SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005

STAPLES CENTER

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

SEGMENT 1: INTRODUCTION:

The FBI warning flashes onto the screen, before fading into a video that highlights the emotionally-charged PWA World Championship match between champion Jaguar and challenger and former tag team partner Romeo.  As the video package concludes with looks at the other matches on the card, "Passive" by A Perfect Circle hits and we are taken inside the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California, where we catch sight of a breathtaking steel beamed set, a rather imposing structure, and are treated to a tremendous display of pyrotechnics, with fireworks streaming from out of the top of the set!  As the exhibition concludes, we are taken to our commentators, Victor Troy and Paul Ferrara!

Troy:  Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Salvation! I’m Victor Troy, along here with Paul Ferrara, and tonight, we are live from Hollywood, the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, for PWA Salvation!

Ferrara: Troy, it’s gonna be a tremendous show here tonight and I can’t wait for it! We’ve got Jaguar and Romeo squaring off for the PWA Championship and, Troy, I really think Romeo has a chance to walk away with the gold here tonight!

Troy: He just might, Paul! But what about the other matches? We’ve got Scythe and Bishop Cross in a war to settle the score, and who knows who the special referee will be? We’ve got Jason Calysto vs. Solomon! We’ve got Evander Holyfield vs. Vladimir Vydrina in a 10-round boxing exhibition! We’ve got the first defense of the ORA World Championship, as Anthony Failla puts the gold up for grabs against Greg Tantalus! We’ve got GI Jew vs. Jackie Baccaro! We’ve got five championships on the line!

Ferrara: And we’re ready to go! Let’s get to Lee Palmer at ringside!

SEGMENT 2: MATCH 1: PWA PROGRESSIVE CHAMPIONSHIP:
DARRIN GILES © VS. RENEGADE:
Referee: Dan Martin
The fans are given the opportunity to cheer when "Piggy Bank" by 50 Cent begins to play. Renegade arrives to start off the first match of many, and the crowd is anxious to get it going. He walks down to the ring, occasionally tagging the hands of audience members before he climbs into the ring. After climbing on the turnbuckles and posing for the crowd, Earshot’s “Control” hits, and Renegade faces the entryway. The crowd boos as they catch sight of Darrin Giles being followed by Justin Schenck. The Progressive Champion locks eyes with his challenger and points at him, talking him down as he heads towards the ring. Schenck is looking confident as usual, and the booing crowd doesn’t seem to faze him at all. Schenck offers some final words of encouragement to his client before Giles steps into the ring. He unhooks the belt and holds it up high, and Renegade keeps his eyes on it, fully intent on making the gold his. Giles hands the belt to the referee and orders him to take care of it.

Troy: What an opportunity for Renegade to capture the Progressive title, Paul.

Ferrara: Renegade has been doing really well for himself lately. Picking up a win here could open up so many opportunities for him.

Renegade and Giles meet in the center of the ring, and a cocky Giles decides to slap his challenger across the face. An “ohh” emits from the crowd, and Renegade retaliates with a flurry of rights into the Progressive champion!

Troy: Renegade didn’t take lightly to that slap!

Ferrara: And Giles is learning that the hard way!

Cheers rain down as Renegade backs Giles into the ropes and slingshots him across the ring. Upon his return, Renegade pays him for his troubles with a clothesline! With Giles on the mat, Renegade pulls him back up and turns his chest red with a hard slap! Giles howls in pain, but isn’t given a chance to react when Renegade hurls him into the corner. Giles hits the turnbuckle hard, and as Renegade charges in, Giles explodes out and stuns him with a hard elbow to the side of the head.

Troy: Giles doesn’t want to throw it away just yet.

Ferrara: With his belt on the line, you can be sure that he’ll give it his all.

Renegade stumbles back, but Giles grabs the challenger and tosses him into the corner before punishing with stomps to the chest. Renegade slowly but surely falls, and Giles finds it necessary to shove a boot down his throat. The fans jeer as he refuses to let up when the referee reprimands him.

Troy: Oh, come on! He’s going to suffocate!

Ferrara: I don’t know about you, but it looks to me that Schenck is enjoying it.

Schenck continues to bark out his orders from the outside, eventually telling Giles to release Renegade. The challenger chokes violently as the referee continues to shout at Giles for his actions. Giles shoves him to the side and goes back to work on Renegade. Giles wrenches the challenger out of the corner and clubs him with a hard right, but Renegade blasts him in the face with a forearm of his own! Giles boots him in the stomach before Renegade can muster up any form of advantage. With Renegade hunched over, Giles lifts him for a suplex, but Renegade lands behind Giles and compresses him with a beautiful release german suplex!

Troy: That was a fantastic move! Renegade could take home the Progressive title right now!

Renegade measures up Giles, who begins to stir after the impact of the suplex. He signals out into the crowd, and they begin cheering loudly. As Giles almost reaches his feet, Schenck finds it necessary to grab onto Renegade’s foot. The challenger manages to shake him off, but Giles is already back on his feet. Giles charges forward and tries a clothesline, but Renegade ducks beneath it and kicks the back of Giles’ leg, sending him to a knee! Seizing the opportunity, Renegade plasters Giles with the Kick of Death!

Troy: He hit it! He hit the Kick of Death! Go for the pin!

Ferrara: Renegade is going to foil The Legacy!

Schenck goes ballistic on the outside, and the crowd is loving it. He tears the Progressive title away from the timekeeper and approaches the ring. Meanwhile, Renegade goes for the cover. With the far leg tightly hooked, the referee counts... One... Two... and the referee stops counting when Schenck hops on the apron! The referee argues with Schenck, but Renegade is enraged. He backs off the cover and approaches Schenck, who promptly hops off and slides the belt into the ring. Renegade rolls out of the ring and immediately gives chase to the Legacy manager, all while the referee shouts to try and regain order in the match. Giles stirs inside the ring, finding the belt by his side. He scoops it up, concealing it away from the referee.

Ferrara: Renegade’s lost it! He’ll tear Schenck apart if he catches him!

Troy: And he deserves it, too! Renegade should already be the Progressive Champion!

Schenck slides into the ring and tries to get out, but the referee grabs him by the arm and scolds him. Renegade barges into the ring, but before he can get his hands on Schenck, Giles turns him inside out with the gold! Giles tosses the belt out of the ring, and Schenck quickly exits. With Renegade on the mat, Giles effortlessly covers, and the referee, unsure of what happened, begins the count. His hand slaps the mat three times.

Troy: No! That’s despicable! Renegade had this match in his hands!

Ferrara: And he blew it, Troy, end of story! Right now, Darrin Giles is still our Progressive Champion!

“Control” plays again as Schenck grabs the belt from the outside and goes back into the ring, handing it to Giles. They raise their arms high, and the crowd is disgusted at the sight of it.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 7:08 AND STILL PROGRESSIVE CHAMPION: DARRIN GILES

SEGMENT 3: BACKSTAGE:

After the match, the boos only increase in volume when the crowd sees the camera going backstage, where they find Scott Cornelius standing by with Dexter P. Wellington and his butler, Winston.

Cornelius: Mr. Wellington, in a few moments, you will go up against Justice in a loser-leaves-PWA match, which could literally make or break your career. Are there any thoughts in your mind that you might possibly leave the PWA tonight?

Wellington holds his nose in the air and clears his throat, prompting Winston to grab the microphone away from Cornelius. Winston takes the time to clean the mic with a handkerchief before holding it up for Wellington.

Winston: It is clean, Sir.

Wellington: Thank you, Winston. You can never tell how many germs these reporters get. As for your question... Scott, was it? I have complete confidence that I will defeat my most unworthy opponent. Even the idea that he has the audacity to come up against me simply boggles the mind. In a few short moments, I plan to make him realize the dire mistake he made in challenging me to such a match. I will gladly rid the PWA of the barbarian known as Justice.

Winston: That was excellent, Sir.

Wellington: I know.

Wellington holds his head high and walks off, and Winston hands the mic back to Cornelius before following Wellington to the ring. Cornelius looks on with a blank stare plastered on his face.

SEGMENT 4: MATCH 2: LOSER-LEAVES-PWA: DEXTER P. WELLINGTON VS. JUSTICE:
Referee: Billy Vargas

A hush falls over the crowd as the crowd identifies Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" and the boos begin to fill the Staples Center. The arrogant Dexter P. Wellington makes his appearance, holding himself in high regard as usual. He calmly walks down the ramp with Winston following behind, despite the incredible amount of boos that are left in his path to the ring. Winston hurries ahead, lightly dusting the steps and allowing Wellington to climb up to the ring without the worry of having dirty boots.

Troy: I really can’t believe this guy. I hope that Justice makes short work of him and sends him on his way out.

Ferrara: Way to be unbiased, Troy.

Wellington looks out into the crowd and sneers, not finding a single distinguished person among the crowd. He becomes even more disgusted when DMX’s "Where Da Hood At" hits, but the crowd’s reaction is the direct opposite. Justice arrives to a huge ovation, and he raises his arms to acknowledge the crowd. He stomps down the ring, eager to get this match underway, however after rolling in the ring, Wellington immediately begins to stomp on the back of Justice.

Troy: Oh, come on! He’s not even letting Justice get into the ring!

Ferrara: Did you forget, Troy? The loser of this match has to leave the PWA! If I were Wellington, I’d be doing the same thing.

Troy: I KNOW you would!

Wellington attempts to keep his opponent down, but Justice refuses to take any more punishment. He erupts off the ground and plows through Wellington with a clothesline, well on his way to gaining the advantage. The crowd is fully behind Justice, who peels Wellington off the mat and torpedoes him into a corner. Wellington bounces off the turnbuckle hard, right into Justice’s waiting arms, who tosses him halfway across the ring with a belly-to-belly!

Ferrara: Wellington’s not doing very well at all. Despite what he said at his backstage interview, I’m sure he’s got to be worried.

Troy: I, for one, won’t miss him.

Justice rises to his feet and holds his arms high, but before he can go back on the attack, Winston reaches in and grabs his foot. Having been interrupted at what could be a crucial moment, an angered Justice whips around and shouts at Winston. With Justice interrupted, Wellington finds time to recover and rush up to Justice. In one seamless maneuver, Wellington nails Justice with a completely clean bridged butterfly suplex. Justice hits the mat hard, and the referee begins to count. One. Two. And...three?!

Troy: ...What just happened?

Ferrara: ...I think... Wellington just won...

Troy: But that means that... Justice has to leave?!

The crowd is in utter shock as “Marriage of Figaro” plays once again and Dexter P. Wellington is announced the winner. Justice sits up in disbelief, realizing that his fate has been sealed. Wellington exits the ring and heads up the ramp with Winston, and Justice argues with the referee. He looks out into the crowd, shaking his head with incomprehension. In just under four minutes, Justice has unexpectedly wrestled his last match in the PWA.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 3:47: DEXTER P. WELLINGTON

SEGMENT 5: MATCH 3: PWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
THE LOST SOULS © VS. THE NATURALS:
Referee: Jason Church

After the ring clears out and the crowd settles down from seeing the PWA career of Justice end before their very eyes, “All or Nothin” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers hits and the fans begin booing loudly as Justin Schenck leads The Naturals down to the ring. Greg Price and Kris Anthony look focused tonight, as they approach the squared circle for their opportunity to become three-time Tag Team Champions. As the challengers settle in the ring, “A Violent Reaction” by American Head Charge hits and the reigning PWA Tag Team Champions The Lost Souls begin making their way to the ring. Speed Demon and Reaper are met with a negative reaction, but their reaction is noticeably less negative than that of the Legacy members. In short order, the champions step into the ring and, after handing the belts off to referee Jason Church, the bell sounds, getting this match underway.

Troy: Alright, Tag Team Championship on the line here.

Ferrara: Yup, it should be a good one.

Speed Demon and Greg Price start things off, locking up in the center of the ring. Demon gets the early advantage, taking Price down with a powerful hiptoss. Price gets back up, but Demon downs him with a dropkick. Price gets up again, ducks under a Demon clothesline, and charges his corner, quickly getting a tag in to the lighter and quicker Kris Anthony. Anthony hits the ring and immediately grabs Demon in a headlock. Demon shoves him off the ropes, drops to the mat as he runs at him, Anthony hops over him, bounces off the opposite ropes, Demon gets up, Anthony leapfrogs over him, hits the opposite ropes, and throws a dropkick at Demon as he returns, but Demon has the same idea, and both end up throwing simultaneous dropkicks, with neither man connecting. They get up at the same time, but Anthony counters a charging Demon, taking him down with a flapjack. Anthony goes for the cover… one, two, and Demon kicks out.

Troy: That was pretty close there.

Ferrara: It was. And that was quite the exchange.

Anthony makes the tag to Greg Price, and the Naturals quickly begin double-teaming Speed Demon, keeping him trapped in their corner. Anthony and Price hit Demon with an array of simultaneous boots to the midsection, keeping him off balance. Anthony exits the ring and Demon staggers forward, right into the waiting arms of Greg Price, who blasts him with a big belly-to-belly suplex. Price covers… one, two, and Demon kicks out. Price keeps the pressure mounted, applying a rear chinlock, but Demon is able to ultimately fight out of it, battling his way back to a vertical base, staggering Price with stiff elbows to the midsection, and eventually downing him with a belly to back suplex. Both men are crawling to their corners, looking for a tag, and Price reaches first, tagging Kris Anthony back into the fray. Anthony charges at Demon, trying to prevent him from making the tag, but he is not successful, and Demon tags Reaper into the fray, which the fans mildly pop for.

Reaper clubs Anthony down with a huge axehandle, and then downs a charging Price with an elbow to the skull. Anthony gets up, and Reaper clotheslines him down violently, then picks up Price, gets him in gorilla press position, and tosses him over the top, to the outside of the ring! Reaper attempts to scoop Kris Anthony for the Passed Judgment piledriver, but Justin Schenck gets on the ring apron, shouting at referee Jason Church for an unclear reason, other than to create a diversion. However, Schenck is too overzealous with his divertive tactics, and Church sends him to the backstage area!

Troy: That’s it, Justin Schenck has been ejected from ringside!

Ferrara: You know what Troy, I hate to say it, but he got what he deserved!

With Schenck gone from the ringside area, and Price all but out of it on the outside, Reaper downs Anthony with a sidewalk slam, tags Speed Demon into the match, and then the two complete their finisher, New Dawn Fading, with deadly impact and authority! Speed Demon covers… one, two, three!

Troy: And there you have it! The Lost Souls have retained the championship!

Ferrara: They were impressive, Troy!

The fans are somewhat indifferent as “A Violent Reaction” hits and Speed Demon and Reaper exit with their championship belts. As the two exit up the ramp, the indifference turns to boos, and everything is back in its right place.

WINNERS VIA PINFALL AT 9:10 AND STILL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: THE LOST SOULS

SEGMENT 6: BACKSTAGE:

The camera cuts backstage, where Traci Reed is standing by with Jackie Baccaro and his manager Vulture.

Reed: Gentlemen, in just a few moments, it’ll be you, Jackie Baccaro, stepping out into the ring with one angry individual, GI Jew. How do you prepare to offset the sheer violence and aggression of a man that is such a loose cannon, a man you two have provoked to no end leading up to this match?

Vulture: Provoked to no end? Obviously, you haven’t been listening, Traci. We are the ones that have been provoked. When GI Jew decided to carelessly drop me on my neck last May and contribute to the early ending of my career, THAT is being provoked. What we have done since my return is simply respond. We have done the right thing. This man standing beside me is the future of this company, the future of professional wrestling. Tonight, we kill two birds with one stone. We teach GI Jew the lesson that is ten months in the making for him, and we show the whole world exactly who Jackie Baccaro is.

Baccaro: For too long, I’ve been pegged with the label of “great athlete” and “kid with lots of potential.” I don’t want to be known as a great athlete, or someone with potential. I certainly don’t want to be known as a kid. I want to be feared, I want to be respected, and I want people to realize that when they look at Jackie Baccaro, they look at the future of wrestling. GI Jew, you may be a grand-slam winner, you may be a two-time PWA Champion, but tonight, you’re nothing but my bitch.

With that, a confident Baccaro and Vulture exit, headed for the ring.

SEGMENT 7: MATCH 4: GI JEW VS. JACKIE BACCARO:
Referee: Tom Stevens

The camera returns ringside, where "Things Done Changed" by Notorious B.I.G. hits and the Hollywood crowd boos raucously at the arrival of Jackie Baccaro, his manager Vulture, and his new theme music. Baccaro looks smug as he makes his way to the ring, and Vulture -- dressed in a dark red Nehru shirt, Aviator sunglasses, and a black lambskin leather Kangol hat -- is all smiles, leading his protégé to his biggest match to date. As Baccaro stands in the ring, stretching out on the ropes, "Opium of the People" by Slipknot hits, and the fans burst into cheers as GI Jew takes no time getting down to the ring, ready to tear into Baccaro. The fans cheer loudly as the bell sounds and the match gets underway, with Jew in quick control. 

Troy: GI Jew didn't waste ANY time getting into this! 

Ferrara: Why would he, Troy? After what Baccaro and Vulture put him through the last few weeks, Jew is NOT in a good mood! 

GI Jew starts off the match pounding away on Baccaro, which doesn't exactly put Vulture at ease on the outside of the ring. Baccaro struggles to gain any sort of control in the early going, and GI Jew takes out a month's worth of aggression on the 25-year-old prodigy with furious lefts and rights. Baccaro is floored by several shots and, every time he gets back to his feet, Jew makes sure to down him once again. Baccaro finally gets to a vertical base for a substantial amount of time, but still can't stop the Jew assault. Jew takes him, whips him into the ropes, and downs him with a big back body drop as he returns. Baccaro then gets to his feet, but Jew nails him down with a big clothesline! Jew then turns his attention to Vulture, shouting at him from the inside of the ring, but Vulture clearly wants no part of the Grand-Slam winner. 

As Jew turns around, Baccaro trips him to the mat with a drop toehold, and spins around, locking in a front facelock. Baccaro tries to slow down the pace of the match, hoping to quell the momentum that Jew has established in the early moments of the match. However, on an adrenaline rush, Jew is able to power to his feet, hitting Baccaro with a few stiff elbows to the gut, enough to grab him and down him with a big belly to back suplex! The fans cheer this, but Vulture quickly jumps onto the apron, protesting the move. 

Troy: What the hell is Vulture arguing?! It was a belly to back suplex! 

Ferrara: I'm pretty sure he had the trunks, Troy! You're not allowed to use the trunks on suplexes! 

Troy: Says who?! 

Ferrara: Says Vulture! Are you about to argue with a Hall of Famer, Troy? Cuz I'm not! 

Noticing Vulture on the apron, Jew lunges at him, looking for an attack, but Vulture cleverly jumps down at the right time, leaving Jew to yell at him from the inside of the ring. Vulture screams back at Jew, daring him to come out after him, as Baccaro rolls out of the ring on the other side. Jew obliges and rolls out after Vulture, who runs. Jew chases Vulture around the ring, but as Vulture turns a corner, Baccaro springs out of nowhere and downs a charging Jew with a big forearm to the jaw! Jew goes down like a ton of bricks, and Jackie Baccaro officially takes control of the match, pounding fists with his manager before rolling Jew back into the ring. Once inside, Baccaro stomps away on his opponent, stomping him into the mat. Jew struggles to get to his feet, but Baccaro shoves him hard into the corner. In the corner, Baccaro charges hard with four consecutive shoulderblocks, crushing his shoulder hard into the ribs of the former PWA Champion. 

Troy: Jackie Baccaro has taken over here. 

Ferrara: I don't think he's gonna let Jew back into this match either, Troy. We could be on the way to a big upset. 

Jew finds it hard to stay on his feet as Baccaro grabs him and whips him into the opposite corner, charging at him. However, Jew is able to move out of the way, but Baccaro counters, leaping to the top rope, turning around, and nailing Jew with a monstrous flying clothesline! 

Troy: My God! That was a cruiserweight move! 

Ferrara: Jackie Baccaro is amazing! 

Baccaro immediately goes for the cover... one, two, and Jew kicks out. Vulture screams at Baccaro to keep the pressure mounted, and the former tag team champion does so, dropping repeated elbows on Jew's chest. GI Jew finds it increasingly difficult to reach a vertical base as Baccaro keeps the pressure mounted, as the Rookie of the Year pays close attention to the ribs of the former world champion, trying to take his wind away. When Jew does struggle to his feet, Baccaro slaps on an abdominal stretch, really grinding it in and trying to keep the intense pressure focused on one area of Jew’s body. Jew tries to fight out of it, and begins gaining momentum, but as soon as he does, Baccaro, in true heel form, reaches out and grabs the top rope for additional leverage. Referee Tom Stevens becomes suspicious and goes to check the corner, but Baccaro quickly lets go. Then, as soon as Stevens turns around, Baccaro grabs the rope again, squeezing down hard. Stevens gets up and checks again, but again, Baccaro has let go. Then, Stevens pretends to turn around, and Baccaro grabs the rope again, but Stevens sees it and kicks Baccaro’s hand off the ropes! This slight shift in leverage is enough for GI Jew, who downs Baccaro with a hiptoss, getting himself out of the move! Baccaro quickly gets up and charges at Jew, but Jew counters, catching Baccaro in a sidewalk slam! Jew then backs up a few steps, and as Baccaro rises, GI Jew nearly takes his head off with the Gore!

Ferrara: Gore! Gore! GI Jew just hit the Gore!

Troy: This one should be over, folks!

GI Jew wastes no time, going right for the cover, but Vulture jumps onto the apron and distracts Stevens! After clearly having Baccaro down for a sufficient amount of time, Jew gets up and charges at Vulture, who quickly jumps down off the apron. Jew shouts at Vulture, and Vulture shouts back, but in the background, a groggy Baccaro gets back to his feet. Seeing this in his peripheral vision, Jew turns around and charges Baccaro with another Gore, but this time, Baccaro sidesteps the move, sending Jew into the corner. As Jew staggers backward, Baccaro lifts him up and nails him with an awe-inspiring Baccaro Bomb! Baccaro hooks the leg tightly… one, two, three!

Troy: That’s it! I don’t believe it! Jackie Baccaro has just defeated GI Jew!

Ferrara: What a monumental upset!

Troy: It sure was, but give the assist to Vulture here! I don’t know if Baccaro could have done it without him!

Ferrara: Whether he could or he couldn’t is irrelevant, Troy, because the fact of the matter is that Vulture is in Jackie Baccaro’s corner now, and he’s not going anywhere!

GI Jew is left in the ring clutching his ribs as “Things Done Changed” hits the speakers and the fans boo loudly at Jackie Baccaro and his manager Vulture, who exit the ringside area victoriously.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 12:08: JACKIE BACCARO

SEGMENT 8: BACKSTAGE:

The audience finds Rick Madsen and Greg Tantalus backstage, and cheers immediately ring clear at the sight of him. Tantalus bears a look of focus.

Madsen: Greg, you have the opportunity to face Anthony Failla in the very first title defense of the ORA's World Heavyweight Championship. How does it feel to-

Tantalus: Look, let me just get to the point. I don't really know or care about the ORA, but gold is gold. I'll deal with them after I win the belt. I think it'll be nice to wear gold again, and kicking ass with it the way I always do. Besides, Failla's just a chump who happened to catch a lucky break. He doesn't even do any title justice, so I'll make sure to relieve him of that stress. Anthony Failla, you already suck at life. Tonight, you can suck my cock!

Tantalus abruptly makes his journey to the ring, and Madsen takes over.

Madsen: Um, alright then. Up next, it's Greg Tantalus against Anthony Failla in the ORA World Heavyweight Championship's first defense!

SEGMENT 9: MATCH 5: ORA-RECOGNIZED WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
ANTHONY FAILLA © VS. GREG TANTALUS:
Referee: Matt Hansen

The house lights go down, bringing murmurs from the crowd until Lacuna Coil's "Heaven's A Lie" begins. The spotlights flicker red, blue and green and the crowd cheers loudly as the silhouette of Greg Tantalus appears at the entrance. Tantalus soon makes his way down to the ring and climbs inside, looking ready for his opportunity at the ORA Championship.

Troy: Greg Tantalus last held a singles title in May of 2003 as the PWA World Heavyweight Champion. Tonight, he's got a crack at the ORA's Championship against Anthony Failla, and judging from his words earlier, I'd say he's ready for it.

Ferrara: Ready as he's gonna get now. The guy shouldn't even be in this match, especially since it took his sister getting Mike Griffin disqualified to earn him the shot. But I talked to Hollywood a few days ago, and he said it’s alright because he had to attend a production meeting for his next feature film anyway.

Troy: I don't think anyone wants him here tonight anyway.

A large blast of pyro explodes next and Jadakiss' and Styles P's "Shooutouts" begins, bringing a chorus of boos for Anthony Failla as he walks out. Failla shines his ORA Title belt that rests on his shoulder and he removes it before climbing into the ring. He hands the gold to Matt Hansen who holds it up as both men come face to face.

Troy: Quite the size differential here.

Ferrara: Quite the size differential?! Look at them! Failla is about 6'8", 290 pounds, and Greg Tantalus isn’t even 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

Troy: Greg Tantalus has beaten many men bigger than him before, and nobody would be shocked if he did the same right here tonight.

The bell sounds and the fans cheer as they circle the first for our first World Championship match of the evening. They lock up and Failla has no problem in muscling Tantalus down hard to the mat. Tantalus gets up quickly and charges at Failla, but he is pushed down again. Tantalus gets back up and tries to find a way around it, and he does so by luring Failla into a tie-up, but poking him right in the eye!

Tantalus chops Failla hard in the chest and backs him to the ropes for an Irish whip. Failla reverses it and once Tantalus returns, he is taken down with a big clothesline! Failla lifts Tantalus off the mat by the arm and scoops him up before delivering a hard bodyslam. The champion then hits the ropes and drops a big legdrop across his chest. Failla makes the first cover of the match, but only gets a two count.

Failla gets Tantalus off the mat and tries to show off by military pressing him over his head, but the challenger slips out and catches Failla turning around with a big DDT! Tantalus covers for one....two....and Failla powers out, but Tantalus keeps on the attack with several stomps to the head.

Failla continues to rise, but Tantalus stays aggressive with nailing him with big right hands to the face. Failla finally gets to a vertical base and Tantalus bounces off the ropes. Failla tries a clothesline, but Tantalus ducks under and comes back to score with a chop block to the knees!

Ferrara: He just chop-blocked Anthony Failla! Somebody throw the flag!

Troy: No flags in wrestling Paul. That was a perfectly legal move by one of the smartest competitors in the world. Tantalus is attacking Failla under the waist and chopping him down to size.

Failla grabs his left leg in pain, and Tantalus goes right after it. He grabs Failla by the boot and violently jerks his leg back, making Failla holler out. Tantalus then kicks Failla repeatedly around the thigh and calf before clamping down and tugging away in a side leglock.

Troy: It looks like Greg is trying to Charley Horse that leg here.

Failla tries fighting out of the hold and Tantalus does let him out, but only to yank the leg out further and drop a big elbow atop his calf! Failla crawls back into a corner, seated on the canvas. Tantalus goes after him, but Failla grabs him by the tights and yanks him forward into the top turnbuckle!

Tantalus falls to the mat as Failla uses the ropes to get himself up. The hobbled champion grabs Tantalus on the canvas and pulls him up slowly, but that gives Tantalus enough time to nail Failla with a dropkick across his weakened leg! Failla goes down again, and the crowd cheers rabidly as Tantalus ties him in a Figure-Four leglock!

Troy: Figure-Four! Failla might be forced to give it up!

Ferrara: Greg's strategy seems to be slowing the champ down, but Failla won't give in!

Failla pounds the mat in pain, desperately seeking the ropes which are nowhere near him. His shoulders fall to the canvas and Hansen quickly counts 1----2---, but Failla sits up before he is counted out. Tantalus wrenches it in tighter, but Failla uses his long reach to grab him by the neck!

Failla's squeezing forces Tantalus to release the hold as both men get to their feet. Hansen reaches a count of four and threatens to disqualify the champion, but Failla shoves him away. Tantalus sees the referee turned around and acts quickly by kicking Failla right in between his legs!

Failla releases his grip and Tantalus barely takes a breath before hooking him up in a front facelock, holding him straight up in the air and following the display of strength by drilling him down with The Big O!

Troy: Big O! Make the cover Greg!

Tantalus shakes the cobwebs away and crawls over for a cover, but the camera looks on as his eyes grow wide and he quickly gets up to his feet. The crowd expresses their distaste for the commotion as Hollywood Mike Griffin darts down the ramp!

Troy: That's Mike Griffin! You said he wasn't here!

Ferrara: Did I? Oh, that's next Saturday!

Griffin slides into the ring and swings at Tantalus, but its blocked and Greg floors him with a punch of his own! Griffin gets back to his feet and Tantalus grabs him by the hair and tosses him out over the top rope! Tantalus spits at Griffin on the arena floor, but turns around to find a waiting Failla, who scoops him up and drills him with The Almighty Sacrifice! Failla lies atop Tantalus and Hansen gets into position to count one....two.....three!

Ferrara: Failla wins it!

Troy: Yeah, thanks to Mike Griffin. If you ask me, Griffin screwed Greg Tantalus out of the ORA Title here tonight!

Ferrara: Well neither of those two are my favorites, but Failla did what he had to do to retain it, and thats all the record books will show.

"Shootouts" replays as Failla climbs out of the ring and heads back up the ramp. As he nears the top, PWA Owner Bryan Conroy and ORA President Helen Summers step out and applaud their champion's efforts. Conroy and Summers each raise one of Failla's arms in celebration, allowing the crowd to shower them with disgusting boos in the process.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 13:00 AND STILL ORA CHAMPION: ANTHONY FAILLA

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