FIVE STAR TITLE MATCH: CECILWORTH FARTHINGTON (C) VS. NATE COLTON

A classic rock riff signals the beginning of “Tryin'” by the Eagles, and moments later Nate Colton emerges from the curtain. He waves an arm toward the fans, showing off the PRIME t-shirt covering his torso.

Vince Howard: This match is for the Five Star Championship. Coming down the aisle first, standing 6’4” inches tall and weighing 244 lbs. He’s fighting out of Evansville, Indiana… NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE COOOOOOOOOOOLTON! 

The reaction is very mixed.

Nick Stuart: I know he’s made some…interesting decisions lately, but it’s still jarring to see how much the crowd has turned against Nate Colton.

Richard Parker: They’re waking up, Nick! Now they’re seeing that Colton’s “nice guy” act was just that–an act! He’s a dirtbag, and now everyone knows it!

Nick Stuart: You’re just mad about the story from Savannah Scandal’s last column about you, Doug, and the shock collar.

Richard Parker: NO AND SHUT UP

Nate walks quickly to the ring, looking for fans who might want a high five. He only finds one, but when he reaches out, the fan pulls his own hand back and leaves Nate to swat at the air.

Richard Parker: I can’t wait for Farthington to wipe the floor with Nate Colton. 

Nick Stuart: I don’t think anyone in PRIME will ever wipe the floor with Nate Colton. 

Blushing from embarrassment, he climbs the steps and ducks through the ropes. He heads directly to his corner and removes his shirt, showing off his gear–white trunks that reach his upper thigh with a blue stripe down the side, white boots with blue trim, white MMA gloves, and blue elbow and knee pads.  He tosses the shirt into the corner and waits there for the referee’s instructions.

Richard Parker: Even Barlow knows it! She’s giving him the the same shake down she gives to the worst of ‘em. 

Nick Stuart: I think she’s just being a little more forceful Richard. 

Those instructions are given with a little more force than is strictly necessary. The lights in the arena go dark, a single white spotlight shines on the center of the stage. Then for the second time tonight: 

Stop

Drop

And drag me into place

And lock the fire escape

I’ll break your pretty face

Cecilworth Farthington steps out from the back, his chiseled frame casts a huge shadow down the aisle from the single white spotlight. Farthington looks up to the camera and smirks before making his way down the aisle. 

Richard Parker: YEEEEEEESSSSSSS! 

Nick Stuart: Everytime he walks down that ramp… every damn time. 

Richard Parker: The greatest wrestler in the world Nick, the greatest wrestler in the entire god damn world is walking down the aisle right now. For all that Hoyt has blessed, can you shut the fuck up. 

Vince Howard: Aaaaaand his opponent… Standing at 6’0” tall and weighing in at 187 lbs. hailing from Buckinghamshire, England… HE IS YOUR FIVE STAR CHAAAAAAAAAMPION! “THE FINANCIER” OF THE GLUE FACTORY CEEEEEEEEECILWORTH FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARTHINGTON! 

Farthington slowly approaches the ring and walks up the ring steps. He wipes his feet on the ring apron before stepping through the ropes and Ashley Barlow is right there to give instructions to Farthington. The lights turn back on in the arena as Farthington removes the Fiver Star Championship from his waist and hands it gently to the referee before stepping back into his corner. Barlow holds the belt in the air before calling for the bell. 

DING DING 

Richard Parker: One of the biggest prizes in all of combat sports. The PRIME Five Star Championship. 

Nick Stuart: You’re not wrong there Richard. 

Richard Parker: God it was so nice while you were quiet. 

Nick Stuart: The feelings are mutual. 

Farthington and Colton begin a slow dance around the ring, Farthington paces while Colton is down in a serious amateur wrestling stance. Colton shoots in for a single leg, but Farthington dances away and drives an elbow into the spine of the prone Colton clan member. Nate grimaces and spins around, Farthington catches him with a vicious european uppercut. 

Richard Parker: His head ain’t in it Nick. When Nate Colton gets killed out here by the machine that is Cecilworth Farthington, all of you in the back have his blood on your hands. 

Nick Stuart: Oh c’mon Richard! 

Farthington lives up to the promise and rocks Colton again with a second uppercut that staggers him backwards into the corner. Colton reaches up to grab his jaw but Farthington peppers him with a forearm that smashes his hand against his face. “The Best Boy” takes a few steps back and comes roaring forward, he smashes a running elbow into Nate Colton’s sternum that drops Colton to his knees. 

Richard Parker: This is done Nick. This is fucking over. I’ve seen Farthington snap off limbs after something like that. 

Nick Stuart: Nate Colton is looking overwhelmed here. 

No mercy from a grinning Farthington, he spins Colton around and smashes his head off of the middle turnbuckle once, twice, then a third time. Colton looks up dazed, but as Farthington goes for a fourth turnbuckle smash, Colton manages to get his hand in the way. He shoots a left elbow back and up into Farthington’s midsection that catches him by surprise. Colton gets to his feet, his face already beat red. The larger man fires off a right hand that staggers the champion backwards, then another, then another. 

Nick Stuart: Nate Colton with a head of steam! 

Farthington finally gets his wits and smashes Nate Colton in the stomach with a boot. Colton doubles over and Cecilworth grabs Colton in a front face lock and whips himself backwards, dragging Colton’s head down with him. 

Richard Parker: WHAT A DDT! 

Nick Stuart: Rapid change of fortune for Colton, Farthington cut the big man off with that boot to the midsection and drove his skull into the canvas for all of his trouble. 

Richard Parker: He should have taken the turnbuckle shot. 

Farthington sits up and smirks while rubbing his jaw. He looks over at Colton, face still planted into the canvas and gets to his feet. He walks back to the ropes and waits for Colton. His foot is ready, locked back, waiting for Colton to stir. 

Nick Stuart: He’s gonna kick him. 

Richard Parker: Yes Nick, in fact, he’s going to kick the fuck out of him. 

Colton begins to press himself up to his knees, and Farthington explodes forward from the ropes. He pulls back his leg and swings forward but Nate Colton manages to roll out of the way. Farthington stumbles with the miss and Colton lunges for the ropes. He comes back across the ring and dives at Farthington, hitting him with a cross body that takes both men down. Farthington presses Colton off of him immediately and rolls to his feet, but Colton is already a step ahead of him and comes off the far ropes and levels Farthington with a big clothesline that sends both men flipping up and over the top rope and to the arena floor. 

Richard Parker: NO! 

Nick Stuart: Both men down to the floor on the outside. Ashley Barlow over to check on them. 

Barlow jumps down from the ring and immediately checks on Farthington. She then turns towards Colton and checks on him. Satisfied both men are alright she slides back into the ring. Colton climbs to his feet, and looks over at the crumpled Farthington. He lets out a sigh, his chest heaving as he pulls Farthington up by the back of the head. 

ONE! 

Farthington is wobbly, and Colton looks to capitalize. He grabs Farthington by the arm and looks for a suplex but Farthington manages to slip a knee into Colton’s midsection. 

TWO! 

Colton leans over, and Farthington grabs the arm and spins, sending Colton crashing back first into the ring apron.

Nick Stuart: Ouch! 

THREE!

Colton grimaces in pain, and Farthington whips him the other way across and into the guard rail. 

Richard Parker: Every movement Farthington has just causes pain!

FOUR! 

Farthington grabs Colton’s head, spinning him around and trying to slam him head first into the guard rail. 

FIVE! 

Nick Stuart: Not that time! 

Colton manages to jam his foot against the railing, and instead smashes Farthington’s head across the railing. 

SIX! 

He slams it down a second time, and Farthington slumps down against the railing. 

SEVEN! 

Richard Parker: C’mon! Someone stop this maniac Colton kid. 

Nate looks back towards the ring and stomps his way over and into it. Sliding past Ashley Barlow. Barlow has some stern words for Colton, but Nate ignores her and heads for the far ropes at a breakneck pace. Barlow breaks her count in confusion. 

Richard Parker: What’s this idiot doing? 

Nick Stuart: Oh this is… 

Nate Colton may never show you his actual hog, but he can actually jump. Evansville got hops, and Nate Colton is flying over the top rope at a now standing Farthington. For the second time tonight Farthington catches a flying 255 lb. Nate Colton with his chest. Farthington tumbles to the concrete as Colton jumps to his feet and pumps his arms in the air like a wild man. Colton bends down and grabs Farthington by the back of the head and drags him to his feet. He rolls Farthington into the center of the ring and heads for the ropes. 

Richard Parker: Nate, get down from there. 

Nick Stuart: Colton going up top! 

Colton scales his way to the top turnbuckle, and slowly begins to stand up on the ropes. He wobbles for a second before catching himself, he positions his way up to standing, points one finger into the sky and leaps off with a flying elbow drop. 

Richard Parker: HAH! 

Nick Stuart: OH! Poor Colton! 

Farthington rolls out of the way, and Nate begins kicking his feet trying to stop his momentum, but it’s too late and Nate Colton crashes to the canvas in a heap.

Richard Parker: He might be dead. 

Nick Stuart: He’s not dead Richard. 

Richard Parker: He’s not moving. 

Cecilworth Farthington reaches up and pulls himself up using the middle rope, he wraps both of his arms behind the top rope and stands up straight. Farthington smirks at the predicament of Nate Colton and marches his way to the center of the ring. He spins Colton over, and smashes him with a boot across the mouth. Colton’s head rolls to the side and Farthington drives his foot into Colton’s neck. 

Nick Stuart: Jesus. 

Richard Parker: He might be a little upset. 

Barlow comes over and immediately breaks the choke by fast counting her way to four while Farthington stands with his hands in the air. Clearly having no idea what she’s talking about. Farthington finally removes his boot and Barlow bends down to check on Nate who is holding his neck and kicking his feet. Farthington backs away to the far side of the ring. Colton manages to make his way up and sits. Just as Barlow is about to step away Farthington comes flying in with a penalty kick to Colton’s chest. Colton’s head careens backwards into the mat, Farthington walks back over and smashes a boot to Colton’s face, and then another. 

Nick Stuart: Colton is in a real bad place here. 

Richard Parker: Yeah, he’s in there with Cecilworth Farthington. That’s a real bad place to be. 

Farthington bends down and drags Colton up to a seated position. He reaches down to wrap his arms around Nate Colton’s neck, but Nate comes back to life the moment an arm is near his neck. Colton immediately begins hand fighting with Farthington, trying to prevent the Financier from locking his arm into his elbow. Cecilworth comes downwards with an elbow to Colton’s collarbone. He pulls back for a second, but Colton manages to slip out of his clutches, he spins around and manages to sweep Farthington’s legs out from under him. 

Nick Stuart: Nate Colton still has life in him! 

The two come down to the canvas, Farthington on his back, and Colton already in half guard. Barlow drops to the canvas. 

ONE! 

Richard Parker: NO! 

TWO! 

Farthington repositions himself onto his side, keeping his left shoulder in the air. Colton reaches for the shoulder, but Farthington manages to maneuver away, Colton reaches out again, and Farthington’s hips snap up in an instant, suddenly the trapped leg is out and they have slid their way across Nate Colton’s midsection. Farthington rolls like an alligator whipping Colton face first into the mat. Colton shouts out in pain as Farthington wrenches an inverted arm bar. 

Richard Parker: HE’S LIKE A COBRA! 

Nick Stuart: Incredible grappling here from Farthington, Colton’s in trouble. 

Colton struggles towards the ropes, but Farthington moves to a seated position and begins to yank on Colton’s arm. Colton lunges and manages to grab the bottom rope. Barlow comes over to break up the arm bar, but Farthington drops the arm, but keeps himself sitting on Nate Colton’s back. He grabs Nate by the back of the skull and slams his face into the canvas. He stands up and yanks Nate away from the ropes and back towards the middle of the ring. He collapses down onto Colton’s back and locks in The Tarp. 

Richard Parker: Colton’s done! 

Colton frantically tries to rip at Farthington’s hands, but Farthington slides his leg up over Nate’s worked over arm and pins it to Colton’s side. Nate rips and scratches at the arm locked inside of the elbow before he fades out. 

DING DING DING

Ashley Barlow calls for the bell frantically as Farthington releases the hold. Vince Howard steps into the ring carrying the Five Star Championship. He hands it to Farthington and walks to the middle of the ring. 

Vince Howard: And your winner by Referee Stoppage…and STILL FIVE STAR CHAMPION! CEEEEEEEEEEEEECILWORTH FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARTHINGTON! 

Richard Parker: IT’S THE SHINIEST! DONT TELL FLAMBO I SAID IT! 

Nick Stuart: I’ll make sure he knows. What a victory for Cecilworth Farthington, and Nate Colton almost had him. If he hadn’t stumbled on the top rope, maybe that elbow drop hits and Nate Colton is a two time Five Star Champion. 

Richard Parker: Yeah right! 

Farthington holds his championship into the air, his chest heaving. He looks down at Colton and nods as he steps out of the ring. Our scene fades to commercial as ‘Choke’ blares over the PA system.