FFW Fury - May 29, 2021

[Adam Grant]

Live from the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada
May 29, 2021

A slot machine is shown spinning before it comes up with F F W, and that’s when “Luck Be A Lady” by Frank Sinatra starts to play. Then we see the interior of a casino before Savannah Star walks in wearing a simple black dress. She turns a few heads as she makes it to the poker table.

Luck, be a lady tonight.
Luck, be a lady tonight.
Luck, if you've ever been a lady to begin with.
Luck, be a lady tonight.

Soon Missy arrives in the casino, decked out in a white dress with flashy earrings and the FFW Championship over her shoulder. She’s all business by her expression before she sits down on the opposite side of the table from Savannah and lays down the FFW Championship on the table as the dealer walks up.

Luck, let a gentleman see
How nice a dame you can be.
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with.
Luck, be a lady with me.

In another part of the casino, we find the FFW Unity Tag Titles at the blackjack table. The dealer starts laying out cards to both members of Target Acquired and No Holding Back. Nadia peeks at her card not showing before Angela tells him to hit her with another. And just as we are about to see who won the game, the camera cuts somewhere else.

A lady doesn't leave her escort:
It isn't fair, it isn't nice.
A lady doesn't wander all over the room
And blow on some other guy's dice.

Amy is the next person we see, and she looks like she’s having the time of her life with all the attention she’s getting. At least until Nevaeh walks past her looking even more radiant, and getting the attention she was enjoying, causing the Killer Blonde to scowl. Nevaeh looks across the casino to see Tara Cortez with the Phoenix Championship and showing it to the public while Elizabeth Lannister looks over her shoulder.

Let's keep this party polite,
Never get out of my sight,
Stick with me, baby. I'm the fellow you came in with.
Luck, be a lady tonight.

Then we cut inside the arena as fireworks shoot off through the rafters, and thousands of fans make a whole lot of noise as they see themselves in global television. The entrance stage looks very much like a casino as well while the Frank Sinatra song continues to play and we head down to Zack and Leona.

Zack: Welcome to the MGM Grand Garden in the shadow of Las Vegas! Welcome to Fury, and this is the last major stop on the road to Unstoppable 12! Thank you for joining us on FFW All Access wherever you are around the world. I’m Zack, this is Leona, and we’ve got four championships to be decided tonight and a whole lot more!

Leona: Lots of grudges to be settled tonight, as well as the unlikely return of a certain Killer Blonde! They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but Sin City will be witness to gigantic bets on the table tonight, and the power balance in FFW may change significantly!

Zack: The main event will see the FFW Championship on the line in what is basically Savannah Star’s backyard here in Las Vegas when she challenges Missy for the richest prize in all of FFW!

Leona: Savannah is no stranger to big events in her hometown, neither is she a stranger to FFW Championship matches, but this is the first time those two factors are combined! Missy, on the other hand, knows that the road ahead may be a little more steep than usual, but that has never stopped her from bringing her 100%!

Zack: The Evolution title is also up for grabs as Casey Atherton faces a hardcore test to say the least when she meets Alysson Gardner. One way or another, a redhead is leaving with the title tonight.

Leona: We’re left to learn if it’s the crazy one or the hardcore one! Alysson has waited a lot for another shot at the Evolution Championship, but Casey is coming off a major victory over the former champ Scarlett Silver in a Ladder Match! Straightforward matches aren’t Alysson’s wheelhouse, but we may see a very focused Outlaw tonight!

Zack: NHB looks to put the crowning achievement on their tag team career when they face Target Acquired for the FFW Unity Tag Titles. We’ve tried to have this match before at Future Shock Global Wars, but we’re guaranteed to get it tonight!

Leona: With the Wicked Storm not involved, we’re finally gonna get the match we were promised! NHB came back to the Unity Championship talks like a train with no brakes, and Target Acquired are gonna have a tough challenge in their first defense of the Twin Belts!

Zack: Is the Gold Standard leaving Las Vegas with the Phoenix Championship? We’ll answer that question tonight when the “Lioness” Elizabeth Lannister challenges Tara Cortez in a rematch? The last time these two met, Lannister scored an upset. Can she do it again?

Leona: Not if Tara is to be believed! The self-proclaimed Mastermind may have lost their non-title match, but she has since claimed the intellectual ground after manipulating the odds during her match with Nevaeh Summers. I suspect we’re gonna see an even angrier, meaner side to Elizabeth tonight because of that!

Zack: The tag titles won’t be the only time we see tag teams in action tonight. Bianca Salvador and Mika Demidov meet the Midnight Storm as well tonight in what has quickly become a very hot division!

Leona: The Franchise insists that pairing the Empress and the Typhoon together was a mistake, because now they get to run roughshod… But they still have to prove they can be a cohesive unit the likes of which we’ve only seen from the Brazilian Storm, as far as Bianca is concerned. Midnight Storm, though, are as tightly knit as you can get! Experience versus teamwork!

Zack: And Nevaeh Summers will meet the returning “Killer Blonde” Amy in the last half of her gauntlet to finally get a match for the Phoenix Championship with either Tara or Elizabeth. But if Amy wins, she gets to be added to this year’s FFW Hall of Fame and Nevaeh forfeits her title shot she earned last fall. Big stakes all around there.

Leona: Nevaeh’s been waiting to get her promised shot for a long while now, and Amy… What the heck is SHE doing here if she isn’t a Hall of Famer? And why does it sound like a trap? We’ll get the answer to that real soon!

Zack: There’s a lot on tap tonight, and we’re glad you’re here to join us! Let’s send it up to Kat, and get the 2021 edition of Fury rolling!

The bell sounds a few times to draw everyone’s attention to the ring as Kat Grayson stands in the center. She has a brilliant smile on her face, and is wearing a blue and white sequin dress as she begins to speak.



 

Kat: The opening match of Fury is scheduled for one fall to a finish and is a tag team contest!!

Zack: Time to get things rolling tonight, and this will be the first of two tag team matches we’ll see on tonight’s card at Fury.

Leona: We get to see the electric teamwork of Midnight Storm versus the ruthlessness and even psychopathy of the Franchise’s Bianca and Mika. More than a clash of styles, we’re pretty much talking about polar opposites here.

“Something New” starts up over the speakers, and the jeers have almost drowned out the music before Bianca has even arrived (though in fairness, the beginning is pretty quiet). Yellow, green and blue spotlights dance around the arena, while the tron shows images of both halves of the team in action. Suddenly, the music stops and the tron cuts out...only for the sound of crashing thunder to echo loudly through the arena.

Love to hate,
Repeating my mistakes.
But 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.

As a curtain of dry ice smoke fills up the entrance stage, Bianca strolls out onto the stage, with her manager Kyle Kilmeade. Once there, she looks over the booing crowd with a smirk on her face before she stops for a pose: Bianca goes to a knee and opens her arms wide in the Witch of the Winds pose. After a couple of seconds in that pose, Bianca lunges forth and twirls herself. 

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!

Kat: Introducing first, escorted to the ring by Kyle Kilmeade… From Porto Alegre, Brazil… BIANCA SALVADOR!!!

Instead of going straight to the ring though, the girls walk up to a camera, getting right up to the lens with their mischievous smirks. As Bianca flexes her biceps for the gun show, kissing the bulging muscle, and shares  some choice words about their opponents. After that, she rolls into the ring and moves to the turnbuckles, climbing onto the second rope and staring into the booing crowd, only to wave them off and go to her corner. Bianca sits on the top turnbuckle and waits for the match to begin while Kyle returns to the back for her tag partner.

Zack: Bianca, never short of confidence in herself, hasn’t had a lot of tag matches with her partner, who will be out very shortly. Do you think it works against her with a team that has the history that Caitlyn and Mila have together? 

Leona: Not if we believe the tale that Mika has been mentoring Bianca behind the scenes for lord knows how long. Bianca is, like it or not, a tag team specialist. She’s a two-time Unity Champion. Now, her partner, on the other hand, has a long history of NOT being a team player.

The eerie pianos of “15 Minutes” echo through the sound system as the image of the Red Empress’s dilapidated throne is shown on screen. Right before the beat drops, the all too known cries of sea eagles rings out, as the name of the Russian rogue flashes on the big tron. Accompanied by her manager Kyle Kilmeade, Mika Demidov walks through the entrance gate, dressed like the true royal she is. Kilmeade removes the cape from over the Empress' shoulders, allowing the Red Star to throw her right hand in the air, index, middle and ring fingers fully extended upwards, at which point a volley of white, blue and red pyros shoot behind her back, and her manager presents her to the crowd.

Kat: And her partner, escorted to the ring by Kyle Kilmeade... From Saint Petersburg, western Russia... "The Red Empress"... MIKA DEMIDOV!

She then walks down the entrance aisle, scowling at the crowd and ignoring the outstretched hands who wish for a high-five, before she's offered a hand by Kyle to climb the steel steps leading into the ring. She enters the square passing between the mid and bottom ropes and, once inside, she climbs a random turnbuckle, taunting the crowd by basically screaming smack at them. After soaking in the boos, she shakes her head and leaps back into the ring and prepares for her match.

Zack: I still remember the day that Kyle introduced Mika to the SVW fans many years ago as, I believe, his first client. Then we got to meet you, Leona, who uh….aided her quite a bit. Regrets much? 

Leona: I hate that you keep bringing this up, because YEAH! Mika is one of the most cruel, most uncaring people you’ll ever meet. She always puts herself first, second and third. And that’s why it’s so surprising to see her teaming up with Bianca. Go back and ask all of Mika’s former partners, see how that went. Samara. Nessa Wall. She just can’t do it.

The video wall goes black for a second before clouds come rolling in over a city skyline. Thunder rumbles and lightning strikes before the video cuts to highlights of Mila and Caitlyn’s previous match. When “Gives You Hell” by The All-American Rejects starts to play, they both step out onto the stage. Caitlyn bounces on her heels with a smile as she hears the crowd, while Mila cracks her knuckles. And when Storm takes off towards the ring, Mila walks behind her with a steely expression before they hit the ring.

Kat: At a total combined weight of 255 pounds, they are “MIDNIGHT” MILA MARTIN and CAITLYN STORM…...THE MIDNIGHT STORM!!

Mila stretches her legs against the ropes as Caitlyn bounces on her feet with enthusiasm. They turn their attention to their opponents next, awaiting the bell to ring.

Zack: Well let’s bring up something I know you do like. And that’s Caitlyn and Mila. These two have proven to be a very effective tandem, and one of my favorite teams in FFW honestly.

Leona: They’re a breath of fresh air in the Unity Division, because of their electric tandem and their respect to the sport. Like I said, they’re polar opposites to Bianca and Mika, and we’re gonna be able to see it as soon as the bells ring.

Stephen Wilson was the referee in charge of the contest and asked both teams to determine who was going to start for them. Caitlyn told Mila she had this, prompting the veteran to nod her head and step through the ropes to the apron and take up position in the corner. On the other side of the ring, Bianca and Mika double high fived each other as they made their decision and the Russian wrestler took up position on the outside. The Brazilian strode towards the middle of the ring and flexed her arms showing off her muscles. Storm offered her a handshake only for Salvador to almost laugh at the blonde as she slapped her hand away and landed a pair of stiff rights to the side of her jaw before she took Caitlyn down to the mat with a short arm clothesline. 

Zack: I appreciate Caitlyn’s sense of fair play, but there was no way Bianca was going to let an offer of a handshake go unpunished.

Leona: You will never get respected by either of those blondes in the Franchise’s corner. Trust me, I’ve teamed with both of them and I still regret my choices.

Storm sat up only for Salvador to drive a stiff kick into her opponent’s spine. The bubbly New Yorker rolled to her knees where she was met with a toe kick into her midsection before Bianca pulled her upwards and sat her straight back down onto the mat with a snapmare takedown. Another kick to the back followed that and the Typhoon dropped down to lock in a rear chinlock to the blonde. Storm started to force herself up to her feet but as she did so, Salvador released the hold and instead quickly lifted her foe upwards and into an Atomic Drop. Caitlyn staggered forwards a couple of steps and Bianca sent her falling down to her hands and knees with a beautiful standing dropkick to the shoulder blades. Again the Midnight Storm member started to rise but as she did so, Bianca came off the ropes and drove her opponent face first into the canvas with a bulldog. 

Zack: When you were with her as a tag partner, did you see this viciousness in Bianca before she went rogue? Or did it come out of the blue for you?

Leona: Neither nor! Bianca has already said it herself, the world turned her into this beast we see now. I remember back when we were partners and I saw a wide-eyed hopeful in her, but then we had our fallout following that Midas Touch match, and Anna Giovanna’s attitudes towards her didn’t help either.

Salvador played to the crowd for a moment as she pulled off a muscle pose, causing the fans to boo her loudly. Bianca grinned as she turned back towards Caitlyn, pulling her up to her feet only to slap the taste out of her mouth before she grabbed hold of her with two handfuls of hair and jerked her violently forwards and downwards, sending her face first into the mat again. Once more the Midnight Storm member started to push upwards, getting helped to the rest of the way to her feet by her foe who began to unload on her with European uppercuts, snapping her head backwards as she walked her into the ropes before Irish whipping her across the ring. On Caitlyn’s return, Bianca scooped her up and into position for a sidewalk slam before letting go, causing Storm to land hard on her back. With a grin, Bianca flexed her arm, kissed her bicep and delivered an elbow drop into Storm’s chest and stayed leaned on her for a lazy cover to the boos from the crowd.

Zack: I don’t think that cover is going to work at all.

On-

Leona: That was almost terrible. But it is Bianca Salvador we’re talking about -- she enjoys mocking her opponents.

Storm kicked out before the one could be completed and Bianca nodded as she pulled Storm upwards only to deliver a knee lift to her jaw as she held her head. Another knee lift followed that as Mika got Bianca’s attention and raised her boot up to rest it on the top rope. Salvador nodded as she marched Caitlyn over to the corner and slammed her head first into the raised boot. Mika dropped her foot back to the apron as the New Yorker reeled away, holding her forehead and Bianca lowered her shoulder as she drove forwards into the midriff as she forced the former fitness instructor back into the corner. Four more shoulder thrusts followed in quick succession as the referee demanded the break and used the count to get it. 

Zack: Bianca would do well to keep Caitlyn on the backfoot as much as possible. Because if she gets a chance to start throwing those kicks of hers, she can change the complexion of a match quickly.

Leona: Not to mention she has a great chance to establish her dominance, too. Look at how much bigger Bianca is compared to Caitlyn -- and I mean raw power. Bianca wasn’t the powerhouse back when she teamed with Mel Avilo -- Mel was. But compared to Caitlyn, Bianca is a brickhouse.

Bianca stepped back with her hands raised and took hold of the top rope before she began to unload with a series of side kicks into Storm’s body. The referee again called for the break and used the count, Salvador relenting on four and made the tag to Mika. The Russian quickly stepped through the ropes and together both her and her partner began to put the boots to Caitlyn in the corner, again forcing the referee to demand they let her out of the corner and Salvador leave the ring, using the count. The pair backed away at four, Bianca stepping out of the ring and making a show of grabbing hold of the tag rope as Demidov raised her boot and pressed it against the throat of her foe. Storm tried to shove it away as the official again demanded the break and started the count getting to four before the St. Petersburg born wrestler lowered her foot. 

Zack: Caitlyn was getting choked out by Mika’s boot for a moment there, living up once again to what you said about her being cold and uncaring in all manners. I’m sure Caitlyn would agree when she gets her breath back.

Leona: That’s the danger of facing women who are out to either mock or torture you. If they’re given the chance to administer PAIN, they will. And it’s not like they’ll even do it behind a ref’s back either, oh, no, they want everyone to enjoy the show.

The referee started to reprimand her only to get a cold look from the former FFW Champion as she pulled the New Yorker forwards and just as Bianca had down earlier, drove Caitlyn face first into the mat with a hair pull slam. Caitlyn refused to stay down, pushing up to all fours and the Russian wrestler pulled her upwards with a reat waistlock only to hurl her down to the canvas with a German suplex. Storm took a moment before she started to sit up and as she did Mika, grabbed hold of her hair in one hand, pulling her hand backwards and started to drive clubbing forearm blows down across her chest before jerking her upright and straight into a snapped off DDT. Mika popped back up to her feet with a smile on her face and curtsied to the crowd who booed her loudly. Demidov revelled in their hate before she turned back towards her opponent, lifting her upwards and dumped her to the canvas with a release back suplex. Mika stood over the blond and placed a boot on her chest, looking towards Mila as she held up three fingers in the Russian sign of V for victory while the referee reluctantly dropped down to make the count.

Zack: And here’s another cover I don’t see working….this time with hand signals!

On-

Leona: And again, not even a one-count. Both Mika and Bianca have attempted this mockery of a cover now, and they should know it’ll never work.

Again the official didn’t get to complete the one count before Storm rolled her shoulder to break the cover and started to come to her feet. She only made it as far as her knees as Mika bounced off the ropes and caught the bubbly New Yorker with a running knee lift to her jaw. Demidov followed it as Caitlyn stumbled backwards with a spinning roundhouse kick that dropped Storm to the mat. Immediately the Midnight Storm member sat up and tried to make it quickly to her feet but as she did so Mika caught her and took her down to the mat with the Hiptoss of Doom, sending her as high into the air as she could with the move. When Storm landed, Mika spat down onto her body and advanced towards Martin, taunting her as she did so.

Zack: There’s that hiptoss she pretty much uses to mock her opponents. And if that’s not enough, a mouthful of spit to go with it.

Leona: Shades of that Mika from the olden days that was always out to irritate people, not just break them. But it was THAT Mika that went on to become FFW Champion over Scarlett Kincaid way back when, so...

Martin scowled at her, Mika telling her they were both outclassed by superior athletes and to just give up already; the Russian not noticing as Caitlyn came back to her feet quickly behind her with a look of anger on her face. The crowd cheers grew in volume as Storm stepped towards the Russian and when Mika turned to face her, Caitlyn immediately began to unload on her with a volley of swiftly delivered stiff kicks to her legs and hips. Each blow was delivered with real venom, the legs of Mika starting to buckle momentarily as each landed before Caitlyn finished off with a flash kick to Demidov’s jaw that snapped the Russian’s head backwards and sent her falling backwards into the Midnight Storm corner, the former FFW Champion only staying upright thanks to her catching the ropes. Quickly Storm backed up to the middle of the ring only to charge forwards and step up onto the middle rope to catch her opponent with a high knee to the jaw before bringing her out of the corner with a running bulldog. 

Zack: There we go! Caitlyn just introduced Mika to her knee and then the mat! And I doubt the “Red Empress” will be looking for a second meeting with either!

Leona: Heck no! Caitlyn’s leg work is without pair, and I think Mika’s gonna soon realize she made a big mistake letting her get that second wind! Here comes the Midnight Storm’s lightning bolt!

Instinctively Mika started to push upwards from the canvas and made it to all fours before Caitlyn skipped forwards, planted her standing leg and delivered a field goal style kick that would’ve been right at home in the NFL to her opponent’s ribs, causing Demidov’s body to rise up off the mat by almost a clear inch. Demidov held her ribs as she landed on her hands and knees once more and forced herself to straighten up which allowed Caitlyn to rock her back onto her heels as she began to fire off kicks into her chest. Mika grimaced in pain slightly as the kicks landed before Storm went to pull her up to her feet. As she did so, Demidov used her free hand and raked her fingers down the eyes of the New Yorker, temporarily blinding her. 

Zack: One of her favorites there. If you get in trouble, go for the eyes. It stops anyone, I don’t care how big or small you are.

Leona: The eyes are among the most sensitive parts of your body, and you can’t wrestle someone you can’t see. Just a shame that a former FFW Champion has to resort to that, but it’s Mika Demidov -- she was never above anything.

As Storm tried to clear her vision, the former FFW Champion grabbed her by the wrist and fired her into a neutral corner, following in behind her. Before Caitlyn could strike the turnbuckle pads though she slammed on the brakes, grabbing hold of the top rope and kicking up into the air where Mika caught her legs. Demidov went to yank her away from the ropes and as she did so, Caitlyn twisted her body and countered into a headscissors takedown, sending her across the ring. Demidov began to rise only to get met once more by the bubbly blonde who caught her as she stood up with a codebreaker which sent the Russian falling backwards, tumbling through the ropes to the outside where she landed hard on the floor. 

Zack: Nice work from Caitlyn, but the unfortunate part for her is she can’t win the match with Mika out here ringside. She has to get her back into the ring quickly, don’t let her linger. Would you agree? 

Leona: You can’t win a match with your opponent outside the ring, unless you’re happy with the countout. Mika, though… She’s one of the toughest women out here. Letting her breathe out of the ring is a straight-up mistake.

Mika held her ribs as she started to come to her feet on the outside only for Caitlyn to charge across the ring and return with a suicide dive which caught the Russian perfectly; the pair crashing down into a heap as they did so. Quickly the New Yorker came back to her feet, the crowd cheering her wildly as she pulled the FFW Hall of Famer to her feet and rolled her back into the ring underneath the bottom rope. Demidov rolled away and Caitlyn pulled herself up onto the apron where she measured her foe up only for Bianca to drop off the corner and charge towards Storm, grabbing hold of her ankle and jerking her off the apron. Caitlyn landed on her feet and immediately turned to face Bianca. The Brazilian started to back up as she saw the fire on her foes face; the usually bubbly blonde let her get three steps before she came forwards and delivered a bicycle kick to her jaw that saw the Typhoon fall to the floor. 

Zack: And a little something for Bianca for interjecting herself right there! Salvador got her molars rattled!

Leona: She was too thirsty to go to that well, but she got DENIED! Good on ya, Caitlyn! Keep focusing on Mika, that’s the game right there!

Caitlyn rolled back into the ring and immediately came back to her feet where she charged towards the rising Mika, taking her straight back down to the canvas with a running clothesline. Quickly Storm pulled her back up to her feet and Irish whipped her across into the Midnight Storm corner. The New Yorker followed in behind her and delivered a running knee into her stomach before she climbed up onto the middle rope and started to drive right hands into her head, the crowd counting each shot as she did so.

One!! Two!! Three!! Four!! Five!! Six!! Seven!! Eight!! Nine!! Ten!!

Leona: Look at her go! She’s gonna make Vegas count up to the thousands!

As she completed the ten blows to the head, Caitlyn continued to drive her fist into her skull. The crowd continued to count.

Eleven!! Twelve!! Thirteen!! Fourteen!! Fifteen!! Sixteen!! Seventeen!! Eighteen!! Nineteen!! Twenty!!

Zack: Good Lord! Caitlyn has come unglued! 

Leona: Has Mika ever eaten these many fists to the face in a single match? This may be a new landspeed record!

As she delivered the twentieth blow, Caitlyn brought her opponent out of the corner with a monkey flip that sent crashing down in the middle of the ring. Quickly Demidov rolled to the side and started to push upwards, getting to her feet only for Storm to catch her with a running big boot to the jaw, putting her down onto the canvas once again. The New Yorker followed it up with a double knee drop to the chest and made the cover. 

Zack: Mika’s been pounded like a railroad spike! Caitlyn’s looking for three!

One…

Two…

Leona: But even that won’t be enough! But that’s the game! Mika’s isolated from her corner, and they’re being smart to keep Bianca away from performing mischief!

Mika kicked out and found herself yanked back to her feet by Caitlyn who accepted the referee’s count without question as she pulled the Russian into a clinch, keeping her doubled over as she drove knees into her body while pulling her backwards into the Midnight Storm corner. Mila made the tag and stepped through the ropes, joining her partner as the pair both hooked the head of the former FFW Champion, lifting her up off her feet and the pair dropped her to the mat with a falcon arrow, slamming her chest first into the canvas. Quickly Martin floated over and pulled the Russian into a camel clutch as Caitlyn bounced off the ropes and came back to deliver a low dropkick into her face before the New Yorker rolled out of the ring and took up her place on the apron. 

Zack: And here comes the technician of the Storm. Mila is one of the most technically sound women on this roster.

Leona: She’s the breed of military discipline and technical acumen, and it’s a dangerous combination for anyone across the ring from her! Let’s see how she fares against a two-time Hall of Famer!

The Londoner started to pull the Hall of Famer to her feet and went to back her up into the ropes only for Demidov to suddenly surprise her with a drop toe hold, sending her falling throat first across the ropes. Quickly the Russian started to scramble away from the Midnight Storm corner on her hands and knees towards her own corner and made the tag to Bianca. The Brazilian stepped through the ropes as Martin came to her feet and Salvador reminded her opponent that she was a two time No Surrender Champion and challenged her to a collar and elbow tie up. The former army veteran stepped forwards to enter into the tie up only for Salvador to surprise her with a poke to the eye. Martin started to step backwards but was cut off as Bianca went low, catching her around her thighs before dumping her into the canvas with an Alabama slam.

Zack: Bianca took the low bridge there, and managed to get Mila down. And luckily for Mika, she can take a deep breath or two while the “Typhoon” tries to wear down a very fresh Mila.

Leona: And yet, she still needs to go for the eyes. Notice how half of Bianca’s moves here were illegal -- she just doesn’t CARE.

Quickly the Franchise member fell on top of her, getting into the mount position and pulled her head up from the mat with a handful of hair as she used her free hand to start to drive fists into her face. The referee ordered the break and started the count, Bianca letting him get to four before she rose to her feet, pulling Martin up with her using the handful of hair. Mila held her wrist as she was brought upwards only for Biana to jerk her forwards into a knee to the gut before she once more lifted her off her feet and dropped her throat first over the top rope. Martin gasped for breath as she dropped to her knees only to push upwards a second later which saw Salvador spin her around and drive her down into the mat with a swinging DDT. Quickly the Brazilian made the cover, hooking the leg as she did so.

Leona: Swinging DDT by the Witch of Winds, and Midnight may be in some trouble!

One…

Two-

Zack: Mila kicked out, and is letting Bianca know her night is far from done.

Mila kicked out on the two count and sat up only for Bianca to pull her back downwards as she locked in a sitting side headlock. The referee dropped down and checked the headlock, asking Martin if she wanted to submit. Before the Englishwoman could answer, Salvador told the referee that of course Mila wanted to submit and save herself the embarrassment of the rest of this match. The official ignored Bianca and asked Martin again only for Mila to suddenly jerk her head backwards, pulling herself free of the hold and as she did so, she countered into a hammerlock that saw her force her opponent down onto the mat face first. As the army veteran twisted the limb up behind her back, she kicked up into the air and delivered a double knee drop into her arm and shoulder. A second double knee drop followed that before the former No Surrender Champion with a look of pain on her face started to rise up from the mat. As the pair got vertical, Bianca patted her trapped shoulder with her free hand for a moment before she suddenly moved, reversing the move into a hammerlock of her own only to instantly transition it into a headlock before twisting her hips and sending Martin crashing to the mat with Salvador landing on top of her with the headlock still applied.

Leona: Bianca’s borrowing from her partner and mentor’s book -- Golden Buster right there! Shades from the Golden Girls, back when Mika teamed with Sarah Richardson -- yeah, that didn’t go far either, did it --, and Mila Martin is in a bad way!

Zack: Doesn’t surprise me. These two have been working together a little while now, and don’t mind borrowing from one another’s playbook.

Bianca wrenched in the hold a little tighter, telling mila that she was wasting her time...that she was a kindergarten kid in the ring with a University professor; that the Typhoon could wrestle rings around her. Mila didn’t answer as she forced her way upwards just enough that she could again escape the hold and counter into a hammerlock, using the hold to force Bianca onto her chest once more and this time she delivered three more double knee drops to the caught arm. Salvador had a pained expression on her face and slapped her hand against the mat in frustration as her expression turned to one of anger when Mila ruffled her hair with her free hand and told her that she should maybe check the ego at the door. The Brazilian wrestler began to force her way upright once more and again went to counter out of the hammerlock and into another headlock only for Mila to shove her away. 

Zack: Mila’s trying to get under Bianca’s skin a little, isn’t she? And Salvador’s not known for having a long temper.

Leona: Yeah, no! Maybe Midnight is thinking that taking the psyche road with Bianca may work in her favor. Let’s just hope that doesn’t bring out the angry berserker that Bianca can be.

Bianca quickly caught her balance and spun around only for Midnight to catch her with an armdrag, holding onto the limb as the Brazilian hit the mat and Martin rolled through to lock in a fujiwara armbar. As she was trying to pull back on the arm and make the hold as painful as possible, Salvador bucked her hips against the canvas, managing to move the pair across the ring and reach out to grab hold of the bottom rope. The referee called for the break and on three Mila released and rolled away to her feet. Bianca came to her knees and glared at the former veteran only to see the Londoner tell her that she came so very close to having her arm ripped out of it’s socket. It caused Salvador to pound the mat with both fists in frustration, causing her to grab hold of her shoulder for a moment before she came to her feet and immediately Martin descended on her, firing off right and left hands into her body before she jerked her away from the ropes and hurled her through the air with a German suplex. 

Zack: Man, these two could easily put on a clinic if they wanted to. But right now, it’s the former military officer throwing around the pride of Porto Alegre.

Leona: And you can see Mila is getting under Bianca’s skin! It’s working! The Witch of Winds is coming undone, and Mila Martin is scoring!

Bianca sat up and went to come to her feet quickly but as she did so, Martin caught her with a running forearm to the side of the jaw before she yanked her opponent forwards and hoisted her onto her shoulders. The Londoner took a moment to ensure her grip before she started to step forwards towards a neutral corner, launching herself into a rolling Samoan drop that saw her slam the Brazilian into the mat near the corner. Mila’s momentum carried her forwards, allowing her to grab hold of the ring ropes and pull herself up to her feet before using the middle rope as a springboard into a splash that saw her land across Bianca’s body. Quickly the Englishwoman hooked the leg for the cover.

Zack: Where did that come from?! You don’t see Mila fly too often!

One…

Two…

...TH-

Leona: That was a thing of beauty, but I don’t think that impact landed as perfectly as Mika wished!

Bianca kicked out and was pulled up to her feet by her foe who shoved her into the corner. Mila lowered her shoulder and drove forwards with a series of five quick shoulder thrusts - each one lifting Bianca up off her feet as the referee called for the break and started the count. As Martin delivered the last shoulder thrust, Bianca found herself lifted upwards and placed on the top turnbuckle. Mila started to climb up the ropes, delivering open handed strikes to the side of the Brazilians head to keep her off balance. As she reached the top, Martin hooked her foe’s head and went to pull her up into a suplex but found the move blocked as Salvador had a tight grip on the top rope. The Englishwoman delivered another couple of shots into her opponent’s gut and went again to lift her up into the suplex. This time she managed to get Bianca up and as they were falling backwards, Salvador managed to shift her wait and counter out of the superplex into a crossbody; landing on top of the Midnight Storm member and hooked the leg as she did so. 

Zack: Wow! I’ve not seen a superplex countered like that!

One…

Two…

...THRE--

Leona: Bianca knew how to perfectly manipulate the gravity center of that fall, that’s how she did it! Smart, and DANGEROUSLY close to a three!

Mila kicked out at the last moment and Bianca rolled away, cradling her midsection as she did so. Martin was slow to her feet, holding her back as she did but when she made it to a vertical base she saw that the Typhoon was also almost upright, the referee checking on the Brazilian wrestler as she had a look of pain on her face and was holding her gut. Midnight measured her up for a moment before she turned and headed for the ropes...as she bounced off of them, Mika stepped down the ring apron and caught her with a kick to the kidneys. Mila stumbled to a halt, holding her back with one hand as she did before she turned towards Mika. The Russian trash talked and Martin suddenly lunged towards her with a right hook but Demidov saw it coming and blocked it as she brought her arms up to grab Mila by the back of her head and step back off the apron, snapping the Englishwoman’s throat over the top rope. 

Zack: Just like your eyes, your throat isn’t a body part you can toughen up. And now Bianca’s got Mila trying to find a breath of air.

Leona: Again: they don’t care about the strat involving doing clearly illegal things, as long as tey can piss off and torture their opponents! That, right there, is a sign of that!

Midnight stumbled backwards, coughing and gasping for breath, holding her throat and as she turned, Bianca drove a boot into her gut and then slammed her face first into the canvas with a sitout facebuster. Bianca took a moment, holding her arm across her stomach before she forced Mila  over onto her back and made a cover.

Zack: Salvador looking to end her night early right here!

One…

Two…

...THR-

Leona: Not yet! Salvador is growing angrier, and now that vicious Future Shock Champion has come out to play!

Mila kicked out and Bianca rolled away from her, getting to her knees and headed towards her corner where she tagged in Mika. Quickly the Russian rushed forwards and caught the rising Mila with a superman punch to the jaw before she followed it up with a superkick that dropped Martin down to the canvas. Mika shook her head as she saw her opponent down on the mat and started to pull her upwards, telling Bianca to get up onto the middle rope. Salvador nodded her head and climbed to the middle rope as Demidov brought Midnight upwards, driving a knee into her face, followed by a second as she led her over towards Salvador in the corner, feeding her head between her legs before she lifted her upside down. Bianca jumped off the ropes, grabbing hold of the soles of Mila’s boots as Mika fell to her knees; the pair driving the Englishwoman’s head into the mat with a spike piledriver. Bianca rolled out of the ring and played to the fans as Mika shoved an unresisting Mila to her back and made the cover.

Leona: What?! An unexpected tandem move by the Franchise, and Midnight just got SPIKED!

One…

Two…

...THR-

Zack: I thought that might have been the end of the night for the Midnight Storm, but Caitlyn’s not ready for that at all!

Before the referee could complete the count, Caitlyn made it across the ring and used an elbow drop to break up the count. Mika held the back of her head as she came to her feet and told Storm to come and take her best shot - even as the New Yorker was backing up to the corner, the referee insisting that she get out of the ring. Demidov shook her head at the blonde and stepped up onto Midnight’s throat, choking her out as the referee was distracted. The Englishwoman tried to shove the boot away from her as Storm quickly stepped out of the ring, holding the tag rope up to show the referee as she insisted that he turn around. As he did so, he quickly turned back and made a beeline for the FFW Champion, calling for the break and using the count. He got it at four and started to reprimand Mika for taking advantage as she stepped backwards. The former FFW Champion gave him a power shrug, telling him that she broke on four, all the while that she had him distracted the fans were booing loudly because Salvador had slithered back into the ring and had both hands wrapped around Midnight’s throat. 

Leona: And there’s the misdirection tactics we all know and hate! Look behind you, ref; Bianca is literally wrangling Midnight’s neck there!

Zack: The official is getting played like a fiddle, and meanwhile Mila’s literally getting choked out in the process!

Moments before the referee turned around, Bianca rolled back out of the ring and came to her feet in the corner as Midnight propped herself up on one elbow, trying to catch her breath. Mika grinned as she saw her, grabbing hold of the back of her head to scrape her bootlaces down down her eyes before she delivered a vicious stomp to the side of her head to force her back down to the mat, then followed it up with a fist drop into her forehead. Again Martin rolled onto her elbow, turning her back on the Russian which saw Demidov’s eyes light up as she used the opportunity to lock in a rear naked choke on the Londoner. However, as soon as she had it applied, Martin kicked out a foot over the nearby bottom rope, causing the referee to call for the break and start the count.

Zack: Good spotting by Mila there. Despite all she’s absorbed, she’s still cognizant enough to realize where she is in the ring and find the ropes.

Leona: She’s going to milk it anyway, though, because administering pain is more important than being adherent to the sport. See the clash of styles now?

Again Mika released a half-second before she was due to be disqualified and pulled Martin up to her feet where she scooped her up onto her shoulder and took off towards her corner where she dropped Mila face first into the top turnbuckle with a snake eyes. Again Mila staggered backwards, barely making it a step before the former FFW Champion hooked her arms, dropped to her knees and pulled her downwards into the Russian suplex pinning combination. The referee got into position to count and Mika kicked her feet up onto the middle rope for added leverage.

Leona: Backslide, that’s Mika’s Russian Suplex-- HER FEET ON THE ROPES!

One…

Two…

...THRE---

Zack: LOOK AT HER FEET!! LOOK AT--Finally, I thought they were about to steal this!

The referee stopped his count in the nick of time as he saw the feet on the ropes, pointing them and started to read Mika the riot act as the Hall of Famer feigned innocence with an evil smile on her face. Finally she cracked and gave the referee another one of her infamous power shrugs as she knelt up and reached behind her to tag in Bianca. Salvador grinned as the pair pulled Martin up from the mat only for both her and Mika to spike the Englishwoman spine first into the mat with a double powerbomb. Demidov headed towards Caitlyn, challenging her to come into the ring as Bianca arrogantly dropped to her knees and placed her hands on Midnight’s chest for the pinfall.

Zack: And we’re back to arrogant covers again...

One…

Leona: She’s onto something…!

Mika got her wish as Storm bounced up on the bottom rope and cleared the top, landing on her feet on the mat and instantly bounced into a bicycle knee strike as Demidov rushed her. 

Two…

Leona: CAITLYN BIT-- WHOA!

The blow caused Mika to step backwards and then get sent down to the mat as Caitlyn came off the middle rope with a disaster kick. Storm went to try and break up the cover, only for Demidov to desperately catch hold of her ankle to trip her up. 

...THREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zack: Mila gets her shoulder up just in the nick of time! I thought it might be over there!

At the last second, Martin rolled her shoulder and Bianca shook her head as she demanded the three count from the referee. He shook his head and told her it was only a two count while behind him Mika and Caitlyn were getting to their feet, Demidov keeping hold of the New Yorker’s foot. As they both got to a vertical base, Storm left her feet and caught Mika to the side of the jaw with a reverse enzuigiri. The former FFW Champion dropped to her knees for a second before she popped up to her feet and was sent through the ropes thanks to a handstand headscissors takedown from Caitlyn. The bubbly blonde went to get to her feet and immediately found the referee in her face, ordering her back to her corner as Bianca had frantically pointed out the presence of the illegal woman to him. As Storm angrily complied with the official, Bianca was working on the top turnbuckle pad in her corner, quickly pulling it away and dropping it to the floor before she turned back to Mila.

Zack: It’s especially rich when Bianca Salvador complains about rule breaking.

Leona: Hilarious, isn’t it? The hypocrisy emanating from that complaint is so thick, you could spread it over pancakes. Don’t do it, though, it tastes sour.

Caitlyn tried to put out Bianca’s actions to the official but he wasn’t interested in the slightest as he told Storm to stay in the corner until she was tagged. While the illegal of Midnight Storm was getting lectured, Salvador pulled Martin back up to her feet and went to slam her face first into the exposed turnbuckle bolt. As she did so though, Martin brought her foot up onto the middle turnbuckle to block the move. Salvador tried once more only for Mila to block it once more before she drove an elbow into her midriff and countered by sending Bianca into the exposed metalwork. Bianca staggered backwards only for Martin to pull her back towards her, scoop her up and slam her into the mat with the London Calling Michinoku Driver, falling back onto the canvas, breathing hard as she did so. The referee turned around and saw both competitors down and went to check before he began a slow, deliberate count on them. 

Leona: Both the Typhoon and Midnight are out in the center of the ring, and now we get a 10-count… but with the speed of the count, we could take the whole night here.

Zack: I appreciate the referee doing a very slow count here. No one wants to see this match end in a draw. 

At three the two wrestlers started to stir, Mila rolling to all fours and crawling towards the ropes as Caitlyn slapped the top turnbuckle, rallying the fans as she reached her hand towards her partner. Bianca meanwhile sat up and Kyle moved down the ring, drawing level with her and telling her that she had to get up, warning her about Martin’s position. Salvador seemed to nod her head and forced herself upwards. As she did the London born wrestler used the ropes to pull herself to her feet and leaned against them taking a couple of moments to get her bearings before she started towards her corner. Midnight only made it two steps before Bianca grabbed her by the shoulder and went to spin her around...and got exactly what she wanted as Martin suddenly turned and caught her with a discus forearm to the jaw. The blow wobbled Salvador, causing her to overcorrect as she went to get her balance and fall into her opponent; the Midnight Storm member catching her and lifting her upwards before driving her down into her knees with a gutbuster. Salvador curled up into a ball, cradling her gut and kicking her feet against the canvas in agony as Martin sat back against the ropes for a couple of moments.

Zack: Look at that, Leona! That gutbuster may have been for you right there! Mila needs to make the tag though!

Leona: Ha! I mean, nothing wrong with me vicariously giving Bianca a good Pilote, right? I love that gutbuster, and I love Mila for pulling it off here!

The Londoner looked over to her partner and again began to pull herself to her feet, and started to step towards her once more only for Mika to slide into the ring and give out a roar as she came to her feet before she charged Martin, looking to catch her with a spear. Midnight sidestepped her. Mika stopped on a dime and as she turned around, the Englishwoman lifted the Russian high above her head for a Gorilla Press Slam she held her there as Demidov wriggled and squirmed, causing Midnight to stagger backwards into the ropes which finally caused her to lose her grip and sent Demidov plummeting out of the Gorilla Press Slam position all the way out of the ring and to the floor face first. Finally Martin staggered into the corner and made the tag to Storm; the crowd cheering them both loudly as she did. 

Zack: And that’s what we were looking for...as well as everyone in the MGM Grand! Here comes Caitlyn!

Leona: We’re hitting the gas full throttle now! Mika has collapsed out of the ring, and Salvador may not know where she is!

Caitlyn stepped through the ropes and quickly darted across the ring towards Salvador, stopping her from making it all the way to her feet with the Storm Force scissor kick to the back of her head, sending her back to mat face first. Quickly Caitlyn rolled her opponent to her back and made the cover.

Zack: STORM FORCE!!

One…

Two…

...THR--

Leona: NOT YET!!! Bianca kicks out!

Bianca’s shoulder came up at the last moment and Mila looked towards the referee, asking for the three count but getting a shake of the head as he told her it was only a two. Storm nodded her head in acceptance of the count and came back to her feet and stretched her leg over the top rope. The crowd knew what was coming and got louder in their support for the Midnight Storm. As Salvador began to rise, Caitlyn waved her upwards only to launch herself into the Storm Rising springboard spinning heel kick which connected perfectly and caused Salvador to collapse back to the mat. Storm hooked the leg for the cover.

Zack: And that’s STORM RISING!! I think they’re gonna pull it off!!

One…

Two…

...THREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leona: OH MY GOD!!! That was a CLOSE ONE! Mika Demidov with the eleventh-hour save -- again!

At the last second Mika managed to scramble into the ring and break up the cover with a double axe handle to the back of the New Yorker’s head. The referee tried to Mika out of the ring, only to be shoved away by the Russian as she pulled Storm upwards and looked to be trying to pull her into the Golden Buster hammerlock DDT. Caitlyn, though, had other ideas as she she instead stood up and sent the Hall of Famer over with a back body drop. Mika landed hard and sat up holding her back as Caitlyn took a couple of quick steps across the ring and slid on her knees, staring at Mika. As the Russian began to rise, Caitlyn pounded her fists on the mat like she was beating a war drum and when Demidov made it to her feet Storm exploded towards her and caught her with a double knee strike to the chest, sending her through the ropes and to the outside. 

Zack: That double knee strike nearly sent Mika into the fourth row, and Caitlyn has nothing but adrenaline pumping through her veins right now!

Leona: And, AGAIN, Mika is dumped out of the ring! That’s the way to deal with people like the Franchise! Let them linger on the apron and they can disrupt the whole match!

Quickly Caitlyn got back to her feet and headed towards her corner, making the tag to Mila. As Midnight stepped through the ropes, Storm took off towards the rising Bianca, catching her as she came to her feet with a running boot into her stomach. Salvador dropped down to both of her knees and Mila walked over and caught her with a shining wizard; the Midnight Storm completing the Lightning Strikes. The Englishwoman didn’t go for the cover, instead she pulled her opponent upwards as her partner took off across the ring and into a baseball slide to Mika on the outside. As Midnight muscled Bianca upwards, she drove her down into the mat with the Midnight Hour version of the Unprettier and hooked the leg to make the cover.

Zack: The clock just struck the MIDNIGHT HOUR for Bianca and Mika, I think!

One…

Two…

...THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leona: WHAT A WIN! The Midnight Storm has defeated two of the most illustrated women in the sport! I guess “eleventh-hour” was right, because we were only two minutes from the Midnight Hour!

The referee completed the count as Caitlyn made sure Mika couldn’t break up the pin. As the official called for the bell, Storm rolled back into the ring and helped her partner to her feet; the referee raising both of their hands in the air to the cheers of the crowd.

Kat: Here are your winners, by way of pinfall… the team of CAITLYN STORM and “MIDNIGHT” MILA MARTIN… THE MIDNIGHT STORM!!!

Zack: Mila and Caitlyn pick up a massive win here tonight at Fury! Well done, ladies! What a great way to start off tonight’s event too!

Leona: Amazing display of fighting spirit by the Midnight Storm! Hear this crowd -- Las Vegas LOVES IT!!! And so do I!

Kat was almost drowned out by the cheers of the crowd as the the two victorious partners hugged in the middle of the ring. Bianca rolled out of the ring where she was met by Kyle who checked that she was alright; the pair were joined by Mika and the two looked disdainfully up at the victorious team in the ring. Mila and Caitlyn, however, were paying them little attention as they headed for opposite corners, climbing up onto the middle ropes and making title belt motions as they did; the cheers getting deafening before the show cut to a commercial for FFW versus Future Shock.

[Adam Grant]

A short clip shows highlights from the recent match between Tara and Elizabeth, which saw the “Lioness” earn herself a shot at the title. Then we cut back to the ring, and Kat begins the introductions.

Kat: The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the FFW Phoenix Championship!

Zack: I wouldn’t expect any handshakes or any real sportsmanship in this one, fans. What we are going to see is two women who will stop at nothing to leave Fury with the Phoenix title.

Leona: See the many fans in the audience with signs cheering for the giant meteor? Yeah, that’s what a match between a member of the Gold Standard and a member of the Cortez Clan will do to you.

As the fans sit in their seats in anticipation of what is to come, they are greeted by the lights dimming. A brilliant golden spotlight focuses on the stage as the opening strains of “Massive Addictive” by Amaranthe begin to play.

“Give me purity, strength and affection
Give me lust to ignite my devotion for life
It's where beauty comes alive
Can't you see I'm a slave to the darkness
Cutting down
And I know I have done this before
As I stare into the wall
And now it's time to let it shine
Cause don't you know I'm addicted”

The curtains to rustle a bit before the dapper figure of one Kyle Kilmeade emerges from the back, his ever present smirk etched on his face. He steps out onto the stage and glances at either side of the stage at the crowd before stepping to the side, holding out his hand to the curtain. Out from the back emerges the beautiful Elizabeth Lannister. Stepping out onto the stage, she takes Kyle’s outstretched hand and promptly twirls around slowly, showing off the intricate work on her robe. Dropping his hand, Elizabeth nods and starts to walk down the aisle, Kyle walking in stride next to her.

“Massive addictive
And suddenly I'm greatly affected
Like burning fire inside
My cyanide
Scared of losing my mind
Massive addictive
I'm totally completely afflicted
As I inspire the lie like a lullaby
Crawling around in my mind
My mind”

The pair slowly make their way down the aisle, Elizabeth’s gold and red robe flowing with each step she took, completely ignoring the fans on either side of her. As the pair walk, the spotlight changes so that the entire arena is soon engulfed in gold light.

Kat: Ladies and gentlemen, making her way to the ring, being accompanied by her manager Kyle Kilmeade…..from Scottsdale, Arizona…’THE LIONESS’ ELIZABETH LANNISTER!!

Once she reaches the ring she begins to climb the steel steps, with Kyle hopping up onto the apron and holding the ropes open for her. She carefully climbs through the opened ropes and steps into the middle of the ring, flipping her hair over her shoulders and sticking her arms out to the sides, her head tilted back, a confident smirk etched on her angelic features. She then returns her head to it’s normal position and unclasps her robe, shrugging it off as Kyle reaches forward to carefully hand it to a nearby stagehand. She then moves her arms back and forth to loosen up as the lights return to normal and the music begins to fade out.

Zack: Elizabeth has been after her first piece of hardware on the FFW roster for some time. She made her own opportunity when she pinned Tara a few weeks ago. But now she has to do it when Tara’s most coveted possession is on the line. 

Leona: She comes with the confidence of someone who has already pinned the champion, and the anger of someone who got promptly punked by her. Like I said at the top of the night, I expect a furious Lioness to come out tonight.

Look out, they're closing in on you now
Wake up, or you’ll wake up six feet down
Nobody's got your back in this town
Knock 'em. In the. Teeth. NOW!

The intro to Set It Off's "Killer in the Mirror" starts on the sound system, and lights start blinking in random colors as Tara Cortez struts onto the entrance ramp carrying the FFW [BELT] Championship with her two hands, 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 and taking a spin, proceeding to get back up, grinding the center plate of the belt against her midriff before raising the belt above her head... Only to nonchalantly wave the booing audience off ass she brings her arms down again, draping the championship over her shoulder. 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.

Kat: And her opponent, escorted to the ring by Christian Kincaid... From Fort Worth, Texas... She's the REIGNING and DEFENDING FFW Phoenix Champion... 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, raising the Future Shock Championship up high again, only to then wave 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, handing him the championship before the match starts.

Zack: As Future Shock fans know, getting a title away from Tara Cortez can be exceptionally difficult. This is her first defense since winning the title at Relentless, and her opponent is a far cry from Harley Shannon in terms of attitude and demeanor.

Leona: They do have one thing in common, though: in Tara’s mind, they never learn! The first opportunity Cortez had to enforce any level of superiority over Elizabeth, even if it had nothing to do with the sport, she did. Let’s see if she can turn that arrogance into an actual result tonight.

Referee Melinda Davis took the title from Tara after checking both women for hidden weapons, and then held the championship above her head. Kat took the title with her as the referee called for the bell. Elizabeth watched as the title was carried out of the ring, and turned her attention on an advancing Tara. The “Lioness” locked up with the champion, but Tara immediately pushed her back into the corner. Davis called for a break, which Tara gave with her hands up before kicking the challenger in the stomach. That stunned her long enough for Tara to grab her head, and drag her face along the top rope. With two handfuls of hair, she sent her flying with a hair mare to the canvas. 

Zack: Tara got surprised in her previous meeting with Elizabeth, and she’s taking the fight right to her tonight. I don’t suspect too many rules are going to be observed in this one.

Leona: Between these two? Ehhhh, no. Though I don’t remember seeing either Luna or Anna Cortez backstage tonight. It’s hard to miss them, you know. The rest of the Gold Standard, however? I know for a fact they’re all here.

As Elizabeth started to get up, Tara charged forward with a punt kick to her ribs to put her down on the mat again. The brunette mounted her back, and started spiking her face into the canvas before scrubbing it against the mat after that.  The champion got to her feet, and bounced off the near side. As Lannister was getting to her feet, she caught a running forearm to the face before Tara scooped her over one shoulder into a snake eyes in the corner. The blonde stumbled out and into Tara’s grip before she delivered a flatliner and made the cover.

Zack: Tara’s leaving nothing to chance tonight, is she? There’s a cover!

ONE!!!

TW-NOO!

Elizabeth kicked out as the two was coming down, and Tara made her pay for it with an elbow to her face. Kyle watched from the floor, shouting some advice to his client as Tara pulled her back to her feet.

Leona: Tara has come out here tonight for DESTRUCTION! She hasn’t given Elizabeth any chance to breathe, and is punishing her with some of the hardest blows I’ve seen her pull off.

It looked like she was going for a DDT until Elizabeth drove her backwards into the nearest corner. It knocked the air out of the champion for a moment and Elizabeth quickly capitalized by using a judo throw to take her down to the mat and immediately apply an armbar submission. Tara couldn’t get up with the challenger leaning over her, and instead began trying to reach the ropes with her free hand.

Zack: That’s Elizabeth 101 right there, and it looks like she’s hoping for a tap out tonight instead of a pin like last time. Tara has never submitted that I can recall.

Leona: She has not! And that would be something worth trying -- we’ve never seen how long Tara can last in a perfect form submission. Maybe Elizabeth has scouted that about her, and we may see an interesting result!

The champion had to squirm a fair bit, but she finally managed to reach the ropes with her foot. Davis called for the break, and Elizabeth held till a four count. She got warned by the referee, and paid her no mind as she dragged Tara back to her feet by her arm. An arm wringer kept Tara on the backfoot. A second one made it worse before she jerked Cortez forward into a series of shoulder blocks and then scooped her up into a fireman’s carry slam. When she saw the champion beginning to push up to her feet, Lannister pressed her arm to the mat and started driving her knee into it repeatedly.

Zack: She’s definitely setting the table for that cross armbreaker she loves to use. And Kilmeade looks pleased as he can be at what could be his new Phoenix Champion tonight.

Leona: Because of course he is! Elizabeth isn’t trying to hide her game plan here -- soften the meat, and then stretch Tara into submission or get her arm ripped clean off her shoulder!

She finally rolled away from her, and got back to her feet. The “Lioness” flashed a smile down to her manager for a moment, but turned around into an eye rake with both hands from Tara. The brunette pasted her with a few left hands to the jaw before she whipped her into the far corner. Elizabeth barely stopped herself before she hit the corner chest first, but Tara was right behind her. She used the middle rope for a springboard into a disaster kick before going for the cover!

Leona: Springboard volley kick by Tara, the Cortez athleticism coming into play!

ONE!!!!

TWOO-NOO!

This time, it was Elizabeth who kicked out as the two was about to hit the mat. The Phoenix Champion pulled her to her feet into a front facelock before administering several knees to her head and body. She followed that with a double underhook suplex followed by a standing fist drop into the blonde’s face.

Zack: Tara is laser focused here. She’s hell bent on proving that Elizabeth’s win was a fluke. And she’s out to punish her as a result.

Tara got back to her feet, and began a Garvin stomp to Elizabeth’s arms, legs, and face. She followed that by bouncing off the near side to deliver a knee drop. But Lannister rolled out of the way, and she hit the mat instead. As Cortez rubbed her knee in a seat on the mat, Elizabeth was back to a vertical base and began firing kicks into her body rapid fire. She landed 7 in a row before leaving her feet for a double knee drop into her chest. As soon as Tara rolled over, Elizabeth followed after her and applied a Fujiwara armbar submission.

Zack: Right back to the arm for the “Lioness” here. I’m more and more convinced she wants to make Tara quit tonight one way or another.

Leona: I guess I was wrong about seeing Elizabeth’s anger getting the best of her -- she knows exactly what she’s doing, and if she pulls this off, she’ll be able to claim back the intellectual high ground and shut the champ up for good!

Davis moved around in front of the champion, seeing if she wanted to stop the match. Tara sternly told her she didn’t, and began trying to reach the ropes again. But the challenger’s ring positioning made that very difficult. Elizabeth used her foot to push against the rope in front of her for added leverage, at least until the referee glanced up to see her leg bent at the knee. The referee went back to checking for a submission from Tara as Elizabeth put that foot back against the bottom rope again.

Zack: Lannister’s reminding anyone who needed it that she can play as dirty as anyone. That additional leverage is doing extra damage to Tara as we speak.

Leona: Not that she needed it, but here we are! Tara, though -- she’s a trickster too, she knows what she’s dealing with. I’m surprised she’s doing nothing to manipulate the odds here, though, it’s almost like she’s still looking into a viable strat.

Davis checked again, this time catching Elizabeth using the ropes. She immediately began a five count before the blonde released the hold. Lannister got to her feet, and started giving the referee a piece of her mind. Kyle tried to help her case by getting on the apron to berate the referee too. And when Davis turned to face him, Tara used a low blow to drop Elizabeth to her knees. Kilmeade immediately hopped back down, telling the referee there was a low blow. But she didn’t see it, and turned back to see Tara starting to get up again.

Zack: No honor among thieves, is there, Leona? I’d have thrown Kyle out of here before I even started the match if I was the official.

Leona: Yep, no, no way to expect fair play between those two. If they have their way, this will quickly turn into a contest of who outfoxes the other more efficiently. Nobody wins!

The Phoenix Champion looked to be in an increasingly foul mood now as she pulled Elizabeth back to her feet. She scooped her up over her shoulders into a Death Valley driver, plunging the challenger into the mat. She was still favoring her army though when she stepped on the challenger’s hair and pulled up on her arms to try to rip it from her scalp. Davis counted to four before she let go, and the brunette pulled her opponent’s head between her legs for a ganso bomb. She quickly rolled her over for the cover with a hook of the outside leg.

Leona: Straight from Japan, a low elevation powerbomb that almost counts as a piledriver! That’s DANGEROUS!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

TH-NOOOOOO!!

Elizabeth got her shoulder up in time, and Tara rolled out to the floor. She shared a few words with Christian before she dragged Elizabeth to the apron with her. Cortez pulled the apron over Elizabeth’s head, hopped up on the apron herself and then delivered a curb stomp to the back of her head.

Zack: Jesus, that was vicious! Elizabeth’s head was stuck under the apron, and Tara tried to stomp her skull in!

Tara rolled back in the ring after freeing her head, and dragged Elizabeth to the center. She pulled the blonde up enough to plant her head between her legs to deliver a tiger bomb before rolling her over to make another cover. 

Leona: Double underhook… TIGER BOMB! Tara is ready to hit the pay window!!!

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!!

The “Lioness” just managed to get her shoulder up in time before the three hit, and Tara rained elbows against her head for doing it. The champion got back to her feet, bouncing off the far side for what looked like a guillotine leg drop. But Elizabeth rolled out of the way, and let her land on her ass instead.

Zack: It’s not the fall that gets you, it’s the sudden drop at the end! Tara’s gonna have some bruising for a few days back there.

Elizabeth pulled herself together, and started back to her feet. Tara wasn’t far behind her before the “Lioness” began hammering forearms into the side of her head. Four in a row landed before she pinned her arm behind her back and slammed her to the mat. Kyle looked on with approval, encouraging her to finish her off as Elizabeth grabbed her arm to go for her cross armbreaker. But Tara pulled her into a small package as the referee dove into position.

Leona: She’s been readying herself for this all match, the Red W-- WHOA, A ROLL UP!!!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!

Elizabeth kicked out in the nick of time, and had a severe look on her face as she got to her feet. Tara started to rise as well, catching a kneelift to the face from the challenger that sent her reeling backwards a couple steps.

Zack: Christian has got Tara ready for that cross armbreaker. She’s almost instinctive when she feels that arm getting pulled by the challenger. 

Leona: As well he should! It doesn’t matter if your opponent is a cheat -- everyone has that special weapon, and if Tara wasn’t ready to escape the Red Wedding armbreaker, this would be academic!

She watched as Tara started to get up, and then took off towards the ropes. The “Lioness” rebounded, looking for her running jumping DDT!

Zack: Forget the submission, she’s going for the RAINS OF CASTAMERE!!!

As Elizabeth approached to grab her head, Tara swept her leg out from under her. The blonde hit the mat before Cortez scooped her over her shoulders into an inverted Death Valley Driver! The blonde landed in a heap before Tara dropped to make the count!

Zack: JESUS!

Leona: OH MY GOD!!!!!!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Davis called for the bell as Christian headed into the ring. Tara made it back to her feet, still trying to catch her breath before her hand was raised by the referee.

Leona: GOOD GOD WHAT WAS THAT?! Elizabeth’s neck almost snapped!!! I got chills here, man!

Kat: Your winner by pinfall..AAAAAAAAAAAAAND STILL FFW Phoenix Champion…...TARA CORTEZ!!

Christian gave her the title back as Tara kicked proverbial dust behind her, and then raised her title aloft with her good arm. The fans showed her no love as she stepped out to the floor with her manager walking alongside her. Christian told the camera that was called the IQ DROP.

Zack: Tara put the exclamation point on that match, didn’t she? That was devastating, and I don’t think there are many who would have gotten up from it!

Leona: IQ Drop… Yeah, that’ll drop more than some IQ points -- Tara almost bent Elizabeth’s neck in a scary way with that plunge, and now she gets to bring the Phoenix Championship back to Texas with her. Wow...

The pair headed up the ramp with Tara draping her title over her shoulder. And then the show cut to a commercial for Unstoppable 12.


Lead Pipe Cinch

The camera follows Allison Marx as she heads through the hallways of the MGM Grand as she looks for the door she’s after. She’s talking to the camera as she moves though.

Allison: I’m going to get a few words with Kelly Kincaid in just a moment. I want to ask her about her pending challenge for the FFW Championship at Unstoppable 12, as well as her match against Stacey Sky of Future Shock, and her Hall of Fame induction. It’s certainly going to be a busy couple months for her, and--

Allison stops talking as she arrives at the right door, but hears a lot of noises coming from inside. As soon as she pushes the door open, Kelly is seen on the floor as Stacey is smashing a lead pipe against her leg with her manager looking on, still in his cast.

Kyle: You wanna get involved in Future Shock business, Kelly? Well you can take what follows from that. Go ahead.

Stacey smashed the pipe against Kelly’s leg again, causing the New Yorker to shout in pain and try to hold her knee to her body. Another smash of the pipe landed against her thigh before Stacey tossed it in the trash. She looked to her manager as Kyle took her hand, seemingly calming her down. Kelly writhed in pain, grasping her knee to her.

Kyle: Still feeling froggy? Go ahead and jump. That’s what I thought.

He led his client out of the locker room as Allison shouted into the hallway.

Allison: We need some medical help right now! HURRY!!

The camera went back to Kelly as both security and her husband arrived on the scene. Trainers weren’t far behind either as security ushered Allison out of the locker room, and closed the door on her.

[Adam Grant]

The next image we see is that of Kat once more in the ring as she looks at the camera to begin the introductions.

Kat: The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the FFW Unity Tag Team Championship!

Zack: We tried to have this match at Global Wars a few weeks ago, but the Wicked Storm put an end to that. Now we’ll finally see which is the better team between these two fan favorite tandems with the richest prize in the Unity division on the line.

Leona: NHB has shot up the ranks like we’ve rarely seen before, and Target Acquired, who got the belts in an open challenge laid by the Privileged Circle, now get to prove they deserve to remain Unity Champions! This is gonna be good!

“Deuce” by Kiss begins to play, Jem runs out of the back and onto the stage area, sprinting across to the far side and bouncing on the balls of her feet as she encourages the crowd to get a little louder. Charging across to the other side of the stage, she once more cheerleaders before heading back to the middle of the stage. Meeting her partner there the two girls double high five and turn it into a hug that breaks as Jem charges down to the ring, sliding underneath the bottom rope. Angela follows her down the ramp, slapping hands with fans. Jem pops up to her feet and makes a tour of the corners, climbing to the middle turnbuckle and throwing her hands into the air to get a cheer from the crowd before moving onto the next one. As Angela reaches the ring she hops up onto the apron and raises one clenched fist in the air before she enters the ring and walks to the NHB corner to await the start of the match.

Kat: Approaching the ring at a combined weight of 306 lbs, the team of Jem Michaels and Angela Hinchcliffe...NO HOLDING BACK!!!

Zack: NHB feels like their career clock is ticking down, and that they need to become the FFW Unity Champions for it all to have come full circle. There’s a locker room full of teams waiting on the winner of this one, but Angela and Jem will have to give their full focus to the team they are about to meet.

Leona: They’ve been part of the circuit for a while now, and they have the credentials to be in this match. The fact they’ve been made to wait to have this shot by the Wicked Storm, I bet, will only make them even antsier to get the job done.

The curtain opens and Nadia Beaulieu and Alessandra Esposito appear as ‘Chase You Down’ begins to play around the arena.

Ooh Ooh
Don't let it slip away
Ooh Ooh
Don't let it get away

The two girls stand back to back, their championship belts around their waists, and make ‘guns’ with their fingers. They raise them up and move them side to side to take their aim until the finally find their target directly in front of them. In perfect unison they make a motion as if firing and then lower their ‘guns’ with a satisfied nod, turning to face the ring when they have.

Can you hear me right now
I got your number
And I'm callin' you out
With liquid courage
I can beat all my doubt
There's not another
So I'm chasin' you down

They both take off towards the ring at a run, with Nadia reaching it before Alessandra. Nadia climbs the steps, while Alessandra hops straight up onto the apron when she catches up.

Chasin' you down
Can you see me right now
I'm comin' closer
Think I figured you out
Not like the others
You don't blend with the crowd
I've blown your cover
Now I'm takin' you down
Takin' you down

Kat: Introducing at this time, ALESSANDRA ESPOSITO and NADIA BEAULIEU….The reigning and defending FFW Unity Tag Team Champions…......TARGET ACQUIRED!

Can you hear me right now
I got your number
And I'm callin' you out
With liquid courage
I can beat all my doubt
There's not another
So I'm chasin' you down
Chasin' you down

Nadia climbs up onto the turnbuckle while Alessandra hops up to sit on the top rope facing the ramp. Alessandra kicks her feet upwards to roll backwards into the ring landing on one knee. She keeps her head lowered as Nadia somersaults off the top turnbuckle to land on her feet behind her. The two make their finger ‘guns’ again, raising them to their mouths to blow the ‘smoke’ away before Alessandra gets to her feet and the two raise their titles above their heads. They make their way to their corner, sharing some last minute words as they await the start of the match.

Zack: Target Acquired have enjoyed a tremendous 2021 so far, haven’t they? They captured the Unity titles in a surprise match at the end of January. Alessandra won Global Wars, and could become the next Future Shock Champion very soon. And we aren’t even halfway through 2021 yet.

Leona: Talk about the wave of their lives! They have a tough challenge ahead of them, and they have to prove they’re ready to be the targets instead of the chasers. Not to mention, there’s always a thing of frustration when you can’t defend your championship and prove yourself. Among good champions, that is.

Referee Malcolm Parks checks everyone for hidden objects, and then takes the Unity titles from Alessandra and Nadia. He holds them up and shows them to Angela and Jem before Kat takes them with her to ringside. Both halves of each team shakes with their opponents before Parks calls for the bell to start the match. Jem and Nadia head to their corners, and Alessandra and Angela start the match. The pair circle for a moment and lock up in the center. Angela shows she’s the stronger of the two as she backs the champion up into the ropes. Parks asks for a clean break and gets it. Angela holds up her hands as she steps back, and Alessandra surprises her immediately with a lungblower that bounces her to the mat. Esposito dives on top of her for the cover as Parks drops into position.

Leona: WHOA! Alessandra wants to make the powerhouse in Angela to go to sleep in record time!

ONE!!!!

T-NOO!!!

Angela kicks out after a one count, and Alessandra quickly gets back to her feet. The powerhouse of NHB isn’t far behind her as the Global Wars winner charges towards her, and gets scooped up as she does into a sidewalk slam from Angela.

Zack: We almost had the shortest tag title defense in FFW history right there. Angela is way too fresh for that, which Alessandra just found out the hard way.

The Unity Champion rose to her feet, and Angela hurled her towards the neutral corner. Alessandra barely had time to respond before Angela charged in with a corner clothesline. She lowered her shoulder to drive shoulder thrusts into the Italian beauty’s body before Angela scooped her over her shoulders for a running Samoan drop in the center of the ring. A leg drop across her chest followed that before Angela made the tag to Jem. The redhead was lifted up by her partner after getting into the ring so Angela could use a running powerslam that drove her into Esposito’s body. Jem hooked the far leg for the cover on impact.

Zack: Angela using her own tag team partner as a weapon, and Alessandra may be thinking it’s time for a tag herself at this point.

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

T-NOPE!!!

The champion kicked out in time before the three and the referee ushered Angela out of the ring.

Leona: Great teamwork by NHB right now, with Jem being literally hurled into Alessandra, but that’s a two-count!

Jem pulled her back to her feet, and whipped her across to the far side. The redhead followed her after she rebounded to deliver a running European uppercut. It wobbled the Unity Champion backwards before Jem left her feet, and connected with a hurricanrana. She sprung to her feet, and darted towards the ropes to springboard into a moonsault across Alessandra. Nadia looked on from the corner with concern as Jem grabbed the brunette to her feet again. She whipped her into the corner, and followed her in for what was to be a running monkey flip. But Alessandra grabbed the ropes with both hands, and let Jem crash to the mat instead.

Zack: Alessandra played it smart there! She grabbed that top rope, and let Jem land on the back of her head instead.

Leona: Great call by Alessandra! Jem didn’t have the right grip on her shoulders, so she gets to take that trip alone. And it’s never a soft or pleasant landing when that happens.

When Jem rolled over to get up, Alessandra fell forward with a double axe handle to her back. That kept her down on the mat until the Unity Champion cinched her around the waist, and showed great power with a deadlift into a German suplex. But she didn’t let go, instead choosing to roll through to her feet to hoist Jem up for three more. The redhead clutched her lower back on the mat as Alessandra rolled her onto her stomach, planted her feet behind Jem’s knees and fell backwards into a surfboard submission. With her arms and legs extended, Jem was suspended above the ring in the surfboard, causing Parks to see if she wanted to quit.

Zack: It takes a hell of a lot of strength to perform this hold, and Jem’s back is being tortured by Alessandra now. 

Leona: Not to mention you have literally nowhere to run, because no part of your body is touching the mat! If Alessandra can keep that form, Jem is gonna need more than just a high pain threshold to count on.

Alessandra’s arms and legs were locked in place as she held Jem up in the submission. Parks checked again to see if she wanted to stop the match, but Jem shook her head. The challenger couldn’t do much of anything with her arms and legs locked underneath her. Alessandra didn’t budge an inch underneath her, continuing to show the power she possessed in her small frame. 

Zack: I think Jem’s best hope is if Alessandra gets tired. I don’t see too many other ways for her to get any kind of relief here. Look at how---

Before Zack could finish his thought, Angela returned to the ring with a baseball slide into Esposito’s ribs. It caused her to drop Jem before Angela returned to the corner after the referee admonished her. Jem still favored her back as she rolled towards the ropes, while Alessandra grabbed her feet and pulled her into her team’s corner. She made the tag to Nadia, and held Jem’s feet while the blonde used the top rope as a slingshot into a double knee drop to Jem’s body. 

Zack: We got the two fastest members of each team in the ring, but I don’t think we’re going to see a lot of zipping around and high flying out of Jem at the moment.

Leona: No, she was really punished by that surfboard, and Alessandra was ready to hold on to that all night! Angela felt that was her only choice, and now Nadia Beaulieu gets to play.

Nadia pulled Jem to her feet, and scooped her upside down into a tree of woe in the neutral corner. A few short knees to her body landed before the French beauty took off for the far side, and came back with a shotgun dropkick to her ribs. Jem collapsed back to the mat, and Nadia flipped her over into a Boston crab submission. Parks moved down to check for the submission again as Nadia adjusted the hold to put her knee into Jem’s lower back as well.

Zack: Nadia’s picking up right where her partner left off. Jem’s back is getting worked over, and she could really use a tag to Angela right about now.

Leona: Smart strat by Target Acquired! Not only do they keep their adversaries separated, they also get to wear out the lightweight of the team while the powerhouse sits out! The problem is, Jem only needs a slip to bring a fresher hard hitter into the match!

Parks checked again, still getting a no from the redhead about quitting. Jem surveyed her surroundings, and saw the ropes weren’t far away at all. She had to stretch her arm as much as she possibly could, but she got her fingertips on the bottom rope. Parks called for the break as Nadia looked to see where Jem’s hand was. The blonde shook her head and grabbed her feet to pull her towards the center of the ring. She was about to apply the hold again before Jem yanked her down into a small package!

Leona: Quick surprise roll up, Jem may steal it!!!

ONE!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

T-NOO!!

Nadia kicked out in time, and sat up to make sure it was just a two count. After Parks told her it was, she got back to her feet and pulled Jem up with her. But the redhead surprised her with a jawbreaker that sent her stumbling backwards. Jem slowly got back to her feet, favoring her back before connecting with a roundhouse kick to an oncoming Nadia.

Zack: Jem’s showing us a lot of heart and tenacity now! Nadia was about to take her down again, and got nothing but a mouthful of boot leather.

Nadia crumpled to her hands and knees after the kick landed, and Jem bounced off the near side for a guillotine leg drop across the back of her head. The redhead headed towards her corner as Nadia was beginning to rise again. Jem lunged towards Angela, and made the tag before the powerhouse stepped back through the ropes. Nadia had barely gotten to her feet when Angela rushed her with a running shoulder tackle that flipped her to the mat. She headed for the corner next, getting into a three point stance. And when Nadia got up a second, Angela charged towards her with a massive clothesline that flipped her in midair before she crashed onto the mat.

Leona: Like I said, Jem only needed one slip, and Angela is ready to strike down her targets! Look at how she almost turned Nadia inside out with that clothesline, good lord!

Zack: Nadia is wondering what the license plate on that Mack truck that just her was. My goodness, Angela is like a runaway locomotive when she gets some speed behind her.

But Angela stayed on the move as she barreled towards the ropes. As Nadia was trying to rise yet again, Hinchcliffe dropped her with a running neckbreaker and scooped her up around the waist for what looked like an inverted bearhug. Angela started shaking her like a leaf in her arms, causing Nadia’s arms and legs and head to fling around before she got deposited with a German suplex into the turnbuckles. Angela dragged her out of the corner to make the cover.

Leona: OOF! Suplex into the tensors! Angela with the heavy damage!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEE-NO!!

Alessandra broke up the count with a knee drop to the back of Angela’s head. She was immediately escorted to the corner by the referee as Nadia was still reeling. Angela got up first her, casting a long stare over to Alessandra before she pulled Nadia up to her feet, this time into an actual bearhug.

Zack: Nadia must feel like she’s been caught in the spin cycle at the laundromat! Angela is showing us some extra aggressiveness tonight.

Nadia immediately tried to relieve the pressure when she started pushing Angela’s head away to create some breathing room. But Angela’s grip was too strong for her, and Nadia started to slump against her. Jem cheered her partner on as Angela continued to press the leverage. Nadia raised her arm and drove an elbow into Angela’s shoulder. It didn’t seem to help much. She tried it a second time without much success, but a bell clap worked! She used it twice more to break Angela’s grip, and quickly followed up with a facebuster!

Zack: Nadia’s finally got herself an opening here. I think she should see about making the tag though. Alessandra is ready to rock’n roll right now!

Leona: Yeah, she’s had enough time outside the ring now, and after watching Nadia get almost turned upside down, the Italian half of the champs is raring to rejoin the match.

Nadia rolled over to all fours, and started heading towards her corner. Jem implored her partner to stop her, and Angela got to her feet to do just that. She grabbed the French beauty’s foot, causing her to get up and hop on the other leg. But Beaulieu went for an enzuigiri that Angela ducked. But Nadia showed some quick thinking, grabbing Angela’s head before she rose back up and planting her with a future shock DDT. Alessandra was pounding the corner as she had her arm outstretched for the tag, but Nadia was still very worn down. She finally spotted her partner, and began heading towards her again.

Leona: Quick thinking by Nadia and that’s the opening! Alessandra is rested, she can pick up from here… But Angela may also want to see if Jem is ready to go again!

Zack: You got that right. She wants the tag, and if Nadia gets her way, she’ll make her wish come true in a matter of seconds.

But Angela made it back to her feet in time just as Nadia was close to her corner. The Brit whipped her across to the far side, and tried to catch her with a spear. But Beaulieu hopped over her, landing on her feet. When the challenger turned around, Nadia grabbed her head and delivered a stunner that bounced the Brit off the mat. She immediately dove for the cover with both legs hooked!

Leona: Powerful stunner, Angela may not know where she is anymore!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOPE!!

Angela didn’t kick out, but she didn’t have to as Jem came off the top rope with an elbow drop to Nadia’s back to break the cover. That drew Alessandra into the ring before the pair started firing away at one another.

Zack: I didn’t even notice Jem till she crashed into Nadia’s back, and this Unity title match has broken down in a hurry!

Nadia got to her feet, heading for the nearest corner as she took a moment to collect herself. Angela began to get up before the blonde dove off with a blockbuster that landed perfectly on target. The brawling between Alessandra and Jem spilled out to ringside as Nadia headed back for the corner again.

Leona: Beautiful blockbuster by Nadia, while… I think we have a spillage outside the ring, Alessandra and Jemima have descended into chaos here!

Zack: With their partners out here trading shots on the floor, Nadia looks like she’s ready to close the show in the ring! 

The French beauty glanced over to her partner before launching into her imploding 450 corkscrew splash! But Angela got her knees up in time, and made Nadia shout on impact before she was rolled up into a tight small package!

Leona: BAD LANDING!!! And it may cost her!!!

ONE!!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Alessandra tried to make the save, but was stopped by Jem until the bell rang. Angela got to her feet slowly and Jem hit the ring, running into her partner’s arms for a big tackle hug. When she finally hopped down to her feet, the referee raised their hands.

Zack: How about that?! NHB finally….and I do mean FINALLY…..captured the titles they’ve wanted for years! Angela and Jem are the new…..well you tell’em, Kat!

Kat: Your winners of the match…...AND NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWW FFW Unity Tag Team Champions……..NO HOLDING BACK!!!

When they were presented with the titles by the referee, tears could be seen on their faces. They hugged the titles tightly, and showed them all four sides of the arena. Nadia and Alessandra congratulated them, and raised their hands as well.

Zack: Nothing but class right there from Nadia and Alessandra. NHB finally achieved their dream, and you can see how much it means to them by looking at those faces.

Leona: They have been Trios Champions before, but this was the moment that eluded them for so long… No more! Angela Hinchcliffe and Jem Michaels have finally snagged the Unity Championships! Congrats to them!

The fans celebrated with the new champions, making a lot of noise for them as the show cut to a commercial for Unstoppable 12.

[Adam Grant]

 

Kat: The following match is scheduled for one fall to a finish and is the final match of the Hall of Fame gauntlet!!

Zack: In a weird way, you could say this match is our fifth title match tonight. Because if Nevaeh doesn’t win, she’ll never get her Phoenix title shot. And if Amy wins, she will get the Hall of Fame induction she has wanted since the promotion opened.

Leona: I don’t know, man. To me, it sounds like Samantha has set up a trap for Nevaeh. Not even I was subjected to this kind of treatment.

“On to the Next One” by Jay-Z resounds through the venue as the lights shut off and, immediately, a black and white flickering strobe light cuts in.

I got a million ways to get it. Choose one. Hey, bring it. Double your money and make a stack.

The Killer Blonde of FFW struts onto the stage with her arms extended. She twirls around on her toes and comes to a stop, facing forward as she pulls her arms in toward her chests and explodes them outward in a nail-drying pose as silver glitter shoots out of the entrance set-up and out to her sides.

With a smirk on her face, Amy continues down to the ring, ignoring the crowd’s advances of hatred or high regard as she walks around the ring and lifts herself up onto the apron, posing before climbing over the center rope and proceeding to one of the turnbuckles and standing on the second rope posing before sitting on the top rope and casually lounging out in disregard for her competition as she cavalierly perfects her nails.

Kat: Introducing first, she hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada! She is the...first longest reigning FFW Champion of all time and future FFW Hall of Famer! Ladies and gentlemen, this is....’THE KILLER BLONDE’ AMY!!

Zack: Amy hasn’t competed in years, and I see she already cued Kat to go ahead and announce her as the next inductee into the Hall of Fame. 

Leona: “Future Hall--” I mean, sure. There was so much BS in that introduction alone, I’m surprised Kat didn’t have an aneurysm right then and there.

As “Rise” by Sixx A.M. we see the arena lights blinking in sync with the lyrics of the music. Nevaeh Summers eventually storms her way onto the stage , fired up, and motioning to the crowd, before stopping at the top of the ramp and looking out at the people. Nevaeh is wearing yellow rimmed sunglasses as well as a white Poisoned by Ivy military jacket with yellow trim. As we keep looking at Nevaeh we see she is wearing yellow colored leather pants running down her leg. The side of each leg is laced up with white colored fabric, showing of her skin. On her feet we see black boots and white kickpads. On the front of each kickpad appears her logo as there is a circle with “NS” in the center of it in Yellow. While “The" scrolls on the top and “Finest” scrolls on the bottom, also in yellow.

Nevaeh looks around the building, nodding her head, as she starts feeling the crowd. “Feel that energy” is what can be heard coming from Nevaeh as she goes about heading down the ramp halfway and begins pointing her left hand out to the crowd and moves it around as if she was conducting them. The crowd moves from left to right, linking arms. Nevaeh then points to the opposite side of the crowd with her right hand, urging that side of the building on the same way, to which they do. Nevaeh lowers her head, her hands still swaying to the crowd till she raises her head up and snaps her arms out to the side.

As Nevaeh strikes her signature pose a row of pyro goes off next to her, starting far out and rushing close to her, before a big unified explosion happens behind her. Nevaeh now lowered her head back down and looked towards the ring and began walking down the ramp with a purpose.

Kat: Making her way to the ring at this time she resides in Los Angeles, California by way of Atlanta, Georgia. She weighs in tonight at 120 pounds. She is Nevaeh Summers!!!

Nevaeh reaches the bottom of the ramp and goes about slapping hands with the fans. Nevaeh now heads to the opposite side and slaps a few more hands before removing her sunglasses and just casually tosses them out towards the crowd. Nevaeh than quickly runs to the ring, sliding in under the bottom rope, and gets to a knee. Nevaeh just looks out for a moment before getting to her feet and shimmies out of her jacket.

Nevaeh then approaches the middle of the ropes facing the hard camera. Nevaeh climbs up them, hooking a leg over the top rope and straddling it. Nevaeh now sits there and looks out to the capacity crowd. The blonde began motioning them to get louder, which they do. She eventually lowers her head and starts motioning her arms as if she's conducting them again. This time we zoom out and capture the front row all around motioning along with her. After a moment Nevaeh snaps her head back and her arms out. Multiple spotlights soon shift down onto her, basking her in the light.

Nevaeh keeps striking the pose till she sees fit. Once she has she gets off the ropes and makes her way to the opposite side of the ring where she puts one foot on the bottom rope and the other on the middle. She bounces on them while looking out to the crowd and stretches her arms out yet again, encouraging them to get louder.

Nevaeh bounces off the ropes and lands on her feet. She starts psyching herself up as she paces back and forth along a corner.

Zack: We now know that it’ll be Tara Cortez that Nevaeh will meet IF she manages to pick up the win tonight. And that would just be the latest chapter in a rivalry that has spanned a couple years now.

Leona: That would be the fourth match in the series between Tara and Nevaeh, a series that, surprisingly so, has the Phoenix Champion on top. But with the title on the line, we may see Nevaeh focused as rarely ever before.

Malcolm Parks was the referee assigned to the contest and after checking both wrestlers for illegal objects he called for the bell. It saw both contenders step out of their corners and head towards the middle of the ring where Amy told her opponent that she deserved to be in the Hall of Fame as the first longest reigning FFW Champion and today she was going to take her place front and center in the Hall - that she even had a statue of her ready to move in. Summers stared at her for a moment before she suddenly launched herself at the Killer Blonde, taking her down to the mat with a Thesz press and began to unload on her head with furious rights and lefts. Barely any of them found their mark, however, as Amy immediately covered up. 

Zack: Look at Amy protecting herself. Maybe she’s hoping Nevaeh will punch herself out, rope a dope style. 

Leona: Look at the grace and courage of a “future Hall of Famer”. Sheesh, does she even qualify as a joke, or not even that?

Nevaeh came back to her feet, pulling her foe up with her and immediately landed a stinging knife edge chop to Amy’s chest. A second and third followed that before Summers Irish whipped Amy into the ropes, catching her on the return with a high knee to her chest. It caused the Killer Blonde to stagger backwards as Nevaeh skipped forwards and drove a big boot into her jaw to put her down on the mat. The first ever FFW Champion sat up and started to come to her feet only for Nevaeh to trap her head and start to drive knees into her body before she allowed the Canadian wrestler to straighten up only to use a hip toss to send her down to the mat. Immediately the World’s Finest followed that up with a knee drop to Amy’s chest before she made the cover.

Zack: Nevaeh’s looking to end it early, but I don’t think Amy is nearly worn down at this point.

One…

Tw-

Leona: That’s what happens when you can’t take your opponent seriously. Actually something I learned with Rose Gardner -- it’s easy to overwhelm your opponent when they think you’re an idiot. Except Amy is an actual idiot.

Amy kicked out on the two count and immediately rolled away, under the bottom rope and to the outside. The official tried to get Summers to back up only for the Atlanta native to turn and sprint across the ring, bouncing off the ropes. As she came back across the ring, Nevaeh looked to be about to dive out of the ring, Amy scurried out of the way, only for Summers to leap with her arms outstretched, shoulders hitting the ropes, causing her to bounce back off them. The Atlanta native rolled back up to her feet, keeping her eyes locked on Amy on the outside; the Canadian did not look happy as her opponent gave her a little bow and made the title belt motion around her waist to the cheers of the crowd.

Zack: Amy’s already taking a little powder for herself in this match. And the uh….first longest reigning FFW Champion is taunting Nevaeh now.

Leona: Is she winded already?... Lord, I need to tone down my sarcasm with this one. That’s what people like Amy do to you.

Amy shook her head with the displeased look still on her face after getting punked out by Nevaeh and started to walk up the ring steps, demanding the referee back the Georgia native up to a neutral corner. Parks told Nevaeh to step backwards, the competitor complying as she never took her eyes off Amy, waving her forwards and telling her to get in the ring. Amy took a couple of moments stood in the corner before she quickly stepped through the ropes and glared at her opponent as she headed towards the middle of the ring, telling the World’s Finest to come and take her best shot, tapping her chin as she did so. The Atlanta native strode towards as Amy continued to tap her jaw with her finger before she delivered a front kick right into the Killer Blonde’s midriff. It caused Amy to double over which let Nevaeh drop her down to the mat with a DDT.

Zack: This is why you don’t give your opponents free shots in any combat sport. Least of all someone as gifted in the ring as Nevaeh. She knows that trick.

Leona: Amy hasn’t even managed to land a shot in this match yet, and here she is, taunting Nevaeh with the oldest one in the book. Not really, uh… Hall of Fame-like.

The first ever FFW Champion started to push upwards, getting to all fours before Nevaeh pulled the rest of the way to her feet and started to back her up as she drove forearms into her jaw. Amy stepped backwards a couple of steps as the blows connected with her jaw before Summers jerked her forwards by the wrist and fired her opponent across the ring into the corner. The Ontario born wrestler hit the turnbuckle pads back first and leaned back against them as the World’s Finest measured her up for a moment before she charged forwards and launched herself into a handspring back elbow which saw the Hall of Famer crash back first into the pads as Amy managed to step out of the way at the last moment. Quickly the Killer Blonde grabbed hold of the top rope and began to fire off side kicks into her foe’s midsection. 

Zack: Good evasion by Amy there, and now those long legs with the furious strikes are coming into play. I haven’t seen those in years from her.

Leona: And NOW we get to see the wrestler that Amy is. If she spent less time blowing smoke up her own rear, we could all take this a little more seriously.

The referee told Amy to let her opponent out of the corner and started the five count as she continued with the kicks to the body, only stepping back when the referee reached four. It was only a momentary reprieve from the Killer Blonde before she raised her boot and pressed it against the throat of the World’s Finest. Again the referee called for the break and started the count which Amy milked before breaking at four. The referee began to reprimand her and Amy asked him for a time check. When Parks turned his back and went to ask the timekeeper, the first ever FFW Champion went straight back to the well, pressing her boot against Nevaeh’s throat with the choke. Parks turned back after getting the information from the ringside official and immediately stormed across the ring, demanding the break and started the count on Amy, yet getting to four as Summers turned red while she struggled to force the boot away from her throat. 

Zack: This is starting to look familiar now. Amy asked for a time check, and Parks went ahead and did it, allowing the “Killer Blonde” to continue choking the life out of Nevaeh.

Leona: Why would Amy be worried about a time check, though? This match doesn’t have a time limit!

Amy shrugged her shoulders as the referee began to reprimand her, telling him it was okay because she was a future Hall of Famer causing Parks to just stare at her as she stepped past him into the corner and climbed to the middle rope. The Killer Blonde told the crowd that she was number one and even as they booed she treated the response like the most rapturous of cheers before she pulled back on Summer’s hair and started to fire off right hands into her forehead. The crowd counted as each blow landed, the referee counting as she drove home closed fists before she dropped down to her feet after the ninth, the crowd booing her once more and pulled Summers out of the corner into a running bulldog, driving her face first into the mat in the middle of the ring. 

Zack: Nevaeh’s getting all the canvas she ever wanted. I hope she didn’t come into this taking Amy lightly. She didn’t become FFW Champion...first longest reigning...by being stupid or not knowing what she’s doing.

Leona: Please don’t repeat those ridiculous things, it’ll make your IQ plummet. But, like I said, maybe pretending to be a joke is part of the strategy. And, yeah, hopefully Nevaeh hasn’t fallen for it.

The World’s Finest started to push up onto all fours and Amy stepped over her, sitting down on her back as she pulled her into a camel clutch. The Killer Blonde pulled back on her foe’s chin, reminding her that she was facing the first ever longest reigning FFW Champion in the whole history of the world...and a future Hall of Fame by the time the night was out. Nevaeh tried to push upwards and power out of the hold, only for Amy to leap up into the air and crash down on Summers back with all her weight, driving her back down to the mat before she headed towards the ropes, bouncing off the ring ropes and as Nevaeh rolled over, she delivered a back splash to her chest before she leaned backwards and made the cover, hooking the inside leg as she did so.

Zack: Senton all the way from Toronto, and Amy’s looking for that Hall of Fame induction!

One…

Tw-

Nevaeh countered into a crucifix pinning combination.

Leona: COUNTER-PIN!

One…

Two…

...THR-

Zack: That was close! Nevaeh almost had her title shot all stitched up right there!

Amy kicked out in the nick of time and rolled back to her feet, nodding her head as she saw the referee confirm the two count. Summers was also coming back to her feet and as the Atlanta native made it back to a vertical base, Amy skipped forwards and caught her with a bicycle kick to the jaw which dropped the World’s Finest back down to the mat. Immediately Amy drove the point of her elbow into Summer’s chest with an elbow drop before she pulled her foe upwards from the mat where she fired a knife edge chop into Summer’s chest. Nevaeh stepped backwards, holding her chest as Amy told the crowd to quieten down before she drove another knife edge chop into her opponent’s chest. Again it caused the Hall of Famer to step backwards and Amy licked the palm of her hand before she stepped into delivering a backhand chop to her foe, driving her hand into her breast viciously. 

Zack: Man, you can hear those chops from Amy as she lights up Nevaeh’s chest. I’m seeing shades of the woman I remember from all those years ago. 

Leona: And I can see why Samantha Star trusted her to get the job done! This is the woman we expect to see when we hear “Killer Blonde!”

Four more of those followed to the same spot causing her to step backwards to the ropes where the Killer Blonde grabbed the Phoenix Championship hopeful by the wrist and fired her across the ring. As Nevaeh came back towards her, Amy scooped her off her feet and dropped her across the top rope. Summers gasped for breath and reeled back around only for Amy to again lift her off her feet and this time she drove her down into the canvas with a spinning spinebuster before she grabbed hold of Summers legs and rolled through into a jackknife pinning attempt.

Leona: Jackknife pin, and Amy may have punched her ticket to the Hall!

One…

Two....

Zack: Another near fall for Amy, and I know what move she likely has in mind. We may see the Nose Job before this one is all said and done.

Nevaeh kicked out as the two landed and Amy popped back up to her feet, staring at the referee and giving him a shake of her head, telling him he must do better while she headed towards the corner. Stepping out onto the apron, the Killer Blonde climbed up to the top rope and perched there for a moment, waving her opponent to her feet. As the Atlanta native rose and turned to face the first ever FFW Champion who launched herself into a flying clothesline and got a face full of boot as Summers leapt into the air and caught her with a dropkick to her chest. The World’s Finest rolled to the side, coming to her knees and stretched her arms out to the side, asking the crowd “how good was that?” while she tried to catch her breath before holding her chest for a moment as she came the rest of the way to her feet.

Zack: I’m not sure now is the time to ask the fans what they thought of your moonsault, not when your title shot is on the line and you got a decade plus veteran in there with you.

Leona: In a way, I guess we’re seeing a bit of that, quote-unquote, “old Nevaeh” too -- the one that got under the skin of their opponents and made it work. Amy… It’s been a while, but I think we get to see now how thick her skin is.

Amy likewise rose to her feet and turned straight into a series of left and right jabs from the American wrestler before Nevaeh jerked her forwards into a drop toe hold that saw Amy land chest first across the middle rope. Quickly the Phoenix Championship hopeful nipped up to her feet and took off across the ring, bouncing off the opposite ropes and launched herself into a cross body to her foes back as the Killer Blonde was still laid over the middle rope. Nevaeh started back to her feet, with a slight grimace on her face as Amy was getting back to her feet and Summers spun her around to deliver a knee into her body. A second followed that before the Hall of Famer sent her opponent down to the canvas with an exploder suplex.

Zack: Picture perfect exploder suplex drove Amy into the mat, but she’s already starting to rise….but not for long!

Leona: Not if Nevaeh keeps up with this offensive she isn’t!

The Canadian wrestler hit the mat and immediately started to come back to her feet only for Nevaeh to jerk her downwards into a backstabber which bounced Amy off her knees and sent her down onto all fours. Summers came back to her feet and took off towards the ropes as the Killer Blonde pressed a hand to the back and started to make it to her feet, only to be sent straight back down, face first into the mat as the World’s Finest delivered a slingblade clothesline to the back of her head. The Atlanta born wrestler watched her foe push up onto her hands and knees before she jumped into the air and delivered a double footstomp to her spine. Amy let out a cry of pain and tried to rise only for the Phoenix Championship hopeful to reach down and grab hold of her wrists, pulling her arms up behind her as she planted a foot in her lower back, pulling her spine into a curve in a standing surfboard. 

Zack: Standing surfboard submission from Nevaeh, and she can keep this on all night if she has to. There’s not much you can do in this hold other than hope your opponent gets bored and lets go.

Leona: Amy still has the mat to work with, and with those long legs, she can make something work. Problem is, she has a whole mat of distance from the ropes!

The Killer Blonde had a pained expression on her face as the referee asked the question, shaking her head in refusal. Summers continued to pull back on her arms, keeping her foot planted in her spine as she did so. Amy started to rock from side to side in the hold, still refusing to quit when the referee asked as she instead sought an escape. Nevaeh shook her head as she continued to pull back on the surfboard before finally she stomped down viciously, driving Amy chest first into the canvas as she released her hold. It caused the first ever FFW Champion to let out a cry of pain and Nevaeh delivered an elbow drop into her back before she transitioned forwards to attempt to lock in a crippler crossface submission. As she did so, though, the Canadian wrestler struggled and fought against the attempted hold, pulling herself across the canvas and grabbed hold of the bottom rope as Nevaeh locked in the hold. The referee called for the break and started the count, getting to four before the World’s Finest rolled away.

Zack: I’ll give Amy a world of credit there. She pulled them both to the ropes and got the break, and this is a woman who hasn’t had a match in a few years. 

Leona: Ring awareness is like riding a bike. You either know how to do it, or you never learned it.

The Phoenix Championship hopeful came to her feet and measured up Amy, watching as she used the ring ropes to pull herself upwards. As the Killer Blonde almost got back to a vertical base, Nevaeh took off across the ring, bouncing off the ropes and came back to catch her foe with a big boot to her jaw. It saw Amy lean back against the ropes as her legs threatened to give way. Summers pulled her foe forwards before she drove a raised knee into her midriff before jerking her head down into a single knee facebreaker. Amy staggered backwards and her foe darted past her, hitting the ropes and coming back at speed before she launched herself into the air to drive the Killer Blonde face first into the canvas with the Golden State of Mind. Quickly Nevaeh rolled her opponent over and went for the cover, hooking the leg as she did so.

Zack: GOLDEN STATE OF MIND!! Nevaeh’s got a date with Tara in three!!

One…

Two…

...THRE---

Leona: Not if Amy can avoid it! That was SO CLOSE but we’re still going!

Amy kicked out once more and Nevaeh went to pull her up to her feet as she confirmed the two count with the referee. As she manhandled the Killer Blonde upright, she hooked her head and lifted her upwards into position for a suplex but before she could deliver the move, the wily veteran wrestler managed to shift her weight to escape her grip and land on her feet behind her opponent. Before Nevaeh could react, the Canadian wrestler wrapped her arms around her foes waist and rushed her towards the ring ropes, bouncing her off them and rolling her up into an O’Connor roll pinning combination.

Leona: Another roll-up, Amy wants to catch Nevaeh off-guard!

One...

Two....

...THR-

Zack: Nevaeh was that close to seeing her Phoenix title shot evaporate before her very eyes.

Nevaeh kicked out, sending Amy into the ring ropes chest first only for the first ever FFW Champion to catch hold of them. She looked over her shoulder and spotted the World’s Finest scrambling to get to her feet and as Summers made it back upright, Amy hopped onto the middle rope and used it to springboard backwards and deliver a hurricanrana to her foe, holding on as she made the pinfall.

Leona: Beautiful hurricanrana, straight from lucha libre! And those long legs make it work SO well!!!

One…

Two…

...THRE--

Zack: Look at Amy taking some risks! Nevaeh got dumped right on her head, but she’s still in this!

Again Nevaeh kicked out before the three count could be completed and Amy shook her head at the referee, telling him he’d never become a senior official if he couldn’t count to three as she demonstrated the ability to him by slapping her hands together three times. He rolled his eyes at her, confirming the two once again and telling her the match continued. As she did so, Amy pulled her opponent up to her feet and slammed her down into the canvas with a one-armed neck breaker slam. Amy rolled away, holding her back with one hand as she did so before she started to use the ring ropes to pull herself up to her feet. The Killer Blonde leaned against the ropes as she made it to her feet, watching as Nevaeh made it back to her feet before she charged towards her and left her feet to spike Summer’s face into canvas with a wheelbarrow bulldog. Amy winced as she landed, holding her lower back with one hand and gave a shake of her head as she started to come back to her feet once more. This time she pulled the World’s Finest upwards and straight into an impaler DDT. The Killer Blonde pushed up to her knees and rolled her opponent onto her back to make the cover.

Leona: Impaler DDT! The Killer Blonde is out for business and she may get it!!!

One…

Two…

...THRE--

Zack: Amy is competing tonight like she never left the ring. But she still hasn’t found a way to keep Nevaeh down.

Summers rolled her shoulders and Amy once more looked to the referee, demanding the three count from Parks who shook his head, telling her that it was only a two and the shoulder came up. The Killer Blonde shook her head, slapping her heads together three times and raised her hands in the air as she came to her feet. The crowd booed her loudly as Parks jerked her hand down and left her in doubt that it was only a two count, telling her once more that the shoulder came up in time. Amy told him that she was the first ever longest reigning FFW Champion and knew a three count when she heard it. The referee shook his head and told her that it was only a two count. It caused the Canadian to give him a cold glare before she turned back towards the World’s Finest. The Atlanta born wrestler was getting back to her feet and Amy strode over to her and drove her boot into her stomach. Summers doubled over and was quickly pulled into position for the Nose Job. The Killer Blonde went to deliver her version of the Pedigree but Nevaeh blocked the attempt. 

Zack: That’s the move I was talking about! Nevaeh was about to get the NOSE JOB, but she did her homework on the “Killer Blonde” and managed to avoid it! That move is how Amy became FFW Champion!

Leona: But Nevaeh had it well scouted, and Amy won’t get her Hall of Fame induction yet! This title shot versus induction match has reached full throttle, I LOVE IT!

Amy released one of her opponent’s arms and hammered three forearm blows across her shoulders before she hooked her arm again, setting her up for the Nose Job once more. This time as she went to deliver it, Nevaeh not only blocked the attempt but went for the counter as she started to stand up, lifting Amy upwards. The Killer Blonde, though, didn’t go for the back body drop as she released her opponent and shoved herself away from Nevaeh. The first ever FFW Champion landed on her feet and stumbled a couple of steps before she got her balance and when she did, she skipped forwards and once more fired off a bicycle kick. Summers got her hands up to take the brunt of the blow, dropping down to one knee as she did so. 

Zack: Nevaeh was able to deflect the impact of that bicycle kick with her arms, but Amy’s on the move again!

Leona: But she didn’t absorb the whole of that impact, she felt it! Amy has put Nevaeh on her knees, and it’s time for the apotheosis for Amy!

Quickly Amy turned and took off towards the ropes only for Summers to follow behind her. Amy bounced off the ropes and slammed on the brakes, spinning around as she looked for Nevaeh and immediately falling backwards into a matrix style evasion to avoid the running forearm smash that the World’s Finest would normally use to start off her comeback sequence. Summers slammed on the brakes and spun around to face her opponent who came out of the backbend and into a headstand, wrapping her legs around her head to snap off a headscissors takedown, sending her down to the canvas in the middle of the ring. Getting back to her feet, Amy headed towards the corner and climbed to the top rope where she perched, waiting for Nevaeh to get to her feet and turn to face her before she launched herself from the top rope and into a crossbody. It connected perfectly and Parks slid into position to make the count. 

Zack: Amy’s going back up top once again with a high risk crossbody! She got all of it!

One…

Two…

...THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!NNNNNNNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leona: NOT YET!!! TWO-COUNT, AND NEVAEH’S CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS ARE ALIVE!

Nevaeh rolled her shoulder at the last moment and Amy glared at the official who was holding up two fingers. Again she asked him if he knew how to count to three before she went over it for him, treating him like he was in kindergarten. He told her he knew how to count to three but that Summers got her shoulder up in time. The Killer Blonde shook her head and once more came to her feet, playing to the crowd and getting loud boos from them before she headed back to the World’s Finest. Again she pulled her upwards and played to the crowd once more, letting them know that the Nose Job was coming up once more. Before she could pull her arms into position though, Summers pushed off against the canvas and drove her foe into the corner, following it up with four more she stepped backwards. Amy stumbled forwards and the World’s Finest once more dropped her shoulder and sent her opponent high into the air with a back body drop. 

Zack: Bad ride, worse landing for the “Killer Blonde” right there! But she sat right up!

Leona: Almost like a reflex bounce! Does Amy even know where she is?!

Amy sat up as she hit the mat, her face turning into a mask of pain as she did so and pressed a hand to her spine. Quickly she started to rise only to walk straight into a superkick from Summers. Amy dropped down to the mat and instinctively rolled to her side holding her jaw. Nevaeh though didn’t give her any time to recover as she pulled her upwards and sent her into the ropes with an Irish whip, catching her on the return with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Amy rolled away to the ropes, holding her back as she did so. The referee told Nevaeh that her foe was in the ropes and to stay back as the Killer Blonde kicked her feet in pain. Slowly the first ever FFW Champion started to come to her feet but only made it to one knee before Summers pushed past the official, grabbed hold of Amy by the wrist and jerked her forwards, scooping her up off her feet and slammed her down into the canvas with a death valley driver. Nevaeh made the cover and hooked the leg as she did so.

Zack: A Death Valley Driver to Amy, and Nevaeh’s looking for her title shot right now!

One…

Two…

….THRE--

Leona: NOPE! Amy sat in the driver’s seat for a while now, Nevaeh’s gonna need a bit more!

Amy rolled her shoulder before the count could be completed and Nevaeh looked to the referee, asking for the three before she started to come to her feet. The referee shook his head, telling her that it was only a two as Amy rolled to her front, holding her back once more. The World’s Finest accepted the count with a shake of her head before she backed up and started to wave her hands like she was conducting an orchestra. The crowd got louder and louder as she gave the sign for the Grand Finale before she advanced on Amy, pulling her upwards and before she could pull her into the double underhook, the Killer Blonde caught her with a throat thrust and went to hook her head as if going for a small package only to collapse to the mat, seemingly holding Nevaeh on top of her in a pinning predicament. Parks slid into position and checked Amy’s shoulders before he started his count.

Zack: Wait a minute….Amy’s got the small package but she’s not the one on top! What the?!

One…

Two…

...THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leona: AMY’S BODY GAVE OUT AND SHE GAVE NEVAEH A FREE WIN!!! Does she even REALIZE she was the one being counted?!

Summers rolled away and sat up, coughing and trying to catch her breath as the Killer Blonde rolled out underneath the bottom rope, holding her back as she did so. Parks grabbed hold of Nevaeh’s hand and raised it into the air. 

Kat: Here is your winner, by way of pinfall… NEVAEH SUMMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zack: Nevaeh’s got her title shot, Nevaeh is going to Unstoppable 12 to finally challenge for the Phoenix Championship! 

Leona: Amy’s Hall of Fame dreams have been dashed, but Nevaeh has a date with Tara Cortez in England, and the Phoenix Championship shot will FINALLY be on the line!

Summers came to her feet and once more had her hand raised by the referee as the World’s Finest looked suspiciously at Amy. For a moment the Killer Blonde seemed to have a sly smile on her face before her features screwed up in pain, the Canadian holding her back for a moment and giving Nevaeh a short round of applause from the outside. For a moment the sly smile re-appeared as she told the World’s Finest that she got her before the look of pain returned and she started back up the ring ramp. The “Killer Blonde” glanced back to her, telling her good luck as she continued to the back.

Zack: Wait a second….Amy…. I have a weird feeling about this one. Amy just wished Nevaeh good luck. Did she pull Nevaeh on top of her to give her the win?  Did she….throw the match to screw over Samantha? Even Nevaeh looks a little confused. 

In the ring, Nevaeh shook her head, seemingly forcing a smile across her lips as she started to celebrate. The fans cheered her loudly as she made the title belt motion around her waist, telling the watching crowd that she was coming for the Phoenix Championship before the show cut elsewhere.



The Right Woman Won

The show cut to the back, and saw Amber Carano waiting outside the gorilla position. It’s obvious she’s waiting on someone, and that’s when Amy comes through as Nevaeh’s music is still playing in the arena. Amber approaches her quickly.

Amber: Amy! What happened out there? 

Amy, obviously sore, looks at Amber and flashes a smile to her but it fades soon thereafter. 

Amy: Nevaeh just won her title match that she’s been owed, that’s what happened. The right woman won.

Amber looks a little confused.

Amber: I don’t understand. I thought you wanted to be inducted into the FFW hall of Fame, but it looked like…

Amy: I do, Amber. But maybe...maybe I don’t deserve to be there in anyone’s eyes but mine. I said going into this match that someone would get what’s coming to them. And someone is, Nevaeh’s gonna get her title shot she’s been chasing for most of a year.

Amber: But...what about your Hall of Fame induction?

Amy looked thoughtful for a moment before she spoke again.

Amy: What about it? My entire career has been about putting mef forward, getting what I wanted, making sure I ended up on top. But tonight was my last match, Amber. I’m not ever going to wrestle again. Nevaeh is. And I’ll be honest with you...for once.

The smile started to form on her face again, just not as wide as usual.

Amy: I’d like for people to remember me and my career for something more than just being the “Killer Blonde” like I have all these years. The “Killer Blonde”....she got what was coming to her tonight. I wish Nevaeh nothing but luck and success when she challenges for the title. And that’s not from the “Killer Blonde” talking, that’s from Amy. Amy Kaplan.

Amy was about to continue speaking when she glanced up to see someone off camera. The shot shows Samantha looking thunderous as Amy scoops up her bag that had apparently been sitting by the gorilla position. She flashes the redhead with one of those megawatt smiles as she throws her bag over her shoulder. And then she flips her a bird, to which the crowd ROARS in approval! The approval brings a big grin to Amy’s face as she heads towards the exit with her things. 

Fans: AMY! AMY! AMY!

Amy disappears into the corridors of the MGM Grand Arena finally hearing the fans cheering for her. Then we cut to a commercial for FFW vs. Future Shock on June 15th.

[Adam Grant]

 

Kat:The following match is scheduled for one fall to a finish and it is for the FFW Evolution Championship!!!

Zack: So far tonight, folks, we are 1-1 in successful title defenses at Fury. Tara retained the Phoenix title earlier, and NHB became the new Unity Champions. Now it’s time for the Evolution title, and well...we have a guest at ringside. I guess we’ll find out why. Kyle, welcome to the booth.

Kyle: Oh, I wouldn’t miss this match for the world. After all, I have a client who is eagerly awaiting the winner. 

Leona: My cup runneth over...

The intro to Shinedown's "Adrenaline" hits the sound system and the arena lights follow it, blinking mad in shades of red. The music halts, and the arena is engulfed in darkness. When the beat comes back, the lights go crazy again, but now with something new in the center stage: a gigantic "A for Anarchy" symbol blinking as well. When the beats come back for good, the Anarchy symbol is fully lit, and the headlights of the arena are going HAM in red and white. That's the cue for Alysson Gardner to walk onto the stage, holding her crowbar on one hand. She stares into the cheering audience before pointing into the two sides of the crowds, inviting them to join the show before slamming the crowbar on the floor twice, leaving it there on the third and then throwing the cross-arm horns to the sky, at which point a volley of red fireworks go off behind her.

Kat: Introducing first, the challenger... From Paris, France... "THE OUTLAW"... ALYSSON! GARDNER!!!

Alysson then powerwalks down the ramp, indulging in a high-five with the fans who have their hands out of her, before stopping right at the foot of the ramp, taking a step back and then dashing towards the ring, spearing herself into the ring, kicking up and then climbing the turnbuckles, throwing her arms up with the crossed horns and soaking in the cheers, before jumping down and doing it all over again with another turnbuckle. After covering two of them, she retreats to her corner, removing her coat and throwing it over the top rope for a stagehand to take care of it.

Zack: I’m not sure Casey has ever faced someone quite like Alysson, and I think the “Outlaw” is going to test her like no other.

Leona: This is Alysson’s fifth attempt at the Evolution Championship, and she’s made clear she believes her time in the circuit is running out, much like NHB earlier tonight. The Goddess of Extreme is ready to show Casey what a headache looks like.

Kyle: Really? I’m not really bothered either way. I’m not a huge fan of Casey or organized religion in general, and well...Alysson will likely never have me on her Christmas card list.

Leona: So why are you here again?

The arena is plunged into darkness, punctuated only by the soft, subtle, plucking of harp strings picking out the tune from the hymn “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands” only just loud enough to be audible by the capacity crowd. As it plays the video wall starts to show a group of people formed up in ranks against a pure black background. The song got louder as the voices of the people on the video wall began to sing the hymn with great enthusiasm and verve, clapping their hands together as they did so. Then, suddenly it was cut off and became a fanfare of trumpets. A sudden blinding white light flooded the whole building before it narrowed down to a single point high above the stage where a single figure is slowly descending from the heavens. The woman almost seems to be glowing in her bright white robes with the FFW Evolution Championship belt fastened securely around her waist. Her hair was almost a flame red crown around her head. The eyes of the choir on the video wall all turned towards her, singing out an awed ‘Aaaah aaaaah aaaah’ to accompany the angel’s descent only for her to become more and more recognisable as Casey Atherton the lower that she gets. The crowd dropping down to their knees on the wall and starting to bow towards the angelic figure. As Casey landed she shrugged herself out of her white robes with the aid of a stagehand, leaving herself in brilliant white ring tights and a white smock top and her championship belt still around her waist. Cradling her hands together, the red haired woman began to slowly walk down the entrance ramp; bathed in the same bright, pure white light. On the video wall, the Choir began to sing, slowly growing to a crescendo!

She's got the whole world in her hands
She's got the whole wide world in her hands
She's got the whole wide world in her hands
She's got the whole world in her hands

As she makes it to the ring, she climbed up the ring steps and onto the apron before slowly and as respectfully and reverentially as possible stepped through the ropes into the ring. Atherton flashed a bright smile to the crowd, circling the ring only to stop on each side of the ring and blessed those in attendance.

Kat: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome at this time, the FFW Evolution Champion…”THE SAVIOUR” CASEY ATHERTON!!!!

Casey finally returns to her corner, eyes turned to the heavens as she seems to be praying while she waits for the match to begin and the choir faded off the video wall. Finally holding the title belt a little higher and offering it to the assigned ring official before she returned to her feet to wait for the match to begin.

Kyle: So let me guess, both of you are hoping we crown a new Evolution Champion tonight? I could guarantee it if Lacey were in this match, but that’s a story for another day.

Leona: I’m here to commentate the match, Kyle, not peddle my clients or anything. Fact is, Casey is really confident in her ability to dispatch a hardcore legend in a staightforward match, since she won the belt back from Scarlett Silver in a Ladder Match.

Ashley Pruitt accepted the Championship from Casey, the saviour blessing her as she did so and the referee moved to show it to Alysson before raising it for the crowd and handing it through the ropes to a member of the ringside staff. The official checked that both wrestlers were ready to start and as she called for the bell, Gardner took off across the ring at speed and launched herself into a splash to Atherton’s body, crushing her against the corner pads. Immediately Gardner delivered a backhand chop to the side of the Evolution Champion’s neck before she caught her with a bell clap to both of her ears. The Saviour tried to cover up but as she did, Alysson sent her flying out of the corner with a monkey flip. 

Zack: And that test is starting already for the champion! Alysson is taking it right to her straight out of the gate. That’s what you have to do though!

Leona: Alysson has never been one to waste time! The Outlaw is a combination of speed and hard hits that few wrestlers have been able to pair!

Casey hit the mat hard and started to push up to her feet, only getting as far as one knee before Alysson caught her with a running knee strike to the side of her head before she grabbed hold of her red hair and slammed her face first into a single knee facebreaker. Atherton staggered backwards and the Outlaw breezed past her, leaping up onto the ropes behind her and coming off with a springboard bulldog that drove the Evolution Champion face first into the mat. Immediately the Saviour bounced up onto her knees only for Gardner to cause her to sit back on her heels with a two footed standing dropkick to her jaw. Atherton took a moment before she started to push upwards but was only allowed to make it as far as one knee before the French woman kipped up to her feet, hooked her opponent’s head and snapped off a DDT before she rolled Atherton onto her back and made the cover.

Leona: Snap DDT by Alysson and an early cover! Make her waste that energy!

One…

T-

Zack: I’m not sure dropping Casey on her head is going to do much damage. She already acts like someone who has been dropped a few times.

Casey rolled the shoulder and Alysson quickly pulled her foe upright and started to fire off forearms into the side of her jaw, landing three stiff shots in record time before she launched Atherton with an Irish whip across the ring and into the corner. Moments after the self proclaimed Saviour hit the turnbuckles, Gardner snapped her head back with a running big boot to the head before she pulled Casey forwards, spinning around behind her to apply a rear waistlock and hurled the natural red head back into the corner with a release German suplex, causing the back of Casey’s head to bounce off the middle turnbuckle as she landed on her ass. Gardner came to her feet and moved towards the middle of the ring before charging forwards and launching herself into a bronco buster. She bounced up and down on the Evolution Champions’ chest as the referee called for the break and started the count, getting to four before Gardner stood up.

Kyle: I haven’t seen that move in a while, at least not since one of Alysson’s last matches. I’ll give her credit though. She is explosive when she has to be, and can soak up a lot of punishment.

Leona: And that’s what made her quite dominant Ultraviolence Champion back in the day, she’s quite a sponge. That move right there, too, is more incapacitating than you think -- she’s using her hips to repeatedly strike Casey’s chest, like a bludgeoning weapon. It’ll draw the air out of your diaphragm in a hurry.

The Outlaw threw her hand up into the air as she stood up then made the title belt motion around her waist, getting a huge cheer from the crowd before she pulled Casey up to her feet and into a scoop slam to the canvas. Atherton hit the mat and immediately rolled to the side, underneath the bottom rope and to the outside, holding her back as she told the referee to back Gardner up. The referee didn’t see Casey’s protestation as she was already telling Alysson to head for a neutral corner. The Outlaw didn’t look pleased at all as she was forced backwards while Casey grimaced on the outside, rubbing her lower back as she did so while the referee began the count, getting to two before Gardner began to step forwards only for Atherton to point it out and Pruitt again told her to go back to a neutral corner.

Zack: Casey’s telling the referee to get Alysson back into the far corner. I think she wasn’t expecting Alysson to come out immediately with all guns blazing.

Kyle: I doubt you’re right. What she’s doing is trying to frustrate Alysson, and get her to make a mistake. 

Leona: Whatever she’s trying to do, Alysson has her tank full of adrenaline and she doesn’t want to waste time. The more Casey stalls the match, the Outlaw grows more bored. Maybe that’s the game plan?

The challenger prowled a scowl starting to appear on her face as she seceded to the referee’s instructions and Pruitt turned to resume the count on Atherton, going from two to three before the Outlaw decided to ignore the referee completely as she dropped back to the ropes, bouncing off them and picked up speed as she came across the ring, launching herself into a suicide dive…

Leona: Here comes Alysson! Incoming tope--?!

...only to catch the ropes and adjust in midair to land on her feet on the apron as Casey stepped smartly out of the way. The Evolution Champion seemed to perk up, grinning as she tapped her temple with her finger, telling the crowd that she’d outsmarted her foe before she turned around and Gardner came down the apron and leapt into a Thesz press, taking Casey down to the floor where she started to hammer away at her head with closed fist right and left hands. Atherton tried to cover up and Gardner grabbed hold of her by the hair, pulling her up to her feet and rolled her back into the ring. Atherton held her face with both hands as she lay on the mat and the Challenger quickly pulled herself up onto the apron. She took hold of the top rope and measured Casey up before she launched herself into a somersault leg drop but got nothing but mat as Casey rolled towards the rope and out of the way at the last moment. 

Zack: We’ve seen some hard landings tonight, and that one will go down as another. That’s like giving yourself an atomic drop, and one of the smartest moves Casey has made tonight.

Leona: Nothing Alysson hasn’t endured before, but always an uncomfortable landing. It more a matter of whether Casey can capitalize on that temporary incapacitation.

Gardner sat on the canvas for a couple of moments before she started to rise only for Casey to catch her with a short punch into her kidney area. A second followed that as Alysson froze up before Atherton took her down to the canvas with a clothesline to the back of her head. The Challenger landed face first on the mat and started to slowly push up, getting to all fours which saw the Champion grab hold of her head and wrench in a side headlock on the Frenchwoman. The referee checked the hold as Gardner pulled at the arm, trying to free herself before she began to push up to her feet and stepped back to the ropes where she tried to fire the Evolution Champion off of her. Atherton, though, stepped across the Outlaw as she slammed on the brakes and used Alysson’s momentum to take her down to the canvas with a side headlock takedown. Gardner landed on her back with Casey sat beside her and the Saviour leaned across, keeping the headlock applied as she forced her foe’s shoulders to the mat.

On-

Zack: Wow, the referee didn’t have a chance to even make one right there! Alysson was already out of there!

Kyle: That’s partially Casey’s fault. She shouldn’t have kept the headlock on while she was going for the cover, she was already pulling her up before the referee could even count.

Leona: … I hate that I have to agree with you. You don’t give Alysson an opening, she WILL take it.

The referee didn’t even get the chance to make the one count before Gardner rolled her shoulder up from the mat, causing Atherton to sit up a little more. Again it was only for a couple of seconds as Casey flexed her arms, looking to squeeze a little tighter on Alysson’s head before she once more rolled across her and forced her shoulders against the mat.

Kyle: She’s not going to win with a headlock. Name me all the times either of you have called a match that was won by headlock.

One-

Leona: Especially not where a former champion like Alysson is involved. I don’t get what the strategy here is -- maybe Casey is spitballing it and seeing what sticks?

Gardner again rolled her shoulder and this time she rolled over onto her knees and began to force herself up to her feet. As the pair came to a vertical base, Alysson lifted Casey up off her feet and fell into a back suplex. It got her the break and Casey rolled away holding her back. The Evolution Champion started to come back to her feet and as she did so the Outlaw charged towards with a clothesline attempt. Casey ducked underneath the blow and the Frenchwoman continued to charge towards the ropes, hopping up onto the middle and coming off with a springboard into an attempted disaster kick which again Atherton just managed to duck beneath at the very last moment. Alysson landed on her feet and stumbled forwards before she managed to find her balance and Casey lunged at the back of her knee, taking her down to the mat with a chop block. Quickly the Evolution Champion floated over and applied another sitting side headlock to her opponent as the Outlaw tried to push up from the mat. 

Kyle: She really likes that headlock, doesn’t she? Right back to it again. I’m with Leona on this one, the strategy eludes me. Look at us agreeing.

Leona: Maybe there is no strategy. It's almost like Casey is hugging Alysson, from where we sit.

Slowly Alysson began to push up to her feet, pulling at Casey’s arm from around her throat as she did so. The pair got back to a vertical base and Gardner turned slightly into the hold to enable her to flash out with a pair of shots into the gut of the Evolution Champion before she shoved her off of her. As Casey spun around, Gardner left her feet and caught her with a standing dropkick to the chest that sent Casey down to the mat. Alysson came back to her feet and met the rising Evolution Champion with a stiff knife edge chop to the chest as she started to trash talk her. A second knife edge chop followed, causing Casey to step backwards and Gardner caught her by the wrist and Irish whipped her across the ring into the corner. Alysson took a second to measure her as the Saviour hit the turnbuckle pads and took off towards her, which saw the Champion step forwards, catching her opponent around the waist as she lifted her up and dropped her face first into the top turnbuckle. Gardner staggered backwards and Casey took the opportunity to pull her down into a backslide pinfall.

Zack: A flapjack into the top turnbuckle, and the champion is looking to call it a night!

One…

Two…

Kyle: Now see, that was effective there. I’ve seen people win matches just like that.

Leona: But not where Alysson is concerned. Casey is gonna need a LOT more than that.

Gardner kicked out and rolled back to her knees only for Casey to lunge forwards, locking in a front facelock on the Outlaw and wrestling her down to the mat. Gardner pounded the mat with her fist in frustration at getting caught in the front facelock and started to push herself upwards only for Casey to suddenly roll to the side, pulling Alysson with her into a gator roll. The Evolution Champion moved her foe back and forth across the ring before coming to a halt in the middle of the ring. Again the Outlaw kicked and pounded the mat with her fist in frustration before she started to push upwards. The pair came to their feet and the French woman went to muscle Casey upwards, lifting her up vertically as though about to go for a suplex, only for Atherton to wiggle out of her grip and land on her feet behind her. Quickly the Saviour wrapped her arms around the waist of her opponent and rushed her towards the ropes, bouncing her off them and into an O’Connor roll for the pin, grabbing hold of a handful of tights as she did so.

Zack: Casey looking for a quick ending with that rollup innovated by Pat O’Connor!

One…

Two…

...THR-

Leona: She even got a handful of Alysson’s tights there, and she got a little deeper into the count, but no dice yet!

Alysson kicked out and sent Casey towards the ropes, the American catching herself before she hit them and as Gardner came to her feet, Atherton hopped up onto the middle rope and launched herself into a springboard crossbody block. It caught the Outlaw perfectly across the chest, causing her to fall backwards to the mat with Casey on top of her and the Evolution champion hooked the leg for the cover.

Kyle: I wouldn’t be taking chances by going airborne if I was Casey, but prove me wrong.

One…

Two…

...THRE--

Leona: It was effective, apparently! Alysson kicks out, but Casey seems to have found her strategy -- less cuddling, more impacts!

Gardner kicked out, shoving Casey away from her as she did so and started to scramble up to her feet, getting to one knee before Atherton went to lock in a side headlock once again. Before Atherton could wrench it on, Alysson violently shoved her away. Casey got her balance and spun around to face her opponent as Gardner pointed to her chin, jutting it forwards and telling Casey to give her, her best shot. Casey hesitated for a moment which caused Alysson to get even more belligerent as she told Atherton to hit her. Again Casey seemed to be weighing it but as she did so, Alysson slapped her, hard across the face, telling her to stop being a bitch or waiting for God and to hit her. Atherton looked back at her and as quick as lightning caught her with a two handed throat thrust, it left Gardner gasping for breath as Casey jerked her down into a small package pinning predicament.

Zack: Boy, the throat has been a popular target tonight, hasn’t it? Casey’s looking to retain right here!

One…

Two…

...THRE-

Kyle: Alysson still has too much energy right now for these surprise rollups. Casey needs to wear her down a lot more.

Leona: Look at us agreeing again! If only you weren’t the kind of person we know you are. But yes, Alysson can take a whole lot more punishment than what Casey may be expecting, so she’ll need a little more oomph.

Alysson kicked out aggressively, sending Casey stumbling and falling backwards against the ropes. Gardner kipped up to her feet and immediately skipped forwards, leaving her feet to crash a bicycle knee strike into the jaw of her opponent as she stepped forwards from the ropes. Atherton fell against them again which saw Alysson step up onto the middle rope and crash an enzuigiri into the side of the Evolution Champions head. The self proclaimed Saviour staggered forwards and found herself driven face first into the ring mat with a sit out facebuster. 

Zack: Alysson’s created an opening for herself, and Casey isn’t seeing the light at all right now. But she did get to see a close up of the canvas.

Leona: That was a vicious enzuigiri, too -- Casey got kicked like a soccer ball, and the Outlaw has the chance to turn it around!

The crowd cheered the Parisien loudly as she pulled her foe back up to her feet and with a cry of effort, Irish whipped her across the ring and into the corner.Atherton struck the turnbuckles hard and her face began a mask of pain as she started to walk back out of the corner, arching her spine only to be sent straight down to the mat with a slingblade clothesline from the Outlaw. Gardner backed up into the corner and quickly hopped up onto the middle rope facing her opponent and as Casey started to to sit up, Alysson jumped forwards, landing on her knees as she drove the point of her elbow into the top of Casey’s head. Quickly the challenger pulled the natural redhead up to her feet, stepping back into the corner as she hooked her head and climbed the turnbuckles only to come off with a Tornado DDT that stood Casey on her head momentarily before she fell front first onto the mat. Gardner rolled her over and made the cover.

Zack: Tornado DDT expertly landed by the challenger, who may be the next champion in 3!

One…

Two…

...T-

Kyle: Well that’s something. Usually referees never see things like that when it’s my clients in the ring. 

Leona: Oh, cry me a river and swim away, Kilmeade. Great ring awareness by Casey, and Alysson’s gonna have to work further for it.

The referee waved the count off as her hand was about to start to come down and pointed to Casey’s foot across the bottom rope. Alysson shook her head as she looked at the boot while she knelt over her opponent and started to fire forearms into Atherton’s face. The referee ordered the break due to Casey being in the ropes and started the count, getting to three before the Frenchwoman pulled the Champion upright and again fired her across the ring into the corner. Casey hung in the corner and Gardner charged in towards her, leaping at her and crashing a flying forearm into her jaw before she stepped up onto the middle rope, raised her fist in the air which got a loud cheer from the crowd and then began to drive the balled up fist into Casey’s forehead. The fans started to count the blows.

Zack: Here we go again! Alysson is about to lay in some of those knuckle knocks right to Casey’s dome!

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVE-

Leona: SNAKE EYES!

As Gardner went to throw the seventh blow, Casey wrapped her arms around her foe’s thighs and stepped forwards, lifting her up and losing her grip as she dropped to her knees which saw Alysson strike the steel ring post forehead first. Alysson managed to land on her feet and reeled around in a circle unsteadily, the camera spotting that she’d been busted open as her forehead was quickly turning red. Quickly the Evolution Champion popped up to her feet and didn’t waste any time at all in locking in a sleeper hold on Alysson, stepping on the back of her leg to take her down to her knees which allowed Casey to lean in to the hold, using her bodyweight to make the hold more effective. The official checked on the submission, making sure that it was legally applied and started to ask Alysson if she wanted to quit - the Frenchwoman replying with a quiet ‘No’ as she tried to pull Casey’s arms away from her. 

Kyle: This referee needs to be checking her arm. Not playing 20 questions with her. Casey has it applied well.

Leona: Gardner isn’t out, though, she’s clearly moving! But with the form Casey has here, it’s possible that Alysson will go to La-La Land sooner than expected tonight!

Casey kept the hold applied, continuing to lean in and the referee again checked on Gardner who this time only managed to sleepily wave him away with one hand then started to reach out to the ring ropes but found them out of reach. Atherton showed no intention to release the hold as the referee asked again, Alysson’s movements slowing before she seemed to slump forwards, her arms hanging down at her side. The referee asked Alysson once more, barely getting an answer before he raised her arm and let it drop back down to her side. The crowd began to slowly rumble with a chant for the Outlaw as Casey told the official to ring the bell and bring her the Evolution Championship. The referee ignored the demand and once again raised Alysson’s hand and watched as it dropped again.

Kyle: The woman is in a sleeper hold, and the referee is asking her questions. Just check the arm, that’s all she has to do.

Leona: Do you see the referee-- What match are you even watching?! Alysson’s hand has dropped twice now, we may be one consciousness check away from a defense!

The chant was building in volume as Casey again insisted that the Frenchwoman was out cold, telling Pruitt to do her Christian duty and call for the bell and declare the Saviour the winner. Once more the referee ignored the Champion, raising Alysson’s hand once more and this time as she let go it only wavered for a second before Gardner seemed to draw on the cheers of the crowd, pumping her fists as she began to power her way upright. The crowd were getting deafening as Alysson made it to her feet; Casey leaping onto her back and wrapping her legs around her waist to try and keep the hold locked in...which saw Alysson drive her backwards into the corner, slamming Casey’s spine into the turnbuckles. Atherton released the hold and Alysson took a few moments to gasp for air while leaning against Casey before she started to slowly fire off alternate right and left back elbow strike into the side of her head. 

Zack: Smart response from Alysson right there, and look at those elbows fly! Casey’s getting it from both sides!

Leona: Like you said, it’s not like there’s a whole lot in that skull to get rattled, but Alysson is going for it! She’s wide awake and ready to claim what’s hers!

Pruitt told the Frenchwoman to let her opponent out of the corner and Alysson stepped forwards, still looking a little unsteady on her feet. The Outlaw reached up and checked her forehead, finding the blood and started to smile as she spun around, showing Casey the blood and telling her that was what she was talking about. Quickly the challenger began to fire off a series of stiff right and left handed slaps to her foe; the referee again telling her to let her out of the corner and counted to four before Gardner stepped backwards. It was only a momentary relief for Casey before Gardner took hold of the top rope and fired off a machine gun like series of kicks into her gut as the official again began the count; the Evolution Champion starting to slump in the corner. Gardner once more stepped back with her hands raised as the referee reached four, Atherton dropping down to a seated position before Gardner returned and began to stomp down into the Evolution Champion’s chest viciously. 

Zack: Alysson has come back all fired up now, and she’s stomping the life out of the Evolution Champion!

Leona: It’s that killer drive that comes with being a hardcore champion! The relentless battering ram in Alysson Gardner is alive and ready to cause destruction!

Another five count came from the official and Alysson again backed up at four, once more making the title belt motion around her waist to the cheers from the fans even as the referee was reprimanding her for not letting Casey out of the corner. Slowly Atherton tried to pull herself upwards and staggered forwards only for Alysson to pull her forwards and send her up and over with a back body drop. Atherton landed hard on her back and arched upwards, her hand going to her spine before she slowly rolled over as Gardner perched on the top rope and leapt into the air as Casey pushed up to all fours, driving the Evolution Champion back into the canvas with a double foot stomp. Casey let out a cry of pain, cut short as the air was driven out of her body when she crashed into the mat. Slowly she began to push up again and this time the Outlaw hooked her arm and rolled her over into a magistral cradle pinning combination.

Zack: Straight out of the lucha libre playbook, and Alysson’s going to be the next champion!

One…

Two…

...THRE-

Kyle: You sure about that? You may not like her, but Casey can take a thumping too. You realize how many enemies she has that have tried beating the gospel out of her?

Leona: Good point. Maybe rolling Casey up wasn’t the greatest plan. On the other hand, Alysson is clearly into the match, so I don’t think we’ll get to see an aloof Gardner tonight.

Casey kicked out before the three and rolled over, starting to push up to her knees only for Alysson to rise quickly back to her feet and catch her with a shining wizard. Casey wobbled on her knees but before she could fall Gardner had pulled her upwards, hoisting her onto her shoulders before she took off across the ring and drove her opponent spine first into the canvas with the Red Tide rolling argentine slam. Quickly Gardner made the cover.

Zack: And there’s the RED TIDE!! I think she’s gonna make history!

One…

Two…

...THREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leona: SO CLOSE!!!  Alysson was one paint job away from FINALLY becoming Evolution Champion!

Casey rolled the shoulder at the very last possible moment and Gardner looked towards the referee, asking for the three count but got a shake of the head from Pruitt as the two was confirmed and the official pointed down at the shoulder. Alysson pointed towards the top turnbuckle and quickly climbed to the top rope. She flipped Casey the double bird as she set up for the G-Effect shooting star senton only for Atherton to roll to the side and out of range. Casey slowly started to push up to her feet as Alysson looked at her and began to walk along the top rope. As Atherton was almost fully upright, Gardner turned her back on her, held her arms outstretched for a moment and as the crowd cheered her loudly she launched herself into a moonsault. The cheers quickly turned into boos as Casey saw it coming and hurled herself to canvas and rolled out underneath the bottom rope as Gardner landed hard, chest first on the mat. 

Kyle: See that? That’s something I always tell my clients. Two things actually. Move every time, don’t worry about getting knees up. That mat jars your whole body, and then give yourself a time out by going to the floor. I’m not working for Casey, but that was the right instance.

Leona: I was right there with you until the last part. But that was a TERRIBLE landing for Alysson! We usually see her transition into that ropewalk moonsault when they move, but this time, she didn’t see it coming!

From the outside, Casey grabbed hold of Alysson by her feet, pulling her out onto the apron before she adjusted her grip, spun to the side and drove Gardner into the thin ringside matting with a wheelbarrow facebuster. Alysson held her face as she started to push up to her knees only for Casey to crash a knee strike into the back of her head, sending her falling back down to all fours. Atherton didn’t waste any time as she grabbed hold of her opponent with two handfuls of hair, pulling her up to her feet and Irish whipped her into the steel ring steps. Gardner hit them chest first and fell to her knees against them. Once more Atherton walked towards her, pulling her upwards only to use a reverse STO to drive Gardner face first into the ring steps once more, Alysson fell backwards to the floor. The referee leaned through the ropes and threatened to disqualify Casey, only for the Evolution champion to tell her to go right ahead. Casey re-entered the ring and rolled right across to the opposite side as she told Pruitt to go ahead and count out the challenger.

Kyle: This is another good plan. A champion still collects the same money if they win by countout as opposed to a pinfall. 

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Leona: Maybe Casey realizes Alysson is a harder meat to chew than she expected, so a countout will suffice! Champion’s advantage!

The official was making a slow and deliberate count; Casey was encouraging her to go faster while Gardner rolled to the side and grabbed hold of the ring skirt to pull herself upwards.

Zack: Alysson has to get back in there quickly! Casey doesn’t care how she retains as long as she does.

Five…

Six…

Seven…

Eight…

Kyle: If this is one of my clients, I tell Casey to take a walk right here. Roll out, grab your title and head for the showers. She’s too beat up to try to chase her down right now.

Leona: Oh Lord, she’s gonna be so pissed if this ends in a countout, but lordy me, it WORKS for Casey!

Gardner made it back to her knees and pulled herself up to one knee as Casey was glaring at the referee, telling her nine, ten, ring the bell.

Nine…

Kyle: So she got back in by nine, and this is where Casey needs to roll out and head to the back right now. If she chases her, you blast her with the title and keep walking.

Leona: Alysson saves the match, and listen to the crowd! The Evolution Championship match continues, and Gardner is PISSED!

Alysson hurled herself into the ring underneath the bottom rope and Casey stared angrily at the referee before she took off across the ring and caught Gardner with a baseball slide to the head before she pulled her upwards and shoved her throat first across the middle rope, leaning into her back as she pulled her head back with a handful of hair and started to fire the point of her elbow down into the cut on her forehead, looking to make it wider as blood continued to seep out of it. The official started the count after calling the break and Casey was about to make her count five only for Pruitt to step between them, shoving Atherton backwards and telling the Evolution Champion that she would respect her and follow her instructions. 

Zack: You can see the crimson red starting to flow from the Outlaw’s head right there, and Casey’s trying to open it up even more.

Leona: It’s a grim sight, but this is Alysson’s wheelhouse. She’s bled like this in many of her championship moments… I wonder if this’ll fuel her.

Casey shoved her out of the way and advanced back towards her opponent, pulling her away from the ropes and towards the middle of the ring where she delivered a headbutt to the Outlaw, following it up with a raised knee into her gut and then finished the Sign of the Cross with a codebreaker, driving both knees into Alysson’s chest. Gardner landed on her knees and Casey forced herself back to her feet, holding her back and took a half moment to measure up Alysson before she delivered a violent shining wizard to the side of her head. Gardner dropped to the mat and Casey made the cover.

Kyle: There you go, treat that head like it’s a watermelon and your foot is a sledgehammer.

One…

Two…

...THR-

Zack: Thank you for that sickening imagery, but Alysson is STILL in this match! You’re seeing what makes her one of the toughest women walking the planet!

Leona: I’m starting to get worried about all that blood loss, though! There’s a massive gash atop Alysson’s forehead, and if she keeps bleeding like this, it’ll spell trouble for her!

Alysson kicked out and Casey stared at Pruitt, accusing her of counting slowly - telling her that if Jesus counted the way she does he’d have risen from the dead on the fourth or fifth day. The referee rolled her eyes and told Atherton it was a two count and the match would continue. Gardner was starting to rise from the mat, making it up to her knees only for the Evolution champion to drop back to the ropes, bouncing off them and delivering a running knee lift to the challenger’s jaw. Alysson came up to her feet and stumbled backwards as Casey took hold of her wrist and Irish whipped her across the ring, dropping down to one knee as the Frenchwoman returned to drive a fist into her midsection. The Outlaw immediately doubled over, clutching her stomach in pain only for the American wrestler to spin her around and jerk her forward before she lifted her upside down with her head between her knees, holding her there for a couple of seconds before dropping her down on the top of her skull with the sit out piledriver. Gardner hit the mat and Casey made the cover, hooking the leg as she did so.

Zack: Shot after shot after shot right to the dome, and Casey’s wanting to call it a night right now!

One…

Two…

...THRE--

Leona: NOT YET!!! Alysson still kicks out… And STILL BLEEDS! This is very uncomfortable...

Gardner again kicked out in the nick of time and Casey looked towards the official, asking for three and glaring at her as she was shown the two. This time the Saviour didn’t argue with the official as she stayed on her knees, took a deep breath and brought her hands together in prayer in front of her. She seemed to take a few seconds with her eyes closed, asking the Lord above to forgive Ashley Pruitt for her incompetence, her ineptitude, her inability to count to three and to save and deliver Alysson from the demons that beset her. A look of serenity appeared on Casey’s face as she finished her prayer and started to come to her feet, pulling the challenger up with her to hook her head before she lifted her up from her feet and slammed her down into the canvas yet again with The Passion falcon arrow. The Evolution Champion grinned as she rolled Gardner over to her back and made the cover, hooking the leg as she did so.

Zack: That’s her move!! Atherton hit THE PASSION, and this title match is academic!

One…

Two…

...THREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kyle: What the…?

Leona: ALYSSON GARDNER HAS KICKED OUT OF THE PASSION!!! THAT, right there, is why Alysson Gardner is the icon she is!

Gardner rolled the shoulder at the very last moment and the referee waved off the count before throwing up the two count. The crowd cheered loudly as Casey looked towards Pruitt with a look of distress on her face, demanding the three count from the official. Ashley shook her head, telling the Evolution Champion that it was only a two count as the shoulder came up. Casey pounded the mat in anger and frustration as she came to her feet and demanded that the Evolution Championship be returned to her and have her hand raised. Pruitt refused, telling her again that it was just a two count. Atherton shrieked at the referee, telling her that she was sure to burn in Hell if she didn’t change her ways then turned back to Gardner, stalking around her and as the challenger made it to her knees, Casey locked in the cobra clutch submission, using her weight to make the hold as effective as possible.

Zack: With all those shots and the blood loss she’s no doubt experienced, I don’t think the cobra clutch will need much time before Alysson is out!

Leona: That was my concern! A lot of veins cover your whole skull, and Alysson’s face is a mask of blood right now! With that much blood loss, and holding her like that, it’ll sap away from Gardner’s consciousness right quick!

Alysson started to try to come to her feet, struggling and fighting against the hold for everything she was worth. The Outlaw twisted and turned her body, trying to find any way at all to escape the hold before she used her free arm to wildly swing elbows behind her. None of them came close to finding Atherton, however. Gardner then started to step forwards quickly using her strength to her advantage before she suddenly dropped to her knees trying to throw Casey free of her. Atherton though kept the hold applied as her momentum took her over Gardner’s back and saw her pull the Frenchwoman down to the mat, Casey quickly rolling back away from the ropes and wrapping her legs around Gardner’s body for a body scissors. Alysson forlornly reached out for the ropes, only to be on the opposite side of the ring. Her movements faded and Pruitt raised her hand only for it to drop. She did it a second time with a similar result. When the hand dropped for the third time, Pruitt called for the bell and Casey released the hold as it finished sounding. The Evolution Champion came to her feet to boos from the crowd as Pruitt raised her hand in the air.

Zack: She’s out!! Alysson didn’t tap, but her body gave out!

Kat: Here is your winner, by way of submission and... STILL FFW EVOLUTION CHAMPION… “THE SAVIOUR” CASEY ATHERTON!!!

Leona: Casey defeats Alysson in the bloodiest way she could find in a singles, non-hardcore match! The Savior made the Outlaw bleed like a slaughtered lamb, and that allowed her to retain the championship!

Kyle: Congratulations, champ. Lacey will be seeing you soon. 

Zack: I think, had it not been for the blood loss, this match would still be going! But your body can only take so much, and losing blood like that will sap everything out of you. Great effort by the challenger tonight!

Leona: I bet Alysson will be rather amused to learn how she lost this match, may even laugh it off. But Casey stands tall again, and the Evolution Championship gets to go home… to Casey’s cult.

The referee returned the belt to the victor, raising her hand again and Casey began to celebrate her victory, climbing the turnbuckles with the title raised and blessing the crowd who were deafening in their boos as Gardner began to recover on the mat, the referee helping her to a sitting position before the show cut elsewhere.

[Adam Grant]

The show returns inside the arena as Kat awaits in the center of the ring. A spotlight hangs over her head until she begins to speak.

Kat: The following contest is scheduled for one fall to a finish, and it is for the FFW Championship!

Zack: The richest prize in women’s wrestling is about to be up for grabs. The FFW Championship, which was crowned at the first Unstoppable 11 years ago, will either find a new home here in the shadow of Las Vegas or return to Boston with the champion.

Leona: This isn’t Savannah Star’s first FFW Championship match, but with the added pressure of pulling it off in her hometown gives it all a different flavor! Who’s gonna have the steeper uphill climb tonight?!

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.

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

"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: It was Unstoppable 10 that was the last and only time Savannah Star had a shot at the FFW Championship. Then it was against Shaw, and we know she left empty handed. But tonight in front of what is basically her hometown crowd, she has to find a way to beat the woman that did what she couldn’t when she captured the title from Shaw at Unstoppable 11.

Leona: We all know the level of pride Savannah has in being in Vegas for this, and it may be one of the most cathartic moments of her career if she does pull it off.

The lights in the arena go off before a single purple spotlight hits the stage. As the opening bars of Wild Side by Cross My Heart Hope To Die starts to play Missy appears at the entrance way. Missy stands perfectly still, as her head stays bent, looking towards the ground and her manager Christian Kincaid walks out to stand behind her.

I've been on my best behavior
But I've heard that good girls finish last
And once you're gone they say no one can save you
But who knows if I go I may never want to ever come back
We've all fell victim to temptation
It seems that I'm the last one holding on
What's the use in fighting for my salvation
And why does it feel so damn right to want to be so wrong

At the side of Missy purple lights flash on and off, looking almost like fireworks, as she remains perfectly still. As the lights subside, Missy raises her title high up to the air and a single white spotlight accompanies the move.

I just wanna dance with the devil tonight
I wanna know what it feels like
I wanna close my eyes, put my hands in the sky
I wanna walk on the wild side

Kat: Introducing at this time…. Hailing from Leeds, England, the reigning and defending FFW Champion … she is MIIIIISSSSSY!

Missy makes her way down the ramp to the ring keeping her eyes straight ahead, focussing on the ring, with Christian following a few steps behind. When she reaches the ring she slowly climbs the steel steps, surveying the crowd as she does until she reaches the top. She steps onto the apron and gives one final look around before she enters the ring between the top and middle rope. She raises the title in the air again, before leaning over the top rope to share a few last minute words with her manager as her theme music ends.

Zack: Missy is closing in on one year as the FFW Champion if she makes it to Unstoppable in July at Wembley. But she has to get past a woman who has been staring a hole at the title Missy holds. A woman, I might add, is even more hellbent than before.

Leona: Not that Missy is afraid of angry faces! She snapped Shaughnessy O’Neill’s streak and she’s more than ready to send Savannah back home with a sour taste in her mouth! And since we’re in Vegas, Li’l Miss Mischief is ready to make Star walk out the frustration.

Referee Jennifer Stringer checked both women for hidden weapons and called for the bell to start the match after handing the title off to Kat when she left the ring. The first thing Savannah did was turn around in her corner and start removing the turnbuckle pad. Missy did the same thing in her corner as soon as she saw that, but Savannah tried to catch her with her back turned. Star charged towards her, but caught a back elbow from the brunette to the mouth before Missy finished what she was doing. The champion turned towards her, and started unloading with right hands to the jaw, which brought the fans to life. She grabbed the blonde, and started driving her face into the top turnbuckle before spinning her around and whipping her across to the far side. Savannah stopped herself before she ran into the corner she exposed, but still got caught when Missy came in from behind her with a backstabber. She quickly mounted her, and unloaded right hands to her head!

Zack: Missy said in her promo for this match that she’s been wanting to slap the taste out of Savannah’s mouth for a while, and by God, that’s what she’s doing!

Leona: Savannah has turned into a person that makes you feel like that, yeah! Missy is ready to show how vicious she can get to defend her hardware, and maybe Savannah wasn’t ready for that level of fury!

Savannah managed to shake her off, and get back too her feet. As soon as she turned around though, Missy used a spinning backfist to the mouth that sent her stumbling backwards. The FFW Champion followed that by pulling her head down, and used a few Muay Thai knee lifts before drilling her with a DDT. With the crowd behind her, she bounced off the near side with a falling elbow drop to her head. She made sure to grind her forearm against the challenger’s face before she got back to her feet. Star rolled away from her, pressing a hand to her face in pain. The brunette went right after her immediately, catching her with a running forearm that sent the challenger back another couple steps. Missy darted towards her, grabbing her head for a springboard bulldog.

Zack: Missy’s hitting all kinds of offense, and hasn’t gone for a cover once. You could hear the venom in her voice in that promo, and she’s letting it all out. Savannah’s head is on a first name basis with the mat after that bulldog.

Leona: Shades of the earlier days of Chaotic Temptation, I’d say, with that steel chain-wielding Missy pulling off grim feats of violence. THAT’s the Missy we’re watching tonight.

The champion headed for the corner, hopping up onto the second turnbuckle from the inside. She came off with a knee drop aimed for Savannah’s head, but the challenger rolled out of the way and let her hit the mat instead. It gave the challenger a moment to collect herself as Missy tried to get back to her feet. Savannah stopped that with a shining wizard to the back of her head, crumpling Missy to her knees again. Savannah’s face showed pure disrespect as she pulled her to the ropes and dragged her face along the middle rope. With the champion blinded, Savannah lifted her up to drop her neck first across the top rope. Missy stumbled away, trying to get her breath before Star took off for the other side of the ring. She bounced off the ropes as Missy was coming forward with a running European uppercut that floored the champion to the mat.

Zack: Savannah can strike as well as the champion can, and she’s proving that here. I don’t know if the challenger expected this level of animosity, but she’s giving it all back.

Leona: As well she should, because that’s the only way she’ll make it to the top of the hill tonight! That Euro uppercut was a message -- any level of intensity you can do, I can do too!

Star pulled Missy’s arms behind her back as she was trying to get up, and then began firing stomps to the back of her head repeatedly. Six in a row landed before the seventh one drove Missy face down into the mat. She dragged her to her feet long enough to execute her corkscrew neckbreaker before going for the first cover of the match.

Zack: That’s the EMERALD WEAPON right there! Is it gonna bring her the FFW Championship?

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOO!!

Missy kicked out at the two, and Savannah sat her up to drive elbows between her shoulders. Each shot sent the champion forward a little until the challenger applied a stretch plum submission.

Leona: Whoa! Look at that intricate leg move! Hammerlock plus neck scissors…! I didn’t know Savannah could get THIS flexible, that’s amazing!

Stringer moved around to see if Missy wanted to stop the match, but the brunette made it clear she didn’t as Savannah tried to tighten her grip. The champion used her free arm to try to reach out for any ropes, but there weren’t any nearby. Star began to lean back in the hold, trying to make it even worse for the champion and prompting the referee to check again. Stringer got the same answer as the last time.

Leona: Savannah has that stretch plum in perfect form, and Missy doesn’t seem to be finding a way out of this one. It won’t be long before it gets rather uncomfortable for her, and it would be quite the bombastic way to lose the belt.

Zack: It probably is already. I haven’t seen Savannah use this hold before, but she has it expertly applied regardless.

Missy’s refusal to quit was starting to annoy the challenger before she transitioned the hold into a dragon sleeper. Savannah wrapped both legs around her body at the same time as she tried to stretch her backwards as she laid on her side on the mat. Missy once more tried to find some ropes, but there weren’t any nearby at all. So the champion rolled onto her back, managing to pin Savannah underneath her.

Zack: Look at that counter!!

ONE!!!

TW-NOOOO!!

Savannah immediately rolled back to her side to keep one shoulder off the mat, and tried to sink in the hold more tightly. Missy’s movements began to slow as the dragon sleeper was taking effect.

Leona: Great core strength display by Savannah! Keep the dragon sleeper locked in, roll out of the cover -- Missy is fading!!!

Missy made one more effort to break free of the hold by using her free hand, and jamming a thumb into Savannah’s eye. It caused the blonde to let go, and Missy rolled out to the floor. Christian moved around to her, giving her encouragement as she sat up and tried to get herself together. Savannah got her vision back, and rolled out after her. As soon as Missy was up, Star grabbed her and hurled her into the front of the broadcast table with Zack and Leona.

Zack: Missy did what she had to do to get out of that dragon sleeper, and that was the champion’s body that just bounced off the front of our table.

Leona: Eep! That was a bad landing and a half for the champion, and you may wanna steer clear, Zack -- this is gonna get awkward.

A few stomps to Missy’s body followed that as the challenger looked down on her. The referee demanded they get back into the ring, but the challenger ignored her. Savannah pulled the champion up again, and this time bounced her head off the table next. She hoisted the champion on top of the table to rain a few more fists on her head.

Zack: I don’t like this at all! Savannah’s laying in shots right within arm’s reach of us in our booth!

Leona: Yeah, but you can’t win the match out here at ringside! It would be the dumbest way to lose a match in front of all your people!

Savannah overheard Leona, and used a roundhouse kick to send her out of her seat to the floor. Vega hopped back to her feet, and was only intercepted by Zack before she was about to return fire. Star dragged Missy off the table, and tossed her back inside the ring, ignoring Leona as she got back in as well.

Zack: Calm down, tiger! Let’s not ruin this match for the FFW Championship! I know you’re hot right now, but this isn’t the right time.

Leona: WHAT WAS THAT FOR?! I’m not in the flippin’ match!... I’m not in the mood to disrupt any match, but if she wants to get testy, she’d better think again!

Savannah pulled the champion to her feet, and started firing forearms into her head. Each of them rocked Missy where she stood for a second. Star hit the far side, and came back looking for a discus clothesline. But the champion ducked as she turned, and caught Savannah turning back with a Pele kick to the top of her head. Both women went down, but Missy landed on all fours and was trying to get her bearings as Savannah was doing the same. The blonde had gotten to her feet first, but Missy was only a second behind her and caught her coming forward with an elbow to the stomach. That stopped the blonde’s progress for a moment, and Missydropped her from there with a Russian leg sweep. Star rolled to all fours as the champion bounced off the near side with her curb stomp to the back of the challenger’s head. Missy dropped to make the cover with both legs hooked!

Zack: There’s the MISCHIEF MAKER right on target! Missy’s gonna retain the title!!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOO!!!

TH-NOOO!!!

Savannah rolled her left shoulder off the mat, and Missy got back to her feet. The challenger tried to do the same, but an axe kick to the back of her head put her down on the mat again. The champion headed to the corner, peering between her legs for a moment before she launched into a moonsault! But Star got her knees up in time, and folded Missy into a ball on the mat.

Leona: Bad landing for Missy, she got all the knees she couldn’t have asked for! I think this is the opening Savannah needed to win this match -- WITHIN THE ROPES!!!

The Las Vegas native finally got back to her feet, clearly worn down after what all she’d endured. When she saw Missy starting to move, she scooped her up for a backbreaker across her knee. She didn’t drop her though, and lifted her over her shoulders into a gutbuster that once more folded the champion in half on the mat. Savannah headed for the ropes, connecting with her springboard 450 splash before making the cover!

Zack: She calls that DANCING MAD, but is it enough to bring her the FFW Championship?!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NO!

Missy got her shoulder up as the three was coming down, and Star gave Stringer a cold stare as she got back to her feet. She dragged the champion up with her into a front facelock before scooping her up, and holding her there for a few seconds until she delivered a brainbuster.

Leona: Big brainbuster by the challenger; we’re starting to see impatience building up in the challenger, and the champ just refuses to back down!

Star headed for the corner this time, and began to make her way up to the top rope. She perched herself as she awaited Missy to get up. When the brunette finally did, Savannah went for what looked like a hurricanrana but Missy grabbed her legs and fell backwards into an electric chair instead. Star’s body bowed up off the mat in pain as Missy rolled into the ropes. Christian moved around, giving her some advice before she got back to her feet. Savannah was up a couple seconds later, and went to get her but walking into a mid-air knee strike to the jaw! It staggered the challenger before Missy used the middle rope for a disaster kick that dropped her where she stood. The champion immediately made the cover after that!

Leona: Springboard Disaster kick by Missy, she’s back in the game! A cover!!!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NO!!

The challenger rolled her shoulder in time, and Missy slowly sat up. She was clearly feeling the effects of the match as she got to her feet, and darted for the far side. Missy rebounded with her second curb stomp of the night, drilling Savannah’s face into the mat before she headed for the corner.

Zack: That’s two MISCHIEF MAKERS tonight in Savannah’s backyard! Missy’s heading up top, and we know what she does when she gets up there!!

Missy made it to the top rope, but she soon had company as Savannah was back to her feet and climbing up after her. The two started exchanging punches to the head as they teetered over the ring and the floor. Missy grabbed her arms, and delivered four quick arm-trap headbutts to the face before Star fell backwards onto the mat. And that’s when the champion immediately went for her frog splash that landed perfectly on target!

Zack: LI’L MISS MISCHIEF!!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Stringer called for the bell as Missy rolled off the cover, and sat leaning against the ropes as she tried to collect herself. Christian retrieved the FFW Championship from Kat, and headed into the ring with her before the referee raised her hand.

Leona: And that’s the sound of Savannah cashing out! Guess we know who’s taking a sour walk back home tonight!

Kat: Your winner by pinfall……...AND STILL FFW Champion……………..MISSY!!!

Christian helped his client to her feet, and gave her the title. She took it from, and raised it above her head for the crowd to see as he applauded her.

Zack: That one came down to the wire, didn’t it?! Savannah Star gave Missy one hell of a fight tonight in her backyard, but the champion does what champions do: find a way to win!

Leona: And let’s not forget -- the pressure was on both women tonight! Savannah had to perform in front of her hometown; Missy had to fight the fury of a whole city and the hatred of a woman scorned! But in the end, the biggest prize in all women’s wrestling stays in Boston!

Missy climbed the corner and made her way to the middle rope before she raised the FFW Championship over her head to a mixed reaction, due to it being Savannah’s hometown practically. 

Leona: With another challenger turned back, Missy now gets to walk into the Biggest of all Stages as the defending champion! The hall where women become legends is set: Missy versus Kelly Kincaid in England!

Zack: And that sets the stage for the biggest Unstoppable of all when that woman right there will meet Kelly Kincaid for the FFW Championship at Wembley! To quote Soul Calibur, welcome back to the stage of history! Unstoppable 12….HERE WE COME!!

Missy climbed down from the corner, laying her FFW Championship over her shoulder with a tired smile as her manager congratulated her. Fury then faded off the air on FFW All Access.