NOVA VS. ANNA DANIELS
The lights cut out in the Toyota Center, and a stormy sky appears on the video screen.
As thunder booms over the speakers and lightning lights up the darkened clouds on-screen, George Clinton’s voice can be heard speaking in soft, reverberating tones.
Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time…for y’all have knocked her up. I have tasted the maggots in the mind of the universe; but I was not offended, for I knew I had to rise above it all…or drown in my own shit.
The stormy sky fades, replaced by a field of stars. One of the stars shoots across the screen, and as the field of stars comes together to form the name of the PRIME icon.
NOVA
Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain” powers on.
Vince Howard: This bout is scheduled for one fall, and has a thirty minute time limit! Introducing first…from parts unknown…standing six feet three inches and weighing in at two hundred forty pounds…he is a PRIME Hall of Famer…one of the longest reigning Universal Champions in PRIME history…his accolades are numerous…he is the RIIIIISEN STAR! He is…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOVA!
At this moment, a spotlight hits the entrance ramp where Nova is knelt, one fist raised in the air. Usually, smoke would be wafting up from the cigarette hanging out of his mouth, swirling iridescently under the hot glare of the spotlight. Not this time, as Nova’s face is clad in a mask with the same deep blue night sky, stars, and lightning bolts that cover his wrestling tights. After a moment, the Risen Star climbs to his feet and makes his way down to the ring, rolling under the bottom rope before standing.
Nick Stuart: Still with the mask, we all see.
Richard Parker: And if he doesn’t watch out, one heck of a target.
The lights come up, only for them to quickly fade to black. 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, but they know. Suddenly, a spotlight pierces through the dark pointed to the top on the entrance ramp. Anna Daniels stands there, their profile positioned towards the light. They let it wash over them while letting the fans get a good look at the merchandise. Finally, they glance at the ring with a small smirk on their face.
Nick Stuart: The always dangerous–
Richard Parker: And ultracapitalist–
Nick Stuart: Anna Daniels.
As The Muse takes their time heading to the ring, they wistfully observe the goings on around them as if getting into a certain type of groove that only they can hear. Their strolling sways almost like their dancing from time to time. Their robe and headpiece–once more regal and dazzling artifacts from their homeplanet–are in various stages of disrepair and utter damage. Anna slaps a hand or two, nods a little to those in attendance. Once ringside, they motion for somebody to take the robe and headpiece which when taken nearly make the poor sap fall over.
Vince Howard: And his opponent…from Mount Perdition, Gallifrey! Weighing in at one-hundred and thirty-five pounds…they are the TIIIIIIME LORD…AAAAANNNNAAAAAA! DAAAANNNNIIIIIEEEEEELLLLSSSS!
They make their way to the stairs and slink along the apron, wiping their feet before entering the ring. Immediately after, they nearly chase off Timo in a sudden blur of action before smiling yet again. Casually, they stroll to a corner with their head bopping before perching themself onto the top rope laid out like a French girl people like to paint, giving a playful wave to the Risen Star, all before dropping and getting ready to fight.
DING DING
Nick Stuart: This one looks to be an interesting match up. Daniels and Nova…both coming off of disappointments in their last outings. Nova, having to wear that mask after the attack from Paxton Ray weeks ago…
Richard Parker: And Daniels coming off taking the current number one ranked wrestler in all of PRIME, Nate Colton, to his absolute limit, only to fall when given a shot at the 5 Star Championship.
From the jump, the two begin to circle each other, the Risen Star seeming to tower over the Time Lord. Daniels is nonplussed by the size discrepancy, their hands up, in a combat stance. Nova’s hands reach for his protective mask, adjusting it, and as he does, Daniels fires off a muay thai kick at the knee of their opponent, who just manages to check it. The blow does more than graze, echoing throughout the Toyota Center, causing the Starchild to wince. Daniels works to flick another one at him, this time their fibula crashing into his hip.
Nick Stuart: Anna Daniels is known, competitively, for their kicks. Their striking.
Richard Parker: And how well they sell things. Like Urinal Cakes? And shirts? I mean…come on…
Nick Stuart: Nova having to keep on his toes…
Richard Parker: Almost as well as being known for being a bridesmaid at this point…
Nick Stuart: I don’t know if that’s exactly fair–
Richard Parker: You’re right…I could say much much worse…
The two circling each other shows the deal of respect they have for one another, at least strategically. But as The Muse flicks off another kick, the blow hitting Nova’s leg with the force of a baseball bat, the Risen Star has enough. Moving forward, he throws a haymaker their way, which the Time Lord slips, but as they plant their feet, Nova bullrushes, pushing Daniels into the ropes before grabbing hold of a tie up. The process isn’t helped by the dirty boxing coming his way, targeting around the mask, on the underside, before clapping the ears with a tight elbow.
Richard Parker: Looking more like we’re in the process of getting a mixed martial arts contest–
As if the cut through the commentary, the Risen Star biel tosses Daniels after a pivot of the hips, and as they scurry to their feet, he collapses them with a forceful axe bomber clothesline right to their face.
Nick Stuart: Nova starting to fire up–
Daniels is quick to get up, but still, can’t help but grab their face. In so doing, Nova caroms off the ropes, driving his feet into them with a running dropkick, all before hitting them with a Novacaine sans chair. Quickly, he goes to grab the near leg.
ONE
TWO
KICKOUT!
Nick Stuart: A quick shock of offense from Nova here!
Richard Parker: Those strikes couldn’t have felt good!
After the near miss on the three count from head official Timo Bolamba, Nova goes to pick himself up, grabbing at the Time Lord as he rises. The snap in which he hits the T-Bone suplex is alarming. Another cover.
ONE
TWO
THR–KICKOUT!!
Richard Parker: Starting to get the feeling Nova wants to end this one ASAP.
Nick Stuart: His face can’t have fully healed from the attack from Paxton Ray. Losing teeth, lord knows what other damage…
Richard Parker: And Daniels knows it. That mask is a target. Almost like a shell…their gets through that…there’s a soft and gooey Hall of Fame center they can get their hands on. Or their fists on. Knees on. Elbows on.
The Risen Star looks to maintain the advantage as best as he can, locking a chinlock on Daniels. In so many cases, this move is there to help the aggressor get their wind back. And, perhaps, given the fogginess of the protective mask, it may be construed as that. But in reality, it’s an opportunity to use his body weight and size to exert control over the smaller Daniels. The Time Lord’s claws, however, are out for bare, biting onto the forearms of the Risen Star, causing him to wince.
Richard Parker: Oh I think they’re drawing blood!
Daniels tries to maneuver, but Nova maintains control, even as Anna is working to get back to a standing base, or to find some way to do so. A quick attempt at switching to a side headlock is met, though, with a dropping pele kick that hits Nova in the back of the head. Impressive display. But that’s not all.
Nick Stuart: SPIKE HURRICANRANA BY DANIELS!
Driving the Risen Star’s head into the canvas with nasty velocity, they go for a quick cover.
ONE
TWO
THR–NO!
The kickout has Daniels shooting back to their feet. Nova, grabbing his head, tries to sit up, and as he does?
Richard Parker: I think they just concussed Nova with that kick!
Nick Stuart: Daniels quickly rushing in, and just crushed him in the back of his head with that kick! Oh my he crumples to the canvas! Cover!
ONE
TWO
THREEE–FOOT ON THE ROPES
Daniels is none too pleased to hear from Bolamba that the rope saved their opponent. Meanwhile, holding the back of his skull, Nova rolls away, trying to get distance away from the Time Lord, constantly shaking his noggin to see everything is still intact. A counterintuitive process if ever there was one. Anna Daniels doesn’t care. They charge forward, clinched the Risen Star, pumping his ribs with brutal knees, all before finishing with a sharp elbow tearing at the mask. The only reason Nova’s nose isn’t rebroken is because of the plastic presence.
Nick Stuart: Daniels getting downright medieval here with their attack.
Richard Parker: Well…they probably have a lot of experience, you know…Time Lord…and all that…in the literal sense.
Nova’s lights are on, but nobody’s home. He tries to smother Daniels, but the moment he tries, another elbow rips at his face, causing him to stagger back on his heels. And as he does?
Nick Stuart: Sombras Que Corta! Sombras Que Corta!
The neckbreaker cutter hits flush. Another cover!
ONE
TWO!
THR–KICKOUT!
Richard Parker: Daniels on him like a pitbull! With a sword?
The followup is quick; a rear naked choke attempt. Guillotining around Nova, Daniels works to go for the choke, but Nova, trying to stay alive, fights with their hands. He’s deep in shell-shock. The onslaught from the Time Lord, the trouble breathing, he battles as best as he can from a disadvantaged position, trying his damnedest to break out and away. He tries throwing an elbow back toward them, but as he does, Daniels grabs hold of the choke.
Nick Stuart: That’s not good for Nova! Daniels might have the hold locked in–
Richard Parker: But his hands are still fighting at their arm–
Feeling Nova prying at the chokehold, the Time Lord lets their feet loose, shooting upward, all before plowing forward and grabbing with another Sombras Que Corta, driving Nova’s head into the canvas. Another cover from Daniels covers, this time though, their elbow grinds against the brigade of the mask’s nose.
ONE!
T-KICKOUT!
The pressure triggers survivor instinct. It doesn’t matter. The Muse yanks at Nova’s beard, all before driving his head into their knee with a muay thai strike. There is no wobbling; The Risen Star falls, and as he does, the heavy sounds of the blows from the kicks to his head sound throughout the Toyota Center.
Nick Stuart: This…this is getting uncomfortable…
Richard Parker: Then perhaps you should lay out and not come back too soon. Post concussion syndrome is real. If you don’t think so, how about asking Phil Atken…if you can manage to find him.
Daniels backs up, charging forward to try and blast Nova with a punt, but as they do, the Risen Star is on his knees, grabbing hold of the outstretched leg. His gift? A damn enzuguri.
Nick Stuart: I don’t know how much more Nova’s head can take!
Richard Parker: Given how much he likes to smoke–
He’s still standing, though, utterly dazed. He staggers away, and as he does, Daniels once again charges forward, looking to take his head completely off with a yakuza kick.
Nick Stuart: OH! NOVA CATCHES THE LEG! CRADLE SUPLEX! OH HE THREW THEM ACROSS THE RING WITH THAT!
Grabbing at his mask, Nova adjusts it as best as he can, spitting up a bit of mucus blood. Cranking his neck, Daniels staggers to their feet, and as they do, they blind charge Nova, who tries to take their head off with a clothesline. Duck and a miss!
Nick Stuart: Daniels charging forward! They leap!
Richard Parker: Anna to the Infinite Power!
Nick Stuart: WAIT!
Richard Parker: WOOOOOOOOOAH!
Nick Stuart: NOVA HERCS THEM ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!
Richard Parker: THAT GRIP IS TIGHT!
Nick Stuart: BOURBON FOR BREAKFAST! BOURBON FOR BREAKFAST! COVER!
ONE
TWO
THREE
DING DING DING
The sprint is over. Daniels kicks out at the 3.5, and is ready to go again, but in doing so, stumbles and staggers to a knee, grabbing at their head. Nova? He’s already out of the ring, reaching into his tights, pulling out a pack of smokes and then lighting up.
Almost like Popeye and his damn spinach.
Vince Howard: YOUR WINNER…BY PINFALL…NOOOOOOOOOOOOVA!
Nick Stuart: Nova escaping this one with a win!
Richard Parker: And for Daniels…I’m sure they’re happy that the narrative is about to continue…
Daniels can’t help but seethe as Maggot Brain fills the Toyota Center…as do the life giving carcinogens into the lungs of the Starchild.