONA DIAMONDS VS. LOGAN JAMES
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BBBBBBBBBBOOM!!
Fireworks erupt through the rafters and across the stage, sending thunderous explosions echoing throughout the Little Caesar’s Arena. Sweeping shots from the crane cam catch thousands of screaming fans, holding up all manner of signs.
THIS SIGN COULD BE BANG! ALL DAY CHAMPION SOME DAY
LET’S TALK ABOUT NECKS, BABY LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU AND ME
DETROIT PIZZA IS BETTER THAN CHICAGO PIZZA
SHARPEND THE KNIFES
YOUNGBLOOD HAS NEVER HELD THE GAMBLE CHAMPIONSHIP, WHAT A CRUMB
30 DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER, EGG BANDITS WILL SOON HAVE A NEW MEMBER?
CECILWORTH FARTHINGTON WON THE CULTURE SHOCK BATTLE ROYAL
PROUD PRIMEORILLA
WHO’S NECK? I MEAN, NEXT.
Eventually, the camera finds its way to the commentary table, where we are greeted by
Nick Stuart: The pyrotechnics are burning hot… and the PRIMEates are burning even hotter! Which means it’s time for REVIVAL! Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I’m Nick Stuart, and with me as always is Richard Parker! Tonight, we’re is coming to you live from the Little Caesars Arena in the heart of Detroit, Michigan!
Richard Parker: Pizza-Pizza, Nick! Hey, why is it that all the sports arenas these days keep making me hungry?
Nick Stuart: I’m not sure I know how to answer that, Richard. But I do know that we are only two weeks away from UltraViolence! All of the titles will be on the line! Scores will finally be settled! And who knows what else?! But for tonight, on this go-home show, we have a slate of tremendous match-ups in store for you fans!
Richard Parker: A little something to whet your appetites until the MAIN COURSE at the Pay Per View! …dangit, why am I so hungry?
Nick Stuart: With UltraViolence just around the corner, I think it’s safe to say that anything can happen this evening! So buckle in, ladies and gentlemen, as we get the action underway with our first match tonight!
“Always” by Saliva plays over the PA system as green lighting emits throughout the arena.
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, weighing in at two-hundred and fifty pounds, and hailing from Livermore, Maine… please welcome, LOOOGAAAN JAAAMMMES!!
The crowd slowly erupts in cheers. LJ slowly walks out and looks around. He makes his way down the entrance ramp with a look of uncertainty. As he enters the ring, the progressive cheers turn his uncertain frown into a delightful smile. Logan waits in the corner for the fight to begin!
Nick Stuart: Logan James is looking pumped up and ready as he walks into this opening bout! He came up short two weeks ago to Kennade Star!
Richard Parker: Can’t hold it against the guy when she’s got a freak of nature backing her up.
Nick Stuart: In any case, tonight provides an opportunity for him to bounce back! But the questions remains, will ring rust be a factor in this match?
Richard Parker: Well he better hope he shakes it off soon, given his opponent tonight.
“Goin’ Out West” by Tom Waits comes in over the PA. Daytona Diamonds emerges out from the back in an eye-catching fitting rhinestone cowboy suit. From head to toe, he is covered in white and flashing stones. His expression is dour as he comes down the aisleway toward the ring, ignoring the fans and focusing on the ring.
Vince Howard: And the opponent, hailing from Carson City, Nevada, and weighing in at two-hundred and forty-five pounds… he is the RHINESTONE COWBOY… DAYTONAAAA DIAAAAMOOOOONDSSS!!
Once inside the ring, Daytona begins the process of discarding his outfit. Across the ring, Logan James stares back, patiently maintaining his poise and focus.
Nick Stuart: The rising star Daytona Diamonds earned a victory in his debut back at ReVival 33, against the likes of tenured Revival Era veterans like Bobby Dean and Ria Lockhart. But can he maintain that momentum here tonight?
Richard Parker: Never bet against a cowboy, Nick! Despite not being the professional wrestling pornstar that I hoped for, I can definitely say I see something in the King of the Last Rodeo!
Nick Stuart: You may be onto something, Rich. Then again, you seldom think straight when you’re hungry.
Richard Parker: It’s not so bad when I remind myself that the pizza this place makes tastes like cardboard.
Nick Stuart: The arena doesn’t actually make the… ugh, nevermind. Looks like both of our competitors are ready to go, and Jimmy Turnbull doesn’t waste any time giving the signal tour timekeeper!
DING DING
Logan James paces confidently out of his corner, punching his palm and ready to tango. Across the ring, leaning in the corner and collecting himself, Daytona Diamonds rolls his neck and loosens up as he readies himself for action.
They meet in the center of the ring, and go into the lock-up.
Nick Stuart: Both men right into the collar-and-elbow! These are two very evenly matched opponents in terms of size and strength, so it’s anyone’s guess how this will turn out!
Richard Parker: Physical advantages are out the window. It all comes down to talent and wits.
Nick Stuart: Here comes James, pushing himself forward!
The Rhinestone Cowboy finds himself backpedaling before being abruptly driven into the corner by Logan’s sudden surge of strength. Referee Jimmy Turnbull quickly leans in to begin the count.
“One… tw–”
James makes the clean break and slowly backs away. Diamonds nods approvingly at the show of sportsmanship… before attempting to catch his unassuming opponent with a low kick!
Nick Stuart: Daytona with the KICK–but James catches the leg instead!
Richard Parker: It’s all in the reflexes.
Nick Stuart: Diamonds tries to catch him off guard, but James wasn’t buying it! Now Logan wrangles him into another collar-and-elbow… no, wait, Daytona slips behind! But James cuts him off at the pass with a snapmare to put him to the mat!
With Daytona seated before him, James wastes no time slapping on a headlock to keep him grounded. But the King of the Rodeo isn’t about to find himself lasso’d so easily. Determinedly, Diamonds pushes his legs off the canvas to find his footing again.
Logan wrenches the head harder, prompting Diamonds to back into the ropes and push him off.
Nick Stuart: Logan James in motion, and Daytona attempts to break free from that headlock… here’s LJ on the return, and Diamonds leapfrogs overhead!
Richard Parker: I think he’s got experience dodging raging bulls that way!
Nick Stuart: I stand corrected. Daytona bullfrogs over James, and now Logan comes back… running straight into the drop toe hold by Daytona Diamonds!
Richard Parker: Face, meet the canvas! Canvas, meet Face! …now kiss.
Nick Stuart: Diamonds trying to capitalize now, going for a crossface… but now, Logan James is fighting him off! He’s working his way back to his feet!
The crowd cheers with amazement as James forcibly pries Daytona’s arms apart. Before Diamonds can react, LJ scoops him up and over his shoulder.
Nick Stuart: BIG shoulder-breaker by Logan James! He goes for the pin!
One!
Two!
And Daytona kicks out!
Coughing and choking as he clutches his shoulder, Diamonds scrambles to his feet and falls into a corner. He holds up a hand to plead off James, but LJ instead meets him with a series of heavy chops that leave his chest raw and lungs heaving.
Richard Parker: Oof! He’s getting straight-up GORED in there, Nick!
Nick Stuart: Logan James is looking strong in the ring right now! Surely, he’s finding his groove in there once again! Now he takes Daytona by the arm, and there’s the Irish Whip!
Daytona lands in the opposite corner with a THUD. His arms drape across the top set of ropes to keep himself from crumbling to the canvas. Across the ring, Logan spots his window of opportunity and charges right for it.
Nick Stuart: Diamonds still on his feet, but now here comes Logan James… clothesline connects… and the bulldog follows it up! James with another cover!
One!
Two!
And again, Diamonds kicks out!
Richard Parker: Plenty of fight left in the Rhinestone Cowboy!
The crowd is getting behind James, and he takes a moment to bask in their support. Daytona attempts to crawl from the ring, but doesn’t get far before LJ catches him and pulls him back to his feet.
Almost effortlessly, James traps him into a front facelock and drapes the arm over his neck. His vertical suplex puts Diamonds onto his back with punishing impact. Earning another cheer from the crowd, LJ rolls through, pulling Daytona back to his feet before the King of the Rodeo even has the chance to catch his breath.
Nick Stuart: James with a DDT to follow up that amazing suplex! Diamonds is in a considerable world of hurt now!
Richard Parker: Okay, I’ll give LJ his flowers. He’s doing well, for someone who’s been out of the ring for a while.
Nick Stuart: Logan James looks to be in great form tonight, steadily shaking away his ring rust as he keeps control of this match! Now he has Daytona back up… and there’s the whip to the ropes!
Cracking off the ropes seems to snap Daytona back to life, as he narrowly dodges a clothesline attempt on the rebound and instead coils himself over LJ’s shoulders. Shifting his weight downard, James finds himself unwittingly rolling backwards onto his shoulders.
Nick Stuart: Diamonds with the crucifix pin reversal!
One!
TWO!
No! Logan James wasn’t about to let him steal the win that easily!
Richard Parker: Sometimes, in that ring, all it takes is one slip up. And three seconds ain’t exactly a lot of time to react when things suddenly aren’t going your way.
James storms to his feet in a flash before Diamonds can recover. He gets to Daytona while the cowboy is still on his knees, but out of desperation, Diamonds hooks his waistband and yanks him off balance.
And the official is standing right in his path.
Richard Parker: Look out, Jimmy!
LJ narrowly stops himself in time to avoid a collision. He and the official look to one another for a moment in shock, giving way to relief.
But as soon as James remembers his opponent and turns around, Diamonds is on his feet and waiting for him.
Nick Stuart: RIO BRAVO by Daytona Diamonds!
Richard Parker: Got ‘eem!
Still clutching his neck and shoulder, Daytona fights to his feet and runs himself into the ropes. James sits up in time to catch a lighting-fast basement dropkick that catches him in the mush.
Nick Stuart: BOOT SCOOTIN’ BOOGIE to follow it up! A solid one-two punch from Daytona Diamonds, shifting the momentum of this match in the blink of an eye off that distraction!
Richard Parker: See what I mean? All it takes is one mistake!
Nick Stuart: And that one mistake may spell doom for Logan James as Daytona Diamonds covers his chest and hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!
NO!! Logan wakes up in the nick of time and gets the shoulder up!
LJ rolls onto his side, groggy and out of breath. Diamonds uses the opportunity to slowly encircle him while stomping from every possible angle, savagely berating the returning veteran with every kick.
Logan’s hand comes up as he attempts to defend himself, but Daytona’s boot continues to pierce him like repeated bites from a rattlesnake. Eventually, Diamonds takes ahold of his legs and stretches him into a textbook cloverleaf!
Nick Stuart: Daytona Diamonds is taking every advantage of this opportunity to be in control of this match, punishing LJ with those vicious stomps, and now looking to bring him to his limit with this submission attempt!
Richard Parker: Is there anything more inherently Texan than a good ol’ fashioned cloverleaf, Nick?
Nick Stuart: I’m partial to the lariat myself, partner. Although for the cowboy in the ring, that word may have different meaning, as he wrangles the bull that is Logan James to the mat!
Richard Parker: Cleary, Nick, this ain’t his first rodeo! What better way is there to best a big, dumb beast other than to tie him down and let him wear himself out?
Nick Stuart: James is in a world of hurt right now! The pain is visible on his face! He’s desperately reaching out for the ropes, wanting that break! But can he work his way to them?
Richard Parker: Any man strong and desperate enough can crawl his way a few measly feet. Question is, is it worth the toll on his body? Even if he makes the break, will he be in any shape to continue this match?
Nick Stuart: Failure is not an option for Logan James, as he claws at the canvas and inches his way to the ring apron!
James has weight and determination on his side as feet become inches. Diamonds wrangles the hold in hard enough to slow his progress, but conserves what strength he has, knowing it’s a losing battle.
One desperate reach later, and Logan James’ hand grasps the bottom rope. Turnbull quickly calls for the break.
And Diamonds elects to make him earn his paycheck.
“One… two… three… four–”
Daytona breaks the cloverleaf at three-point-nine, earning him an admonishment from the official that he takes about as seriously as someone in public asking him to put out his cigarette and cool it on the foul language.
Pushing past the ref with a scoff, Dayton takes James by the head and begins pulling him up.
Nick Stuart: Diamonds is showing a bit of swagger now, as he plots his next move… but James has other plans, catching the Rhinestone Cowboy off guard with a forearm to the midsection! And another! And ANOTHER!
Richard Parker: He’s either got a lot of guts, or little brains!
Nick Stuart: I’m banking on the first one! James bursting to his feet now… scoops Daytona up before he can react, and CRUSHES HIM with a Powerslam!
The crowd pops uproariously off the impact. His strength spent, James drapes an arm across the chest.
Nick Stuart: Logan James could do it here!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR–ALMOST! But Daytona Diamonds popped the shoulder!
Richard Parker: Thanks in part to such a weak pinning effort!
Nick Stuart: Can you blame the man, Rich? It took everything out of him to land that move!
James rolls over onto his back, completely exhausted. While both men lie recovering on the mat, the PRIMEates clap incrementally louder and faster in an effort to will the two of them back to their feet.
It’s James who moves first, gradually pushing himself up and looking over to where he left Diamonds. Daytona remains motionless, breathing heavily while his glazed eyes look into the lights.
Logan’s fists shake as he musters up the fortitude to keep on fighting. When he makes it to his feet, he goes for the nearest turnbuckle and begins the climb.
Nick Stuart: Logan James is feeling the energy in here tonight, and he knows that this is his moment to act!
Richard Parker: Cause if he doesn’t, then he’s screwed! He’s absolutely tanked right now!
Nick Stuart: Here comes James, off the top rope with the FLYING ELBOW…
…and Diamonds rolls to the side.
Nick Stuart: NOOOO!! LJ hits nothing but CANVAS!
Richard Parker: HAHAHAHA… BEAUTIFUL!! Daytona Diamonds sure can play possum like the best of them!
James staggers to his feet, clutching his arm. Then, from OUTTANOWHERE, he finds himself falling victim to a Diamond Cutter.
Nick Stuart: HOW THE WEST WAS WON!! That’s gotta be it! Daytona hooks the leg…
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
DING DING DING
Diamonds rolls off of LJ’s chest and continues clutching his shoulder from a seated position.
Vince Howard: Here is your winner, by pinfall… the RHINESTONE COWBOY… DAYTONAAAA DIIIIAAAAMOOOOONNDDSSSS!!!
Jimmy Turnbull raises his arm in victory. Daytona savors the moment for a few seconds before tearing it away and heading to the back. The ref turns his attention to assisting James.
Richard Parker: The gunslinger puts down another, Nick!
Nick Stuart: So it should seem! Logan James had a very impressive showing in this one, and there were times where he seemed to be in firm control of the flow of action. But Daytona Diamonds is hardly the kind of athlete that should be slept on.
Richard Parker: Hey, nobody said comebacks were easy! But let’s be real, James took some steps forward tonight in getting back to his old self.
Nick Stuart: I’ll agree with that. For tonight, Daytona comes away with another victory. Like you said before the start of the match, Rich, there may be something to this man. But right now, we have a lot of action left to get through! So without further adieu, let’s send things to the back!
Richard Parker: There’s just one problem, Nick.
Nick Stuart: Oh? What’s that?
Richard Parker: …I’m still hungry.