Message #20658

[Adam Grant]

The issues between the two factions are shown in a highlight package, as well as Seth’s announcement about the 6 woman tag and it’s stipulations. We then head back to the live show with Maggie standing by in the ring.

Zack: You’d be hard-pressed to find a tag match with more riding on it than the one we are about to see. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks!

Mai: So have I, but likely for different reasons. But it’s always nice to see a trio of world class talent working together, and then whatever you want to call Leona and the midnight tokers.

Maggie: The following 6 woman tag match is scheduled for one fall! If Leona Vega and the Scarborough Fair win, Mickey and Raquel will receive a Unity Tag Title shot! But if the Franchise wins, the Fair receive no shot and Savannah Taylor will be added to the main event of Relentless for the FFW Championship!

The thumping war drums and the mysterious flute of "Aztec Temple" hit the sound system. The crowd comes alive as the Aztec Warrior Leona Vega comes through the main gate, looking over the cheering crowd, soaking it in for a bit. She points at two random spots into the audience before letting out a loud roar, which is followed by a lion's roar echoing through the sound system. She then slowly makes her way down the entrance ramp, sharing a high-five with the fans in attendance with their arms out for her.

Maggie: Introducing first, from Monterrey, Mexico... LEONA VEGA!

She then stops a couple of steps before the ring, backtracking a little bit and then sprinting towards it, hopping onto the ring apron, and then immediately vaulting over the top rope, landing in a three-point stance inside the ring. Soaking in the crowd's cheers, she gets up and climbs the nearest turnbuckle, staring into the crowd with a big smile, raising her arms, with her fists closed, saying a quick prayer to herself before slapping the top turnbuckle and jumping back down into the ring, cracking her joints in the sequence.

Zack: Leona Vega has a guaranteed shot at the FFW Championship at Relentless, but tonight her goal is to make sure Savannah Taylor isn’t part of that match!

Mai: If she was any kind of competitor, she’d tell Samantha to put Savannah in the match anyway. She deserves it, and not just because she’s the best looking woman in FFW!

“HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?! BAD THINGS COME IN TWOS,
BUT I NEVER KNEW... ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS!”

Maggie: From Berkeley, California... At a combined weight of 240 pounds and accompanied to the ring by Christian Kincaid... Mickey and Raquel... THE SCARBOROUGH FAIR!!

“Every single day, things get in my way. Someone has to pay, for the little things.”

As the chords of “The Little Things” screech, the entire arena gets filled with cheers. Spotlights of yellow and pink and green flicker through the crowd and the arena darkens as the music plays. Mickey and Raquel emerge from the top of the ramp with a ladder in tow, holding it up together. Raquel and Mickey put down the ladder and high-five after coming down while Christian watches on with a smile. Fair and Scarborough roll into the ring before climbing opposite turnbuckles, soaking in the cheers with wily grins before talking strategy in the corner as their music fades out while Christian keeps an eye on the ladder.

Zack: Conspicuous by her absence is Steph Stefano, but considering she just had a match, I can see why she isn’t here. I’m sure Christian has the Fair in game shape, because he wants them to get a Unity title shot almost as much as they do.

Mai: Doesn’t he make enough money yet? While I have no problem with CK, I don’t care a whit about the Scarborough Fair. And they are going to get quite the lesson along with Leon in there.

The lights in the arena go almost out, allowing yellow and blue strobes to take effect as the quietly intense opening of Rev Theory’s “Something New” starts over the speakers. On the sound of the notes, the crowd jeers and from under the stage, The Brazilian Storm, Bianca and Mel, are lifted. The FFW Unity Tag Team Championship belts can be seen around their waists.

Love to hate, repeating my mistakes
Now there's no one left to listen...
No one left to listen...
Take a chance, and fuck the consequence
When there's no one left to listen...
No one left to listen...

The two friends look to each other, grin and fist bump. Looking out around them, they continue to grin at the reaction they’re getting. From there, they begin their walk towards the ring.

Right now! We’re taking control!
Tired of waiting! Tired of waiting!
For something new!
Right now! We’re taking control!
Tired of waiting! Tired of waiting!
For something new!

Ignoring the outstretched arms of fans who want a high-five, the Brazilians make their way to the ring, where Mel pulls herself onto the apron using the ropes, and Bianca stops right under her, where the two rogues strike a pose, with Mel taking a soft dip of a bow, and Bianca unhooking the belt from her waist and holding it up high.

Maggie: And their opponents… From Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, Brazil, the FFW UNITY TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS… MEL AVILO… BIANCA SALVADOR… THE BRAZILIAN STORM!!!

Mel then steps into the ring and Bianca rolls under the bottom rope right afterwards. The two of them then make their ways to opposite turnbuckles, both climbing on the second rope and staring at the booing crowd, diminishing the negative welcome they’re getting from the crowd their own way as they taunt the crowd exposing their championship belts, before they hop back to the ring and meet once again in the center of the ring, sharing another fist bump, before they retreat to their corner to strategize.

Zack: The Brazilian Storm may be on their way to becoming one of the most dominant teams to hold the Unity titles. I expect them and Savannah to work like well oiled machinery tonight!

Mai: Of course, you would expect that. There’s no better team to work with than the Unity Champions. These two could probably handle the match, and let Savannah make some phone calls if she wanted.

There was silence; the lights began to fade away slowly. A soft instrumental echoes out across the audience. It starts slowly, a beautiful sound that contrasts the heaviness of the world. Like feathers, it glides among the waiting audience. The lighting fixtures produce a gentle spotlight upon the stage, offset by the occasional flash here and there. As 'Just Close Your Eyes' by Waterproof Blonde continues to play, a woman’s words begin to come through. Her voice is tender, not raising upon a whisper.

"Deceived by my eyes and all I was told I should see
Opinions not mine, the person they taught me to be
One night in the dark, a vision of someone I knew
And in the darkness I saw, a voice say, I'm you."

On the stage, a feminine figure appears. Her head lowered to everything. People cannot make out who it is. As she stands there, the flashes briefly illuminate her figure. It only gives small clues on who stands at the gate. She stands in the spotlight, her shadow cast large and proudly among the stage.

"Inside me a light was turned on…"

The instrumental picks up again. An electric guitar now joins the progressively exciting instrumentals of before. The singer’s voice suddenly intensifies.

"Then I was alive!"

In the light, it is revealed that it was Savannah Taylor. She stands at the gate, a robe of obsidian and ivory hues. The hood of it shadows her eyes, but the intensity of the final EXODUS World Champion remains clear as day. She starts off down the ramp, with a serious aura radiating from her body.

Maggie: Ladies and gentlemen, making her way down to the ring....weighing in at one hundred twenty pounds.....from Las Vegas, Nevada.....Savannah Taylor !!!

"If you close your eyes your life,
A naked truth revealed
Dreams you never lived,
And scars never healed"

Savannah makes her way up the ring steps. She looks out towards the audience for a moment before entering the ring. From there, she heads for a turnbuckle. She stands there, taking in everything. She then lifts her up on top of it. She peers out in nothing, then takes off the hood with a flashy flourish. Her blonde locks fly up in the air. They descend, shaping her face as they famously do.

"In the darkness, light will take you to the other side
You'll find me waiting there you'll see, if you just close your eyes."

While she stands in her corner, she closes her eyes and takes a heavy breath. When her bright eyes open, Taylor is completely composed. There is nothing more than the heat of battle awaiting her. She takes off her robe, giving it to a stagehand. She stretches her wrists before devoting her mind to the war upon the horizon.

Zack: Savannah looks as ready as I’ve ever seen her. With confidence like that, she could book herself into Leona’s FFW title match at Relentless. You gotta know that’s the goal for the Franchise.

Mai: Savannah would make a brilliant FFW Champion. I’d love to see her compete for it. She’d stomp Jo or Kaoru without breaking a sweat. Imagine how gorgeous she’d look with that title.

Referee Kevin Fisk checks all three women before he calls for the bell to start the match. Each team converses briefly with their partners before Mel and Mickey start for their teams. Mickey points back at the Unity titles at the timekeeper’s table, letting Mel know what they want. The powerhouse waves her forward as the pair lock up in the center. Mel easily starts to push Mickey backwards before merely shoving her to the mat, then telling her to get up again. Mickey does just that, and locks up with Avilo once more. Again, Mel shoves her down to the mat without barely budging from where she stood. Mickey looked to be getting a little frustrated as she got to her feet, taking off towards the ropes and trying to bring Mel down with a shoulder tackle. But it only put Mickey on the mat as Mel shook her head.

Zack: I appreciate Mickey’s determination, but she’s not gonna push a powerhouse like Mel Avilo around tonight at Fury.

Mai: Or any other night. She keeps running into a brick wall, but I don’t mind because I enjoy watching it. Try to do it again, Mickey!

Scarborough got back to her feet, shaking her head and taking off for the ropes again. She hit them quickly, and bounced back towards Mel who tried to catch her with a clothesline. But it didn’t work as Mickey ducked underneath it, bounced off the other side and caught Mel with a chop block before she could turn around fully. It brought the Unity Champion to a knee as Mickey kipped up, and started unloading with a furious barrage of lefts and rights across Mel’s back. The Unity Champion started back to her feet, shoving Mickey backwards. When she turned to face her would-be challenger, Mickey caught her with a dropkick to the chest that put her down on the mat. Mickey used a double stomp to Mel’s body as she tried to sit up, and hit the ropes again this time with a senton back splash in mind that landed perfectly. Christian looked on with a smile from ringside.

Zack: That’s what Mickey has to do against a woman like Mel. Take her off her feet, and keep her there. Speed kills in this environment.

Mai: Why don’t you stop? You’ve never managed anyone or even competed in a match. Leave the in-ring analysis to me. Here’s what you should say. Ahem...Mickey fluked herself into control.

Mickey quickly ducks back to the corner, and makes the tag to Raquel. As Mel starts to get up, Mickey catches her with a superkick to the knee followed by a shining bionic elbow between the eyes from Raquel. The two then take off for opposite sides of the ring, and catch Mel with a hip check to the head from both sides before Mickey rolls out to the floor. Raquel drives elbows into the top of Mel’s head as she sits on her knees. As Mel began to rise, Raquel caught her with a discus forearm smash to the mouth that dropped her before she made a quick cover.

Mai: How long was the referee going to let those two double team?! Mel’s nowhere close to being done!

ONE!!!

TW-NOPE!!

Mel shoved her off the cover as the two was coming down, and Raquel was right back to her feet. As the Brazilian started back to her feet, Raquel went for a spinning heel kick. But Mel caught her foot, jerked her forward and then sent her flying with a t-bone suplex. Avilo dropped a knee, trying to collect herself as Raquel started towards the corner.

Zack: Mel just flipped the script on Raquel right there, but you can see she’s had her running lights dimmed a little. Meanwhile, Raquel’s looking to create some distance.

Raquel finally made it to a neutral corner, and started back to her feet before Mel crushed her with a corner clothesline. She lowered her head, and began driving shoulder thrusts into her ribs before she finally scooped her up over one shoulder, walked to the center of the ring and connected with a modified Alabama Slam. She dropped down to make her own cover with a loose hook of the leg before Fisk slid into position.

Mai: I understand that’s how Mel puts grocery bags on the table too! She does everything with authority, Zack.

ONE!!

TWO-NOPE!!

Zack: Raquel’s taking a bit of a thumping here, but she still has a lot left to give. The Scarborough Fair have eyeballed those Unity titles for a long time!

Raquel kicked out as the two struck, causing Mel to pull her up by the hair to her feet. She bent her over one knee, and proceeded to drive her knee into Raquel’s body repeatedly as she held her in place. Fair dropped down to her knees when Mel let go. The powerhouse headed towards her corner, making a tag to Bianca. As Fair got back to her feet, Mel hoisted her up into position for a vertical suplex. Bianca immediately came off the top rope with a flying shoulder tackle to drive Raquel into the mat. As Mel stepped out, Bianca went for her own cover with a hook of the leg.

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOO-NOPE!!

Zack: That’s one of the Storm’s favorite tandem moves, but it’s not enough at this point to send the Fair to the back of the Unity line.

Once more, Fair got her shoulder up. Bianca pummeled her with elbows to the side of the head before she rose back to her feet. She pulled her up next, and sent her across for the ride. Salvador looked to catch her with a big boot, but Raquel rebounded and rolled into a ball right to her corner to make the tag to Leona. The Aztec Warrior stepped through the ropes as Bianca turned to see her with a grin on her face. The two stared across at one another as Bianca waved her forward, and Leona took off to meet her! The two met with blistering right hands aimed at one another before Bianca began to get the better of the exchange. She backed her into the ropes before firing Leona across. Vega hopped up onto the middle rope, and springboarded off it with a meteora to Bianca’s chest before unloading with more punches after they landed.

Zack: These two were a tag team once upon a time, and it’s clear to me that time hasn’t healed all wounds between them!

Mai: I’m sure Bianca was expecting a bit more sportsmanship, maybe a handshake! But noo, Leona isn’t interested in that! She just wants to abuse poor innocent Bianca.

Vega rolled to her feet, and took off towards the ropes. Bianca got back up as well, only to get her head caught before Vega delivered her orbit DDT with quite a bit of spinning. Salvador stood on her head for a half second before falling to the mat, and Leona made the cover from there.

Zack: Good Lord, orbit DDT! And Bianca doesn’t know if she’s in San Jose or Cincinnati right now! There’s the cover!

ONE!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

TH-NOPE!!

Bianca kicked out after the two, and was immediately pulled to her feet by Leona. A trio of forearms caught her on the jaw before she fired her across to the far corner. Salvador struck back first as Leona measured her, and bolted towards her. She left her feet for a splash, only for Bianca to pop her up higher with her hands and let Vega land across the top turnbuckle with her head smacking the post.

Mai: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That was tremendous, Zack! Can we see that again, please?

Zack: That was absolutely devastating! I think Vega was going for a splash, and she made one alright! Quick thinking by Bianca, but Leona may have been knocked out right here.

Bianca pulled herself together, looking at Leona who had fallen to the canvas with sheer amusement on her face. The blonde got back to her feet as Leona barely stirred as she reached for the ropes in the corner. The brunette’s eyes were more than a little glassy as she tried to get to her knees, only for Bianca to bolt in with a knee trembler to the side of her head that dropped her back on the mat in a heap. The Unity Champion dragged her out of the corner, and dropped on top of her to make the cover.

Mai: I could watch Leona get kneed in the head all night, Zack. I love it when good things happen to deserving people. No title shot for the Fair!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!

The fall was broken up when Raquel came in, delivering a leg drop across the back of Bianca’s head. The blonde rolled off dazed as the referee escorted Raquel back to her corner. Bianca shook her head, and got back to her feet. She asked Savannah if she wanted to have some fun, and got an outstretched hand as her answer. She tagged in Savannah, who looked down with her head canted at Vega. The former Evolution Champion began to push up slowly to get back to her feet, only to eat a trio of European uppercuts from Savannah that rocked her backwards. A short arm clothesline followed that before Taylor sat her up, and applied a straitjacket choke with her knee in Leona’s back for added damage.

Mai: Watching Savannah work is a thing of beauty, Zack. Do you see how everything she’s done is to the airhead’s skull? And the best part is she’s going to have Leona choke herself out!

Zack: Savannah Taylor has surgical precision in her offense, and I don’t think Leona’s gotten over hitting the ring post earlier. These two could be seeing each other again at Relentless if Savannah gets her way about it.

As Savannah pulled Leona’s hands behind her, the Warrior’s face began to darken as she tried to breathe. The blonde leaned back, even letting her head hang back to look at the Fair with a grin on her face at what she was doing to their partner. She looked back to Leona, telling her to go to sleep as Raquel and Mickey started stomping the mat to try to get the crowd going. It was working as they began chanting the brunette’s name, which only served to make Savannah tried to pull the hold tighter while the referee asked Leona if she wanted to quit.

Zack: I’m not sure how Leona could give up in this hold, even if she wanted. The referee needs to use extreme caution, because this hold can be very dangerous!

Mai: She’s an airhead anyway. I’m surprised it’s working at all. You have to have a brain that works before cutting off oxygen to it is going to do any damage.

Leona’s eyes had fluttered as the hold continued to do its damage until Mickey came in, and delivered a stiff front kick into Savannah’s back. She broke the hold, and looked back with a cold stare before Mickey told her to come at her. The referee went to get Mickey out of the ring as Savannah turned her attention back to the downed Leona. She reached down to grab her before Leona caught her with a kick to the top of her head. It wobbled the blonde a moment, and Leona gave her two more before she made it back to her feet. She did so slowly, and Savannah was advancing on her. Taylor went to grab her before Leona hoisted Savannah on her shoulders, and fell backwards with a Samoan drop.

Zack: Leona’s got an opening here, and give an assist to Mickey! She needs to make a tag sooner than later though.

Mai: She’s not bright enough to think of that. She’ll probably try to keep fighting with Savannah, who is loads fresher than she is at this point even after a Samoan drop.

The crowd once again started getting behind Leona by chanting her name. She began to sit up, trying to clear the cobwebs as Savannah was already back to her feet. The blonde went to grab her by the head, only for Leona to catch her with a jawbreaker almost immediately. Taylor stumbled backwards into the ropes before Leona scooped her up on her shoulders to deliver her gutbuster! She immediately went for the cover as the referee lunged to make the count.

Zack: Uh oh, EL PILOTE!!  Taylor walked right into it, Vega’s gonna pull it out right here!!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!

The count never finished as Bianca yanked her former partner off Savannah by her feet. Vega rolled to her feet, and started firing shots at Bianca as a result!

Mai: No, she’s not. Savannah has the Storm right there, you think they are gonna let that happen?! Oh, look at Leona attacking people who aren’t tagged in!

The referee tried to get in between them to get Bianca out of the ring, while Savannah began to stir on the canvas. An angry expression on her face as she held her abdomen for a second, she pulled Leona towards her and delivered her corkscrew neckbreaker that dropped her immediately. Taylor went for the cover as Bianca left the ring, and the referee dove to make the count.

Mai: There’s THE GAMBLE! But I think it should be called the sure thing! The Franchise are gonna win, Zack!

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-WHOA!

The count was broken up by a baseball slide from Mickey to Savannah’s head, which sent her rolling off the cover. Scarborough was headed back to her corner before she got tackled from behind by Mel. Savannah made the tag to Bianca as the referee then went to try to get Mel and Mickey out of the ring. Salvador jerked Leona up, and into position for her finisher. But Leona shoved her off, and caught her with a yakuza kick to the chest that nearly sent her through the ropes. Fisk finally got Mel and Mickey out of the ring just as Leona dove into her corner for the tag to Raquel.

Zack: This thing is breaking down all over the place! Bianca’s down, Leona’s made the tag! And here comes Raquel!!

Mai: That tag shouldn’t be allowed, the referee was trying to get Mel and Mickey out!

Bianca got back to her feet just as Raquel rushed her, catching her with a hard lariat that flipped her to the canvas. Mel came back in, and Raquel took off towards her with a dropkick to the chest that sent her back through the ropes to the floor. She took off towards the far side ropes, only for Savannah to grab her by the hair as she was about to bounce off. Taylor pulled her into the Franchise’s corner, hammering forearms into the side of her head before Raquel grabbed her head and dropped to her knees. Taylor’s neck snapped across the top rope, causing her to drop to the floor as she coughed heavily.

Zack: Raquel is a one woman wrecking crew, and she’s taking on the Franchise! Who else wants some?! Come and get it!

Mai: This is terrible, she’s attacking people who aren’t legal in the match! Disqualify her!

Bianca got back to her feet just as Raquel caught her with a superkick to the jaw that sent her into Mickey, who had come back in and delivered a second one that dropped her where she stood. Mickey hoisted Bianca up into a double chickenwing facebuster as Raquel springboards off the ropes screaming “NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLL” with a leg across the back of Bianca’s head before she gets spiked with the facebuster. Raquel dives into the cover as Mickey rolls out to intercept Savannah!

Zack: That’s the SUPER KAMI GURU BUSTER!! Raquel with the cover!

ONE!!!!!

Leona caught Mel with a diving clothesline off the apron as she tried to get back into the ring.

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Mai: NO BABY NO!! THIS ISN’T RIGHT!!

Fisk called for the bell to a roar from the crowd as Mickey and Leona joined Raquel in the ring. They helped her to her feet before the referee raised all three of their hands in victory.

Zack: It looks like the Scarborough Fair are getting their Unity title shot, and Leona’s not gonna have to deal with Savannah at Relentless!

Maggie: Here are your winners…….LEONA VEGA and THE SCARBOROUGH FAIR!!

Christian joined them next with a smile, applauding and hugging all three before they climbed onto different corners to rally the crowd.

Zack: Job well done for Leona and the Fair here in San Jose! The Franchise came up short, and you can bet there’s gonna be some lecturing from the owner tonight!

Leona and the Fair rolled out to the floor, joining hands and raising them together one last time as they backed up the ramp. Cold stares from the Franchise greeted them as we cut to a commercial for Relentless.





The show heads back into the arena as Maggie Rourke steps into the ring for the last time this evening.

Zack: It’s been a wild night so far, not the least of which is due to some of SVW’s roster showing up. Security is trying to round them up and get them out of here, but we got a little bit of business to attend to here….and that’s the FFW Championship! I’m joined by a banged up Andi Takata after her match with Shaw, but I knew she wouldn’t miss this.

Andi: It would take all of Quebec and thensome to keep me away from missing this, I’m glad I get to watch this close up! Just watch out for the icepacks there, Zack.

[The arena cuts to darkness, except for the video screen, which flickers up the 'Indian Head' Please Stand By test pattern, and for a moment the PYOO~ of the test tone. As the 'slide' that was shown on gets pushed to the side by a blank one, we hear the voice of our star.]

"Let's go."

[The opening riff of the "Fallout 4 Theme", redone by Evil Ducky starts. Timed with the 3 bass notes, 3 hot yellow lights shine down on center stage, forming a 'radioactive' symbol. Standing in the center of the light, is Kaoru Asaka, in her ring gear and a long pine green ring jacket, crouched and facing the entrance, watching her first name also come on screen, and standing up as the next line plays. When it gets to the next set of 3 bass notes, the lights turn off one by one, and her last name comes onto screen a syllable at a time. Then as the main melody and drums kick back up, Kaoru turns around, throwing her fist into the sky. The lights behind her one the stage all beaming bright yellow as she yells out to the crowd, and starts to head for the ring... even stopping to rock out and headbang with a group of fans along the way...]

Maggie: Coming to the ring..... Hailing from New Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at 65 kilotons of power, she is the Nuclear Explosion of the Burning Star Express....

[Asaka runs and hops up onto the apron, hard cam side, climbing up the turnbuckles and raising up her arms upwards and then outward, like an explosive cloud.]

Atomic! Kaoru! Aaaaaaasaka!

[Kaoru pumps her fist again to the crowd before she hops down into the ring, running the ropes a few times before taking off her ring jacket and handing it to a ringside attendant.]

Zack: Tonight, Kaoru Asaka is on the stage of history! She could be the first Japanese FFW Champion if she can solve the riddle of what it takes to defeat the champion tonight! This one’s a pick’em!

Andi: Fate has conspired to arrange their battle, transcending history and the cosmos, a tale of souls and swords, eternally retold! I’m not even sure what that means but it sounds good! Kaoru worked her ass off in all aspect to get herself here, and now that she’s made it, I hope she can pull off the win here. I want this for her so much!

The arena darkens, with only strobe lights which pulse gently giving any kind of light to the arena. Lights on the ramp pulse in pink and white, while in the middle of the ring, spotlights form the Irish Tricolour, all of this while dry ice is coming up from the stage and ramp, generating a buzz from the crowd. It’s then that the dark, sweeping entrance of Ronan Hardiman’s “Warriors” comes in, and a spotlight focuses on the stage, to which Jo McFarlane comes out from behind the curtain, to the cheers of the fans, her FFW Championship hanging over her shoulder.

Maggie: And her opponent, hailing from Edinburgh Scotland, by way of Derry, Northern Ireland, weighing one-hundred-and-twenty-seven-pounds, she is the reigning and defending FFW Champion, “The Living Firework” JOOOOO MCAFAAAAARLANE!

With the announcement out of the way, and the song underway, the redhead starts her way down the ramp, high fiving the fans as she heads down. Reaching the bottom of the ramp, she then turns to go around the ring, and carries on with the fans until she has gone full circle. Then, standing at the steps, she reaches across herself and removes her dress while being sure to not drop the belt, handing it to an attendant. As the music picks up pace, she moves quickly towards and up them, her shoes clacking off of the steps, and she spins around, using the ropes until she gets to dead centre between them. From there, she bounces over the rope and lands on her feet, taking off towards her corner and vaulting herself onto the middle turnbuckle, posing briefly for the fans with her title in the air. She then hops down, waiting for what may come next while the music dies down.

Zack: It was Unstoppable 8 where that woman made history when she became the unified Evolution and FFW Champion! And Jo McFarlane has been Unstoppable ever since that night.

Andi: One of the greatest accomplishments anyone could ever achieve in this company or even all of wrestling, and she’s faced top class opponents every step of the way! There’s a reason she’s the champ, she is without a doubt one of the best, but so is my partner, and I hope we find out who really is the best woman in FFW here tonight. I’M HYPED!

Referee Jennifer Stringer checks both women before taking the title from Jo. She shows it to Kaoru, and then holds it over her head. Maggie takes it with her as she exits the ring. Both women stand across from one another in the ring. The bell sounds as both women meet in the center. Kaoru and Jo shake hands, never breaking from their stare at one another. They finally lock up with Kaoru starting to push Jo backwards a couple steps. But before she gets to the ropes, she fires Jo across into the far corner. McFarlane is way too alert and stops herself before she collides with it. And when she turns back around, Kaoru explodes towards her and connects with a drop kick to her face immediately! Kaoru drops into a cover with a hook of the leg!

Andi: AAAAH! RADAWAY RIGHT AWAY! ONE SHOT K.O.!

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

TH-NOOO!!

Jo manages to kick out before the three, shoving Kaoru off her before the Japanese star pops back to her feet. The champion barely turns around in time before she gets a palm to the face into a STO. Kaoru immediately makes another cover!

Zack: From the RADAWAY to the hashtag facepalm! Kaoru’s going for shock and awe!

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

THRE-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Jo kicks out again, and then rolls out under the ropes to the floor to get away from Kaoru. The Hall of Famer gets back to her feet, watching as Jo seems more than a little dazed on the outside.

Andi: OH MY STARS SHE ALMOST DID IT TWICE! My heart can’t take this, Zack! Hold me! They’re just getting started too! Kaachan not wasting any time either!

Jo holds her head for a moment as she stands on the outside. Kaoru takes off for the ropes, and rebounds quickly off the far side into a baseball slide under the bottom rope that sends Jo backwards into the barricade. She fires Jo back into the ring immediately, and slides in after her. As the champion gets to her hands and knees, Kaoru bolts towards the ropes. Jo rises to her feet as Kaoru uses the middle rope for a moonsault that takes her right back down with yet another hook of the leg for the cover!

Andi: Middle rope Asakasault! Where the heck is this even coming from?!! She’s going Ludicrous Speed!

ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!

Jo got her shoulder up again, causing Kaoru to roll off the cover. The challenger headed for the corner, hopping up onto the middle turnbuckle from the inside. She waved Jo to move as the champion rolled onto her back, only for Asaka to deliver a senton back splash to her abdomen.

Zack: Kaoru’s trying to overwhelm the champion here in the earlygoing, and it’s working! Senton off the middle turnbuckle, and Jo’s not gotten out of the blocks yet!

Andi: You know Kaoru’s trying everything she can to win this match when she’s climbing turnbuckles! Maybe she’s trying to keep Jo off balance, I don’t think anyone expected this! I didn’t expect this and I know her!

The champion headed for the corner, but Kaoru merely measured and turned to face her. Jo climbed back to her feet with the help of the turnbuckles. As soon as she turned around, the challenger took off towards her with a running yakuza kick to the chest. It nearly lifted Jo off her feet before Kaoru grabbed her arm, and whipped her so hard into the far corner that it took the challenger off her feet. Jo crashed chest into the opposite corner as Kaoru immediately got back to her feet. When the champion turned around, she took off again with another yakuza kick that nailed Jo in the corner. Asaka headed back to the corner again, measuring for what looked to be a third.

Andi: She’s a one-woman interstellar death array! Laser kicks everywhere! Jo’s head has got to be spinning!

Zack: Yakuza kicks all around, and a third one looks to be ready to hit it’s target! I’ve never Kaoru use this strategy, but it’s damn sure working!

With Jo reeling against the corner, Kaoru sprinted towards her again with a third yakuza kick in mind. But Jo sidestepped her this time, and she cleared the top turnbuckle with that leg instead. Asaka winced in pain as Jo turned around, and began firing kicks of her own into Kaoru’s thigh and knee as it was stuck on the top turnbuckle. Each shot made her grimace more before the redhead left her feet to drop elbows into Kaoru’s knee. A dragon screw leg whip snapped her out of the corner to the mat, and Jo leaned against the ropes to collect herself.

Andi: It was working! And then it stopped working and Jo really really does not like Kaoru’s leg at all right now. Like, it’s as if she’s looking at Mel or something the way she’s staring at her leg. Kowai desu.

Zack: Jo’s favorite move is that inverted figure four leglock, Andi. And she’s doing everything in her power to get Kaoru ready for it. Plus if she can’t stand, she can’t kick you.

Andi: That’s a pretty good strategy, but Kaachan will try to win this on half-a-leg, crawling if she has to. I hope it doesn’t come to that.

Jo pushed off the ropes, grabbing Kaoru’s left leg by the foot. She hoisted it up and drove her knee into the mat once...twice...and finally an elbow drop into the back of it for the third shot. The champion rose back to her feet, dragging Asaka by the leg towards the ropes. She draped it across the bottom rope, left her feet, and came crashing down across her knee with all her body weight. Kaoru shouted in pain before Jo set it up, and did it a second time. Asaka clutched her leg in pain as Jo….rolled to the outside. She pulled Kaoru with her, and drove the back of her knee across the apron. Jo glanced towards the ring post.

Zack: Jo’s using every part of the ring like a tag partner. First the ropes, and now the apron to continue to do damage. She’s eyeballing the ring post now, and that...won’t be good for the “Atomic” challenger.

Andi: Jo McFarlane knows ow to use every inch of that ring like the champion she is, and some of the inches past it too. I hope she’s not going to do what I think she’s going to do! It hurts just looking at Kaoru’s leg right now, and I have a feeling it’s not gonna feel better soon! Where’s my icepack?

Jo pulled Kaoru towards the corner by her foot before pulling it back and wrapping it around the post with velocity. The pain caused Kaoru to sit up and fall right back down before Jo did it again. McFarlane rolled into the ring and back out to break the count before she applied a figure four leglock around the post. Asaka screamed in pain as the referee started counting Jo. After a four count, she broke the hold and the redhead got back to her feet.

Zack: Excruciating bone-chilling pain perpetrated by the FFW Champion. She’s gonna make sure Asaka doesn’t stand for the rest of the night...if not longer!

Andi: And using four-point-nine seconds of that 5 count too, to do it! Almost risking a disqualification, but that’s not anything anyone here wants to see… except maybe Jo after that start, but she seems a lot better off now than she did just a few moments ago. Hang in there, Kaoru!

Jo rolled back under the bottom rope, putting a few stomps to Kaoru’s left knee before wrapping her leg between the middle and bottom rope. Asaka’s leg was hung there before Jo bounced off the near side ropes, and delivered a running dropkick into that left knee. Asaka’s face was a mask of pain before Jo unhooked her leg from the ropes and pulled her back to the center. A quick grab of her foot set Jo up as she dropped into a figure four in the center of the ring, propping up on her elbows to tell Kaoru to tap.

Andi: Whoa, she’s already got a figure-four! I don’t know if she thought she thought that was enough damage to Kaoru’s knee, but she’s sure as heck going to test it out right now!

Zack: Kaoru Asaka won the Femme for All tournament at the end of last year. And her prize tonight is getting her left knee brutalized courtesy of the “Living Firework”.

Andi: Seems to be a running theme for Femme-For-All winners, doesn’t it? Your legs will never be the same!

Kaoru sat up, trying to reach for Jo with a few swipes. But the redhead stayed out of reach, propped up on her elbows. Asaka fell backwards, digging her fingers into her scalp when the referee dropped to count.

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

TH-NOO!!

Asaka immediately sat up again, her face still awash in pain. Jo started to pull on her foot, trying to increase the pressure.

Zack: Kaoru almost got pinned in this figure four. She’s in so much pain that she forgot her shoulders were down!

Andi: And that has to be a lot of pain! Duh, I know, she’s in a freaking figure four! But Kaoru can stand a lot of pain, so that must just be brutal! She’s gotta dig down deep to fight out of it! These fans are making a lot of noise trying to cheer her through it! Or maybe to tap out! I don’t know there’s so many opinions!

She ran her fingers down her face again, and started shouting...not screaming...when she raised her arm and began trying to turn it over. Jo pulled on her leg more, as Asaka’s arm waved overhead and she finally managed to turn it over. Jo’s face registered the pain then, immediately scrambling to the ropes causing a break by the referee. Kaoru began to drag herself away from the champion as Jo started to get back to her feet.

Andi:  She made it out! The classic reversal! But that’s only half the battle, now she’s gotta get back up, and boy is that going to be hard right now!

Zack: Jo was only caught for a couple seconds, and the champion is already back to her feet. The challenger doesn’t have that luxury right now.

Andi: She’s coming! You get away from her, Jo! ….she’s not going to listen to me at all, is she?

Asaka used the ropes to help her stand up before trying to put weight on her foot. She could barely get her toes touching the mat before she pulled her leg back up in pain. The champion closed in on her as Kaoru surprised her with a superkick on the chin. Jo fell like a tree to the canvas as Kaoru collapsed to the mat, and dragged herself for the cover.

Andi: What a maneuver! She couldn’t put her leg down right so she just threw it up into Jo’s face and it worked! NEW CHAMP COMING!

ONE!!!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NO!!

Andi: Aaaah! Too close!

Jo’s shoulder came up in time. Kaoru rolled off the cover, a couple feet from the champion before she stopped and clutched her left knee to her body.

Zack: I hate to say it, because I like Kaoru as much as anyone. But if she can’t stand up, she can’t win. Jo has dissected that left knee to the point that it’s practically useless for the challenger. I can’t remember the last time I saw Kaoru in this much pain.

Andi: Neither can I, and I’m really worried right now. That kick was great, and it gave her a chance, but she’s got to get up again and shake off whatever she can, or this is going to go really bad in a hurry.

Asaka rolled into the ropes as Jo was starting to get back up again. The champion rubbed her chin as she got back to her feet, and immediately headed for the challenger. She grabbed the bad foot, and jerked Kaoru back to the center. She was about to apply the figure four again, but Kaoru pulled her down into a small package! Stringer immediately dove for the count.

Zack: Jo’s going for that figure four all over ag----WAIT, SMALL PACKAGE!!

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOO!!!

Jo kicked out in time, checking with the referee to make sure it was just two. Stringer confirmed it as Jo got to her feet, and hit a double stomp to Kaoru’s knee.

Andi: This place was about to come unglued if she made that a three count and OH JEEZ NO! Right back to the knee again with all her weight!

She bounced off the ropes to deliver a second double stomp to Kaoru’s knee before she grabbed her leg. She looked out over the crowd before stepping through and dropping down to the canvas with her inverted figure four leglock. Asaka screamed as it was applied.

Zack: GINGERSNAP!! This is how she won the FFW Championship against Caroline, and Kaoru may join her and Leona in that class!

Andi: Nononononono, this is bad, really bad! Kaoru’s gotta reach, get a rope, poke her in the eye, something! She can’t even poke her in the eye she’s not facing the right way! Fight, Kaoru! Ganbare! Ganbatte!!

Stringer asked for a submission, but Kaoru refused to do so. She pounded the mat with her fist, looking up with another scream of pain. Jo tried to increase the pressure as much as she could before Kaoru’s movements began to slow until she collapsed face down on the mat. Stringer raised her hand, and let it fall once. A second time, and it fell again. She raised it a third time, only for it to fall. But as the referee was about to call for the bell, Kaoru grabbed the referee’s ankle and shook her head.

Andi: She can’t… not after all the hard work, not after her whole life to get here, she can’t go out like this! On this Cosmos, she needs to come alive right now AND THERE IS LIFE! ZACK! ZACK! ZACK, SHE’S NOT DONE!

Zack: The referee was about to call for the bell, but Kaoru found something! I don’t know how much she has left, her body seems like it’s wanting to shut down! But she’s still stuck in this hold, she’s just conscious to feel the pain again!

Andi: She can find a way! If anyone can, she can! She’s done the impossible before, she can do it again here! I have no freaking clue how but she’s gotta try something!! And Jo’s not making it any easier either!

The referee went back to asking her if she wanted to quit, still not getting the answer she needed to stop the match. Kaoru clawed her fingers down her face before she pressed both palms against the mat. She started screaming at the top of her lung...as she pushed up!

Zack: What is….What is she doing?! KAORU’S TRYING TO POWER OUT OF THIS HOLD!

Andi: I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A DISPLAY OF FIGHTING SPIRITO IN MY LIFE!! Sh’es channeling everything right now! The fans here, the millions back home, the billions around the world, for this one moment in time!

Jo’s eyes widened as she watched Kaoru pushing up in the hold, trying to straighten out her legs. Jo’s grip got loosened barely before Asaka started dragging them both on her hands to the ropes. Stringer immediately called for the break. Jo held till 4.9 again before letting go, and getting back to her feet.

Andi: HOW?!! JUST… HOW?! I… I CAN’T EVEN!
Andi actually babbles incoherently for a moment out of sheer excitement.

Zack: I have never seen anyone do that in my life. Kaoru Asaka powered out, and literally dragged Jo to the ropes with her! But she’s not out of the woods yet!

Andi: She said she’d fight until there was nothing left! It’s getting awfully close but as long as she’s breathing, it’s not over!

Jo questioned the referee about not calling for the bell when her hand dropped earlier. Kaoru used the ropes to help her get back to her feet. She had to lean against them to stand when Jo turned to grab her. As she closed in, Kaoru caught her with a headbutt before driving her face down into a facebuster on the canvas.  The challenger crawled away from Jo, to the next set of ropes as she started to get up again.

Andi: Wow, that headbutt was a lot louder than it should have been for anyone’s safety… but at this point Kaoru’s gotta do what she can! Desperate times call for headbutts and other things though, and these are looking pretty bad!

She watched as Jo started to get up again before she hopped on one foot to get behind her. As Jo’s head raised, Kaoru applied her crossface half-nelson sleeper before falling backwards to the mat with it. She landed on her side, and added as much pressure as she could.

Andi: AND NUKAPLEXES! Even as off as it looked it looked like it did a lot of damage and SHE’S GOT THE ARM LOCKED! SHE’S… NUKALOCK IN ALL IT’S CHERRY QUANTUM FLAVOR! IT’S IN! JO’S GOT NOWHERE TO GO!

Jo reached for the ropes without much avail as Kaoru sinked the hold that much tighter. The champion tried to pull them towards the ropes without much success before she stopped moving at all. The referee raised her hand once….twice…..three times to the same effect as Jo’s arm fell to the mat. Stringer immediately called for the bell as the live crowd erupted!

Zack: SHE DID IT!! KAORU ASAKA HAS DONE IT!!

Andi: GREAT GALACTIC GOOGLY-MOOGLY SHE WON! ZAAACK OH MY FREAKING STARS!

Kaoru broke the hold, and rolled away from her opponent. She stared up at the lights, her mouth agape before she managed to sit up. Stringer raised her hand to a roar, and then handed her the FFW Championship.

Maggie: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match….AND NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWW FFW Champion……’ATOMIC’ KAORU ASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKAAAAAAAA!!!

Zack: In one of the most gusty performances I have ever seen, Kaoru Asaka has become the first Japanese woman to hold the FFW Championship! And by God, she went through hell and a return trip to get there! Congratulations, Kaoru!

Andi: She has no quit in her! NONE! Neither does Jo McFarlane for that matter, because she damn near ripped my partner’s leg off tonight! She didn’t give up at all, but her body just gave out from the Nukalock and MY PARTNER IS THE CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE!

Kaoru once more used the ropes to help her get back to her feet, leaning against them as she looked down to her new championship. She looked almost disbelievingly actually before she raised it over her head to the crowd’s ovation. Fireworks went off throughout the SAP Center.

Andi: I’m gonna cry! I can’t take it! It’s too emotional! I have all these feels right now and they’re all for Kaoru! It’s your moment! You did it, Kaachaaaaan!!

Zack: Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for joining us on a historic night here in San Jose! Kaoru Asaka is the new FFW Champion, and we’ll see you at Breaking Point!!

The screen almost faded to black before Zack’s voice was heard again.

Zack: Wait, what in the--!

The show came back again as we see several fans throughout the arena pulling on Game Changer masks and heading down the steps towards the ring.

Andi: I have no idea but I’ve seen those masks and- hey, watch it creepo! Where the hell is security?!

They all hopped the barricade, and entered the ring to descend on both Jo and Kaoru! Eight of them started pounding on both women. The camera shot up to the upper deck as Qilin looked on with applause until another Game Changer hopped the barricade. Standing atop the guardrail, the mask was pulled up as Sunny was then seen to deafening boos.

Zack: Game Changers….Qilin….and there’s Sunny! Kaoru and Jo are getting taken apart, and the invasion isn’t over yet!

Andi: I’ll give these damn Unrepentant an invasion to worry about! Sorry, Zack, gotta go!

Andi’s headset dropped as the space princess hit the ring, immediately swarmed by the Game Changers in the ring. Sunny moved towards the ring, listening as the live crowd rained boos down on her. Security began to pour from the backstage area, greeted by more of the Game Changers.

Zack: This is pandemonium! We need more security! MORE SECURITY!! Somebody ge--

The sound of a smack was heard as a bicycle kick sent Zack toppling over backwards in his chair. The woman who did it scooped his headset off his head, and placed it on her own.

Kaylee: Zack is incapacitated at this time! So allow me to welcome all of you to Fury, but most of all….SVW sends it regards! Stay down, Zack!

The broadcaster tried to get up, only to get another kick in the face from Kaylee. Sunny climbed into the ring as her followers parted. She tilted her head as she looked down to both women, and then into the hard camera.

Kaylee: Congrats to the new champion, I guess. Nice match!

Sunny’s followers started surrounding the ring like a human shield for her as more security was getting sent out, and mowed down.

Kaylee: Was this what you wanted, FFW? Was this how you wanted it? Congratulations, you got it!

The camera cut back to Sunny’s cold stare as Fury faded off the air.