DOG COLLAR MATCH: ANNA DANIELS vs. JACOB MEPHISTO
Cut to a long shot of the ring. Lying in the middle of the mat is an ominous chain, attached to two dog collars.
Nick Stuart: UltraViolence is only getting heated up, folks!
Richard Parker: And things are gonna seriously get heated in this next match-up, Nick!
Nick Stuart: I’ll agree with you there, partner! In the culmination of a long and bitter feud that’s spanned at least two federations, Anna Daniels and Jacob Mephisto will meet in the ring to settle the score in a Dog Collar Match!
Richard Parker: You know, Nick, I think Anna Daniels made a huge mistake when she made this challenge. Jacob Mephisto has a history with this kind of match. That kind of familiarity can only work to his favor, don’t you think?
Nick Stuart: I will indeed agree that Jacob Mephisto’s history with Dog Collar matches has been well documented. However, it can’t be understated that those matches have left an impact on the All-Father. The brutality that comes from a fight while you’re bound within mere feet of your opponent is bound to leave scars, both mental and physical. And knowing the Muse as we do, she’ll no doubt be wanting to use that ugly, traumatic history to give herself the psychological edge in this battle!
Richard Parker: I dunno, playing mind games with the master of mind games sounds like shooting yourself in the foot to me.
Nick Stuart: Let’s take it to the ring, where Vince Jabos is ready to make the announcements!
The arena lights flicker, dim, then die, plunging the sold out crowd into darkness. The hard riff of Blues Saraceno’s “The Dark Horse Always Wins” rips through the speakers as a single spotlight shines down onto the entrance stage and the PRIMEview lights up with the image of a burning Joshua tree alone in the desert at night.
Deliver me from evil
Deliver me deliver me from sin
Deliver me from evil (yeah)
Deliver me again (never)
From the darkness beyond the spotlight, Jacob Mephisto steps forward, the light washing away the shadows around him. He stares directly down at the ring, fixating on the steel chain with leather collars on either end that sits in the center. His eye twitches a single time before he throws his arms open wide, revealing the New Era logo painted on his chest.
The dark horse… the dark horse
Always wins…
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest will be a Dog Collar Match! Introducing first, hailing from Nazarath, Pennsylvania… he weighs in at two-hundred and sixty five pounds… the PATRIACH… JAAAAAACOOOOOBB MEEEPPHIIIISSSTOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The Patriarch begins his trek to the ring, never taking his eyes off the chain lying there like a recurring nightmare he’s walking toward. Mephisto steps. Up onto the ring apron, hesitating for just a moment as he eyes the leather collars at the ends of the chain before he steps through the ropes.
Mephisto makes a point not to touch the chain or collars as he goes to a neutral corner, awaiting this fresh hell.
The entire area fades to black, 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 ring with a small smirk on her face.
Vince Howard: And the opponent… from Mount Perdition, Gallifrey! Weighing in at one-hundred and thirty-five pounds… she is the TIME LORD… AAAAANNNNAAAAAA DAAAANNNNIIIIIEEEEEELLLLSSSS!!!
As The Muse takes her time heading to the ring, she wistfully observes the goings on around her as if getting into a certain type of groove that only she can hear. Her strolling sways almost like she’s dancing from time to time. Her robe and headpiece–once more regal and dazzling artifacts from her home planet–are in various stages of disrepair and utter damage. Anna slaps a hand or two, nods a little to those in attendance. Once ringside, she motions for somebody to take the robe and headpiece which when taken nearly make the poor sap fall over.
She makes her way to the stairs and slinks along the apron, wiping her feet before entering the ring. Immediately after, she nearly chases off the ref in a sudden blur of action before smiling yet again. Casually, she strolls to a corner with her head bopping before perching herself onto the top rope laid out like a French girl people like to paint.
Nick Stuart: The Muse can’t wait to get started! Meanwhile, Jacob Mephisto already looks visibly shaken!
Richard Parker: No, Nick, that’s just his pre-match psych up!
Nick Stuart: Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone psych themselves up by shaking their head and sweating profusely.
Official Elvis Nixon calls both competitors to the center of the ring. In either one of his hands he holds a collar. Daniels snatches her own and affixes it around her own neck, eagerly smiling back at Mephisto with evil intentions on her mind. Jacob steels himself as the referee moves behind him to secure the other collar… and now all the separates them is a few feet of metal chain.
One of Mephisto’s hands anxiously clutch the chain bound to his neck. His teeth are grinding and his eye is twitching. Contrarily, Daniels is grinning like a shark that smells blood in the water. He-Who-Hates has been set free.
Seeing them ready as they’re going to be, Elvis Nixon cues for the bell.
DING DING
Mephisto instinctively wraps his arm over the chain to keep the tension off his neck and put more onto his opponent’s. Anna feels the pull, but quickly yanks the chain to pull Jacob into a toe kick to the midsection.
Nick Stuart: Daniels makes the first move, and immediately begins putting the fists to the side of Jacob Mephisto’s head! Mephisto is left reeling, and Daniels capitalizes with a swinging neckbreaker!
Jacob sits up wincing in pain, but immediately forgets it when the dog collar around his neck pulls into his windpipe. He claws at it while Anna pulls on the chain with both hands and presses a boot into his back for added leverage. He quickly rolls out, but puts himself right into position for a front facelock.
Richard Parker: You know, some people would pay to be treated like this…
Nick Stuart: And I bet you’d pay double to watch, partner. Back on the action, Daniels sets up for the DDT… NO! Mephisto sweeps the leg, flips over into the bridge for the cover!
ONE
Quick kickout right at the two!
Mephisto quickly sits up, but Anna is already thinking ahead by looping the chain around his neck a few times. Before Jacob can react, she pivots, pulls down on the chain, and throws him over her shoulder by the neck! Mephisto lands hard, but doesn’t get a moment of reprieve when she pulls him up again for another, earning a pop from the fans!
Nick Stuart: Jacob Mephisto is being thrown mercilessly around the ring by the Time Lord, who is showing she knows how to take full advantage of the chain binding those dog collars together!
Richard Parker: Yeah, she knows a thing or two about yanking chains alright. How much you wanna bet she practices this at home with Bucky?
Nick Stuart: Have a heart, Rich!
Huffing for breath while sitting on the mat, Jacob hooks his fingers into his collar to protect his windpipe. Meanwhile, from behind him, Anna claims the extra slack of the chain and viciously whips it down across his chest! Mephisto moans in agony, with every snap of the cord leaving a red mark across his pectorals.
Richard Parker: Mercy! Mercy! That man has a FAMILY, dangit!
Daniels continues to whip Mephisto until he works himself up to his feet to get away, but obviously can’t get too far. Anna frees up the chain from her hands to wrap her arms around the waist, transitioning smoothly into a released German suplex!
Nick Stuart: Daniels from behind with the German suplex–NO!!
Jacob transitions smoothly as well, landing perfectly on his feet. Instinctively, he keeps backpedaling until he reaches the ropes, then grabs the end of the chain and backrolls to the outside.
Daniels can do nothing as weight and gravity pull her off her feet and nearly garrotte her over the top rope. Now Anna is the one grasping her throat and struggling to breathe. Mephisto, getting his breath back, smiles wickedly while he watches her suffer.
Nick Stuart: Mephisto threw himself out of the ring and used the momentum to hotshot the Time Lord! I’m loath to admit it, but that was smart thinking on the part of the Patriarch.
Richard Parker: Smart? Try brilliant! That’s exactly the kind of strategy we’d expect from someone who’s survived this kind of match enough times in his career, Nick!
With two handfuls of hair, Mephisto pulls Daniels far enough under the ropes that he can clock her with repeated elbow strikes to her face. With the chain looped over the full set of ropes, she doesn’t have the room to get away, and can therefore only cover up and weather the storm.
Richard Parker: See what I mean? Jacob was a little shaken up there at the start, yes, but now that survival instinct is finally kicking in!
Nick Stuart: What a vicious assault we’re watching! The tables have turned, as Mephisto keeps slugging away at the face of the Time Lord! Daniels can’t go anywhere! Now what’s THIS?
Mephisto repositions Daniels to be parallel with the ropes, and sets himself on the apron behind her. He pulls her into the bottom two ropes, using them for added leverage as he snakes his arms around her head into a sleeperhold.
Nick Stuart: Jacob Mephisto now with the rear naked choke, using those ropes for added leverage!
Richard Parker: Not only brilliant, but creative! I can see how this guy has so many followers.
Nick Stuart: No disqualifications are allowed, given the stipulations of this match! Anna Daniels is in a very precarious position here! If she can’t free herself from–WAIT! There’s an elbow! And ANOTHER!
The Time Lord has one free arm and just enough space to spear him multiple times right in the breadbasket using the point of her elbow. Jacob’s grip loosens with every strike, until he’s finally knocked from the apron to the floor. Daniels rallies herself to her feet and takes hold of the top rope…
Nick Stuart: Daniels with the CORKSCREW BODY PRESS TO THE OUTSIDE!! Jacob Mephisto just got LAID OUT! Anna Daniels had only one place to go, and she went there in style!
The PRIMEates roaring on the Multitudes as she rises up to her feet and sees Mephisto on all fours. A killer’s focus crosses her face as she sets… and runs forward, leg aiming for his head, but–
Richard Parker: A-SWIIIING-BATTAH!
Nick Stuart: Mephisto rolls out of the way in the nick of time to avoid a disastrous punt to the skull! But Daniels smells blood in the water!
The All-Father is on the retreat, but can’t get any further than the few feet allowed by the cord between their necks. Daniels plants her feet and tries to reel him back, but this time, Mephisto goes with the pull and the added force slingshots him shoulder first into the ribs, slamming her up against the apron.
Nick Stuart: The Patriarch with the surprise body check, and now Daniels is reeling! Mephisto pulls her in and pivots around… GOOD GOD, SNAP SUPLEX IN THE EDGE OF THE RING!
The Time Lord wails in agony, clutching her spine. Mephisto stands over her and admires his work for a moment before pulling her up and rolling her back into the ring. He follows and wastes no time making a cover.
Nick Stuart: Mephisto with the pin!
ONE
TWO
Daniels gets the shoulder up! And Mephisto does not look pleased with official Elvis Nixon.
Richard Parker: Can you blame him? He’s probably thinking, the sooner he gets that thing off his neck, the better!
Getting back to work, Jacob thoughtfully throws Anna’s half of the chain back out of her shoulder, and out of the immediate reach of her arms. Before she can get far, he clinches up her head and goes in heavy with repeated knee strikes! One finally hits its mark well enough to bring the Time Lord to a knee, and Mephisto wrangles her head under his arm.
Nick Stuart: Jacob Mephisto has Daniels hooked… lifts her up into the COME AND SEE!
Richard Parker: Oh, we’re SEEING, alright! Seeing AND believing!
Daniels comes crashing down head-first off the delayed brainbuster! The air is sucked out of the arena off the sickening impact. Grinning with delight, Jacob hooks the leg.
Nick Stuart: Cover made!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT by Anna Daniels!
The grin disappears. An eye twitch takes its place. Now incensed, Mephisto tears up to his feet, plants his boot at the back of the vessel’s skull, and pulls up on the chain with all might. Anna digs her thumbs under the collar to keep her throat all but barely open. The boot pressing down one way while the collar being tugged in the other bends her neck at a terrifying angle.
Nick Stuart: My God, he’s going to BREAK HER NECK, if he doesn’t choke the life out of her first!
Richard Parker: It’s kill or be killed when you’re being yanked around that ring by your neck, Nick! Looks to me like pretty sound strategy.
Nick Stuart: This isn’t strategy! This is nothing short of torture!
Richard Parker: Hey, I didn’t hear you complaining when he was being sub to her dom earlier.
Mephisto switches up from a straight press to straight stomps to the side of Anna’s head. The Time Lord finally acts with a sweep that catches him behind the knee joint and takes him to the mat. Her eyes are unfocused, but knowing she only has precious seconds to move, she digs and keeps moving to the corner. Behind her, Jacob is back up and in pursuit.
Nick Stuart: Hang on, Anna Daniels may have found her window of opportunity here! She finds the corner, and here she goes UP TOP–NO!! A quick JERK of that chain yanks her back down, slamming the back of her head into the turnbuckle pads!
Richard Parker: That’ll teach ya to try any of that flippy nonsense!
Mephisto’s tug on the chain has pulled Daniels into the Tree of Woe. The shot to the back of her head has her looking dizzy again, but she recalibrates in time to see Jacob running in. She sits up just in time to miss a running knee to her face by the All-Father. Out of desperation, she tumbles the other way to the outside.
Mephisto SHRIEKS when he sees the chain go tight.
Nick Stuart: DANIELS TO THE OUTSIDE, pulling Mephisto INTO THE CORNER! The Patriarch is TRAPPED!
Mephisto claws at his neck once more, and his legs do a dance in the throes of agony and desperation. Outside the ring, Daniels is dexterously suspended upside down, feet propped on the corner post. She’s using all of her weight and gravity to pull down on the chain, and it almost looks like his head may pop off at any moment!
Richard Parker: How is she doing that?! This is some Multitudenal witchcraft, I tell ya! Do something, Jacob! This is how we lost David Carradine!
Out of desperation, Mephisto pitches himself. Both he and Daniels take hard bumps on the ringside floor.
Richard Parker: Attaboy!
Nick Stuart: Ooh, my… Anna Daniels took another hard blow to the back of the head on that landing.
Richard Parker: Well Nick, it’s not like anyone asked her to whip out her best Spider-Man impression.
Both competitors lie out of sorts on the ringside floor. Mephisto is heaving for air. His eyes are showing that he’s reliving old pain along with this fresh, new sensation. Daniels is dazed and shaking out the cobwebs. The Multitudes in her head are likely piled on top of each other right now.
Nick Stuart: This match has been nothing short of the all out battle we expected! Both of these competitors have already taken a massive toll on their bodies to take it this far, but neither looks willing to give in!
Richard Parker: Poor Jacob! Can’t he just have one easy dog collar match in his life?
Nick Stuart: I don’t think this type of match was ever meant to be “easy”, Rich.
After a few moments of recovery, Mephisto makes it to his feet first. Daniels is still reeling as he peels her back to her feet and takes ahold of the chain.
Nick Stuart: Mephisto YANKS HER into the PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL!! My GOD, what a vicious clothesline!
The voracious smile returns to his feet. Despite the crowd jeering him, he is in absolute delight. He brings Daniels to her feet again.
Nick Stuart: The Time Lord pulled up again–ANOTHER PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL!! This is SHEER BRUTALITY right now!
Richard Parker: She tried to take his head, so now he takes hers!
Nick Stuart: There’s a sick grin of depravity on the face of the All-Father, as he pulls Anna Daniels up for the third time! I don’t know if she can withstand another–SHE DUCKS THE CLOTHESLINE!!
The Multitudes stay in motion as Daniels reflexively whips around the post, slips in under the ropes, and kicks off the bottom turnbuckle while pulling the chain in a fast-acting maneuver that yanks the unsuspecting Mephisto forward!
Nick Stuart: Mephisto KISSES the steel post! And now Daniels reels him back into the ring using the chain! She’s got him right where she wants him!
Richard Parker: Look out, Jacob!
Nick Stuart: PUNT TO THE HEAD!! It CONNECTS!
The crowd POPS at the sight of the kick sends Mephisto flopping onto his back! Wasting no time, Daniels falls across his chest.
Nick Stuart: The Time Lord with the cover to win it!
ONE!
TWO!
…wait, Nixon stops the count!
Richard Parker: The heck…?
The official points to the right shoulder of Mephisto…
Nick Stuart: His shoulder is on the CHAIN!
Richard Parker: HA! Brilliant defensive move!
Nick Stuart: Brilliant? That was nothing but blind LUCK! That should have been a three count…
Richard Parker: We may never know, but regardless, “should have” ain’t gonna cut it!
Daniels is furious with the official, but nevertheless pulls the chain out from under Mephisto’s shoulders.
Nick Stuart: Here we go, she makes the cover again!
ONE!
TWO!
THR–NO!! Mephisto LURCHES back to life at the last second!
Jacob rolls out and savagely claws at the canvas to get away. But his panic is only heightened as the chain gets wrapped back around his neck and he’s pulled back onto his feet. Daniels stands back-to-back with the All-Father, and she wraps his head up into a three-quarter bulldog. Mephisto has nowhere to go but down into a neckbreaker cutter!
Nick Stuart: SOMBRAS QUE CORTA!!
Richard Parker: Ay dios mio!
Nick Stuart: And she’s not finished! The Time Lord sits Mephisto up and hooks the arms to bring him to his feet… TIGER SUPLEX!! BEAUTIFUL bridge for the pin!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR–KICKOUT… !
…but then Daniels pulls the Patriarch into position and begins to wrangle him into the Cobra Clutch Triangle Choke.
Nick Stuart: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON! Daniels is working him into the triangle!
Richard Parker: No, Jacob! Fight it! Breath! Breath in the air! DON’T BE AFRAID TO CARE!
Mephisto does as Richard pleads, but it’s a losing battle. The crowd POPS…
…but not in reaction to the move. Rather, to the fast-moving form that has darted through the curtain and is sprinting down the runway.
Nick Stuart: Wait a sec… who?
Richard Parker: IT’S BUCKY!! Finally! The REAL star of the show has arrived!
The Time Lord’s canine companion, a creature overwhelmed by such a massive ovation in an even more massive environment, excitedly runs a circle around the ring while errant stage-hands fruitlessly give chase. The PRIMEates are both cheering and aweing at the sight of the adorable pupper taking a self-guided tour of the UltraViolence set-up.
Nick Stuart: What’s going on here? How did Bucky get free?
Richard Parker: Somebody SAVE THE DOG! There’s a fight happening nearby!
The Multitudes, perhaps bound to this creature by an affection that can’t be easily explained but wholly understood by all, can’t help but take her attention away from clinching Jacob Mephisto away into the infinity to the outside, where Bucky is loose and running amok. Being herded around by these mindless drones.
Mephisto doesn’t look the gift horse in the mouth…
Nick Stuart: Hang on, MEPHISTO SLIPS LOOSE!!
Just as the loose dog disappears back through the curtain, all the attention goes back to the ring where Mephisto has himself gotten loose from the triangle and scrambles back to his feet. Daniels kips up and kicks high… but Jacob takes the low road.
Richard Parker: YES!
Nick Stuart: Mephisto ducks the kick, and puts Daniels into the Fireman’s Carry! Going for the MOMENTO MORIS–
Richard Parker: NO!
Nick Stuart: SHE SLIPS DOWN HIS BACK!! The Time Lord spins him around… HOOKS THE ARMS…
With his head protruding out from under her arm, Mephisto’s eye visibly twitches. He sees the loose chain dangling between them, looping behind her heel. Looping his own. He makes the connection.
Nick Stuart: ONCOMING STO–WAIT, NOOO!!
Before she can lift him up for the brainbuster, Jacob throws his leg back and trips Anna to the mat using the chain wrapped around their legs. With his arms free, Mephisto loops the chain around the Time Lord’s neck a few times, winches off all the available slack, and goes after her legs…
Nick Stuart: NO QUARTER!! NO QUARTER!! He’s got it LOCKED IN in the CENTER OF THE RING!
Richard Parker: She’s FINISHED!
Nick Stuart: Good God, look at how that chain is wrapped around their neck! Daniels is turning BLUE!
The Time Lord’s arm is reaching out… but the chain constricts her neck like a noose, while the elevated cloverleaf applied by Mephisto forces the blood to rush down to her head.
The Patriarch’s eyes are open and skyward. He is screaming like a madman!
Finally, the arm goes limp. Nixon has no choice but to call for the bell.
DING DING DING
The crowd thunders with disapproval. Nixon slaps Jacob on the shoulder, but when he doesn’t break the hold, the official is forced to pull him right off. Mephisto leaves Daniels behind while he ferociously tears the collar from his throat and throws it to the mat.
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner, by referee stoppage… JJJAAAAAAACOOOOOOB MEEEPHIIIISSSTOOOOOOOOOO!!
After giving the chain one more spite-filled kick, the All-Father pumps his arms and roars in victory among the jeering crowd.
Nick Stuart: After a fierce, amazing battle, Jacob Mephisto finally scores his first victory in PRIME! What a war we just witnessed!
Richard Parker: That was a helluva reversal at the end there. Jacob’s instincts in this match can’t be denied at this point.
Nick Stuart: For a moment there, I thought for certain that Anna Daniels had that match in the bag. We may never know how this would have turned out had Bucky not gotten loose.
Richard Parker: Distractions are easy excuses, Nick. What we just witnessed was experience, wit, and sharp reflexes coming together at just the right moment. Something nobody can teach in wrestling.
Nick Stuart: Be as it may, Anna Daniels doesn’t leave here tonight without taking a piece of the All-Father with her. Despite the victory, I don’t think Jacob Mephisto’s experience with this type of match is going to soften any time soon.
Richard Parker: Nonsense! Let’s just go ahead and make Jacob Mephisto the undisputed KING of the Dog Collar Match! Give him another! Hell, give him TEN more! Let’s see Jacob Mephisto show PRIME just who is in control of the chain!
Nick Stuart: Not sure he’d be interested in that idea, partner…
While the official revives Daniels in the ring, Mephisto walks back up the ramp. His eyes stare out for miles, but remain still for now.