UNIVERSAL TITLE MATCH: BRANDON YOUNGBLOOD VS. THE ANGLO LUCHADOR

Nick Stuart: We’ve got a doozy main event tonight, one that will determine who will face Ivan Stanislav at UltraViolence in Chicago in two months time!

Richard Parker: You’ve got the man that has defined this era in PRIME, Brandon Youngblood, going face to face with the Champion of the Year last year, who was one time at the top of our rankings and has had the longest title reign in this era of PRIME, The Anglo Luchador!

Nick Stuart: Look at you pulling out your stats.

Richard Parker: Shut up.

The time for the main event has arrived. The arena darkens, causing a buzz among the Baltimore faithful.

Richard Parker: Oh no, did Lindsay forget to pay the electric bill again?

The PRIMEview glows to life showing black and white footage of two luchadores trading holds. One of them is unmasked, black wavy hair. The other wears a shining bright mask. He finishes the exchange with an arm drag and pops to his feet.

El Santo. The father of modern lucha libre.

The screen flashes a montage of all the famous luchadores in history. Blue Demon. El Dragon. El Guapo Grande. Dr. Raptor, Jr. La Sirena del Golfo. El Temblor. The luchadores flash past faster until the screen stops on one man, his back facing the camera. The crowd immediately recognizes the electric green and soft violet of the mask.

Footage flashes of the man arm dragging an opponent in an Empire Pro ring, a hurricanrana to another in a CSWA ring. Then, the highlights from PRIME.

Two spotlights flash as soon as the montage ends with Arthur Pleasant’s neck being spiked on the canvas at Tropical Turmoil.

“Oye Como Va.”

Nick Stuart: You think the Anglo Luchador is ready?

Richard Parker: For his sake, he’d better be. This ain’t the quarterfinals of the Almasy anymore, although I’d like nothing more than the result to be the same.

The Anglo Luchador steps out from behind the curtain, head down, breathing in the thick summer air. He pops his head up, and then throws both his arms into the air as the crowd rabidly cheers on the man hailing merely 90 miles up the road on I-95.

Nick Stuart: Listen to this reaction! This is about as close as a hometown crowd as The Anglo Luchador is going to get without being in Philly.

Richard Parker: It’s going to be just as funny as when the Hawks beat the Sixers in front of their home crowd too when Youngblood beats him.

Nick Stuart: Number one, since when do you watch the NBA, and two, there’s no way in hell that TAL is a home favorite here. Youngblood is The Diamond for a reason, and The Luchador recognizes this. This match is the rare Universal Championship match where each man has the utmost respect for the other.

The Luchador walks down the aisle, breathing the moment in deeply. The gravity of this opportunity is not lost on him. He stops a few feet from the apron, bowing his head again before sliding into the ring and popping to his feet to another enormous cheer.

Vince Howard: Introducing first, the challenger… weighing in at 211 pounds and standing at 6 feet tall. He is the former Intense Champion… THE! ANGLO! LUCHADOR!

The PRIMEview shifts from the ring to the locker rooms, the percussive beat of Trust Me by Brad Fiedel powering through the CFG Bank Arena sound system. The Baltimore crowd rises to their feet as a door explodes open, roaring when they see the PRIME Universal Champion, Brandon Youngblood, step through to the other side.

The mood and tenor changes, as inside the arena, the stadium lights have dimmed. All attention is paid to the screen, the stride of the Tower of Babel resolute, his expression focused and intense. The vaunted Universal Championship belt is fastened around his waist.

Nick Stuart: Folks…the mood here has officially changed.

Richard Parker: You say that every time he starts to make his entrance during a title defense.

Nick Stuart: After coming out victorious at Tropical Turmoil, many wondered who would be next in line to receive a shot at the Universal Championship. So many top talents could have been given the opportunity. Tonight…it’s deemed to be The Anglo Luchador. Some wonder if the Universal Champion is looking ahead of his opponent tonight…his eyes cast at a potential showdown with Ivan Stanislav.  

Richard Parker: And why wouldn’t he? The Russian Bear has proven to be perhaps the most imposing force in PRIME since returning to the sport.

He moves, undaunted, through the hallway as it transitions 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, always looking forward on the path he is on. 

Nick Stuart: Because of a little bit of history. We are just short of the one year anniversary of ReVival 13. On that night, Brandon Youngblood walked into a Universal Title defense seemingly invincible. Unstoppable. But his challenger…Phil Atken…changed all that. That night created a seismic power shift within PRIME. And while it isn’t the same opponent…some wonder if the road to UltraViolence will have a similar moment.

Richard Parker: Would be quite the upset if that were to happen..

As he neared the steps leading to the Argyle Position, the camera stops, now shooting his back as he ascends and turns, his hand throwing back the curtain. He disappears, the cameraman lingering, the soundtrack having reached its final beats. The fans are ready. And as the show goes back to the arena, we can see the fever pitch is about to reach another level in a few short moments.

The chance of a lifetime.

From the depth of the fall, an impossible dream turning to potential reality. 

All that stands in the way is the unflinching, uncompromising standard bearer.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE
LET THE GALAXY BURN

Bloodsport (World Domination) by HEALTH. A wall of dominant noise surges through the stadium, an absolutely raucous ovation erupting within CFG Bank Arena as Brandon Youngblood appears on the entrance ramp, bathed in flickering blue and white lights.

Nick Stuart: A raucous ovation for the Universal Champion!

There is no pause from the Universal Champion to soak in his cheers, instead, with purpose, The Last Diamond marches to the ring, his eyes toward The Anglo Luchador. His oppressive scowl of intensity says it all. 

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 TOOOOOOWER! OF BAAAAAAAABEL! BRAAAAAAAANDON! YOUNGBLOOOOOOOOOD!

His shoulders sway with the bravado of his BMF walk, a spotlight lighting his path. The 2022 Wrestler of the Year is quick down the ramp, his gait swinging him around the stadium floor, to the ring steps. There is no slowdown as his feet pound the steel, stepping between the ropes and exploding upright. Once inside, he begins pacing around the outside perimeter of the ring, his eyes locking on TAL, ripping the Universal Championship from his waist and pumping it skyward before extending toward his challenger. 

The lights return, and as they do, the Suplex Daddy readies himself in an amateur stance, one hand on a thigh, the other still holding the Universal Championship, a snarl curling his lips. If looks could kill, head official Timo Bolamba might be dead, as he asks for the championship belt.

Nick Stuart: These two men are veterans of this sport, who have battled all around the world, and will have an opportunity to put on a spectacle for the thousands of fans gathered here in Baltimore.

Richard Parker: You want to get some crab cakes after this?

Nick Stuart: …no.

At the sound of the bell ringing, the two titans move to the center of the ring, extend their hands, and shake in an immediate sign of respect.

Nick Stuart: You have to love seeing something like that, where both men clearly are looking to wrestle and respect the other person on the other side of the ring.

Richard Parker: Sounds boring to me. No one has ever felt respected as they got punched in the face as hard as the other person could muster up.

Nick Stuart: Why are you so glib?

Richard Parker: It’s called reality, Nick. Try and live in it with us every now and then.

The two men then separate and begin to circle the ring. Both are looking for an opening to give themselves the advantage. Youngblood shoots first, going for a double-leg takedown that forces TAL into the corner, doing everything he can to remain on his feet. With his back against the turnbuckles, TAL slams his forearm into the upper back of Youngblood, forcing him to release his grip on him to create some separation. WIth Brandon’s back to him, TAL storms out of the corner and connects with a clothesline to the back of his neck, sending him crashing to the mat.

Richard Parker: There you go, Tom. Give him a little bit to the back of his neck and you could become the new Universal Champion.

Nick Stuart: What are you getting at there?

Richard Parker: You’ve got to get dirty with Youngblood, force him out of his element, make him retaliate out of anger instead of letting him dictate his game plan to you.

Nick Stuart: I don’t think anything that The Anglo Luchador just did would be dirty.

Richard Parker: Sure Nick, sure.

As Youngblood gets to his knees, TAL slams his boot into his rib cage, sending the Universal Champion to his back. TAL immediately mounts him and comes raining down with a flurry of forearm strikes across the face. Brandon does everything he can to cover up and is eventually able to shift his hips slightly enough to give him momentum to switch positions with TAL and sends slicing elbows down on TAL.

Anglo Luchador manages to get his forearms up in time and finds a gap where he manages to connect his forearm with the jaw of the champion. The shot forces Brandon off of TAL as the former Intense Champion is quick to his feet. As he does, he narrowly ducks a clothesline from Youngblood, sending him into the ropes instead. TAL connects with a backbody drop onto Youngblood, sending the Tower of Babel crashing to the mat. As Youngblood gets back to his feet, he is met with a dropkick that sends him back to the mat. Youngblood immediately rolls out under the bottom rope to collect himself.

Nick Stuart: TAL has clearly brought a strategy with him here tonight and has kept Youngblood off of his game.

Richard Parker: That’s smart thinking for TAL, which is saying something since he’s not necessarily known for thinking ahead and being smart about his actions.

Nick Stuart: And… what is he known for?

Richard Parker: Charging into uncharted waters, unprepared. Look at the mess he’s got himself into with Paxton Ray.

Nick Stuart: And you have to imagine Paxton is watching backstage while TAL has to wonder if Paxton is going to strike at any moment.

Youngblood paces around the outside of the ring while Timo begins his count.

Brandon glares inside of the ring, rubbing his jaw, and locks eyes with The Anglo Luchador, who is crouched and ready to pounce the moment that Youngblood decides to step foot into the ring. Youngblood walks around the outside of the ring and TAL moves carefully around the ring as well, remaining in a crouched position.

Brandon shakes his head before he climbs onto the ring apron. As he does, TAL bounces off the ropes and connects with a shoulder to the midsection of Youngblood. Brandon falls off the ring apron, landing on his feet, but clutching his ribs as he does.

TAL then bounces off the ropes and connects with a diving plancha through the middle ropes, torpedoing his body into Youngblood’s and sending both men crashing into the ringside barricade. TAL is quick to his feet as he rushes back into the ring and bounces off the ropes again.

TAL flies off the ropes again and grabs onto the top rope before going for a Tornillo to the outside on Youngblood!

Nick Stuart: TAL with a Barrel Roll–

Richard Parker: And Youngblood caught him in mid-air.

Nick Stuart: Well, I don’t think that went according to plan.

Richard Parker: What exactly gave it away, Nick?

Youngblood hoists TAL into the air and then drops him jaw first across the ring apron. Anglo Luchador stumbles away from Youngblood, but Brandon grabs him by the back of his pants and yanks him back towards him before connecting with a knee shot to his lowerback. TAL drops to both knees, pain rippling through his body. Youngblood then grabs him by the back of the neck and rolls him back into the ring.

Youngblood hops onto the ring apron and steps through the ropes where he catches a rising TAL with a forearm strike. TAL stumbles into the ropes and leans into them as Youngblood closes the gap between them. TAL fires off a stiff kick to Youngblood’s midsection, which stuns the Universal Champion, but doesn’t stop him from grabbing the wrist of TAL. He whips him across the ring and then connects with Lou Thesz Press before dropping TAL onto the canvas chest first. TAL bounces off the canvas before rolling onto his back, where he’s met with Youngblood bouncing off the ropes and connecting with an elbow across the sternum.

Richard Parker: There is no part of me that wants all two hundred and something pounds of Brandon Youngblood coming crashing down upon me. Or anyone for that matter.

Nick Stuart: This is where the match could get dangerous for TAL. If Youngblood is able to use his strength on TAL, he could wear the former Intense Champion down to gain the victory.

Richard Parker: If? What is going to stop Youngblood from doing just that? Nothing!

Nick Stuart: The Anglo Luchador wasn’t champion of the year for nothing. He’s learned since his last encounter against Youngblood and has made more than a name for himself in PRIME. He’s made a legacy.

Richard Parker: That’s good and all until you’re flattened out on the canvas and staring out at the lights wondering what just happened to you.

Youngblood reaches down and slowly pulls TAL up to his feet. He holds him by the wrist before pulling him into him and smashing elbow across TAL’s face. The former Intense Champion’s head snaps around from the shot. Brandon lets him down and TAL drops to one knee. Youngblood reaches down and wraps his arms around TAL’s midsection only for him to fire off a series of back elbows that catch Youngblood flush in the jaw. With Youngblood’s grasp loosening, TAL reaches backwards and puts Youngblood into a headlock before connecting with a snug headlock takeover. TAL keeps it cinched in as both men lie on the mat. Timo checks in on Youngblood, who refuses to concede the match. TAL tightens his grasp on Youngblood, as the Universal Champion tries to find a way out of the headlock.

Nick Stuart: And TAL managing to keep Youngblood off of his game there a bit as we know the Tower of Babel was looking for a suplex. Once he starts getting those going, it normally becomes difficult for an opponent to battle back from it.

Richard Parker: Yeah, I can’t really blame TAL there for not wanting to get suplexed. As someone who has seen Youngblood suplex his fair share of men, and women, it’s not something that I would wish upon anyone. Except for like, Cancer Jiles and most of the dipshits in the back.

Nick Stuart: You’re so apolitical.

Richard Parker: It’s my one redeeming quality.

Youngblood pushes himself off of the mat, while TAL holds onto his headlock. Brandon, as he gets to a vertical base, slams his forearm into the small of TAL’s back, sending shivers up and down his arms. Youngblood then wraps his arms around TAL and connects with a sidelock, but TAL manages to keep the headlock applied even as his bell was rung a bit. Youngblood, stretched out onto his stomach, uses his prodigious muscles to put himself into a kneeling position. TAL continues to wrench down on the headlock, forcing Youngblood to use up a bit more energy than he envisioned having to use to get out of this match. Youngblood forces his way back up to his feet only for TAL to connect with a flurry of punches to the top of the crown. Youngblood drops to one knee, but then explodes out of nowhere with another side suplex, this one landing the back of TAL’s skull on the middle turnbuckle.

Nick Stuart: Great ring awareness there from Youngblood as he is free from the headlock that TAL had him in there. He knew exactly where he was and used that side suplex into the turnbuckle to give him some space to operate in.

Richard Parker: That’s the one thing about Youngblood, he is a Ring General for a reason; he knows every inch of this squared circle and how to use it effectively against his opponents.

Nick Stuart: While TAL is grabbing the back of his skull in pain, this has given Youngblood the opening he needed to get back to his feet. He walks over to TAL and begins stomping away at his ribcage!

Richard Parker: And the master has honed in on his target!

The Universal Champion reaches down and wraps his arms around the midsection of The Anglo Luchador. He then lifts him up for a gutwrench suplex, but holds him and walks around the ring before connecting with it. TAL rolls around on the mat, clutching his back and ribs in pain as Youngblood makes his way to his feet and grabs TAL by the back of the head and drags him off the mat before pushing him into the corner and unloading with a knife-edge chop.

The pain is evident on TAL’s face as he nearly doubles over from the shot, but Youngblood puts TAL to a vertical base and unleashes another knife-edge chop.

And another.

And another.

Timo orders the Universal Champion out of the corner and Youngblood holds up his hands as TAL stumbles away. Brandon grabs him by the wrist and yanks him into a clothesline that sends TAL crashing to the mat. Brandon then goes for the cover.

ONE

TWO

TH– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: And Youngblood is reminding everyone why he is the top man in PRIME.

Richard Parker: The competition that The Anglo Luchador has faced as of late has been a step up since his run as Intense Champion. He’s not in the deep waters, but he’s definitely going to have to find an extra gear here tonight if he wants to take the Universal Title home with him.

Youngblood sits up and rises to his feet. He watches as The Anglo Luchador struggles to do the same thing. As he does though, Brandon runs full speed at him and hits him with a clothesline that sends TAL tumbling over the top rope and lands on the ring apron. Youngblood moves to the opposite set of ropes and as TAL rises to his feet, Youngblood rushes at him. TAL manages to connect with a knee to the face of Youngblood as he goes for a shoulder to TAL’s midsection. Brandon is stunned as he stumbles away from TAL. As he turns around, he is met with the former Intense Champion springboarding off the top rope and connecting with a clothesline that sends both men crashing to the mat.

Richard Parker: That’s a step in the right direction.

Nick Stuart: That it is as TAL catches a rising Youngblood with stiff backhand and follows it up with a jab. That sends Youngblood into the ropes and TAL pummeling him with a series of knee strikes to the midsection. He then whips Youngblood across the ring and connects with a leaping back elbow that catches him flush in the jaw.

Richard Parker: TAL finally starting to listen to me. You’d think more of them would do just that.

Nick Stuart: I’m surprised PRIME still pays you to talk if I’m being honest.

Youngblood stumbles to his feet and is met with a shoulder to his midsection from TAL, which drives him into the corner. TAL takes a few steps back and then drives his shoulder again into Youngblood’s midsection, driving the air out of his lungs and diaphragm once again. With Brandon stunned, TAL connects with an uppercut that snaps Youngblood’s head back. TAL then grabs him by the wrist and whips him into the ropes before nailing him with a superkick that catches Youngblood flush on the jaw. Brandon drops to both knees from the shot and gives an opening to TAL to get him into a La Magistral cradle.

ONE

TWO

THR– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: And TAL almost got the victory there, utilizing his creativity to nearly get Brandon’s shoulders on the mat for the three count.

Richard Parker: Trickery and creativity is going to need to come out of TAL in spades. He’s got to keep Youngblood off kilter to pick up this victory.

Youngblood stumbles back to his feet and walks right into a right jab, left jab, and right cross combo from TAL! Brandon stumbles into the ropes and as TAL rushes at him, Brandon dips his shoulder and sends TAL over the top rope. The former Intense Champion manages to land on the ring apron and clubs Youngblood in the back of the head with a series of forearm shots. Brandon slowly turns towards TAL, stunned, with TAL putting him into a front facelock and goes for a suplex to the outside only for Youngblood to land on the ring apron. TAL plants his boot into Youngblood’s midsection and goes for a running clothesline only for Youngblood to catch him and connect with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex onto the ring apron!

Nick Stuart: Hell, The Anglo Luchador might have a herniated disc after that shot!

Richard Parker: He should probably just bow out now before he gets himself legitimately hurt.

Nick Stuart: Yeah, that sounds likely. Meanwhile, Luchador is getting to his feet and was just mowed down by Youngblood with another clothesline. Luchador refuses to stay down long though – not sure if that was a good idea – as Youngblood just smashed his head into the steel post.

Richard Parker: Not sure if that was a good idea? When has anyone been improved by running their head into a steel post?

Nick Stuart: Fair point.

TAL stumbles into the ringside barricade as Timo Bolamba continues his count. Youngblood comes up behind him and TAL drills his elbow into the ribcage of the Universal Champion. Brandon immediately fires off a series of forearm strikes to the neck and upper back of TAL before whipping him into the ring apron, where he cracks his back against it. TAL drops to both knees as Youngblood yanks him to his feet and connects with a side belly-to-belly suplex.

Youngblood rises to his feet and as he walks over to the prone Anglo Luchador, TAL connects with a drop toe hold.

Nick Stuart: That may have just been pure instinct there!

Richard Parker: His will to survive came out right there. He doesn’t want to go down in this match, that’s for sure.

Nick Stuart: For the biggest prize in the game, I’m not surprised. TAL using everything he can to slow the Diamond of the Revival as he is now pulling himself up using the ringside barricade.

TAL snaps his boot into the back of Youngblood’s head before pulling him up to a kneeling position. Youngblood unloads a straight right into the abdomen of Youngblood, causing TAL to drop to one knee. Youngblood grabs the back of TAL’s skull and connects with a forearm shot across his face. The shot rocks TAL backwards as he rolls away from Youngblood.

Richard Parker: Okay, these bozos might want to get back in the ring before they’re both counted out and everyone in the arena starts pelting them with trash.

Nick Stuart: Timo is keeping a close eye on everything and probably giving them a bit of leeway here.

Richard Parker: Or do a countout and I can go home. I’m starving.

Youngblood walks over to the ring apron and begins to climb his way up, but TAL reaches up and yanks him back down before slamming his forearm into his lower back. Youngblood grimaces as he turns around and drives his boot into the face of TAL. TAL shakes it off and drives his shoulder into the ribcage of Youngblood and drives him into the ring post!

TAL turns away from Youngblood, but the Universal Champion grabs him, wrapping his arm around his neck and throat. Anglo Luchador thrashes wildly against Youngblood before placing his feet onto the ring apron and kicking off against it, sending both men into the ringside barricade. Youngblood though refuses to relinquish his hold on TAL! TAL throws a flurry of punches into the face of Youngblood, which causes the hold to break finally. TAL stumbles to his feet.

TAL scrambles for the ring apron and as he’s about so slide in, Youngblood grabs his boot and pull him back. Youngblood then goes to slide in and TAL grabs him by the boot. Youngblood fires off a boot into the face of TAL before rolling back in as Timo readies for a ten count. TAL’s head turns from the boot shot and as Youngblood gets up to his feet, Timo finishes his count.

Nick Stuart: TAL GOT BACK IN THE RING AT THE LAST SECOND!

Richard Parker: Talk about the skin of his teeth!

Youngblood drives his elbow into the shoulder blades of TAL, who refuses to stay down as he drives his fists into the midsection of Youngblood. Brandon grabs him by the wrist and whips him into the ropes. The Universal Champion goes for a clothesline only for TAL to duck underneath it. As TAL bounces off the ropes he goes for a clothesline of his own, but Youngblood has the same idea.

Nick Stuart: And both men go crashing in a heap of bodies.

Richard Parker: I wonder if they’re twins split at birth then.

Nick Stuart: …what?

Richard Parker: Sorry, just a theory I’m working with.

Timo begins another count as TAL and Youngblood roll around on the mat, bodies wracked with pain and bruises. TAL tries to push himself off of the mat and his body gives up on that idea.

Youngblood rolls onto his knees, sweat pouring down his forehead, as he tries to push himself up, but his arms are heavy.

TAL, on his back, slams his fists into the mat.

Youngblood rolls over to the ropes and grabs onto the middle one, desperate to pull himself up.

TAL, knowing if this match ends in a countout that it will end his first and possibly only chance at the Universal Title, forces himself up to his kenes.

Youngblood begins to pull himself up using the middle rope.

TAL drives his boot into the mat, forcing his aching muscles to comply with him.

Youngblood grabs onto the top rope as he reaches a vertical base.

And TAL does the same!

Both men turn towards each other, frustrated at themselves, but obviously respectful of the person across from them. They slowly move to the center of the ring, where Youngblood connects with a heavy right hand.

TAL’s head whips around, sweat flying off onto the people in the front row. Luchador fires back with a left of his one.

Youngblood is staggered from the shot, nearly collapsing to one knee from it. He roars back though with a knee to the midsection of the former Intense Champion. With TAL doubled over, Youngblood wraps his arms around the midsection of TAL and gutwrenches him up onto his shoulders in a powerbomb position. TAL immediately fires off a series of lefts to Youngblood, forcing the Universal Champion to drop him onto the mat. TAL fires off a knee of his own and follows it up with a knee into the face of his opponent. With Youngblood dazed on his feet, TAL slips behind the Universal Champion and connects with a Dragon Suplex! TAL rolls through it, hooking both of Youngblood’s legs and bridges with the palms of his hands on the mat as Timo begins the count!

ONE

…

…

..

TWO

…

…

…

THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: TAL ALMOST HAD YOUNGBLOOD RIGHT THERE! IT WAS ABOUT TO BE ALL OVER!

Richard Parker: If TAL’s mask wasn’t on, you could see the anguish written across it. Youngblood just kicked out in the knick of time and Timo was this close from crowning a new champion.

Nick Stuart: TAL is getting back up to his feet and is grabbing Youngblood by the back of the neck —

Richard Parker: INSIDE CRADLE!

ONE

…

…

…

TWO

…

…

…

THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nick Stuart: And The Anglo Luchador almost got a taste of his own medicine right there!

Richard Parker: That he did and Youngblood was clearly playing opossum.

Nick Stuart: Both men rushing to their feet and Youngblood clubs Luchador across the face with a running forearm that sends the former Intense Champion flipping inside out.

Youngblood grabs TAL and pulls him up to his feet before slamming his knee into TAL’s midsection. He then spins TAL around and goes for a Half Nelson Suplex only for TAL to slip out of it on it’s way up and connects with a DDT that plants Youngblood in the center of the ring. TAL then hooks both legs as Timo begins his count.

ONE!

TWO!

THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

TAL sits up, slamming his fists into the mat repeatedly. He gets up to his feet and bounces off the ropes before dropping a leg across the throat of Youngblood. The Universal Champion rolls onto his knees, grabbing his throat in pain. TAL plants his boot into The Tower of Babel’s ribcage before wrapping his arms around the midsection of Youngblood. He tries to lift Youngblood off of the mat, but his arms don’t have the strength needed for the Karelin Driver!

Nick Stuart: These two men have battered one another and then some, and the effects of it is showing right now as The Anglo Luchador tried for the Russian Neck Drop there!

Richard Parker: TAL is going to need to dig down deep and find something here if he wants to put Youngblood away!

Youngblood plants his fist into TAL’s midsection. He then explodes to his feet with an uppercut that staggers TAL into the ropes. Youngblood closes the gap quickly and grabs TAL’s wrist before whipping him across the ring. He plants the former Intense Champion with a spinebuster in the center of the ring! He then goes for the cover.

ONE

…

…

…

…

TWO

…

…

…

…

THRE– NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

TAL just manages to get his right shoulder off of the mat as Timo’s hand was about slap into the mat. Youngblood looks on in disbelief, as Timo confirms his count. He gets back up to his feet and as he reaches down to grab TAL, he is kicked in the ribcage! TAL immediately gets him into the La Magistral Cradle as Timo begins his count again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Stuart: And Youngblood has reversed it!

Richard Parker: He’s driving his feet into the mat!

ONE

…

TWO

…

THREE

Nick Stuart: YOUNGBLOOD HAS RETAINED!

Richard Parker: By the skin of his teeth, but he managed to do it!

TAL, who kicked out a half a second too late looks on disbelief at Timo and Youngblood, who is lying on the mat, chest heaving.

Nick Stuart: He dragged Youngblood out into the deep waters and almost managed to pull off a career-defining victory, but came just shy!

Vince Howard: Your winner… and STILL! UNIVERSAL! CHAMPION! BRANDON! YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNG! BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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