Message #29488

[Adam Grant]

The show returns to the ring as Kat stands in the center of the ring as the fans see on the video wall that the Evolution Championship match is up next.

Zack: We’ve already had 2 title matches tonight at Sabotage, and two new champions have been crowned, Gaby. Granted in one case, there was no other option but to have a new champion. But do you think this string of changes is having an effect on the champion’s mindset? She’s pretty superstitious, what do you think?

Gaby: I think that if Mara Werth has her way tonight, Sapphire Taylor is in for one hell of a bruiser in two days, what’s what. Superstitious as the champion may be, if Robbyn Helmsley gives in to her own manias before the woman who basically defined the Phoenix Championship, it’s game over.

"I'm only human
I'm only—I'm only—
I'm only human, human

“Human” by Rag’n’Bone Man starts to play over the soundsystem as the video screen shows a jail cell door sliding backwards and a pair of black ring boots with legs going all the way up to a simple blue skirt step out onto the landing only to suddenly stumble as if given a push in the small of the back from the man who appeared behind her in shiny black shoes and black pants.

Maybe I'm foolish,
Maybe I'm blind
Thinking I can see through this
And see what's behind
Got no way to prove it
So maybe I'm lying

As the pair pass by, the camera gets a shot from behind before it cuts to more grainy CCTV footage that shows the guard escorting the raven haired prisoner across a prison yard of patchy grass and into another building. There’s another cut as we see a shot of exposed midriff on the other side of a counter that has a pack of gum, some loose change on it and a hair bobble on it. A hand reaches forward, picking up a pen and signs a name quickly before scooping up the possessions as she stiffly pushed to move onwards.

But I'm only human after all,
I'm only human after all
Don't put your blame on me
Don't put your blame on me

There’s another cut; this time to show the back of the black haired woman as she reaches up to tie her long loose hair back with the bobble while still walking forward, coming to a stop in front of a large closed door. The camera cuts to the opposite side of the door and low down, watching as it swung open and the woman stepped out; only for the blazing sun to obscure her face and body; the video screens becoming a blazing yellow-white sun glare with a spotlight shining bright as the same woman has appeared at the top of the entrance ramp. The spotlight dims to reveal Mara Werth standing there in her black boots, blue skirt and white vest top.

Take a look in the mirror
And what do you see?
Do you see it clearer
Or are you deceived
In what you believe?

Kat: Ladies and gentlemen please welcome from Tuscaloosa, Alabama… MARA WERTH!!!

'Cause I'm only human after all,
You're only human after all
Don't put the blame on me
Don't put your blame on me

With a smile on her face she begins to head down the ramp to the ring, running up the ring steps. She moved down the apron, facing out to the crowd and threw her arms up into the air before she stepped through the ropes. Heading to the corner, the girl carefully stepped up onto the middle ropes, throwing her hands up into the air again before she bounced back onto her feet and stretched as she waited for the match to start."

Zack: Mara vacated the Phoenix title to cash in on this chance to challenge for the Evolution Championship, and we saw Scarlett Silver take over that division earlier. Tonight, Mara is gonna face a woman who is just as strong as she is and try to capture her first Evolution title. Not to mention this is the first title match tonight where there’s at least one woman the fans can get behind, if not both.

Gaby: Not to mention a match the crowd can look forward to a winner that they appreciate, unless you count how Scarlett Silver ended the night being revered by the crowd! Mara vacated the Phoenix Championship following basically having nothing left to prove in that division, and bigger challenges await. The Evolution Championship is the ultimate starmaker, the one belt before the FFW Championship, and most Evo Champions have fought for the bigger one; this is the mindset Mara is bringing to the ring right now. Always aim higher.

A very heavily influenced country/rock guitar riff echoes through the building as the building lights begin to flicker and dance along the stage while larger spotlights flicker on either side of the ramp through the crowd. The entrance screen shows the words “Mami’s Home” before purple fire quickly takes over the screen. The crowd gives a mixed reaction with some cheering loudly and others booing even louder.

“I'm just an underthinkin', overusin', tall drinkin', short fusin'
Gettin' in my own way”

As the first line of the song is sung Robbyn struts out onto the stage, wearing a pair of black leather bootie shorts crested with purple angel wings that wrap from the front of them to just behind her hips, a thick leather belt and fishnets stockings under the shorts. Black leather boots that cut off just under her knees and leather straps around her thighs that connected to the belt. Robbyn’s top is a merch shirt cropped to be more of a halter top, going around her neck and tied at the back, covered by a leather vest with silver spikes. Her lips painted black and purple makeup around her eyes.   She holds her head high looking over the crowd as she makes her way to center stage.

“I'm just a blood-stained, folded hands
Throwin' back the milligrams
I can't find the breaks
I'm hidin' from the sun
Devil ridin' shotgun
God knows I'ma crash and burn”

The smug look on Robbyn’s face indicates that she is above the crowd and as she makes it to center stage she adjusts the collar of her vest. As the word ‘burn’ is sung she crouches down making a wing motion with her arms, a tribute to being the ‘Alaskan Angel’ and as she rises, she stomps down causing a cascade of white fireworks to be sent down from the rafters as purple ones erupt from the front of the stage.

“'Cause that highway to hell is the road I'm on
I need to turn around before I'm too far gone
If I'm ever gonna make it on them streets of gold
I gotta quit livin' on a dead end road”

The camera pulls away the purple flames quickly morphing into  a metallic set of angel wings, centered so perfectly around Robbyn. As the word “road” is sang Robbyn runs her fingers through her hair and begins to make her way down the ramp, getting close to the crowd but far enough away that they cannot touch her. Reaching her arm out slightly but never enough for the crowd to touch her.

“I'm a red-linin', low-lifein', anything but law-abidin'
Feels too good to quit
I'm runnin' off the edge, they say I'm just a wreck
Diggin' me deeper than six”

She makes her way to the end of the ramp and turns away from the stairs, looking into the ring where the referee is and rolls her eyes with both cockiness and composure. She gets next to the ring post where again she adjusts the leather vest, as she looks into the crowd, wiggling her fingers at them in a wave before she flips off one of the fans in the front row. As she hops up onto the ring apron she holds the middle rope before letting go of the ring rope, still crouching she seemingly takes in the crowd with the smallest of smirks before telling the world that “Mami’s Home”.

“'Cause that highway to hell is the road I'm on
I need to turn around before I'm too far gone
If I'm ever gonna make it on them streets of gold
I gotta quit livin' on a dead end road”

As Robbyn stepped through the ropes she pointed over to the Breaking point announcer Kat Grayson to make the announcement as she looked into the crowd with her arms open soaking in the reception she’s receiving.

Kat: Hailing from Deadhorse Alaska. She is the ALASKAN DARKHORSE..... And the reigning and defending FFW Evolution Champion…ROBBBBBBBBYYYYYYNNNNNNNNN HEELLLLLLLLMMSLEYYYYYY!!!!

Robbyn hops up into the corner and blows Kat a kiss, with another finger wiggling wave after. She takes a seat on the top turnbuckle as she checks her wrist tape before waiting for the referee to start the match, resting her left hand against her lips and chin like she was chewing on her thumb nail to compose herself while she waits

Zack: Since becoming the Evolution Champion at Unstoppable in September, the champ’s dance card is a list of killers in a lot of ways. You got Mara tonight, who hasn’t tasted defeat in a very long time. You got Caitlyn Storm, who I know for a fact is planning to cash in her rematch clause for the title. And most recently, we’ve added Sofia Rojas who stole a win against Caitlyn on the last Breaking Point. Because that’s about the only way she can win.

Gaby: I… can’t wrap my head around Sofia Rojas getting an Evolution Championship shot, but fine. Either way, Robbyn has made one hell of a successful return to FFW after over 10 years away, be it abroad or just taking her time. She came back even better than before, and it’s safe to say the Darkhorse is at the prime of her career right now. Someone who can waltz into the Evolution Championship conversation and NOT stand out like a sore thumb as someone who doesn’t deserve to be there needs to be regarded as the major player they are, and Robbyn? She definitely fits that bill.

Robbyn gave her title a long look before she handed it off to referee Stephen Wilson. He showed it to Mara before holding it overhead. Kat took the title with her and the bell sounded from there before the two women met in the center of the ring, shaking hands with one another as it was clear that the fans in Brooklyn were fairly split between them.

Gaby: Finally, some respect between competitors. I was starting to think that was lost after everything we’ve seen tonight, Z.

Zack: I noticed Robbyn giving her title a long look there, makes me wonder if she feels like she can get past Mara with Werth’s recent history of success after success. Almost looked…resigned.

The two women lock up together in the ring, and it’s already a test of strength as both of them try to push the other backwards. But neither woman gives up any ground. With neither woman making any traction, Mara dropped to her back and used it to monkey flip the champion to the canvas. Both women hopped up, but Mara was a hair faster and caught Robbyn with a discus forearm that sent her into the ropes. Werth quickly scooped her up into a fireman’s carry slam back to the center of the ring.

Gaby: Maybe the long look at the belt was because Robbyn knew she was in for a long night! Mara’s already putting those hard hitting catch chops to the test, she wants to paint Robbs black and blue before she can make her own night golden!

Zack: These are two legit powerhouses in there, with Mara only being a bit more flexible. We haven’t seen that come into play yet, and no reason for it as she’s taking all the puff out of the champion that she can at the moment.

The champion got to her feet again, only to catch a kneelift to the body before she could get back to a vertical base. Mara hooked her head, and delivered a corner bulldog to the middle turnbuckle, dropping Helmsley to her knees before Mara hoisted her up into a side slam to the canvas. Helmsley started to get up before the challenger used a rear waistlock to pull her up into a release German suplex into the corner, causing Robbyn to slump against the corner in a seat.

Gaby: The last time we saw Robbyn get manhandled like this, it was when she was still making her case to become Evolution Champion before Caitlyn Storm pitched a shutout to the Darkhorse that, I can only assume, changed something in her mind, because she never allowed anyone to do that again. Do we think Mara’s gonna be the second person to actually pull it off?

Zack: If this were scored on a points system, she’d certainly be the woman in the lead right now. Mara’s imposing her will on the champion, and there hasn’t been a lot of response so far.

Werth took off for the far side, and came back with a running hip attack to Robbyn’s head, crushing it against the middle turnbuckle. She stayed on the offense, scooping her up into a belly to belly overhead suplex to the center of the ring before making the cover. Wilson slid immediately into position to make the count.

Zack: Not many women can throw Robbyn around like that, and Mara could be seconds away from being the queen of the Evolution ranks!

ONE!!

TW-NO.

Helmsley kicked out, prompting Mara to get back to her feet. The challenger pulled her up, and whipped her into the far corner with a hard Irish whip. The challenger pumped her fist and took off towards her, going for what looked like a Superman punch. But the champion sidestepped her, causing Mara’s body to hit the corner instead.

Gaby: Oooooh, that’s… That’s hubris right there. You don’t use Robbyn’s favorite move on her, you’re just gonna get walloped! And I know the DROP DEAD GORGEOUS when I see it, I’m sure Robbyn does too!

The champion ducked her head between Mara’s legs, scooping her up onto her shoulders facing the same direction before Helmsley fell forward. Werth’s head crashed face first into the top turnbuckle as Helmsley dropped to a seat on the mat. With Mara hanging over the corner, Robbyn quickly climbed up to the middle rope beside her and brought her back to the mat with a side Russian leg sweep.

Gaby: And that’s the match turned around, no shutout being pitched tonight! And also, look at the little touches of violence Robbyn adds to her arsenal: it ain’t enough to just flapjack Mara to the mat, it’s the head going straight into the turnbuckle.

Zack: Robbyn did what any champion worth their salt would do. When she found her opening, she was quick to exploit it. I think she’s building her confidence about this match with every second that goes by with her in charge.

As Mara lay on the canvas, Robbyn sat up and was trying to shake off the effects of all she’d absorbed so far. She slowly got back to her feet, watching as Maa was starting to do the same. At least she was till a guillotine leg drop put a stop to it from the Evolution Champion. She muscled the challenger up into a vertical suplex, but showed immense power as she held her up for several seconds before falling backwards to the mat.

Zack: Helmsley let all the blood rush to Mara’s head before the bottom dropped out, and the Evolution Champion is most certainly controlling the action now.

Gaby: And the fact she let Mara hang in there like that messes up with EVERYTHING in the head. Blood flow, air intake, everything is thrown out of whack. That’s why when you have someone as imposing as Robbyn handling business like that– it’s imperative to every powerhouse to know how to use anatomy to your own favor, and Robbyn knows that like the best of them.

She pulled the challenger onto her shoulder, and took off for the corner. Robbyn dropped her face first over the top turnbuckle, causing Werth to stagger backwards before the champion hopped up onto the second turnbuckle from the inside to deliver a blockbuster! She quickly went for the cover as Wilson dropped to make the count.

Zack: We don’t see Robbyn climb the corner all that much, but that’s twice tonight and this one may retain the title!

ONE!!

TW-NO!!

Mara’s shoulder came off the mat in time, and Robbyn rolled away to get back to her feet. She leaned back against the ropes, watching and waiting for Mara to get up before she bolted forward with a running lariat that mowed the challenger back to the mat.

Gaby: No, you stay down! Robbyn knows that she can’t allow Mara to get up and resume her own strat, this is the best bet for her title retention!

Helmsley nodded her head as she heard half of the crowd solidly behind her. She dragged Mara back to her feet by the arm before whipping her across to the far side. She popped Mara up on the rebound, but the former jailbird came down, countering whatever Robbyn had in mind into a tornado DDT that stood the champion on her head for a half second before she collapsed to the canvas!

Gaby: WHOA, looks like Robbyn isn’t the only one with her crosshairs on her opponent’s head! Mara just spiker her into the mat like a freaking nail, any harder and she’d tear a hole in the mat!

Zack: If she could make the cover, she might be the new champion right now!

Both women lay on the canvas at this point before the challenger rolled over, draping an arm across Robbyn’s chest to make the cover before Wilson slid into position to make the count.

Zack: Mara looking to cash in, but I think she took too long to make the cover!

ONE!!

TWOOOOO!!

TH-NO.

But the champion got her shoulder off the canvas after the two count. Both women began to get to their feet, with Mara catching the champion with an European uppercut that wobbled her. But Helmsley fired back with one of her own, causing Mara to stagger. Finally, Werth whipped her across for the ride and scooped her up for a spinebuster ... .except Helmsley turned it into a guillotine choke and dropped back to the mat with Mara caught!

Zack: Another counter, this time from the champion! I’ve never seen a spinebuster countered like that, Helmsley’s gonna choke her out!

Gaby: Both women are out to make the other one pass out or something, that much is clear! From the moment the strategies became clear, both of them started gunning almost exclusively for the head! They’re strong, they’re resistant; the only way they can truly dismantle their rival’s strategy right now is pretty much putting her to sleep!

Wilson dropped down to see if Mara wanted to stop the match, but the challenger gave no such sign as Robbyn kept the hold applied. She added to it by wrapping her legs around her body and locking her ankles to increase the pressure, prompting the referee to check again but still not get the right answer from Werth.

Gaby: Just imagine the torque Robbyn must be putting around Mara’s neck right now to make the former Phoenix Champion, one of the hardest women in the roster, not give a conclusive answer. She must be struggling for the way out harder than we can imagine, and that’s a loaded statement if I’ve ever spoken one!

Zack: These fans are split down the middle. Half of them right behind the champion, the other half…getting a lot louder as they try to keep Mara in this. Wait, is she..  ? She can’t be..

The Brooklyn crowd began chanting for Mara, at least half of them were. Robbyn continued to pour on the pressure as the fans of Mara were getting louder, causing her to press her hands into the mat and start to stand up in the hold. Robbyn’s eyes widened before Mara charged the corner, crashing the champion’s back against the turnbuckles and finally getting free of her grip. Helmsley stumbled forward as Mara instinctively grabbed her into a single knee facebreaker that put them both on the mat.

Gaby: And THAT! Is how you break free from seemingly insurmountable odds! You just… brute force the fuck out of it!!! And now it’s Mara in the driver’s seat again, just like that! Take a deep breath to clear your mind and back to work with ye!

Zack: The fans can be like a tag partner in matches like this, and they brought Mara back to her feet and she took it the rest of the way. But both of them are down, and this has been one of the most back and forth Evolution title matches I’ve called.

Wilson began his ten count at this point, and it was Mara who began to stir when he got to six. She grabbed the rope to help her get back to her feet, as the champion was starting to do the same. As she went to grab Robbyn, the champion used a bell clap to disorient her before she scooped her onto her shoulders into a GTS. Helmsley dropped on top of her for the cover as Wilson fell into position.

Zack: Go to sleep, Mara! Helmsley’s gonna retain the title in three!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEE-NO.

Werth’s shoulder came off the mat as the three count was about to land on the mat, causing the champion to raise her head and make sure the referee only got to two before she struggled back to her feet.

Gaby: Not yet!!! Mara wants 5 more minutes! She may be running on empty, but she’s still going!

Helmsley went to the corner, squatting down and watching as she waited for her opponent to get back to her feet. It was quite the wait though. But when she did, Robbyn bolted out of the corner and caught her with her Superman punch that floored Mara. Her fans came to their feet as Robbyn did the same.

Gaby: AND THAT TURNS THE ENGINE OFF! DROP! DEAD! GORGEOUS!!! She just needs to bring it all home now!

Zack: We’re one pumphandle slam away from Helmsley retaining the Evolution Championship tonight in Brooklyn!

Robbyn pulled herself together and dragged Mara back to her feet. She set her up and hoisted her up…only for Werth to break free and land behind her. When the champion spun around, Mara blasted her with her spinning knee strike to the temple that dropped them both like a rock to the canvas.

Zack: There’s the DEA–NO, WERTHWHILE!! That’s her move!

Gaby: I-I take that back, Mara’s engine is DEFINITELY running!!!

Both women lay on the mat for several seconds before Mara raised her head, and pulled herself to make the cover. The referee slid down to make the count.

Zack: We may have a new champion…but did she take too long?!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NO.

Helmsley’s arm came up off the mat, but that was the only part that moved as she was flat on her back. The referee held up two fingers as the Brooklyn crowd was at a fever pitch now.

Gaby: Apparently she did! Or maybe that wasn’t the perfect grip on the move that has laid out so many victims before! Mara isn’t a stranger to putting opponents even larger than herself with that, but with her head spinning, she may have had some difficulties there!

Mara rolled towards the ropes, using them to help her get back to her feet on very shaky legs at this point. Robbyn started to rise as well, seemingly unaware that her opponent was waiting for her. When the Alaskan turned around, Mara went for the spinning knee strike a second time. Only the champion ducked it, and caught Mara’s wrist as she missed. And with one quick scoop, she hoisted Werth up and delivered her sitout pumphandle slam! She fell on top of her as Wilson dropped to count.

Zack: Mara went for WERTHWHILE once more…and found herself in a DEADHORSE town! Robbyn drilled her!

ONE!!!

TWOOOOOOO!!!

THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Wilson called for the bell to quite the response from the crowd before Helmsley rolled off the cover, taking in deep breaths as she looked up at the rafters and then sat up.

Gaby: And one last final bonk to the head before the relief of having done it again! Not all belts are changing hands tonight, that much is known!

Kat: Your winner by pinfall…AND STIIIIIIIIILL FFW Evolution Champion….’THE ALASKAN DARKHORSE’ ROBBYN HELMSLEY!!

The referee retrieved the title from Kat as Robbyn rose to her feet, and had her hand raised officially. He handed her the Evolution Championship, which she hugged to her body tightly before thrusting it over her head as her music began playing again.

Zack: Robbyn turns back what I feel is the toughest opponent she’s had to face since returning to FFW. And unlike the last two title matches we’ve seen tonight, this one was entirely full of heart, determination, and true grit! A phenomenal effort from both women, I’d say, Gaby.

Gaby: Something one should expect from two elite powerhouses, no less. They both had one another’s head as their target, and everything was about putting the lights out. And sometimes, you just have to strike harder and harder until it just works, and that’s what they did! And Robbyn… Well, her new reign of glory continues! If you ain’t calling that the comeback of the decade, maybe start thinking about it!

Mara made it back to her feet seconds later, and then shook hands with Robbyn just like at the start of the match. She raised the champion’s hand, and rolled out of the ring.

Zack: A lot of class right there! Something we haven’t seen much of tonight. There’ll be another day from Mara, because I’m positive she’ll be looking to get herself a rematch. Congratulations to Robbyn on retaining the Evolution title though!

Gaby: Good to see that Mara has it in her to be graceful in defeat, because we haven’t seen that in forever! The future holds greatness for her, I’m sure, but for tonight… Robbyn Helmsley stands tall and gets to keep carrying the Evolution Championship! We’re gonna give you a minute or two to breathe now, because up next? It’s our main event – Las Vegas’ Siren Savannah Star… The all-Mother Vivi Traeger… FFW Championship. Darlings, it’s ON!

Robbyn raised her title over her head with both hands, listening to the crowd as the show cut away to a commercial for the debut of Atomic on Prime Video January 11th.

The Hall is Calling

Earlier Today...

Next we see Seth Star as he joins Cody somewhere backstage at the show. The two men shake hands as Seth looks more than a little curious.

Seth: You asked to see me?

Cody: Well I asked to see Savannah, but you were invited, yes.

Seth: She’s in preparation for her match tonight, so she’d rather not be disturbed. At least not by anyone who isn’t me. But I’m more than happy to pass along any messages for you.

Cody: Fair enough then. After being part of FFW now since the fall of 2015, I think we can both agree that Savannah has done a great deal since she arrived from being a No Surrender Champion on two separate occasions to winning awards and having main evented Unstoppable as well as other shows, it seems only natural that she join a very exclusive class the likes of which her opponent has been nominated to this year. So I’m just letting her know that she is now going to be part of the 2024 class of the FFW Hall of Fame along with Vivi.

Cody goes to hand Seth a plaque that signifies this. Savannah’s husband looks down at it, and takes a deep breath.

Seth: No.

He hands it back to Cody, who looks more than a little confused.

Cody: What do you mean no?

Seth: As much as this matters, it’s something she has discussed with me more than once. Until the day she becomes FFW Champion, this is not something she feels she deserves. We’ve talked about it time and again, like I’ve said. Thank you but no. If she wins the title tonight, she will accept the award. Until that point though, she won’t accept it. Thank you for the consideration though.

Seth heads off camera with a shake of his head, leaving Cody looking down at the plaque before we go back to the ring.