Thursday, June 3rd 2004

Broadcasting LIVE! from Nashville, Tennessee at 10/9 p.m. CT

Card subject to change without notice

Previously - Things happened...you want me to get specific?

A Verbal Warning
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His eye still throbbed from the previous weeks post show attack at the hands of Marshall Marcus Steiner stood directly in front of Phil Atken, who was head of tonight’s show. Marshall stood by Rose’s side also facing Atken, his bottom lip had a small cut over the left side of it. Atken’s finger raised and waggled in front of the two as he talked.

“You guys, what happened last week is completely unacceptable. I turn up to the arena tonight and I’m pulled in by the board of directors who gave me the biggest yelling at I’ve had since that one time in 4th grade when… Well, nevermind that. Listen up, the company cannot afford to suspend or fire either one of you because of your place in the card, so they told me to have a word with both of you, together.

I have the job of ensuring that both of you coexist together on and off screen tonight, so for the love of God guys, help a guy put, can you do that for me?”

Marshall glared at Marcus as Marc gave a firm nod. Marshall continued to stare right through Marcus until Phil snapped his fingers in front of his eyes. Marshall grunted “Sure.” barely taking his eyes off of Marc.

“Thanks guys. You know about your bookings, right?”

“Got it, yeah.” Marc said before watching Marshall march off down the corridor.

The New Mr. Red, White, and Blue
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A back door to the arena gracefully opened and there it was. The United States Championship Belt hanging quite lovely over the shoulder of Geo Vacton. The crowd erupted as he stepped inside with the belt over his shoulder and a bag in his hand. He used his free hand to run his fingers through his spiked up blonde hair, and then continued to walk down the long corridor leading to the bones of the building, the locker room area.

Suddenly, Geo was stopped. It was obviously planned to keep a camera on that door, and so it was obviously planned to have a reporter waiting nearby. An unfamiliar face of a young black man ran over to Geo with a microphone, he waved at the camera to follow him.

“Geo! Geo!” The man screamed, although Geo had already detected him and was making his way in his direction.

“Heeey… What’s up?” Geo asked.

“I was hoping to get a word with you, Geo! The fans are all anxious to hear about what you have to say about being the US Champion, and ever more so what you have to say about your encounter with A*Dubbs!!”

Geo narrowed his eyes. “Hmm… Wait a minute, who the hell are you?” Geo pointed his finger into the reporters chest.

The reporter was uneasy. Geo had been doing this for years, asking for the name of his interviewer. He liked to be on a first name basis with the people who would be publishing his words.

“Um… Doug.” The reporter looked from side to side, he didn’t expect to have say his name on camera.

“Doug, huh? Doug what?” Geo questioned.

“Um… Doug Lockett, if you gotta know…” Doug scratched his nose.

“Ok, Doug. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Geo offered his hand and shuck it. “Now, for your questions… Well, I’m gonna tell you that it feels great to be the champ again, I’m not gonna lie. Being the US Champion for the first time last year was the coolest thing to ever happen to me… I love representing the United States of America.” The crowd roared.

Doug grinned. “Well, how about your old ‘friend’ A*Dubbs attacking you in the middle of your match last week?”

Geo bit his lip. “Well, Doug… I have an answer for that. I have a reaction. But, not just yet. However, I can assure you that later on tonight I’ll have an announcement for you and Everybody else.” The crowd cheered.

Geo put his hand on Doug Lockett’s shoulder. “Now, Doug, if that’s all I can do for you… I gotta head over to my locker.”

Doug nodded. “Thanks, Geo.”

“Sure, no problem guy.” Geo rubbed Doug’s head, picked up his bag, and headed on back down the hallway to the locker rooms.

The arena crowd wondered just what Geo’s announcement was going to be… Whatever it was, it was sure to be something hot. 

SCORPION TITLE
Chris Messiah (c) vs. Jesse Ramey
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This is the REAL main event. It’s what everybody came to see. People might not like admitting it, but Chris Messiah is AWESOME. So, Phil Atken decided to stick his long-time foe in a match with Jesse Ramey for the Scorpion… I mean “thReat International Championship.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen! It is now time for the ACW Scorpion Fighting Championship match! Making his way to the ring, the challenger, from Harts, West Virginia, weighing 205 lbs, JESSE RAMEY!”

“Going Down In Flames” by 3 Doors Down erupted over the P.A. system and so did the fans. Eurgh, not like that. The home town hero – yes, this may not be Harts, West Virginia, but he’s a home town hero there, because that’s where he’s from – appeared from backstage and looked extremely confident. I’m pretty sure that Jesse beat Chris once before in a four way dance about a year ago in thReat, so he knew he could beat him. If I’m wrong, then sue me, he was just confident that he could beat him for the first time. Generic hand-slapping etc. etc. followed, and Jesse was in the ring, awaiting the champion. I’ll never get tired of typing that.

“Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve (the James Lavelle Instrumental Remix no less) blasted out over the top of Ramey’s sucky theme tune, signalling the entrance of a wrestling legend – Jackie Gayda.

“His opponent, from the source of the River Lagan, Northern Ireland~!, weighing 229 lbs, he is the ACW Scorpion Fighting Champion, CHRIS MESSIAH!!!”

It appeared as if the fans may be taking a shine to old Chrissycakes, because the intensity of the jeers had lessened considerably over the previous weeks. Or maybe all the shots he’d been taking to the head had ruined his hearing.

The champeen walked down the aisle to the ring, kissing some babies on his way. He took of the thReat International championship belt, and handed it to the referee, while taking the microphone from the ring announcer.

“I’m the THREAT INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION! Get it right! Jimbob Junior from Kansas is the new Scorpion Fighting Champion, providing his cheque doesn’t bounce. Anyway, Jesse Ramey couldn’t beat me in thReat for this International championship, and he sure as hell isn’t going to beat me for it tonight. Fair enough, one of the reasons why he didn’t beat me for it in thReat was because I didn’t get a chance to defend it, but that’s no excuse! Let’s get ready to rumba!”

Chris dropped the microphone and did a little dance. Geniously engineered to throw Jesse off his game plan. While Jesse was looking around in disgust, trying to distance himself from the monstrosity before his eyes, Chris charged and him and decked him.

Ramey came charging back at Messiah and tried to leap into the air for a cross-body press but Messiah was able to counter the move right into a power slam as he drove Ramey hard into the mat and made the immediate cover...

One!

Two!

Three!

Yes, Chris had retained the title! Or maybe I'm lying, and Jesse had actually kicked out almost instantly.

Anyway, Chris quickly got back up to his knees and climbed on top of Ramey before he began to pound away on him with a series of hard shots to the skull. Messiah grabbed hold of Ramey and lifted him back up to his feet before he drilled him with another big right hand that sent Ramey stumbling backwards into the ropes before Messiah caught him with a clothesline and sent him right over the top to the outside. HARDCORE! Ramey landed shoulder first to the padded floor below and Chris quickly rolled out under the bottom rope ignoring the referee's protests. Ramey was slowly trying to push his way back up to his feet again when Messiah got out of the ring and drove a hard kick right into Ramey’s side that sent him rolling on the ground in pain. Hmmm, it seems like the title win has given Chris an added vigour. Gone are the technical skills and in are the brawling ones. How dull.

Messiah grabbed hold of Ramey and pulled him back up to his feet before he sent him right into the guard rail with a quick Northern Irish whip. Ramey slammed back first against the rail and hung there for a few seconds before Messiah moved right back in and continued to pound away at him with right hands to the head. Messiah was in complete control of the early stages of this match as he pulled Ramey back off of the guard rail and turned his attention to the ring steps. The referee had started his ten count as Chris grabbed Jesse's head and tried slamming it onto the steps, but Ramey managed to counter with a back elbow right into Messiah’s midsection before he turned things around on him and slammed Messiah head first right into the edge of the ring steps. 

Jesse then came right back at Chris as he stumbled away from the steps and caught him with a big clothesline that dropped him to the ground. Ramey took a couple of steps backwards to catch his breath before he began to stomp away at him with a series of kicks to the body. Ramey drove one last kick right into the side of Messiah’s head before he picked him back up to his feet and rolled him back into the ring. Ramey rolled quickly into the ring behind him and as soon as Messiah tried to get up again Ramey drove a knee right into his midsection and turned him around to face him. Ramey pulled Messiah right into place before he lifted him quickly into the air and drove him hard into the mat with a scoop slam before he immediately climbed right on top for the cover. 

One!

Two!

No!

Chris hadn't been this dominated since last night with Phil Atken's mother. Jesse got right back onto his feet again and grabbed both of Messiah’s legs before he slowly started to turn him over into a Boston crab, since he's a dirty submissionist. Gotta hate those guys. Chris squirmed like a bar of soap in the shower to get out of the hold but Jesse had too much of an advantage. Chris yelped in pain as Jesse cinched in the hold, but the ropes weren't too far away, so Chris began the slow crawl towards them. He reached out and slapped at the bottom rope, only just inches away from it. He crawled a few inches more and finally his hand was around the rope, leading to the referee breaking the move up.

Jesse released it after some persuasion from the referee, put began dropping knees across Chris' spine. He picked him up by the hair and went for a suplex, but Chris blocked it. So Jesse changed his mind and went for a small package...

One!

Two!

Four!

Chris managed to shoot a shoulder up, and Jesse rolled off of him. Jesse, still in control, lifted Chris up and brought him crashing down across his knee in a tremendous back breaker. Then he went straight for the cover again. Will he never learn?

One!

Two!

Bananas!

The crowd thought the match was over and were celebrating the introduction of the yellow fruit, but it wasn't to be. Jesse once again raised Chris, but made his first mistake of the match. He went for a belly-to-back suplex, but Chris rammed Jesse’s face right into his left knee. Jesse stumbled backwards clutching his face, as Chris knocked him down with a powerful clothesline that sent Chris down as well.

Chris tried grasping Jesse’s legs to get a Reality Check locked in, but Ramey wiggled his legs out if it, and managed to kick Chris in the chops in the process, which sent Chris reeling. Jesse clambered back to his feet and got Chris from behind with a bulldog. He went for ANOTHER cover…

One!

Two!

I’ve run out of “jokes” to put here, so let’s just say Chris managed to kick out. Jesse turned to the corner and mounted the top rope. As Chris rose to his feet wondering where his opponent has gone, Jesse leapt off with a cross-body that knocked Chris down, but their momentum carried them over so Chris ended up on top…

One!

Two!

Skip a few

Ninety nine

One hundred!

Jesse’s right arm shot up just before the three count. Chris was running on nothing but fumes and robotically picked Jesse up by the hair, and hit a swinging neck breaker. A leg drop followed, and a tasty stomp to the midsection was next. Chris mounted the top rope himself in a rather unorthodox move, but Jesse kicked the ropes which made Chris lose his balance, and bash his balls off the turnbuckle padding.

As Chris cupped himself, Jesse rose and went after the champion. He climbed the ropes himself and applied a front face lock. The fans murmured as it became apparent that a superplex was forthcoming. Chris tried blocking the first attempt, and almost did but Jesse was too strong. However, the failed block attempt threw Jesse off balance as he fell backwards, taking Chris with him. Chris landed flat on his back, but Jesse landed right on the top of his head.

Loud groans echoed around the arena as Jesse lay perfectly still in the ring, apparently knocked goofy by the botched move. Chris slowly rose and assessed the situation. An easy victory!

And so, a very fortunate Chris Messiah grasped victory from the jaws of the animal that ate defeat and didn’t brush its teeth, as he pulled Jesse into the middle of the ring and applied a Reality Check. Since Jesse was out of it, the referee could only call for the bell and then check on Jesse.

Chris rolled out of the ring and took his belt and the microphone, then rolled back into the ring to check on Jesse in an abnormal moment of concern for somebody else’s well-being. Chris kindly slapped Jesse around the face and Jesse’s eyes eventually flicked open.

“Don’t worry everybody, the loser is all right! And the winner is a bit of all right! Anyway, I know most of you feel like leaving now that my match is over, but please stay, I have a major announcement to make later!”

Chris dropped the microphone and rolled out of the ring, making his way backstage, as the referee talked with Jesse to see if he was all right. 

WINNER : Chris Messiah

Where Is He?
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“Where, oh where could he be?” Hillary said biting her bottom lip. 

She muttered the rest to the random road agents that flew by looking for who ever, “This whole deal William wanted to pull ratings is turning into a total disaster.”

One of these many road agents stopped in front of her, “Have you tried to call him? You do know what he went though in that Mexican federation, hWo? Correct?”

Her eyes went narrow and worry was obvious. “What?”

“He went through a death match, mam’.”

“Oh dear, hurry get the hospital’s number, go, go!”

The road agent went off. Hillary seemed to be more worried about the show than Lancett. William has turned Hillary and Kent into a ratings thriven bastards … good work.

The Next Best Thing
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The arena was still for a moment… and then…

“’COS I’M T-N-T!!!! I’M DY-NO-MITE!!!!”

The United States Champion, Geo Vacton, emerged from behind the curtain. He stepped out into a wave of cheers. Magick Man slipped out behind him, and the two headed down to the ring. Geo stopped on the ramp and held his title up to the crowd, emitting huge roars from the crowd.

Geo slid into the ring and climbed up to the second turn buckle of one of the corners. He held his one arm up to the crowd and held his other up with the title in his hand much in a Steve Austin fashion. He hopped down, and then continued his parade around the ring, letting the flash photography nearly blind him.

Eventually, he came to the middle of the ring and tossed the title onto his shoulder. Magick Man smiled proudly and paced around the ring. Geo grabbed a mic from a grip and paced around the middle of the ring. The lights started to stop flashing, and his music faded out…

“T-N-T!!!!”
“T-N-T!!!!”
“T-N-T!!!!”

The crowd chanted for Geo while he continued to the step around the ring with the title over his shoulder and a the microphone brought to his lips.

“Thank you, thank you.” He muttered into the mic. “You know, the odds certainly weren’t in my favor. I had the friggin’ Action! League still all pissed off at me, I had Phoenix Rose swearing to do whatever it took to win… And then to make it all nice and shiny, I had a little bit of extra company.” The crowd booed. “Yeah…”

“But still, I came out on top. With the crowd chanting in my favor, with the whole world watching along at home, I beat three… Hell, let’s make it four to make me look even better…” Geo half smiled, the crowd cheered. “After going through… we’ll round it a bit, 3.5 men, I won the ACW United States Championship for the second time in my career here in ACW… And Goddamn, it feels great.” The crowd cheered.

“T-N-T!!!”
“T-N-T!!!”

“No! No!” Geo stopped the crowd. “Don’t do that… I think there’s something a little bit more appropriate… U-S-A… U-S-A…”

The crowd caught on…

“U-S-A!!!”
“U-S-A!!!”
“U-S-A!!!”

Geo smiled and paced around the ring. “Now, there’s something… Or, someone that needs to be addressed.” The crowd cheered for Geo, knowing he was referring to A*Dubbs and although they hated him, they’d love to see those two in the ring again.

“Last week, A*Dubbs… Yeah, go ahead.” Geo gave the crowd time to boo, and so they did. “A*Dubbs tried to stop me from winning the fatal four way for the US Championship… And you know what, he almost did…” Geo paused for a moment. “But, let’s take a look at that again… You see, I said… ALMOST. He failed. He couldn’t do it. He didn’t get the job done. I still won the match, I still became the US Champion. He couldn’t stop me!!” The crowd roared.

“Now he made his return last week, and yeah I gotta give it to him… He made his way in with a bang. Although I think my entrance into 21w was a little bit better…” The crowd cheered. (Geo came into 21w by fooling the crowd into thinking he was the much hated Graphic Violence… It was the whole GV initials thing.) “But, nevertheless he made his way in in a big way.”

“So, just what is my big announcement? Well, I’m gonna give You guys and A*Dubbs what he’s been waiting for… I’m gonna give him a shot at the title, right here, tonight!” The crowd roared for Geo. “So Dubbs, how’s about you make you’re way out and we make this official…”

Geo looked up at the entrance ramp and waited to hear Dubbs’ music start to play. He expected him to come out right away, and after a few moments he began to grow leery. The crowd murmured.

“I said… How’s about you make you’re way out here and we make this official…” Geo looked around, still no sign of Dubbs.

“A*Dubbs. Get your ass out here.. You had no problem coming out last week…”

But there was no A*Dubbs.

The lights started to flash, and music started to fill the arena… But it wasn’t A*Dubbs making his way to the ring. It was Phoenix Rose. The crowd cheered, but everyone was confused… Including Geo.

Rose held his arms out to the crowd, and then paced around the top of the entrance ramp.

“Geo… I’m sorry, but A*Dubbs ain’t here tonight…” The crowd booed. “So, it looks like you guys can’t have it out… Sorry, dude.” The crowd booed again, in obvious disappointment. “However, there is someone else here… Someone else who wants a shot at that title, just as bad if not worse…”

Geo cocked his head to the side. “Oh, yeah?” He asked.

“Yeah, G. His name’s Phoenix Rose.” The crowd roared. “Now Geo, you know there’s no love lost between us after last week… So, I was thinking… What if, as a favor to me… Just like I helped you a few weeks ago when you needed a tag team partner… You help me out a little bit, and you give me a shot at your title… Right here, tonight.”

The crowed roared.

Geo Vacton VS Phoenix Rose for the United States Championship?! HOLY SHIT!!!

Geo smiled. “You want it? You got it, bro.” The crowd cheered. Phoenix nodded in approval.

“So, it’s settled then. Geo Vacton versus Phoenix Rose for the United States Championship…” Rose said, grinning and looking around at the crowd, hyping the match up.

“Hell yeah, Rose. And it’s gonna be a freaking show stopper.” The crowd roared, and Geo dropped the mic. The techs in the back shot Geo’s music through the speakers, and the crowd was once again screaming the lyrics to “TNT” by AC/DC.

Geo hopped onto the second turn buckle and held his belt out to the crowd once more, and then Magick Man and him climbed out of the ring and walked up to the top of the ramp where they met up with Phoenix Rose and the three of them held their arms out to the crowd. Rose took the belt from Geo and jokingly put it near his waist. Geo grabbed it back and two laughed before making their way back behind the curtain.

Two friends who made it through the hellacious fatal four way will now go up against each other once more… for the same title. Is the gold going to finally tare them apart? And more importantly, is A*Dubbs going to show up again tonight? Looks like you’ll have to scroll down some and see. 

Whoopsie Doodle
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The door to Phil Atken’s office swung open and in stepped the reigning thReat International champion, Chris Messiah. Phil was sitting in his seat with a grin on his face. He had big plans for tonight, namely winning a certain ACW World title.

“Messiah, what do you want? Unless you’re here to give me a title shot, get out, fuck face!”

“You know fine well that you’re not getting a match until Glory, Philip. What I have to show you will astound you. You won’t be able to sleep at night after seeing it.”

“If it involves you taking your clothes off, I’m calling security.”

“Don’t worry Phil; there won’t be any naked flesh in here. This isn’t Colin Gear’s office at thReat you know.

Both men shuddered as they remembered those days gone by. Vomit-inducingly good.

“Joe Soap sends his thanks for the ‘autograph’ you wrote for him last week.”

Chris just stood grinning at Phil, and Phil starred back with a confused expression on his face. When it was clear that Phil wasn’t following, Chris whipped out the piece of paper that Phil had signed, and threw it down in front of the Action! Wrestling champion.

“Due to your haste to leave my office last week Phil, you forgot to read the small print. And the large print too. Do you realise what that is? Notice I too put my ‘autograph’ on it, after you had left my office last week. Any guesses?”

Phil looked at what he held before him in disbelief. Across the top was written ‘thReat International Championship title match Stipulations,’ so he read quickly through it. As he finished reading the last paragraph, he set it down and looked up at Chris.

“What does this mean, bastard head?”

Chris would have responded in a far happier tone, if it hadn’t of been for the dazzling smile that was on Phil’s face.

“Well, Phil… what’s the smile for?”

“Oh, nothing. Go on, please.”

“What you signed last week was nothing more than a contract that states that if you lose the match against me at Glory, you’ll be fired!”

Phil sat back in mock horror, and gently began to shake his head from side to side.

“What?” asked Chris, puzzled.

“Read it for yourself, Chrisicakes.”

Chris looked curiously at Phil, then accepted the document from him. He read through it once, and couldn’t understand what Phil was so happy about. So he read it again. And there it was. The very last paragraph. Where it should have stated ‘If Phil Atken does not win at Glory, then he is fired,’ it stated ‘If Chris Messiah does not win at Glory, then he is fired.’

Chris gasped.

“Something wrong, Chrissy? Is there a typo or something?”

“It’s not even a typo! He wrote the wrong name!”

“Who did?”

“Joe! He wrote the wrong name on the contract!”

“Yes! Yes he did! Now get out of my office and enjoy the few weeks of Courage you have left!”

Chris could do nothing but adhere to Phil’s wishes. He set the contract back down on Phil’s desk and left with his head slung low.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to happen. This isn’t how it was supposed to happen at all!” 

Forseeable Future
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He had been in the arena for hours, well, he had been told that anyway. For HAWK, he had never really taken into concept the hell on earth that is being blind. So many of us take our greatest gift for granted, and when it is quickly taken away from you...you truly begin to realise just how important it is.

SilverHAWK had been in the arena for hours...or so he thought. Something about not being able to see your watch made it harder to examine the time. However, it was around now that he figured out that he was pretty much useless to any sort of cause.

He got to his feet, and grabbed his cane, maneuvering himself to the entrance to green room.

"Need a hand there big fella?"

SilverHAWK paused.

Before releasing a small sigh of pettiness.

"Yeah, could you call me a cab, I feel like going back to my motel room."

"No problem, I'll be right back."

As the random hero left HAWK's vicinity, the former ACW Champion was left...standing in the doorway of the arena green room, helpless...for all his worth, this is what SilverHAWK had stooped down to.

Asking a random stranger to get him a cab.

Something needed to be done.

Something needed to be done, very quickly.

Stephen Adams Vs. Ruben Davis
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"Black and White" by Static X began to blare throughout the arena as Ruben Davis walked out onto the ramp. There was mixture of cheers and boos coming from the fans.

He slowly began to make his way towards the ring. Once reaching the ring, he walked up the stairs and climbed through the ropes in order to await his opponent, one that he nor the fans had ever heard of.

All of a sudden the music switched to "Slither" by Velvet Revolver, and a 6'7, 275 pound man walked out onto the ramp with an enormous grin on his face. One couldn't tell if he was happy or just flat out cocky. There was no real reaction from the fans, which was what was expected for this ACW newcomer.

Stephen Adams slowly but surely started on his way to the ring with sort of an arrogant strut to his step. He reached the ring and slid up on the apron and underneath the bottom rope, but before he was able to get to his feet Ruben Davis had made his first move by starting to lay forearm after forearm to the back of Adams' neck.

The bell rang and the match had officially begun.

Davis continued to lay the forearms to Adams before pulling him to his feet and whipping him into the far turnbuckle. The newcomer, Adams, was already in a bad position as Davis started sprinting at him in the corner. Ruben's big clothesline missed, however, as Adams ducked out of the way and out of the ring. That was probably the best move he could of made until he began to walk back towards the ramp as if he was going to just walk out of this match.

The fans began to boo loudly. They had come here to see a match, not to see some new guy just come and walk out. Hearing the boos, a big grin came across Adams' face as he stopped in his tracks. What was he doing? Did he want to hear the boos from the crowd?

Ruben just stood there in the ring, waiting for the ref to finish the 10 count on Adams.

...Eight. Nine...

Adams slid back into the ring just before the ten count was finished. He was now standing face to face with Ruben.

"Let's do this!" Adams yelled out.

The two men started exchanging blows back and forth. Neither was seeming to get any sort of advantage over the other. The fans were getting annoyed at the lack of action in the match.

The blows continued until Adams hit Davis with a boot to the midsection, followed up with a picture perfect DDT. He went for the cover...

1...2...Ruben kicked out pretty easily.

Adams pulled Ruben to his feet and whipped him into the ropes and hit him with a big swinging neckbreaker on his way back. Adams, supposedly a submission specialist, applied a cobra-clutch to Ruben. The fans enthusiasm was now picking up. Ruben screamed out in pain as Adams applied more and more stress to his back. The ref asked if Ruben wanted to end the match.

"NO!"

Inch by inch, Davis started pulling his way towards the ropes while at same time, trying to free up one of his arms. Adams tried to prevent Ruben from reaching the ropes but was unsuccessful as the ref broke the hold and told Adams to back away. However, the damage was done as Ruben laid on the mat, grimacing in pain.

Adams started strutting around the ring yelling obscenities at the crowd, and he was met with a string of boos from the fans. One fan caught his attention and the two began yelling back and forth at each other with Adams even threatening to come out into the audience and attack the man.

As Adams continued on his tirade with the fan, Ruben had made it to his feet and began walking towards Adams. He tapped Adams on the shoulder, and Stephen, alarmed, turned around only to be met with a big punch to the face. Ruben was showing a good amount of strength even after the cobra-clutch he had just recently been in.

Ruben continued by locking Adams up and executing a belly-to-belly suplex, followed by another, and that followed by one more. Then instead of going for the pin and the win, Ruben climbed up onto one of the turnbuckles, pointed at the fans, and then pointed at Adams fallen body. The fans cheered loudly as it seems that they have taken the side of Mr. Davis. He jumped off the turnbuckle and hit a beautiful leg drop onto the chest of Adams. This time he went for the pin...

1...2...thrrr...Adams got a shoulder up to the amazement of Ruben, the fans, and even the referee.

Ruben started complaining to the ref but the ref was having any of it. Ruben laid a few boots to the face of Adams and went for the cover again, but Adams had grabbed a hold of his right leg and pulled his feet out from under him. Both men were on the ground now, but Ruben was stunned from the fall down to the mat.

Adams quickly rose to his feet and pointed up to the sky. Everyone in the arena looked up but nobody saw anything, but they quickly realized that this was some sort of sign that Adams was going for his finisher, "The Franchiser".

He locked Ruben's legs up and flipped him onto his stomach. The sharpshooter had been applied and locked in. Ruben began to once again scream in pain as you could tell he was still feeling the affects from the cobra-clutch earlier in the match. He quickly tapped out and the ref called for the bell. 

The bell rang...

However, Adams was not releasing the hold. Instead, he continued to apply more and more pressure to Ruben's back. The bell continued to ring and ring over and over again, but Adams refused to release the hold. The fans boos rapidly became louder and louder. The ref came over to try and get Adams off Ruben, but that was the wrong thing to do as Adams finally released the hold only to grab a hold of the ref and throw him out of the ring.

WINNER : Stephen Adams

Enter Anti-Pacifist
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Adams pushed Ruben's body to the side of the ring and asked for a microphone. The ring announcer handed one to him.

"Oh, what a glorious way to start my career off here in ACW! I'd forgotten how sweet the taste of victory can be, and it's only going to get sweeter from here on out."

The fans were somewhat stunned from the arrogance of the ACW newcomer. The boos had stopped but a sort of hate had been instilled in the fans for Adams.

"You'd think I'd be a little rusty after nine months out of wrestling, but I guess when you're this good it doesn't really matter. This was just a sample of what all you people can expect to see week in and week out when "The Natural" makes an appearance on Courage. I'm the future of this company whether you all like it or not. They brought me here to be an "entertainer", but I didn't come out of retirement to come here and entertain you all. I came here to let the world know that Stephen Adams is still one of the premier wrestlers in this industry and that I will not stop until each and everyone of you accept that."

The fans who were just annoyed at Adams, began to boo and yell at him once again.

"Who are you?!?"

A look of anger came across Stephen's face.

"Who am I? How do you not know who I am? Seriously, I'm not going to sit out here and speak the truth when all I get in return is disrespect..."

Stephen threw down the microphone and exited the ring. "Slither" by Velvet Revolver began to play as he made his way towards the backstage area he threw both middle fingers in the air at the fans. The boos erupted as he exited the arena area. Adams exited through the curtain, and down the short flight of steps to the corridor. After his impressive win in his first match in ACW, he was tired, and had the right to be. He showed everyone out there what a great competitor he would be, and that he had everything going for him at that moment...

...and the figure that lurked behind slowly in the shadows behind Adams was extremely irritated by that. Now, if you can remember back to the first two shows of ACW's second coming, you might remember there was a competitor who liked to stalk, liked to make a mystery of himself, and liked to cause turmoil in the mind of his opponents.

If you don't remember, here's a refresher course; and for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, here's an introduction...

"Stephen Adams," whispers a voice in the background. "You think you've got everything going for you? You think you're God almighty, just because you beat someone out in that ring tonight? Well, I hope you believe in yourself, God, because you're going to need to do what your son couldn't do...save yourself from your destiny."

Who could it be? What kind of...creature...could say such things to a force like Adams? Easy.

P A I S T E  S A B A N

The Meductic Maniac was back, and he wasn't going to let anything stop him this time. The Mammoth put him out of commission in the second show of ACW's "revival", breaking multiple ribs, and suffering multiple internal injuries. Paiste's "victim" of choice now...? Stephen Adams.

Adams made his way down the hall, as cheerful as a child in a candy store, unaware of the danger lurking behind him with every step. Stephen finally made it to his dressing room, and walked in.

Shifting through his belongings in his locker, he found a bar of soap, bottle of shampoo, a towel, and a washcloth. The shower was calling his name, and little did he know, he'd need to re-enter that shower later...to clean the blood from his body.

Adams entered the shower, leaving the room in total silence, not aware of the man entering his dressing room...

ENTER ANTI-PACIFIST. 

Clear Your Head... Cause This Is The Quiet Before The Storm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


“The rumors of my disappearance… are greatly exaggerated.”

Words rung out through the PA system, and the Nashville crowd cheered in kind. As easy as this eruption of cheers was to some in the crowd, it was still a moment of utter celebration for this, there new ACW World Heavyweight Champion… or at least his voice. His hometown crowd could only hope that he wasn’t far behind. ACW, under do stress as always in this burgeoning system of wrestling corporations, where holding there second show in a row here in one of professional wrestling’s true heartlands.

“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones kicked… which only made it official.

ACW’s reclusive ‘top representative’ of sorts, wasn’t able to take the spotlight of things last week… after it was announced that the after affect of what had happened to Hawk at the end of there match at Revival wasn’t some sore or sordid stinger, oh no, he was now blind. That much was fact. Still… Alias was glad, that after wavering that storm, the PR backlash of no showing up on air to the show after he had regained the ACW Championship, that well… he was able to return to something that felt like home. More like home then this place of new faces, which made him feel like he was walking through the halls of breakOUT yet again, on that November 10th Sunday… more then a year and a half ago now.

He raised a fist to the cheering arena crowd, to these All-Star faithful, before raising his the other fist that clasped tightly onto the shimmering ACW gold. It was as much out of respect towards there response, as it was anything else. These where the moments… that he honestly couldn’t get enough of, because hell… moments like these where few and far between. The Pulp Hero wasn’t making his way out through entrance way, no instead he hazarded the journey through the crowd. After lowering his fists, he kept a reserved demeanor to himself… almost, as odd as it sounded for a man in Alias’s position, shy.

Alias was finally able to hop over the protective barrier that separated both the talent from the crowd, and the crowd from the talent, before procuring a mic from a ringside official. He rolled into the ring, and waited there… standing among these apparent flashbulbs, that felt in there own way blinding, though only to savor the moment for everyone else. Soon enough, Alias lifted the mic to his lips… he had shit to get off his chest.

“So… what now?”

The crowd murmured to themselves, wondering what that opening statement meant.

“I’ll tell you, ‘what now’… SilverHAWK still deserves his rematch. You better damn well believe that that warrior, he’s going to get it. What happened at Revival was a mistake, and it’s okay for me to say that it was my mistake. That doesn’t believe that I wouldn’t have ended it, just not like that. You see, we walked in their… two men with two reasons to call themselves World Champions, and as far as I’m concerned… well that issue is still unresolved. This belt here…” Alias now lifted the ACW World Championship once more, “this belt is as much something to be rested on the shoulder of SilverHAWK, as it is to be something that rests on my shoulder.

I know… he’s blind. I also know, though, that the man ain’t dead. Now if he’s backstage to hear this, he should at least know the truth of that statement above all else. Even if he doesn’t return to this ring for some time to come, then hell… he’ll still be the very reason why I’m still standing in this ring.

SilverHAWK was one of the driving forces behind why I strived, as hard as I possibly could, to become who I was in the days as the Tin Angel, I was the proverbial pitbull nipping at his Championship heels. He was one of the reasons I came back to this place I still call home, last year, because know he was part of this roster… meant that I had someone that always had my back. Be it as Resistance, or just some tough son of a bitch with two strong fists. Now… I have to admit, I hated him when I walked through these doors for the third time. He held what I believed what still mine,” Chris looked down at the belt for a moment, “but that didn’t change the fact that I actually missed the tough bastard he was, that I used to call a friend. Even with the events of Revival, every bit of it, evident to the both of us… well here’s the next step towards rebuilding that burnt bridge, old man.”

“This,” Alias spoke, now against the roaring sheers of the crowd while he raised the glistening gold strap, “is for you… every once. Paid in the blood, sweat and tears of the both of us for pure gold.”

Actually, and maybe surprisingly, to some in attendance… sections of the crowd began to give the Original Pulp Hero, there champion, a standing ovation as he rolled from the ring and this time, walked to the back. 

Professionalism [1]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


The arena fell to complete darkness, the fines riled up in anticipation of the next match up, but that was not what was scheduled (not just yet, anyway…)

Flames began to creep in from the edges of the bigSCREEN, slowly they began to engulf the screen, leaving only the center a perfect black. Slowly a small flickering of orange zoomed in towards the front of the bigSCREEN, becoming more and more clear as it grew closer.

“Phoenix”

The letters were elaborate and curled around one another. The name dropped off the edge of the purpose-built screen before a similar word zoomed up behind it.

“Rose”

The fans cheered as the flames quickly took over the entire bigSCREEN and four large blasts came from the head of the stage. Their mushroom shaped flames reached towards the ceiling before dying down. Swirling orange spotlights panned around the arena as if to be searching for something, meanwhile in the center of the ring the initials of the former EYE Gold champion lay across the mat as if they were embroidered in to the canvas, but it was not to be – it was simply a custom made light. The initials appeared in a large red circle in a similar style to the Danger Mouse emblem of yesteryear. 

As ‘Private Eye’ by Alkaline Trio played Phoenix was handed a microphone and shoved out on to the staging area. Rose gave a beaming smile and raised his arms, cheering along with the capacity crowd. He began to make his way down the ramp and with his spare left arm he slapped a few fans hands before sliding under the bottom rope and up on to his feet. He paced around the ring a little before ascending the far left middle turnbuckle and raising his arms in the air. The audience retaliated with a louder cheer for a moment until Rose dropped down to the mat again and waited on the lights, his music, fireworks and his bigSCREEN video all to die down before he commenced addressing the audience.

“Alriiiiiiiiiiight!!!!!!!” He exclaimed vibrantly, arching his back over backwards.

The fans roared again for a few moments as Rose stood back up to a perfect vertical base.

“Ladies and gentlemen, on the last Courage you witnessed television history in the debut of Phoenix Rose. Fatal four-way, US title match, main event!”

A slight cheer from a few in the front row came to Rose’s attention, the scream of one lady in particular.

“Oh I’ll make you scream way louder than that baby, yeahthat’sright.” he gave a slight tug on his groin before popping out a pelvic thrust, much to the delight of the woman in the front row. (You pay for the best seats in the house and ACW rewards you; let me tell you that sweetness.)

After a moments sidetracking, Rose got back to his point.

“Anyway, whilst main eventing was beautiful and all I don’t know if the fans want to see more of that or no—“

The fans began to chant “Rosey, Rosey!” in an attempt to show Rose how much they wanted him to headline the shows from now on.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

He cleared his throat and got to the topic at hand.
“But lets get to the topic at hand,” (See?) “Last week I had the distinct honor of facing a former 21w Legend in Geo Vacton, but that privilege was slightly dragged down by two mediocre superstars holding on tightly to our coattails. The Mammoth and Marshall.”

A few of the fans nodded in agreement.

Rose’s face was zoomed in to on the bigSCREEN and the observant amongst the spectators took note of his slightly green eye from the recovering black eye he sustained after the last Courage.

“So I’m out here for two reasons, one: To let you all know that baby… Phoenix Rose is here to Staaaaaaaaaaay

And two: That my coattails are not to be tugged on anymore, kids.”

Phoenix dropped the microphone to his side, keeping it in his hand. He seemed to be expecting visitors and he got what he was waiting for not two seconds later.

Right on schedule, ''A Violent Reaction'' by American Head Charge played throughout the arena for a few moments. For those few seconds the fans let out a loud chorus of boos and sent them over towards the two superstars who had made their way out on to the stage. Marshall held a microphone; the Mammoth on the other hand, did not.

“Action League! Action League! Action League!” The fans knew what annoyed the team of the Mammoth and Marshall the most, and tonight, as with every other night, they played on it, chanting what the team least wanted to hear.

“Ah shut up.” Marshall sneered in to the microphone, scrunching up his face a little.

The fans booed a little before ending their chant, leaving space open for Marshall to give his rebuttal to Rose’s claims of him ‘hanging on to his coattails.’

“Coattails?” he asked rhetorically with a touch of sarcasm. “If anyone knows about coattails here it’s you, kid. You’ve been riding on the coattails of Geo Vacton for weeks.”

Rose raised the microphone to his mouth furiously as he took a hard step forwards, his chest pressing against the ropes.

“I mean, come on… Do you honestly think that you would have gotten to where you are today without the help of that second rate celebrity?”

The fans booed at Marshall, a large polystyrene cup flew across the stage, splattering on the ground and spilling a small amount of brown liquid with a lot of ice.

“Nice.” Marshall said, looking over in the direction that the cup came from, “Real classy.”

In the spirit of professionalism, Marshall continued.

“Phoenix Rose, you are nothing but a hypocrite. And dat…” he began to steal Phoenix Rose’s old catchphrase.

“That catchphrase is so 1991, now get off my stage before I kick your ass.”

The crowd chuckled as Rose dropped his microphone to the canvas. Meanwhile, at the head of the ramp Marshall did the same, his microphone gave a crackle as the Mammoth hopped in front of him and pressed his hands up hard on Marshall’s shoulders, restraining him.

In the ring Rose taunted Marshall, beckoning him onward to the ring, but the Mammoth held back his partner and convinced him that it was best to leave it, for now at least. The two men left, Marshall not taking his eyes off of Rose until after the two retreated behind the black curtain.

El Gato Negro vs. Vinnie Copeland
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  

“Tira Me A Las Arañas” by The Mars Volta began to reverb over the speakers, and as the eerie music started, El Gato Negro stepped out from the back to a chorus of boos. After one week, The Black Cat had already become a bit infamous for his antics in opposition of DarkStar. However, that didn’t stop a giant smile from spreading across those lips beneath that dirty ‘stache of his, as he lifted his arms and roared:

“YOU LOVE ME~!”

The fans, of course, disagreed. Not only did the boos continue, but they even grew steadily louder. EGN bathed in the jeers like a warm bubble bath, and even went as far as to slide into the ring and start humping the mat! 

But, when these words echoed throughout the arena: “DIE MOTHERFUCKER DIE, MOTHERFUCKER DIE!” the sexual references from The Escape Artist ceased, and he looked toward the entrance ramp. What he saw stomping down the ramp, with fists held high in the air, was a man that not many could defeat, and not many would.

Vinnie Copeland. 

A barely conceivable smile spread across the Black Cat’s kiss.

As God’s Number Once Source of Visitors stepped through the ropes, El Gato Negro realized what kind of a foe that he was up against. He ran at the brutalist and jumped high, moonsault dropkicking him in the chest. Copeland only stumbled back into the ropes, and once EGN reached his feet he was met with a mighty fist that sent El Gato Negro stumbling back.

The Black Cat regained his composure, and spit right into Vinnie’s face. VC immediately found a well of anger reach its highest inside him, and he went to work on El Gato Negro. Left, right, left, right—the two traded punches but eventually the self proclaimed ratings drawer gained the upper-hand, and sent several right jabs into EGN’s jaw before taking him out with a left.

The Escape Artist hit the mat, and then made his first escape of the night—he got the hell out of there. After Negro slid beneath the ropes and trying to gain some type of breath, Vinnie wasted no time diving through the middle rope and tackling him like a dummy. EGN cried out in pain and before the crowd could even breathe Vinnie was already up on his feet, kicking at the gut of El Gato and making quite a show out of it.

Once Vinnie was finished with his assault on El Gato Negro, he picked him up by the hair of his fro and slid him back into the ring. The Cat quickly reached his feet, if nothing more than out of desperation, and dropkicked Vinnie in the knees. Copeland staggered back, and EGN swiped the feet out from under “The Only Person On Courage That Matters”, taking him down for the first time in the match. The Black Cat slowed the pace down a notch, locking him in the standard sleeper-hold. Vinnie was gasping for breath, but eventually his body began to give up as his limbs fell asleep. Pins and needles began to befall upon Copeland as his lack of air increased, and for a while he didn’t notice that the ref had lifted his hand in the air. Trying as hard as he could, Copeland tried to keep it high, but when the ref dropped it, it fell as limp as the rest of his body. Vinnie cried out for a gasp as El Gato Negro applied even more pressure on the hold, and it was then that Copeland told himself his hand would not drop the second time.

It did.

Vinnie screamed at himself: “Sonofabitch!” he yelled in one word for the one breath he had to spare. It was then that Copeland promised himself and whatever higher being there is, that his hand would not drop the third time. The referee lifted his arm high, which was now almost dead, and let it go…

And though to the viewers at home and in the audience this seemed so cliché, the fact that El Gato Negro had that sleeper-hold locked on so tight and Vinnie still kept his arm lifted is nothing short of spectacular.

El Gato Negro cursed under his breath, before letting Vinnie go and lifting him up by the hair. The Escape Artist placed him in an armbar from behind. Copeland ducked underneath, reversing the hold and applying it onto the original applier. El Gato Negro elbowed Vinnie twice before he finally let go, and then ran into the ropes and back for a cross-body block. Vinnie caught him in the air, walked around for a bit as EGN pleaded for his life, and dropped him with a powerful backbreaker.

And just like that, Vinnie was back in control.

This time, however, Vinnie lifted EGN up and Irish whipped him into the corner. 

It was at this time, though, that Vinnie would make the grave mistake of showboating to the crowd, who wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Of course, the cameras didn’t focus on the showing off. The cameras focused on El Gato Negro removing the top turnbuckle’s extra padding, and tossing it slyly out of the ring.

By the time Vinnie got around to actually taking care of his opponent, the deed had been done seconds ago. He charged at EGN, who used the support of the ropes to lift his legs high and hit Copeland in the head. El Gato Negro took the liberty, of course, to drop toehold Vinnie back into the turnbuckles, slamming his head into the one with removed padding.

As Copeland stumbled backwards a few steps before hitting the ground, El Gato Negro decided to end it. As Vinnie rolled over onto his stomach, it only took EGN a few seconds to apply the Strangle Hold ALPHA.

And try as Vinnie might, it only took him a few seconds to tap out.

As “Tira Me A Las Arañas” hit, and the referee lifted El Gato Negro’s hand (only for El Gato Negro to pull it away and yell: “WHOO~!”, mind you), the crowd sat in dismay.

Perhaps EGN just wouldn’t fade away like they had hoped.

WINNER : El Gato Negro

Thank you, Captain Obvious!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"Ahhh, much better," sighs Stephen Adams, obviously still tired from his match earlier in the night, but refreshed from his shower. He was impressive in his match, and he was "riding high" so-to-say...but that would all change in a matter of seconds.

Cue blackout.

Total darkness filled the room, and for a few seconds there was silence, until Stephen opened up.

"Hello?

Who's there?

What the fuck's going on?"

He was obviously getting quite paranoid, and for good reason. Wouldn't you get a bit freaked out if your lights cut out for no particular reason? I'm not sure about you, but I would...anyways, back to the story. Stephen was getting quite tense, when he heard a rustle behind him.

Ziiiiiip...

Click...

Stephen was "on the edge of his seat", though we really couldn't tell because of the darkness, and he was sick of the games.

"Alright, whoever, wherever you are, turn the lights back on, so I can see your ugly mug!"

THUD.

The sound of cold steel cracking against a human skull filled the room. Had Stephen struck his intruder?

Nope...he had gotten to Adams first.

About fifteen seconds of silence pass, until we hear the opening of a door, and then the silhouette of Adams attacker through the frame of the door. He flips the lightswitch, and exits quickly, stealthily enough to evade exposure from the camera.

Across the room, Stephen Adams lay, dazed and confused, in a battered heap. Sure, it was only a chair shot...or at least, that's what it looked like at first glance. As the shot of Adams' face became more clear, knife marks are apparent on his forehead, as well as the gash from the steel chair. The chair lay next to him, the indent highlighted with a bloody mark square in the center. He attempted to get to his feet, but the minute he got off the ground he was right back down. He looked over at the chair.

"What the hell?!?"

Just then, his brother, Kris, who had been in attendance tonight to witness his brother's return to the squared circle entered the dressing room. Kris was shocked at the sight.

"Damn, Stephen, what the hell happened to you?"

"What the hell does it look like?"

"It looks like you got your ass beat. That's what it looks like."

An annoyed look came across Stephen's face. You could tell that he wanted to smack the hell out of his younger brother.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious!" Stephen remarked sarcastically.

Kris helped his brother up and as they turned around to exit the room to find a doctor to bandage Stephen up, they noticed something on the wall. A chill flew down Stephen's spine. They stopped right there. Stephen was almost frozen in place. You could tell he was sort of freaked out, maybe even a little afraid. It was his first day in ACW and he was already encountering a problem.

"What the..." Kris remarked.

Stephen just glared at the symbol on the wall across from him, by the doorway... 

"...a Pentagram, etched into the wall with (presumably) his own blood."

What’s Up Doc?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


“Hillary here your cell phone. I dialed already.”

Hillary took the cell phone into her long fingertips. “Where the hell are you?!”

Hillary’s face blushed red as a rose.

“So sorry, doctor.” She gave the road agent a dirty look. 

“Do you think Mr. Lancett will be able to come to the next show, sir?”

“NO!? I mean, why not?”

“Alright. I understand, sir. Thank you for your time. Sorry for the outburst at first.”

Hillary again, bit her bottom lip not knowing what to do.

The road agent looked at her and asked, “Is he going to be here next week to take control?”

“The doctor says he doubts it, but it is up in the air at the moment.”

They both sat there not knowing what the hell to do.

US Championship Match
Geo Vacton Vs. Phoenix Rose
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  

The crowded arena roared as Phoenix Rose stepped out from behind the curtains.

“PHOOOEEENNNIIIIIIXXXXX RRRROOOOSSSSEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!”

The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena, and Rose steadily walked down to the ring. He slapped the hands of a few members of the crowd, and then rolled on into the ring. He paced around, holding his arms up to the crowd at the sides of the ring. The arena roared as he held his arms up and let pyro shoot up from the turnbuckles. The arena roared, and then it became silent.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, you’re ACW United States Champion!” The arena roared. “GGEEEOOO VACTONNN!!!!”

“’Cos I’m T-N-T… I’m DY-NO-MITE!!!!!!!!!!”

The arena was lit on fire. Geo Vacton ran out from behind the curtain with the United States Championship belt around his waist.

Geo ran from side to side of the entrance ramp. Magick Man stepped out into the arena behind him, and the crowd even roared for him. The arena was about to explode as Geo slid into the ring and held his arms out to the crowd at every corner. The camera flashes were immense. They shot rapidly and even brighter than ever before, or maybe it just seemed that way because it was now being reflected off of the gold around Geo’s waist.

After strutting around the ring with his new title, Geo pulled it off and held it up to the crowd, unleashing even more flashes from the crowd. Geo handed the title to Magick Man, who then exited the ring and laid it down on the announcers table.

Geo leaned against the ropes, and Rose stretched his shoulders out. The two shuck hands, hugged, and slapped each others back. By now the music was off, and the bell rang.

Rose started it off quickly by tying it up with Geo. He whipped him into the ropes, and then attempted to clothes line him but Geo deftly ducked it. He then ran to the ropes, kicked off of the second rope and nailed Rose in the back of the head with an elbow. Rose stumbled back, and Geo capitalized on his situation by knocking him down with a bulldog.

The crowd cheered Geo on as he brought Rose back to his feet, but Rose battled back with lefts and rights aimed at Geo’s chest. Once being able to seize the opportunity he kicked him in the stomach and dropped him with a DDT. Half the crowd cheered and half the crowd booed as Rose locked a Boston crab onto Geo. Geo tried to reach for the ropes, but was unable to reach them and so overpowered Rose and shoved him off of him. Rose stumbled forward, and then Geo quickly climbed to his feet.

Rose ran toward Geo, and then Vacton jumped into the air and knocked the wind out of Rose with a missile drop kick. Rose fell to the mat, and Geo quickly took the advantage by jumping up onto the top rope. He leapt off with an elbow drop, but…

Rose rolled out of the way. Geo hit the mat hard, and held his elbow in pain. Rose was able to take advantage of Geo’s failed maneuver by locking on a headlock on the mat. Geo quickly pressured out of it, but Rose had a few more tricks up his sleeve. As Geo pushed out, Rose grabbed what he had left of Geo’s head and hit a cross cutter. Rose and Geo bounced off the mat.

Rose came back to his feet and picked Geo back up. Geo took a swing at Rose, but Rose quickly blocked it and kicked Geo in the stomach. With Geo slightly bent forward, he grabbed his waist and brought him up into the air. He dropped him onto the mat with a sit out power bomb, and then went for the first pinfall of the night.

One!

Two!

Geo got a shoulder up. He wouldn’t be the champion if he went down this early in the night, but both men were showing some great athleticism. It was obvious that Rose wanted to win the title, just as bad as Geo wanted to keep it.

Geo and Rose climbed back to their feet. They locked up and Rose succeeded in bringing Geo up into the air with a vertical suplex. Geo held his lower back after the move, and rolled to the side of the ring. Rose stepped over to Geo and picked him up. He gave him a chop across the chest, and then kneed him in the stomach. Assuming he had the upper hand, he Irish whipped Geo into the opposing ropes. Geo reversed it, and send Rose across the ring. On the return, Geo bent over and sent Rose out of the ring with a back body drop. Geo capitalized on the situation by running to the opposite ropes to gain speed, and then leaping over the top rope with a beautiful splash landing right on top of Rose.

The referee began to make a ten count, shouting out “One! Two!” in that order.

Geo was the first to come to his feet, and he rolled back into the ring. He was still hurting from earlier in the match, and hell just from the pain he’s endured over the last few weeks in ACW. He was simply playing it safe. The last thing he wanted was to be tossed into the steel steps to thrown into the crowd.

Rose came back to his feet and slid back into the ring. The referee thus ended the count. Rose stood up, and Geo was prepared to again disable Rose. He shot a beautiful super kick… The only problem was he didn’t hit Rose… Phoenix, being the veteran that he is and knowing so much about Geo’s style in the ring, ducked the kick. Unfortunately for the referee, he happened to be standing behind Rose and he caught Geo’s heel.

Geo huddled over to the referee, slapping his face and trying to get him to come to but Geo’s kick is pretty super, and that referee ain’t used to being the one getting hit. He was out like a light.

Some might call it dirty, cheap or tricky to hit someone when they’re checking on the ref, but then again you’re kinda setting yourself for something like that. Rose grabbed Geo and sent him into the turnbuckles. He mounted on top of Geo, and began nailing him in the skull with punches. The crowd began to count.

One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
HOLY SHIT!!!
BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

From out of no where, A*Dubbs appeared behind Rose in the ring!!! He had a chair with him, and struck Rose hard across the back. Rose spun around to find Dubbs. He looked startled, but soon found himself trying desperately to fight back and Dubbs nailed him with punches to the skull. Dubbs smacked Rose across the head with the chair, and then tossed him into the turnbuckles to the left of Geo, who by the way was stumbling forward. Dubbs dropped Rose to the mat with kicks to the stomach, and then tossed the chair onto his skull.

Dubbs backed up across the ring, and then ran toward Rose. He front flipped into the air about a quarter of the way across the ring in the last stretch and impaled his boots into the chair with a drop kick. Rose was out.

Geo stumbled into the center of the ring, obviously confused… Shouldn’t he be going after Geo?

Dubbs picked up Rose and tossed him to Geo’s feet. Geo looked down at Rose, incredibly confused. Dubbs held the hair in his hand and ordered Geo to pin rose.

“Pin ‘m, bitch!! Pin ‘m!!”

Geo raised an eyebrow, but nowhere near as cool as The Rock’s.

“Pin the bitch, nucka!!”

Geo shuck his head. There was no way he was gonna pin Rose. He wasn’t gonna win the match this way.

“Shit no.”

“No? Fine then.” Dubbs charged at Geo with the chair, and nearly cracked it over his skull. Geo fell backwards, and Dubbs then dropped the chair onto Geo’s head and jumped on it. With both of them out, Dubbs dragged Geo and tossed him onto Rose.

Dubbs pulled the referee over, and shuck him wildly until he eventually came to and made the count…

One…

Two….

Jesus Christ…

Three.

“Yeeeeaaahhh!!!!” Dubbs smiled, kicked Geo in the back and then left the ring… Not before raising his arm out to the crowd, which booed him severely.

What the hell? The bell rang, and Geo was announced as the winner of the match… His music rang out, but he and Rose both remained motionless. When Rose finally came to his feet, he seemed very confused…

And so was everyone else.

Why did Dubbs help Geo win?

What did he have to gain?

And why is Geo always such a Goddamn good guy? He checks on refs… Wont take an underserved win… He’s mos def going to heaven.

WINNER : Geo Vacton