Supreme Wrestling Federation presents: The World Is Watching Wednesday, 11th April 2011 Duane Fry – Ana Garcia – Jerry Eisen Duane: The World Is Watching – and we’re glad you are! Welcome to the show! As always, I’m Duane Fry and with me tonight are Ana Garcia and Jerry Eisen.
Ana: Good evening.
Jerry: Hi!
Duane: And we’re heading to the ring straight away, kicking off with the battle between the Succession and the legends Christian Faith and Ricky Dale Johnson... who have their third man to unveil.
Faith: We could have had out pick of talent in the SWF, and we had plenty of people calling us to offer us assistance as well. Seems like there’re more people out there who respect what Ricky and I have done in our careers then who agree with the Succession that we should be put out to pasture.
Johnson: We want to thank everyone who offered help, but when it came down to it, it weren’t that hard a choice. When you’ve got a chance to saddle up with one of the greatest of all time, well, you take it. Maybe this guy ain’t a legend yet, but that’s just a matter of time. Damn sure he’ll get there, good as he is, and I figure he’ll do it the right way too – unlike the Succession.
Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, our partner is returning to action after some time on the shelf, so please give a big hand for...
Faith: ...Tom Gilmore!
Standing at the top of the ramp, his wife at his side, Gilmore basked in the rapturous reception afforded him by the fans. Last seen bloodied and beaten following an attack by Rich Money, he now looked in peak condition, his wounds healed and a smile on his face.
Ana: He looks good.
Duane: He’s married, Ana.
Walking down to the ring, he shook hands with his team-mates and took a mic.
Gilmore: Thank you all. I worried about what sort of reception I’d get – two months is a long time in wrestling, but what with one thing and another, I guess you’ve been kept reminded of what happened two months ago.
His smile froze on his face.
Gilmore: We’ll get to that soon enough. Right now, I want to help out my friends and show the Succession that respect and success are earned – not given. That’s the only way this business works, and I should know.
Jerry: Wow. Tom Gilmore back in business – that’s a real coup for Johnson and Faith.
Duane: And a blow for the Succession, I must admit.
*
Christian Faith, Ricky Dale Johnson and Tom Gilmore vs. The Succession Gilmore was first into the ring for his side, and looked pumped to be back in action after two months on the sidelines. None of the Succession looked keen to take him on, but eventually Rocky Golden entered and snapped Gilmore’s head around with a huge right hand. Gilmore didn’t move, beyond touching his newly split lip with one finger, looking at the blood, and smiling at Golden.
Jerry: Oh boy...
Golden couldn’t cope with Gilmore as he went on the attack, so pumped was the Canadian to be back in action that nothing Golden threw at him seemed to phase him. In desperation, Jay Chord tried to jump Gilmore from behind, but Gilmore countered adroitly, pitching him across the ring and into Golden. That, at least, gave Devine the chance to nail a missile dropkick to put Gilmore down.
Ana: And now the Succession are swarming all over Gilmore – and here come Faith and Johnson, the cavalry!
It was the cue for an uncontained brawl, with all six men opening up on one another with no reserve. Devine took it to Faith, and managed to get some offence in concentrated on the bigger man’s knees as his partners tackled Faith’s team-mates. Then, as though by telepathy, Devine and Chord swapped over with Chord abandoning Johnson and taking out Faith with a chop block. As Chord kept working on Faith’s legs, Golden clotheslined Gilmore over the top rope. Devine charged across the ring and Golden backdropped him to the outside where he wiped out Gilmore with a huge somersault senton. As Johnson moved to intercept Chord, Golden sprinted across the ring to take him down with a big shoulder block before pitching him through the ropes. Golden was about to follow him out to ringside when Chord called out to him. Turning back, Golden lunged across the ring to drop an elbow across Faith’s throat and keep him down. Chord in turn sprinted towards the ropes and delivered a big baseball slide to send Johnson crashing back against the crowd barrier. Chord followed him out to the arena floor as Golden stamped on Faith’s knees and legs as the Supreme Legend struggled to rise. Shoving Golden away, he managed to get to his feet and meet the on-rushing Golden with a sideslam for two. Whipping Golden into the corner, Faith could only stumble forwards on his injured knee rather than land a Leap of Faith – and that allowed Golden to come rushing out with a huge boot to the face. Before Faith could recover, Golden blasted him with a Rocky Road to take the pin.
Duane: Golden wins – the Succession win!
Winners: The Succession (B+)
*
Golden smirked widely as he took the mic.
Golden: Teamwork. The subsuming of four egos for the sake of the greater good – and as good as we are, I admit that we have big egos. But because we’re as talented as we are, our replacing the likes of Johnson and Faith is undeniable. Gilmore... might have a few years left, but this business is about the quick and the young.
Chord took the mic.
Chord: Faith just took a nasty hit to his pride. Hopefully he’ll recover so I can get a chance to give him the beating he deserves another night. If not... then we’ve freed up a spot for one of us. Troy’s already in the World title match tonight, and once he takes the title then we intend to round out his list of challengers.
Jerry: Interesting statement from Jay Chord there – is there dissension in the ranks of the Succession? Or will they be happy so long as one of them is the champion?
Duane: If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years in this business, it’s that no-one’s happy unless they’ve got gold around their waist.
*
  
John Greed vs. Marc DuBois
DuBois was accompanied to ringside by Vengeance and Primus, who took up position at the ramp entrance to watch as he entered the ring. Greed, already in the ring, watched and smiled silently. As the bell rang, the two locked up and engaged in a test of strength, but neither man could best the other. That pattern repeated itself several times, with neither man able to assert an advantage over his ex-partner.
Ana: They just know each other too well.
Greed and DuBois circled one another, each seeking the advantage. Greed seemed serene, but DuBois was clearly struggling as the match went on. After several minutes with no shift in momentum, DuBois went for his lighter almost on instinct.
Ana: He wouldn’t!
Jerry: He would! Look at Vengeance!
Vengeance stood at ringside, smirking and nodding as he looked at DuBois, who hesitated as he looked from the masked man to Greed.
Duane: What’s Greed doing – he’s just standing there! He can’t be going to allow DuBois to fireball him, can he?
Greed stood in the centre of the ring, his hands spread as he looked at DuBois, who stared at his former partner, nervously flicking at his lighter...
...before tossing it out of the ring. He nodded to Greed, who nodded back, and then DuBois turned Greed inside out with a clothesline.
That was the cue for the two men to compete in an evenly contested match, with the advantage shifting back and forth several times. DuBois fought clean, avoiding the glaring gaze of Vengeance and Primus at ringside as he tried to take down his former friend without cheating, but at the last a missed charge into the corner left him stunned, and Greed was able to drop him with the Crucifix Powerbomb for the win.
*
Greed had no chance to celebrate his win. Vengeance and Primus stormed the ring immediately, as DuBois bailed out to ringside. Vengeance grabbed Greed and held him for Primus, but at the last second Greed tore free of the masked man and Primus clotheslined his mentor instead.
As Vengeance reeled, DuBois re-entered the ring. Primus yelled at him to attack Greed, and DuBois held up his lighter. Primus smirked – until DuBois launched a fireball into his face.
Primus hit the mat, bellowing in pain as he slapped at his scalded flesh. Vengeance, meanwhile, bore the brunt of a double dropkick from his former followers before scrambling away from a second fireball from DuBois that singed the mat behind where had been. Vengeance dived out of the ring, dragging Primus behind him, leaving DuBois and Greed in the ring. Greed put out his hand to his former partner. DuBois looked unsure, but slowly reached out to shake it.
Ana: Well, that’s something to see – the Heart of Darkness seems to be getting brighter by the minute.
Duane: Why would anyone leave Vengeance’ protection behind?
Jerry: Why would anyone make Vengeance mad at them?
*
Jack Bruce was backstage, sitting in a jacuzzi and listening to something loud on his headphones.
Jerry: He looks relaxed.
Duane: Last time tonight once Tornado and Money get their hands on him.
*
Giedroyc & Valiant vs. Brandon James and Eric Eisen in a streetfight For those keeping tabs, Eric Eisen came to the ring carrying a steel chair, Brandon James a baseball bat, Valiant pair of kendo sticks, and Jack Giedroyc toted a helmet that appeared to be made of steel.
Jerry: How much damage can he do with that?
Ana: He’s giving up range for impact, I guess... or maybe Giedroyc’s relying on fists and feet.
Duane: Against Brandon James with a baseball bat? Good luck!
This wasn’t a long match – it couldn’t be, given the beatings that all four men were handing out and absorbing. Giedroyc seemed especially to be cutting loose, driving the steel headgear into James’ gut before smashing it down on the back of his head.
But none of the four could focus on either of their opponents for long – the nature of the fight meant that one-on-one fights were a rarity, and even when two could gang up on one, both were generally slowed by the beatings they’d taken, so the victim’s partner could make the save after a short recovery.
It seemed as though the former tag champions might be the ones to take the win, taking down Eric Eisen with a double powerbomb, but Emma Chase was quick to climb on the ropes and slap Valiant, before grabbing two handfuls of his hair and pulling on them. As Valiant tried to disentangle himself from Emma without hurting her, James grabbed Giedroyc’s headgear and slammed it into the back of the Brit’s head, putting him down for a three count Valiant only registered as the referee’s hand hit the mat for the final time.
Ana: The Inner Circle win – and Emma Chase makes the difference once again!
Winners: James and Eisen (B-)
*
Silver: Hi all, this is Sara Silver here with one of the SWF’s recent arrivals – Edd Stone.
Edd: Recent arrival? Sara, I was here forty-five minutes ago!
Silver: Edd, the show started an hour ago.
Edd: The show’s started?
Silver: Yes. You know your match is next, right?
Edd: Uh... I need to go get changed. Can you help?
Silver: Help you get changed?
Edd: Yeah.
Silver: Well...
Edd: Please? Sean’ll never let me live it down if I’m late for my match. He doesn’t understand about the House of Edd.
Silver: The House of Edd?
Edd: Listen, help me out and I’ll tell you all about it.
Silver: Well... Okay.
They hurried offscreen, leaving the camera showing an empty interview area for a couple of seconds before they ran back across its field of view in the opposite direction.
Duane: So... She’s going to help him get undressed, and we’re expecting him to be on time?
Ana: Quiet, Duane. Sara’s a professional. We should tell the crew backstage to ask Marquez to come to the ring first, though...
*
As the bell rang, Marquez interlaced his fingers and flexed his hands, the smile on his face showing that he intended to enjoy what was coming. Edd, for his part, stood on the second rope and bounced... and bounced... and bounced... After almost a minute of Stone looking like he was on a trampoline, Marquez charged at him. On the upspring, Edd leapt off, leapfrogging Marquez as he rushed in and leaving the champion to crotch himself on the bouncing rope.
Jerry: You never know with Edd Stone if he’s crazy, or crazy awesome.
Marquez was – understandably – somewhat hobbled by Edd’s opening attack, and was reluctant to tie up with the master of Edd Fu. Edd, however, pressed home his advantage, seemingly taunting Marquez by springboarding off the second rope twice to deliver big kicks. Marquez did his best, but couldn’t rally enough to catch up with Edd, and in surprisingly short order was felled by the Party’s Over as Edd Stone won the SWF Shooting Star title!
Duane: No way!
Jerry: You can bet Marquez will want his rematch – and soon!
Ana: Maybe once Edd stops hitting him where it hurts, though...
Jerry: Ana!
Ana: What?
*
In the Proving Ground locker room, Sam Keith was prepping his sons for the upcoming match.
Keith: Triangle matches are difficult. You need to watch out for each other at all times – lose focus, and one of them will blindside you.
Matt: We know, Dad. We’ve fought in a few – probably more than you. They’re a recent development, after all.
Keith: Listen to your father. Now, come on – Tyler wants us ready ahead of time after that jackass Edd nearly missed his call.
The trio walked off, leaving Spade and Glenn alone in the room. They exchanged a glance before going back to the magazines they were reading.
Duane: The tag titles are on the line – next!
*
Team Gauge vs. Northern Exposure vs. Wall of Muscle (c) for the SWF World Tag Team titles The champions have faced multiple opponents before... but both sets of challengers looked ready to go.
Perhaps realising this, the champions declined to engage with their opponents in the early exchanges. The Gauge twins, Maverick and Deeley were largely left to fight one another as Swoop lay across the top rope in his team’s corner. However, when the Gauges made the mistake of trying to gang up on Maverick, Deeley was quick to even things up for his side. Matt was whipped into the champions’ corner, crashing into Swoop and unbalancing him. Greg followed, crashing into Matt and, as Swoop tried to right himself, sending the Australian flying to a hard landing on the arena floor.
Jerry: He’s headed back down under!
Runaway Train entered the ring looked furious, which would normally have been bad news for his opponents, but with four challengers arrayed against him – their own rivalry momentarily set aside – Train was just overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers, never able to hold off more than one or two at a time even with his huge fists repeatedly finding their target as he backed into the corner.
Ana: The experience of Runaway Train showing as he holds off his opponents – but this can’t last!
With Train trapped in the corner, Matt dropped to all fours as Greg ran the ropes, using his brother’s back as a springboard to launch himself into Train as Maverick and Deeley held him in place. On the outside of the ring, Emma Chase grabbed her client’s legs as he toppled forward and crashed to the mat. Heaving with all her might, she managed to get one of Train’s legs under the bottom rope as the four challengers looked on. Spotting a distraction, Sam yelled at his sons to take advantage, and both Gauges smartly rolled up Maverick and Deeley. The referee shrugged and dropped to the mat, counting with both hands – but only getting two on either.
Their alliance broken, the four challengers went at it as a groggy Train and Swoop were tended to by Emma – not gently, exactly, as she grabbed a jug of water from the announcers’ table and splashed it over them. They began to come too, but she added a slap to each face as she watched the action in the ring, knowing that one fall would end the match, and take the titles from Train and Swoop.
Back in the ring, Maverick was tangling with Greg Gauge, trying to pin the youngster down and clamp on one of his favoured submission holds. Gauge wriggled and struggled, refusing to let himself be trapped. Meanwhile, his brother had Deeley on the mat, and was trying to clamp on a Proton Lock, but Deeley was countering furiously, doing everything he could to prevent the unbreakable hold from being applied.
Unnoticed, Swoop and Train struggled back into the ring, Swoop still looking completely out of it, but halfway dragged behind Train, who even hauled him to his feet and set him down in their corner. As their opponents unloaded on one another – and Sam tried to warn his sons about the champions’ return – Emma got her clients’ attention.
Emma: Black Thursday.
Train nodded. Swoop blinked several times, and then gulped. As he gathered his wits, Train propped him up in the corner and went to work. The challengers divided, Train was much more able to take care of business, cold-cocking Maverick with a huge right hand before chokeslamming Matt Gauge almost absently as he took aim on Sean Deeley. Deeley was nearly turned heels-over-head by an almighty clothesline that left him in a crumpled heap on the mat, but it also left Train in the far corner, and Greg Gauge jumped onto his back, trying to clamp on a sleeperhold. Train smirked as Gauge tried to lock his arms around his thick neck. Turning on the spot, Train fell backwards, his mass crushing Gauge against the turnbuckles and leaving him gasping for breath. He offered no resistance as Train dragged him by one arm into the centre of the ring. Maverick, struggling to his feet, was met by an overarm right that dropped him back to the mat before he was dumped on top of Gauge. The other twin followed, Train suplexing him on top of the pile before Deeley was slammed on top of him.
Duane: All four challengers in a heap... and what’s Black Thursday?
Swoop was now recovered, and was climbing the turnbuckles slowly as Train walked into their corner. He looked askance at his veteran partner as Train approached, but Train just shrugged and pointed at Chase. Swoop looked down at their manager, who nodded once.
Jerry: Whatever it is, it doesn’t look like Swoop’s happy about it.
Swoop stood on the top turnbuckle, and reached out to Train. Train took his hands and held him steady as Swoop stepped up onto his shoulders before Train turned on the spot, putting Swoop with his back to the pile of their unmoving opponents. Train let go, and Swoop stood upright, glancing up at the ceiling and crossing himself.
Duane: No way... Swoop must be fifteen feet above the arena floor. He’s not going to-
Swoop leapt off, throwing himself backwards into a moonsault. He seemed to hang in mid-air, the greater elevation gained from Train’s shoulders allowing the big Australian to rotate fully before crashing down on top of the pile as the crowd roared.
Train crossed the ring, rubbing one shoulder before picking Swoop up and setting him to one side. Rather less carefully he pitched Deeley, Matt Gauge and Maverick off the pile, eventually reaching Greg Gauge, who had born the worst of the impact. Without much ceremony, Train rolled him onto his back with the toe of his boot before putting his foot on Gauge’s chest. The referee dropped to the mat to count to three.
Ana: And Wall of Muscle retain – Chase kept her head, Train’s still a monster, and Swoop...
Jerry: I don’t think Swoop’s heading off to a victory party tonight.
Winners: Wall of Muscle (B)
*
Duane: And, well, I guess we have to do this... Why Mr Tyler gave this idiot time to talk I don’t know...
Jerry: Because he’s friends with Christina Aguilera, as you well know. Get her to appear on our show and Mr Tyler will give you time to say whatever you want.
Garcia: Greetings, all my funky friends. Heeere’s Freddy!
Garcia: And ladies and gentlemen, in line with this festival of fabulous that accompanies me wherever I go, please welcome... Miss Christina Aguilera!
Aguilera: Hey Freddy!
Garcia: Christina, my sweet, so good of you to come here tonight.
He took her hand and kissed it, working his way up her arm as she laughed.
Garcia: Now... You’ve agreed to sing for us, and I thank you for that. Now, there’s a reason I asked you to come down tonight of all nights, so if you want to head up to the stage, I’ll tell all these good, good people what it is...
Aguilera walked over to a small stage where her band were set up to play.
Garcia: Gentlemen... Ladies... The rest... What you are about to experience is one of the greatest sensations in all of entertainment. When Miss Christina hits those notes, they stay hit... Which funnily enough is how I came to meet the man I am about to introduce to you – my new tag team partner.
Garcia: You see, a few weeks ago I was visiting a gentleman’s club of singular esteem. While there I encountered a thuggish young man who, believe me, did not treat the ladies on the staff of that establishment with the respect and courtesy due to such pulchritudinous examples of perfection.
Jerry: Pulchri... What?
Ana: It means beautiful, Jerry.
Garcia: I was about to step in when my new partner beat me to the punch – and the kick, the headbutt, the gorilla press and the defenestration.
Jerry: De-
Ana: It means he threw him out of the window, Jerry.
Jerry: Cool.
Garcia: He’s a mack daddy, a playa, a stylin’, profilin’, mysoginist rilin’ pimp daddy... Ladies and gentlemen... Please give it up for...
Garcia: ...Grandmaster Bling!
Bling: Freddy!
Garcia: Grandmaster!
Bling: That lady can sing... and she be doin’ it for Bling!
Garcia: That she can. Now, Grandmaster, tell these good people a little bit about yourself.
Bling: Thunderlips, you got it. Ladies and playas, I am Grandmaster Bling, the most incredible specimen of manhood since Shaft.
Bling: Listen, I am all man, and I know all women. You want help? You come to me – I can arrange all the help in the world. That’s my thing, my bling, and I am the Grandmaster sure enough. My boy Freddie? He’s all about the bling. Him and me, we’re brothers from different mothers because we’re both all about the bling. Ain’t no-one but me can get from drab to bling as fast as Freddie.
Bling: Now, I know Freddy likes a fight. So do I – and if bling and brawling weren’t enough, my boy got soul in his bad ass as well, and some ties out in Hollywood, ‘case I feel like heading west to bling things up a little.
Bling: See, what we have here is Supply-
He pointed at himself, then at Garcia.
Bling: -and Demand, and when you got a partnership so mutually beneficial as that, well, you’d be a crazy fool to pass up on that kind of opportunity. So expect to see plenty of bling around here, now the grandmaster is here to stay. Ain’t no other man like me, like the lady sang, and that’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the phunking truth!
Jerry: Did he just say-
Ana: No, Jerry.
Duane: It seems like Freddy Garcia has a new partner – I wonder what the Wall of Muscle will make of that?
*
Sara Silver was waiting outside a locker room door, her hair looking noticeably messier than before. The door opened, and Rich Money stepped out.
Silver: Rich, can I-
Money glared at her, then turned and walked away.
Silver: Apparently not. Back to you, guys.
Duane: Well, just as well Freddy Garcia’s got the Grandmaster and his bling, I guess. Who’s next on Sara’s list?
Ana: Never mind that, Duane. Rich Money looked in a very serious mood – I wonder what’s going through his mind right now?
*
Suzanne Brazzle vs. Joanne Rodriguez (c) for the SWF Vixxens title in a lumberjack match As the bell rang, Brazzle and Rodriguez shook hands and shared a glance at the four women around the ring. They both also glanced at James Hernandez, although Brazzle’s glance was cooler and more suspicious then that of her opponent.
The lumberjacks weren’t put to much trouble early on, standing by as the competitors struggled evenly against one another. Only when they tumbled through the ropes did they close in, with Easter hitting Brazzle with a hard clothesline. Vegas Baby closed on Joanne Rodriguez before glancing at Hernandez. He was caught up with Cuthill, trying to get around her and the ring steps, and before he could reach the pair, Baby kicked Rodriguez hard in the head. She walked off, and Hernandez was left to vault the ring steps and rush to Rodriguez’ side. She reassured him that she was okay, and he helped her back into the ring as Harper helped Brazzle back into the ring.
Jerry: Who needs the redhead?
Understandably, neither woman was on top form for the rest of the match, but Vixxens champion Brazzle showed an indication of what won her the title in the first place as she overcame Easter’s assault to land the Miracle Connection for the successful title defence.
Winner: Suzanne Brazzle (B)
*
As Harper helped Rodriguez out of the ring, and Easter walked back up the ramp, Brazzle stood alone in the ring, the Vixxens title held aloft as the crowd showed their appreciation-
-which was when the red-haired woman chose to make her presence felt, jumping the crowd barrier and sliding into the ring. Before Brazzle could turn around, her attacker grabbed the back of her head and planted her into the mat with a reverse DDT. With a satisfied look on her face the attacker left the ring and exited back through the crowd before the security could even make an appearance, let alone catch up with her.
Ana: Who does she know? How does she get in here every night?
Duane: Yeah, you ask those questions, Ana. I don’t think Suzanne Brazzle’s fit to do much asking of anything right now.
*
Runaway Train entered the craft services area with a bang, slamming the double doors open in front of him, the tag team title belts hung around his neck.
Train: Food.
One of the waiting staff scurried over to the buffet table and began to pile up a plate with good for Train. He sneered as he looked at her.
Train: More food.
Quickly, two more staff jumped into action as Train nodded in satisfaction. Behind him the doors swung back closed...
McCarthy: Ow!
...before slowly opening back up again as Swoop McCarthy made his way gingerly through the doorway, an arm clutched over his ribs.
McCarthy: Black Thursday! Strewth, I never thought we’d actually have to use the ruddy thing. Next time you do the moonsault.
Randy: What, and have Train stand on your shoulders? Sure, go ahead, you can’t interfere as much with both your arms torn off.
McCarthy: Oh. You guys. What do you want?
Randy: We want a match against you – no crap, no interference to stop us before we earn the shot, and no screwing around once we get in the ring.
Zimmy: That’s right – Grandpa Tito always told us to save the screwing around for when we’re out of the ring.
McCarthy: You would know, freak.
Zimmy: That’s right, I would. Ask your mom!
McCarthy: Hey!
Train slapped one huge hand across Swoop’s chest, preventing his injured partner from attacking both Wolfsons.
McCarthy: You want to bring mothers into it? I know what your oldy got up to back in the 80s, boys. I’ve seen the videos.
Randy: What? Our mom was a wrestler. You think we’re embarrassed by that?
McCarthy: You oughta be. The outfits she wore, you could see all the way to Sydney.
Randy: So?
McCarthy: Let me make it simple, boys. Your mum? She was a tart. A floozie. A woman of ill repute. She went like a toilet door in diarrhoea country. She was a strumpet, a lady of the night, a comfort girl, a trollop... Mates, your mum was a whoe.
Randy took a step back. Zimmy smiled.
Zimmy: Just for that, mate, you’re the one who’ll get it when we get our hands on you. The big guy here’s just dumb muscle, but you... We’ll destroy you, Swoop. We know how. We’ve been chasing you so long, we know all about you. We know who your first date was, we know how long it took to get to second base with her, and we know how many of your friends she was seeing behind your back.
McCarthy: What?
Randy stepped forward.
Randy: My brother has... personal space issues. Normally I can rein him in, but right now I think he’s right. You’ve been screwing us over for months, fellas, but that’s business. We were going to keep it professional, but now you’ve punched your ticket. Sooner or later, those titles come back to us, and you’ve got until then to try and apologise for what you just came up with.
Swoop scowled, and stuck two fingers up with his free hand.
Randy: Right, then. Zimmy, you know what to do.
Zimmy nodded, and held up two airline tickets – for Qantas. The brothers walked off, Zimmy singing something about a Vegemite sandwich on the way. Swoop fumed silently as Train turned his attention to the plates of food that had been prepared for him.
Ana: Swoop and Train only have themselves to blame – the Wolfsons are about the only team they don’t have a clean win over, and they cheated them out of a shot just a few weeks back.
*
McFly: Hi everyone, we asked Mr Tyler to give us a few moments airtime ahead of our matches tonight. In an hour or so all the men’s singles titles in this company could be in our hands.
McFly: Edd, Joey and myself... We don’t have a lot in common, personality-wise, but we all believe in giving our best every single night... Wait. I know you and I do, Joey. I’m not sure what Edd believes in.
DeColt: Flying purple space monkeys?
McFly: No, that was last week... Anyway, the thing is, we’d be proud to be your champions. Whether it’s one, two or all three of us with titles at the end of the night, we’ll defend them honestly and fairly, and take on any worthy challenger who comes our way.
DeColt: That’s right. Me, Edd and Sean... Well, we’ve not always seen eye to eye, but we agree on that much. To be a champion, you need to deserve it, and prove you deserve it every time you set foot in the ring.
*
Joey DeColt vs. Brent Hill (c) for the SWF North American title ‘The Machine’ showed no respect in the opening exchanges, pie-facing DeColt and raking his eyes along the top rope. He chuckled as the referee forced the break, before reaching over the official’s shoulder to slap DeColt in the face. However, if he was trying to anger his challenger, he didn’t seem to manage it. DeColt kept his cool, ducking around the referee and dropping Hill to all fours with a kick to the back of his knees.
DeColt continued to work over the champion’s legs, leading Ana to speculate that he was trying to counter the King of the Hill. Hill, however, earned the ‘Machine’ title by being one of the best wrestlers in the world. Slowly he began to counter DeColt’s attacks, and a deft eyerake earned him the referee’s ire, but more importantly a bit of time to converse with Hannah at ringside as John Anderson watched on impassively.
When DeColt resumed the fight, Hill had clearly gathered his wits once more and was more prepared for DeColt’s clever attacks. Joey struggled to make much headway against his slightly larger opponent, with Hill maximising his leverage advantage to block DeColt’s attempts to suplex him. Hill gradually whittled away at DeColt, taking shots from his challenger but giving more than he got. Eventually that was enough to allow him to reverse an attempt at an End of Days into – just – a King of the Hill for the pin.
Duane: Hill wins – make that 25 and oh!
*
After the bell, John Anderson entered the ring. Ignoring DeColt, he held out a hand to Brent Hill. The two shook hands, Anderson clapping Hill on the shoulder in recognition of a job well done.
Duane: When you have the respect of a competitor as talented as Anderson, that’s nearly as good as a title in itself.
*
Backstage, Mr Tyler and Rick Law were watching highlights of the show so far.
Mr Tyler: ...so you see what I mean about Edd?
Law: Yeah, I do. He’s innovative, no question. He’s the sort of person I’d hate to face in an official capacity, but...
Mr Tyler: I know. In the ring, he’s the sort of challenge any real fighter wants. That’s what I’ve been spending the last year doing, bringing in the best of the best – including you – and making sure that you need to be at your best every night to stay on top.
He turned away from the TV, and looked across the desk.
Mr Tyler: Isn’t that right?
The redhead sat on the other side of the desk, leafing through a recent Vixxens photoshoot magazine. She glanced up, the same satisfied smile on her face.
Woman: That’s right, boss.
Jerry: What... what?
Duane: Mr Tyler brought that woman into the SWF?
Ana: Well, that explains how she keeps getting in here, I guess... But what will Suzanne Brazzle make of that?
*
A short video played to recap the events that led to the next match:
- Frehley and Morrisette, two of several wrestlers loosely allied against the Heart of Darkness and the Succession
- The two teaming up on different occasions to take on the various combinations of those groups
- Morrisette’s team with Jake Marlowe, and their pursuit of the tag titles
- Frehley feeling abandoned as he tried to continue the pursuit of the Succession
- Frehley against John Greed, snapping and leaving the Preacher down and out...
- ...and continuing in the same vain against Jake Marlowe, leaving Morrisette’s friend and partner beaten and humiliated...
- ...leading to Morrisette’s challenge, and Frehley’s quickfire acceptance, keen to take on another person who’d ‘betrayed’ him...
Duane: This should be a barnstormer!
*
 
Chris Morrisette vs. Steve Frehley
One accusation that can never be levelled at Steve Frehley is that he ever plays cat and mouse – not unless Frehley is the cat, and the cat is a lion.
It was full speed ahead for the Dark Destroyer from the bell, catapulting himself across the ring to catch an atypically unprepared Morrisette with a big clothesline. Frehley didn’t let up, dropping to the mat to pound away at his opponent with a series of huge right hands. Morrisette tried to cover up, to shield himself from Frehley’s onslaught, but it wasn’t until the referee forced himself between the two men that Frehley relented.
It took Morrisette several minutes to gain any sort of foothold against Frehley. The Dark Destroyer was in no mood to give Morrisette anything, but eventually a wild swing allowed Morrisette to clamp on an armbar. Suddenly immobilised, Frehley fought like a bucking bronco to try and get free from Morrisette’s grip, but the veteran used Frehley’s own thrashing against him, torqueing on the arm to put Frehley in still more pain. Eventually Frehley made the rope, but at the expense of his arm clearly being unfit for much of anything for the remainder of the match.
If Morrisette felt confident as a result, Frehley soon showed him not to be too much so. Launching himself off the ropes, Frehley smashed Morrisette to the mat with a big shoulder block. Hampered by the weakness in his preferred arm, Frehley hesitated to follow up, and Morrisette was able to move clear.
The balance of the match shifted, with Morrisette now in control, able to attack Frehley’s arm to bring him to heel as necessary. That much, it was clear, was the plan – but Frehley’s sheer strength and evident disregard for the rules counted against the former Lobster Warrior. Time and again an offhand strike from Frehley was enough to unsettle Morrisette, throwing him off his stride and leaving him open to a bruising slam or suplex. The simple moves remained shocking in Frehley’s hands, amplified by his considerable strength. Although Morrisette was able to inflict yet more damage to Frehley, the Dark Destroyer forced him to vary his assault, preventing a repeat of the focus on his arm and preventing Morrisette from completely hobbling him. And as he blocked and countered, Frehley did so with force, at times completely overwhelming Frehley even with his reduced strength. It was a close contest, but the driven Frehley simply wasn’t to be denied, and eventually he was able to hoist Morrisette up – after a couple of failed attempts that nearly resulted in Lobster Traps – and hammer him into the mat with a Frehley’s Comet for the win.
Ana: Steve Frehley wins again – and if anyone wondered whether he was to be taken seriously, I think that we have an answer...
Winner: Steve Frehley (B+)
*
In the Succession locker room, Troy Tornado watched on in silence as his companions continued what was apparently a show-long celebration of their victory earlier in the evening. Amidst the chaos, it was possible to see Christina Aguilera perched on Rocky Golden’s knee, while Freddy Garcia and Grandmaster Bling were entering the room with a considerable number of attractive young women – all of whom, it must be said, walked straight past Jay Chord and hung themselves on Golden, Bling, Devine and Garcia.
Duane: What a party! You guys can handle the rest of the show, right?
Ana: Sit down, Duane.
Tornado turned to look at the camera.
Tornado: The party starts early. I’m used to it – when you rock and roll all day, it’s tradition to party all night. It’s the way it’s always been. But I do things my own way. I’m part of the Succession, and we’re good enough to party all day and all night, and the rock and roll... Whether I have a guitar in my hand, or an opponent to break in two, I have the talent and the drive to make it happen. Tonight I take what I should have taken six months ago when I first came here – I take the World title and make it mine. Get used to it now, because between myself and my allies that title is going to stay with us for a long, long time.
Duane: Surely no-one can argue with that.
Ana: I can think of three or four people...
*
Sean McFly vs. Jack Bruce vs. Troy Tornado vs. Rich Money (c) for the SWF World title Ana: And before the match, I’m pleased to announce that we’re being joined on commentary for tonight’s main event by none other than Tom Gilmore. Tom, a pleasure to have you with us – and to see you back in the SWF.
Gilmore: Thank you, Ana. Two months away was far too long.
Ana: Will you be watching the match tonight with a view to challenging the winner?
Duane: Wait, why would he? What’s he done lately to earn that right? No offence, Tom.
Gilmore: None taken, Fry. You’re right... but what right does Money have to claim he’s the best in the world?
Jerry: There’s unfinished business between you, then?
Gilmore: After he bled me like a gutted cow and put me on the bench for two months? Yeah, there is.
As the four competitors made their way to the ring, each reacted to Gilmore’s presence in different ways. Bruce crossed over to shake his hand, and the two spoke privately for a moment. Tornado ignored him. McFly gave him a respectful nod, but was clearly focused on the match ahead. Money...
...Money stood in his corner and glared at Gilmore, who glared back, his jawline tight as the ring introductions were carried out. Before the bell rang, Bruce lunged across the ring and clotheslined the distracted Money, sending the World champion over the top rope to the arena floor.
Gilmore: Good for you, Jack.
Ana: Is that what you were talking to Bruce about?
Gilmore: No – I was saying thank you for trying to get revenge on my behalf last month. It’s a shame it didn’t work.
In the ring, Tornado realised that his odds of holding off McFly and Bruce were slim and bailed out. Bruce followed, leaving McFly alone in the ring as the former friends raced around the ringside area. McFly watched on as Bruce tried to overtake Tornado, only for Money to trip him up and leave him to Tornado’s untender mercies.
Jerry: McFly’s just watching. There’s no friends in this match, it seems.
Gilmore: There shouldn’t be. You win or lose on your own at this level.
Although Money had ambushed Bruce, he backed away from the fight as Tornado slammed Bruce into the steel ring steps. The World champion was clearly still suffering, and avoided engaging with Tornado as he turned away from Bruce. Instead the rocker caught a baseball slide to the chest as McFly launched himself through the ropes. The American Tiger was hot on Tornado’s tail, suplexing him on the floor before rolling him back through the ropes for a two count.
Ana: Not enough to take out Tornado – but McFly caught him at his most vulnerable.
Gilmore: McFly knows every trick in the book, count on it.
Bruce was slow to make it back into the ring, leaving Tornado and McFly to battle it out for several minutes. As he tried to re-enter the ring Tornado caught McFly with a neckbreaker. Bouncing upright, Tornado charged at his nemesis and caught him with a knee to the side of the head. Bruce fell back, only staying on the ring apron with one hand holding the rope. Bruce and Tornado tussled over the ropes with Bruce hooking his arm around Tornado’s head and trying to suplex him to the outside. Tornado hooked the ropes with arms and legs, holding tight as he tried to prevent the move. Eventually Bruce relinquished his hold on Tornado, and his rival dropped to the mat – only for Bruce to headbutt him square in the middle of his nose. As Tornado reeled, Bruce grabbed him from behind, hoisting him up in a reverse vertical suplex. But with Tornado’s body reversed, the balance was off. Bruce automatically tried to take a step back to catch himself, but only stepped out onto thin air-
Duane: Watch out!
-and the two men toppled backwards onto, and through, the announcers’ table.
Crowd: Holy ----! Holy ----!
The referee and trainers moved in on the crumpled mess in silence as the announcers, their equipment destroyed, watched on. As the medics tended to Bruce and Tornado, the referee started a slow count, giving both men every chance he could to wake up and get back to their feet. Eventually, though, he reached ten – and with both men still on the ground, he called for the bell.
Double knockout: Troy Tornado and Jack Bruce
McFly watched the ongoing drama cautiously, one eye watching out for the World champion at the same time. As the referee kept watch over Bruce and Tornado, McFly went in search of Money. The champion was waiting for McFly, though, and as he reached through the ropes Money snapped his neck down on them, leaving McFly gasping. Money rolled into the ring and followed up his ambush with a kick to the gut and a snap DDT on McFly, before applying a chokehold that went unchecked as the referee supervised the medics loading Bruce and Tornado onto stretchers.
Duane: Is this thing on? Can you hear us? We’ve had the techs out here now, you should be able to hear us.
Ana: The referee needs to be able to hear us – look at Money – look at McFly!
McFly’s face was turning purple as he struggled feebly against Money’s arms. As a last resort, he tried to scratch at Money’s face once, twice, three-
Money broke the hold, crying out as he clutched at his face and rolled away from McFly.
Duane: I think he got a thumb to the eye. I suppose you’ll say that turnabout is fair play, Gilmore?
Gilmore: No. You do what you can to win inside the rules. When there’s no referee, there’s no rules.
As Money writhed in pain, McFly pushed himself slowly to his feet. His face returning to a more normal colour, he dropkicked the injured World champion in the head. Pressing his advantage, he pursued the retreating Money around the ring as the referee made his way back to the match.
McFly’s maybe the best technician in the world, but he’s good enough at just hitting people to give Money fits.
McFly pursued Money, dealing out some vicious strikes. Money could do little more than cover up, although at one point he nailed a gutwrench suplex out of sheer desperation. For the most part, though, McFly’s offence was largely one-way traffic. However, another distraction occurred as the stretchers carrying Tornado and Bruce stopped halfway up the ramp as Tornado struggled free from his bonds and shoved the stretcher away, taking out several medics. He delivered a kick to Bruce’s stretcher that collapsed it and dumped Bruce onto the ramp. Bruce rolled free, and tried to stand up, only for Tornado to kick him in the ribs and jump on him to deliver a flurry of punches. It seemed as though Tornado might be about to seriously injure Bruce, but suddenly...
...Vegas Baby appeared from backstage and sprinted down the aisle, tackling Tornado and taking him off Bruce and crashing to the ramp.
Duane: What?
Tornado tried to shove Baby off as she held onto him, yelling something that made him stop cold.
Duane: What was that? Did she say ‘cattle’?
Jerry: ‘Battle’? ‘Rattle’?
Ana: She said ‘Seattle’.
Standing up, Baby backed away before turning and running off, Tornado following her as Bruce struggled to recover his wits.
In the ring, McFly had become distracted by all this, an odd expression on his face. Behind him, Money snuck up and delivered a punch to the kidneys that dropped McFly to his knees. Money deftly wrapped himself around McFly in a dragon sleeper, and wrenched back on the challenger’s neck and back. McFly struggled, unable to reach the ropes but unwilling to submit even as his struggles grew weaker and weaker.
Duane: After that chokelock earlier, Money must sense victory here.
But McFly wasn’t ready to submit. He couldn’t reach Money’s face again, but he dug his fingers into Money’s arms and heaved with everything he had. Slowly, millimetre by agonising millimetre, he pried Money’s arms apart and forced his way out of the hold. Staggering free, he tried to fend Money off as the champion tried to press home his advantage. Money, however, was not to be denied and while McFly was able to fend him off for almost a minute, a desperate attempt at a DeLorean Driver was smartly reversed into Money in the Bank for the pin.
Ana: The champion retains! McFly’s homecoming falls flat!
Jerry: The best in the world!
Gilmore: No.
Jerry: What?
Gilmore: He’s not – and I’m going to prove it...
In the ring the weary World champion accepted his title gratefully, looking at McFly and recognising that the result had been a close one. Then he turned to look at Gilmore, who had shed his headset and stood up at the makeshift announcers’ position.
Duane: One more time? We’ll have to see – thank you for joining us everyone, and we’ll see you Tuesday on Supreme TV!
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01-05-2012, 05:20 PM
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