SHAWN WARSTEIN vs. JULIAN BATHORY
Nick Stuart: And next up, our main event of the evening. Two men on paths they surely didn’t envision for themselves going into Culture Shock.
Richard Parker: Nobody envisions themselves as the fall guy.
Nick Stuart: To be clear, Shawn Warstein and Julian Bathory aren’t beloved figures here in PRIME. Warstein is someone who simply doesn’t care, he wants to get into the comfort zone of others and burst bubbles. Bathory, his statement was that he would be on his way to the Great American Nightmare to compete for the Universal Championship. And Warstein? He envisioned nothing but 5 Star gold.
Richard Parker: I imagine there’s going to be a lot of viciousness here.
The Enigma TNG.
“Shadow.”
The Prince of Tears emerges alongside Bruce “Violence Jack” Shanahan. The roars of the MGM Garden transition to heavy boos as the two take their time on their way down the ramp.
Vince Howard: This next contest is our MAAAAAIN EVENT FOR THE EVENING! This match is one fall with a thirty minute time limit. On his way to the ring, accompanied by Violence Jack, hailing from Szeged, Hungary, standing six feet, one inch and weighing two-hundred and twenty-six pounds…The New World Savior…JULIAN! BAAAATHORYYY!!”
Bathory slides into the ring, getting to his feet and going to the closest corner, resting his head on the turnbuckle pad. A silent prayer? Hardly. When he looks up and turns around, his expression is taut, his focus narrowing. His manager, Bruce Shanahan, is at ringside, hands folded in front of each other.
The proceedings are cut off when “Centuries Remix” begins to blare.The curtain gets swiped to the side as Shawn Warstein steps through, also receiving a full chorus of boos. The hood on his hoodie is up as his face stays pointing towards the ground.
Nick Stuart: The fans aren’t for either man here…
Richard Parker: They will be when the fists start flying.
As the song begins for crescendo Shawn lifts his head and pulls the hood down. The widest, most arrogant smile is on his face. It’s as if the jeers are fueling him. The louder they get, the wider his smile goes. As he walks down the ramp several fans heckle him, but with the back of his hand he waves them off and continues, sliding under the bottom rope and into the ring, keeping his distance.
VInce Howard: His opponent, hailing from Chicago, Illinois, standing six feet four inches and weighing two-hundred thirty-four pounds…SHAAAAAWN! WAAAAAAARSTEIN!
Casting a sneer to the ring announcer Warstein continues towards the far corner and climbs up sitting on the top turnbuckle, before hopping down. Timo Bolamba is quick to check both men, and then signals for the bell.
DING DING
Nick Stuart: And here we are. Main event time. And there’s an eerie feeling coming over the crowd here as these two just stand here, looking through each other from their corners.
Richard Parker: There’s a lot of tenseness here. Two men who want to get on the right side of things, get back their momentum.
Warstein and The New World Saviour. To say the fans are mixed is an understatement. The two peer through each other, a sly smirk spreading across the face of Shawn, the countenance of Julian stone. After a few moments, the two begin to draw close. Bathory is the first to initiate, locking to go for a collar and elbow tie up, but the larger Warstein side steps, keeping on his toes. Flat footed after the missed grapple, Bathory turns his head slowly at his opponent, expression unfazed, and perhaps to make a point, goes for the tie up again. This time, though, Warstein lights his chest ablaze with a razor sharp knife edge chop that sounds throughout the MGM Grand Arena, moving to distance from the Carpathian Devil with a few mock jumping jacks as Bathory stares down at his reddened chest, his hand drawing close to the impact point.
Nick Stuart: Shawn Warstein isn’t here for a wrestling match. I can understand Bathory trying to maintain a methodical pace, but I don’t know if he’s going to find that here.
Richard Parker: Maybe that Sudden Impact took the steam out of him. Made him start to doubt himself.
Nick Stuart: There’s no shame in what happened at Culture Shock, not for either man. Contenderships and championships, if you’re fighting for those, you’re on the right path.
Richard Parker: And if that was truly the case, there wouldn’t be such an urgency here.
Nick Stuart: Both men have something to prove. Shawn Warstein, from what we’re to understand, perhaps he rather have had a recharge. I can’t even imagine what resulted from Bathory’s not winning the number one contendership.
Richard Parker: Surely MESSIAH is great with pep talks.
Nick Stuart: Another hard knife edge chop lashes across the chest of Julian Bathory! And the Prince of Tears…he’s…what is he doing?
Richard Parker: Taking the beating.
Nick Stuart: And oh! OH! A slap across the face of Julian Bathory by Shawn Warstein! He’s just mocking him with how he’s able to dart in and get these free shots!
Bathory seems transfixed on the pain he is receiving, the blatant showing up, the caustic disrespect. This is easy. On the outside, Bruce Shanahan is unmoving, uncaring, unflinching. There are no shouts of encouragement, no coaching. It is clear his charge is on his own this evening. Perhaps to prove himself? Bathory cracks his neck, the imprint across his face causing a grimacing smirk to form in the corners of his lips. And when he charges with a sudden burst, his momentum is caught with a quick snapmare takeover into a grinding reverse chinlock.
Richard Parker: For a guy wanting a recharge, Warstein sure looks like he’s ready to go. He’s just outclassing Bathory here. We might get a live flaying on ACE if this continues.
Nick Stuart: I can imagine…
Richard Parker: I’m being facetious. MESSIAH isn’t barbaric. They just want to show us a different way forward.
Nick Stuart: One that you’re willing to follow?
Richard Parker: I just like to keep my options open. And maybe one of those choices is going with whatever Warstein believes. Can’t hurt given how he’s doing…
Nick Stuart: Bathory fighting back to a standing base before being dragged back down by his opponent. Shawn Warstein, burster of bubbles, we’ve seen him compete for 5 Star Championship gold. And with his size and skill, maybe we see that again. Julian fighting upward again, but Warstein snaps him back to the canvas with a side headlock takeover. He releases and there’s a scramble to the feet. Bathory maybe a little flustered KITCHEN SINK KNEE and OH! Heavy brain buster! And Warstein hooking the leg!
ONE
TWO
KICKOUT!
Warstein expects this. Bathory is on his knees.
Nick Stuart: AND KINGS CROWN! BATHORY BARELY ESCAPES!
Richard Parker: Julian almost had his head taken clean off!
Nick Stuart: Warstein quickly scrambling to his feet and he’s met by Bathory…jumping leg lariat!
Richard Parker: So nice of you to finally join us…
Nick Stuart: And Bathory follows up with a running neck snap!
The sudden need for a chiropractor makes sense. Julian Bathory is on his feet, looking to the fans, but quickly bringing his attention back to Warstein, who is clamoring back to his feet holding his neck. Gone is the smirk, the disrespectful cocksureness. Bathory closes the gap, blasting his opponent with a strong forearm strike. The sharpness causes Warstein to stumble backward, before firing off a quick punch in retaliation. Head Official Timo Bolamba is quick to chastise, demanding open fists. Shawn shrugs this off, but is hit with another hard elbow smash. The striking contest turns up with Warstein firing off another knife edge chop, this one bringing a grimace from the Carpathian Devil, who thrusts forward with a nasty headbutt, dropping the larger man from the velocity and from the point of contact of the jaw.
Richard Parker: Oh, that was…
Nick Stuart: Violent.
Richard Parker: Practical.
Nick Stuart: A dropkick nearly sends Warstein spilling through the ropes!
Richard Parker: He’s all tangled up!
Nick Stuart: An open palm strike across Warstein’s chest! And Warstein fires off a headbutt of his own! Bathory wasn’t expecting that! A quick go behind GERMAN SUPLEX! BRIDGE FOR THE PIN!
ONE
TWO
NOOO
Richard Parker: So close to another controversial fin-
Before Parker can finish his statement, the two men are back up to their feet, a quick moment of catching their bearings, with Warstein looking to throw a loaded punch, only to whiff as Bathory sidesteps and catches him with a heavy knee to the midsection, grabbing hold and jerking his opponent upward with an Exploder Suplex. There isn’t much distance between the two after the collision, and with awareness, Bathory grabs hold of one of Warstein’s arms before getting up.
Nick Stuart: Oh what a nasty 12 to 6 elbow to Warstein OH! CHAOS REIGNS! BATHORY FOLLOWED THE BLOW WITH CHAOS REIGNS!
Richard Parker: That was absolutely brutal!
Nick Stuart: Bathory with the cover!
ONE
TWO
THREE
DING DING DING
Vince Howard: Your winner…by pinfall…the Carpathian Devil…JUUUUULIAN! BATHORY!
Warstein tries to kick out, but the one-two punch he suffers takes too much out of him with the vicious suddenness lashing out through him. Bathory sits on the canvas, one hand planting to brace himself up, his chest slightly raw, absolute menace in his eyes as he stares at his downed opponent. He looks toward his mentor, receiving acknowledgement only in the form of a nod. All that mattered was getting back on the right path.
Forever The Crown.
FADE.
TO.
BLACK.