UNIVERSAL TITLE MATCH: HAYES HANLON (c) VS. BRANDON YOUNGBLOOD
Event: ReVival 27
Event Date: 05/05/2023
UNIVERSAL TITLE MATCH: HAYES HANLON (c) VS. BRANDON YOUNGBLOOD
We come back from commercial to hear…
Vince Howard: The following match is one fall…
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: AND IS FOR THE UNIVERSAL TITLE!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: The Main Event of ReVival 27 is here and it is a DOOZY!
Richard Parker: Doozy? I hope Youngblood mercs that sus Hanlon. And that’s saying something because I hate Brandon Youngblood.
Nick Stuart: Merc? Sus? When did you start talking like a kid right out of Fortnite?
Richard Parker: (sighs) You’re so old, Nick.
The Arena darkens. The shift in ambiance has the fans rise to their feet, the sound rising. And then, cutting through it all, The Battlecry.
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD
SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE
LET THE GALAXY BURN
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
From the very start of Bloodsport (World Domination) by HEALTH, Brandon Youngblood surges from the curtain and into the well of sound filling the arena. Through the blinding blue and white strobing light cutting through the darkness, the Tower of Babel powerwalks, his eyes trained forward, an oppressive scowl of intensity a hallmark painting his face.
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 arena 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 toward the curtain.
Richard Parker: Is it just me or does it look like Youngblood has built muscles upon muscles upon muscles?
Nick Stuart: I imagine training for Youngblood at his home back in Wisconsin has been intense these past two weeks since it was announced to the world that he would be receiving a Universal Title shot tonight.
Richard Parker: Seriously, what kind of diet do you have to be on to get muscles like that? Or do you think it’s the ol’ shoot ‘em up?
Nick Stuart: Heroin?
Richard Parker: No, you dolt, steroids!
Nick Stuart: He is not doing steroids.
Richard Parker: He should! It’s working on me wonderfully.
Nick Stuart: Rich, I saw you eat three Chalupas backstage while on the toilet.
Richard Parker: That’s what we call PRIME training.
The lights return, and as they do, the Suplex Daddy readies himself in an amateur stance, his hands on his thighs, a snarl of disdain curling his lips. If looks could kill, the next person out is already dead. He then locks eyes with FLAMBERGE and Cecilworth Farthington, who are still in the front row.
Nick Stuart: Since losing the Universal Title against Phil Atken at ReVival 13 back in August 2022, the road hasn’t been easy for Youngblood. He lost against Nova, which saw Nova get a title shot against Cancer Jiles —
Richard Parker: — HA! HAHAHAAHAHA! HA! HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHA!
Nick Stuart: — a narrow loss to Great Scott, a draw against Anna Daniels, and not able to capture the Five-Star Title at Colossus.
Richard Parker: 2023 has been the return to a strong start that we’re accustomed to seeing from Youngblood though.
Nick Stuart: Correct. Victories against Tony Gamble and Matt Ward, a tag team victory when he teamed up with Jared Sykes against Nate Colton and Rezin, holding titles at the time, and finishing fourth in the Murder Rumble!
Richard Parker: And now this…
Distorted guitar heralds a black hole emerging on the PRIME*View, dangerously close to the screen; hanging in the void among planets and nebulas.
Sirens accompany as the screen shakes, pulling us in violently, until the lyrics scream throughout the PA system.
“WHEN MY BACK’S TO THE WAAALLLL!!!”
And huge, white block letters fill the screen:
I!!!
WILL!!!
CON!!!
QUER!!!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The speakers and amplifiers hold on for dear life as “Daggers” by We Came as Romans absolutely bludgeon the eardrums. And speaking of explosions, those planets and stars on the PRIME*View do just that, bursting into blinding eruptions of violent light. It carries into the arena, rumbling flashbulbs explode in various points throughout the building; in the ceiling, in the stands, one after another.
And then, from the ramp, the Event Horizon.
“I SEE THE MOUNTAIN AHEAD, I FEEL THE THUNDER ROAR!
I FEEL THE FURY WITHIN, BUT LOUDER THAN BEFORE!”
The Champ marches forward, Universal Title comfortable on his shoulder. He keeps those dark eyes focused, ‘stache on point, while the fans around are on the brink of a literal mosh pit.
Nick Stuart: And the Universal Champ is here and he looks READY for the fight of his life.
Richard Parker: Oh, he better be ready because you’ve never seen a shark quite like Youngblood. Brandon sees a way back to the top of PRIME and the one person standing in his way is the Event Horizon.
Nick Stuart: Hanlon shared some words with Tyler Adrian Best, who he will be facing off with at Tropical Turmoil if he manages to defend his title successfully here tonight.
Richard Parker: Big ‘if’ considering that Hanlon lost this very title to Rezin in his first defense after winning it at Colossus. If he loses here tonight against Youngblood, it shows that he might be able to rise to the occasion, but isn’t able to stay there.
Nick Stuart: Which is not the reputation a young star like Hanlon wants, that’s for sure.
Hayes climbs the apron, steps through the ropes, and b-lines for the turnbuckle.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Up one rope, then the second, chest and jaw jutting out, and a thumb to his neck..
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
…and he drags it across his throat with the chorus.
“DRAW! THE! DAGGER!
CUT OUT THE PAIN! TO FIND THE POWER!”
He hops down, making way to the next post to repeat the process one more time.
“DRAW! THE! DAGGER!
CUT OUT THE PAIN!”
He remains on the ropes, and in unison with the crowd, beats his chest four times while roaring out the crescendo.
I!!!
WILL!!!
CON!!!
QUER!!!
The Comeback Kid stays for a moment, eyes out to the roaring crowd, allowing the music to reach its breakdown. He then locks eyes with FLAMBERGE and Cecilworth Farthington as well.
Vince Howard: Introducing first, the challenger!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: Hailing from Bandera, Texas by way of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada… weighing in at 265 pounds… he is…THE DIIIIIIAMOND! OF THE REVIVAL! BRAAAAAAAANDON! YOUNGBLOOOOOOOOOD!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: And his eyes are focused upon Hanlon and the Universal Title. I’ve seen many variations of Youngblood, most of them frightening, but this one is a step above all of them combined.
Richard Parker: Hanlon better be ready because he’s about to face a hurricane.
Vince Howard: AND HIS OPPONENT!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: FROM WEST LINN, OREGON! STANDING SIX FEET, THREE INCHES AND WEIGHING IN AT TWO-HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE POUNDS!!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Vince Howard: HAMMERIN’ HANLON! HOME RUN HAYES! THE EVENT HORIZON!! THE UNIVERSAL CHAAMMMPPIIIOONNN!!!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Vince Howard: HAAAAYEEEESSSS!!! HAAAAAAANNNLLLOOONNNNNN!!!!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Hanlon holds the Universal Title high as Youngblood and Hanlon come nose to nose as Timo Bolamba quickly separates them. Hanlon hands him the title as Timo walks over to the ringkeeper area and hands it to the ringside attendant.
Nick Stuart: The fans here in Kansas City, inside of the T-Mobile Arena… are READY FOR A FIGHT !
Richard Parker: No kidding. I think they’ve been pretty spoiled with this stacked card and now they get this match? In Kansas City?! No one does it quite like PRIME!
DING DING
At the sound of the bell, both competitors walk towards one another with Hanlon extending his fist. Youngblood looks at it briefly before acknowledging the Universal Champion. They immediately enter a collar-and-elbow tie-up, pushing each other into the ropes and struggling to gain position over the other one. Youngblood is pushed into the corner and immediately digs his heels into the mat, pushing Hayes backwards into the opposite corner. Timo, content to let them find their footing, allows this to continue until Hanlon manages to grab the wrist of Youngblood and put him into a hammerlock.
Richard Parker: That’s your big move? A hammerlock?
Nick Stuart: You’ve got two people in that ring that are basically the same in size —
Richard Parker: Like I said, Youngblood’s muscles have muscles!
Nick Stuart: That is not a real thing.
Hanlon stands directly behind Youngblood, who tries to fire off an elbow. Hayes ducks underneath it though and rams Youngblood chest first into the corner. Brandon’s chest collides with the top turnbuckle. Hanlon puts Youngblood into a waist lock, but the former Universal Champion connects with a back elbow to his jaw. Hayes breaks the hold and Brandon spins around before planting his knee into his midsection, doubling over the champ. Youngblood then connects with a clubbing forearm to the exposed back of Hanlon. Hayes drops to one knee from the sheer force, but Youngblood grabs him by the neck and brings him to a standing position.
Brandon then pushes Hanlon into the corner and rubs Hanlon’s chest before cracking it with a knife-edge chop that echoes through the T-Mobile Arena. The pain written across Hayes’ face tells the story as he doubles over from the shot only for Brandon to push Hanlon back up and connects with another knife-edge chop.
CRACK!
Nick Stuart: Hanlon does not want to take too many more of those shots.
Richard Parker: You think?
Nick Stuart: Hanlon needs to keep Youngblood off kilter or else he’s going to be bruised, black and blue —
Richard Parker: And no longer the Universal Champion.
Youngblood grabs Hanlon by the wrist and goes to whip him across to the opposite corner, but Hanlon manages to reverse and sends Youngblood instead. Hayes then runs full speed at Youngblood, going for a clothesline, but is met with a boot to the face instead. Hanlon stumbles backwards as Youngblood hops onto the second turnbuckle. He goes for an elbow to the back of Hanlon’s neck, but Hayes spins around at the last second and plants his fist into Brandon’s abdomen. The Diamond of the Revival crashes to both knees from the shot as Hanlon sizes him up and connects with a stiff boot to the side of the face. Youngblood remains in the same position, just feeling the effects of a boot, before Hanlon bounces off the ropes and connects with a running knee to his face.
Richard Parker: Well, that’s probably more in the direction that Hanlon was looking to go in.
Nick Stuart: More than likely, at least. Hanlon is definitely showing Youngblood that he can eat a punch knife-edge chops and come firing back with more of his own.
Richard Parker: You know, everyone has a plan until —
Nick Stuart: They get punched in the face?
Richard Parker: No, until they face Brandon Youngblood and his 237 protruding muscles.
Youngblood sits up and as he does, Hanlon plants his boot into his chest. Youngblood rolls onto his side as Hanlon helps him to his feet and drives his knee into the midsection of the PRIME Hall of Famer. Hanlon then connects with a butterfly suplex to the doubled over Youngblood. As Youngblood begins to make his way to his feet, Hanlon bounces off the ropes and connects with a flying crossbody that sends both competitors crashing to the mat. Hanlon isn’t down for long as he gets up to his feet and catches a rising Youngblood with a stiff forearm to the face. As Brandon turns away from Hanlon, Hayes puts him into a rear waist lock and connects with a German Suplex before rolling through it and deadlifts Youngblood into another German Suplex!
Nick Stuart: What an impressive feat there from the reigning Universal Champion! Getting Youngblood into one German Suplex is impressive enough, but having the strength to deadlift Youngblood into another one?! I’ve never seen such a thing.
Richard Parker: Well, I guess Hanlon is going to throw everything he has at Youngblood in order to secure the victory.
Nick Stuart: I’m thinking that you’re correct.
Brandon rolls to the edge of the ring and is lying under the bottom rope as Hanlon gets up to his feet, impressed at his own physical ability as he looks out at the fans. He walks over to Youngblood and snaps his boot across the chest of Youngblood, rolling the Tower of Babel out of the ring. As Youngblood makes his way to his feet, dazed from the shots he’s taken thus far, he looks up and sees Hanlon running off the ropes and connecting with a suicide dive that sends him crashing into the barricade! Hayes gets up to his feet in a hurry before hoisting Youngblood into the air and dropping him throat first across the barricade!
Richard Parker: Okay, this is a Hayes Hanlon I can get behind! Rip! Maim! Torture! Defeat!
Nick Stuart: You sound like you’re coming straight out of a straight-to-DVD torture porno.
Richard Parker: Look, I will have you know—
Nick Stuart: No time for that, Richard! Hanlon whips Youngblood into the apron and Youngblood just exploded forward with a clothesline that flipped Hanlon inside out.
Richard Parker: (muttering) Fine.
Hanlon stumbles back to his feet as Youngblood takes a moment to gather his breathe before kicking Hanlon in the midsection and whipping him back under the bottom rope. As Youngblood climbs up to his feet, Hanlon pushes through the momentary pain as he bounces off the ropes and connects with a forearm to the face of Youngblood, sending him flying off the ring apron and crashing chest first into the ringside barricade! Hanlon steps through the ropes and stands on the ring apron as Youngblood turns around, clutching his chest, and connects with a flying clothesline to Youngblood’s neck.
Nick Stuart: Hanlon has come in double-cocked and ready to successfully defend his Universal Championship.
Richard Parker: Let me tell you Nick, you can’t win the match in the opening stanza, but you can definitely lose it.
Nick Stuart: …how?
Richard Parker: By exactly what Hanlon is doing now! Don’t you pay attention?
Nick Stuart: To you? No.
Hanlon rises to his feet and plants his boot into the face of Youngblood repeatedly before yanking him off of the mat and rolling him back into the ring. Hanlon slides in after Youngblood and ducks a wild haymaker from BY. As Youngblood spins back around, Hanlon hoists him onto his shoulder and tilts Youngblood. He holds him there for a moment before connecting with a Samoan Drop that shakes the ring. Hanlon then goes for the cover on Youngblood as Timo slides in for the count.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Hanlon sits up and looks at Timo who confirms it was only a two count. As he starts to get back up to his feet, Youngblood reaches up and pulls Hanlon into a schoolboy roll-up.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Kickouts from both competitors here as Timo is finally able to do something in this match.
Richard Parker: Not going to lie, I forgot he was even in this match.
Nick Stuart: Rude.
Richard Parker: No, you know what’s rude? I asked him for five bucks, five bucks, and he acted like he didn’t have any money on him. The man has a private jet and I can’t even get five dollars? You think you know someone sometimes.
As Hanlon gets up to his feet, he drills Youngblood across the face with a forearm strike. Youngblood drops to one knee from the shot. Hanlon then bounces off the ropes and as he gets close to Youngblood, Brandon is ready for him as he connects with a release overhead belly-to-belly suplex that sends Hanlon flying across the ring! As Hanlon scrambles to his feet, he is clotheslined into the corner by Youngblood who follows it up with a series of boots to the midsection until Hanlon is sitting in the corner. Youngblood yanks Hanlon up to his feet and hotshots him across the top rope before dropping him with a German Suplex into the corner.
Nick Stuart: Ouch!
Richard Parker: Blood for the Blood God, Hanlon is next up on the list!
Nick Stuart: Youngblood is already back up to his feet and is stomping away at Hanlon, each boot heavier than the last.
Richard Parker: Yeah, it’s all of those muscles on top of muscles!
Youngblood then yanks Hanlon off of the mat and drills him with a stiff forearm that nearly puts Hanlon out on his feet. He plants his boot into the midsection of Hanlon before connecting with a snap suplex. Hanlon sits up, but is immediately yanked down to the mat as Youngblood goes for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Youngblood wastes no time as he gets back up to his feet and drags Hayes up with him before connecting with a stiff right before whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a clothesline that lifts Hayes into the air before sending him crashing to the mat. Hanlon pushes himself back up to his feet, but is met with a slicing elbow across the face that drops him to one knee. Youngblood wraps his arms around Hanlon before connecting with a gutwrench suplex into a power bomb, going for another cover in the process.
ONE!
TWO!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Youngblood just abusing Hanlon in the last few moments here with a flurry of offense that has definitely shaken Hanlon, but not put him down for the count.
Richard Parker: You’ve got to stop Youngblood before he gets on any kind of roll. That momentum causes his muscles to grown even more.
Nick Stuart: Stop it.
Richard Parker: What?! I read it in a book!
Youngblood, instead of getting up to his feet, quickly mounts Hanlon and pummels him with a series of open-handed palm strikes to the face and jaw of the champion. Youngblood then reaches down and grabs the back of Hanlon’s skull before pulling him off the mat and smashing his face into the top turnbuckle. Youngblood hoists Hanlon onto the top turnbuckle and clubs him repeatedly in the back.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
Hanlon sits on the top turnbuckle, dazed, before he falls backwards with his boots hooking on the top turnbuckle, putting him into the Tree of Woe. Youngblood moves to the opposite corner before running full speed at Hanlon and connecting with a running knee to the exposed midsection.
Nick Stuart: Hanlon looks like he’s in a world of pain now.
Richard Parker: Yeah, no kidding. He just had the air driven out of him, his muscles are contracting, and he is helpless to do anything about it as he is just hanging there!
Youngblood runs to the opposite corner and then connects with another running knee to Hanlon’s midsection. Hayes groans in pain as Youngblood unhooks the boots of the young star. Hanlon lies on the mat, coughing into it, as Youngblood stands above him. He reaches down and yanks Hanlon up to his mat by the back of his pants before drilling a forearm into his lower back. Hanlon drops to both knees from the shot, but Youngblood pulls him up and connects with another one.
CRACK!
Richard Parker: Youngblood is looking to dismantle Hanlon before our very eyes. There’s no remorse in what he is doing, he is simply doing what he must to get what he believes is his.
Nick Stuart: We all know how much the Universal Title means to Youngblood. Since losing it to Phil Atken last year, his mind and mission has been on one thing and one thing only — getting the title back. He hasn’t had another chance since then and he’s not letting this one slip through his fingers.
Youngblood looks at Hanlon, on both knees, before he bounces off the ropes and slams his boot into the face of the Universal Champion. Hanlon slumps forward from the shot as Youngblood reaches down and deadlifts Hanlon off of the mat and into a Belly to Back Suplex!
Hanlon lies there on the mat, his body exhausted, but Youngblood isn’t done with him as he yanks him off of the mat and whips him into the ropes before connecting with a ring-rattling, soul-crushing spinebuster in the center of the ring!
He then covers Hanlon.
ONE!
TWO!
THR— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: And Hanlon manages to get his right shoulder up just in the nick of time.
Richard Parker: That’s impressive considering the ass-kicking he’s received here for the last few minutes.
Nick Stuart: I have no idea where Hanlon finds it sometime, but you can tell he is going to have to be destroyed beyond recognition if he’s not walking out of the T-Mobile Arena tonight as the Universal Champion.
Richard Parker: I don’t think Youngblood will mind doing that if it comes to that.
Youngblood sits on the canvas, looking at Timo, but not questioning the count. He looks over at Hanlon, whose red chest is heaving. Brandon makes his way up to his feet and drags Hanlon up with him. Youngblood pushes Hanlon into the ropes and Timo warns him to pull Hanlon off of the ropes. Brandon shoots him a look and Timo slowly backs away.
He then connects with a knife-edge chop to the bare chest of the upstar champion.
THWACK!
Youngblood fires off a forearm to the face of Hanlon for good measure.
CRACK!
Brandon looks at Hanlon, who is still standing, but in a world of hurt before he connects with another knife-edge chop and forearm combo.
THWACK!
CRACK!
And again.
THWACK!
CRACK!
And again.
THWACK!
CRACK!
As he loads up for another one, Timo steps in between and orders Youngblood to stand down. Brandon’s jaw hardens as he looks at Timo, but holds his hands up as Hanlon collapses to both knees. Blood trickles out of the fresh wounds from the hardest-hitting knife-edge chopper in the game.
Nick Stuart: Pure brutality from Youngblood there!
Richard Parker: Youngblood is teaching Hanlon a lesson and it is a lesson that Hanlon will never forget. When you have the top title in the game, you’re going to get everyone’s best shot and there will always be somebody ready to take the title away from you.
Nick Stuart: That’s a harsh, but much needed lesson.
Richard Parker: It’s just life.
Nick Stuart: Are you okay?
Richard Parker: Never better.
Hanlon, knuckles pressed into the mat, pushes himself off of the mat and uses the ropes to help himself up. Youngblood moves around Bolamba and cracks another knife-edge chop across the chest of Hanlon. Hayes grimaces from the shot, but shakes his head as he walks away from Youngblood.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Youngblood follows after him, grabs him by the shoulder, and spins him around before connecting with another knife-edge chop.
CRACK!
Hanlon continues to shake his head, refusing to let the pain overcome him any longer as he walks away from Youngblood.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Youngblood, refusing to let the young star away from him, comes up behind him again and spins him back around. Specks of blood fly off from Hanlon as he does so and Youngblood connects with another knife-edge chop.
CRACK!
Hanlon stands there, blood dripping down his chest, with his jaw set and his eyes large and enraged.
HIT ME AGAIN!
Youngblood smiles as he connects with another one.
CRACK!
Hanlon shakes his head.
HIT ME HARDER!
Youngblood is more than happy to oblige.
CRACK!
Hanlon grins before he smashes his head into Youngblood’s, stunning the challenger. Hanlon then drills him with a right hand that rocks Youngblood into the ropes. Hanlon walks over and connects with an open-handed palm slap across the chest of Youngblood.
CRACK!
Nick Stuart: Holy hell, these two are just beating the shit out of one another at this point.
Richard Parker: And the fans love it!
Nick Stuart: Well, maybe not all the fans as we still have Farthington and FLAMBERGE sitting in the front row and they don’t look amused.
Richard Parker: You will not speak of the GREAT AND MAGNIFICENT CECILWORTH FARTHINGTON LIKE THAT!
Youngblood stumbles away from Hanlon, who doesn’t give him an inch, and connects with a scoop slam in the center of the ring. The Diamond of the ReVival is right back up to his feet, but Hanlon is ready for him and connects with another scoop slam! Brandon gets right back only to be scoop slammed to the mat again.
Richard Parker: YES! THE GREATEST MOVE EVER! THE SCOOP SLAM PARTY!
Nick Stuart: You only like it because Hanlon used it on Jiles for what felt like twenty minutes.
Richard Parker: And then won the Universal Title! Of course I love it!
Nick Stuart: Well, I don’t think Youngblood would agree with you.
Richard Parker: To be fair, he doesn’t agree with me on anything.
As Youngblood gets back up to his feet again, Hanlon hoists him onto his shoulder and holds him there while walking around the ring. He then moves to a corner and explodes out of the corner before connecting with a running power slam! Youngblood lies prone in the middle of the ring until Hanlon hooks his leg for the pin.
ONE!
TWO!
THR—NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Not sure how Youngblood kicked out right there!
Richard Parker: Much like Hanlon, you are going to have to wheel Youngblood out of here on a stretcher if he’s leaving here without the title. One of these men will not be the same after tonight.
Hanlon wastes no time as he gets up to his feet and starts to pull Youngblood up to his feet only for Brandon to plant his fist into the midsection of the Universal Champion. Hanlon stumbles away as Youngblood gets back up to his feet. Brandon follows behind him and puts him into a side waist lock. Hanlon plants his fist into the forehead of Youngblood, but it doesn’t deter the Tower of Babel who hoists Hanlon up and drops him with a backdrop driver!
Nick Stuart: He just dropped Hanlon on the back of his skull and I don’t know if Hayes is going to be able to continue on in this match.
Richard Parker: You want to go tell Hanlon that? Because I promise you that kid isn’t going out like that.
Youngblood gets back up to his feet and watches as Hanlon, eyes glassed over, pushes himself up to his feet and holds onto the ropes. Hanlon stumbles, falling down to one knee as Youngblood walks over to him and helps him up. Youngblood looks at the young star, the man with his title, and then looks over at Timo.
YOU SEE HIM?! YOU’RE GOING TO LET THIS CONTINUE?!
Timo walks over, looks at Hanlon, who definitely doesn’t look right. Hanlon though pushes Timo away and then smashes his forearm into the face of Youngblood. The shot rocks Youngblood who takes a few steps backwards as a result of the shot. Brandon places his hand on his jaw and as he takes a step towards Hanlon, he is met with a discus elbow that drops Youngblood to one knee. Hanlon grits his teeth as he looks down at Youngblood and pulls him up before connecting with a spinning forearm that puts Youngblood flat on his back.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Hanlon ROARS to the crowd as he slams his fist into his chest, flecks of dried blood flying off his body as he does so. He reaches down and yanks Youngblood off of the mat before whipping him into the rope and connecting with a lariat that stuns the Tower of Babel as he bounces back into the ropes. As he rebounds off the ropes, Hanlon connects with another lariat that sends Youngblood crashing to the mat. Brandon pushes himself back up to a vertical base and Hanlon begins to tee off on him with a series of big right hands that rock Youngblood, sending beads of sweat flying off his forehead and into the crowd.
Hanlon then spins his forearm around, each rotation faster then the last before he connects a haymaker that sends Youngblood flying onto his shoulder and flips over onto his stomach.
Nick Stuart: THE EVENT HORIZON IS ALIVE!
Richard Parker: Man, I would be in the fetal position.
Nick Stuart: You were in the fetal position when Anna Daniels took one look at you backstage.
Richard Parker: For… reasons.
With Youngblood dazed, Hanlon takes a few steps back, the swagger fully back in him now. He begins to recall his golden days as he kicks the imaginary dirt and acts like he is fixing the gloves on his hands and points at Youngblood as if he has a bat in his hand. He holds it there for a moment as Youngblood, unaware of all of this, gets to his feet, dazed. He then connects with a double axe-handled baseball swing to the jaw of Youngblood that rocks the former Universal Champion.
Hanlon darts out of the ring as Youngblood seems out on his feet and runs around the ring before stopping in front of Farthington and FLAMBERGE, smiling at both of them, before he slides back into the ring. He rushes at Youngblood who plants a boot straight in his midsection. He then spins Hanlon around and connects with a Half-Nelson Suplex!
BOOM!
He then drapes an arm across the chest of the Universal Champion.
ONE!
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
THR—NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: HANLON JUST GOT HIS LEFT SHOULDER UP IN THE NICK OF TIME!
Richard Parker: You play stupid games and this is what happens! You are in a match to defend the Universal Title — WHY ARE YOU DOING ALL OF THESE THEATRICS! PUT YOUNGBLOOD OUT AND RETAIN!
Nick Stuart: That might just be the difference in this match. He had Youngblood exactly where he wanted him and ended up wasting a golden opportunity.
Richard Parker: Just foolish. AND DON’T STOP AND GRIN AT LORD FARTHINGTON! THAT IS FOOLISH IN ALL THE WAYS!
Timo checks on both men, chests heaving, but exhausted. After he is satisfied that both men are still in the match, he begins his count.
ONE!
TWO!
Youngblood is the first to stir, aware of what is happening as he tries to sit up, but feels the pain wracking his body.
THREE!
FOUR!
Hanlon’s eyes shoot open, as he realizes the colossal mistake he just made. He rolls onto his stomach, wanting to take an ice bath in the worst way possible.
FIVE!
SIX!
Brandon plants his knuckles into the mat and begins to push himself up, though his body betrays him a bit.
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
Hanlon grabs onto the middle rope and begins to drag himself up to his feet.
NINE!
Youngblood stands.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Hanlon stands.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Count is broken and they lock eyes with one another, both beaten and battered, but neither out of it quite yet.
Nick Stuart: And both men are trading punches with one another, with neither man wearing down or willing to give an inch.
Richard Parker: If these two kill each other in the middle of the ring, can Farthington come in, pin them both, and take the Universal Title?
Nick Stuart: …no.
Richard Parker: Damn.
With each shot the two trade with one another, sweat flies off, dried blood chips away, and the crowd is riveted. Youngblood connects with a stiff forearm that rocks Hanlon, pushing him into the ropes. Hanlon uses the ropes to rebound and connect with a forearm of his own that Youngblood eats in the mouth. Brandon’s head snaps to the side and he stands there for a moment before spitting out the pooled blood onto the mat. He then rocks Hanlon with a stiff uppercut that sends Hanlon crashing into the corner.
As Youngblood rushes full speed at Hanlon, the Universal Champion gets his boot up and stops him dead in his tracks. Hanlon puts Brandon into a full nelson and looks to be setting him up for a snap dragon suplex, but Youngblood blocks it and manages to hip toss Hayes to free him from the full nelson. Hanlon gets up to his feet and before Youngblood is able to react, Hayes connects with a knee strike to the face that drops Youngblood to one knee.
Hanlon then slips behind him, puts him into a full nelson, and connects with a snap dragon suplex into the corner with Youngblood’s skull crashing against the middle turnbuckle.
Hanlon then drags Youngblood out of the corner and goes for the cover.
ONE!
…
…
…
…
…
TWO!
…
…
…
…
…
THRE— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: I have no idea how, but Youngblood manages to get a right shoulder up just as Timo’s hand was coming crashing to the mat for a third time.
Richard Parker: After the way that Youngblood’s head collided with the turnbuckle, I thought that it was over.
Nick Stuart: I think so did Hanlon as he is looking in disbelief as Youngblood managing to stay in this match.
Richard Parker: You’ve got to put Youngblood six feet under! This is what he does, he lives for moments like this, and there are few big match wrestlers that step to the plate exactly like the Tower of Babel does.
Hanlon sits there, shaking his head, before he gets up to his feet. He drags Youngblood up to his feet and connects with a forearm shot before he whips Youngblood into the ropes. He pops Youngblood into the air and looks for The Epoch only for Youngblood to come down, wrap his arm around Hanlon’s neck and spikes him into the mat with a DDT!
Nick Stuart: NO WAY! Youngblood looked like he was going to be Epoched and he managed to flip it into a DDT!
Richard Parker: The word flip and Youngblood in the same sentence never go together.
Youngblood rolls Hanlon over and goes for the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: COUNT FASTER, TIMO!
Nick Stuart: It looked like Hanlon was out for it and he managed to get a right shoulder up! He’s digging down deep and refuses to see his second reign end as quickly as his first reign did.
Richard Parker: I just… I have dinner reservations! Let’s go!
Nick Stuart: …with who?
Richard Parker: I mean, I invited Farthington. I hope he shows.
Youngblood makes his way up to his feet, his eyes laser focused upon the Event Horizon. The Tower of Babel pulls down the top half of his singlet and leans down before hoisting Hanlon off of the mat and holds him upside down before spiking him head first into the mat with the Karelin Lift!
Nick Stuart: That has to be it!
Richard Parker: We might need an ambulance for Hanlon!
Youngblood then goes for the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: HANLON GOT HIS RIGHT FOOT ON THE BOTTOM ROPE! TIMO JUST SAW IT AT THE LAST MOMENT AND HE IS INFORMING YOUNGBLOOD!
Richard Parker: Oh, if LOOKS could KILL! Youngblood looks like he wants to YEET Timo out of the ring and I don’t think I would mind in the least bit!
Youngblood is on his feet, hands on his hips, as Timo confirms he got his foot on the rope. Brandon shakes his head as he looks down at the leg still stradling the bottom rope. Youngblood smashes his boot into the knee of Hanlon, who immediately pulls it back and starts groaning in pain. Youngblood shakes his head as he yanks Hanlon up to his feet and is met with an uppercut for his troubles.
Brandon fires back with a stiff knee to the body. He goes to whip Hanlon into the ropes only for Hayes to reverse it. As Youngblood rebounds off the ropes, Hanlon pops Youngblood into the air and connects with the 180 degree spinout chokeslam!
Nick Stuart: THE EPOCH! HANLON IS GOING TO RETAIN!!
Richard Parker: WHERE THE HELL DID HANLON PULL THAT OUT FROM?!
Hanlon then collapses on top of Youngblood.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: THIS TIME YOUNGBLOOD MANAGED TO GET HIS FOOT ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!
Richard Parker: WHY ARE YOU SO LOUD ALL OF THE TIME?!
Hanlon rolls off of Youngblood and stares up at Timo, not believing that Youngblood managed to kick out after all that.
The ‘Hammerin’ One looks at Youngblood, his chest heaving from the hell that they’ve put their bodies through in this match. He gets up to his feet and drags Youngblood up with him. How Youngblood managed to get his foot on the bottom rope baffles Hanlon considering the amount of dead weight he is having to carry in this moment.
Hanlon goes to whip Youngblood into the ropes, but Youngblood manages to reverse it. As Hanlon comes back to him, Youngblood lifts him up over his head and holds him up there. Youngblood, face determined, holds him up there for what feels like an eternity in an impressive display of strength before he lowers him slightly and then launches Hanlon into the air. As Hanlon comes crashing down to Earth, Youngblood bounces off t he ropes and connects with a spear to the ribs of Hanlon, driving him into the mat in the process.
Nick Stuart: Where did Youngblood manage to get the strength to do that?! He looked dead to the world just a moment ago.
Richard Parker: I think it’s time to fill you in on the truth, Nick.
Nick Stuart: What are you talking about?
Richard Parker: Youngblood is a robot and is controlled by ChatGPT.
Nick Stuart: …go away.
Youngblood lies next to Hanlon, his chest heaving, before he slowly sits up. Brandon begins to pull himself up to his feet and as he reaches down to grab Hanlon, the Universal Champion pulls him into a small package and Timo immediately begins his count.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Youngblood just manages to kick out! He’s now back up to his feet and Hanlon isn’t too far behind him, grabbing his ribs in the process. Youngblood kicks Hanlon in the midsection, bounces off the ropes, and goes for a knee to the side of the head, but Hanlon just moves out of the way!
Richard Parker: Good call there by Hanlon because his brains would have been scrambled.
Nick Stuart: Youngblood turns around and Hanlon connects with a jumping shoulder sit-out jawbreaker!
Richard Parker: Where did he pull that out from?!
Having connected with the Flash Point, Hanlon crawls over and drapes an arm across Youngblood’s chest.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: Youngblood managed to kick out and Hanlon’s eyes are about as wide as they go.
Nick Stuart: Disbelief etched across the face of Hanlon, who thought that was it.
Richard Parker: I don’t even think Youngblood has opened his eyes. He just acted out of instinct there!
Nick Stuart: This is why Youngblood is a legend, he’s got another gear in there that most people simply can’t fathom.
Hanlon sits on the mat and looks over at Youngblood, who is starting to open his eyes and looks around. He slowly sits up and locks eyes with Hanlon, whose mustache is drenched with sweat. Hanlon gets to his knees and Youngblood slowly starts to do the same. Their eyes are locked as if they are two wolves bound to battle to the death. As they get to their feet, Timo backs up, not wanting to get in the middle of what is about to happen.
Youngblood explodes out of his stance and drives his shoulder into the stomach of Hanlon and drives him into the nearby corner. The Tower of Babel proceeds to slam his shoulder repeatedly into the midsection of Hanlon until Hanlon is virtually sitting on the middle turnbuckle. Youngblood takes a few steps back and then rushes at Hanlon who rolls out of the way. Youngblood collides with the turnbuckle and bounces back into an uppercut from Hanlon.
Nick Stuart: The youth and agility of Hanlon has come in handy at key moments in this match and none may have been bigger than in that moment!
Richard Parker: Yeah, but Youngblood is on his knees and he needs to do something in a hurry.
Hanlon hops onto the second turnbuckle and leaps off, looking for a double axe-handle to the back of Youngblood’s neck only for the Diamond of the ReVival to plant his fist into Hanlon’s stomach. Hanlon stumbles away from Youngblood, but the crafty Youngblood yanks Hanlon back and connects with a Half-Nelson Suplex!
He then goes for the cover on Hanlon.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: And Hanlon JUST manages to get his shoulder up!
Richard Parker: Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
Youngblood slams his fist repeatedly into the mat as he thought he’d put Hanlon away there. Hayes rolls onto his stomach and his head is buried into the mat. Youngblood immediately floats over to the back of Hanlon and wraps his massive forearm around the throat of Hanlon and pulls back, looking to choke him out.
Nick Stuart: And Hanlon is flailing wildly, trying to get the beast off of him.
Richard Parker: Easier said than done if you ask me!
Nick Stuart: Hanlon isn’t giving up though, even as Timo is asking him. You can see that Youngblood has it cinched in tight and Hanlon’s face is starting to turn blue.
Richard Parker: Tap, Hayes, just tap!
Hanlon though can’t hear Youngblood. He tries to turn his hips to get Youngblood off of his lower back, but Youngblood has the positional advantage. He reaches out with his right arm to get the bottom rope while he tries to peel off Youngblood’s arm from his neck.
Hayes looks at the bottom rope, right there, but yet so far away. His finger tips graze the bottom rope, but they need a bit more length to get there.
And he fades.
Fades.
Fa—
F—
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And then he lunges forward and manages to wrap his hand around the bottom rope.
Nick Stuart: And Timo is beginning his count for the rope break!
Richard Parker: Youngblood quickly breaks it and gets up to his feet. He is deadlifting Hanlon off of the mat and looks to be going for another belly to back suplex.
Nick Stuart: That he is, but Hanlon is holding onto the rope and Youngblood is having difficulty extricating him from it!
Youngblood drops Hanlon on the mat and walks over to Hayes, standing over him in the process. As he does, Hanlon explodes off the mat and lifts Youngblood onto his shoulders before slamming him onto the mat with a Samoan Drop. Both men scramble to their feet with Hanlon managing to get his boot into Youngblood’s midsection before connecting with a Death Valley Driver. Hanlon then hooks Youngblood’s leg to begin the count.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: Youngblood out of nowhere with the kickout!
Richard Parker: These two are going to be dead and we’re going to have to have a tournament to crown a new champion at this rate.
Hanlon pushes himself up to his feet, the exhaustion settling in. He reaches down and grabs Youngblood, bringing him up to his feet. Youngblood throws a punch into Hanlon’s midsection, but the Event Horizon follows it up with a stiff knee to the midsection. Hayes then connects with a clubbing forearm across the back of the Tower of Babel.
Hanlon then hoists Youngblood onto his shoulders in a torture rack. He holds him there for a moment, his eyes narrowing, as he walks over to the second turnbuckle and ascends.
Nick Stuart: Hanlon setting Youngblood up for the Super Massive. If he hits this, we might need a stretcher for the Diamond of the ReVival!
Richard Parker: Youngblood fighting back though, throwing elbows to the side of Hanlon’s head.
Hanlon tries to brush the shots off, but Youngblood uses everything he has left in his tank to repeatedly slam his elbow into the side of Hanlon’s skull until Hayes has no choice but to let Youngblood go. Brandon lands on the mat as Hanlon takes a moment to gather himself.
Youngblood then leaps to his feet and rushes to Hanlon, standing on the bottom turnbuckle. He wraps his arms around Hanlon’s waist, who is still on the second turnbuckle. Youngblood climbs onto the second turnbuckle with Hanlon and then…
Nick Stuart: RANDALLPLEX OFF THE SECOND TURNBUCKLE!
Richard Parker: Hanlon got dropped on his head HARD!
Nick Stuart: If Youngblood can get to Hanlon, he could win this thing!
Brandon, his body running on empty, crawls over to Hanlon and hooks the leg after the Randallplex from the second turnbuckle and Timo begins his count.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
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DING DING DING!
RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Nick Stuart: THE TOWER OF BABEL, THE DIAMOND OF THE REVIVAL, THE SUPLEX DADDY HIMSELF HAS DONE IT! HE HAS REGAINED THE UNIVERSAL TITLE!
Richard Parker: Absolutely surreal.
Vince Howard: YOUR WINNER… AND NEW UNIVERSAL CHAMPION… BRANDON! YOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUNG! BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Youngblood is slow to his feet as Timo Bolamba gathers the title and walks over to Youngblood before raising his arm in victory. He then hands the title to Youngblood who can’t believe he has captured the title for a second time. He holds the title up high for everyone in the T-Mobile Arena and then clutches it against his chest before collapsing onto the mat, falling to his knees.
As he is kneeling with the Universal Title, he just looks at the title he has battled to reclaim as Hanlon lies next to him, his chest heaving.
Nick Stuart: What a hellacious match from these two.
Richard Parker: That is an understatement. These two laid it all on the line and we now have our second Universal Champion in the ReVival era.
Nick Stuart: Hanlon has nothing to be disappointed in—
Richard Parker: He couldn’t successfully defend the title for a second time! That’s going to eat away at him.
Nick Stuart: Yes, but—
Voice: What is this, a re-run?
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!