DUSK vs. LINDSAY TROY
Vince Howard: The following match is one fall!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: Oh man, this match is going to be a doozy. Lindsay Troy goes one-on-one with Dusk.
Richard Parker: The Lost Soul vs. The Queen of the Ring. He’s been on this journey for quite some time now, but this is about to be Dusk’s final match.
Nick Stuart: That it is and he was ready to retire five months back, but Larry Tact interrupted him. Since then, he’s been on a murderer’s row of competitors to face. Nate Colton and Cancer Jiles, our current Five-Star and Universal Champions–
Richard Parker: Hopefully not for long in Cancer’s case.
Nick Stuart: Before he faced Tact. Then it looked like he was going to hang them up again, but Lindsay Troy had other ideas, wanting him to do one true final farewell tour.
Richard Parker: And then he faced Tony Gamble. Wade Elliott. Nova. And now tonight, Lindsay Troy. Has anyone ever faced four Hall of Famers back-to-back-to-back-to-back like this?
Nick Stuart: You’d have to go through the records book–
Richard Parker: Books? Never mind.
Vince Howard: Introducing first!
Darkness fills Madison Square Garden.
That darkness is then filled with music, an electric guitar strums followed by the sultry voice of Gwen Stefani.
Here to stay
Even when I’m gone
When I close my eyes
Through the passage of time
Kings Never Die
The guitar continues and then the drums enter. A lone spotlight hits the center of the stage as the voice of Eminem takes over as “Kings Never Die” by Eminem, ft. Gwen Stefani plays through the Garden.
I can hear the drummer drumming
And the trumpets, someone’s tryna summon someone, I know something’s coming
But I’m running from it to be standing at the summit
And plummet, how come it wasn’t what I thought it was, was it
Too good to be true?
The PRIME*View comes to life, providing additional light to those in attendance and watching at home. At first, the PRIME logo is there, and then flames appear underneath it.
Have nothing, get it all but too much of it then lose it again
Did I swallow hallucinogens, ’cause if not, where the hell did it go?
‘Cause here I sit in Lucifer’s den by the dutch oven just choosing to sin
Even if it means I’m selling my soul, just to be the undisputed again
Do whatever I gotta do just to win
The PRIME logo fades away and is then replaced with a montage of clips from Dusk’s career in the ReVolution era, matches against Tony Gamble, Wade Elliott, Devin Shakur, Jason Snow, Tyler Rayne, Chandler Tsonda, Brandon Youngblood, Sonny Silver, High Flyer, and Cozen.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
How ’bout that I’m somehow now back to the underdog
But no matter how loud that I bark, this sport is something I never bow-wow’d at
I complain about the game, I shout and I pout, it’s a love-hate
But I found out that I can move a mountain of doubt
More clips continue to play of the Hall of Famer’s career, including matches against Lindsay Troy and Nova from PTC and Legacy of Champions.
‘Cause I been lost tryna think of what I did to get here but I’m not a quitter
Gotta get up, give it all I got or give up
Spit on, shit on, stepped on, but kept going I’m tryna be headstrong
Finally, clips of his time in the ReVival era begin to play, his matches against Bobby Dean, Hayes Hanlon, Garbage Bag Johnny, Teddy Palmer, Phil Atken, Great Scott, Nate Colton, Cancer Jiles, Larry Tact, Tony Gamble, Wade Elliott, and Nova.
‘Cause you’re moving onto the next, but is the respect gone?
‘Cause someone told me that
Kings Never Die
Then, a man appears in the spotlight.
The Lost Soul himself.
DUSK! DUSK! DUSK! DUSK! DUSK!
The lights slowly come up inside of Madison Square Garden as Dusk stands there, taking in the cheers from the fans, dressed in his black-and-white striped pants with his name running down the sides of them, and a dark black trenchcoat that grazes the ground.
Don’t give me that sob story liar, don’t preach to the choir
You ain’t never even had to reach in the fire to dig deep
Nobody ever handed me shit in life, not even a flyer
Wouldn’t even take shit into consideration
Obliterate anyone in the way
The Lost Soul then explodes down the ramp and slides under the bottom rope before making his way to the opposite side of the ropes and steps onto the middle turnbuckle and looks out at the fans, many of them on their feet with cameras out and taking pictures of this final moment.
He then moves back to the center of the ring and stands there, looking out at the fans, as the song finishes up.
Here to stay
Even when I’m gone
When I close my eyes
Through the passage of time
Kings Never Die
Vince Howard: Standing at six feet and four inches tall, he weighed in at two hundred and twenty-five pounds. He hails from Los Angeles, California… he is the LOST SOUL! DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSK!
Nick Stuart: Dusk looks as ready as he’s ever going to be.
Richard Parker: Hope he said a Novena before he walked out here.
Vince Howard: And his opponent…
Heavy guitars, drums, and claps blast like a shotgun through Madison Square Garden as the PRIMEates unleash a roar. Cell phone screens and camera flashes light up the hallowed arena and pyro explodes from the stage like cannon fire.
SHOWTIME!
“Legendary” by 7kingZ gets into full swing as the pyro show continues from the stage. Two golden spotlights shine down in the middle of the steel platform and from underneath the stage, a white light shines bright, carrying the Queen of the Ring upward.
The first thing the PRIME Faithful see is the top of a large, ornate, Silver and GOLD~! throne made of title belts and trophies. The second thing they see is the Queen herself, seated confidently on a plush blue cushion, wearing a crown of skulls and blood. Standing to her right is a silver-haired man in a sharp navy military-style suit, an eyepatch over his eye and grinning wickedly.
The third thing they see is a white Bengal tiger sitting on the ground to the Queen’s left, Lindsay lazily stroking its head between its ears.
Nick Stuart: What….what the hell is that?!
Richard Parker: Oh for Christ’s sake, isn’t the bear enough?!?!?!
Vince Howard: And his opponent….from Tampa, Florida…being accompanied to the ring by “The Kraken” Henry Keyes…weighing in at one hundred ninety-five pounds…she is The Benchmark! The Renaissance Woman! YOUR QUEEN OF THE RING…LINNNNDDDDSSSSAAAYYYYY TRRRRROOOOOYYYYYY!
Welcome to the showdown finally, at last
We put the numbers up they don’t lie do the math
It all adds up to this moment in flash
My name carries weight and my respect unmatched
And I got the whole city tatted on my back
We live by will over skill and that’s facts
The Harbinger of War rises from her throne as Helen (the tiger, if you haven’t picked that up by now) lets out a roar. She places the crown on the animal’s head and gives Henry a smirk. The Hand of the Queen is right by her side and the two make their way down a red velvet staircase in front of the throne together. Behind the throne, two Plague Doctors scamper out to grab ahold of Helen’s leash.
Yeah
From the pavement I paved my way
Just Like a beast broke loose out of a cage
I have no feelings I’m unafraid
You wanna see how a legend is made
Watch
Legend
Legend
Legendary, Legend
Ain’t nobody stoppin me, Legendary
I come ready
I could never be shook, so hold steady
I’m down for whatever necessary
Watch me, watch me
Legendary
It’s Legendary
The two leaders of DEFIANCE’s Vae Victis reach the ring and clasp forearms in a Roman-style handshake. Henry then walks around the right side of the ring and hops the guardrail to stand next to Lindsay’s children, Kaz and Ami, on his left. On his right are the other members of Vae Victis: Sonny Silver, Kerry Kuroyama, Oscar Burns, and the group’s lackey Butcher Victorious. Missing from the group is the Cowboy Colossus, Clay Byrd, who is in Chicago getting ready to bury Christopher America in the Back of the Yards.
Troy hops onto the apron, wipes her feet, and flips herself up and over the top rope. She rolls through to one knee and throws her head back while extending her arms, giving the PRIMEates their well-deserved photo-op. The Queen stands, points to her kids, and then whirls around to face Dusk.
Elvis Nixon looks back and forth between the two, then calls for the bell
DING DING
At the sound of the bell, Dusk inches out of the corner while Lindsay Troy comes out at full speed and connects with two knees to the face of her opponent.
Nick Stuart: QUEEN’S GAMBIT! QUEEN’S GAMBIT!
Richard Parker: It is over! Just as the match got underway, Lindsay Troy has put Dusk on his back and counting stars in his dreams!
Close, Richard, close. Dusk, though, is able to roll out of the ring before Troy manages a pinfall. He rests on one knee, shaking his head, while Lindsay Troy stands in the ring and looks down at the Lost Soul.
Nick Stuart: Lindsay knows how close she came to ending this match.
Richard Parker: So does Dusk and it is all over his face. His retirement match would have been over just like that.
Richard tries to snap his fingers. He is unable to do so though.
Nick Stuart: You still haven’t learned how to do it? How many YouTube videos do I have to send you?
Richard Parker: Look, Nick, if it’s not on TikTok and a thirst trap, don’t bother sending it to me.
Dusk makes his way back up to his feet as Elvis Nixon’s count is up to three. Lindsay inches back, beckoning for ol’ Red Eyes to get back into the ring. Dusk places his hands on his hips, nodding his head while he circles the ring, getting his breath back and making sure he doesn’t walk into another Queen’s Gambit.
Richard Parker: Dusk is looking like he might want to walk back up that ramp and call it a night a bit early.
Nick Stuart: Not on your life.
Richard Parker: Would you want to get back in the ring with Lindsay Troy? The Benchmark? The Queen of the Ring?
Nick Stuart: Are you just going to read off of the nickname section of her website bio?
Richard Parker: Thinking about it!
Dusk makes his way to the ring apron as Nixon gets up to an eight count and slowly steps into the ring. He looks over at Troy and sees a smile on her face. Dusk nods his head again, claps his hands, and looks ready for the match to truly begin.
She inches closer and feigns for a collar-and-elbow tie-up, but slips behind Dusk and wraps her arms around his waist. Dusk quickly reaches down, pries apart her fingers, and spins around before slamming his shoulder into her clavicle. Dusk pushes into her, whipping her off the ropes, and goes for a clothesline only for The Pinnacle of PRIME to duck underneath it.
Dusk spins around and narrowly ducks a spinning heel kick off the middle rope. Lindsay lands on her feet, spins around, and is met an overhead belly-to-belly suplex that sends her flying across the ring.
Richard Parker: Nice of Dusk to show up to the match.
Nick Stuart: These two have stepped in the ring, watched each other matches so many times, they know what they’re going to pull off. It’s been five years though for Dusk to have stepped foot inside the ring with Lindsay Troy and her style is a bit… different.
Richard Parker: Different? She nearly broke this man’s face into thirty-seven pieces after the opening bell. Different is not the way to describe it. She’s a born killer in that ring now. She is ruthless and merciless. She is aggressive as all get out.
Nick Stuart: Are you part of her marketing team or something? All of these adjectives, I wasn’t certain if you were describing Lindsay Troy or John Wick.
Lindsay grabs the ropes and pulls herself up to her feet, grabbing at her lower back slightly. She nods her head as this time, Dusk has a smile on his face. Lindsay and Dusk move to the center of the ring where Lindsay lays into Dusk with a stiff forearm. The shot forces him back a few steps and when he goes to fire off a forearm of his own, Troy ducks underneath it, and connects with the point of her left boot into the ribcage of her opponent.
With Dusk doubled over, she takes a few steps back and then connects with a running knee to the side of Dusk’s jaw. Dusk drops to one knee and Lindsay moves in, putting him into a front facelock. She looks for a sweeping DDT, but Dusk manages to block it and connects with a bridging Northern Lights Suplex.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: And Dusk catches Troy by surprise there!
Nick Stuart: I feel like you’re taking my job here, with the whole play-by-play.
Richard Parker: You know, you’re always griping about what I bring to the table here Nick and when I finally do something, you gripe some more. Can you make up your mind?
Nick Stuart: Fine, fine.
Dusk rolls to his knees and pushes up to his feet, dragging Lindsay Troy with him. He pushes her into the corner and whips her across to the opposite corner, her back colliding hard with the turnbuckle. She drops to one knee as Dusk walks over and yanks her up to her feet. She fires off a stiff knife-edge chop, but Dusk follows up with a stiff knee to the midsection and transitions it into a gutwrench suplex in the center of the ring.
Nick Stuart: A bit more bite there from Dusk who just ate that chop from Lindsay Troy.
Richard Parker: You’re starting to see a bit of fire from Dusk, who may have come into this match prepared for a bit friendlier match and is not finding that.
Nick Stuart: Not at all. Troy’s streak at Colossus is unbeaten and she intends to keep it that way.
Dusk drags Troy back up to her feet, goes to whip her into the ropes, but Lindsay reverses it and plants her boot into The Lost Soul’s midsection. She drills him with a forearm that forces him to stumble into the ropes. Troy is on him in a heartbeat and connects with knee after knee to the midsection before whipping him across the ring and as he bounces off the ropes, she connects with a Roaring Elbow that sends Dusk flat onto the mat.
Richard Parker: Dusk better check his teeth after that one. If he doesn’t have dentures already, he definitely will want to invest in some.
Nick Stuart: Why do you have to be like that?
Richard Parker: What, honest? I have journalistic integrity.
Troy reaches down and pulls Dusk up to his feet, slamming another knee into his midsection before pushing him into the corner and climbs up to the second turnbuckle where she begins pelting him with fist after fist to the top of the head.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE!
SIX!
SEVEN!
While she is assaulting Dusk, with Elvis Nixon counting alongside her, Dusk lifts her up, walks away from the corner, and then drops her jaw first across the top turnbuckle! Troy stumbles backwards into the waiting arms of The Lost Soul who goes for a German Suplex only for Troy to land on her feet. Dusk scrambles back to her feet and ducks under a roundhouse kick before grabbing her and connecting with a German Suplex that folds Troy like an accordion.
Nick Stuart: And Dusk refusing to let Troy build any kind of momentum!
Richard Parker: Troy needs to keep applying that pressure otherwise Dusk is able to hit moves like that German Suplex. That plays right into his hands and that will be a quick end to her Colossus streak.
Nick Stuart: Dusk gets back up to his feet and walks over to LT who is lying on the ring apron. He reaches down and pulls her up to her feet.
He connects with a stiff elbow to the jaw of the challenger. With the ropes in between them, Dusk goes for a suplex to bring her into the ring. LT manages to block it though and lifts him up for a suplex of her own, but he manages to land on the ring apron next to her. She goes for a spinning backhand to him, but he ducks under it and connects with a snapdragon suplex as both competitors land hard on the ring apron and crash to the outside.
Richard Parker: Well, not certain anyone is coming out of that move feeling particularly good if you ask me.
Nick Stuart: Dusk looking to punish LT where he can and willing to put his own body on the line.
Richard Parker: Would you want to put your over-fifty body on the line here? That seems like it’s playing more into Lindsay’s hand than anything.
Both competitors are slow to their feet while Nixon begins his count, making it to three before Dusk manages to get up only for LT to drill him with a shoulder to the midsection. He drops to one knee as she grabs his left wrist and whips him into the ringside barricade. Dusk arches his back in pain, but LT ups the aggression as she then whips him into the ring apron as quickly as she can and follows it up with another into the barricade!
Dusk stumbles away, but she has no intention of letting that happen as she plants an elbow between his shoulders and goes to whip him back into the ring, but he blocks it and slams her head into the ring apron. She stumbles backwards as Dusk slides into the ring, breaking the count from Nixon before he bounces off the ropes and connects with a baseball slide to Troy.
Nick Stuart: Back and forth between both competitors here tonight.
Richard Parker: I don’t think anyone expected any different from these two here tonight. These two are in the Hall of Fame for a reason, very different reasons, but nonetheless, Hall of Fame members.
Nick Stuart: Dusk is now dragging Troy up to her feet and she explodes with an uppercut that snaps his head back. She is fighting back with everything she has and refuses to give Dusk an inch.
She grabs Dusk by the wrist and then whips him into the ring steps, with the Hall of Famer’s knees crashing into them. He flips over the stairs and lands on his back, grimacing as he does. Dusk fights his way back up, feeling the pain coursing through his body, and he turns around he is met with LT flying off the ring steps and connecting with a head scissors that sends him crashing into the barricade.
Troy wastes no time getting back up to her feet and plants her boot into the chest of Dusk. Repeatedly. She then reaches down and rolls him back into the ring. As Dusk makes his way back up this feet, body wracked with pain, Troy climbs up to the top turnbuckle. Dusk turns around and is met with an Asai Moonsault from the Queen of the Ring.
Nick Stuart: What athleticism!
Richard Parker: You know she’s not going to give you a raise just for talking her up on commentary, right?
Nick Stuart: You are such an ass.
Troy explodes back to her feet, drags Dusk back up to his feet, and plants her boot into his midsection. Quickly, Troy puts him into a front face lock, grabs his left leg, and connects with a spinning Fisherman’s Suplex as Nixon slides into the position and begins his count.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: And Dusk manages to kick out just in the knick of time.
Nick Stuart: Troy is not afraid to bust out the repitoire and when she starts to build a head of steam like she is right now, it’s going to take a freight train to stop her.
Richard Parker: Dusk is going to have to become that freight train and in a hurry if he doesn’t want to fall too far behind the eight ball.
Troy watches as Dusk pulls himself back up to his feet and grabs his wrist to whip him into the ropes, but he reverses it into a knee to her midsection. With her doubled over, Dusk connects with a gutwrench powerbomb in the center of the ring. Troy rolls around, in pain, while Dusk takes a step back to catch his breath.
LT sits up and The Lost Soul immediately bounces off the ropes and connects with a seated dropkick. Dusk rolls through it and begins to drag LT back up to her feet only to be met with an upkick to the ribs. Dusk doubles over as LT slams her fist to his jaw before making her way up to her feet and connects with a cradle pile driver before rolling Dusk over and going for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: LT has been in fifth gear this entire match and is taking it right to The Lost Soul.
Richard Parker: Dusk might as well pack it in and call this match a night, because he’s digging himself too much of a hole to climb out of.
Nick Stuart: All it takes is one moment, Richard. One moment and the tenor of the match will change just like that.
Richard Parker: Yeah, sure.
LT sits up and looks at Elvis, who confirms it was a two count. She makes her way up to her feet, drags Dusk up with her, and whips him into the ropes. He ducks underneath a clothesline attempt from Troy and as LT turns around, is met with a springboard crossbody from Ol Red Eyes. As they both land on the mat, Dusk rolls through it and gets up to his feet as LT does the same. Dusk mows LT down with a clothesline, but the Queen of the Ring gets back up to her feet and Dusk mows her down with another clothesline.
LT bounces right back up to her feet though and Dusk connects with a hip toss into his left knee. Troy lands on the mat, clutching her back while Dusk bounces off the ropes and connects with a front-flip leg drop across her throat. Dusk, feeling momentum at his back, brings LT back up to her feet and whips her into the ropes before planting her in the middle of the ring with a spine buster.
Nick Stuart: And what a sequence of events there from Dusk.
Richard Parker: Everything Dusk just did, he needed every bit of it to simply give himself enough space to breathe and figure out what’s next.
Nick Stuart: Do you owe Dusk money or something?
Richard Parker: No, but LT signs my checks and you would do well to remember that.
Dusk gets back up to his feet and LT, slowly, does the same. Dusk connects with a knife-edge chop, but LT follows up with a forearm strike that Dusk eats and fires back one of her own. LT uses the momentum to bounce off the ropes and connects with a knee strike to the jaw of her opponent. LT then catches a stunned Dusk with an enziguri that sends him face first into the mat. Troy rolls him over and goes for the cover once again.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: Okay, Elvis, I don’t think you’re getting the message.
Nick Stuart: You think Troy wants to win this match by way of Elvis giving her the victory? Come on, that is not how Troy works.
Richard Parker: I mean, I just want to get to the main event that much sooner and watch Hayes Hanlon rip Cancer Jiles apart.
Nick Stuart: We’ve got time for that, Richard, I promise you.
Troy rises to her feet, brings Dusk up with her, and whips him into the corner. Troy then moves to the opposite corner and runs at him, connecting with a cartwheel into a backflip before slamming her elbow across the jaw and throat of The Lost Soul. LT whips Dusk across the ring and goes for it again only for no one to be home. LT stumbles out of the corner and Dusk connects with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, sending her flying across the ring.
The GOAT makes her way back up to her feet and is met with a stiff kick to the midsection before Dusk puts her into a front face lock and connects with a snap suplex, but holds onto it, rolling LT back onto her knees and back up to her feet before connecting with another snap suplex. Dusk uses his strength to keep it locked in before connecting with a third suplex after pulling Troy back up to her feet.
Nick Stuart: And Dusk shows he’s still got something left in the tank there.
Richard Parker: This is Dusk’s game. Wear you down. There is no question he can still compete in this ring, but at the same rate as everyone else that is competing in title matches this weekend? Definitely not.
Nick Stuart: If Dusk wanted to, he’d still be on the roster in 2023, no doubt about it.
Richard Parker: The owner of PRIME is handing him his ass, are you so sure about that?
Dusk makes his way back up to his feet and Troy is slow to do the same. Dusk grabs Troy’s wrist and she slams her elbow across his face, repeatedly. Dusk goes down to the ground as LT snaps the heel of her boot across his face repeatedly before yanking him back up to his feet. She goes to whip him across the ring, but changes her mind and yanks him back into her before connecting with a knee across his face that sends Dusk to the mat before he rolls out under the bottom rope.
Richard Parker: And I rest my case.
Nick Stuart: Once you get into a striking match with Troy, it becomes very difficult. She is a precision-based striker and she slams everything she has into each one.
Richard Parker: Which Dusk has just been reminded of.
Nick Stuart: And Dusk is starting to sit up and — oh, he is bleeding from a gash above his left eyebrow.
Dusk feels the blood trickling down his face and wipes his right hand across it, seeing the blood as it is pouring out of the wound. He looks up at Troy, who has her eyes locked upon him, and simply shrugs her shoulders.
Immediately, Dusk moves to his feet and slides in under the bottom rope as both wrestlers charge at one another and start trading jabs back and forth at each other at a frenzied pace.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: And the fans inside of Madison Square Garden have just gone crazy! This match, which has seen both of them trade blows back and forth, counter one another, and found themselves largely at a stalemate has ratcheted to a whole new level!
Richard Parker: This is not the battle that Lindsay Troy wants to get into.
And Richard Parker is right. Even though Troy is firing away just as fast Dusk is, Dusk’s power is coming through and even with flecks of blood flying off of his face, he begins to push Troy into the corner where he continues to unload until she is in a seated position in the corner. Dusk runs to the opposite corner, sizes Troy up, and runs full speed before leaping into the air and connecting with a clothesline to the seated opponent, most of his body hanging out of the ring. He moves back into the ring and drags Troy up with him, whips her into the ropes and connects with a back body drop that sends Troy high into the air and flat onto her back.
She moves back to her feet as Dusk bounces off the ropes and connects with a boot across the side of her skull that flips her inside out and onto the mat. Dusk helps her up off the mat and whips her into the ropes before running right after her and clotheslining her to the outside of the ring. Troy crashes hard on the mat before pushing her up to her feet, dazed, but refusing to stay down. She turns back to the ring to see Dusk flying at her with a Tope Suicida.
Richard Parker: Geez…
Nick Stuart: The sight of his own blood has brought Dusk to the same gear that Lindsay Troy has been at and it’s absolutely brutal!
Richard Parker: He’s seen his blood plenty of times. This is unnecessary.
Nick Stuart: You know Lindsay will still sign your checks even if you don’t blow sunshine up her butt, right?
Richard Parker: Not taking any chances.
Dusk gets back up to his feet and drags Lindsay up with him, puts her into a front facelock and connects with a snap suplex before pulling her back up, holding onto her the entire time and connects with another snap suplex, this time with Troy’s back colliding with the cold steel stairs!
He leaves her lying there as he climbs onto the ring apron and finally climbs up to the top turnbuckle.
Nick Stuart: Dusk is making his way up to the top turnbuckle and what he is doing?
Richard Parker: He looks like he’s going for a double foot stomp to the prone Troy across the ring steps! Someone stop this maniac!
Nick Stuart: I think Dusk is finally understanding the level at which Troy is willing to play at and just meeting her there.
Richard Parker: This is bad, really bad!
THUMP!
Dusk jumps off the top turnbuckle only for Troy to roll out of the way at the last second, his feet colliding with the steel steps. Troy quickly bounces up to her feet and sweeps the legs out from underneath The Lost Soul, causing him to land with his skull on the top ring step. LT wastes no time as she grabs Dusk, pulls him off the ring steps, and smashes him face first into the ring post. Dusk staggers backwards as LT slides into the ring, flies off the opposite set of ropes, and connects with a baseball slide flying headscissors that sends Dusk flying up the ramp the wrestlers came in on earlier.
Dusk makes his way up to his feet as Troy runs at him and connects with a running dropkick that sends Dusk flying up the ramp even further. Dusk stumbles back to his feet as the Queen of the Ring rushes at him once again only for Dusk to connect with a blink and you’ll miss it powerslam on the metal ramp. Troy arches her back high as Dusk gets back up to his feet and drags her down the ramp and back into the ring. He begins to climb up on the ring apron and Troy rushes at him and slams her shoulder into his ribcage, which sends Dusk flying off the ring apron and crashes into the barricade.
Richard Parker: Well, the pace has picked up significantly between these two.
Nick Stuart: These two are still active competitors. Lindsay, while not wrestling in PRIME, is wrestling elsewhere while this is Dusk’s fourteenth match this year in PRIME, tied for the most with four other of the stars in PRIME.
Richard Parker: Do you like write down stats before the show starts or something?
Nick Stuart: It’s called research, Richard. Try it some time.
Richard Parker: [mocking] Try it sometime.
Dusk pushes himself off of the barricade and turns around to see LT flying off the top turnbuckle, but Dusk manages to catch her midair and connects with a fallaway slam over the barricade! Thankfully, fans had backed up a bit previously, and have largely cleared the area as Dusk reaches over the barricade and yanks Troy up to her feet only for her to pelt him with a stiff right hand. Dusk retaliates with a stiff headbutt before spinning her around, putting her into a reverse facelock, and lifts her up for a reverse suplex only for LT to land on her feet behind him. She reaches up around the neck of Dusk and brings him down backwards, slamming her knees into his back in the process.
Troy fights back to her feet and drags Dusk with her before rolling him back into the ring. Troy makes her way up to the ring apron and is caught with a forearm to the face from her opponent. The Lost Soul puts her in a front facelock and tries to suplex her into the ring, but Troy blocks it and slams her fist into his ribcage. She then lifts him up for a suplex, but Dusk lands on the ring apron with her. Troy is quick to act as she connects with a high kick to the back of Dusk’s skull that stuns him as he turns around, grabbing his head in the proces. Troy is lightning fast as she leaps onto Dusk’s shoulders and connects with a reverse hurricanrana on the ring apron as both crash to the floor afterwards.
DUSK! DUSK! DUSK! DUSK! DUSK!
TROY! TROY! TROY! TROY! TROY!
Nick Stuart: These two are putting themselves through HELL and these fans are eating it up!
Richard Parker: These two… non-friends, non-enemies… are sure acting like they hate each other.
Nick Stuart: You have to imagine the emotions these two are feeling right now, the YEARS of history between them, and on top of that you have Troy’s streak on the line. This is Dusk’s final match and he wants to go out on top. These two are going to empty the tank and then some to prove themselves here tonight.
Richard Parker: Sorry, what were you saying? I zoned out in the middle of your need to explain the evening to us.
Both competitors push themselves out, obviously drained, but refusing to let the moment get to them. Troy cracks a knife-edge chop across Dusk’s chest, which Dusk fires back with a stiff forearm. Dusk goes to roll Troy back into the ring only for LT to reverse it and send Dusk back into the ring. The Lost Soul makes his way back up to his feet and narrowly moves out of the way of a springboard flying front-flip neckbreaker from Troy. Dusk spins around and grabs Troy by the wrist before whipping her into the ropes and connects with a pop-up sit-out powerbomb as Elvis slides in and begins his count.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: WHOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: That was a close one and Dusk hit ALL of that one. Troy looked shocked at how quickly Dusk pulled that one out as he is reaching down DEEP here.
Richard Parker: She’s the GOAT for a reason, Nick. I’ll keep saying it until I’m blue in the face.
Nick Stuart: These two are PRIME Hall of Famers. They’re both amazing in their own way.
Richard Parker: But there is only one GOAT and Lindsay Troy is IT!
Dusk pushes Troy away from him as he makes his way up to his feet, exhaustion starting to set in on his face. He looks out at the crowd, many of whom are on their feet, watching this back and forth match crescendo before their very eyes. He spins around and is met with the flying front-flip neckbreaker that Troy tried just moments ago! She then crawls over and covers Dusk.
ONE!
TWO!
TH–NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Dusk manages to get his right shoulder at the last possible second. Troy rolls off of Dusk and looks up at the ceiling, shaking her head before sitting up. She pushes her up to her feet and drags Dusk up with her. She slams her knee into his midsection over and over again. She smacks him across the face and then Dusk pushes her back before launching a superkick at her face.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: LIGHTS OUT! LIGHTS OUT!
Richard Parker: Shit…
Nick Stuart: Could that do it?! Did Dusk just put an end to the streak?!
Dusk collapses on the mat as both competitors are laid out in the center of the ring. Elvis checks on both as Dusk begins to crawl over to Troy. Eventually, he manages to drape an arm across her chest as Elvis begins his count.
ONE!
TWO!
TH–NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: That time that Dusk spent trying to just gather the energy he needed to crawl over to Troy may have just cost him the match!
Richard Parker: That’s the difference between a GOAT and being a HOF member. Capitalizing on opportunities. As much as these fans may love him, as much as he has put on big match after big match, stood against the best, he’s never been able to capitalize on the moments he needed to in order to win the BIG matches.
Nick Stuart: You are both right and wrong, but at this moment, it cost him a potential victory.
Both competitors lie in the center of the ring, chests heaving, exhaustion washing over them. Twenty-five minutes have passed since the beginning of the match and they have poured everything they have into it. Nixon checks on both competitors, making sure they’re good to continue, but there is no way either of these two are going to bow out of this match.
Not now.
Dusk slowly sits up and looks at Elvis. He shakes his head and before he can push himself up to his feet, Troy’s arms and legs wrap up around his back and pull him into her before putting him into a Pentagram Choke.
Nick Stuart: Sacer Esto! This could be it for Dusk! She has got it locked in tight and you can see the tension in her face as she is looking to make Dusk tap out as fast as she possibly can.
Richard Parker: Just tap, Dusk. This is it.
Dusk furiously looks for a weakness in Troy’s legs as he tries to pry them off of her, but there is no hope as she is like an anaconda, cinching it in tighter as she does. Elvis moves into position and asks him if he wants to give up, but he shakes his head.
He can feel the air tighten in his body, screaming for more of it, screaming for a release. He leans back as Troy tightens her grip and he can feel his grip on reality begin to loosen. He searches for a release, for a way to get an inch of space, but Troy refuses to give him one.
He then leans forward slightly and pushes as hard as he can with his feet, rolling himself onto her and pinning her shoulders to the mat.
ONE!
TWO!
THR– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Dusk managed to move the momentum onto Troy and got her into a pinning predicament, forcing her to break the hold in order to kick out at the last moment possible.
Richard Parker: That was close for BOTH of them.
Nick Stuart: You can feel that these two are looking to end this match and the end could literally come out of nowhere!
Dusk rolls over onto his stomach, gasping for air while Troy gets back up to her feet and punts Dusk in the ribs. The Lost Soul rolls over from the shot, his face in pain, before Troy leans over and drags Dusk up to his feet before grabbing him by the back of the skull before smashing face repeatedly into the top turnbuckle.
THWACK
THWACK
THWACK
She then moves him down to the middle turnbuckle, rinsing and repeating in the process.
THWACK
THWACK
THWACK
LT then yanks Dusk back up and tries to lift Dusk up onto the top turnbuckle, but Dusk blocks it and slams his elbow into her jaw. He spins around and tosses LT into the corner before lighting her up with fist after fist into her abdomen before whipping her across the ring to the opposite corner. He then runs full speed at her and connects with a boot to the jaw. The Queen of the Ring stumbles out of the corners as Dusk bounces off the ropes and connects with a running legdrop to the back of LT’s neck, driving her to the ground.
Richard Parker: These two are just going to destroy each other.
Nick Stuart: You might be right.
Dusk begins to make his way up to feet and reaches down to grab LT when she pulls him into a small package.
ONE!
TWO!
THR–NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: Almost! Come on Elvis, slide in quicker!
Nick Stuart: Do you want him to have telepathy?
Richard Parker: Yes, yes I would.
Nick Stuart: He would carve his eyes out if he read your thoughts.
Richard Parker: Look, I went to ten years of sensitivity treatment! I’m good now.
Nick Stuart: Sure…
Lindsay sits up and as she does, Dusk grabs her and puts her into an Gogoplata!
Nick Stuart: Out of nowhere!
Richard Parker: Shit!
Lindsay flails, trying to fight Dusk off of her, to relieve the pressure and slams her fist into the side of him repeatedly, but Dusk refuses to let go. The dried blood on his face cracks as he increases the tension on her and the movement in Troy gradually slows down.
TROY! TROY! TROY! TROY!
The fans rally behind Troy as she fades further and further. Nixon grabs Troy’s arm and lifts, watching as it drops.
ONE!
Richard Parker: Oh, this is not how the streak ends.
Nick Stuart: It just might.
Nixon raises it again and watches as it falls once again.
TWO!
Nick Stuart: Troy looks out of it.
Richard Parker: I can’t believe this.
Nixon raises it for the third and final time and watches as it falls once again.
THRE–
And then her arm shoots up.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Richard Parker: OH THANK GOODNESS!
Nick Stuart: And Troy is dragging Dusk towards the ropes and places her boot on the ropes!
Dusk immediately breaks the hold and walks over to Troy, looking to bring her up to her feet only for her to wrap her hands around the back of his neck and dropping him jaw first on the crown of her head! Dusk stumbles backwards, trying to shake the effects off and turns around only to be met with a Queen’s Gambit!
Richard Parker: YES! YES! THIS MATCH IS OVER!
Nick Stuart: Oh man, Troy got all of that one!
With Dusk flat on his back, Troy goes for the cover!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
…
…
THRE– NO!
Nick Stuart: That was 2.999999999999! His shoulder shot up right as Nixon’s hand was about to hit the mat!
Richard Parker: There’s no way, that was three!
Lindsay Troy too believes it was three and sits up, looking at Elvis with disbelief. He confirms it was a two count as Dusk lies there, barely moving. Troy looks around at the MSG crowd, everyone on their feet at this point, in shock and disbelief as well.
She moves back to her feet and grabs Dusk in the process, goes for a forearm smash, but Dusk ducks underneath it, does a standing switch and connects with a German Suplex, locking his arms around her waist.
Nick Stuart: Where is he getting this from?!
Richard Parker: Where are either of these two getting ANYTHING?
Nick Stuart: And Dusk is pulling Troy back up and connects with a second German Suplex.
Richard Parker: No, no more.
And Dusk fights his way back up to his feet, bringing LT up with him and connects with a third rolling German Suplex! Dusk breaks his grasp on her and pulls himself up to his feet, motioning for Troy to get to her feet. She is slow to do so, dazed, and as she stands up, Dusk puts her back down with a superkick.
Richard Parker: [groans] No…
Nick Stuart: He got all of the Lights Out and he is going for the cover!
ONE!
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
THRE-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: SHE KICKED OUT! SHE KICKED OUT! SHE KICKED OUT!
Nick Stuart: That looked like it was over for Lindsay Troy, that her streak was about to be broken, but she somehow found the will to kickout just in the knick of time! I don’t know how, but she did!
Dusk wastes no time as he gets up to his feet and drags Troy up with him. He whips her into the ropes and goes for a clothesline, but Troy ducks under it and flies off the opposite set of ropes. Dusk spins around and is met with two knees to the face once again.
Richard Parker: ANOTHER QUEEN’s GAMBIT! DUSK WILL NEED RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY AFTER THIS MATCH!
Nick Stuart: Calm down over there, you are screaming in my ear.
Troy walks over to Dusk and begins to pull him up to his feet. She goes to kick him in the midsection, but Dusk falls down onto the mat.
Nick Stuart: Oh, that’s not good.
Richard Parker: You wouldn’t feel good if you’ve been in a war with Lindsay Troy.
Troy looks over at Elvis who walks over to Dusk, but Dusk waves him away. Dusk tries to pull himself up again, but his legs give out from him again and he falls into the corner of the ring.
Lindsay walks over to Dusk and kneels down.
Lindsay Troy: Craig–
Dusk: Do it, Lindsay. Just do it.
Lindsay Troy: You can’t stand. It’s okay.
Dusk: DO! IT! Finish me!
Lindsay looks over at Nixon, who looks unsure of what to do. She then looks back at Dusk who is fighting his way back up to his feet.
DUSK! DUSK! DUSK! DUSK! DUSK!
Dusk: Do it, LT.
Lindsay sighs before planting her boot into his midsection and pauses as she puts him into the position for the package piledriver.
Then does what she has to do. Because she always has.
Nick Stuart: THY KINGDOM COME!
Richard Parker: And that should do it.
Nick Stuart: You never know with these two.
Lindsay looks down at Dusk, who is motionless in the middle of the ring. There is a tinge of sadness as she drops down and hooks both of Dusk’s legs.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THREE!
DING DING DING!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: Your winner… LINDSAY! TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY!
Lindsay rolls off of Dusk and rises to her feet with Elvis raising her arm in victory. She then sits back down next to Dusk and looks over at him, leaning over, and whispering in his ear as he starts to sit up. She pauses and whispers a bit more in his ear before they look at each other and he nods his head.
LT makes her way up to her feet and helps Dusk up as well. The two embrace in the middle of the ring, tears streaming down Dusk’s face as he does.
She then raises Dusk’s hand.
Nick Stuart: What a sign of respect from Lindsay Troy.
Richard Parker: And these fans are on their feet, applauding the amazing victory from Lindsay Troy, the amazing effort both of these Hall of Famers put on here tonight, and saying their final farewells to Dusk.
Nick Stuart: Just a phenomenal match from beginning to end and I’m not sure how either of these two are standing.
Troy takes one more look at Dusk, smiles, and exits out of the ring as Dusk points at her and claps, acknowledging the GOAT of PRIME.
Nick Stuart: Lindsay Troy keeps her streak intact at Colossus and that might be her final match in PRIME as well, though you never know.
Richard Parker: You never truly know.
Troy waves at the crowd and makes her way up the ramp, disappearing backstage to get changed and return to her Owner role. Meanwhile, Dusk stands in the ring and waves at the fans.
THANK! YOU! DUSK!
THANK! YOU! DUSK!
THANK! YOU! DUSK!
Dusk nods his head, thanking them as he walks around the ring, soaking in the moment. He then sits down and undoes his wrestling boots. He takes one off at a time and places them in the center of the ring. He then stands up and takes off each one of his gloves before placing them on top of the wrestling boots.
Nick Stuart: A moving moment here in Madison Square Garden.
Richard Parker: You don’t normally get to see a true retirement, knowing you’ve witnessed the final match of someone.
He walks around the ring as the fans continue to chant his name, shaking his head in the process. Dusk then exits the ring and finds his family sitting in the front and walks over to them, hugging his daughter and granddaughter specifically.
Dusk makes his way up the ramp and then pauses at the top of the ramp before looking out at the fans. He waves and says thank you.
The Lost Soul then disappears backstage, one last time.