UNIVERSAL TITLE: BRANDON YOUNGBLOOD (C) vs. PHIL ATKEN
“(I Want to be The One) To Watch You Die” by The Megas
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Vince Howard: This match is for the greatest title in all of wrestling. The PRIME UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The arrival of The Proprietor of The Glue Factory himself, Philip Martin Atken is met with jeers from the crowd. He sneers, and 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 to the ring with clear purpose and clarity of mind.
Vince Howard: Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland. Standing at 5’10” tall, and weighing 225 pounds… The number one contendership for the Universal Championship… PHIIIIIIL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATKEN!
Nick Stuart: An entire career built on failures. Of being tossed aside. Of being unwanted. He’s debased himself to hang on in this. Rattled on about politics. Was told he needed a Viking Mother. He’s been a joke. A laughing stock. A punchline. Dead in a ditch. But from that ditch, tonight, he could rise like Lazarus. Tonight could be his night.
Richard Parker: Nobody is laughing now.
Upon reaching the ring, Atken leaps up on top of the apron and the camera catches him gives 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 welcome the referee to check him for any contraband items.
Nick Stuart: The Humble Proprietor of The Glue Factory has cut through all challenges he’s faced since coming to PRIME. Larry Tact. The Anglo Luchador. Pete Whealdon. Dusk. There’s championship DNA throughout that list of opponents.
Richard Parker: And for the most part, he’s slaughtered them. Turned them into actual glue.
Nick Stuart: Tonight…he can rewrite his legacy. Tonight, he can forge the PRIME he has wanted to lead…
The lights within the MGM Grand Garden Arena lower completely upon The Humble Proprietor as he stands center of the ring, ready, waiting for the greatest challenge of his career. The buzzing of the fans ends the moment they hear the first drumbeats of Trust Me by Brad Fiedel.
It is time.
Nick Stuart: The entire mood in the MGM Grand has changed. Business is about to pick up!
Richard Parker: I’m ready for this!
Nick Stuart: Undefeated. Unyielding. Since the revival of PRIME, no one competitor has defined it like Brandon Youngblood. He has faced gauntlet after gauntlet, contender after contender. He won his Universal Championship by conquering the Seymour Almasy Invitation over thirty-one others vying for the right. And tonight…the Tower of Babel faces perhaps his greatest challenge to date.
On the PRIMEView, as well as the telecast on ACE Network, the camera shifts down a backstage corridor. Within scant moments, The Tower of Babel, Brandon Youngblood, rounds the corner, the Universal Championship held over his shoulder. A sustained roar. Each step forward is assertive, powerful. He moves with intensity, his expression focused, seeing through the cameraperson shooting him, scanning forward across the dangerous path he is treading upon. Spliced with this are flashes of the past, of the near present, a venerable who’s who of opponents suplexed and ragdolled across the ring with brutal efficiency. Their forms make up the rich tapestry that is PRIME lore; Jason Snow, Nova, Karina Wolfenden, Vangelus Olsig, Killean Sirrajin, Tyler Rayne, Chandler Tsonda, Violence Jack, Devin Shakur. GTT Champions Angelo Deville, Desade, Doctor Curiosity. The current age, Cancer Jiles, Impulse, The Angelo Luchador, Jared Sykes. A trophy wall as great as the sport has ever seen.
Nick Stuart: For one-hundred twenty-seven days, Youngblood has been Universal Champion. That’s challenging enough. But what Atken must do…what Phil Atken must accomplish to win the Universal Championship…hasn’t been done in over fifteen years. That’s how long you have to go back to the last time Brandon Youngblood was defeated in singles competition on a non-PRIME supershow. Insanity. Pure insanity!
Richard Parker: And if anyone has what it takes to deal with that insanity, it’s this murder grandpa who is stalking about the ring.
He moves, undaunted, through the locker room hallway. Passing by the cameraperson, he is now shot from behind, his advance through the hallway transitioning from locker room doors to the backstage, to the metal supports and the black drapery making up the lead to the entrance ramp. The Universal Champion never wavers
He begins his ascent up the steps leading to the Argyle Position, his hand throwing back the curtain. He disappears, the cameraperson lingering, the soundtrack having reached its final beats. The fans are ready. And as the show goes back to the dark arena, we can see the fever pitch is about to reach another level in a few short moments.
A legacy defining test.
A threat to be realized.
The answer tonight is for the very soul of PRIME.
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE
LET THE GALAXY BURN
Bloodsport (World Domination) by HEALTH surges through the arena, an absolutely raucous ovation erupting within the MGM Grand Garden Arena as Brandon Youngblood appears on the entrance ramp, blinding crimson and white strobing light cutting through the darkness.
Nick Stuart: Listen to this crowd! What an ovation!
There is no pause from the Universal Champion to soak in his cheers, instead, with purpose, The Diamond marches to the ring, his eyes toward his challenge, Phil Atken. His oppressive scowl of intensity says it all.
Richard Parker: This could get ugly, and I mean uuuuugly, in a hurry.
Nick Stuart: There’s no give in how both these men wrestle…they both will hit you and the mouth, chop you down, and will break you apart piece by piece. Atken is brutal with chokes and piledrivers. Youngblood annihilates opponents with chops, spinebusters, and suplexes. This match will not be for the faint of heart. We are expecting just outright savagery here.
Vince Howard: Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada… weighing in at 280 pounds… he is the former three time 5-Star Champion, the 2009 Jewel In The Crown, PRIME Hall of Famer, winner of the Almasy Invitational…the reigning! Defending! Universal! Champion! BRANDON! YOUNGBLOOD!
There is no walking along the ringside area, no slowdown as the Universal Champion stomps his way up the steps and into the ring. Once inside, Youngblood begins pacing around the outside perimeter of the ring, his eyes locked on Atken. There is a palpable tension enveloping the ring, head official Timo Bolamba perhaps the only thing standing in the way of this titanic battle getting underway.
Nick Stuart: Phil Atken has taken on, and destroyed every human being that’s gotten in his way so far.
Richard Parker: Is Dusk a human being or a zombie? Is a zombie a human being? I have questions.
The entire Glue Factory stands around Atken as Bolamba checks him over for foriegn objects. Timo looks at Hank and Dirk, and immediately points right back up the ramp. Dirk looks shocked, Hank is just confused. Timo still insists, pointing up the ramp.
Nick Stuart: Timo Bolamba getting rid of Phil Atken’s entourage before we even get started!
Richard Parker: I told Timo about that when we rode into Vegas on his jet. I said to the guy, ‘watch that dirty cheater Phil Atken. He’ll bring that mute freak to the ring with him, and keep that Dirk guy by his side.’ I’m glad he finally decided to listen to me and do something about it.
Nick Stuart: It takes a cheat to know a cheat.
Atken runs his hair through his short gray hair, he looks a bit concerned as Dirk and Hank are sent packing by Timo. Youngblood stares across the ring, waiting on Timo to give them his own signal that the match was ready to begin. Finally Bolamba turns around and claps his hands together.
DING DING
Nick Stuart: Here we go… the Universal Championship on the line… Brandon Youngblood versus Phil Atken at ReVival 13!
Richard Parker: Let’s go!
Youngblood and Atken start the match sizing each other up. Each move is careful and purposeful. Youngblood being the larger man takes to the roll as the aggressor. He shoots for a grapple on Atken, but the humble proprietor steps to the side and slams Youngblood with a knee to the shoulder. Youngblood continues through the knee and tries to get ahold of Atken and finally succeeds in getting his head around Atken’s waist.
Richard Parker: Youngblood fighting through the pain of the knee.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood trying to lift Atken.
Youngblood tries to pick Atken up to finish the slam, but Atken starts firing back with vicious elbows to the back of Youngblood’s skull. Youngblood drops the waistlock and backs away holding the back of his head.
Nick Stuart: Good takedown defense so far from Atken.
Richard Parker: It was smart, I’ll give him that.
The two men start again, pacing, looking for position. Youngblood tries to go behind Atken, but feints moving to the front waistlock. Atken drops into a sprawl, holding the other man back. Youngblood swipes for a leg, but Atken drives a knee into Youngblood’s face. The big man shoots upright from the blow and Atken delivers a huge chop into Youngblood’s chest.
Richard Parker: That’s just going to piss him off!
Nick Stuart: And Youngblood fires back!
Youngblood fires back with a forearm across the shoulder and neck of Atken, Phil pulls back and fires off one of his own. Youngblood throws another that slightly staggers Atken, but he unloads another one of his own into Youngblood’s face. Atken follows it up with a second forearm that staggers the big man. Youngblood roars and fires another forearm back that causes Phil to take a few steps back. Phil Atken looks up at Youngblood and smiles, ear to ear.
Nick Stuart: I think he kind of likes this.
Richard Parker: What do you think he and Mrs. Factory do at home?
Phil checks his jaw while Youngblood motions for Atken to throw another forearm. Phil catches his breath and comes in like he’s going to fire the shot, but instead kicks Youngblood in the midsection, doubling him over.
Richard Parker: THIS WAS A GENTLEMEN’S GAME!
Nick Stuart: There are no Gentlemen’s Games when the Universal Championship is on the line.
Atken tries to end it quickly, shoving Youngblood’s head between his legs and trying to pull him up for his stalling piledriver, but this time Atken was caught in the trap and Youngblood lifts Atken up and over his head with a huge back body drop. Atken hits the canvas from near seven feet in the air like he was hooked to the jumper cables of a running automobile, while getting back to his feet quickly.
Richard Parker: HA!
Nick Stuart: Here comes the champion!
Youngblood follows the back body drop up with bull rushing Atken. He grabs Atken around the waist and picks him up and tosses him over his head for a german suplex. Atken hits the canvas and immediately rolls out of the ring while Youngblood jumps to his feet. Atken stands on the outside for a moment while Brandon Youngblood marches to the ropes and beckons him back into the ring.
Richard Parker: STOP BEING A COWARD!
Nick Stuart: Smart move by Atken here, self preservation, get his bearings and get back into this match.
ONE!
TWO!
Atken stays leaning on the rail, collecting himself. Timo walks over and starts backing Youngblood off of the ropes.
THREE!
FOUR!
Atken walks over to the ring steps and ascends the stairs closest to where Youngblood is. Youngblood is staring daggers through Atken, and finally Timo comes over and pulls Youngblood back away from the ropes. Bolamba backs Brandon all the way to the opposite corner and Phil Atken finally enters the ring. The two men stare at each other before Timo finally claps his hands together letting the two get back to the match.
Richard Parker: Feels like Timo is rooting for Atken.
Nick Stuart: I don’t think Timo has an opinion on who he wants to win a match.
Richard Parker: He has a jet! He’s rich! OF COURSE he has an opinion.
The two once again begin circling, this time Atken takes the initiative, coming in for a collar and elbow tie-up. Youngblood obliges and the two men lock up. Atken quickly rotates the lock up into a hammerlock. Youngblood quickly reverses the hold by stepping behind Atken. Atken starts to move his arm down his back for a reversal with a step over but Youngblood sees it coming and lifts harder on the hammerlock. Atken takes the distraction and uses it to spin his body around and deliver a huge elbow to Youngblood’s skull.
Nick Stuart: BIG ELBOW FROM ATKEN!
Richard Parker: Is Youngblood bleeding?
Youngblood drops to a knee, holding his hand to his face, just under his cheek. He looks down, and in his hands is a pool of blood. Atken doesn’t give Youngblood much time to react, he hauls off and kicks Youngblood’s good knee out from under him, Youngblood drops to all fours and Atken delivers a second kick that looks more like a stomp right onto the cut. Youngblood tries to roll away but Atken grabs onto a leg, and slams Youngblood’s knee off the mat.
Nick Stuart: Phil Atken comes at you from all angles.
Richard Parker: Yeah, isn’t that cheating or something? Using too many angles?
Nick Stuart: No Richard… It’s not cheating.
Atken almost grins as he delivers a stomp to the back of Youngblood’s knee, he holds his foot there and folds Youngblood’s leg over his own and falls backwards. Atken is back up in an instant, and falls again causing Youngblood to shout in pain. This time Atken sits up and while keeping their feet tied up tries to take Youngblood’s back. Youngblood, through the pain of his knee manages to roll over onto his own back causing Atken to make a choice about his own leg. Atken sacrifices the position and stands up while Youngblood manages to scooch his way to the ropes.
Nick Stuart: Great wrestling on display from Phil Atken.
Richard Parker: Yeah sure, but Youngblood is the champ! He’s the man!
The two veterans both get to their feet, one man fifty six years old, the other thirteen years his junior at forty three. They come together again for a collar and elbow tie up, this time Youngblood gets the better of the initial exchange, twisting Atken into a hammerlock. Atken tries to twist but Youngblood follows him right around, and uses the opportunity to slide a hand in behind Atken’s head. He grabs the humble proprietor around the waist and lifts, sending him to the canvas with a thunderous half-nelson suplex.
Richard Parker: That’s what I’m talking about!
Youngblood floats over from the suplex and starts taking Atken’s back. Atken manages to pull the same reversal Youngblood had done earlier in the evening and rotates over onto his own back, but he manages to slip Youngblood into his guard. Atken reaches to try to grab ahold of Youngblood and keep him close, but Youngblood postures up and brings down a huge elbow across the face of Atken.
Richard Parker: TURN THE OLD MAN INTO GLUE!
Nick Stuart: I thought you liked Atken?
Richard Parker: Yeah, but I REALLY like Youngblood.
The Last Diamond delivers a few shots to Atken’s ribs, but postures up firing away with another elbow, this one smashing Atken just above his left eye. Atken slumps to the mat for a moment as Timo slides in.
Richard Parker: HE KNOCKED HIM OUT!
ONE!
TWO!
Nick Stuart: Phil Atken manages to get his shoulder up, but he’s in big trouble here against the Universal Champion.
Richard Parker: HA! That last elbow cut Atken open! Take that!
Atken doesn’t notice the crimson pouring down his face and into his gray hair. He may not have even known if it was his, or if it was from the side of Youngblood’s face. The Universal Champion tries to pass to half guard but Atken manages to keep Youngblood in his full guard, and keep a vice grip around the back of his head. Youngblood finally manages to rip through Atken’s grip and throws another elbow, but this time Atken pounces. He pulls his hips up into the air and manages to grab Youngblood in an armbar.
Nick Stuart: YOUNGBLOOD GOT CAUGHT!
Richard Parker: NO!
Youngblood roars and stands up as Atken tries to roll over onto his stomach, but Youngblood manages to reach down and grab ahold of his own hand and pull Atken up like a curl. Atken’s face looks shocked as Youngblood falls forward and slams Atken off the mat. Atken almost bounces off the canvas and is forced to let go of his arm bar. Youngblood backs off for a second holding his arm as Atken starts to pull himself up using the bottom rope.
Richard Parker: That was close.
Nick Stuart: Very.
The two men once again stand across from each other, Atken wipes the blood from his forehead, realizing it was his own. More appears in its place while Youngblood presses against his eye trying to keep the swelling down. The two collide in the center of the ring again, this time the violence is elevated. Youngblood goes for a collar and elbow tie up but Atken sends a forearm right into Youngblood’s orbital bone. Youngblood backs off, but Atken manages to grab a headlock and flips Youngblood over his body using his hip. Youngblood lands in a seated position and Atken hammers down on the back of Youngblood’s head using his elbow. Once. Twice. Then takes off running for the ropes. He comes back and almost decapitates Youngblood with a penalty kick. Smashing him across the bridge of his nose.
Richard Parker: OH SHIT!
Nick Stuart: Atken may have broken Youngblood’s nose there.
Atken immediately follows it up with a pinfall attempt, hooking Youngblood’s leg while driving his own forearm across the bridge of Youngblood’s nose. Timo slides in.
ONE!
TWO!
Richard Parker: Thank Hoyt!
Nick Stuart: Almost a new Universal Champion!
Youngblood kicks out emphatically. The big man is quick to his feet, now with blood running down into his blonde and gray beard. Atken is staring across the ring, blood pouring down his forehead. The two once again collide in the center of the ring. This time Youngblood slips behind Atken. He tries to lift Atken, but Atken kicks his legs frantically trying to get out of the move. Youngblood instead manages to irish whip Atken into the ropes. Atken comes back, and Youngblood plants him to the canvas with a Spinebuster!
Richard Parker: IT’S OVER! HASTA LA VISTA GLUE FACTORY!
ONE!
TWO!
….
…….
THR—-KICKOUT!
Richard Parker: NOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: PHIL ATKEN KICKED OUT!
Youngblood gets to his feet, and pulls Atken up with him. He stands behind Atken, bloodied, but not broken. He grabs Atken around the waist and lifts him up for the Backdrop Driver.
Nick Stuart: WHAT A REVERSAL BY ATKEN!
Phil flips all the way over and grabs Youngblood around the neck. Youngblood tries to fight with his hands, but how sudden it was, lets Atken slip his arm right under Youngblood’s chin. The other arm slips up Youngblood’s body and his left wrist connects with his right elbow joint.
Richard Parker: HE’S GOT IT LOCKED IN!
Nick Stuart: Center of the ring! Atken has Youngblood, in the Shotgun, in the center of the ring!
Atken has the choke locked in on the much larger Brandon Youngblood. The Universal Champion begins flailing his arms in the air, swinging them around rapidly. He tries to drag Atken to the ropes, but the humble proprietor jumps on his back, forcing the champion down to a knee.
Nick Stuart: ATKEN HAS THE HOOKS IN!
Richard Parker: NO!
Youngblood drops to all fours, as Atken yanks back on Youngblood’s neck. Both mens face turning bright red, one from the strain of being choked, the others from doing the choking. Brandon starts to crawl towards the ropes, each movement more labored and agonizing than the last. Atken squeezes his wrist with his bicep, while wrapping his arm behind Youngblood’s head, making sure his enormous neck is pushed down across the forearm.
Nick Stuart: This is bad Richard, this is really, really bad. Youngblood’s nose has been broken, he’s already struggling for air…
Richard Parker: Youngblood beat Cancer, he can beat this.
The bloodied Atken keeps squeezing, as Youngblood keeps crawling, finally making his way within the range of one last dive to the ropes. Then, a figure comes out of the crowd and over the barricade. His hood pulled back, just as Youngblood makes the lunge, the figure grabs the bottom rope and pulls it back. At the same time, his hood falls back to reveal…
Nick Stuart: FLAMBERGE! WHAT IS THIS!
Richard Parker: FLAMBO NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
With Youngblood’s body now flattened out on the mat, he was still reaching desperately for the ropes. Timo runs across the ring to yell at Flamberge, but Atken has his moment. He pulls backwards on Youngblood, flipping onto his own back, while keeping the Shotgun locked in. Youngblood’s eyes are wide open as Atken uses his body triangle as leverage to wrench back further on the choke. Timo turns around, grabbing Youngblood’s arm. He lifts it up and drops it once.
Richard Parker: COME ON BRANDON! YOU CAN DO THIS! SAVE ME FROM THE GLUE FACTORY!
Twice.
Nick Stuart: One more Richard and we have a new champion…
And then a third time.
DING DING DING
Timo frantically calls for the bell, while pulling Atken off of Youngblood. The ringside doctor rushes into the ring to check on Brandon Youngblood. Timo assists Youngblood while Flamberge grabs the Universal Title off of the timekeeper’s table and jumps into the ring with it. He straps it around the bloodied Phil Atken’s waist and raises his arm in the air. Hank, and Dirk sprint down from the back.
Vince Howard: Your winner, by referee’s stoppage… and NEEEEEEEEEEEEW UNIVERSAL CHAAAAAAAMPION! PHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL AAAAAAAAAAAATKEN!!!!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: I’m stunned Richard… absolutely floored.
Richard Parker: I’m so screwed.
Atken pulls the belt off, clutching it to his chest as the scene fades.