PHIL ATKEN vs. THE ANGLO LUCHADOR
Vince Howard: The following match is one fall…
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: And we are now ready for our next match of the evening, The Anglo Luchador squaring off against Phil Atken.
Richard Parker: A match for Phil Atken that will help him, in his words, rid PRIME of those simply hanging on and over the hill, stealing opportunities from much younger stars.
Nick Stuart: The irony being… he’s fifty-seven years old.
Richard Parker: Are you implying he can’t do the job?
Nick Stuart: Just pointing out the irony, Richard.
Richard Parker: Yeah, well, I ironed my clothes last night just fine.
Nick Stuart: …what?
Back in the ring.
Vince Howard: Introducing first, accompanied by his Security Guard, Hank, hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, he is the Proprietor of the Glue Factory… PHIL! ATKEN!
“(I Want to be The One) To Watch You Die” by The Megas begins to boom all over the sound system, heralding the arrival of The Proprietor of The Glue Factory himself, Philip Martin Atken. The veteran athlete steps out and heads directly to the centre of the entrance way, not paying much mind to the reaction of the crowd at the MGM Grand. Atken is quickly joined at his side by his Chief of Security, the seven foot monster known as Hank. The tandem begin their march towards the ring with clear purpose and clarity of mind.
Upon reaching the ring, Atken leaps up on top of the apron and the camera catches him giving a small little self satisfied smirk to himself as he wipes his boots on the edge of the canvas. Chief of Security Hank holds open the ring ropes and allows his boss to enter the ring. Hank takes his place in the corner of the ring as Atken gladly welcomes the referee to check him for any contraband items.
Richard Parker: Good to see Phil has Hank around with him this week!
Nick Stuart: After seeing Dusk walk around backstage with a lead pipe, I think Phil might agree with you.
Richard Parker: I mean, Gary got superkicked last week by Dusk!
Nick Stuart: You don’t even know who Gary is.
Richard Parker: So?!
Back in the ring.
Vince Howard: And his opponent… hailing from Philadelphia, PA… THE ANGLO! LUCHADOR!
The arena darkens. The first dabs of the organ intro to “Oye Como Va” by Santana fill the arena as purple and green lights strobe while the telltale mask of the Anglo Luchador rotate on the PRIMEview behind. Smoke begins to waft across the entryway as the instrumental beginning of the song swells into its big climax. Right before the lyrics sound, The Anglo Luchador appears from the back, looking out at the crowd. He exhales and bows his head before he takes his final stride towards the ring.
Nick Stuart: You can see the anger and frustration from TAL as he is in the ring, chomping at the bit.
Richard Parker: Well, after the events of earlier, can’t say that I blame him.
Nick Stuart: Atken will need to be careful in the opening moments of this match, otherwise he might find himself on the other end of a pinfall.
Richard Parker: I imagine Hank won’t let that happen.
The two men circle one another in the ring before Ashley Barlow signals to the timekeeper.
DING DING
At the sound of the bell, the two men move to the center of the ring with Atken looking for a collar-and-elbow tie-up only for TAL to connect with a stiff kick to the back of Atken’s right leg. Atken pulls his leg up in pain as he then walks around the ring, taking the sting out of it. Atken motions for TAL to meet in the center of the ring and looks for another tie-up, but this time Atken connects with a stiff slap across the face. TAL’s head turns from the shot and he then rushes at Atken only for Phil to connect with a hip toss into the middle of the ring. TAL bounces back up only to be put in a headlock, with Atken connecting with another takedown on TAL.
Nick Stuart: And Atken looking to ground TAL in the early portion of this match.
Richard Parker: That would be rather smart on Atken’s account. Keep TAL off the ropes, keep him from getting into his offense. This Atken guy, he’s a sharp cookie.
Nick Stuart: What are you pulling out of your pocket?!
Richard Parker: Some Dusk glue!
Nick Stuart: You’re just asking to be superkicked.
TAL forces Atken back up to his feet, as Phil still has the headlock cinched tight. TAL connects with a fist to the midsection before going for a side suplex to break the hold Atken has on him. Phil though manages to land on his feet and connects with a thigh kick that forces TAL into the ropes, rubbing it in the process. Atken bounces off the ropes and connects with a shoulder to the thigh of TAL, sending him crashing to the mat. Atken returns to his feet, grabs the top rope, and uses it for leverage as he begins to stomp away at TAL.
Richard Parker: I wonder what Atken puts in this glue.
Nick Stuart: I mean, I’m certain Dusk isn’t in that glue.
Richard Parker: Yeah, but can I use it in my hair?
Nick Stuart: Please do. Meanwhile, Atken is controlling the early moments of this match and that has to be beyond infuriating for TAL.
TAL rolls to the outside of the ring, trying to get himself together, and as he does, he bumps into Hank without even noticing him. Which is quite difficult because Hank is seven feet tall and not easy to miss. TAL stares at Hank, but this gives Atken an opening as he slides outside and connects with another thigh kick that sends TAL stumbling into Hank. Hank then pushes TAL off of him as Atken kicks TAL across the face while laughing. He then yanks TAL off of the ground and rolls him back into the ring. TAL fights back to his feet only for the Proprietor to come up behind him and connect with a kick to the skull of TAL.
Nick Stuart: Anglo Luchador is simply not getting much offense here thus far in this match and that’s not going to bode well for him if he can’t get it moving in the right direction.
Richard Parker: You know, TAL talks about how old he is, but Atken is even older and handing it to him. Maybe Atken has a point?
Nick Stuart: And what point is that?
Richard Parker: Get rid of all the old guys in PRIME! All of them! Nova! GBJ!
Nick Stuart: You know you’re one of them, right?
Richard Parker: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Atken drags TAL off of the mat and whips him into the opposite corner, with TAL cracking his back hard. TAL leans against the corner as Atken comes running full speed and goes for another kick to the skull of TAL, only to be greeted with nobody there. TAL manages to move at the last possible second and slams his forearm into the back of Atken. Atken leans into the corner as TAL runs to the opposite corner and then connects with a running back elbow! Atken slumps in the corner as TAL returns to the opposite corner and runs full speed, blasting both knees to the face of Atken.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Richard Parker: Well, Atken’s face is going to need some of this glue after those knees to his face.
Nick Stuart: This is the medicine that TAL sorely needed after finding himself in the hole. I’m not sure Phil knows where he’s at right now.
Richard Parker: I would go down there and help him, but I don’t want Hank getting the wrong opinion of me.
Nick Stuart: Probably a good idea.
TAL grabs Atken by the back of his skull and pulls him up before connecting with a butterfly suplex. Atken rolls onto his side as he winces from the pain, makes his way up to his feet, and is met with a knife-edge chop from Atken. Phil doubles over from the pain only for TAL to force him back up and connects with another knife-edge chop that sends Atken to the floor. As Phil makes his way up to his feet, TAL connects with a right jab, left jab, and finishes it off with a right cross. Atken stumbles into the ropes from the shots and TAL wastes no time as he runs over to Atken and connects with a monkey flip that sends Atken flying across the ring.
Nick Stuart: TAL has picked up the pace here and Atken can’t seem to keep up with him as TAL is firmly in the driver seat now.
Richard Parker: Atken needs to be careful because TAL is no slouch, he will put him down if the opportunity arises.
Nick Stuart: Especially considering the events earlier in the evening. TAL is in no mood after his run-in with Ria.
Richard Parker: I don’t think any of us would be in a good mood if we had a run-in with Ria.
TAL catches Atken with another knife-edge chop as he rises to his feet, sending Atken careening into the nearby corner. TAL yanks Atken out of the ring and connects with a dragon suplex. Atken lies in the middle of the ring as TAL then bounces off the ropes and connects with a front-flip leg drop across the throat of his opponent. He then goes for the cover on Atken as Barlow slides into position.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: Close call there by Atken!
Nick Stuart: Looked like TAL might have an opening and he took it.
TAL yanks Atken up to his feet and is met with a stiff elbow from Atken for his trouble. TAL stumbles backwards before exploding forward with a no-counter enziguri, laying both men out in the middle of the ring. Barlow begins her count as TAL starts to fight back to his knees. As Atken gets up to his knees, TAL is up to his feet. TAL looks over at Atken and connects with a stiff kick to his chest. Atken grimaces from the shot and TAL tries again only for Atken to catch it and connect with a corkscrew leg takedown on TAL.
Nick Stuart: And Atken trying to turn the tide of this match here.
Richard Parker: Maybe Phil can convince Muriel to come down here and kiss Ashley Barlow to allow Hank an opportunity to get in the ring.
Nick Stuart: Gross.
TAL slowly makes his way up to his feet and narrowly misses a kick to the skull from Atken. TAL uses Atken’s momentum against him and pushes him into the corner. TAL then runs at Atken only for a boot to collide with his chest. TAL drops to one knee from the shot as Atken runs at him and slams his right knee into TAL’s face. TAL slumps over from the shot as Atken pulls him back up to his feet and connects with a ripcord into a knee to the face. TAL drops to the mat as Atken struts around the ring, getting his bearings back.
Nick Stuart: Just shows you how dangerous Phil Atken can be in that ring if he has an opportunity to do so.
Richard Parker: Atken is a scary man.
Atken yanks TAL up to his feet, pushes him into the ropes, and slaps him for good measure. Atken smiles in TAL’s face as he then pulls him away from the ropes and connects with a stalling piledriver.
Richard Parker: The Tarp on TAL!
Nick Stuart: This might be the beginning of the end.
Atken then stalks TAL as he slowly sits up, dazed and out of it. He then comes up from behind and puts on a rear naked choke.
Nick Stuart: The Shotgun! Is this it?
It is as TAL is tapping and Barlow is signaling for the bell.
DING DING DING!
Atken though, continues to hold the choke in place as TAL starts to fade from the lack of oxygen. Barlow immediately orders Phil to break the hold, but Atken is refusing to do so.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Oh come on! This is ridiculous! Break the hold! You already got the win.
The jeers from the crowd quickly turns to cheers.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Richard Parker: Atken better look out because Dusk is on his way down to the ring and he is moving faster than I ever expected to see him move!
Sure enough, Dusk is racing down the ramp and slides in as Hank grabs Atken and pulls him out of the ring! Dusk, with lead pipe pulled out, swings wildly at Atken and Hank, but misses both of them as they escape up the ramp.
Nick Stuart: Atken trying to put TAL out of commission by holding that choke far longer than he needed to. Thank goodness Dusk was watching and waiting for something like this to happen.
Richard Parker: TAL starting to come to but he looks out of it.
Dusk glares at Atken and Hank, yelling at them before he turns his attention back to TAL and helping him to sit up.
Nick Stuart: You know this battle between Dusk and Atken is only heating up, and I imagine TAL is going to want some revenge as well.
Richard Parker: I would imagine so.
Dusk kneels beside TAL as he glares up the ramp, his eyes firmly locked upon a smiling Phil Atken, victorious in his second match in PRIME.