After the death of an ACW architect... the company had tried to run as smoothly as possible, well, all but one man.As his forgotten son fights off the demons of ACW will anyone come to his aid? Or will the WhiteHAWK need to fight them all by himself?ACW is changing, now and for the better.It's adapt or be left behind.
ACW.COM PROUDLY PRESENTS
S01 E03
Recorded LIVE! From the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
A Foundation of Codes
We opened the show with the excited voice of Renaud Cardinal' "Welcome to Courage! We have breaking news to open the show, we're about to be joined by..."
Cardinal was cut off by the lights darkening and the raucous Rod Laver crowd erupted as Tony Millar chipped, "The Code of Honor!"
The lights remained out for a moment until we heard..
*Static*
*Static*
The former Slytron finally flickered on showing the now famous angelic figure with other similar angelic figures standing behind her singing a Gregorian chant. She began speaking.
"Finally..They Are Here.."
"Finally..It Has Come.."
"Honor...Is Now Among Us.."
*Silence*
The figures stand with their heads down, the silence is interrupted after five seconds by what could be best described as a bell chime.
*Ding*
"Arise!"
After the angelic female says her last statement the lights rise to a somewhat haze and an explosion of blue pyro encompassed the stage. An unknown instrumental that sounded awe-inspiring began playing as...
"The Dream" Marcus Davis
El Rey Futuro
Hijo De Angel
All appeared on the stage standing side by side to a roaring crowd, a spotlight appeared on them as they began walking towards the ring interacting with fans. We were able to notice that they all were wearing shirts that read, "Foundation of Honor" with a new symbol of the group taking up most of the front of the shirt.
They slowly made their way to the ring as the crowd continued to cheer their arrival as they continued to circumvent the ring enjoying their official ACW debut. Marcus even pointed in the direction of the announce table before following Futuro and Angel into the ring.
Before entering Davis grabbing a microphone from the ringside attendant, the lights returned to normal and were able to see each with somewhat of a new look. Hijo De Angel and Futuro remained in masks, but they now had a light blue and white pattern that matched their shirt.
Marcus' formally black hair now was a grouping of dyed white, light blue, and red streaks giving him a completely unique look as not a strand of black remained. Davis walked around around the ring briefly with a smirk as did his cohorts, playing to the crowd as well.
Marcus finally brought the microphone to his lips, "Surprised?!" Davis' tone has a bit of sarcasm as he flings his right hand into the air, the hot crowd shows their appreciation with more cheers.
All three nod their heads as the camera pans around the crowd briefly, "That's exactly what we were hoping for! No longer are we going to deal with the politics, the drama, and the lack of real competition that we saw in a certain promotion in the states...We have come to ACW in order to compete against the best..."
Marcus raised his right index finger, "And to entertain each and everyone one of you. No longer will you hear jokes about a Marcus Davis who is afraid to show emotion, as you saw last week...We aren't afraid to get our hands dirty."
The crowd cheers again as Marcus smirked out towards them, "We are the Foundation of Honor, and as you saw last week we aren't simply going to sit back and let a group of wannabe reptiles run rampant over our new home."
Major reaction for the shot at the Beasts of Prey, "Do these craptiles seriously expect anyone to take them seriously? We've been sitting back and watching them over the past few weeks, trying to look as tough as possible...Instead they've looked like a bunch of teenage boys at their first college party, with their constant licking of their lips."
Marcus nods his head, "Here's a hint fellows, being a creeper went out in the 80s, you're not going to get very far with that song and dance." The crowd cheers again as Marcus tips his head towards Hijo De Angel before handing the Lucha Libre superstar the microphone.
"Thank you Marcus.." Hijo leans against the ropes in his laid demeanor before beginning, "We've spent a long time watching and waiting to make our return, we were quite surprised to see the Beasts of Prey showing up and deciding to try and take out the roster. First Hank Wright and then Spike Saunders."
Cheers for both of those names, "We decided to stand by our morals and do something about it. The ACW just got rid of the Calabites, it isn't time for a copy cat group to pop up and cause the same problems as before. It's time for these Beasts to learn what a real foundation is built upon."
His voice has an obvious Hispanic accent, he looks in Futuro's direction. He beings walking over to the silent Luchadore known for his deck of cards, "Have anything to say Futuro?" The crowd that knows about his silence begin cheering Marcus folds his arms and smiles.
Futuro surprisingly takes the microphone...he held the microphone to his lips: “….”
That was a strange sound. Oh, wait…the quiet competitor wasn’t even allowed the opportunity to address the ACW fanbase, cut off by the sound of mysterious species lurking in the jungle, provided by Massive Attack’s track, ‘Superpredators.’
The lights went out as El Rey Futuro, Hijo De Angel and Marcus Davis stood on a line with their hands up, ready to battle the intruders again, just like they had on Episode 2 when they got the better of the Beasts of Prey.
When light returned to the arena, Wolf, Serpiente and Bull were all on different sides of the ring, collectively jumping up onto the apron at the same time and entering simultaneously, licking their lips at the prospect of revenge. The Code of Honor stood upright, prepared to fight and when Willis ran towards Futuro, he got a shock as El Rey ducked underneath the big clothesline and then backed the big beast up into the ropes, the two competitors jockeying for position.
Wolf slung a punch at Davis, who responded with a fair forearm to the side of the head and followed it up with another three in total, rocking Wolf to the core. That left Serpiente and El Hijo De Angel, who were trading blows in the middle of the ring, Serpiente gaining a slight advantage with a knee to the stomach but not for long as Angel avoided the Latin Snake’s clutches and dropped him with a gorgeous dropkick, daring him to come back a second time. The Beasts all regained their composure and were set to go for Part 2, sprinting towards their newfound rivals and they all engaged in tie-ups…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Security stepped in and amongst flailing arms and forearms, the six men were separated, though none of them were backing down from the others. At one point, Wolf dived towards Davis, breaking the security wall but he got there, he ate another forearm and was about to be brought to a SUDDEN STOP…
When security intervened and prevented Marcus from giving us another exhibition of the famous ¾ turn neckbreaker he’s perfected over the years where others couldn't.
Slowly, security ushered the Beasts back, and there were 12 of them in total, twice the amount of the two factions combined, as the Beasts rolled out underneath the ring and retreated. Willis and Wolf smiled, typical of their unpredictable behaviour.
Isurus, who was watching the whole episode develop backstage, wore a concerned look. Was he worried? Or was he plotting to break the Foundation.
Early Christmas Present...
Renaud Cardinal played voice-over as our cameras took us into a hospital: “Fans, two days ago, ACW paid a special visit to The Royal Children’s Hospital here in Melbourne. With Christmas around the corner, some of our stars decided to give the kids early presents.”
In walks the world’s biggest Santa Claus, all 7’3” of him. Who knew Father Christmas was that tall and wore shades? Then again, it is summer here in Australia remember.
A lot of the young children squealed with delight as they saw Spike Claus, sack and all, stroll in and give his best gruff voice, barking ‘HO, HO, HO.’ Many of the youngsters came over to cuddle Spike, well his legs, at least and he dished gifts out left, right and centre like a modern-day Scrooge Ebeneezer upon discovering the true essence of Christmas.
One little girl sat on Spike’s knee. She was 4, had long, brown hair, and decked out in pink and blue dungarees. When asked what her name was, she softly replied: “Emily.”
“Have you been good this year, Emily?”
The nervous child, sucking her thumb, got a laugh from everyone in the ward when she said ‘No.’ Saunders played along and pretended to be startled: “Really? Do you promise to be a good girl, next year?”
She nodded. “There, that’s better. Merry Christmas, Emily,” Spike said as he offered her a parting present.
Saunders spoke: "These are the times that I really enjoy being an athlete, entertainer, and celebrity to those that perceive it. It allows me and whomever else to go see great kids like these guys, and bring them some cheer from back home. Kudos to All-Star Wrestling's new benefactors for allowing us to do this during our off-time. Even if not approved the four of us would still have been here."
Later, Santa changed, though he didn’t lose the shades as Saunders returned as himself, though not alone. His latest protégé, Billy Law, was with him and the kids were astonished when the two of them walked in together. Both men were over seven feet and weighed over 650lbs, making them the largest tandem in the industry.
Billy Law commented: "I just got into ACW recently, but I must say to be able to give these kids a shining moment was a blast. Unfortunately we had to sit on the sidelines during Kid Chameleon's carting exercise with the kids. We just could not fit!"
Saunders added: "Of course, we got back at them later in the evening. No worries."
While they weren’t anywhere near as tall, The Players also got a nice welcome, Kid Chameleon entering the ward in a Super Mario outfit and in a go-kart. I wonder where he got that idea…
Paul Sanders, dressed down in a white shirt and blue jeans, spoke: “It’s so easy coming here, particularly with Kid, who lives up to his name; I can assure you of that!”
That point was reaffirmed as we cut to footage of Kid Chameleon racing three other kids in a playground version of Super Mario Kart. Kid was 20 metres behind everyone else complaining: “Where’s the B button on this thing?”
Saunders and Law stood off on the sidelines cheering the kids on, unfortunately unable to participate in such a fun activity due to their size.
Sanders continued: “We’re privileged to be in ACW and also to be asked to come here to the Royal Children’s Hospital. These children are a reminder to anyone why we become wrestlers. We were all children once and we all have heroes, mine was my dad and he’s the reason I became a wrestler. I’d like to think the four of us have made the kids happy, I think we’ve succeeded, but not as happy as they’ve made us.”
Chameleon was no longer in his Mario outfit, opting to dress down – well, not quite. He was wearing his in-ring get-up of a black leather jacket with matching shades, ripped jeans and a white t-shirt: “I’m perceived to be crazy and that’s because I am, I guess. I am a kid and my character appeals to them. I’ve loved every second of hanging out with these fantastic children, all of them, and they’ve touched our hearts. This isn’t work. This is a day off for me, Paul, Billy and Spike.”
Kid had five boys standing in front of him, smiles wider than the Sydney Harbor Bridge, with two Nintendo Wii numchucks in each hand: “Ready, guys. Let’s show Health Fanatics you don’t have to go to the gym to be in shape. Ready…steady…go.”
Collectively, all of them, including Kid, started doing curls with their numchucks, chanting each passing number as they completed them. They eventually reached 10 when Kid, out of breath, waved to indicate the gruelling workout was over: “Well done. See. Boys, thank you. One last thing. Who’s gonna win in Melbourne: Health Fanatics or The Players?”
They screamed: “THE PLAYERS.”
Before they left, there was one last thing to be done: Billy Law and Spike Saunders v The Players…
On X-Box?!
The four superstars were button-bashing on ACW Legends: The Video Game. Spike joked as he’s the only one out of them who can actually be selected as a character in the game!
Everyone was all smiles as the children exchanged hugs with their heroes and one final photograph was taken and shown to the audience with Law, Saunders, Chameleon and Kids, who had their arms around each other and ten children in front of them.
TAG TEAM MATCH - STANDARD RULES The Players v Health Fanatics
Paul Sanders and Kid Chameleon were already in the ring. Sandersl was happily talking away to Paige Allen, the pair smiling as they awaited the arrival of the Health Fanatics while Chameleon stood in the corner with his Nintendo DS, completely engrossed in whichever game he was playing. When ‘Call on Me’ started, Health Fanatics offered the privilege of entering 2nd this week by virtue of victory on Episode 2, Chameleon paused his game and handed it to Paige, insisting it be kept in a safe place.
She did as she was told; take it out to the timekeeper’s table prior to returning to the ring. As she did, she saw Sanders roll his eyes and smiled, flicking her hair back and getting into the authoritative mentality, which would surely be challenged by Jim Naysmith, who was leading his boys to ringside.
Naysmith was annoying everyone in Melbourne, just as he had at the Burswood Dome in Perth, constantly blowing his whistle and generally letting everyone in the building that he and the Health Fanatics were here. Damon Somner wore a smarmy, smug expression, Greg Matthews backing him up as ‘The Powerhouse’ of the group remained devoid of emotion, apparently focused on sealing another victory, just as he had done when he made Kid Chameleon ‘cool down’ with his huge Avalanche Tiger Driver.
Prior to stepping into the ring, there was a set of weights at ringside. Greg sat down and hoisted the load up into the air with ease 12 times. During this exhibition of strength, Naysmith’s whistle was constantly going, bugging the fuck out of everyone, every time his charge completed a full rep.
With that out of the way, Naysmith wiped the sweat from Greg’s forehead and Somner patted the strongman on the shoulders. They were whipping him into frenzy, his face shaking, as he glared at Sanders and Chameleon, who in fairness, weren’t intimidated one iota.
Matthews folded his arms as Naysmith rubbed his shoulders inside the ring. Somner stood on the apron, making it clear who was going to kick things off for HF. On the other side of the ring, Sanders’ arms were weaving in windmill-like patterns, determined to indulge in a test of strength with Greg, but Kid Chameleon pleaded his case with Paul. Sanders turned to the crowd, arms outstretched, apparently asking them for their opinions on the matter. They gave KC a glowing reference and while he was reluctant, he stepped out of the squared circle to allow the two men who’d concluded proceedings in their previous meeting to initiate this encounter.
Before the bell sounded, Kid Chameleon extended his hand to Greg, who stared at it and then a wry and rare smile enveloped in confidence and contempt. He turned to Naysmith and Somner who also laughed, though not as hard as they did moments later, when Matthews turned to Chameleon and slapped him across the kisser, provoking a negative response from the residents of Melbourne. To add further insult, Matthews removed Kid’s glasses and threw them to the ground, standing on them, squashing them like a bug. Allen, the official, speedily picked up the remnants of broken glass as Chameleon went face-to-face with Matthews. Once Paige had returned, she got out of the way again as Chameleon assumed as a side headlock. Matthews was too fresh, strong, well-prepared and well-built for that and pushed Chameleon into the ropes nearest the aisleway, dropping down as Kid rebounded, cris-crossing in the process. When Chameleon ironically came back to him like a boomerang, he was in dangerous territory.
Overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Greg’s power was purely awesome. In one swoop, he caught Kid and flung him halfway across the ring like an adolescent man-handling an Action Man figure.
Chameleon rolled out onto the floor, Allen ensuring she kept an eye on Naysmith and Somner, so they wouldn’t exploit The Player. Greg waggled his fingers, challenging Paul to come in and test his might. Paul looked at Paige, who nodded, and allowed him to become the legal man without tagging his fallen partner, who was struggling to get to his feet, huddled up into a ball on the outside.
Greg knew what he was doing and challenged the young Sanders to a game of Roman Knuckle lock. Paul wasn’t sure whether to accept, believing it to be a trap, but keen to highlight that he wasn’t afraid of Matthews in spite of the vast upper-body development and power packed within those muscles. So, not heeding the crowd’s warning, the 2nd-generation star engaged and within seconds, The Powerhouse predictably took a shortcut, kicking Paul in the pectoral area and then twisting his fingers. Sanders was in a world of hurt, his grimace betraying his bravado. Matthews reiterated his status as the strongest member of HF with an effortless scoop powerslam prior to tagging in ‘the legs,’ Damon Somner, otherwise known as The Engine.
How Somner relished this. He helped Paul up, only to drop him with a swinging neckbreaker. Aptly, count number one of the contest garnered exactly that – a one-count.
Damon didn’t let that deter him and he impressively negotiated a snap mare. He then stung Sanders’ neck with a clothesline from point-blank range, which made Paul wince and that in itself, an admission of pain, gave The Engine confidence.
Somner picked Paul up again and added to those levels of esteem, carrying Paul on his shoulders. He ran forward, reminding everyone he was no slouch in the strength stakes either, belying his slender frame, planting The Viking with an excellent rolling fireman’s carry slam.
Chameleon was seen returning to his corner, still nursing his neck after taking a crash landing, and gingerly stepping up onto the apron, again available to tag for Paul, who may need to exercise that right sometime soon.
No denying Damon was in terrific condition. Nevertheless, he didn’t want to overexert himself and tagged Greg back in, content with his progress, and leaving Paul at his mercy.
Matthews applauds Kid for ‘rejoining them’ and then points at him, telling him this is for him. He scrapes Sanders off the canvas and puts him back there with aplomb and authority courtesy of an emphatic double underhook suplex. Kid didn’t ignore the pinfall attempt; however, entering the fray to kick Matthews just enough as the referee’s hand slapped the mat for a second time.
Greg chuckled to himself as Paige issued a warning to Chameleon. Matthews tagged Damon back in, who timed his sprint to perfection as Paul was getting up to one knee with a knee of his own, straight to the face, eliciting the maiden two-count of the bout.
Somner’s cockiness was rising as he backed Sanders up into the ropes. Unlike Kid with Greg earlier though, Paul refused to play boomerang in this scene, hanging onto the opposing ropes and allowing Damon to take a fall himself, finding nothing but air and, ultimately, canvas. This was Sanders’ chance to get out of there, take a break and get his best friend in there for a while. Kid wanted it, the fans urged it and they clapped Rip City’s Chief, supporting his struggle to make it to the promise land – his corner.
Damon was in two minds: 1) Stop Sanders or 2) Take a rain check himself.
The indecision probably led him to make the wrong decision. He chose option 1 and by the time he was in position…
Sanders had tagged Chameleon.
Alex The Kid surprised Somner with a leg lariat. He then turned Somner’s world upside down with a fine-looking flapjack. Paige Allen was struggling to maintain order as Greg strutted in and was embarrassingly inaccurate with a wild swing that missed Chameleon by a country mile…
Hurricanrana!
The fans responded to Kid’s punishment of the Renaud Cardinal mistake with a dazzling frankensteiner.
Damon was getting up again…
Not for long, he wasn’t…
AXEL SUPLEX!
That was Kid’s German suplex, dedicated to Axel Stone from the Streets of Rage series, complete with a bridge…
One…
Two…
Th….
It was Matthews who saved Somner, stomping on Chameleon to break the bridge. Just as Greg’s about to gain a semblance of revenge on KC, Sanders darts towards him from the blindside and plants him with a bulldog headlock! It was time for Greg Matthews to take a tumble to the outside, payback for the treatment he’d handily dished out in the early seconds of this outing. The crowd were really getting into The Players, who’d come back in a big way.
The roof almost came off the Rod Laver Arena when Jim Naysmith stuck his beak in, that damn whistle still in mouth, though not for long as Sanders stood up and decked the manager, much to the delight of an appreciative Australian audience.
Somner was up and punted Sanders with a boot to the abdomen once he’d turned round but Chameleon was standing behind Damon and took him out with a single-leg takedown of his own and then, encouraged by the crowd, picked The Engine up and slung him across the ring with a GIANT TOSS.
Kid, at this point, was directing traffic. Who knew The World’s Greatest Gamer was a ring general? He told Sanders to go back to their corner, which he did. Kid then sent Damon into the ropes and stunned him with a kick to the stomach, running over to tag Paul, who came into the ring in an identical fashion…
Somner was keeled over…
Paul was in flight…
1 + 1 = TRAILBLAZER!
It was Kid’s cranium that had bounced off the mat last week. Somner’s did the same after feeling the full effect of The Portland native’s Rocker Dropper.
He flipped him over like a ‘technician’ handling a burger at a fast-food chain and hooked the leg, folding him up as Paige Allen counted…
1….
Greg Matthews was on the apron.
2….
Kid Chameleon saw The Powerhouse.
2 ½…
Matthews digested a Shining Wizard Sandwich!
3!!!
The Players embraced as Paige Allen was happy to separate them and raise their hands in the air, just in time for Naysmith to curse; finally recovering following the right hand he’d received, courtesy of Paul Sanders.
The realisation was his boys just weren’t up for it or good enough, not tonight, not here in Melbourne, where The Players had promised a set of children at the nearby Royal Children’s Hospital they’d avenge last week’s loss.
The game wasn’t over. No, not yet. But…
The game was ON.
WINNER: The Players
History Lesson - Legends II
This is how the world ends...
Somehow, in spite of the massive cheer that went up from the crowd, it hadn’t quite sunk in yet. The stress of spiraling 630 degrees in the air towards an opponent you hoped would be there when you landed tended to leave one somewhat incoherent.
But as Seymour realized that he was on top of Khristain Keller, who wasn’t moving, suddenly the cheering took on another meaning.
Seymour had won.
Doug Whitmore’s tap on the shoulder finally fully jarred the exhausted Seymour from his shock. If that hadn’t, though, the referee’s words did.
“Congratulations, kid. You did it.”
Every single muscle in Seymour Almasy’s body throbbed. Even some he didn’t know he had. Slowly, he tried to make his way to his feet, only to fail at that effort. The victorious man began a crawl to the ropes, hoping to use them to pull himself up.
As this went on, the head official of ACW went to the opposite side of the ring, taking the ACW World Championship from the timekeeper, and beginning the walk over to present the belt to its new holder.
Grabbing first the middle rope, and then the top, Seymour managed to bring himself up to a vertical base, albeit a shaky one greatly supported by the ropes.
For the first time since the bell, he looked around at the Alumni Hall.
Max Danger was on the floor, courtesy of his Jecht Shot, just now starting to come to. Khristain Keller lay in the middle of the ring, defeated by two of Seymour’s best tactics, and a third that he wasn’t even quite positive he COULD do, but fuck, when the chips are down in the biggest match of your LIFE, you’ll try absolutely anything.
Finally, as if it had been forgotten in the hubbub, “Terra in Black” by Ailsean began playing, and by then, there could be no doubt.
“YOUR WINNER,” the voice of the ring announcer boomed, from somewhere at ringside, “AND NEW ALL-STAR CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION….SEYMOUR ALMASY!”
The exhausted Almasy soon found his arm thrust in the air by the excited veteran official. Whitmore let go of Seymour’s arm, only to place The Championship in his hands.
The very thing that every single man who stepped into an ACW ring craved.
He dropped to his knees from the shock of it all. He’d come here to escape his life, to forget the divorce and sorrow that had become his life.
And now, after fighting the best in the world for over a year, he WAS the best. The man.
Seymour began to cry. He couldn’t help it.
Neither could Max Danger. Though, to be fair, the King of Submission was crying for an entirely different reason. It had taken him so long, so very long to finally become a world champion.
And he’d only managed to hold onto it a week.
Still, sorrows aside, he began the long, lonely walk up the aisle way as soon as he was able. Upset though he was, Max Danger was nothing if not a professional.
And he knew that this was the RPG nerd’s moment.
“SEY-MOUR! SEY-MOUR! SEY-MOUR!”
The chanting coming down from the ACW crowd finally roused Khristain Keller. With the music blaring and fans chanting, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened.
Keller sat up, looking at Seymour clutching his new prize. It was over now, he realized. A career that had seen K2 accomplish much. He was the winner of 2003’s King of Ages. He had finally become ACW champion.
As much as he didn’t want to, he could walk away without anything to be ashamed of.
Approaching Seymour, he could see the Final Fantasy wince. Kyle Keller almost chuckled at that, as he leant over to whisper something in Almasy’s ear, something the smaller man never saw coming.
“Good luck, champ“
It was the closest thing to a compliment Keller had ever given Seymour. And Almasy knew it, giving the departing ACW legend a respectful nod of the head as he too soon disappeared behind the curtain.
That left Seymour Almasy, his title, and the fans.
SINGLES MATCH - STANDARD RULES Jack Harris vs. Carrachio Salfuego
Over the last couple of weeks, fans were witnessed to the former Cabalite, Jack Harris. A former United States and ACW Tag Team Champion now going into the business of hurting people and actually getting paid for it (aside from his usual ACW salary which fueled his... er, extracurricular activities outside of work.). And last week, the fans witnessed as he got his first hit out on former two-time ACW World Heavyweight Champion Andy Sharp.
And now, here on the third edition of the brand new COURAGE, “The Unit” Jack Harris was now going one on one with young Carrachio Salfuego. A lifetime ago, the two men had a bitter feud amongst ACW and its defunct All-Star Academy, but times had changed for both. Salfuego came back from an injury that made him miss Legends V and Jack Harris was about to make it on his own. With that having been said, let's get ready for a fuckin' match, eh?
“The following contest is scheduled for one fall... first, making his way to the ring from Madrid, Spain, weighing in at 205 pounds... CARRACHIO SALFUEGO!”
“Ameno” by Era.
And as the opening riffs to the song played over the speakers, out came 205 pounds of HOT FIYA himself. The Fiery Underdog, as he was called by the fanbase. Possessing incredible speed and great aerial maneuvers, the quick and flashy Carrachio Salfuego looked to be in decent spirits despite who he was facing. The permagrin never left the youngster's face as he approached the ring and slid under the ropes before nipping up to his feet! Impressive, youngster. Most impressive.
“Still Running” by Chevelle.
And out came the familiar guitar chords. Once used for his time in the Cabalites KJK, now Jack Harris was an island alone. And by the sick grin on his face as the big man parted the curtains, he might have preferred it that way.
“And his opponent... from London, England, weighing in at 292 pounds... “THE UNIT” JACK HARRIS!”
The arena began to fill with red spotlights among the darkness as Jack Harris walked to the ring, the same gross smile on his face showing yellow-stained teeth. He clinched his calloused hands together and walked calmly to the ring while Carrachio Salfuego thought about things like strategy. Get this big goof off his feet ASAP and hit him with something awesome off the top rope or hit my finisher when I can. Words that were clearly much easier said than done, no doubt.
Harris stepped over the ropes and looked out to the fans with his menacing scowl before he did the same to the other sides of the arena. Nobody was safe from looking at the mug that only some crazy spinster grandmother may possibly love (because she'd probably be blind).
DING DING DING!
Jack Harris barely gave Carrachio Salfuego time to mount any kind of a defense, but if anybody in ACW might have been fast enough to do so, it would be the Fiery Underdog. He evaded Harris' attempt at a grab and rolled right underneath him, popping back to his feet. Moving at light speed was going to be about all Salfuego could do if he wanted to win this match.
The Fiery Underdog decided to try and take a leg out from under the big man, but Jack Harris was a little smarter than the average henchman and brought a knee up, essentially smashing Carrachio’s face into his own knee.
With the Fiery Underdog at his mercy, Harris showed no restraint in beating him down good with some hard clubbing forearms that brought the Spaniard to his knees. He took Salfuego and whipped him across the ring with every ounce of strength in his body, but Salfuego quickly adjusted and slid underneath the ropes.
Salfuego slid all the way to his feet on the outside and taunted Jack Harris.
“Come on, slowass, get with it!” Salfuego teased.
Harris obliged and went after him, giving chase to him all around the ring. As Salfuego slid into the ring, Harris tried to climb up the ropes but some fancy footwork from the young underdog allowed him to slingshot right over the ropes and back around, dropkicking Harris in the face! The big man fell on his ass which sent the crowd into a laughing fit.
One had to question the wisdom of Salfuego as getting Jack Harris angry couldn’t possibly help him, but if he could throw the giant off his game, he could fare better than his last outing against a big, tough customer.
“YA LITTLE WANKSTAIN… I’MA FUCKIN’ ‘AVE YER HIDE!”
He stomped back to his feet and tried to climb back into the ring again, but Salfuego met him at the ropes and peppered the big man with some Forearm Smashes. Harris shook them off long enough to shove him away, but Salfuego rolled through and landed back on his feet again… OOOOOOOOOH!
That was the sound of the crowd gasping in horror at the NASTY right hand that Harris blasted Salfuego with. Salfuego crumbled to a knee, but Harris quickly pulled him back upwards and connected with a very solid Short-Arm Clothesline that turned the kid upside down, inside out, and back to his normal self all in one shot. Salfuego was a grease spot as Harris quickly rolled him over.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO!
The Fiery Underdog had plenty of reserves in the tank and quickly kicked out of the nasty shot thrown by The Unit. Jack Harris softened up Salfuego with a pair of knees to the chest, then a couple stomps to the head just for good measure.
“Today’s a fine day for an ass-whoopin’. Dad used to say it builds character!”
With another nasty sneer, he picked Salfuego up off the ground and tossed him across the ring. The very second he landed in the corner, Jack Harris bumrushed him in the corner and crushed him with a mighty nasty Body Avalanche! Salfuego slumped over to into a heap while Harris turned him over and went for a second cover. He was sure this shit was done. The kid had enough.
ONE!
TWO!
TH… APPARENTLY NOT!
Jack Harris was a little surprised that he managed to kick out of his move, but wasn’t going to think anything of it. Instead, he picked him up off the mat and locked him up in a tight Double Underhook submission with Salfuego standing. He brought up several knees into Salfuego’s chest and head and continued to shake him down violently in an attempt to wear him down.
“Do you give up, Salfeugo?” asked referee Curtis Barnes.
“NO!”
Salfuego wasn’t going to go down that easily and continued to fight back against the big man, but The Man of Demand quickly thought ahead and brought up two more knees into his chest, deciding to let go of the hold as Salfuego fell to the canvas. Instead, he decided that he was going to use a rudimentary Abdominal Stretch to try and soften him up some more like he’d been doing the majority of the match.
To add some more punishement, he stretched the kid with one arm while grabbing his leg and pulling that back, too, essentially showing off how flexible Salfuego truly was. He was trying to almost literally snap the kid in two. Salfuego screamed in pain as the giant continued to put the pressure on.
“Give up, ya fuck! I’m missin’ out on some good money doin’ this!” Harris screamed.
The Fiery Underdog was just making him angrier as he shook his head, telling Barnes that he wasn’t going to be tapping out just yet. Harris let go of the leg only to beat him down in the exposed ribs one bit shot.
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE SHOTS!
MUA-AH-AH-AH!
…Thanks, Count.
Anyway, Salfuego STILL wasn’t giving up, so Harris got bored and decided to throw the kid back into the ropes and tried to take hi head off with a Double Sledge. I say “Tried” because Salfuego saw that shit coming and ducked off the ropes. When he came back, he hit The Unit with a big Chop Block. Another good shot to the leg finally brought the giant down to his knees, which Salfuego followed up with a nice Dropkick!
With Harris down for the moment, Salfuego held his ribs in pain as he climbed back to his feet, trying to think of what he could do next against the big man. He tried for a whip on Harris, but he was too strong and scooped him up with bad intentions in mind. Salfuego slipped out the back door and dropkicked Harris in the back of the knee again.
With Harris down, Carrachio climbed to the second rope and measured his target before he came flying off with a Flying Enzuigiri to the back of the head! Harris slumped over and was finally down for the first time in this match! Salfuego went for the pinfall and tried to end this!
ONE!
TWO!
TH… KICKOUT WITH AUTHORITAH!
The Chancellor of Excellence was way tougher than that and kicked out with still relative ease. Salfuego caught the big man with two more kicks, but Harris shook those off and pushed him to the ropes. Salfuego just came back stronger than ever as Harris pushed him up in the air with a flapjack, only to turn it into a Dropkick in mid-air!
Harris staggered backwards into the corner and stayed there as Carrachio Salfuego ran off the ropes and hit a Tiger Feint Kick in between the opposite side, kicking Harris right in the back! He staggered forwards now as Salfuego waited for him to turn around. Once the big man did just that, he springboarded into the ring…
OOOOOOOOHHHHHH!
But got caught in mid-air and was pushed back to the ropes…
WHIRLWIND BACKBREAKER!
With a sickening impact, Salfuego was bent nearly in half across the good knee of Jack Harris as he spun the luchador around and brought him down! Salfuego was in no good way to defend himself, so Harris picked him back up off the ground and set him up in a Pumphandle Slam position before powering him up…
THE EXECUTION!
Connecting perfectly, The Fiery Underdog was now The Fiery Grease Spot on the L and N as Harris wasted no time going for a cover, hooking both legs back.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Harris sat up and held his hands out, mean mugging the camera at ringside as the bell rang. Licking his lips with delight, he stood back up and held a hand out, demanding that Referee Curtis Barnes do his job and make him succeed. He complied with his request and held his hand up.
“HERE IS YOUR WINNER OF THE MATCH… “THE UNIT” JACK HARRIS!”
The Fiery Underdog had put up a tremendous fight against the big man, but Jack Harris’ first venture into the singles realm had ended in success for him. It appeared, though, he wasn’t finished with the luchador as he climbed over the ropes and pushed the timekeeper away, brandishing a chair in hand.
He had bad intentions.
Bad intentions, indeed.
WINNER: Jack Harris via pinfall
Breakneck Speed
Harris made a grand showing as he waived the chair above his head before tossing it over the ropes into the ring, nearly hitting the luchador. Jack rolled back into the ring and grabbed his prey by the arm to drag him to the corner. He then bent down to grab the chair before laying it across the head of Salfuego. Pushing his head in and opening he smiled before he climbed up the turnbuckle and took a seat on the top.
His intent was clear as he stood from the second buckle and readied to jump-
'Spike-It-UP!'
Before even the lyrics could truly get to start the seven foot three Colossus came charging down the entry ramp and reached the side of the ring where he pulled Salfuego back just as Harris landed on the mat where the chair would have been.
Saunders pulled the chair off and tossed it to the side as he looked up into the ring at Jack Harris. A group of trainers rushed down to the ringside área to check on Salfuego as Spike and Harris kept their eyes locked on one another.
'You want a fight, I'm right here' mouthed Saunders as Harris balked and tipped backwards out of the opposite side of the ring satisfied with the damage done.
For the moment.
Harris snarled at Saunders, who was itching for a fight. The crowd continued to boo the big man as he made his way back up the ramp.
"Not tonight, Saunders... SOON."
Those Who Fail To Learn From History...
Cutting away from ringside and the tense standoff that juts took place between Jack Harris and Spike Saunders, the shot now took the fans backstage to the ACW Interview area.
And standing, looking nice in a black polo shirt with the ACW logo on the lapel and a pair of brown dress pants was none other than ACW's newest backstage interviewer.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thanks kindly for joining us this evening,” he started. “My name is Robbie Gates and I'm very delighted to be here. Tonight, we have a very special guest here with us this evening and it's going to be none other than a former two-time Spirit of ACW Champion... former Tag Team Champion... former TV Champion... and most importantly, former two-time ACW World Heavyweight Champion. The man who will be competing in tonight's main event against The Amazing Gabriel... please welcome my guest, Andy Sharp!”
Stepping into view, Andy Sharp presented himself for the audience and received a LOUD reaction from the crowd, mostly cheers and a few jeers. Scratching his beard, Andy Sharp had his arms folded and was wearing a black ACW shirt of his own and was dressed in his ring gear.
“Now, Andy Sharp, thanks for joining us tonight. And we have a couple questions before your main event tonight. Your first match since Legends V against The Amazing Gabriel.”
Sharp had his game face on tonight, arms folded and a demeanor that would've given anybody near him the chills.
“Shoot.”
“Now, two weeks ago we saw that you greeted the fans, only to have been assaulted by The Night Life. And last week, The Amazing Gabriel hired Jack Harris to run out to the ring and attack you from behind. We also heard some pretty serious accusations from him in regards to an earlier time in both of your careers. Would you care to respond?”
“No.”
Robbie Gates was a little bit puzzled at his response.
“You have no comments as to his harsh words?”
“I'll give you this, Robbie...” Sharp clinched his teeth. “The Amazing Gabriel and I... we do have history. At one point, we were a tag team long ago. But that's ancient history and it will be left at that. I will be the first to admit it... the man is very talented. He's trained the Night Life very well, they know how to get the job done in the ring and they know how to cut corners, stab people in the back, take advantage of the numbers and be a collective pain in the ass. So I decided last week whey they were trying to put the screws to Big E. Smalls, that's why I came out there. Fighting fire with fire.”
Andy stopped to crack his neck.
“It doesn't matter to me why he hates me, what I did to him, or what he thinks of me. The fact is he's been jumping me from behind and setting traps for two weeks, trying to blame me for his shortcomings. I spoke to Ruben Ross earlier and he agreed that he wanted to keep things neutral so he banned all Night Life members from ringside. He doesn't have anybody to hide behind, he won't have Jack Harris doing his goddamn dirty work. He won't get to whine, moan, cry or bitch about something that happened five years ago. He'll have to suck it up and realize what a worthless waste of human life he actually is.”
Mr. All-Star narrowed his gaze.
“I'm doing my best to try to try and make things right with the people that I've wronged and the people that I've let down... but the second that Gabriel mistakes my mercy for weakness... all those recreational drugs he's so fond of using in his off time? He's going to need EVERY LAST one of them to shut out the fucking pain I'm going to put him through...”
And on that happy note, Andy Sharp turned on his heel and walked off the set, leaving Robbie Gates to his own devices.
“There you have it, folks. Andy Sharp vs. The Amazing Gabriel in tonight's main event.”
The Torch Is Passed
It had been a difficult three weeks for GoldenHAWK.
Since the passing of his father he had had no time to sit and think, until now. Sitting in his locker room with a towel over his shoulders, GoldenHAWK pondered just what his dad would be saying in this situation.
Fuck them both up. Was the only phrase that began to pass through his head.
That was probably about right.
He sat on a wooden bench staring at the floor, which was unseen to everyone watching the pictures themselves. Since claiming the Spirit of ACW Championship back in E01, GoldenHAWK hasn't be able to perform a clean finish in either of his last two matches due to interference from one of two men.
Khristain Keller.
The Orphan.
Both men former ACW World Heayweight Champions... but GHAWK didn't care about that, all he cared about was proving to people that he truly was the Spirit of ACW. It was only two weeks ago that he wanted to give this all up... the death of his hero had truly shaken him to the core so much he just didn't see the point anymore.
Those two men had given him that purpose back. As the camera panned around him we could now see what he was looking at a large cardboard box with one word writter on the side of it; SILVERHAWK.
He reached down, as if looking to pull something out from its contents and as he did, a small number of the crowd cheered with all of their voice. They knew what it was and they knew what it meant.
He rubbed the stretchy fabric and peered at it, as if it was calling to him... the mask of the HAWK was now in his possesion, but what would he do with it?
Want to bet you'll find out later?
Push Me and See...
‘Going Out West.’
Hank Wright had actually come East but that’s besides the point. The tall Texan, who had a red jacket with his state’s coat of arms on the back of it, strode out and glanced over the spectators at the Rod Laver Arena.
The Tank was no tennis player, like the guy the building’s named after, he was a wrestler and the expression he wore suggested he wasn’t out here to play games, sets or even matches. He clenched his fist in defiance, obtaining a cheer from the natives, and then walked to the ring quicker than you can say ‘Watch out.’
Wright opted to step through the ropes, rather than over them, and he called for a microphone, which was duly passed to him. He took it and then waited for Queens of The Stone Age to stop doing their thing. A loud cheer interrupted his seriousness and I could swear I saw a wry smile appear. He held is hand up: “Australia, I don’t think I got the chance to say hello on either occasion at the Burswood Dome, so I’d like to do it here in Melbourne. G’day Australia.”
Instant brownie points and brown-nosing in my book.
“Before I get started and I’ve got a lot to say, it’s always been a pleasure to come Down Under. I brought a new meaning to the word when I had a girlfriend based here in my Japanese days if you know what I mean.”
The crowd laughed collectively and a repeated chant of ‘HANK’ started: “Funny, she used to say the same thing.”
Wright afforded himself a chuckle: “Wrestling here and visiting this country was always a pleasure and when I left Japan permanently, I thought it may never happen again. I’m so glad it has because you Aussies remind me of us Texans: You’re loud, proud and love to drink. God bless ya.”
He paused as they cheered his name again. They were onside. The veteran took his time: “Okay, let’s get started. I don’t mean to make light of a man’s death but it seems that the inmates are running the show following SilverHAWK’s passing. Don’t you think?”
Various shouts of ‘Yeah’ were hurled at Hank, who nodded his head: “I thought so too.
“ACW has always been a violent stomping ground. It ain’t for the weak at heart here and I knew that coming in.”
Hank walked towards the ropes on the right-side of the ring, coincidental or not I don’t know, and faced the cameras: “I’m not out here to bitch or whine. This is a warning that I’m The Tank and they call me that because if you push me, I’ll push you back twice as hard.”
The big man’s blue eyes were piercing at the best of times, features which had always endeared him to ladies (in his youth anyway) and scared the shit out of enemies. It was the latter here, though the fans loved it and the volume increased again.
“Keith Scott Zimmerman…”
Oh, it was a negative reception to say the least at the mere mention of the former World Champion and reigning Scorpion Fighting Champion’s name, who’d been through an arduous time recently and it spelled bad news for any contenders to KSZ’s crown.
“Keith, forget what you did to me. It’s completely uncool to end a man’s career. Unlike you, a lot of us haven’t had an old lady in the business. So, we make sacrifices. We listen to her nag when we’re on the road for a month straight and we miss our kids grow up.
“Every time I see Charlie, he reminds me why I’m still doing crazy thing. I’m on the other side of the world from him so he doesn’t have to struggle like I did.
“There’s no question you’re a heck of an athlete and a world-class wrestler. You were blessed. You’re trying to take a crust, dollars out of the pocket of people who are not competing with you. They’ve never jeopardised your position yet here you are maiming them, like it is part of some sick joke you’ve got. I don’t find it funny.”
An ultra-serious expression on the Texan’s kisser reinforced those words. Then, he came back towards the centre of the squared circle as the camera zoomed out.
“I’d tell you to watch your step because you may be great but what you ain’t is big. You wrestle and I fight and there’s a difference. If you don’t believe it, try me. Drop the tazer, stand your scrawny carcass up straight and get out here right now!”
Hank’s jacket came off as he prepared to get ‘comfortable’ or should I say physical?
Like everyone else, Wright had his eyes fixed on the entrance. There was no movement and then suddenly…
The broken ephemeral guitar.
Then, a little scratch of a needle
After that, Allison’s ordeal plus Keith’s trail of destruction since then, starting with Keller, suggested KSZ was about to come out and explain why he’d electrified Hank and the Burswood Dome in Perth last week following his victory over Dude in Mask.
Everlast’s ‘So Long’ kicked in, asking if you had bad dreams, and usually this signalled Keith’s arrival. Everyone was on their feet, booing The Only Wrestler That Matters. Oh, he mattered all right. Zimmerman have never experienced indifference in his career. You either loved him or hated him and recent actions made it difficult to like this man, even if he’d been through an awful lot.
However, it appeared the roof wouldn’t get raised. His music continued to play, yet, there was no Black Scorpion Champion.
Hank addressed the audience again: “Oh, the little man with the big chip on his shoulder doesn’t want to come out here and explain why he sent thousands of volts through my body last week? Come on Keith. I’m sure we’d all like to hear about your midlife crisis.”
So Long started again and the audience was subjected to another viewing of Allison’s victimisation, which didn’t make for pleasant watching, irrelevant of feelings towards her husband. Hank focused on the ramp, ignoring the video, once again highlighting Zimmerman’s drastic change since his personal and bitter feud with Khristain Keiller.
20 seconds elapsed and Hank shook his head: “I guess he must be at home giving me two-stars for this segment and comparing notes with Dan Stephen over a Big Mac and fries.”
Wright was really disappointed as he leaned on the ropes nearest the ramp this time, looking like he was propped up: “Someone throw me a Foster’s or a Four-X while I wait.”
No one did as Hank then moved to the corner and folded his arms, hoping but probably knowing Keith wasn’t going to answer his invitation.
After pretending to doze off, he stood up again: “Okay, Keith. This week, you’ve decided to be a mark and stay at home but I know you’re watching so hear this and others in the back, listen up too. I’m speaking to you.
“Hundreds of people will back up my toughness. I don’t have to brag. As far as the other guys who attacked me two weeks ago in Perth, I’m familiar with a few of them and they tried to ride my coat-tails a long time ago. I haven’t forgotten about you and if any of you want a second date, you know where to find me. It ain’t hard.”
Wright was pacing the canvas now as his voice gradually gathered pace and volume with each passing word: “Keith, next week, we’ll do this for real. I’ll call you out again and if you don’t come out, I’ll come back there and mop the floor with your hair and use your ass as a garbage can.
“I’ve been nice so far but I can real nasty, real quick. Push me and you’ll see.
I may be old but I can still go – there’s plenty of life left in The Tank yet.”
With that, Wright dropped his microphone and saluted the crowd with waves before vacating the spotlights.
Usually, his actions spoke louder, preferring to get it on inside the ring.
Tonight, he’d spoken and his words were pretty clear.
He’d be back again to do it next week. MARK that one down in your diary, folks.
History Lesson - Courage, 4/9/09
...not with a bang...
Seymour, like Andy, sprung off the top rope. Almasy adjusted in mid-air, flipping over and aiming for the upper back and the back of Andy's head with his Swanton Bomb.
Almasy's 192 pounds landed true, buckling Sharp's elbows, and driving him face-first right back to the unforgiving canvas. Seymour called it the Luminaire, after the ultimate tech of Crono from Chrono Trigger.
Which was appropriate, because if Seymour Almasy's efforts in rolling over Andy Sharp and hooking the leg were successful, ACW's Wings of Time were headed back to 2006.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
*DING DING DING!*
And with the sound of that bell, All-Star Championship Wrestling was completely back. It had a Scorpion Fighting Champion, Alias. It had a Spirit of ACW, Steve Knox.
And last, but not least, it had an ACW World Champion, Seymour Almasy. That much was obvious from the four women in the front row who'd almost fainted at the sound of the bell, and were now mostly squeeing their little fangirl hearts out.
"Your winner," boomed a voice over the din of the capacity crowd in the All-Star Arena, "and NEW ACW WORLD CHAMPION...."THE FINAL FANTASY" SEYMOUR ALMASY!"
Seymour Almasy rolled himself to a seated position. Last time he'd achieved this, it had been in a match with his career on the line. Loss of fall meant leaving ACW. This time, he'd gone one on one with his best friend in the world. It had been hard fought and hard hitting, but dare he say it...it'd been fun.
Fun was the reason he'd come back to begin with.
He looked for Paige and the ACW World Championship, but looked up to find the prize in the hands of Andrew Justin Sharp. Seymour shot his best friend a look, and spoke in a battle-worn voice.
"You're not going to hit me with that, are you?" he asked.
"Nah," Andy conceded. "Not yet, anyway. That'd be a bit dick, considering we just came back and all. 'Sides, you and I have a victory party to go to tonight. Well, victory party for you, I guess. For me it's just a "boning the bitches" party, as per usual."
Sharp smiled, and offered his friend a hand up. Seymour took it, and moments later, Andy was strapping the belt around Seymour's waist, coronating his friend just as Seymour had done on Courage 100.
There would be other chances for Sharp, that much was damned certain.
But for tonight, Andy Sharp raised his friend's hand to the cheers of the crowd. Tonight was what they had all worked for, ACW fans and talent alike. To come to this moment, the day when an ACW World Champion would reign once again.
Readying for Battle
The shot of the locker room opens up wide and shows an anxious "Too Cool" Chris Hopper pacing back and forth. He is wearing his ring attire and seems almost too excited for words. He notices the camera, but instead of looking in its direction, he just started talking.
"What is it about me that makes me such a lightening rod anyway?"
He almost chuckles to himself, but in reality he always seems to be in peril of some sort.
"Everywhere I go, I am immediately a threat. I showed up in IGA and everybody got scared that I was there to swoop in and take the World Title. I went to PVW and suddenly I was the guy who told the truth too often. In UEW, I was the brash kid who said what he wanted to accomplish.
"Then I walk into ACW and I'm the guy trying to upstage the first Spirit of ACW?"
He tosses his arms out in an "I give up" sort of motion.
"I can't win for losing, I guess.
"I don't look for these battles. I don't seek them out. I didn't walk into ACW and say, 'hey Gonze. You suck and I'm taking your returning limelight. Sorry about it in advance, but I'm better than you.' I just walked in, signed my contract and worked my match.
"That is what I do."
He stops pacing as if deep in thought. He remembers the events leading up to his debut match and then shakes his head and starts pacing again.
"Come to think of it, I didn't even know who you were when I walked into ACW. You were just another name on the lineup sheet. Just another guy in the locker room. No distinction made for you or me, for that matter. All I wanted to do was walk in and perform for the fans. I did that. I didn't care what others had going on. None of that stuff had anything to do with me. Jim, I didn't even know who you were at all when I arrived..."
The pacing stops.
"But I know you now."
He has a cold stare toward the camera as he continues.
"I have known guys like you my entire career. Jealous guys, afraid that someone will steal their limelight. Fearful that they will be exposed for the hacks that they are inside the squared circle. You have a set place in the pecking order and you never want to lose that or let anyone forget it.
"Oh yeah, Gonze...I know you better than you think!
"You will do whatever it takes to stay relevant. You will lie to people's faces, cheat at every opportunity and generally make a mockery of the sport we hold so dear. And for what? So that your name still appears in the lineup sheets as someone the fans want to see get his ass handed to him. You think that ACW is nothing without you, which is why you throw that 'First Spirit of ACW' thing around so much. I admit, it is an impressive distinction and one you ought to be proud of....but it was YEARS AGO! At some point your legacy has to be about what you have done in the here and now...not what you did nearly a decade ago."
A sly, knowing smile slides over his lips as he speaks.
"And what have you accomplished? Only to be a big mouth that tries to put others down to build himself up. You see the fans reacting to a new debuting wrestler and it turns your stomach they didn't cheer for you the same way. So you come out and mock him and his opponent.
"You had your moment Gonze, but its over. Your fifteen minutes were up in 2005, but I'll give you the best gift I can possibly give you today...
"Fifteen more."
Hopper chuckles a little.
"Tonight, I will give you the second run of fame in your career and you will find out how quickly the clock runs out when I drop you with the Icebreaker. Tonight, you find out that you picked the wrong man to call out and get pissed off. Tonight, you take your first steps back out of the ACW and your revival falls short of the event itself.
"Tonight is my night Gonze, but I'll share it with you.
"Just like every NBA poster with a guy dunking is made more spectacular with a guy getting treated like a rag doll by being dunked on....so will this night be. This will be a great night because I will be taking you down for the three count and then it is only a matter of time before you say your good-byes."
The smile disappears.
"I'll see you soon, Gonze. I hope you are ready."
Fade to black.
PROVING GROUND MATCH The Night Life (c) vs. PowerTrip
Two weeks ago, when the Night Life were ready to proclaim their dominance over the ACW Tag Team Division – which they've more or less had since last year – new ACW Tag Team Commissioner Teddy Koontz decided that he was going to put the champions to the test with a series of matches pitting the Night Life against two of the teams who wanted shots against them. The ACW Tag Team Division was heating up big-time with the team of Big E. Smalls proclaiming a big victory last week, following up a great performance at Legends V.
Stepping up to the plate was going to be The Night Life's hated adversaries. The team of PowerTrip. The two men that actually cost former champions, The Entourage, their tag team titles to the Night Life in their first tag title reign. But for PowerTrip to gain a title shot, they would have to do what Big E. Smalls did last week and win this non-title match. And while neither team was especially liked in the eyes of the fans, they were definitely in for a treat.
Saliva's 'Click, Click, Boom' served as a warning. Father's lock up your daughters.
‘Click Click Boom! I'm comin' down on the stereo, hear me on the radio’
Husband's tie up your wives.
‘Click Click Boom! I'm on the radio station TOUR around the nation leaving the scene in devastation’
Boy-Friends...
‘I can see it in my mind I can see it in your eyes’
Well you're shit-out-of-luck, Power Trip is here!
‘Come on, comon Everybody come on! Come on, comon Click Click Boom!’
The curtains parted as a beautiful blond woman stepped through the curtain. Followed by a equally attractive red head, and even a brunette with a rack to rival them both.
One by one, nearly two dozen lovely ladies known collectively as The Entourage strutted down both sides of the entrance ramp like a runway, and each stopping across from the other. Following behind them was The Enforcer whom took stance to the right of the curtains. The women swung their arms towards the entrance and slowly knelt down on their knees and bowed their heads to the steel graters.
Click Click Boom!’
The two masked individuals raising up a storm in ACW had arrived; Mr. Power and Mr. Trip. The lovely Entourage left the ringside area as Mr. Power and Mr. Trip showed off their flashy entrance. Now it was time for the opposition to do the same.
Somewhere out there in the vast nothingness of space Somewhere far away in space and time Staring upwards at the gleaming stars in the obsidian sky
The fans stared on at the incredibly gaudy and downright unnecessary light show overtaking the entrance. The fans were quiet, looking on at a downright amazing light show. The third time time that Australia had been treated to such a gaudy spectacle.
We're marooned on a small island, in an endless sea Confined to a tiny speck of sand, unable to escape, But tonight on this small planet... on Earth... We're gonna rock civilization
And this week, taking up the mantle for the members of the Night Life would be big Aleczander and the small and wiry (and stupid) Zip Zap. Aleczander was busy flexing his muscles for the camera and young Zip Zap was flexing his muscles for the girls that were laughing at him. This was a duo that hadn't worked together too much as Aleczander was usually paired off with Fever Pitch, but tonight they needed to try and new combination if they were going to keep any other opposition from earning a tag team title shot.
“We've got these fuckin' wanks, Zap!”
The former reality star definitely had no shortage of confidence as he approached the ring. Zip Zap rolled inside and did a front somersault flip to his feet. The big man/little man duo was ready to defend their groups honor and both men kissed the ACW Tag Team Titles before handing them over to the referees. And just to be jerks, PowerTrip stopped the referee to also kiss the belts!”
“HEY, HEY! SLOPPY SECONDS! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!” Zip Zap shook a fist.
The bell rang and Zip Zap and Mr. Trip, the smaller and bigger halves of their respective teams, prepared to start off. They wrestled around until it was Mr. Trip who got the first advantage. Zip Zap twisted around and grabbed him by the waist but Mr. Trip was too quick and backed him up, throwing him up and over with a quick over the shoulder arm drag. He popped back up and caught Zip Zap with a kick. He then took him down to the mat quickly with a fireman's carry takeover.
1...
2...
And no way. This might be Zip Zap we are talking about, but there's no way he's going to get pinned that easy. Zip Zap was back on his feet again, only to be stopped in his tracks by a quick knee to the stomach. Mr. Trip applied a rudimentary arm bar and kept Zip Zap under control. He pulled him backwards into the corner and tagged in Mr. Power, who was quick to climb to the top rope and fly off with a double stomp right to the exposed arm.
He continued to work over the arm, but Zip Zap was able to fight out and kick himself free. Mr. Power ran at Zip Zap, but he flipped up and kicked Mr. Power in the face, also flipping backwards and landing on his feet on the apron. Zip Zap quickly went to the top rope and flipped off completely, Mr. Power moved and Zip Zap rolled through until he got back to his feet. When he turned around and ran at Mr. Power, he quickly snapped him up and over with a quick Japanese arm drag.
He stood back to his feet again and waited for Zip Zap only to take him over with a second Japanese arm drag. Zip Zap was back up a third time, but a third arm drag shot Zip Zap through the ropes and sent him flying outside to the floor.
Aleczander saw enough and ran inside the ring to try and catch Mr. Power but Mr. Trip came into the ring and helped toss the big mass of muscle over the top rope and out to the floor next to Zip Zap. PowerTrip looked at each other and the crowd responded actually pretty favorably...
STEREO SUICIDE DIVES TO THE ARENA FLOOR~!
Quickly, the members of the PowerTrip were in full control as they both stood up after their successful double team dives to the members of the Night Life. They singled out Zip Zap and grabbed him by the arms before tossing him backwards into the ring apron. While Mr. Trip got out of his partner's way, Mr. Power pulled Zip Zap back into the ring and went for another quick cover.
1...
2...
It was close, but no cigar for the challengers in the Proving Ground challenge as Zip Zap got a quick shoulder off the mat. Mr. Power slowed down the pace pretty quickly and struck Zip Zap with multiple kicks until Aleczander tried to clothesline him from the apron. Mr. Power ducked and hit a springboard dropkick out the corner to knock Aleczander off the apron.
While he was stunned, though, Zip Zap took full advantage by grabbing him by the tights and tossing him face first into the middle buckle. He was crumbled there momentarily and slumped against the buckles while Zip Zap got himself a running start and blasted Mr. Power in the back of the head with a fast heat-seeker dropkick. The blow caught him hard and he was now at the mercy of the two Night Life members.
He grabbed him by the back of the head and pulled him over to the corner to tag in Aleczander. The Night Life's enforcer climbed through the ropes while Mr. Power was driven down to the mat with a big slam by Zip Zap. Aleczander picked up his own tag team partner and used him like a weapon, effectively powerbombing him right onto the fallen body of Mr. Power. Zip Zap rolled out of the ring while Aleczander went to cover him.
1...
2...
Quick kickout by Mr. Power!
Mr. Trip looked out from the apron while Mr. Power was at the mercy of the big man.
“Got ya, you little shit!”
Aleczander lifted him up for a suplex and held him high in the air for the fans to take in. He smiled and actually used a free arm to rub his eight-pack abs that he may have obtained through means other than those of natural selection. The former reality star paraded him in place.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
TWENTY SECONDS~!
And finally dropped him after a good while. He turned himself over and went for a rather lazy cover, laying across his back while he held him in place.
1...
2...
And no way, but somehow Mr. Power kicked out. Mr. trip was cheering on his tag team partner from the apron while Aleczander lifted him up and rushed him backwards into the corner. Trip was at the mercy of the big man as he continued to spike shoulder after shoulder into his stomach to drive the wind from his lungs. Once he was done with Mr. Power, he pulled him out from the corner and wrapped both arms around his waist before takign him for a ride with a big belly to belly side suplex.
He was spiked down into the mat, but big Aleczander kept a tight grip around Power and deadlifted him up off the mat before dumping him with a second big belly to belly side suplex. And once again, he kept a good grip on and third side belly to belly put him on the canvas before Aleczander tried for another pinning combination.
1...
2...
But out of nowhere, Mr. Trip came into the ring and dropped a leg across the back of Aleczander's neck. The referee ordered Mr. Trip back to his corner while Aleczander smiled and picked him back up before throwing him into the nearest corner chest first. He was stunned then by a pair of hard shoulder blocks aimed at the small of his back.
He ran at him in the corner, but Aleczander ate a big pair of feet to the face, making him bounce back a step. Mr. Power jumped to the second turnbuckle and came flying off, catching Aleczander by the head and spiking him down with a flying tornado DDT.
Aleczander and Mr. Power were both down in the center of the ring while their respective tag team partners were ready and waiting for the all important hot tag. Zip Zap was ready to fly and Mr. Trip was ready for action while Aleczander and Mr. Power both crawled to their respective corners.
Zip Zap tagged in and so did Mr. Trip!
Mr. Trip ran right through the runt of the Night Life with a big running forearm smash. When Zip Zap tried getting back to his feet, Trip came charging right at him with a big kick to the face. Zip Zap darted back up in a daze a third time and this time it was a big discus punch that knocked him silly!
The fans had to pick a fan favorite amidst the bad guys and settled on Mr. Trip as he had the firm advantage over one of those bastard Night Life ravers. When he got back to his feet, he whipped him to the ropes and when he came back he ate a knee to the gut and came off the ropes with a sweet swinging neckbreaker. He went for a quick cover.
1...
2...
But Zip Zap kicked out at the count of two. Mr. Trip was on the warpath now and picked Zip Zap up by his hair and stunned him with a couple of well-placed forearms before running off the ropes. Zip Zap ducked underneath and when he came back, snapped him with a headscissors that sent Mr. Trip into the corner.
Zip Zap came flying at him and Mr. Trip saw him coming, shooting him up and over the ropes, but Zip Zap landed perfectly on the apron. When Mr. Trip turned around, Zip Zap caught him with a leaping kick to the head from the apron that echoed loudly in the Credit Union Centre. He climbed to the top rope and flew off with a big flying double knee strike Evan Bourne-style and held on for the cover.
1...
2...
But no, Mr. Trip threw Zip Zap off him. One sixth of the ACW Tag Team Champions bounced back off the ropes...
SHOCKING ELBOW~!
Another spectacular aerial maneuver by Zip Zap and the fans were actually a bit impressed by the guy. He rolled Mr. Trip over and went for the corner.
1...
2...
And the move was broken up by Mr. Power. And before Mr. Power could do anything more to interfere in the match, Aleczander pulled him out of the ring by his leg and the two started to brawl along the arena floor.
The fans started to jeer even louder when Kaus, Fever Pitch, and Elixr headed on down to the ring, trying to make the save for their cohorts...
BUT NO, WAIT!
Mach 2, Big E. Stark, and Lettie Rios all ran out from behind the curtain and started to brawl with the other Night Life members! Just like how Andy Sharp prevented any interference in their match-up last week, Big E. Smalls came out to even the playing field. They may not have liked PowerTrip that much, but they were just like everybody else that was fed up with the Night Life's constant interference!
Aleczander tried picking up Mr. Power and slamming him into the turnbuckle on the outside, but he slipped out and big Aleczander collided with the steel head first.
Back inside the ring, Zip Zap was trying to set up Mr. Trip on the top rope, but while the referee was yelling at the outside brawl between Big E. Smalls and the other Night Life members, he tripped up Zip Zap on the top rope!
Mr. Trip was back to his feet, holding his head as he climbed to the top rope, ready and waiting while Mr. Power made the tag from the ring apron. Trip THREW him off the top rope with a superplex and Mr. Power was waiting off the opposite end...
EPIC 630 SENTON~!
And Mr. Power was a little bit wobbly after all those spins, but stayed on top of Zip Zap.
1...
2...
3!
PowerTrip had done it! The second non-title loss in a row for the Night Life thanks to their interference being blocked by an outside party. Fever Pitch was beside himself while he and the other members of the Night Life regrouped around ringside.
Mach 2, Stark, and Rios all got away from the brawl and waved to the Night Life members as they headed up the ramp. Meanwhile, inside the ring, the PowerTrip were all smiles at the biggest victory of their careers so far in ACW. They, just like Big E. Smalls, had a future tag team title shot in tow.
The Night Life regrouped and disappeared through the crowd while Fever Pitch and Aleczander cradled the ACW Tag Team Titles around their shoulders to tell the fans they were still on top of the ACW Tag Team mountain.
But with teams like PowerTrip and Big E. Smalls who now each had a tag team title match in tow, it was clear that the tag team division was in full effect. And the teams all locked eyes with one another as we went to a commercial break. Yep, they still have those on the internet.
WINNER: PowerTrip via pinfall (Mr. Power over Zip Zap)
History Lesson - Legends III
...but with a WHIMPER.
“Shit, check that out, Pete!” Jack slapped his friend on the arm, and pointed toward the “body”.
The two college students wrestled their way through the crowd, more than curious to see what exactly had caught their attention. Finally, they cleared the crowd and hustled over. What was found couldn’t have been more exciting than what Jack originally saw, could it?
Oh, it could.
Laying in front of them was the ACW World Champion, Seymour Almasy. Almasy was unconscious and, even if he had been aware, wasn’t going anywhere. The straight jacket that clamped his arms down would assure that. Yes, Almasy was wrapped in a straight jacket. His face and white hair was cloaked with blood seeping from a deep cut on his forehead. His face looked more like pounded hamburger than the face that drove the Fan Club wild.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Pete finally mustered, “Jesus Christ.”
Jack stared down at Almasy, half in shock and the other half excited.
“Is there something about clear out that you little dickheads don’t understand?”
From behind came the warming voice of Buffalo Brian Slater, who deadheaded toward the stragglers. Slater walked with a noticeable limp and a snarl. “Pissants,” he grumbled, slapping a meaty paw on both kids’ shoulders. His snarl soon disappeared as he noticed what the two were looking at.
“What the fuck happened here?” Slater growled deeply, his snarl reappearing.
Jack and Pete shook their heads, and Slater quickly recognized these little twerps had seen or done nothing.
“You boys best run along outside, and keep quiet about this.”
“Yes’r,” they responded in unison, quickly turning away from Almasy and heading toward the double doors.
Slater watched the kids disappear from sight, and turned back to the mess, in more than one way, before him. BBS ran his big ol’ paw over his beard and let out a sigh.
“Well,” he started, “HAWK is going to shit his pants, that’s for sure.”
Slater headed out to find some ACW employees and pass along the bad news to SilverHAWK.
Tylenol PM Never Tasted So Good
And we were back from one of those nifty little internet breaks. ACW Tag Team Commissioner Teddy Koontz should've been proud that his tag team division was experiencing a major resurgence since the following shows post-Legends.
The Health Fanatics and the Players were in the middle of a budding feud that was entertaining the audiences. The Smiths, Big E. Smalls, and PowerTrip were all embroiled with one another and even The Squadron had been making waves.
So why was he contemplating reaching for the Maximum Strength Tylenol PM he had stashed in his desk?
Because standing across from Teddy Koontz right now were the current ACW Tag Team Champions.
Fever Pitch and Aleczander were both seated, the latter dressed in his sweaty ring attire and wearing a towel over his neck. Kaus was leaning up against the wall with a pretty nasty look on his face, Elixr was grumbling to herself that The Amazing Gabriel was spending all his free time with his new playtoy in Elyse Frost. And lastly, Zip Zap was still smarting from the beating he'd taken in the ring, holding an ice pack to his back. The Amazing Gabriel was not there since he was prepping for his match against Andy Sharp... or probably getting a REALLY good Old Fashioned from Elyse Frost.
“You need to do something about this,” Fever Pitch protested as he slammed a fist into the desk of Teddy Koontz. “This is TWO weeks in a row now that we've been screwed out of a win. Andy Sharp came out running like a madman with a lead pipe, distracting me and Kaus and costing us our match with Big E. Smalls.”
“Fuckin' right, mate!” Aleczander chimed in, “not to mention we just got bent over the railing and rammed from behind in front of a live audience! I've only been on the pitching end of that! The receiving end doesn't feel so good!
“You need to do somethin' 'bout this!” Elixr shouted at him. “We're being made out to be fools and we should be showcased! Nurtured! Pampered and treated like the stars we are! We've been the tag team champions since Mexico and that was months ago! We've ran this division with an iron fist!”
“And cut this shit out!” Zip Zap shouted. And when everybody turned their heads to look at the runt of the raving littler, he grinned. “Pretty please cut this shit out?”
Teddy Koontz was now rubbing his temples, trying to fight back a major migraine. After several moments of soaking in the protesting of the four people and one angry silent guy all staring at him, he cleared his throat.
“As... compelling as your cases have been... your entire tag team reign has been FOUNDED on the whole lot of you running around in each others matches. While the collective lot of you do have a lot of talent at your disposal, I won't stand for this. And quite frankly, you've all had this coming to you for months now. Big E. Smalls and the PowerTrip both have tag title matches coming so I'll have to rectify this very soon.”
“Just what do you plan on doing about this?” Fever Pitch yelled.
“Simple. We're going to have ourselves an ACW Tag Team Title match at Revival! The Night Life will be defending against Big E. Smalls... PowerTrip...”
“WHAT?!”
“NO WAY!”
“BULLSHIT!”
“Can we get Cucina Cucina?”
Again, the members of the Night Life turned around to face Fever Pitch.
“Those aren't even around anymore,” Teddy Koontz scolded. “Now... the Squadron will be in a special six-man Proving Ground match against you guys next week!. If they win that, they're the fourth team! If not, we'll look to the Smiths, who have also caught my eye.”
“Fine...” Koontz said. “In your match next week against the Squadron, if anybody interferes, I'll make sure they're suspended on the spot... but the same goes for whatever two of you that don't compete! Straight six-man tag team match. All fair for everybody.”
The Night Life continued to protest on their way out the door, but Fever Pitch turned around and held up both of the ACW Tag Team Titles.
“Get a good look at these, Koontz. Because we aren't letting go of these for a long time, no matter how much you try and stack the deck against us.”
With those final words, Fever Pitch and the rest of the Night Life walked out the door. At the same time, Teddy Koontz leaned back in his seat and looked around the office before he reached into the drawer.
“Oh, joy.”
Tylenol PM never tasted so good.
MATCH #1 - STANDARD RULES Chris Hopper Vs. Jimmy Gonze
The lights went out and the screen fired up with "Diamond Eyes" by the Deftones...
Gonze appeared at the top of the ramp looking mean as fuck. With his patchy grey hair spiked to a mohawk and his wrists taped, he stomped his way down to the ring as the fans jeer him. No remembrance of SilverHAWK this time around, he is a man on a mission. He reached the ring and got inside telling the fans to "Fuck Off!" more times than anyone can count as he got ready for his opponent to arrive.
Suddenly, the loud voice of Brian Johnson cuts through the crowd noise as he screams to begin the hard-rocking riffs of AC/DC's "TNT" The Aussie crowd, who love their home-grown rock band, immediately begin chanting "Oy!" with the riffs. As the pyro explodes, the figure of "Too Cool" Chris Hopper steps out from behind the curtain. Hopper is wearing his blue wrestling tights and black boots, complete with sunglasses as he gets a loud reception. He walks down to the ring, reaching out to slap hands with the fans as he slides into the ring.
Hopper bends down and flexes for the crowd as they cheer him yet again. He climbs the corner and raises his arms up to the crowd. He is working every side of the arena and the fans are really rewarding his showmanship. Unlike Hopper,Gonze doesn't offer a pre-match handshake or even an acknowledgement of respect. It is obvious Gonze has gotten under Hopper's skin and irritated him like a boil.
This is only match one of the best of three series, but it feels like it is a major happening because of the emotion involved already. As referee Paige Allen gives instructions to the men pre-match, Gonze continues mouthing "Fuck You!" at Hopper. The disrespect and dislike between these two veterans is obvious as Allen motions to the timekeeper's table.
DING! DING!! DING!!!
Gonze slowly circles, as if daring Hopper to take the first lunge forward. Hopper is equally as careful not to make a fast and early mistake, circles around as well to find that perfect opening. Gonze finally holds his arms out and offers Hopper the first shot.
Is he serious?
The fans certainly think so and begin cheering loudly for Hopper to lay the ACW veteran out with a haymaker. Hopper thinks about it, knowing there has to be some sort of plot afoot. He looks to the crowd, which erupts for him to go for it. He turns back to Gonze and Jimmy immediately jabs him in the throat while yelling "Took too long!" The fans coat Gonze in heel heat for the cheap shot, but now the action is truly underway.
Gonze attacks in ruthless fashion, burying a knee in Hopper's gut to double him over. Hopper is then grabbed by his trunks and pushed through the ropes and to the arena floor by the much shorter veteran. Referee Paige Allen begins counting the obligatory ten count on Hopper as Gonze stands in the ring dusting his hands off and acting like he just accomplished the greatest feat known to man.
ONE!
Hopper stands to his feet.
TWO!
He looks to the fans and even high fives one lucky kid at ringside.
THREE!
FOUR!
The "King of Cool" stretches his neck and nods as he moves toward the ring.
FIVE!
SIX!
He grabs the ropes and climbs up to the ring apron as the referee keeps Gonze from attacking.
SEVEN!
Hopper is back in the ring and looking pretty angry at this point as the referee ends his count. Gonze goes for yet another cheap shot as the referee was checking on Hopper after his re-entrance to the ring. Hopper grabs the arm of the shorter man and turns it into an arm drag, rolling Gonze across and into the corner. the crowd erupts as Hopper waves a finger at his antagonist as if to say he wasn't getting away with that again.
Gonze has a crazed look on his face and he charges Hopper, shoving him back into the corner and begins throwing shots to Hopper's mid-section. The referee comes in to force a break from the corner and Gonze refuses! As he yells to the referee to leave him alone, he plants a left hook to Hopper's cheek that shook the taller man to the core!
Of course that could have just been a wake-up call.
Now out of the corner Gonze goes back to his bullying ways, only to find Hopper sidestep his lunge and grab the smaller man by the arm. Hopper jerks Gonze back toward himself and plants him with a short-arm lariat much to the crowd's pleasure. Hopper doesn't take a moment to gloat and pulls Gonze up by his head to get him in position for a vertical suplex. He lifts Gonze up and holds the 6'1", 250+ pound veteran in the air straight up.
And he shows the lift to one side of the crowd, then he turns and shows it to the next side.
Hopper still holding Gonze upside down as he shows off his strength advantage here before DROPPING HIM TO THE CANVAS! Gonze's head must be reeling from the blood rush.
Hopper stands to his feet and points out to the crowd, which gets him the cheapest of face pops. Then he turns back to Gonze and grabs his feet, setting him up for a submission hold. Hopper twists the legs and gets a FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK APPLIED!!!
Gonze is in pain and Hopper is smiling as he pushes hard on that crossed leg to put pressure on the knee joints! Jimmy finally realizes his ring position and reaches out to grab the bottom rope. Hopper knew he didn't have perfect placement and breaks the hold the moment referee Paige Allen calls for it.
Gonze rolls under the bottom rope and to the outside for a breather. Hopper tells the referee not to bother counting and he goes out to get Jimmy back into the ring.
Big Mistake.
Hopper lands on the arena floor and walks over to Gonze and immediately gets punched in the family jewels for his trouble. Gonze gingerly stands to his feet and grabs Hopper by the head for a DDT on the arena floor. The fans are jeering Gonze like crazy, but he doesn't care. The referee still hasn't started a count because of Hopper's request (it is nice to know they like him enough to do that), but he doesn't see what is happening on the ground next to the ring as Gonze has a rope that helps the ring curtain hand in place and he is choking Hopper out with it!
The fans are erupting as Gonze is going crazy trying to choke out the big man. Jimmy finally lets go of the hold as the referee steps over to see what the hold up is. He sees Hopper lying there and Gonze trying to stand up. Jimmy stomps his boot into Hopper's head and rolls back into the ring under the bottom rope.
Gonze yells at referee Paige Allen to start counting Hopper out already! The referee shrugs and starts the count.
ONE!
Hopper rolls over and coughs to get his breath going again.
TWO!
THREE!
Chris is up to his knees, trying to pull himself up.
FOUR!
FIVE!
Up to his feet! He raises a knee onto the ring apron.
SIX!
SEVEN!
Hopper pulls himself up by the ropes to the apron.
EIGHT!
He puts his leg through the ropes to enter the ring.
NINE!
Gonze attacks, grabbing the middle rope and pulling up in it hard, racking the taller man up with it and breaking the count himself! Hopper doubles over into the ring, holding both hands over his most precious of areas. Gonze take advantage of Hopper's position and grabs his head and puts his neck over the bottom rope, holding it there with his knee as he pulls on the middle rope for leverage. He is choking Hopper out in the ring and referee Paige Allen is calling for a break!
But Gonze isn't letting go!
The crowd is booing and yelling at Gonze for his actions, but he doesn't give a rat's ass! He is choking the new guy out!
The referee grabs Gonze by the shoulder to pull on him, but the stout ACW veteran can't be moved easily. He finally threatens to disqualify the brawler and Gonze finally relents and lets go of the hold. The referee pushes Gonze back and checks on Hopper's condition.
Hopper nods that he wants to conitnue and Gonze rushes back in and lands a double foot stomp to Hopper's ribs and hip!
Gonze in total control, shockingly, as he berates Hopper for coming into his HIS territory and running HIS mouth.
Jimmy pulls Hopper up and whips him into the corner. Hopper hits the corner with a thud and stumbles back into a running/jumping lariat by Gonze that floors him again! The crowd begins booing again as Gonze grabs the corner ropes and leaps into the air for a TURNBUCKLE BOMB!!! Gonze hooks the leg and goes for the cover!
ONE!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THRE-----KICKOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopper escaped!!! The fans erupt in cheers as Chris kicked out, but he is far and away from being in control. Gonze pulls Hopper to his feet and hits a European Uppercut to stagger him back into the corner. Gonze follows it up with a short-arm lariat of his own, which sends Hopper back down to the canvas with authority!
The fans have begun a "Hopper!" chant to urge him on, but Gonze is still in control of the match.
Gonze sets Hopper up for another whip across the ring and into the opposite corner. Hopper lands flush against the corner and again stumbles back, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings as Gonze rushes and hits a spear perfectly in the mid-section to take Hopper down again. The crowd gasps in shock!
Gonze stands to his feet, still ginger from that figure four a while back and has a nasty look on his face...a determined look...as he jumps and his a seated senton splash on Hopper's prone back! That'll take the wind out of you fast! Gonze rolls Hopper over and hooks the leg for the cover!
ONE!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THRE-----KICKOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOPPER ESCAPES AGAIN!!!
Gonze seems frustrated, but in reality he knows he hasn't "finished" Hopper off yet and now he signals that he is ready to do so. Jimmy pulls Hopper to his feet and just slaps Chris right across the face in a disrespectful manner. The crowd groans with disapproval for that cheap heel move. Gonze grabs Hopper in a full nelson hold and sets up for his "Colt .45" finisher. Gonze has to do it just right due to the height difference between them.
Gonze goes for the "Colt .45", but Hopper tenses up and won't swing with Gonze's momentum! HE BLOCKED IT!!!
The fans are startign to get fired up again as Hopper tenses to block yet another attempt by Gonze. Jimmy still has the full nelson hold locked in, but he can't hit the facebuster part of his finisher! Hopper struggles a bit to try and get free from the hold, but Gonze laughs out loud as he holds it in place.
Hopper just drops down fast to drop sit on the canvas, breaking the hold with a chin buster on Gonze as the fans erupt!
Hopper still looks to be shaking the cobwebs a little as he starts to stand to his feet. Jimmy, enraged at losing the hold, rushes, as fast as his slight limp allows, toward Hopper. Hopper blocks the punch from Gonze and lands a forearm shiver to Jimmy's nose! The fans are coming unglued!
Hopper starts playing the game Gonze's way! He grabs Jimmy's left arm and holds it as he plants punch after punch into Gonze's kidneys. This has gone from being a wrestling bout to a borderline street fight!
You expected any different?
Hopper reaches and grabs Gonze's other arm and has hi in a double-underhook position. He lifts the 250-pounder up and plants a double-underhook suplex that shakes the entire ring! Hopper's strength on full display yet again!
Hopper is not letting up, he pulls Gonze up to his feet and kicks him in the gut to double him over. He grabs the left arm again, but this time pulls it through Gonze's own legs. Pumphandle position! Hopper lifts Jimmy with a pumphandle lift and then drops him hard INTO A BACK BREAKER ACROSS HIS KNEE!!! Hopper holds Gonze there for a second to let the pain sink in and then just shoves Jimmy onto the canvas with an angry look that says a book full about how little he cares for the ACW veteran!
Hopper now lets the anger vanish as the crowd is cheering for him and he soaks in their adulation. He points to the corner and the fans erupt. No way he would try something like that, would he?
Yeah....he's a sucker for the fans.
Chris climbs the corner and sets up on the top turnbuckle. He raises his arms into the air and every wrestling fan in the history of the sport knows what will be coming up...Hopper leaps....FLYING ELBOW DROP INTO GONZE!!! He hit it flush and he hooks the leg for a cover as the crowd goes nuts!
ONE!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THRE-----NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GONZE GRABBED THE BOTTOM ROPE AT THE LAST SECOND!!!
What ring awareness by the ACW veteran to know he was able to grab the rope and break the cover. Hopper seems as hurt from the flying elbow as Gonze was, holding his ribs with his arms close to him. He rolls off Gonze to get to his feet. Gonze is moving also, but not as much. The fans have seen these two try to kill each other and this is only match ONE!
Hopper gets to his feet.
Gonze is up to his knees and holding the ropes to steady himself as he attempts to get up.
Chris gets over to Gonze and reaches for his head, but Gonze fires a forearm shot to the nether regions yet again. Hopper doubles over and hits the canvas as Gonze gets to his feet. Jimmy lines up and rushes to hit a running knee right into Hopper's face! He knocked him over and it looks like Hopper's nose is busted open!!!
Gonze quickly takes advantage and covers Hopper by using his body to hook both legs. Referee Paige Allen goes down to make the count and Gonze gets his legs up on the middle rope for leverage.
ONE!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The referee didn't see the cheating cover by Gonze and counted the pinfall!!! Gonze wins! What a shocking finish! Jimmy Gonze gets his hand raised, but then immediately lands another boot to Hopper's face.
Then another.
And Another.
Finally the referee stands between Gonze and Hopper to stop Jimmy's attempts to embarrass the ACW newcomer. Gonze raises his arms in triumph as he exits the ring and taunts the crowd. For good measure, he walks over to Hopper and spits on him before leaving ringside.
As Gonze walks up the aisle, we see Hopper standing to his feet on the arena floor after rolling out of the ring, holding his ribs with one arm and wiping spit off his face with his other. He does not have a happy look on his face.
WINNER: Jimmy Gonze
A Match Is Made
We opened to the back, immediately coming into focus are the three ACW members of the Foundation of Honor, cheers are heard from the arena as Davis stands looking at the two Lucha Libre stars, "I just spoke to Joe Bishop..." and as we know he is the Executive Programmer and Head Talent Relation here in ACW.
"...I asked him to make my debut tonight and he put me in a match with Serpentine..." The crowd cheers as Hijo De Angel speaks up, "Want some back up out there?" Marcus shakes his head, "I'll take care of it, watch the match from back here." Futuro and Angel nod their heads as Davis smiles before the camera fades.
History Lesson - The Wake
“I killed Seymour Almasy, motherfucker.”
Keller was right, it stopped Alias dead in his tracks.
“Don’t fuck with me, not with that again.” The Pulp Hero said with a straight no bullshit tone to his voice. The night had started with an attempt at mindgames, and Alias wouldn’t let it come to this.
“You think I’d lie to you with all this blood rushing out of my head, Hero? Come on, I’m about to pass the fuck out here.” Keller replied with sarcastic indignation, but also an air of truth as his hamburgered forehead was almost gushing as he hung upside down. Then he hit Alias with terrifying words.
“Almasy needed to go, he couldn’t handle the pressure of Violence Jack, and of the World Championship. He wasn’t the same man that ACW had to fall back on when it crumbled down three years ago. I don’t care what the fuck you or Andy Sharpy want to believe. Almasy was… bringing down the fed this time around. Sound familiar?”
The Pulp Hero reached down, and instead of unhooking Keller’s leg and watching him fall to the mat with a thud, he used a good amount of his strength remaining and pulled Keller up to a sitting position on the cage once more. K2 grinned widely, his teeth yellowed by the crimson mask covering his face. Alias brought him close, almost as if to threaten a headbutt, but instead he only seethed.
“You shut your damn mouth, you son of a bi—“
The Bastard King cut off the Pulp Hero.
“And SilverHAWK couldn’t have you do the dirty work, you were his golden boy! So he called in the only man who knew could get the job done… and I got the job done.”
The thought of it all hit Alias like a ton of bricks. Of course Keller had been suspect number one since it all began, and he had even become a bigger concern to Alias then what had happened at Legends III… but this had gone deeper then even the Pulp Hero had imagined. And the man had an imagination.
“SilverHAWK…” Alias whispered, in an almost breathless pained cough.
“Was in on it, yeah. Of course he was. Course, then you had to go and join a fuckin’ revolution! You know Hawk’d do anything for this fed. Anything.”
Almost as if on cue, out came the general manager of the publicly owned All-Star Championship Wrestling. Just as he had watched over the two men, at the end of the Tailgate Match, he was a specter to the proceeding of the cage match… but now, he seemed unnerved, and angered.
“Keller, watch your place!” Yelled the man privately known as Aaron Jones, up at the crimson faced former World Champion on top of the cage.
“Fuck you, Hawk, you know I can’t hear you from all the way up hear anyway…” Keller was quick to shoot back, even after all he had just revealed to by himself some time; it wasn’t as if he and Hawk were ‘close’. Alias wasn’t worried about the relationship between Hawk and Keller though, as he roared down at Hawk.
“What were you thinking?!” Alias said, a slight look of horror at a man that it could be said was like an older brother to him at one point, “I mean, god man, you took out your World Champion… do you realize the shadow this casts on you! Hell, do the Roys know?”
“Well, now they do…” Hawk shrugged, and for a moment even grinned.
“Damn it Hawk, this isn’t a joke!” Alias was quick to point out.
“No, it’s not! It’s old news! Just like the fact that ACW is leaving Montreal! Just like the fact that I might not be brought along on the road! I don’t know the security of MY job, Sheff! But I would still do ANYTHING for this fed. Like help you realize your mortality, Sheff, so you can get the fuck over it.
Help you realize that this place will NEVER die, Keller.
Would I do what I did to Almasy, knowing that you two would try to kill each other over it, and knowing that the Roy Boys just might shit can me for it? Damned right I would. Every. Single. Time. NO ONE is safe in ACW, if they can’t carry their weight.”
* * *
They didn't even have the decency to invite me to my own fucking wake.
They expected me to never recover.
Maybe they simply expected me to not have the balls to show up, after being figuratively castrated in front of the world.
How wrong they were...
TAG TEAM MATCH - STANDARD RULES The Squadron vs. The Locksmiths and Alex Pure
Oh, yeah, you know how this goes.
Tommy Vale? Take that shit away, sir.
“The following six-man tag team match is scheduled for one fall!”
And it appeared that the fans were about to get some six-man tag team goodness between The Squadron against several men looking to finally break out into the big time with a solid victory here tonight.
“Learn To Fly” by the Foo Fighters.
The fans turned their attention to the entrance where a series of white strobe lights flashed brightly. All the way up and down the entrance, a series of lights flashed down in line repeatedly like the tracks of an airplane field. And for longtime fans of ACW, they knew what was coming next as the voice came out over the PA.
“GREETINGS, PASSENGERS! PLEASE REMAIN SEATED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND FASTED YOURSELVES IN!”
Avis Flyfield and Aaron Fetzer each ran down to ringside and imitated planes to the delight of the crowd. Avis even took off his aviator goggles… well, he made Aaron take his off and give it to a lucky youngster in the front row as they sprinted towards the ring. Meanwhile, Adam Nowell just kind of hung out in the background with a “f#@! THE SQUADRON!” t-shirt he spent all night crafting himself. He clearly didn’t want to be there, but it was a steady paycheck. So, there was that.
“Ladies and gentlemen, team number one… at a combined weight of 692 pounds… they are the team of Avis Flyfield, Aaron Fetzer and Adam Nowell… THE SQUADRON!”
The three men were in the ring and two of them were getting pretty big pops from the crowd, proud of some decent performances over the last couple of shows. Avis and Aaron Fetzer high-fived one another, excited to be teaming up while Adam Nowell kept out of their chicanery.
“HEY, HEY, HEY!”
And the Squadron turned around.
With no music, no pyro, no fancy lights and only a pair of microphones in hand, two of the three opponents made their way out. These men had actually been with the ACW roster for some time, but after fulfilling some obligations in the States they had returned to ACW to rock and roll. Or hate on the Squadron. Let’s watch and find out, I got money on this.
“The Squadron?” One guy spoke, a thick and stocky man with a black buzzcut hairstyle. “We leave ACW for a few months, come back and THIS is what passes for tag teams here? CRAP!”
The fans booed and Avis and Aaron exchanged glances. That wasn’t cool, being called “crap.”
“Name’s Teddy Locke. The gentlemen here to my right is called Alastair Smith. Some idiot backstage decided to call us the Locksmiths, but screw that guy.”
“Yeah!” Alastair added. “We got away from ACW because those SlySports morons and their favoritism. They favored Sports Entertainment… scorpion fighting… LUCHADORS? And whatever you three morons are! We aren’t going to be sitting around doing nothing. We’re taking our opportunities here tonight and it starts now!”
They threw the mics down at the same time as “Ode To Joy” by Beethoven played for some strange reason. The arena went black, except for a VERY bright and downright obnoxious flash of lights in the ring. Out from the back came a bleach-blonde haired kid making his debut in ACW as well.
“Next, making his way to the ring and the partner of the Locksmiths… from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania… weighing in at 226 pounds, he is ALEX PURE!”
Dressed in an all-white tights, boots and elbow pads that would make you think this kid wrestled in the 80’s, Alex Pure walked by his tag team partners for tonight and scoffed in their general direction.
“Pfft. Watch how business gets handled, you fogeys!” He smiled to his own tag team partners, even shaking their hands while they remained nonplussed. Pure climbed the ropes and wiped his feet on the mat before entering the squared circle. He even shook hands with Avis and Aaron and would’ve done so with Adam, but Adam kind of wanted to punch his fucking face in instead.
The Locksmiths and Alex Pure each got in their corners and Pure decided he’d take the lead as the bell rang.
DING DING DING!
The match was going to start off with Alex Pure taking on “Co-Pilot” Aaron Fetzer. And while Alex Pure looked every bit as in shape and as physically fit as possible, Fetzer was.. how shall we put this? Not.
The two men locked up and it didn’t take Alex Pure very long to get the better of the mat wrestling exchange as he grabbed Fetzer in a Hammerlock and kept him trapped. Aaron tried to get his other arm up, but Alex dodged the blow and then switched it up, going for a pretty solid Headlock Takeover.
With Aaron grounded for the moment, Alex Pure showed off his pearly whites for the audience while both Locke and Smith shook their heads.
“Kid’s got some talent, I’ll give him that,” Teddy said. Alastair scoffed at their choice of tag team partner.
Fetzer tried to get himself out of the hold by rolling to his feet and pushing him off, but Pure was stronger and wasn’t going anywhere. He kept that sucker of a hold locked in tight until Fetzer shrugged and stomped on Pure’s foot several times, making him let go.
“OW! REF, THAT MAN’S PLAYING DIRTY! THIS IS WRESTLING, NOT A GRADE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND!” Pure protested.
Referee Slim J shrugged. “Eh. Seen worse.”
Pure growled before he went to try and grab Fetzer, but Aaron showed some actual wrestling acumen tripping him up with a Drop Toe Hold! While Pure tripped, Fetzer quickly leaped into the air and brought down a Flying Headbutt across his back! Pure yelled in pain as Fetzer tagged in Adam Nowell, who was looking forward to some competition.
He whipped Pure across the ring and when he came bouncing back, a NASTY high kick to the jaw put Alex Pure down for a good while. Nowell went for a quick cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Pure kicked out and Nowell tried to pick him up by the hair, but Alex quickly got back to his feet and stunned Adam Nowel with a kick to the chest. He hit a low Roundhouse Kick to the chest to double him over and ran off the ropes before coming back with a STIFF Dropkick to the side of the head! Pure wasted time being proud of himself.
“See? I can do that kicky stuff, too, good sir! Pleasure testing out my toughness against one such as yourself!”
Pure smiled at his two tag team partners and lifted Adam Nowell off the ground, but the former multiple-time tag team champion CRACKED him hard in the side of the head with a high kick of his own before he went down in a heap.
“See? I can kick HARDER than you. Dumbass.” And another cover followed.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO!
Pure may have been out cold so Teddy Locke got in there and dropped an elbow across his head. After Teddy was asked to leave the ring, Nowell grabbed Pure and tagged in Avis Flyfield, who jumped into the ring. Nowell twisted Pure’s arm which allowed Avis to go flying off the second rope and bringing down a hard Double Axe Handle across his arm!
Avis worked over the arm and dropped a couple of quick elbows into it, but Pure did some quick thinking and got in an armlock of his own. Avis ran forward and let Nowell catch Pure again, this time with a hard punch to the jaw. Nowell tagged back in, but Pure slinked away and tagged in Teddy Locke before crawling out of the ring as fast as possible, not wanting another face-bashing.
Nowell tried for a kick, but the 6’1” 240-pound Teddy Locke was too quick and blocked it. He tripped up Nowell and dropped a couple of elbows into his knee to prevent him from using that fabled kicking power that served him well for years. It was obvious the Locksmiths did their homework.
He dropped some elbows into the leg of Nowell before dragging him over his corner where he tagged in Alastair Smith. The 6’2 232-pounder climbed to the second rope and jumped off, coming down with a hard stomp to the exposed knee of Nowell, which made him shout in pain.
Smith followed up on his tag team partner’s work, grabbing the leg before driving it down to the mat in a DDT-like fashion, fucking up Nowell’s knee in the process. Nowell cradled the leg in pain, but that didn’t stop the vicious Smith from dropping some more elbows into the exposed knee. After the elbows, he grabbed the leg and rolled over, snapping back the knee in the process as they continued their work.
Avis and Aaron Fetzer cheered on their tag team partner, who was falling victim to the numbers game. Smith wrapped Nowell’s leg up in the ropes and kept him there as he tagged in Teddy Locke. Locke ran off the opposite side and came back with a hard kick aimed right at the tied knee in the ropes!
Nowell fell to the ground in pain while Locke and Smith shook hands. Alex Pure looked on at the expert skill of the men as Teddy Locke went in for his first-ever cover of the match.
ONE!
TWO!
Adam Nowell kicked out at two, but Teddy went in for a tighter, second lateral press.
ONE!
TWO!
TH… KICK OUT!
They were making Nowell use up all his energy, this much was obvious. The fans booed the technicians as they continued to work over Nowell’s leg expertly. He picked up Nowell and batted him with a European Uppercut, but Nowell fought back with a hard Knife-Edge Chop to the chest. He tried for a kick with his leg, but Locke grabbed the leg again and twisted him around into a Dragon Screw which snapped Nowell back down to the canvas.
Another tag into Alistair Smith and things were looking pretty grim for The Squadron’s heavy hitter. Nowell was lifted up by both men and was dropped with a picture-perfect double-team Vertical Suplex. Smith smiled as he turned Nowell over and made another cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO!
Alistair Smith adapted his strategy a little bit as he tied up Nowell with a modified version of an Inverted STF, cranking back on the bad leg that they had been working over the whole match. Slim J looked over for any signs of a submission, but Nowell was not going to give in that easily.
He struggled and crawled towards the ropes and shook his head as the fans started to cheer a little bit. Avis and Aaron both clapped their hands on the turnbuckle, trying to get the fans into the match as Nowell tried his damnedest to fight back.
Smith finally let go of the hold and dragged Nowell by his leg back to the opposite side of the ring. Another tag to Teddy Locke as Alistair hit a knee to double him over in the center of the ring while Teddy Locke came off the ropes and dropped him with a beautiful Swinging Neckbreaker! The two men were happy with themselves as Nowell went for another cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… SAVED BY AARON FETZER!
Fetzer stumbled in between the ropes, but saved his partner before certain defeat. While Slim J made him go back to the ropes, Locke pushed him back into the corner and yet ANOTHER tag was being made to Smith while Alex Pure mumbled something under his breath. The two criss-crossed Nowell’s hands and tossed him backwards into the turnbuckle before burying double knees into his chest. Smith rolled him over with a Snapmare and followed that up with a cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THR.. NO!
Nowell was in a very bad way at this point and was going to need to tag out very quickly if The Squadron wanted to win this. Smith took a moment to collect himself, then ran at Fetzer and caught him with a cheap shot as payback for his earlier attempt at saving the match for his team. Avis protested with the referee while Alistair Smith went to grab Nowell by the arm… STANDING SIDE KICK!
Even though he crumbled under the weight of his knee giving out on him, Nowell had enough with his good leg to catch Smith underneath the jaw as both men were down. The two men both crawled now to their respective corners. Avis held out a hand and had yet to be tagged in while Locke and Pure both were waiting for Smith to crawl over…
TAG TO PURE!
Well, Pure tagged himself in, but he was the legal man now.
TAG TO AVIS FLYFIELD!
And the fans cheered when Avis Flyfield came bouncing through the ropes at rapid pace, ducking underneath an Alex Pure clothesline to deliver a Flying Back Elbow to Locke, shooting the Locksmith member off the apron!
Pure turned around and quickly got his ass knocked down, courtesy of a Flying Forearm Smash by Avis! Avis picked him up and pushed him off to the ropes and when he got back, Pure found himself eating some more elbow, this time in Spinning Back Elbow flavor!
The Aviator waited for him to get back to his feet, but Pure caught him with a knee to the chest. He attempted some sort of Back Suplex, but Avis flipped out and landed on his feet. Pure turned around and was greeted with a no-hands Enzuigiri kick right to the back of the head that had him tumbling to the mat.
Avis quickly went to the ring apron and climbed up to the top rope as he got himself in position to deliver a good shot. Alex Pure started to wobble up to his feet…
THE 747!
The flying Tomahawk Chop from Avis Flyfield caught him right between the eyes and may have knocked Pure loopy. Avis went for the cover and the fans even counted along with him.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… SAVED BY ALISTAIR SMITH!
Slim J found himself quickly losing control of the match as now Aaron Fetzer joined in the fray and tried to tackle Smith. Smith merely grabbed Fetzer and pushed him through the ropes, but Fetzer recovered long enough to trip him by the leg and pull him to the outside. Fetzer was punched out for his troubles by Smith…
ROUNDHOUSE KICK FROM NOWELL!
But on the outside, he had his lights dimmed, thanks to a Roundhouse Kick by Adam Nowell. Nowell favored his bag leg as Teddy Locke came running around the corner, but he was stopped in his tracks by a Baseball Slide Dropkick by Avis! The Captain of the Squadron turned around to try and get himself some more of Alex Pure, but Pure snuck up behind him and caught him with a School Boy!
ONE!
Handful of tights!
TWO!
NO!
Avis still kicked out, to the surprise of both the crowd and Alex Pure himself. Pure stamped his feet and tried to grab onto Avis for his submission finisher. A Sharpshooter called May The Best Man Win. But Avis struggled and got back to his feet. Pure doubled him over with a knee to the gut and whipped him off the ropes. He missed a Back Elbow of his own…
CRASH LANDING!
The Leaping Leg Lariat caught Pure right across the throat as Avis landed on top of him. He rolled over and pulled both legs back while the Squadron members kept the Locksmiths at bay.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Both of the Locksmiths were in disbelief as Avis Flyfield had his arm raised by the referee! Aaron Fetzer and even Adam Nowell both climbed into the ring. Flyfield had a big smile on his face as he had his arm raised by Slim J.
“AND HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS OF THE MATCH… AVIS FLYFIELD… ADAM NOWELL AND AARON FETZER… THE SQUADRON!”
After a tag team loss last week to the Ito Dynasty, The Squadron had bounced back with a big six-man tag team victory as they left the ring. Adam Nowell didn’t stick around for the celebration while Avis and Aaron Fetzer walked back up the ramp,slapping hands with some lucky fans on the way out. They had been victorious again!
Meanwhile, the Locksmiths had enough of Alex Pure. He protested with the duo, but the two men beat the hell out of him and started roughing him up some more before they tossed him HARD into the steel steps. The crowd booed the two wrestling purists, who weren’t being very wrestle-y or even purist-y right now. Locke and Smith gave the fans the old double bird before they themselves disappeared up the ramp.
As for Alex Pure?
Yeah. Welcome to ACW, youngster.
WINNER: The Squadron via pinfall (Flyfield over Pure)
Baldies R' Us
WAR, the new... actually has he been given a job title?
...
WAR, walked down the main corridor passing all of the locker rooms as he looked like he was making his way for a meeting with Joe Bishop. Being the only operations after thought of the Hunt/SlySports era, WAR wanted to make a decent impression on anything he done in ACW, and today was no different.
As a deal with ESEN grew ever closer, WAR was very much an important part of that process... but why was he here? Why did he stay? And when will the big man lose his temper?
"Hey cunto... you must be sweating like a blind homo in a sausage factory in here."
Guess who?
*cue choir sound byte* THE KING SHIT~!
WAR turned around and didn't feel like wasting his valuable time, but he couldn't help but respond.
"And why is that Mr. Keller... I'm presuming it's because I am from Russia, and it's oh so cold there?"
Keller stepped out from his locker room, which smelt a bit to be honest with you.
"Yeah. Good work."
WAR shook his head.
"Let me remind you Mr. Keller, I am still your superior around here, please watch your comments."
Ruh-roh.
"What? WHAT? HAHAHA. Are you FUCKING kidding me? Are you? The only person who was ever my superior in this company in six feet under now, so you need to watch your mouth, before I smack the ice back into it!"
WAR chuckled.
"Very good."
As he motioned to leave, Keller lured him right back in.
"Why are you even here? Your boss is gone... so has Z, why are you sticking around?"
Once again, WAR was in no mood to be made fun off.
"It doesn't matter to you why I am here... I could say the same thing to you. You are the WHORE of ACW... running about, talking idiotic comments and then being beaten when it counts, only to move on to the next candidate to go through the same thing over and over and over again."
Things just turned sour.
Keller squared up to WAR as he took offence to his rather, offensive comments.
"Listen up to streak to shit... tonight, I'm gonna shut up Almasy... fuck this Orphan nonsense. His name is SEYMOUR BUTTS ALMASY and don't he is going to be out of the Spirit picture. Then? GoldenHAWK is next."
WAR laughed.
"And what are you going to do to the young man?"
"Me? I'm going to end his career."
...Are Doomed to Repeat It
“Are we on yet? Come on, let's get this over with.”
Annnnnnnnnnnnd we were backstage again in that backstage area. The ACW banner was in the background and looking as indifferent as ever was none other than Olivia McMullen. As that light came on, she was all (no) smiles as the camera flashed on her lovely face. She hoped the make-up was covering up her laugh lines.
“Folks, earlier this evening we heard some words from Andy Sharp pertaining to the main event of the evening. Well, right now, I've got the man that will be standing opposite Mr. All-Star. He's called himself The Amazing One... and the Ring... Master? Wait, we've got Steve Austin here?”
“UGH! DUBBA-YOU-TEE-EFF?”
Popping on camera was the handsome and mustachioed mug of none other than The Night Life's fearless leader and his eye candy, Ms. Elyse Frost. The Amazing Gabriel was dressed in a rather subdued ring attire for himself, black box trunks with an airbrushed picture of his face on the front. Rick Rude, eat your heart out! And Elyse Frost was resting her head on The Amazing Gabriel's shoulders, her dyed blonde hair resting gently. She had on a very tight silver tube top that was making the censors pretty nervous with how close she was to popping out and black leather pants that accentuated her... ahem... assets.
“WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA...”
Olivia turned her head to speak but The Amazing Gabriel held up a finger.
“...WHOA... it's RingLEADER you spunk waste receptacle.”
Olivia raised her microphone, but Elyse cut her off.
“No, no. You speak only when spoken to. The Amazing Gabriel heard every word that limp-dicked piece of trash, Andy Sharp, had to say about him. Now he gets his turn.”
McMullen wasn't too happy, but stood there and raised the microphone while The Amazing Gabriel smiled.
“Did you hear what Andy Sharp said about me earlier? That he was going to be making me crawl back to my recreational drugs... which I have no knowledge of? And this guy has the nerve to ask people for forgiveness? That he went to Ruben Ross and sucked off that overrated sack of crap just so he could get my gang barred from ringside... the same gang that I don't need to beat him? Elyse, did I miss anything?”
“No, Gaby Bear!”
“I didn't think so. It's just another perfect example of Good Old Sharpie using his stroke to get what he wants! He comes in, thinking he's some kind of a big shot acting like his fecal matter doesn't have a pungent aroma to it and I'm sick of this! I can't take it anymore!”
He looked like he could blow a gasket any minute, but Elyse massaged his shoulders to try and keep him from going over the edge. He finally regained his temperament. And before he continued on his next tirade, it seemed a light bulb went off.
“Andy Sharp is not a good person. He isn't a hero. He doesn't deserve any kind of adulation. But I realize that I've been going about this all wrong. I realize the error of my ways. I realized that siccing my guys on Andy Sharp and jumping him backstage was not the right way to go about this. I realize that using the SlySports money I won all those months ago to pay for Jack Harris' services was not the honorable thing to do... even though Andy Sharp tried to attack me after a hard-fought match with Fight Man and Jack Harris was there for my protection.”
“I know, sweetie,” Elyse told him, “you did the right thing.”
“No... I must rise above hate... actually, that would look pretty good on a shirt! Somebody should do that. But enough about that now! No, instead, we're going to do this. I will make amends to the people that I've wrong.. Olivia McMullen, please accept my apology. I meant not to refer to you in such a disgusting manner. I should not have referred to you as a human waste receptacle. The things that you do and the kind of person that you are in your spare time is your business and that kind of dirty laundry should never be aired in public.”
The shocked looked on Olivia's face told the fans she wasn't happy with his remarks.
“All-Star Championship Wrestling needs a hero that it can look up to. These are dark times. SilverHAWK is in the Earth's crust! His son is constantly bungling his way through title defenses! Omega is on the warpath, attacking anybody he sees fit to get a title match! Tyson XL is out there as our champion, promoting obesity to both the children watching this show and the already obese wrestling fans watching this on illegal bit torrents... SHAME ON YOU, BIT TORRENTERS! SHAME ON YOU! It needs a hero! And I, my dear Elyse... and to my Night Life... I now declare myself the guiding light!”
The Amazing Gabriel was now holding out his arms.
“I am that guiding light that will show ACW the way! No longer will I allow Andy Sharp to throw his weight around like some bully. You know how we deal with bullies where I come from, my dear Elyse?”
“Umm. You kick them in the jewels?”
“Only if an attempt at my jewels are made, my lovely. No. We go out there, we meet it head on despite the fact he went and whined to Ruben Ross... and we punch him right in his big, overbearing, condescending face... but not with a closed fist because that would be illegal. We'll see his threats of promising to promote bodily harm! I will go out there, score the biggest singles victory of my ACW career... and I will show the fans and All-Star Championship Wrestling itself that they have dubbed the wrong man Mister All-Star! Come, my sweetheart!”
The Amazing Gabriel then turned around to kiss Elyse on the check.
“I did earlier... twice.”
A sly grin from The Amazing Gabriel to the camera and that was their cue to exit.
HANDICAP MATCH - STANDARD RULES Omega vs. Fight Man & DIM
Fight Man and DIM were already in the ring waiting on the monster that has been on a rampage for the past few weeks, Omega.
CUE UP: “Redeemer” by Marilyn Manson
The arena lights went out as a few strobe lights circulated around the arena. The music continued as Omega slowly made his way from the backstage area. He looked around as he walked onto the stage. He was still searching for ‘Barb’. He made his way slowly down the ramp toward the ring. He heard a loud chorus of boos from the fans because of his actions the past two weeks. Omega had blatantly attack the new world champion, Tyson XL, two weeks ago. Then he had a match with newcomer V, where Omega destroyed the kid and got himself disqualified. He went ballistic on the kid and the word is that the kid is laid up with a concussion.
The former two time [ Black ] Scorpion champion was ready for this handicap match that Ruben Ross made last week. Both DIM and Fight Man will be allowed to be in the ring together against the monster Omega. The big man slid into the ring as the bell sounded. DIM and Fight Man would not let Omega get to his feet as they nailed him with shot after shot in the back and the back of the head.
Fight Man drilled Omega with a boot to the face as DIM bounced off the ropes and nailed Omega with a dropkick to the face. Omega was still on both knees, never falling to the mat after the onslaught from both men. Fight Man came at Omega again who just shoved him into the corner. The former Gateway champion, DIM started nailing Omega with right hands but the big man shoved him away as well.
DIM was not done as he jumped back on Omega and started nailing right again. Omega once more shoved DIM across the ring. This time however, DIM hit the ropes and came rushing back at Omega who exploded from his kneeling position with a vicious clothesline. Omega picked up DIM and drove him to the mat with a big side suplex. Omega hooked DIM’s legs for the pin. Hurst dropped down for the count.
ONE…
TWO…
Broken up by Fight Man. The man who loves to fight was trying to take the fight to the biggest dog in the yard. Fight Man nailed Omega with several shots to the head and back, then nailing Omega with a dropkick to the knee that staggered the big man. Fight Man went to climb to the top rope as DIM made his way to the corner. Fight Man was perched on the top rope as Omega turned to see FM dive off the top rope with a cross body block.
That was a dumb move by FM.
As you probably guess it, Omega caught him in mid-air and tossed him clear across the ring with a fall away slam. Fight Man almost fell to the floor but the corner stopped him. Omega looked at both men as the fans booed the God of Fight. Omega walked slowly over to DIM and grabbed him by the head.
He picked up DIM and hung him in the corner, hooking his foot under the top turnbuckle so he couldn’t move. Omega walked over to the opposite corner before eyeing DIM. Omega smirked before racing with a full head of steam into the corner spearing DIM. He literally broke DIM in half as the former Gateway champion was on the mat shaking uncontrollably.
Omega smirked as he turned his attention to FM. Omega slowly stalked FM in the corner. He picked up Fight Man and placed him on the top rope.
“So you like to fly. We are about to permanently ground you.”
The big man climbed to the second rope before placing Fight Man on his shoulders. He jumped off the second rope driving FM into the mat with a huge thud. Omega nailed Fight Man with a big Samoan Drop. Omega sat in the middle of the ring shaking as both of his opponents had been beaten down.
The fans continued to boo Omega but the craziest bastard in wrestling was not done yet. He rolled to the floor and lifted the ring apron up. He found a table and pulled it from under the ring. Omega picked up the table and slid it into the ring. Omega rolled into the ring and grabbed the table. He propped it into the corner as Hurst was pleading with Omega not to use it.
Omega smirked as he looked at DIM. He picked up DIM and raced across the ring spearing him through the table. Both men lay in the rubble as Fight Man tried to get to his feet but was still feeling the effects of that Samoan drop. Omega started to move through the rubble of the table. DIM was not moving at all as table pieces started to fly while Omega was getting to his feet.
Fight Man pulled himself to his feet with the help of the ropes. Omega had made his way through the rubble as he too was getting to his feet. Fight Man came at Omega and ran right into a big boot. Omega dropped for the cover.
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!!
Omega couldn’t believe that FM kicked out. This was the worse thing FM could do because the craziest bastard in wrestling loved to inflict pain. Omega grabbed FM and drove him to the mat quickly with The End. The craziest bastard in wrestling was not done as he pulled DIM from the rubble.
THE END ON DIM
Omega placed FM on top of DIM as he pinned both men. Hurst dropped down for the count.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
It was finally over as Omega had picked up the win. The EMTs rushed to the ring as they checked on both DIM and Fight Man. Omega stood in the ring and watched as the fans continued to boo. The fans continued to give it to Omega as the camera cut backstage.
WINNER: Omega via pinfall
History Lesson - Legends V
A single spotlight appeared at the top of the entryway, illuminating a lone figure standing there under the bright light. Necks all over the All-Star Arena craned to see just who or what had chosen now, after the main event of this half of Legends V, to make his appearance.
Long, white locks cascaded down to his shoulders, with streaks of crimson. Those close to the entryway could see that he was straitjacketed, the pristine white of the jacket stained with what could only be blood. His head hung forward, obscuring his identity…an identity that was now being speculated on by everyone in the arena. Whispers took over amongst the fans for a moment.
There was no way this could be, could it?
In the ring, the King Shit of Fuck Mountain looked down the aisle as if he’d seen a ghost... or maybe two since his mind had just been jacked by KSZ. The fans might not have been quite sure of what was going on yet, but he knew. He’d seen this scene up close and personal when he had perpetrated it, all the way back in 2009.
The lights returned to the All-Star Arena, and the man in the aisle threw his head back, to reveal to Montreal and the world the truth that Khristain Keller already knew.
There was no music. No fanfare. No pyro.
None of that mattered, though.
SEYMOUR ALMASY had returned to All-Star Championship Wrestling.
* * *
Two men. Five years. No mercy.
Pleading His Case
The camera suddenly panned from the package back to the ring where the techs were still cleaning up the debris. The EMTs as well were trying to get DIM and Fight Man from the ring as they led the two men back upt he ramp. Omega stood in the ring and watched the carnage that he caused being swept away from the ring as if he was waiting for something.
The crowd then turned on their heads when the driving guitars of “Piece by Piece” by Strata hit the speakers. The red and blue lights started to pulsate throughout the arena as the big man came out from the back. With a stern look on his face, the NEW ACW Heavyweight Champion looked to the ring where Omega watched.
The champion made his way down to the ring as Omega watched intently with a sly grin on his face. The champion grabbed a microphone from the ring announcer and headed up the steel steps before entering the ring. He stood face to face with the man that attacked him two weeks ago and didn't back down once inch from a man that had a rightful reputation as one of the most dangerous men in the business.”
“This is how it should be Omega. You and I face to face. Now I hope you can see fit to get that deranged mind to tell me what makes you think that I was the one that stole Barb from you? There are many wrestlers on this roster that don't like you and even more that are afraid of you. Tell me... why me? What aside from this championship that you covet so dearly makes me special?
Omega looked at Tyson before grabbing the champion’s hand, snatching the microphone from his grip. He raised the microphone to his lips as the fans jeered the former [ Black ] Scorpion Champion.
“We received a note that specifically pointed you as the culprit. Now that you know why we fingered you for the theft, you need to tell us where Barb is, or else.”
Tyson pulled his hand away from Omega and looked around the arena before speaking again.
“So you received a note from some anonymous person and that made you believe that I took your beloved Barb. A note that any halfwit could've written and anybody with basic motor skills could've thrown together. Fan-fucking-tastic. That only narrows it down to everybody on this roster, Omega.”
Tyson XL became a little more tense.
“Look. I'll call a spade a spade. I don't care why somebody did this. Either to get at me or manipulate you. But I came to tell you face to face, Omega, I did not take Barb. I don’t understand why I was the one targeted to take the brunt of your wrath, but I do understand that you want this championship badly. I understand that this is something you want.”
The champion adjusted his title on his shoulder.
“You want to take this belt from me; you and everybody else. Sorry to say, Omega, but it will be a cold day in hell before that happens. I am not going to lay down while you just walk all over me, jumping me out of the blue. You might be one of, if not the baddest man in this company. You earned that reputation. But you and I both know that I’m not Fight Man or DIM and I will take what you dish out and give it back to you tenfold.”
The champ was now nose to nose with Omega.
“I will say this one last time so it sinks into that damaged brain of yours. I did not take Barb. Someone is trying to manipulate you.”
Omega looked around the arena before pushing the microphone to his lips and smiled.
“I see you want to do this hard way. We prefer the hard way.”
Omega quickly drove a big left into Tyson’s face. The champion staggered backwards for a second before lunging at Omega taking him down with a tackle. The two big men rolled on the mat trying to get an advantage on the other. They both traded right hands on the mat before security and other wrestlers came from the back. The tried to separate the two three hundred plus pound men from ripping each other’s throat out.
The Squadron.
David Race.
KIRU.
Alex Pure.
Some local guys.
Security.
PANDEMONIUM!
It took all of security and half of the wrestlers in the back to keep the two men away from each. They finally got Omega out of the ring as Tyson was hot, stomping about still. The men pushed Omega up the ramp as Tyson was freed in the ring, laying down the ACW World Heavyweight Championship as if to dare him to cross the line. He reached down and grabbed the microphone.
Tyson leaned over the top rope looking at Omega up the ramp way. “Omega, you won your match just like Ruben Ross wanted you to, but I'll give this to you formally anyway. You want me. Then you got me. You and me for the ACW World Heavyweight title at Revival!”
Tyson dropped the microphone as Omega smirked at the thought of a world title shot at the PPV.
“Piece by Piece” by Strata played over the speakers while Tyson XL and Omega continued to stare tensely at one another. Tyson picked up his championship and showed it high above his head while Omega continued to smile. He got what he wanted.
And one could imagine the fight between the two men when Revival came about.
Before the Storm
Last week, poor Olivia McMullen drew the unenviable task of having to interview Khristain Keller. This week, her assignment was better, but not by a whole Hell of a lot.
Why, you ask? Just take a look at who she’s standing with. Long white hair, streaked with crazy red. Red facepaint. Yup, it’s Orphan, aka He Who Hates Keller Even More Than Olivia Did Last Week.
“Tonight, you take on Khristain Keller, in a contest under (black) Scorpion rules. It’s a match type you’ve never competed in, and he’s a former black Scorpion Champion. Are you concerned?”
Whether Orphan actually WAS concerned or not, he wouldn’t show. And so he gave Olivia about as patronizing of a smile as he could muster up.
“Concerned? Hardly. I’m a former Scorpion Fighting Champion myself. And the woman I beat to earn that honor? None other than the very first black Scorpion Champion herself, Fejona Min. I am comfortable with the rules I will be competing under, even if they have been further complicated by the addition of the Asylum’s regulations.”
“Keller attempted to drive you from this sport and ACW back in 2009,” Olivia continued. “How long have you waited for this day?”
“I will be honest with you; I much more eagerly awaited it in 2010 and early 2011. You see, years ago, Khristain Keller made a decision. He chose to sacrifice a lucrative career with the fans Wrestling organization to come back here – home, as it were, to this cursed place. He did so at the behest of a dead man’s wish to assassinate my career. Unfortunately, I am the sort of man who shoots the messenger. SilverHAWK is dead; Khristain Keller shall soon wish that he was. Everything that happens in the ring tonight never needed happen if Keller could have simply accepted the exile that I dealt him at Legends II, in 2006…my, over five years ago, now. How time flies...”
Our intrepid interviewess, however, wasn’t satisfied to just ask about the obvious. No, she did her homework, and as such, had come prepared with another topic of conversation.
“While I have you here, Orphan, your thoughts on Keith Scott Zimmerman? Last week during his match with Dude in Mask, he—“
Orphan cut her off with a curt wave of his hand and an annoyed nod.
“I am aware of what Zimmerman did. I watch Courage backstage on the monitors, you know.”
“Well, then,” she asked in response, reiterating her question, “what do you think of KSZ?”
“I think that Mr. Zimmerman has his hands full with Hank Wright, who is after him and his black Scorpion Championship,” Orphan said, neatly. “I think that he’s lost his mind. And I think that he isn’t worth my time, to be perfectly honest.”
“But, last week, the two of you had a staredown, and—“
“What I am saying, if you would bother to listen, is that he is not worth my time. If you must have a quote from me, fine. Here goes: it is in Keith’s best interest to leave those four young women alone. If he wishes to bait me by “stealing” wrestling manuevers that I used in a past life, it is his foolish perogative to do so. I could, quite honestly, care less. To trifle with the four people I have left who understand why I have returned is to trifle with what is called in fandom circles a “berserk button.” And though Zimmerman may believe he knows what ‘berserk’ is, trust me, he does NOT wish to push my button and find out.”
“Alright then, I—“
Once again, Orphan cut her off. For all his talk about not wanting to concern himself with the black Scorpion Champion, he couldn’t help one last barb.
“Just because the person *he* cares for most is in a hospital bed is no reason to take such things out on the women that I care for most. Now, if you’ll excuse me, this interview is over. I have wasted enough breath on Zimmerman and Keller for one day.”
With no further ado, the Orphan exited, stage left, leaving the stunned intervieweress to try and process that little piece of passive-aggression.
While she does that, let’s send you up to some aggressive-aggression, shall we?
FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING - [BLACK] SCORPION RULES Khristain Keller vs Orphan
Five years in the making. Two men. One winner.
What else really needs to be said?
“This contest is scheduled for one fall, and it will be contested under (black) Scorpion Rules! Introducing first…”
“Black Tongue” by Mastodon. The song meant only one man, perhaps the most hateful, bitter, malignant bastard to ever call ACW home.
“He hails from Orlando, Florida! Standing 6’3” inches, he weighs 230 pounds! This is the former (black) Scorpion Champion, and the former ACW Heavyweight Champion of the World…he is THE KING SHIT OF FUCK MOUNTAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN….KHRRISSTTAAIIIIINNNN KEEELLLLLLLEEERRRR!”
And with that, ladies and gentlemen…
“And, HIS OPPONENT!”
A single white spotlight illuminated the entryway of the arena. The crowd booed with fervor, but it was a different sort than the usual. The man standing, ready for war, clad in a blood-stained straitjacket was on the side of the angels tonight. Well, as much as he could be, anyway, really.
The once-Seymour Almasy began a slow, purposeful walk down to the ring, his arms at his sides. He was no fool; tonight, the jacket wasn’t tied up. He shed it halfway down the aisle, looking up at Khristain Keller with reddened eyes and a blackened heart.
“Hailing from Orphan’s Cradle, he stands 5’8” tall, and weighs in at 183 lbs! He is the winner of the 2005 End Game match, a former two-time ACW World Champion who has forsaken the identity that garnered him those accolades! This is ACW’S FORGOTTEN SON...THE FAL’CIE…ORRRRRRPHHHAAAANNNN!”
Some matches started neatly, with a bell and referee giving instructions and all of that. This was not to be one of those matches.
Not when the King Shit of Fuck Mountain had vacated the squared circle, and was coming down the aisle to greet the man who had, at one point, put him out of ACW, presumably for good.
And for Leon Hurst, who knew what was going to happen? Better to just ring the goddamned bell and go from there.
*DING DING DING!*
And as the bell rang, a palpable buzz filled the arena. If anything could be called a “grudge match” in the truest sense of the word, this was it.
K2 paused in the aisleway, a wicked grin on his face.
“Was getting tired of this fighting shit,” Keller said, cracking his knuckles, “but for you I’ll make an exception. Should’ve finished the job all those months ago.”
Orphan retaliated just as GoldenHAWK had retaliated last week.
SLAP. YOU. FACE.
“OOOOOOOOOOOH!”
“You never had the balls, Keller,” Orphan spat. “Now, *I’M* going to finish what you and that cunt’s dad started.”
Kyle Keller was really getting tired of this former paragon of goodness infringing on his trademark: namely, being the guy in ACW who said the word “cunt” a lot. Especially since ACW wasn’t on TV right now.
Keller opened festivities with a sharp knee to the midsection, doubling Orphan over. This wasn’t a wrestling match. This was a fight, and Keller had every advantage in a fight except maybe speed.
“Bad call, fucker,” K2 intoned, before firing a sharp side elbow into Orphan’s face. Orphan turtled under the assault as Keller went to work, punching away at Orphan, who tried to keep Keller at bay with a series of well-aimed low kicks.
Those hurt. Just ask any Muay Thai practicioner.
Keller winced, but kept right on moving forward. Orphan managed to grab hold of one of the arms, though, and then kicked THAT, a hard shot right on the elbow joint.
“Good call. You think I give a shit about anything besides ending you tonight?” Orphan’s question hung heavy in the ring, and Keller really couldn’t answer it. To him, Almasy was the title-obsessed (though not as much so as Max Danger, heavens no) fruitcake flippy guy. Not this facepainted freak who liked to kick.
Grabbing Keller by his bald head, Orphan introduced him into the steel barricade lining the aisle. Hurst had no intentions of doing anything except (eventually) counting fifteen. This match had been building too long, and too much rested on it.
Orphan buried another sharp knee in the chest, and set up Keller for what looked an awful lot like it was going to be a piledriver, right there on the aisle. One attempt – nothing.
Two attempts – nothing.
Three—no.
Khristain Keller was barely a wrestler, but he knew a basic counter. Like the back body drop.
*CLANG!*
Hurts a Hell of a lot more when you land on cold, hard steel. Just ask Orphan.
With the Orphan’s back in trouble, Khristain Keller, being a kind soul, decided to help out with the situation by picking Orphan back up and driving him back first repeatedly into the steel barricade.
Such a nice sort, he is.
Firmly in control of the contest, Keller decided to get things back to the place where they could actually, you know, end. Picking Orphan up like a sack of crap over his shoulder, Keller deposited him on the ring apron, and gave him a quick kick to push him further into the squared circle.
Re-entering the ring himself, the former ACW World Champion set up shop in the corner, waiting for the dumb RPG nerd to get up.
Here it comes folks. Choo choo!
CLOTHESLINE FROM—DROP TOE HOLD!
No, Keller hadn’t decided to give his move a more family friendly name; Orphan had countered the charging Keller with a simple side-step and drop toe hold. It was as basic as moves came.
Well, except for the fact that he’d backed up several steps, and was now preparing to punt Keller in the temple.
MERCILESS JUDG—NO!
Like Orphan before him, Keller had the presence of mind to escape his mortal enemy’s devastating maneuver. Orphan gave a mock round of applause just before Keller flew at him and cracked him in the jaw with a big right hand.
Orphan weebled and wobbled, but he didn’t go down. And, naturally, he returned fire in the form of a sharp roundhouse kick to the ribcage that drove the breath from Keller.
Not so much breath, though, that Keller couldn’t fire right back with another of those huge right hands.
And so it went. Kick vs punch, the timeless dance of the martial arts.
Who won? Well, let’s see: kicks to the ribs versus punches to the face. No one ever said Keller was BRIGHT, per se, but he does know basic anatomy.
A final, huge right hand put Orphan down, and Keller waved over the official. “Count him.”
Not that Keller thought Orphan was done, of course, but a little insult to injury never hurt.
ONE!
TWO!
“You can’t even keep me down for three. What makes you think you can do it for fifteen?”
From his knees, Orphan smirked up at the Bastard King of Ages. Keller was nowhere near as amused.
“The Hell did you say,” he demanded, prodding Orphan with a half-hearted boot to the face.
“You’ve never pinned me. Never beaten me. Never have. Never will.”
As Keller set out to refute that with another boot, Orphan caught it. Almost instantly, judging by his precarious position, K2 knew that he was in trouble.
Orphan’s fist slamming up into his groin at terminal velocity confirmed it.
“OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH-YAAAAAAAYYYY!”
Sympathy wince from the men in the crowd. Cheer from the Party at ringside.
“Count him,” Orphan chuckled, as Keller lay in the fetal position clutching his tender regions.
The referee, not having a choice in this particular matter, did so.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE!
SIX!
“Least I have balls to get kicked in,” Keller smirked, through a pained grimace, pulling himself up to hands and knees and burying a sharp right hand in Orphan’s abdomen. “Couldn’t find yours if I tried.”
The way Keller saw it, he had the advantage of being bigger, stronger, and hitting harder. This wasn’t a wrestling match. It was a fight, and in a fight, Keller could beat just about anyone.
Grabbing Orphan by his long hair, Keller slung him into the corner, hard, and advanced on the former Final Fantasy.
The satisfied smile on Keller’s face told the whole story; he was gonna enjoy this.
Right hand to the jaw. Left knee to the gut. Usually not a patient man, Keller’s strikes took on a surgical touch as he mauled Orphan in the corner.
“Stay down this time,” he offered, helpfully, before throwing a huge uppercut that crumpled the Fal’Cie and left him supporting himself by the ropes. Seeing an opportunity, the Bastard King of Ages backed up several steps, then charged, looking to crush the former two-time champion in the corner.
The Forgotten Son of ACW, though, was ready, reaching high to catch Keller as he came in, jumping and sweeping out the leg at the same time to spike him with the clawhold STO he called NECROSIS.
To Keller’s credit, the big move didn’t take him out completely, but it did leave him somewhat loopy. Slowly, he fought his way back up to his knees, looking to get himself back in the match.
Orphan, though, was already on the move, to the ring apron, and then to the top turnbuckle. With Keller reeling, he flew off the top rope, driving both boots into the face of K2 with a layout dropkick!
Using the ropes to pull himself back up, Orphan settled back into the corner, and waited for the referee to do his job.
He did: until the count of about eight or so, when Keller rose up again, shaking his head, and looking even more pissed off at the world than usual.
“Good. I’m glad you got up. After five years, for you to go down to that would be IMMENSELY disappointing, Khristain…” Khristain, for his part, still couldn’t quite believe that the man he was in the ring with was, you know, Seymour Almasy. Through the red facepaint of Orphan, though, he could see the man’s face, pale flesh poking through where the makeup had rubbed away.
Keller retorted with a boot to the face that dropped the mouthy Fal’Cie where he stood. Sneering, Keller began to grind his boot in the face of the downed Orphan: causing pain, sure, but also achieving another goal.
“You can wear all the facepaint you want, Butts,” he cackled, “but you’re still the same.”
Soon, Khristain had succeeded in removing most of the red paint covering Orphan’s face. Picking him back up, Keller grinned triumphantly, and then kicked his adversary in the stomach. Hard.
Moments later, Keller had Orphan up, poised to powerbomb him into (credit to Shane Douglas) “oblitacree.” The former Final Fantasy, though, had one more trick up his sleeve.
It wasn’t from Orphan’s playbook, though, oh no. But nor was it from Seymour Almasy’s.
Nope, this little ditty was from the playbook of…Z.
Which of course only meant one thing, considering what a thieving bastard that Z was.
HIT
ORPHAN’S
MUSIC!
Zuh?
The out-of-nowhere Codebreaker counter sparked confusion from the masses, except those with good short term memories. It also seemed clear that Mr. Keith Scott Zimmerman was on Orphan’s mind more than he was willing to admit to intrepid interviewesses.
“Count him,” Orphan told Leon Hurst, “but I don’t expect much. That move sucks anyway.”
As the count went up, though, Orphan began to wonder if Zimmerman’s move might have been more effective than he’d thought. Hell. Z had won more matches with it than Keith had.
Nine. Ten. Eleven, even. Twelve? Yes!
But that was all. Khristain Keller had history with KSZ, and damned if he was going to lie down to Keith’s move executed by Seymour Almasy.
“Fuck BOTH of you,” Keller groaned, clutching at a body wounded by the evening’s battle.
The Orphan readied a high kick, but Keller ducked underneath it, and smacked Orphan square in the stomach with a heavy boot.
“Finally,” he muttered, under his breath. He’d only ever gotten to do this to Orphan once, back at Legends II in the match that banished him from ACW. Troublingly, the nerd had kicked out of it, but back then he was flying on all sorts of adrenaline and Elixirs and the support of the entire arena of dorks.
Spiked Jackhammer time, bitches. If you listen closely, you can hear the Party shriek in concern as Orphan is airborne.
painKILLA!
Down went Orphan, hard on the back and the back of his neck.
“Count that fucker!”
Leon Hurst complied.
One. Two.
Let’s skip a few.
Six. Seven.
Nothing. What’d you expect? It’s the friggin’ PAINKILLA.
Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen.
And at thirteen, the Orphan rose from one knee, pushed up to both feet, and spat in Khristain Keller’s face.
“Is that the best you have,” he demanded, clutching at his neck with one hand, knees shaking with the effort to stay standing, but hatred in his eyes. “You tried to fucking kill me, you prick, and the best you can do is THAT?”
Kyle Keller was getting very, very tired of facing guys smaller than him, hyped up on the drug of emotion. Still, he knew what to do. Kick the gut again, painKILLA again, and go the fuck home.
This time, though, Orphan caught him as Keller lifted, with a sharp knee right under the chin. Keller was forced to relinquish the hold, and he was on wobbly legs.
Orphan grinned maniacally at his opponent, as somewhere in the pit of the Forgotten Son’s soul, Seymour Almasy smiled.
Kick to the left knee. Kick to the right knee.
“You couldn’t get it done. You failed both yourself and SilverHAWK.”
Kick to the ribs. Followed by a second, and a third that buckled Keller down to one knee.
“I’m gonna be in this company as long as I want, until I take it fuckin’ over.”
Hard, HARD kick to the chest, the kind that popped throughout the arena. Still, Kyle Keller grinned his malevolent grin.
“I didn’t get it done at Legends II either, because HAWK brought you back. Fucker’s not alive this time, is he?”
Motherfucking buzzsaw kick TO THE SKULL.
And you know what? That douchebag STILL wasn’t down.
Keller only had one word, as he tried to block this onslaught, tried anything he could to keep it back.
“Cunt.”
And with that, Orphan stepped forward and kneed him in the side of the head. This time, Khristain Keller went down in a heap. He was about to take care of something that had been itching at him for five years as a small roar circulated around the arena in anticipation
Was he about to finish this?
WHACKTOTHEFUCKINGHEAD
No. Someone was just about to get this started.
The whole arena popped on their feet as a GoldenHAWK, complete with his fathers historic mask, had ran through the crowd carrying the Spirit belt in hand before clobbering it into the back of Orphans head.
YES!
SO MUCH YES!
GoldenHAWK stood for a minute to take the appreciation of these fans which were slowly becoming his, and waited.
For what you might be asking?
For his chance to fuck Keller right in the face obviously.
*BOOM*
For years, the thorne in the side of his father, had now been dropped like a sack of shit in the middle of the ring as both men now lay at his feet.
The picture would go down in history; GoldenHAWK holding the now bloodied Spirit of ACW title above his head as his two main rivals, two former World Champions and International superstars lay unconcious at his feet.
As he signaled for a microphone to be hurled his way, the referee rung the bell to announce this match over; a draw.
It wasn't over.
"I think right now, my dad would be saying FUCK YES!"
Easy pops as he pulled off the black mask to reveal his chisseled features.
"These two guys have been gunning for this title for the past month... so I thought I would give them it in the only way I know how. STRAIGHT. IN. THE. FACE!"
GoldenHAWK watched as both Keller and Orphan went their seperate ways, rolling out of the ring. Orphan was first, rolling to the right hand side and dropping down to the outside. Keller on the other hand, needed a little help.
Kick to the back.
Face on the floor.
Noise from the fans.
"Tonight, I'm over being backstabbed. Tonight, I'm over being interupted in my journey to be a World Champion in this company. Tonight, I lay everything down on the line and say at Revival I'll take on both of these motherfuckers for this title!"
There we have it. The match everyone wanted to see.
"Now everyone these days seems to be changing their name. That piece of crap right there is now Orphan when we all know who the hell he is. This baldy idiot over here has so many names you could call him Kelly and it probably wouldn't be a shock! So how about I change my name."
He lofted that black mask in the air as a tribute to his father.
"You can call me HAWK."
WINNER: draw due to interverence
The first...and still the best
Backstage we see Jimmy Gonze standing in front of an ACW logo banner. He is still sweating after gaining the victory over "Too Cool" Chris Hopper tonight. He has that look of satisfaction on his face as he speaks.
"You thought you could walk in here and do whatever you wanted, didn't you?
"Well I think I taught you a lesson tonight."
Yes, he really is enjoying himself. And why not? He proved that he could handle Hopper in the ring under regular circumstances and his goal of achieving that legacy is closer now than ever.
"You came into MY stomping ground, kid. You walked into my arena and challenged ME to battle. That was stupid of you to begin with and tonight you found out why. You can't hang with the ACW, Hopper, and you never will.
"I know you had high hopes. You thought ol' Jimmy would be an easy mark to get a notch in your belt. Let me tell you a little secret, son...
"I ain't easy.
"I never have been. You found out what I can do in the ring tonight. I fucked your shit up, son and that isn't going to change when we face again. You see, this is my revival. This is my chance to shine. You can talk about how you are here for the fans and you want everyone to be excited to see your big, dumb ass walk out from behind the curtain. But me?"
A little smirk from the veteran.
"I come to win every night. I don't care how it happens...count out, disqualification, or even if I have to do something special for the occasion like tonight. It doesn't matter because I come to win when I step inside that ring.
"That is why I am the first Spirit of ACW.
"That is why I beat you tonight.
"And that is why you are already a lost cause."
Jimmy stares coldly toward the camera.
"Do yourself a favor and just leave now while I still let you walk out on your own two feet."
Gonze walks off camera as the scene fades out.
SINGLES MATCH - STANDARD RULES Serpiente vs "The Dream" Marcus Davis
After commercial we returned to the arena to hear, "Superpredators" by Massive Attack blast through the arena, the Aussie crowd immediately responded with jeers as they relate that music to be associated with the Beast of Prey. They were correct as Serpentine appeared from the back with the monster Bull behind him.
They slowly made their way to the ring, not in any hurry as they knew their job tonight was to simply pick apart the debuting, "The Dream" Marcus Davis of the Foundation of Honor army. They made their way up the steel steps and into the ring, the crowd became anxious awaiting for what was going to be an electric entrance.
Davis made his entrance just as the Foundation did earlier, the fans were electric. He came out wearing a futuristic long white and light blue coat that almost hung to the ground. He wore boot kick pads that were of the same color scheme, elbow pads, with martial arts type hand and wrist pad, along with short trunks.
He entered the ring after circling around and interacting with the crowd showing more energy than ever in his career. After entering the ring he whipped off the coat in dramatic fashion. Bull stepped out of the ring as the lights returned to normal.
After Slim J asked for the bell the two circled each other, Davis held up an index finger towards Serpentine, who surprisingly stopped. Davis turned towards the turnbuckles and climbed up to the second turnbuckle and played to the hot crowd before jumping down.
He turned with a smile on his face to receive a Toe Kick from the tactical Serpentine who wasn't up for playing games. He quickly followed with three rapid right hands that backed Marcus up into the turnbuckles.
Serpentine kept up his advantage by choking Marcus until the count of four causing, "The Dream" to slump in the corner. He looked at Slim J menacingly causing the referee to back up a few steps.
He returned his attention back to Davis, pulling him out of the corner. Serpentine, threw Davis through the middle rope to the outside in front of the massive Bull. He turned his attention back to the referee who danced around the ring to avoid Serpentine, "This is going to be bad..." said Renaud Cardinal our play by play voice.
Bull pulled up Davis and sent him face first into the steel post, before rolling him back into the ring and walking away. Slim J didn't notice anything as Serpentine turned his attention back to his prey.
We then saw two images of backstage, the first of El Rey Futuro and Hijo De Angel watching the match in their locker room. Beside the image we saw Isurus and Wolf watching the match intently. Shortly after, the screen returned fully to the match.
Serpentine had pulled Davis back to his feet and hit a Hanging Neckbreaker. He made the lateral press...
One!
Two!
Davis kicked out as the crowds boos turned to cheers, Serpentine didn't look happy as Davis struggled to try and regain his focus. Perhaps suffering from some ring rust.
Serpentine pulled Davis back to his feet and quickly put him back down with a Body Slam, he immediately ran off the ropes, but Davis moved out of the way of an Elbow Drop.
Serpentine got to his feet quickly, his elbow hurting slightly as Davis got up to a knee. As Serpentine approached Davis, a quick Legsweep from Davis took Serpentine down to the mat hitting his head rather hard.
This allowed Davis to get to his feet a few seconds in front of Serpentine and drove three Dual Knife Edge Chops to his chest, knocking Serpentine down with the third.
Serpentine again was quick to his feet, Davis quickly delivered the Rapid Fire kicks, to his right thigh and chest, finishing up with a Jumping Extended Back Kick to the beasts chest to get the crowd back into it.
Bull jumped up on the apron, instead of hitting Serpentine with a Standing Moonsault Davis turned his attention to Bull, knocking him off the apron with a Dropkick. The distraction allowed Serpentine to get to his feet, as Davis turned around he was met with an Eye Rack from Serpentine.
The beast ignored Slim J's reprimand and sent Davis to the mat with a Snap Suplex. Serpentine stood up looking confident as he pulled Davis back up to his feet, setting him up in a Fisherman.
He pulled Davis up, but Davis adjusted his weight, grabbed Serpentine by the head all in one motion...
SUDDEN STOP
Davis nailed the Sudden Stop after an incredible counter and Serpentine was lifeless, Davis smirked before rolling Serpentine over and hooking his leg.
One!
Two!
Three!
"A Foundation of Codes" blasts through the arena as Bull just collected himself on the outside, stunned to see Serpentine down lifeless in the ring after. We quickly cut to the Beast of Prey locker room as Wolf began walking past Isurus who through up a hand and said, "Wait..." which caused Wolf to stop in place.
Back to the arena, after getting his hand raised Marcus rolled out to the floor with a huge smile on his face as Bull pulled a downed Serpentine out of the ring.
WINNER: Marcus Davis via Sudden Stop
MAIN EVENT Andy Sharp vs. The Amazing Gabriel
And now, the time had come for the main event of the evening. A match that had quickly grown personal between two of All-Star Championship Wrestling’s best.
Andy Sharp. If there had been any name synonymous with the organization it would be him. Considered to be one of the best homegrown talents – if not, the best – Andy Sharp got his start in ACW had had remained loyal to the brand through good times and bad. Two time World, two-time Spirit, Tag Team, Television Champion. He’d done a lot in his career. But when recent actions against the place he called home made him lose favor with the fans, Andy Sharp declared that he would fight to win it all back one day at a time.
The Amazing Gabriel. Leader of the Night Life, the group that essentially had a stranglehold on the ACW Tag Team Championships ever since setting foot into the organization. As of the last several months, The Amazing Gabriel’s singles aspirations saw him do battle in a best of five series with the current champion, Tyson XL. Now setting his sights on Andy Sharp for what he feels are past transgressions from Sharp earlier on in their careers, The Amazing Gabriel singled him out and has since made life a living hell for the ACW star.
Now that you know the backstory… Tommy Vale, take that shit away.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall and is YOUR main event of the evening!”
“Self vs. Self” by Pendulum feat. In Flames.
The curtains parted and as the opening riffs to the gross heavy metal/techno hybrid hit the speakers in the arena, out came none other than the leader of the Night Life himself, The Amazing Gabriel. He and Elyse Frost held hands like lovesick schoolchildren, waving and blowing kisses to the audience.
“First, making his way to the ring being accompanied to the ring by Elyse Frost… from Los Angeles, California, weighing in at 227 pounds… THE AMAZING GABRIEL!”
The Mustachioed Menace and his beau made their way to the ring, skipping to the music. Earlier, The Amazing Gabriel pledged that he would fight the good fight, but let’s be honest here. If he was spouting any more bullshit, then his eyes would be turning brown. He and Elyse Frost even did an Eskimo kiss just to make the crowd even more sick when he walked inside the ring and stood on the top rope.
“CHEER ME! CHEER ME! LOVE ME! I AM YOUR NEW HERO, MY FRIENDS!”
Nobody bought that crap and booed The Amazing Gabriel even more before he jumped back into the ring and… shook hands with referee Slim J? Even Slim J was a little bit caught off-guard, but anyways Gabriel stood in the ring and waited for his opponent.
LET’S DO THIS!!!!
“Sick Puppies” by War.
The lyrics kicked in and green lights swirled all over the arena as the other half of this match came about, competing on Courage for the very first time since Legends when he came very close to winning the ACW World Heavyweight Championship for a third time.
“And his opponent… from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, weighing in at 246 pounds… ANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYY SHHHHHHHHHHAARRRRRRPPPPPPPPPP!”
But tonight wasn’t about any of that. Tonight, Andy Sharp had payback on his mind and was going to make The Amazing Gabriel pay for what he’s done to him in the last several weeks. He walked to the ring at a slow and steady pace while The Amazing Gabriel looked on, actually ready for this match. Tonight, it would be straight one-on-one, no members of the Night Life allowed at ringside for the duration of the bout. (Elyse Frost probably had a manager’s license or something, so she’s okay.)
Andy Sharp came face-to-face with his accuser and attacker for the last several weeks as The Amazing Gabriel… held out a hand?
“Let’s do this, Andy. May the best man win?” He grinned.
PUNCH!
DING DING DING!
The solid shot connected right in the temple of the Night Life leader as he hit the mat. The fans were cheering on Andy Sharp and appeared to be on his side for the most part as The Amazing Gabriel quickly scurried out of the ring, fearing any more physicality. He grabbed his jaw and shook his head before walking over behind the announce table and tapping the timekeeper.
“Can I borrow this?” he asked.
The timekeeper being his first day on the job (and probably his last after this) let him have the chair and let him take it into the ring. Andy Sharp was confused, but The Amazing Gabriel knew exactly what he was doing… maybe?
“Go ahead, Andy! There’s a weapon! Long as we’re playing dirty, you might as well use that!” He screamed.
He then turned around and held his hands out.
“Or maybe you’re waiting for an engraved invitation? Come on, Andy! You’re the big bad around these parts now! Go ahead! Hit me!”
Andy looked down at the chair, then back at him…
WHACK!
… Onlyh he didn’t do it with the chair. He dropped the Amazing Gabriel with a hard Clothesline! He got back up and was stunned with a kick to the gut as Slim J removed the chair from the ring. Two more big rights from Andy Sharp caught Gabriel upside the head and a European Uppercut followed that and caught him underneath the chin.
He introduced The Amazing Gabriel’s head into a turnbuckle, then whipped him across the ring. When The Amazing Gabriel came back, Sharp sent him for a ride and hit him with a Back Body Drop! The Ringleader was helpless in the middle of the ring when Sharp followed up his next attack with a big stomp right down onto the face of The Amazing Gabriel!
The leader of the Night Life tried to get up again and save himself, but this time Andy was ready for him and hit him with a Double Leg Takedown, only to rain down fists right upside the head of the Night Life leader.
“Ref! Stop this!” Gabriel screamed.
But Slim J was known for letting a little bit more violence allowed than the standard referee. Andy then decided to take it on down to the mat and flipped The Amazing One over, only to lock him up in a Headlock. Gabriel squirmed as best he could to try and free himself from Andy’s grip, but the bigger and stronger of the two had him down.
The Amazing Gabriel fought his way out and kept him trapped in a tight Headlock of his own now, trying to get the best of Mr. All-Star. ]
“Keeping it clean!” The Ringleader yelled to the ref.
Surprisingly, this physicality was all Andy Sharp so far. So The Amazing One also kept it on the mat and turned him around, trying to lock in another submission hold, but Andy fought back up to his feet snapped The Amazing Gabriel over with a quick Arm Drag. When he got back to his feet, Gabriel tried for a Single Leg Takedown of his own, but Andy blocked it and gave him nothing before he FLIPPED Gabriel over with a big Hip Toss!
“Come on, Gabriel!” Andy yelled, looking for a fight.
The Amazing Gabriel brought the fight back to Andy Sharp again and tried for another cover, but this time Andy scooped him up and spun him around the ring before DROPPING him hard with a Scoop Slam. He ran off the ropes and dropped a lightning quick Leg Drop across the throat!
ONE!
T… NOPE!
Not even a two-count for Andy as The Amazing Gabriel fired a shoulder off the mat. Andy picked him up in a Front Facelock and lifted up The Amazing One, dropping him gut-first onto the ring ropes! Gabriel tried to catch his breath as he slid out onto the apron, but Andy Sharp had a different idea in mind when he leaped to the second rope and CRACKED Gabriel in the mouth with a Springboard Dropkick!
The leader of the Night Life went tumbling to the floor to the delight of the crowd watching. For Andy’s part, he was doing just fine. Despite a few boo birds being out for him, they didn’t like the Amazing Gabriel that much more as he didn’t waste any time trying to go after Gabriel
Elyse got in the way of the two, thinking that Andy wouldn’t dare hit a girl. He didn’t but he shoved her aside and gave chase to Gabriel, who was now back on the apron. Andy slid back into the ring and caught Gabriel with a punch to the stomach before attempting to Suplex him back inside the ring. Gabriel blocked and tried for one of his own, but Sharp blocked that. It looked like Sharp would try for a shoulder block between the ropes, but Gabriel ducked and hit him with a NASTY kick to the head.
Andy was nearly out cold form the shot and suspended from the ropes when The Amazing Gabriel turned him around by the head and did the Rick Rude gyrations…
NECKBREAKER ON THE RING APRON!
And with that very solid and devastating maneuver, The Amazing Gabriel turned the tide of the match completely as Andy Sharp hit the floor and laid there, taking a pretty nasty spill.
Gabriel picked him back up and rolled him back inside the ring before climbing up to the apron himself. He looked out to the crowd and did a wave before slingshotting himself in with a pretty sweet-looking Slingshot Somersault Legdrop across the throat! He turned around and tried for his first attempt at a pinfall.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO!
Andy got the shoulder up, but now he was looking a little bit worse for wear as The Amazing Gabriel picked him up by the arms and whipped him hard into the corner. Andy Sharp came staggering out and walked right into a VERY pretty Jumping Calf Kick, complete with a little spin for some extra flair.
He stood up and pointed to a kid in the audience while Sharp was down.
“You get an autograph after the show, my friend… $5 bucks instead of my regular $40 rates!”
What a guy, eh?
Well, while Andy Sharp was down, The Amazing Gabriel continued on the offensive by going for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO!
Sharp got a quick shoulder up, so The Amazing Gabriel tried one more time.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT!
And again.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO!
Sharp was still kicking out, but this had been incredibly smart wrestling so far by The Amazing Gabriel, who had managed to keep it clean and not throw a single punch thus far. He picked up Andy Sharp and pushed him backwards into the corner and caught him underneath the jaw with a few European Uppercuts of his own before cracking him with a harder, third EuroCut. The blow was strong enough to knock Andy Sharp back down to the mat and The Amazing Gabriel followed it up with a lateral press.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT!
Sharp got the shoulder up yet again, but The Amazing Gabriel almost seemed to be enjoying himself right now. He grabbed Sharp’s left arm and clasped it tightly behind his head while pulling back on the neck simultaneously, going after the neck that he weakened so far. Sharp twisted and turned, trying to fight his way out of it, but The Amazing Gabriel had a very solid grip with it.
“Do you give up?” Slim J asked Sharp.
“NO!”
The Amazing Gabriel kept the hold locked in tight while the fans booed, wanting for Andy Sharp to do something to get out of his predicament.
“AN-DY SHARP! AN-DY SHARP! AN-DY SHARP!”
A few pockets of cheers came through for Mr. All-Star as he tried to fight his way out of the submission that Gabriel had applied. The Ringleader tightened his grip, but Sharp finally got to a knee before blasting him with a couple of haymakers. Sharp popped him in the mouth with a couple elbows now until Gabriel finally relinquished the hold! The Amazing One backed off, only for Andy to try his luck running at him, but a quick Drop Toe Hold from The Amazing Gabriel tripped him up and sent him into the second rope!
Back to his feet now, The Amazing Gabriel measured up Mr. All-Star before NAILING him hard in the chest with a very solid Shoot Kick! The wind was taken from Andy’s lungs, so The Amazing Gabriel tried going for another cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT!
Sharp escaped defeat yet again and The Amazing Gabriel looked a little bit shocked, but he continued to stymie any offense Andy Sharp could get going in the last few minutes. And it was back to the neck once again, this time the Cravate being his preferred submission of choice. Chris Hero had nothing on the Amazing Gabriel as he continued to slap that hold in tight, trying to go for a submission.
“Do you give, Andy?” Slim J asked him again.
“SHUT UP! NO!”
The outburst caught Slim J off-guard a little bit and The Amazing Gabriel had that sucker locked in tightly, trying to keep Sharp from going anywhere. He shook the neck just a little bit more viciously, wanting to earn that submission, but Sharp didn’t give up. He continued to fight until he made it back up to his feet again, driving a knee into the chest of Gabriel.
The Amazing One was stunned when a couple rights came flying his way. He blocked one of the n and returned fire with a big kick to the leg of his own before whipping Andy to the ropes. Andy leaped to the second ropes and flipped around backwards, landing with a Springboard Sunset Flip!
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
The Amazing Gabriel rolled through and tried for a Dropkick, but Andy grabbed him in mid-move and dropped him back to the mat. Positioning himself towards the corner, The Amazing Gabriel was Catapaulted into the corner… BUT LANDED ON THE SECOND ROPE!
PILL POPPER!
His signature Springboard Gamengiri kick CAUGHT Sharp right in the mouth and sent him flying across the ring! The Amazing Gabriel crawled over and hooked both legs.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT!
That had to have been the closest fall of the match yet, but The Amazing Gabriel was shocked when Andy Sharp got the shoulder up right in the nick of time. He glanced over at Elyse, who was as stunned as he was, but then remembered he had a match to win. Still playing it clean so far, he didn’t use any sort of punches on Andy Sharp and opted instead for a European Uppercut again.
With Andy sufficiently stunned, the crowd was heavily into this match by this point when he shot Sharp back into the corner again. He ran forwards and tried tossing him across the ring, but Sharp ducked and sent Gabriel crashing into the turnbuckle. He ran off the opposite side of the ring and CRACKED him hard with a Corner Elbow Smash!
With Gabriel now at Andy’s mercy, Mr. All-Star ran across the ring and went for a Bulldog, but The Amazing Gabriel stopped him. He hooked him in a back suplex, but Sharp backflipped over that and showed great athleticism, landing on his feet. Gabriel turned around… STEP-UP ENZUIGIRI!
The shot echoed throughout the arena like a high-powered gunshot and The Amazing Gabriel tumbled over. Sharp pushed him to the mat and turned him over, hooking both legs as he tried for a cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT!
This time, Sharp was surprised that the Enzuigiri kick didn’t do it for him as The Amazing Gabriel kicked out at two and 3/4s! Gabriel rolled away form him and towards the ropes, but Andy gave chase and caught him before whipping him across the ring again. This time when The Amazing Gabriel came back, he caught him quickly and DUMPED him right in the middle of the ring with a Snap Scoop Powerslam! He cradled the legs with his own this time.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT AGAIN!
The Amazing Gabriel was showing off something tonight as Andy Sharp was still in shock he didn’t put away the Ringleader. Elyse Frost was cheering on her man from ringside while Andy started getting a little bit more frantic, wanting to put away The Amazing Gabriel for good. He reached over to pick up The Amazing One…
AND HE RAINED DOWN THE PUNCHES!
Some fans were still cheering Andy Sharp, but he was getting outright aggressive now and just continued to pummel him about the head. While Slim J did like a little bit of extra hatred in his matches, he was still a referee first and foremost and continued to count.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FI…
But Sharp backed off right at the count of four while The Amazing Gabriel was most assuredly seeing stars now. The fans were somewhat mixed at Andy as he picked up the Amazing Gabriel yet again. He grabbed him by the head and tried looking for some kind of Short Lariat, but The Amazing Gabriel ducked down and caught Andy by the side. He lifted him and dropped him across his knee with a quick Gutbuster, then held onto Andy and turned him around…
THE LED!
The Blue Thunder Powerbomb caught Andy in the middle of the ring and The Amazing Gabriel held on tightly.
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… NO!
Sharp kicked out at two and nine-tenths now, rolling over onto his stomach while The Amazing Gabriel shook his head.
“I’M PLAYING BY THE RULES! THIS MAN DOESN’T DESERVE YOUR CHEERS!”
But the crowd booed him anyway. The Amazing Gabriel quickly shut them out and lifted him back up to his feet and kicked him in the stomach. He underhooked both of the arms, possibly looking for the Nothing Short of Amazing Piledriver he debuted last week against Fight Man… BUT Andy broke free and now had The Amazing Gabriel on his shoulders.
Gabriel elbowed his way out and kicked Sharp again, but Sharp was too quick for whatever big move he had planned next and lifted Gabriel onto his shoulders again…
BUCKLEBOMB!
Hitting the turnbuckle hard, The Amazing Gabriel stumbled right over and hit the mat while Andy Sharp let him fall at his feet. He looked over at the turnbuckles and flipped him around as he started to climb for the top turnbuckle, a place he hadn’t been in some time.
He looked out to the crowd and to all sides of the arena as he threw his elbow pad off his right arm. He climbed to the top rope and got his balance while The Amazing Gabriel was still down for the count. Mr. All-Star did the double point to the heavens…
FLYING ELBOW DROP!
His first aerial move off the top rope since he came back to ACW a year ago and it felt wonderful. He had a smile on his face as he felt the rush from the crowd as he turned around and hooked the far leg of The Amazing Gabriel.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… KICK OUT!
Unbelievable!
No way how he did it, but The Amazing Gabriel did it and kicked out of the big time maneuver. The crowd was in shock, but they were loving this high-impact contest for what it was worth. Andy Sharp picked up The Amazing Gabriel again and tried to dole out some more damage to the Night Life leader, but a PELE Kick caught him upside the head and sent Andy Sharp tumbling backwards towards the corner.
The Amazing Gabriel actually took a moment to try and catch his breath as he created some distance between he and a staggered Andy Sharp stumbling backwards in the corner. The Amazing One yelled out to the fans…
“FOR…. MY… FANS!”
He charged right at Andy Sharp, no doubt trying for something else, but Andy saw it coming and Back Body Dropped him…OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
But The Amazing Gabriel landed groin first on the ropes instead and was suspended there while Andy Sharp climbed to the second turnbuckle…
FLYING CLOTHESLINE!
And with another high-impact move into the arsenal of Andy Sharp, The Amazing Gabriel took a nasty spill onto the mat and the crowd was in shock by the amazement of the move while Gabriel was suspended on the top rope. Both competitors tumbled over in a heap and Sharp rolled over, looking for the ultimate pinfall to end this match-up.
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… NO!
Sharp was in utter shock by this point that he hadn’t been able to finally put away The Amazing Gabriel away. Both men were down and out for several moments, but Sharp was finally back up first and picked up The Amazing Gabriel, looking for his finishing maneuver... Gabriel escaped again. He went low and hit Andy with a Spinning Roundhouse to double him over. And once he hit the ground, he picked up Andy Sharp and went for the double underhook position again…
But Andy escaped that and twisted him around, doubling him over with yet another kick. He lifted The Amazing Gabriel and put him on the top turnbuckle before climbing up to follow him. The fans were cheering on Andy Sharp as the crowd brought a smile to his face for the first time in ages. He leaped…
TOP ROPE FRANKENSTEINER!
BLOCKED!
Andy flipped backwards and hit the mat in a bad way as The Amazing Gabriel held on for dear life to the top turnbuckle. He jumped off and while the woozy Andy Sharp was sill trying to pick himself up after the bad landing, he tied him up with a Hammerlock and twisted him around into a modified Headscissors pinning combination…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE?
THREE!
That was it. To the shock of all… The crowd… the ring announcers commentating on what just happened… and to even Andy Sharp himself…
The Amazing Gabriel had just defeated Andy Sharp in the middle of the ring.
The Amazing One himself was all smiles as he stood back up to his feet and hugged it out with Elyse Frost! And the fact that he had his arm raised by a slightly shocked Slim J? Icing on the cake.
“Here is your winner of the match… THE AMAZING GABRIEL!”
“I DID IT! I PROVED IT! MIGHT MAKES RIGHT! I DID IT MY WAY!”
The Amazing Gabriel was even doing a little dance while the crowd booed this turn of events while Andy Sharp was wide-eyed. He swung for the fences one too many times and got caught by Gabriel. Finally, The Amazing Gabriel came face-to-face with Andy, who was still on his knees, looking down at the mat, trying to figure out what just happened.
“I did it! You just saw that, Andy Sharp! I pinned you! I pinned you fair and square in the middle of the ring with a very nice, clean wrestling maneuver! What have you got to say now, Golden Boy? Huh? Come on! I beat you! I beat you in the middle of this ring! I did it!”
Sharp’s face was turning red the more The Amazing Gabriel continued.
“I didn’t do a single thing wrong and you know it! I proved how much of a fraud you were! Now this is MY ring, Andy! I’m the new Mr. All-Star now! Not you! Not y-“
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
Andy Sharp heard enough and threw a very stiff kick right between the legs of the Amazing Gabriel as he was doubled over in pain. An alarm went off in the head of Andy Sharp as he continued to beat down on the Night Life’s leader with a barrage of sick right hands, each blow looking stiffer than the last.
The crowd was getting rabid now as Andy Sharp was beating the living hell out of the boisterous Amazing Gabriel. The stomps kept flying and the boots kept hitting him until he squirmed out of the ring, trying to head for higher ground.
Andy was not having any of that shit and climbed out of the ring to exact another beatdown on The Amazing One. Elyse Frost tried coming to the aid of her beau, but when Andy around and shot her a “don’t you FUCKING dare” look on his face, she quickly scurried out of the way.
The fans were continuing to voice their opinions of Andy Sharp, either good or bad, but he couldn’t hear any of them. All he could see was red as he continued to wallop The Amazing Gabriel with a barrage of right hands. He beat him down near the ringside area and continued to pummel him about the head.
The Amazing Gabriel didn’t have much left to defend himself against Andy Sharp as he continued his vicious assault, slamming him head-first against the ring steps repeatedly.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
Five brutal shots as Gabriel’s head bounced off the steel steps like a ping pong ball. By now, security had seen enough and a whole host of security. The Menendez Bros, Buffalo Brian Slater and even Big Rex Silver were coming around and pulled him away from the scene of the crime.
Sharp was furious and continued to twist and pull, but they’d seen enough and continued to pull Andy away from ringside while The Amazing Gabriel was being checked on by a pair of trainers and by Elyse Frost.
“Gaby Bear, you okay?{“ She asked, worried as he cradled his head to her chest.
The Amazing Gabriel saw the sight of Andy Sharp being dragged off by security and being pulled back up the ramp.
He was hurt and he barely knew where he was, having his head bounced off the steel steps like he did moments ago…
But the formation of a smile across the face of Gabriel as he watched an irate former champion get pulled away from ringside, having thrown the equivalent of a possible temper tantrum, justified or not.
S01 E03
Recorded LIVE! From the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
