There’s a hush over Soldier Stadium as we return to the ringside area. The crowd has just watched the Pinnacle of All Sports video and they know what is next. Because they are watching as the UltraViolence cage is being lowered around the ring.

Nick Stuart: We’ve had an action packed two nights here in Chicago…this evening we’ve seen Max Kael defeat Anna Daniels —

Richard Parker: Sure, if you want to call it that.

Nick Stuart: Eddie Cross pull out the vital victory over Dave Gibson —

Richard Parker: I would have been much happier if Eddie had been taken out of here and we never had to see him again.

Nick Stuart: Cancer Jiles apparently defeats Coral Avalon, making him a full-fledged member of the eGG Bandits.

Richard Parker: Weirdest thing I’ve seen in a long time, if you ask me. Poor Coral.

Nick Stuart: And finally, Nate Colton squeaked out the victory against Jonathan-Christopher Hall.

Richard Parker: Lots of crazy in that match. 

Nick Stuart: And now, it’s time.

Richard Parker: For a potty break? I need one.

Nick Stuart: Nope, not time for that. Let’s go to Vince Howard to get the introductions for our final match of the evening.

We see Vince Howard, looking his dapperist, standing in the center of the ring.

Vince Howard: Ladies and Gentlemen…

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Vince Howard: IT’S TIME!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Vince Howard: FOR THE MAIN EVENT!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The “Soviet National Anthem” by The Red Army Choir blares through Soldier Field as the fans, as one, are bathed in crimson light and immediately let their opinions for the upcoming PRIME superstar be known. 

A cacophony of boos. 

The proud, booming voices of The Red Army Choir fight to overpower the negative reaction to The Russian Bear, Ivan Stanislav. There is no clear winner in this contest. 

Vince Howard: Introducing first, from Arkhangelsk, Russia. He stands 7’1” tall and weighs in at 400 lbs. Accompanied to the ring by Alexei Ruslan, he is…

BOOOOOOO!!!!

Vince Howard: THE RUSSIAN BEAR!!! IVAN!!! STANISLAAAAAAAV!!!!

The lumbering Russian Bear emerges from backstage with Ruslan directly behind him. The two Russians walk/march towards the ring, with Stanislav glowering intensely at the massive structure around the ring while Ruslan pats the pockets and sides of his brown overcoat. 

The duo usually argue and fight with the crowd, but for all the negativity that is flung their way, neither seems to notice. Stanislav approaches the cage and runs one huge hand along the links thoughtfully. He closes his eyes for a moment, then snaps them open and turns to face Alexei, the two of them not yet in the structure. 

Ruslan speaks animatedly to Stanislav, clearly speaking their native tongue. He slams his fist into his hand, and begins counting things out on his fingers, when Stanislav, with a stern expression, grips Ruslan’s arm and holds it fast. He says something, and Ruslan stares up at his friend, dumbfounded. 

The two share a short, but intense exchange. Ruslan shakes his head, Stanislav nods his head back and finally, with a nod from Ruslan, Ivan releases his friends’ arm. Ruslan appears quite emotional, all things considered, and he reaches up and grasps Stanislav’s thick shoulders, lifts up, and kisses his friend on the cheek. He takes a step away, and then smiles and spreads his arms wide as he speaks, his chest swelling with what has to be pride. 

Then, the two Russians salute one another sternly. Ruslan turns swiftly on his heel and marches up the ramp, while Stanislav squeezes himself into the cage, steps up onto the apron, and into the ring. The Russian Bear looks around, his chest heaving as his breath quickens. He takes in every negative yell from the raucous, angry crowd. He reads their signs. He hears their words. He sees their gyrations and motions. 

The old Russian looks down and reaches into his pants pocket and produces a glittering object almost comically small in his massive, calloused paw of a hand. He stares at it, nods to himself, and squeezes it before plunging it back into his pants. 

Then, hearing the music of his countrymen, surrounded by the steel of his homeland, and on the precipice of a dream he has always wanted, The Russian Bear explodes into an angry, challenging roar that drowns out all the noise, and instead beckons The Universal Champion. 

Nick Stuart: This feels like a long time coming for Ivan Stanislav.

Richard Parker: Whatever do you mean, Nick?

Nick Stuart: One year ago, Ivan made his PRIME debut. And it was the last time someone actually pinned him in the ring. He hasn’t been defeated since, gathering eight victories since then in singles competition. Of course, he had a Universal Title match at Culture Shock some five months ago, but wasn’t pinned that night.

Richard Parker: Are you saying we have two streaks?!

Nick Stuart: If Ivan can win here tonight, definitely.

Richard Parker: Oh geez.

The Soviet National Anthem fades off into the crisp Chicago night. Ivan Stanislav roars, and the proceedings roll on in their calculated and curated way.

Nick Stuart: Stanislav with such a show of raw emotion before the bell even rings.

Richard Parker: Raw emotion? As much as people think Stanislav is an animal…look at what he’s locked in. Remember the unbridled carnage that took place last year in the UltraViolence Cage. That’s not raw emotion. That’s a man psyching himself up because he knows…knows…that the price coming due for stepping foot inside this cage…is years shaved from his life.

Nick Stuart: Stanislav has been nigh unbeatable since coming to PRIME one year ago at UltraViolence 2022. Only one man has managed to pin his shoulders to the mat…again…a year ago. Some argue that he didn’t lose the Universal Championship as much as Hayes Hanlon managed to survive after all the damage The Russian Bear did to Rezin.

Richard Parker: He won the Tropical Turmoil match against a who’s who list of top contenders…of PRIME Champions. Him being here? It’s inevitable.

The heavy drums of Trust Me by Brad Fiedel never come. There is no following from the locker room which is a hallmark for the entrance of the Universal Champion. Just the crowd buzzing, booing at points toward Stanislav, and waiting…ready to roar.

Nick Stuart: The anticipation is building to a fever pitch here. This title match, this match, this…fight…is personal between these two. 

Richard Parker: Oh you think?

Nick Stuart: Keeping Brandon Youngblood and Ivan Stanislav separated has taken all of security, has taken a sea of bodies…and they won’t stop coming for each other. The hatred. The rage. It supersedes the Universal Championship. For these two…their only satisfaction will come from destroying the other.

Richard Parker: Very much expect these two to put up a hell of a lot more fight than the Bears will against the Chiefs tomorrow. Years ago, when they renovated this building, those Bears had to play down in the middle of the state in a cornfield called Champaign. After we are done tonight…they might have to move down there for a few years…this old field might not be standing at the end.

The sound of seagulls. Their squawks, is there a flock descending? There is nothing visually that denotes such an appearance. From the sound system then? The sound is gone now, a single lash of fingers over guitar strings cutting through. A slight delay before the next strike. A third occurs much quicker. The tempo begins to pick up. If you know, then you know. 

Some of the fans in Chicago, ever a PRIME town from before it based its operations there, before the Revolution signed off in this same building…they know. That’s why the buzzing is shifting to an unbridled, unhinged roar. 

Nick Stuart: …wait just a moment…

Richard Parker: What? You worried about me saying stuff about–

Nick Stuart: Richard…are you listening?

Richard Parker: Yeah, I’m–

Nick Stuart: No. Richard. Are YOU listening?

An electric chug. A building. From the Revolution. From the depths of PRIME’s Hell. The chords strike their tone. And for the old heads, the dawn has arrived.

Richard Parker: Wait…are you…Nick…

Nick Stuart: …

Richard Parker: Uh oh.

Nick Stuart: Yeah.

Richard Parker: Uh. Oh.

The anticipatory cheering is expected. A big entrance for a big fight by the Universal Champion. The Ace. The figure who, himself, has held the top prize in wrestling’s ReVival than all his peers COMBINED. The Constant. But that’s not what they’re getting tonight. This isn’t for vanity and it isn’t for sport. This is oblivion. To come out the other side of what is to come, one must be willing to embrace standing alone upon the cinders of the ruined world. 

A clarion shout. “Fight.”

The briefest of pauses. An assault of drum beats. All comes together.

Bastard by Devin Townsend.

Across the PRIMEView?

P A R I A H

Richard Parker: Oh. My. Hoyt.

Screaming white light bathes the entire entrance, the PRIMEView alive with a blaze of hard hitting violence, suplexes, and submissions from Brandon Youngblood. Like a force of nature, powering through opponents and enemies. Savage and brutal. The unrepentant Chicago crowd is screaming into the night.

And then…he arrives.

Nick Stuart: The mood…just changed.

The Universal Champion stands, his head turned toward the UltraViolence Cage and his challenger. A tight look on his scarred and swollen face. Clean shaven, these details are all the more stark. His singlet is the same, save the old fanged skull logo he had used throughout his pre-ReVival career. An intense scowl and flaring nostrils. He turns, beginning his descent to war.

Nick Stuart: For one hundred forty days, Brandon Youngblood has reigned as the Universal Champion. He climbed the mountain again. And in the ReVival, his standing and resume are in their own stratosphere. 

Richard Parker: He looks so angry! Like he’s already been through a damn bar room brawl BEFORE showing up tonight!

The Universal Championship belt is held in a football gloved hand, his entire left arm Gronk braced and his shoulder kinesio taped.

Nick Stuart: This is as subtle as a sledgehammer. The message is clear. Ivan Stanislav and Alexei Ruslan wanted to go digging in Youngblood’s life and past? Well…be careful what you wish for…

Richard Parker: Dug up like out of Pet Sematary.

Vince Howard: His opponent…hailing from Bandera, Texas by way of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada… weighing in at 265 pounds… he is…the PRIME…UNIVERSAL! CHAMPION! THE PAAAAAAAAAAAAARIAH! BRAAAAAAAANDON! YOUNGBLOOOOOOOOOD!

There is no shoulder sway, just a stomp down the ramp.

Nick Stuart: And Ivan moving towards the cage door–

Richard Parker: HE IS EXITING THE CAGE DOOR AND HEADING TOWARDS YOUNGBLOOD! BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!

As Ivan storms out of the cell towards Youngblood, Brandon chucks the Universal Title into his face and quickly closes the gap between the two men, pelting the Russian Bear with a series of rights. Each shot is stiffer than the last one and many in the crowd are wondering if Youngblood is attempting to break the jaw of his opponent. Youngblood then switches to forearm strikes, rocking the monster from Russia in the process. Ivan manages to drive his knee into Youngblood’s midsection and then proceeds to introduce Youngblood’s face into the cage.

NIck Stuart: These two couldn’t wait until they got into the ring to start their match! Timo looking on and absolutely doing nothing about it.

Richard Parker: That might be the smartest decision he makes here tonight. There is NOTHING that is going to stop these two from getting their hands on one another.

Nick Stuart: The way that title bounced off the face of Ivan and he didn’t even slow down has to be a bit terrifying.

Richard Parker: That thing hit his face and slid down as if it hit an invisible force field. If I’m Youngblood, I would have turned around and walked right back up the ramp. Let Stanislav have the title, because this is not going to be the night you want it to be!

Youngblood stumbles away from Stanislav, but Ivan drives his forearm into the center of Youngblood’s back, forcing him into the ringside barrier. The fans in the vicinity slap Youngblood on the back before scooting away as they see Ivan has murder in his eyes. Ivan spins Youngblood around and connects with an open-handed palm strike into the chest of the Universal Champion. Brandon’s eyes shoot wide open as the shot reverberates throughout his entire body. Ivan grabs Youngblood by the wrist and goes to whip him into the UV Cage only for Youngblood to reverse it and send Ivan face first into it!

Richard Parker: Not sure what that cage is rated at, but I’m pretty sure Russian Bears aren’t meant to crash into it like that!

Nick Stuart: Russian steel is what I believe was used to build this cage, from what I heard. There might have been some Russian workers even who worked on this, thanks to the demands of Ivan.

Richard Parker: If Ivan wins here tonight, do you think he’s going to insist on most of the production crew being Russian-based?

Nick Stuart: There might even be Russian versions of ourselves doing the telecast.

Richard Parker: Well, that’s an unnerving thought. 

Stanislav stumbles backwards towards Youngblood, who drives his elbow into the neck and shoulder of his opponent. Ivan howls out in pain as Youngblood snaps his boot into the back of Ivan’s right hamstring. The Russian Bear stumbles away from Brandon, but the Diamond follows after and drives his forearm into the back of Stanislav. Brandon then spins around Ivan and pushes him into the barricade before connecting with a knife-edge chop that echoes through Soldier Field. 

THWACK!

Ivan’s eyes close from the shot and before Brandon can connect with a second one, Ivan fires off a headbutt that catches Youngblood off guard. 

CRACK!

Ivan then wraps both hands around Youngblood’s throat and neck before hoisting him into the air and slamming him back first onto the ringside barricade.

Nick Stuart: These fans might be getting their money’s worth with those tickets considering how close Ivan and Brandon are to them right now. Youngblood though might need to have his spine realigned after the way he was slammed into that barricade.

Richard Parker: Seriously, the city of Chicago might just need to write-off Soldier Field after this match, because these two might just destroy it.

Nick Stuart: Youngblood is definitely trying to get up, adrenaline coursing through his veins, but Ivan refuses to let him do just about anything.

Richard Parker: You consider the size of Youngblood and you hear that, you should be absolutely terrified about what you’re going to see tonight.

Ivan, holding Brandon on the barricade, slaps the ever loving shit out of his chest with his oversized meaty bear paw. 

CRACK!

Youngblood tries to get away from Ivan, the pain nearly unbearable, but Ivan holds him there and connects with a second palm strike to his chest. 

CRACK!

This time, Ivan lets him go and Youngblood sits up, clutching at his chest. Ivan drills a fist into his face before yanking him off the barricade and driving his boot across his face. Brandon stumbles away from Ivan, but Stanislav stalks his prey and spins Youngblood around only to be met with a forearm to the face. The shot rocks Ivan as Youngblood follows it up with a second before Youngblood grabs Ivan by the back of the head and drives him head first into the ringside barricade by the timekeeper and ring announcer (hey Vince!). Ivan leans against the barricade, dazed from the previous shots, and is unable to do much to stop Youngblood, who is rushing at him and connects with a spear through the ringside barricade and into the audience. 

CRASH!

Nick Stuart: Holy hell, that barricade was definitely not rated to support all of Ivan and Brandon’s weight.

Richard Parker: Fans, get the hell out of there because this isn’t a wrestling match, this is a bloody war and we’re all simply stuck in the middle of it.

Nick Stuart: The carnage that these two have caused in just the opening minutes of this match is insane. Fans are trying to take pictures, but PRIME security is getting in there and moving them out of the way.

Richard Parker: These guys are far more effective than the Enemigos, why don’t we use them every week?

Youngblood sits up, grabbing at his left shoulder, the same one injured during the tag match at ReVival 35. He massages it, gritting his teeth in the process, before making his way up to his feet. Ivan is on the floor, clutching at his ribs. Youngblood plants his boot into said rib cage repeatedly, each kick with more momentum than the previous one until Ivan grabs the boot of the Universal Champion. Brandon yanks his boot away from Ivan before slamming his boot across his face. The Russian Bear rolls onto his knees, smarting from the kick, and shaking his head at the same point. 

Richard Parker: The fact that Ivan has any teeth still in his head after that kick is a damn miracle, this man is unreal! 

NIck Stuart: And you may have noticed that Youngblood is rubbing his shoulder right there. I’ve heard mutterings tonight that he may have further damage to his left arm that we’re not even fully aware of as he had a heated conversation with medical staff when arriving here tonight.

Richard Parker: Yeah, and what the hell is up with his face? I know I asked about it earlier, but that man had a fight with a tiger, which is exactly what you want before you battle a bear.

Nick Stuart: Needless to say, Youngblood has targets available for Ivan to target and that’s not something you want either. 

Stanislav makes it back to his feet and blocks a right hand from the Universal Champion before connecting with a thrust to his throat. Brandon grabs at his throat, turning away from Ivan in the process. The Russian Bear, seeing his opening, slams his elbow into the left shoulder of the champion. Brandon nearly drops to one knee from the shot, trying to create space between him and the challenger. Ivan though is relentless as he drives his elbow down on the left shoulder for a second time. Youngblood stumbles forward into the crowd as fans at Soldier Field quickly clear space for the two heavyweights. 

Richard Parker: And there you have it, Ivan going after the shoulder that he injured at ReVival 35. This man is playing the long game and there’s not a damn thing that Youngblood can do to stop it.

Nick Stuart: Timo is nearby, watching the fray —

Richard Parker: Nearby is overstating it, he wants as much distance as possible between him and the action so that way he doesn’t end up a toothpick inside of Ivan’s mouth.

NIck Stuart: — keeping an eye on the proceedings and making sure that if Youngblood needs medical attention that he gets it immediately.

Richard Parker: Then he better get it now because if this goes on any longer, Ivan is going to be beating Youngblood with his own arm!

Youngblood turns around and is met with a fist to the jaw that nearly topples him across multiple folding chairs. Brandon manages to hold his ground though and plants his boot into the midsection of the Russian Bear. Youngblood attempts to wrap his arms around Ivan and suplex him onto the chairs, but is unable to do so due to the pain emitting from his shoulder. Ivan quickly headbutts the Universal Champion, breaking his grasp on him and with Brandon stunned, Ivan wraps his paw around the throat of the Universal Champion before lifting him into the air and chokeslamming him onto the now-vacant chairs. 

CRASH!

Nick Stuart: What a chokeslam from the Russian Bear! There are chairs in the fray that are bent and twisted worse than a tornado could do to them!

Richard Parker: That’s because Ivan is about the size of an F5 tornado! Not sure if you picked up on it though, that Youngblood tried suplexing Ivan and his shoulder wouldn’t allow him to do it.

Nick Stuart: It’s something that I definitely noticed and many fans around them noticed as well! If that shoulder is out of commission, most of Youngblood’s offense is chucked to the side. Youngblood is a dangerous foe even without it, but cutting him off from his most effective offense is a blow to his gameplan, that’s for sure.

Richard Parker: The one thing that Ivan needs to watch out for is that if you corner a wild animal like Youngblood, he’s going to tear your eyes out and make you eat them in return. 

The Diamond lies on the chairs, grunting in pain as Ivan reaches down and wraps his meaty hands around the throat of the Universal Champion before hoisting him back into the air again and slamming him back down into the chairs, with some of them giving way and causing Youngblood to spill onto the floor. 

CRASH!

A throaty laugh escapes the lips of Stanislav, as he looks around at the fans who are bearing witness to his destruction of the Universal Champion, the rock of PRIME. Ivan reaches down once again and pulls Youngblood up to his feet before mowing him down with a clothesline onto the remains of the scattered steel chairs. 

Nick Stuart: Sweet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! The body of Youngblood has just been through a car accident it looks like and the area around him reflects that as well.

Richard Parker: At what point does Timo just call this match? There’s no sign that Youngblood is even able to slow down the Russian Bear and Brandon might end up being roadkill if Timo doesn’t stop this eventually.

Nick Stuart: It’s a thought that you know is running through Timo’s mind, but the act of doing it is something completely different because Youngblood might murder Timo if it meant keeping that title.

Richard Parker: Both men are capable of just about anything, as this run to UltraViolence has taught us quite well.

Ivan stands over the Universal Champion, who is trying to force his body up to a vertical base, but is unable to do so. Youngblood uses his forearms, to great pain to himself, as he tries to move away from Ivan, but Stanislav slams his boot into the lower back of the champion. Brandon lies in the steel carnage until Stanislav reaches down and grabs him by the singlet and yanks him up into his arms before connecting with a gutwrench slam through another set of now-vacant steel chairs. 

CRASH!

Youngblood rolls around in pain, every nerve in his body on fire it seems like. Ivan just stands there, triumphant over the Universal Champion. 

Richard Parker: You can see the concerned look on Timo’s face! Ivan is looking over at him, almost beckoning him to end this match and crown him the winner.

Nick Stuart: Talk about a moment that Timo doesn’t remotely want to see, knowing the battles the two men have had in the past.

Richard Parker: And he needs to put that behind him! This is the biggest moment of his career, by far, and he’s going to get a front-row seat for the murder of Youngblood if he’s not careful.

Nick Stuart: You of all people should know better than counting out the Diamond of PRIME before it’s all said and done. 

Richard Parker: Tell me an opponent that Youngblood has faced that is like this. 

As Youngblood writhes, Ivan grabs one of the vacant steel chairs and folds it up before driving it into the left arm and shoulder of the Universal Champion. Brandon immediately brings it into his body. As Ivan tries for it again, Youngblood rolls to his right and takes the edge of the chair into his right arm and shoulder. Brandon falls onto the concrete, lying at the feet of Ivan, who simply takes the chair and slams is across his back, echoing throughout Soldier Field

CRACK!

Nick Stuart: That steel chair is echoing throughout the massive Soldier Field and you can see the concerned look in the eyes of many of the fans here tonight.

Richard Parker: As they should, I don’t think any of them signed up for a snuff film.

Nick Stuart: Even more vital than that chair shot across Youngblood’s back, but was the one where the edge of the chair being driven into his shoulder.

Richard Parker: Because Ivan is a sadist. He is enjoying every moment of this and I can only imagine the victory parade being planned in Moscow right now!

Brandon tries to get to his feet, his body beaten and battered, as he paws at the stomach of Ivan. Stanislav looks down at his foe and drives his fist into his already battered face. Youngblood remains on his knees, his head drooping in the process. Ivan drives another fist into the face of Brandon, who’s head drops further, even as he remains on his knees. Ivan tries to yank Youngblood to his feet, but Brandon doesn’t budge. Ivan glares down at the Universal Champion and as he does, Youngblood plants his right forearm in between the legs of his opponent and swings up as hard as he can. Ivan’s eyes grow large in the process.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Nick Stuart: YOUNGBLOOD WITH THE LOW BLOW!

Richard Parker: Look, when you’re being beaten by a man with a chair, you have to be willing to stoop low enough to do whatever it takes to simply survive.

Nick Stuart: The fans here could care less about the ethics around such a move, their hero is not out of this and not by a long shot.

Richard Parker: I cautioned Ivan about toying with his food. This is the exact reason why. Youngblood will not go down without a fight. If Youngblood loses tonight, you have to wonder how much of Ivan he’s going to take with him.

Ivan stumbles away from Youngblood, grabbing at his nether regions, while the Universal Champion slowly climbs to his feet. Ivan turns towards Youngblood, who drills him with a right forearm that rocks the Russian Bear. Youngblood quickly follows it up with a knee to the face of the doubled over opponent. Ivan’s torso shoots straight up, though he remains on his feet somehow. Youngblood grabs Ivan by the back of the head, but Ivan fires off an elbow to the midsection of the Universal Champion. With Brandon stunned, Ivan rushes at him only for Youngblood to catch him off guard by lifting him up with his right arm, spinning 180 degrees, and connecting with a spinebuster through the vacant steel chairs. 

CRASH!

Nick Stuart: You may have thought there was a ten-car pile-up on I-90 with the way Ivan’s body crashed through those steel chairs!

Richard Parker: Ivan may have destroyed twenty or thirty chairs there. And those are the souvenir chairs! Fans are going home having paid hundred for their seats thinking they could take it home and well, nope!

Nick Stuart: Youngblood though also showed that he is FAR from down for the count. That spinebuster showed that Youngblood is firmly in this match and willing to do whatever it takes to put Ivan on his back.

Richard Parker: That has to be a sobering thought for someone like Alexei in the back who is definitely watching this and nervously wondering how much of the Russian hero is coming home with him tonight.

Youngblood slowly rises to his feet and grabs the foot of the fallen Russian Bear. He begins to drag him back towards the ringside barricade that is partially destroyed thanks to him. Ivan yanks his foot back after a moment, but Brandon twirls around and blasts Ivan in the face with his right boot. 

CRACK!

The shot is enough to cause blood to start trickling out of the Russian Bear’s nose. Brandon reaches down and yanks him to his feet before slamming it face first into the ringside barricade, dazing his greatest foe yet. 

Nick Stuart: And Youngblood has drawn blood from the Russian Bear! The fans here in Chicago are going crazy at the sight of this as they’re watching the Diamond rise from the ashes like a phoenix!

Richard Parker: Yeah he is and considering the beating he took, it can’t be taken for granted how impressive that is. But blood on the face of Ivan is like showing a red cape to the charging bull. Do it at your own risk, because that’s one beast you don’t want to anger.

Nick Stuart: I think both men are showing that they’re going to continue to rise to the challenge that tonight brings.

Richard Parker: That very well may be the case, but there’s only so far one can go before there’s nothing left to give and you’re staring down the barrel of a beast who is ready to rip you to shreds.

Youngblood grabs the back of Ivan’s skull and slams his face into the steel cage that beckons them, that they haven’t event stepped foot into. Ivan stumbles away from Youngblood, who seems incensed and ready for murder at this moment. As Ivan stumbles towards the entrance to the door of the foreboding cage, Youngblood sizes him up and then spears him through the threshold and into the edge of the ring. Timo immediately closes the cage door and signals for the match to start. 

DING DING

Nick Stuart: WHAT A SPEAR TO IVAN! THROWING ALL CAUTION TO THE WIND RIGHT THERE!

Richard Parker: The crazy part is these two have been battling for the better part of fifteen minutes now and just NOW is the bell being rung.!

Nick Stuart: And now they’re behind that hulking steel cage. Fans are safe and it is designed to hold all of this crazy in.

Richard Parker: You sure about that?

Nick Stuart: Um, well…

Youngblood immediately hammers away at the top of Stanislav’s skull, shaking the Russian Bear to his core with each repeated strike. Brandon then climbs onto the ring apron and slams his boot into the massive skull of the Russian Giant. Ivan is stunned by the shot and turns away from Youngblood to shake away the cobwebs. As Stanislav turns around, Youngblood runs full speed at him and slams his left knee into the face of the Russian Bear. Ivan collapses to the floor from the shot. The Universal Champion then leaps off the ring apron and connects with a splash onto his opponent.

Nick Stuart: Youngblood soaring through the sky is the last thing that I thought I would see here tonight!

Richard Parker: Keep in mind, Nick, these two aren’t even in the RING yet. And Youngblood becoming a flippy-doo was something I didn’t have on my bingo card here tonight.

Nick Stuart: Definitely not, but it shows that Youngblood realizes that to conquer the giant, you have to be willing to think outside of the box a bit.

Richard Parker: Look, if he tries to do a Shooting Star Press, shut it down. We’re all going home and never speaking about this night ever again.

Brandon rises to his feet and rolls Stanislav into the ring. Ivan doesn’t stay down for long, forcing his massive frame to rise to its feet. Youngblood connects with a forearm strike into the back of Ivan’s neck, stunning the big man into the corner. Brandon immediately fires off a series of boots to Ivan’s midsection, punishing the big man for the months of torture Ivan had inflicted upon the Diamond. Youngblood then grabs the wrist of the Russian Bear and whips him to the opposite corner before connecting with a running clothesline, using his right arm. Stanislav stumbles out of the corner and Youngblood spins him around before connecting with a backdrop driver, dropping Ivan on the back of his skull before going for the cover. 

ONE!

TWO!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: And Ivan was definitely stunned there as both men finally stepped foot into the ring and Youngblood managed to get the first pinfall attempt here of the evening.

Richard Parker: Youngblood saw an opening and has capitalized on it, keeping the offensive flurry coming at a pace he can’t possibly keep up with, but doing enough to give himself some time to catch his breath when needed. 

Nick Stuart: Every fan in Soldier Field on their feet right now, taking this moment in because you’re not going to see a moment like this again.

Richard Parker: Exactly, Nick, but the question comes… what moment will it end up being? The greatest victory in Youngblood’s career or the ushering in of the Red Era?

Youngblood immediately mounts the challenger and wails away at him with a series of rights that are designed to bust open the Russian Bear. Ivan manages to get his right paw clear and smashes it into the injured left arm of the Universal Champion. Brandon immediately rolls off of Ivan and clutches at his arm, working to create space between him and Ivan. Ivan rises to his feet, slowly, but drives his boot into the back of Youngblood’s skull. Ivan then bounces off the ropes and connects with a leg drop across the back of Youngblood’s neck and skull. Brandon thrashes from the pain, his face driven further into the mat.

Richard Parker: Oh hell, Youngblood might need reconstructive face surgery after that leg drop!

Nick Stuart: That is not the sight you want in the least bit–

RIchard Parker: Youngblood didn’t even see it coming! He just felt the crush of weight across the back of his neck and skull as his face was nearly melted into the ring apron.

Nick Stuart: Fair enough. Not a moment that Youngblood will want repeated, that’s for sure.

Ivan makes his way back up to his feet and drags Brandon up with him. He grabs Youngblood by the right wrist and yanks him into him, connecting with a lariat that stuns the Universal Champion, seemingly out on his feet. 

THWACK!

Ivan yanks him in once again and connects with a second lariat.

THWACK!

Brandon stumbles around on his feet, somehow not falling down, but Ivan yanks him in for a third time and drives Brandon to the mat with a third lariat. He immediately goes for the cover.

ONE!

TWO!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: And this time Youngblood manages to get his right shoulder up there.

Richard Parker: Is it telling that it was his right shoulder?

Nick Stuart: Youngblood is going to want to minimize the amount of effort he puts into that body part to minimize the amount of the damage he is doing to himself.

Richard Parker: Smart thinking, but that’s only going to make the target larger in the mind of the Russian Bear.

Stanislav looks at Timo, glaring at him, before he reaches down and grabs a slow-to-rise Youngblood by the back of his head and smashes his knee into his face. 

CRACK!

Brandon rolls away from Ivan, dazed, but Stanislav grabs him by the back of his neck and yanks him to his feet. He then whips him into the ropes and lifts him into the air like he’s going to do a sidewalk slam, but Ivan just holds him for a few moments while walking around the ring. Then Ivan moves to the center of the ring and connects with a backbreaker on Youngblood. He holds him there before rising back to his feet, still holding Brandon. He hoists him onto his right shoulder and holds him there before connecting with a shoulder breaker to the injured left shoulder of the Universal Champion.

CRACK!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Nick Stuart: Youngblood in a WORLD of pain right there!

Richard Parker: Let’s not gloss over the fact that Stanislav just held Youngblood up like he was a plastic blow-up doll! People do NOT do that to Youngblood and Stanislav just made it look effortless.

Nick Stuart: An impressive show of strength for sure from Ivan right there and Youngblood is not going to enjoy being manhandled like that.

Richard Parker: Certainly not when it ended with his shoulder being damaged the way it has. That can’t be a good sign.

Nick Stuart: No, not in the least bit.

As Youngblood squirms on the mat, Ivan rises to his feet and presses his foot against the shoulder of the Universal Champion. Brandon groans in pain as he tries to remove Ivan’s boot, but is unable to do so. Ivan, a smile on his face, leans down and mocks Youngblood. Brandon, seeing red in more ways than one, grabs at the heel of his boot and lifts with all of his might, catching Ivan off guard just enough for him to slip out of Ivan’s grasp. Youngblood immediately rushes to his feet and drives his shoulder into the ribcage of the Russian Bear and drives him hard into the corner.

Nick Stuart: Love him or hate him, you have to be impressed by the sheer tenacity of Youngblood.

Richard Parker: Sheer tenacity or pure craziness? 

Nick Stuart: Well, it’s probably a fine line.

Richard Parker: A fine line that Youngblood is definitely flirting with right now.

Youngblood is relentless as he drives his shoulder repeatedly into the ribcage of Stanislav until all of the air has been driven out of his body. Youngblood then hooks both of Stanislav’s arms behind his back and drives his knees repeatedly into the face of the Russian Bear before connecting with a butterfly suplex out of the corner. 

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The entire ring shakes, but Youngblood gets back up to his feet in a hurry and drives his boot into the right knee of his challenger. He continues to stomp away as Ivan howls out in pain, trying to grab Youngblood to stop him, but Youngblood immediately locks in a kneebar!

Nick Stuart: The butterfly suplex out of the corner has to be an encouraging sign for everyone!

Richard Parker: Well I can tell you what’s not an encouraging sign. You are not a happy camper if you’re Alexei in the backstage area and you see Ivan in a kneebar! And I would not be surprised if Youngblood rips Ivan’s leg off here and beats him with it.

Nick Stuart: That feels only fair considering Ivan’s focus on Youngblood’s left arm throughout this match.

Richard Parker: Oh, don’t get it twisted, it would be a moment that would be remembered forever if it happens.

Ivan groans in pain as he can feel the ligaments in his knee stretching. Youngblood looks like a man that could rip off Ivan’s leg right below the knee. Stanislav steadies his left boot and plants it across the face of Youngblood. Brandon though holds onto the knee bar before being blasted in the face once again by Ivan. This time, Youngblood lets go. Ivan starts to make his way to his feet, though feeling ginger on his right leg. He tries to rush at Youngblood only for Brandon to connect with a spinebuster before following it up with a pinfall. 

ONE!

TWO!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: And Youngblood almost put down the Russian Bear though!

Richard Parker: That he did! He weathered those kicks to the face from Stanislav, but Youngblood refuses to be slowed down here.

Nick Stuart: He can’t stop for one second, his foot has to be on the gas pedal the entire time. If he lets up for a second, that could be the end of it for him.

Richard Parker: Truer words haven’t been spoken tonight.

Youngblood gets back up to his feet and snaps his boot across the face of Stanislav, before dragging him up to his feet. He pushes Ivan into the ropes and connects with a knife-edge chop. Ivan, physically worn down, eats the chop and grimaces from the shot. He doesn’t get much of a chance to do anything else as Brandon fires off a trio of knife-edge chops that echo throughout the arena. 

THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!

Ivan tries to move away from Youngblood, but Brandon holds him in place. Ivan yanks Youngblood into him and bites into the left shoulder of Youngblood, causing Brandon to howl in pain. Ivan then switches places with Youngblood and ties him up in the ropes. 

Richard Parker: Nothing is off limits in Ivan’s mind and he just showed it right there!

Nick Stuart: What a despicable match and Timo is absolutely helpless in doing anything about it! Youngblood had firm control of this match and just like that, Ivan has put it back in his control.

Richard Parker: The ease of which Ivan did it in has to be astounding though. Youngblood was laying into him with a sheer offense that would put anyone else down. Sadly, Ivan is not any normal man.

Nick Stuart: Sadly.

Ivan drives his fist into the crown of Youngblood’s skull. Brandon is helpless, defenseless, to stop the attack. Stanislav snaps his elbow across the jaw of the Diamond, whose legs become spaghetti after the painful blow. Ivan then walks around the ring with a slight limp, but then bounces off the ropes and connects with a clothesline on Youngblood. 

THWACK!

Brandon’s body lifts into the air before his feet settle back onto the mat. Ivan bounces off the ropes again and connects with a second clothesline. Brandon’s body slumps from the shot. As Ivan begins to bounce off the ropes again, Brandon manages to free his arms from the ropes. As Ivan gets closer to Youngblood, Brandon explodes past Ivan and bounces off the ropes. The Russian Bear turns around to the sight of Brandon Youngblood charging right at him before the Universal Champion connects with a spear that sends both men through the ropes and through the Russian-steel UV Cage!

CRASH!

Nick Stuart: HOLY SHIT WHAT DID WE JUST SEE?!

Richard Parker: Part of the UltraViolence Cage is GONE! The two behemoths just crashed through it and the fact that their bones didn’t become dust is a miracle!

Nick Stuart: And one side of the ring ropes are absolutely destroyed.

Richard Parker: I don’t want to think of the fine that is coming to both men!

Both men are slow to stir, lying in the carnage of several panels of the Russian-linked steel that collapsed on them. Timo checks on both men, who gingerly push Timo away, not interested in his instructions or pity.  Brandon is the first to emerge from the destruction and drives his boot across Ivan’s face. Youngblood goes for a second kick, but Ivan catches the boot and sweeps the leg out from underneath Brandon. 

CRACK!

The Universal Champion falls hard into the steel mesh as Ivan fights his way back up to his feet. Youngblood isn’t far behind him as they two begin trading punches with one another. 

THWACK!

CRACK!

THWACK!

CRACK!

Nick Stuart: And these two men are not only standing after the explosion of the ring and steel cage we just saw, but are TRADING punches with one another.

Richard Parker: You want to tell either of these two to stop?! There is no greater prize in our business and add on top of that the pure hatred these two men have for one another, there is no telling what either shape of these two men will be in by the end of it!

Nick Stuart: Just a wild display we are seeing from both men and the crowd is just eating it up.

Richard Parker: Hell, maybe they do want to watch a snuff film. They are from Chicago, after all.

Ivan connects with a headbutt that sends Brandon stumbling up the ramp and towards the PRIME*VIEW. 

CRACK!

Stanislav chases after him, but Youngblood connects with a right that stops Ivan dead in his tracks. 

THWACK!

Youngblood takes a few steps back and then rushes at Youngblood only for the Russian Bear to pick him up over his head and hold him there in a Military Press before slamming him back down onto the steel ramp. 

CRASH!

Youngblood arches his back from the pain, but Ivan scoops him up in a hurry and connects with a running powerslam on the steel ramp!

THWACK!
CRASH!
CRACK!

Nick Stuart: YOUNGBLOOD MIGHT BE DONE AFTER THAT!

Richard Parker: Well, I can tell you this, he’s not feeling better than he did ten seconds ago!

Nick Stuart: The sheer power of Ivan is jaw-dropping. If he wins here tonight, who can stop him?

Richard Parker: The answer is no one, Nick. No one.

Ivan drags Youngblood back into the ring, over the steel carnage, and connects with a haymaker that has Youngblood almost out on his feet. He then lifts Youngblood into the air and connects with a short arm clothesline. Brandon collapses in a heap as Ivan places one boot onto the chest of Youngblood. Timo immediately begins counting.

ON– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Nick Stuart: OH SHIT! HE HAS AWOKEN A BEAST! YOUNGBLOOD IS INCENSED RIGHT NOW!

Richard Parker: Ivan has done pissed off the Diamond of PRIME, the Tower of Babel, and we should all take cover right about now.

Nick Stuart: That kind of arrogance may have been the biggest mistake that Stanislav has made here tonight and he’s about to pay for it in spades.

Stanislav drives his boot into the chest of Brandon Youngblood, who refuses to stay down, and rises to his feet. Ivan goes for a haymaker, but Youngblood blocks it and connects with a headbutt. 

CRACK!

The shot rocks Ivan who drops to one knee. Brandon then begins pelting the Russian Bear with a series of right fists to the face, to the forehead, to the jaw. The punches keep coming, faster and faster, until Ivan is laid out on the mat and Youngblood’s fist has flecks of blood on it. 

TWHACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
CRUNCH!
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
CRUNCH!

He then covers Ivan.

ONE!

TWO!

THR– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: IVAN SOMEHOW MANAGES TO GET HIS LEFT SHOULDER UP!

Richard Parker: Holy hell… Ivan just got absolutely destroyed right there. Any one else, they would need a gurney out of here and somehow, Ivan, covered in his own blood, has managed to kick out and keep this match going.

Nick Stuart: If you’re Youngblood, are you a bit scared at this moment?

Richard Parker: If he’s not, if he doesn’t have a moment of pause, then he should think twice about that.

With blood dripping down his opponent’s face, Youngblood climbs to his feet and moves over to one of the ring corners before proceeding to rip off all three of the turnbuckle covers. He then turns around and drives his boot into the side of Ivan’s skull. 

CRACK!

Brandon puts Ivan into a side headlock and slams his fist into the crown of Ivan’s skull. Youngblood then goes to whip Ivan into the corner, only for the Russian Bear to reverse it and send Youngblood crashing chest first into the exposed steel turnbuckles! 

CRUNCH!

Youngblood immediately collapses on the canvas, clutching at his chest. 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Richard Parker: The foolish fans here in Chicago might be booing Ivan for what he just did to Youngblood, but Brandon was about to do the same to him!

Nick Stuart: One of those situations where Youngblood inadvertently made his night significantly worse.

Richard Parker: I mean, is his heart even working? Does he have internal bleeding? Could Timo stop the match here?

Nick Stuart: Youngblood’s heart could be out of his chest and he would stop Timo from ending the match right now.

Richard Parker: That just tells you of how many brain cells Youngblood has that are still working.

Ivan wastes no time pouncing on Brandon, yanking him to the mat and connecting with a headbutt. Stanislav then takes the injured left arm of Youngblood and wraps it around the cold steel turnbuckle, wrenching it as hard as he can. Brandon cries out in pain, tendons and muscles tearing with every passing second. Ivan then moves towards the opposite corner before running at the corner, extending his boot as he inches away, looking to smash Brandon’s arm into the exposed steel only for Youngblood to move it out of the way at the last possible second. 

CRACK!

Nick Stuart: Thank goodness Youngblood moved out of the way there! That would have been carnage unlike anything we’ve seen thus far! It would not have been pretty.

Richard Parker: Ivan figures if Youngblood is looking to disfigure him, he might as well do the same back at him and I can’t say that I blame him. Both men continue to up the ante here and one of them are going to go broke for it.

Nick Stuart: This is a match that is not for the weak of stomach, that’s for sure.

Richard Parker: It’s not, and it’s a wonder how either will be able to compete coming out of this match for quite some time. The winner gets a basically two month vacation before they have to wrestle while the loser is going to have to wrestle much sooner than that!

Youngblood, standing behind the stunned Ivan, wraps his arm around the neck of the Russian Bear and drives him down backwards with his back colliding into the Russian Bear’s back. Ivan groans in pain as he sits on the mat while Youngblood bounces off the ropes and snaps his knee across Ivan’s face for good measure. Stanislav’s body collapses onto the mat as Youngblood puts both feet on the bottom rope and then leaps up before driving his boot across the face of the Russian Bear. He continues to stomp away at Ivan, sending the Russian Bear under the bottom rope and to the floor of the cage, where the fallen metal is at.

Nick Stuart: There is absolutely no quit in the Diamond of PRIME and it’s awe-inspiring.

Richard Parker: Or stupidity at its finest, depending on how you look at it. 

Nick Stuart: And you expect Youngblood to roll over and just die?

Richard Parker: Nick, that just might happen anyways.

Brandon grabs a piece of the fallen steel and bends it as best as he can before driving it into the ribcage of the Russian Bear. Stanislav coughs in pain, flecks of blood coming out of his mouth in the process. Youngblood repeats said action, forcing Stanislav onto his knees. Brandon drops the steel he is holding and mounts the back of Stanislav and immediately wraps his arm underneath the jaw of the Russian Bear, looking to choke the life out of him. Stanislav paws wildly at the arm of Youngblood, looking to pry it loose, but Youngblood extends his body against Ivan, forcing the Russian Bear to lay out from the weight being applied to him.

Nick Stuart: Oh shit, is Youngblood going to choke out Ivan?!

Richard Parker: That’s very possible! I’m not sure, can the match be ended here?

Nick Stuart: I think all rules went out the window about thirty-seven minutes ago.

Richard Parker: In that case, if Youngblood chokes out Stanislav right here, it would be the biggest shock of the night and we saw Hayes Hanlon TURN on Jared Sykes.

Nick Stuart: Let’s not bring that up again.

Timo checks on Stanislav, who is fading, his eyes closing. Timo tries to lift the massive arm of Ivan, but he pushes him away before exploding up to his feet, with Youngblood hanging onto his back. He then drives his feet into the ground and moves both men backwards into the ring apron. Youngblood’s lower back collides hard with it before Ivan shifts his hips and sends Youngblood flying off of him and onto the unforgiving steel. 

CRASH!

Nick Stuart: Ivan managed to find his way out of that!

Richard Parker: It helps when you’re the size of a freakin’ semi truck. Keeping him down on the mat for any length of time is going to take a herculean feat and even then, you’re not going to be quite certain if he’s going to stay down. 

Nick Stuart: What will it take to keep Ivan down?

Richard Parker: Hit him with a bulldozer and maybe we can talk about it. Because he got hit with a forklift by Sykes and that didn’t even keep him down!

Nick Stuart: …true.

As Youngblood rises to his feet, body wracked with pain, Ivan’s hands wrap around his throat and he is thrusted against a metal pole designed to hold up the UltraViolence cage. Brandon can feel Ivan’s arms lifting him up and his feet dangle inches away from the ground. Brandon slams his forearm into the arm of the challenger, but there’s a look in the eyes of Ivan that Brandon hasn’t seen yet; bloodlust. Youngblood plants his boot into the chest of Stanislav, who simply twists his body and slams Youngblood into the mat. With the kind knocked out of him, Youngblood is helpless as Ivan slams his entire body weight with an elbow across his chest and sternum.

Richard Parker: Ivan may have crushed Youngblood’s chest cavity there. You can’t continue to take repeated damage to your chest like that and expect to live! 

Nick Stuart: Youngblood might be a freak of nature, but you do have a point there. How much more punishment can he take?

Richard Parker: How much more punishment is Timo going to allow him to take because that might be the only way Youngblood walks out of this ring alive. 

Nick Stuart: That’s a sobering thought, to say the least.

Ivan rises to his feet and drags Youngblood up with him. He walks over to the ringside barricade and goes to slam his head into the edge of the barricade only for Youngblood to block it with his boot before driving his elbow into the gut of the Russian Bear. Ivan loses grip on Youngblood, who manages to slip behind Stanislav and connects with a German Suplex on the outside! Youngblood climbs to his feet, grabbing his left arm that is barely hanging on and slams his boot into the face of a sitting-up Ivan. He reaches down and yanks Ivan to his feet before whipping him into the ringside barricade.

CRASH!

Nick Stuart: Where does Youngblood keep getting the fight?!

Richard Parker: Told you, he doesn’t have enough brain cells left to tell him to stop.

Nick Stuart: While I’m not going to question the intelligence of a man like Youngblood, you have to imagine in some way his body is on autopilot here and may not stop until he literally can’t move anymore. 

Richard Parker: Exactly. That’s not a good thing if you think it is.

Youngblood goes to slam his boot into the torso of Ivan only for Stanislav to catch it. He yanks Youngblood into him and headbutts him before wrapping both hands around Youngblood’s throat and lifts him into the air, slamming him into the steel ramp. 

CRUNCH!

Youngblood rolls around in pain as Ivan catches his wind and walks over to Youngblood. Brandon retaliates with a stiff kick to the right knee of Ivan, dropping the Russian Bear to one knee. Brandon fights to his feet and drives a right fist into the jaw of the challenger before connecting with a sweeping DDT on the unforgiving ramp. 

Richard Parker: What the hell did Youngblood take before this match? The special drink Michael Jordan gave the Looney Toons before their greatest game ever?

Nick Stuart: Are you talking about the movie Space Jam?

Richard Parker: That was a movie?!

Nick Stuart: I… can’t with you.

Brandon tries to pull Ivan down the ramp and back towards the ring, but the general state of his body and the hulking figure out Ivan, makes it nigh impossible. He reaches down and grabs Ivan by the neck of the skull. Stanislav, not sure which way is up, stumbles up to his feet and is dragged down to the ring by Youngblood, who throws him into the ropes. As Youngblood follows after him, he’s mowed down with a lariat from Stanislav! As Youngblood stumbles back to his feet, Ivan plants his boot into his midsection and then powerbombs him in the center of the ring. Ivan immediately goes for the pin. 

ONE!

…

…

…

TWO!

…

…

…

THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Nick Stuart: Youngblood is digging down deep and is finding the strength to simply carry on.

Richard Parker: That should not be applauded, Nick! This man has a son. He needs to be there for his son.

Nick Stuart: Did you put money on Ivan?

Richard Parker: No, I… what is this weird beating feeling in my chest?

Nick Stuart: Well, I guess one miracle did happen tonight.

Both men lie in the center of the ring, the first time both men have been stationary for longer than ten seconds. Their chests heave as the crowd in the Soldier Field tries to will Youngblood back up to his feet. Timo checks on both men, who are conscious, but physically and emotionally spent. Ivan is the first one to move, slowly sitting up, bruises all over his body and face. Dried blood on his cheek and forehead. He grabs the ropes and uses them to help himself up to his feet. Behind him, Youngblood is trying to do the same, though his process is much slower and seemingly more painful.

Nick Stuart: The fans here in Soldier Field haven’t sat down in over forty-five minutes and the surge of energy everyone in the crowd just got as they watch both men climb to their feet is surreal.

Richard Parker: I have no idea how either of these two men are even standing right now!

Nick Stuart: Neither do I, because both men look like they’ve been through absolute hell!

Richard Parker: Hell is an understatement right about now.

Both men turn towards one another and as they lock eyes on the other, there is nothing but hatred shared between them. 

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Their chests are heaving, their bodies drained, but the desire to destroy the other prevails over all sense. Ivan drives his fist into the jaw of Youngblood, who is rocked, but fires back a right jab of his own that sends sweat and blood flying off the face and hair of the challenger. 

THWACK!
CRACK!

Ivan digs down deep and rights off a right of his own and then follows it up with a left that stuns Youngblood where he stands. 

CRACK!

Stanislav then launches himself at Youngblood, looking for a clothesline, only for Brandon to duck under it. The Diamond turns around and as Ivan rebounds off the ropes, he nails the challenger with a spinebuster that shakes the entire ring.

Nick Stuart: THAT COULD BE IT! YOUNGBLOOD MAY HAVE CONQUERED THE GIANT!

Richard Parker: The way that Ivan’s body slammed into that mat, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit.

Youngblood then covers the Russian Bear.

ONE!

…

…

…

TWO!

…

…

…

…

THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: IVAN KICKED OUT?!

Richard Parker: How… in the hell…

Nick Stuart: I think even Youngblood is wondering the same thing. Timo is wondering the same thing. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SOLDIER FIELD ARE WONDERING THE SAME THING!

Richar Parker: I just… wow.

Youngblood rolls off of Ivan, spent. He makes his way up to his feet and reaches down to an equally spent Ivan before wrapping his arms around his waist. He lifts with everything he has as the fans stand around the arena and watch as Youngblood deadlifts Ivan into the air before connecting with a belly-to-back suplex. As Ivan collides with the mat, a snap is heard, followed by the most guttural sound the fans have ever heard before.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Nick Stuart: YOUNGBLOOD IS DOWN! THAT ARM GAVE AWAY!

Richard Parker: GAVE AWAY?! THAT ARM IS DEAD!

Nick Stuart: If you have ever seen a wounded animal before, this is eerily reminiscent of it.

Richard Parker: Well, don’t try to deadlift a Russian Bear and you might not be in that situation. 

Brandon writhes on the floor, clutching his arm, as Timo checks on him. Youngblood shoves Timo away, pulling in his arm like a wounded animal. He tries to push himself up to his feet, but collapses as his arm is essentially useless at the moment. He lies on the mat, gritting his teeth, ordering his body back to its feet and is halfway up when he collapses to the mat once again. Youngblood crawls himself over to Ivan and uses his skull to push Ivan onto his back before draping an arm across him.

ONE!

…

…

…

…

…

TWO!

…

…

…

…

…

THREE — NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: STANISLAV GOT HIS RIGHT SHOULDER UP RIGHT AS TIMO WAS ABOUT TO SLAP THE MAT FOR A THIRD TIME!

Richard Parker: And Timo is confirming to ALL of us that the match is NOT over!

Nick Stuart: That has to be a sickening feeling for Youngblood, who is battered and beaten, has an arm that might be completely shot, and if that moment hadn’t happened, he probably would have gotten the victory.

Richard Parker: Soul crunching can’t even describe it.

Youngblood slides off of Ivan, stunned. Ivan makes his way up to his feet, slowly, as Youngblood can only look on. He drives his boots into the mat, but continues to clutch his utterlly useless arm. Brandon slaps the shit out of Ivan, forcing the Russian Bear to see red as he headbutts Youngblood and then hits him with the Red Scare! 

CRACK!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Youngblood flies through the air and his body thuds into the canvas. Ivan makes his way back up to his feet and deadlifts Youngblood off the mat before connecting with a second Red Scare, Youngblood’s body folding like an accordion as it hits the mat. 

CRACK!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Stanislav walks over to the battered Universal Champion as Timo can only watch on in horror. Ivan reaches down to lift Youngblood up for a third Red Scare, but looks at Timo, who shakes his head. 

Nick Stuart: Oh God…

Richard Parker: There is no God, Nick, there is only Ivan Stanislav.

Nick Stuart: He would have continued hitting him with a Red Scare if not for Timo there.

Richard Parker: Youngblood is barely moving. 

Stanislav begrudgingly kneels down and covers Youngblood, as Timo begins his count.

ONE!

…

…

…

…

…

TWO!

…

…

…

…

…

THREE!

DING DING DING

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: It’s… over. Ivan has… won.

Richard Parker: I think Timo is going to be ill.

Nick Stuart: Youngblood needs medical attention, right now. Oh my goodness.

Richard Parker: This crowd here in Chicago is stunned right now by what they just saw.

Ivan rises to his feet, his eyes wide open as he looks out at the fans who are booing him, jeering him, while Vince Howard rises to his feet. 

Vince Howard: Your winner…

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Vince Howard: AND NEW!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Vince Howard: UNIVERSAL CHAMPION! IVAN!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Vince Howard: STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANIIIIIIIIIIISLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAV!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: He’s done it. Ivan has conquered the Universal Champion.

Richard Parker: Brandon Youngblood. Phil Atken. Cancer Jiles. Hayes Hanlon. Rezin. Hayes Hanlon again. Brandon Youngblood again. And now Ivan Stanislav.

Nick Stuart: And how does anyone hope to stop him? HOW?!

Richard Parker: That is the million dollar question we’re all going to have going into the road to Colossus.

Nick Stuart: HOW?!

Ivan stands there in the carnage. He looks down at Brandon, who is breathing, but just. Timo walks over to him with the Universal Champion. Ivan locks eyes with Timo, who simply hands him the title as Ivan takes it from him. He looks at it for a moment.

A year ago, Ivan Stanislav walked into UltraViolence and left a loser.

A year later, Ivan Stanislav walked into UltraViolence and will leave… the Universal Champion.

Ivan holds the Universal Championship in his hands, it looking small in the massive paws of the Russian Bear. He slowly unfolds it and holds it inches away from his face. He then looks out at the fans, some who are leaving, others giving him the finger.

An evil smile appears on his face as he holds the title above his head.

DYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The laugh explodes out of Ivan, who is once again on top, having vanquished the Diamond of PRIME. 

DYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

He continues to laugh as he throws his head back in victory.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Yet, Ivan does not care, because he has finally captured what has eluded him for years. The chance to be the greatest in the world again.

Nick Stuart: A crazy two nights here in Chicago–

Richard Parker: Two nights that were filled with roller coaster movements, that’s for sure. There were some highs and some lows.

Nick Stuart: That’s for certain. New champions were crowned in Chandler Tsonda and Ivan Stanislav. 

Richard Parker: Backs were stabbed in the case of Jared Sykes by Hayes Hanlon.

Nick Stuart: We apparently have a new member of the eGG Bandits.

Richard Parker: Poor Coral. But to end it all…

Nick Stuart: …most importantly…

Richard Parker: The Red Era has begun.

Nick Stuart: That it has. In two weeks time, we begin the Almasy Tournament, which will crown a winner that will face potentially Ivan Stanislav at Culture Shock 2024, if he is still the champion.

Richard Parker: You show me who can dethrone him and I’ll believe it.

Nick Stuart: …that may be the truest thing you’ve said all weekend long. For my partner, Richard Parker, I’m Nick Stuart. Thank you for tuning in! We will see you in two weeks time at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis for ReVival 36 for the start of the Almasy Tournament! Thank you and good night!

We see the medical staff tending to Youngblood.

We then see Stanislav standing in the center of the ring, holding the Universal Title above his head for all to see.

In Russia, a celebration has begun. A celebration that would go down in the history books. 

FADE.

TO.

RED.