The show returns from the commercial break to find Gaby already back in the ring with her microphone in hand.
Gaby: The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
The lights shift to a turquoise hue as the chorus of Kristina Maria’s “Move Like A Soldier” erupts over the PA system. Tracey Murdock emerges from behind the curtain with a bright smile, throwing both arms high into the air. When she gets to the edge of the ramp, she pumps her fist into the air three times, a firework going off for each pump, much to the delight of the crowd. The lighting returns to normal after the third firework.
Gaby: Introducing from Lanikai Beach, Hawaii….please welcome TRACEY MURDOCK!
As Tracey moves down the ramp, she slaps hands with the fans, occasionally stopping to let one snap a selfie with her. Tracey quickly slides into the ring under the bottom rope and is on her feet in a split-second. She is all smiles as she climbs to the top turnbuckle. She throws up the hang-loose gesture to the crowd with her right hand, then ropewalks to the opposite turnbuckle, and throws another hang-loose gesture with her left hand. She drops to the canvas and takes her spot in the corner.
Zack: Tracey Murdock has had a problem getting that first win here in Future Shock, but no one shows more heart and determination than she does. The last time we tried to have this match, you know what happened, Erica.
Erica: I do, I do! And Tracey will definitely be looking for two things out of this match. The first being that elusive first win. The second being that she makes sure that what happened before does not happen again. Not that you can blame her.
The otherwise quiet intro to Family Force 5's "Drama Queen" starts on the sound system, and lights start blinking in random colos as Tara Cortez struts onto the entrance ramp, with her manager Christian Kincaid right there with her. She stops right before the descent and pulls off a short dance move, crouching down only to get back up, running her hands over her slender body and then bringing them above her head, only to then open her arms... and then wave off the booing audience. Blowing raspberries, she then starts strutting down the entrance ramp, shaking her head at the fans in attendance as she makes her way to the ring.
Gaby: Introducing first/And her opponent, escorted to the ring by Christian Kincaid... From Fort Worth, Texas... "10-STAR" TARA CORTEZ!
When Tara climbs into the ring, she makes her way to the ropes facing the hard camera, leaning onto them and posing for the audience, moving her arms much like in the same way she did earlier with her starting dance. She then waves the crowd off once again before she hops back down to the ring, making her way to her corner and sharing some last minute strategy with Christian.
Zack: Unlike Tracey, Tara has had nothing but success in Future Shock. The case could be made for the fact they weren’t all against actual Prospects or completely fair matches.
Erica: I’m….just gonna sit here and keep my mouth shut, Because what I want to say would probably get me into more trouble than the silly girl is worth.
Referee Ashley Pruitt checks both girls, and calls for the bell to start the match after Gaby leaves. Tracey’s face is pure determination and focus as she heads towards the center of the ring with Tara. The two look at one another, even though Tara seems disinterested. They then lock up from there. Tara starts pushing Tracey back against the ropes, and gives a clean break when the referee calls for it. Cortez tells the referee she was pulling her hair though. When the official asks Tracey and gets her attention, Tara uses a sucker punch to catch her off guard. A trio of European uppercuts follows that before she lowers her shoulder, and drives her back into the corner. Shoulder thrusts to the body follow that before Tara stands up, asking her if she was sure she wanted this match. A knife edge chop followed that before she asked her again. As she leaned back to deliver another, Tracey spun her into the corner and began unloading with rapid-fire chops across Tara’s chest. The crowd came to life on that, and she used a monkey flip to send her out of the corner to the canvas.
Zack: I guess Tracey answered Tara’s question there, didn’t she? I’m not sure what good talking smack in the ring does, because you’re already in the ring. Time to back it up!
Erica: Hey, people who think they should be doing things like that are also the ones who don’t know when to shut the Hell up anyway...and Tara is definitely one of those people. She had that one coming.
Tara started to get up, and Tracey was there to greet her with a running clothesline to put her right back down. Murdock kept running though. She hit the far side ropes, and bounced off into a dropkick to Tara’s chest that sent her back to the mat again. The crowd was solidly behind Tracey as she hit the ropes for a springboard into a double knee drop to Tara’s body. A quick hook of the leg followed that before Pruitt dropped to count.
Erica: Trash talking has only lit a fire under Tracey, and Tara might be starting to regret that choice!
ONE!!!
TWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
NOPE!!
Tara kicked out at the two count. Tracey propped up on one knee, and fired right hands into her head before she got back up again. With the crowd still solidly behind her, she yanked Tara to her feet and whipped her into the far corner. Cortez struck chest first as Tracey barreled in behind her with an avalanche splash. The brunette stumbled backwards out of the corner before Tracey decked her with a boot to the jaw.
Erica: Tara Cortez says she’s a ten-star athlete, but right now I think the best description for her and stars is that she’s seeing them!
As soon as Cortez hit the mat, Tracey headed for the top rope and fell backwards with an elbow drop in mind. But Tara rolled out of the way, and she landed on the mat instead. Tara got back to her feet, shaking off the cobwebs before executing a double stomp to Tracey’s back. She stepped over her from there, and applied a Boston crab. The referee moved around in front of Tracey to ask for a submission, but was told no. She glanced around, seeing they weren’t far from the ropes and began trying to reach for them as Tara had the hold locked in deeply.
Zack: Tara might have been wiser to put that crab on a little farther away from the ropes. But as deep as she has it sunk in, Tracey’s still having trouble reaching the ropes.
Erica: Normally I would call a decision like that stupid, but it has appeared to cancelled itself out so I guess it’s working?
The Hawaiian beauty’s face tensed as she stretched the best she could before finally reaching the bottom rope to get two fingertips across it. Pruitt called for the break, and Tara got up on a three count. She looked behind her to see Tracey’s fingertips on the rope, and stomped her hand for her troubles. When the blonde started to get to her feet, Tara snatched her around the waist and deposited her with three German suplexes in a row before she bridged up on the third to go for the win.
Erica: That opening before the crab was apparently all Tara needed, and she’s well and truly in control of this match now.
ONE!!!
TWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
TH-NOPE!!
Murdock’s arm came up in time before the three. Tara shoved her to the mat, and got back to her feet with an annoyed expression on her face. Tracey started to head towards the ropes with Cortez right behind her. When she got there, Tara pulled her to her feet and applied an abdominal stretch. Once more, Pruitt dropped down in front of Tracey to see if she wanted to stop the match. And once more, she got the same answer as she did a moment ago. Tara reached her free arm behind her to grab the top rope, causing Tracey even more pain as her face seized in pain. The referee peered around behind her, only to find Tara checking her nails.
Erica: Well maybe if the referee wasn’t staring directly at Tracey’s face, she’d see more of what’s going on around her...
Zack: Ashley is a new referee, replacing Angela Keanan who was put out of the business by Stacey Sky. She still has a few things to learn.
Pruitt moved back around in front of Tara, asking again if she wanted to quit. Tara slyly moved her hand behind her and grabbed the top rope again. Tracey became very animated at the additional pressure before the referee darted the other direction to see Tara’s hand. She kicked it free, causing Tara to shoot her a dirty look...for a second before Tracey executed a hip toss to send her to the canvas. The blonde rose up slowly, rubbing her back for a moment when Tara started to get back up as well. When Cortez turned to face her, Tracey used a bell clap around her ears to disorient her. It worked well as she wobbled on her feet before Murdock planted her with a facebuster to the mat! She immediately rolled her over, and went for the cover before the referee dropped to count.
Zack: Tara got caught by the referee, and it all went south from there! Big time facebuster, and Tracey’s first Future Shock win could be seconds away!
ONE!!!!
TWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
THRE-NOPE!!
Tara got her shoulder up once more, and Tracey immediately headed for the corner. The crowd continued to show their support as she headed up to the top rope, and perched herself. And with grace, she came off with a big elbow drop that landed perfectly onto Tara’s chest!
Erica: Not quite there yet, but Tracey’s hellbent on making sure that tonight’s the night!
Tracey headed for the corner once more, and started to make her way up top. But as she was setting herself, Tara rolled out on the far side of the ring. This only got boots from the crowd as Tracey had to hop down to the canvas, looking to go get her when the referee asked her to stay in the ring so she could count. Cortez rolled under the ring as the referee went to count, but didn’t see her. As soon as she rolled under the apron, Tara rolled out on the other side looking as fresh as a daisy. She slid into the ring behind both Tracey and the referee. And when Murdock turned around, she walked into a superkick to the chin! The brunette took off towards the ropes, picking up speed before she delivered a leaping frog splash for the cover.
Zack: WAIT A MINUTE!!
Erica: ...Well this is a thing.
ONE!!!
TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!
The crowd cheered as Tracey managed to get her arm up. Tara rose back to her feet, showing no signs of even having been in a match to this point. She yanked Murdock to her feet, firing forearms into the side of her head. She whipped her across to the far side, and caught her on the rebound by scooping her up and using a spinebuster to splat her on the mat.
Erica: Well, what I can only imagine to be a doppleganger at this point is doing a decent job of doing what anyone in their shoes would do...
Tara popped back up to her feet, and headed for the ropes. She started to use them for a springboard into something, but Tracey rolled out of the way before she connected. The brunette faceplanted on the mat as Tracey started to fight back to her feet. She looked down at Tara before heading for the corner again. She ascended to the top turnbuckle with the crowd solidly behind her!
Zack: I think we’re about to see the Vortex right here!!
Murdock leaped from the top rope, connecting perfectly with her corkscrew shooting star press! It landed perfectly!
Zack: And I was right, the VANUATU VORTEX!!
Erica: And we are three seconds away from Tracey’s first win! And not a moment too soon!
Tracey immediately went for the cover, hooking both legs tightly but there wasn’t a count. She glanced around to see the referee was trying to get Christian down off the apron. Murdock got back up, and headed towards her before Tara rolled out to the floor in a heap. She got yanked under the ring by something before she rolled out the other side, and back into the ring. She laid down on the canvas like she was out cold when Christian finally got down.
Erica: ...WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!
Tracey headed back for her opponent, and went to make the cover with the referee now in position before Tara cinched her up in a tight small package (with a handful of trunks) that the referee didn’t see!
Zack: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
ONE!!!
TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Pruitt called for the bell as Tracey sat up, eyes wide as Tara immediately rolled out of the ring to the floor. Christian raised her hand before the referee joined them to do the same.
Erica: You know what? ….I got nothin’. Absolutely nothin’.
Gaby: Here’s your winner by pinfall…………………..’10 STAR’ TARA CORTEZ!!
Christian gave her her 10 Star ring back as she stood triumphant on the floor. Tracey headed for the referee to dispute what happened before Tara slid back in behind her. She spun her around, and decked her with that ring on her fist. The boos only got louder as she leaned down to let Tracey’s lips touch her ring before she raised her hand again.
Erica: ...I still got nothin’. At this point I’m not entirely sure why I should be surprised by this.
Zack: Add another theft of a win to Tara Cortez’s record! Tracey had this match more than once, if you ask me!
Cortez joined her manager back on the floor as the pair headed up the ramp to louder boos from the Glasgow crowd.
Still Better Than YouThe fans in the arena begin to boo immediately as they see two familiar faces on the video wall, where we find Valerie McKinley and her manager standing backstage. Kyle stands behind her as he begins to speak.
Kyle: On the last Future Shock, this woman right here knocked off your number one contender to the Future Shock Championship when she ended Bianca Reed’s little streak in three seconds. And since that night, what did she get? Let’s see, she got called racist.
He started counting on his fingers.
Kyle: She got called a c word that I’m not going to repeat on television since it’d get censored anyway. She got called all that because of the simple fact...she got shown up. Isn’t that right?
He asked, looking down over Valerie’s shoulder as she spoke. Valerie cocks her head to one side as she begins to speak, moving her hands about.
Valerie: Let’s call a spade a spade. The only reason why Bianca Reed is upset is because she knows she isn’t even CLOSE to being on my level. She has been handed everything and doesn’t know when to sit down and be humble.
Kyle: Bianca can be mad, and she can use all the slurs she wants because she lost. That’s fine. The important thing is she knows she got beat, and she knows if and when she faces Valerie again, it’ll be for the Future Shock Championship. And….history will repeat itself. Then she can rant and rave all she wants, because we’ll care even less due to the fact that the title...will be right here where it belongs.
He gives her shoulder a little pat. Valerie gives a little smirk.
Valerie: Bianca can bitch and moan about how she is going to do everything in her power to become Future Shock champion. She can have the best laid plans anyone could come up with. Hell, she can even win the damn thing. But she has to know in the back recesses of her head that all it takes is one false move and I will end her little championship dreams….
She lifts her left hand up and snaps her fingers.
Valerie: Just like that.
Kyle: Also on the last show, I let NHB know that they may have some new competition looking to pack those tag titles away. And people kept asking me who I was talking about. Well let me enlighten you. It’s the team who defeated the current Future Shock Champion and Lydia Charisma. That’s right, the only thing better than one title is two. And I’m sure Valerie and Lacey both would be quite happy to add a little extra to their list of accomplishments.
This brought a smile to the face of the Providence native’s face as she nods, reaching back to oat Kyle on the arm appreciatively.
Valerie: It’s moves like this proves why this man is the best manager in the business today. He knows that on our own, Lacey and i are good. But put us together? We become better than good. We become something out of this world. So ladies, consider this your one and only warning. Keep those titles warm, because it will only be a matter of time before the redheads take over.
Kyle: But first things first, Lacey has to put Celeste in her place a little later tonight with the Aspire Ring on the line. I’ll be ringside for that, and Valerie will be here supporting her friend in every way possible.
Valerie: I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Lacey is going to do what she does best, and that is win in fabulous fashion. The Aspire Ring deserves to be worn by someone smart, talented and beautiful….none of which describes Celeste. You can rest assured that I’ll be here to make sure that things go the way that they should.
As she finishes, the show heads elsewhere.
Mara Keeps RollingThe show cuts away to find Sara Wilkins with a special guest in front of the backstage set for the Glasgow event.
Sara: In a little while, the woman to my right has the biggest challenge since arriving in Future Shock. She could well earn herself a shot at the Aspire Ring. Mara, thanks for talking with me. You earned your way into this match by ending the streak of Lilliana Leucrotta, who had been on something of a tear. She made some pretty harsh comments about you in the runup to that match. I assume it felt very good to knock her off her pedestal?
Mara: It felt great to put down the supposedly biggest, baddest, meanest, nastiest bitch in the yard down. It felt great to get the win over her, bring a halt to her momentum and hand her the first loss that she’s suffered in Future Shock. Maybe over the last couple of weeks she’s had a chance to think things over, re-evaluate and decided that perhaps she needs to be here and improve her skills.
There was a shrug of her shoulders.
Mara: As for tonight, I don’t think I could have said it any better myself. Biggest challenge I’ve faced yet in Future Shock. I’m facing two women at once inside of the ring - which I’ve not done yet and Lydia is… big and immensely powerful, pretty much unlike any other woman I’ve faced before. Then again, that’s the way it should be - the biggest challenge for the biggest reward. If I can win tonight; if I can keep up my streak and win this match then I get to challenge for the Aspire Ring which could do absolute wonders for me and for my career. I can’t wait for it to get underway.
Sara: Let’s speculate for a moment. Say you are successful tonight. Do you have a favorite as far as the winner of the Aspire Ring defense between Lacey and Celeste?
The dark haired woman took a couple of moments to consider her answer.
Mara: Celeste would be a fun match up and maybe a little easier to prepare for which, given that I’ve not got an awful lot of experience, could be a good thing. And by that I mean Celeste’s going to keep it nice and clean and above board, leaving me to only really worry about the fact that she’s a phenomenal athlete and a massively talented wrestler. While with Lacey, there’s always a possibility that on top of her skills and willingness to bend the rules that you’ve got to deal with her manager possibly wanting to be a little more hands on. But that’s wrestling and I’m going to have to deal with that sorta bullshit sooner or later right? So I’d probably prefer Celeste, but I won’t be disappointed if I have to face Lacey.
Sara: Two women have already earned their shots at the Ring, and meet tonight to see which of them goes before the other. What are your thoughts on Kaya Crimson and the “World Piercer” Gemma Pierce?
The former inmate shrugged her shoulders.
Mara: Gemma seems to be pretty intense and determined to make an impact, I certainly like that focus and from what I’ve seen of her she seems more than capable of backing it up in the ring. Kaya’s a really good wrestler too as she demonstrated with her win over Casey and Lacey, Definitely wouldn’t underestimate her in the slightest. I’m pretty sure that there’s an awful lot I can learn from both of them to make myself a better wrestler.
Sara: The last thing I wanted to cover is in two weeks. Future Shock will be hosting it’s own pool party, taking the Prospects out of the ring for an all challenge episode. And I’ve been told you’ll get to be part of it. How does that sound?
Mara: Like a whole lotta fun. C’mon Sara, it’s gonna be a pool party, who wouldn’t enjoy that? Sun, a pool, maybe… if things don’t devolve into chaos… a drink or two afterwards. I’m pretty excited by the idea of it and love that I get to be a part of it.
Sara: When you debuted in Future Shock, it was as part of a challenge. So it’s fitting you get to return to that, in almost the exact same challenge. You won the dodgeball contest that night, and you’ll get to see if you can do it again over a swimming pool against both women in Future Shock and possibly some special guests!
Mara: Get to show that the first time around wasn’t beginners luck and if I can then I’ll maintain my undefeated dodgeball streak. If I can keep it going for a couple of matches, maybe they’ll start to call me the Queen of Dodgeball or something.
She grinned widely as a short laugh escaped her lips.
Mara: The challenges always look to be a lot of fun and I loved taking part in my first dodgeball contest, despite the nerves. I’m sure this time around it’ll be even more enjoyable, especially with the pool party atmosphere.
Sara: I’m sure it will be. Fans, don’t move a muscle! Gemma Pierce and Kaya Crimson will meet one on one when we come back.
Sara thanks Mara as Future Shock heads to a commercial break.
