EDDIE CROSS VS. ADAM ELLIS
Nick Stuart: Our next first round match up in the Almasy Invitational involves two very evenly-match opponents in Eddie Cross and Adam Ellis!
Richard Parker: Well dang, I left my bulletproof vest in the car. The Enemigos still have a “No Weapons In the Building” policy, right? I mean, I don’t know how the laws work around here; this is Kentucky, after all.
Nick Stuart: I don’t think you’ll have to worry about Ginny Van Lear in that respect, Rich. Especially with the likes of Savannah Scandal and Vickie Hall set in her crosshairs. On the other hand, many might recall that Eddie Cross sustained an injury to his eye in his grueling battle with Dave Gibson at UltraViolence, though it remains anyone’s guess if it will affect him in this contest.
Richard Parker: More than likely. Depth perception is no joke, kids!
Nick Stuart: Let’s go to the ring! Take it away, Vince!
Green Screen.
Match Start in 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…
3…
2…
1…
– Eliminate Other Players –
The opening guitar to Cross Off by Mark Morton (feat Chester Bennington) echoes, and the words repeat
“Cross Off the days gone…”
“Cross Off the days gone…”
GONE BYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
As Mark Morton’s guitars sear through the arena, Eddie “n1ghtcraw1er” Cross steps out of the back and stops to survey the crowd before pumping a fist into the air. He adjusts his custom gaming glasses before walking down the ramp focused on the ring. EC pauses at the ring steps, taking off his backpack, unzipping the main compartment, and placing it in the corner of the ring. He waits for the transition between verses before psyching himself up. Vince Howard is waiting.
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a first round match-up for the Seymour Almasy Invitational, and is for one fall! Introducing first, from Charlotte, North Carolina… weighing in at two-hundred and twenty-five pounds… EDDIE “N1GHTCRAW1ER” CROSS!!!
He then runs up the ring steps, wipes his feet on the apron, and enters the ring as Chester Bennington screams into the microphone.
Eddie rolls his neck and prepares for the match.
Garrett Biggs’ “Mama Didn’t Raise No…” plays over the sound system and on the video screen, a video plays showing a series of wrestling trophies on a dresser next to an old high school football uniform that has ‘Ellis’ on the back.
An acoustic guitar plays and the vocals begin.
“Mama didn’t raise no… quitter- guaranteed to get the job done.”
Adam Ellis and Ginny Van Lear walk out from the back hand in hand and stand on the stage.
“She didn’t raise no SOB who that can’t back himself up – been known to throw a good punch.”
Vince Howard: And the opponent, accompanied to the ring by Ginny Van Lear… hailing from Warrensburg, Missouri, and weighing in at two-hundred and twenty six pounds… ADAM ELLIS!!!
The video screen shows a series of action shots of Ellis from his various matches
“And this ol’ boy gets going when the going gets tough- sundown to sun up.”
Dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and her feet wrapped in tape the former MMA prodigy nods her head causing her bright red hair to flip, and raises her left hand…
“Need a man with a helping hand – he’s always got one to lend.”
…and then brings it down as the chorus and full instrumentation hits- complete with pyro.
“Oh, I might be a little rough around the edges”
Adam’s wearing a pair of plain blue wrestling shorts. He starts forward down the ramp towards the ring followed by Van Lear.
“From the outside lookin’ in it might seem helpless.”
The couple reaches the ring. Adam holds the rope open so Ginny can slide through.
“I’ve been blessed with a strong backbone – I never coulda made it on my own”
Adam joins her in the ring.
“But if there’s one thing that I know – Momma didn’t raise no…”
Adam climbs up the top turnbuckle and holds up his arms.
Ginny retreats to ringside. Cross and Ellis meet each other in the center of the ring for a respectful handshake before going to their corners to allow official Ashley Barlow to make her final checks.
Nick Stuart: A genuine show of respect between these two young, idealistic athletes before the bell. It’s too bad we don’t see more of this.
Richard Parker: Because it’s the wrestling equivalent of wearing a “kick me” sign, Nick! Are they here to make frie
DING DING
Adam and Eddie are pumped and ready as they emerge from their corners and meet in the center of the ring. The encircling ensues, with either competitor watching the others movements closely. Ellis shoots in low to break the ice, but Cross quickly catches him into the collar-and-elbow.
Nick Stuart: Cross and Ellis go right into the tie-up. Could be looking at a good technical affair between these two.
Richard Parker: You mean basic, by-the-book, vanilla style wrestling? I guess that suits these two perfectly.
Nick Stuart: Cross, going for the wrist… but Ellis won’t let him have it. Adam, trying to force the head down, but Eddie clinches him in close to block whatever he’s going for!
Ellis frees up his arm to switch to a three-quarter bulldog, taking the struggle upstairs. He drops to a knee to a snapmare Cross to the canvas, but the N1GHTCRAW1ER’s head slips loose, and he instead finds himself trapped into a rear waistlock. Instinctively, his hands go to Eddie’s, attempting to pry them apart, while also hooking a leg to block any attempt to lift him off his feet.
Nick Stuart: This ought to be a real tug-of-war in terms of strength and skill. You couldn’t ask for more evenly matched opponents than these two, both in height and weight.
Richard Parker: So the real difference maker comes down to who is the dimmest of wits.
Nick Stuart: Cross has a good grip around the waist of Adam Ellis! Going for a German… but it’s BLOCKED! Now Ellis reaches through his legs, hooks a knee, and there goes E.C. to the canvas with the legdrag!
The audience applauds as Ellis moves himself right into a side kneebar. Cross grinds his teeth and fights through the nagging pain, instead looking to counter by wrapping his hands around Adam’s exposed head and wrenching it back into a chinlock. Ellis paws the hands away, but Cross locks it in again on a second attempt. Ivan looks on, intently.
Nick Stuart: Cross, trying to force his way out of a submission by a submission!
Richard Parker: You know, the phrase “fight fire with fire” sounds great and all, but when, in the course of all human history, has that ever actually worked?
Nick Stuart: Ellis, trying to break free… but he gifts Eddie his wrist in the process! Cross is free! And now Adam finds himself on the other end, with E.C. working the wristlock!
Cross torques the shoulder for a beat, before Ellis flips through and reverses in a wristlock of his own. Eddie chuckles, then likewise flips through to reverse and breaks his hand free. The two stand staring at each other after the exchange, drawing a light pop and applause from the fans in attendance.
Nick Stuart: Appears these two are thus far at a stalemate in this contest, as Ellis and Cross stay step for step with each other.
Richard Parker: How do we know they’re not working together on this?
Nick Stuart: Ellis shoots in low… but Eddie stuffs the takedown attempt! No, now Adam counters with a Northern Lights suplex to put Cross to the canvas, and onto his shoulders!
One!
T–shoulder up!
Eddie twists his body to get the shoulder off the mat, but Ellis quickly twists with him and goes again for the mount. Cross grabs him by the wrists and defensively brings up his legs to block him. After a few moments of struggle, Adam leans his weight forward.
Nick Stuart: Ellis with the prawn hold to force Eddie’s shoulders to the mat once more!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE–shoulders up with Cross BRIDGING off the top of his head!
Richard Parker: Oof, that hurts just looking at it!
The crowd audibly OOHs as E.C. spryly arches his back off the mat, until Adam, using Cross’s grip on either of his arms, reverses the momentum by deadlifting him off the mat and onto his shoulders. Eddie swiftly slips down his back and grabs him by the waist as he goes.
Nick Stuart: Cross, going up–but quickly BACK DOWN, rolling Adam Ellis with him into a double leg cradle!
ONE!
TW–REVERSED BY ELLIS!
ONE!
TWO!
CROSS KICKS FREE!
E.C. rolls to his feet, but runs himself right into a drop toe hold by the waiting Ellis. Adam pounces onto his shoulders with a side headlock to hold him in place. Only Cross isn’t about to be held down. Eddie works himself up to his feet and opts to break free by way of a back suplex.
Nick Stuart: Cross with the suplex–but Ellis LANDS ON HIS FEET! Adam, catching Eddie with an armdrag–no, Cross reverses with an armdrag of his own… right into the Deathstalker armbar!
Richard Parker: These guys are making my head spin with all these reversals!
Nick Stuart: Well you might have the chance to screw it back on straight, Rich, as Eddie Cross has this submission maneuver locked in, and Ellis doesn’t look to be reversing it any time soon! He is, however, gratefully close to the ropes!
Cross works the arm, just enough to let Adam know he means business, but Ellis nevertheless extends his arm an extra few feet to grab the bottom rope. Eddie releases without hesitation and respectfully backs up to allow his opponent a moment. Adam doesn’t even need half of one, quickly storming back to his feet and crashing into him for another lock-up.
Nick Stuart: So much fire in these two competitors right now! And with so much at stake, in an opportunity to advance in the Almasy Invitational!
Richard Parker: Well if either one of them really wants it bad enough, then they better pull the gloves off soon!
Nick Stuart: It’s more than that, Rich! These two are interested in seeing who between them will come out on top in a good, honest, clean wrestling match!
Richard Parker: Didn’t anybody ever tell these boyscouts that nice guys finish last?
Adam’s burst of energy puts Cross on his heels, giving Ellis an opening to wrangle him by the waist, lift, and drops him to his face and chest with a picturesque collegiate takedown. Ellis follows through by going into the lateral position and rolling Cross onto his back.
Nick Stuart: Lateral press by Adam Ellis, going for another pin!
ONE!
TWO!
Cross works himself free!
Ellis swaps into the north-and-south and puts Eddie into a facelock before proceeding to pull him back up on his way to his feet. Cross twists himself free before Adam can follow through with his plans.
Nick Stuart: E.C. with the reversal, tying up Adam’s arms around his head… going for the RNG neckbreaker–but Ellis twists his way out with a reversal of his own!
Richard Parker: Yet another reversal!
Nick Stuart: Ellis goes over… AROUND… ARM-TRAP NECKBREAKER puts Cross to the mat!
The crowd cheers as Ellis lands the big move. He quickly floats over to make the pin, until sees something that brings him pause.
Richard Parker: No cover?
Nick Stuart: It would appear not! Eddie is holding that patched eye, and I’m thinking that Adam may have grazed it in the exchange back there.
Richard Parker: All the more reason to take advantage of it then!
Official Ashley Barlow steps in the moment she’s aware of the issue, and calls on Ellis to make space. Adam obligingly backs into the corner, but stays on the ready. Barlow checks on Cross, but E.C. promptly assures the ref he’s fine to continue, and calls for his opponent to resume the fight.
Richard Parker: Adam Ellis may have just kissed his chances at progressing in this tournament goodbye right there!
Nick Stuart: You don’t think that maintaining his integrity as a sportsman is more important than taking advantage of his opponent’s unfortunate injury for his own benefit?
Richard Parker: Of course not! It’s the only effective way to get ahead in life!
Eddie obligingly goes onto his back so the two can pick up right where they left off. Ellis falls upon him back in the lateral, this time skipping the pin attempt to work the arm into a Kimura lock while Cross struggles to keep his shoulders off the canvas while preventing himself from being rolled over.
Nick Stuart: The N1ghtcraw1er finds himself in a precarious position now! Barlow is watching those shoulders of his like a hawk, and if Adam Ellis can force him onto his belly, there’s no telling what he might do to that arm!
Richard Parker: He’s just as much of an idiot as Ellis for allowing him to get back onto him!
Nick Stuart: One show of respect deserves another, Rich.
The legs of Cross find a body scissor around the waist of Ellis, and his free arm begins to cinch in a guillotine. Adam senses the tide turning, and instinctively flips forward into a bridge to free himself.
Nick Stuart: Ellis with the bridge, and the shoulders of Cross are down!
One!
Two!
KICKOUT!
Cross gator rolls his way into the north-south position. Ellis kips up his legs to find his footing, but E.C. has it scouted, pushing his weight forward with an inverted facelock in place to force Adam onto his knees. He quickly ties up the legs to ready the surfboard stretch.
Nick Stuart: Eddie Cross could be looking for the GG DRAGON SLEEPER!!
…only for Ellis free hand to slip into the gap and force his head free. Before Cross can react, Ellis tucks his head and rolls forward, hooking Eddie’s arms with his legs as he does so.
Nick Stuart: NO!! Ellis breaks free… counters with a VICTORY ROLL!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THRE–ALMOST!!
Cross kicks up to get his shoulders off the mat, but in doing so, repositions his body in a way that Ellis can take his legs and wrench him back.
Nick Stuart: ELLIS WITH THE ELEVATED BOSTON CRAB!!
The crowd EXPLODES… until Cross fights back with a sudden surge of energy, twisting his way out of the crab and rolling Ellis to the mat.
Richard Parker: Can either of these guys get ANYTHING locked in?!
Nick Stuart: Both of these men are moving on nothing but instinct right now, as it’s a race to the finish! Ellis up, but Cross from behind… going for the cobra clutch–
ADAM REVERSES WITH THE BACKSLIDE!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE–
KICKOUT!!
Richard Parker: By the skin of his teeth on that one!
Eddie rolls back onto his feet and shoots in, but Ellis is a step ahead of him, slipping behind into a waistlock and lifting before E.C. can react.
Nick Stuart: GERMAN SUPLEX!! Bridge FOR THE PIN!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
CROSS gets a SHOULDER UP!!
…but now Adam’s are DOWN!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR–KICKOUT!!
NO! CROSS TRAPS HIS LEGS AND BRIDGES WITH THE EUROPEAN CLUTCH TO COUNTER!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Richard Parker: Wait, WAS IT?!
DING DING DING
Ellis kicks out… but it’s a quarter of a second too late. He rolls to his knees and looks pleadingly at Barlow. But dread hits his face when he sees her holding up three fingers.
Nick Stuart: IT WAS! Cross got him by a HAIR!
The crowd reacts with shock and amazement as “Cross Off” begins playing over the PA. Barlow raises Eddie’s hand in victory.
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner, by pinfall… EDDIE… N1GHTCRAW1ER… CRRROOOOOOSSSSS!!
In a show of respect and humility, Cross politely pulls away from the ref and aids Ellis back to his feet so that the two respectfully shake hands. The crowd roars again, applauding their sportsmanship.
Nick Stuart: What a technical battle we just witnessed! Just goes to show a match can be clean and respectful between opponents and still entertaining!
Richard Parker: Came right down to the wire in the end, though. Eddie should consider himself lucky, cause I think both these guys made some costly errors.
Nick Stuart: I feel your idea of a “costly error” may be a bit subjective, my friend. In any case, this is a big win for E.C., taking a step forward in the Almasy Invitational. And let’s not overlook Adam Ellis, who competed tonight with the absolute heart of a champion!
Richard Parker: Yeah, he did great. But the harsh truth is, there are no consolation prizes in this sport. Either you win, or you go home. And Adam Ellis is going to go home tonight wondering where he went wrong.
Nick Stuart: Okay, that’s enough out of you. Still plenty of action left to round out the evening, ladies and gentlemen, but for right now, let’s get a quick word in from our sponsors!
We then cut to commercial.