PAXTON RAY vs. ROCKY DE LEON
Nick Stuart: The action continues, ladies and gentlemen, as we move onto our next contest this evening! The fan favorite Rocky de Leon is set to face off with “the Lafayette Bruiser” himself, Paxton Ray!
Richard Parker: Honestly, Nick, I feel the pterodactyl kid is finally facing his own personal extinction event!
Nick Stuart: Both of these competitors are reeling off of shortcomings in the wake of the recent Pay Per View event! Ray fell short in the six-man Turmoil contest, and Rocky likewise suffered defeat at the hands of Jonathan-Christopher Hall! No doubt, tonight is an opportunity for either one of them to bounce back! Let’s see how it all unfolds as we go to our man in the ring, Vince Howard!
“They say it’s good to start a story with a tragedy.”
The chunky guitar riff of “Fistfight” by The Ballroom Thieves kicks in as Paxton Ray walks out under the PRIMEView with Foster Nackedy behind him wearing his disco concussion helmet. Paxton sneers as the fans boo, then slowly holds his hand up in the air.
The day I finally met you like I knew I would
You raised me from the wreck of my doubts
You were smiling to yourself as if we both understood
The silent language of the anguish of a heart that sings but doesn’t make a sound
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana and weighing in at two-hundred and forty-five pounds… the Bayou Butcher… PAAAXTOOONNN RAAAAAAAAAYYY!!
Foster gets ahead of Paxton, jeering at fans and shaking his head as if to show off his lovely helmet. Paxton slowly walks towards the ring, looking around as the crowd rains hate down upon him. He steps up to the apron and steps over the ring ropes, then leans back against them and closes his eyes.
The lights dim and “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” by Streetlight Manifesto begins blaring as green lasers flash around the Capital One Arena.
The mama pajama rolled out of bed
And she ran to the police station
When the papa found out he began to shout
And he started the investigation
Vince Howard: And introducing the opponent… weighing in at two-hundred and fifteen pounds, and hailing from Laredo, Texas… HERE IS… ROCKYYYY DEEE LEEEOOONNN!!!
Rocky de Leon steps through a curtain to a loud ovation. In a rare sighting, he’s come out tonight without mask or costume, instead strapped for a fight in an ensemble of jeans and a plain white T. Regardless, he elicits a proud and mighty SKREE~! from the PRIMEates before bounding down the ramp toward the ring.
Richard Parker: What gives? Did he just give up on the whole dino cosplay thing?
Nick Stuart: It’s definitely a rare sighting, to see the Lion of Laredo without the familiar pterodactyl get-up. But I have to imagine that the young Rocky de Leon is approaching this match with something of a streetfighter’s mindset.
Richard Parker: If that’s the case, then where’s his gi and headband? Only losers who use “Modern” controls wear the secondary outfit.
Nick Stuart: …I have no idea what you’re talking about.
FDP hits the ring and scales a turnbuckle to draw another SKREE~! pop from the crowd before dropping down the mat and taking to his corner where he readies himself for the scrap. Paxton Ray, meanwhile, paces impatiently in his own corner, waiting for the bell. He doesn’t have to wait long as presiding official Jimmy Turnbuckle makes his final checks and gives the signal.
DING DING
Fists raised and face curled into a bestial, bloodthirsty snarl, Paxton Ray storms out of his corner and begins throwing punches without reprieve. Rocky throws up his arms and covers up while the Bayou Butcher swings away with his notoriously heavy and stiff rights and lefts.
Nick Stuart: No surprises here! The Lafayette Bruiser immediately goes into assault mode, forcing Rocky de Leon to take up a defensive position and hope for the best!
Richard Patrick: Send up a prayer to your Dinobot action figures, kid!
FDP backs himself into the ropes and weathers the storm. Ray’s hard jabs tag him in the forearms and shoulders, but only deal minimal damage. De Leon gravitates to the corner and entraps himself, but continues to turtle himself against the blows with the turnbuckles at his back.
Nick Stuart: Defensive positioning taken up by Rocky de Leon, protecting himself from that opening salvo of unforgiving strikes. Which is probably the smartest and most sensible move he can make, given the circumstances.
Richard Parker: Giving into that natural prey instinct is about all the kid can do at this point! Curl up into the fetal position, play dead, and hope for the best!
Jimmy Turnbull finally calls for some separation, drawing a glare from an increasingly irate Lafayette Bruiser. Nevertheless, Paxton backs into the center of the ring and readies himself. FDP’s face finally appears when he drops his guard and taps his protruding chin. Now fuming, Ray spits and charges forward.
Nick Stuart: Rocky provoking a HAYMAKER–which he BARELY ducks at the last second!
Richard Parker: Was he seriously trying to get Paxton to punch him in the face? Gotta say, that’s a ballsy move for the kid.
Nick Stuart: Risky, yet rewarding, as Rocky de Leon finds the window get in some hits of his own!
Ray’s whiff leaves his ribs open to a volley of swift, stinging strikes from FDP, leaving him wincing in pain and briefly staggered. He throws a wild left to counter, but the nimbler Rocky instead sidesteps and snags the arm before kicking off the near turnbuckle into a graceful somersault arm wringer than flips Paxton to the mat, earning an approving cheer from the crowd.
De Leon immediately attempts to transition into a standing armbar, but Paxton Ray is hardly a man to be held down without a fight. Before he can react, Rocky finds himself effortlessly flung through the air off of a furious armdrag by Ray to throw him off. FDP takes the bumps, rolls to his feet, and pops to his feet, quickly throwing the guard up again and backing into the ropes as Paxton pounces on him with another violent flurry of punches.
Nick Stuart: Rocky back into the guard and into the ropes! Almost seems as though he’s employing a rope-a-dope strategy in there!
Richard Parker: That so? Well then, would you say he came out here to float like a pterodactyl and sting like a SKREE?
Fed up with trying to break through FDP’s impervious shell, Ray pushes him off the ropes and sends him running the other way. But rather than bounce off the other set of ropes, Rocky slides beneath them to put himself on the apron. Paxton snarls as he rushes at him, inadvertently running himself into a quick shoulderblock to the midsection. As soon as he doubles over, FDP tugs back on the top rope for momentum and flips forward.
Nick Stuart: SUNSET FLIP by Rocky de Leon, rolling Paxton Ray onto his shoulders!
ONE
TWO
Kickout! This defensive strategy is paying off thus far, but it will take more than that to keep the Bayou Butcher down for the three!
Richard Parker: Meanwhile, Paxton is just getting angrier and ANGRIER! Look at how red his face is getting!
Nick Stuart: I’m not sure if that’s anger, or exhaustion, partner! FDP’s strategy appears to be paying off, as Paxton Ray appears to have lost much of his stamina from that opening assault!
Paxton’s face is indeed visibly red, and he is noticeably breathing heavily, which would likely explain why he’s a step slower on the rise compared to his opponent. For his part, FDP perks right up and hits the ropes for a springboard.
Nick Stuart: Rocky keeps the momentum going with a Springboard MISSILE DROP–NO!! Swatted down at the last second by Ray!
Richard Parker: Oof… well, kid, at least ya tried! Thanks for showing up!
Nick Stuart: And Paxton follows up with an elbow drop! Back up again, and there’s a SECOND! And… working his way back up to his feet… for the THIRD! Now the cover!
ONE
TWO
Rocky kicks out!
The fans cheer, but Paxton rolls Rocky onto his side, wraps an arm around his head, and constricts with all his might, squeezing the life out of the young high-flying pterodactyl enthusiast. FDP reaches for the ropes, but they might as well be a hundred feet away with the Lafayette Bruiser pressing down on him.
Richard Parker: Now Paxton has him right where he wants him! Lying down on the mat, where he can’t do more of his bouncing around.
Nick Stuart: Meanwhile, he’s giving himself a moment to catch his breath and find a second wind!
De Leon’s extended arms are nowhere near the ropes as Paxton continues to wrench away at his head. The action lulls, and the crowd is beginning to get antsy. A chant picks up, and grows in volume.
“ROC-KY! ROC-KY! ROC-KY! ROC-KY!!”
Digging deep, gets what traction he can off his legs to inch his way closer to the ropes. The fans cheer louder when they see him actually getting some movement. Feet slowly and steadily become inches as de Leon fights his way for the break. All the while, Paxton Ray shakes his head in incredulity.
Nick Stuart: Unbelievable! Look at the fight in this young man! Rocky de Leon, with the PRIMEates at his back, is slowly crawling his way to the ropes!
Richard Parker: He might make it!
Rocky is a hand’s grab away… when Ray suddenly breaks, bursts to his feet, and stomps away at his lower back to cut him off.
“BOOOOOOOO!!”
Nick Stuart: Bah! Only inches away, but Ray wouldn’t dream of giving him the satisfaction of a rope break!
Richard Parker: And now he’s in full KILL Mode!
Anger teeming over, Ray rolls FDP onto his back and goes into a mount, and immediately lays into Rocky with punishing rights and lefts that hammer him from above. Again, Rocky de Leon’s head disappears beneath his arms, and his forearms take the brunt of the damage. Uninterested in playing this game any longer, Paxton decides instead to rip him up off the canvas by the waist and flip him onto his back.
Nick Stuart: GUTWRENCH SUPLEX by Paxton Ray!
Richard Parker: Nothing the kid can do to block that!
Nick Stuart: And here’s the cover by the Bayou Butcher! Could this be it?
ONE
TWO
TH–NO, it will not! Rocky de Leon keeps his hopes alive for a bit longer!
The pain is evident on Carlos de Leon’s seldom seen unmasked face, but the grit nevertheless shines through as he crawls his way back toward the ropes before Ray can continue his assault. Paxton sneers down at him with contempt before grabbing him by the air (earning a harsh, albeit ignored, warning from Turnbull) and pulling FDP to his feet again.
Richard Parker: But for how much longer, Nick? Paxton Ray looks like he smells blood in the water!
Nick Stuart: I can’t help but agree! He’s got that look in his eye, and now with Rocky in his clutches, and hoists him up–wait, NO!! FDP drops down behind him! Rocky with the ROLL-UP!!
ONE
TWO
THR–ALMOST
But the action keeps moving right along, as FDP scrambles up to his feet and attempts to tag the rising Paxton Ray with a kick to the midsection. Ray instinctively catches the leg, but leaves his head open to an enziguri that claps him right across the temple and drops him to the mat.
“RRRRAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
Nick Stuart: WHAT AN ENZIGURI!!
Richard Parker: The kid got all of that one!
Nick Stuart: Rocky with the cover now!
ONE
TWO
KICKOUT!! But he’s right back up! I think he’s got something on his mind!
Nick’s observations are on point, as Rocky scales up to the top rope and sets himself into position just as the winded Paxton pushes himself back to his feet. Ray looks up in time to see FDP diving straight onto his shoulders. Any attempt at a powerbomb counter is thwarted when the young pterodactyl enthusiastic pitches all of his wait backwards to take his opponent off his feet.
Nick Stuart: PTERICANRANNA!!
“RRRRAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
Fueled by the crowd and running purely off instinct, FDP springs back to his feet and vaults his way back up to the top turnbuckle. Ray remains stunned on the mat as Rocky again goes airborne with a Senton bomb!
…and NAILS IT!
“RRRRAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
Nick Stuart: THE DIVING DINO!! Rocky makes the COVER for the WIN!
ONE
TWO
THR–NO!! I don’t know how, but Paxton found the wherewithal to get his shoulder up!
Richard Parker: Rocky de Leon was a hair away from being the hero of PRIME! But where can he possibly go from here?
Rocky de Leon seems to know the answer, as he awaits the stunned and gassed Paxton Ray to rise back up to his feet. Once he’s finally up to a knee, Rocky puts himself into motion, parkouring off the ropes and vaulting himself backwards, straight into…
Nick Stuart: THE FLYING SQUIRREL–
One a dime, Paxton turns.
KA-POWWW!!!
Nick Stuart: GOOD GOD, NO!!
The audience collectively winces upon viewing Paxton’s discus elbow meets its mark, slugging the young high flying sensation with enough force that it sends him collapsing to the mat in a heap.
Unwilling to go down without a fight, Rocky blindly throws dwindling, desperate punches up into the ribs of the Bayou Butcher as Ray begins to pull him up to finish things off.
Unwilling to indulge in the false hope of a fairytale ending, Paxton shuts that shit down with a clubbing forearm to the side of the kid’s head, and practically yanks him straight into the air.
Nick Stuart: LAFAYETTE LULLABY!! That has to be it! Paxton hooks the leg!
ONE
TWO
THREE
DING DING DING
The audience collectively jeers as “Fistfight” overtakes the PA. Ray rises back up to his feet, still breathing heavily, and looking down at de Leon with a senseless level of astonishment.
Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the match, by pinfall… PAAAAAAXTOOOOOONNN RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!
Turnbull attempts to raise his arm in victory, but he tears it away. Rather than savor the victory, the Bayou Butcher quits the ring and promptly makes his way to the back, the elated Foster Nackedy hurrying after him.
Nick Stuart: While some may believe in miracles, it would certainly not be the case tonight, as Rocky de Leon falls just ever so short of earning what could have been a massive victory over Paxton Ray! He came into this match with a smart and planned-out strategy, and it paid off in spades!
Richard Parker: I’ll give the kid all the credit in the world for the fight he put up tonight… but the unfortunate truth is that all it takes is one good hit from the Lafayette Bruiser to overturn even the best laid plans. The kid was hoping for a redux of the Rumble in the Jungle. Instead, this one will be remembered as the K.O. in D.C.!
Nick Stuart: Paxton Ray, meanwhile, regains a bit of momentum after his own shortcoming at Tropical Turmoil! He may have been shaken tonight by this young up-and-comer, but nevertheless reasserts his dominance among the PRIME ranks! And I’m sure if there’s anyone back there taking note, it’s the Anglo Luchador! But while we can speculate all night on the things to come, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got more matches to get to! But first, a quick word from our sponsor! Don’t go away!
As Paxton and Foster make their exit, Rocky de Leon has finally managed to get his way back to his feet. As he stands alone in the ring, the PRIMEates give him a hero’s ovation.
We then cut backstage.